2005/2006 F1 News and Testing.

[Flibster]

 

[Flibster]

They look on the cold side...
Who's stupid idea was it to unveil the car outside?!?

It's -2°C here - should be around the same at Silverstone as it's pretty close to me.

Instead of champagne and stuff they'll be doing tea and coffee and hot chocolate...

Simon/~Flibster

 

[rpstewart]

Fairly conventional looking car that, front wing by Renault, nose, flow conditioners & chimneys by Honda, rear of the car from last years Williams.... They've gone for an original view on the fron suspension though - make it biiigg! Must be expecting some wheel bashing action.

And four test drivers???? Sure they'll be paying for it but there must come a time when someone gets wise to the fact they'll get about 4 shots each.

 

[Dutch Guy]

I like the looks of the car, colors are nice, maybe a bit too much red at the top but the rest looks good.

Also like the front suspension, but maybe the nose is a bit too wide at the front tip.

 

[gord]

Fairly conventional looking car that, front wing by Renault, nose, flow conditioners & chimneys by Honda, rear of the car from last years Williams.... They've gone for an original view on the fron suspension though - make it biiigg! Must be expecting some wheel bashing action.

Aye i was going to say. That suspension looks like its built for war. Its a tank not an F1 car.

Dont know about those additions to the intakes though? Is that even in the same mould as the intake... the funny bits look like they are stuck on.

 

[Flibster]

More images...

 

[Flibster]

It does look like it's built for reliability. Everything seems overengineered.

But - as they say - "to finish first - first you must finish"

As they're aiming for solid points this year *engine should be good - as for the rest....* that could be a good thing. Especially if Sato is trying for points as well...

The car that Sato will have with Super Aguri is going to be extremely heavy - instead of Carbon fibre suspension arms they're having steel ones made. Still - will suit his driving style.

Still nto sure about the car - it looks better than i was expecting - still expecting mid-teens finishes though.

Air scoop is an odd shape, rear wing is extremely conventional...nothing screams innovation tbh...

Still think the colour scheme is vile though.

Simon/~Flibster

 

[Flibster]

FIA confirms GP timetable for 2006

Formula One's ruling body has confirmed the timetable for Grand Prix weekends for the 2006 season.

The FIA confirmed there will only be one, one-hour long practice session on Saturday morning, instead of two like in the past.

Saturday practice will take place at 11am, except during the British (9:30), Canadian (10:00) and United States (10:00) Grands Prix.

The practice session will be followed by qualifying at 2pm, except except for Great Britain (12:30), Canada (13:00) and United States (13:00).

Fridays remain unchanged, with two practice sessions at 11am and 2pm.

The races will start at 2pm, except for Bahrain (14:30), Malaysia (15:00), Great Britain (12:00), Canada (13:00), United States (13:00) and Turkey (15:00).

 

[Flibster]

MF1 Racing Charges Ahead with Rhino's

MF1 Racing, the Formula One team owned and operated by the Midland Group, is pleased to announce a two-year partnership agreement with Rhino's, an exciting new energy drink from Austria.

Rhino's logos were prominently displayed on the brand-new Midland MF1 Toyota M16 car that was unveiled at Silverstone today.

Colin Kolles, MF1 Racing's Managing Director, welcomed the announcement by saying, "This is a fantastic day for the team. We are very excited to unveil our new car, as well as an important new sponsor. Rhino's two-year commitment affords our team added stability and provides their brand with global exposure. There is great synergy between Rhino's and MF1 Racing, as we are both ambitious, young teams looking to make an impact in our respective fields."

Falk Raudies, CEO of Rhino's Energy Drink and Food AG, added, "Our ambition is to establish ourselves as the undisputed number-two player in the global energy drink sector by 2008, and we see F1 as an effective platform for creating brand awareness in new markets. I believe this co-operation with Midland MF1 Racing will accelerate the company's road to success. MF1 is a dynamic young team on the rise that perfectly embodies Rhino's image of power and endurance. It's a great fit, and we're looking forward to charging ahead together."

Made with pure spring water from the Austrian Alps, Rhino's represents a fresh-tasting alternative in the sports and energy drink market. The Rhino's brand was launched in 2005 and is now available in 28 countries worldwide. Other sports marketing initiatives include sponsorships of ice hockey, stunt shows and motorsports in Europe and the USA.

