GP of Brazil 2007

[Blake]

Again, the repairs are a fact. The surface is still a ? mark.

If I’m not mistaken two out of the last 3 resurfacing efforts there have resulted in the circuit being even more bumpy than it previously was.

 

[Lee]

If I’m not mistaken two out of the last 3 resurfacing efforts there have resulted in the circuit being even more bumpy than it previously was.

And if it's anything like Canada's attempt at resurfacing, we could be in for a car-wrecker..

 

[Appie]

It can't be that Canada is worse than Interlagos?

 

[superberkut]

Perhaps it is. But Gilles Villeneuve mainly did his own *cough* 'intense driving', thus it is not as bad as it seems...

How many drivers have pulled off a title in their first year, though? The general opinions on why Kimi Raikkonen should win are impeccable, but what are the chances that we will see a rookie gain a title at such an early time in their career?

 

[zoxxy]

I don't anybody has ever won as a rookie. Except Farina.

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

Here are the thoughts/predictions from SPEED TV's F1 broadcast team:

1) Who has the edge going into the season finale – the chasers or the chasee? Harder to take the top spot or hold the top spot?

David Hobbs: For some reason the chaser usually has the edge and Alonso has the experience. But, Hamilton has proved to be so consistent, and the top four are so equal that Hamilton only has to be one place behind Alonso if they are in the top three and three places behind from third down and three places behind Raikkonen, so really like last week, it really is his to lose.
His China gaffe aside, Hamilton has demonstrated repeatedly that he can stand up to pressure from his more experienced rivals. (LAT photo) MORE PHOTOS

Steve Matchett: It would make for a most unexpected end to this season if the two McLaren chaps took each other out with some stupid horseplay and we saw Kimi’s Ferrari slip between the pair of them and disappear into the sunset to clinch his first drivers’ championship ... and I’m not ruling anything out after the quirks of this most bizarre season.

Bob Varsha: I’d have to say Hamilton has the advantage. Despite his disaster in China, he still has that 4-point lead over teammate Fernando Alonso, and 7 over Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen. If you told Lewis back in March that he’d be in this position come October, I bet he’d have taken it gladly. All he needs in Brazil is a high points finish, and he has produced those in spades in this, his rookie season. In fact, I was astonished that he and the McLaren team raced as hard as they did in China, because they didn’t need to. I’m guessing they won’t make that mistake again.

Peter Windsor: I think the chasee (Lewis Hamilton) has the harder job – if only because Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso know exactly what they have to do – i.e., win the race. There is another thing, though: the McLaren situation is complicated massively by the FIA factor – by which I mean the FIA’s insistence that they will be “ensuring” that both VMM drivers are treated equally in every respect. Although I have no doubt that McLaren would do this anyway, and that their record proves this, what we’re actually talking about is the FIA ensuring that Fernando – their “adopted son”, post-Stepneygate – is not compromised in any way. We have seen from Fernando’s behavior in both Japan and China that he is quite ready to raise his hand if Lewis deigns to be faster or better organized (as he usually is). This is a huge, massive burden for Lewis to carry – let alone for the team to have to worry about -- and I think it could be their undoing. While no one will apparently care if Felipe Massa Massa magically slows in the closing stages of Brazil to give the necessary points to Kimi, everyone will be focused on McLaren. That makes the weekend much easier for Ferrari.

I posted the entire interview in the Alonso joins Ferrari for £20m a year? thread.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I think I'd like to see Kimi win overall. I'm no fan of Ferrari at the moment (following their throwing the book at McLaren and then ignoring the rules in Japan), but I think Kimi is the most deserving driver of the three who are in the hunt, and I also think Alonso would prefer to see Kimi win if he can't have it himself.

That said, I think Hamilton is going to win overall, which is a shame because I don't think he deserves his race seat at all following some of the comments he's made in the past likening himself to Senna and Prost. Lewis, if you're reading this, you've got a long way to go before you can even begin to be likened to those legends by the media and fans, let alone yourself.

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

That said, I think Hamilton is going to win overall, which is a shame because I don't think he deserves his race seat at all following some of the comments he's made in the past likening himself to Senna and Prost.

I'd really like to see those quotes from Hamilton likening himself to Senna and Prost. Can you post links to them, or is this possibly exaggerated rumor generated from the Alonso camp?

