Your Prediction for the 2009 F1 Champion?

[944s2]

Interesting to look at fastest laps and where they finished

Some big names were SLOW

http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2009/805/6603/fastest_laps.html

 

[appletonn]

Kimi' s too inconsistent and having too much fun 'off piste...' for me, so I'll go with Hamilton to retain title.

He's proved he is a racer and never underestimate Ron's boys to turn things around[]

 

[sawood12]

As much as i'd like to see Brawn GP and Button do well I fear their relative performance will deteriorate as the season goes - they are just too new and simply don't have the resources of the other more established teams, though the new rules on testing restriction should help them. I'm sure that Ferrari and McLaren will eventually sort out their aero packages so Massa and Hamilton will be in the running for sure come the tail end of the season (not so sure Massa 'deserves' the title as such, but he definitely deserves to be a contender). Not Kimmi - his time has been and gone and unfortunately he missed his chance . He's too inconsistent and makes too many schoolboy errors (Hamilton might be sat in his seat next season!). The dark horses for me are Kubica and Vettel. I have no idea how these two will progress at this stage. I think Kubica's disadvantage regarding KERS will bite him on some tracks - especially Sepang so my money is on Vettel to emerge as better driver between the two this season.

However for the first time I was actualy not looking forward to this season starting due to all the pre-season squabbles. I just wish F1 would sort its act out and concentrate on the racing, but i'm a bit more optimistic after this first race.

 

[paulf968]

Breaking News:

Hamilton stripped of his 3rd place and excluded from the OZ GP results -- alleged to have said something 'misleading' when he was asked about the Trulli overtake under yellows.

 

[944s2]

[][][]

 

[PJS917]

ORIGINAL: paulf968

Breaking News:

Hamilton stripped of his 3rd place and excluded from the OZ GP results -- alleged to have said something 'misleading' when he was asked about the Trulli overtake under yellows.

The FiA have ruined another race, can't be bothered with F1 now, at least I have my Sundays free all summer to go and watch some real motorsport.

 

[944s2]

Point you miss is that Trulli claimed, and now has now been proven, to have done no wrong

All they have done is apparantly righted a wrong

McLaren were it would appear naughty boys!

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/4/9115.html

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: PJS917

The FiA have ruined another race, can't be bothered with F1 now, at least I have my Sundays free all summer to go and watch some real motorsport.

Pretty much the conclusion I have come to. Almost no pint in watching the race as it has little or no bearing on the final positions.

Who to win this year? I think Button could be in with a shout if only because there is no history between him and Ferrari. He has kept his head down through the barren years and now deserves the results that his car craft demands.

There are some exceptional drivers Hamilton, Button and Kubica amoung them. While Massa makes Kimmi look silly I'm not convinced he is in the same league as the Brits. He is fine when it is going his way but if he has to fight it seems he can't be bothered.

 

[Big Dave]

ORIGINAL: PJS917

ORIGINAL: paulf968

Breaking News:

Hamilton stripped of his 3rd place and excluded from the OZ GP results -- alleged to have said something 'misleading' when he was asked about the Trulli overtake under yellows.

The FiA have ruined another race, can't be bothered with F1 now, at least I have my Sundays free all summer to go and watch some real motorsport.

Well theres HEAPS on this weekend..
PCGB at Donny on Saturday.[]
WRC ,,,BTCC,,,F1,,,on sunday...

 

[Steve Brookes]

ORIGINAL: 944s2

[][][]

Not sure why you're delighted in Hamilton's downfall [&:]. Having listened to the radio transmissions the poor lad was clearly in a fluster about whether he was allowed to overtake Trulli and then whether he should let him re-pass. It sounds like he got very little guidance from his pit crew and none at all from race control.

http://marketing.fiapress.com/sendstudio/link.php?M=26466&N=936&L=402

 

[944s2]

Sorry

The whole media frenzy re him over last couple of years leaves me cold

Yes he IS a good driver BUT is in a car/team where anything less than a podium is a failure any how many other driver would like that privelege?

My laugh was more at Team who give the impression of being above any shennanigans supposedly used by other teams

If the car does not improve this year will show how much "character" he has in a poor car

 

[PJS917]

ORIGINAL: 944s2

Point you miss is that Trulli claimed, and now has now been proven, to have done no wrong

All they have done is apparantly righted a wrong

McLaren were it would appear naughty boys!

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/4/9115.html

The FiA can't decide on the rules, they are inconsistant, biased, and making a mockery of the sport. Regardless of the rights or wrongs of this incident they should have decided the race results within 2 hrs of the race ending. The whole race is under a cloud because the FiA can't decide if the diffusers are legal. The whole of the FiA need dispanding ASAP.

 

[GeoffB]

The FIA ( Ferrari Incident Assistance ) will decide who wins. At least i can concentrate on taking the car out for a run rather than watching a good race then getting told result has changed[]

 

[sawood12]

I don't get it. So you can't overtake while the safety car is out. Fair enough, very sensible. So safety car comes out. Trulli somehow forgets how to drive and falls off the track. Hamilton has no choice but to continue and pass Truilli as he has no idea why Trulli has fallen off and probably assumes he has a technical problem (why else would he just simply fall off the track?), Truli regains his place. Why is this allowed? I can understand why you can't overtake while the safety car is out, but if you fall off or have a temprary technical glitch and lose places as a result why are you allowed to regain your place? Rediculous.

Also Maclaren have basically been penalised for not disclosing information or evidence the FIA already had access to but had simply not been bothered to study. Crazy. I think the Chuckle Brothers would run this show much better than the FIA.

 

[Big Dave]

ORIGINAL: sawood12

I don't get it. So you can't overtake while the safety car is out. Fair enough, very sensible. So safety car comes out. Trulli somehow forgets how to drive and falls off the track. Hamilton has no choice but to continue and pass Truilli as he has no idea why Trulli has fallen off and probably assumes he has a technical problem (why else would he just simply fall off the track?), Truli regains his place. Why is this allowed? I can understand why you can't overtake while the safety car is out, but if you fall off or have a temprary technical glitch and lose places as a result why are you allowed to regain your place? Rediculous.

Also Maclaren have basically been penalised for not disclosing information or evidence the FIA already had access to but had simply not been bothered to study. Crazy. I think the Chuckle Brothers would run this show much better than the FIA.

Scott.
I TOTALLY agree with you.. Its all a farce. Theyve got themselves SO tied up in red tape + regulations, they dont seem to have any common sense left...[8|][8|][8|]

 

[John Sims]

Well, it would seem that McLaren were caught lying:-

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/4/9115.html

I feel very sorry for Hamilton as, seemingly, the whole issue was down to the team. Unfortunately that was not how he answered in the hearing so he lied. One assumes that he was probably briefed so to do hence the suspensions of their Race Director.

Yet another cross for Hamilton to carry so, assuming he rises above it, will give him more creditability when he wins again this year []

 

[Kevin Cooke]

Prediction,

At the end it'll be between:
Button
Kubica
Massa
Kimi.

McLaren/Hamilton will implode follwing todays fiascos.

Money goes on Kimi heart stays with Button.

Regards.

Kevin

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: Kevin Cooke

....McLaren/Hamilton will implode follwing todays fiascos.....

Only if Vodfone & Mercedes pull the plug on them - otherwise they have seen it all before, and risen above it.

Ferrari seem very quick in practice so could well be up the front again on Saturday/Sunday [][] Button is still up there but not fastest.

I would love to see Button with Nº 1 next year but am afraid it isn't likely to happen.

 

[944s2]

And
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/4/9126.html

Egg on face award!

 

[sawood12]

It is clear Maclaren have made a monumental boo boo under the circumstances, but I don't think their actions is the root cause of this whole debarcle and Maclaren have been used as scapegoats for the FIA. I just don't see why it should be the job of any team to point out the stewards mistakes i.e. why did they expect Maclaren to suddenly dispute the stewards decision to penalise Truli even if they knew it to be incorrect? Yes if you're being honest and sportsmanlike then fair enough, but this is the real world. You don't see any other sports-people complaining when a refereeing decision incorrectly goes their way. The FIA had full access to the radio telemetry - they should have done their job properly and thoroughly before dishing out the penalty to Truli in the first place thus avoiding this whole sorry state of affairs.