Canadian GP 2008

[Belatti]

For sure one of the most entertaining races without rain I have seen. (Yeah, rainy races are from another league to me )

Massa did a couple of moves that made honour to the name of the circuit. =D>

Toyotas, Barrichello and Coulthard were all consistent and clever, just administrating what they got. =D>

Nelsinho did a good move over Trulli, it shows how desperate he is to try con maintain his position at Renault. [-X

Fernando doesn´t give a f*ck about a 3rd place. All he wants is victory. He´ll finish the championship with 19 points and a victory rather than with 41 points and 4 2nd place.

Hamilton, well... all I remembered when he crashed Kimi is his interview after qualy: "A great car, great engine, great team and... ohhh jeje.. ehhhmmm... (insert lack of humility here) a great driver".
Lewis: I won´t deny you can be a great Champion kid, but there is still a long way down the road.

I can´t understand what happened to Kovy, so looking foward to his quote.

Vettel did a good race, too.

Admire Kimis patience, I would probably knock-out Lewis.

Brakes suffered tremendously, the track layout is excellent but asphalt is horrible and there is a lack of escape places, to me one of the most dangerous tracks in the calendar.

To end, I will bring Mod´s signature: "People say F1 is dull, they must be out of their minds!"

[Belatti]

And a separate post for BMW Sauber!

Congratz for their First victory, I was happy watching them celebrating, they have a good car and well organized team and I was sure they would win this year, as they are 3rd fastest car and "these sort of thing happen" to others...

I have to add that was very smart that the team managed each driver as a independant team (telling Nick the gap to Robert, to push when he was in the lead and then telling Robert to push to make the necessary gap to came ahead of Nick), but also took care of telling Nick not loose time with Alonso, as they knew they were for a 1-2 result.

A big =D>

[roost89]

Brakes suffered tremendously, the track layout is excellent but asphalt is horrible and there is a lack of escape places, to me one of the most dangerous tracks in the calendar.

I think race-tracks should be dangerous, after-all these are the best circuit drivers in the world. They should be tested to their limits! If we're giving them huge run-offs it's not really testing their nerve or concentration.
Plus tracks with barriers close to the circuit look so much cooler than ones with run-off and it adds something extra and they should add an extra measurement. How close the drivers got to the wall.

[JamesS]

I have a serious doubts about Lewis winning the championship this year. I feel his personality and confidence need it more than any other driver and he will be hardest hit if he doesn't clinch it, after coming so close last year.

I hope he does prevail, as I'm a fellow brit and he is doing a great job. But has become prone to silly mistakes that end up costing him big.

But hey, he was lucky in Monaco and this race he was unlucky, albeit his own bloody fault for not paying attention.

With British sporting history littered with disappointment, I should be ready to accept failure, as I'm finding myself immensely disappointed when Lewis blows a great chance! The penalty is fair, he compromised Kimi's race through no fault of Kimi at all. It makes for an altogether more exciting race in France, Lewis is quick off the start and will be amongst heavier, slower cars.

11 races left to go and the championship is wide open. For the neutral or underdog supporter, its possibly the best F1 season for some time.

[Conceptual]

Brakes suffered tremendously, the track layout is excellent but asphalt is horrible and there is a lack of escape places, to me one of the most dangerous tracks in the calendar.

I think race-tracks should be dangerous, after-all these are the best circuit drivers in the world. They should be tested to their limits! If we're giving them huge run-offs it's not really testing their nerve or concentration.
Plus tracks with barriers close to the circuit look so much cooler than ones with run-off and it adds something extra and they should add an extra measurement. How close the drivers got to the wall.

I'll bet you like to see the spectacular wrecks that come from what you call the perfect circuit.

I like to see skill based upon pushing finesse to the bleeding edge. I don't want to see death or destruction because the drivers step over the line by a millimeter, I would rather see them correct it next lap and set a faster time.

If you want to see top level drivers on suicide courses, go rent Tron.

Don't come here and say that you get excited by watching these human beings in a death race. It belittles what they really do.

