joostlamers wrote:Let it be their own opinion please.. and their own view on the coming GP-weekend..syafiqa wrote:Despite his lack of performances recently,
I'll still has a positive view towards kimi to win the race.
Vote for Kimi!!
lucky ... didn't got kidnappedphil1993 wrote:iceman1 wrote:Hamilton’s bags stolen :oh:
Lewis Hamilton is reported to have had his bags stolen at a Spanish hotel. The F1 ace was checking out of the Malaga Palacio in the Costa del Sol with girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger when thieves grabbed his rucksack and a leather holdall from the open boot of his hired Mercedes.
Hamilton’s bodyguards gave chase but the thieves disappeared into the crowd and the bodyguards were unable to catch them. Witnesses to the event have said that the thieves looked like opportunists and were probably not specifically targeting the star.
Hamilton was in the city because Scherzinger was performing there with her band, the Pussycat Dollsscroungers - bring back hanging!!!!!
No offence but that's dull,trivial information that very few would care about.Only if your a Ferrari nut would you care.ScuderiaFan wrote:The Ferrari team will arrive at Valincia tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday) .. they used to arrive at any grandprix thursday in the morning .. but due to first time the track hold a formula 1 race they will be there earlier to familiers the atmosphere there and begin working to the importent event
Massa's incident in Hungary was caused by a faulty connecting rod.
According to italian newspapers, some days ago while Ferrari was simulating with a V8 on the test bench the races of Monza and Spa a connecting rod broke again.
Ferrari denied, but the fear is that it can be a faulty batch of connecting rods.
Steve Slater wrote: Of course all eyes will be on the continuing battle between McLaren and Ferrari as the championship shoot-out resumes in Valencia this weekend. But maybe, just maybe, we'll see a surprise winner from another team, as the vagaries of an all-new track might just lead to someone springing a surprise.
The street circuit which hosts the European Grand Prix sweeps around the King Juan Carlos I yacht marina that last year hosted the Americas Cup, yet the track is more likely to have similarities with Singapore's floodlit venue than with Monaco.
It is wide, fast and flowing, but doesn't have sufficiently long straights to allow a horsepower advantage to show. That could be music to Fernando Alonso's ears. The Renault engine has a clear horsepower deficit to its rivals and this track almost seems ready-made to allow Alonso to show off his car control and racecraft to his adoring home fans.
Fernando has already joked about ‘getting up early' to beat his rivals, but he has a serious point. "We must do our best to find our reference points quicker than the others in order to spring a surprise" said he. In other words the faster you can learn the track, the more likely you are to qualify well and, if you do that, the odds will favour a good result.
Which is where McLaren come in. Although none of the Formula One teams have been allowed to run any significant on-track testing during the three week-long ‘summer break', there hasn't been much evidence of anyone taking a holiday. Every team has been working flat-out behind the scenes to boost their performance.
Back at McLaren's technical centre at Woking in England, is a little spoken-of device called "the simulator". Its detail workings remain a closely-guarded secret, but in simple terms it can best be described as a complete, current F1 car, combined with a full-motion simulator similar to those used for training aircrews.
It sounds like a multi-million dollar version of a computer game, but the hours spent in the simulator are deadly serious. Not only do the drivers fine-tune their knowledge of every single track on the calendar, but complex computer softwear attached to the machine allows the engineers to compare every aspect of its performance and adapt either the car or the driver's style to gain the ultimate efficiency.
Of course, almost every other team on the grid has a simulator of some form, but it is thought that none match the McLaren's sophistication - and success. Many in the paddock believe it is the simulator programme that has allowed the team to overhaul Ferrari in the last few races.
Rumour has it that using the simulator allowed the engineers to propose a change in Hamilton's driving style before the British Grand Prix. Less aggressive use of the steering early in the corner allowed smaller front wings to be used, which in turn led to lower sidepods, which allowed a higher top speed. The results were most clearly seen in Germany, when the McLaren simply waltzed away from the opposition.
