2005/2006 F1 News and Testing.

[Flibster]

Cooling fix working for Red Bull

Red Bull's new bodywork has cured the team's overheating problem. When the RB2 ran for the first time in December the team found it was prone to overheating and testing in January continued to suffer - the team even cut holes in the old bodywork to enable it to do at least some testing.

But the cooling fix is working well. "The new bodywork we introduced is doing what it is supposed to do and RB2 has obvious potential which we are now beginning to see," said sporting director Christian Horner.

"The engineers have a good understanding of how the car reacts to set-up changes and the drivers are growing in confidence in its abilities," he added. "Everyone in the team is working flat out to be as well prepared as possible for Bahrain and the final test in Valencia will give us more track time to smooth out a few rough edges in the overall package."

 

[Flibster]

Finn is fave, bookie says

Ignoring Europe's winter form, sports betting outfit has named Kimi Raikkonen as favourite to win the formula one crown in 2006.

At 3/1, McLaren's Finn is ahead of reigning champion Fernando Alonso (4/1) but also Michael Schumacher (3.5/1).

Honda's Jenson Button, however, is a wise bet at 13/1, as is Giancarlo Fisichella (21/1), Mark Webber (51/1) and Red Bull's David Coulthard, at 210/1.

At another betting agency, however - Schumacher is the season's favourite at 3/1, followed by Raikkonen (3.25/1) and Alonso (3.75/1).

Former Minardi owner Paul Stoddart agrees that the Ferrari number one would be worth a flutter. ''Ferrari is enormously advantaged by this year's tyre rule,'' he told The Australian newspaper, ''but there should be different winners through the year.''

49-year-old Stoddart, meanwhile - who said he was missing F1 'really badly' – is in no doubt about the team likely to take home the wooden spoon. He said : ''Jordan (MF1) will come last.''

 

[Flibster]

Senna to compete in Melbourne

One of the most famous names in motor racing history will resound around Albert Park when Bruno Senna competes in the Dodo Formula 3 races at the 2006 Australian Grand Prix.

Bruno, 21, is the nephew of Brazil's brilliant three-time Formula One World Champion Ayrton Senna, who won 41 races in a Grand Prix career stretching from 1984 to 1994 before his death in a racing accident at the San Marino Grand Prix on May 1, 1994.

At the Australian Grand Prix Bruno Senna will compete in both the Dodo F3 races and the BMW M3 Track Attack. He is scheduled to arrive in Melbourne on the Thursday morning of race weekend, March 30, and go straight into the on-track action with the Adelaide-based Bronte Rundle Motorsport F3 team.

At the end of 1993, when Ayrton Senna left the McLaren team with whom he had won his three world titles to join Williams, he told his McLaren engineers: "If you think I'm good, wait till my nephew arrives!"

Bruno's arrival – in fact his entire racing career – was put on hold when his uncle lost his life in Italy. But at the end of 2004 Bruno followed in his famous uncle's footsteps by making his way to the UK to go testing and to make his debut in the Formula BMW series in that country.

He had earlier competed against his uncle in karts on the family farm in Brazil – a link to the Gawler Farm Machinery-sponsored Dallara F304 he will drive at Albert Park - but when Ayrton died Bruno was only 10 years old. It put paid to his own racing plans, but only temporarily. "They thought I had dropped it because I did not say anything," explained Bruno.

But with the help of Ayrton's former McLaren F1 team-mate and great friend Gerhard Berger, Bruno – by then in his late teens - had a test drive in a Formula Renault single-seater in Brazil, did well enough to persuade his family to back him and tested both a Formula Renault and a Formula BMW in the UK before making his race debut in the latter in the last few races of 2004.

While sixth place at Donington Park was his best result, two front-row starts were a sharp reminder that Bruno seemed to have inherited the one-lap speed for which his uncle was world-famous. Ayrton Senna still holds the F1 record of 65 pole positions, which Michael Schumacher may overtake this year.

For 2005 Bruno Senna planned to join Carlin Motorsport in the British F3 series – the category in which Ayrton Senna fought a brilliant campaign against Britain's Martin Brundle before taking the 1983 title. But that plan fell through when Trevor Carlin himself made the move into F1 with the new Midland team.

