F1 World Championship 2009 Thread

[san.W10]

Hamilton takes last-gasp Monza pole

another podium position for Force India by Sutil.

Weights:

Fisichella: No regrets on Ferrari move

[CrashG]

Excellent quali for Force India again. Hopefully it'll turn into another good race for them too. Liuzzi didn't do too bad either.

[Subject Delta]

Pretty poor qualy from Fisi looks like he got out of FI at the wrong time. I also feel that Sutil will probably be 4th after turn one due to the fact that he has 2 KERS cars behind him, which sadly means he will probably be held up and not get the chance to show his huge potential. Also, impressive stuff from McLaren, a circuit they always run well at.

Should be an intriguing one strategy wise

[CrashG]

Briatore isn't actually going to just stand up and admit his guilt is he :laugh: he's probably hoping Bernie will somehow step in and save him. If the telemetry data is as damning as Max is saying, Renault aren't going to have an easy time escaping from this.

Well in a round about way it kinda sounds like Flav did know and might've even suggested it with his comment: You know what? Whatever happens, if someone goes against the rules, they go against the rules. If I tell you to go rob a bank ? afterwards, you decide whether to rob the bank or not.

I guess it's how you read that. As a driver, you generally do as you're asked/suggested/told if you want to keep your spot, although Piquet ended up getting sacked anyways. I thought we might be able to make it through a season without some scandal, but I guess it wouldn't be a proper season without some sort of scandal:laugh:h: Anyone referred it as Piquet-Gate yet? If not, I call dibs on it:laugh:h:

One of the announcers on Speed (Steve Matchett) said that the telemetry showed Piquet nailed the gas while sliding out of control, also during the pre-race show last year that there was no way Alonso's pit strategy was going to work except with a SC and that's exactly what happened.

[Mike]

^ Exactly, and if Briatore dismissed the idea (if it was discussed which he denied but also said Piquet suggested it), why put Alonso on the fuel strategy they did?

But then you'd have to ask why would Renault launch legal action against the Piquet duo if they've done wrong? They're just going to look stupid if that's the case and would probably get in more trouble for making false allegations / court proceedings.

[Antaris Veteran]

What a race!

I feel really bad for Hammilton, I wanted him to win, and then later I wanted him to grab 2nd, but that damn luck. Good drive by both Brawns, but I think props go to Barichello!

[macmax]

Amazing race. Superb driving by Brawn. Hamilton trying too hard only to give up his 3rd place.

Fantastic driving by Sutil for 4th position (only if he had a proper pit-stop he could have gone podium). Tough luck for Luizzi after being 4th with mechanical problem.

Looking forward to Singapore.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Rather entertaining race.

The 'reject of the race' award goes to Lewis Hamilton for throwing a podium finish away by overdriving. He was too far behind Button on the last lap to catch him, let alone overtake him - he might as well just have cruised to the chequered flag and collected six points.

It's great to see how Brawn GP is letting their drivers race each other. The championship will be decided between Button and Barichello - while the Red Bull drivers still have a theoretical chance it would take some major blunders by Brawn GP for Webber or Vettel to have a realistic shot at the title.

[bayrider]

What a race!

I feel really bad for Hammilton, I wanted him to win, and then later I wanted him to grab 2nd, but that damn luck. Good drive by both Brawns, but I think props go to Barichello!

I wouldn't attribute that to luck.

He had no chance of moving up a spot, and there was no realistic chance of him dropping to 3rd unless, well... you know. Why was he pushing so hard?

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Stewart asked to run for FIA presidency

Jackie Stewart has revealed that he was asked by a senior Formula 1 figure if he would consider standing for the FIA presidential election this year.

The three-time world champion has long been critical of the current FIA regime and, on the back of Ari Vatanen and Jean Todt putting their hats into the ring, Stewart has said he has come under pressure from individuals in the sport to join the battle for the top job in the governing body.

Although there are suggestions that one of the individuals who asked him to stand was Bernie Ecclestone, Stewart has refused to confirm the identity - but has made it clear he has no interest in joining the contest.

"First of all I am 70 years of age," he told AUTOSPORT about why he decided not to listen to the pressure to stand. "I think that you have to bring in a considerably younger person.

"My view is that nobody [for the job] should be taken from the cockpit, the garage or the pitlane from Formula 1 ? although I think there is an enormous desire for change.

"I don't think that the FIA will change much if Jean Todt gets in, because I think that regime will stay the same. I would be worried about the chances of Ari winning, but I think that [him winning] would be the right thing for the sport."

He added: "I think the sport desperately needs change ? when you see what happened with a 100 million dollar fine, when you see what happened to Ron Dennis, when you see what is happening with Flavio Briatore.

"If you see what happened in all of those cases, of Ron Dennis being removed and maybe Briatore being removed, all of this laundry being done in public and being fed and leaks being sent out, it is all very unfortunate and that does not spell good corporate governance.

"To change that would take a minimum of five or 10 years of my life, and that is too long. I still think to this day that there must be sufficient change to radically alter the manner in which the sport is run, because in my view this paddock is ruled by threat and fear ? even the media. That is wrong."

When asked if he could confirm the identity of the person who asked him, Stewart said: "I cannot tell you that...but it was somebody quite important."

News source: Autosport

[Subject Delta]

Well in a round about way it kinda sounds like Flav did know and might've even suggested it with his comment: You know what? Whatever happens, if someone goes against the rules, they go against the rules. If I tell you to go rob a bank – afterwards, you decide whether to rob the bank or not.

Yep, i'd agree with that

One of the announcers on Speed (Steve Matchett) said that the telemetry showed Piquet nailed the gas while sliding out of control, also during the pre-race show last year that there was no way Alonso's pit strategy was going to work except with a SC and that's exactly what happened.

Yep, that was pretty obvious as well. To be honest I didn't even think of the idea of the fix at the time because I was too busy LOLing at Massa leaving with his fuel hose attatched but I do remember thinking that while I understood the rationale behind renault's decision to fuel Alonso light, I still thought his battle for points under normal circumstances was futile... Relying on a lot of overtaking on a street circuit... questionable at best. Could just be a coincidence but it is rather suspicious.

But then you'd have to ask why would Renault launch legal action against the Piquet duo if they've done wrong? They're just going to look stupid if that's the case and would probably get in more trouble for making false allegations / court proceedings.

Three possibilities spring to mind

1: They are genuinely innocent and Piquet really is slandering them

2: Somehow flav really didn't know about the plan, hence he is reacting because he thinks they are innocent

3: Deflection of guilt

The 'reject of the race' award goes to Lewis Hamilton for throwing a podium finish away by overdriving. He was too far behind Button on the last lap to catch him, let alone overtake him - he might as well just have cruised to the chequered flag and collected six points.

Seconded. Whilst I am a huge fan of Hamilton's racing ability he is still (despite gaining the title in 2008) way too reckless for my liking, and I feel if he had been up against Raikkonen at the peak of his form or Alonso at the peak of his rather than Massa (no disrespect meant) then he wouldn't have won the title IMO. Some people say that a season in a bad car should be meant to build his character but I see it making him push more desperately for results. The annoying thing for McLaren is though their car is fast enough to overhaul Ferrari in the race for third in the WCC, and throwing away points is just unacceptable

[Mike]

If you can include presenters, the reject of the race would be Eddie Jordan for me for saying he's sure Hamilton will become a world champion one day :p

[Raktael]

If you can include presenters, the reject of the race would be Eddie Jordan for me for saying he's sure Hamilton will become a world champion one day :p

That man is the biggest idiot in F1...

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Lotus granted 13th entry for 2010

The Lotus F1 team has been awarded the 13th entry in the 2010 Formula 1 championship, the governing body announced on Tuesday.

The FIA said it had also received an "impressive" application from the BMW Sauber team, but given the uncertainty about the ownership of the Hinwil squad the governing body decided to give the entry to Lotus.

BMW was, however, given the "14th place" in case any vacancy arises on the 2010 grid.

The governing body added the it will look into expanding the grid to 14 teams, "consulting urgently with the existing teams regarding the introduction of an appropriate rule change to expand the grid to 28 cars in time for the first Grand Prix in 2010."

As revealed by AUTOSPORT earlier this month, the Lotus entry will be backed a company called 1Malaysia F1 Team Sdn Bhd, with Tony Fernandes as team principal. Fernandes is the founder and CEO of the Malaysian-based Tune Group, owner of the Air Asia airline.

The FIA said Mike Gascoyne will be the team's technical director and that Lotus will use Cosworth engines.

The company is a partnership between the Malaysian government and a consortium of Malaysian entrepreneurs. The Lotus name will return to Formula 1 as a constructor for the first time since 1994.

Lotus will be initially based at the RTN facility in Norfolk, UK, some 10 miles from the Lotus Cars factory. The 50,000 square foot facility was originally built by Toyota for its initial Formula 1 programme and then used by Bentley for its Le Mans programme.

The team's future design, R&D, manufacturing and technical centre will be built at Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit.

News source: Autosport

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Looks like there will be 14 teams on the 2010 grid:

BMW finds buyer for Formula 1 team

BMW has announced that the Qadbak Investments company has agreed to purchase the Formula 1 team based in Hinwil.

The German company had revealed earlier this year that it will quit Formula 1 at the end of the season, and had been in talks with interested parties since then.

On Tuesday, BMW said it had signed the contract to sell the team to Qadbak, a Swiss-based foundation which represents the interests of certain Middle East and European-based families.

"A strong investor has therefore been found for the Hinwil-based team," BMW said in a statement.

"Qadbak's interest in the team will be represented by Lionel Fischer, a Swiss national. BMW wishes Qadbak and the Sauber Team every success for the 2010 season and beyond."

The sale of the team coincides with the FIA having announced the 13th entry for the 2010 championship went to the Lotus outfit, with BMW as a possible 14th entry in case a current team fails to race next year.

The FIA also said it would talk to the teams about the possibility of increasing the grid size to 28 cars to allow the Hinwil squad to race next year.

News source: Autosport

This leaves a lot of speculation open as to who is going to drive for which team, which team has which engine or title sponsor - leave your comments or speculations in the 2010 Silly Season thread.

[Antaris Veteran]

I wouldn't attribute that to luck.

He had no chance of moving up a spot, and there was no realistic chance of him dropping to 3rd unless, well... you know. Why was he pushing so hard?

To be honest, I think his mindset at the moment is simply that he's had a crap start as reigning champion, so now his car is performing he wants to show everyone that he still has what it takes. Which he does, he is a solid driver. If the race had a further 4-5 laps and he hadn't crashed, he might of clinched 2nd, but you are right, there was no reason to race as hard as he did

[Sjokkel]

there was no reason to race as hard as he did

A driver should learn from his mistakes. He allready lost a championship due to this attitude. There was no point in pushing on that last lap. Judging from his fast time in the first sector his kers wouldn't have had much juice left and passing both the lesmo corners where did he think he was going to overtake Button? Up to the next race!

[Subject Delta]

To be honest, I think his mindset at the moment is simply that he's had a crap start as reigning champion, so now his car is performing he wants to show everyone that he still has what it takes. Which he does, he is a solid driver. If the race had a further 4-5 laps and he hadn't crashed, he might of clinched 2nd, but you are right, there was no reason to race as hard as he did

Thought that myself as well, but IMO he still needs to get his aggression under control.

Also, having 28 cars on the grid next season, won't that cause problems at some circuits that have provisions for the maximum of 26 (13 teams) that was originally expected?

[stfu.]

This just in..."Renault team accept guilt for Singapre race fixing, boss Flavio Briatore leaves Renault team..."

No source available yet...

update:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/for...icle6836809.ece

Edited September 16, 2009 by RandomReviews

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

This just in..."Renault team accept guilt for Singapre race fixing, boss Flavio Briatore leaves Renault team..."

No source available yet...

There is a source: Autosport

I wonder what the punishment for Renault will be now.

[acnpt]

Briatore and Symonds leave Renault

Source - Autosport.com

[simonlang]

wow thats heavy stuff. now with that they are really confess that they fixed singapore gp 2008 and deliberately destroyed felipe massas world championship.

me thinks that someone has to pay a loooooooooooot of money now.

[Subject Delta]

Just got up and read this, have to say I am absolutely gobsmacked. I personally can't see it being that long till another announcement about Renault pulling out of F1 appears

[san.W10]

Hmm. Did renault fire them?

So how's the 2010 grid goin to be?

13 team or 12?

[Subject Delta]

If Renault are kicked out, BMW will take their place