F1 Fanatic round-up: 13/4/2010

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If you haven’t already done so, make sure you enter the competition to win Stuart Codling’s new book "Art of the Formula 1 Race Car" – there’s five copies to be won. Here’s today’s round-up:

Links

The Mallya Collection (The Racing Geek)

Pictures of Vijay Mally’a car collection including a couple of F1 machines.

Lex – Premium automakers (Financial Times)

“In Germany, car sales plummeted 26.6 per cent last month, year-on-year, as they hit the anniversary of the peak of Europe’s most generous scrappage scheme. But Mercedes declined only 6.1 per cent, while BMW sales rose 9 per cent. In China, meanwhile, Mercedes and BMW both doubled their sales in the first quarter, with Audi up 77 per cent.” Signs of improved sales for prestige car brands.

Briatore: No admission of guilt?? (Adam Cooper)

“He confirmed his acceptance to bear his share of responsibility in the Singapore events in his capacity of Managing Director of the Renault F1 Team, at the time they happened, without any admission of a personal guilt in these events and without any recognition of the fact that the decision of the World Council rendered against him would have been well-founded.”

Nick appointed new chairman of the GPDA (Nick Heidfeld)

“Nick steps into the shoes of Michael Schumacher (1994-2006), Ralf Schumacher (2006-2008) and Pedro de la Rose (2008-2010), who held this office before him.”

Comment of the day

It’s always interesting to hear from fans who’ve been to one of F1’s new races. Paul was a marshal at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand prix last year:

I went as a marshal for the Grand Prix last year but did not use an hotel. I’ve since been back for the Asia GP2 series and stayed in the Radisson hotel 200 yards from the circuit. I flew into Abu Dhabi airport and it’s a cheap 15 minute taxi ride to the hotel.No car hire to pay, no travelling expenses and no hassle getting into the circuit. Also be aware that the policeman every junction and sets of lights on the approach to the circuit and if you do not have the correct passes for the route you are on they will turn you away. There are park and ride stations around the circuit but not sure how they work. Hope you have a great time. The circuit is stunning.
Paul

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday to Kester!

On this day in F1

The first F1 race at Jerez was held on this day in 1986. Ayrton Senna narrowly held off Nigel Mansell to win, Senna’s Lotus crossing the line just 14 thousandths of a second ahead of the Williams. It remains one of the closest finishes to an F1 race of all time.

Also today former FIA president Max Mosley turns 70 and four-time Grand Prix winner Dan Gurney celebrates his 79th birthday.

Author information

Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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47 comments on “F1 Fanatic round-up: 13/4/2010”

  1. It’s de la Rosa, not Rose ;)

    1. Ned Flanders
      13th April 2010, 4:58

      Pedro de la Rosa = Peter of the Roses. I wish English names were that cool!

      1. I know a guy called Oscar De La Pesco.

        Either means of the fish or of the peach.

  2. I’m glad to see the GPDC was chaired by the most honerable drivers in f1. Michael “if i cant win i’ll ram you off the track” Schumacher, Ralf “just never any good” Schumacher and Pedro De La “main spygate protagonist” Rosa. Hope Nick doesn’t Pick up any of their awful ways.

    1. I think most drivers have some black marks to their name, it’s inevitable in competitive sport. Ralf, for all his failings, never struck me as a dishonorable racer, nor PDLR. He never covered anything up about spygate or tried to deny his involvement, did he? At the end of the day, no one is perfect, and honest people are what the GPDC needs. (Michael Schumacher, on the other hand…)

      1. Ned Flanders
        13th April 2010, 5:02

        Agree with Tom. Ralf Schumacher never did anything wrong (and I think he was better than he was given credit for, but that’s a different argument), and de la Rosa has hardly had many contriversial incidents in his career. Obviously it’s harder to argue against Michael Schumacher’s misdemeanours…

        1. I agree about Ralf, never worked out why he gets so much stick.

          I’ve still got my fingers crossed that Nick replaces Schumi next year at Mercedes.

          1. Ralf has the same problem that Piquet jr has. Just not that good, but the attitude of a multiple world champion. Always the “if only …” excuses.

  3. it’s nice to see an experience driver in the GPDA. Never knew that Ralf Schumacher was there.

  4. Prisoner Monkeys
    13th April 2010, 1:53

    “He confirmed his acceptance to bear his share of responsibility in the Singapore events in his capacity of Managing Director of the Renault F1 Team, at the time they happened, without any admission of a personal guilt in these events and without any recognition of the fact that the decision of the World Council rendered against him would have been well-founded.”

    So, cheating and risking dozens of lives is perfectly acceptable if it means you win the race?

    Why was this man ever allowed anywhere near Formula 1?

  5. Prisoner Monkeys
    13th April 2010, 1:55

    Here’s a weird one from the latest list of entrants to submit entry bids for 2011: joining Epsilon Euskadi and Durgano is Shotover Jet, a major tourist attraction in Queenstown, New Zealand.

    http://www.powerboat-world.com/index.cfm?nid=68388

    1. That’s kind of odd, but from that article it sounds like they’re probably further along with their development of a car than most.

      1. Prisoner Monkeys
        13th April 2010, 2:47

        I don’t thik they have a car “developed” as such. They may have plans, but no-one in their right mind would start building a car until they had an entry.

        1. disapointing that you would probably have to remove the livery from the truck though as it says in the terms and conditions

          1. If somebody like the Donnington collection or other motorsport museum purchased one, while it is recommended that they remove the branding, if they contacted the team I think they would be allowed to keep it.

    2. wow, shotover huh? that’s interresting. been on their boats, nice ride. Im guessing the track they are talking about is Hampton downs – a good track. I would love to see a kiwi team, just hope they know what they are getting into.

      1. Seems like the first one I’d consider a serious team, Durango isn’t really looking up to it…

    3. They will run fantastically on wet tracks, no doubt.

      1. Nice one, heh heh.

    4. That’s got to be a wind-up, surely….

      1. speaking from NZ, I am in agreement…

        from the website “For a start, fluid dynamics are similar to aerodynamics so it was a natural progression from our current fluid-based operation… “. Really??

        If this had been posted on the 1st of April there would be no doubt…

        1. actually… just traced it back to 1st of april…

      2. So so far you get the feeling that if Epsilon doesn’t get it someones someking something very funny.

        I’m still at loss to know why we couldn’t have had Epsilon Prodrive and Lola last year.

        Still hopefully we get Epsilon this year because its an amazing team.

        1. stephan gp are friends with Bernie. they’ll get it.

  6. sorry to ask again but-
    when will the forum (and our beloved avatars) be back keith? it’s been a couple of months now!

    1. Ned Flanders
      13th April 2010, 5:07

      Yeah I’m getting impatient too! I hope they’re coming back, they’ve been gone for ages now. If they’re being quitely dropped I’m going to have to start a petition to bring them back!

      1. i miss your ned flanders avatars too!

  7. Happy Birthday to Dan Gurney!! Funny how he and Max- two men at opposite ends of my spectrum of respect- have the same birthday.

  8. Ned Flanders
    13th April 2010, 5:10

    I wonder what Max Mosley’s wife got him for his birthday? Prostitute in a box perhaps?!

    1. HounslowBusGarage
      13th April 2010, 8:04

      I’m sure they all had a whip-round for him . . .

      1. Badum tish!

        Nice one.

      2. Ah I’m afraid it’s been done already… A whip-round for Max Mosley

  9. Keith, has there ever been an article on this website about the best corners in f1? If not, it could be, with a poll and nice discussion.

  10. What? No shark fin? No F-duct? Illegal mirrors? A lot of work to be done. If fluid is the same as air, will they be the first to introduce a watertunnel?

  11. 1. April joke, but fluid dynamics in water is a little different. For one thing water resistance is much higher and the water can’t be compressed. But surely You can study equivalent technologies and transfer knowledge both ways. Like You can study natures solutions to fluid dynamic problems and try to apply these.

  12. Haha cool!

    Minor correction, it would be Peter of the Rose
    Rosa = Rose; Rosas = Roses

  13. KEITH: I think this is a first, you are used on the BBC’s daily round up as an article to link. I visit it everyday and i think this is the first.

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8616998.stm

    1. I think it’s the first time, too – thanks for letting me know!

  14. Those of you who liked the funky new interactive charts the other day might like to try the new full-screen flavour (note – the data on that chart is not correct, it’s just to test the code works).

    I’m hoping to use this on the Friday practice articles for China and some of the post-race analysis articles as well.

    1. where are the connecting lines though? or do you not need them for showing practice times?

      1. No – because drivers are in and out of the pits all the time in practice having the connecting lines looks terrible. It may be possible to just join up the ‘hot lap’ times but I haven’t solved that problem yet.

  15. The photos and descriptions of Mallay’s car collection are great (although I got excited about the bicycles and that turned out to be weak).

    1. Mallya’s….not Mallay’s….

  16. Entries are open for round four of the F1 Fanatic Predictions’ Championship:

    https://www.racefans.net/community/f1-fanatic-predictions-championship/

  17. Regarding the GPDA, who are the drivers that still have not signed up and what does this years fee work out too per driver…

Comments are closed.