Comments on: Fernando Alonso’s bad luck turns good for win (2008 Singapore Grand Prix)

By: Hatebreeder

Hatebreeder — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:26:47 +0000

seriously, nelson will need to have nerves of steel t pull off a stunt like tat, n if he is tat brave n dangerous, he shld be creamin the races right now!

By: David5

David5 — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:07:25 +0000

I didn’t particularly like the Singapore GP i thought it could have been anywhere in the world, a strip of tarmac edged by armco and catch fencing. I had a holiday in Singapore 2 years ago and was really looking forward to this race but recognised nothing.
Also I dont like races decided by lucky safety car periods, penalties for filling with fuel when the pit lane is closed, suspect interpretation of the rules. If i had my way i would also ban refuelling and tyre changes(except for safety reasons)and have the race won on the track.

By: zeppe

zeppe — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:03:24 +0000

Re S Hughes and D Watkins posts 61 and 63. Deserved and skillful in what ways? The facts in Monaco LH hits the barrier and has to pit for a new set of tyres & then for damage limitations change’s to a 1 stop strategy and then what happens – a safety car bails him out of jail. At silverstone kimi had him pegged and looked very strong with heavier fuel until the strange tyre choice decision. At spa he needed light rain 5 laps from the end to get anywhere near kimi after his error at the end of lap 1. The reality remains that like Fred at singapore without these fortunate circumstances playing into his favour he wouldn’t have won. Is this why macca want rain for the last 3 gp’s

By: Mahesh

Mahesh — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:51:20 +0000

@Oliver – Good Observation. Alonso and Nico got that breather after bringing their car in parc ferme coz tired Hamilton, Spent awfully lots of time on his victory lap.. and it was based on that footage that I said he was too tired end of the race. Sorry for not elaborating before.

By: Oliver

Oliver — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:48:41 +0000

Mahesh, Fernando was the only driver who sat down for an extended period before the podium ceremony.

By: Mahesh

Mahesh — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:46:41 +0000

@Chaz – You flog the dead horse and what do you get for all the hard work ?? A flogged Dead Horse

By: Mahesh

Mahesh — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:44:47 +0000

@CarlitosF1 – Glad to find another F1 enthusiast. As a Life long Williams fan, Every season when Williams is doing good in “Winter Championship”, I nurse a hope that things will be great and every season its a let down. Nevertheless, hope never dies

About Williams taking lead in KERS game. I feel Honda and Toyota should hold upper hand, and they are using KERS in their road cars. Williams has acquired a local UK firm that is using Flywheel based KERS device. It would be interesting to see how that fares against the “Constructors” and not to mention their Engine Supplier “Toyota” I have been reading Force F1 is planning to move to Honda (and as is STR) as Honda has its KERS well synchronized with Engine and It would be a Off the shelf solution for these teams. So lets wait and watch how Williams KERS gels with Toyota Engine.

If indeed Williams is competitive, there are lots of commercial benefits coming way of My Team

By: Chaz

Chaz — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:40:32 +0000

How come Ferrari has not received a fine for the fuel hose incident. Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Sutil receive a fine for a similar incident last year?

By: ajokay

ajokay — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:30:00 +0000

It’s been a very special moment over the past 12 years waking up at 3am to watch the Australian Grand Prix weekend. Same with all the Far Eastern races, and it’s never bothered me. I’d hate to see them all go to night races, but you have to admit the whole thing looked excellent in the dark.

By: PJA

PJA — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:59:22 +0000

A fully deserved win for Alonso, and great to see Williams back on the podium (hopefully they can make it up to the top step soon, although I think it unlikely).
I to wondered why it took so long to issue Rosberg and Kubica with their stop/go penalties. I remember reading earlier this year that the safety car rules were to be looked at so people who need to stop aren’t penalised so much, but it seems nothing has been agreed yet.

From the TV pictures I thought it looked like Ferrari had reverted to using a lollipop again for Massa’s second stop, but one of the pit crew was partially blocking the camera. I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t see the traffic light system again.

For the race itself, without the safety cars and Massa’s pit problems I think the race could have been as dull as Valencia, and although the night race was a success in terms of logistics etc I wouldn’t like to see established Grand Prix become night races, as has been mooted for Australia. Does anyone else not mind getting up early to watch a Grand Prix, as long as it is only a few times a year?

