European Grand Prix 2012, Valencia - Race 8/20

Ignoring all previous pages of this thread... (Haven't been online this weekend so didn't get a chance to read, can't really be fussed reading the 40000 comments of how evil Maldonaldo is and how sad it is for Hamilton...)

What a great race for Valencia!
I'd went in expecting this to be be "Monaco 2", 0 overtakes, leader controlling the pace, nothing of interest to mention.
How wrong.
I thought it was good up to the safety car, there had been some good moves on track and it was looking like we'd have a race for 2nd and below. Safety car removing Vettel's lead was a godsend, then we lost Vettel!
Was a bit gutted for Grosjean, if he'd have stayed in, I could have seen him pushing Alonso and probably taking the win. As an Alonso fan though... Good times!

The Hamilton incident, meh... He would have lost that position very shortly after if they hadn't collided. Maldonaldo is not someone who I'd pointlessly defend against either.
I think it is right that Maldonaldo got the drive through, but I do think "where was he meant to go" and "why didn't Hamilton think of the bigger picture".
Still, gives everyone something to speak about!

Good stuff from Force India today. :)

Did I pick-up some attitude between DC and Jake on the BBC today?
 
Just a shame it wasn't Di Resta in the higher position! Shame he was on the 1 stopper.
Very likeable driver, probably one of the only ones who'll tell it like it is. After quali yesterday, he immediately said he should have done better.
Usually you'd hear how the balance was poor, or tyres went off, or someone else had done something to cause issue.

Wanting to see more from FI at the next race, hopefully another improvement for Caterham also. Wouldn't mind seeing someone else in Vergne's raceseat either... :|
 
10 podiums and a win was pretty spectacular from Alonso last year I thought, but anyway is there any verdict on Jenson using the Lewis setup?

Maybe he can let some fans do his setup for Silverstone? :D
 
Rybo89 said:
I would give her the best 2 minutes of her life but that is about it.
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LOL.
You are very confident in your ability there.
I put it to you sir:
1. I question that you would last 2 minutes!
2. I also question that you be able to give her the best time of her life

:D

I do agree though: the guy is one ugly fella.
 
Mr Men said:
He made a racing mistake today, if he done it to anyone but Lewis then it would be a non-issue on here, talk about a over reaction.
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Sorry, but rubbish, I quite like Schumi and I was 100% against him hitting Hill way back when.

Dangerous driving is dangerous driving, had he hit anyone else IN THE SAME WAY I would absolutely and without question have wanted him black flagged, infact he hit a driver I really don't give a hoot about one way or the other at Monaco and I and just about everyone here laid into him for doing that.

Dangerous people don't belong in any multi person sport, go climb a mountain without ropes and kill yourself if you screw up, when there are other people, even more so when there is incredibly dangerous equipment involved like motorsport there is no room for dangerous drivers. Everyone makes mistakes and everyone makes poor choices. Schumi pushes the limit and is often wrong but I also see him conceding his position when a guy is along him with the advantage into the corner. I don't see an ounce of remorse, or change in Maldonado, nor do his actions come across as accidents.

His attitude, his behaviour and his reaction all are of a guy who can't admit when he's in the wrong, thinks he's done nothing wrong and that's the worst thing. If he doesn't think he's in the wrong he has no reason to change. He'll do it again, and again, because that is who he is. I don't care if he hits Hamilton, or Button, Alonso, vettel, Massa....etc, etc, he shouldn't be out there.

People also seem to be forgetting that there was one lap left, being overtaking was NOT inevitable, Hamilton with a POS car at that point kept Maldonado behind him for the two longest straights and the best corners for overtaking, he had one lap to go. He'd ALREADY defended all the best passing spots once, and somehow Maldonado didn't smash him off. Had he decided to ram into Hamilton at any of the other corners, or on the straight he could have taken both off. It was in no way inevitable he would be overtaken, if there were 5 laps left I'd put it as 98% likely to happen, but Maldonado could have made a mistake that took him out before he got Hamilton and he did infact do exactly that, Maldonado missed the corner, Maldonado made the mistake and he made another one coming back on. He was ahead, he was keeping a MUCH stronger car at that stage of the race behind, there was nothing to suggest he couldn't do it for another lap.

What about anyone else, errm, ever. What about the last race where the leader had a guy following him to the end in the final lap, should the leader pull over every time just incase the guy behind decides to miss a corner and ram into you, because second place is better than the guy behind you purposefully taking you off? Madness, his tyres didn't make a difference, you don't give up a space to a guy who CAN'T GET PAST YOU, till he CAN get past you. If Grosjean was 3 seconds closer to Hamilton at Canada should he have moved over to make sure of second spot just incase Grosjean smashed him? Utterly daft.

Vettel and Alonso both tried to keep Hamilton behind and did so for a few corners at the last race, they only gave up once Hamilton had made the move. Hamilton could have smashed into either of them if he wanted to, yet neither got completely out of the way or slowed down for him.
 
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My verdict..
1) first 30 laps were boring
2) vettel and fat John unlucky
3) vergne was plain stupid to drive that fast with a destroyed tyre
4) button disappeared
5) alonso coming alive early on and maintaining it at the end
6) Hamilton on for a solid finish despite a pitstop 4x longer than normal
7) pasta being a complete bell, instead of waiting to "DRS" hamilton. Ruined the end.
8) slow car passing the safety car rule should be banned again
9) smedleys facepalm at massa was perfect
10) good to see schuey on the podium. Will still be replaced by Di resta though ;)
 
Amazing turn of events, all 3 race leaders crash out or their alternators die. Seriously, who could have possibly predicted that Vettel, AND Grosjean AND Hamilton would all DNF, and that Schumacher would get a podium finish.

Also, I'm told there's a rumour of Hamilton and Vettel possibly going to Ferrari, any truth in that?
 
lol @ rebull claiming schumacher used DRS under yellow flags and then brawn showing schumacher went slower than webber through the sector.....

redbull are the biggest criers in f1
 
Kenai said:
If there was a wall there I can guarantee you that Maldonado would not have even attempted that move unless he was suicidal.
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hamilton wouldnt have squeezed him into the wall if there was one.

he only tried to squeeze him knowing maldonado would have to give the position back, pitty he decided not to use the run off but i imagine hamilton wont try that again in a hurry
 
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