The first practice session for the Malaysian Grand Prix is coming up very soon so keep an eye out for the live blog.
Also, predictions for this weekend’s race are open so don’t forget to enter here: F1 Fanatic Predictions Championship
Links
Briatore sued over Crashgate claims (The Independent)
“Nelson Piquet and his son Nelson Jnr are back in the headlines after bringing a lawsuit against the disgraced former Renault team principal Flavio Briatore.”
Malaysian GP Press Conference 1 (FIA)
Kamui Kobayashi explains what happened with his front wings at Melbourne: “I hit a pylon at the fast corner. I think we tried to repair it and maybe there was still a problem with it and maybe some mis-communication in the team and we didn’t change the complete kit of the front wing. I think that was the problem with the second wing. And the last wing was maybe because of some contact with someone. It was not really a big crash, or whatever, but maybe I touched the front wing just a little bit and suddenly after some corners, I think it was after the start with [Vitaly] Petrov and then turn three with Tonio [Liuzzi] and this was our only chance, and after turn five the wing was on but suddenly I lost the front wing on the straight. For me there was nothing to do. We just have to make a stronger front wing.”
Comment of the day
I think a lot of people will have some sympathy for Magnificent Geoffrey’s take on Jean Todt:
I really WANT to disapprove of Todt – him being the former Team Principle of Ferrari and all – but I have no reason to complain about anything he’s done or said at the moment. The Q3 rule is the only thing I’d say I don’t agree with, but then I’m not sure that Jean is even fully responsible for that rule being implemented in the first place.
That being said though, I still think it’s a little too early to really gauge Todt’s performance as Max’s successor objectively – maybe later on in the year, perhaps.
Magnificent Geoffrey
Happy birthday!
We have three F1 Fanatic birthdays today so best wishes to Nico Savidge, Ripping Silk and MajorMilou! They’re in good company…
On this day in F1
Sir Jack Brabham, the oldest living world champion, celebrates his 84th birthday today. Brabham won back-to-back championships driving a Cooper in 1959 and 1960. He was 40 when he won his third and final championship in 1966, which he achieved at the wheel of his own car, a feat that has never been matched.
Lotus’s Mike Gascoyne is also celebrating his birthday today – he turns 47.
Macca
2nd April 2010, 4:30
A very happy birthday Sir Jack, one of the most prolific people in Australian Motor sport history and perhaps World Motor sport history. A true legend.
US_Peter
2nd April 2010, 4:49
Happy Bday Jack! I was just watching him along w/ Graham Hill, Phil Hill, Bruce McClaren, Jackie Stewart, Jim Clark, etc. in the film Grand Prix a couple days ago…
anthony
2nd April 2010, 4:49
one record that will never be broke.wat a guy
happy brithday
MPJ1994
2nd April 2010, 5:00
Happy Birthday to Sir Jack, a true legend of the sport.
To anyone who lives in Melbourne, or is going there soon, Sir Jacks 1966 Championship winning car is on display at the National Sports Museum at the MCG for the next few weeks. I went while I was in Melbourne this week and was blow away by the car.
wasiF1
2nd April 2010, 8:18
Can anyone tell me about the truth of this article or is it just April FOOL!
http://www.forumula1.net/2010/f1/f1-news/new-rule-for-2011-announced/
bob
2nd April 2010, 8:45
Its joke. Reality is that from next year every engine can make only 15 horse power ;)
James_mc
2nd April 2010, 11:27
Hahahaha “Eddie Jordan”‘s “quote”
bob
2nd April 2010, 11:32
why he is so ”friendly” to David? :D
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
2nd April 2010, 17:43
Definitely an April Fool. I’d ask how anyone could take it seriously but it’s probably not as daft as Bernie Ecclestone talking about shortcuts on the track.
slr
2nd April 2010, 10:54
I wish the Piquets would just let all off this “Crashgatre” rubbish go.
Tom
2nd April 2010, 11:09
Just spotted this…good! All those old F1 cars in Bahrain must have inspired them.
