Donkey of the Monaco GP

[ioan]

The biggest donkey prize has to go to Raikkonen! And there are numerous reasons for this!

2nd Donkey prize will go to the Ferrari strategists team and the guy who failed to change Massa's wheel in no time.

3rd one goes to the other champ on the grid (Alonso) for ruining his and Heidfelds race.

[Dave B]

With an honourable mention for Heikki for stalling at the start and then failing to unlap himself during the SC period. Only his phenomenal speed prevents full donkey status.

[wedge]

Today was a strange day for Alonso.

On the team radio excerpts you had great insight into how smart and clever that guy is by dictating the strategy for the team and yet he made some huge flaws.

[Nikki Katz]

Raikkonen did seem to get everything wrong today - slow off the line, slow in the race, spun off, crashed into Sutil. I think that he was very lucky to finish 9th.
He wasn't the only driver that made numerous errors though; Alonso started well but made a lot of mistakes later on, Glock spun 3 or 4 times, Piquet was also off a lot.
Perhaps most disappointing though was Heidfeld; I know that his car was damaged after Alonso drove into him, but he was dead slow and well out of the points before that, at a time when his teammate was leading.

[ioan]

Perhaps most disappointing though was Heidfeld; I know that his car was damaged after Alonso drove into him, but he was dead slow and well out of the points before that, at a time when his teammate was leading.

Heidfeld was 5th (started 12 th or something like that) and Kubica 2nd when Alonso decided to destroy the BMW.

And I couldn't call Heidfeld the most disappointing after Raikkonen's showing.

[Viktory]

The biggest donkey prize has to go to Raikkonen! And there are numerous reasons for this!

2nd Donkey prize will go to the Ferrari strategists team and the guy who failed to change Massa's wheel in no time.

3rd one goes to the other champ on the grid (Alonso) for ruining his and Heidfelds race.

:up: I agree

[gloomyDAY]

Kimi is the donkey, but he'll make up for this race.

Piquet really managed to stink up the joint!
When dries were put on his car I said, 'Uh oh. Here we go.'

[aryan]

Candidates:

Heikki: Pushing Button

Button: Hitting Rosberg

Glock: How many times did he spin?

Alonso: Running into Heifeld like an amateur

Piquet: everyone could handle the grooves by then

Kimi:............


My vote goes to my longtime hero: M. Champion du Monde :rolleyes:

[donKey jote]

The biggest donkey prize has to go to Raikkonen! And there are numerous reasons for this!

2nd Donkey prize will go to the Ferrari strategists team and the guy who failed to change Massa's wheel in no time.

3rd one goes to the other champ on the grid (Alonso) for ruining his and Heidfelds race.

damn, 2 of my 3 favourites
as I said in the chat, it's hard for me to pick between Kimi and Alonso...
so Joint Donkey of the Race goes to the future ferrari team in full :p :
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/16/16_3_166.gif

[veeten]

and that is from someone that knows about donkeys. ;) :p :

[ten-tenths]

alright im a huge kimi fan, but this race is almost like his australia race except he didnt even manage a point in this one. it seemed like after the second SC period he just got overly excited and pushed it too far. very dissapointing. lewis deserves driver of the race but man was he luckiest driver as well. ferrari as a team made huge strategic errors on both kimi and massa. it left no room for flexiblity on a circuit that has the shortest time for pitstops. it seems now that massa has surpassed kimi in terms of momentum, kimi better start to reestablish his status in the team asap.

[F1boat]

Raikkonen
Alonso
Piquet

[donKey jote]

and that is from someone that knows about donkeys.
from the one who coined the term ;) :p

or was it inspired the term :( :D
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/16/16_3_166.gif

[Willard67]

Probably Piquet, who's looking more and more to be as much use as boobs on a goldfish.

Then this esteemed accolade would probably be handed to Kimi for not only slamming into Sutil, but driving like a complete wally all day.

Finally, to D.C. - Why, just why?

[Sleeper]

Kimi, with ALonso, Piquet and Glock, the only person to forget the cars dont have TC any more, in a close joint second.

[Daniel]

Force India.

[gloomyDAY]

Force India.I hope you mean Fisi. :|

[Daniel]

I hope you mean Fisi. :|
No. I mean Force India for not accepting that **** happens.

[gloomyDAY]

No. I mean Force India for not accepting that **** happens.Force India has the right to complain if they feel something was unjust, but Ferrari should get away without a penalty. Regardless of the outcome, that doesn't take away from an impressive drive that Sutil yanked out of an inadequate car. I'm not sure what you're bitter about Daniel.

