3530 replies to this topic

[_R_]

BMW Sauber looking at its options
BMW Sauber boss Mario Theissen has refused to comment on intensifying speculation that Fernando Alonso has signed a three-year contract to begin driving for the team in 2009.

Shortly after the chequered flag at Spa Francorchamps, it was reported that the Spaniard would replace Nick Heidfeld to race alongside his friend Robert Kubica from next year.

"I do not take part in speculation," Theissen told the German newspaper Bild.

"Our driver decision has been postponed. At the latest we will announce our drivers at the end of the season."

A BMW spokesman also would not comment.

The Spanish sports newspaper Marca believes BMW will confirm the Alonso news on the Monday after this weekend's Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

woah... 3 year deal?

[_R_]

Renault boss Flavio Briatore says an announcement about the French team's driver line-up for 2009 is not imminent.

Amid intense speculation about Fernando Alonso's plans for next year, and whether his 2008 team-mate Nelson Piquet has done enough to race beyond his rookie season, there were whispers at Spa last weekend that Briatore was planning a Monza announcement.

But he tells F1's official website: "Be assured that we will announce our 2009 drivers between the end of this season and the start of next."

Renault's driver line-up is one matter to resolve, but Briatore's own contract is also up for renewal.


"Will I be here next year? I don't know," the 58-year-old, a fierce critic of F1's spendthrift ways, continued.

"If if is possible to cut costs and get everything under control, then maybe I'll be excited to stay. But if it goes on like now, I might not (be) interested."

Flava-flave to leave maybe? he was one of the few personalities i liked in F1...

[_R_]

"I've got nothing to lose, so I'll give it all, going flat out."

gawd damn it...

[Robert]

gawd damn it...

Jihadi Raikkonen?

[Redliner]

gawd damn it...

?? Isn't this what most would want to hear from Kimi?

[DrDickAction]

woah... 3 year deal?

God fucking damnit.

[DrDickAction]

?? Isn't this what most would want to hear from Kimi?

implies a certain amount of recklessness...which is fine because his current level of enthusiasm has been less than impressive.

[_R_]

?? Isn't this what most would want to hear from Kimi?

yeah... cause that worked so well in Spa... it was all or nothing cause he was going to be giving up 2 points and didn't want to come in second... so what happened? he lost out on 8 points instead... AND if he had finished second and the ruling on Hamilton sticks, he lost out "winning" the race and getting 5 points closer to Hamilton (assuming with the 25 sec penalty he would've finished 4th).

[Redliner]

yeah... cause that worked so well in Spa... it was all or nothing cause he was going to be giving up 2 points and didn't want to come in second... so what happened? he lost out on 8 points instead... AND if he had finished second and the ruling on Hamilton sticks, he lost out "winning" the race and getting 5 points closer to Hamilton (assuming with the 25 sec penalty he would've finished 4th).

I don't disagree with what you say...but personally I'll take charged-Kimi over drunk-Kimi. It's nice to see Kimi back to his old ways and pushing balls to the wall. Because the last few races, I really questioned the level of his drives, being out qualified and out raced was disappointing to see. I like his persona and his style of "who cares I just want to race"...so it was sad when it became "who cares..." at least it seemed that way for the past few races before Spa.

[Nacho]

yeah... cause that worked so well in Spa... it was all or nothing cause he was going to be giving up 2 points and didn't want to come in second... so what happened? he lost out on 8 points instead... AND if he had finished second and the ruling on Hamilton sticks, he lost out "winning" the race and getting 5 points closer to Hamilton (assuming with the 25 sec penalty he would've finished 4th).

And we saw the best racing in years.

Why are people against race car drivers racing?

[kngrsll]

And we saw the best racing in years.

Why are people against race car drivers racing?

yep yep... racing for a championship almost always guts the racing... i wish they'd make victories more valuable again.

[DrDickAction]

yep yep... racing for a championship almost always guts the racing... i wish they'd make victories more valuable again.

risk vs. reward just ain't there

[_R_]

And we saw the best racing in years.

Why are people against race car drivers racing?

i never said anything about drivers racing, but throwing it all away if you can't win is just plain stupid...

[doublemeat]

'Kimi about Monza'
"I've got nothing to lose, so I'll give it all, going flat out."

gawd damn it...

Unfortunately, due to Kimi's famously incoherent mumbling, this quote by him was mistranslated.

