Here Today... Gone To Hell!

2008 Race Schedule

The FIA World Council approved the 2008 schedule on October 24, 2007

Round	Official Race Title		Grand Prix	Circuit		City / Location		Date		Time (local/GMT)
1	ING Australian Grand Prix		Australian GP	Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit		Melbourne		March 16		15:30 / 04:30
2	Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix		Malaysian GP	Sepang International Circuit		Kuala Lumpur		March 23		15:00 / 07:00
3	Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix		Bahrain GP	Bahrain International Circuit		Sakhir, Manama		April 6		14:30 / 11:30
4	Gran Premio de Espa?a Telef?nica		Spanish GP	Circuit de Catalunya		Barcelona		April 27		14:00 / 12:00
5	Petrol Ofisi Turkish Grand Prix		Turkish GP	Istanbul Park		Istanbul		May 11		15:00 / 12:00
6	Grand Prix de Monaco		Monaco GP	Circuit de Monaco		Monte-Carlo		May 25		14:00 / 12:00
7	Grand Prix du Canada		Canadian GP	Circuit Gilles Villeneuve		Montreal		June 8		13:00 / 17:00
8	Grand Prix de France		French GP	Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours		Magny Cours		June 22		14:00 / 12:00
9	Santander British Grand Prix		British GP	Silverstone Circuit		Silverstone		July 6		13:00 / 12:00
10	Gro?er Preis von Deutschland		German GP	Hockenheimring		Hockenheim		July 20		14:00 / 12:00
11	Magyar Nagyd?j		Hungarian GP	Hungaroring		Budapest		August 3		14:00 / 12:00
12	Grand Prix of Europe		European GP	Valencia Street Circuit?		Valencia		August 24		14:00 / 12:00
13	ING Belgian Grand Prix		Belgian GP	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps		Spa		September 7		14:00 / 12:00
14	Gran Premio d'Italia		Italian GP	Autodromo Nazionale Monza		Monza		September 14		14:00 / 12:00
15	SingTel Singapore Grand Prix		Singapore GP	Singapore Street Circuit?		Singapore		September 28		20:00 / 12:00
16	Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix		Japanese GP	Fuji Speedway		Oyama		October 12		13:30 / 04:30
17	Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix		Chinese GP	Shanghai International Circuit		Shanghai		October 19		14:00 / 06:00
18	Grande Pr?mio do Brasil		Brazilian GP	Aut?dromo Jos? Carlos Pace		S?o Paulo		November 2		14:00 / 16:00

Teams & drivers:


Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro
Kimi R?ikk?nen
Felipe Massa

BMW Sauber F1 Team
Nick Heidfeld
Robert Kubica

ING Renault F1 Team
Fernando Alonso
Nelson Piquet Jr

AT&T Williams
Nico Rosberg
Kazuki Nakajima

Red Bull Racing
David Coulthard
Mark Webber

Panasonic Toyota Racing
Jarno Trulli
Timo Glock

Scuderia Toro Rosso
Sebastian Vettel
S?bastien Bourdais

Honda Racing F1 Team
Jenson Button
Rubens Barrichello

Super Aguri F1
Takuma Sato
Anthony Davidson

Force India F1 Team
Adrian Sutil
Giancarlo Fisichella

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton
Heikki Kovalainen

---

/jarmo

I can't wait for the 08 season . 

Hopefully Kimi can win it again.

My Australian GP pole pick:  TBA


 :P

I want Kimi to win it again in 2008!  :)

thrilled Kimi won this year!
and rootin for him to win it next year! 

Why no US GP ??  :(

Very few Americans understand the greatness we call Formula 1.




/jarmo

But there aren't many Americans in the US...... :confused:

Who's watching NASCAR then?

 ;)




/jarmo

i dont think whoever owns the track in America & Ecclestone are on such good terms now are they??


i went to the race in America the year all the teams pulled out..  such a disapointment
but at least i got my ticket signed

Rednecks : ok: :yes:

Right. Plus, more and more immigrants are starting to appreciate the greatness of NASCAR.... :P

Seriously though, the US GP this year was sold out (despite the scorching heat) and tickets weren't exactly cheap...

Bernie and Tony George aren't in complete agreement with the way things are run.

Alonso back to Renault!!

http://www.formula1.com/

This was expected. I'm glad to see he's back to the team that helped him win two champioships...will see if the car is competitive enough though.

It'll sure be interesting to see what will Hamilton do this year in Mclaren now that Alonso's gone.

They didn't want Kovalainen in the same team not to upset little Fernando.

 :hihi:


All the respect I had for Alonso is gone. What a sore loser.




/jarmo

I agree, his such a little girl.

i hope Heikki goes to Mclaren and laps Alonso in the opening race. I also hope Pique Jnr is signed as Alonso's team mate and he beats Alonso, but Flavio prob wont allow that happen as Alonso has no doubt insisted on being Nr 1 driver.

All in all it looks like Alonso will not be winning the champship next year so im happy. I would like to see Massa win next year but I would settle for Kimi again.  :)

McLaren apologises over spy findings
Thursday, 13, December, 2007, 16:25


McLaren has admitted that the leaked Ferrari data at the centre of the ?spygate? case seeped further into its team than it previously realised ? and has apologised for the fact that it took an FIA investigation to establish the full facts.

The Woking team released a statement on Thursday together with a letter it sent to FIA president Max Mosley on 5 December, in response to a report by the governing body?s technical department into its 2008 car.

In the letter, McLaren Group COO Martin Whitmarsh expresses ?sincere regret? at some of the disclosures in the report, and accepts that Ferrari intellectual property may have been seen by more McLaren personnel than the team acknowledged at the World Motor Sport Council hearing in September.

??We accept central conclusion that some pieces of Ferrari information may have been disclosed via Nigel Stepney and Mike Coughlan, directly or indirectly, to individuals within McLaren other than Pedro de la Rosa and Fernando Alonso,? Whitmarsh wrote.

He said it was a matter of ?deep regret? to McLaren that evidence unearthed by the FIA probe had not come to light during the team?s internal investigations.

?We?must accept that our own investigations into this matter were insufficient, although we would ask you to have regard to the fact that such investigations were conducted during a highly intense racing season and under significant time pressure,? he added.

Whitmarsh further expressed McLaren?s ?embarrassment that pieces of Ferrari information may have penetrated our organisation beyond our previous belief?.

As a result, he said McLaren accepts that the FIA inspection ?provides some support? for the WMSC?s conclusion at the September hearing that ?a number of McLaren employees?were in unauthorised possession of?Ferrari technical information?, noting that it has already been severely punished for that offence.

But Whitmarsh insisted the FIA inspection did not establish that any Ferrari information was used on McLaren?s 2007 or 2008 cars.

In its press statement the team said it had been "embarrassed by the successive disclosures" and apologised unreservedly.

"McLaren wish to make a public apology to the FIA, Ferrari, the Formula 1 community and to Formula 1 fans throughout the world and offer their assurance that changes are now being made which will ensure that nothing comparable to what has taken place will ever happen again," the statement said.

"McLaren have also agreed to pay the costs incurred by the FIA for their investigation."

The team also admitted that the "entire situation could have been avoided" it had immediately informed Ferrari and the FIA when it first knew of Stepney's "whistleblowing" about the Ferrari floor in Australia.





/jarmo

HEIKKI KOVALAINEN JOINS VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES 2008 DRIVER LINE-UP

http://www.mclaren.com/latestnews/press-releases-2007.php?article=62


Could be a lot worse for Heikki.....  :hihi:




/jarmo

Will McLaren maintain the NO number one driver policy too with this line up?? :hihi:

Good for Heikki...I'm sure he'll get the same treatment from McLaren as Hamilton got in 2007? ::)

You mean the same treatment Alonso got?

