Bleacher Report - Articles by F1RT Chequered Flag

Formula One: The Chequered Flag Roundtable (Round Three)

F1RT Chequered Flag — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 07:37:26 -0400

Welcome all to the third Formula One Roundtable discussion, a series of discussions which shall be known as "The Chequered Flag Roundtable."

We have compiled the views of some of our top writers for our third topic.

If in the future you wish to be considered for a seat at the roundtable, then please contact Michael Griffin and you shall be contacted in due course.

So, the third in a long line of topics in this groundbreaking series is:

“What was your most memorable moment of the 2008 Formula One Season?”

Answers

Jack McVicker – 2008 British Grand Prix

The Grand Prix’ have run, the drivers chased and performed, teams have bounded and moved in a carefully scripted ballet, wheels and fuel have been added, changed, and play their intricate part in the races throughout the season.

But, let’s consider the ideal scenario for the Oscar winning Grand prix, carefully scripted by Hollywood’s finest, the special effects teams to create the suspense, to add both the poignant and exhilarating moments. The list of champions, old and new taking part in a gladiatorial epic together with aspiring newcomers assembled for the task ahead.

Let’s set the scene, we have the cars and driver, the cast is set, the point’s table close and each of the top five drivers in contention, behind the scene politics can rest while the adversaries raise the game to new heights.

Climate, sunny, no...Let’s have a grim and grey day then allowing the cars to sparkle and glow within the austere surroundings, wet or dry...wet or dry. Wet and let's set the greatest challenge to all.

Now, the story line, one single race to reflect the ultimate endeavours of all, the commitment, the higher physical levels, the mind set necessary to impel one to the ultimate goal, to win.

The grid, no, the favourite cannot be on pole, too cheesy and kitsch, he must be seen to overcome the elements and his challengers and rivals from a lower position. Put newcomers on the front row, select from different ends of the world, say, Finland on pole, no, not the reigning World Champion, someone else, and...who has made second on the grid, an Australian,

The contenders, the defending champion in third, the leading contender in fourth, scatter the other protagonists at various positions and the race is ready.

We need the rain, torrents, bleak miserable, the most challenging of race conditions, a soaking track with rivulets streaming across the circuits, windswept with an almost diagonal downpour, storm clouds of almost epic proportions marching across the sky complete with sufficient to drench the protagonists.

Let the race begin.

Cameras, lighting,...Shoot.

The cars begin hesitantly, greater care of throttle and steering, as they skate across the sodden track. The ear splitting harmonics of a multitude of exhaust notes adds the symphony to the stage and the battle against elements, man and machine has begun.

It becomes noticeable that the leading aspirant nibble footed and quick silver fast in reaction is setting an unmatchable pace. First, he must overcome the three cars in front. Position, speed and control become the essential ingredients to complete the task. The courage and confidence to reach and overtake the car in front, not once or twice but to overcome all three leading cars and take the ultimate position of first.

Plumes of spray follow the leading car as it begins to settle, almost into a pre-ordained route, with metronomic precision around the twists and turns of the wet and windswept circuit.

Others trying to follow, spin off, lose braking points and slid across the track, others spin, only to recover and continue against the elements. The array of cars takes on the grotesque snaking movement around the circuit, all following the speeding leader, untouchable in the most adverse of conditions.

The distance between first and second reaches and passes acceptable levels, as you watch you expect a sun beam to pin point the leader to dramatically high light the difference between the talents of the racers.

The lap counter spins off the numbers, the efforts of the pit crews work with well practiced skills honed to almost perfection in the chase to return the cars to the rain sodden fray. The climatic sequence of the finishing laps adds to the concern and worries for the life of the racing car, the engine, gearbox, chassis and tyres all performing under extreme of mechanical stress, to the absolute limit to complete the arduous race.

Others slow and resign themselves to the casting rolls; the star has performed above all expectations, the conditions, the elements and with a style and a panache almost forgotten by the regular race goers.

This was the script writer’s dream, the best of battle, not only against fellow drivers, competing teams, but in the worst possible conditions. The winner, displaying a control and mastery of the conditions that beat and subdued the competition takes the podium to the cheers of the watching crowd.

A dream? No...

The British Grand Prix, Silverstone 2008

Mark Andrew—2008 British Grand Prix

There have been many memories for me from the 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship season, Sebastian Vettel's great performance in Italy, Lewis Hamilton's win at the rain soaked Monaco, Heikki Kovalainen's win at Hungary, so it wasn’t an easy choice really to pick my favourite moment of the season.

The moment that has to stand out for me as a Brit is the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, where McLaren Mercedes dominated from start to finish, Heikki Kovalainen was half a second faster than anyone else in Q1, Q2, and Q3 to claim a very deserved pole position, it was also nice to see Mark Webber claim p2 ahead of Ferrari’s, a McLaren and the BMW's.

Race day was even better as Lewis Hamilton jumped from p4 to p2 by turn 1 and had a nice little battle with his teammate; Mark Webber spun on the hangar straight in appalling weather conditions and must have feared for his safety as his car sat facing 19 other cars doing 160 mph+ in the opposite direction.

David Coulthard's last ever home GP was to see him crash out on the first lap after a collision with Sebastian Vettel's Toro Rosso, Kubica and Sutil also had spectacular spins that landed them in the gravel traps and out of the race.

Meanwhile Hamilton was dominating in the wet to show once again he is the man in the rain, the Ferrari's were hugely disappointing as Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa spun at least three times each, maybe more, every time the onboard went to the Iceman or Massa they were spinning which made the win for Britain even sweeter.

Nick Heidfeld and Rubens Barrichello both went onto the extreme wets at the precise moment and were running second and third, albeit over a minute behind leader Lewis, but still a fabulous performance from BMW and more impressive by Honda, we started to see some of Ross Brawn's tactical genius come in play once more, although Jenson was very disappointing.

To see Rubens in the press conference and claim he is still hungry to race in F1 at his age and with the relatively unsuccessful career behind him was great, it’s what racing is all about, to see someone that dedicated, maybe it was just emotion talking but I think Rubens is more sincere than that.

Lewis eventually won the race to deafening cheers from the home crowd, what a proud moment for me and many other Brits, I had a tear of pride in my eye as he stepped out of the McLaren and done his customary celebration, this was much more special than any other win I've seen Lewis take, and that is why it is my most memorable moment of 2008, shame Heikki couldn’t finish p2 for a perfect weekend.

Ryan Wood—2008 British Grand Prix

My most memorable moment of the 2008 Formula One season...

Where do I start? The 2008 season has been fantastic, long gone are the days of Michael Schumacher winning every race. Then it was Fernando Alonso’s turn. In 2007 we had a similar situation, but with four drivers winning everything. We had the "Spy-Gate"; we had the racing, what could possibly top 2007?

The answer? 2008. So many memorable moments have happened, not only moments but milestones in Formula One careers. I had a debate with myself to decide which moment warranted ‘most memorable moment of the 2008 Formula One season’.

