In case you missed it the big news yesterday was not Felipe Massa extending his Ferrari contract but the F1 Fanatic Forum re-opening. In just a few hours the forum was buzzing with activity once again which is great to see.
With the Canadian Grand Prix weekend drawing close make sure you enter your predictions here before final practice starts on Saturday.
Links
Ferrari sign 11-year-old (Eurosport)
Is this Ferrari’s answer to Lewis Hamilton? Speaking of which…
‘I’ve a really good shot at the championship’, says Lewis Hamilton (The Guardian)
“For the last few races, though, I’ve felt I’ve a really good shot at the championship. I’ve just been waiting for the right opportunity to come along, which it did in Turkey, and I grabbed it with both hands. The car was good, I had one of my best qualifying performances for a while, and in the race I was on the tail of the Red Bulls giving them hell all the way.”
The latest twists in F1’s tyre saga (Autosport, sub. req.)
“The sport could do well to prepare itself for rubber products (likely of Cooper Avon manufacture) bearing ‘F1’ branding on their sidewalls, and sold to teams by a company still owned by Ecclestone – having been registered by him in the early 1980s – namely International Race Tyre Services…”
Comment of the day
I think it’s fair to say there was a mixed reaction to Ferrari giving Felipe Massa a two-year extension on his contract. David BR put forward the case for keeping the Brazilian driver:
Sensible thinking really. Alonso is a wild card, maybe he’ll help develop the car, but maybe he’ll go off in a dip/huff for a half a season. Undoubtedly, though, any car capable of being near the front and he’s got the talent to win the championship.
So what does Massa bring? Stability, team player, not going to try to out-psyche Alonso, great test driver, a serious contender himself (and Alonso-pusher) if Ferrari can deliver some clear air for him: i.e. give him a car with a chance of pole.
As in 2007 and 2008. I don’t see what Kubica brings except serious potential strife with Alonso. Why would Ferrari want that? If Alonso goes, maybe, but Fred ain’t off anywhere however mardy he gets?óÔé¼?ª
David BR
From the forum
The F1 Fanatic half-term rankings will be up after the European Grand Prix. How doyou rate the drivers so far this year? Have your say here: Drivers’ half-term rankings 2010
A selection of your comments will be used in the final write-up.
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
Ayrton Senna won the Canadian Grand Prix on this day 20 years ago.
The race began on a wet track and Senna’s team mate Gerhard Berger jumped the start – which in those days was penalised by the driver having a minute added onto their race time.
Senna let Berger through and although the Austrian led by 46 seconds at the end of the race, once the penalty had been applied he fell to fourth behind Senna, Nelson Piquet and Nigel Mansell.
TommyB (@tommyb89)
10th June 2010, 0:04
Wow what a weird system!
Also, Now yesterday Mike Conway was on GMTV having his first interview about the crash – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9iFnI31RSM
Ned Flanders (@ned-flanders)
10th June 2010, 0:28
Shame for Conway that his career hasn’t really panned out for him as he would have hoped. After he won Macau a few years ago I expected him to reach F1 eventually, but he bomed in GP2 and has done nothing to write home about in Indy Cars (yet, at least). Anyway, get well soon Mike.
Scribe (@scribe)
10th June 2010, 1:05
On the jump starting system, doesn’t make any sense does it. I suppose what it does do is get the driver to absolutely floor it. Drive like a madman 11/10ths all the way to attempt to negate the penalty. Hence Berger 46 second lead I suppose. It would be preety exciting.
YeaMon
10th June 2010, 3:54
Conway unfortunately decided to sign with the first team available in the Indy Cars. There’s great talent in that series, it’s just that many teams are up and coming. I hope the team he is currently on can contend for the championship in the next coming years, along with some other teams NOT named penske or ginassi
TommyB (@tommyb89)
10th June 2010, 0:07
Also I think the title is now between Webber, Button and also think Lewis has a good chance now.
Mclaren seems to have caught up and Red Bull have failed to capitalize on the best car yet again. The fact they are second in the championship is ridiculous considering.
Scribe (@scribe)
10th June 2010, 1:01
Wouldn’t be writting Vettle off just yet. An I think the way Lewis has been driving this season has put him in much better stead for a title shot than Button, who to be fair to him in Turkey, wasn’t far off his pace.
I think we’ve stil got a genuine four horse race on our hands.
Stephen
10th June 2010, 1:09
Yeah, Red Bull should have absolutely decimated everyone by now. I think they’ll still win both Championships but definiteyl have blown too many ponts cinsidering their car.
It think it just proves how well Button did last year (before he went back to being his usual average self) completely destroying everyone at the start of the year with a car advantage.
Scribe (@scribe)
10th June 2010, 1:20
I think McLaren has the driver advantage, and will be able to outdevelop Redbull. I think it’s likley to McLarens first double in yonks.
BasCB
10th June 2010, 6:44
But i would really like Webber to take the WDC with Lewis and Jenson directly behind getting the constructors title to McLaren.
mateuss (@mateuss)
10th June 2010, 11:11
Won’t happen – Webber melts under presure, just look at Australia where Vettel was leading the race no problem, but he making a hell for himself because of the presure!
Ned Flanders (@ned-flanders)
10th June 2010, 0:31
Arrrgh! I found these ‘subscription required’ articles annoying! Could anyone who does have a subscription explain what it says? I don’t like the sound of Ecclestone supplying tyres…
Ned Flanders (@ned-flanders)
10th June 2010, 0:32
Ooops, italics failiure there… I need to work out how to use these tags!
BasCB
10th June 2010, 6:42
Sorry no subscribtion, but as far as i know, Bernie does the tyre deals (paying for them or negotiatiating them to be for free) for the last years – with Bridgestone the only supplier.
That’s why he brought in Avon a couple of months ago to make an offer and get others onto the bandwagon. I think he has it all finished and is only waiting out for the best deal now before signing a contract.
Tim
10th June 2010, 8:36
In short the article speculates that Cooper Avon might provide the new control tyres, distributed through Bernie’s International Race Tyre Services and branded as “F1” (rather than Cooper Avon) with an accompanying range of road car tyres also being marketed under the F1 brand. The profits would be split three ways – the FIA, Bernie and the teams.
Rob
10th June 2010, 10:41
It seems faintly ridiculous to me having ‘F1’ branded tyres for road cars when the tyres made for Formula 1 are so far removed from any tyres used on any mass-produced car. The point of the branding would be to sell by association, so does this mean that Bernie might start to lend his support to those who favour a change to low-profile tyres?
Scribe (@scribe)
10th June 2010, 1:21
Keith, will the forum shortcut on the side beneath the articles come back? Thanks again for brining back the forum.
macahan
10th June 2010, 1:32
ssshesh is it not one thing it’s always another.. Poor Keith ;)
DJ Senna
10th June 2010, 2:06
ferrari signs an eleven year old…
what’s next, schumi jr. at age 9 or mercedes? this is a little too ridiculous, probably just a way to get canadian sponsors for the scuderia if you ask me…
Mike
10th June 2010, 3:09
I hate teams signing drivers when they are so young!
What about all the other drivers who have to work for it?
11! 11? I hope this 11 year old realises what he is getting himself in for, wait he’s 11! he couldn’t!
DJ Senna
10th June 2010, 5:32
kid must have a lot of sponsorship…
BasCB
10th June 2010, 6:10
Nice video of the Canadian GP. That system with the 1 minute penalty is real tough!
Also, Luca de Montezemelo should have a look at that, Ferrari is doing about at the same level as they were then, with a World Champion and proven race winner in the car, only to see other teams continuously in front of them. And the new teams now are far better equipped to do the job than all those who did not even through pre-qualifying.
Tim
10th June 2010, 8:53
Ferrari’s form in 1990 was actually rather better than it has been so far in 2010. Seven races into 1990, Ferrari had three race victories, two fastest laps and one pole position. Prost was only three points behind Senna in the points and would go on to challenge for the title until the penultimate round in Japan, where he and Senna notoriously ended up in the gravel at turn one.
Ferrari don’t obviously appear to be about to repeat that sort of result this year.
BasCB
10th June 2010, 12:01
Thanks for filling that in. But Alonso might make it a fight almost as much as Prost did then, even though his car is not as close to the pace.
But worrying for Ferrari is, that they were on a slide further back to the grid as they seem to be since getting Felipe to second best in 2008, but really losing their power team since 2006.
George (@george)
10th June 2010, 7:23
I’ve never heard of that race, it must have been one of Berger’s best performances though right?
Newnhamlea1
10th June 2010, 8:59
If bernie controls the tyres it will only serve to further make the sport into bernie ecclestones entertainment extravaganza, I dont want that, formula 1 should a pure high tech motor racing series with all the bigggest brands in car technology, including tyre suppliers like bridgestome, michelin and pirelli.
Newnhamlea1
10th June 2010, 9:00
*Bridgestone not bridgestome
Steven (@modtl)
10th June 2010, 10:37
I hope it gets announced that Pirelli have the new F1 tyre contract very soon.
graham228221
10th June 2010, 11:04
“I don’t see what Kubica brings except serious potential strife with Alonso”
Er… aren’t Alonso and Kubica close friends off the track?
I’m pretty sure the problems at Mclaren were actually caused by both Alonso and Hamilton being total c*nts. That’s my take on it anyways.
Steph90 (@steph90)
10th June 2010, 12:08
Yeah they are close friends but frienship or winning-what’s more important to them?
Alonso’s never liked being beaten by his teammate and rightly so if it makes him more competitive. However, I think the whole 07 situation was completely unusual which occurred because of both drivers and Mclaren managing them.
Søren Kaae
10th June 2010, 11:52
F1 teams really seem to be more and more like football clubs, recruiting very young drivers, and really indoctrinate them to love that special team.
Osvaldas
10th June 2010, 12:14
Keith,I have a suggestion: you could include in f1 fanatic round-up interesting facts, for example: do you know that…
BasCB
10th June 2010, 12:54
Adam Cooper spottet a great place for the HRT management to visit. All they need in equipment can be found here at bargain rates.
US F1 inventory sell off:
http://adamcooperf1.com/2010/06/10/us-f1-is-history-as-auction-kicks-off/
BasCB
10th June 2010, 13:04
Seeing what equipment they had there at USF1, makes me feel sad again. They could have done it, if not for just not getting on with developing and building an acual car!
A sad story to head the F1 failures top ten.
http://www.bidspotter.com/forms/imagegallery.php?gallery=10981&page=2
bosyber
10th June 2010, 13:14
It really seems as if they had all the bling, and even the people n the factory to do it – but lack of solid management.
Or maybe we should credit the management with selling the fools gold and getting all that stuff together and coming close to making it, despite being underqualified as team leaders?
matt90
10th June 2010, 22:12
I so badly want to buy this.
http://www.bidspotter.com/forms/photo.php?photo=8611865&date=Jun-10&time=09:30
The Fat Cat in the Hat
10th June 2010, 14:49
I honestly think Ferrari and McLaren should not be grabbing kids so young… what Renault does I prefer; they add Formula Renault champions to their programme. BMW and Toyota also did the same when they were active. Even Red Bull chooses talented F3 drivers, not karting stars, because karting is really different from open-wheel. That way, you know the young pilots sill have a future in F1. Only because you are a gifted karter at a young age does not mean you will be a Formula One pilot. Mike Conway is an example of this. I suppose Ferrari and McLaren are doing it for sponsorship. Also, I noticed some drivers, younger than most, get drafted in for different reasons. Kevin Magnussen, currently in German and EuroSeries F3, was signed by McLaren because his father, Jan, was also a McLaren protege. However, I do understand them signing him because he is a very talented driver, and McLaren saw this via open-wheel, not karting. I think by signing kids, Ferrari made a mistake because if another Massa freak accident were to happen, the kid couldn’t replace him! Ferrari should just stick with with drivers the age of Bianchi, Bortolotti, and Zampieri (their driver development programme pilots) so they can save money instead of wildly investing in kids. I would have picked up that kid when he was eighteen, depending on his junior formula racing results.
nik
10th June 2010, 16:24
It is an open market, and pressure from the competition forces the teams to look younger and younger for the stars of the future. They aren’t saying ‘this guy will be in F1 in the future’, they are saying ‘hey this kid is good, lets help him out and see if he becomes an F1 driver’. They hedge by having a driver program that signs and maintains drivers of all ages and backgrounds.
PJA
10th June 2010, 15:43
The results from the FOTA survey conducted earlier this year are out
http://journal.autosport.com/2010/week24/2010%20F1%20Survey%20results.pdf
Autosport say the main headline is fans want F1 in HD
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/84275
matt90
10th June 2010, 22:08
I really don’t think the drivers understand the points system at all, and that really surprises me. They don’t realise that the value of a win is not much increased. Button has said things before about how different the new points system makes things. It doesn’t! Hamilton talks about being back in it with a win, and how it’s down to the new points. Of course it isn’t. If the points had stayed the same, you would have been a similar percentage behind, and a win would have brought you back. And then the next second he says he hasn’t caught up by much. Make your mind up! He talks about still being 9 points behind, as though it’s a lot. It’s only the difference between 1st and 3rd, and in the old points it would be pretty much the same. Why do they find it so hard to understand?
paxdog57
11th June 2010, 6:08
The You Tube video has some interesting other bits, incuding the NSX safety car and early Varsha and Hobbs on ESPN.
Lacy Caez
5th November 2010, 18:02
carrots are easy lots of carrots store them in sand all year round and they are just like out of the garden