Until he pissed off everybody with his backstabbing and whining....  Oh, and his tactics in Hungary.... :hihi:



/jarmo

if im honest i wasnt too impressed with Heikki last year, he had a very poor start to the season, but his performances through the middle and end of the year impressed me, in fuji when he held off kimi for second place, was a great drive, but i just dont think he has the raw talent hamilton does i dont expect him to be challengin hamilton at every race.

and thank god alonso has moved out of McLaren, he has to rely on no.1 status and the team helping him to win the championship, i feel sorry for fisichella, he was a great driver before he rejoined renault and why maybe he wasnt as fast as alonso, im sure he may have done better with equal equipment, its a shame fisichella wont be in a top drive next year, force one india looking the most probable

nelson piquet jr has no chance of equal status and eqipment in 08, because if its rumoured that alsonso will be a ferarri driver in 09, briatorie will do everything in his power to keep alonso, and if that means givin him the best of everythin while nelson suffers, then so be it. contracts can be broken

we'll i predict a strong year for ferarri, and McLaren and renault a lot closer to the big two than last year with alonso devopment experience, and BMW will have a disapointing year compared to last year, i just think they need a race winning driver, to push the team forward more, no doubt the two they have are great drivers, but they need and alsonso/m schumacher to push the team

i want massa to win, he just made far too many mistakes last year, malaysia springs to mind

although a strong year for McLaren is predicted, it will be intresting how they cope with being so far down the pitlane this year, with fewer space and few garages to work with

anyone know whats happening with prodrives entry into f1 this year

i noticed it wasnt on jarmo's list, i heard rumours of a McLaren "b team" and then for bernie to scrap those rumours with the "customer car" thing

whats goin on with prodrive, are thye not entering?

its a shame if they are not, when they rejected eddie jordans and paul stodarts applications

As far as I know, Prodrive couldn't enter F1 in 2008 because certain teams opposed the customer car idea.....




/jarmo

ah yeah, read it just a moment ago, a couple of teams objected to the idea, when prodrive always had the intent of competing with  customer chassis

unfair how 2 teams are alowed to compete with them and new teams arent

should be stopped all together, before the field gets split up into two groups like the touring cars

All driver seats have been filled now.




/jarmo

It amazes me how some people can be such stupid ignorant fucks.  They stoop this low just because this guy had a better year than their guy AND THEY WERE BOTH ON THE SAME TEAM!!!  This is just so wrong and sad.  :no:

Racist taunts follow Lewis Hamilton
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Monday, February 4th 2008, 4:00 AM

BARCELONA, Spain - Lewis Hamilton endured racist taunts from spectators at Formula One testing, Spanish media reported yesterday.

The 23-year-old from Britain, F1's first black driver, was jeered and insulted when he moved between the McLaren motorhome and the team's garage at the Montmelo circuit on Saturday.

Circuit director Ramon Pradera instructed staff to erect barriers around the team's paddock for Hamilton's safety, the reports said. Banners making references to Hamilton and team boss Ron Dennis were removed while the stands directly above McLaren's garage were cleared to ensure no debris could be thrown down when the car returned to the pit lane.

"We would like to make a plea to the fans to behave correctly," Pradera said. "No type of offensive behavior can be tolerated."

Last season, Fernando Alonso of Spain failed to clinch a third straight championship after he joined McLaren from Renault. Alonso finished third in the drivers' standings, while rookie Hamilton was second.

Alonso has since rejoined Renault.

I agree 100%.

They're just making sure that less tests will take place in Spain.


The FIA has already threatened the Spanish GPs with sanctions if it continues.

I would like to see what Alonso has to say about this. It's his fans.....


/jarmo

It?s not his fans; it?s a group of ignorant troublemakers that should be banned for life from any sporting event. I?m begging people not to generalise.

Saying this I feel absolutely ashamed and saddened. The stewards could have done more to avoid this pathetic display of ignorance and I hope there are sanctions.

I wonder who these people support in F1 then? I wouldn't be shocked if they see themselves as Alonso fans.....

It'd be cool of Alonso to say something. It doesn't matter if they're his real fans or not. But it does reflect back on him since he was the one having issues with Hamilton last season and he's the only Spanish driver in F1.


I also hope more drivers take a stance against that shit.


When shit like this happens in football, players of the teams involved often comment on it and say it's wrong and unacceptable.



/jarmo

Anybody is free to call themselves anybody's fans regardless of how insane they might be. That does not impose any responsibility on the person they are a fan of. In addition, Alonso certainly can't be challenged or expected to appologize on behalf of these people. It's like expecting Axl to appologize on behalf of some dumbhead fans who get in fights at the shows, start riots, or destroy the venues.

Not apologize. Just say something.

I think it might send a signal to these idiots that the guy they possibly support thinks they're scum....


Axl has had several people that were causing problems during shows kicked out and has made it known what he thinks of these idiots......  ;D




/jarmo

ITV-F1.com?s brand new video content is now available to watch by our international readership.

All readers of the website can now check out all the clips in our revamped F1 video section.

Here you can find action from the 2008 launch season, with videos from the Renault and Red Bull unveilings recently added.

You can also watch ITV Sport commentator Martin Brundle?s award-winning F1 Insight features which take you closer to the driver?s life in the cockpit.

And want to know what drivers get up to away from the track? Then check out Louise Goodman?s interviews with some of the star names in the sport.

There are plenty of cool videos to see so make sure you make time to look through our F1 Video section.

---

For the fans who haven't followed F1 a lot, I can recommend checking the video section (http://www.itv-f1.com/Video.aspx)'s F1 Insight tab.






/jarmo

So...is there gonna be a game for the 2008 season, as we had on the previous years?  ;D

if i remeber correctly, f1 wasnt the massive attraction it is before alonso won the championship, so i'd say they were alonso fans yes  :no:

My pick for Pole:  Raikkonen
And... what the heck, my pick for race:  Raikkonen!  :)

Josee

Wrong thread and wrong format.

One pole pick and then you have to pick the top eight.  : ok:



/jarmo

oppps!  :o

Is the thread created???

You're right!!  The top eight!  I forgot! :)  Thanks!

4 dayssss!

AMEN!  :beer:

Kimi started out doing really good , but not pitting and trying to take/move into 2nd at the turn was a big mistake.

Hamilton raced a fucking awesome race

Hey!  I want my point!  :hihi:

(Thanks.  ;))

Bourdais really surprised me with his performance, it's a shame he blew up near the end.

I hope this occurrence with Hamilton in the winners circle so much isn't a pattern again this year.

hehehe!  I wouldn't say no for Hamilton as a WC!  :):):)

Evita Hamilton  ;)

I'm just messing with you Grouse.  ;D ;)

F1 will return to the BBC form next season on  : ok:

no more annoying tv adverts!!!!

Oh wow. Congratulations!


Here in Sweden they're trying to annoy the F1 fans even more. Not only do we get the ads, but last race they even put up a screen advertising a competition to win a "F1 watch" a couple of times when they were supposed to show the race.

Imagine if the football fans/viewers got this treatment. When the game is going on, they put up a screen advertising some stupid competition....

I'm not talking about putting a text on the screen or a scrolling text, I'm talking about a full screen.





/jarmo

i know its so annoying, there was one particular race about 2 years ago ITV were supposed to take a break, but pitstops meant button was leading for a lap or two, so they didnt take a break so they could show button leading, this meant they had to take a break for 2 mins on the second last lap!!!!! and this was actually a close race with 2 drivers battling for the lead, they rejoined half way through the last lap, it was a gisgrace

the rest of their coverage is good, i just cant handle all the adverts, its too much like america

Actually, during the F1 races here in "America" we don't have those annoying ads you guys described.

so either you like the commercials and dont mind missing the racing?? or you dont have commercials?

Part of these ad breaks are probably due to the fact that Bernie obviously wants as many as possible to be able to see the races.

So the races are usually on channels everybody can see (at least in Europe).

Those channels get their money either from tax payers or advertisers....


In my case, I can watch the qualifying on a pay channel with no ad breaks or a free channel with ad breaks (and the breaks are between the qualifying sessions). Too bad I don't have that choice for the races....



/jarmo

i dont understand why so many breaks, during a football match they can wait until half time, thats over 45 mins without one, yet during a race they go like every 15 mins, yet the total race time is about the same length as a football match

No, we DO have commercials.  I'm just saying that they don't interrupt the action during the coverage with full screen ads and stuff, they just stick to the racing and the new scoring ticker.

