BoMac
Self-righteous bullshitter
Forza Ferrari!!
BonoManiac said:
What a race! I'm speechless, but needless to say extremely happy that Raikkonen is the new world champion!
DaveC said:I watched the first hour until football started. What happened after that?
Fuel probe casts doubt over title result
Sunday, 21, October, 2007, 23:22
Kimi Raikkonen’s Formula 1 world championship may be in jeopardy after Brazilian Grand Prix stewards launched an investigation into Williams and BMW Sauber for technical irregularities.
Representatives of the two teams were summoned to the stewards’ office on Sunday evening after fuel samples taken from the cars of Nico Rosberg (Williams), Robert Kubica (BMW) and Nick Heidfeld (BMW) – which finished in fourth, fifth and sixth places respectively – showed temperatures outside the permitted range.
Were the three drivers to be disqualified from Sunday’s race, Lewis Hamilton would be promoted to fourth place – giving him, and not Raikkonen, the title.
Article 6.5.5 of the Formula 1 technical regulations stipulates that “no fuel on board the car may be more than 10 degrees centigrade below ambient temperature”.
FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer confirmed in a statement that the Williams and BMW fuel temperatures had deviated by more than that amount in the course of the race.
Stewards confirm Brazilian GP result
Monday, 22, October, 2007, 01:10
Kimi Raikkonen has been confirmed as the 2007 Formula 1 world champion after Brazilian Grand Prix stewards upheld the original race result.
After lengthy deliberations at Interlagos on Sunday evening, the stewards decided not to penalise Williams and BMW Sauber for alleged technical irregularities.
McLaren appeal puts title result in doubt
Monday, 22, October, 2007, 03:24
The outcome of the 2007 drivers’ world championship has been plunged into renewed doubt after McLaren declared its intention to appeal the decision of the Interlagos stewards not to penalise Williams and BMW Sauber for alleged fuel irregularities.
jacobus said:congrats to KIMI... well done iceman!
...shame on the mclaren team... you are lousy losers
Alonso negotiates McLaren leave
TSN.ca Staff
11/2/2007 9:00:31 AM
Fernando Alonso will leave McLaren-Mercedes after just one tumultous Formula One season.
"Following a meeting between Fernando Alonso and McLaren, it was agreed that it would be in the best interests of both parties to bring the relationship to an end," the team said in a statement on Friday after Spanish media reports confirmed the split.
"Both parties believe that this was the right decision."
Alonso's agent said the Spaniard is free to sign with any other team without restriction and that neither side would pay a financial penalty for terminating the contract early.
Alonso expressed his disappointment that the situation with the Woking-based team did not work out, saying there were no hard feelings towards the team.
"Since I was a boy I had always wanted to drive for McLaren, but sometimes in life things do not work out," he said. "I continue to believe that McLaren is a great team. Yes, we have had our ups and downs during the season, which has made it extra-challenging for all of us, and it is not a secret that I never really felt at home."
The two-time world champion reiterated that, despite persistent rumors of favouritism within the team - some of which was suggested by Alonso himself - he always felt he had an equal opportunity to win.
Team boss Ron Dennis, whose relationship with the Spaniard deteriorated to the point where he admitted they were not speaking to each other, wished Alonso well.
"He is a great driver but for some reason the combination of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and Fernando has not really worked out, and in the end we reached a stage where none of us could find a way to move forward.
"We all believe that our joint decision to part company is for the best."
Dennis added that an announcement on who will fill Alonso's vacancy next to Lewis Hamilton will be made "in due course". Heikki Kovalainen and Nico Rosberg have been mentioned as possible replacements, however, both are under contract to other teams.
Alonso's departure from McLaren had put the driver's market on hold as teams and drivers waited for a resolution to the ongoing saga. The guessing begins as to where the Spaniard will end up.
Renault boss Flavio Briatore has already said he would be interested in welcoming Alonso back but there is a question of money. The French manufacturer are known to be one of the more frugal teams on the grid and would likely need the help of a sponsor to lure Alonso back, who was reportedly earning more than $25-million US a year at McLaren. Renault have yet to confirm their driver lineup but rookie Heikki Kovalainen appears to be the future of the team, leaving veteran Giancarlo Fisichella on the outside.
Alonso's desire to be the clear number one on a team likely rules Ferrari out of the mix. It would be hard to envision the Scuderia asking Kimi Raikkonen to take a back seat to Alonso, especially after winning the world championship this season. The Spaniard would be walking into the same type of situation he is leaving at McLaren.
Honda and Red Bull have recently emerged as candidates for Alonso. Neither team are immediate contenders for the title, so it would be a few years before the Spaniard could even think of challenging for the title. Money would not be an issue at either team. The driver situation has already been finalized at both teams but as we've seen in F1, there are always ways to get out of a contract.
BMW-Sauber are clearly on the brink of breaking into the top echelon of the sport and it could be that a driver of Alonso's skill and status is what they need to push them over the edge. Pressure will be on the team to score their first win in 2008 as the next step in the team's evolution.
Toyota would appear to be the big unknown. They have a driver opening and they have the money. If Jarno Trulli is willing to play a supporting role - much the same way Fisichella did at Renault - the Japanese team may be able to finally make some strides and break away from the middle of the pack.