2005/2006 F1 News and Testing.

[Flibster]

I think Faure is the only thing really preventing the Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn (sp?) pulling the plug. Ghosn is far from a fan of the F1 programme and would rather concentrate on the road car operation than F1.

I wouldn't be surprised if they take the opportunity of objecting to a truce between the GPMA and Bernie and go off in a huff.

Gohsn is now saying that once is not enough *I hope he's referring to winning the championship..*

So I have no idea whats going through his mind.
But as for pulling out - it's looking more and more likely.

Which means a return for Mechachrome engines..oh crap.

Hi-res Pictures of the R26 at the launch are now uploading also.

Simon/~Flibster

 

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[Flibster]

Top award for FIA President, Max Mosley

FIA President, Max Mosley, has been awarded France's highest award, the prestigious, Chevalier dans l'Ordre de la Légion d'Honneur, in recognition of his contribution to motor sport and road safety

The presentation was conducted on Monday evening by French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy and French Sports Minister Jean-François Lamour at a special ceremony in the French Foreign Ministry at the Quai d'Orsay in Paris.

The ceremony was attended by a group of family, friends and colleagues from the automotive industry and the world of motor sport, including Bernie Ecclestone, Jean Todt and Dietrich Mateschitz.

Eh????

Most hated man in motorsport gets France's highest award??????

 

[Flibster]

MF1 sews up schmutter deal

MF1 Racing has announced a 2006 partnership with Cesare Attolini, one of Italy's leading traditional tailors.

Founded in the 1930s by Vincenzo Attolini in Naples, Attolini's bespoke attire has become synonymous with sartorial elegance. The family firm, now run by a third generation of master craftsmen, proudly creates garments that "are an introduction to the wearer himself".

"Formula 1 is as much about style as technology," said MF1 managing director Colin Kolles. "Attolini embodies elegance and tradition, two qualities which have been consistent in the World Championship since its inception, and we are pleased to have formed this association."

Lots of small sponsorship - is this car going to look like the williams from a few years ago? Logo's loaded into a cannon and fired at the car?

 

[Flibster]

Fisichella makes Renault pledge

Giancarlo Fisichella insists he has the backing of Renault and wants to stay with the reigning F1 champions.

The 33-year-old Italian, whose contract runs out at the end of the season, has promised to fight for his future despite suffering a disappointing 2005.

"I am looking forward, my contract is until 2006 but my target is to be with them in the future," said Fisichella.

"My target is to race with them. The team is happy about last year, they believe in me, I believe in them."

Fisichella joined Renault last season but found himself overshadowed by Fernando Alonso, who went on to win the world championship.

Alonso has since announced he will join McLaren in 2007, but Fisichella, who finished fourth in the driver standings with only one win all season, says he is not aiming to follow in the footsteps of his team-mate.

"I haven't spoken to Renault about the future. Most of my problem last year was bad luck," he said.

"I don't need to show anything, I just need to win. I think the team is just concentrating on winning the championship with two cars."

 

[Flibster]

Swiss reject racing law

The Swiss federal government has rejected plans to allow motor racing competitions in the country.

The Upper House of the Swiss Parliament (known as the Bundesrat) has decided against cancelling the ban on racing which has existed since 1955. The argument put forward was that such an event would increase pollution and impair the quality of life in Switzerland.

The politicians also argued that a Formula 1 race would offer little economic benefit.

Aaaah...nice to see the Swiss *aka - the other white race...* being as bizarre as normal.

Increase pollution and impair the quality of life??? W...T...F...

The fact that they've got a F1 team based there has nothing to do with it, and that Peter Sauber was voted Swiss personality of the year *which says a lot about the place really...*

Hmmmm...ok..

 

[Flibster]

is Rossi a god or what??

only a sec off the shues time

In a car that's faster than the 2006 car. Stick him in the 2006 car and lets see what he can do. *Biaggi has already giving him a kicking in the press about spinning the car *

He's in the F2004 with a V8 in the back - so it's got the '04 aero package which is much more capable at keeping the car together than the 06 aero packages.

The V8 is meant to be 1.5-2 seconds a lap slower than the V10 - and the V10'd F2004 lapped 2.8 seconds faster than the time Schumacher managed today - so....he's 1.8s off the pace..if my maths holds up *which it rarely does*

Although - who was saying the MP4-21 was slow? 3rd day of full running on a car they've yet to build up a base setup on and it's in the 1:11's.

