F1 News & Rumours

[stmoritzer]

^read about it on the sunday newspaper, will have to look again
they wrote about which new tracks are comming and which are the candidates to be skipped

[stmoritzer]

the Valencia GR will be called "Europe GR" or "Mediteranean GP"

[blue8]

European GP is used for the Nurburgring race right? Two GPs in Spain would be good financially since it would draw quite a crowd of Al0nso-supporters. Instead of taking out 2 tracks, they should just increase the number of races. That would be more fun

[blue8]

Max wants `green` V6 engines It's not too late, point scoring starts at the Bahrain GP. Click here. Max Mosley is once again talking about a "green revolution" for F1 and has targeted 2011 as the date by which he wants his changes implemented. The FIA President has often spoken over the past few years about making F1 more environmentally friendly, however, his comments have met by jeers as people question how it could ever happen. Mosley, though, now has a plan. Under his proposal F1 teams will switch to eco-friendly 2.2-litre turbocharged V6 engines that would run on biofuel. However, the engines would develop roughly 770 horsepower, around 100 less than the present 2.4-litre V8 engines. Maximum revs would also be cut by approximately 9,000rpm, which would mean the cars would also create less noise polution. Mosley also proposes that the engines be made to last for five grand prix weekends and that the cars would be fitted with traction control, four-wheel drive and have a power-boost facility. The latter, which is used in the A1GP series, would be deployed by drivers in order to allow for easier overtaking. "We are in active discussions with the major manufacturers to ensure that, in future, research and development relevant only to Formula One will be discouraged, whereas that which has relevance to road-car development will be encouraged," Mosley told F1-Racing magazine. "We understand that such an approach has broad support from the competing manufacturers and we will work closely with them to ensure that, in particular, the new environmentally relevant technologies that many of them are developing are made our priority. "Whilst aiming to achieve these goals we will ensure that the sporting spectacle of F1 remains the same or is even improved by the new developments." According to the magazine, Mosley has already submitted his plans to F1's car manufacturers, although McLaren-Mercedes has yet to give it any thought. "McLaren's view is not yet fully formed," said McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh. "I think you would have to say that, on the face of it, these are very laudable propositions. "However, I think we have been going through a period of much change in Formula One, what with sealed engines in 2007, new electronic systems in 2008, energy recovery systems in 2009 and then more sweeping changes from 2011. "Change is always very expensive in Formula One. We understand that the sport must evolve, but we are concerned about cost."

- Planet F1

[Svensson]

^ Most ridiculous idea I've heard so far :roll:

- max 9.000rpm for less noise: why the hell would anyone want that??
- traction control & 4wd: what's next... anti-lock braking & a massage seat-cushion?

[nthfinity]

I will create my own WSC series when that happens, screw F1 if it's true.

[Svensson]

Originally Posted by Ronin005 Originally Posted by Svensson ^ Most ridiculous idea I've heard so far :roll: - max 9.000rpm for less noise: why the hell would anyone want that?? - traction control & 4wd: what's next... anti-lock braking & a massage seat-cushion? I didnt come up with the idea's, you can thank fucking max that fucker!! this is what I would do, back to the V12 motors fuel would have to last you the race pit stops would be for tires only no traction control and back to a MANUAL GEAR BOX would let them play with aerodynamics more ah, only if I had a say!!

LoL I was replying to blue8's quote

And your idea's are EXACTLY the same as what I would do!

[saadie]

^^ ditto ....

those fuckers reduced 2 cylinders and reduced the capacity from 3 to 2.4L ... all in the name of safety? ..the fuck .. the cars are still just as quick ....

[blue8]

F1-Live:
Bernie Ecclestone has given a bleak assessment of the future of Formula One racing at Magny Cours, after organisers recently announced that the circuit is unlikely to host the French Grand Prix in 2008.

The race's promoter confirmed in March that a deal had not been reached with the F1 supremo to run the event beyond this year, but vowed to reconvene in July to 're-examine the situation'.

When he was asked if the unpopular destination would host F1 for the last time on July 1 this season, however, Ecclestone bluntly told the sports newspaper L'Equipe: "Yes.
"

The 76-year-old said he would prefer to host next year's French Grand Prix on the streets of Paris, with the famous Champs-Elysees as part of the route.

"Everyone has dreams, and I will try to carry out this one," Ecclestone explained, also not ruling out the venue Disneyland Park Paris as second-choice.

