Live Commenting: Belgium - Free Practice 1
Finally we can put Valencia behind us and move on. From the early anticipation to arguments about the track to the pit lane antics of Ferrari, it really feels like we have been talking about it forever. Now it’s time to move on, and what better place to follow the European GP than Belgium and the ever-popular Spa.
The three day test at Monza was really setup for the Italian race next weekend, and with Fisichella finishing third at one point, it didn’t really offer up any insight into the possibilities of this weekend. One particular man to watch out for is Nick Heidfeld, who is under pressure from his team to buck up his ideas a bit. He may want to get in plenty of practice before trying his best in qualifying so as not to start in the traffic.
For some reason, the battle at the top seems to have segregated into team only warfare. Hamilton proclaims that McLaren are better than Ferrari so he’s not particularly worried, whilst Massa says his only rival is Raikkonen - who will also support him if need be. Doesn’t seem like antagonising him is the best way to garner support from your team mate, but presumably Massa knows what he’s doing.
This is Kimi’s track, but with the weather looking to be inclement for the majority of the weekend, Ferrari may find themselves struggling. If the wet weather becomes an issue, then at least any tyre problems will vanish, but at Spa, handling the rain is not easy.
Still, all that is to come. For now, we have Free Practice 1 to watch, and hopefully there will be something to see. With the weather bright at the moment, but showers expected later, this may be our only opportunity of seeing the cars out on track. We’ll be watching the ITV live stream, and using F1.com’s Live Timing. Check out our Formula 1 on the Internet page for alternate links or post in the comments if you have found any. Talking of comments, click the triangle in the top right to visit the Live Commenting Live… Thing so you don’t have to keep pressing F5. We’ll be adding maps, pictures and information to drop.io, so stay tuned.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:41 amDank said:
Good morning F1 fans!
I might have missed something, but with live commenting, is there anyway it can be aligned to the left of the screen? Looks a bit odd slap-bang in the middle!
(my opinion of course!)
September 5th, 2008 at 8:42 amAlianora La Canta said:
Good morning Dank, and I don’t know if it can be aligned on the left.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:44 amDank said:
Ahh, in fact I don’t think mine is working? I have the following in my favourites: http://www.sidepodcast.com/ria/ajax/
But it’s not updating with comments?
September 5th, 2008 at 8:46 amme said:
hey dank
if you shrink your browser it should just fit within the smallest of boundaries.
i usually run it in a separate window like that.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:46 amlou said:
Hey everyone, I’m just popping in to say ‘Hi’ and that i will hopefully be able to catch the end of this session, but will be around for FP2
September 5th, 2008 at 8:47 amme said:
there be a known issue with the very first comment. hopefully all is well after that, sorry, it’s on the list of things to fix.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:47 amme said:
circuit map for perusal:
http://drop.io/sidepodcast/asset/spa-map
September 5th, 2008 at 8:48 amme said:
hey lou, hey alianora. bear with me, just scouring the web for weather maps.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:50 amDank said:
Yep all working now. Happy days!
September 5th, 2008 at 8:51 amlou said:
September 5th, 2008 at 8:53 amme said:
weather data for you:
http://tinyurl.com/spaweather
September 5th, 2008 at 8:53 amme said:
September 5th, 2008 at 8:54 amme said:
they blocked drop.io? how mean. not sure there’s much we can do to fix that, but will have a think.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:56 amAlianora La Canta said:
Sorry to hear about the blocked drop.io, lou.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:58 amlou said:
nah don’t bother doing anything, it’s once in a blue moon i watch f1 on a school computer. It’s annoying cause normally they will unblock them after 5pm but they have perminatly blocked drop.io…. no idea why, it’s not a social networking site or anything.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:58 amAlianora La Canta said:
According to windguru, there might be some rain towards the end of Free Practise 2, but not before. The rain then continues throughout the evening.
On Saturday, drizzle is expected for Saturday practise, but qualifying should be dry.
On Sunday, it’ll be dry until 5pm.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:59 amme said:
and we have video
September 5th, 2008 at 8:59 amAlianora La Canta said:
Video is working; still waiting for live timing.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:59 amlou said:
oh
damn
September 5th, 2008 at 8:59 amme said:
is it me, or is video looking squashed?
September 5th, 2008 at 9:00 amDank said:
Five Live Extra is up and running.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:01 amlou said:
oh no! my computer is not playing itv… maybe the one i manage to get on later in the sixth form centre will play it…
September 5th, 2008 at 9:02 amme said:
doh, mark hughes in the commentary box
September 5th, 2008 at 9:02 amAlianora La Canta said:
The camera is just not very good today.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:03 amme said:
someone’s picked the wrong setting at itv hq. am looking around elsewhere.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:03 amChristine said:
Morning all. Don’t tell me live timing is going to have another dodgy weekend.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:04 amAlianora La Canta said:
Explanation from F1 Fanatic: They’re using a 4:3 feed for the online stuff (as opposed to the 16:9 we’ve previously seen).
