F1 - Formula 1 World Championship

Jaime Alguersuari says he rejected a 2012 drive thinking his Toro Rosso seat was safe
Monday, February 6th 2012, 16:16 GMT


http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97359

Very sad... Very low level of integrity from the responsible persons...

Australian GP


I think Alonso's chances of another WDC are small. (Also Raikkonen)

What's the problem with Ferrari????

Grosjean did well in qualifying.

Petrov is the same as usual.

I'd like to see Hamilton have a good year.

Is this the year that Schumi outshines Rosberg?

Good reading Cassee!

Schumacher always represents a threat...

Does anyone know the best place to sit at the Italian GP?

Good JV article

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-2155580/Jacques-Villeneuve-slams-standards-Formula-One-calling-todays-drivers-babies.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

I don't think abf1 will like this article.

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-jacques-villeneuve-predicts-lotus-might-drop-kimi-raikkonen/


I'm thinking JV might have inside info from Lotus

Raikkonen is behind Grosjean in term of performance.
Raikkonen have problems with tires and the steering of the Lotus.

What Jacques said about the car is true.
This car, the Lotus, is amazing.
Last week, i was in the «hairpin» for the GP. The most impressive car was the Lotus. This race car was the fastest in this section. The E20 is very quick in corners, got a lot of grip and is really beautiful.
Maybe with a guy like Alonso, this Lotus could lead the championship.

Racing In The Rain - by Jacques Villeneuve

http://www.f1speedwriter.com/

2013 silly season

http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/news/24191/8058602/-Ferrari-could-turn-to-Schumacher-

Incredible! Thanks Cassee!

Michael Andretti believes Dennis and Bernie Ecclestone conspired to make him look bad.


http://www.gordonkirby.com/categories/columns/theway/2012/the_way_it_is_no361.html

Adds Michael: "We tested in Spain the day after the race that year and both me and Ayrton were within a tenth of a second of each other and were running times that would have put us on the front row. Ayrton had qualified third and I was about 20th. So I was saying, 'I'm not doing anything different. How can this be?' And they were saying, 'Oh, Ayrton doesn't test that fast.' And I said, 'But our times are quick enough today to be on the front row.'."

Michael swears that a key McLaren team member deactivated his car's active suspension system for qualifying that weekend.

"Someone shut my beacon off in qualifying," he insists disgustedly. "I know who it was--a guy who didn't want me there at all. He shut my beacon off and those were all active cars and my car was just lost. The ride heights were changing and it was downshifting in the middle of the corners and I qualified 16th or something. That night Ron said, 'I want you out of the car after the race.'

"I finished sixth in the race. I passed Barrichello on the last turn on the last lap to get in the points and Ron called and said, 'I want you out of the car.' We fought from race to race. That was the sixth race and I made it all the way to Monza fighting to stay in the car. And finally they put Mika (Hakkinen) in who never was quicker than me in testing."

Michael believes Dennis and Bernie Ecclestone conspired to make him look bad.



© Paul Webb "The international appeal of the CART series was strong in the mid-nineties and Bernie was worried about our series," Michael says. "I think I was used as a tool. I think Bernie and Ron were in it together. I think they wanted to discredit me because I was one of the big guys in Indy cars and they wanted to make me look like a wanker so they could say we couldn't make it in Formula One. That's what I believe happened.

"They were all in it together. They were all making millions, hundreds of millions of dollars. They were all in business together. Racing is secondary in Formula One. Nobody really cares about what's going on the racetrack. It's unbelievable!"

Good article Cassee, that should touch a few nerves as the F1 circus arrives in Texas for the USGP weekend. With Bernie anything is possible

anything...

In the middle of this article it is slipped in without any detail that the 2013 entry has been purchased....

". Although the licence to compete in 2013 has been bought, other assets are thin on the ground. "

http://en.espnf1.com/brazil/motorsport/story/96456.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

Hmmm... Thanks for pointing that out Brad. Interesting indeed...

As Forest Gump says... Life is like a box of chocolate...

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/05/15/3399000/drivers-worried-pirelli-tires.html#.UZQS3iA1oAU.twitter

Jacques Villeneuve said. "At this rate, F1 is going to become a pit-stop contest with a few race laps thrown in,"

Kimi Raikkonen to miss rest of 2013 F1 season for back surgery


http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111218

Williams announces its 2014 driver line-up: Massa and Bottas
The new line-up reflects Williams' determination to bring success back to the team.

Source: Motorsport.com
The Williams F1 Team is delighted to announce that Felipe Massa will join the team to drive alongside Valtteri Bottas for the 2014 FIA Formula One World Championship season. The new line-up reflects Williams' determination to bring success back to the team.
Having competed in 12 FIA Formula One World Championship seasons, Felipe is an experienced talent and proven race winner, with 11 race wins and 36 podiums to his credit during a hugely successful career. He has frequently challenged for the Drivers' Championship, missing out by the narrowest of margins in 2008 and has also contributed to Ferrari's Constructors' Championships in both 2007 and 2008.
After joining Williams as the team's Test Driver in 2010, Valtteri was promoted to a race seat in 2013 and has matured into an accomplished Formula One driver, impressing the team not least with his handling of the difficult conditions in Canada to put his Williams-Renault FW35 third on the grid.

The Williams F1 Team would like to take this opportunity to thank Pastor Maldonado for his efforts and contribution over the past three seasons, in particular delivering the team's Spanish Grand Prix victory last year. We wish him well for the future.
Sir Frank Williams, Founder and Team Principal: "We are delighted to be able to confirm our 2014 driver line-up and welcome Felipe into the Williams family. He is an exceptional talent and a real fighter on the race track; he also brings a wealth of experience as we begin a new chapter in our story. Valtteri is a valued member of the team and I'm pleased he was able to demonstrate his talent in tricky conditions in Montréal. There is much more to come from him."
Claire Williams, Deputy Team Principal: "It is very exciting for us to be able to confirm our 2014 driver line-up as part of a number of announcements we will be making over the coming weeks. Felipe has demonstrated his talent and speed over the years, as well as his ability to help motivate and drive a team to championship success, and we are extremely pleased that he will be joining us as we embark on our 2014 campaign. Valtteri is an exciting, young talent who has done a solid job for us in his rookie season and we are looking forward to giving him the equipment he deserves to show just how good he is.
"This announcement is a key step towards our goal of returning Williams to the front of the grid, and part of our on-going plans to ensure we are stronger in 2014 and beyond. The stability of having both our drivers on multi-year contracts, Mercedes-Benz as our engine partner and a strong commercial base all contribute to the future success of the Williams F1 Team."

Felipe Massa: "Williams is one of the most successful and important teams of all time in Formula One. When I was a kid, I always dreamed about racing for Williams, Ferrari or McLaren and I'm glad to be signing with another icon of the sport following my time at Ferrari. It is also nice to remember that some of the best Brazilian drivers raced for Williams and cemented a strong national link with the team. With such a major change of regulations in 2014, I hope my experience will be useful in helping the team in its effort to move on from a difficult period. Since my early days in motor racing, I don't remember seeing so many new rules in a single season and I'm fully prepared to work with everyone at Grove to make sure we find the right direction. I'm highly motivated to start working hard from the very beginning in what is an exciting new challenge in my career."

Valtteri Bottas: "I'm very happy to be staying with the team as I embark on my second season in Formula One. I have known everyone here for many years, firstly as a test driver and now as a race driver, so it feels like home. I have faith in Williams and I know we can do so much better in the future than our current performance shows. I am looking forward to having Felipe as my teammate. He is a quick and experienced driver and together we will be pushing to the maximum to improve the car and get as many points as we can next season. We will be working throughout the winter to ensure we are ready for the challenge of 2014. I would also like to thank everyone at Williams, especially Frank, Claire and the senior management for their on-going trust in me."
Williams F1 Team

McLaren decides that Magnussen will replace Perez in 2014 F1 season

Sourse: autosport.com

Kevin Magnussen, F1 testing 2013McLaren has taken the decision to replace Sergio Perez with Kevin Magnussen for the 2014 Formula 1 season.
Sources have confirmed to AUTOSPORT that the team has decided to promote the Formula Renault 3.5 champion, although a contract has not yet been signed.

Magnussen, a McLaren development driver, became the favourite for the seat in the days following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Speaking earlier on Monday, team principal Martin Whitmarsh had declined to comment on the prospect of Magnussen racing for McLaren next year.

"The fact is at the moment we haven't confirmed our driver line-up, we haven't signed contracts with drivers," he said.

Hots moves this week-end.
And today Lotus will announce about second driver for the end of the season.

abf1 wrote:Hots moves this week-end.
And today Lotus will announce about second driver for the end of the season.

Hulkenberg or Maldonado?
Maldonado brings a lot of money with his sponsor PDVSA and Lotus desperately need money.
So Maldonado with Lotus next year????