Formula 1 Debrief Spain 2008

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The SPEED Channel recap of the 2008 Spanish GP.
Transcript
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00:25There's no track in Formula One the teams know better
00:27than the Circuit de Catalunya just outside Barcelona, Spain.
00:31So there's no better race to give us a feel
00:33for the balance of power in terms of performance
00:36than Round 4 of the 2008 season,
00:38the Spanish Grand Prix from Barcelona.
00:41That's the focus of this edition of Formula One Debrief.
00:45Hello again and welcome, everyone.
00:47I'm Bob Varsha.
00:48You just saw that line-up of trucks
00:50in the paddock area at Catalunya.
00:52That gives you some idea of what it's like
00:54when the Formula One teams have all of their equipment
00:57at their disposal on a race weekend.
00:59For the first time in seven races
01:01going back to the end of the 2007 season,
01:04the teams had all of that gear on hand.
01:06So you could see why they were happy to be back at the track
01:09where they do so much testing, Barcelona,
01:11in preparation for the Spanish Grand Prix.
01:14With me to talk about the highlights of the weekend
01:16once again are David Hobbs and Steve Matchett.
01:18And Steve's speaking as a mechanic
01:20who's been there on so many occasions.
01:22It had to be a great relief for the teams
01:24to actually be back home in Europe.
01:26Yeah, you're right.
01:27And you hit the nail on the head, Bob,
01:28with your opening comments there,
01:29the fact that they have all their equipment
01:31at their disposal again.
01:32When you're on the road, it's so difficult
01:34if you have an accident or shunt the car,
01:36crush the car during any of those races at a flyaway,
01:38you're really on the back foot there trying to repair the car.
01:41It's so difficult to get components to the track.
01:43Once you're back in Europe, it's a lot easier, of course.
01:45And once they have all their mobile homes
01:47and their trucks and all the facilities,
01:49the repair facilities,
01:50everybody breathes a huge sigh of relief.
01:52And, David, so everybody had their new aero tweaks,
01:55the latest gear on the cars,
01:56so we expected perhaps a more competitive race
01:59than we wound up getting, a Ferrari 1-2 wipeout.
02:02They really looked dominant on this occasion.
02:04Well, Bob, they did look dominant.
02:05And, of course, not only the mechanics on home ground,
02:07but the drivers are all back at home too.
02:09They can all go home to their own beds,
02:10certainly for a bit of time,
02:11before they go down to the race to stay in the hotel.
02:13So the drivers are all feeling a bit happier.
02:15The track is something they're all very familiar with.
02:17And the fact was, it was a beautiful weekend,
02:19the weather was great,
02:20and the field was...
02:21Although Ferrari did dominate, really, all weekend,
02:24from Friday morning right through to Sunday afternoon,
02:26and dominated horrifically in the race,
02:28it looked, on the face of it,
02:30during all the practice sessions,
02:31that times were really close,
02:33which you would expect from a circuit
02:35where these guys do all their testing.
02:37And the circuit, the times were incredibly close.
02:40But, of course, towards the end,
02:41when Alonso got on that front row in the Renault,
02:44of course, the crowd on Sunday was absolutely massive.
02:47They had a big crowd all weekend, really.
02:48So it really looked good for Formula 1 in Europe.
02:52Yeah, before we write this thing off as a Ferrari whitewash,
02:54we should point out that several teams
02:56did show improved in performance,
02:58particularly Renault,
02:59putting Alonso on the front row, as David mentioned.
03:01BMW, Sauber continued their strong performances.
03:04McLaren, perhaps, off the pace just slightly,
03:07qualifying on the third row with Hamilton and Kovalainen.
03:11That's not where we expect to see McLaren and Mercedes.
03:13No, they seem to struggle a bit with that third sector.
03:16The car, the MP4-23, works very well.
03:19Straight-line performance is great.
03:21Sector 2 seemed to be very strong for them as well.
03:23But round the back of the track,
03:24before you come on to that start-finish straight,
03:26there's a lot of left-right weaving going on there.
03:28And the car just seems to let itself down a little bit
03:31during that sector.
03:32The other teams you talked about, Bob, Renault,
03:34certainly made big progress.
03:36Remember, there was that big test
03:37attended by everybody in the week leading up to the Grand Prix.
03:40We saw a lot of development work going on,
03:42certainly by Ferrari,
03:43with their scoop that they built into the nose.
03:45And with Renault,
03:46by running that extended dorsal fin
03:48across the back of the bodywork,
03:49which really helped them.
03:50And Honda made the difference with the nose as well,
03:53putting those little Dumbo ears on the car.
03:55But for me, the outstanding performance job
03:57was really by Renault.
03:58Was it legit? Was it genuine performance speed?
04:01And it seemed to be.
04:02It got on the front row of the grid.
04:03And they had Nelson Piquet into Q3
04:05and qualifying for the first time on the weekend.
04:08Well, for McLaren, it was a bittersweet weekend.
04:10They got a podium out of Lewis Hamilton.
04:12He really needed one.
04:13A horrific weekend.
04:14However, for his teammate, Heikki Kovalainen,
04:16that's all coming up in the next hour.
04:18Stand by.
04:19We'll be back to take a look at qualifying
04:21for the Spanish Grand Prix
04:22here on Formula 1 Debrief.
04:26Kubica goes to second
04:27with a purple at sector three.
04:29Massa stays.
04:30Alonso!
04:31Unbelievable!
04:34Alonso!
04:35But we're not done.
04:37Here comes Raikkonen.
04:39Come on, Kimi.
04:41Italy expects some push now.
04:43Push if you want this pole away from Alonso.
04:47Yes, he does it!
04:48A 21-0!
04:54Speed's presentation of Formula 1 Debrief
04:57is brought to you by
04:58the Orange Savings Account from ING Direct.
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05:04Welcome back once again.
05:05There's a look down in the paddock.
05:07All the trucks lined up,
05:08inch perfect and squeaky clean.
05:10That's what we've come to expect of Formula 1.
05:12But this is the first time we've seen it
05:14in quite some time.
05:15Welcome back to Debrief.
05:16I'm Bob Varsha.
05:17Time now to take a look at qualifying.
05:19And in Barcelona,
05:20qualifying is everything.
05:22Coming in,
05:23the last seven pole sitters
05:25for the Spanish Grand Prix
05:26had gone on to win the race.
05:28And you can imagine
05:29just how badly the teams
05:30wanted to grab that position.
05:31And as usual,
05:32the action came in qualifying
05:34after the checkered flag wave.
05:37Now, Felipe Massa
05:38was the dominant man
05:39throughout the weekend.
05:40He held P1 time
05:42as the checkers waved.
05:43Let's go to the tape now.
05:45As David, Steve and I called it,
05:46Felipe Massa leading,
05:48Lewis Hamilton on track,
05:50and the checkers about to fly.
05:55Looking very neat through there.
05:57Yep.
05:58You don't want to hit that curb
05:59on that first chicane.
06:00It's very high.
06:01Wow.
06:02And all the guys...
06:03They're really legging it down here.
06:04Go on, son.
06:05Come on, come on.
