Bench Racing: 2009 Formula One Thread

[mika]

F1 News

crash.net: FOTA breakaway calendar leaked

crash.net: Montreal ÔÇô No F1 Deal until FIA FOTA war resolved

motorsport.com: Webber to have surgery before next race

The driver silly season has been delayed and complicated, but it is starting for USF1
f1technical.net: USF1 considering Danica Patrick as 2010 driver.

crash.net: Is The Stig really Michael Schumacher?

f1sa.com: Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali rues Formula 1 ÔÇÿKERSÔÇÖ flop


FIA/FOTA

reuters.com: Mosley says F1 teams will not force him out

timesonline.com: F1 Blog ÔÇô Max writes his people

motorsport.com: Ferrari moves ahead with legal action

reuters.com: F1 split approaching point of no return

itv.com: Ecclestone ÔÇô I will not let F1 disintegrate

autosport.com: Briatore ÔÇô Time for a deal has passed

reuters.com: Briatore wants to stay friends with Ecclestone.

 

[mika]

FIA/FOTA

autosport.com: All eyes on Paris

The result, according to Mosley is a settlement. FOTA has not issued a press release. The terms of the settlement are not clear yet.

reuters.com: Deal reached to avoid breakaway F1 series.
- Based on current rules
- Undefined cost cutting measures to get back to 90s level spending.
- Mosley will not stand for reelection

 

[mika]

formula1.com: FIA release WMSC statement

Ferrari.com: World Council accepts FOTAÔÇÖs proposals.

autosport.com: Howett pleased with FIA resolution

autosport.com: FOTA teams call off breakaway series

Saving Face ÔÇô
crash.net: Mosley ÔÇô I jumped; I wasnÔÇÖt pushed

timesonline.com: Incredible! Max has fallen on his sword

reuters.com: Montezemolo refuses to global after F1 deal

telegraph.co.uk: F1 breakaway averted as Max Mosley says he will not stand for re-election

guardian.co.uk: Money talks ÔÇô and it told Max Mosley his time was up

independent.co.uk: Mosley the martyr walks away for F1 peace

The full Press Release from the WSMC, includes info on other series.
FIA.com
Press Release
World Motor Sport Council
24/06/2009
The World Motor Sport Council met in Paris on 24 June 2009. The following decisions were taken:

FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

All currently competing teams have committed to the FIA Formula One World Championship.

There will be no alternative series or championship and the rules for 2010 onwards will be the 2009 regulations as well as further regulations agreed prior to 29 April 2009.

As part of this agreement, the teams will, within two years, reduce the costs of competing in the championship to the level of the early 1990s. The manufacturer teams have agreed to assist the new entries for 2010 by providing technical assistance.

The manufacturer teams have further agreed to the permanent and continuing role of the FIA as the sportÔÇÖs governing body. They have also committed to the commercial arrangements for the FIA Formula One World Championship until 2012 and have agreed to renegotiate and extend this contract before the end of that period.

All teams will adhere to an upgraded version of the governance provisions of the 1998 Concorde Agreement.

The following teams have been accepted for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship.

TEAM

SCUDERIA FERRARI MARLBORO
VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES
BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM
RENAULT F1 TEAM
PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING
SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO
RED BULL RACING
AT&T WILLIAMS
FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM
BRAWN GP FORMULA ONE TEAM
CAMPOS META TEAM
MANOR GRAND PRIX
TEAM US F1 CONSTRUCTOR

FERRARI
McLAREN MERCEDES
BMW SAUBER
RENAULT
TOYOTA
STR TBA
RBR TBA
WILLIAMS TOYOTA
FORCE INDIA MERCEDES
BRAWN TBA
CAMPOS COSWORTH
MANOR COSWORTH
TEAM US F1 COSWORTH

In view of this new agreement and with the prospect of a stable future for Formula One, FIA President Max Mosley has confirmed his decision not to stand for re-election in October this year.

WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

The date for introduction of the 1600cc turbo engine for the WRC car has been brought forward to 2011 to bring it in line with the engine used in the cars on sale to the public.

Event organisers will be given flexibility to evolve the character of their events to create a unique flavour. Rallies may be run over two, three or four days, but must finish on a Saturday or Sunday. To increase the spectacle, there will be freedom to mix asphalt and gravel surfaces either within a stage or within the itinerary of a day.

A ÔÇÿWRC CupÔÇÖ for Super 2000 cars will be introduced for 2010. Teams must register and contest at least seven nominated rounds, including at least one outside Europe. Conditions for registration will be finalised in due course.

2010 FIA World Rally Championship Calendar

14 Feb
07 Mar
04 Apr
18 Apr
09 May
30 May
11 July
01 Aug
22 Aug
12 Sept
03 Oct
24 Oct
14 Nov Sweden
Mexico
Jordan
Turkey
New Zealand
Portugal
Bulgaria*
Finland
Germany
Japan
France
Spain
Great Britain
*Subject to the 2009 ObserverÔÇÖs Report

GT

The FIA has reached agreement with SRO to be the promoter of the new FIA GT1 World Championship from 2010.

As part of this agreement, the FIA GT Championship (GT1 and GT2) and the GT3 European Championship, will be split into three distinct and easily identifiable FIA GT Championships. The FIA GT1 World Championship will be for independent teams and professional drivers, the FIA GT2 European Championship for independent teams and pro-am driver crews, and the FIA GT3 European Championship for independent teams and non-professional drivers.

The Bucharest event, scheduled for 8-9 August 2009, has been replaced with an event in Budapest event on 29-30 August 2009.

TOURING CAR

Yokohama has won the tender to be the single tyre supplier to the FIA World Touring Car Championship in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

2010 FIA World Touring Car Championship Calendar

07 Mar
11 Apr
16 May
30 May
20 June
04 July
18 July
01 Aug
05 Sept
19 Sept
31 Oct
21 Nov BR
MEX
MA
I
B
P
GB
CZ
D
E
Oct
MO Curitiba
Puebla
Marrakech
TBA**
Zolder
Algarve
Brands Hatch
Brno
Oschersleben
Valencia*
Okayama
Macao
*subject to the agreement of the ASN concerned
**the name of the event will be confirmed in due course

KARTING

The CIK-FIA will launch a new karting world championship, aimed at young drivers under 18 years old. The new series will compliment the current CIK-FIA Karting World Championship, which is open to all age groups.

Set to launch in 2010, the new championship will involve three events scheduled to take place in the summer months, when under-18s will be available to compete. The concept will be backed up by the creation of a Karting Academy for drivers aged 13 to 15 years old.



FOTA has not published a press release and may not.

 

[mika]

The F1 grade school play ground fight is not over.

Formula one is a magnet grade school for racing. The kids come to this grade school because it is supposed to be the best soap box car racing school in the world. The schoolÔÇÖs playground is a very competitive place on any given day. The various playground gangs that compete there fight hard because that is nature of the game that is played on the schoolÔÇÖs playground. The 2009 school term has been unusually contentious even for this school.

When this yearÔÇÖs term started the various gangs broke out in a fight over cheating. You cheated. No I didnÔÇÖt. You arenÔÇÖt playing by the rules. Yes I am. IÔÇÖm going to the principleÔÇÖs office and make you play fair. Off they went to the WMSC principle office and that fight was settled. None of the gangs were happy but they went back to the playground to race their soap box cars.

The F1 school announced the class offerings for the 2010 school term a bit latter. There would be new rules for the racing games. New gangs would be coming to the school. The result of this was new fights broke out all over the playground.

Wednesday the F1 school administrators, playground gang members and representatives of the PTA (gang parents and the ACEA) dragged themselves kicking and screaming to the WMSC, the school districtÔÇÖs administratorÔÇÖs office, to settle the fight. Every one, including the kids that come to watch the races, breathed a big sigh of relief when they came out of the office. An agreement had been reached and each of the rival gangs made formal statements to post on the playground fence. The playground gangs posted their notes and were suppose to head home while the F1 school is on break until the next race.

The F1 school administrators ÔÇô the FIA - job was to post the WMSC press release. Principle Max Mosley went home to Monaco to brood over the outcome. He will be back as F1 school principle for the rest of the school term. A new principle will be picked in November to run the school. Then he has to figure out what he is going to do with himself. The school administrators under him went to their offices and homes and began to figure out how to implement what the district office put in place and update their resumes.

Bernie Ecclestone, the school appointed playground monitor and publisher of the official F1 school electronic newspaper Formula1.com, was probably the happiest kid of all. There would be only one playground not two. There would be more gangs on the playground to make money from for his efforts of running the school yard races. He went home to get ready to run the rest of the races for this school term and plan for the next. Wednesday night he went to bed dreaming of even more money to be made by selling tickets and TV air time to fans in the next school term.

The various gangs that race their soap box cars on the schools track had formed an informal group called FOTA to keep down the playground fights and talk with the school administrators and the playground monitor. The school term has been tough on the group. A couple of the gangs had broken out of the group and were dealing directly with the schoolÔÇÖs powers. The rest of the FOTA group posted their own note on the playground fence.

Members of the various gangs went home to get their soap box cars ready for the playgroundÔÇÖs next race. The gang leaders hung around to talk with the various student newspaper reporters that tell the world about the goings on at the magnet school playground. This is when new problems started.

FOTAÔÇÖs note on the playground fence had been polite if not totally charitable when it talked about Principle Mosley. If they had just left it at that along with the polite notices their parents wrote for public consumption things may have remained calm. But the student newspaper reporters asked questions. What does this mean? Who should replace Principle Mosley? How should the new principle run the school? What do you think about all of this? What do your parents think about it? Instead of shrugging their shoulders and saying ÔÇÿI donÔÇÖt know, IÔÇÖll get back to you latterÔÇÖ on these and other questions they started talking.

Back in Monaco Principle Mosley who was already brooding over leaving his job in November was getting furious as he read the various student newspapers. The papers havenÔÇÖt always been kind to him as they have reported about his long tenure as president. When they questioned him the resulting reports didnÔÇÖt come out the way he wanted. Combine that with what the various reports about what the various gang leaders were saying made him hopping mad.

