Brazil - the final frontier

I'm in Brazil. It feels like the final frontier. One more step, one more race, one more set of pressers, then practice, quali, the race and then a new champion to savour.

Once the slough of exhaustion from the overnight on BA has subsided, I have no doubt I will return to a state of eager anticipation. So many things can happen and, at this point in the season, one feels more aware than ever how Formula One can turn on factors completely out of the hands of the two contenders. One of them could end up champion through no immediate fault of his own and we will be left to consider how it was the right answer in the end, etc, etc.

Coming in from the airport, the grim reality of Sao Paulo hits you just as it does every year. Miles and miles of unremarkable urban sprawl and a city far too concerned with making ends meet to display much fervour for the biggest race of the year. But then, when we get to Interlagos on Friday, we will know what this means to the locals who will be there in their thousands, beating their drums and urging Felipe on to the country's first championship since Senna's last one in 1991.

While we crawled through the traffic, I was imagining what Felipe must have felt when he flew in this time, knowing that he has a chance to make history. As he viewed his hometown and the huge green and gold Brazilian flags flying alongside the Senna Expressway, he must have felt a tightening in his stomach. I did and I'm just here to watch.

I will be quite honest and say that, as an Englishman, I will be delighted if Lewis wins but if he does not, I regard Felipe as a worthy champion too. We have addressed the arguments many times, but in brief, the Brazilian has made few errors since the beginning of the season, he has been let down at least twice by his team and he has surprised many of his critics with his application and ability under pressure.

I have thought a bit about those key seconds which they both face this weekend, first in quali when they will be within millimetres of going too far and then at the start on Sunday. Can you imagine those final few moments as the lights come on and then go out? Shaking, quivering, sick with apprehension, that would be most of us. Felipe and Lewis will claim they can handle it but they are only human aren't they? It goes back to the old saying: Sport is the study of human beings under pressure. That is exactly what we are going to see, not just Lewis and Felipe but their pit teams and pitwall teams too and that is what makes it so compelling.

There has been quite a lot of discussion here about the FIA/Ferrari/Toyota megaphone diplomacy on the subject of standard engines. I still don't have a good feel about how far the FIA is prepared to go. However one observation I would make is that Mosley has been through more public humiliation than any man in the history of public life in his successful bid to remain in office and you get the sense that this has emboldened him. His thinking may well be, I have survived and now I will make my mark. I am sure he will not contrive to kill the goose that lays Formula One's golden eggs, but equally he means business. (A good way to think of it is one of those trailors for a new feature film with a voice-over by a guy who gargles with gravel: "He's back, meaner, deadlier, more determined than ever, the Mosley you always feared....")

   

   

Comments

[CHIUNDA]

Ed i note that in your paragraph praising Massa's performance you fail to mention the fact that the Stewards have played a significant role keeping him in contention by handing him some 8 points that he would otherwise have not got would the races have been run under normal convention.

Something however tells me that if Lewis had similarly benefited, you hacks would be hammering away that minor fact with admirable consistency. Not to mention your Spanish readership.

Nonetheless, one cannot forget the six races this and last season in which Lewis was an absolute disappointment 2007 - China, Brazil 2008 - Bahrain, Canada, France, Japan. If they were fewer, one could say they are the exception rather than the norm - but six races of absolute heart break out of 34!! Then there was that logic defying race at Spa! I know the Spirits have already told me he is winning Brazil in a clean but wet race, but if they had not told me i think i would already have had my coronary!!

Ok people where is D? I know i didn't always like him but where did he disappear to? Ed if you know his whereabouts, tell him i was right about Webber being a crap driver and sorry for his soft spot for Kova =)) And yah, because he is not here, thank God you are no longer boring us with menus on a racing blog ;)

[CHIUNDA]

On the engines, as it has been asked before, what commercial or even sporting sense does it make for a Mercedes to win a championship on a Ferrari engine or a Cosworth engine for that matter? Not only has Mad Max disgraced the sport socially, now he is doing it technically - i am increasingly starting to hope that the teams have enough balls and legal savvy to start a break away formula.

To all those who argued that what Mad Max did with his perversions had nothing to do with how well he run the sport - well, sorry it clearly does - once again he is showing the same lack of judgment he showed at that Chelsea apartment and lining himself up to fight a battle he doesn't have to.

[Former Ferrari Fan]

I know that there are those who will be talking about the points that Massa should have got, and the one that Lewis should have got, but we've all forgotten the one thing that we ought to have remembered.

This has been a season full of good racing, bad racing, good decisions & bad decisions. We've been to places that we've never been before, and raced at times that we've never raced normally.

I for one am not particularly allied with either the Lewis or Felipe camp, but I'm looking forwards to a good motor race on Sunday. I will be happy if Massa is Champion, I will probably be a little happier if Hamilton wins, but I'm looking forwards to the end of a season that (In my head) has been great.

My highlights are, the exotica of Singapore, the anticipation and final disappointment of Spa, and a British GP that may have had its final waltz.

Roll on Sao Paulo, it cannot come soon enough for me.

[Dean Rodrigues]

Lewis has to win. It is simply robbery if he does not. That is all I have to say on the matter.

[Stevo, Madrid]

I am expecting Lewis to collide and crash out of the race. Either Kimi will be involved or Javiervivaespana's champinon will trip him up. Doesnt' matter, becuase even Max knows who the moral champion is this year.

[Derek Smith]

For those who criticise the ITV's coverage of Hamilton read:
www.grandprix.com/ft/ft20921.html

There have been some really exciting races this year, certainly enough for us to forget the dreadful ones. What we need is a cracker to end what will be one of the great seasons. The FiAsco of the dreadful stewards decisions will also hopefully become a vague memory, like the hangover after a great party.

With what appears to be the intent to destroy F1 as we know it from those in charge, we might not see this season's like for some time to come.

Let's hope for a race where regardless of which driver or team you support, you come out saying tht it was brilliant.

[IDR]

Ed,

You should try a "picanha al avesso". Wonderful meat.

For the final round, please give us some of those traditional insights.

The menú man, the menú!!!!

Is this a racing blog? Ha!!!!

[Brabazon]

Unfortunately Ed, I think Max may well be out to destroy F1. He strikes me as the boy who has never grown up, albeit a boy with the biggest Scalextric set in the world to play with. He knows he can't play with it forever, and he wants to make sure that if he can't have it, nobody else is going to have it either... :)

Here's to a good clean race on Sunday with no steward interference...

[teamwork-toronto-ON]

Ed

THANK YOU very much for another year of pretty good gossip and racing!

Job well done!! . .

but, just be careful what you say about the maFIA and their members, because we want you to keep your pass for the future F1 seasons!!

lol

enjoy!! ... and zamba!! \o/\o/\o/\o/

[Angiox]

What if Lewis crash with Massa? I mean, British media is talking about possible Ferrarri's dirty games.
However, if Hamilton or Kovi puts Massa out, would you mantain that Hamilton deserves the championship? Would you critisize McLaren? or would you try to justify him saying that LH/McLaren always try to go faster and that these things happen in F1?

[Alastair]

I am anticipating a long winter full of bitter whinging from Lewis' fans if he wipes himself out trying to win the race like he did in Japan.

Ask yourselves this. Why does Lewis get himself into situations where the Stewards have to rule?

[JR]

Are you sure, Dean Rodrigues?

Plase take a look: http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2008/10/8605.html

[Jeffrey Churchill]

Dear Ed:
Thanks for all your articles which I find rather interesting. I would like to see all those involved in this sport stand up to Max Mosley and tell him that they are not going to change the way each team manufacture its engines.If he does not agree with them, they should all form another organization and leave him all alone with his non-sensible ideas.
In closing, I look forward to reading your well written articles on motor sport next year, God's willing. Wishing you the very best that life has to offer, God bless.