Good to see Kimi back in the winners circle.

so Kubica gets his first and BMW's first pole, well done, although id imagine hes a bit light on fuel

i think Kimi may have a heavier load too, hopefully itl work out for him

You're so right  Shoco : ok: And here you go with this historical moment

first with Polish comentary ;D from Polsat:

http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=TqFtZT32_oQ

second with English from Speed TV (crucial moments 1:14; 1:39  ;D):

http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=BsR_414_ifU

third in German from PREMIERE (2:14):

http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=zOkfmKDYWW0

Memorable moment  :beer:   :beer:  :beer:

Go ROBERT, go! You're damn good & fast!  :love:

unfortunatley for you i think im also right about his fule load, we wont have to wait long to find out

Are you watching the races on the speed station? If so do you think it's taped I havent noticed much being missed after returning from a commercial spot. That bahrain race was excellent.

What a scary crash for Heikki.  :nervous:




Great job by Kimi and Ferrari.  8)




/jarmo

Congratulations to Kimi on his win.  :)

I was really worried for Heikki :(

Update on Heikki Kovalainen:


?He has no broken bones and CT scans performed at the hospital confirm that he has no head injuries and the team is optimistic that he will make a full recovery over the next few days,? reported McLaren team boss Ron Dennis. ?Subject to the results of an FIA medical examination we hope that he will be able to compete in the Turkish Grand Prix.?

www.formula1.com

 : ok:



/jarmo

06 May 2008

Super Aguri withdraw from 2008 championship

Following weeks of speculation concerning the future of the team, Super Aguri announced Tuesday that they are to withdraw from the 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship with immediate effect.

Super Aguri, founded by former driver Aguri Suzuki, had been participating in Formula One racing since the 2006 season. The Japanese team, who scored their first championship points after only 22 races (Spanish Grand Prix, 2007) and finished ninth in the 2007 constructors? championship, will cease all activities as of May 6, 2008.

The Honda-powered team, whose driver line-up comprised Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson, ran into financial difficulties last year, and completed little winter testing ahead of the 2008 season as a result. A planned buyout by the Magma Group looked set to save the team until that fell through last month, and only last week Suzuki expressed optimism about a new deal with German automotive company Weigl.

Explaining his decision to withdraw from Formula One racing, Aguri Suzuki released the following statement:

?In order to realize my dream to become an owner of a Formula One Team, I applied for a grid position in the FIA Formula One World Championship in November 2005. Since then, I have participated in the championship for 2 years and 4 months as the SUPER AGURI F1 TEAM, but regretfully I must inform you that the team will be ceasing its racing activities as of today.

?The team has competed against the many car manufacturer backed teams and has succeeded in obtaining the first points after only the 22nd race finishing in 9th place overall in the 2007 Constructors? Championship. However, the breach of contract by the promised partner SS United Oil & Gas Company resulted in the loss of financial backing and immediately put the team into financial difficulties. Also, the change in direction of the environment surrounding the team, in terms of the use of customer chassis, has affected our ability to find partners.

?Meanwhile, with the help of Honda, we have somehow managed to keep the team going, but we find it difficult to establish a way to continue the activities in the future within the environment surrounding F1 and as a result, I have concluded to withdraw from the Championship.

?I would like to express my deepest thanks to Honda, Bridgestone, the sponsors, all the people who have given us advise during various situations over the past couple of years all the Team Staff who have kept their motivations high and always done their best, Anthony Davidson who has always pushed to the limit despite the very difficult conditions, Takuma Sato who has been with us from the very start and has always fought hard and led the team and lastly our fans from all over the world who have loyally supported the SUPER AGURI F1 TEAM.?

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/5/7730.html

shame, a nice little team with a good attitude, i liked them

kind of remuinded me of minardi :'(

its been raining in monaco all morning, this will be good

Just saw some photos from this morning and let me tell you if that keeps up it could be a very exciting race...

*edit it's dry now  >:(

*Edit 2: Omg raikonen you dumb piece of shit I was really rootin for sutil  :rant:

Hamilton, what a fucking idiot!

RED means stop!





/jarmo

So, they should stop behind every Ferrari car?  :hihi:

im delighted for bmw and kubica who is now leading the championship!!!

Great for him.



A little help from Hamilton....



YES!


First his dad crashes and now Lewis himself.....Great week for the Hamiltons.



/jarmo

Well, as long they still have sponsors to pay for the damages..... :nervous:


I'm kinda surprized Kimi didn't slap the stuck-up golden boy.  :rant:

Really pleased to see DC on the podium : ok:

Kimi dropped two spots in the driver standings after todays race.  :(

Hamilton and Rosberg both got penalized.

They get dropped ten places at the French GP.




/jarmo

Does this mean if they will drop 10 spots from their official qualifying position?

Usually that's what it means.....

I wouldn't pick Hamilton for pole in the next race.  :-X


/jarmo

I guess it's time he made some mistakes after a flawless rookie campaign.

Flawless??  :confused:

This guy begs-to-differ  ;)
(http://gypsysoul.lunarpages.com/Kimi1.jpg)

remeber last years french GP? and the following british GP?

raikkonen/ferrari tracks  : ok:

Why not?, technically he could still get pole, because the penalty is for the starting grid on sunday and such a penalty has no effect on the qually results if i'm not mistaken...

were not picking whos the fastest, were picking whos gonna be on pole position

If me or anyone else picks Hamilton for pole it should count since we're picking the one who's gonna get pole according to official FIA rules, not sure sure about what you mean with the who's fastest comment, are you agreeing or disagreeing?...

Pick him then.

He's not gonna be better than 10th on the grid and you're supposed to pick the pole position guy.




/jarmo

hamilton might be the quickest in qualifing for france, but he wont be pole position, the best he can hope for is 11th,

pick who you think is going to start in pole position for the race

and just to be clear, im disagreeing with you

Please, you know what I mean.  Rookies aren't supposed to come within mere points of winning the championship.

Please yourself.

First off, I was only joking with you ... hence the  ;)

Face it.  Rookie or not, your guy CHOKED BIG TIME last season.

<<<<Please.  (That's me pleasing myself.)

Hamilton isn't my guy.  I don't have any "guys" in F1.

Yeah...

Today again proved when something goes wrong for Lewis, he never recovers from it  :nervous:

not a lewis fan, but i think the penalty was unjust

he already made the pass before the corner, when you see someone trying to defend there position and they straight line a chicane and prevent themselves from losing a place they dont get penalised

it was touch and go, but lewis had the position

You can't cut a chicane and gain a position while the other guy drives like he's supposed to.

That's common sense.

Now if Lewis had dropped back and let Vettel past, I think he would've been ok.


/jarmo

but thats the thing, lewis was at least 3/4 of a car length passed, if not fully past him before he ran wide, hence not gaining a position

its not black and white, it was too close to call, i dont think its a definate he did cut to gain, or if he was past in time or not, was very close

he couldnt maintain the overtaking manoeuvre without straightlining the chicane

if there had been gravel or a wall there he wouldnt have attempted it

Lewis hasn't made a mistake yet in his career in F1 has he?  :P

Canada wasn't a mistake, it was "one of those things".




/jarmo

pffft, i was furious when he did that!!! that was just stupid!!


as for today, looks like he went in a bit too fast, as u can c him correcting it, i dont think he intentionally straight lined the chicane

Kimi's car after the French GP:

(http://i28.tinypic.com/2py2ipe.jpg)

(http://i32.tinypic.com/w99x6q.jpg)

(http://i31.tinypic.com/kxavm.jpg)

(http://i32.tinypic.com/27zvkpl.jpg)




/jarmo

I was extremely surprised that F1 didn't call Kimi in to the pits to either park his car or have the team fix the broken exhaust Sunday.

Imagine the third place guy getting hit with that!!?!?

Two weeks ago we had over here in Warsaw BMW Sauber F1 Team's Pit Lane Park event.