By: Colin Williamson

Colin Williamson — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:56:31 +0000

First of all congratulations Singapore for the great racing over the 3 days of the event, fantastic result also, I am from UK and the only downside having lived in singapore and asia for the last 17 years was the crowd safety at the circuit, also agreed with the party of 20 others we had at the event (locals also)from our Singapore company who is involved in construction and safety issues under Singapore regulations, the basic problem was insufficient controlled fence exits (EXIT ONLY) being open for people leaving at the end of the night, I was stood in a crowd of thousands standstill for about 15 mins with people getting more and more angry and frustrated and pushing and shoving began with no police or stewards to be heard, and connections through to the mall exits closing at 9.30pm which meant that people had to walk nearly half the circuit to exit the alternative areas coming back to city hall MRT (1.5 hrs later), when you have thousands of people leaving through a single overpass exit you are creating a potential disaster, on the second night security eventualy sent people on the track to avoid problems due to loss of control near gate 7, fencing in certain areas near to gate 7 were physically forced back due to crowd conditions, this was partially rectified on night 2 when police were in force to make sure of crowd movement, at the end of the night on sunday it should not take nearly a complete walk of the circuit to exit when other exit options remain fenced off and closed, lets try and get it right next time, we have already decided to re-consider the position next year.

By: CarlitosF1

CarlitosF1 — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:38:43 +0000

Mahesh: As a sort of newcomer to loving F1 (and to this blog) my enthusiasm is getting pretty annoying for my friends (to label them ‘largely uninterested in F1′ would be a huge understatement), with my thorough insisting on the endless quest for the inside line, carbon-fiber poetry under the floodlights, man vs machine epic and so on… Yeah!

Tom: Rather offtopic, but Williams seem to be very deep into KERS handling and (pls someone correct me if I’m wrong) have been the very 1st team to try a 2009-style rear wing. And I’d also like them to see them lagging a little less and scoring a little more.

Great idea for an article MW, good drivers struggling in bad cars.

By: Jian

Jian — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:59:11 +0000

Fortunes favour the brave they say, so Alonso was fortunate, Piquet was brave and Renault laughed all the way to INGs asian market HQ?

By: roser

roser — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:40:33 +0000

@Mahesh: it is all in the interviews with Flavio and Alonso, but put together…

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:21:06 +0000

Nico’s 2nd was one of my highlights of this year so far. What a great drive.

CarlitosF1 – I hope it’s not just speculation about Williams. I’d dearly love them to hit the top again.

By: Mahesh

Mahesh — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:12:32 +0000

@Roser – What source provided you with Renault “Internals”, If indeed all these are facts, increases value of Alonso’s drive a 100 times.

On that note – Lewis Hamilton had wagered Button on “being most fit driver” on the grid, Ham looked most tired of the three podium finishers and Alonso most fit. Maybe it was the win that boosted energy in the Spaniard.

@CarlitosF1 – You have mentioned in previos post about being a “Ohhh Kimi is sooooo cuuuuuuuute” type Gals. Its incredible to see that you are going to so many forums to get insights on the sport.

By: MW

MW — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:22:21 +0000

Its been painful to watch Alonso struggle with the Renault this year, and so even more wonderful to see the result on Sunday – Congratulations Fernando + all the team! What is interesting to consider is has the struggle made FA a better driver? Great drivers struggling with difficult cars and the outcomes? an interesting article Keith?

By: roser

roser — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:56:32 +0000

I don’t know if people realized that many things in Renault didn’t work this week-end, and however they won at the end: one of the drivers DNF, mechanical problem for ALO in the quali, they had no simulator to prepare the race (that’s why they take the bikes…), during the race the computers didn’t work so they were unable to tell ALO how much advantage he must get before the second pit stop, the drink bottle didn’t work either so ALO couldn’t drink during the race, the strategy they applied a priori was not the best but they didn’t have the brakes to, and probably other things… They were lucky (except for Piquet) but I think the win was deserved.

By: Sumedh

Sumedh — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:36:57 +0000

This year, Ferari and Mclaren have been evenly matched at almost every race.. unlike last year; when fortunes would swing wildly for both teams..

However, among the other 8 teams, the trend has been weird; Its anybody’s guess as to who will be best of the rest at Fuji..

By: toxichoney

toxichoney — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 07:42:08 +0000

AlOnsO rockz!!!
he’s the best F1 driver~~~