Jeffrey Churchill

[LAK]

This is it! The time has come! Feeling butterflies in my stomach myself! I think this is too overwhelming for the title contenders. At least Massa has the support of his own people which will give him a boost. I hope Hamilton somehow manages to convince himself that this is the first race of the season lol. A race to make the first impression and set the pace, which will give him the push he needs and not the pressure of the final race!

I've said before that I prefer Hamilton to win it, but if he doesn't I hope the other driver wins it deservingly.

I thought about what you said Ed, that even if Lewis doesn't win, Massa would be a worthy champion. I would agree has there not been any steward interventions. Unfortunately, if he wins, I'd be convinced that it was due to the many interferences the stewards have done, which is very sad. I would also believe that it is not meant to be this year for Hamilton again.

Senna once said, "The day it arrives, it will arrive. It could be today or 50 years later. The only sure thing is that it will arrive."

And I believe that this should be Hamilton's motto this weekend.

[Naliaka]

STEVO - I have a problem with the use of words 'Max' and 'moral' in the same sentence.

[james b]

Alastair - because he is a RACING driver, something you clearly have no comprehension of.

[Tunde Uche]

Well done Ed!
Your blog is the business!!
I would also like to be the first to Congratulate Lewis on being the next WDC, even though he will come in third. Holler!

[A Parker]

Ed, while you are living in cloud cuckoo land not publishing my posts about a significant thing that has happened in F1 because it concerns the “unmentionable”: racism, autosport have now posted that the FIA are now condemning the racist website that abuses LH and which now has 20,000 abusive comments on it. Do you still think this is insignificant? 18,000 complaints to the BBC have sparked a crisis, and yet maybe you think 20,000 abusive and racist comments by Spanish Alonso fans is insignificant. Very alarming IMO. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71835

[F1-Insider]

(Moderator writes: This comment has been extensively edited)
If any driver other than Hamilton is crowned F1 champion 2008 it will be a travesty as the result will be forever tainted by the ..... of the FIA in some of the most obscene penalties ever awarded in F1.

It matters not how a good a driver Massa is or is not, it matters little how good the Ferrari car is compared to the McLaren (even though it's been developed with one hand tied behind the teams back) the fact is if the FIA = Max....Mosley had not interfered with the race results this year Hamilton would already be the champion.

I find it amusing that so many here, even me from time to time, discuss F1 as though all is fair, I don't really expect to see Hamilton crowned F1 champion and have stated this since the season start, Max ....Mosley does not want to see Ron Dennis claim any more championships whist he remains in F1 and will do what ever it takes to stop him and McLaren but I do believe it's more about Ron than it is about McLaren.

I am hoping that the FIA = Max....Mosley show their hand and Lewis is not allowed to be F1 champion and the likes of McLaren Mercedes and maybe others will leave F1 and start a new formula which is based on sporting fairness, open governance and state of the art technology coupled with an environmental conscience. I forget who, but a contributor suggested a fuel allowance which would be decreased by a given % year on year, this would challenge the engineers to come up with better and better fuel efficient cars whilst still pushing the limits of power and speed.

The ridiculous posturing by the FIA = Max.... Mosley against the FOTA is just that, ridiculous, why on earth I ask myself are the teams putting up with this? Madness.

I wish Hamilton well and would love to see him rightfully crowned champion and then for the teams to start a new series but I somehow don't think that is what will happen - not long to wait now.

[Richard]

ALASTAIR - because his car isn't red and it doesn't have a prancing horse on the side. Either that or his car is silver and Max Mosley doesn't like his boss.

[A Parker]

Just read a beautiful comment by Damon Hill about Lewis which counters all the negative comments about him from those who don't even know him. This is part of what he says: "He is where he is because he is exceptionally gifted at what he does.

"He is very talented and is a charming guy. He is respectful of those around him and he wants to be popular, but he shouldn't try to please everyone. A champion should only fulfil so much of anyone's expectations. I sense he wants to race and to win and that will give him an extended career."

