| Bonzo | 03-05-2006 10:34 PM |
jpsimon, tnx for posting those pics. I cannot stop staring at them. Wow!
| TimStevens | 03-06-2006 08:28 AM |
Sniff Petrol's "Factually Incorrect F1 Preview" is up"
[quote]
RENAULT
Drivers: Fernand O'Lonso, Fizzy Keller
Chances of winning anything: Sturdy
Top fact: As a present for winning the 2005 World Championship, Renault F1 presented Alonso with a new shaving mirror. "It was only then I realised for much of the season I had missed a little bit on my chin," the Spanish driver admitted. "I must have looked like a complete ****," he quipped.
McLAREN
Drivers: Kim E. Raikkkonen, Wan Pablo Montoya
Chances of winning anything: Bendy
Top fact: With his seemingly unflappable character and emotionless voice, Raikkonen is rightly known as 'the iceman'. With his erratic form and large rolls of fat, Montoya is rightly known as 'the piesman'.
TOYOTA
Drivers: Ralph Schwiggum, Jarno Truly
Chances of winning anything: Milky
Top fact: As befits their claimed status as the team with the most money in F1, Toyota have a sometimes lavish approach to engineering. For example, the new TF106 has a panda skin steering wheel, rhinoceros foreskin pedal faces, and the tyres are filled with the breath of Liam Neeson.
FERRARI
Drivers: Mike Schumacher, Phil Massa
Chances of winning anything: Stiff
Top fact: Schumacher is famed for his ability to multitask during a race. For example, during the '05 Hungarian GP telemetry reports showed that the he used the 'quieter laps' to read a magazine, phone his friend Steve and write a letter to the Radio Times asking for more repeats of Bergerac.
WILLIAMS
Drivers: Mark Webbbber, Nick O'Rosberg
Chances of winning anything: Smooth
Top fact: New to the team is Keke Rosberg's son Nico who was named after a film in which Steven Seagal goes around kicking people in the face. In some countries this movie carried a different title, but Above The Law Rosberg would have sounded really stupid.
HONDA
Drivers: Jensen Buttoon, Rubens Limoncello
Chances of winning anything: Hefty
Top fact: How will Button and Barrichello get along? Well there's an old saying in F1 that goes, 'If you want results, make sure your other driver is an amiable perma-cheery Brazilian who sometimes looks like he's got special needs'.
RED BULL
Drivers: Crazy Dave Coulthard, Christian Clean
Chances of winning anything: Wiry
Top fact: Last season Crazy Dave had a new 'don't give a ****' attitude. More surprising of all was that he had ceased to give a **** about being mediocre and instead extracted some impressive results from the Red Bull car. Shame he looked like a tramp.
BMW SAUBER
Drivers: Jacques ****ing Villeneuve, Heidi Nickfeld
Chances of winning anything: Moist
Top fact: Jacques ****ing Villeneuve used to go out with Danni Minogue who was recently depicted in the British press engaged in lesbionic activities. And with Villeneuve as his team mate, Heidfeld is another person who is going to be spending a lot of time very close to a ****.
MIDLAND MF1
Drivers: Austin Montiego, Chjrijijiajn Albjers
Chances of winning anything: Skinny
Top fact: Midland have inserted the 'MF1' bit into their name after too many people confused them with what is now known as the HSBC bank and kept asking them for a free Griffin pencil case with compass and protractor set. Driving round in an actual bank might be faster.
SCUDERIA TORRO ROSSO
Drivers: Vitantintantontio Liuzzi, Scoot Spedd
Chances of winning anything: Flimsy
Top fact: Scuderia Torro Rosso is just Italian for Team Red Bull. Interestingly however, in some ancient South American languages it literally translates as 'thank Christ Aguri has turned up, now we won't be right at the back all the time'.
STUPID AGURI
Drivers: Takuma Satoh no! Eric Idle
Chances of winning anything: None
Top fact: Rumours persist that Aguri are not a real team but were invented by Bernard Ecclestone to provide some accident prone comedy during the middle bit of the season when everyone's bored. To this end, hopefully Sato will continue his '05 form when he appeared to think he was in a banger race.[/quote]
[url]www.sniffpetrol.com[/url]
[quote]
RENAULT
Drivers: Fernand O'Lonso, Fizzy Keller
Chances of winning anything: Sturdy
Top fact: As a present for winning the 2005 World Championship, Renault F1 presented Alonso with a new shaving mirror. "It was only then I realised for much of the season I had missed a little bit on my chin," the Spanish driver admitted. "I must have looked like a complete ****," he quipped.
McLAREN
Drivers: Kim E. Raikkkonen, Wan Pablo Montoya
Chances of winning anything: Bendy
Top fact: With his seemingly unflappable character and emotionless voice, Raikkonen is rightly known as 'the iceman'. With his erratic form and large rolls of fat, Montoya is rightly known as 'the piesman'.
TOYOTA
Drivers: Ralph Schwiggum, Jarno Truly
Chances of winning anything: Milky
Top fact: As befits their claimed status as the team with the most money in F1, Toyota have a sometimes lavish approach to engineering. For example, the new TF106 has a panda skin steering wheel, rhinoceros foreskin pedal faces, and the tyres are filled with the breath of Liam Neeson.
FERRARI
Drivers: Mike Schumacher, Phil Massa
Chances of winning anything: Stiff
Top fact: Schumacher is famed for his ability to multitask during a race. For example, during the '05 Hungarian GP telemetry reports showed that the he used the 'quieter laps' to read a magazine, phone his friend Steve and write a letter to the Radio Times asking for more repeats of Bergerac.
WILLIAMS
Drivers: Mark Webbbber, Nick O'Rosberg
Chances of winning anything: Smooth
Top fact: New to the team is Keke Rosberg's son Nico who was named after a film in which Steven Seagal goes around kicking people in the face. In some countries this movie carried a different title, but Above The Law Rosberg would have sounded really stupid.
HONDA
Drivers: Jensen Buttoon, Rubens Limoncello
Chances of winning anything: Hefty
Top fact: How will Button and Barrichello get along? Well there's an old saying in F1 that goes, 'If you want results, make sure your other driver is an amiable perma-cheery Brazilian who sometimes looks like he's got special needs'.
RED BULL
Drivers: Crazy Dave Coulthard, Christian Clean
Chances of winning anything: Wiry
Top fact: Last season Crazy Dave had a new 'don't give a ****' attitude. More surprising of all was that he had ceased to give a **** about being mediocre and instead extracted some impressive results from the Red Bull car. Shame he looked like a tramp.
BMW SAUBER
Drivers: Jacques ****ing Villeneuve, Heidi Nickfeld
Chances of winning anything: Moist
Top fact: Jacques ****ing Villeneuve used to go out with Danni Minogue who was recently depicted in the British press engaged in lesbionic activities. And with Villeneuve as his team mate, Heidfeld is another person who is going to be spending a lot of time very close to a ****.
MIDLAND MF1
Drivers: Austin Montiego, Chjrijijiajn Albjers
Chances of winning anything: Skinny
Top fact: Midland have inserted the 'MF1' bit into their name after too many people confused them with what is now known as the HSBC bank and kept asking them for a free Griffin pencil case with compass and protractor set. Driving round in an actual bank might be faster.
SCUDERIA TORRO ROSSO
Drivers: Vitantintantontio Liuzzi, Scoot Spedd
Chances of winning anything: Flimsy
Top fact: Scuderia Torro Rosso is just Italian for Team Red Bull. Interestingly however, in some ancient South American languages it literally translates as 'thank Christ Aguri has turned up, now we won't be right at the back all the time'.
STUPID AGURI
Drivers: Takuma Satoh no! Eric Idle
Chances of winning anything: None
Top fact: Rumours persist that Aguri are not a real team but were invented by Bernard Ecclestone to provide some accident prone comedy during the middle bit of the season when everyone's bored. To this end, hopefully Sato will continue his '05 form when he appeared to think he was in a banger race.[/quote]
[url]www.sniffpetrol.com[/url]
| Bonzo | 03-06-2006 08:55 AM |
^^^^^^^
thanks for the mulitple :lol:'s
I esp liked the names.
sniffpetrol is going to be one of my daily clicks now for sure.
thanks for the mulitple :lol:'s
I esp liked the names.
sniffpetrol is going to be one of my daily clicks now for sure.
| TimStevens | 03-06-2006 09:01 AM |
They only update about twice a month, unfortunately. Best to sign up for their mailing list so you can find out when they've gotten around to posting something.
| Bonzo | 03-06-2006 09:10 AM |
yeah, I just saw it's about a monthly type thing. Funny still found and I will also sign up.
| Ferg | 03-06-2006 10:00 AM |
Morning news...
[QUOTE]Toyota duo play down expectations
Monday, March 6th 2006, 14:07 GMT
Toyota duo Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli have moved to play down expectations for their team in Bahrain this weekend - insisting that points is all they are aiming for.
The Cologne-based team were the first to launch their 2006 car, with it running at the end of last November, but have not shown the kind of pace needed to join the expected fight for victory between Renault, Honda, McLaren and Ferrari.
Both the team's drivers claim, however, that it is too early to judge exactly how competitive the TF106 is � and believe it may take several races before a true picture of form emerges.
Schumacher said: "We will have to wait and see how the first couple of races go before we can truly compare our position to the others. But we hope to take some points in the first few races and take it from there.
"Our whole winter test programme has been targeting reliability and that is what we will need early in the season. We've been working with the TF106 since November so we've had plenty of time to put mileage on all the mechanical parts."
Trulli, who finished second in Bahrain for Toyota last year, added: "It would be wonderful to achieve something similar again, so that is why everyone at Toyota has worked all winter to be as prepared as possible for this first Grand Prix of the year.
"I'm confident that the TF106 can deliver strong results, but as ever we will only find out when we get on track with everyone this weekend."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Ecclestone says deal with GPMA imminent
By Jonathan Noble Monday, March 6th 2006, 14:04 GMT
Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone believes a deal to avert the threat of a manufacturer-led breakaway could be agreed before this weekend's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
Talks have been ongoing between Ecclestone and the five members of the Grand Prix Manufacturers' Association (GPMA) to find a deal that would secure the future of F1, and it appears that a deal may now be imminent.
"I would be surprised if all the issues between us are not settled before the race in Bahrain," Ecclestone said in an interview with The Daily Express, before suggesting that the manufacturers may also agree to a raft of cost-cutting measures.
"What we can agree on the technical side is dependent on how much money they want to save but they will save a huge amount without adversely affecting the technical excellence of F1. It will remain the pinnacle of motorsport.
"But we cannot continue to look as if this sport is a battle of the biggest budget. That way, at current spending, is just not on and will ruin the sport and the companies.
"There is a point, probably long since past, when the cost of trying to win races and the championship outweighs the value of being successful.
"We can all see the benefits of cutting costs while continuing to allow some areas of research and development and I think there is a mood of conciliation now. They will certainly earn a lot more money on the commercial side, double what they got before."
A spokesman for the GPMA, which is made up of BMW, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Renault and Toyota, said: "Things appear to be going in the right direction."
The news of Ecclestone's confidence about a deal comes amid reports that he has once again offered the manufacturers two non-executive directorships on the board of his Formula One Administration (FOA) company, in a bid to ensure they have some input into the future of the sport.
This was one of the original ideas that was put forward in the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the manufacturers and Ecclestone in December 2003. This deal subsequently collapsed.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]FIA appoints permanent chief steward
By Jonathan Noble Monday, March 6th 2006, 13:00 GMT
Motor racing's governing body has confirmed that it has appointed a permanent chief steward for Formula One this year in a bid to bring more consistency to its decision-making process.
The sport previously operated with a rotation-system of four stewards, with a different chief steward at specific races, which sometimes left the process open to criticism that it was not consistent in its ruling throughout the whole season.
In a bid to alleviate these concerns, the FIA has appointed Briton Tony Scott Andrews to the new permanent role.
Scott-Andrews said: "Under the previous system all four permanent stewards spoke with each other on a regular basis and were aware of each other's decisions. Having the same steward at each race there is an even greater chance of consistency and of course that steward would have a greater awareness of the global scene in which he operates."
Lawyer Scott-Andrews has been one of the four permanent stewards in Formula One for the past three years, as well as a national steward for the British Grand Prix and joint chairman of stewards for the British Touring Car Championship.
His appointment comes after Australia's John Large turned the job down because of health reasons - but not before recommending that Scott-Andrews get the job.
"I believe Tony Scott-Andrews should have been offered it in the first place," explained Large. "He is a first rate steward.
"He's got a mind like a rat-trap when it comes to knowing the rules. He is polite, courteous and unassuming, all-important attributes when dealing with the big personalities in Formula One. And he is a lawyer by profession. He brings the best of everything."
The FIA has also appointed Nazir Hoosein to the role of permanent chief steward for the World Rally Championship.
"Both championships need a single permanent steward. It will help to sustain consistency in the decision making process," said Hoosein.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Toyota duo play down expectations
Monday, March 6th 2006, 14:07 GMT
Toyota duo Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli have moved to play down expectations for their team in Bahrain this weekend - insisting that points is all they are aiming for.
The Cologne-based team were the first to launch their 2006 car, with it running at the end of last November, but have not shown the kind of pace needed to join the expected fight for victory between Renault, Honda, McLaren and Ferrari.
Both the team's drivers claim, however, that it is too early to judge exactly how competitive the TF106 is � and believe it may take several races before a true picture of form emerges.
Schumacher said: "We will have to wait and see how the first couple of races go before we can truly compare our position to the others. But we hope to take some points in the first few races and take it from there.
"Our whole winter test programme has been targeting reliability and that is what we will need early in the season. We've been working with the TF106 since November so we've had plenty of time to put mileage on all the mechanical parts."
Trulli, who finished second in Bahrain for Toyota last year, added: "It would be wonderful to achieve something similar again, so that is why everyone at Toyota has worked all winter to be as prepared as possible for this first Grand Prix of the year.
"I'm confident that the TF106 can deliver strong results, but as ever we will only find out when we get on track with everyone this weekend."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Ecclestone says deal with GPMA imminent
By Jonathan Noble Monday, March 6th 2006, 14:04 GMT
Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone believes a deal to avert the threat of a manufacturer-led breakaway could be agreed before this weekend's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
Talks have been ongoing between Ecclestone and the five members of the Grand Prix Manufacturers' Association (GPMA) to find a deal that would secure the future of F1, and it appears that a deal may now be imminent.
"I would be surprised if all the issues between us are not settled before the race in Bahrain," Ecclestone said in an interview with The Daily Express, before suggesting that the manufacturers may also agree to a raft of cost-cutting measures.
"What we can agree on the technical side is dependent on how much money they want to save but they will save a huge amount without adversely affecting the technical excellence of F1. It will remain the pinnacle of motorsport.
"But we cannot continue to look as if this sport is a battle of the biggest budget. That way, at current spending, is just not on and will ruin the sport and the companies.
"There is a point, probably long since past, when the cost of trying to win races and the championship outweighs the value of being successful.
"We can all see the benefits of cutting costs while continuing to allow some areas of research and development and I think there is a mood of conciliation now. They will certainly earn a lot more money on the commercial side, double what they got before."
A spokesman for the GPMA, which is made up of BMW, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Renault and Toyota, said: "Things appear to be going in the right direction."
The news of Ecclestone's confidence about a deal comes amid reports that he has once again offered the manufacturers two non-executive directorships on the board of his Formula One Administration (FOA) company, in a bid to ensure they have some input into the future of the sport.
This was one of the original ideas that was put forward in the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the manufacturers and Ecclestone in December 2003. This deal subsequently collapsed.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]FIA appoints permanent chief steward
By Jonathan Noble Monday, March 6th 2006, 13:00 GMT
Motor racing's governing body has confirmed that it has appointed a permanent chief steward for Formula One this year in a bid to bring more consistency to its decision-making process.
The sport previously operated with a rotation-system of four stewards, with a different chief steward at specific races, which sometimes left the process open to criticism that it was not consistent in its ruling throughout the whole season.
In a bid to alleviate these concerns, the FIA has appointed Briton Tony Scott Andrews to the new permanent role.
Scott-Andrews said: "Under the previous system all four permanent stewards spoke with each other on a regular basis and were aware of each other's decisions. Having the same steward at each race there is an even greater chance of consistency and of course that steward would have a greater awareness of the global scene in which he operates."
Lawyer Scott-Andrews has been one of the four permanent stewards in Formula One for the past three years, as well as a national steward for the British Grand Prix and joint chairman of stewards for the British Touring Car Championship.
His appointment comes after Australia's John Large turned the job down because of health reasons - but not before recommending that Scott-Andrews get the job.
"I believe Tony Scott-Andrews should have been offered it in the first place," explained Large. "He is a first rate steward.
"He's got a mind like a rat-trap when it comes to knowing the rules. He is polite, courteous and unassuming, all-important attributes when dealing with the big personalities in Formula One. And he is a lawyer by profession. He brings the best of everything."
The FIA has also appointed Nazir Hoosein to the role of permanent chief steward for the World Rally Championship.
"Both championships need a single permanent steward. It will help to sustain consistency in the decision making process," said Hoosein.[/QUOTE]
| Ferg | 03-06-2006 10:01 AM |
more news...
[QUOTE]Button aims to challenge for Bahrain win
Monday, March 6th 2006, 12:58 GMT
Briton Jenson Button says he will be disappointed if his Honda team are not in the fight for victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix next weekend.
"We want to be challenging for wins," said Button, who finished only ninth in the 2005 drivers' championship. "If you are going to try to be challenging for the championship and for wins during the year, you need to start at the first race, and that's Bahrain.
"We are more ready than we have been in any other year, so, to go to Bahrain, you have to say will be hoping to challenge for a win. We will be very disappointed if that isn't the case."
Both Button and teammate Rubens Barrichello are hoping they can lead their team to their first Grand Prix victory.
Honda, who had been in a partnership with BAR since 2000 but acquired a 100 percent shareholding last October, have put their team through an extensive programme of winter testing.
Since the end of November, the cars have completed 27,000 kilometres, with 14,700 kilometres in 18 days of running since the new RA106 car made its debut on January 25.
Throughout February, each of the team's two cars lapped well in excess of a race distance on each day of testing, with test driver Anthony Davidson alone doing 412 laps of the Valencia circuit in Spain in three days last week.
"The most important thing in winter testing is reliability and that's been very good with us this winter," added Button, who despite 12 podium finishes in 100 Grands Prix has yet to win a race.
"In Bahrain, we completed 4,500 kilometres which is unbelievable on a four-day test. It's been going well and we just can't wait for the first race now."
Barrichello, the 33-year-old Brazilian who has joined the team after six seasons with Ferrari, said that new regulations, which have seen the introduction of the less powerful V8 engine over the V10, will make a difference to this season's Grands Prix.
"The new V8 engine is a different engine to drive," he said. "It has less power, obviously, but it has some small issues with driveability.
