Bahrain Race ***warning***spoiler***

I think its an insult to compare MS to Alonso. You have a 7 time world winner compared to a kid with a better car and crew. MS lost this race because his two pit stops were a second slower than Alonso. His crew messed up thats why he lost. I really think Alonso is overrated and i can't wait to see what he would do in a different car next year. Alonso hype reminds me with JV along time ago. I hope either Kimi or MS put him in his place.

 

and what did Alonso do that was so spectacular? I did see him refuse to directly challenge Michael when he was obviously quicker during the first half of the second stint.

 

Why do you say that Ferrari pit crew messed up, have you consider that maybe Michael needed the extra fuel that that extra second povides?

I think your comments is biassed, you don't know why those pitstops were that long. And in my opinion Ferrari pit crew is or used to be the best of them all, while Renault had a lt to improved, as they showed past year in several ocasions.

- Julio.

 

OMG what the hell are you talking about??? Wait Heidfeld scored 10 points today and is already WC, oh sorry my fault...

Yes that's true, he revs his BMW engine to about 19,000 RPM. Damn how stupid is he...???

Sorry SRT Mike but your statements are just wrong and stupid!

 

As Michael has done so many times in the past, to pass the froint runners in the pit stop, that is part of the sport, so what? That does not make Alonso worst than Michael, he used the same kind of strategy as Ferrari has done so many times.

What Alonso did was what he had to do, win, and that is all it counts at thi sport.

- Julio.

 

Other than the fact it took them 50 sec to change tires on Massa's car MS needed 6-7sec of fuel and the pit stop was 8.7 sec while Alonso got a 7 sec pit stop on the last stop. You dont see that as a screw up on their part?

 

The 50 seconds pit stop for Massa was a dissater, but was cuased by Massa, remember? He should had not screwed the way he did in the first place.

On the other side with Michael stop, he needed 1 extra second because he decided to stop earlier, that means he needed more fuel, more fuel means more time, it is that easy. Dou you have insiders info to know how much fuel does the Ferrari take per lap?

Michael was very close to Alonso, and he settled for 2nd place because he is smart, he knows that is better to get those 2nd place points than risking it all to pass Alonso, the cars were too close on performance and MS would have to do something carzy to get close enough to Alonso, and then pass it.

Both MS and Alonso are drivers that think on the WC result first then on the race result.

- Julio.

 

I really dislike this Massa, but unfortunately this time we can´t blame him for that. The pit-crew really had a problem with the gun. And with the back-up gun too! That´s something which must be improved. And as Ross Brawn said, (http://www.grandprix.com/race/r751sunquotes.html) maybe Massa´s accident was caused by a mechanical failure.

 

That was definitely one of the better races that I have seen in some time and perhaps the best opening race in the four seasons I have been following the sport. I really wish Button had hung in there, I have high hopes for him. I also hope Schumacher and Massa are able to maintain their performance throughout the season as well.

While I may be rooting for Jenson I would like to see Ferrari make a come back after last years miserable season. I'll admit though, part of me was very bored in 2004 when I always knew what to expect at the end of the race. As everyone has said, this year looks to be very competitive and exciting.

- Chris

 

I should have rephrased it. When he exited the pits and Alonso was in front of him he started falling back after a few laps. I wanted MS to win and I was hoping he would have put up a better fight at the end. By spectacular I was more or less referring to his famous lap times he pulls during the race to either catch up or extend a lead, he seemed more consistant today then aggressive.

I can't agree with you more. I feel like last year Alonso barely won the championship, and I dont believe he earned it. Last year to me Alonso was only champion because he capatalized on Mclaren and Ferrari's misfortune, if they both had driver/tires that were up to par MS and Kimi would have had something to say about it.

 

overall it was a great race.

the horrible 50 second pit stop was not all massa's fault. there definitely should have been a better plan for the event of one of the air guns breaking it was ust ridiculous when they had him in there for so long. also he wasn't the only pit disaster the other car that ran over one of the crew memebers was somewhat humorous and embarassing.

MS was pretty smart not doing something stupid just to have an attempt at first place. besides i'd rather see him getting points rather than lose it and get nothing.

all in all it was a great day for Ferrari, and hopefully it's just a hint of what's to happen in the coming weeks with some great racing.

 

I'm a Schu fan, but I think we all need to admit that two cars equally matched with two great drivers aren't going to make a lot of passes on a circuit like Bahrain. If you can't pass in that first corner, it won't happen. FA was able to keep more fuel on board during qualifying, and that proved to be the difference. He won the race by being quicker in that second stint and closing the 2-3 sec gap MS had on him.

It was a great race by two great drivers and I look forward to seeing a battle between them, Kimi and Jensen as the season progresses.

 

Renault had the better strategy overall this weekend.
Judging by what went on today it could be Renault, Ferrari or McLaren in Malaysia.

I was dissapointed with Honda on the whole though. I hope they get it sorted for next week.

I think Ferrari are better off with Massa than RB, but it is early early days yet.

Here goes another summer wishing my life away for next week.....

 

I was only wondering (as I still am) why this would make Alonso the better driver of the two. So the question was (and is): what did Alonso do that was so spectacular?

 

Noone said Alonso did anything spectacular.

 

OK, I'm amazed nobody brought this up yet, but wasn't Alonso flying out of the pits when he came out just ahead of Schummi? Who else thinks the FIA may have had their radar off for that last exit? Cheating bas!ards.

 

I just watched it again, I taped it. Alonso rocketed out but after he crossed the line, so he was ok. He just jumped to block the inside line so MS couldnt stay in front, desperate, but legal.

 

As if Suzuka last year wasn't an impressive enough performance, Kimi has to come to this race with one of the best performances in years. If Ferrari isn't callin him daily they aren't calling him enough.

 

Bottom line - Heidfeld qualified better, and finished the race better. Fact.

More facts - JV has failed to perform for YEARS. He did nothing at BAR, he did nothing with his GOLDEN opportunity at Renault, he did nothing at Sauber and he has done nothing (so far) at BMW. He is beaten by his teammates pretty decisively and consistently.

You can only rest on your laurels for so long. 9 years is WAY too long to rest on laurels. JV has sucked for years and should make as graceful an exit as possible before he further embarasses himself. JV will never win another WC, he will never win another race, and he will never have another podium finish - so why bother? The man's a hump!

 

Anybody knows what were Sato doing pitting 6 times ?

 

Wow JV was blown away by NH in this race! come on seriously that's impossible.
I would say advantage to JV on the 1st stint. + he had more fuel onboard.

But both JV and NH looked quite equal.
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That is what I was wondering. But it looks like the season will be alittle better for Ferrari this year! And that Kimi is always a treat with the expressions

 

anybody noticed how 'grumpy' flav was? unlike last year, where he was all smiles each time FA won, but this time, he seems un-relaxed. i can;t wait for the next race! i think the battle of mS and fa was a great one. obviously, it was the first race, and ms dun wanna take any risk by passing FA and knocking himslef outta the race. still, a good race. i think however, nico derserved the spotlight. in his first race, u need a lots guts to take that kinda overtaking moves. wasted, if only we had a chance to see him VS jpm. i mean, for a guy whose only a year older than me...doin all that....makes me feel useless...lol...

 

When MS was driving for Benneton, he took a mediocre car and won races, and a championship. Alonso is a very good driver, but he has a great car to begin with, so at this point I can not put him on par with MS. Now if the McLaren is just as bad as it has been so far, and he still wins races in 2007, maybe then I can say that Fred is as good as MS. Right now, for me anyway, he ranks fourth behind MS, Kimi, Fishy, then Fred.

 

I kept having this mental image of the pit crew saying, "No, Taco, the suspension isn't out of adjustment -- it just sucks."

After all, moving from last year's BAR to an outdated Arrows chassis (that was pretty bad even when new) has got to be a bit of a shock.