1302 replies to this topic

[vietlol]

"Unfortunately, we lost three or four really good drivers every year - that was the downside of our sport - but you had to have confidence in your own ability.

freak accidents happen that are outside of your control, I agree that some tracks go too far to be 'safe', but there is absolutely no reason not to make the cars as safe as possible. I dont think it takes away from the excitement.

[_R_]

Oh, and Abu Dhabi steals the finale from Brazil.

normally i'd be all
but in this instance, if i remember correctly, it's election weekend or something major going on that weekend government wise... so i can understand...

[_R_]

yeap... presidential elections...

Interlagos moving back to November 7 to avoid a date clash with Brazil's presidential elections.

[Nacho]

Lotus opts for mediocrity instead of awesomeness;

Sato drops out of Lotus contention

By Matt Beer Sunday, December 13th 2009, 11:06 GMT

The new Lotus team looks set to field Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen next season after Takuma Sato's management revealed that the Japanese driver had been informed he had failed to secure a drive with the squad.

Sato was believed to be vying with Kovalainen for one Lotus seat, with Trulli a strong favourite for the other. Lotus is due to announce its line-up tomorrow, but Sato's manager Matthew Winter says his driver has already missed out.

"We know Taku has not got Lotus - we found out yesterday," Winter told Reuters. "He has now come off the list."

Winter had hoped Sato would find favour with Lotus' Asian backers, as the team is ultimately set to be based in Malaysia, and has been founded by Air Asia entrepreneur Tony Fernandes.

"We don't know what the criteria was," Winter said. "We thought he was a very strong contender, you don't get more Asian than Taku."

Sato had hoped that the expanded Formula 1 field next season would enable him to make a comeback nearly two years after the collapse of Super Aguri left him on the sidelines. He had also been linked to the IndyCar Series, but said F1 was his first priority.

With the Lotus option gone, Winter conceded that Sato's hopes of a 2010 F1 seat were now fading.

"We haven't given up," he said. "There are still a few seats open and we are trying to hunt them down. His options are running out so we don't know if he is going to be in Formula 1 next year."

[vietlol]

I hope koba gets a seat

[vietlol]

You know I was adamant that Lotus would be best of the new teams, but with shitty drivers like that I just dont know.

At least we still know USF1 will either not make it or be dead last.

Spoiler

no drivers

[_R_]

CONFIRMED

Trulli, Kovalainen confirmed at Lotus
Monday, December 14th 2009, 04:48 GMT

Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen will race for Lotus next year, after the newly-formed Formula 1 team confirmed its line-up in a press conference held at Malaysia today.

Malaysian-born Fairuz Fauzy was also confirmed as the team's third driver.

The Lotus line-up was officially revealed by Malaysia's sports minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek in a press conference at Kuala Lumpur, and the minister emphasized the government's expectations from its support of the new team.

"I'm very pleased that local talents have been recognised to help drive the team, with key appointments being made among Malaysians in particular," Cheek was quoted as saying.

"I'm very elated that the driver development programme is already underway to promote motorsports as an affordable sporting activity among Malaysians.

"This project will not only make the country proud but will be a launch pad for Malaysia towards future growth, especially towards high-tech industry. Indeed, this project should be 100 per cent supported by Malaysians, individuals or corporations to ensure it becomes a success.

"Since the prime minister announced the 1Malaysia project in September, I'm very happy to note that the team has achieved significant progress, with the car being fully built and tested and I believe they are on track to make an impact next season"

The Malaysian minister further congratulated Lotus on its experienced choice of drivers, stating: "I'm personally impressed with Lotus F1 Racing driver line-up for next year, with its good combination of experience, drive and stamina.

Trulli joins Lotus from Toyota, after the Japanese team pulled out of F1 last month; while Kovalainen has left McLaren, where he will be replaced by world champion Jenson Button.

Lotus team principal Tony Fernandes also outlined the drivers' experience, but also said the Italian and Finn will bring exuberance to the team.

"Trulli will bring us a lot of experience to develop the team. Heikki is a young driver with a lot of experience so I think we have fantastic drivers, with Fairuz as well. It is a wonderful mix of experience, youth and passion."

Lotus is one of four new teams to join the 26-car F1 grid in 2010, along with Campos, US F1 and Manor. Fernandes stated the team's objective is to be the best of the newcomers.

"We are not setting any big targets, we want to at least be the best of the new teams," he said. "But I think it shows our seriousness today by announcing two really world class drivers."

For Trulli, this will be the third time in his F1 career that he will team up with technical director Mike Gascoyne, having worked with the Briton in Renault and then Toyota. And the Italian admitted this was one of the main reasons he elected to join Lotus.

"I have been impressed by the long-term vision of the team management and technical staff," Trulli said in a statement. "Tony has set out very ambitious plans and I am ready to help the team achieve these high targets.

"I am also pleased to be back working alongside Mike Gascoyne, someone with whom I have enjoyed previous success at other teams. I get on very well with him and I respect his working style."

Kovalainen too emphasized how impressed he is with the team's progress, saying: "I recently visited our factory and was so impressed by seeing how far the team has come in such a short time since it was launched in September, and by how determined everyone is to meet Tony's ambitious targets.

"I knew immediately it would be a fantastic opportunity to help them achieve their goals."

