Flavio Briatore is on the warpath after being named as someone who could advise the FIA and FOM on how to make F1 more attractive to fans by attacking empty circuits.

This season’s Turkish Grand Prix was farcical with thousands of empty seats, as no fans really turned up.  This, in direct contrast to Silverstone where it held it’s final British Grand Prix and there were over 100,000 fans present.

The FOM TV coverage tried to hide the lack of fans in Turkey by removing multiple camera angles, but Briatore and indeed the fans see this as no solution.

The tracks that have been constructed in the far flung locations of the world are usually found quite empty, as F1 is not a favourable sport within the countries that the races are present while European races at the old venues are filled to the brim with hardcore F1 fans.

“Even if the likes of Turkey are paying more money, we would rather have stadia that are full,” Briatore said.

“It is better for the spirit of the sport. We want stands full of fans. There is no point spending all that money on an empty cathedral,” he added.

"Spectator" at the Turkish Grand Prix a few weeks ago

Here are a few wallpapers, all taken during the Turkish Grand Prix of 2009. Click on the preferred size of a picture to see the actual wallpaper.

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Αν και αποφεύγω τα μεγάλα λόγια και τις βαρύγδουπες δηλώσεις, πιστεύω πως αν καταφέρει να χάσει τον φετινό τίτλο ο Jenson Button τότε θα μπορούμε να μιλήσουμε για ένα ακόμα θαύμα. Το πρώτο είναι το γεγονός ότι έχει να καταφέρει να κερδίσει τους έξι από τους επτά πρώτους αγώνες της σαιζόν, κυριολεκτικά, από το πουθενά. Και επειδή ήδη έχει αρχίσει να γίνεται πολύ κουραστική η αναφορά των επιτευγμάτων και της σύντομης ιστορίας της Brawn GP ας προχωρήσουμε στο… παρασύνθημα, δηλαδή τι είδαμε στην Τουρκία.

Της Τουρκίας το ανάγνωσμα…

Ο αγώνας του Istanbul Park κρίθηκε σε τρία και ένα σημεία:

1. Στις κατατακτήριες του Σαββάτου όπου μόνο ο Vettel, με λιγότερο καύσιμο, κατάφερε να περάσει τον Button.
2. Στο λάθος του Vettel στον πρώτο γύρο όπου άφησε ελεύθερη την πίστα στον Βρετανό.
3. Την υιοθέτηση της τραγικής στρατηγικής των τριών pit-stops για τον Vettel και το γεγονός ότι ο Γερμανός δεν κατάφερε να την εκμεταλλευτεί στο 100% της.
Σημείο Bonus: Η σταθερότητα της απόδοσης του Jenson Button σε όλους τους φετινούς αγώνες.

Και αν τα τρία πρώτα σημεία έδωσαν τη νίκη στην Τουρκία, το τέταρτο είναι αυτό που θα δώσει τον τίτλο των πιλότων στον Button και, πολύ πιθανόν, αυτόν των κατασκευαστών στην Brawn GP. Ο λόγος είναι απλός: για να αλλάξει κάτι ριζικά και να μηδενιστεί η διαφορά των 26 βαθμών του πρώτου από τον Barrichello και των 39,5 της ομάδας του από την Red Bull, δεν αρκεί οι υπόλοποι να καταφέρουν να φτάσουν σε απόδοση και σταθερότητα την ομάδα του Ross Brawn αλλά θα πρέπει και η ίδια να χάσει μεγάλο μέρος της αξιοπιστίας της, γεγονός που αυτή την στιγμή φαντάζει το ίδιο απίθανο με το να αποφασίσει ο Cristiano Ronaldo πως το ποδοσφαιρικό του μέλλον βρίσκεται στην Ελλάδα!

Κατα τ’ άλλα, o Vettel δείχνει να μην έχει ακόμα αυτο το… κάτι παραπάνω σε εμπειρία που θα του δώσει το πλεονέκτημα σε μία τέτοιου είδους μάχη, ενώ ο Mark Webber για μια ακόμα φορά έδειξε πως ανήκει στην ομάδα των πιλότων που ακροβατούν μεταξύ ενός καλού αποτελέσματος και απλά μίας συμπαθητικής απόδοσης. Και μην βιαστεί κανείς να κρίνει από την 2η θέση γιατί όλοι ξέρουμε πως αν δεν έκανε τρεις ανεφοδιασμους ο ομόσταυλός του θα βρισκόταν μπροστά του στο τερματισμό. Θα ήθελα να ξέρω το κλίμα στην ομάδα πάντως καθώς είχε ενδιαφέρον στους τελευταίους γύρους η εντολή στον Vettel να μην περάσει και τον ίδιο τον Γερμανό να κάνει έναν από τους ταχύτερους γύρους του.