"Everyone has, not just the Honda team. It's not just putting the power down because it has less power, it's a different engine to drive and I think it's the biggest change that we've had for the past five years, and it will require a different way of driving.
"But that's quite exciting as well, because at the end of the day, it's not just going down on the power and it makes it easier, it's going to be different."
BAR had a disappointing 2005, finishing sixth overall behind champions Renault after ending 2004 as runners-up to Ferrari. They were also banned for two races for a fuel and weight irregularity.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Michelin critical of tyre changes return
Monday, March 6th 2006, 11:54 GMT
Michelin's Formula One director Nick Shorrock has lamented the return of tyre changes to the sport ahead of the first race of the 2006 season.
After a year of making tyres last for qualifying and the race, Formula One will again have drivers making regular pitstops for fresh rubber.
That could boost the fortunes of Bridgestone and Ferrari, eclipsed by Michelin last year but dominant in 2004 when races were sprints between tyre changes.
Shorrock said that, although the rules have been revised in the hope of reducing costs, tyre changes mean Michelin will need to carry 38 per cent more stock than in 2005, thus increasing the costs significantly.
"Although the rules were changed in a bid to reduce costs, it is disappointing to note that a tyre manufacturer such as Michelin will have to carry 38 per cent more stock to Grands Prix this season than it did in 2005," said Shorrock.
"Michelin is working with six F1 partners this year, rather than seven, yet finds itself having to supply more than 300 extra tyres per race weekend.
"This weekend marks the dawn of a new F1 era. It's a step into the unknown for everybody, but Michelin has prepared with its traditional attention to detail. We expect fierce competition but, as history shows, we thrive on such challenges."
Michelin, the world's biggest tyre group, will leave Formula One at the end of the season after Formula One's ruling body, the FIA, announced plans for a single supplier from 2008.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Alonso optimistic Michelin still ahead
Monday, March 6th 2006, 11:21 GMT
French tyre manufacturer Michelin has responded well to the return of tyre changes in 2006 and can maintain its dominance over rivals Bridgestone this year.
That is the view of World Champion Fernando Alonso, who believes that the change in tyre regulations this year has not automatically handed the initiative to Bridgestone - even though the Japanese tyre supplier dominated the sport the last time pitstops were allowed.
"Michelin has done a very good job developing the tyres for the new rules," said Alonso. "I think they were under pressure when the rules changed, because people thought that they were not so competitive in 2004. But we are there.
"We have a super tyre now, it doesn't matter whether the temperatures are high or low. I think we have good performance, and good consistency. I am confident that the Michelin will still be the best tyre in Formula One this year."
Although Renault chose not to attend a recent pre-season test at Bahrain, technical director Bob Bell is confident that his team and Michelin will not be at a disadvantage compared to front-runners Honda Racing and Ferrari who did.
"The testing Honda were able to do has provided Michelin with good direction on the tyres, and that will benefit all the Michelin teams," explained Bell. "Furthermore, last year we were able to set the car up very quickly and we didn't lose running time optimising set-up.
"I think the R26 is even better in that area, so while the other teams have had the advantage of extra track time, I don't think it will be a critical factor."
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Raikkonen cautious with Bahrain predictions
Monday, March 6th 2006, 11:18 GMT
Kimi Raikkonen is reserving judgement on McLaren's form until the first qualifying session of the season in Bahrain this weekend.
McLaren endured a poor start to their winter preparations after being hit by constant engine problems with the new Mercedes V8 unit.
The team, however, have made progress in recent weeks and look to be among the favourites to fight for victory in Bahrain.
Raikkonen, who finished second in last year's Championship, says the MP4-21 feels quick, but the Finn is staying cautious until the real action starts.
"The car has felt good on track and is quick, which can be seen from the improvements in laptimes of more than three seconds," said Raikkonen.
"Of course I want to carry on from our performance last year and be challenging for race wins, however we will only see where we are in Bahrain after qualifying."
McLaren's Formula One CEO Martin Whitmarsh echoed Raikkonen's thoughts, warning the competition this year will be very hard.
"Despite initial work beginning on MP4-21 in August 2004 and the car completing around 8,700 test km, as always, relative performances cannot be truly judged until the first few races have been run," said Whitmarsh.
"I expect there will be a number of teams challenging for the titles. Kimi and Juan Pablo alongside the entire team and our partners will battle hard and are looking forward to the challenges ahead."
Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug says the team's improvement following the hard start to winter testing has shown their strength.
"The start with the new MP4-21 at Barcelona on 23rd January was not trouble-free and in the beginning we were not where we wanted," said Haug. "However, in the following five and a half weeks or about 40 days until the final test at Valencia on 1 March, our team showed what it's capable of, be it chassis or engine wise."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Button aims to challenge for Bahrain win
Monday, March 6th 2006, 12:58 GMT
Briton Jenson Button says he will be disappointed if his Honda team are not in the fight for victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix next weekend.
"We want to be challenging for wins," said Button, who finished only ninth in the 2005 drivers' championship. "If you are going to try to be challenging for the championship and for wins during the year, you need to start at the first race, and that's Bahrain.
"We are more ready than we have been in any other year, so, to go to Bahrain, you have to say will be hoping to challenge for a win. We will be very disappointed if that isn't the case."
Both Button and teammate Rubens Barrichello are hoping they can lead their team to their first Grand Prix victory.
Honda, who had been in a partnership with BAR since 2000 but acquired a 100 percent shareholding last October, have put their team through an extensive programme of winter testing.
Since the end of November, the cars have completed 27,000 kilometres, with 14,700 kilometres in 18 days of running since the new RA106 car made its debut on January 25.
Throughout February, each of the team's two cars lapped well in excess of a race distance on each day of testing, with test driver Anthony Davidson alone doing 412 laps of the Valencia circuit in Spain in three days last week.
"The most important thing in winter testing is reliability and that's been very good with us this winter," added Button, who despite 12 podium finishes in 100 Grands Prix has yet to win a race.
"In Bahrain, we completed 4,500 kilometres which is unbelievable on a four-day test. It's been going well and we just can't wait for the first race now."
Barrichello, the 33-year-old Brazilian who has joined the team after six seasons with Ferrari, said that new regulations, which have seen the introduction of the less powerful V8 engine over the V10, will make a difference to this season's Grands Prix.
"The new V8 engine is a different engine to drive," he said. "It has less power, obviously, but it has some small issues with driveability.
"Everyone has, not just the Honda team. It's not just putting the power down because it has less power, it's a different engine to drive and I think it's the biggest change that we've had for the past five years, and it will require a different way of driving.
"But that's quite exciting as well, because at the end of the day, it's not just going down on the power and it makes it easier, it's going to be different."
BAR had a disappointing 2005, finishing sixth overall behind champions Renault after ending 2004 as runners-up to Ferrari. They were also banned for two races for a fuel and weight irregularity.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Michelin critical of tyre changes return
Monday, March 6th 2006, 11:54 GMT
Michelin's Formula One director Nick Shorrock has lamented the return of tyre changes to the sport ahead of the first race of the 2006 season.
After a year of making tyres last for qualifying and the race, Formula One will again have drivers making regular pitstops for fresh rubber.
That could boost the fortunes of Bridgestone and Ferrari, eclipsed by Michelin last year but dominant in 2004 when races were sprints between tyre changes.
Shorrock said that, although the rules have been revised in the hope of reducing costs, tyre changes mean Michelin will need to carry 38 per cent more stock than in 2005, thus increasing the costs significantly.
"Although the rules were changed in a bid to reduce costs, it is disappointing to note that a tyre manufacturer such as Michelin will have to carry 38 per cent more stock to Grands Prix this season than it did in 2005," said Shorrock.
"Michelin is working with six F1 partners this year, rather than seven, yet finds itself having to supply more than 300 extra tyres per race weekend.
"This weekend marks the dawn of a new F1 era. It's a step into the unknown for everybody, but Michelin has prepared with its traditional attention to detail. We expect fierce competition but, as history shows, we thrive on such challenges."
Michelin, the world's biggest tyre group, will leave Formula One at the end of the season after Formula One's ruling body, the FIA, announced plans for a single supplier from 2008.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Alonso optimistic Michelin still ahead
Monday, March 6th 2006, 11:21 GMT
French tyre manufacturer Michelin has responded well to the return of tyre changes in 2006 and can maintain its dominance over rivals Bridgestone this year.
That is the view of World Champion Fernando Alonso, who believes that the change in tyre regulations this year has not automatically handed the initiative to Bridgestone - even though the Japanese tyre supplier dominated the sport the last time pitstops were allowed.
"Michelin has done a very good job developing the tyres for the new rules," said Alonso. "I think they were under pressure when the rules changed, because people thought that they were not so competitive in 2004. But we are there.
"We have a super tyre now, it doesn't matter whether the temperatures are high or low. I think we have good performance, and good consistency. I am confident that the Michelin will still be the best tyre in Formula One this year."
Although Renault chose not to attend a recent pre-season test at Bahrain, technical director Bob Bell is confident that his team and Michelin will not be at a disadvantage compared to front-runners Honda Racing and Ferrari who did.
"The testing Honda were able to do has provided Michelin with good direction on the tyres, and that will benefit all the Michelin teams," explained Bell. "Furthermore, last year we were able to set the car up very quickly and we didn't lose running time optimising set-up.
"I think the R26 is even better in that area, so while the other teams have had the advantage of extra track time, I don't think it will be a critical factor."
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Raikkonen cautious with Bahrain predictions
Monday, March 6th 2006, 11:18 GMT
Kimi Raikkonen is reserving judgement on McLaren's form until the first qualifying session of the season in Bahrain this weekend.
McLaren endured a poor start to their winter preparations after being hit by constant engine problems with the new Mercedes V8 unit.
The team, however, have made progress in recent weeks and look to be among the favourites to fight for victory in Bahrain.
Raikkonen, who finished second in last year's Championship, says the MP4-21 feels quick, but the Finn is staying cautious until the real action starts.
"The car has felt good on track and is quick, which can be seen from the improvements in laptimes of more than three seconds," said Raikkonen.
"Of course I want to carry on from our performance last year and be challenging for race wins, however we will only see where we are in Bahrain after qualifying."
McLaren's Formula One CEO Martin Whitmarsh echoed Raikkonen's thoughts, warning the competition this year will be very hard.
"Despite initial work beginning on MP4-21 in August 2004 and the car completing around 8,700 test km, as always, relative performances cannot be truly judged until the first few races have been run," said Whitmarsh.
"I expect there will be a number of teams challenging for the titles. Kimi and Juan Pablo alongside the entire team and our partners will battle hard and are looking forward to the challenges ahead."
Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug says the team's improvement following the hard start to winter testing has shown their strength.
"The start with the new MP4-21 at Barcelona on 23rd January was not trouble-free and in the beginning we were not where we wanted," said Haug. "However, in the following five and a half weeks or about 40 days until the final test at Valencia on 1 March, our team showed what it's capable of, be it chassis or engine wise."[/QUOTE]
| Ferg | 03-06-2006 10:03 AM |
a little more...
[QUOTE]Renault upbeat about revised aero
Monday, March 6th 2006, 11:07 GMT
Renault are hoping that a new aerodynamic upgrade planned for their R26 at this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix will help them start off their title defence in perfect style.
The team's 2006-challenger has been marked out as one of the pre-season favourites after some impressive performances in winter testing, and the team confirmed on Monday that new developments, tried out for the first time at the recent Barcelona test, should make it even quicker come this weekend.
"We are constantly honing all areas of the aerodynamics," said Renault's technical director Bob Bell. "This (new) package includes a new floor, modifications to the front wing and nose, modified suspension components and the addition of two small chassis winglets. Altogether, that represents several tenths in laptime."
Bell said that Renault were planning to push the development programme for their R26 much harder than they did last season - which will likely result in new parts coming on board for each race.
"We intend to push even harder than we did for the R25, and we are gearing up for that. In concrete terms, that means developments at every race. Furthermore, we will be working with more capacity than last year.
"Our wind tunnel is now operating 24 hours a day, and we have made other changes to streamline our working methods. All of that means we will be able to add performance to the car even faster this year."
Despite his optimism about the work on the R26, Bell has drawn short of admitting that Renault are the favourites for Bahrain.
"Looking at the winter testing times, and especially the long runs, then it's obvious that Renault, Honda and McLaren are right up there at the front," he said.
"I am sure come Bahrain, Ferrari will be much more competitive than last year. It is hard to judge exactly how much at the moment, but you can never write them off. I think Toyota will also move further along, and show themselves to be more competitive."
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Alonso relaxed ahead of first race
Monday, March 6th 2006, 10:35 GMT
World Champion Fernando Alonso has insisted he is heading into this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix in a relaxed mood rather than feeling under pressure as the man to beat.
The Spaniard has enjoyed a promising build-up to the season thanks to the encouraging pace of the R26 and says he cannot wait for the action to start.
Speaking about the preparation for the year, he said: "Yes, I think we have done what we needed to. The car is ready to race: it has done a lot of laps, on all types of circuits and conditions. Now is the time to measure ourselves against the others in the first race. We have done the maximum possible, so I am relaxed going into the season.
He added: "I don't think there is more pressure, but I am very proud to have number one on the car. It is the maximum you can achieve in all motorsport, one of the moments you dream about all of your career. I am excited to arrive in Bahrain with number one on the car, and I will be trying to enjoy this year to the maximum."
Despite his confidence, Alonso is refusing to believe that Renault are the favourites for victory in Bahrain - although he has no doubts they will be up there fighting at the front.
"I think Renault are definitely up there. Honda, Ferrari, McLaren and Renault have been the four big teams in winter testing, and now we must check in the opening races. For sure, Renault are the ones to beat because we are the World Champions, and I am confident we have done a good job."
And after admitting that he had gone into 2005 not even considering himself a title challenger, he says that winning another championship is his sole goal for this year.
"It is very difficult to win a championship, and you need a lot of things around you to have the chance," he explained. "Last year, I started the season dreaming of maybe winning one race and getting regular podiums, but we won the title.
"In 2006, I know we have a competitive car in the R26, so my only goal is to repeat the title."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Fisichella determined to fight for title
Monday, March 6th 2006, 10:32 GMT
Giancarlo Fisichella is optimistic he will be able to fight for this year's title following a disappointing 2005 with Renault.
"My motivation is very high," said Fisichella in a team preview. "I am very pleased to be with a great team like Renault, the World Champions. Also, I know I am driving a very quick car this year.
"My target is to fight for the championship, and I am optimistic I can do that."
The Italian driver arrived at Renault with high hopes last season, but, after winning the first race of the year in Australia, he was overshadowed by teammate Fernando Alonso, who went on to win the drivers' title.
Fisichella, fifth in last year's championship, is again aiming to start the season in strong fashion with a win at the Bahrain Grand Prix, but the Roman admits the important thing will be to fight at the top in every race.
"Obviously, I hope so (to win in Bahrain)," he said. "But honestly, that's not the most important thing. In 2006, I want to win the rest of the season as well, and start scoring a lot of points. It didn't happen for me in 2005, but this year, I want to fight for the title.
"Last year's car was very comfortable for the drivers, and so is the R26. In fact, I am even happier in this car. The rear is more stable under braking and in the middle of the corner. We have made a step forward on the traction too. That all means I can drive the car how I want to, and gives me even more confidence."
Speaking about his rivals, Fisichella said once again that Honda and McLaren will be Renault's main rivals this year, with Ferrari's form still a mystery.
"The tests showed us that Honda are very strong, and McLaren have made a big step forward," Fisichella added. "We don't know about Ferrari because we haven't done much running with them, but Renault are definitely among the favourites."
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Rossi to decide on future in three months
Monday, March 6th 2006, 10:08 GMT
MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi says he will decide if he wants to switch to four-wheel racing in about three months time.
Italian Rossi, who has won motorcycling's top category for the past five years, recently tested a Ferrari Formula One car in Spain and earned a great deal of praise from the stable after performing well.
However, Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher said in an interview with daily Bild he did not expect to see Rossi and himself race together for Ferrari next year.
"To be perfectly honest, this is pretty improbable," he told the newspaper.
Asked if this was due to him retiring after this season, he added: "This has absolutely nothing to do with me."
Rossi, meanwhile, said he hadn't made up his mind yet about his future.
"If he says so! Joking apart, nothing's changed," Rossi told Gazzetta dello Sport. "The decision hasn't been taken yet but you will know soon.
"When? Two months' time is too little, let's say three."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Super Aguri aiming to make quick impact
Monday, March 6th 2006, 09:48 GMT
Super Aguri team boss Aguri Suzuki wants his F1 squad to make an immediate impact after getting finally the green light last month to become Formula One's 11th team.
"My team might be small but I want to quickly turn it into one that is competitive at the highest level," Suzuki, flanked by drivers Takuma Sato and Yuji Ide, told reporters.
"I want results in the near future."
Sato was positive about Super Aguri's chances.
"It might be difficult at the start but I'm sure we can improve step by step," said Sato, who was dropped by BAR, now renamed Honda Racing F1, last year.
"It's a new challenge and I hope to use my experience to the full."
The 2006 Formula One season starts in Bahrain on March 12.
Super Aguri's initial application to join Formula One was rejected by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) after a $48 million bond was not paid by a November deadline.
But the Honda-powered team were finally confirmed after securing the agreement of the other 10 teams.
Aguri's team have moved into the old Arrows factory in central England and will start the season with old Arrows cars purchased from ex-Minardi boss Paul Stoddart.
Japanese manufacturers Bridgestone will provide Super Aguri's tyres for Formula One's first all-Japanese team. [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Irvine looking at creating new team
Monday, March 6th 2006, 11:43 GMT
Former Grand Prix driver Eddie Irvine has announced plans to set-up his own Formula One team, with backing from a Russian vodka and banking magnate.
The Ulsterman is no stranger to rumours linking him with a role in team management, with speculation last year suggesting he was close to a buy-out of the Midland team, but has now openly admitted that his plans are reaching fruition.
In an interview with the Irish Independent, Irvine claims that he and his business partner Roustam Tariko have decided to go it alone after failing in bids to buy both Midland and Minardi.
"We are looking at starting a team from scratch as there are no teams for sale at the minute," said Irvine.
"Roustam wants to do it, we've got the money and I think it is an opportunity."
Irvine will face a race against time to get his bid onto the grid, with only one remaining place available in F1. Former BAR boss David Richards and McLaren sponsor Direxiv are also believed to be pushing hard to get their outfits into Grand Prix racing.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Renault upbeat about revised aero
Monday, March 6th 2006, 11:07 GMT
Renault are hoping that a new aerodynamic upgrade planned for their R26 at this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix will help them start off their title defence in perfect style.
The team's 2006-challenger has been marked out as one of the pre-season favourites after some impressive performances in winter testing, and the team confirmed on Monday that new developments, tried out for the first time at the recent Barcelona test, should make it even quicker come this weekend.
"We are constantly honing all areas of the aerodynamics," said Renault's technical director Bob Bell. "This (new) package includes a new floor, modifications to the front wing and nose, modified suspension components and the addition of two small chassis winglets. Altogether, that represents several tenths in laptime."
