Set-up

I had a chance to ask Lewis about set-up and transparency across the garage. His answers seem very clear about the fact that everything is shared and nothing is secret and that, in the last couple of races, he has gone off on his own and paid the price.

"We do operate as a team so I can look at his data, I can look at his set-up," said Lewis.

Q You know exactly what he's got?
A "Yes. Throughout the whole season I've not looked and said 'what's Fernando doing?' I've always just focussed on my job. A lesson to learn is that if things aren't going as well as the other guy, you should take a...keep an eye on him and see where he's going and that's what I've not done in the last couple of races. But if mine isn't working I am able to take the same set-up as him, but I've just never done that."

In an earlier answer, Lewis pointed out that he often starts setting up the car at a test, then Pedro or Fernando come in and take the car on from there. It's very much a joint enterprise for a common goal.

"Usually Fernando and I have similar set-ups, and more often than not it is the set-up I found from tests. I do the first day and a half, find a set-up and then Pedro or Fernando turn up and drive my car. Then they either like it or make some changes to it.

"So then we go to a race and we have got a very similar set-up or they have tweaked it a little bit. At the last race especially I went somewhere else on my set-up, thinking it was the right way and we were wrong. It was miles apart and, although I was not that far off his times, I feel that if my set-up was a lot further in the other direction it would have been a lot better. When you go through the Friday tests you haven't got much time to change it, or take big risks, so you go into qualifying and you are stuck with what you have got. You can't always get it right, and I definitely didn't get it right in the last races."

Comments

[Verbal]

...he's hardly going to say "aah yes Ed I always get Alonso and Pedros set-up cos each time I do my own thing it goes wrong". All the same there some nice little pointers in that interview

[victor-spain]

It is not only set up, it is the way Fernando drives. You ´ve seen in the past, how Lewis is looking at these Fernando data and improving amazingly.Give these data to me and I do nothing, give them to Lewis that is a fantastic driver and you are giving an advantage.

To give this information to Lewis that is the leader, is to give him an advantage as he only has to imitate the second ( Fernando). This is strategy and game theory. That´s all.You can understand it with complicated calculations or using common sense.

Ron information can not flow from one garage to the other. This is against the culture of McLaren team( All drivers shall have same treatment) . At least you should be corageous with this issue, and of course better quiet.

[javiervivaespania]

It is recomforting to see that Lewis said in the interview exactly what I told you some posts ago.
To those who like to insult me: I am spaniard and my opinions are simply the same as the other spaniards' with no mask. Someone -obviously spaniard- even dared to attack my english skills, as if his or the other spaniards' were better, ja, ja

[Jacob]

Sorry Ed I just don´t understand Lewis answer very well:

In an earlier answer, Lewis pointed out that he often starts setting up the car at a test, then Pedro or Fernando come in and take the car on from there. It's very much a joint enterprise for a common goal.

What common goal?...

At least he recognized that Fernando and Pedro have to check his job and that each time he doesn´t do it alone is a completely desaster...

[Luis]

"I've not done in the last couple of races. But if mine isn't working I am able to take the same set-up as him, but I've just never done that."
So, if you haven´t done it for the last 2 races, it means that you have done it the rest of the season!!!

[Max. Mieres-Asturias]

Wasn´t LH in Paris and FA in Belgium before last race?
May be LH wants us to believe something different.
I do not have time to check if this has been true during the season, but I hope some one here has.

[Alfredo Nieto]

Summarizing: when Hamilton uses his own set-ups he screws up (I went somewhere else on my set-up, thinking it was the right way and we were wrong. It was miles apart and, although I was not that far off his times, I feel that if my set-up was a lot further in the other direction it would have been a lot better) and when he uses either Fernando's or DLRosa's, he doesn't.

Let's see what the knowledgeable Andy G has to say about this!

[Adrien Guerrero]

WHAT HAMILTON MEANT...

"without Alonso I wouldn't get a good set-up. I always do it in first instance and then the 2 times champion comes and changes it. It's very good that Ron brought a champion to the team to make me look better. With this and the press support I look even better than the guy who defeated twice in a row Michael Shumacher. Anyway, for the record, just go and say that I said the set up is basically done by me and they don't change it, because it's almost perfect always. Thank you for overestimating me, you know I will be grateful and will give you all my interviews from now on. And don't publish any numbers or stats as you did the other day in your F1 blog, they make me look worse than Fernando!!"

[Jean]

As it is quite clear he can't do good set-ups, he tries to fool us by saying that he prepares the car during the tests before Fernando or Pedro do, so they find the greatest part of the job done and they only have to adjust a few things. Of course, so as not to sound too pretentious, he just says: it's a joint enterprise for a common goal. Pathetic!!

[victor-spain]

If you see this link

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=32925

Now it is going to be clear for FIA that if Lewis is doing something wrong to Fernando, Lewis has to be kicked out of F1 this year.

It is time that rules are the same for all.

Lewis should be proud enough to beat Fernando with his own set up.

[Craig]

He said before that he doesn't like the politics of F1, but that was an answer a politician would be proud of!

He took the question and spun it round so that it attempted to make him look good, rather than just tell the truth.

