Formula One 2012

[89CAL]

Hopefully their form this year leads to some more sponsership to help development. Wonder how good their new DRS will be

[Roy]

Its banned for next year

[89CAL]

The Lotus system does not break the rules. The Mercedes system does

Something about the Mercedes system being active only during DRS, where as the LOTUS system is active all the time, just more effective during DRS or something like that

Guess they saw the rule change/ban coming

[Roy]

I read it was both systems. But if what you are saying is right then they wont wheel it out next year as that will give the other teams a chance to look at it and copy it for next season. They will perfect it over the off season and try to steal a march for next year. (perhaps )

[89CAL]

http://en.espnf1.com/fia/motorsport/story/90099.html

Lotus will run it in Japan anyway. They want to win. Now that the rule is clarified the other teams will design their own double DRS systems anyway

[tweety bird]

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.

[tweety bird]

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

[hrd-hr30]

Anyone else tired of all these gearbox penalties?

I hope Schumacher goes to Sauber. I think its more than a match for the Merc. Certainly looks after its tyres better, and is more reliable as well. In a way I'd like to see that more than him going back to Ferrari, which is a massive long shot. I'm picturing Schumacher in a Sauber beating Hamilton in the Mercedes... that would work for me! Perez has shown the car has the pace at tracks that suit it, so a final GP victory wouldn't be totally out of the question there either.

Edited October 2, 2012 by hrd-hr30

[Nee-san]

reliability penalties are stupidity.

[PRO_32]

reliability penalties are stupidity.

I dont mind them as long as they penalise the constructor(who is responsible for the reliability anyway), and leave the driver be.

[tweety bird]

yep i'm over them.

[djr81]

Anyone else tired of all these gearbox penalties?

I'm sick of all the grid penalties. They are handing them around like boiled lollies. How is it going to be at the end of the season when everyone runs out of engines/gearboxes etc etc?

[PHaT MR30]

May as well just scrap grid penalties and make it a lucky dip draw for where you are on the grid for the race.

But then again the wealthier/smarter teams might find a way to exploit that to guarantee pole.

[Marlin]

reliability penalties are stupidity.

Absolutely they are!

Especially when the major reasoning behind the rulings is a bid to "reduce spiralling costs" whereby rich teams can afford to run their equipement nearer the edge and just change it out as they deem it required.

Really an empty rule given the realisation above in the Ecclestone quote that the new turbo tractor engines could be over THREE times the price of the current engines. Add to that costs of developement and......

[Marlin]

As we all know, a MAJOR ingredient of F1 is the sound.

I reckon most will remember fondly the halcyon days of the V10's as a high point. Given increasing competition for dollars that run "The Show", I would think going back to V10 rather than the "wrong" way to V6 would offer something (ie, the noise!) that no competitor to F1 can....

Oh V10..... how I miss you. The sounds I heard at Monza were LAME compared to this.

[89CAL]

The move to v6 turbo is all about being green-er

In racing it seems silly but i suppose they want to develop things that can be used in road cars

[Tai1or Made]

Screamer pipes.

[Marlin]

Yeah I understand that Cal, but I'm not a believer. No matter how many cylinders, f1 tech will ALWAYS trickle down to prod cars. Going V6 only serves the ad guys. Nothing more.

[tweety bird]

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-

[hrd-hr30]

wow, so the most promising youngster, who coincidently is (was) in the Ferrari acadamy is not ready for a Ferrari drive, but DiResta and Hulkenberg are???

I guess by "ready" they meant willing to play second fiddle.