Ο μαινόμενος Barrichello και οι υπόλοιποι…

Στην πρόβλεψη που είχα κάνει πριν τον αγώνα είχα αναφέρει πως περιμένω να υπάρξουν “θύματα” στην στροφή 8. Τελικά διαψεύστηκα πανηγυρικά καθώς ο μεν Nakajima έκανε τον καλύτερο αγώνα του στην Formula 1 και μόνο από ατυχία δεν πήρε τουλάχιστον τους δύο βαθμούς της έβδομης θέσης, ο δε Piquet είχε τη μάχη του με τον Hamilton και παρά τη προσωρινή του νίκη κατετάγη 16ος ενώ ο Sutil έμεινε μόλις προτελευταίος αλλά χωρίς πολλά παρατράγουδα. Αντίθετα, το δικό του μοναδικό show έδωσε ο Barrichello στο πρώτο μέρος του αγώνα.
Ο Βραζιλιάνος έκανε μία επικά άσχημη εκκίνηση και στη συνέχεια κατάφερε να καταλήξει τελευταίος μετά από δύο, εξίσου επικές, ανεπιτυχείς προσπάθειες προσπερασμάτων στους Kovalainen και Sutil. Σίγουρα, δεν είναι και ότι καλύτερο να βλέπεις τον team-mate σου να εκμεταλλεύεται τόσο καλά τις δυνατότητες του ίδου μονοθεσίου αλλά από ένα σημείο και μετά, όσο συμπαθητικός να είναι ο Barrichello, δεν πάυει να υπάρχει διαφορά δυνατοτήτων και ταλέντου μεταξύ τους. Και αυτό έπαιξε ρόλο στην “τσαντίλα” με την οποία οδηγούσε ο δεύτερος οδηγός της Brawn μέχρι να κάνει τον πρώτο ανεφοδιασμό του.
Ακόμα πιο πίσω, επιτέλους ένα καλό αποτέλεσμα για τον Rosberg που θα μπορούσε να καταταγεί και 4ος ενώ οι δύο πρώτοι βαθμοί του Kubica δείχουν πως η BMW επιτέλους έκανε κάτι καλό φέτος. Ferrari σε ρηχά και αδιάφορα νερά και McLaren σε πραγματικά άσχημη ημέρα δεν χρίζουν σχολιασμού (αλήθεια πόσες φορές ακόμα φέτος θα επαναληφθεί το ίδιο σκηνικό).

Κερδισμένοι του αγώνα:

1. Jenson Button: Άλλη μια νίκη και ο τίτλος είναι πιο κοντά. Ο επόμενος αγώνας είναι στο Silverstone και η εκδίκηση της πρώην ελπίδας των Βρετανών που επισκιάστηκε από το άστρο του Hamilton και τωρα γνωρίζει νέες δόξες είναι κοντά…

2. Red Bull: Μείωσε κατά τέσσερις τους βαθμούς της διαφοράς της στο πρωτάθημα κατασκευαστών. Κάτι είναι και αυτό…

3. Toyota: Η επιστροφή στους βαθμούς δείχνει πως το Monaco ήταν μια κακή παρένθεση. Μέχρι την Ουγγαρία; Θα δούμε…

Χαμένοι του αγώνα:

1. Sebastian Vettel: Το βλέμμα του μετά τον τερματισμό τα έλεγε όλα. Όχι απλά δεν κέρδισε από την pole position, αλλά έχασε την δεύτερη θέση από τον ομόσταυλο του λόγω λανθασμένης στρατηγικής.

2. Ferrari & McLaren: Το 2009 θα καταγραφεί ως μία από τις χειρότερες σεζόν τους εδώ και χρόνια. Δεν φαίνεται εύκολο να αλλάξει κάτι, τουλάχιστον όχι σύντομα, και η εγκατάλειψη της χρονιάς προς ώφελος της επόμενης δείχνει ελκυστική. Α ναι, δεν έχουν επιβεβαιώσει την παρουσία τους ακόμα για το 2010…

3. Renault: το χάσανε και αυτοί το τραίνο και τώρα ανησυχούν μήπως χάσουν και τον Fernando Alonso. Πόσο δελεαστική φαίνεται τώρα η πρόταση που είχε κάνει η Honda πέρυσι στον Ισπανό…

Η ομαδάρα

Ως γνωστόν οι συμπάθειες δεν κρύβονται και έτσι και εγώ δηλώνω τα αισθήματα μου για την Williams. Ιδού και η γνώμη μου για τους πιλότους της:

Nico Rosberg: Τρίτος συνεχόμενος τερματισμός στους βαθμούς, σε ακόμα υψηλότερη θέση. Η  σταθεροποίηση στην οκτάδα φαίνεται να επιτυγχάνεται για τον Γερμανό. Επόμενος στόχος: το βάθρο!

Kazuki Nakajima: Είχε την έβδομη θεση αλλά ένα μπουλόνι του την στέρησε. Τι να πει κανείς; Τις περισσότερες φορές δεν τα καταφέρνει καλά και όταν το προσπαθεί έρχονται οι ατυχίες. Κουράγιο Naka, είμαστε μαζί σου στον ανηφορικό δρόμο της καταξίωσης.

Σε άλλα θέματα…

Η FOTA δήλωσε εγκατάλειψη του KERS για το 2010, εφόσον συμμετέχουν οι ομάδες της στο πρωτάθλημα, σαν σοβαρή πρόταση για τη μείωση του κόστους. Λες και δεν έχουν ξοδέψει ήδη τα χρήματα για το μεγαλύτερο μέρος της εξέλιξης του! Μέσα στην εβδομάδα θα τελειώσουν όλα στο μείζον θέμα των συμμετοχών του 2010 και εμμένω στην άποψη μου πως και οι ομάδες της FOTA, εύκολα ή δύσκολα, θα ακολουθήσουν τις Williams και Force India. Άλλωστε, το πέταξε το “τυράκι” ο Mosley: Υπογράψτε ώστε να είστε νόμιμοι συμμετέχοντες και μετά βλέπουμε και τους κανονισμούς…

Περισσότερα για το συγκεκριμένο θέμα, μέσα στην εβδομάδα όπου θα έχουμε και άλλες εξελίξεις…

As of today the statistics of the 7h race of 2009 (Istanbul Park, Istanbul, Turkey) have been added.

Have fun while viewing this statistics.

By statistics I mean the results of the Free Practise sessions, the results of the Qualification and the results of the Race.

The Results of the race driven on Istanbul Park, Istanbul, Turkey.

The results of the different sessions (FORMULA1.COM)
1st Friday Practice, 2nd Friday Practice
Saturday Practice, Saturday Qualification
Sunday Race Results

Various Links
Race Report at GrandPrix.com.

Pictures of the different days (GPUPDATE.NET)
Wednesday/Thursday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday

Pictures of the different days (MOTORSPORT.COM)
Thursday
Friday : Practice 1/Practice 2
Saturday : Practice/Qualifying
Sunday : Pre-Race/Race/Post-Race

A few selected pictures of the race

In the four year history of the Turkish Grand Prix, the winner has always started from pole. Kimi Raikkonen turned pole position into victory in 2005, and Felipe Massa made a hat-trick of poles and wins in 2006, 07 and 08. But as the lights went out at the Istanbul Park circuit for the seventh race of the 2009 championship, Jenson Button accelerated away on a mission to prove you could still win from P2. As he took the chequered flag 58 laps later, he had a clear message for his rivals: that he is unstoppable. 

Pole sitter Sebastian Vettel didn’t have an answer for Button. After running wide in turn nine on the first lap he gifted the lead to the Brawn, and despite chasing him down in the second stint, the Red Bull struggled to overtake in its dirty air. 

After losing the lead to Button early on, Vettel, who was on a three stop strategy, had a lighter car than the Brawn and was able to close the gap on Jenson by less than a second. However, with his teammate Mark Webber two stopping, Vettel could not make up enough time to catch him after his final pit stop, and the German finished in third behind Webber.

Button’s teammate Rubens Barrichello was less fortunate, and despite starting on the clean side of the grid, problems with the clutch off the start line saw him slip back through the pack behind Heikki Kovalainen who had started in 14th. The pair spent the first few laps of the race jostling for 11th position, with Barrichello overtaking Kovalainen into the final corner of lap 6, only for the Finn to hit his KERS button and claim the position back on the start/ finish straight. Contact between the pair a lap later put Barrichello in a spin, and he soon found himself trading Heikki’s McLaren for that of Lewis Hamilton who had been running in 17th. Barrichello’s bad luck didn’t end there and the Brazilian retired on lap 49 after having spent most of the race without seventh gear. His retirement is the first for Brawn since making their F1 debut in the 2009 championship.