Check out some pics taken by folks from F1 Wyprzedz Mnie website:

http://www.f1wm.pl/galeria/thumbnails.php?album=97

And here are short videos made by me uploaded to F1wm YouTube channel:

http://pl.youtube.com/user/f1wm (well, all the films they have are actually made by me  :hihi:)

I also have to confess to my F1.com debut  :hihi:

http://www.formula1.com/gallery/other/2008/290.html

In pic 15 (last in whole gallery) you can spot me just over Kubica's helmet: I'm the one wearing red  :P and holding a camera  ;D

And you can spot the same moment on my video just from the other side  ;D

http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=JjdPtW7JfCc

And during VIPs autograph signing session there was played SCOM  :D (but some cover version).

http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=H8ZJ-266a14 (they guy on Robert's right is his Polish co-ordinator Marcin Czachorski)

A friend noticed also that "Patience" was played as weel (frankly speaking I don't recall that at all) when people were forcing their way in a queue  :rofl:

I highly recomend such an event to every F1 fan. It's great fun: you can do pit stop challenge, see the whole car in pices, sit in the monoqoque, do simulator rides, see the rides on a mini track (100 m) by F1.06 or Formula BMW cars and lots of others...

Next PLP will be this weekend in Manchester:

https://www.press.bmw-motorsport.com/pcmot/p/pressRelease.htm?id=PR0003519EN&left_menu_item=node__1142

 

Jarmo or anyone, what does the "barcode" like emblem represent or mean if anything on the side and rear wing of the Ferrari's ?

Here's another photo:
(http://d.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/ng/sp/ap_photo/20080718/all/l3292222.jpg)

That's where the Marlboro logo used to be.

But it seems they've removed all their logos for this season and added that instead.





/jarmo

Thank you for the info.  :)

I remember they only used to run the bar code for the United States Grand Prix because in our country, tobacco sponsorship isn't allowed.

So Marlboro has left Ferrari?

I don't think so.

Their logo has just disappeared.





/jarmo

So what's the point of sponsoring the team if the logo isn't on the car?

They don't even have the Marlboro logos on the firesuits and team equipment.

Don't ask me!


Maybe they can use Ferrari F1 in their own advertising (where it's allowed).....





/jarmo

Weird!  :nervous:

More power to them I guess.

Raikkonen considering retirement

Eurosport - Wed, 23 Jul 13:26:00 2008

Kimi Raikkonen has refused to commit to Formula One beyond the end of his Ferrari contract in 2009.

The reigning world champion, who had a lacklustre German Grand Prix last weekend, also defended himself against rumours that his heart is no longer in the competition.

"I am not in a hurry to decide," Raikkonen told El Mundo. "I have one more year on my contract that I want to fulfil.

"For 2010, we will see. It is not an easy decision, it is necessary to evaluate many things.

"I don't feel like I need to explain, I will make my decision when I am ready. Ferrari is not rushing me either.

"The desire to win hasn't decreased at all."

Before the race at Hockenheim Raikkonen had insisted that he would not break his current contract with Italian outfit Ferrari and would definitely drive for them next season.

The 28-year-old Finn responded positively to questions about the possibility of working with Spanish Renault driver Fernando Alonso at the Scuderia then or in 2010.

"Why not?" he said. "Who knows?

"But I am not the one who makes the decisions about drivers."

Raikkonen added that should he decide to retire, boredom would not be a problem for him.

"There are many things to do outside of Formula One - I will find ways to amuse myself," he said. "I have never had problems with having spare time."

Raikkonen is now seven points behind championship leader Lewis Hamilton - who won the German GP for McLaren - with team-mate Felipe Massa also ahead of him, three points better off.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport

Source: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/23072008/58/raikkonen-considering-retirement.html
*************************************************************************

I would really hate to see Kim retire from driving in the sport. :(

I guess Ferrari is a big name to say you Sponser even if you can't actually advertise it during the f1

Come on the lewis  : ok: (thought id slip that in somewhere)

from what i uderstand the words "marlboro" arent on the car, for advertising reasons, but the "barcode" which replaces it, is still a trademark of marlboro

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/2725661751_dcd005c2e8_o.jpg)

Kimi on Saturday at Hungaroring.


/jarmo

A few weeks ago, I flew down to Hungary to see my first real live Formula 1 race.

I'd never been to a race even though I've been following the sport for years.

But this year I decided to actually go.

So I picked Budapest because I thought it'd be cool to visit a new country as well. And somewhere where the weather is nice.

Turns out it was very nice.


Arrived in Budapest on Thursday evening, went out to eat and it started raining.

Asked the people working in the hotel reception how to get to the circuit. They all said "taxi".

Which I thought was a bit suspicious since I had read about there being buses and a train there.

So, Friday morning comes. Take the train and it stops somewhere on the country side in a small village. All the people wearing F1 clothing gets off the train. I do the same and follow them.

You basically walk on this sand/gravel street for 20 minutes and then you're at the circuit.

It's pretty straightforward actually.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3219/2738687360_8cb9674d33.jpg?v=0)

As I walk through the gate, I can hear the cars. The first practice session had just started and some of the smaller teams' cars were out.

The cars sound amazing in person!


There's not a lot of people around at this time. It's only Friday and the practice sessions don't always attract a lot of spectators.

I'm not complaining, less queues!

I got a Gold 1 ticket so the seat is close to the finishing line.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/2722829715_a0f2e4bdce.jpg?v=0)



Got there early on Saturday as well in order to see the last practice session.

Not that crowded yet.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/2725661405_6455fc304d.jpg?v=0)

People started showing up for the qualifying in the afternoon though.

Lots of Polish fans who were confident after the qualifying.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3160/2738695132_bafd86b56e.jpg?v=0)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3007/2726487530_d2e1b20ffb.jpg?v=0)


Sunday morning.

It's apparent everybody's coming to the race today. It's not sold out, but all the grandstands are way more packed than on the previous days.

More flags, more people.

Lots of Polish fans and Finnish fans too.

A lot of Kimi flags. Most of the people carrying them aren't even Finnish.

Before the race, they have a drivers' parade where all the drivers are on a flatbed truck and are driven around the circuit.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3181/2737876333_9dd2d41279.jpg?v=0)

Then, there's a presentation of the grid, before the cars are pushed into their starting positions.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3065/2738715580_465b70d2bc.jpg?v=0)
The cars belonging to Kimi and Fernando Alonso before the race.


When the race starts, it's an unbelievable noise that you don't get to hear when you watch the races on TV.


The Hungarian GP has a reputation of being boring. But this was not boring at all.

Hearing the crowd cheer when Massa overtook Hamilton in the first corner was priceless.

Hearing Felipe Massa drive past with an apparent engine problem and seeing his engine blowing up on the big screen only a few hundred meters away was unbelievable.

Seeing the Ferrari pit crew manage to get Kimi past Fernando was amazing as well.


As soon as the Polish fans realized their hero was not a contender for the podium, they went silent and started packing their BMW flags.

They weren't as loud as they were after qualifying.


(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3155/2738732980_dcedd313f1.jpg?v=0)
Heikki winning his first F1 race.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3236/2739092452_8938c5101a.jpg?v=0)
Kimi was third, notice the flags on the big screen.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/2733035815_7c75d0b2ba.jpg?v=0)
Podium


After the race, it was time to head back to Budapest.

The train was hot as hell.

As I got out of the train in Budapest, and I think it was 25-30C outside, it felt cold!

That means the train was a lot hotter than the outside temperature....




Budapest was a nice place to visit. Lots to see there.

I definitely recommend going to see a live race for anyone who's interested in F1.

It's kinda like a music festival, except there's cars involved!  :hihi:




/jarmo

very cool pics and story thanks for sharing , sir. :beer:

So in other words, you should've taken the taxi.  :hihi:

Sounds and looks like you had an awesome time anyways.  Thanks for sharing.  : ok:

Awwww, Jarmo popped his live race cherry!

Glad you had a great time, you can't go wrong with motorsports.  AND you got to see Kimi on the podium.

Will you be doing more races in the future?

As soon as I saw the first Friday practice session, I decided I had to do it again some day.  :hihi:




/jarmo

I've been to Spa a couple of years back and it left me wanting more  :yes:

Anyways really cool to see that you're such a big F1 fan jarmo, that must've cost quite alot, travelling all the way to Hungary to see a race.  :beer:

Spa was an option.

But Budapest was cheaper to go to in the end, and easier to get to the circuit from the city.




