682 replies to this topic

[Redliner]

F1 2010 Gala

I wish the actual racing was as good as they made it out to be... Maybe I'll just watch theses instead of the season from now on :-/

[Nacho]

@ Hamilton in Canada after qualifying with the "Come on, Push Push" radio transmission.

[Nacho]

Speed Performance Awards are up, and available for voting.

http://www.speedperformanceawards.com


I voted for pretty much not-nascar for every category.

[Nacho]

"If Lewis wins a race he has to go and speak to Vodafone. If I won a race I'd chase the girls "
-Sir Stirling Moss reveals why racing was much more fun back in his day

[Nacho]

The economics of F1 for 2010. RBR got the most exposure, Vodafone got the best bang for their buck, and Ferrari spends 40% more than anyone else, and Alonso is the worst in value (from a $/point perspective).

http://en.espnf1.com...tory/36348.html

[DrDickAction]

Speed Performance Awards are up, and available for voting.

http://www.speedperformanceawards.com


I voted for pretty much not-nascar for every category.

Tempted to vote for Koby, but had to vote for Spies as ROY.

[SeaMack99]

F1 2010 Gala

I wish the actual racing was as good as they made it out to be... Maybe I'll just watch theses instead of the season from now on :-/

lol@pharell

[Nacho]

HRT bosses totally insane.

Looking back at the last season, Kolles insisted that the 2010 car was not as bad as it appeared. Despite no major aerodynamic developments over the course of the year, Kolles said HRT missed out on the coveted 10th place in the constructors' championship due to the inexperience of its drivers - who he swapped in and out of the team at late notice depending on how much sponsorship money they could bring.

"It was a difficult year but we were the most reliable new team," he said. "I think the only reason why we did not finish 10th is that teams like Lotus and Virgin had more experienced drivers during the whole season. I think that in testing we showed quite a good performance in relation to the other new teams.

http://en.espnf1.com...tory/36516.html

Really? The drivers were going to make up 2+ seconds a lap?

[Nacho]

Aw, Fil....

Life isn't that good for Felipe Massa just now. Andrew Davies lends his support to the embattled Ferrari driver.

As if he hadn't got the message already Ferrari boss Luca ("di") Montezemolo was back in the press this week telling Reuters what a bad 19 races Felipe had had.

"At a certain point in the season Felipe was fed up and sent his brother," said Montezemolo. "For this Felipe gets 7 minus. For Alonso, in his first season in Ferrari, I give him 9 and a half. But unfortunately even he didn't win."

It's not the first time Felipe's had to swallow hard recently. Last week the FIA made it quite clear that they weren't going to stand in the way of carefully contrived team orders. This means that Ferrari can be even more explicit about Fernando Alonso's No.1 status in the team.

With Banco Santander banco-rolling the team along with Marlboro, they're not going to be as diplomatic about seeing fair play as Dieter Mateschitz, even though the Austrian preferred Sebastian Vettel to win.

(Vettel picked up his trophy for FIA World Champion at the weekend and also bagged a trophy for international sloppy dresser of the year for attending the ceremony dressed like he was going to a Blues Brothers party in a pub).

On top of the FIA helping seal his role as Fernando's race assistant, Felipe had the opportunity to read Nelson Piquet's detailed account of his deliberate crash in Singapore. Piquet outlined the meticulous arrangements that Pat Symmonds and Flavio Briatore put in place to guarantee a Fernando Alonso victory.

Before this detailed confession Felipe always suspected the plan - which forced him into a disastrous pitstop that effectively cost him a World Championship - must have been known by Fernando Alonso. A two-times World Champion would have queried why he was being pitted early, seemingly for very little reason.

The precision with which Piquet related his tale only served to raise more questions about Fernando's involvement. This is still a story waiting to be told and all Felipe can do is sit on his hands. He can't even comment about it without it looking like sour grapes.

If all that wasn't bad enough - the criticism from Montezemolo about his season, the team orders rule being scrapped, the flare up of the Piquet wound - he's had to put up with Alonso saying that he gets a lot of satisfaction about the margin he beat Felipe by.

