grande of the weeke

[donKey jote]

finomenale Alonso :D

[Koz]

Fernando and his two girlfriends, very deserved!

And Hamilton, "blue flag" :D

Vettel for that charge.

[steveaki13]

Man of the Day: Alonso - Fantastic drive and pulled away from everyone.

Other Mentions:

Kimi - Nice 2nd after damage to his nose.
Seb - Done a great job on the softs at the end and from 9th to 4th was a good job.
Ricciardo - Nice Qualifying yesterday and 7th today. Good weekend.
di resta - I think he done a decent job, ruined by the softs last.
Bianchi - Only 5 odd seconds behind the Williams so he really done another great job.
Pic - Managed to race Bianchi and was closer to him than Chilton or VDG.

Also Marussia & Caterham.
Remember when they joined they were lapped 2 or 3 times most races. Today all 4 only finished 1 lap down and that was from lap 33 onwards.

They are improving and catching the field.

[truefan72]

Alonso, Kimi, Hamilton, ricciado in that order

extra grande for Alonso's stunner of a GF, and her friend/sister
beds will be pushed together tonight!

[AndyL]

Classic Alonso.

[dj_bytedisaster]

extra grande for Alonso's stunner of a GF, and her friend/sister
beds will be pushed together tonight!

His missus is Russian and from experience I can tell you, Russian women don't like any 'extras' in the sack, not even her sister.*lol*

Great job by Fernando. man of the weekend.
Lewis whining for blue flags was funny, but only because he's not Vettel. We'd have a hate-storm if Vettel had said it. Good that Vettel is off the podium for once. Saves us hate posts for at least a week.

[Koz]

We're talking about Alonso. There will be exceptions.

[pino]

Grandissimo Alonso :D

[Whyzars]

Alonso without doubt.

An honourable mention to Mark Webber who started from the pit lane and managed to storm his way to head his team mate in short order. Hey, I've got to give the poor guy something after this weekendus horriblus.

And of course Valve for that spooky third eye... :p

[Tazio]

PICKEM:92901,Mr Alca-Tazizzle,F Alonso,K Raikkonen,L Hamilton,S Vettel....
^^^^^ these broughams :champion: ;)

[A FONDO]

Finally the Ferrari car was fast as it should be. Of course this doesn't underestimate Fernando's brilliant performance!

[dj_bytedisaster]

Hey, I've got to give the poor guy something after this weekendus horriblus.


It's weekendus horribilis. Ok, that's my nerdish contribution for today :D

Man of the weekend is without a doubt Fernando - brilliant drive.

[gm99]

Alonso and an honourable mention to Ricciardo who drove a great race today to finish in the top 8.

[markabilly]

Alonso, but of course, plus Hulkenberg for taking a Sauber as far as he did.....even in front of vettel

[Knock-on]

Havent watched it yet. Stuck at the Russian border trying to clear Customs. However, when i get to Moscow, i will check out DJ's theory :D

[kfzmeister]

Zo
Kim Jong Raikkonen (aka rocketman)

[Mia 01]

Alonso did a fantastic start and soon overtook Lewis, from then on he did nothing wrong, well done.

Then there is Kimi, I´m so glad that you still are with us!

[dj_bytedisaster]

Havent watched it yet. Stuck at the Russian border trying to clear Customs. However, when i get to Moscow, i will check out DJ's theory :D

At which border are you? If you come from the baltic countries (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia) make sure you stop at Velikiye Luki the chaps burn a fantastic Vodka there :D 63 Volt, that'll disinfect you from inside - the viruses never ever have a chance :D

[tfp]

His missus is Russian and from experience I can tell you, Russian women don't like any 'extras' in the sack, not even her sister.*lol*

Great job by Fernando. man of the weekend.
Lewis whining for blue flags was funny, but only because he's not Vettel. We'd have a hate-storm if Vettel had said it. Good that Vettel is off the podium for once. Saves us hate posts for at least a week.

hahaha!

ive been so focused on donkey of the race that I've forgotten about the knights. Obviously Fred, he was in a class of his own today. Kimi also drove perfectly. Vettel storming up to Hamilton had me on the edge of my seat, some fantastic racing there from the pair of them. And the hulk, also punching well above his weight.

[airshifter]

Alonso drove such a solid in control race that I won't even mention any of the other solid drivers. He was in a class of his own today.

[faster69]

i thought vettel was incredible in the dying laps when he had permission to reel off 5 consecutive qualifying laps with the soft tyres. look at what button could do with the same tyres? he cooked them after a lap.

alonso won because he had the best car.

