2009 Season Discussions: Line-ups, News and Miscellaneous

[phil1993]

Abu Dhabi given the green light

The Abu Dhabi circuit has passed its final FIA inspection, race organisers revealed after FIA delegate Charlie Whiting visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) venue last week. The governing body's Race Director attended to the site ahead of the inaugural race in Yas Marina at the end of the season.

With the spectacular island setting due to host the first ever dust-to-night Formula One race at the start of November, Whiting fully inspected the track and its facilities to before giving the go-ahead.

"Everything is going well," circuit CEO Richard Cregan is quoted as saying by Reuters, with only some work on aesthetics now remaining. "We've had a couple of handovers and that's the process we're in at the moment - as I call it, a 'shakedown' of the circuit.

"It's such a complex facility; so many buildings - so many elements to it in terms of how technical the circuit is - so we're going through it step-by-step. Charlie came on Monday and everything he had asked for previously was done; that was the final FIA green light and he's also coming here for the GP2 test, which is a great help for us."

The GP2 test in question will be a significant step for the track, which will invite Formula One marshals as the run-up to the climax of the 2009 campaign continues

[swca92]

Timo Glock has a cracked vertebrate and won't race in Brazil. He'll be replaced by Kobayashi.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsp ... 301262.stm

[Ferrariman60]

What a pity for Glock. I'm sure Kamui Kobayashi is over the moon right now though.

[phil1993]

Ferrari rule out Massa comeback in 2009

Ferrari has emphasised that Felipe Massa's test in a 2007 Formula 1 car tomorrow is only an early step in his recovery programme and does not mean he will be fit to race before the end of the 2009 season.

The Brazilian has passed a series of medical tests in Paris in preparation for tomorrow's run at Fiorano, but the team says the examination proved that he will definitely not be ready to make a full return until the start of the 2010 world championship.

The test will just be a chance for Massa to gentle re-acclimatise to driving an F1 car, according to Ferrari.

"Tomorrow morning at the Fiorano track, Felipe Massa will get back behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car," said a team statement.

"This is in no way a proper test session and looking at the stopwatch will not be on the agenda - there will be plenty of time for that in 2010, when, alongside Fernando Alonso, he will begin development work of the new single-seater.

"It is simply an opportunity for Felipe to renew his acquaintance with his natural environment, namely the race track. The Brazilian driver will do a few laps at the wheel of a privately owned F2007, run by staff of Ferrari's F1 Clienti department."

Earlier this week Massa revealed that he had little expectation of being fit to race in Abu Dhabi, as he had initially hoped, and Ferrari confirmed that he would definitely not race again in 2009.

"Tomorrow's event is significant but in no way does it signify a return to competition in the near future," said the team.

"In fact, based on a previously taken decision and after an informal medical examination in Paris a few days ago, which proved rather positive, but not enough to endorse a return to competition in the next two months, Felipe and the team want to proceed gradually and without any hurry to recover as well as possible from the effects of the accident that happened in Budapest back on 25th July.

"Therefore talk of a proper return to Formula 1 can wait until the start of the 2010 season and only at that time will the medical checks be carried out, as required by the FIA in order to allow someone who has been injured to return to racing."

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http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79390

[Coopz]

For the best really, he has all Winter to fully recover and get his confidence back.

[Tom Vandenhove]

GPWeek reports that Renault will use their classic yellow/black livery for the final two races

That'd be freakin' awesome !!

[swca92]

That's a great livery, puts the yellow and orange one to shame.

[sdutt]

yeah! the colour scheme looks very good and different. it will be nice to see it (if it comes)

[François]

Hehe, Renault might go from one of the worst '09 liveries, to one of the best.

Hopefully the car's performance level will follow!

[JoostLamers]

That'd be freakin' awesome !!

Agreed!

[TwistedArmco]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikvjwBEYk50

2 seater laps of Yas Marina circuit. Looks like quite a tight circuit, lots of 90 degree corners, and note the reverse Bahrain turn 1+2 at the end of the back straight.

[MavF1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikvjwBEYk50

2 seater laps of Yas Marina circuit. Looks like quite a tight circuit, lots of 90 degree corners, and note the reverse Bahrain turn 1+2 at the end of the back straight.

The pit lane exit looks like a motorway service exit road... onto the biggest shopping centre car-park in the world

That's what I thought.......not a very attractive circuit IMO
Lots of stop-and-go, should suit Brawn better than the RedBull's.
Bring back Monza instead!

[JoostLamers]

Nice vid, thanks TA

[phil1993]

I'd get lost because there's so many other circuit layouts

[phil1993]

Date set for Briatore's hearing

Former Renault boss Flavio Briatore's legal action against the FIA for his lifetime ban from motor racing will be heard by the French courts next month.

A preliminary hearing took place at the Tribunal de Grande Instance in Paris on Monday to consider his application against motor racing's governing body, and the court confirmed that the matter was worthy of a hearing.

A hearing date has now been set for November 24, where Briatore will bid to get his lifetime ban overturned and seek damages from the FIA.