September 5th, 2008 at 9:04 amlou said:
is it just my computer or is live timing still just showing - First Timed Session for 2008 ING Belgian Grand Prix in Spa- Francorchamps will be Friday Practice 1.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:04 amme said:
50/50 as per usual
September 5th, 2008 at 9:04 amAlianora La Canta said:
Live timing still hasn’t started…
September 5th, 2008 at 9:04 amlou said:
Morning Christine.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:05 amDank said:
Living timing is working now. Had to close it down and start again.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:05 amAlianora La Canta said:
They’re talking to DC!
September 5th, 2008 at 9:05 amme said:
just 4 drivers not yet to go out:
- rubens
- both ferrari’s
- glock
September 5th, 2008 at 9:05 amlou said:
it’s not letting ym onto five live either…. hmph, stupid computer.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:06 amme said:
assuming that ferrari’s are intending to do an installation lap. interesting that button decided to try one.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:06 amAlianora La Canta said:
Video is only 7 seconds ahead of live timing, which has finally started (refresh your screen)
September 5th, 2008 at 9:06 amChristine said:
Any bets on when we’ll see the first lap time?
September 5th, 2008 at 9:06 amme said:
dc saying that no-one takes eau rouge flat the first time.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:06 amDank said:
I want to be in Spa again
September 5th, 2008 at 9:07 amlou said:
As i can’t see or hear anything, could you guys be my eyes and ears while i’m around for abit?
September 5th, 2008 at 9:07 amme said:
weather looks overcast, no rain expected, so they can afford to take it a bit easy.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:07 amlou said:
you’ve been to spa? lucky.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:07 amme said:
no time or no money this year dank?
September 5th, 2008 at 9:08 amlou said:
I have live timing
September 5th, 2008 at 9:08 amme said:
watching glock on an installation lap at the moment. not doing anything special though.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:08 amAlianora La Canta said:
No wonder I didn’t hear anything on Radio Glock on the TV - it didn’t play on Five Live either…
September 5th, 2008 at 9:08 amme said:
alonso pacing in his garage, dc sitting on the pitwall, looking like he belongs there.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:09 amDank said:
Bit of both. I’ll damn well be back there next year though! I can’t recommend the place enough. If you only go to one race it has to be this. The atmosphere there is something else.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:10 amAlianora La Canta said:
I don’t think that engineer guy is replacing Red Bull for the rest of the season…
September 5th, 2008 at 9:10 amme said:
noted. the problem we have is the camera equipment no like the rain, and that’s almost a given around this place.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:11 amme said:
massa sitting in the car early. he’s looking ready for action. no-one on track at the moment though.
only the ferrari’s not doing a lap.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:12 amme said:
kimi on track
September 5th, 2008 at 9:12 amChristine said:
The green is just beautiful compared to the grey of Valencia.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:12 amAlianora La Canta said:
“I’d like to tell you what is going on on this track… …absolutely nothing” Great bit of commentary, followed by a good “Murray moment” because Kimi Raikkonen headed onto the track.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:13 amme said:
makes a heck of change doesn’t it? it’s almost ideal weather for a good weekend. not too hot, and the prospect of rain at some point. looks lovely.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:13 amlou said:
i wish i could see it, i will have to wait till tomorrow i think.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:13 amme said:
kimi first man to do a flying lap. starting now.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:14 amlou said:
oh no i need to go. speak to you all later!
September 5th, 2008 at 9:14 amDank said:
Toodle-pip!
September 5th, 2008 at 9:14 amChristine said:
I wouldn’t have put money on that.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:15 amDank said:
And he’s in the pits!
September 5th, 2008 at 9:16 amAlianora La Canta said:
Kimi returns to the pits without completing a flying lap
September 5th, 2008 at 9:17 amKathi said:
Hi (I promise I won’t disappear again :))
September 5th, 2008 at 9:18 amme said:
nope, and the second lap was aborted
September 5th, 2008 at 9:18 amme said:
hey kathi.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:18 amFlibster said:
Morning everyone.
Now settled in at work with my favourite F1 snack. 6 rashers of oak smoked streaky bacon, 2 runny fried eggs all in a large chunk of french stick with chilli sauce.
Quick laps now starting to coming in.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:18 amChristine said:
I wouldn’t have put money on it being Massa either.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:19 amAlianora La Canta said:
Sebastian Vettel, that’s not the right line…
September 5th, 2008 at 9:19 amme said:
jealous much? grr
tis true. alonso looking set now. action all the way.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:19 amAlianora La Canta said:
Massa messed up La Source.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:20 amFlibster said:
Working from home must have some advantages sometimes.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:22 amme said:
massa on a long run, but kimi still sitting in the pits, wonder if he wasn’t happy with something within the car? looked like he almost wanted to do a fast lap.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:23 amme said:
fastest fp1 last year was kimi with 1:47.3. best lap at present is a 1:48.2 by massa.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:24 amAlianora La Canta said:
Sutil’s still fourth, which makes me happy.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:24 amDank said:
Anybody else’s live timings not showing the best times by the drivers?
September 5th, 2008 at 9:24 amFlibster said:
Less than a second off in the first half hour on a mildly moist track is very good.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:24 amDank said:
Oh no, it is now. Damn thing!
September 5th, 2008 at 9:26 amFlibster said:
2 purple then pit for Massa. That would have been a very quick lap.
I’ve really missed Spa. Love the place.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:27 amme said:
what a contrast from two weeks ago. i think the lack of testing here this year is helping us out this morning
September 5th, 2008 at 9:27 amRocket said:
Evening/Morning, me and Christine and all. I know it’s not F1 related but I thought I would be the proud dad and let you all know that Mrs Rocket and I have welcomed a new (and 1st) and potentially great F1 driver into the world earlier this week. Her name isn’t Fernando Fangio or Goodman Danica or even Villeneuve Eau Rougue (that does have a nice ring), Mrs Rocket wouldn’t hear of it. Nonetheless, I’ll have her on the simulators asap. Now back to the racing, what have I misssed? Is there a working web TV link that anyone has?
September 5th, 2008 at 9:27 amScott in Italy said:
Morning all,
Does anyone have any advice on how to view online this morning (I’m not in the UK and cannot use peer to peer).
I’m about to sign another 12 month contract year - and F1 is one of the reasons to stay in Europe. otherwise, you’d find me complaining about the lack of coverage if I went back to Australia
Let’s hope for a great race!
September 5th, 2008 at 9:28 amScott in Italy said:
Congrats Rocket. I think we’ll allow a non-F1 moment for a proud new father
Bravo!
September 5th, 2008 at 9:28 amRocket said:
MW looks like he’s doing ok through the traps despite being 3 secs off the pace.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:28 amme said:
congrats rocket
still looking. the squashed itv feed is annoying.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:29 amAds said:
Second that, as a fellow Aussie. Really looking forward to getting second rate coverage 5 hours delayed after qualifying tomorrow night!
September 5th, 2008 at 9:29 amChristine said:
Congratulations Rocket.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:30 amme said:
morning scott. fantastic news all round today then!
September 5th, 2008 at 9:30 amRocket said:
Cheers Scott!
September 5th, 2008 at 9:31 amRocket said:
Thanks folks.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:31 amme said:
hey ads. looks live justin.tv has been clamping down on their f1 feeds.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:31 amAlianora La Canta said:
Congratulations Rocket! May your child have a very happy and long life
September 5th, 2008 at 9:31 amKathi said:
Finnish Tv says Kimi has an electronic problem
September 5th, 2008 at 9:32 amScott in Italy said:
I think Rocket’s news takes the checkered flag in the race of good news
September 5th, 2008 at 9:32 amme said:
that would make sense, he’s done the least amount of laps, it’s not going to be his weekend is it?
September 5th, 2008 at 9:32 amScott in Italy said:
http://bilmosk.org/simulcastPlayer.swf
seems working today
September 5th, 2008 at 9:33 amRocket said:
This is another good reason for Mark Webber to start doing well (read winning). Our broadcaster will have to jump on the bandwagon and give us some decent F1 coverage surely.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:33 amSteven Roy said:
Morning All
Congrats Rocket
September 5th, 2008 at 9:33 amAlianora La Canta said:
It’s spotting with moisture - so much for windguru’s dry predictions!
September 5th, 2008 at 9:33 amme said:
http://www.justin.tv/live_f1
September 5th, 2008 at 9:33 amFlibster said:
Beautiful shot of alonso getting it all wrong and holding it.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:34 amme said:
that feed is also squashed, but may help anyone outside the uk.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:34 amme said:
hey steven.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:34 amSteven Roy said:
The humidity is 85%. I don’t think dry is an option at that level.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:34 amBluray said:
Hello everyone….
