2010 Formula 1 Season - Official Discussion Thread

[Zack]

[saif]

[sdutt]

yup, all 3 above smileys sum it up well.
I wouldnt want it though, until Lotus are atleast a mid-field team atleast, it would be better if they dont think of using it

[Ferrariman60]

I'd rather see the real Lotus come back. Based in England, Black and gold livery, maybe have Bruno Senna as one of their drivers

[cformula1]

Ex-Ferrari Engineer Stepney Sentenced Over 'Spygate'

Nigel Stepney, the former Ferrari engineer at the centre of the 2007 spying scandal, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for his part in the affair according to the Reuters news agency - but under the Italian legal system it is thought highly unlikely that he will serve the sentence.

Ferrari originally launched criminal proceedings against Stepney in June '07, shortly before the scandal broke. Stepney was accused of plotting to sabotage Ferrari's cars, and of passing confidential data to the team's main rival McLaren.

McLaren was subsequently fined $100 million and excluded from that season's constructors' championship, while the FIA encouraged teams to avoid working with Stepney and McLaren's Mike Coughlan, the other main figure in the scandal, although this was later lifted and Stepney went on to work in GT racing.

Although the FIA and the teams involved considered the matter closed, the criminal proceedings against Stepney continued. Reuters cites local media reports that Stepney's legal team entered into a plea bargain in a court in Sassuolo, and that today the jail sentence was passed along with a 600 euro fine.

Code: Select all

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87071

[momo]

Fiat considers selling Ferrari shares
Date 2010-09-30
By Motorsport.com/GMM


According to a rumour at the Paris Motor Show on Thursday, Italian carmaker Fiat is considering selling some of its shares in Ferrari and the famous Formula One team.

The rumour emerged a few days ago based on a report in the Corriere della Sera newspaper, suggesting Fiat wants to raise money to increase its stake in Chrysler to 51 per cent.

Fiat, who currently own 85 per cent of Ferrari, has denied the rumours that it is prepared to reduce its shareholding to a controlling 51 per cent.

The other significant Ferrari owner is Abu Dhabi investment company Mubadala.

Maranello based Ferrari is valued at more than $3 billion.

At the Paris motor show on Thursday, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said the marque's profits were close to record highs in 2010.

"Despite the crisis we'll close the year better than last year," he said.

The Italian also played down the latest reports he is considering entering politics, insisting he is "ready to work a lot for the future of Ferrari".

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=389122

[phil1993]

Branson confirms Virgin will continue to support Manor Racing in 2011:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87087

[MavF1]

Porsche ready to evaluate F1 return

Porsche is to seriously evaluate a return to Formula 1, its new chairman Matthias Mueller has revealed at the Paris Motor Show on Friday.

Speaking to AUTOSPORT's sister publication Autocar, Mueller said he expected his company's motorsport activities - which encompasses Porsche and Audi through its tie-up with the Volkswagen Group - to include both top-level sportscars and F1 in the near future.

He made it clear that he expected either Porsche or Audi to have an LMP1 car in the future - while the other brand would then enter F1.

Audi has competed in the Le Mans prototype class since 1999 and is working on a new car - the R18 - for 2011. Porsche ended its factory sportscar programme in 1998 - though it did produce the LMP2 RS Spyder for customer teams from 2005 onwards - and would be the logical choice for a return to F1 for the first time since 1991.

"With LMP1, there are two classes and two brands - Audi and Porsche. We do not like to both go into LMP1 [against each other]; that is not so funny," Mueller told Autocar's website.

"So therefore we have to discuss whether it makes better sense for one of the [two] brands to go into LMP1, and the other brand into F1. So we will have a round-table to discuss the pros and cons."

Porsche's entry to F1 would most likely be as an engine supplier, rather than having a whole team. It would also make most sense for the company to enter the sport in 2013, when all-new engine regulations are set to be introduced.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87103

[Ferrariman60]

Having Porsche in F1 would be a nice addition. I hope there's some truth to this story.

[cformula1]

Having Porsche would be great, and I think they'd probably end up supplying Williams or Sauber.

[iceman1]

Having Porsche in F1 would be a nice addition. I hope there's some truth to this story.

2013 is a long time away

[JoostLamers]

6 contenders announced to win McLaren F1 test:
- Tom Blomqvist (Formula Renault Championship leader)
- Lewis Williamson (Formula Renault Championship leader)
- Jack Harvey (Formula BMW vice Champion)
- Scott Malvern (British Formula Ford vice Champion)
- Nigel Moore (Formula Palmer Audi driver)
- Luciano Bacheta (Formula Renault EuroCup race winner)

[Ferrariman60]

Any more news about the Korean Grand Prix? I've heard Kyalami being mentioned a few times as a possible replacement...

[phil1993]

There won't be a replacement. Either its Korea or no race.

[Ferrariman60]

That's interesting then. If the track isn't ready and there are then only 18 rounds, I'd imagine that could cause all sorts of problems with sponsor/driver contracts, suppliers, logistics, etc. Not to mention the impact missing a round could have on the championship...