[SPOILER] 2008 France GP

[Carbodiox]

Let's see what is going to happen

MAGNY-COURS



Practice 1

T L
1. Massa (Ferrari) 1.15,306 (22)
2. Hamilton (McLaren) 1.16,002 (22)
3. Kovalainen (McLaren) 1.16,055 (20)
4. Raikkonen (Ferrari) 1.16,073 (21)
5. Kubica (BMW Sauber) 1.16,377 (19)
6. Alonso (Renault) 1.16,400 (23)
7. Trulli (Toyota) 1.16,758 (32)
8. Vettel (Toro Rosso) 1.16,838 (27)
9. Heidfeld (BMW Sauber) 1.16,870 (21)
10. Glock (Toyota) 1.16,886 (31)
11. Piquet (Renault) 1.17,063 (31)
12. Coulthard (Red Bull) 1.17,234 (21)
13. Webber (Red Bull) 1.17,269 (22)
14. Rosberg (Williams) 1.17,394 (30)
15. Barrichello (Honda) 1.17,491 (25)
16. Bourdais (Toro Rosso) 1.17,683 (27)
17. Nakajima (Williams) 1.17,696 (25)
18. Button (Honda) 1.17,928 (21)
19. Fisichella (Force India) 1.18,072 (27)
20. Sutil (Force India) 1.18,673 (13)


Couple of challenges in front of couple of drivers.

Kimi and Massa want cut this humiliating BMW thing out.
Kubica want's to humiliate silver and red cars, ... and Nick
Nick doesn't want to be humiliated
Hamilton no comments
Alonso wants just make it to the end without humiliation
Kovalainen he just looks like he's seriously not well

We shall see

[Mattk]

I love watching the French Grand Prix. Magny Cours is one of the best circuits. I may even stay up for it.

I'm interested to see how Heidfeld goes. He's been upstaged too often by Kubica this year. I'm sure he'll come out aggressive.

[styla21]

This is shaping up as an interesting race! Not much can be interpreted from practice though.. Race is wide open.

[Carbodiox]

2nd Practice

Laps completed in brackets

1. Alonso (Renault) 1.15,778 (37)
2. Massa (Ferrari) 1.15,854 (24)
3. Raikkonen (Ferrari) 1.15,999 (42)
4. Hamilton (McLaren) 1.16,232 (29)
5. Vettel (Toro Rosso) 1.16,298 (42)
6. Kubica (BMW Sauber) 1.16,317 (35)
7. Kovalainen (McLaren) 1.16,340 (36)
8. Heidfeld (BMW Sauber) 1.16,458 (43)
9. Piquet (Renault) 1.16,543 (39)
10. Coulthard (Red Bull) 1.16,572 (36)
11. Rosberg (Williams) 1.16,682 (42)
12. Trulli (Toyota) 1.16,743 (43)
13. Bourdais (Toro Rosso) 1.16,758 (42)
14. Nakajima (Williams) 1.17,002 (32)
15. Glock (Toyota) 1.17,092 (39)
16. Webber (Red Bull) 1.17,106 (38)
17. Button (Honda) 1.17,244 (37)
18. Fisichella (Force India) 1.17,394 (42)
19. Barrichello (Honda) 1.17,591 (27)
20. Sutil (Force India) 1.17,868 (33)

Can't wait..

[Carbodiox]

Qualifying results

Times
01 K. Räikkönen Ferrari 1:16.449
02 F. Massa Ferrari 1:16.490
03 L. Hamilton McLaren 1:16.693
04 F. Alonso Renault 1:16.840
05 J. Trulli Toyota 1:16.840
06 H. Kovalainen McLaren 1:16.944
07 R. Kubica BMW 1:17.037
08 M. Webber Red Bull 1:17.233
09 D. Coulthard Red Bull 1:17.426
10 T. Glock Toyota 1:17.596
11 N. Piquet jr. Renault 1:15.770
12 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:15.786
13 S. Vettel Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:15.816
14 S. Bourdais Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:16.045
15 N. Rosberg Williams 1:16.235
16 K. Nakajima Williams 1:16.243
17 J. Button Honda 1:16.306
18 R. Barrichello Honda 1:16.330
19 G. Fisichella Force India F1 1:16.971
20 A. Sutil Force India F1 1:17.053

