Kimi's first win?

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Could it be this weekend? Mclaren are probably going to do well, so will Kimi take back what was taken from him in Magny Cours?

[nichosnz 0]

Are you kidding?

You must have posted this before qualifing Jens!!!

McLaren have dominated row 5 on the grid, qualifing 10th and 11th. If HHF was still with Arrows and they'd turn up the Mac's would have been 11th and 12th.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Yes, I did post this before qualifying. They messed up big time...

[nichosnz 0]

They both did a lot better in the race. Judging by race pace though even with Qualifing better 3rd would have been the best they could have expected.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I dont think anyone could have matched the Ferrari's today. But Kimi could've caught Ralf. It was like 10 seconds difference at the end of the race.

[Crash 0]

C`mon Jens, taken away from him? Kimi drove into an oil slick,and ran wide. Was Schumaker supposed to follow him? Or wait for him to catch up?

Anyway, i think we`ll see great things from Kimi in the future. He`s not afraid to stick it to anybody, a future world champ for sure.

What`s with Monstoya, sometimes you have to concede and accept that some people will pass you...lol

BTW, did anyone check out Mika Salo`s post race report, very funny.

He said his extinguisher went off towards the end of the race, he could`nt see a thing and drove the last laps from memory....hehe

Cheers

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Well, I was under the impression that the yellow flags were out but whatever, he will win this season I think. You could see that Salo's c##Kpit was full of foam from some angles...

[nichosnz 0]

Yes the yellows were out but Kimi went off the track itself. Please don't reply "only just" because off is off. If Kimi went off a long way and had to 'cross country' his was to the track your logic suggests MS would still have to have waited.

Or as I stated in another topic if there were yellows on the track adjacent to the pits, cars in the pits and on that straight (and last/first corners) would have to resume is the same order under your logic. If you that state that being stationary is the deciding issue than a drive through penalty in that situation is not a penalty at all.

So if you don't want to get passed under yellows Stay on the track.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Mm-m makes sense. It was still Kimi's race in my opinion, but a mistake is a mistake...

[nichosnz 0]

Yes it whould have been nice to see Kimi win.

But MS was gracious enough to say that his only indication of the slippery surface was Kimi's slide and if he'd arrived ther first he would have slid. Which should have made it clear that it wasn't caused by lack of experiance, just bad luck and possibaly a missing red/yellow striped flag.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

On the TV feed I saw what seemed like a yellow flag being held stationary, but no yellow/red which there should have been...

[nichosnz 0]

I saw no yellow/red flag there on that lap either, but someone must have reacted to KR's slide, as if you watch it again you will see one next time the two pass that point.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I noticed that same thing too, I just emailed my friend and was talking about the same thing. The smallest things...

[nichosnz 0]

That sort of flag is usually used in a reactionary fashion. It is just a pity that the first indication was given to the marshal by a driver locked in a battle, rather than a Lone Ranger.

[Thor 0]

I am sure of Kimi will take his first win this year

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Indianapolis is a good bet, along with Spa. I wouldn't put my money on Monza, but Suzuka is a possibility...

[nichosnz 0]

Kimi didn't handle those circuits very well last year. Lets hope Ron Dennis was right when he stated that was because he was distracted be the fact he'd signed for McLaren.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I think he'll do reasonably well...

[daz 0]

Kimi will definitely win, but I don't think it will be this year. I feel that Mclaren/Michelin/Mercedes have all still got to much catching up to do over the next year or so. So unless both Ferraris retire in a race (highly unlikely) and Williams also suffer problems I'm afraid the Kimi is going to have to wait to the latter parts of next season to seriously challenge for wins.

[nichosnz 0]

In the last few races McLarens friendlier use of the Michelins in the races has helped a lot though. So Williams aren't as much of a threat to McLaren as there were at the beginning of the year. So the double Ferrari retirement could be enough.

[daz 0]

True - but its being something like 49 straight races where a Ferrari has being on the podium. So with that kind of reliability record whats the odds of both Ferrari's being eliminated in a race this year (barring of course a big crash at the start etc...).

Don't get me wrong though - I would love to see Kimi get his maiden win soon but I just feel thats it going to be awhile before it happens. I also feel that the upcoming races are more suited to the power of the BMW engine than that of the Mercedes.

[nichosnz 0]

Yes it is unlikely that when a Ferrari breaks the other will do likewise. Since Ferrari sorted out their once famous reliability problems, which they did in late 1996 there have only been 3 races where both Ferraris have retired from the race. Only one of those were with both cars having reliability issues, British GP 1997, Wheel Bearing and Driveshaft.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

That is an excellent reliability record. Mclaren were crap in reliability last year in Hakkinen's car, and at the start of the season with Kimi. They have improved lately..

I can't imagine two F2002's retiring from the same race with mechanical problems. Rubens has had startline problems, and Brazil was still the F2001, but I'm not too sure that the F2002 has broken midrace. I can't remember, has it? It will take a crash for both to drop out I think, but Kimi can also win by outracing the red cars. UNlikely, but could happen...

[nichosnz 0]

Indy in particular and to a point Spa as well have a fast section that combats the infield, so I feel that Suzuka is his only real chance. Forget Monza, unless McLaren really want to suprise everybody.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

If a Mclaren Mercedes wins in Monza, I would be more surprised than if I were to hear Alex Yoong sign a race contract with Ferrari.