Senna has driven instead for the Double-R team in which current McLaren F1 star Kimi Raikkonen is one of the partners. Bruno's first race outing with the team was at Donington Park, the Midlands circuit where Ayrton Senna first tested a Grand Prix car back in 1983.

While Bruno has yet to win a race, he is decidedly quick in qualifying and keenly aware that he needs to hone his race craft.

"It is late," he says candidly. "I don't have any racing experience but maybe I have the speed to be there. Racing is only learning and every race that I do I learn a lot."

Hence the Australian trip, which began to take shape at last year's F3 meeting at the famous Macau street circuit. "Double-R approached me there and said they were keen to further Bruno's experience on street circuits," explained Bronte Rundle, himself a former stalwart of the Australian single-seater scene.

"I said I'd do it if they thought he had it in him," joked Rundle, who spent 30 years as a race driver and set up Team BRM in the late Nineties. The team has already provided Australian F3 champions in James Manderson (2002) and Karl Reindler (2004), while Barton Mawer was a race-winner in the F3 support races at Albert Park last year in a Team BRM-entered car.

In an unusual variation on the sports management theme, it is Bruno's sister Bianca who currently oversees his career progress and puts together the fledgling business deals on which he is hoping to build his own successful career. The pair moved together to London and now occupy a flat in the same inner-city precinct where F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has his offices.

"There are lots of people who want to help us," Bianca has said, "but people really have to care because of the Senna name."

The younger Senna is reputed to have paid US$80,000 for the UK test and Formula BMW races at the end of 2004, with the Senna family funding 90% of the estimated $750,000 2005 campaign, such is their belief in Bruno's ability. "I have the burning desire," Bruno adds. "You cannot imagine how much I push myself to do it."

Coincidentally, as Bruno prepares for his Australian debut, it was in Australia in November 1993 that Ayrton Senna, still driving for McLaren, claimed what would be the 41st and last Grand Prix win of his brilliant career.

 

[Flibster]

Todt to pen new Ferrari deal?

Jean Todt, who turned 60 at the weekend, will reportedly pen a new two-year extension to his expiring Ferrari contract.

The German broadsheet 'Die Express' said the Frenchman, whose current agreement will run out later this year, would sign for 2007 and 2008, although the report did not give a source for the information.

'Die Express' claimed that Ross Brawn and engine chief Paolo Martinelli would also renew.

 

[Flibster]

F1 could be banned, Mosley warns

Formula One could be banned if an oil crisis grips the world, according to Max Mosley.

In an astonishing warning, the FIA president defended his moves to make the sport more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly.

Mosley told the 'Sunday Mirror' in Britain that opportunistic politicians would aim fire at grand prix racing in a fuel crisis.

'(They) will say, 'We must show the public we are serious about fuel economy and we must stop Formula One'.'

Max said F1 must move to the 'cutting edge' of fuel technology, in order to argue that the sport should not be banned.

Mosley continued: 'If you went on television and said, 'We must ban Formula One', you immediately get coverage. That would be very tempting for politicians.

'It's a real danger.'

What a tool

 

[Flibster]

Incredible but true: GP2 faster than F1?

The first 2006 testing session for the GP2 series that took place at the Circuit HTTT Paul Ricard last week has pointed out a very interesting fact to us, they are catching Formula One drivers at an alarming rate!

When viewing the laptimes recorded by the 26 drivers that will take part in this years champion as they put in a culminated mileage on the French tarmac of 10,622 kilometres, we noticed the best time recorded by ART Grand Prix’s Lewis Hamilton, 1:12.838, was almost three seconds faster than the fastest time recorded by nelson Piquet junior in October last year! (1:15.565)

There is a very simple explanation to this amazing progression, even though it is a monotype formula that has only had a very small evolution, technically speaking, since last season, so that leaves just one thing that has caused this leap in speed, slick tyres!

Bridgestone is providing slick tyres, not grooved, to the 13 GP2 teams in 2006 so that they can stay as close to the technical regulations in formula one as possible, the pinnacle of Motorsports set to make its return to slick tyres in the near future. The Japanese rubber is therefore helping the teams to gain 3 seconds a lap this year.

