2009 Formula One Thread

[MOFS]

So will we have refueling next year? I sure hope not....I like having only tire changes to worry about.

It seems as if there is no refueling, the min weight will have to be increased for both reasons...heavier drivers using kers and more fuel.

They're not refuelling next year (although they're still using tyre warmers). KERS has been scrapped next year, so atm I'm confused as to what this argument is about. Have some teams suggested decreasing the minimum weight of the car + driver for next year?

 

[rezenclowd3]

Oh good, glad that Tire Warmers are still legal. Its really idiotic to ban them. They are actually very cheap and durable. The safety they provide as well should mandate their legality. I'm not one for trying to make F1 compare more to our road-going cars. Its a race car, do just about everything possible to make it handle better.

 

[Superman07]

According to the FOTA press release later yesterday it sounds like FIA is going back on their word on 2010 entry as well as rules agreements as part of the "peace" deal.

I wish FOTA had just stuck to their guns and broken away. It's been 3 weeks since the British GP and despite the "peace" it looks like we're right back where were were 3 weeks prior.

 

[SpookTheHamster]

From the latest article on Autosport it looks like the FIA are doing their usual of trying to hide the real point by making FOTA look like liars about something less important.

The FIA are claiming that FOTA knew a unanimous decision was needed for all rules, which I don't doubt is the truth. However, the main point is that the FIA has gone back on themselves by now claiming that the FOTA teams are not yet entered in the FIA series, even though the FIA themselves has released the 'final' list of entrants.

 

[MOFS]

From the latest article on Autosport it looks like the FIA are doing their usual of trying to hide the real point by making FOTA look like liars about something less important.

The FIA are claiming that FOTA knew a unanimous decision was needed for all rules, which I don't doubt is the truth. However, the main point is that the FIA has gone back on themselves by now claiming that the FOTA teams are not yet entered in the FIA series, even though the FIA themselves has released the 'final' list of entrants.

James Allen claims that it is all part of the FIA's attempts to involve the new teams in discussions. The FIA teams have apparently not signed anything yet, but a Concorde agreement is expected to be signed too.

Also, two other bits of interesting news. Geoff Willis has left RBR, with rumours placing him going to Ferrari possibly in the future. Melbourne are also claiming that they may pull out of hosting a race. To me, that seems an excuse for them to leave due to financial reasons (the spectator numbers were low this season) so we'll see how that develops in the future. It would be interesting to see how many circuits make a profit hosting races.

 

[Superman07]

This is - or has turned into crap similar to Hollywood. Stop reporting to me all this junk with celebrities and who was arrested, divorced, cheated, etc. I just want to sit back and enjoy a program or a film. By the same token I wish all this crap would go away and we could focus on racing. I was interested up until Silverstone, but not that they put it on 'repeat' I'm tired of this song. Next please.

 

[benlangdon]

This is - or has turned into crap similar to Hollywood. Stop reporting to me all this junk with celebrities and who was arrested, divorced, cheated, etc. I just want to sit back and enjoy a program or a film. By the same token I wish all this crap would go away and we could focus on racing. I was interested up until Silverstone, but not that they put it on 'repeat' I'm tired of this song. Next please.

thats what i have been saying in my last 10 posts.
anything > drama & politics (and just to cover my bases, shopping with girls, for anything)

 

[MOFS]

BTW is it just me that thinks that Ari Vatanen is a blonder clone of Max Mosely. I saw the picture on the Autosport website and thought Bernie was shaking hands with Max until I saw the headline! Plus ça change!

EDIT: Some driver speculation: Bourdais set to be replaced by their Spanish test-driver, and Tonio Liuzzi hinted that he was set to join a current F1 team next year, whilst wearing a Force India raincoat!

 

[pachyderm]

This is - or has turned into crap similar to Hollywood. Stop reporting to me all this junk with celebrities and who was arrested, divorced, cheated, etc. I just want to sit back and enjoy a program or a film. By the same token I wish all this crap would go away and we could focus on racing. I was interested up until Silverstone, but not that they put it on 'repeat' I'm tired of this song. Next please.

