Melbourne: a tough weekend, well sort of...

I know there are quite a few of you who like reading about what we hacks get up to during a Formula One weekend, so with that in mind, I thought I would give you a flavour of how Melbourne is shaping up. The first thing on the agenda is a shit of a flight, economy class, on Emirates from Heathrow on Monday evening. The plane goes via the giant shopping centre in the desert that is Dubai airport, where I normally spend a few hours staring in a stupefied trance at people making shopping decisions in the middle of their night.

Last year Kevin Garside(the Daily Telegraph's man in the paddock) and I flew on the Sunday and got diverted to Kuwait because of a plane malfunction at Dubai. That turned out to be a total nightmare and we ended travelling for 38 hours by the time we touched down in OZ. Anyway, let's hope that doesn't happen again.

Once we get to Melbourne the first thing to do is get our season-long accreditation. This is the red pass we have to wear round our necks at all times and is issued by the FIA who require an amazingly exhaustive application process. Even The Times correspondent is supposed to send a recent copy of the newspaper in for perusal in November so the FIA can check whether it is a responsible organ(some of you think it isn't, I'm sure).

Last time I got my accreditation and then spent the rest of the day wondering around in another exhausted trance. The track stuff starts on Thursday when we turn up at Albert Park where they are normally putting the finishing touches to the circuit. Last year I got a drive round with Jason Swales, the BBC Radio Five Live F1 producer. (It was in a minibus, but we got a bit of an idea!) In fact at that time I was doing a lot of "work" on PlayStation in preparation for each race. This year, that's gone out the window because our console at home is broken.

Melbourne being the first race of the season, there are some set-piece PR events that you tend to go to just to get your bearings and get a feel for who looks confident, nervous, or whatever. One of the main ones is a traditional pre-season lunch for the press hosted by McLaren at a (no doubt) vastly expensive restaurant on the Melbourne sea-front. Last year this was where Lewis and his brand new friend Fernando did their James Bond impressions, walking out of the surf after getting to the place on a rib. Won't be quite the same this time I guess.

There are team lunches, dinners and press conferences every day leading up to qualifying. For example Toro Rosso have got a lunch on the Wednesday(I don't think I'll be in a sensible condition for that one), there is a Vodafone dinner on the Thursday(probably drag myself to that) and also on Thursday(it's going to be busy) there is a big Shell-sponsored press conference where Felipe and the Kimster will appear. Everything will be in red and it will be very Italian/formal at a location in what the Aussies call the CBD.

Of course there is practice on Friday - I can't wait for that(seriously) - and I'm sure there is something on that night. Then it all kicks off for real with Saturday practice and then qualifying. One thing you can be sure of, I will be on the grid on Sunday drinking in the atmosphere and checking out the vibes with Lewis, Kimi, Felipe and yes, Heikki and, not forgetting of course, Fernando.

In fact race day is going to be a great one for me because at 9.00am I have the honour of having breakfast with Sir Jackie in the Williams motorhome. It's not that often that you get the chance to have breakfast with a sporting legend and his views are always perceptive and informed. (Clearly I'm not in the Max Mosley camp when it comes to JYS, a man whose heart is most definitely in the right place.)

Well, that's about it. It may sound like non-stop fun, but there is work to do and the flying tends to drag it all down for a few days. I will be in Melbourne for two more days after the race, before I fly to sunny Malaysia for episode two.

Pic of Melbourne race start by meu336 via flickr   

   

Comments

[Mannersaye]

Since the blog shut down for winter i'd been getting my fix on some other f1 sites not linked to the newspapers. Looking forward to your insight over the coming season and trying to decide which race to attend this year. Valencia methinks. Great to have the blog back.

[Colin]

Welcome back Ed, and I'm all set for a new season (roughly, season 38 for me).
Love this post, and nice to see that all that glitz and glamour of attending every race, requires some pain on your part :-)
Hang on to that "edge" you have.

[anxious, Galicia,spain]

Welcome back Ed,I'm a spanish guy who loves your blog and can't wait for the start of the season. I've learnt a lot from this blog and I just hope this season people writting in this post will be more aducative than it was last year. I rather prefer read 15 post talking about formula 1 than have to read one hundred about things that are not racing.
Let's be more sporting!
Ed,(or anyone who can answer me)I have a doubt about racing and I hope you can give me a hand.
I'm currently playing a F1 game, Rfactor, and trying to set up my car. I don´t understand what's the difference between the suspension "hard" and "soft". Which one is better for,for example, a bumpy track? Because I think that with the hard ones the tyres will bounce back to the track faster but with the soft ones the car would be easier to handle. I don´t know. Could you answer me?
Thanks in advance.
PS:Sorry about my english but It has been a long time since the last time I talked in english with anybody.

[Javier]

Dear Ed,

Welcome back. I hope that 2008 will be different to 2007 (I guess that everybody but Ferrari people will agree on that). I just saw an article you wrote the other day named :
"Alonso: no wonder Lewis was taunted"
I heard alonso´s words, and he did not say that. He said that if you talk like Lewis (do you remember the "Alonso taught me how not to behave"?) no wonder people boe him.
He condemned racist abuses and that he does not need this kind of supporters. Alonso did not say anything about Mclaren or Hamilton.
Why don´t you give him a break?

[Dean Rodrigues]

Ed, what's the Aussie sentiment about losing their GP? From the media coverage over the winter, Bernie seems pretty definitive in axing the race - surely there's a degree of unhappiness about that?

