[Lavics]

Ferrari cheat ? No wayy... that`s impossible. Even if Ferrari used illegal devices on their cars, the FIA wouldnt of done anything since its their baby.

[Shadow_Flanker]

This year's Hungarian Grand Prix looked like an episode of Melrose Place, 90210, or someother thing like that.

My team did a very good race this weekend. Not only did both drivers qualify in the top 10 (Ralf 6th, later 5th read on why, Trulli 9th), they finished the race both in the top 10, scored points, first in a euro race this year. Ralf once again out-qualifies teamate Jrarno Trulli and posts his best finish of the season, 6th place and thus scores points for himself and the team. Lets see who the rest of the field did.

All this started back on saturday during qualifying, where Alonso pits during the last 2mins. of the final round of qualifying. He gases up and switches tires, but doesn't leave. McLaren-Mercedes tells him to stay put for 20 seconds. Hamilton then pulls up behind and waits for his turn. Alonso stays put an extra ten seconds. All the while the clock is ticking away for qualifying. Alonso finaly leaves and Hamilton switches tires and drives off. However, Hamilton is unable to get his "hot lap" and thus loses pole position (qualifies 2nd) . The FIA stewards investigates and penalizes Alonso by droping him to 6th place and Hamilton inherits pole position. Also, the McLaren-Mercedes team gets penalized, their punishment is that the team will not be able to collect constructor points this race. Internal strife within the team and its drivers is growing according to F1 insiders prior to the race. Oh...lets not forget about the FIA no punishing McLaren-Mercedes for supposed espionage on competitor Ferrari.

Anywho lets see how the race went. Hamilton takes victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix after intense pressure form Kimi Raikkonen. Alonso couldn't move up the field much and finishes 4th. The world champion couldn't challenge much 3rd place Hiedfield of BMW who scores BMWs second podium finish of the season. Teamate Kubica finishes in 5th followed by Panasonic Toyota's Ralf. The Williams team's Rosberg gets 7th. Renault's sole point comes from Kovalainen after a good fight from Red Bull's Mark Webber. Rounding up the top 10 was Panasonic Toyota's Jarno Trulli. Spyker's Adrian Sutil thinks he's driving an SUV and gos off-roading several tmes. Super Aguri's Davidson clash with Renault's Fisichella retires both drivers. Honda's Rubens get pissed. Jenson Button of Honda gets a mechanical breakdown and retires. Ferrari's Felipe Massa finishes 13th, not a good weekend for the prancing horse team.

Here are the current standings

Drivers' Championship.

1) Hamilton 80pts
2) Alonso 73pts
3) Raikkonen 60pts
4) Massa 59pts
5) Heidfield 42pts
6) Kubica 28pts
7) Fisichella 17pts
8 ) Kovalainen 16pts
9) Wurz 13pts
10) Webber 8pts
10= ) Coulthard 8pts
12) Trulli 7pts (Panasonic Toyota)
12= ) Rosberg 7pts
14) Schumacher 5pts (Panasonic Toyota)
15) Sato 4pts
16) Button 1pt
16= ) Vettel 1pt

Consrtuctors' Championship

1) McLaren-Mercedes 138pts
2) Ferrari 119pts
3) BMW 71pts
4) Renault 33pts
5) Williams-Toyota 20pts
6) Red Bull-Renault 16pts
7) Panasonic Toyota 12pts
8 ) Super Aguri-Honda 4pts
9) Honda 1pt

Lets see if the controversy continues to Turkey. See you people then.

[WDHIII]

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TSN.ca Staff

8/7/2007 11:03:37 AM

Fernando Alonso has reportedly been told he can leave the McLaren F1 team at the end of the season if he wants.

The British Times newspaper quotes "well-placed sources" who say the Spaniard was given the option to leave by team boss Ron Dennis who is reportedly "pissed off with both (Hamilton and Alonso)".

Alonso is contracted to McLaren through 2009 but remarks earlier this year that he does not feel like a full member of the team and being overshadowed by his rookie teammate have led to speculation that he might ask for his release. This past weekend's shenanigan's in Hungary have further fuelled the rift between the two-time champion and his teammate.