 

[Flibster]

Firman backs Super Aguri F1 for success

A1 Team Ireland driver Ralph Firman has given his support to the new Super Aguri F1 team which had its entry into the 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship confirmed last week.

The 30 year old former Jordan Formula One driver raced Aguri Suzuki’s Team Honda Racing ARTA NSX into 2nd place in the 2005 Japanese Super GT series and is confident Suzuki can be successful in Formula One.

“I am delighted for Aguri Suzuki because he’s not only achieved a huge amount as a driver but also as a businessman and team owner,” said Firman, fresh from a highly competitive showing in the South African round of the A1GP series in Durban. “He is a very competitive individual and experienced at pulling together strong teams with good financial support. His business skills are clearly very good. Although he has put this Formula One programme together very quickly, I am confident he realises the challenge that lies ahead and will impress everyone with the way in which he tackles it. It will be fascinating to watch.”

Firman, whose own rookie Formula One season with Jordan was blighted by suspension failures and a huge accident at the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix caused by rear wing failure, believes Honda’s opportunity to win in Formula One will be enhanced its involvement in the Super Aguri F1 programme.

“Honda is a fantastic company to work with and, whether it’s in Super GT or Formula One, they compete to win. I am sure that the feedback they get from having both the works Honda F1 team and the involvement in Super Aguri F1 will benefit them as the season progresses. I do not believe it will compromise either team, quite the opposite in fact. Honda F1 has a very strong driver line-up with Jenson and Rubens pushing hard to win, and I am sure Super Aguri F1 will have drivers capable of scoring points this season. That would be a terrific result in the team’s first year.”

Firman is A1 Team Ireland’s principal driver and achieved the team’s first podium finish in the Portuguese round of the series in Estoril. He is also planning to compete again in Japanese Super GT this season, and recently completed a successful test in the Team Honda Racing NSX at Sepang, Malaysia.

 

[Flibster]

'R26 designed to suit Fisi, not Alonso'

Fernando Alonso's decision to join McLaren in 2007 looks to have wrecked his chance of a second World title with Renault, because - most probably as a result - the team has designed this year's car to suit his team-mate's driving style.

In a recent interview with the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper, team boss Flavio Briatore revealed that Renault's new car, the R26, may suit Giancarlo Fisichella better than last year's did.

"He (Fisichella) has all the cards he needs and on top of that, a car which was not built - like the 2005 one - for Alonso's requirements," the Italian said.

But although the team is providing Fisichella with the perfect car, he still has to do some of the work and one thing Briatore believes the Roman needs to do is develop a ruthless streak.

"Knowing that Fernando is leaving will put him (Fisichella) in top psychological condition," Briatore said.

"If he could just develop a bit more nastiness he would certainly be able to challenge for the World Championship."

Fisichella finished fifth in last year's Championship with 58 points, while team-mate Alonso won the title having bagged 133 points.

 

[Flibster]

MF1 want to bring Russian space experts

Formula One's first Russian team are looking to the country's space and aviation experts for a competitive edge.

"It is very exciting. It was our plan from day one to have a Russian team in Formula One and we have executed our plan," said Russian-born billionaire Alex Shnaider after Midland unveiled their first car on Friday.

"Now we just have to do better than we did last year," the team owner, who bought struggling Jordan in January 2005, told Reuters.

Jordan had only Minardi behind them in the final 2005 standings.

"We are very actively looking now for aerodynamicists and engineers in Russia, to hire and to bring here to help with the team and bring new ideas," added the naturalised Canadian.

"There are a lot of very good specialists in Russia, aircraft designers."

Shnaider's Midland Group is involved in heavy industry throughout the former Soviet bloc and had planned to start their own team from scratch before Jordan became available.

He said the team's factory would remain at the Silverstone circuit.

"We have no plans to have a design team anywhere else. If we hire people in Russia, we would get them visas and bring them to work here," he said.



Russian Driver

Midland have Roman Rusinov as one of four test drivers and have a long-term plan to put a Russian on the starting grid for the first time.

"It will probably take a few years," said Shnaider. "We are looking also at other young drivers. Obviously he has to be as good as the other drivers but I think there is enough talent in Russia."

The Toyota-powered M16 car, decked out in orange, white and grey livery, lacks Russian sponsors but Shnaider was confident they would come too.

"It will pick up," he said. "Formula One is still new to Russian companies, but with time they will learn and now there is a Russian-licensed team it will bring up the interest."

