Live Commenting: Italy - Free Practice 3

Stuart is being our man on the ground in Italy this weekend, and has already given us a weather update for the morning.

Not looking great out there at the moment. Track temp is 20 and air temp is 22. There was a thunderstorm overnight but the track surface is drying already.

On the other hand, there’s barely any wind so there may not be much change.

Hopefully it won’t be like yesterday, because although it was quite amusing to see a river pouring down the pit lane, it wasn’t particularly helpful. When we did get some sensible running in FP2, it appeared that Ferrari may have had the upper hand with Kimi on top. McLaren have been keen to point out they were running heavy fuel loads, concentrating on race setup, and not that bothered about grabbing any headlines.

FP3 usually sees a lot more experimentation with the tyres, as the track is the closest it’s going to be to qualifying before the afternoon. Last year we had the soft and medium compound, but this year Bridgestone has moved one step up and brought along the hard and medium tyres this time round. This will no doubt be helpful for riding the kerbs, and avoid any blistering that might become a problem.

ITV seem to have overlooked FP3 in their schedules, so we are stuck hunting for video on the web. There’s information on the Formula 1 on the Internet page, but we will be searching and commenting any new links that we find. 5live Sports Extra has FP3 on their schedules, and they’ll be hoping the commentary box is a little bit drier than it was yesterday. With such little coverage, we are also relying on the live timing actually working, although so far this weekend it has been touch and go. Don’t forget to visit the Live Commenting Live… Thing to join in the fun, and post your links, maps, and pictures on our drop.io account.

What others have said...

304 Responses

  1. September 13th, 2008 at 9:30 amJeremy said:

    Go Lewis!

  2. September 13th, 2008 at 9:32 amChristine said:

    Go Lewis!

    Hehe. Hi Jeremy!

  3. September 13th, 2008 at 9:42 amlou said:

    Hey Everyone :DI hope everyone’s well? I’m back and I finally get to enjoy some f1. Sixth form is alot of work :s I was pretty annoyed i missed yesterday, so even if its a boring session it will be nice to see the cars go round and round in the usual fashion…. i would say it’s been too long but it’s only been a week :D

  4. September 13th, 2008 at 9:43 amChristine said:

    i would say it’s been too long but it’s only been a week

    Not quite long enough if you ask me :)
    Welcome back, we missed you.

  5. September 13th, 2008 at 9:44 amAlex Andronov said:

    I seems like ages to me every time. I love these back to back races. Sorry Christine and Me!

  6. September 13th, 2008 at 9:44 amlou said:

    Welcome back, we missed you.

    I’ve missed you guys, and all the f1 chat and news… thank god for f1 minute :D

  7. September 13th, 2008 at 9:45 amAlex Andronov said:

    Ah yes. I hope Me has been keeping up with F1 Minute :)

  8. September 13th, 2008 at 9:46 amChristine said:

    I hope Me has been keeping up with F1 Minute

    I don’t think he’ll ever make that mistake again :)

  9. September 13th, 2008 at 9:47 amAlex Andronov said:

    I was just thinking that actually this Live Comment, Live… Thing. Is how identi.ca should work!

  10. September 13th, 2008 at 9:50 amlou said:

    I was just thinking that actually this Live Comment, Live… Thing. Is how identi.ca should work!

    it kinda does if you use it with twhirl…

  11. September 13th, 2008 at 9:51 amme said:

    I was just thinking that actually this Live Comment, Live… Thing. Is how identi.ca should work!

    we can’t fix the whole of the internet ;)
    morning all.

  12. September 13th, 2008 at 9:51 amDank said:

    Buongiorno F1 chums! :-)

  13. September 13th, 2008 at 9:52 amAlex Andronov said:

    it kinda does if you use it with twhirl…

    we can’t fix the whole of the internet

    Ah I believe you could Me! But yes probably not a priority right now!

  14. September 13th, 2008 at 9:56 amlou said:

    we can’t fix the whole of the internet ;)

    What an opening statement :P

    lol hey ‘me’ :)

  15. September 13th, 2008 at 9:56 amChristine said:

    Live timing is up.

  16. September 13th, 2008 at 9:57 amme said:

    Live timing is up.

    i got in. the weekend’s looking up already.

  17. September 13th, 2008 at 9:58 amScott said:

    Morning all,

    I also appear to have access to live timing.

  18. September 13th, 2008 at 9:58 amJeremy said:

    I’ve found that leaving live timing open and just sleeping the laptops helps

  19. September 13th, 2008 at 9:58 amKathi said:

    Morning.

    Sorry I kinda fell asleep yesterday. Did you want any videos?

  20. September 13th, 2008 at 9:59 amme said:

    live video feed: http://www.justin.tv/zura002

    that’s a new one. still looking for a backup.

  21. September 13th, 2008 at 10:00 amDom said:

    Morning guys. Everything working? This feels good :) 5live starting up now.

  22. September 13th, 2008 at 10:00 amStuart C said:

    The track temp has dropped to 18 degrees and air temp is now 21.

    It’s got a lot darker and there have been some light showers. Apparently there’s a thunderstorm in Milan and it’s coming this way.

    You may find that 5Live have to pull the plug again if it rains because they had water coming in through their fusebox yesterday morning.

  23. September 13th, 2008 at 10:01 amme said:

    Sorry I kinda fell asleep yesterday. Did you want any videos?

    :D
    i think fp2 was a much more sedate affair. sutil missing the pitlane on the last lap might be worth keeping.

  24. September 13th, 2008 at 10:01 amJeremy said:

    Is anyone else’s live timing showing hieroglyphics at the mo?

  25. September 13th, 2008 at 10:01 amChristine said:

    5live are going… for now!!

  26. September 13th, 2008 at 10:01 amChristine said:

    Is anyone else’s live timing showing hieroglyphics at the mo?

    Mine seems to be okay.

  27. September 13th, 2008 at 10:01 amLadySnowcat said:

    Go Lewis!

    That’s a bit cruel…

    I know that we aren’t very keen but to ask him to leave F1 is a bit excessive….

  28. September 13th, 2008 at 10:02 amme said:

    The track temp has dropped to 18 degrees and air temp is now 21.

    you not braving the conditions this morning?

  29. September 13th, 2008 at 10:02 amJeremy said:

    Will post screen shots on drop.io later - terribly funny

  30. September 13th, 2008 at 10:03 amLadySnowcat said:

    You may find that 5Live have to pull the plug again if it rains because they had water coming in through their fusebox yesterday morning.

    Electric commentary….

  31. September 13th, 2008 at 10:03 amJeremy said:

    I know that we aren’t very keen but to ask him to leave F1 is a bit excessive….

    aren’t you the funny one!

    I’m sure I’ll think of a stunning comeback in a few days… :)

  32. September 13th, 2008 at 10:03 amStuart C said:

    you not braving the conditions this morning?

    Utterly not. My shoes still reek after yesterday.

  33. September 13th, 2008 at 10:03 amlou said:

    aww five live got wet? awww

  34. September 13th, 2008 at 10:03 amLadySnowcat said:

    Any pics please??…

  35. September 13th, 2008 at 10:03 amDom said:

    5live swapped commentary boxes

  36. September 13th, 2008 at 10:04 amlou said:

    i hear f1 cars :) yay!!

  37. September 13th, 2008 at 10:05 amme said:

    english commentary: http://www.justin.tv/live24_xtra

  38. September 13th, 2008 at 10:05 amlou said:

    yay i noe see f1 cars too :D

  39. September 13th, 2008 at 10:05 amlou said:

    *now

  40. September 13th, 2008 at 10:05 amLadySnowcat said:

    aren’t you the funny one!

    I’m sure I’ll think of a stunning comeback in a few days…

    Moi funny…

    Noooo….

    Actually expecting the weather to gift it to Lewis this week…

    Have to have some reason to smile….

    And I have…

    KIMI for two more years!!….

