Luca Badoer Giancarlo Baghetti Julian Bailey Mauro Baldi Bobby Ball
Friday, August 31, 2012
Speculation starts early over Hamilton's future
Lewis Hamilton's future was the subject of fevered discussion at the Monaco Grand Prix last weekend as the driver market 'silly season' began in earnest.
Hamilton is out of contract with McLaren at the end of this season and, at 27, his career is at a crossroads, with arguably the most important decision of his life looming.
Hamilton is heading into his prime as a grand prix driver. With good reason, he regards himself as the fastest in the world and it pains him that he has won only one world title so far.
That came in 2008 and it has not escaped Hamilton's attention that since then, at least until the start of this year, McLaren had not provided him with a car that was truly competitive enough.
This season started promisingly, with McLaren locking out the front row at the first two races and Hamilton on pole in both. But since then their form has dipped, particularly in the last three races.
Lewis Hamilton was fifth in the Monaco GP, behind Sebastian Vettel who was fourth. Photo: Getty
Hamilton is still very much in the title race, but he left no-one under any illusions about his feelings after his fifth place in Monaco on Sunday.
It used to be the case that discussions about drivers' futures did not start until July and August. No longer. Teams and drivers will say publicly that it is far too early to discuss it. What they mean is that it is too early to talk about it to the media; behind the scenes a lot is going on.
Hamilton's future is tied up with that of Red Bull's Mark Webber and Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher and also, to some extent, Webber's team-mate Sebastian Vettel.
It is widely believed that all four top teams are interested in Hamilton - at least to the point of holding talks with his management.
McLaren definitely want to keep him and have made that clear to both Hamilton himself and his management team - but no substantive negotiations have taken place and no financial offers made yet, despite reports to the contrary. Mercedes are known to have him seriously on their radar as a potential replacement for Schumacher. The picture at Ferrari and Red Bull is slightly less clear.
There was a rumour going around in Monaco that Ferrari were keen on signing Hamilton for next season in place of Felipe Massa, whose time at the team is expected to end this season.
That seems unlikely for one obvious reason - Fernando Alonso is contracted to Ferrari until the end of 2016. There is huge mutual respect between the two - each regards the other as their biggest rival - but that's very different from wanting to be team-mates again.
When they were at McLaren in Hamilton's debut year in 2007, it did not go well, to put it mildly, and Alonso ended up leaving at the end of the season - just one year into what had been a three-year contract.
Alonso's problem was far more with McLaren boss Ron Dennis than it was with Hamilton. Nevertheless, it is unlikely he would want Hamilton to be his team-mate again - and Ferrari is very much his team these days.
Equally, Hamilton would have to think carefully about moving to a team where he does not speak the language - even if the debriefs are conducted in English and there is an English ex-McLaren technical director - and where a man as clever, cunning and political as Alonso has been ensconced for three years.
Nevertheless, Hamilton would be highly attractive to Ferrari's main sponsors, the cigarette company Philip Morris and Spanish bank Santander, who could drop McLaren if they had an English driver at Ferrari. Together, they could basically afford to pay him whatever he wanted.
The problem with this is that a normally impeccable source close to Ferrari says the team only want a one-year driver in 2013, as they have a pre-contract with Vettel for 2014.
This pre-contract, the source says, is two-way - ie, either party can exercise it - and is performance-related. Ferrari need to be at least third in the constructors' championship at a specific stage of next season to bring it into effect.
However, a senior Red Bull insider says this is "nonsense", that they have Vettel under contract to the end of 2014.
The favourite for the expected vacancy at Ferrari is Webber, who is coming towards the end of his career and may well be interested in a year or two at Ferrari to finish it off.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner asked rhetorically in Monaco: "Why would he want to leave?" But there are several potential reasons.
It would vastly increase Webber's post-F1 earnings potential and he would relish the chance to test himself against Alonso, a friend whom Webber regards as the best driver in the world.
Webber would not expect to beat him - in fact, he would almost certainly have to go to Ferrari on the understanding that Alonso was number one - but he would enjoy ruffling the Spaniard's feathers from time to time, as he almost certainly would.
If Webber were to leave Red Bull, that would leave a vacancy Hamilton could potentially fill.
Horner has always sounded lukewarm about taking on Hamilton, pointing out that it would raise the tension in the team as he and Vettel went toe to toe.
