Singapore Grand Prix: Heikki Plays His Joker
McLaren-Mercedes have announced that Heikki Kovalainen utilised his ‘free’ engine change prior to today’s qualifying session at the Singapore Grand Prix.
All drivers are permitted one ‘joker’ engine change this season, and after noticing some wear on Kovalainen’s engine, opted to play that card.
Mercedes’ motorsports boss Norbert Haug said:
“We have changed the engine in Heikki’s car as a precaution.
“We saw a little bit of usage in the engine and this is a joker engine – so there is no grid penalty applied. The decision was taken yesterday.”
Haug insisted that the move was merely precautionary, and would not have been taken under last season’s rules, where there was no ‘joker’.
“If there was not a joker engine we would certainly have done nothing, and the chances that we would not have a problem are really high.
“It is a critical time of the year and if you have it available you should use it. We have had very good reliability so far. If you see only a risk of one or two percent, maybe it is even less, then you should use it if you can.”
Fellow McLaren driver, and Drivers’ Championship leader, Lewis Hamilton still has his ‘joker’ to play with four races, including tomorrow’s Singapore Grand Prix, remaining.
Neal’s View: This penalty-free engine change helps keep the top drivers racing each other. However, the rules are there for a reason, and should an engine fail, the same penalty should apply if it is the first time, or the twentieth.
Kubica Fed Up With BMW?
Kubica at Valencia
BMW-Sauber’s Polish driver, Robert Kubica, has admitted that he is frustrated with the Hinwil-based squad’s inability to challenge Ferrari and McLaren-Mercedes at the top of the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. Kubica is feeling disillusioned with his team’s lack of progress from their strong early-season form.
The Pole, fourteen points behind Lewis Hamilton in the race for Formula One’s top prize, the Drivers’ Championship, is considering his future with the team. Reports suggest that Kubica held clear-the-air talks with team boss Mario Theissen at the last Grand Prix, in Monza, but has not had his doubts removed in the run-up to this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.
“My view has not changed a lot. We did sit down but I think there was no top secret and no miracles in the talks. It was good to talk. But the situation was not really changed.
“Of course as a driver you always want the maximum, and you always want a better car and to be a bit quicker.
“Even if you win, you can always find things to improve and to get stronger. There is no secret that we did not develop as was predicted.
“Lately, we don’t have big steps forward in performance but still we are managing good results. If we hadn’t had the problem in Spa with the second pitstop most probably I would have finished three races in a row on the podium – even though there have been some strange circumstances.
“But still, maybe lap time wise we are not the strongest but reliability is very good and we are able to do strong results.”
Neal’s View: Many were surprised by BMW’s early decision to focus on their 2009 car, but Kubica should take heart from two areas. Firstly, there is an old adage cited around the paddock: to finish first, first you must finish. BMW’s reliability is second-to-none in 2008, and this bodes well for the future. Secondly, we just have to look at Honda and Toyota. It is possible to go from a quick car to an awful one in a short space of time (Isn’t that right Jenson?) But to get to the front of the grid takes time. BMW are almost there, and I would expect a stronger challenge next season.
Hamilton: Cocky or Comedian? You Decide!
Below is part of a courtroom examination between McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari lawyer Nigel Tozzi:
Hamilton: Are you a racing driver? No! I have been a racing driver since I was eight years old and I know pretty much every single manoeuvre in the book, and that’s why I’m the best at my job. We are talking about a skilled driver under intense pressure making a split-second decision which no-one, not unless they are in Formula One, can comprehend.
Tozzi: Stop personalising the issue… [I am] under instruction from Ferrari who know as much about Formula One as you do!
Hamilton: With respect, I doubt it.
So, Lewis Hamilton; cocky or comedian – you decide! Click here
La Source-gate: Drivers Have Their Say
Felipe Massa:
“What happened is that he took an advantage by cutting the chicane.
“You can ask drivers how many overtaking moves you see there.
“None between the last corner and the first corner, because there is such a small straight there. That is my opinion and it doesn’t change.”
Sebastian Bourdais:
“I think it is very clear, the rules are clear. Maybe the penalty is very hard but he has made the same mistake twice, he did in Magny-Cours and he did it in Spa.
“I don’t really understand why there is such a mess around it, there is a rule book and everyone has to obey the same thing. The penalty is rough but it is up to you to give the position back.”
Nico Rosberg:
“He did have an advantage because he would not be so close if he had not cut the chicane but the penalty was a bit harsh as it did not have a big result in the end result. But it won’t stop us from trying to attack definitely.”
Jarno Trulli:
“I agree the penalty was quite big but I am not a steward. But it is also clear he got an advantage.
“The rules are very clear, if you cut the chicane you get the advantage you have to drop it and lose advantage, in Lewis’ case he should not attack in the first corner that is it.
“This last chicane, they have a lot of run off area they give you more chance to attack because in case of mistake you won’t end up in wall or gravel. We have more chance to overtake.”
Giancarlo Fisichella:
“I just seen pictures so difficult for me to say if it is right or not what happened. For sure maybe he took a small advantage that is why he had the possibility to overtake him again in braking for Turn One, but obviously 25 seconds penalty was quite a strong penalty.”
La Source-gate: McLaren Appeal to be Heard this Month
Hamilton's penalty
The FIA, Formula One’s governing body, announced on Wednesday that the appeal against McLaren-Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton’s demotion at Spa-Francorchamps, from first to third, is likely to be heard before the end of this month.
