F1 2005-2012

Need to bone up on the 2009 rules then I Will get back to you.

 

I know that drivers involved in wrecks and the safety workers trying to attend to them need absolutely as much protection as possible from cars driving at unabated speeds, but I'd really like to see the safety car used far less often than it is these days.

Hopefully the new rule will alleviate some of the confusion, and no I don't have a better idea but it seems that it will still give advantages to those that pit before the SC period, like with Alonso's win last year.

I guess being a yank and seeing all the knee jerk cautions that NASCAR throws today I'm jaded and prejudiced against excessive SC periods, especially as it makes that many fewer racing laps for the paying spectators.

 

Just one month to go before the first race...

Honda snubbed my bid: F1 supremo Ecclestone

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone claims crisis-torn Honda have turned down his 100 million pounds bid to rescue the struggling team.

The Japanese-owned Honda outfit have quit F1 due to financial problems caused by the reccession in the car market.

Ecclestone stepped in to help with a management buy-out launched by team principal Ross Brown and chief executive Nick Fry in an attempt to keep the organisation alive.

But Ecclestone, who wanted Brazilian Bruno Senna, nephew of the late world champion Ayrton to drive for Honda, revealed on Sunday that his offer was rejected.

"I tried to help with the management buy-out. They should have taken what I offered," Ecclestone told the News of the World.

"It was a very good offer for everybody concerned. It gave them complete protection but they wanted to do things on their own. Now all we can do is hope and pray.

 

Interesting.

 

Could this be Ferraries year? As McLaren feel there car is not up to it.

BBC SPORT | Motorsport | Formula 1 | We are not competitive - McLaren

 

Australian Grand Prix
Melbourne, 27-29 March 2009

Friday 27
First practice: 1230-1400 (0130-0300 GMT)
Second practice: 1630-1800 (0530-0700 GMT)
Saturday 28
Third practice: 1400-1500 (0300-0400 GMT)
Qualifying: 1700 (0600 GMT) Sunday 29
Race: 1700 (0700 BST)

Malaysian Grand Prix
Kuala Lumpur, 3-5 April 2009

Friday 3
First practice: 1000-1130 (0300-0430 BST)
Second practice: 1400-1530 (0700-0830 BST)
Saturday 4
Third practice: 1400-1500 (0700-0800 BST)
Qualifying: 1700 (1000 BST) Sunday 5
Race: 1700 (1000 BST)

Chinese Grand Prix
Shanghai, 17-19 April 2009

Friday 17
First practice: 1000-1130 (0300-0430 BST)
Second practice: 1400-1530 (0700-0830 BST)
Saturday 18
Third practice: 1100-1200 (0400-0500 BST)
Qualifying: 1400 (0700 BST) Sunday 19
Race: 1500 (0800 BST)


Bahrain Grand Prix
Sakhir, 24-26 April 2009

Friday 24
First practice: 1000-1130 (0800-0930 BST)
Second practice: 1400-1530 (1200-1330 BST)
Saturday 25
Third practice: 1100-1200 (0900-1000 BST)
Qualifying: 1400 (1200 BST) Sunday 26
Race: 1500 (1300 BST)

Spanish Grand Prix
Barcelona, 8-10 May 2009

Friday 8
First practice: 1000-1130 (0900-1030 BST)
Second practice: 1400-1530 (1300-1430 BST)
Saturday 9
Third practice: 1100-1200 (1000-1100 BST)
Qualifying: 1400 (1300 BST) Sunday 10
Race: 1400 (1300 BST)

Monaco Grand Prix
Monte Carlo, 21-24 May 2009

Thursday 21
First practice: 1000-1130 (0900-1030 BST)
Second practice: 1400-1530 (1300-1430 BST)
Saturday 23
Third practice: 1100-1200 (1000-1100 BST)
Qualifying: 1400 (1300 BST) Sunday 24
Race: 1400 (1300 BST)

Turkish Grand Prix
Istanbul, 5-7 June 2009

Friday 5
First practice: 1000-1130 (0800-0930 BST)
Second practice: 1400-1530 (1200-1330 BST)
Saturday 6
Third practice: 1100-1200 (0900-1000 BST)
Qualifying: 1400 (1200 BST) Sunday 7
Race: 1500 (1300 BST)

British Grand Prix
Silverstone, 19-21 June 2009

Friday 19
First practice: 1000-1130 BST
Second practice: 1400-1530 BST
Saturday 20
Third practice: 1000-1100 BST
Qualifying: 1300 BST Sunday 21
Race: 1300 BST

German Grand Prix
Nurburgring, 10-12 July 2009

Friday 10
First practice: 1000-1130 (0900-1030 BST)
Second practice: 1400-1530 (1300-1430 BST)
Saturday 11
Third practice: 1100-1200 (1000-1100 BST)
Qualifying: 1400 (1300 BST) Sunday 12
Race: 1400 (1300 BST)

Hungarian Grand Prix
Budapest, 24-26 July 2009

Friday 24
First practice: 1000-1130 (0900-1030 BST)
Second practice: 1400-1530 (1300-1430 BST)
Saturday 25
Third practice: 1100-1200 (1000-1100 BST)
Qualifying: 1400 (1300 BST) Sunday 26
Race: 1400 (1300 BST)

European Grand Prix
Valencia, 21-23 August 2009

Friday 21
First practice: 1000-1130 (0900-1030 BST)
Second practice: 1400-1530 (1300-1430 BST)
Saturday 22
Third practice: 1100-1200 (1000-1100 BST)
Qualifying: 1400 (1300 BST) Sunday 23
Race: 1400 (1300 BST)

Belgian Grand Prix
Spa-Francorchamps, 28-30 August 2009

Friday 28
First practice: 1000-1130 (0900-1030 BST)
Second practice: 1400-1530 (1300-1430 BST)
Saturday 29
Third practice: 1100-1200 (1000-1100 BST)
Qualifying: 1400 (1300 BST) Sunday 30
Race: 1400 (1300 BST)

Italian Grand Prix
Monza, 11-13 September 2009

Friday 11
First practice: 1000-1130 (0900-1030 BST)
Second practice: 1400-1530 (1300-1430 BST)
Saturday 12
Third practice: 1100-1200 (1000-1100 BST)
Qualifying: 1400 (1300 BST) Sunday 13
Race: 1400 (1300 BST)

Singapore Grand Prix
Singapore, 25-27 September 2009

Friday 25
First practice: 1800-1930 (1100-1230 BST)
Second practice: 2130 -2300 (1430-1600 BST)
Saturday 26
Third practice: 1900 -2000 (1200-1300 BST)
Qualifying: 2200 (1500 BST) Sunday 27
Race: 2000 (1300 BST)

Japanese Grand Prix
Suzuka, 2-4 October 2009

Friday 2
First practice: 1000-1130 (0200-1330 BST)
Second practice: 1400-1530 (0600-0730 BST)
Saturday 3
Third practice: 1100-1200 (0300-0400 BST)
Qualifying: 1400 (0600 BST) Sunday 4
Race: 1400 (0600 BST)

Brazil Grand Prix
Sao Paulo, 16-18 October 2009

Friday 16
First practice: 1000-1130 (1400-1530 BST)
Second practice: 1400-1530 (1800-1930 BST)
Saturday 17
Third practice: 1100-1200 (1500-1600 BST)
Qualifying: 1400 (1800 BST) Sunday 18
Race: 1400 (1700 BST)

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Abu Dhabi, 30 October - 1 November 2009

Friday 30
First practice: 1000-1130 (0600-0730 GMT)
Second practice: 1400-1530 (1000-1130 GMT)
Saturday 31
Third practice: 1100-1200 (0700-0800 GMT)
Qualifying: 1400 (1000 GMT) Sunday 1
Race: 1500 (1100 GMT)

 

BBC SPORT | Motorsport | Formula 1 | GP wins will decide world title

Formula 1 has introduced a new points system which will result in the driver with most wins crowned 2009 champion.

The current points system will still operate to decide a tie if two drivers have the same wins and to define all other championship positions.

Under these new rules, Lewis Hamilton would have lost the 2008 title to Felipe Massa, who had one more win.

 

I think it is a waste of time but I'm not on the board.

FIA has made some good changes and yet bad changes as well this year, just have to see how the season pans out.

 

Kai, change of plan!

BBC SPORT | Motorsport | Formula 1 | F1 in disarray over scoring plan

 

Well, they still have got time to change it back, actually...

 

Motorsport's governing body has rejected the protest made by three Formula 1 teams about the legality of certain cars.

With F1 just days away from the start of the new season in Australia, the FIA has ruled that the cars of Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams are all legal.

Ferrari, BMW Sauber and Renault claimed a crucial part at the back of the car does not conform to new F1 regulations.

-------

Seems like a season of protesting coming up...

 

Let me look in to my crystal ball for 2010...

BBC SPORT | Motorsport | Formula 1 | New teams for 2010 - Ecclestone

 

Hamilton:

"I haven't had offers from other teams and I am not talking to anyone but I would listen to an offer if someone asked," he said. "It would be a compliment and it would be silly if I did not."

Eek! At least the press overreacted must say.

The quote was interpreted as an 'admission he could leave' McLaren (the Guardian), that he has 'doubts over future' (the Times), and a 'hint' that could 'alert Ferrari' (the Telegraph).

 

Hope not as us the fans have had a gut full of it.

 

Incredible!

Briton Jenson Button snared pole position just ahead of his teammate Rubens Barrichello as newcomers Brawn GP seized control of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix here on Saturday.

Button, backed by just three days' testing with the Brawn team, hastily put together in the wake of a management buy-out of the Honda team, burnt off his rivals for his fourth career pole.

 

Bad news for us no Qualifying anymore on TV, cheapskate BBC. But on the other hand now F1 is back on the beeb we get to see the whole race with no ad breaks.


Checklist

• Snacks
• Drinks
• Comfy chair
• Telephone unplugged
• Back up TV, in case

Right I'm ready for Sunday.

 

Well done - Mr Button :flag_unionjack.wave

Well done BBC - no adverts

 

Drama at the start - Drama at the end - lucky lucky Lewis! To be fair, he drove a very tactical race.

Steve W.

 

What a great story !

A terrific achievement for jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello and their team. I've watched with horror over the years as a once great sport has been ruined by the influx of colossal amounts of money - maybe, just possibly, there's a glimmer of hope for the future.

The sport doesn't 'need' endless billions of £££/$$$s. Real racers will race whatever they can get their hands on......