Malaysia: The Race
The weather is good in Malaysia, but we want some rain! The opportunity to see TC free cars sliding around in the wet stuff has been on the cards all week, but thus far the weather’s held. All the signs suggest the track is due a downpour, but will it happen before the race is run?
On the flip-side to this, the mixed up grid is set to provide a great race regardless of what mother nature throws in the direction of the Kuala Lumpur circuit. Hamilton is sitting directly behind Alonso in 9th, while sat beside him is his current teammate Kovalainen. If ever Lewis needed a good first corner, today would be it.
Near the front we also have the prospect of an out-of-position Trulli. It’s been awhile since we’ve had a potential road block so close to the front of the pack, what part will the Toyota driver play in today’s result, and can he deliver on his pre-season promises?
UK television coverage kicks off in less than five minutes. It feels like we’re up at a vaguely normal time compared to some of the sessions we’ve sat through, but let us know if you’ve set your alarm early for this one!
A couple of handy links, should they be needed:
- Official live timing
- ITV streaming video (viewable worldwide using a UK proxy)
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:17 amMichael Roberts said:
It’s still not raining!
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:19 amme said:
morning.
it’s not but the forecasts say it will.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:20 amimran, kuala lumpur said:
It will rain, but only during the race. Its been like this for the past 2 weeks! Enjoy the race
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:22 amme said:
thanks imran. that is good to hear
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:22 amlou said:
Morning!!! i much better time to wake up methinks!
yes bring on the rain - lets hope it wont be a repeat of Fugi!
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:23 amChristine said:
10% chance of rain, they said.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:25 amMichael Roberts said:
Yeh, but thats Honda for you. Eternally optimistic. It makes you wonder why they haven’t signed Trulli!
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:26 amSteveintheUK said:
Hi Christine
Are you still talking to me today? Sorry about making fun of you last night
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:27 amme said:
hahaha, you’re brave aren’t ya?
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:27 amlou said:
yeah but its still a chance, and we all know how reliable renault’s predictions were yesterday. - i think its gonna have to be a wait and see situation.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:28 amSteveintheUK said:
Thats want lack of sleep does to me.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:33 amScott Dryden said:
Morning everyone.
According to Intellicast, there’s currently a 50% chance of rain:
http://www.intellicast.com/Local/Hourly.aspx?location=MYXX0031
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:34 amChristine said:
Hi Steve, you’re a big meanie but yes, I am still talking to you
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:36 amSteveintheUK said:
I wish ITV would make up their minds about Williams, during Quail I’m sure they said that the only way Button would win a championship would be to move to Williams. Now thir have just said that the Williams driver, Rosberg’s only changes of winning a Championship would be by leaving Williams.
I’m confused, do thir think that Williams will ever win another championship again or not?
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:36 amme said:
morning. i like the sound of that.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:37 amScott Dryden said:
That’s the second worst excuse ever, mate. After ‘I’d had one beer too many’. :p
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:38 amSteveintheUK said:
Thank You, and sorry for being a meanie, I’m sure your team will go up the rankings after todays races.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:38 amlou said:
ooo an optimistic Trulli there…
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:39 amMichael Roberts said:
Louise is keeping her fingers crossed. I fear for Timo…
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:39 amme said:
yes.
their best chance would be toyota backing them 100% as a works team. at the moment the current engine arrangement looks like a step in that direction, and long-time williams man frank dernie is currently working in the toyota factory.
rosberg is fine where he is, button is in a pretty good position too.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:40 amlou said:
sorry im watching the itv build up. im not just saying random things
maybe i should have checked if anyone else was watching it too first…
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:40 amScott Dryden said:
You’re not kidding, Lou. That was almost scary. I hope he hasn’t broken the Trulliometer.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:40 amSteveintheUK said:
Damn, ITV Live feed is playing up again
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:41 amChristine said:
Highly unlikely, but thanks for the support!!
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:41 amPoppy said:
Morning all - I wasn’t brave enough to get up really early for Aus. but I ‘m all pleased with myself for managing to get up for today’s race - looking forward to it!
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:43 amme said:
hey poppy
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:45 amlou said:
Im confused, just put the live timings up and its still showing the Mclarens at P3 and 4?
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:45 amMichael Roberts said:
I think Quick Nick has a chance today, especially when he only has 2 unreliable Ferrari’s and Trulli ahead of him.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:45 amMichael Roberts said:
That will be from qualifying only.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:46 amme said:
just for fun then. any predictions for:
- first driver to make a pitstop
- first retirement
- time of first rainfall
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:47 amMichael Roberts said:
- pitstop - Kubica
- retirement - Webber (sad but true)
- rainfall - 23 minutes
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:48 amScott Dryden said:
Are we getting more interviews on the grid from Louise and Ted, than normal? The reason that usually happens is because Martin’s not doing a grid walk. Maybe he doesn’t fancy it here, because of the humidity.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:49 amMichael Roberts said:
I think the commentary box is too far away.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:49 amSteveintheUK said:
Firts Pitstop, Massa, he can’t have much fuel in his car from the speed he was doing in Quail
For first Retirement I have to put a free coffee on Webber, he got though Quial alright so something is bound to go wrong for him in the race.
First Rainfall, about half a lap after the top six have done their first tyre change.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:50 amme said:
might be a long way to the commentary box. he’s getting a bit old to run
i think the “ice pack on the head” is a great look for an f1 driver.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:50 amChristine said:
20% chance of rain in the next 20 minutes
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:50 amlou said:
-1st pitstop - Massa
-1st retirement - Davidson/Webber
-rainfall - 50mins
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:51 amChristine said:
Yea, although it was more “ice pack on the helmet”, that was a bit odd.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:51 amScott Dryden said:
Pitstop - Kubica
Retirement - Anthony Davidson (he has the misfortune of being placed directly in front of Nakajima on the grid)
Rainfall - Won’t happen
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:51 amSteveintheUK said:
Louise is just trying to show the BBC that she can actual do the job, she needs to start think about a job for next year.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:53 amme said:
hahahaha, love it.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:53 amimran, kuala lumpur said:
pitstop - massa
retirement - nakajima
rainfall - after 60th minute
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:53 amPoppy said:
Pitstop - a Mclaren? People saying they have less fuel on the grid?
