In the round-up: Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene and driver Kimi Raikkonen are unimpressed with their rivals’ antics during Saturday’s rain delay at the Circuit of the Americas.
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Ferrari condemns 'circus' behaviour of rival F1 teams at US Grand Prix (The Telegraph)
"I think this is F1 and not the circus. The people are obviously not happy when we're not running but we cannot make them happy with whatever we do apart from running."
Como preparar la carrera de Mexico en 5 lecciones - por Esteban Gutierrez (YouTube)
World champion's refusal to conform is to be praised (BBC)
"People pay attention to celebrity and fans relate to human beings, not metal. Lewis is crossing that line into mainstream appeal and doing us all a favour."
Wolff: F1 warned against 'Back to the Future' engine move (Motorsport)
"The hybrid is important, and it is what is happening on the roads today. But if you want to go 'Back to the Future', that is not what we believe should be the philosophy."
Jenson Button may face wait for upgraded Honda power unit (ESPN)
"We understand that there was an issue with some sensors maybe, so we had to tell him to reprogram differently the car, but the damage was done."
Tweets
#Porsche919Hybrid test programme for @circuitcat Nov 10/11 is finalized: drivers will be @mitchevans_ , @KevinMagnussen and @OliverTurvey
— Porsche Motorsport (@PorscheRaces) October 27, 2015
So @autodromohr put a video of their own track on @YouTube and FOM had it taken down. Great promotion @F1: https://t.co/fybse1W0uk #F1
— F1 Fanatic (@f1fanatic_co_uk) October 27, 2015
Thank you, Fernando https://t.co/dYTdBiUbKH
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) October 27, 2015
And we thought it was raining a lot in Austin. View from hotel room in Mexico. Hmmm pic.twitter.com/nOISowlLwn
— Andy Stobart (@andystobart) October 27, 2015
Watch out @Pastormaldo, @carlosainz is catching you… https://t.co/aKpOEwtGsa #F1 #USGP pic.twitter.com/5eThWnR4dT
— F1 Fanatic (@f1fanatic_co_uk) October 27, 2015
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Comment of the day
Hopefully Jean Todt also enjoys the irony of Ferrari blocking his attempt to bring down the price of engines:
I strongly dislike the veto, but I can’t help but see the funny side of something Todt played a part in acquiring when he was at Ferrari coming back to bite him on the backside all these years later.
Neil (@Neilosjames)
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Tyler (@tdog)
28th October 2015, 0:06
I get the impression, reading Arrivabene’s comments in full, that he was responding to a question that was expressly or implicitly critical of Ferrari team members for not joining in on Saturday’s shenanigans.
Nevertheless, it was a clumsy reply, and the responses from fans online that I have seen have not been kind to the Ferrari boss.
I have my money on a hasty clarification between now and Sunday.
anon
28th October 2015, 18:23
@oletros has kindly provided a link to an article which provides more context on Arrivabene’s comments, where Arrivabene mentions that they chose to do different things for the fans (inviting some into the pit box, for example). It suggests that Arrivabene’s complaints were not that the teams shouldn’t have been doing anything for the fans, but more along the lines that he found what the other teams were doing to be too childish for his tastes. http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ferrari-we-are-an-f1-team-not-a-circus-act/
medman (@medman)
28th October 2015, 18:27
Well said.
Woody (@woodyd91)
28th October 2015, 0:23
Yes entertaining the dedicated fans who stayed through that weather isn’t good for F1, Ferrari having a veto over pretty much any new rule on the other hand…
Sergio B. Perez (@sergio-perez)
29th October 2015, 3:22
I think its just a serious issue of a disease called “lack of humor” from the Ferrari boss. Kimi is, well, being Kimi.
Kirk
29th October 2015, 8:17
Well – he is just reminding us that F1 stands for Ferrari 1.
This was also in the days of Mr. Todd (Now conveniently FIA President) and who’s son is managing now Massa – which is the reason this guy does still has seat.