Chris

[roost89]

Brakes suffered tremendously, the track layout is excellent but asphalt is horrible and there is a lack of escape places, to me one of the most dangerous tracks in the calendar.

I think race-tracks should be dangerous, after-all these are the best circuit drivers in the world. They should be tested to their limits! If we're giving them huge run-offs it's not really testing their nerve or concentration.
Plus tracks with barriers close to the circuit look so much cooler than ones with run-off and it adds something extra and they should add an extra measurement. How close the drivers got to the wall.

I'll bet you like to see the spectacular wrecks that come from what you call the perfect circuit.

I like to see skill based upon pushing finesse to the bleeding edge. I don't want to see death or destruction because the drivers step over the line by a millimeter, I would rather see them correct it next lap and set a faster time.

If you want to see top level drivers on suicide courses, go rent Tron.

Don't come here and say that you get excited by watching these human beings in a death race. It belittles what they really do.

Chris

I'm not saying they should build suicide runs. Just tracks that push the drivers. It's all well and good having a mile and a half of run-off to save the drivers. I'd prefer to see the drivers being pushed and tested. Much like in Monaco and Montreal. They're driving on a fine edge, they're balancing speed with safety. That's what I like to see. when they slip up, yes they may crash but they also might save it.

Hamilton and Kubica balanced it in qualifying with cracking times.

I think most people like to see huge wrecks, that doesn't mean I'd like to see every driver die in a crash or I'd like to see them wreck in every race, I'm usually in awe with how un-damaged they come out and the ferocity of the accident. Tron doesn't float my boat.

PLus I don't recall saying anything about making them go on suicide runs Just tested and made to push the boundaries. After-all isn't that what F1 is about, or used to be about? Pushing the boundaries.

I shall say no more on this

[bizadfar]

And a separate post for BMW Sauber!

Congratz for their First victory, I was happy watching them celebrating, they have a good car and well organized team and I was sure they would win this year, as they are 3rd fastest car and "these sort of thing happen" to others...

I have to add that was very smart that the team managed each driver as a independant team (telling Nick the gap to Robert, to push when he was in the lead and then telling Robert to push to make the necessary gap to came ahead of Nick), but also took care of telling Nick not loose time with Alonso, as they knew they were for a 1-2 result.

A big =D>

I cannot believe no one here noticed Nick's body language, tone, eye contact, in the post race conference. He seemed unhappy... "I didnt make it too difficult for him"

Smells like team orders.

[ss.vamsikrishna]

Hi Guys
Last Race Kimi slammed Sutil at a 200km/h racing incident on dry wet conditions with cold brakes locking issue- totally a racing incident and everybody was cursing him for that.
Now Lewis hits Kimi in pitlane at speeds of 60-70km/h that too a stationary car
what should we say about that....
Lewis sucks !!!!!!!!!!

[modbaraban]

Well... I heard many times that the Mercedes' version of i-drive is overcomplicated and shouldn't be used for tunning the radio when approaching the traffic lights Turns out to be true...

Smells like team orders.

More than obvious. And good for them. Surely they had no clue about upcoming gearbox failure on Alonso's car. The dicision was made by the team, who favored 1-Robert 2-Nick 3-Fernando, over 1-Nick 2-Fernando 3-Robert. They didn't favor Kubica, but more like favored the 1-2 And that is 100% justified as for me. This team is amazingly efficient and Nick did a tremendous job too holding back Alonso.

PS: I think if Alonso would be out of the race before Nick let Kubica pass, we'd see some racing between the BMWs and a 'frozen order' after Kubica's pitstop.

[The FOZ]

One of the more eventful races in recent history, I'd say.

Thumbs way down to the track managers for having not resurfaced the entire track in several years now.

Thumbs up to the same crew who did a phenomenal (if ugly) patch job overnight to get the track race-ready for today.

Thumbs down to Hamilton, if you can't see what's going on in front of you, maybe you should go back to bumper cars.

