Monaco, thoughts and ramblings.

[Genghis]

Hey Schumi,

I think Raikkonen has been taking tips from Schumacher after all ;D ;D

All the best
Rob

[schumi]

You're right Rob. Same car, same race, same piece of tarmac after a bizarre prang. What did you make of that one?

Looks like my prediction of Raikkonen not being on the podium is probably going to come true, whilst DC completely ruined Kovalainen's chances of making it through to the final session and now won't take place in the session himself. Luckily that's good news for Button who was in 11th at the time.

[schumi]

Qualifying positions:

1 Alonso
2 Hamilton
3 Massa
4 Fisichella
5 Rosberg
6 Webber
7 Heidfeld
8 Kubica
9 Barrichello
10 Button
11 Coulthard *provisionally
12 Wurz

Edit: not entirely sure where DC is going to start tomorrow. Two different websites have him as 14th, 15th and 16th.

[schumi]

Another disappointing race with the highlights probably being Liuzzi and Sutil touching the barrier before stopping on track.
Yet again Mark Webber retired with an unreliable car. You have to feel for the guy because he impressed in his rookie season but hasn’t been able to live up to it since.
Good drive from the McLarens (yuk), with Massa looked decidedly off pace, and not much else to say about it really. Shame it didn’t rain.

[admin]

I'd give you my highlight of the race, but it'd get me into trouble with the boss. And I don't mean Ron Dennis.

[schumi]

Go on - get it off your chest. I'm sure you'll make it up to me later if I don't like it.

[admin]

schumi said:

Go on - get it off your chest. I'm sure you'll make it up to me later if I don't like it.

Seeing Princess Caroline of Monaco, as well, of course, as a couple of mighty McLarens dominating - only Massa wasn't lapped and another couple of laps and he might've been.

[schumi]

admin said:

schumi said:

Go on - get it off your chest. I'm sure you'll make it up to me later if I don't like it.

Seeing Princess Caroline of Monaco.

Okay, I'll give you that after my Michael comment earlier, but now you have even more making up to do, and it better be good.

[Genghis]

Hmmm, not the most entertaining Monaco GP, but Hamilton was certianly pushing his car around and again giving Alonso food for thought.

Can't be that long until Hamilton actually wins a race - but four second places on the trot isn't bad going for a rookie

What's happened to McLaren this year - when was the last time when they had a 100% reliability record after 5 races. In fact, when was the last time they had a 50% reliability at the stage of the season.

Stupid machines - how am I supposed to take the piss out of Sub's team, when the damn things keep on finishing?? ;D

All the best
Rob

[Genghis]

schumi said:

admin said:

Seeing Princess Caroline of Monaco.

Okay, I'll give you that after my Michael comment earlier, but now you have even more making up to do, and it better be good.

You two - get a room ;D

All the best
Rob

[donsking]

Seems the FIA weren't overly impressed with yesterday's display either................

McLaren team orders under investigation

By Jonathan Noble Monday, May 28th 2007, 11:53 GMT


McLaren are to face an investigation by motor racing's governing body over the team orders they imposed on their drivers at the Monaco Grand Prix.

World champion Fernando Alonso and teammate Lewis Hamilton were ordered to hold position after the first round of pitstops in Monte Carlo - in a move aimed at reducing risks to secure a McLaren 1-2.

That move drew widespread criticisms in some quarters, especially from an angry British media, as it prevented Hamilton from fighting for the maiden win that he was so desperate to score.

And now the FIA has stepped into the situation by announcing that it is to investigate what happened, amid questions about whether the team orders have damaged the reputation of the sport.

A statement issued on Monday said: "The FIA has launched an investigation into incidents involving the McLaren Mercedes team at the 2007 Monaco Grand Prix in light of a possible breach of the International Sporting Code.

"The relevant evidence is under review and a further announcement will be made in due course."

Autosport.com understands that the team will be investigated into whether they have broken Article 151c of the International Sporting Code, which makes it clear that damage to the sport can be caused by: "any fraudulent conduct or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or to the interests of motor sport generally."

Team orders that influence the outcome of a race have been illegal in Formula One since Ferrari told Rubens Barrichello to let Michael Schumacher through for the lead at the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis was adamant on Sunday night, however, that he had done nothing wrong in protecting his team's advantage.

"Team strategy is what you bring to bear to win a Grand Prix. Team orders is what you bring to bear to manipulate a Grand Prix," he told reporters afterwards.

"And we do not and have not manipulated Grands Prix, unless there were some exceptional circumstances, which occurred, for example, in Australia [1998], when at that time someone had tapped into our radio and instructed Mika Hakkinen to enter the pits.

"He entered the pits and I reversed that, because that was unfair, that was an outside influence on the outcome of the race. That is one of the very rare occasions that there's been a team order.

"I don't feel uncomfortable with them. I sleep easy. I have a clear conscience, both on that particular race - and this race today."


Source: autosport.com

[schumi]

Thanks Dk, I was just coming to report that myself so you've saved me the trouble. Looks like Ron has dropped them in it there. If he hadn't admitted it there'd be nothing the FIA could do. We all know team orders happen, but you're not supposed to tell anyone. Not sure anything will come of it though.

Rob, I don't know what you're suggesting.

[admin]

And the offending words from Ron Dennis were:

“An outstanding result for the team. Both Fernando and Lewis drove so well and responded excellently to the team’s wishes of bringing both cars home safely in what was a memorable one-two result and McLaren’s 14th victory in the Principality. However there is some disappointment because of the different strategies we needed to follow to cope with a potential deployment of the Safety Car which has happened four times in the last five years. Consequently you virtually have to decide in advance which one of the team’s two drivers will claim the victory. Once the first round of pitstops had taken place we reverted Lewis from a one-stop-strategy to the faster two-stop-strategy and at the same time slowed both cars down to conserve the brakes. As a team we would like to race but this circuit requires a disciplined approach and as a result we can leave Monte Carlo with the maximum amount of points.”

Taken from the excellent:

www.mclaren.co.uk

[schumi]

admin said:

Taken from the excellent:

www.mclaren.co.uk

Please don't tell me you have that saved in your favourites?

[admin]

schumi said:

admin said:

Taken from the excellent:

www.mclaren.co.uk

Please don't tell me you have that saved in your favourites?

I don't, as it happens.