isaidno Posted 5 February 2009 Posted 5 February 2009 I'm really looking forward to this season. With the lack of testing & the new cars out, it's hard to tell who's gonna be at the front
isaidno Posted 6 February 2009 Posted 6 February 2009 Bourdais confirmed at Torro Rosso. Buttons without a drive then.
The Stig Posted 7 February 2009 Author Posted 7 February 2009 Bourdais confirmed at Torro Rosso. Buttons without a drive then. BBC coverage me thinks?
isaidno Posted 18 February 2009 Posted 18 February 2009 Virgin involved in Honda F1 talks Richard Branson has Honda Formula One team in his sights Honda has said Richard Branson's Virgin Group is one of several potential buyers of its Formula One team. The Japanese carmaker hopes a deal can be made in time for the start of the 2009 season in Australia on 29 March. It is thought the team is up for sale for £1 - although any buyer would need to find a budget in the region of £40m to run the outfit for the new campaign. "We are negotiating with several buyers and one of these parties is the Virgin Group," a Honda spokesman stated. But the team are very short on time to put a deal together to enable them to compete this season. They are planning to use Mercedes engines, but the German company has set a deadline by which the team have to prove they have the finances in place to pay for the power-plants. Honda pulled out of Formula One and put the team up for sale in December because of the effects of the global economic crisis. Since then the leading contender was rumoured to be a planned management buyout led by the team's current chief executive Nick Fry, principal Ross Brawn and three other senior Honda Racing executives. Honda are prepared to provide some funding to go towards a racing budget for 2009 as this would be cheaper than paying off the contracts of the team's 700 employees. Branson has been involved with F1 before to a minor extent, his Virgin Mobile company sponsored the Jordan team in 2002. Virgin Atlantic Japan have also been personal sponsors of Honda-backed Japanese driver Takuma Sato for the past four years. But a source close to Branson told BBC Sport the entrepreneur had in the past been reluctant to get involved with F1, because he saw the sport as a "big black hole for money". Should a buyout be put together, it would be a major boost for the career of English driver Jenson Button as well as the jobs of the team's 700 employees. Button has no other options for a place in F1 this season. Honda first competed in F1 in 1964 and has clocked up three Grand Prix wins as a full works team. Its engines have also been behind dozens of victories by stars such as world champions Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.
The Stig Posted 19 February 2009 Author Posted 19 February 2009 Brilliant News about Honda. I hope and pray it goes through for Jensons sake.
isaidno Posted 25 February 2009 Posted 25 February 2009 US team plans to enter F1 in 2010 Anderson and Windsor say they have the necessary finance to launch USF1 The founders of a proposed Formula One team from the United States insist they are ready to enter the sport in 2010. Peter Windsor and Ken Anderson, the duo behind the scheme, have said the cars will be built in North Carolina and driven by American drivers. They also confirmed they have finance in place and that F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has given them his backing. "I told Bernie Ecclestone about this in Brazil 2006, and he just said, 'great, get it done'," Windsor told Autosport. "He has kept in touch ever since and has always been supportive." Windsor, a journalist and television presenter, is a former Williams team manager and will assume the role of sporting director while Anderson has many years of experience in both F1 and Indy Car as a race engineer. The current global economic crisis has forced many teams into cost cutting measures ahead of the new season on 29 March, while struggling Honda are still looking to find a buyer. Despite this USF1 will not be be backed by a manufacturer or wealthy businessman, with Windsor saying they have put together a viable business plan that will work. "If you look at the way it's gone in the recent past, it's been either you find a rich trillionaire and have him dominate, or you are lucky enough to be invited by a large car company to set up their F1 operation," he said. "Ken and I have been around long enough to know we didn't want to do