/jarmo

Very cool  story Jarmo. : ok:



The smel of gasoline on  air, the noise of Ferrari engine its so UNIQUE  and AMAZING IMO !
You liked the v8 sound...you did not heard in person the v12 sound bro... vrum vrum. :hihi:


F1 is very cool event i will never forget the first time i heard a formula one  engine at Rio Gp when i was 12 years old loud as fuck...great memories !

cool pics jarmo

i remember my first race, it was san marino in 2001, the Jordans picked up 5th and 6th that weekend, excellent  : ok:

What a horrible weekend for Kimi.

I hope the mechanic is ok.



/jarmo

Kimi has really struggled recently. I sure hope he can turn things around and win the championship again this year. I would hate to see him retire at season's end if he keeps having these poor finishes. He definitely took a big hit today in his quest for the championship.

Kimi's mechanic got twisted and mangled up pretty bad. I hope he'll be alright.

I still think Kimi will win the WDC again : ok:

By the way it is Kimi faught the lights was red. :no:

The big
WTF is going on with the Ferrari s engines...?!


Massa is driven to perfection ! : ok:

some countries don't allow the advertising of tobacco products, so no sponsor logo on the cars/suits in those places

Great great win for Lewis!!! :beer:

How typical.

 :no:



/jarmo

Bad luck for Kimi  :( If it hadn't start raining he would have won the race!

Great race and an amazing finish, I'm pleased to see Hamilton win, but Raikonnen must be gutted, leading for all but the first and last laps. Probably a two horse race for the championship now.

lewis hamilton has been demoted to third place after a stewards enquirey

he was issued with a 25 second penalty after the incident with kimi at the bus stop chicane

hamiltons lead is now 4 points i think

:'(
So it ok to punish someone who made a small mistake that in the end did not effect the out come of the race ? but its ok for the FIA last season to let Alonso get away with "murder" ?  :rant:

Like football it all about the money now  >:(

"Murder"??

Sorry i meant as figure of speech.  :)

Example:
It's raining cats and dogs = when it's raining really hard.

 :peace:

Hahahahha, very, very funny   :hihi:

I see you got my point  :rofl:

Ferrari have announced an extension to Kimi Raikkonen?s contract for a further two seasons, keeping the world champion with the Italian team until the end of 2010.



Awesome! :D

W.W.F.D.N.*?



According to rumors, Heidfeld stays at BMW and Kubica has to move out.....




/jarmo


* = What will Fernando do now?

Very happy to see Kimi will be back for the next two years.

And how cool it would be to see him take the championship this year and the next two years as well.  :)

Not very cool  ;D

How about Hamilton winning the championship and another 5 years afther that as well  :D

Now that would be cool  :P

According to rumors, Heidfeld stays at BMW and Kubica has to move out.....


Are you sure ?! Kubica is much more talented than Heidfeld....

The rumor also stated that Heidfeld apparently has a contract already and it would cost a lot for BMW to cancel it.

But who knows!  :hihi:


/jarmo

and heidfeld is german of course

all i can say about that qualifing session is LOL

Please...please NO! ;D

hope Kimmi gets his "shacklers revenge" tomorrow.
The title so much fits him this season.

http://www.formula1.com/services/play_video.html


it'd be cool to see a GNR tune as one of the themese for the upcoming races :D

fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!!!!
why did they do that to massa!!!!!!!!!!!
fruck
fuckđašwgf
fuck fuck
fuck


fuck fuck fuck
damn it
fuck fuck fuck
damn
fuck damn fuck fuuuuuuurgewa
greagrae

aerg
areg
areg
rae
grea
gareioghzjreioaqjgpiaerjigojearoijgpoireajgreag
rea



fucking nelson pique jr for crashing in the damn fall
fuck trhe damnn gmechanic for screwing it all up...
fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuckf

frestjhgpiresipzgqoip0gAQWĐŽ



someone kill the cofck sucker who made up that crappy lights at the pit...
why cant they use the ordinary lollypop like normal pepole do.

fucking pique crashed that wall on purpose.... so alonso could get gain.

or alonso fucked up his car on purpose.

P.S. in case your program has a lot of comertials during the race... use http://www.justin.tv/loto11
it has a live stream.

Nice to see Lewis Hamilton driving like an amateur again.

If Kimi would've been driving like him, they would've crashed in the first corner. Instead, Kimi ended up off the track and lost positions.....

Massa was driving in a similar way....





/jarmo

I totally agree, he blew his chances himself. Great start from Kimi though, it was just too much for Lewis to handle and he did a stupid mistake trying to take the first place back.

I had a little smile on my face when Massa hit his car..

Hamilton made a mistake with braking too late but he didn't hit anyone.. as far as I'm concerned this was just a racing incident and not worth a penalty. Massa deliberatly hit Hamilton and both got the same penalty? It's fucking ridiculous.. Ferrari International Assistence is up their asses again like usual.

And if anyone has listened to the press conference, both Alonso and Kubica mentioned that pretty much everyone at the start braked (too) late because their tires/brakes cooled off fast because of the cool temperature.

Kimi was fast but not fast enough (like usual this season), Alonso and Kubica deserved their positions, especially Alonso.

And Massa, well as the Dutch commentators have been saying this for a while when he's up front he's really fast, but when something is not quite right he's nowhere. 'He's a very fast driver but not a racer'.

Oh and the fact that Bourdais also got a penalty shows the FIA will do everything they can to help Ferrari to the championship, Bourdais drove carefull, stayed on the inside so didn't push Massa away aswell as he didn't brake too late. Massa just drove in like he wasn't there:

(http://images.gpupdate.net/newsnew/113025.jpg)

I agree that the penalties didn't reflect the things they did.

But it was ironic about how Norbert Haug was telling German TV before the race that Kimi wouldn't crash into Lewis in the first corner.... That's not Kimi's style.  ::)


Lewis admitted that he made a mistake.

What if he had taken himself and Kimi out of the race like he did in Canada? It could've happened if Kimi hadn't seen what was coming.





/jarmo

Bourdais loses points over Massa clash

Toro Rosso?s Sebastien Bourdais has had 25 seconds added to his Japanese Grand Prix race time as penalty for making contact with Ferrari?s Felipe Massa. The stewards? decision drops Bourdais from sixth to 10th in the results and elevates Massa to seventh.

Bourdais was rejoining the race after his second pit stop on lap 50 when Massa attempted to pass around the outside at Turn One. The pair made contact, tipping the Brazilian into a spin. Massa subsequently continued, finishing in eighth place.

The penalty means Bourdais? team mate Sebastian Vettel moves up to sixth place ahead of Massa, while Red Bull?s Mark Webber picks up a point for eighth. It also means Lewis Hamilton?s championship lead over Massa is cut to just five points.

Kimi said he was pushed out by Heikki, as in touched. Don't think Lewis touched anyone but he really forced people off the track on that first corner.

Yeah, ok, the penalties are favoring Ferrari, but do McLaren really deserve to win? Actually, all 4 "top" drivers this year made numerous amateurous mistakes. Whoever becomes the world champion, will be the least impressive and deserving ever. Second close will be last year's  :P

Then he should be punished, not now. And in Canada Lewis was punished (next race along with Rosberg).


There is a difference between forcing someone deliberatly off the track and having no other place to go (this is racing, stuff like this happens) in this case Lewis braked too late and overshoot the car, more or less the same as with the guys behind him only extremer. The thing is seperate the two from eachother, and then when you do penalize atleast do it constant and not like the FIA has been doing this season with extremes. There need to be rules that when you do certain things not allowed it gets a certain punishment, not getting a 25 sec stop and go penalty while someone else gets only a fine. For example the Belgium situation, here Lewis get's punished but the same situation happened in Hungary 2006 with Schumi and de la Rosa (see YouTube) and no punishment there.

It's no secret that FIA acts in ways that are in favor of Ferrari (actually the FIA admitted a few years ago that Ferrari had a 'unique' place in the F1 championship because of it's history and is treated after it). I'm surely we can all agree that again after a race in the 2008 season the talk are about FIA penalties and not the race itself. That's not good.. this has to change.

I just read a Massa interview post race, he says he finds it 'unbelievable that Lewis took high risks during the start' wasn't he the one who bumped Lewis off? and that 'that situation with Lewis was a typical race incident' and that the situation with Bourdais 'speaks for itself and doesn't need further explanation'.