Thumbs up to Kimi, for showing true maturity and sportsmanship with a pat on the shoulder to Lewis.

It was rather interesting that they rolled the safety car out for Sutil's retirement, but not when hoisting Piquet's car off the track wit a bloody garden tractor.

It's clear that the track will need further attention between now and next year's Canadian GP, hopefully they will use something like the compacted concrete mentioned earlier.

Oh, and according to the CBC, Lewis is being assessed a 10 spot penalty for next race. I'd rather see 'em split the difference, drop Hamilton back 5 spots, and move Kimi up 5.

[checkered]

It was a really

special race and I'm very happy for Robert, Nick and BMW, they really got their stuff together. A shame that they couldn't quite fight it out between themselves as well, but that's how it goes sometimes. There also seems to be something about Canada that causes unforced pitlane errors; how is it that a big red flashing light is so much less obvious there? I see Raikkonen has now declared himself 'unhappy' with Lewis rearending him; maybe the 'Iceman' label fits him better than I gave it credit for.

The race was unpredictable throughout and through the field. Obviously the safety car came in at a moment that really mixed up the strategies for good. The track surface treated different drivers' tyres in a baffling variety of ways; many got their pressures wrong for the first stint. I certainly hope that a lack of consistency in the quality of the Bridgestones doesn't add to the unexpected nature of the races - some drivers have already voiced indirect concerns about this. I'd view anything that takes the logic out of racing negatively.

That being said I did take pleasure beyond BMW Sauber in how many drivers shone, especially many of the 'veterans' had their day. I'm not being nostalgic per se, only thinking that in coming through difficult conditions, seasoned drivers do manage to show that experience does matter and real races require perspective, perception and skills beyond 'Playstation experience'. Perhaps something to take into account when arguing about the directions F1 should take.

[JiMbO]

what im wondering is...why did lewis brake so lightly as it says elsewhere on this site

"A mere 4 seconds is the amount of time it takes for a Formula One car to go from 300 km/h to a complete halt. At 200 km/h, a Formula One contender requires just 2.9 seconds to stop completely, a process that will have been accomplished over 65 m. At 100 km/h, these values are just as mind-blowing 1.4 seconds and 17 meters"

im not saying he did it delibritly but perhaps he wasnt paying attention

[RJC_pt]

what im wondering is...why did lewis brake so lightly as it says elsewhere on this site

"A mere 4 seconds is the amount of time it takes for a Formula One car to go from 300 km/h to a complete halt. At 200 km/h, a Formula One contender requires just 2.9 seconds to stop completely, a process that will have been accomplished over 65 m. At 100 km/h, these values are just as mind-blowing 1.4 seconds and 17 meters"

im not saying he did it delibritly but perhaps he wasnt paying attention

Well pit speed limiter is 80km/h, 17 meters @ 100km/h, say that @ 80km/h it takes +/-14 meters, so he semed to brake say 1 to 2 car lengths away from raikonen's ferrari, i would say not enouf space anyway...

[Belatti]

I cannot believe no one here noticed Nick's body language, tone, eye contact, in the post race conference. He seemed unhappy... "I didnt make it too difficult for him"

Smells like team orders.

I thought Nick´s unhappy face was because he is seeing how his teammate came and
took the lead this year in the team, and now there is no way to be No1 again, he knows Kubica is faster and this is the beginning.

Changing subject, roost89: I completely understood what you were trying to say and I totally agree.

[DaveKillens]

Brakes suffered tremendously, the track layout is excellent but asphalt is horrible and there is a lack of escape places, to me one of the most dangerous tracks in the calendar.

As a Canadian, I'm ashamed of the terrible condition of the track. There is no excuse for what happened to the asphalt.

On the opposite side of the coin, this track was designed to reward the brave and aggressive, and severely punish any mistakes. There was racing everywhere, and at various corners. Entertaining, yes, and I guess that's the bottom line.

Congratulations to all who finished, and shame on Hamilton.. you have proven to all you're very capable of big mistakes.