Also, in response to 'IDR' and 'JARROS' on an earlier post, Hispanics do not confuse 'S' and 'Z' - those of Spanish origin use 'Z', while those of Portuguese use 'S'. Ironically, I am absolutely neither - I originate from Goa, India (hence the Portuguese surname) but was born and bred in London, and am currently at Oxford.
- "this guy has suffered racist abuses due to his surname (probably in English speaking countries)" - this has got to be a joke - England, especially London, is the most cosmopolitan and arguably the least racist place on Earth. I have never experience racism of any form.
- "he is racist and feels shame in carrying a South American’s origin surname" - firstly, I have absolutely no shame in my name, and feel very sorry for anyone who does. More importantly, I think it is very sad that people construe a dislike of a person, and a dislike of abject racism by a group of fans, as equating to "a lot of anger to everything related to Spanish origin". Like most British fans, I dislike Alonso because he is a really, REALLY bad loser. And like most fans anywhere in the world, I think people who go to the extent of those Spaniards to be racist deserve to be sent to Guantanamo.

SO, I'd appreciate it if IDR refrained from accusing people who dislike racism as being racists themselves. And perhaps, stick to F1.

[Frank]

Great to have you back Ed, I found the column mid last-season. I've been an F1 fan for awhile. Looking forward to a new season.

Rather enjoy the British point of view. For those of us in the states, we can't seem to match the sort of subtle humor of the folks from The Isles so we are left to enjoy the commentary. Thanks again.

[D (real D)]

Thanks for this , Ed.

Could you tell us, at your convenience, sometime, what kit you take with you to the races, these days?

Laptop, I assume! But what make and size? What accessories do you need? What do others have? What would you like to have and what have you found doesn't fit the bill?

Nigel Roebuck is always pictured with an old 12" G4 Powerbook in Autosport. Do many people use Macs?

And then, what else? Compact binoculars? Smartphone? Any other gadgets apart from your trusty camera (and what type is that?)

If the great pictures you took and posted last year were partly what got you nominated for the award, I'm sure you can stiff The Times for a super new one a Dubai airport on the way out.

So, tell us about your toys!

Have a good trip.

[17 points in two races]

Wellcome Ed!!

I think I understand your sense of british humor. To all Spanish people, do you imagine a Mr. Lobato´s blog?

[Weasel]

Hi Ed

I pity you the long flight - the sooner one can get in-flight internet access at reasonable or no cost, the better.

I understand that the FIA have been training MI5 on how to screen applicants.

Just a futile thought here - could we drop the politics, racism, rabid nationalism of last year (and it is already creeping into your blog this year, even before the first race) and concentrate on motor racing?

Have a safe journey.

[IDR]

TO DEAN RODRIGUES

Rodrigues is not a Portuguese surname. Portugal was part of Spain and the origin is just the same: Rodriguez coming from the Visigoths, and meaning “son of Rodrigo”.

For the rest of my previous comment, and your response, I’m sure that you don’t understand why I, ironically, wrote that, and I’m not going to expend more time trying to make you understand it.

The only thing I want to point out is that nobody is what he wants to be, but how is seen by the rest of the persons after reading what is written on this blog.

In your case, after reading your last season’s comments, and how you have started this year, what I have already written about you, maybe, just maybe, do not match with your way of thinking or your real being, but be sure that is the image you are sending to other bloggers, as me or JARROS.

You would agree or not, but your opinion in this case is not relevant and you should take in consideration the opinion of the people who read what you write… or not, this is over to you.

And, please, I think is better to stop this. You will continue writing here with your bad taste and manners, and I’m not going to waist more time asking you to be a little bit more civilized person.

[A Parker]

I agree with Dean Rodrigues. I am a huge Lewis fan, and at the end of last year, I thought Alonso was a sore loser, a sulker, spiteful and not worthy of being called a champion. After the racism incident at Catalunya, and Alonso's insistence that Lewis brought racist abuse on himself, I concluded that Alonso is a deeply unpleasant man and I hope the worst for him in all future F1 endeavours. I have no problem with any of the other drivers (except Webber who is also unpleasant - see Japan'07) and hope we can have a brilliant 2008 season and that people don't keep carping on about the McLaren having Ferrari parts. The FIA have drawn a line under this so let's hope the fans can too. I'm not going to hold my breath though. If Lewis does well to these people, it will be because the McLaren is part-Ferrari, and if he does badly, it will be because there is no more Ferrari data on the McLaren. Either way, Lewis will be the loser in their eyes, so I hope he brings home the WDC this year and shows he's the best.

[jordi]

Ed, I hope to enjoy your blog more than I did last year. I love F1 and I have been watching it for more than 20 years. I never was an Alonso fan, but I became one when I read your blog. I will not go on and on about it, but your one sided comments were somehow annoying. This year Alonso and Lewis are in different teams, so hopefully you will leave Fernando alone and we can all enjoy racing and your blog.

[ramplano]

Good Heavens! It´s all best wishes so far but the beast was awaken last year and it won´t be dormant these one, I´m pretty sure.

Unfortunately we won´t get rid of nationalism ,maybe next season ,after Alonso regularly qualifying 7th or 8th , the fire started last year will go.He hasn´t got a competitive car, so no chance.

