2011 F1 Thread

[ctjet]

he does say 'obviously' a lot

strangly, its usually about things that are not so obvious

[tweety bird]

.1 of 1.....F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is reportedly facing a "multi-million pound lawsuit" over the sale of F1 to CVC.

Ecclestone has already been formally accused of paying a £26.6m bribe to the German banker Gerhard Gribkowsky during the sale of F1. However, he now also faces a lawsuit, which has been lodged in the High Court.

According to the Daily Telegraph, German media giant and former owner of F1 Constantin Medien has lodged a case against Ecclestone, his holding company Bambino Holdings, his business partner Stephen Mullens and the German investment banker Gerhard Gribkowsky.

The newspaper reports that it is "understood the case involves allegations that the deal to sell F1 to CVC Capital Partners for $1.7bn in 2005 was manipulated by the defendants resulting in Constantin missing out on over $100m in payments."

Neither party has commented on the report.

Ecclestone admitted in July that he had paid money to the recently arrested Gribkowsky but insists it was because German "threatened" to cause trouble for him and his ex-wife Slavica with the Inland Revenue.

"The (Inland) Revenue obviously had to check everything. It took five years going through that. I didn't deal with it," told the Daily Telegraph.

"The trust had to show it was correct. The taxation people in England at the time were in the middle of settling everything with the trust and the last thing you need is for them to start thinking something different.

"He (Gribkowsky) was shaking me down and I didn't want to take a risk. Nothing was wrong with the trust. Nothing at all."

hmmmmm

Daniel Ricciardo says his future in F1 is not guaranteed despite Helmut Marko saying he's the most likely replacement for Mark Webber when the time comes

Ricciardo, a Red Bull junior driver, made his F1 debut with HRT at the British GP having spent the first half of the Championship as a Friday test driver with Toro Rosso.

And although the Aussie has contested just four grands prix and has yet to score a World Championship point, he is already being billed as a future Red Bull driver.

The team's advisor Marko recently stated that when the time comes for Webber to retire, his replacement is "likely" to be Ricciardo.

The 22-year-old is refusing to get carried away by Marko's comments, saying as present his future in F1 is not guaranteed.

"The way I see it, there is nothing guaranteed for many drivers. Especially when you start in Formula 1 you have to make an impression," he told GPUpdate.net

"As far as I know, nothing has been decided for next year.

"I've got to do a more than respectable job at HRT this year and then we'll see what opens up for next year.

"I obviously have a link with Red Bull, but nothing is really guaranteed for the long term."

Meanwhile, Ricciardo is set to continue competing in the World Series by Renault this season. The Australian will take part in this weekend's round at Silverstone as well as at Paul Ricard next month.

He is currently sixth in the Championship, having won at Monza and Monaco with his ISR team.

Edited August 19, 2011 by tweety bird

[ctjet]

go ricky

go ricky

[tweety bird]

HRT team boss Colin Kolles shares his thoughts on Daniel Ricciardo, the team's 2011 season and the upcoming Belgian GP...

(you only need to read the first two)

Q: 22-year-old Australian Daniel Ricciardo joined the team at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone. What are the key qualities of your rookie driver?

CK: It's always difficult to fully evaluate a newcomer. Daniel arrives with a strong background of 55 podiums in his short career which is very promising. Daniel received an unusual and nice birthday gift on July 1st 2011 and was able to make it to his first F1 Grand Prix drive. Three races later, Daniel will start his fourth Grand Prix in Spa and is gaining very valuable knowledge and experience with every lap he completes behind the wheel. Sometimes young drivers don't know what to expect, and we are working closely with him to build his experience and confidence in the car.

Q: What are your current drivers' qualities?

CK: Narain Karthikeyan has the widest experience of different categories which is very useful. Vitantonio Liuzzi is our experienced driver who will complete his 74th F1 Grand Prix at Spa. He is a really good fighter behind the wheel with a passionate temperament. Daniel Ricciardo is the youngest and a very talented rookie who shows that he is a fast learner. He needs to develop and is on the right trajectory in that regard.

Q: What has been the best race of the season so far?

CK: Canada was our best race so far where we scored the best result in our team's history. It was a great race with a positive ending. We made a step forward in terms of performance and in the championship position. The whole team has been working very hard and it is a deserved result. The drivers did a very good job driving more aggressively than ever in very difficult conditions.

Q: What are the strengths of HRT Formula One and what are your next targets?

CK: We will have to improve further and target 10th position in the championship. I am very thankful and happy for all the team members who are working very hard to move the team forward. I want to also thank our partners and suppliers for all their support.

