Spanish GP Aftermath

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Wednesday 30th April 2008

The Spanish Grand Prix, McLaren's troubles and safety in F1 all get mentioned in the latest round of letters. Oh, and James Allen still can't win over the fans.

Got something to say? letters@planet-f1.com

Aftermath Of Spain
The Spanish GP this Sunday made a couple of things crystal clear:

1) Ferrari is as strong as many feared them to be, if not stronger. Kimi and Massa cruised to another 1-2 victory and made it look simple.

2) The Spanish fans are fantastic. When Alonso retired they stayed to watch the end of a very predictable race. Well done!

3) The rules with regard to the pitlane under SC must change. It won't be long before cars start parking on track. Nick had an opportunity to score a handful of points, yet saw the opportunity disappear as the SC came out.

4) McLaren and BMW need something to happen to Ferrari to score proper points. If the Ferrari's finish the best it seems is third place.

5) Nelson Piquet Jr, Vettel and Bordais need to finish races. Regardless of how they end up DNF they need to justify their places at their teams. Serious discussions will have to take place to get these youngsters to concentrate and push to finish. Older drivers like DC and Webber must be laughing - they finish races and are starting to look a lot better as potential drivers for other teams compared to the younger 'stars' who fail to complete a Grand Prix.

6) Safety is at an all time high in F1. Heikki would've been dead had he crashed like he did 5 years ago. Even if the FIA makes mistakes, the rules and regulations regarding safety is spot on.

7) Should Valencia be a major success, the future of the Spanish GP at Barcelona would (or should) be under serious pressure. The race was boring and monotonous. Even the drivers comment on having to drive a race at a track they test on.
Chris van Wyk, South Africa

...Congratulation to Kimi and Ferrari and well done Felipe, game, set and match. A somewhat processional race, if that's the correct word for it, more like follow my leader and were it not for the intervention of the safety car to enable some bunching up I'm sure Kimi would have disappeared off the radar screen.

The rest of the field all have a lot to think about after today's meeting and none more so than McLaren, despite a podium spot. No one should for one minute think that in it's current form the Ferrari has not got even more pace in reserve. That was borne out at least once today. At the moment the only people that seem able to beat Ferrari are themselves. All in all a good day at the office, can't wait for Turkey.

A satisfied Tifoso
Gianfranco Spolverato

The Matador Giveth And Taketh Away
So, All you out there that called Alonso an egomaniac because he claimed that he brought 6 tenth's to McLaren and then You all your Golden Boy Hamilton was so good because he was beating Alonso, remember? Well Alonso this year has taken away the 6 /10ths he gave McLaren and brought them back to Renault.

He just had pole position in Barcelona until Kimi snatched it away at the last moment and where is the Golden Boy Lewis, tarnished and in the 3rd row. He is not Gold, he is Brass at best. Like I have often said.

A FLASH IN THE PAN.
Ed Garrido, USA

McLaren And Hamilton On The Decline
Well, it seems that McLaren is on the way down, without brakes, and backwards... The alleged 0.6 sec in Alonso's abilities were meant in qualy, not in race I think...

Where is Hamilton's input now? Is he unable to setup the car? THAT was the contribution of Alonso last year.

Keep on trying.
Esteban Garcia, Spain

...Why haven't I been reading about how great Lewis Hamilton is any more, or how he is the next Michael Schumacher? What a joke!!!!
Ned Collins

...Despite the incredible support of British fans Lewis Hamilton will never be World Champion. He had a more than unique opportunity last year, thanks to Alonso's set ups and development of the car, and he blew it. He lacks in experience, experience that newcomers Rosberg, Vettel, Piquet and others are making and when will the opportunity of driving a Ferrari or a Mclaren come they'll be ready. They are struggling now but that is an invaluable opportunity to be a better driver and to learn how to develop a car.

Senna did that with the Toleman, Schumy with the Jordan and Alonso with the Minardi. Hamilton is going to be another "nearly Champion".
Carlo, Italy

No F1 Computer Game?
I'm disappointed that one of the richest men in the UK (if not the world) is trying to squeeze more money out of a games manufacturer for what appears to be nothing more than greed. As an avid F1 fan, I've been hoping for a good game for the PC for years (the last one was F1 2002!!). I realise that there have been plenty for the console, but I'm still one who enjoys my computer games.