I don´t put my bets in anyone yet but I believe it is all about Kimi and Lewis. Perhaps Massa and Kovalainen will win races but I don´t see them winning the crown

Glad to be back although it´s a bit sad to read about surnames, Spanish and all that rubbish not needed here.

[Anon]

Um... To IDR and Dean Rodrigues:

Did I miss somthing or did you guys seriously just get angry in the space of four posts? Over the name "Rodrigues?" Come on, its his name, and that's the most irrelevant subject ever. This whole issue of race has made us lose focus. NATIONALITIES DON"T CHANGE A THING IN RACING, and unless I am mistaken we are discussing racing. I know that we love to watch races, but you know what kind I mean.

[D (real D)]

It's abundantly clear that a lot of people want to ignore the title of the threads here and debate the vastly more important subjects of race, nationalism and how to spell.

Would it be possible for you, therefore, to create a thread specifically dedicated to those vital issues and then re-direct to it (ruthlessly) all the postings that mistakenly get submitted to the threads about motor racing.

That way, those of us who are interested in Formula One could have our own little corner of the blog to actually debate the trivial and unimportant subject of motor racing.

Thank you.

(From somebody who knew and fondly remembers that great Mexican racing driver Pedro Rodriguez and his many awesome drives in Formula One and sports cars...)

[cfkane]

My prediction:

1.- Kimi.
2.- Lewis.
3.- Felipe.
4.- Heikki.

No chances for Fernando (fighting for 6 will be the best he will do).

So hopefully we will be free from biassed and angry post about Lewis - Alonso.

Let us focus on racing, please.

[PF from Valencia]

Hullo Dean Rodrigues,

Take no notice of IDR. As I learned from his insults to me on another thread he loves to jump to conclusions and make sweeping judgments about people based only on his own prejudices and a little amateur psychology. He really is a bore.

[IDR]

LESSON LEARNT

Thank you for remember me that this is a blog for F1 not for other different kind of issues.

I must say that despite I have been asking here to return to F1 issues, in the first occassion I read something out of topic, I couldn´t resist to put a comment on this.

Not a good example to follow.

You are wright, and I'm wrong.

If I want this blog much more focus on F1, I must be the first to follow the rule.

Sorry again.

[Anon]

Historic moment.

For once in the history of this blog, someone has said something irrelevant and/or stupid, acknowledged their mistake, and apologized for it. For the people not here last year, that is phenomenal.

Congratulations IDR for being that person. You're ability to apologize shows you are not a bore and should be taken notice of, because you can be responsible for your words and are credible.

By the way, for those who are shocked at the discussions about racism on this blog, I hope Javiervivaespania will post regularly this year. I don't with all of what he says, but to say he spices up things is an understatement.

Mr. Gorman, do you know if Super Aguri are at Melbourne right now? Because it seems that with their financial troubles, Sato and Davidson will be competing by running on their bare feet. Hopefully Super Aguri can buy them clothes.

[Dean Rodrigues]

"PF from Valencia" - couldn't agree more. Will be interesting to see how it manifests itself in the new season though... I personally can't wait!

[CHIUNDA]

For a guy who has all these free expensive lunches and dinners u dont look out of shape at all - unless that foto of u at the McLaren gym was edited by Times staff. How do u keep fit on the road - i know it is hard to stay on a routine in the hotels but how do u manage to stick to it? (that is if u do)

[Javier]

To A Parker,

Read my previous post. English papers are not a credible source of information any more.

Enjoy the season

[Scot]

I agree with JAVIER. Ed, give Alonso a break, please. Just focus on your idol Lewis, make him earn money as much as he can by enhancing artificially his supposed (Schmi won with Benneton and Alonso with Renault, not really the top teams in the grid. So far, Lewis haven't win even with one of the top teams) legend and forget Alonso.

[PF from Valencia]

Well done IDR!

Your apology was a real surprise. See how easy it was and how it's won you friends?

If only more Spanish fans would accept the errors of the ways of a few and condemn them unequivocally instead of insisting that "no pasò nada" at Montmelo we'd be well on the way to restoring F1 to the great sport it has always been.

Now all we need is an apology from Alonso on behalf of his fans and all will good in the world ;-)

For my part I'm getting myself in form for the new season by renovating my armchair and stocking up on beer and peanuts :-)

[Ed Gorman]

A message to Scot. As far as I know I have barely written a word about Fernando yet. Give me a chance. In fact I have always thought he was a nice guy who was badly advised etc etc but let's not get into that. The bottom line is Fernando hasn't got a vehicle to get him to the top - or maybe even the bottom - of the podium this season. That is not a criticism of him, just a statement of fact(as far as we can tell) about Renault.

[IDR]

Ed,

we all give you a chance, despite what you have already written about F Alonso in the newspaper during the pre-season.

Anyhow, it is quite clear that F Alonso has no chance for this year, then, all Alonso Fans (I am one of them-just for new bloggers-) will be quite relaxed this year. Nothing is expected from F Alonso.

You, as a good representation of L Hamilton Fan's Club, will have the pressure on your shoulders.

In any case is going to be quite funny to read your reports:

A) If L Hamilton become the driver you have already proclaimed hundred of millions of thousands times, I am sure I'm going to improve my English skills learning new wonderful adjectives and expressions.

B) If L Hamilton doesn't win the title, I will learn a lot of new ways to excuse something.

Anyhow, Good luck for this season and... "in boca luppo" as Italian says.

