F1 season 2005

Now that was bad luck for Kimi... Not very fair I might say. These races are much like a game of luck this days. I can understand why Alonso was so happy but it could only be for his luck.

Anyway, Monteiro the Portuguese as set a new record!!! After 40 years, it's the first time that someone breaks Jackie Stewart record: 7 consecutive finished races in the first year at F1, while Jackie made 6.

No matter how good the car or the driver or the combination of the two is, only the quality of the tires counts these days which isn't a good thing. Bring back the old regulations I would say.

I don't see it as bad luck for Kimi, he just doesn't know how to keep a car in good shape. He had severe problem due to the flat spot on his front tyre. If he had stopped hitting the kerbs in the chicane and slowed done a bit, he probably would have finished (in second spot) and only lost 2 points in the championship. Now he lost 10 points.

Kimi had a few bouts of good luck in the race then the suspension failure - cause & effect, one might say

James Allen played a blinder again - I doubt even Rafa Benitez was gloating as much as James was about Kimi's "tyre blowout" which was actually the suspension breaking due to driving with a 50p shaped tyre.


A shame for Kimi.

Mark Webber was pretty honest about his mistake - I thought Martin Brundle was a bit harsh on JPM initially, but at least he changed his opinion after seeing all angles.


Another great race tho'.

Originally Posted by selespeed

No matter how good the car or the driver or the combination of the two is, only the quality of the tires counts these days which isn't a good thing. Bring back the old regulations I would say.

I don't see it as bad luck for Kimi, he just doesn't know how to keep a car in good shape. He had severe problem due to the flat spot on his front tyre. If he had stopped hitting the kerbs in the chicane and slowed done a bit, he probably would have finished (in second spot) and only lost 2 points in the championship. Now he lost 10 points.

I agree with you on the fact that these days you have to take care of the tires and furthermore be gentle on the engine as well. This is complete bullcrap because it kills the true and pure form of "flat out" racing. Now, the engines are amazing as you can tell by the fact that they easily survive two races and don't lose lots of performance. But the tires are very much wasted in the last 15-20 laps as it was the case at Nurburgring-a lot of drivers sliding and going off the track. With the tire degradation the whole balance of the car changes and then people are prone to making mistakes even M.Shumacher, F.Alonso and so on like they did at Nurburgring.

About kimi, the reason why he flatspotted the car was because he was pushed so hard by Alonso so he had to drive out of the comfort zone of the car which i don't think was working as well(Balance wise) as previous races for McLaren they weren't dominant. But i think that Alonso is destined to be become a champion this year i mean the last bloddy lap and kimi's suspension gives in it JUST couldn't go another lap

What price on Heidfeld to win this year? Glad to see him putting that gobby Aussie in the shade. Never rated Webber as highly as some do and can't understand their fascination with him. He proved how bad he was at the first corner yesterday, Frank Williams must have been ready to kick his ar$e (if he could).

Originally Posted by Nigel S

What price on Heidfeld to win this year? Glad to see him putting that gobby Aussie in the shade. Never rated Webber as highly as some do and can't understand their fascination with him. He proved how bad he was at the first corner yesterday, Frank Williams must have been ready to kick his ar$e (if he could).

Heidfeld is a nice suprise this year. Although it seems he has been in F1 forever. Webber is in a competitive car for the first time this year so we have to give him some time. Frank Williams handpicked webber and the guy has been in f1 for a loooong time so he has to know a thing or two about drivers

Originally Posted by Nigel S

What price on Heidfeld to win this year? Glad to see him putting that gobby Aussie in the shade. Never rated Webber as highly as some do and can't understand their fascination with him. He proved how bad he was at the first corner yesterday, Frank Williams must have been ready to kick his ar$e (if he could).

Well we will see at the end of the year but I suspect Heidfeld's chances are Buckley's and None unless Alonso goes "off-the-rails" so to speak.


Inerestingly Heidfeld has only finished 3 out of 6 races in the points and Webber 4 out of 6 races in the points. In the other 2 races Webber failed to finish

They keep talking about flying Finns but I never have sen a Finn fly in a Mercedes engined car. But I have seen Webber do it Twice

Originally Posted by Stori

They keep talking about flying Finns but I never have sen a Finn fly in a Mercedes engined car. But I have seen Webber do it Twice

Kimi tried hard this time...