Let's assume those quotes are factual, even so, just because someone has a big ego... and even has the race results to back up such a big ego, you then claim they are not deserving of the championship? Hmmm... in that case I guess you were really upset that Alonso won last year, right?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I don't actually have a link as I didn't find it online; it was actually in the newspaper prior to the Chinese Grand Prix. Said newspaper is currently at home, as I wasn't at uni at the time. It was something long the lines of "I like to think of Senna and Prost and how what I'm doing is similar to them" in that they a) weren't particulalry fond of each other and b) fighting for the title until the final rounds. Senna and Prost were legends and had been in the sport years; Hamilton hasn't even finished his first season and already it's going to his head. Then again, the championship is decided by whoever is the fastest and most consistent driver, not whoever is most deserving based on one person's like or dislike of drivers. I admit a Formula One driver needs an almost narcissistic self-confidence in order to be able to do what he (or she) does, but for a rookie to compare himself two of the greatest drivers whoever lived in one sentence (and before he's even seen out his first year) is a bit too much for me. Sure, his race results may prove he's got talent, but Hamilton is yet to deomonstrate that he's truly a master the way Senna did at Donnington '93. It may also be a factor that I'm a life-long Senna fan, so I don't much appreciate some kid likening himself to one of my childhood heroes.

And I didn't actually watch a single race last year; I never found the time.

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

I don't actually have a link as I didn't find it online; it was actually in the newspaper prior to the Chinese Grand Prix. Said newspaper is currently at home, as I wasn't at uni at the time.

So we really don't know at this time exactly what he really said, or if the newspaper article misquoted him. It might be a good idea to clear that up before you bad mouth him and or pass on bad info.

It was something long the lines of "I like to think of Senna and Prost and how what I'm doing is similar to them" in that they a) weren't particulalry fond of each other and b) fighting for the title until the final rounds.

Well if that is what he said, then I really don't know why your getting all upset, even as a Senna fan... as I too was a huge Senna fan.

Those two things (a & b) are exactly what he is going through. Geez...

You seem to be taking huge liberties and reading into that small comment and jumping to conclusions that Hamilton is saying he is on par with Senna... which quite clearly that statement isn't saying that at all. It is simply saying his current situation is similar to what Senna faced against Prost... (although I suspect Prost would say he was far more reasonable and mature than Alonso has been) which anyone can see is quite true. Certainly isn't anything to get worked up over, nor something that would suggest Hamilton doesn't deserve the championship.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I think I should be allowed to like, dislike or support whichever driver I like for whatever reason I like, flawed as it may be, don't you?

Even if I'm proven wrong on the comments, it won't change my opinion of the man. He started out as a genuine guy, but courtesy of the media's obsession with him and his arrogance (there have been other comments; I believe there was one at Silverstone about other competitors being "monkeys"; don't ask me for a source because I don't have it on me), I simply feel that while he's a talented driver - and I can appreciate that - he's not the person that I'd like to see carrying the number one next year.

 

[Blake]

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2007/10/16/storms-expected-in-sao-paulo/

Oh golly.

 

[Metar]

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2007/10/16/storms-expected-in-sao-paulo/

Oh golly.

That picture is just pure awesome. And if we get another Shanghai race, it'd be perfect. (Not in the anti-Hamilton meaning, but in the OMGIT'SSOINTENSE type of race.)

 

[mipuumal]

(there have been other comments; I believe there was one at Silverstone about other competitors being "monkeys"; don't ask me for a source because I don't have it on me)

I believe that was in the post-race pressconference, referring to backmarkers.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I believe that was in the post-race pressconference, referring to backmarkers.

I knew it was made somewhere that had a source. To me, that quote was implying that the other drivers don't deserve to be racing purely because their cars aren't as good as Hamilton's.

 

[Metar]

When he pulls a Mika Hakkinen, I'll let him say this about Taku.

 

[Blake]

(Not in the anti-Hamilton meaning, but in the OMGIT'SSOINTENSE type of race.)

I’m pretty sure it’ll be hard not to have that type of race with a three way title fight.

 

[livemusic]

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2007/10/16/storms-expected-in-sao-paulo/

Oh golly.

I was thinking of that possibility yesterday on my way home because it was raining the whole day. It's raining today too.

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

"Never let the facts get in the way of a good story" - J. Frank Dobie

... or a personal bias.



As for the weather... wow, this season's results have already been drastically affected by just two races with severe weather conditions... now this.

I wouldn't be surprised to find some sports books are refusing to take any bets on the race.

 

[MustangSVT]

So we really don't know at this time exactly what he really said, or if the newspaper article misquoted him. It might be a good idea to clear that up before you bad mouth him and or pass on bad info.

Lewis did say after his race in Japan something about him winning in the rain just like Senna and Prost. It was on TV (Speed), just after the race finished during his post-race conference. I remember this so it's not the guy's imagination.

 

[Lee]

Button will win now.