  41. September 13th, 2008 at 10:06 amKathi said:

    sutil missing the pitlane on the last lap might be worth keeping.

    They stop broadcasting as soon as the time is up. No Sutil, sorry.

  42. September 13th, 2008 at 10:07 amme said:

    toyota mechanic on tv just opened a panel in the wall. i had no idea that could be done.

    toyota magic :)

  43. September 13th, 2008 at 10:07 amme said:

    They stop broadcastings as soon as the time is up. No Sutil, sorry.

    ahh, shucks. put your fp1 edit on drop.io, you did a fine job :)

  44. September 13th, 2008 at 10:09 amJeremy said:

    As if Flav will ever leave - soccer and business have nothing compared to this!

  45. September 13th, 2008 at 10:09 amJeremy said:

    Barrichello about to be position 1! Happy Lou?

  46. September 13th, 2008 at 10:10 amme said:

    rubens really struggling to slow into the first chicane. brave guy.

    glock and sutil also out there.

  47. September 13th, 2008 at 10:10 amChristine said:

    Glock completely missed the corner.

  48. September 13th, 2008 at 10:10 amlou said:

    argh… my internet connection keeps disconnecting everytime my dad picks up the phone :( i keep missing big chucks!!!

  49. September 13th, 2008 at 10:11 amJeremy said:

    @lou - just unplug the phone!

    Hide the cords…

  50. September 13th, 2008 at 10:11 amSteven Roy said:

    Morning all

  51. September 13th, 2008 at 10:11 amlou said:

    Barrichello about to be position 1! Happy Lou?

    I would be happy if it wasn’t for the damn internet….. but yeah Rubens faster than a force india :) better than last week

  52. September 13th, 2008 at 10:12 amChristine said:

    Morning Steven.

  53. September 13th, 2008 at 10:12 ampmtate said:

    argh… my internet connection keeps disconnecting everytime my dad picks up the phone

    Sounds like you need some more adsl filters, £5 from local computer stores…..

  54. September 13th, 2008 at 10:13 amJeremy said:

    or change the channel on your wireless router

  55. September 13th, 2008 at 10:13 amlou said:

    @lou - just unplug the phone!

    i would do but my dad would get very very angry… and i want to have a peaceful f1 filled weeked :P i will do during the race though…

  56. September 13th, 2008 at 10:14 amAlianora La Canta said:

    What happened? I thought I’d missed Saturday Free Practise…

  57. September 13th, 2008 at 10:14 amDom said:

    Struggling to stay on track right now.

  58. September 13th, 2008 at 10:15 amlou said:

    Sounds like you need some more adsl filters, £5 from local computer stores…..

    it seems to have stopped now… not sure what was up… i *think* it coul have been that phone… it’s new… but wil get another adsl filter when i next go out if it continues…

  59. September 13th, 2008 at 10:15 amme said:

    What happened? I thought I’d missed Saturday Free Practise…

    not a huge amount thus far.

  60. September 13th, 2008 at 10:16 amme said:

    piquet currently fastest through the speed trap.

  61. September 13th, 2008 at 10:16 amAlianora La Canta said:

    Something tells me that Fernando’s having trouble with the wet conditions…

  62. September 13th, 2008 at 10:17 amlou said:

    ah so heikki retired from spa with gearbox problems… i was wandering about that

  63. September 13th, 2008 at 10:17 amDank said:

    Blinkin’ LT not showing the drivers best times here :-(

  64. September 13th, 2008 at 10:17 amJeremy said:

    tennis anyone?

  65. September 13th, 2008 at 10:17 ampmtate said:

    Now we are going to have politics over “is a corner a corner”, curve grandee turn 3 but not a corner? :(

  66. September 13th, 2008 at 10:17 amChristine said:

    Massa is out.

  67. September 13th, 2008 at 10:18 amDom said:

    Italians wake up now…

  68. September 13th, 2008 at 10:18 amJeremy said:

    The Hondas seem to have a very low top speed

  69. September 13th, 2008 at 10:18 amme said:

    Now we are going to have politics over “is a corner a corner”, curve grandee turn 3 but not a corner?

    the fia offered a clarification yesterday. so hopefully were good now :)

  70. September 13th, 2008 at 10:18 amAlianora La Canta said:

    I can’t get Live Timing to work on this computer. It works from my own computer, but on this one I can’t get past the password screen. It’s probably a cookie thing.

  71. September 13th, 2008 at 10:19 amJeremy said:

    @Alia - I had that problem yesterday

  72. September 13th, 2008 at 10:19 amDom said:

    Rubens Spins.

  73. September 13th, 2008 at 10:19 amme said:

    It works from my own computer, but on this one I can’t get past the password screen. It’s probably a cookie thing.

    think it’s still bernie’s SSL issue from last week. not renewed his security key thingy.

  74. September 13th, 2008 at 10:20 amScott said:

    Now we are going to have politics over “is a corner a corner”, curve grandee turn 3 but not a corner?

    Exactly, David Croft has been speaking about this and it’s a very valuable point. The new ‘clarification’ actually causes further confusion in many respects.

  75. September 13th, 2008 at 10:20 ampmtate said:

    the fia offered a clarification yesterday. so hopefully were good now

    But as Maurice said on 5live is the flat turn 3 actually a corner?

  76. September 13th, 2008 at 10:20 amDom said:

    Heikki out now too.

  77. September 13th, 2008 at 10:20 amJeremy said:

    I think it is server overload because I eventually got my MB Pro to work an hour ago

  78. September 13th, 2008 at 10:21 amme said:

    But as Maurice said on 5live is the flat turn 3 actually a corner?

    ahh, sorry. see what you mean. if they do, text ‘em a proper question :)

  79. September 13th, 2008 at 10:21 amlou said:

    Doesn’t look like any of the teams are using the twisted rear wing this wekend…

  80. September 13th, 2008 at 10:21 amme said:

    hi dan cross ;)

  81. September 13th, 2008 at 10:21 amAlianora La Canta said:

    Typical Bernie…

  82. September 13th, 2008 at 10:21 amDank said:

    *tips cap* :-)

  83. September 13th, 2008 at 10:22 amlou said:

    Vettel purple S1..

  84. September 13th, 2008 at 10:22 amBG said:

    any idea on how Glock managed his seemingy unbeatable laptime? anyone?

  85. September 13th, 2008 at 10:22 amme said:

    if they do, text ‘em a proper question

    good timing dan :) good question too.

  86. September 13th, 2008 at 10:22 amAlianora La Canta said:

    Under the clarification the FIA gave, Lewis’ move is definitely legal. He did wait for the next corner…

  87. September 13th, 2008 at 10:23 amAlianora La Canta said:

    Is it still raining at Monza?

  88. September 13th, 2008 at 10:23 amDom said:

    Vettel P3, Heidfeld P4

  89. September 13th, 2008 at 10:23 amme said:

    He did wait for the next corner…

    he should’ve waiting until after the next corner.

  90. September 13th, 2008 at 10:23 amme said:

    two cars try slalom.

  91. September 13th, 2008 at 10:23 amLadySnowcat said:

    No Lewis was illegal…

    He wasn’t allowed to overtake until after the next corner….

  92. September 13th, 2008 at 10:24 amJeremy said:

    How far after? After the apex? Too ambiguous!

  93. September 13th, 2008 at 10:24 amDom said:

    Conditions getting worse. 3 cars strait on at turn one.

  94. September 13th, 2008 at 10:24 amScott said:

    Morris has been saying that Red Bull are very reluctant to offend their engine supplier, so that could explain Mark Webber’s sudden change of opinion last week.

  95. September 13th, 2008 at 10:24 amLadySnowcat said:

    Here comes Kimi…

  96. September 13th, 2008 at 10:25 amlou said:

    tennis??

  97. September 13th, 2008 at 10:25 amDom said:

    Another Renault skips turn one.

