Rogue Review, Europe 2007: It’s a game of three halves

Rain, a dry bit and then rain again. If rain could be put on order; that is the way you would get the rain to fall. And if you want German viewing figures to rise, you give the debut German in the underdog team the tip off that it’s all going down at the end of lap 1.

So far so good for the German viewing figures as Winkelhock took the lead on his first lap in a formula 1 race. After a quick tyre change and a massive downpour the rookie German got to grips with his 30 second lead over the Ferraris. But fate would not go his way as a 5 car group session in the kitty litter at the first corner saw the pace car come out and then an eventual red flag. The red flag it would almost seem would be there so the FIA could check the rule book to see if Hamilton was allowed to be lifted on a crane back on to the track. Now, as far as we recall that’s just fine so long as you don’t stall the engine. The crane, of course, is optional when attempting to get back on the track but 10 out of 10 for airborne style. Speaking of airborne, Liuzzi trying to take out the pace car and having to settle for Hamilton’s sky lift causes much laughter in the F1Rogues camp.

After the lap 1 and lap 2 antics which saw Button, Hamilton, Sutil, Speed, Kubica, Heidfeld, Wurz, Barrichello and Wurz involved in something – no Ralf?, the race resumed from lap 4 following a 15 minute break Indycar style. Winkelhock, starting from the lead, lost his lead rather quickly to the rest of the pack. Starting behind the pace car was never going to favor him. On full wets with a track that now had a dry line the pack quickly consumed him, chewed him and spat him back out. From then on the dry spell from both the heavens and the racing started. With a small exception of a near (note the near) collision between a hard charging Hamilton and a just-about-to-pit Coulthard or Heidfeld doing what the rain did not manage to do to Ralf – who likes to push marshals around by the way – not much happened in this part of the race.

Come the last 10 laps though and it all starts to get a little more exciting. The rain started again – just as ordered by the FIA official rain dancers. Whilst most drivers had learnt their lessons of driving too fast in the wet, the pack decided to crawl around hoping that either they would reach the full 60 laps or the race would be stopped before then. Alonso, however, had other ideas and managed to muscle his way past the flailing Boy Massa. This happened so fast that this was all done before the FIA could cry foul of a Ferrari being overtaken in the final throws of the race.

What's hot and what's not in the race

Brake? what brake? Dummy spitting First failure Boy wonder Stolen Liuzzi Schumacher Hamilton Winkelhock Alonso In the wet, use the gas pedal only Pushes like a girl... Take it back Ron, your new toy is broken Showing up the pros Candy from a baby

Posted by Jules at July 22, 2007, 10:20 pm - Comments (0)
Tagged as: winkelhock, hamilton, alonso, schumacher, europe, 2007, f1, formula1, formula one