[pyritechips]

There is NO way Massa would go to Toyota to lead a charge to the front with an unproven and non-championship material team.

Sorry, but there is a way. Any driver is only as good as his last season. Villeneuve went from world champ to chump prettey quick by having no other option than BAR. Heidfled was slated to go to championship McLaren until Mikka used his influence to get Kimi the ride, sending Nick to also-ran Sauber. Button was the great Brit hope but look where he is now. The same could be said for Webber.

If there are rumors, then it is already decided. Most rumors in F1 turn out to be fact.

Agreed.

The only surprise I saw recently was how early Schumacher decided to retire and that Kimi signed the contract for Ferrari in 2005.

Agreed again. All parties involved kept that one well under their hats until very late in the game.

the big wildcard in this situation is alonso.

Another agreement (we have to stop that!). He is the ace in the deck and when, and only when, his position is decided, then all the other positions can be determined. I know he was making peanuts at REnault; does anybody know how much he is making at McLaren? How much a driver thinks he is worth also is a factor in determining where he winds up.

[pyritechips]

He [Alonso] is the ace in the deck and when, and only when, his position is decided, then all the other positions can be determined.

Aha! The following supports my point:

...Italian's [Fisi] future at the Renault Formula 1 team is uncertain until Alonso will make a decision on his future with or without the McLaren F1 team.

[johnnyburst79]

I think Alonso is right behind Kimi at Ferrari, making around $45M a year I think. Not sure, but I think...

[johnnyburst79]

Alonso is sticking with Macca. I think it is the right decision and once he and Ron Dennis bury the hatchet it will be a very strong road for them next year.

[pyritechips]

I think Ron does want to bury the hatchet...

...in the back of Alonso's head!

(I know you saw that one coming.)

[pyritechips]

Damn!

The quali was on here at 11 PM and I made it only 15 minutes into it before falling asleep!

All I saw were rooster tails as the cars swam around the track.

1. HAMILTON McLaren

2. ALONSO McLaren

3. RAIKKONEN Ferrari

4. MASSA Ferrari

5. HEIDFELD BMW

6. BUTTON Honda

7. WEBBER Red Bull

8. VETTEL Toro Rosso

9. KUBICA BMW

10. FISICHELLA Renault

11. KOVALAINEN Renault

12. COULTHARD Red Bull

13. TRULLI Toyota

14. LIUZZI Toro Rosso

15. SCHUMACHER Toyota

16. ROSBERG Williams*

17. BARRICHELLO Honda

18. WURZ Williams

19. DAVIDSON Super Aguri

20. SUTIL Spyker

21. SATO Super Aguri

22. YAMAMOTO Spyker

It looks like Button and vettel liked the rain. Kubica didn't do so well and Rosberg got screwed out of a wonderful P6 due to an engine change.

I will put toothpicks in my eyes tonight if I have to. More rain and an unfamiliar track should make for an interesting race. F1 hasn't been at Fuji for 30 years.

Happy racing!

[johnnyburst79]

Hamilton won and Alonso crashed out. Button and Vetter crashed out with Vettel taking Webber out of a potential podium spot. Kovy places 2nd for Renault in their first podium of the year holding off Kimi.

[pyritechips]

What a mess!

That much continuous rain is guaranteed to cause havoc.

But let's start at the beginning. What kind of crap was Ferrari trying to pull off by starting on intermediates? All teams were obliged to run on full wets but Kimi said that Ferrari wasn't told? Them of all teams were forgotten to be informed? More Ferrari skullduggery! They were hoping that the rain would let up and they could continue under race conditions while the other teams would have to pit and change tyres.