A Russian race would also help and the team owner, who was born in St Petersburg before emigrating as a child to Israel and then Canada, said that was likely in the near future.

"The way I understand it, there will be a race eventually. I think within five years it should happen, in Moscow," he said.

 

[Flibster]

Kolles questions Toro Rosso's V10 legality

MF1 Racing's managing director Colin Kolles says Toro Rosso's plans to use a V10 engine during the 2006 season should be considered illegal.

Toro Rosso, owned by Red Bull after the company took over the Minardi team last year, will use V10 engines this season while their rivals fit the new V8s.

The team were allowed to run V10s when they were Minardi, but Kolles believes now that their financial problems have been solved Toro Rosso should follow the rules and use V8s.

Kolles suggested that if Toro Rosso are in front of his own Midland team when the season starts in Bahrain, he might consider taking some action.

"The car is not legal. That is the point. It is very clear. Obviously I have a very clear opinion. This engine does not belong in Formula One any more," said Kolles during the launch of their new car.

"It is not the regulation. It has been accepted due to a financial reason for Minardi and this is not any more the case.

"For me it is not understandable - (Red Bull) spending hundreds of millions, having two Formula One teams and ************ the world, basically.

"If they are in front of us then they will have a problem because I will not be very happy with this and I am very clear about this."

The equivalence formula introduced by the FIA to limit V10s has left several teams unhappy, although the governing body said the formula could change quickly.

"I trust the FIA. It is in the hands of the FIA. We are looking at it, but we are looking very carefully at it," added Kolles.

MF1, racing under the Jordan name, struggled for pace last year and stand to lose the most if Toro Rosso are competitive.

Over the winter, Midland have carried out tests with both V8 and V10 engines in order to provide data to the FIA to show them the equivalence formula is not working.

Kolles, however, said further limiting the V10s will not solve the problem.

"It is not a question of making the engines slower," he said. "It is a question that the regulations state a V8 engine, and not a restricted V10 engine. It was an exception for Minardi due to financial reasons. For us it is not only a V8/V10 the power, it is also a financial matter.

"A V8 engine is much more expensive than a V10 engine and if it is restricted you can run much longer and be more reliable. It has more torque. It is not just restricting the engine, it is a completely different world.

"They are expecting to be competitive. To be honest, for me it is a shame. But okay, it is the FIA who told us that they will take care and it will not happen. So we trust the FIA that they will control it and that they will be at the back of the grid. That is it."

Portuguese driver Tiago Monteiro admitted he was worried Toro Rosso would prove more competitive than his own team.

"I am personally worried," Monteiro said. "I don't know exactly how the team feels about it, but I'm not happy. We did a big V10/V8 comparison and I was 0.7s quicker with the same car with a different engine.

"So for me, it's totally unfair that they use the V10 - at the moment [with the current restrictions] the V10 is seven-tenths quicker. So if the rules stay like that, initially Toro Rosso will definitely be quicker than us."

Wrong wrong wrongitty wrong!

The V10 rule was set up for the lower grid teams to be able to use a competitive engine. The car is legal - Tough titties MF1 - plus - I thought that STR would be igher up the grid that you anyway.

Simon/~Flibster

 

[Flibster]

Super Aguri announces first test day

The last team to join the Formula One World Championship, Super Aguri, announced that they will run their car, the SA05, for the first time at the circuit of Silverstone on Tuesday February 14. Following the test at Silverstone, the SA05 will run in Barcelona from 21-23 February.

The SA05 is an interim racer, based on an updated 2002-spec Arrows chassis. Alongside the SA05 programme, the Aguri Team is also working on the design of the SA06, which is expected to be introduced for the start of the European season.

Expect slowness...

 

[Flibster]

Midland presents new sponsors

On the occasion of MF1 Racing Ltd, the team owned and operated by the Midland Group, unveiling its all new MF1Toyota M16, it is also proud to announce a portfolio of brand new sponsors to Formula 1 in addition to those revealed in recent weeks.

Marhaba Communications is a company based in the Middle Eastern region providing Triple Play solutions through their ATM network offering Internet (broadband), Voice (VoIP), IPTV, Media Content Transfer and Mobile Network support.

Clarington Investments is a leading provider of innovative financial services in Europe and other global markets. Clarington offers investment products, private banking and structured finance products for private, corporate and institutional clients.

