Most liked posts in thread: F1 - 2009

That's a shocker. After reading the transcript of Symonds' session with the FIA I was sure Piquet's story was true but I really expected Flavio to fight on to the bitter end anyway. I'd bet the only reason they left is because Renault (the car company, not the team) forced the issue. It was probably one of those "if you want to avoid being fired, you will resign" ultimatums. Now I wonder how much Renault knew and when they learned it.

On the BMW/Sauber topic, I just read they already have a deal to run Ferrari engines next season. Here's an esoteric question. An engine manufacturer is only allowed to supply a certain number of teams (I think it's four) but is there a difference between the way that rule affects Merc and Ferrari? After all, for Merc, McLaren counts as one team they supply, but the Ferrari team use their own engines.....so does that mean Merc can supply McLaren and three others and Ferrari can supply four non-Ferrari teams? I wouldn't say it matters since teams are almost fighting for Merc, not Ferrari, engine supplies, but IF Renault leave (forced or otherwise) that engine supply may go with them, and no one seems to want Toyota's engines.
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edit: Disregard the whole "how many teams can each engine manufacturer supply" biz. Don't know where I got the idea there was a regulated limit. Looks like any limits are self-imposed by the engine manufacturers.

 

More on engines. I've been thinking the F1-following sites ought to be trying to keep up with engine use statistics through the year. After all, the rule change (essentially, free use of up to 8 engines -- penalties begin to apply when you retire #8) just delayed the any effects of engine reliability issues until later in the season.

Both BMW drivers are starting on their 8th engine in Singapore..... They still have the option of re-using any of their used ones that already haven't blown, but engine #9 = a 10-place grid demotion.

 

I thought about that, but they've been showing signs of life lately -- points in each of the last three races -- Kubica 8th in Valencia, Kubica 4th and Heidfeld 5th at Spa and Heidfeld 7th at Monza.

I wonder whether any other teams are near the end of their no-penalty supply.

 

Renault have to watch their steps carefully for the next two years, but I'm still not convinced they'll stay in F1 that long. The head of the company isn't a fan of racing, period, much less the most expensive series going, and the company has been losing plenty of money anyway. There isn't even a French GP (off the calendar again for 2010).

If Symonds doesn't retire at this point I wouldn't be surprised if he spends the next five years in another racing series and then pops up in F1 again.

As for Flavio... Someone wrote that he won't be missed by many and I'm definitely in the "won't miss him" camp. Every year I've wished that self-centered, abrasive parasite would find something else to do. Something tells me he hung around F1 because it fed his massive ego.

I love this bit:

... wonder how long it'll be before Alonso, Webber, Kovalainen and Grosjean are officially out from under his thumb. We're already into the 2010 driver silly season so any who haven't already signed deals for next hear may be scrambling for new management already today.
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edit: not really sure if he manages Alonso these days

 

I say she's married to the lifestyle...he's just an unfortunate part of the deal. She's probably as much of an egomaniac as he is though and welcomes the limelight that follows him around. She's not the first either; he's had some young model or another hanging on his arm for years.

 

South Korea is now on the 2010 race calendar. Canada is "penciled in" as well. Assuming the deal with Canada firms (note the asterisk below), it's back to 19 venues.

 

....and maybe even a Hyundai F1 team....maybe they'll step in if/when Toyota drop out....

 

As I mentioned earlier, I've been expecting this sort of thing:

Pre-Singapore engine update (f1.gpupdate.net)

And on the subject of engines, the '10 Sauber team apparently has a deal to run Ferrari engines if they're allowed onto the grid next year. At the moment Sauber are sort of the runners-up as the 14th team selected by the FIA, and the idea is they take any slot vacated if another team departs. Also, if the other teams agree, they'll be the 14th team rather than needing to hope for a vacancy. 14 teams = 28 cars on the grid.

 

Anyone notice where Grosjean crashed his Renault during practice today? Yep, I saw one headline that called it the "Piquet Wall" but maybe "Renault Wall" would be a better moniker. :lol:

 

Ferrari finally officially announced signing Alonso to partner Massa next year. All sorts of dominoes may fall as a result.

Most seem to think Raikkonen is bound for McMerc, but that isn't confirmed yet and there's also his rumored move to rally cars to keep people guessing for a while. Kubica to Renault? That's the rumor. It seems like a sillier silly season than most this year (LOTS of other moves in the works, not the least of which is Villeneuve still claiming he'll be back) but at least one of the major players is locked in. Now to wait for all the other shoes to drop.

Hamilton (and Raikkonen?) at McMerc, Alonso at Ferrari, Kubica at Renault, Button (and Rosberg?) at Brawn, Vettel and Webber at Red Bull....might be an interesting season in 2010....