On a écrit et raconté beaucoup de choses a propos de McLaren et leur simulateur. Je retranscris et traduis ici un extrait –significatif-  qui, a mon avis éclaire certains points. La réputation d’Autosport et de Mark Hughes sont incontestables, en outre tant le journal que le journaliste sont britanniques, et donc –je pense- particulièrement bien informés et autorises par McLaren… C’est Autosport qui a le premier révélé les secrets du J-Damper…

"Pendant la première moitie de la saison Lewis n’était pas aussi satisfait de la MP4/23 qu’il l’était de la voiture de 2007 qui répondait mieux a son style de pilotage naturel (grande vitesse d’entrée dans les virages/comportement survireur).

La nouvelle voiture exigeait plus de précision, moins de contrôle au volant (steering input), lui demandant d’être moins dur sur les pneus avant qu’il surexploitait. Dans les virages lents et moyens il entrait très vite les roues avant encaissant de gros efforts et l’arrière partant en glissade légère et ceci même avant l’apex (point de corde). Les données montraient cela clairement.

Pour Silverstone la voiture fut équipée de son nouvel aileron avant et son comportement devint encore plus exigeant.  Sur le sec la voiture était indiscutablement plus rapide, les données le démontraient, mais pour Lewis cela devint encore plus dur.  Il était temps d’aller faire un tour sur le simulateur avec les ingénieurs...

Entre Silverstone et Hockenheim il passa en revue toutes les implications que les nouvelles caractéristiques de la voiture allaient entrainer sur son style de pilotage. Des changements de réglages furent essayes dans ce monde virtuel et chaque conséquence sur le volant, l’accélérateur et les freins fut analysée par les chercheurs… On lui fit des suggestions sur  ce qu’il fallait changer, raffiner, peaufiner. Il mit tout cela en pratique dans le monde réel lors des essais d’Hockenheim la semaine dernière (ndt : la semaine avant le GP d’Allemagne) : un autre style de pilotage, pour une autre voiture. Et cela marcha parfaitement ! (it worked brilliantly).  Il s’y appliqua pendant tout le weekend du grand prix.  

Son coéquipier Heikki Kovalainen avait besoin de plus de grip sur l’avant, un « gurney flap » (ndt : je ne sais pas traduire !) fut rajoute a son aileron avant pour le weekend. Cela lui donna l’avant plus sur dont il avait besoin, mais en conséquence le flot d’air généré derrière l’aileron avait pour conséquence que les radiateurs n’étaient plus suffisamment ventiles. Il dut courir avec les larges ouvertures de radiateur. Lewis lui sans ce flap put utiliser les petites ouvertures de radiateur telles qu’elles avaient été introduites à Silverstone.

Ainsi la meilleure adaptation de Lewis au comportement naturel de la voiture lui permit un setup aérodynamique plus efficace. La session de simulateur, et une totale compréhension de la dynamique permis à la voiture et au pilote de progresser ensemble et les gains firent boule de neige.Lewis établit une pole confortable –il avoua qu’il aurait plu aller plus vite- tandis que Heikki avait du mal à rester a moins de 2/10 de ce temps. En course Lewis était régulièrement une demi-seconde devant Heikki et quelquefois a pratiquement une seconde.

Si Lewis n’avait pas été présent a Hockenheim, si les Ferrari n’avaient eu en face d’elles que Kovalainen, nous aurions assiste a la classique lutte au coude a coude entre les deux équipes... Mais Lewis était la, il utilisait une voiture plus efficace, il y avait adapté son pilotage et le résultat fut cet étonnement perplexe de Ferrari après la course. "

(extract from F1 report : ‘Top pass ; top class’ / Mark Hughes – Autosport magazine 24-07-2008 translation: Ago)

Non ci sono testimonianze video dell'accaduto, ma solo una foto delle condizioni della macchina, dopo l'incidente, verificatosi alla Ostkurve ad una velocità di 270 Km/h. A seguito di questo incidente, la Ostkurve fu preceduta da una chicane per rallentarne la velocità d'ingresso. Come sempre, dopo che ci è scappato il morto, Ayrton Senna docet...

Per omaggiare la memoria di Depailler, che, lo ricordiamo, ha vinto 2 Gran Premi e ha conquistato ben 19 podi, vi allego un video in francese a ricordo di questo sfortunato pilota.

Karun Chandhok: Very good: this time is a little different to Spa last year, because Spa I was just really, really pleased but this time there is a little relief as well because this year I came into it believing we were fast enough, knowing we were fast enough to win races but it didn't happen in Asia, and for a number of reasons I think we got robbed of a few wins there. I was really, really pissed off after Asia, so it's really nice to get one under our belts here: we've had good race pace all season long you know, in Monaco and Silverstone, and we've struggled a little bit in qualifying for a few reasons but yeah, just very pleased. And I'm really pleased for the team as well, to get two drivers to have won a race, so I'm just really pleased and I just love working with these guys: they're the best team I've ever worked with, they're just so good to get along with, and with Bruno as I well because I think we get along better than any other teammates in the pitlane. It's just a great feeling right now.

GP2 Series: Was it the best way to get it done: start from pole and just fight from the front?

Karun: Yeah, but we lost off the line! It was a pressure race you know, it wasn't an easy race: okay, starting from the front but it was a pressure race the whole way because Zuber was quick here all weekend and qualified third, and Bruno is quick as well, but I was quite comfortable and don't think I made any mistakes: I had a second gap to Zuber and just sat there, and the team did a great job to keep me informed of where things stood, where we were quick and where we weren't, and that helped things a lot.

GP2 Series: Was it just a case of managing the race? You didn't set any fastest laps, but you always looked comfortable there...

