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[EwanM]

Di Montezemolo critical of F1 show http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71028

By Michele Lostia and Pablo Elizalde Tuesday, September 30th 2008, 09:00 GMT


Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo says it is 'humiliating' for Formula One that the safety car is needed to spice up the show.

And despite the widespread praise the Singapore Grand Prix received, the Italian was also critical of the Asian street circuit, which hosted Formula One's first night race.

"Unfortunately when we race on tracks where staging a circus or something else would be better, anything can happen, because the spectacle is supplied by the Safety Car," di Montezemolo was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport.

"This is humiliating for F1.

"I want to talk about this with all the other teams in the upcoming weeks."

Di Montezemolo had already said ahead of the race weekend that he believed street circuits such as Singapore or Valencia were bad for the sport.

"I have the impression it will be another one of those letdowns where you cannot overtake, like Valencia," he said last week. "Going forward with these circuits heralds a bad future for Formula One."

Sunday's race, which has been pretty much uneventful until then, was turned upside down thanks to a safety car period that helped Renault driver Fernando Alonso become the seventh different winner this season against all odds.

The race was a disaster for Ferrari, who failed to score any points for the first time since 2006. The team also lost the lead in the constructors' championship while Felipe Massa dropped seven points behind Lewis Hamilton.

Di Montezemolo says, however, that he is convinced Ferrari can bounce back.

"It was a bitter day, but there are three races yet and I have faith in all Ferrari's men, who have always demonstrated they're able to fight to the last metre in every circumstance," di Montezemolo added. "We saw that last year in the final race in Brazil.

"The car is the best, Massa is the best, and I expect Raikkonen to show in these last three races to be the world champion.

"Ferrari went through times much more difficult than this. We saw throughout the weekend that our car was the best and that Massa did an extraordinary qualifying, demonstrating to be be the driver in the best shape.

"I expect Massa and Raikkonen to always finish first and second in the three remaining races. In any case, ahead of McLaren."

Di Montezemolo also said it was "obvious" that Kimi Raikkonen would have to play a supporting role to Massa now.

"That's obvious, every driver knows he races for the team," he added.

"We have extraordinary mechanics who may make mistakes once in a while. Obviously the one that did is the most displeased one now, but he deserves us to stay close to him just like to everyone else, because at other times they turned the result around.

"We are the world champions, we are still able to win. Let's see if we don't do it with these exceptional people. You'll see a great reaction at the next race already."


__________________________________________________


He has a point on the circus

[bud]

yeah and he is the head clown

[McLaren Fan]

Personally, I don't mind the safety car for the most part (I don't like safety car starts) and I think that there are times when a safety car is needed. Like when there is debris on the track which needs cleared. I think a lot of di Montezemolo is saying is because he is furious that Ferrari screwed up big style this weekend.

[formula1fan1]

Personally, I don't mind the safety car for the most part (I don't like safety car starts) and I think that there are times when a safety car is needed. Like when there is debris on the track which needs cleared. I think a lot of di Montezemolo is saying is because he is furious that Ferrari screwed up big style this weekend.

He expressed similar sentiments _before_ the race as well, so I don't think his comments are completely driven by the Ferrari farce. I sort of agree with him that the skyline, the fact that it was at night, and how good the cars looked under lights, should not be the most important aspects of F1. It must be incredibly frustrating for racing drivers who find it difficult to actually, you know, RACE. And that the biggest deal about the Singapore race was that it was at night (as Kimi said: "we don't look at the sky when we drive."). It was set to be another Valencia until the safety car came in.

I wish they would bring back the classics or hold more than one race at Spa, Monza, etc. Make it about racing again, these other things should be and remain bonuses.

[8-ball]

I don't mind if we have more street circuits the problem comes when they turn into a procession. A street circuit with plenty of places to overtake would be a good thing but that is often hard to engineer because the circuit has to work around the city's architecture. Valencia was a disaster and should be dropped immediately and I would also say once Singapore has established itself we could drop Monaco because at least there is 1 overtaking spot in Singapore whereas Monaco has none.

[juggles]

he's taking out his anger at a complete Ferrari screw up by pinning it on Singapore. It was a surprisingly exciting race. It's the same for everyone, so stop whining.

[racechick]

Di Montezemolo critical of F1 show http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71028

By Michele Lostia and Pablo Elizalde Tuesday, September 30th 2008, 09:00 GMT


Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo says it is 'humiliating' for Formula One that the safety car is needed to spice up the show.

And despite the widespread praise the Singapore Grand Prix received, the Italian was also critical of the Asian street circuit, which hosted Formula One's first night race.

"Unfortunately when we race on tracks where staging a circus or something else would be better, anything can happen, because the spectacle is supplied by the Safety Car," di Montezemolo was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport.

"This is humiliating for F1.

"I want to talk about this with all the other teams in the upcoming weeks."

Di Montezemolo had already said ahead of the race weekend that he believed street circuits such as Singapore or Valencia were bad for the sport.

"I have the impression it will be another one of those letdowns where you cannot overtake, like Valencia," he said last week. "Going forward with these circuits heralds a bad future for Formula One."

Sunday's race, which has been pretty much uneventful until then, was turned upside down thanks to a safety car period that helped Renault driver Fernando Alonso become the seventh different winner this season against all odds.

The race was a disaster for Ferrari, who failed to score any points for the first time since 2006. The team also lost the lead in the constructors' championship while Felipe Massa dropped seven points behind Lewis Hamilton.

Di Montezemolo says, however, that he is convinced Ferrari can bounce back.

"It was a bitter day, but there are three races yet and I have faith in all Ferrari's men, who have always demonstrated they're able to fight to the last metre in every circumstance," di Montezemolo added. "We saw that last year in the final race in Brazil.

"The car is the best, Massa is the best, and I expect Raikkonen to show in these last three races to be the world champion.

"Ferrari went through times much more difficult than this. We saw throughout the weekend that our car was the best and that Massa did an extraordinary qualifying, demonstrating to be be the driver in the best shape.

"I expect Massa and Raikkonen to always finish first and second in the three remaining races. In any case, ahead of McLaren."

Di Montezemolo also said it was "obvious" that Kimi Raikkonen would have to play a supporting role to Massa now.

"That's obvious, every driver knows he races for the team," he added.

"We have extraordinary mechanics who may make mistakes once in a while. Obviously the one that did is the most displeased one now, but he deserves us to stay close to him just like to everyone else, because at other times they turned the result around.

"We are the world champions, we are still able to win. Let's see if we don't do it with these exceptional people. You'll see a great reaction at the next race already."


__________________________________________________


He has a point on the circus

He has a point on the safety car (and pitlane closures) used to spice things up. On the rest he is wide of the mark. Though Ferrari did supply the humour aspect a circus brings

[McLaren Fan]

drop Monaco

Singapore is a nice city, but Monaco has more millionaires etc. per square mile, and the track has a lot of charm, even if there is little or not overtaking. Singapore may have replaced Monaco as the most physically-demanding track etc., but Monaco is still unique and has bags of history. Getting rid of it would be sacrilege.

[Denthúl]

"Unfortunately when we race on tracks where staging a circus or something else would be better, anything can happen, because the spectacle is supplied by the Safety Car," di Montezemolo was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport.

"This is humiliating for F1.

He's 100% right, though - the sport should not have to rely on rain or crashes to make it exciting.

[8-ball]

drop Monaco

Singapore is a nice city, but Monaco has more millionaires etc. per square mile, and the track has a lot of charm, even if there is little or not overtaking. Singapore may have replaced Monaco as the most physically-demanding track etc., but Monaco is still unique and has bags of history. Getting rid of it would be sacrilege.

Monaco is on the calendar due to sentimental reasons and it is one of the most boring spectacles of the year. I know it will never be dropped but to keep a track on the calendar just because of its history is crazy imo. Times change and sometimes things have to change with them

[Denthúl]

drop Monaco

Singapore is a nice city, but Monaco has more millionaires etc. per square mile, and the track has a lot of charm, even if there is little or not overtaking. Singapore may have replaced Monaco as the most physically-demanding track etc., but Monaco is still unique and has bags of history. Getting rid of it would be sacrilege.

Monaco is on the calendar due to sentimental reasons and it is one of the most boring spectacles of the year. I know it will never be dropped but to keep a track on the calendar just because of its history is crazy imo. Times change and sometimes things have to change with them

To an extent, I agree with you, although I wouldn't say Singapore is that much better than Monaco in terms of racing. Focus should be on building more circuits that are as good as places like Suzuka, Silverstone, Monza, Spa-Francorchamps etc. than on new street circuits. It would be nice to see Abu Dhabi turn out to be a nice track next year. Yas Island has to provide good racing if it is to host the season finale.

[scotty]

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?id=44137

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has attacked the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix, saying it is “humiliating” for Formula 1 that the race had to be enlivened by a safety car.

F1's first night event was largely hailed as a resounding success by drivers, team bosses [see separate story] and Singapore officials, with the atmosphere created by the floodlights and the challenge presented by the 3.15-mile circuit getting the thumbs-up.

The race itself on the city's streets had been predicted to provide few overtaking opportunities and the 61 laps began in relatively processional fashion, before the appearance of the safety car triggered a dramatic shake up of the order.

Di Montezemolo – who said ahead of the event that he expected a “let down” – reckons it was damaging for the sport that the circuit couldn’t provide exciting racing in normal conditions.

"When you race on a circuit where it would be better to have the circus, or something else, anything can happen, because the show is [provided by] the safety car,” the head of the new Formula One Teams Association told Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.

“This is humiliating for F1.

“I will speak in the coming weeks with all the other teams about this.”

The Italian, however, is more upbeat about his team’s prospects for the remainder of the season despite its race falling apart following the introduction of the safety car.

Ferrari slipped a point behind McLaren in the constructors’ championship and Felipe Massa seven behind Lewis Hamilton in the drivers’ equivalent following the team’s first pointless race in 47 grands prix – but di Montezemolo remains confident his team can retain its world titles.

“A bitter day,” he said of last Sunday’s race.

“But there are still three races to go and I have confidence in everyone at Ferrari who have always shown, in all circumstances, that they can fight until the last metre.

“This was seen last year with the race in Brazil.”

I think the timing of these comments is noteworthy - is he just bitter and talking crap because of what Ferrari did to themselves in the race?

[texasmr2]

Wow I'm surprised at the nonsense Luca is talking ! I think he is just bitter that his team dropped the ball.

[McLaren Fan]

Wow I'm surprised at the nonsense Luca is talking ! I think he is just bitter that his team dropped the ball.

Talking about that, read this, from forumula1.com:

Hamilton’s PR can’t resist Ferrari dig

By Christopher Hayes on Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Ferrari’s pit lane debacle in Singapore provided rivals McLaren with the ideal ammunition on which to trumpet their new status as championship leaders – and Lewis Hamilton’s PR couldn’t resist flagging up his team’s flawlessness under the Marina Bay lights.

“The race was a good example of team-work, with your first pit stop perfectly timed and the whole team working faultlessly during a number of high-pressure situations,” was the preamble to a question posed to Lewis Hamilton about McLaren’s preparations for Japan on his official website lewishamilton.com

“To be honest, this team has always been rock-solid,” replied Hamilton. “We started the year feeling really strong and we just kept developing that. I’d say now that the team is the most positive and together that it’s ever been.”

“Since the middle of the season, we’ve got the car in such a sweet-spot that it’s been competitive at every race. I think Singapore showed just what we could do – we didn’t really put a foot wrong.”

“I’ve got to give credit to the engineers and strategists for helping me to save fuel during the first Safety Car period, and the guys in the garage pulled off two perfect pit stops.”

“What more can I ask for? We’re just getting stronger and stronger – we all want this so much that every race just pulls us closer and closer together.”

Hamilton extended his championship lead to seven points as a result of a Ferrari’s mix up with Felipe Massa’s pit stop, while McLaren have taken the lead of the constructors’ championship for the first time since April.

It will not be lost on fans that Hamilton’s lead over Massa is the advantage he would have maintained had he won his appeal against his Belgian GP penalty in Paris.

[racechick]

Nice one!