Anything negative to Ferrari and you’ve had it – you’re a ‘nothing’ and you do not have ‘passion’.
Which is what they displayed last weekend – NOT!!!!!
Scalextric (@scalextric)
28th October 2015, 0:45
Happy Birthday Bernie. You’re one in 6!
matiascasali (@matiascasali)
28th October 2015, 2:25
good one, sir, good one!
Jacob C
28th October 2015, 0:58
I was there, miserable and cold in the rain. It was just a little bit of joy to see all the non sense between Red Bull and Williams etc. I think part of F1’s issue is that people like Arrivebene and Raikkonen are much too self serious as is the sport. I went to see racing, but seeing the row and boat teams was equally as enjoyable and an extreme novelty in F1 that I’m glad I saw first hand.
Mijail (@mijail)
28th October 2015, 15:03
@jacobc In reality i expect this from Raikkonen but not from Arrivabene, seems weird to me that he says that.
Woody (@woodyd91)
28th October 2015, 15:38
@mijail Really I’m surprised Raikkonen even cared what others were doing.
retak
28th October 2015, 19:55
Personally, I’m quite surprised to hear that from Raikkonen. It’s quite rich coming from a man who once entered a powerboat race wearing a gorilla suit under the name James Hunt.
gweilo8888 (@gweilo8888)
28th October 2015, 20:25
Or who after a night grinding up on celebrities, then promptly passed out drunk and hugging an inflatable dolphin — which is the Finnish equivalent of hugging an inflatable sheep elsewhere in Europe.
Wesley (@)
28th October 2015, 21:18
Exactly retak! Maybe he is just agreeing with Arrivabene to suck up because of the mistakes he’s made this season. He was my favorite, I think its time for him to move on though. A lot of racers are growing tired of this sport since it started self imploding.
Philip (@philipgb)
28th October 2015, 1:11
I’m going to predict most peoples initial reaction to Ferrari’s negative comments about the wet weather antics of the teams will also be negative. But truth told I tuned in to see cars on track, not grown men frolicking about like BTEC drama students trying to look like they are having contrived fun for the camera.
I have a sense of humour, and I like fun which is why I enjoy seeing these silly cars lap a circuit for no good reason. But I’m not five years old, two guys dancing in the rain and a bunch of grown men pulling around a wheeled case pretending it’s a boat isn’t entertaining.
If they really wanted to entertain the people who made the effort to attend they should have done what the Sky F1 team kept suggesting and invited them into the paddock. Actually engage with them rather than waving their hands by their heads saying aren’t we funny!
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
28th October 2015, 2:30
If the cameras are rolling anyway, why is it a bad thing? the mechanics are also waiting, just like us, and a little entertainment doesn’t kill anyone.
Besides, if you’re watching rain falling down an empty track, you’re either already very very bored, or you don’t have anything else to do other than listen to the commentators talk nonsense for hours.
I prefer this kind of things. People having fun, laughing, trying to pass the time just like me. Goes to show, in this same round-up we’re told that people pay atention to human beings, not robots… yet Arrivabene prefers having everyone watching the rain in Stand By mode…
Arnold Triyudho Wardono (@ernietheracefan)
28th October 2015, 5:10
“If they really wanted to entertain the people who made the effort to attend they should have done what the Sky F1 team kept suggesting and invited them into the paddock”
It could be happen if they allowed the camera.
BasCB (@bascb)
28th October 2015, 6:40
First of all, it was not an idea by Sky @philipgb, I saw it on Twitter and on the F1F live blog well before the tv crew picked up on that one, they probably got it from looking at Twitter.
And they DID invite the people into the pits, but only after the live session was called off (can’t have hundreds of people running around in the paddock when the session might continue).
All in all, sure, all of us had rather wanted to see the cars on track, but when that was not possible, its great to see that some of the teams picked up on the fact that they are there, have time on their hands and have a grandstand with people freezing in the rain opposite to them and provided something to watch.