Karun: We had fastest lap very early on in the race, but I wasn't too fussed to be honest because I just wanted to make sure we looked after the rear tyres: the last thing I wanted was to have a situation like Grosjean had in Silverstone where he destroyed the tyres and then couldn't do anything for the last ten laps. I'd rather have the six points for the win than the one point for fastest lap!

GP2 Series: It has been a bit of a monkey of your back getting the win here: can this help you for the remainder of the season?

Karun: Yeah, we've had pace all season long at places like Silverstone and Istanbul, and in Monaco we had good race pace: it's just nice to get one under the belt as an indication that we can complete the job as well.

GP2 Series: Andreas, you told me before the race that you were going to have an amazing start and push for the race win, and that's exactly what happened: how was it from inside the car?

Andreas Zuber: Yeah, it was good today: we know what the problem was yesterday, it was just too long a first gear, so that was the problem yesterday and we burned the clutch, so today we know that we can start because we're not stupid, you know: it looks like it because we had so many start problems this year, we knew already the problems after. So today was just great: I had a really mega start and after just one lap I was sixth already, I overtook four or five cars at the start and then on the first corner I was a bit wide because one guy pushed me out so I lost even two places there but I made it back, I overtook my teammate, di Grassi, and then I went when Pantano and Soucek were a little bit fighting and overtook them on the outside when they touched, and it was really nice. After five laps I was pushing Chandhok quite hard but then my rear tyres lost a little bit of grip and I saw Bruno flying from behind and so I said okay, I'll wait for a mistake from Chandhok but it didn't happen - he drove a really good race today - and when you come from eleventh to second you don't want to risk too much!

GP2 Series: You did have a great start and pushed hard: was it just a case of being sensible and getting on the podium rather than pushing too hard?

Andreas: Yep, it was half-half: I saw Bruno coming and I was thinking the car is oversteering, so I went okay leave it like this now for the last five laps, and Bruno was coming more and more and then I pushed a little bit more and made a little mistake, and after the mistake on the second last lap I just thought finish the race, I can't push any more.

GP2 Series: The team have had a few problems in the last few races, but the car looked great today: do you think you've found the solution for the rest of the season?

Andreas: Yeah, of course at the last race we had big problems in the race with tyrewear, it was just crazy because after five laps you didn't have any rubber anymore, but now after five laps we have rubber: not too much, but we still have rubber on the tyres! [laughs] It's going better and better, and we changed some things on the car where we know there is a problem, and I am very confident for Budapest.

GP2 Series: Okay, we'll see if you can do the same thing there.

Andreas: I hope so!

GP2 Series: Bruno, third today for another podium: is it fair to say this was a bit of a recovery race for you?

Bruno Senna: Yeah it's fair to say: we started from fifth place which would lead to a forward looking race but I had a really bad start, and I got swamped by many cars and just had to let some people pass me because I was just being careful not to be taken out. And it worked, because everybody got too excited during the race and cleared the road a little bit: I had a good move on Alvaro, it was a good opportunity and I took the chance very well, so it was one of those days where you have to fight back without making any mistakes and I did it, so it was good to finish third. I have to thank the team because they did a great job today, and it was a good day for the team because Karun won and he broke his jinx, his Sunday jinx in great style, and I'm happy for him as well. This is great for him and for the team because it motivates the whole team and next time we are just going to be stronger and stronger, and we lead the constructor's championship once again too.

GP2 Series: You were possibly a little unlucky yesterday and a little lucky today with the guys in front of you, which sort of evened up a bit with Soucek and Pantano going out...

Bruno: Yeah, I think yesterday I was unlucky because of the weather only, but to be fair one lucky day compensates for an unlucky day, especially if they're not Saturdays, but it doesn't matter because today we were quite strong and we did a good job, and we've had a good battle with Giorgio this year: he's quite great and consistent, and winning too many races for my taste! [laughs] But he is driving well and deserves what he has got, but he's only doing this because I had too many problems at the beginning of the year, and if it wasn't for those problems things would be a lot different.

GP2 Series: True enough, although he is building up a fairly handy lead in the championship: what can you do to reign in that lead?

Bruno: Just keep pushing with the team, and get more points than him in the race! [laughs]

GP2 Series: Sure, but if he keeps getting on the podium...

Bruno: It's hard but it's not impossible, and now if I score 3 or 4 points more than him on a weekend I can win, so it's not easy but it's not impossible, and if he has a bad one and I have a good one then everything evens out and that's it. The problem is that there are many competitive drivers out there taking the points from everyone else.

The Indian driver had to briefly relinquish the lead at the start: he made a strong start from pole but was unable to stop Lucas di Grassi's storming run around the outside and into the lead at turn one after the lights went out, but kept his head to hold off fellow front row starter Andy Soucek and Pastor Maldonado, while behind them Michael Herck had a slow start and tapped Luca Filippi into a big spin on the front straight: luckily both cars were out of the way quickly and there was nothing to delay the field when they came back around for the first time.

Meanwhile Zuber was on a charge: starting from eleventh he was up to sixth place by the end of the first lap, pushed past his teammate next time around and had the right line to take advantage when Soucek spun at the hairpin (removing Giorgio Pantano in the process) before setting a string of fastest laps to put himself on Chandhok's tail to commence what was to be a race long battle.

Chandhok wasn't hanging around either: he out dragged di Grassi along the long back straight before cutting back underneath and into the lead out of the hairpin, but soon had a bigger challenge in the form of Zuber, who was clearly faster but just could not find a way to make a move stick. di Grassi was soon out of the fight: on lap seven Maldonado was unable to stop fast enough into the hairpin and ran straight into the back of the Brazilian, putting him out of the race on the spot.