As for Fauzy, the Malaysian driver said joining Lotus was the highlight of his racing career, which includes racing in the GP2 series, in A1GP and most recently in Formula Renault 3.5, where he finished second in the 2009 championship.

"There is no greater honour than having the chance to drive for your country," the Malaysian said. "I was given the opportunity to do that for A1 Team Malaysia in A1GP for a couple of years, but to have the chance to join Malaysia's first fully fledged Formula 1 team is very special for me and the highlight of my career so far.

"I look forward to working closely with Jarno and Heikki on developing the car and the team in our first season together in Formula 1. I am sure we can do Malaysia as a nation proud."

i don't understand how these drivers and glock for example get rides so easily while Koby, Sato, Kimi and a few other struggled to stay on the grid...

[vietlol]

[chiuey]

CONFIRMED


i don't understand how these drivers and glock for example get rides so easily while Koby, Sato, Kimi and a few other struggled to stay on the grid...

well Kimi doesn't get a seat coz he's too picky and asks for too much in return for bare minimum effort on his part (outside the cockpit).

Sato and Koby deserve a seat, and I really don't understand why they have not gotten seats. When will F1 people realize that there is significant money that can be made in merchandising from having a Korean or Japanese star on your team? Have they learnt NOTHING from Korean and Japanese soccer players playing in European clubs???

I suppose merchandising is not that big of a deal to F1 teams???

[Redliner]

in all honesty, I like sato, but he's really not that great of a driver...

iblynched.

He didn't do well until he got into a super aguri. He's about as good as Fisi is, no pressure teams means he excels. High pressure teams and he falters. His record shows that

[Nacho]

in all honesty, I like sato, but he's really not that great of a driver...

iblynched.

He didn't do well until he got into a super aguri. He's about as good as Fisi is, no pressure teams means he excels. High pressure teams and he falters. His record shows that

Where do you think the new teams are going to be hanging out?

[_R_]

He didn't do well until he got into a super aguri.

oh... you mean like our new world champ and brawn

[DrDickAction]

This might be the worst logo I've ever seen

[DrDickAction]

well Kimi doesn't get a seat coz he's too picky and asks for too much in return for bare minimum effort on his part (outside the cockpit).

Sato and Koby deserve a seat, and I really don't understand why they have not gotten seats. When will F1 people realize that there is significant money that can be made in merchandising from having a Korean or Japanese star on your team? Have they learnt NOTHING from Korean and Japanese soccer players playing in European clubs???

I suppose merchandising is not that big of a deal to F1 teams???

It goes even further than that...Koby and Sato are exciting as shit, have proved they have F1 caliber speed (2 races worth for Koby anyways), and are certainly less of a gamble than DiGrassi and maybe Senna.

[_R_]

This might be the worst logo I've ever seen

70's called, they want their design back...

[DrDickAction]

And the rumors are starting to heat up:

Michael Schumacher 'ready to sign' for Mercedes for 2010 Formula One season
Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher will come out of retirement to drive for Mercedes next year, German daily Bild has reported.


The newspaper stated that the two parties have agreed to a one-year contract and will announce the deal next week.

"The contract is ready to be signed," the newspaper wrote.

Schumacher refused to comment about the report when asked by a German news channel while attending a junior cart race in his hometown of Kerpen.

Schumacher's spokeswoman, Sabine Kehm, also declined to comment.

Mercedes said that "there is always speculation as long as one seat in our team is not taken."

The 41 year-old Schumacher retired in 2006 after winning a record number of F1 titles. He abandoned plans for a temporary comeback with Ferrari this year due to a neck injury in a motorcycle crash.

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg told Bild that a comeback from Schumacher "would be an interesting challenge."

http://www.telegraph...One-season.html

[Redliner]

oh... you mean like our new world champ and brawn

Button also didn't crash into other cars every 3rd race while at bigger teams...

[_R_]

Button also didn't crash into other cars every 3rd race while at bigger teams...

also known as aggressive passing

[Redliner]

also known as crashing

Fixed it for you.

Look, I like the guy. But one good pass on a damaged McLaren does not make him the second coming of Jesus. His track record is more bad than it has been good.

[_R_]

Fixed it for you.
Look, I like the guy. But one good pass on a damaged McLaren does not make him the second coming of Jesus. His track record is more bad than it has been good.

they were just in his way...

I'm not being serious about any of this, but I love watching Sato's crazy passes... if they stick, awesome, if they don't... well there is always next race...

[DrDickAction]

they were just in his way...

I'm not being serious about any of this, but I love watching Sato's crazy passes... if they stick, awesome, if they don't... well there is always next race...

Better to be quick enough to make a crazy pass every once in a while than to be Roman Grosjean.

[Redliner]

haha.

Well, in other news...Schumi news is starting to look more like it's going to happen

[_R_]

haha.
Well, in other news...Schumi news is starting to look more like it's going to happen

I'm not getting my hopes up for anything...
this is like a build up for an ultimate let down... like they'll announce he'll be MGP's crew chief or something...

[DrDickAction]

I'm not getting my hopes up for anything...
this is like a build up for an ultimate let down... like they'll announce he'll be MGP's crew chief or something...

Heidfeld's race engineer

[Nacho]

oh... you mean like our new world champ and brawn

Button rarely crashed his cars, and was never known to be reckless.

And you can look at Sato to Button 1:1 with their time at Honda together. It's not secret that Sato came into his own at Super Aguri, for whatever reasons.