Justice for Alonso.

Agreed - Alonso's incident was a disgraceful moment at the peak moment of qualifying.

Full marks to the authorities.

However, McLaren have alot of explaining to do - it seems to me that their story line changed markedly from the initial body language of Ron Dennis and the McLaren mechanics, to the barely believable explanation later offered to the press. I think Alonso's squirming post-quali press conference said it all to me.

Peter

Brilliant drive by Lewis and a well deserved victory.

Alonso is turning into Michael Schumacher...
Great drive under pressure from Hamilton-agreed!
Wondering what was up with Massa though..

Warning, this is an anti-F1 post so please skip it if you have heard it all before.

I guess Hamilton would have been under more pressure if he'd actually been on a track where people could overtake.

After briefly being attracted back by the cacophony of hype that F1 developed this year I'm afraid my eyes are open again.

Is it me or does this whole soap opera not actually ring true anymore? The ultra-cynical conspiracy theorist in me (and I just don't do conspiracy theories really) cannot but think that the controlling powers of F1 are prepared to do anything possible to facilitate a Hamilton championship win; with all the wonderful publicity and 'new demographic appeal' that he would bring. Trivial Maclaren punishment for cheating, knobbling his teammate etc etc. If I was Hamilton I'd consider taking out my closest opponents on the track-others have got away with it when they are the 'favoured one'.

I went for a bike ride Sunday with friend who happens to be a senior BMW-Sauber aerodynamacist. He's also worked at championship winning Renault. He said he could not care less about watching the race because Hungary would be deathly dull, and in truth he hardly watches any of them. Says something about the sport.

Bruce

quote:

Originally posted by Sandy8:
Alonso is turning into Michael Schumacher...
Great drive under pressure from Hamilton-agreed!
Wondering what was up with Massa though..

Alonso is more like a spoilt footballer, take your pick.

Hamilton is turning into a Prost-like driver, but with more character.

As for Massa he appears to be fine when he is winning, but rubbish at actually racing.

Jono

I love this bit from crash.net: "Don't ever f****** do that to me again"," Hamilton was quoted by Britain's News of the World and The Sunday Times, amongst others.

"Dennis hit back, blasting: "Don't ever f****** speak to me like that."

But Hamilton responded: "Go f****** swivel."


So Lewis isn't such an innocent little boy after all!



Tony

quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:

I went for a bike ride Sunday with friend who happens to be a senior BMW-Sauber aerodynamacist. He's also worked at championship winning Renault. He said he could not care less about watching the race because Hungary would be deathly dull, and in truth he hardly watches any of them. Says something about the sport.

Or, perhaps it just says something about engineers....?

Not anti Lewis by any stretch but wasn't it an Alonso bite back for Lewis failing to let Alonso past earlier in the session?

Clearly two superior drivers in a very competitive world, each feeling threatened by the other - Alonso by Lewis' chumminess with Ron, the team and the world at large, Lewis by Alonso's pedigree. Raikenonandon remains aloof as ever and is so good at it now thet it's funny. He could yet sneak it..

Can't really see why no constructors champ points for McLaren though..?

Jamie,

I may be wrong but isn't the difference here that Lewis allowing Alonso through is a "team orders" matter? Something for Ron to sort out.

Whereas, blocking other drivers (same team or not) in the pit lane, is an offence.

Great drive by Lewis.

This spat has been coming. Alonso has been acting like a spoilt child ever since it became clear that he has another rooster in the McLaren hen house.

The team orders situation is interesting. I can understand it kicking in when one of the drivers emerges as a firm favourite for the title. But until then it should be open season.

Steve

quote:

Originally posted by Steve S1:
...Alonso has been acting like a spoilt child ever since it became clear that he has another rooster in the McLaren hen house...

Perhaps not for much longer?!

"Fernando Alonso has cast doubt on whether he will see out the term of his contract with McLaren following the bust-up after qualifying at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday.

"According to reports in the Spanish media, the two-time world champion has hinted that the atmosphere within the camp - exacerbated by the breakdown in communications between Alonso and team-mate Lewis Hamilton - may make his decide to break links with Woking well before the end of his three-year deal." (Crash.Net)

What's the problem on this Post with Alonzo?

I'm a Brit wanting a Brit to win and was as pleased as anyone that Hamilton sustained extreme pressure to finish first, but the facts are that he did disobey team orders on the third qualifying session which did possibly compromise Alonzo's qualifying time. I suggest that if any of us were in the same position we'd be pretty pissed as well.

Come on, you only have to venture off the racing line slightly on the "Religion in a Scientific Age?" post and red blood smears the vision of some of our self imposed hyper-intellects.

For me, both drivers are 50% to blame in yet another typically complicated F1 incident.

Of course, you wouldn't get these problems with Sato or Barrichello or Ralf S but then you wouldn't have the passion and excitement either.

Ian

True Ian, but Alonso retaliated outside of race rules - pretty dim even if he had a "team orders" issue with Lewis.

Steve