  98. September 13th, 2008 at 10:25 amAlianora La Canta said:

    Renualt still haven’t cracked the grip-speed equation - Alonso’s gone off again

  99. September 13th, 2008 at 10:25 amDom said:

    Sorry, the same Renault.

  100. September 13th, 2008 at 10:25 amSteven Roy said:

    He wasn’t allowed to overtake until after the next corner….

    No. This clarification only happened at the drivers meetin this weekend. The rule has never been interpretated this way before. Before the driver had to drop behind the other driver and was then free to overtake again until last week.

  101. September 13th, 2008 at 10:25 amme said:

    How far after? After the apex? Too ambiguous!

    “he not only had to give that place back but should also wait for another corner before he could attempt to retake it.”

    ummm. that’s all i got?

  102. September 13th, 2008 at 10:26 amLadySnowcat said:

    How far after? After the apex? Too ambiguous!

    That would depend on your gray cells…

    After seems pretty clear to me…

    Are you behind as you come out of the next corner….

  103. September 13th, 2008 at 10:26 amme said:

    This clarification only happened at the drivers meetin this weekend.

    i think i said somewhere (f1f maybe?), that ian phillips suggested yesterday that charlie has discussed in a drivers meeting prior to spa.

  104. September 13th, 2008 at 10:27 amDom said:

    Very wet now. Kimi on a lap.

  105. September 13th, 2008 at 10:27 amJeremy said:

    Ha Ha - Lewis attacked at the next corner. So, effectively, he did wait for another corner

  106. September 13th, 2008 at 10:27 amlou said:

    blimey no funny nose for bmw… been a while since i saw a reasonably good looking bmw :P

  107. September 13th, 2008 at 10:27 amLadySnowcat said:

    No. This clarification only happened at the drivers meetin this weekend. The rule has never been interpretated this way before. Before the driver had to drop behind the other driver and was then free to overtake again until last week.

    The clarification was because a certain driver didn’t understand what constituted an advantage…

    But he’ll get it soon….

    We hope…

  108. September 13th, 2008 at 10:27 amme said:

    darkness amongst the trees.

  109. September 13th, 2008 at 10:28 amStuart C said:

    Is it still raining at Monza?

    Sheeting it down now.

  110. September 13th, 2008 at 10:28 amJeremy said:

    and then he can explain it to Charlie Whiting!

  111. September 13th, 2008 at 10:28 amSteven Roy said:

    The clarification was because a certain driver didn’t understand what constituted an advantage…

    The clarification is a complete change of previous practise.

  112. September 13th, 2008 at 10:29 amDom said:

    Standing water everywhere

  113. September 13th, 2008 at 10:29 amme said:

    anyone see a ferrari out there?

  114. September 13th, 2008 at 10:30 amStuart C said:

    Game over, folks. Everyone’s coming in.

  115. September 13th, 2008 at 10:30 amAlianora La Canta said:

    me, the clarification doesn’t say “after the next corner”. It says “wait for another corner”. That makes all the difference. It turns Hamilton’s behaviour from the debatable situation of before (in that technically he broke 30.3, but he made an attempt to make amends which may or may not have been sufficient) to unequivocably permissible. If it had said “after the corner”, then it would have made Hamilton’s behaviour unequivocably impermissible.

  116. September 13th, 2008 at 10:30 amLadySnowcat said:

    The clarification is a complete change of previous practise.

    Not that I recall…

    Just wasn’t actually spelled out before…

  117. September 13th, 2008 at 10:31 amAlianora La Canta said:

    This session is unofficially over.

  118. September 13th, 2008 at 10:31 amme said:

    Game over, folks. Everyone’s coming in.

    not surprising, the water’s hanging in the trees. thought we were at the old hockenheim for a minute.

  119. September 13th, 2008 at 10:31 amlou said:

    football anyone?

  120. September 13th, 2008 at 10:32 amDom said:

    Hamilton, Bourdais and Kovalainen not yet set a time. Everybody is now in.

  121. September 13th, 2008 at 10:32 amBG said:

    looks like Glock already won this session, there’s no way the conditions will get good enough to do a better lap than his.

  122. September 13th, 2008 at 10:32 amAlianora La Canta said:

    Buongiorno, Stuart. Do you think the circuit owners will have made enough money on umbrella sales to cover Bernie’s fee?

  123. September 13th, 2008 at 10:32 amSteven Roy said:

    I wonder how long before Bernie makes it compulsory for drivers to do a lap ever few minutes in conditions like this so that TV doesn’t see an empty track

  124. September 13th, 2008 at 10:32 amLadySnowcat said:

    me, the clarification doesn’t say “after the next corner”. It says “wait for another corner”. That makes all the difference. It turns Hamilton’s behaviour from the debatable situation of before (in that technically he broke 30.3, but he made an attempt to make amends which may or may not have been sufficient) to unequivocably permissible. If it had said “after the corner”, then it would have made Hamilton’s behaviour unequivocably impermissible.

    Alianora…

    You may need to give Charlie a lesson in the niceties of the English language…

    Wait for another corner is meant to be after the next corner and can be read as such…

  125. September 13th, 2008 at 10:33 amJeremy said:

    You may need to give Charlie a lesson

    exactly…

  126. September 13th, 2008 at 10:33 amme said:

    looks like Glock already won this session, there’s no way the conditions will get good enough to do a better lap than his.

    only halfway through. will it not clear in thirty mins?

  127. September 13th, 2008 at 10:33 amSteven Roy said:

    Wait for another corner is meant to be after the next corner and can be read as such…

    It is typical FIA language that allows them to ‘interpret’ the rules to suit themselves. Max has a clear policy of not writing black and white rules

  128. September 13th, 2008 at 10:33 amAlianora La Canta said:

    Previous (unwritten) practise was that if you cut a corner and gave up positions made or kept by doing so, that you were in the clear.

  129. September 13th, 2008 at 10:34 amStuart C said:

    Do you think the circuit owners will have made enough money on umbrella sales to cover Bernie’s fee?

    Perhaps not on umbrellas alone, but throw wellington boots into the equation… I wonder if they’re available in Rosso Corsa?

  130. September 13th, 2008 at 10:34 amLadySnowcat said:

    What is the forecast for qualy?…

    They are talking about where to sit…

    First Variante is their recommendation… I agree….

  131. September 13th, 2008 at 10:34 amSteven Roy said:

    I wonder who Mark Hughes stole the idea of where to watch from :)

  132. September 13th, 2008 at 10:35 amme said:

    It is typical FIA language that allows them to ‘interpret’ the rules to suit themselves. Max has a clear policy of not writing black and white rules

    we just don’t know what was discussed at the drivers meetings, prior to spa, or last night.

    from mark webber:

    “it is pretty clear for people to probably not attack immediately again, which wasn’t mega, mega clear in the past.”

    if it’s good enough for him. i guess there’s a mutual driver understanding… regardless of wording.

  133. September 13th, 2008 at 10:35 amlou said:

    oooo i just switched to the non english commentry, and i now see f1… :) well the track and it’s fan…

  134. September 13th, 2008 at 10:35 amzud the spud said:

    Previous (unwritten) practise was that if you cut a corner and gave up positions made or kept by doing so, that you were in the clear.

    As lewis and kimi came out of the chicane they were alot closer than they would have been if lewis had stuck to the race track. therefore he gained an advantage by cutting the corner even if he let him past again.

  135. September 13th, 2008 at 10:35 amme said:

    I wonder who Mark Hughes stole the idea of where to watch from

    hahahaha :D

  136. September 13th, 2008 at 10:36 amStuart C said:

    #

    will it not clear in thirty mins?
    #

    September 13th, 2008 at 10:33 am

    Maybe. Lighter-coloured clouds to the SW, but the rain isn’t easing off.

  137. September 13th, 2008 at 10:36 amLadySnowcat said:

    I have lost my picture of the rain…

    Has everyone?….