[henners88]

Fernando Alonso was driver of the race for me.
An utterly faultless drive where he showed why he is one of the very best out there IMO. Honourable mention to Ricciardo who had a fantastic qualifying session and finished a solid 7th even if Webber made contact and hindered him. A great display in qualifying also from Hamilton to give Mercedes their first pole since the great Stirling Moss. A solid race from Lewis too. Quite an exciting race overall.

[AndyL]

look at what button could do with the same tyres? he cooked them after a lap.

That's not correct. Button did his fastest lap on the final lap of the race. One look at the different tactical situations they were in after the last pit stop will tell you why they made different choices about how to use the tyres in the final stint.

[Tazio]

Alonso won because he had the best car.And Massa finished 7th because..........

[wedge]

Daniel Ricciardo

[truefan72]

Fernando Alonso was driver of the race for me.
An utterly faultless drive where he showed why he is one of the very best out there IMO. Honourable mention to Ricciardo who had a fantastic qualifying session and finished a solid 7th even if Webber made contact and hindered him. A great display in qualifying also from Hamilton to give Mercedes their first pole since the great Stirling Moss. A solid race from Lewis too. Quite an exciting race overall.

agree with everything you say, except that Rosberg got pole at the very same race last year ;)

[henners88]

agree with everything you say, except that Rosberg got pole at the very same race last year ;)
I thought he did but obviously with the BBC saying on no less than 3 ocassions yesterday that Lewis had indeed achieved that feat I ignored my curiosity. I would hold my hands up on that fact but the BBC have to take the blame for that one. Perhaps they meant Lewis had made history by becoming the first British Mercedes driver since Moss? Doesn't really impress when its put like that though. :)

[faster69]

And Massa finished 7th because..........

because massa has been a shadow of what he was since his accident, because ferrari put him back behind hamilton and kimi by making him go around another lap.

make no mistake that ferrari was easily the quickest car out there yesterday. what massa does isn't relevant.

[henners88]

because massa has been a shadow of what he was since his accident, because ferrari put him back behind hamilton and kimi by making him go around another lap.

make no mistake that ferrari was easily the quickest car out there yesterday. what massa does isn't relevant.
Felipe has been back on form of late as seen in recent races. The team made the wrong call with him yesterday IMO.

[N4D13]

Felipe has been back on form of late as seen in recent races. The team made the wrong call with him yesterday IMO.
Even so, he was absolutely worthless when on the primes. He was unable to be anywhere near Alonso's pace, let alone overtake. While Fernando managed to overtake pretty much everyone he had in front, Felipe just dropped backwards.

[faster69]

alonso had the best car in the field and didn't do anything spectacular. kimi went backwards at the start, both ferraris easily passed hamilton to be 1-2. after that alonso passed button -- who was on 20 lap old tyres -- and he passed vettel who was on a different strategy, in a much slower car and not wanting to lose time defending.

massa hasn't been near alonso's pace for three years. massa was about the same pace as kimi. if massa has shown his true pace in the last three years then that would mean alonso is a good half a second quicker than kimi.

wait, i can go further. hamilton matched alonso immediately in his first year of f1. i assume hamilton has improved since his first season (he was incredible in 2012 but had the worst luck on the grid). so if hamilton is faster than alonso then hamilton must be 0.6 or 0.7 of a second quicker than kimi. hamilton might be 0.2 of a second at most quicker than kimi.

the fact is santander pays all this money in a bad economy to have alonso on the top of the podium not massa.

or maybe alonso's just half a second a lap better than his competition. i find it hard to believe after getting beat by trulli in 04 and matched by a first year driver in 07. if he's half a second better than his rivals then surely he could have passed petrov in 2010???

[henners88]

Even so, he was absolutely worthless when on the primes. He was unable to be anywhere near Alonso's pace, let alone overtake. While Fernando managed to overtake pretty much everyone he had in front, Felipe just dropped backwards.
That's perhaps because Alonso is a much better driver than Massa. The car obviously suits both drivers this year but Fernando has found the balance on both sets of tyres it seems.

