Looking forward to Hungary

pRo · Post 04 Aug 2007, 18:10

Steve Wilson wrote:Is it just me or did anyone else not see Fisichella blocking Yamamoto in the first qualifying session?

Yeah, that was quite obvious. The Live Timing also mentioned that the action will be investigated after the qualifying. I suppose we'll hear the outcome later today or tomorrow.

Funny thing is that Yamamoto didn't seem too worried about it. Instead he kept repeating he's very happy with the result, though he run into slower traffic.

The Alonso-Hamilton incident will also be investigated after the qualifying. According to Alonso he was in radio communication with the team and awaiting the order to go through radio. Just like many time before. It's not the first time he doesn't leave the second the lollipop goes up.

Also, anyone notice how Ron didn't seem to mind it at all when it happened. But only when Hamilton didn't make it into his final lap. And even then, he seemed to "exchange words" with one guy from the pitwall, like it was his fault. I have no idea who he is, but I've often seen him with Alonso. Possibly the guy who was looking for a clean track for Alonso and telling him when to go?

But ignoring that matter. What the hell happened to Ferrari? Nick beat Kimi and Massa didn't even make it into final 10? Looked like he had massive understeer.

FLC · Post 04 Aug 2007, 18:17

Massa was sent to go without enough fuel on board. He had to stop, wait for the mechanics to push him back and put fuel in the car. By then, he says the tires were completely cold, and so he had no grip.

Other than that, I guess the F2007 isn't at its best on slow tracks.

pRo · Post 04 Aug 2007, 18:29

FLC wrote:Massa was sent to go without enough fuel on board. He had to stop, wait for the mechanics to push him back and put fuel in the car. By then, he says the tires were completely cold, and so he had no grip.

Yeah, I saw that, but I was very surprised he didn't make a fast enough time already on the 1st run.

Other than that, I guess the F2007 isn't at its best on slow tracks.

That seems to be true. I guess I was just expecting them to easily take 3&4, kinda like in Monaco (I do remember Kimi hit the wall there, but they were clearly the 2nd fastest team anyway). I hope Kimi at least takes 3rd place in the race and doesn't suffer too much from starting on the dirty side.

Who knows, maybe the McLarens will crash each other out and Kimi will take 10 points.

Steve Wilson · Post 04 Aug 2007, 19:01

To me Massa's problem looked more than just cold tyres. The reason he didn't get into the top 10 on his first run was because he had a massive moment in the last corner where the car understeered and then oversteered. All throughout both his laps in that session he was struggling big time to get the nose into the corners.

Apparently the guy Ron was talking to was Alonso's trainer.

Scuderia_Russ · Post 04 Aug 2007, 19:07

Steve Wilson wrote: Apparently the guy Ron was talking to was Alonso's trainer.

I wouldn't have wanted to be on the end of that one!! Ron looked pissed!

m3_lover · Post 04 Aug 2007, 19:18

Anticipating the development, it is understood that McLaren boss Ron Dennis personally escorted Fernando Alonso's physiotherapist Fabrizio Borra to FIA officials here in Budapest.

It is believed that Borra, despite the fact that the lollipop was raised and mechanics were ushering the Spaniard's car out of the pit box, gave Alonso a signal when enough time had elapsed so as to cause teammate Hamilton to run out of time to complete his out lap in the dying minutes of qualifying.

modbaraban · Post 04 Aug 2007, 20:03

pRo wrote:
Other than that, I guess the F2007 isn't at its best on slow tracks.
That seems to be true.

They look out of form each time Bridgestone pick a softer tyre selection for the GP.

How come the physio be in command on the driver's radio?!?!

wazojugs · Post 04 Aug 2007, 20:29

Scuderia_Russ wrote:
wazojugs wrote: alonso is one sharp sly old fox.
So Alonso is "a sharp sly old fox" and Schumacher is what?

Zen cheating master aka pai mai

checkered · Post 04 Aug 2007, 23:40

Well, as I started to

follow Renault, let's continue with that. Too bad about Heikki, he did a brilliant job in the first part of the quali (with that time he'd have made it to the final shootout, easy) and then lost all grip. If I'm not all wrong the track temp went down somewhat in between the sessions and that might've been part of the reason for both supersofts (and softs which were put on as those didn't work) turning into s**t under the Renault. Fisi, being his usual self, coped well when there was a problem with the setup serious enough to prevent any great success.

The maccas, despite their intra-team sparring match, weren't affected too badly though - if I got it right, they both lost a lap of race fuel so both will pit one lap earlier than intended. Alonso, though, has an obvious problem with the super-softs and if it doesn't rain I expect it will cost him the race. He can't start with those (as tactically he should, perhaps) if he expects to pull away from Lewis (his main concern), perhaps aided by Heidfeld starting from the "clean" line. I'll be very surprised if Heidfeld doesn't pit earliest of the top four ... just look at the evolution of his times through Q1, 2 and 3. Ferrari will do damage control after another "dropping the ball mistake" ruined Massa's quali. My best guess is that Massa will charge light, Kimi will have a conservative and fairly fuel heavy tactic.

Too bad about the stupid graining though. With a single tyre supplier, they really should introduce those options only that don't severely limit the clean driving line from lap 2 onwards.

modbaraban · Post 05 Aug 2007, 00:28

pRo wrote:I hope Kimi at least takes 3rd place in the race and doesn't suffer too much from starting on the dirty side.

He already did!!!

checkered · Post 05 Aug 2007, 00:37

modbaraban wrote:He already did!!!

Who said F1's can't race in the dark! This Hungary qualifying lasted well into the night!

modbaraban · Post 05 Aug 2007, 01:46

I remember some guy from Melbourne was quite sceptic about it

...yeah and it was said by someone that F1 won't ever follow the American experience with the artificial lighting, but go it's own way instead

there it is!

DaveKillens · Post 05 Aug 2007, 11:58

A very interesting mix of cars and drivers on the grid. Hamilton on pole, but Heidfeld 2nd. Kimi sitting right behind them, with Rosberg in a Williams (yea) 4th. Is this the week when BMW displaces Ferrari from the top 2 teams? Is this the week when a car other than a Ferrari or McLaren wins?
The start will be a wild affair, I'm sure everyone will be very nervous about that. Tires will be an issue, everyone has had graining problems, especially with the softer compound. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, so much can happen, and it usually does.

vyselegend · Post 05 Aug 2007, 15:55

So, my first time seeing a podium without constructor's cup ceremony...
This GP was almost totally destroyed by the sillyness of the stewards.

But I'll remember two things from there:

1-Ralph did a really good race!

2-After the umiliation of being slower than Super Aguri, it now seems Honda are overpaced by Spyker...

There are some people in Japan who aren't laughing at all, believe me.

modbaraban · Post 05 Aug 2007, 16:04

vyselegend wrote:2-After the umiliation of being slower than Super Aguri, it now seems Honda are overpaced by Spyker...
There are some people in Japan who aren't laughing at all, believe me.

Also nice performance by Ant! Even though he had an accident trying to overtake Fisico.
Nico and Kovy looked great.