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

Lewis did say after his race in Japan something about him winning in the rain just like Senna and Prost. It was on TV (Speed), just after the race finished during his post-race conference. I remember this so it's not the guy's imagination.

If you have an actual credited quote that would be great, otherwise saying "something about" is hardly confirmation of anything... least of all proof that Hamilton has said his is just like Senna and Prost. If anything it is clear his situation is very much like Senna and Prost... but some appear to find it beneficial to twist his words around to make it appear he is saying he is just like Senna and Prost in his abilities.


Now can we get back on topic?

 

[Metar]

Yes, we can, with this article

Ferrari to squeeze extra performance from engine

For Brazil, Ferrari's two F2007 cars for Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa will be fitted with fresh engines. Under current regulations the engines must last two race weekends, but with only one round left this season, Ferrari will be pushing as many of the tolerances as possible to gain extra performance according to the team's track engine chief Mattia Binotto.

"In the past, when we had this situation of not having to prepare an engine to last for two races, it could lead to some extreme engine experimentation from teams, but now with the engine freeze there are limits to what can be done," says Binotto. "In the past you could have carried out dedicated development for just a single race or even built special components with a shorter life."

"Now, all components must remain the same but it is true that the distance the engines that we bring to Sao Paulo must cover is divided by two: five hundred kilometres instead of one thousand," he added. "It means that we can try to increase the severity of usage of the engine, for example by running higher revs, try to get the maximum benefit in terms of performance. We can also run it at higher temperatures. As for the Interlagos circuit itself, the main feature as far as the engines are concerned is its height above sea level which causes a reduction in power."

"On top of that, the fact the main straight past the pits is uphill also means that engine power is at a premium," he added. "You therefore need to aim for maximum power down the main straight to give you the opportunity to overtake, so the choice of gear ratios is very important. These factors mean that, when setting up the car, it should be optimised not necessarily to get the best lap time but more for maximum speed and acceleration on the main straight."

Which gave me a WTF moment.

A) How are they doing it with the engine-freeze?

B) They haven't been the most reliable this year - and they're going to risk it even further?


Also, I just noticed. Hamilton gets a brand-new engine this race, Ferrari's duo gets two upgraded ones, but Alonso doesn't...

 

[Robin]

Im a solid Alonso fan and I hope he gets the championship... Lewis needs to keep a cool head and not let the pressure get to him like it did in China if he wants to do it.

Come on ALONSO!!

Robin

 

[Sureboss]

Yes, we can, with this article



Which gave me a WTF moment.

A) How are they doing it with the engine-freeze?

B) They haven't been the most reliable this year - and they're going to risk it even further?


Also, I just noticed. Hamilton gets a brand-new engine this race, Ferrari's duo gets two upgraded ones, but Alonso doesn't...

Stop stirring

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

A) How are they doing it with the engine-freeze?

How does what they did go against the regulations?

B) They haven't been the most reliable this year - and they're going to risk it even further?

It's Japan 06 all over. For Kimi's sake I hope he doesn't meet with a similar fate.

Also, I just noticed. Hamilton gets a brand-new engine this race, Ferrari's duo gets two upgraded ones, but Alonso doesn't...

Possibly because he replaced his engine for the last race... so he can't change it without getting penalized.

 

[Blake]

A) How are they doing it with the engine-freeze?

Fuel mixtures, ECU settings, etc.

B) They haven't been the most reliable this year - and they're going to risk it even further?

Haven’t their problems been hydraulic and gearbox related? If my memory serves me correctly think the engine has been 100% reliable on all 6 cars this season.

And honestly, what have they got to lose? They have to do less than 500km on the engine. That’s barely more than they did back in 2003 when there were no engine reliability regulations. Considering the championship situation – where, realistically, they have to win the race to have a chance at winning the title – they’d be stupid to play it conservatively.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Button will win now.

You wish.




Come to think of it, I wish, too.

Lewis did say after his race in Japan something about him winning in the rain just like Senna and Prost. It was on TV (Speed), just after the race finished during his post-race conference. I remember this so it's not the guy's imagination.

Glad to see that I'm not out of my mind just yet. But even if I am, that's between me and my mind.

 

[Metar]

Possibly because he replaced his engine for the last race... so he can't change it without getting penalized.

So Alonso really crashed on the wrong race. Estimates put power-loss at around 10hp.

Haven’t their problems been hydraulic and gearbox related? If my memory serves me correctly think the engine has been 100% reliable on all 6 cars this season.

Hmm... True. Though I thought a Spyker package once ended up in flames?

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

It will be interesting to see just how many excuses Alonso and his fans come up with should he not beat Hamilton this weekend... I have a feeling we will hear quite a few.