Reflections on a weekend in Germany

The main thing to consider is that somewhere, somehow, McLaren appear to have made a jump on Ferrari. While Lewis drove brilliantly, he was also using a car which enabled him to attack anyone at will and at almost any stage of the race and the life of his tyres. He had the car; Felipe and Kimi did not. However, from Lewis's point of view, this was also an important race weekend when he reminded us that he can put two results together in a row.

We know that the momentum in Formula One can swing wildly from one race to the next over a very long season. But when you see a team, a car and a driver in such perfect harmony as were Lewis, McLaren and the MP4/23 at Hockenheim, it is hard to imagine how anyone is going to stop them walking to the title. Then again, of course, we know how easy it is is to slip off the narrow ledge of peak performance and at the Hungaroring - supposedly a favoured hunting ground for McLaren - Ferrari might regain the their edge.

There is no doubt that the Ferrari team were stunned by what happened in Germany. They were not expecting to be thrashed again and they left Hockenheim scratching their heads. What have McLaren found? Where is the performance coming from? Is it a permanent move up or did matters come together in a way which they will not elsewhere? Of one thing we can be sure, they will be pushing as hard as they can to sort this out. In the recent past when an advantage has opened up, the FIA has stepped in to even things up. Is a big hoo-haa about a technical feature on the McLaren about to envelop the sport?

I thought Lewis drove one of his best races. He looked in control all the time and you never doubted his resolve to re-establish his lead after he(or his strategists at Woking) lost it. I remember thinking 'I don't want this race to end' I was enjoying it so much(something which is not always the case). In the closing stages it was wonderful to watch him drive past Massa and Piquet.

In the press room the Massa critics were at him again - again he had shown his lack of class. I must admit it was a bit like Malaysia last year and the Nurburgring with the Brazilian looking helpless under pressure. In tennis when players get found out, they cannot come into the press conference and blame their tennis racket(or at least they don't). In Formula One, the drivers can always blame the car which Felipe did and that is fair enough because even the best driver would be nothing without a good car. But it always makes it harder to work it out. Was Massa totally out-classed or was it more a case of the McLaren machine out-running and out-braking the Ferrari?

Some of you are clearly exercised by the way Lewis went past Heikki. All I would say is that there is a balance of power there and Heikki is not the powerful one. He drove the same car as Lewis(albeit set up differently) to much less effect. There are no overall team orders at McLaren but you would have to be pretty insensible not to notice that Lewis is number one in every way. As I mentioned in today's paper, Lewis is like the prince of that team. The overtake occupies a grey area but McLaren know how to manage these things within the law just as Ferrari do. How many people seriously believe that Felipe would not have won last season's Brazilian Grand Prix had not Kimi needed the points for the title?

So Felipe gets another knock while the Iceman seemed out of sorts(again). You wonder about the key relationships in his side of the red garage because, in the critical areas of set-up, the "Kimi" team do not seem to be doing as good a job as Felipe's lot. BMW-wise, the race in Germany appeared to back up everything Robert has been saying, namely that they do not have a car to challenge for the title this year. Fernando? Another race when he got angry, tried to prove a point and got nowhere. I feel sorry for him in some ways. He should never be at Renault this season but there is an old saying about beds and making them...

As for Nelson, well for a guy who had just been gifted his first podium in Formula One, he looked seriously pissed off. Does he already know that he is going to be fired at the end of the season? On that subject the paddock at Hockenheim was full of rumours about drivers, with constant back-chat about Fernando to Ferrari but also the far less likely notion of him going to Honda. Would you go to Honda at this stage? I think it is still a big risk for Fernando. It could take Ross quite a few years to make the leap, even with the new technical regulations. Indeed Honda might never make it. This debate underlines again how Fernando has got himself out of sync, if you like, in the drivers' market. Most likely, one supposes he will have to grin and bear another year at Renault and then go to Maranello for 2010. Maybe...         

Comments

[Miguel_Albacete]

Hi Ed!

First of all thanks for your excellent blog.

I´m spanish and every week I wait for your new blog's entries.

Although I like Alonso, I enjoy very much with Hamilton, he is quick and I think that is the only one who has warm blood in the veins. Heikki acts like a perfect number 2, Massa is a chicken and only knows run quick when he is alone and Kimmi seems sometimes that is a ghost because in some races disappears.

Regards, Miguel.

P.D.: What's the meaning of the old saying "about beds and making them..."?

[Alex]

Interesting times.....

Piquet "The car was getting better and better and our set-up was working very well. Fernando even used a bit of our set-up as I think they went the wrong way a bit"

So, as well as beating FA P2 to P11, Nelsino "driver most likely to be sacked" Piquet is now also helping "F1's Greatest Ever Magic Setup Expert" with his, er, car setup ?

A great drive from Piquet, Renault have always had a much better package for the No1 driver and he has shown notable mettle to come through this season so far, yet still pull this off. Looking at his sector times at the end of the race, he really deserved second.

Still, Fernando can take some solace in seeing McLaren and Lewis fall apart now they are not getting his "Magic" setups. I believe it was Friday "our Double World Champion" even predicted that Lewis and McLaren's title challenge was about to evaporate.

[LUCAS]

Hi Ed,

For a Lewis detractor (or ex-detractor if I come up with another post like this) I have to say that he impressed me again. He mastered the field (again) as Senna or Schumacher *when they had the best car by a large margin*.

The last detail is important. None of these guys in the front seem to have that 'spark' and clearly fade away when they do not have the best car, in particular, Hamilton and Massa.

In this point, it seems that Kimi and Alonso still have something that put them in a class slightly above Hamilton and Massa. They have, like in Suzuka 2005, that 'spark' that operate miracles.

But the championship will be decided between the Hamilton and Massa, because they are faster than Kimi. For Massa's detractors, 'for they are a legion', I have to say that Hamilton's passes were too aggressive. He clearly spread out his car on purpose to put Massa and Piquet out of the track.

This legion should remember Hamilton overtaking Kimi in Monza, last year. Kimi looked as lost as Massa yesterday.

PS: I still put my money on Massa!

[Tim]

A few conclusions from the German GP.

1. Lewis Hamilton snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, while McLaren did their best to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Stunning drive from Hamilton but McLaren continues the year of mistakes by failing to take the safe option when the pitlane opened. Pre-2007, the decision to pit under the safety car was one that had to be taken almost immediately - but since last year the team have had the luxury of having a couple of slow laps before the pits even open. What on earth were McLaren doing by not pitting Lewis' car? None of the team's various explanations really add up.