For Massa and Raikkonen they finished 6th and 9th respectively, with the McLarens of Hamilton and Kovalainen finishing 13th and 14th. After failing to score points in the last three races, fans of the Woking-based team are calling for an updated car to be introduced following a bad showing so far this season. The car appears to be difficult to drive, with Hamilton lacking significant pace through turn eight, and losing track position to several of the slower cars on numerous occasions. The reigning world champ appears to have admitted defeat in recent races, and a new, mature approach spells that the Brit is focusing on enjoying the drive for this year, and getting competitive again for next year.

Whilst last year’s champion struggles in his McLaren, Button is proving race-on-race to be unstoppable. With 61 championship points and an advantage of 26 over his closest rival, teammate Barrichello, Button appears to be in the zone, in a league of his own. Despite having more fuel onboard at the start of the race to Vettel’s Red Bull, he managed to pull out a significant lead over the German early on. With the championship just short of the half way stage, it looks like Jenson could well be on his way to championship glory in 2009.

But will Button be making it seven out of eight races at Silverstone in two weeks time? The British Grand Prix will be making its final appearance at the Northampton circuit in a fortnight, with qualifying on Saturday and the race at 1pm on Sunday 21st on BBC One.

Sebastian Vettel has claimed his second pole of the season in Turkey this afternoon, just pipping championship leader Jenson Button by a tenth of a second.

As the clock stopped ticking at the end of quali three, it was Vettel’s teammate Mark Webber who crossed the line first in 1:28.613s to clinch pole. However, his lap was soon cast aside as Button put his Brawn just ahead on 1:28.421. Vettel was still on his hot lap, and as he had done previously in quali one and quali two, he brought his Red Bull over the line in P1, a mere tenth faster than Button.

With the race win having depended on qualifying for the last four years, and with all four races being won from pole position, it makes Vettel’s charge all the more important. It still remains to be seen from the fuel loads, whether Vettel’s pole was through being the quickest, or simply because he was on a lighter fuel load than Brawn.

And unlike most F1 race tracks which run clockwise, the Istanbul Park track runs counter-clockwise, putting more pressure on the drivers as they go through the corners. Turn eight is particularly tricky, and the change of direction of the circuit puts a lot of G’s on the drivers’ necks for four or five seconds as they go through the long, high speed corner. The track requires extreme fitness, making qualifying all the more important for the race. Felipe Massa, who has won here for the last three years, claims that a hat-trick of wins at this track means a great deal than any other circuit, due to the way the track tests your fitness as a driver.

This year however, Massa will be starting from seventh on the grid, behind teammate Kimi Raikkonen.

Lewis Hamilton, who failed to get his McLaren into quali two, starts 16th on the grid. He appeared to be struggling with oversteer as his MP4-24 stepped out at the back on more than one occasion. His teammate Heikki Kovalainen could only go two places higher, starting 14th. McLaren, who at the start of the season claimed they would be back up with the front-runners by the start of the European leg of the season in Spain a month ago, appear to be going backwards. Hamilton said following his early departure: “The car, it has just got slower and slower throughout the weekend,” adding: “People have got faster and we have got slower.”

Vettel and Button will make up the front row of the grid tomorrow, with Rubens Barrichello starting from P3. The Brazilian admitted that he was worried during quali two that he was going to miss out on the top-ten shoot-out, and following a slow start in the early stages of quali three, he managed to turn it around and put his Brawn on the second row of the grid ahead of Webber.

Jarno Trulli, who was competitive throughout qualifying, will start from row three alongside Raikkonen. Fernando Alonso will start 8th alongside Massa in 7th, who had been tipped for pole this weekend. Nico Rosberg and Robert Kubica, who made the top-ten shoot-out for the first time this season, make up row five.

The only unanswered question is who will take victory tomorrow? Will Button make it six out of seven wins, or is Vettel going to claim his second win of the season? Whatever happens, this season is shaping up to be dominated by the Brawns and the Red Bulls.

