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[8-ball]

Kimi / Ferrari will run a one stop plan for Kimi's car.
They are faster on large fuel loads than the rest.
Massa will run a 2 stop plan and run one of the McClarens into the ground.
If no one tries to block Kimi, he will finish 3rd but, both Ferraris will be in the points.
Kimi is at his best with something to chase.
Massa will push Hamilton into making a mistake but Hamilton will point.

Massa has to catch Hamilton first

Which he is more than capable of doing

[Denthúl]

Definitely. If Massa is on form in the race tomorrow, I expect him to be pestering Kovalainen right from the off and if he gets past, then the same thing with Kubica. The only problem for Massa is that Hamilton, Kovalainen and Kubica are on the same level as him, so they're going to be able to resist him. He'll have to pressure them into making mistakes, or take some big risks. It would be nice to see Massa on the podium, because I think he's another driver who does deserve to have a good shot at the championship.

[pmilto]

As a BMW Sauber fan I'm so happy that those gossips about them sandbagging real one-lap performance turned out to be true
They said themselves that they had no idea that they are so close to McLaren and Ferrari.

They've concetrated on long runs in pre-season testing so there is a reason to expect them to be just as quick in race trim and with some fuel onboard...
And even if Kubica is light on fuel they might have a good strategy for the race - short first stint on softer tyres and two long stints on hards. If Robert can get ahead of Hamilton at the start it would be perfect!

It's obviously the first race of the season and we can't see the real race trim pace until the race start... I just hope that BMW won't break down for Kubica as it did last year...

Raikkonen is going to have to step it up if he wants to score some points this weekend. Having experienced big guns in front like Alonso or Trulli (in a Toyota which is a little bit less crap that I expected) will be tough but... he is a World Champion after all and we'll see what he's capable of without TC and other things.

Anyway it's going to be an awesome race!


KUBICAAAAA!!!!

[madbrad]

Kubica must be very light. Early stop, no podium for him save attrition.

Not necessarily. Remember that we don't actually know much about the BMW's pace over various fuel loads because, apparently, they only really ran full tanks throughout winter testing. It's only now that we're starting to see what they can do, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's more. If his pit stops are well-timed, he could get third place easily enough, and if he's not in too early on his first stop, I wouldn't be surprised to see him hold on to second. Heidfeld will give Massa a hard time, too, so I think BMW will definitely come away from this weekend with a nice points haul provided nothing goes wrong.

Of course not necessarily. I had to throw caution to the wind and take a blind stab. It's what I'm going with.
Also he or anybody else could waste his grid spot with a poor start. So many unpredictable variables.
BTW I was in love with his ragged edge lap. Conjures images of the 70s swashbuckling days.

[McLaren Fan]

Kubica and Massa had better be careful off the grid tomorrow. They're both on the dirty side of the track, and the effect of that could be increased without traction control being allowed. Kovalainen and Heidfeld have a decent chance of getting past them when the lights turn green.

[8-ball]

kimi could even go on and win this race. Remember what happend at suzuka in 2005 my all time favorite race

[Denthúl]

He certainly could, and it would be a spectacular way to begin the season

[deMuRe]

Not winning the first race isn't necessarily a bad thing. I hope hamilton wins tomorrow, all the pressure is on his shoulders as the points leader and it will most likely lead to mistakes later on in the season.

Coming from behind, not too far behind seems to suit Ferrari and Kimi.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if BMW were sandbagging during winter testing and talking down their chances, seems like the Mario Theissen modus operandi. Just such a shame their car is so ugly...

[AKR]

Hopefully at least one of the McLaren's do not finish, preferably the one of Lewis Hamilton. Hopefully the winner is either Kubica (BMW) or Massa and at the worst it is Kovalainen (Which hopefully wont happen too often). Hopefully Kimi finishes in the high points so regardless who wins, the others notably Lewis Hamilton (if he wins or finishes) will not score a big lead over Kimi in the first race. (Although 10 points would be the maximum advantage he can get if he were to win and Kimi get no points which isn't much given the season has only began and Ferrari is the better car and can make it up during all the other races).

[racechick]

Kimi / Ferrari will run a one stop plan for Kimi's car.
They are faster on large fuel loads than the rest.
Massa will run a 2 stop plan and run one of the McClarens into the ground.
If no one tries to block Kimi, he will finish 3rd but, both Ferraris will be in the points.
Kimi is at his best with something to chase.
Massa will push Hamilton into making a mistake but Hamilton will point.

Massa has to catch Hamilton first

Which he is more than capable of doing

But he didnt. nor did kimi

[nsaqam]

1 point for Ferrari is all that Kimi could do. If Rubens were not DQ'd he wouldn't have even gotten that 1. Not a single Ferrari engine crossed the finish line today. OUCH!
Kimi made some boneheaded mistakes today. He flew at the beginning but he totally lost his composure and overdrove the car like a rookie would later in the race. He's very lucky he didn't hit the wall when he went into the gravel after braking impossibly late trying to overtake Kovi in turn 3. He blew it in the same corner trying to pass Glock for 10th. I admire the effort and the desire to win but you just cannot drive like that and expect to stay on the track.

[phren]

Agreed
"If he does not apologise I'll kick the s*** out of the little bas***d" David Couthard 16.03.08.

[Denthúl]

1 point for Ferrari is all that Kimi could do. If Rubens were not DQ'd he wouldn't have even gotten that 1. Not a single Ferrari engine crossed the finish line today. OUCH!
Kimi made some boneheaded mistakes today. He flew at the beginning but he totally lost his composure and overdrove the car like a rookie would later in the race. He's very lucky he didn't hit the wall when he went into the gravel after braking impossibly late trying to overtake Kovi in turn 3. He blew it in the same corner trying to pass Glock for 10th. I admire the effort and the desire to win but you just cannot drive like that and expect to stay on the track.

Really big shame for Rubens. He raced excellently today, so it's sad to see those points taken from him. But I think that won't be something he'll have to worry too much about - the Honda is at least capable of scoring points in normal conditions, unlike last year's. Even without the points, he should be confident in the car. To be honest, Rubens deserved the points much more than Kimi.

[racechick]

Yes I felt really sorry for Ruebens. he took the 10 second penalty(what can you do if you have no fuel left?)and still he ends uo DQed.

[Denthúl]

To be fair, going out through a red light should be something you get punished for. But I never understood why anyone got penalised for refuelling under the safety car. It's not their fault that the safety car is out, so they shouldn't be penalised by having to run out of fuel on track in order to avoid a penalty. It's ridiculous.