1381 replies to this topic

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

its going to be in charlotte, isnt someone here from charlotte?

fuck that. i'd drive to charlotte with resumes in hand...

[Nacho]

Vettel/Hamilton team?

Norbert Haug has admitted his desire to unite a German Formula One driver with a Mercedes-powered cockpit.

Haug, the German marque's competition chief in collaboration with McLaren, told Bild newspaper that "our desire and goal is to see a top German driver in a McLaren Mercedes in three to four years."

McLaren currently fields a British-Finnish driver combination, and the closest a German got to a silver car in recent times was the failed bid to lure the now retired Michael Schumacher.

However, Haug has never hidden the fact that, when Fernando Alonso created a vacancy at the end of 2007, efforts to sign Germans Nico Rosberg or Sebastian Vettel were made.

"We are very, very happy with our drivers at the moment; we have a very strong pairing," Haug said of reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen.


Haug admits, however, that he has been impressed by 21-year-old Vettel, the 2008 Monza winner who this year is commencing a two-year tenure with Red Bull Racing.

"I think he is very genuine and already a very, very strong driver," the German said. "He combines his talent with his work in a way that very few do. There is certainly a similarity with Michael Schumacher."

[RedVVing19]

Vettel/Hamilton team?

Fuck no, I somehow doubt Vettel would get a fair shot at Mclaren. That team is Hamilton + backup for a very long time

[DrDickAction]

Vettel/Hamilton team?

i thought there already was a german driving for macca....timo glock

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

i thought there already was a german driving for macca....timo glock

zing!

[vietlol]

i thought there already was a german driving for macca....timo glock

boosh

[mads]

i thought there already was a german driving for macca....timo glock

Ohsnap!

[Nacho]

Fuck no, I somehow doubt Vettel would get a fair shot at Mclaren. That team is Hamilton + backup for a very long time

I think if the other driver can prove they can win races like Hamilton does, they'll get a fair shot. I think Alonso did, as he could keep pace. I don't think Hekki has the speed to do so.

[MrHahn]

zing!

boosh

Ohsnap!

.

[_R_]

The Royal Bank of Scotland has announced that it is to pull out of Formula One, but only when its current deal with Williams finishes at the end of 2010.

The finance company, which has made huge losses in the credit crunch has decided to end its involvement with grand prix racing as part of a wider strategic view about its sponsorship in sport.

The company first backed Williams in 2005 and signed for a second three-year term in 2007. The deal will conclude at the end of 2010.

Williams chief Frank Williams said: "RBS has been a great partner for this team and we are pleased to have made our contribution over the past four years to developing the RBS brand internationally. Thanks to the support of RBS and our many other loyal partners, we are in a strong position to ride out the inevitable challenges of the next two years.

"RBS is showing great responsibility to the role that we play in the British economy,
supporting over 500 highly skilled technology jobs in a sector in which Britain leads the world. In the last three years, Williams has spent over £100 million with 2700 UK suppliers and it is of course important that this business endures."

Andrew McLaughlin, RBS group director, Communications, added: "We recognise that we are now operating in a very different economic environment and have been reviewing all of our activities since October. It is imperative that we respond to the reality of the situation we face and that we do so in an orderly way that respects the commercial agreements we have in place and the implications for our partners and the jobs they support.

"Throughout our relationship, Williams have shown great understanding and innovation in driving the programme forwards. They have been very supportive in finding ways to reduce costs over the remainder of our contract. This early announcement allows Sir Frank Williams and his team to plan ahead financially."

RBS's announcement comes just a few weeks after Dutch finance company ING announced it was to pull out of F1 at the end of this year because of the financial difficulties worldwide.

[_R_]

Adam Parr, the CEO of Williams, says he can only see a 'positive' future for his team, despite Wednesday's announcement that major sponsor, the Royal Bank of Scotland, is to quit the sport.

As an independent outfit, Williams have faced a struggle in recent years to match the budgets of the big-money manufacturers - and the loss of a backer like RBS is not ideal.

But Parr remains upbeat that moves to reduce costs in F1 allied to Williams's already strong portfolio of sponsors means there is no reason to feel downbeat about the current situation.

When asked by autosport.com whether he felt that rule changes to reduce costs meant that Williams had a bright future in F1 despite RBS's plans, Parr said: "I do, although I know it is very difficult to paint a positive picture at the moment.

"What you have to think about is this - when I came into the sport a few years ago, I was sitting across from people (in team principals' meetings) who said money does not matter to us. Now, we don't have discussions like that any more.

"In order for Williams to be competitive and be in the frame for the past two or three years, we have had to spend beyond our means. For the next two years we will not do that, and we will be paying off a significant chunk of debt. We are (now) seeing a scenario where our means are not dissimilar to the rest of F1."