Vettel, oh Vettel! How could you throw away a podium and also take out Webber? Louise Goodman of ITV made the timing error of interviewing Webber right after the crash. His response was "...drivers with no experience! He ****ed it up!" Louise was shocked and caught off guard. ITV didn't have a chance to censor it. She should have waited and let him calm down first. If I was in P2 and was taken out under Safety Car conditions I would be full of explitives also. Dumb, rookie error. But then again it wasn't as bad as Montoya plowing into the back of Schumey behind the Safety Car in the tunnel at Monte Carlo under perfect visibility whereas Vettel was driving under zero visibility. I still feel for Webber.

Alonso destroying his car! I don't feel sorry for him but he did look shaken.

I'm actually surprised to see the Ferraris finish as well as they did. They never got to grips (hahaha ) with the track and were watersliding all over the place. Either of them could have had an Alonso moment. "There but for the Grace of the Racing Gods go I.", I suppose.

With Alonso falling off the road, Hamilton pretty well has the title sewn up.

Constructor's is as follows:

McLaren 202

Ferrari 170

Driver of the race? I'd say Webber but my conscience must choose a driver that finished: Kovalianen

[valis]

love the rain racing.....absolutely love it.....bit surprised to see alonso have such an off as he did....he is usually pretty solid.....

no question about driver of the race.....kovalianen drove that renault that was obviously low on downforce AND held off kimi for the last 5 laps......that last lap with massa/kubica was hilarious.....if it had any class of any sort I would have compared to to the villeneuve/arnoux clash a few decades ago, but those two were using parts of the racetrack technically classed as 'medians'.

fun, fun fun.

[pyritechips]

Ralf Schumacher to leave Toyota

Monday, 01, October, 2007, 14:20

LIke I said in post #461:

...Massa to Toyota...bye bye Ralf...
...Ralf without a ride...

Any comments? Does anybody think that Massa already has a ride signed with Toyota? I am sure Ferrari wil hold onto Kimi no matter who fills the second seat.

P.S.

During the Japanese GP the announcers quoted Hamilton as saying he wouldn't mine seeing Alonso racing at Ferrari or somewhere else. (sorry: no link available), then:

Alonso would rather not be Hamilton's team-mate

01 October 2007

No love lost between those two, eh? Is there any chancew they will both be driving for the same team next year?

[valis]

I remember the quote, it was from Varsha, and he is generally spot on about his journalism, so I'm taking that one as sooth.

Not so sure about massa......he's proven to a be both a great driver and an unquestioning team player; the second kimi got behind him, he developed a 'vibration' and had to pit, and that's just recognizing that Kimi's got a better chance than he does, and you didn't hear him gripe about it. I'd be surprised if they let him go, and I'd be surprised if he wanted to. He's proven that he can run with Kimi, just needs to be more consistent. I think he makes a great second driver, and he'd be an idiot to leave Ferrari for anywhere.

Still want to see kubica head to Mclaren. Wonder who's going to fill Alonso's spot.

Yes, I think that Dennis will let Alonso skedaddle; little twerp only cost him 100 mill, my big question is will mercedes ever have anything to do with him again?

[pyritechips]

Still want to see kubica head to Mclaren. Wonder who's going to fill Alonso's spot.

Yes, I think that Dennis will let Alonso skedaddle; little twerp only cost him 100 mill, my big question is will mercedes ever have anything to do with him again?

1) I am licking my lips in anticipation as to who will be beside Hamilton next year.

2) I will be very shocked if Alonso is still with the team in 2008.

Briatore bids for Alonso return

Tuesday, 02, October, 2007, 01:37

I think I would like Alonso at Renault. They were very happy together and also, I think Alonso driving for a non-championship contending team will bring him back down to earth.

[valis]

Originally Posted by pyritechips

I think I would like Alonso at Renault. They were very happy together and also, I think Alonso driving for a non-championship contending team will bring him back down to earth.

yup. Still curious who's going to ride with Hamilton, though.....jesus, imagine if kimi went back....betcha they'd start blowing up again.

[N1SMO]

Drag racings better! And I see that F1 is getting very corrupt these days, shame on them!

[valis]

drag racing? You mean where they don't even turn? just go in a straight line?