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Stickied :D
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* On the eve of the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Nico Hülkenberg's manager, Willi Weber, confirmed that the rookie would be leaving Williams at the end of the 2010 season. Weber claimed Hülkenberg would remain on the grid for 2011, though he did not comment on which team he would be driving for.
OH |
* Sergio Pérez, who finished runner-up in the 2010 GP2 Series driving for Barwa Addax, was signed by Sauber to partner Kamui Kobayashi.
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your the knobhead! *runs away and hides* |
THE Formula One year may be over on the track - but now we're heading flat out towards the awards season.
It's when drivers and teams pick up salutes and silverware at a host of glittering ceremonies. Naturally, SunSport is in pole position as the first to hand out such well-deserved gongs. So here are my F1 Awards for 2010 . . . with tongue planted firmly in cheek. CRAZIEST DRIVER OF THE YEAR: Sebastian Vettel Yes, yes, I know he's the new world champion. But he could have wrapped up the title so much earlier were it not for his moments of madness. His potty tangle with team-mate Mark Webber in Turkey was as nothing compared to his kamikaze assault on Jenson Button at Spa. That was the moment Jenson knew his hopes of retaining the world championship went up in smoke. Or should that be steam? BEST ALTERNATIVE CAREER AWARD: Heikki Kovalainen The Finn proved he could easily hack it as a fireman by coolly dousing the inferno that was once his Lotus in Singapore. It was a shame in a way. I thought those bright orange flames looked particularly lovely against the night sky. HISSY-FIT OF THE YEAR (presented by Louis Walsh): Lewis Hamilton in Singapore That's where Lewis hurled 50 grand's-worth of steering wheel out of the cockpit after his clash with Mark Webber wrecked his McLaren - and his title hopes. Some would say it showed Lewis's true emotions, normally carefully concealed in corporate wrapping paper. I'll drink to that. Sparkling water, though, of course. FUNNIEST MOMENT OF THE YEAR (presented by Dick Dastardly): Sebastien Buemi in Shanghai The Swiss ace might not agree with this one, but who couldn't help but collapse on the floor with laughter when BOTH front wheels of his Toro Rosso sheared clean off as he hit the brakes in Shanghai. A moment straight out of Wacky Races. TONGUE-TWISTER OF THE YEAR: Choose any one of 100 from BBC TV pundit Eddie Jordan. Every time he opened his mouth he threatened to disappear up his own backside with his incoherent mumblings, leaving co-host David Coulthard permanently bemused. But when his thoughts finally emerged from the fog, Fast Eddie spoke a lot of sense, particularly on behalf of the ordinary F1 fan. NOT LIVING UP TO A GREAT NAME AWARD: Bruno Senna OK, it's hard being related to a legend but more often than not, Bruno was outpaced by a multitude of team-mates at tail-enders HRT. Just goes to show a famous name can't guarantee success. Ask Nelson Piquet Junior, Nicolas Prost and Leo Mansell. MOST PICTURESQUE CIRCUIT: Any track where Jenson's Button's girlfriend Jessica Michibata turned up. He may have lost his F1 crown, but who cares when you've got Jessy to go home to? RED BULL AERIAL DISPLAY AWARD: Mark Webber at Valencia Webber briefly joined the Red Bull Air Race by launching himself into the sky off the back of Heikki Kovalainen's Lotus. After coming in to land, he rammed the tyre barrier at enormous speed, yet walked away unharmed. A huge testament to the strength of modern F1 cars. SNATCHING DEFEAT FROM THE JAWS OF VICTORY AWARD: Ferrari A no-brainer, given their disastrous strategy that cost Fernando Alonso the title in Abu Dhabi. And you can just as easily argue the Italian squad scored a massive own goal in Germany by letting Alonso pass team-mate Felipe Massa, who would have raised the roof by winning a year on from his near-fatal accident. Massa never really recovered from that crude fix and couldn't really be blamed for not being Alonso's greatest wingman towards the end of the season. DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE YEAR: No, not Michael Schumacher, though he is a valiant runner-up. The award is shared between the three new teams - Lotus, Virgin and HRT. OK, so it's incredibly tough to break into F1. But none of the three showed even flashes of promise. And it became more tedious than Big Brother to see them trailing around at the back race after race. Improvements next year, please. BEST DIVE OF THE YEAR (presented by Didier Drogba): Mark Webber Webber's perfectly executed back flip into the pool after winning at Monaco. Degree of difficulty 5.8. Tom Daly would have been proud of that one. MOST SARCASTIC COMMENT OF THE YEAR (presented by Jack Dee): Mark Webber The Aussie sailed majestically to victory at Silverstone after team-mate Vettel was given a new front wing by Red Bull, and he wasn't. As he crossed the line, he told his bosses on the radio: "Not bad for a No2 driver." Ouch! GREATEST ESCAPE OF THE YEAR: Michael Schumacher Some would say Schuey lost his head when he decided to return to F1. But he nearly lost it for real when Tonio Liuzzi's Force India vaulted on to the cockpit of the ex-champ's spun Mercedes in Abu Dhabi. A few centimetres to the left and... And finally, one deadly serious gong... MOST DESERVING WORLD CHAMPION: Sebastian Vettel He and his Red Bull were the fastest combination out there from the first lap in Bahrain to the last in Abu Dhabi. The 23-year-old German - who finally revealed his youth by blubbing like a baby when he sealed the title - made it hard for himself and should have put it to bed earlier. But in my book it would have been a travesty if anyone else had been crowned champ. Oh, and he's a super smiley guy who will be a terrific ambassador for F1. |
THE Formula One year may be over on the track - but now we're heading flat out towards the awards season.
