Formula One 2007 (16 Viewers)
- Thread starter JuveAdam
- Start date
I can't see Massa leaving to be honest. He has three major factors which will see him stay:
A) His contract is not near ending.
B) Schumi tutors him. Ferrari love Schumi and Im sure they won't et him go.
C) He is a project for Ferrari. He has been built up from a reckless driver at Sauber to one who actually looks like a fierce competitor. Plus, Jean Todts son is very close to him.
Oh, and I have also 'personally offended' someone on another forum for pointing out why Schumi is so great after they said stated that Montoya was as good as Michael.
A) His contract is not near ending.
B) Schumi tutors him. Ferrari love Schumi and Im sure they won't et him go.
C) He is a project for Ferrari. He has been built up from a reckless driver at Sauber to one who actually looks like a fierce competitor. Plus, Jean Todts son is very close to him.
Oh, and I have also 'personally offended' someone on another forum for pointing out why Schumi is so great after they said stated that Montoya was as good as Michael.
Reliability will cost Ferrari drivers' title - Todt
03 October 2007
Ferrari team principal Jean Todt believes that poor reliability will be the reason Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa were unable to win the drivers' championship this season. The Italian team has already walked away with the constructors' crown after McLaren was stripped of its 2007 points.
"If we won't bring back to Maranello - together with the constructors' title - also the drivers' title, it is, because we didn't have enough reliability," Todt said. "It's enough to have a look at the championship: we lost some very important points - and I'm thinking about the problems Felipe had in Australia, Great Britain and Italy and the ones Kimi had at Barcelona and at the Nürburgring."
"With these points we would be really close to the actual leader in the championship," he added. "We have two very good drivers, who have demonstrated that they can work together and know that the concerns of the team come first when it is necessary."
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My fears have confirmed, i came up to this conclusion right after the third grand Prix, or so...
Kudos to Todd for being man enough to admit this!! Most of the team managers choose to avoid it,(*cough cough* Renault *cough*) this time, it was the TEAM'S fault, the engineers made mistakes,
hopefully since they know and reckon the problem, they will work their way to fix it. This is how a top team works, excuses like, weather, luck, dark conspiracies, blaming drivers and officials,etc etc only harm the image of the team and the sport, as a whole.
From this point of view Ferrari IS A RELIABLE team...
03 October 2007
Ferrari team principal Jean Todt believes that poor reliability will be the reason Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa were unable to win the drivers' championship this season. The Italian team has already walked away with the constructors' crown after McLaren was stripped of its 2007 points.
"If we won't bring back to Maranello - together with the constructors' title - also the drivers' title, it is, because we didn't have enough reliability," Todt said. "It's enough to have a look at the championship: we lost some very important points - and I'm thinking about the problems Felipe had in Australia, Great Britain and Italy and the ones Kimi had at Barcelona and at the Nürburgring."
"With these points we would be really close to the actual leader in the championship," he added. "We have two very good drivers, who have demonstrated that they can work together and know that the concerns of the team come first when it is necessary."
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My fears have confirmed, i came up to this conclusion right after the third grand Prix, or so...
Kudos to Todd for being man enough to admit this!! Most of the team managers choose to avoid it,(*cough cough* Renault *cough*) this time, it was the TEAM'S fault, the engineers made mistakes,
hopefully since they know and reckon the problem, they will work their way to fix it. This is how a top team works, excuses like, weather, luck, dark conspiracies, blaming drivers and officials,etc etc only harm the image of the team and the sport, as a whole.
From this point of view Ferrari IS A RELIABLE team...
I will repeat my self, Hamilton was the race leader, he is the one who determines the race's speed,it is his choice, his right!! The only thing is, that he must not overcome the pace car at any cost and must keep close visual distance with it.
It was probably the first time in his carrier that he had to keep the mercedes benz pace with his Mclaren, esp after this heavy rain.
He obviously accelerated more than the Mercedes, in that turn and then he couldnt decrease speed without breaking,or hitting her,
breaking in a rainy pit while making a turn isnt the best idea, so he did what he did,
similar incidents happen all the time behind the race car, even if he wanted to provoke the incident he couldnt force the drivers not to keep a safe distance under these circumstances.
But everyone wants to be as much closer to his direct opponent, so they can take advantage of the situation, as soon as the pace car leaves, taking a calculated risk.
Well this time they all miscalculated wrong and the man responsible by the book, is the driver that comes from the back.
Hamilton couldnt see what was going on, in the back
and he can blame with his turn the pace car for braking right in front of him (watch the brake lights,on the Mercedes, right before his evading) on that turn...
It was probably the first time in his carrier that he had to keep the mercedes benz pace with his Mclaren, esp after this heavy rain.
