F1 and Motorsports 2008

[codename_47]

Well it's that time again.
There have been F1 threads before here IMO so I hope there's enough fans out there to keep one little thread going.

So yeah, this weekend sees the opening GP of the season from Australia, a traditional 3am start to the season which has happened for over 10 years now.

It looks like Ferrari has the car to beat *sigh* AGAIN, and Mclaren is a couple of tenths behind. Renualt are next with a couple of tenths behind that, and anyone else will be lucky to get a podium and little else.

Raikkonen is the reigning world champion, Alonso has returned to Renault and having the no.1 status that he didn't get at Mclaren last year, (which caused so much friction and argument that led to him leaving the team)

But you're not going to hear about any of that if you watch on ITV because they only care about one driver. Lewis Hamilton.
OK, one of the best rookie seasons in history, but ITV will make you dislike the guy simply through over-exposure.
Personally I think he's talented, a great overtaker and a future world champ (but this year? dunno) but also they could occasionally shut up and focus on someone else since one man does not a championship make.

So yeah. F1 2008. Thoughts?
(Also other motorsports if you want to chuck in BTCC or NASCAR or something...)

[codename_47]

Going well, this! :p

If you so desire you can watch the Friday free practice sessions live on ITV's website, here: http://www.itv-f1.com/home.aspx

That's a nice bonus, more action :)

[waggit]

Waggit's hot tip for F1 2008: Nelson Piquet Junior

[codename_47]

Waggit's hot tip for F1 2008: Nelson Piquet Junior

Oh look, someone else! :) :notworthy

Didn't do too well in first practice, was off left right and centre and caused a red flag when he spun.

But hey, gotta get those mistakes out when it doesn't matter eh??

And it's soooo nice to see the cars sliding around again now there's no traction control. That's what caught out Nelson actually.

[waggit]

The Red Bull's seem to be a lot quicker this season, but i doubt they will turn their speed in to points.

[Mystical Parrot]

my thoughts so far, the person who uploaded this torrent of the grand prix needs a better distribution network, 14 seeds 3000 peers doesnt mean im watching the grand prix any time soon :(

[jonffm]

I stayed up to watch it. Was fantastic really. Brilliant win for Lewis and a great race in terms of entertainment.

Kimi didn't look comfortable at all and made two really quite bad mistakes...the traction controll going will make things interesting!

[codename_47]

Yes driver aids really do make a lot of difference I think...

More mistakes=more variables to make the race interesting (Yellow flags/safety cars....and as they say in the US, cautions breed cautions! :p )

We hardly saw Hamilton during the race, but in F1 terms that's because he was having a serenely perfect race whereas everyone else was trying to chuck it off track/into other cars/into the air.
Good on him!

I feel sorry for poor Glock though, that flight will certainly hurt his back...ouch!!

[Youlikeyams?]

Seven cars finishing...do you think maybe the lack of traction control has had an effect on some drivers? :p

I have to say, since Schumacher's departure Forumla 1 has really gotten interesting, especially with Lewis Hamilton in the picture. I can easily predict him winning at the end of the year, but even then it's still worth watching other drivers, especially his new teammate Kovalainen, who performed exceedingly well despite it only being his second season in the sport.

It's definitely a far better sport than that other one that was quite similar a few years ago..."Watch Schuey Win" I think it was called.

[Mystical Parrot]

i think we'll see more cars finishing on sunday, first race of the season with 50c track temperature probably buggered up some of the cars something proper.

was a bloody good race though, should be a good season now drivers actually have to do more.

i really think kovalainen is going to be a good driver, he got unlucky with his fuel and the last safety car.

[codename_47]

i think we'll see more cars finishing on sunday,

Not if it rains, which at this stage looks likely.

Mind you I don't know how many times over the years the pre-race weather predictions have big thunderclouds over the track for the entire weekend and then the race appears in bright sunshine, so don't get too excited just yet.

Would be fun though, remember the last time it rained in malaysia?
F1 Powerboats would've been more appropriate! :eek:

[codename_47]

Sorry for the double post, but BIG news:

F1 back to the BBC for 2009!!!

