[}{arlequin]

well, who else is he supposed to blame? unless all of a sudden he is missing a limb, or due to amnesia he completely 'lost' his skill (huh?), it's gotta be the car. his consistency all year long was unmatched by any other drover... i'm guessing they didn't tell him, but they sorta gave up on doing any more development on the car, when they realized they're out of the wc contention.

after all, there is a whole new car they need to prepare (design/build/develop) for next season and i think the way this year went, they're aiming a little higher next season

[HoodPin]

Its amazing how different or consistent the F1 cars can be from track to track, or even day to day. In this last race, I recall in Q2 qualifying that the all the cars between 3rd & 12th places (or thereabouts) were on the same second timewise.

[racer]

Did anyone else catch the quip from Matchett about the intense monies spent over the last 4 or so races from a development standpoint? Essentially saying that the Ferrari and McLaren cars as they finished the season are some 2 seconds a lap faster than they were at the beginning of the season. (ie, take the current car, go back to Austrailia or another early stop and they would be 2 seconds quicker) and it only took how many millions to accomplish? yikes!

[}{arlequin]

^yeah, i caught that too.

mac apparently spent over 7 mil between this and the previous race on development just to get another 10th out of the car. this number was also quoted to be equal to some nascar teams' ANNUAL budget. lol

[roundel]

BMW stopped developing their car after their 1st race win this season. A win was Mario's goal, so once it was achieved he looked to their 2009 goal: title contender. There was nothing to be gained in reality from further developing the 2008 since they had 3rd in constructors pretty well nailed and nothing higher was in the cards.

They have spent the 2nd half of the year developing the 2009 car in their peerless windtunnel with its class leading supercomputer. I say watch for BMW in 2009. So far they have hit each target they staked out.

Hamilton gets so much fanboy treatement from the British press that it is nauseating, but I really enjoy his driving style. He appears more at ease with using the rear of the car to get around corners than other drivers. His entry into the hairpin at Monaco was more like that of a rally driver than any open wheel driver I have ever seen. He is still young, dumb, and full of uh energy, but I cannot deny when he is on, he is amazing.

Alonso has received the exact reverse treatement by the British media for having the stones to be dissatisfied with his treament by the Big Macs Dennis and Louie. I remember Alonso handing Shuey his ass in a better car, and holding off Shuey in a better car. No other current driver took a championship from Shuey so I can't see how Alonso rates below top shelf in any F1 fan's book.

I like Massa. I sypathise with him for some reason. I wish I could explain why he sucked so bad in the rain at Silverstone this year. F1 cars are very delicate with tiny adjustments making a huge difference. I gotta believe Ferrari FUBARed the setup that weekend. Finally, Massa wears a Richard Mille while driving each week and I for one think that is cool as shit!

Kimi: over rated IMO. I have seen few drivers so willing to turn down the wick if things are not falling into place for him. He appears to have become very jaded. Dare I say shades of the ultimate crybaby: JV!

Vettle and Kubica will be interesting to watch. If Kubica shows some loyalty to BMW, it will benefit him. Vettle needs to land a hotter car but where. Renault perhaps?

Kurt, those animations are freaking great!

[BrianP]

Originally Posted by roundel

Kimi: over rated IMO. I have seen few drivers so willing to turn down the wick if things are not falling into place for him. He appears to have become very jaded. Dare I say shades of the ultimate crybaby: JV!

I think Kimis problems is that he seems almost downright bored with f1. Easy enough when your the top 5(or 4?) money making sportsmen in the world making 40-50mil a year. He is still the fastest outright driver on the grid even though some of his technical skills are lacking compared to others imo.

[markwemple]

Gawd, I can't believe that }{ and I agree, almost to a T. I don't get Kimi. I think he is the fastest guy in F1, but there is something lacking. He has never been a great development driver yet, that is what he will be for Ferrari this off-season. If Ferrari want the WDC/WCC they should consider eating crow and hiring Alonso, the best development driver out there.

KERS and the new aero package should create an interesting 2009. Honda has the tech down but it was their aero that screwed them this year. BMW may end up on top, especially if Kubica can keep improving.

[}{arlequin]

Originally Posted by roundel

Finally, Massa wears a Richard Mille while driving each week and I for one think that is cool as shit!