2. Felipe Massa is dangerously close to having a "Jarno Trulli" moment. At the French GP in 2004, Jarno allowed himself to be mugged by Rubens Barrichello's Ferrari for third place at the last corner of the last lap. Trulli, who was having a strong season up until that point, had a falling out with Flavio Briatore and had been dropped by Renault by the end of the year. Following his abysmal performance at the British GP, Felipe looked set for a strong race from second on the grid. But in the last part of the race, when he should have been hunting down Nelson Piquet and consolidating his cushion over Lewis Hamilton, it looked as if he'd fallen asleep. Lewis promptly caught and passed the Ferrari when Massa left an enormous gap down the inside of the hairpin. Despite a feeble attempt to repass the McLaren shortly afterwards, it looked like Felipe had just given up. If Flavio was in charge of Ferrari, Massa would have been long gone by now.

3. Heikki Kovalainen is rapidly becoming the new Stefan Johansson. For those of you with shorter memories, Stefan Johnasson drove for McLaren in 1987 as team mate to Alain Prost. Johansson was a solid, reliable driver, but never one who set the world alight. Conveniently for Ron Dennis, he was willing to sign a one year deal to replace the outgoing Keke Rosberg before Stefan was himself replaced for 1988 - by one Ayrton Senna. Heikki doesn't appear to be keeping the number two McLaren warm for another driver - unless the rumours about Nico Rosberg going to Woking are true. Even though it's hard to see how another driver would be doing significantly better in his position, Kovalainen needs to pull his socks up and quickly. McLaren may have come under fire for giving a fairly unsubtle order to let Hamilton past, but Kovalainen's form this year would have made it more difficult for them not to. Heikki's had some bad luck this year but he's been more or less outclassed by his team mate and only scored one podium position. Even Stefan Johansson did better than that.

4. Kimi Raikkonen is in big trouble. Felipe Massa's one consolation from Germany was that his team mate did even worse. Lewis Hamilton's form in both qualifying and the race suggests that he's managed to get the McLaren handling exactly to his liking. Hockenheim is not a circuit with long fast corners, where Ferrari are traditionally strong, but Raikkonen should be worried that he was so far away from the front. The next races are Budapest and Valencia, neither of which contain huge numbers of long fast corners and would normally be considered as Ferrari tracks. McLaren and Hamilton now have a perfect opportunity to build what could become an unassailable points lead. Kimi is now in the position Lewis was after Bahrain - a couple of self inflicted poor results, a points deficit, a speed deficit and tracks that favour the other leading team ahead. Hamilton managed to come through his post-Bahrain test with flying colours. Raikkonen needs to regroup and do likewise.

5. Ferrari are missing Michael Schumacher. Love him or loath him, Schumacher was a driver who always gave his very best and was always seen to be giving his very best. He was fast in qualifying, fast in races. Could win from the front and the back. He thought on his feet and could cruise Prost-like to easy victories - but he could also drive like a man possessed when he needed to. Neither can be said for Felipe Massa or Kimi Raikkonen at the moment. Massa has the speed but little else. Raikkonen is a tough racer, but is so relaxed he's almost horizontal, can't access his speed consistently and has a minimal work ethic. Is it any wonder the Alonso to Ferrari rumours continue?

6. Nick Heidfeld won't be making way for Fernando Alonso or anyone else in 2009. Following his early season performance gap to Robert Kubica, rumours have sprung up suggesting that Heidfeld will be out of BMW Sauber at the end of the year. The last few races have proved that Nick still has what it takes to justify his continuing presence at a topline F1 team.

7. BMW Sauber's title challenge is as good as over. Nowhere near the front row in qualifying, good race performances by both drivers and still neither was on the podium. BMW needs to cut its losses for 2008 and focus on hitting the ground running in 2009.

8. Nelson Piquet and Timo Glock both deserve their place in F1. Piquet Junior has been much maligned so far in 2008, with much of the criticism being deserved. But the young Brazilian hasn't had the ideal circumstances in which to make his F1 debut - a "top" team with weighty expectations, configured around a double world champion team mate and a difficult car. Nelson's drive in France was racy and got him his first points. He was on for more at Silverstone before spinning off in difficult conditions. Leading the German GP could have gone to his head and it would have been so easy for an inexperienced driver, under huge pressure for results from his team principal, to flunk it. But Piquet stayed composed, drove a clever race, fended off a Ferrari in the final phases and didn't exactly jump out of Hamilton's way. If Massa had defended his position with a bit more backbone, Nelson could have been on for a stunning debut win. Timo Glock also drove well and deserved more than a large shunt apparently caused by suspension failure.

9. Sebastian Vettel can drive in the dry as well as the wet. Rather unfair, I know, but it was an impressive race by Vettel, who managed to best Fernando Alonso and score a point on a day when all the top runners finished. On present form, the future of F1 is shaping up to be dominated by Hamilton, Kubica, Rosberg - and Vettel.

[Mrs Bishop]

Well Alonso's really going to wish he hadn't spoken to any press on Friday, not only did he say Piquet needed to buckle up, but he also said that mclarens title hopes would evaporate? wow thats quite an achievement...
The bed thing means that alonso has made his bed now he has to lie in it.
I really hope the FIA don't come up with another rule so that mclarens advantage is cut, now that would ruin it for me.
These past two races have been amazing and maybe now my friends will believe me when i tell them it really is more exciting than golf.
This championship is shaping up to be quite fun to watch..

[willy]

It was a shame to have Felipe the last 26 laps of the race only 3 seconds behind Piquet and he didn't even try to overtake him!
How can ferrari accept that!
I really don't know what plans ferrari have for next year, but , there are people like Vettel,Kubicca,Alonso,rosberg,etc. that will kill for the chance of having a good car to at least try to win every single race, and make it hard on their oponents when this last try to overtake them!
I believe Kimi and Felipe don't deserve this cars they are driving.
Even if they win again, you know they will not make the most out of this machines they have.

[Andrew]

I read the timesonline article about Hockenheim (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/formula_1/article4369390.ece).

My God, I'm getting sick of how God-like Hamilton is. I get a feeling that for british there has never been a better driver and more charming person than Hamilton. Just read for yourself: "then the driver in the smoky yellow helmet in the car with No22 on its silver nose set about butchering Massa's lead as Heidfeld pitted. Like a lion stalking his lunch, there was only one way this was going to end as Hamilton put the Brazilian out of his misery at the Spitzkehre hairpin, his favourite killing ground."

Regarding the Lucas post ("He mastered the field (again) as Senna or Schumacher *when they had the best car by a large margin*") I can say only one - whoa, hold your horses. Let us not compare this puss to masters like Senna or Schumacher. Just because he has the fastest car doesn't make him legend. Put Kubica or probably Raikkonen, or even Vettel, in the same car and we will see if Lewis is sooooo much better than everyone else.

[McCheets]

BMW has achieved its aim of winning one race this year. Is it concentrating on next year now, or is it suffering from the traditional Sauber phenomenon of starting off quick and standing still? Sauber's excuse was always the lack of a development budget.

[Derek Smith]

I know I shouldn't admit this, but I replayed the race today and slowed LH's overtake of Massa.