06:06Checkers is out,
06:07and Hamilton goes to second.
06:10Wow.
06:11Kovalainen is up
06:12on the pace, though.
06:13Meanwhile,
06:14Kimi Raikkonen
06:15has just gone purple
06:16in sector one at 22.3.
06:19Tenth up on Massa.
06:23Now Massa's quicker
06:24than the other Ferrari.
06:29Little wheel spin there
06:30off the corner for Kovalainen.
06:33Here's Massa.
06:36Kovalainen, third.
06:38That wheel spin hurt him.
06:41Little bit of a bubble there.
06:44Alonso is now purple
06:45in sector two in the Renault.
06:48Kubica goes to second
06:49with a purple in sector three.
06:51Massa stays.
06:52Alonso!
06:53Alonso pops him!
06:54Unbelievable!
06:56Alonso!
06:57But we're not done.
06:59Here comes Raikkonen.
07:01Come on, Kimi.
07:02Great!
07:03Italy expects, son.
07:04Push!
07:05Now, push
07:06if you want this pole away
07:07from Alonso.
07:09Yes, he does it!
07:10At 21.8.
07:12Alonso to second.
07:14Unbelievable!
07:16Alonso had that pole locked up
07:17until the last couple of seconds.
07:19Raikkonen running
07:20and just pips it.
07:24And that's why
07:25Formula One knockout qualifying
07:26is so much fun.
07:27Here are the results
07:28of qualifying at Barcelona.
07:29David?
07:30Well, they say
07:31Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso,
07:32the first time a Renault
07:33has been on the front row
07:34since China, 2006.
07:35Believe him,
07:36that's in the second Ferrari.
07:37Robert Gooberts
07:38has done a great job
07:39for BMW again.
07:40Ben Hamilton and Kovalainen,
07:41the two McLarens.
07:42Webber doing a good job
07:43for Red Bull.
07:44Jarno Trulli
07:45for Toyota.
07:46Heidfeldt and Piquet.
07:47These guys
07:48finally got a Q3.
07:49These guys
07:50didn't make it into Q3,
07:51but these group positions
07:52are set in Q2.
07:53Runes Barrichello
07:54for Honda.
07:55Kaz Nakajima.
07:56Jenson Button
07:57for Honda.
07:58Glock for Rosberg
07:59and Sebastian Bordet
08:00for STR.
08:01Good work
08:02by those fellas.
08:04There you see
08:05the Honda runners,
08:06Coulthard, Vettel,
08:07Fisichella, Sutil, Davidson
08:08and Takuma Sato.
08:10And sadly,
08:11that would be the last
08:12we would see
08:13of the Super Aguri
08:14Honda runners.
08:15You know the news
08:16since then.
08:17And as always,
08:18Peter Windsor
08:19went looking
08:20for the top qualifiers
08:21afterward.
08:22By his own admission,
08:23Scuderia Ferrari
08:24Marlboro driver
08:25Kimi Raikkonen
08:26said he wasn't
08:27on absolutely perfect form
08:28in the Bahrain Grand Prix,
08:29but here in Spain,
08:30he's made up for it
08:31certainly in qualifying.
08:32On the pole,
08:33for the first time this season,
08:34he won the Belgian Grand Prix
08:35last year.
08:38We should get it more often.
08:39It makes it a bit more easy,
08:41but it hasn't been
08:43since I've been in Ferrari
08:45probably my strongest point,
08:46but hopefully now
08:47with the small changes
08:49in the car,
08:50we can be more often
08:52in this position
08:53and it would help.
08:56It feels fantastic.
08:58For sure,
08:59you know,
09:00in 2008,
09:01one of the best days
09:02of the year
09:03at the moment for me
09:04because, you know,
09:05it has been
09:06a great, great surprise
09:07and, you know,
09:08the car performance
09:09has been much, much better
09:10than the last three races
09:12and better
09:13than we expected
09:14probably both cars
09:15in Q3,
09:16so great effort
09:17from all the team
09:18and, you know,
09:19the result is here.
09:22Felipe,
09:23Q2,
09:24just made it
09:25across the line.
09:26Yeah.
09:27Sometimes it happens,
09:28you know,
09:29and we try another set
09:32and then I was first.
09:33You see, you know,
09:34if you don't make
09:35the lap together,
09:36you can be out
09:37of qualifying
09:38or you can be first.
09:39So,
09:40and then in Q3,
09:41I made a fantastic lap
09:42straight away.
09:43I was first by far
09:44and then
09:45I couldn't make
09:46the lap together anymore
09:47in the second try
09:48and then
09:49I was third.
09:52It was tight
09:53and, you know,
09:54even Rubens,
09:55the old dog,
09:56he was in there,
09:57you know,
09:58sniffing about,
09:59so we had a few guys
10:00doing really well
10:01but it was really
10:02quite hard to make sure
10:03that we got a good
10:04clean lap out of it
10:05and it really tests
10:06the drivers to the maximum
10:07in those sort of sessions
10:08when you know you've got
10:09to get all your braking points
10:10absolutely perfect
10:11and get good clean exits,
10:12especially the last sector
10:13because it's so easy
10:14to overdrive that last sector
10:15and overcook it a little bit
10:16and push too much
10:17because it's not really
10:18designed for Formula 1 cars.
10:19It's a bit more
10:20for shopping trolleys
10:21but, yeah,
10:22it's very tight.
10:25You know,
10:26in these conditions
10:27when the air gets hot,
10:28especially here in Barcelona,
10:29everybody knows
10:30that it's a bit tricky
10:31and we're lacking
10:32a little bit,
10:33you know,
10:34but I think the team
10:35did a really good job.
10:36We optimised everything
10:37we could
10:38and Q1 was good.
10:39The only thing is
10:40we didn't think the track
10:41was going to be
10:42in that good a shape,
10:43especially for Q2
10:44and, you know,
10:45we just ran out
10:46of adjustments.
10:47We were maxed out
10:48on front wing
10:49and we couldn't
10:50get rid of it
10:51and when the track
10:52got better,
10:53we got slower
10:54because there was
10:55just too much understeer.
10:56Well,
10:57as you heard
10:58Sebastien Bordet
10:59say,
11:00the tracks are everything
11:01at Barcelona,
11:02but as David Hobbs
11:03mentioned earlier,
11:04the times were quite close.
11:05A half second
11:06covering the top six cars
11:07as we got set
11:08for the race start.
11:09What happened then?
11:10I'll tell you in a moment
11:11here on Formula 1 Debris.
11:16Great start
11:17across the front row.
11:19Fernando Alonso
11:20desperately needs
11:21to lead down to turn one.
11:22Look at the McLarens
11:23coming forward
11:24around Robert Kubica's
11:25white BMW,
11:26but it'll be a Ferrari
11:27one, two
11:28and three.
11:31Welcome back
11:32to Formula 1 Debrief.
11:33Looking back
11:34at the highlights
11:35of the Spanish Grand Prix,
11:36round four
11:37of the 2008 season
11:38here on Speed.
11:40With the grid formed up,
11:41Fernando Alonso
11:42found himself
11:43in the eye
11:44of his countrymen.