However, that said, in theory Formula One contenders are supposed to lose 3 seconds a lap this season, due to the reduction in power from a V10 engine to a v8 (the loss of approximately 150cv). In 2005 the difference in performance between F1 and GP2 was roughly 12 seconds maximum in qualifying with Nico Rosberg securing pole in GP2 with a best time of 1:38.416, while Kimi Raikkonen was the pole man at the same track in f1 with a time of 1:26.79, and in Hungary, Rosberg was 1:31.459 and Schumacher 1:19.882.

In Monaco, GP2 was a lot closer and lost just 8 seconds (Kovalainen 1:24.665, Raikkonen 1:16.679). By biting 6 seconds into F1 in 2006 (3 they have gained and three F1 has lost), theGP2 cars can, in theory, be between 2and 6 seconds behind F1 with one major consequence: the small F1 teams could end up being slower than the best GP2 team on the same circuit and under the same conditions!

If the top guns of GP2 lose just 2 to 3 seconds to the F1 boys on certain circuits, small F1 teams such as the former Jordan and Minardi teams, (today MidlandF1, Toro Rosso) who were regularly approximately 4 to 5 seconds behind the likes of Renault and McLaren in 2005, could see themselves outclassed by the lesser Formula with the GP2 poleman ending up than the back row of the F1 grid and the situation is heightened even further by the arrival of Super Aguri.

With Yuji Ide at the wheel (who was 3 seconds behind teammate Takuma Sato in Barcelona), Super Aguri F1 is definitely in ART GP’s sights! However, times recorded in Barcelona last week showed that thanks to softer tyres in Formula One this year (due to the return of the tyre stops), Formula One may not lose 3 seconds after all, instead it could just be the one.

So, the GP2 series could still be well behind F1 at the start of 2006, even the slowest representatives, but for how long, especially as it is the will of Max Mosley and the FIA is to reduce the performance of F1 cars even further - through standard parts. This is good news for GP2 drivers as they will no longer have to envy the F1 stars in terms of performance and will therefore either be able to integrate into f1 with a lot more ease or into an American series, IRL or ChampCar, who are now considering a merger of the two championships. It is also good news for the relegation/promotion system that Max Mosley would like to put in place…

 

[Flibster]

Anyone got solid info on the Silverstone test originally scheduled for this monday/tuesday?

Who will test this week?

This week is the last week of testing before the opening Grand Prix in Bahrain. All teams will test this week with the exception of the BMW Sauber F1 Team and Scuderia Toro Rosso, who conducted their last test at Imola last week.

Monday, 27 February:
Mugello: Ferrari
Valencia: McLaren, Renault, Williams
Silverstone: MF1 Racing

Tuesday, 28 February:
Mugello: Ferrari
Valencia: McLaren, Renault, Williams, Honda
Silverstone: MF1 Racing, Super Aguri

Wednesday, 1 March:
Mugello: Ferrari
Valencia: McLaren, Williams, Honda, Toyota, Red Bull

Thursday, 2 March:
Mugello: Ferrari
Valencia: Toyota, Red Bull, Honda

 

[Flibster]

Pardon? Mosley recognising the risk of and trying to protect F1 from a global oil crisis is one of the smartest things he's said in years! If only more people in powerful positions would open their eyes as Mosley obviously has.

What about GP2, Rallying, WTCC, GT, GT3 and all the others that are shown here...

http://www.fia.com/sport/Championships/2006.html

Oh they're not important - it's just F1 that will need to be banned??

GT cars use a hell of a lot more fuel than F1 cars - 6litre V8's running at 14k rpm...over 12 and 24 hour races...

But no - it's F1 thats the problem..

Simon/~Flibster

 

[Flibster]

More about new qualifying format

In 13 days it's finally D-Day for all F1 fans: the first Grand Prix of the 2006 Formula One season. The FIA has made a lot of changes in regulations for this season! One of the biggest change is of course the V8 engine and, not to forget: the new qualifying format.

Saturday's one-hour qualifying session is split in three parts, each with multiple drivers on track and each with the drivers running as many laps as they want.

Part One: All 22 cars may run laps at any time during the first 15 minutes of the hour. At the end of the first 15 minutes, the six slowest cars drop out and fill the final six grid places.

Part Two: After a five-minute break, the times will be reset and the 16 remaining cars then will then run in a second 15-minute session - again they may complete as many laps as they want at any time during that period. At the end of the 15 minutes, the six slowest cars drop out and fill places 11 to 16 on the grid.