Today the online version student paper The Daily Mail ran an article with the headline They danced on my grave to quickly ÔÇô Max Mosley hits back at the Formula 1 rebels. It looks like just four days after the trip to the district office to settle things there is fighting in the playground again. This time Principle Mosley looks like a rebel.

IÔÇÖm just one of the kids in the bleachers. I wish the principle and the gang leaders would go behind the dugout do their fighting there and out of sight. This fighting keeps getting in the way of the playground races. That is why I sit in the bleachers in the first place.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CC5wcjtmcBA&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CC5wcjtmcBA&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

 

[mika]

F1 News

Formula1.com: The story so far ÔÇô BMW SauberÔÇÖs mid-season report

formula1.com: The story so far ÔÇô Brawn GPÔÇÖs mid-season report

itv.com: US return a ÔÇÿcrucialÔÇÖ priority

f1sa.com: Robert Kubica eating through engines

autosport.com: Theissen ÔÇô Overtaking rules need work

flagworld.com: Campos on track despite no budget caps

timesonline.com: Mid-Term review

autosport.com: Brawn ÔÇô Progress needed to fight RBR

The DriverÔÇÖs Silly Season is beginning now that the participants in the FIA ÔÇô FOTA wars have retreated to their trenches. With thirteen teams in the chase for drivers there will be plenty of rumors, new faces and even some signings. Ferrari is the first into turn one of this race if rumors are correct.

Italian paper Corriere Dello Sport is reporting that after the Monza race Ferrari will announce they have signed Fernando Alonso for the 2010 season. This will be a four year deal taking him to 2014 with Ferrari. Who he will replace is up in the air.

Kimmi Raikkonen is the obvious one to many. Since wining the 2007 DriverÔÇÖs Championship his performance has been lack luster. 2008 found the Fin seemed to be day dreaming on the track until the final laps. In 2009 the Ice Man has found the fire in his belly once again but the car has failed him. Off track he has openly expressed his interest in moving to WRC when his F1 career is done. He has competed in a number of rally events to date and is confirmed as an entrant in the Finnish round of the WRC to be held the end of July. He is rumored to have found chemistry with a copilot, whose name escapes me at this point. If that is the case his seat at Ferrari is them most likely to be empty.

Filipe Massa seat in a Ferrari is not guaranteed though. We remember his 2008 championship campaign as one that went down to the wire with Hamilton snatching it away from him on the last lap in Brazil after Massa had crossed the finish line winning the that GP. Our memories play tricks on us as a result. We forget the first part of that season. Massa pressed too hard in several races breaking his car or crashing needlessly. At that time the bosses in Maranello openly displeased. The rest of the season may have been brilliant yet if Ferrari could have found an acceptable replacement driver it may not have happened at all. The smart money is on MassaÔÇÖs return for 2010 but all bets are off for 2011.

Will there be a Doctor in the house? The 100th MotoGP victory for Valentino Rossi has given him cause to celebrate and for rumors of an F1 career to start again. Rossi has tested several times with Ferrari leaving Tofosi wild eyed at the prospect but yielding mixed results on the track. Like the Ice Man he has made forays into rally cars and other four wheeled racing keeping the speculation of what his career holds in the future.

In 2008 he teased the press saying MotoGP was becoming boring for him and that he was considering going to WSBK to win that championship. 2009 his attention clearly focused on his MotoGP legacy. In the post race press conference after his 100th victory he said he had more to accomplish in this championship. MotoGP is Ben SpiesÔÇÖ ultimate goal. Yamaha would love to keep him with them in WSBK or MotoGP. If he wins this years WSBK championship this may be difficult. If Rossi stays in MotoGP for 2010 with Jorge Lorenzo as his teammate another MotoGP team could steal him away. If Yamaha is able to maintain the status quoi for next year that leaves 2011. Rossi is currently dismissing all of this as caf?® table talk. I would love to share a caf?® table with the Doctor and find out his 2011 plans. I suspect Massa would too.

With Ferrari in the lead the DriverÔÇÖs Silly Season is in full race mode.

 

[mika]

F1 News

formula1.com: German Grand Prix ÔÇô Team and Driver preview quotes

autosport.com: BMW targets upturn with revised parts

itv.com: Theissen ÔÇô BMWÔÇÖs recovery starts now

Previously Lewis Hamilton has been downplaying McLarens ability to stage a race podium come back for this season yet reports are surfacing of pushes to develop the MP4-24 are surfacing.

BMW Sauber F1 Team - German Grand Prix - Preview

ÔÇó 03.07.2009
ÔÇó Press Release
10th ÔÇô 12th July 2009
9th of 17 World Championship races

Preview.

Munich/Hinwil, 3rd July 2009. You always have a special attachment to your home race ÔÇô in both good times and bad ÔÇô and the BMW Sauber F1 Team is certainly looking forward to the German Grand Prix at the N??rburgring. Many chapters of success in BMWÔÇÖs motor sport history have been written at the circuit in the Eifel mountains, which is also used to put series-production cars through the most rigorous of testing. Plus, the company has played its part in the extensive modifications carried out at the ÔÇÿRing.

Robert Kubica:
ÔÇ£The N??rburgring is our home race. Even though this season has not gone well for us so far, there will be a lot of BMW Sauber F1 Team fans there crossing their fingers for us. This is just the right time to put in a strong performance and record a good result. However, I have to admit that the track itself is not one of my favourites. Having said that, it does have a big variety of corners and also opportunities to overtake. The best of these is in the first corner, where you can take various different lines. So I expect weÔÇÖll see more passing moves again at the N??rburgring and enjoy an exciting race.ÔÇØ

Nick Heidfeld:
ÔÇ£It goes without saying that our verdict on the season at the half-way point is anything but positive. Especially when you compare our results so far with our aims going into the season. Of course I hope we will make improvements, and thatÔÇÖs what everybody in the team is working to achieve.

ÔÇ£A lot of fans and fan club members traditionally come to my home race. That is something I really enjoy and it gives me an extra shot of motivation. I will once again be lining up for my home race with a special helmet design. This year it has been created by a fan on my website, and he will present me with the helmet before the start of practice on Friday.

ÔÇ£I have many happy memories of the N??rburgring. I went there a lot with my parents when I was a child and the ÔÇÿRing is only an hour away from my home town of M?Ânchengladbach. In winter we went sledging on the Hohe Acht slopes, I learnt to ride a bicycle at the N??rburgring and this was also where I sat in a kart for the first time ÔÇô with a tyre and a blanket wedged behind my back so that I could reach the pedals.

ÔÇ£Since then IÔÇÖve competed in races at the ÔÇÿRing in Formula Ford, Formula 3 and Formula 3000 and celebrated many victories there. My best N??rburgring result in Formula One was in 2005 when I took pole position and finished second in the race itself.

ÔÇ£For me, the Nordschleife is the most sensational race track in the world. In April 2007 I drove our Formula One car on the circuit, which was just brilliant! It was amazing to turn off the grand-prix course onto the Nordschleife and drive along this huge race track all alone in front of all those people.ÔÇØ

Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director:
ÔÇ£Going into the German Grand Prix, we cannot be happy with the season so far. After three successful years, this recent period has been the first set-back for our team ÔÇô and is one we will overcome. After all, this is the same team in Munich and Hinwil that has delivered continuous improvements since the team was founded. We are all absolutely determined to start moving forwards again and I expect us to experience an upturn in form. It is certainly not easy to make up lost ground without the chance to do any testing, but that is what weÔÇÖre aiming to do. We are bringing a series of mechanical improvements to the Eifel mountains, as well as a further developed version of our double-decker diffuser.

ÔÇ£We feel a particular bond with the N??rburgring. Every series-produced BMW is tested on the Nordschleife circuit and BMW has celebrated some great successes in touring car racing here in the Eifel. The company also runs a Driver Training base here, as well as the BMW Lounge and the BMW Ring Taxi for the Nordschleife. Added to which, we are lending our name to the newly erected BMW M Power Trib??ne grandstand on the start/finish straight.ÔÇØ

Willy Rampf, Head of Engineering:
ÔÇ£After our disappointing performance at Silverstone we have to turn things around at the N??rburgring. ThatÔÇÖs something we owe our many fans who always come to the race here. The characteristics of the N??rburgring mean the cars tend to understeer here. The key question is: how do you set the car up to stop it pushing over the front wheels too much? That can be resolved by an optimal aero balance combined with the corresponding mechanical set-up. We will be bringing a modified version of our double-decker diffuser to the N??rburgring, and we have also made improvements on the mechanical side. Much will doubtless depend on how successful we are at getting the tyres to work.ÔÇØ

History and background:
Two years ago a July scheduling for the Formula One GP at the N??rburgring failed to spare the race from a typical Eifel cloudburst. A sunny Sunday morning was followed by rain-induced chaos during the race. Heidfeld and Kubica had qualified fourth and fifth on the grid, but the heavens opened moments after the start and the track was littered with accidents and collisions. Eventually the race was red-flagged and the re-start saw Kubica line up 11th and Heidfeld 15th. Despite their misfortune both drivers finished in the points. Heidfeld, who became a father for the second time over that weekend, crossed the line in sixth place, Kubica seventh. By the time an extremely eventful race came to an end, the pit crew had negotiated a total of ten stops.

BMW has strong ties with the N??rburgring. Many chapters of success in BMWÔÇÖs motor sport history have been written at the circuit. Among them are 18 overall wins (including eight one-two finishes) in the 24-Hour Race and a one-two in the 2003 Formula One GP.

As a partner of N??rburgring GmbH, BMW runs a state-of-the-art test centre for intensive testing of series-production cars at the foot of the legendary Nordschleife. Arguably the best known BMW Driver Training base is also located at the N??rburgring and offers a comprehensive range of courses to promote safe and sporty driving. Visitors can keep pace ÔÇô literally ÔÇô with the fascinating experience of the Nordschleife as a passenger in the BMW Ring Taxi. At the new N??rburgring experience centre ÔÇ£ring??werkÔÇØ ÔÇô which will not yet have been completed by the weekend of the GP ÔÇô in the start/finish area, BMW will present entertaining and informative material from the world of BMW Motorsport.