[turpija]

Heikki get 5 place penalty for blocking webber
Lewis and Rosberg get 10 from Canada

So Alonso is 3rd, Trulli 4th, and Kubica 5th

[styla21]

As a BMW fan, I have to admit only mild flag waving was going on at my place during qualifying... We were nowhere to be seen?
Hoping for an interesting race, and good to see a varied top 10!

Any update on the weather? That could make things interesting!

[turpija]

well there are some predictions that say thunderstorms, but I sceptic about it.
there seems to be a lot of wind which can make an unpredictible weather, there are some rumors that maybe bmw's are went for rain setups and that's why they are so slow in qualy's, it's a big risk but if there will be rain maybe bmw can get another victory.

[Kissyface]

If Lewis can catch up to Heikki (a good start could make that happen pretty quick) they should be able to use fuel strategy to at least beat Toyota and hopefully BMW. Some seem BMW's drop in performance this weekend is due to the design of the car which lacks overall aerodynamic drag.
[SPOILER]
*POST RACE COMMENT FOLLOWS*

It was an interesting race no doubt about that. I am really enjoying F1 again after the Michael Schumacher/Ferrari years where I got kind of bored as I wasn't a fan of Fernando Alonso, Jacques Villenueve struggled to stay mid-field, and the frustration waiting for JPM to win races. I got excited about F1 again watching Lewis Hamilton last year and the rest of the show has been better than I've seen it in the last 10 years.

[Pokiou]

stupid race.. FIAERRARI!!! fucking stupid.. araggh im outta here :/

[styla21]

Good post Kissy.
Some great racing within this race! I would have bet money with 10 laps to go that Heiki could have taken Trulli.. He was all over him. So props to Trulli for holding his own and picking up the podium.

I was surprised Kimi's car didn't explode.. An exhaust pipe at 1000 degrees burning through your car for half the race, and still coming second is insanity! All things considered, Kimi must be relieved with the 8 points!

BMW had a random race for them - I'm hoping everything goes easier at Bridgestone!

POK: Are you a Mclaren fan?

[Pokiou]

yes i am ...

[Kissyface]

I was really impressed by Trulli's drive today. He kept his line even while Kovaleinen was and bouncing off like a bouncy ball. I've always held a deep regard for his raciness. He's never been wanting in good, even great cars but it seemed to me like he never has allowed to stay with one team long enough to build a powerful family-like race-contesting unit.

I'm predicting a tight struggle between the Ferrari drivers from here on out with McLaren picking up first dibs for scraps followed by BMW, Renault, RBR and Toyota. Sad to say Williams-Toyota just don't seem to be in this class of second-tier teams and it's rather depressing. Torro Rosso are outperforming them now.

Believe me, I hope I'm NOT right about my predictions and it's close between as many teams/drivers as possible but Raikkonen, Massa and their very reliable, quick machine look as though they have it all to lose.

[arguapacha]

The race was awesome. Not with the leaders, although the exhaust pipe in the Ferrari was quite a shock. It was better in the midfield... Hamilton was nowhere... Kovalainen... well.. half a season has gone by and he still can't get the feeling of the McLaren. Trulli just got it right... I am so glad for him, as he deserved that podium like no one else. Toyota is improving, and Honda still lacks performance... seems like a lot of money and a great mastermind like Brawn just can't cut it... let's wait until the next year.

[thiago]

Originally Posted by Pokiou stupid race.. FIAERRARI!!! fucking stupid.. araggh im outta here :/

Ferrari rulez!!!!!!!!!

Da-lhe Massa! Porra!