Finally, I'm sure that you will be quite happy with your new portable. 1,2 Kgs weight is really helpful during travels. You'll appreciate a lot.

On the other hand, if you are a "technophobe", Windows Vista will make your life little bit more complicated. There is a version running Windows XP, you should consider it seriously.

In any case, as a MAC user, I'm so sorry for all PC guys.

You will be surprised doing all the things you have commented in this post using a MAC. Is perfect for Technophobes like you. Everything works like magic! (well, almost everything, I must say…)

[Anon]

To PF from Valencia:

Say what you want about IDR; I'm not his lawyer. But again, two gratuitous quotes:

"If only more Spanish fans would accept the errors of the ways of a few..."

"Now all we need is an apology from Alonso on behalf of his fans and all will good in the world ;-)"

Quote Numeber 1: Apparently, the Spanish should apologize for anything a few Spaniards do. If all the people who yelled at Lewis in racist terms had brown hair, should all brown- haired people apologize? (If so, I am terribly sorry. Lewis is too).

Quote Number 2: What does Alonso have to apologize for? He disapproved the racist conduct (of course). Again, is it because he is Spanish that he has to apologize for what his countrymen said?

Stop stereotyping. Since you are so prone to congratualting IDR on his excuse, do the honorable thing yourself.

[Andrea]

"I hope that 2008 will be different to 2007 (I guess that everybody but Ferrari people will agree on that)."

Ferrari people definitely prefer a season in wich every constructor will try to build their own car Javier.

[PF from Valencia]

"ANON":

I didn't say Spaniards should apologize, I said they should "accept the errors of a few". That's different.

While Spanish commenters have been justifying the bad behavior of a few of their fellow countrymen by pointing out that there are hooligans among the Brits too I haven't read one Brit yet defending British hooligans.

In one of my earlier posts on the other thread I said that unless one accepts that something is broken it won't get fixed.

Alonso did not "disapprove" of the racist conduct (by the way I'm glad you at least accept it was racist). What he actually said was that he didn't see it on TV and didn't know if it was racist or not, but, he said, if it was racism he would disapprove of it.

Sounds pretty ambiguous to me. That's why I say he missed an opportunity to act like a champion and use his influence to unequivocally condemn racism in F1.

The only thing I have to apologize for is bringing this up again on this thread.

I'm still waiting for an apology from IDR for the insults he subjected me and my family to on that other thread.

Maybe I should just accept that when Spaniards run out of rational arguments they resort to personal insults, but I don't want to stereotype anybody by suggesting that may be true.

[IDR]

This is extremely boring and without any sense, but even when one try to stop that kind of things, still exists some people insisting in what is his own particular views of the things.

Please, see below, the three comments I posted on the thread “Should Spain Grands prix be cancelled?

TO PF:
"...the fact that many Spaniards lack basic good manners and are not even aware of the fact that they are insulting others."

I recommend you to be more precise on you opinions. You should say "many of the Spaniards I know".

I strongly recommend you to change your circle of people you meet in Spain. I can assure you, that there are a lot of well mannered Spaniards living in this wonderful country.

The question here is why you have never met them.

POSTED BY: IDR | 11 FEB 2008 19:15:14

TO PF

Maybe your computer doesn´t has any bug, but, certainly, you have your internal memory broken.

Feanor was not telling you he doesn't see this bigots with the loudhailer or other few brainless insulting L Hamilton. Try to back up your comments, and you will understand why he was calling you liar.

And by the way, you have already blame a whole nation telling us many Spaniards are rude, unpolite and bad mannered. (As this is something statistical obvious not only in Spain, but also in the rest of the world, then I have to presume that you think that Spain is clearly over the average.)

I'm not going to ask you to leave Spain (in the case you still live here) but I strongly recommend you to change your relationship circle... if you can, of course.

I'm not going to loose more time dealing with you on this, so if you still want to clean Spain or other country from this behaviour:

Buy a desert... and sweep it!

And after you have cleanned it, then return here to teach us how to do it!

POSTED BY: IDR | 14 FEB 2008 14:51:39

TO PF

Well, well, well...

As always, the last resource: Attacking English skills!

My comprehension and reading skills are so much better than yours, and I’m afraid that not only in Spanish (I’m Spanish) but also in English.

Don’t pretend to say now that you have not been telling what you have already told through all your comments. Sorry man, everybody understood very well your messages, and the image of this country you were sending to this forum.

Finally, I don’t care about your friends and family in Spain or in the rest of the world. If you don’t get my message, improve your comprehension skills, or buy a desert … over to you!

POSTED BY: IDR | 15 FEB 2008 10:15:51

Those are the only three comments directed to that guy. Maybe PF thinks that people who disagree (strongly, ironically or whatever way one can imagine) is just insulting him.

Of course, I’m not going to apologize myself for doing something I never did.

I never meet PF and his family, and, I never insulted them.

And I’m still thinking that he should go to a desert, sweep it, and then, come back here for giving us moral lessons, not before.

I say all of this with all my respect for PF and his family, of course.

TO ANON

You can be my lawyer every time you want… in this blog.

(In real life, well, we need to talk about fees and expertise before doing something!)

Thank you in advance, and best regards.

