Formula One 2012

[dezz]

Ice cold

[N1GTR]

McLarens new talent

and on that topic, looking forward to seeing these two bump and grind carbon again

[ctjet]

fuck massa and the donkey he rode in on

[N1GTR]

News on Lotus new name and business structure. Structure is looking similar to McLarens set up

Caterham Group formed ahead of 2012 F1 season

Ahead of Team Lotus being renamed Caterham F1 Team next year, company chairman announced at the weekend’s Brazillian Grand Prix that the Caterham Group would be formed.

Four branches of the group will be overseen by the Caterham Group masthead - Caterham Cars, Caterham F1 Team, Caterham Technology & Innovation (CTI) and Caterham Composites, with further expansion possible in the future.

“We have been talking for some time now about our plans for Caterham in all its guises, from the road car company to Formula 1 and GP2, and in the technology, design and innovation fields. Now, with the announcement about the rebranding in Formula One to Caterham F1 Team for 2012 and beyond, we are in a position to give a much more in-depth explanation of how the Caterham Group is taking shape,” said Tony Fernandes, Caterham Group chairman.

“With those four arms in place, and more to be announced in due course, we have a dynamic group of businesses already working together that gives a clear vision of what our long-term strategy is in their respective fields, and as one entity under Caterham Group,” Fernandes said.

“This range of business interests provides us a very strong foothold in a number of growth sectors, staffed with teams of people with a strong mix of experience, youth, creativity and passion. In short, we have all the right ingredients in place to do some incredibly exciting things in markets that are ripe for innovation and new ideas.”

Under the Caterham F1 Team banner will be another section of the business – Caterham Racing – which will look after Caterham’s GP2 team. But that’s not all. Other forms of motorsport will be included, such as karting, Caterham Seven racing, GP3 and others.

Caterham Cars will also be expanding into markets such as China and India, but also with new road cars to begin production in 2014. These will undoubtably benefit from Caterham Composite’s technologies, as will the F1 branch and other race teams.

For those who though that Caterham was just another Lotus Seven builder, think again. The future looks quite bright for the growing company.

[Angus Smart]

lol bit keen arent we

going to be no action till feb!

And you said no action till feb!

[ctjet]

There is now plenty of actio in my pants!

[tweety bird]

good news.........

race of nations and the race of champions will be on live this weekend............ if you have the speed channel.

sunday 5.00am for the race of nations and sunday 11.00pm for the race of champions.

[Angus Smart]

Should be able to find a decent stream for them.

[Kaido_RR]

Why don't I understand the fascination with Kimi?

Anyone care to explain?

Yes I know he's a former world Champ, but he's been out for a long time.

I'd welcome him back, but honestly, rather than see him arrogantly step straight into a top ride, I'd like to see him in something mid pack, say, a Mercedes GP or Force India. If he's the God so many think he is, then prove it in that car, THEN, step into a front runner.

this will explain all

[Kaido_RR]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9qyugUOhl8&feature=related

[Kaido_RR]

[Marlin]

Okay okay fark sake stop quoting me!

I think I've ascertained y'all want to chow down on his great ropes of choad. Fargern serious man-crushes!

[Angus Smart]

Okay okay fark sake stop quoting me!

Sure

[Marlin]

Sure

Kent!

[sh@un]

for Kimi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwIvBNsSywQ

[tweety bird]

so i've been hearing rumors that daniel may be linked to Caterham next year.

not confirmed yet though.

[ctjet]

I'm surprised how quickly kimi lost those kilos so quickly

I watch pretty much all the WRC events and old twin chin raikkonen wanst looking too fit

Anyway, hopefully petrov is his teammate next year, be a great bencmark of where he's at

[N1GTR]

[source: Teamspeed]

Ferrari Is Still F1's Richest Team

Looking purely at racing statistics, it is clear that – over the past two seasons – Red Bull is F1′s most successful team. In fact, Red Bull has won 23 of the last 40 races and 13 of the last 20. It only failed to make the podium in one race in 2011 (Abu Dhabi) and secured both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. Certainly, this would mean that the Bulls get the biggest draw on F1′s pool of prize money as well, right? Wrong.

Even though Red Bull has totally dominated the sport on track, it is Ferrari that hauls away the biggest share from F1′s clandestine “prize fund.” Jonathan Noble at Autosport has reported that – based on its independent sources – Ferrari will collect the first 2.5% of the nearly $700 million in F1 prize money this year. That’s over $17 million to a team that won only one race and finished third in the constructors’ championship. According to Noble, this unique bonus is based on Ferrari’s “unrivaled historical contribution, consistent presence and strength of the brand.”

But that’s just the beginning. Noble also reports that Ferrari will get the largest cut of so-called “Category B” entitlements which are based on “world title winning success.” That amounts to another estimated $16 million. Thus, before it will even start testing again, Ferrari has filled its coffers with over $33 million. And it doesn’t end there. By finishing third in the constructor’s championship, Ferrari gets another big payday. By landing in the top three for two of the previous three years, Ferrari collects another $71 million.

When you add it all up, Ferrari will take home over $104 million in 2011. That’s more than both Red Bull and McLaren who finished ahead of it in the season standings. Doing similar calculations, Noble reports that McLaren should collect nearly $85 million while Red Bull will earn a tad over $93 million.

Despite this discrepancy in earnings – which would throw the NBA, NFL or Major League Baseball team owner’s association into cardiac arrest – the F1 teams give up the extra loot willingly. In particular, Ferrari’s exclusive 2.5% bonus based on “historical contribution” is signed off on by all teams in the Concorde agreement. As Noble writes, “every team recognizes the value of having the Prancing Horse there.”

At Brazil last week, Red Bull boss Christian Horner told Autosport that nobody grumbles about Ferrari’s favored financial status. “It is better that Ferrari are here, than not,” Horner stated. “Ferrari and F1 are synonymous and, for us, the prestige of winning in F1 with Ferrari in it is immeasurably higher than if they were not. They are historically the most significant team and it is understandable why their commercial terms are slightly different to the others.”

You have to recognize and be respectful of the Ferrari brand and the Ferrari heritage,” Horner continued. ”And we would far rather race in a championship with them – and it is great prestige to beat a team like Ferrari.”

No doubt, beating Ferrari in F1 is a prestigious honor. But who knew it was so expensive!?

- Photo and Text by Dana Larkin

Horners comment about beating a team like Ferrari made me chuckle.....two times...

[djr81]

What makes you laugh. It just shows how unscrupulous Ferrari are in going about their business. It is not sport, hasnt been for a long time.

[ctjet]

What makes ME laugh is that with all this extra cash they still arent building competitive, class leading cars

It seems like ever since the spending limit was reigned in, their performance has really trailed off. Its almost embarrassing that in the last... 5 years(?)... no breakthrough performance parts or real technical innovation has come out of Maranello. Double diffusers, f-ducts, flixible bodywork, blown diffusers, trick gearboxs etc. and yet, nothing really from team red?

With blown diffsers gone, maybe they'll be back? But i think they need to thank the all mighty Allah that Nando is there, otherwise they'd be fcuked