those things. "We always wanted to do our own team our way. We have got some things we want to bring in. "The key was not to selling anything more than a very small stake in the team. "We set ourselves some unbelievably steep hills to climb in a recession, but we only wanted to sell a small part of the team, and, as we sit here now, I'm pleased to say we've done that and we're now two guys that can say we are going to do an F1 team because we have the capital to do it." Danica Patrick has been linked with a seat at the new USF1 team F1 has a rich history in north America and can boast two former world champions in Phil Hill and Mario Andretti. However, races in America and Canada have recently been taken off the calendar and there are currently no US or Canadian drivers competing in the sport. Danica Patrick, the first woman to compete in the Indy Car series in the US, has been linked with a seat with the new team as have former Torro Rosso driver Scott Speed, and Andretti's grandson 21-year-old Marco. Anderson has admitted that Patrick would be an attractive proposition for USF1 and is keen to see if the 26-year-old would fancy becoming the sixth female F1 driver. "Danica's great - she gets a lot of press," he said. "IndyCar Series boss Tony George would probably be pretty mad with me if I took her out of the IRL (Indy Racing League), but we'll see. "I don't know if it's something she wants to do. We'd certainly love to test her and go from there." This might increase the chances of the Canadian Gp coming back
Asha Posted 25 February 2009 Posted 25 February 2009 Anderson has admitted that Patrick would be an attractive proposition for USF1 and is keen to see if the 26-year-old would fancy becoming the sixth female F1 driver. When has there been any? Before my time, surely?
isaidno Posted 25 February 2009 Posted 25 February 2009 Name Seasons Entries Starts Points Maria Teresa de Filippis 1958 - 1959 5 3 0 Lella Lombardi 1974 - 1976 17 12 0.5 Divina Galica 1976 - 1978 3 0 - Desiré Wilson 1979 1 0 - Giovanna Amati 1992 3 0 Lella Lombardi is the most famous one. This is who we need in F1, Susie Stoddart
Hitesh Posted 26 February 2009 Posted 26 February 2009 Not sure if it has been posted or mentioned but it's awesome that its back on the Beeb! I'm really looking forward to the coverage aswell especially the split screen stuff and the best bit of all - NO ADS!! Here is a run-down taken from the Beeb site: F1 on the BBC in 2009Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the world title Lewis Hamilton won the 2008 Drivers' Championship The BBC will be providing comprehensive coverage of the 2009 Formula One season across all its platforms. F1 returns to BBC television for the first time in 12 years and there will be extensive coverage on network TV, red button, radio, online and mobile. BBC One will carry live coverage of all 17 Grands Prix and every qualifying session except that in Brazil, which will be shown on BBC Two. And every single on-track session can be watched on the red button or online. Jake Humphrey will present the TV coverage, joined by 13-time Grand Prix winner David Coulthard and former team boss Eddie Jordan as pundits. Jonathan Legard will commentate alongside award-winning broadcaster and former F1 driver Martin Brundle. The pit lane reporters will be Ted Kravitz and Lee McKenzie. F1 fans will be able to customise their viewing experience through the BBC's multi-platform offering with options such as: split-screen action; a live leaderboard; in-car cameras; choice of commentary; live online streaming; live text; interactive forums; circuit guides; and blogs. Full schedule of BBC TV F1 coverage TELEVISION COVERAGE Every race and qualifying session will be shown live on BBC One, with the exception of qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix on 17 October, which will be shown on BBC Two. All races and qualifying sessions that finish before 1000 will have a full repeat on either BBC One or Two later that day. There will be a one-hour evening highlights programme at 1900 UK time on BBC Three for all races except Brazil. Full schedule of BBC TV F1 coverage. RED BUTTON The BBC's red button interactive TV service will broadcast live coverage of all on-track sessions - Friday and Saturday practice, qualifying and race. There will be an additional interactive analysis programme following on from the end of the BBC One coverage of each race. On race day, viewers