2010 Formula 1 Season - Official Discussion Thread

[cformula1]

Nice

However, this means that the Safety Car will look better than the actual race cars from some angles

[phil1993]

hey guys, i know i said we should have news by today but it's going to be a few days more... getting there slowly - fingers crossed !!

[JoostLamers]

hey guys, i know i said we should have news by today but it's going to be a few days more... getting there slowly - fingers crossed !!

So that's a seat for him

[phil1993]

http://willthef1journo.wordpress.com/

Only way for Stefan to compete is for USF1 to give them their entry but Stefan keep with 'USF1' name

[Ali]

Ferrari are the team to beat, says Michael Schumacher

Michael Schumacher says Ferrari are the team in the best shape for the start of the season as testing comes to a close.

The 41-year-old, who will drive for Mercedes this year after three years in retirement, said: "Felipe [Massa] and Fernando [Alonso] look the target.

"Ferrari have done very good testing and things look good. I know them and there are good reasons to be happy."

Spoiler:

He also backtracked on earlier remarks that his Mercedes team could probably not win the first race.

After testing in Barcelona on Friday, when he was more than a second slower than Fernando Alonso's Ferrari, the 41-year-old was asked if he could win the first race.

Schumacher, who won five of his record seven world titles for Ferrari, replied: "Maybe not. I can't make judgements on other teams but we are not perfectly in the position we would like to be, which is competitive to win straight away."

But in a news conference on Saturday, he said: "I did not only say this on Friday - I said this right away from the beginning that we might not be in a position to win the first races.

"But that is not really important as you have to win by the end of the season and not the beginning.

"Probably this could be the case although I mentioned it on Friday after not studying the data.

"This was an initial feeling and it looks like that maybe we were running more fuel than others on Friday and that is why track times didn't look so good.

"Now I've looked at the data it looks not so bad, it looks very reasonable. So let's see where we are in reality."

The driver who has won the first grand prix has gone on to win the title every year since 2006, but Schumacher played down the need to be competitive at the start of the season.

"I think of it firstly as a three-year programme," he said. "I see secondly that it is important what happens at the end of the season and not the beginning.

"These are the two main important things. If we're not in a position to win the first two races, I wouldn't worry at all.

"If we are two seconds off the pace then we may start to worry but I don't think that's the case.

"The car is going forwards, we have a plan to develop the car. The majority of the running this winter has been for reliability.

"I'm here to fight for the title and I'm sure we'll be in the position, whether we can achieve it or not is another matter.

"Yesterday I was a little bit pessimistic but after studying the data last night actually it looks more reasonable than I thought."

Schumacher added that he thought "several teams look very competitive".

Saturday is the penultimate day of pre-season testing. Schumacher, who has handed over to team-mate Nico Rosberg, will be back behind the wheel of the Mercedes for the final day at the Circuit de Catalunya on Sunday.

Code: Select all

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8540564.stm

[phil1993]

JV going for a seat fitting on Monday at Stefan GP. Pointless really. 12 teams for Bahrain seems likely.

[cformula1]

JV going for a seat fitting on Monday at Stefan GP. Pointless really. 12 teams for Bahrain seems likely.

I think that it's more likely we'll see Stefan start (if they start) at Shanghai or Barcelona.

[phil1993]

BBC: Lopez could oust Senna at Campos - money talks. Shakedown in Bahrain soon, they have their engines.

[iceman1]

According to my own source - USF1 out, Stefan GP In.

[harrisv48]

According to my own source - USF1 out, Stefan GP In.

Brilliant news ice and I hope it is! fingers cross

[François]

Yeah! Better to have a shady 13th team funded by a weapon manufacturer than no 13th team at all.

Better not get too ethical here.

[outsidr]

Bob Varsha at SpeedTV reports that USF1 have asked for a deferral until 2011. I guess it's better to construct a car, rather than trying to buy a car. They should have been more prepared. Also they shouldn't have left supporters hanging like this. No news, apparently is not good news, contrary to the old adage.

[phil1993]

James Rossiter signed for USF1 in early December, he brought funding to the team and they never announced the deal. When he found about about what was happening at the team he pulled out of the deal in early February...

[phil1993]

Nakajima seat fitting

[iceman1]

Nakajima seat fitting

Old pic? if not Then car is going nowhere at all