John H (@john-h)
28th October 2015, 6:42
I think they did that @philipgb
http://twitter.com/ChrisMedlandF1/status/658030144922120192/photo/1
ColdFly F1 (@)
28th October 2015, 8:21
And of course they couldn’t do it earlier when they merely delayed qualifying.
mantresx (@mantresx)
28th October 2015, 7:45
meh I don’t mind, if it happened every other weekend then yes it would be annoying but that’s not the case.
Girts (@girts)
28th October 2015, 8:46
I agree with @mantresx, these were specific circumstances and it was nice that we got to see something else than raindrops falling on asphalt and some very wet spectators. For sure, the improvised “entertainment” was rather primitive but I see it rather as an attempt to show some appreciation and pay respect to the spectators, who did not abandon their seats in the grandstands or TV viewers, who did not switch the channel despite the fact that the qualifying session was never going to happen on that day.
Sonics (@sonicslv)
28th October 2015, 9:22
@philipgb But they still there to race first. Like Toro Rosso mechanics is fixing Sainz car first before they join the fun. There’s nothing right or wrong on what they doing IMO, and nothing more boring than just sit tight, looking like a good children in grade school while doing nothing. If Arrivabene or Kimi wants to do that it’s fine too, just don’t spoil others fun.
Nicholas (@mclarennyc)
28th October 2015, 9:29
@philipgb Hillary Clinton: I Am Fun ;)
Strontium (@strontium)
28th October 2015, 12:08
I love how at one point they showed a replay (with the replay sign in the top left corner) of the mechanics throwing and catching a frisbee! That made my day personally :)
I like this sort of thing, it shows that Formula One has gone personality to it, rather than a mundane bunch of people running cars.
bpacman (@bpacman)
28th October 2015, 13:15
+1
Mijail (@mijail)
28th October 2015, 15:06
@philipgb they did invited the people to the pit straight but only after the qualifying was offficially called off. Lighten up!
DaveD (@daved)
28th October 2015, 19:16
@philipgb
I was one of those cold, wet people there and I appreciated the fact that they showed some personality AND tried to entertain us. We’d spent many, many hours just talking with other fans because there wasn’t much else to do besides compare notes of how cold and wet we were.
But as others have noted, they DID invite us into pitlane once the Quali session was cancelled and that was fantastic of them. I saw Mercedes and others tweeting for that to happen but I doubted Bernie would go along so it was a great surprise that they let us “storm the castle”! We got some great pics and my fiancée got a pic with Rossi and a close up pic of her with Grosjean’s. And the Lotus crew was really cool about it and even signed the pic for her after the race Sunday. Now THAT is how you get new fans….she’s truly a fanatic now. :)
Philip (@philipgb)
28th October 2015, 22:11
@daved
Hey if it did entertain people then fantastic, it wouldn’t have cut mustard for me and I respect why Ferrari didn’t have their team clowning about.
It’s great the teams invited people to the paddock once it had finally been called off and I do appreciate that their hands would have been tied while being kept waiting as they had to be ready to go with 30 minutes notice.
The real failing here though was race control and the organisers. Lets face it we all know the track was going to see no action but they strung it out as much as they could when they didn’t need to. They kept fans sat in the rain for 4 hours refusing to just accept they should call it off, we all knew it was never going to happen.
DaveD (@daved)
29th October 2015, 1:15
@philipgb
Well, first I’m easily entertained anyway :)
But after standing in line in the cold rain since 7:30 that morning…by the time they were doing the antics, we would have been entertained by a french mime. OK, I exaggerate when I go THAT far….but you get the picture LOL
Rooney (@rojov123)
28th October 2015, 1:15
When a particular team in Formula 1 has the power to veto a rule change aimed at equalizing competition, it is not fair competition. I’d say the European Union investigation is definitely warranted irrespective of all the big team’s attitude towards it.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
28th October 2015, 2:26
Toto is right, mainly because a “Back to the Future engine” would come from a Renault 30 and who the hell wants a Renault engine right now?!
celeste (@celeste)
28th October 2015, 2:37
Guey!
mantresx (@mantresx)
28th October 2015, 7:40
Pica guey! lol Raikkonen is so funny in that video let’s hope he goes “hecho la mocha” next Sunday, he really needs it.
jale
28th October 2015, 13:26
That’s hilarious. They are better at acting than these guys.
@HoHum (@hohum)
28th October 2015, 2:51
Too many people are critical of these amazing power units when they should be aiming their criticism at the root cause of the poor racing, that is the unpushable tyres, given their is a great gulf in straightline performance the response should be for drivers like Ricciardo to push like crazy in the twisty bits to compensate for the power loss but to do so with these tyres does not just increase the risk of going off and losing time it makes it inevitable that the tyres will have to be changed 4 or 5 times a race meaning losing minutes and running out of time, good chassis with underpowered engines have won in the past but that on tyres that lasted.
Optimaximal
28th October 2015, 9:06
@hohum Surely this is the same argument that you always peddle and everyone just replies that the tyres are one of the MANY problems affecting the sport?
– the performance of the different power units *is* imbalanced, which is compounded by the rule makers providing no regulated means of controlling cost or equalising development
– the tyre model is shoddy
– DRS (both the concept and its implementation) ruins competitive racing
– some teams have done massively weighted corrupt back room deals with the Commercial Rights Holder
– one team can arbitrarily and unilaterally torpedo rules it doesn’t like
– the crumbling figurehead of the CRH actively and publicly hates on his sport (whilst masking his real manipulative agenda)
– the entire circus is manipulated by a bunch of be-suited corporate asset strippers
– nearly 2000 people could be unemployed in a couple of months and nobody cares, instead content to play their own motorised Game of Thrones to save face/their personal wealth…
Shall I go on?
William Jones (@williamjones)
28th October 2015, 11:42
I don’t think that there is anything wrong with the concept of DRM, allowing drivers to toggle their aero while in the car is a great idea for racing.
– It’s an extra layer of strategy, maybe Rosberg sets more wing in the open position so he can leave it open during corners that Hamilton has to close his, but losing out on the straights.
– It’s an additional control for the driver to have to perfect. Perhaps Alonso is capable of opening his a few thenths earlier than Button, giving him a tenth at the end of the lap
– Extra tactical options. Vettel is all over the back of Hamilton, so he starts to close his wings earlier in the braking zone to disrupt the airflow to Vettels car earlier.
– It makes moving wings a ligitimate part of the sport, rather than the technically illegal but all the teams push into the grey area around it anyway, giving us a cool looking piece of technology – imagine the long shot down the start finish straight as the cars come round the final corner, each DRM activating in turn – with actual functionality, rather than adding extra sparky metal to the planks because everyone loves sparks.
@HoHum (@hohum)
28th October 2015, 20:10
@optimaximal, ” shall I go on “? Yes please do, you are correct in your observation that I have argued against these gimmicky tyres since the beginning, just as I was against re-fueling from the beginning but had no forum to try and explain my point of view, I am one of those who watched/followed F1 for many years without pit stops interrupting the racing. I continue to push my point of view because there are many commenters here that seem to still believe that these tyres add interest (overtaking) to the racing rather than ruin it by forcing drivers to avoid attacking the car ahead.
Girts (@girts)
28th October 2015, 14:17
@hohum Personally, I believe that high degradation tyres are rather a consequence of the things that @optimaximal mentions in his comment. The flaws in FIA and FOM policies have spoiled the competition so gimmicks have to be introduced to somehow keep races exciting. The 2013 season was a good example, the first half was halfway exciting (even if it was for the wrong reasons) but when Red Bull and everyone else got more durable tyres it became a real snooze fest. I agree that drivers should be able to push but I doubt that gaps between drivers would become smaller or more volatile and that racing would generally get better if everyone was given proper tyres but nothing else was changed.
DaveD (@daved)
28th October 2015, 19:21
@hohum
As usual, I agree with you on almost everything you post :)
But seriously, I was in the main grandstands and it was plenty loud enough to make my ears tired by the end of the day. Those McHondas in particular were very loud….almost like their turbos weren’t working and muffling the sound. Might explain much of their performance issues LOL
That was a GREAT race and I’m so happy that I got to see it live.