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a91960/f1-returns-to-bbc-after-12-years-at-itv.html

Amazing...

And apparently (according to the times..) they want Richard Hammond to be the presenter! :eek:

Yipes-a-crikey!!:eek:

[Mystical Parrot]

i dunno how to take this really, i think the itv coverage has been great tbh, hopefully the beeb can improve on it but im apprehensive

[codename_47]

i dunno how to take this really, i think the itv coverage has been great to be honest (as i always normally skate around the subject, mostly i plain lie), hopefully the beeb can improve on it but im apprehensive

Too much Lewis Hamilton, too many inane "Shopping with the drivers wives" type features, and bloody James Allen.

I'll be happy to see some fresh blood in the broadcasts, particularly in the lead commentary seat.

The only good thing ITV have given us is Martin Brundle, I hope he's retained, the guy is insightful and comes across very well.

[Ozzylator]

Raikkonen is the reigning world champion, Alonso has returned to Renault and having the no.1 status that he didn't get at Mclaren last year, (which caused so much friction and argument that led to him leaving the team)

But you're not going to hear about any of that if you watch on ITV because they only care about one driver. Lewis Hamilton.
OK, one of the best rookie seasons in history, but ITV will make you dislike the guy simply through over-exposure.
Personally I think he's talented, a great overtaker and a future world champ (but this year? dunno) but also they could occasionally shut up and focus on someone else since one man does not a championship make.


In fairness, Lewis Hamilton should have won the championship and only didn't because of that cheating bastard spaniard. Raikkonen is good but Ferrari are on the way out, now that McClaren have Hamilton (who is the best driver in the world at the moment IMHO) and Kovalainen (who is my nominee for "one to watch this year.")

Without Alonso buggering things up for him, Hamilton is sure to win.

Also, re: the beeb switch, as long as they lose James Allen I'll be delighted.

[LemonadePudding]

After studying the first race in detail I'm gonna put my annual £10 on Hamilton. Just can't see it being in anyone else's grip, I got it right since '96 except 2001.

On the Beeb switch, it can only be good news, the only thing to rate from ITV's last decade of crud coverage is Brundle.
The woeful coverage and the amazingly crap Allen will be dropped touch wood. I mean seriously even ITV must regret the decision to promote him.

[RussianAlien]

I can't be the only one who thinks whatever sport the BBC touches they manage to turn it dull as ditchwater. Just look at MotD coverage, the pundits on there are complete jokers and Motson could bore anyone to tears. The BBC is, and always has been an Old Boys club - the members whom just reward eachother again and again.

I like the over-dramatic way that ITV presents its sports, and I think on the BBC the F1 will just lose some of its appeal - for me anyway.

[LemonadePudding]

I get what you're saying here, I mean I agree to an extent, but then MotD is dull cos (yes I will dare to say this) the Premier League is dull.

[codename_47]

Oooooh controversy....

The Mclarens have been demoted for blocking other cars at the end of qualifying..

They will now start Eigth (Kovalainen) and Ninth (Hamilton)

Any excuse to punish Mclaren, eh FIA..

I dunno though, they may have a point this time, it was pretty dangerous...

[Youlikeyams?]

That's Raikkonen back in the running now with his win, and Lewis only scraped fifth, 40 seconds behind the winner. That's really not like him at all. He's still in the lead mind.

And the BBC coverage is something I'm dead happy about - not only do we get the Fleetwood Mac theme back but it finally means we get uninterrupted coverage of the races again - the ad breaks on ITV were so inconveniently placed that all the tension was broken; it even missed out on Hamilton's breakdown in Brazil.

[waggit]

Not a very exciting race, I feel a sleep with 25 laps remaining.

[codename_47]

Not a very exciting race, I feel a sleep with 25 laps remaining.

Yes so did I...and I'm supposed to be the srs hrdcre F1 fan! :eek:

Wasn't the best, though was I dreaming or did I see F1 cars go three abreast in the early stages? What is this...NASCAR? :eek:

It couldn't live up to that afterwards though....