Bell said that Renault were planning to push the development programme for their R26 much harder than they did last season - which will likely result in new parts coming on board for each race.
"We intend to push even harder than we did for the R25, and we are gearing up for that. In concrete terms, that means developments at every race. Furthermore, we will be working with more capacity than last year.
"Our wind tunnel is now operating 24 hours a day, and we have made other changes to streamline our working methods. All of that means we will be able to add performance to the car even faster this year."
Despite his optimism about the work on the R26, Bell has drawn short of admitting that Renault are the favourites for Bahrain.
"Looking at the winter testing times, and especially the long runs, then it's obvious that Renault, Honda and McLaren are right up there at the front," he said.
"I am sure come Bahrain, Ferrari will be much more competitive than last year. It is hard to judge exactly how much at the moment, but you can never write them off. I think Toyota will also move further along, and show themselves to be more competitive."
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Alonso relaxed ahead of first race
Monday, March 6th 2006, 10:35 GMT
World Champion Fernando Alonso has insisted he is heading into this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix in a relaxed mood rather than feeling under pressure as the man to beat.
The Spaniard has enjoyed a promising build-up to the season thanks to the encouraging pace of the R26 and says he cannot wait for the action to start.
Speaking about the preparation for the year, he said: "Yes, I think we have done what we needed to. The car is ready to race: it has done a lot of laps, on all types of circuits and conditions. Now is the time to measure ourselves against the others in the first race. We have done the maximum possible, so I am relaxed going into the season.
He added: "I don't think there is more pressure, but I am very proud to have number one on the car. It is the maximum you can achieve in all motorsport, one of the moments you dream about all of your career. I am excited to arrive in Bahrain with number one on the car, and I will be trying to enjoy this year to the maximum."
Despite his confidence, Alonso is refusing to believe that Renault are the favourites for victory in Bahrain - although he has no doubts they will be up there fighting at the front.
"I think Renault are definitely up there. Honda, Ferrari, McLaren and Renault have been the four big teams in winter testing, and now we must check in the opening races. For sure, Renault are the ones to beat because we are the World Champions, and I am confident we have done a good job."
And after admitting that he had gone into 2005 not even considering himself a title challenger, he says that winning another championship is his sole goal for this year.
"It is very difficult to win a championship, and you need a lot of things around you to have the chance," he explained. "Last year, I started the season dreaming of maybe winning one race and getting regular podiums, but we won the title.
"In 2006, I know we have a competitive car in the R26, so my only goal is to repeat the title."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Fisichella determined to fight for title
Monday, March 6th 2006, 10:32 GMT
Giancarlo Fisichella is optimistic he will be able to fight for this year's title following a disappointing 2005 with Renault.
"My motivation is very high," said Fisichella in a team preview. "I am very pleased to be with a great team like Renault, the World Champions. Also, I know I am driving a very quick car this year.
"My target is to fight for the championship, and I am optimistic I can do that."
The Italian driver arrived at Renault with high hopes last season, but, after winning the first race of the year in Australia, he was overshadowed by teammate Fernando Alonso, who went on to win the drivers' title.
Fisichella, fifth in last year's championship, is again aiming to start the season in strong fashion with a win at the Bahrain Grand Prix, but the Roman admits the important thing will be to fight at the top in every race.
"Obviously, I hope so (to win in Bahrain)," he said. "But honestly, that's not the most important thing. In 2006, I want to win the rest of the season as well, and start scoring a lot of points. It didn't happen for me in 2005, but this year, I want to fight for the title.
"Last year's car was very comfortable for the drivers, and so is the R26. In fact, I am even happier in this car. The rear is more stable under braking and in the middle of the corner. We have made a step forward on the traction too. That all means I can drive the car how I want to, and gives me even more confidence."
Speaking about his rivals, Fisichella said once again that Honda and McLaren will be Renault's main rivals this year, with Ferrari's form still a mystery.
"The tests showed us that Honda are very strong, and McLaren have made a big step forward," Fisichella added. "We don't know about Ferrari because we haven't done much running with them, but Renault are definitely among the favourites."
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Rossi to decide on future in three months
Monday, March 6th 2006, 10:08 GMT
MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi says he will decide if he wants to switch to four-wheel racing in about three months time.
Italian Rossi, who has won motorcycling's top category for the past five years, recently tested a Ferrari Formula One car in Spain and earned a great deal of praise from the stable after performing well.
However, Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher said in an interview with daily Bild he did not expect to see Rossi and himself race together for Ferrari next year.
"To be perfectly honest, this is pretty improbable," he told the newspaper.
Asked if this was due to him retiring after this season, he added: "This has absolutely nothing to do with me."
Rossi, meanwhile, said he hadn't made up his mind yet about his future.
"If he says so! Joking apart, nothing's changed," Rossi told Gazzetta dello Sport. "The decision hasn't been taken yet but you will know soon.
"When? Two months' time is too little, let's say three."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Super Aguri aiming to make quick impact
Monday, March 6th 2006, 09:48 GMT
Super Aguri team boss Aguri Suzuki wants his F1 squad to make an immediate impact after getting finally the green light last month to become Formula One's 11th team.
"My team might be small but I want to quickly turn it into one that is competitive at the highest level," Suzuki, flanked by drivers Takuma Sato and Yuji Ide, told reporters.
"I want results in the near future."
Sato was positive about Super Aguri's chances.
"It might be difficult at the start but I'm sure we can improve step by step," said Sato, who was dropped by BAR, now renamed Honda Racing F1, last year.
"It's a new challenge and I hope to use my experience to the full."
The 2006 Formula One season starts in Bahrain on March 12.
Super Aguri's initial application to join Formula One was rejected by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) after a $48 million bond was not paid by a November deadline.
But the Honda-powered team were finally confirmed after securing the agreement of the other 10 teams.
Aguri's team have moved into the old Arrows factory in central England and will start the season with old Arrows cars purchased from ex-Minardi boss Paul Stoddart.
Japanese manufacturers Bridgestone will provide Super Aguri's tyres for Formula One's first all-Japanese team. [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Irvine looking at creating new team
Monday, March 6th 2006, 11:43 GMT
Former Grand Prix driver Eddie Irvine has announced plans to set-up his own Formula One team, with backing from a Russian vodka and banking magnate.
The Ulsterman is no stranger to rumours linking him with a role in team management, with speculation last year suggesting he was close to a buy-out of the Midland team, but has now openly admitted that his plans are reaching fruition.
In an interview with the Irish Independent, Irvine claims that he and his business partner Roustam Tariko have decided to go it alone after failing in bids to buy both Midland and Minardi.
"We are looking at starting a team from scratch as there are no teams for sale at the minute," said Irvine.
"Roustam wants to do it, we've got the money and I think it is an opportunity."
Irvine will face a race against time to get his bid onto the grid, with only one remaining place available in F1. Former BAR boss David Richards and McLaren sponsor Direxiv are also believed to be pushing hard to get their outfits into Grand Prix racing.[/QUOTE]
| artkevin | 03-06-2006 10:27 AM |
So it looks like ther will be about 36 cars on the grid in 2008. :lol:
| TimStevens | 03-06-2006 10:29 AM |
I recently d/l'd the 1988 Mexican GP, and was amazed that there were enough cars for a 30 car grid, but a few didn't qualify, and one didn't pass tech inspection. Crazy.
| Ferg | 03-06-2006 10:46 AM |
Ah, back in the "quantity, not quality" phase of F1, at least that's what Bernie wants you to think. Persoanlly I have always loved the no-hopers, with my all time favorite being the "Life" team with their W12 engine that never seemed to turn more than one complete lap without grenading. They qualified 30 seconds off the backend of the grid (38 seconds off pole) at Pheonix in 1990....
the only picture I can find of the Life Racing F190 driven by Gary Brabham..
[IMG]http://www.f-1.lt/images/old/life.jpg[/IMG]
[QUOTE]Schumacher sure he will fight for title
By Jonathan Noble Monday, March 6th 2006, 15:37 GMT
Former World Champion Michael Schumacher is convinced that Ferrari will be in the hunt for world title glory this year - even if they fail to shine in this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix.
Speaking just before he departed for the Middle East on Monday, Schumacher admitted that poor weather that marred last week's test at Mugello had hampered his team's pre-season build-up, but he was nevertheless optimistic about an eventual return to the top.
"I'm convinced that our 248 F1 has the potential to take part in the fight for the championship title," he said. "Even though we were not able to put in as many kilometres as we would have liked to due to the weather, I'm still confident about the start of the season.
"Even if we can't win the first few races, we do have a very clear idea of how the car will improve over the course of the year. This is very valuable. So it would be ideal to at least score some points in the first race. In any way, we're travelling to the races at Bahrain and Malaysia fully motivated."
Schumacher believes that reigning champions Renault are heading into the season as favourites for victory, but believes that the overall fight at the front is too close to call.
"Renault seem to be the strongest right now, followed by three teams: Honda, Mercedes (McLaren) and Ferrari," he explained. "I think it's going to be a very close match this season. I think the teams are not far apart, so we will have to get ready for a tough fight over the championship title.
"We welcome this, situations like this boost our morale even more, and it's great for the sport and our fans. I think everyone can look forward to this year's World Championship. So it's a good thing that we're finally getting started."
Despite the poor weather of last week, however, Schumacher believes Ferrari may have an edge over some of their rivals this weekend thanks to a major test they conducted at Sakhir last month.
"Those were our first tests in warmer weather in quite a while and they took place on the Grand-Prix circuit. That cannot be a disadvantage.
"On the contrary: it should give us a certain advantage regarding our choice of tyres and set-up."[/QUOTE]
the only picture I can find of the Life Racing F190 driven by Gary Brabham..
[IMG]http://www.f-1.lt/images/old/life.jpg[/IMG]
[QUOTE]Schumacher sure he will fight for title
By Jonathan Noble Monday, March 6th 2006, 15:37 GMT
Former World Champion Michael Schumacher is convinced that Ferrari will be in the hunt for world title glory this year - even if they fail to shine in this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix.
Speaking just before he departed for the Middle East on Monday, Schumacher admitted that poor weather that marred last week's test at Mugello had hampered his team's pre-season build-up, but he was nevertheless optimistic about an eventual return to the top.
"I'm convinced that our 248 F1 has the potential to take part in the fight for the championship title," he said. "Even though we were not able to put in as many kilometres as we would have liked to due to the weather, I'm still confident about the start of the season.
"Even if we can't win the first few races, we do have a very clear idea of how the car will improve over the course of the year. This is very valuable. So it would be ideal to at least score some points in the first race. In any way, we're travelling to the races at Bahrain and Malaysia fully motivated."
Schumacher believes that reigning champions Renault are heading into the season as favourites for victory, but believes that the overall fight at the front is too close to call.
"Renault seem to be the strongest right now, followed by three teams: Honda, Mercedes (McLaren) and Ferrari," he explained. "I think it's going to be a very close match this season. I think the teams are not far apart, so we will have to get ready for a tough fight over the championship title.
"We welcome this, situations like this boost our morale even more, and it's great for the sport and our fans. I think everyone can look forward to this year's World Championship. So it's a good thing that we're finally getting started."
Despite the poor weather of last week, however, Schumacher believes Ferrari may have an edge over some of their rivals this weekend thanks to a major test they conducted at Sakhir last month.
"Those were our first tests in warmer weather in quite a while and they took place on the Grand-Prix circuit. That cannot be a disadvantage.
"On the contrary: it should give us a certain advantage regarding our choice of tyres and set-up."[/QUOTE]
| artkevin | 03-06-2006 11:08 AM |
That Life car looks like a dolphin and a Ferrari mated.
| Ferg | 03-06-2006 11:10 AM |
TV shcedule for this weekend....
[QUOTE][B]ALL TIMES PACIFIC![/B]
Friday, March 10th, Friday Practice [B]3:00am[/B]
Saturday, March 11th, Qualifying [b]3:00am[/b]
Sunday, March 12th, RACE!!!! [b]3:00am[/b]
[i]*race rebroadcast at 9:30am on the 12th as well*[/i]
[/QUOTE]
:banana:
[QUOTE][B]ALL TIMES PACIFIC![/B]
Friday, March 10th, Friday Practice [B]3:00am[/B]
Saturday, March 11th, Qualifying [b]3:00am[/b]
Sunday, March 12th, RACE!!!! [b]3:00am[/b]
[i]*race rebroadcast at 9:30am on the 12th as well*[/i]
[/QUOTE]
:banana:
| Ferg | 03-06-2006 01:45 PM |
I know I said I wouldn't start it, but I figured what the hell, I already had the preview stuff ready to go..
[URL=http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=955169]->2006 GP of Bahrain Thread!<-[/URL]
:banana:
[URL=http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=955169]->2006 GP of Bahrain Thread!<-[/URL]
:banana:
| Ferg | 03-06-2006 01:54 PM |
Keeping all the general F1 news in this thread.
[QUOTE]Suzuki praises team effort ahead of debut
Monday, March 6th 2006, 18:26 GMT
Super Aguri boss Aguri Suzuki has praised his team's efforts in getting ready for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
The Japanese squad faced a race against time to make it onto the grid of Sakhir after becoming an eleventh hour entry this year.
With only one proper test in Barcelona, Super Aguri will make their Grand Prix debut in Bahrain using a revised 2002 Arrows chassis and powered by Honda engines.
Although Suzuki admits the start will be hard, he claims the team are determined to fight their way to the top.
"The first race of the 2006 F1 season is a milestone for Super Aguri Formula One," said Suzuki. "It is an amazing achievement that we have put together an F1 team in only four months and I am very proud of everyone involved.
"As a new team we have many personnel who are new to Formula One and we are all very much looking forward to arriving in Bahrain. We know that we will experience very hot weather and high track temperatures, so a top priority will be looking after our tyres during the race.
"At our test in Barcelona we finalised with Bridgestone our tyre choice for Bahrain and the Honda engine has been running well. We know that we have a challenging year ahead, but we are determined and have great team spirit which we hope you will see this weekend."
Takuma Sato, who will drive for the team alongside Yuji Ide, echoed his team principal's comments about the task ahead, but admitted he can't wait to get racing.
"I am very excited to be going to Bahrain with a brand new team," said Sato. "They have done a great job to ensure that we made it to the first race - and that is a fantastic achievement.
"We shook down the car with our 2006 aero package last week and although we did not get to do much running due to bad weather, the car worked well immediately.
"It will feel very different starting the season in Bahrain. The circuit in Sakhir provides an exciting race, but it is demanding on the car, especially on the brakes due to the number of low-speed corners and the heat. We know that it will be a difficult start for what will be a very challenging year, but we are very much looking forward to it."
Ide, who will make his Grand Prix debut too this weekend, was also excited about his first race.
"I have been studying race simulations to learn the Bahrain circuit and the braking for the first corner looks challenging," he said. "I have never visited Bahrain, so I am excited to go. I am expecting tough conditions as it is my first F1 race but also because of the hot weather.
"I have driven in the heat at Sepang in Malaysia for Formula Nippon, but I know that dry heat will be very different. Whenever I race in hot conditions I am very careful to monitor my liquid intake and take care of what I am drinking for my re-hydration.
"The anticipation of my first Formula One race is nearly over and I am very excited about it."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Williams duo glad guessing game is over
Monday, March 6th 2006, 18:34 GMT
Australian Mark Webber says he can't wait to get back into racing action to see where his Williams team are this season.
"After all the pre-season testing and guessing games, I don't think there'll be a driver on the grid who's not looking forward to getting down to what it's all about, and that's pitching yourself against everyone else," said Webber in a team preview.
"The first race always has an extra buzz because it delivers the answers to those unresolved questions from pre-season testing. I'm looking forward to seeing where we're at and to see what the first part of the season may bring for Williams. Bahrain can't come quick enough."
Williams, who endured a poor season in 2005 with BMW engines, have switched to Cosworth units for this year and will also use Bridgestone tyres instead of Michelins.
The team have also signed Nico Rosberg to partner Webber, the young German making his Grand Prix debut in Bahrain after winning the GP2 title last year.
Rosberg, like Webber, admitted he was looking forward to starting racing.
"After so much testing, it's going be good to finally race and it will be very interesting to see where we are compared with the others teams," said Rosberg. "I'm very confident, though, as the recent tests have been going well for me and I feel very much at home in the car.
"I am looking forward to my first Formula One race, especially because it's on a track that I really enjoy and one that I have had great success at having won the GP2 Championship there last year."[/QUOTE]
[URL=http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=955169]->2006 GP of Bahrain Thread!<-[/URL]
[QUOTE]Suzuki praises team effort ahead of debut
Monday, March 6th 2006, 18:26 GMT
Super Aguri boss Aguri Suzuki has praised his team's efforts in getting ready for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
The Japanese squad faced a race against time to make it onto the grid of Sakhir after becoming an eleventh hour entry this year.
With only one proper test in Barcelona, Super Aguri will make their Grand Prix debut in Bahrain using a revised 2002 Arrows chassis and powered by Honda engines.
Although Suzuki admits the start will be hard, he claims the team are determined to fight their way to the top.
"The first race of the 2006 F1 season is a milestone for Super Aguri Formula One," said Suzuki. "It is an amazing achievement that we have put together an F1 team in only four months and I am very proud of everyone involved.
"As a new team we have many personnel who are new to Formula One and we are all very much looking forward to arriving in Bahrain. We know that we will experience very hot weather and high track temperatures, so a top priority will be looking after our tyres during the race.
"At our test in Barcelona we finalised with Bridgestone our tyre choice for Bahrain and the Honda engine has been running well. We know that we have a challenging year ahead, but we are determined and have great team spirit which we hope you will see this weekend."
Takuma Sato, who will drive for the team alongside Yuji Ide, echoed his team principal's comments about the task ahead, but admitted he can't wait to get racing.
"I am very excited to be going to Bahrain with a brand new team," said Sato. "They have done a great job to ensure that we made it to the first race - and that is a fantastic achievement.
"We shook down the car with our 2006 aero package last week and although we did not get to do much running due to bad weather, the car worked well immediately.
"It will feel very different starting the season in Bahrain. The circuit in Sakhir provides an exciting race, but it is demanding on the car, especially on the brakes due to the number of low-speed corners and the heat. We know that it will be a difficult start for what will be a very challenging year, but we are very much looking forward to it."
Ide, who will make his Grand Prix debut too this weekend, was also excited about his first race.
"I have been studying race simulations to learn the Bahrain circuit and the braking for the first corner looks challenging," he said. "I have never visited Bahrain, so I am excited to go. I am expecting tough conditions as it is my first F1 race but also because of the hot weather.
"I have driven in the heat at Sepang in Malaysia for Formula Nippon, but I know that dry heat will be very different. Whenever I race in hot conditions I am very careful to monitor my liquid intake and take care of what I am drinking for my re-hydration.
