F1 World Championship 2010 Thread

[Billus]

Yep yep yep, go Webber! Glad that he is finally on top of things. Good luck to him winning the next race.

[Shibby]

I only caught the last few minutes of Q3, but I'll be missing tomorrows race, England are playing and we've got guests over. ?I expect the race to be boring anyway.

[Billus]

Haha, supposingly Rubens Barrichello's steering wheel actually survived after it was picked up by Chandrocks (?) car. He only carried it around for another half a lap before dropping it off. Seem that it isn't damaged at all, it will only need the suede to be replaced and most likely will be used in the next few races. I thought it was an interesting fun fact.

[Billus]

Quite a boring race, Webber didn't win :(

Putting that aside, it was a race hanging on a knifes-edge. Quite good, even without the rain.

[idioot]

Why is Vettel blaming Webber for the crash..he was the one that turned into Webber :unsure:

[philcruicks]

well that was interesting! I'm Happy 2 British drivers 1st n 2nd, 2 British cars, and then webber, union jack on the flag and part of the commonwealth with a technically british car, couldn't have been a better result for us!

What are peoples thought on webber n vettel? who's fault, i think it was vettels but I wan't to see the steering wheel trace.

[Billus]

Clearly Vettel's fault, too much ambition. I think Eddie Jordan was watching something completely different...

[Antaris Veteran]

Clearly Vettel's fault, too much ambition. I think Eddie Jordan was watching something completely different...

Oh Eddie :D

[acnpt]

I think Eddie wants to 'celebrate' too :laugh:

[simonlang]

boring race? i found it one of the best races this year. mclaren and redbull had very similar pace all over the race and you just couldnt say who would win.

then there was the possibility of some rain which added something to it. schumacher is getting better and better. and ferrari is dropping back, especially alonso is doing horrible. only massa is saving ferraris face these days.

[Zain Adeel]

this was one of the best race ive seen this year :D

because of VETTEL to be true :p

and yes i expected rain to add to the fun but didnt happen :(

[enigma-penguin Veteran]

Good race, Mclaren really kept the pace on this race; it's really nice to see someone actually edging into the RBR race pace now and keeping the burners on. As for Vettel he needs to learn to be a professional race driver, making the "crazy sign" as you walk away from a crash? blaming your team mate to the press? suck it up sun shine. You pushed and you lost, be a man about it.

Webber was being well mannered as always post race, learn from that, Better yet, watch what the Mclarens did after you crashed and think again.

Also: Eddie, rofl...

[ahmz]

Yep, definitely one of the best of the year.

Webber, Hamilton and Vettel all drove brilliantly in the first stint, great laptimes. Button joined them after his stop and the pace was amazing.

Great to see cars with different strengths on a circuit that lends to that.

Vettels move on Webber? Wow! Moving over was such a bad mistake, not sure what he was thinking. I'm glad Webber could keep going and finish on the podium.

Disappointed that Petrov came off second best against Alonso and got that puncture.

Good race, I enjoyed it!

[philcruicks]

yeah I was really impressed with McLarens pace, I think its the first time this year that the leader hasn't pulled out a big gap and we're left watchin the battle for 2nd, was good to get proper wheel to wheel racing with probably the 4 best drivers in F1.

[brentaal]

Prior to the impact

I think it pretty clearly shows that Vettel moved to his right and caused the crash.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

It was an interesting race. Congratulations to McLaren, although their 1-2 is only the result of a boneheaded move.

Vettel deserves the 'Reject of the Race' award for his brain-dead move on Webber.

With all the rumours about RBR telling Webber to let Vettel pass it's time for the FIA to have a good look at the team and their tactics. Last I heard team orders were illegal.

[Richard Hammond]

Red Bull's Helmut Marko has made an official team statement that Vettel had no other choice but to pass Webber and that while team orders cannot be enforced within the sporting regs that Webber was informed over the radio that Vettel was faster and would have to pass to avoid being passed by Hamilton. Webber's hard head prevented him from yielding to Vettel after the clean pass even after Vettel had been gaining several tenths on him every lap.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Red Bull extends Webber's contract

Mark Webber will remain with Red Bull Racing in 2011 after agreeing terms for another one-year extension of his deal.

The team confirmed the Australian's new contract on Monday morning, just more than one week after his controversial collision with team-mate Sebastian Vettel at the Turkish Grand Prix.

AUTOSPORT revealed after the Monaco Grand Prix last month that Webber had been set for a fresh deal on the back of his back-to-back successes in Spain and Monte Carlo.

And although the clash with Vettel in Turkey was far from ideal as Red Bull Racing finalised the terms of the new deal, the team and the driver were able to get matters sorted swiftly.

Speaking about the contract extension, which will see him partnered with Vettel once again, Webber said: "It was an easy decision to remain with Red Bull Racing. We began talking very early this year and were in a position to sign by the Barcelona Grand Prix.

"The decision to extend for a further year was a mutual one; it's widely known that I'm not interested in hanging around in Formula 1 just for the sake of it and at this stage of my career, I'm happy to take one year at a time.

"I continue to feel very comfortable here - I have a fantastic relationship with the whole team and the factory at Milton Keynes feels like home. It's been incredible to be part of the team as it's moved forward from a mid-field competitor to one that is challenging for the Championship.

"I hope we experience more success together in the future and achieve our ultimate goal of winning the world championship."

Team principal Christian Horner added: "The decision to retain Mark was very straightforward. He is an important member of our team and is currently in the best form of his career, as the current leader of the drivers' championship. The team is extremely happy that the driver pairing of Mark and Sebastian will remain unchanged for a third season in 2011."

The confirmation of Webber's deal makes it likely that all the leading F1 drivers will stay put for next year, with Felipe Massa set to remain at Ferrari and Robert Kubica likely to remain at Renault.

Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher are already contracted at Mercedes GP.

Source: Autosport

[Jonny_ Rockafella]

That was inevitable.

There's no way Red Bull will let him go when he seems to be taking leaps and bounds.

Only Canada will tell if he's lost a bit of confidence since that "incident" in the last race

[ahmz]

Hamilton told Button would not pass him

By Jonathan Noble

Lewis Hamilton was told by his McLaren team during the Turkish Grand Prix that team-mate Jenson Button would not overtake him once they switched to fuel-saving mode - moments before the reigning world champion passed him.

In a fresh twist to what happened during an Istanbul event that had already seen Red Bull Racing duo Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel come together, the official race video edit on formula1.com has offered a new perspective into the battle between Hamilton and Button.

In the video extract, which comes shortly after the Webber/Vettel collision has moved the McLaren duo to the front of the field, the team comes on the radio and tells Hamilton: "Lewis, we need you to save fuel. Both cars are doing the same."

Hamilton responds and expresses his concerns that although he has backed off to save fuel, Button is gaining on him. "Jenson's closing in on me, you guys."

After the team acknowledges that message, Hamilton then asks: "If I back off, is Jenson going to pass me or not?"

McLaren's answer is: "No, Lewis. No."

It is unclear if Button was given, or understood, any message to not pass Hamilton - but the Hamilton radio conversation may explain why the 2008 champion was so keen to retake the lead as soon as he had lost it.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/84202

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Massa extends Ferrari contract until '12

Ferrari announced on Wednesday morning that it has extended its contract with Felipe Massa, who will stay on at the team at least until the end of the 2012 season.

Massa has been with the Italian squad since the 2001 season and his contract was expiring at the end of this year.

The new deal means Ferrari will have an unchanged driver line-up for the next two years, with Fernando Alonso also contracted to the Maranello outfit.

"I am happy to be given the opportunity to drive for Ferrari for a further two seasons," said Massa.

"Throughout my entire Formula 1 career, I have always raced with an engine made in Maranello and it is a matter of pride for me to be able to continue working with a team that I regard as a second family."

Massa has competed in 69 grands prix for Ferrari, having won 11 races, 30 podiums and 15 pole positions.

"Felipe has been part of Ferrari for almost a decade and together with us, he has grown as a driver and as a man, going through some very difficult times as well as giving us moments of great happiness," said team boss Stefano Domenicali.

"We wanted to show proof of stability for the future, believing in the worth of a driver pairing that is without equal in terms of talent, speed and its ability to work together for the good of the team."

The announcement comes just two days after Red Bull confirmed Mark Webber's new contract. Both Webber and Renault's Robert Kubica had been linked with Massa's drive.

Source: Autosport

[simonlang]

Massa extends Ferrari contract until '12

amazing news! just wanted to post the same but looks like you were a bit faster. :D

[.mcman]

Intense quali. I hope Lewis will not be penalized. :)

[simonlang]

Intense quali. I hope Lewis will not be penalized. :)

hami gets a warning and team gets 10.000$ monetary fine. he can keep his pole position. :D

im happy with this. he drove a great lap and mclaren is getting faster and faster. hamilton is the first driver this year to beat the redbulls in qualifying. congratz to him!

[Antaris Veteran]

Webber has been demoted 5 places for a gearbox change...