It appeared that Massa did brake early, which would support his contention of a brake problem. His move to the outside seems unreasonable unless it was to get on the more rubbery side of the track. If he did have problems stopping then the marbles were not the best place to attempt to fight off a much faster driver.

Also, he was on hard tyres and I would assume that he was having problems generating sufficient heat in them to have a go at fighting LH.

And his attempt at repassing nearly failed as he seemed to brake too late so had to go wide.

Overall, there has to be a reason why he was unable to fight off LH and, more suprisingly, unable to challenge Piquet.

Of course, that reason might be that he's a rubbish driver, but I don't think so.

[Juan]

"Some of you are clearly exercised by the way Lewis went past Heikki. All I would say is that there is a balance of power there and Heikki is not the powerful one. He drove the same car as Lewis(albeit set up differently) to much less effect. There are no overall team orders at McLaren but you would have to be pretty insensible not to notice that Lewis is number one in every way. As I mentioned in today's paper, Lewis is like the prince of that team. The overtake occupies a grey area but McLaren know how to manage these things within the law just as Ferrari do. How many people seriously believe that Felipe would not have won last season's Brazilian Grand Prix had not Kimi needed the points for the title?"

1) Ferrari does it elengantly. Through a pit stop.

2) Ferrari doesnt claim "equal treatment among the pilots"

[MacLaren most sporting team in F1]

A few weeks ago there was a blog on the est current drivers where most said Alonso was the best and Kubica was better than Hamilton - shows how much those voting know doesn't it?!!
Where's Kubica now? Not looking so hot at present is he? Could it be BMW are making the car more Nick driver friendly as they know Kubica is going elsewhere in 2009? Me thinks this could be true.

[jordi]

@ ALEX

Could you provide us with a link to the interview were Alonso said

"... predicted that Lewis and McLaren's title challenge was about to evaporate"

I haven't read such a statement, and is not the type of thing Alonso would say, but I may be wrong. So please send us a link or we will think that you are just talking rubbish.

Thank you.

[Miguel_Albacete]

thanks mrs bishop for the explanation.

I´ve found a great explanation of the meaning of the old saying

http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/english-idioms-sayings/43365-youve-made-your-bed-now-lie-saying-what-does-mean.html

I think that Ferrari needs pilots with hungry.

Miguel.

regarding comments from ANDREW

"Regarding the Lucas post ("He mastered the field (again) as Senna or Schumacher *when they had the best car by a large margin*") I can say only one - whoa, hold your horses. Let us not compare him to masters like Senna or Schumacher. Just because he has the fastest car doesn't make him legend. Put Kubica or probably Raikkonen, or even Vettel, in the same car and we will see if Lewis is sooooo much better than everyone else."

I seem to remember him stacking up rather nicely to a double world champion last year! unless of course you feel Alonso is not as good as Kubica or Raikkonen, or even Vettel

[Alex]

@JORDI

Heavens forbid that you would think I was talking rubbish.

Here is the link you asked about.
http://www.crash.net/motorsport/f1/news/166371-0/alonso_counts_hamilton_out_of_f1_title_fight.html

“It is a question that will involve only Raikkonen and Massa in the second part of the championship.”

Clearly wrong, but clear that Alonso is the one talking rubbish, and with more than a few lorryloads of sour grapes thrown in as ever.

Still, always one to move on, he is now "downplaying" his teammate's fantastic podium, after helpfully suggesting on Friday that Nelsinho needed to pull his finger out and score Renault some team points.

This same guy has so far indulged in the most optimistically risky lunges at the podium with total disregard to the team's needs in the Constructors Championship.

Que Cabrón ! as I believe you say.

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080721135022.shtml

[james]

You don't need to put Kimi in a McLaren to beat Lewis. I seem to remember...

[El Ponso]

Hi Alex,
When a public figure is being hunted down by the press probably the most intelligent thing is to keep a low profile and keep its mouth shut.
Sometimes this is just impossible for your job implies that you must attend the press and this job is a public event.
Furthemore, even if you say nothing it makes no difference, as the media would put all their efforts in finding any excuse, even rumours or reports, to carry on with the slaughtering.
A common practise is to go through interviews or press releases and select single phrases or statements that, taken out of the general context, would doubtless sound damaging to the image of the person in question, which is the ultimate goal of the media.
In Fernando's case the british press have been consistenly doing this. Not that it's different than other countries, but we are talking about him.
It's not my intention to go through these latest comments, which I have read at large on its original form, as it would not change anything because tomorrow it would be just something else.
What I find really sad is that people, not everybody thankfully, seem to enjoy and rejoice this kind of maligned gossip. Not only that, but they become themselves the couriers of the exciting news.
Quite frankly, it's difficult to understand that you, and others here, cannot simply have a good time with Lewis success.
So just lets suppose, for the sake of argument, that next season or the one after, Fernando becomes winning again and some of his fans, the ones who are like you, start exchanging roles: Lewis this or Lewis that. Wonderful isn't?
I can understand that Lewis fans could dislike Fernando for what happened last year and viceversa. But to carry on and on that anger is not healthy, to say the least.
Take care anyway.

[El Ponso]

Tim, excellent post as usual.
Regards.

[egc]

Well....my opinion...Hamilton is preparing he "red carpet" for Alonso at Ferrari...if he wins the WC, Ferrari will change one (or both) driver/s...
Cheers :-)

[Anon (but in Germany)]

Well, I managed to find a computer. Lucky to have some family friends in a town close to Hockenheim.

Hockenheim was my first real live race. A few pointers:

1.) having a television and commentators is more important than having earplugs

2.} which does not mean that earplugs aren´t important

3.} I saw Timo´s accident, which was good entertainment

Near the end of the race I had a headache because I was trying to figure out how Nelsinho was leading.

1 Lewis: What is incredible is that if you adjust the fuel weights, Felipe probably beat him in qualis. But Felipe handled the race to badlzy it was ridiculous. Conversely, Lewis had a hell of a race and he seemed so in tune with his car it was as if he had decided to put nitro in it or seomething. A beautiful win. I only have one negative thing to say: that the Lewis on Felipe overtaking move went over the limit in terms of respecting the fact that the other driver has a car. If he had done that to

Schumacher: Schumi would have rammed hiim off the road instead of going out like Felipe

Regazzoni: Clay would have Clay also would have rammed him off. (Edit here by the moderator).

Mansell: Not only would Braveheart ram them both off the road, he would then proceed to beat up the offensing driver.

Felipe got treated like **** and reacted like a little girl.

2 Piquet: Some people say Fernando is a tactical genius. I think he is strong in mechanics but have never said he was a tactical genius. Point is, I which I could grab Fernando and scream "looooong stints, dammmmmmit! You know you can get into the points, so do a loooong stint like Piquet! Otherwise, you will never get onto the podium!"