Part Three: After another five-minute break, the times are reset and the final 20-minute session will feature a shootout between the remaining 10 cars to decide pole position and the starting order for the top 10 grid places. Again, these cars may run as many laps as they wish.

What about re-fuelling?
In the first two 15-minute sessions, cars may run any fuel load and drivers knocked out after those sessions may refuel ahead of the race. However, the top-ten drivers must begin the final 20-minute session with the fuel load on which they plan to start the race. They will be weighed before they leave the pits, and whatever fuel they use in the 20 minutes may be replaced at the end of the session.

If a driver is deemed to have stopped unnecessarily on the circuit or impeded another driver during the qualifying session, then his times will be cancelled.

Riiigggghhhttt...everyone got that?

 

[Flibster]

French GP banks on pop idol

The 2006 French Grand Prix was launched today in Paris with news that the event, which will mark the 100th anniversary of Grand Prix racing - will feature a unique musical event with Roger Waters, the creative talent behind Pink Floyd, peforming The Dark Side of the Moon. Recorded in 1972, Dark Side of the Moon was one of the most innovative records of the 1970s featuring the latest audio technology available at the time. The album spent 491 weeks in the US charts and is the longest-running chart LP of all time. Waters, who will be joined for the concert by fellow Pink Floyd member Nick Mason, has not performed the entire album on stage since 1974. The concert will also feature songs from other Pink Floyd albums and from his own solo career.

The concert will take place on Friday July 14 - the annual French Bastille Day national holiday. A completre range of tickets is available with a special combination race-concert ticket on sale for 100 Euros ($118). Ticket sales to this event will begin tomorrow.

The race meeting will feature F1, GP2, a Porsche Super Cup race, a BMW Mini Challenge event plus a race of F1 cars from the 1960s and 1970s. In addition there will be a special centennial parade of historic Grand Prix cars, the chance for a spectator to ride around the circuit with Michael Schumacher, air displays and static exhibitions.

"By a fortunate twist of fate the French GP this year coincides with the French national holiday and will feature an exceptional concert," says Jacques Regis, the head of the Federation Francaise du Sport Automobile . "The Nevers-Magny Cours circuit promises to be the location for a great festival of automobile racing eagerly awaited by fans in France and the whole of Europe."

The FFSA also reported its results from the 2005 with 180,000 spectators over the three days, an increase in 14% over 2004. Only 11% of the fans were from outside France and the FFSA is making a big effort this year to draw in more foreign fans, particularly as the Belgian Grand Prix has been axed. The FFSA is increasing its foreign promotion with shows and exhibitions in Britain, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany and hope that the July 14 weekend will attract more visitors to Magny-Cours as people travel south for the annual summer holiday period.

 

[Flibster]

I think I've got a handle on it but what is the obsession with qualifying on race fuel all about??? If the slowest 12 get to pick their strategy based on their qualifying result why are the top ten not allowed this advantage?

There's also a real risk if you're going for pole - you need to put in two quick laps just to get into the final session. From what I can tell if you put in a blinder in session 1 all that gives you is a spot in session 2, if you screw up session 3 then tough. Conversely if you get 11th in session 2 and everyone screws up session 3 then you can end up with a faster lap time than the pole sitter! How the heck does that make sense?

Solution: 1 hour, 12 laps, fastest guy gets pole. The fans understand it.

I think thats about right tbh...

However there was 1 advantage with the single lap of the past couple of years - I could do it on the fly for this place.

New format and 12 lap could be on the confusing and difficult side...

Simon/~Flibster

 

[Flibster]

A whole new ball-game?

Tyre changes during the race are back for 2006. Does that mean major changes for the team? Not really – it’s all still about meticulous preparation, and perfect execution. By re-introducing tyre changes during the Grand Prix for the 2006 season, the FIA has radically altered the physionomy of the races. Like in 2004, refuelling stops will once again be accompanied by tyre changes, and the strategic opportunities to jump ahead of the competition that come with this type of ‘sprint’ racing.