  138. September 13th, 2008 at 10:36 amSteven Roy said:

    As lewis and kimi came out of the chicane they were alot closer than they would have been if lewis had stuck to the race track. therefore he gained an advantage by cutting the corner even if he let him past again.

    Maybe so but what he did was the same as has always been done in the past

  139. September 13th, 2008 at 10:36 amme said:

    bmw say the rain’s not stopping :(

  140. September 13th, 2008 at 10:36 amJon Waldock said:

    What Feed is everyone watching FP3 on??

  141. September 13th, 2008 at 10:36 amlou said:

    ooo a day trip to monza…

  142. September 13th, 2008 at 10:37 amSteven Roy said:

    I can still see rain

  143. September 13th, 2008 at 10:37 amme said:

    live feed jon: http://www.justin.tv/zura002

  144. September 13th, 2008 at 10:37 amRocket said:

    football anyone?

    Yes and my team (Canberra Raiders)is currently getting beaten in the semi final. I thought I’d come and get some F1 relief but it’s all wet!

  145. September 13th, 2008 at 10:38 amSteven Roy said:

    Stuart,

    Is that Honda wing with the bite out of the back of it new or has it been run before?

  146. September 13th, 2008 at 10:38 amJeremy said:

    Hey Rocket - get your priorities right! :-D

  147. September 13th, 2008 at 10:38 amme said:

    qualifying is going to be a riot isn’t it? will anyone get a lap in?

  148. September 13th, 2008 at 10:38 amJon Waldock said:

    live feed jon: http://www.justin.tv/zura002

    thank you

  149. September 13th, 2008 at 10:38 amAlianora La Canta said:

    Wait for another corner is meant to be after the next corner and can be read as such… {LadySnowcat - 5 comments ago}

    Not and have both halves of the sentence be consistent with each other. “Wait for another corner” means “not the corner where the event happened or anything that might occur before the next corner”. No reference is made or implied to what part of the next corner, let alone hinting at the possibility that the entire next corner is out of bounds.

    Not only has the FIA locked the door after the horse has bolted (to borrow the phrase Keith used for the clarification), but it’s locked the door open.

  150. September 13th, 2008 at 10:39 amStuart C said:

    Someone’s just gone out. Heidfeld.

  151. September 13th, 2008 at 10:39 amSteven Roy said:

    I want to hear why Charlie Whiting said it was OK at the time and then changed his mind

  152. September 13th, 2008 at 10:39 amAlianora La Canta said:

    but throw wellington boots into the equation… I wonder if they’re available in Rosso Corsa? {Stuart C - 21 comments ago}

    It wouldn’t surprise me if they were - there seems to be Ferrari everything else!

  153. September 13th, 2008 at 10:39 amDom said:

    and Bourdais?

  154. September 13th, 2008 at 10:40 amDom said:

    Heidfeld and Bourdais out

  155. September 13th, 2008 at 10:40 amme said:

    Not only has the FIA locked the door after the horse has bolted (to borrow the phrase Keith used for the clarification), but it’s locked the door open.

    have to say, you might be making a bit of a deal about this. 19 drivers asked to defend lewis move and none of them would. so long as there’s a driver understanding, where the problem?

  156. September 13th, 2008 at 10:40 amAlianora La Canta said:

    Heidfeld’s gone out on track, and it’s still absolutely soggy out there.

  157. September 13th, 2008 at 10:40 amme said:

    Heidfeld and Bourdais out

    are they nuts?

    cool!

  158. September 13th, 2008 at 10:40 amDom said:

    Pointless whether forecast there…

  159. September 13th, 2008 at 10:41 amDom said:

    Timo Glock? Nico Rosberg?

  160. September 13th, 2008 at 10:41 amStuart C said:

    Is that Honda wing with the bite out of the back of it new or has it been run before?

    I think it’s part of the package of changes they introduced after the Monza test. Both front and back wings had very complex, twisted profiles before. That made the car very draggy, so no surprise that they’ve gone for a straighter profile.

  161. September 13th, 2008 at 10:41 amAlianora La Canta said:

    me, of course the drivers can’t defend Hamilton - the FIA would blast them for it, and they know it!

  162. September 13th, 2008 at 10:41 amme said:

    Pointless whether forecast there…

    hey come on. they don’t wanna miss an opportunity to be correct ;)

  163. September 13th, 2008 at 10:42 amBluray said:

    are they nuts?

    cool!

    Does it mean that BMW believe the Quali’s gonna be in such soggy condn.s?

  164. September 13th, 2008 at 10:42 amScott said:

    are they nuts?
    cool!

    Yep, fulll marks to both. Could be worthwhile getting in some running given the possibility of heavy rain for the race.

  165. September 13th, 2008 at 10:42 amme said:

    me, of course the drivers can’t defend Hamilton - the FIA would blast them for it, and they know it!

    or… maybe they understood the rule and he didn’t?

  166. September 13th, 2008 at 10:42 amSteven Roy said:

    hey come on. they don’t wanna miss an opportunity to be correct :)

    Given their record I am betting the last 5 minutes will be dry and sunny

  167. September 13th, 2008 at 10:42 amAlianora La Canta said:

    Well, I suppose it’s reassuring to know that all this damp stuff is not all an optical illusion…

  168. September 13th, 2008 at 10:43 amDom said:

    Could be worthwhile getting in some running given the possibility of heavy rain for the race

    Nope, back in again.

  169. September 13th, 2008 at 10:43 amme said:

    Does it mean that BMW believe the Quali’s gonna be in such soggy condn.s?

    not sure, i’m impressed they tried it.

  170. September 13th, 2008 at 10:43 amJeremy said:

    Both front and back wings had very complex, twisted profiles before. That made the car very draggy, so no surprise that they’ve gone for a straighter profile.

    I’m looking forward to next year’s aero!

  171. September 13th, 2008 at 10:43 amLadySnowcat said:

    Not and have both halves of the sentence be consistent with each other. “Wait for another corner” means “not the corner where the event happened or anything that might occur before the next corner”. No reference is made or implied to what part of the next corner, let alone hinting at the possibility that the entire next corner is out of bounds.

    Not only has the FIA locked the door after the horse has bolted (to borrow the phrase Keith used for the clarification), but it’s locked the door open.

    I don’t disagree with your totally correct reading of the English construction used…

    I am equally certain that they will expect it to be read in a different way….

  172. September 13th, 2008 at 10:44 amAlianora La Canta said:

    me, since the rule in question has no room whatsoever for escaping the penalty through mitigation, it’s pretty obvious that nobody in the paddock actually understands the rule as written. If they did, it would have long since been re-written to represent a realistic view of racing, not just had “clarification” statements bounced at it.

  173. September 13th, 2008 at 10:44 amBluray said:

    not sure, i’m impressed they tried it.

    Or does the wise man with the beard (no not Button) know something others don’t?

  174. September 13th, 2008 at 10:44 amLadySnowcat said:

    If they don’t have qualy I think Kimi is ******…

    Is it WDC positions or last race positions that they use….

  175. September 13th, 2008 at 10:45 amAlianora La Canta said:

    LadySnowcat, I have to agree with you there.

  176. September 13th, 2008 at 10:45 amJeremy said:

    Is it Formula One or WWE? I think it is heading towards being orchestrated as much as possible

  177. September 13th, 2008 at 10:45 amme said:

    Or does the wise man with the beard (no not Button) know something others don’t?

    could well be. bmw have a decent record when it comes to weather.

  178. September 13th, 2008 at 10:45 amScott said:

    me, of course the drivers can’t defend Hamilton - the FIA would blast them for it, and they know it!

    The senior drivers don’t feel limited in such a way - Trulli, Webber and Alonso, for example, have been happy to speak out against the FIA previously.

  179. September 13th, 2008 at 10:45 amStuart C said:

    Wind speed is down to 0.7 so the rain might be ’set in’. I hear an engine… Renault may be coming out.

