2010 Formula 1 Season - Official Discussion Thread

[phil1993]

Massa: No problems with Alonso

Felipe Massa is adamant he has cleared the air with new Ferrari team-mate Fernando Alonso.

Massa caused a stir towards the end of last year, following the confirmation of Alonso's appointment, by claiming the Spaniard was aware of the 'crashgate' plot that resulted in his victory in the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

It was not the first time views had been aired between the duo as they twice had differences of opinion following races in Spain and Germany in 2007.

Such past confrontations led to suggestions their Latin temperaments would continue to clash at Ferrari, yet Massa maintains he and Alonso have so far managed to start off their new partnership on the right foot, in stark contrast to his previous relationship with Kimi Raikkonen.

"Things have started extremely well," said Massa. "We've already started to speak a lot about the car and what to do to have a competitive car.

"I've spoken more to Fernando now than in three years with Kimi.

"Perhaps this is not difficult because Kimi, of course, did not like to speak much. But I also worked extremely well with Kimi, even without speaking.

"I think we can have a very good relationship and we can work extremely well together. We need to work well together otherwise it will not be positive for either of us or for the team. So I really don't think there will be a fire.

"As for the problems, we have discussed them.

"You all saw what happened in 2007 when we spoke in Germany. I gave my compliments to him for the race and he said I had done something that was not honest.

"But that wasn't true, so I talked to him about it and he said he was sorry, and that was it.

"It's like when you talk to your mother and everything goes on as normal once you've said you're sorry.

"Personally I have no problems. There are no strange feelings or opinions about Fernando."

Massa is also delighted to see close friend Michael Schumacher return to Formula One as the two men forged a close bond during the German's final season at Ferrari when the Brazilian was his team-mate.

Schumacher, however, will be a rival on this occasion after signing to Mercedes, and Massa can appreciate his desire to return after witnessing the 41-year-old over the last three seasons in his role as Ferrari advisor.

"When he ended his perfect career he stopped at a difficult moment," added Massa.

"It's always difficult to think about stopping when you're fighting for a Championship up to the last race.

"He had an incredible career, but he never stopped racing in reality. He never stayed home without racing, and without doing what he had been doing in the past.

"So in the end he decided to return. It's his decision, and in his place, if I had wanted to race because something was missing in my life, maybe I would have taken the same decision.

"Of course it's a bit strange now to see Michael racing for another team, but we have to look forward and continue with our lives."

[swca92]

What else is he going to say??? Also if he's fallen out with Alonso already that might be a record for quickest falling out, before the first test.

[iceman1]

Rumours keep circulating that Campos and Stefan GP could merge, with Campos running TF110s with Toyota engines and Nakajima alongside Senna.

[cformula1]

Rumours keep circulating that Campos and Stefan GP could merge, with Campos running TF110s with Toyota engines and Nakajima alongside Senna.

That actually would be a clever idea, apart from Nakajima.

[phil1993]

Good idea about the merge
Bad idea about Nakajima

@icy, source plz

[phil1993]

Massa and Hayden win Wroom events

The 20th editition of Ferrari's Wroom event came to an end on Friday with the traditional ice race on a track at the lake of Madonna di Campiglio. The event, organised by the team's sponsor Philip Morris, was won by MotoGP rider Nicky Hayden in go-karts while Felipe Massa won the Fiat Panda race.

The first race was held with Fiat Panda's. Ferrari Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa claimed victory ahead of Ducati rider Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden. Fisichella, Alonso and Felipe Massa's brother Dudu ended fourth, fifth and sixth.

The second race was held in go-karts. There were several exciting moments during the race and in the end Ducati's Nicky Hayden won the race ahead of Felipe Massa, Casey Stoner and Giancarlo Fisichella. Fernando Alonso's race ended in the final lap when he crashed into a safety barrier.

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/formula-1-new ... -ice-race/

[cformula1]

source plz

Code: Select all

http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-nakajima-linked-with-campos-stefan-solution/

What's interesting is that Bernie is favouring this solution, and it's being reported by Turun Sanomat, a Finnish newspaper that is normally very reliable.

[phil1993]

Button interested in Dakar

World champion Jenson Button says he is interested in contesting the Dakar Rally when he retires from Formula 1.

But the Briton added that he would want to do the marathon cross-country event as a low-key privateer rather than joining one of the major Dakar teams.

"I want to do the Dakar, which would be quite fun, that is on at the moment and I would like to do that," said Button on stage at AUTOSPORT International.

"If I raced in other formulae it would be because I want to go and have fun. Doing the Dakar, for example, I would want to do it as a privateer, just go there and have fun. It would be such a life experience.

"If you get into one of the top teams and you are racing for them, it is just so much pressure. I would want to go there and enjoy the race."

Button also said he would be open to racing in the Le Mans 24 Hours following his F1 career.

The 2010 Dakar finishes in Argentina today. Former World Rally champion Carlos Sainz leads for Volkswagen but has come under late pressure from his team-mate - and former Production WRC title-winner - Nasser Al-Attiyah. Less than three minutes separates the pair going into the final stage after 45 hours of competitive rallying over the last fortnight.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80929

Paffett stays as McLaren tester

Gary Paffett has confirmed that he will continue in his role as a test driver for McLaren, despite Mercedes forming its own grand prix team.

The 28-year-old Briton is a factory driver for Mercedes in the DTM and has been a McLaren test driver since 2006.