Ran dom occurence: I was sitting in the stands when all of the sudden a crowd amassed. Niki Lauda was sitting some seats just in front of me! TV and all came and left as we applauded him.

Fernando seems to be driving like a guy who knows he is going to Ferrari and does not give a **** about anything else. His race sucked, maybe because he knew Piquet was on podium. He probably was also ticked about Vettel in the pitlane.

Í´m really tired right now so I won´t write much. Just want to say that I´m surprised that Alonso has had not as much criticism on this blog as I thought he would. Thank you for that, and I will remember that in case Lewis has a bad race in the future (if he has one).

Oh, also: if Ferrari hire Fernando, it is a huge gamble. They will be hiring someone with an enigmatic character and a roaring ambition and ego. The question is: when Fernando and Lewis go head to head, who will flinch? In tennis, manz people say Federer has a mental fixation on Nadal and it hinders him mentally. He can´t get him out of his head, that kind of stuff. Between Lewis and Fernando, who is more mentally disturbed by the other? The early races of ´07 would suggest Fernando, but races from Brazil onwards would say Fernando. Anyway, hope Lewis keeps on going well and Fernando bounces back. Oh, and I have this crazy idea that Nick will win Hungary. But for that to happen, Lewis needs to lose a wheel, which never happened... oh wait, yeeeeeah...

[guishe]

@Alex

I think you're right.
I'm spanish, and I want Alonso to win, but I don't think he has behaved him as he should. Being polite or generous aren't his strongs.
But I would also add that few of his rivals are or would have acted properly in his situation.

We need gentelmen again...

regards

[jordi]

Well alex, looking at what Alonso actually said when asked who was going to win the championship:

“It is a question that will involve only Raikkonen and Massa in the second part of the championship.”

I think its only wishful thinking. Very different to what you claimed Alonso saying

"Lewis and McLaren's title challenge was about to evaporate."

I wouldn’t say that Mclaren are out of the race, Heikki may find that extra second that somehow his car is lacking and he may even find some balls to stand up at RD and actually race a race, or Pussycat boyfriend may keep finding more pace, God knows where from...

For what I read, the experts seem to agree that the rest of circuits, until the end of the season are more favourable to Ferrari, therefore Alonso statement makes sense.

Regards

[jordi]

one more thing Alex
How can you say that Alonso is wrong with his predictions? do you know who is going to win the championship? do you have a cristal ball and a broom to fly with?

and regarding his team mate achievement, Alonso said

"It was quite a bad weekend for Nelsinho, but suddenly he got a Safety Car on the best possible lap for him and he is on the podium."

What do you not agree with?

[Gary M]

@ JUAN

"1) Ferrari does it elengantly. Through a pit stop.
2) Ferrari doesnt claim "equal treatment among the pilots"

You don't get it do you? The incident that Ed was referring to was about Ferrari fixing the outcome of a race to suit the driver who was leading the championship. I mean fixing in that it was Massa who was going to win that race on merit alone. Of course Ferrari did it carefully, in the pit stop, because it is against the rules.

What McLaren did on Sunday was nothing like that, they never broke any rules. Lewis was clearly the fastest man in this case, Heikki was going nowhere. All they did was let the fastest man through. Just as F1 teams do all the time and have always done.

This is not going against the McLaren philosophy of equal treatment, this is exactly what any driver of any team would demand in those circumstances.

You are just another sad poster still trying to come to terms with your hero's fall from grace and are quite prepared to clutch at any straws to lay the blame elsewhere.

I am getting so bored of it, come on can we not all move on yet?

[Gary M]

I see it did not take long for the spoilt, ungenerous and ungracious Alonso to make as re-appearance this season!

Not a hint of congratulations or a nice word to say about his team mate he seems to take some delight in telling the press how lucky Piquet was on Sunday.

One would hope that Piquet has been raised with at least some manners and grace and should the roles be reserved at the next race (highly unlikely based on Alonso's form alone) one would expect some nice words to come from Nelsinio's mouth with regard to his team mate.

Maybe however this is good news for us, if Piquet can manage to keep this going and outrace Alonso in Hungary then who knows, maybe last year will finally be forgotten and there will be some Brazilian F1 blog preparing for the invasion of the rabid and foaming Alonso Fanatics.....

[Gary M]

@ Anon

Glad you had a good time at the race, interesting comments about Ferrari, think you may be right.

[David Hope]

I agree with the points about Kimi, Ferrari needs to get some new people in or maybe they just need to change direction. He is always having setup issues in a way he did not in his mclaren days. Whether its poor engineers or a car that's just overly sensitive on setup I don't know though. You could blame the driver, has he lost interest etc but I don't think Kimi has and 2 years ago he was taking pole at Hockenheim in a pretty rubbish McLaren. Hope they all get it together soon and make a proper fight of it.

[jordi]

@ Sad Gary fanatic fan of Pussycat boyfriend:

"...All they did was let the fastest man through. Just as F1 teams do all the time and have always done"

Dam! I have been watching the wrong channel!!

I thought racing was about not letting anyone overtake you.

Dhug!
Soooooorry

[McLaren most sporting team in F1]

If Alonso is not very careful and calms down he could well be beaten by his team-mate two years in a row.
He certainly has a flaw in his personality as he doesn't seem able to be gracious when it's the right thing to do. not even through gritted teeth.
He must be hating how Lewis has driven in the past two races, more so knowing that had he behaved last year he would still be in a winning team - big mistake.
I'm English and have no problem supporting drivers from other countries as I love F1, why is it so many Alonso fans find it all but impossible to say a good word about the obvious current class of the field?

@Alex

'Just because he has the fastest car doesn't make him legend.'

That was my point. Senna and Schumacher also shone when they did not have the best car. Hamilton did not.

@TIM

'Piquet Junior has been much maligned so far in 2008'.

More or less. I am Brazilian and even (part of) the Brazilian press thought that he would not even finish this year with a seat.

Until France he was only better than Sutil ! He finished 4 races so far. Still, he has shown glimpses of an excellent driver, mainly in overtaking maneuvers, and now with this stunning pace in the closing laps in front of Massa.

I think Piquet has done better than Sutil, Bourdais, Glock and Fisichella. These should go and open space for real drivers.

[MCLAREN THE MOST HYPOCRITICAL TEAM IN F1]

To McLaren most sporting team in F1:

"He must be hating how Lewis has driven in the past two races, more so knowing that had he behaved last year he would still be in a winning team - big mistake"

If by behaving you mean what Heikki did in Germany, I rather see alonso playing golf.