"The anticipation of my first Formula One race is nearly over and I am very excited about it."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Williams duo glad guessing game is over
Monday, March 6th 2006, 18:34 GMT
Australian Mark Webber says he can't wait to get back into racing action to see where his Williams team are this season.
"After all the pre-season testing and guessing games, I don't think there'll be a driver on the grid who's not looking forward to getting down to what it's all about, and that's pitching yourself against everyone else," said Webber in a team preview.
"The first race always has an extra buzz because it delivers the answers to those unresolved questions from pre-season testing. I'm looking forward to seeing where we're at and to see what the first part of the season may bring for Williams. Bahrain can't come quick enough."
Williams, who endured a poor season in 2005 with BMW engines, have switched to Cosworth units for this year and will also use Bridgestone tyres instead of Michelins.
The team have also signed Nico Rosberg to partner Webber, the young German making his Grand Prix debut in Bahrain after winning the GP2 title last year.
Rosberg, like Webber, admitted he was looking forward to starting racing.
"After so much testing, it's going be good to finally race and it will be very interesting to see where we are compared with the others teams," said Rosberg. "I'm very confident, though, as the recent tests have been going well for me and I feel very much at home in the car.
"I am looking forward to my first Formula One race, especially because it's on a track that I really enjoy and one that I have had great success at having won the GP2 Championship there last year."[/QUOTE]
[URL=http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=955169]->2006 GP of Bahrain Thread!<-[/URL]
| StuBeck | 03-06-2006 04:38 PM |
Irvine starting a team would be good. He's a good business man and would bring an interesting aspect to the sport.
I think if there are more cars on the grid they'll need to bring back the 107% rule to make sure you don't have cars which are dangerously slow on the grid.
I think if there are more cars on the grid they'll need to bring back the 107% rule to make sure you don't have cars which are dangerously slow on the grid.
| TimStevens | 03-06-2006 07:37 PM |
I had thought that was being reinstituted anyway? Or was that in one of the dozen qualifying schemes that got gunned down?
| artkevin | 03-06-2006 07:52 PM |
I haven't heard about the 107% coming back. I always liked it. But then again I never had anything against the 12 lap shoot out.
| jpsimon | 03-06-2006 08:36 PM |
new photos
[img]http://jonahsimon.com/public_photo/f1live/lowres2/honda1.jpg[/img]
[img]http://jonahsimon.com/public_photo/f1live/lowres2/honda2.jpg[/img]
[img]http://jonahsimon.com/public_photo/f1live/lowres2/honda3.jpg[/img]
[img]http://jonahsimon.com/public_photo/f1live/lowres2/honda4.jpg[/img]
[img]http://jonahsimon.com/public_photo/f1live/lowres2/honda5.jpg[/img]
[img]http://jonahsimon.com/public_photo/f1live/lowres2/toyota1.jpg[/img]
[img]http://jonahsimon.com/public_photo/f1live/lowres2/toyota2.jpg[/img]
[img]http://jonahsimon.com/public_photo/f1live/lowres2/toyota3.jpg[/img]
[img]http://jonahsimon.com/public_photo/f1live/lowres2/honda1.jpg[/img]
[img]http://jonahsimon.com/public_photo/f1live/lowres2/honda2.jpg[/img]
[img]http://jonahsimon.com/public_photo/f1live/lowres2/honda3.jpg[/img]
[img]http://jonahsimon.com/public_photo/f1live/lowres2/honda4.jpg[/img]
[img]http://jonahsimon.com/public_photo/f1live/lowres2/honda5.jpg[/img]
[img]http://jonahsimon.com/public_photo/f1live/lowres2/toyota1.jpg[/img]
[img]http://jonahsimon.com/public_photo/f1live/lowres2/toyota2.jpg[/img]
[img]http://jonahsimon.com/public_photo/f1live/lowres2/toyota3.jpg[/img]
| Ferg | 03-07-2006 10:03 AM |
Great pictures jpsimon, the Midland car's livery is really starting to grow on me.
News from this morning.
[QUOTE]Davidson: Honda can win in Bahrain
By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, March 7th 2006, 09:00 GMT
Honda Racing have a real chance to score a victory at this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix after a lap-record performance in their final day of testing at Valencia last week.
That is the view of test driver Anthony Davidson, who is adamant that the team are as well prepared as they can be ahead of the season opener in Sakhir.
Although the expected fight at the front between Honda, Renault, McLaren and Ferrari appears too close to call at the moment, Davidson thinks his team are definitely in the hunt to grab a win.
"We hit the ground running in testing this year and we've continued that momentum," he told autosport.com. "Honda could have rested on their laurels by how good they were at the beginning of the year, but they have continued to push all the way and it is nice to have been a part of it.
"We've been one of the few teams to test in Bahrain and I would like to think that it was worthwhile and we can go there challenging for the win. It is going to be close, for sure, and you can never underestimate the competion.
"It is never easy but if we can get up there near the front we have got a chance. I sincerely believe that."
Davidson believes that the ace up Honda's sleeve is likely to be the fact that they can run a third car in Friday practice, as a result of their disappointing form in 2005.
"The whole grid is going to be more competitive this season than we have ever seen before. It is going to be close and I don't think I can see there being one clear winner.
"But we have definitely got one of the fastest Friday cars and that is going to be crucial to help out with set-up and tyre selection. It is really going to be an important year to have a third car out there and hopefully we can continue the rate of development we've seen this winter and carry it well into the year."
Davidson has also taken some great personal satisfaction from his lap record performance last week, which was almost half a second faster than the previous best set by Kimi Raikkonen in 2005.
"It is really nice to do a time, especially as Valencia has never been one of our strongest circuits. It's a great achievement." [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Trulli fears qualifying is too complicated
By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, March 7th 2006, 13:47 GMT
Italian driver Jarno Trulli believes the new qualifying system could prove too complicated for Formula One fans.
"At the moment I am not even thinking about it, I will just deal with it," Trulli told autosport.com in an interview.
"It is not a problem for me, we just have to do our usual thing which is to go out and do our best. I just expect it a bit more complicated. I don't know if people will like it," he added.
Qualifying will adopt a three-part, knock-out format for the 2006 season.
All drivers will be on track for the first 15 minutes, after which the slowest six cars will drop out and take positions 17-22. Another six cars will be eliminated in a second 15-minute session, while the 10 drivers remaining will fight for the top positions in the final 20-minute stint.
The drivers taking part in the final session will only be able to refuel their cars up to the same level of fuel used in qualifying. The rest of the drivers will be allowed to fully refuel their cars before the race.
Toyota driver Trulli believes it will not only be hard for spectators to understand, but also for drivers to get it right.
"I think it will be more complicated and a bit of a mess to find the right time to go out and the right lap, because the traffic is involved as well and there's also some strategy," he said.
"So it is quite a difficult thing to predict and also to understand from the outside."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Michael considers horse riding future
By Michele Lostia Tuesday, March 7th 2006, 10:30 GMT
After driving for the Prancing Horse for the last eleven years, Michael Schumacher says there could still be equines in his life after Formula One.
The 37-year old German Ferrari driver, an avid horse riding fan, said in an interview with Bild that he could compete in western riding once he hangs up his helmet.
"I might go for a new kind of competition: I could do western riding," said Schumacher, whose wife Corinna has been practising the sport for many years.
Schumacher reckoned his wife was better than him.
"It's true, but this doesn't mean I can't learn," he said. "It's a sport to be taken very seriously. I don't know what I will do after F1. I have many hobbies which I'll finally be able to dedicate myself to, but I've always said the family will come first of all."
According to the German press, Schumacher has bought an estate in Switzerland, not far from his new house in Gland, over which he has built an indoor 3,200 square meter horse riding track which can host a 26-stall stable and is fitted with 1,400 seats.
He has reportedly named the estate after his wife: "CS Ranch".
Schumacher will attend the inauguration of the horse riding track at the end of this month with an international western riding competition taking place.[/QUOTE]
[URL=http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=955169]->2006 GP of Bahrain Thread!<-[/URL]
News from this morning.
[QUOTE]Davidson: Honda can win in Bahrain
By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, March 7th 2006, 09:00 GMT
Honda Racing have a real chance to score a victory at this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix after a lap-record performance in their final day of testing at Valencia last week.
That is the view of test driver Anthony Davidson, who is adamant that the team are as well prepared as they can be ahead of the season opener in Sakhir.
Although the expected fight at the front between Honda, Renault, McLaren and Ferrari appears too close to call at the moment, Davidson thinks his team are definitely in the hunt to grab a win.
"We hit the ground running in testing this year and we've continued that momentum," he told autosport.com. "Honda could have rested on their laurels by how good they were at the beginning of the year, but they have continued to push all the way and it is nice to have been a part of it.
"We've been one of the few teams to test in Bahrain and I would like to think that it was worthwhile and we can go there challenging for the win. It is going to be close, for sure, and you can never underestimate the competion.
"It is never easy but if we can get up there near the front we have got a chance. I sincerely believe that."
Davidson believes that the ace up Honda's sleeve is likely to be the fact that they can run a third car in Friday practice, as a result of their disappointing form in 2005.
"The whole grid is going to be more competitive this season than we have ever seen before. It is going to be close and I don't think I can see there being one clear winner.
"But we have definitely got one of the fastest Friday cars and that is going to be crucial to help out with set-up and tyre selection. It is really going to be an important year to have a third car out there and hopefully we can continue the rate of development we've seen this winter and carry it well into the year."
Davidson has also taken some great personal satisfaction from his lap record performance last week, which was almost half a second faster than the previous best set by Kimi Raikkonen in 2005.
"It is really nice to do a time, especially as Valencia has never been one of our strongest circuits. It's a great achievement." [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Trulli fears qualifying is too complicated
By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, March 7th 2006, 13:47 GMT
Italian driver Jarno Trulli believes the new qualifying system could prove too complicated for Formula One fans.
"At the moment I am not even thinking about it, I will just deal with it," Trulli told autosport.com in an interview.
"It is not a problem for me, we just have to do our usual thing which is to go out and do our best. I just expect it a bit more complicated. I don't know if people will like it," he added.
Qualifying will adopt a three-part, knock-out format for the 2006 season.
All drivers will be on track for the first 15 minutes, after which the slowest six cars will drop out and take positions 17-22. Another six cars will be eliminated in a second 15-minute session, while the 10 drivers remaining will fight for the top positions in the final 20-minute stint.
The drivers taking part in the final session will only be able to refuel their cars up to the same level of fuel used in qualifying. The rest of the drivers will be allowed to fully refuel their cars before the race.
Toyota driver Trulli believes it will not only be hard for spectators to understand, but also for drivers to get it right.
"I think it will be more complicated and a bit of a mess to find the right time to go out and the right lap, because the traffic is involved as well and there's also some strategy," he said.
"So it is quite a difficult thing to predict and also to understand from the outside."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Michael considers horse riding future
By Michele Lostia Tuesday, March 7th 2006, 10:30 GMT
After driving for the Prancing Horse for the last eleven years, Michael Schumacher says there could still be equines in his life after Formula One.
The 37-year old German Ferrari driver, an avid horse riding fan, said in an interview with Bild that he could compete in western riding once he hangs up his helmet.
"I might go for a new kind of competition: I could do western riding," said Schumacher, whose wife Corinna has been practising the sport for many years.
Schumacher reckoned his wife was better than him.
"It's true, but this doesn't mean I can't learn," he said. "It's a sport to be taken very seriously. I don't know what I will do after F1. I have many hobbies which I'll finally be able to dedicate myself to, but I've always said the family will come first of all."
According to the German press, Schumacher has bought an estate in Switzerland, not far from his new house in Gland, over which he has built an indoor 3,200 square meter horse riding track which can host a 26-stall stable and is fitted with 1,400 seats.
He has reportedly named the estate after his wife: "CS Ranch".
Schumacher will attend the inauguration of the horse riding track at the end of this month with an international western riding competition taking place.[/QUOTE]
[URL=http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=955169]->2006 GP of Bahrain Thread!<-[/URL]
| Ferg | 03-07-2006 10:04 AM |
Nice long write up that [i]tries[/i] to cover some of the complications of the new quali system. Worth a read through or two. :D
[QUOTE][i]For the fifth time in four years, Formula One will have a new qualifying format, with drivers no longer confined to a single fast lap on an empty track. The new knockout system appears simple, but it offers multiple challenges to the drivers and the teams, as well as to fans and commentators. Adam Cooper explains how the new format works and what the teams will have to take into account...[/i]
By Adam Cooper
autosport.com contributing writer
We've all had a few months to ponder the new knockout qualifying format, but none of us will really know how it will pan out until Bahrain. Even that first Saturday of the season might not tell the full story, and it could take two or three races before we really know how it works.
There's been a lot of talk about it being too complicated, but the basic system of elimination could not be any simpler for us observers: the slower guys get weeded out, and then the top 10 just go as fast as they can at the end.
But for the participants it presents a huge challenge, and the drivers and teams will be walking a tightrope every weekend. There's absolutely no guarantee that the 10 quickest runners will make it safely through and take their rightful places at the front of the grid, and if anything there's even more chance of something oddball happening than under the one lap system.
[b]New schedule[/b]
The change to Saturday's schedule starts in the morning. Previously we had two 45-minute sessions running from 9:00am to 9:45am and from 10:15am to 11:00am, but those have now been combined into a single period from 11:00am to 12:00pm. Teams no longer have that half hour break between sessions, which allowed them to make major set-up changes without losing track time.
More significantly, they have lost half an hour of potential running compared to last year. That is not insignificant. Because of the fragility of the new V8s, and the need to run multiple laps in qualifying, most drivers will run as little as possible on Friday and do most of their running on Saturday morning.
The Saturday practice session takes on greater significance than before for other reasons.
Until last year, teams had to choose between the two available tyre compounds by the start of running on Saturday morning. Now that decision is deferred until qualifying. So Saturday AM will become even more important in terms of tyres.
Of course, teams might already have made a clear decision based on Friday's work (especially if they have a third car), but conditions on Saturday will be closer to those expected on race day. In addition, the top runners are going to have to do quick laps in qualifying both with and without fuel, so teams will also have to use that session to optimise the cars, as best they can, for both conditions.
It won't be easy to get everything done in that hour. Significantly, if there is a red flag or delay of any kind, no time will be added on at the end. The action will stop at noon to guarantee that there are two clear hours prior to the start for qualifying at 2:00pm.
A couple of normal red flags could reduce that already meagre one hour to just 40 minutes, and a more serious incident - maybe involving barrier damage - could wipe out the whole session. Anyone who gambled by doing minimal laps on Friday could be in trouble.
[b]Managing tyres[/b]
Every driver now has seven sets of dry tyres for the course of the weekend (the rules now specify sets rather than a total number of tyres, to avoid any dodgy misinterpretations). This is a change from the four sets of last year, when of course the same tyres were used for qualifying and the race.
Obviously there will be a lot of emphasis on how the tyres are managed throughout the weekend, especially in qualifying. Will everyone throw on new tyres at the end of each of the three sessions? Will the quicker guys attempt to scrape through the first (and even second) session on older, scrubbed rubber, like an athlete doing just enough to qualify for an Olympic final? This year you can start on new tyres, so if possible the top runners will attempt to save two or three new sets for Sunday.
The start of qualifying means that parc ferme conditions are in operation, using exactly the same format as during the one-lap era, which means no changes of parts during (or after) the session unless they are damaged or broken.
Prior to 2003, when everyone was running at once in traditional qualifying, drivers would fine-tune aero or suspension set-up between runs. That is not allowed now, with the exception of adjusting the front wing, which was permitted under the one-lap system. Thus, a driver returning after his first lap demanding improvements is going to be disappointed.
The qualifying format itself is straightforward. All 22 cars will be out in the first 15 minutes, and it promises to be hectic - expect a lot of blue flags and waved fists, especially at Monaco!
As was normal prior to the single lap system, drivers will once again face the frustration of being subject to random weight checks on return to the pits, which could cost them track time and even stop them getting out for their final runs.
[b]New procedures[/b]
There is one major novelty in the way the first two sessions will operate. When the chequered flag comes out, that's it - the timing will stop, and if you are still on a lap, it won't count. So you might as well just trundle back to the pits.
In the past, if you crossed the line just a second before the flag came out, you could still complete that lap. Now you will have to cross the line a couple of minutes before the flag comes out, in order to get round and record a time. Allowing for the time to get out of the pitlane, it means that typically you'd have to leave your garage some three minutes from the end of the session in order to get in one final lap. Thus, the session starts to look pretty short!
This system applies only at the end of the first and second periods, however, and not at the end of the crucial top ten run-off, when it's business as usual.
If there are any stoppages in this (or any other) qualifying session, the lost time will be added on, in contrast to morning practice. However, using the above figures you can see that if a red flag comes much after the 12-minute mark, the chances of being able to fit in an extra lap are slim. So there will be no point in returning to the track at the restart.
After the first 15-minute session, the slowest six cars - to be highlighted in red on the official timing screens - will be eliminated, leaving 16 for the second session. A driver has to actually set a lap time to get through to the next round, so if seven fail to record a lap, none of them will be eligible to continue.
Those who don't set a time will ultimately line up in the following order: a driver who started a flying lap will take precedence over a driver who left the pits but didn't start a flying lap, who in turn will start ahead of anyone who didn't leave the pits. If more than one driver falls into any category, they will line up in numerical order.
There is a guaranteed five-minute break between sessions, even if the first one is delayed for any reason. The FIA has the option to extend the break for things like barrier repairs, and if penalties have to be assessed - for example, if a driver who has qualified for the next round is charged with speeding under yellow flags.
The FIA stewards, who will have to deal with the matter as quickly as possible, have the power to dock one or more of a driver's best times. If that drops him out of the top 16, then someone else could get a last minute reprieve and make it through after all.
The timing screens will notify everyone that an investigation is under way, so that anyone who stands to benefit from a penalty can prepare the car for the next session. It seems obvious those in, say, 17th and 18th should not wait for any signals and just get on and prepare for the next session anyway, until they know for sure that all the quicker cars are safe.
The format for the second session, in which 16 cars participate, is exactly the same as the first. The timing screens are re-set to zero so any earlier times don't count, and once again the slowest six are eliminated, leaving 10 cars for the 20-minute finale.
The 12 eliminated cars remain under the parc ferme conditions, as established over the last three years, except that any amount of fuel can be added before the start of the race.
During this second five-minute break, the top 10 runners dump what is nominally their race fuel load into the tank. To speed things along, they are allowed to use the Intertechnique race refuelling rigs, with proper safety precautions. The refuelling has to be completed before the final session starts.
Again all earlier times are cancelled, and the top 10 qualifiers now have 20 minutes to finalise the grid. As is well known by now, the more laps they do, the more fuel they use up, and the lighter they will be at the end of the session. And that, in theory, is when they will put on one last set of new tyres and really go for it.
