The race started with a Ferrari one-two, and it ended with a Ferrari one-two, the only tweak was Massa finishing ahead of Raikkonen...
There was not much drama to look forward to up front today except for Raikkonen's broken right exhaust which could have ultimately cost him the race altogether, it allowed Massa to cut the Iceman's six seconds lead in almost as many laps and to take the lead from him too.
In the end the only surprise today was Trulli's finishing on the podium. Battle for third place in the final stint was intense with Trulli, Kovalainen and Kubica all fired up for that podium finish, the Italian managed to keep his Toyota ahead, fending off a late onslaught from Kovalainen.
Lewis Hamilton had a huge task on his hands, starting on the grid in 13th place thanks to a 10 place grid penalty demotion as a result of the pitlane incident in Montreal; Hamilton's run with the authority was to take yet another twist, as he was penalised for having run wide on an overtaking maneouvre thus benefiting from it (a tough call to make in my reckoning). Regardless Lewis incurred a drive through penalty which relegated him to 13th, overall he drove very well today however failing to come back towards the front let alone scoring a championship point has not helped him in any respect; he now finds himself in fourth in the driver's championship!
- B/R Ticket Guide
Another disappointment today was the retirement of Jenson Button, how long the Briton will be able to take any more of this only time will tell.
On a positive note, young Nelson Piquet has made some significant improvements, scoring his very first points in formula one today, and most importantly finishing ahead of team mate and former double world champion Fernando Alonso, is all the more significant for the young Brazilian has yet to find his grip at Renault. And on an even more positive note, it was a "trulli" exceptional performance for Toyota to have closed the podiums with a third place finish for Jarno Trulli!
The driver's championship is looking tight at the moment only 10 points separate Massa up front with Lewis in fourth, with ten more Grands prix to look forward to the battle for the world driver's title is going to be open and intense to say the least; what more could any formula one fans really ask for?
1) Massa : 48
2) Kubica: 46
3) Raikkonen: 43
4) Hamilton: 38
However in contrast to the driver's championship the manufacturer's round has been dominated by Ferrari with 91 points in the bank, seventeen ahead of first runner up BMW-Sauber with 74, and relegated Mclarens on 58 points; the Maranello outfit is clearly enjoying a wind of domination reminiscent of the Schumacher era.
So where do we go from here? Does anyone have an answer against Ferrari's amazing display of form, pace and domination in both championships?
Mclaren and BMW over to you comes Silverstone!!!
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5 months ago
Nice summary of events as they unfolded and well seems like a few people will always have problems no matter which side of the board they are, which, might be engine porblems, fuel leaks, white powder, chassis failure etc., and Kimi Raikonnen seems to be heading the list of the driver who lost most podium finishes just because he relied on his engineers whether at McLaren or at Ferrari. Interesting that in 2007, Felipe took POLE and Kimi won the race, while this time around it is Kimi who took POLE and Massa who won the RACE.
Jensy seems to be having bad luck as ever, while the McLaren boys need to meditate as to what makes the race marshals so pissed off with them that they get penalized every time they try out a new tango.
from 5 months ago
Couldn't put it better myself..
as to the Ferrari one two tango it's ever so eerie that last year Raikkonen started on the heavier full load on stint 1, this year Massa started more heavily and the result lol , anyways Massa was lucky the iceman had lost something like 40-60 bhp as a result of that broken exhaust... lucky Felipe what do you know?? will we have a brazilian champion this year??? Now that would be even more eerie last year Raikkonen was no. 2 and won the silverware this year Massa is number two at Ferrari..... let history unfolds haha
5 months ago
Nice recap of the race. Ferrari had it this weekend pure and simple. Yet, my view of that Hamilton call was that it was just a case of the stewards being awkward, as they were with Kovalainen earlier in qualifying. And that exhaust casing! Why the hell wasn't he made to come into the pits and have that removed? Did you see the pace it flew off at? If that had been a straight we would have had some carnage. Nice report!
from 5 months ago
I know; I'm still in shock Raikkonen did not get shown the black n orange flag... during the race the ITV commentators were stipulating on all sorts of likely scenarios; worst one being the car blowing into flames and all, likely as on his second pit stop Raikkonen was greeted an extra engineer with a fire extinguisher in hand just in case... No need for extra fireworks is there? but anyways that all stinks at the FIA , clearly the politics and the corporation have taken over F1 now we need some driver with balls to stand up to that...