All of which played into Senna's hands: after finally disposing of Alvaro Parente after a good fight he was on the trail of the frontrunners, but had lost so much time that it wasn't until the last five laps that he could get back up on terms with the pair, applying constant pressure to Zuber which meant he had to take one eye off the fight ahead and concentrate on his mirrors.

And so it finished: when the flag dropped the order was Chandhok Zuber Senna with just a second covering the trio, while Grosjean fought his way through the pack to claim fourth place ahead of Javier Villa and Alvaro Parente, with Kamui Kobayashi taking something home from another difficult weekend after claiming the fastest lap of the race. But with everyone crowding around the iSport engineers all the applause was saved for Chandhok, who drove a strong, mature race to take a long overdue win in the sprint race.

Hockenheim – Race 2

Fastest lap time: Kamui Kobayashi (Dams): 1:24.253 on lap 24

Giorgio Pantano: Unfortunately no: I thought for sure we would win this race, and for most of the race we were doing the job and winning the race, but the weather was unlucky in the last few laps and Grosjean got past me. It was very difficult and I was being very careful, and Romain was able to be faster than me so I had to just not be stupid and let him go.

GP2 Series: How hard were the conditions over those last few laps, and were you just thinking of the championship?

Giorgio: To be honest I was not thinking about the championship, I was thinking about being there at the end! It was so dangerous on those last few laps: the first sector was really wet and it is so easy to make a mistake in those conditions. Anyway we just stayed out with the situations and tried to make the best laps that we could without making a mistake, because they were telling me over the radio that the others were very far from me, and why would I make a big risk for just two points more?

GP2 Series: Did you ever consider coming in for wet tyres?

Giorgio: No. No, because by the time you come out, the wet tyres are cold, the time to get back up with everybody, you would just lose too much time.

GP2 Series: Nevertheless over the weekend you've still made more points that Romain, which must gives you something to be happy about...

Giorgio: Yes it's good: I was having a good race and got the fastest lap before the rain, and then I thought why risk everything for just two points, that was not really for me to risk everything because second was good enough, and the others were a long way behind so yeah, it's good and we have a nice lead in the championship.

GP2 Series: Do you now start to think about the championship and play conservative, just think about getting the points rather than pushing for the wins?

Giorgio: No, because if I can ever win then I drive to win: we are doing a very good job with the team, we have a very good car, and why think about the championship? I want to keep winning - I wanted to win today - and I will keep pushing to get some more wins.

GP2 Series: Congratulations. Alvaro, congratulations to you on a great job today, particularly that last lap which we will come back to, but I guess after the start you had today you are probably weren't expecting to be here now?

Alvaro Parente: Yeah, we had some definite problems on that first lap: the car in front of me stalled which wasn't a big problem, but then I lost my line into turn one because I had someone in side so I couldn't hold my position, and then I got out on the astroturf so I lost a few more places there. In the beginning it was not good for sure, and then we had a pitstop and I managed to overtake two guys in front of me, I think Filippi and Petrov, when they came out of the pits and I was in eighth place. I was trying catch up but I was starting to struggle in some sectors, and then the last five laps came! We took a risk to stay out, taking some risks and trying to stay on the track, and then we could pass some people and have some interesting fights until the end.

GP2 Series: That last lap was pretty amazing because it was wet / dry all the way around the circuit, and you were having a great fight with Bruno on wets: talk me through it from your perspective.

Alvaro: I think it was not only the last lap that was wet and dry: it was changing for a few laps, so that was even harder. There was one driver who got caught out with that because on the previous lap it was dry it that area and then on the next lap it was nearly fully wet and he spun off. But that last lap with Bruno was hard because obviously in one area he was faster and then in other areas I was faster because I had slicks, but I managed to pass him in the dry area and stay in front of him in the wet area, so it was a pretty interesting challenge for me.

GP2 Series: How hard was it to stay on the circuit in those conditions on slicks, when you consider that Bruno was on wets and still spinning off?

Alvaro: It was hard, but you had to slow down a bit and look for the grip, on the left side, on the right side, not on the line: it worked out well for me because I was not risking 100% like I saw some people I saw in my mirrors were! It worked out really well for me.

GP2 Series: You've had a bit of bad luck in the last few races after a good start to the season: how important is this podium for you and the team?

Alvaro: It's really important: I just had a bad weekend in Silverstone but everywhere else I think we were close, in Magny Cours I could have had a podium except for the relay problem, and easy podium, so that was a shame obviously. But coming back from two bad weekends is good obviously, and we just have to keep working and getting more points and be in the position we should be in the championship.

GP2 Series: And of course you have another chance for a good result tomorrow: what are your expectations there?

Alvaro: Yeah for sure, and every race is important in GP2, and every point is crucial for the championship in a season like this.

El Gran Premio de Alemania no fue uno de sus mejores, ¿ya evaluó Ferrari lo que pasó entonces?

Hemos realizado muchas pruebas durante estos días en la pista de Jerez para intentar entender lo sucedido en Hockenheim y ahora ya tenemos una idea más clara de este tema.

¿Y cómo se ha comportado el Ferrari en estos entrenamientos libres?

El monoplaza ha mejorado en comparación a la jornada anterior y esperamos que esté listo para las próximas citas. Hemos proseguido con el trabajo de comparación de diferentes reglajes en la puesta a punto y trabajamos con los neumáticos slick.

¿Cómo ve lo que resta del Mundial de Fórmula Uno; cómo está la rivalidad con McLaren y BMW?

Nuestros rivales están muy fuertes, pero todavía queda mucho Campeonato por delante y tiempo para recuperar, ya que en la F1 las cosas pueden cambiar de forma radical en muy poco tiempo.