However, there is a major drawback that drivers have not faced in qualifying since 2002. A yellow flag will effectively neutralise the track, and anybody deemed not to have slowed down sufficiently faces a penalty. If it happens near the end and you are on your hot lap, you are stuffed. If you back off, you go slow, if you go too fast, you could get a penalty.
So leaving all your eggs in the last-lap basket could be quite risky. Of course, the same applies to any top runners cocky enough to only go out in the closing minutes of either of the first two sessions, hoping that one quick lap will get them through. All it will take is Yuji Ide in a gravel trap at 2:13pm and some Renault, Honda and McLaren drivers could be among those eliminated. Teams will no doubt soon learn that they should put a banker lap in early.
As in the past, traffic will be a major issue throughout the qualifying process, but at least in that critical final 20 minutes there will be just 10 quick cars out.
Another fascinating aspect is what happens to those who set a time that gets them through to the next stage, but subsequently spin off or stop with a mechanical gremlin (and you can forget all about running back to take the spare car, as we saw so often in the past). To participate in the next round, the car has to physically get back to the pits, even if it's on a tow rope.
Most modern tracks have internal access roads, which improves the chances of getting a car back. But others don't, such as Melbourne, Monaco and Silverstone, to name but three. All abandoned cars have to come back via the circuit itself, after the session. Significantly, there will be a window of just a couple of minutes between sessions one and two, and two and three, during which the track will be open to recovery vehicles.
Whether you get your car back really is a question of the efficiency of the marshals, where the car is parked, and sheer luck. Indeed, there have been suggestions that the only fair way to deal with it is that any car that doesn't make it back to the pits under its own steam at the end of the session should not be allowed to participate in the next.
Remember that there's no refuelling after the start of session 3, so if you get the car back to the garage just as the action is getting underway, you are stuck.[/quote]
[i]...continued next post...[/i]
[QUOTE][i]For the fifth time in four years, Formula One will have a new qualifying format, with drivers no longer confined to a single fast lap on an empty track. The new knockout system appears simple, but it offers multiple challenges to the drivers and the teams, as well as to fans and commentators. Adam Cooper explains how the new format works and what the teams will have to take into account...[/i]
By Adam Cooper
autosport.com contributing writer
We've all had a few months to ponder the new knockout qualifying format, but none of us will really know how it will pan out until Bahrain. Even that first Saturday of the season might not tell the full story, and it could take two or three races before we really know how it works.
There's been a lot of talk about it being too complicated, but the basic system of elimination could not be any simpler for us observers: the slower guys get weeded out, and then the top 10 just go as fast as they can at the end.
But for the participants it presents a huge challenge, and the drivers and teams will be walking a tightrope every weekend. There's absolutely no guarantee that the 10 quickest runners will make it safely through and take their rightful places at the front of the grid, and if anything there's even more chance of something oddball happening than under the one lap system.
[b]New schedule[/b]
The change to Saturday's schedule starts in the morning. Previously we had two 45-minute sessions running from 9:00am to 9:45am and from 10:15am to 11:00am, but those have now been combined into a single period from 11:00am to 12:00pm. Teams no longer have that half hour break between sessions, which allowed them to make major set-up changes without losing track time.
More significantly, they have lost half an hour of potential running compared to last year. That is not insignificant. Because of the fragility of the new V8s, and the need to run multiple laps in qualifying, most drivers will run as little as possible on Friday and do most of their running on Saturday morning.
The Saturday practice session takes on greater significance than before for other reasons.
Until last year, teams had to choose between the two available tyre compounds by the start of running on Saturday morning. Now that decision is deferred until qualifying. So Saturday AM will become even more important in terms of tyres.
Of course, teams might already have made a clear decision based on Friday's work (especially if they have a third car), but conditions on Saturday will be closer to those expected on race day. In addition, the top runners are going to have to do quick laps in qualifying both with and without fuel, so teams will also have to use that session to optimise the cars, as best they can, for both conditions.
It won't be easy to get everything done in that hour. Significantly, if there is a red flag or delay of any kind, no time will be added on at the end. The action will stop at noon to guarantee that there are two clear hours prior to the start for qualifying at 2:00pm.
A couple of normal red flags could reduce that already meagre one hour to just 40 minutes, and a more serious incident - maybe involving barrier damage - could wipe out the whole session. Anyone who gambled by doing minimal laps on Friday could be in trouble.
[b]Managing tyres[/b]
Every driver now has seven sets of dry tyres for the course of the weekend (the rules now specify sets rather than a total number of tyres, to avoid any dodgy misinterpretations). This is a change from the four sets of last year, when of course the same tyres were used for qualifying and the race.
Obviously there will be a lot of emphasis on how the tyres are managed throughout the weekend, especially in qualifying. Will everyone throw on new tyres at the end of each of the three sessions? Will the quicker guys attempt to scrape through the first (and even second) session on older, scrubbed rubber, like an athlete doing just enough to qualify for an Olympic final? This year you can start on new tyres, so if possible the top runners will attempt to save two or three new sets for Sunday.
The start of qualifying means that parc ferme conditions are in operation, using exactly the same format as during the one-lap era, which means no changes of parts during (or after) the session unless they are damaged or broken.
Prior to 2003, when everyone was running at once in traditional qualifying, drivers would fine-tune aero or suspension set-up between runs. That is not allowed now, with the exception of adjusting the front wing, which was permitted under the one-lap system. Thus, a driver returning after his first lap demanding improvements is going to be disappointed.
The qualifying format itself is straightforward. All 22 cars will be out in the first 15 minutes, and it promises to be hectic - expect a lot of blue flags and waved fists, especially at Monaco!
As was normal prior to the single lap system, drivers will once again face the frustration of being subject to random weight checks on return to the pits, which could cost them track time and even stop them getting out for their final runs.
[b]New procedures[/b]
There is one major novelty in the way the first two sessions will operate. When the chequered flag comes out, that's it - the timing will stop, and if you are still on a lap, it won't count. So you might as well just trundle back to the pits.
In the past, if you crossed the line just a second before the flag came out, you could still complete that lap. Now you will have to cross the line a couple of minutes before the flag comes out, in order to get round and record a time. Allowing for the time to get out of the pitlane, it means that typically you'd have to leave your garage some three minutes from the end of the session in order to get in one final lap. Thus, the session starts to look pretty short!
This system applies only at the end of the first and second periods, however, and not at the end of the crucial top ten run-off, when it's business as usual.
If there are any stoppages in this (or any other) qualifying session, the lost time will be added on, in contrast to morning practice. However, using the above figures you can see that if a red flag comes much after the 12-minute mark, the chances of being able to fit in an extra lap are slim. So there will be no point in returning to the track at the restart.
After the first 15-minute session, the slowest six cars - to be highlighted in red on the official timing screens - will be eliminated, leaving 16 for the second session. A driver has to actually set a lap time to get through to the next round, so if seven fail to record a lap, none of them will be eligible to continue.
Those who don't set a time will ultimately line up in the following order: a driver who started a flying lap will take precedence over a driver who left the pits but didn't start a flying lap, who in turn will start ahead of anyone who didn't leave the pits. If more than one driver falls into any category, they will line up in numerical order.
There is a guaranteed five-minute break between sessions, even if the first one is delayed for any reason. The FIA has the option to extend the break for things like barrier repairs, and if penalties have to be assessed - for example, if a driver who has qualified for the next round is charged with speeding under yellow flags.
The FIA stewards, who will have to deal with the matter as quickly as possible, have the power to dock one or more of a driver's best times. If that drops him out of the top 16, then someone else could get a last minute reprieve and make it through after all.
The timing screens will notify everyone that an investigation is under way, so that anyone who stands to benefit from a penalty can prepare the car for the next session. It seems obvious those in, say, 17th and 18th should not wait for any signals and just get on and prepare for the next session anyway, until they know for sure that all the quicker cars are safe.
The format for the second session, in which 16 cars participate, is exactly the same as the first. The timing screens are re-set to zero so any earlier times don't count, and once again the slowest six are eliminated, leaving 10 cars for the 20-minute finale.
The 12 eliminated cars remain under the parc ferme conditions, as established over the last three years, except that any amount of fuel can be added before the start of the race.
During this second five-minute break, the top 10 runners dump what is nominally their race fuel load into the tank. To speed things along, they are allowed to use the Intertechnique race refuelling rigs, with proper safety precautions. The refuelling has to be completed before the final session starts.
Again all earlier times are cancelled, and the top 10 qualifiers now have 20 minutes to finalise the grid. As is well known by now, the more laps they do, the more fuel they use up, and the lighter they will be at the end of the session. And that, in theory, is when they will put on one last set of new tyres and really go for it.
However, there is a major drawback that drivers have not faced in qualifying since 2002. A yellow flag will effectively neutralise the track, and anybody deemed not to have slowed down sufficiently faces a penalty. If it happens near the end and you are on your hot lap, you are stuffed. If you back off, you go slow, if you go too fast, you could get a penalty.
So leaving all your eggs in the last-lap basket could be quite risky. Of course, the same applies to any top runners cocky enough to only go out in the closing minutes of either of the first two sessions, hoping that one quick lap will get them through. All it will take is Yuji Ide in a gravel trap at 2:13pm and some Renault, Honda and McLaren drivers could be among those eliminated. Teams will no doubt soon learn that they should put a banker lap in early.
As in the past, traffic will be a major issue throughout the qualifying process, but at least in that critical final 20 minutes there will be just 10 quick cars out.
Another fascinating aspect is what happens to those who set a time that gets them through to the next stage, but subsequently spin off or stop with a mechanical gremlin (and you can forget all about running back to take the spare car, as we saw so often in the past). To participate in the next round, the car has to physically get back to the pits, even if it's on a tow rope.
Most modern tracks have internal access roads, which improves the chances of getting a car back. But others don't, such as Melbourne, Monaco and Silverstone, to name but three. All abandoned cars have to come back via the circuit itself, after the session. Significantly, there will be a window of just a couple of minutes between sessions one and two, and two and three, during which the track will be open to recovery vehicles.
Whether you get your car back really is a question of the efficiency of the marshals, where the car is parked, and sheer luck. Indeed, there have been suggestions that the only fair way to deal with it is that any car that doesn't make it back to the pits under its own steam at the end of the session should not be allowed to participate in the next.
Remember that there's no refuelling after the start of session 3, so if you get the car back to the garage just as the action is getting underway, you are stuck.[/quote]
[i]...continued next post...[/i]
| Ferg | 03-07-2006 10:05 AM |
.......
[QUOTE][b]The fuel challenge[/b]
At the end of the top-10 session, all the cars will be weighed with and without driver, and any car that has stopped on the track will also be retrieved and weighed. The FIA will then determine how many genuine laps each driver completed in the 20 minutes.
There will be a 110% rule to stop drivers crawling round or 'turning down' the engine and claiming credit for laps that didn't really use much fuel. This percentage will be measured not over the full lap, but a lap minus the pit straight, using the safety car lines that cross the circuit at the timing points. Leaving out the pit straight will ensure that time lost driving in and out of the pits isn't part of the equation, so all laps will count, if the driver is going at a reasonable racing speed.
These 110% times will not be visible to the teams, but everyone will no doubt keep tabs on what others are up to, using normal sector times as a guide. If the lap time is one minute and 20 seconds, then 110% represents a discrepancy of just 8 seconds, and it won't be hard to spot if anyone is trying it on.
At some point in the year there is bound to be controversy about how many laps a particular driver is credited with - don't forget races can be won or lost by stopping one lap later than the next guy. The FIA will take weather conditions and red flags into account when totting them up.
Using a fuel consumption figure, one lap of fuel can be returned to the cars for each lap completed in the third session. The consumption figure will vary between circuits, and is also open to change as the FIA learns more about the new V8s, as current circuit data is based on V10s.
It's long been clear that the new format opens up the possibility for the driver in 11th on the grid to be a lot heavier at the start of the race than the guy in 10th, making for interesting strategic permutations. But it could be more complex than that.
There is nothing in the rules to say that you have to go for an outright time in the last 20 minutes. So just suppose that you scrape through in 10th, and the pattern of times suggests that 10th is probably the best you're going to do, however light you run in the third session. You could fill up the car to your optimum race level, and then not leave the garage during the final 20 minutes. You would still be allowed to start 10th, but you could have a more competitive fuel level than the guys ahead, and you will have saved some engine mileage. What is there to lose?
Of course race tyre changes put the emphasis back on lighter fuel loads for the first stint compared with last year, but there will be circumstances where it pays to be heavy, and staying in the garage could be worth a punt.
Who knows, as the season goes on this sort of strategy could even creep forward a couple of rows, so that in the end only two or three teams are slugging it out for the top qualifying slots, and subsequently finding themselves way lighter than the rest come the race.
There's always been some confusion about who lines up where when several drivers have been penalised, but that has been clarified in the 2006 Sporting Regulations. Anyone with a 10-place penalty (engine change) that puts them behind the slowest car from the first session will be ahead of those automatically sent to the back of the grid (post-qualifying engine change) and finally those who've had their qualifying times deleted for an indiscretion.
Plenty of food for thought, you will agree. The formbook suggests that the six cars eliminated after the first session in Bahrain will belong to the MF1, Toro Rosso and Super Aguri teams. But with so many potential hurdles, do you really think that all too obvious pattern will unfold at Sakhir, never mind at all 18 races? And which six do you see failing to make it through the second session? For one reason or another, there will be some surprises...[/QUOTE]
[URL=http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=955169]->2006 GP of Bahrain Thread!<-[/URL]
[QUOTE][b]The fuel challenge[/b]
At the end of the top-10 session, all the cars will be weighed with and without driver, and any car that has stopped on the track will also be retrieved and weighed. The FIA will then determine how many genuine laps each driver completed in the 20 minutes.
There will be a 110% rule to stop drivers crawling round or 'turning down' the engine and claiming credit for laps that didn't really use much fuel. This percentage will be measured not over the full lap, but a lap minus the pit straight, using the safety car lines that cross the circuit at the timing points. Leaving out the pit straight will ensure that time lost driving in and out of the pits isn't part of the equation, so all laps will count, if the driver is going at a reasonable racing speed.
These 110% times will not be visible to the teams, but everyone will no doubt keep tabs on what others are up to, using normal sector times as a guide. If the lap time is one minute and 20 seconds, then 110% represents a discrepancy of just 8 seconds, and it won't be hard to spot if anyone is trying it on.
At some point in the year there is bound to be controversy about how many laps a particular driver is credited with - don't forget races can be won or lost by stopping one lap later than the next guy. The FIA will take weather conditions and red flags into account when totting them up.
Using a fuel consumption figure, one lap of fuel can be returned to the cars for each lap completed in the third session. The consumption figure will vary between circuits, and is also open to change as the FIA learns more about the new V8s, as current circuit data is based on V10s.
It's long been clear that the new format opens up the possibility for the driver in 11th on the grid to be a lot heavier at the start of the race than the guy in 10th, making for interesting strategic permutations. But it could be more complex than that.
There is nothing in the rules to say that you have to go for an outright time in the last 20 minutes. So just suppose that you scrape through in 10th, and the pattern of times suggests that 10th is probably the best you're going to do, however light you run in the third session. You could fill up the car to your optimum race level, and then not leave the garage during the final 20 minutes. You would still be allowed to start 10th, but you could have a more competitive fuel level than the guys ahead, and you will have saved some engine mileage. What is there to lose?
Of course race tyre changes put the emphasis back on lighter fuel loads for the first stint compared with last year, but there will be circumstances where it pays to be heavy, and staying in the garage could be worth a punt.
Who knows, as the season goes on this sort of strategy could even creep forward a couple of rows, so that in the end only two or three teams are slugging it out for the top qualifying slots, and subsequently finding themselves way lighter than the rest come the race.
There's always been some confusion about who lines up where when several drivers have been penalised, but that has been clarified in the 2006 Sporting Regulations. Anyone with a 10-place penalty (engine change) that puts them behind the slowest car from the first session will be ahead of those automatically sent to the back of the grid (post-qualifying engine change) and finally those who've had their qualifying times deleted for an indiscretion.
Plenty of food for thought, you will agree. The formbook suggests that the six cars eliminated after the first session in Bahrain will belong to the MF1, Toro Rosso and Super Aguri teams. But with so many potential hurdles, do you really think that all too obvious pattern will unfold at Sakhir, never mind at all 18 races? And which six do you see failing to make it through the second session? For one reason or another, there will be some surprises...[/QUOTE]
[URL=http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=955169]->2006 GP of Bahrain Thread!<-[/URL]
| TimStevens | 03-07-2006 10:25 AM |
Holy isht... I thought I understood it before reading that. The rule complications regarding fuel and no setup changes during qualifying are idiotic. They only have 15 minutes... if they feel like pulling into the pits and making an extensive suspension change, they should be able to.
And adding fuel based on estimated consumption per lap? Oi... anyhow, I guess that's where my thought the 107% rule was back came from.
And adding fuel based on estimated consumption per lap? Oi... anyhow, I guess that's where my thought the 107% rule was back came from.
| Bonzo | 03-07-2006 10:51 AM |
Rube Goldberg would be proud of that qualifying cluster ****.
What's wrong with a super pole or just opening the track for 2 or 3 shorter sessions and having the simple fact of lap times dictating the starting order?
F1/FIA is a self gratifying joke.
What's wrong with a super pole or just opening the track for 2 or 3 shorter sessions and having the simple fact of lap times dictating the starting order?
F1/FIA is a self gratifying joke.
| Ferg | 03-07-2006 11:54 AM |
Eddie Jordan takes aim...
[QUOTE]Jordan: GPMA selfish and greedy
Tuesday, March 7th 2006, 16:10 GMT
Former team owner Eddie Jordan has hit out at Formula One's manufacturers, branding them as greedy and selfish.
Renault, Honda, Toyota, McLaren-Mercedes and BMW-Sauber are still to commit to Formula One beyond 2007 as they seek a better deal with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
The carmakers, through their GPMA company, have threatened to create a breakaway championship if their demands are not met. A solution, however, seems to be close after Ecclestone said this week a new deal was almost imminent.
Jordan, who was forced to sell his Formula One team to Midland last year, says the manufacturers are not thinking about what's good for the sport.
"The manufacturer teams have really lost it and left me disappointed," Jordan told The Daily Express in an interview.
"They have had no consideration or regard for the individual teams. They have come into a championship which was created and run by private teams and with their cash have totally abused it.
"At the moment they are throwing away $500m in testing behind closed doors. They need to get a grip on this immediately. It is impossible to consider a team without the right budget could win a race. It is not so long ago that a private team could win - Jordan in 1998 - but those days have gone.
"We have seen Alex Shnaider and Dietrich Mateschitz, who are successful and reputable businessmen enter F1, but can even they succeed?
"Now the manufacturer teams go there, write down what the requests are, take it away for corporate discussion about how it suits them. No one thinks of the good of the sport. What they are doing just now is nothing short of madness, it's greedy and selfish," Jordan added.
"The manufacturers will go, it's in their marketing strategy, and what will be left? I applaud Ferrari, who have a long, hard continuous involvement. Anything they get they deserve.
