1302 replies to this topic

[mads]

[vietlol]

http://www.fia.com/e...entry_list.aspx

Some things to note: 13th spot not sorted yet.

I thought Alguersuari was confirmed?

Alonso gets #8 even though he scored more points than Massa in 09, I guess its down to team seniority.

[DrDickAction]

http://www.fia.com/e...entry_list.aspx

Some things to note: 13th spot not sorted yet.

I thought Alguersuari was confirmed?

Alonso gets #8 even though he scored more points than Massa in 09, I guess its down to team seniority.

Not to mention Macca has the #1 car again, 3/4 years now.

Pretty considering they have 1 championship in that time.

[MrHahn]

Not to mention Macca has the #1 car again, 3/4 years now.

Pretty considering they have 1 championship in that time.

They also have to put up with Hamilton in their team - fair deal I'd say

[vietlol]

Not to mention Macca has the #1 car again, 3/4 years now.

Pretty considering they have 1 championship in that time.

Mclaren - #1

Spoiler

at attracting current world champions

Spoiler

for 1 year

[vietlol]

Young driver test started but no times so far. Apparently an STR spun and then an RBR that was close behind spun to avoid the first spin and there was a red flag.


and some guy named after a bread is whooping everyone in the Renault

[vietlol]

Slight Renot reshuffle in regards to management positions, does this mean they are staying for sure now?

[_R_]

Busy news day...

Rumors

Speculation that 2007 F1 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen will be competing in the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2010 is 'more than a rumour', Citroën Total World Rally Team chief Olivier Quesnel has confessed – as sources hint that a deal has now already been done.

Ever since it was officially confirmed that he was being shown the door by Ferrari in favour of Fernando Alonso – and the possibility of a return to former employers McLaren-Mercedes foundered due to a failure to agree financial terms – it has been widely expected that Raikkonen will be going rallying next year, either as an F1 sabbatical or else as a full-time career switch.

Whilst the Finn's name has also been linked to the second seat at Mercedes Grand Prix alongside ex-Williams ace Nico Rosberg in 2010, he himself has denied any such talk – as many now anticipate a move to Citroën as part of the multiple title-winning French manufacturer's junior team. Quesnel has done little to dampen those suggestions.

“It is not signed and I have never even spoken with Raikkonen on the telephone,” the Frenchman told Radio-France, “but it is more than a rumour; it is a real possibility.”

He went on to describe Raikkonen's WRC debut in an S2000-spec FIAT Abarth Grande Punto on his home event, Rally Finland during the mid-summer F1 break, as 'amazing' – and he waxed lyrical about the 30-year-old's talent behind the wheel, describing him as an 'incredible driver' who 'did not become [F1] world champion by accident'.

Quesnel also confirmed that should Raikkonen indeed join Citroën's WRC attack in 2010, it would be as a member of the marque's 'junior team' rather than alongside reigning six-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb in the factory effort – but he would still have the same full-spec C4 at his disposal.

What's more, Finnish broadcaster MTV3 reports that the 18-time grand prix-winner has already come to a deal with Citroën – but his spokesman Riku Kuvaja insisted that 'no decisions one way or another' have been taken and that 'all options remain on the table'.

Earlier this week, Ford WRC star Mikko Hirvonen warned Raikkonen against making the move on a short-term basis, reasoning that 'preparing to drive with pace notes is a difficult case for him and almost all the rallies will be unknown to Kimi in advance' and contending that 'it's difficult to imagine that he could succeed, at least in his first season'

Whilst remaining generally tight-lipped on what is undoubtedly the hot topic of the moment in F1, record-breaking multiple world champion Michael Schumacher – comfortably the most successful driver in the sport's 60-year history – has admitted that 'anything can happen' when pressed about a possible return to competition in 2010.

All sorts of wild speculation has been flying around in recent weeks, from rumours that Mercedes Grand Prix – formerly F1 2009 World Champion Brawn GP – want to poach Schumacher away from Ferrari to join ex-Williams ace Nico Rosberg in an all-German 'super team' next year, to suggestions that the three-pointed star is so desperate to sign the 91-time grand prix-winner that it has told him he 'can have any job in the team' he desires [see separate story – click here].

Moreover, the Kerpen native does not deny that his frustrated near-comeback in-place of injured former Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa at the Scuderia earlier this year has re-whetted his appetite for the fight – and after competing in Massa's annual charity karting challenge at Florianópolis in Brazil at the weekend, Schumacher confirmed that his motorcycling accident-induced neck injury is no longer a barrier to a comeback, as it was during the summer.

When asked by local journalists whether he is genuinely contemplating a return to the grand prix grid at the age of 41 in 2010, Schumacher enigmatically told Brazilian website Terra: “At the moment I am just concentrated on kart racing, but who knows? Anything can happen.”

