Who's gonna win the San Marino GP 2003?

[ales]

Originally posted by taranaki
On present form,Ferrari will not win.

KR

RB

DC

You got this almost right, Kev! Just need to insert one name on top of those

And Phil and myself got the second and third places mixed up, otherwise -

[Guido]

I've seen some great racing this afternoon!

First Ralf and Michael battling for the lead, then Rubinho and Ralf. That was one nice piece over overtaking he pulled out there, text book stuff!
And McLaren did very well again with good strategy. I didn't thought they would make it to the podium, but Kimi just did and DC did a stunning start thourgh the grass winning 5 places

so far 4 races and 4 different winners, and I've enjoyed it so far, knowing that after next race, Kimi will still be leading

Anyway, as said, my thought are also with the Schumacher family.

[RallyRaider]

That wasn't as bad as I expected. A very good exercise in damage control by McLaren. Obviously the McLaren was not a fast as the Ferrari, or even Williams on this circuit. The Michelins appeared to have a bit of a wear problem, that had to be managed carefully in order to last the longer stints of the two stop strategy. A shame Coulthard made a mistake in qualifying of he could have been up a few more points. Bit of a turnaround compared to the last few years, McLaren are the ones making all the right calls in strategy these days

And a good show put on by Ralf Schumacher and the Ferraris Bit of a dissapointing result for Ralf, this is the one track he can usually be counted on to perform well, and all he could manage was fourth. Disaster for Montoya, was it his tyres or fuel rig problems that caused him to stop so many times?

Oh well Ferrari are back where they belong, and who's car did they stuff up the pit stop on? Is Schumi just incredibly lucky or do the pit crew somehow focus more for him. Perhaps Ferrari have a work experience pit crew they use to work on just Ruben's car?

[Michael Schumacher]

Originally posted by RallyRaider
Oh well Ferrari are back where they belong...

Well put

[RallyRaider]

Originally posted by Michael Schumacher


Well put

Hmmm, perhaps not quite so well put! I certinaly don't mean that Ferrari have any right to the top step of the podium. More that they have had the fastest car all year but a variety of problems and mistakes have ment they haven't lived up to their potential. Hopefully back to mistakes and breakdowns next time (you started it Mikey with the Kimi crack on another thread!)

[crayzayjay]

Originally posted by ales
Strategy surprised me today, I didn't see the overwhelming dominance of 3-stop strategy coming. Of the top finishers only Macs went for the conventional 2-stop, and it brought them the results.

Are you serious? IMO, the 2-stop strategy clearly proved to be the best, it was only Michael's lightning pace that kept him clear of Kimi. The fact that Rubens finished behind the McLaren shows that the 3-stopper wasnt the best strategy. Ralf and Monty would have had a chance to finish higher if they hadnt gone for 3 stops either, sure their quali pace would have been compromised but there was some distance between them and the Maccas. The commentators too seemed pretty convinced that the 2-stopper was the way to go and that McLaren had won the strategy battle. Williams need to get their act together, i bet BMW execs are fuming!

Overall a nice San Marino GP, a "real" F1 race this season at last, and a shame if its the last Imola GP as its a great circuit, although theres little overtaking its a challenging drivers circuit. Congrats to Michael and Ralf on two excellent and brave performances

[ales]

I'm not kidding. I did, and do believe that a 2-stop strategy was the best, and was surprised that so many teams chose it (hence the comment about dominance - not the dominance in speed but the dominance in "use" ) Should have worded it better.

[Veyron]

Originally posted by ales
I'm not kidding. I did, and do believe that a 2-stop strategy was the best, and was surprised that so many teams chose it (hence the comment about dominance - not the dominance in speed but the dominance in "use" ) Should have worded it better.

I know this is an "if', but if Schumi hadn't got stuck behind Ralf, and Rubens hadn't had the pit stop debacle, it would have made Ferrari's three stop plan look all the more better.

[Guido]

Originally posted by Veyron


I know this is an "if', but if Schumi hadn't got stuck behind Ralf, and Rubens hadn't had the pit stop debacle, it would have made Ferrari's three stop plan look all the more better.

That's true what you say, but if's don't make racing and with 3 stop strategy it's a very tight, close call, a sort of a gamble too. Whereas with a 2 stop you can afford a bit more flexibility. Sure at Ferrari they didn't counted to get stuck behind Ralf for so long, and there went there planning. As far as strategy is concerned, I don't think McLaren needs a lesson from any other team

[cruisey]

ok Im feed up with this.
COME ON JAGUAR!
for F*** sake.

havent you heard of reliabilty!
anyway well done for qualifing!

[NSX]

Originally posted by cruisey
ok Im feed up with this.
COME ON JAGUAR!
for F*** sake.

havent you heard of reliabilty!
anyway well done for qualifing!

Ask Ford..

[ales]

The new car made an excellent debut! IN the first session, that is. Fingers crossed for this afternoon and of course tomorrow

[RallyRaider]

Originally posted by ales
The new car made an excellent debut! IN the first session, that is. Fingers crossed for this afternoon and of course tomorrow

Hey Alex! You talking about Catalunya? Maybe you could make a new thread for it