[Daniel]

Force India has the right to complain if they feel something was unjust, but Ferrari should get away without a penalty. Regardless of the outcome, that doesn't take away from an impressive drive that Sutil yanked out of an inadequate car. I'm not sure what you're bitter about Daniel.
It shows bad sportsmanship IMHO. The sad thing is I think this will overshadow Sutil's great drive.

[gloomyDAY]

It shows bad sportsmanship IMHO. The sad thing is I think this will overshadow Sutil's great drive.No, the incident will not overshadow Sutil's drive.

Why? Here (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67754). No penalty.

[Robinho]

Kimi was not good today - i fear he's losing interest a bit, when he's focused he's great, today he was all over the place - but to be fair most people made some mistake.

Glock seemed incapable of pointing in the right direction for more than a few laps.

Piquet was either slow or crashing, sometimes both.

Alonso was hot headed, he should have been patient and he could have had big points today.

i'll go for Glock

[osg]

I love Kimi to death.... but when he drives like he did today it makes me wonder how on earth he ever managed to be in contention to jag a world title last year.

It was embarrassing at best.......

[Garry Walker]

Heidfeld probably.
Kimi as well.

[ioan]

Heidfeld probably.

Must be because Alonso decided to run into him! Or because he was up to 5th from something like twelfth before the bull saw red! :rolleyes:

[Dzeidzei]

Must be because Alonso decided to run into him! Or because he was up to 5th from something like twelfth before the bull saw red! :rolleyes:

Being Nick I wouldnt be too worried about today. I would be VERY worried about the fact that his teammate is beating the living c**p out of him. Race after race.

[Garry Walker]

Must be because Alonso decided to run into him! Or because he was up to 5th from something like twelfth before the bull saw red! :rolleyes:

As much as I saw from the race, he was lacking pace clearly compared to Kubica + after the Alonso incident, he was just nowhere. Whenever I saw him, he was getting lapped.

I haven`t read his quotes of the race really, but what explains his lack of pace.


I will also say that amongst others one of the things that made me name him the donkey is his performance yesterday.

[donKey jote]

Glock, the only person to forget the cars dont have TC any more, in a close joint second.

would that be Glock, the person who never had TC before ? :confused:

[ioan]

As much as I saw from the race, he was lacking pace clearly compared to Kubica + after the Alonso incident, he was just nowhere. Whenever I saw him, he was getting lapped.

He was fast enough to get up to 5th and be in front of FA!

I haven`t read his quotes of the race really, but what explains his lack of pace.



I will also say that amongst others one of the things that made me name him the donkey is his performance yesterday.

Sure he had a bad qualifying session, but did nothing stupid yesterday or today.

[jens]

I'm going to nominate... Toyota. Especially considering their ridiculous ability to snatch last positions, whenever there is a wet race. If we discount Heidfeld (who was 4 laps down anyway), then the two Toys finished in the last 2 positions. You know, what happened? They decided to give drivers extreme wet tyres. :rotflmao: This is why Jarno started struggling in the midrace, created a train and complained on the team radio about grip. When it was drying, they gave both drivers inters... just to call them into the pits about ten laps later. Awesome. :p . At least should have risked like it was done with Alonso and Piquet, who switched to dries straightaway. Toyota - the worst wet weather team of all times (others at least manage to perform at times, they do it never). I'm already starting to feel like they are being sabotaged - it seems so unbelievable. :p :
When Jarno was running P6 and Timo P7 in the beginning, I called a friend and asked: "So it's raining. How will Toyota cock this race up? You know, this is impossible that they have a good strategy." Moments later Timo spun and Jarno went into the pits. Especially pity for Trulli, who was running fine in Top6. I really feel sorry to him. :( He is driving his socks off every GP weekend, taking all out of the car, yet gets no reward for his performances. Without team stupidites he could be on par with Webber and Kovalainen in the WDC. But alas those "ifs" don't count, just throwing opportunities away counts. Jarno deserves better than a Toyopet.

[Mad_Hatter]

Hands down Kimi.

Ruined his race as well as Sutil's.

[petrolhead ben]

Both alonso and kimi had bad races today as well as glock and especially piquet who seems to really be struggling this season.
But what surprises me is that raikkonen and alonso, the two world champions made mistakes that you wouldn't expect them to make. On a day like today you would expect those two to show their class and prove how good they really are, because they are fantastic drivers. I know conditions were very difficult but it still does surprise me.

Alonso got impatient and frustrated behind heidfeld and spun him round, having already hit the barriers once. Raikkonen also went off, his pace wasn't brilliant and then the disaster with sutil. It was similar to his melbourne race in many ways. It just seems to me he pushes too hard and makes errors. But that just my opinion having watched these races.

