3530 replies to this topic

[MrHahn]

[_R_]

what's that in his hand? is it another 0.6 seconds from ferrari?

[vietlol]

Haha. I doubt it's as blatant as that...he's probably gone in there to kick it back with Kimi and down some absolut.

prolly just to get the news going

[Skyliner]

random note of the day:
so yesterday I was showing an old episode of Top Gear to my girlfriend where Hammond drive 2 laps in the R25, and she asked why it was the "end of an era" with the V10's... so i explained they went to 2.4's to make the cars slower because they were getting fast, which she asked "isn't that the point of racing? to be the fastests?", then i explained about the budget cuts to which she asked "well if they're having to develop all these new parts for the cars since they keep changing the rules, doesn't that just defeat the purpose?"

in short

my girlfriend that doesn't follow any racing sense of budget logic > FIA's budget logic

I heart your girlfriend's viewpoint.

[Skyliner]

what's that in his hand? is it another 0.6 seconds from ferrari?

Hopefully it's a catalog so he can order some real shoes.

[kngrsll]

Hopefully it's a catalog so he can order some real shoes.

i love thongs! i mean, sandals

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

i love thongs! i mean, sandals

you SC people with your thongs and shag..

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

Raikkonen to support Massa if needed

By Michele Lostia and Pablo Elizalde Thursday, August 28th 2008, 09:29 GMT

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali says world champion Kimi Raikkonen will play a supporting role to teammate Felipe Massa if needed to secure the title.

"If needed, Kimi will help Felipe," Domenicali was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport.

"We spoke about it at the beginning of the year.

"Before then, however, let's see how things evolve."

Raikkonen has struggled to match Massa's pace in recent races and the Finn has not won since the Spanish Grand Prix in April.

Massa, currently in second place in the standings seven points ahead of Raikkonen, has won four times to the Finn's two.

Domenicali is convinced, however, that Raikkonen will return to form.

"For me it doesn't represent a problem. He'll react, he'll soon be strong again, he knows how to keep away from criticisms and polemics," he added.

The team boss said it was up to the team to give Raikkonen a car he feels comfortable with.

"He isn't happy with the way the car enters corners. He would like it more aggressive, and this influences him. It's up to us to carry on giving him a hand."

Domenicali is also adamant that Massa is strong enough to win the championship.

"Certainly. We will have to give him an always competitive car. He's mature to manage it and we'll help him."

The Italian conceded the team cannot afford losing any more points through reliability problems, and revealed Ferrari have strengthen their quality control process.

"We can't anymore afford the luxury of losing important results because of reliability problems," he said. "However, it's also true that McLaren last year had 35 points more than today, and we had 16 more.

"It's been decided to strengthen controls over the whole component production of the cars. We have 40 people between metallurgy and quality department.

"What is about to start in two weeks' time in Belgium will be a sprint championship over six races, so we can't give away anything anymore."

and it begins...


and also, i thought massa's driving style was more harsh on turn-in and kimi was a 'smooth' driver..

[kngrsll]

and it begins...


and also, i thought massa's driving style was more harsh on turn-in and kimi was a 'smooth' driver..

yeah, probably the right call considering how much fail Kimi is swimming in... then cue an early retirement at the end of the season :tinfoilhat:

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

yeah, probably the right call considering how much fail Kimi is swimming in... then cue an early retirement at the end of the season :tinfoilhat:

kimi out, schumi in. apart from being a great #1 driver, he also very nearly helped a very mediocre eddie irvine to win in '99.

[_R_]

if kimi wins the wdc again this year that would be
if massa wins the wdc and beats the golden boy lewis that would be the most epic ever...

[_R_]

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali has fended off claims that World Champion Kimi Raikkonen's cool approach to Formula One has finally caught up with him.

In the eight races since his last victory at Barcelona, the 28-year-old Finn has added just 28 points to his championship tally -- little more than half the number achieved by chief title contenders Felipe Massa, who drives an identical F2008, and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.

Exploring the possible reasons for his performance struggle at present, the major German newspaper Bild claims that while Massa prepared for Valencia in a simulator, fellow Ferrari driver Raikkonen enjoyed three consecutive nights out with friends at Ibiza.

"Kimi goes flat-out only at night," the newspaper headlined.

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali this week told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport: "I have never forced matters of a personal nature with him."

"I don't think his way of preparing for a Grand Prix has anything to do with the current situation," the Italian added.

Domenicali also would not be drawn on the latest suggestions that, irrespective of Raikkonen's personal plans for the future, Ferrari may be moved to replace him sooner or later.

"His contract expires only at the end of next year," the team boss insisted. "So we do not have any hurry to decide. Right now we are concentrated on the title."