11:45More than 136,000
11:46strong
11:47at the racetrack
11:48as he got set
11:49to run his home Grand Prix.
11:50We knew he was
11:51probably light on fuel.
11:52In fact,
11:53the Renault team
11:54essentially admitted so
11:55after the race,
11:56so he needed to get
11:57a good getaway
11:58ahead of the Ferraris
11:59of Kimi Räikkönen
12:00on pole
12:01and Felipe Massa
12:02starting third.
12:03But before they even
12:04got to the starting grid,
12:05on the formation lap,
12:06Fernando Alonso
12:07doing his usual
12:08typical
12:09strong effort
12:10to get some heat
12:11into those tyres,
12:12took himself off
12:13the racetrack
12:14and David,
12:15this may have helped
12:16compromise his start.
12:17Well, it would have done
12:18definitely because
12:19he put some heat
12:20in the tyres,
12:21you know,
12:22right around the lap there,
12:23goes off on the last corner
12:24and no doubt
12:25that grass and mud
12:26coming up to the line.
12:27Right,
12:28so no opportunity
12:29to get that off.
12:30There's no doubt
12:31that would have
12:32compromised his start.
12:33We've been waiting
12:34for that tap for about
12:35four years
12:36because he does put
12:37such violent
12:38warm up effort
12:39into that,
12:40you know,
12:41really rips the car
12:42from side to side
12:43and it's a miracle
12:44it hasn't happened
12:45before,
12:46quite frankly.
12:47Well, of course,
12:48this track is very
12:49tough on tyres, Steve,
12:50so it was no surprise
12:51that the teams
12:52would be doing
12:53everything possible.
12:54We saw him on the
12:55grid,
12:56the lead-in was important,
12:57he just kind of
12:58overstepped it
12:59on that occasion
13:00and he wasn't
13:01the only one.
13:02We also saw
13:03Lewis Hamilton
13:04lock him up
13:05on the formation line.
13:06Yeah, absolutely.
13:07There was no question
13:08that the softer tyre
13:09was the tyre of choice
13:10here at Barcelona
13:11and all the teams,
13:12all the drivers,
13:13engineers complained
13:14and we've got to get
13:15heat into these tyres
13:16and certainly at the start
13:17that's of paramount
13:18importance because
13:19of the launch
13:20off the line.
13:21Yeah,
13:22so there's no question
13:23that the grass
13:24is going to be
13:25on the softer tyres.
13:26Designated by that
13:27white stripe across
13:28the tyre there.
13:29You see that white stripe
13:30across the tyres
13:31but as you look
13:32right back across
13:33the field,
13:34absolutely all the
13:35drivers and engineers
13:36decided that the
13:37softer option tyre
13:38is the tyre of preference.
13:39So there you have
13:40Raikkonen in the red
13:41Ferrari to the right
13:42of your screen.
13:43Alonso on the left.
13:44Alonso needing
13:45to get away well
13:46but watch Felipe Massa
13:47from the second row
13:48in the second Ferrari
13:49relentlessly move up
13:50to his teammate's
13:51gearbox.
13:52Yeah, Alonso
13:53pushing himself in
13:54behind Kimi Raikkonen
13:55there.
13:56It did not work.
13:57Massa grabbed the spot
13:58but of course
13:59Luke,
14:00Lewis Hamilton
14:01made an incredible
14:02start as well.
14:03Slightly
14:04right here.
14:05We'll have a look now
14:06from the onboard
14:07of Massa.
14:08And you look at
14:09Alonso.
14:10Alonso desperate to
14:11get in between
14:12the two Ferraris.
14:13Can't quite make it.
14:14Pushes himself over.
14:15Massa doesn't flinch.
14:16Stays right up there.
14:17Stays on his
14:18teammate's gearbox.
14:19Pulls up almost
14:20wheel to wheel
14:21behind him there.
14:22Pushing Alonso
14:23at bay.
14:24So Alonso was
14:25already compromised
14:26in terms of his
14:27race strategy.
14:28We expected him
14:29to come in first.
14:30But as David mentioned
14:31we also saw a great
14:32start from Lewis
14:33Hamilton.
14:34Although it was a
14:35little bit dicey
14:36as he chopped
14:37across the bow
14:38of his teammate
14:39Heikki Kovalainen.
14:40Let's take another
14:41look at the start now.
14:42Watch the third car
14:43in line.
14:44Right hand side
14:45of your screen.
14:46That is Hamilton.
14:47There he goes
14:48behind Robert Kubica
14:49and right there
14:50almost gets Kovalainen.
14:51A red and white
14:52checker on the
14:53inside there.
14:54But now you see
14:55Kubica in the
14:56McLaren sandwich.
14:57But they wisely
14:58all drop back
14:59into line.
15:00And Lewis Hamilton
15:01here on board
15:02with Lewis Hamilton
15:03now.
15:04There's Kubica.
15:05Gets him behind
15:06Kubica.
15:07Slices across the
15:08front of his
15:09teammate.
15:10He's right behind
15:11him.
15:12Back onto that
15:13red and white
15:14stripe there.
15:15Coming down to
15:16turn one.
15:17Maintaining the
15:18inside line there.
15:19Stopping anybody
15:20from that overhead
15:21shot.
15:22You saw how the
15:23first three rows,
15:24the top six cars,
15:25immediately drew
15:26away from the field.
15:27And in that field
15:28further back on
15:29lap one, we saw
15:30a lot of contact
15:31and several cars
15:32end their days
15:33before the end
15:34of the first lap.
15:35Let's go back to
15:36the videotape now.
15:37Raikkonen and
15:38Masov leading
15:39away.
15:40Now down here
15:41on the back side
15:42of the course.
15:43Well, where do
15:44we begin?
15:45Adrian Sutil
15:46tried to get under
15:47David Coulthard's
15:48Renault.
15:49He ends up
15:50spinning,
15:51collecting poor
15:52Sebastian Vettel
15:53out for the third
15:54time in four races
15:55on the first lap.
15:56And we also saw
15:57Takuma Sato
15:58get into the
15:59back of Vettel
16:00and break his
16:01front wing.
16:02There's Sutil
16:03spinning.
16:04There's Vettel
16:05hitting him.
16:06There's Sato
16:07hitting the back
16:08of Vettel.
16:09And Adrian Sutil,
16:10I don't know what
16:11he was thinking
16:12of there because
16:13I mean, he was
16:14down on the
16:15grass on the
16:16inside of the
16:17turn.
16:18And Adrian Sutil
16:19thinking, not
16:20again.
16:21Boom.
16:22Oh my gosh.
16:23Out again.
16:24Then he gets
16:25tapped in the
16:26back by Sato,
16:27who of course
16:28breaks his wing
16:29as well.
16:30So poor old
16:31Sebastian Vettel
16:32out again.
16:33Three out of
16:34four races on
16:35the first lap.
16:36Tapped.
16:37You say he
16:38got tapped.
16:39Vettel got
16:40crushed.
16:41Four and a half.
16:42Absolutely
16:43terrible moment
16:44for the young
16:45German driver.
16:46That brought out
16:47not because
16:48what the Ferrari
16:49of Kimi Raikkonen
16:50wanted to see
16:51because he had
16:52the bit between
16:53his teeth.
16:54Yep.
16:55Here's the restart.
16:56Now, Fernando
16:57Alonso normally
16:58is one of the
16:59best restarters
17:00in Formula One.
17:01But he was just
17:02asleep at the
17:03switch on this
17:04one, I'd have to
17:05say.
17:06Boy, he was a
17:07little bit.
17:08Because the restart
17:09here is slightly
17:10compromised by
17:11that last chicane
17:12now.
17:13So because the
17:14first guy through
17:15that slow right
17:16corner.
17:17So not really
17:18good for restart.
17:19So chicanes right
17:20before the start
17:21finish line like
17:22that new chicane
17:23at Barcelona.
17:24But certainly
17:25the two Ferraris
17:26took full advantage
17:27of that and poor
17:28Alonso got left
17:29out to hang on
17:30to the line to
17:31drive.
17:32So the Ferraris
17:33gap the field.
17:34Kimi beginning
17:35to check out in
17:36what would be a
17:37Ferrari day with
17:38a 1-2 finish.
17:39But let's not
17:40get ahead of
17:41ourselves.
17:42Pit stops to
17:43come.
17:44We'll see how
17:45it plays out in
17:46the 2008 season.
17:47The Spanish
17:48Grand Prix from
17:49Barcelona.
17:50We'll be right
17:51back.
17:52You're on the
17:53right rear.
17:54Trying to go
17:55bonk.
17:56Sebastian Bordet.
17:57Well, this is
17:58one of those
17:59things, Sebastian
18:00Bordet.
18:01I mean, Piquet
18:02had got himself
18:03right down the
18:04inside.
18:05They come to
18:06point when it's
18:07all too late.
18:08The NASCAR
18:09Craftsman Truck
18:10Series.
18:11Welcome back.
18:12There's a look
18:13down on a jam-packed
18:14track in Barcelona,
18:15Spain.
18:16Built just before
18:17the 1992 Barcelona
18:18Summer Olympics.
18:19As we welcome you
18:20back to Formula
18:211 Debrief.
18:22In fact, at the
18:23time, there was
18:24talk of holding an
18:25Olympic Grand Prix
18:26in Formula 1, in
18:27which the drivers on
18:28the podium would be
18:29awarded gold, silver
18:30and bronze medals.
18:31The International
18:32Olympic Committee
18:33took a dim view of
18:34that, however.
18:35Too much money
18:36involved in Formula
18:371.
18:38Couldn't have that
18:39in Olympic sport.
18:40But that's a topic
18:41for another day.
18:42Right now, the race
18:43is underway.
18:44We've got
18:45Alonso in
18:46third.
18:47And further back
18:48in the pack, the
18:49contact was not
18:50finished.
18:51Alonso's
18:52teammate, Nelson
18:53Piquet Jr., was
18:54having a bit of an
18:55epic weekend.
18:56We'll start on lap
18:57five, and you'll
18:58see Piquet's Renault
18:59spear off, trying
19:00just a little too
19:01hard.
19:02He qualified tenth,
19:03his best qualifying
19:04of the year.
19:05He got into the
19:06gravel, did not get
19:07it stuck.
19:08Here he is a
19:09couple of laps
19:10later, coming up
19:11on Bordet as he
19:12tries to catch up
19:13to Alonso.
19:14He's got to
19:15catch up to
19:16Alonso.
19:17He's got to
19:18catch up to
19:19Alonso.
19:20He's got to
19:21catch up to
19:22Alonso.
19:23He's got to
19:24catch up to
19:25Alonso.
19:26He's got to
19:27catch up to
19:28Alonso.
19:29He's got to
19:30catch up to
19:31Alonso.
19:32He's got to
19:33catch up to
19:34Alonso.
19:35He's got to
19:36catch up to
19:37Alonso.
19:38He's got to
19:39catch up to
19:40Alonso.
19:41He's got to
19:42catch up to
19:43Alonso.
19:44He's got to
19:45catch up to
19:46Alonso.
19:47He's got to
19:48catch up to
19:49Alonso.
19:50He's got to
19:51catch up to
19:52Alonso.
19:53He's got to
19:54catch up to
19:55Alonso.
19:56He's got to
19:57catch up to
19:58Alonso.
19:59He's got to
20:00catch up to
20:01Alonso.
20:02He's got to
20:03catch up to
20:04Alonso.
20:05He's got to
20:06catch up to
20:07Alonso.
20:08He's got to
20:09catch up to
20:10Alonso.
20:11He's got to
20:12catch up to
20:13Alonso.
20:14He's got to
20:15catch up to
20:16Alonso.
20:17He's got to
20:18catch up to
20:19Alonso.
20:20He's got to
20:21catch up to
20:22Alonso.
20:23He's got to
20:24catch up to
20:25Alonso.
20:26He's got to
20:27catch up to
20:28Alonso.
20:29He's got to
20:30catch up to
20:31Alonso.
20:32He's got to
20:33catch up to
20:34Alonso.
20:35He's got to
20:36catch up to
20:37Alonso.
20:38He's got to
20:39catch up to
20:40Alonso.
20:41He's got to
20:42catch up to
20:43Alonso.
20:44He's got to
20:45catch up to
20:46Alonso.
20:47He's got to
20:48catch up to
20:49Alonso.
20:50He's got to
20:51catch up to
20:52Alonso.
20:53He's got to
20:54catch up to
20:55Alonso.
20:56He's got to
20:57catch up to
20:58Alonso.
20:59He's got to
21:00catch up to
21:01Alonso.
21:02He's got to
21:03catch up to
21:04Alonso.
21:05He's got to
21:06catch up to
21:07Alonso.
21:08He's got to
21:09catch up to
21:10Alonso.
21:11He's got to
21:12catch up to
21:13Alonso.
21:14He's got to
21:15catch up to
21:16Alonso.
21:17He's got to
21:18catch up to
21:19Alonso.
21:20He's got to
21:21catch up to
21:22Alonso.
21:23He's got to
21:24catch up to
21:25Alonso.
21:26He's got to
21:27catch up to
21:28Alonso.
21:29He's got to
21:30catch up to
21:31Alonso.
21:32He's got to
21:33catch up to
21:34Alonso.
21:35He's got to
21:36catch up to
21:37Alonso.
21:38He's got to
21:39catch up to
21:40Alonso.
21:41He's got to
21:42catch up to
21:43Alonso.
21:44He's got to
21:45catch up to
21:46Alonso.
21:47He's got to
21:48catch up to
21:49Alonso.
21:50He's got to
21:51catch up to
21:52Alonso.
21:53He's got to
21:54catch up to
21:55Alonso.
21:56He's got to
21:57catch up to
21:58Alonso.
21:59He's got to
22:00catch up to
22:01Alonso.
22:02He's got to
22:03catch up to
22:04Alonso.
22:05He's got to
22:06catch up to
22:07Alonso.
22:08He's got to
22:09catch up to
22:10Alonso.
