2005/2006 F1 News and Testing.

McLaren's press release.

WORLD CHAMPION FERNANDO ALONSO SECURES VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES DRIVE

Woking, Great Britain, Monday 19th December 2005: The 2005 Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes will be joining forces for the 2007 Formula One season. Today's announcement comes only five days after Vodafone and McLaren Mercedes confirmed Vodafone's title sponsorship effective from January 2007 and forms an important part of the team's long term strategic partnership.

"Its great that our strong belief in the strength and competitiveness of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes package has been further endorsed by the World Champion," said Ron Dennis, Team Principal and Chairman and CEO of the McLaren Group. "We always make it clear that we want to be the best and the only way of achieving this objective is by attracting the best people, the best drivers and the best sponsors. To be able to announce Vodafone as only McLaren's third title partner in more than 30 years and Fernando's employment within only a few days is fantastic news for the team, our Partners, Formula One and the fans."

"We are in discussions with our current drivers' Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya regarding the 2007 season," continues Ron Dennis. "Both Juan Pablo and Kimi are extremely talented, professional and competitive Formula One drivers and they have and will continue to concentrate on our joint challenge for the Championships."

"Fernando and McLaren Mercedes wanted to make the announcement as soon as possible in a controlled and professional manner to allow McLaren Mercedes, Fernando, Kimi and Juan Pablo to focus on the preparations for the 2006 season," states Ron Dennis. "Our aim for next year remains absolutely clear to everybody within the team – we want to win races and be in a position where we might have two Formula One World Champions driving for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes in 2007."

"We are pleased to welcome Fernando to the team and look forward to working both with him and our new title sponsor in 2007," said Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport. "To have a World Champion joining the team is a great endorsement and will create a tremendous amount of excitement. However for now our focus must remain on the 2006 season where we want to go one better than we did in 2005."

"To become part of a team with such a desire to succeed and passion for performance is a dream come true for any Formula One driver," said 2005 Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso. "I'm very excited about 2007 and the fantastic opportunity to drive for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. It will be a new beginning for me and a tremendous challenge and from what I have heard about this exciting new Partnership there is something to look forward to. Obviously I will be sad to leave Renault but sometimes possibilities come along which are just too good to miss. I'm pleased that we are able to make this announcement already now as it will allow my current team and I to focus 100 per cent on defending the World Championships next year."
Click to expand...
 
Can you say bolt from the blue?

I had Kimi & Alonso pencilled in at Ferrari for 2007 but this blows that out of the water. Sensible move from Alonso's point of view - McLaren look to be best placed budget wise going forward.

It's going to be interesting to see who ends up in the second seat, I don't see a wholesale change, either Kimi (more likely) or JPM will end up at Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton should be in as tester/reserve.

I wonder if this has anything to do with the Vodafone deal other than the obvious financial security for McLaren? Do Vodafone have a stake in Telefonica? Is there any link between Telefonica and Alonso?

Hmm, will have a ponder offline I think.....
 
I've heard rumours of Renault leaving F1 at the end of 2007 with reducing the funding they receive until then.

As nice as it is to stay loyal to a single team if they're not going to be around then you'd better start looking for a new job before that happens.

It does make some sense though - McLaren are doing well, they've got a multi year deal with Vodafone, Mercedes backs them 110% *although often they only last 10% ;)*. They're cars have been very fast this year - and as the line goes - "It's easier to make a fast car reliable than to make reliable car fast"

Ferrari are on the back foot money wise at the moment. Vodafone going, Fiat dying - it's not looking good for them. Schumacher sucking up a large amount of money himself for his wages. However the amount of money thats been rumoured to be available to sign Raikkonen is astounding - Personally heard from $50million up to $150 million - thats vast in anyones books tbh. And with Massa - I really can't see what Ferrari are doing there. Car wasn't great *as much as they kept blaming the tyres - it was more than the tyres*

Sadly I can't really see anywhere else Alonso could have wanted to go to.

Really wish there was a point to this post - just seem to be rambling a bit..

Simon/~Flibscrooge
 
The bottom line is the driver market is going to be up in the air for most of next year until it's clear how many 2007/8 seats are available. The GPMA is the key here as drivers will be looking to see which teams will be racing where before committing to deals beyond 2007.

Ferrari's form in early 2006 will be crucial in determining who goes where, I could see Kimi getting cold feet if they don't come out firing on all cylinders. I doubt there will be any resistance from McLaren if he wants to stay, they've coped with having the 2 biggest names in the sport in the team at the same time before.

Looks like Fisi could be safe as a result of this, it looked previously like he could be punted in favour of Heike Koveleinen for 2007 but it wouldn't make sense to pair him with a newcomer in his first season. Mind you stranger things have happened - Flav may have someone else up his sleeve.
 