Now the obvious answer to that is that it should have been 14 points less at the very least after the result at Hockenheim was switched in Alonso's favour. It might have been even less if Alonso hadn't given his team-mate a puncture at Silverstone or almost taken them both out in the pitlane of the Chinese GP.

Fernando crowing about his margin of victory over Massa was one of the worst moments of the season and gave you a small glimpse into the Alonso mindset. All we can say is Forza Felipe Baby, 2011 just has to be better. The Christmas present's in the post. (Maybe the Christmas present is KERS favouring smaller drivers...)

http://planetf1.com/...hristmas-Felipe

[_R_]

Lotus Renault GP managing director Eric Boullier has hit out at Lotus Racing team principal Tony Fernandes for trying to perpetrate the 'fake' notion that the F1 2010 newcomer has anything to do with the iconic Team Lotus
Eric Boullier has accused his fellow F1 team principal Tony Fernandes of being 'wrong' in his efforts to perpetrate what he calls a 'fake' notion that Lotus Racing is an extension of the iconic Team Lotus that once dominated the sport and conquered the hearts of millions of fans all around the globe.

The ongoing standoff between F1 2010 newcomer Lotus Racing and the team that will soon be rebranded Lotus Renault GP after Proton – the owners of Group Lotus – purchased the remaining 25 per cent of the Renault F1 outfit, remains as unresolved as it has ever been.

The latter's managing director has spoken to Italian website 422race.com to give his take on the embarrassing dispute, and to express his disdain at Fernandes' resilient determination to use the iconic 'Team Lotus' moniker next year, leading to the potentially confusing scenario of two Lotus entries on the F1 2011 starting grid. Boullier insists he is not overly concerned.

“It's difficult to give an opinion on this,” the Frenchman stressed. “There are many people involved in this quarrel. The only thing I know is that Proton decided to invest and to be a sponsor of our team. This makes us the official representative of Lotus. You can try to be called Team Lotus, but at the end there is only one team with the support of Proton and which is therefore representative of Lotus Cars.

“If I can find somebody in England whose name is maybe Richard Ferrari, I can buy the right to use his name – that is how stupid the situation is. It's very bad for the fans, because [Fernandes' Lotus] is fake. Telling the fans about the Lotus heritage and so on is wrong. If you're called Lotus and you're manufacturing cars, then this is the only official name. That's it.”

Assuring that 'nothing will change' either in the management structure or on the commercial side following Proton's arrival since 'Genii [Capital] controls the team', Boullier added that the official renaming will happen in due course before the beginning of the 2011 world championship campaign. He also acknowledged that the Enstone-based operation can gain from the experience and expertise of people like Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar and sporting director Claudio Berro.

“Sure, we'll benefit as a partner,” he mused. “We actually plan to meet and discuss with them (Group Lotus), but they are currently working with a car manufacturer and they're not in F1. Of course I will be working with them for their experience, but the daily business is run by Genii, not by Lotus Cars. Lotus is just a sponsor and, as the title sponsor, they have the right to be in the team name, as the regulations state – but there will be no commercial change.”

On the topic of the team's second driver for next season, finally, Boullier revealed that there is 'no deadline' and that he is 'not in a hurry' – and insisted he would not be influenced by Bahar's stated desire for Russian rookie Vitaly Petrov to be kept on-board into a second consecutive campaign.

“Again, they are sponsors, they are partners,” he underlined. “They are not deciding who they want. We will keep the driver we believe can bring a full package and a good balance between sporting results and business. It's good if we can match the wish of Dany Bahar, but the decision will be of the team.”

fuck renault...

[MrBucket]

fuck renault...

seriously, its like he knows nothing of what team lotus was

[Redliner]

seriously, its like he knows nothing of what team lotus was

Someone write to him and call him an asshat! I hope Lotus Renault gets assbeat by Team Lotus C'mon Heikki! Use some of the perkele of yours!

