F1 2010

[g force]

Pits etc is part of the deal. I also assume car parking , but are they going to sort out access ?

Its got a dual carriageway practiucally to the front door - not sure what else they could do!

I went a few years back when Montoya won for McLaren (sitting with the crazy Columbians!!) but it was damn expensive.

Donnington could be royally fucked now though...dug up most the circuit, knocked down the pits all with the aim of getting F1, now they've got financial troubles and no headline racing for 2010 - Superbikes has also moved to Silverstone.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Donnington could be royally fucked now though

Yeah, which is a massive shame. It's a problem entirely of their own making though, it didn't take a genius to see that it was doomed from the start.

 

[g force]

Well quite....kiss Bernie's ass and you may end up in trouble. Sad thing is the circuit is a mess so it's not like they can host anything right now. Arguably the best UK circuit could be ruined forever by chasing an F1 dream that was nebver going to happen.

 

[TAE]

... for the next 17 years.

 

[bi0boy]

Well quite....kiss Bernie's ass and you may end up in trouble. Sad thing is the circuit is a mess so it's not like they can host anything right now. Arguably the best UK circuit could be ruined forever by chasing an F1 dream that was nebver going to happen.

I wouldn't rule out there being a European grand prix there at some point...

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

I wouldn't rule out there being a European grand prix there at some point...

No chance. Bernie isn't interested in any new Euro races, there's far more money to the east.

 

[g force]

Nah no chance...Germany lost the "european GP" because Germany already had a race and Bernie wants more in Asia. South Korea's getting a GP in 2011...then there's the possibility of Russia and India too.

 

[deadringer]

Cool, anyone planning on going this year?

not sure there's a race this year, might go to next years one though

 

[g force]

Depends on ticket price...4 years ago it was £85 to stand!!!

 

[Augie March]

In some form or another, there will still be a Renault car racing next year...

The Renault team will race on in Formula 1 next year after a deal was struck to secure its future, BBC Sport has learned.

The company had considered its future in F1, but sources say its team will continue under new owners with Renault keeping a minority shareholding.

The team are set to be notified at their headquarters on Friday, with an official announcement likely next week. The team name is unclear but it seems the car will race as a Renault.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8407138.stm

 

[Augie March]

And there could be a new points system...

Formula One's governing body today proposed a revised points system for 2010 so that the top 10 drivers would earn points in every race, with the winner collecting 25. The FIA said the proposal, made by the Formula One commission, would be put to its World Motor Sport Council for final approval today.

It said the recommendation has been made due to the expansion of the field from 10 to 13 teams following the withdrawal of Toyota and the arrival of Lotus, Team USF1, Campos Meta and Manor F1. It is now proposed that a winner should be awarded 25 points rather than 10, with second to 10th being rewarded with 20, 15, 10, 8, 6, 5, 3, 2 and 1 respectively, in an attempt to balance the rewards for consistency with those of regular winners.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/dec/10/formula-one-2010-points-system

 

[g force]

Good news on 'Renault' should mean Kubica leads the team. I really hope Prodrive are given the chnace to run it - they'kll be better than some tax dodging investment fund!

On the points thing....it's not a bad idea really....rewards getting the win and podium sfar more than the old system. Will take getting use to but i'm a fan.

 

[Epico]

On the points system :- I can see myself getting annoyed in 10 years time when a commentator says "Jaime Alguersuari has overtaken Ayrton Senna's points tally!!!" ... in same way I get annoyed with commentators saying "and that's a Premier League record!!!" like football started in 1992.

 

[TAE]

It is now proposed that a winner should be awarded 25 points rather than 10, with second to 10th being rewarded with 20, 15, 10, 8, 6, 5, 3, 2 and 1 respectively

I like.

 

[Mitre10]

More speculation today on Schumacher's return.

Never gonna happen imho.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/formula_1/article6952487.ece

 

[kyser_soze]

New points system sounds like it's designed to appeal to facile Americans who can't understand that a sport that finishes 1-0 could have had the most exciting game ever.

They need their big points tallies. 100 points from 4 wins is bollocks.

 

[Mitre10]

New points system sounds like it's designed to appeal to facile Americans who can't understand that a sport that finishes 1-0 could have had the most exciting game ever.

They need their big points tallies. 100 points from 4 wins is bollocks.

While I agree in one way I disagree in another - I think with 26 runners it needs a bigger spread to be fairer to the middle of the field and the new teams who have joined tjhis year who will rely on a points total to raise some sponsorship.

At the moment, someone who finished say 10th in every race would have zero points as would someone who finishes every race 16 places lower in 26th.

That is quite a difference in ability/performance with no recognition and is made more important if the points positions are going to be regularly occupied by the likes of Ferrari/Red Bull/McLaren/Mercedes etc.

 

[bi0boy]

Hopefully this means Bernie's "medal" system which was suspended for a year at the start of last season has been permenantly disposed of.

 

[Mitre10]

From GP Update:


Schumacher close to Mercedes deal?

Reports of Michael Schumacher making a Formula 1 comeback continue to strengthen in Germany this weekend, with the 7-time World Champion now believed to have a verbal deal in place to race with the Brackley-based Mercedes team next year.

Although Schumacher renewed his Ferrari contract as a supervisor for the team as recently as in September, it is thought that the German is now in negotiations to bring an end to what had been established as a 3-year deal at Maranello.

Current reports from Bild state that the 40-year-old, who will have celebrated his next birthday by the time the new season begins in March, is now only a signature away from signing a 1-year deal as Nico Rosberg's team-mate, which would also see him reunited with Team Principal Ross Brawn following ten seasons together at Ferrari between 1997 and 2006.

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/formula-1-news/224899/schumacher-close-to-mercedes-deal/

 

[Lord Camomile]

Still don't understand why he'd do it. The Ferrari thing last season made a certain amount of sense - helping the team, riding in as the knight, limited number of races, low (relatively, of course) expectation...

Now he's going to be competing again, in an (arguably) inferior car, having been out...

I think everything last season just reignited ideas in his head.

 

[Mitre10]

Nah, I think he has a genuine love for competing.

He just put himself up against several current F1 drivers for a charity karting event and won it.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/232417/schumacher-wins-international-challenge-gokart-champions

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

I'd love it if he came back, I reckon he'd make a lot of the current grid look rather silly.

 

[Bakunin]

Slim to none. No top WRC seats available - which basically Citroen (Loeb and Sordo) or Ford (Hirvonen and Latvala). He could go do the IRC, or the S200 cup within WRC but frankly the FIAT Punto he drove into a tree in Finland is shit, so he'd need to either get a drive with Skoda or Peugeot (unlikely) or buy a car. He's got plenty of spare cash after all

I can see Kobayashi in F1 next year...might depends who buys the Toyota design though.

I've heard a whisper that Kimi might be headed off to Le Mans for 2010, so maybe a season (or occasional races) in sports cars might be on the cards.

 

[Badgers]

Been a week of news and more speculation in F1.

Just read that Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen are in the Lotus for next year and Renault are confirmed to field a 2010 team after all. Not sure what to make of the
Schumacher thing and whether it will even happen but the money men at Mercedes must be lapping it up already.

I think that the points system is actually okay, especially with the increased number of cars on the grid. Most glad that the stupid 'medal' systems seems to be finally put to bed as that would have killed seasons too early.

 

[g force]

Trulli and Kovi.....solid I suppose but given the kicking Kobyashi handed to Trulli I don't have high hopes

 

[Epico]

Someone give Kobayashi a drive!!

It's looking less and less likely.

 

[g force]

Maybe the second Renault seat? They're staying and only Kubica confirmed so far and Kovi was apparently favourite for that drive.

 

[Mitre10]

The word on the grapevine is that Schumi has extended his Ferrari consultancy contract by another three years.

If true, I guess that rules him out of driving for someone else at the same time (unless it's road-car only consultancy I suppose...).

Looks like the second Merc driver will be Heidfeld after all.

 

[g force]

I hope so...Nick's a decent driver and lets face it Roseberg is clearly the #1 at that team. Apparently Virgin/Manor are doing their 'official' announcement tomorrow that confirms Timo Glock and Lucas DiGrassi as their drivers...not sure about DiGrassi - for 3 seasons he's had arguably the best GP2 car and not won the championship.

 

[g force]

Oh and seeing as threads got crossed Kimi is driving for the Citroen Junior Team, sponsored by Red Bull, for 10 of the 11 rounds in WRC next season. He'll be teamed with Seb Ogier and co-driven by the very experienced Kaj Lindstrom who helped a certain T. Makinen to many titles!