However, to make that move, you need to make sure firstly that the race strategy is the correct one, and secondly that the team in the pit-lane can execute the plan perfectly…

At the Renault F1 Team, this job falls to a highly-trained group of people. The winter preparations reached their maximum last Friday, when the entire race team travelled to the Barcelona test in order to rehearse their manoeuvres for 2006. It was an operation that involved 11 trucks, and all the new pit equipment for the 2006 season, as the team ran through a demanding schedule of preparation and practice. It was vital preparation for the new challenges of the 2006-style race weekend. This is what they worked on…

Race pit-stops. During this exercise, the time the car spends stationary is dictated by the flow rate of the refuelling machine, which pumps 12.5 litres per second (limited by the regulations) into the car. The Renault F1 Team’s operating methods will be similar to 2004: at each corner of the car, a mechanic pulls off the old wheel, another puts the new one in place, while a third operates the pneumatic wheelgun to loosen and tighten the wheelnut. The mechanics’ still is put to the test here: if the nut is too loose, the car will have to stop again to have it tightened. Too tight, on the other hand, and it will cost time at the next stop… That’s why they train before the first race – to make sure that in the heat of battle, everything is instinctive.

The other key players in this choreographed ballet are the jack men, at the front and rear of the car, and the refuelling team: two men holding the hose, which weighs 40 kg! Then, other mechanics carry fie extinguishers, are ready to replace the nose, adjust the wing, clean the visor or clear debris from the colling ducts. In total, some 22 people crowd around the car at pit-stop time. And they do so around an R26 that has been designed to make the stops quick and reliable. That means the wheels and uprights are designed to mesh perfectly: you cannot lock the wheel nut on if it hasn’t been done right.

Qualifying. The new qualifying means the teams need perfect organisation in order to get the most out of the hour-long session. During this time, the cars must compete in three sessions: Heat 1, 15 mins; Heat 2, 15 mins; Super-pole, 20 mins. Given that the circuit Is often quickest at the end of the session, the team will need to be ready to make a lightning-fast pit-stop at the end of the session – for both cars. Time management throughout the hour-long session was also something the team rehearsed in some detail last week in Barcelona.

So what’s the key to managing successfully the demands of the race weekend? It’s simple. Training. Before the season starts, the mechanics will complete more than 200 practice pit-stops. Then at each race weekend, the team trains on Saturday evening and Sunday morning (at least 25 stops per session). And they practice for every situation: have the cars collided in the first corner? Does a sudden rain shower mean a quick double stop is required? The team runs through all the possible scenarii so that nothing comes as a surprise in the heat of battle.

“From a simple puncture, to changing car parts, we try and train for every situation,” explains Steve Nielsen. By the end of the year, the team will have practiced over 1000 stops. Back at the factory, video footage is studied to let each team member see where they can economise their movement, and improve performance. And of course, the drivers have their part to play as well: if Fernando or Fisico stop more than 20 cm beyond their marks, it could cost several seconds. So that’s why they practiced as well last week – to make sure everybody is at the top of their game, in every area, come March 11th in Bahrain, and the first 2006-style qualifying session.

 

[Flibster]

Red Bull extend testing programme

Red Bull Racing have decided to extend their pre-season testing programme in a bid to fully get on top of their car before the start of the campaign in Bahrain.

The team had originally planned to finish their pre-season preparations at Barcelona last week but cold weather and rain, allied to reliability problems with their Ferrari-powered RB2, hampered their running so much they have decided to attend the Valencia test this week as well.

Sporting director Christian Horner remains hopeful, however, that the team are slowly getting back on track with their programme after the cooling problems on the RB2 that hit their early running.

Revised bodywork introduced recently has helped overcome some of their dramas, with Christian Klien able to set the fourth fastest time in testing last Friday, although a lot of focus now needs to go into overcoming niggling reliability issues.

"The new bodywork we introduced is doing what it is supposed to do and RB2 has obvious potential which we are now beginning to see," said Horner.

"Klien did a decent lap (on Friday) in testing which proves the car has got speed. The engineers have a good understanding of how the car reacts to set-up changes and the drivers are growing in confidence in its abilities.

"Everyone in the team is working flat out to be as well prepared as possible for Bahrain and the final test in Valencia will give us more track time to smooth out a few rough edges in the overall package."

 

[Flibster]

'I Don't Care Who My Team Mate Is, I Am Not Afraid of Anybody'

Kimi Raikkonen has seemingly responded to speculation that he turned down a $72m offer to stay at McLaren beyond this year.

The Irish 'Setanta' broadcaster quoted the Finn, who is strongly linked with a move to Ferrari, as saying that he had 'not decided' what to do in 2007 and beyond.