I didn't really start following F1 until we moved to Germany about two years ago.  While F1 is branching out into other parts of the world, it's long been a Euro-centric sport.  While the United States has its Indycar series, a similar open-wheeled motor sport, F1 rarely finds a venue in the USA.  Living in Europe, one has a much better chance to actually attend a race.

Months ago, my Dad was talking about paying us a visit.  Just so happens, the German Grand Prix was going to be run at Hockenheimring, which is a mere 1-hr drive from our digs here in the Stuttgart area.  While I wouldn't call him a gearhead, he's always liked cars and has always been very mechanically adept with the contraptions.  It didn't take too much convincing to stake out July 20th as a good time to be in Germany and perhaps we might want to make purchase of some ridiculously expensive F1 tickets; to see little cars make 67 laps in about a 90 minute period.  Which we did...

The teams roll into town early in the week.  Thursday and Friday, they have practice sessions to scope out the track and make final adjustments to the cars' suspensions and aerodynamic packages.  Each track is different in the speeds a car can attain and how many turns there are, so car set-up is unique for each track.  Saturday is qualifications, to determine pole position for the Sunday race.  On Saturday, it's each man against himself, just trying to make the fastest lap and sector times.  The fastest will end up on pole on Sunday, starting out with a positional advantage over his competitors.  While every day is for sale, we just opted for race day tickets since the race wasn't the only thing on Dad's travel itinerary.

We were able to ride various forms of train from our house to the Hockenheim Hauptbahnhof (main train station).  From there, city buses shuttled the masses to one of the outlying parking areas, which meant we still had a long walk to the track.  Outside the track, there were fest areas set up with food and every which kind of F1 fan gear one might need; 40€ for an official F1 t-shirt, 30€ for a hat.  Our tickets were for the Mercedes Tribune (grandstand), which was the furthest away from the drop off point; fortunately Mercedes was running a shuttle so we had a little help.  The Mercedes Tribune was an addition after Hockenheim was significantly redone a few years ago.  It probably has some of the best seating in F1, with about 30 seconds of continues action in view with a straightaway, and several turns easily in sight.

We arrived about 3 hours prior to race start.  There were several short races beforehand and some exhibition races, to include a BMW M1 series.  Outside the Mercedes Tribune, a huge canopy was set up with a bar in the middle and food stands off to the side.  There was also a stage with a great band, mostly playing covers of American rock.  At one of the infield tracks, Mercedes was selling rides in some of its high-performance cars; we enjoyed watching the pro drivers smoke the tires and light the fires under their excited passengers!  Of course, they also had about every model of Mercedes on display and open so you could check out the interiors.  About an hour prior to start, the F1 driver parade took all of the competitors on a lap around the course in a vintage racer.  At 15 minutes prior, they played the German national anthem.  At start time, they take a warm up lap, led by the safety car, before taking their places on the grid.  Once everyone's in place, the lights come on...red-red-red-green!  If you want a lap-by-lap account, this is the wrong place.  Suffice it to say it's noisy and there's lots of action!  We had the constant din of the cars going all out on the straightaway to our left and then the rapid downshift as they came into turn 8 in front of us (from about 285kph to 96kph); the F1downshift: imagine a V-8 trying to spit something nasty out of its mouth.  Drivers have gear shift paddles behind the steering wheel (vice peddles) so they can go through the gears with extreme rapidity.

The ultimate winner, Brit Lewis Hamilton, was amazing to watch.  He's very precise in his maneuvers, looking in control with every turn.  Ferrari's drivers really started out mushy and conservative, but as always they end up very competitive throughout.  Force India, newly formed this year, occupied the back of the pack for most of the race.  One of their drivers managed to overrun out of turn 8 at least 4 or 5 times, kicking up dirt as he reentered the pavement.  We saw one minor collision on our stretch where a Toyota lost his front wing, but they were both able to make it back to the pits and get quick fixes made.  After a couple of laps with smoke coming from his exhaust, Red Bull #10 retired in front of our stand as well.  The driver ended up catching a ride back on a motorcycle and a truck did a single-point lift, placing his car onto the back of a flatbed.

Overall, I was really impressed with my first F1 race.  I wasn't so excited about the long walk back in a mass of 85,000 fans, 80% of whom were smoking the whole way.  While Germany has banned smoking indoors everywhere, it still seems a constitutional right to puff away anywhere else.  Disgusting.  Lung cancer aside, something I'll never forget!

Well, this year they banned it, so your car won't do all the hard work for you anymore. You have to use calm control to keep the wheels from spinning. You know, that thing that young Nelson does so well. Calmness. It's like, err, not losing your temper every five minutes because someone didn't give you Prima Donna status every time they looked at you.

After your tirade of abuse against McLaren last year, and against Renault the year before, everyone knows your temper is not easy for you to control. It's got you into a lot of fine messes, hasn't it? You left after a big row with Briatore at Renault. Then you left under a cloud after falling out with Ron Dennis. Now you are being beaten by yet another rookie teammate - again - you're back to blaming the car.

Like when you were overtaken at Hockenheim, you clearly lost your rag and tried to retaliate. Fuelled by your  childlike temper tantrum you attmepted to pass the passer, but instead got all crossed up and out of position so much you lost another two places. Just like that.

So, is this lack of traction the same lack of traction your teammate has to deal with when he comes second then? Now, where was it you finished - ah yes, same as two races before, behind your rookie teammate. Another temper tantrum no doubt.

The sad thing is, you actually would be a nice person without these temper tantrums. You'd also be more in demand from race teams. You''d get on better with women. You'd have more friends. And you'd definitely have more points. That's the problem with having grown up a spoiled child: no control. And control is what you need to exert to let your real talent shine through now that traction control has gone. We all know you have it. Just grow up and its all yours.