Arnold Triyudho Wardono (@ernietheracefan)
28th October 2015, 4:50
“Row, row, row the box..”
Arnold Triyudho Wardono (@ernietheracefan)
28th October 2015, 5:03
Even Marlboro didn’t doing that..
John H (@john-h)
28th October 2015, 6:47
Who can forget the 1990 mechanic boat race at Montreal. Ferrari had a sense of humour then I think.
https://youtu.be/8l4mTVP0u6s
Joey-Poey (@joey-poey)
28th October 2015, 18:35
Their sense of humor changed, but looks like their sense of sportsmanship hasn’t ;)
Neel Jani (@neelv27)
28th October 2015, 5:12
Common Ferrari! Finally we started to like you after all these years of blowing up your chances. Why make us hate you again? Isn’t Red Bull and Horner enough?
Fanie
28th October 2015, 8:34
Read the article before you criticise
Neel Jani (@neelv27)
28th October 2015, 10:20
It’s only after reading articles that I comment…. always
petebaldwin (@)
28th October 2015, 13:24
Which bit are referring to? I read it and cant see how they can be defended.
Kimi said:
Nevermind racing in warzones, no internet presence, the sport’s anti-fan stance, poor racing, poor tracks, teams going out of business, DRS, teams unable to buy engines, pay-drivers, Bernie, teams paid unfairly, Ferrari’s veto, most of money generated by F1 going into Bernie’s pocket, pay TV deals and so on. No. Its definitely teams trying to entertain fans when they have turned up and get to see no action that is the real problem!
Finger on the pulse as always Ferrari.
JerseyF1 (@jerseyf1)
28th October 2015, 9:05
@neelv27 My thoughts exactly, Arrivabene and Vettel had done so much to make Ferrari likeable again after the damage done by the previous management and this one stupid comment from him brought back the old feelings again.
It would be interesting to see the full context of the full question and answer though.
petebaldwin (@)
28th October 2015, 13:16
@neelv27 – Careful critising Ferrari on here mate! Everyone gets a bit wound up. Now if we were talking about Red Bull….
Grimlock
28th October 2015, 14:34
This is all blown out of proportion … so Ferrari was not willing to play in front of the cameras, it’s their right to do so, and I for one think what they did behind the scenes was way more beneficial than two grown man doing a …. dance.
Oletros (@oletros)
28th October 2015, 5:24
Perhaps is better to rad here, there is more context:
http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ferrari-we-are-an-f1-team-not-a-circus-act/
Paul Duggan
28th October 2015, 7:05
To semi-recycle a Bernie line: If it’s not a circus then why do they have a clown in their car? A-rooo-gah!
Girts (@girts)
28th October 2015, 7:37
I do not think that Hamilton is necessarily someone you can relate to. Not many fans spend their free time with celebrities in Barbados or at Paris fashion week. Moreover, it is quite obvious that Hamilton has a very good PR strategy so it is not just a case of doing and saying what one wants.
That said, I agree that Hamilton is great for F1. He reaches people, who are not F1 fans and he connects very different worlds. For instance, I am happy to see him together with LGBT icons Janelle Monáe, Tom Daley or Sam Smith. The pictures and videos of his dogs are funny and his lifestyle just looks cool even if I do not always get it. No other driver should be forced to copy Hamilton’s approach but he is the perfect ambassador of F1.
Optimaximal
28th October 2015, 9:15
@girts
The ‘relatability’ comes from the fact he was born into a normal, non-racing family and basically has had to genuinely work for what he has. It’s not saying that others haven’t done that too, but most of them aren’t multiple world champions either. Yes, he ‘acquired’ McLaren and Mercedes backing along the way but what successful driver in the last few generations hasn’t?