[jordi]

Ed, When are you going to tell us what’s happening with Ron Dennis? That has to be one of the big news of the pre- season, isn't it? Is your courtesy pass to Mc Laren at risk? I can’t help thinking how busy writing you would be if it was Briatore about to be sack from leading his team…

[JoseBelgica]

Hi Ed,
Any comments on WEIRD decision taken by our lovely Bernie about pit lane position for McLaren (5th position)? Normally the team without point should take last position, isn't it?
Another favoritism to Mclaren ?

[Pinaster]

Same old story. Someone apologizes, and the other says "yeah, well done, because you were saying stupid things, I was right you are wrong, so bugger off". And then: "Now all we need is an apology from Alonso on behalf of his fans and all will good in the world ;-)"
Mistake. All you need is a good kick in the ass (figuratively speaking, of course ;-)), and the world will be a better place to live.
Cheers.

[PF from Valencia]

IDR:

Why didn't you also re-post my responses to your comments?

You said, 'I recommend you to be more precise on you opinions. You should say "many of the Spaniards I know".'

My response was that I wasn't talking about people *I know*, and I am perfectly "precise" in how I express myself.

Read what I say, not what you think or wish I said.

Misquoting and taking comments out of context seems to be your specialty.

My apologies to everybody else for feeding the troll. I won't be responding to any more of his/her nonsense.

By the way, my wife is a lawyer and my brother-in-law is a judge.

[Pinaster]

To PF, and friends: will you stop this? Is not this blog about F1 and a healthy rivalry? Who you think you are to judge spanish people, or to demand apologies from anyone? Whoever you are, I dont care about you or your opinions and lectures on ethics or racism. Please, let me make this clear, I wont apologise for any of your silly acusations. If IDR is a troll in this blog, you are a troll in Spain, and a boring sanctimonius. Your patronising comments on racism have to me the same value as the "got mit uns" in the german soldiers. OK?
I love my country, and I wish the best pilot were spaniard, but I dont need to offend continuosly UK or Lewis to prove that Alonso is better. Now, can we talk about F1 and our favourite pilots?

[PF from Valencia]

ROTFLMFAO!!!

Not being German I had to google that little motto.

So now I'm accused of being a Nazi? You people are really too much.

How many Nazi belt buckles do you have in your collection?

By the way, according to Godwin's Law you just lost the argument.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gott_mit_uns
http://www.nobeliefs.com/Hitler1.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_Law

[Ptm]

Ed
Good to have your blog back, always entertaining, looking forward to the new season hopefully without the all controversy.

To IDR and JARROS
Rodrigues is a Portuguese surname and Portugal was never a part of Spain, even when ruled by Spanish kings it was always independent never was or will be considered a part of Spain.

[Pinaster]

PF, you dont get it, do you? don´t waste our time and keep on reading wikipedia, Alice in wonderlannd, or even the telephone directory, well, read what ever you want and cut the crp. ok? Thanks a lot.
PTM, interesting offtopic, maybe one of this days you could tell us how you can be ruled by a king and be independient at the same time. Obrigado.
Now, can we talk about F1 and our favourite pilots?

[Anon]

To PF from Valencia:

You're right that it is no use to go on further with this discussion. I interpreted your words one way, and you another. Fair enough. I have to say when I started reading your last sentence (Maybe I should just accept that when Spaniards run out of rational arguments they resort to personal insults,...) I almost choked and fell off my chair, but then you canceled out the statement. So let's stop arguing.

To IDR:

Nice to see some humor on this blog. =) I send you my best regards, likewise.

[D]

^

Ed,

When you breakfast with Sir JYS on Sunday, could you ask him his technical opinion of Heikki and tell it to us?

(We know his views on the others - but it's how Heikki fares this year that will be of the greatest interest to me; he's the biggest wildcard in the equation at the top.)

Of course, if he runs out of things to say (somewhat unlikely!) and you want something gingery to print in the paper you could always ask him what he thinks of MM's latest pronouncements - and dress sense!

Hope you had a good flight - it's a bloody long one.

[Manolidas]

Hello Ed and everybody,

Despite boring comments about racism and other silly things I encourage everybody (you are included Ed :-) to write about Formula 1.

If this is a Formula 1 blog I dont know why we have to argue about Portugal being spanish or not, about Spain being a racist country or not or about England being a strange land full of gays or not.

So please, lets talk about a wonderfull and exciting Formula 1 new season.

My forecast for 2008 season:

1. Raikonen
2. Hamilton
3. Alonso

[D]

^

Please don't bring the Nazi party into this.

It upsets Max Mosley.

By the way, Ed, this particular thread has been classified as "Food & Drink" by The Times, so don't be afraid to indulge yourself on the hospitality once the jet-lag wears off.

Remember that unless you accept the same amount of free food and beverages from Renault and Ferrari as you from McLaren you are open to the charge of favouritism and lack of objectivity!

(The way things are on here, you'd better find a tapas bar to mention, as well...)

[Ptm]

Ed,
Any news on Ron Dennis??? There seams to be a lot of rumours but none are confirmed by McLaren.
I think it’d be a shame if he leaves this season

To Pinaster

You can have as an example, Australia that shares the same head of state as England but does not belong to England, i.e. has its own government, its pretty simple really.

[jordi]

ED, I read in other papers that Ron is not going to Australia. Is that true? Have you seen him? Why are you avoiding this subject? Do you really think that 7 days before the first race, we are interested on how Hamilton is spending his money?

[Laura]

Dean Rodrigues and more people, please don't write and speak with other people because you have to live in a box closed. Because is so disgusting to be insulted for stupid people that don't know where is their own finger.