Retirement - Trulli - the Jam in a Ferrari/Mclaren sandwich?
Rainfall - just said in 70 mins but I think it looks like rain shower at least earlier than that
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:53 amlou said:
That explains why she is wearing overalls today insead of a t-shirt and sandles last week in Aus.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:53 amScott Dryden said:
Yeah, if the commentary box is a little further away than usual, Brundle might not fancy sprinting given the problems he has with his ankles and that fact that drivers were on the verge of collapse after the Speedcar race.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:57 amlou said:
I love Kimi’s helmet!
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:58 amDan Brunell said:
Morning…
Pitstop- Massa
Retirement - Both Red Bull will fall apart completely when the lights go off…
Rainfall - 32 minutes in.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:58 amHugo said:
Morning guys I hope, the race is good enough to justify not being at a night club right now (1:00AM)
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:00 amlou said:
ok 1st retierment (given what they have just said about him feeling unwell) - DC
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:00 amPaul Tate said:
Quite sureal with all this talk about high temperatures and prospect of rain, watching ITV and looking at the falling snow out of my lounge window!
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:00 amHugo said:
Did anyone saw the airasia plane with Rosberg`s helmet painted on the front of the plane?
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:01 amlou said:
yep
Christine, did you do a post on that before?? im sure i remember it?
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:01 amSteveintheUK said:
So how many Ferrari engine’s will make it to the end of the race?
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:01 amme said:
http://www.sidepodcast.com/2008/02/08/williams-odd-livery/
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:03 amme said:
that is surreal. some drivers would kill for some of that right now
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:05 amme said:
bourdais out
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:05 amlou said:
oh no there is a stop for bourdais!
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:05 amSteveintheUK said:
WOW, no one crashed on the first corner, they where all over the track going into that corner
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:06 amGary Shavit said:
Short race for Bourdais. What a shame.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:07 amSteveintheUK said:
WHAT happened to Bourdais? I had to refresh ITV Live feed half way round the first lap
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:08 amGary Shavit said:
Glock too.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:09 amme said:
carried to much speed into turn six.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:09 amNelson said:
And I’m here. Morning folks.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:09 amSteveintheUK said:
Well, thats one of my five drivers out then, make that 2, Glock is out too. Only Webber, Heidfeld and Kubica to go now
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:09 amGary Shavit said:
Looks like Bourdais just lost it in the corner. I didn’t see any contact.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:11 amme said:
wow! loving the couthard battle. 3 wide, and loads of overtaking.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:11 amlou said:
wow hu says there is no overtaking anymore! wow great racing between Heidfeld DC and Alonso!!
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:11 amMichael Roberts said:
Trulli is so much quicker than Lewis.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:11 amSteveintheUK said:
Did Alonso just try to take out DC going down the main straight?
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:11 amme said:
alonso remains in 9th though, having let nick through.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:11 amGary Shavit said:
Three abreast! And they say that that doesn’t happen in F1.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:12 amme said:
looked like he swerved a bit yep.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:14 amme said:
massa in a league of his own right now.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:15 amGary Shavit said:
Sutil out also. The attrition is continuing.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:15 amSteveintheUK said:
The Ferrari’s really need to stop for fuel soon or McLaren are going to be in big trouble today
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:16 amme said:
kimi ducks into the 1:36
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:16 amSteven Roy said:
Fastest lap to Kimi
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:16 amRich said:
Good to see Trulli all over the back of Hamilton. Nakajima takes Vettel so the Williams also looking good.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:17 amGary Shavit said:
Nice move Kazuki!
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:17 ammagmount said:
Kimi nails it. Pitstops getting nearer?
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:17 amSteveintheUK said:
ITV running an advert for men’s grey hair product, wonder if DC has seen that?
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:18 amme said:
bourdais says, had a problem at start and then car got away.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:18 amScott Dryden said:
At the moment, it looks like he’s having one of those races where he puts in an absolutely world class drive. It’ll be interesting to see when he stops.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:19 amme said:
trading fastest sectors with kimi. one has to be lighter than the other. who’ll blink first?
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:19 amScott Dryden said:
Fisi’s flying - lapping about 0.5 faster than the drivers around him.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:20 amryan said:
It looks like the “Curse of the Red Bull” has struck again, with Bourdais the victim this time. I’ll bet the stewards will be all over what’s left of that chassis like a cheap suit!
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:20 amRhodie said:
Morning all I have recently moved to Malta and do not have Sky yet and I cannot get the live feed from ITV so am watching the race on an Italian channel, which is good coverage but cant understand a &%$ word
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:20 ammagmount said:
Anybody know the net loss from stops here?
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:21 amme said:
hehe, if feels like that in the uk sometimes
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:23 amSteven Roy said:
I can’t remember the numbers but because the pit entry is after a hairpin there is less time penalty than most tracks
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:23 amRhodie said:
Even though I can see what is happening, I have to rely on you guys to tell me what is said about it (Thanks by the way)
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:23 amSteveintheUK said:
You can get the ITV Feed if you use a UK Proxy, just don’t tell anybody, Google ‘UK Proxy’ and you should be able to work it out from there.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:24 amRhodie said:
Cheers will try that. The live ITV site just tells me that due to “Contractual reasons” (ie Bernie wont let them) this feature is unavailable outside the UK
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:24 amScott Dryden said:
On Five Live, Crofty seemed certain that Massa was running significantly lighter. I have to say, looking at the sector times, I’m not convinced. I think it’s very close.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:27 amSteveintheUK said:
What are ITV on about, Hamilton is only one km/ph faster than Ferrari’s though the speed trap
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:27 amScott Dryden said:
A natural sound option (with no commentary) like they have on Premiere, in Germany, would be good sometimes.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:27 amGary Shavit said:
Lewis’s tyre looks pretty ragged for just 14 laps.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:28 amGary Shavit said:
Rosberg lapped already!
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:29 amPoppy said:
No not Nico a back marker he is one of my best hopes for my Fantasy F1 team!!