I had and have respect for Raikkonen but Massa, never had and never will..


Lewis didn't touch anything as the replay on Youtube shows but Heikki indeed hit Kimi.

'Yeah, ok, the penalties are favoring Ferrari, but do McLaren really deserve to win?' You said it yourself.. the team and driver who are the strongest should win, not by FIA rulings and penalties. Both Ferrari and McLaren are very close to eachother and made mistakes, according to Bridgestone the weather decides who has the fastest car (cooler temp McClaren with a base-oversteering car and hotter weather Ferrari with a base-understeering car). Lewis and McClaren are now 5 points ahead and have made the least amount of mistakes especially McClaren as a team, but those points ahead would've been a lot bigger if the FIA didn't make such a mess out of it. I want the best team and driver to win the championships, fair but exciting and close racing aswell, but the FIA has made a big mess of things this season.

Maybe if Lewis Hamilton didn't constantly "bend the rules" we wouldn't have to?


The drivers have always have this kind of gentleman's agreement. You have to pay attention in the first corner.


Yes, things happen in racing but I just can't understand how you defend what he did. He even admits making a mistake.

You think it's ok for him to take somebody else out while getting a favorable position himself?

Did you ever think that maybe if Heikki didn't have to deal with whatever shit Lewis was pulling at the start, he wouldn't have touched Kimi?


Lewis pulled the same shit in Monza. Pushing others off the track.

You can't keep doing it race after race and not expect some stewards to think you're using it to your advantage.


Robert and Kimi had a fair fight. Robert didn't push Kimi off the track, he chose a line and stuck to it. That's racing.

The difference between Robert and Lewis seems to be that Robert knows what's ok and what's not.



Massa did the same as Hamilton. Bending the rules to his advantage, cutting the chicane and crashing into another car isn't really a "race incident".


Oh, and did you notice Hamilton "racing" Alonso on the last lap?

That could've ended pretty ugly....

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/formula_1/article4922887.ece

Not all drivers seem to like his way of driving.....




/jarmo

Again he breaked too late but it wasn't on purpose and he didn't hit anyone. It seems that nomatter what Lewis does it's never right. Well atleast he's got some balls, he drives fast and can do some great overtaking.


Well it's obvious he made a mistake, which I mentioned before, the real question is if it deserves a stop and go penalty. Cause he didn't hit anyone, in contrary to someone like Kimi Raikkonen did in Monaco but escaped penalty?


Have you heard Heikki's post race interview? He says he doesn't find anything wrong with the way Lewis was driving.


Lewis hasn't done anything dramatic in Monza.. except from driving his ass from way behind to the front.


You'll always have drivers complaining about other drivers, same when Schumi was still active. All I can say is I think Lewis is great for the sport.. I don't see harm in his driving other then he's fast (especially in the rain) and you know that when he's behind someone he can pull off some great overtaking. He's what F1 needs.

There's the McLaren vs Ferrari fan discussion world wide, that's understandable but what not is the fact that the FIA is so inconsistent with giving penalties and punishments. That's for me the main issue and I guess for a lot people.

it was the race stewards decision not th fia's  : ok:

Did his maneuver give him an unfair advantage?




He doesn't handle pressure too well.






#1: It was a drive through penalty, not a stop and go.
#2: Kimi's incident in Monaco didn't make him get ahead of the driver. Plus the conditions were wet. It wasn't the first corner of the race in normal conditions.
#3: Kimi received a drive through in Monaco for something his team did. So he was penalized for something he had no control over. By your logic, they should've punished the team, not the driver since he did nothing wrong?





Is this the same Heikki Kovalainen who's been supporting Lewis all season. Who happens to drive for the same team? Who happened to make contact with Kimi's car because of what Lewis did?

Oh right. He surely must be totally objective!

McLaren didn't do anything wrong. Ever. Ask Ron Dennis!





I guess you weren't watching the race....






Schumacher had a lot of dirty tricks up his sleeve too.


Why do you think he respects Mika H?kkinen the most out of all the drivers he competed against? Mika was fair.





/jarmo

Seeing as he ended up like 7th or 8th position after a lap and wasn't leading, no.


Uh.. he and his team are handling pressure better then Kimi and Massa and their team.. which is why they're in the lead. Ferrari as a team has made some pretty big mistakes this season, one of their weaknesses is that as soon as something happens that makes sure their regular tactic goes overboard they're not anticipating well on it. Kimi, well with all the crashes and slow pace speaks for itself, Massa is incredibly fast but not a racer. When he's not in the lead he's driving invincible his laps. It took him 5 or 6 laps to overtake Button yesterday, Lewis did it direct.

With that said all three drivers made mistakes, of the 4 possible title candidates only Kubica made 1 mistake in England.


No it didn't make him ahead but he did eliminate Sutil who was in 4th position! Plus just like Lewis he made the simple mistake of braking too late, which is part of racing. And the conditions were the same for everyone. And for that mistake it was Kimi who did it, not Ferrari btw Kimi was behind the wheel.


Pff the same thing applies for Ferrari, ask Domenicali!  And Heikki actually says that he was responsible for touching Kimi on his own. The guy ain't that fast but he's got his own opinion.


I did, just not thru red glasses....



Well, for the record I have never been a Schumi fan, on the contrary actually he was my least favorite driver because of those tricks. And when Hakkinen was driving I was a big fan of him. But Schumi's tricks are not comparable with the so-called Lewis tricks.

nice race. to bad for massa he only got 2 points.

But he was ahead of Kimi. The one he pushed off...






I think Kimi proved that he can handle the pressure last year....

Remember Brazil last year? Compare that to last weekend.




Does it?



Braking too late? He hit a damp spot.

So you fail to see the difference in blocking somebody in order to get ahead and crashing into somebody and ending your own race.






I guess I have to spell it out for you: Kimi received a penalty for the fact that one of his tyres wasn't properly attached to the car when the three minute warning came.

Correct me if I'm wrong, it's not the driver's job to fasten the tyres to the car?





Oh he's fast. Just don't fill his car up for every qualifying in order to make sure Lewis is ahead...







Well Lewis is only trying for his second year.

And already he's getting this kind of attention....





/jarmo

But it was an accident.. Lewis did not deliberatly brake to late. I have never ever seen an action like this at the start being punished with a drive through penalty, let alone a penalty at all.


Last year final races Kimi drove strong but there was no pressure at all.. since most people assumed he was done for the championship. And this year is different from last year, this year it's pretty bad.


Yes. Are you saying Kimi does a good job this year? And don't blame the car..


Braking to late or damp spot, it was an accident by Kimi, not intential just like with Lewis so why does Lewis gets punished and Kimi doesn't when Kimi actually also touched another car?


Uh, I was never talking about the start incident with his tyres? There was nothing wrong with that, penalty was correct. I was talking about the same Sutil incident. He accidently ram Sutil off the track but did not get a penalty for that. He should have got one.


Common that's bullshit.. Lewis is just the fastest fair and square. Actually it's Dutch but to prove I'm not making it up here Heiki says he's dissapointed by this years season but has learned alot especially about setting the car up and driving it the right way. So he pretty much blames himself there:

http://www.formule1.nl/nieuwsbericht/10-32-7996.html


Well I'd say Lewis is doing a hell of a job in F1, he's a great driver in only his second year. With good attention always comes bad attention.

I'm gonna leave it at this though, all made our points and the quotes are taking to much time to type out :P

He said it was a mistake.

Something caused it. It was him braking way too late.




The biggest difference is the car and its handling.




I can't blame the car? Why not?

When everybody knows how big problems Ferrari has to get the tyres and brakes working in colder temperatures.

It's kinda stupid to ignore that fact.

It's like saying the car doesn't matter at all to the driver's performance.







How do you know Lewis' move wasn't intentional?

He tried to use the inside track just like he tried to use the chicane to his advantage in Belgium.





His penalty was a DNF in the race.

I'm sure the stewards looked at it and saw that it was a real race incident.





You know.... Let me ask you this, how often do you hear a driver, except Alonso, say it out loud that the team isn't always 100% fair to both drivers?

Heikki wants to stay at McLaren, and he should.

