2253 replies to this topic

[kngrsll]

the car blows... Kimi did score Ferrari's first and only points so far this season

speaking of the devil... he does not look happy with the kimster

http://www.autosport...o.php/id/127064

PS. anyone know how to post autosport photos?

[kngrsll]

oh, and the red jacket: http://www.autosport...o.php/id/127092

[Robert]

speaking of the devil... he does not look happy with the kimster

http://www.autosport...o.php/id/127064

Kimi: "Maybeyoulet me worryaboutthe Vodka andI'lllet youworryabout pullingFerrari'sheadoutof it's ass."

[DrDickAction]

[MrHahn]

Now for serious stuff

McLaren handed suspended ban

By Jonathan Noble Wednesday, April 29th 2009, 10:59 GMT

McLaren has been given a suspended three-race ban for bringing the sport into disrepute after lying to stewards at the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix.

Following a hearing of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris on Wednesday, the governing body announced that since McLaren had admitted to the offences and made clear that there had been a change of 'culture' at the team, it has suspended the sentence that it deemed appropriate.

A statement issued by the FIA said: "Having regard to the open and honest way in which McLaren Team Principal, Mr Martin Whitmarsh, addressed the WMSC and the change in culture which he made clear has taken place in his organisation, the WMSC decided to suspend the application of the penalty it deems appropriate.

"That penalty is a suspension of the team from three races of the FIA Formula One World Championship. This will only be applied if further facts emerge regarding the case or if, in the next 12 months, there is a further breach by the team of article 151c of the International Sporting Code."

McLaren had been called before the WMSC to answer charges relating to former sporting director Dave Ryan and Lewis Hamilton lying to stewards about whether an order had been given to let Jarno Trulli overtake the world champion at the Australian Grand Prix.

The team was only found to have lied when radio transmissions, and copies of interviews Hamilton had given to the press immediately after the hearing came to light.

In the wake of the events, McLaren sacked Ryan and team principal Whitmarsh wrote a letter of apology to the governing body. Furthermore, former team boss Ron Dennis announced that he was stepping away totally from the F1 team in a move not unconnected to the matter - despite claims from Dennis otherwise.

Whitmarsh chose to appear at the FIA hearing in Paris alone, staying for less than an hour to apologise for all that had happened.

Speaking to reporters on the steps of the FIA building, Whitmarsh said: "We've made mistakes, we've apologised to the FIA and the public. We await the decision."

When asked if he hoped today's events would mark the end of the affair, he said: "I very much hope so."

[More&Faster]

wait, am i reading this right? mclaren is getting off without punishment?

this is absolutely outrageous

[MrHahn]

wait, am i reading this right? mclaren is getting off without punishment?

this is absolutely outrageous

I can't say I didn't see it coming with all the ass-licking Martin Whitmarsh has been up to

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

I can't say I didn't see it coming with all the ass-licking Martin Whitmarsh has been up to

ron integrity dennis approves

[More&Faster]

i figured this might happen too but it still makes me furious. i just think back to when honda was suspended for two races over some silly fuel tank issue that probably several other teams were running as well. what mclaren did was 10 times worse and they get nothing.

[More&Faster]

and the attitude mclaren have learned their lesson and there's no point to punishing them is absurd as well. they have a culture of cheating in that team.

repeat offenders don't typically get "second chances" in any other legal system.

[mads]

Bullshit

[_R_]

lame... but whatever...
FIA is always hit or miss, so inconsistent...

[DrDickAction]

Mosley just doesn't want Ron Dennis to release the video of him actually murdering all of those prostitutes.

[tefnut]

what the fuck

yeah that'll send the right message to the other teams

[vietlol]

cripes, good job fia

[Skyliner]

I don't McLaren needed more punishment.

[chiuey]

Mosley just doesn't want Ron Dennis to release the video of him actually murdering all of those prostitutes.

I don't McLaren needed more punishment.

I kinda agree with you on this. They already got their points stripped from that incident.

It's not like the FIA/WMC needs to make an example of anyone, they're so inconsistent that as a governing body, NO ONE (should) respects them.

[MrHahn]

...and back to trivial news on the subject that you all know - Bernie being a stupid wanker.

Ecclestone wants Jewish black female driver


April 30, 2009 - 7:55AM

Bernie Ecclestone has made a creative suggestion on what Formula One needs to boost its global appeal - namely a Jewish black female driver.

The sport lacks celebrity pilots like football's David Beckham to help spark interest, the F1 commercial rights holder told journalists before attending Tuesday's Champions League semi-final between Barcelona and Chelsea.