[steveaki13]

alonso had the best car in the field and didn't do anything spectacular. kimi went backwards at the start, both ferraris easily passed hamilton to be 1-2. after that alonso passed button -- who was on 20 lap old tyres -- and he passed vettel who was on a different strategy, in a much slower car and not wanting to lose time defending.

massa hasn't been near alonso's pace for three years. massa was about the same pace as kimi. if massa has shown his true pace in the last three years then that would mean alonso is a good half a second quicker than kimi.

wait, i can go further. hamilton matched alonso immediately in his first year of f1. i assume hamilton has improved since his first season (he was incredible in 2012 but had the worst luck on the grid). so if hamilton is faster than alonso then hamilton must be 0.6 or 0.7 of a second quicker than kimi. hamilton might be 0.2 of a second at most quicker than kimi.

the fact is santander pays all this money in a bad economy to have alonso on the top of the podium not massa.

or maybe alonso's just half a second a lap better than his competition. i find it hard to believe after getting beat by trulli in 04 and matched by a first year driver in 07. if he's half a second better than his rivals then surely he could have passed petrov in 2010???

The faster way to Laugh. ;)

[Tazio]

Felipe has been back on form of late as seen in recent races. Precisely, plus let’s not talk about what happened between Hamilton and Alonso 5 years ago it has nothing to do with the form of Alonso lately. If certain members can't appreciate that at this point in time Alonso is as good or better than anyone else out there then I'm not going to try to convince them, just watch and enjoy. I know I will regardless of who wins the WDC :bulb:

[kfzmeister]

alonso had the best car in the field and didn't do anything spectacular. kimi went backwards at the start, both ferraris easily passed hamilton to be 1-2. after that alonso passed button -- who was on 20 lap old tyres -- and he passed vettel who was on a different strategy, in a much slower car and not wanting to lose time defending.

massa hasn't been near alonso's pace for three years. massa was about the same pace as kimi. if massa has shown his true pace in the last three years then that would mean alonso is a good half a second quicker than kimi.

wait, i can go further. hamilton matched alonso immediately in his first year of f1. i assume hamilton has improved since his first season (he was incredible in 2012 but had the worst luck on the grid). so if hamilton is faster than alonso then hamilton must be 0.6 or 0.7 of a second quicker than kimi. hamilton might be 0.2 of a second at most quicker than kimi.

the fact is santander pays all this money in a bad economy to have alonso on the top of the podium not massa.

or maybe alonso's just half a second a lap better than his competition. i find it hard to believe after getting beat by trulli in 04 and matched by a first year driver in 07. if he's half a second better than his rivals then surely he could have passed petrov in 2010???

You're right. May he cruise to his third title this year. Alonso's a God. Grande of the race. :D

[mstillhere]

Massa has only one opponent: FA. I am sure that if he would be able to put his car in front of Fred's I bet any money he would race like we have never seen him before. But........since that doesn't happen really after he gives it a shot in passing FA for a couple of laps he realizes his chances to win the race are already over and then he just sits back and waits for the race to end waiting for a better chance at the next one. And that's how all those years at Ferrari went by..............

[faster69]

Precisely, plus let’s not talk about what happened between Hamilton and Alonso 5 years ago it has nothing to do with the form of Alonso lately. If certain members can't appreciate that at this point in time Alonso is as good or better than anyone else out there then I'm not going to try to convince them, just watch and enjoy. I know I will regardless of who wins the WDC :bulb:

i think alonso is 3rd best on the grid, which is quite an achievement. but there must be good reason that ferrari keep massa when he's been uncompetitive for three seasons. it goes beyond giving him adequate time to recover from what happened in 09.

look what happened to trulli at renault when he was beating alonso in 04. look at singapore 08. whether alonso were part of these decisions or not, it shows that a team boss will go to enormous lengths to advantage alonso.

07 alonso was expecting to create manipulate the situation like he had at renault, but wasn't able to so he resorts to blackmailing ron dennis.

then you have now. who knows the exact details but santander aren't the title sponsor of ferrari to see massa on the top of the podium. alonso is no doubt quicker than even an 2006-2009 massa, but the difference over the last three seasons is greatly exaggerated.

at the end of the day, ferrari have put all the eggs in the alonso basket and in three seasons haven't got any closer to winning a championship than massa did, have only 5 wins since 2011, despite having a huge budget.

[Knock-on]

At which border are you? If you come from the baltic countries (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia) make sure you stop at Velikiye Luki the chaps burn a fantastic Vodka there :D 63 Volt, that'll disinfect you from inside - the viruses never ever have a chance :D

Crossed at Ubylinka as I have an Agent there to fast track me :)

Stuck in crappy Moscow now until I head down to Kiev on the 19th and Budapest a few days after that and then back home.

[Garry Walker]

Alonso and Ricciardo impressed me the most.
Kimi, despite having car damage to due a blind mexican driver, was quite good too.