Poll: 2008 Brazilian GP - Race 18/18

[rpstewart]

Will he? Won't he? That's the big question. Will James Allan explode on Sunday evening? Will Felipe Massa prove the doubters wrong and add his name to an illustrious list of Brazilian Champions? Will DC make it to the end of his final GP without crashing on the first lap?

This weekend sees the end, or maybe the end, of a number of familiar aspects of the sport, some will be missed some won't. DC certainly falls into the former; adverts, James Allan and grooved tyres into the latter. Will we see Barichello in Melbourne, who knows. Will the economic climate take it's toll? You have to think that Toyota might just use the standard engine as an escape route.

There are goodbyes closer to home as well. I've decided that it's time to hang up the keyboard as far as starting the threads goes. It was fun for a while but the banter has been replaced by petty repetitive squabbling which I'm not prepared to provide a platform for.

But enough of the maudlin stuff, there's a championship to be won still!

Friday practice : 1200 - 1330 & 1600 - 1730
Saturday practice : 1300 - 1400
Saturday Qualifying : 1600 - 1700, ITV 1510 - 1730
Sunday Race : 0800 - 1000, ITV from 1600. Highlights at 2245 (ITV) & Monday 1800 (ITV4)



Drivers

Pos Driver           Nationality   Team              Points 
1  Lewis Hamilton       British    McLaren-Mercedes   94
2  Felipe Massa		Brazilian  Ferrari	      87
3  Robert Kubica	Polish     BMW                75      
4  Kimi Raikkonen       Finnish    Ferrari            69
5  Nick Heidfeld        German     BMW                60
6  Fernando Alonso      Spanish    Renault            53
7  Heikki Kovelainen    Finnish    McLaren-Mercedes   51
8  Sebastian Vettel	German	   STR-Ferrari	      30
9  Jarno Trulli         Italian    Toyota             30
10 Timo Glock           German     Toyota             22	
11 Mark Webber          Australian RBR-Renault        21
12 Nelsinho Piquet	Brazilian  Renault	      19
13 Nico Rosberg         German     Williams-Toyota    17
14 Rubens Barrichello   Brazilian  Honda              11
15 Kazuki Nakajima   	Japanese   Williams-Toyota    9
16 David Coulthard	British	   RBR-Renault        8
17 Sebastien Bourdais   Italian    STR-Ferrari        4
18 Jenson Button	British	   Honda              3

Constructors

Pos Team              Points    
1  Ferrari            156        
2  McLaren-Mercedes   145       
3  BMW                135       
4  Renault            72
5  Toyota             52
6  STR-Ferrari        34        
7  RBR-Renault        29       
8  Williams-Toyota    26        
9  Honda	      14

Calendar

01 2008 FORMULA 1 ING AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX (Melbourne) 		14 - 16 Mar 
02 2008 FORMULA 1 PETRONAS MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX (Kuala Lumpur) 		21 - 23 Mar 
03 2008 FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX (Bahrain) 		04 - 06 Apr 
04 FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE ESPANA TELEFONICA 2008 (Catalunya) 		25 - 27 Apr 
05 2008 FORMULA 1 PETROL OFISI TURKISH GRAND PRIX (Istanbul) 		09 - 11 May 
06 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DE MONACO 2008 (Monte Carlo) 			22 - 25 May 
07 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DU CANADA 2008 (Montreal) 			06 - 08 Jun 
08 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE 2008 (Magny-Cours) 			20 - 22 Jun 
09 2008 FORMULA 1 SANTANDER BRITISH GRAND PRIX (Silverstone) 		04 - 06 Jul 
10 FORMULA 1 GROSSER PREIS SANTANDER VON DEUTSCHLAND 2008 (Hockenheim) 	18 - 20 Jul 
11 FORMULA 1 ING MAGYAR NAGYDIJ 2008 (Budapest) 			01 - 03 Aug 
12 2008 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE (Valencia) 			22 - 24 Aug 
13 2008 FORMULA 1 ING BELGIAN GRAND PRIX (Spa-Francorchamps) 		05 - 07 Sep 
14 FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO SANTANDER D'ITALIA 2008 (Monza) 		12 - 14 Sep 
15 2008 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX (Singapore) 		26 - 28 Sep 
16 2008 FORMULA 1 FUJI TELEVISION JAPANESE GRAND PRIX (Fuji Speedway) 	10 - 12 Oct 
17 2008 FORMULA 1 SINOPEC CHINESE GRAND PRIX (Shanghai) 		17 - 19 Oct 
18 FORMULA 1 GRANDE PREMIO DO BRASIL 2008 (Sao Paulo) 			31 Oct - 02 Nov