High-profile team owner Vijay Mallya says Force India will have a bigger budget for the 2009 season.

The Silverstone based team's new ownership already pledged more money and resources for its inaugural season this year when it took over the ailing Spyker outfit.

Force India moved closer to the rest of the field in the first half of 2008, but has now shifted its focus to next year.

The last piece of development for the current car will be a seamless gearbox in Hungary.

Mallya said at Hockenheim:

"Beyond that I have decided that we will now concentrate on the 2009 car,"

"We have an increased budget for 2009,"

Mallya added that two new senior engineers have joined the design team.

"We will add as many as we need to,"

"When you have to compete with teams with significantly higher budgets and vast resources you have at least to step up to the plate, otherwise you won't get anywhere."

Neal's View: Long-gone are the days of the independents. Hopefully, Mallya can keep the team running and make them more competitive. They are only 1.8 seconds off pole, on average, and the introduction of a seamless-shift gearbox will reduce this by three tenths. In Mike Gascoyne, Force India have one of the best people for the job.

El tercer cajón fue para Massa que para mi sorpresa se esta erigiendo como el primer piloto de Ferrari ante la bajada de rendimiento de Raikkonen, que sólo pudo ser sexto y se pasó toda la carrera peleándose con Kubica que acabó séptimo.

Por tanto, los puntos se los repartieron Heidfeld cuarto, que hacia tiempo que no ganaba a Kubica, quinto Kovalainen, que sigue sin sacarle jugo al McLaren y más en este momento, y octavo Vettel que sigue demostrando que se ha ganado su puesto en Red Bull.

Caso aparte en esta carrera fue la actuación de Alonso. La carrera no empezo mal pero los adelantamientos del astuariano siempre le salieron mal y encima le relegaban a posiciones más traseras. Así terminó desquiciado y realizando un trompo, totalmente a la desesperada. Veremos si la próxima carrera se centra un poquito más y puede acabar en el podium que es su lugar.

En la clasificación domina con claridad Hamilton que ya tiene 58 puntos. Segundo es Massa con 54 y tercero Raikkonen con 51. A Alonso le encontramos noveno con 13 puntos. Por marcas Ferrari es la dominadora con 105 puntos, por 89 de BMW-Sauber y 86 de McLaren.

La próxima cita del mundial será el 3 de agosto en el G.P. de Hungría en el circuito de Hungaroring que tan buen recuerdo tiene Alonso, pues allí ganó su primera carrera en la fórmula 1.

Vuelta virtual por el circuito de Hungaroring

seguir leyendo en la web oficial

It is not yet necessary for Ferrari to appoint a number one driver for the rest of the 2008 championship, according to Felipe Massa.

The Brazilian and his teammate, reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen, are currently tied on points at the top of the drivers' standings with McLaren rival Lewis Hamilton.

Massa told the French morning newspaper Le Figaro:

"The team does not have to make a decision as long as things are not leaning either one way or the other."

In previous years, Michael Schumacher was the undisputed number one driver, receiving the balance of the Italian marque's effort to lift the drivers' crown.

But Massa said last year he was also on equal terms with Raikkonen, until his chances took a final hit at the Italian grand prix.

"From then on, there remained a small chance for Kimi. To help him to do it, the team did everything for him, myself included.

"This time I hope it will be my turn."

In the interview, Massa also played down suggestions Ferrari may be able to vacate his seat in the near future -- perhaps by means of performance clauses.

"No. I have a contract until the end of 2010 and I feel perfectly comfortable in the team,"

Neal's View: Massa needs to get focused if he is going to challenge. All those spins at Silverstone, then he gifted Hamilton the lead in Germany.

Despite the Nurburgring's contract to host a formula one race in 2009, the 'German grand prix' moniker is likely to be absent from the calendar next year.

The name is owned and controlled by the AvD (the Automobilclub von Deutschland), which plays host to the sport at Hockenheim in even-numbered years.

The Nurburgring, also located in Germany, last year staged the European grand prix, because the AvD refused to let organisers ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club) - a separate and rival club - use the German GP name.

On the recently-published provisional 2009 calendar, the FIA reserved a July 12 race date for 'Germany', with the 'European' descriptor now being used by Spanish port city Valencia's new street race.

However, AvD sports president Volker Strycek has suggested that the club is not keen to release the 'German grand prix' name for next year's sole F1 race in the country at the Nurburgring.

"The title is the silverware of the AvD,"

Neal's View: With Valencia being called the European, one wonders what the Nurburgring race could be called...

Lewis Hamilton has turned a corner and is now on the right track to winning the world championship, according to former triple title winner Niki Lauda.

The great Austrian, who watched 23-year-old McLaren driver Hamilton dominantly win Sunday's German grand prix at Hockenheim, is sure the Briton is driving better even than his rookie season in 2007.

Lauda had this to say:

"Last year he was my favourite, but he screwed up in the last two races.

"I think he's got the message now, from Silverstone in a difficult race and here in a difficult race for him. He's on the right track and if he continues like this he's unbeatable."

Lauda, 59, said Hamilton's Hockenheim drive reminded him of Ayrton Senna.

Ross Brawn, the Honda team boss and former Ferrari technical director, said Hockenheim reminded him of another great.

"It was reminiscent of some of Michael (Schumacher)'s greatest drives."

Even the seven time world champion himself, Schumacher - rooting for the defeated Ferrari on the pitwall - had to applaud Hamilton's "fantastic performance" in Germany.

Neal's View: Lewis is showing some strong performances, and with the car currently the best on track, he has to be favourite.

Diese Tatsache kann nicht einfach damit erklärt werden, dass kein "neuer Michael Schumacher" in Sicht ist. Das wäre zu einfach.