But ultimately it's not his decision - it's that of Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz, and the marketing value of pitting Hamilton against Vettel would be enormous.
And if Webber did leave, who else would Red Bull get? Even if Vettel is under a firm contract to the end of 2014, that's still only two years away - at which point they would still need a guaranteed top-line driver if he left.
Theoretically, Red Bull are committed to progressing their junior drivers, but Toro Rosso's Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne do not look ready for that sort of promotion yet.
Then there is Mercedes, whose decision is complicated by Schumacher.
Team boss Ross Brawn said in Monaco that he would like the seven-time champion to stay on as long as he is competitive, but there have been internal questions about whether - and how long - he will remain so.
Schumacher's commercial value to Mercedes is huge. But they have to ask themselves whether they are potentially harming their competitive position with their driver line-up - few in F1 would argue they would not improve it by recruiting Hamilton, Alonso or Vettel, who is also of long-term interest to the team.
Hamilton's decision is not just about driving, either. Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes would all almost certainly be able to pay him more than McLaren can afford to offer. And McLaren's portfolio of sponsors makes it almost impossible for Hamilton's team at Simon Fuller's XIX Management to raise money from private deals.
Ultimately, though, Hamilton will surely base his decision on competitiveness.
The best way to guarantee that in the last 20 years has been to drive wherever Adrian Newey is designer, which is Red Bull. Or does Hamilton bank on Mercedes continuing to raise their competitiveness (and, for that matter, staying in F1, which is far from a foregone conclusion at the moment)? Or take a risk on joining Alonso at Ferrari, should a seat be available?
Or does he stick with what he knows and trust the team with which he has been associated since he was 11-years-old to finally get it right, but potentially reduce his earnings potential?
Hamilton has some tough decisions to make in the next few weeks.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2012/05/will_hamilton_stay_at_mclaren.html
Jim Crawford Ray Crawford Alberto Crespo Antonio Creus Larry Crockett
WSBK: Lascorz Reflects, Looks Ahead
Joan Lascorz discusses the life-altering injury he suffered in testing last April at Imola.
Source: http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/wsbk-lascorz-reflects-looks-ahead/
Roberto Bonomi Juan Manuel Bordeu Slim Borgudd Luki Botha JeanChristophe Boullion
Vettel Hoping To Kick Start His Season At Spa
Sebastian Vettel is confident that he can get his season back on track this weekend, as the Formula One roadshow lands in Belgium.
The defending World Champion has just one race win to his name this year, and is 42 points adrift of leader, Fernando Alonso, and perhaps more worryingly for the German, behind teammate Mark Webber.
This season has been a stark contrast from last, where Vettel won five of the six opening races, and had the title all but sewn up by the mid-season break.
Instead of building on a solid lead, this season the 25-year-old must hunt down his title rivals, and he believes he can start the mission at Spa.
“The Spa circuit is defined by the surrounding nature and it’s one of my favourite tracks. I was very happy to have won there last year,” he told the Telegraph.
“Spa offers every type of racing corner; ultra-fast, medium-fast and slow chicanes, that alternate with fast straights.
“The difference in altitude and the unpredictable weather really make the track a big challenge.”
Vettel will surely be amongst the favourites for maximum points in Belgium, alongside Alonso, Webber, Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen.
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Olivier Beretta Allen Berg Georges Berger Gerhard Berger Eric Bernard
AMA MX: Steel City Team-By-Team Preview
A look at the major contenders heading into this weekend's Steel City showdown…
Source: http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ama-mx-steel-city-team-by-team-preview/
Walt Brown Warwick Brown Adolf Brudes Martin Brundle Gianmaria Bruni
Marko: Vettel Must Improve Qualifying Performances
Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko believes that Sebastian Vettel must improve his qualifying pace if he is to compete for the title.
The German currently occupies third position in the standings, 42 points adrift of Fernando Alonso, with only one win so far, a stark contrast to his domination last year.
“The title is still entirely feasible for us,” Marko told Bild.
“But Vettel needs to do better in qualifying.” He added.
Vettel was truly dominant in qualification last term, securing 15 of 19 pole positions.
However, this season has been a different story, with the Red Bull man only occupying the front row on four occasions so far.
Despite Vettel being the main driver at the Austrian outfit, Marko maintains he will not receive preferential treatment.