The first version of the N??rburgring was opened on 18th/19th June 1927. On 29th July 1951, Formula One made its first appearance in the Eifel for the German Grand Prix. In the late 1950s and early 1970s, the German GP temporarily moved to the Berlin Avus track and to Hockenheim respectively. 2007 marks the 38th Formula One grand prix to be held at the N??rburgring. Niki LaudaÔÇÖs horrendous fireball accident on 1st August 1976 spelt the end of the legendary NordschleifeÔÇÖs career as a Formula One circuit. Today the winding track that stretches for more than 20 kilometres still hosts numerous touring car races, and on many days of the year visitors can pay to take their own car or motorcycle out for a few laps of the circuit.

The new N??rburgring was opened on 12th May 1984, since when the Eifel has played host to Formula One for 12 European Grands Prix, two Luxembourg GPs (1997 and 1998) and one German Grand Prix (1985).

1999 to 2001 saw the modernisation of the start/finish area, including the erection of a new pit building and press centre. 2002 marked the opening of the Mercedes Arena, a stadium-like section which extended the circuit by some 600 metres.

Even more sweeping changes have been carried out since the visit of Formula One in 2007. The old main stand was dynamited and has been replaced by a new grandstand entitled the ÔÇ£BMW M Power Trib??neÔÇØ with seating for 5,000 fans. The project list for the expansion is long and ambitious. While work on the ÔÇ£ring??werkÔÇØ experience park has not yet been completed, the ÔÇ£ring??boulevardÔÇØ, ÔÇ£ring??arenaÔÇØ, another event centre, two hotels and the ÔÇ£Eifeldorf Gr??ne H?ÂlleÔÇØ ÔÇô offering a gastronomic experience and discotheque ÔÇô will be opened on the Thursday before the grand prix weekend.

The N??rburgring is offering weekend tickets for the German Grand Prix priced from 60 euros.

Rumors: Silly Season and More

Drivers contracts have been tied to the F1 fo

BMW
The driverÔÇÖs silly season has come to BMW. Nick Heidfeld is talking with teams looking for a 2010 ride. His personal assessment is that age 32 he still has the desire and ability to compete at the F1 level for several more years. However; will he be competing with a BMW? Rumors have not begun about teammate Robert KubicaÔÇÖs plans. Given the current state of F1 it is anyoneÔÇÖs guess how this works out. Rules changes not salaries will be the key. Saturday qualifying will become even more important as F1 moves away from refueling and the related strategies in 2010. Fuel load advantage strategies will be eliminated leaving only tire strategies to help with track position from the pits. Race day emphasis on overtaking skills will be all important to move up the grid. Look for Heidfeld to go and Kubica to stay.

speedtv.com: De La Rossa up for Campos seat

Blasts from the past ÔÇô
Jacques Villeneuve has confirmed he is in serious negotiations to return to F1.

David Coulthard is a dark horse for a return to F1. Evaluating Red Bulls good fortunes in his current commentator role for the BBC and others he has observed he left F1 a year too early. Is this simply an observation in relation to Red BullÔÇÖs fortunes since he left or is he testing the track temperature for a possible return?

New Kid
Bruno Senna will be driving a historic F1 McLaren at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The festival is a major gathering for historical racing of all kinds. In addition it is a gathering of notables and team principles for the active teams. Deals have been done before. The nephew of legend Ayrton Senna, his entrance into the F1 field has been anticipated for several years. Eight current F1 teams will have cars on the historic F1 grid. A July announcement of his signing by some team should come as no surprise.

Team USF1
The USGPE site is still coming but appears will be renamed Team USF1. The controversy over the inclusion of ÔÇÿF1ÔÇÖ in the team name appears to be settled and the official F1 website now refers to the team as Team USF1. The team is expected to announce drivers before August. This may be where Jacque Villeneuve makes his return. The team has been making news on the organizational side also. The US base in North Carolina will be augmented by a European base of operations. The names of several tracks have been dropped but the French track Paul Richard appears to have won the bid.

Brawn GP
The Virgin sponsorship for 2010 may be moving to the new Manor GP team. Richard BransonÔÇÖs sponsorship deal with Brawn GP was just that. In the deal Branson reportedly purchase billboard space on the care which in turn he could sublet to recover his expenses. It did not include any ownership stake in the team. The Guardian newspaper published a leaked e-mail that appears to show Branson taking a 20% stake in the Manor team and moving his Virgin sponsorship for 2010 there. However the source of the, Allen Donnelly, is suspect. Donnelly is a Max Mosley official. There is no reason to doubt BransonÔÇÖs willingness to move his money quickly and as he sees fit. Sponsor money follows primary sponsor dollars from team to team or out of the sport. The Mosley connection leads me to suspect this story is more about paybacks to a team that owes its existence in part to Mosley and Ecclestone for their role in the FOTA row.

Bench Racing is heading into its own silly season. In the middle of racing season I may not be posting as regularly in this and other threads. We are relocating our base of operations this month to a location yet to be determined. I am closing down my home office and moving my primary internet access to the main shop.

 

[mika]

F1 News

crash.net: Brawn ÔÇô We want successful result at ÔÇÿRing

f1technical.net: Q& A with Sebastian Vettel

skysports.com: Rossi weighing up F1 move

The German GP is a week away. This deep into a Formula 1 season we should be deep into the driverÔÇÖs silly season and trying to figure out which teams will be fighting for the two championships and which will compete while focusing more and more of their efforts on developing next years car. Instead F1 fans are left with a sport that is in total disarray.

The championship hunt has boiled down to a the ability of Brawn GP to fulfill the statistically predicted rise to the top of the championship podium that began with their Australian 1,2 victory and Red Bulls growing dominance in the second half of the season. This would seem to leave the other teams planning their 2010 come backs. Instead we find them sitting in pit lane with their 2010 fuel cells empty and fuel hoses linked to the cars waiting for the fuel supply to be turned on.

The 2010 rules have yet to be finalized. The tentative understanding is the 2009 rules will carry over to next season with some changes. While several teams have openly said they have been developing their next season car for several months the latter caveat of ÔÇÿsome changesÔÇÖ presents huge questions whose answers could leave their efforts to date pointless.

Refueling will go away in any of the rule scenarios for 2010. RefuelingÔÇÖs return to F1 has been controversial from the start. Intended to add a dimension of strategy on race day, refueling has been a pit lane death trap waiting to spring while having marginal impact on the on track race action. The commitment to pressurized fueling rigs that deliver massive quantities of fuel in fractions of seconds has eliminated the impact refueling strategies. Combined with the Q3 rules which require cars to go out with their starting fuel load and just enough to use during qualifying has skewed all of qualifying as a result. Pole positions and qualifying times mean nothing. Fans are left to look for the slide rules hidden away in their desk drawers or writing Xcel spread sheets to figure out the qualifying results mean. With the pressurized systems and fixed fuel loads turn one can eliminate driver car and strategy competing in the dayÔÇÖs race even if they were sitting on the pole.

DesignerÔÇÖs estimates can be made for how much fuel the 2010 cars will need to complete the seasonÔÇÖs races. Until the rules are set they will not know what the margin of error in their preliminary calculations is. For the fuel cell designer the adjustment in cell size is a simple process. Lacking a final rule to design the cells to or final rules in general has aerodynamicists pulling their hair out. What are they to shroud with their sleek designs?

Along with fuel loads KERS remains a serious question mark. The 2009 rules make it optional. Most expect it to remain optional or go away all together when the rules are finalized. Until that is decided do designers leave space for a KERS system? Or do they use it for other things like fuel. KERS has an impact on the shape of the body envelope. Beyond that issue still in doubt the entire envelope is in question because the rules have not been finalized.

The rules for wings and tires are going to change once again. The anticipated intention of this rule change included bringing better balance between front and rear wings along with a change in front tire size aimed to build on the small passing improvements the current rules have brought to race day. Lacking the final rules design efforts to date could be turn into little more than learning exercises. So why arenÔÇÖt their new rules?

The short answer is the FIA FOTA row has put them on hold. The tentative truce between the two has both going back to their respective trenches to draft proposals and counter proposals that could blowup the current peace. Lack of leadership on the part of the FIA and distrust and mixed purposes on the part of FOTA have the 2010 season rules caught in WW I style trench warfare. The problem of lack of leadership was compounded this past week by Bernie Ecclestone.

Ecclestone has been described as an arbitrator in the discussions to date. His ownership of the promotional rights to F1 clearly links him to the FIA in the struggle. Yet his rights ownership self interest has led him to the conclusion he needs the FOTA teams resulting in a willingness to listen and accommodate FOTA to an extent Max Mosley and the FIA arenÔÇÖt if left to their own devices. Even if EcclestoneÔÇÖs arbitrator role is only a perception and not fact it is a perception that helped move the process along; until this week that is.

ÔÇÿI should have kept my mouth shut!ÔÇÖ is the reaction more than one leader has had when they opened up the paper to see how a press conference or interview has been reported. That is exactly where Bernie Ecclestone finds himself after a lenghtly interview with the Times this week.

Instead of say ÔÇÿno commentÔÇÖ when asked if he had a favorite historical dictator as an example of leadership he chose to wax on about Hitler and Saddam Hussein instead of marginally more palatable examples like Stalin or Napoleon. The result has been the press calling for his ouster. Who have the press called on to lead this F1 promoter coup? Max Mosley who himself is dealing with his own ouster and is a lightening rod for FOTA.

Fans should be relishing a 2009 season that has seen the F1 pecking order totally destroyed. For all the arguments on rules and the initial dominance of Brawn GP we are being treated to a heroic comeback run by Red Bull and improvements in the rest of the grid that each race casts one or two of them in a spoiler role for either of the leading teamÔÇÖs championship aspirations. Fans go to race tracks or tune in their TVs to watch the action on the track. Instead we are being treated to one of those disgusting seasons in any sport where league offices, the games zebras and team owners have dominated the game itself.

