Pololo_RX8

Agreed 100%

Yeap!! Agreed 100%... Ferrari pit stops strategy and messed up errors is what cost Massa a championship!!!!

How could they penalize Reanault for this? geeezzzz... I hope Renault's appeal is successful.

Actually I turned the TV off when I saw what happened to Alonso... I was so pissed!!! Then tonight, once I was calmed I watched the race after that point... It was a good one... and it's always nice to see the "*****-cat" there jumping up and down making "them" excercise

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

Massa shows signs of improvement
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/moto...ne/8169915.stm
09:10 GMT - 3hrs ago.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa has shown signs of improvement after having surgery on his fractured skull in Hungary.
Massa, 28, who was hit by a spring from Ruben Barrichello's car on Saturday, is able to communicate "actively" and move his hands and legs but cannot speak.
A Ferrari spokesman said: "Felipe had a quiet night. He is OK, and he is due to have another CT scan today (Monday)."

A Hungarian hospital spokesman said they are "optimistic" that a "slow recovery is beginning".
--------------
My question: Is the reason he can't talk due to a brain injury or jaw bone damage? The eye socket is close to the jaw.

alfy28

and this is why i never understand the stewards and the FIA. when ferrari pit crew messed up on massa at singapore with the fuel lodge. did ferrari get suspended? a fire could of broken out for all we know.

i really dont feel that renault should be suspended from the race. i feel that the FIA is trying to get back at Flavio Briatore. i Dont care for flavio, but if that it the case, i feel its wrong.
renault being a lap down is enough punishment to the team. FIA is just a bunch of hate mongers.

also i am glad massa is doing well, cant wait to see him back on the track. so i can pick on polo again.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

FIA Stewards have had some harsh rulings recently. It's enough of a penalty that he, a front runner, had to pit to correct the problem. I don't know if he had further mechanical problems or just quit, but he didn't finish the race. I wonder if the SOM think that it really doesn't matter to Renault if they finish or not. Loss of the wheel should have been a big enough penalty. They must have gotten more agressive due to the Massa injury.

SOM=Stewards Of the Meet

shaunv74

I suspect Al's right due to Massa's injury that want to make it clear that the cars are going out onto the course safely and that people aren't cutting corners to save a 1/2 second. Obviously the crew doesn't want to put their driver or anyone else in danger and definitely were penalized by their result. We'll have to see if there is more news about the Stewards ruling and if there are going to be some rule changes from this weekend's incidents.

alfy28

my question is, what if the F2 crash never happend. would FIA had suspended renalut due to pit error? of course we will never know, but my guess nothing would of happend to renault. i feel it take a inncident for them to start waving the ban stick.

which is why i never can understand the FIA. they charge ppl at fault when they are leaving the pits and have the right away when crashes happen at turn 1.

nothing happens to teams when their pit team messes up and let a car launch with the fuel hose still attached to the car. its not the drivers fault that happend, its the person who lets the driver know he can take off.

i guess i am just pissed off, because alonso wont be able to race in this home country. you know i act that i dont like alonso, but to be honest i just do it to pick on polo and other alonso fans. also alonso being with renault has changed him alot. he is less arrogant, still whines a little. but my respect for him has grown since he has been with renault. i hpe that the FIA drops this charge against renault.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

Doctor says Massa will not return in 2009
http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=338637:F1

Doctor says Ferrari driver Felipe Massa’s life no longer in danger
http://www.pentictonherald.ca/storie....php?id=201400
The neurosurgeon who operated on Felipe Massa says his condition is no longer considered life-threatening, although damage to his eye and other injuries could prevent the Ferrari driver from returning to Formula One.

Doctors encouraged by Massa progress
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.a...46496&PO=46496
“it may be weeks, if not months before we know for sure how Felipe is recovering”.

Ferrari confident of Massa recovery
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77382
------------------------------------
Ferrari 2010: Raikkonen & Alonso?

alfy28

CNN) -- Felipe Massa has been woken successfully three times to communicate with his family, one of the surgeons who operated on the Brazilian Formula One star told CNN on Monday, after a horror crash in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix left the driver needing surgery on a fractured skull.


Felipe Massa after the crash at the Hungaroring.

more photos » Peter Bazso, the medical director of the AEK hospital in Budapest, confirmed that Massa's injuries had been "life-threatening" after he careered off the Hungaroring at 200kph in his Ferrari, but that his condition was now "slightly improving."

Brawn GP's Rubens Barrichello was also optimistic after visiting his fellow Brazilian on Monday afternoon.