English people, media, Ron Dennis, Hamilton,...are behaving very very very bad with us (spanish), do you really think that we are insulting or defending us, if they didn't do anything, please open your eyes or use glasses because you are really blind. Hamilton was last year a spoiled man and betrayed and punished Alonso for things that he didn't do, Alonso demostrate to be a gentle mand, Hamilton demostrated to be a bad person and still do. English media cover and wrap Hamilton's behaviour because we are seeing a lot of things that you seem to forget.

Ron Dennis is a not fair player, and least with Alonso. Thisngs that he say like "latin people including Spain and Italy are not person with who we can't work they have not discipline" and "We weren't racing Kimi, we were basically racing Fernando". Do you really think that this is a good behaviour?, it is racist and stupid.English media and people insult us a lot for Montmelo problems.We have reasons, believe me!, too much.

Alonso don't defend racist insults, o course no, the same spanish people, nobody do it. But the hate in Spain against Hamilton is not because we want, it is because he don't stop to insuting him, he is a spoiled child, and we are very very fed up of him. I don't know what class of news they show you in TV or newspaper in England, but I think that you see or hear some parts of conversation. In Spain we are hearing every day some minutes in Tele 5 Channel a short resume about F1, we can see what happen this day, what they comment,...And before a Grand Prix, we hear 2 hours and they speak about cars, pilots, race, conversation, news,...I have heart every consersation of Alonso, every conversation of Ron, Hamilton,...I think you don't know the most of the problems last year; because english and german media try to sink Fernando and try to discredit him. I saw everything, and if you don0 t know the guilties are Mclaren, Mercedes, Ron, Hamilton and his father, they are a cancer in F1.
I just reading the newy in this newspaper, I though that it was seroius, and this is the same rubbish that the aothers in this country. You haven't any news about trainers, about cars,...You just show tha relationship, the rubbish media, I know everything, relatoinship the problems and the improvement in cars, technical things and everything.

One other things, nobody in Sapin and in England saw and hear the insults that Hamilton told, nobody. The banners that security in Montmelo took off (inmediatly, very good for Security and Montmelo, so he didn't hear almost minutes the insults), I shaw in Spanish TV, english newspaper,...It didn't show any racist behaviour, i read things like "Hamilton close your mouth, because you have it so big" and Alonso is the best, Hamilton and Ron Dennis push the red button",...Is this racist???, NONONONO. So please, can you show me any part where i can see this racist behaviour?, and if you don't know spainsh, exist a lot of dictionary in internet where you can do it, and you realize what stupid things are you telling us.

Good manners you lost in the time where you started to insult Spanish people and Alonso, all country because some people 5 person insult Hamilton. Please be more polite with us, and forget us, because you are demostrating that don't know us a bit.

Respect us and please the next time inform yourself better.

[Laura]

Portugal belonged to Spain when the roman history, all Iberian peninsula was from Hispania, and them Portugal separated. But we never care anything about Portugal, they are our neighbours, nothing else, and very good neighbours and friends.

[Ptm]

Laura
I must admit I had to laugh when I read you comment, actually both of them were amusing but the latter was particularly funny. Thank you for bringing a smile to my face

[17 points in two races]

Do you think Hamilton has forgotten the overtake of Alonso in Brasil?

[jordi]

Oh, I forgot!! ED, you claim to have very interesting information about what exactly happened between Hamilton and Ron at Hungary. You claim that you know more than any other news paper or TV in the world. Please Ed, can you iluminate us and make those tapes public? so we all can see how nice Hamilton is, instead of having to take the word of an english journalist, working for an english newspaper, writing about an english team with an english driver.

[jordi]

1.- Kimi.
2.- Kovalainen.
3.- Alonso.
4.- Massa.
....Hamilton

[Pinaster]

To my dear Laura. My English language skills are far from perfect, and I do really appreciate the patience and understanding that all english speaking readers show when they read my comments. Its great your attitude, trying to express yourself in a foering language. But I think you are going a little bit too far, and abusing the patience and indulgence that our english speaking friends are showing us. Dont get me wrong, Im the last after the last to give any English language lecture... but in this case, your English language knowledge seems to be as limited as your History one. Cheers.
To PTM, sorry to extend the offtopic, but I´m sure you dont really mean to compare the Commonwealth with a monarchy from the Ancien Régime. Cheers to you too.

[Gary]

Welcome back Ed, looking forward to the blog this year and really looking forward to the season ahead.

Please, please, please can we have less fighting between the Spanish and English this season and more grown up discussion about F1?

[Laura]

I just say the truth, everything that I saw in TV, but you just want to be blind and insult, like you are doing from the last year, it is not just from Montmeló. If you don’t know, we are fed up about that theme, and you are feeding the hate, people and media from England, in Spain stopped this conversation a month ago. The only one thing that we hear, it is about somebody from F1 is remembering that fact or your insults.

Pinaster can you teach me History?, maybe you know more. But you demonstrate that you can’t teach me, because if you don’t know this about Portugal, is because you must study more, or study, maybe you never do. Portugal belonged to Hispania in Roman age, a province called Lusitania. Nowdays, Portugal is a beautiful country and people too, we never have had problems between us, we are very proud of them, and we have wide relationship. They are very polite and nice. Pinaster don’t insult more people and be more polite, you need it.

