2013 Chinese GP - Race Thread

[Alonsomaniac]

OK risking my neck here but I've never been an Alonso fan. It was always his attitude I didn't like and I am of course going right back to the Renault days.
But (before I get lambasted from all sides) I think he is a different person now, maybe it's being at Ferrari for a few years and away from people like Briatore and Ron Dennis I am actually starting to like the guy and I reckon he's got a real shot at the title going by the first few races.

Fernando hasn't changed much. He still is the somewhat shy guy he always was and he still says what he thinks - pretty straightforward. That has not always sounded nice and maybe made him look arrogant, something he is absolutely not.
The only things that have changed are that he is somewhat older now, and the most important is that he is now part of a team he really feels at home with. That feeling comfortable is very important to him - without it he does not function at his best as a driver and as a human being.
This is also one of the main reasons he decided that Ferrari is his last F1 team. It just does not get better anywhere for him.
I think he will always stay connected to Ferrari emotionally, even years after his retirement.

[Sianellen]

What a brilliant win today for Nando and the team. It's a shame Felipe couldn't be up at the front too but on the whole an enjoyable race.

Quite frankly I have been shocked and appalled by the attitudes of some so called Ferrari fans today saying they aren't pleased for this result.

Not really seen any posts where anyone hasn't been happy with the result, except the usual ones that slag off Felipe. Other than that today has been a good day

[Larcxy27]

OK risking my neck here but I've never been an Alonso fan. It was always his attitude I didn't like and I am of course going right back to the Renault days.
But (before I get lambasted from all sides) I think he is a different person now, maybe it's being at Ferrari for a few years and away from people like Briatore and Ron Dennis I am actually starting to like the guy and I reckon he's got a real shot at the title going by the first few races.

Supporting Fernando - you know it makes sense!!!!

[DIEK]

OK risking my neck here but I've never been an Alonso fan. It was always his attitude I didn't like and I am of course going right back to the Renault days.
But (before I get lambasted from all sides) I think he is a different person now, maybe it's being at Ferrari for a few years and away from people like Briatore and Ron Dennis I am actually starting to like the guy and I reckon he's got a real shot at the title going by the first few races.

Alonso has always been pretty bad with the press and this has been very jealous of their privacy (until discovered Twitter) and that was very damaging to their public image...to me has always seemed a nice guy and very clean competitor.

[Sianellen]

Alonso has always been pretty bad with the press and this has been very jealous of their privacy (until discovered Twitter) and that was very damaging to their public image...to me has always seemed a nice guy and very clean competitor.

I love his tweets, you definitely see a much more human side to him. I guess it's easy to forget they are people too sometimes

[Meiga]

[Meiga]

Could somebody please tell me what's with the pig????

[Nero Horse]

Wonderful pictures, every single one of them! Thanks so much for posting them

[Nero Horse]

@tifosi1993

Is there any way that I could get that picture of Alonso holding the Ferrari flag that you have on your avatar picture in 800 x 600 resolution? Would really appreciate it

[gjoko-mkd]

[Dino]

This move on Lewis is simply brilliant by both Ferrari drivers.

[DIEK]

[JONNY F.2008]

[Giallo 550]

[Giallo 550]

Awesome race for Fernando! Really cool of him to grab the flag and wave it from the top of the car. Shame about Felipe, but I have a feeling that we'll see both of them on the podium next weekend. One thing's for sure, our car is a force to be reckoned with!

[Dino]

Tweet from Nigel Mansell himself 31 times GP winner !!

Nigel Mansell CBE‏@Mansell_Nigel
Great win for Ferrari and Alonso,Fantastic 31 wins congratulations to him and i am sure many more wins will follow.Great job

[redkid]

OMG! Nando needs a glue to stick it again

[killer]

I think Massa must modify his driving style to be more gentle on the tires. The tires do not like abrupt direction change that induces latteral friction resulting in the graining. Massa must get smoother with the car. If you watch Alonso and some of the other driver who work the car smoothly, their tires last longer and they have less severe drop off rate.

Ciao,

Forza Ferrari!!!!

I don't think Alonso's ever been accused of driving smoothly, Frank.

[Rishu]

Could somebody please tell me what's with the pig????

It's his lucky mascot "The flying pig"

[Cozza]

Awesome race. Had a good view of all the action down at turn 1 so got to see both our boys move at the start and on hamilton, which was brilliant. And the best part, 1 of the drivers i wanted to win, won (the other was felipe)

Perfect day for my first grand prix overseas

Got some vids i took on my phone of alonso taking button and vettel and of the start but since in china youtube is blocked. Cant upload them till next week

[heavyarmf91]

Amazing result!!! I really regret that I didn't get to the Shanghai Circuit to see this race!!

[Stormsearcher]

What a perfect sunday it was.

The team and drivers were fantastic. Lotus is better on its tyres, the RBR can plug in more down force, but as a complete package, i think we are currently the best now.

For me, the moment of the race was when Nando and Felipe mugged Hamilton down the start-finish straight. It was brilliant. I can only imagine what Lewis was seeing in his rear view mirrors. Ferraris on both sides and moving in fast.

Pity Felipe lost out during the first stops, and then on he seemed to just let it go.

But all in all, this is looking positive. Finally we have a car that will take the fight to redbull.

[stefa]

I remember couple of years ago that has happend also to someone else still standing on the podium.
Any way he won it in great style!

[abbottcostello]

What a race! That tandem pass on Hamilton... una bella cosa! The way Alonso took control of the race... masterful! "Still more push in the pocket"

I hope the team get a solution to Felipe's tire woes, as his early laps show that we could compete to take a commanding lead in the WCC with both drivers scoring high (also would love to see Massa getting bigger rewards for his much improved competitive level).

I saw Mark's wheel go rolling off, I immediately thought what poetic justice it would be for that wheel to take Vettel out of the race & the resulting interview with Mark expressing his 'sorrow' over such an unfortunate incident!
Ah, well, Seb was denied a podium, so I'm still over the moon.
Oh yes, almost forgot, what a harmonious podium with 3 different constructors represented

Grande Grande Grande!

[Nick Singer]

That'll do! Nice one..

[fratelliferrari]

Haha funny to see in a sport about so much money that the trophies are of that quality

[EL_NANDO]

I would create a "congratulations Fernando" topic, but Fernando is just doing what we expect of him.

Massa's "top form" suddenly didn't look quite so impressive did it? Would have been the same in Malaysia if Alonso hadn't damaged his wing.

[eugene22n]

This wasn't just a race win ... it was domination.

The kind that Red Bull have enjoyed far to many times for several years now.

For those that understood the pit cycles Vettel was never racing Alonso. Kimi and the Hamilton weren't on his pace either.

I don't the remember last race we dominated like that.

Anybody remember the last time we won a "clean" race in such a dominating fashion?

[eugene22n]

Massa struggled with prime pace and marbling but its not the kind of struggles he had last year.

He still brought home important points.

Hope he figures it out and improves. But his raw pace is definitely top notch and back to normal.

[Kristof_F40]

This wasn't just a race win ... it was domination.

The kind that Red Bull have enjoyed far to many times for several years now.

For those that understood the pit cycles Vettel was never racing Alonso. Kimi and the Hamilton weren't on his pace either.


Anybody remember the last time we won a "clean" race in such a dominating fashion?

Kind of weird to say, but last time is perhaps Germany 2010, but we all know howthat went.. other victories of Fernando were beautiful but not that dominant looking at car pace
I don't the remember last race we dominated like that.