If you're interested in seeing what the tracks look like I've updated my Google Earth links and flyovers. Unfortunately it's still not perfect, although Fuji is now high res thanks to the April update but the imagery for Valencia is a fair age so the purpose built bridge isn't visible. To play the flyovers select the flyover folder and press the play button at the bottom of the Places pane.

Some links for Interlagos

Official GP Site
Wikipedia
Circuit details on the official F1 page

 

[leoncc]

There are goodbyes closer to home as well. I've decided that it's time to hang up the keyboard as far as starting the threads goes. It was fun for a while but the banter has been replaced by petty repetitive squabbling which I'm not prepared to provide a platform for.

i've always looked forward to your threads, and do appreciate the time and effort you put in, even though im more of a reader than a poster, it's a shame you feel this way and i hope you do carry on

 

[Flibster]

Will James Allan explode on Sunday evening?

We can only hope for the best.

Will DC make it to the end of his final GP without crashing on the first lap?

It'd be nice. Unlikely, but nice.

There are goodbyes closer to home as well. I've decided that it's time to hang up the keyboard as far as starting the threads goes. It was fun for a while but the banter has been replaced by petty repetitive squabbling which I'm not prepared to provide a platform for.

You lasted about as long as I did. I'm sure someone will pick it up.
Still, you can now just pop in from time to time and make cutting remarks.

 

[Lopéz]

Will DC make it to the end of his final GP without crashing on the first lap?

No way. Big shunt into T1/2, 4 wheels off minimum

 

[Skeeter]

The F1 threads should be locked the moment the TV coverage finishes. The degrading dross of petty squabbling that flows on this forum ruin it.

It will be a shame to see you leave rpstewart.

 

[Duke]

Thanks for the threads, rpstewart, I think it goes without saying that they are always good (well start good ) and are a bit of a thank-less task.

 

[Skeeter]

Either Massa or Hamilton will win.

The only other people likely to be in with a shot are their team mates, who wont be allowed to win for obvious reasons (except maybe Heiki) and Alonso, who has already said he will 'help' Massa, meaning letting Massa through if needed.

tbh, im predicting a boring race. McLaren and Ferrari lock out top 4 places, follow each other round for the entire race. Nobody is going to take risks as they all need to finish to make best efforts at the championship.

 

[esK`]

im hoping for hamilton not to throw it away again !

 

[Locky]

Hamilton, will be hot headed like always and lose the title, I can see it coming.

 

[xen_]

The F1 threads should be locked the moment the TV coverage finishes.

Then how will we discuss the result?

 

[Duke]

Will James Allan explode on Sunday evening?

I think he could well climax if he does win the WDC.

 

[shrek2]

HERE HE IS ON THE SAME TRACK AS HIS HERO AYRTON SENNA LOVED, IN A McLAREN, JUST LIKE HIS HERO AYRTON SENNA LOVED, DRIVING FAST, JUST LIKE HIS HERO AYRTON SENNA LOVED TO. OH MY WORD. HERE HE COMES. LEWIS SENNA. I MEAN, AYRTON HAMILTON WITH ANOTHER SENNAESQUE DRIVE WWWWIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[cheets64]

I hope he wins for Britain and McLaren, rather then dirty Italians.

 

[Fr0dders]

HERE HE IS ON THE SAME TRACK AS HIS HERO AYRTON SENNA LOVED, IN A McLAREN, JUST LIKE HIS HERO AYRTON SENNA LOVED, DRIVING FAST, JUST LIKE HIS HERO AYRTON SENNA LOVED TO. OH MY WORD. HERE HE COMES. LEWIS SENNA. I MEAN, AYRTON HAMILTON WITH ANOTHER SENNAESQUE DRIVE WWWWIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!

sorry i dont think they quite heard you in brazil

shout a bit louder.

