[Archived] Formula 1

[Billy Castell]

Get well soon Felipe. Who is Ferrari's reserve driver? Imagine if a certain German made a comeback for the rest of the season.

[grizfoot]

Nasty looking accident for Massa. Hopefully he'll make a swift recovery, but sounds like he won't be driving anytime soon.

[benhben]

Seems to sound worse with every update.

"During the course of his examination they established that he suffered a serious, life-threatening injuries including loss of consciousness and a fracture of the forehead on the left side and a fracture on the base of the skull."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8168807.stm

Some photos have been released onto net. Shows the damage and how importiant helmets are.

[Grabbi Graeme]

That is some damage to his helmet there, reports on the F1 coverage says he is responding well to treatment, I wish him all the best and hopes he makes a full recovery.

Well done to Lewis Hamilton on his victory today, also more safety concerns after the plastic part on the outside of Alonso's front wheel came off and that was then shortly followed by the wheel itself flying off, this was due the wheel not being locked on properly

[Presty On Tour]

Good news with Massa being stable and responding well to the treatment.

Lewis destroyed the field today and underneath it all probably let out a lot of frustration.

When the top 3 drivers get out the car at the of the race, on the way up the stairs to the podium they have all the grid girls clapping and they totally ignore them. I know the drivers are millionaires, robot drivers etc but if it was me I couldn't resist having a chat on the way up, perhaps lay some foundation work. That's probably why I'm not a F1 driver, to many distractions though Lewis does have pussy cat doll!

[AussieinUk]

News is that the FIA have banned team Renault for 1 race.. No news why.

[Grabbi Graeme]

SSN reporting that the ban for Reault for the European GP is because they let Alonso's car from the pits knowing that his front wheel was not secured.

[Presty On Tour]

News is that the FIA have banned team Renault for 1 race.. No news why.

link

Cars have lost wheels before and this seems a bit harsh to me. I think this will be overturned on appeal.

[Grabbi Graeme]

It does seem strange as cars have lost wheels before, it seems that the stewards are concentrating on the fact that the pit crew knew that the wheel was not secured but still let him go back onto the track, also the team failed to tell Alonso his wheel was not secure.

As you say it's possible that they could get it overturned or maybe a reduced penalty such as being moved down the starting grid for the next race.

Interesting in that link where they mention the possibilty of Alonso driving for Ferrari in the Euro GP should the ban stand, would Renault allow him to drive for another team for one race.

[Billy Castell]

I think Henry Surtees' death, and Massa's accident has made the FIA very sensitive about these things. I think Renault didn't tell Fernando as they all knew how grumpy he gets when his team cocks up, and hoped he'd be OK. Alonso could be loaned to Ferrari until the ban is over so he doesn't get punished for his team's mistake, as Grabbi Graeme just mentioned.

If Massa is out for a number of races, who is the reserve driver for Ferrari?

[DeadlyDirk]

Good to see Massa is no longer critical, still not great news though.

Felipe Massa's condition is "severe but not critical" after surgery on his fractured skull, but there is concern about damage to his left eye.

Full Article

[benhben]

Doesnt sound good for Massa's racing future.

It didnt even seem that bad at the time. He was moving and concious when they pulled him from the car. Seems more serious whenever you read about it.

[Presty On Tour]

There's a lot of speculation that Michael Schumacher is going to replace Massa for the rest of the season. Awful circumstances but it would be some sight seeing Schumacher racing in F1 again.

[SAS]

What was the penalty for Kimi Raikkonens wild driving at the start?

Or did the FIA do what they usually do and let Ferrari off with it

[AussieinUk]

BMW Sauber is rumoured to be withdrawing from F1.. Toyota could go the same way

[benhben]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8173865.stm

you get the feeling F1 is on the brink of collapse

[Grabbi Graeme]

SSN say that Ferrari have confirmed that Michael Schumacher will replace Massa for the rest of the F1 Season.

[DeadlyDirk]

SSN say that Ferrari have confirmed that Michael Schumacher will replace Massa for the rest of the F1 Season.

It's crazy, wonder if he can still cut it.

Wonder if he is still up to the fitness levels of F1?

[T4E]

Imagine if a certain German made a comeback for the rest of the season.

Give that man a Solero. Good call sir.

[benhben]

Bet you any money Schumacher outperformes Raikonnen in every race left.

[Ninjathunder]

Bet you any money Schumacher outperformes Raikonnen in every race left.

I'll take that bet. I suspect he'll be a little rusty for the next race with practically no experience in the car until race weekend. I get your drift though - in time I think he will outperform him.

[Grabbi Graeme]

I'll take that bet. I suspect he'll be a little rusty for the next race with practically no experience in the car until race weekend. I get your drift though - in time I think he will outperform him.

Schumacher still works for Ferrari as an advisor so I would think that he has had some time in the car although probly not race milage, will be interesting to see him race again, but seeing as he's not chasing a championship I don't think he will be forcing drivers off the track .

[Presty On Tour]

I knew there was rumors but I'm still surprised. Schumacher has got a month to get ready and I can't see him coming back to make a fool out of himself. He will be out there to win and I think he will win a grand prix before the seasons out.

[benhben]

I'll take that bet. I suspect he'll be a little rusty for the next race with practically no experience in the car until race weekend. I get your drift though - in time I think he will outperform him.

He was a ferarri test driver for this season so he has had time in the car, albeit not race time.

[pg]

Schuey last drove an '08 spec car for a Ferrari fan day earlier in the year. He is no longer an official test driver.

The '09 cars are so different to anything he's driven for the past decade. He's allowed NO testing. He'll also be driving on a some brand new (for him) circuits such as Valencia and Singapore.

I think he'll he do a great job and it won't take long for him to settle back into it, but I don't think he'll paste Kimi.

Remember, for every single year of his F1 career (except one), he drove cars designed by Rory Byrne in a team run by Ross Brawn. Those guys aren't there anymore... Ferrari is a very different beast to the one he left in 2007.