Aussie GP

[campbell]

I wonder how much the "heat of the moment" had to do with all of this. From the press conf Hammie did this morning, it seems there were literally split second decisions being taken and related instructions etc given in great haste.

I am by no means condoning pure dishonesty but as some noble individual said earlier in this thread, the rulebook is getting so messy ...feels like it would take fecking lawyers to unravel half of it...and they can hardly be expected to work at the pace of an F1 race

I am hugely saddened by it all, not just for Hamilton, "Davey", McLaren, etc, but frankly for the entire "sport" which must surely now be looking like the lame duck of global sporting activity. What a bittersweet twist after the glory of the "rags to riches" Brawn 1-2 result, the arrival of an iconic BRITISH brand in the shape of Virgin, the anticipation of new aero regs to shake it all up again, etc.

I was initially dismayed to realise I'd miss the TV coverage of Sunday's race due to blasting up the road to get to a karting event but frankly now I don't think I'll even try to listen to it on the radio.

"F1" ... more like ... "Fcuk 1"

[jason]

Alonso has been unable to resist another opportunity to twist the knife.

I wonder how much the "heat of the moment" had to do with all of this. From the press conf Hammie did this morning, it seems there were literally split second decisions being taken and related instructions etc given in great haste.

I am by no means condoning pure dishonesty but as some noble individual said earlier in this thread, the rulebook is getting so messy ...feels like it would take fecking lawyers to unravel half of it...and they can hardly be expected to work at the pace of an F1 race

Yup, agreed. The whole affair is a(nother) sad, sorry mess. I do still believe McLaren/Ryan/Hamilton's stance in the stewards' meeting was due (at least in part) to the paranoia recent events ('07/'08) must have bred within the team. No defence for lying of course, but a possible cause. Same paranoia that probably caused them to 'play safe' and give Trulli his 3rd place back under the SC.

It still, conveniently, ignores the fact there really should never have been need for a stewards meeting in the first place. The rules are black and white, and the correct 3rd/4th placings could have been determined/declared independently of any team needing to lodge protest. IMHO that's where the root blame lies in how this has unravelled - the system itself. Again, not defending dishonesty!

It really cannot be fun being a member of the McLaren team these days - they must feel (rightly or wrongly) victimised/bullied.

I am hugely saddened by it all, not just for Hamilton, "Davey", McLaren, etc, but frankly for the entire "sport" which must surely now be looking like the lame duck of global sporting activity.

Me too

[meatball]

I thought it was the racing/driving that was supposed to provide the entertainment?

[Shug]

I thought it was the racing/driving that was supposed to provide the entertainment?

You want racing, watch touring cars.

F1 has never been the be-all and end-all of wheel-to-wheel battles, no matter how good you remember it being when you were young....

[meatball]

I thought it was the racing/driving that was supposed to provide the entertainment?

You want racing, watch touring cars.

F1 has never been the be-all and end-all of wheel-to-wheel battles, no matter how good you remember it being when you were young....

That is a discussion that would run and run! hehe
I meant that the focus should be on what happens on the track during the race!
I watch Moto GP and Superbikes for racing!

[Corranga]

I heard the BBC are going to replace the Chain with the theme from Eastenders

You want racing, watch touring cars.
....
no matter how good you remember it being when you were young....

When I was a kid, Touring cars, BTCC in particular was the be-all and end-all of wheel-to-wheel battles.
From my early memories of the sierra cossie days to the amazing super touring days.
Back when the constructors championship could have been won by:
Vauxhall
Volvo
Renault
BMW
Alfa Romeo
Ford
Audi
Nissan
(feeling I may be missing someone?)

and not already won by Vauxhall when the series begins

Those were the days

Chris

[campbell]

I heard the BBC are going to replace the Chain with the theme from Eastenders

[ryallm]

I thought it was the racing/driving that was supposed to provide the entertainment?

You want racing, watch touring cars.

F1 has never been the be-all and end-all of wheel-to-wheel battles, no matter how good you remember it being when you were young....

Very true, but at least the first signs from Oz were that the new aero rules and Kers are making the racing a bit closer than it has been for that past few seasons.

Oh, and touring cars is draughts, F1 is chess. Less action, but a higher form of the art

Mark