[Carleton Twitchell]

Well done to lewis and his team...altho lucky he caught Massa and Piquet ..whose pit-call was stellar ...did they call it after Glocks crash I wonder ..if so ,why wasnt anyone on McLarens bench so savvy!? Maybe theyt nheed to pay a clairvoyant to watch the TV feed and do live TV predictions of what could happen when theres a big shunt ...like Duh THE SAFETY CAR COMES OUT!!!!! Everytime...
Now , methinks Laird Hamiltoes needs to wrack up at least 5 ,yes FIVE , in a row , to totally decimate the opposition and stake his claim to the Kingdom of F1. He only needs 3 more wins and after that a few 2nds and Turds ...but the others need to do it all and the chances of Massa , Raikkonen,Kubica getting 5 in a row is infinitesimal compared to the realistically-achieveable by Lewis .
So lock and load,its time to go hunting!
Kovalinen can play a great Coulthard to Hamilton's Hakkinen..and still be man at McLaren when Ferrari buy out the Hamilton from Mercedes McLaren in ,say ,09.
Hungary next ..not a great passing circuit.But the goulash is good .
Chin, chin, toodle-pip.CT

[Kathryn S]

For all those who protest that McLaren would never provide anything but equal equipment for both drivers please see this article by Keith Collantine at F1Fanatic.co.uk :
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2008/07/21/mclarens-technical-innovations-have-put-the-mp423-ahead-of-the-pack/#more-7605

Information about the new sidepods is food for thought.

[Kohque]

The most consistent thing about F1 must be the predictable swings of their fans.

I can't boast of knowing a lot about F1, neither to have the perspective of those that have watched F1 for a long time. Nevertheless, I don't see many reasons to change positions from great to crap, good to marvellous, etc.

Massa is proving to be what I expected to be: A good driver, but not good enough. Big or small, his errors are VERY consistent.

Hamilton is an excellent driver, worthy of driving the best car and a winner. His latest results not only show that he has the best car of the last 2 races, it also shows that he knows how to drive it fast towards pole position.

Kovalainen is just not that good. Can't anyone see that Hamilton is a better driver? Again, it must be my polarized view, my ignorance, who knows? I think the easiest explanation is usually the best one. Hamilton outperformes Kovalainen on the track. At one lap, Kovalainen shows to be very fast, but when doing the same thing constantly lap after lap, his speed somehow dissipates, similar to Massa.

Raikkonen did a very good job, except for his poor qualifying. No one is impressed because he is supposed to be driving a Ferrari, so if he is six, bummer, what a dissappointment! For those of you who say that enjoyed the race, Raikkonen should be the main reason for it. The guy fought like hell and succeed every single time that he tried to overtake. Despite such a boring track, Hamilton and Raikkonen made the whole race a lot of fun to watch. For me, it doesn't matter his position or performance. I know he is an ACE and he will show it if he is given the chance.

Alonso, together with Hamilton, is the biggest swinger in this blog. For some reasons, the guy has to do a brilliant job every single race or it suddenly goes back to the Loser's room. I agree he did a poor job in Germany, but not with Ed assessment. If I was seating in the Twingo and I saw a small chance to pass a car in lap 5 instead of lap 15, I would have tried as well. Of course he was impatient, but what happened from then on? He couldn't pass Vettel and it took half the race to pass Rosberg with a Williams... Is that any better? Should he try an overtake a car every 10 laps when fighting for 9th? It makes sense if you are fighting for 3rd, but driving safe for less than that is only for losers. To me, he is not 'trying' to prove... He proves every race that he has the right mix. So far, the only thing I can see is how wrong his decision to leave McLaren was. However, anyone discarding FA must be suffering from Alzheimer...

[Juan]

Gary M

It was obvious to everyones unbiased eyes. And I have said I wish Ham wins this year. But if Heikki always lets the door more than ajar (lets say it in a more or less elegant manner), it always harms Ham´s image.

Im saying this not for Ham, but for Ron Dennis.

MCLAREN THE MOST HYPOCRITICAL TEAM IN F1, jaja. youre right.

[Pierre]

@Tim:

McLaren's strategic decision is obvious:

They were worried that Lewis wouldn't actually last 30 odd laps on his final set of tyres, we all know the McL, especially with Lewis at the wheel, chews them up.

They therefore decided it was a gamble worth taking: leaving him out and hope he can build enough of a lead to limit some damage, maybe get a podium, or pit immediately, come out still in front, then risk his tyres degrading so much that people start overtaking in the final laps, or worse still, he gets a flat and his race ruined, nul points.

So they were prepared to possibly give away 1st postn, hoping to get a podium, instead of risking throwing it all away.

Us armchair critics must remember that the teams have loads more information than we do when they make their decisions. Sometimes they get it wrong, sometimes they don't.

Hilarious to note though that Piquet was advising the God Fernando how to set up his car!!!

[ELCROWLEY]

Oh my god. Piquet wins thanks to to a SC and has luck. Alonso could have done good results in Monaco, Canada and Silverstone. Always his team did the thing wrong, but you know weather is hard to predict. Alonso need a little of luck and he didn't. Now Piquet wins thanks to that luck and everyone says Alonso is beaten by Piquet.

I can't believe.

Also, people say Alopnso is racing and doig mistakes like a novice. Well, drivers starting from first positions has much less options to crash or do a mistake. And if you start from behind, you have to take some risks, overtaking movements, fight with other drivers,...

If you do start in front, just run, don't fight with other rivals, and keep revs down from half race. That's racing? What Alonso is doing is great. His car is a piece of grap, and he fights as he has to do to get points. He try to do overtakings, but even you are faster than driver in front of you, you can't do it. That's formula 1.

[KoJ Finland]

Hello
McLaren most sporting team in F1

I agree with what you say. AS a Finn I too have no problems in supporting drivers of different nationalities even though we have Finnish drivers in F1.
At this point in time Hamilton is currently in a different class and it's great to watch him.
Maybe those that seem to hate him don't like his colour as it just makes no sense if you like F1.

[rubeniken]

@ Alex.
Wow, you are an expert in F1!!!
1st. Nelshinyo set up was made by Alonso, as Pat Symons and Flavio said.
2nd. Nelshinyo was faster in last laps for three reasons;
a) He got soft tyres.
b) He got fuel discharged.
c) He runs with free road, and could drive trought the line.
I don't know if you wachted the race but, before safety car was on the track, he was on 80 secs. behind.
Cheers!!

[rubeniken]

@ANNON

Is incredible how you can compare LH with FA this season. For last season, FA had to fight against LH (good driver) & Ron Dennis (bad manager, who said that their enemies were kimi and Alonso, when Alonso was fighting for Champion ship), and even with everything against him, LH and FA had the same points.

[rubeniken]

@ MCLAREN F1 TE...SET UP.

Obviously you don't know that Pedro Martinez De La Rosa, is doing a great job with sets up and aerodinamic tests this year.

Oh! GREAT RACE FOR LH & MCL. CONGRATULATIONS, AT THIS TIME IS ONE OF THE TWO BEST DRIVERS ON THE GRID.

