official F1 World Championship 2011 Thread

[simonlang]

Heh, judging from the results, it seems this is a "car's track".

If only Koba didn't crash and Senna didn't have Aryton genes in him, we might had seen perfect sister car pairings.

lol yep, i just realized this. funny. i also guess it shows that drivers are not to blame if they are slow but its more a thing of the car.

[san.W10]

nice point, just noticed that :p

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

And once more Lewis Hamilton is driving like a bloody idiot. Great job...

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

What on earth happened to MSC? Brain fade or did the Sauber slow down unexpectedly?

[Jimmy0]

I think that Perez lifted off much earlier than Schumacher expected, causing them to collide.

Nice to see Paul Di Resta have a solid race, best of his career so far I'd even say.

[TheLegendOfMart]

Yet again everyone ignores Buttons solid race and focuses on Hamilton.

Such a shame as Button has outclassed Hamilton by far this year and I hope he takes second in the drivers championship, its amazing how he can put on a set of supersofts and drive a smooth and consistent race, look after the tyres so much and still have lots of fight left in reserve for when McLaren let him off the leash with 12 laps to go he came so close to Vettel.

I hope he stays with McLaren in 2012 and that the 2012 car is far more competitive next year as this years has been a disaster then people would see Hamilton for what he is, an overrated, impetuous child who is devoid of all personality.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

I agree - Button is doing a stellar job while Hamilton is losing points time and time again due to brain fades like the accident with Massa yesterday.

[Lovell]

And Shumis "brain fade"? Hamilton clipped Massa by a tiny amount while Schumacher drove over the back of Perez and yet everyone focuses on Hamilton, Hamiltons an idiot while what Schumacher did was an accident, every time Hamilton has an accident they spend the entire show speaking about it, with the stewards and ex drivers writing articles about Hamilton telling him to calm down then the same drivers tell him to be more aggressive when he calms down? yet when others commit the same accidents they get a brief mention, Hamilton has to have the most pressure on his shoulders of any drivers he gets destroyed in the media after every mistake.

As for Massa it's about time Ferrari replace him with someone more capable, he's 100 points behind Alonso and the other 5, he's only just ahead of the Mercedes, as for Renault WTF? they had two 3rd places in the first 2 races now there struggling to fight the bottom tier cars.

[Eddo89]

And Shumis "brain fade"? Hamilton clipped Massa by a tiny amount while Schumacher drove over the back of Perez and yet everyone focuses on Hamilton, Hamiltons an idiot while what Schumacher did was an accident, every time Hamilton has an accident they spend the entire show speaking about it, with the stewards and ex drivers writing articles about Hamilton telling him to calm down then the same drivers tell him to be more aggressive when he calms down? yet when others commit the same accidents they get a brief mention, Hamilton has to have the most pressure on his shoulders of any drivers he gets destroyed in the media after every mistake.

As for Massa it's about time Ferrari replace him with someone more capable, he's 100 points behind Alonso and the other 5, he's only just ahead of the Mercedes, as for Renault WTF? they had two 3rd places in the first 2 races now there struggling to fight the bottom tier cars.

Hamilton clipped Massa, causing him to puncture his tyres. Whatever mistakes Schumi makes, he will be excused a bit because he is 7 times World Champion. Comes with the territory. But Perez did lift off a bit, so that is why there is sympathy for Schumacher especially when the crash is pretty spectacular. And whatever your alleigance may be, you being from Britain probably is a staunch supporter of Hamilton, the fact is, he gets into trouble too many times. When your car is the second best in the field and a championship contender, these things are magnified. Most of the time, Ferrari puts Massa in a mind numbing strategy that seem to ensure he is nowhere near Alonso. How many times did he get the chance to undercut someone? Only when Ferrari is eating up its tyres, otherwise is "pit after Alonso pits". Having said that, he is not the same since his accident. The old Massa is fast, error prone but always seem to be on the edge. He definitely wasn't on the edge at all as clearly seen in street circuits like Singapore.Renault don't look certain circuits, this is one of them. They progressively fall behind as the season wears on, this is the trend in recent years when man power and financial backing fades.

