Stewart offers help to Grosjean again

F1 Fanatic round-up

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In the round-up: Jackie Stewart repeats his offer of help to the under-fire Romain Grosjean.

Links

Top F1 links from the past 24 hours:

Stewart offers help to Grosjean (BBC)

“It’s his first full season in F1 and he is fast enough to win races. I actually think he could have won one or two Grand Prix this season, but at the moment his potential is being overshadowed by the number of accidents he’s having.”

Red Bull shrugs off FOTA meeting snub (Autosport)

Christian Horner: “You have got FOTA that doesn’t consist of some teams but does consist of others. I have no idea what the topic of discussion was; they obviously feel that it doesn’t apply to Red Bull.”

Perez: a diamond that needs to be honed (GrandPrix)

Martin Whitmarsh: “I think we’ve got someone who wants to go out there to race and challenge. There’s a diamond that needs to be honed there, and that’s quite an interesting challenge.”

The value (or lack of it) of F1 pay-drivers (Joe Saward)

“The reason the little teams get so excited about being 10th is because there is a difference of $17.6 million between the two places.”

Curfew-running (Darren Heath Photographer)

“One and a half minutes later and the final beep-beep from the F1 paddock gates chimes. 01:58. They’re out. They’re clear. 40-plus hard-working Red Bull crew night-time curfew-running?? again.”

Korean GP Preview (Williams)

Bruno Senna: “The Korean Grand Prix is a different to other races. It is a high downforce circuit so should suit our car. It’s also one of the tracks we have the least amount of practice on as it is fairly new to the calendar and therefore we haven’t had any running in our simulator, so it will be interesting to see how we get on.”

“Trying all the way to Brazil” (Ferrari)

“One also has to factor in the way some circuits are better suited to certain cars than others. Throughout this season, no real pattern has emerged to help predict who will be quick where: recently McLaren put together a string of three very strong races, but in Suzuka, we were a match for them, while Red Bull always seem to go well in Japan.”

F2 champion Bacheta to drive Williams F1 car at Silverstone (Formula Two)

“2012 FIA Formula Two champion Luciano Bacheta will be given a Williams Formula 1 drive at Silverstone next week (18 October).”

F1 diary: Japanese Grand Prix (The Telegraph)

“Take the first bus of the morning and head to one of my favourite spots in the whole world – a grassy hillock with the Degner Curves on one side and 130R (the left-handed sweep taken at 190-odd mph) on the other. Romain Grosjean’s Lotus is compelling to watch through Degner, using more and more kerb until he finally dispenses with the track altogether and flirts with the gravel, which subsequently seems to calm his approach.”

This video is no longer available due to a copyright notice by FOM (The F1 Scrapbook)

“A lack of available historical content not provided for by FOM means not only that a lot of viewers lack context when watching races and seasons, but that it forces individuals with a legitimate curiosity to pursue illegitimate means to satisfy it, ultimately depriving FOM of profit.”

Tweets

Comment of the day

@Silverkeg welcomes Lotus’s change of approach:

I’m glad Lotus have re-focused their development. The Double DRS always seemed like a great concept that would be extremely difficult to get right in the real world. Their development in other areas has seemed to slow due to the resource consuming mature of the Double DRS red herring.

Hopefully their new exhausts and other upgrades can keep them in touch with Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari whom have all out-developed them. Although the drivers’ championship seems out of reach for Kimi Raikkonen, they still have a good chance of surpassing Ferrari and maybe McLaren in the constructors’ championship.

A win would be most welcomed for one of my favourite teams, but that is probably a bit hopeful. More podiums and points from both drivers would go a long way though, recapturing some early season form. None of the tracks left look like they will prove a particular challenge for the E20.
@Silverkeg

From the forum

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

Ten years ago today the FIA proposed a package of changes to the F1 Commission including drastic measures such as rotating each driver between teams during the season and introducing the use of success ballast.

Although these never came to pass (thankfully) other changes such as long-life engines and gearboxes, and restrictions on testing, were introduced.

Image © Lotus F1 Team/LAT

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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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93 comments on “Stewart offers help to Grosjean again”

  1. This is the second full feature article given to Jackie Stewart in 3 days. One has to ask whether he is on the BBC payroll? Either that or Stewart is desperate for publicity and the BBC is desperate for a repeat story.

    This is particularly evident when neither of the above knew several hours ago, it was reported that Judo mind Guru – Campargue Benedict, has been brought in by Renault to help Grosjean. http://wp.me/p2HWOP-8T .

    I guess if he can’t create a mind of steel for Romain – he can at least prepare him for the next time a wide eyed Webber storms into the Lotus motor home.

    1. I did LOL at the end.

      Jackie says out loud he is employed by Genii to promote the team so expect more of the same. Hmm ” Jackies views on Judo for F1 drivers”.

    2. He hit Michael twice, Lewis and Alonso in SPA, Mark Weber in Japan, Pastor M in Australia, Sergio in Spain, Paul Di Resta in Silverstone…. who is next? It would be funny if is going to be Seb. It would be very unpleasant to have those fingers poking your eyes

      1. Repeat after me – Maldonaldo HIT HIM in Australia.

        Watch the video – the Venezuelan swiped across him and mashed his suspension, just like he did to Perez in Monaco & Hamilton last year in Spa.