Is the live timing working at your end? Mine seems to have conked off. (rest of the f1.com seems to be working fine here)
September 5th, 2008 at 9:34 amme said:
i love that all the free feeds are squashed too. must just be relaying itv
September 5th, 2008 at 9:34 amAlianora La Canta said:
Heidfeld wants to reduce the rear pressures but keep the camber. He could do with doing something - even if he is beating Kubica - because he’s only 11th.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:35 amAlianora La Canta said:
Raikkonen struggles round Eau Rouge.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:35 amSteven Roy said:
Live timing does that all the time. I usually end up reloading it 2 or 3 times per hour
September 5th, 2008 at 9:35 amme said:
hi blueray, mine seems pretty good at the moment. says kimi’s back on track.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:35 amKathi said:
Nope
September 5th, 2008 at 9:35 amAlianora La Canta said:
Live timing works for me.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:36 amRocket said:
Cheers Scott. Wow, I just love seeing those shots of Spa…nothing but trees enjoying the cars go wizzing past. And that cool old fashioned pit grandstand peppered with spectators, strangely quaint.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:36 amBluray said:
Thanks guys…I think Bernie doesn’t like India that much
September 5th, 2008 at 9:36 amScott in Italy said:
When I came to hunting for work in the USA or in Europe, I must say that f1 coverage did factor in a little
In Australia, I heard that HD coverage was live for most races, but for now you’ll have to make do with the link i posted above, or any other feeds that people share in here. I got away with peer to peer for 6 months here (at work) but they put a block to that
September 5th, 2008 at 9:37 amme said:
nah, bernie doesn’t do technology
September 5th, 2008 at 9:37 amDank said:
Haha. Straight-talking Webber “We’re just here to make up the numbers this weekend”
September 5th, 2008 at 9:38 amme said:
how did renault get the engine so damn wrong?
September 5th, 2008 at 9:38 amAlianora La Canta said:
Bernie doesn’t do the 21st century full stop.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:39 amJeremy said:
They didn’t listen to the Australian driving for them?
September 5th, 2008 at 9:39 amFlibster said:
One of my mates at Red Bull thinks they are in with a chance of a good result, new suspension and a few other bits should help them.
I’m with Webber though. Down the bottom.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:40 amDank said:
Didn’t they lay off 90 people who worked on the engine development recently?
September 5th, 2008 at 9:40 amRocket said:
sigh
September 5th, 2008 at 9:40 amme said:
ahhhh, of course
i don’t know, i think they might spring a bit of a surprise, just need the weather on their side.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:40 amAlianora La Canta said:
Kubica wants to change the aero balance and the pressure. I don’t think he’s particularly happy (except at Eau Rouge).
September 5th, 2008 at 9:41 amSteven Roy said:
It doesn’t matter what suspension design they have if the engine is short on power all the way up that hill
September 5th, 2008 at 9:41 amDank said:
[does a rain dance]
September 5th, 2008 at 9:41 amFlibster said:
1:48.0 for Raikkonen.
Getting faster.
Nearly 4 seconds between first and last though.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:42 amme said:
possibly. maybe they picked the wrong 90 people
sounds really unhappy with his car there and at the moment his times reflect that.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:42 amSteven Roy said:
I hope they still have their phone numbers
September 5th, 2008 at 9:43 amFlibster said:
That’s going to damage the floor somewhat Vettel.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:44 amme said:
speed trap at the moment (after turn 4) has alonso in third. maybe they’ve found something and webber is verbally sandbagging?
September 5th, 2008 at 9:44 amScott in Italy said:
Good day: live timing finally working.
Bad day: but now my feed link has stopped
Apologies to autosport for stealing their format
September 5th, 2008 at 9:44 amme said:
September 5th, 2008 at 9:44 amFlibster said:
Kubica scared of driving the car hard as it’s too unpredictable? Not a good thing to have broadcast to the world.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:44 amSteven Roy said:
Are FOM trying to be ironic? They put up a graphic showing which part of the track the car was on. It’s Spa I know the corners. In Valencia a graphic like that would have been a lot more useful
September 5th, 2008 at 9:44 amAlianora La Canta said:
I think Five Live’s top 5 has got a little out of hand…
September 5th, 2008 at 9:45 amFlibster said:
Nico, the track is to your right…..
Used to be gravel there iirc. Lucky it still isn’t.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:46 amSteven Roy said:
It’s sad to see cars cruising through Eau Rouge like it is nothing. At least next year it should be a challenge again.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:46 amAlianora La Canta said:
Steven, we’re talking the FOM here. They’re not known for their immense amounts of logic…
September 5th, 2008 at 9:47 amme said:
i would imagine the valencian track was just too complicated to draw on screen.
or maybe fom couldn’t tell either?