Also I am glad to see that Ed has written a column about the racism on the Spanish website against Lewis. These issues cannot and should not be swept under the carpet.

[Anon (from Switzerland, the real one, blahblahblah)]

Some people think Felipe should not win because of the stewars'. They are easily forgetting that Felipe has had two engine failures and a complete pitstop botch up, which have denied him around 23 points. I think he would deserve it, as he is trying so hard. But whoever wins deserves it.

[NKat]

Churrascaria, Ed. Just once. Then you won't need to eat for the next day or so.

[Anon]

@ Anon (from Switzerland, the real one, blahblahblah)

With respect your last post is not befitting a man of your intellect, what an earth, team or car performance has to do with blatant cheating and points giving and points taking from you main competitor have to do with each other is beyond by understanding.

I assume your post was provocative so won't be drawn in further other than to point out that McLaren have also made mistakes this year.

As others have said, including many ex world champions, if all had been above board in 2008 then Lewis Hamilton would already have been crowned champion of 2008.

As an aside I am sure many will have read of the disgusting Spanish racist website doesn't this prove what many others have said about the hidden and overt racism directed towards Lewis Hamilton? What a shame we have bigots and racists like this in 2008, shame on them.

Anon

[JamesC]

People, apparently including Mark Webber, who criticise Lewis for doing things differently - going into the corners in an unusual and unpredictable manner, for example, or taking risky overtaking moves - clearly forget that this is a sport.

They also forget that Formula One was really pretty dull while there were no unpredictable moves going on.

If the sport didn't have the hot-heads of Lewis and Fernando within it, then the sport would turn into a fortnightly sleep catch-up.

I think Mark Webber, who has criticised Lewis for his unpredictable driving style, has a very good post-Formula One career ahead of him as a Health and Safety bureaucrat. Perhaps he could work out some rules to stop people overtaking on motorways.

As for Mad Max - what a joke. The FIA is laughable enough to have such a man as its leader, and appoint such incompetent race stewards. But what's the point in fooling around with a sport that is apparently doing quite nicely in terms of overtaking, audience figures and so on.

Max: No. Leave it alone. (the man likes a bit of domination).

[Charles]

My heart is in my mouth as I write this. If there is a crash I fear Alonso will be involved. After all he has very little to lose and a few wrongs to put right in his mind. I don't think Kimi will want to get involved, after all Ferrari are wanting the constructor's championship. I hope it is a clean and unbiased race, let's see Lewis and Massa at their level best and hopefully we'll get some brilliant, unbiased, non-interfered with racing. Good Luck Lewis, I hope you win this time!!!!

[alex]

Ed, Felipe may be a lovely man, but he is not 2008 WDC, Lewis is, already. We have all seen Max's ridiculous attempts to cheat the WDC away from Lewis and McLaren for what they are, why do him the service of taking this charade lying down ?

Interesting to see the Spanish again revealing themselves, just as it appears Alonso is growing up a bit.

[Pinaster]

Ed Gorman:
Will you please do something about people insulting Spain and Spaniards in your blog?

[carlos]

A Parker
That´s not the only website showing racism against Lewis, check this out
WWW.hamiltoncampeon.com

[Javier]

Ed, you are not helping at all with the article you have just written about a web site in Spain against Hamilton.

This web site is a holligan web site, full of no brainers. It is a shame that this web site exist, but you can not make a story out of it. It is like making an article about some opinions of some nazist or ultra-against-all or violent people, and pretending is the opinion of a whole country.

In England there are hate related web sites (against whatever), but you cannot conclude that english people are nazist because an english nazist web site exist.

What you have made is not journalism, you have taken advantage, and thrown more wood to the fire, just to gain more page views.

In Spain we do not like Hamilton a lot, is no secret. The main reason is beacause we see him as a "golden boy", a man that has had it all since a long time, since Ron decided to finance his carreer long time a go.
We see him as the classmate that comes the first day with the best pencils, the best and most expensive bicycle, and besides that, he says is the best in the class. Maybe he is not what it seems, but no wonder we don not like this presentation card.

