Links for 3 November 2008 to 4 November 2008

  • Partisan fans – pitpass
    "As Lewis recalls his childhood hero, Ayrton Senna, it is worth remembering the taunts and banners that used to await the legendary Brazilian at Silverstone, especially when he dared to take on, and beat, either Nigel Mansell or Damon Hill… And let's not forget the cheer when Michael Schumacher crashed on the first lap of the 1999 British GP…

    "…cheering the local hero and giving his opponents all manner of grief, including booing, is part and parcel of F1 and long may it remain so."

    Hear, hear!

  • Brazil GP TV pulls in 42% share – pitpass
    More information on the weekend's ratings. The Brazilian Grand Prix peaked at 13.1m viewers. The only other more popular sporting event was the Champions League final. Meanwhile, French and German broadcasters also had high figures.
  • Vettel surprised by 2008 performance – autosport.com
    "We scored a lot of points this year, so P8 was much better than expected. It was far better than expected. It was an incredible season for us."
  • Hamilton fan wins £125,000 on Hamilton’s win – GPUpdate.net
    "The F1 fan who wishes to remain anonymous placed a bet of £100 at 500-1 that Hamilton would win the F1 championship before his 25th birthday as well as a £50 bet at odds of 1,500-1.

    "The man who placed the bet on May 13 1998 has a son who used to go-kart against Hamilton in England."

    Wow!

  • Thanks to ITV for keeping us entertained – Brits on Pole
  • Di Montezemolo praises thrilling finale – autosport.com
    "In all my years in Formula One, I haven't seen such an incredibly exciting finish to a championship. I always said that we'd be fighting until the last corner of the last Grand Prix and that's exactly what happened at the end of a brilliantly tense competition."
  • The 30 second World Champion – James Allen’s Grand Prix Diary
    "[McLaren's] weatherman was under real pressure from the pit wall as he had predicted a heavy downpour and McLaren had instructed Hamilton to let Vettel, who had passed him for fifth place, go because they felt he would catch and pass Glock. It took half a lap longer than they expected but he did it."
  • Going to the next level – James Allen’s Grand Prix Diary
    "If you imagine what would have happened this year had Michael Schumacher been driving the Ferrari or Fernando Alonso the McLaren, you realise that the title would have been wrapped up comfortably by either man against the two title contenders we actually had."
  • 2008 Formula 1 Season – Season without driver changes – F1 Wolf
    "Unfortunately Super Aguri team folded after only four races and Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson found themselves out of job. These two were however the only driver job casualties of the entire season. We did not have a single driver change in 2008 season, no driver missed even one race. All the teams raced all the races with the same drivers."
  • Dennis hints at revised McLaren role – autosport.com
    "I have still got several ambitions I want to fulfill, but you will most definitely see me at Grands Prix and it is something I like too much to take out of my life. You will see me on the pitwall, I will be at races.

    "I think over the next few months I will make it abundantly clear what I am doing and why I am doing it, but it would have taken place no matter what. Don't read too much into it."

  • Honda to test Senna – and Piquet? – Grandprix.com
    Honda want to test Nelsinho Piquet if Renault do not retain him. Some in Renault want to hire Lucas Di Grassi instead.
  • Ferrari expect Raikkonen to fight back – autosport.com
    Stefano Domenicali: "But he is happy because we won together as a team. And he is looking forward to starting again, because for sure this is not the one that he knows.

    "I already said that a lot of people were talking last season about Valentino Rossi being finished this year, and he has actually done a lot. So I am expecting the same kind of approach in 2009."

  • Honda to test Senna this month – autosport.com
    "The Brazilian, 25, will test this year's RA108 as Honda evaluate him for a possible drive for the 2009 season.

    "The team are yet to confirm who will partner Jenson Button in 2009, with Rubens Barrichello's future still in doubt."

  • Honda confirms test for Senna – pitpass
  • Felipe Massa: a class act – F1 Fanatic
    "But I felt bitterly sorry for Massa at the end. Since Bahrain this year he has forced his critics to re-evaluate their opinions of him with every passing race. He comes across as a genuine and warm individual – and his emotions are invariably writ large across his face.

    "He was the model of graciousness in defeat."

  • Coulthard takes positives despite ‘gutting’ end to career – Brits on Pole
    “I’ve been overwhelmed by the level of support I’ve had from the paddock this weekend, it means a great deal to me that so many people have taken the time to say ‘nice career and good luck with the future’.

    “And, in the absence of a World Championship, I think if I can leave with that, then that’s a good ending.”

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