The Official 2007 SECCS Fantasy Formula 1 League!

[Nick Koan]

Okay, its offical now. Winkelhock will drive a Spyker.

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2007/7/6480.html

[MattR]

Winklehock is a chump. He's been a pinball all year in DTM. Anyway, I just wish the Spyker was slightly interesting to watch, the car is so uncompetitive it's rediculous. Winklehock's small victory will come if he manages NOT to drive away from the pits with the fuel rig in tow.

[sperry]

Alonso sucks:

According to Agence France-Presse, European Grand Prix winner Fernando Alonso accused Felipe Massa of deliberately hitting his car during the duel that opposed both drivers at the end of Sunday's race on the Nürburgring track.

A few minutes before the traditional ceremony, Ferrari's Felipe Massa approached McLaren's Fernando Alonso and shook his hand in the room adjacent to the podium. The folllowing conversation ensued in Italian.

FA: "You can't do things like that."

FM : "What are you talking about?"

FA: "Don't play smart with me, you know very well. You hit me on purpose, you turned the wheel to push me off."

FM : "What? Go f--k yourself!"

FA : "You f--k off! Next time I'll push you into the wall."

Alonso, decidely in a provocative mood, turned and smiled at the live TV camera as Massa walked away very upset, his dark mood still quite apparent during the podium ceremony.

Once tempers had calmed down as the post-race FIA press conference began, Fernando Alonso admitted that he had over-reacted.

"We touched each other two times and I apologise to him (Massa) because I was so stressed when I finished the race because we nearly didn’t finish the race. Now I try to enjoy the victory and forget everything," the Spaniard said as he sat next to Massa, quickly touching his neighbour's forearm in a friendlier gesture.

The Brazilian was still somewhat flared however: "I was really surprised when he came to say that I did that on purpose.
Cliquez ici...
I would never do something like that on purpose. Like I said in Barcelona, it was normal, here it was normal and it's going to be like that. So if he was a little bit unhappy, it's not my problem."

"With Felipe at the end it was close but as I said before, I apologise if I said anything to him, because it's motor racing and it's a fight," added Alonso.

"We finished the race, so I don't want to talk any more about this and I want to enjoy the win," he stated, wishing to close the matter.

Prompted by the assembled journalists, Alonso returned to the delicate subject a few minutes later.

"I was not too happy at the end of the race because we touched each other but now, five minutes later on the podium I realised that this is motor racing, so I will not talk any more," he repeated.

The subject seemed to be closed for Massa also: "If somebody tells me something I did wrong and I didn't, I will be unhappy. That is normal. But if he has apologized, then that's fine. He knows he was not right after the race."

Bad tempers and apologies – on certain occasions, both are a part of motorsports...

http://www.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlin...23165104.shtml

I'm glad I called the win and got 10 points and all... but Alonso's kinda of a dickhead. I like him less and less, meanwhile I've grown to like Massa more and more. I hope Felipe whoops Alonso good in Hungary.

[MattR]

I have become a Massa fan as well. He's been an underdog from day one at Ferrari, no one gave him a chance. Hungary is one of my favorite circuits, I'm looking forward to their battle.

[tysonK]

Originally Posted by MattR

Winklehock is a chump.

He did have a 30+ second lead on the entire field at one point!

[sperry]

Originally Posted by tysonK

He did have a 30+ second lead on the entire field at one point!

Which lasted all of about 30 feet on the restart. 'Course the Spyker is the dog of the field by like 5 seconds a lap...

[MattR]

Winklehock is not really a chump, I actually thought it was pretty cool that he got to lead his home grand prix.

[MPREZIV]

I know I was cheering for him!

[MattR]

Looks like the horrible managemnet at STR is close to firing Speed and Liuzzi. Speed may have lost his seat already, I'm sure we'll hear for sure by the morning.

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/formulaone/38964/

[MPREZIV]

Speed was saying in an interview pre-race last weekend that he "didn't think he'd be there next year".

[Nick Koan]

Looks like Sakon Yamamoto is going to be the second driver for Spyker for Hungary and probably the rest of the year. He'll be picking up right where he left off, and 22nd. But, it sounds like this time he won't be a rolling chicane like last year.

