F1 Official Thread - Grand Prix of Britain

[Sinner]

Lewis is having the worst year of his racing career so this is probably something new for him to deal with. Perhaps he also has some personal, non-F1 issues? I dunno. I just hope that he can have a good final 3 races and go into the off-season on a good note.

Having said that, it was a great battle between Lew and Mark yesterday. Good, clean and tough racing. That's how it should be. The race pretty much mirrored the season... Seb running off in P1, while the rest of the guys were fighting hard for P2-P6. A strong performance by Lew.
I don't follow Indy, but RIP to Dan Wheldon.  Absolutely shocking.

 

[eddiehouse5]

[h1]Doubts over the future of Korean Grand Prix[/h1]

The future of the Korean Grand Prix, which only debuted in 2010, is in doubt after organisers warned they could not continue to sustain substantial losses on an event which so far has failed to enthuse the local community.

It is believed that the 2011 grand prix resulted in a deficit of around US$56 million, almost exactly the amount of the hosting fee paid to Bernie Ecclestone, the Formula One commercial rights-holder. The overall cost of the event was around US$80 million.

Speaking to Autosport, Park Won Hwa, the race promoter, warned that the event could be scrapped unless Ecclestone renegotiated the fee, which is due to rise annually by 10%.

The organisers are under increasing political pressure from those who argue the money would be better spent in helping the local economy. The Yeongam circuit is situated in a largely agricultural region of low income communities.

"Some people in this region are against the race because of a big financial loss," Hwa explained. "Those citizens, who have a background as farmers and are normally poor, want to have the funds distributed for other purposes rather than be used for this so far unpopular event."

Dump it.
[h1]'I feel safer in F1' - Webber[/h1]

I've never raced on an oval track but I've spoken to a lot of the guys who have," Webber said. "One thing they don't like is the element of pack racing, especially on a short oval such as Las Vegas. Running three wide on a track like that is not really racing. You're just getting a slipstream. Drivers look to move into a different lane - from the top to the bottom of the track, say - and things can happen.
"At certain speeds, that is fine and no-one gets badly injured. But when you're doing 220mph in an open-wheeler, the cars can leave the ground by five or six metres and someone's going to get seriously hurt. To have 30-odd single-seaters, nose to tail, with cold brakes; it's too much. Drivers feel this needs looking at. In the accident that killed Dan, nearly half the field were running together and half of them ended up in the air. That's not right."
"I'm sure you will have seen my accident in Valencia last year, too, when I took off after hitting the back of Heikki Kovalainen's Lotus. The car landed upside down before skidding into the barriers the right way up. But safety has come on a long way in F1 and it's a different type of racing to IndyCars anyway. Don't get me wrong, I know there are risks. Valencia could have gone either way for me, that's completely clear. But I feel it's safer than IndyCars. Or rallying or MotoGP, for that matter. That gives me confidence to race."

 

[Sinner]

There's "onboard"... and then there's "onboard"...

 

[eddiehouse5]

They need to get that camera into the races.



Hopefully the Grand Prix of New Jersey is a giant success.

 

[iceman3699]

woo hoo Jersey!!

 

[Sinner]

An elevation change of 150ft... that'll be interesting.

 

[eddiehouse5]

Oh, and apparently there will be new ugly noses for 2012 and 2013.

 

[eddiehouse5]

Massa leads FP2, and Hamilton leads FP1.
Hamilton and Perez get grid penalties.
[h1]Bernie Ecclestone casts doubt on Korean Grand Prix[/h1]

Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has cast doubt on the future of the Korean Grand Prix, just over a year since the country hosted its first race.
The organiser of the race, held for the second time on 16 October, is trying to renegotiate the cost of the contract.

But speaking at the inaugural Indian Grand Prix, Ecclestone said: "There are lots of things you can't afford; you don't have to have it."

Ecclestone added that he had "no idea" whether the race would be held in 2012.

The new track was built in Yeongam in the south-east of South Korea, 230 miles from capital city Seoul, as part of a plan to develop that area of the country.

But it has met with local opposition since the inaugural race in 2010 because of high costs.

 

[Sinner]

It's always down to fees... Still amazes me to see the contrasts in India... a money-burning sport in a country with so much poverty.

Anyway, Lewis with another penalty!

