Formula One Season 2009!

[Zulu Romeo]

If anything, it's likely Raikkonen might fly first. He doesn't seem to have his heart in F1 in recent years. I hope Massa recovers too, but chances are it will be difficult. Still, if Mika Hakkinen could come back from his horrific Adelaide crash and a few years later become World Champion twice...

In other news, Lewis Hamilton is on pole for Valencia - the first of the year for him, again continuing the McLaren revival that began at the Nurburgring (Hamilton's puncture notwithstanding) and continued with his win in Hungary.

Good to see that Fernando Alonso and Renault have been cleared for this race.

 

[ITL]

But as I said, how will the team dynamic at Ferrari work should Alonso join them? Could he and Massa get along, or would we get a reprisal of Alonso's petulant McLaren behavior if he doesn't get his way?

And speaking of McLaren - I'm so glad they're back on form! And it looks like Brawn could have a good race - I just don't want Red Bull to do well. Jensen must win! He must be Champion!

And yes, it's good that Renault are there this week. It's only right and proper.

 

[Cky]

Wow, this thread made the second page!

Since the last post, Force India got on the podium and got their first pole position of all things at Spa, and are continuing to impress me! Adrian Sutil, who I've rated since last years Monaco GP is in second, while Liuzzi (who you may remember was in the Torro Rosso last season) is in seventh making his Force India debut.

For those who have missed this weeks GP news, Fisichella moved to Ferarri to take over from struggling Badoer, and unfortunately for him, he starts in fiftheenth position, while his former team managed to get both cars in the top 10. Still though, he's only had three pratice sessions and a qualifying session to get used to the Ferarri, so I'll put money on him getting in the points in the next race.

Brawn are finally back on form! Yay! Jenson Button and Rubens sit in sixth and fifth position with a very heavy fuel load, as long as they get past Hekki who sits in fourth (who is the only person ahead of them both who also has a heavy fuel load), they have a good chance of scoring a podium.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Don't forget the other big bit of news: the case of Piquet Family vs. Renault over allegations that sacked driver Nelson Jr. was told to crash at last year's Singapore Grand Prix in order to force a safety car and let Fernando Alonso win from an unlikely position - if true, it could be very serious for Renault's position in F1.

But yes, Force India eh? Impressing in qualifying in two traditionally prestigious circuits now, and certainly in the last GP was giving a lot of people a run for their money. Who would bet against a win for Sutil today? (Well, pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton certainly would, perhaps.)

 

[BRG]

Good news for next season, Lotus are back in Formula 1!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8256295.stm

The are backed by Malaysian money, and while the will start off based in Norfolk, there are plans to base the team in Malaysia in a few years. Sounds like a Malaysian national team being started using a great British name. The technical director will be Mike Gascoyne, who always produces a fast car, yet never seems to last more than a season in any job.

While I doubt we will ever see the the glory days of Colin Chapman & Jim Clark, it will still be great to see this great team return to the grid. As well as Clarks 2 WDC's, Graham Hill, Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi, and Mario Andretti all won titles in a Lotus. And as a boy, my hero was Ayrton Senna in the beautiful Black & Gold JPS Lotus-Renault.

And good news regarding BMW. Apparently the team have been sold to a Swiss company. While the have been put on 'first reserve' for a 2010 grid spot, the FIA are trying to get agreement for a 14 team championship next season.

2009 is great, but 2010 is looking even better!
BRG

 

[Iasius]

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/9/9940.html

The Renault Formula One team issued the following press release on Wednesday:

The ING Renault F1 Team will not dispute the recent allegations made by the FIA concerning the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

It also wishes to state that its managing director, Flavio Briatore and its executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds, have left the team.

Before attending the hearing before the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris on 21 September 2009, the team will not make any further comment.

 

[rahullak]

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/9/9940.html

The Renault Formula One team issued the following press release on Wednesday:

The ING Renault F1 Team will not dispute the recent allegations made by the FIA concerning the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

It also wishes to state that its managing director, Flavio Briatore and its executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds, have left the team.

Before attending the hearing before the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris on 21 September 2009, the team will not make any further comment.

A tacit admission of guilt? Did they really fix Singapore 08 so Alonso could win?

 

[Iasius]

A tacit admission of guilt? Did they really fix Singapore 08 so Alonso could win?

It certainly looks like it. The wording is pretty obvious in that regard, I think.

 

[rahullak]

F1 season 2009 is arguably the most drama-filled season to date since the inception of F1.

 

[BigFoot]

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/9/9940.html

The Renault Formula One team issued the following press release on Wednesday:

The ING Renault F1 Team will not dispute the recent allegations made by the FIA concerning the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

It also wishes to state that its managing director, Flavio Briatore and its executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds, have left the team.

Before attending the hearing before the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris on 21 September 2009, the team will not make any further comment.

Dude, I did not see that coming.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/9/9940.html

The Renault Formula One team issued the following press release on Wednesday:

The ING Renault F1 Team will not dispute the recent allegations made by the FIA concerning the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

It also wishes to state that its managing director, Flavio Briatore and its executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds, have left the team.

Before attending the hearing before the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris on 21 September 2009, the team will not make any further comment.

Dude, I did not see that coming.

I think there were many people saying NP jnr had made it up due to bad finishes. I'm glad it seems that the truth will out. But stupid, stupid Renault for messing with the Piquets. It's why I dislike F1 ~ they all think they are higher Gods (except Bernie ~ who just wishes he was higher).


K'eh ~ better, faster, and much more exciting on 2 wheels.
MotoGP rules!!

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Anyway...

So Lewis Hamilton gained his second victory of the season, but more importantly Jenson Button, despite a disastrous qualifying session, finishing ahead of Rubens Barrichello and now is 15 point clear of Barrichello after what can only be described as a disastrous Singapore Grand Prix for Red Bull. It all means of course that if Button scores 5 more points than Barrichello at this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix, he is World Champion.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8277277.stm


But now the driver line-up for 2010 seems much clearer as Ferrari FINALLY confirm what we've all known for, well, over 12 months now: Fernando Alonso will drive for Ferrari in 2010:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8280566.stm

It appears he will partner Felipe Massa, assuming he gets back up to full fitness following his ordeal this year, with Italian veteran Giancarlo Fisichella staying on as test driver it appears. Which means Kimi Raikkonen will be looking for a new team next year - the big rumour is that he will return to McLaren as Hamilton's team-mate, replacing Heikki Kovalainen.

Nico Rosberg has also been linked to partner Hamilton at McLaren, but also there are rumours of him joining Button at Brawn GP where he could swap with Barrichello. Robert Kubica, who has had a disappointing year at the departing BMW-Sauber, is rumoured to replace Alonso at the now Briatore-less (and also, now, ING-less) Renault. Mark Webber and Seb Vettel will stay at Red Bull, it seems.

With more teams due to start in 2010, including Lotus USF1, Campos and Manor GP, there may well be more places for existing and new drivers, but will all these teams even make it to Bahrain 2010?

 

[ITL]

AND BUTTON WINS THE CHAMPIONSHIP!

A fifth place finish was enough for him to become F1 champ with a race to spare - and he drove a good race from 14th on the grid! Kudos to Hamilton for a podium, too.

Mr Button - we salutes you. Two British F1 champs in succession. Me happy.

 

[BigFoot]

Yay for Button.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Nice one Jense!

A thrilling race, packed with incident, crashes, flames, pitlane blunders and quality passing - and a brilliant, brilliant champion's drive from Jenson Button. Also congrats to Mark Webber, winning a second victory this year flawlessly from the front, as well as some thrilling drives from Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel from the back to score points, and an interesting debut from Kamui Kobayashi in the Toyota.

And, as well as Driver's Champion, Button helps to clinch that point Brawn GP needed to clinch the Constructors Championship. Cheers to Ross Brawn and company!

 

[BRG]

Brilliant! Well done Jenson!

He is a worthy WDC, got the maximum point haul he could when his car was fastest early in the season, then just consistantly tallied up solid points finishes in every race bar one. If his quali performance had been better, he may have had a few more wins.

Well done to Brawn GP on an astonishing debut season. WCC & WDC in their first year is unbeliveable. Ross for a Knighthood surely?
Also great seasons by Barrichello & Vettel, who pushed Jenson hard, and Webber who looks like he has a title push in him if the car is good next year.
BRG

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Latest news:

Jean Todt voted in as new FIA President.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8322393.stm

The former Ferrari team boss claimed 135 votes compared to 49 cast for his rival Ari Vatanen with 12 abstentions.

Todt, 63, was the favourite to win the vote after being backed by Mosley, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher.

The vote brings an end to Mosley's controversial 16-year reign.

"Jean Todt has been elected president of the FIA for a four-year term by the FIA General Assembly at its annual meeting in Paris," an FIA statement said.

Hmmm. Let's hope he tries to be impartial during his reign, and not incur the wrath of the conspiracy theorists out there.


And looks like the silly season contines:

New WDC Jenson Button to join Lewis Hamilton in 2010?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8322334.stm

The Englishman has yet to sign a new contract for Brawn and McLaren are interested having so far failed to secure first choice Kimi Raikkonen.

"We've talked to a number of drivers," said team boss Martin Whitmarsh.

"It wouldn't be appropriate to say more than that. We'll hire the two best drivers available as we always have."

Button's manager Richard Goddard refused to comment on whether he had held talks with McLaren, but told BBC Sport: "Brawn could have sorted Jenson out weeks ago and none of this would be going on.

"We've been trying to agree terms with them. He's made it clear he wants to stay and had they agreed a contract there would be no speculation.

"The press will speculate that anyone with a free seat next year will be offering Jenson a drive - he has displayed his great talent in a good car this year.

"That speculation won't die until Brawn offer him new terms.

"A lot of quality seats may still be available so it's down to Brawn to make us an offer. But this stuff certainly did not stem from us."

Raikkonen, who is also being chased by Toyota after being forced to leave Ferrari to make way for Fernando Alonso, has not yet decided on his future and McLaren are exploring other possibilities.

Their back-up plan if Raikkonen turned them down was to retain his fellow Finn Heikki Kovalainen, despite their reservations about his performances in races.

Sounds like a pretty silly idea if this latest rumour is true. I mean, remember what happened the last time the reigning WDC became Lewis Hamilton's wingman for the following season?

 

[ITL]

I'm no great Ferrari fan, but I'm perfectly fine with Todt getting the big chair. I always liked him and Brawn when they wore the red, even though they were stuffing McLaren at the time...

 

[K'Ehleyr]

IMHO Button won that championship because of the Brawn team. Brawn had a head start in the season with an exceptionally well put together car and the use of KERS before the others.
Jenson has been playing with F1 for 9 years and I think he got lucky this year.
If he changes team next season I think he may find himself tested a little harder.
Having said that, Well done and Good Luck

 

[Iasius]

Brawn had a head start in the season with an exceptionally well put together car and the use of KERS before the others.

I think you're referring to double diffusers.

That said, I agree. Much of Button's success stems from the initial advantage had in early '09. Also, the reliability of his car was much better than for example Vettel's Red Bull. On the other hand, he never really screwed up during a race like Vettel did at times.

Button may have had help by his car's very good performance and reliability, but it does take a very good driver to take advantage of that consistently and that's what he did for the most part.

I also have to say, I really like about F1 that it isn't a stock car race. It's all part of appeal for me.