With Sebastian Vettel winning his first race at a rain soaked Monza, he kept his head level as the top drivers faltered behind him. Then we had the "Spa-Gate." Memorable, yes, but I’d rather not write about something which I personally feel almost damaged the sport beyond repair. So what remains? Well, a hell of a lot.

Hamilton’s bomber runs in the closing stages of the German GP in Hockenheim, or how about the first night race in Formula One, so much has happened this year.

So what am I going to choose as my ‘most memorable moment’?

It has to be, my first attendance at a grand prix, and the results could not have been better. To see Lewis Hamilton trounce the field by over a minute, and lap every car up to 3rd was astonishing. I feel a few other R/T writers will have earmarked this, their most memorable moment of 2008, if so; they have good taste in memorable moments.

The race day started with a quick walk around the "inadequate" (as Bernie calls them) Silverstone facilities and the various team promotional tents scattered around the perimeter of the circuit. It was a wet day, I had my Vodafone McLaren Mercedes cap, and my waterproof jacket, yet I was still cold.

I darted toward the McLaren stand and bought a blanket to keep me warm, I was disappointed to find Alonso emblazoned across it, even though he had left the team in 2007.

I took my seat and made myself comfortable, whilst the rain pounded down. With qualifying producing Heikki with his first career pole and Lewis back in fourth, behind Webber and Raikkonen, the scene was set for some first corner action.

As the lights extinguished I wasn’t disappointed. Lewis quickly passed Raikkonen and then dispatched Webber before siding with Heikki, but settled for second after Heikki managed to control his shaky McLaren on the wet track.

Lewis took the lead in the early stages of the race; this would become his podium position as he obliterated the field. The two Ferrari cars had no answer, with Massa and Raikkonen spinning on numerous occasions, it became comical; "Horses on Ice" springs to mind.

So, as the race continued, Hamilton kept pulling away and the 80,000 or so McLaren/Lewis fans applauded him as he passed the pits on each and every lap. The atmosphere was of jubilation and pure enjoyment, watching your driver truly dominate is something I will never forget, I felt a part of something great. This is why the Silverstone Grand Prix is my most memorable moment of the 2008 season.

However, the season isn’t over. Something truly spectacular could happen in Brazil. It could either be the first WDC for Massa after 7 seasons in F1, or it could be Hamilton who claims his first WDC after just two seasons in F1, and could become the youngest winner ever?

Billy Sexton—2008 British Grand Prix

My favourite moment of the 2008 Formula One season (so far) is Lewis Hamilton winning the British Grand Prix in the pouring rain.

The British Grand Prix was to decide the fate of the season, it was make or break; it was D-day for Lewis Hamilton. Confidence was at an all time low after a disastrous Canadian and French Grand Prix with small consolation of being top at the Silverstone test a week earlier. Pressure was mounting on Hamilton and we all wondered how he would respond, as the ITV1 advert said “It has never been a better time for a British winner at Silverstone.”

I got in from school on the 4th of July and immediately turned on the computer to check out the practice results and highlights. My man, Hamilton, had finished third in first practice and third in the second session, the worrying thing though is that he was convincingly beaten by his team mate, Kovalainen was over half a second quicker on a flying lap.

My hopes for qualifying were pole position of course, but realistically I knew pole was a long way off. I began to check out the odds for Hamilton to win on William Hill, as I expected, Kovalainen and Massa were favourites. Optimism couldn’t overthrow the pessimistic side of me.

I can’t really recall Saturday before qualifying started. Looking back it all seems a bit of a blur. I can’t even remember any of the pre-qualifying build up on ITV. In the first session, Kovalainen was convincingly quicker again, Hamilton was second. It was good for McLaren Mercedes and a little confidence booster for Hamilton.

The second saw Lewis Hamilton on top, this led us fans to believe that he had a chance at pole, my heart began to beat.

Session three came, McLaren looked to lock out the front row but would Hamilton repeat his 2007 success and be on pole at Silverstone?

No. Kovalainen stormed to pole, over half a second quicker than Mark Webber who surprisingly put his Red Bull on pole. Championship rival Raikkonen beat Hamilton and put him down in fourth, on the dirty side of the grid.

Any confidence, hope and joy from Q2 had just been taken away. Sure, it wasn’t too bad, the two previous race winners, Massa and Kubica, were down in ninth and 10th, so I was hoping for a podium for Lewis to boost him up the championship a little to close the gap on Kubica and Massa who was 10 points ahead.

Race day came. It was raining at Silverstone, pouring it down. It was raining in Monaco and Hamilton won there, could he do the same in Northampton. The formation lap had ended. The camera cut to Lewis Hamilton on board and then cut again to show the whole gird. The lights lit up. 1-2-3-4-5. Boom.

Kovalainen did well to block Webber who did well to move over and block Raikkonen. Meanwhile a new rain master was born. Hamilton found a way through the Ferrari and Red Bull and almost took the lead on the first corner. It was a McLaren one two in the pouring with taps and nudges flying everywhere. A reminder of Fuji 2007 anyone?

Hamilton and Kovalainen slowly pulled away and Lap Four brought about the second biggest cheer Silverstone would hear all weekend. Lewis took the lead at Stowe corner and wouldn’t relinquish it for the rest of the grand prix.

Hamilton came under pressure from Raikkonen, the Iceman performing well and closing the gap to 0.4 seconds before both entered the pits together and we all know what happened last time they did that.

Hamilton emerged from the pits in front and that was the beginning of the end for the rest of the field. Lewis pulled out a 68 second lead and crossed the finish line as the happiest man on the planet, a British driver in a British car winning at Silverstone, nothing better.

This was just such a happy weekend for me. As Hamilton crossed the line I don’t think I’ve ever cheered so loud. It was looking like a processional race on Saturday evening but the rain arrived and thrashed down over Northamptonshire. Hamilton emerged victorious and put the championship in a three way tie. We were halfway through the season and what a second half we were in for.

Finally, the reply to the critics and media was awesome.

Interviewer: “So you’re back then Lewis?”

Lewis Hamilton: “Back? I wasn’t aware we had been away.”

Mike Wilkins—Fernando Alonso’s victory at Fuji 2008

After a long and somewhat tumultuous 2007 season, we all settled down into a new season with some new faces in new cars, some old faces in old cars and some old faces in new cars.

To me and many other observers the most interesting pairing was the one that had seemingly ended in acrimony just a season ago, but now the happy union was back together. Fernando Alonso was back in a Renault. It seemed so natural, like the moon and the stars, Fernando and the Regie! Oh how they rejoiced in France! The King was back.

Now, I'm not going to go into the McLaren/Alonso/Hamilton debacle. I have my views on this and shall be keeping them to myself, as I have promised on this very Forum to not engage in Hamilton discussion of any sort, and I shall stick by that.

However, many of the seasoned F1 watchers predicted that the Renault was not going to be a McLaren or a Ferrari, boy how right they were! Time and time again throughout the season the R28 was a recalcitrant little beast and even getting it into Q3 was like winning the championship. If Fernando did manage to haul it up the grid, then more often than not the poor thing expired with the effort.