will be able to choose from three different video streams. These will be: the main network feed with a choice of commentary from BBC One and BBC Radio 5 Live; a split screen comprising the main network feed; an in-car camera feed and leaderboard; rolling highlights. RADIO Radio 5 Live will again be providing extensive coverage and live commentary of all on-track action - on 5 Live on 909 and 693MW and 5 Live Sports extra on digital radio. David Croft will be the commentator, with former F1 driver Anthony Davidson as the expert analyst and Holly Samos as pit-lane reporter. The station will continue with its half-hour 5 Live Formula One show on Friday evenings during race weekends. It also has the Chequered Flag Podcast which is available after every race and features interviews with all the main players and in-depth analysis. ONLINE The BBC Sport website will carry live all BBC One, BBC Two and red button coverage of F1. There will be multiple live video streaming, which will mirror what is available on the red button. For the first time, video will be available in high quality, enabling viewers to watch on the internet near-television quality video. In addition to the live text commentary and news and analysis which was already a feature of the website, there will be a number of new features for 2009. These will include: extensive post-race video highlights; video race reviews by Murray Walker; interactive circuit guides; several blogs, including a diary-type F1 mole; columns; and comprehensive results and statistics. The new-look BBC F1 website will be launched in the run-up to the season. Mobile users will be able to access the latest news, insight and results. Lewis Hamilton starts his defence of the drivers' title he won in dramatic style last year in Melbourne, Australia, on 29 March. We will provide further details of our coverage plans closer to that date.
isaidno Posted 26 February 2009 Posted 26 February 2009 The former Honda team plans to test at Silverstone and Barcelona in the next fortnight, raising hopes it will start the new Formula One season next month. Honda pulled out of F1 in December as a result of the global financial crisis, leaving the British-based outfit to search desperately for a buyer. BBC Sport understands the team will not test in Jerez next week but will have a "shake-down" test at Silverstone. The outfit then hope to make the full team test in Barcelona on 9 March. Team members have been told a deal is close and to prepare to race in 2009, with the new season getting under way at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on 29 March. There's no way we'd go to any test without an engine deal... if we're going to Jerez, it means it's a done deal BBC source It is unclear who the new owners would be, but speculation has focused on a buy-out led by the current management of chief executive Nick Fry and team principal Ross Brawn. A senior source at the former Honda team, which is based in Brackley, Northamptonshire, told BBC Sport: "We're carrying on as if we're going to Melbourne." The source likened the situation to "being in the final stages of buying a house when the contracts are agreed and signed and it's with the lawyers". The source added that Brawn had told employees that "everything's positive - it's all going ahead". Bruno Senna could partner Button No decision had yet been made on a driver line-up, but BBC Sport has learned that Englishman Jenson Button will definitely race for the team if it gets the official go-ahead. The second seat is understood to be between two Brazilians - veteran Rubens Barrichello, Button's team-mate since 2006, and novice Bruno Senna, the nephew of F1 legend Ayrton. The car will be fitted with a Mercedes engine. "There's no way we'd go to any test without an engine deal," the source said. "If we're going to Jerez, it means it's a done deal." It is unclear whether any official announcement would be made before the test. Even if the team make it to the final pre-season test in Barcelona in mid-March, they still face an uphill struggle to be competitive at the start of the season. At the time of Honda's withdrawal, Brawn expressed his belief that the car could run in the top three in 2009, despite the team's poor form in the last two years. But the recent uncertainty will have affected development effort, and they have lost running time to their rivals, most of whom have completed at least two full four-day tests already.