Q: What is the most difficult challenge for a team?

CK: In terms of racing, to have the right set up, accurately predicting the effect of tyre degradation and, in mixed conditions, to make the right calls at the right time. Apart from the race there are many challenges every day.

Q: Will the team bring any updates to the car after the summer break?

CK: We have been working on updates for the upcoming Grands Prix of Spa and Monza which require different aerodynamic configurations from the previous ones. The car's set-up must reflect the need to perform with complete stability in the very fast and medium-speed corners, while also having the mechanical traction to deal with the slower corners.

Q: We have seen the weather impact several races this year how much can that alter and challenge a team's efforts during a race?

CK: The weather is often hard to predict. But we should be well prepared for strong performances. Some tracks like Hungary are notoriously more difficult given the conditions, which tend to be windy, and the fact that it is a track on which overtaking is a problem. But tyre management is always a key factor as well as timing your pit stops and tyre decisions perfectly.

Q: What is your objective for the remainder of the season?

CK: Our team has made improvements during the course of this season and we want to continue to fight hard to reduce the gap to the midfield.

Q: What has changed with the teams new owners?

CK: HRT F1 has new owners which have given us increased confidence in our F1 programme.

Q: Liuzzi is to race a Ford Falcon at the Gold Coast 600 V8 Supercar event in October 2011, do you have any hesitation having one of your drivers compete in another series?

CK: Well, to start with, we will all be in the Asian time zone and it is best to adapt fully to the time zone for the five out of the six last Grands Prix, starting with Singapore on 25-09, then Japan, Korea and India and on 13/11 the penultimate Abu Dhabi leg before the grand finale in Brazil. All professional races are a good challenge for well-trained drivers. In the end, mentally speaking for a driver, a race remains a race and it requires a very sharp focus exercise. Racing and getting kilometres under your belt are always a benefit.

Source: HRT

[Marlin]

As likable as you are young Pal, I'm not about to read paragraph after paragraph of drivvle.......... Have you tried texting [email protected]

just a thought.

[Marlin]

So, Spa, is it a permanent track or is it true that portions of it are public road, a bit like Bathurst?

[tweety bird]

HRT team boss Colin Kolles shares his thoughts on Daniel Ricciardo, the team's 2011 season and the upcoming Belgian GP...

(you only need to read the first two)

Q: 22-year-old Australian Daniel Ricciardo joined the team at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone. What are the key qualities of your rookie driver?

CK: It's always difficult to fully evaluate a newcomer. Daniel arrives with a strong background of 55 podiums in his short career which is very promising. Daniel received an unusual and nice birthday gift on July 1st 2011 and was able to make it to his first F1 Grand Prix drive. Three races later, Daniel will start his fourth Grand Prix in Spa and is gaining very valuable knowledge and experience with every lap he completes behind the wheel. Sometimes young drivers don't know what to expect, and we are working closely with him to build his experience and confidence in the car.

Q: What are your current drivers' qualities?

CK: Narain Karthikeyan has the widest experience of different categories which is very useful. Vitantonio Liuzzi is our experienced driver who will complete his 74th F1 Grand Prix at Spa. He is a really good fighter behind the wheel with a passionate temperament. Daniel Ricciardo is the youngest and a very talented rookie who shows that he is a fast learner. He needs to develop and is on the right trajectory in that regard.

Q: What has been the best race of the season so far?

CK: Canada was our best race so far where we scored the best result in our team's history. It was a great race with a positive ending. We made a step forward in terms of performance and in the championship position. The whole team has been working very hard and it is a deserved result. The drivers did a very good job driving more aggressively than ever in very difficult conditions.

Q: What are the strengths of HRT Formula One and what are your next targets?

CK: We will have to improve further and target 10th position in the championship. I am very thankful and happy for all the team members who are working very hard to move the team forward. I want to also thank our partners and suppliers for all their support.

Q: What is the most difficult challenge for a team?

CK: In terms of racing, to have the right set up, accurately predicting the effect of tyre degradation and, in mixed conditions, to make the right calls at the right time. Apart from the race there are many challenges every day.

Q: Will the team bring any updates to the car after the summer break?

CK: We have been working on updates for the upcoming Grands Prix of Spa and Monza which require different aerodynamic configurations from the previous ones. The car's set-up must reflect the need to perform with complete stability in the very fast and medium-speed corners, while also having the mechanical traction to deal with the slower corners.

Q: We have seen the weather impact several races this year how much can that alter and challenge a team's efforts during a race?