You can tell which cars have been running for the longest though - they're at the top - shame that generally testing times me diddley squat.

Simon/~Flibster

 

[Flibster]

Biaggi doesn't mind teaching Rossi F1

Max Biaggi said he doesn't mind explaining to his biggest rival in MotoGP, Valentino Rossi, how to drive a Formula One without spinning it.

In his first public test Valentino Rossi wasn't able to complete a decent lap with the Ferrari F2004 at Valencia. After 10 corners the Italian spun the car into the gravel and was unable to continue testing that day.

Biaggi enjoyed Rossi's performance and told Gazzetta dello Sport:
"This time I have beaten him. I got into a current F1 car (Midland) and did ten laps at the wet Silverstone track without any problems. I had never driven that track before. At Valencia he didn't even manage ten corners."

"I don't mind explaining to him how not to spin an F1 car. Whenever he likes..."

Genius!

 

[Flibster]

c'mon Simon there aint many sports stars that could do that

If only they'd remove the traction control, power steering, go back to manual gearboxes with a clutch and full slicks - then we'd see what he could really do.

Valencia is a small track - times of 1.09 were common last year - 1.6s is a pretty big margin.

Around Ferrari's own track in the same car as Schumacher, Rossi was within 0.9 seconds on his first test - what does that say about how hard the cars are to drive?

Same with Raikkonen - went from Formula Renault straight into F1. 23 single seater races from single seater rookie to F1 driver.

Hell - Damon Hill was a Biker and was pretty reasonable, moved to F1 and was winning races and even a championship - nearly won a race in an Arrows...

Rossi is a professional racer anyway - it won't be that big a change for him. It's not like never having raced before and going straight to a F1 car.

Also - there's a possibility that Rossi was in a V10 powered F2004 *I was told V8...but that may be wrong from something I've just found out* If thats true then he was 3.8 seconds off the pace...

Simon/~Flibster

 

[Flibster]

Just found out from Ferrari directly. *I phoned them. * that Rossi was running a Restricted V10...so was 1.6s off the pace.

So he still should have been faster than Schumacher.

As for his time - I'm finding it hard to be impressed with any of the 'guest' testers that the teams bring in.

Biaggi goes out round a track that he doesn't know, in the wet and posts a reasonable time *for the car he was in*

Rossi, in a good Ferrari, on a track he knows well, in a car that should be faster than anything else out there - but isn't...

Stick him in the current car and lets see what he can really do...

Simon/~Flibster

 

[Flibster]

BMW not a top team - Theissen

BMW Sauber is not yet a top team, team principal Mario Theissen says.

The German insisted that, for the first year of full ownership by the Munich based carmaker, the idea is to build up a solid foundation throughout 2006.

'This starting phase will last for the whole season,' he told 'Sport-Informations-Dienst'.

For that reason, you won't hear reference to championships or wins - even podiums - just yet.

Theissen added: 'The unification and development of the team has priority at the moment.'

However, the newly launched 'F1.06', designed mostly by the team led by Peter Sauber last year, is showing signs of being a nifty little GP racer.

'It seems to have noticeably more grip than its predecessor,' said lead driver Nick Heidfeld.

Canadian teammate Jacques Villeneuve, additionally, says he is able to 'brake later' and 'drive more aggressively' with the new car.

But Mario Theissen insists that 'BMW Sauber' should not yet be considered a top team, even if it is owned by a car manufacturer.

He concluded: 'But we want to become a top team as soon as possible.'

 

[Flibster]

What’s New for 2006 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix?

New Technical Rules: The high-pitched wail of the 3.0-litre Formula One V10 engines will be replaced in 2006 with an exciting new sound as the 2006 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix ushers in the era of 2.4-litre V8 engines.

Qualifying: The single lap qualifying system of recent years has given way to a three- round elimination contest, with the fastest 10 cars going head-to-head for position at the top of the starting order.

Tyres: In 2005 the teams were only allowed to use one set of dry weather tyres for both qualifying and the race. The 2006 season sees the reintroduction of tyre changes and the revival of this exciting aspect of the teams’ race strategy.