Comments on the Qualification

I want to begin with expressing my sincere thanks to the FIA for changing the rules for the 2009 season. This has become a change in favour of the spectators. The differences between all the twenty cars are minimal which makes it a lot of fun for us spectators. And even thoug I think the big front wings and small rear wings are still very ugly, the cars are getting more and more beautiful each race I see them. Now, for the qualification for the Turkish Grand Prix of 2009 … I still have hopes for the McLaren Mercedes team, but reality gives another image and I think it is really good if McLaren forgets 2009 and starts working on their 2010 car. If they can compete? We shall know it coming Friday when the FIA publishes the list of contenders for the 2010 Formula 1 Championship. I have allready heard of a ten different teams which have entered their interests in the championship for 2010, so it is a possibility that in the 2010 season not 20 cars will appear, but 40 cars!!! Let’s just wait and see.

Results of the third qualification

Results of the second qualification

Results of the first qualification

Pictures of the Saturday Qualification

Pictures of the Saturday Practice

Pictures of the Friday

Pictures of the Thurday

Bernie Ecclestone has thrust the future of the Turkish Grand Prix into doubt after allegedly telling the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce he planned to take the track of the calendar in 2011.

Ecclestone, who began working with members of Istanbul council in 2001 on the Grand Prix in 2005, became the owner and operator of the circuit a couple of years ago.

Istanbul Park as it is known was designed by Hermann Tilke, and while a good design it is not the most popular among F1 fans or teams.

“We are afraid that 2011 may be the last year of the staging of F1 in Istanbul,” Can Guclu, the circuit’s manager told Zaman.

“There is serious competition from such countries as South Africa, Russia, Bulgaria and South Korea. South Korea has a highly developed economy and they place importance on sporting events. The [football] world cup was held in there in 2002. And Russia has already started constructing a race course.”

It is those new venues, and the fact that the classic circuits are rebelling against being taken off the calendar that is leaving the “newer” tracks in doubt for the future.

Formula 1 Dünya Şampiyonası’nda sezonun 5. yarışı olan Petrol Ofisi Türkiye Grand Prix’sinin startı verildi.8. turu da geride bıraktık… Sıralama bu blog sayfasında.Ve geçiyor… Hamilton, Massa’yı geçti ve liderliği aldı… 35 tur var…

Turkey is once again in trouble with the FIA, but not over its podium ceremony! This time the circuit is possibly going to face sanctions over stray dogs which ran onto the track during the GP2 race.

2 dogs managed to run straight onto the track, one of which Bruno Senna smashed straight into.  The Brazilian came over the brow of a hill, having maybe a second to react and just caught the dog, which broke his right suspension.  He escaped from the smash uninjured.

“This was a serious lapse in circuit security and safety,” an International Automobile Federation (FIA) spokesman said.

“How could such a thing happen at an almost brand new Formula One track?

“The FIA Safety Commission will hold a full investigation into the matter which may then be referred to the world council,” he added.

After all the trouble of the podium ceremony the other year, is Turkey just a liability?  Lets face it though Bernie owns it so it won’t be dropped…

Bueno, con algo de retraso llega mi análisis de la carrera del fin de semana pasado.

A modo de resumen se puede decir que esta carrera ha ayudado a situar a los equipos aún mejor, a saber con cuánto potencial cuenta cada equipo y cada piloto ya que ha sido una carrera más o menos limpia de incidentes aunque no por ello menos peleada o emocionante.

Clasificación:

La clasificación se la llevó Massa por delante de los dos McLaren (el de Kovalainen venció al de Hamilton), demostrando una vez más que le tiene totalmente cogida la medida a este circuito. Alonso quedó en séptima posición, lo máximo a lo que se puede acceder actualmente aunque por delante no tuvo a los tres magníficos (Ferrari, McLaren y BMW), sino que Webber ocupó el lugar que le correspondería a Heidfeld, sin duda el más flojito de los pilotos de cabeza. Por detrás resaltar la penosa actuación de Nelsinho, eliminado a las primeras de cambio y quedando por delante únicamente de los Force India (los cuales invertirían sus posiciones por penalización a Fisichella con tres posiciones por saltarse el semáforo de boxes) y del STR de Bourdais.