You aren't going to want to hear this then... Villenueve wants back...

 

[CWallace]

Awesome qualifying session (especially Q2).

Well done, Mark.

 

[OllyW]

....and Tonio Liuzzi hinted that he was set to join a current F1 team next year, whilst wearing a Force India raincoat!

He is Force India's test driver, so it's not that surprising that's he's wearing their colours at the GP.

 

[MOFS]

He is Force India's test driver, so it's not that surprising that's he's wearing their colours at the GP.

Well anyway ... it seems to make sense he'd take over Fisi's place.

EDIT: Aggressive start for Webber – crunched into Rubens, and then the puncture to Lewis ruining his race due to the front wing touching the rear right.

 

[bartelby]

Well done Red Bull!


Webber deserves the win so much!
He served his penalty and still won.


He sounds a bit pleased...

 

[scotthayes]

As much as I'm hoping Button wins the world championship it's really nice to see Webber win a race. What a fantastic drive!!!

 

[BoyBach]

He sounds a bit pleased...

Just a tad!

 

[richard.mac]

well done Webber! he deserves it so much after his two 2nd placings.

 

[CWallace]

Glad to hear Mark won his first race.

Unfortunately it's not being broadcast for another 45 minutes here in the States, but ABC announced the winner at the start of the Toronto IndyCar race I am watching.

Oh well. I'll just send the F1 race to Tivo and watch some other stuff while I wait for the new episode of Top Gear to hit the web in two hours then pick it up this evening along with SPEED's coverage of GP2 and save myself the commercials.

 

[SpookTheHamster]

Such a good race.

I can't help but feel bad for Bourdais though. He's a brilliant driver, and to the general public he looks like worse than Piquet.

 

[Superman07]

Such a good race.

I can't help but feel bad for Bourdais though. He's a brilliant driver, and to the general public he looks like worse than Piquet.

I wonder why they were so quick to let him go. He hasn't been driving great, but if memory serves he hasn't been driving very bad. At least no where near as bad as Piquet!

Also another congrats to Webber. I don't think he really tried to bump Rubbens - I'm betting he didn't see that he was there (blind spot?). However, it's bad that he caused Hamilton damage as well. At least that's what I'm reading. I did not see him get near him at the beginning while I was watching. If anything I thought it was one of the BMWs or Williams that bumped Hamilton in turn 2.

 

[MOFS]

I wonder why they were so quick to let him go. He hasn't been driving great, but if memory serves he hasn't been driving very bad. At least no where near as bad as Piquet!

Also another congrats to Webber. I don't think he really tried to bump Rubbens - I'm betting he didn't see that he was there (blind spot?). However, it's bad that he caused Hamilton damage as well. At least that's what I'm reading. I did not see him get near him at the beginning while I was watching. If anything I thought it was one of the BMWs or Williams that bumped Hamilton in turn 2.

I think too much weight is places on qualifying. Bourdais has been outqualified by Buemi, but his race performances have been pretty good considering the car he has. Webber had been outqualified eery race before this one, but you wouldn't say he'd had a poor season by any means.

Piquet, on the other hand, has his job because of Flavio. The number of times Flavio has favoured one of his own stable of drivers (Trulli, Fisi, Alonso) over better drivers (Button getting released springs to mind, Webber) is large. RBR need to be careful that they don't fall foul of this – from what I've read the new driver has not done too great, but is on the training program and brings money from Repsol.

 

[Vogue Harper]

Barrichello was a bit punchy when he was interviewed by Leigh McKenzie (does this woman have the sexiest voice in sport's broadcasting?) after the race. Sounds like he isn't going to be in F1 much after this season (if indeed he will see it out). I thought Ross Brawn did a great job playing it down.

Not the first time Barrichello has caused controversy in F1 - who can forget Austria 2002 when he deliberately stayed ahead of Schumacher until just before the finish line. Whatever one's views of team orders, I am sure Barrichello will want to take that one back.

As for Bourdais, it's another blow for US racing because he will go down as another driver who did brilliantly in Champcars but singularly failed in Formula 1 joining the likes of Michael Andretti, Christiano Da Matta and Alex Zanardi. Jacques Villeneuve and Juan Pablo Montoya remain the only two Indycar/Champcar drivers who successfully made the switch to Formula 1.