22:11He's got to
22:12catch up to
22:13Alonso.
22:14He's got to
22:15catch up to
22:16Alonso.
22:17He's got to
22:18catch up to
22:19Alonso.
22:20He's got to
22:21catch up to
22:22Alonso.
22:23He's got to
22:24catch up to
22:25Alonso.
22:26He's got to
22:27catch up to
22:28Alonso.
22:29He's got to
22:30catch up to
22:31Alonso.
22:32He's got to
22:33catch up to
22:34Alonso.
22:35He's got to
22:36catch up to
22:37Alonso.
22:38He's got to
22:39catch up to
22:40Alonso.
22:41He's got to
22:42catch up to
22:43Alonso.
22:44He's got to
22:45catch up to
22:46Alonso.
22:47He's got to
22:48catch up to
22:49Alonso.
22:50He's got to
22:51catch up to
22:52Alonso.
22:53He's got to
22:54catch up to
22:55Alonso.
22:56He's got to
22:57catch up to
22:58Alonso.
22:59He's got to
23:00catch up to
23:01Alonso.
23:02He's got to
23:03catch up to
23:04Alonso.
23:05He's got to
23:06catch up to
23:07Alonso.
23:08He's got to
23:09catch up to
23:10Alonso.
23:11He's got to
23:12catch up to
23:13Alonso.
23:14He's got to
23:15catch up to
23:16Alonso.
23:17He's got to
23:18catch up to
23:19Alonso.
23:20He's got to
23:21catch up to
23:22Alonso.
23:23He's got to
23:24catch up to
23:25Alonso.
23:26He's got to
23:27catch up to
23:28Alonso.
23:29He's got to
23:30catch up to
23:31Alonso.
23:32He's got to
23:33catch up to
23:34Alonso.
23:35He's got to
23:36catch up to
23:37Alonso.
23:38He's got to
23:39catch up to
23:40Alonso.
23:41He's got to
23:42catch up to
23:43Alonso.
23:44He's got to
23:45catch up to
23:46Alonso.
23:47He's got to
23:48catch up to
23:49Alonso.
23:50He's got to
23:51catch up to
23:52Alonso.
23:53He's got to
23:54catch up to
23:55Alonso.
23:56He's got to
23:57catch up to
23:58Alonso.
23:59He's got to
24:00catch up to
24:01Alonso.
24:02He's got to
24:03catch up to
24:04Alonso.
24:05He's got to
24:06catch up to
24:07Alonso.
24:08He's got to
24:09catch up to
24:10Alonso.
24:11He's got to
24:12catch up to
24:13Alonso.
24:14He's got to
24:15catch up to
24:16Alonso.
24:17He's got to
24:18catch up to
24:19Alonso.
24:20He's got to
24:21catch up to
24:22Alonso.
24:23He's got to
24:24catch up to
24:25Alonso.
24:26He's got to
24:27catch up to
24:28Alonso.
24:29He's got to
24:30catch up to
24:31Alonso.
24:32He's got to
24:33catch up to
24:34Alonso.
24:35He's got to
24:36catch up to
24:37Alonso.
24:38He's got to
24:39catch up to
24:40Alonso.
24:41He's got to
24:42catch up to
24:43Alonso.
24:44He's got to
24:45catch up to
24:46Alonso.
24:47He's got to
24:48catch up to
24:49Alonso.
24:50He's got to
24:51catch up to
24:52Alonso.
24:53He's got to
24:54catch up to
24:55Alonso.
24:56He's got to
24:57catch up to
24:58Alonso.
24:59He's got to
25:00catch up to
25:01Alonso.
25:02He's got to
25:03catch up to
25:04Alonso.
25:05He's got to
25:06catch up to
25:07Alonso.
25:08He's got to
25:09catch up to
25:10Alonso.
25:11He's got to
25:12catch up to
25:13Alonso.
25:14He's got to
25:15catch up to
25:16Alonso.
25:17He's got to
25:18catch up to
25:19Alonso.
25:20He's got to
25:21catch up to
25:22Alonso.
25:23He's got to
25:24catch up to
25:25Alonso.
25:26He's got to
25:27catch up to
25:28Alonso.
25:30Welcome back to Formula One debrief.
25:32There's a look at a part of the mammoth crowd on hand.
25:35Round four of the 2008 season.
25:37The Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona.
25:40Welcome back. I'm Bob Varsha.
25:42We'll pick up the race with Henke Kovalainen
25:44in the lead in his McLaren Mercedes
25:46yet to make his first pit stop
25:48and on lap twenty-two
25:49his race would end in very dramatic fashion.
25:53Take a look as the McLaren just drive straight off the track.
25:56Skips over the gravel trap
25:58and spears the tyre wall
26:00actually digging under the wall
26:02and here's a look
26:04at what Henke Kovalainen saw
26:07until he saw nothing at all.
26:09Left front wheel
26:10suddenly
26:11brakes
26:12tyre deflates
26:13no steering
26:14very little braking
26:15and the young Finn
26:16goes right into the tyre wall
26:18which of course rides right up the chassis
26:20gets him in the head.
26:21Right and I mean
26:22on the face of it
26:23when it went on
26:24the wheel went down there
26:26it looked like an absolute carbon copy
26:28of Lewis Hamilton
26:29last year at the Nürburgring
26:31when his right front tyre
26:32did exactly the same thing
26:33and as it turned out
26:34and as our man Steve will explain
26:36it was in fact exactly the same thing.
