Formula 1

[mickey]

Although Renault is on top, they just keep on testing. No wonder that they are so good...


Renault's testing :World champions Renault are certainly not giving an inch to
their rivals after setting the pace on Day 2 of this week's four-day test at Paul Ricard on Wednesday. Test driver Heikki Kovalainen was on duty for the championship leaders as he put important mileage on a new-spec Renault RS26 engine.

Renault are not resting on their laurels despite romping to victory at the openng three races of the season. The champions, who already boast 19-point lead in the constructors championship, are this week testing a new-spec RS26 engine at Castellet, Southern France.

"We've had quite a busy day with two cars to run with just one driver!” said Christian Silk, Chief Test Engineer. “We had a few small problems but they did not delay our programme. We worked on interesting directions for the first European races, completing an important program of tyre testing."

Rivals McLaren were also present on the 3.8km 3E-SC (Short) configuration of the multi-purpose circuit, with Pedro de la Rosa clocking the second fastest time despite a fuel pressure problem. Test driver Gary Paffett was at the wheel of a V10-powered MP4-20 but his day was also hampered by an engine failure.

Fresh from the fouble points score in Australia, BMW Sauber returned to the test track with Poland's Robert Kubica and Jacques Villeneuve, the only race driver present, on track. Both drivers concentrated predominantly on tyre tests.

Toyota, the team of the moment following their recent suspending of technical director Mike Gascoyne, were also present with test drivers Ricardo Zonta and Olivier Panis on duty as they completed set-up and tyre work for the coming European races.

"We worked on aerodynamic scans and tyre tests," Zonta said. "From this, we learned a lot and showed that we had a good lap time, which is the best we have done at Paul Ricard. Therefore, in my opinion this was the best day of testing this year because we found some really positive results."

Ducth driver Robert Doornbos was on hand for Red Bull Racing, setting the eighth and slowest time of 1:06.420.

VALLELUNGA - FERRARI ON TOP

Ferrari have introduced the new parts that they hope will reunite them with victory this week and the results have been emphatic with Michael Schumacher beating off Honda and Williams to the fastest time. The German clocked a time of 1:13.816 to beat Honda test driver Anthony Davidson into second with Jenson Button 1.6 seconds adrift in third.

Williams were also present with Alex Wurz being responsible for testing new suspension parts on the FW28. "We spent the morning testing new suspension parts on both the front and the rear of the car and carrying out some tyre warm up tests," confirmed WilliamsF1 test team manager Mike Condliffe.



Produced by Mickey

[mickey]

I know I am a bit late, but i have found the list of main changes in the new season of F1 :

QUALIFYING - COMPLICATED

This is where it gets complicated. Qualifying starts with all 22 cars fighting for the bottom six places in a 15 minute session, and to avoid any surprises, it is best to get the bankers in early. The six slowest cars after the session will line up 17-22 on the grid. A five-minute pause will be followed by another 15-minute session that dictates positions 11-16.

Then, after another pause of five minutes, the last ten remaining drivers will head out for a final 20-minute session that will determine the top ten. Each driver will go out on a pre-determined amount of fuel, do as many laps as possible to burn that off, set a quick lap and then return to the pits where the car is weighed and the difference in weight is made up by adding the fuel lost.

Qualifying must be completed in the same car, so if, for example, Fernando Alonso sets a cracker of a time in the second session to secure his passage into the final session but then spins into the gravel, he must get that car back to the pits in order to compete. If not, he will line up tenth on the grid despite not setting a time. Told you it was complicated.

TYRES – PIT STOPS ARE BACK

Despite the success of last year's cost-saving one tyre per race regulation, the FIA has seen fit to bring back pit-stops to Formula One, immediately putting costs back up. The drivers are allowed seven sets of rubber compared to just four last year, and the race tyres must be chosen after the Saturday morning practice session.

Michelin Teams: Renault, McLaren , Honda, Red Bull, BMW and Toro Rosso
Bridgestone Teams: Ferrari, Toyota, Williams, Midland and Super Aguri

TECHNICAL – V10 REPLACED BY V8

The biggest change on the technical side is without doubt the passage from V10 3-litre to V8 2.4 litre engines. The new batch of engines, which has also been deemed as a failure in terms of cost saving, must weigh no less than 95kg and must be of angle 90°. The engines must also last for two races, as per last year's rules.

