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[onelapdown]

Taken from Autosport website:

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has praised the thrilling final to the 2008 season at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

The finale at Interlagos will go down as one of the most exciting in Formula One history, after Lewis Hamilton secured the drivers' title with a last corner pass on Timo Glock.

"In all my years in Formula One, I haven't seen such an incredibly exciting finish to a championship," said di Montezemolo in a statement on Monday.

"I always said that we'd be fighting until the last corner of the last Grand Prix and that's exactly what happened at the end of a brilliantly tense competition."

Di Montezemolo also congratulated his team for clinching their 16th constructors' championship.

"Ferrari's winning its 16th constructors' world title since its foundation is an important milestone not only because it is the fruit of the work put in by the team and the drivers throughout the entire championship, but also because we will once again be able to put the World Champion symbol on our Grand Tourers," added the Italian.

"Winning for the eighth time in 10 years - a feat unequalled at world level in any other team sport - proves beyond a shadow of a doubt what an extraordinary group we are.

"We won thanks to a team that has undergone many profound changes over the last two years, changes that have brought on many young people from inside the Company. There were mistakes and difficult times but we responded to both by remaining united and refusing to give in. For that I thank GES Director Stefano Domenicali and his entire team of collaborators."

The Ferrari boss praised both Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, and admitted he was sorry the Brazilian lost the title by one single point.

"We have two great drivers in Felipe and Kimi also, and they deserve all our compliments for a job well done. Felipe in particular is in my thoughts as he crossed the finish line yesterday as world champion only to see the title slip through his fingers a few seconds later. I can only imagine how painful that moment must have been for him.

"However, I would like to give him my very special compliments, not only for dominating the running out there on the track in front of his fans, proving he is worthy indeed of the world title, but also for his maturity and sportsmanship off the track. He's a great champion and a great man.

"Lastly, I would like to send my congratulations to Lewis Hamilton, the youngest ever world champion in the history of Formula One. He was a very powerful rival indeed and his win, close though it was, was well deserved. He'll have the number 1 on his car next season, but he can rest assured of one thing: we'll be doing our very best to put it back on a Ferrari."

[McLaren Fan]

It's good to see di Montezemolo talking some sense, for a change. Normally he can't stand it when Ferrari lose anything, particularly to McLaren. It's also interesting how he is talking up the importance of the constructors' title. Ferrari always maintained that it was the consolation prize. What's changed? Oh, Ferrari didn't win the drivers' title.

[f1maniac95]

It's good that Ferrai haven't been moaning about Hamiltonm winning the title and anyway they got something out of this year as well.

[McLaren Fan]

It's good that Ferrai haven't been moaning about Hamiltonm winning the title and anyway they got something out of this year as well.

That's how you know there is no conspiracy against them. When things aren't going well for them, they immediately start gurning.

[FerrariFan63]

It's good to see di Montezemolo talking some sense, for a change. Normally he can't stand it when Ferrari lose anything, particularly to McLaren. It's also interesting how he is talking up the importance of the constructors' title. Ferrari always maintained that it was the consolation prize. What's changed? Oh, Ferrari didn't win the drivers' title.

So, Luca shows calm dignity and sportsmanship in partial (drivers' championship) defeat, but still you seem to have the need to paint him as a poor sport. Says more about you than him.

[onelapdown]

It's good to see di Montezemolo talking some sense, for a change. Normally he can't stand it when Ferrari lose anything, particularly to McLaren. It's also interesting how he is talking up the importance of the constructors' title. Ferrari always maintained that it was the consolation prize. What's changed? Oh, Ferrari didn't win the drivers' title.

So, Luca shows calm dignity and sportsmanship in partial (drivers' championship) defeat, but still you seem to have the need to paint him as a poor sport. Says more about you than him.

Luca's got previous... remember what he said about Singapore?

[Hanwombat]

Thrilling indeed! I could hardly speak I was in so much shock

[McLaren Fan]

It's good to see di Montezemolo talking some sense, for a change. Normally he can't stand it when Ferrari lose anything, particularly to McLaren. It's also interesting how he is talking up the importance of the constructors' title. Ferrari always maintained that it was the consolation prize. What's changed? Oh, Ferrari didn't win the drivers' title.

So, Luca shows calm dignity and sportsmanship in partial (drivers' championship) defeat, but still you seem to have the need to paint him as a poor sport. Says more about you than him.

I just said it was good to see di Montezemolo being a good sport, but it's unusual for him.

[bud]

It's good to see di Montezemolo talking some sense, for a change. Normally he can't stand it when Ferrari lose anything, particularly to McLaren. It's also interesting how he is talking up the importance of the constructors' title. Ferrari always maintained that it was the consolation prize. What's changed? Oh, Ferrari didn't win the drivers' title.

So, Luca shows calm dignity and sportsmanship in partial (drivers' championship) defeat, but still you seem to have the need to paint him as a poor sport. Says more about you than him.

I just said it was good to see di Montezemolo being a good sport, but it's unusual for him.

Luca is far from a good sport! he is now already complaining about the point score system

[McLaren Fan]

From F1 Live:

Luca di Montezemolo has told an Italian newspaper that F1 needs a new scoring system.

When asked what his first rules change would be if he was in charge of Formula One, the Ferrari President told La Stampa: "Instantly, the points score for the (race) winner."

"Massa won six races (in 2008), Hamilton five, but the Englishman is the Champion," Montezemolo remarked, despite earlier saying in an official statement that Hamilton's drivers' title was "well deserved".

It is true that, under the pre-2003 points scoring system, Ferrari's Felipe Massa would have won the 2008 World Championship by two points.

In 2002 and before, Grand Prix winners received 10 points compared with 6 points for second. Today, the winner's margin is just 2 points, as the runner-up takes 8 points while third place claims 6.

D.B. © CAPSIS International
Source: GMM

So, he's back to his usual standards: he'll take wins whatever way they come and is being bitter about Massa losing the title. What a two-faced w***er.

[onelapdown]

From F1 Live:

Luca di Montezemolo has told an Italian newspaper that F1 needs a new scoring system.

When asked what his first rules change would be if he was in charge of Formula One, the Ferrari President told La Stampa: "Instantly, the points score for the (race) winner."

"Massa won six races (in 2008), Hamilton five, but the Englishman is the Champion," Montezemolo remarked, despite earlier saying in an official statement that Hamilton's drivers' title was "well deserved".

It is true that, under the pre-2003 points scoring system, Ferrari's Felipe Massa would have won the 2008 World Championship by two points.

In 2002 and before, Grand Prix winners received 10 points compared with 6 points for second. Today, the winner's margin is just 2 points, as the runner-up takes 8 points while third place claims 6.

D.B. © CAPSIS International
Source: GMM

So, he's back to his usual standards: he'll take wins whatever way they come and is being bitter about Massa losing the title. What a two-faced w***er.

I said he had form!!!

[Rorschach]

Haha. So what happens if Hamilton has more wins next year but Massa has more podiums and Massa finishes second again?

Just get Alonso in the car now if you want to win right away or get Vettel and go for the long haul. Maybe he could try and beat Schumi's record too?

[onelapdown]

From [i]F1 Live:

Luca di Montezemolo has told an Italian newspaper that F1 needs a new scoring system.

When asked what his first rules change would be if he was in charge of Formula One, the Ferrari President told La Stampa: "Instantly, the points score for the (race) winner."

"Massa won six races (in 2008), Hamilton five, but the Englishman is the Champion," Montezemolo remarked, despite earlier saying in an official statement that Hamilton's drivers' title was "well deserved".

It is true that, under the pre-2003 points scoring system, Ferrari's Felipe Massa would have won the 2008 World Championship by two points.

In 2002 and before, Grand Prix winners received 10 points compared with 6 points for second. Today, the winner's margin is just 2 points, as the runner-up takes 8 points while third place claims 6.

Well if championships are to be awarded to the "winningest" driver instead of the one with the most points, the following Ferrari titles would be lost:

Mike Hawthorn 1958 (Stirling Moss wins)
John Surtees 1964 (Jim Clark wins)
Niki Lauda 1977 (Mario Andretti wins)
Jody Scheckter 1979 (Alan Jones wins)

Still think it's a good idea Luca?

[racechick]

From F1 Live:

Luca di Montezemolo has told an Italian newspaper that F1 needs a new scoring system.

When asked what his first rules change would be if he was in charge of Formula One, the Ferrari President told La Stampa: "Instantly, the points score for the (race) winner."

"Massa won six races (in 2008), Hamilton five, but the Englishman is the Champion," Montezemolo remarked, despite earlier saying in an official statement that Hamilton's drivers' title was "well deserved".

It is true that, under the pre-2003 points scoring system, Ferrari's Felipe Massa would have won the 2008 World Championship by two points.

In 2002 and before, Grand Prix winners received 10 points compared with 6 points for second. Today, the winner's margin is just 2 points, as the runner-up takes 8 points while third place claims 6.

D.B. © CAPSIS International
Source: GMM

So, he's back to his usual standards: he'll take wins whatever way they come and is being bitter about Massa losing the title. What a two-faced w***er.

If the old scoring system was in place lewis would have been in his element. He more than most is prepared to take a risk to get a win. He hates driving conservatively and with the old systen would have had every excuse not to. Where was it he was stuck behind Coulthard playing the numbers game??He'd have been past with the old soring system and loving every minute of it.