"Official" F-1 Thread.....CHINA
 

early practice results....

Kimi Raikkonen topped the timesheets again this afternoon for Ferrari with a best lap of 1:36.607s around the 5.451km Shanghai International circuit. It was a close run thing for Raikkonen who vaulted from fifth fastest to the top of the timesheets right at the end of the 90-minute afternoon practice session.

Fernando Alonso was a close second fastest for McLaren Mercedes, just 0.006s slower than Raikkonen while Massa was a strong third in his F2007, 0.023s adrift. Championship leader Lewis Hamilton was a comfortable fourth fastest in his McLaren, just over two-tenths of a second off the ultimate pace.

http://www.f1-live.com/f1/photos/img...-04_051007.jpg

........and a pitbabe too!

http://www.f1-live.com/f1/photos/200.../diapo_409.jpg

xoxoxoo

qualifing results...!!!!!!


Lewis Hamilton claimed Pole Position for the Chinese Grand Prix in style this afternoon in Shanghai. Starting his final timed lap of the session the championship leader was third fastest behind the Ferrari duo of Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa. That final lap got the job done as he lapped the 5.451km circuit in 1:35.908s to record his sixth pole of the season.

Kimi Raikkonen had set the pace in every practice session and in qualifying up until that final run. The Ferrari driver will therefore be disappointed to start second with a time just over a tenth slower than Hamilton. Felipe Massa starts third ahead of Fernando Alonso who was surprisingly off the pace in his McLaren Mercedes having shown so well in practice.

Behind the top four runners, David Coulthard put in his strongest qualifying performance in some time to qualify his Red Bull Renault in fifth position with team-mate Mark Webber a solid seventh. Ralf Schumacher too put in a good run in his Toyota and will start and encouraging sixth in what is his penultimate race for the team and perhaps in Formula One. Nick Heidfeld and starts eighth in his BMW Sauber just ahead of team-mate Nick Heidfeld in what has been a difficult weekend for the Swiss-based team.

xoxoxoo

This was the first F-1 race I had watched start to finish all year. What an odd way for Hamilton to get his first retirement, going off the track at 25-30mph at most. Both Toro Rosso's scored points! And while Hamilton is still in the driver seat for the championship it will be quite the story at Brazil.

what a show......Brazil will be intense!!!



Zoom
All to play for heading to the Brazilian Grand Prix

The Chinese Grand Prix will remain firmly in the mind of Lewis Hamilton for a long time to come. It was the event where on the brink of wrapping up his first world title, a small error ended his day and threw open the title contest heading to the final round of the championship in Brazil in two weeks time.

Kimi Raikkonen took control of the 56-lap Grand Prix at mid-distance when Hamilton slipped up and beached his McLaren Mercedes firmly in the gravel trap. From that point onwards the Finn never put a foot wrong, controlling his pace to take the chequered flag, and the 200th win for Ferrari, ten seconds clear of Fernando Alonso.

Raikkonen’s fifth win of the season moves him back into championship contention while Alonso’s runner up position moves him to within four points of Hamilton. Felipe Massa put in a late race change to finish in third position, just three second behind Alonso.

Light rain made the Chinese Grand Prix a tricky affair with everyone opting to start the race on the intermediate tyres. Hamilton led away from his pole position, quickly establishing an eight second advantage over Raikkonen before pitting on lap 16. Raikkonen remained on track another four laps and when he emerged from the pits he was just four second behind Hamilton.

This was the critical phase of the race as the rain had stopped and the intermediate tyres were struggling on the fast-drying circuit.
Soon it became apparent that in not changing his tyres, Hamilton was in severe grip difficulty as Raikkonen swept by and into the lead.

Heading to the pits on lap 30, Hamilton lost rear-end grip in the slippery pit lane and as he corrected the wheel, he soon found himself beached in a small gravel trip on the right hand side of the pit lane. His rear wheels spinning, it was clear his race was run. The question for Hamilton and the McLaren team is not the driving error, but the decision to remain on track a crucial few laps too-long when it was clear he had massive grip problems.

It was a dream result for Raikkonen as he took his 14th career victory and with 100 points on the board, is now just seven behind Hamilton heading to Brazil. Alonso drove a solid race, getting the jump on Massa mid-race jus ahead of the second round of stops. His second place gives him 103 points, four down on the championship leader.

Felipe Massa set the fastest lap of the race as he closed down Alonso in the final laps but will have to be content with third position


xoxoxoo

some pitbabes too!

http://www.f1-live.com/f1/photos/200.../diapo_417.jpg

http://www.f1-live.com/f1/photos/200.../diapo_447.jpg

http://www.f1-live.com/f1/photos/200.../diapo_469.jpg

I subscribe to a racing new site, there's speculation on whether Alonso will take out Hamilton in the final race thereby giving the WDC to Kimi. Eccelstone was quoted recently (before China) that he expected Hamilton to win the WDC by taking Alonso out during the race. But after Hamilton's 'mistake' the potential for Alonso sticking a massive thumb in Ron Dennis' eye has been magnified in a huge way.

I love the intrigue however I want Hamilton to win. That dude is special, very special. I started this season with Alonso as my favorite driver. I still respect his skill however he's turned into the sport's biggest prima donna in years.

Fernando Alonso == Mariah Carey. He's like a male Diva. Disappointing.

I didn't get to watch the race yesterday, but I'm very intrigued as to how this will play out. It'd be a shame if Hamilton were to lose the championship after getting this close...that doesn't mean I don't want Kimi to win though. :)