You think he'll say "I wish I could actually race Lewis!"?

Of course hes disappointed! His team mate is leading the championship and he's not fighting for it.








It's only in times of struggle that you can see the real qualities of a driver.

Lewis has yet to show us what he can do when things don't go his way.

He's been driving one of the best cars for two seasons.

Let's see what happens when he has as much luck as Kimi had with that team...





/jarmo

Hamilton's driving faces further scrutiny

SHANGHAI, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton's driving came under further scrutiny at the Chinese Grand Prix on Thursday after continuing complaints about his behaviour on the racetrack.

Toyota's Jarno Trulli and Red Bull's Mark Webber questioned the McLaren driver's conduct behind the wheel, echoing recent criticism from BMW-Sauber's Robert Kubica.

Italian Trulli told the autosport.com website he was unhappy at being held up when trying to lap the 23-year-old Briton, who could become the sport's youngest champion this weekend, in last week's Japanese Grand Prix.

"Lewis did not even watch the mirrors because he came back on the track right in front of me and he held me up for two laps," said Trulli.

"I will go in the drivers' briefing (on Friday) and I will say to (race director) Charlie (Whiting), this is what happened and I believe Lewis could have handled it in a different way because it was not fair."
Australian Webber, who last year accused Hamilton of erratic driving behind the safety car at Fuji, said the leader's wild start from pole position in Japan last Sunday had raised concerns.

"The braking areas is an issue because you cannot move around in the braking areas like that," said Webber, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association.

"We lost a marshal at Monza when there were guys moving around in the braking areas and it is very hard to change your line if you don't know what is going to come. That is the only thing that we need to look at."
Fire marshal Paolo Ghislimberti was killed by debris after a pile-up at the second chicane in the 2000 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

"The first corner in Fuji was pretty wild," said Webber. "He was having a crack, but if someone had been sitting on his right rear when he pulled out then that was a crash.

"We want to have a bit of a chat about moving around in the braking areas," added the Australian.

"I am not smashing Hamilton but it is about how you move on. Tiger Woods learns. Roger Federer learns. And Lewis is going through that."

Kubica, who crashed heavily in Canada last year and had questioned the safety of Hamilton's driving at Monza in September, clarified his position on Thursday.

"When one driver is overtaking another one and crossing his line just in front of his wheels, it's quite dangerous, especially if someone behind has to lift off," he told a news conference.

"I have been involved in an accident in a similar situation in Canada and I know what it means when a front wheel hits a rear wheel and from my point of view it's quite dangerous.

"I just say this: while nothing happens everything is fine but if something happens then I think everyone will realise. That's all."

Hamilton, who failed to score a point in Fuji, leads Ferrari's Felipe Massa by five points in the standings with two races remaining.

(Writing by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Ken Ferris)




/jarmo

I hope his career falls apart, I don't like him at all.

I think that's a bit too much, isn't it? Considering none of us actually know them, all we know is what the media shows of them.

I don't like the way he races.

me either man

He drives great 8)

If by "great" you mean pretending he's a missile with wheels.

By great I mean the guy who has the biggest balls on the track, can overtake with ease and is currently leading the championship for the 2nd time in his 2nd year.

I hope he chokes for the second time in two years.

One step closer to the Championship 8)

One race to go Lewis! : ok:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71680

McLaren confirm maiden Algarve test

By Jonathan Noble Friday, October 24th 2008, 11:04 GMT


"McLaren are the first team to confirm that they will test at the new Autodromo Internacional Algarve in Portugal in December.

The state-of-the-art facility, which is due to be officially opened on November 2, is to hold a Formula One test from December 15-17.

A number of teams are expected to attend the try out of the 4.692-kilometre track, with a McLaren spokesman confirming on Friday that his team will definitely be joining the December test.

Ferrari have also indicated there is a 'strong possibility' they will be at the Algarve test.

It is understood that teams will use the December test as an evaluation for incorporating the venue on the 2009 Formula One testing schedule. Alternatively, teams could choose to nominate the track as one of their three alternative test venues that run alongside the standard test tracks.

The Algarve circuit is already scheduled to hold major international events, and talk of it trying to lure an F1 race in the future has not been dismissed.

Portugal's deputy sports minister Laurentino Dias said earlier this year: "The Government will do its best for Portugal to become part of the world's main championships. This circuit is prepared to host a range of motor races, from the most modest to Formula One."

As well as multiple circuit configurations, the track features a high-tech water sprinkling system to simulate wet weather running".


http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71688

Honda to join McLaren in Algarve
 
By Jonathan Noble Friday, October 24th 2008, 14:16 GMT


"Honda Racing have confirmed that they too will join the first Formula One test at the new Autodromo Internacional Algarve in Portugal in December.

The soon-to-be-completed track is to host its first F1 test from December 15-17, with McLaren having been the first team to commit themselves to the outing.

A Honda Racing spokeswoman confirmed on Friday that the Japanese manufacturer would also be taking part in the test, with Ferrari also believed to be seriously considering running there as well".


That's an intresting track!!! Portugal for F1 calendar!!!  : ok:
Check out the first lap made on this track in a civil car. Those ups and downs are great!

http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=T2OxBYa3POA

http://www.turunsanomat.fi/f1/?ts=1,3:2001:0:0,4:34:707:1:2008-10-31;4:35:0:0:0;4:36:0:0:0,104:34:573806,1:0:0:0:0:0:

Something special for you Jarmo  : ok:  ;)

And here English translation from one of the Polish F1 forums. My two favourite drivers get together  ;D  : ok: :beer:

THE LOVE FOR KARTING AND RALLY MADE KUBICA KIMI'S FRIEND

TS-SPECIAL

Turun Sanomat, Sao Paulo

HEIKKI KULTA

Robert Kubica has a new friend on the F1-grid - the Polish guy and the 29 year old Finn have a lot more in common that just personalities.

-It was unbelieavable to see how a mutual first love - karting - can get these guys together. Their eyes were sparkling from excitment and they seem to still know everything that goes on on the karting-level, Kubica's manager Daniele Morelli smiles.

Kubica has just started his own karting-team in Italy and who would be better to give hints than Raikk?inen, who has a longer experience of his own BMW- and F3-teams.

Turun Sanomat got the year's driver Kubica's special interview in Interlagos.

What kind of relationship do you have with Kimi?

- I used to think Kimi was a different person than now when I have been talking with him longer.

- Kimi is a strange guy. During 3 years we exchanged only a couple words. Then we met in Singapore and Japan, sat down, started talking and talked for long. Kimi likes karting just like I do too.

- We were already joking that in our next career we will be racing together in rally. It would be totally fantastic. To be honest, I hope it happens. It would be great to some day get to race in for example Finland's WC-rally. We will wait and see what happens, Kubica says with enthusiasm.

Both Kubica and R?ikk?nen are known as men who talk very straightly about things. Neither one of them can do politics at all.

- Maybe a personality like we have isn't good for F1. I think that's the reason that we like karting so much. We agree that karting is the most genuine racing. We would both want that F1 would be more like karting still is. Karting-times were a real pleasure and gave me as a race driver the most, Kubica says.

R?ikk?nen also says that Kubica is a nice and fair guy.

- Robert knows Toni Vilander well and that way we just started talking. It was nice to talk when we have a lot of mutual interests, Kimi said.

THE TWO MOST FAIR DRIVERS ON THE TRACK

One thing Kubica and Kimi have in common is also the great respect they get from their fellow racers for their fairness on track.

- I would say that the battle I had with Kimi in Japan was in it's own class. It was very fair from both of us. We were side by side but I didn't make a move to the side. I gave him room and I would say that in that situation there was mutual respect for each other as racers and it could be set as an example for everyone.

- It isn't always like that. Some drivers behave totally wrong and try to push the other one out. Of course it's a more effective way to defend your place. But it can come back to you, Kubica reminds.

- A year ago I had also in Fuji a battle with Felipe Massa but it was much more dirtier. He tried to push me out off the track but I gave a little back. It was kind of nice in the rain.

- The truth is though that tough battles in F1 are very, very rare. If count my own experiences from this season there aren't many. That's why you remember the biggest one.

Where does the line between a fair and an unfair battle go?