“With us, both drivers may be world champion. So Webber can go for the title too.”
Follow us on Twitter @Formula1fancast for updates throughout the race weekend
Phil Cade Alex Caffi John CampbellJones Adri·n Campos John Cannon
Not bad for the number two driver
There was a moment of levity in the news conference after the British Grand Prix when race-winner Mark Webber was asked if he would continue to fight for the championship or back off and support Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel.
The journalist in question clearly does not know Webber very well. But the men on either side of him - Vettel and the world championship leader Fernando Alonso - certainly do. The two of them broke out into broad, knowing grins at the sheer unlikeliness of the suggestion.
Webber, as befits a man with class out of the cockpit to match his ability in it, treated his inquisitor with a delicacy that some of his rivals might have found more difficult to summon. But, before expanding on his answer, even he couldn’t resist drawing the humour out of the situation.
“Yeah,” he drawled, smothering a smile. “At Hockenheim (the next race), we will let Seb through.” Cue even bigger smiles from Alonso and Vettel, who are well aware he will be doing no such thing.
Mark Webber (left) celebrates winning the British GP with team-mate Sebastian Vettel. Photo: Getty
There is no Formula 1 driver more rooted in the concept of fair but hard competition than Webber – as his battles for equal treatment at Red Bull, which boiled over at Silverstone in the previous two races, attest.
There was no repeat this year of the squabbles that took place in 2010 and 2011, when Red Bull’s apparent preference for Vettel – and the Australian’s absolute refusal to play a supporting role - were laid bare in different ways.
The internal dynamic at Red Bull is very different this year. The team and drivers seem more at peace with their respective positions, and the drivers are fighting it out on the track without the tensions of previous seasons. And Webber is proving every bit a match for the double champion.
Webber out-qualified Vettel in the wet on Saturday, lining up alongside pole position man Alonso on the front row, and then won a straight battle with the Ferrari driver in the sunshine of race day to move within 13 points of the world championship lead.
The internal qualifying score at Red Bull is now five-four in Webber’s favour, and the 35-year-old has two wins to the German’s one. After a difficult season watching Vettel romp to the title in 2011, Webber has bounced back in style this season. A serious title contender he certainly is.
For a long time, the British Grand Prix looked to be Alonso’s to lose. He converted pole position into a lead at the first corner, with the help of a take-no-prisoners sweep across the track to deter the faster-starting Webber, and he led through both rounds of pit stops.
But in the last 14 laps before the chequered flag, Alonso found his Ferrari a much less competitive proposition on the ‘soft’ tyres he had saved to the end of the race because he had not liked them when he tried them in the one dry practice session on Saturday morning.
Webber remorselessly closed him down and, with Alonso defenceless, swept by into the lead with four laps to go.
It would be easy to blame Ferrari for choosing a strategy that in hindsight turned out to lose them the race. Easy but wrong.
It made perfect sense to save the more fragile ‘soft’ tyres to the end of the race, when the track would have more rubber on it and the cars would be carrying less fuel. It just turned out, in hindsight, to be the incorrect choice.
Alonso, Webber and their respective teams have reason to leave Silverstone satisfied.
Ferrari confirmed their recent progress, and theirs is now clearly a seriously fast race car – as evidenced by the fact that Alonso has contended for victory in each of the last five races, as well as team-mate Felipe Massa’s upturn in form. It is a remarkable turnaround after starting the season 1.5 seconds off the pace.
But, as both Alonso and Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali admitted after the race, the car is not quite a match for the Red Bull, which is now clearly the fastest in the field.
Although Red Bull team boss Christian Horner denied it after the race, the championship seems to be distilling down to a straight fight between Alonso and the Red Bull drivers – Vettel is only 16 points behind Webber.
McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton is being left behind in fourth place. He is 37 points behind Alonso in the standings after finishing eighth at Silverstone, but more worryingly McLaren have slipped from the pace.
Quite apart from the problems this will cause for them in the championship, it is particularly bad timing for a team whose driver is out of contract at the end of the season.
Hamilton is known to have had conversations with Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes. It is not clear how much interest there is in him by any of them but this is not the sort of performance that will encourage him to sign a new contract at McLaren.
The fact that even Bernie Ecclestone – who has never needed an excuse to kick Silverstone – refused to blame them for the horrendous traffic jams of Friday that led to them asking 20,000 fans with tickets not to come on Saturday underlines the reality that the organisers can hardly be blamed for the wettest June on record.
Nevertheless, there were clear examples of organisational problems as well as bad luck, and the track’s contingency plans clearly did not work on Friday, even if Silverstone did subsequently manage to dig themselves out of the hole they found themselves in with some effectiveness. They also showed laudable honesty in admitting there were serious problems.
The situation is more complex than it seems. The size of the fees charged by Ecclestone make it hard for races to make any money out of hosting a grand prix and Silverstone simply does not have the funds to pour money into solving the problem.
But a problem there is, and it could easily recur – as every F1 driver pointed out at the weekend, the British summer is notorious for its poor weather.
Those involved in the post-mortem meetings planned for this coming week will have to be imaginative in trying to coming up with solutions, but solutions, whatever they are, do need to be found.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2012/07/andrew_benson_1.html
Bill Cheesbourg Eddie Cheever Andrea Chiesa Ettore Chimeri Louis Chiron
MATCHETT: Spa - One Of The Classics
Spa-Francorchamps represents a truly daunting challenge for teams...
Juan Manuel Bordeu Slim Borgudd Luki Botha JeanChristophe Boullion Sebastien Bourdais
Thursday, August 30, 2012
WAG WEEKLY: Cora Schumacher
Okay, so Ralf Schumacher isn’t involved in F1 anymore, but that shouldnt stop us admiring his gorgeous other half, Cora.
The stunning former model was a frequent site in the paddock on race days, and is, perhaps, the thing we all miss most about Micheal’s brother.
To top it all off she is seriously into her cars aswell, competing regularly, to a professional standard, in motor racing.
Enough chit-chat, check out our Cora Schumacher image gallery, you won’t regret it.
CLICK HERE TO REVEAL OUR CORA SCHUMACHER IMAGE GALLERY
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/ddWM83mODUQ/wag-weekly-cora-schumacher
Alberto Colombo Erik Comas Franco Comotti George Connor George Constantine
WAG WEEKLY: Cora Schumacher
Okay, so Ralf Schumacher isn’t involved in F1 anymore, but that shouldnt stop us admiring his gorgeous other half, Cora.
The stunning former model was a frequent site in the paddock on race days, and is, perhaps, the thing we all miss most about Micheal’s brother.
To top it all off she is seriously into her cars aswell, competing regularly, to a professional standard, in motor racing.
Enough chit-chat, check out our Cora Schumacher image gallery, you won’t regret it.
CLICK HERE TO REVEAL OUR CORA SCHUMACHER IMAGE GALLERY
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/ddWM83mODUQ/wag-weekly-cora-schumacher
Manny Ayulo Luca Badoer Giancarlo Baghetti Julian Bailey Mauro Baldi
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Zanardi wants to race in Indianapolis 500 | F1 Fanatic round-up
Zanardi wants to race in Indianapolis 500 is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.
In the round-up: Former F1 driver and two-times IndyCar champion Alessandro Zanardi, now a Paralympic competitor having lost his legs, want to compete in the Indianapolis 500.
Links
Top F1 links from the past 24 hours:
Former CART champ Zanardi to compete at Paralympic Games (The Globe and Mail)
“In a perfect world, Chip Ganassi would call me and ask if I wanted to do the Indy 500. That would be cool. Let me do this first and then we will see.”
Bruno Senna: “Qualifying will be important and I’m looking to get into Q3 like I did in the last race and from there hopefully score some good points for the team.”
Lotus’ performance highlights closely fought Formula One season (AutoWeek)
Eric Boullier: “Yes, it was a risk to [gamble on Raikkonen]. It was a risk to bring Grosjean [who struggled with the Renault team during his first F1 go-round in 2009], but I think we were so convinced with what we wanted to do, we just went for it. I don’t know if it was brave or it was stupid!”
Tony Fernandes interview on Caterham F1 Team and Leafield (Caterham via YouTube)
The harsh realities (Joe Saward)
“Vitaly Petrov is a pay driver. A good one, but a pay driver nonetheless and if his friends in Russia do not deliver the cash for him to continue in F1 in 2013 then Caterham will take another driver who can provide what is needed.”
Spa-Francorchamps equals respect (ESPN)
“Our worst fears were completely unfounded. The new Spa demonstrated just what can be done while making the necessary safety improvements but without diluting the track’s essential character.”
Back in the Saddle (EACSports)
“Personally, I hope to see more of the same. The prominence of race strategy and tyre degradation is engaging, the midfield battle is furious and at the top the drivers know it’s anyone’s championship. If this wasn’t enough, the rumour mill is conjuring up a gripping backdrop as speculation builds on the future of Felipe Massa, the man who will take his seat and the expiration of Hamilton’s McLaren contract.”
Formula One Betting: All systems go in Belgium
My latest article for Unibet.
Tweets
I see
@alo_oficial overtook@lewishamilton during the summer break: bit.ly/RXvHsz#F1— F1 Fanatic (@f1fanatic_co_uk) August 29, 2012
“
@nicotexas:@h_kovalainen looks like they added artificial grass at Pouhon.” yes that’s correct just behind the painted kerb I think— Heikki Kovalainen (@H_Kovalainen) August 29, 2012
My beautiful aunt Diane passed away this morning with the family by her side. Been the toughest day for us all but we will make it through
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) August 29, 2012
Comment of the day
@French-Steve mentioned an interesting statistic about the 1982 Swiss Grand Prix, the subject of yesterday’s On This Day:
The Swiss Grand Prix 1982 at Dijon is the last race with no Ferrari at the start on Sunday.
@French-Steve
From the forum
- An interesting remark from Martin Whitmarsh Hamilton, Button, Mansell and Kovalainen’s contracts
- Heading to Spa for practice tomorrow? Remember to check in on the Going to the Belgian Grand Prix thread
- @Ajokay was at Silverstone last weekend – read his posts on the World Endurance Championship race and that Formula Renault 3.5 crash
- @Porkapie is looking for tips on going to his first NASCAR race at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to MG and galzo33!
If you want a birthday shout-out tell us when yours is by emailling me, using Twitter or adding to the list here.
On this day in F1
Michael Schumacher scored his first career win in the Belgian Grand Prix 20 years ago today.
Schumacher made a decisive switch to slick tyres after going off the track, falling behind team mate Martin Brundle, and noting the state of the rear tyres on the other Benetton.
Earlier leader Nigel Mansell began chasing Schumacher after he changed to slicks, but a broken exhaust ended his bid for victory and sealed a memorable debut win for Schumacher.
This race weekend also saw the final appearance of the infamously dreadful Andrea Moda team:
Image © Ford.com
Zanardi wants to race in Indianapolis 500 is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/ycOVK2h6fxQ/
Chris Amon Bob Anderson Conny Andersson Mario Andretti Michael Andretti
Alonso the new favourite
 Fernando Alonso is the new favourite for the title |
“He is the man with the momentum and, on the same basis that I backed Mark Webber to win the title before Korea, is now my favourite to claim the world title in Abu Dhabi on Nov 14. “When the cars are so evenly-matched you have to back the man in possession. Especially when that man is a two-time world champion and arguably the finest driver of his generation.”The Mirror’s Byron Young drew comparisons between Alonso and seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher as the Spaniard bids to become the sport’s youngest ever triple world champion.
“Like Schumacher, Alonso accepts no opposition within his team. Ultimately he fell out with McLaren over their refusal in 2007 to bring Lewis Hamilton to heel. “He returned to Renault on condition he was No.1, only to be at the centre of the Singapore cheat scandal - engineered to hand him victory. “The Spaniard has always denied involvement but at the German GP in July he was brazen enough to radio Ferrari to rein in team-mate Felipe Massa so he could start the winning streak that has taken him to the brink of history.”
Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/10/alonso_the_new_favourite_1.php
M·rio de Ara˙jo Cabral Frank Armi Chuck Arnold Rene Arnoux Peter Arundell
VINTAGE: Rare DragonSnake Cobra Found
Stored for more than 30 years, the factory-prepped drag racer is one of just two equipped with the ultra-rare 325-horsepower Shelby competition engine.
Source: http://automotive.speedtv.com/article/vintage-rare-dragonsnake-cobra-found/
George Constantine John Cordts David Coulthard Piers Courage Chris Craft
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Who Remembers… Zsolt Baumgartner?
Formula One’s first – and only – Hungarian graced us with his presence in 2003, when he substituted for Jordan’s injured number two driver Ralph Firman at Budapest and Monza.
Despite only posting a DNF and an 11th, rumours soon began to circulate that a full-time race seat had been reserved for him at the yellow outfit for the following season. Unfortunately for Zsolt, the deal fell through and instead he found himself under the wing of big bad Minardi boss Paul Stoddart for 2004.
It’s difficult to get optimum performance out of what is essentially a poor car, but the plucky backmarker managed to hang on for a world championship point (Minardi’s first in over two years) at the USA event. Admittedly there were only nine finishers, something of a rarity in modern Formula One, and the guy at the back had his chance to shine.
There were even some cheeky post-race celebrations with a bottle of champers; and it was probably a good thing he took advantage, as it was to be Minardi’s only point all season.
Then he disappeared into F1 obscurity, and we haven’t really heard a lot from him since. He was briefly reunited with Paul Stoddart and Minardi in 2007, when the Aussie decided to resurrect his team across the Atlantic in the Champ Car series. The role of test and reserve driver awaited, but for Zsolt that was about as far as his American exploits went. He never actually contested a Champ Car race, and Minardi bailed out of the sport before the start of 2008.
He then became a test driver in the relatively low-key Superleague Formula, an open-wheel contest in which the teams are sponsored by football clubs. His team, sponsored by Tottenham Hotspur, managed to turn 11th in the table in 2008 into a giant-killing second by the end of last season.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Formula1Fancast/~3/iol3m7zPJKs/who-remembers-zsolt-baumgartner
Marco Apicella M·rio de Ara˙jo Cabral Frank Armi Chuck Arnold Rene Arnoux
Team orders in spotlight again
 Will Christian Horner regret not utilising team orders in Brazil? |
“The extra seven points Alonso collected when Ferrari ordered Felipe Massa to move over for him in Germany earlier in the season are now looking even more crucial. “And the £65,000 fine they picked up for ruthlessly breaking the rules will seem loose change if Alonso clinches the title in his first year with the Maranello team. “Red Bull could have switched the result yesterday given their crushing dominance and still celebrated their first constructors' championship just five years after coming into the sport. “That would also have given Webber an extra seven points, leaving him just one behind Alonso.”The Guardian’s Paul Weaver says that if Fernando Alonso does take the drivers’ title in Abu Dhabi, Ferrari owes a debt of gratitude to Red Bull for their decision not to employ team orders in Brazil.
“If Alonso does take the title next week it would not be inappropriate were he and Ferrari to send a few gallons of champagne to Red Bull's headquarters in Milton Keynes. “While Red Bull should be heartily applauded for the championship they did win today their apparent acceptance that Ferrari might carry off the more glamorous prize continues to baffle Formula One and its globetrotting supporters. “Their refusal to make life easy for Webber, who has led for much of the season and is still seven points ahead of Vettel, means that whatever happens in the desert next week Alonso, the only driver who was capable of taking the championship in the race today, only has to secure second place to guarantee his third world title.”The Independent’s David Tremayne is also of the opinion that Red Bull may regret not using team orders in Brazil.
“Had Red Bull elected to adopt team orders and let Webber win – something that the governing body allows when championships are at stake – Webber would have left Brazil with 245 points – just one point off the lead. For some that was confirmation of his suggestion that Vettel is the team's favoured driver – which generated an angry call from team owner Dietrich Mateschitz in Austria and was much denied by team principal, Christian Horner. “And it sets up a situation where, if the result is repeated next weekend, as is likely, Vettel and Webber will tie on 256, five behind Alonso.”The Mirror’s Byron Young has put Lewis Hamilton’s fading title chances down to an inferior McLaren machine and he admits the 2008 World Champion now needs a miracle.
“Sebastian Vettel's victory sends the world title fight to a four-way showdown for the first time in the sport's history. “Hamilton goes there as part of that story with a 24-point deficit to Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, but with just 25 on offer in the final round in six days' time it would take more than a miracle. “Driving an outclassed McLaren he slugged it out against superior machinery and stiff odds to finish fourth.”
Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/team_orders_in_spotlight_again_1.php
Art Cross Geoff Crossley Chuck Daigh Yannick Dalmas Derek Daly
Monday, August 27, 2012
Will Mercedes offer Schumacher a new contract?
There was a certain inevitability, given the history of Michael Schumacher's career, about the fact that his first podium finish since his comeback involved a degree of controversy.
In Valencia, Schumacher drove the latest in a series of strong races to finally deliver on the potential he has shown with Mercedes more or less since the start of the year.
In the end, the controversy was much ado about nothing - the man who is notorious for pushing the boundaries of acceptability did nothing wrong.
Red Bull's Mark Webber reported to his team that Schumacher had his DRS overtaking aid, which boosts straight-line speed, open as they passed waved yellow caution flags late in the race.
The rules say a driver must slow down significantly for yellow flags; Schumacher did - case closed.
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His third in the European Grand Prix has been a long time coming. It was Schumacher's first podium finish since the 2006 Chinese Grand Prix, when he was driving for Ferrari, but it should arguably have happened already this season, by far his strongest since his comeback at the start of 2010 after three years in retirement.
In 2010 and 2011, Schumacher struggled compared to team-mate Nico Rosberg.
In the first year of his comeback, Schumacher was nowhere near him; by the second half of last year the two were evenly matched in races, but the younger man out-qualified the veteran 15-4 over the whole season.
This season, finally, has been different. On performance, there has been virtually nothing to choose between them in qualifying or races.
Each has scored a pole position - although Schumacher lost his in Monaco to a grid penalty - and only a dreadful reliability record on the seven-time champion's car has stopped him scoring many more points than he has.
While Rosberg has completed every lap, Schumacher has finished only three races and of his five retirements only one has been his fault.
So where might a podium have come based on his performances prior to this one?
Schumacher was running third in Australia when he retired, but he would probably have finished fifth there. His tyre degradation was too severe to challenge Lewis Hamilton's McLaren or hold off the Red Bulls of Sebastian Vettel and Webber, who filled the three places behind winner Jenson Button.
Mercedes think Schumacher would have gone on to finish second to a dominant Rosberg in China had he not retired immediately after his pit stop because a front wheel had not been fitted correctly.
But other teams believe the two McLarens would have beaten Schumacher and possibly the Red Bulls, too.
His pole lap in Monaco was particularly impressive and that would almost certainly have been converted into at least a podium finish. But first there was a five-place grid penalty for causing a crash in Spain, and then he retired from the race with a fuel-pressure failure.
When it finally came, the podium finish owed something to the unusual circumstances of the race and a lot to Hamilton being taken out by Williams's Pastor Maldonado. But it would be hard to argue Schumacher didn't deserve it on the balance of the year.
When he announced his comeback, he said he wanted to win another world title. But as soon as it became obvious from early in 2010 that he was going to struggle, he has always maintained that getting back on to the pace would be a long-term matter.
No-one expected it to take as long as it has. But perhaps that is to underestimate how much he lost in his three years away, his age - he is now 43 - and the incredible depth of talent in today's field.
Schumacher is still some way short of the driver he once was, a man who could consistently dance on a limit beyond that of anyone else.
But taking this season on average, there is now virtually nothing to choose on pace between him and Rosberg - the one exception being China, where the younger man had the best part of half a second on his team-mate.
That, though, puts Mercedes in an intensely awkward position and facing a very difficult decision - because Schumacher's contract runs out at the end of this year.
The problem is, good as Rosberg is, few outside Mercedes believe he is a match for the three towering talents of this generation - Fernando Alonso, Hamilton and Vettel.
Yet this is a team with aspirations to win the world title and some would argue they are putting themselves at an automatic disadvantage with their current driver line-up.
So do they offer Schumacher another contract on the basis of his improved performance, continue to benefit from the undoubted marketing benefits of his presence in the team as a driver and hope they can build a car that is better than a Red Bull, a McLaren and a Ferrari? Or do they go for someone else?
They are known to be interested in Hamilton, the only one of the big three who is potentially available to take his place.
But Hamilton may well not be available - he seems more likely to either stick with McLaren or to try to persuade Red Bull they should take him on given the reasonable possibility they could lose Vettel to Ferrari at the end of next year.
Yet how long can Mercedes expect Schumacher - who will be 44 next January - to be able to continue at this level?
In which case, should they gamble on a younger man who may represent the future, someone like the increasingly impressive Paul di Resta, for example, who just happens to be a Mercedes protege?
What would you do?
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2012/06/schumacher_finally_makes_his_r.html
Andrea de Cesaris Francois Cevert Eugene Chaboud Jay Chamberlain Karun Chandhok
Harder Spa tyres will let drivers “push hard” – Pirelli | 2012 Belgian Grand Prix
Harder Spa tyres will let drivers “push hard” – Pirelli is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.
Pirelli say the decision to bring their hardest tyre compounds for this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix will reduce the need for drivers to conserve their tyres during the race.
F1′s official tyre supplier are bringing their hard and medium compounds for this weekend’s race, whereas last year the medium and soft tyres were used.
Motorsport director Paul Hembery said: “From a tyre perspective, it’s certainly one of the most demanding circuits that we face all year, because of the high speeds and extreme forces involved, which are often acting on the tyres in more than one dimension.
“The nomination of the hard and the medium tyres will allow drivers to push hard from start to finish, which is what Spa was designed for.”
Some teams experienced problems during last year’s Belgian Grand Prix after they set their cambers beyond the limit recommended by the tyre supplier. “The high speeds increase tyre temperature, particularly if an aggressive camber set-up is adopted to maximise grip,” Pirelli added.
Test driver Jaime Alguersuari did Pirelli’s most recent test at the circuit.: “Spa is relatively smooth,” he said. “So it is not tough on the tyres but it does pose its own unique challenges.
“There are a lot of high-speed areas where considerable lateral force is put on the construction of the sidewall. It is similar to Japan’s Suzuka race circuit, and requires the same set-up and handling.”
2012 Belgian Grand Prix
- Harder Spa tyres will let drivers "push hard" - Pirelli
- F1 fans' guide to Spa for the 2012 Belgian Grand Prix
- Schumacher prepares to mark 300th race at Spa
- Pirelli to bring harder tyres for Spa and Monza
Image © Red Bull/Getty images
Harder Spa tyres will let drivers “push hard” – Pirelli is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/2iiMWKnnI8M/
Giorgio Bassi Erwin Bauer Zsolt Baumgartner Elie Bayol Don Beauman
LE MANS: Toyota Challenges, Audi Wins WEC Silverstone
Andre Lotterer, Marcel Fassler, Benoit Treluyer overcome surprise challenge from Toyota, take lead FIA WEC Drivers' World Championship...
Source: http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/le-mans-toyota-challenges-audi-wins-wec-silverstone/
Jean Alesi Jaime Alguersuari Philippe Alliot Cliff Allison Fernando Alonso
Sunday, August 26, 2012
'The point of no confidence is quite near'
 The wreckage of Jochen Rindt's car at Barcelona |
“Colin. I have been racing F1 for 5 years and I have made one mistake (I rammed Chris Amon in Clermont Ferrand) and I had one accident in Zandvoort due to gear selection failure otherwise I managed to stay out of trouble. This situation changed rapidly since I joined your team. “Honestly your cars are so quick that we would still be competitive with a few extra pounds used to make the weakest parts stronger, on top of that I think you ought to spend some time checking what your different employes are doing, I sure the wishbones on the F2 car would have looked different. Please give my suggestions some thought, I can only drive a car in which I have some confidence, and I feel the point of no confidence is quite near.”A little more than a year later Rindt's Lotus suffered mechanical breakdown just before braking into one of the corners. He swerved violently to the left and crashed into a poorly-installed barrier, killing him instantly.
Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/09/the_point_of_no_confidence_is.php
Jenson Button Tommy Byrne Giulio Cabianca Phil Cade Alex Caffi
Grandstand Motor Sports joins F1 Fanatic as sponsor | F1 Fanatic
Grandstand Motor Sports joins F1 Fanatic as sponsor is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.
F1 Fanatic is very pleased to welcome Grandstand Motor Sports as the new sponsor of Going to a Grand Prix.
Grandstand Motor Sports will feature there and in the Going to a Grand Prix forums for the remaining races of the 2012 season.
There you can discover more about their range of tours to Formula 1 races.
Grandstand Motor Sports will also be participating in the forums via the @grandstandmotorsports account to answer any questions you may have about their tour packages.
For more information see the Going to a Grand Prix section which is accessible under Info > Going to a Grand Prix in the top navigation menu:
Grandstand Motor Sports joins F1 Fanatic as sponsor is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/jwkvlQ_NTyg/
Ivan Capelli Piero Carini Duane Carter Eugenio Castellotti Johnny Cecotto
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