Evidently not in stig land.
2008 Chinese GP - Race 17/18
- Thread starter rpstewart
- Start date
Evidently not in stig land.
Morning/Afternoon 
Woke up late - so no one had any ridicule from me
So what did I miss - saw the last 20laps, and from what I can tell it was Hamilton from the front and quite a boring race? Worth watching the repeat?
Well done to Lewis, did what he had to do and I cant see him not winning the WDC (but I said that before China
). The Ferraris were the also-rans and just didnt have the pace but managed the finish accordingly. I see Heikki was unlucky, but I noticed how low he is in the WDC now - hes definitely average...
ps3ud0
Woke up late - so no one had any ridicule from me
So what did I miss - saw the last 20laps, and from what I can tell it was Hamilton from the front and quite a boring race? Worth watching the repeat?
Well done to Lewis, did what he had to do and I cant see him not winning the WDC (but I said that before China
). The Ferraris were the also-rans and just didnt have the pace but managed the finish accordingly. I see Heikki was unlucky, but I noticed how low he is in the WDC now - hes definitely average...ps3ud0
Hmm..
Wasnt it the same last season where he needed 5th as well
Precisely.
However after todays showing, I think that faux pas in Fuji could have happened at precisely the right time.
Also, LH's mums where at the track today. Thats what made all the difference.
"What do you want for your tea Lewis?"
"Your special dinner mummy"
Hmm..
Wasnt it the same last season where he needed 5th as well
yes, becuase he has the same points advantage going into the last race. He really needs to be 5th with at least a 26s advantage over 6th to win though *just in case*
He's just poor.
Sure he's had bad luck on a few occasions including today, but he's not even in the pace when its all going well - very inconsistent over even a short space of 5 or so laps
Hill hit Michael
Do people in the world really still believe this after Michael Cheating Schumacher tried to use the same trick on Villeneuve in 1997?
I was just thinking regards Heikki and Kimi,
With their current performances and lets assume they remain the no2 drivers of their respective teams - dont McLaren have a harder task ensuring Heikki is getting points than Ferrari have with Kimi (and so getting the CWC)? Even though Kimi is in dozy land he seems to be outscoring Heikki without trouble.
Perhaps this is a potential reason why hes been re-signed...
ps3ud0
With their current performances and lets assume they remain the no2 drivers of their respective teams - dont McLaren have a harder task ensuring Heikki is getting points than Ferrari have with Kimi (and so getting the CWC)? Even though Kimi is in dozy land he seems to be outscoring Heikki without trouble.
Perhaps this is a potential reason why hes been re-signed...
ps3ud0
Hehe.
I think the difference this season is the driver who could potentially be in that 5th place is no longer there (Alonso). And even if it is occupied by Heikki, it wont be for long since Im sure he will move over no probs.
Barring a car failure or shunt of some sort, its hard for Hamilton to mess this one up.
(Famous last words).
I just thought.
Both Ferraris will be on new engines come the last race. Hamilton will be on his 2nd race engine and will SURELY be dialled down a bit.
Problem is how much "down" can they afford to dial it without risking the wrath of Alonso/Kubica and co behind him?
Tbh. Even if the 2 Ferraris and Alonso/Kubica finish ahead of Hamilton, he doesnt need to worry about Heikki since he will almost certainly let him through (a la FM/KR today).
But I think if Hamilton finishes 6th place then Massa would win? Is that right?
(You know, if that happens.... I.. I dont know what I'd do, but it would be funneh as hell
How reliable the info was from JA I dont know, but he mentioned during today's race that the difference between power of 1st race and 2nd for one engine is now pretty minimal - also the fact that due to location Brazil actually requires less "work" from the engine due to altitude, which Martin backed up , so while its validly something to consider it shouldnt make a difference
IF Massa is able to win (which by today's showing he isnt)
Last edited:
All drivers have such races what can I say
Brazil is a relatively high downforce circuit, and the Ferrari has prospered at such tracks. And even if Massa isnt the better of the two Ferraris, Im sure Raikkonen can move over for him
But at the end of day, its still moot in my opinion because LH would have to mess up pretty bad.
When you have been watching, reading about and mixing with racing people for a long time you realise that very little is new in the sport and that when the press take a view of a situation the masses will typically jump on board. I was a huge Gilles and Senna fan when I was younger but it was very clear when they did wrong or were stupid as it is with every driver if you look at things without a side...
Also LH has twice the amount of experience in F1 than he did last season, and because of getting his "challange" back on track today/this weekend so relatively easily - he should be more relaxed, plus he has already driven to %'s this season, which he wasnt able to do last season, and he doesnt have a direct competitor within his team - all significant changes compared to last season
Massa has to go for the win as nothing else will do - baring any technical problem McLaren/LH are at worst the 3rd quickest combination (after Massa and Kimi) even with everyone else on newer engines
While thats true - Only a win will do for Massa, and that in itself creates pressure - Brazil is also a bit quirky (apart from being anti-clockwise), so its not necessarily given that Ferrari will excel there ( not only that but Ferrari have also practically won the CWC , that may itself cause issues for Massa)
Massa has to go for the win as nothing else will do - baring any technical problem McLaren/LH are at worst the 3rd quickest combination (after Massa and Kimi) even with everyone else on newer engines
All drivers have such races what can I say
Brazil is a relatively high downforce circuit, and the Ferrari has prospered at such tracks. And even if Massa isnt the better of the two Ferraris, Im sure Raikkonen can move over for him
But at the end of day, its still moot in my opinion because LH would have to mess up pretty bad.
While thats true - Only a win will do for Massa, and that in itself creates pressure - Brazil is also a bit quirky (apart from being anti-clockwise), so its not necessarily given that Ferrari will excel there ( not only that but Ferrari have also practically won the CWC , that may itself cause issues for Massa)
Last edited:
Oh its deifnitely not a given! Just drawing upon the experiences of similiar "like for like" circuits that have taken place this year which are characteristically similar to Brazil in some respects.
I agree nothing less than a win for Massa will do.
You didnt see the Kimi on-board then when he had also done the same? I think Ferrari gave up quite quickly after the last pit stop when they knew Kimi didnt have the pace to do anything about Hamilton and now needed to get Massa in second.
Hamilton in front was not important, getting Massa second was. That 16second lead wasnt representative - yes he would have been far in front but not spectacularly...
ps3ud0
Cav: I think LH's engine was dialled down for most of the 2nd half of that race to be honest
I'm old, so please forgive me, but doesn't Hamilton still have a free engine change to take yet?
KR used a free engine at Silverstone, FM took his in Italy, along with Webber.
I'm sure McLaren must have thought of this though, given how much they are paid