Turkish GP – Sunday Update. Just a thought about today’s race which is worth baring in mind before anyone lumps on any big money. In this mornings GP2 race the safety car was deployed due to not one, but two dogs running on the track. Sadly one was hit, wrecking the car of Bruno Senna, who was absolutely livid but lucky to have escaped serious injury. Earlier this weekend there was a hare on the track and I recall Davidson being forced to retire in Canada last year (I think) after hitting a beaver. Do not be surprised if this race is affected by dogs! Incidentally, the track is owned by none other than Mr. Bernard Eccelstone and I wonder will he be fining himself for this unacceptable level of track management? One can only imagine what he would have said if this had happened at Silverstone. Qualifying was the customary blood bath and the mission now is just to limit the damage. I have to say that Ferrari got very lucky with the weather yesterday. The track temperatures soared and as a result they got enough heat into the tyres and found the missing grip. The fact that Hamilton choose not to use the softer tyre in Q3 is a mystery to all but Lewis himself, but it was a very poor call and highlights a lack of experience. He is not the same relaxed, error free driver that we saw last year. It looks like this race should be quite easy for Massa. The Ferrari is much better in races than in qualifying. It is very fast of the start line and I can see a pillar to post job today, but 1.50 makes no appeal, especially with the thought of some four legged jokers in the pack. The pole man has won all three GP’s in Turkey but interestingly it has been his team mate who has set fastest lap. I think there is a fair chance of that happening again. Raikkonen has two McLarens in front of him and to enhance his Championship chances he will ideally beat them both. If so he will have to give it some stick at some stage and as the Ferrari is the fastest car on the grid, he really should have a good chance of fastest lap. 2 points Raikkonen to set fastest lap @ 7/4 with Ladbrokes, Corals. won 3.5 points Skybet have introduced a new bet into their portfolio called ‘biggest improver’. This was originally dreamt up by Tony Ansell when compiled at Chandlers many moons ago and it is basically a market on which of the drivers lower down the grid can make up the most places. There is one driver who sticks out like a sore thumb, the favourite, Fisichella. He was punted out of the Australian race on lap one but he would have won this market for the last three races. The FIF1 is basically a decent rear midfield car capable of lapping fast enough to appear 14th – 15th in most free practice sessions.
However, it is a complete dog to qualify and always
under performs on Saturday. This leaves Fisichella
in a false position compared to his potential race
pace. Fisichella may not be officer material when it
comes to driving for race wins, but he is very good
in crap cars, always getting the very bet from them,
keeping out of trouble and bringing it home. He
starts from the very back of the grid, which of
course is pole position in this market and looks
good value to be the biggest improver. Piquet is a
another possible but he gets involved in too many
accidents and being stuck well down the field, you
have think that he might just push too hard yet
again. lost 3 points - well done Fisi, didn't even make the first corner. Twat. Fisichella also looks good value to beat the Torro Rosso of Bourdais. He is 3-1 up this season and the only loss was in the chaotic lottery that was Melbourne. The Torro Rosso is becoming more uncompetitive with every race as they are waiting for the new car and this one has no more developments. The FIF1 is a faster car in a race and was comfortably quicker in both Fridays practice sessions. 4 points Fisichella to beat Bourdais @ 2.20 with Corals. lost 4 points - Twat. For a bit of match bet long shot, Kubica looks interesting at 2/1 to beat Hamilton. He ended up a disappointing 5th on the grid after looking like pole was very possible in Q2. However the team have gone for a longer first stint and the extra weight did not work well with the softer tyre. The McLaren has gone better than expected so far, but there are rumours that they are having tyre problems and that was the reason why Hamilton did not use the softer compound in Q3. Their car is harsh on tyres compared to BMW and Ferrari and on a track like this with long, fast corners, it simply exacerbates the problem. Of course the drivers have to use both tyre compounds in the race and it looks likely that Hamilton will aim to run as short a stint as possible on the softer tyre at the end of the race when the rubbered in track should be kinder to the rubber. That should mean a long middle stint on a big fuel load which will be difficult for him to be quick in that session. The BMW is very much a match for McLaren on race pace and the heavier fuelled Kubica should be able to make up time on Hamilton at the first pit stops and run faster in the following stint. It could well be that this match could be decided at the final pit stop. Certainly it is a lot closer than the odds suggest. 3 points Kubica to beat Hamilton @ 5/2 with Corals. lost 3 points The Red Bull has looked good this weekend and even qualifying duffer Coulthard made it into the top 10. Webber is 6th on the grid and as such ‘on pole’ for the best of the rest market. His recent form figures of 7/7/5 from qualifying positions of 8/11/7 suggests that the car is now good in race conditions and not just flattered by his qualifying ability. Alonso is favourite in this market but his Renault has looked around 0.1 slower than the Red Bull and it will be a very close battle. Trulli has done well in this market, but the Red Bulls and Renaults have made more progress recently and the Italian will be busy dealing with Heidfeld and Coulthard. 2 points Webber to be best of the rest @ 4.33 with Ladbrokes. lost 2 points |
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