CK: The weather is often hard to predict. But we should be well prepared for strong performances. Some tracks like Hungary are notoriously more difficult given the conditions, which tend to be windy, and the fact that it is a track on which overtaking is a problem. But tyre management is always a key factor as well as timing your pit stops and tyre decisions perfectly.

Q: What is your objective for the remainder of the season?

CK: Our team has made improvements during the course of this season and we want to continue to fight hard to reduce the gap to the midfield.

Q: What has changed with the teams new owners?

CK: HRT F1 has new owners which have given us increased confidence in our F1 programme.

Q: Liuzzi is to race a Ford Falcon at the Gold Coast 600 V8 Supercar event in October 2011, do you have any hesitation having one of your drivers compete in another series?

CK: Well, to start with, we will all be in the Asian time zone and it is best to adapt fully to the time zone for the five out of the six last Grands Prix, starting with Singapore on 25-09, then Japan, Korea and India and on 13/11 the penultimate Abu Dhabi leg before the grand finale in Brazil. All professional races are a good challenge for well-trained drivers. In the end, mentally speaking for a driver, a race remains a race and it requires a very sharp focus exercise. Racing and getting kilometres under your belt are always a benefit.

Source: HRT

sorry, i'll make it bigger so you can read it next time marlin.

edit- maybe some pretty colors too.

better?

Edited August 19, 2011 by tweety bird

[Marlin]

Haha thanks mate. Would have been fine if I'd realized I wasn't wearing my specs

[hrd-hr30]

planetf1 spambot... how about you only post the first two if that's all we "need"

[dezz]

Collin Kolles is a wank anyway. Constantly sending me offers of 6.5/7mil to go back to HRT when I'm on 20mil at RBR having just come off a 14mil deal with Ferrari.

No respect

[Mohsen]

Collin Kolles is a wank anyway. Constantly sending me offers of 6.5/7mil to go back to HRT when I'm on 20mil at RBR having just come off a 14mil deal with Ferrari.

No respect

[tweety bird]

planetf1 spambot... how about you only post the first two if that's all we "need"

crossed my mind but remember daniel is part of a team and it's nice to know the direction of the team.

but i'll stop posting it if you dont want it.

Edited August 20, 2011 by tweety bird

[Roy]

So, Spa, is it a permanent track or is it true that portions of it are public road, a bit like Bathurst?

Used to be be a public road (in part) but since around 2005-2006 it has been a dedicated circuit. its BS that it may lose its GP and only get a race every 2nd year....good on you Bernie, Korea, the sphincter of the universe, China, Singapore and dirt bowls get a race but Spa and France have to share a race...twit!

[Marlin]

Cheers Roy. Yeah I remember reading it was partly public road but was unsure if that was still the case.

Thanks for clearing it up

[Roy]

I am sitting in the lobby of the hotel trying to put back my flight to Aus, figure I want to go to Spa next weekend. Lets see what Malaysian airlines try to sting me for moving flights. I have no interest in coming home and going back to reality

[Marlin]

We should talk if and when you do return mate. I have a few plans re spending a few months in Europe next year.

[N1GTR]

crossed my mind but remember daniel is part of a team and it's nice to know the direction of the team.

but i'll stop posting it if you dont want it.

Don't stop posting, this thread is for F1 so the more info the better IMO

[tweety bird]

there's not much going on just alot of -

McLaren 'we can still win this championship'.

Renault is coming to spa with a number of updates.

teams want in-season testing.

bernie's sill going on about bbc and sky tv deal.

and at this weeks spa schumi is celebrating 20 years in f1.

[sh@un]

Used to be be a public road (in part) but since around 2005-2006 it has been a dedicated circuit. its BS that it may lose its GP and only get a race every 2nd year....good on you Bernie, Korea, the sphincter of the universe, China, Singapore and dirt bowls get a race but Spa and France have to share a race...twit!

ain't nobody give less of a fuvk about what fans want anymore than Bern.

his mission is to hoover as much folding as humanly possible out of the show via whatever swindling he can contrive over the next little while, then roll around in a warehouse full of cash, Scrooge McDuck style, laughing his ass off maniacally.

[Marlin]

I don't understand why the Little Man doesn't give more of a shit than he does about F1.... not just the revenue that can be gained from it.

After all, even if he were to stop obtaiing wealth from this day forward he's hardly going to be hort a quid is he!

I understand that for a lot of uber-rich, making money becomes a bit of a game, kind of like Mob Wars on Facebook.