It's when drivers and teams pick up salutes and silverware at a host of glittering ceremonies. Naturally, SunSport is in pole position as the first to hand out such well-deserved gongs. So here are my F1 Awards for 2010 . . . with tongue planted firmly in cheek. CRAZIEST DRIVER OF THE YEAR: Sebastian Vettel Yes, yes, I know he's the new world champion. But he could have wrapped up the title so much earlier were it not for his moments of madness. His potty tangle with team-mate Mark Webber in Turkey was as nothing compared to his kamikaze assault on Jenson Button at Spa. That was the moment Jenson knew his hopes of retaining the world championship went up in smoke. Or should that be steam? BEST ALTERNATIVE CAREER AWARD: Heikki Kovalainen The Finn proved he could easily hack it as a fireman by coolly dousing the inferno that was once his Lotus in Singapore. It was a shame in a way. I thought those bright orange flames looked particularly lovely against the night sky. HISSY-FIT OF THE YEAR (presented by Louis Walsh): Lewis Hamilton in Singapore That's where Lewis hurled 50 grand's-worth of steering wheel out of the cockpit after his clash with Mark Webber wrecked his McLaren - and his title hopes. Some would say it showed Lewis's true emotions, normally carefully concealed in corporate wrapping paper. I'll drink to that. Sparkling water, though, of course. FUNNIEST MOMENT OF THE YEAR (presented by Dick Dastardly): Sebastien Buemi in Shanghai The Swiss ace might not agree with this one, but who couldn't help but collapse on the floor with laughter when BOTH front wheels of his Toro Rosso sheared clean off as he hit the brakes in Shanghai. A moment straight out of Wacky Races. TONGUE-TWISTER OF THE YEAR: Choose any one of 100 from BBC TV pundit Eddie Jordan. Every time he opened his mouth he threatened to disappear up his own backside with his incoherent mumblings, leaving co-host David Coulthard permanently bemused. But when his thoughts finally emerged from the fog, Fast Eddie spoke a lot of sense, particularly on behalf of the ordinary F1 fan. NOT LIVING UP TO A GREAT NAME AWARD: Bruno Senna OK, it's hard being related to a legend but more often than not, Bruno was outpaced by a multitude of team-mates at tail-enders HRT. Just goes to show a famous name can't guarantee success. Ask Nelson Piquet Junior, Nicolas Prost and Leo Mansell. MOST PICTURESQUE CIRCUIT: Any track where Jenson's Button's girlfriend Jessica Michibata turned up. He may have lost his F1 crown, but who cares when you've got Jessy to go home to? RED BULL AERIAL DISPLAY AWARD: Mark Webber at Valencia Webber briefly joined the Red Bull Air Race by launching himself into the sky off the back of Heikki Kovalainen's Lotus. After coming in to land, he rammed the tyre barrier at enormous speed, yet walked away unharmed. A huge testament to the strength of modern F1 cars. SNATCHING DEFEAT FROM THE JAWS OF VICTORY AWARD: Ferrari A no-brainer, given their disastrous strategy that cost Fernando Alonso the title in Abu Dhabi. And you can just as easily argue the Italian squad scored a massive own goal in Germany by letting Alonso pass team-mate Felipe Massa, who would have raised the roof by winning a year on from his near-fatal accident. Massa never really recovered from that crude fix and couldn't really be blamed for not being Alonso's greatest wingman towards the end of the season. DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE YEAR: No, not Michael Schumacher, though he is a valiant runner-up. The award is shared between the three new teams - Lotus, Virgin and HRT. OK, so it's incredibly tough to break into F1. But none of the three showed even flashes of promise. And it became more tedious than Big Brother to see them trailing around at the back race after race. Improvements next year, please. BEST DIVE OF THE YEAR (presented by Didier Drogba): Mark Webber Webber's perfectly executed back flip into the pool after winning at Monaco. Degree of difficulty 5.8. Tom Daly would have been proud of that one. MOST SARCASTIC COMMENT OF THE YEAR (presented by Jack Dee): Mark Webber The Aussie sailed majestically to victory at Silverstone after team-mate Vettel was given a new front wing by Red Bull, and he wasn't. As he crossed the line, he told his bosses on the