pole position/first corner defense [Archive]

race aficionado

14th April 2007, 16:28

Trivia.
Michael Schumacher/pole position/ first corner defense.
(History and Nostalgia but referenced to the present scenario)

Now that he is no longer in action, we are of course getting to see other drivers defending their own pole positions and what is a fact is:
Michael was an intimidator. He was not going to let anyone pass him no matter what (swerve anyone?)
Is this a characteristic that other past champions also had? I would imagine so.
I know that my man Juan also had a "take no prisoner" attitude but Massa is on the line this weekendand he is not showing that defensive trait. He lost pole position last race and has pole position again with a hungry Hamilton behind him.
Will he give it up????

Can't wait to see.

:s mokin:

Ian McC

14th April 2007, 16:55

Like I said elsewhere the start is crucial for the front four tomorrow. How they line up after the last lap may be the order in which they finish the race.

I wonder how Massa will cope, I am sure as he sits on the line tomorrow he is going to feel the pressure.

pino

14th April 2007, 17:02

I won't be surprised to see Alonso in the lead after 1st lap...can't wait to verify that :D

Zico

14th April 2007, 17:10

Im not qualified to speak about older champions, but cant imagine any ever being as intimidating as Michael, He'll always be remembered by me as a brilliant driver who let himself down by being so ruthless and unsporting in character. His cheating antics (Monaco to name but one..)also blemish an otherwise incredible career.

I reckon LH will struggle to repeat his recent heroics given the fact that the dirty side of the track should be even worse due to the sand being blown over it. Will be interesting tho.. cant wait either.

Viktory

14th April 2007, 18:22

http://www.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/070414170259.shtml

I guess he's going to try and block him at all costs.

trumperZ06

14th April 2007, 19:21

;) I thought that Massa handled himself very well at the press conference after qualification... but... Massa did seem a bit ill at ease when questioned about the importance of the first turn tomorrow!

:D Lewis, when answering the same question about # 1 turn... looked like...

the cat that swadlowed the Canary!!!

:cool: You could see LH playing mind games with Massa !!!

Easy Drifter

14th April 2007, 19:40

TGF was the most ruthless and obvious but others would do it without been quite so blatant. Senna was fairly good at it and so was Gilles.

ioan

14th April 2007, 20:27

TGF was the most ruthless and obvious but others would do it without been quite so blatant. Senna was fairly good at it and so was Gilles.

We don't call him TGF around here, usually MS or Michael, or any pejorative word was OK till last season.

Ian McC

14th April 2007, 22:42

Oh I do hope this doesn't end badly..................

wedge

14th April 2007, 23:13

Massa is a sitting duck.

I don't think he can afford to risk compromise his race. He desperately needs points.

Hamilton is one of the hardest racers on the grid.

He is on the dirtier side of the grid for the start but I think LH and FM are on similar strategy. LH just needs to get close enough slipstream to overtake at the first corner, if not, LH is more likely to pass him later in the race.

race aficionado

15th April 2007, 00:48

Bottom line is that its going to be a doozy.

This has all the callings of a fantastic duel between 2 protagonists that we did not necesarily expect to have center stage at this moment.

See? For me F1 is all worth it just because of situations like this. My man Juan may be gone, but I am still here because of exciting prospects and moments like this.

bring it on!!!!

race

can't wait . . . .

:s mokin:

BeansBeansBeans

15th April 2007, 01:00

It's going to be a thrilling start. Hamilton will be super-confident after his great starts in Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur. Massa will be anxious to get one over on Hamilton after Sepang, and will be feeling the pressure to perform.

ShiftingGears

15th April 2007, 01:48

Past champions wouldn't swerve at the start, partly a sporting issue, partly a danger issue. Not that I've seen anyway.
Now for the start, it should be a good one, Hamiltons good at starts as we've seen, we'll see if he can get around Massa. Kudos to him if he can!

andreag

15th April 2007, 01:58

In Sepang, just before formation lap, Fernando ask their mechanics to move the car 2 metres backward; the he started formation lap leaving a good rubber coat on the grid, and we all know what happened.

Nobody talked about it, but I saw it, and I was sure there would be a good start.

Let's see if he play the same game.

I think Felipe and Lewis are driving lighter (around two-three laps) than Kimi and Fernando; the differences between each pair are too similar, and tomorrow's strat it's gonna be great, though I think strategies (or failures) will decide the race.

But talking around the start, my bet is the first 4 places will change at the end of first lap (and not necessary on the first 2 corners).

truefan72

15th April 2007, 04:18

I sincerely hope this doesn't end badly. I can see LH having his nose ahead on the first corner and Massa trying to slam the door shut ( foolishly) and ruining both their races. If that doesn't happen then LH will have the lead. By some off chance that massa maintains his lead, then I clearly see hamilton overtaking him in the next 5-6 laps. Showing massa how it's done.

so in conclusion, LH eventually finds his way to the front IMO

can't wait for the race, won't sleep tonight!

jjanicke

15th April 2007, 05:41

... How they line up after the last lap may be the order in which they finish the race. ...

I would expect so! :D

Ian McC

15th April 2007, 10:56

I would expect so! :D

Oh cock! :dozey:

I'm off to sack my proof reader :rolleyes:

race aficionado

15th April 2007, 14:44

Massa came through.

It's an understatement to say that this is a huge moral boost to his tarnished season start.

Well done Felipe!

:s mokin:

F1boat

15th April 2007, 14:51

Yeah, this time he surprised me and proved that he is a real challenger for the crown.

wedge

15th April 2007, 15:01

Well done to Massa, drove the perfect race.

FM had the better start. They were evenly matched, Ferrari possibly having better straightline speed which was why Hamilton couldn't pass FM.

FM can be WDC contender, but not WDC material.

ioan

15th April 2007, 15:10

FM can be WDC contender, but not WDC material.

That's a bit of a contradiction, isn't it?!

trumperZ06

15th April 2007, 15:13

:D Well done by Massa... he drove expertly today to fend off Hamilton.

;) LH seems to be getting the max out of the McLaren... again splitting the Italian Stallions.

:dozey: Looked like Kimi sat back on the first lap, waiting to see who would mess up in turn 1.

Ahh... where was Fernando after the second pit stop ???

Also, Fishi was getting an "earfull" during the close of this race. :p :

wedge

15th April 2007, 15:21

That's a bit of a contradiction, isn't it?!

No!

Massa will score enough points to finish 2nd or 3rd in WDC but I seriously doubt his consistancy.

I mean, DC could battle with Mika and Schumi and scored enough points for a WDC fight, but he could never consistantly drive to the same level of Mika and Schumi.

race aficionado

16th April 2007, 16:38

talking about defending position, there has been some critisizm of the way Hamilton zigzagged at the start.
I would not call that chopping - he was just jocking for position(?) and none of the drivers behind him complained.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OThOR4JP6oQ

:s mokin:

ioan

16th April 2007, 19:05

race aficionado

16th April 2007, 19:10

This is a great example of how the pole setter tries to defend his position at all costs and still loosing the battle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FDtcjJMjQo