[rmbt]

Here is the latest update on the starting grid:
Hamilton and Kovalainen deducted five grid places - Planet-F1 News - from planet-f1.com

Heiki and Hamilton , penalized 5 grid positions.

[kunalgupta]

now this is good news for ferrari fans.....firstly front row all ferrari and now penalty for mclaren.... McLaren drivers Heikki Kovalainen and Lewis Hamilton will each drop five places on the grid for Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix after stewards decided they had blocked rival drivers in the closing stages in qualifying. They will now start the race eighth and ninth respectively. Kovalainen and Hamilton were called before the stewards after suggestions that BMW Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld and Renault’s Fernando Alonso were impeded during their final Q3 runs, when the McLaren drivers were conserving fuel on slowing-down laps, both having completed their final runs. "The first corners of my last lap went smoothly, but then there were several cars driving very slowly on their in-laps,” said Heidfeld, who qualified seventh, but will now start fifth. “Apparently they had no information that the qualifying was still going on. Before Turn Four I lost a lot of time because both McLarens were cruising on the racing line. “I think this has cost me about two tenths of a second, which would have meant being third instead of seventh. I just couldn't drive on the line I wanted and, even more importantly, could not brake were I wanted.” McLaren are not expected to appeal the decision, which means row two on the grid will now be formed by the Toyota of Jarno Trulli and BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica. Red Bull’s Mark Webber moves up to P6 to join Heidfeld on the third row, while Alonso moves up from P9 to P7.

[kunalgupta]

[quote=theGreenScar;1043000]i can think of multiple reasons why ppl lov Ferrari and not McLaren. Be advised, the views expressed here are strictly personal.

1> Ferrari is niche...Its a brand for car enthusiasts the world over.Ferrari is more famous in SEAsia and Americas due to aggressive marketing in the 1970s-80s by Enzo Ferrari.

2> most of these sports-car enthusiasts are also the same public who follow motor-sports keenly, hence Ferrari loyalty.

3> Both McLaren and Mercedez are not your coffee-shop kinda sports car maker. Mercedez makes classy cars. Mercedez is more into segmented kinda car market(basically meaning making different type of cars catering to all segments...dont even think Nano kinda stuff:sarcasm whereas Mclaren is more like a racing team and car equipment manufacturer.So the race enthusiasts donot identify with the serious workman like attitude shown by Vodafone McLaren Mercedez towards formula-1 racing. They identify more with the suave and spice of the RED Ferrari...

seriously man...mine was a one dollar answer as compared to urs...cheers....

[ashish1347]

Originally Posted by theGreenScar

i can think of multiple reasons why ppl lov Ferrari and not McLaren. Be advised, the views expressed here are strictly personal.

Will put some more if i can think of them..

cheers,
TGS

If i may add to this...

1. Michael Schumacher and his winning ways definitely made Ferrari the leading team in F1 for nearly a decade.. So, most of the people saw ferrari dominance in recent memory, and hence became fans.

2. Kimi Raikkonen. His down to earth and "i am here to race" attitude helped him win lots of fans. His fans tended to be HIS followers, not a team's followers. So, when he came to ferrari, he brought them along.

3. Alonso vs Hamilton (internal dispute) in the closest rival of Ferrari ( Mclaren) in the 2007 season highlighted Ferrari's professionalism.

4. The Spy Scandal of last year must have gotten some sympathy for ferrari..

5. Everybody wants to be with the winner

peace...

[forgiven]

hope ferrari have a gud day today...esp kimi...
want this season to go the distance....
cmon tifosi's lets cheer the team...we dont want a one man show do we?
specially after the australian debacle!!!!

[ashish1347]

Well well well... that is the best thing about F1...

1. Ferrari having a perfect day... but just nw Massa spins out n gets stuck in the gravel pit. Traction control was his downfall... (the lack of it).

2. Raikonnen will most prbbly win.

3.BMW is really strong in 2nd.

4. kovaelinen is 3rd.. hamilton is presently 6th!!

5. Trulli is actually giving mclaren a run for their money hounding kovaelinen for 3rd..

6. Alonso is there trailing right at the back of the championship points tally.. for this race..

Fingers crossed.. go Scuderia Ferrari!!!

[vicky.verma]

Well...this is what this forum is all about...discussion...and now I see it flowing :-) ... doesn't matter what car or driver we love... we all LOVE F1

[vicky.verma]

Kimi takes the win @Malaysia...feel sad for Massa...drive fast dude, but atleast control the car ...career best for Kubica, finishing second...Kovalainen finishing third for a podium finish for McLaren...all over a great race...

[theGreenScar]

Originally Posted by vicky.verma

Kimi takes the win @Malaysia...feel sad for Massa...drive fast dude, but atleast control the car ...career best for Kubica, finishing second...Kovalainen finishing third for a podium finish for McLaren...all over a great race...

AWWWsum race...very technical circuit...nice downhill chicane and he came, he saw and conquered it all..........Viva La Dolce Kimi Raikonnen......

cheers,
TGS

[theGreenScar]

Originally Posted by theGreenScar

AWWWsum race...very technical circuit...nice downhill chicane and he came, he saw and conquered it all..........Viva La Dolce Kimi Raikonnen......

cheers,
TGS

@Kubica: Steady pace...calm head over broad shoulders...nice show dude...we have a contender for Kimi pt-2 here...krank up the juice in the BMW a little bit and those Ferraris are going to be visiting the rearview mirror more often....

@Kovalinen: hmm...ok types...congrats on the podium finish though....could've done better...somehow the McLaren team went for softer compound tyres which was taking the pace off at the corners by locking in the slipstream....

@Trulli: best showing in 2 seasons...well the biggest spending conglomerate sure deserves better finishes...but a real good drive towards the end under pressure from Hamilton...

@Hamilton: really good showing...but dont make Mark Webber your drinking buddy :satisfie:

@Heidfeld: what happened buddy...did the heat get on to you...poor showing

@Webber: really strong drive after Coulthard was BAU....

@Massa: what were you doing dude...the car was driving superbly and then he drives onto he gravel trap...berryyy badddddd.........

cheers,
TGS