Massa was much more honest in saying that when he joined Ferrari, he did all he could to learn from Schumacher yet Lewis is loathed to admit that he has anything to learn from Alonso - which doesn't show him in a good light as far as I'm concerned.

Everyone knows he is a rookie so why doesn't he just admit that he's learning from Alonso?

[Maverick]

Hi Ed /Other Folks...
Please decipher the message wht Hamilton wants to convey.Is he saying tht he does the hard work regarding the setup and then Alonso comes and drives the car to victory...in the meantime...he is chasing Alonso throughout the race...lol. C'mon Hamilton...we all know tht its unlikely now tht Alonso will share the data with you( since Spa actually).When you tried to venture on your own during British GP..you know where you landed.So, dig deep within urself and come up with somethng nice to beat Alonso on track...i guess u have to learn a lot...so watch him closing instead of his setup data.

[Juan]

What surely Ron dessired for his beloved pupil, instead sitting him this year in a F1 car, is Lewis to learn as a tester, the same way Alonso did. He was younger enough to do that, but the environment surely pressed Ron in a way he had many doubts. Now, if Alonso leaves McLaren, they will have lost a great opportunity to end the learning process of a incredible driver built from a child by one of the strongest and wise man in F1, with the best teacher as a tester. Again I'm wandering if Hamilton deserves being F1 world champion. Obviusly yes if we see only his driving skills, and you are very likely to see only this point, but if you are copying from your team-mate job, then you deserves just to learn, not to compite with him. Again, it sounds to me as if at school, I was allowed to "copy" the parts of the exam I needed to beat my oppositor, that being allowed to copy to me too, I have nothing to show him but my better calligraphy. Then, with the exam well answered, the best calligraphy is an extra point. It doesn't sound fair to me. And according to Lewis words, Mr. Andy G was not so close to the reallity as he believed, and those, among them was Ed and others, that used to think there is more percentage of driver's work in the set-up process, look like more acurated. I'm starting to thing Ed is really a master messing up the people and mantaining this blog so alive!! ...when Andy G had nearly convinced every one that Lewis was able to do his job by his own, then Ed comes here and...

[jircim]

i think that if anyone asked "for the time" in this blog he would be slagged off as someone is bound to think that he is being asked to leave. So, Javiervivaespaia, I think you're refering to me 'cos I made comment about ja ja being ha ha. Sorry mate if you thought I was criticising you because that was not my intention, I was just informing those who were wondering what ja ja was and nothing else.
Since you believe I'm Spanish, fyi I do live near Gibraltar, just let me add that its not true the spanish saying 'think bad about someone and you'll be right'. We could also apply this non-conformity to comments taken our of context by all about Ed, LH, FA and La Pantoja if needed (the elder spanish gypsy equivalent of Mrs Beckham) Less jingoism please 'cos although you could understand that if PDR and FA had prepared the cars because LH was 'not as good', then with the 'equal' car LH has proven to have driven faster earlier in the season. cheers from a dago or fish'n'chip or other - nationality when writing should not be important, however, I'll be listening to the bbc's live on five via BFBS and watching the race via T5 - hows that for neutrality.

[Arturo-Spain]

Also in Silverstone Lewis used a set up on his own with known results.

There you have part of those tenths Alonso claims he brought to McLaren.

Anyway, drivers (not only Lewis, in fact all of them) always find reasons (complains) to explain why they weren't the faster ones that day. They'll never say "I simply couldn't drive so fast that day".

It is true that Alonso is becaming the reencarnation of evil but Lewis is becaming the cry-baby...

[Cody]

Hey Ed,

A few days ago you wrote a few lame lines defending your professional integrity and your work methodology. You said something along the lines that you hear lots of things in the paddock and bringing them here.

Well, again, on the record, Fernando has stated that "a lot of the things that have been written about him lately are not true or plain wrong".

He also said that he is going to be doing his talking on the track.

So, since you seem so prone to elevate mere rumors to journalistic truth, I am sure that you will approach Fernando's entourage (he is not talking) and try to get their part of the story -off the record of course- and then present it here with that certainty that you normally delight us with.

Go on Ed, show the world you are not a partisan hack.

[Mark M]

I find it refreshing to hear Lewis say that he has made mistakes and that he is using others data and thier help in setting up the car; the first sign of an inteligent person is one who knows what he doesnt know - he is trying to improve his setting up skills and regonises he needs to get better at it ( ai am sure he will). I dont think any of the comments above this really understand what he is saying and, as ususal, they appear to be the Spainish crowd reading into the answers what they want to hear and using it as another reason to rant (in poor English).

[willy]

Ed Gorman:
So Lewis...Who does the set-up of the car before the race?

Lewis Hamilton:
Well I do the first one and then Fernando comes in and does a couple of adjustments!.

Ed Gorman:
Fernando...What is exactly what you do after Lewis is done with the car set-up?.

Fernando Alonso:
Well first I have to change all the SET-UP done by Lewis and then back from scratch I do the set-up again!!!.
JAJAJAJA!.