- It depends on the driver. Some of us are fair, some aren't. It's difficult to say exactly where to draw the line. It depends much on the circumstances, Kubica thinks.

BRONZE WOULD BRING PLEASURE

Kubica's WDC-battle ended in China. How important is it for you to keep this 3rd place and keep Kimi behind you on the list?

- On one hand it's important and on the other hand it isn't. As a sportsman I always think that nr 2 is the first loser. If you don't win the WDC there really is nothing to fight for. But the 3rd place is better than the 4th place is. Personally the 3rd place would be a nice reward for this season when I have drove well, accomplished good results and been consistent. I would feel pleasure if I would be 3rd after Sunday, Kubica confesses.

What lacked when you aren't anymore in the WDC-battle?

- Let's say that we would have needed more of the performing ability when I wasn't able to fight right in to the end. You can't look at this season in a negative way so that something would be lacking. We did good work and on the reliability area our car was perfect. We never had technical problems during the race. You can be very satisfied in that.

Was the season like you expected it to be?

- It depends on what your expectations were. If we look at the situation after our first winter test, we were really much better than we expected. If you would have asked me after 2-3 races I would have said that it's more or less what I expected. But if I would have answered after 6-7 races after leading the serie I would say that we didn't meet our expectations. The season was long and the level of expectation changed.

THE BATTLE IN THE FRONT MADE A BETTER DRIVER

Fernando Alonso says that he is a better driver now after racing for a year in the middle group. How much better driver is Kubica after fighting in the first group for a year?

- Of course it was different when I started in the first race from the front row after a disappointing season in 2007. It was different to start from pole in Bahrain. But the racing itself is of course always the same. When you drive in the middle group there is a greater chance that someone hits your car. Fernando was used to drive up front so in the beginning of the season he had some difficulties to battle in the middle group. For me it was the other way around, I was used to fight in the middle group in 2006 and 2007. Now I have the chance to fight for the first places. It's a new experience and you always learn something new, Kubica thinks.

BMW's GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO FIGHT FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2009

- We fought for the title this year - at least I did. I want to be in the same position next year also and lead the serie after 7 first races. But it's difficult to predict when the cars will be totally different next year, the whole aerodynamic concept changes, we get KERS and we get the slicks. There are many areas that could offer a potential for success, Kubica said.

Lewis just got lucky as hell!

And way to go Timo.  ::)

seriously, Oh my god!

I really thought Massa won the championship for a minute there, Lewis is such a fucking lucky bastard.

Hamilton didn't deserve that, lol! That'll make up for last year though.

The winner of the last 6 races - Alonso....with a clearly inferior car to Ferrari, McLaren and BMW.
That says it all!  :yes:

Yes!!!! Hamilton is world champion!!!!!! :beer:

what the fuck happened glock, im gutted for massa

Awesome race! ;D

At the very end it started to rain too much for Glock (and Trulli) on their slicks while Vettel and Hamilton were on intermediates.

Luck? Maybe yeah.. but since his Belgium points were taken, I'd say it was more karma :P

Either way today was probably the most bizarre F1 championship/race ending in F1 history, this whole season has been awesome and I doubt with all the new rules next year it'll be as close as this year.

Hamilton deserved this championship!  :peace:

The wrong guy got it, with such a luck. Well, I hope his dad is happy.

He got the most points.

Kinda funny how he didn't win the most races though....



/jarmo

Didn't Keke Rosberg win the championship without winning even one race? Altough that was some years ago..

Anyway, Hamilton pisses the hell out of me for some reason. I would have loved to see Kubica or Massa winning this time.. after Kimi of course.

Kind of wierd aint it...

Same with skating, you don't have to win ANY distance race, but if all together it takes you the least amount of time, you are overall champion...

That's the reason why I think they should make some changes when it comes to the points and poles and everything. Altough now we've had two seasons with only a difference of one point between the champion and the second..

^ Close finishes like that are good for the sport, thankfully the days of Schumacher sweeping all before him are over.

I think Hamilton's just one of those guys, you love him or hate him. He definitely got lucky on Sunday but that's one race, he's been unlucky in others, that sort of thing evens out. He's pretty much lead the championship from week one this year, and was one bottled race away from winning the title in his rookie year, you need more than luck to do that. 

That is true. And it's cool to see that there are now several drivers who have the chance to win races and even championship..

I think more points should be awarded to winners.

This way, drivers will have an incentive to go for the win instead of just "riding around."

It was the most Amazing estraordinarious F1 championship/race ending in F1 history.... i have no douts about it.

We all are luck ones to saw what we saw yesterday.

Hat trick for Massa he is KING on Interlagos 3 years on row.

Massa is a class a driver, he has a good chance to be champion if he keep doing what he did this year.


Lewis is class a too both deserved to win the championship.

Alonso Lewis Massa will fight next year.

The 07 season was fantastic the 08 as AMAZING 09 looks very good, slicks are back ....i m sure wil be a great season !

Well said!  : ok:

I like the way the points system is already, it's good to see drivers be rewarded for being consistant. Kubica finished joint 3rd from being consistant, I like that in a driver/team.

Does anyone know what happen to Glock?

I've heard he hadnt put the rain tyres on and was losing about 4 seconds per lap...is that true??

^ He was losing more, around 22 sec I believe cause he was on slicks like Trulli but in the end it the rain really came through. Glock said he didn't even realize Hamilton passed him, he was just busy with keeping the car on the track which was the most difficult thing of all season he said. Btw in that last lap he was still faster then Trulli.

A few months ago I saw a Williams testing pic of this years car only with the 2009 back - gearbox, suspension and rearwing.. damn it was really ugly, the wing was around twice as high and a lot smaller aswell, looked like a 70's F1 car with all the weird wings.

Interesting though was that Williams is also the only team that will drive with a flywheel KERS system, the rest is working on electrical (like a dynamo) ones. Williams said it was strange cause a flywheel was alot leighter and had several more advantages.

Speaking of Williams, David Coulthard said in a Dutch interview this past weekend that the best teammate he ever had was Mika, the fastest and also less controversial he said, while the '95 Williams was the best F1 car he ever drove.. came out his mouth at once, didn't even had to think about it. Kinda weird that the '96 and '97 McLaren weren't better cars even with pretty much similar rules (wider cars, slicks until '98.

Hamilton rejects Ecclestone's comment that racism in F1 started as joke

Associated Press



LONDON -- Lewis Hamilton rejected F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone's assertion on Thursday that racist abuse directed at the driver probably started as a joke.

F1's first black champion was the target of racist abuse on a Spanish Web site and endured other insults in the buildup to last Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix. Hamilton's father Anthony said he had often considered withdrawing the 23-year-old driver from the sport because of the abuse.

"[It was] probably beginning as a joke rather than anything abusive," Ecclestone said Thursday in a radio interview, pointing to poor sportsmanship rather than racism by Spanish and Brazilian fans. "I don't see why people should have been [insulted by it]. These things are people expressing themselves."

Hamilton disagreed and said he "didn't see it as a joke."

"It's something that happened, but it is in the past, you've got to look forward," said the McLaren driver, who clinched the F1 title by a single point over Ferrari's Brazilian driver Felipe Massa at the Interlagos circuit.

In the week leading up to the Brazilian race, Hamilton was the target of racist abuse on a Spanish Web site, was insulted by two Brazilian comedians and was handed a black cat -- a symbol of bad luck in Brazil -- at a sponsor's function.

Last February, a group of people at testing near Barcelona wore dark face paint with T-shirts displaying the slogan "Hamilton's Family." Hamilton has become a target for many Spaniards who believe the British driver derailed Fernando Alonso's championship hopes at McLaren last year.

"I don't think we should even be talking about racism," Ecclestone told The Associated Press at the time. "I really think that they are against Hamilton for his ability, not because he is black. I always thought it was a bit of a prank -- they're probably not racist at all."

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

OK, it's this time of the year where I miss F1.

:(

Plus next seasons starts so latttteeeee!!

Anyone saw the video they showed at the FIA Gala last week?  I think the previous years were better... funnier!!!

And, I was amazed to learn that Axl is following F1... isn't that great?  :)

Evita who is happy Lewis won ;-)