The Iceman puts the chill on the magic, poor ron, the bizarre and the Beckhams, to take a fabulous win, oh so jolly, on British soil for Ferrari and takes the fight to Mclaren with only Fernando Alonso providing any real challenge. If Massa hadn't stalled on the line, this was going to be a 1-2. Let the European season begin and those who really know about Formula 1, not just Hamilton-mania, will rise to the top. Today was the day young Hammy, with his pit bobble, lost the championship.
Ferrari coming to Silverstone and kicking butt the way they did does not bode well for anyone this summer, besides for Ferrari supporters and Kimi Raikkonen fans. Good thing Lewis introduced all his muppet gallery to the real racing drivers of the day, as we will see an exciting finish to the season, and the new punters will know the Boss.
Fernando looks finally on top of his Mclaren, fianlly, and in the next few races leading up to Monza, have always been Alonso' strongest, so watch out there too. Massa needs to get his act in gear now, so he will be strong from now on in, as well, and Raikkonen, the one they all fear, has risen to the challenge and is starting to deliver on his promise. Not to mention, unwind all his bad karma from Mclaren.
Withe Lewis seemingly the recipient of it, well at least today in the pits, that was the pits, yet Alonso and Raikkonen were all more racey and all over Lewis, bobble or not, this just wasn't his day, legions of supporters otherwise.
All and all , a good British GP, if not a little sensational, and now off to Germany, where again, the Kimster has proven to be very strong in the past, as has also Ferrari. At this rate they will take over the championship by Monza and won't the tifosi be so happy. Forza Kimi, they shout!
Mclaren, and Hamilton better implement damage control, you know Fernando is on it, and the others, BMW, Renault, Williams, watch a learn. A master class in autosport is beginning to unfold. Can't wait until Germany, in a fortnight. Stay tuned, this one is far from over...
Ferrari certainly have their aero-package back together, and after, young Hammy's ill-advised kiss to the camera after his win in America, the McLaren win streak broken and the Euro campaign set to really begin.? Remember the days when Ferrari used to come to the British GP, after not even testing there and would beat all the British teams, some who even boasted Silverstone as their home track!? Well, this year, with FIA testing limitations in place, Ferrari tested in Britain before the French GP, to great effect as we saw in Magny Cours, and therefore, watch out in the UK.?
The Mclaren squad came undone a little in France, with Alonso suffering mechanical troubles and with his light fuel strategy wasted in the mid-field struggled home for scraps.? His heavily fueled teamate, the latest tabloid star trollop magnet, Lewis Hamilton, chased all he could to finish 3rd.
All and all, the dullest French GP ever we'd say.? No zest.? Engineers fussing over wing direction.? Sacre blue.? Back in the day, Paul Ricard was the race of the year, with that long straight and the heat, it was the perfect reminder of how intense and physical?F1 racing is and was, after the langiud sorjourn overseas to the colony's for a couple of holiday races, to return to a real track.
Not that Magny Cours was not a good track, maybe too good, and technical, a tarining facility really.? Even your truly learned to race cars there as did hundreds perhaps thousands, including Yannick Dalmas, Rene Arnoux and Jacques Laffite, who continued to wear the El Winfield logos?on his helmet into his F1 career,?under the pioneeeing Elf Winfield Driver programs run at the track for years by Mike Knight. We will be all sad to see it go, yet its lack of 'exciting, promotable and engaging television' atmosphere will not be missed.? Au revoir mes ami's.
Scott Speed's retired STR and the pylon in front of it, which Kubica initially hit with a glancing blow that deflected his out of control BMW into a 'gentler' and less rectangular collision with the concrete wall that eventually destroyed his race car. As well, with the FIA, whose on-going efforts to manage the escalating speeds with equally escalating safety measures, crash testing and the implemetation of the Hans device all of which, combined with the fortuitous positioning of Scott Speed's car, helped save Robert Kubica from serious injury.
Speaking of Speed, this week I have the on-board pass from SpeedTV, which I am taking for a test drive this weekend as part of the expanded TV coverage. Check it out at the link below:
Words have never tasted so good, Lewis is for-real...that plucky Hamilton kid just blew off the line and built up a huge lead, which was wittled down after a safety car period following Sutil's crash into the barriers. Mayhem in the pits ensued, with stop and go's for Alonso, Rosberg, et al, yet all eyes became focused on Kubica's well-being after his horrific crash into the barriers at the end of the back straight-away.