The other change to the technical rules is the heightening of the barge boards or the turning vanes by 50mm, which has severely changed the aero capabilities of the cars.

[mickey]

Ferrari can hope to win next week's San Marino Grand Prix after resolving recent engine problems, according to test driver Marc Gene. "We will be going to Imola to win," he told the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper after testing at his home Barcelona circuit on Tuesday.

"The car is really going well and the whole team wants to redress a points classification that penalises us excessively," he added.

Gene was quickest in Tuesday's testing at the Circuit de Catalunya, ahead of Williams' rookie Nico Rosberg.

Seven times world champion Michael Schumacher is fourth in the standings after three races, 17 points adrift of Renault's 24-year-old champion Fernando Alonso.

Glamour team Ferrari are third in the constructors' table, 27 points behind Renault, and have not celebrated a real victory since Schumacher was dominant in 2004.

Their sole success last year was a hollow one, coming in the U.S. Grand Prix at Indianapolis with only six cars on track after all the Michelin-equipped teams withdrew before the start for tyre safety reasons.

Schumacher and Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa both crashed out of this month's Australian Grand Prix and incurred 10-place penalties on the starting grid in Malaysia before that due to engine failures.

Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn said in Melbourne that a piston issue was to blame and promised improvements for Imola, the team's home circuit named after the late Ferrari founder Enzo and son Dino.

Gene said that since Australia the engine had come through factory simulations and testing at the Vallelunga circuit near Rome without problem.

"The reliability factor seems definitely resolved," he said.

"Now we have to concentrate on performance."


Expectations are one thing, but the reality is another. We will see, if Ferrari is capable of winning in Italy

Mickey

[mickey]

No more Foster, oh no!



Fosters Brewing International have announced that they will terminate their sponsorship of the Formula One at the end of the 2006 season when its contract expires. The withdrawal from the F1 was decided upon in light of recent financial reforms within the company.

"As part of a programme to significantly reduce overheads within the Foster's Brewing International business, Foster's Group will not be renewing its sponsorship of Formula One at the end of the current season when its contractual obligations expire," said Fosters Group managing director, Richard Scully.

"While the Foster's Group will continue to co-ordinate global marketing initiatives, decisions about sponsorship will rightly rest with our co-brand owners and regional partners."

The withdrawal will affect the Fosters home Grand Prix of Australia as well as the financially troubled Silverstone Grand Prix in Britain. The San Marino Grand Prix is another that benefits from Fosters sponsorship.

The pull-out comes after the sale of the brand to British company Scottish and Newcastle. Fosters have been sponsors in the Formula One for about twenty years.


Mickey (original author James Mulholland)

[Big Steak]

keep on postin like this ..... more pics like this....... more did i say pics i ment (tits).....
heheheheh
me!!!

[mickey]

Big News published by Reuters:

Formula One champions Renault are interested in signing Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, his manager said on Thursday. However Willi Weber told Bild newspaper that the seven times champion would not consider any offers until he had decided whether he wanted to continue racing beyond this year.

"I told Flavio clearly that we are not talking to anyone until Michael decides whether he wants to," Weber said.

"We've known each other for a long time and talk a lot to each other," he said of Briatore. "Flavio let on that we should talk to him before we sign another possible contract with Ferrari. He seems to be interested."

"The truth is that we would first talk with Ferrari," added Weber.

Schumacher, 37, secured his first two titles under Renault boss Flavio Briatore at Benetton in 1994 and 1995. He has a contract with Ferrari to the end of 2006.

Renault are losing Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who last year ended Schumacher's run of five titles in a row and became Formula One's youngest champion at the age of 24, to McLaren at the end of the season.

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen has in turn been linked to Schumacher's Ferrari seat, with media speculation that the Finn has already agreed a deal to join the Italian team.

Schumacher won just once in 2005, the six-car U.S. Grand Prix fiasco providing a record 84th career victory, and has yet to win in the first three races of 2006 with his only podium this year a second place at Bahrain.

