As well as being the last day of the Valencia test, today we will also see the launch of the first of the ‘new’ F1 teams.
Virgin Racing are revealing the car online at 10am (British time) – you can watch it all on their website and we’ll have pictures of the car here too.
Here’s the Wednesday round-up:
Links
New Stefan GP team to replace Campos Meta F1? (Autoweek)
“Team boss Zoran Stefanovich is associated closely with F1 czar Bernie Ecclestone, and we would presume that the new team’s passage to the grid in Bahrain will be eased by the sport’s supremo.”
Why two top drivers are better than one (Autosport – sub. req.)
“Know what I really admire? The fact that after having their fingers so severely scorched in 2007 with Lewis and Fernando, McLaren is prepared to have another crack at it with two top class drivers quite so soon. Truly masochistic!”
Comment of the day
Stefan GP are hoping to get a last-minute entry into F1 – but Red Andy isn’t convinced it’ll happen:
The procedure for granting Stefan GP a grid slot will be more complicated than simply, “Campos hasn’t turned up, so there you go.” Such a late change would have to be agreed by all the teams and the FIA, which would not happen’- firstly because some of the teams may not be too happy about a new team turning up with a car that promises to be reasonably competitive and taking away points/prize money; and secondly because of the involvement of Mike Coughlan in Stefan GP, which would almost certainly be a sticking point with the FIA.
Red Andy
From the archive
The F1 Teams’ Association has launched a new survey of fans’ opinions. Of course it’s not the first time we’ve had a survey like this – here’s the last two:
Happy birthday!
No F1 Fanatic birthdays today. If you want a birthday shout-out tell us when yours is by emailling me, using Twitter or adding to the list here.
On this day in F1
Controversy hit F1 testing on this day two years ago when photographs of a group of spectators at the Circuit de Catalunya were spotted aiming racial abuse at Lewis Hamilton. The FIA warned the organisers of the Spanish Grand Prix at the same track to ensure a repeat did not happen.
Prisoner Monkeys
3rd February 2010, 1:23
I disagree with that. I think the current teams would much rather have Stefan than Campos if Stefan demonstrated themselves to be a competitive, serious effort and Campos were constantly at risk of drowning in their own mistakes.
Gman
3rd February 2010, 2:30
I see your point very well. But after Brawn romped to victory last season over the established teams, do yuo think the old guard would really want a newcomer to come in and push them around?
Prisoner Monkeys
3rd February 2010, 3:59
Do you really think Stefan has a blindingly-brilliant chassis, especially when all of the teams have been using what they learned in 2009 to make stronger 2010 cars? And do you really think that if they do have a strong car, Stefan are going to succeed when one of their drivers is likely to be Kazuki Nakajima? He was good in 2008, but he certainly wasn’t rated as a driver the way Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello are.
Stefan may taste success. They may score the odd points and maybe get a podium every now and again. But it’s getting very crowded at the top, with McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari all making strong cases for themselves, and – depending on how things play out – Sauber, Renault, Williams and probably Red Bull all at leasy being points-worthy cars. Stefan may have the equipment to succeed, but it doesn’t mean they will. Unlike Brawn, they have zero experienced.
F1Yankee
3rd February 2010, 4:39
LOL, threatening who? if the name isn’t ferrari, mclaren, merc or red bull, you’re doing no better than 8th and that is that.
teams don’t want them for the same reason they didn’t want any new teams – more grid-filling bottom-feeders dipping into the till.
Bigbadderboom
3rd February 2010, 12:36
I’ve spoke to couple of Red Bull team members this year and they are not optimistic, I think their position as a top team this year maybe under threat. I wish Stefan GP well, it was always doubtful that campos would finish the season anyway, at last the sport has a chance to get proper continuity if the new teams are well funded and properly managed.
sato113
3rd February 2010, 1:31
lets hope stefan hire Senna if they do enter.
VXR
3rd February 2010, 1:58
Is anyone out on track yet?
Inc0mmunicado
3rd February 2010, 3:33
Any word on lotus and their car?!
Calum
3rd February 2010, 7:50
The lotus is unveiled a week on Friday,
Salty
3rd February 2010, 8:26
Also online launch day today for Virgin Racing, 10am I believe.
ajokay
3rd February 2010, 8:40
3/1/10? Is it my birthday for the second time this year?
Salty
3rd February 2010, 8:44
Damn. I hated January as well. Please give us February back Keith!!!
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
3rd February 2010, 9:17
We’re back in February now!
MPJ1994
3rd February 2010, 9:15
I just found the funniest video on Youtube and since the forum isnt working, I thought I would post the link here. Enjoy :D
‘Hitler finds out Alonso is replacing Räikkönen’
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=NTfMFgD4ntI&feature=related
Prisoner Monkeys
3rd February 2010, 9:25
Old. That’s been around since at least that time Alonso replaced Raikkonen.
MPJ1994
3rd February 2010, 10:06
I know its old, but its still funny
sato113
3rd February 2010, 12:46
ha. good vid mpj. dunno why pm’s so grumpy!
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
3rd February 2010, 13:24
He just said it was an old video and it is…
I’ve got to say I’m really bored of seeing that clip – which is from the excellent film “Downfall” – being used for so many different things. I’ve seen football versions, F1 versions, everything.
I urge everyone who hasn’t seen it to watch the film instead – it’s a thousand times better than these ‘memes’.
Red Andy
3rd February 2010, 13:33
Amen to that, Keith! Downfall is an excellent film.
Gman
3rd February 2010, 17:47
Indeed I have “Downfall” on DVD and it is an outstanding movie- one of my favorite non-English language films of all time.
F1Yankee
4th February 2010, 19:50
fegelein! fegelein fegelein!
BasCB
3rd February 2010, 10:38
Latest information from Virgin http://twitter.com/virginf1racing:
I can confirm the launch has taken place at silverstone…. But NOT shown on live http://www.virginracing.com as promsied…OOOOPPPPSSSS
:-(
Are they kidding us, why did we wait if they don’t show us anything!
Katy
3rd February 2010, 11:06
Apparently that’s not an official Twitter account, the real one is @virginracing
Di Grassi said he’s asked if he can put a picture up using his twitpic so fingers crossed he can so at least we’ll get to see it!
Noble F1 just said something funny: If an F1 car is launched and no one sees it, does it still exist? Or something similar… hehe
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
3rd February 2010, 13:25
Katy’s right. You can find the official, non-fake accounts for teams and drivers here:
F1 Twitter directory
Zeke
3rd February 2010, 12:26
Keith ,is the F1 fanatics forum now gone from this site.
Ranf
3rd February 2010, 15:42
Einen schoenen Artikel hast du hier geschrieben. Dieser Artikel hat mich irgendwie animiert auch wieder mehr zu bloggen, werde mich jetzt gleich mal hinsetzen und einen neuen Artikel schreiben.
Chaz
4th February 2010, 20:40
‘sub req’… ahhh grrr &^%$£”*&!