Clearly, from the beginning the stricken Kubica looked seriously injured. As we report live to you, the situation looks quite grave with the torn BMW surrounded by several course workers including the medical team. On lap 30 the race remains under yellow. Several drivers have used the period to double pit and switch tyres, including Alonso and Rosberg who were penalized for their pit transgression. An incredible testament to the safety of everything F1 but for where Kubica crashed, you could never predict. The troubling element is the headon initial collision the BMW suffered, the tub remained intact yet that first connection must have generated enormous G-forces. Our hopes are with Kubica.
Upon the re-start on lap 35 Hamilton nearly pushed the safety car out of his way to get back on with it. Nobody likes to see an injured driver, especially another race driver. Time to burn the mist off, get the energy out, re-establish the lead the once he had. The track is beginning to resemble a typical Canadian thoroughfare with debris, and construction and accidents. Alonso serves his stop and go, check that earlier, and hopeful news relating that Robert Kubica is stable from the medical centre.
Rosberg and Trulli collide over 15th place! on lap 38, pardon actually, went to such lengths to not hit each other that they both fell off the road in sympathy, as Coulthard retires his ill-handling Red Bull. At least he was good-humoured in the team radio interceptions," havin a good time", nonetheless. Heidfeld is keeping it real in 2nd and Webber crawls his way up to 3rd place! infront of Massa, Fisichella
With Kimi in 7th place ahead of fellow Finn Kovalainen in 8th . Two safety cars, a huge accident with Kubica still in the medical centre, this Canadian GP is serving up its typical mixed bag faire.
Lap 44, Awesome news that Kubica is a-okay, and is alert and conservant, the report is he is well from his manager, wow, good-on for the Hans device. Amazing, absolutely amazing.
Alonso too, after dropping back to 15th driving up to 8th by lap 46, as Heidfeld pits on lap 48 and McLaren looks to pit Hamilton as well, on a 30 second lead, and a final stint on the soft tyres!! Ouch those wear out quickly. This will be an interesting finish, Alonso flying attacking Kimi in 7th and Weber up in 2nd ahead of them as well as the Super Aguri of Sato in 5th place!!. Great merchandising with the traditional sun hats as well, those guys... suddenly,
Albers in his Spyker hits the wall on lap 50, ensuing another safety car, upon which Fisichella and Massa are both black flagged for exiting the pit lane against a redlight. Albers is back in the garage and looks well. Kimi and Alonso pit together after the safety car has stabilised the field and Alonso passes the Ferrari in the pits, his McLaren a damaged undertary wreck, yet, with all the activity today, suddenly Fernando finds himself right in the action again, albeit after some of the middlers pit again.
Upon the re-start with 16 laps to go, Weber pits, Alonso on a tear, and oh what a shame, Sato slows, it looks right out of the points. Luizzi hits champions wall on lap 55 (one day tonio) Alonso over his favourite part of grass in turn one, Kimi re-passes him and the safety car is deployed, once again. With 14 laps to go, Hamilton again in the cat bird seat with if they finish now, Lewis 10 points ahead of Fernando and 15 points over the Ferrari's.
The safety car looks set to pull of, all the cars on the lead lap, and suddenly Trulli slides off into the wall at the back hairpin, to rapturous applause from the huge grandstand on his walk of shame back to the pits. I've walked down there once, ironically when Trulli was leading the race in 2005, I believe, in any case -- its a long, long walk. I trust the security guard will not punt him like he did me. The cars are going so fast at that point and after what we saw earlier with Kubica, an accident can happen in the most seemingly benign and safe place. ...
Lap 60, safety car pulls off, Hamilton takes off and Fernando on a charge looking to gather any scraps to try and close the gap to Lewis. Kimi is just ahead of him, with Wurz and his broken wing courtesy of the optimistic Scott Speed way earlier, it seems like three races ago, and Kovalianen, who consistently is fastest in the speed trap at the end of the straight-away, and Barrichello in 3rd! which will be nice PR, but has to pit again, which he does and look out, here comes Takuma Sato for that final point. 7 laps to go and the remaining runners are all still pushing, they have spent so many laps under safety car, the cars, if the haven't been damaged along the way, are all quite fresh.
Heidfeld in 2nd ahead of Wurz in 3rd, on his 10th anniversary of his debut, nice work Alex... (food for thought Scott Speed) and the supreme Hamilton, totally in control out in front. Takuma Sato passes the Toyota of Ralf for 7th place. Can you smell 52nd world championship?
Forget that, Fernando is in Sato's sites, and Schumacher closes in too, sensing the stricken McLaren's lack of pace. Fantastic, Sato dives up the outside of the chicane before the champion's wall, and champion Alonso could not afford to do anything but let Sato pass him. Such misery...
Good on Hamilton, this was a tricky race, here he comes to cross the finish line, and the crowd goes nuts..., Heidlfeld in 2nd and the excellent Wurz in 3rd. Kovalianen in 4th, Kimi in 5th, Sato in 6th, Sato in 7th, and Ralf in 8th place. Great debut win, here comes Hamilton-mania!!
McLaren team radio also informs us that Kubica has broken his leg, in addition to the earlier news of his stable condition, which again is great news and Lewis must be happiest to hear about that.
Great happy podium up ahead, at the weigh in, score another one for the beard and Nick Heidfeld, who must be drained totally on the podium and with his team-mate and the ecstatic Wurz, good times all around. God Save the Queen, once or twice. Once. Good on ya Hammy.
Nice crystal trophy, 500 million television viewers, sold out, event filled race, last place guys finishing 4th and the young phenom Lewis hamilton to appeal to the everyperson media bent.
Tonight, a little partying, MC Hammy throwin' it down, perhaps, with DJ Schumi shooting Tequila and Martin Brundle spinning Arctic Monkeys discs. Good to see Schumi though on the pit-wall.
Montreal, the un-predictable, fractured, cosmopolitain, ville, racing in the middle of the mighty St. Lawrence river. Fantastic. Lewis' post-race interview, where he gushed, and showed concern for Kubica, and thanked his Dad for it all. No kidding. Heidfeld sure was getting a kick out of Hamilton's decription of the first corner shenanigans. Quick Nick, never looking happier, felt he had a good race, good team work, difficult with Robert injured. Heidfeld became critical about the marbles and the situation at the track, stating that they were generating alot more than usual.
Alex Wurz, scoring one for the good guy, the dreamer, and the fellow that never gives up, coming home to a superb 3rd on a one-stop strategy. All that testing sure came in handy today. "He'll take it".
As will we, what a great race. Here is to our F1QA readers, we hope you enjoyed our exclusive Live coverage of the race. Don't let the black-out get you down.
Next week, US Gp. In the meanwhile, more to come from Montreal. Au Revior.
Indeed, a terrific showing by Lewis Hamilton to capture his first career pole, ahead of his team-mate Alonso and 'quick' Nick Heidfeld's BMW in a superb third. The Ferrari's of Kimi Raikkonen and Felpipe Massa round out the top five this week. Traditionally, pole has meant very little in Montreal, in recent years the pole-sitters have suffered as they encountered the hazards of the Ilse Notre Dame track and have fallen by the wayside, and today's session was a similar example of a race speed test session. The plucky Hamilton, with this weeks light fuel load came out on top, which is to take nothing away from the performance of his McLaren, which has been spinning like a battling top since Alonso arrived at Woking. Fantastic!
Not so fantastic was host broadcaster TSN's weak, 55 minutes of television coverage, whilst Speed TV remained blackouted an hour later as the journo's wrote their pieces. Incredible! RDS has a big market in Quebec, but to blackout the whole country, that is completely ridiculous. Apart from the appalling coverage from Toronto courtesy or rather discourtesy of Vic "women's five-pin bowling" Rauter and Gerry "no i am not a Villeneuve, though i wish i was" Donaldson, to then cut the presentation short, without interviews, wrap-up, nothing.... I'd have prefered the sound of the engines and the occasional team radio to the disinterested and disconnected faire served by our Canadian network today. And I concur with our friend from Montreal earlier that this is a travesty to F1 fans in Canada. Again, another example of alienation from the organizers of the GP.
Latest word has put the future of the race dependant on an update of the tired facilities. Maybe somewhere else in Canada deserves a shot... Vancouver, ;-) is pretty nice, with the Olympics here soon, it sure would provide for a great time zone for prime-time broadcast in Europe. In any case...
Today, Hamilton went out and seized the day. Tomorrow, when scraping the walls around the track and jumping over kerbs will only slow you down, though, I do recall, Ralf Scumacher a few years ago pulling a completely sloppy, all-over the place win in his Williams, so you never know.
That's F1 baby. That's why we forgive when the corporaristos drop the ball and/or don't return our messages, yet we rarely forget... Kimi Raikkonen in 2005, we's think he is the one to watch in 2007, as well...
fernando Alonso, as he won here last year, after crashing here before. As did Kimi before. Ominous are the laps of Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and Sunday's race will be a case of track management more than anything else. Typical Canadian driving, high-speed grind it out, away from the kerbs, gravel/klag/marbles, keep away from the walls and armco, and the traffic, congestion, and accidents Sunday afternoon drive in the park.
As it will be enjoyable to watch -- hopefully, we will get to see, and hear more of it then today. The staffers are not amused...