Gradually however things began to change. From somewhere the car got faster. It seemed as if someone had sprinkle some pixie dust over the car. Fernando got through to Q3 regularly, onto the front two rows and even Piquet got into Q3...sometimes.

Then came Singapore, the ultimate team tactics with Nelson smacking the wall to bring out the Safety Car. Hey presto! It was lucky, very lucky but a win anyway. How we all smiled, good old Fernando, deserving a fluky win after his efforts throughout the season. It wouldn't happen again.

Fuji, fourth on the grid, that first corner, clever man Fernando, avoided the almost inevitable, finding his way through the melee into second, just behind Kubica. First stint just 1.5 seconds behind, watching, keeping pace, pit stop. Aggressive strategy, light fuel load, comes out in the lead.

“Push like hell” we hear from Alan Premaine. This is it, the defining moment of the race and my 2008 moment, eight laps in that stint, qualifying pace, and nine laps. All of them within a tenth of each other, race over.

Fernando Alonso, a true World Champion, metronomic pace, devastating to the opposition, truly head and shoulders above the rest.

Fuji 2008. A shining light, a reminder to the rest, the best driver in F1, period.

Saraswathi Sirigina—Best: Piquet in Germany; Worst: Sutil in Monaco

Memories are sometimes good and bad, since the question relates to just memories, guess we can get out both the good ones and the bad ones.

At the top of the heap in the good memories lane is the Vettel win, followed by the return to form of Fernando. But these are things that a lot of people will come up with. For me the best memory from the 2008 season was the unruly Nelson Piquet Jr. coming in at P2 in the German GP aided by the safety car and one pit stop strategy.

Given up for good and warned by Renault to do well or be out, the boy drove a sedate race to p2. Not that it is a great race, and not that he is an exemplary driver, but he did not make any errors and that is what made me remember it. Did anyone say, boring, yeah, so!

Worst memory, what could be worse than the drive of your life in a bad car being ruined by a number one driver not braking in time. I am speaking of Adrian Sutil in Monaco. Nothing could be worse than that, or how about the ruined pit stop in Montreal where Kimi was shunted out
of a win.

No one told us that life is good!

Anthony Acosta

My favourite moment in the 2008 Formula one season has yet to materialize. Have there been any good moments? That is a subjective question because it hinges on what is good and what is bad. Bad to me is something that takes away from the sport and good is something that adds value to it.

We have had plenty of situations that have been bad if you subscribe to my definition of "good moments" penalties that take away victory, mistakes that take away points and penalties that take away points; all bad moments that have done nothing for the sport.

We have seen dominating drives by Felipe and we have seen dominating drives by Lewis. Neither is something I would classify as my "favourite" moment in the season. Sometimes a crash is to some people, an exciting moment but not to me because I really respect what these drivers do for us. How one can find a crash exciting, to me, is just ignorance personified.

Danger is inherent in F1 and the refuelling for some reason this year has created some dangerous situations this year; many more than in years past and for no one particular reason.

I am assuming we can chalk it up to human error. I cannot say watching such a dangerous situation suddenly happen could be classified on anyone's favourite moment. You could argue it has been one of the larger spectacles of the sport this year but I would prefer to see spectacular driving on the track.

Perhaps my perception on what has been good for the sport this year would have to hinge on the fact that we never know on Friday how Sunday is going to be. That X factor keeps us tuned in. But typically the X factor has involved something that, in my opinion, has always taken away from the sport this season.

So I will say my favourite moment this year has been that I am still waiting for a moment to be my favourite moment of the season. Hopefully it will be something that we all can definitively say; "yeah, that was the moment of the 2008 season" Something we can tell our youngest child; "you know in 2008 there was a moment in that season that I wish you could have seen."

There is one race left for that moment.

Daniel Chalmers—Silverstone/Monza 2008

There have been a lot of memorable moments in the 2008 F1 season so it’s very hard to choose the one to mention in this article.

For me there have been two moments, which have really stood out in my mind. These were Lewis Hamilton’s win at Silverstone and Sebastien Vettel’s maiden victory for Toro Rosso at Monza.

Hamilton’s victory in Silverstone was one of the best drives I have seen in my time as a Formula One fan. This wet weather performance was up there with Senna’s drive at Donington in 93, Michael Schumacher’s drive at Barcelona in '96 and Jackie Stewart winning by four minutes at the old Nurburgring.

On a day where nearly everyone was losing their head (title rivals Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen span eight times between them), Hamilton didn’t put a single foot wrong, apart from one small trip across the grass.

When he stayed on intermediates during that heavy shower it looked a very silly move. However the pace he showed despite being on the wrong tyres was absolutely stunning. Even Honda’s Ross Brawn was in awe of Hamilton’s driving in the most treacherous part of the race. This was whilst everyone else struggled to stay on the grey stuff.

Vettel’s win in Monza was the ultimate feel-good F1 race. His performance all weekend was absolutely flawless. There was no single error to speak of. He was simply the fastest guy out there throughout the weekend. He took pole position on merit, and in the race he drove away from drivers who had faster cars than him.

To pull away so fast from a McLaren was simply phenomenal. The greatest aspect was seeing how much it meant to all the Toro Rosso mechanics. These guys have all been there during the Minardi days, when they were struggling to simply survive on the gird. To them this day was probably as good as winning five championships all at once.

Also in Vettel I saw a new star being born, and as he has such a charming personality I was genuinely very happy for him. A lot of fans may be tired of his constant comparisons with fellow German Michael Schumacher. However this performance was very like a typical Schumacher win.

These two races from Hamilton and Vettel are both performances fans will talk about for a very long time to come. Both could act as defining races in their career. Hopefully I will be able to talk to my grandchildren about both these classic races.

2008 may not have been perfect, with so many controversial penalties dominating fans thoughts, but these two races are what F1 racing is all about. Days like that are what make being an F1 fan so special.

Sheiban Shakeri—The Competition of 2008

My most memorable moment of 2008 has to be the fact that the entire season wasn't a McLaren/Ferrari duel.

The fact that five teams won: McLaren, Ferrari, BMW Sauber, Toro Rosso, and Renault; and seven different drivers stood on the top step of the podium: Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa, Robert Kubica, Heikki Kovalainen, Sebastien Vettel, and Fernando Alonso; was by far very memorable.

Seeing different drivers, different teams and hearing different anthems was a new experience and brought back memories of older seasons when it wouldn't be strictly two teams fighting for the championship.

Here's hoping that we get more of the same because unlike last year where you'd have a one in four chance of guessing the right driver to win, this was very different and it has made the sport more entertaining to watch.

Michael Griffin—Roundtable Creator: Kubica/Vettel Maiden Victories

My personal favourite moment of the season had to be watching my favourite driver, Robert Kubica, take his maiden win this season at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix. Yes, he had a lot of luck on his way to winning the race, namely Lewis Hamilton mounting Kimi Raikkonen (that sounds wrong in so many ways).

