2005 French Grand Prix

Flibster · 28 Jun 2005 at 10:22

Flibster · 28 Jun 2005 at 10:25

2004 French Grand Prix Results

Flibster · 28 Jun 2005 at 10:33

Current Championship Standings.

2005 Drivers Championship.

Code:

[b]Pos	Driver			Nationality	Team			Points[/b]
1 	Fernando Alonso		Spanish		Renault			59 
2 	Kimi Räikkönen		Finnish		McLaren-Mercedes	37 
3 	Michael Schumacher	German		Ferrari			34 
4 	Rubens Barrichello	Brazilian	Ferrari			29 
5 	Jarno Trulli		Italian		Toyota			27 
6 	Nick Heidfeld		German		Williams-BMW		25 
7 	Mark Webber		Australian	Williams-BMW		22 
8	 Ralf Schumacher	German		Toyota			20 
=10 	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italian		Renault			17 
=10	David Coulthard		British		Red Bull Racing		17 
11 	Juan Pablo Montoya	Colombian	McLaren-Mercedes	16 
12 	Felipe Massa		Brazilian	Sauber-Petronas		7 
=14 	Tiago Monteiro		Portuguese	Jordan-Toyota		6 
=14 	Alexander Wurz		Austrian	McLaren-Mercedes	6 
=16 	Jacques Villeneuve	Canadian	Sauber-Petronas		5 
=16 	Narain Karthikeyan	Indian		Jordan-Toyota		5 
=19 	Christijan Albers	Dutch		Minardi-Cosworth	4 
=19 	Pedro de la Rosa	Spanish		McLaren-Mercedes	4 
=19 	Christian Klien		Austrian	Red Bull Racing		4 
20 	Patrick Friesacher	Austrian	Minardi-Cosworth	3 
21 	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Italian		Red Bull Racing		1

2005 Constructors Championship.

Code:

[b]Pos	Constructor 		Points[/b]
1	Renault			76
=3	McLaren-Mercedes	63
=3	Ferrari			63
=5	Toyota			47
=5	Williams-BMW		47
6	Red Bull Racing		22
7	Sauber-Petronas		12
8	Jordan-Toyota		11
9	Minardi-Cosworth	7

Flibster · 28 Jun 2005 at 10:36

So...

Why have I created this thread so early?

Because Max Mosely and cronies have called the Indy 7 and Michelin in front of the World Motorsports Council tomorrow...

The 7 teams, Michelin and Paul Stoddart are meating today - probably to get story straight and to show a consolidated front. If they do that - punishment will be hard to dish out. They will have to treat everyone fairly.

On a semi related note - Toyota have pulled out of all open wheel racing series in America fromthe end of 2006. Going to be concentrateing on GPWC maybe?

Will do updates with whatever news I get whenever.

Simon/~Flibster

Flibster · 28 Jun 2005 at 10:48

It also appears that he is the voice of the GPWC teams...

Good choice actually - since when has anyone been able to shut an Aussie up.

We tried with Kylie and Jason...they still got no1 albums. :confused:

*although..I admit that Kylie has got very fit in the last few years.

*

He wanted to withdraw his cars but was afraid of repurcussions. If the Jordans had broken down/crashed then he would have withdrawn the Minardi's. He just couldn't afford to while they were running.

I actually like Stoddy...He's a F1 fan..he bought a F1 team after running in the TGP/Boss championships. *successfully I might add..* I don't think it's quite how he imagined...

Simon/~Flibster

Flibster · 28 Jun 2005 at 12:23

Oh no - the tracks are crap as well...A reduction in aero grip and an increase in mechanical will only help so far..

The new Herman Tilke tracks are showcasing his ability to design a circuit - yes - well they ain't good for racing on!

The neutered Hockenheim is terrible for overtaking, as is Sepang - I'm just hoping that Turkey is better

Simon/~Flibster

Flibster · 28 Jun 2005 at 12:25

ashtray_head said:
Did anyone see the story anout the Ferrari tyre heaters?
Are they Illegal or what?....Bet they dont get a ban if there are illegal
Here

The FIA sporting/technical bods have deemed them legal - They do seem to be stretching the term 'Tyre Blankets' to/past the limit though.

It's an oven - who cares if it's got the same guts in it as a tyre blanket does...it's not a blanket.

McLaren tried these and were told they were not in the spirit of the rules last year....

Hmmm...

Simon/~Flibster

Flibster · 28 Jun 2005 at 12:41

Yup - deemed legal for Ferrari must mean all the other teams can use them.