[Charles]

At the moment it appears to me that the only driver hungry enough for the title is Lewis Hamilton. I have to say that I am disappointed at Raikonnen - he seems mentally off the boil. If Ferrari don't manage the situation carefully, Lewis might just run away with the title far more easily than he should be allowed to. Having said that, I don't want to take anything away from Hamilton's performance. He is coming of age as an F1 driver now.

[Kenny]

How much of McLarens recent pace is because of the dubious Torque/Manual TC pads on the steering wheel? For how long has McLaren been using them?

[Victor.]

The discussion today is not between LH and FA. They are not competing in the same conditions. The discussion is between LH and KR, FM. Ferrari must be really worried because the championship is aiming to ML. Anyway, in case LH was WC this year, that is not going to be real until he can beat FA in the same conditions, with a compettive car and with the complete support of his team (nothing to be with last year). This only can happen if FA goes to Ferrari. In the other way, we could see the "real" equality in ML: RD press the button and HK left free way to LH. That is not a team order to be punished? but HK is not going to put any claim against his team as LH did last year several times.

Regards.

[adam]

Kenny, manually selected torque mapping has been used all season.The Ferrari has a rotatory selector with 7 or so settings on the steering wheel.The Mclaren uses additional paddles on the wheel which seems a neater way of selection.

[Gary M]

@ Kenny

It does not matter as the manual TC pads are currently not illegal, and though I have no idea if it is true but there are said to be another 4 teams currently using them in F1. (Though I would hazard a guess that if those teams do not include Ferrari then they will be made illegal before the next race no doubt!).

But joking aside here there is a serious point to be made, and although I am expecting Ed to write about this issue over the course of the next week as more information comes through it is worth discussing because apparently LH's engine has been impounded and is currently being tested by the FIA (does anybody know for sure, is this really true?).

Are you saying that technical innovation is no longer welcome in F1? Because that is what you appear to be suggesting. As long as illegal technology is not being used then I cannot see a problem. I have heard quotes such as "It may not be breaking the legal guidelines but it sure if pushing the moral ones" banded about but I have no idea what that means. We could go on all day arguing about morals in any sport let alone F1.

Surely when you have a sport comprised of some of the leading engine and car manufacturers in the world you are always going to get teams investing much into R&D and looking for ways to exploit loop-holes in the regulations and increase performance in anyway possible. This is a huge part of the sport.

If anybody really starts using this as yet another stick to start bashing McLaren and Lewis Hamilton I am really going to give up on this blog and read something else instead. Do you really think that Ferrari, Renault, BMW etc. etc.. do not invest just as much time and money in doing exactly the same?

I thought McLaren were bad because they were copying all of Ferrari's secrets? Now it seems they are bad because they have come up with some of their own. They just cannot win with you guys around.

I would also love to understand why is it that as soon as McLaren win two races in a row they have their engine taken away for testing. Has this ever happened to Ferrari this year?

[Verbal]

So fickle are the hearts and minds of fans, from retard to genious in the space of two races.
"After the two races in North America people thought we had nothing more to give. But now, after two wins they celebrate us like kings...in the end not that much has changed other then that I feel happy, obviously!" - Kimster 2007

Mclaren, never ones to shy away from controversy have apparently manipulated the rules not for the first time and now have "manual traction control" however Heki did not get the same modifications for Silverstone and Hockenheim.
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2008/07/21/mclarens-technical-innovations-have-put-the-mp423-ahead-of-the-pack/#more-7605
Now I understand what Ed means by a big hoo-haa brewing up.

[Gordon]

Its not Fernando that Ferrari need, nor is it M.Schumacher, its Ross Brawn. Im surprised that all the top teams havent been beating a path to his door pushing barrow loads of money.

[Gordon]

Ed, this is your blog and you decide what to post, but dont you think that anon from Germany's comment above, starting "Regazzoni..." is a bit beyond the pale. In this day and age no one should be advocating that sort of outcome.

Ed adds: yes I agree. I will edit it accordingly. Thanks.

[Scunnerous]

I'm thinking that Ferrari is even worse off than a casual glance would suggest, the possible evidence being: it's just that Kimi has a higher sense of self-preservation was why he was overshadowed by his teammate in Hockenheim. Reasons for McLaren's recent advance: 1)I'm not sure what the current situation is regarding their "penance" but are they allowed to use the tyre gas yet?... which is NOT just CO2 BTW and is not a Ferrari secret or development; 2)Apparently there's something going on with the Mobil1 engine lubricant just now which leads to a much lower viscosity with much improved load-bearing characteristics at higher temps... so much that McLaren has been able to run with reduced vent size for the air intakes (take a close look). So the aero guys are very happy.

I have to say that FA's reaction to his teammate's relative success can only be classified as niggardly [take any pun as you will]. Now we get a measure of his true general demeanor, one can only speculate at just how bad things really were last year in Woking.

[Andrew]

@kohque "His latest results not only show that he has the best car of the last 2 races, it also shows that he knows how to drive it fast towards pole position."

I'm sure noone else wouldn't know. They are just a bunch of driving instructors and a legendary race driver...

[Tim]

Pierre - you're right, of course, that things always look very different in the pits. What looks very simple to the casual spectator is often much more complicated than it seems. Hindsight also helps. But that doesn't mean the armchair critics are always wrong and the teams are always right.

The teams do have much more information available to them, but sometimes this is actually a disadvantage - data overload. The more data streams a team has access to, the longer it takes to analyse them, the more likely they are to contradict one another and the less easy it is to see a clear picture and make the right decision at the right time. Sometimes gut reactions and racing instincts are more reliable than careful analysis of enormous amounts of data. I suspect the likes of Ross Brawn is so good at this because he knows when to ignore the data and trust his instincts.

As to McLaren's decision, your argument about the limited lifespan of the soft tyres is a perfectly sound one. But it isn't the one Ron Dennis put forward on Sunday. Ron said that the team didn't expect a long safety car period and, with lots of fuel left in Lewis' car, there would be enough time to rebuild an advantage before stopping. A speed advantage, not a tyre disadvantage, appears to have been the key factor influencing their decision not to pit.

Interestingly, Ron also said that the decision not to pit was made in Woking not at the track. This is a very McLaren way of doing things, with presumably a small army of analysts and strategists and computers. McLaren needs to ask itself why, with all of this resource dedicated to making strategy calls during races, did it call wrongly in this instance? Why did it think the safety car was only going to be out for a couple of laps following a large crash, with the driver still in the car and the track was covered in debris? Did the team miss something that should have been obvious from the pitwall?

[Francisco]

As a daily reader of British newspapers I have unfortunately come across with this sad blog. I lived in the UK for a few years and have always thought of the Britain as the most civilized and polite nations of all I know but this blog has honestly put me off my next visit to London next week. This sarcasm and cinism is more than sad for people who love both countries. If you allow me a suggestion, Jordi and Gary M should take a break and the rest of spaniards, both the one that praise Lewis -it seems so fake anyway, and the others who so stubbornly defend Fernando here please leave the blog, Fernando is not liked here and you are just humilliating yourselves because, pleeease, you are writing in English and many of you, javiervivaespania and few others accepted just do not know how to write, leave alone how to fight with high-skilled British satirist that write here. Go somewhere where you are welcome.