But, Kubica had to put in a spirited drive to hold off Fernando Alonso shortly after the safety car period whilst they caught Nick Heidfeld in the sister BMW Sauber, but he managed to do so and calmly passed Heidfeld into turn one.

Once he had done that, there was no stopping him and Mr. Consistent took his very first win, and secured an historic one-two victory for the Swiss/German outfit.

After this race, Kubica even held the lead in the drivers’ world championship, the very first Polish person to do so. A great day, but that was equalled by the rise of a happy-go-lucky little German.

Sebastien Vettel had been on the pace almost all season long when the circus arrived in Monza for the Italian Grand Prix; he would have been on pole in Valencia had the kerbs been built properly, which on such a terrible circuit would have meant a victory.

In Spa he and his teammate Sebastien Bourdais were constantly among the fastest cars of the weekend, and if a small error by both had not occurred in quail, they could have occupied the second row of the grid.

The expectations were growing as they went to Monza, and they immediately went to the top of the times sheets in practice for the fourth race in a row. Some whispered the chances of a victory, and then it p*ss*d down.

The Toro Rosso was phenomenally fast in the rain, with Vettel qualifying on pole and Bourdais starting in fourth. The betting shops were receiving a flurry of bets for a Toro Rosso one-two finish, and it was possible until the clutch and anti-stall system on Bourdais’ car failed at the start of the race.

Bourdais would eventually be a whole lap down, his best chances gone down the drain; all eyes were now on Vettel.

At the start o the race, Vettel quickly established a big lead over Heikki Kovalainen in the McLaren, and was leading by over 14 seconds at one point. He was comfortably consistent all race long, and although he was not setting fastest laps, he was keeping the car out of trouble and his lead grew bigger all the time.

His only real threat to victory was a charging Lewis Hamilton, but more tyre problems extinguished that threat and Vettel crossed the line to take a sensational victory. Some now said that he was the next Michael Schumacher, and that he could keep up with the bi boys no matter where they were.

They were right; Vettel consistently challenging for top places in every race that followed, and now with his impending move to Red Bull, more victories could be possible next season.

I am going to take a leaf out of the book of Saraswathi and name my worst moment of the season, and it has to be the “spa-gate” saga that dogged the Belgian Grand Prix.

Controversy ensued after Lewis Hamilton somehow controlled his car in treacherous conditions, celebrated his deserved win on the podium, sprayed the champagne and even did the press conference; the FIA announced that they had stripped Hamilton of the win.

They decided to give him a 25 second penalty for "gaining an unfair advantage" when passing Kimi Raikkonen is the closing stages of the race.

For those of you who were somehow not watching, this is how things went down.

Blanchimont—Hamilton begins to close on Raikkonen, who was clearly feeling the effects of the light shower earlier than Hamilton.

Bus Stop Chicane—Hamilton passes on the outside, but Kimi won't have any of it and forces Lewis wide and to cut the corner. If he did not, both would have retired from the race in one big heap of carbon fibre, good decision from Hamilton.

Start/Finish Straight—Hamilton yields the position back to Kimi, obviously learning his lesson from Magny Cours. After Kimi re-takes first place, Lewis launches a brave move up the inside.

La Source—Hamilton takes Kimi into turn one, Kimi tries to cut back across and hits Hamilton, almost breaking the front wing of the Ferrari and shredding the rear tyre of the McLaren.

Eau Rouge—Kimi has a look at Lewis but decides not to, good decision. At this point, radio communications take place between McLaren and Charlie Whiting, who accepts that Hamilton yielded the position back fairly.

Pouhoun—Both Hamilton and Raikkonen barely make it round the corner and struggle for grip, Kimi is clearly the quicker of the two.

Fagnees—Nico Rosberg aquaplanes off the road and rejoins, but in doing so distracts Hamilton and the young Brit takes avoiding action and run wide, barely keeping it out of the wall. Raikkonen re-takes the lead, only to spin immediately and rejoin in second yet again.

Blanchimont (Again)—Hamilton goes as slow as humanly possible, whereas Kimi believes he can push a bit harder, but then drops it and flies into the wall. Hamilton inherits the lead yet again, but now has to contend with a charging Felipe Massa.

Final Lap—Hamilton and Massa both remain on dry tyres and nurse the car around the circuit on the final lap, at this point the Ferrari and McLaren mechanics are waiting nervously as Nick Heidfeld and Fernando Alonso take on intermediates, and are lapping 45 seconds faster.

Finish—Hamilton and Massa survive with Hamilton taking the win, Massa second and Heidfeld third. Staticians showed that if the race was just 15 seconds longer, Heidfeld would have won the race. THAT is how slow Massa and Lewis had to go.

Celebrations begin, but the FIA immediately announce that they will investigate the happenings between Raikkonen and Hamilton, something which confused even Ferrari and they say after the race that Kimi regained the lead twice, perhaps three times after that.

Then, after the fans had left and the celebrations were over the FIA announce that they had stripped Hamilton of his victory. The decision was not popular, even with Ferrari fans who were quoted by one TV station as saying "it does not matter; it did not affect the result. It's a silly decision."

Awful decision, but we should be used to it by now, and by far the darkest moment of this season. It even beats Sutil been taken out by Raikkonen and no punishment been handed down.

Okay, there we have it, all entries are now in, and the results are as follows:

2008 British Grand Prix: Five Votes

2008 Italian Grand Prix: Two Votes

2008 Japanese Grand Prix: One Vote

Nelson Piquet Getting Second in Germany: One Vote

The Competitiveness of the 2008 Formula One Season: One Vote

After counting the votes, I am pleased to announce that the winner is the 2008 British Grand Prix!

Congratulations to you Silverstone, how does it feel to win such an award?

“...................................................................”

My God, such an emotional speech there, it would bring a tear from a man peeling an onion.

That concludes this edition of the Chequered Flag Roundtable, and you know the drill, for maximum exposure for the F1 Community, Five stars and Pick of the Day please.

Formula One: The Chequered Flag Roundtable (Round 2)

F1RT Chequered Flag — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 01:44:03 -0400

Welcome all to the second Formula One Roundtable discussion, a series of discussions which shall be known as "The Chequered Flag Roundtable."

We have compiled the views of some of our top writers for our second topic.

If in the future you wish to be considered for a seat at the roundtable, then please contact Michael Griffin or Ben Auty and you shall be contacted in due course.

So, the second in a long line of topics in this groundbreaking series is:

"What is your all-time favourite circuit and why?"

ANSWERS

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Steven Stones - Spa Francorchamps

To me, there is no greater Grand Prix racing circuit than Spa Francorchamps. There are many amazing tracks around the globe but I have had to go for Spa, and in the end it is an easy decision. For my money, there have been few other circuits that have thrown up as much controversy, as much excitement, and as much pure racing as this track.

Spa is situated in the Ardennes Forest in Belgium and throws up all manner of odd weather formations. Rain is a certainty at almost any race meeting at some stage of the weekend, and the unpredictability of the rain and the time frame for its arrival or end makes for some added tension for the teams.