He obviously accelerated more than the Mercedes, in that turn and then he couldnt decrease speed without breaking,or hitting her,
breaking in a rainy pit while making a turn isnt the best idea, so he did what he did,
similar incidents happen all the time behind the race car, even if he wanted to provoke the incident he couldnt force the drivers not to keep a safe distance under these circumstances.
But everyone wants to be as much closer to his direct opponent, so they can take advantage of the situation, as soon as the pace car leaves, taking a calculated risk.
Well this time they all miscalculated wrong and the man responsible by the book, is the driver that comes from the back.
Hamilton couldnt see what was going on, in the back
and he can blame with his turn the pace car for braking right in front of him (watch the brake lights,on the Mercedes, right before his evading) on that turn...
Hamilton set to discover his fate
Friday 5th October 2007
Lewis Hamilton will find out some time today whether his bid to win the World Campionship will suffer a serious blow after it was confirmed the McLaren driver is under investigation for his role in the crash that forced Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel out of the Japanese Grand Prix.
Third-placed Vettel drove his Toro Rosso into the back of Webber's Red Bull, which was running second behind Hamilton, on lap 45 of the 67-lap race when the field was lined up behind a safety car deployed due to Fernando Alonso's crash three laps earlier.
Although the incident was missed by the television cameras, it is believed new evidence, thought to be footage on YouTube filmed from the grandstand at the Fuji Speedway, shows Hamilton pulling over to the right-hand side of the track and decelerating considerably prior to the collision, in turn forcing Webber to slow down and thus catching Vettel unawares.
If found guilty, Hamilton could lose the 10 championship points he earned for his victory in Japan, which would reduce his lead over nearest rival Alonso to just two points with two races to go.
But given the fact Vettel was handed a 10-place grid penalty for this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix for his part in the incident, a similar punishment would seem more likely for the Brit.
An FIA official told PA Sport: "We understand the stewards of the meeting have received new evidence and are looking into the relevant matter.
"It would be inappropriate for us to comment any further at this stage, in particular as to what penalty, if any, might be imposed."
F1 regulations state the leader must keep a within five car lengths of the safety car, while erratic driving can also be punished.
Article 40.10 of the F1 Sporting Regulations reads: "The safety car shall be used at least until the leader is behind it and all remaining cars are lined up behind him. Once behind the safety car, the race leader must keep within five car lengths of it."
It is thought Hamilton has already met a three-man panel of stewards at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, who are believed to be deliberating on what action to take over the incident.
Webber, a Grand Prix Drivers Association director, was adamant Hamilton's constant accelerating and braking over the final corners played a large part in his afternoon coming to a premature end.
"I think he did a s*** job behind the safety car," the Australian blasted.
"He did a s*** job and that's it. He spoke in the driver's briefing about how good a job he was going to do and he did the opposite. But we know for next time.
"It definitely contributed to Sebastian (Vettel) hitting me up the back. We were confused what the other car was doing because it wasn't doing what it was supposed to do, clearly.
"You have to keep a sensible rhythm and obviously in the first safety car period and clearly in the second there was not a sensible rhythm."
The first 19 laps of the race were completed behind the safety car as heavy rain had made racing at the Fuji Speedway a dangerous prospect.
Fellow Brit Jenson Button was also unhappy with the way Hamilton initially led the field around before the action finally got under way.
"It felt really inconsistent," the Honda driver said.
"I don't know what he was doing really. We came through the last section and he kept slowing down.
"We knew the safety car wasn't coming in and he kept hitting the brakes hard in the last sector so everyone would bunch up, and then he would shoot off and brake again.
Hamilton had headed into this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix with the opportunity to become the first driver to win the world championship in his debut season.
Dependant on the outcome of the steward's investigation, he will achieve the incredible feat if he drops no more than one point to Alonso in the penultimate race of the season at the Shanghai International Circuit.
At 22 years old, he will also become the youngest winner of motorsport's ultimate prize, a distinction currently held by the Spaniard.
The last three weeks have seen the pair's relationship deteriorate rapidly after Hamilton became incensed at what he saw as a deliberate attempt by the double world champion to run him off the road at the first corner of the Belgian Grand Prix.
He subsequently accused Alonso of being disloyal to McLaren, as well as suggesting he would like to see the 26-year-old leave the Woking-based outfit at the end of the season.
Alonso's future has been the subject of intense speculation following Ron Dennis' revelation during the inquest into the recent spy scandal that the pair were not on speaking terms for some time.
Flavio Briatore has also stated he would welcome the Spaniard back to former team Renault with open arms.
But Hamilton sounded a more conciliatory note as he prepares for a 56-lap showdown that could see his name written into the history books.
"I get on with Fernando well," he said.
"We had a good conversation today, there's nothing wrong with us.
"I wish him the best whatever he does. If he is with us next year then we will work the best way we can.
"In the future, wherever he is, I think we'd get on well."