Speaking at AUTOSPORT International on Saturday, Paffett said: "I will continue the testing work with McLaren to try to develop the car and help the all-British team to win championships.

"I haven't been involved with the Mercedes team. I've got a job in DTM with Mercedes and a job in Formula 1 with McLaren. There is still a relationship between the two through the engines and, although there is a rivalry there now, I'm very much with McLaren in F1 and Mercedes in DTM."

Paffett expects Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton to spur each other on and is confident that they will maintain a good working relationship.

"Knowing how determined and hard-working Lewis is, and the job Jenson has done, it's going to be fantastic for everybody to watch," he added.

"It's a brave move for Jenson to come to McLaren, Lewis has been here a few years now and knows the team very well. But the team has a great spirit about it and they will both get absolutely equal treatment and push each other so hard that it can only make things better.

"They aren't two people that are going to fall out, they'll just push each other further and further on."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80927

[iceman1]

Paffett stays as McLaren tester

Mclaren = Full British Team.

according to Lobato blogFisichella and his manager went to Hinwil yesterday to sign with Sauber

[sdutt]

Red Bull:

In Montreal for Showcar Run. It's not as cold as it should be The ice run may be cancelled if the ice ain't thick enough... gulp!
The test to see if we can run? Send a lorry out on to the ice. If it doesn't come back, we're not driving.

so sad for the lorry driver

[sdutt]

Paffett stays as McLaren tester

Mclaren = Full British Team.

according to Lobato blogFisichella and his manager went to Hinwil yesterday to sign with Sauber

the proper link is below (as he made newer blogs after that):
http://www.antoniolobato.net/diarioDeCa ... spx?id=624

[phil1993]

Red Bull's ice run scheduled for tomorrow has been cancelled.

[phil1993]

Schumacher: Long term not short term

Michael Schumacher has acknowledged that even if an eighth F1 World Championship crown might be something of a tall order on his return to the grand prix grid in 2010, his focus is more on the 'long-term' – and in achieving his goal within the duration of his three-year contract with Mercedes Grand Prix.

Whilst some have opined that his race-rustiness from three years out of the saddle – allied to the only recently-healed neck injury that prevented a comeback in-place of former Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa in the wake of the Brazilian's life-threatening Hungaroring qualifying accident last summer – will count against the most successful driver in the sport's history, others have already instated Schumacher as one of the pre-season favourites for F1 2010.

The man himself is refusing to make any predictions, endeavouring to play down expectations of effectively picking up from where he left off at the end of 2006, whilst making no bones about the fact that ultimately, he has only returned for one reason – to win again.

“In our long-term targets with Mercedes, we have a clear objective,” the 41-year-old told German newspaper Bild. “I want to become world champion again. Perhaps that will not happen in my first season back, but it is realistic over the three seasons.”

Schumacher returned to the cockpit with a GP2 Series test for Super Nova at Jerez last week, and wasted little time in getting down to business. Rain might have hampered his initial efforts, but the Kerpen native thereafter rapidly got back into the groove almost as if he had never been away. Joking that he has found the secret to eternal youth as he now enters his fifth decade, the 91-time grand prix-winner's rivals would do well to be on their guard indeed.

“Apparently I have succeeded in pushing back the effects of ageing,” he quipped. “I must have good genes! I could really drive a lot on the last day of testing, and it worked out perfectly. I am very happy with the way testing went; we worked well, the lap times and consistency were good [and] we could do everything we had scheduled to do. I feel fit and I felt immediately comfortable back in the car – hey, let's go for it!”

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/156022/1/a ... -term.html

UK Couple name baby after Button

Formula One world champion Jenson Button has met a couple who were such big fans of his they named their baby son after him.

Trevor and Mandy Sutton, from Coventry, named their son Jenson Lewis after last year's champion and the previous title holder Lewis Hamilton.

Mr Sutton said he had followed F1 for more than 20 years, but Mrs Sutton said she was "not the biggest fan".

Button said it was a "lovely feeling" to have the baby named after him.

The F1 champion was appearing at the Autosport International show at the NEC when he met the family and eight-week-old Jenson.

He said: "It's a lovely feeling but it's not just my name, it's Lewis's name also.

"And he's got a very similar surname to me. It's fantastic - he's not got much pressure on his shoulders, does he?"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cove ... 463431.stm

[MavF1]

Schumacher: Long term not short term

UK Couple name baby after Button

Formula One world champion Jenson Button has met a couple who were such big fans of his they named their baby son after him.

Trevor and Mandy Sutton, from Coventry, named their son Jenson Lewis after last year's champion and the previous title holder Lewis Hamilton.

Mr Sutton said he had followed F1 for more than 20 years, but Mrs Sutton said she was "not the biggest fan".

Button said it was a "lovely feeling" to have the baby named after him.

The F1 champion was appearing at the Autosport International show at the NEC when he met the family and eight-week-old Jenson.

He said: "It's a lovely feeling but it's not just my name, it's Lewis's name also.

"And he's got a very similar surname to me. It's fantastic - he's not got much pressure on his shoulders, does he?"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cove ... 463431.stm

I always find such things creepy, not only with F1 drivers though

[JoostLamers]

No! That's the opposite of creepy; My opinion is you have to name your child after your idol or an important person in history. A Teacher of mine named his son after Bob Dylan (Bob) my fav radio DJ named his son after John Lennon (Lennon).. That's incredible and you can those children why they have that name, and not just 'because it's cool name'