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

for the record, i'm not counting kimi out of it.. i'd just like to see massa win it more than kimi.

[DrDickAction]

for the record, i'm not counting kimi out of it.. i'd just like to see massa win it more than kimi.

agreed

[Robert]

On the first article regarding Ferrari's reliability problems I read that as they have decided to 'detune' the engine vs the latest increases because 8 points is always better than 0. Heikki just hasn't been a factor really.

[Robert]

(Q:) Spa is Kimi's track. He owns it.
If -barring mechanical failure- he finishes behind Massa, would you openly support Massa to take the title? I know I would.

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

just a PSA note to everybody.. i don't know why uploader.ws images have been acting weird on this forum, but i'd recommend people to use http://upshizzle.com/index.php for an uploader until i figure out what is going on..

[Redliner]

kimi out, schumi in. apart from being a great #1 driver, he also very nearly helped a very mediocre eddie irvine to win in '99.

I thought Irvine was the best driver on the grid besides Schumi

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

I thought Irvine was the best driver on the grid besides Schumi

Barrichello >>>>>> Irvine, and we know barrichello isnt the best driver out there..

[MrHahn]

Barrichello >>>>>> Irvine, and we know barrichello isnt the best driver out there..

But Barrichello is boring as bat shit - at least Eddie Irvine has some Irish Flare to him that brought all kinds of comments out.


On a side note, there are lots of rumours going around the internet saying Phil Hill has died. RIP

http://www.philhill....remember_2.html

[Redliner]

Lewis says older tracks must stay
Friday, 29 August 2008 14:46

Lewis Hamilton has urged Formula 1 to stay faithful to classic tracks such as Spa and Monza - the venues for the next two grands prix.


Amid a continued push for F1 to break into new markets and race at different venues, some long-standing European events have been dropped, with Imola no longer on the calendar, Hockenheim radically rebuilt, and Silverstone set to lose its date to a revamped Donington Park from 2010.

Spa returned to the calendar last year after major paddock upgrades, while Monza's future remains assured at present despite some suggestions in recent years that escalating speeds were rendering it unsafe.


But Hamilton has admitted that the older venues are his favourite tracks, and hopes that the authorities continue to tweak the safety facilities at these circuits to keep them up to modern standards rather than abandoning them for state-of-the-art venues.


"I don’t regret it, but it’s a shame," Hamilton replied when asked about the loss of several traditional circuits.



"I prefer the more historic circuits like Monza, Silverstone and Monaco.


"You really feel the history of those places whenever you race there; they have real character.


"Each time they are refurbished, they lose a little more of their individuality - but they are made safer, so we can continue to race on them - so that’s a good compromise."


The championship leader added that Spa, the scene of next weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, has always been a track he relished.


"It’s one of my all-time favourites," said Hamilton.


"Even before I first came here, which was back in 2002 for a Formula Renault race, I played it on my computer - it was always one of the best tracks.


"It has probably the most exciting corner in Formula 1, Eau Rouge, and it’s one of the few circuits where you really feel like you’re actually going somewhere; you blast off into the forest and get to the top of the hill and can feel the whole circuit beneath you.


"It’s one of the best challenges in Formula 1."


Hamilton will be eager to get onto the podium at Spa this year, having finished a frustrating fourth on his F1 debut at the track in 2008.


He heads for the circuit with a six point advantage over Felipe Massa in the drivers' championship.

One thing I like about LH is that he actually seems like a fan of the sport, as well as a driver. Someone like KR, seems like all he does is do his buisness, and go do whatever. Outside of his immediate circle, I don't think he really knows anything about the history of F1.

[DrDickAction]

One thing I like about LH is that he actually seems like a fan of the sport, as well as a driver. Someone like KR, seems like all he does is do his buisness, and go do whatever. Outside of his immediate circle, I don't think he really knows anything about the history of F1.

I agree. Mad props to hammy for this...we need more voices like this to counter balance berney's incredible greed.

[DrDickAction]

Nicole Scherzinger writes love song for Hamilton

The girlfriend of Lewis Hamilton, Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, has written a love song for her F1 driver. The number is named 'I think I'm in love', but it's not clear if it will be on the next Pussycat Doll cd as Nicole is planing a solo album. Hamilton and Scherzinger are a couple since May.

http://www.f1technical.net/news/10290

[Nacho]

One thing I like about LH is that he actually seems like a fan of the sport, as well as a driver. Someone like KR, seems like all he does is do his buisness, and go do whatever. Outside of his immediate circle, I don't think he really knows anything about the history of F1.

If he does become 'the face' of F1 drivers, his love of classic F1 will go a long way to help counter the money-grubbing FOM/FIA

[vietlol]

We need Fernando 'F1 is no longer a sport' Alonso to be the face of F1.