[jens]

Maybe Alonso and Räikkönen are not so fantastic as one might think?! :p : Remember, this was the first wet weather race without TC since ages and FA and KR are clearly the guys from the "TC-era". I was more impressed by Hamilton's (despite that one slip) and Kubica's drives in difficult conditions with the lack of drivers aids. True class. :up:

I don't actually think Alonso performed that poorly. He had pace, he just had a couple of overoptimistic moments - partly because the car is uncompetitive and he was really trying as hard as hell to get somewhere with that machinery. He even looked capable of keeping Kubica's pace early on before touching the wall. Then he was given full wet tyres and was probably struggling a bit, but I enjoyed his insightful team radio sessions. What a smart racer. :) He'll surely show himself in a better light in the future, especially if he has a more competitive car underneath him.

Kimi on the other hand... did not only make mistakes, but was plain slow too. Dry setup can't be an explanation, because why did he fail to beat Massa in qualifying on Saturday then? Räikkönen, who has been called a Monaco specialist in the past, was a serious embarrassment this weekend like at Melbourne. A lot of people have thought that Massa is struggling without TC, but to be honest I'm really starting to doubt about Kimi's abilities to drive without TC on street circuits...

[ioan]

A lot of people have thought that Massa is struggling without TC...

Remember what I told you, in that discussion about BMW before the seasons start, about a lot of people who know what color the cars are?! ;)

[SGWilko]

A lot of people have thought that Massa is struggling without TC,

Something MB on ITV made reference to today regards FM - 'he's stopped making silly mistakes'

Could this be Fillipes' year. Certainly be a popular win if he does methinks.

[markabilly]

Something MB on ITV made reference to today regards FM - 'he's stopped making silly mistakes'

Could this be Fillipes' year. Certainly be a popular win if he does methinks.
Perhaps the rumor or reality that FA is headed to Ferrari has caused a re-focus on effort?

Or is it that the car just suited his style of driving better than it did Kimi at Monaco?

Will it continue?
That will be the real question.

[ioan]

Perhaps the rumor or reality that FA is headed to Ferrari has caused a re-focus on effort?

Or is it that the car just suited his style of driving better than it did Kimi at Monaco?

Will it continue?
That will be the real question.

That was the question before Monaco too. Not to mention that Kimi got 2 days testing in Monaco configuration at Paul Ricard while Felipe got none of it.

I hope he keeps it up.

[Tomi]

Kimi for the crash with Sutil and Renault because of trying to kill Piquet, irresponsilbe to not put suitable tyres to a guy on wet who cant even drive on a dry track.

[PSfan]

My hands down winner for donkey of the race is Glock

honorable mention, would be Gascoyne for the suggestion that the stewerts should investigate the the Sutil - Kimi incedent... can we investigate the Fisi - Kazu incident from Turkey while we're at it while discussing precidents...

Think Kimi's getting a little to much heat for this incident with Sutil... had Sutil had to make legit passes on Kazu, Rubins and PK on lap 13, he might not have even been front of Kimi to be nailed from behind, and we might be praising Kimi for a unbelievable save, instead of damning him for taking Sutil out.

[K-Pu]

The total failure of the race has been Ferrari. They could have done a lot better but they have messed it up.

Also a special mention for Alonso, who has managed to turn a potentially good race into a disaster after crashing with Heidfeld where you can´t overtake. Remember what happened to Trulli, just to say the latest.

And of course I´d like to mention Tele 5, the (insert insult here) who have the innate ability to put ads ALWAYS when something is happening on track. They managed to screw the race on their own with better aiming than Robin Hood in a clear day with no wind and an olympic bow.

[mstillhere]

Kimi
I think the guy forgot to take his antidepressants. What an awful performance. This a drive a will not forget for a long time.
Massa close second.
MS would won easily today. No question about it.

[mstillhere]

:up: I agree

So do I. No excuses!!

[Valve Bounce]

He was fast enough to get up to 5th and be in front of FA!

I haven`t read his quotes of the race really, but what explains his lack of pace.
.

I think the commentator said his pits reported he had a slow puncture.

[ioan]

And of course I´d like to mention Tele 5, the (insert insult here) who have the innate ability to put ads ALWAYS when something is happening on track. They managed to screw the race on their own with better aiming than Robin Hood in a clear day with no wind and an olympic bow.

Just wait and see the TF1 coverage!
7 ad-brakes during the race (that's about 1/3 rd of the race) missing most of the pit stops and leaving us in the dark about the strategy.

[ioan]

I think the commentator said his pits reported he had a slow puncture.

Thanks for clearing that up Valve.
To make it clear, the second phrase from that quote isn't mine, I just misquoted Garry.

[SGWilko]

Kimi
I think the guy forgot to take his antidepressants. What an awful performance. This a drive a will not forget for a long time.
Massa close second.
MS would won easily today. No question about it.

