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[Denthúl]

I think Henki may be heavier.

I would not surprise me if he was. Kovalainen tens to run a lap or two's worth more fuel. Unfortunately for Kovalainen, his race pace tends to drop off slightly. If that happens tomorrow - and part of me thinks it will - Hamilton will be let off the hook.

If he can stay within a second or two of Lewis, he might have a chance. I really hope that he gets a win soon, because his talent is long overdue such a reward. Even Kubica has had a victory this year!

[7UpJordan]

What can you say about Williams? This is getting really embarrassing now. They can't even do well on tracks that supposedly suit their car. It's incredibly sad to see a team of Williams stature struggle so much.

It's even worse when you're a fan who gets the usual "This track should suit our car" statement from Nico at every race. At least he doesn't say "for sure", but what the hell happened to Williams' "mechanical grip advantage" that was supposed to be the advantage here?? They're running at a track similar to Monaco in terms of layout, they're using components used at Monaco, so what the hell has happened to the mechanical grip?? It can't have just walked off the car overnight or buggered off down to the pub for a quick pint or 10 followed by a trip to the kebab shop!! I know they dropped behind other teams in terms of development but I thought their mechanical grip would put them back on terms here!! Something really does not smell right...

[Denthúl]

What can you say about Williams? This is getting really embarrassing now. They can't even do well on tracks that supposedly suit their car. It's incredibly sad to see a team of Williams stature struggle so much.

It's even worse when you're a fan who gets the usual "This track should suit our car" statement from Nico at every race. At least he doesn't say "for sure", but what the hell happened to Williams' "mechanical grip advantage" that was supposed to be the advantage here?? They're running at a track similar to Monaco in terms of layout, they're using components used at Monaco, so what the hell has happened to the mechanical grip?? It can't have just walked off the car overnight or buggered off down to the pub for a quick pint or 10 followed by a trip to the kebab shop!! I know they dropped behind other teams in terms of development but I thought their mechanical grip would put them back on terms here!! Something really does not smell right...

If they haven't developed those aspects of their car in line with other teams, though, then of course they won't be on pace. If they went back to Monaco next week and raced, the Williams cars would probably go as well as they did a few months back, but the gap to the other teams may not be the same...

[Kiwi_Chris]

What can you say about Williams? This is getting really embarrassing now. They can't even do well on tracks that supposedly suit their car. It's incredibly sad to see a team of Williams stature struggle so much.

It's even worse when you're a fan who gets the usual "This track should suit our car" statement from Nico at every race. At least he doesn't say "for sure", but what the hell happened to Williams' "mechanical grip advantage" that was supposed to be the advantage here?? They're running at a track similar to Monaco in terms of layout, they're using components used at Monaco, so what the hell has happened to the mechanical grip?? It can't have just walked off the car overnight or buggered off down to the pub for a quick pint or 10 followed by a trip to the kebab shop!! I know they dropped behind other teams in terms of development but I thought their mechanical grip would put them back on terms here!! Something really does not smell right...

If they haven't developed those aspects of their car in line with other teams, though, then of course they won't be on pace. If they went back to Monaco next week and raced, the Williams cars would probably go as well as they did a few months back, but the gap to the other teams may not be the same...

That happens when a team slips back and loses sponsors and cash so they have to cut development and slip back further. I hope they come back though i would hate to see the team do a Lotus....

[7UpJordan]

Williams have got some good sponsors onboard and will have picked up some good money for the way they made a comeback last year after the dismal 2006.

The only other thing I can think of is that the team have jumped the gun too early in shifting to 2009 - possibly explianing why they dropped behind in development - apparently the car was already being designed quite early on in the season, and the team have now had to shift some of their resources back into this season.

However if they do get the advantage from this next year then all the frustration, dissapointment and swearing will have been worth it.

[EwanM]

Williams have got some good sponsors onboard and will have picked up some good money for the way they made a comeback last year after the dismal 2006.

The only other thing I can think of is that the team have jumped the gun too early in shifting to 2009 - possibly explianing why they dropped behind in development - apparently the car was already being designed quite early on in the season, and the team have now had to shift some of their resources back into this season.

However if they do get the advantage from this next year then all the frustration, dissapointment and swearing will have been worth it.

Well, Hopefully they do. BMW certainly have taken this route, as have Honda.
I hope in the end it mixes up the order a bit for next year hehe

[7UpJordan]

Well, Hopefully they do. BMW certainly have taken this route, as have Honda.
I hope in the end it mixes up the order a bit for next year hehe

Of course! That explains why BMW are dropping back and why Honda haven't really moved anymore forward. I don't think Renault, Toyota and Red Bull have probably got very far looking at next year's cars yet in comparison to BMW, Williams and Honda.

Now why didn't I think of this in the first place? Only next year will tell...

[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com:

Raikkonen rues costly driving error

By Pablo Elizalde Saturday, August 2nd 2008, 15:27 GMT

Kimi Raikkonen blamed a driving error for his disappointing result in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Finn will start the race from sixth position, on the dirty side, at a circuit where overtaking is virtually impossible.

World champion Raikkonen is under no illusions about the difficulty of the task ahead of him tomorrow, but he has vowed not to give up.

"I made a mistake on my final flying lap which cost me precious time, and that followed on from not having got a great lap on my previous attempt, which explains why I'm sixth," said Raikkonen.

"Of course I am not happy and, starting from the third row, my race will be an uphill struggle. I will try and make the most of this situation, given that the car today was not that bad.

"We are going through a bit of a difficult time but we mustn't give up: all we need to do is put together all the pieces of the jigsaw and then the results will come to us again."

Raikkonen must have been making a lot of mistakes over the weekend, then. What a load of bullpoo.

[przemo]

Well, Hopefully they do. BMW certainly have taken this route, as have Honda.
I hope in the end it mixes up the order a bit for next year hehe

Of course! That explains why BMW are dropping back and why Honda haven't really moved anymore forward. I don't think Renault, Toyota and Red Bull have probably got very far looking at next year's cars yet in comparison to BMW, Williams and Honda.

Now why didn't I think of this in the first place? Only next year will tell...

We don't know where all the teams will end up next year in the pack, so in BMW-Sauber's place I would try at least to defend their second position in WCC, unless they already settled for third. As for Williams and Honda especially I can understand that they focused fully on next year, because this year is not good for them.

[Denthúl]

Well, Hopefully they do. BMW certainly have taken this route, as have Honda.
I hope in the end it mixes up the order a bit for next year hehe

Of course! That explains why BMW are dropping back and why Honda haven't really moved anymore forward. I don't think Renault, Toyota and Red Bull have probably got very far looking at next year's cars yet in comparison to BMW, Williams and Honda.

Now why didn't I think of this in the first place? Only next year will tell...

We don't know where all the teams will end up next year in the pack, so in BMW-Sauber's place I would try at least to defend their second position in WCC, unless they already settled for third. As for Williams and Honda especially I can understand that they focused fully on next year, because this year is not good for them.

Remember, their goal for this season was simply to take their first win. Now, they're free to decide whether to carry on developing this year's car or try to leapfrog McLaren and Ferrari for next year. Personally, I'd choose the latter option.

[Hanwombat]

From autosport.com:

Raikkonen rues costly driving error

By Pablo Elizalde Saturday, August 2nd 2008, 15:27 GMT

Kimi Raikkonen blamed a driving error for his disappointing result in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Finn will start the race from sixth position, on the dirty side, at a circuit where overtaking is virtually impossible.

World champion Raikkonen is under no illusions about the difficulty of the task ahead of him tomorrow, but he has vowed not to give up.

"I made a mistake on my final flying lap which cost me precious time, and that followed on from not having got a great lap on my previous attempt, which explains why I'm sixth," said Raikkonen.

"Of course I am not happy and, starting from the third row, my race will be an uphill struggle. I will try and make the most of this situation, given that the car today was not that bad.

"We are going through a bit of a difficult time but we mustn't give up: all we need to do is put together all the pieces of the jigsaw and then the results will come to us again."

Raikkonen must have been making a lot of mistakes over the weekend, then. What a load of bullpoo.

He just has lost interest

[przemo]

Well, Hopefully they do. BMW certainly have taken this route, as have Honda.
I hope in the end it mixes up the order a bit for next year hehe

Of course! That explains why BMW are dropping back and why Honda haven't really moved anymore forward. I don't think Renault, Toyota and Red Bull have probably got very far looking at next year's cars yet in comparison to BMW, Williams and Honda.

Now why didn't I think of this in the first place? Only next year will tell...

We don't know where all the teams will end up next year in the pack, so in BMW-Sauber's place I would try at least to defend their second position in WCC, unless they already settled for third. As for Williams and Honda especially I can understand that they focused fully on next year, because this year is not good for them.

Remember, their goal for this season was simply to take their first win. Now, they're free to decide whether to carry on developing this year's car or try to leapfrog McLaren and Ferrari for next year. Personally, I'd choose the latter option.

I would say they lack ambition...

But yes, they have their calculated reasoning, and they set their goals for each season and probably due to that slow and steady progress they are where they are now. Theissen probably sees there's no point in changing their long-term strategy now, because it worked for them so far.

[Rivelution]

You know I was really dissapointed today, I think BMW have been slowly working their way down the food chain with every race since Canada. I hope they didnt peak to early, and Heidfeld seems to be losing his consistency.

I was quite hapy for Glock today, but I knew Hamilton would be a party pooper.

[Kimi_Hamilton]

My race predictions....

1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Felipe Massa
3. Heikki Kovalainen
4. Robert Kubica
5. Kimi Raikkonen
6. Fernando Alonso
7. Mark Webber
8. Jarno Trulli

[EwanM]

Well, Hopefully they do. BMW certainly have taken this route, as have Honda.
I hope in the end it mixes up the order a bit for next year hehe

Of course! That explains why BMW are dropping back and why Honda haven't really moved anymore forward. I don't think Renault, Toyota and Red Bull have probably got very far looking at next year's cars yet in comparison to BMW, Williams and Honda.

Now why didn't I think of this in the first place? Only next year will tell...

We don't know where all the teams will end up next year in the pack, so in BMW-Sauber's place I would try at least to defend their second position in WCC, unless they already settled for third. As for Williams and Honda especially I can understand that they focused fully on next year, because this year is not good for them.

Remember, their goal for this season was simply to take their first win. Now, they're free to decide whether to carry on developing this year's car or try to leapfrog McLaren and Ferrari for next year. Personally, I'd choose the latter option.

I would say they lack ambition...

But yes, they have their calculated reasoning, and they set their goals for each season and probably due to that slow and steady progress they are where they are now. Theissen probably sees there's no point in changing their long-term strategy now, because it worked for them so far.

Just touching on 2009 and the KERS system, what was up with Kubica in an interview about it on ITV when he said he would rather not get into a car with it fitted? Who can blame him