        1. I disagree.

          Maldonado had the inside line and ran Grosjean off track but he didn’t move to hit Grosjean. Grosjean tried to keep the racing line but with where Maldonado was that space was obviously going to disappear. Grosjean steered in anyway instead of backing off or going on the grass.

          The situation is in no way like Maldonado vs. Perez in Monaco (where Maldonado cut across Perez well before the corner) or Maldonado vs. Hamilton in Spa last year (where Maldonado was clearly out to get Hamilton).

          I’d say it’s more comparable to Maldonado vs. Hamilton in Valencia. Hamilton ran Maldonado wide but Maldonado steered in anyway even after already going off track. Of course Grosjean didn’t go off track in Australia but Maldonado already had the corner.

      2. He also hit Senna in Germany. Schumacher (in Malaysia and Monaco), Kobayashi (in Monaco and Spa) and Perez (in Spain and Spa) were the drivers who suffered more than once with Grosjean’s mistakes. But in Suzuka even Rosberg and Senna had their races ruined as a result of the mess caused by Grosjean – Rosberg braking to avoid Webber and being hit by Senna as a result.

    3. At least this time it comes over as a real and well meant offer of support / advice. The last time it was more of telling him to go and get some good advice.

      1. I disagree, I think Stewart is patronising. If it was well meant then surely he would have discussed it privately with Romain and left it at that rather than talking publicly about it?

        I think the principle of driver coaches is a good one but the way Stewart talks is full of self importance. I think that there are probably dozens of more recent F1 drivers who could be better suited to coaching a current F1 driver anyway.

        1. @jerseyf1 – I’d be very surprised if it were ill-meant. Putting the offer in the public domain – twice – is probably meant to put a little pressure on Romain to accept. And let’s face it, privacy seems to be an endangered beast these days.

          I agree though that there must be someone with more up-to-date racing skills than Sir Jackie! Even if the coach didn’t come from F1 or motorsport it might help. Perhaps what Grosjean needs is more, er, mental.

        2. @jerseyf1 Like Schumacher perhaps? Maybe not giving his penchant for making contact with other cars.

          Jackie Stewart was a three time world champion in an era where making contact with other cars was an absolute no-no if you wanted to survive from one race to the next, and thus his spatial awarenes, racecraft and reasoning about whether to make a move or not is clearly as good as anyone out there past or present. Grosjean doesn’t need coaching to go fast, its his attitude and mental approach to racing which needs working on, someone like Stewart, Lauda or Prost as a mentor would be ideal in helping him in my view.

    4. When Martin Brundle said, that Grosjean is lacking skills in close combat, I dont think he meant judo.

    5. This article confuses me a little. In October’s issue of F1 racing the Maurice Hamilton interview is with Jackie Stewart where he states he is currently working with Grosjean. The interview is actually quite interesting, and I think JS offers some interesting insights into F1 driver mentality. He gives them short shrift when it comes to their approach to the fans and also questions why they don’t employ coaches on a wider scale. This seems to be his role in Grosjean’s case.

      How long he has been working with him is another matter…not had much success so far.

  2. I think Grosjean has to accept the help now. Not so much because it will help him, but because of he doesn’t it will appear as if he’s not willing to try and change, and I doubt the team will take that very well.

    1. @jleigh I see what you’re saying about how it shows willing, but how exactly do you ‘help’?

      Surely just being careful is about the only wisdom you can impart. Stewart sounds like he’s after a few quid to me…

  3. Christian Horner: “You have got FOTA that doesn’t consist of some teams but does consist of others. I have no idea what the topic of discussion was; they obviously feel that it doesn’t apply to Red Bull.”

    What a muppet. The reason FOTA consists of some teams but not all has a lot to do with him, and he clearly forfeited the right for their discussions to ‘apply to Red Bull’ when he himself chose to leave!

    1. There were other teams that left FOTA as well, but they *were* included in the meeting. I think that’s why he was being asked about it in the first place.

      1. Sauber brought the cheese and Ferrari brought Chianti but no-body wanted Red Bull.

        1. Horner’s Strudel has now gone cold.

      2. I think its quite usual and fully natural that if you are dead set against something, not allowing any discussion on the subject, you find yourself excluded from constructive discussion to go forward @aka_robyn.

        That Red Bull does not like it I an understand, and I can also see why. But IMO its the same as Ferrari blocking talks about cutting down on testing etc. when they were the top dog themselves, a team (or 2 in this case) fighting to keep its own advantage over the best interest of the sport.

        1. @bascb – I get where you’re coming from, but I think there is a difference between Ferrari’s actions and Red Bull’s that is as subtle as it is important.

          On the one hand, you have Ferrari blocking testing. The more you test, the more you know about your car. The more you know about your car, the better your results can be. But that’s a process that takes time and effort, and on the whole, it’s very tangible. We, the fans, can see that progress.

          On the other hand, Red Bull are trying to block cost-cutting regulations. The more you spend, the better your car will be. The better your car, the better your results. It’s really two ways down the same path, but on the surface, it’s considerably less tangible. When Red Bull showed up with their double-DRS system, we knew that they’d probably spent about $15 million developing it. They put the parts on the car, race them, and get instant success with it because they’ve gotten it right. They’ve done a little bit of testing on it, but they haven’t spend two solid weeks at the circuit, trying to figure it out. In the end, it feels cheap.

          Personally, I think it feels a little bit devious as well. The FIA wants to make cost-cutting regulations mandatory, and they want the power to police them. Red Bull are blocking that, which has naturally got a lot of people asking why. If Red Bull had to open their books up to someone else, we’d find out once and for all how much they were spending. Numbers don’t lie. I think a lot of people would be very unhappy when they learned just how much Red Bull were spending each year, and their constant opposition to it is a little suspect.

          1. My understanding, though, is that Red Bull’s problem is more to do with how costs are measured and policed rather than some great secret about how much they currently spend.

            In particular they are quite different to Ferrari/Mercedes and to some extent Mclaren in that they aren’t part of a larger motor manufacturer organisation. They will therefore find it harder to apply ‘transfer pricing’ in their figures to keep within a budget cap by allocating spending to other parts of the company. It has to be remembered that creative accounting, even within accounting regulations, can make a huge difference and Red Bull probably have less scope to push the boundaries there (and we all know they like to push boundaries). The problem is less of an issue with the smaller independent teams since they are likely to be closer to the limits and on balance will gain more than they lose relative to the front teams.

          2. RBR dare to spend more money than ferrari? Heresy! Throw them to the lions XD

          3. @JerseyF1
            Exactly. It’s very easy for car manufacturers such as Ferrari and Mercedes to make it look like they are using a lot less resources on their F1 team than they actually are. Red Bull is an energy drink company, so it’s not possible.

            Then again if F1 wants to be a place for car manufacturers to develop new road car innovations (such as KERS), teams such as Ferrari and Mercedes will naturally have ‘overlapping’ on their F1 team and road car development. So it’s a good question whether restricting costs is possible or reasonable at all.

          4. PM said…”On the one hand, you have Ferrari blocking testing.” I think that should read ‘Ferrari blocking talks on cutting testing.’ And to BasCB’s point that was when Ferrari were the top dogs. And this is being compared to Red Bull blocking talks on cost-cutting regs.

            Just a few thoughts. I think it is splitting hairs a bit to say there is a difference between the two concepts. Testing also costs money…as much to the point, doing something with the results of testing in order to advance the car is about spending money on the car after seeing results from testing. ie. The more you test (which costs money in and of itself) the more you want to try different things in reaction to said tests (and hence more money spent on top of that which was spent on the physical test itself).

            I think a great point has been made about Red Bull not being a manufacturer based team and therefore not being on the same playing field as teams like Ferrari, Mac, and Merc who can juggle numbers within their organizations differently than a ‘fizzy drinks’ company can. But isn’t that something for which the FIA/F1 would have to then accomodate? Wouldn’t they theoretically write that type of situation into the regs?

            I don’t think the FIA should even be the ones to police cost-cutting regs. I think there is too much room for the questioning of fairness and transparency and all it would take is one accusation of a team being unfairly favoured in how they have ‘innovated’ their spending such that it would be far better to have an independent body oversee the administration of the spending by each team.

            I totally take aka_robyn’s point about each team inevitably looking out for their own best interests.

            PM said… “The more you spend, the better your car will be.” Not always…see Toyota. It’s more than just a money game if you are only throwing good money after bad. It takes the right personel etc, etc.

            And I’m not convinced that if we knew how much Red Bull was spending a lot of people would be very unhappy. So far we don’t have spending caps, and it wasn’t that long ago that we knew how much the likes of Toyota, as one example, was spending…something like half a billion annually. So I’m not sure why anyone would be shocked or unhappy if Red Bull is spending 300 or 400 mill right now…nothing is preventing any team from doing that other than their own economic realities. Some team’s likely still have a fairly bottomless pit of money, or at least a pretty healthy percentage of what they spent in the economic hayday.

        2. @bascb I think you’re reading a bit more into my comment than was actually there!

          (Is it really fair to say that Red Bull has been less amenable to discussion than Ferrari, though?)

          Besides, Martin Whitmarsh (who is never anything but frank and straightforward) said all they were talking about at that meeting was “life and times in F1” and that we shouldn’t attach too much significance to Sauber and Ferrari being there. Good enough for me! ;-)

          1. @aka_robyn, maybe i did. But I felt your comment cried mostly frustration from a fan about teams and fans dismissing Red bull unfairly.

            Ferrari seems to want to talk about the RRA or budget caps (would they if they were the one’s winning most though? Likely not) at least at the moment. I guess they did talk about a bit more than just the weather, but as its all just talking I agree that putting too much emphasis on this meeting would be wrong.

          2. @bascb I was really just clarifying that some teams that had left FOTA were at the meeting; no crying or frustration involved. ;-)

            I think all the teams actually want to talk about the RRA and budget caps. Where they differ very sharply is on the specifics of how it should work, with each team looking out almost exclusively for its own interests (not surprisingly).

  4. What an article there on the F1 Scrapbook, and I agree with it 100%. I’ve been watching tribute videos, beautifully made tribute videos being taken down, all because some peach at the FOM thinks it siphons off their profits. Well, where else will I get to watch great F1 footage? People like Antti Kalhola and Sebby Haughton do us Formula 1 fans a service, a service which you, my dear FOM, have been unwilling to provide.

    Rant over. Thanks Keith, I needed that.

    1. I’ve been watching tribute videos, beautifully made tribute videos being taken down, all because some peach at the FOM thinks it siphons off their profits.

      This is not something that FOM and FOM alone do. Film production studios are equally notorious for having videos like this taken down. And they are well within their rights to do so; since they own the footage, the videos violate copyright. All they are trying to do is protect their own property, and prevent it from entering the public arena and being misused.

      There are things that FOM could do to make that footage available – like having their own YouTube channel – but allowing anyone with film editing software to make and upload those videos is not one of them.

      1. but allowing anyone with film editing software to make and upload those videos is not one of them.

        – I think that what the F1 Scrapbook article proposes is quite possible.
        We are not arguing about having the right to do so PM, but about the wisdom of doing so.
        And why not offer users the option of uploading content with consent from FOM, on the basis that its done through the official site, for expample?

        1. I’m more or less addressing the whole idea of “we should be allowed to upload whatever we want, wherever we want, whenever we want”. Yes, I’m generalising a little, but that’s the vibe I was getting from ScuderiaVincero’s post

          1. But no one else was basically bringing up the point @prisoner-monkeys hence @bascb‘s answer.

            The article was about why there aren’t any clear legal means to do things with the copyrighted material (parody should be allowed in some countries, allowing some …). And that FOM really could and do better to address the internet as a means of showing (and profiting!) from F1 with a wider audience. It even gives a view of how it might be done.

            Finally, since you bring up copyright; the stuff @scuderiavincero mentioned is largely creative new work – produced using FOM materials and thus derivative, but still new – that FOM doesn’t create (and really never will create). I do think that in general our society is a bit better for them existing, and copyright thus fails to do its job to society by blocking that for an unreasonable long time frame. I don’t know if that is fixable, and I am sure that it won’t happen any time soon. In discussing that, let’s recall that copyright has a purpose though, and it isn’t to make movies expensive, but to encourage new/more creativity by giving creators a means to profit from creating. Your example of films is one where it isn’t working so well either.

          2. I’m more or less addressing the whole idea of “we should be allowed to upload whatever we want, wherever we want, whenever we want”.

            The reality of the situation though, is that the demand exists for FOM’s footage. And so long as the demand exists for it, someone will provide. It’s ultimately FOM’s decision whether or not to be that someone.

            The Scrapbook article notes all the ways FOM can gain from being that special someone.

      2. There are things that FOM could do to make that footage available – like having their own YouTube channel – but allowing anyone with film editing software to make and upload those videos is not one of them.

        What I don’t get is why FOM don’t make it possible to get hold of past races… there are some races I would love to go back and watch, some from before I started watching F1. Legendary performances like Donnington in 93/94 and Silverstone 2008 would be great to watch again.

        You have to wonder why FOM hasn’t cottoned onto the idea of iTunes, making a few quid a download and getting all the past races on there. They would make a mint!

        1. @mcgregski I completely agree. I’d definitely pay to access old archive material. They could have a premium subscription service on their website that would allow you to watch archive material.

        2. There are the Season Review DVDs but they are very much highlights and not ample for watching one race

          I might email FOM and suggest it to them :o)

    2. I guess FOM thinks it’s a high risk to establish it’s own fully interactive online station, even if they have to pay for expertise of Sky/BBC compare to receive payments for broadcasting rights.

      I’m not sure they actually realise how much exposure and viewers they missing by not doing it over internet them self.

      And considering sponsors don’t mind any kind of videos floating over the web, it’s just FOM whos having troubles to get on with the present.

      1. It’s clear that FOM are committed to policing YouTube and the like as a result of their contracts with the TV companies. The BBC and Sky have catch-up and archive facilities which they want their viewers to use.

        I think 2018 will be the watershed moment for the UK, because that’s when the Sky/BBC deal ends. It would be the perfect time for FOM (and whoever’s running it then) to make a leap of faith and cut the TV companies loose.

    3. I’ve worked in online video for a TV channel here in the UK. The reason for this is simple. Any revenue created from youtube / an independent online streaming site will not offset the cost of licensing the content from FOM management in the first place. Or, they believe licensing online would negatively impact other forms such as TV,DVD.

      That’s the reason it happens. It’s commercial reality. All of this derivative work copyright argument is irrelevant. There’s no such thing. If you want to use content you have to license it. Whether this be someone needing a 20 second clip for a TV documentary, or someone simply cutting up they’re own highlights from a VHS made in 1992. You do not have the right to distribute that content.

      I’m not saying this is right or wrong. It’s just how it is.

  5. I’d be really annoyed if FOM took on YouTube and had that content removed. Fan videos from the track are the only real way of picking decent stands and seats. The “official” videos only ever give you the “perfect” view, which is pretty rare at the track.

    1. It’s there on your ticket, if you record footage from your seat at the track you may not share it with others, which includes uploading it to YouTube. I don’t really have much sympathy for people who are unwilling to read the terms and conditions under which their ticket was sold.

      That said, I think that there is a possible compromise here. I think FOM should set up their own video-sharing facility for fan videos. on t

      1. Yes, an approved fan video site would be perfect. They could call it youtube. Honestly though, as a copyright holder whose sole income for 20 years has been my own IP it still burns when my rights are abused. But I recognise that there’s a case for non-commercial use that doesn’t significantly detract from the rights holder’s basic business (this is a the fair dealing part of the Copyright Act) A good deal of my IP has been stolen and misused over the years, fortunately for me that theft has turned into free advertising for me while at the same time devalued the reputation of my competitors. A little bit of pain, a little bit of gain.

    2. A case in point is the FOM now having taken down the Korea track worker Gangnam style video. That got a whole lot of attention from people who would never have thought about F1 and it went viral. Instead of leaving this do do its work as a viral and actually get people interested in the fact there’s a race in a couple of days, its taken down so it only estranges potential fans.

      1. Another case in point, though from a different industry. Led Zeppelin has stomped on amateur guitar “tab” sites forcing them to remove users’ interpretations (and tabulature) for all LZ songs (not video mind you, just tabulature). Fair enough but this is where most amateur players go to have a bit of a taste of playing a song in a simplified form. If it works out many will then buy the approved sheet music and polish their playing with the actual score. FOM have to realise that fan videos, (but not high production compilations of course) are actually fair dealing and good advertising If they think that a bunch of iPhone clips on youtube is a threat then they need to open their eyes.

      2. Seriously!? They took that down? I’am sorry, but I no longer disagree with who ever is running the whole business model. I think they are simply very much not right in the head!

        So many business try to make a successful viral campaign to promote themselves at a great expense, because it is very much worth it, even though just few of them succeed in getting a true viral campaign started. The Korean circuit succeeds in doing so capitalizing on a current trend that will soon pass, the viral campaign serves not only as a benefit for them, but the whole F1 train, FIA, F1 teams, sponsors, circuits and FOM. They get a free viral campaign, at no expense for them, and they block it. What a bunch of ignorant, close minded muppets. They have by so simple action lost so many potential thousands of viewers, circuit attendants, and ultimately profits and not only their own profits but other involved parties’ as well.

        There is many things said on this subject above in the discussion, but I think this highlights everything that is wrong with FOM, they are not willing to explore or even accept exposure and profits by different means, where they don’t have their eyes and hands on the process every single step of the way. Because it requires more brain power and effort in management. It is more of a chess game than masturbation.

        If I were in charge, and it was my company and profits I would have every single one of the FOM muppets fired just like that. Start over with some intelligent employees. It is not that I do not understand where FOM are coming from, I can see the difficulties of managing this whole process not to loose profits by giving the money rolling process freedom, but to simply not try and say it is impossible, is the definition of lazy useless employees.

        When i saw the video, it had already gone viral, hence it basically came to me as it would to so many other F1 fans and non F1 fans. I thought what a good thing for the sport, the circuit and everyone involved, finally an F1 video that will not be taken down. Seems as though I underestimated the stupidity of FOM.

        I would not want to have them clean the floors in my company, they would just give up and bugger off presented with any slightly more difficult spots to reach or clean. Their actions don’t bother me because they are doing me any harm, because a hardcore F1 fan will always get the content there is or was, but its the others that wont even hear about it and hence F1. FOM bothers me like a crack whore would, they are doing themselves unnecessary harm, only I can see more explanations and reasons for the whore example, and that does boggle the mind.

        Super-mega-uber-rant over. Peace.

  6. Grosjean really needs coach or mentor to live without noise. It’s really shame because I think he have potential to first French champion since Prost.

    1. Maybe Prost should be the one giving him advice? I doubt Scots and Franco’s are best friends. A fellow countrymen might get through to him better.

      1. Historically Scots and “Francos” have been “best friends” but I’m not sure that nationality is the problem… who knows.

    2. Bas Weijers (@)
      10th October 2012, 23:15

      I’m not really convinced he needs ‘advice’, what good will that do? People telling him ‘not to do-or-die at starts’ or just to take it easy at starts… He surely figured that out himself already.
      I think he’s just very unlucky atm, but he will shine in a nearby future, I’m convinced.
      The young and the reckless…

  7. Refuelling and ‘bumper to bumper’

    Michael Schumacher would reconsider his decision after reading this :-p

  8. all crashjean needs is the following message pasted on his steering wheel before the race
    ‘ to finish in the points first you must finish
    12th is better than DNF on lap 2
    Webber’s RBR is closer than it appears’

    1. Webber’s RBR is closer than it appears’

      Oh man, this one beats them all.

  9. Either Grosjean announces he is taking Steward or anybody as a “coach” or he should get a separate start in Korea.

  10. If only this was the real Kimi …

    Gangnam Raikkonen Style

    1. Am I the only one whos getting sick of this song and its parodies?

      1. @bag0 I never particularly saw the point in it in the first place. All it seems to be is a club track with English-style love song lyrics, just translated into Korean…

      2. 15 minutes, just wait the 15 minutes and it will all be over.

      3. Me!!! Me too!!! And I’m not xenophobic!!!

    2. Hilarious! Props to those Vietnamese fans

    3. This guy doesn’t have the moves.

  11. Some time ago, Indycar organisers said that they were exploring the possibility of holding races at “former Formula 1 venues” in Europe. Nothing more came about it, and there was a growing list of circuits that were supposedly under consideration for a race – including Sepang and a return to Surfers’ Paradise and so on – and most of it became idle speculation. But now ant Italian site is reporting that Indycar is on the verge of announcing a race at Mugello, and that if it proves successful, the series could expand out to include a second race at Imola, or rotate its races around Italy.

    Although this is coming from a site I’ve never heard of, and most of it seems to be based on whispers and hearsay, and it is a translated version, so it’s possible that this is actually very wide of the mark.

    1. This is somewhat simmilar to when CART tried to expand its territory. I think some Europian circuits have no chance to survive, unless they get an opurtunity with Indy. But then the main problem will be, that they cant have any ‘Bernie related’ races on them. I dont know how mutch influence Bernie has on the FIA without Max, but it could get some circuits into more trouble.

      1. Well, the news piece seems legit as it popped up in La Repubblica and has been verified by Fox Sports and Speed now.

        However, Bernard it quoted to have said: “We’ve had discussions with a variety of potential promoters and that includes initial, exploratory discussions with Mugello” which shows intention but…nothing more.

        Personally I doubt IndyCar will land in Europe in 2013 but I think it’s inevitable this will happen in 2014 or 2015. Formula One is slowly but surely migrating towards Asia or the USA and if Bernie’s wish of having just about 25% of the calendar filled with races on European circuits comes true, then a large number of circuits will have to look elsewhere for competitions and will cling onto almost every deal they can.

        On the other hand, have you seen the grandstands in Fontana. There was barely anyone at the track for the season finale. IndyCar clearly is not the popular series it used to be in the USA. They have lost a lot to NASCAR in terms of ticket-buyers and they’ve lost even more this year after introducing slower and less contact prone vehicles to the sport. The american public likes a thrill and they very rarely find it in open wheel racing. In this light of events, it’s logical for Bernard to look elsewhere for exposure and enthusiast crowds and since F1’s slow departure definitely leaves a gap in Europe, I think taking the leap to the old continent could actually be a wise move. It worked out before. I remember when CART used to race on Lausitzring. The tickets were cheap and those races were sold out. Plus, in the prospect that Europe’s economic climate will improve over the course of the next couple of years, this could open up the market nicely for Honda, Chevrolet and some of the IndyCar related sponsors. It could be a move that benefits everyone.

        Bernard has some brilliant options in terms of racetracks too. Why not have 3 or 4 races in Europe? He can strike a deal with Mugello (a flowing circuit) and Monza (a fast track that serves the IndyCar concept well) and he could plan a return on the oval at Lausitzring and maybe a street circuit (why not Valencia, since it’s been kicked from the F1 calendar) in order to have a complete European package with all types of circuits IndyCar races on.

        2013 is early but if we take 2014 into consideration, it’s rather doable in my opinion.

        1. Interesting…I just wonder though, with F1 fans already bemoaning their beloved series being ‘dumbed down’ with more and more restrictions to innovate, how would Europeans take to a very spec-car type of series such as Indycar. I’m just not convinced that cheap ticket prices even at iconic venues would bring people to the stands to see these generic cars, and in many cases being driven by generic names (not all but many). I think it woudl be great for Indycar if it were to work, I’m just not sure it would work, and I also question whether Indycar even has the money, the interest, the sponsors, to expand in this manner.

  12. Whether Perez is a gem to be honed or not may remain to be seen next year. But my feeling was that in several races the Sauber had very good pace too comparable to top running machines.
    Meanwhile, BUT made an interesting interview with a Brazilian media where he saying

    Button now insisting that he – and not Hamilton’s successor Sergio Perez – is the driver to bet on for 2013 spoils. Speaking to the Brazilian sports daily Lance!, Button said: “There are a lot of smart people in formula one, which maybe is not so apparent from the outside.
    “But it is a very competitive environment, and Fernando (Alonso) is one of those people.
    “He’s been smart to build the (Ferrari) team around him, which is something we all strive for. I did it in my previous team (Honda/Brawn) and it’s happening here (McLaren) too,” said the 32-year-old.
    Asked if he has taken another important step forwards with the impending departure of McLaren protege Hamilton, Button answered: “No comment.”
    But he did admit: “It’s one less person in front of me.
    “This year, I’ve had good race pace, but on Saturdays I’ve been usually second place at best.
    “Next year I can be first. Race pace is my strength and I think there’s nobody better in that way. Qualifying is harder for me.
    If I have a car that works for me, I can put it on pole, but if the car is a bit more difficult then I end up behind Lewis.”

    Looks like he’s buoyed quite a lot with HMA’s departure to Merc and already securing things around him. Also feels like he wants to be recognized as one of the best on the grid – why not? at least he got one WDC too?
    But I reckon it’s not something solicited but to be earned. Does he really think himself in the same line as most people say, of having narrow working room but when he does have he’s invincible? Really? Then who else not I become to wonder.

    1. Though apparent throughout the last few years I believe that Button is one of or flat out the most intelligent driver when it comes to the subtle politics of F1. Ofcourse I don’t truly have an idea behind the real reasons for Hamilton leaving McLaren but I think now that if Button wanted Lewis gone, in the long run Hamilton didn’t even stood a chance.

      1. There are always some who are good at poliitics and those are generally not so competent in terms of his own ability in that arena, which makes them more agile and keen in politics, despicable. Not implying BUT falls in that category ’cause I truly don’t know, but they are not called smart or intelligent at the least in my dictionary. lol.
        And your point on LH might be right and so Merc could be a better bet I guess ’cause at the end of the day, mostly the winner is always politician side.

    2. Looks like it’s gona take McLaren a while to hone this gem, if at all.
      But he’ll beat Button in a few races. I can see why Button is excited though.

    3. “He’s been smart to build the (Ferrari) team around him, which is something we all strive for. I did it in my previous team (Honda/Brawn) and it’s happening here (McLaren) too,” said the 32-year-old.

      Button’s comments nearly make me vomit. The guy is seriously deluded if he thinks that he has had any part in producing the Brawn car of 2009 and helping Mercedes become a team that it is today. If he had been such an integral cog, Ross would probably want to keep Jenson around for longer.. but instead he was glad to dump Jenson for Nico and Schumi.

      Jenson now states that he is building Mclaren around him.. ugh.. I expect Whitmarsh to get fired before he would make a decision as stupid as building Mclaren around the poorest number 1 driver they’ve ever had

      1. You just cant stand the guy, can you? :D

        Let me defend him a bit, because I dont think he will come around t ocomment on your reactions.

        You might “seriously deluded” if you think, you know anything better about Brawn GP or BAR or Honda or McLaren, than him. Maybe, but just maybe, spending 6 years with a team might have something to do with the next years car.
        The other thing is, I dont know if Ross had dumped him, or he left, just as we cant be sure now, that if it was Hamilton who left or he was sacked.

        But I’ll go by your logic, so please tell me if Fernanod was “such an integral cog” why did Briatore “dump” Alonso for Heiki?

        I didnt ment to be rude, but if Buttons comments make you vomit please dont worsen the situation by making others to vomit because of your comment.

        Cheers!

        1. Maybe, but just maybe, spending 6 years with a team might have something to do with the next years car

          @bag0 I know enough to know that Jenson didn’t invent the double diffuser.

          I dont know if Ross had dumped him, or he left, just as we cant be sure now, that if it was Hamilton who left or he was sacked.

          Ross made no effort to keep Jenson. It was fairly obvious that he wanted better options.

          But I’ll go by your logic, so please tell me if Fernanod was “such an integral cog” why did Briatore “dump” Alonso for Heiki?

          That statement is not in tune with any logic

          I just do not like people who have a false sense of confidence due to circumstances favouring them… and nothing more. Making excuses or moaning to make up for the false confidence annoys me further

          1. 1)No, he did not invent the DDD, I’ve never said that, I was just stating he had influence on the cars developement, which you think he had not. And please dont start the whole DDD argument, Toyota and Williams had it on their car too at the first race, so if he won only because of the DDD, why didnt the other five drivers won the WDC?

            2)How do you know that he made no effort to keep him? Because ther were no reports suggesting $100 million contracts?

            3)I just went by yours, if a driver leaves a team, then by your logic it means the team dumped him, but of course if it is Fernando, he left on his own. Just to show you a little simmilarity between the two: 2006 Alonso wins the WDC leaves for McLaren, 2009 Button wins the WDC leaves for McLaren 2010.

            4) Confidence is selfgenerating, you have confidence, you achieve better results, you become more confident. And I dont know what you mean by favouring cicumstances, every driver has them, Fernando’s called Felipe, Vettels Horner and Marko, Lewis’ was called Ron Dennis, Schumachers Ross & Todt, Button had a headstart in 2009, so?

          2. I have a really hard time believing that JB had anything to do with the BGP’s fantastic pace except in driving it.

            After how many? 6 years? at the Honda team, his “magical input” was unable to extract any proper results from that car, let alone any “continuous improvement”.

            So, one of only two things must have happened to explain that BrawnGP car…
            1. JB went to engineering school (over the winter) and played a hands-on role in the design of the car
            2. Ross Brawn was the gifted manager who enabled the skilled engineers and designers to produce something outside of the Honda (mis)management), and luck played its part with regards to the DD/rulebending/conspirocy thing.

            @bag0, you lose your own argument when you invoke JB’s Honda tenure. If indeed he was capable of generating (and not just influencing)car design, where was the continous improvement during that time? Where were the ideas then? Perhaps he was saving them up?

      2. Well, everyone has his own right to dream something, no? lol.
        Overall one thing seems evident that there are more than a few people smirking behind the curtain with HAM’s move to Merc. Also the wild conspiracy theories surrounding the McLaren in the past years more or less seem to portend certain grounds, or at least not as total ******** as some says?
        Let alone his speed or nick ‘no grip’ I thought BUT is decent guy with modest behavior. But BUT is ambitious enough to claim none are better than him in race pace? Well…

      3. @todfod Ross stated publicly at Jenson’s 200th race “I wish he was still driving for us”.

        So that rather puts a spanner in your assumption.

        1. @hairs Actions speak louder than words. Saying nice things about on ex driver doesn’t stand for much

          As I said Button would have driven another season for Brawn at the drop of a hat, but Ross didn’t seem to pursue him with the interest he wanted.

          1. but Ross didn’t seem to pursue him with the interest he wanted.

            – I think they did a lot to keep him there, but its the same as for McLaren with Hamilton – if the driver is decided on going, you can offer him more money, talk to him, but in the end you can’t force him to stay can you?

            As for the Honda car not improving @todfod, its funny how on the one hand you say Button is not much influence, and on the other hand you criticize him for not bringing the car forwards.
            The reason Honda got in Brawn was exactly because they had been treading water for a time without getting anywhere despite the mountains of cash put in. Brawn looked at the 2007 car, early found that it would not really be a good basis, the 2008 car was an improvement, but never had potential as it was from the same basic design. But they had started to work on the 2009 car already in 2007, and it proved to be worth the investment.
            Its sure that the inputs of both Button and Barrichello were important in getting the car right. And the way Brawn focussed on the car development.

    4. @leotef Have you got a link to that?

    5. @leotef
      I dont know where did you get that, but here is the link for the Lance! interview.

      After reading your version, I was shocked, I really didnt believe he could say things in sutch manner. So I surfed aound a bit and found the original, and I have to say your version is just taking out sentences and applying them to never asked questions.

      For example:

      Asked if he has taken another important step forwards with the impending departure of McLaren protege Hamilton, Button answered: “No comment.”
      But he did admit: “It’s one less person in front of me.

      The original question was:
      Why do Lewis move to Merc? Answer: I’d rather not comment on that.
      Question: Will there be more pressure next year? (w/o Hamilton)
      Answer: Rather, it helps because it’s one less person in front of me. This year, I had good race pace, but on Saturdays I’ve been usually second place at best. Next year I can finish first. Race pace is my strenght and I think there’s nobody better in this regard. Qualifyings are harder for me. If I have a car that works for my style, I put it on pole, but if the car is unbalanced, it gets more difficult and I just naturally drop behind Lewis. But not having him on the team will not change anything.

      While the quotes from Button are somewhat simmilar to the original, their sequence and the questions are different.

        1. @bag0, thanks for the original link. Where I saw it first was at GPGuide latest news. I frequent there for stat updates and so on, though I found their news lines tend to be sensational just like Marko’s thanks comments on Nikki for removing HAM from McLaren.

      1. @bag0

        just taking out sentences and applying them to never asked questions.

        That’s what I suspected. This is why I’m wary of articles which use translated quotes, it only needs the slightest change in a single word to drastically change the meaning of what someone’s saying.

  13. the article by Darren Heath is spot on. If RBR end up winning both champs this season, this will stand in line with Newey’s greatest achievements up to now and there is no lack of those. Don’t agree about the “greatest ever” moniker though. This is still Chapman imo

  14. Unless Jackie Stewart has applied for a minicab license for Grosjean, I can’t see how he’s going to help. Romain started the season looking like he had possibly learned how to control an F1 car, but since the midpoint he’s become a liability again.

    1. @Hairs
      minicab… lol

      Seriously though, I somehow feel it is not too late for RoGro. Every driver has these things, some more visible than others.

      I recall pundits questioning if LH had the mental strength to be WDC. We have seen over the years those objections melt away.

      JB was a wasted talent, a laughing stock, now he is a WDC at MCM.

      FM’s career was all but over at Hungary, and it proved to be “not quite”. For that matter Luca Badoer was to be “Jonny on the spot”, with so many miles, hundreds(thousands?) of race distances in the Ferrari, who else would have been a better stand-in?

      My point is that things change in F1. Today’s prince WILL be tomorrow’s pauper(LH@Merc?), and underdogs get their day sometimes as well(Perez@MCM?). That’s part of the reason why I enjoy following the series.

  15. Alan Baldwin tweat..”Been reading F1 guide that came with Seoul airport bus ticket. Hmm. Refuelling and ‘bumper to bumper’ racing two things to watch out for.”

    LOL!….I wonder what racing ignorant country Ecclestone will have them race next?….maybe Abu Dhabi or Bahrain….oh no..wait,I think thats been done…hey,Bernie how about the South Pole.There are lots of pengiuns to fill the stands there!

  16. * penguins

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