Teams: Three new teams will travel to Bahrain for their Grand Prix debut – BMW Sauber F1, Scuderia Toro Rosso and the all-new Super Aguri F1, together with the renamed Honda Racing F1 team, bringing the total number of teams in the 2006 world championship to 11.

Drivers: A wealth of new talent has emerged through the junior ranks to reach the sport’s pinnacle including Germany’s 2005 GP2 champion Nico Rosberg at Williams and American young gun Scott Speed at Scuderia Toro Rosso.

Pro-Celebrity Race: Joining the support race schedule for the 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix will be a dazzling array of names from the world of sport and entertainment racing identical Holden V8 Supercars alongside some of the biggest names in world motor sport.

Thursday Pit Walk: 3-day pass holders will be allowed to walk down the Formula One Pit Lane on Thursday 9 March to see the team preparations.

Porsche Michelin SuperCup Night Race: The spectacular Porsche GT3 Cup cars will put on a 30-minute race after dusk on Friday March 10, using the 2.55km Inner Circuit with viewing available from the Oasis Grandstand.

Vending Area Attractions: Throughout the Grand Prix weekend the vending area behind the Main Grandstand will throng with cultural and sporting activities and the FIA-led Think driver safety campaign as well as daily autograph sessions on the BIC Dhow for Formula One and support race drivers.

Starting Grid Procedures: Half an hour before the start of the 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix a spectacular parade led by a Military Marching Band with flag bearers, Arabic dancers and three floats representing traditional Bahraini life: The Dhow, The Pearl and The Souq.

 

[Flibster]

Head confirms Webber *cough* telling off *cough*

Williams' Patrick Head has confirmed that he sat down for a face to face *cough* telling off *cough* with Mark Webber last season.

With Australian driver Webber arguably underperforming in 2005, the team's co-owner and engineering director says the trio - completed by Sir Frank Williams - got together to clear the air.

'Mark had come to a team where he expected to have the opportunity to win,' Head told the Australian Herald Sun 'paper.

'He certainly was quite disillusioned.'

60-year-old Head, with a reputation for grumpy moods and a lack of tolerance for prima donna drivers, revealed that the crunch meeting took place at the Grove factory.

He said: 'The *cough* telling off *cough* was in both directions.

'After that, Mark's season got back on track.'

Although neither 29-year-old Webber nor the F1 team in Oxfordshire were entirely happy with Mark's performances last year, Patrick Head suggested that he is a potential winner.

He agreed: 'Mark is exceptionally fast.'

 

[Flibster]

Bernie fuels Kimi-to-Ferrari gossip

Bernie Ecclestone has only fuelled speculation that Kimi Räikkönen's future is red.

As gossip reigns that the Finn will leave McLaren at the end of the year, Ecclestone - the F1 supremo - was asked by German magazine 'Sport Bild' what he thought of the prospect of Kimi in a Ferrari.

'He would be an absolute superstar,' said the 75-year-old.

 

[Flibster]

Montoya also on his way out?

If reports in the media are correct, McLaren will have a totally new drivers line-up in 2007 as both Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya are intent on leaving.

There has been much speculation about Raikkonen's future in recent months, with reports claiming he is either on his way to Ferrari or Toyota next year.

However, his team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya has remained largely out of the limelight - that is, until now.

According to German magazine Auto, Motor and Sport, the Colombian is on the look-out for a new team as he is unhappy with McLaren’s decision to sign Fernando Alonso to drive for them in 2007.

"I am talking with other constructors," he told the magazine.

"If Ferrari, Renault or BMW make me a good offer, I will take it."

 

[Flibster]

Midland ready to do launch

While many of the F1 teams are lapping the Valencia circuit this week, the Midland squad is at home in Britain preparing for its first F1 launch.

The team will unveil its 2006 challenger, the M16, which symbolises a new era and new identity for the outfit, at Silverstone on Friday.

"It's all coming together," said MF1 Racing Sporting Director Adrian Burgess.

"Obviously, at this time of year it's always hectic, but as of today we have things under control and we'll make it on time.

"We feel that we're going to produce a far better package than we did a year ago.

"We've had 12 months of stability now, we know who the owner is, we know where we're going, and we know what the engine is."

Midland are also expected to Tiago Monteiro as Christijan Alber's 2006 team-mate.