This weekend it will be interesting to see whether Ferrari have found an answer to McLaren's performance boost. Certainly there will have been no lack of effort at Maranello, but it seems that there is a clear difference in approach between their two drivers.
Ferrari has been using a simulator at the nearby FIAT research centre and has been reported to have commissioned a ‘next generation' unit from American specialist MOOG. Felipe Massa is on record as a big believer in the technology. It seems however that Kimi Raikkonen is less of a fan and that, combined with a relatively lacklustre performance in recent races is placing increasing pressure on the reigning champion.
I personally think that Kimi will fight back. And it sets up a great prospect for Valencia.
Will it be the scientific approach of Hamilton, Kovalainen or Massa that wins? Or raw talent from Raikkonen or Alonso? Or even a real outsider like Red Bull's Mark Webber who always thrives on new tracks? Only one way to find out, join us in Race Central this weekend!
Driver to watch: Lewis Hamilton.
Yes I know it's a predictable choice, but Hamilton has a real opportunity to take control of the World Championship with a victory in Valencia. The McLaren arguably remains the superior car to the Ferrari and as Lewis proved by winning in Monaco, he can match aggression with precision. He is perfectly supported by team-mate Kovalainen too. The big question is will Ferrari have found something extra fight back with?
Here's some more info on the moog/ferrari deal:shail69 wrote:Steve Slater wrote: Ferrari has been using a simulator at the nearby FIAT research centre and has been reported to have commissioned a ‘next generation' unit from American specialist MOOG.
Ferrari Selects Moog for Formula-1 Simulator
06/18/2008
EAST AURORA, N.Y. June 18, 2008 -- Moog Inc. (NYSE: MOG.A and MOG.B ) announced today that Ferrari has placed an order for the engineering, design, development and deployment of a next-generation driving simulator to be located at Ferrari's headquarters in Maranello, Italy. The system includes a driving simulator featuring a customized motion control solution with combined motion mechanism, control loading system, complete software package, top platform and a dedicated operator workstation.
Marco Fainello, Head of the Car Performance and R&D Department for Scuderia Ferrari, stated, "The dynamic driving simulator is a new step for us in developing virtual tests that give drivers the true feel of a real environment and direct feedback on their actions. We have been impressed with Moog's motion control expertise and their ability to make every detail of the mechanical design a key to improving overall system performance, as well as the comfort and security of our drivers. This dynamic driving simulator will support the new breed of tests we are planning to launch to support our future success."
"It is a great opportunity for us to demonstrate our expertise in motion control and testing systems and develop a new breed of test system with our customer," said Pim van den Dijssel, Market Manager for Test Systems at Moog in Europe. "Ferrari selected Moog to provide an integrated motion control and testing system designed to meet specific and demanding requirements such as: higher levels of fidelity, efficiency and longevity."
With more than 500 motion bases developed for leading customers around the world, Moog is a global leader in the design, development and manufacture of electric and hydraulic motion platforms that span a variety of key applications with payloads ranging from 1,000 Kg (2,200 lbs) to 14,500 Kg (32,000 lbs).
Moog Inc. is a worldwide designer, manufacturer, and integrator of precision control components and systems. Moog's high-performance systems control military and commercial aircraft, satellites and space vehicles, launch vehicles, missiles, automated industrial machinery, marine and medical equipment. Additional information about the company can be found at http://www.moog.com.
Voting for him won't make him win.syafiqa wrote:Despite his lack of performances recently,
I'll still has a positive view towards kimi to win the race.
Vote for Kimi!!
ITV F1 wrote: The organisers of Valencia’s inaugural grand prix have revealed what the drivers’ and constructors’ trophies will look like ahead of this weekend’s race.
The brand new street circuit will host this year’s European Grand Prix and, while the nuances of the track still remain a mystery to the Formula 1 drivers, they have been shown the trophy they will be fighting over.
The winning driver will receive a trophy in the form of the city’s distinctive Reina Sofia Arts Centre, a futuristic building in the harbour-side area near to where the grand prix is being held.
While the winning constructor will take home a trophy in the shape of the region of the Community of Valencia.
