Thursday, September 6, 2007

Italian Grand Prix @ Monza - 07/08/09 August 2007

Race weekend report , Q1. Q2 . Q3 and race times click here

Comment(s)
Raikkonen says he is fully aware of the threat his former team is likely to pose on the high-speed track.

"That was a good test, where we could try out some new things for the car.

Looking at the times, I think you can say that we have a fierce fight ahead of us; but you never know how much fuel the others use during the tests, so we'll only see during the qualifying what the situation is really like.

Traditionally Ferrari has been very competitive here, but also McLaren has been very strong, during the years when I raced for them, but for some reason or another I never managed to win.

Let's hope we can make it this time, by being perfect from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon.

Winning the home race of Ferrari would be a great feeling."

The Race
Fernando Alonso cut Lewis Hamilton´s lead to three points this afternoon driving superbly to lead from pole to the chequered flag. For his part Hamilton made up for a bad start, overtaking Massa, who had overtaken him, going into the first corner, having given the Brazilian very little room as he moved to the left, causing Felipe to ride the white line, and so close was it into the chicane that Felipe was forced to touch Lewis sending the rookie onto the green area. It would have been possible to maybe attack Fernando as a result, but would sure to attract the steward's attention, so he tucked in behind the Spaniard who gradually pulled away until the safety car came out after David Coulthard´s high speed crash - Not DC´s weekend with the gearbox problems yesterday!. Pressure was taken off Lewis Hamilton when Felipe Massa came in for an unexpected pit stop, went out again for just one lap before "calling it a day" - Something to do with the rear end and unfortunately taking the Brazilian's contention for the World Championship. The best battle meanwhile was between Jenson Button and Nico Rosberg. The two McLaren´s made their first stops, Lewis obviously having a lighter fuel load, coming in first with Fernando a couple of laps later, Fernando managing to retain his lead. Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari played their ace and went for a one stop strategy, the Finn managing to come out in front of Lewis. Kimi must have been very surprised to see a silver car out brake him into the first chicane from 50 metres behind and overtake him. After that it really was a question of keeping the engines in good shape for Spa next weekend. The two McLaren drivers and Ron Dennis must be very pleased to have finished first and second at Ferrari's Monza. Are Ferrari trying to win the Championship of the circuit must be asked? At first it was just one Italian employee, then one McLaren employee. Hopefully the matter will be settled once and for all next thursday.

Come on Ferrari - do you remember when you ordered Rubens Barichello to let Michael Schumacher overtake in Austria?

Italian Grand Prix on ITV
Live qualifying Saturday 8 September 1230-1430 ITV4
Highlights qualifying Saturday 8 September 2325-0040 ITV1
Live race Sunday 9 September 1200-1450 ITV1
Highlights Sunday 9 September 2245-2345 ITV1
Highlights re-run Monday 10 September 1800-1900 ITV4

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