RBS has confirmed to the team that despite its pull-out plans, it will stick to its commitment to be a team sponsor until the end of 2010 - even though some of the costs of their sponsorship marketing will be reduced. The bank intends to cut its spending on hospitality by 90% this year and have cancelled trackside advertising for 2010.

The RBS deal is believed to account for 10 percent of Williams's total budget, and Parr said that against the backdrop of the bank's financial problems it was not a total surprise that they were choosing not to remain in F1.

"Obviously it isn't good news for the sport that someone like RBS is withdrawing," explained Parr. "From our point of view we have suspected for some time there was only a slim chance of them continuing beyond their current sponsorship term, and that is the end of 2010.

"The important thing for us is that the board confirmed to us yesterday and confirmed publicly today that they will honour the contract until 2010."

The announcement of RBS is not the only bad news that Williams have suffered recently on the sponsor front – with the team having lost backing from the Baugur Group, Lenovo and Petrobras over the winter.

However, Parr said that with other team sponsors having increased their budgets for this season – the main one being Philips – there were no worries about the short term finances for the team.

"We had 10 of our partners renew with us," said Parr. "Four of those partners that renewed or extended with us were major upgrades, and they at least doubled their investment 2009 compared to 2008.

"So, from a sponsorship revenue side, we came out pretty well year-on-year. The FOM revenues (television rights money) are stronger this year compared to last year, and we have significant cost savings coming through as a result of limited testing and a reduction in engine costs. As an example we are planning on using 20 engines compared to 55 last year.

"Overall we've got a very solid budget for this year. I don't want to claim to you it is everything we would like, but we are in advanced negotiations to bring new partners to the team for this season."

Parr said he also felt bullish that there were companies out there able to step into RBS's shoes and become major backers of Williams in the future.

"We have a budget for this season and it is reasonable budget. For 2010 the position is similar and 90 percent of the budget for this year is contracted for that year. And there will be further cost savings...I am confident that in time for 2011 we will have a very strong portfolio of sponsors in place. We have a broad range of partners and no individual partner is make or break for this team."

He also blasted recent reports in the media criticising RBS's involvement in F1 against the backdrop of the bank's funding from the taxpayer.

[Skyliner]

i thought there already was a german driving for macca....timo glock

Hulkenberg is German too.

[Skyliner]

A1GP boss still considering F1 move

A1GP boss Tony Teixeira says his ambitions to run a Formula One team remain alive - after dropping a hint that he is looking at setting up an outfit in Portugal.

The South African businessman has looked at bids for Spyker, Scuderia Toro Rosso and Honda Racing over the past two years, but is now edging towards starting a team from scratch.

He is looking at using land acquired near the Algarve Circuit in Portimao as a base for his A1GP Series – as well as for housing an F1 operation. The ambitious scheme could receive funding from the Portuguese government.

"I've bought 47,000 square metres at the Portimao circuit," Teixeira told autosport.com about his plans for relocating A1 GP. "I've bought that to put up a head office, an A1GP factory with 35 bays and an A2 factory, and restaurants, and the whole merchandising scene."

When asked about the possibility of basing an F1 team, Teixeira said: "The team that I've been looking at would be based (in Portugal) and backed by the Portuguese government.

"If this is going to be such an important racing centre, they have to have an F1 team to compete with. Otherwise it means nothing without F1...The idea is that eventually it could house an A1/F1 office."

Teixeira has also revealed that he had been in talks with Honda Racing as recently as the last fortnight about a takeover deal.

"I was one of the guys talking to Honda in the last two weeks," he said. "We had done a deal on Spyker, but I let Vijay (Mallya) take it….We then went to Toro Rosso in November and all the (other) teams said 'no customer boss' so I had to walk away.

"Today I'm in a completely different situation. I've built my own cars and designed my own chassis. I have my own factory. So I'm not a customer boss. I can now build my chassis and run with a Ferrari engine. I'm now the same as everyone else."

Teixeira said, however, that any involvement in Honda Racing was scuppered by the difficult financial conditions caused by a worldwide recession.

He added: "The only reason we want an F1 team is for the winners of A1 to go to F1. But, because of the times, I cannot commit myself to this year's budget."

Source: Autosport.com article

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

Hulkenberg is German too.

but he doesn't drive or has ever driven for macca..

[_R_]

Williams technical director Sam Michael will be surprised if at least half the grid has not copied the high diffuser concept pioneered by his team and Toyota by the time the seasons starts in Australia.

The designs on the Williams FW31 and Toyota TF109 caused a stir after their launch earlier this year, with rival teams questioning whether the higher central section was a breach of the maximum height limit of 175 mm.

The FIA duly confirmed that the layout on the Williams and Toyota cars were wholly legal, and Michael revealed on Thursday that he never expected the situation to have become such a talking point in the first place.

"To be honest we were surprised that it even turned into an issue because for us it was very clearly inside the regulations," said Michael during a pre-season media event at the Williams factory.

