F1 2008

Originally Posted by BigFoot

Maybe after his current contract expires.

Seems to be the kind of guy who's made enough money for his type of life and would not mind retiring whilst still fairly young.

I live in hope that this generation of F1 stars will realise something about racing heritage and do something other than grands prix, like Le Mans, or go stateside and try indy or nascar.

But i'll not hold my breath, F1 is now the be all and end all of everything in racing

Fair point. But I think F1 just pays so much more than anything else (when you include the sponsorships/etc) that's just really difficult for some of the stars to dedicate time to other types of racing.

Originally Posted by BigFoot

Shows one should never read too much into early season testing

Other that the fact that Button is doing well

Originally Posted by Kevin Slegg

Other that the fact that Button is doing well

Traditionally Honda do go well in pre-season, although far too early to say, maybe this will be the year Honda do take the fight to the top 2 (i'll not hold my breath though) but IMO they're not gonna be the ones who improve most, oh no.

I reckon, In fact I'm gonna say this for certain.

BMW will win at least 1 grand prix in 2008

I think the BMW car will be closer to Ferrari/McLaren but not sure they've got the drivers to deliver wins.

Originally Posted by BigFoot

Shows one should never read too much into early season testing

That is what Heidfeld was trying to say: that the slicks with 09 aero configuration do not work well. His previous comment was that it was really fun with the slicks(no tc) and current down force levels and he topped the time sheets.

So i don't think that you should call him a sissy just yet
And you can read a lot into these particular test sessions(no driver aids, slicks... very juicy information about how they cope with it)

And Kimi finally puts the rumours to rest and eases Massa's suspicious mind:


Kimi:
"We are not best friends, we don't phone each other every day or go out with each other, but that doesn't mean anything," the Finn said.

"The same is also true with Felipe (Massa)," he added.

DailyF1News

Originally Posted by BigFoot

Seems to be the kind of guy who's made enough money for his type of life and would not mind retiring whilst still fairly young.

I don't think it's the money.....i think there is no desire there at all....especially now that he is the champ.

Originally Posted by HSTDriver

I live in hope that this generation of F1 stars will realise something about racing heritage and do something other than grands prix, like Le Mans, or go stateside and try indy or nascar.

But i'll not hold my breath, F1 is now the be all and end all of everything in racing

Many do go on to other types of racing after they retire from F1. Its not really a viable option to race in other series during the F1 season.
Johnny Herbert and Alan McNish regularly race at Le Mans - Hakkinen and Alesi went to DTM, Montoya to Nascar. Also many of the oldies in GP Masters.
I guess F1 is the pinnacle of racing so if you get there you dont want to leave in a hurry

Originally Posted by andyroo75

Many do go on to other types of racing after they retire from F1. Its not really a viable option to race in other series during the F1 season.
Johnny Herbert and Alan McNish regularly race at Le Mans - Hakkinen and Alesi went to DTM, Montoya to Nascar. Also many of the oldies in GP Masters.
I guess F1 is the pinnacle of racing so if you get there you dont want to leave in a hurry

That hardly constitutes 'many' and sadly now Le Mans is the preserve of
a) the up and coming kid who hasn't quite made F1
b) (as you say) the reitred ex-f1 driver

In the good old days, drivers raced at Le Mans when they were in their prime, taking the weekend off of grands prix duties if need be (although I'm not sure if there was always the yearly clash like there is nowdays). Consequently Le Mans actually meant something to win. It was heralded along with the indy 500 and the Monaco GP as part of the triple crown, won only by Graham Hill.

Who gives a to$$ about the triple crown now? Nobody.
Because Le Mans has been undervalued by F1 teams refusing to release their drivers, and the drivers themselves refusing to race unless they get a ridiculous wage for the privelidge.
(IMO the privelidge of even being asked to enter the 24 hours should be enough)

And F1 the pinnacle of racing? I've never believed that oft-touted line. It probably is the pinnacle of racing technology, but certainly not the pinnacle of racing itself.

I hope things will change one day, and we can regain some of what's been lost, but I doubt we ever will.

Have to agree with that.
I go to Le Mans every year and much prefer it to F1, you feel much closer to the action. There is also usually a F1 Grand Prix on the same weekend as Le Mans - normally USA I think. Probably part of the reason why you dont hear much about it.
Would be good to see the likes of Raikonnen/Hamilton/Button etc racing at Le Mans

Originally Posted by andyroo75

Have to agree with that.
I go to Le Mans every year and much prefer it to F1, you feel much closer to the action.

I've not been since 2000, but am planning a return within the next couple of years.
I LOVE it, still the greatest race in the world, and being there sends a funny shiver up my spine thinking about the epic battles that have gone on at le sarthe, and the wonderful machinery that fought them

Well, Renault have escaped punishment in Spygate 2 F1 | Formula 1 - Renault escapes penalty in WSMC hearing - ITV Sport

At least the FIA have been consistent. With REnault posing no threat last year I cant see anything more happening on this

Day 3 of testing at Jerez

1. Kubica - BMW-Sauber (B) 1'19''157 (87 laps)
2. Hamilton - McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1'19''331 (64)
3. Massa - Ferrari (B) 1'19''333 (68)
4. Webber - Red Bull-Renault (B) 1'19''605 (63)
5. Glock - Toyota (B) 1'19''687 (40)
6. De la Rosa - McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1'19''787 (75)
7. Piquet - Renault (B) 1'19''834 (90)
8. M.Schumacher - Ferrari (B) 1'19''885 (67)
9. Barrichello - Honda (B) 1'19''905 (89)
10. Heidfeld - BMW-Sauber (B) 1'20''125 (87)

The former Toyota driver was having his first outing with Force India and the day probably did not go how he intended.

He stopped on track in the morning with a mechanical problem at 10.12am, before crashing and just kissing the tyre wall at Turn 9 just before lunchtime. He then went off at Turn 9 later in the afternoon - ending the day bottom of the timesheets.

"It was a difficult day today as it was my first time with the team and I had to learn about how to work with the 2008 electronics," said Schumacher. "Unfortunately we had some problems with the car in the morning and then lots of red flags in the afternoon, but when we went for the long runs it was quite promising.