Originally Posted by crash.net article

So far this year Yamamoto has attempted to establish himself in Europe, signing to race in the GP2 Series with BCN Competicion and although his season has yet to produce any points, he has nonetheless not disgraced himself on what are entirely new circuits.

http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~1~id~151886.htm

GPUpdate is reporting this as fact, but everywhere else still seems to be treating this as a rumor with an official announcement coming tomorrow.

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2007/...-joins-spyker/

[Nick Koan]

Confirmed. Yamamoto in a Spyker.

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2007/7/6534.html

[Nick Koan]

Also, the big McLaren news, no penalty will be issued over the spying charges. But the FIA is reserving the right to call them back later.

The WMSC is satisfied that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes was in possession of confidential Ferrari information and is therefore in breach of article 151c of the International Sporting Code. However, there is insufficient evidence that this information was used in such a way as to interfere improperly with the FIA Formula One World Championship. We therefore impose no penalty.

"But if it is found in the future that the Ferrari information has been used to the detriment of the championship, we reserve the right to invite Vodafone McLaren Mercedes back in front of the WMSC where it will face the possibility of exclusion from not only the 2007 championship but also the 2008 championship.

The WMSC will also invite Mr Stepney and Mr Coughlan to show reason why they should not be banned from international motor sport for a lengthy period and the WMSC has delegated authority to deal with this matter to the legal department of the FIA.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by nKoan

Also, the big McLaren news, no penalty will be issued over the spying charges. But the FIA is reserving the right to call them back later.

Good news. I think that's the right call... everything I've heard sounded like Ferrari got screwed by an ex-employee, and McLaren fired their half of the situation before the stolen info ever really made it to the engineers.

Hopefully both Ferrari and McLaren are satisfied in the situation and let the winner get decided on track. I'd hate to see this become a big legal deal.

[sperry]

So much for Ferrari taking the high road and going after McLaren on the track:

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2007/7/6542.html

Ugh.

[MattR]

"They took our Jorb!" Scott Speed loses STR seat to Vettel.

story

I hope Seb knows what a pile of shit that STR is compared to his Sauber BMW. I doubt he'll have as much fun as he did at Indy.

[Nick Koan]

Too bad for Scott. Hopefully he'll find a drive back in F1 soon, or something like that.

[skimonkey30]

Originally Posted by sperry

So much for Ferrari taking the high road and going after McLaren on the track:

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2007/7/6542.html

Ugh.

Ferrari isnt going to drop it. Mosley has re-opened the case

http://www.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlin...31170134.shtml

[sperry]

Man, some crap news from F1 lately...

[Nick Koan]

This really sums up the Nurburgring this year.

[MattR]

Well, well...Looks like Alonso may be looking to return to Renault.

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/formulaone/39250/

[sperry]

Originally Posted by MattR

Well, well...Looks like Alonso may be looking to return to Renault.

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/formulaone/39250/

That would be sweet. I hate Alonso, and I'm not a fan of Renault. Putting them back together works for me. Plus, I like Fisi, I wonder how he'd fare in a McLaren.

[Nick Koan]

Yeah, after this weekend, there have been tons of reports that Alonso is trying to figure out a way of his contract and that Ron Dennis is openly admitting that there is a rift between his drivers, even larger than perhaps the legendary Senna-Prost issues from years past.

I wonder who would fill Alonso's seat if he were to leave? For some reason, I have a hard time thinking it would be Fisi

Maybe good ol' Nick Heidfeld.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by nKoan

Yeah, after this weekend, there have been tons of reports that Alonso is trying to figure out a way of his contract and that Ron Dennis is openly admitting that there is a rift between his drivers, even larger than perhaps the legendary Senna-Prost issues from years past.

I wonder who would fill Alonso's seat if he were to leave? For some reason, I have a hard time thinking it would be Fisi

Maybe good ol' Nick Heidfeld.

Scott Speed?

[skimonkey30]

rumors are swirling that Jean Todt wants to sign Lewis Hamilton away from Mclaren as well

the silly season is getting under way......