September 5th, 2008 at 9:47 amAlianora La Canta said:
The rain is coming in?!? It really hasn’t been watching the FOM forecast, has it?
September 5th, 2008 at 9:48 amme said:
fom forecast is almost guaranteed to be wrong isn’t it?
September 5th, 2008 at 9:48 amSteven Roy said:
Ali,
you posted that comment ten seconds before I heard it on the feed.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:49 amFlibster said:
Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaain!
September 5th, 2008 at 9:49 amme said:
davidson just texted 5live? love that guy
September 5th, 2008 at 9:50 amChristine said:
If it’s raining, will they all stop?
September 5th, 2008 at 9:50 amAlianora La Canta said:
Steven, I didn’t know your Five Live feed was slower than mine…
September 5th, 2008 at 9:51 amDank said:
Shame we won’t probably see him driving in F1 again. Rumour being he might be off to Indycar next year?
September 5th, 2008 at 9:51 amme said:
piquet seems to be having a decent morning. currently sitting in 8th and 3 places behind fernando.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:52 amme said:
lovely rail slide from sutil. shades of valencia there (sorry to bring that place up again).
September 5th, 2008 at 9:53 amme said:
i wonder if he’s not sending a message to honda there? i bet they wouldn’t want to lose him as a tester.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:54 amChristine said:
I was thinking, jeez, that track looks wide. Stoopid ITV.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:54 amme said:
they’ve invented a whole new television format, just for us.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:56 amSteven Roy said:
I don’t have the radio on and I wish people wouldn’t phone just because I am working
September 5th, 2008 at 9:57 amAlianora La Canta said:
Hiedfeld discussing rear wing positions there…
September 5th, 2008 at 9:57 amScott in Italy said:
It’s to create the anticipation of overtaking
September 5th, 2008 at 9:57 amFlibster said:
I’ve heard the Indycar rumour too with Davidson. He really does deserve a full F1 drive though.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:57 amSteven Roy said:
Heidfeld wants less rear wing to get more straight line speed
September 5th, 2008 at 9:58 amFlibster said:
That was a cool shot with the photographers following the car through the corner.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:58 amme said:
i’m not sure he could’ve done more. i guess sticking with honda for all this time hasn’t paid him any dividends.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:59 amAlianora La Canta said:
It’s raining more now.
Holly Samos likes “tracks that aren’t in the middle of deserts”. So that’s a thumbs down for Bahrain…
September 5th, 2008 at 10:00 amme said:
what’s your favourite track holly? everything except bahrain
September 5th, 2008 at 10:01 amSteven Roy said:
Someone shoot the TV director. He follows Hamilton while he is preparing to start a flying lap and just as he starts it he custs to Piquet coming into the pits.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:01 amFlibster said:
Honda have had one good year in how many years in F1.
Actually scratch that, their good year was then they were BAR Honda, not Honda Racing F1
September 5th, 2008 at 10:04 amFlibster said:
The Toro Rosso’s are again doing exceedingly well. Vettel in 6th and Bourdais in 7th.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:05 amme said:
agreed, bourdais has closed up on his teammate, now only 1.3s and one place behind vettel
September 5th, 2008 at 10:05 amJeremy said:
only…
September 5th, 2008 at 10:05 amme said:
hats off to sutil still sitting in 8th. he looks comfortable out there. fisi back in 15th.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:06 amme said:
well, is been a lot more in the past.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:07 amFlibster said:
Was that a broken McLaren there pulling off the track, or was it a replay of it going very wide?
September 5th, 2008 at 10:07 amme said:
think it was, lewis…
September 5th, 2008 at 10:08 amme said:
5live saying lewis went into the gravel.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:08 amAlianora La Canta said:
Typical Adrian. Searingly quick lap to jump from 15th to 8th… …and then cuts a chicane a few corners later.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:08 amJeremy said:
True. But it wouldn’t give me much consolation if I was Bourdais
September 5th, 2008 at 10:08 amme said:
williams are worryingly off the pace thus far. 18th and 19th. only beating rubens.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:08 amAlianora La Canta said:
Either live timing has had a major issue of Sutil’s dropped from 8th to 16th in fifteen seconds flat…
September 5th, 2008 at 10:09 amme said:
no, in qually that’ll be a lot more than one place
September 5th, 2008 at 10:09 amDank said:
It also says there is 27 mins left? Think it’s gone belly-up!
September 5th, 2008 at 10:09 amme said:
ahh, did he cut a chicane and have his time deleted?