But we all recognize he is a very good driver, and if he wins he deservers it (as even Alonso has said).

So please, stop writing about hate stories, as it does help no one.

Best,
Javier.

[David Jones]

@ Anon
I agree with you, it matters not how good or bad the team has performed how can it compare with the things that have happened to LH which is nothing more than cheating by Max the ***** corrupt FIA and anyone who can't see that must be blind, an idiot or one of the many racists out there.

[A Parker]

Pinaster, if your countrymen refrained from acting in such a disgusting manner towards a sportsman just because of the colour of his skin, there would be no need to comment. Civilised people can't ignore such uncivilised behaviour I'm afraid - it's 2008 (although that's hard to believe sometimes), not the 1920s in the Deep South of America.

Carlos, thanks. I know of other websites that abuse LH and there are loads of YouTube videos also, 99% of them created by Spanish Alonso fans. That is a fact, whether Spanish Alonso fans on here want to believe it or not. Pinaster, why don't you say something condemning this sort of behaviour?

[PTM]

Carlos surely telling A. Parker where more spanish websites full of racists comments wont help the issue?

[Alex T]

Dear Ed

I too, echoing others, am pleased to see that you have finally commented on the vile and disgusting racism issue that has raised its ugly head in such a depraved and deplorably form. I believe A. Parker should be commended for being at the forefront denouncing this issue over an extended period of time. In doing so, he has almost been alone in championing this cause.

The subject however, should have been provided a dedicated column reflecting its seriousness and importance. Since the decision was made to include it in your ‘tidbits’ posting then it should have been positioned at the strategic apex.

Ed writes: Hi Alex. Thanks for your comment. I am short of time. I wrote an article about this which appeared on the back page of today's Times. That is about as prominent as it gets.

[P Jackson]

Re: Engines. It's all part of a master plan

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns15388.html

[Pinaster]

Javier, dont waste your time. Everything has being said already, and please, dont lower yourself giving explanations to people like Aparker and friends. They are determined to use this blog with their boring, idiotic, offensive, and worthless fetid hot air, to feed their particular complexes.

[Pau]

Hi,

first no to racism. I agree with all the complaints in this page.

Second, please please Fernando get the pole position tomorrow, even if you have to run with some fewer fuel laps. Only to spice the final race of the championship up. Actually if Fernando can get pole tomorrow he might even be able to win the race of Sunday, if there is trouble behind him on turn one.

Looking forward to a fun 2009 season. Alonso: the comeback!

[17 points in two races]

I want to be 7 points in one race...
LH can be, or should be the youngest WDC but he also can be the LOST CHAMPIONSHIPS RECORDMAN.

Luck to all!! We are expecting rain, look after with the wrong button Louis, and be careful with all your friends in the grid: Massa, Kimi (with les ***** than you...), Glock, Webber,... and Fernando.

This season LH has crashed Kimi and FA back car, maybe one more this season...?

[Fernando]

I visited that famous and horrible website, the temple of the racist culture here in Racismland (AKA SPAIN).

It's a stupid site, for people who dislike Lewis. It was released last year; and there are 35.000 entries with anti-hamilton posts. Very few of them could be considered as racist ones, thousands of them are simply funny.

You can find idiots everywhere, but if you want to look for racists there are plenty of websites at UK (KKK, skinheads,...). In fact, it's easy to see that Ed is the leader of a group that promotes... Edit Moderator

People have the right to dislike Lewis, even if he is/was black, mixraced, yellow, white or red.

Let's fight about racism, but let's be serious too.

[Richard]

JAVIER - "pretending is the opinion of a whole country"

I have to defend Ed here. He certainly has not pretended anything of the sort. His article did not offer opinion, it just reported the facts.

I can underdstand your concern over hearing these awful things, but 'shooting the messenger' is not going to change anything. If Ed stops reporting it, it will still be there.