2010 will come. It will no doubt start with an Australian GP as in the past. Who will be on the grid and what they will be driving remains in doubt. In more serious doubt is who will be in the stands. The key participants need to look around their respective trenches. To date the fans that have been in trenches with them, but there is a swelling number that are leaving the F1 trenches and murmuring ÔÇÿa pox on all their housesÔÇÖ as they walk away.

 

[mika]

F1 News

attwilliams.com: German GP Preview

formula1.com: Pat Symonds Q&A ÔÇô Renault working hard to turn tide

Engines are powering a new FIA controversy; f1technical.net

autosport.com: Renault brings aero step for Germany

Toyota-f1.com: German Grand Prix ÔÇô Preview

skyspors.com: Button getting back on track

crash.net: BMW Sauber F1 ÔÇô We will overcome

Rumors: Silly Season and More

itv.com: Campos still on course without cap
I certainly hope so.

motorsport.com: Rossi admits 2011 F1 switch could happen

Peter Windsor was a guest on Wind Tunnel June 30th. In a phone interview from London Windsor flatly denied rumors that Pamela Anderson is one of Team USF1ÔÇÖs backers. On all other issues he remained incredibly coy. Obviously WindsorÔÇÖs experience interviewing F1 drivers before races for SpeedTVÔÇÖs F1 coverage has taught him how to move his lips without saying anything of importance.

itv-f1.com: USF1 hints at exciting new backers

The video ÔÇô
speedtv.com: Peter Windsor on Wind Tunnel
<embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/626910340" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=27979264001&playerId=626910340&viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://console.brightcove.com/services/amfgateway&servicesURL=http://services.brightcove.com/services&cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&domain=embed&autoStart=false&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="486" height="412" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed>

Road Racing World ran this piece a few days ago. The concept is interesting. I have no information on the developers and backers.
roadracingworld.com: ÔÇ£The largest motorsport country club and resort in the worldÔÇØ being proposed for Colorado

FIA/FOTA

reuters.com: Vatanen prepared to take on Mosley for FIA helm

Bernie Ecclestone is feeling the heat of his remarks.
autosport.com: [German] Politician cancels Ecclestone meeting

The World Jewish Council called for Ecclestones ouster on Sunday. Now the German Central Council of Jews has called on the teams to boycott Formula 1
reuters.com: Ecclestone angers German Jews with Hitler comments

guardian.co.uk: Bernie Ecclestone controversy prompts German politician to scrap meeting

f1technical.net: Whitmarsh explains FOTAÔÇÖs aims
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://videos.video-loader.com/playerjs/video_1125.js?width=400&height=326&bgc=fff&skinName=light"></script>

 

[mika]

F1 News

autosport.com: Webber – Too early for team orders

]reuters.com: Toyota Fuji circuit pulls plug on F1

Ferrari’s site is running a multi part look at the topic of tires. Tires have been at the heart of race weekend controversies in F1 WSBK and MotoGP this year. Each series has gone with a single supplier of tires for all teams. Pirelli supplies WSBK and Bridgestone the other two series. This is the first of the multipart report.
Ferrari.com: Unveiling the tyres’ planet – Part 1

Toyota-f1.com: German Grand Pix Technical preview – Q&A with Timo Glock

formula1.com: Mallya – Force India now a strong midfield competitor

Goodwood Festival of Speed celebrated the 40th anniversary of Frank Williams in F1
<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4v9V8Temq20&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4v9V8Temq20&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

 

[mika]

BMW Sauber F1 - German GP video preview

<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MmCjcmVXRaE&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MmCjcmVXRaE&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

 

[mika]

Here we go again.

Press Release
2010 FIA Formula One World Championship
08/07/2009
Following the decision of the World Council on 24 June to revert to the pre-29 April version of the 2010 F1 Sporting and Technical Regulations, the FIA today met the teams which have entered the 2010 Championship to seek their agreement to these changes.

All changes have now been agreed subject only to the maintenance of the minimum weight at 620 kg and the signing of a legally binding agreement between all the teams competing in 2010 to reduce costs to the level of the early 1990s within two years, as promised by the FOTA representative in Paris on 24 June.

The eight FOTA teams were invited to attend the meeting to discuss their further proposals for 2010. Unfortunately no discussion was possible because FOTA walked out of the meeting.


FOTA has not made any formal statement at this point.

Progress in setting the final rules appeared to be happening up to today. Neither side has leaked any specifics rather have chosen to make very broad statements of direction. For example in budget issues what do ÔÇÿ1990ÔÇÖ levels mean in dollars and action?

Minimum car weight has a bunch of implications depending on the team. The minimum weight at is both car and driver. For BMW with one of the larger F1 drivers in a long time this is a big deal. Adding either KERS or full race fuel loads into the equation Robert KubicaÔÇÖs driving skills are quickly negated by a minimum car weight set at the wrong level.

Time will tell if this is a total breakdown in negotiations taking the sport back to a split series or a temporary minor tempest in a tea pot. To this point the FIA had told FOTA they could not unilaterally set the final rules; rather the non FOTA members must agree to them also. FOTA has firmly adopted a stance that they negotiate as one. FOTA may have needed to break away from the talks for one last round of internal negotiations.

My best guess and hope is this is a short term problem and there may be final agreement after the German GP. The up coming GP could offer a good chance for all team principles to come together and talk over the rule dispute and come to an answer that will satisfy all parties.

I hope but am not holding my breath.

 

[mika]

Press releaseDate:
8 July, 2009


Representatives of all FOTA teams attended a meeting of the Sporting Working Group at the N??rburgring today.


During the course of this meeting, the team managers were informed by Mr Charlie Whiting of the FIA that, contrary to previous agreements, the eight FOTA teams are not currently entered into the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship and have no voting rights in relation to the technical and sporting regulations thereof.

It will be remembered that all eight active FOTA members were included on the ÔÇ£acceptedÔÇØ entry list as endorsed by the FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) and communicated by FIA press statement on June 24.

In light of these claims, the FOTA representatives requested a postponement of todayÔÇÖs meetings. This was rejected on the grounds that no new Concorde Agreement would be permitted before a unanimous approval of the 2010 regulations was achieved.

However, it is clear to the FOTA teams that the basis of the 2010 technical and sporting regulations was already established in Paris.

As endorsed by the WMSC and clearly stated in the FIA press statement of 24 June ÔÇ£the rules for 2010 onwards will be the 2009 regulations as well as further regulations agreed prior to 29 April 2009ÔÇØ. At no point in the Paris discussions was any requirement for unanimous agreement on regulations change expressed. To subsequently go against the will of the WMSC and the detail of the Paris agreement puts the future of Formula 1 in jeopardy.

As a result of these statements, the FOTA representatives at the subsequent Technical Working Group were not able to exercise their rights and therefore had no option other than to terminate their participation.

The FOTA members undertook the Paris agreement and the subsequent discussions in good faith and with a desire to engage with all new and existing teams on the future of Formula One.


In WW I the armistice was signed but did not go into effect immediately. Even with the knowledge that it would go into effect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month commanders still sent troops into battle at 22:45.

 

[mika]

F1 News

FIA German GP Information:
Preview
Stewards: Garry Connelly, Radovan Novak, Mrs Waltraud W??nsch.

formula1.com: Nurburgring – a Formula One set-up guide

formula1.com: Q&A with Force India’s Adrian Sutil

Formula1.com: Weekend weather update – threat of showers in Germany

formula1.com: The German Grand Prix Preview – Advantage Vettel and Red Bull?

Rumors: Silly Season and More

autosport.com: Q&A with Fernando Alonso
Alonso says the Ferrari rumors are just that, rumors.

motorcyclenews.com: Yamaha not worried about Ferrari swoop for Valentino Rossi


FIA/FOTA

FIA.com

Press Release
2010 FIA Formula One World Championship
09/07/2009
Setting the Record Straight

Before FOTA’s decision to walk out of yesterday’s Technical Working Group meeting, the President of the FIA wrote twice to the President of FOTA to remind him that any amendments to the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship regulations were subject to the unanimous approval of the five teams that had already entered for next season under the rules as published.

This is because of the International Sporting Code and also because the entered teams have a contract with the FIA which not even the General Assembly or the World Council can abrogate. Anyone with an elementary knowledge of motor sport governance knows this. Imagine the uproar if, after the FOTA teams had entered, the World Council were subsequently to change the rules without asking them.

It follows that the agreement of the five teams currently entered in the 2010 World Championship to all 2010 rule changes is required. To suggest that FOTA were only made aware of this during the meetings of yesterday is quite simply untrue. So is the implicit claim that they were all unaware of one of motor sport’s basic principles.

As things stand, the current members of the F1 Technical and Sporting Working Groups, in relation to 2010 are the teams which have entered the 2010 Championship. However the 8 FOTA teams were invited to the meetings in order that all 13 teams could agree the 2010 Sporting and Technical Regulations which would then be the so-called ‘stable regulations’ in a new Concorde Agreement. The SWG took place in the morning on this basis and much progress was made. However in the afternoon the FOTA teams walked out of the TWG. Nevertheless the five entered teams were able to confirm the changes agreed by the World Council in Paris on 24 June, as announced yesterday.

It has always been the FIA's understanding that the FOTA teams wanted a Concorde Agreement in place before entering the 2010 Championship. Once entered, the FOTA teams could no longer threaten a breakaway because of the contractual position mentioned above.

The basis for the FIA agreeing to drop plans for a cost cap was the proposal prepared by the Williams team over the Silverstone weekend which would allow an agreed reduction of expenditure to the level of the early 1990s by the end of 2011 to be dealt with by the teams themselves. This reduction was agreed by FOTA and confirmed by them in Paris on 24 June. This would be a private, legally-enforceable contract involving all the teams, but not the FIA. The FIA confirmed in Paris that once this agreement is in place, the cost cap provisions can be removed from the 2010 Sporting Regulations.

The deal that the FIA reached with FOTA in Paris was to extend the 1998 Concorde Agreement with some minor amendments to the governance section. This would have put in place an F1 Commission to deal with future rules with any major question going to the FIA Senate.

