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Germany was another difficult race for the team, a heroic Vitaly would make it to the 10th place after several tenacious fights trying to stay ahead of Jenson Button and Michael Schumacher among others. Nick was tricked by Buemi‘s braking and had to leave the race. The Grand Prix made the tyres endure the coldest weather so far this year and this would definitely have consequences, sometimes unexpected, on the performance of the fastest cars. Hungary was a complete disaster, Nick‘s car catching fire in the pit stop, and Vitaly finishing out of the points.

The team is at a very critical point, all hopes seem to be pinned on the evolution intended for the Belgian GP at Spa, but one cannot help feeling that the enormous pressure is starting to have an effect on all the members of the outfit. I am just a simple fan, but I was somewhat surprised as I read the statements of Mr.Boullier on Nick Heidfeld. He is of course free to choose his style of management, but critizising your most experienced driver in public is something I find very unwise. As it happens, Eric is the boss, he is not convinced by Nick’s performance? Fine, he can replace him, but telling the press may not be the best way to manage the whole matter (“Praising in public, criticising in private” is one of the mantras of a “Management 101″ course). On the other hand, expecting Nick to bang his fist on the table is another thing I would never say aloud, we all know that great drivers like Michael Schumacher, Robert Kubica or Fernando Alonso have a strong personality and the ability to do so, and that is fine. However you cannot ask every racer to behave like that, moreover as far as you are the boss you are the one expected to put his foot down.

No laughing matter

I found deeply distressing and a cause for serious concern the way Nick‘s fire seemed to be shrugged off after the Hungarian GP, a Formula 1 car should not burst into flames, period. Not even after a crash, period. Formula 1 History had too many dramas associated to fire in the past, I could not help remembering Ronnie Peterson‘s crash at Monza in 1978 on his JPS Lotus 78. The car caught fire, and even if that was not the reason for Ronnie‘s death a few hours later as he was not burned, one could not avoid feeling shivers down the spine. This is something that should better not happen again as the FIA may get involved and that would mean a hard time for Lotus Renault GP.
The team needs all the support it can get, and that includes stopping the “No hope without Kubica” mantra, that my fellow supporters repeat time and again at the Lotus Renault GP Facebook Page. By the way, Alan Permane seems to think otherwise. One has to remember that Vitaly started Motor Sport at 16, and I think that bearing that in mind his results are just brilliant and whatever other people may think, Nick‘s contribution to the development of the R31 has proved invaluable. Greetings from this web to Vitaly’s Russian fans.

The victory of Lewis Hamilton at the Nürburgring has proved so awesome, that most of the Spanish media had to concede that he is a true genius. Long gone are the times when he was the scapegoat of all the frustration of the average Spanish fan. Cold weather caught the Red Bulls out, and Seb would score his worst result of the season with a fourth place.

In Hungary, luck would prove really cruel with Lewis Hamilton, his spin due to sudden rain at one spot of the circuit would eventually cost him victory. Was the drive-through too harsh a punishment? I do think so, but I acknowledge to be a simple fan and no pundit. Jenson‘s victory was well deserved, however his team mate will stay as the absolute star of the GP. What an awesome racer! Seb‘s second place keeps him with a firm hold on the Championship (he could stay home for 3 races and return as the leader…)

In my country sheer excitement spreads among Alonso‘s followers as he is the one to have scored more points in July… Too little, too late for Ferrari.