Vettle and Kubica will be interesting to watch. If Kubica shows some loyalty to BMW, it will benefit him. Vettle needs to land a hotter car but where. Renault perhaps?

i'm fairly sure massa puts it on after the race, just for the interviews. sponsorship being what it is, it's quite obvious he keeps lifting that hand unprecedented number of times (to wipe sweat, nose, brows, adjust his cap, etc etc)

kubica has no reason not to show loyalty at bmw. as long as they keep on this path, the next car will be even better. so he will do better. there is no seat at mac, nor at ferrari at this point. he doesn't want to play second fiddle to alfonso at renault, and toro rosso is about on par w/ bmw, so why switch what you're already comfortable with?

Originally Posted by markwemple

I don't get Kimi. I think he is the fastest guy in F1, but there is something lacking.

Originally Posted by BrianP

I think Kimis problems is that he seems almost downright bored with f1. Easy enough when your the top 5(or 4?) money making sportsmen in the world making 40-50mil a year. He is still the fastest outright driver on the grid even though some of his technical skills are lacking compared to others imo.

this is precisely right. he is the kind of person that unless he's winning, or given a capable car, he'll get bored and just as soon park it and hang out w/ his buddies on a yacht in monte carlo. it is what it is


i like his driving but i don't care for his personality.... but.... i do feel alfonso got a bad deal from ron dennis. b/c of hammy's entry, alfonso was treated as HIS development driver. he was given HIS setups. everything on the team was geared towards hammy, and he STILL couldn't win! so, alfonso hates mac, but wants to be in a top team, so that leaves ferrari. how to get there while kimi and massa are occupying it?




here's a little theory (not mine, borrowed from elsewhere):

fernando's been humbled this year. luca isn't fucking around at ferrari. he sent a very loud, clear message when he re-signed both felipe and kimi. that message: i like team players. 2008 season starts fernando is silent damn near. he keeps his chin down and busts his ass. renault begins to show improvement. he gets back-to-back victories then immediately follows it up with "i'm going to help felipe win". everyone thought it was because he had something against lewis/mclaren, but it's quite obvious what's really going on. he may as well wore red coveralls in that yellow renault at brazil.


fernando's manager is none other than flavio (also the manager of f1 renault). alonso didn't like mclaren... who else is there with the prestige, heritage and downright machines to deliver him a third wdc? ferrari. i'm sure i don't need to spell out why a seat on the red car is so desirable. after the failure at mclaren fernando needs a seat, looks to ferrari thinking he might have a shot as a former two-time world champ. de montezemolo, fresh from watching his two drivers exhibit amazing teamwork in clinching both championships, isn't keen on fernando's publicly-exhibited brand of teamwork. he praises alonso's ability but essentially tells him to fuck off; he's not interested.

alonso goes to flavio briatore, and i'm sure the convo goes something like this...
alonso: flav, i need a seat.
flav: just so happens i have one, my son.
alonso: but flav, i want to wear red.
flav: let's see what happens after this next season.
alonso: thanks.

mid-season... kimi signs a fresh extension.

flav: i have it on good authority that this is kimi's final contract at ferrari.
alonso: how long?
flav: he'll be there until 2010.
alonso: keep me on until then?
flav: of course, my son. as your manager i'd love to see you move to ferrari, but as your team boss i need a few things from you.
alonso: anything...
flav: for starters... piquet... genuinely take him under your wing. i need this kid placing well for me. he's your replacement, and while i'm not asking you to train your next opponent per se i need something of quality.
alonso: okay...

nelson piquet begins throwing down better qualis, consistent race finishes, etc. he shows solid improvement. fernando calms him a bit, tames the fire. goes back to flav...

alonso: you see the results. the kid is on his way.
flav: number two... i want the alonso 2.0... i want the old fernando's skill with a new fernando's attitude. i want you to work with the engineers to improve this car to become a contender. remember your back-to-back wdc's? i want the knowledge that tested and tuned those cars back. make it happen...
alonso: okay...

alonso blazes back-to-back victories. the results speak for themselves...

alonso: again, results...
flav: alright. finally... i need you to be a class act. no public outcries of unfairness... no whining, no bitching, no moaning to the press in this or any country. be polite, be sociable.
alonso: done.

2011 ferrari lineup confirmed: felipe massa and fernando alonso

[BrianP]

}{ the only problem with that theory is that Nelson is crap and is gonna stay crap.

[}{arlequin]

fine w/ me. it's not about nelson. it's about a mediterranean guy dying to go to a mediterranean team instead of a frigid environment of maclaren. this is just one way it could play out