Well, after a great race in Germany where we had overtakes for the lead for the first time in what seemed like a squillion years, we move onto a race where there's bound to be much less of that. The race has been infamous for cars being stuck behind others due to the nature of the track, which makes it very very hard to overtake here. Slower cars can hold up faster cars and even win the race from a front running position (happened once!)

The last two years have been the polar opposite of eachother though, 2006 giving us a brilliant race in wet/drying conditions to see Honda's Jenson Button coming from 14th place on the grid to win.

Last year, we saw Fernando Alonso of McLaren on pole, but had him penalised 5 grid places for holding up team-mate Hamilton in the pits in qualifying, hampering his final qualifying lap. Hamilton's pole meant he dominated the race from lights to flag, leading every single lap (70 lap race) in the process.

This year could give us a similar story, with Hamilton and McLaren both on excellent form, winning the last two races in Silverstone and in Germany to open up a four point gap in the title race to Ferrari's Felipe Massa. The Scuderia have been struggling of late, with inconsistent results and poor pace both in qualifying and in the race forcing them to lose their early lead in the championship.

Ferrari claim to be back on form for this weekend, but personally I can see Lewis putting on a good show and Ferrari improving, but not being able to take it to Lewis and Heikki in their MP4-23s.

However, Ferrari are fastest, a 1-2 for Massa and Raikkonen, but it seems from this report that Lewis has yet to show his hand.

Practice 1:
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?id=43526

Get posting!

I loved the news article on F1.com, where they had an interview with Nakajima. The title was 'Hungary could be 'our' track'.

What did the two Williams cars come on FP1? 17th and 18th :p

Plenty of time...I hope.

I have high hopes for Kimi/Ferrari :).


So I am gonna say Kimi on pole, kimi wins race :D !!!!!

^I'll give you that Kimi has shown more signs of form here than he did last race.

It's been happening ever since the start of 2007, one driver will be amazing one weekend, not so good the next, and then vice versa, then one day both of them will be not so good, and then one day they will both be amazing. I can think of two amazings; Kimi at the end of the 2007 season, and Massa near the start of this year when he scored 28 points out of 30 in three races. They need to become more consistent. Consistency is the key!

^I'll give you that Kimi has shown more signs of form here than he did last race.

It's been happening ever since the start of 2007, one driver will be amazing one weekend, not so good the next, and then vice versa, then one day both of them will be not so good, and then one day they will both be amazing. I can think of two amazings; Kimi at the end of the 2007 season, and Massa near the start of this year when he scored 28 points out of 30 in three races. They need to become more consistent. Consistency is the key!

I really wanna see Kimi back on form, I know he his a great f1 driver when he his at his best but sometimes he leaves the great driver at home and just turns up and does nothing too impress :o.

You are right consisitency is the key, if Kimi was more consistent he would be leading the championship now and possibly be in Hamilton's position of a few points to spare but I hope Kimi has woke up and smelt the coffee and realised that if he wants to win the championship he has to be on the ball every race weekend right up until the last.

Actually, if anyone was a bit more consistent, they'd be in lead with a bit to spare. I mean, consider how races some of the drivers have lost out.
Kimi - aussy, monaco, canada
Massa - aussy, malaysia, silverstone
lewis - canada france bahrain
not to mention the other odd off race.

Anyways, hungary, last was dull. No one could overtake, since the only place it was remotely possible was the pit straight, and thats still too tiny. I'm just prepared for a boring race, or a safety car shake up.

Also, I wasn't here last week, I was on holidays during germany, but still saw it on french tv. But a few days before, I dreamt lewis was on pole, but massa got on front somehow only to loss it in the last moments.
Holy crap, it actually happened. :?

So after another dream of F1, this time of Hungary, I foresee a lights to finish victory for Massa, Kimi struggling a tiny bit in thrid, and one mclaren having an out of shape race somewhere like 5th. Also, Truil will have another great race.
If this turns out to be right, I'm getting a job as a professional betting man.

Also, woah, Kimi's last win was at Spain, as well as his last pole position. But still, he had a bad day at germany, I wouldn't count him out based on one race, not by a long shot.

Yep Nemphis, can't argue with that post mate. I think, in about ten, maybe twnty years or so, or in the history of F1, I think we will remember Raikkonen as one of the great modern-day F1 drivers. Not on the scale of Schumacher and possibly Alonso if he gets one, or maybe two more titles to his name, but Kimi's raw pace; you just can't argue with it, because it's fantastic.

If he had consistent results and probably a more reliable Ferrari, he would be much nearer to Hamilton in the title hunt, like you said, and who knows, maybe leading it?

Maybe he has woken up and smelt the coffee, because he does need to start winning races if he is going to have a chance at this year's title.

It's nice to see a thread on Friday!

I don't have any predictions. I hope the race to be intresting (cause cars can't overtake easily). But the drivers championship is quite tight so we will see some good battles! Looking forward for the qualifying tomorrow :)

Yep Nemphis, can't argue with that post mate. I think, in about ten, maybe twnty years or so, or in the history of F1, I think we will remember Raikkonen as one of the great modern-day F1 drivers. Not on the scale of Schumacher and possibly Alonso if he gets one, or maybe two more titles to his name, but Kimi's raw pace; you just can't argue with it, because it's fantastic.

If he had consistent results and probably a more reliable Ferrari, he would be much nearer to Hamilton in the title hunt, like you said, and who knows, maybe leading it?

Maybe he has woken up and smelt the coffee, because he does need to start winning races if he is going to have a chance at this year's title.

Hold up, someone has actually agreed with me in this thread Jeez whats happening lol ?????

Seriously though I wanna see a Kimi win and I wanna see a convincing win, not a poxy win, not a 'given' win, a proper win, win that will make me proud to be a Kimi fanboy :).

Well looks like Kimi got owned. Looks like Mclaren 1-2 finish tomorrow with Kubica coming up the rear.

Don't know but it wil be very hard for the drivers to overtake the others. The circuit is really tight.

Hami is unstoppable. Someone stop him. Also i observed that Hami's F1 car has a lot of downforce in order to corner better and at the same time it can't achieve a good top speed...

Also i want to blame Ferrari. Why Kimi ran out of time at Q3? Mistakes again!

Timo Glock had a chance to grab the 1st or the 2nd place. Toyotas show improvement.

Shame on Heidfeld. I think BMW will get rid of him. :(
I'm hoping Kubica to get the 3rd place tomorrow. It will be very hard though!

Carnt get rid of Heidfeld, his accents too cool.

Looks like I was wrong then, McLaren are clearly on form.
I think that Massa can perphaps get past Kovy, be at the start or at the pits.

Kimi, well unless he gets past glock of the start, thats his race ruined, since, as we seen last year, alonso couldn't get past Ralf's toyota, and when he did, he was again stuck behind Heidfeld.
Hungary is just not a place where its possible to overtake. Even gp2 was struggling to do so.

But anyways, Glock, to beat Truili in quali is one thing, but after that crash glock seems to really have gained some form. Really really great job from him.

Anyways, I was thinking Hungary tommorrow might not be so bad. The track is very dusty and very hot. All just like Australia, and I'm sure everyone remebers that eventful race, lets hope its more of the same.

Mclaren's new nose cone. weird...

http://sportscarforums.com/gallery/data/500/MP4-23_NOSE.PNG

Looking like another race win in the bag for Lewis tbh. As we all know, the track is very hard to overtake on and he's got Kovi as his rear gunner, so should be ok providing he gets out of the first corner in one peice. I'd like to see the two Mclarens have a nice tough battle, possibly with Kovi winning. I think he deserves it now, and it wouldn't harm Lewis's title hopes. ITV coveridge was better so far, focused more on other drivers like Kimi, Massa and Alonso, not just Lewis. So my predictions for tomorrow's race are:

1st - Lewis
2nd - Kovi
3rd - Glock
4th - Massa
5th - Kimi

Also... Bourdais penalised for blocking Heidfeld

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/8/8190.html

Kimi, Kimi, Kimi :mad: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





What am I too do ????????????





I'm keeping the faith, but I gotta be honest its hard too :(.

Sorry for the double post but:


Massa is officially a Legend :D !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3 Fires all ready.

Bourdais, Nakajima & Barrichello, Who's Next?

& PUT YOU FOOT DOWN LEWIS

Puncture for Lewis... damn it! Good move from Massa at the start... although, the track is really crap imo.

HA HA puncture :D !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




This is the turning point ...................



Shame Kimi is lacklustre again :( .........

HA HA HA

Massa out

That gives Hamilton the championship lead back.

Despite all, Driver of the day has to be Timo Glock.

Gutted for Massa but something like that would have happened to Kimi if he was in the lead.

Atleast my main Kimi is on the podium and after yesterdays qualifying I couldn't imagine it :o.

But I'm still not impressed by Kimi, I need to see a convincing win and until I do I won't be impressed and I'm a Kimi fanboy !!!!!!!!!

Still can't believe the bad luck for Massa though :(.

Timo Glock had a good race definently the driver of the day and hopefully he can take this podium win and use it to his advantage over the next couple of races because the Toyota did look good and I hope this is the turning point for Toyota the point where they start to mix with BMW, McLaren & Ferrari and cause some trouble for all three of them.

Overall a very good race, it wasn't boring like the last 2 races, it had action, there wasn't an Hamilton win (joke !), Kimi actually did alright and overall one of the best races of the season so far.

Devastating, I've never seen a more unfair result. never.
Massa had the race of his life, amazing move into the first turn and then fantastic race pace, only for his engine to blow up in his face.
Then lewis had a puncture as well. Hardly fair either.

Its nice to see Kovy on top, but I'd preferred that he won it on merit, not on a silver pladder.
Seriously, and Kimi got a podium, not really deserved at all, he overtook one car who should never have been in front in the first place.

Honestly, who long till reliability is cut from F1.
The only good thing to come from today was from Glock, who had such a race, 5th place and afterwards he was on such pace that.

Right now, Massa should of been 2 points behind Lewis in the championship, not 8. If massa dosen't win this year because of what just happened, then its a seriously unfair year.

Despite Massa leading nearly all the race, the ferraris are still not showing their true strength.

I am not a fan of ferrari but even i have to say i have seen better performances from ferrari.

If Kimi dosen't improve i think he might be starring at being replaced as this is 3 in a row now.

Their might still be a long way to go, but if ferrari keep up this poor ruun of form, the drivers & constructors titles will head to woking.

If Kimi doesn't improve, he will enjoy seeing yachts better. (yeah, he likes yachts)

When the race started i was like WOW. Massa did a great move and he overpassed both Mclarens. Kovalainen was sleeping at the start. :D

It's a shame for Massa not to win this race. Ferrari doesn't go well.

Moving on...

It's great to see Glock 2nd and Kovy 1st. Great podiums for both drivers. Congratulations.

BMW didn't do a good race. Kubica is staying back from the leaders at the driver's championship.

Hamilton was good but it gave me the impression that he was driving slower than Massa. Tire punctures... His nightmare. :D



Also i want to ask something. Why at the pit stops some cars had problems with the fuel (fires)? I know what it happens when fuel drops at the hot exhaust manifolds but this happened about 3-4 times at different cars and different teams.

Havnt watched it, but watched the highlights.

Seems like really bad luck for Massa and Hamilton, gutted for both because either of them deserved to win, more so Massa for that pass into turn 1. Still brilliant to see that finally Kovy is on the good end of some luck this time! Chuffed to bits that hes got a win under his belt. Want to see him go out and win it fair and square, but a wins a win.

Also seems like Kimi, although finishing in 3rd, should have been 5th without Massa or Hamiltons problems, so really another average day out for Kimi, again. His anual mid-season lackluster is going on for longer this season it seems. If he doesnt get back to his winning ways next GP, he will have a hard time if he wants to win the WDC, not just because of Hamilton getting further ahead, but his own teammate Massa out performing him. This is really not how a champion drives.

Im off to watch it in full now, so ill be back later!

For now though....YEAH KOVY WOOOOOOH!!! :D

I can't believe Massa's luck, he really deserved that win. At least Kovy has a win in the bag now, even if was just by default. It was quite an exciting race though.

I can't wait for the next race though!

This is not a good weekend, first I end up wasting money and 3 hours of my life to watch the dark night, which is the worst movie that I have seen in a long time.

Then Ferrari has an engine blow up, which if I am not wrong the last time that happened was in this same track in 2006 with schumi's engine. Kimi still not doing much.

Good win for kovi by default but still he was in second place, and good 2nd for glock.

Yeah, I'm still truly gutted for massa, it couldn't have happened any worse than that.
Greatest race you ever have, 2 laps to complete, and just bang. I honestly hope that he takes all 3 of the next races. Mostly belgium, if Massa beats Kimi at Belgium, well then, woah.

Was so pissed when Massa's engine blew up. It's good that we have a new race winner, but to say he really deserved it...

Ah, well, alot of races to go, and anything can still happen this season. =)

Devastating, I've never seen a more unfair result. never.
Massa had the race of his life, amazing move into the first turn and then fantastic race pace, only for his engine to blow up in his face.
Then lewis had a puncture as well. Hardly fair either.

Its nice to see Kovy on top, but I'd preferred that he won it on merit, not on a silver pladder.
Seriously, and Kimi got a podium, not really deserved at all, he overtook one car who should never have been in front in the first place.

Honestly, who long till reliability is cut from F1.
The only good thing to come from today was from Glock, who had such a race, 5th place and afterwards he was on such pace that.

Right now, Massa should of been 2 points behind Lewis in the championship, not 8. If massa dosen't win this year because of what just happened, then its a seriously unfair year.

Hey, you have good luck and bad luck, and Heikki deserved some good luck!
Glock was amazing today, and also, just how did Kimi pass Alonso?

Hey, you have good luck and bad luck, and Heikki deserved some good luck!
Glock was amazing today, and also, just how did Kimi pass Alonso?
In the pits, but both Renault and Alonso are still completely baffled to how he managed to take on enough fuel and pass Alonso. I believe they were looking into it but i havnt heard anything.

^^ So are we, one minute, Lonsi was wayyy ahead, next minute it said he was behind!

^^ So are we, one minute, Lonsi was wayyy ahead, next minute it said he was behind!

Exactly, thats why even Renault, who would have analysed every lap of Kimis prior to Alonso's stop and the ones before Kimi's stop, the time Alonso and Kimi was stationary for etc couldnt work out how he did it. The commentators even were bemused, they thought it was a mistake, i cant work out how he did it legaly, but if they cant find anything wrong then you cant do anything. Baffling, simply baffling. :confused: