F1 - General discussion and 2016 Season

[Polish]

Audi denies F1 and Alonso reports

Audi has no plans to enter Formula One in the short-term and has denied rumours it is in talks with Fernando Alonso about competing at the 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours.

The recent recruitment of former Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali led to speculation Audi was planning an entry to the sport. But Audi boss Wolfgang Ullrich has clarified Domenicali's appointment and insisted there are no plans to join the F1 grid in 2016.

"There is no decision that we are going in that direction," Ullrich told Autosport. "Audi has a motorsport programme that at the moment is based on the World Endurance Championship and the DTM, and we are working on the cars for next season. There is no other programme. Yes, [Domenicali] has joined Audi, but we haven't said yet what his job will be; no, he will not be involved in motorsport."

Ullrich went on to say there is "nothing decided" about an entry after 2016.

http://en.espnf1.com

Mmmmkay then, so most likely it is true.

 

[caroper]

Mmmmkay then, so most likely it is true.

Exactly,They denied that Alonso is driving Le Mans 24 Hours but they didn't deny they are considering F1.
To my mind "There is no decision..." means it is still being discussed.

 

[Polish]

Exactly,They denied that Alonso is driving Le Mans 24 Hours but they didn't deny they are considering F1.
To my mind "There is no decision..." means it is still being discussed.

Yes that's exactly it.

I am wondering how much more favorable Bernie handles big deal teams like Audi/VW as opposed to the minnows.

 

[caroper]

As in "Throw in an R9 for me and an R8 for each of my daughters and I can cut you in with the big boys".
Not that he is corrupt or anything, he bribed his way out of the bribery charges, he is as innocent of bribery as our much loved president

 

[Polish]

Not that he is corrupt or anything, he bribed his way out of the bribery charges, he is as innocent of bribery as our much loved president

 

[Polish]

Another interesting concept of what may be to come.



This one looks actually rather nice imo.

 

[Polish]

Quick quiz time.

 

[Polish]

Mercedes ready for engine freeze compromise

Toto Wolff says Mercedes is willing to compromise over Formula One's in-season engine freeze if it can be sure budgets will not rise dramatically.
Mercedes has opposed the push for a relaxation of the rules which sees engines homologated at the start of the season, something Ferrari team principal Marco Mattiacci said is against the prinicpals of F1. Mercedes' main concern has been related to cost rather than performance but Wolff says he is open to finding some middle ground with the team's F1 rivals if it benefits the sport.

"If this is the compromise needed to guarantee long-term stability and agree long term we are not going to change the rules every year, that is something we will look at," Wolff said.

http://en.espnf1.com

How noble, i wonder who pushed them, or maybe they're a bit unsure of their continued dominance next year

 

[thestaggy]

Quick quiz time.

View attachment 164265

Mauricio Gugelmin in a Leyton House going for a wild ride. That is Mansell in the Ferrari.

As for the track and year; I think it was the French Grand Prix in 1990.

 

[Polish]

Nasr signs with Sauber for 2015

Felipe Nasr will partner Marcus Ericsson at Sauber next year after the team opted to switch both drivers for 2015.

The announcement leaves Esteban Gutierrez and Adrain Sutil looking elsewhere next year, while Nasr makes the jump from GP2 where he is currently second in the standings. Nasr also brings funding from Banco do Brasil to secure the drive.

"We have been following Felipe's career path for some time now, and he fully deserves his position in Formula One having had a very successful career in junior categories," Sauber team principal Monisha Kaltenborn said. "We are happy that he will be driving for our team next year. This means that Brazil will have one more young and talented driver in the sport. Banco do Brasil has been an important partner for Felipe so far, and we are delighted that such a renowned company is contuing to support him during this important step. We look forward to this partnership."

http://en.espnf1.com

Nice to see fresh blood, Sauber need a bit of a boost after this year's disaster.

 

[Polish]

Mauricio Gugelmin in a Leyton House going for a wild ride. That is Mansell in the Ferrari.

As for the track and year; I think it was the French Grand Prix in 1990.

Yes correct, well done, though i myself am not sure of track.

 

[thestaggy]

Nasr signs with Sauber for 2015



http://en.espnf1.com

Nice to see fresh blood, Sauber need a bit of a boost after this year's disaster.

Nice for Nasr. He's done a good job for Williams this year.

 

[thestaggy]

Yes correct, well done, though i myself am not sure of track.

Double-checked;

France (Paul Ricard) 1989.

 

[Polish]

Nice for Nasr. He's done a good job for Williams this year.

Always nice to see a new face in F1.

And he comes with $$$

 

[thestaggy]

Always nice to see a new face in F1.

And he comes with $$$

Likewise Ericsson. Both are well funded.

According to this; Marcus is one of the most well funded pay drivers on the grid, worth about $18 million in sponsorship money to Caterham before they went into administration.

Dang, Marcus sure is well-backed. http://marcusericsson.com/partners/

Nice site as well.

 

[Polish]

Vital Statistics - the Brazilian Grand Prix

Did you know that Nico Hulkenberg has led more laps in Brazil than Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso or Lewis Hamilton? Or that Alain Prost triumphed a record six times on Brazilian soil despite only claiming two pole positions - the opposite of Ayrton Senna, who scored six poles but only won twice?

Ahead of this weekend's Formula 1 Grande Premio Petrobras do Brasil 2014, we present the key facts, stats and trivia...

Circuit: Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace

Circuit length: 4.309 km

Number of corners: 15 (6 right, 9 left)

DRS zones: 2

Race laps: 71

Race distance: 305.909 km

2014 tyre compounds: soft, medium

Circuit lap record: 1m 11.473s - Juan Pablo Montoya, Williams, 2004

First world championship Grand Prix in Brazil: 1973, Interlagos (won by Emerson Fittipaldi, Lotus/Ford)

Number of Grands Prix in Brazil: 41 (Interlagos - 31, Rio de Janeiro - 10)

Number of races with at least one safety car appearance: 8 of the last 14

Longest Grand Prix in Brazil: 1981 Jacarepagua (2h 00m 23.66s)

Shortest Grand Prix in Brazil: 1974 Interlagos (1h 24m 37.06s)

Last year's pole position: 1m 26.479s - Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull

Last year's podium: 1 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull), 2 - Mark Webber (Red Bull), 3 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)

Most appearances (current field): 14 - Jenson Button; 12 - Fernando Alonso; 10 - Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa; 8 - Nico Rosberg; 7 - Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton; 6 - Adrian Sutil

Most wins (driver): 6 - Alain Prost; 4 - Michael Schumacher; 3 - Carlos Reutemann; 2 - Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen, Juan Pablo Montoya, Felipe Massa, Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel; 1 - Carlos Pace, Niki Lauda, Jacques Laffite, Rene Arnoux, Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, David Coulthard, Giancarlo Fisichella, Kimi Raikkonen, Jenson Button

Most wins (constructor): 12 - McLaren; 10 - Ferrari; 6 - Williams; 4 - Red Bull; 2 - Brabham, Renault, Benetton; 1 - Lotus, Ligier, Jordan

Most wins (engine manufacturer): 10 - Ferrari, Renault; 8 - Ford; 5 - Mercedes; 3 - TAG, Honda; 2 - BMW

Most pole positions (driver): 6 - Ayrton Senna; 3 - Mika Hakkinen, Rubens Barrichello, Felipe Massa; 2 - Ronnie Peterson, James Hunt, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, Sebastian Vettel; 1 - Emerson Fittipaldi, Jean-Pierre Jarier, Jacques Laffite, Jean-Pierre Jabouille, Nelson Piquet, Keke Rosberg, Elio de Angelis, Michele Alboreto, Jacques Villeneuve, Michael Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya, Fernando Alonso, Nico Hulkenberg, Lewis Hamilton

Most pole positions (constructor): 11 - McLaren; 10 - Williams; 7 - Ferrari; 4 - Lotus; 3 - Renault; 2 - Red Bull; 1 - Shadow, Ligier, Brabham, Brawn

Most pole positions (engine manufacturer): 9 - Ford; 8 - Renault; 7 - Ferrari; 5 - Honda, Mercedes; 1 - BMW, Cosworth

Number of wins from pole: Twelve from 41 races (29 percent).

Lowest winning grid position: 8th (Giancarlo Fisichella, Jordan, at Interlagos in 2003)

Laps led (current field): 183 - Felipe Massa; 168 - Sebastian Vettel; 61 - Kimi Raikkonen; 30 - Nico Hulkenberg; 28 - Jenson Button; 18 - Fernando Alonso; 13 - Lewis Hamilton

Most podium places (current field): 8 - Fernando Alonso; 5 - Kimi Raikkonen; 4 - Felipe Massa; 3 - Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel; 1 - Lewis Hamilton

Number of Brazilians to have started at least one Grand Prix: 30

Number of Brazilians to have won on home soil: 5 - Emerson Fittipaldi in 1973 and ’74; Nelson Piquet in 1983 and ’86; Carlos Pace in 1975; Ayrton Senna in 1991 & 1993; Felipe Massa in 2006 & 2008

Percentage of 2014 season complete: 89 percent

Maximum number of world championship points still available to a single driver: 75

Significant running sequences going into this weekend: Mercedes - 17 consecutive podium finishes, 9 consecutive pole positions; Renault - 117 consecutive races in the points as an engine manufacturer; Daniel Ricciardo - 15 straight points finishes; Nico Rosberg - 9 consecutive front row starts; Lewis Hamilton - 5 straight Grand Prix victories

Fascinating fact: All five of the world champions on this year’s grid - Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel - have clinched the title in Brazil (Vettel has also done so at three other venues)

Time is running out: Sebastian Vettel has just two more opportunities to record his first victory of the year. The last time a defending champion failed to a win a race the following season was Jacques Villeneuve (champion in 1997) in 1998. Ferrari and McLaren likewise have two races to record their first victory of the year. Should they fail to do so, it will be the first season since 1980 that neither team has triumphed

Potential record breakers: After dominating in Austin, Mercedes have now scored ten one-two finishes this year, equalling McLaren’s record from 1988. One-two again in Brazil and they will eclipse their rivals

Title deciders: This year's world title can't be decided in Brazil, but six drivers' championships have been clinched in Brazil (in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2012)

Turbo history: If a Ferrari-powered car wins the race it will be the first Ferrari turbo win since the 1988 Italian Grand Prix.

www.formula1.com

 

[Polish]

Likewise Ericsson. Both are well funded.

According to this; Marcus is one of the most well funded pay drivers on the grid, worth about $18 million in sponsorship money to Caterham before they went into administration.

Dang, Marcus sure is well-backed. http://marcusericsson.com/partners/

Nice site as well.

Indeed. Must be a bummer though knowing that your F1 career is on a string driving for back markers.

 

[Polish]

A win for Massa at home would be nice, although unlikely unless the Mercs DNF.

 

[Polish]

Race weekend is here

 

[thestaggy]

Indeed. Must be a bummer though knowing that your F1 career is on a string driving for back markers.

Hey bro, if a bunch of companies were willing to put me in a Marussia or a Caterham for a season I'd take it. Since 1950 only 750 drivers have taken part in a Grand Prix race. That is a select club.