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[woody2goody]

I didn't like the fact that James Allen referred to Heikki as Hamiltons 'rear gunner'. Heikki isn't there to help Lewis. He may have beaten him without all his troubles early on.

He isnt his rear gunner per se, he just would have been in that race at that time just as lewis would have been heikkis rear gunner had the positions been reversed. Today kimi was massa's rear gunner. Its how it works

If Heikki had got a decent start and hadn't been hit by Kimi, I think the roles would have been reversed by the end of the race, because Heikki's pace was good when he wasn't stuck behind all those other cars.

I know, but it made it sound like he was referring to Heikki as a number 2 to Lewis. He was his rear gunner for the race I suppose. It's a shame his race got wrecked though.

[Denthúl]

I didn't like the fact that James Allen referred to Heikki as Hamiltons 'rear gunner'. Heikki isn't there to help Lewis. He may have beaten him without all his troubles early on.

He isnt his rear gunner per se, he just would have been in that race at that time just as lewis would have been heikkis rear gunner had the positions been reversed. Today kimi was massa's rear gunner. Its how it works

If Heikki had got a decent start and hadn't been hit by Kimi, I think the roles would have been reversed by the end of the race, because Heikki's pace was good when he wasn't stuck behind all those other cars.

I know, but it made it sound like he was referring to Heikki as a number 2 to Lewis. He was his rear gunner for the race I suppose. It's a shame his race got wrecked though.

Oh, yeah. I totally agree.

[McLaren Fan]

Trouble is the favoured tracks seem to have altered from last year. Ferrari now quicker on twisty bits and macca on straighter bits. How will it bode for monacco whee maccas were far superior last year? You right thos mcLaren will be working on it

That is true, although the odd funny result was seen last year when McLaren won the Italian Grand Prix fairly comfortably. I think part of we have seen so far is down the team's producing slightly better rounded cars. McLaren increased their wheelbase and Ferrari decreased theirs this season. On the back of that last two results and on the basis McLaren do have a history of mid-season car development, and that McLaren know how to win around the Principality, you'd have to say McLaren slight favourites for the next two races, but it certainly is not guaranteed. Hamilton in particular is chewing up his tyres and Ferrari seem to be getting more from the softer tyre compounds. Whoever wins, though, I don't see it being along the lines of last year's Monaco Grand Prix when Ferrari were tanked by McLaren.

[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com:

McLaren say Kovalainen could have won

By Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde Sunday, May 11th 2008, 17:00 GMT

Heikki Kovalainen during the Turkish GPMcLaren F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh believes Heikki Kovalainen could have scored his maiden grand prix victory at today's Turkish Grand Prix.

Kovalainen, returning to action this weekend following his heavy crash at the Spanish Grand Prix, had qualified on the front row for the first time, outpacing teammate Lewis Hamilton despite carrying a heavier fuel load.

The Finn's race, however, was spoiled right at the start when he made contact with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen at the first corner.

The contact punctured one of Kovalainen's tyres. The McLaren driver pitted and dropped down to the bottom of the field before a strong charge to 12th place.

Without the first corner crash, Whitmarsh reckons Kovalainen could have beaten Felipe Massa for victory.

"If Heikki had not made that stop, he would have run longer than Felipe at the first stop and if he could have been close to Massa, which I think he could have been, he would have been able to take him at the first stop," Whitmarsh told reporters after the race.

"And thereafter, the race would have played out differently.

"It's easy to say that in hindsight, but I think Heikki did a fantastic job in qualifying with a reasonable fuel load onboard and had he been able to deploy and exploit that in the race, I've never known him as disappointed as this.

"He really felt he could win this race and as the race panned out, I think he knows he could have won it - and it eluded him. And that's disappointing.

"And I said to Heikki, he's absolutely right to be disappointed but on the other hand he wouldn't be so disappointed if he hadn't done such a great job to put himself in that position.

"He put himself in a position to win a race and he will win races this year and in the future and he really deserves to. He's an extraordinary chap."

Whitmarsh also praised teammate Lewis Hamilton's drive to second place, saying today's was the Briton's best drive of the year.

"It was the finest this year," he said. "My memory's so short that I don't want to draw comparisons.

"It was his finest race this year and with the odds against him he was just flat out and his in- and out-laps were great and the team did a superb job in the pitstops. And he took the race to Ferrari throughout."

Hamilton finished less than four seconds behind Massa after having to run a three-stop strategy for safety reasons following concerns about his tyres.

[woody2goody]

Very interesting indeed. Makes me feel even more sorry for Heikki.

[Rivelution]

How about Fisichella running into the back of nakajima at the beginning? Man he had a bad weekend. Its a shame Bourdais spun off the track, I thought he was doing quite well. I cant wait to see how he does at Monaco, the new STR3 should help a bit too.

