2008 FORMULA 1 French Grand Prix

[kimifantuga]

i expect a strong race for kimi!!!!
pole,win,fastest lap!!!!
back on top!!!!
he was very disapointed with canada acident.
i hope kovas finish in second place...
massa, kubica and heidfeld will finish next positions

[Dark Templar]

Kubica WTF!!
Second Kimi
Third Massa

[AzShadow]

More details emerge about likely new SC rules

More details about the planned test of potentially-revised Safety Car rules have emerged.

It was reported recently that the new system for the deployment of the Safety Car will be trialled during practice - probably the afternoon session on Friday and also Saturday morning - for the French Grand Prix next week.

The current SC rules are highly controversial, because the automatic closure of the pitlane upon deployment can penalise those drivers who are out of fuel and need to pit.

It was claimed that the proposed new rules will involve some special software for each car's standard ECU.

Renault's sporting manager Steve Nielsen reveals that, instead of finding the pitlane closed, drivers will now be required to record a minimum lap time for the first tour after deployment of the SC. It is rumoured that the minimum lap time will be 20 per cent slower than the average time from free practice.

"He will get a time displayed on his dash, which he is not to go faster than.
They then have five seconds to press a confirm button to show that they've seen the signal and from that stage onwards they're governed by the target lap time. That will ensure that all the cars go at a relatively slow speed," Nielsen told the team's official podcast.

However, he warned team bosses against rushing into actually applying the new rule too soon.

Nielsen said the Magny Cours trial "is purely an experiment to demonstrate to the drivers how the system will work."

"And if that's successful we will then go on and incorporate it into the rules as a proper regulation. Honestly, I think it's something that should perhaps be done for 2009," he added.

[shailf1]

well i think it might be either massa or kimi who will win. who else?
kubica!!! he was lucky in canada because hamilton, kimi and massa all had problems
hamilton!!! a ten place grid penalty would drop him down to around to like 13th or 14th and then might be stuck in the mid batlle of alonso,trulli,webber, roseberg.!!! and he might try one stop strategy!!!
heikki.. he has had so many bad lcuks this year that i think many people have counted him off the list of winners.

[marty]

I expect to Hamilton win this race.

Are you kidding me? From far behind? Maybe he can start 11th but I think it will be something 15th or 16th because very very big shunt of fuel, and that means basically that in this circuit, you don't have more than one good overtaking place and Hamilton isn't Kimi. Hamilton doesn't have same skills than Kimi has. He doesn't have same nerves and coolnes than Kimi has. That's why he screwed last season pretty sure WDC.

lol yeah righto kimi with his awesome skills just like in monaco when he took out sutil kimi is flawless hahahah

[Ali]

I reckon Lewis might be 3 or 4 stopping allowing his car to be light in both qualification thus clinching pole (which is the ultimate and best position for minimizing the damage) and in the race to win as mush as position at the start and in the first few laps. Remember Magny Cours has the shortest pit lane in the schedule and in 2004, Michael won the race thanks to a 4-stop strategy.

[swca92]

I can see a Ferrari 1-2 here,though I wouldn't be surprised if Massa is ahead of Kimi.Hamilton will do well to get 5th,barring retirements from the Ferraris,Kovalainen or Kubica

[melody]

For Lewis the race is very difficult. It is already said here that his startposition will be 15 or 16. In Magny Cours it is not easy to overtake a challenger. In my opinion he can be very happy when he reaches the points. P7 or P8 is possible in his situation.
Rosberg will have a more difficult situation with the Williams. The race is done for him...
Perhaps the wheather can be an important aspect here.

[igor18]

I expect this:
Kimmi - P1
Kubica - P2
Massa - P3
Alonso - P4
.
.
.
.
Hamilton P8

[melody]

I expect this:
Kimmi - P1
Kubica - P2
Massa - P3
Alonso - P4
.
.
.
.
Hamilton P8

It's a ferrari circuit so I don't think that BMW or even Alonso can be so good at this circuit. What about Kovalainen? He actually should be stronger than Alonso.

[Dark Templar]

What about Kovalainen? He actually should be stronger than Alonso.

but he isn't stronger osweat:

[melody]

What about Kovalainen? He actually should be stronger than Alonso.

but he isn't stronger osweat:

The "driver" Kovalainen probably not, but the car should be.

The barcelona crash seem to damage him more than everybody would believe...

[Fergie1]

Why is everyone writing off Kovy? He was well on the pace in Turkey and would have had a podium had he not got a puncture, Monaco was again unlucky when he stalled on the grid and Canada was again unlucky, the strategy didn't work out.

[Dark Templar]

Why is everyone writing off Kovy? He was well on the pace in Turkey and would have had a podium had he not got a puncture, Monaco was again unlucky when he stalled on the grid and Canada was again unlucky, the strategy didn't work out.

check out his qualifications score!

Australia - 2 ( race - 5 )
Malaysia - 3 ( race - 3 )
Bahrain - 5 ( race - 5 )
Spain - 6 ( race - accident )
Turkey - 2 ( race - 12 )
Monaco - 4 ( race - 8 )
Canada - 7 ( race - 9 )

not cool in such good car

[Ali]

check out his qualifications score!

Australia - 2 ( race - 5 )
Malaysia - 3 ( race - 3 )
Bahrain - 5 ( race - 5 )
Spain - 6 ( race - accident )
Turkey - 2 ( race - 12 )
Monaco - 4 ( race - 8 )
Canada - 7 ( race - 9 )

not cool in such good car

Most of the time he was heavier than Hamilton. And for races, McLaren used him (or abused his unluck) as a strategy tester in order to back Hamilton.