Bernie must catch a wakeup and realise that he answers to a worldwide audience of the greatest sport on earth that gets its fix from more than just 2 hours on a Sunday afternoon!
Stuart, Cape Town

Pit Lane Closure Rules
I have read that despite teams calling for the closure of the pit lane rule when an accident occurs to be changed to avoid a "Nick Heidfeld" incident, there will be no change in the foreseeable future with Ferrari stating that they do not see any amendment this year.

Well, I reckon that as soon as Ferrari have experienced this in one or two races the rule will be modified/changed and once again the Championship will be manipulated in Ferraris favour.

The sooner Mosley goes and a person who is not in the Italians team pocket the better for our sport.
Jock Hiddleston, Wantage Oxforshire

Safety
It is good news indeed to hear that Heikki Kovalainen seems ostensibly OK following his enormous accident.

It is also ironic that the very man to have forced through visionary improvements to safety that would otherwise have seen this incident a fatality a few years ago, is the same man that everybody appears to despise and is considered unsuitable for his role.

On the contrary, I think it underlines his absolute value and contribution to motor sport. This is what people should be focussing on, not his personal, private and perfectly legal activities which none of us would even know about save for the actions of some gutter press voyeuristic set-up, in league with others whose identities have yet to be revealed.
Paul Barrow

..."Heikki Kovalainen: No quotes released"

Even the McLaren spin doctors have having trouble putting a positive slant on "Ooohshi"

Seriously, it is a great testament to the F1 rules, designers, and teams that Heikki got out of it with a small concussion. Every time a driver survives a crash like that unscathed, they should thank Senna Ratzenberger, Wendlinger, and Barrichello for their respective deaths and injuries during that horrible few weeks in 1994.

(No one seems to mention that Wendlinger ending up in a coma at Monaco just after San Marino and not being the same Karl thereafter, and the sight of Reubens throwing his Jordan into the catch fencing above the armco at San Marino was more horrifying than Senna's accident. He wasn't very well when help got to him- he'd swallowed his tongue. That record to be set at Turkey, well, it almost stopped at 18 starts.)
David McAuliffe

ITV Are A Joke
Today the Lewis love-in reached new heights. The drivers conference only featured Lewis, ignoring the Kimi and Felipe (i.e. first and second). Driver of the day ? Yep Lewis. What about Jeson's drive or anyone else. Oh sorry I forgot it is the Hamilton show.

Personally I can't wait to see it back on the BBC, hopefully with none of the current crew on our screens retained.
Steve Barlow

More Bad News For James Allen
I think James Allen has a nerve to suggest disparagingly that Spanish TV coverage is, "Limited to Alonso and 21 other idiots". This is not only stunningly rude but is also a good deal of the pot calling the kettle black when one considers ITV's coverage, which has become widely known as the 'Lewis Hamilton Show'. This was underlined perfectly during this afternoon's coverage of the press conference, which didn't even cut in until Hamilton was speaking. It may surprise ITV-F1but there are people out here who want to hear what others have to say - especially the winners of races!

Be sure to leave Allen behind when the BBC takes over
Paul Barrow

...James Allen should have gone a long time ago, he doesn't accurately watch what's going on during the race(s), comes out with some ridicules comments and has no technical understanding what-so-ever.

I think Martin Brundel must stay he always has some thing useful to add and his technical understanding has made ITV's F1 coverage so successful.
James, Grantham, UK

...Dear Santa, Planet-F1, BBC

For Christmas PLEASE, PLEASE get shot of James Allen,

I have written to the ITV /F1 website for the last few years during the off season pleading for ITV to get rid of this numpty, but sadly to no avail, now it seem with the good old BBC taking over there might be a chance this idiot will be removed

Why oh why does he have to shout GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO at the start of every race??? Are we all so dim-witted to forget that the race has started, he is so full of utter ***** and babbles on about nothing, whilst there's an overtaking manoeuvre going on, and constantly interrupts Martin Brundle who is actually saying something interesting and relevant. Go on Beeb do us all a favour and get the big boot out with James's name on it.
Philip Greenland

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