[Nacho]

jalopnik has a guide on some of the new F1 rules

http://jalopnik.com/...cal-regulations

I didn't know that the Shark Fins were to be banned.

[Redliner]

jalopnik has a guide on some of the new F1 rules

http://jalopnik.com/...cal-regulations

I didn't know that the Shark Fins were to be banned.

It isn't. It just isn't allowed to be connected anymore to the rear wing, to ensure that there isn't an F-duct device in use...so there still might a fin, just smaller than what we've seen this past year. I think the MB blade rollover hoop is pretty cool. Why the ban?

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

It isn't. It just isn't allowed to be connected anymore to the rear wing, to ensure that there isn't an F-duct device in use...so there still might a fin, just smaller than what we've seen this past year. I think the MB blade rollover hoop is pretty cool. Why the ban?

Blade more likely to dig into the ground in the event of a rollover, effectively lowering the head protection structure?

[chiuey]

As long as the fins are gone...

[_R_]

It isn't. It just isn't allowed to be connected anymore to the rear wing, to ensure that there isn't an F-duct device in use...so there still might a fin, just smaller than what we've seen this past year. I think the MB blade rollover hoop is pretty cool. Why the ban?

couple ways a round all of that...
use the MB f-duct that didn't need a direct line, change the inlets to comply with roll bar requirements, and build the f-duct in a way that it'll automatically open only in straight line once a minimum airspeed is reached and when that air speed drops, it'll close for the twisty bits (think of a hinge that opens with enough pressure) to get around the driver aero ban...

[Nacho]

couple ways a round all of that...
use the MB f-duct that didn't need a direct line, change the inlets to comply with roll bar requirements, and build the f-duct in a way that it'll automatically open only in straight line once a minimum airspeed is reached and when that air speed drops, it'll close for the twisty bits (think of a hinge that opens with enough pressure) to get around the driver aero ban...

Would the hinged bit not count as a moveable aerodynamic device?

[_R_]

Would the hinged bit not count as a moveable aerodynamic device?

move it far back enough in the duct where it's only efficient in the straights and worthless in the corners without having to make it move?

[Nacho]

As per Jalopnik, as a follow up to their F1 rules guide, post what didn't make it through for this year.

●Ferrari to agree in advance which rules they're going to ignore.
●Michael Schumacher allowed to pretend he wasn't in 2010 season.
●All teams to use 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder engine from Fiesta RS Turbo.
●Ferrari allowed to ignore agreement about which rules they're ignoring.
●Karun Chandhok to be re-classified as a ‘removable device'.
●All teams allowed to buy sixth engine from scrapyard.
●Stefano Domenicali limited to 50 appearances on BBC F1 coverage per season.
●Nankang to become second tyre supplier from 2012.
●All teams permitted to fit new air filter to Fiesta RS Turbo engine and then claim ‘XTRA 50BHP!!!!!!!!!'
●Kamui Kobayashi limited to four ambitious overtaking moves per season.
●Korean Grand Prix to become 35 percent less muddy by 2014.
●Eddie Jordan limited to 900 tons of bullshit per season.
●Bernd Maylander in a Mercedes SLS to be recognised as an official world championship entry.
●A minimum of five teams called Lotus by 2013.

http://jalopnik.com/...f1-rule-changes

[Nacho]

I wonder when Ferrari is going to come off this 3-car shit.

Luca di Montezemolo is determined to see three-car teams replace the struggling backmarkers in Formula One and has said that successful American outfits Penske and Ganassi would be prime candidates to run a third Ferrari.

The Ferrari president has been keen on running a third car for a couple of years, but his arguments have so far fallen on deaf ears at the FIA....

http://en.espnf1.com...tory/36579.html

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

I wonder when Ferrari is going to come off this 3-car shit.



http://en.espnf1.com...tory/36579.html

If customer teams were allowed in F1 then I'd bet all the top teams would want to run a satellite team just to get more data w/ the testing ban in effect.