"I saw the doctor and he said that [Massa] had reacted well when he first saw the doctor and reacted well when he saw his father," he told waiting reporters.

"I asked the doctor 'as someone who has no understanding of medicine, how will he be?' the doctor said 'most probably he is going to be 100 percent fine"

Bazso told CNN said he had watched Saturday's accident on television and his team, who specialize in brain injuries, was immediately put on standby to operate as Massa was airlifted to his hospital. Does safety need to be improved in Formula One?

Massa was hit on the helmet by a spring which had fallen off the rear of the Barrichello's Brawn.

The impact left Massa concussed and he lost control of his Ferrari on the high speed Turn Four before ploughing into a tire barrier. Felipe Massa's crash in pictures. »

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Bazso and his team performed a two-hour emergency operation shortly after Massa arrived at the hospital, which also caters for the Hungarian military.

He remains in a medically-induced coma in intensive care but Bazso said there were good signs of a recovery.

"We tried to wake him up three times so he could make contact with his family and each time we were successful," he said.

Massa's parents and his pregnant wife Anna Rafaela flew to Hungary to be at his bedside after the accident.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo told their official Web site that he would be visiting the hospital on Monday to check on his driver's condition and paid tribute to his teammate Kimi Raikkonen who finished second to Lewis Hamilton in Sunday's race.

"Compliments to Kimi for a great race and to the team, for working well and very concentrated despite these very difficult circumstances."

Meanwhile, Baszo added that they hoped to fully bring him out of the coma later today when they would better be able to assess his condition.

"He is definitely not worse, but his injuries were life-threatening," he added.


Massa's crash came less than a week after Formula 2 driver Henry Surtees, the son of former world champion John Surtees, was killed in similar circumstances, knocked unconscious by a tire which flew off another car in a race at Brands Hatch, before crashing.

Formula One's safety record has improved dramatically in recent years, with the last fatality in 1994 when the legendary Brazilian Ayrton Senna crashed at Imola


http://www.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/07/27/...ef=mpstoryview



also here is the pic . man so glad it his helmet, such a good driver also.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

Now this pops up:

Ecclestone hopes Alonso to race Ferrari at Valencia

Bernie Ecclestone on Monday said he hopes Ferrari turns to Fernando Alonso to fill injured Felipe Massa's cockpit for the forthcoming European Grand Prix.
It was rumoured in the Spanish press that, with Renault banned for the Valencia race, the former double world champion could be called up by Ferrari while Massa recuperates in a Budapest hospital.
In the wake of the Renault ban news, organisers of the Valencia event expressed concern that Spain's driving hero may be missing from the grid.
"If Renault would release Alonso, and if Ferrari want him, it would be the best thing for Formula One, for Valencia, for everybody," F1 chief executive Ecclestone told Germany's Auto Bild.
more

alfy28

^^ bernie and his wetdreams. the best thing to do is, drop the ban on renault. why even make drama about the whole sitution. god bernie is so stupid. but either way, i will like to see alonso race , using his quote "in the winning car, which is ferrari "

btw am i the only person who doesnt understand what the hell Button is saying during team ch at?

alfy28

Massa injury prompted Renault race ban - Brundle
July 27, 2009 8:57 PM
Filed Under: F1
Martin Brundle on Monday made a link between the recent terrible incidents involving Henry Surtees and Felipe Massa, and FIA stewards' decision to ban Renault from the forthcoming European grand prix.

The French team's strong reprimand was issued after Fernando Alonso was released onto the circuit with a loose wheel nut, which subsequently led to the heavy wheel cover and then the entire wheel falling off the Spaniard's car.

Brundle, a former grand prix driver of the 80s and 90s and an award-winning commentator for British television since 1997, believes the penalty is a reaction to the Surtees and Massa crashes.

In both cases, the drivers' helmets were struck by flying debris with unpleasant results.

"The team almost certainly would not have been penalised for the same situation at the previous race," Brundle wrote in his latest column for the BBC.

"We have seen many cars lose a wheel without retribution," he added.

In 2007, the FIA threatened to pursue Brundle for libel, after suggesting in another column that the McLaren spy scandal was akin to a "witch hunt".

http://www.worldcarfans.com/10907272...e-ban--brundle














Ferrari boss not ruling out Schumacher return
Could take Massa's Seat for remainder of season

Michael Schumacher
by Clinton Deacon
July 27, 2009 10:36 PM
Filed Under: F1
Stefano Domenicali on Monday refused to rule out the possibility that Michael Schumacher may return to replace Felipe Massa at forthcoming grands prix.

