European GP

3 days to go till the European GP. What's everyone's predictions?
I'm picking:

1st Micheal Schumacher
2nd Kimi Raikonen or Fernando Alonso
3rd Jenson Button

I think Schumi is due for a win about now(IMO I've seen enough evidence that he hasn't lost his speed in Imola and to an extent, Monaco), Button is going to be determined to score some decent points after missing the last two races. However both will need to be in peak form to beat out Kimi and Fernando, who will definitely there or there-abouts.

Kimi stands in pole position and drives away in the first part of the race. Schumi is held back in the field. In the second half of the race he lies second and chases up Kimi. I don't know if he will be able to overtake him

Alonso's early season flash in the pan is over with once again. The only reason he's done well in the last three races is because of his qualifying results. He's been consistently holding up faster drivers- now that he's starting on the third row, I don't expect to see much from him.

Kimi is obviously in good position to make this one his third straight- I don't know that Nick has the speed or indurance to keep him back. But there will be a Williams on the podium.

Michael has definately been showing signs of life- but he seems to be getting fast too late in the game. It's worked fabulously in the past, but not this season. It looks like his luck of nearly the last decade has finally changed. I'd probably be suprised to see him on the podium.

I'll go out on a limb and say:

1.Kimi
2.Nick
3.Rubens

My money's on Kimi

id want alonso to win but would have my money on kimi

What a messy start! The grid's completely shaken up

Webber's out. DC up to 4th. Schumi down to 17th. Ralf out i think...

Ralf isn't out. He pits for a new nose. Sato also pits.

Replay of the first corner incident: Montoya looks to be at fault. Chopped across Webber causing a pile-up behind which may or may not have happened otherwise...

Actually Ralf may have gone up Rubens' arse all of his own making...

Schumi up to 11th and catching Monty.

Montoya passes Button.

Drive-through penalty for Trulli. Mechanics still on the grid after the 15 second signal.

Webber absolves JPM of all blame for the first corner incident. From the replay actually Webber did lock up and couldnt stop in time.

Schumi passes Button.

Rubens is the first driver to pit for fuel.

Given how close Heidfeld was to Kimi's times, Raikkonen must still have plenty of fuel on board.

You were saying? Raikkonen pits.

Not as much as I thought. Kimi pits on lap 17.

Monty passes Liuzzi in the pits.

You were saying? Raikkonen pits.

Hey, it was still 5 laps more fuel than Nick. :p Explains the .2 of a second difference in qualifying.

I thought Michael Schumacher would have gone longer than that.

Now, can Alonso pump out some quick laps and jump Coulthard?

Maybe strategy to find him some clear track space :dunno:

There is at least one quick one by Alonso - new fastest lap.

Drive through for DC for speeding in the pit lane.

There is at least one quick one by Alonso - new fastest lap.

Coulthard saved him the trouble - drive through penalty for the Red Bull driver.

Nick is a bit quicker than Kimi, could he be three stopping? Wonder how long his pit stop was. Hope not as it will mean he tumbles down the order, it's good to see Williams running so quick. A shame Webber isn't still in the race.

Montoya lost out in the pitstops, while Michael Schumacher did well. As bad as their qualifying pace is, the Ferrari is still seriously quick in the races.

BAR are having a shocker of a race. Maybe it is down to the old engines?

Montoya lost out in the pitstops, while Michael Schumacher did well. As bad as their qualifying pace is, the Ferrari is still seriously quick in the races.
Schumacher's not so quick in this part of the race. Tyres looking thin already.

Barrichello is now the quickest on track, due in the pits again soon?

Yup Nick pits, his hand is revealed - three stopper.

Hang on he stays out as Kimi has a moment!

Kimi makes a mistake and gets overtaken by Nick. Williams mechanics are out so looks like Nick is coming in.

Steady boy...

Now Nick pits. Emerges behind Barrichello.

Unless Rubens stops soon he is going to be right with Alonso in a couple of laps.

As predicted Barrichello now takes some more fuel.

kimi must be getting bored, he has another moment...

Ralf spins out into the kitty litter.

Kimi pits, Alonso can't be far off his stop either.

Kimi's got a broken barge board.

Heidfeld better be careful, Barrichello is quickly coming into reckoning.

Kimi's got a broken barge board.

Shouldn't be too big a deal, so long as that is all that's damaged.

Wow, Alonso's turn to have a moment.

Alonso locks up at the hairpin and goes for a bit of off-roading. Lost 7 seconds.

Here come the three stopers. Barrichello first.

Kimi is relly doing it hard now, lapping traffic or problems?

Heidfeld pits and beats Barrichello. Another podium looks on the cards.

Lucky for Kimi Alonso made that mistake earlier, otherwise his mirrors would be full of blue and yellow right now. Give it another few laps and they might be anyway!

Onboard camera shot - i've never seen so much vibration as on Kimi's car. The right front is an absolute mess, it just doesn't look round :lol2:

At this rate Alonso will definitely catch Raikkonen. Will he have the speed or time to nail him for the lead?

Maybe McLaren were a little bit too ambitious with the choice of rubber. Or maybe they didn't factor in any off road driving...

Kimi is keeping it together, at this rate he'll hang on. Meanwhile Schumacher has an off - after some camera time?

Only 3 laps to go. Can that right front make it to the end? I'm not so sure...

Three laps to go, three second lead, should just be enough. Barring any further misadventures/tyre delaminations.

Alonso's reeling him in now. Looks like a showdown.

Tyre's gone. Kimi is out.

Bugger :(

I can't imagine how much that must hurt :(

:thumbsup: to Max and his new tyre rules...