26:38Yeah it was really
26:39and it's a terrible moment for the team
26:41because it's a mechanical failure on the car
26:43and therefore
26:44you know all the engineers and mechanics
26:46are wanting to know exactly what has failed on the car
26:48because you've got to decide
26:49whether or not to bring
26:50Lewis Hamilton in
26:51if he thinks it's a failure on the car
26:52but keep your eye on the left front
26:53particularly this area here
26:55there's the explosion
26:57on the rim
26:58and at that point
26:59poor old Heike has no control
27:00over the car whatsoever
27:01and he's going to head straight
27:03into the tyre barrier there
27:04as we've seen before
27:05a lot of damage as well
27:07to the chassis
27:08and we have to point out
27:09that the chassis was actually torn
27:11in two sections
27:12the nose didn't come off the chassis per se
27:15the chassis itself sheared
27:17with the violent impact on the car there
27:19about half a metre
27:20of the front of the chassis off
27:21well at the time we thought
27:23it was a rim failure
27:24McLaren have now stated
27:26that they believe what happened was
27:28that the wheels had been painted
27:30or glazed with a lacquer surface
27:32and if that happens
27:34it's standard practice
27:35the mechanics and engineers
27:36will scuff any lacquer
27:38from the inside mating face
27:40of the rim
27:41where that is aligned
27:43to the nut itself
27:44the wheel nut
27:45if you have a new wheel nut
27:46or a new rim
27:47it's standard practice
27:48to run those two items together
27:50to run them in
27:51to scuff them in
27:52so there's an absolutely
27:53perfect mated fit
27:54exactly the same way
27:55as if you were grinding
27:56a valve in an engine
27:57on the cylinder head
27:58there you have to have
27:59a perfect mated fit
28:00if that's not the case
28:01you only need a tiny
28:02tiny little bit of movement
28:03and the thing will start
28:04to back off
28:05well McLaren have been
28:06very open and said
28:07that's what we believe
28:08the failure is
28:09and that was the cause
28:10of the accident
28:11but it goes back to a point
28:12that Ron Dennis made
28:13after the race
28:14saying we need to look
28:15at this rim
28:16because it's only done
28:1714 kilometres
28:18well clearly it had done
28:19more than that
28:20because we're on lap 22
28:21I'm speculating
28:22what Ron meant was
28:23it's done 14 kilometres
28:24before the start of the race
28:25nevertheless that's
28:26a very low mileage
28:27so I think McLaren
28:28are being open
28:29and honest here
28:30if it was a lack of failing
28:31that caused that failure
28:32on the rim
28:33they will certainly
28:34look at that
28:35and make sure it's
28:36cleaned off at the factory
28:37you shouldn't have to rely
28:38on the engineers
28:39and mechanics at track
28:40to do that
28:41that'll be done at the factory
28:42I mean you're looking
28:43at a finish here
28:44you're looking at
28:45a clearance problem here
28:46as the nut and the wheel mate
28:47I mean you're looking
28:48at a thickness
28:49of a coat of lacquer
28:50absolutely
28:51I mean obviously
28:52it did last for 22 laps
28:53it only had to last
28:54another half a lap
28:55and it'd come in
28:56for a pit stop anyway
28:57but I mean
28:58incredibly tight fit
28:59well of course
29:00we all were concerned
29:01about Heike Kovalainen
29:02whose impact was measured
29:03at 27 G's
29:04when they finally
29:05got him out of the car
29:06he was able to give
29:07a thumbs up
29:08to the crowd
29:09interestingly
29:10he says he does not
29:11remember doing this
29:12in fact he does not
29:13remember the accident
29:14does not remember
29:15waving at the crowd
29:16didn't really remember
29:17anything after going
29:18off the track
29:20until he woke up
29:21in the hospital
29:22and looked over
29:23at the McLaren team
29:24doctor and said
29:25what are we doing here
29:26really an amazing
29:27an amazing
29:28fact that
29:29Heike Kovalainen
29:30able to get out
29:31of that car
29:32especially when we
29:33saw the wreckage
29:34afterwards
29:35and as you mentioned
29:36Steve
29:37when they lifted
29:38the thing up
29:39on the hook
29:40and you could see
29:41right down through
29:42the cockpit
29:43where the front end
29:44of the monocoque
29:45had been torn away
29:46that's not supposed
29:47to happen
29:48no absolutely
29:49it's not
29:50you bring up a very
29:51good point
29:52and I think again
29:53Formula One
29:54has dodged a bullet
29:55here
29:56a lot of the team
29:57was speculating
29:58you can see here
29:59from the front
30:00this is the front
30:01of the car
30:02again about half a
30:03meter has been
30:04ripped off the
30:05front of the chassis
30:06and I say I think
30:07we dodged a bullet
30:08because if the
30:09angle of impact
30:10had been slightly
30:11different where
30:12the chassis was
30:13damaged but then
30:14the car speared off
30:15and think back to
30:16Robert Kubica's
30:17track
30:18poor old Heike Kovalainen's
30:19ankles and legs
30:20would have been
30:21hanging out the
30:22front of the car
30:23as it was the car
30:24was jammed into the
30:25tyres so there was
30:26no way that could
30:27happen but boy
30:28I think although
30:29McLaren and the
30:30FIA seem to say
30:31well we're reasonably
30:32happy with what
30:33happened now the
30:34chassis stood up
30:35I know they're going
30:36to be looking at
30:37that in greater
30:38detail
30:39as they should
30:40because really there
30:41hasn't been that
30:42much public talk
30:43about that
30:44nevertheless
30:45Heike Kovalainen
30:46of course brought
30:47out the safety car
30:48with Nick Heidfeld
30:49in the lead for
30:50BMW Sauber
30:51but with the pit
30:52lane closed
30:53Heidfeld had no
30:54choice really
30:55out of fuel as he
30:56would say later
30:57he had to come in
30:58and accept the
30:59drive through penalty
31:00for adding fuel
31:01behind the safety
31:02car
31:06yeah absolutely
31:07Bob and that
31:08brings up another
31:09point and again
31:10BMW's management
31:11have been very
31:12critical of this
31:13we were going to
31:14run out of fuel
31:15but they have
31:16stated as soon as
31:17the safety car
31:18comes out you
31:19have to wait for
31:20Charlie Whiting to
31:21put the board up
31:22on the screen to
31:23say pit lane open
31:24you can now refuel
31:25if you're going to
31:26run out of fuel
31:27you've got no
31:28option but to
31:29come into refuel
31:30and then take the
31:31penalty BMW have
31:32said you know
31:33that's kind of
31:34crazy frankly
31:35really no idea
31:36what you could do
31:37though except do
31:38everything possible
31:39to get that pit
31:40lane open knowing
31:41that cars are queued
31:42up waiting to get
31:43in well in a
31:44second
31:45welcome back to
31:46formula one debrief
31:47looking back on the
31:482008 Spanish Grand
31:49Prix from
31:50Barcelona
31:51now nothing
31:52empties the grand
31:53stands quicker
31:54than seeing the
31:55home favorite drop
31:56out of the race
31:57and that was the
31:58case unfortunately
31:59for Fernando
32:00Alonso who
32:01qualified brilliantly
32:02on the front row and
32:03was running in a
32:04solid fifth position
32:05with good points in
32:06store for his
32:07first race of the
32:08season
32:09and that was
32:10the case for
32:11Fernando Alonso
32:12who qualified
32:13with good points
32:14in store when
32:15this happened
32:16with 32 laps
32:17remaining the
32:18Renault engine