September 5th, 2008 at 10:10 amAlianora La Canta said:
Judging by the times, Adrian has lost that 8th-fastest time, rather than half the grid suddenly setting a quicker lap.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:10 amme said:
replays showing bourdais struggling to slow it down on the last corner.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:10 amme said:
i put my hat back on.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:11 amJeremy said:
Vettel is showing as 1.48.958 and Bourdais as 1.49.195
Live Timing says thats 1.382 difference.
Not how my brain sees it!
September 5th, 2008 at 10:12 amJeremy said:
Oh, that’s the gap to first right?
September 5th, 2008 at 10:12 amDank said:
The book they’re plugging on Five Live is very good by the way. Tommy Byrne - Crashed and Byrned - thoroughly recommend it!
September 5th, 2008 at 10:12 amJeremy said:
It’s Friday night here - my brain is already asleep
September 5th, 2008 at 10:13 amSteven Roy said:
Tommy Byrne is still around? He disappeared in the early 80s. A lost talent
September 5th, 2008 at 10:13 amme said:
sorry, i probably confused ya
September 5th, 2008 at 10:13 amJeremy said:
just a bit. feeling like a noob now
September 5th, 2008 at 10:14 amAlianora La Canta said:
Fisichella’s having his car worked on, but it sounds like Trulli’s electronics are in real trouble.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:15 amme said:
again?
September 5th, 2008 at 10:16 amAlianora La Canta said:
It’s now dry.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:17 amFlibster said:
The Honda looks a handful. No change there then.
Alonso has been moving up the tinmesheet. Now 3rd. Ferrari are still the only ones in the 1:47’s though.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:18 amme said:
as lewis puts in a purple s2.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:18 amDank said:
The book charts his rise to F1 and then everything else that came afterwards. It’s interesting to read his views on Senna, who he believes delayed his racing career by one year so he didn’t have to compete against Tommy.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:18 amAlianora La Canta said:
Vettel is still struggling with this track.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:19 amSteven Roy said:
I don’t understand how Lewis can be faster in S2. That is all the long sweeping corners where Ferrari should have the advantage
September 5th, 2008 at 10:19 amRocket said:
I’ve been out of the room for a while and someone may have already asked this question but…If the Redbull Renault engines are so rubbish then how is it that the Renault works are so “good”? Is Fernando that much better or do they have the aero/tyres combo so much more worked out? Discuss.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:19 amFlibster said:
BIG sideways moment for Vettel there. Nice held too.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:20 amAlianora La Canta said:
Clutch issue for Fisichella!
September 5th, 2008 at 10:20 amFlibster said:
I’d go with them having a higher rated engine than the Red Bull customer engine.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:21 amme said:
well, we have yet to see what renault’s plan is today re: curing their rubber. so it might be something to come back to this afternoon.
the renault boys were adamant that wasn’t the case when we were at silverstone. they couldn’t have been more specific about that fact.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:23 amSteven Roy said:
Legend has it as his prize for winning the F3 championship Byrne got a McLaren test drive. Being a bit unsophisticated he turned up decidedly the worse for wear from partying all night with a scantily clad girl on each arm. He got in the car and his times were stunning. Really stunning but Ron was unimpressed by the way he turned up for the test and that was that. There really was no obvious need for Senna to do FF2000. He could have gone straight to F3 so Byrne may have a point
September 5th, 2008 at 10:23 amRocket said:
Excuse my ignorance Flibster but what do you mean by a higher rated engine? That Renault just gave RedBull a dudder one?
September 5th, 2008 at 10:23 amDank said:
How come both Red Bulls have a new engine this week? Didn’t DC run with his engine for three races recently so as they both wouldn’t be in sync with one-another?
September 5th, 2008 at 10:23 amJeremy said:
Massa stamps his authority!
September 5th, 2008 at 10:24 amSteven Roy said:
I thought DC’s plan was not to use the same engine at Spa and Monza
September 5th, 2008 at 10:24 amJeremy said:
and here comes Kimi!
September 5th, 2008 at 10:25 amme said:
good spot. not a clue, maybe it couldn’t go the distance?
September 5th, 2008 at 10:25 amAlianora La Canta said:
Renault had two engine types to pick from at homologation; the ones Toro Rosso used to use and the ones Renault used to use. It’s possible they could have given Red Bull the ex-Toro Rosso spec while keeping the Renault spec for themselves.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:26 amFlibster said:
It’s common to have a works engine and a customer engine.