I guess it also makes him an lazy antonym to drivers like Rosberg who grew up into wealth and motorsport.
lexlut
28th October 2015, 13:30
That’s good. I didn’t know other multiple champions on the grid didn’t have normal families and didn’t have to genuinely work for what they are. So he must be more relatable than Vettel or Alonso. That sounds true.
/s
ACx
28th October 2015, 13:35
No, is is something younger fans can aspire to: He has achieved great things, and fans see the rewards. He is a celeb who deserves it because of his dedication and hard work. Literally the perfect role model.
Im guessing people who hate this will be old crusty farts.
@HoHum (@hohum)
28th October 2015, 20:21
Bah, humbug!
WheelToWheel (@lolzerbob)
28th October 2015, 8:19
Early weather reports signal another wet qualifying this weekend but a dry race
ColdFly F1 (@)
28th October 2015, 9:32
Déjà vu all over again.
lexlut
28th October 2015, 13:30
I wish!
Adam (@rocketpanda)
28th October 2015, 8:49
Personally thought Kvyat and Ricciardo dancing in the pitlane was excellent. F1 needs moments of lightness and humour now and then to show how human all these people are in the midst of such technology and precision.
Though, the slow-mo frisbee was a bit much.
Strontium (@strontium)
28th October 2015, 12:17
@rocketpanda I loved the slow-mo frisbee, especially how they took it so seriously in having ‘replay’ written in the corner :D
DaveF1 (@davef1)
28th October 2015, 12:12
Could’ve fooled me with some of your driving this season Kimi.
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
28th October 2015, 13:20
Ha-ha brilliant :-)
petebaldwin (@)
28th October 2015, 13:13
That’s a real low blow for circuses worldwide. A circus is something designed to entertain people – of course, that will go against the grain in F1….
On the flip-side Kimi, this is a professional business, not a stag do karting event. Interviews and acting professionally are part of it! You cant just do whatever you want and shout at your employers. It’s no wonder people think what they do of F1….. ;)
Michael (@freelittlebirds)
28th October 2015, 13:28
I loved the show – I particularly liked the boat hat with the number 27 on it.
What’s wrong with having fun while you are waiting? If you aren’t having fun, then why are you in Formula1. Most of the guys sacrifice everything to go around the world and compete – I would imagine Kimi and Maurizio would know that better than anyone. It was actually sad not to see Ferrari take part but I suppose with the IPO and Marchionne they were afraid of repercussions – I’m sure Seb wanted to.
Loosen up Kimi and Maurizio! I think Bernie should force the two to dance the Macarena at the Mexican GP as a comedic way of taking back those comments.
Neel Jani (@neelv27)
28th October 2015, 13:42
Well Formula 1 is a circus after all. Bernie is the ringmaster, Sauber/Lotus/Force India are the caged animals, Manor is a puppet and the clowns are_______________
Neil (@neilosjames)
28th October 2015, 18:41
…idiots like me who buy Sky subscriptions and race tickets to keep the whole show going.
Or so it feels.
evered7 (@evered7)
28th October 2015, 14:50
So Arirvabene and Kimi are asking teams to put a video like theirs instead? And have it played on the giant screens?
That will work too :)
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
28th October 2015, 18:56
I’m sure Todt just forward that emend to see it rejected. It’s just to say that they care about fairness. Honestly I can’t see what’s fair about trying to lock F1 further into a position where Merc and Ferrari would end up supplying only themselves.
Andy (@andybantam)
28th October 2015, 22:21
Those Ferrari lads must have been misquoted.
You can’t release a video like that whilst simultaneously moaning about F1 pros acting like fools in the name of fun (PR).
Ed Marques (@edmarques)
29th October 2015, 3:17
Retire Kimi, just retire.
Excuse me :D (@square-route)
29th October 2015, 8:12
Where would he go? Don’t think he would become a commentator. Circuses would employ him coz that definitely was a low blow for circuses as mentioned by @petebaldwin so they wouldn’t take him either.
Successor to Bernie ??
Please no.
ILuvSoundtracks (@)
29th October 2015, 19:14
If I were either one of them I wouldn’t say that.