1381 replies to this topic

[Skyliner]

He looks like such a dork!

He does not.

He...he's just posed poorly.

[yonson]

He does not.

He...he's just posed poorly.

In THAT pic, he looks like a dork!

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

In THAT pic, he looks like a dork!

not much worse than THIS pic...

[yonson]

not much worse than THIS pic...

[kngrsll]

wow

[mads]

what's the next car coming up ? mcLAUEREN

[Deadpool]

Countdown on the McLaren website has finished, so the press conference must be underway.

Should see it soon?

[kngrsll]

its on autosport... late for school again

[_R_]

McLaren boss Ron Dennis will step down from his role of team principal before the start of the 2009 season, the Briton announced on Friday.

The 61-year-old, however, made it clear that he is not retiring, but will instead focus on other commitments related to the McLaren Group.

Dennis said he would still attend some races, but intends to pass on his team principal responsibilities to Martin Whitmarsh as of March 1 this year.

"First thing I am going to do is work harder, that is the first target," said Dennis during the launch of the new McLaren.

"I intend to raise my own game because I think everybody in our organisation at every level realises this is a tough period in which we are going to work and of course we are a very diverse organisation now.

"We have a clear intention for our production car programme which is really a challenge. Any product we bring to the market will certainly fall the other side of this financial period.

"I stress nothing to get too excited about but it is absolutely time for Martin to take over as team principal. As from March 1 he will adopt that responsibility. I will still go to races, not all of them, because I am passionate.

"I intend to work harder and will take on greater responsibility in the group. I will be full executive chairman. It is time and I have to say it is absolutely 100 percent my decision. It is what I want to do, but I do intend to work much harder.

"Don't see it as some sort of retirement, I want to work harder in other areas and having to plan those tasks around the GP calendar is disruptive to the process. It is a job that Martin will embrace and enjoy.

"It is a job over the years we have shared anyway, but it will be his decision to influence things at a grand prix circuit."

[MrHahn]

Thank fuck, that old crank needs to dissapear from F1 for good!

[_R_]

Sebastien Buemi set the pace on the opening day of testing at the Autodromo do Algarve, where the first group test of 2009 kicked off on Monday.

The weather conditions, however, were less than favourable for the five teams on track, and the Portuguese circuit was damp or wet throughout the whole session.

A downpour near the end of the day caused little action to happen in the last two hours.

Toro Rosso driver Buemi was the only man at the wheel of a 2008-spec car, with the other four teams running with new machinery.

The Swiss finished nearly five seconds ahead of Pedro de la Rosa, who completed the first proper run with the new McLaren MP4-24 unveiled on Friday.

The Spanish driver's car was fitted with a 2008 front wing, that offered more stability in wet conditions to do various electronic checks.

De la Rosa finished less than three tenths of a second ahead of Nico Hulkenberg in the new Williams FW31, unveiled today.

Despite the poor weather, Williams were pleased with the initial roll-out.

"This morning has been full wet, but the weather hasn't really affected what we wanted to do, because our goal has been to get the car out on track, check all the systems work, be sure parts aren't touching each other, nothing is burning, and that's all proved to be okay," said technical director Sam Michael.

"It would be good to get some dry running, and the weather should allow this later in the week. In terms of first impressions of the car, we of course haven't spent any time on set-up or performance work yet, that'll all come later, but so far the car is running fine."

Nelson Piquet was the man in charge of rolling out the new Renault R29, the Brazilian completing 33 laps.

"It feels great to be in the R29, even though the weather was not great," said Piquet. "Today was all about adding miles to the car, collecting data and learning as much as we could. Hopefully the rest of the week will allow us to build on the progress we have made today."

Toyota's Kamui Kobayashi, whose team were in action at Portimao yesterday, finished at the bottom of the times at the wheel of the TF109 launched last week.

"Today has gone well and I am happy with the new car," said the Japanese driver. "It has been an interesting experience to drive with KERS for the first time and we are understanding more about the system all the time.