"But I am aggrieved that no young person can afford to get in as I did. If the lunatics can be controlled I would have every reason to come back and look at F1."
Jordan also said that the manufacturers should focus on improving the show for the fans, instead of spending their time thinking of how to get more money.
"No one sees a better race, nobody. The guy in the stand doesn't see anymore excitement," the Irishman added. "If anything it is worse because of the sophisticated aerodynamics they work on in testing which makes overtaking impossible.
"Fans want an exciting race and half the time they are not getting it. I say 'Guys get real and be responsible'. This is now the biggest budget championship. It is a joke."
And although Jordan admits he loved being a Formula One team boss, he claims he is not missing being around in the paddock.
"I loved being in it and I'm loving life being out of it, but I have to say in the current environment I don't miss it," he said.
"I know the circumstances have changed so dramatically so much in the last few years that I would not have been able to continue, never mind compete."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Jordan: GPMA selfish and greedy
Tuesday, March 7th 2006, 16:10 GMT
Former team owner Eddie Jordan has hit out at Formula One's manufacturers, branding them as greedy and selfish.
Renault, Honda, Toyota, McLaren-Mercedes and BMW-Sauber are still to commit to Formula One beyond 2007 as they seek a better deal with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
The carmakers, through their GPMA company, have threatened to create a breakaway championship if their demands are not met. A solution, however, seems to be close after Ecclestone said this week a new deal was almost imminent.
Jordan, who was forced to sell his Formula One team to Midland last year, says the manufacturers are not thinking about what's good for the sport.
"The manufacturer teams have really lost it and left me disappointed," Jordan told The Daily Express in an interview.
"They have had no consideration or regard for the individual teams. They have come into a championship which was created and run by private teams and with their cash have totally abused it.
"At the moment they are throwing away $500m in testing behind closed doors. They need to get a grip on this immediately. It is impossible to consider a team without the right budget could win a race. It is not so long ago that a private team could win - Jordan in 1998 - but those days have gone.
"We have seen Alex Shnaider and Dietrich Mateschitz, who are successful and reputable businessmen enter F1, but can even they succeed?
"Now the manufacturer teams go there, write down what the requests are, take it away for corporate discussion about how it suits them. No one thinks of the good of the sport. What they are doing just now is nothing short of madness, it's greedy and selfish," Jordan added.
"The manufacturers will go, it's in their marketing strategy, and what will be left? I applaud Ferrari, who have a long, hard continuous involvement. Anything they get they deserve.
"But I am aggrieved that no young person can afford to get in as I did. If the lunatics can be controlled I would have every reason to come back and look at F1."
Jordan also said that the manufacturers should focus on improving the show for the fans, instead of spending their time thinking of how to get more money.
"No one sees a better race, nobody. The guy in the stand doesn't see anymore excitement," the Irishman added. "If anything it is worse because of the sophisticated aerodynamics they work on in testing which makes overtaking impossible.
"Fans want an exciting race and half the time they are not getting it. I say 'Guys get real and be responsible'. This is now the biggest budget championship. It is a joke."
And although Jordan admits he loved being a Formula One team boss, he claims he is not missing being around in the paddock.
"I loved being in it and I'm loving life being out of it, but I have to say in the current environment I don't miss it," he said.
"I know the circumstances have changed so dramatically so much in the last few years that I would not have been able to continue, never mind compete."[/QUOTE]
| NYEJ25 | 03-07-2006 01:16 PM |
I think Jordan is right. With the current state of things it is impossible for a small team to win. I hope the rules change and allow for the comeback of all the small teams.
| StuBeck | 03-07-2006 05:18 PM |
I like the new qual format, it fixes the problems of the 1hr session and removes the boringness of 1lap qual.
| JoD | 03-07-2006 07:57 PM |
I know I'm probably the only one who is crazy paranoid about every Kimi to Ferrari story that pops up, but there was an interesting one on Planet F1 earlier this week stating that some "unnamed" Ferrari engineer confirmed that my favorite Finn was on his way there for sure come 2007.
Kimi came out on Monday with this statement to a Finnish newspaper...
[URL]http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Kimi+R%C3%A4ikk%C3%B6nen+There+is+no+contract+with+Ferrari+for+2007/1135219054877[/URL]
This makes me happy. :banana:
There are some other comments by Kimi about other things in this article. I like the photos of him teaching kids how to ride snowmobiles at the top... :)
Kimi came out on Monday with this statement to a Finnish newspaper...
[URL]http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Kimi+R%C3%A4ikk%C3%B6nen+There+is+no+contract+with+Ferrari+for+2007/1135219054877[/URL]
This makes me happy. :banana:
There are some other comments by Kimi about other things in this article. I like the photos of him teaching kids how to ride snowmobiles at the top... :)
| Ferg | 03-07-2006 08:04 PM |
Lucky Kids!
[IMG]http://www.pbase.com/image/56967847/original.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.pbase.com/image/56967847/original.jpg[/IMG]
| JoD | 03-07-2006 08:11 PM |
Yeah, definitely. I'd give my left, well, arm I guess to have that experience.
I'm glad to see him helping out. The softer side of the "iceman" comes through... ;)
I'm glad to see him helping out. The softer side of the "iceman" comes through... ;)
| Bonzo | 03-07-2006 10:00 PM |
page 22!
[QUOTE=Ferg]Lucky Kids!
[IMG]http://www.pbase.com/image/56967847/original.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]
Like a good Finn he rides. :banana:
I see he's chosen that Canadian mount.
[QUOTE=Ferg]Lucky Kids!
[IMG]http://www.pbase.com/image/56967847/original.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]
Like a good Finn he rides. :banana:
I see he's chosen that Canadian mount.
| Wr4wrX | 03-07-2006 10:22 PM |
[QUOTE=JoD]I like the photos of him teaching kids how to ride snowmobiles at the top... :)[/QUOTE]
I took a look at the pictures and couldn't help but wonder if his snowmobile helmet has the same design as his racing helmet. It was hard to tell, but I hope so. :)
I took a look at the pictures and couldn't help but wonder if his snowmobile helmet has the same design as his racing helmet. It was hard to tell, but I hope so. :)
| JoD | 03-07-2006 11:29 PM |
[QUOTE=Wr4wrX]I took a look at the pictures and couldn't help but wonder if his snowmobile helmet has the same design as his racing helmet. It was hard to tell, but I hope so. :)[/QUOTE]
You know, I was hoping the same thing, but I don't think so. There seems to be a light blue where that matte black normally is at the chin.
[IMG]http://www.hs.fi/kuvat/iso_webkuva/1135219048589.jpeg[/IMG]
Geez, Kimi! I mean, c'mon...at what you're making, your helmets should match! ;)
You know, I was hoping the same thing, but I don't think so. There seems to be a light blue where that matte black normally is at the chin.
[IMG]http://www.hs.fi/kuvat/iso_webkuva/1135219048589.jpeg[/IMG]
Geez, Kimi! I mean, c'mon...at what you're making, your helmets should match! ;)
| grandpa rex | 03-08-2006 01:11 PM |
This is a little off topic, but if anybody here likes statistics, there's a site maintained by a guy in Romania that is absolutely amazing. I posted something about this a year ago, but he's updated the site and it's even more packed with stats.
[url]http://www.4mula1.ro/[/url]
What driver won more races from pole in his career? Not MS and not Senna!
Who's the only driver to set fastest lap on his birthday?
Most people know that Senna holds the record for most poles. Who has the most career starts from P2?
Much much more arcane stuff there
[url]http://www.4mula1.ro/[/url]
What driver won more races from pole in his career? Not MS and not Senna!
Who's the only driver to set fastest lap on his birthday?
Most people know that Senna holds the record for most poles. Who has the most career starts from P2?
Much much more arcane stuff there
| Ferg | 03-08-2006 01:29 PM |
Sorry for the lateness, the board was acting funny for me this morning.
Without further delay, your news.
:)
[QUOTE]McLaren sign Emirates deal
Wednesday, March 8th 2006, 11:03 GMT
The McLaren team have signed a partnership with Emirates Airline, starting at this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix.
The announcement was made today by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Emirates Airline & Group, and Ron Dennis, McLaren's team principal.
Starting from the Bahrain race this weekend, the "Fly Emirates" insignia will feature on the MP4-21. In addition, it will also be on the uniform of drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya, and in the team's pit interior.
"Today's announcement makes the start to the 2006 Formula One World Championship even more thrilling for Team McLaren Mercedes," said McLaren chief Ron Dennis. "Emirates is globally recognized as a world-class airline and a leader in its field. We are proud that they recognize the mutual benefits of an association with Team McLaren Mercedes.
"The 2006 Formula One World Championship promises to be an exciting season and with support from a company like Emirates we are off to a good start. Everybody at Team McLaren Mercedes is looking forward to the opening race this weekend and a successful relationship with Emirates."
Sheikh Ahmed added: "Formula One and Team McLaren Mercedes are at the pinnacle of a sport where success is determined by having leading-edge technology, quick responses to strategy changes, ambition and teamwork - all of which resonate with Emirates' own practices to stay at the top of our industry."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]F1 carmakers closer to deal with Ecclestone
By Alan Baldwin Wednesday, March 8th 2006, 09:11 GMT
Formula One carmakers say they have made significant progress in talks with commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone to end the threat of a rival series from 2008.
A spokesman for the Grand Prix Manufacturers' Association (GPMA) confirmed the manufacturers would meet Ecclestone again before Sunday's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, but played down expectations that an agreement could be announced in days.
"We will of course meet with the commercial rights holder this weekend," he said.
"Significant progress has been made and we hope to address several of the outstanding issues.
"But it's too early to predict any outcome. We don't want to speculate but things are moving in the right direction," added the spokesman.
The five GPMA members are world champions Renault, BMW, Honda, Toyota and DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes. The first four all own teams while Mercedes have a 40 percent stake in McLaren.
They are demanding a bigger share of the revenues from the billion dollar business, greater transparency in the running of the sport and equal treatment for all.
The GPMA, led by BMW board member Burkhard Goeschel, have said they will launch their own championship from 2008, when an existing commercial agreement expires, if their demands are not satisfied.
Ecclestone, who represents commercial rights holders CVC after they bought out two of the three banks controlling Formula One, has agreed terms with six teams so far, including former champions Ferrari and Williams.
The 75-year-old Briton was quoted last week as saying that he expected all the issues to be settled before the race in Bahrain.
"What we can agree on the technical side is dependent on how much money they want to save but they will save a huge amount without adversely affecting the technical excellence of F1," he told the Daily Express newspaper.
"We can all see the benefits of cutting costs while continuing to allow some areas of research and development and I think there is a mood of conciliation now," he added.
"They will certainly earn a lot more money on the commercial side, double what they got before."
Any deal may have to wait, however, until the European Commission concludes an antitrust review of CVC's bid for Speed Investments, who own 75 percent of Formula One's SLEC holding company. That decision is expected by March 21.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Speed aims to beat Midland, Super Aguri
By Michele Lostia Wednesday, March 8th 2006, 12:03 GMT
American Scott Speed says his Toro Rosso team's goal for the 2006 season can only be to finish ahead of Midland and Super Aguri.
Red Bull took over the struggling Minardi team last season and the squad will now race under the Toro Rosso banner.
Despite the cash injection from Red Bull, however, Speed reckons the team will still be fighting at the bottom of the grid.
"Our objective this year is clearly to stay in front of Midland and Super Aguri," Speed told Autosprint. "I don't know about the former, but the Japanese look like losing four seconds a lap or more. They might as well have fit F1 tyres on a GP2 single seater."
Toro Rosso will be the only ones competing with restricted V10 engines this year, while their rivals will use V8s. Speed again claimed there is no performance benefit in running the V10, but he admits they will have a big advantage in reliability terms.
"As for us, I think we aren't doing too bad," Speed, who will make his Grand Prix debut in Bahrain, said. "We have the only 10-cylinder engine on the grid, but I don't see this whole performance advantage many are complaining about.
"Perhaps we'll have a little more torque, but it doesn't change anything. The real advantage we have, for the first races, is reliability. We won't be faster than the others, but almost surely we'll get to the end [of the races].
"That's why we must make the most of the start of the season to get points in the table."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Alonso: Schumacher, Button my main rivals
By Michele Lostia Wednesday, March 8th 2006, 14:21 GMT
World champion Fernando Alonso believes Michael Schumacher and Jenson Button will be their main rivals during the 2006 season.
"I think my rivals will be Michael and Jenson Button," Alonso told SportAutoMoto magazine.
"Schumacher is always an ace who knows exactly how to win a world championship, and he wants to forget about 2005. He has a team behind him who have set up a 248 F1 created just for him.
"The Honda has been quick since the first time it left the pits and has managed impressive laptimes. They have a different work method from ours: they always look for absolute performance in private testing, but there's no doubt they have a great car.
"Even though some lap times were obtained with little fuel and soft tyres, the stopwatch speaks clearly.
"Button and [Rubens] Barrichello are two solid and tough drivers, able to get to the end of the races without making mistakes. They can win Grands Prix if they have a chance. They will be tough rivals.
"I expect Jenson to be the strongest of the two, also because he's used to working with the team."
Alonso, however, expects the Mercedes-powered squad to bounce back.
"Despite some highlights, they don't look to be in top form and they've admitted themselves as much publicly," Alonso added.
"At McLaren they have some problems and we've all seen what they are, but I don't think there's anything fundamentally wrong with their car, so as soon as they solve their reliability problems, they will be tough to beat like in 2005.
"I hope they'll lose precious points in the first three or four races again, so the recovery will be harder.
"I think their problems are concentrated into a specific component of the car, and they will solve them quickly. I don't think there is an internal crisis, and I'm ready to bet they'll win more than one race in 2006." [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Bahrain test a waste of time, says Alonso
By Michele Lostia Wednesday, March 8th 2006, 14:47 GMT
Fernando Alonso believes his Renault team made the right decision in declining an invitation to test in Bahrain ahead of the first race of the season.
Rivals Honda, Ferrari and the Toro Rosso squad travelled to the Sakhir circuit over two weeks ago to test ahead of the season-opening race there. The rest of the teams continued with their testing programmes in Europe.
And while Ferrari and Honda have claimed the test will prove beneficial when the Grand Prix starts, Alonso says they wasted time and money.
"I think we did the right thing by staying in Europe, but it would have been different if other teams went there too, besides Toro Rosso," Alonso told SportAutoMoto. "There were never more than five cars on track in Bahrain, and the asphalt was always dirty and sandy.
"Every day they lost lots of time cleaning the racing line and just a bit of wind was enough to be back at the beginning. The track will be three or four seconds faster this week for the race.
"I suspect Ferrari, Honda and Toro Rosso wasted their time and money." [/QUOTE]
Without further delay, your news.
:)
[QUOTE]McLaren sign Emirates deal
Wednesday, March 8th 2006, 11:03 GMT
The McLaren team have signed a partnership with Emirates Airline, starting at this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix.
The announcement was made today by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Emirates Airline & Group, and Ron Dennis, McLaren's team principal.
Starting from the Bahrain race this weekend, the "Fly Emirates" insignia will feature on the MP4-21. In addition, it will also be on the uniform of drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya, and in the team's pit interior.
"Today's announcement makes the start to the 2006 Formula One World Championship even more thrilling for Team McLaren Mercedes," said McLaren chief Ron Dennis. "Emirates is globally recognized as a world-class airline and a leader in its field. We are proud that they recognize the mutual benefits of an association with Team McLaren Mercedes.
"The 2006 Formula One World Championship promises to be an exciting season and with support from a company like Emirates we are off to a good start. Everybody at Team McLaren Mercedes is looking forward to the opening race this weekend and a successful relationship with Emirates."
Sheikh Ahmed added: "Formula One and Team McLaren Mercedes are at the pinnacle of a sport where success is determined by having leading-edge technology, quick responses to strategy changes, ambition and teamwork - all of which resonate with Emirates' own practices to stay at the top of our industry."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]F1 carmakers closer to deal with Ecclestone
By Alan Baldwin Wednesday, March 8th 2006, 09:11 GMT
Formula One carmakers say they have made significant progress in talks with commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone to end the threat of a rival series from 2008.
A spokesman for the Grand Prix Manufacturers' Association (GPMA) confirmed the manufacturers would meet Ecclestone again before Sunday's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, but played down expectations that an agreement could be announced in days.
"We will of course meet with the commercial rights holder this weekend," he said.
"Significant progress has been made and we hope to address several of the outstanding issues.
"But it's too early to predict any outcome. We don't want to speculate but things are moving in the right direction," added the spokesman.
The five GPMA members are world champions Renault, BMW, Honda, Toyota and DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes. The first four all own teams while Mercedes have a 40 percent stake in McLaren.
They are demanding a bigger share of the revenues from the billion dollar business, greater transparency in the running of the sport and equal treatment for all.
The GPMA, led by BMW board member Burkhard Goeschel, have said they will launch their own championship from 2008, when an existing commercial agreement expires, if their demands are not satisfied.
Ecclestone, who represents commercial rights holders CVC after they bought out two of the three banks controlling Formula One, has agreed terms with six teams so far, including former champions Ferrari and Williams.
The 75-year-old Briton was quoted last week as saying that he expected all the issues to be settled before the race in Bahrain.
"What we can agree on the technical side is dependent on how much money they want to save but they will save a huge amount without adversely affecting the technical excellence of F1," he told the Daily Express newspaper.
"We can all see the benefits of cutting costs while continuing to allow some areas of research and development and I think there is a mood of conciliation now," he added.
"They will certainly earn a lot more money on the commercial side, double what they got before."
Any deal may have to wait, however, until the European Commission concludes an antitrust review of CVC's bid for Speed Investments, who own 75 percent of Formula One's SLEC holding company. That decision is expected by March 21.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Speed aims to beat Midland, Super Aguri
By Michele Lostia Wednesday, March 8th 2006, 12:03 GMT
American Scott Speed says his Toro Rosso team's goal for the 2006 season can only be to finish ahead of Midland and Super Aguri.
Red Bull took over the struggling Minardi team last season and the squad will now race under the Toro Rosso banner.
Despite the cash injection from Red Bull, however, Speed reckons the team will still be fighting at the bottom of the grid.
"Our objective this year is clearly to stay in front of Midland and Super Aguri," Speed told Autosprint. "I don't know about the former, but the Japanese look like losing four seconds a lap or more. They might as well have fit F1 tyres on a GP2 single seater."
Toro Rosso will be the only ones competing with restricted V10 engines this year, while their rivals will use V8s. Speed again claimed there is no performance benefit in running the V10, but he admits they will have a big advantage in reliability terms.
"As for us, I think we aren't doing too bad," Speed, who will make his Grand Prix debut in Bahrain, said. "We have the only 10-cylinder engine on the grid, but I don't see this whole performance advantage many are complaining about.
"Perhaps we'll have a little more torque, but it doesn't change anything. The real advantage we have, for the first races, is reliability. We won't be faster than the others, but almost surely we'll get to the end [of the races].
