Official F1/Motorsport thread

[PeteJ]

The FIA would be incredibly stupid to give the title to LH after the event.

In fact, if Williams are to be DQ from the race they are more likely to have points removed from the next season than this.

[MarkyB]

Gutted for hamilton, although the team let him down in china.

Don't think his start was bad, more the fact that Raikkonen and Alonso had to go for it, and took him at the start, obviously his mistake to try and get past alonso on the next corner when all he needed to do was stay on his tail. He would have passed alonso at some point during the race, he was much slower than Hamilton.

Mechanical problem killed his chances off, that and dodgy race tactics by maclaren, but hindsight is perfect!

Raikkonen is fulling deserving, and this should be his second title, he has been very unlucky in the past, and was dominant the last couple of races, beat massa straight up for first today as well, didn't need the team orders to come in to play.

Hamilton has done brilliantly for his rookie season and will undoubtly win atleast a couple of titles during his career.

Glad Alonso didn't win, maclaren will do well to be rid of him. Would love to see someone like Button, Kubica, Kouvelinen et al at Maclaren with Hamilton next season. Someone who will be awesome in a top car. Sato at maclaren would be awesome to watch even though it wouldn't happen.

[Largo]

Did you know that kimi's racing chair is actually retro fit with an electric shock device, that ferrari can activate when he wins a race, causing kimi to flail his arms around in the air and giving the impression that hes actually cheering emotionally.

[adam_the_browndog]

We had the radio on at work, it was great.

I'm really happy that raikkonen won. Frankly deserved it more than LH and Alonso.

[MonkeyJuggleDX]

Glad Alonso didn't win, maclaren will do well to be rid of him. Would love to see someone like Button, Kubica, Kouvelinen et al at Maclaren with Hamilton next season. Someone who will be awesome in a top car. Sato at maclaren would be awesome to watch even though it wouldn't happen.

Hamilton and Kubica would be great. An Englishman and a Pole on the same team.... If either won I would be happy!

[adam_the_browndog]

i have a feeling that kovi possibly might get a chance with MCL

if alonso moves to renault, they will defo get piquet racing along side him

[Roddie]

Heidfeld, Kubica and Rosberg have been cleared of any wrong-doing in the fuel sample problems.

[Richard.John]

It would be unjust to strip KR. Good to see that sense has prevailed. Can you imagine Bernie's face after the race, considering what he said about who he feels should be the champ.

I think Nando is probably smiling on the inside as though he didn't take the title, he came very close today. I suppose for him the most important part was that LH didn't get the bragging rights and the number 1 on his car, considering their troubled relationship this year.

The amazing thing is the what ifs. If LH had not retired in China, he would've been champ. If FA had not been penalised in Hungary then maybe he woudl've done it.

You have to say that Kimi is favourite for next year as well now. Roll on March 2008!!!!!!

EDIT: It seems that Mclaren are going to appeal to the FIA over the decision not to disqualify the drivers with fuel irregularities. Given how popular the team is with the FIA right now, it will be interesting to see what happens.

RD must be suicidal as the teams best season in years has resulted in no silverware. How they managed to fumble it is amazing.

[Roddie]

After being asked 3 times, Bernie said at different times he wanted Hamilton, Alonso and Raikkonen to win BTW..

And how can you say Kimi is favourite for next year? We don't know even know where all the drivers are going to be. Considering the end result of the championship was 110, 109, 109, it could hardly have been any closer so it seems pretty pointless to say anyone is favourite to win next year already.

[Duddyroar]

After being asked 3 times, Bernie said at different times he wanted Hamilton, Alonso and Raikkonen to win BTW..

And how can you say Kimi is favourite for next year? We don't know even know where all the drivers are going to be. Considering the end result of the championship was 110, 109, 109, it could hardly have been any closer so it seems pretty pointless to say anyone is favourite to win next year already.

Gotta admit I agree with that. This was a really close championship, and anything could happen next year. It all obviously depends on which team can put together a championship-winning car, which is something you can't predict this early on.

Hopefully it will be as close next season!

[CMcK]

I think next season will be the closest for years. BMW, Honda and Red Bull are all looking stronger and Honda especially must be feeling embarrassed after this season. Red Bull have steadily improved this year and the prospect of a new Newey designed car with Renualt engines must have DC and Webber foaming at the mouth.
DC FTW!

[Alastair]

And how can you say Kimi is favourite for next year?

Without wanting to answer for Richard.John:

Because Kimi simply is the best driver in the field and next year McL wont have a raft of Ferrari tech details to build their car from. So long as Ferrari build a reliable car I too would put Kimi favourite. Where Alonso goes will be a factor as to how competitive he is but unless he stays at McL I doubt he'll be fighting for the title in the first half of the season.

Mr Holliss, I'm happy too, Kimi deserves the title after winning more races this season and more points in the later half of the season too. I can't stand McL and their tactics any more, disputing the marshalls ruling on the fuel issue is petty and would be a terrible way to win a championship, why everything in F1 has to be decided in a courtroom now is beyond me.

The season will be forever tarnished for me though due to all the ridiculous politics and back stabbing, should have been one of the best ever but all it'll go down in history as is one of the most controversial.

[Roddie]

The point is, we don't know how the cars will compare to each other yet and the championship could easily have gone to any 3 of the drivers yesterday; there's no substance in any 'favourite' just now.

[VR46]

To think Kimi was 17 points behind Hamilton with two races to go puts it all in perspective really. Just shows you can never give up - even when things look beyond your reach.

The fuel situation - the "illegal" cars didn't gain anything performance wise, but McLaren are bound to play on the line of rules are rules blah blah blah. If it had been the other way round Ferrari would have appealed in an instant so all is fair in love and war as they say.

Ron Denis must be so gutted, no silverware and a £50 million fine to boot, don't suppose his sponsors are overjoyed either.

Just need Alonso to confirm where he'll be next year and everything will slot into place.

[Alastair]

The point is, we don't know how the cars will compare to each other yet and the championship could easily have gone to any 3 of the drivers yesterday; there's no substance in any 'favourite' just now.

What about the fact that Ferrari make consistently top 2 cars and Kimi is one of the best 2 drivers (if not the best)? Easy to call him as favourite for me, just as he was at the tail end of last year for this season.