Simon/~Flibser

Flibster · 28 Jun 2005 at 14:10

ashtray_head said:
Simon

Do you think Max would be stupid enough to ban some teams tomorrow?
Hope they dont get deducted points either then that would be like the FIA saying " Here Ferrari have the Championships"

Yes he would.

Remember what he was on about with BAR earlier this season.

It was a stareing contest with Max and Bernie on one side and the 7 teams on the other...

Max and Bernie blinked first. Max has lost face and will now take it out on the teams.

I'd expect - worst case for 4 teams to be banned - as that would then leave 12 cars which is the minimum before an event can be called off. It's the length of bans I'd be worried about - Max has been stirring the **** by saying that anyone who brings the sport into disripute *which he's claiming the 7 teams did* should get a lifetime ban from the F1 World Championship.

However not even I think he's that stupid.

All they did was follow Max's own instructions. If you feel the car is unsafe - bring it into the pits and inspect it. If you still feel it is unsafe - retire it.

They did - now he's throwing a wobbler..

There were solutions available - none were particularly safe tbh. The best of a bad bunch was the chicane between turns 12 and 13.

FIA were determined to run something very stupid. Either just slowing down round turn 13 *dangerous as hell - and would look so bad* or running through the pitlane *dangerous as well - would look so stupid - also dangerous when it came to the pit stops - in theory you could constantly have cars in the pit lane*

IMO - the very worst the teams should get is: Suspensed ban and a fine.

I suspect that Max is putting pressure on the WMSC to ban at least 1 of the teams...if that happens...who knows what the 7 will do.

I think they are going to display a united front against the FIA - one out, all out type of mentality.

Tomorrow could be the day that kills F1..

Simon/~Flibster

Flibster · 28 Jun 2005 at 14:28

Mate has emailed me some sigs if anyone would like to use them please feel free to download and use them..

They've been resized for OcUK

Simon/~Flibster

Flibster · 28 Jun 2005 at 15:45

Oooh...other good news.

Panis will be back on track on Friday after Toyota swapped Zonta for Panis as their 3rd driver...

Also...

Max Mosley has been quoted as saying "The governing body will always win"

That doesn't bode well...

And Sir Frank Williams has been quoted as saying "Max just wants to humiliate us. I fear this is not a battle we can fight and win."

Simon/~Flibster

Flibster · 29 Jun 2005 at 08:04

Full press release from Michelin

http://www.michelinsport.com/sport/actualites/en/act_affich.jsp?news_id=15502&lang=EN&codeRubrique=61# said:
2005 United States Formula 1 Grand Prix, Indianapolis

Straight talk and a sincere gesture for the American spectators:
It could have been an exciting race

One week after the Indianapolis Grand Prix, Michelin wishes to make a sincere gesture of goodwill towards the people present at the GP, a group whose passion for F1 is encouraging in the development of this sport in the United States.

Therefore, on our own initiative and in total solidarity with our partners, we have taken two decisions:

1. Michelin has decided to contribute to the costs incurred by the spectators present at the circuit on Sunday June 19th 2005 by offering to refund their tickets. This is an important decision, since Michelin is not at all legally bound to do this.

Michelin deeply regrets that the public was deprived of an exciting race and therefore wishes to be the first, among the different groups involved in the Indianapolis race, to make a strong gesture towards the spectators.

2. Michelin also offers to buy 20,000 tickets for the 2006 U.S. Grand Prix to be given to spectators who were present at the Indianapolis race in 2005. We are offering this to promote further Formula 1 interest in the United States.

We would also like to take this opportunity to underline the fact that it is unacceptable that our partner teams have been accused by the FIA of having boycotted the Indianapolis Grand Prix. The reality is that together, Michelin and its partners have done everything possible to assure that the race could take place in total safety.

We are extremely disappointed that the proposals made with all our teams were not accepted. These proposals, including a chicane, were technically viable and totally met all safety requirements. On Sunday morning, June 19, the sporting authority had all the means necessary to preserve the interest of the race.

And yet, the sporting authority rejected the proposed solutions. Why? In our view this is totally incomprehensible and reflects a lack of respect for the spectators.

It is the spirit of respect for the spectators that brought us, with our partners, to propose solutions to allow the race to take place in total safety. It is this same spirit that leads us today to make this gesture.

Well - nice to see they've just laid the blame at the FIA's door there.

Plus thats going to take a lot of the wind out of the FIA's sales with regards to the punishment..

Hmmmm...

