Hamilton's Gambit

I am busy these days and so my two blog sites Pinoy Technocrata and Couch Potato Journal are on indefinite leave.

I’m a Ferrari fan at heart… and also an Alonso fan boy but this season gave me two additional teams to watch out for… and that’s Toyota and Brawn GP.

I said early on when F1 teams were just beginning to unveil new cars due to a lot of rule changes that Ferrari’s F60 is definitely the sexiest car on the track and McLaren, the big fat bus. I still believe it’s the sexiest car even though they lost the first race to Brawn GP. But of course, the Brawn GP001 is the talk of the town. It looks simple in white maybe due to lack of sponsors. All I can see during the race was the “Virgin” logo of Sir Richard Branson! Hmmm I guess things are about to change for Brawn GP… dramatically.

Brawn GP, the team that was formerly known as Honda is the new “backstreet boy” of the pack and they have displayed tremendous power and reliability at their maiden race. Jenson Button dominated the race all throughout and never looked back till the checquered flag. Rubens Barrichello, Jenson’s teammate could have made it difficult for Jenson to win if only he got a good start from the grid and minus some mishaps. I think Rubens could have won the race but hey all is well… Australian Grand Prix is a Brawn 1-2 victory! The Honda guys might be scratching their heads when Jenson and Rubens both got a podium finish after a long time with Honda. This gives me doubts about Honda engines as the Brawn GP001 car’s body is believed to be designed by Honda way ahead of the 2009 season but the engine was replaced with a Mercedes Benz.

And so Brawn, if all goes according to plan, is set to capture this year’s Constructor’s Cup and Drivers’ Championship. Then a development in the F1 world woke me up from blog slumber as I read the news from F1-Live.com (click here!)

And so the reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton pulled some strings and will be suiting up for Brawn GP in the Malaysian Grand Prix! I think Rubens is definitely going to be out of the line-up if this really… pushes through. I feel sorry for Rubens, after complaining for some time with the Honda Team, he is now on a competitive car only to be booted because some sick brat wants the better F1 car! I was already beginning to admire Hamilton as a driver but it seems he’s desire for winning is beyond the boundaries of ethics. I guess Alonso was right in leaving McLaren which he helped built to be competitive whom Hamilton benefited. The real looser is McLaren and for a short span of time, lost two of the best drivers! Alonso leaving McLaren was viewed to be a bratty move but at least he’s got some pride and definitely… class…

Hamilton! You truly deserve to be called BLEWIT SHAMELTON!!!

Late surge by Alonso

Losing the drivers’ championship last year for Alonso was heart breaking. He’s at his prime (actually…still is) and to think he’s driving a technologically advanced car like the McLaren… it’s so hard to imagine or should I say ironic that he lost his winning streak. Well, the human factor at McLaren last year failed him and though it might be a wrong move on his part, he returned to his previous team (Renault) whose car as critics would label technologically inferior.

The early and mid season races were more heart breaking for Alonso. Critics can’t be more accurate as season start predictions become a reality. But you can’t just discount him right away. Out of the blue, at the historic first ever night race in F1 history at Singapore, the all too familiar white, orange and yellow blew the competition! Everybody is awed with what happened though deep down inside happy that this once… twice F1 Drivers’ Champion finally scored a first place podium finish for 2008.

The successful Singapore GP pushed the drivers to the edge even though it’s considerably well lit compared to Le Man’s 24-hour Race. Frankly, I never expected Alonso to win it. Everybody’s saying his Renault F1 car is slow that it cannot keep up with the Ferrari’s and the McLaren’s. The only comfort I guess with the Singapore GP track that may have swayed in Renault’s favor is that it’s not a fast track with 23 turns... some bumpy. Steady drive for Alonso coupled with other drivers having problems with pit stops (Massa could have won the race if not for issues with the auto/electronic lollipop) and again the bumpy portion of the road at turns sealed the deal. So after the race blessed with no rain (which could have made the race more exciting but unsafe) thanks to modern technologies… I thought the win by Alonso was a fluke.

The Japan GP track unlike the Singaporean GP track is much faster and there are only 16 turns. Again, Alonso with his Renault is not expected to win. But then, a controversial “turn 1” resulted to a drive through penalty for Hamilton (which he deserves by the way!) and Massa incurred the same penalty after hitting Hamilton (which caused him to spun… which he deserves again!) in a later turn cost the race for both drivers. Kubica who’s a consistent podium finisher this season could have or should have won the race. But excellent strategy coupled with an inferior car that can’t do anything wrong, Alonso won for the second straight time.

Winning two races in a row is not unusual for Alonso. But really winning this season although already late because Massa, Kubica and Hamilton are the only drivers competing for the drivers’ championship is somehow a prelude of what is to come for F1. Contention of the drivers’ championship, which started last season, is no longer limited to two well-known drivers. I have to give credit to Hamilton who’s been competitive since his first year and have stirred excitement and controversies with his on and off the track antics. Next year would be more exciting for F1 as BMW, Renault together with some emerging teams as they get more competitive would be able to bring the heat to the Ferrari’s and McLaren’s. For Renault however, it would depend on Alonso should he decide… to stay.

F1 Super Season Ender

What a way to end a season! Three drivers are deadlocked on winning this season’s F1 Drivers' Championship. At the end of the Chinese Grand Prix, Hamilton still leads the pack with 107 championship points followed by Alonso with 103 points and lastly Räikkönen with 100 points. The final race to resolve the dispute… the Brazilian Grand Prix.

I watched the other night the replay of the Chinese Grand Prix on Star Sports. The Drivers' Championship would have been considered in the bag for Hamilton if not for the mishap (probably his own doing… rookie mistake). He was leading considerably and made a mistake in not changing his tires to dry weather ones much earlier (in the early part of the race, the track was wet). He opted to stay with his wet weather tires and drove fast as Räikkönen attacked him. As the track was beginning to dry, his tires deteriorated loosing grip and as he was entering the pit (there’s a sharp curve leading to the pit), he slid off to the gravel trap and got stuck forcing him to retire.

Any of the three driver’s mentioned earlier are now given a chance to win the Drivers' Championship with the following scenarios using the top eight point system (10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1):

• Hamilton can be on top and make history as the first rookie champion if he wins the Brazilian Grand Prix. He will end up with 117 points.
  

• If Hamilton finishes 2nd and Alonso wins the race. Alonso will have 113 championship points and Hamilton with 115 points. Hamilton still wins!

• If Hamilton finishes 3rd or 4th, he’ll end up with 113 and 112 points respectively. Alonso finishes 1st or 2nd, he’ll end up with 113 and 111 points respectively. So, with Alonso at 1st and Hamilton at 3rd, we have a tie.

• If Hamilton does another rookie mistake and not finish the race… the dream is over and it’s up to Alonso and Räikkönen to slug it out.

• For Alonso to win, he must finish 1st with Hamilton finishing lower than 3rd place.

• For Räikkönen to win, he must finish 1st with Alonso finishing lower than 2nd and Hamilton lower than 6th place.

Felipe Massa in 4th place with 86 points is already considered out for the drivers' championship but he can surely complicate things for the top three if he won the race like he did last year (2006 Brazilian Grand Prix).

Nobody can really predict the outcome of this season even if McLaren outnumber Ferrari wins in the Brazilian track (11 to 8). If we are to consider the race wins from year 2000 onwards, Ferrari outnumbers McLaren (3 to 2). See the details on Wikipedia!

Will the raging Spaniard do a three-peat? Will the rookie make history... or history with another mistake? Or be surprised by the Finnish in red! I guess we’ll just have to watch the ultimate race on October 21!

Hectic Sunday Afternoon!

Today October 7, 2007 is the much-awaited rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera. I checked the ESPN site and it was reported that Pacquiao won via unanimous decision. Would have been better if it was a win via knock out but then Barrera is definitely prepared this time around and without question physically fit. But a win is still a win! At the moment (3:27 PM), I’m still watching the delayed telecast now on round 10. The middle rounds of this 12 round fight are so far war and Manny is still on the rampage showing no signs of slowing down. I’m waiting for the controversial 11th round.

But today is not just about Manny. On the local front, it’s UE vs. La Salle game 2 for the UAAP championships. UE is trailing La Salle (Al Salle) and if they lose today, it’s a big blow out for what might been a perfect season for them (14-0 in the elimination round). UE definitely have to bounce back. Viva Mapua… ooooppps!

On the international front (my friend JJ buzzed me), there’s 10 laps left in the F1 Chinese Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton spun out and was out of the race. Alonso is currently number 2 behind Ferrari’s Kimi Räikkönen. This gives Alonso a chance for the driver’s championship (trailing Hamilton by 12 points)… wish for another blow out by Hamilton in the Brazilian Grand Prix (last race of the season)!