Vielmehr fehlt den Leuten inzwischen wirklich das Geld, um sich einen Besuch leisten zu können.

It appears as if McLaren’s new steering wheel could be behind the Woking based squad’s recent surge in form with Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen going from struggling to keep up with their rivals at Ferrari in France a month ago to winning back to back dominating victories at Silverstone and Hockenheim.

Hamilton won by over a minute in the rain soaked British Grand prix, and although he wasn’t miles ahead in Germany, he would have been if not for a safety car and the team’s decision not to pit when the rest of the field did. Instead he came in under green flag conditions several laps later, only to make his way back from fifth to first, with a few seconds to spare in just sixteen laps.

Although there is no doubt about Hamilton’s driving finesse, the domination we have seen in these recent races has left other teams scratching their heads, but it claims by the Telegraph are to be believed, the answer is quite simple.

It appears as if the MP4-23’s steering wheel is a little different from its rivals with four paddle levels instead of the regular two. Two being to change gears and the two additional levers used to adjust engine torque to suit the gear selected, helping to minimize wheel spin in slow corners but retaining speed for the fast ones. The rules indicate that drivers can not select gears and torque settings in one move, so the extra two levers must be used for the car to remain legal.

Just how long it will be before other teams use this technology, or the FIA bans it, is anyone’s guess, but if it is the reason for their upward turn in performance, you can bet it won’t take Ferrari too long to be right up there with them!

Neal's View: I'd be surprised if this was worth more than a couple of tenths per lap. The sad thing, for Ferrari fans, is the McLaren is currently more than a couple of tenths quicker!

Fernando Alonso has long been linked to join Ferrari in either 2009 or 2010.

At Hockenheim, this weekend, Alonso sidestepped rumours he will accompany McLaren sponsor Santander to Ferrari in 2010.

Alonso added:

"All I know is what I have read in the past days," the current Renault driver is quoted as saying by the news agency EFE.

"I don't know if it is true or not, I have not heard anything. Even if (Santander) do go (to Ferrari), it doesn't mean I have to go as well.

"I haven't spoken to anybody from Santander or Ferrari; that's all I have to say,"

The Renault driver also refused to rule out the possibility of remaining at Renault for the 2009 season.

"Let's see what will happen between now and the end of the year," he said. "Next year's championship begins in March, so I am not in a hurry to decide.

"In July, you can have discussions with people, but nothing very serious until September or October.

When asked by a Spanish journalist whether he prefers French (Renault) or Italian (Ferrari) food, Alonso answered:

"Spanish. But if you are referring to something else, then I prefer Italian."

Neal's view: The chances are that Alonso will be driving for the Italians at some point in the next two years. However, he will suffer the fate of a strong teammate, like he did at McLaren. Massa's spins at Silverstone and moving out of Hamilton's way in the closing stages at Hockenheim may result in him losing his seat at the end of the year, even though his contract runs through 2010.

Se la corsa a Silverstone era stata negativa per la Ferrari, battuta sotto il temporale britannico dal rivale Hamilton, quella di ieri a Hockenheim è stata addirittura nefasta.

In Inghilterra un briciolo di spiegazione era possibile trovarla, nella dabbenaggine di qualche idiota stratega in casa Ferrari che non aveva voluto ammettere di aver preso una cantonata e aveva mantenuto Kimi Räikkönen in pista oltre il lecito con gomme consumate e quindi inadeguate alle mutate situazioni.
Ma in Germania anche sforzandosi non si riesce a comprendere lo stato delle cose. La Ferrari è sempre stata una spanna su tutte durante il week-end tedesco, ma ha subito lo scatto di reni finale dell'anglo-caraibico della McLaren in qualifica che decide di svuotare la vettura di benzina pur di trovarsi in pole-position al via. Massa quindi non va più del 2° posto. Ma la partenza dell'atro della Ferrari dalla sesta piazzola come si spiega?

Così Hamilton scatta primo e prende il largo. Dietro Massa più carico di benzina si fa' invece risucchiare dalle auto che lo seguono e non riesce minimamente a tenere il passo dell'inglese. Più del 2° posto non sembra esistano le possibilità.
Peggiore è la situazione per l'altro ferrarista che perde anche una posizione al via.
È abbastanza volitivo il finlandese, che supera un paio di avversari (tra cui citiamo Fernando Alonso), ma poi stazione al 5° posto.

Dicevamo che la situazione sembrava abbastanza consolidata, se il fato non ci avesse messo (beati noi spettatori) lo zampino. Zampino che fa rompere la sospensione posteriore della Toyota di Timo Glock che finisce contro le barriere laterali lasciando un mare di detriti sull'asfalto al 35° passaggio. Necessita l'ingresso della Safety Car. Qui si materializza il bene e il male della giornata tedesca.
Una tattica assolutamente sbagliata, quella di casa McLaren, che lascia in pista il battistrada Hamilton pur sapendo che si dovrà fermare per il rifornimento (se non anche per il cambio delle gomme stanche). E quella apparentemente corretta di casa Ferrari che fa' rientrare i suoi piloti all'apertura dei box per rabbocco di carburante e sostituzione pneumatici: così si arriva fino al termine. Peccato solo che in questo gioco paga pegno Kimi Räikkönen che, in quanto indietro, deve accodarsi al compagno di squadra ai box e attendere che questi abbia finito di fare il pieno: così esce in un momento che altre vetture entrano e escono e perde tante posizioni.

La SC dopo qualche giro rientra ai box; Hamilton, che ha perso tutto il copioso margine conquistato, prova a prendere nuovamente distacco dagli inseguitori, perché deve rientrare per il rifornimento. Cosa che succede di lì a poco. Sono veloci gli uomini in grigio: 6" e poco più e il giovane inglese è di nuovo in pista, ma è dietro ai due brasiliani Massa (2°) e Piquet in testa con la sua Renault. Ha pure un buon margine il ferrarista e tutti subodorano la colossale beffa per Dennis e Co.

Alla fine invece non sarà così: perché la McLaren-Mercedes pilotata da Lewis Hamilton è una freccia, un missile che fa' sembrare le altre vetture di una categoria inferiore, tutte: nessuna esclusa; e perché la Ferrari F2008, tra cui quella di Felipe Massa, messa in pista nell'anno domini 20 luglio 2008 è lontana parente di quella che ci aveva entusiasmato neppure 3 settimane orsono in Francia.
Alla fine non è stato così: Hamilton impiega poche tornate per presentarsi sotto gli scarichi del ferrarista; impiega ancora meno a compiere un sorpasso impressionante per rapidità di esecuzione e velocità della vettura che annichilisce il povero Massa; prova a rifarsi sotto il brasiliano ma, se aveva sbagliato a coprire la sinistra lasciando l'interno a disposizione del pilota inglese, il tentativo di sopravanzare all'esterno è ancora più infantile e non porta ad alcun esito, salvo quello di assaggiare il cordolo esterno e dimostrare che l'uomo nero è forte e arrabbiato. Comunque essere battuti dalla coppia (Hamilton-McLaren) più in forma del momento ci sta. Però vedere la F2008 che non riesce a recuperare terreno sulla Renault di Piquet...

Curiosa la situazione proprio in casa Renault: mentre per il pluricampione del mondo Alonso è una giornata storta da dimenticare, il giovane Nelsinho Piquet conduce in porto una gara sfavillante, con un'eccezionale condotta e una strategia perfetta (mista a una buona dose di fortuna: entrare ai box un attimo prima dell'incidente di Glock è un evento da 3° al lotto). Le gomme hanno tenuto e il brasiliano (che però è nato a Heidelberg a 20 chilometri in auto dalla pista tedesca) ha subito soltanto l'onta del sorpasso da uno scatenato Hamilton, riuscendo a perdere solo pochi centesimi su Massa che provava a raggiungerlo e conquistare - invano - la seconda posizione.

Ancora una volta la McLaren e Hamilton hanno fatto vedere i sorci verdi a tutti mettendo in cascina la 4^ vittoria dell'anno (non male su 10 gare disputate) contro le 3 di Räikkönen e le 2 di Massa (cui aggiungere la vittoria di Kubica su BMW-Sauber in Canada). E una volta in più la Ferrari è andata nel pallone; sarà un caso nel primo anno di gestione senza Jean Todt?

Le BMW stanno a guardare, in attesa dei soliti passi falsi degli avversari; ma i 2 piloti non hanno costanza e spesso si tolgono punti l'un con l'altro. Come dimostra il 4° posto del tedesco mentre Kubica ha sofferto per entrare in zona punti. Lo dimostra la seconda posizione assoluta nel campionato marche (dietro la Ferrari di 16 punti), ma nella classifica piloti Robert Kubica ha 48 punti (-10 rispetto ad Hamilton) mentre Heidfeld è un posto indietro con 41 punti (17 in meno).

Lewis Hamilton ha fatto un po' lo spaccone, dichiarando di essere in grande forma e che le Ferrari sono molto indietro. Ma quest'anno c'è da essere cauti: la ruota gira velocemente pro o contro e basta un nonnulla per trovarsi indietro; soprattutto con una classifica così corta: con 4 piloti in 10 punti.

Classifica auto non a termine, dopo 10 gare:

McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen was frustrated to endure yet another difficult race after he missed out on a podium finish for the sixth consecutive grand prix.

The Finn looked on course for just his second top three finish of the year at Hockenheim after running strongly behind team-mate Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s Felipe Massa in the race’s first half.

But, not for the first time in 2008, the safety car period and ensuing pit lane melee cost him three positions and although he gained one back with a brilliant overtaking move on BMW’s Robert Kubica, was disappointed to end up fifth.

Kovalainen said:

"A very difficult race for me."

“I had a good start and almost managed to pass Felipe but, unfortunately, my speed was not good enough, and I couldn’t make the tyres work to their best.

“The safety car period didn’t help me either, and I lost positions during my pit-stop.

“Then I lost time behind Kubica.

“However, I managed to overtake him again two laps later and, from then on, it was a rather uneventful race.”

Kovalainen now hopes his luck will turn at the next round in Budapest.

“Fifth position was not what I had hoped to achieve here,” he admitted.

“But I am now looking forward to the Hungarian Grand Prix, where I will try my hardest to fight for a podium finish."

McLaren boss Ron Dennis reiterated his faith in Kovalainen to start scoring stronger finishes soon and praised the Finn’s move on Kubica on the exit to the complex section of the lap.

Dennis said:

“As I've said before, Heikki's time will come."

“In difficult circumstances he raced tremendously well today – his overtaking manoeuvre on Robert Kubica was just sensational – and once again he showed a winner's grit and determination.

“It's a joy to have two drivers who are not only super-competitive but also super-cooperative."

Neal's View: Kovy hasn't performed as strongly as he would have liked. The silly season has started and Rosberg is being linked with his seat. If McLaren are to finish in the top two of the Constructors' Championship they cannot rely on Lewis alone.

Indy cars in morning practice driving through "The Keyhole." What keyhole?

Will Power in the Aussie Vineyards car. Who names their kid "Will Power?"

Danica Patrick in the Motorola car. Does she use a hands-free cellphone when she drives?

Justin Wilson, the driver my p.a. rooted for. Gives fast food a new meaning. I bet he does drive-through.

Rain during the Indy Lights race start. Do they have windshield wipers on their helmets?

