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Massa takes pole at Brazil GP

The Formula 1 schedule is coming to a dramatic close this weekend at Interlagos in Brazil, where Lewis Hamilton is fighting to hold on and win the 2008 driver’s championship. Felipe Massa did his best to make Hamilton’s clinching of the title difficult as he took pole today for the Brazilian GP.
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Mt. Fuji GP: The Strange Cases Of Lewis Hamilton And Felipe Massa

A dry Japanese Grand Prix produced racing results hardly expected by anyone. Fernando Alonso wins his second race in a row followed by Robert Kubica and Kimi Raikkonen. Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa were no where near the podium. Read more

Japanese GP: Qualifying Observations

Is it just me or is anyone else out there confused ? About the qualifying results, that is? Massa places fifth for a race where he absolutely needed to be on the front row. Read more

Worldwide F1 Survey

Well, all you fans of Formula One and any other interested parties now have a chance at voicing your opinions of the sport, with a chance at possibly influencing it’s direction in the future. Read more

Singapore GP: Alonso Ups His Value

Fernando Alonso and his ING Renault F1 team took an unexpected victory at the first night F1 race in history, followed by equally unexpected Nico Rosberg in second and Lewis Hamilton in third. Read more

Shock And Awe From Monza: Vettel And Toro Rosso Win!

In yet another wet race ( two in two weeks) Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Vettel converted his pole position into a convincing win, leading Heikki Kovalainen and Robert Kubica to the podium. Read more

Ferrari Benefit From FIA Intervention Again

Whoda thunk it. Lewis Hamilton wins the Belgian GP in a wet, sliding, mixed up closing two laps, only to be screwed by the FIA and gets demoted to third place. Massa “wins” and Nick Heidfeld benefits by inheriting second place.

The race at Spa Francorchamp is noted for its unpredictable weather, which can dump rain on all or parts of the course at a moments notice. The opening laps and closing laps were affected by the rain. But there was no greater effect on the outcome than the race steward’s clumsy and obvious effort to hand yet another win to Ferrari.

The stewards claimed that Hamilton gained an unfair racing advantage on the penultimate lap, at the bus stop chicane, by cutting the chicane in a passing attempt on Kimi Raikonnen.

Hamilton did in fact cut the chicane, but he was in effect driven off the road by Raikonnen. After coming through the chicane Hamilton was in front of Raikonnen but gave the position back as he knew he must. He repassed Raikonnen by avoiding Kimi’s obvious block and out braking him into the turn one hairpin.

I have tried to be objective in casting my opinion of the incident and here’s how I see it. Hamilton was on a charge, coming down the straight to the bus stop chicane and attempted an outside pass. That part is incontrovertible. Where differences of opinion may form is whether Kimi drove him off the track or if Hamilton had an opportunity to brake and fall back in behind Kimi without cutting the chicane.

There is some doubt, given the damp and wet conditions that Lewis could have braked and not cut the chicane. The McLaren was well beside the Ferrari entering the corner. Surely Kimi was under no obligation to make room for the McLaren (and he didn’t), so cutting the chicane was the only sensible option. Granted he came out ahead of the Ferrari but allowed Kimi to repass. In any other race between two other cars (none named Ferrari!) this would be an accepted maneuver, without penalty to either driver.

Alan Donnelly, Max Mosley’s hand picked supervisor of the stewards at all races, has a lot to answer to over this travesty of racing injustice. Just like the lack of penalty added to Massa’s time due to his unsafe exit into pit lane at the Valencia race, this too should not have earned a penalty. Why? The driver most impacted by the controversy self destructed (Kimi) and could not benefit from any imposed penalty. So why impose one at all?

Anyone who has watched F1 for any length of time knows the answer to that question. The Ferrari Intervention Association is there specifically to assist and abet the Scuderia whenever required.

McLaren have promised to appeal the decision but we all know the outcome of that effort, don’t we?

Hamilton and Massa take the fight to Belgium

The F1 driver’s championship took up right where it left off, with Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa going head-to-head and qualifying one-two respectively for tomorrow’s Belgium Grand Prix.  Meanwhile, Kimi Raikkonen was outpaced by his teammate and both McLarens again, qualifying in P4.

Massa seemed poised to take the pole position after posting the fastest time in Friday practice, but the McLaren team had something to say about it.

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Watch Your Back Kimi!

Luca Montezemolo has announced that Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikonnen will be Ferrari F1 drivers next year. This is the same guy that stated Michael Schumacher could drive for the Scuderia forever. Read more

Massa dominates Euro GP

I had a chance to catch up on my DirecTV playlist over the weekend, and watched an F1 race that featured a couple hours of boredom interrupted by moments of excitement and/or sheer terror.  Felipe Massa and Ferrari  won the race in dominating fashion, which helped to soothe some of the disappointment of a horrible day for Kimi Raikkonen.  Raikkonen ran what seemed to be a loafing pace compared to Massa, but that may have been due to a lagging engine. 

But that wasn’t the worst of it for Kimi.   Near the end of the race, Raikkonen and Heikki Kovalainen pitted on the same lap within seconds of each other.  And let’s just say that the race out of the pits was a little bit too exciting.  Raikkonen got a little bit anxious and left his stall before the fuel hose was detached, causing a huge debacle.   The launched car dragged the fuel hose through a group of crew members, knocked down the crew like a set of bowling pins, and causing one man to nearly get run over by Kimi’s right-rear tire.   It was a frightening incident, and fortunately nobody was terribly hurt, and there was no fire.   Reports I’ve found are that the injuries are limited to bruises, scrapes, and a broken toe. 

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