After a period of rumours that Renault could quit Formula 1, the French manufacturer has announced that it is set to remain committed to their F1 racing programme.
Tag Archives: Formula 1
Ferrari will allow Schumacher to leave
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has said that he will let Schumacher leave to Mercedes-Benz GP if he chooses to do so.
Formula 1 Gets New Points System
The FIA has announced that the Formula 1 World Championship will get another points scoring system in 2010. As next year we will have 26 cars on the grid, the governing body of F1 announced a change was needed to deal with the increased interests of new teams to join the championship. Under the old system, points were accorded as following:
- 10 points
- 8 points
- 6 points
- 5 points
- 4 points
- 3 points
- 2 points
- 1 point
However, with the new system, points will be awarded to the first 10 drivers as follows:
- 25 points
- 20 points
- 15 points
- 10 points
- 8 points
- 6 points
- 5 points
- 3 points
- 2 points
- 1 point
The FIA say that this new system will be more appropriate with the increased number of cars on the grid, allowing some of the new teams which haven’t got so much money to score. As always in F1 lately, controversy has already sparked on the new points system with some people saying that by introducing this new regulation, comparisons between past and current drivers points will no longer be possible. The 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 system was introduced in 2003 and the new one is said to be the greatest point system change in F1 history. Even tough I don’t usually agree with the FIA, this time I think they are absolutely right.
Source: Autosport
Silverstone Gets F1 GP Deal
After all the controversy and scandal between Donington and Silverstone these months, it has finally been set: Silverstone will retain the F1 British GP for the 2010 calendar of Formula 1. It all looked lost for Silverstone as last year Bernie Ecclestone signed a 17-year deal with Donington Park to host the F1 GP’s from 2010 on. Unfortunately, Donington didn’t have enough money for the project so Bernie ripped their contract, talked with Silverstone and here we are today: It’s all official.
The deal will also be for 17 years as the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) announced the agreement today. The BRDC president, a certain Damon Hill said: “Everyone was well aware that the British GP is not just a sporting event, but it is dynamo of the industry in this country. Losing it would have been damaging and perhaps there would have been no coming back.”. Personally, I would have liked to see Donington on the calendar rather than Silverstone as it is for me a much better track with that something else that makes it great. Bernie threatened however throughout the year that a British GP isn’t necessary just to remind the guy’s who’s the boss but only to put that little more pressure on the circuit managers. Silverstone has also announced a modernization for the pits and the paddock.
Michael Schumacher may return to Formula 1
Michael Schumacher, holder of an insane amount of Formula 1 records, including the most drivers championships won, may be returning to Formula 1 to race with Mercedes-Benz GP, previously known as Brawn GP, but now taken over by Mercedes, hence the new name.
Mercedes has done a lot for Schumacher. He begun his career racing sportscars there, and they helped him get into Formula 1. Now, Mercedes is giving him a chance to return the sport. They want him as their lead driver. Currently, Schumacher is under a contract with Ferrari, but BCC F1 pundit Eddie Jordan says “…I understand he was due to meet Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo with a view to him being released – and that it will be approved because it is in the interests of F1.” Strangely enough, I saw another article which seems to contradict Autocar’s, saying that he has been sacked from the Formula 1 team as advisor. Mind you, it also mentions that he’s still working with them in the road car department, so perhaps that’s the contract they are talking about.
Jordan told the BBC “I also believe Ross and Michael have spoken in recent times and that Michael likes the idea of driving a Mercedes run by Ross. It’s a mouth-watering idea,” and “Schumacher was bitterly disappointed he didn’t get to come back to replace Massa – he’s keen to race again. And this is a dream for both parties.” That, along with his past relationship with Mercedes, may mean that he’ll end up racing for them. I’d really like to see that. Alex had his doubts about Mercedes-Benz GP doing well next season, but if they get Schumacher on, perhaps that disadvantage will be evened out to create some close competition.
Mercedes buys Brawn GP
Yes, it seems the rumours were true, Mercedes-Benz has indeed bought the double-championship winning Brawn team and it’s aiming to return to Formula 1 as a manufacturer since 1955. The German giant has bought about 75% of the English team and they say that Ross Brawn will remain team principal. They will also continue their deal with McLaren as they must supply engines for free for another 6 years to them.
Over the next two-year period McLaren will buy back actions worth 40% back from Mercedes. The new Mercedes-Benz GP team will be also based in the current Brawn GP factory in Brackley. The thing is, I just don’t understand what Mercedes is trying to play here. They will return to F1 by buying a team that has won a few weeks ago both world championships.
You might think: ok, that’s very intelligent then, they chose a winning team so it’s very good. You see, in F1, development takes time, so in general, the team which has the most time, experience and money turns up with the best car for the next year. Now Brawn have been fighting for the championship until the penultimate race so they kept their eyes focused on the 2009 car while others like Ferrari for instance had already began their development on their 2010 car.
The driver lineup will also be a problem. Rumours say that there will be an all-British layout at McLaren : Button and Hamilton, and an all-German layout at Mercedes: Heidfeld and Rosberg. Imagine that: the Germans will be laying the red carpet for each other in the ultimate fair-play team game begging each other to overtake while the Brits will be having a massive fight for who should be nr 1 .
Toyota’s Formula 1 Car Up for Sale
Toyota is selling off the plans for their 2010 Formula 1 car, now that they’ve pulled out of Formula 1.
Schumacher’s F1 car on eBay
Yup, that’s right you can now buy a Formula 1 car on eBay. Specifically it’s the 1994 title-winning Benetton that Michael drove that season. But you get more for your money than just the car – the guy gives you a lot of extra things as well like several spare parts, including two extra sets of wheels and tires, and its data laptop, to monitor the fluid levels and temperatures. He also says it’s ready to race on the track with the same performance as back in ’94. As often the case with these things you can’t find out a specific amount of BHP but I reckon it’s somewhere north of 700. So expect a pretty big backache when you get out of it. It received 184 bids until know with the top one at a staggering 2.3 million quid. But that isn’t all. Only the transport will cost you 10.000 quid. Supposedly it’s going to arrive on a bed of roses with 3 naked lap-dancers in the truck. So, if some of you fancy a nice gift for your kid this Christmas you’re pretty well catered for.
Here’s the link for all the kid-loving fathers out there: http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150386832229
Toyota and BMW quit Formula 1, Renault may follow
Sad news for the king discipline of motorsports: two of the factory teams, Toyota and BMW, have announced that they will not participate in the 2010 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, and rumours say that Renault is about to do so as well.