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It's wishfull thinking but I really hope they punish him.
Friday 5th October 2007
Lewis Hamilton will find out some time today whether his bid to win the World Campionship will suffer a serious blow after it was confirmed the McLaren driver is under investigation for his role in the crash that forced Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel out of the Japanese Grand Prix.
Third-placed Vettel drove his Toro Rosso into the back of Webber's Red Bull, which was running second behind Hamilton, on lap 45 of the 67-lap race when the field was lined up behind a safety car deployed due to Fernando Alonso's crash three laps earlier.
Although the incident was missed by the television cameras, it is believed new evidence, thought to be footage on YouTube filmed from the grandstand at the Fuji Speedway, shows Hamilton pulling over to the right-hand side of the track and decelerating considerably prior to the collision, in turn forcing Webber to slow down and thus catching Vettel unawares.
If found guilty, Hamilton could lose the 10 championship points he earned for his victory in Japan, which would reduce his lead over nearest rival Alonso to just two points with two races to go.
But given the fact Vettel was handed a 10-place grid penalty for this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix for his part in the incident, a similar punishment would seem more likely for the Brit.
An FIA official told PA Sport: "We understand the stewards of the meeting have received new evidence and are looking into the relevant matter.
"It would be inappropriate for us to comment any further at this stage, in particular as to what penalty, if any, might be imposed."
F1 regulations state the leader must keep a within five car lengths of the safety car, while erratic driving can also be punished.
Article 40.10 of the F1 Sporting Regulations reads: "The safety car shall be used at least until the leader is behind it and all remaining cars are lined up behind him. Once behind the safety car, the race leader must keep within five car lengths of it."
It is thought Hamilton has already met a three-man panel of stewards at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, who are believed to be deliberating on what action to take over the incident.
Webber, a Grand Prix Drivers Association director, was adamant Hamilton's constant accelerating and braking over the final corners played a large part in his afternoon coming to a premature end.
"I think he did a s*** job behind the safety car," the Australian blasted.
"He did a s*** job and that's it. He spoke in the driver's briefing about how good a job he was going to do and he did the opposite. But we know for next time.
"It definitely contributed to Sebastian (Vettel) hitting me up the back. We were confused what the other car was doing because it wasn't doing what it was supposed to do, clearly.
"You have to keep a sensible rhythm and obviously in the first safety car period and clearly in the second there was not a sensible rhythm."
The first 19 laps of the race were completed behind the safety car as heavy rain had made racing at the Fuji Speedway a dangerous prospect.
Fellow Brit Jenson Button was also unhappy with the way Hamilton initially led the field around before the action finally got under way.
"It felt really inconsistent," the Honda driver said.
"I don't know what he was doing really. We came through the last section and he kept slowing down.
"We knew the safety car wasn't coming in and he kept hitting the brakes hard in the last sector so everyone would bunch up, and then he would shoot off and brake again.
Hamilton had headed into this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix with the opportunity to become the first driver to win the world championship in his debut season.
Dependant on the outcome of the steward's investigation, he will achieve the incredible feat if he drops no more than one point to Alonso in the penultimate race of the season at the Shanghai International Circuit.
At 22 years old, he will also become the youngest winner of motorsport's ultimate prize, a distinction currently held by the Spaniard.
The last three weeks have seen the pair's relationship deteriorate rapidly after Hamilton became incensed at what he saw as a deliberate attempt by the double world champion to run him off the road at the first corner of the Belgian Grand Prix.
He subsequently accused Alonso of being disloyal to McLaren, as well as suggesting he would like to see the 26-year-old leave the Woking-based outfit at the end of the season.
Alonso's future has been the subject of intense speculation following Ron Dennis' revelation during the inquest into the recent spy scandal that the pair were not on speaking terms for some time.
Flavio Briatore has also stated he would welcome the Spaniard back to former team Renault with open arms.
But Hamilton sounded a more conciliatory note as he prepares for a 56-lap showdown that could see his name written into the history books.
"I get on with Fernando well," he said.
"We had a good conversation today, there's nothing wrong with us.
"I wish him the best whatever he does. If he is with us next year then we will work the best way we can.
"In the future, wherever he is, I think we'd get on well."
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It's wishfull thinking but I really hope they punish him.
He deserves a good car next year! Ferrari a bit of Webber mmmmm i can hear the aussies going crazy already.
Hamilton takes pole with, it has to be said, a great lap in quali3. Shame his title will be forever tainted & he will forever be the F1 equivilant of Inter, winning a title by default, with an asterix next to it, the spy scandal being his Calciopoli. Then next year he'll get left behind by Alonso, the 2008 Scuderia number one driver. With any luck Hamilton will get so fed up he'll stick to what he said this week, walk out of F1 & who knows, go to the US to make IndyCar a global success, a bit like his buddy Beckham in the MLS.......