  180. September 13th, 2008 at 10:46 amBG said:

    Heidfeld recommending not drive in these conditions?

  181. September 13th, 2008 at 10:46 amme said:

    Is it Formula One or WWE? I think it is heading towards being orchestrated as much as possible

    i just don’t think that’s the case. in isolation, the spa call was marginal but actually i’d have done the same.

  182. September 13th, 2008 at 10:46 amStuart C said:

    Lewis.

  183. September 13th, 2008 at 10:46 amDom said:

    Hamilton trying to get some running…

  184. September 13th, 2008 at 10:47 amSteven Roy said:

    The FIA don’t want stewards who are associated with any of the teams???? The stewards supervisor has an association with Ferrari.

  185. September 13th, 2008 at 10:47 amme said:

    Wind speed is down to 0.7 so the rain might be ’set in’. I hear an engine… Renault may be coming out.

    Lewis.

    loving that the drivers are being challenged today.

  186. September 13th, 2008 at 10:47 amlou said:

    loving that the drivers are being challenged today.

    yeah me too

  187. September 13th, 2008 at 10:48 amJeremy said:

    the spa call was marginal but actually i’d have done the same.

    well you’re off the xmas card list then :-D

  188. September 13th, 2008 at 10:48 amChristine said:

    I’m glad some of them are having a go.

  189. September 13th, 2008 at 10:48 amme said:

    he’s dealing with standing water very well. no pushing, but it’s under control.

  190. September 13th, 2008 at 10:48 amStuart C said:

    Renault are running Alonso’s engine – I can feel the vibration through my backside – but the Tensabarrier is in place so I guess he’s not going out.

  191. September 13th, 2008 at 10:49 amme said:

    well you’re off the xmas card list then

    hehe. not saying i’m right, just saying i agree with the call.

    poor penalty maybe. good decision.

  192. September 13th, 2008 at 10:49 amStuart C said:

    Someone else is going out.

  193. September 13th, 2008 at 10:49 amLadySnowcat said:

    me, of course the drivers can’t defend Hamilton - the FIA would blast them for it, and they know it!

    But you’d have expected one or two to say that he was unlucky… they understand and would have done the same…

    You’d have expected Heikki to have his arm twisted to be slightly helpful…

    But the only comments have been adverse….

  194. September 13th, 2008 at 10:50 amJeremy said:

    Timo Glock?

  195. September 13th, 2008 at 10:50 amRichard Hammond said:

    hey evryone

  196. September 13th, 2008 at 10:50 amlou said:

    i’ve just realised my live timings have been frozen for the last 5 mins

  197. September 13th, 2008 at 10:50 amJon Waldock said:

    is there a GP2 race after FP3???

  198. September 13th, 2008 at 10:50 amJeremy said:

    Hello Mr Hammond!

  199. September 13th, 2008 at 10:50 amlou said:

    Hey Richard.

  200. September 13th, 2008 at 10:51 amRichard Hammond said:

    can u watch prac 3 on this site???
    ~

  201. September 13th, 2008 at 10:51 amme said:

    You’d have expected Heikki to have his arm twisted to be slightly helpful…

    yup. we’ll see what happens at the hearing.

    hey evryone

    hey richard.

  202. September 13th, 2008 at 10:51 amScott said:

    Haha… I’ve just read that Surinder Thatthi was one of the stewards involved in the Spa decision. He’s that buffoon who issued a reprimand to Loeb for having a non-FIA approved haircut.

    I can’t believe the FIA still use him to officiate at major events. That’s unreal.

  203. September 13th, 2008 at 10:51 amStuart C said:

    Neat little PR coup, this – Lewis entertaining the crowds while their beloved Ferraris stay under covers. Not that I’m saying McLaren are running for this reason!

    A third car is entering the fray. Couldn’t see who.

  204. September 13th, 2008 at 10:51 amAlianora La Canta said:

    LadySnowcat, they use the following criteria:

    - Anyone who tries to set a qualifying lap and fails on the flying lap is placed over those who don’t attempt to set a lap.
    - Anyone who doesn’t set a lap, but left the pits, will be between those who failed during the flying lap and those who didn’t leave the pits
    - Those who didn’t leave the pits will be arranged in numerical order. So car 1 goes first. If nobody dares leave the pits in qualifying, Kimi Raikkonen is laughing because he is in car 1.

  205. September 13th, 2008 at 10:51 amRichard Hammond said:

    hey

  206. September 13th, 2008 at 10:51 amme said:

    can u watch prac 3 on this site???

    live feed: http://www.justin.tv/zura002

  207. September 13th, 2008 at 10:51 amSteven Roy said:

    Watch it here http://www.justin.tv/zura002

  208. September 13th, 2008 at 10:51 amlou said:

    can u watch prac 3 on this site???

    FP3 can be watched here - http://www.justin.tv/zura002... but it’s not english commentry…

  209. September 13th, 2008 at 10:52 amme said:

    A third car is entering the fray. Couldn’t see who.

    bourdais and glock also out there.

  210. September 13th, 2008 at 10:52 amDom said:

    Lewis gets a lap in!

  211. September 13th, 2008 at 10:52 amlou said:

    wow… it’s dark out there…..

  212. September 13th, 2008 at 10:52 amSteven Roy said:

    I ams surprised so much rain has so little effect on lap times

  213. September 13th, 2008 at 10:52 amStuart C said:

    Nakajima leaving his garage now.

  214. September 13th, 2008 at 10:53 amSteven Roy said:

    I hadn’t thought about all the flash bulbs at Singapore

  215. September 13th, 2008 at 10:53 amDom said:

    1:46.3 from Hamilton. That’s a bit quick?

  216. September 13th, 2008 at 10:53 amme said:

    I ams surprised so much rain has so little effect on lap times

    kudos to bridgestone. the extreme tyre is looking pretty handy.

  217. September 13th, 2008 at 10:53 amAlianora La Canta said:

    Scott, was that before or after the FIA started to take measures against the drivers, e.g. by raising the Superlicence fees so high?

  218. September 13th, 2008 at 10:53 amStuart C said:

    Rosberg out too.

  219. September 13th, 2008 at 10:54 amLadySnowcat said:

    LadySnowcat, they use the following criteria:

    - Anyone who tries to set a qualifying lap and fails on the flying lap is placed over those who don’t attempt to set a lap.
    - Anyone who doesn’t set a lap, but left the pits, will be between those who failed during the flying lap and those who didn’t leave the pits
    - Those who didn’t leave the pits will be arranged in numerical order. So car 1 goes first. If nobody dares leave the pits in qualifying, Kimi Raikkonen is laughing because he is in car 1.

    That’s great Alianora…

    But I was thinking about if Charlie doesn’t allow qualy to go ahead…

    Although I expect he will as he did in Fuji…

  220. September 13th, 2008 at 10:54 amDom said:

    More drivers braving it for the final 5 mins

  221. September 13th, 2008 at 10:54 amlou said:

    errr… what are gerny (sp?) flaps?

  222. September 13th, 2008 at 10:55 amJeremy said:

    Dan Gurney flaps - little vertical bits on the back of the wing

  223. September 13th, 2008 at 10:55 amme said:

    if the conditions continue. who’s your money on in qually?

  224. September 13th, 2008 at 10:56 amSteven Roy said:

    Gurney flaps Lou. They are little stick on strips that go on the top/trailing edge of a wing to give a little more downforce. They are named after Dan Gurney who was a driver in the 60s

  225. September 13th, 2008 at 10:57 amDom said:

    if the conditions continue. who’s your money on in qually

    Who’s due for some good luck?

  226. September 13th, 2008 at 10:57 amlou said:

    Dan Gurney flaps - little vertical bits on the back of the wing

    Gurney flaps Lou. They are little stick on strips that go on the top/trailing edge of a wing to give a little more downforce. They are named after Dan Gurney who was a driver in the 60s

    Thank you!! :D

  227. September 13th, 2008 at 10:57 amme said:

    le seb seems to be enjoying this.

