The 2007 Monaco Grand Prix

[Ed]

The FIA have launched an investigation into the actions by McLaren.

My own opinion on this is that McLaren has the right to choose different strategies for their drivers to ensure they cover the different scenarios. And they also have the right to change those strategies during the race to ensure maximum points. However if McLaren are proven to have altered Hamilton's strategy to ensure Alonso stays in front, then that is definately a team order and they should be punished. I doubt that was the case. I think keeping Hamilton on 1 stop (and it would have been a very long 2nd stint on the 'SuperSoft' tyre) would have been very risky and when they saw Massa wasn't much of a threat they switched Hamilton to the 2 stop, that way if a safety car is deployed he won't lose the lead he had.

Keep in mind that we have yet to see the safety car deployed so we see how it all works out with the new rules in real life.

And yes, qualifying with different fuel loads is stupid. Lets see who is fastest on the same fuel load then make the strategies. It is worth noting though that Monaco has the least penalty for fuel of all the tracks!

[magdaricci]

Sorry Jay Vee it seems the FIA are now also questioning the morality of Mr Dennis.

I quote;

After the first round of pitstops, Alonso and team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who was still in contention to challenge for the lead, were told to hold their positions to secure the comfortable one-two that the McLaren duo were enjoying. Hamilton's one-stop strategy was then reverted to a two-stop strategy, similar to that of Alonso's.

The sport's governing body is now set to investigate the situation amid widespread criticism from the British media that Hamilton was prevented from challenging for a dream maiden victory and that the sport's reputation has been tarnished.

The FIA statement said: "The FIA has launched an investigation into incidents involving the McLaren Mercedes team at the 2007 Monaco Grand Prix in light of a possible breach of the International Sporting Code.

Jay Vee, I have to agree with Kapel, you do seem to be a little defensive when it comes to Alonso... Tends to colour ones objectivity dont you think!

Problem is, we were not only robbed of a proper Grand prix but now the championship points positions may be affected if Mclaren are found guilty of bringing the sports reputation into disrepute. Not Good for either Hamilton or Alonso.

[Snowy]

Interesting new senario However nobody would be saying a dicky bird if Fernando's teammate was David Coulthard, Rubens Barricello or Felipe Massa!

[Julian Mayo]

Interesting new senario However nobody would be saying a dicky bird if Fernando's teammate was David Coulthard, Rubens Barricello or Felipe Massa!

There might have been a minor whisper if it was DC

[Julian Mayo]

How can one describe a procession as a race ?
At the head of the procession we have Alonso, driving a car well adapted to the track.
He is driving that car very well.
Behind him we have his team mate driving a similar car, albeit with a different weight.
He is driving the car in a manner which entertains, briefly.
His boss gets on the phone and tells him to stop it.
Now his team mate is the only one that might provide some of the elements of a race.
I was robbed.
Yawn.

[RE30B#16]

Thanks and to carry on with my rant.. Poor old Lewis was concerving his tyres in the early part of the race and as soon as he got the radio call that Alonso was in traffic, bang fastest lap! He's got a great racing brain on him and I just felt really sorry for him that the world media lorded up old Alonso and said Lewis still has so much to learn from the master when he was going to have him without the teams intervention.

Welcome to this forum, Magdaricci!

I beg to differ with your conclusion that Lewis Hamilton's race was sort of stolen from him. The team more than likely had tire wear concerns that Lewis wouldn't make the finish without a tire change. If he had to conserve tires near the end of the race, he may have lost 2nd to Felipe Massa. Monaco is a very abrasive track. Instead, the team's decision to bring him in a second time, yet give him less fuel in the process allowed McLaren to demoralize the competition with a 1988 like dominance. Alonso and Hamilton lapped everyone accept Massa who finished 3rd! Do you see the point? The team is most interested in a one-two finish.

I think McLaren performed brilliantly in every way at Monaco!

[Julian Mayo]

Be that as it may, take a look at the broader picture. The lack of spectacle, entertainment, whatever, presented by the race can only cause further damage to an already bleeding F1.
Compare it to the event across the Atlantic.
I am no great fan of oval racing, however I know which I would rather have spent money to watch.

[RE30B#16]

Interesting new senario However nobody would be saying a dicky bird if Fernando's teammate was David Coulthard, Rubens Barricello or Felipe Massa!

Who cares? Neither DC nor Rubinho would have performed as well as Hambone. Massa perhaps would have. We'd be listening to it if he were the teammate.

Which leads me to another point: who of any of you on this forum is willing to disagree that Kimi Raikkonen has lost priority at Ferrari (That is if he ever had it)? I'm starting to think his hiring by the Scuderia was like McLaren hiring Gerhard Berger, a driver capable of winning if something happens to Ayrton Senna. IMHO, Felipe Massa clearly is the better of the two at this point.

[Julian Mayo]

Interesting new senario However nobody would be saying a dicky bird if Fernando's teammate was David Coulthard, Rubens Barricello or Felipe Massa!

Who cares? Neither DC nor Rubinho would have performed as well as Hambone. Massa perhaps would have. We'd be listening to it if he were the teammate.

Which leads me to another point: who of any of you on this forum is willing to disagree that Kimi Raikkonen has lost priority at Ferrari (That is if he ever had it)? I'm starting to think his hiring by the Scuderia was like McLaren hiring Gerhard Berger, a driver capable of winning if something happens to Ayrton Senna. IMHO, Felipe Massa clearly is the better of the two at this point.

I suspect that Kimi is having trouble adapting to the regimented lifestyle, demanded by Ferrari

[RE30B#16]

Be that as it may, take a look at the broader picture. The lack of spectacle, entertainment, whatever, presented by the race can only cause further damage to an already bleeding F1.
Compare it to the event across the Atlantic.
I am no great fan of oval racing, however I know which I would rather have spent money to watch.

I hate to inform you, Julian, but Formula 1 is a business! An advertising and marketing business! The "racing" is simply the lure that brings us to the table to have a look.

The only true racing out there these days is sports car racing like the ALMS series and whatever the FIA's version is called. LeMans and the Indy 500 used to be what they called "gentlemen's" races where anyone could come with a little red wagon, and, if you could qualify it, you were in. LeMans still has a little bit of that left in it (it is just cost prohibitive now), but that vibe no longer exists in Indianapolis.

[Julian Mayo]

Be that as it may, take a look at the broader picture. The lack of spectacle, entertainment, whatever, presented by the race can only cause further damage to an already bleeding F1.
Compare it to the event across the Atlantic.
I am no great fan of oval racing, however I know which I would rather have spent money to watch.

I hate to inform you, Julian, but Formula 1 is a business! An advertising and marketing business! The "racing" is simply the lure that brings us to the table to have a look.

The only true racing out there these days is sports car racing like the ALMS series and whatever the FIA's version is called. LeMans and the Indy 500 used to be what they called "gentlemen's" races where anyone could come with a little red wagon, and, if you could qualify it, you were in. LeMans still has a little bit of that left in it (it is just cost prohibitive now), but that vibe no longer exists in Indianapolis.

No fan base........no business. Take a look at Ferrari's income from merchadising sales for 2005/6

[rah]

Be that as it may, take a look at the broader picture. The lack of spectacle, entertainment, whatever, presented by the race can only cause further damage to an already bleeding F1.
Compare it to the event across the Atlantic.
I am no great fan of oval racing, however I know which I would rather have spent money to watch.

I hate to inform you, Julian, but Formula 1 is a business! An advertising and marketing business! The "racing" is simply the lure that brings us to the table to have a look.

The only true racing out there these days is sports car racing like the ALMS series and whatever the FIA's version is called. LeMans and the Indy 500 used to be what they called "gentlemen's" races where anyone could come with a little red wagon, and, if you could qualify it, you were in. LeMans still has a little bit of that left in it (it is just cost prohibitive now), but that vibe no longer exists in Indianapolis.

No F1 is a sport. It just happens to be a sport that people are making a business from.

I think karting is still a great form of racing. Also MotoGP is good.

[Kapel]

Be that as it may, take a look at the broader picture. The lack of spectacle, entertainment, whatever, presented by the race can only cause further damage to an already bleeding F1.
Compare it to the event across the Atlantic.
I am no great fan of oval racing, however I know which I would rather have spent money to watch.

I hate to inform you, Julian, but Formula 1 is a business! An advertising and marketing business! The "racing" is simply the lure that brings us to the table to have a look.

The only true racing out there these days is sports car racing like the ALMS series and whatever the FIA's version is called. LeMans and the Indy 500 used to be what they called "gentlemen's" races where anyone could come with a little red wagon, and, if you could qualify it, you were in. LeMans still has a little bit of that left in it (it is just cost prohibitive now), but that vibe no longer exists in Indianapolis.

No F1 is a sport. It just happens to be a sport that people are making a business from.

I think karting is still a great form of racing. Also MotoGP is good.

I concur

[Julian Mayo]

I hate to inform you, Julian, but Formula 1 is a business! An advertising and marketing business! The "racing" is simply the lure that brings us to the table to have a look.

The only true racing out there these days is sports car racing like the ALMS series and whatever the FIA's version is called. LeMans and the Indy 500 used to be what they called "gentlemen's" races where anyone could come with a little red wagon, and, if you could qualify it, you were in. LeMans still has a little bit of that left in it (it is just cost prohibitive now), but that vibe no longer exists in Indianapolis.

No F1 is a sport. It just happens to be a sport that people are making a business from.

I think karting is still a great form of racing. Also MotoGP is good.

I concur

Concurrently, I concur

[JayVee]

People think a bit would you ? Or you just want denials like what the Ferrari team does ?

Where is all this noise coming from ? From a quote by Ron Dennis. We don't want him to tell it like it is, no we want him to deny and say nothing.

And Dennis said they switched from a one stop to the faster two stop. Read faster or is that not something Ron Dennis knows a thing or two about ?
Is anyone here seriously thinking that a long stint (more than half the race) on supersoft would have been quicker! How ????

As for your second quote magdaricci, I wish people would actually read what they quote,

After the first round of pitstops, Alonso and team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who was still in contention to challenge for the lead, were told to hold their positions to secure the comfortable one-two that the McLaren duo were enjoying. Hamilton's one-stop strategy was then reverted to a two-stop strategy, similar to that of Alonso's.

This statement is completely flawed, it starts by saying "After the first round of pitstops" then .... "Hamilton's one-stop strategy was then reverted to a two-stop strategy"

How could they revert a single stop to a two stop after the first (and only) stop ????????

Did you also notice that Alonso's fastest lap of the race was on lap 44, long after the first stop ? Or was his fastest lap still slow and taking it easy ?

Despite all this noise, lets wait and see what the FIA decides on this matter. They will have all the telemetry, the radio calls, the fuel, etc...
I am confident they will find nothing, they are just responding to the the (crazy) British media

As Ed says, the team has the right to choose different strategies and I think common sense would say if you are going to choose two differing strategies, give the one more likely to result in the win to the more experienced and the one who makes less mistakes and Hamilton is very very good but he still crashed it at Monaco.

Oh and Kapel, please your first comment here since I can't remember when was "Or team orders!!!" You just want anything on any team (other that Ferrari of course) that resembles a team order!! I still asked you "What team orders" and you didn't explain your view. Perhaps it is best to wait for the FIA before you say what your view is/was.