Indeed. It was, from looking at it, down to Fisichella braking too late.

I'm happy that Vettel actually managed to finish the race, but not in a very impressive position. It must have been a very lucky performance in qualifying to do what he did in Melbourne.

Yeah an STR2 in Q3!! I doubt we'll ever see that again.

[Rivelution]

Trouble is the favoured tracks seem to have altered from last year. Ferrari now quicker on twisty bits and macca on straighter bits. How will it bode for monacco whee maccas were far superior last year? You right thos mcLaren will be working on it

That is true, although the odd funny result was seen last year when McLaren won the Italian Grand Prix fairly comfortably. I think part of we have seen so far is down the team's producing slightly better rounded cars. McLaren increased their wheelbase and Ferrari decreased theirs this season. On the back of that last two results and on the basis McLaren do have a history of mid-season car development, and that McLaren know how to win around the Principality, you'd have to say McLaren slight favourites for the next two races, but it certainly is not guaranteed. Hamilton in particular is chewing up his tyres and Ferrari seem to be getting more from the softer tyre compounds. Whoever wins, though, I don't see it being along the lines of last year's Monaco Grand Prix when Ferrari were tanked by McLaren.

Do you think BMW Sauber would have a shot at winning in Monaco? It seems the BMW does better in smaller circuits.

[8-ball]

From autosport.com:

McLaren say Kovalainen could have won

By Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde Sunday, May 11th 2008, 17:00 GMT

Heikki Kovalainen during the Turkish GPMcLaren F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh believes Heikki Kovalainen could have scored his maiden grand prix victory at today's Turkish Grand Prix.

Kovalainen, returning to action this weekend following his heavy crash at the Spanish Grand Prix, had qualified on the front row for the first time, outpacing teammate Lewis Hamilton despite carrying a heavier fuel load.

The Finn's race, however, was spoiled right at the start when he made contact with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen at the first corner.

The contact punctured one of Kovalainen's tyres. The McLaren driver pitted and dropped down to the bottom of the field before a strong charge to 12th place.

Without the first corner crash, Whitmarsh reckons Kovalainen could have beaten Felipe Massa for victory.

"If Heikki had not made that stop, he would have run longer than Felipe at the first stop and if he could have been close to Massa, which I think he could have been, he would have been able to take him at the first stop," Whitmarsh told reporters after the race.

"And thereafter, the race would have played out differently.

"It's easy to say that in hindsight, but I think Heikki did a fantastic job in qualifying with a reasonable fuel load onboard and had he been able to deploy and exploit that in the race, I've never known him as disappointed as this.

"He really felt he could win this race and as the race panned out, I think he knows he could have won it - and it eluded him. And that's disappointing.

"And I said to Heikki, he's absolutely right to be disappointed but on the other hand he wouldn't be so disappointed if he hadn't done such a great job to put himself in that position.

"He put himself in a position to win a race and he will win races this year and in the future and he really deserves to. He's an extraordinary chap."

Whitmarsh also praised teammate Lewis Hamilton's drive to second place, saying today's was the Briton's best drive of the year.

"It was the finest this year," he said. "My memory's so short that I don't want to draw comparisons.

"It was his finest race this year and with the odds against him he was just flat out and his in- and out-laps were great and the team did a superb job in the pitstops. And he took the race to Ferrari throughout."

Hamilton finished less than four seconds behind Massa after having to run a three-stop strategy for safety reasons following concerns about his tyres.

Very impressive from the Mclaren team and they can consider that weekend a job well done. I have no doubt that kovi could have won as massa is not much of a racer. Mclaren can look forward to scoring some good points as monaco and montreal favour them

[Hanwombat]

Theres plenty more races to go for Heikki to shine

[deMuRe]

Great race today, some very entertaining battles through the entire grid.

Exciting strategy and mature drive from Hamilton, you could see it on Luca Baldiserri's face that 2nd was lost to Hamilton.

Look at Heikki, he's going to be fun to watch for the rest of the season.

Solid race from Webber as well, he's doing a good job with the equipment he has.

[darwin dali]

How about Fisichella running into the back of nakajima at the beginning? Man he had a bad weekend.

Clown, clown, clown

[darwin dali]

Not a sight you often see in F1:

[Rivelution]

Kinda reminds me of last year when I think it was Coulthard who almost took off Rosberg's head.

[7UpJordan]

Kinda reminds me of last year when I think it was Coulthard who almost took off Rosberg's head.

It was Wurz, who has also had his fair share of close shaves over the years.

[Rivelution]

Kinda reminds me of last year when I think it was Coulthard who almost took off Rosberg's head.

It was Wurz, who has also had his fair share of close shaves over the years.

oops, my apologies.