Simon/~Flibster

Flibster · 29 Jun 2005 at 10:55

Hold on there boyo's....the hearing hasn't started yet!

http://www.fia.com/mediacentre/Press_Releases/FIA_Sport/2005/June/290605-01.html said:
The FIA welcomes the announcement made by Michelin of a compensation package for the spectators of the 2005 United States Grand Prix.

However, the FIA strongly contests the version of events detailed in Michelin's press release of June 28 and rejects the views expressed in Edouard Michelin's widely publicised letter to the FIA President of June 27.

The exchange of correspondence between the FIA President and the Chief Executive of Michelin was deliberately leaked to members of the Press, we are therefore placing the complete exchange of correspondence in the public domain.

Paris, June 29, 2005

It then lists all the documentation - just copy and paste the linky above..

Hmmmm....

Simon/~Flibster

Flibster · 29 Jun 2005 at 11:31

Started already - 09:30 French time

Press conference with Max Mosely no earlier than 15:00 French time.

Simon/~Flibster

Flibster · 29 Jun 2005 at 12:05

After reading the whole of the FIA stuff about this - I'm now expecting at least 1 ban to come from this.

I'm not going to say which team I suspect - but it's a biggie...

Simon/~Flibster

Flibster · 29 Jun 2005 at 14:06

Press conference has now started I believe...

However - just found this...

www.updatef1.com said:
With the meeting now finished, Max Mosley, FIA President, is due to hold a Press Conference at 3pm Paris time.

This will be followed sometime later by a response from the teams involved.

Initial reports that BAR, at least, are facing a ban can not be confirmed, although rumours are that the news is not positive.

Paul Stoddart, Minardi Chief, presented himself at the venue but was refused entry to the meeting itself.

At present all team representatives are refusing to comment.

Oooh poop.

Simon/~Flibster

Flibster · 29 Jun 2005 at 14:08

And found this...

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=33282 said:
STODDART: SIGNS “NOT GOOD” FOR MICHELIN TEAMS
Last Updated: Wednesday, 29, June, 2005, 13:03

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart has hinted that the outcome of the FIA World Council hearing may be unfavourable to the seven Michelin teams which controversially withdrew from the US Grand Prix.

“The general feeling of the people I’ve spoken to is that it is not good, but I can’t elaborate on that,” said the Australian.

Stoddart also revealed that "the manufacturer teams are going to meet at five o'clock to discuss the situation at a hotel around the corner."

The team principals of McLaren, Renault, Williams, Toyota, Sauber, Red Bull and BAR have been called today to the HQ of world motorsport’s governing body at the Place de la Concorde in Paris to face charges of bringing the sport into disrepute.

They refused to race at Indianapolis on June 19 after tyre supplier Michelin said it couldn’t guarantee the safety of its tyres following several failures blamed on excessive load through the banked Turn 13.

That left just Ferrari, Jordan and Minardi on the grid, sparking a global outcry and a week of public debate between the teams, Michelin and the FIA as to who was at fault for the fiasco.

Potential penalties for the teams could include fines, loss of championship points or even a ban from the sport.

The bosses of the seven teams were all called in individually at 10-minute intervals to see the board of national motorsport chiefs that forms the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council throughout Wednesday morning.

They would not disclose to the waiting crowd of journalists what went on in the behind-closed-doors meeting as they left however.

“The comment is that there is no comment,” said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.

Flibster · 29 Jun 2005 at 14:21

Last thing I heard is that Michelin could be banned from Motorsport....

Or the cars could be ruled unsafe by the stewards as they had Michelin tyres and as such could not take part in any GP where that happened...

Strangely - not one question was asked after Bridgestones failures after safety car periods or other times. :rolleyes:

Simon/~Flibster

Flibster · 29 Jun 2005 at 14:46

Right then...

www.pitpass.com *very very slow atm...* said:
The seven teams that opted to withdraw from the United States Grand Prix have been found guilty on two charges of bringing the sport into disrepute. However, all seven teams were found not guilty of the other three charges.

The penalty will be decided on September 14, after the Belgian Grand Prix.

Both Max Mosley and the seven teams will be holding (separate) press conferences this afternoon.

More to follow.

Flibster · 29 Jun 2005 at 14:51

Ok...FIA's webble site is deadded...pitpass forums are deadded... :eek:

So - my thoughts...

The FIA are going to try to make the teams sweat.
Also - I think it was a safety measure - if they punished one team badly I suspect that the others would have stepped in.

However - being found guilty of disripute is possibly the worst one they could have been found guilty of. They could be banned from F1 for life.