Carrera:

Una vez en la carrera nos encontramos con peleas por muchas posiciones, con incertidumbre hasta el final. Ya en la primera curva hubo numerosos cambios de posiciones incluso en la zona delantera donde Kovalainen salió muy mal, siendo incluso tocado por Raikkonen con el alerón en el neumático, lo que le llevó a tener que cambiar la rueda pinchada. Alonso aprovechó la zona exterior de la primera curva de bajada hacia la izquierda para situarse en tercer lugar (una vez que Kovalainen cambió su neumático) justo por detrás de Hamilton, pero lo más preocupante en esta primera curva sucedió en el fondo de la parrilla, donde un descontrolado Fisichella arrolló y voló por encima del coche del japonés Nakajima:

Una vez el SC abandonó la pista, comenzó la carrera de verdad, una carrera llena de emoción, con muchas peleas y adelantamientos, como el de Raikkonen a Alonso que hizo parecer que competían un misil contra una bicicleta.

Una de las peleas más intensas fue la protagonizada por Hamilton y Massa. El británico llevaba una estrategia a tres paradas para evitar los problemas de neumáticos que tuvo el año pasado, permitiéndole su ligereza en el monoplaza alcanzar y superar a Massa. Sin embargo, la estrategia a tres paradas no le vino del todo bien al inglés que finalmente debió conformarse con la segunda posición ya que no pudo tomarle la distancia suficiente al brasileño como para no perder posición.

El análisis

Analizando a los pilotos de la cabeza se puede decir que todos ellos hicieron una muy buena carrera. Massa volvió a demostrar que este circuito está hecho a su medida, que nadie lo controla como él. Hamilton hizo, en mi opinión, la mejor carrera en todo lo que lleva hasta ahora en la categoría, muy peleón y activo. Raikkonen fue el más blandito de los tres posiblemente, aún así se mantiene como líder del Mundial.

Los pilotos BMW estuvieron bastante blanditos. Heidfeld logró subir varias posiciones hasta acabar en 5ª posición, tal y como se espera de un coche tan potente como el alemán, pero Kubica se mantuvo en su sitio, sin inquietar a Kimi ni ser inquietado por Nick. Felicidades al alemán de por su trigésimo primer cumpleaños:

Otra carrera a resaltar es la del asturiano. Alonso volvió a demostrar en este circuito que el coche ha mejorado muchísimo y que ahora mismo su próximo objetivo es lograr una gran evolución que les ponga algo más cerca de BMW ya que alcanzar a McLaren y Ferrari es un objetivo harto improbable esta temporada. Tuvo una gran salida y fue capaz de mantener a raya sin problemas a Mark Webber, quien tuvo que conformarse con quedar en la 7ª posición pese a una buena clasificación que deja claro que ahora mismo Red Bull y Renault, o más bien Alonso y Webber, se han despegado del grupo medio. Los puntos los cierra el alemán Rosberg que volvió a robar un puntito más, dejando claro que son junto con Toyota el equipo flojo del grupo central.

Por detrás cabe resaltar la labor de Kovalainen que hizo una muy buena clasificación y estaba según sus propias declaraciones en disposición de obtener la victoria, pero su nefasta salida y el pinchazo en su neumático le privaron de estrenar su palmarés en F1. Por el contrario, le tocó pelear en el fondo del pelotón con coches más lentos que el suyo para lograr una sufrida décimo segunda posición. La mejor noticia para él fue su recuperación tras el grave accidente que sufrió en Montmeló.

Barrichello no tuvo una actuación realmente remarcable en su GP número 257, el cual le ha servido para arrebatarle a Ricardo Patrese el récord de mayor número de GPs disputados.

Y en lo de Piquet ya sobran los comentarios. Eliminado en la Q1 e incapaz de superar nada más que a un Force India y a un Toro Rosso. Este chico desde luego no es Hamilton, aún me pregunto cómo fue capaz de estar tan cerca de él en GP2. En su favor decir que el coche parecía excesivamente nervioso, culeaba una barbaridad cada vez que las cámaras le sacaban.

Enhorabuena al joven Vettel que al fin logró terminar una carrera, ya era hora.

Antes de que se me olvide, un 0 para Fisichella en esta carrera. Había estado verdaderamente bien hasta ahora, pero en esta carrera comenzó saltándose un semáforo, lo que conllevó una sanción, y acabó volando por encima de Nakajima de una forma peligrosa. Suspendidísimo.

Y otro detalle muy interesante de la carrera, o más bien de la realización, ha sido la de la instalación de cámaras térmicas para poder apreciar visualmente las temperaturas durante las paradas en boxes. Una pena que sólo sacaran una imagen a través de ellas.