32:19fell silent
32:20which is a very
32:21rare occurrence
32:22for those Renault
32:23engines they've
32:24been pretty reliable
32:25and this is the
32:26first time that
32:27both Renaults have
32:28been out for
32:29absolutely yonks
32:30they just there you
32:31see the engine
32:32going through that
32:33Renault that long
32:34long right-hander
32:35and that is what
32:36Steve would call
32:37kablamo
32:38yes it was
32:39absolutely kablamo
32:40but you're right a
32:41very rare failure
32:42for Renault there
32:43afterwards the team
32:44would say that the
32:45problem was that the
32:46timing gears they
32:47actually use timing
32:48gears no belts or
32:49chain drive on these
32:50engines makes them
32:51very noisy but the
32:52teams are not
32:53interested in noise
32:54it makes them very
32:55usually typically
32:56very reliable but
32:57one of those timing
32:58gears let go and
32:59as soon as one of
33:00those dancers gets
33:01out of control
33:02inside the engine
33:03the whole chorus line
33:04goes down and
33:05that's just what
33:06happened there
33:07well our Peter
33:08Windsor went looking
33:09for answers and he
33:10spoke with Renault
33:12Fernando faded a
33:13little bit at the
33:14restart was that the
33:15onset of the engine
33:16problem yes I believe
33:17so we haven't really
33:18got into it just yet
33:19but he was before
33:20Heidfeld got his
33:21penalty he was running
33:22behind Heidfeld so I
33:23think he was sort of
33:24holding him up a
33:25little bit there
33:26Heidfeld came in and
33:27he didn't really make
33:28any ground then and
33:29I think that that lap
33:30that sort of one lap
33:31he had in clean air
33:32was when the engine
33:33was starting to go
33:34and he said he could
33:35feel it misbehaving
33:36in the slow corners
33:37So that put quite a
33:38damper as far as the
33:39crowd was concerned
33:40and it was not the
33:41only engine failure
33:42on the day
33:43Nico Rosberg
33:44dropped out of a
33:45good race finish
33:46when the Toyota
33:47engine and his
33:48Williams failed him
33:49here's a look at
33:50Rosberg pulling out
33:51of the front straight
33:52and listen
33:58nasty grumbling
33:59noises from inside
34:00that engine there
34:01too so you don't
34:02often see those
34:03Toyota engines blow
34:04up
34:05they sound so good
34:06at 19,000 rpm
34:07but they sound so
34:08awful when something
34:09goes wrong
34:10because it's usually
34:11going wrong in a
34:12big way
34:13yeah and the more
34:14it keeps going
34:15round and round
34:16the worse it gets
34:17in there too
34:18that's right
34:19a massive molten
34:20and chewed up
34:21metal
34:22well those were
34:23pretty much the
34:24highlights of the
34:25race unless your
34:26name is Timo Glock
34:27or David Coulthard
34:28the veteran who's
34:29had so many problems
34:30in the opening
34:31rounds of the
34:322008 championship
34:33you're on board with
34:34Glock
34:35DC ahead on the
34:36road
34:37and you know
34:38what's coming
34:39now DC
34:40well DC
34:41now that you see
34:42DC had closed
34:43the door well
34:44and truly
34:45and Timo Glock
34:46basically just kind
34:47of ran into him
34:48because DC could
34:49see him coming
34:50did close the door
34:51hopefully before the
34:52horse had bolted
34:53but Timo Glock
34:54did manage
34:55still managed to
34:56run into the back
34:57of him
34:58only just
34:59but of course
35:00only just is close
35:01enough
35:02that's really all
35:03that matters
35:04Red Bull Renault
35:05meanwhile up front
35:06no problems whatsoever
35:07for Kimi Raikkonen
35:08who in fact
35:09began to slow
35:10down even though
35:11he set most of
35:12the fastest laps
35:13of the race
35:14he was able to
35:15shuttle back
35:16throttle down
35:17and hold on to
35:18the victory
35:19his second of the
35:20year with Masa
35:21right there in
35:22second
35:23Lewis Hamilton
35:24in third
35:25here are the results
35:26of the Spanish
35:27Grand Prix at
35:28Barcelona brought
35:29to you by ING
35:30a huge thumping
35:31by Ferrari there
35:32Masa coming
35:33in second
35:34Lewis Hamilton
35:35Robert Kubica
35:36maintaining that
35:37position throughout
35:38the entire race
35:39from the start
35:40Mark Webb
35:41having a good run
35:42for Red Bull
35:43in fifth
35:44Jenson Button
35:45another good run
35:46points
35:47Kazuki Nakajima
35:48there at seven
35:49and eight
35:50there's Nick
35:51Heidfeld there
35:52the BMW
35:53Cyber
35:54in ninth
35:55his race was
35:56compromised by
35:57that ten second
35:58drive-through penalty
35:59there because of
36:00the refueling incident
36:01Nelson Piquet
36:02Junior
36:03Sutil
36:04and Vettel
36:05round out the 22
36:06runners
36:07and after the race
36:08Peter Windsor
36:09with microphone in
36:10hand went looking
36:11for answers
36:12beginning with the
36:13race winner
36:14this race in many
36:15ways was defined
36:16by that fantastic
36:17pole you got
36:18yesterday
36:19an unusual pole
36:20for you
36:21yeah unfortunately
36:22I think so
36:23in the past
36:24it's been much
36:25easier to get it
36:26on pole but
36:27hopefully now we
36:28found a bit
36:29different way
36:30and we can repeat
36:31it more often
36:32and it would make
36:33your life much
36:34easier
36:35and what is that
36:36different way?
36:37I mean you can
36:38always make a
36:39decision to try to
36:40work for the race
36:41or for the qualifying
36:42and we try to make
36:43the perfect balance
36:44between them
36:45and here at least
36:46we found it
36:47and the car seems
36:48to be much more
36:49nicer to drive
36:50much more
36:51but easier to get
36:52the one lap out
36:53of it so
36:54I mean hopefully
36:55we can use the
36:56same direction
36:57in the next
36:58coming races
37:01what were the
37:02conditions like from
37:03your point of view
37:04particularly as you're
37:05in turbulence for
37:06quite a lot of the
37:07race?
37:08yeah it was
37:09not easy
37:10the crosswind
37:11especially
37:12the hard tyres
37:13with even
37:14lower grip
37:15it was not so
37:16easy to keep
37:17the car
37:18like in turn
37:19three
37:20and then you
37:21have some
37:22snaps in the
37:23exit turn
37:24nine
37:25and it was
37:26not so easy
37:27I had some
37:28moments as well
37:29the tyre warmers
37:30in the context
37:31of what you've
37:32just said
37:33what are your
37:34thoughts on that?
37:35I think you know
37:36to be honest
37:37the blankets
37:38doesn't change
37:39a lot for the
37:40cost for many
37:41areas that
37:42people are
37:43working for
37:44and I think
37:45it helps a lot
37:46for the safety
37:47I think you know
37:48why we need
37:49to take away
37:50something which
37:51is important for
37:52the safety
37:53and doesn't
37:54change anything
37:55for the battle
37:56on the track
37:57so that's why
37:58I think it's
37:59important to keep it
38:01You had a good
38:02view of the
38:03Ferraris at the
38:04restarts
38:05where are they
38:06quicker?
38:07It's actually quite
38:08interesting actually
38:09I don't know if I
38:10should really tell
38:11you but there's
38:12bits everywhere
38:13obviously the last
38:14sector they were
38:15a little bit quicker
38:16than us overall
38:17I think we were
38:18generally a little
38:19bit quicker in the
38:20first and middle
38:21sector but the
38:22last sector they
38:23seemed to pull
38:24the gap again
38:25so it's sort of
38:26a win-lose
38:27situation
38:28it's very very
38:29difficult
38:30We're talking
38:31traction and rear tyre
38:32use?
