The 2007 German Grand Prix

[gkaytaz]

According to the Team, two of Webbo's DNFs were down to Renualt Couplings

Weak excuse.

[Julian Mayo]

According to the Team, two of Webbo's DNFs were down to Renualt Couplings

Weak excuse.

So are most, for the things that go wrong in a marriage

[gkaytaz]

According to the Team, two of Webbo's DNFs were down to Renualt Couplings

Weak excuse.

So are most, for the things that go wrong in a marriage

And for life, universe and everything

[Julian Mayo]

Weak excuse.

So are most, for the things that go wrong in a marriage

And for life, universe and everything

Thank God for Dressing Gowns

[gkaytaz]

So are most, for the things that go wrong in a marriage

And for life, universe and everything

Thank God for Dressing Gowns

Once more: no gowns!

[cmlean]

And for life, universe and everything

Thank God for Dressing Gowns

Once more: no gowns!

Enough from you Arthur.

[Jim Watt]

All Right F1 fans. I've been too busy to get to me email for a couple of days. Nonetheless, I loved the European GP. Even tho my man Kimi was cursed by Wotan (or Whoever) yet again.

How I miss Ross Braun!! With Lewis's bad luck in qualifying (more about that in a minute), Ferrari had a GOLDEN CHANCE to MAKE big strides on McLaren. All they *&+%$#!! needed was to put two cars in the points!! AND THEY MANAGE to leave their best wet driver in the garage!!

Of course the best wet driver (as far as the evidence suggests to date) was in a McLaren and HE wasn't too shy about making his way to the front when the rain came at the end. I'm really glad the rain returned, even tho it hurt Felipe, because it's one thing the FIA can't take out of the drivers' hands. You either know how to fly in the wet -- or you are all at sea, pouting (like little Felipe) about how your wets are wobbly or similar nonsense. What Felipe was actually talking about wasn't the tyres; it was the effect of hard Inters gripping and slipping. The best drivers quickly translate the RATE of slippage into their internal computers and, like Fernando, they re-take CONTROL.

It was pure joy watching Fernando hold his line and bump Felipe into the cheap slot. Every race fan (and not just the Speed Commentators) had to be saying "Yes! Yes!! That's it Lad!!! Put the hammer DOWN!"

Still none of my superiors here on the list seem to have noted the silliness of the team managers at the start of the race! We, watching the race, are told the start will be in 10 minutes and the rain will arrive in 12. And no one, except for the Spyker manager (& I don't even know his name [or hers]!) puts on wets or Inters. Why? Because they are so busy watching to see what the other teams do they forget to do what they HAVE TO DO: Make a Bleeding DECISION.

I can't believe, had Michael been driving, he wouldn't have called for full wets before the parade lap! and if he hadn't got them, I can see him driving into the pits and waiting for the team to wake up!

Now. Yes. DC drove well. Yes Red Bull looked good. Yes Sauber (with typical BMW thoroughness) got their points. Yes, someone needs to take little Nick aside for a little chat.

BUT. The drive of the day was Fernando's. And his joy on the podium was fun to watch, too. So the up side of the Spaniard is that he is terrific fun to watch when he's on fire. The down side, of course, is that he's not much beter than little Felipe at taking any place other than top step of the podium.

Finally (I said I'd come back to this) Obviously Louis was NOT really hurt by the terrible accident (Which McLaren blamed on the wheel wrench; even tho' --and I watched the scene in slo mo several times to be sure-- it was CLEAR that the suspension broke. Lewis wrenches the steering wheel full lock left THREE times before he hit the tyre barrier and the LEFT FRONT (the good tyre and wheel) wheel never deflected an INCH. He had NO STEERING INPUT. Thank the racing gods that he didn't get hurt!!

My question is not why didn't McLaren admit to the failure (no one ever does; surely no one thinks Kimi's hydraulics failed!), but why wasn't Lewis able to stand up and walk from the car? What was the I.V. for? Any of you out there doctor types who can explain the effect of high g-forces?

thanks (and --Jay Vee-- enjoy the next couple of weeks; in Hungary I predict both Lewis AND Kimi will be storming back!)


Jim Watt

[F1greyhound]

Hi Jim,

once more a brilliant report.

I also voted for FERNANDO and full respect to him, nobody was even close to getting driver of the day. Ok MARK did well enough but in that comparison Id say ALEX was stronger!

As for FELIPE, while I hoped he holds on to victory I have to admit he was simply beaten in the wet. No excuses, but a decent drive still. A master in dry conditions and far from being beaten for the Championship. Pity KIMI and LEWIS had no luck in the race but great that LEWIS overcame a horrible accident in Qualifying.

As for team tactics, its right - most teams blew it really, even the big 2 simply depended on the brilliance of their drivers.

NICK looked pretty aggressive but then lack of aggression was what one had blamed him for - good if he is now really on the way up.

Nice to see also HEIKKI coming to hand, is this going to finally end FISICOs F1 days??

And should the days of the STR drivers be ended soon?? The SEBASTIA(E)Ns are waiting...

Unnecessary conflict betwen FERNANDO and FELIPE after the race as their coming together on the track was pure sport..

I was really sorry for JENSON but in that phase the race should have already been stopped. I knew it was going to be stopped and Im sure I was not alone - however the desperate Czech commentators were speculating if MARKUS could simply go on and win...best thing came when LEWIS passed everyone to relap. Not later then when he passed the 2nd driver it was obvious he was allowed to do so but when he rushed past the safety car these brilliant reporters asked themselves(and worse - the TV audience, if LEWIS was out of his mind and if he was now to pay for his lack of experience and knowledge of the rules...)...

Great race, crap comments. And co-commentator was fellow Czech Michal Turek who had worked for MCLAREN for 7 years.....

[Redhead]

What did Felipe to deserve all this sh&^%t, is it just because he's in a red car?

Everyone instantly assumed it was Felipe having a go at sweet FA after the race. In fact it was the big-headed sweet FA having a go at Felipe. Sweet FA even apologised for the incident, but you're all having a go at Felipe, too busy typing the work pouting to ascertain the facts.

Felipe had no trouble keeping sweet FA at bay in the earlier wet period, but nobody talks about this, when it was dry he easily built a comfortable lead over sweet FA, but nobody talks about this. Then when the final rain comes and sweet FA has an obvious car advantage suddenly Felipe is a loser.

Frankly I think its the other way around. Sweet FA had a clear performance advantage once they were on inters in that final period, and if he wasnt so busy showing us how clever he is (which he is) by driving on different parts on the track than everybody else when it is wet, he shouldve got by him sooner. I think Felipe heroically and aggressively kept him behind him far longer than he should have been able to, when a lot of other drivers would've just rolled over.

[Julian Mayo]

What did Felipe to deserve all this sh&^%t, is it just because he's in a red car?

Everyone instantly assumed it was Felipe having a go at sweet FA after the race. In fact it was the big-headed sweet FA having a go at Felipe. Sweet FA even apologised for the incident, but you're all having a go at Felipe, too busy typing the work pouting to ascertain the facts.

Felipe had no trouble keeping sweet FA at bay in the earlier wet period, but nobody talks about this, when it was dry he easily built a comfortable lead over sweet FA, but nobody talks about this. Then when the final rain comes and sweet FA has an obvious car advantage suddenly Felipe is a loser.

Frankly I think its the other way around. Sweet FA had a clear performance advantage once they were on inters in that final period, and if he wasnt so busy showing us how clever he is (which he is) by driving on different parts on the track than everybody else when it is wet, he shouldve got by him sooner. I think Felipe heroically and aggressively kept him behind him far longer than he should have been able to, when a lot of other drivers would've just rolled over.

The fact that MW also had to use an unscrubbed set of tyres in the last stint, which nearly cost him 3rd place thru massive vibration, tends to lead me to agree with you. The post race video, before they went to the podium certainly seems to favor what you say.

[JayVee]

What did Felipe to deserve all this sh&^%t, is it just because he's in a red car?

Everyone instantly assumed it was Felipe having a go at sweet FA after the race. In fact it was the big-headed sweet FA having a go at Felipe. Sweet FA even apologised for the incident, but you're all having a go at Felipe, too busy typing the work pouting to ascertain the facts.

Felipe had no trouble keeping sweet FA at bay in the earlier wet period, but nobody talks about this, when it was dry he easily built a comfortable lead over sweet FA, but nobody talks about this. Then when the final rain comes and sweet FA has an obvious car advantage suddenly Felipe is a loser.

Frankly I think its the other way around. Sweet FA had a clear performance advantage once they were on inters in that final period, and if he wasnt so busy showing us how clever he is (which he is) by driving on different parts on the track than everybody else when it is wet, he shouldve got by him sooner. I think Felipe heroically and aggressively kept him behind him far longer than he should have been able to, when a lot of other drivers would've just rolled over.

I am not sure who is having a go at Felipe ? Perhaps you are a tad defensive.

Unfortunately for us in Australia we didn't get to see what happened between Alonso and Massa after the race and I didn't understand what Alonso was apologising for. Later I found out that Alonso accused him of trying to take him out which I agree isn't fair as it appeared that Massa just understeered into him. However Alonso (unlike some other drivers) very quickly realised his error and apologised publicly a number of times for those remarks during the press conference.

Now as for on track skill, well Massa is supposed to be one of the better drivers on the wet (compare him to Raikkonen who nearly crashed into the barrier missing the pit lane!!), the first downpour Alonso was all over Massa but being the master he is he didn't want to go overboard like some of the others who ended up in the gravel. If you look at how Massa nearly went off and how Alonso just turns as if there is no water tells you the difference. Had the safety car not been deployed for another lap he would have gone past.

Those different lines Alonso takes are certainly not to show off. It is because he can and it makes it easier for him to see where he is instead of being in the spray of the car he is about to pass!!, he did the same last year in Hungary to everyone's suprise. He is just so confident in the wet, it is unbelievable.

Yes Alonso had a performance advantage in the last part, that advantage was his SKILL. It is a known fact that it is in the wet that a driver can show his skill and the car advantage diminishes.

Don't get me wrong, Felipe is good and I agree with you it took Alonso longer to pass him than it would have taken him to pass most others but blaming the tyres or the vibration is - as Jim greatly puts it - "nonsense" - "You either know how to fly in the wet -- or you are all at sea"

I will enjoy the next two weeks and the two weeks after that too Jim

[Julian Mayo]

Just a thought........I run a particular brand of tyre.......in the wet very few could stay with me on the Old Road, including one Porsche driver who put it into the shrubbery. (I am not a particularly good driver) Put a new set on this year, same brand, tread pattern etc, nearly killed myself first time it rained. Went back to my Tyre Man within the hour, he put a new set on, exact replicas of the first...they were fine. The only explanation he could find was that there was a variation in the compound of so - called identical tyres.
Just a thought. I must disagree with Jim about "nonsense" from my own experience, and the fact that other drivers complained of the same issue, and had nothing to gain by it. EG., Mark Webber, who hung on to third place, despite the tyre problem, which was apparant from his 2nd lap on them.
.....Just a thought
Oh, and the amount of downforce the front wing exerts is the most critical factor for car control in the rain....a half turn either way can make an enormous difference. Ask Alonso and Button

[jacfan]

I agree with JayVee in that we did not see the altercation between the two drivers. Obviously Alonso had harsh words to Massa but as she said he was big enough to apologise for his words.
I think Massa really did have a crap set of tyres for the last stint and Alonso did exactly what he should done and taken advantage of the fact the Massa was struggling. Good on him for keeping it all together in the wet. I gave my DotD to Mark Webber for managing to hold off Wurz on the final lap and get his second podium. I hope he gets many more.

[Julian Mayo]

I agree with JayVee in that we did not see the altercation between the two drivers. Obviously Alonso had harsh words to Massa but as she said he was big enough to apologise for his words.
I think Massa really did have a crap set of tyres for the last stint and Alonso did exactly what he should done and taken advantage of the fact the Massa was struggling. Good on him for keeping it all together in the wet. I gave my DotD to Mark Webber for managing to hold off Wurz on the final lap and get his second podium. I hope he gets many more.

I did see it. Li'l Ol' Massa is one game Bantam Rooster.

[JayVee]

Last year it was the Michelin wets being 'superior' to the Bridgestone wets hence what Alonso did in Hungary wasn't really that amazing, it was the Michelins.

This year they run the same Bridgestone wets but no, the same tyre doesn't really mean the same compound mould or something fancy hence again Alonso wasn't amazing he was just lucky to get a good compound!!!

Get the drift .....

People, how do you know that Alonso didn't have 'vibrations'. As Jim said, he would have also had 'vibrations' but he is just that good at managing that.

That is what separates the really good drivers from the good drivers ? Simple really.

Oh, and drivers will always look for excuses to justify their relative poor performance (Alonso included BTW).

And I am being a bit defensive