[_R_]

Interesting

Fernando Alonso has been instantly accepted by his new Ferrari colleagues, it appears – with one quipping that 'in two days he has seen more of the Maranello factory than others in two years', believed to be a thinly-veiled reference to his predecessor Kimi Raikkonen – but he acknowledges that he still has to 'earn their trust'.

Alonso was speaking following his second trip to the legendary Italian marque's Modena headquarters since agreeing terms to join the squad from 2010 onwards, during which he met with the workforce and enthusiastically drove a brace of Ferrari road cars – the 458 Italy and 599 – around the Fiorano test track.

“I have to earn the trust and gain the confidence of the team and begin a good relationship with the engineers and mechanics,” the 28-year-old is quoted as having said by Spanish sports newspaper Marca. “That is what I am trying to do in these months, in order to arrive at the first race with a good understanding with the team so that we all feel comfortable together.”

Alonso added that he has not taken with him to the Scuderia any of the engineers he worked with during his seven-year F1 stint at Renault, admitting that whilst 'I get along very well with many of them and they are very good...I assume that the ones with Ferrari are the best in the world'.

It seems the Oviedo native certainly made a strong first impression on his new team, speaking in fluent Italian and causing one engineer to make the aforementioned quip, alluding to the fact that 2007 F1 World Champion Raikkonen scarcely bothered to visit Maranello at all during his time spent at Ferrari.

What's more, new team-mate Felipe Massa opined that he and Alonso can combine to be a force to be reckoned with in 2010 indeed, and dismissed notions that he will be cast into a supporting role by the arrival of the double F1 World Champion – the driver who many hold to be the best in the world.

“Alonso is a great driver – everyone knows that – and I think we will have a good relationship off the track,” underlined Massa. “I think we can form the strongest partnership in the championship. I think his arrival will change nothing in my career or within Ferrari; we are two great drivers, and his recruitment is good for the team.”

[_R_]

Laughable

Piquet: It would be marvellous for Brazil if I rejoined F1
As he endeavours to find his way back onto the grand prix grid in 2010, shamed 'Singapore-gate' protagonist Nelsinho Piquet sets his sights on the seat alongside compatriot Bruno Senna at Campos Meta 1...
'Singapore-gate' race-fixing protagonist Nelsinho Piquet has admitted that he would be 'delighted' to return to F1 competition in 2010 with Campos Meta 1 and argues it would be 'marvellous' for his country were he to do so – but he fears the new Spanish outfit is seeking a homegrown star.

One of four – possibly yet five – newcomers in next season's field, Campos already has one driver signed up for the campaign in the shape of former GP2 Series runner-up Bruno Senna, nephew of legendary three-time F1 World Champion Ayrton Senna.

The sport's highly influential commercial rights-holder Bernie Ecclestone has made little secret of his desire to see the names Senna and Piquet competing against each other once again – as was the case 20 years ago, during Brazil's heyday in the top flight. Piquet's name has been mentioned in connection with the second Campos berth, but the 24-year-old fears the odds are stacked against him.

“I would be absolutely delighted,” he told French magazine Auto Hebdo of the possibility of teaming up with his countryman in 2010. “It would be marvellous for the Brazilian public. Everything now depends upon the team, but they seem to be looking for a Spanish driver.”

Piquet left the grand prix paddock with his tail between his legs after blowing the whistle on the biggest scandal to shake F1 in recent memory, in the wake of his brusque dismissal by Renault back in the summer. Respected BBC F1 commentator Martin Brundle subsequently opined that he had made himself 'unemployable' through his actions.

[_R_]

Jealously

MotoGP title winner Valentino Rossi enjoyed a successful outing on the annual Rally de Monza after the Yamaha rider ended the end of season event in second place.

Driving a Ford Focus WRC, the Yamaha rider won four of the nine stages which made up the event to finish 17.8 seconds behind sportscar ace Dindo Capello, who took victory at the wheel of a Citroen C4 WRC.

Rossi's performance was made all the more impressive by the fact that he beat former World Rally Champion Marcus Gronholm in the event, with the Finn taking fourth place in his Subaru Impreza.

Loris Capirossi was 15th, while 2010 MotoGP rookie Marco Simoncelli joined Rossi in the top ten with a seventh place finish.

Rossi also impressed in the Master's Show knock-out event, posting the quickest time of all while beating Simoncelli in his quarter-final before losing at the semi-final stage to eventual winner Capello.

“I finished the rally by winning the last super special test in the rain and I am satisfied to have taken the fastest time in the Master's event,” Rossi told the official MotoGP website. “I was hoping to take revenge on Capello but I was not able to do so.

“In recent years, the level of the Rally de Monza has risen a lot and in order to win, it is not enough to just be fast – you also need to make few mistakes. In any case, the last 20 days have been very entertaining for me, with the Motocross in Cavellara, then with a GT car at Vallelunga and now with the rally.”

Rossi will now head for the Bettega Memorial event at the Bologna Motorshow next weekend.