[Becken]

Mr Verbal,

Isnt De la Rosa a test driver? “Test Driver” doesn’t mean that he must to help any team member? Or he must to help only his Spaniard team mate, Mr Alonso?

Regards

[Jacob]

Last news from Spain:

Alonso said he finds very funny what the press has said about him...
HE believes british press is doing it for not talk about the main issue: Mclaren has been found guilty and has lost all his points.

He believes it does the matter if they keep saying bad things about him because that is not going to make Mclaren take again his points...

Go for them Campeón

[Rob]

Or with the same set-ups, he is the better driver and hence why he has led the whole way through the season!

[Luis de España]

It is easier to set-up copiying to someone : You only have to concetrate in driving, because Alonso is doing botn setuping and driving.

It is because the tyres. They make equal to pilots. Just see De la Rosa times, he did not do any first position last year.

It is hard to be in Alonso,s position. You have a clon in your house.

A real worldchampion would not need to copy anyone.

What will do Hamilton when Alonso will be in Ferrari in next year ?

[Pinacea]

For all those that have no the slightest idea about what objectivity and rigorous discernment is:
Alonso is big in Spain and in the world, yes. But before he got the 2 WCS, and when all the spanish press was putting him as the number 1, he kept on saying things like "we have a good car for this race, good enough to be on the podium... He conquered the crown 2 times. This season, specially in the second part, he says nothing, and is still competiting for the third crown.
On the other hand, you have Baby-Chucky-Lewis talking about "beating" FA, getting the crown... well, let me tell you something, little spoiled brat: you are a very good pilot, and maybe you will be big someday. Untill that day, hush, look at the master, and "speak" on the track.

[MAXIMVS]

Ed, try this headline:

"LEW PREPARES THE CAR FOR THE TEST DRIVER"

(Ed, take it on from there)

See, he leaves it nowhere really, but that's just not an issue.

[fonsi]

Now everyone knows how important has Alonso been for the team and also for Hamilton.

[fonsi]

To Mark M

We all are sure your spanish is better than our poor english.

Probably you don't have enough space in your head for another language.

[joaquin]

Q: Alonso, what kind of setup are you preparing for hamilton.

A. Well, we spend a lot of time talking about hand-brake....

[Pinacea]

To Fonsi:
Para los caballos, majo (not to fast, mate). The point is not if Mark has a big or small head. Normally l dont agree at all with Mark´s comments. But he is perfectly right to said that most of the comments from spaniards in this blog are written in "poor english", specially when this is an english site. I don´t know if Mark has a good chinese or a poor french, that´s not the point. The point is that we must try to express ourselves in correct english, and if we dont achieve this, is nothing but our own fault.
And if we can´t express ourselves correctly, it´s pefectly understandable Mark´s little confidence in our english language understanding. Please, stop this silly "spanish proud" war.

[adam forrester]

Mclarens goal like all teams is to arrive at the race weekend with a balanced team car IE.using all their previous data and any new inputs a car both drivers can use.The drivers will then fine tune the car to their particular style of driving.In the case of say Mansell and Prost at Ferrari this caused problems because they where so different in style.Neither could drive each others car set-up, and this caused problems with the spare car.Alonso and Hamilton are much closer,but still noticeable different,easily seen by spectators with low seating positions.Of course if one car is under performing data will be compared by the team engineers(not to be confused with the drivers race engineer)to find out why.There are no secrets in this,it's not possible to hide things,everything is logged.At Spa Hamiltons car was clearly to lose at the rear in the middle stint.He was loosing time in the faster corners and having problems getting the power down.I expect he didn't have enough downforce which only showed up when the tyres degraded.Something he will learn from.In Siversone he set the ride rear ride height to low.Both where rookie errors in that they deviated from the team car settings without Hamilton having knowledge from previous F1 seasons to draw on.As Ross Braun says "drivers cannot make a car faster,only designers and engineers can.The driver can only drive the car at it's maximum potential." In the second half of the season Alonso has been dong that more often.Finding that potential has nothing to do with copying the other drivers settings.

[Andy G]

In my opinion, almost every comment on this blog topic (before this) is moronic or deliberately inflammatory or both.

If you do understand the issues but choose to play these games then shame on you.

If you don't understand the issues then you need some help.

Facts:

1. Lewis kicked Fernando's ass through pre-season testing: big shock to our little Catalan friend
2. Lewis and Fernando been on terms with FA throughout just like Miguels table shows with Fernando playing catchup
3. They basically go the same way on setup
4. As you would expect, the inexperienced F1 driver is more likely to go down a dead-end with setup than the more experienced one

This whole setup thing most have come from some dreadful Spanish equivalent of the Daily Star taking it out of context. You loud and unpleasant Fernando crazies need to get a reality check.

Lewis is leading the championship because he has delivered more than Fernando so far this year!

Deal with it!

[Roger]

I would like to ask (excuse me for my poor english, dear Mark M) all of you one question. You too, Ed. Did Ron Dennis know nothing about the Ferrari's documents?