Maybe you should spend your time posting on the offending website, and telling these idiots what they're doing to the reputation of Spain.

[Carleton Twitchell]

Firstly a big thank you to Mr Gorman Sir! , 21-gun salute, For He's a Jolly Good F1ellow-an' all-that,...splendid job well done .FYI I didnt actually watch a single race this year ..OK so I followed it online and in your blurberies and that was fine. I used to snooze even when James and Murray W. were on so figure ...
Standard engines sounds a bit dull doesnt it ,,,mind you Im always one to cynically propose that perhaps thats what the F1 power brokers want ...to lose the big names and to have a bunch of teams all buying the SAME engine but putting it in different chassis's and on the same TYRES too.. so ultimately it'll be down to the the driver and chassis wont it? ..pity they'll all sound the same ...tho' will they if the exhausts are different or perhaps the fuel is different...mmmmm...still sound stultifyingly boring doesnt it ?But perhaps thats what they want ...So who would watch cars with all-electric drive ?...Nahhhhhh.
Ok so Kimi cant win can he ?Correct .Massa has be in front of him..tho we could have a home goal ..nahhhh. Hamilton has to keep Alonso at bay ...not even within 2 feet cos he would take him out and take a bow for it ...probably even be made Emperor of Spain for it ..nahhhh.Kubica owes Lewis one so him and teamy Heikki will protect Lewis ( the Lasers ...) ..then their Ron's spotters in every Walnut tree between Argentina and Curacao ...
...so what we really need is a display of such impeccably superior , even virtuoso driving that it leaves no one , not even Ronnie Biggs,in doubt as to who is the greatest driver this year.
I think Lewis should ignore Ferrari and do his own thing ..the fans all over really like to see racing without all the politics and the team orders stuff and I know they will all applaud a true Champion.
Lewis can be bigger than Fangio, Ascari, Senna and Moss and we all know it ...we just have to watch it become reality...
I dont even recall hearing about Massa before last year ...when was his ROOKIE year guys??????????:)
May the Power be with you,Racer...

[Larrotcha]

Vamos Fernando. So far so good.

On racist websites. Google and thy will find anywhere in the world racism on a site. Sad but true. Brilliant catch.

[LAK]

ANON THE REAL ONE good point there about Massa, but there's a difference between a team error and an outer interference outside of the hands of the team and the driver. I really hope that on Sunday both Hamilton and Massa don't get into any accidents, don't make any mistakes that lead to penalities, and have no technical problems! This way we will see them really race each other!

I believe things happen for a reason. So if it is meant to be, nothing in the world will stop it. If it's not then no matter how hard one tries it won't happen. As ANON THE REAL ONE said, "whoever wins deserves it".

[PR]

Not long ago I saw some football supporters with a flag saying "benitez (liverpool coach) is just a spanish waiter". It shows how all the brits (the 65 millions of them) are racist and clasists with both spanish and working classes.

Not really mind what people say around here (they really don't represent anyone, and their oppinions should not be considered as gods word) but I am really disappointed with what I thought was a serious and rigorous newspaper and journalist. The "Alonso" issue is just a joke, I really find funny what goes around here (thus I read the blog) but is nonsense compared to racism. Ed, believe or not you have, as a journalist, responsibility in what you write and communicate, so do it professionally

[Grant Wilson]

Just one more race, then hope to see a British winner. 12 years ago we went to the BRDC dinner when Damon won! Great evening.
See you soon
Grant and Penny

[Alston]

National Pride aside. Formula one needs Lewis to win this years WDC. Justice needs to be done. Otherwise any fair minded observer and fan will forever blame cheating by the stewards for a Massa victory!

[FELIPE]

Hi everybody, from sao paolo just heard some italians said that if fernando wants to drive for ferrari next year, he must crash into lewis tomorrow. Just joking though would´nt it be funny.

Some guys at maclaren won´t sleep tonight...