The BBC commentary reported that Jenson Button tweeted soon after the start of the race that Kimi was the man to watch and he (Kimi) did do rather well. Curious that as a pitlane viewer, Jenson could work that out.
Who knows how long that will last with oil prices the way they are. PDVSA is getting squeezed by the Saudi's.
Shake up at a VW board meeting could be putting a VW brand in F1 but it doesn't look like until 2018. By then there won't be a TR or RB to buy.
If VW (Audi) do end up with a plan to enter F1 but a couple years into the future -- still a long shot IMO -- they can buy a team anywhere along the projected time line and they'd probably get it for a bargain price if that team is outgoing anyway. If there's a significant break before they start racing they might lose a lot of the staff but I'd expect them to want to do some house cleaning anyway. Plus I imagine they'd build their own engines and that would take at least a year of prep, maybe two. I read yesterday (I think) that Bernie recently said he'd gladly step aside if that's what it would take to get Audi to enter F1, so the Ecclestone-Peich conflict may not be the only roadblock. On the other hand, if Bernie is willing to say he'd gladly step aside for ANY reason I suspect ulterior motives, like maybe he's ready to go anyway...or maybe it would be fair to compare him to the proverbial rat leaving what he thinks is a sinking ship...
Probably more like how large a check his parting gift will be.. Bernie has but one, only one motivator, $$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Speaking of the WEC, the Spa round is May 2nd. FOX will be showing all six hours between FS-1 and FS-2.
Next season to start a bit later than usual. I haven't bothered to look up the 2015 dates but I'll guess that's 2-3 weeks later. F1 season kick off next year on April 3 (joesaward.wordpress.com)
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Iranian government planning to build Formula 1 circuit (motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com)
Why? Are you suggesting people in other parts of the world don't "deserve" to see an F1 race live, in their countries? I don't understand all this bleating about the European races.....yes I understand that's where it all started, but so what? If other countries want to spend bazillions of sheckels or whatever to host a race, why not? Who cares if it's Iran, the US, Canada, Mexico or South Africa? What difference does it make? The F1 circus has been hosted all over the world since it started, why not the middle east too?
I don't think tradition is enough, and not just in Bernie's eyes. On the other hand, I read recently the majority of television viewers are still in Europe. Even Bernie should be interested in that given how much $$$ comes in via that route...$$$ being his main focus, clearly. On the other hand, that's not the same as butts in grandstands at European venues. A European can still watch a race in Shanghai from the comfort of his easy chair. Bernie charges you such an exorbitant price to host a race at your European track that you need to raise ticket prices to the point where most of your customers decide to watch the race from home. So, you tell Bernie he has to take less money. Bernie laughs because he knows there are rich people/governments who are so willing to pay his price that they're outbidding one another, and merely for the prestige of having F1 in their country without a care as to whether they can get their money back by filling the grandstands with paying customers. A majority of empty seats at most of those new venues is telling, in my opinion. Means there isn't as much interest outside Europe as Bernie wants to believe. Then again, Bernie only cares about interest among rich people who don't care whether they get a return on their investment. Very short sighted, but unless actual television viewership numbers drop (a huge source of income for him and his investors) he doesn't pay attention. More importantly, unless Bernie sees a direct connection between that loss of income and his dropping of European venues, he'll happily keep dropping them.