Turkey

[pabloh20 1]

Indeed. If Kimi is a great though, surely he should have worked out what makes Felipe better here and done something about it. I can't see Michael being beaten here again if he had been driving in '07.(*insert inevitable dig abourt team orders not allowing it*) Does Kimi just put this one down to experience and accept that he can't beat Felipe here? If that's the case, he goes down in my estimations. Champions, great champions hate being beaten and want to know why if they are, surely? It's so indicative of Kimi; flashes of greatness mixed with dissapointing runs of form. Because of the seat he fills, comparisons are inevitable. He'll never be Michael-great in my eyes. He'll remain gob smackingly fast on the majority of occasions and a let down on the rest. I hate emotionally investing in a driver who falls short and lets me down. But let me down when he is beaten by an inconsistent anomally like Massa, he does.

Hmmm, maybe it's because I don't think of Kimi as a 'great' and I am not sure I ever see him becoming a great, to be honest. However, I find him no less enjoyable because of that and if he does turn out to be a great, then cool, I was wrong!

To be fair to Kimi, it's still early doors and if he goes on to beat Massa on his other preferred tracks, then you would have to say that he's learnt how to deal with Masssa.

[Max Mosley 2]

We've already been to them all haven't we?

[pabloh20 1]

We've already been to them all haven't we?

Possibly

I am not sure what tracks Massa is meant to be good on

[Quiet One 15]

Possibly

I am not sure what tracks Massa is meant to be good on

According to that article, either those which have low corners or fast corners. The remainings (none, unless we strat having drag races as part of the calendar) are left for Kimi. Kimi is good only on those with long or short straights. Nando is only good in those with tarmac. Lewis is only good on those with a guy with a checkered flag at the end.

As a curious note, most of them are best at those where they finish first than anyone else. That is a characteristic shared with many of the past champions as well.

Whoa! I should write articles too!

[AleHop 0]

To be fair to Kimi, it's still early doors and if he goes on to beat Massa on his other preferred tracks, then you would have to say that he's learnt how to deal with Masssa.

I am not sure what tracks Massa is meant to be good on

Brazil is the only remaining track where Massa is supposed to be superb.

What would you say if Massa goes on to beat Kimi on some of the remaining tracks like Monaco, Spa or Monza?

[Piotr 0]

I've just experienced the ITV coverage for the first time, and I now see why so many people here dislike Hamilton. I understand that ITV must do more coverage of the brits than the rest, and I understand that Hamilton is the one brit likely to win races/championships, but good Lord tone it down a bit! The level of sycophancy was disturbing. Oh, how I miss the SpeedTV crew....

Setting aside ITV's nauseating bias, Hamilton was surprisingly fast on the prime; surprising because everyone else was on the option. I would guess that his massively aggressive turn-in and violent exit tends to chew the hell out of the soft options, making them too slickery to manage. Also, I would have expected the commentators, on both sides of the pond, to have recognized Hamilton's front wheel lock-ups as part of his 'style' rather than an error. Ah well, "they've" been wrong before when describing driver's style and I suppose it will continue. All in all, his third should work well for him. I predict that he'll get by He-of-the-unspellable-name on the first lap and settle in behind Massa for the duration of the race.

Massa should have a straight-forward race but I give even odds that he'll lose concentration at the halfway point and pirouette off the track.

Kimi will perhaps rise to second, but he looked to be struggling. That is proof of nothing, however, as Kimi usually settles in after a handful of laps and starts flying.

Kubeetza. Hm. Somewhere there's a big dry-erase board with the title 'DC club' written across the top and underneath are listed the names of drivers that have seemed like title-contenders but in reality were too inconsistent to wear the crown. My Infamous Gut of All-Knowing (I-GAK for short) is seeing Kubeetza on the board.

Nakajima has an very wide turn-in. Is this his style or a reflection of the cold tyres? Probably cold tyres...surely nobody would cultivate such a wide turn-in on purpose.

Force India's livery looks great out there but the Kingfisher logo should be smaller. No sense in ruining a good livery with an advertisement for apathetic beer.

Martin Brundle in a Lotus 49. Oh dear. Those cars have a tremendous tendency to understeer and Martin's usual solution to understeer is to stop the car. With a wall. For the car's sake, I was pleased that he didn't appear to have gotten the thing up to sufficient speed to really be a danger.

Your bias against this guy is becoming somewhat amazing. With the rumors of Ferrari becoming interested in him, they better consult your gut first. I could even understand that sentiment in 07, but seeing Hamilton completely lose it in traffic (aka"pressure") situation early this year, while RK is consistently in top 4, I wonder if you may be watching races in a parallel universe. hmmm, maybe I should write a short SciFi story about it...

[Autumnpuma 0]

You haven't been paying attention, either to my past posts on Kubeetza or to my current one you've responded to. In the past I've been impressed with him, and I still am impressed. My post said that he will not become a WDC in the same way, and for the same reasons, that DC hasn't become one. That doesn't mean he wont win some races and prove to be in the upper echelon of F1, however. Being consistently in the top 4 does perhaps point towards consistency, but how much of that is down to his rivals' mistakes? I'll keep an open mind on your favorite pole...er...Pole though.

I know it's hard to identify a truly unbiased person is this particular forum, but you've found one such person in me (don't buy into my Hamilton/god stuff, it's only for a bit of a joke). Please remember that bias is demonstrated by an unwavering support, and defense of, one particular team or driver to the point of irrationality. I don't support any driver or team to that point, but I do respect the racecraft of drivers such as Alonso, Hamilton, Webber and lately Kimi. Despite that admiration, I've numerous times called them out for mistakes.

Just because a person defends a driver or praises them, it doesn't mean that person is somehow 'biased' towards them. Ditto for calling out mistakes.

EDIT: To be honest, I've only watched Oz and Turkey so far this season. The rest I've read race reports on. Tell you what, I'll download the races I haven't seen and I'll pay close attention to Kubeetza. If I'm wrong, I'll broadcast it.

[yurp 0]

it'll all be made clear in the first corner / lap. Kimi will be sticking to someone's tail until leap-frogging them at the first pit.

At least I got that much right - my predictions were dissapointingly poor this week, although I still scraped 450 points in the PPP comp. Thanks cheifly to 3 drivers coming in in the right places and my podium being correct but in the wrong order. Oh yes - and thanks kimi for your fastest lap - you earned me another 100 points for that little puppy.

[pabloh20 1]

Brazil is the only remaining track where Massa is supposed to be superb.

What would you say if Massa goes on to beat Kimi on some of the remaining tracks like Monaco, Spa or Monza?

Well, that's the tough one, isn't it. I presume you mean beat Kimi on merit, not through car failure or other gremlins.

Me, personally, I would think that's because Massa is better than he gets credit for, but I am sure there will be many who say it's becausee Kimi is not as good as they thought. The thing I would say, is that this is all fine while the Ferrari is pretty much the quickest car out there, but what would happen if it wasn't? How would Massa fair against Kimi then, when he had to fight for places? I would say there would be a much bigger differential between Kimi & Massa then.

[BradSpeedMan 6]

Well, that's the tough one, isn't it. I presume you mean beat Kimi on merit, not through car failure or other gremlins.

Me, personally, I would think that's because Massa is better than he gets credit for, but I am sure there will be many who say it's becausee Kimi is not as good as they thought. The thing I would say, is that this is all fine while the Ferrari is pretty much the quickest car out there, but what would happen if it wasn't? How would Massa fair against Kimi then, when he had to fight for places? I would say there would be a much bigger differential between Kimi & Massa then.

come the 17 race of the season, and we'll have the Massa fans very quiet again...

[pabloh20 1]

come the 17 race of the season, and we'll have the Massa fans very quiet again...

Exactly, Brad, the season is not the first few races, or even half a season, you have to be committed right to the end. Last season proved that.

[BradSpeedMan 6]

Indeed. If Kimi is a great though, surely he should have worked out what makes Felipe better here and done something about it. I can't see Michael being beaten here again if he had been driving in '07.(*insert inevitable dig abourt team orders not allowing it*) Does Kimi just put this one down to experience and accept that he can't beat Felipe here? If that's the case, he goes down in my estimations. Champions, great champions hate being beaten and want to know why if they are, surely? It's so indicative of Kimi; flashes of greatness mixed with dissapointing runs of form. Because of the seat he fills, comparisons are inevitable. He'll never be Michael-great in my eyes. He'll remain gob smackingly fast on the majority of occasions and a let down on the rest. I hate emotionally investing in a driver who falls short and lets me down. But let me down when he is beaten by an inconsistent anomally like Massa, he does.

Let me remind you and Mike once again, of the purity of Kimi's intentions. By now, actually during the race, there would have been a call out to Massa to yield up the field so Schumie could pass...

Yes, you're right comparisons are inevitable, Kimi won his without team orders, now is'nt that just godsmackinly GREAT....

Maybe thats why Micheal will never really be THAT Senna great in my eyes....

[cavallino 2]

Kimi won his without team orders, now is'nt that just godsmackinly GREAT....

:lol: Are you f$%king kidding me? Kimi won because Massa gifted him a race win on his home track. None of the championships in the past what 25 years? owe as much to team orders as Kimi's

[pabloh20 1]

Let me remind you and Mike once again, of the purity of Kimi's intentions. By now, actually during the race, there would have been a call out to Massa to yield up the field so Schumie could pass...

Yes, you're right comparisons are inevitable, Kimi won his without team orders, now is'nt that just godsmackinly GREAT....

Maybe thats why Micheal will never really be THAT Senna great in my eyes....

Ok, ok, I am sorry, but you have gone too far this time, my alcoholic driver loving friend and stretched the bounds of realism once again. Is there anyone, but anyone, who has the slightest inkling about motor racing, who would think that Massa could yield up the field????

[BradSpeedMan 6]

Are you f$%king kidding me? Kimi won because Massa gifted him a race win on his home track. None of the championships in the past what 25 years? owe as much to team orders as Kimi's

ah, we have the greatest "can't get over Micheal retiring" fan responding....

[BradSpeedMan 6]

Ok, ok, I am sorry, but you have gone too far this time, my alcoholic driver loving friend and stretched the bounds of realism once again. Is there anyone, but anyone, who has the slightest inkling about motor racing, who would think that Massa could yield up the field????

[BradSpeedMan 6]

Are you f$%king kidding me? Kimi won because Massa gifted him a race win on his home track. None of the championships in the past what 25 years? owe as much to team orders as Kimi's

Maybe you did'nt follow F1 last year, so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and recap for you.... yes, it might have been true Massa yielded the last race, after he had absolutely no chance of winning the championship. During Schumie's reign teammates were ordered to yield not being allowed to fight for the championships themselves ( i think the majority F1 followers will agree to this)... I mean, I can't believe you don't get it

[Max Mosley 2]

come the 17 race of the season, and we'll have the Massa fans very quiet again...

Does he have many? But yeah, you will!

[Ayrton Senna 1]

Massa had tons of bad luck last season, just like Raikkonen used to have in his McLaren times. I think it's unfair to judge him for 2007 alone.

But if Raikkonen dominates all races from now on again, without Ferrari sticking their finger in of course, then I think he'll prove to be the better driver. Until then, we'll just have to wait and see.

I can't wait.

[BradSpeedMan 6]

Massa had tons of bad luck last season, just like Raikkonen used to have in his McLaren times. I think it's unfair to judge him for 2007 alone.

But if Raikkonen dominates all races from now on again, without Ferrari sticking their finger in of course, then I think he'll prove to be the better driver. Until then, we'll just have to wait and see.

I can't wait.

Kimi needs to prove??? He is!!!

[Rainmaster 7]

Monaco should indicate which driver is the better in any given team.

[BradSpeedMan 6]

Indeed. If Kimi is a great though, surely he should have worked out what makes Felipe better here and done something about it. I can't see Michael being beaten here again if he had been driving in '07.(*insert inevitable dig abourt team orders not allowing it*) Does Kimi just put this one down to experience and accept that he can't beat Felipe here? If that's the case, he goes down in my estimations. Champions, great champions hate being beaten and want to know why if they are, surely? It's so indicative of Kimi; flashes of greatness mixed with dissapointing runs of form. Because of the seat he fills, comparisons are inevitable. He'll never be Michael-great in my eyes. He'll remain gob smackingly fast on the majority of occasions and a let down on the rest. I hate emotionally investing in a driver who falls short and lets me down. But let me down when he is beaten by an inconsistent anomally like Massa, he does.

Dribs, something for us all to "chew on"... makes sense does'nt it....

Kimi on track for 2008 title - Keke Rosberg

May 14 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen is perfectly on track to win a second successive drivers' world championship in 2008, his countryman Keke Rosberg thinks.

Finn Rosberg, the 1982 world champion and father of Williams' German born driver Nico, said that notwithstanding Raikkonen's lacklustre run to third in Turkey, the reigning title winner is plotting a solid course to another crown.

Reigning champion Raikkonen, 28, is seven points ahead of his Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa and McLaren's highest-placed challenger Lewis Hamilton, after winning in Malaysia and Spain and finishing on the podium at every other race except Australia.

"Kimi does not win every race," Rosberg, 59 and today a commentator for German television, observed to the Berlin newspaper BZ.

Keke Rosberg said Raikkonen will not be too unhappy to have finished third at Turkey, a circuit at which his teammate Massa usually excels.

"A champion is someone who scores well on his bad days and wins on his good days.

"For Kimi, everything is going exactly to plan," he concluded.

www.f1way.com

[dribbler 6]

Dribs, something for us all to "chew on"... makes sense does'nt it....

Kimi on track for 2008 title - Keke Rosberg

May 14 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen is perfectly on track to win a second successive drivers' world championship in 2008, his countryman Keke Rosberg thinks.

Finn Rosberg, the 1982 world champion and father of Williams' German born driver Nico, said that notwithstanding Raikkonen's lacklustre run to third in Turkey, the reigning title winner is plotting a solid course to another crown.

Reigning champion Raikkonen, 28, is seven points ahead of his Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa and McLaren's highest-placed challenger Lewis Hamilton, after winning in Malaysia and Spain and finishing on the podium at every other race except Australia.

"Kimi does not win every race," Rosberg, 59 and today a commentator for German television, observed to the Berlin newspaper BZ.

Keke Rosberg said Raikkonen will not be too unhappy to have finished third at Turkey, a circuit at which his teammate Massa usually excels.

"A champion is someone who scores well on his bad days and wins on his good days.

"For Kimi, everything is going exactly to plan," he concluded.

www.f1way.com

Dear Brad, you don't need to quote such bollocks to get me agreeing that Kimi is a good driver; I agree that he is but Keke should know better than relying on the past and where Kimi is at the moment in the standings relative to the others. What happened last year when Lewis was 'plotting a solid course' to the title? Dear old Kimi came from way back and nicked a deserved crown. What happens if McLaren keep nibbling away at Ferrari and start to get an upper hand? What happens if Lewis wins in Monaco and Kimi bins it/blows up/can't be bothered again?

Now, does that make sense?

[Silver_Arrows 0]

ah, we have the greatest \"can\'t get over Micheal retiring\" fan responding....

I, for once, agree with what Cav posted. If you look at 2 instances in the title runin, it is eminantly clear that Ferrari used team orders for the benifit of Raikkonen.

Firstly, they pulled Massa into the pit in the Japanese GP, which conveniently took Massa out of Kimi\'s way (hell it was a no-risk strategy, the constructors title was already sewn up thanks to the FIA), then what happened in brazil is patently obvious in all honesty.

If you don\'t like mud, don\'t sling it at others. Yes, Michael was the benificiary of team orders during his time in Ferrari, very few people dispute that, but I cannot see why your head is in a cloud to such an extent that you cannot admit that team orders also played a very important part in the run in to the 2007 title.

At the end of the day, motor racing is a very fickle sport, and I know its hard to jump off your deluded cloud and accept that Raikkonen is indeed a mere mortal human, but the fact of the matter is that every world champion will, at some point, have help from team orders. It always happened, it always will, and Raikkonen is no exception. Why anyone has this debate is beyond me anyway, because despite my misgivings about Schumi, I personally think of him to be a far better driver than Raikkonen. If Raikkonen could get his head into a zone where he even had half as much focus as Schumi, I feel he would be absolutely unstoppable but sometimes Raikkonen\'s coolness can be his downfall in my opinion, because when his mind drifts for whatever reason he has a below par result. When you look at Schumi\'s title runs, when can you honestly put your hand on your heart, and say he lost focus, even for a second.

[Max Mosley 2]

Yes but also the difference in team orders matters too. I mean, Alonso and Hamilton were surely handicapped more by the power struggles within their team than almost any other WDC contenders in recent years. Plus the margin at the end was so small that the team orders take on even greater significance.