Resultados de la carrera y podio:

Situación actual de la clasificación general:

Fotos curiososas:

Comenzamos con la chaqueta del equipo Renault que me gusta bastante… Habrá que investigar dónde se puede conseguir.

Partido de fútbol de los pilotos:

El Ferrari vuelve al morro sin agujero, al menos en este GP:

¿Alguien tiene hambre?

La impresionante curva 8 hace que los coches rocen:

Yet another great day for Ferrari with their drivers finishing on the podium once again but this time separated by Hamilton in McLaren who finished Second ahead of Raikkonen in Ferrari. Massa took the chequered flag to put himself firmly back in championship contention. Hamilton took second place, less than a second ahead of Raikkonen. Kubica finished fourth ahead of BMW Sauber team mate Nick Heidfeld, who made up four places during the race to finish fifth. Alonso took sixth place for Renault ahead of Mark Webber for Red Bull and Nico Rosberg for Williams.

In the constructors championship Ferrari extend their lead to 19 points over BMW Sauber who are ahead of McLaren. It seems that Ferrari are going strong after a lack lusture performance last year and also year before.

It has been a great season for BMW Sauber, with their drivers Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld finishing in points in almost every race. Disappointing outing for Kovalainen fresh from his recent crash was forced to pit in the lap 3 due to puncture and finished 12th dropping 10 places. McLaren’s Hamilton was on a three stop strategy and this was best reflected in the pace he was setting. He was pushing Massa and also over took him at Lap 24 but ultimately his 3 stop strategy made him finish second. Another bad day for Force India, as Fisichella had to retire in the first lap at turn 1 after he was involved in a collision with Nakajima of Williams. And the other driver Sutil did not do that well and had to be contended with 16th place out of the 17 finishers.

Still loads of racing left this season as the caravan moves to the Monaco Grand Prix from May 22-25. This is the track and it is the most challenging of all the tracks with little opportunity for overtaking.

Various Important Statistics:

Race Results (Points Finishers):
1. Massa (Ferrari)
2. Hamilton (McLaren- Mercedes)
3. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
4. Kubica (BMW Sauber)
5. Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber)
6. Fernando Alonso (Renault)
7. Mark Webber (Red Bul-Renault)
8. Nico Rosberg (Williams-Toyota)

At the end of Fifth Race of the Season,

Constructor’s Standing (Top 5):
1. Ferrari– 63 Points
2. BMW Sauber– 44 Points
3. McLaren-Mercedes– 42 Points
4. Williams- Toyota– 13 Points
5. Red Bull-Renault– 10 Points

Driver’s Standings (Top 6):
1. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)- 35 Points
2. Felipe Massa (Ferrari)- 28 Points
3. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes)- 28 Points
4. Robert Kubics (BMW Sauber)- 24 Points
5. Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber)- 20 Points
6. Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren-Mercedes)- 14 Points

For more related news here.
For Complete Race Results here.
For Complete Drivers standings here.
For Complete Constructors Standings here.

Image Source- Official Formula1 Website

Fernando Alonso acaba sexto. Hamilton, segundo tras adelantar a Raikkonen en la salida

por Alberto Espinosa López

Felipe Massa se ha alzado a lo alto del podio en el circuito Istanbul Park de Turquía, en el Gran Premio de Fórmula 1 de dicho país. El piloto brasileño apenas ha tenido dificultades para conseguir su tercer primer puesto consecutivo en tierras turcas durante toda la carrera, tan sólo cuando fue adelantado por Hamilton, mucho más ligero, justo antes de meterse en boxes y perder ese número uno ficticio.

Por su parte, Fernando Alonso ha terminado sexto después de adelantar a Webber en su parada para repostar. Ha sido una prueba sencilla y tranquila para el asturiano, cuyo coche no corría lo suficiente como para optar a cotas mayores, como viene siendo habitual esta temporada.

La próxima cita con la Fórmula 1 será en un circuito con solera. El glamour se mezclará con el olor a gasolina en el trazado urbano de Mónaco.

Felipe Massa put his Ferrari on pole for the Turkish Grand Prix on Saturday afternoon, for the third consecutive time in Istanbul Park. But the two McLarens of Heikki Kovalainen and Lewis Hamilton lined up second and third and they will be doing their best to frustrate the Brazilian’s aspirations for his hat-trick of victories. Kimi Raikkonen was fourth for Ferrari and it may be that he is running more fuel than Massa. Robert Kubica put his BMW Sauber fifth on the grid followed by Mark Webber for Red Bull, Fernando Alonso for Renault, Jarno Trulli for Toyota and Nick Heidfeld for BMW Sauberm and David Coulthard for Red Bull.

