And how many of us would actually be willing to throw some of our own money at the teams so we can driver their cars? Ferrari could save themselves a ton by letting me drive.
Raikkonen will likely be paid less by another team to drive than he'll be paid by Ferrari to not drive...but he still gets to cash both checks! There's no question he'll be the highest paid next season, probably even if he doesn't drive at all!
Tiremaker Bridgestone chose the morning after the final grand prix of the season to announce that it will withdraw from Formula One at the end of the 2010 season, leaving the sport to search for a new tire supplier.
Bridgestone arrived in F1 in 1997 and became the sole supplier in 2006 after winning a bid put out by the FIA. It is required to give a year's notice of its intention to withdraw so that the process of finding a replacement can begin.
In a statement, Hiroshi Yasukawa, director of Bridgestone Motorsport said, "It is with deep regret that Bridgestone Motorsport confirms that the Bridgestone Corporation [has] announced its decision to not enter into a new tire supply contract with the FIA Formula One World Championship series. The current contract is set to expire at the end of the 2010 season.
"The decision made by the board of directors of Bridgestone comes after considerable and lengthy evaluations and has been based on the company's need to redirect its resources toward the further intensive development of innovative technologies and strategic products. While we understand and respect the reasons for this decision, it has nevertheless come as a great disappointment."
It's not clear whether the FIA, Bernie Ecclestone or the teams had much advance warning of the decision, although if the teams were told, the news did not leak out earlier. If the FIA and Ecclestone had advance warning, they may have made moves to find a replacement source for tires. But it will not be an easy job.
Michelin was chased out of the sport by Max Mosley after the Indianapolis debacle. While new FIA president Jean Todt represents a new start--and he worked with Michelin in his Peugeot days--he did the company no favors when he was heading Ferrari and defending Bridgestone's interests.
While there are other tire companies with a motorsport interest, the logistics and technology demands involved in an F1 operation are massive. A new tire would be so different that it would present the teams with a huge challenge as they design their 2011 cars over the course of next season.
The bottom line is that Bridgestone has spent a huge amount over the years on its F1 program and may feel that it has been taken for granted--and Monday's move could be an attempt to rectify that situation.
As expected, the Williams Formula One team has confirmed that Rubens Barrichello will join it in 2010. The veteran Brazilian will be joined by German rookie Nico Hulkenberg, who impressed in winning the GP2 title this year and who was the team's third driver. He is managed by Willi Weber, the man who guided Michael Schumacher.
Nico Rosberg is expected to go to Brawn, while Kazuki Nakajima may struggle to find a job elsewhere as his place in F1 was guaranteed by Toyota's support.
Frank Williams said, "Rubens needs no introduction. He is not only the most experienced driver in Formula One but a passionate and talented driver who fought hard for the drivers' championship this year. Nico Hulkenberg won the GP2 Championship this season as a rookie and has previously won the F3 Euroseries, Formula Masters, A1 GP and Formula BMW Germany.
"Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima remain our drivers until the end of 2009, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their contribution to the team. Nico and Kazuki have represented AT&T Williams and our partners with dedication, discipline and skill and we wish them every success with their future endeavors."
Speaking of odd theories, I almost shuddered when I heard the Speed announcers talking about the possibility Todt might appoint Mosley as the head of F1. Don't even joke about something like that! I worried for a few seconds about why they would even bring it up but I think it just fit in with their mention of Flav's court case against the FIA and speculating that he might be back one day.
Steve Matchett mentioned it again last night when he and Hobbs were on Wind Tunnel. Seems it was quite the topic of discussion in the paddock over the weekend and not just the nightmares of a sleeping Machett.
All I can say about the new track at Yas Marina is...wow. What a fantastic, glitzy layout. No detail ignored. It seems that Abu Dhabi and Dubai are becoming what the French Riviera once was. The bar has been set high for the other tracks.
I was really impressed with Kobayashi's driving -- I hope he earned a regular spot for '10.
I don't personally care for a glitzy or glamorous venue but I'll take whatever I think of as bad along with the good as long as good = good track, and this one seems like a very good track. I was a bit worried before the race when reading Coulthard's comments about small-ish runoff areas and new tech barriers but everything seemed to work well. There seem to be plenty of good places for passing as well...loved watching Button and Webber scrap during those last couple laps.
The only thing I didn't like was that loooong straight. It's unique and made for some impressive camera angles, but I don't see the point other than to have a part of the track devoted to seeing which car goes fastest in a straight line and forcing teams to sacrifice performance on the rest of the track to avoid being left in the dust in that drag race. Hmmm, maybe that IS the point...
Strangest part to me is the pit exit. Specifically, the way the line signifying the end of the pit speed limit comes just before that drop into the tunnel. I noticed a few drivers crossing the line and instantly beginning to accelerate yet hitting the binders almost simultaneously in order to make the hard left into the tunnel. A crash there would plug the tunnel. I was thinking about the way they push for every fraction of a second and how they might push the limits through there to gain where others might be more cautious, but no one had any problems...and it was fun to watch.
I'll second that. He could be just a flash in the pan but he reminded me of Kubica's early races. Read an interview and he said before he got to sub for Glock he was expecting to be out of racing at the end of the year (no more financing for GP2) and back to making sushi in his father's restaurant! According to reports, he actually seems to be the front-runner for one of the Toyota seats next year. Here's hoping!
Toyota has confirmed that it will pull the plug on its Formula One program immediately. The news was announced by company boss Akio Toyoda in Tokyo some 11 days before a much anticipated meeting where the team's budget was to be discussed.
Toyota's withdrawal comes following the departure of Honda 11 months ago, and confirmation from Bridgestone on Monday that it will leave F1 at the end of 2010. It leaves Japan with no strong connections to the sport for the first time since Honda's return in 1983.
Toyota arrived in F1 amid great fanfare in 2002, and while it has earned pole positions and podiums--the red and white cars finished second in two of the last four races of this year--there had been no wins.
Although there had been doubts about the company's long-term commitment, the fact that it had signed the new Concorde Agreement in July and appeared to be actively negotiating with drivers seemed promising. The incumbent drivers had been let go, but it's believed that no contracts had yet been signed with any replacements.
It remains to be seen whether Toyota is able to sell the team, but the fact that it is based within a larger site owned by the company means it will be much harder to sell as an independent entity.
The facility is much too large for any purchaser who will inevitably want to downsize and cut staffing levels, as happened when Honda was passed on via a management buyout to Ross Brawn. It also not clear if an engine supply arrangement would be made available to any buyer, although this would seem unlikely.
If the team does not continue there could be legal action against Toyota from the FIA and/or Bernie Ecclestone, since the team had made a three-year commitment when it signed the Concorde Agreement. BMW chose not to do so, having already decided to pull out. But that meant Sauber team purchaser Qadbak had to start as a fresh entity and has been waiting on the reserve list for one of the other 13 teams to drop out.
Toyota could scale down the motorsports side of the Cologne operation and operate a sportscar, rally or touring car program. It last competed at Le Mans in 1999.
The Japanese auto company has abruptly pulled the plug on its Formula 1 program. The automaker entered the sport in 2002 hell bent on finally trying to do something about burying its stodgy image as an "assembler" of motorized appliances once and for all. And it failed miserably. Toyota is estimated to have spent as much as $2.5 billion - if not more - in its quest only to achieve a few poles and a few podium finishes, and not one single victory. This move by Toyota signifies more than a pullback for financial reasons, it's an embarrassment of the highest degree. This company demonstrated that in spite all of its financial might and technical resources it could not get it done. All they have to show for it now is its new Lexus LFA super sports car, which becomes a $350,000 answer to a question that nobody was asking, no matter how good it is. The bottom line in all of this is that the natural order of things has been emphatically proven yet again. When Honda goes racing, it's part of their corporate soul, and they have won and will continue to win championships when they put their minds to it, because that's who they are. As I've said repeatedly, they don't call it the Honda Motor Company for nothing. Toyota? Not so much. It's a car company, yes, but it's more of an assembler of ingredients than anything else. Racing and winning has never been a part of who they are. It has never driven them, and they've competed over the years when it seemed like the thing to do, not because they believed in it to their core. And so it goes... - PMD
That should open the door for Sauber-Qadbak. They've been in limbo because they can't sign drivers, suppliers, etc, until they're confirmed as one of the 13 teams. On the other hand, because they signed the Concorde agreement Toyota are apparently technically bound in some ways. The FIA are saying there's isn't a vacancy yet and the Sauber bunch have to continue in their holding pattern.
It's a bunch of bull. If Toyota have quit then they're out and there's a vacancy. I suppose it's about money...as in forcing Toyota to fork some of it over. It's not like keeping a grid position artificially empty is going to force Toyota to reconsider, but I suppose it might help the FIA to look more like they deserve monetary recompense for damages of some kind. If they really are concerned about the health of F1 they should give Sauber the slot now -- sooner is much better than later -- and take their time with the Toyota legal issues instead of the other way 'round.
Well, the richest Russian guy just bought New Jersey Nets (and he lost 11 billion during the financial crisis). The second richest, who lost 16 billion, still had enough scratch to buy the largest privately owned yacht in the world.
As much as I love F1, it's been hard to fathom how carmakers get any real return on the astronomical investments it takes to compete at the top level. As for the Dubai track, it's a spectacular facilty for racing with an astronomical price tag too.......for as I saw it, 50,000 seats.. What a college football game seats... Still perfur the old circuits, oh well, F1 is still amazing and love to follow it!!!