"This is my first time driving at this track and I have to say I am very impressed; the lay-out is really exciting and quite challenging for a driver. The weather was far from ideal, especially in the afternoon, so that meant we could not spend as much time on track as we planned."

Today's times:

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:41.528 65
2. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:46.076 28
3. Hulkenberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:46.335 28
4. Piquet Renault (B) 1:48.907 33
5. Kobayashi Toyota (B) 1:50.989 46

[Skyliner]

not much worse than THIS pic...

Better dorky looking than shirtless like Force India

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

Better dorky looking than shirtless like Force India

[RedVVing19]

Scuderia Ferrari chose to unveil its new car for the 2009 F1 season before anyone else, so while other teams were assuredly tweaking their designs up until the last minute, Ferrari's was already out on the track. And now it seems there are some problems with the F60's design.

For starters, the exhausts are being reported as illegal. While the other cars revealed so far have inboard exhaust pipes, the Ferrari's protrude from the bodywork in contravention of new aerodynamic regulations. On top of that, Ferrari seems to be having trouble with its new jumbo front wing, which could explain why, with Fiorano snowed in, the team opted to run test laps at its own Mugello track instead of Algarve in Portugal where the rest of the teams are testing, presumably to be closer to the factory.

[Nacho]

Is 2009 the last season for Toyota?

Toyota chiefs have effectively confirmed reports that a poor showing in 2009 will spell and end to the Japanese manufacturer's Formula One foray.

http://en.f1-live.co...121085247.shtml

+

It is possible that Toyota will not use KERS at any time during the coming season.

http://en.f1-live.co...121100039.shtml

[Nacho]

Also, Nelson Piquet loses his mind:

Nelson Piquet says he is expecting to be treated equally by the Renault team in 2009. As a rookie in 2008, Piquet's status alongside team number one Fernando Alonso was clear.

The 23-year-old Brazilian, however, was entrusted with the track debut of the new R29 at Portimao on Monday, leading some to suggest that parity might be the order of the day for 2009.

However, Spaniard Alonso confided to reporters that he is sitting out the opening days of the 2009 car's tests because he wants to. "The team asked which days I wanted to drive and I said day three and four because normally the first two days the car has a lot of problems."

"I'm happy because Wednesday should be dry," the 27-year-old added.

Piquet insists he will be treated fairly by Renault in 2009.

"Last year I was learning and obviously once in a while we would give priority to Fernando because he had a better chance of winning the race or being more in front," he admitted. "Now I think the team will have to play on both sides and try to give both cars exactly the same conditions."

http://en.f1-live.co...120115715.shtml

[_R_]

Is 2009 the last season for Toyota?
http://en.f1-live.co...121085247.shtml
+
http://en.f1-live.co...121100039.shtml

this economic crisis is killing everything

[Redliner]

Also, Nelson Piquet loses his mind:

He must think there's a reset button to his career somewhere

[MrHahn]

this economic crisis is killing everything

I thought it was more in spite of Honda that Toyota joined F1. Now no Honda - Toyota won that battle of persistance?

[mads]

I thought it was more in spite of Honda that Toyota joined F1. Now no Honda - Toyota won that battle of persistance?

honda won a race though..

[Skyliner]

Is 2009 the last season for Toyota?

http://en.f1-live.co...121085247.shtml
http://en.f1-live.co...121100039.shtml

I certainly hope not.

So, they have a functioning KERS system that they spent a ton of money developing, but don't want to use it because it's heavy? I guess if it improves performance. *shrug* Now Glock just needs to take lessons from Trulli on how to block.

[Skyliner]

Has this already been posted?

[Nacho]

honda won a race though..

In technically their first year.

But yea, Toyota supposedly only joined F1 to battle Honda at the top of motorspots. With a lackluster showing (in general) and a massive budget, with no rival, there's no point.

[Nacho]

Has this already been posted?

Not that i've seen.

The Williams car actually looks quite decent in motion.

[More&Faster]

cool video. those cars look so weak though