"It was something that in various forms teams have been doing for two years, so it wasn't really a big issue for us or the FIA. So it was something that we clarified with the FIA well over a year ago.

"There wasn't really any confusion from our side, although there appeared to be some confusion from the other teams, but I don't know on what basis that was."

Michael thought it inevitable now that other teams would follow the lead set by Williams and Toyota and run with the diffuser concept from the start of the season.

"I am sure they will copy us," he explained. "Toyota have (already) got something, although their diffuser is not the same as ours even though it is a similar interpretation.

"I would be amazed if at least half the grid in Melbourne doesnt have it. And out of the cars I've seen, there are two teams who don't have it but have components on the car perfectly positioned to have it on their cars for Melbourne. They obviously took a different decision to us and thought we don't want to reveal this until Melbourne.

"If we dont have 50 percent of the grid there in Melbourne with the same concept I would be staggered."

Michael said that if his team had known before running the design that it would catch out rival outfits, they may have waited until bringing it onto the car.

"During the development, to be quite honest, we thought everyone would do it," he explained. "It wasn't something that we really thought was trick. It was a previous interpretation of the new regulations.

"If (we knew beforehand) there would be all this fuss and some teams who had not thought about it, instead of putting their hands up and saying, 'we didn't think of it because we weren't looking at the rules hard enough', instead of doing that they said, 'we'll try and get it banned'. If we thought that might happen, then we might have delayed."

well yes, obviously it'll be copied

[_R_]

Bridgestone has confirmed that it will use green coloured bands around its tyres' sidewalls to differentiate between the two compounds used at each race this year.

The different tyres were previously denoted by a white line in the rubber's grooves, but the return of slicks for 2009 makes this impossible, so the green markings will be used instead.

The Japanese company has also revealed that there will be a more distinct difference between the two compounds used at each race this year. Until now the two types of tyre were consecutive in Bridgestone's range - for instance super soft and soft - whereas this season every car must use both super soft and medium softness, for example, during a race.

Bridgestone's director of motorsport tyre development Hirohide Hamashima believes the changes will make the racing more exciting.

"From our perspective we have changed our allocation strategy so that we can bring non-consecutive allocations to races," he said.

"The compounds will not only vary in terms of compound hardness, but also working range. We have tried to have one tyre which has a quick warm-up and delivers a fast lap time immediately, and the other tyre which has a higher working range, so will not deliver immediate fast times, but gives very consistent and durable performance when it is at its operating temperature.

"Of course, we are subject to many variables such as different cars and drivers, not to mention the weather, which was such a big factor in 2008.

"We hope that the change in allocations gives competitors a good challenge and the fans entertaining racing."

[Skyliner]

but he doesn't drive or has ever driven for macca..

Neither has Glock.

The article was about wanting a German to drive. Hulkenberg is another possibility.

[Skyliner]

The Japanese company has also revealed that there will be a more distinct difference between the two compounds used at each race this year. Until now the two types of tyre were consecutive in Bridgestone's range - for instance super soft and soft - whereas this season every car must use both super soft and medium softness, for example, during a race.

That might cause some crazy setup issues.

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

Neither has Glock.

The article was about wanting a German to drive. Hulkenberg is another possibility.

you missed the joke..

glock driving for macca to let ham win the wdc

[DrDickAction]

Neither has Glock.

The article was about wanting a German to drive. Hulkenberg is another possibility.

picard.jpg

you missed the joke..

glock driving for macca to let ham win the wdc

this

[Skyliner]

you missed the joke..

glock driving for macca to let ham win the wdc

I didn't miss the joke, I just refuse to acknowledge it. Hence the

[Skyliner]

picard.jpg


this

imatoyotafanthatrefusestoacknowledgeglockletthatprickhamiltonby.jpg

[DrDickAction]

imatoyotafanthatrefusestoacknowledgeglockletthatprickhamiltonby.jpg

[vietlol]

Long time no see, the pull rod suspension
On Red Bull RB5 At Jerez

It's been a while, but Red Bull have brought the pull rod back to Formula One, and with reason! The last pull rod dates from 2000 with the low nosed Arrows A21 which featured a pull rod. Because of Red Bull's choice to create very low sidepods at the back end, a push rod did not make much sense as the suspension components would prevent a clean airflow anyway. Hence, the new version has allowed the designed to put more components close to the car's floor, lowering its centre of gravity.

As this allowed for an even tighter rear end, the rear upper wishbones actually connect above the car's bodywork, in the most ideal position. The arms are fully horizontal and connect as the centre of the car. With some imagination, if you would turn the car upside down, the rear suspension is effectively an inverted single keel. The keel is here supporting both upper wishbones.

[DrDickAction]

ummm....I'm gonna need to see a diagram on this one, I have no idea what going on.