[JoeC]

The problem at Ferrari isn't Massa; it's the team's policy of totally focussing on one driver. If they didn't just act as if Alonso was their only driver, they'd probably be second in the Constructor's at the moment.

As for Hamilton, I do like how nobody's mentioned how he locked his front left going into the corner, which caused him to hit Massa. If you're saying Perez lifted a little earlier than Schumi expected (which is fair), it's only fair to look equally at both incidents; Hamilton hit Massa because he locked up.

[Lovell]

To an extent you're right, Ferrari are screwing Massa over but still Hamilton went form around 16th to 5th twice while Massa stuck around 10th there's only so much you can blame on Ferrari, it's a shame Imagine how different Massa would ave been if Ferrari didn't screw him during 2010 and force him to give Alonso 1st, it must be hard to race knowing Ferrari wont allow you to win the one thing every racing driver wants.

[simonlang]

big massa fan still, but he is toast. i think its a combination of bad luck, some side effects after the accident in 2009 and ofc ferrari being santanders playground now. actually it would be better for him to leave the team and try his luck somewhere else, i think at mercedes together with schumacher he could regain his confidence.

for ferrari, as long as they dont build the absolute super-dominating car like redbull did this year, their number 1 driver policy imho will lead to nothing at all, they can forget the wcc by default and the wdc will be a challenge as well.

big massa fan still, but he is toast. i think its a combination of bad luck, some side effects after the accident in 2009 and ofc ferrari being santanders playground now. actually it would be better for him to leave the team and try his luck somewhere else, i think at mercedes together with schumacher he could regain his confidence.

for ferrari, as long as they dont build the absolute super-dominating car like redbull did this year, their number 1 driver policy imho will lead to nothing at all, they can forget the wcc by default and the wdc will be a challenge as well.

[san.W10]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEUVZXR18_4

http://forums.autosport.com/index.php?showtopic=135088&st=2240&start=2240

[san.W10]

Costa, Willis join Mercedes GP as it

strengthens technical team

By Pablo Elizalde

Friday, September 30th 2011, 08:07 GMT

Former Ferrari technical director Aldo

Costa will join the Mercedes GP team

alongside Geoff Willis, the German

manufacturer confirmed on Friday.

Costa left Ferrari in May after a

disappointing start to the season for the

Italian squad, and, as reported by

AUTOSPORT earlier this month, he will

work again alongside Ross Brawn at

Mercedes.

The duo worked together at Ferrari during

Brawn's spell at the team. Costa will join

Mercedes as engineering director on 1

December.

Willis joins Mercedes after having left the

HRT squad recently, and he will work as

technology director starting 17 October.

"I am delighted to announce that Aldo

Costa and Geoff Willis will be joining the

team," said Brawn. "Geoff is a highly

respected engineer with over twenty

years of Formula 1 experience, and we

look forward to his arrival next month.

"Having worked closely with Aldo for many

years, I know that he will bring dedication

and championship-winning expertise to

the team when he joins in December.

"Building a winning team is an exciting

challenge for us all as we work towards

the competitiveness and standards that

we aspire to as the Mercedes-Benz works

team. With a strong technical structure

led by Bob Bell, we are moving ourselves

into the best possible position to achieve

our ambitions."

Brawn said recently that Mercedes GP

needed to ramp up its infrastructure if it

was going to take on big-money teams

like Red Bull Racing, McLaren and Ferrari.

His outfit had cut back its staffing

numbers considerably following Honda's

withdrawal, and he suggested that once it

was happy with its structure it would look

to expand its head count so it moved up

to the limit of F1's Resource Restriction

Agreement.

"To add people you have to have the

structure you need, and obviously one of

the big things for the team is Bob Bell

joining us," Brawn said. "The

infrastructure has to be in place before

you can start adding numbers. And I think

we've strengthened the structure.

"It's always nice to do well with the

smallest number possible, and there is

the RRA limit, and we are looking to move

to that absolute limit.

"At the same time the other teams are

coming down to it because they are still

on the glide path down to the RRA limit,

so in 2011 the teams who are bigger still

have the benefit of that glide path down

to the RRA targets."

www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/94915

Now I have some hope in MGP being competitive next year.

(posting thru mobile)

[simonlang]

www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/94915

Now I have some hope in MGP being competitive next year.

(posting thru mobile)

i knew this several weeks ago: :punk:

former ferrari technical director aldo costa is rumored to join brawn and schumi at mercedes.

can be only an improvement for mercedes. now lets see schumacher extending his contract for another 1 or 2 years.

[san.W10]

Radio broadcast revelation stokes Massa and Hamilton collision controversy

The controversy over Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton's collision in the Singapore Grand Prix has taken a fresh twist with the release of new footage from the race.

The official highlights video posted on Formula 1's own website includes a radio message from Massa's engineer Rob Smedley which was not included in the live television broadcast.

In the clip, Smedley is heard to say to Massa: "Hold Hamilton as much as we can. Destroy his race as much as we can. Come on, boy..."

It is not clear from the footage when the message was sent. Hamilton came up behind Massa, who was running fifth, while recovering from a messy first lap, catching him on lap eight. He stayed close behind the Ferrari until they pitted together on lap 11. They then collided on their out-lap, with Hamilton clipping the Ferrari, giving it a puncture and breaking his McLaren's front wing. Hamilton also received a drive-through penalty for the incident.

After the race, Massa confronted Hamilton in the television interview area - sarcastically congratulating him on his race before walking away. The Brazilian was highly critical of Hamilton, who has not commented on the incident in public, and the race day collision followed another row between them that had been prompted by a near-miss in qualifying.

"My thoughts are that, again, I told you yesterday that he cannot use his mind," said Massa after the race.

"Even in qualifying, so you can imagine in the race. He could have caused a big accident. He is paying for that, that's the problem. He doesn't understand, even paying for a problem."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/95025

[san.W10]

Aldo Costa says rejoining ex-Ferrari colleagues at Mercedes was too tempting to turn down

New Mercedes recruit Aldo Costa says the opportunity of renewing his relationship with Ross Brawn and Michael Schumacher to challenge their old team Ferrari was more than enough to tempt him back into Formula 1.

Former Ferrari technical director Costa lost his position with the Italian team earlier this season after the disappointing start to its campaign. Mercedes announced on Friday that it had recruited Costa, who had worked with team boss Brawn at Ferrari during the Schumacher era, as its new engineering director.

His appointment came at the same time that ex-Williams, Honda and Red Bull man Geoff Willis was announced as Mercedes' new technology director, and follows the signing of former Renault man Bob Bell as Mercedes GP's technical director.

"I'm enthusiastic. Mercedes is pushing to be successful and that philosophy matches my ambitions and my character," Costa told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Once it was over with Ferrari in early July, I spoke with Brawn and Bob Bell. Just a few words with Ross were enough to find ourselves on the same wavelength as ever.

"Once out of Ferrari for many weeks I didn't want to think of anything, I just took care of my personal stuff.

"Yes, I considered the possibility of doing something outside racing. But then the possibility of returning with a big team like Mercedes drew me back in.

"I will be engineering director, leading the team that will take care of designing and developing the car. I will also follow young technicians. It's an exclusively designing job, I won't go to the track, a bit like I used to do in Ferrari before becoming technical director."

Costa added that he was thrilled to be working with Schumacher again.

"I haven't heard from Schumacher yet, but I will do soon," he said. "No one is as good as him in interpreting a car and its development. He will be fundamental, and I strongly believe in him as a driver too."

The Italian said that though there had been criticisms of his efforts from Ferrari after his departure, he still had fond memories of his time there.

"I don't agree with the accusations made against me," said Costa.

"However I have great memories of Ferrari and all its men, after winning eight constructors' championships and six drivers'.

"Schumacher's first title after a long draught was exhilarating as was [Kimi] Raikkonen's. The biggest regret is the title lost by [Felipe] Massa in 2008 after the finish line at Interlagos. He would have deserved it."

Costa said he would still think of Ferrari as "friends" even as he pushed to ensure Mercedes was ahead on the track.

"These things happen in sport and in life," he said of his departure from Ferrari. "Afterwards enthusiasm returns.

"The idea of challenging Ferrari with a group of former Ferrari men excites me, even though on the other side there will be friends instead of enemies."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/95027

[simonlang]

The biggest regret is the title lost by [Felipe] Massa in 2008 after the finish line at Interlagos. He would have deserved it."

haha loving it, costa definitely is no alonso/santander man, he is more unhappy about 2008 than 2010 title loss - and so am i!

no, really, reading costa, alonso must be the real poison at ferrari:

Interview to Costa by italian journo Turrini

They fired you in may, but now in october Ferrari is not doing very well anyway.

‘Let's draw a veil over that episode’.

Come on.

‘Well, they fired me and they immediately said that the car in summer was faster because I was not there anymore. But those changes were mine, I developed them. Now they got new things from other people and you can see they're still not going anywere’.

It was Alonso who wanted you to leave?

‘No comment, I'm working for Schumi now’.

more to come im sure!

[Lovell]

Radio broadcast revelation stokes Massa and Hamilton collision controversy

In the clip, Smedley is heard to say to Massa: "Hold Hamilton as much as we can. Destroy his race as much as we can. Come on, boy..."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/95025

Karmas a bitch. :rofl:

[TheLegendOfMart]

Jenson Button Signs McLaren contract extension

McLaren have confirmed Jenson Button will remain with them beyond 2011.

The team announced today Button has signed a new multi-year contract.

Button said: “I’ve never felt more at home at a team than I do at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.

?”I’ve won four of the greatest races of my life here, I’m currently lying second in the drivers’ world championship, and I feel that I’m driving better than ever.”

Team principal Martin Whitmarsh said: “Jenson is a great driver and a great guy.

“In fact, I can safely say that he’s one of the most capable and respected drivers we’ve ever had, and I’m therefore absolutely delighted that he’ll continue to work with us into the future.

“He’s a considerable credit to this organisation, and I’m proud to be his team principal.

“I feel sure that he’ll now build on the considerable success he’s already achieved with us, and will be even more successful with us in years to come.”

Lewis Hamilton added his endorsement, saying: “It’s great news that Jenson has chosen to stay with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.

“Jenson has been a great person to work with, and a genuine team player, from the moment we welcomed him on board.”

Yay.

Realistically there was nowhere else for him to go, all the big teams have already tied their drivers up for the next few years anyway, but this is good news.

[ahmz]

They did good to keep Jenson, I would rather him in my team than Lewis. He might not be as quick in qualifying but he is a better and more consistent racer.

[san.W10]

FP1

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/95085

[simonlang]

They did good to keep Jenson, I would rather him in my team than Lewis. He might not be as quick in qualifying but he is a better and more consistent racer.

nothing with a bit of hamilton-bashing yes? obviously keeping aside the fact, that hamilton got offered the exact - if not better - same long term contract several months ago already.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

FP2 result:

[TheLegendOfMart]

nothing with a bit of hamilton-bashing yes? obviously keeping aside the fact, that hamilton got offered the exact - if not better - same long term contract several months ago already.

Nothing to do with bashing Hamilton, the UK press and F1 fans seem to forget that McLaren has 2 drivers, its always Lewis that gets the press.