2007 F1 Season

[ctjet]

According to Dennis, a team strategy is what you bring to bear to win a grand prix. Team orders are what you bring to bear to manipulate a grand prix. That distinction leaves considerable room for interpretation and the line between the two can become precariously thin. But perhaps the difference can be encapsulated by a comparison with Ferrari's notorious swap-over at the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix.

On that occasion, Rubens Barrichello, who had dominated the race throughout, was ordered to hand the win to team-mate Michael Schumacher within sight of the chequered flag. That was widely felt to be a travesty, as well as being implemented in a way that insulted the intelligence of the viewing public who had been naïve enough to think of F1 as a sport.

This time, by contrast, there is no question that Alonso was a deserving winner.

The world champion was in consummate form all weekend and generally had a slight edge over Hamilton, not so much in terms of ultimate speed but in the consistency with which he deployed it; his lap times during the race testify to this. McLaren will argue that it did not engineer an outcome that would not otherwise have occurred, but merely sought to minimise the risks to its 1-2 being secured.

I in all honesty dont think Hamilton would have got Alonso. He was just too consistant and in my worthless opinion wasn't pushing to his maximum in the second half of the race. Also a good article, well worth the read: >> HERE <<

Edited May 31, 2007 by ctjet

[djr81]

Hey, my opinion is worthless too! Er, hangon...

To be honest I have never had any real issue with team orders. I just hate the way team prinicipals have to bullshit their way through the regulations to do something they should be allowed to do anyway. If Ron Dennis reckons Alonso is the man to win & his rookie number 2 should back him up then fair enough. It is his team after all. This only came about because of the cack handed way Ferrari orchestrated a finish that they had no rneed to mess about with all those years ago.

McLaren had to look after the engines for Canada after all is said & done. Flogging the guts out of them at the possible expense of the next race would have been stupid. They have always been even handed about the drivers - remember Coulthard & Hakkinen at Spa ages ago.

Probably Hamilton wouldn't have got Alonso, but by god I would have liked to have seen him try. At one stage there he had the thing all sideways under brakes out of the tunnel. It looked brilliant & I have no earthly idea how he recovered it. It is great to see an F1 car loose at the back end. Lewis seems to love oversteer. Spanish GP was the same.

As for having an edge all weekend - I still think that the front row would have been different had #2 not carried all that fuel. There was point oh bugger all of a second in it.

[ctjet]

Speaking of sliding it around....

this is the best bit of footage i've seen in a long time!! Complete car control, the guy was just on another level.

Alonso's 240 km/h slide

Teamates were never going to be allowed to race each other in Monaco no matter what. Like it said in one of the articles, if it had been Kimi lewis was chasing, then yes, by all means they would have streched his second stop, but it wasnt. It was only sensible to stop him ASAP so that if a safety car had come in in those 5 or so extra laps he had, he would have been shafted quite severely. This matter has been a little over analised to be honest.

Canada will see the return of overtaking moves, so hopefully the guys give it a red hot go. I would love to see the Mclarens fight like Monaco and find out, for once, what they'll be like in a straight fight. Alonso has never liked this place so it shall be veeeery interesting to see what happens

Edited May 31, 2007 by ctjet

[djr81]

That low camera angle through the swimming pool area was gold. You could see the things moving about, get a sense of the speed & even how the suspension was nice & compliant in bump & less so in rebound. Just great. And people say F1 is boring.....

[ctjet]

Sutil to replace Ralf at Toyota... very soon

you heard it here first

[Necx0]

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

[ctjet]

you cant read it there and "hear it" first... that is nonsensical

Edited June 1, 2007 by ctjet

[Necx0]

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!!!!!!!

[djr81]

Before I read that last line I was about to start bagging you. But good call.

What annoys me is how Bernie goes to war with each of the established circuits. Basically in turns. This year it will be Magny Cours, next Silverstone, after that Monza etc etc. Then he runs the Uzbekistanian GP on what it bound to be a shithouse circuit & wonders why no one gives a fk about it.

By the way, my Nanna drives faster than Ralf Schumacher.

[ctjet]

Hmmm... all quiet on the eastern front

Predictions for canada:

1. A Ferrari (one is going to have a so-so weekend)

2. A Mclaren (Probably Alonso)

3. The other Ferrari

BMW for the darkhorse to spoil the party

[Necx0]

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.

[Muz]

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.

...... and Red Steer Racing?

[djr81]

DNF due to the gear box lunching itself.

[Necx0]

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.

[ctjet]

Edited June 7, 2007 by ctjet

[Kozeyekan]

I wonder if webber will finish this time.

I know that the majority of DNF's have not been his fault, but how long does he have until the team expects real results from him?

He's always been tagged as having "potential" but unless he actually gets some points, will he still have a ride?

I hope he does well, as it's always good to see an Aussie representing, but I'm copping an absolute hiding here in London.

The pommy bastards are comparing him to Hamilton as reps of their countries, and all I can rebutt with is that McLaren is from New Zealand, and that's practically Australia's unacknowledged state anyway.

It's a stretch, I know, but now that the cricket is over, it's all I got.

[ctjet]

For her first interview of the season Louise Goodman tracked down Renault rookie Heikki Kovalainen.

Q 3. Mansell or Piquet?

To be honest I don’t really know them so well.

It was too early for me when they were racing. I don’t really like Piquet junior so much so maybe Mansell.

isnt that his potential team mate he's talking about?

why isnt this bigger news?

[m3gtr]

Ralf wont get replaced. He will get a paycut though as it seems all that money hasnt helped keep him motivated.

On another issue, I would be really interested to see what tilke comes up with in relation to the circuit in singapore. If he gets it right and ive heard hes relishing the prospect of being able to do a street circuit instead of cutting and shutting and building castles in the sand then we could be in for some really good racing next year..

Not like it isnt this year but coming from adelaide i love my streeties more than any track you care to name and the more the merrier.

[ctjet]

by 'he' you mean Tilke, yes...

Edited June 8, 2007 by ctjet

[djr81]

Well that is fine, but do you remember how crap Detroit was?

Or the Las Vegas GP that they ran in a car park (I shit you not)