Oh well, BTCC's on next week..now that's good racing..om nom nom..

[codename_47]

Anyone watch the BTCC on ITV yesterday afternoon?

That was serious good tast racing, much better than anything F1 can do...
The result wasn't settled to the final corner of the final lap..great stuff! :)

[LemonadePudding]

Missed it I'm afraid. I'm more of a GTR man myself, but I do like how close the BTCC can be. I many check out the next rounds.

[codename_47]

Missed it I'm afraid. I'm more of a GTR man myself, but I do like how close the BTCC can be. I many check out the next rounds.

Well I've just noticed its on again on ITV1 in about an hour....

GT is on C4 next Sunday Morning....and I've seen some youtube postings of that race and it's certainly...well, not one to miss *no spoilers* ;)

[jonffm]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-FIN52WKw

Now 'ey I don't believe you wanted to do that.

[codename_47]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-FIN52WKw

Now 'ey I don't believe you wanted to do that.

FOM on their traditional youtube crusade, for some reason they want to remove every F1 related clip from Youtube despite no paying alternative being offered.

Bernie. :rolleyes:

But I'm guessing it was Hamilton's little exhaust stand over the back of Alonso..
Despite James Allen's ranting it seems the data shows Alonso neither braked nor lifted off the throttle, it was just a genuine racing accident due to the difference acceleration due to different fuel loads.
But that kind of thing doesn't sell papers...:rolleyes:

Oh well, BTCC this weekend, that's a LOT more fun! :)

[jonffm]

Loook at the date matey :D

It was actually Hamiltons crash on friday practice :) I didn't believe Alonso was to blame at all, but because they are rivals there was always gunna be a story on it. Hamilton made a mistake, got too impatient.

[codename_47]

Well what did everyone (or...anyone...page 2 ffs!) think of Yesterday's race?

It was...hmm...ok.

Thank goodness for Hekki's problem as it was fun to see him race through the field...but apart from that and Lewis' wonky strategy...not so good. :(

[Smartie]

Did anyone see GP2 on sun morning, before the F1 race.
Lets just say that 2 dogs got onto the track, and Bruno Senna hit one of them and destroyed his car and the dog. Not pretty.

Also, great race, plenty of overtaking and much more action. I wish all races were like this. I love F1, but sometimes it's damn boring.

[codename_47]

Did anyone see GP2 on sun morning, before the F1 race.
Lets just say that 2 dogs got onto the track, and Bruno Senna hit one of them and destroyed his car and the dog. Not pretty.

Also, great race, plenty of overtaking and much more action. I wish all races were like this. I love F1, but sometimes it's damn boring.

Yes GP2 is the highlight of the Weekend for me...

A1GP is largely the same if you don't mind sacraficing a bit of power and the fact the teams don't produce their own cars for racing excitement (which personally doesn't bother me at all, but some people take issue with it...)

The Dog thing was terrible though, I'm so glad the director chose to pause the replay just before impact.
That said the video became Youtube's most watched vid of Monday :(

That'll probably see Turkey fined.
The fact Bernie owns the place will keep it on the calender though, so it'll probably be brushed under the carpet and he'll continue moaning about Silverstone.

[codename_47]

Sorry for the bump, but if anyone watches the practice sessions on the ITV website then please note that practice in Monaco takes place tomorrow and not the usual Friday due to special Monaco rules...they're Monaco's streets and they'll tell you when you can use them! ;)

[Mystical Parrot]

oh my

monaco grand prix failed to deliver? NOT IN THIS REALITY

one of the best races ive seen for ages! it was absolutely brilliant

[codename_47]

oh my

monaco grand prix failed to deliver? NOT IN THIS REALITY

one of the best races ive seen for ages! it was absolutely brilliant

Indeed, didn't your heart just go out to Sutil at the end there when the big bully Ferrari boy came and ruined his one chance of glory! :(

[Mystical Parrot]

watching sutil getting twatted in the back by the stupid finn was horrible, especially as he got to keep driving!