Speculation in the paddock at Hungary had Alonso going back to his previous employer Renault or even moving over to rival Ferrari.

"I know nothing about that," Renault boss Flavio Briatore told reporters about the Alonso rumors. "We have never had any discussions about that. This is a McLaren problem, not mine."


Skeptics point out that Briatore has yet to finalize his driver lineup for 2008, saying last weekend that a decision on Giancarlo Fisichella's future won't be made until the Italian Grand Prix next month.

For his part, Dennis said he was hopeful both drivers would abide by the terms of their contract.

"We have two drivers who are contracted for several years into the future. We will respect our part of that bargain and that part of the situation - we hope that the drivers respect theirs, because that's what a contract is about."

Dennis also brushed off suggestions that Alonso's displeasure centered around McLaren's policy of not favouring one driver over another.

"I have to take any decisions that are in the interests of the team," said Dennis. "But at the moment, we are most definitely going to maintain a very firm commitment to our principle of equality."

Meanwhile, the Spanish motorsport federation says it will do all it can to show support for Alonso.

"The RFEA (Real Federacion Espanola de Atletismo) will show its most vigorous protest to the international bodies responsible for this decision, and it will take all the available measures . to clear up this conflict," it said in a statement. "The RFEA faithfully believes Fernando Alonso's explanation, given in front of the Hungary race stewards, and endorsed by McLaren Mercedes through their representative Ron Dennis. This Federation hopes and wishes that these events are never repeated as they seriously deteriorate motorsport's image."

While McLaren have yet to decide whether or not to follow through with its appeal of the stewards decision regarding the constructors points in Hungary, the grid penalty issued to Alonso is not appealable.

Former team boss Eddie Jordan has warned Hamilton not to go too far in his dispute with Alonso.

"It's magic what's happening, but he has to be very careful he doesn't get too political," Jordan tells BBC Sport. "He has to be careful he doesn't say too much that ostracises him or puts him in a position where team boss Ron Dennis has to make a choice."

"He is playing the media brilliantly, and driving like a champion - at this moment, you'd have to say Hamilton deserves to be world champion.

"He's done everything brilliantly, he just has to be careful."

Former F1 champion Nigel Mansell says McLaren need to do more to contain the feud instead of allowing it to become a public circus.

"I drove with Alain Prost, Nelson Piquet and Keke Rosberg. They were all world champions and they are not going to be your best mates," he tells BBC Sport. "It's something for the team to deal with. It's not something for the public to be part of. but that seems to be the way of the world."

TSN

[WDHIII]

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TSN.ca Staff
8/9/2007 2:01:19 PM


Lewis Hamilton says he did not swear at team boss Ron Dennis over the radio during the Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session last weekend.

In a statement released by McLaren on behalf of Hamilton, the team says it is "extremely disappointed" that such "untrue critical commentary" is being reported as fact in the media.

"It has been reported that Lewis used the 'F word' to Ron Dennis over the team radio immediately after the qualification session had been completed," read the statement. "The team have investigated this claim and reviewed the radio transmissions and we can categorically confirm that Lewis did not use the 'F word' at any time during any conversation with the team.

"The team and Lewis are extremely disappointed that the use of the 'F word' appears to have been invented and repeated to the media."

At least one Formula One publication, autosport.com, backs up McLaren's claim, quoting Hamilton as saying, "Don't you ever do that to me again," over the radio to the team following qualifying. To which, Dennis reportedly responds, "Don't you ever f****** talk to us like that again".

Hamilton also dispelled reports of a rift between himself and Fernando Alonso, saying he has spoken with the Spaniard since the weekend and plans to meet up with him during the F1 holiday period.

"Fernando and I are fiercely competitive and respectful of each other," said Hamilton. "We are both ambitious drivers who want to win. However, we are not drivers at war, as has been widely reported."

"As an individual in my first year in Formula 1 I have done my utmost to conduct myself in a professional and open manner. Of course, I have made mistakes, not least during the last weekend, and those are open to public scrutiny. I have my own regrets and have dealt with matters arising."

[Shadow_Flanker]

Allah be praised are the words from the men in red in this year's Turkish Grand Prix.

Panasonic Toyota's strong practice results come to nothing in qualifying and in Sunday's race. Ralf gets stuck in slow traffic during the first round of knockout qualifying and doesn't make it further than that. Trulli however qualifies top ten but gets spun out in the first turn and resumes 21st. Ralf was quite the mover during the race and finishes 12th (started 18th). He also fought off the Honda cars as well. No points were scored, but at least they both finished.

Felipe Massa leads the "red tide" for Ferrari's one and two finish at Instanbul Park. This win gives Massa a one point lead over teamate Kimi in the drivers' Championship. Kimi kept up with Massa but couldn't mount a challenge to pass him (Masssa). Thus both men just toured all the way to the finish in that order. McLaren's challenge for the race lead completely evaporates when Hamilton's right front tire rips apart and limps back to the pits. Hamilton emerges in fifth place when he resumes the race. Teamate Alonso finishes a distant third and thus closes the point gap with Hamilton to just fives points. It was pretty much a non-eventful race.

Here are the standing as of the Turkish Grand Prix.

Drivers' Championship

1) Hamilton 84pts
2) Alonso 79pts
3) Massa 69pts
4) Raikonen 68pts
5) Heidfield 47pts
6) Kubica 29pts
7) Kovalainen 19pts
8 ) Fisichella 17pts
9) Wurz 13pts
10) Roseberg 9pts
11) Webber 8pts
11=) Coulthard 8pts
13) Trulli 7pts (Panasonic Toyota)
14) Schumacher 5pts (Panasonic Toyota)
15) Sato 4pts
16) Button 1pt
16=) Vettel 1pt

Constructors' Championship

1) McLaren-Mercedes 148pts
2) Ferrari 137pts
3) BMW 77pts
4) Renault 36pts
5)Williams-Toyota 22pts
6) Red Bull-Renault 16pts
7) Panasonic Toyota 12pts
8 ) Super Aguri-Honda 4pts
9) Honda 1pt

See you after the Italian Grand Prix.

[Brenda]

It was a boring race, only Mark Webber didn't finish, no crashes (and that surprised me, because it was very hot there).

I had more fun watching the Champ Cars on Zolder later

[WDHIII]

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TSN.ca Staff

9/9/2007 8:12:33 AM

McLaren officials say they are under investigation by Italian magistrates in connection with stolen documents belonging to rival Ferrari.

Team boss Ron Dennis and six others have been presentd with an "avviso di garanzia" from the prosecutor's office in Modena, which is a notification that someone is suspected of a crime. However, it may not necessarily lead to a charge being laid.

McLaren have questioned the timing of the notification.

"We strongly suspect that the nature and timing of this wholly unnecessary contact, just before the start of qualifying, was to disrupt our preparation for this important session and Thursday's World Motor Sport Council hearing," read a team statement. "McLaren are completely confident that were any proceedings of this type ever to be brought, we would be completely exonerated."

The legal manouvering comes less than a week before the team are set to appear before the World Motor Sport Council to answer to new evidence in the spy scandal.


While neither McLaren or FIA would discuss the new evidence, it's believed that an email exchange between McLaren drivers Fernando Alonso and Pedro de la Rosa as well as telephone and SMS conversations between McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan and Ferrari engineer Nigel Stepney form the basis of the hearing.

[Shadow_Flanker]

Hometown advantage comes to nothing in the Italian Grand Prix.

Panasonic Toyota will want to forget this race weekend. Practice sessions were mediocre, qualifying saw Ralf in 18th and Jarno in 9th. Points scoring fell onto Jarno but finished outside the points positions in 11th and Ralf was only able to fight his way up to 15th. Another disapointing Euro race for my team. I can't wait till the next round of the "fly away" races. Anyway, lets see how the rest of the field fared off.

After disapointing performances in the last few races, World Champion Alonso scores his 4th win this year with a dominating performance in Italy. McLaren drivers Alonso and Hamilton utterly himuliate the Ferrari team on its own turf and extend their lead to 23 points in the constructors Championship. Lone Kimi finishes in a WAY distant third (27 seconds). Teamate Felipe Massa was forced to retire with suspension problems just nine laps into the race. A real disaster for the Ferrari team and its hometown fans. Red Bull's David Coulthard hits Fisichella's Renault and shunts the wall. Honda's Button finishes 8th and scores a point for the very troubled Honda team. Alonso is now just three points behind points leader Hamilton.

Here are the current standings

Drivers' Championship

1) Hamilton 92pts
2) Alonso 89pts
3) Raikonen 74pts
4) Massa 60pts
5) Heidfeld 52pts
6) Kubica 33pts
7) Kovalainen 21pts
8 ) Fisichella 17pts
9) Wurz 13pts
10) Roseberg 12pts
11) Webber 8pts
11=) Coulthard 8pts
13) Trulli 7pts (Panasonic Toyota)
14) Schumacher 5pts (Panasonic Toyota)
15) Sato 4pts
16) Button 2pts
17) Vettel 1pt

Constructors' Championship

1) McLaren-Mercedes 166pts
2) Ferrari 143pts
3) BMW 86pts
4) Renault 38pts
5) Williams-Toyota 25pts
6) Red Bull 16pts
7) Panasonic Toyota 12pts
8 ) Super Aguri-Honda 4pts
9) Honda 2pts

I'll see you next weekend after the Belgium Grand Prix

[Shadow_Flanker]

The "red squad" bounces back after hometown flop.

My team had a very strong showing in 2nd practice and a respectable qualifying run. But none of that mattered in the Belgian Grand Prix. Trulli drops four spots right at the start of the race and Ralf didn't gain climb up any positions but didn't lose any. Both gained one position each one the starting grid after Kubica and Fisichella's motor swaps cost both men several positions each. Back to the "fly away" races in two weeks for the Japanese GP.

McLaren-Mercedes were stripped of their constructor points and fined 100 million dollars for using stolen Ferrari tech. This has been going on for a few months now. Also, for the remained for the 07 season, McLaren-Mercedes are forbidden from scoring constructor points (however, the drivers can still score driver points). The team must also submit to FIA inspections of their 2008 car before the 2008 season begins. If any "stolen" tech. is discovered the team (McLaren-Mercedes) will be punished even further.

After their himuliation at Monza (Italian GP), Ferrari bounces back with a 1,2 finish in Belgium. Kimi followed by Massa secures Ferrari's position at the top of the constructors' Championship. The stripped McLaren team finishes 3 and 4 (Alonso, Hamilton), and now Alonso is only 2pts behind teamate Hamilton in the Drivers' standings. At the start of the race, Alonso pushes Hamilton wide at the hairpin turn, then he (Alonso) slams the door on his teamate (Hamilton). Antonio Luzzui of Scuderia Torro Rosso team (STR-Ferrari) gives the team its best finish of the season in 12th place. 14th place goes to Spyker's Adiran Sutil. Spyker's B-spec car really performed well and the team hopes it will continue in the last races of the season. Here are the current standings

Constructors' Championship.

1) Ferrari 161pts
2) BMW 90pts
3) Renault 39pts
4) Williams 28pts
5) Red Bull 18pts
6) Panasonic Toyota 12pts
7) Super Aguri-Honda 4pts
8 ) Honda 2pts

11) McLaren-Mercedes 0pts

Drivers' Championship

1) Hamilton 97pts
2) Alonso 95pts
3) Raikkonen 84pts
4) Massa 77pts
5) Heidfield 56pts
6) Kubica 33pts
7) Kovalainen 22pts
8 ) Fisichella 17pts
9) Rosberg 15pts
10) Wurz 13pts
11) Webber 10pts
12) Coulthard 8pts
13)Trulli 7pts (Panasonic Toyota)
14) Schumacher 5pts (Panasonic Toyota)
15) Sato 4pts
16) Button 2pts
17) Vettel 1pt

See you people in two weeks.

[Shadow_Flanker]

No sun rising in this land.

What a weekend to forget for Panasonic Toyota. Both don't get into the last qualifying round, Ralf rear-ends a Spyker car, and the weather was up in the air. The race wasn't much better either. Trulli finishes outside the top 10 and Ralf retires after electronic problems from water getting into the cockpit.