However, on 25 June, instead of the 1998 Agreement with some minor amendments, the FIA received 350 pages of a completely new Concorde Agreement.

It being wholly impractical to involve the Senate in such detailed negotiations, the contract was handed over to FIA lawyers, who worked on it tirelessly over the weekend 27-28 June and gave comments during a three-hour conference call on Monday 29 June. Then the 350 pages of 25 June turned out not to be the final FOTA/FOA version and elements of a new version appeared, partly on 2 July, partly on 3 July.

Again, FIA lawyers worked over the weekend on 4-5 July, as did FIA President Max Mosley and FIA Deputy President (sport) Nick Craw. Further comments were then given on a three and a half hour lawyers' call on Monday 6 July and again in a conference call yesterday, 8 July, following the circulation of further drafts. Further significant progress was made yesterday evening in yet another conference call.

At present it seems probable that a final draft of the 2009 Concorde Agreement will be agreed and ready for signature in the coming days.


Setting the record straight as seen by Ferrari.com. Ferrari chairs the FOTA group.

A glance at the press

Maranello, 9th July 2009 - Once again the world’s press has been forced to concentrate on politics rather than sport and it gives them no pleasure, devoting the minimum space necessary to the matter. All the main daily papers have written that it had been universally thought that the matter had been closed on 24 June, with everyone publishing the list of the 13 entries entered in the 2010 world championship. The “resumption of hostilities” as L’Equipe titled its piece explained that the agreement had fallen apart, while the Guardian asks itself if “FOTA will seek further meetings with the FIA to discuss the 2010 rules, or if it will now decide to set up its own championship.” Yesterday’s Gazzetta dello Sport had a succinct and factual headline to describe events of yesterday: “FIA kicks FOTA out the door,” while the Daily Mail is very incisive, especially when it comes to the President of the FIA and the representative of the Commercial Rights Holder. A long commentary piece is entitled, “For all our sakes, this gruesome pair can’t be removed from public life quickly enough.” It’s a telling verdict, repeated at the end of the piece with the hope that both these men “partly for the sake of motor racing, but more for the health and happiness of this nation, let’s hope both these awful men soon bow out of public life.”

guardian.co.uk: F1 future will be secured within days, says FIA
• Max Mosley responds to claims that peace deal is in jeopardy
• Statement criticises F1 teams for interpretation of events

 

[mika]

German GP - Friday

Readers should take the Friday practice times and news with more than the usual grain of salt. Teams/drivers broke out into three groups. Those who were fast out of the box like Sebastian Vettle and Red Bull in general. Those who had potential and were able to find speed like Hamilton/McLaren and Webber/Red Bull. Finally, those teams who where struggling from beginning to end like BMW.

Story lines to follow:
Weather ÔÇô Rain is in the forecast during the weekend. It made an appearance during practice. Teams were struggling with tire and suspension setups in both practices. Rain will wash off rubber build up and its related help with grip. Green tracks use up tires more quickly and Bridgestone is supplying the poorest tire choice from team perspectives.

Brawn GP ÔÇô The walk away leader in the first half of the season is under a serious challenge from Red Bull. It also has to deal with spoiler teams that are improving. Red
BullÔÇÖs charge will have difficulty taking over and securing the championship. The story line here is Brawn GPÔÇÖs ability to keep up with other teams pace in the second half. They look to be champions in their freshman year. The German GP and beyond will tell us if they are heading for a sophomore slump and how big it is.

FOTA ÔÇô The story line here is not the FIA ÔÇô FOTA row we have been following to date. Look for hints in the news and Speed coverage for a possible new tack from FOTA that has them doing what it takes to settle the 2010 rules as soon as possible, keeping F1 a single race series and taking the FIA fight to who runs the body after NovemberÔÇÖs elections.

The FOTA principles have left Germany and returned to London to hold private talks. This appears to negate the idea of using the German GP weekend to talk with the non FOTA teams. The major news on this front is Ari Vatanen has announced he will seek the FIA presidentÔÇÖs office. A separate series may still be on the table. One calculation that FOTA has to make is can they support Vatanen and what that could mean for their F1 future.

The German GP ÔÇô The race will be delayed broadcast on FOX. Check your local listings for time and availability. The normal race weekend builds on itself from Friday to SundayÔÇÖs race. This weekend holds great potential for a Sunday race that has little or nothing to do with all the work that leads up to Sundays green flag.

Thread note ÔÇô I will be posting this weekend. Family events and travel means I will be not be posting in my normal fashion.


F1 News

FIA.com event information
Friday Practice
Session 1: Classification and Lap Times
Session 2: Classification and Lap Times

German GP Friday: various sources

formula1.com: Friday practice ÔÇô selected team and driver quotes

BMW Sauber F1 Team - German Grand Prix - Free Practice
ÔÇó 10.07.2009
ÔÇó Press Release
Weather: overcast with some rain, 11-13??C Air, 14-24??C Track


N??rburg (DE). Despite typical cold Eifel weather, the BMW Sauber F1 Team had a smooth start to the weekend of its home Grand Prix. The team brought new parts for the F1.09 to the N??rburgring race ÔÇô a different floor, including a further developed double diffuser, a modified rear suspension and, for its debut on Saturday morning, a modified front wing.

Nick Heidfeld:
BMW Sauber F1.09-06 / BMW P86/9
1st Free Practice: 11th, 1:34.221 min / 2nd Free Practice: 11th, 1:33.012 min
ÔÇØFor me the outcome of the second session is somewhat difficult to understand. After the track dried out I was quite pleased with the performance. I had traffic on what eventually turned out to be my fastest lap and lost about four tenth behind a Ferrari. Because of this I had high expectations for the final run on another set of new tyres and on an improved track. But then I wasnÔÇÖt quicker than on my blocked lap earlier in the session. This is really strange and has to be analysed.ÔÇØ


Robert Kubica:
BMW Sauber F1.09-03 / BMW P86/9
1st Free Practice: 14th, 1:34:694 min / 2nd Free Practice: 14th, 1:33.161 min
ÔÇ£This was a very difficult Friday. The weather conditions were far from good. We had some rain in both sessions and it was very cold all day long. The weather makes it hard to keep up the tyre temperatures. It was especially difficult to get the harder tyre compound to work. We have to improve the carÔÇÖs balance for tomorrow. We will now analyse the data and see what we have to change for tomorrow.ÔÇØ


Willy Rampf (Head of Engineering):
ÔÇ£With all the new parts on the car today for us it was important that we were able to conduct our comprehensive programme as planned. Now we have to analyse and compare the data we collected. The first analysis shows we made some progress with regard to the downforce level. But we have to make an improvement with the balance of the car. For Saturday we have to make the set-up as effective as possible.ÔÇØ
autosport.com: Bridgestone

Nickheidfeld.com
1st Practice
2nd Practice

<object width="425" height="271"><param name="FlashVars" value="requestUrl=http://bmw-web.tv/en/stage/playerxml?items%5B0%5D=e6PfyCi"/><param name="movie" value="http://bmw-web.tv/en/player.swf?requestUrl=http://bmw-web.tv/en/stage/playerxml?items%5B0%5D=e6PfyCi" /><embed src="http://bmw-web.tv/en/player.swf?requestUrl=http://bmw-web.tv/en/stage/playerxml?items%5B0%5D=e6PfyCi" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="271" allowfullscreen="true" FlashVars="requestUrl=http://bmw-web.tv/en/stage/playerxml?items%5B0%5D=e6PfyCi"></embed></object>

autosport.com: Toyota
Toyota-f1.com: Friday round-up
autosport.com: Force India
f1network.net: Heidfeld working hard as the rain comes into action
redbullracing.co: Friday practice
scruderiatororosso.com: Friday practice

formula1.com: Fernando Alonso Q&A[/url]


Ferrari.com gives us part 2 of their tire series. Unveiling the tyresÔÇÖ planet

Darn accounts payable departments.
flagworld.com: German police give Force India scare

Thursday leftovers

speedtv.com: Video ÔÇô German GP Insights

fia.com: Thursday press conference[/url]
DRIVERS: Timo GLOCK (Toyota), Nick HEIDFELD (BMW Sauber), Nico ROSBERG
(Williams), Adrian SUTIL (Force India), Sebastian VETTEL (Red Bull)


I havenÔÇÖt checked Mercedes-Benz TV in some time. Here are three from them that I think you will find interesting.

The world champion car returns
<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,16,0" width="496" height="309" id="fullscreen" align="middle"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://iptv.mercedes-benz.tv/player.swf?clipId=1002&channelId=0&lang=en" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#333333" /><embed src="http://iptv.mercedes-benz.tv/player.swf?clipId=1002&channelId=0&lang=en" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" bgcolor="#333333" width="496" height="309" name="fullscreen" align="middle" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" /></object>

The Power of Brawn-Mercedes
<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,16,0" width="496" height="309" id="fullscreen" align="middle"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://iptv.mercedes-benz.tv/player.swf?clipId=1004&channelId=0&lang=en" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#333333" /><embed src="http://iptv.mercedes-benz.tv/player.swf?clipId=1004&channelId=0&lang=en" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" bgcolor="#333333" width="496" height="309" name="fullscreen" align="middle" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" /></object>

The Silver Arrow legend
<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,16,0" width="496" height="309" id="fullscreen" align="middle"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://iptv.mercedes-benz.tv/player.swf?clipId=951&channelId=0&lang=en" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#333333" /><embed src="http://iptv.mercedes-benz.tv/player.swf?clipId=951&channelId=0&lang=en" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" bgcolor="#333333" width="496" height="309" name="fullscreen" align="middle" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" /></object>


Rumors: Silly Season and More

autosport.com: Bourdais denies doubts about F1 future
Rumors of dropping Bourdais after the German GP do not seem credible to me but if you are a Bourdais fan donÔÇÖt look elsewhere to follow him. I donÔÇÖt believe he will return to Toro Rosso or F1.

motorsport.com: Raikkonen not ready to quit F1 for rallying

mtorsport.com: Kovalainen hoping to stay at McLaren

telegraph.co.uk: Jenson Button steers clear as politics overshadow German GP

FIA/FOTA

formula1.net: Time to bow out, Mr Ecclestone
More on this from me at another point.

dailyexpress.co.uk: Mosley to face Vatanen challenge

autosport.com: FOTA pushing ahead with breakaway.

reuters.com: BMW boss disgusted by EcclestonÔÇÖs Hitler comments

f1sa.com: Australian Formula 1 GP chief Ron Walker calls on Max Mosley

 

[mika]

German GP - Saturday

Mark Webber took his first pole position after 130 attempts. Barrichello and Button separate him from his team mate Vettel. These four will form the first two rows on Sunday. Qualifying for the German GP is best looked at in totality as a race instead of focusing in on lap times and the results of the three round qualifying process. Q1 defined the back markers for the race. Q3 sorted out the leaders in terms of speed. With rain, tire selection and timing of being on track being the key issues for Q2 rather than true car capability we have all the elements of a race.

LetÔÇÖs dispense with the F1 Roundel. BMW is still struggling. Kubica could not make it out of Q1 with a dismal performance he is unable to explain. Heidfeld advanced to Q2 and led the session for a time until rain showed up and the team could not deal with proper tire selection in time to send him back out before he was bumped. What is with BMW and tires this year? Both cars are running heavy loads to start the race and race day strategy will make the difference for any points aspirations for BMW.

Race day check the weather and car weights to make predictions instead of qualifying times. The top seven drivers are running light loads. How their planed pit stop progression matches up with the weather will go a long way to determining the race. For example if Webber in P1 passes the pits and has to gingerly go around a wet track while Sutil in P7 some distance behind and experiencing rain ducks into the pits on that lap the race lead could change hands and stay that way. Mid field runners will take chances with tires and hope there are in the right place at the right time to move up.

The race will be broadcast on Fox at 3PM eastern. Rain is a distinct possibility but should not result in a red flagged race as in Malaysia.

Off track the FIA/FOTA storyline continues to develop.
- Ari Vatanen is at the German GP pressing the flesh and trying to develop and image independent of both Mosley and FOTA.
- Bernie Ecclestone is telling everyone that Mosley will not run.
- FOTA is being brilliant and stupid at the same time.
Brilliant: The FOTA principle apparently have begun to leverage CVC Capital Partners who own a majority share of the F1 rights have them try and reign in Ecclestone. Ecclestone is still a share holder and CEO of the F1 enterprises and continues to own some parts outright. CVC is a majority share holder with a significant amount of capital at stake if this is not settled. They need to do what investors must at times like this, tell their CEO what must be done.
Stupid:At the same time it appears they drafted and sent Max Mosley a letter of resignation for him to sign. My guess is Mosley will be to busy to sign as he finds himself laughing at FOTA for once again shooting themselves in the foot. Mosley has no one to rein him in. In the current FIA system the board members below him are hand picked yes men. FOTA has waved a red flag in front of Mosley and their faces as they shot themselves in the foot.

F1 News

FIA.com event information

Press Conference: Friday
Saturday

Saturday
Practice Session: Classification and Lap Times
Qualifying: Classifications, Lap Times, Maximum Speeds, Best Sector Times, Qualifying Speed Trap
Car Weights

Stewards Reports
Timo Glock ÔÇô 3 grid position penalty
The competitor Red Bull is fined 10.000 Ôé¼ and is reprimanded
Massa / Sutil incident ÔÇô No action taken

formula1.com: Glock penalized for blocking Alonso
BMW Sauber F1 Team - German Grand Prix ÔÇô Qualifying
ÔÇó 11.07.2009
ÔÇó Press Release
Weather: overcast, some rain, 12-14??C Air, 18-24??C Track

N??rburg (DE). While Nick Heidfeld only just missed the top ten qualifying and came 11th in what was a rain influenced lottery, Robert Kubica still struggled with his car and qualified 16th for the German Grand Prix at the N??rburgring.


Nick Heidfeld:
BMW Sauber F1.09-06 / BMW P86/9
Qualifying 11th, 1:42.310 min in Q2 (3rd Free Practice: 10th, 1:31.928 min)
ÔÇ£It wasnÔÇÖt too bad in free practice, I was tenth in Q1, and also in Q2 it looked as if I could make it into the top ten qualifying. But then we just had bad luck with our tyre choice. When the intermediates were overheating I needed fresh tyres for the final run in Q2 and I was personally uncertain what to choose ÔÇô another set of inters or the softer slick compound. I left the decision to the team and they went for drys. I donÔÇÖt blame anybody, as it is always easy to know afterwards what would have been best. However, 11th isnÔÇÖt too bad and we are free to choose our fuel strategy. I wouldnÔÇÖt mind having a wet race tomorrow.ÔÇØ


Robert Kubica:
BMW Sauber F1.09-03 / BMW P86/9
Qualifying 16th, 1:32.190 min in Q1 (3rd Free Practice: 18th, 1:32.269 min)
ÔÇ£We brought some new parts to the N??rburgring and the car made some progress. Unfortunately, my car didnÔÇÖt react how it should. I have struggled with my carÔÇÖs behaviour. As early as the first free practice session I noticed that something was wrong. Although the analysed data looked strange, we do not understand in detail what is going on. We now have to understand and fix our problem.ÔÇØ


Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director):
ÔÇ£It was a very strange qualifying, with the results depending on the changeable weather conditions. In Q1 Robert had to forgo his third run because of the rain and missed getting into Q2 by six hundreds of a second. For the first run in Q2 intermediates were mandatory as the track was too wet. When it dried out we gave Nick slicks for his last run, but during this lap it started raining again. Just like his team-mate, he also missed making it to the next qualifying session by one position.ÔÇØ


Willy Rampf (Head of Engineering):
ÔÇ£Taking the free practice results into account, we did not expect a lot more from RobertÔÇÖs qualifying. He was simply not happy with the carÔÇÖs balance. As usual, Nick did a good job during the rainy period of qualifying. In the crucial lap of Q2 we were unlucky as we had slick tyres on the car when it rained. Finally, we just missed Q3. The typical Eifel weather can be a crucial factor in tomorrowÔÇÖs race as well.ÔÇØ

Formula1.com
Qualifying ÔÇô selected team and driver quotes
Force India celebrate best-ever qualifying


Rumors: Silly Season and More

Many countries and tracks are distancing themselves from Bernie Ecclesotne after his recent remarks. However; Bulgaria is continuing to press for entrance into the European club of nations that host F1 events. reuters.com

FIA/FOTA

bbc.co.uk: Time for change at FIA ÔÇô Vatanen

timesonline.com: Vatanen arrives

guardian.co.uk: Formula One teams bypass Ecclestone to seek 2010 resolution

independent.co.uk: Ecclestone given ultimatum over new championship


You will want to check the team and driver sites this weekend for their stories.


Formula 1 Team News :
Links to the official team sites and team specific stories

BMW Sauber F1
Robert Kubica
Nick Heidfeld

AT&T Williams
Nico Rosberg
Kazuki Nakajima

Brawn GP
Reubens Barrichello
Jenson Button

Ferrari
Filipe Massa
Kimi Raikkonen

Force India F1
Giancarlo Fisichella
Adrian Sutil

ING Renault
Fenando Alonso
Nelsinho Piquet

McLaren
Lewis Hamilton
Heikki Kovalainen

Red Bull Racing
Sebastian Vettel
Mark Webber

Toro Rosso
Sebastien Bourdais
Sebastien Buemi

Toyota F1
Jarno Trulli
Timo Glock

USGPE

Standings

Driver Championship
Constructor Championship

 

[mika]

Spoiler alert

German GP ÔÇô Race notes.

Weather is dry but rain is possible. Temperatures are higher than for qualifying.

As the track clears to begin the formation lap Timo Glock is shown in the pits. GlockÔÇÖs penalty for blocking Alonso may have resulted in the decision to start from pit lane.

Most teams are reported to be starting the race on soft tires. Grip has been a major issue for the primary compound hard tires due to track temperatures and rain greening the track.

The race begins.
Barrichello takes the lead from Webber in turn one. Hamilton had a good start but went wide in 1 with a tire puncture.

After:
Lap 1
Barrichello, Webber, Kovalainen, Mass, Button, Vettel, Raikkonen Sutil Rosberg and Kubica make up the top ten. Kubica! Heidfeld is in P12

Hamilton into the pit.

Lap 2
Barrichello has a full second lead over Weber and set a new fast lap at 1:35.348

Lap 3
Button is attacking Kovalainen for P3. Vettel is closing on Massa in P5. Webber sets new fast lap.

Replays ÔÇô Webber and Hamilton had contact which lead to HamiltonÔÇÖs puncture and perhaps more damage. He is shown a lap down at this point. Alonso spun on the formation lap.

Lap 4
The gap to Webber is now .07 seconds.

Lap 6
Kubica and Rosberg had good starts and are running in 10th and 9th with 0.7 seconds separating them. They are 19 seconds off the lead pace.

Lap 7
Kovalainen is racing for his F1 life. Button is unable to get past him and traffic is slowly building behind him. The gap forward to Webber is almost 10 seconds and he is 11.0 seconds behind Barrichello the leader.

Pit stop strategy may offer the only way around him. Button should be coming in around lap 14 for his first stop.

Lap 8
Heidfeld gives up P12 to a charging Fisichella. Force India is having a strong showing this weekend.

Lap 9
Vettel runs over the chicane after trying to pass Massa.

Lap 10
Barrichello and Webber continue to separate themselves from the field. Kovalainen in P3 is now 14.9 seconds adrift of the leaders.

Race central is saying ÔÇ£Webber and Barrichello under investigation ÔÇô we assume itÔÇÖs over the start where Webber jinked right on the run into Turn one whilst Barrichello was immediately alongside him. It is not clear from the replays whether the cars actually made contact. It certainly was close.ÔÇØ

Lap 12
Webber has been given a drive through penalty!!!
This will shake up the field and virtually kill his race. He does hold the fast lap but can he build enough speed to regain a podium position?

Lap 13
Button pits and is quickly out. The tires were going away. Is he running a 3 stop strategy? Only 6.6 second pit stop.

