*** 2007 Turkish GP ***

[blue8]

Practice 1 Times:
01 K. Räikkönen Ferrari 1:27.988 22 laps
02 F. Massa Ferrari 1:28.391 20 laps
03 F. Al0nso McLaren 1:29.222 20 laps
04 L. Hamilton McLaren 1:29.261 10 laps
05 H. Kovalainen Renault 1:29.346 19 laps
06 N. Rosberg Williams 1:29.403 23 laps
07 R. Schumacher Toyota 1:29.414 24 laps
08 G. Fisichella Renault 1:29.541 19 laps
09 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:29.641 20 laps
10 J. Trulli Toyota 1:29.685 26 laps
11 R. Kubica BMW 1:29.710 23 laps
12 A. Davidson Super Aguri 1:30.384 17 laps
13 D. Coulthard Red Bull 1:30.398 23 laps
14 J. Button Honda 1:30.483 17 laps
15 R. Barrichello Honda 1:30.580 25 laps
16 V. Liuzzi Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:30.612 21 laps
17 T. Sato Super Aguri 1:30.624 15 laps
18 A. Wurz Williams 1:30.876 12 laps
19 M. Webber Red Bull 1:30.917 22 laps
20 S. Vettel Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:31.383 22 laps
21 A. Sutil Spyker F1 1:31.445 31 laps
22 S. Yamamoto Spyker F1 1:32.270 35 laps

Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa offered an early suggestion Ferrari are ready to bounce back at the Turkish Grand Prix. The duo were comfortably quickest around the 5.338km Istanbul Park circuit in first practice, with Raikkonen in particular dominant. The flying Finn, who currently trails world championship leader Lewis Hamilton by 20 points in the drivers' standings with six races remaining, blazed a time of one minute 27.988secs. Massa, a point further adrift, was just over 0.4secs down on his team-mate in the searing Istanbul heat, with track temperature 42 degrees Celsius and air temperature at 33 degrees Celsius. Fernando Alonso, who has apparently cleared the air with McLaren team-mate Hamilton following their feud at the last race in Budapest, was best of the rest. But the 26-year-old Spaniard, who trails Hamilton by seven points, was still 1.242secs adrift of Raikkonen, with the young Briton a further fraction off the pace. Behind the leading quartet, the next seven drivers were separated by less than 0.4secs, led by the Renault of Heikki Kovalainen. Nico Rosberg was sixth quickest for Williams, followed by Ralf Schumacher in his Toyota, Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault), Nick Heidfeld, Jarno Trulli (Toyota) and Robert Kubica. Anthony Davidson was 12th for Super Aguri, but 2.396secs behind, followed by fellow Britons David Coulthard for Red Bull Racing and the Honda of Jenson Button. Coulthard's 90-minute session ended in dramatic fashion when his car caught fire, forcing the Scot to stop on track and allow marshals to douse the flames.

[RAMMIUS]

... and he just said that the team don't even let him out of the hotel

:roflmao:

bad spaniard, bad

[blue8]

^McLaren has really kept both drivers out of the public even in the recent press conference. Reportedly though, they have reached a peace accord. For all we know, it could simply be just to please the sponsors...

Practice 2 Times:
01 L. Hamilton McLaren 1:28.469 28 laps
02 K. Räikkönen Ferrari 1:28.762 21 laps
03 R. Schumacher Toyota 1:28.773 23 laps
04 J. Trulli Toyota 1:28.874 28 laps
05 F. Massa Ferrari 1:28.884 25 laps
06 F. Al0nso McLaren 1:28.947 24 laps
07 N. Rosberg Williams 1:28.995 27 laps
08 H. Kovalainen Renault 1:29.025 28 laps
09 A. Wurz Williams 1:29.093 27 laps
10 R. Kubica BMW 1:29.368 31 laps
11 D. Coulthard Red Bull 1:29.435 12 laps
12 G. Fisichella Renault 1:29.456 28 laps
13 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:29.792 30 laps
14 J. Button Honda 1:29.945 26 laps
15 R. Barrichello Honda 1:30.055 31 laps
16 T. Sato Super Aguri 1:30.104 27 laps
17 M. Webber Red Bull 1:30.315 25 laps
18 A. Davidson Super Aguri 1:30.530 24 laps
19 V. Liuzzi Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:30.702 24 laps
20 S. Vettel Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:30.801 16 laps
21 A. Sutil Spyker F1 1:31.153 32 laps
22 S. Yamamoto Spyker F1 1:31.175 32 laps