 

[pachyderm]

Barrichello was a bit punchy when he was interviewed by Leigh McKenzie (does this woman have the sexiest voice in sport's broadcasting?) after the race. Sounds like he isn't going to be in F1 much after this season (if indeed he will see it out). I thought Ross Brawn did a great job playing it down.

Not the first time Barrichello has caused controversy in F1 - who can forget Austria 2002 when he deliberately stayed ahead of Schumacher until just before the finish line. Whatever one's views of team orders, I am sure Barrichello will want to take that one back.

As for Bourdais, it's another blow for US racing because he will go down as another driver who did brilliantly in Champcars but singularly failed in Formula 1 joining the likes of Michael Andretti, Christiano Da Matta and Alex Zanardi. Jacques Villeneuve and Juan Pablo Montoya remain the only two Indycar/Champcar drivers who successfully made the switch to Formula 1.

I won't change my mind. Rubens deserved that win. Even Schumacer knew it was bogus.
For what it's worth I have nothing against MS. And that is coming from a Damon Hill fan! But if MS actually had a clause in his contract stating that he had to finish in front of his teammate if they both were still running on the lead lap (or whatever the stipulation) that should have been struck down by the FIA. Besides, Schumi rarely needed that rule applied anyway...

I wonder why they were so quick to let him go. He hasn't been driving great, but if memory serves he hasn't been driving very bad. At least no where near as bad as Piquet!

Also another congrats to Webber. I don't think he really tried to bump Rubbens - I'm betting he didn't see that he was there (blind spot?). However, it's bad that he caused Hamilton damage as well. At least that's what I'm reading. I did not see him get near him at the beginning while I was watching. If anything I thought it was one of the BMWs or Williams that bumped Hamilton in turn 2.

I agree on Bourdias. A very dominant racer while here in the states. Perhaps if he were in a RBR he'd have fared better.


As for Webber- WELL DONE!

Incredible race strategy:
1. Win pole.
2. Incur a drive through penalty.
3. Serve it and while doing so pass for the lead of the race.
4. Never look back.

Congrats again Spook!

 

[MOFS]

As for Bourdais, it's another blow for US racing because he will go down as another driver who did brilliantly in Champcars but singularly failed in Formula 1 joining the likes of Michael Andretti, Christiano Da Matta and Alex Zanardi. Jacques Villeneuve and Juan Pablo Montoya remain the only two Indycar/Champcar drivers who successfully made the switch to Formula 1.

Montoya and Villeneuve were the only ones given decent race winning cars, and even then JP underperformed. Williams had a good car, but having Ralf and JP underperform scuppered their chances. The others were given midfield cars. I don't think a former Indy/Champ Car has yet outperformed his car, and obviously Bourdais suffered for that. I do think Bourdais may have a chance for a USGP drive.

In other news, Rosberg to BMW, and Rubens to Williams?

 

[robbieduncan]

In other news, Rosberg to BMW, and Rubens to Williams?

And Kimi to WRC?

 

[Vogue Harper]

Montoya and Villeneuve were the only ones given decent race winning cars, and even then JP underperformed.

Michael Andretti in 1993 had a McLaren that Senna won races in and was probably the best car after the Williams FW15. Da Matta and Bourdais might not have been given decent cars but then they did not exactly shine against their team mates. Webber (Minardi), Vettel (STR), Alonso (Minardi) and even Sutil in his Force India are examples of drivers who have all started in mid/backfield running cars and made their way.

I thought USGP had an American driver only policy - I wonder if Danica Patrick is still in with a chance for a drive?

As for Austria 2002 I am a Schumacher fan and even I thought it was a bit ridiculous that they should have called for the move at that race when he was so far ahead in the championship. My only point in raising that race was to highlight Barrichello's history of petulance. He could have moved over a lot earlier in the race and avoided the massive controversy that followed. If that's what you are contracted to do, then do it. Don't compound the situation by demonstrating to the world that you don't like doing something you are contracted to do.