In the end I don't think it is good for the sport for teams to be on a grid that aren't a constructor. I think its OK to buy an engine or transmission, but the chassis should be designed in-house, otherwise the team should be ineligible for the WCC.

[Nacho]

All it will do is make it harder for teams like Force India, Williams, Renault, etc. to make headway into the top ranks.

Then again, Ferrari spends 40% more than anyone else on the grid, so why wouldn't they want to crowd out others?

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

Montezemolo: Ecclestone presence vital

By Mark Glendenning and Jonathan Noble
Friday, December 17th 2010, 15:42 GMT

Bernie Ecclestone's continued control over Formula 1 is vital if the sport is to secure its long-term future, believes Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo.

Ahead of what is expected to be some tough discussions over the next two years to frame a new Concorde Agreement from the start of 2013, there has been renewed talk about teams considering a breakaway if they cannot get the extra finances they want to earn from commercial rights holder.

Di Montezemolo says that the future path for the teams is far from certain yet but there is one thing he is adamant about - that Ecclestone must say at the helm.

"We have Formula 1 in the heart and the mind, but we don't want to be in the prison of Formula 1," said the Italian. "At the end of 2012 our contracts - all the teams – will expire with [F1 shareholders] CVC, and we will think about what to do.

"For me, and I want to make this very clear, the presence and the rule of Bernie is a priority. Formula 1 cannot be run by the stock exchange or good – or not-so-good – financial people.

"We need people with experience, credibility, personality to talk together about the future of Formula 1, and to be more than sure that Bernie, who is the king of the world – more than the world, he is king of the galaxy – [is there] not only to protect his own business, but we have to be fair and say that he is always in favour of protecting Formula 1.

"Now it is not a question of protection, it is a question of sitting, sharing some priorities and looking ahead. So we will see."

Di Montezemolo said that there were three options for the teams in the longer term - agreeing a deal with CVC; finding an alternative commercial partner; or the team looking after the commercial aspects themselves.

"We can continue with CVC," he said. "We can find, theoretically, a different promoter. Of course, the name Formula 1 is very important, but I don't think it needs this name to exist. There are theoretically – and I emphasis theoretically – options to do our own company, like the very successful business model that is the NBA in the United States.

"At the end of the day, this business is not so sophisticated. You have to do deals with TV, with the tracks, and you have to be prepared to look at new technologies, because if you look at the next 10 years of Formula 1, the internet and things like that will be very important.

"So we need people also able to look ahead. If we continue with CVC, of course there will be financial reasons, financial discussions, but also the rule and presence of Bernie.

"Theoretically speaking, we can have one of three alternatives. One is that we renew with CVC. For how many years, we have to discuss. But I am in favour of many years because I don't want to be back every three or four years. So assume five-to-eight years. Second, we want to ensure that Bernie will remain in a strong position. How long? I hope for a long time. It is not a new choice; it is to continue as it is.

"The next option, theoretically, is that we can find a different company [promoter] and start discussions. Third, theoretically, we can establish our own company. At this point of time we would theoretically offer to Bernie to be chairman. More than honorary chairman – a chairman.

"And put a very strong marketing-oriented mind, nothing to do with the teams, to manage it, as they did in the NBA. Only in the first case would we insist on Bernie, because I don't want to discuss with people that I respect but who don't know anything about Formula 1."

Despite adamant that Ecclestone must say in control, di Montezemolo has conceded that a succession plan has to be put in place.

"How long [can Bernie stay in charge]?" he asked. "This is why one day I would like to discuss with Bernie, even if it is very difficult, to try, assuming that we follow the first choice, and assuming that we decide on a long-term deal, I want to be sure that Bernie is there with full power and that we can push him to find a good successor.

"That is out of his mentality. It is the same approach of a guy who is 81-years-old and has no driver or bodyguard."

WHAT? Surely there is someone out there who can run things better than Berns. Hell, I'd take the Flav over Berns. At this rate we're going it'll be the Formula 1 Middle East/Asia Championship soon.

[Nacho]

Holy fuck, can Ferrari lick Bernie's nuts any harder?