F1 Silly Season 2005

[Beer Baron]

hell yeah. Glad williams have moved back to single keel. it seems that the added strengthing needed to make the twin keel strong enough costs performance more than they get back in other areas (aero etc). I don't know why maclaren persist with it. I gues if they crack it, it will become the set-up to have.

So who is excited about melbourne GP? not long to go now.

[fatz]

mmm corporate and one driving down and back

need a seat

[Beer Baron]

mate, just show williams how to drift an F1 car like a man and they will hire you for sure. then you can fly down and have all the pit bitches you can take.

[GTRSRULE!!!]

Minardi faces Melbourne axe

Formula One

February 14, 2005

AUSTRALIAN-owned Formula One team Minardi is risking exclusion from the Australian Grand Prix.

Max Mosley, president of motor sports governing body, the Federation Internationale de Automobile (FIA), has suggested Minardi may be refused a Melbourne start next month because of its intention to field 2004 cars.

Minardi intends to run updated versions of last year's cars, complying with the latest safety standards although not completely with the latest technical regulations.

All other F1 teams except Ferrari have supported Minardi running the older cars until the first European GP, the fourth round of the championship.

The controversy is the latest round in a running feud between Mosley and Stoddart which has prompted suggestions the Australian may even challenge the powerful Englishman for the FIA presidency when he comes up for re-election later this year.

"We believe the cars will be running (in Melbourne on March 6) to legal regulations," Stoddart said in England.

"If Ferrari and the FIA wish to make an issue of this then it is up to them."

Mosley said: "If there was no prior agreement and Minardi presented to us the 2004 car, that would be illegal under the current regulations.

"So the scrutineers would not put a sticker on it and it would never go out of the pit lane in Australia. Stoddart disagrees: "We say the cars do comply and if the scrutineers say no then we would protest and I would be surprised if we were not allowed to race under protest."

AAP

[Roy]

So what are peoples plans, i have to speak to my boss to work out what the go is with my tickets...but is an interstate meet up on the cards???

[Silver-Arrowz]

Sorry folks, I'm out.

Missus won't make it and can't take leave for the weekend.

[Mika]

I cant stand Max...I cant wait for GPWC. Only problem is the GP wont be in melbourne anymore as Ron Walker has already stated that we wont be involved with gpwc

[fatz]

im heading down thurday night

will be drunk for the entire weekend and hopefully appear at work on tuesday morning

[R324D]

im heading down thurday night

will be drunk for the entire weekend and hopefully appear at work on tuesday morning

Me too... I start a new job on the Tuesday, red eyes on my first day won't go down to well......

[fatz]

yea should be a winner

[DSKYLINE2C]

I cant stand Max...I cant wait for GPWC. Only problem is the GP wont be in melbourne anymore as Ron Walker has already stated that we wont be involved with gpwc

I pretty much guarantee there will be no GPWC breakaway. Ferarri just signed with Eccelstone for a further 10 yrs. The rest of the teams would most likely follow suit.

Im a massive fan of Ferrari but they are starting to piss me off. All teams except Ferarri have permitted Minardi to use their 2004 car. It looks as though they wont be able to race until the 3rd or 4th GP (with their 2005 spec) unless the vote is unanimous. Its stupid since they would still be WAY off the pace even with the new regulations.

[GTRSRULE!!!]

Carmakers unveil F1 plan

From correspondents in London

February 16, 2005

FORMULA One carmakers planning their own series from 2008 will today show teams what they have to offer.

While world champion Ferrari has agreed to stay with commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone and the governing FIA until 2012, the GPWC group will show the other nine teams a blueprint for the future.

"The teams will be presented with a structure that shows what the sport could be like if you don't have commercial control by three banks and a family trust," said a Grand Prix World Championship spokesman.

Bayerische Landesbank, JP Morgan and Lehman Brothers control 75 per cent of the SLEC holding company that controls F1's commercial rights.

The remaining 25 per cent belongs to the Bambino Holdings family trust, of which Ecclestone is chief executive.

The banks are taking legal action against Ecclestone's companies in a battle for control of the sport, while the commercial supremo is in turn fighting the GPWC for the support of the teams.

The GPWC groups Renault, BMW and DaimlerChrysler and can also count on the support of Honda and Toyota, the Japanese manufacturers who issued a joint statement with them last month expressing support for their aims.

The carmakers want a far greater share of revenues and transparency among other things.

While reports have talked about Ecclestone offering the teams anything up to $US3 billion ($3.81b) in guaranteed revenues over five years, the GPWC have avoided financial estimates of what might be on offer.

The existing Concorde Agreement that governs the sport's commercial side expires at the end of 2007.

Most F1 insiders expect a deal will be done eventually to prevent a damaging split but the arguing is likely to continue for months. "In life you always have to listen," said Minardi team boss Paul Stoddart. "So we'll go along to the meeting and listen. But there's no need to make any rushed decisions."

Reuters

Reserve F1 role for Spaniard

From correspondents in Madrid

February 16, 2005

SPANIARD Pedro de la Rosa will start the Formula One season as McLaren's third driver at grand prix weekends.

"They have guaranteed me the Australian, Malaysian and Bahrain Grands Prix," he told Spain's AS newspaper.

"For the ones after that they will decide whether to give (Alexander) Wurz the job or stick with me.

"But for the moment I am only concerned about those three races," added the 33-year-old, who last competed in Formula One for Jaguar in 2002.

Former champions McLaren finished last season in fifth place in the constructors' standings, allowing it to run a third car in Friday practice this year.

Austrian Wurz is the team's long-standing reserve driver but has had problems fitting into the new McLaren because of his height.

"I am returning to the front line," said De la Rosa. "In private testing you cover thousands of kilometres every year, at race pace even, but nobody sees you there."

The Spaniard said his aim is to do enough to earn a comeback place on the grid in 2006: "That is the aim. I don't know if I will do it but I can assure you that I will try with all my strength, as ever. "I realise that this is one of my last chances to try and get back to racing and I intend to make the most of it."

Reuters

[Mika]

I pretty much guarantee there will be no GPWC breakaway. Ferarri just signed with Eccelstone for a further 10 yrs. The rest of the teams would most likely follow suit.

Im a massive fan of Ferrari but they are starting to piss me off. All teams except Ferarri have permitted Minardi to use their 2004 car. It looks as though they wont be able to race until the 3rd or 4th GP (with their 2005 spec) unless the vote is unanimous. Its stupid since they would still be WAY off the pace even with the new regulations.

I think Bernie will have to do some serious bargaining to get the other teams on board. At the moment, the rival series is looking pretty strong. With manufacturers like Daimler, BMW, Honda, Toyota and Renault on board, there is potential for an even better series where technological advancement is not quashed by the powerbrokers.

As for Ferrari, I hate the way they operate and always seem to get away with their misdemeanours. They are losing their appeal to the fans now especially due to this petty refusal to allow Minardi to use the old car. To be honest I have only disliked ferrari since Schumacher & co. went there. Since then they've always given me an "up to no good" feel about them.

Anyway, it looks like it'll be a McLaren v Renault show this year. Hopefully the Iceman comes out on top!

Mika

[Roy]

At this early stage im betting the alternate series gets off the ground, irrespective of where Ferrari have thrown their support. My opinion is Ferrari are in for a rude shock the next 2-3 years possibly sooner as key ppl start to move onto other challenges, and Fiat start to reconsider the massive spend that is Ferrari F1.

Anyways..time will tell...in the meantime im trying to hunt down some Australian and German flags for the drive down Lygon Street if a Williams gets up:thumbsup:

[GTRSRULE!!!]

Renault F1 off to a flyer

By Paul Gover

February 17, 2005

RENAULT is fast shaping as the new challenger to Ferrari in Formula One.

The French team topped the second-last series of tests before the Australian Grand Prix, with Fernando Alonso starring at a major hitout in Barcelona.

Alonso lapped quickest in the new Renault R25C on Tuesday and was the only driver to break 1min 15sec, ahead of Kimi Raikkonen in a McLaren and Toyota test driver Riccardo Zonta.

Michael Schumacher was only 10th quickest, despite running 100 laps in the interim Ferrari his team will race at Albert Park before the new 2005 car makes its debut when the world championship returns to Europe.

Mark Webber set the eighth-quickest time in his Williams.

The pace of the Renault, and the relative lack of speed at Ferrari, has Ralf Schumacher tipping the end of his brother's reign at the top of Formula One.

"It is pretty clear the strongest are Renault and McLaren," the new Toyota driver said.

"Renault are slightly ahead of McLaren. Then comes Ferrari, although they do look strong in the long runs.

"Then it's Williams, BAR and us. We should not be far away from them and I expect us (Toyota) to be relatively close to BAR."

Renault, which has a big test program in Barcelona this week, planned to use its track time yesterday to pick the Michelin tyres it will run at Albert Park, when teams will have to use a single set of tyres for the first time in a grand prix.

"We focused our programs around doing plenty of laps and we achieved this, particularly on Fernando's car," Renault chief test engineer Christian Silk said.

Most of the F1 teams are running in Spain this week and the running order was fairly predictable, apart from David Coulthard clocking the sixth-best time in his Red Bull racer. Jordan was at the back of the pack, with rookie Tiago Monteiro more than seven seconds slower than Alonso's Renault.

Herald Sun

F1 rebels pledge better deal

From correspondents in London

February 17, 2005

MANUFACTURERS planning a breakaway Formula One world championship claim that their series will be fairer and more cost-effective.

BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Honda, Renault and Toyota, who make up the Grand Prix World Championship (GPWC), met nine of the Formula One teams in London to outline their proposals although world champions Ferrari, which has already committed to F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone, was absent.

Private teams Jordan, Sauber and Red Bull agreed to go away and consider their position, after the meeting agreed a fairer distribution of the huge funds which the sport generates.

The tricky issue of engine suppliers was also tackled with the manufacturers pledging to supply affordable engines.

"The (nine) teams and manufacturers met at Cliveden near London and unanimously agreed upon the establishment of a new framework for their participation in Grand Prix motor racing after 2007," said a joint-statement.

"With respect to technical rules and regulations, all parties confirm and fully endorse the 'Governing Principles for Grand Prix Motor Racing' previously developed by the major manufacturers.

"All parties further agree that all teams are invited to join on equal terms.

"The manufacturers agreed that when the series is established, then they will guarantee from 2006 the supply of competitive engines at an affordable price to a second team which commits to such series."

Last week, Ecclestone offered a new deal that would pay the teams 50 percent of Formula One's $US800 million ($1.02 billion) annual income; it is understood that GPWC plans to make 75 or 80 per cent available.

Ferrari has already signed with Ecclestone, who has been urging the other nine team chiefs to fall in line.

International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Max Mosley said last week the cash needed to match Ecclestone's offer makes a new series economically impossible. The current commercial agreement governing the sport comes to an end in 2007, with the GPWC hoping to establish a new series in 2008.

Agence France-Presse

[Beer Baron]

So what are peoples plans, i have to speak to my boss to work out what the go is with my tickets...but is an interstate meet up on the cards???

Me and the girlfriend will be heading down to melbs on Thursday morning and leaving back to sydney on monday night.

Anything in mind Roy?

[LANFOH]

Ill be goin down on the thursday get back for work on Monday.......cant fu(king wait!! Would be happy to hook up with fellow SAUers if time permits. We should organise a meeting spot??

[GTRSRULE!!!]

Red Bull to fizz back into F1

By Alan Baldwin

February 17, 2005

RED Bull Racing boss Christian Horner wants to put some fizz back into a Formula One gone flat.

"Formula One at the moment is boring," the 31-year-old Briton told Reuters ahead of the Australian season-opener on March 6.

"There are some great personalities in the sport and in our team and what we'll be looking to win over is a fan base that have been fairly depressed probably in the last couple of years.

"We're going to work hard and we'll hopefully have a bit of fun along the way.

"Red Bull's objectives are different to a car manufacturers' ... there will be a different philosophy and a different approach that will start in Melbourne."

Red Bull have replaced Jaguar after Austrian billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz bought the Ford-owned team in November and gave it the name of his energy drink.

Image and marketing is a big part of what Red Bull is about and the team plan a pre-race bash for up to 2000 people in Melbourne.

Horner, who considered buying Jordan last year, believes they can take over where the Irish entrepreneur Eddie Jordan left off.

"We need more personalities. If David (Coulthard) gives Michael (Schumacher) the finger, I won't be complaining," he said of his Scottish driver who did just that in the 2000 French Grand Prix while at McLaren.

Jordan, led by their drum-playing wheeler-dealing boss, were young, flash and brash.

At their peak in 1999 they were also successful, winning races and finishing third in the championship.

They were sold last month to the Midland Group of Russian-born Canadian businessman Alex Shnaider.

"Eddie was a big personality, an infectious one, and his team had a great deal of support," said Horner.

"That's now missing and I don't think a Russian team will fill that.

"I think a real hole in the market exists for a team that can relate to Joe Public.

"I think what you'll see with Red Bull, certainly during this year, is that they'll be looking to appeal to the man in the stand.

"If you spoke to the average man in the street, four or five years ago, he'd probably have identified Ferrari and Jordan – Ferrari for the prestige and historic reason and Jordan for being the fun, outrageous in some respects."

Horner, who took over in January from ousted Tony Purnell, is younger than his lead driver – 33-year-old Coulthard.

However unusual, it is not a new feeling.

He was also younger than Belgian Marc Goossens, an early recruit to the Arden team that he set up in 1997 to compete in the junior F3000 championship and that won last season's title.

"I won't be judged by my age at the end of the day, I'll be judged on what I do," said Horner.

"The sport needs new blood and a fresh impetus. I'm 31, I'm very competitive and I'm very hungry for success.

"I've been successful in other disciplines within the sport and there has to be a new Ron Dennis at some point, there has to be a new Frank Williams."

AAP

[Roy]

...Anything in mind Roy?

:Party: ... ... :alcoholic: ... :burnout:

[Silver-Arrowz]

Just heard that Mr. Webber will be burning up rubber across the old coat hanger (Sydney Harbour Bridge). I'll be there!

Check out their site too. Refurbished.

http://bmw.williamsf1.com/en/index.html