"That's why we must make the most of the start of the season to get points in the table."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Alonso: Schumacher, Button my main rivals
By Michele Lostia Wednesday, March 8th 2006, 14:21 GMT
World champion Fernando Alonso believes Michael Schumacher and Jenson Button will be their main rivals during the 2006 season.
"I think my rivals will be Michael and Jenson Button," Alonso told SportAutoMoto magazine.
"Schumacher is always an ace who knows exactly how to win a world championship, and he wants to forget about 2005. He has a team behind him who have set up a 248 F1 created just for him.
"The Honda has been quick since the first time it left the pits and has managed impressive laptimes. They have a different work method from ours: they always look for absolute performance in private testing, but there's no doubt they have a great car.
"Even though some lap times were obtained with little fuel and soft tyres, the stopwatch speaks clearly.
"Button and [Rubens] Barrichello are two solid and tough drivers, able to get to the end of the races without making mistakes. They can win Grands Prix if they have a chance. They will be tough rivals.
"I expect Jenson to be the strongest of the two, also because he's used to working with the team."
Alonso, however, expects the Mercedes-powered squad to bounce back.
"Despite some highlights, they don't look to be in top form and they've admitted themselves as much publicly," Alonso added.
"At McLaren they have some problems and we've all seen what they are, but I don't think there's anything fundamentally wrong with their car, so as soon as they solve their reliability problems, they will be tough to beat like in 2005.
"I hope they'll lose precious points in the first three or four races again, so the recovery will be harder.
"I think their problems are concentrated into a specific component of the car, and they will solve them quickly. I don't think there is an internal crisis, and I'm ready to bet they'll win more than one race in 2006." [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Bahrain test a waste of time, says Alonso
By Michele Lostia Wednesday, March 8th 2006, 14:47 GMT
Fernando Alonso believes his Renault team made the right decision in declining an invitation to test in Bahrain ahead of the first race of the season.
Rivals Honda, Ferrari and the Toro Rosso squad travelled to the Sakhir circuit over two weeks ago to test ahead of the season-opening race there. The rest of the teams continued with their testing programmes in Europe.
And while Ferrari and Honda have claimed the test will prove beneficial when the Grand Prix starts, Alonso says they wasted time and money.
"I think we did the right thing by staying in Europe, but it would have been different if other teams went there too, besides Toro Rosso," Alonso told SportAutoMoto. "There were never more than five cars on track in Bahrain, and the asphalt was always dirty and sandy.
"Every day they lost lots of time cleaning the racing line and just a bit of wind was enough to be back at the beginning. The track will be three or four seconds faster this week for the race.
"I suspect Ferrari, Honda and Toro Rosso wasted their time and money." [/QUOTE]
| TimStevens | 03-08-2006 01:37 PM |
Well, I certainly hope Scott's able to continue speaking his mind :) Seems like he has a pretty good perspective on things.
| artkevin | 03-08-2006 02:38 PM |
[QUOTE=Ferg]Lucky Kids!
[IMG]http://www.pbase.com/image/56967847/original.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]
World Champion runner up showing local Finnish children the best way to the nearest strip joint in the middle of the winter.
Kimi: "You see kids, neon lights are even visible during the day. There, just over the horizon."
Kids: "Yeah! We wuv you Kimi!"
[IMG]http://www.pbase.com/image/56967847/original.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]
World Champion runner up showing local Finnish children the best way to the nearest strip joint in the middle of the winter.
Kimi: "You see kids, neon lights are even visible during the day. There, just over the horizon."
Kids: "Yeah! We wuv you Kimi!"
| VIRULENT | 03-08-2006 03:23 PM |
bookmarked :D
| artkevin | 03-08-2006 03:35 PM |
^ Nice to have you in here.
| driggity | 03-08-2006 03:58 PM |
[QUOTE=TimStevens]Seems like he has a pretty good perspective on things.[/QUOTE]
And he's even willing to admit that his arrogance has reduced the number of friends that he has. Honesty like that is refreshing these days.
And he's even willing to admit that his arrogance has reduced the number of friends that he has. Honesty like that is refreshing these days.
| finnRex | 03-08-2006 05:44 PM |
[QUOTE=driggity]And he's even willing to admit that his arrogance has reduced the number of friends that he has. Honesty like that is refreshing these days.[/QUOTE]
It'll be interesting to see how he does this year. Hopefully he'll stay ahead of Midland and Aguri. Time will tell...
Mika
It'll be interesting to see how he does this year. Hopefully he'll stay ahead of Midland and Aguri. Time will tell...
Mika
| artkevin | 03-08-2006 05:51 PM |
I think STR should easily beat SA and Midland. For 1, they have a "revamped" RB01 which was a good car to start with. Liuzzi is a better (read talented) driver IMHO then Albers, Taku or Tiago. I have no clue about Ide. Scott seems like a very good driver from what I have seen of him in GP2 and A1GP. He did always seem to be the best of the rest as did Neel Jani. Nico and Hekki just seemed to be head and shoulders above the rest. I hope STR will be able to sniff for points every once in awhile when things go south at the sharp end of the field.
| Ferg | 03-09-2006 08:28 AM |
Morning round up...
[QUOTE]Hamilton 'unlikely' to race for McLaren
By Jonathan Noble & Tim Redmayne Thursday, March 9th 2006, 12:12 GMT
McLaren chief Ron Dennis believes it is unlikely that Lewis Hamilton's first Formula One drive will be for them.
McLaren have supported Briton Hamilton throughout his racing career since he was successful in the McLaren-backed 'Champions of the Future' karting series in the mid-1990s.
Hamilton has been successful progressing up the motor racing ladder, winning both the Formula Renault UK and F3 Euroseries titles. He will race with reigning champions ART in this year's GP2 series.
Dennis has said that it is probable that Hamilton will have to gain experience of Formula One with another team when he steps up, before he considers him for a drive with the Woking-squad.
"Obviously he has quite an elaborate contract because we have financed his entire career," Dennis said. "So it is contractually possible for him to drive for us. But if he dominates GP2 he may be attractive to other people as well.
"As I have said to his face, McLaren is not in the business of making GP drivers, it is in the business of winning races, so it is not impossible but unlikely that the first Grand Prix car he races will be a McLaren."
Dennis added that Hamilton could be loaned out to another team, and additional support could come as part of the deal.
"If there is something we can do to help that team we will," Dennis added. "The easiest thing is money but we could also supply technical guidance or support or supply engine supply. We will have whatever elements are available for us, that is the mission for us.
"I see it as a project - Can you take someone at 12 years old and physically guide them through the whole process? The only thing he has to do is follow the guidance.
"At various moments he has been able to walk away but it is not a My Fair Lady process. It is a more that we will continue to support you if you continue to follow our guidance." [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Todt would welcome Raikkonen to Ferrari
By Michele Lostia Thursday, March 9th 2006, 12:07 GMT
Ferrari team chief Jean Todt has admitted he would welcome Kimi Raikkonen to the Italian squad if they needed him and he was available.
"If Ferrari needed him and found him available, the answer is yes," said Todt when asked if Raikkonen was suitable for Ferrari. "He's very strong, he never complains, he doesn't blame others if he loses."
Raikkonen, whose future is still up in the air, has been persistently linked to a move to Ferrari for 2007, especially with Michael Schumacher having yet to announce his plans for the future.
The German driver's contract ends at the end of this year, but he has said in the past he will make a decision around summer time.
Todt said he would be happy if Schumacher decided to stay.
"It's up to him, and he certainly doesn't need to wait for the end of the season to know what to do. I'll be happy if he stays, as I've said before," Told told Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Frenchman, however, claimed Ferrari know more than they are ready to reveal, saying the team's future regarding drivers is almost closed.
Todt's comments come after Schumacher said it was unlikely MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi and him would be teammates at Ferrari in 2007.
"I won't comment on what he told a German paper, but we know a lot more than we're prepared to say," Todt said.
"Everything will come in due time, today I can only be a reporter. Most of Ferrari's future is ready. Not exactly 100%, but most of the open issues are closed already."
"We're free to hire someone else, regardless what Valentino wants to do. In any case he worked very well in the tests and he impressed with his dedication and performances."
Schumacher will be partnered by Felipe Massa this season, and Todt hinted that the Brazilian's future is up to him and his performances during the season.
"Massa's future depends on a certain number of parameters I don't want to talk about," he said.
"Felipe has the unique opportunity to show his worth against the winningest driver in history, and to demonstrate he deserves a great car, either a Ferrari or another one. After a season at high levels, he won't lack opportunities."
Todt also praised Massa, who he said was a positive change compared to Rubens Barrichello, who left the team to drive for Honda after Ferrari didn't offer him a multi-year contract.
"As far as laptimes are concerned, Massa and Barrichello are similar in performance, but with a different spirit. It's a positive change for everyone," he said.
"Barrichello was always determined to demonstrate he could go quicker than Michael, but when Schumacher has the means, nobody can stop him. Even now that he's 37 he shows motivation, dedication, passion, will and curiousness.
"He likes F1 and Ferrari, he doesn't have many friends and he isn't fascinated by what's outside the track.
"In the delicate parts of a Grand Prix, he speaks on the radio with the engineers as if he was sitting on a deckchair behind the pits.
"During the conversation his laptimes don't change by a single hundredth of a second, the way he replicates performance is shocking. Like any man, he has his weaknesses and anxieties, which make him a formidable person.
"The day he quits I wouldn't be surprised if he disappeared completely. I can't imagine him following the Grands Prix on TV or being a commentator." [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Dennis reckons all teams will commit to F1
By Jonathan Noble Thursday, March 9th 2006, 11:11 GMT
McLaren team chief Ron Dennis reckons all current teams will commit to staying in Formula One beyond the 2008 season.
With both Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone and the Grand Prix Manufacturers' Association admitting this month that they are close to reaching a deal, Dennis reckons the threat of a breakaway championship is ready to go away.
"I think everybody that is currently in F1 will be in F1 in 2008 on the basis of this issue," Dennis said ahead of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. "Maybe there are teams who would choose not to participate, irrespective of the circumstances surrounding F1."
Dennis admitted his own team will want to remain in Formula One and he believes the sport will be in better shape once an agreement is reached.
"We are an F1 team and if F1 exists then we want to be in F1," he said. "We are not going to put ourselves in a position where we cannot compete. There is an acceptance by everyone involved that it would be difficult to put together another series for 2008, not impossible, but difficult.
"But that has never been our objective. Our objective has always been to find a way forward that works to the best of our ability for everyone. There is always compromise in these situation but generally F1 will be winner."
Dennis's outfit are one of five teams who are yet to commit to Formula One. The others are world champions Renault, BMW, Honda and Toyota.
Ecclestone said last week he expected the issue to be settled before the race in Bahrain this weekend, and although that looks unlikely now, Dennis admitted the situation is looking very positive.
"I feel there is a very positive mood and a positive desire to move things forward and find solutions to the problems. It has been a very long process but I think it is important to remember we are talking about 2008 and in any process there has to be some compromise at the appropriate time.
"I think the appropriate time everybody recognizes is now and everyone involved in the process is determined to take their own decisions in terms of the long term interests of F1. And if F1 benefits by way of growth then clearly everyone involved in F1 benefits because we are effectively now in a sharing process rather than a fixed income supplemented by television revenue.
"So it is a better way forward for F1 and it incentives everyone to make F1 better."
FIA president Max Mosley said recently that those teams threatening to break away from Formula One risked losing their spot if they didn't commit soon.
And although Dennis believes Mosley was serious, he admitted he had not given much thought to the warning.
"I think he is quite serious, but I haven't applied much thought to it at the moment. I know the date is not too far away at the moment but I have been concentrating on the economic model (of the team) and I think we are, with the announcement yesterday, extremely strong for the next few years."
McLaren announced yesterday that Dubai-based Emirates Airline will sponsor them this season.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]McLaren considering running 'B' Team
By Jonathan Noble Thursday, March 9th 2006, 12:51 GMT
McLaren have completed a revamp of their old factory in Woking as the British squad continue to consider running a "B" team in Formula One.
McLaren have been linked with the creation of a second team since the end of last year, in a project involving Japanese investment company Direxiv.
Dennis said McLaren's B team would look at the possibility of running old elements of the current car, although the team chief is unsure about the legality of the plan.
Formula One's Concorde Agreement rules out teams from running other team's old cars - and insists they must design and manufacturer the chassis themselves.
Dennis admitted running the second team would be possible if the financial aspect was justified.
"I think we need to have clarity on what you can or cannot do, as regards to running all of or elements of your existing car in a following year," Dennis said. "And I don't have any axe to grind with anyone or anything as long as we have clarity and if there is clarity then that will encourage us to move in that direction.
"We have completely and extensively refurbished our old factory, it is a absolutely pristine. It is better than probably several other teams who are currently competing in F1 and the investment was made in order that an option of running a second car exists.
"We will not hesitate to invest in other long lead elements of a second team if we feel that the business justification exists."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Haug fears Toro Rosso can reach podium
By Jonathan Noble Thursday, March 9th 2006, 11:05 GMT
The controversy over the competitiveness of Scuderia Toro Rosso's V10 engines looks set to escalate this weekend with Mercedes-Benz motorsport director Norbert Haug predicting the team could even finish on the podium in Bahrain.
Red Bull's junior team have been the focus of complaints from rival outfits for much of the winter, amid fears that their restricted V10 may have the edge over V8s, and Haug claims that the matter will likely reach a head in Bahrain.
Speaking ahead of the first Grand Prix of the season, Haug said he believed that the FIA's equivalency rules between the two engine types had not gone far enough because he believed the V10 was as much as 70bhp more powerful than some V8 engines.
"Toro Rosso have more horsepower - that is not a secret," said Haug. "It could be up to 10 percent more. They also have more torque.
"But I am not criticising that. They were strong in testing here and they can go for a podium here, I am convinced."
Haug was keen not to stand out as critical of the FIA engine restrictions in place � but he made it clear that he was not the only one who believed Toro Rosso could surprise.
"At the end of the day, the FIA said it was going to regulate this engine. They will have an advantage. Am I screaming and shouting? No. But if people ask me whether they have an advantage then I have to say yes.
"Due to our calculations they do (have an advantage). Look at the car. If it's not the Red Bull, it is very similar to last year's car. Look at the tyres, the reliability, and the tests they have done. These are factors."
Should Haug's predictions come true, and Toro Rosso shine in Bahrain, then it would likely lead to a number of complaints from rival teams � several of whom are unhappy about the limitations on the V10.
And although Midland have so far been most critical of the situation, McLaren boss Ron Dennis has even said he would likely speak out if Toro Rosso starting taking points off his team.
"There are some strong opinions," said Dennis. "I think that the engine experts seem to believe the equivalency is wrong. There are the torque benefits, because the constraint influences power but not torque and the problem with a low-capacity V8 is torque related. Even if you get the power right you are still going to have an advantage.
"They are not in a particularly competitive car or have particularly competitive drivers, but they should be very reliable. And who knows, if they start to pick up points then I am sure there are those people subjected to the loss of points who will probably be very vocal about the fact. If it is us, I will be."
FIA president Max Mosley made it clear last month, however, that he believed the FIA's rev-limit and air intake restriction had done a good enough job in making the performance of the V10 and V8s similar.
"We have got an open mind, but we think it (the V10) is sufficiently below a competitive engine," he said. "So it (the V10 restriction) has achieved its purpose."
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Hamilton 'unlikely' to race for McLaren
By Jonathan Noble & Tim Redmayne Thursday, March 9th 2006, 12:12 GMT
McLaren chief Ron Dennis believes it is unlikely that Lewis Hamilton's first Formula One drive will be for them.
McLaren have supported Briton Hamilton throughout his racing career since he was successful in the McLaren-backed 'Champions of the Future' karting series in the mid-1990s.
Hamilton has been successful progressing up the motor racing ladder, winning both the Formula Renault UK and F3 Euroseries titles. He will race with reigning champions ART in this year's GP2 series.
Dennis has said that it is probable that Hamilton will have to gain experience of Formula One with another team when he steps up, before he considers him for a drive with the Woking-squad.
"Obviously he has quite an elaborate contract because we have financed his entire career," Dennis said. "So it is contractually possible for him to drive for us. But if he dominates GP2 he may be attractive to other people as well.
"As I have said to his face, McLaren is not in the business of making GP drivers, it is in the business of winning races, so it is not impossible but unlikely that the first Grand Prix car he races will be a McLaren."
Dennis added that Hamilton could be loaned out to another team, and additional support could come as part of the deal.
"If there is something we can do to help that team we will," Dennis added. "The easiest thing is money but we could also supply technical guidance or support or supply engine supply. We will have whatever elements are available for us, that is the mission for us.
"I see it as a project - Can you take someone at 12 years old and physically guide them through the whole process? The only thing he has to do is follow the guidance.
"At various moments he has been able to walk away but it is not a My Fair Lady process. It is a more that we will continue to support you if you continue to follow our guidance." [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Todt would welcome Raikkonen to Ferrari
By Michele Lostia Thursday, March 9th 2006, 12:07 GMT
Ferrari team chief Jean Todt has admitted he would welcome Kimi Raikkonen to the Italian squad if they needed him and he was available.
"If Ferrari needed him and found him available, the answer is yes," said Todt when asked if Raikkonen was suitable for Ferrari. "He's very strong, he never complains, he doesn't blame others if he loses."
Raikkonen, whose future is still up in the air, has been persistently linked to a move to Ferrari for 2007, especially with Michael Schumacher having yet to announce his plans for the future.
The German driver's contract ends at the end of this year, but he has said in the past he will make a decision around summer time.
Todt said he would be happy if Schumacher decided to stay.
"It's up to him, and he certainly doesn't need to wait for the end of the season to know what to do. I'll be happy if he stays, as I've said before," Told told Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Frenchman, however, claimed Ferrari know more than they are ready to reveal, saying the team's future regarding drivers is almost closed.
Todt's comments come after Schumacher said it was unlikely MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi and him would be teammates at Ferrari in 2007.
"I won't comment on what he told a German paper, but we know a lot more than we're prepared to say," Todt said.
"Everything will come in due time, today I can only be a reporter. Most of Ferrari's future is ready. Not exactly 100%, but most of the open issues are closed already."
"We're free to hire someone else, regardless what Valentino wants to do. In any case he worked very well in the tests and he impressed with his dedication and performances."
Schumacher will be partnered by Felipe Massa this season, and Todt hinted that the Brazilian's future is up to him and his performances during the season.
"Massa's future depends on a certain number of parameters I don't want to talk about," he said.
"Felipe has the unique opportunity to show his worth against the winningest driver in history, and to demonstrate he deserves a great car, either a Ferrari or another one. After a season at high levels, he won't lack opportunities."
Todt also praised Massa, who he said was a positive change compared to Rubens Barrichello, who left the team to drive for Honda after Ferrari didn't offer him a multi-year contract.
