Malaysian GP - this weekend - Page 3

Flatbutt1 · 03-22-2008, 12:43 PM

I have been following on TVU but it seems that Wheels has been dropped from the system. Anyone know another Net locale for coverage? I have trouble getting F1 live thru their site.

Flatbutt1 · 03-22-2008, 03:53 PM

F1: McLaren Drivers Lose Five Grid Spots.

I wasn't able to catch the Q periods but did any of you guys see the foul?

Flatbutt1 · 03-22-2008, 04:40 PM

anyone use Squidoo or Humsurfer?

ginot912 · 03-22-2008, 04:56 PM

see previous page for video

Gino

ginot912 · 03-23-2008, 05:19 AM

Nice showing by Kimi 1st, Kubica 2nd and Heikki 3rd.
I guess Mazza needs to pay more attention on those right handers,

Hamilton did a credible job, 5th despite small problem in pits. Cost him one or possibly two spots. (I'll not be predicting his finishes from now on).
Oh yeah, Trulli very nice 4th.

Race didn't have has much drama as last week.
I would have liked to see Mazza duke it out with Raikkonen.

Gino

Joeaksa · 03-23-2008, 06:34 AM

Just reviewed the entire 3rd qual session again on Tivo and found some interesting things. First, there were 4 cars on the part of the track that were going slow, not just two McLaren cars. Why werent the other two cars demoted?

The in-car video showed that there were cars on both sides of the track, and yes they might have slowed down cars coming at that time but where else should they be?

Once again the FIA messes with McLaren yet does nothing to other teams who were doing the same thing...

Komenda Fan · Komenda Fan's Garage

Joe, I can't agree. Yes, there were plenty of cars running slowly, but the only two I saw on the racing line were the two McLarens. That was what they were penalized for, being on the racing line while going slowly with a car on a hot lap approaching.

I'm not saying that McLaren has always been fairly treated, or that Ferrari hasn't gotten away with things in the past, but in this case, I think that it was pretty clear.

If you watch the video, you will see that Heikki got off the racing line immediately after having been passed, which to me suggests he wasn't checking his mirrors and didn't realize other cars were still on their hot lap. Potentially Hamilton's mirrors were full of his teammate, so perhaps he was unaware as well, but of course that is no excuse for being on the racing line.

David · David's Garage

They all know which side of the track they're supposed to be on. Notice after Heidfield passes the McLarens, Hamilton quickly pulled to the otherside of the track. I don't think they thought anyone else was going for a timed lap and when Hamilton realizes it he moves, but it was too late the damage was done.

Joeaksa · 03-23-2008, 09:03 AM

Well everyone, just watched the first 10 minutes of the pre-race show and Peter Windsor brought up the same thing I did, that there were more cars than McLaren going slow and at times on the racing line.

Hamilton was in front and could not see very well behind him past his team-mate in his mirrors. Kovelinan admitted that he could have been "in the way" but with the new procedures on session 3, after a car has done their qual lap they are told to slow down and save fuel.

Just where are they supposed to do this? On the track while driving back to the pits. When there are guys coming up behind them at racing speeds its not the easiest thing to get to the other side of the track and the "racing line" changes from corner.

A new procedure needs to be established and starting things off by pushing both McLaren cars back 5 slots is not the correct way to do it, especially when there were other cars on the track doing the same thing.

VincentVega · 03-23-2008, 09:16 AM

Great to see some fresh faces on the podium.

I'm curious to see what happens to Coulthard. His car looks fragile, in a scary way.

ginot912 · 03-23-2008, 09:30 AM

And what happened to Webber? Seems like he lost a few spots when he pitted.
Got to watch at the race again this evening.

Joe, wasn't there was a complaint from Alonzo and or Hiedfield.
Which forced the issue with FIA.

Gino

Scott at Pelican Parts · Scott at Pelican Parts's Garage

The pass for the lead

Flatbutt1 · 03-23-2008, 09:50 AM

When doesn't Alonso complain?

sammyg2 · 03-23-2008, 10:52 AM

David · David's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott at Pelican Parts

The pass for the lead

LOL!

I thought there'd be some good opportunities for passing at the end for Hamilton and Alonso but the aero seemed to make it all but impossible.

I thought it was strange that Ferrari choose the hard compound for two stints while McLaren choose softs for two. Then Hamilton put in his best times on his last stint with the harder compound. It could be traffic or it could be that McLaren missed the right tire.

Jims5543 · 03-23-2008, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott at Pelican Parts

The pass for the lead

That is funny but Kimi explained it perfectly, as much as we like to see wheel to wheel passing on the track, it would be stupid for 2 guys on the same team to take each other out (as I have seen highlights of in years past) trying to get ahead of one another.

Kimi knew he had an extra lap in his car, once Massa hit the pits Kimi turned up the heat.

He executed the pass flawlessly.

Who deserved the win? Massa? He is totally pissing me off with his lack of ability sans TC. TWICE now he has spun himself off the track.

Fun race, some good passing and some great driving.

One thing I was pondering while watching the race. How can Renault have fallen so far off pace in 1 year? I mean McLaren was in touch 2 and years ago when Renault was battling Ferrari, how can they fall from a front runner to a mid packer in 1 season? I, at first, attributed it to the exit of Fernando, but now I have to wonder if it was just that Renault was better able to capitalize on the 1 tire rule 2 years ago when all the other teams were floundering.

Its remarkable that a championship team has lost so much pace so quickly.

Jims5543 · 03-23-2008, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flatbutt1

F1: McLaren Drivers Lose Five Grid Spots.

I wasn't able to catch the Q periods but did any of you guys see the foul?

Post #35 in this thread has the video clip of the foul.

Jims5543 · 03-23-2008, 05:54 PM

BTW - Scott, that picture you posted isn't of the "pass", obviously they are putting the soft option tire on the car so its Kimi's final pitstop and the "pass" happened on his 1st pitstop when he received a set of hard compound tires.

But funny pic and cation none the less.

Scott at Pelican Parts · Scott at Pelican Parts's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Cesiro

BTW - Scott, that picture you posted isn't of the "pass", obviously they are putting the soft option tire on the car so its Kimi's final pitstop and the "pass" happened on his 1st pitstop when he received a set of hard compound tires.

But funny pic and cation none the less.

It is shaping up to be a fun year for F1! The standard ECU is a huge improvement. I like to make fun of F1 and how they rarely pass, but how about that 3-wide pass that Heidfeld made!

As far as the passing goes, I understand that next year they will try to address the problem of the cars not being able to run near each other (aero wash) by having smaller rear wings and larger front wings and no appendages on the bodywork (barge boards, winglets, chimnies, etc). If it works, that will be fantastic.

Won · 03-23-2008, 11:05 PM

Watch the video Jim posted again. It's Hamilton not Kovalainen diving across the field as evident by the red camera pod above the intake.

Looks like McLaren's rim shields aren't working as nicely as Ferrari's. That was a lot of brake dust coming off BOTH cars, if that was indeed brake dust. Funny it took Speed commentators a while to notice the issue with right side shield not being put back on properly - it was pretty obvious from the shots of the car(s) leaving the pits (I think Kovalainen's car had the same issue). Then again, they were messing up grid spots and names all night - even more so than the usual.

It's great to see BMW cars doing so well. It will be an exciting season for sure.

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