Luca di Montezemolo doesn't seem to like Singapore

[phoenix]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/feedarticle/7839472

[zac510]

He is referring the to Safety Car rules, not the country itself.

[johntt]

I think that if his team had done better he wouldn't be complaining

[mattt]

Originally Posted by johntt

I think that if his team had done better he wouldn't be complaining

yep

They didn't do well, they have to blame someone or something else

[Glen]

"When we race on tracks which should be used for the circus, anything can happen…"

Try having your guys not driving like clowns then.

[doug911]

Grapes, sour....rearrange as appropriate!

[phoenix]

Originally Posted by zac510

He is referring the to Safety Car rules, not the country itself.

Sorry, I didn't mean to suggest he didn't like the country

[Matt]

Ferrari is returning to form these past few races! :P

[foreversideways]

Would have been the best circuit in the world if Massa had won. He hasn't changed much over the years, he was talking rubbish back in the 70s when Lauda was there.

[chillibowl]

i took a very different view on his comments. for the most part i think he is saying exactly what alot of people here have been saying for a while, that the spectacle has taken over and sporting concerns are not being properly addressed.

also i think he is calling it a circus, in the traditional use as it is a place to go racing not a circus with clowns and elephants.

but suggesting that the saftey car rule is wrong, and with the knowledge that the pit error was not caused by the traffic in pitlane but rather because of a faulty Ferrari system, is it possible that he thinks that Hamilton should have won that race?

[happyhammer]

So Ferrari's traffic light system in the pits didn't make F1 look like a circus??

I was in physical pain I was laughing so hard when the Ferrari mechanics had to carry the refuelling hose back up the pitlane.

Will someone have to get seriously hurt before they ditch the traffic lights??

[chillibowl]

actually have just read his quotes in some other articles...maybe he is calling it a clown and elephant cirus.

[Marbot]

He did seem to be really ****ed off about it.

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=36135

[Clive]

I thought the Ferrari pit crew were celebrating the New Year dragon dance

Who gives a sh1t anyway what he thinks as it comes down to Ferrari really blew it and as has been said, sour grapes now but if Ferrari had won, or even finished, maybe he'd be saying it differently.

[brands]

Funny that I never heard him complain about Valencia and there was even less overtaking there.......oh wait a Ferrari won that GP

Luca should be proud that his team brought some much needed entertainment to F1 rather than slate the GP venue in an attempt to deflect attention.

[ukaskew]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

i took a very different view on his comments. for the most part i think he is saying exactly what alot of people here have been saying for a while, that the spectacle has taken over and sporting concerns are not being properly addressed.

I was amused by the overall feel of his comments and put it down to bitterness, but I completely agree on the above, having re-read what he actually said. The classic circuits are still around for a reason, mainly that they still offer brilliant racing, the day these are all replaced with generic circuits in the middle of deserts or cities is the day the sport is completely dead, regardless of how much money they may have found in these new markets.

However, as others have said, in his role as FOTA chair his comments should equally be levelled at Valencia, and possibly a few of the other recent additions to the calendar as well, regardless of where his team finished at said events.

[Dutton]

I'd take Valencia over Catalunya any day of the week. I like having Catalunya on the calander because it gives us a great gauge of where the teams really are in relation to each other, but, given only one to be on the schedule, I would take Valencia everytime.

One thing with new venues is they need to be given some time. New is not necessarily always bad, although it can be, but it is not fair to judge a place on the basis of one running.

[strider]

There is one point that all you guys seem to have overlooked and that is that di Montezemelo didn't like the circuit before the race.

This article, written a week earlier, is mostly about renewing Kimi's contract, but please read the last two sentences.

[OVERSTEER]

He doesn't like it because they got themselves in a position where the FIA couldn't help them!!

[paddy]

This is sour grapes. If overtaking is an issue for him I take it he has been campaigning against Monaco for the last 40 years.
In fact there was some overtaking on Sunday, but everybody missed it laughing at Ferrari. I hate this kind of outburst when things go against a team that have had things go their way for a very long time. If you compare it with how MacLaren have taken things on the chin it shows a real lack of class.
I would love to see Alonso there as well and then the toy throwing would be of Olympic standard.

[Pingguest]

Originally Posted by Dutton

I'd take Valencia over Catalunya any day of the week. I like having Catalunya on the calander because it gives us a great gauge of where the teams really are in relation to each other, but, given only one to be on the schedule, I would take Valencia everytime.

One thing with new venues is they need to be given some time. New is not necessarily always bad, although it can be, but it is not fair to judge a place on the basis of one running.

I agree. I'd to see the Valencia to become the venue of the Spanish Grand Prix. Teams can't test on that track. A street circuit also provides more glitter and glamour and thereby fits Formula 1 better.

[johntt]

Originally Posted by Pingguest

I agree. I'd to see the Valencia to become the venue of the Spanish Grand Prix. Teams can't test on that track. A street circuit also provides more glitter and glamour and thereby fits Formula 1 better.

I would suggest Motorland Aragon for the Spanish GP, has a good degree of elevation change and a long, downhill backstraight.

http://www.motorlandaragon.com/pagEstatica.aspx?id=14
I would go for Variation C.

[f1manoz]

Sour grapes.

If there wasn't a safety car and Massa had cruised to victory, he wouldn't be saying a word.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by johntt

I would suggest Motorland Aragon for the Spanish GP, has a good degree of elevation change and a long, downhill backstraight.

http://www.motorlandaragon.com/pagEstatica.aspx?id=14
I would go for Variation C.

Bleedin hell, that's one hell of a circuit.

[Dutton]

Yeah, the least twisty option (which I assume is C?) looks good. If the undulations work in the right spots, well it could be outright impressive.

Of course, I imagine I would end up opposing F1 going there because it would entail the multilation of the place (or bankruptcy). Perhaps this isn't so, though?