Lap 14
Barrichello and Webber into the pits. Webber is taking his drive through. He was carrying a heavier load that the Brawn GP cars but not by much. He should be in for his scheduled pit stop shortly.

Lap 15
Kovalainen Pits from P3. Will Button and others cycle past him? He rejoins in P 15 with Button currently shown in P13 as the first round of pit stops begin to happen.

Lap 16
Kubica is in P8 and 0.8 seconds behind Rosberg. Neither has made their first pit stop.
Heidfeld is show in P11 and 2.6 seconds behind Alonso in P10.

Lap 18
Webber still has not made his first pit stop.
Massa is in P2 a full 12+ seconds behind him and holding up Barrichello in P3 who desperately wantst to get by him.

Lap 19
Webber pits with a 12.8 second lead showing on the board.
Massa will take the lead for Ferrari for a lap or two.
Webber returns on hard tires after an 8.8 second stop. Where will he fit in the order?

Lap 20
Webber is shown in P8 11.4 seconds behind Massa the current leader. The drive trough penalty was a real shame, but he is in the points and in range to catch up for a podium if not the win.

Lap 21
Vettel pits from P5
Kubica is currently in P7 and has some time to go before his first stop.

At this point the top ten are: Massa Barrichello Raikkonen Sutil Rosberg Kubica Webber Button Heidfeld and Piquet.

Only three of these have made their first pit stop. The leader board should be shaking up shortly.

Lap 22
Kubica is under heavy pressure from Webber and Button for his position which he yields as

Lap 23
Kubica pits.
Webber will start reeling in Rosberg who is 5.7 seconds ahead in P5. While Button nips at his heals about a second behind him. With Kubica out of the way Webber seems to have much less trouble holding off Button.

Lap 24
Raikkonen pits from P5. Massa should follow him in short order giving up P1 to Barrichello in the process.

Lap 25
Massa pits. He will rejoin in P9
SUTIL is now in P2! Granted he has yet to make his first stop but what a race he is having in the early round.

Lap 26
Heidfeld pits from P6.

Barrichello is back in the lead. Reports have him on a three stop strategy also. He must open a lead in order to make it work.

Lap 27
Sutil pits. Rosberg takes over P2 but will be pitting soon himself. Webber is in P4 heading to P3 when the leader board recycles ÔÇô there he is up to P3 and only 4.2 seconds behind

Sutil and Raikkonen bump as Sutil rejoins the field. Sutil has reportedly lost an end plate from his front win and will no doubt have to pit for a new nose. Dang.

Lap 29
Rosberg pits. Rejoins in 6 His teammate Nakajima is in P9 and will pit shortly after. That will complete the first round of stops. I will reset the top 10 for you then.

Lap 31
Barrichello

Wait Button pits from P3. 6.7 second stop and takes on hard tires. He should rejoin in the top ten.

Lap 32
Barrichello pits for his second stop putting Webber back into the lead. Fuel loads will be a question for both Brawn drivers. Will they run to the end on these loads and tires?

Lap 33
Webber, Vettel, Massa, Rosberg, Barrichello, Button, Raikkonen, Kovalainen, Fisichella, Glock make the top ten. Kubica is in P12 and Heidfeld is in m P14. Glock has yeat to make his first stop. It should be coming up.

Lap 34
Brawn is telling Barrichello there were fueling rig problems on the last stop. It looks like both Barrichello and Button will have to stop once more! Three stop strategies only work from the lead and right now that is held by 

Lap 35
Webber who just went purple by setting a new fast lap. He holds a 21.1 second lead over his team mate Vettle in second.

Lap 37
Webber sets fast lap once again with a 1:34.003.

Glock pits putting Kubica up to P9 with Heidfeld in P 10. Kubica is roughly 5 seconds behind Alonso in P 8 while holding a 3 second lead over Heidfeld. Kovalainen is KubicaÔÇÖs friend right now. He is holding off Alonso for position and slowing both of them down in the process.

Lap 39
Hamilton pits he is 1 lap down soon to be 2.

I missed why but Raikkonen and Bourdais are both shown as retired from the race. Will both be retired from F1 after this season?

Lap 40
WebberÔÇÖs lead is still in the 20-21 second range. Vettel is hold 1.9 second lead over Massa in P3. Rosberg has worked up to P4 but is 6.3 seconds behind Massa. Barrichello and Button are in P5 and 6. Barrichello is show 31.9 seconds behind Webber the race leader. If they need to make a third stop they are toast from my calculations. Webber has one more stop to make to get to the end but should cycle out in good shape.

Lap 43

Webber pits. He rejoins in P2 behind Vettel.

The Brawns are still struggling to get temperature into their tires. Barrichello reportedly is weaving in straights trying to scrub in some heat.

Lap 44
Vettel pits. Webber will go back into the lead. Vettel has put on Super softs and returns in P6 just behind the Brawn Boys.

Kubica pits from P11. At some point Heidfeld passed him. He is shown in P8.

Lap 45

Massa Pits from P2 swaps to hards and is out in P7 behind Alonso.

Lap 46
Is Barrichello holding up his team mate? Button is just 0.5 seconds behind. We may find out what team orders mean. They are not suppose to exist but will Brawn let the two duel it out for postion?

Lap 47
Rosberg pits from P2.

Barrichello is show 10.1 seconds behind Webber and followed by Button Vettel and Massa.

Heidfeld is in P9 and Kubica is in P14

Lap 48
Alonso sets a new fast lap with a 1:33.744

Lap 49
Alonso sets another fast lap. This time a 133.365.

Lap 50
Barrichello pits.
Where will he cycle back in?
Will Button gain enough time on Barrichello to cycle out ahead of his team mate after he makes his next stop?

Lap 51
Webber is showing a 10.9 second lead over Button just before he heads to the pits.
Vettel is now shown in P3 but will cycle up when the bord resets.

Button switches to softs and returns just ahead of Barrichello in P5

Lap 52
Webber, Vettel, Massa, Rosberg, Button, Barrichello, Alonso, Kovalainen, Glock and Heidfeld in top 10 order. Kubica is in P14.

Lap 53.
Webber is now lapping in the 1:35.458 range. Vettel is 15.1 seconds behind and Massa is 5.2 seconds arrears Vettel.

Button in P5 is closing on Rosberg but he is still show 2.2 seconds behind the Williams driver and 28.6 seconds off the leader.

There seem to be a number of duels going on.

Less than a second separate Button Barrichello and Alonso.

Kovalainen Glock and Heidfeld are bunched up with 1.1 seconds the spread there.

Kubica is trying to knock off Piquet.

Lap 56
Race central reports ButtonÔÇÖs rear tires are showing graining.

Lap 57
Webber is lapping a full second slower than the field but still holds a 10.7 second lead over Vettel in P2. While other drivers are dueling for position he is managing the closing laps of the race.

VettelÔÇÖs gap over Massa in P3 is upt to 6.4 seconds. These three look to be the ones that will top the podium. Rosberg is in P4 but 6.9 seconds behind Massa.

Lap 59
Button still is within striking range of Rosberg but Barrichello and Alonso are still forcing him to defend instead of charging the Williams for position.

Chequered Flag!
P1 Webber
P2 Vettel
P3 Massa
P4 Rosberg
P5 Button
P6 Barrichello
P7 Alonso
P8 Kovalainen ÔÇô Last points position
P9 Glock
P10 Heidfeld
P11 Fisichella
P12 Nakajima
P13 Piquet
P14 Kubica
P15 Sutil
P16 Buemi
P17 Trulli
P18 Hamilton ÔÇô 1 lap down

Retired
Raikkonen
Bourdais

Webber takes the win for another Red Bull 1-2.
Massa puts Ferrari on the podium!
Button and Barrichello have a strong showing but show their team has chinques in their armor. They remain the favorites to take the championship yet it looks like the fans will see a fight for some time to come.

Fisichella in P11 has what I believe is one of Force IndiaÔÇÖs best performances if not the best. I feel bad for Sutil. He could have been in the hunt for a podium third spot if it had not been for the incident with Raikkonen.

BMW is firmly a mid pack team based on these results. There are huge question marks hanging over the team when you think of 2010. Will they sort out the car? Who will be driving? Heidfeld may well be gone according to rumors. KubicaÔÇÖs contract allows him to talk to other teams at the end of July. He has been frustrated at BWM but where would he go to do better?

The silly season looms.

I believer FOTA will be making some sort of public announcement this week. No idea what but stay tuned.

My next post in this thread will be Monday. I have family things coming up shortly.

 

[mika]

F1 News

fia.com: German GP Sunday Press Conference

Mosley says he will not stand and comes out in favor of Jean Todt not Ari Vatanen to replace him as FIA President. This announcement may not put the controversy to rest. FOTA was seen as initially backing Todt as a Mosley successor but McLarenÔÇÖs Whitmarsh has come out in support of Vatanen instead of Todt. The various American (N&S) FIA member clubs are rumor to be supporting Vatanen also. A race for leadership could be healthy for the FIA. An endorsement from Mosley may rank up there with the same effect if King George had endorsed the candidacy of George Washington for President.

Press Release
FIA Presidency
15/07/2009
In a letter to all FIA member clubs, FIA President Max Mosley has confirmed that he will not be a candidate on 23 October this year.

Click here to read the full letter sent by President Mosley to the FIA membership earlier today.




ThatÔÇÖs racing.
autosport.com: No action on Raikkonen/Sutil incident

Several sources have reported this as if it were big news.
bbc.co.uk : Ferrari to focus on 2010 car

Brawn GP and Red BullÔÇÖs championship fight may be making the same mistake as McLaren and Ferrari did in 2008. This year the also ran teams are starting to make noise about their 2010 car development. However; what does this mean. The 2010 rules are very similar to the 2009 rules. Have the improvements in the 2009 cars really been to compete for this seasonÔÇÖs championships? The 2010 rules will have a restriction on track testing. Will teamÔÇÖs such as Ferrari use the 2009 race season to test their 2010 design?

BMW Sauber F1 Team - German Grand Prix - Race
ÔÇó 12.07.2009
ÔÇó Press Release
Weather: dry but overcast, 18??C Air, 25-32??C Track

N??rburg (DE). The BMW Sauber F1 Team didnÔÇÖt score any points at its home grand prix after Nick Heidfeld came tenth at the N??rburgring and Robert Kubica finished 14th.


Nick Heidfeld: 10th
BMW Sauber F1.09-06 / BMW P86/9
Fastest lap 1:34.559 min on lap 42 (10th fastest overall)
ÔÇ£I am very disappointed because today we had the speed to score points, which obviously hasnÔÇÖt always been the case this year, but several things just went wrong. The start was good for the first few metres and I tried to improve my position, but Adrian SutilÔÇÖs defending was very tough. Then the first stint wasnÔÇÖt easy with the heavy fuel load. But during the middle stint I was able to catch up until I lost some time behind slower cars, including that of Robert. Then I had bad luck at the pit stop, as we were ready to leave the pit, but then a Renault came in and I had to wait. It felt as if it took ages before the lollipop went up.ÔÇØ


Robert Kubica: 14th
BMW Sauber F1.09-03 / BMW P86/9
Fastest lap 1:34.537 min on lap 47 (9th fastest overall)
ÔÇ£I had a very good start and gained a lot of positions on the first lap. Although I had a lot of tyre degradation, the first stint was quite good. Nico Rosberg was on primes in front of me and he was really quick. I changed to primes for the second stint and after a couple of laps I noticed that the tyre pressures were not right. Unfortunately this cost me a lot of lap time and I still had around 20 laps to go. Everybody in the team is working very hard and we are getting slightly better each weekend, but there is still a big gap to the front runners.ÔÇØ


Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director):
ÔÇ£The race result reflects our performance throughout the whole weekend. For us it was a race without anything special happening apart from Nick??s second pit stop. This was because after taking on fuel and fitting new tyres he had to let Nelsinho Piquet pass. Because of this he lost valuable time, and his chance for P8 and a point. However, we had no technical problems.ÔÇØ


Willy Rampf (Head of Engineering):
ÔÇ£We started the race from 11th and 16th so, as nothing extraordinary happened, we could not expect more. Robert was able to move up a couple of positions on the first lap. We could not take advantage of this as RobertÔÇÖs prime tyres lacked of grip during his second stint. Nick lost a couple of positions at the start, but fought back during the second half of the race. One point would have been possible for Nick, but during his second pit stop he had to wait for Nelsinho Piquet who was coming in. Subsequently because of this we lost decisive time on Heikki Kovalainen and Timo Glock."

Rumors: Silly Season and More

reuters.com: Alguersuari st to replace Bourdais at Toro Rosso

Schumacher to Brawn GP?
skysports.com: Schumacher denies Brawn deal

f1sa: Brazilian source claims Nelson Piquet ousted from Formula 1 seat

 

[mika]

F1 News

motorsport.com: F1ÔÇÖs 13 teams for 2010 meet in Geneva

What does this mean? With the 09 rules being used as the basis for 2010 what does committing to the 09 car mean beyond track testing mods to carry over to the new car?
f1network.net: Mario Theissen ÔÇô BMW not abandoning F1.0 development yet

Mercedes has said it will be an engine supplier again in 2010 for at least three teams. The expectation was McLaren, Brawn GP and Force India would continue. The new teams are going to Cosworth for power. RenaultÔÇÖs future as an engine supplier has been in some doubt. Red Bull has been rumored to be considering a switch to Mercedes but that may not be final. According to crash.net BMW is open to customer engine supply and is eying Red Bull as a customer.

As expected ÔÇôscuderiatororosso.com: Bourdais leaves Scuderia Toro Rosso

Video: Reviews Gemany
<object width="425" height="271"><param name="FlashVars" value="requestUrl=http://bmw-web.tv/en/stage/playerxml?items%5B0%5D=zMW8C6U"/><param name="movie" value="http://bmw-web.tv/en/player.swf?requestUrl=http://bmw-web.tv/en/stage/playerxml?items%5B0%5D=zMW8C6U" /><embed src="http://bmw-web.tv/en/player.swf?requestUrl=http://bmw-web.tv/en/stage/playerxml?items%5B0%5D=zMW8C6U" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="271" allowfullscreen="true" FlashVars="requestUrl=http://bmw-web.tv/en/stage/playerxml?items%5B0%5D=zMW8C6U"></embed></object>

formula1.com: HiltonÔÇÖs Ian Carter on the Value of F1 sponsorship

autosport.com: Todt aims to improve FIA effectiveness

 

[mika]

F1 News

f1technical.net/development: The Renault RS29 was getting hot?

f1technical.net: Formula One Engines

formula1.com: Hungarian GP ÔÇô Team and driver preview quotes

Bourdais has read his Dylan Thomas and may not go quietly into that dark F1 night
bbc.co.uk: Bourdais threatens leagal action

dailyexpress.co.uk: Webber set for surgery

f1sa.com: Boss does not rule out Ferrari Formula 1 seat for Sebastian Vettel

bridgestonmotorsport.com: Formula One benefits Bridgestone around the globe

autosport.com: Vatanen unhappy at Mosley stance

auto-motor-und-sport.de translated: Concorde Agreement ready for signature

 

[mika]

BMW Sauber F1 Team - Hungarian Grand Prix - Preview
ÔÇó 17.07.2009
ÔÇó Press Release
24th ÔÇô 26th July 2009
10th of 17 World Championship races


Munich/Hinwil, 17th July 2009. After its country outings in Northamptonshire and the Eifel, Formula One is about to sniff some big-city air again. The Hungarian Grand Prix takes place from 24th to 26th July on the sinuous Hungaroring just outside Budapest.


Robert Kubica:
ÔÇ£Hungary is a very special Grand Prix for me. In 2006 I made my debut there, and there are always a lot of Polish fans as Budapest is quite close to Poland. Last year was amazing ÔÇô it was like being in Poland.

ÔÇ£The Hungaroring is very special, tricky and physically demanding. Driving the main straight is the only time you can recover. Almost over the entire track you leave one corner and immediately approach the next. Beyond that, it is very hot in Hungary, which makes it demanding for the driver and the tyres. As a lot of corners are quite bumpy, the carÔÇÖs balance will be another crucial factor.ÔÇØ


Nick Heidfeld:
ÔÇ£IÔÇÖm very fond of the Hungaroring. The track suits me and I also have some good memories of racing there and achieving good results in the past. It was in Hungary in 1999 that I secured an early championship title in Formula 3000, and in 2006 and 2007 I was on the podium for the BMW Sauber F1 Team.

ÔÇ£We can generally expect high air temperatures in Hungary. That doesnÔÇÖt bother me from a physical point of view, although the races on this twisty circuit are always exhausting, and it could help us get the tyres into the temperature window to work well. One drawback in terms of grip, especially at the start of the weekend, is always the dust that blows onto the track from the surrounding landscape.ÔÇØ


Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director:
ÔÇ£This year our team heads for the Hungarian Grand Prix with muted expectations. So far our car just hasnÔÇÖt been fast enough for any top placings. We are nevertheless working flat-out on ongoing development of the F1.09 ÔÇô for two reasons. This yearÔÇÖs new aerodynamic regulations will remain the same for next season. What we are learning from our present car will flow virtually 1:1 into the concept for the F1.10. Besides that, under the test ban in force, the race weekend offers the only chance to track-test new developments and components. ItÔÇÖs an opportunity that has to be utilised. Beyond that, we naturally want to prove to our fans and, not least, to ourselves that we are also capable of reversing a deficit.ÔÇØ


Willy Rampf, Head of Engineering:
ÔÇ£After Monaco, the Hungaroring has the second-lowest average speed of all the Formula One circuits. The mainly slow and medium-fast corners follow in quick succession and the start/finish straight is relatively short. Because dust continually blows onto the track, grip levels tend to be low at the beginning of each of the practice sessions, which can lead to understeer. For the car set-up the focus is primarily on the middle sector with its variety of corner combinations. Another factor that has to be taken into account is that the rear tyres come under heavy loads during the race. Air and track temperatures are traditionally very high in Hungary, which should favour the optimal use of tyres.ÔÇØ


Facts and figures:
Circuit/Date: Hungaroring / 26th July 2009
Start time (local/UTC): 14.00 hrs / 12.00 hrs
Race/lap distance: 4.381 km / 306.630 km (70 laps)
Corners: 8 right-hand and 6 left-hand corners
Winner 2008: Heikki Kovalainen, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, 1 hr 37:27.067 min
Pole position 2008: Lewis Hamilton, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, 1:20.899 min
Fastest lap 2008: Kimi R?ñikk?Ânen, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, 1:21.195 min

Data 2008
Full-throttle percentage: 58%
Top speed: 291 km/h
Longest section at full throttle: 11 sec / 750 m
Gear changes per lap: 50
Tyre wear: medium to high
Brake wear: high
Downforce level: very high


BMW Sauber F1 Team
Founded: 01.01.2006
Locations: Munich (DE) and Hinwil (CH)
F1 debut: 2006, Melbourne
GP starts: 62
Pole positions: 1
Wins: 1
Podium places: 16 (6 x 3rd/9 x 2nd/ 1 x 1st)
Fastest laps: 2
World Championship placings:
5th (2006), 36 points
2nd (2007), 101 points
3rd (2008), 135 points
8th (2009), 8 points after 9 GPs



History and background:
In 2009 the Hungaroring hosts the 24th Hungarian Grand Prix. The track is situated about a 20-minute drive northeast of the centre of Budapest. HungaryÔÇÖs capital is also its largest city and the countryÔÇÖs economic and cultural hub. The population of Budapest is around 1.7 million. It was above all the Danube as a trading route, as well as numerous hot springs, that were key to the cityÔÇÖs prosperity. In 1873 the previously independent cities of Buda, Pest and ?ôbuda were united. The chain bridge (built 1839-49) linking hilly Buda on the west bank with the flat terrain of Pest in the east is as much a city landmark as the baroque royal castle on the Buda side.