Or he could have binned it again, like he did one year - slow corner in the wet, first lap - he went straight on and ripped off the nose. ;)

[ioan]

Or he could have binned it again, like he did one year - slow corner in the wet, first lap - he went straight on and ripped off the nose. ;)

I think it was '96, the last corner before the tunnel.
The problem is that he ripped of the front left wheel too, otherwise he could have still win it.

[F1boat]

Yes and MS dominated in 1997, in awful conditions.

[ShiftingGears]

Yes and MS dominated in 1997, in awful conditions.

Well you win some and you lose some. The same way that Raikkonen was faultless in the wet Chinese grand prix but lackluster yesterday.

[F1boat]

Of course. He now had two bad and two brilliant races this season, and two average.

[ShiftingGears]

Of course. He now had two bad and two brilliant races this season, and two average.

And it's those inconsistencies that cost drivers world championships. But it's anyones guess as to where Raikkonen will be come the Brazilian Grand Prix. He was 15 points adrift coming out of Monaco last year, and frankly it was amazing that he won the world championship. Recently Massa has improved, and was better in the rain than Kimi. That was a big surprise.

[donKey jote]

I don't actually think Alonso performed that poorly. He had pace, he just had a couple of overoptimistic moments - partly because the car is uncompetitive and he was really trying as hard as hell to get somewhere with that machinery. He even looked capable of keeping Kubica's pace early on before touching the wall. Then he was given full wet tyres and was probably struggling a bit, but I enjoyed his insightful team radio sessions. What a smart racer. :) He'll surely show himself in a better light in the future, especially if he has a more competitive car underneath him.


I enjoy your insightful posts :up:
Certainly refreshing after all the donkeydung going around ;) :p :

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/16/16_3_166.gif

[jens]

Talking about Räikkönen. Two brilliant races out of six is too few for a top driver. Quite several drivers have been more impressive than that so far this season. If a driver can perform in 1/3 of the races, then it actually shows quite clear inconsistency. But I guess his "percentage" will increase during the rest of the season - we'll see.

[Melqui]

Hahaha, i think the first two posters got it all right :)

[leopard]

I think the commentator said his pits reported he had a slow puncture.

The crew might make a mistake equipped Kimi with tube-type tyres :D

[janneppi]

With an honourable mention for Heikki for stalling at the start and then failing to unlap himself during the SC period. Only his phenomenal speed prevents full donkey status.
Sorry to bring this up from the dark ages. :)
McLaren had to change his steering wheel before the clutch would work, so it's doubtful he was to blame for it. As for the SC period, there was a mention from whitmarsh that they asked a permission for Heikki to unlap himself behind Sutil, but they received it too late. He was still catching the group when race began for the last time.

[ioan]

The crew might make a mistake equipped Kimi with tube-type tyres :D

He was talking about Heidfeld! :p : :D

[ioan]

Sorry to bring this up from the dark ages. :)
McLaren had to change his steering wheel before the clutch would work, so it's doubtful he was to blame for it. As for the SC period, there was a mention from whitmarsh that they asked a permission for Heikki to unlap himself behind Sutil, but they received it too late. He was still catching the group when race began for the last time.

Exactly!
We do need well informed opinions like this, thanks.
Heiki is having all the technical problems at McLaren at this moment, none of his own fault.

[Dzeidzei]

Exactly!
We do need well informed opinions like this, thanks.
Heiki is having all the technical problems at McLaren at this moment, none of his own fault.

Youre right. That must be a Finnish curse at McL.

[SGWilko]

Exactly!
We do need well informed opinions like this, thanks.
Heiki is having all the technical problems at McLaren at this moment, none of his own fault.

That's priceless! :laugh: So, lewis suffers a technical problem in Brazil '07 and some on here brand it his fault, but Heikki suffers technical faults and it's nothing to do with him??? :confused:

Where is the logic?

[leopard]

He was talking about Heidfeld! :p : :D
My bad :(

So what, Kimi had tires problem, I was talking about Kimi. :p :

[ioan]

That's priceless! :laugh: So, lewis suffers a technical problem in Brazil '07 and some on here brand it his fault, but Heikki suffers technical faults and it's nothing to do with him??? :confused:

Where is the logic?

They had to change Heiki's steering wheel in order to start the car, something that wasn't required for Lewis!
But don't let the facts get in the way of your bias, it might wake you up from your dream! :rolleyes:

[Daniel]

That's priceless! :laugh: So, lewis suffers a technical problem in Brazil '07 and some on here brand it his fault, but Heikki suffers technical faults and it's nothing to do with him??? :confused:

Where is the logic?

Perhaps this might remind you of what happened in Brazil :laugh:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_cB5UNGqVs