The correct Kimi-to-English translation is:

I've got some Grey Goose, so I'll drink it all, with my balls out.

[vietlol]

Looks like we might be in for some rain at Monza

[Nacho]

i never said anything about drivers racing, but throwing it all away if you can't win is just plain stupid...

I doubt he hit the wall on purpose......

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

Massa's engine given all-clear

By Jonathan Noble Thursday, September 11th 2008, 10:20 GMT

The FIA has given the Ferrari engine of Felipe Massa the all-clear, following a routine inspection prior to the Italian Grand Prix.

A series of tests on all the manufacturers' engines begun to ensure that the power units being used are in conformity with those homologated with the governing body prior to the start of the season.

The Mercedes-Benz engine from Lewis Hamilton's car in Hockenheim was the first to be checked, with Massa's Ferrari power unit chosen for examination after Belgium.

FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer confirmed ahead of the Monza weekend that the engine complied with F1's technical regulations, and parts in it had no disparity from those already homologated.

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

fred agrees with penalty for hamilton.. anyone surprised?

Fernando Alonso believes the decision to strip Lewis Hamilton of his Belgian Grand Prix victory shows the FIA was right to overhaul the stewarding system for 2008.

In many expert observers' eyes, Hamilton's penalty for an apparently illegal pass near the end of the Spa Francorchamps race a week ago was evidence of either the FIA's incompetence or, worse, a pro-Ferrari bias.

But Hamilton's former McLaren team-mate Alonso believes that, for the first time, all infractions are now being dealt with consistently at races.

"The FIA decided to change (the system) after several big scandals of the past seasons," he told reporters in Madrid this week."

"This year, if you do something wrong, you pay. I touched a painted line in Valencia and I got a 10,000 Euros fine."

"The decision to change was done with very good judgement, because in the past four of five years, there were always surprises. You never knew what they were going to do," he said.

[_R_]

I doubt he hit the wall on purpose......

pushing too hard trying to win...
did you see the video of him and lewis battling it out? once lewis got past, he was breaking traction left and right in the wet trying to catch up.... he binned it yes, on purpose no, but for trying to hard...

[MrHahn]

Massa's engine given all-clear

By Jonathan Noble Thursday, September 11th 2008, 10:20 GMT

The FIA has given the Ferrari engine of Felipe Massa the all-clear, following a routine inspection prior to the Italian Grand Prix.

A series of tests on all the manufacturers' engines begun to ensure that the power units being used are in conformity with those homologated with the governing body prior to the start of the season.

The Mercedes-Benz engine from Lewis Hamilton's car in Hockenheim was the first to be checked, with Massa's Ferrari power unit chosen for examination after Belgium.

FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer confirmed ahead of the Monza weekend that the engine complied with F1's technical regulations, and parts in it had no disparity from those already homologated.

The whole of Britain just did one big collective sigh

[_R_]

Kimi Raikkonen does not seem keen to slot into a supporting role for team-mate Felipe Massa.

For some, the reigning world champion's Spa Francorchamps retirement finally sounded the death knell of his 2008 hopes.

According to paddock speculation, the Finn is closing on a new two-year deal to keep racing with the Italian marque also in 2010 and 2011, but he seems to rule out playing second fiddle for the final five races of this season.

[_R_]

Nick Heidfeld on Thursday was unreceptive to speculation that Fernando Alonso is set to slot into his BMW Sauber seat in 2009.

The German driver had a stronger weekend at Spa Francorchamps, but it nonetheless coincided with the latest suggestions that BMW motorsport boss Mario Theissen has closed a three-year deal with Alonso, the former double world champion.

"Several times this year it was said Alonso has signed: with Ferrari, with Renault, and now with BMW," 31-year-old Heidfeld is quoted as saying at Monza by SID news agency.


"I can only do my best, and then we will see."

[kngrsll]

that would explain Alonso's 3 year deal to BMW

[F1]

Q. Would rain help you (at Monza)?

Felipe Massa: We have seen many times this year that in the rain we lost a little bit of performance, so maybe it would be nice not to have the rain here and not have any opportunity to have a consistent race.

[DrDickAction]

that would explain Alonso's 3 year deal to BMW

@ kimi in red

@ emonso bumping nick

I don't even hate alonso that much, just can't stand to see him kick Nick to the curb.