[Verbal]

Its very funny and strange that these clever bloggers here still have the audacity to criticise McLaren for making the "wrong call" when McLare still won the race, theres no telling where the alternative would have left LH.

Scunnerous I think I know where you get your dubious facts from but oil does not give you speed, it gives you longetivity, mobile have improve their oil for F1 but its not as simple as it might sound infact if the oil is too thick it retards the movement of the engine parts.
"McLaren has been able to run with reduced vent size "...quite the opposite, Macca have introduced wider asymmetrical sidepods and are testing a shark fin (more ventilation) like the force india one. Fancy that McLaren nicking from force India lol

[Zigor]

Francisco,
You are really lost... One of the most interesting thing nowadays in f1,is to talk about Hamilton and Alonso. People like it.

From my point of view, you may be very polite and at the same time you may be a very harmful person, and I don,t mind if you like it or not, but McLaren in my opinion was not harmful, but toxic for Fernando.

I still wonder how he got the same points as Hamilton in 2007...

(On the other hand, my english is not good, but I am free to write here because apart of other reasons, I am an european citizen.)

[Kohque]

@ SCUNNEROUS,

Alonso have been defending his team mate race after race while everyone has been openly saying than Piquet was (rubbish...edit here by the moderator). But, hey! Suddenly everyone seems to have the memory spam of a senile beetle: "Piquet? I always saw his potential."

Get inside a motor competition and do your best. Then, you may understand that whoever is running an F1 car must be an freaking outstanding individual who deserves a bit more than cheap and ignorant talk... Where do you guys get to be so original? Hip hop class?

[Kohque]

@ ANDREW

Of course not, I am sorry for my dumb comment. Let's rephrase it:

"Put Kubica or probably Raikkonen, or even FERNANDO ALONSO, in the same car and we will see if Lewis is sooooo much better than everyone else".. Because, you see, I wouldn't think so. After all, he just fought hand in hand with a double champion in the same team during his rookie season and boy!, it seems that he got the same points than his team mate...

That doesn't make him Senna, but you have to blind not see beyond the obvious.

[Andrew]

Hamilton got lucky,but a win is a win.
What I haven't seen mentioned is how easily Hamilton passed Felip Massa in the closing stages.
Why Massa left so much space down the inside is beyond me.
Surely if Massa stayed on the inside,Hamilton would have had to fight a bit longer and might have run out of laps.
Let's hope the drivers championship stays exciting until the last race.

[hahahaha]

it is funny that now McLaren has nº1,when they always said that there´s equality between drivers..but Lewis is English, so doesn´t matter...and you said"Lewis is number one in every way"..Did you say the same last year with Alonso who had just won two championships?

[Érico]

Great post and blog, I've just come across them after finding a link at the AtlasF1 BB. I'll certainly be back for more. Keep it up.

[supercampeaobrasileiro]

massa has long since learnt to ignore superficial analysis of his races.

His car was undriveable at brit gp. Kimi also went off on a better set up.

German gp: massa's car suffered lack of grip and in the closing stages his brakes were failing - yes his brakes were failing. I cant help thinking that this latter fact would be heavily reported had ham had this prob.
If massa had crashed into ham in the closing stages, he would have been criticised for taking too many chances in a car that was suffering technical probs.
He was after all going to be overtaken at some stage by ham - the suggestion that he could have made lewis run out of laps is laughable - this is not monaco guys and ham's car was signif better.
He stayed on the podium and kept his WDC chances alive. Not a bad day's work when you consider kimi could only manage 6th in the same car.

[MAN FROM PHOTOCOPY SHOP]

To all ferrari fans. We now know what happened in Silverstone and Germany. Problem solved (and improved). We are now confident again.

We'll bounce back in Hungary.

From Jerez with love

[Tshepo from South Affrica]

lewis hamilton u are an inspiration to the children of the soil, if there is one thing in this life that i believe that i cannot do better than any other man, it is to drive like you, your feel for the car is unparalled, you have a deft touch on the brakes and you always light up the rear end as you light up our hearts, i am now full blooded F1 supporter all because of you!!We need a F1 race in KAYALAMI SOUTH AFRICA!

[JAVIER]

If Alonso doesn´t get a seat on Ferrari, next year is going to be really boring!!! Lewis has mastered the last two races, and he has no rival with Fernando driving a Renault Clio. F-1 needs their rivalry back and to put Massa on the kart-championship

[mike]

lol how sad and bitchy every one is and a little jealous of our little prodigy.Shame you lot cant be good loosers like we had to be for so many years.
LH is one of the greatest new talents get used to it he will be rubbing your noses in it for many years to come.

[MAN FROM PHOTOCOPY SHOP]

For the good of the sport, I hope that nothing illegal comes out of this (http://www.fia.com/germanygp/documents/GER_08_Race_Report.pdf)
I personally don't think there should be any irregularities but if they are found this will be shocking!!

So let's hope Lewis's engine meets 2008 FIA F1 technical Regulations

[DTM]

So the big question is does "MAN FROM THE PHOTOCOPY SHOP" really work for Ferrari or is he a fantasist? Certainly there is little evidence of the 1s/lap improvement he promised yesterday (or indeed that whatever problem they had is fixed/improved, unless Paffett really is 0.5s faster than Badoer).

There is also something about the generalised way he refers to development that makes me suspect he doesn't really know what's going on. His brief is also very wide, for instance at Silverstone he claimed "Mea Culpa" about failing to change Kimi's tyres, but now claims to be in Jerez. I rather doubt there are many strategy people at the test in Jerez, so what is the nature of his roving brief?

Furthermore I doubt his employers would look particularly kindly on discussing the rate of Ferrari development on a public message board. If Ferrari really have improved today, I would have thought that keeping quiet about it would be the best way forward.

Intriguing.

[MAN FROM THE PHOTOCOPY SHOP]

DTM:

I am glad that you read my posts. That's good news for me (somebody does, even if they are stupid and the work of a decadent fantasist).

The beauty of this blog (like any blogs) is that you can keep your identity secret. Of course, I am a fantasist. Aren't you?

Re Jerez: Tests are just tests. Uhmm, Toro Rosso was the fastest team today. Actually, in the long runs/stints, the Ferrari was faster than the McLaren, by approx 0.3 sec average per lap...oops, you were not here, but this fantasist is telling you.And that is surely good news for Ferrari. Temperatures in Jerez today should be similar to temperatures in Hungaroring and Valencia (which is very important when studying tyre behaviour).

And don't get paranoid. Whoever is behind MAN FROM THE PHOTOCOPY SHOP (only a few know) is irrelevant here. But as I said in a previous post (I think to Richard), you surely know me, without really knowing.