All in all he saw six races plus qualifying and practice sessions this weekend. What did he do when he got home? He loved us dogs up something fierce, got a diet Coke and watched the German Grand Prix on Tivo. Racing to him must be like ham sandwiches to me. Except I don't watch the sandwiches-I eat them!

.

Today the fence guys come back to install the gates on the fence and it's all done. The gates will probably look better than the garbage cans we used this weekend.

Everyone have a super week!

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali was at a loss to explain the team’s lack of pace in the German Grand Prix and said a thorough investigation would be undertaken to understand the reasons for it.

The Italian squad was trounced by McLaren at Hockenheim on Sunday, with Lewis Hamilton winning from pole position while Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen finished third and sixth respectively.

Massa’s struggle with a lack of grip and overheating brakes in the closing stages meant that he was unable to capitalise on a tactical miscue by McLaren to seize victory.

Domenicali said:

“This was not a good day and there’s no point denying it.

“Our rivals were stronger than us and we have to work out why, without however getting caught up in nebulous and superficial analysis.

“For the first time this season in a race, we did not have the pace we had expected to run at, with both Kimi and Felipe.

“We suffered constantly from a lack of grip and in the final stages Felipe’s brakes were also overheating, which complicated still further the management of his car.

“The safety car offered us the opportunity to give it another go and, all things considered, I think we made the right choice in terms of strategy.

“But when your pace is inadequate, it is difficult to get a good result.

“We have to work well over the coming days to react in the right manner to return to the level we were at just two races ago.”

Raikkonen has been unhappy with the handling of his F2008 all weekend and did well to salvage sixth place after losing time queuing behind Massa in the pit lane during the mid-race safety car period.

The Finn made no attempt to gloss over the team’s problems, however. He said:

“This was definitely not the kind of race we had been hoping for,”

“We have struggled all weekend and we have to try and understand why.

“Usually, our race pace is always good, but today that was not the case, because I almost always suffered with a lack of grip.

“Only in the final stages did the situation improve a little bit, but it was never enough to be competitive.

“We have a test in Jerez where we will try and improve the car so as to arrive in Budapest in better shape.

“This is definitely not a crisis, but we have to study carefully the handling of the car to understand if we have taken the right road in terms of development.”

Massa added:

"We must try and understand why this weekend we have not been a match for our rivals.

“They have definitely improved, but I think this was more a case of us having taken a step backwards.

“However, we are still confident; we have the ability to get out of this situation, right from the next race.”

Neal's View: McLaren have found some extra pace recently. Time will tell whether Ferrari can close the gap. Felipe and Kimi need to pull their fingers out before it becomes a Lewis whitewash.

Pochi giorni fa ha preso forma un altro mostro, sportivo questa volta: quella che sembrava un'allegra tavolata per mettere una pietra sopra alla questione Spy-Story e ai conseguenti sgambetti e frecciatine tra Cavallino e Frecce d'Argento, ha dimostrato nella conferenza stampa di ieri post Hockenheim tutta la sua pericolosità per il futuro della Formula1.

Dopo una gara vergognosa dal punto di vista delle Ferrari, in cui un Raikkonen partito tristemente sesto è arrivato in gara a essere anche decimo, e poi almeno almeno ha chiuso sesto, com'era partito (ottima performance per un campione del mondo, non c'è che dire...), e un Massa partito secondo ha chiuso terzo, vittima tuttavia di un sorpasso azzardatissimo in cui Hamilton quasi quasi lo buttava fuori (stessa sorte condivisa da Nelsinho Piquet), mi è toccato ascoltare nella conferenza stampa i complimenti e le lodi che Massa stesso tesseva al vincitore Hamilton. Vabbè la sportività, ma cari ragazzi rosso vestiti, vogliamo impegnarci un po'di più nelle prossime gare????

O si sta impegnando solamente Anthony Hamilton a lasciare il numero di cellulare suo ai vertici Ferrari? Personalmente, uno come Lewis Hamilton, con tutta la sua boria, in Ferrari proprio non ce lo voglio vedere.

Scopriremo solo vivendo dunque a cosa porterà questa pace tra McLaren e Ferrari. Con un po'di apprensione.

Una chicca: al rovinoso incidente di Glock su Toyota Ettore Giovannelli intercetta il medico di Timo e gli chiede trafelato:

"Dottor Ceccarelli, ci dica, ha sentito qualcosa di Heikki Kovalainen???"

"No."

"E di Timo Glock?"

"Sì."

Ho riso per un quarto d'ora!

Mais uma sensacional e surpreendente corrida nesta movimentada temporada 2008. E que resultado do Nelson Piquet [Renault], hein? É bobagem creditar seu pódio apenas à sorte, pois todo o tempo em que ele andou lá nas primeiras posições ele manteve o mesmo ritmo dos demais; foi o Hamilton [McLaren] que andou demais e o Massa [Ferrari] que andou de menos.

Com direito à pane nos computadores, mais um martírio da Ferrari, um acidente espetacular, um safety car que muda completamente a história da corrida, um erro de estratégia da McLaren e o primeiro pódio de Piquet Jr., seguem abaixo todas as emoções do Grande Prêmio da Alemanha 2008, em vídeo da transmissão de TV aberta e também a opção de áudio da transmissão de rádio da CBN - esta gravação tem até a entrevista coletiva oficial em português. Divirta-se!

 Clique aqui para assisitir a corrida completa no Megavideo

[audio=http://media.switchpod.com/users/ffyahoo/GPalemanha2008radioCBN.mp3] Clique aqui para ouvir a transmissão da Rádio CBN neste player

 Clique aqui com o botão direito e "salvar como" para pegar o MP3 e ouvir no iPod

Clique e aproveite estas bat-ofertas no Submarino: