How will you remember F1 2008?
Sebastian Vettel's stunning win at Monza was a high point of 2008
How will you remember the 2008 F1 season? A close battle for the title that built to a glorious crescendo? Or a comedy of errors between two racers seemingly desperate to throw the championship away?
Here are six memories of the 2008 championship that stand out in my mind – share yours below.
Adrian Sutil at Monaco
This turned out to be Force India’s best chance all year to score points. Adrian Sutil mastered the conditions and seldom put a wheel wrong. From 18th on the grid he was running fourth – five points! – with ten laps to go.
Then he was rammed from behind by a rival who’d lost control of his car. Not any rival – the world champion Kimi Raikkonen, in his world championship-winning Ferrari. It was just one of several I-can’t-believe-what-I’m-seeing moments in 2008.
Lewis Hamilton at Silverstone
Yes, the McLaren was stronger in the wet than the Ferrari. Yes, Hamilton too had an off-track moment as rain lashed the Silverstone circuit. But the manner of Hamilton’s victory was utterly emphatic: an absolute rout.
Nick Heidfeld was 68 seconds behind him at the flat, Rubens Barrichello 14s further back, and no-one else was on the same lap. No wonder F1 Fanatic readers voted Hamilton the best wet weather F1 driver a few months later.
Felipe Massa at Hungary
Felipe Massa’s getaway at the Hungaroring must be a contender for start of the year. From third to first in one sweet move, Hamilton was clearly still smarting from it afterwards when he vowed not to let himself be overtaken so easily again. Massa should have capped the fine move with a win, but his engine gave up too soon.
Farce at Spa
One of those woeful times where F1 seemed hell-bent on doing as much damage to itself as possible. There were any number of reasons why stripping Hamilton of his hard-earned Belgian Grand Prix win was the wrong call: compounding it by refusing to let him appeal against the decision was madness. This was the day the FIA brought its own sport into disrepute.
Sebastian Vettel at Monza
Any number of drivers could have won this race. But Toro Rosso nailed the strategy for the wet conditions and Vettel reeled off a win that looked like his fifteenth, never mind his first. Certainly not the last.
And another thing: rain at Monza? What was that about?
The perfect finale
If Spa showed F1 at its worst, Interlagos showed off everything that’s right about the sport. A worthy setting, a feverish atmosphere, and a finale that couldn’t have been scripted better. Brazil ’08 is up there with Mexico ’90, Europe ’93, Belgium ’00 and Japan ’05 as one of the most exceptional motor races I’ve ever seen.
What are your memories of the 2008 F1 season?
Contribute to the F1 Fanatic 2008 F1 season review: Nominate your best and worst moments of the year, share your thoughts on the drivers and pick your favourite quotes of the year in the F1 Fanatic Forum
F1Fan said on 10th November 2008, 17:53
1. Vettel’s win in Monza
2. Lewis’s performance in Silverstone
3. Kimi’s successive crashes in Spa and Singapore
4. Felipe’s pit-lane fiasco in Singapore, and of course,
5. the last-lap drama in Brazil
Adam said on 10th November 2008, 18:02
Hi all.
For me there are so many so ive listed some that have been said and also some others that have not.
-Brazil 08… Unbelieveable
-Spa. So close to being unbelievable. We all know why.
-Vettel, not just Monza but at most of the GPs
-Some shocking stewards decisions that honestly came so close to ruining the whole season
-Lewis in the wet at Silvi and Monaco
-Massa being so unlucky at Hungary and Singapore
-Lots of people whinging about Lewis’s driving (yawn!)
-the end of Super aguri… And DC
-Alonso’s still got it
-F1 trying to go “green” then holding its first night race with like a billion lights!
-Learning about Max’s favourite past-times…. Each to their own Max eh?
-Ferrari’s brilliant traffic light system
-Mclaren driver WDC
Above all though ive really loved watching races like spa and brasil and seeing the reaction of people on the F1fanatic blog. My jaw has hit the floor so many times this season and you can really tell that the same thing is happening to people all over the world.
Great stuff guys
-
Matt said on 10th November 2008, 18:16
Obviously it has to be the last corner of the last lap of the last race. But also Vettel’s win at Monza was extraordinary, and heralded in a new era of Hamilon, Kubica, Vettel and maybe Alonso fighting for championships in the future.
Also going from the sublime (e.g Hamilton’s crushing victory at Silverstone, Hamilton and Kimi fighting tooth and nail in the final 3 laps of the Belgium GP, STR’s resugence) to the ridiculous (e.g Hamilton crashing into Kimi in the pitlane, Massa’s mistakes in Australia and Malaysia) to the hearbreak (e.g Kimi slamming into Sutil at Monaco, Massa’s engine giving up in Hungary, and Massa’s reaction in Brazil) its been one of the best season I’ve seen in the 10 years I’ve been following. For me, its up there with ’99 and ’03 in terms of drama and excitement. I’ve never screamed at the TV more than when watching Spa, Monza and Interlagos ever! Even appalling stewards decisions couldn’t ruin this championship, although they tried they damn hardest too. But another way of looking at it is that the stewards spiced things up, by giving us many talking points.
beneboy said on 10th November 2008, 18:49
Seeing a new British Champion has been nice.