Lewis Hamilton evened the score with Ferrari in Friday's second practice session for the Turkish GP. The McLaren driver was the fastest man on track in a session that was halted when a drain-cover came loose. The session was halted for 28 minutes as workmen, overseen by race director Charlie Whiting, re-fitted and sealed the cover at Turn 10 of the Istanbul Park circuit. At the end of the 90-minute run it was Hamilton who finished on top of the timesheets, although Kimi Raikkonen had earlier set the fastest time of the day. Championship leader Hamilton, again on speaking terms with McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso after their fallout during the Hungarian Grand Prix, clocked one minute 28.469secs for the 5.338km track. That, however, was half a second slower than the fastest lap from Ferrari star Raikkonen in the first practice session of 1min 27.988secs. Raikkonen and team-mate Felipe Massa dominated the morning period, with Fernando Alonso and Hamilton 1.2secs adrift such was the pace of the scarlet machines. Raikkonen, 20 points behind Hamilton in the standings, was forced to settle for the second quickest time in the afternoon as it was clear his car was running a heavier fuel load. The Finn finished 0.293secs behind Hamilton, with the Toyotas of Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli third and fourth, while Massa was fifth and Alonso sixth. The top 12 drivers were all within one second of one another, with David Coulthard 11th for Red Bull Racing and back on track after a fire brought a dramatic end to the first session for the Scot. Jenson Button was 14th for Honda, with Anthony Davidson 18th in a Super Aguri he buried in a tyre wall at turn three, five minutes before the end.

[Mattk]

Wow, the Toyotas are going all out.

[blue8]

Practice 3 Times:
01 L. Hamilton McLaren 1:27.325 12 laps
02 F. Massa Ferrari 1:27.366 15 laps
03 K. Räikkönen Ferrari 1:27.506 16 laps
04 F. Alonso McLaren 1:27.743 13 laps
05 N. Rosberg Williams 1:28.056 16 laps
06 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:28.184 18 laps
07 R. Kubica BMW 1:28.224 21 laps
08 G. Fisichella Renault 1:28.261 20 laps
09 M. Webber Red Bull 1:28.337 15 laps
10 H. Kovalainen Renault 1:28.364 17 laps
11 A. Wurz Williams 1:28.413 16 laps
12 D. Coulthard Red Bull 1:28.448 14 laps
13 R. Schumacher Toyota 1:28.481 20 laps
14 J. Trulli Toyota 1:28.520 21 laps
15 J. Button Honda 1:28.548 16 laps
16 R. Barrichello Honda 1:28.715 18 laps
17 A. Davidson Super Aguri 1:28.755 16 laps
18 V. Liuzzi Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:28.937 20 laps
19 S. Vettel Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:29.408 19 laps
20 T. Sato Super Aguri 1:29.436 14 laps
21 A. Sutil Spyker F1 1:30.044 22 laps
22 S. Yamamoto Spyker F1 1:30.712 21 laps

Qualifying:
01 F. Massa Ferrari 1:27.329
02 L. Hamilton McLaren 1:27.373
03 K. Räikkönen Ferrari 1:27.546
04 F. Alonso McLaren 1:27.574
05 R. Kubica BMW 1:27.722
06 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:28.037
07 H. Kovalainen Renault 1:28.491
08 N. Rosberg Williams 1:28.501
09 J. Trulli Toyota 1:28.740
10 G. Fisichella Renault 1:29.322
11 A. Davidson Super Aguri 1:28.002
12 M. Webber Red Bull 1:28.013
13 D. Coulthard Red Bull 1:28.100
14 R. Barrichello Honda 1:28.188
15 J. Button Honda 1:28.220
16 A. Wurz Williams 1:28.390
17 V. Liuzzi Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:28.798
18 R. Schumacher Toyota 1:28.809
19 T. Sato Super Aguri 1:28.953
20 S. Vettel Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:29.408
21 A. Sutil Spyker F1 1:29.861
22 S. Yamamoto Spyker F1 1:31.479

And he's at it again...

Al0nso Feels Unappreciated by McLaren It seems all is still not well at McLaren with Fernando Alonso claiming the team doesn't appreciate everything he's done for them. The World Champion has been at the centre of a great deal of controversy of late, fighting with both his team and his team-mate Lewis Hamilton. But while the issues with Hamilton were reportedly ironed out at a meeting at an Istanbul hotel on Thursday, it appears his problems with the team continue. The Spaniard has come out saying that McLaren don't appreciate how he's turned them from a team unable to win a grand prix last year into one capable of claiming both World titles this season. "That is always very clear in any team, you know, to have equal opportunities to everybody and to have an equal car to your team-mate," he told BBC Radio. "What I think sometimes, and what I asked the team, is that I gave the team a lot. "When I arrived in December, I remember the car I drove; I remember the results they had in 2006. "And now, you know, I brought to the team half a second, six tenths, whatever, and I don't see anything giving me back. "So that's the only thing." But despite this the double World Champion recently insisted that he's not leaving McLaren at the end of the season. "I have a long-term contract with McLaren and at the moment I am not in any hurry to move," he said.