"It would be wrong to say yes or no at this stage," the Ferrari team boss told the Der Tagesspiegel newspaper.

With the Maranello based team minimally needing to fill the injured Massa's cockpit for the next several grands prix, the Italian press on Sunday piled pressure on Ferrari to bring its most successful driver out of retirement.

"Now Ferrari needs Schumi," said La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Schumacher's spokeswoman Sabine Kehm insisted the 40-year-old is not due to make any statements in the next few days, but press sources indicate the German has not personally ruled out making a temporary comeback.

Corriere della Sera, however, noted that Schumacher's fitness still has not returned to 100 per cent following his motorcycle testing crash some months ago.

The seven time world champion also made no mention of the possibility when he posted a message on his official website wishing Massa a speedy recovery.

Other names mentioned for Massa's drive include Nico Hulkenberg, who is handled by Schumacher's manager Willi Weber, as well as Fernando Alonso, Sebastien Bourdais and Nelson Piquet.

Referring to Marc Gene and Luca Badoer, meanwhile, Ferrari spokesman Luca Colajanni said of the need to replace Massa: "We have two test drivers."

Italy's Corriere dello Sport also mentioned Mirko Bortolotti, the teenaged reigning Italian F3 champion who over the past winter broke the F1 record during his maiden test at Fiorano.

"We are going to decide without pressure," said Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo as he visited Massa in a Budapest hospital. "When we make our decision, it will be a good one."

Domenicali added: "We are going to think about it this week."

http://www.worldcarfans.com/10907272...umacher-return

i am sorry, but who in their right mind would even mention these 2 drivers lol, Sebastien Bourdais and Nelson Piquet. its to comical LOL

Brian Major

iTrader: (1)

i disagree with their ruling and i was surprised they came to a quick conclusion for once but i can understand their ruling after the death of henry surtees and felipe massa's incident. Within 1 week, one driver dies and another is seriously injured but debris on the track. Imagine if one of the back runners came up behind alonso after that incident...

Not to excuse the race stewards in any way because like I havent agreed with them in a long time concerning their rulings.

Aipex8

iTrader: (1)

God, I feel so sorry for Massa. Every time I see that pic of him... he looks so terrified. What a horrible accident. I hope he makes a full recovery, but if his eye is injured as f1.com reported today, it could be carreer ending.

I didn't see qualifying, but from the videos I've seen, it doesn't seem that he's following close behing Barrichello's car. And how the hell does a spring just fall off the car, it seems that you would have to have a catestrophic suspension failure to have a spring come free.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

The spring falling off happened 4 sec. before he got there. I also cant understand ho the spring would come off. Unless, a mechanic didn't fasten it on correctly after they made a change. Did they design that part of the car too weak? They did check Button's car for a similar failure. No one is saying how the spring came off.

PerSmitt

Button's car was checked and found valid. That is why he was so late out for Q3. They had fueled up the car for a certain amount of driving but the officials didn't let him drive out until the rear was fully checked. Hence Buttons totally failed qualifier.

As for Renault, I don't know what they could have done differently. The lollipop guy made a mistake and released Alonso before the wheel guy was finished. What were they supposed to do? Force Alonso to stop and block the pit lane? They needed him to drive one lap to get back to get his wheel adjusted properly. Alonso was dropping positions like crazy long before the wheel came off because he drove slower trying to keep the wheel on.

Would it be possible that he could have stopped at the end of the pit lane instead and have the pit-crew run there and adjust his wheel. I don't know how mobile their equipment is. Al, you maybe know this?

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

Will Massa race again?
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=38582

This one motorsports doctor doesn't think so. The problem not being brain damage, but damage to the eye and socket.

I don't remember seeing any air lines to run the wheel nut wrenches, so they must be battery/electric powered. (I could be wrong. Feel free to correct me if I am.) Would the car have to be lifted to reposition the wheel on the hub?
I'm sure that the driver is busy, making changes to the car, adjusting to the weight of the fuel and the cold/new tires before he enters turn one. The problem was with one of the front corners, so he may have been able to see that the mechanic didn't indicate he was ready and wait. Even though the lollipop was raised. I seem to remember this happening before but I don't remember what driver did.

moRotorMotor

http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,1895...457601,00.html
Piquet: Flav doesn't know s*** about F1
Tuesday 28th July 2009

Don't expect to see Nelson Piquet Jr at the next race, be it Valencia or Spa for Renault, after he launched a scathing attack on his team boss Flavio Briatore.