I believe that's impossible, and let me explain myself. I can't see Mike Coughlan taking design decisions about the car on his own. That would be a complete disaster. Design in Formula 1 is made as a team, discussing every single decision on every single bolt as a team. Why? Because tenths you can win here can turn seconds you lost there. Just think on Mr Coughlan and the weight balance discussion that was listed in Fernando and Pedro emails. And imagine he alters the weight balance from 49/51 to 46/54 because he feels he will gain traction on exit of slow corners. But he takes the decision on his own. What would come next? The tyre engineer will find the rear tyres degrading ultra fast and the front tyres without grip.

Each concept in F1 car design is discussed in deep between all engineering areas. Because you need every part work altogether. That was the reason why in Renault they had a meeting between Viry and Enstone twice a week (just think that today you can build a whole 30 story building in Tokyo without moving from London using Internet). And all is supervised by team principal (and talking about Ron Dennis this must be put on the limits). I can't believe Mr Dennis know nothing and all that stuff was just Mr Coughlan making his way to Toyota. Come on. Babies don't come from Paris.

[Joan]

I think that Hamilton has proven himself a real gentleman as well as a clever young person in this interview. I look forward to watching the qualifying session. Something else, not being either Spanish or English -Catalan as a matter of fact- I think that anyone not speaking in his own language should be modest and cautious enough to try to be polite and non-offensive. I still wonder those of you, my Spanish neighbours, critisizing e.g. javierviva'paña, when you are just using the same approach.

[Andy G]

ON SECOND THOUGHTS

I have an idea. In reality I am pretty admiring of all the drivers in F1 and pretty neutral on who wins.

However because of the constant appalling Fernando nonsense that we get every single day, I will shift approach.

I may write the occasional comment offering a constructive thought on the topic (now there's an idea for some of you).

The rest of the time I am going to go some way to balancing up the comments by pointing out how bad Fernando is.

I have never seen such a psychologically frail and morally deficient driver...

Who else:

1. Cannot sustain a working relationship with any team management?
2. Becomes a fearful, childish and pathetic mental wreck whenever a team mate goes faster?
3. Is shockingly deceitful and disingenuous? And is disliked by almost everyone decent: most drivers, most team personnel. In fact only the truly desperate and the Spanish have much time for him.
4. Had to learn how to drive again at the feet of a rookie and is competitive only because he used Lewis' flowing and drifting style to get back into the game
5. Runs home to his ultra-supportive press and fans every time he should be engaging with the real world and showing what a 2xWDC should be like?
6. Makes so many stupid schoolboy errors like several of the starts this year? Only some of the back grid drivers are so clumsy and poor at making choices under pressure
7. Is strategically stupid enough to create doubt in every team manager's and sponsor's mind about employing him?

He has two DWC's because he got the best car and all the luck two seasons in a row.

Fernando is going back to where he belongs: the mid grid.

There he can serve out his days dealing with mediocrity that his overall abilities are better suited to.

Alonso for Toyota where he will be routinely outqualified by Trulli!

Let's see if Alonso can make some progress this weekend or whether he continues on the slope towards being mid-oughties history.

Never has a such a nasty and slimy fellow been so temporarily overrated.

[Max-Miami]

I got it!
Andy G is really Andrew Gorman, evil twin of Ed Gorman. Sepparated at birth, Andy grew up in an abandoned hanger at Silverstone, sucking on wrenches and raised by foxes. He developed special senses from hearing the vibrations generated by the passing cars to the point where he now can tell the difference between a driver wearing Pumas or Simpson racing shoes 100 meters away (in the racing car while driving!!!). So please bow as you read Andy G’s posts.

[JOSE]

ALONSO WOULD BE LEADING THE CHAMPIONSHIP, JUST IF HE WOULDN´T HAD TO ADAP TO THE BRIGESTONE´S AND TO THE BRAKES OF THE MC, MUCH HARDERS THAN HE LIKES, AND FOR INSTANCE, JUST IF HE IN THE CANADIAN GP JUST DIDN´T TRYED TO OVERTAKE IN THE START, BEING NOT CONFIDENT ENOUGTH WITH THE TYRES, AND HE JUST TRYED TO FINISH IN THE SAME POSITION HE DID QUALIFY, ALREADY HE WILL BE LEADING THE CHAMPIONSHIP, EVEN WHITH HIS "TEAM MATE" ROBBERY OF HUGARY NOT KEEPING THE TEAM AGREMENTS FOR QUALIFICATION AND EVEN OFFENDING RON DENNIS. SINCE SILVERTONE "HAM" HAS BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT SET-UP´S, JUST´S SINCE FA, HAD DECIDED NOT TO BE SO GENEROUS WITH "HAM". TO THOSE THAT THINK THAT "HAM" HAD DELIVERED MORE THAN FA, PLEASE DONT FORGUET THAT ALONSO WILL WIN HIS THIRD CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR, ONLY IF RON DENNIS WON´T DECIDES TO SPOILS FA CAR OR SOMETHING TO FACILITATES "HAM" TO WIN. EXCUSES FOR MY ENGLISH, HOPEFULLY ENOUGHT TO COMUNICATE MYSELF.

[Max-Miami]

Ok,
Here is a quote from James Allen on ITV-F1.com:

"But Lewis is now suffering from the lack of cooperation from the other side of the garage on set-up. Alonso is keeping his data to himself and his experience is making the difference at the moment."

http://www.itv-f1.com/Feature.aspx?Type=James_Allen&PO_ID=40726

Interesting comment from another British journalist who has been on the Hamilton cheerleading band wagon.

Cheers!

[Michael Boyle]

TO ANDY G ON SECOND THOUGHTS

who else?

only a real genuine champion. Definitely not Lewis.

You´ve never met an angry Spanish before. Welcome to the battle. Enjoy

[Oliver Cromwell]

I'm quite happy. Alonso says he will be at McLaren next season. Ooooh! Aaaah! (irony).

[Augusto Baena]

Andy G: "He has two DWC's because he got the best car and all the luck two seasons in a row.
...
Never has a such a nasty and slimy fellow been so temporarily overrated."

Your nationalistic blood boiling again.

It's a pitty, you alternate decent technical posts with these rubbish written while being wrapped with the Union Jack.

I prefer this quote from Hamilton today:
"And since what's gone on in the last few weeks they've realised who the real people are in the team and who they really should back."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/62753

Cards face up on the table!

Regards

[LuisP]

To Andy G:

"Never has a such a nasty and slimy fellow been so temporarily overrated."

Well, mate, this overrated nasty and slimy fellow has won two championships in a row... and will hunt down LH to get his third crown. Now, I understand that hurts, but please remember being a champion is not about winning races, but about winning races by a mile, crushing competitors... Dennis calls them all competitive animals, and cometitive animals know no limits. It is not an "after you sir" sport. Get used to it. FA is not very "cute", but LH "cuteness" will make him always a number 2. Cheers.

[Elmorule]

to dream to dream that alonso takes the world-wide one, and to let speak as much that you are arrogant and prepotent ones

[Pinacea]

This is the circus. Here we are already with the clowns: the "serious" white face, spiting rubish from his 13 years old experience in driving supermarket trolleys, and the idiot one, the "bobito" that has not a clue about the bussines, but is irremediably compelled to say something dumb, aren´t you, Joanito? As you all can see, stupidity doesnt know nacionalities, but shame on me, being spanish... with a couple more like Joan, God, have mercy of us.

[Carlos B., Madrid]

Andy G., thanks for removing your mask off.

since your first post, it was pretty clear you were just another F1 fan, who in order to support his gut feelings, would write a few technical ideas (posted a few times already by many people, nothing new really), and then you would sneak in the middle of your lecture some opinions, as respectable as any opinion, but just an opinion, supported only by your feelings towards one driver, but you would not supply any information or any data that could support your point of view, which already has been deconstructed and disregarded by the data and facts presented by other posters.

this way, mixing technical stuff and opinions, you were expecting people to be amazed and grateful that such a personality would dedicate some of his spare time to write in this blog and educate us, and in the process, we would take your word as true as if God had come to earth and summoned us.

mate, indeed you know a lot about technical aspects of racing, though when it comes to expressing your feelings about a certain driver, you become a lot less than the average blogger.

i see no difference between what you feel and the way you defend Hamilton and other bloggers who defend the opposite.

i will not even bother to desconstruct your post, is rather worthless, though i'm disappointed, i thought you were more knowledgeable, Alonso has many deffects and can be accused of many things, you should have plenty of ammunition to criticize Alonso, he is far from perfect, but instead you say things like:

"He has two DWC's because he got the best car and all the luck two seasons in a row.

Fernando is going back to where he belongs: the mid grid."

Andy G, please come forward and justify this opinion with facts if you can, facts is the only thing that can single you out of the crowd, though i doubt very much you have any arguments to justify that point of view.

this is the first time i dedicate a post to an individual on this blog, i have been trying to promote debate and not get personal, though Andy G., you are just promoting what you said you didn't like of this blog on your first post, though as i said, that was not you, the real you is this, a Hamilton hooligan in disguise, who just removed his mask.

[landru]

The nice child of Ron Dennis. He's only a good pilot, but the best is Alonso. Hamilton don't be the leader without the information of Alonso.

[cfkane]

Well, on one hand, Lewis is without a doubt a very skilled driver. Even if Fernando is doing all the set up he still has to drive the car, and his car goes really fast.

On the other hand, maybe Fernando has the edge when it comes to set - up, because he is a more experienced driver.

So let both of them do the talking on the track. And don ´t forget Kimi

[Andy G]

IS ALONSO CRUSHED BY THE REALISATION THAT HE IS STILL LOSING THE CHAMPIONSHIP?

Fernando's problem is this: Second Place means Loser.

And that's where Fernando may be heading now having got behind Hamilton throughout practice 2 on Friday.

He has kept behind but close to Hamilton all season chiefly by means of various forms of "sharp practice" from threatening to have the team thrown out (which he followed through on) to using the Spanish media to claim that he is disadvantaged by McLaren (black propaganda) when the opposite is true.

Will he be able to keep it together: well we shall see. I am 50:50.

Afterall if he wins, everyone will know it won't have be because he has driven better, and if he loses then so much for this two times World Chump.

Hamilton is valued like a equity-stock with a long future of top returns in prospect but Alonso is like a Collateralized Debt Obligation!

Alonso's value was riding high into this year but then someone pointed out there was no good reason when other assets were more attractive and much less problematic :)

This is why the mid-grid beckons!

"Abayo" as they say in Japanese. A language that Mr Alonso and all his fans will need to start studying shortly.

[joan]

Hamilton has already been the fastest driver in the practice session today. Nice even if it means nothing yet! I have the feeling this is going to be a great weekend for F1 and Hamilton.
By the way, Ed, do you think that Hamilton has played any role in McLaren's keeping Alonso in the team for the rest of the season? I think Hamilton really wants to win the title with no circumstantial help, just by proving himself the best against the best available contenders.

[They are using us. Let's enjoy the Sport anyway.]

Building on MAX-MIAMI's joke, but taking it seriously: It is clear to me now, that Andy G. and Ed Gorman are the same person. His alter ego -Andy- is only used to stir the pot, and make a spicier soup , as convenient, for blog-traffic purposes. Andy is the guy that can afford the biased comments, like today's. Something, a good journalist would not do, unless he follows greedy vested interests.

[Andy G]

HEY CARLOS B

WHO NEEDS FACTS OR CONSTRUCTIVE MOTIVATION ON THIS BLOG?

Carlos - as I said in my SECOND OPINION post: I am just assessing how much fun it is to do what the aggressive anti-Brit people have been doing here for some time.

Once I have several hundred complaints then I will go back to something better than nationalist propaganda.

And you can do the same.

Meanwhile, it is fun watching the Matador grind himself into a morass of self-doubt over his precarious ability and far-from-assured future.

[Carlos B., Madrid]

Andy G.

"using the Spanish media to claim that he is disadvantaged by McLaren (black propaganda) when the opposite is true."

how do you even dare to bring the spanish media into the debate?, besides that the Spanish media has null influence in F1 (and if you knew about F1 you should know Alonso does not give a monkey about the spanish press nor his fans) everyone is aware of the huge power of British press, the only one in the world able to promote a FIA investigation when things do not come the way Hamilton expects, remember what happened in Monaco. Please note "british press" is an overstatement.

Andy G, you that seem to have some capabilities to analyze things, if you looked at Monaco race, Lewis post-race reaction, Ron Dennis reaction, plus what happened in Hungary during qualifying as you'd see it as the original spark that ignited the fire which is now tearing Mclaren down.

of course this is not defense to Alonso, he has overdone a few things, has not been able to cope appropiately with losing and should have known better, but Hamilton, who sells himself as a clean driver and a better person, instigated all this mess when he complained on the aftermath of his defeat in Monaco. Had he been properly advised, somebody would have made Hamilton understand he did not have one single chance of winning in Monaco (out of 10 fastests laps of the race, 2 for Hamilton, 8 for Alonso), instead of that, Hamilton casted doubts over the well deserved Alonso's victory.

and not happy with that, Hamilton went on to Hungary to defecate on a gentlemans agreement during Q3, which then prompted Alonso's overeaction and another FIA investigation.

i can not really blame Alonso for being a bit fed-up with Mr. Nice Guy and the way the team was managing the situation.

or is it that so far Alonso is the only one using "sharp practices" and "black propaganda" and Hamilton is Snow White...

what a bunch of puppets, spitting our guts and insulting each others in this blog whilst these F1 guys earn in one week what we earn in a lifetime, while they have fun thinking how silly fans really are...

[Nacho Vidal]

Andy G is angry because LH has recognized indirectly that he don't know to set up the car better than FA. We all know the truth at least!

[Andy G]

CARLOS

A little difficult for Lewis to do more than 2 of the fastest laps: poor Lewis was sitting behind a mobile silver roadblock driven by Fernando!

If Fernando was a gentlemen, he would have pulled over and let Lewis through in the interests of justice.

That's why it didn't happen in the USA when Alonso's car was quicker for a while.

What goes around comes around.

As for the rather biomechanical tactics that you allege Lewis used at the Hungaroring - well it's Alonso that is heading down the pan now!

I am sorry to hear that you earn in a lifetime what an F1 driver earns in a week: I am happy to lend you a few Euros if that would make you feel happier?

[Carlos B., Madrid]

hi Andy G. mate

thanks for your offer to give me a few quid, but given your current situation, i shall kindly reject your offer and recommend you instead to use the money to buy yourself a new TV set, because it seems the broadcast you get is so bad you seem to watch a totally different race ;-)

in the race i watched in Monaco, the only thing i could see is Hamilton banging wheels with the barriers six times, whilst trying desperately to get an sniff of Alonso's rear, ocassionally he managed to get about a 2 seconds gap when Alonso was stuck in traffic, but the average gap during most part of the race was between 6 and 10 seconds, Hamilton was not impeded by Alonso, but impeded by his own unability to go faster, he was awesomely lucky to finish the race with the car in one piece by the way., the kind of luck we have also seen in Nurburgring with the crane and a few other ocassions.

please, also don't be tight-fisted and buy yourself, on top of the TV, a DVD player and i'll send you a copy of the race, so you can watch it again and give yourself the opportunity to re-assess the Monaco situation...

take care Andy...;-)

[Jacob]

Carlos, NACHO...

I relly dont understand why do you keep talking with Andy G. It´s very clear the guy is very sick.

I can imagine he is from some english village. he doesn´t do anything else by be connecting to blogs... Poor guy. He doesn´t even know how to understand text in english because his mother tongue is cockney...

really you are wasting your time.

[Prabha]

Yes, of course he uses Pedro's & Fernando's setup information. After all don't they know how to do Ferrari's as well..?

On a serious note, he uses Pedro's & Alonso's setup but don't they also gauge if Lewis's is okay or not..?.

[Pablo]

Andy G, Ed G, and Kenny G... No doubt they are the Bee Gs!!!

Please, stop shooting nonsense posts, and let us enjoy the races and supporting whoever we want

[Keith]

Jacob,
"He doesn´t even know how to understand text in english because..."

Yup I have trouble trying to understand some of your posts too!

[Lewis H]

what alot of crap people speak on here.....

[Juan]

Dear Andy G, it's amazing the way you like, How you said? Oh, yes, "debate and not insults", hor hor hor, really a gentleman, hor hor, by the way, you haven't argued none of the post to this topic, specially those rellated to the Hamilton's anwer, when he said "So then we go to a race and we have got a very similar set-up or they have tweaked it a little bit. At the last race especially I went somewhere else on my set-up, thinking it was the right way and we were wrong. It was miles apart and, although I was not that far off his times, I feel that if my set-up was a lot further in the other direction it would have been a lot better", difficult to match with his statement of "Usually Fernando and I have similar set-ups, and more often than not it is the set-up I found from tests. I do the first day and a half, find a set-up and then Pedro or Fernando turn up and drive my car", a little bit of debate, pleeeease?? Don't you thing if Hamilton did his job by himself, he wouldn't need to, using Hamilton's words, "keep an eye on him and see where he's going and that's what I've not done in the last couple of races"?? hor hor hor...Regards, and relax...and enjoy...

[Andy G]

HEY JACOB

The only thing that makes me sick is the invasion of this blog by some loudmouthed FA supporters full of bile and paranoia.

"I can imagine he is from some english village".. well they do call London the Global Village. You should visit, everyone wants to live here at the moment.

Cockney...!! I am a Scot :)

You boys watch too much television.

Go and skin another rabbit or whatever it is that you do over there.

CARLOS

I am not your mate. That's how they speak in Eastenders (Cockney) but not we do things here.

I wasn't offering you a few quid. We sensibly stayed out of the Euro and will continue to do so for ever. A few quid would be too much: they are worth more than your funny Euros and about several gazillions of your old Pts.

Pip pip!

[Bhavesh Mistry]

And there I was feeling so smug and sure of myself that Lewis and FA set-ups were different, then Lewis goes and pulls the rug out from under me... oh well.
Still at the end of the day the set-up is one thing; going out and beating a twice world champion is another. So still hats off to Lewis. Japan looks like it will be another classic battle, hopefully there will be some overtaking this time around.

[Maritsa-Illano -Asturias]

Hi to everyone from the western pàrt of Asturias! Being from FA´s homeland,it seems obvious to support his comings and goings in this year´s wacky, crazy F1 season. I think he´s the perfect example of what a "champion" is meant to be. He has always been-as far as I know- respectful of other people. This cannot be said of others who have for some odd reason insisted on calling him a "hermit", unsociable, nasty, resentful and "mediocre" pilot. Of course, I haven´t read or heard all of his interviews, so there´s always a chance I might have missed out on something. In Hungary he did, in my oppinion, make a mistake: he let on he was human because after his teammate tried to bugger his flying lap he sat there and let LH see how good his car looked from behind. An understandable outburst, which is not at all usual with Fernando. He was too fed up. But well in the end he paid- and dearly- for this mistake. Haven´t seen his teammate in the same situation, though! If I had, we could compare. The most bewildering thing to me is that there are more spaniards than I thought supporting LH instead of FA and for no particular reasons. Maybe he´s too close to your average spaniard in looks and social class and is a constant reminder of what can happen when you strive and work hard to get what you want, which of course is something that they aren´t willing to do-WORK HARD! Which brings us back to LH... He is a great driver, but there are a few things he could learn from Fernando, beginning with respect for a man who has won 2 WC. I know he doesn´t read the press-spanish or other- but in case someone close to him happens to read this, I send him all my support and just one piece of advice which I have taken years to understand: Your mistakes are better for you than someone else´s good intentions. Greetings from Illano!

[Jacob]

Keith:
"He doesn´t even know how to understand text in english because..."

Yup I have trouble trying to understand some of your posts too!

I wasn´t refering to my post... I have no doubt I make mistakes. I meant that he have problems even understanding english people.

However, I am sure It can´t be many english people like him... He is a very agressive person and you can check his post to confirm this... But I hace to tell you most of them are very boring too.
Good luck

[javiervivaespania]

NACHO VIDAL came into the blog room and after him the first female, of course, Maritsa. Exactly, I agree with what you say, Maritsa. Although not completely technical, your opinion is full of passion for your flag, your country and your little region too. You are so right, how can a decent spaniard have any sympathy for LH? FA is our Champion, he has worked hard, as Nacho Vidal and other spanish heroes. And mistakes of FA? Well, we all make mistakes, that is part of the game. Your english is nice, Maritsa, take it easy with NV.

[mostoso]

Everybody knew but you. From the begining FA complained about that. being said that...if LH has gone off on his own ergo FA is the master.
fair enough

[Kathryn S]

"At the last race especially I went somewhere else on my set-up, thinking it was the right way and we were wrong."

I've been waiting for someone else to comment on the above quote by Hamilton, but since no one else has...why didn't he say, "I went somewhere else...and I was wrong." Or is Lewis Hamilton never wrong?

[MAXIMVS]

To Mark M, about his English skills:

"that he is using others data and thier help" (Tier one typo)

"the first sign of an inteligent person is one who knows" should say: "the first sign of an inteLLigent person is TO KNOW..."

"to improve his setting up skills and regonises he needs to get better at it (ai am sure he will)"

(notice the new verb: to regonise)

"I dont think any of the comments above this really understand what he is saying"

(The "comments" cannot actually understand, can they?)

"and, as ususal, they appear to be the Spainish crowd"

(Ususual Spainish, Englaish, etc...)

A casa...

[MAXIMVS]

To Andy G:

The ultra poor performance of English teams and sportsmen in World sports across the board must be discouraging for a nation that has produced a poppy-Beckham and little else in the last decade or so.

This includes sports like rugby (!), cricket (!) and darts, where you are no longer the best neither... terrible.

But, what about... Tennis? Hockey? Basketball? Volleyball? Football? Cycling?, Sailing?, Handball?, Skiing? Athletics? Rally racing? (McRae was Scottish!). Even in Golf Spain does better.

What a DESERT...

It must be so frustrating...

NO WONDER YOU WORSHIP HAMILTON LIKE YOU DO.

[MAXIMVS]

Hello Ed, we've come a long way together, why don't you publish my best comment so far?

I find it VERY EXPLICATIVE of what is going on. Please, swalow your English pride and publish it. What I write is true and very related to EVERYTHING WHAT IS HAPPPENING AROUND LH AND FA.

Thanks mate.

[Lolibus]

Lewis made a great pole position. The race is gonna be very interesting!! I think Alonso will be able to overtake Lewis and win the race. But for sure.... is gonna be a very exciting race. Good luck to both.!!!
And please stop that bored and silly proud mails from sides: british and spanish ones.

[Andy G]

MAXIMVS

I am a Scot.

Your posts are certainly petulant, abusive and unpleasant. I suspect you are as well.

I will not respond to your posts again.

You're not worth it.

[LGT]

I´ve been following comments here for some weeks now. Most intriguing to read is the seemingly collective Spanish assault on Lewis Hamilton - his ability as a F1 driver and his personality. Perhaps most intriguing are the remarks pertaining to SETUPS! I´m not an expert. Still commonsense tells me that LH and Alonso have different driving style/approach that demands or requires some measure of difference in their respective setups. Anyway, and for the sake of Alonso´s fans here, I hope he doesn´t disappoint them in the end (no irony intended). However, should he fall short of that goal, I suspect blame would be targeted at LH. It´s a no win game for LH as far as such fans are concerned. Personally I enjoy watching both drivers in their battle for the championship. If Alonso wins the championship this year he will have deserved it. If LH wins it, well,in fairness,credit should go to him for such an achievement. Peace!

[Si]

Congratulations to all for the friendly banter on this blog. Please do try to keep the biased nationalist tone down...but do keep vociferously backing your hero, regardless of the facts and the opinions of the other bloggers, because it is very entertaining.
I can be a bit dispassionate about this whole Anglo-Iberian spat...I'm Irish and Old Eddie Ervive retired some years ago after living long in MS shadow at Ferrari. One of the comments from Maximus though, really did have me choking on my paella.

I quote "ultra poor performance of English teams and sportsmen in World sports across the board

What a DESERT... "

Far be it from me to denigrate the sporting achievements of any nation...but Maximus...really!!??

There is a saying in English that you should memorize 'people in glass houses should not throw stones'.

As F1 is the subject I did a quick check back to 1958. (I left Jackie Stewart out...like Colin McCrae...he was Scottish).

England:
D Hill 1996
Mansell 1992
Hunt 1976
G Hill * 2 1962 1968
Clark * 2 1963 1965
Surtees 1964
Hawthorn 1958

Spain

Alonso * 2 2005 2006

[Soyari]

It´s the first time that I read opinions about this F1 matter in an english place (I´m spanish) and I should say that I´m not happy at all ´cause people don´t understand (in my country happens too) that this is not a cultural problem, not a national interests war it´s just about sport (yes, I´m talking about F1). We could have an opinion about this boys in their fast cars (I do, of course) but we should not forget that insult is not the way to understand each other. I really miss the time when those cars were driven by gentleman drivers.