  228. September 13th, 2008 at 10:57 amSteven Roy said:

    Who’s due for some good luck?

    Trulli

  229. September 13th, 2008 at 10:57 amScott said:

    Scott, was that before or after the FIA started to take measures against the drivers, e.g. by raising the Superlicence fees so high?

    Drivers certainly seem more willing to criticise the FIA since the Superlicence fees were raised.

  230. September 13th, 2008 at 10:58 amAlianora La Canta said:

    LadySnowcat, in that case they’d go straight to numerical order (which is fixed at the beginning of the season, at least in terms of cars) and therefore not subject to anything as fickle as weather conditions.

  231. September 13th, 2008 at 10:58 amStuart C said:

    GP2 race isn’t until 4pm local time. The Porkers are out next – for qualifying.

  232. September 13th, 2008 at 10:58 amme said:

    between lewis and heikki, my money’s on lewis!

  233. September 13th, 2008 at 10:58 amLadySnowcat said:

    Neat little PR coup, this – Lewis entertaining the crowds while their beloved Ferraris stay under covers. Not that I’m saying McLaren are running for this reason!

    Stuart…

    I think you’ll find that Ferrari used wet tyres yesterday when Lewis stayed in the garage…

  234. September 13th, 2008 at 10:58 amAlianora La Canta said:

    When? I haven’t seen any such criticism since they raised the Superlicense issue in July…

  235. September 13th, 2008 at 10:59 amLadySnowcat said:

    LadySnowcat, in that case they’d go straight to numerical order (which is fixed at the beginning of the season, at least in terms of cars) and therefore not subject to anything as fickle as weather conditions.

    Now that would be purrrrfect….

    I should think the tifosi wouldn’t mind…

  236. September 13th, 2008 at 10:59 amme said:

    vettel doing better than bourdais.

    2nd vs. 19th.

  237. September 13th, 2008 at 11:00 amme said:

    LadySnowcat, in that case they’d go straight to numerical order (which is fixed at the beginning of the season, at least in terms of cars) and therefore not subject to anything as fickle as weather conditions.

    careful, there will be a petition.

  238. September 13th, 2008 at 11:00 amAlianora La Canta said:

    Well, I suppose Porsches have a better chance of getting through the deluge than the GP2 cars.

    By the way, are the team garages flooding yet?

  239. September 13th, 2008 at 11:00 amRich said:

    me, of course the drivers can’t defend Hamilton - the FIA would blast them for it, and they know it!

    The drivers have spoken out against the FIA at times e.g. Heidfeld and his team over the Safety Car Rule (and other teams). Compared to many sport FIA gives quite free voice to the drivers. Following Canada Lewis said to the press how the Red Light was really stupid etc etc, in m any sports he would have be disciplined for that as bad conduct!. This is actually irresponsible when people like the press say this. I have stated before these issues are discussed at drivers meetings and the feelings of many F1 drivers expressed openly is that Lewis’s pass was not in the spirit of those discussions or this was advantage - I think they know whether this exists better than we do. This does not influence whether it is right or wrong technically or the severity of the penalty. It is possibly Lewis is getting harsh treatment - but then he so defiant (personally I am not convinced of this but it could exist).

  240. September 13th, 2008 at 11:00 amDom said:

    Impressed by the amont of cars running

  241. September 13th, 2008 at 11:00 amLadySnowcat said:

    I will petition for no qualy…

    Every race…

  242. September 13th, 2008 at 11:01 amme said:

    Impressed by the amont of cars running

    me too, looks mental out there.

  243. September 13th, 2008 at 11:02 amlou said:

    I wonder how good Kimi will be in Quali… he only did three laps.. i take it he was saving wet tyres…

  244. September 13th, 2008 at 11:02 amSteven Roy said:

    the feelings of many F1 drivers expressed openly is that Lewis’s pass was not in the spirit of those discussions or this was advantage -

    The drivers discuss these things with the race director who told McLaren twice the move was OK. So if the drivers discuss it with him why was his view entirely the opposite of theirs?

  245. September 13th, 2008 at 11:02 amStuart C said:

    I think you’ll find that Ferrari used wet tyres yesterday when Lewis stayed in the garage…

    No reminder required, there – I was standing by the pit exit, getting drenched, when who should pass under my nose?

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/sc_pix/2849868643/

  246. September 13th, 2008 at 11:02 amJeremy said:

    Rich says :

    Compared to many sport FIA gives quite free voice to the drivers.

    Publicly at least…

  247. September 13th, 2008 at 11:04 amStuart C said:

    By the way, are the team garages flooding yet?

    Not that I can see, but the concrete apron is very wet. The rain’s eased off now, belatedly.

  248. September 13th, 2008 at 11:04 amLadySnowcat said:

    The drivers discuss these things with the race director who told McLaren twice the move was OK. So if the drivers discuss it with him why was his view entirely the opposite of theirs?

    This was discussed on 5Live and they were suggesting that given the safety issues happening on the track it would have been negligent for Charlie to actually give it too much attention…

    Furthermore this may well lead to a ban on contacting Charlie in a race….

  249. September 13th, 2008 at 11:04 amSteven Roy said:

    Compared to many sport FIA gives quite free voice to the drivers.

    I don’t ever remember any other sport threatening to sue a journalist for saying it looked like there was a with hunt against one of the competitors

  250. September 13th, 2008 at 11:04 amAlianora La Canta said:

    Rich, those examples preceded the Superlicence fury (yes the FIA raised the price in January, but it was only at the British Grand Prix that it became a major issue for the drivers). I have a horrible feeling that they may have been threatened to toe the party line in future or else.

    Until the FIA can make its own mind up about how it interprets a regulation, there can be no “spirit of the regulations”. The evidence of yesterday is that it still hasn’t.

  251. September 13th, 2008 at 11:05 amme said:

    This was discussed on 5Live and they were suggesting that given the safety issues happening on the track it would have been negligent for Charlie to actually give it too much attention…

    agreed.

  252. September 13th, 2008 at 11:05 amJeremy said:

    I don’t ever remember any other sport threatening to sue a journalist for saying it looked like there was a with hunt against one of the competitors

    Not looked like - felt like! :-)

  253. September 13th, 2008 at 11:05 amz-baumgartner said:

    Qualy - 1. massa, 2. glock, 3. raikkonen, 4. barichello
    Race - 1. massa, 2. raikkonen, 3. sutil, 4. vettel

    Not so much predictions - more wishful thinking…

    Rain in italy - blue skies and not a single cloud in ireland What’s going on?!

  254. September 13th, 2008 at 11:06 amLadySnowcat said:

    No reminder required, there – I was standing by the pit exit, getting drenched, when who should pass under my nose?

    Thanks Stuart…

    I’d have rather been where you were than here in the sunny (for once)UK….

  255. September 13th, 2008 at 11:06 amme said:

    I don’t ever remember any other sport threatening to sue a journalist for saying it looked like there was a with hunt against one of the competitors

    am amazed lauda hasn’t been threatened after comments this week.

  256. September 13th, 2008 at 11:06 amSteven Roy said:

    Furthermore this may well lead to a ban on contacting Charlie in a race….

    Contacting Charlie has been standard practise. THat is why an intercom is in place. F1 needs to follow the IRL line where the race director gets involved in things like this and makes the final decision on it.

  257. September 13th, 2008 at 11:07 amme said:

    F1 needs to follow the IRL line where the race director gets involved in things like this and makes the final decision on it.

    he can’t see everything all at once. hence the need to post-race replays.

  258. September 13th, 2008 at 11:07 amJeremy said:

    Less than two weeks into Spring and we had a freak weather top of 30 degrees C today in (near) Sydney

  259. September 13th, 2008 at 11:08 amLadySnowcat said:

    Qualy - 1. massa, 2. glock, 3. raikkonen, 4. barichello
    Race - 1. massa, 2. raikkonen, 3. sutil, 4. vettel

    Not so much predictions - more wishful thinking…

    Rain in italy - blue skies and not a single cloud in ireland What’s going on?!