Works engine in this case would be the one that Renault themselves used. Customer is a slightly less powerful version that is sold on to other teams. Also the customer teams would have no say in how the engine is developed *or not as the case is now*
September 5th, 2008 at 10:26 amDank said:
That’s not quite what Tommy makes out in his book. He tries and puts to bed certain myths about what happened. One of the McLaren mechanics spoke to him a few years after the tests and revealed that they tampered with the car to ensure that his times weren’t that good - yet he smashed them anyway. He’s not a big Ron Dennis fan.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:27 amme said:
you’ve just sold that book to me
September 5th, 2008 at 10:27 amRocket said:
Ah, I see. But that didn’t stop RBR having a fairly good first half of the season or am I missing something there too?
September 5th, 2008 at 10:28 amRocket said:
Webber now decides to confuse me even more.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:28 amme said:
last ditch times coming up. as bourdais jumps vettel.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:28 amDank said:
Hoorah! 6th for Webber!
September 5th, 2008 at 10:29 amRocket said:
I should stop banging on about ReBull. Hmm, those Ferraris do look nice.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:29 amJeremy said:
I’m sure that was his intention all along
September 5th, 2008 at 10:29 amSteven Roy said:
Byrne is yet another example of people who run F1 teams not knowing a good driver when it is blindngly obvious. I don’t mean Ron because at that time he wasn’t exactly short of a good driver or two in the cockpit
September 5th, 2008 at 10:29 amFlibster said:
The engine “not quite so much of a freeze as a slight frosting” has been exploited by various engine builders to extract more power. Renault say they have not done this.
So it looks like they have moved backwards, when in fact they haven’t moved at all.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:30 amme said:
stunning!
September 5th, 2008 at 10:30 amAlianora La Canta said:
Rocket, the possibility that Red Bull may merely be using it as an excuse is possible, as is the possibility that Red Bull haven’t received any ancillary upgrades (which Renault obviously would).
September 5th, 2008 at 10:30 amme said:
question then, could honda actually go any slower?
September 5th, 2008 at 10:31 amme said:
they’re not saying that though are they? just that renault haven’t kept up with ferrari’s development.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:31 amJeremy said:
maybe they could put this Byrne chappy in?
September 5th, 2008 at 10:31 amSteven Roy said:
They will
September 5th, 2008 at 10:31 amme said:
kubica hates his car, but is still faster than nick… oops.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:31 amAlianora La Canta said:
Fisichella’s doing a final installation lap - which I can only assume is to check the clutch.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:32 amAlianora La Canta said:
I don’t think Heidfeld is a fan of the BMW right now either…
September 5th, 2008 at 10:32 amAlianora La Canta said:
Practise starts!
September 5th, 2008 at 10:32 amme said:
practice starts all round again.
is this because it can’t be done at the pitlane exit?
September 5th, 2008 at 10:33 amFlibster said:
Top free practice 1 times.
2007 - Raikkonen - 1:47.339
2008 - Massa - 1:47.284
So 0.055 faster than last year so far.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:34 amme said:
piquet picks last position to do a practice start. is he checking he can see the lights from there?
September 5th, 2008 at 10:34 amme said:
bourdais fails to make it into the pitlane. stops at the entrance.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:34 amAlianora La Canta said:
Honda in 19th and 20th - lou will not be pleased.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:35 amKathi said:
any video wishes?
September 5th, 2008 at 10:35 amFlibster said:
Strange place to park a car…
September 5th, 2008 at 10:36 amme said:
aww, how long have we waited to here that
are you all moved in and sorted kathi?
September 5th, 2008 at 10:37 amSteven Roy said:
According to Tesco’s website Tommy Byrne’s book was only published yesterday
September 5th, 2008 at 10:38 amSteven Roy said:
Damn. More product placement.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:38 amme said:
is dank the ghostwriter?
September 5th, 2008 at 10:38 amSteven Roy said:
Mark Hughes wrote it
September 5th, 2008 at 10:38 amFlibster said:
Looking at it, Ferrari defiantly have the upper hand so far.
Hamilton being 0.6 behind Massa isn’t a good sign. However, Kovalainen being 0.05 behind Hamilton is a good result for him.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:39 amAlianora La Canta said:
Lots of people went off, but nobody crashed. That’s good.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:39 amKathi said:
:p
I’ve been away working. Now I’m back at home with all my equipment poised and ready
September 5th, 2008 at 10:39 amJeremy said:
Does it mention how close Phillips shavers shave?
September 5th, 2008 at 10:40 amme said:
cool
do you get the highlights package currently being played? that pretty much has all the best bits in.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:41 amDank said:
No. I ordered it from WH Smith’s website last week for £7.25 with free delivery (cheapest I believe). I then received it the following day. Was a bit surprised but there we go!