Quite enjoying the track though...

 

[eddiehouse5]

[h3]Indian Grand Prix 2011[/h3] Qualifying [table][tr][td]
[/td] [td]Driver[/td] [td]Teams[/td] [td]Time[/td] [/tr][tr][td]1[/td] [td] S Vettel (GER) [/td] [td]Red Bull[/td] [td]1'24.178[/td] [/tr][tr][td]2[/td] [td] M Webber (AUS) [/td] [td]Red Bull[/td] [td]1'24.508[/td] [/tr][tr][td]3[/td] [td] F Alonso (ESP) [/td] [td]Ferrari[/td] [td]1'24.519[/td] [/tr][tr][td]4[/td] [td] J Button (GBR) [/td] [td]McLaren[/td] [td]1'24.950[/td] [/tr][tr][td]5[/td] [td] LC Hamilton (GBR) [/td] [td]McLaren[/td] [td]1'24.474[/td] [/tr][tr][td]6[/td] [td] F Massa (BRA) [/td] [td]Ferrari[/td] [td]1'25.122[/td] [/tr][tr][td]7[/td] [td] N Rosberg (GER) [/td] [td]Mercedes-Benz[/td] [td]1'25.451[/td] [/tr][tr][td]8[/td] [td] A Sutil (GER) [/td] [td]Force India[/td] [td]1'26.140[/td][/tr][/table]

 

[Sinner]

Seb was so fast today... he has more speed in-hand too...

Makes me

everytime I see his face...

 

[eddiehouse5]

Mr. Bean is the stuff of legends.

Burgundy McLaren no less.

 

[Sinner]

Bahahahaha...

 

[zk1mpls]

Lewis and Felipe again

Well, race could've been pretty much the replay of the Korean Grand Prix by the looks of the results. Seb is just untouchable.

 

[Sinner]

I try to be objective and have been critical of Lewis this season for his errors, but this was on Massa. He had to have known he was there. You can't just turn-in and assume that he would disappear.

 

[eddiehouse5]

[table][tr][td]Pos[/td] [td]Points[/td] [td]No[/td] [td]Driver[/td] [td]Car[/td] [td]Engine[/td] [td]Tyres[/td] [td]Laps[/td] [td]Race Time[/td] [td]Delay[/td] [td]Qualifying[/td] [td]Fastest Lap[/td] [/tr][tr][td]1[/td] [td]25[/td] [td]1[/td] [td] Sebastian Vettel (GER) [/td] [td]Red Bull RB7[/td] [td]Renault RS27-2011[/td] [td]Pirelli[/td] [td]60 [/td] [td]1:30'35.002 [/td] [td]  [/td] [td]1 [/td] [td]1:30'35.002 [/td] [td]1 [/td] [td]1'27.249 [/td] [td](60) [/td] [/tr][tr][td]2[/td] [td]18[/td] [td]4[/td] [td] Jenson Button (GBR) [/td] [td]McLaren MP4-26[/td] [td]Mercedes FO108X[/td] [td]Pirelli[/td] [td]60 [/td] [td]1:30'43.435 [/td] [td]+8.433 [/td] [td]2 [/td] [td]8.433 [/td] [td]  [/td] [td]  [/td] [td]  [/td] [/tr][tr][td]3[/td] [td]15[/td] [td]5[/td] [td] Fernando Alonso (ESP) [/td] [td]Ferrari F150th[/td] [td]Ferrari 056[/td] [td]Pirelli[/td] [td]60 [/td] [td]1:30'59.303 [/td] [td]+24.301 [/td] [td]3 [/td] [td]24.301 [/td] [td]  [/td] [td]  [/td] [td]  [/td] [/tr][tr][td]4[/td] [td]12[/td] [td]2[/td] [td] Mark Webber (AUS) [/td] [td]Red Bull RB7[/td] [td]Renault RS27-2011[/td] [td]Pirelli[/td] [td]60 [/td] [td]1:31'00.531 [/td] [td]+25.529 [/td] [td]4 [/td] [td]25.529 [/td] [td]  [/td] [td]  [/td] [td]  [/td] [/tr][tr][td]5[/td] [td]10[/td] [td]7[/td] [td] Michael Schumacher (GER) [/td] [td]Mercedes-Benz MGP W02[/td] [td]Mercedes FO108X[/td] [td]Pirelli[/td] [td]60 [/td] [td]1:31'40.423 [/td] [td]+1'05.421 [/td] [td]5 [/td] [td]1'05.421 [/td] [td]  [/td] [td]  [/td] [td]  [/td] [/tr][tr][td]6[/td] [td]8[/td] [td]8[/td] [td] Nico Rosberg (GER) [/td] [td]Mercedes-Benz MGP W02[/td] [td]Mercedes FO108X[/td] [td]Pirelli[/td] [td]60 [/td] [td]1:31'41.853 [/td] [td]+1'06.851 [/td] [td]6 [/td] [td]1'06.851 [/td] [td]  [/td] [td]  [/td] [td]  [/td] [/tr][tr][td]7[/td] [td]6[/td] [td]3[/td] [td] Lewis Hamilton (GBR) [/td] [td]McLaren MP4-26[/td] [td]Mercedes FO108X[/td] [td]Pirelli[/td] [td]60 [/td] [td]1:31'59.185 [/td] [td]+1'24.183 [/td] [td]7 [/td] [td]1'24.183 [/td] [td]  [/td] [td]  [/td] [td]  [/td] [/tr][tr][td]8[/td] [td]4[/td] [td]19[/td] [td] Jaime Alguersuari (ESP) [/td] [td]Toro Rosso STR6[/td] [td]Ferrari 056[/td] [td]Pirelli[/td] [td]59 [/td] [td]  [/td] [td]+1 lap [/td] [td]8 [/td] [td]- [/td] [td]  [/td] [td]  [/td] [td]  [/td] [/tr][tr][td]9[/td] [td]2[/td] [td]14[/td] [td] Adrian Sutil (GER) [/td] [td]Force India VJM04[/td] [td]Mercedes FO108X[/td] [td]Pirelli[/td] [td]59 [/td] [td]  [/td] [td]+1 lap [/td] [td]9 [/td] [td]- [/td] [td]  [/td] [td]  [/td] [td]  [/td] [/tr][tr][td]10[/td] [td]1[/td] [td]17[/td] [td] Sergio Perez (MEX) [/td] [td]Sauber C30[/td] [td]Ferrari 056[/td] [td]Pirelli[/td] [td]59 [/td] [td]  [/td] [td]+1 lap [/td] [td]10 [/td] [td]- [/td] [td]  [/td] [td]  [/td] [td]  [/td][/tr][/table]

 

[eddiehouse5]

[h1]'I don't understand the penalty ' - Massa[/h1]

Felipe Massa cannot understand why he was penalised for his accident with Lewis Hamilton at the Indian Grand Prix and insists he does not hold a grudge against the McLaren driver.
The pair have collided six times this season, with tempers fraying at the Singapore Grand Prix following two incidents in one weekend. In India Hamilton found himself behind Massa after a grid penalty and a bad start and tried to make a move stick into turn five on lap 24. Massa saw Hamilton alongside him on the straight but turned across the McLaren's bows under braking and the pair made contact.

"My view is that I braked later that him, I was in front and I was on the grippy area as well," Massa told the media after the race. "Then I started to turn and I hit him on the left, so he was behind and he touched my rear wheel. To be honest, I don't understand why I have the penalty. It's really not understandable."


Fun race today. I like the track, but I guess with all the tracks that Tilke makes, he's bound to hit on a few of them.

 

[Sinner]

A pre-race moment of silence for Dan and Marco.

 

[eddiehouse5]

[h1][/h1]http://

 

[eddiehouse5]

[h1]Williams talks leave Barrichello in limbo[/h1]

Speculation is increasing over the future of veteran driver Rubens Barrichello after Williams shareholder Toto Wolff has confirmed that the team is negotiating with Kimi Raikkonen over a potential return to Formula One.

Rumours have been rife for a number of weeks that Raikkonen was keen on a move back to the sport having not raced since leaving Ferrari at the end of 2009. In that time he has tried his hand at rallying and NASCAR, but Williams appears to be the most likely destination for a return in 2012.

Team chairman Adam Parr refused to be drawn, stating: ''Our race drivers are Pastor Maldonado and Rubens Barrichello and if, and when, that changes we will make an appropriate announcement."

However, he admitted in India that Raikkonen would be a good fit for the team as it looks to rebuild after a poor season, and Wolff has now said that talks are ongoing with the 2007 world champion, as well as Ferrari reserve driver Jules Bianchi.

I've missed Kimi, sad to see Rubens career coming to an end.

 

[eddiehouse5]

Button leads FP1, Hamilton leads FP2.

And for some reason Mark Webber is expecting equal treatment next season.

 

[Sinner]

I think the more interesting thing is that ALO and VET both crashed at the same spot. Ferrari looked a bit all-over-the-place, but they'll sort it out... they always go.

 

[eddiehouse5]

Yeah, the commentators were saying how it could become sort a Wall of Champions for Abu Dhabi.

[h3]Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2011[/h3] Qualifying [table][tr][td]
[/td] [td]Driver[/td] [td]Teams[/td] [td]Time[/td] [/tr][tr][td]1[/td] [td] S Vettel (GER) [/td] [td]Red Bull[/td] [td]1'38.481[/td] [/tr][tr][td]2[/td] [td] LC Hamilton (GBR) [/td] [td]McLaren[/td] [td]1'38.622[/td] [/tr][tr][td]3[/td] [td] J Button (GBR) [/td] [td]McLaren[/td] [td]1'38.631[/td] [/tr][tr][td]4[/td] [td] M Webber (AUS) [/td] [td]Red Bull[/td] [td]1'38.858[/td] [/tr][tr][td]5[/td] [td] F Alonso (ESP) [/td] [td]Ferrari[/td] [td]1'39.058[/td] [/tr][tr][td]6[/td] [td] F Massa (BRA) [/td] [td]Ferrari[/td] [td]1'39.695[/td] [/tr][tr][td]7[/td] [td] N Rosberg (GER) [/td] [td]Mercedes-Benz[/td] [td]1'39.773[/td] [/tr][tr][td]8[/td] [td] M Schumacher (GER) [/td] [td]Mercedes-Benz[/td] [td]1'40.662[/td] [/tr][tr][td]9[/td] [td] A Sutil (GER) [/td] [td]Force India[/td] [td]1'40.768[/td] [/tr][tr][td]10[/td] [td] P di Resta (GBR) [/td] [td]Force India[/td] [td]1'40.414[/td][/tr][/table]
Sweet overalls by McLaren. 14th (!!!) pole for Vettel.

 

[Sinner]

So close for Lewis... but damn that Vettel.  Too good.
Stunning.

Movember... 

 

[eddiehouse5]

HAM THE REDEEMER

[h3]Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2011[/h3] [table][tr][td]
[/td] [td]Drivers[/td] [td]Teams[/td] [td]Points[/td] [/tr][tr][td]1[/td] [td] LC Hamilton (GBR) [/td] [td]McLaren[/td] [td]25 [/td] [/tr][tr][td]2[/td] [td] F Alonso (ESP) [/td] [td]Ferrari[/td] [td]18 [/td] [/tr][tr][td]3[/td] [td] J Button (GBR) [/td] [td]McLaren[/td] [td]15 [/td] [/tr][tr][td]4[/td] [td] M Webber (AUS) [/td] [td]Red Bull[/td] [td]12 [/td] [/tr][tr][td]5[/td] [td] F Massa (BRA) [/td] [td]Ferrari[/td] [td]10 [/td] [/tr][tr][td]6[/td] [td] N Rosberg (GER) [/td] [td]Mercedes-Benz[/td] [td]8 [/td] [/tr][tr][td]7[/td] [td] M Schumacher (GER) [/td] [td]Mercedes-Benz[/td] [td]6 [/td] [/tr][tr][td]8[/td] [td] A Sutil (GER) [/td] [td]Force India[/td] [td]4 [/td] [/tr][tr][td]9[/td] [td] P di Resta (GBR) [/td] [td]Force India[/td] [td]2 [/td] [/tr][tr][td]10[/td] [td] K Kobayashi (JPN) [/td] [td]Sauber[/td] [td]1 [/td][/tr][/table]
A stunning drive from from the 2008 WDC, he made Vettel wilt under the pressure. I tell you what, Lewis flattened that tire just by looking at it. But seriously, this felt like old times, McLaren vs. Ferrari. Fun times. Strong showing for the final three point placers.