I agree and I don't think anyone would dispute that, Pieking (hi, by the way). Hamilton is an essential component of what makes F1 exciting today and the sport would sorely miss him if he wasn't there. Between Hamilton, Alonso, Button and Vettel there's a very nice balance of skills, strengths and weaknesses. Hamilton did drive extremely poorly yesterday, however, by any F1 driver's standards, not just his own. I think there's an underlying frustration among the top drivers as much as there is among us fans and Alonso expressed it too after the race. With another WDC slipping away from Hamilton and a number of other frustrations in the week leading up to the Monaco GP, I think it got to Hamilton and he let it affect his race. Hopefully he'll bounce back in Canada.
from Canada onwards McLaren will be the number 1 team. He hasn't nearly got it in the bag, 2 of the races RBR dominated last year they've been lucky to win (IMO). McLaren have been learning their car as they race as everything is new, and simulators will not give 100% accurate feedback, now they are starting to hit it's 'sweet-spot' they are really taking it to RBR, the trouble is I see Hamilton & Button taking points off each other, and I can't see Webber doing the same. Gonna be a close one to call. As to Hamilton yesterday, I thought he was lucky to avoid a real penalty, but I suppose after malaysia it evens it up a bit with Alonso, but I echo the sentiments, I'd rather see him go for it than procession around the track, yesterday was 2 poor decisions and 2 great ones, **** happens, it's racing, he should keep his quips to himself though, getting penalised for silly moves is exactly what it says it is, it has nothing to do with race, as Paul DiResta can testify.
Exactly, Miggins. I was waiting for Button to win the race yesterday to reiterate that point. A Hamilton victory here, a Button podium there... the opportunity to mount a challenge will have gone long before McLaren find themselves in a position to consider backing one of their drivers over the other.
Alonso might be the only driver in a position to stop Vettel, that is if Ferrari can improve their car.
I certainly would not doubt Alonso's abilities, and Ferrari would have no qualms about throwing all their support behind him as early as... ooh, now? If it hasn't already happened, that is: Massa's been given a chance to shine and he hasn't exactly set the world alight. I only focus on McLaren because of Miggins's post and because, at this stage (Monaco being such a peculiar circuit, McLaren's double podium in Spain seems to provide the best evidence that), their car appears to be the best answer to the RB7 that the rest of the field can come up with.
Sorry I don't agree with McLaren being the number 1 team canada onwards. Britain, Hungary and Germany will suit Red Bull with all the high speed corners, Belgium will be tight, Japan, Korea, Brazil just like the first 3.
Still doesn't stop Newey increasing the gap or maintaining it. I've yet to see a major upgrade from Red Bull, so something good is coming if it's taking them this long.
Not necessarily. It could be that Red Bull have got fairly close to maximising the current regulations and there isn't a great deal of room for them to improve. Or it could be that they've maxed out the performance of their design and that other teams haven't yet. Maybe there won't be a major upgrade for the RB7 all season because it's almost as good as it can be now.
Best driver: Fernando Alonso worst driver: bernd maylander - shocking pace in clean air Best Rookie: Maldonado Best team: Red-Bull Worst team: McLaren Best overtake: Either Hamilton on Schuamcher or Schumacher on Hamilton special mention to: McLaren getting the rear wing fixed funniest moment: seeing a crash seconds after the restart Most surprising result: Kobayashi 5th least surprising result: Vettel Zzzz race rating: 8/10 best commentator: DC best commentary moment: Webber pushing jake into the pool bbc commentary: 10/10
That's quite possible genji, but you only had to look at Mclarens car before the start of the season to see they have been far more agressive on the outside than Red Bull. If anything the Red Bull can be more flexible than the McLaren at the end of the season.
I think Red-Bull do bring updates but keep them below the radar instead of bringing out statements like "we're throwing everything and the kitchen sink at it"
This is definitely the case. In the Friday press conference for the Spanish GP, Mark Webber said they had "nothing" except "new spark plugs." In fact I think they had a range of updates, which may or may not have been what kept them marginally ahead of McLaren in the race. I agree, SilverArrow - I don't think any other car can reach the RB7's levels of downforce and consequently outright speed before the end of the season. I think Ferrari and McLaren have more scope to get closer, though, than Red Bull has to pull further away. I think Ferrari and McLaren can beat Red Bull in other areas, too. Whether those areas provide the opportunity to take race wins and podiums away from Red Bull is another matter.
Yes, I also agree with SilverArrow here, and for the reasons Genji states. Both of you - along with sea-man - are bang on the money here in my view.
Disagree about Ferrari though. I think McLaren based their design around bold concepts with much potential to be extracted from them as the season progressed. Ferrari were too conservative and like Red Bull, wouldn't be surprised if they were at the limit of their development capabilities with the car. I sincerily hope I am wrong but I have seen nothing from them as of yet to make me think otherwise.
Best Driver: Vettel & Alonso & Jenson The 3 were great Worst Driver: Lewis for losing his head Best Rookie: Pastor Maldonado Best Team: Sauber went on to Q3 - Too bad about Checo. Worst Team: Hrt Best Overtake: Lewis on Schumi Funniest-moment: Most Surprising Result: Maldonado Least Surprising Result: Vettel Special Mention to: Maldonado Race Rating: /10 Best BBC commentator/presenter: I saw it live on Fox Sports. Worst BBC commentator/presenter: The Fox Sports guys (all four of them) Best Commentary moment: Overall BBC coverage rating: /10
Best Driver: Vettel Worst Driver: Hamilton Best Rookie: Di Resta Best Team: McLaren Worst Team: Hispania Best Overtake: Alonso's start Funniest-moment: Brundle's grid walk Most Surprising Result: Vettel winning Least Surprising Result: Vettel winning Special Mention to: Adrian Sutil Race Rating: 8/10 Best BBC commentator/presenter: Brundle Worst BBC commentator/presenter: Lee McKenzie Best Commentary moment: When Brundle was interviewing Jean Todt and the photographer tried to pull him away, Brundle turned around and reprimanded the amateur pap. Overall BBC coverage rating: 9/10
If McLaren & Ferrari design a feasible flexi-wing Vettel could find himself in a similar position to Button in 2009. Personally I think the McLaren has the most scope for improvement. It was no surprise to me that they've had the most amount of upgrades, and that they genuinely challenge the red-bulls now they've had a month or 2 to learn their new design. RBR and Ferrari are basically tweaking last years. I also feel Kamui has been hard done by here, he got his Sauber to 5th, is it because people now expect him to drag the rather ordinary Sauber into the realms of the big teams?