Ralf announced on monday that he will not be with Panasonic Toyota in 2008. His contract with my beloved team ends at the end of this season. Reading that article wasn't the highlight of my day. I want him to stay on with the team regardless of his struggles in the past couple of seasons. It won't be the same cheering on my team without Ralf at the wheel.

Hamilton claims victory in the rain soaked Japanese Grand Prix. Following him was a battle between Renault and Ferrari, a reminder of the 05, 06 seasons when both red and blue battled for supremacy. Massa (Ferrari) and Kubica (BMW) bumped and grinded eachother in the final laps (looked like NASCAR for a while) in a fight for sixth.

World Champion Alonso gets lubbed, screwed, and tattooed. Gets blown off by teamate Hamilton, drops way back in the field in his first pit stop, gos off-roading, collides with Vettel of Scuderia Torro Rosso, and ends it all in a spectacular crash that rips his car and Championship hopes apart. Only three drivers stand in the race for the drivers' Championship: Hamilton 107pts , Alonso 95pts and Kimi 90pts. Massa finished the race too low in the standings and is thus officialy out of the race for the drivers Championship.

Heavy rain that wouldn't stop kept the safety car out for the first 19 laps. Ferrari pits to install extreme wets (started with standard wets), as per the racing officials' order. Ferrari claims ignorance of that order, but every other knew about it.

It was an odd one. Red Bull and sister team Scuderia Torro Rosso each lead laps. Until Vettel (Scuderia Torro Rosso) rear ends Webber (Red Bull Racing) taking both cars out of the race. Sutil of the Spyker team chased down Ferrari's Kimi and ACTUALLY challenges the fin and Ferrari. Spyker ACTUALLY gave Ferrari a run for its money. A battle of Ferrari engines (Spyker buys its engines from Ferrari). Kimi actually had to fight off Sutil and Spyker, wow, did I ever laugh. Alex Wurz of Williams get clobbered by Massa and retires, and Super Aguri pulls a double DNF.

Here are the current standings.

Constructors Championship

1) Ferrari 170pts
2) BMW 92pts
3) Renault 51pts
4) Williams 28pts
5) Red Bull-Renault 23pts
6) Panasonic Toyota 12pts
7) Super Aguri-Honda 4pts
8 ) Honda 2pts
9) Spyker-Ferrari 1pt

Drivers Championship

1) Hamilton 107pts
2) Alonso 95 pts
3) Raikkonen 90pts
4) Massa 80pts
5) Heidfield 56pts
6) Kubica 35pts
7) Kovalainen 30pts
8 ) Fisichella 21pts
9) Rosberg 15pts
10) Wurz 13pts
10=) Coulthard 13pts
12) Webber 10pts
13) Trulli 7pts (Panasonic Toyota)
14) Schumacher 5pts (Panasonic Toyota)
15) Sato 4pts
16) Button 2pts
17) Sutil 1pt
17=) Vettel 1pt

Off to China this weekend.

GO RALF GO

[WDHIII]

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TSN.ca Staff

10/4/2007 10:25:51 AM

Lewis Hamilton's win at last weekend's Japanese Grand Prix is under investigation by race stewards.

The tactics employed by the McLaren driver behind the safety car have caused officials to open an investigation into his behaviour with the possibility that he could be penalized 10 spots on the grid for Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix.

A FIA spokesperson tells autosport.com that new evidence has been brought to their attention but they would not elaborate further. Hamilton is scheduled to meet with the race stewards on Friday.

Amateur video shot from the stands showed Hamilton accelerating and then braking hard during the second safety car period, forcing drivers behind him to take evasive action. Unfortunately, one such move resulted in Sebastien Vettel slamming into the back of Mark Webber, knocking both of them out of the race and out of a possible podium position.

Webber says its obvious Hamilton was not behaving in a sporting manner.

"I think he did a s**t job behind the safety car," said Webber. "He did a s**t job and that's it. He spoke in the drivers' briefing about how good a job he was going to do and then he did the job the opposite way, so we know for next time, it's no problem."

Vettel has already been penalized 10 grid spots for his role in the crash.

F1 rules state that the race leader must maintain a distance of five car lengths behind the safety car while the lights are on.

TSN