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F1 Monaco GP thread...
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SpoonyBard
Banned
I liked the race
.
for obvious reasons
tracky_dacks
Member
Yeah considering it's Monaco, it was a real great race to watch
Oh and fingers crossed FIA does indeed gets rid of Sunday qualifying in time for the Euro GP next week.
-- particularly the latter stages. Raikonnen was in a class of his own and had a stroll in the park, but the action was behind his McLaren. Brilliant stoush between a struggling Alonso and the two Williams boys, Heidfeld and my boy Webber. Heidfeld's manouver to snatch 2nd from Alonso was incredible and Webber's two passing attempts on the Renault on consecutive laps in the dying stages had me on the edge of my seat. The second one stuck (though not convincingly) relegating Alonso to 4th and Webber finally got his podium. Also, great battles for the 5th-12th positions in the latter part of the race and again with a couple of laps to go when Montoya and co. charged up behind Alonso.
The championship is really starting to look interesting. Raikonnen's on a roll and quickly catching up to Alonso (same could be said about McLaren breathing down Renault's neck); Ferrari's still struggling; BAR will be all fired up for their return next week; and here's hoping tonight's race are of things to come from the Williams camp for the remainder of the season.
The championship is really starting to look interesting. Raikonnen's on a roll and quickly catching up to Alonso (same could be said about McLaren breathing down Renault's neck); Ferrari's still struggling; BAR will be all fired up for their return next week; and here's hoping tonight's race are of things to come from the Williams camp for the remainder of the season.
Oh and fingers crossed FIA does indeed gets rid of Sunday qualifying in time for the Euro GP next week.
Yeah, was a good Monaco race, and an even better one if you're
Perhaps it's a little bit early to say, if history repeats itself for
, but as a Kimi fan I wouldn't mind... 
a Kimi fan! And have to say, although I don't like him, good race by Montoya too. Alonso 4th? This is a little bit similar to last year, when Renault started out really good, but then later in the season the team went on the decline.
And have to say, although I don't like him, good race by Montoya too. Alonso 4th? This is a little bit similar to last year, when Renault started out really good, but then later in the season the team went on the decline.Renault
Renault just got the strategy wrong with the tyres wearing out towards the end of the race, I wouldn't count Alonso out for winning the next race yet. McLaren is very fast though, and it would have been even better for them if Montoya didn't mess up in the practice. It's also nice to see the Williams back in it.
Cronos said:Yeah, was a good Monaco race, and an even better one if you'rePerhaps it's a little bit early to say, if history repeats itself fora Kimi fan!, but as a Kimi fan I wouldn't mind...Renault
Well it's an interesting point...if Alonso only had Kimi to worry about, I don't think he'd be that worried. But the Williams cars were all over Alonso's ass, and Montoya would've taken him if he had a few more laps to line him up. The car defintely seems to have regressed...a few weeks ago they were getting back into the pits with tires that had barely been touched. Well today the rear grooves were almost eradicated by the halfway mark of the race, and only Alonso's short shifting and talent kept him from losing anymore ground. Meanwhile McLaren appears to be going from strength to strength, Williams have defintely improved things, and I look for BAR to fuck people up in the next few rounds. And if Bridgestone could ever get the early lap pace of their tires sorted out, Michael will get right back in the thick of things too. This means more competition for major points, which doesn't help Alonso. Right now, the combo of Kimi and his McLaren looks Ferrari-like in terms of it's total domination (they'd have three wins on the trot if it hadn't given out in Imola).
Kimi's drive really was something. I figured he'd screwed up not going into the pits during the safety car thing, and in a sense there was a screwup...the team just told him too late. Yet he pounds out fast lap after fast lap like a demon possessed. I don't know how much that was Kimi or how much that was the car, but if it's the latter their current advantage is kinda ridiculous.
EDIT: Oh yeah, Reanult did go with the softer tires...that didn't help their cause at all.
Wax Free Vanilla
Member
Pretty good race... but the highlight of it all was Jenson Button's performance in the commentary box, he was awesome. Haha... Jenson Button and Martin Brundle the perfect combination, the less said about James Allen the better.
The ITV feed was very good this weekend.
The ITV feed was very good this weekend.
tracky_dacks
Member
I'm pretty I've heard him behind the mic for race before. Can't recall what race it was and when, nor why he didn't make the grid in the first place... but yeah, I quite enjoyed his commentary tonight. Perhaps there's something there for him once his F1 career is over?
Oh, Kimi's definately a big part of it. Did you see the press conference afterwards? It was about him missing the opportunity to make a pitstop because of the safety car situation. He said: "Then the team told me I had to make 20 seconds on Alonso before my pitstop so I did that". The guy's a monster.
Rubens was banging on Ralf for the last 10 laps, and couldn't get by. Apparently he made an attempt at the chicane coming out of the tunnel and botched it, allowing MS to squeeze through. MS then almost got Ralf at the line due to Alonso bunching them up really bad. I can understand how Rubens would be mad, b/c I think Ferrari drivers have an agreement not to race each other after the last set of pitstops, and for a while there, Michael hung back and let Rubens go at Ralf.
That said, I fucking hate Monaco. It should be dropped from the calendar. I say it every year, and every year I tell myself I'm gonna sleep through it. A dreadful procession, no matter how close the cars are. The only overtaking is when someone has a mechanical problem or they drive off the road.
On the good notes, great drive by Kimi again. He can Mika that car whenever he wants. But he's got the consistency Hakkinen lacked...IMO. The Willies are back on the podium, which is great to see. They were stiffed by Alonso today. Good drive by him though. Unike Fisi who stunk up the show again, Alonso held a strong 2nd most of the race and still held on to 4th despite being 4s per lap slower than the competition at the end. Strong showing again for Toyota, esepcially Trulli, but he stuff it up right after making a great pass on Fisi. And good recovery drives by Michael and Rubens. Michael was quickest on the day, and could well have challenged for a podium or win had he not had the misfortune of the pos Minardi spinning. People who argue for a testing ban to help utterly worthless teams like Minardi don't know the pain those mobile chicanes cost the front-runners. One day, Stoddart will go broke, and we'll all be free again. :lol
On to Nurburgring. The WDC chase is over for us. 37 points is by not means out of reach with 13 races left to go, but it would require a 2002/2004-esque run from here on out, and some misfortune from Alonso. And I don't see either happening, so no such luck. The team can still challenge for the WCC though, and I expect them to. We have race pace...a minor consolation for sluggish qualifying pace. We can and will win races this season. FORZA FERRARI!!! FORZA MICHAEL SCHUMACHER!!! PEACE.
That said, I fucking hate Monaco. It should be dropped from the calendar. I say it every year, and every year I tell myself I'm gonna sleep through it. A dreadful procession, no matter how close the cars are. The only overtaking is when someone has a mechanical problem or they drive off the road.
On the good notes, great drive by Kimi again. He can Mika that car whenever he wants. But he's got the consistency Hakkinen lacked...IMO. The Willies are back on the podium, which is great to see. They were stiffed by Alonso today. Good drive by him though. Unike Fisi who stunk up the show again, Alonso held a strong 2nd most of the race and still held on to 4th despite being 4s per lap slower than the competition at the end. Strong showing again for Toyota, esepcially Trulli, but he stuff it up right after making a great pass on Fisi. And good recovery drives by Michael and Rubens. Michael was quickest on the day, and could well have challenged for a podium or win had he not had the misfortune of the pos Minardi spinning. People who argue for a testing ban to help utterly worthless teams like Minardi don't know the pain those mobile chicanes cost the front-runners. One day, Stoddart will go broke, and we'll all be free again. :lol
On to Nurburgring. The WDC chase is over for us. 37 points is by not means out of reach with 13 races left to go, but it would require a 2002/2004-esque run from here on out, and some misfortune from Alonso. And I don't see either happening, so no such luck. The team can still challenge for the WCC though, and I expect them to. We have race pace...a minor consolation for sluggish qualifying pace. We can and will win races this season. FORZA FERRARI!!! FORZA MICHAEL SCHUMACHER!!! PEACE.
Cronos said:Oh, Kimi's definately a big part of it. Did you see the press conference afterwards? It was about him missing the opportunity to make a pitstop because of the safety car situation. He said: "Then the team told me I had to make 20 seconds on Alonso before my pitstop so I did that". The guy's a monster.
:lol Yeah I did see that...it's the sort of thing Michael's done, pounding out fast laps and getting every inch out of the car before his pit stop to give himself a healthy cushion.
Apparantely there was a poll among the F1 drivers and crew regarding which driver was the most talented behind Michael Schumacher. Kimi Raikkonen was said to have come out on top, with Alonso in second place. Hard to argue at this point. Hopefully the next few races allow the two young studs to go at it wheel to wheel.
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