Spa's weather system is so unique that the teams simply cannot rely on data. They have that added pressure like no other circuit even in the wet can provide. As we all know, rain or changeable conditions provides some spicy racing.

If the weather and unpredictability isn't enough, then there is the question of the layout of the circuit. Every conceivable form of turn is included in the layout, from the tight La Source hairpin; the off camber Rivage, which sees cars sliding whatever their grip configuration or the inclusion of traction control; and of course, there is always the daunting Eau Rouge, which they say is less challenging these days but still looks awesome.

Simply, this circuit is a genuine racing circuit, long and quick with the cars flashing through the forest and the valleys. How can someone say that there is a better place to watch Grand Prix cars? For me, there is no better combination of turns and straights in racing, full stop.

In addition to the great nature of the track, there is also a personal reason which is simply that there are so many memories of Formula One as a fan etched into my mind from Spa.

Some include watching David Coulthard tapping Mika Hakkinen into touch in 1999; the awful 1998 start; in fact, that entire race; the treacherous 2000 race with THAT overtake on Schumacher by Hakkinen; the scary BAR accidents in 1999 qualifying; and the first time Kimi Raikkonen won here with McLaren.

The list goes on. Whenever Spa is missing from the Grand Prix calendar, we the fans are mistreated by having either a race less to enjoy or a pretender to Spa's greatness taking its place. No amateur ever wins the Belgian Grand Prix. It sorts the "coulds" from the "thought they coulds" and deserves to be named greatest circuit.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Daniel Chalmers - Spa Francorchamps

A perfect race track needs a variety of characteristics: character, challenging corners, elevation changes, great scenery, places to overtake, unpredictable weather, great places for spectators to see the action.

In my opinion, Spa is the only track in the world that has all these characteristics. It has the great scenery, with its location in the middle of the dramatic Ardennes Forest. Eau Rouge, Blanchimont and Pouhon provide the challenging and classic corners, which fans all love to watch the drivers tackling.

Overtaking is also a possibility, and slipstreaming is possible as well. The corner at the end of the straight following Eau Rouge is a place to overtake. This is where Mika Hakkinen overtook Michael Schumacher using a back marker in the classic 2000 race.

The bus stop chicane is also a place where you see plenty of overtaking.

If you go to Spa as a spectator, there is nothing better than seeing F1 cars flat out through Blanchimont or staring at disbelief at how steep Eau Rouge is.

Unpredictable weather has made for some very dramatic races in Spa. The 1998 race saw torrential rain, which brought a 1-2 finish for the Jordan team. 1995 saw a wet-weather master class from Michael Schumacher, as he started 15^th to go and win the race.

This place has a micro-climate of its own. It’s the annual Spa guessing game.

Quite simply, Spa never fails to deliver and has everything you want from a race track.

It’s a huge shame that classic tracks like this are under threat from Bernie in favour of boring modern and flat circuits with no character or atmosphere. Spa is what Formula 1 is all about.

If you are going watch only one race a year make sure it is Spa.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Mark Andrew - Spa Francorchamps

I was thinking of saying Silverstone as my favourite Formula 1 circuit, as it's my home Grand Prix circuit and fantastic, but there is something special about Spa Francorchamps in Belgium.

Spa has it all: elevation changes, sweeping corners, heavy braking zones, 21 turns in all.

It is one of the biggest tests these highly skilled drivers go through in the whole F1 calendar. Many drivers state they can't wait for the start of each lap to experience Eau Rouge again.

The most exciting first corner ever for me is La Source hairpin, where anything can happen, as we saw with Alonso and Hamilton in 2007. Cars have to be set up perfectly around Spa with no margin for error. If your car isn’t set up right, you won’t have the speed and balance that's needed.

The legendary Eau Rouge chicane sees the drivers hit 190 mph at the bottom of the hill, pulling five G in Force, four and a half G in Lateral force.

This pushes their heads down at four times their body weight, through the corner whilst still accelerating as they pop over the top of the hill into Lacombe, then onto 210 mph down the straight.

Pouhon corner is streaming downhill and is unsighted, yet the cars are still doing 180 mph. Then you have the amazing flat out Blanchimont corner, the two Stavelot corners, Malmody, and the Bus Stop chicane

F1 cars arriving at the Bus stop chicane must be perfectly balanced as they are braking from 200 Mph to just 50 Mph in seconds.

It has produced many great battles over the years, Hakkinen vs. Schumacher in 2000, Hamilton vs. Alonso vs. Raikkonen in 2007, just to name two of the best.

The fact it wasn’t intended to be a race circuit for me adds to the magic of the place. It was country roads, turned into a race track by connecting the roads that link the towns of Stavelot, Malmody and Francorchamps.

I was gutted to see it removed in 2006, and the season felt incomplete without it. Putting it back on the calendar was a wise choice, and now I wait in anticipation for the Belgian Grand Prix each time around, I just hope they hurry up and bring it out on the next Formula 1 game.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Andrew McNair - Monte Carlo

I've watched F1 for 13 years now, but there is only one race on the F1 calendar that I really hate to miss.

That circuit is in Monte Carlo, or as you may know it, the Monaco Grand Prix.

In my opinion, it is the pinnacle of Formula One.

The glamour is unmatched at any other circuit during the season, and it also offers the drivers one of their greatest challenges.

It's history speaks for itself.

My own favourite driver won this GP in 2000 and 2002, and those David Coulthard victories definitely add to its glory for me.

Street circuits are something special, and I'm looking forward to Valencia's debut this season. It could quite easily become my second favourite circuit very soon.

For now, though, in what other sport or race in fact, do you get to compete in such surroundings?

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Billy Sexton - Spa Francorchamps

My favourite F1 circuit has to be Spa Francorchamps which holds the Belgian Grand Prix, and there are many reasons why Spa is my favourite circuit.

The first reason is because of the Eau Rouge corner complex. A truly amazing turn, I am not surprised that it has been recently voted best F1 corner ever by F1 Racing Magazine.

For me, nothing is better than watching Hamilton or Raikkonen go flat out up the hill and then along the top straight. The bendy corner needs to be taken flat out for a good lap time.

Many say this complex is the best at demonstrating driver skill (some say that the Maggots and Beckett's corners at Silverstone, are the best but I disagree). Eau Rouge is simply amazing.

Fernando Alonso says: “It’s an important corner for the driver's feeling. It makes a special impression every lap, because you also have a compression in your body as you go through the bottom of the corner. It is very strange, but good fun as well.”

The history and tradition that surrounds Spa is my second reason. Many magical races have occurred at Spa. For instance, the 2007 race saw the McLaren teammates go wheel to wheel on the opening lap.

2000 saw Mika Hakkinen pull off the best overtaking move ever in his McLaren Mercedes to take the lead and win the race from Michael Schumacher. In 1939, Dick Seaman was fatally burned whilst driving his Mercedes around the circuit.

1998 was memorable when Michael Schumacher stormed into the McLaren garage and confronted Coulthard for causing him to pull out of the race.

Also, Schumacher won his first race there in 1992 and broke Prost’s record for most Grand Prix wins nine years later in 2001. The list just goes on and on.

I also like Spa because the race conditions are unpredictable. It could be raining at one end of the circuit and bone dry at the other end. This makes the circuit very challenging for the drivers (they have to choose the right tyres or the outcome could be severe) which, in turn, lets us fans see how good they really are.

A final reason why Spa is my favourite circuit is because even though it is a historical circuit like Silverstone and Hockenheim, it stands up to Bernie Ecclestone and keeps itself on the F1 calendar year in and year out. Bernie hasn’t said a bad word about Spa yet.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Sheiban Shakeri – Formula One Community Leader - Spa Francorchamps

For the question that you have brought up, it is a really tough choice! When I thought about it, the best one that came to my mind was Spa Francorchamps.

The weather was always unpredictable, and it was always difficult for drivers to get the best setup.

The end result of the race did not necessarily equate to the driver getting pole position on the day before.

Spa has always had some amazing things happen there, as well as holding an air of history.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Ryan Wood - Sepang

Choosing your favourite Formula One track could be likened to choosing your favourite child, if you have any. Luckily I don’t, so I’ll crack on with my decision.

I’m expecting a few fans to choose Spa Francorchamps as their favourite track. It’s hugely popular with fans and drivers; however, it’s not even in my top four.

As we saw in 2007, not a lot happened. The top seven were almost identical to qualifying, as only two drivers, Nico Rosberg and Nick Heidfeld, traded places.

My personal choice has to be between Malaysia’s Sepang circuit and Canada’s Montreal circuit. In the end, I had to choose Sepang.

Sepang has been regarded as the benchmark circuit for many F1 venues. If you can get anywhere near the atmosphere, track, and facilities, then you have yourself a fantastic circuit.

The track itself consists of many high-speed corners with two huge long straights which really push the car in every area. A total of 15 corners, the majority being quick sweeping curves with just a few tight corners, notably 2, 4 and 9, proves a real challenge for the mechanics and drivers to get the correct set-up.

If the car is weak in any area, it really effects the times, and you can’t expect to qualify in the top 10.

With most F1 venues favouring a certain team, it can become predictable. This doesn’t quite apply to the 2008 season, as McLaren have been successful on what have been in the past regarded Ferrari tracks.

However, Sepang has never leaned towards a single team. Over the past six years, Ferrari, Renault and McLaren have each taken the chequered flag twice, and in those 6 years it hasn’t been won by the same driver/team combination. This can make for a truly exciting race.

I may not have driven the circuit in reality; however, I have driven around it on numerous occasions on the PS3. This may not be an accurate representation, but it’s the closest I’ll get.

I find it a joy to drive, with the car sweeping around the bends at almost full speed. I have also beaten the lap record set by Montoya in 2004 which stands at 1:34:233, again, not a true representation but an achievement in my own fantasy F1 career.

My time was 1:32:826 in a McLaren, in hard mode of course, anyone faster? Answers on a postcard or comment below.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Peter Haydon - Spa Francorchamps

There can only be one contender for my all-time favourite circuit, and that is Spa-Francorchamps.

Its setting in the dank and slightly sinister Ardennes Forest, which is named after the Celtic hunting goddess Arduinna, is the true European heartland of F1. The money men may think that the burning sands of Arabia and the sweaty jungles of Asia are appropriate stages for the pinnacle of motor sport, but I disagree.

The highly uncertain weather conditions of the European circuits like Spa test teams and drivers in a way that a cruise in the heat of Bahrain never can.

Rain is the great equaliser, and having the quickest car will only help a driver explore the off-track areas faster if he does not have a seat-of-the-pants feel for grip.

Is it a coincidence that seven-time World champion Michael Schumacher was known as the Rain Master? I think not.

Spa has a special magic; when the names of the circuit features roll off your tongue you are talking the very essence of Formula One: La Source, Eau Rouge, Raidillon, The Bus Stop, Blanchimont. Just say them and the smell of the forest is in the air, mixed with the acrid exhaust of racing engines.

If I were to think of one word relevant to motor racing, that word would be speed. Spa is a fast circuit. Now some may wax lyrical over intricate sequences of slow speed turns, but that’s the supermarket parking challenge, and it’s not for me.

When an F1 driver comes out of La Source, he knows that ahead of him waits the challenge of the left-right-left Eau Rouge/Raidillon, which he must have the courage to take flat-out or he will lose time to bolder drivers.

Then he will be climbing uphill, and he will not be able to see over the brow of the hill at Kemmel. But if he keeps his nerve, if he keeps the pedal floored, he’ll enter the straight beyond at 180 mph, well-placed to overtake at the Les Combes turn.

That’s F1 at its finest. That’s Spa Francorchamps, the world’s best motor racing circuit.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Kyle Lavigne - Old Hockenheim

In today's Formula One world, much is left to be had at many of the circuits. Gone are such classic tracks as Imola and the old Hockenheimring, in are the not so endearing Bahrain and new Hockenheimring.

With the schedule changing as it is, many of us have moments of nostalgia regarding just which track was the best to ever grace the F1 circus. Look no further than the Old Hockenheimring.

First, give a glance at the names of the corners and chicanes the track boasted: Nordkurve, Clark chicane, Ost chicane, Senna chicane, Mobil 1, Sachs, and Sudkurve. All of those corner names suggest that this track was of a majestic nature. And, for me, it certainly was.

From the corner names, we now move to the track layout. You first start on a relatively short front straight at the end of the stadium section. The lights go out, and you go full throttle to the Nordkurve, a quick right-hander.

From there, it's a "foot through the floor" full throttle blast into the forest. A then hard braking effort sees you drop through the gears for the Clark chicane, before a second full throttle shot through the trees.

More hard braking for the Ost chicane, then full throttle again to the Senna chicane. One more full throttle shoot sees you head back into the stadium section and the most technical part of the track (Mobil 1, Sachs, and Sudkurve) before heading back the main straight and onto another lap, hopefully in front at this point.

Sure, there are other tracks, such as Spa, that have numerous tough corners and challenging tricks in them, but the sheer length of the straightaways and the Formula One V-10 engines screaming down those three long straights was music.

Plus, in a modern era that sees passing difficult to come by, the long straights and three chicanes offered plenty of chances for passing. All you need to evidence that fact was the 2000 race.

Rubens Barrichello and Heinz Herald Frentzen start at the back, run light, and shoot up through the field, with Barrichello scoring likely the most emotional win this millennium, with Frentzen in line for a podium until his car failed.

This track was perfect for those of us who wished to see more passing in a Grand Prix race, and always delivered a few moments of excitement and drama in its races.

The Old Hockenheim may not have the fame of the Old Nurburgring or Spa, but it will always be a favourite of mine and one circuit I dearly miss on the schedule. The new version of it just doesn't quite live up to the old ring.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Ben Auty – Formula One Community Leader and Roundtable Co-founder - Silverstone

I am going to have to stay close to home because...

I am British, I am patriotic, I love my Union Flag, I love the Queen, I love Spitfires, I love being two-time World War Champions, I love rain, I love how we all hate Monday mornings, I love always being the underdog, I love Fish and Chips, I love Wimbledon, I love the Premier League, I love The Beatles, I love our British drivers, I LOVE SILVERSTONE and this is why:

It’s been 60 years since the first Grand Prix was held at this epic circuit, Silverstone is mounted in history and some of F1’s most classic moments, the British Grand Prix is one of the world’s most premier motor racing events. Silverstone also held the very first official Grand Prix as part of the Official World Championships way back in 1950.

Fans love it, teams love it, drivers love it, and it’s a very fast circuit with some amazing flowing corners. Overtaking is possible at a number of places, more notably the Stowe corner at the bottom of the long Hangar straight, where the cars will punch those 750bhp beasts to speeds in excess of 300 km/h.

Just recently, the overtaking at this corner was demonstrated at Silverstone by Lewis Hamilton in a superb outbraking move on teammate Heikki Kovalainen that was reminiscent of that famous pass by Nigel Mansell on teammate Nelson Piquet in 1987.

Another corner that is great for overtaking is corner 16, in the Luffield complex. This year in the rain, BMW-Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld passed four different drivers, two at a time, within the space of four laps.

Drivers and teams love it:

Lewis Hamilton (McLaren Mercedes): “It’s one of the best circuits on the calendar, a real driver’s circuit. Its super fast. The first half of the circuit doesn’t require any braking at all, just little lifts and shifts down through the gears. In fact, you need to watch the brake temperatures don’t drop too low, because you’re not using them for much of the lap. Where else can you experience that? Formula One just wouldn’t be the same without Silverstone. It’s become a British phenomenon.”

Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber): “Over the main entrance to Silverstone, there’s a sign saying ‘Home of British Motor Racing’, and that really sums up the atmosphere here. This classic track has stayed true to its roots. It really has character, which I like. There are a lot of great high-speed sections, and some memorable corners and combinations like Stowe, Copse and Beckets. Also, you can always count on the British spectators to create a special atmosphere. The British fans are really into racing; they’re very informed and enthusiastic.”

So why do I love Silverstone so much? As I said it’s a lot to do with being patriotic and loving anything British. It’s the whole feel of the circuit, the atmosphere come rain or shine, the fans who are some of the most knowledgeable in the world, the feeling, the buzz around the whole weekend, even the testing sessions, they are just as much a sell out and just as exciting. It is HOME to British Motor racing, I personally want it to stay that way, but Bernie doesn’t agree.

So in conclusion, I love Silverstone and I could go on all day about my love for this great circuit, but because it’s a Roundtable I best keep it short. For my full article on this superb track, check out 60 Years of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in my archives.

Ben, Over and Out!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Michael Griffin – Formula One Roundtable Co-founder - Magny-Cours

This selection is perhaps the most surprising one as we have had Spa selected so many times, as well as Monaco, Sepang, Old Hockenheim and Silverstone. But, Magny-Cours really is my favourite track ever. I do love Spa, I adore it, but for me Magny-Cours has something a little more special.

It has everything, quite literally. The track was designed to combine the best sections of every race track around the world and squeeze them all into one track. The designers managed to do it.

The long, tight turn two is stolen from Estoril in Portugal, and the long straight down to Adelaideis meant to represent one of the terrifying straights at the Old Hockenheim.

After Adelaide, you come down to the Nurburgring, where you quickly switch right left, the opposite of the Schumacher S. After a tight hairpin, you then come down to the second Schumacher S before thundering down another Hockenheim straight to the penultimate corner.

The last corner is now designed to represent the tight, twisting first corners that Monza used to have before its redesign in 2000.

It is just simply brilliant. My lap record for this circuit on Formula One Championship Edition is 1:11:012. Beat that.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay, there we have it, all entries are now in and the results are as follows.

Spa Francorchamps – Five Votes
Silverstone – One Vote
Sepang – One Vote
Magny-Cours – One Vote
Old Hockenheim – One Vote
Monte Carlo – One Vote

After counting the votes, I am pleased to announce that the greatest circuit of all time is Spa Francorchamps!

Congratulations Spa, how does it feel to take this victory?

“…………….”

Wow, a heartfelt acceptance speech there.

That concludes this edition of the Chequered Flag Roundtable, and you know the drill, for maximum exposure for the F1 Community, 5 stars and Pick of the Day please.

Formula One: The Chequered Flag Round Table (Round 1)

F1RT Chequered Flag — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:11:05 -0400

Welcome all to the very first Formula One Roundtable discussion, a series of discussions which shall be known as "The Chequered Flag Roundtable."

We have compiled the views of some of our top writers for our first topic.

If in the future you wish to be considered for a seat at the roundtable, then please contact Michael Griffin or Ben Auty and you shall be contacted in due course.

So, the very first in a long line of topics in this groundbreaking series is:

"If you could change one thing about Formula One, what would it be and why?"

------------------------------------------------------------------------

ANSWERS

Billy Sexton - POINTS SCORING SYSTEM

If there was one thing I could change in Formula One, it would be the points scoring system. I think that the Top 10 drivers in the race should receive points. This gives lower placed teams such as Honda, Toro Rosso and Force India a greater chance to score some points during the season.

Also, I think that points should be rewarded for being on pole position and also for setting the fastest lap during the race. This would make qualifying more exciting and race strategy more interesting.

Therefore, I would have the points system as follows: 12-10-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 with an extra five points for pole position, and three points for the fastest lap. This would mean that should a driver have a ‘perfect’ race, he would score 20 points.

This may seem like too many points, but in 2008 we have only seen one ‘perfect’ race (Raikkonen in Spain) after nine races. This points system wouldn’t benefit one driver.

If this system were being used at present, Hamilton would have 70 points, Massa would have 75 points, and Raikkonen would have 90 points. Trailing by 15 points seems a lot, but this could be made up in one race weekend.

Steven Stones -TEAM ENTRY

I am very reluctant to write this, because there would be many things I can think of. What I have opted for, I haven't thought of a solution yet, but I am going to go with it and see what people think.

If there was one thing I could change, it would be to find a way to help privateer teams to enter Formula One and actually stand a chance of staying there. Formula One used to be dominated by privateers such as Brabham, Tyrrell, Williams, and others.

Indeed, this was a very different time. McLaren and Lotus were once privateers as well. I'm also aware that it's a new era now, and the corporate teams are the way forward. Still, Grand Prix racing needs privateers.

Right now, Williams and Force India are doing a great job of staying in contention with Vijay's team, showing amazing turns of pace and development and improving by four seconds over the Spyker team from last year. But this isn't enough.

I've thought about a lot of different solutions to the problem. Some have included the basic budget capping. Also, I thought maybe there could be a privateer class in Formula One.

However, this approach would mean creating divisions in Grand Prix racing, and this is what GP2 and other categories are for.

Perhaps I am just harking back to the old days too much, and the privateer days are gone? But with more privateers we may see more cars in the field, like we used to see in the 1990's.