    Not a chance for Massa if it stays wet and treacherous…

  260. September 13th, 2008 at 11:08 amJeremy said:

    It would be quite funny if Massa had solved his wet weather issues and smoked everybody

  261. September 13th, 2008 at 11:08 amDom said:

    Three drivers at the bottom of the FP3 timesheets: Raikkonen, Kovalainen and Hamilton.

    Predictions gonna be damn hard for qualifying…

  262. September 13th, 2008 at 11:08 amAlianora La Canta said:

    This was discussed on 5Live and they were suggesting that given the safety issues happening on the track it would have been negligent for Charlie to actually give it too much attention… {LadySnowcat - 3 comments ago}

    That doesn’t make sense. If he didn’t have the spare attention, why didn’t he just say to McLaren something like “I don’t know” or “Use your judgement”? It would be just as quick as whatever response Charlie did give that meant “OK” and be more accurate. Plus it would have given the FIA room to manuever without making itself look like a self-contradicting incompetent organisation.

  263. September 13th, 2008 at 11:09 amme said:

    x1 qually thread coming up from christine. don’t know about you, but i’m not moving this afternoon :)

  264. September 13th, 2008 at 11:09 amRich said:

    Publicly at least…

    I say with this respect to the feelings drivers can expressed (people like Mark Webber are very frank in their opinions - try this in athletics!). I think the teams have rather less freedom of expression. I am also not saying the FIA is particularly democratic - it goes through some motions of it - but its a reactive position.

  265. September 13th, 2008 at 11:09 amLadySnowcat said:

    Contacting Charlie has been standard practise. THat is why an intercom is in place. F1 needs to follow the IRL line where the race director gets involved in things like this and makes the final decision on it.

    Not whilst Charlie is looking after safety …

    This would only work if he gave up that aspect….

  266. September 13th, 2008 at 11:09 amSteven Roy said:

    I have written an article for another site about an IRL race I watched 2 or 3 weeks ago. Helio Castroneves blocked Justin Wilson and the race director got on the radio and told him he had to give up the position. No ifs, buts or maybes and no need for a committe meeting.

  267. September 13th, 2008 at 11:10 amz-baumgartner said:

    Not a chance for Massa if it stays wet and treacherous…

    Ferrari should invest in a riva speedboat for massa

  268. September 13th, 2008 at 11:10 amLadySnowcat said:

    Three drivers at the bottom of the FP3 timesheets: Raikkonen, Kovalainen and Hamilton.

    Predictions gonna be damn hard for qualifying…

    They were the only three who left it until the rain was extreme….

  269. September 13th, 2008 at 11:11 amme said:

    I have written an article for another site about an IRL race I watched 2 or 3 weeks ago. Helio Castroneves blocked Justin Wilson and the race director got on the radio and told him he had to give up the position. No ifs, buts or maybes and no need for a committe meeting.

    and you are absolutely correct.

    however, that was the only incident at the time. look at the last 2 laps at spa, the conditions were insane. how can one man make every single correct call when 25% of the cars were off track at any given moment??

  270. September 13th, 2008 at 11:12 amme said:

    Ferrari should invest in a riva speedboat for massa

    hehe. that could work too.

    what happens if it’s wet today but dry tomorrow. you can hardly go with a dry setup in this.

  271. September 13th, 2008 at 11:12 amJeremy said:

    They all have data from the recent test so I don’t think it will be too big a deal

  272. September 13th, 2008 at 11:13 amLadySnowcat said:

    I have written an article for another site about an IRL race I watched 2 or 3 weeks ago. Helio Castroneves blocked Justin Wilson and the race director got on the radio and told him he had to give up the position. No ifs, buts or maybes and no need for a committe meeting.

    Was this on a street circuit?…

    I have a feeling it was…

    But it wasn’t at a time when rain made it important to be watching many incidents all round the track at once in case a safety car was needed… was it?…

  273. September 13th, 2008 at 11:13 amlou said:

    Not a chance for Massa if it stays wet and treacherous…

    My fantasy racers team is doomed!!

  274. September 13th, 2008 at 11:13 amlou said:

    what happens if it’s wet today but dry tomorrow.

    It will be an interesting race….

  275. September 13th, 2008 at 11:14 amSteven Roy said:

    however, that was the only incident at the time. look at the last 2 laps at spa, the conditions were insane. how can one man make every single correct call when 25% of the cars were off track at any given moment??

    Under the current system we need a committee meeting about all of them. My point is that the race director did see the incident and said there was no problem. Had he said there was any kind of issue Lewis would have dropped behind Kimi and blown him away somewhere else because the Ferrari by that stage was hopeless. Massa’s last lap was 11 seconds slower than Lewis’s as an example

  276. September 13th, 2008 at 11:14 amz-baumgartner said:

    you can hardly go with a dry setup in this.

    Gary Anderson (i think…) said at china last year that a dry setup in the rain was better than a wet setup in the dry. But i don’t think it’s going to be very dry

  277. September 13th, 2008 at 11:15 amLadySnowcat said:

    Looks like more of the same regarding weather for tomorrow…

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?world=0063&links%20

  278. September 13th, 2008 at 11:16 amAlianora La Canta said:

    I say with this respect to the feelings drivers can expressed (people like Mark Webber are very frank in their opinions - try this in athletics!). {Rich - 4 comments ago}

    Coming from competitive swimming, when I’ve heard fellow competitors (and teams) call the governing body and organising committees attached to it every name under the sun without so much as a rebuke (except from their fellow competitors who disagree with them), I’m less inclined to be impressed. In swimming, you don’t hear accusations against the governing body very often because there isn’t a lot to accuse it of. Yet the FIA seems to generate accusation-worthy incidents every race and very few people complain in the paddock. That says something.

  279. September 13th, 2008 at 11:16 amme said:

    Gary Anderson (i think…) said at china last year that a dry setup in the rain was better than a wet setup in the dry. But i don’t think it’s going to be very dry

    could you even complete a lap here today with a dry setup?

  280. September 13th, 2008 at 11:17 amLadySnowcat said:

    The bbc weather has it as heavy showers today and tomorrow…

    Sorry no allowed to post the link…

  281. September 13th, 2008 at 11:17 amme said:

    Sorry no allowed to post the link…

    we gotta fix that!

  282. September 13th, 2008 at 11:18 amlou said:

    am just gonna watch f1 digest and check my rss feeds and i will be back soon… i’m also gonna try to unplug the phone without dad noticing *cue mission impossible theme tune*

  283. September 13th, 2008 at 11:18 amAlianora La Canta said:

    I’m not sure you could complete a lap with a completely dry setup at the moment. But a compromise that was partly wet but mostly dry might work with careful handling from the driver.

  284. September 13th, 2008 at 11:19 amme said:

    am just gonna watch f1 digest and check my rss feeds and i will be back soon…

    inside track also up. sorry for the delay there.

  285. September 13th, 2008 at 11:20 amJeremy said:

    I think the dry setup isn’t too bad for wet conditions here because they raise the ride height and soften up a little to deal with the kerbs

  286. September 13th, 2008 at 11:21 amChristine said:

    Qualifying thread is open:

    http://www.sidepodcast.com/2008/09/13/live-commenting-italy-qualifying/

    Be there or be square!

  287. September 13th, 2008 at 11:21 amme said:

    I think the dry setup isn’t too bad for wet conditions here because they raise the ride height and soften up a little to deal with the kerbs

    ahh, v.good point.

  288. September 13th, 2008 at 11:21 amlou said:

    inside track also up. sorry for the delay there.

    sorry i meant inside track… have listened to f1 digest… i’m a little tired… i need some diet coke…

  289. September 13th, 2008 at 11:28 amRich said:

    It would be quite funny if Massa had solved his wet weather issues and smoked everybody

    It would be funny just to see what the press would make of it.

