'09 Silliness ...

[skidmark]

OK, So we Rosberg and his ultimatum for Williams, a spin-the-bottle seat dance in the brew for Force India, Honda looking at Bruno Senna and Lucas di Grassi to possibly replace Rubens, oh and Sebastien Buemi possibly someone else at STR.

Any other silliness out there? Let the games begin ...

[RacerX]

Well, Force India is still a mess -

Adrian Sutil's manager has played down speculation the German driver's place on the 2009 formula one grid may not be safe.

With recent confirmation of Force India's tie-up with McLaren-Mercedes, it was suggested that the British team may have some influence over the final configuration of race drivers.

It led to speculation that the McLaren-Mercedes backed DTM racer Paul di Resta, or primary F1 test driver Pedro de la Rosa, could be called up to Force India, to the detriment of either 25-year-old Sutil or his 2008 teammate Giancarlo Fisichella.

"There is no reason for us to believe that Adrian's place is anything other than safe," his manager Manfred Zimmermann told motorsport-total.com.

Zimmermann explained that not only is Sutil's contract valid also for 2009, but that team boss Vijay Mallya has reiterated the situation several times by a factor of "100 per cent".

Not only that, but Sutil visited Force India's Silverstone factory last Friday to have his seat fitted for the 2009 car.

It also emerges that he will test on two out of the three days for the team in Barcelona this week.

I'm not sure either driver has done enough to save his job.

Yes, its a lousy car, but neither driver did anything to stand out. We'll have to see who stays and who goes, but I have to think that Sutil is on the brink. Fisi might be saved by his expirience and nothing else...

[skidmark]

Originally Posted by RacerX

Well, Force India is still a mess ...

Looks like they will be for a while ....

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2008/...assis-delayed/

I guess McLaren's got a few higher priorities for their wind tunnel time this winter.

Meantime at the track, it's wickedly weird what with who's sitting in what seat ...

Rally driver Sebastien Loeb sitting in at Red Bull has got to be the puzzler of the day. I didn't know he was interested in a career change. Was Vito Luizzi a tester for Force India? And it looks as if Renault got Guido Van der Garde's testing prize out of the way early.

It will be interesting to see how Seabass does against Sato's 1:20

[RacerX]

For me, Sato was the surprise of the day.

Not only was he really quick, but I had no idea STR was interested in him. I'm thinking Seabass will really have to impress Berger in these tests to keep his job. Although he was accident prone, I always thought Sato was a very exciting driver to watch, and Seabass could have his work cut out for him here....

[skidmark]

Day two sees three STR cars out on the track and Vettel in the RB. Vettel tops the charts going under 1:20 while Sato and Seabass run second and third on the day, with two one-hundredths between them.

Not a lot of difference between them ...

Meantime, the new look F1 racers are drawing some interesting remarks ...

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2008/...g-f1-car-ever/

[RacerX]

No decision at Toro Rosso yet -

Takuma Sato expects to have to wait several weeks to find out if he can return to Formula One next year.

It is believed that while the Swiss youngster Sebastien Buemi is almost guaranteed a 2009 seat, Sato is being considered for the post of a more 'experienced' driver next year, as is the incumbent Sebastien Bourdais. But Sato said in Barcelona that he is not expecting an imminent decision.

When asked by F1's official website when Toro Rosso might decide, he answered: "I don't think that Toro Rosso is in any rush, so my guess would be at the end of the year, or even at the beginning of next year."

Well, we all know Bergers () reputation for screwing there drivers, so I wouldn't be surprised if they don't make a decision until the night before the first race in 09!

[skidmark]

I have to wonder who else they'll bring to the track for a test run. I have to believe Berger is looking to replace Seabass. Afterall, you don't go chasing Juan Pablo Montoya without having something on the plate worth snapping up.

Thing is who else can STR attract that can consistently run faster than Seabass. While there may be many eager to try, the list of those who are able and willing to put it to the test might be fairly short. The big question for this team is whether Vettel was held back by a bad car or did Seabass fail to wring out the most what the car had to offer. Take away Vettel's wet-weather results and you could kick this question around both ways.

Meantime, Seabass thinks he has this game figured out, but sadly he's holding a losing hand ... Sad to say everybody could see this one coming ...

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2008/...nancial-issue/

Cue the Ruttles ... all you need is cash, all you need is cash, sweat cash, cash is all you need.

[RacerX]

Your not the only one getting anxious about Bourdais future skid -

Sebastien Bourdais' manager has admitted he fears for the French driver's future on the formula one grid.

Nicolas Todt, who also handles Ferrari's Felipe Massa, acknowledged that despite a stronger finish to Bourdais' maiden 2008 campaign, the 29-year-old has not yet penned a contract to remain at Toro Rosso in 2009.

"It is a rather unpleasant period," said Todt, the son of the former Ferrari boss Jean Todt.

At Barcelona, Bourdais has this week been involved in what has been described as a test 'shootout' for a race seat with fellow 2009 Toro Rosso contender Takuma Sato.

The pair have been closely matched in terms of pace, but it is rumoured that Sato can bring to the Faenza based team a healthy purse of personal sponsorship.

Todt said the situation is difficult especially for the former F3000 champion and multiple Champ Car title winner Bourdais, whose "achievements are the envy of many drivers".

"It is correct that to be in November and not know what you will be doing next year is very unpleasant.

"Therefore our objective, whether he can be in formula one or not, is to clarify (the situation) as quickly as possible," Todt explained.

"At the moment, I am concentrating on formula one (for Bourdais). After that, we will see.

"In any case, I am not anxious. No matter what happens, Sebastien has a future at the highest levels of motor sport. Whether it is formula one or not, is another question," he said.

Remembering the Speed and Liuzzi debacles of 2 seasons ago, when neither driver knew if they were on the team until the 11th hour, Todt has a right to be abit nervous. He needs to know quickly so he can get Seabass a job somwhere else next season if necessary.

Ah, but that's no concern to Berger now is it? He is really pond scum IMO

[IndyAndy]

Some more sillines for you - courtesy of the FOTA:

autosport.com

Are these jokers serious??!!

[f1fan-sky]

That is the most pathetic idea I've heard yet!! I happen to enjoy the three rounds of knock-out qualifying that we currently have. It was one of the few things I thought they got "right"!!! Typical--now they'll go and screw it all up again!

[diamonddave]

the quallies usually supercede the races

[skidmark]

Oh think of it. Twenty cars going hellbent for leather out of the pits in order to get up to speed on lap one. With no tire warmers, no driver aids and no time to get the tires up to temp and on a green track to boot!

Throw in the disqualified cars becoming moving chicanes after about a minute as they try to peel off for the pits and God and all the angels won't be able to hold back the ensuing mayhem.

Who needs a friggin' race when you got the big stupendous wreck happening every race weekend. Three weeks of this and the France's will adopt it for Crashcar - why wait for the last 50 laps for all the action to happen?

Smash 'em up NOW! And let Spanky decide how this one's going to cut the costs for the minnows.

(Oh, did I leave my sarcasm tags on again - silly me!)

[MSulka]

I'm all for finding out who is really fastest....

But the point has been to run-what-you-brung... hasn't it ?

I'm guessing the next part of this is the teams will have to declare fuel loads before qualifying, and it will then be public info.

[IndyAndy]

H-e-double hockey sticks, they won't even wait until they are on the track to crash, because you'll have a pile-up at the end of pit lane as they all try to be the first car out!

Another thing: They are all supposed to have the same fuel load on board. Lets say that the Toyota handles better on a fuller/heaver tank, while the BMW comes to life when the tank is emptier/lighter. Now put all ten squads into the mix & try to tell me that they are going to all agree to a common pre-set fuel load!

[RacerX]

So what are your predictions for poor Jenson Button?

Will he find a home, and can he ever show us how good he is?

[skidmark]

A year in the wilderness, maybe more. 2004 is a long ways gone in many people's minds. Like a lot of guys I don't think he ever had the car underneath him to challenge, other than his one year at Williams and he was too green then to really show his stuff.

Sportscars are looking really good for his future.

[RacerX]

Karthekeyan a no-go at Force India -

Even with their nationality in common, Vijay Mallya has ruled out reviving the F1 career of the Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan.

Karthikeyan, now 31, became the first Indian to contest grands prix with Jordan in 2005, and after a spell as Williams test driver now drives in the A1 series.

But despite perpetual speculation linking him with Mallya's Force India team, the billionaire told the Asian Age that Karthikeyan "is not meeting (the) criteria".

"In my F1 context, Narain doesn't fit in," he added.

Another Indian racer Karun Chandhok has tested F1 cars and in 2008 raced in the second-tier GP2 category, but despite their closeness "I have not let my personal relationship come in between", Mallya said.

"Only the lack of suitable replacements has forced (us) to retain the same team for 2009. The normally expected GP2 graduation didn't happen this time," he explained.

Mallya also confirmed that team chiefs Colin Kolles and Mike Gascoyne were recently ousted because they failed to meet their targets.

"We had a review meeting to see what went wrong. We were given certain assurances that didn't happen.

"So we had no other choice other than revamping the think tank by sacking (them)," he said.

Wow, he's a pretty tough guy!

Thats a real vote of confidence for Sutil and Fisi, eh?

[RacerX]

Ha, ha!

I knew this kid was a tiger on a team full of lambs!

Robert Kubica is pretty disgusted with Beemer and Thiesens Tutonic patience -

Robert Kubica is now bitterer than ever about his missed opportunity to win the 2008 world championship.

The Pole was in the running for last year's title until late in the season, when he mysteriously fell off the pace after declaring that BMW-Sauber had instead decided to focus on its 2009 campaign.

But the failure of the Hinwil team's current title bid was starkly demonstrated last time out at Monaco, when Kubica and his teammate Nick Heidfeld qualified a dire eighteenth and seventeenth respectively.

"Situations like this are common in motor racing; you never know where you are going to be next year. That's why I was disappointed last year when we did not seize our chance when we were very close to the front," said the 24-year-old in an interview with Germany's Sport Bild.

BMW, headed by team boss Mario Theissen, has made much of the fact that, in 2006 through 2008, it reached and surpassed all of its meticulously planned targets. This year, the target was to challenge for the titles.

"In our team everything is always planned step by step," Kubica confirmed. "But sometimes you have to deviate from your plans.

"When the opportunity for me to drive in formula one came I could have said 'no, it's too early for me. I would rather wait for another year'. Instead you have to seize your chances, otherwise things could pass without you," he added.

The winner of last year's Canadian grand prix also criticised BMW's rate of development since the beginning of the season, when asked about the progress made by top rivals Ferrari and McLaren in 2009.

Robert has finally answered the question that bothered me so much last season - why did BMW fall off the pace so badly?

Kubica must get out of Thiessens control, the man is a loser, period! And Kubica is a real winner and should be driving for a hungry, achieving, winning- is-everything type of team.

[Touchette]

Originally Posted by RacerX

And Kubica is a real winner and should be driving for a hungry, achieving, winning- is-everything type of team.

Agreed. I want to be able to put him on the podium in the pick 3 contest. With the other mess that is the FIA v. FOTA war his options are still fairly foggy.

[RacerX]

Is Bourdais gone?

Sebastien Bourdais left the Nurburgring on Sunday evening intending to honour his full 2009 contract with Toro Rosso.




The Frenchman was the subject of intense speculation all weekend that the Red Bull-owned team wants to immediately replace him with 19-year-old rookie Jaime Alguersuari.

After Bourdais, 30, retired from the race with hydraulic failure, his warm embrace with Giorgio Ascanelli was interpreted by some as a farewell.

The only mention of the driver in the post-race press release was that "we unfortunately suffered a hydraulic failure on Bourdais' car".

Also significantly, his manager Nicolas Todt refused to comment at all on the issue before leaving Germany, and Bourdais once again lost his temper with the media.

Questioned by the French broadcaster TF1, he snapped: "Stop making me talk about this, is that clear? I am under contract. I will be in Hungary."

Chances are good he is gone. Apparently he had a dust-up with team manager Tost, and that is never a good sign...just ask Scott Speed...

[diamonddave]

told ya guys

it'd be nice to see him at Road Atlanta this year

[MSulka]

It's not official.

His replacement is straight line testing on Friday.

[cptkablamo]

Also puts Brendon Hartley's exit from Red Bull in a bit of context...

[MSulka]

Originally Posted by MSulka

It's not official.

His replacement is straight line testing on Friday.

Now its official.

Replacement set to test next Thursday now.

[RacerX]

From Seabass -

« I am very disappointed and shocked by the decision taken by Scuderia Toro Rosso of not allowing me to drive for the Team until the end of the current season.

« I consider that, in doing so, Scuderia Toro Rosso has breached its contractual duties towards me; also I believe that nothing in my behavior would legitimate a decision of the Team to terminate the contract. I think that the Team’s decision is in clear violation of Scuderia Toro Rosso’s obligations under the agreement. I have instructed my lawyers to review the situation including the possibility of issuing legal proceedings.


« I am even more frustrated by the Team’s decision considering that the latter has been taken immediately before the Hungarian Grand Prix, where a new highly competitive racing package will be introduced by the Team in order to try and overcome its current difficulties. I am convinced that if I was given the chance to race with such new package I would have had the opportunity to achieve satisfactory results.

« Finally, I would like to thank all my fans for their support. My motivation is intact and I will continue to be strongly committed to my Formula One project, for which I have renounced to my career in United States. »

I'm not quite sure what that last paragraph means - is he trying to stay in F1?

[MSulka]

Originally Posted by RacerX

From Seabass -



I'm not quite sure what that last paragraph means - is he trying to stay in F1?

Yes according to one emailer I heard from.

I'm a bit surprise by this, finding it hard that TR doesn't have full control over the seat. But when a driver says 'contract' and 'seat'... it makes me think... ride buy.

Read this sentence again...

also I believe that nothing in my behavior would legitimate a decision of the Team to terminate the contract.

Bourdais seems to believe that he could have only been released due to some 'behavior'. That doesn't sound like a driver hired on merit.

It's quite too bad. Especially since once again, the North American OW circuit hasn't produced a driver that can't thrive in F1.

[RacerX]

Piquet Jr. to drive on...but for how long -

Renault on Friday confirmed that Nelson Piquet will contest the Hungarian grand prix next weekend.



It had been strongly rumoured that the Brazilian would lose his seat due to a lack of performance, with Swiss-French GP2 driver Romain Grosjean waiting in the wings.

But in a team preview distributed by the Enstone based squad on Friday morning, Piquet was quoted as saying "points must be the target in Hungary".

In the subsequent team interview, the 23-year-old explained his difficult Nurburgring race as down to not having the same car updates as enjoyed by his teammate Fernando Alonso.

"I should have the same upgrades as Fernando in Hungary and I think I can be more competitive," Piquet added.

One has to believe that Hungary could be a make or break race for Piquet ....

[RacerX]

Wili Webber says -

If Fernando Alonso is available, it would be "logical" for the famous Italian team Ferrari to sign him as soon as possible.


That is the claim of Willi Weber, who as Michael Schumacher's manager oversaw the now retired seven time world champion's ultra-successful eleven year tenure at Maranello.

The 67-year-old, who now handles the burgeoning career of Williams test driver Nico Hulkenberg, was speaking to Germany's Sport Bild magazine amid persistent and ever-intensifying rumours that Spaniard Alonso is set to switch to Ferrari despite the 2010 contracts in the possession of the team's existing drivers.

"I don't know it for sure, but it would be the logical change for both sides," Weber said.

"Fernando Alonso is the best driver in the world currently. If I had any input with Ferrari I would put him under contract immediately, and I suspect they see it exactly the same way," the German added.

I completely agree.

I said a few months ago that a deal with Alonso going to Ferrari would be done by Monza, but it could be done even sooner. The pressure is really on Ferrari to finish-up strong this season, and there is no better way to do that then sign Alonso and give the team a real boost.

Now, I would be completely shocked if Ferrari let go of Massa to make room for Alonso, but sillier things have happened. Nobody has worked harder than Raikkonen to be cut from this team! He's earned his ticket back to Finland, he must go!

Bring on Alonso!

[MSulka]

I'm not sure Ferrari will be the best choice in 2010.

[RacerX]

Originally Posted by MSulka

I'm not sure Ferrari will be the best choice in 2010.

Ferrari is always the best choice my friend!

In the long-term, you have to believe that Ferrari is going to come back and in a big way. This year was a complete screw-up due to the rules interpretation, one seriously unmotivated driver and a team that is in "transition" (to put it nicely!)...

[RacerX]

It's official -

Red Bull Racing has confirmed today that Mark Webber will continue to drive for the team in 2010, alongside his team-mate Sebastian Vettel.

At the beginning of this season, I doubted that Mark would be back, but he has clawed his way into a competitive position next to Vettel. Good move...

[RacerX]

Oh, please!

Jacques Villeneuve has played down reports that he is close to securing a contract to return to formula one with the new USF1 team in 2010.

Germany's Sport Bild claimed on Wednesday that the 1997 world champion, now 38, could be unveiled as USF1's first confirmed race driver for 2010 within the next few weeks.

"This is just a rumour," the 11-time grand prix winner told the French language Canadian sports network RDS in Belgium, where this weekend he will race in the GT3 category at the Spa-Francorchamps 24 hours.

The French Canadian added: "I have had talks with several teams but the chances of returning (to F1) remain slim."

Also in the wake of the German report, Villeneuve denied speaking to a Sport Bild reporter and said he has only had brief contacts with officials of the USF1 team.

USF1 co-principal Peter Windsor, however, acknowledges that while the ambition is to have American drivers, the team might consider signing an experienced driver for its first season.

Sport Bild mentioned in its Wednesday report that Alexander Wurz was another option.

Please tell me this is not going to happen!

I rememeber JV's many years at BAR and he was never able to develop that car. And being out of the sport for so long will make nearly impossible for him to do better now. He proved he had lost a step when he went to Sauber.

I say take a shot and go with an American youngster. Give Rahal or Marco Andretti a shot at the seat. Let's see what they can do. I certainly don't see it being any worse than having JV around...

[Insighter]

They do need someone experienced in one seat, preferrably F1 but at the least an experienced American OW driver. Rahal would be a good choice for the 2nd seat if he's available. Please, not Marco.

[RacerX]

Originally Posted by Insighter

They do need someone experienced in one seat, preferrably F1 but at the least an experienced American OW driver. Rahal would be a good choice for the 2nd seat if he's available. Please, not Marco.

This is to hot a subject, so I created a thread on the subject here -

http://www.ptalkforum.com/showthread.php?t=9600

[diamonddave]

Originally Posted by Insighter

They do need someone experienced in one seat, preferrably F1 but at the least an experienced American OW driver. Rahal would be a good choice for the 2nd seat if he's available. Please, not Marco.

we think alike

[RacerX]

It looks like it's all over but the crying for Nelson Piquet Jr. -

If Nelson Piquet's future was previously only in doubt, it is now a near certainty that the 23-year-old will never return to the cockpit of a Renault.

The Brazilian said team boss Flavio Briatore, who is believed to have told Piquet in Budapest last weekend that he has been ousted in favour of reserve Romain Grosjean, only cares about profits and "doesn't understand **** about F1".

"He is my manager. But in his role of team boss he doesn't respect me," Piquet told the Italian magazine Autosprint.

"He only thinks about money, about how much money he can pocket in everything he's involved with. He's a man with no friends."

The outburst followed Briatore's claim that Piquet had "opened the booked of excuses" to explain his struggle to get up to speed in F1 since making his debut early last year.

"When a driver lacks results, he opens the book of excuses and begins, 'the fault is the weather, a spectator's sunglasses, a spin on the straight, this and that'," Briatore said.

"It's not true that there's a technical difference of seven tenths between Alonso's and Piquet's car.

"If that was true, we'd have a car capable of winning the title. And that unfortunately isn't the case," he added.

Sound's like quite a dust-up, reminescent of Speed/Tost!

[skidmark]

Force India putting Karin Chandhok and Neel Jani in the McLaren simulator for a test session. All this apparently for a tester's spot for next year.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...an-Indian.html

My question is: what's the point of having a tester when you can't test?

[chopperdave]

I am at a loss for this testing ban as well. every other racing series has put some sort of cap on testing rather than an outright ban knowing that these teams do need to test what they build. I really wonder about these geniuses that run motorsport governing bodies.

[diamonddave]

I/we know it's been rumored the last week but it sure seems to be gaining strength - via racing media




Schui to Brawn/Mercedes

[RacerX]

Originally Posted by diamonddave

I/we know it's been rumored the last week but it sure seems to be gaining strength - via racing media




Schui to Brawn/Mercedes

I'm dumfounded at this (possible) move by Schumacher!

I can only think that Schummi really wanted Massa's seat when he got hurt and Ferrari said no! Now Schummi is really PO'ed at Ferrari and is willing to jump ship to prove that he can still drive. Could Monty hate Schummi this much?

[MSulka]

Next few days should fill 3 seats.

Virgin - Di Grassi
Lotus - Trulli, (sato or Kovalainen).

Merc - Schumacher. I'm guessing Christmas day announcement.

[diamonddave]

Originally Posted by RacerX

I'm dumfounded at this (possible) move by Schumacher!

I can only think that Schummi really wanted Massa's seat when he got hurt and Ferrari said no! Now Schummi is really PO'ed at Ferrari and is willing to jump ship to prove that he can still drive. Could Monty hate Schummi this much?

got to believe the Brawn Factor might have something to do with it

[chopperdave]

Ferrari and Schumacher have both been pretty quiet when it comes to all this. thats usually a sign this is nothing more than the Press having wishful thinking.

[diamonddave]

Kubica decides to stay with Renault - 2012