radio: "Not bad for a No2 driver." Ouch! GREATEST ESCAPE OF THE YEAR: Michael Schumacher Some would say Schuey lost his head when he decided to return to F1. But he nearly lost it for real when Tonio Liuzzi's Force India vaulted on to the cockpit of the ex-champ's spun Mercedes in Abu Dhabi. A few centimetres to the left and... And finally, one deadly serious gong... MOST DESERVING WORLD CHAMPION: Sebastian Vettel He and his Red Bull were the fastest combination out there from the first lap in Bahrain to the last in Abu Dhabi. The 23-year-old German - who finally revealed his youth by blubbing like a baby when he sealed the title - made it hard for himself and should have put it to bed earlier. But in my book it would have been a travesty if anyone else had been crowned champ. Oh, and he's a super smiley guy who will be a terrific ambassador for F1. |
First Pirelli tyre picture. :D Not long to go now ;) |
Vitaly Petrov's manager is confident the Russian will be able to sign a new contract for the 2011 Formula One season within weeks.
Amid the 26 year old's mixed rookie season, Renault has openly mused the possibility of a change of team-mate for the highly rated Robert Kubica for next year. But the well financed Petrov had a more solid finish to the recently concluded 2010 campaign, and reports suggested the Kremlin might add to his coffers now that Russia is embarking on a Formula 1 circuit project. "Since (Russian President) Vladimir Putin became a Formula One fan, Petrov has even more support in his pocket," Nick Heidfeld, a potential suitor for the second Renault cockpit, told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. Petrov's manager Oksana Kosachenko on Thursday acknowledged the likelihood of a new deal. "I am still working in this direction, but so far nothing definite can be said," she told the Moscow published Sovetsky Sport newspaper. "Most likely, we'll sign a contract in the second week of December," added Kosachenko, revealing she is aiming for a new two year deal. She said Petrov will not be testing Pirelli's 2011 development tyres in Abu Dhabi on Friday and Saturday. "Vitaly is on vacation now and he'll spend the next two to three weeks outside Russia," said Kosachenko, who said she has a backup plan to prolong Petrov's Formula 1 career in the event he leaves Renault. |
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awww bye bye bridgestone i love silly season heard today apparently both force india seats are up for grabs next year which doesnt make sense where sutil concerned also apparently massa is rumoured to be heading to renault with bobby k i think mclaren is the only 1 that'll be guranteed i still think webber will jump ship |
Merc will be the same, schumi is going nowhere neither is Nico!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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i wasnt sure bout nico knew schumi would be same has nico been confirmed?
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Confirmed So Far:
Ferrari - Alonso & Massa Mercedes - Schumacher & Rosberg McLaren - Button & Hamilton Red Bull - Vettel & Webber Sauber - Kobatashi & Pérez Toro Rosso - Alguesairi & Buemi Renault - Kubica & ???? Virgin - Glock & ???? Williams - Barichello & ???? Lotus - ???? & ???? HRT ???? & ???? Force India ???? & ???? |
quite suprised by buemi too
there was a rumour while back lotus were dropping heikki cos they were selling his hats off cheap but not the same for trulli |
It's weird cause theres only 9 seats left to fill and we arent even a week out of the 2010 season.
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Following the final race of the 2010 season, FIA President Jean Todt revealed his stance on the use of team orders, promising regulation of the practice rather than allowing them outright. Todt discolsed that while team orders would not be banned, any team using coded instructions - for example, the FIA alleged that a message sent to Felipe Massa stating that "Fernando is faster than you" was a secret message instructing Massa to yield position to Alonso in Germany - would be prosecuted as such messages would be used to deceive spectators and would require teams and drivers to lie to stewards in order to substantiate the claims made in the message.
Woop |
Unofficial Friday times from Abu Dhabi Pirelli Test 1:
1. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:40.170, 94 laps 2. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 1:40.500, 78 laps 3. Gary Paffett, McLaren, 1:40.874, 94 4. Kamui Kobayashi, BMW Sauber, 1:40.950, 83 5. Robert Kubica, Renault, 1:41.032, 39 6. Rubens Barrichello, Williams, 1:41.425, 91 7. Paul di Resta, Force India, 1:41.615, 21 8. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes GP, 1:41.778, 81 9. Jaime Alguersuari, Toro Rosso, 1:42.019, 71 10. Adrian Sutil, Force India, 1:42.859, 20 11. Timo Glock, Virgin, 1:44.124, 78 12. Heikki Kovalainen, Lotus, 1:44.686, 88 13. Pastor Maldonado, HRT, 1:45.728, 83 |
Unofficial Saturday times from Abu Dhabi Pirelli Test 2:
1. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1:40.529, 105 laps 2. Michael Schumacher, Mercedes GP, 1:40.685, 74 3. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 1:40.825, 66 4. Rubens Barrichello, Williams, 1:41.294, 100 5. Robert Kubica, Renault, 1:41.614, 90 6. Gary Paffett, McLaren, 1:41.622, 46 7. Oliver Turvey, McLaren, 1:41.740, 30 8. Paul di Resta, Force India, 1:41.869, 35 9. Kamui Kobayashi, BMW Sauber, 1:42.110, 43 10. Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso, 1:42.145, 98 11. Vitantonio Liuzzi, Force India, 1:42.416, 46 12. Sergio Perez, BMW Sauber, 1:42.777, 46 13. Jarno Trulli, Lotus, 1:44.521, 83 14. Pastor Maldonado, HRT, 1:44.768, 65 15. Timo Glock, Virgin, 1:44.783, 82 |
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Jarno Trulli has hinted he will remain a Lotus Racing driver next season despite a troubled campaign this year.
The Norfolk-based team have yet to announce their drivers for 2011, but the Italian has revealed he has been working on next season's car. "I'll go to the factory in a few days to get ready and prepare the 2011 season chassis, cockpit and seat," the 36-year-old told BBC Radio Norfolk. "Then I will probably have a break with my family, just relaxing." Lotus established themselves as the strongest of F1's new teams in 2010, finishing 10th in the constructors' championship. But Trulli was hindered more by technical issues than his team-mate Heikki Kovalainen, with the pair ending up 21st and 20th respectively in the drivers' standings. His best result came in Japan where he qualified in 19th and crossed the line 13th, but a 19th-placed finish in Brazil stands out in an otherwise disappointing season. You've got to have the motivation in order to push harder, no matter where you are at the end of a lap. Some performances have been pretty bad compared to what I was used to Lotus driver Jarno Trulli "It's really hard to find a highlight for me, but Brazil was a great weekend, nearly a smooth weekend for me," he said "I qualified well, unfortunately during the race I had another failure, but my pace was unbelievably quick. "At the end of the season I found something in the setup and car characteristic which gave me a good step in terms of performance. "In the end I was happy with it even though it was a tough season." Trulli has competed in 14 F1 seasons for six different teams, securing his only Grand Prix victory at Monaco with Renault in 2004. After agreeing to join Tony Fernandes' Lotus team in January the prospect of fighting for position at the back of the grid and aiming for a top 20 finish could have come as a culture shock to the veteran. "You've got to have the motivation in order to push harder, no matter where you are at the end of a lap," he added. "Some performances have been pretty bad compared to what I was used to. "But nevertheless I have always tried to get the best out of myself and the car, I've still enjoyed a lot of good fights." so thats what 7 seats left? |
Ferrari - Alonso & Massa
Mercedes - Schumacher & Rosberg McLaren - Button & Hamilton Red Bull - Vettel & Webber Sauber - Kobatashi & Pérez Toro Rosso - Alguesairi & Buemi Lotus - Heikki & Trulli Renault - Kubica & ???? Virgin - Glock & ???? Williams - Barichello & ???? HRT ???? & ???? Force India ???? & ???? |
if ferrari have any sense they will try to get either rosberg or kubica to be alonso partner for next season
and red bull should get whoever ferrari dont get to partner vettel |
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The sound of champagne corks popping may still be ringing in the ears after Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel’s title celebrations, but Formula One racing waits for no man. And if one was needed, the recent Pirelli tyre test served as a stark reminder of that. The switch from Bridgestone rubber is just one of a number of technical changes for next season, and as we await the publication of the full 2011 regulations, we take a look at the revisions the teams are expecting…
Farewell to F-ducts and double diffusers Two of the most overused technical watchwords of the past two seasons will be made redundant next year, as both double diffusers and F-ducts are banned. Indeed any system, device or procedure which uses driver movement as a means of altering the aerodynamic characteristics of the car is prohibited from 2011. The return of Pirelli Following Bridgestone’s decision to withdraw at the end of this season after 13 years, the Italian company will take over as the sport’s sole tyre supplier from 2011. The Italian company, last part of F1 in 1991, will provide all teams with rubber for the next three years, in compliance with existing F1 sporting and technical regulations. Last week’s two-day test at Abu Dhabi gave the teams a good gauge as to how similar/different Pirelli’s rubber is from Bridgestone’s, though ongoing development means the compounds they run in Bahrain next March are likely to be quite different. The handling characteristics of the new tyres could be quite different, and the teams and drivers who adapt best will be looking to benefit. One constant across teams, however, will be front-rear weight distribution, which is expected to be regulated to 46.5% front, 53.5% rear. Adjustable rear wings Under new moveable bodywork regulations for next season, drivers will be able to adjust the rear wing from the cockpit, with the current moveable front wing due to be dropped. The system’s availability is expected to be electronically governed and under initial proposals it would only be activated when a driver is less than one second behind another at pre-determined points on the track. The system would then be deactivated once the driver brakes. It would be available at all times throughout practice and qualifying and, in combination with KERS (below), should boost overtaking. Also like KERS, it won’t be compulsory. A comeback for KERS A badge of honour for some, a bugbear for others on its debut in 2009, KERS is to be reintroduced next season after the teams mutually agreed to suspend its use in 2010. KERS - or Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems - take the waste energy generated under braking and turn it into additional power. This is then made available to the driver in fixed quantities per lap via a steering wheel-mounted ‘boost button’. The systems will be essentially the same as those seen in ’09, with no increase in the maximum permitted power (though that could change in subsequent seasons). The challenge for the engineers this time round will be packaging. Last time KERS was run, refuelling was legal. Now, with it banned, fuel tanks are larger and finding room to accommodate battery packs etc won’t be as easy. Hence don’t be surprised if bodywork grows in places, relative to 2010. On the plus side, minimum car weight will be upped by 20kg to 640kg next season, meaning larger drivers won’t pay the weight-distribution penalty they once did in a KERS-equipped car. |
Williams have announced that 2010 GP2 champion Pastor Maldonado will contest the 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship for the team. The appointment finalises Williams’ line-up for next season following last month’s confirmation that Rubens Barrichello will remain with the British squad for a further season.
“I feel very privileged that Williams has selected me as one of their race drivers,” said Venezuelan-born Maldonado. “It is a great way to end what has already been an amazing year for me. I tested with the team in Abu Dhabi, but can’t wait to start working with everyone properly to be in the best possible shape going into next year.” Maldonado, now 25, started his motorsport career in karts at the age of seven, his passion for the sport ignited by a father and uncles who all competed. Having won seven national karting titles, he moved into Formula racing in 2003. With three series championships and 30 wins to his credit, including victory at Monaco in his debut year in GP2 in 2007, he brings a wealth of single-seater experience to Williams. “I will be doing my best over the winter to prepare myself, and I know the team will be working hard to ensure a successful season,” he continued. “2011 will be the first time in nearly 30 years that a Venezuelan has driven a Formula One car so I will be looking to get some good results in return for the support my country has given me to help get me to this position today.” Maldonado’s promotion to Formula One follows an impressive 2010 GP2 campaign in which he was crowned champion and became the only driver to win six successive feature races in a single season. He also comes to Williams with nearly 2,000 kilometres of F1 testing mileage in hand, having driven all four of the recent Abu Dhabi test days. “Pastor first caught my eye in 2007 when he drove a masterful race at Monaco,” commented Williams team principal Frank Williams. “Since then, he has regularly reminded us of his unquestionable talent with some skilful wins, particularly during this year’s GP2 championship. “Of course, we already know Pastor from the time he spent with the team at the Abu Dhabi test, but we are very much looking forward to developing his talent over the winter and a fruitful season with him next year.” Maldonado will make his debut in Williams’ 2011 race car, the Williams Cosworth FW33, in next February’s winter test programme. |
Confirmed So Far:
Ferrari - Alonso & Massa Mercedes - Schumacher & Rosberg McLaren - Button & Hamilton Red Bull - Vettel & Webber Sauber - Kobatashi & Pérez Toro Rosso - Alguesairi & Buemi Renault - Kubica & ???? Virgin - Glock & ???? Williams - Barichello & Maldonado (GP2 Champion) Lotus - ???? & ???? HRT ???? & ???? Force India ???? & ???? |
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