F1 Racing Thread

[Pothole]

It was a race that basically mirrored qualifying with the exception of Nakajima ( time Williams let him go ). The only odd thing I found was the way Button caught Rosberg and Massa ( 1 1/2 secs a lap ) then couldn't overtake either, the car must be awefull in dirty air I guess. Branson stated he is unlikely to continue his sponsorship next season so Brawn could be in a bit of trouble. Legal writs have been put on hold and further negotiations are in the works with the FIA and FOTA.

 

[Wolfe]

The only odd thing I found was the way Button caught Rosberg and Massa ( 1 1/2 secs a lap ) then couldn't overtake either, the car must be awefull in dirty air I guess.

Massa is not an easy driver to pass and late in the race Massa is preserving his equipment so if Button tries to overtake, Massa would certainly have fought him off an there is no reason to risk a DNF. Raikkonen made this mistake last year in Singapore challenging Glock for 4th late in the race.

Branson stated he is unlikely to continue his sponsorship next season so Brawn could be in a bit of trouble. Legal writs have been put on hold and further negotiations are in the works with the FIA and FOTA.

Branson is just waiting to see which way the wind blows. If there is no split or the FOTA series looks like it has a reasonable chance at success he will stick with Brawn. If FOTA doesn't look like a good bet he will pick up one of the new teams in F1.

Raikkonen was the biggest disappointment for me this weekend. He should have been able to consolidate the gains he made on the start and didn't. It is a shame he only fights hard when he feels he has a chance at the world championship title. Hamilton is starting to look like he has a similar attitude. No reason for him to lose focus and spin late on a dry track. It was good to see Vettle win though.

 

[MaxiRodriguez]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8116756.stm

Thank god! Looks like it's good for another year. So chuffed

Was worried I'd have to shell out loads to see a F1 race before it was all over phew...

 

[SPCotter]

Yup, it was their (FOTA) final bargaining call and it worked. The teams have been pushed around too much by the FIA in recent years, under immense cost cutting pressure from the manufacturers anyway. Interesting that Mosley is no longer going to stand for re-election now, this must have been the dealbreaker? At least he can now go to europe and chase up these privacy laws he has been fighting for (and we all know I think why that is! )

 

[Wolfe]

I am really glad there wasn't a split. We will have to wait to find out if Max is finally out though. It won't surprise me at all when he declares he decided he "must stand for reelection for the good of Formula 1."

 

[overlord7]

I wish i were a hardcore racer. Then again, I enjoy not being permanently injured.

 

[SPCotter]

While the political saga is still going on, I'm glad I put a tenner on Mark Webber this morning! Went down the bookies after seeing how well it seemed the updates were working after practice, even so I expected better odds than 12/1, but couldn't resist instead sticking my money on Webber after seeing Betfred had him at 5/1, while Vettel is 5/4 ?!!! Explain that? Vettel isn't that much of a better driver thank Mark!

Sitting pretty, if it stays dry Hamilton with KERS should spoil Vettel's race and over the race distance with the cold weather the brawn's wont be able to touch Webber for pace, his winning depends on him making it through the first corner, his car not breaking, and probably most importantly given that they're at the nurburgring, that it stays dry! :icon_sunn

Looking forward to tomorrow's race, shaping up to be the most exciting one for a little while, what about Sutil in 7th! Force India podium if it rains?

 

[Pothole]

The 2 Brawns are light on fuel according to post qualifying weights and I'll stick my neck out and pick Hamilton, he was quickest in Friday and Saturday practice, he has the advantage of KERS and if it rains there's no one better on a wet track.

 

[Wolfe]

I expected better odds than 12/1, but couldn't resist instead sticking my money on Webber after seeing Betfred had him at 5/1, while Vettel is 5/4 ?!!! Explain that? Vettel isn't that much of a better driver thank Mark!

If Weber is leading the race and Vettel is second, the team will find a way for Vettel to win. Probably in the last set of pitstops. Since Vettel is ahead of Weber in the championship race, the team will want to maximise his points just in case something happens to button and the door opens up. Getting ahead of Barrichello for second place in the standings could happen this weekend and the team will definately be looking to make that a reality. The only way Red Bull lets Weber finish ahead of Vettel is if there is a car between them. I expect the odds to tighten up for Weber before the race but Vettel will still be a favorite over Weber despite the pole.

I am really excited for Force India. Sutil has an excellent shot at scoring some points in Germany. I can't remember the last time no team was shut out in the Constructors Championship.

 

[Wolfe]

I just checked the weather and it looks like it will be a wet race from start to finish. It shouldn't be so bad that they start behind the safety car. My pick has to be Barrichello. He has a proven record in the wet. Given his high starting position and light fuel load I expect him to get ahead of Button on the start and past Weber by the fifth lap if he isn't already leading out of the first corner.

It's gonna be a good race, cant wait.

 

[Pothole]

Confirmed, Hamilton Vettel 1st two.

Welcome to race day for the ninth round of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship, the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring.

Rain greeted the paddock's arrival at the Nurburgring on Sunday morning and similar conditions are expected to prevail throughout the day, with an ambient temperature high of 14 degrees Celsius.

The race will run over 60 laps of the 5.148 kilometres (3.199 mile) circuit, or 308.863 kilometres (191.938 miles). It starts at 1400 hours local time, which is two hours ahead of GMT.

 

[SPCotter]

In fairness, all of the top 5 qualified drivers are wet weather specialists so to speak, with the rain will be keeping an eye on Sutil and Alonso, Heidfeld even maybe, the 07 race was probably Alonso's highlight at McLaren can't wait!

 

[Wolfe]

BMW is DONE

Schumacher's comeback is taking all the F1 headlines but probably more important is the fact that BMW announced they will not participate in 2010.

That is two major manufacturers in 8 months. On top of the whole FOTA split fiasco this does not bode well for the future of F1. If major companies don't feel secure in the sport, they won't put up the money necessary to keep the teams competative. Virgin has already made noise about leaving after less than one very successful year.

 

[OzExorcist]

Sounds like the BMW team got blindsided by it too - there were interviews on the official F1 site with Mario Theisen one day about how their 2010 entry is shaping up, then bam, the next day there's announcements from BMW corporate that they're pulling out of the sport.

I really don't think this is that big a deal though. No doubt the team will get picked up by someone. Their results this year have been awful, but so have McLaren's and Ferrari's. And before this year BMW were making amazing progress so they've obviously got a lot of good people.

I think what people maybe forget is that at the end of the day it's sponsors that make the F1 world go round, not manufacturers. Being good at attracting sponsors is how teams like Williams and McLaren have thrived for years. Manufacturers, on the other hand, view F1 more as a marketing expense and have always dropped in and out of the sport as they saw fit.

 

[SPCotter]

Can't wait for Schumi's return! Glad Massa is ok though, BMW are no big loss, I hope Peter Sauber manages to get a rescue deal sorted and FOTA can help waive the new team fee, which by rights they would have had to pay as they missed the deadline to sign the new concorde agreement.

 

[Wolfe]

Euro Grand Prix

The Grand Prix sold out just days after Schumacher announced he would race for the the injured Massa. Today his car finished last on the timing sheets from the first practice session. Oh, and it was driven by Luca
Badoer.
A motorcycle racing injury took Shumi out of the Grand Prix line-up last week. Oh well, he served his imediate purpose: Increased positive hype for F1, Sold out tickets for all days. Television rating will probably still take a pretty good jump since they didn't advertise his injury anywhere near as much as his return.
Still, I am looking forward to the race. Glad Renault got to race this weekend. I hate Alonso but F1 needs all the cars on the track they can get. Plus Grosjean should be interesting to watch in his debut. He had a pretty good season going in GP2 with a couple of wins.

 

[Pothole]

Looks like it will be an interesting race, the Brawns are carrying a lot of fuel as is Kimi.


Below is the provisional grid for the European Grand Prix with each car's weight.

1. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 653kg
2. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren, 655
3. Rubens Barrichello, Brawn GP, 662.5
4. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 654
5. Jenson Button, Brawn GP, 661.5
6. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 661.5
7. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 665
8. Fernando Alonso, Renault, 656.5
9. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 664.5
10. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 657.5
11. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 677
12. Adrian Sutil, Force India, 672.5
13. Timo Glock, Toyota, 694.7
14. Romain Grosjean, Renault, 677.7
15. Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso, 688.5
16. Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India, 692.5
17. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 702
18. Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 707.3
19. Jaime Alguersuari, Toro Rosso, 678.5
20. Luca Badoer, Ferrari, 690.5

 

[OzExorcist]

Television rating will probably still take a pretty good jump since they didn't advertise his injury anywhere near as much as his return.

Yeah - haven't seen any stories on the official F1 or Ferrari websites about this. They probably feel stupid they made such a big deal of it then didn't deliver.

LOL @ Badoer qualifying last too.

 

[MaxiRodriguez]

Fisi on Pole!!! WOOP WOOP

Love it when stuff like this happens, a mad qualifying session BMW and Toyota finally woken up and started putting in decent times. And at Spa of all places.

Gonna be an awesome race and im looking forward to it big time.

 

[Pothole]

Fisi on Pole!!! WOOP WOOP

Love it when stuff like this happens, a mad qualifying session BMW and Toyota finally woken up and started putting in decent times. And at Spa of all places.

Gonna be an awesome race and im looking forward to it big time.

I'll wait and see the cars weights before I comment, but Trulli and Glock have been quick all weekend and usually carry lote of fuel.

 

[MaxiRodriguez]

http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/f1_media/Documents/bel09_document_24.pdf

Weights! Glock was light along with fisi, Barrichello lightest. i think

 

[Pothole]

Yup, I think Rubens has made a big error, he will have a hard time passing Trulli ( as does anyone ) light on fuel or not, I see all the non-Q1 drivers have really loaded up on fuel, I think it's the 1st time I have seen a car with over 700kgs of fuel. They may as well get used to it though, no re-fueling next year. Remember too to deduct 20kgs for the cars with KERS.

 

[OzExorcist]

Very interesting race last night.

One thing sticks out for me though - Fisi complained after the race that Raikkonen only beat him because of KERS and that KERS gave him an unfair advantage, and he's not the first one to complain about it this season.

I just feel like giving all the drivers complaining a quick slap and pointing out to them that their car could've had KERS too if their team had've spent the money developing it and getting it to work. They chose to spend their time and money working on other aspects of the car though, so who's to blame but their own team if a KERS car sweeps by them on a restart?

 

[MaxiRodriguez]

I just feel like giving all the drivers complaining a quick slap and pointing out to them that their car could've had KERS too if their team had've spent the money developing it and getting it to work. They chose to spend their time and money working on other aspects of the car though, so who's to blame but their own team if a KERS car sweeps by them on a restart?

I loved the race, best race in a good while imo. Was very impressed with Fisi's pace and thought the way Rubens battled through to 7th? was pretty sweet, and with his car dieing as it crossed the finishing line, exciting race!

Oz is correct here. At the start of the season people were belating KERS as a complete waste of time and not worth the extra weight, now people are fearing it at restarts and at long straights such as eau rogue and the kemmel straight. Ferrari and Mclaren stuck with it and now appear to have quite an advantage from using it. They deserve it from the time taken to develop and perservere with the system.

Fisi was quicker than Kimi thats a fact, and the safety car maybe cost him the chance of a win. But this is F1, it doesnt always go to schedule even an odd one like this with a Force India leading the pack. I also think Fisi's restart under the safety car was poor, I know Kimi had KERS and more expericence of being at the sharp end of the grid but he seemed to gain no advantage whatsoever at the restart, Kimi would've probably gotten him anyway so maybe its irrelvant.

Great Race, Fisi in a Ferrari in Monza? Who knows.

 

[OzExorcist]

Great Race, Fisi in a Ferrari in Monza? Who knows.

Force India are denying there's been a request, FWIW:

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/8/9858.html

Though there's nothing in there that says they wouldn't release him, for the right price one assumes.