Originally Posted by THROTTLEMAN

Kimi tried hard this time...

Rather Amataurish effort

I wonder what the powers that be in F1 will say if someone gets killed due to the 1 tyre rule

Originally Posted by Stori

Rather Amataurish effort

Definitly. Maybe next race.

I wonder what the powers that be in F1 will say if someone gets killed due to the 1 tyre rule

The stewards could had show him the black flag with the orange circle and make him go to the pit to change the tire.

The black flag with the orange circle is used when race officials believe there is a mechanical problem with the car that needs to be checked before the driver can continue in the race.

Originally Posted by Stori

They keep talking about flying Finns but I never have sen a Finn fly in a Mercedes engined car. But I have seen Webber do it Twice

just watched the DTM from Spa - now THERE is a real flying Finn in a Merc

Originally Posted by Stori

I wonder what the powers that be in F1 will say if someone gets killed due to the 1 tyre rule

I find it ironic that over the last few years, the regulators have slowly squeezed the life out of F1 in the name of safety and then suddenly they introduce a rule that basically puts all of the drivers at risk . As Mr Brindle said during the race, if Kimi was on a public road he would have been arrested for having tyres in such a shocking state - but then he was having to race at ~120mph on them!!! Go figure

Having said that, this season has been one of the most exciting in years. However, I could quite happily skip the first half of the race, as all the excitement is at the end, when the drivers have to race with the ragged end of the car. We can then start to see the driver skill - rather than the designer/mechanic skills.

Originally Posted by Green Cloverleaf

I find it ironic that over the last few years, the regulators have slowly squeezed the life out of F1 in the name of safety and then suddenly they introduce a rule that basically puts all of the drivers at risk .

I disagree. In the name of performance, whatever rules are applied, the teams and associated manufacturers will always take it to the performance edge.

It could easily be argued that the dangerous choice was not the FIA, but Kimi & Mclaren, knowing that due to Kimi's actions there was a possibility of serious accident, and therefore Kimi got what he deserved What would have been said about this choice, had he backed his car into Button at 150mph (only inches away remember)

Remember the tyre failures at Indianapolis GP (last year I think), or Hakkinen at Hockenheim 200? All those tyres were designed to last 15-20 laps, then think about Mansell 198? losing the world championship due to tyre failure.

Think how much more reliable the cars are now that the mechanics cannot tear them apart & rebuild them after every session, yet the fixed engine rule was expected to cause blowups & oil on track when it was announced.



Maybe the tyre rules need to be clarified as to the consequences of changing a tyre midrace - perhaps Mclaren thought that as the tyre was not punctured, it could not be changed

Originally Posted by HowardA

It could easily be argued that the dangerous choice was not the FIA, but Kimi & Mclaren, knowing that due to Kimi's actions there was a possibility of serious accident, and therefore Kimi got what he deserved What would have been said about this choice, had he backed his car into Button at 150mph (only inches away remember)

..........

Maybe the tyre rules need to be clarified as to the consequences of changing a tyre midrace - perhaps Mclaren thought that as the tyre was not punctured, it could not be changed

I absolutely agree that this one was entirely down to Kimi. He knew that his tyres were shot to hell, but he made the decision not to pit and lose his position. He would have been allowed to change the tyre on safety grounds - no-one will dispute this (under the regulations you are allowed to change the tyres if they consitute a safety risk - ie excessively worn or damaged).

However, the regulations as they stand will inevitable result in tyres at the end of their lives by the end of the main race (having been used in both qualifying and the race). This will put teams in exactly the situation that Kimi found himself - keep your place, or change your tyres.

But did Kimi and his team know for absolute certain that the stewards would agree that the tyre change was necessary? Or was there a chance, however small, that they would be penalised for a tyre change when there was no puncture?

And if they do clarify the rule so that dangerously flat-spotted tyres can be changed with no penalty, how long before someone waits until just before their fuel stop, locks the tyres 'accidentally' and gets themselves some free fresh rubber?