I try to spend a lot of time learning things about history from world not just Spanish history, although Spanish History is so complicated, is one of the biggest because we have the first one West European (1 million years ago), difficult but very interesting and important. Your insults is just for demonstrating your short intelligence and lack of respect about people is around you.

I am engineer and I am working as engineer, I am learning English and Italian language. Do you really think that you can insult me free?, I give you a advise, to be more respectful person and don’t challenge nobody, because probably, not sure you will loose.

Good luck Kimi and Fernando that season!!!.

[Aaron James]

Jackie can be perceptive but the problem is his 'heart' is in Britain. He is as parochial as they come and that shades some of the comments he makes. Most notably the obtuse way he defended McLaren last year despite the piling circumstantial and otherwise evidence of their misbehaviour. You have to contrast that with his stern, no quarter given attitude towards Ferrari for example...

Jackie should be respected for all he has achieved, but these days what he says must be taken with a huge grain of salt because his love of Britain and its drivers will always triumph over his logic.

[Sergio]

Briatore: As he considers the animosity between Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, former team-mates at McLaren, the Italian grins slyly. "I think it was great for formula one. It was good news because without the fighting between Fernando and Hamilton it was very boring last year."
Formula one had been suffocated by tedium for years but last season tore up the humdrum pattern to such gripping effect that Briatore's throwaway line can be seen as an obvious prelude to some canny mischief-making. Three drivers were in with a chance of winning the world title with just a few laps left of the final grand prix - before Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen seized the championship from Hamilton and Alonso by a single point. That intense battle between warring drivers was matched by spying scandals involving McLaren, Ferrari and Renault.

The friction between Alonso and Hamilton, however, was particularly compelling. It now prompts Briatore to aim some sharp jibes at the British driver in an attempt to bolster Alonso. "Hamilton had a very good possibility to learn," Briatore says as he remembers how the brilliant young tyro finally lost his composure and claimed that Alonso only taught him how not to behave as a world champion. "When you are a rookie you need to take that opportunity. He had the chance to drive with somebody very special in Fernando."

Hamilton drove far better than Alonso on numerous occasions throughout the season and so it seems a curious charge. Does Briatore really believe the man who led the championship for almost the entire season squandered a chance to become a better driver? "Absolutely. Yes. Hamilton is very young and the talent is there but he lost this opportunity. As a rookie, in the first year, you should work for the team. Your team consists of 1,000 people working together to put two cars on the grid. You need to respect these people behind you - and not only your ego.

"This is something the driver needs to learn. It's not just about him. You hear drivers saying "my car". But it is not their car - it is the team car. A lot of people are watching you fight while they're working until five in the morning to deliver this car. I feel sorry for the employees of McLaren - it was terrible. It was important for McLaren to win the drivers' championship but they missed the opportunity. Because of this fight they finished with nothing."

Yet Alonso's own ego, while he was being outperformed by a rookie, was badly pricked. "When you want the world champion in your team, and you fight to take him away from Renault," Briatore argues, "you then need to protect him when he joins you. It was a new environment for him - and Fernando's only other experience has been with Renault. Sometimes we forget he is only 26."

Briatore shrugs when asked if McLaren blatantly favoured Hamilton. "Yeah. [Hamilton] was born in this team. He has been driving 10 years with McLaren so that is normal. But what is less normal is when you see Hamilton in pole position and everyone at McLaren is jumping like crazy. If pole was for Fernando then everyone was like this [Briatore feigns polite applause]. This is difficult for the driver because every time you give 100% effort for the team - and you can only presume that everybody has the same treatment. When you take the world champion, which Fernando was, and challenge him with a rookie it's not the best way.

"I never see Fernando have problems with any other driver. He's fun. Sure, maybe he was surprised by how quick Hamilton was - but don't forget that Hamilton arrived from GP2 and he had very good knowledge of the Bridgestone tyre. Fernando really don't have time with that tyre before he start testing with McLaren. Lewis was terrific but when Fernando changed his style of driving, in a completely different car, then he was very competitive. He was strong enough to fight."

Hamilton has since suffered racial abuse in Spain, Alonso's home country. "I don't think it was racist at all. It was four imbeciles in the middle of 30,000 people."

Briatore's love life and business ventures are completely free of any racist overtones - and it is surprising he should be so cavalier. Surely Hamilton was subjected to racism in pre-season testing? "Yeah," he concedes, "but these things happen in every place. You don't need to go to Spain to find people at this level. But the media immediately blame 29,995 other people. We are not even sure that these people are Spanish. Maybe they were from Mars. I believe what they did was wrong, 100%, but you don't need to criminalise 30,000 people."

He softens when admitting that, "Lewis is terrific for McLaren and for formula one but I would always choose Fernando. He is more experienced. But it's more important, and this is already happening, that Fernando has fun and enjoys his racing again."

Alonso's mood has not been helped by Renault's poor performance in testing, and he has already stated his dissatisfaction with the car. "Yes, it is too slow for him. But we are working hard and Fernando is not the type who pushes in the tests. He is more concerned in understanding the car and giving information to the engineer. Fernando tells you exactly the quality of your car. We are a little delayed but last year was difficult because in 2006, with Fernando, we were fighting for the title up to the last race with Ferrari. We won it but, in the process, we neglected the development of the new car. Now Fernando is talking about us having a 20-30% chance for the championship. I think it's about 20% - which means he is more optimistic than me. We can't recover everything in three months but we hope to be fighting and winning races by the middle of the season."

Last year Renault were also blighted by the spying saga. McLaren were fined £50m and lost all their points in the constructors' championship after one of their engineers obtained 780 pages of technical detail from Ferrari. But there was embarrassment at Renault when they were then found guilty of espionage against McLaren. Phil Mackereth, a former McLaren engineer, had shown technical data from his previous team to his new employers. "It was a completely different situation to McLaren and Ferrari," Briatore stresses when explaining how Renault avoided any penalty. "From the moment we saw this design we immediately called the federation and Ron Dennis [at McLaren]. If we'd had any useful information I'm sure we would have been more competitive last year."

[Pinaster]

To my dearest Laura: no, I´m not insulting you. I just think your not real. Well... errr I hope so. Otherwise, I´ll have to admit that your nothing more than a living instance of the young LOGSE Spanish generations (70 per cent ignorance and 30 per cent nerve). Yep, my friend, it is a sad true... but please, do you really need to make it so obvious embarrasing your compatriots?
My Godness! you dont have a clue on F1, nor english language, nor History, are you really trying to convince us that you are an engineer? I pray to God not to be in one of your proyects!
Am I really getting to old, or who failed telling kids to play marbeles better than getting involved in adults conversations.
OK, Can we talk about F1 and our favourite pilots?
Cheers.

[Pinaster]

Please, please, Mr Gorman,
please check and see
just one more time for me
you better wait, wait a minute
wait a minute, wait a minute, please mr.postman deliver the letter...
Is this Laura for real? I´ve read very interesting comments written in beautyful English signed by "Laura", and I´ve read the most naive coments written in atrocious English signed by "Laura".
Have got here more than one Laura?
Dont be naughty, Ed, please, tell us the truth.

[Laura]

Everyone that it is hearing you, can be laughing of you. Yes, i am real, i am your brain that you have lost when you was borned. Your life is so boring or in your house nobody is hearing, for that you have to insult in a forum?, it is so sad for you.

I am giving reasons, you are just insulting, you are like Rajoy. Please make us a favour, shut up.

On behalf of not just spanish people, people from all sides of the world, go away.

[Roberto]

Pinaster, can you shut up and don't insult more to other people, it is ridiculous. You don't know nothing about history, you are demostrating. Laura is right and she is explaing her opinion you are just insulting. And logse??, do you want to say ESO?. Please shut up and permit people speak like adult, you are speaking as a baby as spoiled child.

I think this year is going to win Ferrari and Kimi, he is a rookie with experience and he has very good talent. He deserve it.

Good luck for everyone, it is going to start, I'm so exciting.

[horreo]

to pinaster:
maybe laura's comments aren't the brightest, but please, stop being such a smartass and shut your trap.
good luck for alonso and forza ferrari!!

[Serena]

This comments are not the brightest, but the truth yes. Laura is right, Pinaster is just stupid.

Good luck Alonso!!!!, and the same for Kimi.

[D]

^
Sergio >

Thank you so much for all these quotes by Briatore; I found them fascinating, myself.

Would it be possible for you to point me towards the whole article, wherever it is published?

Incidentally, it has always amused to to wonder if the reason why Renault did so badly last year after its supremacy in 2005 and 2006 was because it used the stuff that Mackereth stole from Mclaren and unwittingly copied in 2007 all the things that had made McLaren's 2006 McLaren car such a disaster.

Maybe that's what the FIA thought as well, and felt that Renault had already been punished enough!

I have to say that, loath though Flavio was to lose Fernando, I suspect he had an evil chuckle at the thought of what an unexploded emotional bomb Ron was unknowingly taking on and how poorly Ron was equipped to handle it...

[Pinaster]

Serena: what an astonishing demonstration of depth and wisdom! Your brilliant reasoning just left me speechless!
Horreos arguments are not as solid and bright as Serenas, but they are impressively well stated too. Congratulations you two, after that impressive display of intelect, one can die in peace.
Roberto, I´m affraid youre one step back, keep on practsing, and maybe you will reach Serenas level soon.
Laura, we are wasting our time. The good think in writing, is that everydody can read what you said, so they can check whos insulting and whos talking -writing- rubbish. Of course, assuming that everybody can read (I think you need more practise, as Roberto). Please, I´m serious, not triying to be smart, please, try to be a little bit more well-mannered (will you learn that in your english-italian-engineering lectures?).I think is enough, don´t you?
I guess the non spanish readers must be loughingh loud and having a great time witnessing this show of Spanish fellows and Alonso supporters insulting each other in such a puerile and silly way. If they didnt know Spaniards, I think we are giving them a sad sample.
I beg to everyone who think that calling someone "stupid", and telling him to "shut up", is the best way to deffend Alonso or Spain, to go back to As or Marca blogs, where I´m sure they will feel much more comfortable among their equals.
Now, can we talk about F1 and our favourite pilots?
Cheers.

[anton]

pls... stop writting about the Alonso-Hamilton thing... it is really boring... why not to focus on F1? it seems that this year there will be more teams appart of Ferrari and McLaren ready to fight for the championship... that means that there will be more drivers capable to show their virtues... why not to enjoy that?

[Freedom4cats]

Hi Ed,

That's funny, at least a blog to chat about history and formula 1 :-)
History is said to be written by rulers but what popular knowledge says can be read in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispania.
Particularly interesting to read is paragraph about Name.

Let's relax and enjoy the season