A statement from Fernando Alonso

“As everybody will now be aware, I have taken the decision to leave Renault after the 2006 season. I achieved my lifetime ambition with Renault this year, and for my career, I felt that it was time for a new challenge. That will be to try and win with another team.

“At this point in time, though, I am concentrating on 2006. Renault brought me into Formula 1, brought me my first title, and I will be working to repeat that success next year. The signs so far are very positive on every level. I am confident the chassis will be quick, and the engine team are doing a fantastic job on the new V8. I am looking forward to a very successful 2006 season.”
Click to expand...
 
A statement from Patrick Faure, Renault F1 Team president

“The Renault F1 Team and Fernando Alonso have enjoyed historic successes together since he joined the team in 2002. I was disappointed to learn of Fernando’s decision but, by the end of 2006, he will have spent five seasons with Renault. Fresh challenges are essential for any sportsman, and he has taken the decision to pursue a new direction in his career. That is part of Formula 1, and part of life.

“Our priority at the moment is 2006. We aim to maintain our level of performance in next year with an aggressive technical programme and competitive approach. The teams at Viry and Enstone proved this year that they can do the job, and every member of the team is working 100% to produce a package that will allow both Fernando and Giancarlo Fisichella to defend the team’s position as world champions. Our aim will be to win again in 2006.”
Click to expand...
 
Finn expected to join Ferrari

While Fernando Alonso’s name in today’s McLaren announcement may have come as a shock, the news that the team would be hiring a new driver was not.

Kimi Raikkonen has long been expected to leave the team to move to recently dethroned champions Ferrari.

Ferrari admittedly admire the Finn and have made no attempt to hide their desire to one day place him in a scarlet car.

Alonso’s move to Britain opens the door for Raikkonen to now leave, whether or not he has already signed the Ferrari deal.

The other door that will open is that of retirement for Michael Schumacher.

The seven times world champion also has a contract expiring in 2006 and despite hints he may renew the deal, it is unlikely he will want to be paired with the ultra quick and threatening Raikkonen.

Instead it now seems likely that Schumacher will attempt to regain his crown – lost to the McLaren-bound Alonso – before bowing out of the sport at the end of next year.
Click to expand...
 
Willis - Rule changes don't cut costs

Honda Racing technical director Geoff Willis has criticised the FIA’s approach to cutting costs in Formula 1.

In recent years the governing body has repeatedly tried to reduce costs by restricting technology.

Willis believes such measures do not work because teams’ budgets are unaffected and they simply divert the same resources into new solutions.

He also claimed that new technical regulations impose transitional costs that outweigh the supposed benefits.

“It’s been proven over the last 10 years that regulation change simply does not control costs,” Willis told the Honda Racing website.

“Costs will only be reduced when teams have less money to spend.

“What regulation changes have done is to cause us to spend money unnecessarily and probably increase our costs.

“The financial implications, for instance, of going from the V10 to V8 [engine] are simply astronomical, and they are unlikely to be fully compensated by any possible reduction in technology in the next few years.”

Willis says experience shows that it is impossible to “turn the clock back” where technology is concerned, as the teams will always find other ways to deploy technological discoveries.

“It’s the case that you can’t put the genie back in the bottle,” he said.

“Once we’ve discovered new technology and realised what benefits can be achieved in terms of car performance, if you then take that technology away you’re not going to revert to 15-year-old technology; you’re going to have find a new solution within the revised regulations.

“You see this example in other sports too, where they’ve tried to go back a decade and all that’s happened is that those involved spend even more money mimicking the technologies that got banned.

“So trying to control costs via technical regulations is pretty much doomed to failure.”

Willis also believes measures designed to increase overtaking are both unnecessary and often ineffective.

“I’m never really sure quite where all this enthusiasm for overtaking in Formula 1 comes from,” he said.

“We have a qualifying system where we spend most of the weekend ordering the cars in terms of their performance so we start the race with the fastest at the front and slowest ones at the back.

“The logic of that doesn’t support any likelihood of overtaking.

“It’s only if qualifying is disrupted that we get overtaking.

“However, if you assume that we really do want to see overtaking made easier, there are a number of options open to us.

“Clearly the 2005 aero regulations didn’t help here.”

FIA president Max Mosley is determined to promote overtaking in F1 but his hopes of an early introduction of the radical Centreline Downwash Generating (CDG) wing were dashed when it failed to win the support of the teams’ technical directors.

“We discussed this CDG wing idea at the last Technical Working Group,” said Willis.

“The concept has some merit but all agreed that quite a lot of development will be needed to make it work within the context of the 2008 technical regulations package.

“It’s interesting to see new thinking being applied but, personally, I’d be concerned if overtaking became too easy.”
Click to expand...

Shock... bloody... horror....

Who woulda thunked it? Rule changes don't cut costs...