[Redliner]

There you have it - if you're fast, you're fast. Rain, shine, dirt, snow, 2 wheels, 4 wheels. Surprised to see Dindo Capello in the rally and winning it too considering his background are sports cars.

[kngrsll]

i want to rally

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

we need to start pooling together money to run in lemons...

[DrDickAction]

we need to start pooling together money to run in lemons...

THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS.

[kngrsll]

[vietlol]

Toyota not about to sell entry
Thursday, 03 December 2009 13:06


The mothballed Toyota Formula One project has "relinquished" it's entry for the 2010 season, according to media reports today, leaving the path free for the Sauber team to slot in to the 13th spot on next season's bumper entry list.


They're going. And they mean it.
According to a report from Autosport, the Toyota F1 team has "no intention" of trying to sell their F1 entry for next season, though discussions over its 2010 car design remain ongoing.

The report quashed recent rumours that the mysterious Stefan GP team were angling for a deal that would see them take over Toyota's grid spot, in a move that was reported to be in the offing in order to prevent Toyota from receiving a massive fine from the governing body.

The move to end speculation as to whether Toyota's entry could be sold means that Sauber are virtually certain to be offered the final grid slot for next season, with Peter Sauber set to take back control of his team from BMW as soon as their entry is confirmed.

A source within Toyota was quoted as saying that: "We have returned our entry to the FIA and have no intention or wish to influence or interfere in the allocation process. That is a matter for the Federation.

"We are discussing a settlement with Bernie on the basis of goodwill and what is acceptable to all parties."

The FIA will not fully confirm the 2010 entry list until it is satisfied with the legal position of Toyota over their sudden withdrawal. The team signed the new Concorde Agreement which effectively bound them to F1 until 2012.

The provisional entry list published earlier this week featured only 12 teams.

The Toyota source also confirmed that discussions were ongoing to sell off resources from the F1 project, including the 2010 car design, pit lane equipment and even potentially an engine supply. Though they confirmed interest from Stefan GP as to purchasing the design of the car, the source also said that it was unclear as to whether the Serbian team would make the 2010 grid.

However they did reveal that Toyota driver Kamui Kobayashi could well head to the team as part of the deal for the designs. The Toyota company has insisted that it will fight to get the Japanese driver onto the grid for 2010, despite not having a team of their own any more.

"We have offered the IP of our 2010 car for a nominal fee to some of the new entrants but none have accepted," the source was quoted as saying, "We have interest from Stefan GP but it is not clear if they will receive an entry or not.

"We have asked if Kobayashi could be part of the package."

[DrDickAction]

I love how Toyota's last act in F1 is more or less telling Bernie to go fuck himself:

Although there has been talk that Toyota could face a major fine for pulling out of F1, having signed the Concorde Agreement that in theory committed it until 2012, it is not clear how such a penalty could be enforced since the team would no longer be a competitor.

http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/80420

[_R_]

Sauber has been granted the final slot on the Formula 1 grid, the FIA has announced, bringing to an end months of uncertainty about the future of the team.

The Swiss-based outfit had been hanging in limbo since the summer following BMW's decision to pull out of F1.

An original deal with Qadbak proved troublesome, especially because it came too late for the team to be guaranteed a place on the original 2010 grid - with the 13th slot having been handed to Lotus.

However, the post-season decision by Toyota to quit F1 handed Sauber a fresh chance to get back on the grid - and its hopes were further boosted when Peter Sauber took over the outfit following the eventual collapse of the deal with Qadbak.

With Toyota having relinquished its entry, the FIA confirmed on Thursday that Sauber's application to join the championship had been successful - meaning the team will be racing in F1 next year.

"This is excellent news for the workforce in Hinwil," said Sauber. "After many weeks of uncertainty, we have finally secured our place on the grid for 2010. Now we can enter into concrete negotiations with drivers and sponsors."

A statement issued by the FIA said: "The FIA has written to inform BMW Sauber AG that their application for an entry in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship has been successful."

"Subject to their signing the Concorde Agreement, BMW Sauber will be awarded the 13th entry in the Championship, taking the place of the departing Toyota team.

"The FIA has worked closely with the Commercial Rights Holder and the teams involved over recent weeks and is grateful for their support in achieving the best outcome for the sport."

well that solves that...

Kimi to Citroen Red Bull Jr. team to be announced today is the rumor...

[DrDickAction]

Looks like Nick is 100% going to have a seat.

[DrDickAction]

In sadder news, Felipe's baby has apparently died (or at least had a seizure):

[Redliner]

In sadder news, Felipe's baby has apparently died (or at least had a seizure):

That's wrong man... Could the photog have taken a crappier picture? Massa should hire me to do his family portrait...

[kngrsll]

In sadder news, Felipe's baby has apparently died (or at least had a seizure):

jesus what an ugly picture

i present you with, dead baby

[DrDickAction]

jesus what an ugly picture

i present you with, dead baby

It's like the baby got hit in the head with a spring or something.

[kngrsll]

It's like the baby got hit in the head with a spring or something.