Japanese Grand Prix-Spoiler Alert!

[FLuXeXigeS]

wow i thought more people here would cry about LH's penalty...damn fanboys LOL

great results and def makes the last few races more interesting and exciting

Scuderia Ferrari back on top of Constructors & FM only 6 point away for the lead in Drivers Title

[Abe]

I'm pulling for Kubica and BMW but it seems that BMW needs a little more work on their car to really make a difference. Hopefully next year we get to see it.

[Desperado]

Originally Posted by milehitom

IMO, Hamilton and Massa deserved their drive-throughs.

Bourdais and Massa's contact should have been called a racing incident and no one should have been penalized. That was just two cars in the same spot at the same time, unavoidable contact and pretty minimal at that, even though Massa spun. "What am I supposed to do-roll out the red carpet?" Bourdais asked after the race.

Ham's chop on Kovalainen into turn 1 at the start, trying to instantly regain the lead swept everyone behind him wide to the left and contributed to the demise of another car. Hamilton then hit the grass wide left, but it wasn't visible on Fuji TV's coverage.

Massa's punt of Hamilton at turn 10 was a classic "I'm not backing off anymore" move. It had less dangerous impact on the rest of the field, but that was only because of Lewis' wise move to sit still until the field cleared him. Massa deserved his drive-through, too.

"Too many penalties," was Gerhard Berger's assessment afterward. At this point, most of us just want to see them race-particularly if the next two races are this exciting.

I read that Trulli and Heidfeld are unhappy with Hamilton-they claim he ignored blue flags for more than a lap later in the race. Both said they plan to ask him at the Shanghai driver's briefing about it. Things are getting heated up. And that's good for exciting racing.

Tom

+ 1 I agree 100 %

[Green Hornet]

Originally Posted by milehitom

IMO, Hamilton and Massa deserved their drive-throughs.

Bourdais and Massa's contact should have been called a racing incident and no one should have been penalized. That was just two cars in the same spot at the same time, unavoidable contact and pretty minimal at that, even though Massa spun. "What am I supposed to do-roll out the red carpet?" Bourdais asked after the race.

Ham's chop on Kovalainen into turn 1 at the start, trying to instantly regain the lead swept everyone behind him wide to the left and contributed to the demise of another car. Hamilton then hit the grass wide left, but it wasn't visible on Fuji TV's coverage.

Massa's punt of Hamilton at turn 10 was a classic "I'm not backing off anymore" move. It had less dangerous impact on the rest of the field, but that was only because of Lewis' wise move to sit still until the field cleared him. Massa deserved his drive-through, too.

"Too many penalties," was Gerhard Berger's assessment afterward. At this point, most of us just want to see them race-particularly if the next two races are this exciting.

I read that Trulli and Heidfeld are unhappy with Hamilton-they claim he ignored blue flags for more than a lap later in the race. Both said they plan to ask him at the Shanghai driver's briefing about it. Things are getting heated up. And that's good for exciting racing.

Tom

+2 Well Said

[BRTHTAKR]

Originally Posted by milehitom

IMO, Hamilton and Massa deserved their drive-throughs.

Bourdais and Massa's contact should have been called a racing incident and no one should have been penalized. That was just two cars in the same spot at the same time, unavoidable contact and pretty minimal at that, even though Massa spun. "What am I supposed to do-roll out the red carpet?" Bourdais asked after the race.

Ham's chop on Kovalainen into turn 1 at the start, trying to instantly regain the lead swept everyone behind him wide to the left and contributed to the demise of another car. Hamilton then hit the grass wide left, but it wasn't visible on Fuji TV's coverage.

Massa's punt of Hamilton at turn 10 was a classic "I'm not backing off anymore" move. It had less dangerous impact on the rest of the field, but that was only because of Lewis' wise move to sit still until the field cleared him. Massa deserved his drive-through, too.

"Too many penalties," was Gerhard Berger's assessment afterward. At this point, most of us just want to see them race-particularly if the next two races are this exciting.

I read that Trulli and Heidfeld are unhappy with Hamilton-they claim he ignored blue flags for more than a lap later in the race. Both said they plan to ask him at the Shanghai driver's briefing about it. Things are getting heated up. And that's good for exciting racing.

Tom

We agree about Bourdais and Massa. What else could Bourdais have done? Unreasonable penalty.

No doubt Hamilton panicked or something and pulled a desperate move, which could have taken out a lot of the field. Did that deserve a penalty further than his loss of positions and totally flat spotted tires, requiring a visit to the pits? Hmmmmm.

It's the "I'm not backing off anymore" move of Massa's that I still don't understand. Given that I'm clearly a McLaren fan, I'm biased. But is it really kosher to cut a corner and punt another car that is ahead of you by most of a length? Did Hamilton step outside the rules by moving left and not giving Massa a lane? Seriously, someone please educate me as to what is sportsmanlike and within the regulations in such a situation. I instantly assumed that Massa was at fault and would be penalized. Cutting the corner gave him track position advantage enough to get Hamilton just aft of center. But I am biased.

[shay2nak]

FIA <3 Ferrari!!!!

[fitfan]

it would seem that the driver that can pull their head out of their own butt and just drive smart will win the championship... after japan.. i have no idea if either one of them are capable of doing that...

i am rooting that the "children" keep up their school yard games.... and Kubica wins!!!!

[apk919]

Originally Posted by BRTHTAKR

No doubt Hamilton panicked or something and pulled a desperate move, which could have taken out a lot of the field. Did that deserve a penalty further than his loss of positions and totally flat spotted tires, requiring a visit to the pits? Hmmmmm.

Massa deserved his penalty, but I don't think Bourdais did. As far as Hamilton's first turn bonzai attempt to pass Raikkonen... Kimi had no choice but to go off track to avoid Hamilton. IMHO, if a driver does not have position on a corner, but forces the driver with position off the track, that deserves a penalty. Also, in the post race interview Kimi claimed that either Lewis or Heikki made contact with him, and it adversely affected his car... clearly Kimi's right front brake fairing was damaged...

[shay2nak]

how the hell did Ham end up one lap down? I missed the replay race this afternoon. If ya'll were watching Speed Report, they (F1 guys) were complaining about inconsistent rulings and how once again it seems FIA favors Ferrari. How, Massa was out of points, then was 8th and now 6th? (or 7th) because penalizing Bourdais. That's BS, Bourdais has only one place to go out from pit lane. Massa saw he was coming out. Probably didn't care since he knows any altercation that has to be decided by stewards will result in his favor.

[FLuXeXigeS]

^haha ferrari doesnt make the rules, dont hate em cus the stewards favor them, i bet McLaren fans wouldnt mind that if decisions went their way, so of course you will "milk" the situation...

[paulhastings]

I have watched just about every F1 race over the past 20ish years. This season is incredibly frustrating with all of the penalties. I am definitely biased in favor of LH. However, at the same time I am really trying to set this aside and looked at it from both sides. Perhaps I just do not understand the rules but, it appears this is the same for the many of the teams/drivers. Not 100% sure about the first corner as I don't think everything was visible on the tv coverage. The Massa incident was very clear and given what it did to LH race a minor penalty. The Bourdais incident seems ridiculous! Bourdais maintained the inside his line and was racing for position. Massa attmpted to overtake causing the incident. It seems everyone is blaming LH for being immature in his first turn incidents. However, how conservative can your really be at the beginning of an F1 race. If you are too careful the guys behind will drive over you. I think you must get after it and clear yourself of the field. Unfortunately he made a poor start and tried to regain position. Perhaps a slighlty less aggressive move to maintain position and get on with the race but, it's easy to say from the couch. This championship is far closer then it should be and as much as I love the history of Ferrari in racing it is terrible to see the favoritism they continue to receive by the stewards. When they said the Bourdais incident would be investigated immediately I thought Massa would receive a 10 spot grid penalty for the next race. Then, unfortunately, I have now been trained to think "wait the stewards can help close the gap by penalizing Bourdais." Let Ferrari fight for the wins like everyone else. Formula 1 is making a joke of their championship! LH just needs to drive an impecably clean two races as not give any reason for penalties. It seems any opportunity the stewards have will go against he and McLaren.

[rnr]

I dont get why everyone is defending the penalty on Hamilton - had he hit Kimi (who was at that point a legitimate championship rival) it would have been no different than the MS move on JV in Jerez or even the Massa hit in this race. Now just because Kimi was able to evade Lewis by going off track doesnt make Lewis actions any better - you have to penalize him or people will keep trying banzai moves that can cause huge first corner accidents

[MikeP]

I have been a big Hamilton fan, but that move into the first turn - including the way he squeezed out Kovalainen - just confirms that his ego has gotten the better of him. Why risk the race - either through penalty or crash - because he'd been beaten to the first turn?

[BRTHTAKR]

Originally Posted by MikeP

I have been a big Hamilton fan, but that move into the first turn - including the way he squeezed out Kovalainen - just confirms that his ego has gotten the better of him. Why risk the race - either through penalty or crash - because he'd been beaten to the first turn?

+1 Perhaps he will mature a LOT from this.

[rnr]

Originally Posted by BRTHTAKR

+1 Perhaps he will mature a LOT from this.

Thats what people said after Brazil last year

[kestrel74]

and he SAID he wasn't going to do anything stupid in this race......

[milehitom]

Originally Posted by kestrel74

and he SAID he wasn't going to do anything stupid in this race......

That's the problem, I think...saying that shows how much it's on his mind. Even if Massa were to win the next two races, should Hamilton come in 2nd, the championship is his. But what makes him fun to watch is how much he wants to win. The same thing holds true for Felipe, I think. But mentoring from Michael Schumacher (whom Felipe refers to as his big brother) has helped temper his emotions (just a bit).

Tom

[kestrel74]

For some reason, I just don't like Massa. His personality pretty much sucks.....just my opinion....He doesn't speak well in front of a camera at all.

[FLuXeXigeS]

Originally Posted by kestrel74

For some reason, I just don't like Massa. His personality pretty much sucks.....just my opinion....He doesn't speak well in front of a camera at all.

these guys arent actors or reporters, im not surprised they suck in front of a camera...but their awesome behind the steering wheel...which is essentially what they get paid to do

[mikester]

Originally Posted by MikeP

I have been a big Hamilton fan, but that move into the first turn - including the way he squeezed out Kovalainen - just confirms that his ego has gotten the better of him. Why risk the race - either through penalty or crash - because he'd been beaten to the first turn?

Same here, good point. Not very smart, really.

I'm not a huge Alonso fan the past couple of seasons, but it was nice to see how happy he looked, back on the podium.