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:30 amme said:
we didn’t see any of that last week did we?
kaz is quicker than nico right now. even with his new nose.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:30 amRhodie said:
See what I mean - does Rosberg have a problem ??? I can see he was going slow
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:31 amSteveintheUK said:
He popped in for a new nosecone near the start of the race, but could add to the fun, Davidson, Sato not far of being lapped either
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:31 amme said:
how many xtra laps does kimi have?
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:32 amSteveintheUK said:
Does that mean Massa was the first in for a real pitstop?
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:32 amme said:
looks like a handling issue. nothing obviously broken.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:32 amRhodie said:
I hope Ferrari dont do their usual trick and hold up Massa in the pits to put Raikonan in the lead. Massa has clarly been the quicker driver all weekend
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:32 amRich said:
Massa was light as we all expected and in the pits! Nick also in the pits.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:33 amSteveintheUK said:
ONE, not much difference in fuel loads then
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:33 amme said:
didn’t webber stop first?
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:33 amme said:
go KIMI!!!
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:33 amRhodie said:
Told you
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:33 amlou said:
WOOO go Kimi!
nice work
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:34 amChristine said:
I bet Massa is fuming.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:34 amRhodie said:
Nothin agains Kimmi, jus5t Ferrari tactics
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:34 amRich said:
Kimi takes Massa through the pitstop Great!
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:34 amme said:
i think kimi did that all by himself.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:35 amlou said:
Was it not Rosberg??
OH dear trouble for Hamilton.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:35 amGary Shavit said:
Bad stop for Lewis. That’s going to cost him dearly.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:35 amRhodie said:
I been a Ferrari fan since the early 70`s (giving my age away here) but I have to admit that their tactics sometimes leave a lot to be desired
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:35 amme said:
lewis’ front right still doesn’t look like it went on correctly.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:35 amRich said:
Slow Pitstop for Hamilton - ITV despair
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:36 amScott Dryden said:
We saw Trulli coming out of the pits and heading for a crash with Piquet, but didn’t see the end result on TV. Looking at live timing it seems that Jarno got the better of that one.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:36 amme said:
technically, yes. but webber’s was the first planned stop.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:37 amChristine said:
Kovalainen’s stop was fine though.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:37 amSteveintheUK said:
Sorry meant first of the front runners
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:37 amScott Dryden said:
OK, looks like Kubica’s going to be one of the last drivers to stop here.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:37 amScott Dryden said:
Kubica pits.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:38 amRich said:
Kubica had a long run before pitting!
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:38 amme said:
alonso too
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:39 amme said:
button up to sixth? not stopped yet.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:39 amlou said:
Button and DC fuelled heavily??
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:40 amme said:
couthard running longest of all.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:40 amlou said:
ok fine he has just pitted. Just had a thought - why do we never see a honda pit stop??
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:41 amme said:
we saw rubens’ last week. but don’t remember seeing button’s for a while.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:41 amRich said:
Button in pits good drive for him so far.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:41 amChristine said:
Were they saying at the beginning that the lollipop man was leaving Honda? About time, I reckon.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:41 amGary Shavit said:
The TV crews don’t have the time to go that far down the pit lane (haha).
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:42 amme said:
hamilton’s right front wheel bin, is spinning freely. usually sits in a fixed position.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:42 amSteveintheUK said:
Kubica is still in 3rd after first pitstop with a good lead over 4th
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:42 amlou said:
oh yeah we saw Rubens but i can’t help thinking that was because there were like 9 drivers left at that piont, and was it not because it was during the safety car and the pitlane was closed.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:43 amSteven Roy said:
Does that make it a moveable aero device?
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:44 amme said:
all drivers now stopped once.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:44 amSteven Roy said:
I don’t understand how Lewis could lose all that time in the pits and still be right behind Webber
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:44 amme said:
probably, but unintentional.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:45 amryan said:
I wonder if rain will mean trouble for McLaren since they seem to be sprung so stiffly, compared to most of the other cars…
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:45 amMichael Roberts said:
Toyota seem worringly quick. Maybe it’s the Trulli effect.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:45 amSteveintheUK said:
Webber is 44 sec behind the leader, not sure now far Haliton was behind Raikkonen when he pitted
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:48 amme said:
that’s pretty good pace. he dropped back at the start, but making good progress.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:50 amSteveintheUK said:
How are those bin fixed to the wheel? if its clamped between the wheel rim and the nut how can it spin freely without the wheel falling off?
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:52 amme said:
fixed to the central nut. if it didn’t come off easily, the wheel guy may have had to break something.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:53 amPoppy said:
oh Masssa!!!!
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:53 amScott Dryden said:
He lost out badly in the first two turns. Wasn’t Sepang where Michael Schumacher took Trulli out at start?
Massa spins.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:53 amSteven Roy said:
Massa dropped it
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:53 amlou said:
oh dear massa beached!!
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:53 amme said:
m.a.s.s.a!
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:53 amMichael Roberts said:
Massa you legend. Can’t wait till Vettel replaces him.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:54 amGary Shavit said:
Massa, you jerk!
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:54 amRich said:
Looks almost like Hamilton is holding up Heidfeld!
Massa has spun!
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:54 amryan said:
Massa just managed to hose himself AGAIN!
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:54 amSteveintheUK said:
Massa, spins off and out of the race, such a shame, ITV called it ‘brain fade’
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:54 amScott Dryden said:
There’s was a helluvalot of brake dust coming off Massa’s left front as he spun.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:55 amGary Shavit said:
Replace him with Sato. Takuma at least is capable of getting out of the gravel.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:55 amDan Brunell said:
I think Massa will be driving for his job the next couple of races…
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:56 amme said:
good spot. but that wasn’t a failure was it? he lost it all alone.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:56 amChristine said:
Who will they get to replace him midseason though? Vettel’s kinda busy…
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:56 amSteven Roy said:
I think the brake dust was just because the airflow direction changed because he spun. The dust will build up in one area then when he spun it would get flushed out
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:57 amRich said:
Hopefully Trulli can get ahead of Kovalainen - that would make my day.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:57 amSteveintheUK said:
Quote from ITV, ‘Webber has wrecked Hamilton chance of winning the race’
Actually it was Hamilton’s pitstop that wrecked his chances
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:58 amme said:
c’mon trulli. fancy giving mclaren a run for their money. trulli stopped first though.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:59 amlou said:
what do we think then? no rain??
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:59 amryan said:
He doesn’t seem to have made the transition to the “no driver aids” condition very well…
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:59 amme said:
mark’s doing a great job, and ITV are doing him a huge disservice with remarks like that.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:59 amScott Dryden said:
When Sepang was first introduced to the calendar, I remember it was said that Tilke designed it specifically with overtaking in mind, with two long straights followed by slow corners. Yet we have Hamilton who’s quicker than Webber, and Trulli who’s faster than Kovalainen. Yet neither of them are anywhere near putting in a pass.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:59 amRich said:
What do you expect from ITV?
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:01 amDan Brunell said:
Good point, still there has to be people at Ferrari asking questions.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:02 amChristine said:
Ted is saying that Ferrari can’t find anything wrong with the car and can’t understand why it spun.
Erm, it’s called Massa?
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:02 amSteven Roy said:
Badoer, Gene, Schumacher,
Montagny is still looking for a drive
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:03 amSteven Roy said:
They have sensors on everything in the car except his brain
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:03 amSteveintheUK said:
Thats funny
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:03 amPoppy said:
“mark’s doing a great job, and ITV are doing him a huge diservice with remarks like that.”
Absolutely - the way ITV talk it is as if all races are laid on for Hamiltons benefit!
I hope Webber has a really top race!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:03 amChristine said:
Ooooooooh, Bourdais who?
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:04 amheebeegeetee said:
Why is Lewis and McLaren insisting on using tyres that clearly don’t work. Is anyone else using softs?
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:04 amRich said:
I make fun of Mark - but really hope he holds on to this position - he is doing a really good job in fifth place.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:05 amChristine said:
Nooo, don’t jinx it!!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:05 amlou said:
- regarding it beign more on the driver to keep the car on the race track.
erm right… so according to ITV Massa is the only one to go off due to suspected lack of control - what about Seb B??
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:05 amPoppy said:
Although Massa referred to it as something strange when Louise interviewed him…..
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:05 amme said:
hard rain gonna fall?
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:06 amRich said:
Fast pit stop for Kimi!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:07 amPoppy said:
Oh Webber still “ruining” Hamiltons race…can someone change the record??
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:07 amlou said:
Lewis’ front left looks pretty worn!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:07 amRich said:
ITV still going on about Hamilton’s ruined race!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:07 amScott Dryden said:
Well, Crofty was just saying that a big, dark cloud has appeared overhead.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:08 amDan Brunell said:
Is it just me, or should they redesign the brake systems to make the brake dust flow away instead of building up in the wheels, steering, suspension, and brake components?
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:09 amRich said:
Webber in the pits - hope it is a good one!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:09 amme said:
are renault banking on a late downfall?
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:09 amScott Dryden said:
Ferrari motor. Again.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:09 amme said:
ferrari engine… boom
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:09 amMichael Roberts said:
Ferrari engine!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:09 amSteven Roy said:
Yet another Ferrari engine blown
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:10 amPoppy said:
That would seem sensible wouldn’t it - is it a fire hazard if it really builds up?
Oh dear Vettel and his Ferrari engine smoking…
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:10 amlou said:
Oh no! poor Vettel!! anouther ferrari engine gone.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:10 amHugo said:
That is why I prefer watching the race on speed or starsports
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:12 amRich said:
Trulli slow out lap!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:12 amSteveintheUK said:
Hamilton is saving his soft tyres for the end of the race, more rubber on the track so if it doesn’t rain he should have more grip than those on hard tyres
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:12 amlou said:
Ted news!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:12 amScott Dryden said:
That’d make sense, as both drivers did run long. Maybe they had access to some local meteorological knowledge. Either that, or they like a gamble.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:13 amme said:
really dark clouds in the background.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:13 amRich said:
Heidfeld ahead of Mark Webber!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:14 amryan said:
I don’t think it’s going to rain before the checkers…
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:14 amSteveintheUK said:
From ITV ‘Sato has just costed Webber a good race finish’ So at least they think Webber will get to the end of the race then, so not all bad news for Webber
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:14 amosters said:
Why is it that it is always someone elses fault when Hamilton is not going well, if he is such a god driver, he should be abke to pass Weber, it is a race not meant to be a pre-scripted procession
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:15 amSteveintheUK said:
Hamilton currently 34 sec’s in front of Webber, will that be enough for Hamilton to get out in front of Webber?
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:16 amRich said:
Hamilton in the Pits to take on harder tyres - ITV in despair - but still 8.9 secs!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:17 amSteven Roy said:
Heidfeld must b sick of looking at the back of that McLaren
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:17 amScott Dryden said:
In relation to Martin’s comments on ITV, ‘die pit box’ is a German language thing. Although it does seem to have spread across nationalities.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:17 amRhodie said:
Doownloaded Proxy but5 cant seem to get it to work, missed part of the race cos of trying it. Will have another go after the race and hopefully have it up and running by next race. Thanks anyway
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:18 amSteveintheUK said:
Another dumb question from a tired mind - So what tyres have that white line on them, Hard or Soft?
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:19 amme said:
soft
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:20 amChristine said:
Barrichello’s been given a drive through for speeding in the pit lane. Gah.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:20 amRich said:
I really hope Heidfeld can overtake Hamilton - extremely unlikely I know - but it would be good to hear ITV saying that Heidfeld ruined Hamilton’s race by overtaking him!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:20 amlou said:
soft
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:20 amScott Dryden said:
Hamilton was exactly one second faster than Jarno last time round.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:20 amme said:
trulli a second slower than those around him.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:21 amlou said:
OH god! why did itv not say! we can’t rely on them to tell us everything then. poor Rubens…hes been abit unlucky with races hasn’t he? 2 races 2 pit lane penaltys…
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:22 amSteven Roy said:
The Trulliometer must be due to drop
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:22 amScott Dryden said:
The red sidewalls they used to denote the softs in Champ Car worked much better, as the white lines wear throughout a stint, thus becoming harder to spot.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:23 amDan Brunell said:
I have to say, I am glad I wrote my article before I watched ITV’s coverage (I’ve always watched the races on Speed and before that the German, Japanese, or BBC feed off the satellite; this is the first race I have watched the ITV coverage from practice to race)… if I did, I would of went after ITV… I didn’t realize that they were the official McLaren channel. This isn’t commentary… it’s a three man cheerleading squad.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:24 amSteveintheUK said:
Thanks, that makes a bit more sense
and they say experience counts, not sure for what though?
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:24 amme said:
quote of the weekend
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:24 amlou said:
Go TED!! covering Fisi - something maybe the commentators hould have seen and pionted out!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:25 amScott Dryden said:
ITV needs to get an internet connection in the commentary box, as live timing’s working fine on the net.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:25 amSteveintheUK said:
CRAP, just looked out of my window in Northampton, UK, and we have thick snow on the ground, when the hell did that happen?
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:25 amRich said:
Trulliometer just needs to stablise itself and I will be pleased. It will drop if Hamilton gets ahead!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:26 amChristine said:
I’m amazed that Nakajima has just been circling at the back. You’d think he could get past Sato, it’s a much better car.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:26 amScott Dryden said:
Jarno’s determined. Clearly the Trulliometer is still sky high.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:26 amlou said:
CRAP, just looked out of my window in Northampton, UK, and we have thick snow on the ground, when the hell did that happen?
Down here in Kent its just damn cold!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:26 amSteven Roy said:
Lewis purple in sec1
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:27 amRhodie said:
I wish
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:27 amme said:
martin thinks hamilton needs the points…
wtf? he’s still leading the championship.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:28 amChristine said:
Martin thinks Ferrari have wiped the floor with everyone today… oh yea, except for Massa who didn’t finish.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:28 amlou said:
sorry forgot to put quotes round it
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:29 amSteven Roy said:
I think he is right
The championship could be decided on who picks up the most points when they don’t have the best car
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:29 amRhodie said:
Leading the chanpionship, but this is only the second race. All points needed and if Ferrari keep beating him to pole, then he`s gonna need all he can get
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:29 amScott Dryden said:
Haha… I hadn’t noticed it’d been snowing. It’s not settled on the ground here (around 65 miles from Northampton), though, only the rooftops.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:31 amSteveintheUK said:
If you highlight the text you want to quote and then click the quote button, top right of the box that we type these comments in, then they will pop up in your comment in a grey box.
It’s about 6c here, so not sure now it’s able to snow, its still gently coming down.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:31 amRhodie said:
Dont want to upset you but it is brilliant sunshine here and blue skies, temp 19 at moment
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:32 amRhodie said:
But cant get decent commentry in English
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:32 amDan Brunell said:
I like Kimi, but I want his engine to go out. I would love for Kubica to get a win and Trulli to get a podium.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:32 amGary Shavit said:
Looks like Trulli’s talk about podiums wasn’t total B.S. It wasn’t too far off today.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:32 amlou said:
lol yeah, like i said i forgot to put them round
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:33 amme said:
will trulli catch that williams in two laps?
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:33 amSteveintheUK said:
ITV ‘everything has gone wrong for hamilton today’ talking about being stuck behind webber, and using soft tyres in the mid section, ITV shut the F’ up about Hamilton having a bad day
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:33 amNames said:
I think Hemilton is trying in vain to overtake truli, there is not enough time left.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:34 amRich said:
ITV were saying that Hamilton’s only chance was to force Trulli into an error! It almost sounded like this is what they want.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:34 amme said:
nick does fastest lap
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:34 amRich said:
Button spins - shame.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:34 amScott Dryden said:
Heidfeld’s just set the fastest lap of the race.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:35 amlou said:
i want to hear that italien national anthemn!
OMG Button!! no! 10th was a good place!! let him finish!! :s
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:36 amScott Dryden said:
Go on Jarno…
Well in, son.
That’s some nice points for me in Fantasy F1.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:36 amSteveintheUK said:
We only get it in the UK if we listen to BBC Radio 5 Live, ITV crew have man crushes on Hamilton
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:37 amme said:
nick’s fastest lap, may have saved my bacon a little there.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:37 amSteven Roy said:
Where did Heidfeld find that pace??
Maybe he is trying to take the attention off Kubica
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:37 amRhodie said:
Yeh I know what you mean, I have only just moved here (Jan) so have put up with ITV for the last 10 years, so maybe the move to BBC might be a brathe of fresh air
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:37 amDan Brunell said:
I feel like I learned nothing from Australia… other than BMW being closer to McLaren then I ever realized…
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:37 amScott Dryden said:
So, who would everyone give driver of the race to?
I’m going for Jarno Trulli.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:37 amSteveintheUK said:
My Racing4Last team, Kubica 2nd, Heldfeld 6th, Webber 7th, Bourdais and Glock out, So how did your SidePodCast team do Christine?
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:37 amRich said:
Why could he not have gone faster in the main race- fairly disastrous race for him.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:38 amme said:
should get a room and get it over with.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:38 amChristine said:
I had Kubica. And that’s all I wanna say.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:39 amPoppy said:
Thank goodness for Jarno Trulli My Fantasy racers weren’t totally pointless!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:39 amme said:
ferrari not looking good in the constructors.
just 11 to macca’s 24.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:39 amRhodie said:
Thanks for all the remarks. Italian coverage finished so switching off now. See you on here for Bahrain on the 6th
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:40 amlou said:
omg kimi is sooo much redder than he normally is! wow that is red.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:40 amme said:
cheers rhodie.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:41 amme said:
purple!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:41 amPoppy said:
“Dangly bits” is that a technical term - I quite like them myself
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:41 amDan Brunell said:
Ahhh…. I think the ITV crew is a little bitter… they are bitching about the cars now.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:42 amChristine said:
Kubica looks scary!!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:42 amSteveintheUK said:
quote from ITV ‘I’ll been happy when they get rid of those dangley bits’ reply ‘Don’t worry there be gone next year’
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:42 amlou said:
me too.
gosh someone is getting lots of texts!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:43 amme said:
still not quite a finnish 1, 2. we’ll see that at some point this year though, right?
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:43 amRich said:
guess who said that?
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:44 amChristine said:
I can’t wait to say a Finnish 1-2 finish on the show
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:44 amPoppy said:
Well done Kimi, Robert and Heiki - until next time have a good one
Bye!!!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:45 amSteveintheUK said:
I could say more, but you’re only call me meanie again
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:45 amSteven Roy said:
I think Ferrari could be trying to unload the dangly bit in the number 2 car before the end of the season
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:45 amme said:
only a matter of time.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:46 amlou said:
omg martin’s interprtation of Kimi’s accent!
lol
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:47 amMichael Roberts said:
I think Kimi got some champagne in his eye.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:47 amFelipe Leite said:
No Christine, Kubica is scary
BTW, I think I’ve overtaken you in Fantasy Racers… I had Raikonnen, Hamilton and Barrichello… Heidfeld’s fastest lap at the dying moments stole 20 points from me, but I believe I did some 350-400 points…
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:48 amSteven Roy said:
Champagne in the eye really stings
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:48 amSteveintheUK said:
WOW those Ferrari girls looked happy.. and very cute.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:49 amChristine said:
Being sprayed with champagne is my idea of hell - all bubbly and sticky. Yuck.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:49 amlou said:
STOP TALKING ABOUT LEWIS!! argh! ITV constantly talking about him i don’t know whats worse Lewis winning or him not getting on the podium!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:49 amRich said:
He was sitting down after the race so I guess he is pretty finished. Apparently they can lose 3 kgs during this race. So Kimi’s red/purple face is easily explained - I thought he looked better than he often does. ITV did say he had increased fitness for this year between the Hamilton speach!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:53 amlou said:
Have the pionts been updated on fantasy racers then?
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:54 amme said:
well, it wasn’t quite the race we were hoping for.
only 5 retirees this week, and still no fun in the rain. amazingly the super aguri’s weren’t last!
we’ll be around for another 20 mins, then x2 podcasts coming up later today.
thanks again one and all, the conversation here really does make the races more exciting
can’t wait to see where we stand in the league too!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:54 amAlenyaa said:
Entertaining race, not quite as exciting as the last one, but good none the less.
I knew I should have one for Trulli instead of Barrichello. Why did I not listen to myself??
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:55 amSteveintheUK said:
ITV, just told Kimi that he looked pretty fresh when he got out of the car, do you think they are watching the same footage that we are.
I really don’t want to meet up down a dark alley
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:55 amosters said:
Great race, more competitive than others, sorry ITV, no matter how much you want to have Lewis’s babies, Mclaren were not good enough, whats that I see, another Mclaren in the race, and ahead of Lewis, and on the podium how can that be????????? Murray Walker lives on, perhaps Martin is Murray’s love child
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:55 amMichael Roberts said:
ITV cut Kubica off. Shocking.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:58 amSteveintheUK said:
So when do we find out how well Christine’s team has done?
‘me’ I’m I being slow again? but did you say what your team was called?
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:58 amRich said:
What do expect - he is not driving for Macca!
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:58 amlou said:
3 mins left of coverage will they talk to other dirers - would like for tem to chat to Trulli and maybe honda - lol
yes i really do love honda! 
right so no more interviews then, will have to tune in for the end of the repeated show at lunch later.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:58 amme said:
trulli could be strong at the next race. they went testing in bahrain, alongside ferrari.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:01 amChristine said:
Championships:
Drivers - Hamilton 14, Raikkonen 11, Heidfeld 11, Kovainen 10
Constructors - McLaren 24, BMW 19, Ferrari 11, Williams 9
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:01 amScott Dryden said:
They show the entire press conference live now, on ITV.com, which is something, at least. Kubica’s now speaking in Polish.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:01 amSteveintheUK said:
Raikkonen has a huge watch on to, and he keeps flashing it when ever he talks, why do team let them wear these huge watches when they spending hundreds of thousands of pound trying to save weight?
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:01 amlou said:
Not only Kubica but Heikki! He is in a Macca! ergh shows their bias towards Lewis. If it had been lewis instead they would have extended their coverage!
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:03 amSteven Roy said:
Because the watch makers pay the team lots of money
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:04 amSteveintheUK said:
WOW, I didn’t know Heldfeld was doing so well
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:04 amChristine said:
They don’t put them on until the podium ceremony. How many times did we watch Lewis last year taking a sip of water then adorning himself in his sponsor goodies?
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:05 amlou said:
You often see them putting them on after they have been weighed. so they ahve them on for the podium and press confirence
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:05 amScott Dryden said:
A lot of the drivers and teams have sponsorship deals with watch manufacturers. I strongly suspect they don’t wear them in the car, but put the watches on after the race for interviews.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:06 amSteveintheUK said:
The money for items that the driver wears, apart from the overalls, goes to the driver though
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:06 amme said:
not at mclaren
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:08 amSteveintheUK said:
Hamilton had his on during FP as he got out of the car.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:08 amlou said:
speaking of team watches - my dad managed to get me one of the Honda racing watches that only the team wear
is very nice
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:09 amRich said:
I don’t think Heikki was quite cut off the way Robert was but agreed if Hamilton was on the podium they would have carried on. So who was your driver of the day? For me it was Robert followed by Jarno. Kimi did a good race but it was the best car today, unless you are Massa.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:10 amAlenyaa said:
Not necessarily, I reckon.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:10 amSteveintheUK said:
Are your serious? I though that the helmet sponsorship, watches, sunglass, was down to the drivers managers to find? Big Ron really does control everything.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:11 amSteven Roy said:
All teams own at least part of a driver’s clothing
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:11 amAlenyaa said:
Driver of the day would be Trulli for me, with Kubica a close second.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:11 amlou said:
but its not so much of a big deal in FP is it?
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:13 amSteveintheUK said:
Kubica, but then he was the best finisher from my team
Trulli Second, Toyota ahead of a McLaran, that doesn’t happen that often, at least I don’t think it does?
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:13 amme said:
probably trulli. mostly because he frequently falls asleep in the final laps of a race, and for once he held it together.
as a secondary thought, webber did well to hold of lewis or half the race and then alonso at the end.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:14 amChristine said:
For me, probably Raikkonen. I know he’s the master at staying out longer and leap-frogging whoever’s in front of him, but whenever he does it, it’s a work of art.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:15 amlou said:
Driver of the day for me = Trulli yeah, he really outperformed the car. Kubica did well too. so did Heikki, and Button - both had a pretty steady race but did well to keep their positions.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:15 amSteven Roy said:
Probably Trulli.
I wonder how he is going to turn this result into a downer
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:15 amSteveintheUK said:
It just seems odd that they would wear them in the car at all, who knows what watches the drivers are actually wearing from just watching the TV footage?
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:16 ambrendanstallard said:
“Not only Kubica but Heikki!”
Lou,
To let a couple of dribblers yap…….what are ITV playing at?
brendan
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:16 amRich said:
I noted that F1 live timing conveniently forgot Heidfeld’s points so said the following…
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:17 amlou said:
I totally agree Christine!! such an art form with Kimi! And that ferrari looks amazing anyway!
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:18 amSteven Roy said:
They shouldn’t be wearing watches in the car for safety reasons. In a fire a heavy watch will conduct a lot of heat straight through their overalls. You can’t trapr layers of air if you have a tight strap rould your wrist
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:20 amSteveintheUK said:
ITV Live timing are reading these comments, they just updated that Heldfeld is third
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:20 amthe Blue Orange Lion said:
Like I said I didn’t need to wake early this time, Mad Max had better arrange that “gas-to-pass” button to help Jenson Button, they didn’t spin at all at Sepang, only Little Red Felipe did his bit for today’s show, how’s that possible?
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:21 amRich said:
I agree Webber did well - but I think you should have said for “ruining” lewis rather than “hold of”
I guess ITV are busy making lots of little wax effigies of Webber and putting pins into them. - Possibly that explains Webber’s general bad luck?
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:21 amlou said:
No idea!! Trying despiratly to anouy and upset all Formula 1 fans and keep all Lewis fans happy. Argh only like 16 races left to listen to them!
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:23 amme said:
roll on the bbc and their charter
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:25 amSteveintheUK said:
Trulli had better be careful to then as he helped coat Hamilton the championship by not letting Hamilton overtake him, OK, ITV haven’t said that yet, but you know they are thinking it.
Still waiting for FantasyRacers.com to update the results, I want to see if I actually get any points from this race as I only signed up yesterday.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:25 amlou said:
erm sorry a tired brain - but WhAt?
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:26 amShashank said:
It has to be Trulli..
Ferrari has won…
Now what do i say abt massa & his Latin Temperament!!!
How does he manage to throw it all away after doing so well.
He has to learn from the Iceman - not to let his heart rule his head!!!
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:26 amSteveintheUK said:
should be ‘helped cost Hamilton’ but I hope you all worked that out for yourselfs.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:28 amlou said:
goodness my cat has just come in and she is white!! It must be snaowing - cause she is normally a black cat! lol.
It never feels like a GP weekend when the race is not at 1pm. May have to watch the re-run at 12 to make up for it!
possibly with the tv on mute so that i don’t have to listen to that commentry again!
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:28 amRich said:
Note on ITV that Hamilton claims the pit stop cost him his podium - um did not look that way to me - Heikki look completely in charge - have I missed something? I did not have a great connection to ITV today and had to find a new UK proxy that worked in the middle of the race!
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:29 amShashank said:
The site is updated about 1-2 hours after the race..
They wait for the stewards decisions & penalties(if any)
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:30 amSteveintheUK said:
I think they have these in the IRL or IndyCart races, the drivers have a little button on they steering wheel that they can hold down for a max of 60 secs during the race to give them extra power to overtake. Only one problem with that idea, McLaren already have so many buttons that the driver don’t know what they are pressing, but other wise it’s a great way to introduce overtaking back in to F1.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:30 amlou said:
Looks like he has already learnt from Kimi cause he left the circuit before the end of the race.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:31 amScott Dryden said:
I think FantasyRacers.com require you to register your team by the Friday before a Grand Prix, although with fantasyleaguef1.com you have up until the start of the race.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:35 amlou said:
Thanks SteveintheUk! wow i never knew that! Are they planning to introduce it do you know?
You’ll end up with more incidents like Heikki hitting the pit lane limter!
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:36 amSteveintheUK said:
If Hamilton hadn’t lost the 20 sec in the first pitstop when his ‘wheel bin’ fell off he would have been ahead of Kovalainen who only finished in 3rd, 8.1 secs in front of Hamilton, so yes it does look like the pitstop stopped Hamilton getting on the podium.
Gald that Hamilton didn’t claim that it was Webbers that cost him the podium.
Thanks, I may have to go to bed for a bit as I wait then
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:37 amScott Dryden said:
The system was first used by Formula Palmer Audi, although they have since discontinued it (to extend engine life). Champ Car drivers had a similar option, and it’s currently in use with A1 GP.
However, it doesn’t make as much difference to overtaking as you might expect. If a driver trying to pass uses the overtake button, then whoever’s in front will do the same in order to defend their position.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:39 amlou said:
Im feeling ok actually. Probably because i had an early night and am sooo dosed up on caffine. Will prob have a nap later if i feel tired
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:40 amSteveintheUK said:
I don’t think so, but they should do, IRL, IndyCart have had it for at least 10 years. it makes for great watching as toward the end of the race you don’t know who has any boost left and who hasn’t. It means that cars have the extra power and speed needed to pull out and overtake down shorter straights so make for a lot more overtaking places on all the road circuits, i don’t think they use it on the ovals though.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:42 amShashank said:
Massa also said in the pits that there was something wrong with the car.
the ferrai engineers said that there was nothing wrong….
Massa trying to blame someone else for his own mistake??
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:43 amScott Dryden said:
I’ll definitely be going to bed for another couple of hours after the GP2 race. I’m off to the pub to watch the football later today, and alcohol plus tiredness isn’t a good mix!
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:44 amSteveintheUK said:
Thats what makes it so interesting toward the end, drivers being overtaken have to decide whether to hit the boost coming out of a corner before the guy behind has hit his button, if the driver if front waits to see if the driver behind has used the boost button, it’s to late for his to be of any use.
Thats my problem, i keep forgetting to go to bed early the night before so end up having to stay up. Glad its a bank holiday here tomorrow.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:46 amthe Blue Orange Lion said:
Dunno really, there was this talk about “push-to-pass” button in F1, I prefer calling “gas-to-pass” because it reminds me of Salvador Dali’s article on gas and Pink Floyd’s “money it’s a gas” line (I wrote a post on this subject last year on my personal blog - I’ll try to dig it out for ya).
I’m really unhappy about KOV’s and HAM’s behaviour during qualifying because they robbed us of an interesting battle, maybe in Bahrain we’ll see more close fights at the start and at later stages but overtaking is still not easy in F1. Pat Symonds spoke last year about this F1 overtaking commission while answering my question during one of RF1’s podcasts - he’ll sure be too busy this year trying to solve more problems with R28 so… Overtaking it’s a gas.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:47 amShashank said:
Fantasy Racers scores Updated
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:47 amSteveintheUK said:
I forgot about my team on there, wonder how I did?
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:48 amlou said:
Will have to do some research for myself today so i understand it abit more. But i get the principle of it. Like an optional turbo. But surely that could cause promblems if accidently hit by a driver going round a corner they could loose control and smash into a wall. Also with the ngine freeze it would be hard to implement it. but its a great idea
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:50 amScott Dryden said:
The IRL have never used that type of system, and Champ Car didn’t introduce power-to-pass until 2004.
Agreed, that’s very true, although as a result it adds an additional element of strategy to races, rather than doing a particularly good job of achieving the original aim of aiding overtaking.
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:50 amthe Blue Orange Lion said:
All right then, gotta go, I’ll let my uncle post something here later today, he knows much more about F1 than his nephew (and your humble servant).
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:54 amSteveintheUK said:
Cool, in the overall league I’m 2928th out of 2937
In the SidePodCast league I’m 122nd out of 123
Thats not fair, I didn’t get any points.
Poor Christine has now dropped to 109th, who’s going to give her the bad news? Goodluck ‘me’
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:55 amShashank said:
p85 … 13 places down
Christine p109 …..
even worse than the previous weekend
Longitudnal Inertis on p72 is doing well
1)Bergies team
2)CanuckF1
3)Fledglings
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:57 amSteveintheUK said:
I’m sure they had that system when I used to watch it on Eurosport, and I haven’t had that since 2001, I wonder what American openwheel series was that I was watching then?
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:59 amShashank said:
u had to register before 1700 GMT on friday
March 23rd, 2008 at 10:00 amSteveintheUK said:
Thats the name of ‘me’s team, why couldn’t I remember such a simply name like that
March 23rd, 2008 at 10:02 amShashank said:
‘Inertia’ not ‘inertis’
March 23rd, 2008 at 10:04 amlou said:
Latitudinal Inertia is beating Longitudinal inertia!
Latitudinal Inertia = 68th
Longitudinal inertia = 72nd!
im 98th :s
mustbeatsidepodcast = 51st
Sidepodcast racers = 109th
Just to save Christine and Me time looking
can’t wait for the podcasts today!
March 23rd, 2008 at 10:07 amRich said:
Looked at the F1 Lap chart - you might be right - still thought Heikki was the better Macca driver today.
Hamilton actually gave credit to Mark’s driving - so no he did not blame him just said he was slower!
March 23rd, 2008 at 10:07 amSteveintheUK said:
If I had the points for my drivers, Webber, Heidfeld, Kubica, Bourdais and Glock, for the first two race’s I would have 751 points, and be in 60th place, for a team thats Racing4Last, thats not very good, Think I may have to swap some more drivers over to the ones Christine has, I already have 2 of her 5.
March 23rd, 2008 at 10:10 amSteveintheUK said:
Glad I won’t be the only one getting in trouble with Christine today for making fun of her team.
And yes if ‘me’ winds Christine up about it as well it will be an interesting show.
March 23rd, 2008 at 10:10 amScott Dryden said:
That’s never happened, so I guess the manufacturers in other series have been doing a better job than McLaren when it comes to positioning buttons on a steering wheel.
The other thing to consider is the Champ Car system cut out as soon as the driver lifted his foot from the throttle.
Also, the effect of the extra 50 bhp was significantly less at, for example, 30% throttle, round a 60 mph corner than it would be when a driver was flat-out on a long straight.
March 23rd, 2008 at 10:14 amSteveintheUK said:
I remember that Paul Tracy was crashing into everybody at nearly every race, maybe his first or second year racing, was that Champ Car? How long ago would that have been? Must have seem some of the races in a pub, or mates somewhere if it was only 2004?
March 23rd, 2008 at 10:14 amShashank said:
Sidepodcast is the best league on fantasy racers
Pos League Name # of Teams Top 5 Average
1st Sidepodcast 123 919.00
2nd Autosport F1 86 907.40
3rd T.H.A.L.E.S 29 889.60
Looks like people at autosport are also using fantasy racers
March 23rd, 2008 at 10:16 amlou said:
I was not meaning to make fun of either team. Im sorry if it seemed like that. I just thought it would save them time. It truely was done with good intention.
Anyway if ‘Me’ winds Christine up, she can wind him up about Lat. Inertia. 
don’t be mad christine 
March 23rd, 2008 at 10:16 amShashank said:
I had formatted the table properly .. it didnt come out properly i guess
March 23rd, 2008 at 10:18 amlou said:
Thanks Scott,
it looks like i am really gonna have to research it. lol as i said before. Thanks for correcting me, its the first i’ve heard about it.
March 23rd, 2008 at 10:19 amSteveintheUK said:
Christine seem to take the fact that her team isn’t doing to well very personally, I got told of yesterday for talking to ‘me’ about her team after she had gone to bed.
But he’s way ahead of her so don’t think he will mind being 72nd
March 23rd, 2008 at 10:25 amlou said: