The 2008 Chinese Grand Prix Thread
Moderators: cmlean, Ed, The Qualiflyer, The Heretic
Heidfeld, Kubica, Glock and Piquet make the top 8
Here is the team by team summary (GMM):
MCLAREN-MERCEDES
Amid pressure and criticism, Lewis Hamilton was peerless in China, humbling the Ferraris by finishing a quarter of a minute ahead, and setting up a stroll to the title for Brazil. "We've got to stay calm and keep our heads," said the Briton in contemplation of the season finale in two weeks. Heikki Kovalainen's race was far more complicated; fiery brakes on the grid, a puncture, and finally a 'pneumatic system' problem. "The team called me in as a precautionary measure," said the Finn, and the DNF means he can use a fresh engine for the last race of 2008.
FERRARI
The Ferraris were no match for Hamilton, and title challenger Felipe Massa only finished second because his teammate Kimi Raikkonen let him past. The Brazilian's 7 point deficit to Hamilton means that, to become champion, he must win on home turf in Brazil, with Hamilton lower than fifth place.
RENAULT
Fernando Alonso came within two seconds of Raikkonen's podium in Shanghai, which combined with Nelson Piquet's single point secured fourth place in the constructors' championship. "Another strong race for us," said engineering boss Pat Symonds.
BMW-SAUBER
Robert Kubica had a spirited drive from 11th on the grid to sixth at the chequered flag, but the result ended his outside shot at the world championship. His teammate Nick Heidfeld finished one place higher. "The team has had a fantastic third season, and Robert especially had a very good year," said the German.
TOYOTA
Jarno Trulli was furious with Toro Rosso's Sebastien Bourdais, after their first lap clash caused terminal damage to the Toyota. "It is frustrating because he did this once before this year at Spa, where he also ruined my race at the first corner," Trulli said of the Frenchman. After a difficult weekend, Timo Glock finished seventh.
TORO ROSSO-FERRARI
The Trulli crash also spoiled Bourdais' race, as he climbed back through the field to be just 13th. "The car was good enough to score points today," he said. Teammate Sebastian Vettel, ninth, also failed to score despite starting the race sixth and suffering tyre graining and a bad pistop.
RED BULL-RENAULT
From a long way down the grid, David Coulthard and Mark Webber managed 10th and 14th places respectively.
HONDA
Rubens Barrichello made the best of his bad RA108 in China, outperforming his teammate all weekend and finishing 11th of the 17 finishers. "We are very pleased that we beat several cars that have been faster than us of late," said team boss Ross Brawn. Jenson Button however had a disastrous weekend, finishing a lap down and next to last.
WILLIAMS-TOYOTA
Williams' bad weekend did not improve on Sunday, when Nico Rosberg finished a painful 15th. "We ran a different strategy to Kazuki just to see if we could generate some advantage, but it didn't pay off," he lamented. Kazuki Nakajima held off Bourdais and Webber to finish 12th. "On this type of circuit the car is just not quick enough," said team co-owner Patrick Head.
FORCE INDIA-FERRARI
Adrian Sutil has failed to finish many races this season, and in China his problem was a faulty gearbox. Giancarlo Fisichella finished a lonely last on a one-stop strategy, annoying a flying Raikkonen at one stage as the blue flags waved. "He did a good job to get the car home in what's been a difficult event for us," said technical boss Mike Gascoyne.
Here is the team by team summary (GMM):
MCLAREN-MERCEDES
Amid pressure and criticism, Lewis Hamilton was peerless in China, humbling the Ferraris by finishing a quarter of a minute ahead, and setting up a stroll to the title for Brazil. "We've got to stay calm and keep our heads," said the Briton in contemplation of the season finale in two weeks. Heikki Kovalainen's race was far more complicated; fiery brakes on the grid, a puncture, and finally a 'pneumatic system' problem. "The team called me in as a precautionary measure," said the Finn, and the DNF means he can use a fresh engine for the last race of 2008.
FERRARI
The Ferraris were no match for Hamilton, and title challenger Felipe Massa only finished second because his teammate Kimi Raikkonen let him past. The Brazilian's 7 point deficit to Hamilton means that, to become champion, he must win on home turf in Brazil, with Hamilton lower than fifth place.
RENAULT
Fernando Alonso came within two seconds of Raikkonen's podium in Shanghai, which combined with Nelson Piquet's single point secured fourth place in the constructors' championship. "Another strong race for us," said engineering boss Pat Symonds.
BMW-SAUBER
Robert Kubica had a spirited drive from 11th on the grid to sixth at the chequered flag, but the result ended his outside shot at the world championship. His teammate Nick Heidfeld finished one place higher. "The team has had a fantastic third season, and Robert especially had a very good year," said the German.
TOYOTA
Jarno Trulli was furious with Toro Rosso's Sebastien Bourdais, after their first lap clash caused terminal damage to the Toyota. "It is frustrating because he did this once before this year at Spa, where he also ruined my race at the first corner," Trulli said of the Frenchman. After a difficult weekend, Timo Glock finished seventh.
TORO ROSSO-FERRARI
The Trulli crash also spoiled Bourdais' race, as he climbed back through the field to be just 13th. "The car was good enough to score points today," he said. Teammate Sebastian Vettel, ninth, also failed to score despite starting the race sixth and suffering tyre graining and a bad pistop.
RED BULL-RENAULT
From a long way down the grid, David Coulthard and Mark Webber managed 10th and 14th places respectively.
HONDA
Rubens Barrichello made the best of his bad RA108 in China, outperforming his teammate all weekend and finishing 11th of the 17 finishers. "We are very pleased that we beat several cars that have been faster than us of late," said team boss Ross Brawn. Jenson Button however had a disastrous weekend, finishing a lap down and next to last.
WILLIAMS-TOYOTA
Williams' bad weekend did not improve on Sunday, when Nico Rosberg finished a painful 15th. "We ran a different strategy to Kazuki just to see if we could generate some advantage, but it didn't pay off," he lamented. Kazuki Nakajima held off Bourdais and Webber to finish 12th. "On this type of circuit the car is just not quick enough," said team co-owner Patrick Head.
FORCE INDIA-FERRARI
Adrian Sutil has failed to finish many races this season, and in China his problem was a faulty gearbox. Giancarlo Fisichella finished a lonely last on a one-stop strategy, annoying a flying Raikkonen at one stage as the blue flags waved. "He did a good job to get the car home in what's been a difficult event for us," said technical boss Mike Gascoyne.
Last edited by Ed on Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Congratulations to Lewis Hamilton on winning the 2008 Chinese Grand Prix. He dominated all weekend and managed to handle the pressure very well. He has 1 hurdle left to clinch the title in 2 weeks time.
Felipe Massa was no match for Lewis Hamilton or his teammate Kimi Raikkonen. He finished second because of team orders when Kimi Raikkonen let him through.
Kimi Raikkonen couldn't match the pace of Hamilton and would have finished second but for letting Massa through.
Fernando Alonso drove a good race and managed to finish 4th and beat Kovalainen in the McLaren long before Kovalainen suffered his tyre problem. Renault and Alonso have made big improvements over the last few races and are only behind McLaren and Ferrari.
Nick Heidfeld managed 5th and unusual for his this season ahead of his teammate Robert Kubica who did very well moving up from 11th on the grid to 6th.
Timo Glock scored 2 important points for Toyota on a single stop strategy and Nelson Piquet Jr continues to make a case for himself to be retained at Renault for next season.
Heikki Kovalainen retired for the second race in a row. Even prior to his retirement this race and last he wasn't on the pace. It is likely that McLaren will not win the Constructors Title because of this. Now is this due to Kovalainen and his lack of pace or is it McLaren concentrating on Hamilton and his car ?
Your thoughts and the driver of the day ?
Felipe Massa was no match for Lewis Hamilton or his teammate Kimi Raikkonen. He finished second because of team orders when Kimi Raikkonen let him through.
Kimi Raikkonen couldn't match the pace of Hamilton and would have finished second but for letting Massa through.
Fernando Alonso drove a good race and managed to finish 4th and beat Kovalainen in the McLaren long before Kovalainen suffered his tyre problem. Renault and Alonso have made big improvements over the last few races and are only behind McLaren and Ferrari.
Nick Heidfeld managed 5th and unusual for his this season ahead of his teammate Robert Kubica who did very well moving up from 11th on the grid to 6th.
Timo Glock scored 2 important points for Toyota on a single stop strategy and Nelson Piquet Jr continues to make a case for himself to be retained at Renault for next season.
Heikki Kovalainen retired for the second race in a row. Even prior to his retirement this race and last he wasn't on the pace. It is likely that McLaren will not win the Constructors Title because of this. Now is this due to Kovalainen and his lack of pace or is it McLaren concentrating on Hamilton and his car ?
Your thoughts and the driver of the day ?
Turned out to be a dull GP. I thought that Ferrari may have given Torro Rosso the "good engines" in return for some on track dodgem work on Hamilton 
Perhaps they have it penciled in for Brazil.
Interesting how the Renaults of Alonso and Piquet are so improved and the Red Bulls are not. Me thinks they have done a bit of equalisation
Anyway a sensible well driven race from Hamilton and Brasil will be very interesting.
Perhaps they have it penciled in for Brazil.Interesting how the Renaults of Alonso and Piquet are so improved and the Red Bulls are not. Me thinks they have done a bit of equalisation
Anyway a sensible well driven race from Hamilton and Brasil will be very interesting.
Maybe, perhaps, not sure
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F1greyhound
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Obviously not too exciting a race but nevertheless a great drive from LEWIS, maybe thats the reason for the lack of resonance on here? 
No other driver showed such a spectacular drive as to reward him with driver of the day, the FERRARIS were not good enough to match the MCLAREN pace. All points scorers and some more showed a good performance driving to the limit of their package. Maybe ROBERT and TIMO stand out for moving through the pack to finish in P6&7.
Well, altogether it shows that with most cars in the correct grid position, no safety car and no rain there is still this lack of close racing coming purely from the diversity of the packages and basically this is down to the high-spec aerodynamics. Good that FIA will limit the implications of aerodynamics as these are absolutely pointless to the spectator.....
Less support should be given to a third party standard engine rule, seems a bit perverse, especially since you have 6 teams being engine manufacturers? I honestly dont know how this could work.
No other driver showed such a spectacular drive as to reward him with driver of the day, the FERRARIS were not good enough to match the MCLAREN pace. All points scorers and some more showed a good performance driving to the limit of their package. Maybe ROBERT and TIMO stand out for moving through the pack to finish in P6&7.
Well, altogether it shows that with most cars in the correct grid position, no safety car and no rain there is still this lack of close racing coming purely from the diversity of the packages and basically this is down to the high-spec aerodynamics. Good that FIA will limit the implications of aerodynamics as these are absolutely pointless to the spectator.....
Less support should be given to a third party standard engine rule, seems a bit perverse, especially since you have 6 teams being engine manufacturers? I honestly dont know how this could work.
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