[jonffm]

Unlucky for Hamilton but...

Get in! I had a fiver on Kubica :)

[Mystical Parrot]

was a pretty good race, the track conditions were pretty bad but they kept racing.

hamilton smacking raikkonen in the back made me lol a bit (even though im a hamilton/mclaren fan)

[codename_47]

I do like that, in Hamilton and Raikkonen we know have the two championship contenders who can't seem to find the brake pedal and use cars in front to slow down!

I guess Kimi's a bit better at it though, since he didn't knock himself out of the race in his little incident.
Mind you, if Hamilton had knocked out a Ferrari and continued on he probably wouldn't be racing this weekend! :p

As it is, he's at least 10 places down the grid, which is about our only hope for excitement at Magny-Bours :(

GP2's on though :)

[codename_47]

What a race! :D

Wetness, action, overtaking, rabbits playing the great escape with F1 cars and Ferrari messing up! :p

I usually don't care who wins as long as the race is exciting so today was awesome, and I have to admit overhyped media storyline generator Lewis Hamilton performed excellently today as everyone else fell apart it seems.

And Donington steals the British GP from 2010. So then, who fancies paying a £100 quid to sit in a traffic jam for two hours getting in and out.

[Mystical Parrot]

i really thought lewis was gonna spin it at some stage and end up in the wall, the race was awesome tbh but those ferraris really couldnt stay on the track (Massa's especially)

water makes interesting races

as for Donington, i dunno, maybe if they can get everything built in time it'll be good but im not hopeful

[Kardum31]

What Donington needs is a repaving/widening and a complete reprofiling of the chicane-hairpin-hairpin bit at the end of the lap.

[codename_47]

I'm a fan of Donington, I go there at least once a year.

Which is why I'm not too happy at the prospect of F1 coming in and butchering a classic track.

NO FIA TARMAC, NO TRACK CHANGES, NO MESSING WITH A CLASSIC TRACK!

Still, I've heard from people who go to the Moto GP round that it takes 2 hours to get in and out....
(And a lot of them go on bikes which take up a lot less space on the roads than cars!)

I don't fancy that at all! :eek:

[Kardum31]

I've just read that the chicane bit will be completely scrapped in favor of a long straight and the circuit is apparently "wide enough" so I guess I've got no complaints.

[Mystical Parrot]

donington sucks so hard to get in and out of, went to download festival there in 04 and we were in a queue for hours trying to get out of the "carpark" (read: field)

it will be interesting to see if they can get it all ready in time though, i wouldnt put money on it

[codename_47]

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/262/bigbumpjy5yy3.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/262/bigbumpjy5yy3.3e863f50a2.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=247&i=bigbumpjy5yy3.jpg)

Sorry for the...well what the picture says (old school F1 fans will hopefully be pissing themselves with laughter as I did when I found the image ;) )

I bump this because tomorrow could well be a decent race after a bad patch on that dire new street course (to be fair the track didn't look that bad...but the race certainly did... )

Lewis on pole, the threat of rain in the air....ahhh I smell excitement, I'd watch it if I were you ;)

I'm also quite angry about what happened in the GP2 race but I'm not sure if anyone watches that.
Basically what happened to Massa at Valencia happened to Senna (releasing too soon in pit lane onto approaching traffic) and yet he got a penalty this time. Flagrant inconsistancy and doesn't help ease the "Stewards favour the Ferrari's" theories any.

Also, I've just seen the plans for the Donington revamp. You can say goodbye to the Download festival because the new track takes up most of the infield where they hold it. :eek:

[codename_47]

I'm actually glad no-one posts here now.

Interesting race, rain in last 3 laps, amazing finish, Hamilton slithers to a brilliant victory...

FIA disqualified Hamilton for cutting a chicane after he was forced off track by Kimi.

Don't watch this series any more. Don't post here, don't give it viewing figure, it is now a farce. :mad:

[Urlosenged]

Oh cool we do actually have a thread for this. I thought we must.

Anyway! Shocking decision that, how could he possibly have gained anything? He lifted off down the straight so Kimi could get past him (as he had to), therefore Kimi would pretty obviously be going faster so it's then his own fault if he manages to get his silly arse overtaken in the very next corner (in admittedly a brilliant move). Honestly if this doesn't get overturned there's no way I can watch any more. How they can ruin such a brilliant race (there was never more than a 6 second gap, 1st to 2nd, was there?) is beyond my human reasoning.

[jonffm]

It's a total fucking disgrace. As Lewis said himself...he was sodding AHEAD of Kimi, how the hell do you gain an advantage?

And people wonder why we get a little paranoid about English sportsmen being victimised when clearly incorrect and farcical decisions like that barely even surprise us.

The most brilliant end to an F1 race in ages and the FIA ruin it. The sports a joke.

[Flava Dave]

And people wonder why we get a little paranoid about English sportsmen being victimised when clearly incorrect and farcical decisions like that barely even surprise us.

I would love to hear some other examples of this.

[jonffm]

Stop playing Devils advocate, talk about F1 or fuck off, frankly.

[Garry3]

I think jon has been drinking

[jonffm]

That's neither here nor there.

Anyway. They are going to appeal at least, perhaps it's simply the steward that is a prat?

[Garry3]

Don't get me wrong, I was going to respond about the race, it's a fairly interesting situation but the unnecessary strop needed addressing. Jeez, lighten up.

[jonffm]

Sorry, but really can't be arsed with Dave this time, just making that known.

Never get between a man and his WUM, foo'.

But seriously. F1.

[codename_47]

Well it's the most activity this thread has seen in....well no clarification, it's the most activity this thread has seen!

No word on when the appeal is, but knowing the FIA they'll just make the penalty worse for daring to question their decisions.
Back in the day Villenueve was penalised for setting fast times under yellow flags and they disqualified him from the race.
He raced under appeal and when it came to the actual appeal the FIA strongly hinted that if Williams went through with it the penalty would be increased to the rest of the season and a few races into the next season too, so Williams tucked their tail in between their legs and went home. :(

I have a suspicion this appeal won't get Lewis or Mclaren anywhere :(

[Nuclear Spoon]

It's the most activity this forum has ever seen.

I thought we were insulated against drama :(

[codename_47]

Wow, mixed up grid=great action tomorrow as they sort themselves out!

Thank goodness for rain for making F1 decent again!!!

[dead-smiley]

But you're not going to hear about any of that if you watch on ITV because they only care about one driver. Lewis Hamilton.
OK, one of the best rookie seasons in history, but ITV will make you dislike the guy simply through over-exposure.
Personally I think he's talented, a great overtaker and a future world champ (but this year? dunno) but also they could occasionally shut up and focus on someone else since one man does not a championship make.


Yes, I agree that Lewis Hamilton may be extremely talented... He has gotten to the pinacle of motorsport, however, he is not the best man out on the track! In my opinion he is a bit of a vegetable. He's been put in the best car in the field by the team with the most money, so no wonder he is successful.

I much prefet Jenson Button. He has the right frame of mind... He once said that rather than being put in a good car and winning races, he would much rather bring the team he is in from the bottom up to the top... Although he does not have great success, he is doing it for all of the right reasons, not just the fame and money... He doesnt just race for himself, and I admire that...

Also on a side note, anyone heard of the Australian V8 Supercars series? They are great... and have even supplied a driver the the US Nascar series..
Anyone heard of Marcus Ambrose... He won the title down here twice i think... great driver

[codename_47]

Also on a side note, anyone heard of the Australian V8 Supercars series? They are great... and have even supplied a driver the the US Nascar series..
Anyone heard of Marcus Ambrose... He won the title down here twice i think... great driver

Believe me I'll watch anything, and I'll be taking time out of my oh-so-busy-life to stay up all night to watch "The great race" in a couple of weeks time...
One of the best races of the year anywhere imo, I like it even more than Le Mans mainly because of the track.
Where else in the world but Australia can you see a mountain and think "yeah, lets build a racetrack out of the acess roads!" Genius!

That said I think V8 Supercars has been a bit poor this year...too many processional races :(
The rain at Philip Island certainly helped though...

(Plus if you get a chance to watch the V8 Brutes in the Bathurst build up please do watch them, they're legendary! :) )

And good on Ambrose, he's been doing quite well in NASCAR this year, including winning in Canada....
There was a time it looked like NASCAR was scooping up all the best open wheel drivers from around the world, Montoya and Speed in F1, Tracy and Allmendinger in Champcar, Hornish and Franchitti from IRL, and from V8 Supercars (not open wheel I know!) Ambrose.
It looked like they were threatening to take over F1 as the championship that everyone flocked to but thankfully that's rescinded at the moment as they're not wiping the floor with the "good ol' boys" like people expected them to do.

[dead-smiley]

I have actually driven around Bathust (because it is a public road) and TV does not do justice to it...
Far out, some of the hill at that place are insane, it seriously feels like you are at a 45 degree angle... Now imagine you are one of the drivers, doing that at over 100kmph

[Youlikeyams?]

Anyone watching the Singapore qualifying? This is a truly epic track (especially since it's lit at night) and Massa and Hamilton's fight over pole is edge-of-your-seat stuff.

EDIT: Nope, Massa's got it. Tomorrow will be a fantastic race!

[ynnekkenny]

i knew i shouldn't have gone shopping this afternoon... will def be watching tomorrow the track looks fantastic although it does look a bit sparce on overtaking places. any sort of rain tomorrow night and the finishers may be in single figures

[codename_47]

Yes the track is very nice but I still think it's weird watching a night race in the middle of the day.

It confused me because I have no problem getting up at 4am to watch a day race from Australia/Japan but watching a race (well, not yet :p) in the dark at 2pm seemed weird to me.

Oh well the track looks good, the championship battle is getting exciting so lets hope its not all sorted out by pitstops...

However remember Valencia? That track actually DID have overtaking places
and yet the race was still dire...
This race I feel might be more interrupted by safety cars as one or two of the midfielders might find hitting a wall a lot easier here, that might spice things up..but as for overtaking...hmmm

Enjoy the track and the spectacle of night racing people, because that might be all there is to se...:eek:

(I will come back tomorrow to see how wrong I am probably! :p )

[codename_47]

(I will come back tomorrow to see how wrong I am probably! :p )

Yes. I was wrong. The race was good and Ferrari failed..whooo

Thread is dead again and double posting makes me :( but hey, the cheating Spaniard won.

To be fair...good for him after this year...but still. :p

[Urlosenged]

I love how it was his fuel line failing and then his strategy going wrong that won him the race. Though he had been up with the pace all week, so in the end it's probably deserved?

Did anyone else laugh their socks off at the Ferrari mechanics running down the pit lane? Oh man that was funny.

[codename_47]

LOL @ Steve Ride who just said on the highlights "The Ferrari pit system is definately going to cost them the championship..."

Errr..no but it might break a few of their legs...:eek:

[dead-smiley]

^ Yeah, that incident look reeeaaallll nasty...

They had a similar incident a while back in the V8 Supercars series, but luckily the fuel hose just disconnected from the car and didn't hit anyone... however, there was a small fire, but it was ok, cause the fire crews cleaned it up in half a minute or so...

All was well

[james19]

I love how it was his fuel line failing and then his strategy going wrong that won him the race. Though he had been up with the pace all week, so in the end it's probably deserved?

Did anyone else laugh their socks off at the Ferrari mechanics running down the pit lane? Oh man that was funny.

yeah and when the commentators were saying about the pit guys in maclaren garage sort of cheering them on

[Urlosenged]

Well Alonso showed he's one of the best drivers around today. He was a bit lucky in Singapore but he just blew Kubica and Raikkonen away. Anyway I just read that Bourdais got penalised when Massa span? What the fuck? Massa drove round the outside of him, all Bourdais did is hold the inside line as far as I saw. What a ridiculous decision.

Oh and it turns out that watching the race is much better when you recorded it at 5am and can fast forward through the adverts.

[Armageddon]

I watched it earlier this morning and it just goes to show how much the FIA (ferrari international assistance) are ruining the sport.

The amount of penalties they distribute for perfectly legal moves is getting to the point of exhaustion and it's becoming quite clear that there must be some sort of bribery and corruption taking place, why Bordeux (sp?) got the penalty I have no idea if Massa hit him, the only way he could've avoided that is if Bordeaux wasn't there at all.

Completely ridiculous and an absolute farce - we've seen a few races now where the FIA are quick to their guns against other teams (Hamilton and Mclaren especially - Spa incident, just making up rules as they go along) and letting Ferrari get away with things they shouldn't get away with.

Anyway, rant over and this one was a good race, nice to see something other than A Mclaren or Ferrari win, would've preferred Kubica to win as I reckon he has some good potential to possibly win the championship. Looking forward to China, fingers crossed Lewis doesn't mess up at the end like last time - he really deserves the win this year.

[codename_47]

Boring race, right result.

What price a British world champion?

Would be kind of appropriate if Hamilton won the title in ITV's last race so the BBC finally get to broadcast F1 with a British reigning world champion for the first time since the mid-60s....(Mansell buggered off to Indycars and Damon won it in the BBC's last race in 1996...)

Brazil in two weeks time, Ferrari 1-2, Hamilton 3rd...good enough?:confused:

[Armageddon]

I think Hamilton needs 4th to win overall with no questions But I think the main aim is finish ahead of Massa.

[Urlosenged]

5th. And the last thing he needs is to get involved with Massa on his track or anywhere near Raikkonen. A solid 3rd or 4th ought to do it, as long as that twat Alonso (who's freely admitted he'd do anything to help Massa win) isn't anywhere up there.

[ynnekkenny]

well DC lasted all of one corner. anticlimax anyone?

Best finish ever.

[Ryanstorm]

Yes hamilton won!
The last couple of laps were scary, but Hamilton won!

[stalefish]

HAMILTON WINS!

By God, what a climax. :D

[Tiggs]

Oh my god, best end to a championship EVER!

Congrats to Hamilton

[Dr Bender659]

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:bb::):bb:

[Kali]

Grats to Hamilton

Youngest champ.
He must be bloody pleased with himself right now.

[jonffm]

Fucking hell, never had such mixed emotions in one lap....I was almost in tears watching Hamilton roll in to the last few corners ONE place away from the Championship....then hearing the line "Is that Glock?! IT IS, IT'S GLOCK!" as Lewis passes him, hundreds of yards from absolute disaster, and jumping out of the chair screaming like a madman :)

Then the icing on the cake, seeing the faces of Team Ferrari, celebrating victory, as it suddenly dawns on them what's happened.

Truely amazing.

[Nuclear Spoon]

http://fotos.subefotos.com/a984babe3db3feffe4e295c5e18197cfo.gif

[Armageddon]

http://fotos.subefotos.com/a984babe3db3feffe4e295c5e18197cfo.gif

I laughed so hard at that bit!

Fecking epic last corner, I couldn't believe it when Vetel got him but James Alan finally came out with something good with the "IS that Glock!?". I think the best bit is, even after all the crap from the FIA (spa anyone?) and all the penalties he didn't deserve he still wins.

Shame about DC though, he said he'd do some donuts as they couldn't fine him but he never got to the stage.

Good job Hamilton, I hope to see many more!

[codename_47]

Wow, an unbelievably tense and close finish, amazing result, the FINAL corner of the FINAL lap deciding the title...

And all in Prime time :D

I hope that F1 won a few new fans this evening.

Well done Hamilton.
The right man won in the end I believe.

Ferrari had the superior car, especially in the early season, but Massa made crucial mistakes in the first half of the season and Raikkonen was...well not driving like a reigning world champion should so they basically handed the title to Hamilton.

What a way to win it though, I've never seen Hamilton drive so slowly and carefully and it nearly cost him, but Britan has a winner amongst it's sportspeople...how rare! :p

[Youlikeyams?]

That shot of the Ferrari team sums up the whole race, as well as everybody involved; grats to Hamilton, props to Massa, and condolences to Coulthard for what was an ill-fitting end to his career. He really oughta finished his last race on the track. :(

[Urlosenged]

Yeah, I was really impressed by how maturely Massa took it, unlike the people spouting nonsense on the BBC site as we speak. They ought to follow his example really.

But still, that was fucking epic. It just couldn't be a boring drive to 5th place could it. Of course not.

[carrotcake]

Congrats to Hamilton, I agree, it's good how well Massa took it. It must be hard for him to have to know that you're last F1 race ended barely after it began.

[codename_47]

I guess you mean Coulthard in the second part?

And yeah, I'm impressed how much coverage this is getting today, four pages in the Metro, lead story on BBC and ITV news, whooooo

Lap it up people, because it'll probably be the highlight. BBC are giving it publicity because they are going to show it next year (no more ads or James Allen, squeeeee!) and ITV are trying to wring every last penny of their remaining rights....

Next year Hamilton will be champion, ITV will be igoring it and it'll be borked back to the sports section of the news...

And I guess it's now time to put this thread into hibernation.
I'm kicking myself that I put 2008 in the thread title, we could've kept this one for ever and ever but I guess I'll start another one around March 27th 2009 when the first F1 race happens. :)
(Though if anyone's around for the Daytona 500 then let me know cos that race is ossom!! :) )

[jonffm]

Or a mod could just change the title and save the need ;)

And I dunno. I disagree with that. I think whenever a British sportsman does something big like become World Champion, it gets simular coverage...simply because it's a rare event that a Brit wins ANYTHING.

[codename_47]

Or a mod could just change the title and save the need ;)

And I dunno. I disagree with that. I think whenever a British sportsman does something big like become World Champion, it gets simular coverage...simply because it's a rare event that a Brit wins ANYTHING.

True but the way F1 rights work is that only the broadcasters who actually have rights to show the race can show clips of it on the news, so next year all ITV can do is talk about the races and show a caption of the finishing positions...
Since that'd be a lot of talk with no bang for their buck they probably won't bother, just sort of mumble something about the result at the very end of the sports section.

And yes you're right, I hope a friendly mod will click in before Melbourne and remove the 2008....maybe putting the word "thread" in it's place but I'm not too fussed about that ;)

[jonffm]

Betfair took 2 days to pay out for Hamilton being World Champ.

The FIA took their sweet time confirming it, no doubt scouring through footage to find a way to take it off him.

[Armageddon]

Betfair took 2 days to pay out for Hamilton being World Champ.

The FIA took their sweet time confirming it, no doubt scouring through footage to find a way to take it off him.

Ferrari did have alot of money invested into the FIA to be fair :p

I'm looking forward to the '09 season...I'm really glad Hamilton came along to be honest since after Jaguar got bought by red bull I had nobody to support. Anyone else hoping Kubica has a really good season next year? Future champion if you ask me.

[codename_47]

I think Vettel has a chance to return German domination to the sport ;) :(

Technically Hamilton isn't champion until the FIA gala in Paris in December, it's like Obama, he's been elected but they haven't handed over yet...

Lets see the bettings shops get out of that one! :p

[jonffm]

Bring on next year. May Lewis reign supreme :)

Also, why is everyone taking shots at him living with the Swiss? Who the fuck would live in England if they had HIS money? A country in recession, where sportsmen like him are hounded all day and night?

Frankly, I couldnb't give a shit if he isn't contributing tax. He's earning alot of money for Britain as it is.

Guess there will always be haters.

[Armageddon]

It's the English way really. We constantly complain about not having decent people to win us stuff, sports wise, then when one does come along we put him down at every opportunity.