38:33We're talking
38:34traction we're
38:35talking rear tyre
38:36use and yeah
38:37for sure a little
38:38bit of rear end
38:39stability but as
38:40soon as you light
38:41these tyres up or
38:42get the slightest
38:43bit of wheel spin
38:44you feel the
38:45after effect in
38:46the next corner
38:47so they don't
38:48seem to be doing
38:49any wheel spinning
38:50and therefore are
38:51able to look after
38:52the rear tyres
38:53better
38:54Well as you
38:55can tell from
38:56the race today is
38:57just beginning when
38:58the race is over
38:59Time now for a
39:00little perspective on
39:01race tracks
39:02Our colleague Sam
39:03Posey, a professional
39:04architect in his own
39:05right, offers Posey's
39:06perspective on the
39:07handiwork of Formula
39:08One's resident track
39:09architect Herman
39:10Tilken
39:11When I think of
39:12Formula One I think
39:13of tracks like Spa
39:14with its magnificent
39:15Eau Rouge corner
39:16or Monza with its
39:17legions of Ferrari
39:18fans or Monaco
39:19where they race along
39:20the harbour, race in
39:21the wheel tracks of
39:22Fontainebleau
39:23History, tradition,
39:24sense of place, it's
39:25all there
39:26But that's not what
39:27racing really looks
39:28like today
39:29This is an abstraction
39:30of artificial turf,
39:31handy strike kerbing
39:32and run-off areas
39:33the size of Rhode
39:34Island
39:35I sometimes wonder if
39:36we're seeing a real
39:37race at all
39:38Maybe this is a video
39:39recreation that gets
39:40aired while the teams
39:41are back home,
39:42gleeful over the
39:43money they've
39:44saved
39:45Or maybe this is
39:46a video recreation
39:47that gets aired while
39:48the teams are back
39:49home, gleeful over
39:50the money they've
39:51saved
39:52Bernie Ecclestone
39:53began his global
39:54expansion of Formula
39:55One ten years ago
39:56and from the beginning
39:57he made the German
39:58designer Hermann
39:59Tilke part of every
40:00deal
40:01If you wanted a GP
40:02you got Tilke
40:03He designed everything
40:04track, pits, grand
40:05stands, even the
40:06toilet paper dispensers
40:07This year, four of
40:08the eighteen Formula
40:09One tracks are
40:10original Tilkes
40:11Each is an engineering
40:12masterpiece, delivered
40:13on time and on
40:14budget
40:15The trouble is,
40:16they all run
40:17the same
40:18time
40:19And the
40:21especially on TV
40:22Watch this montage
40:23and you'll see what
40:24I mean
40:25These are shots from
40:26Tilke tracks
40:27Malaysia, Bahrain,
40:28Turkey and China
40:29Can you tell which
40:30is which?
40:31It isn't Tilke's
40:32fault
40:33He gets a piece of
40:34land that's in the
40:35middle of nowhere
40:36and then must make
40:37the track he designs
40:38as safe as humanly
40:39possible
40:40which of course
40:41dictates the big
40:42run-off areas
40:43and engineered
40:44barrier
40:45Boring to us, but
40:46much appreciated by
40:47a driver in
40:48track
40:50Safety
40:51It's necessary, but
40:52a constraint too
40:53What can be done?
40:54I believe help
40:55is on the way
40:56This year we will
40:57see the debut of
40:58two new tracks
40:59Singapore and
41:00Valencia that
41:01wind through
41:02historic cities
41:03Both courses are
41:04Tilke designed
41:05naturally
41:06But now he has a
41:07rich palette to
41:08play with
41:09and he's improving
41:10with age
41:11The track they race
41:12on this weekend
41:13here in Turkey
41:14is his latest
41:15and also his best
41:16Watch Turn 8 and
41:17see if you don't
41:18think Tilke has the
41:19right stuff
41:20Four apexes
41:21175 miles an hour
41:22A track doesn't have
41:23to be old
41:24to be great
41:49Four races into the 2008 championship
42:04Here are the points standings
42:06presented by ING
42:07Pretty close
42:08Kimi Räikkönen 29
42:09and Hamilton
42:10Kubitsa
42:11Felipe Massa
42:12and Nick Heidfeld
42:13all within four points
42:14of each other
42:15Heike Kovalainen there
42:16with 14
42:17Here's the rest of
42:18the runners
42:19Nico Rosberg
42:20got 7
42:21didn't get any this
42:22weekend
42:23Alonso 6
42:24because it's
42:25Nakajima 5
42:26and Sebastian Bordet
42:27with 2
42:28Those are the drivers
42:29Here are the
42:30constructors
42:31Ferrari out there
42:32in the lead
42:33after four rounds
42:3447 points on the
42:35board
42:36BMW Sauber
42:37now in second
42:38spot with 35
42:39McLaren Mercedes
42:40just one point
42:41behind in third
42:42spot
42:43Williams
42:44Toyota
42:45and Red Bull
42:46with 32
42:47points on the
42:48board
42:49Time now for
42:50final thoughts
42:51and we'll begin
42:52with Peter Windsor
42:53in Spain
42:54And so the
42:55Formula One circus
42:56heads towards Turkey
42:57McLaren and Ferrari
42:58pretty evenly
42:59matched there last
43:00year
43:01although Ferrari
43:02ultimately had the
43:03edge
43:04They certainly had
43:05the edge at the
43:06moment on performance
43:07as Lewis Hamilton
43:08said
43:09out of slow
43:10corners
43:11traction
43:12use of rear tyres
43:13that's where
43:14Ferrari's got a
43:16For the rest
43:17for BMW
43:18another strong
43:19performance from
43:20Robert Kubica
43:21He got beaten by
43:22Lewis into the
43:23first corner
43:24but BMW are not
43:25going to go away
43:26They potentially
43:27are going to take
43:28points from McLaren
43:29and so more and
43:30more 2008 looks
43:31like another year
43:32for Scuderia
43:33Ferrari Marlboro
43:34and specifically
43:35for that man
43:36Kimi Räikkönen
43:37Alright thank you
43:38Peter
43:39Now final thoughts
43:40from our panel
43:41beginning with you
43:42Steve
43:43Well I think
43:44BMW have a
43:45slow speed
43:46mechanical grip
43:47Renault
43:48realistically need
43:49to find about
43:50three tenths
43:51and BMW
43:52just tiny changes
43:53don't lose direction
43:54because they're doing
43:55a great job
43:56Things change quickly
43:57in Formula 1
43:58Ferrari hasn't won
43:59the championship
44:00yet
44:01David
44:02Well I thought
44:03Sam's perspective
44:04was terrific
44:05and the more
44:06nostalgic amongst
44:07us will love
44:08those old cars
44:09but when you see
44:10the way those
44:11drivers are
44:12sticking out of
44:13their seats
44:14you now know
44:15Spain was their
44:16last Grand Prix
44:17and that's a shame
44:18they in many ways
44:19embodied what
44:20Formula 1 was all
44:21about
44:22a little banned
44:23by comparative
44:24standards
44:25who got a race car
44:26and went racing
44:27with the biggest
44:28names in the sport
44:29worldwide
44:30We're going to miss
44:31Super Aguri
44:32And that'll wrap up
44:33our recap of the
44:34Spanish Grand Prix
44:35here on Formula 1
44:36Debrief
44:37Be sure to join us
44:38tomorrow at 7am
44:39Eastern for qualifying
44:40for the fifth round
44:41of the championship
44:42See you then
44:43Bye
44:44Bye
44:45Bye
44:46Bye
44:47Bye
44:48Bye
44:49Bye

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