2009 Telefonica Spanish Grand Prix

[KevC]

Ross hasn't got any respect for Rubens, it's a disgrace he didn't allow Rubens to win. Very weak to do it like this, Rubens has already been in that position (Aus, 2001).

jeez. why has ross brawn not let him win? yeah button is winning, but rubens is part of the team too! and there's only been 5 races, they need to give him a freaking chance. that really peed me off.

Yes! If you want a driver to win, you don't switch from a 2 stop, to a 3 stop. Ross and Nick can say whatever they want, I'm just not gonnan believe them . He was heavier then Jenson and far more quicker in the 1st stint. Then why chance to a 3 stopper if you 'want' Rubens to win

Except that they didn't switch Rubens to a 3 stop.
They were both on 3 stoppers. They switched Jenson to a 2 stop.

[harrisv48]

Yea right ...in the 1st pit stop of Rubens they put him fuel for 18 laps and he call him when he have do only 12 laps! Why...I tell you why! Because is to dam fast and in the 12 laps the gap Rubens an Jenson is 15 sec and if he have done 6 more laps the gap he woes 21 sec!(1seconde faster than Button) Then he doing the pit stop and he will be still 1st. Same on you Ross....

[syafiqa]

A boring sesion..button-brawn domination

[phil1993]

Racial incident under investigation

Video:

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8043067.stm

Full Report:

Spoiler:

The FIA is investigating an act of suspected racism which took place during the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday. A spectator was seen at the Circuit de Catalunya clad with a McLaren team shirt and holding a model steering wheel of the car whilst with a black painted face, arms and hands.

"We are aware of it and we are looking into it," commented a spokesperson of the FIA, governing body of the sport. With ground staff on each access gate to the Circuit de Catalunya, it is almost certain that the spectator in question adopted the change of appearance whilst within the boundaries of the venue.

Sunday's incident follows a similar happening at the same circuit during a test session in February of last year, when a group of Spanish fans were under scrutiny for also darkening their skin, wearing wigs and displaying t-shirts containing the words 'Hamilton's family'.

With an anti-racism scheme started by the FIA following the incident of early 2008, a statement from the circuit - which launched a plaque in honour of World Champion Hamilton during the meeting, to be situated behind the main grandstand with several other tributes - is expected on Monday.

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http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/05/11/racial-act-under-investigation/

[blizzard]

Why are they sure it was a "racial incident"?

It could be a Hamilton fan, imitating his idol?

I saw on TV, that there were quite a few British fans, also Button fans. So it might be nothing more than a Hamilton fanboy.

Media exaggeration?

[phil1993]

Why are they sure it was a "racial incident"?

It could be a Hamilton fan, imitating his idol?

I saw on TV, that there were quite a few British fans, also Button fans. So it might be nothing more than a Hamilton fanboy.

Media exaggeration?

its still racist

[JoostLamers]

Fastest laps:

Spoiler:

Pos/Car number/Driver/Team/Lap time/On lap
1 23 Rubens Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes 1:22.762 28
2 22 Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes 1:22.899 17
3 3 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:23.089 14
4 15 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 1:23.090 41
5 14 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 1:23.112 18
6 7 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:23.420 14
7 16 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:23.621 24
8 21 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Mercedes 1:23.796 63
9 1 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:23.839 29
10 6 Nick Heidfeld BMW 1:23.878 29
11 5 Robert Kubica BMW 1:24.078 26
12 10 Timo Glock Toyota 1:24.134 44
13 17 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:24.155 38
14 8 Nelsinho Piquet Renault 1:24.286 41
15 4 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:24.490 16
16 2 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1:28.719 6

[phil1993]

Barrichello may quit over Button

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8043243.stm

[KevC]

If ever there was a headline taken dreadfully out of context, that's it.

Cos straight after saying that he says 'But I know Ross wouldn't do that'.
Brings the whole thing back down to earth when you see the whole story.

[HamiltonF1]

Pretty stupid to let the driver that leads the race, do a 3 stop strategy. Something tells me this was a championship thing.

Anyway, what a total fail by Mclaren instead of going forward things go backward, frustrating.

[f1anatic]

I think in Brawn's subconscious, Button will be champion. And while early in the game to start favoring one dude (not that he's not done before with Michael) for a team of strained finances and an ambiguous future; an internal driver fight could be detrimental. Ultimately sponsors care for winning and leave the team politics to the team. To attract sponsors and stay in F1, they have to win...and Button seems the one to have mastered the winnage. And an open title fight with Rubens would - as I said - be detrimental to the team's long term prospects and sponsor attractiveness.

Not gonna scroll back 30 pages to see what you folks talked about Ferrari's pit strategy. But those folks suck and Baldiserri - if he does not commit suicide himself; will surely be found in a ditch on the side of the road eventually. I would be quite pleased if there were another major shuffle back at Ferrari - in terms of drivers. Namely, I would send Kimi packing and Massa stays to the end of the year. By rotation, the team's official testers and Schumacher should be back. As for Hamilton and Mclaren, all their misdeeds would not have given them such a penalty: they cannot consistently score points; they have an accident prone driver and they get beaten seriously by a car with a technologically identical drivetrain. That almost sounds like a curse.

[AzShadow]

Baldisserri was ditched already. Dyer's been the lead strategist in the last few races.

[Rachael The Great]

I wonder if you guys would have a problem with it if it was Rubens having 4 wins and Button being second.

well it would be the same wouldnt it? it would be unfair on jenson.
Its Brawn. why change the strategy when they already had a win? Rubens was leading and could've won but they decided to change so Jenson won. Why?

Pretty stupid to let the driver that leads the race, do a 3 stop strategy. Something tells me this was a championship thing.

Anyway, what a total fail by Mclaren instead of going forward things go backward, frustrating.

yes. the frustration is immensely displeasing. they need to get their act together.

[TwistedArmco]

I think racial incidents are serious, but I don't see why it should be seen as the fault of the circuit if someone smuggles in facepaint. I hope no sanctions are employed against Barcelona, although I hope it's dropped off the calendar naturally.. :P

[Zack]

although I hope it's dropped off the calendar naturally.. :P

I agree this is horrible track for f1 gp ... keep it only as testing venue!