isaidno Posted 5 March 2009 Posted 5 March 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/default.stm The new BBC f1 site, it's pretty good. Lots of archive footage on there, & you can vote for which classic Oz Gp you want to see. My favorite is 1986. Also, Honda have been saved
Asha Posted 6 March 2009 Posted 6 March 2009 Link Honda team to return as Brawn GP The former Honda Formula One team has been saved and will contest the 2009 season as Brawn GP. The Honda Motor Company Limited and ex-Honda boss Ross Brawn, 54, have reached agreement to preserve the team. Britain's Jenson Button and Brazilian veteran Rubens Barrichello, last year's Honda line-up, will continue to drive for the British-based team. Brawn GP will use Mercedes engines when the new F1 season starts in Australia on 29 March. Honda pulled out of F1 in December as a result of the global financial crisis, leaving the team to search desperately for a buyer. A statement, released on the new Brawn GP website, did not reveal the financial details of the buyout or whether Honda's 700 staff would remain in their jobs. Brawn, a former Ferrari technical director, said: "The past few months have been extremely challenging for the team but today's announcement is the very pleasing conclusion to the strenuous efforts that have been made to secure its future. "Firstly, it is a great shame that having worked with Honda Motor Company for so long we can no longer continue together. "I would like to thank Honda for the fantastic co-operation and support we have received throughout this process, particularly those members of the senior management who were closely involved with concluding our agreement, and for the faith they have demonstrated in myself and our team." Brawn, who joined Honda at the start of last season, added that he was delighted to retain the same driving line-up. "The vast experience and knowledge that both drivers bring to our team will prove invaluable as we aim to get up to speed in the shortest possible time to be ready for the first race of the season," he said. "In what will be their fourth season together, their experience with our team in Brackley, our systems and our engineers, will prove a real asset." He added: "I would like to express particular appreciation for the support we have received from Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, the FIA (Federation Internationale de L'Automobile), FOM (Formula One Management), Fota (Formula One Teams Association) ... and our many fans the world over. "The journey ahead will be challenging but exciting and we know we can count on their continued enthusiasm for our team and its ambitions." Hiroshi Oshima, managing officer of Honda Motor Company Limited, wished Brawn well in his new role as team owner. "Since announcing our withdrawal from Formula One racing on 5 December of last year, we have conducted various studies and discussions so that the team can continue its activities as a new team," said Oshima. "We are very pleased that we could sell the team to Ross Brawn, with whom we have been partaking in the challenges of F1 competition, and are grateful for his decision. We offer our sincerest wishes for the new team which will be led by Ross." Brawn GP will attend the remaining pre-season tests, in Barcelona starting on 9 March and Jerez starting on 15 March. With the team's survival, Formula One will start the season with 10 teams - one fewer than at the beginning of 2008 before Super Aguri folded.
lildave3 Posted 6 March 2009 Posted 6 March 2009 Great news for Honda, and for Button obviously. Want as many teams as possible to make it better.
The Stig Posted 6 March 2009 Author Posted 6 March 2009 Great news for Honda, and for Button obviously. Want as many teams as possible to make it better. Of course. My god I'm getting excited now, 3 weeks...
isaidno Posted 8 March 2009 Posted 8 March 2009 Of course. My god I'm getting excited now, 3 weeks... Not as excited as me, only 2 weeks till I'm there
The Stig Posted 9 March 2009 Author Posted 9 March 2009 I wish the race started at 4am instead of 7. Why exactly?
Asha Posted 10 March 2009 Posted 10 March 2009 Really looking forward to this season. Think Massa will be lethal this year...losing the championship in the dying seconds will have really hurt him and I'm pretty sure he'll bounce back and stronger and rip everyone to pieces. Disappointed we've still got Raikkonen though. Since winning the championship he's looked a shade of his best and hasn't really shown anything to suggest he has the hunger to fight for the title again. Would rather they went for Vettel instead. Despite obviously partly hoping Ferrari obliterate the field, I think Renault and BMW will be right up there this year...and I hope it'll be a 4 car battle for the constructors. My Prediction at the moment would be 1 Massa 2 Hamilton 3 Alonso
Brainy Posted 10 March 2009 Posted 10 March 2009 Why exactly? Because I prefer watching races in the dark.
Brainy Posted 11 March 2009 Posted 11 March 2009 Button was fasting in testing today, over a second quicker than 2nd place Massa. Could be interesting. Hamilton crashed.
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