 

[Mr_White]

It'd be great if Lewis' car broke down just before the line and he was in 5th or better, just to hear Allen's reaction before we get rid of him forever

 

[Skeeter]

Then how will we discuss the result?

Ive never seen an OcUK F1 thread where the result has been "discussed".

So it wouldnt be missed.

 

[xen_]

Ive never seen an OcUK F1 thread where the result has been "discussed".

So it wouldnt be missed.

Well what sort of things do you think should be "discussed" in a F1 thread then? I know the threads have gone downhill pretty quickly especially with thestig1 trolling constantly but I don't think locking them as soon as it's finished on TV is a good idea either, because all we would get is a thread of "OMG he just crashed" and "LOL another James Allen classic" before it's locked, and someone else would just end up posting a new thread if anything happens after the race. Although the threads do go downhill and some idiotic talk does appear I think it's best for each race thread just to die out unless it gets really out of hand and needs locking.

 

[JRS]

I won't be in the thread for the race weekend since I'll be in France, so I'll say my piece now.

Both Hamilton and Massa have made mistakes this year - some silly, some understandable with the pressure, some just plain boneheaded. If he'd had the car, Kubica would have wiped the floor with both of 'em. But he didn't have the car, and despite what the FIA might think the car is supposed to play a large part. There's a reason why a certain Mr Fangio won five titles - aside from his truly immense talent, it was because he would go to the team who could provide a car worthy of his aforementioned truly immense talent.

Next year, provided McLaren and Ferrari keep their performance up, we have the wonderful prospect of someone else joining them up there for the entire season. BMW will surely build on this year. Renault can drag themselves back up there if they retain Alonso. Red Bull might inch closer. Torro Rosso will certainly have gained some confidence.

As for the rest....

Toyota keep throwing money at this game, they have to come good soon if they plan on sticking around. Williams aren't changing things around too much, and stability can work wonders. Force India.....well, I think they're keeping the Ferrari engines so at least they have some horsepower to play with. And then there's Honda. Oh, Honda. They need to improve.

A lot.

Anyway, back to this weekend. Despite the protestations from Hamilton and McLaren that Massa is the one under pressure for this race, I'm pretty sure that Hamilton will be feeling that pressure. He 'only' needs 5th, and there is plenty of time for him and the team to screw it up yet.

[conspiracy theory]Besides, the FIA and stewards will try and gift it to Massa and Ferrari anyway.[/conspiracy theory]

Despite the conspiracy theories and pressure, I reckon Hamilton will be fine in Brazil. McLaren though.....not sure. I hope they don't let him down, but I wouldn't be completely shocked if it happened. Massa, going on past form, should be pretty good. And Ferrari can shrug off the operational errors of this season and put a good 'un in. As for the team-mates - Heikki was making brave noises about winning this weekend. Don't see it myself - McLaren will be concentrating too hard on getting Hamilton's car and race absolutely right to worry about him. And Raikkonen had nothing to put up against Hamilton last time out, so I don't see him showing anything particularly Earth-shattering this time around.

I'd love to say F1 threads on here have always been fun this year. I really would. It would be a total lie, of course - at times, some of you have driven me up the ******* wall. And I'm absolutely certain that I returned the favour. I'd like to apologise for that now - because I am sorry for any irritation I caused any of you. Not that you lot didn't deserve it at times for the downright retarded **** that got posted....

Ah well. Going to end on a happier note anyway. Here goes:

ONLY ONE MORE RACE WITH ADVERT BREAKS!!!!! YEEEEEEEE-HAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

 

[Sparky]

Sod the "only 1 more race with adverts" it's " only 1 more race with DC"

So looking forward to the new season and the challenges it brings.

 

[Fr0dders]

Ive taken advantage of the half price sky HD

purely to get BBC HD. Cant wait for F1 in HD next year