Raikkonen added: ''But (this indecision) cannot go on for too long.

''At some point everyone needs to make a decision.''

Kimi, 26, denied that he is baulking at the concept of facing off at the silver clad outfit with 2007 arrival Fernando Alonso.

He said: ''I don't care who my team mate is, I am not afraid of anybody. That (fact) will not determine whether I stay (at McLaren) or go somewhere else.''

In the Italian 'Gazzetta dello Sport', Kimi continued that he will wait to gauge the pace of his McLaren in 2006 before making the call.

And he insisted: ''I have lots of options.''

 

[Flibster]

Firman signs for Aguri Super GT team

A1 Team Ireland principal driver Ralph Firman has re-signed for Team Honda Racing and will compete in the 2006 Japanese Super GT series driving a Honda NSX run by the sports car team owned by new Formula One entrant Aguri Suzuki.

Firman, 30, attended Honda's 2006 Motorsport launch in Tokyo last Monday where he was announced as the only European driver in the two-car Team Honda Racing line-up. He will drive alongside co-driver Daisuke Ito in the Honda NSX-GT developed for Honda by Dome Co., Ltd and M-TEC Co., Ltd. The pair finished 2nd in the 2005 Japanese SuperGT series, taking a dominant victory in Round 7 in Autopolis.

"I am delighted to have signed to drive for Team Honda Racing and I am confident we will be highly competitive again this year," said Firman. "Last year was the first running of the new Super GT series and we developed the Honda NSX-GT very well during the season. We were unfortunate not to win the championship in my opinion, so this year our sights are firmly set on both the Team and Driver titles."

"It's a very competitive series and the battle between the manufacturers is hard fought. I'd like to thank both Honda and Aguri Suzuki for giving me the opportunity to continue as part of their programme. Monday's event in Tokyo was very impressive as it reminded me of Honda's enormous commitment to motorsports world-wide, so it's an honour to drive for them. I will certainly be very busy in the coming weeks combining the remaining A1GP events with the start of the new Super GT season."

The 2006 Autobacs Super GT series comprises 9 rounds and will commence at Suzuka on March 19th, one week after Firman competes in the United States round of the A1GP series at Laguna Seca. Firman raced in Japan for six years before progressed to Formula One with Jordan Grand Prix in 2003, including winning the 2002 Japanese Formula Nippon Championship with Nakajima Racing. He has been a consistent points-scorer and highly competitive for A1 Team Ireland in the inaugural A1GP series, highlights including a podium finish in Portugal and fastest laps in both Dubai and Indonesia.

 

[Flibster]

Richards makes progress on new F1 team

Former BAR boss David Richards is believed to be close to giving the green light to launching his own Prodrive Formula One team for 2008.

Sources have confirmed that Richards recently held talks with FIA president Max Mosley and F1 commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone to discuss the future framework of regulations planned for the sport after 2007.

It is the first indication that Richards' plans for a team are advancing behind the scenes - even though he has made no secret of the fact that he has been considering a return to Grand Prix racing for some time.

Although Richards has declined to comment on the latest developments, he did admit at the Autosport International Show in January that a move to F1 for Prodrive would make sense if new rules planned for 2008 made the sport more economically viable for independent teams.

"I would not say it is unfinished business, but Prodrive is a motorsport business and that is at the heart of everything that we do," he said.

"We are involved in most aspects of it, but we are currently not involved in F1 - although we do supply some components.

"I will only go there (into F1) when the situation allows us to be competitive and to make a profit - and the changes coming for 2008 might allow that to come to fruition."

There are suggestions that David Lapworth, who left his position as Performance Director of Prodrive's Subaru World Rally Team last week, will be involved in the F1 operation.

A report in this week's Autocar magazine also suggests that Prodrive will build a state-of-the-art factory for their F1 team at the former Honiley airfield near Warwick, which has been owned by the company since 1999.

Richards' ambitions for the team come at a time when Mosley is campaigning hard on behalf of independent teams – claiming they are the lifeblood of F1. Mosley admitted recently that Richards was 'serious' in his ambitions to launch an F1 team.

"David Richards is looking at it quite seriously, but I think that is a separate operation, he has put a whole operation together," said Mosley. "It would make sense."

 

[Flibster]

Rossi says F1 will take a backseat

Valentino Rossi has claimed that his Formula One efforts will take a backseat for a while now that the new MotoGP season is just around the corner.

Although Rossi impressed Ferrari team management with his recent run at Valencia in Spain, prompting further speculation that he could land a drive at the team in 2007, he has played down talk that his focus is slipping away from motorbikes.

Speaking at the launch of his Camel Yamaha team in Milan on Monday, Rossi made it clear that he was completely concentrated on defending his title on two-wheels.

"Formula One has always taken a backseat, especially now that we're close [to the new MotoGP season], absolutely," he said.

Rossi is clearly undecided about his future plans, and the fact that he will take care of development of Yamaha's 2007 bike, which will feature an 800cc engine, indicates that he is definitely not ruling out remaining in motorbike racing.

However, when asked by reporters whether an unsuccessful defence of his bike title would be a good enough reason to remain in MotoGP, Rossi said: "No."

Rossi is likely to test again for Ferrari this year, as the team continue to evaluate his potential if they need to find a replacement for Michael Schumacher.

But the Italian has made it clear that he has no problem switching between cars and bikes - and that his racing activities are not suffering at all from his F1 try-outs.

"This is one of the things I long thought about before deciding to try the car, but there is absolutely no problem," he explained. "You could even run on the same day in the car and on the bike because they are so different...The car is driven in a completely different way on totally different racing lines.

"The important things to be quick are completely different compared to bikes. In fact, when I went to Valencia to test in Formula One, the next day I went to Qatar [to test the bike] and after five laps I went quicker than in my fastest lap of [last year's] race, so there's certainly no problem.

"Yamaha has given me the chance to test because they know there won't be any repercussions on my effort on bikes, neither in tests nor in the upcoming season, which is certainly the most important thing for me."

 

[Flibster]

Yamaha: no deadline for Rossi

The Camel Yamaha team have denied they have given MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi a deadline to decide what he will do next year.

In the last year Rossi has tested several times for the Ferrari F1 team and has been linked with a move to Formula One in 2007.

Asked at today's launch of the MotoGP team in Milan whether the Japanese manufacturer had set a deadline for Rossi to decide on his future, Yamaha team director Davide Brivio told autosport.com: "No, we're waiting for him to let us know."

While Yamaha are awaiting for Rossi to make up his mind, Brivio said that the team are planning for the future in case the Italian rider decides to move elsewhere.

"Obviously our priority will be to wait and see what Valentino wants to do," said Brivio. "If he'll carry on with the bikes we hope it will be with us otherwise we'll see. Obviously we're thinking about it.

"In our meetings we talk about the possibility [of him leaving], but we're scared to think about it because we wouldn't like to find ourselves in that situation."

After a Formula One test in Valencia last month, both Rossi and Ferrari said there will be further tests.

Brivio, however, is not worried testing cars will make Rossi lose focus on the bike, and he reckons it might in fact benefit his performances.

"Absolutely not, because especially this winter I've seen him very focused and efficient. It almost looks like it's beneficial for him," he said.

Asked how much of a loss it would be for Yamaha and for MotoGP to lose Rossi to other forms of racing, Brivio replied: "I don't know how much, but we'd all lose out. Obviously Yamaha would lose the best rider in the world, maybe the best rider of all times, and MotoGP would lose a lot of audience, so let's do our best to make sure he stays."

Brivio also said he doesn't know whether Ferrari have given Rossi a deadline to decide on his future.

Yamaha's position about Rossi testing in Formula One was further reiterated by Lin Jarvis, managing director of Yamaha Motor Racing: "We have one of the world's top sportsmen with us, one of the very best sportsmen in the world, and sportsmen will always look for new challenges, extreme challenges.

"So our position is that we allow Valentino to express himself and to make the next challenge.

"Of course, we want Valentino to stay with us, so the only thing we can do is to put together the best team, the best bike and the best package because we know, in his heart, he's a motorcyclist, so we hope if he has fun riding the Yamaha and we provide him with everything we can, he will stay with MotoGP."

 

[Flibster]

Sorry for my lack of updates - been hell at work today...

But to make up for it - some nice big shots of the SAR105 in it's new bodywork...

 

[Flibster]

Please note the high tech ways to seal the chimney in the third shot above.