She said the Paris-based governing body is hopeful the International Court of Appeal can deal with the matter before the teams head out to Singapore, for the first-ever night grand prix late in September, thus enabling the title fight to continue with both contenders clear of their positions.
23-year-old Briton Hamilton gave his first press interview since the Belgian grand prix.
He said he still feels he did nothing wrong during his fight for the lead with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, in what has become known as La Source-gate.
“If I had done something wrong, I would be the first to admit it. As a sportsman, this is something that is very important for me.”
He said it did not take long to reflect on the news that the three-man panel of stewards had annuled his race win.
“I do not feel guilty so there is nothing that I have to digest. It would be another matter if I had let my team down, but I did not.
“I feel like I deserve ten points instead of six. On the other hand it could have been zero if I had damaged my car in the difficult conditions.”
Neal’s View: Does anyone, seriously, expected the FIA to make a correct decision? The organisation has lost much credibility over its continued bias towards Ferrari.
Belgian Grand Prix: Steward denies conspiracy
Hamilton's Spa Penalty
One of the stewards at last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, Kenyan Surinder Thathi, came out in the face of growing public discontent and said that there was no conspiracy against the McLaren team.
“There was no conspiracy against anybody, McLaren included. We acted professionally and within the FIA rules. Hamilton took a short cut inside of the corner while off the track.”
Formula One legends, from Jackie Stewert to Nikki Lauda have claimed Hamilton was a victim of a conspiracy against McLaren after the stewards took the view he had cut the chicane and gained an unfair advantage over Ferrari’s world champion Kimi Raikkonen. This is depite the large amount of video evidence, telemetry, and independent FIA voices, such as Race Director Charlie Whiting supporting McLaren’s view.
“We had a choice to mete out a time penalty or 10 grid places in the next Grand Prix race. We opted for the former and handed a time penalty of 25 seconds.”
“I know I am a very unpopular person in the United Kingdom now, but then I was doing my job and I know I acted professionally.”
Neal’s View: You know somethings seriously unpopular when a steward publically comes out to defend the decision. Alan Donnelly’s position as FIA representative amongst the stewards is questionable, bearing in mind he has no motorsports experience and has a substantial private business, which lists amongst it’s clients, the FIA and Ferrari. Of course he has no bias! And the fact that only the Ferrari drivers (but not their boss), McLaren-hating Fernando Alonso, and the stewards see the penalty as wrong.
19,000+ Formula One Fans Sign Petition Against Penalty
Formula One fans have taken their disgust at the stewards decision at the recent Belgian Grand Prix, La Source-gate, to demote Lewis Hamilton to third by setting up an online petition to send to the FIA.
http://www.petitiononline.com/belgp08/petition.html
Formula One Blog cannot tell you which way to vote, but our readership seems to be singing from the same hymnsheet, with only one comment saying Hamilton got what he deserved.
UPDATE: 09/09/08 22:49 (BST): 27,982 signatures
UPDATE: 10/09/08 11:05 (BST): 32,226 signatures
Belgian Grand Prix: Hamilton Penalty Update
McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton received support from an unlikely ally, when Stefano Domenicali, boss of the Ferrari team, has come out and called Hamilton’s pass on Raikkonen, which resulted in a penalty dropping him from first to third, a “racing incident”.
Former three-times World Champion Nikki Lauda added his voice to the raft of people supporting Hamilton, in what should now be called La Source-gate. The Austrian added:
“This is the worst judgment in the history of F1, the most perverted judgment I have ever seen.”
The other news regarding the incident surrounds whether an appeal will be heard. As the 25-second penalty was technically a “drive-through penalty”, McLaren may not be allowed to have their appeal heard. Should they get their day in court, it will likely be a month away, after two of the last five rounds of the World Championship. Fans will have to wait until October for this weekend’s results to stand.
Formula One Blog will continue to update the Championship Standings at other tracks, but will exclude the result from Spa as it is still only a provisional result. The Belgian Grand Prix results will be included only once they have been confirmed by the FIA.
Alonso Signs Shock 3-Year BMW Deal Whilst Honda Wait
Fernando Alonso
Paddock gossip at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix revolved around Renault driver Fernando Alonso’s future.
Italian broadcaster Sky reported that the Spaniard had signed a three-year deal with Hinwil-based squad, BMW-Sauber.
However, Alonso remained tight-lipped about his future, revealing:
“For weeks I have said I will only consider my future at the end of September. My priority at the moment is to help Renault to fourth place in the constructors’ championship.”
At the same time, Honda team chief Ross Brawn has revealed that his Brackley-based squad are still trying to tempt Alonso to the Japanese marque.
“We are just waiting.
“My view is that he’s the best driver in Formula 1 at the moment and we’re happy to wait and hope that he makes a positive decision for us.
“The reason I think he’s the best driver in Formula 1 is balance of experience and ability.
“To me there are three very quick drivers [Hamilton, Raikkonen, Alonso] who have established themselves so far in Formula 1.”
Neal’s View: Alonso has been suspected to have a Ferrari deal in place for 2010. Raikkonen looked interested in the sport at Spa-Francorchamps, so maybe he is not ready to retire yet. If he has signed for BMW-Sauber, then this cannot be the case. Honda will not confirm Rubens Barrichello until they know that Alonso is not available. If Alonso wants a one-year deal before joining Ferrari in 2010, Honda is his only option.
-
Recent Comments
Peter Zambos on Renault Support Single Engine… Peter Zambos on Formula One Needs Shorter… chicson on Formula One Needs Shorter… Eeckhard on Singapore Grand Prix: Overtaki… Shafwan on Alonso To Announce 2009 Team…
