[Shaneus]

Ah, okay. It sounded like there might've been something more (accidentally) official than that.

These gifs are the highlight of the month so far, second only to stumbling across Shaneus on Facebook the other day.

Really? You were on Acrid's FB and surprised to see me there?

I think some of the silicone from your prosthetic Webchin is seeping into your brain...

[Goldrusher]

[Shaneus]

No wonder. Webber's not even a competitor :(

Congrats on the membership. Slow and steady wins the race. :)

[mblitek]

Oh man. Does Kimi have a twitter account? He needs to see that. Sunhi, I tip my hat to you. Edit: Ferrari publicly came out against Massa? Where?

Kimi doing extra PR work? Haha

Sunhi, thanks for the chuckles!


Shaneus, on the BBC Prerace EJ or DC mentioned that words (negative ones) were said about Massa and his performance and future. I couldn't find a quote but it might have been an off the cuff type deal.

[DrM]

One more for today since you guys enjoyed my previous efforts. :)

This one made my morning. Sunhi, you are a legend! :D

[Myoclonic Jerk]

One more for today since you guys enjoyed my previous efforts. :)

LMAO.. what a great way to start my day

Thanks Sunhi

[Myoclonic Jerk]

Lotus are doing a really great job on their website.

http://www.lotusf1team.com/Cold-Air-...ront-Ends.html

[Omiee]

Based on what from Hamilton? 1 Championship and a host of mistakes. Hamilton is by far the most overrated. He got trounced by his teammate last year. Sorry to break it to everyone but there is no magic in Formula 1. A driver might be good for a couple of tenths but it's the car and engineers that matter. They understand too much about how the car works for anyone to stand out. Good rain performances nowadays are more about a team guessing correctly and going with a downforce, suspension, and gearing package that works well in the rain. I do think there are absolute top tier drivers that are good for a couple of tenths over the rest of the field if they're compatible with the car. The last magic was Ayrton in qualifying. Not even in the race, but in qualifying. He had absolute fire, and zero caution when on a qualifying lap. He bent tracks and cars to his will, and his qualifying record speaks for it, in all sorts of different cars. That magic died with him. While it's fun to pronounce so and so being the next Jesus of F1 it's all a load of horse crap. The driver show is fun, but the Adrian Neweys of the world are the ones winning the races, the only things the drivers need to do is not fuck it up. Unfortunately Hamilton is not a driver you can rely on to not fuck it up. He's inconsistent and emotionally unstable, being unsettled by shit that happens off track. His girlfriend leaves him and he screws up an entire season. Alonso's wife divorces him and he keeps on putting the Ferrari far ahead of where it deserves to finish. I have no love for Hamilton, but McLaren's recent stupidity has made me come around and I can't help but root for him because he's been great this year so far while his team keeps screwing him over.

i totally agree.




LOOOL at that gif. made my mourning.

[Myoclonic Jerk]

Not sure if this has been posted yet.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/18067284

Ferrari increases pressure on Massa

In a statement, Ferrari said: "Everyone is expecting a change of gear starting right away with the Monaco Grand Prix." The upturn in form was desired by Massa "more than anyone", the statement added. But it also detailed his drop-off in form since 2010, comparing the points he has scored at this stage of the last three seasons with those of Alonso. While Alonso has scored 67, 51 and now 61 points after five races in 2010, 2011 and 2012, Massa, Ferrari said, had scored 49, 24 and now two.

It also comes after the team wrote on their Twitter account following qualifying in Spain that they were "disappointed" with Massa. A spokesman later clarified that statement, telling the Sunday Times: "It was a poor choice of grammar. We are disappointed in the outcome of Felipe but not with Felipe himself."

[Myoclonic Jerk]

'I very much doubt Mercedes will leave F1' - Ecclestone

"they are upset at the moment because they feel they are not being treated in the same way as Ferrari. Our comment is a simple one, we are treating Mercedes in exactly the same way and that is what the problem is. All of these teams' commercial set ups are based on the length they have been in Formula One and the results whilst they were there. Unfortunately Mercedes have only been there a couple of years."

Adrian Sutil insists his Formula 1 career is not over

"I'm always looking, but I have nothing at the moment," Sutil told AUTOSPORT. "I chose this grand prix to come back because it's the first in Europe. It feels good to be back in the paddock and to see some people. "We are not offering money," said Sutil. "After five years, people know that I'm good and I don't need to bring sponsors. "I want a normal salary for my driving and that's it. I want to get treated like a race driver and it's important for the whole sport that the real talents are in the seats and not the drivers with the biggest money behind them."

[Foliorum Viridum]

Really? You were on Acrid's FB and surprised to see me there? I think some of the silicone from your prosthetic Webchin is seeping into your brain...

I wasn't on his FB page, I was just scrolling down my feed and BAM, there was your face, haha. It was surreal!

[Leonsito]

I think it's time for Lotus to win this year, Kimi in Monaco?

[Myoclonic Jerk]

I think it's time for Lotus to win this year, Kimi in Monaco?

I hope so, but they said they're not that good in slow corners.

I'd be happy for Lewis to win this one, and Kimi in Canada?

[Hammer24]

Monaco should be decided between the McL´s and Nico. The former are usually fast around slow corners, and its Nico´s home drive, where he´s usually pretty good.

[Goldrusher]

Ferrari has said it expects Felipe Massa to lift his performance at the Monaco Grand Prix, amid the first signs that the team is losing patience with his lack of results. [...] Although Ferrari remains committed to Massa for now, AUTOSPORT understands that the outfit is now seriously evaluating options for the future - both short and long-term – if the situation does not change. While Sauber driver Sergio Perez remains a prospect for the longer term, Ferrari is also understood to be evaluating Force India duo Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg as well as Lotus test driver Jerome d'Ambrosio. Although the latter's inclusion as a candidate is a surprise, the Belgian does have the advantage of being available immediately, and would be happy to take a half-year deal which would allow Ferrari to spend longer thinking about its options for a new team-mate for Alonso in 2013.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/99622

[Zinga]

Hoping Alonso wins Monaco, he's a god around this track!

[Lucius86]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/99622

The sensible pick would be Dilly, since they can save money by duplicating the photoshoots.

Ambrosio is the sensible bet

[brotkasten]

The sensible pick would be Dilly, since they can save money by duplicating the photoshoots. Ambrosio is the sensible bet

But is d'Ambrosio even any good? I never really noticed him.

[Foliorum Viridum]

Because he was in a Virgin. Nobody is good in that car.

[Xun]

It's a shame this is how it'll end for Massa, but sadly it needs to be done.

The car has improved, and he's still failing with it.

[NHale]

Hoping Alonso wins Monaco, he's a god around this track!

Another driver that is very good at Monaco is Maldonado. Even last year he was going to finish 6th with that shitty Williams car until someone thought it was a great idea to crash into him.

[IISANDERII]

'I very much doubt Mercedes will leave F1' - Ecclestone

I know very little about what's happening but I still don't know why Williams doesn't get to appoint a chair on the board of directors and Red Bull does.
But I think going public is a terrible idea in the first place. As much as a weasel I think Ecclestone is, he won't be nearly as awful as major shareholders who care nothing of the sport and seek only maximum return on their investment.

[Pazuzu9]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/99622

Blarrgh. I dislike reports like this. Monaco is such a unique track/race, and extremely unpredictable. Massa could therefore do pretty well, quite randomly. There would then be lots of follow-up articles about how he 'raised his game' and 'answered his critics' and all sorts of other bullshit.

There's far too much romanticism and sensationalism in sport. It would be ridiculous to suggest that a successful Monaco weekend shows that Massa is back on form, and equally unfair to single out an unsuccessful weekend to say that he didn't deliver.

[Dilly]

I'd jizz my goddamn pants if D'Ambrosio finished the season at Ferrari.

[mclem]

Heads-up, UK folks: Amazon UK are doing a lightning deal on Senna on Blu-Ray in two hours. Might interest some of you.

[Orgun]

Heads-up, UK folks: Amazon UK are doing a lightning deal on Senna on Blu-Ray in two hours. Might interest some of you.

Thank you my good man!

[gutterboy44]

LOL. Holy shit Sunhi, you have out done yourself yet again. Those last three gifs are award worthy. Are there gif awards yet? Damn there needs to be.

Finally watched the race last night, great stuff. This season really could go any direction. Really hoping for a slow burn from Kimi. Just keep racking up the podiums.

[Myoclonic Jerk]

LOL. Holy shit Sunhi, you have out done yourself yet again. Those last three gifs are award worthy. Are there gif awards yet? Damn there needs to be. Finally watched the race last night, great stuff. This season really could go any direction. Really hoping for a slow burn from Kimi. Just keep racking up the podiums.

I'm hoping for a Monaco win, although I highly doubt it will happen. But again, who would ever think that he could be a hair away from winning Bahrain

Lotus managing Raikkonen's obligations

"We know that Kimi doesn't like PR, doesn't like media. So why should we bother him with it? Sure we need a balance between his demands and the requests from our sponsors. But he knows that we care very much about his schedule and try to minimise his obligations. That's it. He is a racer so he races for winning and hardly cares about the rest!"

"Kimi is like a wild animal and you have to let him run the way he wants to go. We don't have to tell him what he has to do because he is a professional and we want him to deliver on track first. That is his purpose. After that there are some obligations. Unfortunately for him his personality makes him very attractive to the fans, so he is famous. He and we have to come to terms with the fact that he has many fans, so to a certain degree he is playing the game. We restrict his obligations to the minimum and I see that he is fine with it."

Full interview with EB - http://www.formula1.com/news/intervi...2/5/13355.html

[paskowitz]

I'm hoping for a Monaco win, although I highly doubt it will happen. But again, who would ever think that he could be a hair away from winning Bahrain Lotus managing Raikkonen's obligations Full interview with EB - http://www.formula1.com/news/intervi...2/5/13355.html

This is a team with their house in order.

[ANDY_098]

Everyone is chipping in to help Williams recover from the fire...

[Scuderia]

Got back from Barcelona this morning, got quite a few photos but this is my favourite:

[olore]

Cool. Did you get his autograph too?

[Scuderia]

Nah i took nothing to sign rather stupidly, was only half expecting any drivers to make an appearance, in the end they all did. Still, i prefer a photo than a signature.

Stuck the camera in Vettels face pretty much.

[Yenrot]

[Dilly]

The sensible pick would be Dilly, since they can save money by duplicating the photoshoots. Ambrosio is the sensible bet

And I'd only ask 10k/month.

[brotkasten]

And I'd only ask 10k/month.

That's still more then what Massa is worth.

Sunhi is getting famous. I hope he'll still remember us, when he's swimming in money and getting all the chicks.

[paskowitz]

SunhiLegend

[Scuderia]

Someone shouted to Kimi asking him if he wanted an ice cream while he was signing stuff. He blanked them.

Legend xD

[Myoclonic Jerk]

James Allan was writing about how Lotus could have won the race. Alan Permane replied to him

Reply No. 7

Hi James, Your usually excellent analysis is somewhat flawed here. If you look closer at the 2nd and 3rd stints for KR you will see that the 2nd stint laptimes are significantly quicker (fuel corrected). New primes were fitted for the 3rd stint as I wanted to push longer to give a short 4th stint. In hindsight it could have been better to run softs for this final stint but then wear may have been as issue. We didn’t win because ultimately we weren’t quick enough but hopefully it won’t be long!! All the best and see you in Monaco Cheers Alan. [Reply] James Allen Reply: May 15th, 2012 at 4:28 pm Thanks for the note. Cheers Alan! See you there. [Reply]

[Schmitty]

I've been an on and off F1 fan growing up. I have watched races occasionally when I remembered to get up early in the morning or watch the replays. I heard about the plans for the U.S. Grand Prix to come back and its awesome it is all in line now. Can't wait to see it.

[Leunam]

You should check out the races so far this season. It's been an amazing year.

[Myoclonic Jerk]

You should check out the races so far this season. It's been an amazing year.

Indeed. I can't remember an exciting beginning of a year like this one

[Yenrot]

The tyres have made it so great. I don't know why people are complaining. This has been the most exciting start to a season in years.

[Shaneus]

James Allan was writing about how Lotus could have won the race. Alan Permane replied to him Reply No. 7

You know, from that as well as their website, Lotus are doing an incredible job with PR. Actually making people feel a part of the community.

[acm2000]

The tyres have made it so great. I don't know why people are complaining. This has been the most exciting start to a season in years.

the only person complaining is the guy who tried to overtake senna by driving through him... lol

[NHale]

The tyres have made it so great. I don't know why people are complaining. This has been the most exciting start to a season in years.

It's not only the tyres because they were almost the same last year and it was a boring season (even more than the previous year with tyres that lasted 95% of a race).

The fact is that cars are much more closed together this year. IRC in the Bahrain Q2 the 15th was only 0.8 slower than the 1st. Last year that was usually the difference between 1st and 5th.

[Myoclonic Jerk]

Awww Peter Sauber in love? - http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/99641

[mclaren777]

I'm still bitter about Hamilton's penalty in Barcelona. :(


Edit: also, this is pretty clever: http://scarbsf1.wordpress.com/2012/05/10/mclaren-adjustable-rear-brake-ducts/

[Scuderia]

If anyone is interested, some of my Catalunya photos are here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7871590...7629757741468/

[Goldrusher]

Bonus question is up.

http://www.f1racemanager.com/bonusquestion.asp