  290. September 13th, 2008 at 11:34 amAlianora La Canta said:

    I am currently putting the revised comparitor into drop.io. The following top sixes were drawn up, but feel free to take these with a lorryload of salt:

    Qualifying

    Glock-Sutil
    Fisichella-Barrichello
    Kubica-Hamilton

    Race

    Barrichello-Sutil
    Vettel-Glock
    Trulli-Hamilton

  291. September 13th, 2008 at 11:39 amJeremy said:

    Be there or be square!

    It’s hip to be square!

    i need some diet coke…

    Gee - way to support the show’s unofficial sponsor there Lou - energy drinks for the win! :-p

  292. September 13th, 2008 at 11:49 amRich said:

    call the governing body and organising committees attached to it every name under the sun without so much as a rebuke

    Do you mean go to the press with it? I simply do not hear any dissent in athletics or cycling despite some incredibly severe punishment on substances and dope testing. Our (SA’s) paraplegic flew to China economy class and the Olympic committee and admin business class - when the competitors went to the press with this (since at least one athlete’s leg swelled and they did not want to remove it because the public do not like seeing this) they were very severely censured. Policy you go through official channels - punishment - exclusion from national selection for anything up to four years!

    It is going to the press rather than the authorities that is the issue since it by-passes the regulatory processes and uses the public as an arbitrator/judge. Whether people like it or not McLaren does this and its WRONG - Ferrari has done it extensively in the past. Other teams really do not do this.

    McLaren have no chance in the hearing - if for no other reason the FIA will not like having its authority challenged by whipped up public emotion. Among the current F1 drivers there has not been a dissenting voice that Hamilton used the chicane to his advantage. Since these guys do what everyone else watches (including team principles and ex F1 drivers) it is the most valid opinion.

  293. September 13th, 2008 at 12:00 pmRich said:

    Yet the FIA seems to generate accusation-worthy incidents every race and very few people complain in the paddock.

    Personally I think FIA is easier to weave a story of conspiracy than other sports - it is multi-national - it includes big industrial Intellectual Property it is Big Money and the press can have a field day. I cannot agree with Stuart when he say that journalism does not have to be accurate or impartial. The reason is that it cannot then investigate issues of corruption and abuse in other industries. Obviously a programme like Top Gear is not about informed opinion -it is pure entertainment and borderline fantasy. Consequently their take on climate change is for humour and not to be used as a source for establish science truths.

  294. September 13th, 2008 at 12:02 pmRich said:

    Did anyone have problems with their living timing - I firstly could not log on - then it was anything but like - there was literally no change!

  295. September 13th, 2008 at 12:11 pmJeremy said:

    Keep trying your Live Timing Rich and if you get it open, leave it open. Occasionally plays up for me but I have it open in two web browsers and have multiple computers just in case!

  296. September 13th, 2008 at 12:14 pmRich said:

    look at the last 2 laps at spa, the conditions were insane. how can one man make every single correct call when 25% of the cars were off track at any given moment??

    We know with traffic offenses, every time we break it does not been we get points deducted from our license - e.g. speeding the camera has to be operational and it has to be processed (in Cape Town there are far more cameras than resources to follow up on infringement). The second issue - the words “thought’ were used by the race director - he does not make the final ruling and McLaren must have known this.

    Nobody is saying it was not unfortunate - but other drivers have regulations that work against them and unfortunate decision calls . Lewis cannot be the exception - Kovy has had just as much unfortunate ruling. McLaren and Ferrari tend to push to gain sporting advantage slightly more than other teams- therefore they will get more rulings against them.

  297. September 13th, 2008 at 12:16 pmJeremy said:

    McLaren and Ferrari tend to push to gain sporting advantage slightly more than other teams- therefore they will get more rulings against them.

    That’s a good point

  298. September 13th, 2008 at 12:17 pmRich said:

    Thanks Jeremy - right from early morning I was not able to get it to refresh using Safari and not to even log on with Fire Fox

  299. September 13th, 2008 at 2:48 pmme said:

    final fp3 times:

    1 Timo Glock Toyota 1:35.464
    2 Sebastian Vettel Toro Rosso 0:00.665
    3 Nico Rosberg Williams 0:00.883
    4 Jarno Trulli Toyota 0:01.222
    5 Kazuki Nakajima Williams 0:01.242
    6 Nick Heidfeld BMW 0:01.508
    7 David Coulthard Red Bull 0:01.551
    8 Felipe Massa Ferrari 0:01.799
    9 Fernando Alonso Renault 0:01.806
    10 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India 0:01.821
    11 Adrian Sutil Force India 0:02.040
    12 Robert Kubica BMW 0:02.207
    13 Mark Webber Red Bull 0:02.314
    14 Nelson Piquet Renault 0:02.369
    15 Jenson Button Honda 0:02.418
    16 Rubens Barrichello Honda 0:03.225
    17 Sebastien Bourdais Toro Rosso 0:03.855
    18 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 0:05.700
    19 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren 0:07.219
    20 Lewis Hamilton McLaren 0:10.861
  300. September 13th, 2008 at 3:52 pmAlianora La Canta said:

    Of my top 6 for the grid, only one (Glock) even made it to Q3. Not the comparitor’s most stellar performance…

  301. September 13th, 2008 at 3:59 pmAlianora La Canta said:

    Do you mean go to the press with it? {Rich - 9 comments ago}

    Yes. Although it’s fairly rare since problems tend to get sorted out before they get bad enough for the competitors to feel inclined to involve the press. There have been occasions when going to the local press with a complaint has not attracted any censure whatsoever. Especially on several occasions when competitor’s rights to compete in given championship categories have been disputed (I know because I was the subject of one of them - a long story which I do not want to get into because I know that the governing body then decided to try to resolve the problem).

    We’ve also had competitors for the able-bodied national swimming team complain about the coach’s regime a few years ago. They weren’t punished for it (openly at least) and at least one of them was selected for the Olympics, even though the results obtained in the Olympics would tend to indicate that the coach was right.

    It’s horrible that the South African athletic committee is so dismissive of athlete concerns. If athletes are prevented from communicating their concerns to external organisations, then they can hardly expect to set up competitor-friendly competitive environments…

  302. September 13th, 2008 at 4:03 pmAlianora La Canta said:

    It is going to the press rather than the authorities that is the issue since it by-passes the regulatory processes and uses the public as an arbitrator/judge. {Rich - 10 comments ago}

    When the people who are supposed to be arbitrating/judging the cases fail to follow their own rules consistently on a regular basis, competitors wishing to have a fair and logical hearing end up with a better chance with the public than with the arbitrator/judge. At least that puts pressure on the arbitrator/judge to do their job correctly, which they aren’t doing at the moment.

  303. September 13th, 2008 at 4:07 pmAlianora La Canta said:

    I cannot agree with Stuart when he say that journalism does not have to be accurate or impartial. {Rich - 10 comments ago}

    What you mean is that journalism should have to be accurate and impartial. You are right to say there is power in truth. However, not every media outlet chooses to take that level of power because it can be expedient for them to exchange it for something else (usually either money from extra readers or approval/survival from the powers-that-be). Simply because something should be the case doesn’t mean it is the case. Technically, full accuracy and impartiality is impossible due to the limitations of language and shared experience, but some journalistic outlets try harder than others to uphold those values.

  304. September 13th, 2008 at 4:10 pmAlianora La Canta said:

    Nobody is saying it was not unfortunate - but other drivers have regulations that work against them and unfortunate decision calls. Lewis cannot be the exception - Kovy has had just as much unfortunate ruling.

    Random punishment doesn’t necessarily make it acceptable. Raikkonen broke the Article that Hamilton was accused of breaking multiple times and wasn’t even investigated. Same with about half the grid (some of whom were breaking it in the early stages of the race when things were quiet).

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