For me though, Vettel has been my highlight of the season.
His performances on and off the track this season have impressed me a lot.
Obviously the win at Monza was brilliant but there’s been several times this season where he’s got a lot out of the car, often much more than Bourdais has managed.
The other thing I’ve liked about this season is the number of good drivers there is with competitive cars.
Some other teams are finally able to compete rather than just fighting for 4th place behind Ferrari & McLaren & it’s brought out some good performances from the likes of Alonso, Kubica & Vettel.
I’m trying to forget about the FIA & stewards.
Apostolos said on 10th November 2008, 20:12
Hamilton Against All!!!
Sush said on 10th November 2008, 22:32
and NETresult, a big HELLO to you guys!
Paul said on 10th November 2008, 23:02
2008 has been a season with slightly more good races than bad races, and a few classics. Par for the course, really. Maybe just a little bit more than you can ask for. I definitely agree about the Championship. What a bad one. Worst since 2004, but at least then you could appreciate Schumacher’s most dominant campaign (And Ferrari’s).
2007, from a pure outside and competitive stance, was a masterpiece. This one has been littered with mistakes and penalties. Contested by two drivers who have no idea how to win championships; one that acts like 2007 and 2003 never happened to him; one that is given no opportunity to race in a top car and when he does, he rarely does anything with it; one that has finely shone over his hype and put in a Championship-worthy campaign without the top two car ride; and a Champion who has come to life one race past halfway with his old team.
Meh? I think so. 2009 can hopefully be better.
Pink Peril said on 11th November 2008, 0:20
Ah so many incidents and great races. We really have been spoiled this season for great on track action (although the off track action left a lot to be desired).
1. Melbourne – great race, full of action
2. Monaco – great race drive by Lewis, not so great effort from Kimi
3. Montreal – although I do like Lewis, that incident was just an absolute crack up
4. Alonso winning in Singapore
5. Massa’s pitstop in Singapore & the walk of shame by his pall bearers/mechanics
6. Alonso winning again
7. Last lap Brazil
What a season! And I think it’s only going to be better next year.
Trip Hazard said on 11th November 2008, 0:32
The last lap of the last race kinda sticks in my mind for some reason… However, I still feel cheated for the debacle at Spa..
mani said on 11th November 2008, 4:13
I’ll also remember 2008 for Hamilton @ Montreal, Canada. It was just another one of several I-can’t-believe-what-I’m-seeing moments in 2008. You shouldn’t have missed it Keith!
motion said on 11th November 2008, 6:17
The year it transpired that F1 was to drown in a sea of debt set up by CVC. They overpaid for the F1 asset in order to facilitate a dirty great load of junk debt and enrich themselves. They set their debt servicing levels at the max under low interest rates during height of the boom and have no buffer for themselves, the event organisers, or the needs of the teams during the coming recession … so F1 is doomed. Cutting team costs doesn’t cut the debt, only a workout or a liquidation will do that.
FOTA should get ahead of the curve, once CVC is liquidated perhaps they can buy back the F1 banner.
narendra said on 11th November 2008, 10:31
Hi all,
I will remember the 2008 F1 Season for.
1. Lewis Hamilton’s memorable victory at Inter Lagos.
2. Robert Kubica’s super run during the season.
3. Sabestian Vettel as emerging star Any team would like to hire him GREAT SHOW.
4. FIA wake up !!!! the call on Hamilton was not fare.
5. MCLAREN WINNING AFTER SUCH A LONG TIME.
6. SPECTACULAR ADDITIONS OF STREET CIRCUITS.
7. Bad luck for Ferarri as they lost Dirver’c champiosnhip by just 1 point PITY !!!
roser said on 11th November 2008, 10:59
I’ll remember Vettel (not only his win) and Kubica good drive, Massa and Hamilton incidents in the pit lane, the spectacular progress of Alonso and Renault during the season, and also the saddest podium I’ve ever seen, in Brazil…
Rui said on 11th November 2008, 11:28
I. Vettel at Monza
II. Finale
III. Kubica
2009 will be the best year of F1 for a very long time,at least in my imho.
David said on 11th November 2008, 11:35
For me the highlight of the season, indeed of any F1 in recent times, was the battle between Hamilton and Raikkonen at Spa: breathtaking, exhilirating, half of it off track (by both drivers!) and ending with Hamilton desperately holding onto the lead at the finish and Raikkonen piling it into a wall. Wow. Who cares what the stewards thought.
Also memorable: Hamilton at Silverstone, the most ridiculously dominant perfomance of the season, followed by Hamilton and Vettel at Monza. The Felipe’n'Ferrari pit hose comedy at Singapore. The excrutiating dullness of Valencia. Alonso and his garage magic. And a really horribly nerve-wrangling finale at Interlagos.
And this site! :0)