Necx0

Lewis is really the first example of a racing driver being groomed from the beginning to be the best. We have seen it in other sports tennis, soccer etc. but never really in motorsport. Not to this extent. So it shouldn't surprise us that he is going so well. It is surprising just HOW well he is doing. It seems that Kimi is finally used to his car and these tyres and Alonso is the same so I am expecting to see these two begin to take the upper hand over their team-mates. The fact that Alonso is a decent way behind and Kimi is even further behind (but in a faster car) means that the championship is wide open and should be very exciting!!

He would hate me for saying it but a Schumacher-esque performance from Kimi.....dominant performance. Especially his ability to smash out 100% mistake free laps when they are needed. He may have been "lucky" in Magny Cours but smashed everyone here. Was fuelled heavy went off at the last corner in quali and was still only a tenth or so behind Lewis. Decent performance from Renault, seem to be making steps forward. Also from Honda as well. They weren't fast but they were 1 stopping. Strong performance by Alonso, I feel he got hit badly by traffic. Seeing Massa carve up the field was good viewing....however he had such a faster car I don't think it proves much. Kubica continues to impress. All in all a good race!

Interesting point you should bring up Baron.....I have developed the opinion that there is 1 major obstacle to overtaking these days. The drivers. Of course its easy for me to sit at home and say "oh he should have a go" but no-one is really prepared to take risks now. People say you can't overtake in F1....bullshit!! If you REALLY want that place.....you will get it. The man who has helped me develop this opinion more than anyone......Alonso. I am not a huge fan of his but he is willing to take a risk and subsequently when people talk about the overtaking moves of this era he is the one they will talk about. Taking Schumacher around the OUTSIDE of 130R at Suzuka, opening lap of Hungary 06 and another demostration on Heidfeld at Magny Cours 07. It doesn't always work, looks at Canada and Bahrain for this year. But at least he is willing to have a go!!

To be honest Wurz hasn't really delivered. Definitely one of the nice guys of F1 but missing about half a second compared to Rosberg. When your teamate is regularly qualifying in the top 10 and you are struggling to get past P20 questions have to be asked. I think that would be a great move for Sutil and a shocking move for Bourdais.

I think more of Alonso than I once did.....but he is still nowhere near greatness for me. Oh and Schuey never drove with turbos......sorry to nitpick haha

I must admit I lost faith in Lowndes. I have always been one of his biggest fans. But after seeing the documentary about how Brock's death shook him up, I felt he may have lost the "edge", and his start to the year seemed to confirm my suspicions with Whincup coming out on top. I can't say how pleased I am that I was wrong. He was just going through a rough patch and seems like he is back on form for the moment, certainly still as fast and lairy as he always has been. What a driver and what a bloke. What a great weekend, Skaife wins Race 1....Lowndes Races 2 and 3. Couldn't ask for more!! Great racing too

This argument is never going to end as Schumacher was the most COMPLETE F1 driver, yet Senna was the FASTEST. Will correct a few points though. Your Schuey podium argument is valid.....as Senna either tended to win....or crash. That was his style. However the 1993 season was perhaps Sennas best as the car was an absolute dog with the shithouse Ford engine yet he managed 5 wins! Hard to say Schuey beat the greats in their prime as both Mansell and Prost were very much in the twilight of their careers. They won as the 92/93 active Williams was streets ahead of the game. The first 3 races of 1994 perhaps sums the both of them up best. Ayrton had 3 poles from the first 3 races, yet it was Schuey that got the race wins. Was he faster than Ayrton? No way. But he knew when to pace himself.

I heard a little whisper about that actually after the last TSS round.......

A similar wind tunnel rumour sprung up about Honda last year.....turned out to be a product of the media.

Was talking to Ray about your plans on Saturday Matt. Looking forward to seeing you competing!!

One of the scariest parts for me is......look where his tyres are! Seems like there is more work to do to secure the wheels to the body, There are 4 10kg missiles moving at 150mph there, could have hit a marshal, another driver or spectators. On a lighter note though.....in the second pic, it actually looks like he is waving to Speed haha

I made the Senna/Prost comparo earlier in this thread and got shot down hahaha (not that I meant it) Certainly a strong combination though....if Alonso stops whining and acts like a dual world champion

Oh I almost forgot. Congrats to David Coulthard for the funniest radio transmission ever: PIT: "David, how is the car" DAVID: "Terrible, it doesn't turn, it doesn't stop, no traction.............but apart from that it's brilliant, I'm having a great time" AAAAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH

Simply awesome race, I was going off my nut. The Kubica crash was sickening to watch, 10 years ago he would be dead. Sato is an overtaking god.....it has crossed my mind before that a big reason why you don't see much overtaking anymore is no-one is prepared to have a go. Thankfully plenty of people seemed keen in this race. Did they all come off?? No but f**k me it was good to watch. Lewis is good......really really good. Although don't forget J. Villeneuve also won his 5th or 6th or something race in his rookie year....and look what happened to him. That Taku keyring is just beyond cool.....I want one!!!

Alonso I reckon.....McLaren's seems to have just awesome pace and he is still more consistent on long runs. He looked like someone had insulted his mother in the Quali press conference. If looks could kill Lewis would be a dead man.

But Schuey had no real competition. Granted in his Benetton and early Ferrari days he did have some stiff competition but certainly in his later times he had no-one to challenge him. Top 5 in 2000 in points: M. Schumacher M. Hakkinen D. Coulthard R. Barrichello R. Schumacher Top 5 in 1990 in points: A. Senna A. Prost N. Piquet G. Berger N.Mansell Field is kind of a different calibre really. Schuey easily could have become a 10 time world champ. Stupidity against Villeneuve in 97, broke his legs in 99 and again had brain fade last year.

Actually what you said is exactly what I meant haha I agree that he found a way of driving that suited the Renault. I reserved judgement on Alonso while he was at Renault due to the unorthodox style. The test was going to be when he switched to new tyres in a new car. In any other car than the Renault that style just wouldn't have worked. As soon as I saw in-car footage from Australia I knew he was bloody good. Totally changed his style, although he still turns in a lot faster than most. I also agree he is the most complete of the current drivers. However the aggressive turn in is still his natural style, watch him in the Megane around the 'Ring on YouTube. Measure of a good driver is to adapt though, and that he has done.

In terms of greatest ever professional drivers, Schumacher I believe is the greatest of all time. His work ethic and ability to bond his team to bring out the best in themselves is phenomenal. However I prefer to rank on pure driving ability, Note this list is only from what I personally I have seen and stories/articles I have read, hence not much on Fangio/Clark/Moss etc. So here are my top drivers: 1. Senna, simply put the fastest driver ever. You say Schumi was good in the rain....I say one race Donington 1993. In one lap Senna proved his driving mastery may never be matched. Need further proof?? Monaco 1988, Out-qualfied PROST of all people by 1.5 seconds!!! 2. Gilles Villeneuve Perhaps the greatest car control of all time, one of the sport's greatest losses. 3. Alain Prost The Professor, simply stunning example of "Smooth is fast" 4. Niki Lauda One of my heroes and an amazing thinking driver 5. Jackie Stewart debated whether to swap him and Lauda....very similar approaches. Thinking drivers, yet both could display stunning speed when required 6. Michael Schumacher Despite what the records say, he is at number 6 because I believe all the drivers above would have out-driven Schumi in their respective primes. Some simply amazing driving from the german though 7. Nigel Mansell the overtaking master, search for him on YouTube and you will see why. 8. Mika Hakkinen the fact the Schumacher is here means Hakkinen has to be here, the only driver Schumi feared. Spa 2000 proved why 9. Kimi Raikkonen Fastest man in current F1 the current "Flying Finn" 10. Fernando Alonso unorthodox driving style shouldn't work.....but thanks to it he could maximise an F1 car. See Opening lap Hungary 2006 and his pass on Schumi at Suzuka 2005 has adapted his style to the current cars, the sign of a great driver. Could fall off this list if he doesn't deal with Hamilton There are several others that should probably be on this list such as Jochen Rindt, Ronnie Petersen and of course Juan Manuel Fangio but I haven't seen enough footage of them drive to make an objective decision so there is my list!!

Haha I would love a test drive, be interesting to see how it goes around Baskerville....trouble is I would have no intention of buying it

Gotta agree, might have more chances given that you don't change gear as much as tight circuits such as Monaco......but we will see. Would love to see Webber finally get a good result.

I agree, Monaco made the long wheelbase Ferrari's look like buckets of bolts. High speed Indy and Montreal should be right up their alley. Go Kimi!!!! Renault will likely fall back, BMW should still be strong. Honda will be nowhere again but Williams should get an ok result.

haha yeh yeh can't be bothered arguing this.... More importantly.....Bernie says F1 will never go back to Magny Cour. That is a shame, I quite like that track with its super fast chicanes. He says he wants a Paris grand prix and would sign for the next 99 years if someone offered. IDIOT!!!! someone take control of the sport from this doddery old fool now!! While Alonso slipstreaming Massa down the Champs Eleysses before taking him under brakes around the Arc de Triomphe might fill Bernie with joy......it is a farce!!!! Has he forgotten about one of the worlds great circuits in France that is already fully FIA qualified. Paul Ricard!!!!!!!

Actually.....I read that on the net last night.....so I heard it there first haha

Well gee, there's a surprise!!!! All one big media beat-up.

That is a hot hot hot hot hot hot skyline!!!!! Love it, want to drive it!!