Official F1/Motorsport thread

[Richard.John]

Looks like it could be all over for KR in the WDC, considering the fact that FA took 2nd place today. FA just has to finish 3rd in the next race to take the crown.

[Kieran76]

I was hoping that some nutter would take out Alonso, but instead he went into the back of Michael.

[mt50]

I see that tickets for Silverstone next year have just gone on sale.

Has anyone been before and sat in the Silver section? If so, is it best to be in the Bridge or Farm grandstand? Important thing is being able to see a TV screen!

Thanks for any advice!

Luffield Terrace is a good place to be, as you can see down the pit straight(if you are right at the end of Luffield Terrace)and down to priory.
last time i went i was on the pit straight which isn't really a good place to see the race IMO.

[SaijoBob]

Things looking increasingly grim for Sato. Loved Schumacher walking over to him in the car and using some rather experssive body language.

Jordan's gamble on using wet tyres for qualifying didn't seem to pay off so well in the end.

[Richard.John]

I don't think even Honda can save him now tbh. Shame really as he's a nice guy but seems to be out of his depth in F1. It happens though, I mean a driver who does really well in lower formulae, comes into F1 as the second coming and then spends his career as a backmarker. Jan Magnussen springs to mind. The next Senna, they said. Yes of course.(scratches chin)

[Richard.John]

Actually Sato could be the right man at the wrong time. The current F1 regs reward smooth driving and consistency in as much as race accidents resulting in a DNF now cost you your grid slot for the next race. Drivers are now far more likely to overtake in the pits than risk an on track bumper car session.

[Alastair]

Finally a wet(ish) race.

Glad to see Kimi win again but I really think McLaren have thrown away the championship for KR this year with all the reliability problems (10 place penalties) earlier in the year. Tbh Kimi has been a better driver than Alonso this year but I really doubt he can win it now.

Montoya must be mad again and I'm surprised Ron Dennis wasn't in tears!!

Both Sato and Pizzonia officially to blame for the crashes:

http://www.formula1.com/race/news/3586/747.html

Sato down 10 places in Brazil and Pizzonia fined. Don't know why the punishment is different for each driver really. Did they used to fine or punish drivers for a racing accident (like Sato & MSchu)? I can understand the Pizz one as he was un-lapping himself so should have been super careful but Sato was just caught napping. It's not a driving test out there so they should just shout at each other or have a fight about it or something!

[Richard.John]

The reason that Pizza boy wasn't slapped with a 10 place penalty is because he is a stand in for Heidfeld.

[Alastair]

Looks like he's going to be a long term stand in though:

Nick Heidfeld has reportedly suffered a shoulder injury in a cycling accident while recuperating from concussion at home in Switzerland.

The Williams driver was hit by a motorbike while cycling earlier today, according to the Autosport website.

Details

[Richard.John]

Yep I noticed that too, but it hadn't been annouced when Pizza got his slap so he escaped the penalty. Of course rumours are flying around that Nick has fallen out of favour with Williams due to his reported switch to Beemer, and this is their way of punishing him. Probably total BS of course, but it keeps the F1 hacks finger's busy.

[Alastair]

I was thinking exactly the same actually. Seems a little unlikely that he needed 2 weeks off for a concusion and now he's had a 'shoulder injury'. Would of thought he'd be a little more careful.

Either way, seems doubtful he'll be back for more than the last race of the season if at all.

Team line up should be interesting next year:
Sauber -> BMW
Minardi -> Red Bull mkII
Jordan -> Midland

Lots of change and shiney new cars

[VR46]

I was thinking exactly the same actually. Seems a little unlikely that he needed 2 weeks off for a concusion

there was only one week between Monza and Spa

[Alastair]

Don't be picky You know what I mean!!

[Alastair]

Just remembered about 'Angus'. Who's he then and what happened to Jim. I didn't watch the quali so there may have been some sort of mention of it in that show but I thought it odd that he just started the show without any mention of Jim.

[Darwock]

I was puzzled by that as well, but I saw in the TV guide that there was a big boxing match on in Cardiff and Jim was presenting that.

Before noticing this I thought it was a bit harsh that they'd just swapped him out like that, don't like the guy but he deserves better!