Ecclestone hails “incredible” Watkins
F1 Fanatic round-up
In the round-up: Bernie Ecclestone pays tribute to Sid Watkins’s safety work in Formula One.
Links
Top F1 links from the past 24 hours:
Bernie Ecclestone on Professor Sid Watkins (F1)
“What Sid Watkins did in the way of safety in Formula One was incredible. He gave his whole life to that cause, to make sure that it could be as safe as it possibly could be. We all owe him a debt of gratitude for his caring and commitment.”
Lewis Hamilton’s future at McLaren could be decided within days (The Guardian)
“The Guardian understands that McLaren’s original offer to the driver represented a little more than two thirds of his current deal, which is thought to be £15m a year. They have since come up with an incremental tweak, worth about an extra million. But that still leaves the Woking-based team well short of the £60m that Mercedes are prepared to offer him between 2013-15.”
Pirelli test car hit by alternator issue (Autosport)
“The Renault R30 was running with a 2010-specification alternator, which the engine manufacturer described as ‘similar’ to the one used in the first part of this season.”
F1 Preview: German Specialists Show Off Austin’s Racetrack (YouTube)
Comment of the day
Antonio Nartea (@tony031r) on Sauber’s chances of getting a win before the end of this year:
I wouldn’t be surprised if Sauber win a race this year but I doubt it’s gonna be in Singapore.
Perez would have to put in a superhuman effort to do so and slingshot past the McLarens who are gonna be mighty fast here, Ferrari who always performed well and Red Bull who are sort of on their turf, on the twisty, technical street circuit.
And I say Perez because Kobayashi has a dreadful history on this particular track and I don’t think he’ll improve that much this year. I’d rate Perez for a classification somewhere in the middle of the point scoring pack and Kobayashi someplace at the end of it. But that’s it.
Antonio Nartea (@tony031r)
From the forum
- IndyCar championship contenders Will Power and Ryan-Hunter Reay are well down the starting order for the season finale
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On this day in F1
With the 2002 drives’ championship having been decided four races earlier, Michael Schumacher left team mate Rubens Barrichello to take an untroubled win at Monza ten years ago today.
The Williams drivers led a BMW-powered one-two in the early stages until Ralf Schumacher dropped out with engine failure. Juan Pablo Montoya was overwhelmed by the Ferraris and he too retired.
At the finishing line Ferrari’s closest rival, Eddie Irvine’s Jaguar, was over 52 seconds in arrears.
alexf1man (@alexf1man) said on 15th September 2012, 9:37
Also it’s 11 years since Alex Zanardi’s massive accident – would be good to put into perspective just how big his Paralympic achievements are.
S.J.M (@sjm) said on 15th September 2012, 10:38
Anyone else wonder if the 60million Merc want to pay Hamilton might be better spent trying to move themselves up the grid? Since Mercedes bought into Brawn, the team has been a bit “meh” in its performances with a single win at China, and its not like they consistantly are on the podium.
Im not so sure this is a good move for either parties, Lewis could end up in a car far worse then McLaren would give him (2009 excluded) and struggle to win another title before he’s 30. Mercedes might have to endure a Hamilton thats spitting his dummy out and tweeting stuff about the car when things dont go well.
Thinking about it, do McLaren even want Lewis to stay? Is that why the offer is so low. Excellent driver he might be, but he comes with a lot of emotional baggage and at times, is a real headache for them. I am a Hamilton fan, but I find myself being more then a little fed up with him sometimes.
Mayank jain (@mjf1fan) said on 15th September 2012, 10:39
The above link is making things more interesting. Schumacher wants a unilateral contract which might allow him to extend his contract to 2014 if he wants to. Mercedes are offering Lewis an “undisputed” No 1 position to lure him.
The silly season is getting even more sillier. Hope everything gets settled by the end of Singapore Gp :)
Mayank jain (@mjf1fan) said on 15th September 2012, 10:42
snowman (@snowman) said on 15th September 2012, 11:23
The 2 year contract negotiations I read before from Bild and make sense but the no1 status is beyond ridiculous and comes from some publication I never heard of.
Schumacher or Rosberg is going to accept no2 status to Hamilton who has struggled to get the edge on his own McLaren team mate this last 2 years!!
ogogogg said on 15th September 2012, 19:31
If Mclaren are offering Ham 2thirds Button then He can only but walk or face the massa conumdrom, to be in a team and consistently lead yet get a worse contract is a sign that the team are thinking elsewhere.
Hamilton should go to Mercedes, Mclaren dont want him an Ross Brawn would love Him in the team………….
…..I happened to think do you think Hams tweets of tele was He`s way of saying `Get stuffed`to His old team?
woogle said on 15th September 2012, 21:33
vodafone wernt slashing the buget when button signed the contract.
woogle said on 15th September 2012, 21:35
and they have to pay for there own engines now thers about 20 mil aswell
William Brierty said on 15th September 2012, 19:42
I am sorry to spoil the silly season for you guys but this will be the driver lineups next year…
Red Bull – Vettel, Webber
McLaren – Button, Hamilton (anything that starts with “Eddie Jordan believes…” is wrong)
Ferrari – Alonso, Perez (Montezemelo likes making his smokescreens)
Mercedes – Rosberg, Schumacher (why sack a man that wants to race and is driving brilliantly)
Lotus – Raikkonen, Grosjean
Williams – Bottas, Senna (surely Williams has realized that Maldonado is COSTING them money)
Sauber – Kobayashi, Kovalainen (gotta be a possibility)
Force India – Di Resta, Hulkenburg (with no seats higher up the grid neither of these future stars need to move)
Toro Rosso – Vergne, Valseechi (Ricciardo hasn’t cut the mustard for me)
Caterham – Petrov, Razia
Marussia – Glock, Pic
HRT – De La Rosa, Maldonado (they need the cash)
Klaas (@klaas) said on 15th September 2012, 20:24
Williams to chose Senna over Moneydonado? Be serious dude… Pastor brings more cash and points (which later convert into cash) than Senna and he gave the team their first win since 2004 for God’s sake. It would be most stupid from them to do so.
And then – Maldonado in a HRT? Why? Caterham wouldn’t need his sponsorship?
William Brierty said on 15th September 2012, 22:20
Yeah, I suppose I was just being hopeful on Maldonado, but I think the rest looks about spot on.
woogle said on 15th September 2012, 21:09
i would love to see a non championship round anually somwere the sid wtkins tribute race
woogle said on 15th September 2012, 21:27
sorry for the spelling blame stella
Klaas (@klaas) said on 16th September 2012, 9:45
A non-championship round would be very unlikely. But a karting race with all the current grid competing would be very interesting. All drivers with the same equipment – a true test of who’s the fastest.
bentwenty said on 16th September 2012, 13:46
they used to have them non championship rounds that is
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner) said on 16th September 2012, 21:30
Agree with the COTD. Kobayashi had a moment last year over ‘that’ chicane. I’m not one to usually complain but I’m a little disappointed in Hamilton putting so much apparent emphasis on his salary. If we weren’t due new engines in a couple of years then I would be even more disappointed with him but if he’s aligning himself with a manufacturer of engines for the right reasons then that’s much more admirable.