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[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com:

Raikkonen very critical of track problems

By Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde Saturday, June 7th 2008, 18:46 GMT

Kimi Raikkonen in CanadaKimi Raikkonen says the Canadian Grand Prix could become a nightmare if the track surface keeps breaking up like during qualifying.

Drivers complained about the lack of grip at Turn 10, where the surface began to break up, leaving debris which made the cars lost grip.

Although the marshals tried to sweep the debris off the racing line before the final qualifying segment, Raikkonen said the issue cost him a chance of fighting for pole.

The Ferrari driver finished in third place, nearly a second behind pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton, and the Finn slammed the track as a "joke".

"The car has been good all weekend but this morning was even very good and going into qualifying is quite a joke with the circuit," said Raikkonen. "The circuit breaks down and it is like you missed the corner because there is so much sand.

"I lost so much time in Turn 10 I couldn't turn around and went straight on. We had the car to fight for qualifying (pole).

"We will see how it is in the race but it will be a nightmare. We have a lot of laps and it broke up after two laps so it will be interesting."

He added: "I have a very good car all weekend, then suddenly because the weather heat up a little bit and the circuit didn't last very long. The problem is black patches, they redo it every year and every year they break down."

Yeah, yeah, yeah. The conditions were the same for everybody.

[al4x]

his attitude of late is a bi\t dissapointing imo

[McLaren Fan]

Compare the responses of Kubica:

From autosport.com:

Kubica: Track issues making life harder

By Pablo Elizalde Saturday, June 7th 2008, 18:38 GMT

Robert Kubica in CanadaRobert Kubica is predicting a difficult Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday, especially if the track keeps breaking up.

Although the circuit was repaired ahead of this morning's practice, the surface kept breaking up in places, meaning the marshals were forced to sweep the debris off some corners ahead of the final qualifying segment.

"It has been a very difficult qualifying with the track which is breaking down in a couple of corners," said Kubica, who qualified in second place behind Lewis Hamilton. "It's easy to make a mistake there so you cannot carry much speed.

"It has not been easy so we are happy with second place. It will be difficult race and if the track is breaking down now then it will be harder. It is very slippery and easy to make mistakes so we have to watch out."

The Pole driver was pleased with his performance after securing his third front row start of the season.

Kubica insisted his team were still not close enough to Ferrari and McLaren to fight for victory, but admitted he will try as hard as possible tomorrow.

"It is very good season for us, but unfortunately the gap is a bit bigger than in the first three races. Here, in Monaco and in Turkey we were a bit off McLaren's and Ferrari's pace," he added.

We have to see what is the strategy tomorrow and also in Q1 and Q2 we were right behind Ferrari and McLaren. It will be difficult race but we try our best."

and Hamilton:

From autosport.com:

Hamilton still expecting hard battle

By Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde Saturday, June 7th 2008, 18:25 GMT

Lewis Hamilton celebrates in CanadaLewis Hamilton is under no illusions that tomorrow's Canadian Grand Prix will be easy despite grabbing a dominant pole position on Saturday.

The McLaren driver, who scored his maiden pole and win in last year's race, posted a best time of 1:17.886 to finish over six tenths ahead of BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen was down in third, nearly a whole second behind the championship leader.

Despite the gap to his main rivals, Hamilton is expecting a hard fight for victory tomorrow.

"As you have seen, the last few races have been difficult, with the experience of leading the race so we can anticipate it will be similar, and the track surface isn't great so it will make it tricky and I am sure these guys will push us hard," Hamilton said.

"We will try and do the best job we can and score as many points as possible. We have to make sure we are in the points."

The McLaren driver said, however, that he was delighted with his performance after a trouble-free day.

"It has been a fantastic Saturday for me," admitted the Briton. "I felt comfortable since yesterday in the car. This morning was tricky for everyone, with the track quite slippery. We remained positive and kept car the same.

"In qualifying I felt at home. The team did a great job in the early stages of each qualifying session. The first lap was a shocker as I nearly went wide at turn one, the last one was good - similar to last year."

Hamilton clinched pole with a last-gasp effort after having being outpaced by Kubica moments earlier.

The Briton admitted he was surprised to find so much time on his final flying lap.

"When I had just begun the lap the guys told me I was P1 but I had a feeling that Kimi was hunting me down so he would have beaten my time, so I knew I had to stick it up there. I found six or seven tenths on that lap which is incredible," he added.

[Jensonb]

He has a point. The Ferraris were very quick in S1 and S2, but they were nowhere in S3 because they couldn't get the grip in the hairpin, likely because they had set the car up expecting more mechanical grip there so with slightly lower downforce than, say, McLaren whose car seems to use aerodynamic grip to round most corners - a result of the tires not working as well for them.

[bud]

He has a point. The Ferraris were very quick in S1 and S2, but they were nowhere in S3 because they couldn't get the grip in the hairpin, likely because they had set the car up expecting more mechanical grip there so with slightly lower downforce than, say, McLaren whose car seems to use aerodynamic grip to round most corners - a result of the tires not working as well for them.

You dont use Aero for that hairpin its all mechanical grip at those speeds!

Its odd from Kimi because when ever he talks about the conditions he always adds "but its the same for everyone" I wonder if this is just the Ferrari wored press release!

Webber was pretty critical of turn 10 also!

[JamesToohey]

Kimi is, and always has been a bit of a d**khead.

Bad track conditions just mean you need to be more alert and, well, skilled.

[EwanM]

Kimi is, and always has been a bit of a d**khead.

Bad track conditions just mean you need to be more alert and, well, skilled.

He had a malfunction. Kimi Version 2.08 not functioning very well for Ferrari

[al4x]

Kimi is, and always has been a bit of a d**khead.

Bad track conditions just mean you need to be more alert and, well, skilled.

i agree, it was the same for everyone else, nico, hamilton, fernando and kubica all did well in beating thier team mates,

gives me more reason to not like kimi

[dant]

moan moan, bloody moan.