The race seems to be evenly poised with the two Ferraris at the top separated by the two McLarens. So its going to be an interesting race with Massa looking for Hattrick of victories at Istanbul Park. And Kovalainen is bang with a bang after his disastrous crash at the Spanish Grand prix.

Circuit Guide- Istanbul Park

Qualifying Results (Top 10)-
1. Felipe Massa – Ferrari
2. Heikki Kovalainen – McLaren-Mercedes
3. Lewis Hamilton – McLaren-Mercedes
4. Kimi Räikkönen – Ferrari
5. Robert Kubica – BMW Sauber
6. Mark Webber – Red Bull-Renault
7. Fernando Alonso – Renault
8. Jarno Trulli – Toyota
9. Nick Heidfeld – BMW Sauber
10. David Coulthard – Red Bull-Renault

For Complete Provisional Grid here
For More details- Formula1 Official Site
Turkish Grand Prix Official Site here

Source:
Formula1 Official Site
Images from Turkish Grand Prix Official Home Page

2008′de dördüncü kez Formula1′e ev sahipliği yapan İstanbul Park Pisti’nde sezonun beşinci yarışının sıralama turları da yapıldı.

Sabah atılan üçüncü serbest antrenman turlarının ardından İstanbul Park’ta pistin tamamen kuruduğu gözlendi. Tahminlerde olduğu gibi hava açıktı ve yağış yoktu.

Normalde 22 aracın katıldığı ve üç bölümden oluşan sıralama turlarında, ilk iki bölümde altışar yarışçı elenirken, finansal sorunlar sebebiyle Formula1′den çekilen Super Aguri’nin yokluğunda Türkiye Grand Prixi’ne 20 araç katıldı ve ilk iki bölümde beşer araç sıralamalara veda etti.

20 dakikalık ilk bölümde son iki sezonun İstanbul Park galibi Felipe Massa Ferrari’yle 1:25.994′lük bir tur attı ve ilk sırayı aldı. Kendisini McLaren pilotu Lewis Hamilton ve Ferrari koltuğundaki son dünya şampiyonu Kimi Raikkonen takip ederken son beş sırada yer alan Adrian Sutil (Force India), Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India), Sebastien Bourdais (Toro Rosso), Nelson Piquet Jr. (Renault) ve Kazuki Nakajima (Williams) ilk seans sonunda sıralamalara veda etti.

15 dakikalık ikinci bölümde de Ferrari hızlıydı, son dünya şampiyonu Kimi Raikkonen 1:26.050′yle ilk sırayı aldı. Kendisini BMW pilotu Robert Kubica ve Ferrari koltuğundaki Felipe Massa takip ederken ilk 10 dışında kalan Nico Rosberg (Williams), Rubens Barrichello (Honda), Jenson Button (Honda), Sebastien Vettel (Toro Rosso) ve Timo Glock (Toyota) ikinci seans sonunda sıralamalara veda etti.

Son seansa kalan 10 araç; 2 Ferrari (Kimi Raikkonen-Felipe Massa), 2 McLaren (Lewis Hamilton-Heikki Kovalainen), 2 BMW (Robert Kubica-Nick Heidfeld), 2 Red Bull (David Coulthard-Mark Webber), 1 Renault (Fernando Alonso) ve 1 Toyota’dan (Jarno Trulli) oluştu.

Massa İstanbul’u çok seviyor, son iki sezonun İstanbul Park galibi Brezilyalı pilot 1:27.617′yle pole pozisyonunu aldı. Kendisini McLarenler Heikki Kovalainen ve Lewis Hamilton takip etti.

1 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:27.617
2 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren
3 Lewis Hamilton McLaren
4 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari
5 Robert Kubica BMW
6 Mark Webber Red Bull
7 Fernando Alonso Renault
8 Jarno Trulli Toyota
9 Nick Heidfeld BMW
10 David Coulthard Red Bull
11 Nico Rosberg Williams
12 Rubens Barrichello Honda
13 Jenson Button Honda
14 Sebastien Vettel Toro Rosso
15 Timo Glock Toyota
16 Kazuki Nakajima Williams
17 Nelsinho Piquet Jr Renault
18 Sebastien Bourdais Toro Rosso
19 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India
20 Adrian Sutil Force India