“Measures under discussion for 2011 include increasing the width of the rear tyres to improve mechanical grip, returning to the classic look of F1 cars of the Eighties”
dsob
2nd April 2010, 14:05
Good catch, Tom, on the report of possibly wider tyres.
In a related story, Autosport is reporting that Michelin is very close to inking the deal with FiA to return in 2011, replacing Bridgestone as the tyre supplier. Michelin is pushing for 18 inch tyres, rather than the 13 inch now being used.
Predictably, outcry has already started, complaining that would require a re-design of the cars. Seeing as how the double diffuser ban will already require a re-design, I don’t see what the problem is. Certainly would level the playing field for the new teams, especially if FiA would mandate further reduction on aero along with the 18 inch tyres and wider rear tires, if the tech regs were then locked in for at least 3 years. Or maybe 5.
The eighties cars looked pretty darn good with those fat rear tires. I wouldn’t mind seeing that at all. Whether they were 13 or 18 inch.
twig
2nd April 2010, 16:34
Just been rewatching the Aus race on BBC i-player – there was a lot packed in that race which looks good for this weekend.
Can anyone help me on the end sequence of music – seems it is Joyride by Roxette (naughty Lewis) mixed with something then Paradise City by Guns and Roses. The something goes “im gonna rock you like a baby” anyone any ideas driving me mad !!
Anon
2nd April 2010, 19:15
Think ‘rocks you like a baby’ is Joyride again, Twig.
Hope everyone has a great race weekend. :-)
Scribe
2nd April 2010, 21:51
Something that’s gone largley without comment recently is that lap records are being broken for the first time since 2004. Oh dear, the aero levels on these cars are good enough to make up for a whole V on the engines.
No wonder they can’t overtake, there generating the most grip ever at the highest aero ratio to mechanical grip ever. Obviously F1 is in trouble, whatever James Allen’s aero buddies say it’s time wings were banned. Even with slicks the mechanical ratio is still tumbling compared to the aero.
VXR
3rd April 2010, 1:12
Don’t get your hopes up too much about different tyres or a tyre war for 2011 just yet.
“FIA president Jean Todt said today that he can imagine two suppliers battling in f1, but Domenicali said that having a tyre war in F1 “wouldn’t be possible” for next season.”
http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2010/03/ferrari-boss-on-racing-schumacher-tyre-and-money-problems/
Ah, now I remember! LOL
Becken
3rd April 2010, 2:59
Interesting article at Telegraph about Lewis:
“…That is the thesis proffered by his McLaren team principal, Martin Whitmarsh, who feels his driver has only recently begun to make mistakes for himself and take responsibility for all his actions.
“We hooked up with him at 12 and looked after him,” Whitmarsh explained. “Most of his decisions were taken for him – in his life, in his career, in everything. It was a pretty artificial existence. How could you become the most balanced human being when your life had just glided along? It wasn’t until a year ago that, bang, real-life problems hit him.”
(…)
“With Oliver Rowland, one of the kids who’s now with us, we have taken him out of the top karting team and into another team, so he can experience a bit of adversity. We didn’t do that with Lewis – he had all the best equipment right through. I think what we have learned is to give them a taste of disappointment.
“Because until the Australian Grand Prix 2009, from the age of eight to 24, every race weekend he went to with the knowledge that he had the equipment capable of winning the race.
“That was perhaps a chink in the armour. Lewis was an experiment. He had a programme. It was all the right stuff. But the one thing you miss in all that is that you don’t necessarily equip someone to make life decisions.”
Whitmarsh’s observations are fascinating both for their honesty and insight, painting a picture of a man perhaps more vulnerable than we knew; a man only just beginning to take his first tentative steps into adulthood…”
he whole article:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/lewishamilton/7547921/Malaysian-Grand-Prix-Lewis-Hamilton-starts-to-put-troubles-behind-him-at-Sepang.html
Chaz
7th April 2010, 16:23
So the libel action is worth £200,000. Is it worth it as the lawyers will likely cost more than that…