The F1 Thread 2009 Season

With Button all the way down in 8th that Brawn isnt looking too good. Lucky for Button the other teams are catching up so they will take points of the Red Bulls
 
Q3 results from the official website....

1 Fernando Alonso Renault - 1:21.569
2 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault - 1:21.607
3 Mark Webber RBR-Renault - 1:21.741
4 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes - 1:21.839
5 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota - 1:21.890
6 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes - 1:22.095
7 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari - 1:22.468
8 Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes - 1:22.511
9 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota - 1:22.835
10 Felipe Massa Ferrari - N/A
 
Wow look at the damage to the helmet. Looked like a coil, shows what damage can be done at that speed. Freak incident, thank goodness Massa is ok

Good to see some of the big names back up the top of the grid. I bet Button is delighted, if they start taking the big points in races his lead is nigh insurmountable
 
Of James Allens twitter - Ferrari says Massa has bone damage of skull and concussion, requires a operation. He will stay in intensive care
 
You can see the impact on this video

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8168807.stm

I would say he was lucky but he was pretty unlucky to even hit it. I remember a few years back when Jenson was hit on the head by a mirror and it did no damage at all, but suspension parts are pretty heavy.

Does beg the question though, remember Magny-Cours last season when Kimi's exhaust came loose and eventually fell off, why was he allowed to carry on with that flapping about? We have to expect a look into damaged cars and how far they can go before being black flagged when damaged.
 
Bit of good news of Allens's twitter - Massa has been operated on successfully. Will stay in Intensive care overnight. Team says signs are good, he is okay
 
Get well soon Massa!

Just read about Henry Surtees accident at Brands Hatch. What a tragic and freaky accident.
 
feckin hell Sky News and AP are reporting he is in 'life threatening' condition after surgery.
 
American sports networks still reporting life-threatening condition

Jesus what a sin, I hope he recovers, times like this it doesn't matter what team you support
 
Got this from James Allen - ignore reports on Sky/AP that Massa is in life threatening condition. He's stable after an op and will be okay. Long recuperation though
 
Wow in 1 week you had one guy dead and another injured through flying debris.

Horrible stuff.
 
Fuzzymel said:
Wow in 1 week you had one guy dead and another injured through flying debris.

Horrible stuff.
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I think that you can up the regulation to be as safe as you want, but at the end of the day, it's a dangerous sport, and if something hits you on the head at 160mph+, then there isn't much you can do about it. They know the risks when they step into the car.
 
McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh added: "What happened today was a shock.

"We've got to make sure we do everything we can to make F1 as safe as it can be.

"But a spring coming off and being in a collision four seconds later is an incredible circumstance and coincidence."

"You have to remember that motor racing is dangerous and that racing drivers are incredibly brave. It's all too easy to become blase about that."
 
Raises big questions about open-top racing, hope he recovers. Just heard on the news that he's in a stable but serious condition.
 
AlwynP said:
Raises big questions about open-top racing, hope he recovers. Just heard on the news that he's in a stable but serious condition.
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i wouldn't agree with that, they do know the risks involved, the risks can only be minimised, there is a chance even with a roof something could happen, this is a freak occurence that could not be prevented, the odds of such an occurence point to it not happening again within a hundred years, maybe more.
 
AlwynP said:
Raises big questions about open-top racing, hope he recovers. Just heard on the news that he's in a stable but serious condition.
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An Australian v8 driver 'Max Wilson' has a piece of Carbon fibre launch through his windscreen a few years ago. The carbon fibre was falling to the ground so it wasn't like this spring coming the other way. That spring would possibly have done just as much damage had the f1 car had a cockpit cover.
 
Brilliant effort from the McClaren team and Hamilton...chuffed for the lad.
 
Brilliant win, superb driving. Hopefully this is a continuing trend for the rest of the season, Hamilton just might help Button to the WDC if he keeps towards the front and takes points off of the Red Bull's. Great to see McLaren and Ferrari battling again.
 
Well done Lewis !!!

A bit somber given the season so far and Massa's injury but I cracked a smile seeing Lewis atop the podium.

Momentum into next, keep at it !
 
I was seriously worried seeing all of that stuff come off Alonso's car. Its been a strange weekend.
 
Schumacher to replace Massa for the rest of the season, anyone?
 
GloryHunter07 said:
I was seriously worried seeing all of that stuff come off Alonso's car. Its been a strange weekend.
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Well, Renault are going to be punished for it...

Renault has been suspended from the European Grand Prix for the events that led to a wheel coming off Fernando Alonso's car in Hungary today.

Following a post-race discussion with the stewards, it was deemed that the team had breached the regulations enough for it to be suspended from the next event.

It means Alonso will miss his home event that takes place in Valencia next month, unless he moves to another team.

Alonso had been leading the race up until his stop, but his efforts came to nothing after his right front wheel was not fitted properly. It worked its way loose and flew off the car later that lap, ending up against the crash barriers.

A statement issued by the stewards on Sunday night said that there had been multiple breaches of the regulations by the Renault team.

Stewards talked to Renault representatives twice after the race.

The statement said that Renault "knowingly released car no. 7 from the pitstop position without one of the retaining devices for the wheel-nuts being securely in position, this being an indication that the wheel itself may not have been properly secured."

It added that Renault, "being aware of this, failed to take any action to prevent the car from leaving the pitlane....failed to inform the driver of this problem or to advise him to take appropriate action given the circumstances, even though the driver contacted the team by radio believing he had a puncture."

It said that the team's actions had compromised safety in breach of Article 3.2 of the Sporting Regulations, and in breach of Article 23.1.i had released the car from the pits before it was safe to do so.

Renault has been reminded of its right to appeal the decision.
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http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77354

Harsh on Alonso...
 
I really feel for Alonso on this.

His team have been complete jerks. They risked his life and others by knowingly sending him out like that and not even warning him.

They have learnt nothing from this past week. Would it take another death for them to get it?
 
Great to hear Hamilton did well. Was at a Swedish racing event so I missed this today, although I was kitted out in my Hamilton cap! Will try and catch one of the re-runs

Obviously not seen anything, but if what Renault is being accused of it true, should be a whole lot more than a 1 race punishment for their driver. Obviously not fair on Alonso, then again I should think he'll have a few questions of his own
 
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