So true, oh so true.

Later, Ken

 

Kubica update:

 

Quite the unusual race I would say. First, Lewis drove an impeccable race and put his stamp of authority on it. How this plays into who signs with is anyone's guess, but I would be surprised if he does not re-sign with McLaren. Poor Jenson looked good, but his retirement surely hurt any championship hopes.

Perez definitely put in the drive of the day. Second time now that he has shown a winner's form. Can't say the same for his teammate Crash-bay, but he showed that he will be a force to be reckoned with in the future. As for Alonso, could we have expected anything less from him? He drove a solid race and solidified his championship. Massa kind of looked like the driver we remember from 2008. The fact that he did so well and let Alonso by should at least help his standing with the team.

Red Bull at the moment looks hapless. Vettel put up a good fight save for his closing the door on Alonso which drew the ire of the stewards. Webber on the other hand, looked totally incompetent. Never really competitive and that spin took him out of the points. Amazing how fast things change in F1.

One other driver I was surprised by the lack of competitiveness was Kimi. He reminded me of the Kimi in 2009 when he drove without any passion. A comment was made that Lotus spends so much time on aerodynamics, which does little at Monza. Even with his dangerous driving, I am sure Lotus will want Grosjean back in the seat after the dull performance by d'Ambrosio. On to Singapore, which is a fun race.

 

Good to see him back racing, I really hope he comes back to F1 eventually, he was my favourite driver.

Good drive for Lewis but I have to admit I've lost a lot of respect for him after this whole not signing with McLaren because they aren't offering him enough money, he's probably with the best team on the grid that support him as a #1 driver and he's worried about making 20 million instead of 18 million or whatever...

 

Everyone is entitled for his own evaluation. Specially when he drives in the car to the podium. There is no need to direspect anyone for that. He wants more money its fine, i can understand both side . This is a plane and simple business situation, and F1 is all about business.
Will any team offer him a seat for that price? That is up to the market.
Most F1 drivers are buying they seats into the F1. Now many of them is very talented, the question is for a teams, worth to spend on someone around $20mill to drive a car, for pole position. Or get a new talent for almost nothing, but no pole position garanteed in a near future. But you can put that money into development on the car or ease up the upcomings yearly budgets, get a solid sponsor base etc. for a team sake?

We cant see that from out side.

 

^ Well said. However, teams also earn lots of money (millions $$) from the FIA based on the constructor points at the end of the season. Their drivers help them score these valuable points. A paying driver may bring some money to initially help offset the cost of developing the car. But he isn't doing them any favors when he does help them score constructor points. *cough*Maldonado*cough*

Do you want top talent in your car that you pay but bring more than his share in constructor points or do you want a paying driver who may not be top talent (and crashes a lot)?

 

he wants to keep the driver's trophies more than anything else. it's McLaren's tradition that they keep all the trophies.

 

I think Ron already said he could keep his trophies in an interview I read a bit back, but I can agree with that, drivers should keep the trophies they win, the thing I don't agree with is not signing because they aren't getting whatever millions they want, if that is in fact the reason he's not signing...

 

He has gone through hell and back...his drive (not the car) is incredible!!...hope the best for him...if anyone can do it, Robert is the man despite his injuries and associated limitations... keep on pushing big guy...many of us talking heads herein R in "admiration mode"

Later, Ken

 

this is an old article from July

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/for...aren-star.html

Lewis Hamilton says keeping his trophies will be a 'push point' in talks over a new contract with McLaren.
The 27-year-old former world champion has been with the McLaren "family" since the age of 11, spending his entire Formula One career with the team.

Family matters: Hamilton wants to keep the trophies he's won with McLaren
His current deal expires at the end of this year, though, and he heads into the month-long summer break - on the back of his second victory of the season in Hungary on Sunday - poised for talks over a fresh contract.
And he says an agreement which would see him allowed to keep the silverware he wins - it is a McLaren tradition for the team to keep the original, with the driver receiving a replica - could be crucial.
Quoted in several newspapers, Hamilton said: '[McLaren executive chairman] Ron [Dennis] and the team have all the trophies in the cabinet and the drivers get replicas.

Champagne moment: Hamilton is set for talks with McLaren over the summer
'In a lot of other teams, the drivers get their original trophies. As a racing driver, what you work for and what you want to take home are two things; one is your crash helmet and the other is your trophy. For me, they are priceless.
'I don't care if they don't give me a car, but those two things are what you put your blood and sweat into - and they keep those at the moment. So whatever contract I'm having next, that is going to be a push point.
'But I don't feel I have a tough decision to make. It is my career I'm talking about however - the last part of my [professional] life. It's the first time I've been in this position, so I guess it still remains an important decision.'

 

Hami, because he made it to Q3, had to use the medium tires in Stint 1 and hard in Stint2 and won, but with Perez closing fast, from the pole position. Tire selection differed for the second spot on podium (hard,medium), won by Perez but was key to his final position and probably had nothing to do with low tire wear. So, if true, then one would expect that all drivers with this tire selection should have done very well in the race. However, this was not the case except for one driver, Perez...why?

There were just four drivers that used the hard tires in Stint 1 and the medium tires in Stint 2: D'Ambrosio, Hulkenberg, Maldenado and Perez. D'Ambrosio's KERS failed, Hulkenberg's brakes went resulting in his retirement and Maldenado, starting from the back of the grid, had to use a three stopper to make it to the end with another set of medium tires. However, even with this handicap he still achieved the 11th spot at the end. So it appears that the reason for these three drivers not doing well was the result of mechanical issues (perhaps driver skill as well in D'Ambrosio's case) and grid position with Maldenado being last and Perez 13th on the start grid. In short, Perez's drive was the result of race strategy, specifically tire selection, not low tire wear, coupled with a fast car that almost won the day if the race had been a few laps longer. So it appears Sauber has found the delicate balance between speed and tire wear, something Merc has failed to do, at least at this point in the season...we shall C if Sauber can continue to move up in the constructors.

Later, Ken

 

The press is rife with comments about Lewis' demeanor during the race weekend. "Morose and monosyllabic" were used in describing his reactions to pole position and race win. Ron Dennis supposedly was "stony faced" and refused to take part in team photos or donning a red victory shirt.

Another thing that has not been mentioned is Lewis' pointing at the red patch on his helmet after winning the race. I have read some comments that would suggest that the pointing to the red patch means he will go with Ferrari. Who knows? Kind of a strange weekend though.

http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/...lton-will-stay

http://en.espnf1.com/italy/motorsport/story/88535.html

 

This talk about Hami leaving McLaren is all talk...First, Alonso would not B a happy camper with Hami at his side...the pressure to better the other would B very high and destructive to both. Second, he would B a fool to leave McLaren for they have huge resources to supply some of the best engineering and creation of parts necessary to the production of as competitive a car as Ferrari. So what's the point in leaving?...to get his trophy room a bit bigger? I just don't C this happening...he is a bit of a kid when his team mate beats him (his twitter feed proves that) and ,yes, he has pissed off a number of his own team... but McLaren has fostered, protected and raised him up over many years and, in fairness, he has produced results...my prediction: he will stay where he is...but then again Kimi said he would never drive for Lotus and then did...Hami suggesting he will leave McLaren but does not?!

Later, Ken

 

Before Monza, the F1 websites had lots of discussion about Lewis going to Mercedes. Eddie Jordan of the BBC seemed to be fostering this, although the Speed guys downplayed it and said Eddie was not the best source in F1. However, nobody is explaining why both Lewis and Ron Dennis were so sour and dour. For winning both pole and race, Lewis looked a bit downbeat. Ron Dennis refused to appear in team victory pictures, so something is happening behind the scenes. As for Alonso not accepting Lewis, I think that may be rubbish. After all, Alonso said that Lewis was his number one competition and has been speaking highly of him all year. Ferrari would love it. Imagine having both Alonso and Lewis driving cars with the Prancing Horse.

However, I would be surprised if indeed Lewis does not re-sign with McLaren. He has been loved and coddled there and Martin Whitmarsh practically bubbles every time Lewis' name is mentioned. After his scintillating performance yesterday, I would be surprised if Perez is not being considered for Massa's seat. And, there are the rumors that Schumi will go to Ferrari. Silly season sure has a way of making the season more interesting.

 

Between the pointing at the red part of his helmet, how chummy Lewis was with Alanso on the podium, and the above mentioned, I'd venture a guess that Lewis is either posturing for the extra 2 Million or thinking about Ferrari.