With rumours of Piquet's pending sacking for underwhelming performances already making headlines, his future was thrown into even more doubt when Briatore revealed he was not happy with the Brazilian's results in his second season in F1.

"I've always been fair with my drivers," Briatore said. "I expected more from Piquet because this is his second year with a full-time drive. He's done less testing compared to Alonso, but Webber as well tested less than Vettel because of his broken leg, but look where he is now.

"When a driver lacks results, he opens the book of excuses and begins: the fault is the weather's, a spectator's sunglasses, a spin on the straight, this and that...

"It's not true that there's a technical difference of seven tenths between Alonso's and Piquet's car. If that was true, we'd have a car capable of winning the title, and that unfortunately isn't the case. The technical difference has always been minimal and never longer than one race."

But rather than take the criticism on the chin, Piquet has come out swinging - and in doing so has probably signed his P45

"Flavio is a business man, but he doesn't understand s*** about F1," Piquet told Autosprint magazine. "He's my manager, but in his role of team boss he doesn't respect me.

"He only thinks about money, at how much money he can pocket in everything he's involved, he's a man with no friends. Every day everyone asks me what's going on, so why should I always keep quiet?

"Webber has been in F1 since 2001, he started in a different era, when testing wasn't limited. He's probably done more than 20,000 kms in testing, so it's not a fair comparison. Now the situation is more difficult for a driver with little experience.

"And besides that, I have to fight against Briatore and Alonso himself, who is a fantastic driver. When I wasn't competitive in qualifying, I was the first owing up to it. But if Briatore doesn't understand that, what can I do?"

PF1 would like to take this moment to welcome Romain Grosjean to Formula One...

alfy28

flavor flav needs to shut the hell up, i hate that fat pig. Even though I don’t think piquet should be in F1, how can you compare a person who has been in the game for at least 9 years to someone who has been in the game for 2. And his comment about vettel vs webber doesn’t make any sense at all. Yes he may have tested the car less the vettel, but hell all the drivers don’t have a lot of testing time under their belt for this year. so why should piquet even be compared to webber again.

There are times that I like flav, but that is when he is opening his big mouth against the FIA, but besides that he is a douche.

shaunv74

I don't think Piquet is really living up to his potential but he makes a good point. The limit on testing this year I think has really hurt the drivers most of all. They really don't have much of a chance to get to know the cars outside of race day and set them up the way they would like for a race. I understand cutting costs but I think there needs to be some allowance for driver and car setup time.

alfy28

also like ot add, flav needs to stop worrying about piquet. what he needs to start worrying about is his damn team fing up all the freaking time. he needs worrry about his car actually finishing races. thanks to him alonso had alot of dnfs with his time with renault. if he was such a great team boss, he wouldnt be banned from the next race, due ot his lack of managment.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

BMW set to announce F1 exit plans

BMW Sauber's involvement in Formula One may come to an end in 2009, amid strong rumours that the board of BMW will end its F1 activities after just four years as a stand-alone constructor. A hastily-arranged press conference has been scheduled for tomorrow morning at 10.00 in Munich, and with senior figures of BMW and BMW motorsport due to attend, a major announcement is expected.

The press conference has ben called due to “current developments in motor sport”, and comes just days before a new Concorde Agreement is due to be signed, which would contractually oblige BMW to compete in F1 until 2012. At present, BMW are under no such obligation to compete.

The news comes less than eight months after Honda's surprise exit from Formula One, and just days after major cost-cutting proposals were agreed betweel all F1 teams, aimed at lowering costs to those of the early 1990s by 2011. However, BMW's on-track performance this year has been nothing short of dismal. Having scored its first victory last year and challenged for the championship until a late stage, BMW Sauber is now struggling to score points, with just 8 on the scoreboard so far this year.

Manipe F1 will bring you all the news from BMW's press conference as soon as it comes to hand tomorrow morning.

http://www.manipef1.com/news/articles/9750/
Also at:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77398
http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/...w-to-leave-f1/

shaunv74

BMW should be hanging their head this year. They quit early in the season when Kubica was in 3rd place in the standings saying "we're going to concentrate on next year." And the effectively came out this year and did fcukall.

they should leave if they couldn't be competitive with a 1/2 season head start on everyone except Brawn.

ASH8

Agree...for the amount of years BMW-Sauber have been together their performance results have been fecking appauling....a bit like Toyota.

ATL-GP

Yeah...I agree, but their engines have always been the business. IMO..they never should have left Williams. Do they still hold the Monza lap record..the Williams BMW????

BlueRenesis82

It's official, they are done at end of season. Maybe the FIA should give that Superfund team another look.