He finished sixth in Malaysia and crashed out at the Australian Grand Prix.

The German has an open invitation to stay at Ferrari but has said his decision will depend on their success this season.

He said in January that he did not think he would be interested in continuing if he did not have a chance to win races or compete for the title.

"Aside from saying that I will decide over the summer, I can do no more," Schumacher said on the Ferrari website this week. "I will certainly not change my mind just because the same question is always asked of me.

"I can only say that I would like to take all the time necessary to decide and to think about things fully...for the 1,000th time, I want to repeat that I would prefer not to discuss in public the reasons that will affect my decision."



I think that Big Steak will become a Renault fan if this happens.. I never though this is possible ;D
Big

[azat]

U know lot about formula 1:S

[Big Steak]

azat said:

U know lot about formula 1:S

azat i dont mean to be rude bute your post dont make any sence so in future if u wanna be a part of our forum plz make normal replays .......thanks bigsteak

[mickey]

Reuters - 14/04/2006
The Midland Formula One team has slammed speculation about its future, insisting they are not for sale and general director Colin Kolles is staying in charge. The team have struggled in their 2006 debut season, but say they have sufficient funds to close the gap between them and other competitors.

"Over the past week there have been a number of speculative rumours published in the media, none of which has any basis in fact," the Russian-licensed team said in a statement "to re-assure stakeholders".

"MF1 has adequate budget to take an active and competitive part in the championship this season and we are working hard to close the gap between ourselves and our competitors," the statement added.

"Midland Group, our parent organisation, has confirmed that the team is not for sale and there are no proposals that this should change."

Midland said there had been various approaches, with 22 contenders applying for just 12 slots in the 2008 championship when the entry deadline expired last month, but all had been rejected.

Midland Group, owned by Russian-born Canadian billionaire Alex Shnaider, bought the failing Jordan team at the start of last year and renamed it for 2006.

They have yet to score a point this year and sporting director Adrian Burgess left last week in what the team called 'planned restructuring'.

Britain's Autosport magazine reported this week that negotiations to sell the team to Russian vodka and banking magnate Roustam Tariko were on again after preliminary talks at last year's Monaco Grand Prix.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper also suggested that Midland were in the grip of a cash crisis and Romanian-born Kolles had held emergency talks with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone last week.

It added that morale was at an all-time low. Midland rejected such speculation.

"We wish it to be known that these (staff) changes occurred precisely because of the team's faith in the capabilities and loyalty of our people...since the acquisition of Jordan some 15 months ago, the new owners have been impressed by the racing tradition embodied by the staff."

Kolles, a qualified dentist, added that he was more determined than ever to drive the team forward.

"To my detractors and those speculating about my 'imminent departure', I regret to say that I have been and remain too busy focusing on the interests of the team to consider any alternatives to my current position."

[mickey]

Salary of the F1 Drivers:

01. Michael Schumacher, 52 million euros (35 million is f1 salary, 17 is other stuff)
02. Ralf Schumacher, 17
03. Kimi Räikkönen, 12
04. Juan-Pablo Montoya, 11
05. Rubens Barrichello, 10
06. Jarno Trulli, 8
07. Fernando Alonso, 6
07. Mark Webber, 6
07. David Coulthard, 6
07. Jenson Button, 6
11. Giancarlo Fisichella, 5
11. Nick Heidfeld, 5
13. Jacques Villeneuve, 3
14. Nico Rosberg, 1,5
14. Christian Klien, 1,5


Salary of the teams:

01. Toyota 350 million euros
02. Ferrari 310
03. Honda 280
04. McLaren-Mercedes 275
05. BMW Sauber F1 Team 250
06. Renault 240
07. Williams 180
08. Red Bull Racing 140
09. MF1 Racing 130
10. Super Aguri 120
11. Scuderia Toro Rosso 110






It's good to be rich, i suppose...


Mickey

[mickey]

Nick Heidfeld believes Formula One's return to Europe at Imola next week could force a re-writing of the form book. We can expect many teams to arrive for the start of the European season with revised cars, which might well bring about another shift in the balance of power," said the young German.

"We'll be lining up with a modified rear section and a new front wing," he said. "Indeed, we had already introduced new aerodynamic elements for the race in Australia and the improvement was noticeable straightaway.

"Our aim is to make aerodynamic modifications of varying degrees before each Grand Prix."

Heidfeld finished fourth in the April 2 Australian Grand Prix, with Canadian Jacques Villeneuve a strong sixth, to send the new BMW Sauber team fifth in the championship.

BMW bought Swiss-based Sauber last year after winning 10 races in six seasons as engine partners to former champions Williams.

"Before the season started I said that we shouldn't put too much pressure on ourselves, but at the same time we needed to be sure that we were heading in the right direction and could maintain a consistent rate of improvement," said Heidfeld.

"That's certainly been the case in the first three races."

Because of the distance involved, with the first three races

in quick succession in Bahrain, Malaysia and Australia, teams have been unable to make major changes to their cars until returning to their European home territory.


I also hope that we will be able to see races, in which many drivers will compete for victory, not just Renault, as in the first 3 races of this season...


Taken from Reuters

[mickey]

Seven-time Moto GP world champion Valentino Rossi has announced that he will make a decision about whether or not he will quit his beloved Moto GP for the Formula One sometime between now and June. The twenty-seven year-old is yet apprehensive of the ramifications of such a huge career decision.

Testing regularly for Ferrari, Rossi has impressed many a critic with his incredibly smooth transition from two to four wheels, but he is not holding back about his reservations.

"It is a big gamble and a big risk for Ferrari but not as big as it is for me," he told British newspaper, The News of the World . "We will know something between now and June. I've tried not to think about it for a while now. That way I will have a clearer mind when I have to make the decision."

In light of reports that seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher has signed a new contract with Ferrari for 2007 and 2008 the Scuderia crew may be more willing to take a risk on the two wheel champion. Having veteran Schumacher at his side to guide and advise would surely make for a more successful transition.

But his impressive testing performances were nothing more than that, to many in the Ferrari stables. "I don't think there is an anti-Rossi camp. But there are people who are thinking coldly about the pros and cons," he said.

The seat currently occupied by Brazilian Felipe Massa is set to be a hot one with McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen rumoured to have already signed a letter of interest in moving to Ferrari.


Taken from Eurosport - James Mulholland

[azat]

If schumcher quits i think best choise take over hes place is kimi raikkonen becourse i don't think paolo rossi will be succesful.

[azat]

Former Toyota design guru Mike Gascoyne could be on his way to Williams at the end of this year when his contract with the Cologne-based squad expires and his 'gardening leave' comes to an end.


Since news of the 'amicable split' due to a difference of opinion between Gascoyne and the Toyota management, which became public after the Australian Grand Prix and ironically their best result of the season, when Ralf Schumacher finished on the podium, speculation has centred on where the Englishman might re-appear.

Furthermore while a number of teams have apparently enquired about him, including Midland MF1 and Super Aguri F1, Williams would appear one of the more attractive propositions and following the exit of their chief designer, Jorg Zander last month for 'personal reasons', Gascoyne may be ideally placed.

The team however remains tight-lipped on the matter.

"If we were to make changes," Williams' technical director, Sam Michael told f1total.com, "we would not discuss it publicly."

[mickey]

azat said:

If schumcher quits i think best choise take over hes place is kimi raikkonen becourse i don't think paolo rossi will be succesful.

Valentino Rosi was champion in all of the motorcycles clases, so I think he would be fast in f1, too. In summer, he did some testing with f1 race car and his results were similar to Schumacher's...
But I think that Alonso was right when he said, that Rossi should stick with the motorcycles, not f1. If Rossi decides to switch to f1, all media will be watching him closely and it would be a "media bang" for everybody...
Like many posts, I will finish this one with my sentence:
Time will bring the answer...


Mickey

[mickey]

Michael Schumacher has reportedly signed a £60 million contract with Ferrari for the 2007 and 2008 F1 seasons to further the intrigue surrounding rumours that Renault team boss Flavio Briatore would sign the German; but the contract apparently has a clause where Schumacher could quit one year ahead.

Lacking official team confirmation - with none expected until the summer - British newspaper The News of the World reports that the deal is signed and the clause states he can renege on the contract one year early if he felt it necessary.

"Michael is going to carry on next year," a Ferrari 'insider' told the tabloid. "He sees no reason why he should retire because the motivation to win is still there. Only a few people at the team know the deal has been done."

The new contract will see Schumacher enjoying a £5 million per year pay rise, notching his rumoured salary to around the £30 million mark, and enjoy it he (allegedly) is.

"I will continue doing what I do as I have always done – with great enthusiasm and a will to win. Things are fine within the team. Everyone is pulling in the right direction and we all want to win," he said in the lead up to the San Marino Grand Prix next weekend.

Young Finn Kimi Raikkonen was also said to have been playing with contracts too - reportedly leaving McLaren for the Prancing Pony stables in 2007 - but unless he is given equal number one driver status, it seems unlikely he will.

With reigning champion Fernando Alonso (Renault) moving to the Silver Arrow paddock next year, it would appear that McLaren number two, Juan Pablo Montoya will be unsaddled.


Schumacher-Rossi in Ferrari? That would be interesting to see, don't you think?
It would be as interesting as Renault's Alonso-Raikkonen in the next season


Taken by James Mulholland

[mickey]

Honda will introduce a "countermeasure" for the San Marino Grand Prix to avoid the problems that afflicted Jenson Button on the last lap of the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne. The Japanese team has been hard at work, completing over 3,500 kilometres of testing in order to iron out the concerns.

"We've put a good number of miles on the latest spec engine and successfully ran the engine to its target mileage," said technical director Shuhei Nakamoto.

"We are happy with the countermeasure for the issue that Jenson suffered in Melbourne and we will be introducing a more powerful engine for Imola."

The RA106 has also undergone some testing on aerodynamics and tyre temperature issues after Button struggled to reheat his tyres after the four safety cars in Melbourne. Confident with this, the team now intends to work on the speed of the RA806E V8.

"We had an extremely busy test and have covered many new developments for the forthcoming European races," said vehicle performance chief engineer, Mark Ellis.

"Both cars have shown impressive reliability for all three days [of testing] enabling comprehensive programmes with new aero parts, tyres, chassis set-up and control systems to be completed."



I think I will have to cool down for a while, since I write quite a lot here...
I will just wait for others to post some replies and then I will post forward, cause it looks strange with all these "Mickey posts" and I don't want, that others will get this impression, that is nothing special happening here except me posting all the time


Mickey

[mickey]

Renault have boosted Italian Giancarlo Fisichella's hopes of winning in front of his home fans at Imola on Sunday by giving him a more powerful engine than team mate Fernando Alonso. The Roman, equal second in the Formula One standings after three rounds, will get a new unit for the San Marino GP.

Championship leader Alonso, winner at Imola last year on his way to the title, must continue with the engine that powered him to victory in Australia on April 2 whereas Fisichella got out of sequence after retiring from the Bahrain season-opener.

Fisichella won with a fresh engine in Malaysia and hopes to return to the top at a circuit that gave him his first points in Formula One in 1997.

"I think Renault has an edge at the moment, so we have to aim for victory at every Grand Prix," said the Italian in a team preview on Tuesday.

"I have a fresh engine, and a bit more power from the new specification, so that gives me a fantastic chance for this race...I believe we have the package to win in Imola."

Renault engine supremo Denis Chevrier said the upgraded engine, which had been due to be introduced at the fifth round of the season at the Nuerburgring in Germany next month, should be significantly better.

THRILLING FINALE

Chevrier said Renault, unbeaten this season and winners of the last four races, had accelerated their development programme after it became apparent that Fisichella would be entitled to the new engine earlier than expected.

"We decided it was important to do so, and have pushed our processes to make it happen," he said.

"However, this early debut may lead us to conserve some of the engine's potential performance during the race in order to not compromise reliability."

Alonso, the championship leader who held off Ferrari's Michael Schumacher in a thrilling finale at Imola last year, also sounded upbeat.

"It became maybe the most talked-about win of my career so far I think," the Spaniard said of the 2005 race at Ferrari's home circuit.

"For me, it was a win like the others -- a special achievement. But when you are fighting with Michael, then I think the media talk about it in a special way, and make it something bigger.

"I enjoyed the final laps of the race last year, and it was an important race to win. But if I can do it again this year, on my own, a long way in front, then that's even better."

Alonso leads Fisichella and McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen by 14 points, with Schumacher and Honda's Briton Jenson Button 17 adrift.


Reuters - 18/04/2006

[mickey]

Formula One champions Renault say they will do what it takes to keep team boss Flavio Briatore beyond the end of the season. "For 2007, we must put a number of key factors in place," Renault's new F1 president Alain Dassas told the team website.

"Firstly, our driver line-up and finding a replacement for Fernando Alonso. Secondly, the renewal of Flavio Briatore's contract.

"This is a key factor, and we will do everything to ensure Flavio stays," added the Frenchman, who has replaced compatriot Patrick Faure.

Spaniard Alonso, who last year became Formula One's youngest champion at the age of 24, is leaving for McLaren at the end of the season when Briatore's contract also expires.

Dassas said Italian Briatore, who won the Formula One constructors' championship with Benetton in 1995 before succeeding again with the French manufacturer last year, had managed the team "with great skill and success."

He said Renault wanted to continue in the sport but their commitment depended on significantly reducing the cost of competing.

"At the moment, Renault pays 60 percent of the team's costs, and 40 percent are covered by sponsorship and television rights money," said Dassas, adding that Renault's annual Formula One budget still ranked as only the sport's fifth or sixth biggest.

"We can make savings in these direct costs while maintaining our sponsorship levels and improving the central distribution of revenue from television rights.

"The future technical regulations must impose stricter limits on all the competitors, and allow us to reduce our spending in order to find the improved financial equilibrium we want," he added.

The governing body wants major changes in 2008, when the existing commercial agreement expires, to reduce costs and help smaller teams compete against the manufacturers.

Renault are one of a group of five carmakers who have yet to agree a new commercial deal with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone after 2007.

Although the five have threatened to set up their own championship if their demands are not met, that is seen as little more than a bargaining tool.

"By June, we should know the new economic equation. If we have achieved the savings we want, then we will be able to make a detailed commitment for the future," said Dassas.

He said the team must also enter "a new phase in terms of our sponsorship. The financial, logistical and electronic sectors are all potential avenues to develop, as tobacco involvement is phased out of the sport."

Renault's main sponsor, Japan Tobacco's Mild Seven cigarette brand, is pulling out of Formula One at the end of the year.

[mickey]

Defending champion Fernando Alonso (Renault) was fastest in Free Practice Two of the San Marino Formula One Grand Prix in Italy on Friday; repeating Ferrari ace Michael Schumacher's effort in Practice One by taking the fastest lap (from Schumacher himself) in the last minutes of the session.

Alonso posted a 1:25.043 to better Shumacher's time by over three tenths of a second, followed by BMW test driver Robert Kubica and Anthony Davidson (Honda). Felipe Massa had a better run of luck in the Ferrari, coming in fifth ahead of home favourites, Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault) and Jarno Trulli (Toyota).

The first drivers out were greeted by a dirty circuit after a minor accident in a support event left an oil patch on the last chicane; causing a few incident-free excursions onto the Imola grass.

Kimi Raikkonen was the first of the big players to post the fastest time with a 1:27.325 in a McLaren that seemed to be running smoothly after returning to the gargage in session one with smoking brakes.

But if the car was running smoothly, it did not get any better; Kimi eventually finding himself back in twelfth.

But it was short-lived as Schumacher raced to the front and stayed there until Alsono snatched the fastest with one minute left. Schumacher pushed very hard on the last lap but could not catch the Spaniard.

Honda's Jenson Button had to content himself with eleventh after completely missing the first session and his team-mate Rubens Barrichello came in thirteenth


Can't wait for the qualifications and race!! You will get all the informations here, from the Plc Mickey