[Novo]

Have a feeling Vettel ain't going to win this time.. I'll watch the practise that come back with my prediction

[Iceman]

You gonna watch it andy? I wasnt going to but if theres someone elese up watching I might...

yeah I think Merc will dominate the practice then Vettel will get pole on saturday and Hamilton win on sunday (hopefully)

[Novo]

Does it start at 3?

[Iceman]

Yeah but i doubt any cars will come out until 3.30 its from 3-4.30

[Iceman]

Lewis Hamilton has given his strongest indication that his future may lie away from McLaren if they cannot provide him with a car capable of carrying him to another world title.

Hamilton's comments come after McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh's admission he is eager to sign him for a further three years beyond his current deal, which expires at the end of next season.

But, speaking ahead of Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, the 2008 champion insisted he will only think about committing his future to the team with which he has spent his entire career if they can provide him with a machine which can deliver further glory.

Asked whether he could envisage seeing out the rest of his days in Formula One at McLaren, Hamilton replied: 'I don't really envisage anything except winning world championships. I have only got a short period in Formula One. I am fortunate enough to be in a top team where I am comfortable but I want to win championships.'

McLaren's last constructors' championship came in 1998. Asked if loyalty has limits, Hamilton replied: 'It definitely does. I have always enjoyed racing here and would like to continue but you also, at the end of the year, have to assess what position you are in and what happened.'
Leading the way: Vettel is on course to win a second world title after cruising to victory in Melbourne and Sepang

While Hamilton is keeping his options open, team-mate Jenson Button would be pleased to see out his career with McLaren, even if he was none the wiser about Whitmarsh's assertion that he too could be offered a three-year extension to his deal, which also expires after the 2012 season.

Button said: 'It is lovely to hear but he hasn't spoken to me about that! At the moment I cannot see myself racing for another team.'

Should either driver be tempted by a move to Red Bull, however, Mark Webber was keen to point out he has no intention of giving up his seat with the all-conquering team.
Making his Mark: Webber didn't take kindly to being referred to as a backup driver at Red Bull

Angered by a question over whether his part in the relationship with team-mate Sebastian Vettel was akin to that played by Eddie Irvine to Michael Schumacher when the duo were at Ferrari, Webber snapped: 'Absolutely ********** ludicrous question mate!

'I have been around long enough to understand that I have had some very good seasons in the last few years and people always make the natural comparison between team-mates.'

[Iceman]

Vettel was fastest in Both practices

[Iceman]

Qualies at 7

[James]

No Eddie Jordan at this one.

[James]

Webber out in Qualifying 1. 18th on grid.

[Novo]

1
Germany
S Vettel Red Bull
2
Great Britain
J Button McLaren
3
Great Britain
L Hamilton McLaren
4
Germany
N Rosberg Mercedes
5
Spain
F Alonso Ferrari
6
Brazil
F Massa Ferrari
7
Spain
J Alguersuari Toro Rosso
8
Great Britain
P Di Resta Force India
9
Switzerland
S Buemi Toro Rosso
10
Russian Federation
V Petrov Renault
11
Germany
A Sutil Force India
12
Mexico
S Perez Sauber
13
Japan
K Kobayashi Sauber
14
Germany
M Schumacher Mercedes
15
Brazil
R Barrichello Williams
16
Germany
N Heidfeld Renault
17
Venezuela
P Maldonado Williams
18
Australia
M Webber Red Bull
19
Finland
H Kovalainen Lotus
20
Italy
J Trulli Lotus
21
Belgium
J d'Ambrosio Virgin
22
Germany
T Glock Virgin
23
Italy
V Liuzzi Hispania
24
India
N Karthikeyan Hispania

[James]

Button tried to transfer himself to Red Bull at the pit-stop. :s Don't get how Rosberg has found himself in the lead. :s

[James]

Where did Webber come from? Hamilton wins. Loving the new all-action F1.

[Iceman]

Absolutely fantastic race, Webber has drive of the past 3-4 years for me....

[James]

The tyres are leading to great races. Just goes to show the answer for good racing is taking the grip off the cars.

Thought Hamilton was driver-of-the-day. Best pass was the one on Button. Webber done well but he had a big advantage with better tyres at the end.

[Iceman]

Yeah the tyres have made thsi season interesting....gonna be nie to see how they cope in the euro season.....

Also loved schumi messing up Alonso's day, he put in a great effort....

[James]

BTCC is on today on ITV4. Just was reminded there.

[Iceman]

Yeah i think PinkmichK could be at that race today, she's big into BTCC

[Iceman]

Fri 06 May 2011
Practice 1 08:00 - 09:30
Practice 2 12:00 - 13:30
Sat 07 May 2011
Practice 3 09:00 - 10:00
Qualifying 12:00
Sun 08 May 2011
Race 13:00

normal timed race!!!!!

Also Pirelli have said the whole side of the tyre will be coloured now....

[Iceman]

Formula One racing’s governing body, the FIA, has given Bahrain Grand Prix officials more time to decide whether the event can be staged this year. In February race organisers withdrew from holding the inaugural round of the 2011 championship following unrest in the country.

“The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, has granted the Bahrain Motor Federation and the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) an extension until June 3rd, date of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Barcelona,” said a statement released late on Monday.

“This decision was taken after consultation with the relevant Bahraini authorities and Formula One Management, the international promoter.”

The FIA originally requested a decision by Sunday (May 1) and over the weekend the BIC said it was keen to see Formula One return to the venue in the “very near future,” though it refrained from specifying when this was likely to be.

"We gratefully acknowledge the understanding of Formula One Management and the FIA in what have been difficult times," said BIC Chairman Zayed Rashid Alzayani. "We also thank the continued support of the international motorsport community and Formula One fans around the world.

"Clearly our national priority is to find a resolution to the difficulties that the Kingdom of Bahrain has experienced. The national situation has moved on in a positive manner, the situation is evolving all the time; our day-to-day life is gradually improving under the current State of National Safety.

"Bahrain's Grand Prix is a time of celebration and hosting the race is a source of great pride for Bahrain and Bahrainis. It is a showcase to the world and we look forward to welcoming the teams and drivers and everyone involved in Formula One back to Bahrain in the very near future."

[Iceman]

Formula 1 owners, CVC Capital Partners Ltd., have confirmed that the Italian company, EXOR, has contacted them for a possible buyout of Formula 1. The official statement from CVC Ltd. confirms that the talks were rather friendly and that Formula 1 is not for sale.

The current owner’s of Formula 1 publicised a statement which reads as, “CVC can confirm that it has recently received an approach from the EXOR News Corporation consortium. James Murdoch has informed us that the approach is friendly, at a very preliminary stage.” It further said that the Formula 1 is CVC’s property and is currently not for sale.

“CVC recognises the quality of EXOR and News Corporation as potential investors, but any investment in Formula 1 will require CVC's agreement and will need to demonstrate that it is in the interest of the sport and its stakeholders, taken as a whole,” concluded the statement.

Italian based company EXOR, run by John Elkann, and a media group stated that they are interested in the Formula 1 buyout and an attempt by Formula 1 supremo, Bernie Ecclestone, to deny the buyout news was a deluded effort.

EXOR’s interest is directly linked to the fact that the company owner, Elkann, is also the CEO of the FIAT Company. FIAT being the mother company of Ferrari Motorsports. Along with that, the Agnelli family has shares in EXOR and in FIAT.

Previously, Bernie denied the buyout reports and said that the company and the news corporation are just trying to make money out of the whole media conspiracy. The news about the Formula 1 buyout is almost three weeks old and started as a rumour. James Murdoch stated that his company is looking into Formula 1 buyout. After almost three weeks the rumours are converted into a proper proposal by both James and CVC.

The season continues in Turkey on the 8th of May and the off-track talks about Formula 1 future will continue long into the season. Most people do not expect Formula 1 to change hands too soon..

Source

[Iceman]

Mercedes been super strong this weekend all paddock talk it about them making a huge step forwards

[Iceman]

Good race, but DRS is making things (especially the start very boring)

[James]

Alonso was saying that it was the tyres rather than DRS that was making overtaking easier.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/form...e/13334558.stm

[Iceman]

I just think the best part of the race is compromised now

(that being the start)

[James]

Do you mean the drivers don't try and overtake at the start because they know now they can get passed later? Commentators said that yesterday.