"As far as laptimes are concerned, Massa and Barrichello are similar in performance, but with a different spirit. It's a positive change for everyone," he said.
"Barrichello was always determined to demonstrate he could go quicker than Michael, but when Schumacher has the means, nobody can stop him. Even now that he's 37 he shows motivation, dedication, passion, will and curiousness.
"He likes F1 and Ferrari, he doesn't have many friends and he isn't fascinated by what's outside the track.
"In the delicate parts of a Grand Prix, he speaks on the radio with the engineers as if he was sitting on a deckchair behind the pits.
"During the conversation his laptimes don't change by a single hundredth of a second, the way he replicates performance is shocking. Like any man, he has his weaknesses and anxieties, which make him a formidable person.
"The day he quits I wouldn't be surprised if he disappeared completely. I can't imagine him following the Grands Prix on TV or being a commentator." [/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Dennis reckons all teams will commit to F1
By Jonathan Noble Thursday, March 9th 2006, 11:11 GMT
McLaren team chief Ron Dennis reckons all current teams will commit to staying in Formula One beyond the 2008 season.
With both Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone and the Grand Prix Manufacturers' Association admitting this month that they are close to reaching a deal, Dennis reckons the threat of a breakaway championship is ready to go away.
"I think everybody that is currently in F1 will be in F1 in 2008 on the basis of this issue," Dennis said ahead of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. "Maybe there are teams who would choose not to participate, irrespective of the circumstances surrounding F1."
Dennis admitted his own team will want to remain in Formula One and he believes the sport will be in better shape once an agreement is reached.
"We are an F1 team and if F1 exists then we want to be in F1," he said. "We are not going to put ourselves in a position where we cannot compete. There is an acceptance by everyone involved that it would be difficult to put together another series for 2008, not impossible, but difficult.
"But that has never been our objective. Our objective has always been to find a way forward that works to the best of our ability for everyone. There is always compromise in these situation but generally F1 will be winner."
Dennis's outfit are one of five teams who are yet to commit to Formula One. The others are world champions Renault, BMW, Honda and Toyota.
Ecclestone said last week he expected the issue to be settled before the race in Bahrain this weekend, and although that looks unlikely now, Dennis admitted the situation is looking very positive.
"I feel there is a very positive mood and a positive desire to move things forward and find solutions to the problems. It has been a very long process but I think it is important to remember we are talking about 2008 and in any process there has to be some compromise at the appropriate time.
"I think the appropriate time everybody recognizes is now and everyone involved in the process is determined to take their own decisions in terms of the long term interests of F1. And if F1 benefits by way of growth then clearly everyone involved in F1 benefits because we are effectively now in a sharing process rather than a fixed income supplemented by television revenue.
"So it is a better way forward for F1 and it incentives everyone to make F1 better."
FIA president Max Mosley said recently that those teams threatening to break away from Formula One risked losing their spot if they didn't commit soon.
And although Dennis believes Mosley was serious, he admitted he had not given much thought to the warning.
"I think he is quite serious, but I haven't applied much thought to it at the moment. I know the date is not too far away at the moment but I have been concentrating on the economic model (of the team) and I think we are, with the announcement yesterday, extremely strong for the next few years."
McLaren announced yesterday that Dubai-based Emirates Airline will sponsor them this season.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]McLaren considering running 'B' Team
By Jonathan Noble Thursday, March 9th 2006, 12:51 GMT
McLaren have completed a revamp of their old factory in Woking as the British squad continue to consider running a "B" team in Formula One.
McLaren have been linked with the creation of a second team since the end of last year, in a project involving Japanese investment company Direxiv.
Dennis said McLaren's B team would look at the possibility of running old elements of the current car, although the team chief is unsure about the legality of the plan.
Formula One's Concorde Agreement rules out teams from running other team's old cars - and insists they must design and manufacturer the chassis themselves.
Dennis admitted running the second team would be possible if the financial aspect was justified.
"I think we need to have clarity on what you can or cannot do, as regards to running all of or elements of your existing car in a following year," Dennis said. "And I don't have any axe to grind with anyone or anything as long as we have clarity and if there is clarity then that will encourage us to move in that direction.
"We have completely and extensively refurbished our old factory, it is a absolutely pristine. It is better than probably several other teams who are currently competing in F1 and the investment was made in order that an option of running a second car exists.
"We will not hesitate to invest in other long lead elements of a second team if we feel that the business justification exists."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Haug fears Toro Rosso can reach podium
By Jonathan Noble Thursday, March 9th 2006, 11:05 GMT
The controversy over the competitiveness of Scuderia Toro Rosso's V10 engines looks set to escalate this weekend with Mercedes-Benz motorsport director Norbert Haug predicting the team could even finish on the podium in Bahrain.
Red Bull's junior team have been the focus of complaints from rival outfits for much of the winter, amid fears that their restricted V10 may have the edge over V8s, and Haug claims that the matter will likely reach a head in Bahrain.
Speaking ahead of the first Grand Prix of the season, Haug said he believed that the FIA's equivalency rules between the two engine types had not gone far enough because he believed the V10 was as much as 70bhp more powerful than some V8 engines.
"Toro Rosso have more horsepower - that is not a secret," said Haug. "It could be up to 10 percent more. They also have more torque.
"But I am not criticising that. They were strong in testing here and they can go for a podium here, I am convinced."
Haug was keen not to stand out as critical of the FIA engine restrictions in place � but he made it clear that he was not the only one who believed Toro Rosso could surprise.
"At the end of the day, the FIA said it was going to regulate this engine. They will have an advantage. Am I screaming and shouting? No. But if people ask me whether they have an advantage then I have to say yes.
"Due to our calculations they do (have an advantage). Look at the car. If it's not the Red Bull, it is very similar to last year's car. Look at the tyres, the reliability, and the tests they have done. These are factors."
Should Haug's predictions come true, and Toro Rosso shine in Bahrain, then it would likely lead to a number of complaints from rival teams � several of whom are unhappy about the limitations on the V10.
And although Midland have so far been most critical of the situation, McLaren boss Ron Dennis has even said he would likely speak out if Toro Rosso starting taking points off his team.
"There are some strong opinions," said Dennis. "I think that the engine experts seem to believe the equivalency is wrong. There are the torque benefits, because the constraint influences power but not torque and the problem with a low-capacity V8 is torque related. Even if you get the power right you are still going to have an advantage.
"They are not in a particularly competitive car or have particularly competitive drivers, but they should be very reliable. And who knows, if they start to pick up points then I am sure there are those people subjected to the loss of points who will probably be very vocal about the fact. If it is us, I will be."
FIA president Max Mosley made it clear last month, however, that he believed the FIA's rev-limit and air intake restriction had done a good enough job in making the performance of the V10 and V8s similar.
"We have got an open mind, but we think it (the V10) is sufficiently below a competitive engine," he said. "So it (the V10 restriction) has achieved its purpose."
[/QUOTE]
| TimStevens | 03-09-2006 08:33 AM |
One more day! :banana:
| StuBeck | 03-09-2006 08:53 AM |
I'll be waking up at 6 in the morning to watch practice live!
| artkevin | 03-09-2006 09:19 AM |
[QUOTE=TimStevens]One more day! :banana:[/QUOTE]
I CAN SMELL IT! :disco:
I CAN SMELL IT! :disco:
| f1vlad | 03-09-2006 09:40 AM |
I am getting up early tomorrow :) (I am on Eastern time). I just upgraded my cable package to sport package because I didn't have speedtv.
| artkevin | 03-09-2006 10:30 AM |
Fernando got a new helmet paint job. Not sure if I like it as much as his old one.
[IMG]http://images.f1racing.net/large/56713.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://images.f1racing.net/large/56713.jpg[/IMG]
| StuBeck | 03-09-2006 11:07 AM |
I like it, it isn't as busy as his last one where he had crosses and stuff all over it.
| jpsimon | 03-09-2006 12:06 PM |
not sure if this has been posted... but from the bbc:
[url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4757190.stm[/url]
[b]David Coulthard
Red Bull driver, winner 13 GPs[/b]
Which driver and team will be champions?
As I've said before, the drivers have balls, but none of them are crystal
Surprise of the year:
Honda and Jenson Button will be, not the surprise of the year, but they will perform at a high level from what I've seen.
Disappointment of the year:
It's early days yet!
Will Michael Schumacher retire at the end of the year?
If Michael's competitive, I see no reason why he would retire
[b]Pedro de la Rosa
McLaren test driver[/b]
Which driver and team will be champions?
Kimi Raikkonen and McLaren. It will be difficult to win the first race but I'm sure we'll fight for the championship
Surprise of the year:
Jenson with the Honda. He has been driving extremely well for the past few seasons and now he has the car. I don't think people realise how good he is
Disappointment of the year:
Ferrari - if you consider Ferrari should be title contenders every year. They won't be. Also Toyota - they are really struggling
Will Michael Schumacher retire at the end of the year?
No way. That's 100%. Because he loves his job more than anything else and even if this year is a struggle, he knows everyone will have Bridgestone tyres in 2007, which is a big advantage for him. I can see him racing until he's 40.
[b]Pat Symonds
Renault engineering boss[/b]
Which driver and team will be champions?
Alonso and Renault
Surprise of the year:
Maybe Barrichello, although you could argue his pace will not be a surprise
Disappointment of the year:
Midland. I just don't understand that team. I'm not sure where they are going or why they're doing it.
Will Michael Schumacher retire at the end of the year?
No
[b]Mike Gascoyne
Technical director Toyota[/b]
Which driver and team will be champions?
Fernando Alonso and Renault
Surprise of the year:
BMW will do better than expected
Disappointment of the year:
Red Bull - they haven't looked on top of the game. Not done a lot of miles, a lot of problems you shouldn't have
Will Michael Schumacher retire at the end of the year? Not if he thinks he can win the championship the year after - but he'll have made that decision by the middle of the year
[b]John Watson
winner five Grands Prix; TV commentator[/b]
Which driver and team will be champions?
I could say any one of three teams - Renault, McLaren and Ferrari
Surprise of the year:
Williams - Cosworth might do a decent job on the engine
Disappointment of the year:
Red Bull - I've never seen a Ferrari customer team that has performed
Will Michael Schumacher retire at the end of the year?
Only if he has a year like he had in 2005. If he is a competitor for the championship he will continue. If he isn't I think he'll consider stopping.
[b]Johnny Herbert
winner three GPs; sporting relations manager, Midland[/b]
Which driver and team will be champions?
Alonso and Renault
Surprise of the year:
Hopefully Midland. We want to do better than the two Red Bull teams
Disappointment of the year:
Jenson - there's a lot of pressure on him and Honda
Will Michael Schumacher retire at the end of the year?
If Michael isn't back up there, he'll probably retire
[b]Maurice Hamilton
BBC Radio Five Live analyst[/b]
Which driver and team will be champions?
I hate to be boring, but Alonso and Renault. But don't overlook Michael Schumacher and Ferrari
Surprise of the year:
I'd like to think it will be Williams and Cosworth
Disappointment of the year:
It won't be a surprise, but BMW will really struggle. They'll find they've bitten off a lot more than they can chew
Will Michael Schumacher retire at the end of the year?
It depends. If he wins the championship, he'll take an offer from another team and do it for fun. If he fails, he'll go - finish
[b]Mark Hughes
Autosport Grand Prix correspondent[/b]
Which driver and team will be champions?
Alonso and Renault
Surprise of the year:
I don't know - that's why it'll be a surprise
Disappointment of the year:
That it will be the last race at Indianapolis
Will Michael Schumacher retire at the end of the year?
No. I think he'll be competitive enough to win races so he won't be able to bring himself to.
[url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4757190.stm[/url]
[b]David Coulthard
Red Bull driver, winner 13 GPs[/b]
Which driver and team will be champions?
As I've said before, the drivers have balls, but none of them are crystal
Surprise of the year:
Honda and Jenson Button will be, not the surprise of the year, but they will perform at a high level from what I've seen.
Disappointment of the year:
It's early days yet!
Will Michael Schumacher retire at the end of the year?
If Michael's competitive, I see no reason why he would retire
[b]Pedro de la Rosa
McLaren test driver[/b]
Which driver and team will be champions?
Kimi Raikkonen and McLaren. It will be difficult to win the first race but I'm sure we'll fight for the championship
Surprise of the year:
Jenson with the Honda. He has been driving extremely well for the past few seasons and now he has the car. I don't think people realise how good he is
Disappointment of the year:
Ferrari - if you consider Ferrari should be title contenders every year. They won't be. Also Toyota - they are really struggling
Will Michael Schumacher retire at the end of the year?
No way. That's 100%. Because he loves his job more than anything else and even if this year is a struggle, he knows everyone will have Bridgestone tyres in 2007, which is a big advantage for him. I can see him racing until he's 40.
[b]Pat Symonds
Renault engineering boss[/b]
Which driver and team will be champions?
Alonso and Renault
Surprise of the year:
Maybe Barrichello, although you could argue his pace will not be a surprise
Disappointment of the year:
Midland. I just don't understand that team. I'm not sure where they are going or why they're doing it.
Will Michael Schumacher retire at the end of the year?
No
[b]Mike Gascoyne
Technical director Toyota[/b]
Which driver and team will be champions?
Fernando Alonso and Renault
Surprise of the year:
BMW will do better than expected
Disappointment of the year:
Red Bull - they haven't looked on top of the game. Not done a lot of miles, a lot of problems you shouldn't have
Will Michael Schumacher retire at the end of the year? Not if he thinks he can win the championship the year after - but he'll have made that decision by the middle of the year
[b]John Watson
winner five Grands Prix; TV commentator[/b]
Which driver and team will be champions?
I could say any one of three teams - Renault, McLaren and Ferrari
Surprise of the year:
Williams - Cosworth might do a decent job on the engine
Disappointment of the year:
Red Bull - I've never seen a Ferrari customer team that has performed
Will Michael Schumacher retire at the end of the year?
Only if he has a year like he had in 2005. If he is a competitor for the championship he will continue. If he isn't I think he'll consider stopping.
[b]Johnny Herbert
winner three GPs; sporting relations manager, Midland[/b]
Which driver and team will be champions?
Alonso and Renault
Surprise of the year:
Hopefully Midland. We want to do better than the two Red Bull teams
Disappointment of the year:
Jenson - there's a lot of pressure on him and Honda
Will Michael Schumacher retire at the end of the year?
If Michael isn't back up there, he'll probably retire
[b]Maurice Hamilton
BBC Radio Five Live analyst[/b]
Which driver and team will be champions?
I hate to be boring, but Alonso and Renault. But don't overlook Michael Schumacher and Ferrari
Surprise of the year:
I'd like to think it will be Williams and Cosworth
Disappointment of the year:
It won't be a surprise, but BMW will really struggle. They'll find they've bitten off a lot more than they can chew
Will Michael Schumacher retire at the end of the year?
It depends. If he wins the championship, he'll take an offer from another team and do it for fun. If he fails, he'll go - finish
[b]Mark Hughes
Autosport Grand Prix correspondent[/b]
Which driver and team will be champions?
Alonso and Renault
Surprise of the year:
I don't know - that's why it'll be a surprise
Disappointment of the year:
That it will be the last race at Indianapolis
Will Michael Schumacher retire at the end of the year?
No. I think he'll be competitive enough to win races so he won't be able to bring himself to.
| TimStevens | 03-09-2006 12:18 PM |
"That it will be the last race at Indianapolis"
:(
:(
| jpsimon | 03-09-2006 01:36 PM |
is it true about indianapolis?
| Ferg | 03-09-2006 01:46 PM |
This is the last year on the contract and both parties, Bernie and Tony, have both said they simply "don't know" if the race will be back at Indy in 2007. Tony George has been reported as asking for Bernie to "halve" the entry fee Indy pays to host the race. The track appreantly loses something like five million dollars every year on F1...
Bernie seems to be pushing for Vegas, maybe it's him covering his bases if Indy falls out, I mean, where else could they realistically put on a Grand Prix in the US..there isn't exactly a lot of world class facilities to choose from....a street circuit makes sense and maybe he really wants to go there...but if they can keep it at Indy, maybe improve the track, really promote it, they could make F1 work in America.
For me Vegas is a big case of been there and done that...as big an event a Grand Prix is, in Vegas it's just another "event"..and one that no doubt would be lost of the slot machine crowd...
Bernie seems to be pushing for Vegas, maybe it's him covering his bases if Indy falls out, I mean, where else could they realistically put on a Grand Prix in the US..there isn't exactly a lot of world class facilities to choose from....a street circuit makes sense and maybe he really wants to go there...but if they can keep it at Indy, maybe improve the track, really promote it, they could make F1 work in America.
For me Vegas is a big case of been there and done that...as big an event a Grand Prix is, in Vegas it's just another "event"..and one that no doubt would be lost of the slot machine crowd...
| jpsimon | 03-09-2006 01:50 PM |
you really think it would be lost in vegas? I guess to us it wouldn't be just another "event" but i can't speak for the rest of the country that doesn't follow f1.
| Ferg | 03-09-2006 01:53 PM |
That's the big question isn't it?
Right now F1 isn't even a blip on most American's radar. Most people get in confused with the IRL...and I'm a big supporter of the IRL.
Aside from the hardcore faithful, how much of an impact could the race realy have in Vegas?
I know I'd be there...
Right now F1 isn't even a blip on most American's radar. Most people get in confused with the IRL...and I'm a big supporter of the IRL.
Aside from the hardcore faithful, how much of an impact could the race realy have in Vegas?
I know I'd be there...
| jpsimon | 03-09-2006 01:55 PM |
It would be an incredible time..... goto vegas for a week... f1 during the day vegas at night. :eek:
| Ferg | 03-09-2006 01:58 PM |
Personally I think they should hold the race at night....
If they want to have part of the track on the "strip", then it needs to be the strip everyone knows, and that means at night with blazing neon.
Imagine the burst of flames on downshifts, the sparks, and the brake discs.
[i]*drool*[/i]
That [i]might[/i] make some people notice F1!
If they want to have part of the track on the "strip", then it needs to be the strip everyone knows, and that means at night with blazing neon.
Imagine the burst of flames on downshifts, the sparks, and the brake discs.
[i]*drool*[/i]
That [i]might[/i] make some people notice F1!
| jpsimon | 03-09-2006 02:00 PM |
ahh that is a brilliant idea! That would be amazing.
| f1vlad | 03-09-2006 02:09 PM |
[QUOTE=jpsimon]ahh that is a brilliant idea! That would be amazing.[/QUOTE]
Yeah I agree. There has been talks in the past few years about city nighty GP non-competitive race, i.e. not a championship race. But I don't think it went any farther than talks :( the idea came from Bernie E. I believe.
Yeah I agree. There has been talks in the past few years about city nighty GP non-competitive race, i.e. not a championship race. But I don't think it went any farther than talks :( the idea came from Bernie E. I believe.
| Bonzo | 03-09-2006 02:10 PM |
hmmm, a night race in F1. Has that ever been done? That would be cool.
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