Tight restrictions could ensure pace is kept high, as teams would have to conform to a certain lap time of the fastest qualifier again, like in the old days.

It's a difficult situation, and the solution is tricky. I'm sure the FIA and others are looking at this very aspect but seeing the demise of great Grand Prix teams such as Minardi, Jordan, Tyrrell and some of the others makes you wonder who will be next.

Sheiban Shakeri – Formula One Community Leader - GENERAL CHANGES

What I would most like to see change about F1 would be the way the race is run. Nothing radical like Flavio Briatore's GP2-style races, but the improvement of aerodynamics in order to make passing more viable.

Getting rid of traction control was an excellent start, but I think more needs to be done. Another thing that I'd like to see is making the races more open and inclusive.

Maybe allow a driver Q&A for the public and other things. Drivers aren't products, but I'm sure that a lot of people would like to see them as human beings rather than just faces on television.

Mark Andrew - CAR DESIGN

I would change the cars . I do think it’s exciting to see an "inferior" Formula One car come from the back of the field in the wet. Adrian Sutil at Monaco is my example.

However, I think every car should be made by their manufacturer, for example: Ferrari at Marranello and McLaren at Woking. Then, every car should be tested to make sure each and every car has exactly the same speed, aero, acceleration, grip, and top speed.

This is because at the moment with dry races and the raw pace that Ferrari, McLaren and BMW have, the rest of the field have such slim chances to score points, let alone podiums.

This, in turn, gets a driver the sack for "not being good enough," when clearly it’s the car that’s not good enough.

I believe this will make Formula One exciting again, and we would see exactly which drivers are the best on the grid.

This is because with drivers in Force India's, etc., we know they are good, but how good exactly?

Daniel Chalmers - BAN RE-FUELLING

I would be delighted if I didn't see the fuel hoses at pit stops anymore.

I have grown very tired of hearing a commentator say, "I think driver X may be carrying a bit more fuel than driver Z to skip ahead of him at the next pit stop."

Since re-fueling came back, the number of overtaking moves has gone down. More races (and positions) have been won on the pit wall rather than on the track.

If you are a second or two behind someone and you know you have more fuel than them, then there is no point trying to overtake them.

Take away this element, and the motivation to overtake on the track will increase. This will be the main way to get ahead again, rather than relying on fuel strategy.

Also, we would never have to see drivers qualifying on varying amount of race fuel again, as there would be no need for that with no in-race re-fueling. Pole positions would have full merit again and there would be no more fake pole positions.

Alex Levy - PIT LANE UNDER SAFETY CAR

The very one thing I would change this year in Formula One is the whole pit lane closure during safety car period.

I don't care about the new system that was experimented at Magny Cours, because this is just as unfair in my view.

Why is it a driver who needs new tyres or fuel to carry on is to be penalised as a result of a necessity to stop and go whilst the safety car is deployed, which is more often than not irrelevant to his actions?

Ryan Wood - PENALTY DECISIONS

I didn’t want to take anything away from what is already a great sport. However I had a few things racing around in my mind concerning this question: the aerodynamical winglets (gone in 2009), James Allen, current safety car rules.

Then it hit me. The one thing currently damaging the sport, from a viewer's perspective, is how races—and world championships—have been decided through unfair penalties.

I could write a small book of unjust penalties handed out in the past nine races, let alone the past 19 years...

So I’d really like to see Formula One governed by an impartial referee, who isn’t from the FIA. He would decide what and who deserves a penalty, how serious the offence was, whether it would warrant a grid drop, a race ban, or a fine.

This would make racing more fun and most of all, fair.

Long John Silver - SUSTAINABILITY

I would increase the sustainability of F1 no doubt, possible use of solar panels on the side pots, using photovoltaic cells to power the five lights on the starting grid (send a message that we are serious), greener fuels to power the engines, recycled tires...and a research development division for sustainability.

That is what I would change - make us more GREEN!

Ben Auty – Formula One Community Leader / Roundtable Co-Creator - CONSISTENCY

I think a big problem within F1 right now is a lack of consistency within the sport. You can scrap all of your conspiracy theories and stories of favoritism. These are just the raw facts in black and white.

I want to state that the FIA, the race stewards, Charlie Whiting and whoever else has the finger in the steaming pie at the time need to ensure that it is one rule for all, NOT, one rule for one and then one for another. That is not making a level playing field for our athletes.

Case 1: Let’s call a spade a spade. Whether it was controllable or not, Kimi Raikkonen took Adrian Sutil out of the race in Monaco. At the end of the day, Sutil took no further part in the race. The punishment for Ferrari after that incident was nothing.

Let’s keep calling a spade a spade. Whether it was controllable or not, Lewis Hamilton took Kimi Raikkonen out of the race at in Canada. At the end of the day, Raikkonen took no further part in the race. The punishment for McLaren after that was a 10-grid penalty in the next race.

Verdict: No consistency.

Case 2: Sebastian Vettel completed an overtaking pass on Heikki Kovalainen and to complete the move he had to cut a corner. Most would argue that the manoeuvre was completed, therefore, no advantage was gained from the corner being cut. The action taken against Vettel after this pass was nothing.

Lewis Hamilton completed an overtaking pass on Sebastian Vettel and in completing that pass he lost traction on the track. He had an option, counter the slide thus steering into the path of the overtaken Vettel or let the car correct and use the corner as a run off for safety? He used the run off rather than take himself and Vettel out of the race, risking another penalty.

Most would argue that Hamilton had made the pass and the corner was used for safety reasons, NOT to gain any kind of an advantage from the corner being cut. The action taken against Lewis was a drive-through penalty.

Verdict: No consistency.

If I could change one thing in F1, it would be the bigwigs keeping their decisions consistent.

I do not want to start a debate about which of these decisions are right or wrong; that's not the issue here. I am saying these examples are exactly the same, yet the outcomes were CLEARLY different.

Therefore, there is no consistency, and that's what we need to make the playing field level so everyone has the same chances to be successful.

Michael Griffin – Roundtable Co-Creator - POINT SCORING SYSTEM

If I could change one thing about Formula One, it would be the points system. It would involve a driver would receive two extra points for pole position and one extra point for the fastest lap.

I think that this would be a radical change, and would give a real meaning, of sorts, to getting the fastest lap.

I would also use this system, 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. That’s right, if you finish in the top 10, you get at least a point.

This would help some of the smaller teams that get ninth and 10th places in high-attrition races.

It isn’t really that radical, but if this were implemented, it would mean that qualifying would have a genuine effect on the race and the world championship.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for reading the very first round in what we hope can be a long line in our series of articles. This Round Table has been created to promote the F1 Community within Bleacher Report, so we appreciate your support.

Please give generously by scoring this article with 5 stars and a Pick of the Day vote. The aim will be to get the article to front page by its popularity alone to further promote our beloved community.

Thanks to all the writers for their contributions and like I said before, if you wish to be considered for a seat at the Round Table please contact either Michael Griffin or Ben Auty. Thanks again.