2010 Formula One Thread

[R.Youden]

Someone mentioned Bruno Senna, this is what I know:

His family wouldn't let him start racing until he was 18 because of his uncles death. Last year he races in prototypes despite being linked to Brawn GP to replace RB. In 2008 he drove in GP2 and did OK, second in the championship I think.

He is an pretty good driver, not in the same league as his uncle, but he will do OK and bring in some sponsorship to the smaller teams.

 

[benlangdon]

Someone mentioned Bruno Senna, this is what I know:

His family wouldn't let him start racing until he was 18 because of his uncles death. Last year he races in prototypes despite being linked to Brawn GP to replace RB. In 2008 he drove in GP2 and did OK, second in the championship I think.

He is an pretty good driver, not in the same league as his uncle, but he will do OK and bring in some sponsorship to the smaller teams.

thanks. not got much else to say, except i saw my tivo recorded f1, i checked the date today and when the new season starts 8 times.
it was last season.

 

[MOFS]

Knockhill

Don't forget the other great British motorsport course ... the Isle of Man!

 

[blinkie]

Don't forget the other great British motorsport course ... the Isle of Man!

Alas MotoGP aren't brave enough for that.

 

[CWallace]

thanks. not got much else to say, except i saw my tivo recorded f1, i checked the date today and when the new season starts 8 times.
it was last season.

Correct. SPEED looks to be re-broadcasting the 2009 season over the Winter Break.

 

[emdotdee]

Woo to a new scoring system that's got nothing to do with medals!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8407119.stm

And news i'm less interested in, Renault will still be racing next season.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8407138.stm

 

[benlangdon]

Woo to a new scoring system that's got nothing to do with medals!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8407119.stm

i can see that going both ways.
at least its not the medals system

 

[Superman07]

Looks like there will be a mass unveiling party in Valencia for all[/i] of the 2010 cars prior to the first test session. Cool!

 

[pachyderm]

i can see that going both ways.
at least its not the medals system

i like the current system. feh.

 

[robbieduncan]

Trulli, Kovalainen confirmed at Lotus

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80563

Seems like a pretty solid, but certainly not spectacular, lineup for a new team.

 

[pachyderm]

i'm excited. i get to buy Lotus stuff....

 

[robbieduncan]

i'm excited. i get to buy Lotus stuff....

I'm worried: I drive a Lotus and don't really want to be associated with a team at the back-end of the grid!

 

[OllyW]

I'm worried: I drive a Lotus and don't really want to be associated with a team at the back-end of the grid!

I've been quite proud driving around in my car this season.

 

[CWallace]

Looks like Renault will announce tomorrow that they are selling 75% of their Formula One operation to one Gerard Lopez. He gets the chassis factory at Enstone for free and Renault will continue to build and supply F1 engines for two years at their plant in Viry Chatillon, which Renault will retain sole ownership of.

The team will remain branded Renault for the 2010 season and Total will remain the senior sponsor.

More details here.

 

[robbieduncan]

Fantastic! Crazy-man Kobayashi will be driving for Sauber.

 

[MOFS]

Fantastic! Crazy-man Kobayashi will be driving for Sauber.

Even better ... Lotus's CEO lays down the gauntlet to Richard Branson. Woo-hoo, the fun is back in Formula 1!

 

[iGav]

but it seems like this deal really pushed Jensen out right into the McLaren spot.

I think you're being a little unfair here, given that it appears that it was Button who initiated discussions and the subsequent move to McLaren, whilst breaching his existing contract (nothing new there of course) with Brawn/Mercedes in the process.

IMO button is making a mistake.

I'd say… given the trouble he had in matching Barrichello's speed for much of this season…

How would everyone else rank the current drivers, for me:

I'm surprised you ranked Alonso ahead of Hamilton.

I'd place Hamilton at the top, closely followed by, and I mean very closely, by Vettel. I'd then be inclined to put Alonso third, followed by Massa (I'm also surprised you put Kimi ahead of Massa to be honest, but there you go).

Button would probably just about scrape into my top 10.

I generally agree with your comments regarding Quick Nick though.

They might chose to relax the no customer car rule and let them on that way. Say running last-years cars from a team who are willing to sell/lease them...

But would you not agree that it would be somewhat farcical if they were then allowed to score points in the Constructors Championship?

He is an pretty good driver, not in the same league as his uncle,

His Uncle seemed to think differently when he was alive though.

Fantastic! Crazy-man Kobayashi will be driving for Sauber.

Brilliant news isn't it… he was stupendous against Button in Brazil and Abu Dhabi.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I missed too much of last season, but this one looks to be shaping up into a really interesting one!

And I thought Schumi was all about the Scuderia. But he is German, after all.

 

[CWallace]

I believe Michael's new contract with Ferrari was only for road-car development and he was no longer active in the F1 side of the company, which is why he could sign for Mercedes.

Plus he started with Mercedes back in FIA Group C Sports Cars, so it's more like a return home then a defection.

 

[edesignuk]

Can't believe so little has been said of this yet in here. Schumacher is back.

Michael Schumacher targets eighth Formula 1 title

Michael Schumacher says he intends to crown his Formula 1 comeback by challenging for the 2010 title.

The seven-time champion announced his return for 2010 on Wednesday with Mercedes, the renamed Brawn GP team.

Despite three years out of the sport, he insists he can threaten the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button - the 2008 and 2009 world champions.

"I have won the title seven times and the team won both titles last year, so what do you expect," said the German.

Schumacher, 41 on 3 January, added: "Now Mercedes are team owners you cannot expect anything else other than the world title. That is what we aim for but we have to deliver and that is our job.

Blog quote:
Schumacher will be more than good enough to win races assuming Mercedes provide him with a competitive car - a Michael Schumacher at 90% of his best is still better than the vast majority of the F1 grid

BBC.

 

[Superman07]

Well I thought Wallace eluded to it. Anyway, good news. I started following after Michael left, but I'm very excited for him to come back into the fold. I think it would be good if he stuck around for 2-3 years instead of one and done. Apparently his contract leaves the door open at the end of the year if both parties see fit to continue.

Too bad Kimi is gone. It would be very interesting to see 5 world champions racing against each other at the same time. Heck, it was close to 6 if Massa had of won two years ago. I guess 4 will have to do.

BTW, nice picture.

 

[OllyW]

Briatore F1 ban is overturned

Flavio Briatore's lifetime ban and Pat Symonds' five year ban from Formula One were both overturned by a French court today.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/briatore-f1-ban-is-overturned-1858257.html

The FIA have stated they are likely to appeal the decision.

 

[iGav]

Flavio Briatore's lifetime ban and Pat Symonds' five year ban from Formula One were both overturned by a French court today.

An utterly absurd decision.

 

[RaceTripper]

Flavio Briatore's lifetime ban and Pat Symonds' five year ban from Formula One were both overturned by a French court today.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/briatore-f1-ban-is-overturned-1858257.html

The FIA have stated they are likely to appeal the decision.

So the French court thinks it's OK to cheat in motorsports by crashing a car on purpose, thus endangering lives and risking property.

Not only should Flavio and Symonds stay banned, but Piquet, Jr. should be added to the ban.

 

[benlangdon]

makes me sad that i am french