Valencia is going to be a great race (a cracker). Some fast sweeping corners and some slow ones. I would agree, the urban circuit seems more suited to McL but I wouldn't bet on it.

[Pau]

READ MY LIPS: LEWIS WILL EVENTUALLY SCREW UP AND LOOSE THE WDC.

[John Watson]

Hello Ed

You have a weakness in your understanding of English grammar: the word ‘that’ defines; and the word ‘which’ describes. In this article of yours, the first three examples are wrong and the fourth is correct:

WRONG: While Lewis drove brilliantly, he was also using a car WHICH enabled him to attack anyone at will and at almost any stage of the race and the life of his tyres.

WRONG: Is it a permanent move up or did matters come together in a way WHICH they will not elsewhere?

WRONG: I remember thinking 'I don't want this race to end' I was enjoying it so much (something WHICH is not always the case).

CORRECT: It appeared that Massa did brake early, WHICH would support his contention of a brake problem.

Your writing is excellent and will become even better once you have learnt this lesson.

[Benalf]

I think the MC 6-paddle steering wheel will bring some headlines soon because if it turns out that the paddles sets pre-programmed torque maps, loaded from testing and the driver uses it according to each circuit turn, the development will be midway between legally-acceptable and totally illegal. In my opinion, that's an automatic, clickable setting....but I am just guessing

[Scunnerous]

@VERBAL: "if the oil is too thick it retards the movement of the engine parts."

Uhh, much lower viscosity is err, much less thick to you, which means that less power is used pumping it around and improved lubricity means lower friction losses in bearings, i.e. more available power... and the company's name is Mobil, not "mobile". What they have is a new formulation and if you look closer, the intake vents are definitely smaller overall.

[Richard]

@DTM - 'does "MAN FROM THE PHOTOCOPY SHOP" really work for Ferrari or is he a fantasist?'

I made the same point a couple of months ago. No F1 team is going to allow an employee to make these comments in public, and no employee would risk making them.

When I challenged him on this, he more or less admitted that he might just sell Ferraris or something to that effect.

So I think you've already answered your own question, and he hasn't denied being a fantasist either! And yes, we know him without knowing him, or rather we all know of someone like him. Apparently, he used to work for the Walter Wolf F1 team, or was that the Walter Mitty F1 team?

[Keke]

"As for Nelson, well for a guy who had just been gifted his first podium in Formula One, he looked seriously pissed off."

@Ed Gorman
Were you at Hockenheim at all?!? Did you somehow fail to see Nelson jump out of his car, arms in the air on park ferme?!? Or celebrate on the podium, huging Massa and Whiting?!? Get a grip!! Nelson is a very private and shy person according to all who know him - and THAT is why he doesnt feel confortable giving interviews. Do your job properly next time and put some genuine insight into what you report, instead of waving red and silver pompoms for Lewis all the time.

Ed writes

Great to hear from you Keke. Presumably you were present at the press conference in the media centre after the race at Hockenheim for the written press(that is after the official TV one)? I assume also that you, like me, were able to make a judgement based on seeing and hearing Nelson from a distance of about 10ft. I assume also that, like me, you were able to compare his demeanour, his body language and the general drift of his comments with previous encounters with Nelson at other press conferences and functions throughout this season? If that is all true then maybe we can agree to disagree.

[rubeniken]

@ FERNANDO

My dear Fernando.
A man can be stupid speaking in english, spanish or both.
Thank you for the example.

Thanks to ED for be a free and independent journalist, for every world readers.

[Verbal]

@Scunnerous - Viscosity is "the ability to flow" low viscosity therefore means the oil is not very fluid any way my point is there is no speed to be found in oil wether vicous or not. Perhaps someone here would care to point you to other credible reasons (Ed aluded to some of them) why the McLaren has made a jump in performance. I also remind you MOBIL supplies oil not only to McLaren.

I dont think "MAN FROM THE PHOTOCOPY SHOP" ever actually said he works for Ferrari or that he is the real whistle blower from the photocopyshop lol, I like the dud I think he's funny

[MAN FROM THE PHOTOCOPY SHOP]

Thanks Verbal. You are a great guy. Richard and DTM are so nasty to me. I don't luke them. And I drive a Ferrari, lalalalalala and you (Richard and DTM) don't lalalalala.

[DTM]

@RUBENIKEN

"Viscosity is "the ability to flow" low viscosity therefore means the oil is not very fluid"

Wrong on both counts I'm afraid.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscosity

[Richard]

MAN FROM PHOTO...

I'm not trying to be nasty, but you do rather ask for it with some of the comments you make.

And I've no doubt whatsoever that you have a Ferrari (keyring)

[raggy]

@ John Watson
I'm not completely sure that your comments have anything to do with motor racing, but you may like to reflect that English has a history of several hundred years development behind it and is not so well-packaged as auto engineering. Fowler wrote in 1926: "The two kinds of relative clauses, to one of which "that" and to the other of which "which" is appropriate, are the defining and the non-defining; if writers would agree to regard "that" as the defining relative pronoun and "which" as the non-defining, there would be much gain both in lucidity and ease. It would be idle to pretend that this is the practice of either of most or of the best writers."
English has few strict rules: most grammatical prescriptions are usable at will; what matters is the sense conveyed to the reader!

[Keke]

@ED

No, of course I wasn't on the written press interviews - otherwise I probably would have printed at least 1 line of what he said on my blog or on my newspaper column, rather than decide to make a short snide remark about what was the best moment of his career so far.

Judging by your very short assessment of his race, if we can even call it that, I'm not suprised Nelsinho can't raise a smile seeing you 10ft away from him during interviews, asking him questions that will not see the answer printed on any media you write on. Must have seemed like a waste of time when he would probably want to be out celebrating. As an F1 fan I saw pictures of him celebrating with his team and quotes he gave the Renault website - that to me does says more than you could (briefly) write about his supposed demeanour.

And the really disappointing thing is that you couldnt even acknowlege or challenge my views of such pictures on your reply - and admit you may have been at least slightly off the mark with your comment. I think we will indeed agree to disagree...

[MAN FROM THE PHOTOCOPY SHOP]

Ed, some 'interesting' words from Keke.

Keke, please don't get angry with Ed! Nelson's big achievement caught everybody by surprise! So much that it left everybody speechless (and it seems that also wordless) LOL

I'm hope you are keeping well.
PS: I hope your son doesn't sign for McL. Unless he is happy to play second fiddle! Ferrari (you know it) would be a better option...

Best wishes

[MAN FROM THE PHOTOCOPY SHOP]

@Richard: ‘And I've no doubt whatsoever that you have a Ferrari (keyring)'

You are absolutely right! (as always - or so you think). I have a Ferrari's Cavallino Rampante keyring encrusted in tiny diamonds...

Oops, I'm fantasising again!