5 months ago
10 points between 1st and 4th ... As an F1 fan in a neutral position then yeah amazing ... Couldnt ask for more ... What a season ... Its got everything ... BUT ... As a McLaren fan you have to sit and think how can we get around this problem, oh I know ... Drop out of the championship and stop trying, McLarens fight is not with Ferarri or BMW at the top of the table but with the FIA ... They will continue to get slapped with penalties for something as trivial as a sneeze at the wrong time ... They really are sticking it to them this year ... Well you watch next race when everything is level and no penalties are incurred ... I know Silverstone is a Ferrari track but you watch McLaren slap back ... I am looking forward to Thursday when I am going down to Silverstone to watch the last testing session b4 race weekend and its Lewis in the car ... Hope to see some fast times !
from 5 months ago
The FIA are a very weird bunch in my opinion. I've never liked the decisions that Mosley, Whiting and co have made, from all the rule changes they have introduced in the past decade, to causing the US Grand Prix fiasco, driving Michelin out of F1 and then handing penalties left and right in the wrong moments. I would love to see the leadership of the FIA be replaced by a younger bunch, more in-touch with the fans and the sport itself, and less politically tied with some teams.
from 5 months ago
AMEN BROTHER ... Agree with you 100% ... Time for a new era !
from 5 months ago
I understand your concern Ben; as a matter of fact things are going so skewerdly wrong, even if you're not a mclaren fan you'll feel for us lot. I definitely think the penalty incurred in montreal was justified for Lewis but not for Rosberg, and nor do I believe today's drive through for Lewis was justified, he overtook Vettel before running wide on the apex I mean those stewards will have to answer to that... if not then might as well wait and sit tongue in cheek waiting for next year for Mosley to resign and fingers crossed we get a descent chap to fix the music!!!
from 5 months ago
Hoping he resigns sooner rather than later mate ... Change needs to come NOW !
from 5 months ago
A decent chap running the FIA!? Is Todt still up for the job?
from 5 months ago
No idea ?
5 months ago
Its a great situation for the Neutral fan like ben said, but im also a Mclaren fan, and its a farce! I have almost got to the point wer I want Mclaren to threaten to leave the sport! The FIA need to stop being so ruddy damn biased towards Ferrari, and hand out equal punishments, and fair punishments.
I am looking forward to Silverstone, and hopefully we'll get a good race! Also as im going to be ther I really want to see a Mclaren 1-2, just to rub it into Ferrari's faces!
from 5 months ago
Wish I was going to the actual race ... I will be there this Thursday for the final testing day ... Could afford the actual race this year ... Next year for sure !
from 5 months ago
We all get that feeling don't we? Ferrari as in the FIA's the favoured pranced horse. And anyone trying to mount a real challenge against either team in the manufacturer championship or against the scuderia's pilots in the driver's championship will feel the sting.... I hope to see a Mclaren driver winning in two weeks, then again this might prove wishful thinking....
5 months ago
Renault have a shot at Silverstone, but has Alonso lost his nerve? He's not doing too well this year.
He's won it at least once and been close a few times. Raikkonen and Hamilton have form there, and so has Kubica.
Cheer up, you McLaren supporters. Right now, your team is one of the top contenders, and I'm sure Hamilton wants to claim the British GP.
What would put a smile on my face would be to see a car with "Kingfisher" on it get the win, but I know it is never going to happen. Might be cool to see Nakajima at the center podium spot, too.
Sorry, I know it's weird, but the more controversial the result is, the more I like it!
from 5 months ago
I don't know about Renault to be honest with you. Yes Alonso did really well to get P3 in Q3 but did you see how he got piped before turn 1 by Trulli and Kubica?? my understanding of all this is the Renault is just not fast enough, I mean the R28 just does not belong in the league's of the F2008, the MP4 23 and the F1.08 . It just does not, and to prove it just look at how badly Alonso wants to leave the team...
Oh and regarding contreversy; guys like Nakajima, Rosberg and Glock all have winning potentials in them like everyone else, but you got to look at it in the long term perspective. Unlike Lewis who literally took the F1 stage by storm in his maiden season at Mclaren, these boys are all taking the traditional route, driving lesser cars, not that the teams they drive for are lesser in any event, Williams has a history of success in Formula one, but the point is we won't see Sutil winning in two weeks, same applies for Nakajima and Rosberg but give these young talent 3-4 years, and they'll be the guys making the headlines in the F1 publications.. Hopefully!!
from 5 months ago
Well look at the backlash! People are angry but they love it really! What would we be talking about instead if there wasnt such controversy!?
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