[bultaco_metralla]

WTF Hamilton to Ferrari???? ive read it in a spanish media. www.thef1.com

Truth or BULLSHIT??

[blue8]

Valencia street GP officially confirmed:

Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed that Spain will host two grand prix next year - as he closed the deal on a race through the streets of Valencia. The event was initially announced early in May and the F1 supremo confirmed on Friday that a contract had been signed "The agreement was signed this morning along exactly the same lines as we announced last month," the 76-year-old told Reuters. "The agreement is for seven years." The race will be run around the city's harbourside streets on a track between 2.5 and 2.7 miles long and will go by the moniker of the European Grand Prix. It will join Monaco and another new venue, Singapore, as the only dedicated street venues on the F1 calendar. Reports claim that the city is paying around 26 million euros to host the event that seeks to cash in on F1's increasing popularity in the Iberian country. Ecclestone signed the deal with the Valmor Sport group, an organisation set up by former motorcycle racer Jorge Martinez Aspar and businessman Fernando Roig, who is president of Villarreal football club. The Valencia regional government also confirmed the deal, according to The Associated Press.

For more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valencia_Street_Circuit

On the Singapore GP:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_Grand_Prix

[blue8]

I tried my best reading the article translated by Babelfish and there's no way it could be true. Hamilton has been with McLaren for so long I don't think the Monaco GP was enough to get him disappointed. This is the first time I've heard of this, but apparently the rumor is catching quite a lot of fire. I tried searching Google 'Hamilton to Ferrari' and tons of results came out...

Here's one article from F1-Live:

McLaren will have Hamilton under a water-tight contract
Just five races into his young career, British rookie Lewis Hamilton is already being linked with a shock switch to Ferrari.

The 22-year-old, after making the most successful start to a debut season in the history of Formula One, is now at the centre of the Monaco team order storm.

Hamilton has even been mentioned as the instigator of the pending FIA investigation, after suggesting to reporters last Sunday that he had been ordered to finish second to Fernando Alonso because he is 'the number two driver' at McLaren.

But even though team boss Ron Dennis groomed Hamilton through racing's junior classes at huge expense, not to mention the existence of a long term contract (to about 2011), British newspaper The Times said there is now 'a raft of speculation' hinting at a future link between Hamilton and F1's famous Italian team.

"Paddock wags (are) suggesting that his route to Ferrari is already being 'lawyered', on the assumption that Kimi Raikkonen is shown the door," motor racing correspondent Edward Gorman wrote.

Gorman added that Hamilton's annual salary could potentially rise from about $500,000 in 2007 to up to $40m 'or more' with Ferrari.

The rumour is backed by another British newspaper - the Daily Mail - and its claim that Hamilton was unashamedly 'angry' in Monaco when it became clear that he was being asked to sacrifice his lead of the drivers' championship and settle for second.

[dutchmasterflex]

Geeze, these F1 rumors are just like girls in High School..

I'm sure you've seen all of the videos of young Hamilton aiming to become a driver for Ron Dennis. I don't blame Ferrari for waving 7 figure checks in his face though He is racing for McLaren at a bargain rate.

[blue8]

From Motor Authority:

Formula One is set for a dramatic change with the announcement today that a deal has been struck between two British engineering firms for the development of an energy recovering gearbox slated for introduction into F1 by 2009. The goal is to reduce the level of greenhouse gas emissions by recovering energy wasted during braking, and is part of FIA president Max Moseley’s dream to make F1 more cost-efficient, road relevant and environmentally friendly. The design work is being handled by transmission specialists Torotrak and Xtrac, who will be forming a partnership to develop the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) first proposed by Moseley last month. According to Reuters, the KERS is basically an efficient CVT gearbox joined to a flywheel that rotates when the cars undergo braking. The stored energy can then be used to boost acceleration for overtaking and cornering, and will work like the power-boost button seen in the A1GP. This is just the first of a raft of new changes that are to be introduced into F1 by 2009. Some of the other proposed changes put forward by Moseley include downsizing the engines to 2.4L V8s or possibly 2.2L V6 powerplants, with rev limits set at just 10,000rpm. Sadly, it seems that the guys in charge of F1 are forgetting what it is that makes the races so interesting.

[Svensson]

ROTFL It's getting funnier every day... CVT gearboxes??