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Monday 27 July 2009

Hungary - The race

So on race day we had no further news about Felipe apart from that he had surgery for his cracked skull and was still in an induced coma. However, when brought out of the coma he was able to recognise his family which is great news.

The grid formed for the race and there was huge anticipation about the KERS on the Mclaren's being able to push them to the front and whilst Lewis launched it to 2nd into the first corner he was passed by Webber as Fernando shot off into the distance. However, a great piece of driving from Lewis soon put him into second and he set off after Fernando.

As Fernando was only fuelled to lap 13 he was really not a threat so had the prospect of a Mclaren victory from early on in the race. Lewis went from strength to strength and once Fernando's first pit stop was completed he was never to be headed.

Sebastian (Vettel) eventually retired his Red Bull and then disaster for Fernando as he felt something wrong with the right front wheel which eventually came off bringing back memories of the Surtees disaster the previous weekend. The news then came that Renault had received a 1 race ban so they will not be in Valencia.

A stirling drive from Kimi kept the Ferrari in 2nd throughout most of the race showing that maybe they are nearer the front again which is great news for the championship. Talking about the championship Jenson was again struggling with tyres and complaining over the radio to the team with Rubens struggling even more finally finishing 1oth and nil point.

So we had Lewis disappearing at the front followed by Kimi, Mark and another stirling drive from Nico. Heikki basically ran in 5th all day but was threatened in the latter stages by Timo in a rapidly closing Toyota. They were followed by Jenson, Jarno, Kazuki and Rubens.

So after an eventful weekend it appears that Brawn have lost something but Mclaren have gained a lot along with Ferrari. It is obviously nice to see a mix of winners and particularly when Lewis is up at the sharp end. Both Williams are now more consistent and the Red Bull's are still up at the front.

The rest of the season now looks very interesting and both Kimi and Lewis could be Jenson's greatest friends by denying the Sebastian & Mark better points in the championship. Martin Whitmarsh must also be thrilled with his first win as CEO and so he should be.

The championship has tightened up with less than 20 points between Jenson (70) and Mark (51.5) who took over 2nd place from Sebastian (47) with Rubens 4th (44), Nico now 5th (25.5) and Trulli 6th (22.5).

I am not suggesting Lewis can win this year but a few more wins with defaults from the major players, he could finish up with a reasonable world champion season. After his start he could do with something to brighten his season. His mood changes completely when given a winning car and let us all wish him well for the rest of the season.

I apologise for copying the following content but I feel in Felipe's situation it is better to print exactly what has been printed on the website.

BBC Forumula 1

Ferrari's Felipe Massa's condition is "severe but not critical" after surgery on his fractured skull in Hungary.

Surgeon Robert Veres said that Massa, 28, suffered damage to his left eye when he who was hit by a spring from Ruben Barrichello's car on Saturday.

"The immediate life-threatening condition has been averted but a complication could make it life-threatening again," said Veres.

"I am sure (his eye was damaged) but we do not know the extent yet," he added.

Massa, 28, who was hit by a spring from Ruben Barrichello's car on Saturday, is able to communicate "actively" and move his hands and legs but cannot speak.

A Ferrari spokesman said: "Felipe had a quiet night. He is OK, and he is due to have another CT scan today (Monday)."

A Hungarian hospital spokesman said they are "optimistic" that a "slow recovery is beginning".

"He's woken up [from sedation] more often and is able to communicate actively," added Istvan Bocskai, a spokesman for the Hungarian defence ministry, which administers the Budapest hospital where Massa is being treated.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo will fly to the AEK military hospital on Monday to be at Massa's bedside, alongside the driver's father, mother and pregnant wife, who have all flown in from Brazil.

In closing I am sure the above can put at least hope he will return to full fitness.

Hungary Quali

Firstly our thoughts go out to the Surtees family after the tragic accident to Henry at Brands Hatch. This freak accident just shows how dangerous motor racing still is as the wheel off one of the other competitors cars hit him on the head.

What brings it home even more is the spooky freak accident to Felipe Massa only a week after when a spring from the rear of Rubens Barrichello's Brawn bounced down the circuit and was collected by Felipe who, it appears finished up with a fractured skull.

All the signs are that Felipe will fully recover but as I write he is still in an induced coma. Whether he will drive again seems to be in doubt and their is talk of him being replaced by, wait for it, Michael Schumacher and that would be a real revelation.

Anyway that is unimportant compared with Felipe's complete recovery and our thoughts go out to the Massa family in the meanwhile.

On a somewhat sombre note after Brands the F1 circus goes to the tight Hungaroring noted for no overtaking which the drivers seemed to ignore all weekend.

We, I am sure all welcome Jaime Alguersauri to F1 who is the youngest driver to take an F1 seat and obtain his super license. He has replaced the luckless Sebastian Bourdais at Toro Rosso or maybe even STR -Ferrari, and as the 2008 Formula 3 champion he has been brought in under the Red Bull young driver program and he seemed to be consistent during his first run.

There was the usual fight to see who was to lose out in Q1 and apart from Alguersauri who broke down it was the Force India's and again the BMW's who just don't seem to be able to get things right. One expects better from BMW and I wonder what is being said in Germany about their continuing in the sport through these difficult times.

On into Q2 which is where Felipe had his accident and I don't think we should dwell on that. The loss of the spring in Ruben's car meant he couldn't progress to Q1 and the team launched an immediate inspection to find why and he finished 12th.

The Red Bulls's, Mclaren's (isn't that nice to be able to say) and Williams's were having an almighty fight at the top with Rosberg in P1 at one stage. Q2 saw the demise of both Toyota's, Nelson in the 2nd Renault, Rubens and of course Felipe.

On into Q3 and the same 6 cars were fighting it out but this time, with a lightly fueled Renault it was Fernando who put the Renault on pole followed by Sebastian (Vettel) followed by Mark, Lewis and Nico and then Heikki, Kimi. Jenson seemed to having tyre problems again and finished a lowly 8th and then rounding out the top 10 it was Kazuki and Sebastian (Buemi).

Albeit all the drivers were concentrating on the job in hand all the talk was correctly about Felipe and the only news we had post quali was that he was in hospital and stable. We desperately await good news.

Tuesday 14 July 2009

F1 Germany

My apologies firstly for missing my blog for the British Grand Prix but I have been heavily involved in moving my man around during the F1 crisis talks. The infighting still goes on but there is a solution and hopefully that will be sooner rather than later.

Germany was a good Grand Prix and the Red Bull's are really showing their prowess over the Brawn's. It always looked as though Lewis could do something from 5th off the grid with his KERS and he certainly shot to the front and could have been leading into turn 1.

However, on his meteoric path through Mark Webber caught his rear right wheel and what ensued was a puncture which basically ended Lewis's race but we can all take heart that the Mclaren's are back and fighting at the sharp end again.

Mark had a strange start as before he caught Lewis he had side swiped Rubens for which he was to get a drive through penalty. The Red Bull strategy and Rubens lack of pace meant Mark was soon back at the head of the field, a position he was never to relinquish.

There were good scraps all the way down the field but the Red Bull's were on top all the way through and finished 1,2 again. Massa had a good race eventually finishing 3rd but he had badly affected Rubens' race through the middle stint.

Nico had a good race again finishing 4th and looking at his results he is now very consistent finishing the last 2 races in 5th and before that a 6th. Both Brawn's were locked in battle in the latter stages and there was never a doubt Jenson would come out the better of that and he did crossing the line in 5th with Rubens behind him.

Rubens had his usual go at the team, of course accusing them of favouring Jenson and the heavy days at Ferrari come to mind whilst he was number 2 to Schumacher.

So an eventful race ended with the championship tightening up slightly but Jenson leaves Germany still with a 21 point lead over Vettel with Mark only a further 1.5 points behind with Rubens a further 1.5 points behind.

The next circuits certainly favour the Brawn's as they need warmer temperatures for the tyres to work properly so Hungary will be very interesting as it is of course where Jenson took his first win in a Honda which seems to be eternity ago.

In the constructors championship Brawn still have a lead of 19.5 points so it is getting very interesting in both sides of the championship. Bring on Hungary.