"I don't care who drives. It would be fantastic to have a female pilot who is black and Jewish," sports daily Marca quoted Ecclestone as saying.

He also said certain F1 drivers, including Spain's two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, were "stupid" because they did not do more to promote the sport, as former British pilot Jackie Stewart continues to do, it added.

Ecclestone, who is known for his colourful comments, also defended Formula One's decision to cut costs this season.

"We could not continue to waste so much money as before. We can be competitive with reduced budgets," the 78-year-old said according to Marca and several other Spanish newspapers.

Ecclestone said Alonso has the talent to become world champion for a third time but the pilot lacks a suitable car at Renault.

He said he believed at one point that Alonso had locked up an agreement to move to Ferrari but was not so sure now.

"They have told me that Alonso hasn't signed anything with Ferrari. They told me that I got it wrong," he said.

Apparently racism doesn't count when its directed towards the white majority. White guys (or Lewis) aren't good enough for Formula 1 , it seems we need a Jewish black woman to do the winning.

[_R_]

well if we're going to appeal to the masses, don't forget she's has to be blind, deaf, and an amputee who became that way because she was in tower 2 during the 9/11 attacks...

[_R_]

The FIA has confirmed a ban on refuelling from the 2010 season, the governing body citing cost-saving reasons for its introductions

"It was confirmed that from 2010, refuelling during a race will be forbidden in order to save the costs of transporting refuelling equipment and increase the incentive for engine builders to improve fuel economy (to save weight)," said the FIA in a statement following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council.

The governing body also confirmed that tyre blankets will be banned from 2010 and that the ban on other tyre-heating devices will be maintained.

no more massa pit fail

The FIA has announced that Formula 1's cost cap will be increased to £40 million when it is introduced next season.

The original figure mooted was £30 million, but has been revised upwards following consultation with Formula 1 teams instigated by FIA president Max Mosley last week.

The FIA confirmed that the budget cap would run from January 1 to December 31, with the £40 million figure covering all team expenditure, with certain exceptions.

Most notable among these is that engine costs will not be included in the budget capped expenditure for 2010.

Also excluded from the budget cap are marketing and hospitality, driver pay, fines and penalties imposed by the FIA, anything that teams can demonstrate has no influence on its on-track performance and dividends paid from profits relating to participation in the championship.

The FIA will allow those teams that sign up to the budget cap to have increased technical freedom to make it easier to compete with the uncapped teams. This includes adjustable front and rear wings as well as an engine that can run without a rev limit.

In addition, the budget cap teams will be allowed unlimited testing outside of the racing season, and will not be restricted by the wind tunnel scale and speed stipulations

The budget cap will be monitored by a new Costs Commission that will be set up to ensure that teams are adhering to the regulations. A chairman and two commissioners will be appointed to the body by the WMSC for a term of three years.

It was also stipulated that one of the commissioners should be an expert in finance and the other someone with high-level experience in motor sport.

The governing body also annouced that the maximum number of cars permitted to enter the championship has been increased to 26, from 24.

I was expecting it to be between £50-60M, but with all those exceptions, i think it's doable

[Redliner]

no more massa pit fail



I was expecting it to be between �50-60M, but with all those exceptions, i think it's doable

I don't know about you guys...but I really like this. It's opening F1 back up to technical freedom, with the only restraint being cost. Lately F1 has been more of a spec series, but this is really exciting IMO and makes the sport more sustainable. I've always said that a budget cap is the way to go, although I think 40million is a bit thin.

[kngrsll]

I don't know about you guys...but I really like this. It's opening F1 back up to technical freedom, with the only restraint being cost. Lately F1 has been more of a spec series, but this is really exciting IMO and makes the sport more sustainable. I've always said that a budget cap is the way to go, although I think 40million is a bit thin.

i agree... sounds good!

[Redliner]

i agree... sounds good!

It's gonna make the close racing go away for a few years though me thinks...

Hmm...

[kngrsll]

It's gonna make the close racing go away for a few years though me thinks...

Hmm...

yeah, i thought about that... so tell me this, what were the previous greatest technical freedom years? and how was the racing?

[Redliner]

yeah, i thought about that... so tell me this, what were the previous greatest technical freedom years? and how was the racing?

I would say the early 90s? And it was a cake walk for McLaren and Williams...

Esp the Williams cars, when they had TC, paddle-shift, ground-effects, and active suspension. McLaren also had a massively dominant car in the MP/4-4 where Prost & Senna batteled it out. I think the car won all but 1 race...