Axzons is an Intellectual Property Investment company headquartered in New York and specialising in the Biotech industry.

Kick Communications based in the USA has a decade of success in designing, planning, building, management and strategic growth of cutting edge communication networks specialising in the healthcare industry.

Kicklotto provides the operations for the future Russian Electronic Lottery and Credit Card processing solutions.

Colin Kolles, managing director of MF1 Racing commented: 'The introduction of these five new companies to Formula 1 is an exciting moment for our new Midland MF1 Racing team and clearly illustrates the powerful attraction of Formula 1 as it moves into a tobacco-free advertising era.'

 

[Flibster]

More images of the MF1 M16

 

[Flibster]

 

[Memphis]

I like it... apart from the really strange looking slabs of carbon fibre on the front edges of the side pods, just looks a little strange to me.

 

[rpstewart]

Just when it looked like there might be a reconciliation on the cards our Max digs deep and pulls out a big punch. This guy is showing some very poor judgement, he's managed to create a sport which requires huge corporate investment to compete in and then decides to pull the funding...

When is he going to realise that no money = no manufacturers = no engines = no F1.

Oh and don't get me started on the greasy Italian's claim that Ferrari isn't a manufacturer.

Mosely plans no money to manufacturers
Formula One's manufacturer-backed teams will be left with no revenue from the sport's commercial rights after 2008 if a proposal by FIA president Max Mosley gets the go-ahead, autosport.com has learned.

In a move that looks set to raise tensions between the governing body and the manufacturers, high level sources at the FIA have revealed that Mosley has recommended to F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone that only independent teams be awarded income in the future.

It is understood that Mosley believes a structure where independent teams are awarded a greater income than their manufacturer-backed rivals is the only way to guarantee long-term stability in the sport.

"Manufacturers are involved in F1 for their own promotional reasons, whereas for independent teams it is their core business," said a source.

The greater income for independent teams would act as a major incentive for those not involved in the sport to put together an entry if a vacancy became available through the withdrawal of a manufacturer.

As was suggested in this week's edition of the Weekly Grapevine, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo's recent claim that his team are not a 'manufacturer' may be related to Mosley's stance.

The Italian said: ""Ferrari must not be seen as an integral part of a car manufacturing team but must be viewed as a private entity.

"We are today in competition against Toyota, the biggest carmaker in the world, and against manufacturing giants like Mercedes, BMW, Honda and Renault. So this should never be forgotten."

News of the plan to cut all financial support for manufacturer-backed teams comes amid the backdrop of continued stalling by Renault, McLaren, BMW, Honda and Toyota to sign-up to Formula One from 2008.

The Grand Prix Manufacturers' Association recently met with Ecclestone to try and bring an end to their threat of a rebel series but the discussions did not result in a breakthrough.

Mosley and Ecclestone hope that the threat of losing all income will act as an incentive for the manufacturer-backed teams to sign up to F1 while there is still an attractive offer from Ecclestone on the table.

Ecclestone has made no secret of the fact that he is willing to offer teams ready to commit to F1 a deal that hands them a share of 60 percent of the total income from the sport.

The five manufacturer-backed teams must now weigh up whether it is worth further delaying on agreeing to that package or risk losing everything if Mosley's plans are accepted.

Mosley was quoted in today's Evening Standard as saying that he supports the idea of the manufacturers getting no financial return for their entry into F1.

"I believe it would be entirely reasonable to offer the manufacturers that join the Formula One world championship no income," he said.

 

[Flibster]

Woah woah woah woah WOAH!!!
STOP THE MUSIC!!!

So....Ferrari claim earlier this week that they are not a Manafacturer...*They build several thousand cars a year - but aren't a manafacturer???? *

Now this comes out....Hmmmmm...
Seems a little bit...convenient...doesn't it?

Trying to figure out what the hell Max is up to here - Privateers get money but the manufacturers don't if they don't sign up now??

Are they trying to force the Manafacturers out now? Still no engines manufacturers apart from Ferrari in 2008 then.

Oh well - GPWC may well take a few large steps forward now. I can't see any of the manufacturers liking no money - they're the ones who actually wanted a larger share in the first place.

What about new manufacturer teams who come along? No money for them?

I think Bernie and Max have finally gone to cuckooland. Say bye bye to the manufacturers in F1...and more than likely F1 itself.

Simon/~Flibster