Simon/~Flibscrooge

PS...there is some sarcasm in this post - see if you can spot it. ;)
 
A very sad piece of news after our discussions of last week.

Cosworth founder Keith Duckworth has died
Keith Duckworth, one of the joint founders of Cosworth, died last night at the age of 72.

The Yorkshireman originally created the famous engine company with Mike Costin in 1958, where they developed parts for Ford road car engines before switching their attentions to racing.

Talking about creating the company, Duckworth famously said: "We thought it must be possible to make an interesting living messing about with racing cars and engines. That was the total objective behind the formation of Cosworth."

Their original 3-litre V8 engine, the DFV, won at the hands of Jim Clark in a Lotus at the 1967 Dutch Grand Prix. It was the start of an unprecedented run of success for the DFV and its derivatives, which won a total of 154 Grands Prix.

The triumphs of the DFV, as well as success in IndyCar racing, helped establish Cosworth as one of the most famous engine builders in the world before Costin and Duckworth sold their company in 1980. After various owners it was a subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company until only last year when it was purchased by Champ Car boss Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe.

Cosworth's commercial director Bernard Ferguson said: "We are shocked and saddened to learn of Keith's untimely death. Everyone here at Cosworth sends their deepest condolences to his wife Jill and their children.

"He was a true innovator and a legend in his lifetime. Keith's name will live on as an integral part of both the Cosworth name and its culture."
Click to expand...
 
Sad news indeed. :(

Him and Mike were one of the reasons I got into mechanical engineering. Ford DFV: 7 weeks from concept to winning the first race out.

72's not that bad tbh - but still... :(

RIP.

Simon/~Flibster
 
More about Keith Duckworth. :(

Keith Duckworth

Keith Duckworth, the man who designed the Cosworth Formula 1 engine, the most successful engine in the history of the sport, has died at the age of 72. Duckworth's influence on motor racing was enormous not simply as a designer but also for the role he played in building up the British motor racing industry by supplying affordable engines to small teams in a variety of different formulae.

Duckworth was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, and educated at Giggleswick School in Yorkshire. After completing his National Service with the Royal Air Force, he went to Imperial College in London to study engineering and in 1957 became a transmission development engineer at Lotus Cars, under the watchful eye of the great Colin Chapman. In 1958 he joined forces with another Lotus engineer called Mike Costin and the two formed Cosworth, their first job being to develop parts for Ford road car engines. Costin did not join the company fulltime until 1962 but by then the business was firmly established and in 1964 moved to its current headquarters in Northampton.

In the autumn of 1965 Ford commissioned Cosworth to built two racing engines: a 1.6-litre Formula 2 engine and a 3-litre Formula 1 V8. The results were the Cosworth FVA and the legendary (a word not used lightly) DFV. Duckworth designed bot these engines in the course of 1966 and the DFV won on its debut at the Dutch Grand Prix in June 1967, the first of 154 Grand Prix victories for the engine and its various derivatives. The DFV became the mainstay of Grand Prix racing in the 1970s and allowed teams like Brabham, McLaren, Williams and others to compete with factory teams such as Ferrari and Matra.. The Cosworth DFV would go on winning races until Las Vegas in 1982 buts its DFX derivative would also enjoy huge success in America. The DFX dominated Indycar racing in the late 1970s and early 1980s, scoring 81 consecutive victories at one point. The company also produced the Ford BDA for F2 although this was later used to great effect by the Ford rallying teams.

Cosworth was more than just an engine business. Mario Illien and Paul Morgan, the founders of Ilmor, were both Cosworth-trained engineers, and their Ilmor business became a major rival for Cosworth in the 1980s by which time Duckworth and Costin had sold the firm to United Engineering Industries. It was then passed on to Carlton Communications, Vickers plc and ultimately was split in two with Audi acquiring the road car business and Ford buying the racing operations. Cosworth Racing was sold on by Ford and is now owned by Champcar bosses Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe. Duckworth retired a wealthy man in 1988 at the age of 55.
Click to expand...

Cosworth Founder Keith Duckworth Passes Away
Written by: Adam Cooper
London, UK – 12/19/2005

Keith Duckworth, the co-founder of Cosworth and one of the most famous engineers in the sport’s history, has died at the age of 72.

The son of a cotton trader, Duckworth spent time as a pilot in the RAF and gained an engineering degree before looking for a job. He turned down the chance to further his career with more established names like Rolls Royce to join Colin Chapman’s fledgling Lotus organization in 1957, to work on gearbox development. Duckworth and Chapman had a strained relationship, and he left after a year to found Cosworth Engineering with Lotus technical director Mike Costin.

Neither man was directly involved in designing engines, but they saw an opportunity. Initially the business was based on tuning Climaxes, before Duckworth came up with the first proper Cosworth engine. Based on a Ford, it was destined for huge success in Formula Junior, and was followed by F3 and F2 units.

In 1965 Colin Chapman began his hunt for a new Grand Prix engine for the 3-litre formula that began in 1966. The Lotus boss persuaded Duckworth – who had relatively modest ambitions – that he should be in F1. Keith said it would cost £100,000 to develop and build an initial run of five engines, and Chapman found the money from Ford Britain.

It was more or less by chance that the manufacturer became involved – and at an extraordinarily low cost. The first payment arrived on March 1st 1966, and the DFV was a success on its first appearance in Holland in 1967. Between 1967 and 1983 the DFV and its derivatives won 156 Grands Prix and 12 drivers’ World Championships.

In 1980 Cosworth was sold to an outside group called UEI. After spearheading the troubled F1 turbo program Duckworth retired in 1988, and was given the title of Honorary Life President. In 1990 Cosworth was sold again to Vickers, who also owned Rolls Royce. In 1998 Vickers put the company up for sale, and it was split into two parts – Cosworth Technology (acquired by Audi), and Cosworth Racing (bought by Ford). More recently the racing division passed into the hands of Kevin Kalkhoven.

A workaholic, Duckworth had struggled with ill health for many years. He lost his helicopter license following a heart attack in 1973, and during the stressful turbo era had extensive heart surgery, which led to his retirement.
Click to expand...

:(
 
Brundle: Alonso a Massive coup

ITV-F1 commentator and former McLaren driver Martin Brundle believes that Ron Dennis has pulled off a masterstroke by signing world champion Fernando Alonso for 2007.

"I know how (McLaren team owner) Ron Dennis likes to get things out early, because it's good for the team's image, sponsorship packages and so on, but this gives them the high-ground on so many levels," he told ITV-F1.com.

"It's a massive coup."

Brundle reckons the Spaniard's defection to McLaren will also give Dennis an advantage in his team's rivalry with Renault and, significantly, in his negotiations over Kimi Raikkonen's future.

With Alonso in one McLaren, Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya are left to fight over the remaining drive.

"You now have two drivers looking at one seat," said Brundle.

"Effectively the music has stopped and there is one chair up for grabs. Unless one of them has already jumped ship for '07."
Click to expand...
 
I reckon Kimi is already off to Ferrari, just gut feeling.

Of course, I would then laugh my rear-end off if JPM still got dumped and replaced by Hamilton! Can't see that happening though if it is the case that Kimi is off to replace MS in 2007.
 
“We have a qualifying system where we spend most of the weekend ordering the cars in terms of their performance so we start the race with the fastest at the front and slowest ones at the back.

“The logic of that doesn’t support any likelihood of overtaking
Click to expand...

Thats actually a very good point there by that man. :D
 
Kubica joins BMW as test driver

The squad of drivers is complete. Robert Kubica of Poland is to be the third man in the BMW Sauber F1 Team as the test and substitute driver. He will also be at the wheel of the team's number three car deployed in the Friday free practice sessions.

The 21-year-old from Krakow made his decisive mark when he took the title in the 2005 World Series by Renault formula class. His contract with BMW allows for an extension beyond the 2006 season.

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen said: "We have been following Robert's progress and are very impressed by his performance in recent years. He has worked hard to achieve his success without major support. We are convinced that he has the potential and the will to make the leap into Formula One and are delighted to be able to give him the opportunity to do so. As the number three driver he will gain experience while at the same time helping the team develop the car."

"It's a fantastic opportunity for me," said Kubica. "I'm going to prove that I have earned it. For a young driver like me the three-car rule is a godsend. In the past, test and replacement drivers were only sent out on test tracks, but I will get to know all 19 Grand Prix circuits and the ins and outs of a GP weekend. I would like to thank everybody who has helped me along the way over the last few years. Without these people I would not now be looking to a Formula One involvement."

Robert Kubica was born in Krakow on 7th December 1984. He took up go-karting at six and by the age of ten he was Polish champion. Three years later he moved to Italy in search of more challenging competition. In 1998 he became the first non-Italian to win the Italian Junior Kart Championship, as well as coming second in the European Kart Championship.

In 2001 and 2002 he competed in Formula Renault, where he ended the second season as overall runner-up in the Italian Championship. 2003 marked his debut in the Formula 3 Euro Series in which he won his maiden race, held at Nuremberg's Norisring. In 2004 he came seventh in the Euro Series and second in the Formula 3 GP in Macau.

In 2005 he represented the Spanish team Epsilon Euskadi in the World Series, which features 3.5-litre V6 engines by Renault. Kubica took four wins in 17 races and, with a total of 154 points, romped away with the title ahead of Adrian Valles (ESP/116) and Markus Winkelhock (GER/114). On 1st December 2005 in Barcelona, he took his first Formula One test for Renault at the wheel of the current R25.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom