tweety bird

Lewis Hamilton has absolved Martin Whitmarsh of any blame in his move to Mercedes, saying there was nothing he could have done to hold onto him. Last week it was confirmed that Hamilton is on his way to Mercedes next season, bidding farewell to McLaren with whom he has a 14-year relationship. The decision resulted in McLaren in for some stick from the British press and fans who felt that the team - and especially Whitmarsh - had not done enough to persuade the Brit to stay. Hamilton, though, insists that's not what happened. "It was not about the offers. I had two offers on the table which were very, very similar," he said. "Martin asked me what they could have done more. To be honest, it was about the new challenge and a step that I wanted to make." He added: "I wanted to make sure that Martin knew how much I appreciated all the support he has given me over the years. "I have an incredible relationship with him. He is so easy to work with, so welcoming, so forgiving when you make mistakes. Very much more a friend than a boss. I called him and said "Look, I've decided to go this way"." The 27-year-old, who finally broke his silence over the move for the first time while speaking to journalists in Japan, said it was one of the hardest decisions he has ever had to make. "It was like a pendulum. One moment I'd think let's go for it, the next I'd think, I'm going to stay. Eventually it became clear in my mind. "I already had the feeling a few days before but it stuck with me and I didn't have any swinging back. Then I got to Thailand and it was incredibly peaceful and I just sat by the pool and thought for several hours. "It was important to do it on my terms in my own time rather than other people's. I wasn't going to be pushed and rushed into this decision although there was a lot of pressure - Martin had been asking me when I was going to do a deal since China last year. "I had a couple of deadlines, I didn't meet any one of them. But then the decision was made. It really, really was a tough but once I made it I was so much more relaxed." Hamilton revealed that he has yet to speak to Ron Dennis, McLaren's former team boss and his first point of contact with the team all those years ago. "I did try to get hold of Ron, but I did not manage to speak to him." The Brit, though, is determined to leave the Woking-based outfit on a good footing, conceding that one never knows what the future holds. "I don't feel as though I am going out of McLaren through the back door. I am going out the front door happily. "The way I look at it is that I am walking over that bridge and down a different path. If that path brings me back - then who knows?" http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/8137210/Hamilton-Won-t-Rule-Out-McLaren-Return

bringing this back for bathurst.

where's teh supra build you were talking about?

A report in respected German magazine Auto Motor Und Sport said that the FIA was set to investigate the designs of both the McLaren and Red Bull cars amid suggestions they were cleverly getting the front wings to rotate at high speed. However, McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh has denied talk that his outfit has had any dialogue with the FIA over the matter, and says there have been no indications any modifications need to be made to its cars. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/103022

^ i think he means the one in your car btw. wouldn't want a mix up...

Felipe Massa, Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta are the three men in the running for the second seat at Ferrari in 2013, according to a report. Brazilian Massa's current contract with the team runs out at the end of this season and initial reports suggested the Italian outfit would get rid of him, but his solid form during the latter stages of this campaign has seen his stock rise again. Even Fernando Alonso has paid tribute to Massa saying "if the team decide to change Felipe, whoever [comes in] has to be better than Felipe". According to BBC Sport, Ferrari's "intention is to retain" the Brazilian "but Force India drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta are options". The report adds that "Ferrari's bosses want to wait a little longer before confirming Massa to be sure he can hold on to his current form. "Meanwhile, the picture is complicated by a source with good knowledge of the driver market saying that a deal for Hulkenberg to join Ferrari next year is already done." http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/8133142/-Three-On-Ferrari-Shortlist-

yep i'm over them.

Jenson Button will have a five-place grid penalty for the Japanese Grand Prix because he needs a new gearbox for the Suzuka weekend. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/103002

Bernie Ecclestone is still hoping Formula One scraps plans to swap from 2.4-litre V8 engines to 1.6-litre turbo-charged V6s in 2014. The sport had intended to make the change for the 2013 season but that was delayed by a year with Mercedes and Renault believed to be the two powers pushing for the change to go ahead. One person who doesn't want it is F1 supremo Ecclestone, who has been against the proposal from the word go. And his attitude has not softened with time. "I listened to the noise of the engines in Maranello the other day, the new engine and the old engine, and even Luca di Montezemolo said it sounded terrible and didn't like it," Ecclestone told the Hindustan Times. The 81-year-old is now hoping that FIA President Jean Todt "will get rid of it. "I think Luca is also saying we should suspend it for two or three years. I think it is sensible to get rid of it and stick with what we have got. "It is much cheaper than the new one. It probably could be 30 percent of the price." http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8129603/Bernie-wants-rid-of-V6-engines Michael Schumacher could head to Sauber next after chief executive Monisha Kaltenborn admitted the midfield would be interested in signing him. The seven-time World Champion has been left without a race-seat for next year's Championship after losing out to Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton's replacement at McLaren has already been signed with Sergio Perez departing from Sauber and heading to Woking leaving the Swiss team with a seat open. And that seat could yet go to Schumacher should the 43-year-old want to continue racing. "Of course it's nice to think of such a possibility, that we can ask ourselves if we can get a seven-time World Champion when he is on the market," Kaltenborn told the Bild. "Michael has until now been with just big stables which we can't compare ourselves to." Team owner Peter Sauber has previously admitted an interest in Schumacher, saying he would "immediately" sign the German if he were available. http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8129849/Sauber-Schumi-a-possibility it would be a upgrade from the merc anyways.

my guess is their 3rd driver may not be there next year.

Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean will continue to fly the flag for Lotus next season with Eric Boullier revealing his line-up will remain "pretty much the same." http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8119723/Lotus-line-up-pretty-much-the-same-

it was good except the dream boats won't put it on interest free..

schumi the number two at ferrari? oh the irony..

awesome. thanks.

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hi boys i'm looking for a laptop and i noticed harvey norman has 40% off Toshiba laptops and ultrabooks atm so i thought i'd share. http://www.harveynorman.com.au/promos/the-big-sale?intcmp=HNAU-6457

you noticed it too, ah the politics in f1.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/19762809 Martin Whitmarsh thoughts on homo leaving mclaren.

2013 Formula 1 calendar 17/03 AUS Grand Prix of Australia 24/03 MYS Grand Prix of Malaysia 14/04 CHN Grand Prix of China 21/04 BHR Grand Prix of Bahrain 12/05 ESP Grand Prix of Spain (Barcelona) 26/05 MCO Grand Prix of Monaco 09/06 CAN Grand Prix of Canada 16/06 USA Grand Prix of Jersey (New York) * 30/06 GBR Grand Prix of Great Britain 14/07 DEU Grand Prix of Germany 28/07 HUN Grand Prix of Hungary 25/08 BEL Grand Prix of Belgium 08/09 ITA Grand Prix of Italy 22/09 SGP Grand Prix of Singapore 06/10 KOR Grand Prix of Korea 13/10 JPN Grand Prix of Japan 27/10 IND Grand Prix of India 03/11 UAE Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 17/11 USA Grand Prix of USA (Austin) 24/11 BRA Grand Prix of Brazil http://www.autosport...t.php/id/102925 schumi comments on leaving merc. "I have had three nice years with the team which unfortunately did not go as well as we all would have wanted on the sporting side," "I wish Lewis well and for the team to achieve the success we worked so hard for in the build-up. "I would like to thank the team for their trust and all the guys for their unconditional commitment. I will now concentrate on the next races." Team boss Ross Brawn, who was by Schumacher's side for all seven of his Drivers' Championship titles, was quick to thank the German for his efforts over the last three seasons. "On behalf of Mercedes, I would first of all like to thank Michael Schumacher for the important contribution he has made to the growth of our team over the past three seasons," said Brawn. "His energy and commitment have never wavered, even when results have not matched our own expectations, and we are determined to finish the 2012 season together on a high. As always, it has been a pleasure to work with Michael." http://www.planetf1....cording-to-plan

it's true. Sergio Perez gets Lewis Hamilton's McLaren seat Lewis Hamilton's switch to Mercedes has been confirmed after McLaren announced that Sergio Perez is joining its squad for 2013. Ahead of an official announcement from Mercedes about its driver line-up plans, McLaren ended weeks of speculation about Hamilton's plans with the Perez swoop. Perez joins McLaren after two seasons in Formula 1 with Sauber, and a campaign where he has delivered three podium finishes so far, having come close to victory in the Malaysian Grand Prix. The Mexican had been most strongly linked to a future at Ferrari, as part of its young driver programme, but its president Luca di Montezemolo said several times that he did not think the youngster was experienced enough for a team like Ferrari. McLaren obviously feels differently, and believes that it can harness Perez's talent to fight for the world championship alongside Jenson Button in 2013. Speaking about the multi-year agreement McLaren has signed with Perez, team principal Martin Whitmarsh said: "It was a string of giantkilling performances, a trio of podiums and a brilliant fastest lap in this year's Monaco Grand Prix that showed us that Sergio lacks nothing in terms of speed and commitment. "We've been monitoring his progress carefully for some months - and, now that he's become part of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team, our task will be to refine and develop his abilities as his career progresses over the coming years. "Uniting Sergio alongside Jenson will give us a very broad base of driver ability. Jenson is one of motorsport's greatest ambassadors, and his unique blend of prodigious speed and canny racecraft makes him formidably well-armed to fight for victory on any grand prix circuit in the world. "While Sergio is still developing his palette of skills, we're convinced that he's not only talented and quick, but also that he's willing and eager to learn. "He's perfectly poised to develop into a world championship challenger. His addition to the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team provides us with the perfect two-pronged driver line-up for the new season." Perez added: "I'm thrilled and delighted to have become a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver. "The McLaren name is one of the greatest in the history of Formula 1. For more than 40 years, McLaren has been a team that every racing driver has aspired to drive for - I was brought up on the great stories of Ayrton Senna's many world championship triumphs for McLaren - and I'm truly honoured that they've chosen me to partner Jenson from 2013 onwards." http://www.autosport...t.php/id/102891

Buemi and Alguersuari want back in f1 too.

http://www.wit.tafensw.edu.au/industries/transport-automotive/motorsport

if only james hunt was still alive and commentating. la sigh.

orly? Just a few months ago Felipe Massa was a dead man walking at Ferrari, but now he appears to be edging towards a new contract. The Brazilian's contract at the Italian marque runs out at the end of the current season and his disappointing form at the start of the 2012 campaign coupled with his below par displays in 2011 left him in danger of losing his seat. Although his form has picked up in recent months, he has only scored 51 points compared to the 194 of his team-mate Fernando Alonso, who is leading the Drivers' Championship. Alonso, though, has had plenty of positive things to say about Massa in recent weeks while Swiss newspaper Blick claims the Ferrari bosses are ready to hand the 31-year-old a new deal. Massa, meanwhile, told lancenet that is "very close" to securing a new contract but admitted he cannot make any announcement until a deal has been signed adding "it should not take long for me to have a clear understanding of the situation". Team principal Stefano Domenicali, though, admits Ferrari are in no rush to make a decision. "I don't know, I'll leave you with this question mark," he said when asked about a timeframe for resolving Massa's future," he is quoted as saying by Autosport. "There are no limits in the regulations, as you know. This is the fundamental thing for me: management of drivers - like players - is done internally. "It's not important to communicate outside. So, we'll communicate to you as soon as there are things to say, but not before then." http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/8111459/Massa-Very-Close-To-New-Deal

.. kimi to mclaren ftw!!!