September 5th, 2008 at 10:41 amAlianora La Canta said:
GP2 cars coming out to play
September 5th, 2008 at 10:41 amme said:
nice one. how did you hear about it?
September 5th, 2008 at 10:42 amKathi said:
No
We get all sessions live but little more
September 5th, 2008 at 10:43 amScott in Italy said:
This sounds very organised and even a little bit scary… I’m visualising one of those FBI surveillance trucks you see in the movies…
September 5th, 2008 at 10:44 amDank said:
There’s a thread on the Atlas/Autosport forum about him. The book has been a long time (four years or so) coming: http://forums.autosport.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=74857
It’s not the longest of books. But certainly one of the most entertaining. I should be getting a referral from the publishers I think!
September 5th, 2008 at 10:45 amRocket said:
Making up the numbers indeed Mr Webber.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:45 amme said:
no probs. the highlights for me:
- both of vettel’s catches
- kubica complaining about his car
- sutil up on the kerbs
would times help for those?
September 5th, 2008 at 10:45 amSteven Roy said:
I just checked Byrne’s F1 results. 5 races in a Theodore DNQ,Ret,DNQ,DNQ,Ret. Ridiculous
September 5th, 2008 at 10:46 amKathi said:
*evil laughter*
September 5th, 2008 at 10:46 amRocket said:
DC did hardly any laps comparitively.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:46 amScott in Italy said:
grrr. just organised a meeting during FP2. mixing work and F1 is never easy
September 5th, 2008 at 10:48 amKathi said:
Always.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:48 amJeremy said:
@Scott - come back to Aust!
September 5th, 2008 at 10:49 amme said:
final fp1 times:
September 5th, 2008 at 10:49 amScott in Italy said:
Yeah that was surprising, but he’s way ahead of Coulthard, at least by position. I’m always intrigued when there is such a difference between the two drivers from one team - except when it is Alonso and Piquet
Now I am really worried
September 5th, 2008 at 10:52 amScott in Italy said:
I like it here where I have a pretty flexible job. In theory, I can do my own hours. one of the perks of the job. The downside is that not everyone has that sort of contract and so meetings sometime have to get scheduled when … well…when i would rather not
September 5th, 2008 at 10:52 amme said:
times for video:
- vettel slide / catch @ 70mins
- kubica radio @ 40mins
- sutil kerb slide @ 52mins
can’t find a comment about the first vettel incident, but he jumped the kerbs at the last corner and landed heavily. no probs if you can’t find it.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:55 amme said:
free practice 2 kicks off at 1pm uk time (2pm local), if you haven’t managed to schedule a meeting during that period we welcome your company back here in about an hour and a half
cheers all.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:57 amFlibster said:
Hmmm.. Early lunch for me then.
September 5th, 2008 at 11:00 amlou said:
Hey everyone (again)
so i have just spent FP1 feeling annoyed… Good news for me is i should be able to watch FP2 as it starts during lunch, and i have a free after. 
Did I miss much? I see Honda were last 
There are so many computers in my school but not one of them was free
September 5th, 2008 at 11:04 amme said:
pretty much all you need to know
webber was sandbagging and the bmw could be quicker. top 4 pretty much as expected.
September 5th, 2008 at 11:07 amlou said:
Thank you
Did it rain? (i will read through the comments at some piont, i promise 
) also did DC have a problem or something?
September 5th, 2008 at 11:08 amme said:
only a few spots. unsure on the dc situ.
September 5th, 2008 at 11:10 amlou said:
ah ok. Thanks
now to read through the comments 
(it’s been a long morning)
September 5th, 2008 at 11:14 amChristine said:
Have posted the Fantasy Racers reminder.
September 5th, 2008 at 11:16 amScott Woodwiss said:
morning
managed to catch the last 20mins or so of FP1, i take it nothing major happened. just looked like a lot of people going off
September 5th, 2008 at 11:21 amlou said:
Congratulations Rocket
Wow really?! did he say anything interesting?
September 5th, 2008 at 11:24 amme said:
just that he missed the track and driving.
September 5th, 2008 at 11:25 amAlianora La Canta said:
Anthony corrected the Five Live team - they were claiming that lots of timber was being left at Eau Rouge through cars bottoming out. According to Anthony, it’s actually resin.
September 5th, 2008 at 11:25 amlou said:
awww…. is there really not a testing job for him, he was good at that.
September 5th, 2008 at 11:25 amJeremy said:
@Rocket - congrats man! I came late and missed that announcement.
September 5th, 2008 at 11:25 amlou said:
aww
He belongs in that commentry box! 
September 5th, 2008 at 12:05 pmKathi said:
BMW’s woes