[nthfinity]

There is one problem with what Alonso says

"And now, you know, I brought to the team half a second, six tenths, whatever, and I don't see anything giving me back. "I have a long-term contract with McLaren and at the moment I am not in any hurry to move," he said.

Looks like Fernando Alonso is being given back A LOT to me.

[blue8]

Even Ron Dennis is getting sick of Al0nso...

Dennis, however, was reluctant to assign too much of the championship leading team's improvement compared to 2006, when McLaren failed to record a race win, solely to 26-year-old Alonso. "It is impossible to identify who has contributed what to how fast our racing car goes," he told reporters in Istanbul. Dennis also had some advice for F1's press when analysing the media briefings given by Alonso. "Don't hang so much on to one piece of information presented accurately by Fernando, but out of context in the bigger picture," he insisted.

Actually just watched qualifying and it was very exciting especially among the top 4 drivers! McLaren were already celebrating Hamilton's P1 when suddenly, Massa snatched pole just milliseconds after. Would have loved to see their reaction BMW Sauber were firmly planted on the third row. In Q2, Kubica and Heidfeld set a 1:27.253 to the delight of the team. Anyway, it should be a great race tomorrow!!!

[Mattk]

Yeah, I did something I haven't done for a while last night, and stayed up to watch the qualifying. The end was very exciting, with the top four all clamouring to get the top spot. Massa and Hamilton seemed to be so much more assured than Raikonnen and Alonso. Another strong result for the BMWs, but disappointing for Ralf Schumacher. The surprise was the strong performance of Davidson, who out-qualified the Honda factory team in his Super Aguri.

[sameerrao]

Looks like an exciting race for us tomorrow. Go Kimi!

Excellent job by Davidson who beat the factory Hondas, all four Red Bulls among others!

[DeMoN]

Great both guys in my team start in the dirty side. Please lord let Kimi get distracted or his blistering fast start will put him into 2nd by the first corner :cry:

[novass]

Originally Posted by blue8 McLaren were already celebrating Hamilton's P1 when suddenly, Massa snatched pole just milliseconds after. Would have loved to see their reaction

I was thinking the same thing LOL That was some great timing. As soon as they showed the cheering in the McLaren pits, Massa's time popped up with a nice little "1" beside it :mregreen:

Should be an interesting race tomorrow.

[nthfinity]

alonso is running 19 sec back... "its a good time to remind you, he is a 2x world champion, and brought 1/2 a second to the team, and he gets nothing in return"

LOL, sometimes I love the Speed TV guys You know they are absolutely hitting teh Adult Beverages

[blue8]

Ferrari 1-2, Massa-Raikkonen!!!
Results
1 F. Massa Ferrari 1:31:00.000
2 K. Räikkönen Ferrari + 2.002
3 F. Al0nso McLaren + 26.001
4 N. Heidfeld BMW + 39.006
5 L. Hamilton McLaren + 45.000
6 H. Kovalainen Renault + 46.001
7 N. Rosberg Williams + 55.007
8 R. Kubica BMW + 56.007
9 G. Fisichella Renault + 59.004
10 D. Coulthard Red Bull + 1:11.005
11 A. Wurz Williams + 1:19.006
12 R. Schumacher Toyota + 1 laps
13 J. Button Honda + 1 laps
14 A. Davidson Super Aguri + 1 laps
15 V. Liuzzi Scuderia Toro Rosso + 1 laps
16 J. Trulli Toyota + 1 laps
17 R. Barrichello Honda + 1 laps
18 T. Sato Super Aguri + 1 laps
19 S. Vettel Scuderia Toro Rosso + 1 laps
20 S. Yamamoto Spyker F1 + 2 laps
21 A. Sutil Spyker F1 + 5 laps
Did not finish
22 M. Webber Red Bull + 0.000

Only 1 retirement for the fairly uneventful race. Great race for Ferrari though! The gap to McLaren is down to just 11 points. And for the first time this year, the podium finishers were the ones I predicted before the start of the season to be the top 3 drivers

Fisichella and Ralf should be very worried about getting a seat for next year...

[RAMMIUS]

[DeMoN]

What a crap race, thats all I'll say.