A holiday tradition in Catalonia... Get your own! Lewis Hamilton, Valentino Rossi, Tiger Woods, Obama and many more... Caganer regalar productos de navidad, figuras, artesanÃa
Well, that's just........I mean.........why would anyone.........WTF?!?! Ok, the figurines themselves are disturbing enough, but to put them in nativity scenes? That's just.....I don't know.....bizarre is the best word I can think of right now.
Enough turd talk...it's confirmed, M Schumacher unretires with Mercedes and will partner Nico Rosberg in the silver arrows. Makes 2010 even that much more interesting, eh?
BBC Sport gathers the reaction to the 40-year-old's comeback from the biggest names in F1. ROSS BRAWN, Mercedes team principal "It's a very exciting move for the team, Michael Schumacher and Formula 1. It's great news. We've kept in touch over the years and in Abu Dhabi this year we first mentioned the subject. "We were in deep discussions with Jenson and when those negotiations ran into trouble we entered discussions with Michael. "I could see how disappointed he was in the summer when he couldn't drive for Ferrari and we're delighted and excited to have secured his services. "We didn't want to see Jenson leave but I could understand his reasons and we are really delighted with how things have worked out. "I don't think Jenson left because of money, I think he wanted to prove it was him as well as the car that won the championship and now he's going to match up with Lewis Hamilton. Jenson wants to prove he can do it with another team and another car. "I know Michael very well and his last race in Formula 1, Brazil 2006, was the best race of his career. He has been rejuvenated by the break, has kept himself fit and I don't think talent leaves you. You are born with it. "Whether the car will be good enough no-one knows. We know it is better than last year but whether that is enough no-one knows. "It's about trust. Neither of us get it right all of the time but I find it very easy working with Michael. When you work with that type of talent it is hugely rewarding. LEWIS HAMILTON, McLaren's F1 world champion in 2008 "It's great to have Michael back in Formula 1. He is a legend and a really nice guy, and I am happy for him that he has once again got an opportunity to do the best job in the world - race in Formula 1. "I used to watch Michael race when I was in the junior categories, and I always hoped that I would be in Formula 1 while he was still around. I'm really looking forward to seeing him on the track and back at the top. "It's brilliant news, and I wish him my absolute best wishes on his comeback with such a fine team and company as Mercedes Benz." NICO ROSBERG, Schumacher's team-mate at Mercedes "It is fantastic Michael is returning to Formula 1 and will be my team-mate. It's a great challenge for me to be up against one of the best drivers of all time. "I'm sure we will form a very strong partnership as he will have lost none of his speed. It is also great news for our sport and the fans." NORBERT HAUG, vice-president of Mercedes-Benz Motorsports "Michael has more of everything than every other driver. Our sporting ambition has always been that Michael should drive again where his professional career had started, and Michael knew that. "We often joked about it after the races and discussed the prospect seriously several times during the last 14 years in Formula 1. "It didn't happen in 1995, it didn't happen in 1998 and it didn't happen in 2005. I am delighted that it will now happen in 2010. I am very much looking forward to working with Michael. "Everybody at Mercedes-Benz and Daimler extends a very warm welcome to our 'apprentice' of 19 years ago. That apprentice is now the most successful racing driver of all time." MARTIN WHITMARSH, McLaren team principal "I think I share the sentiment of every single Formula 1 fan across the world by saying that Michael Schumacher's return to the sport is fantastically exciting - and a thrilling prospect for the 2010 season. "I've no doubt that Michael has studiously examined this opportunity from every possible angle, and that he's convinced he still possesses the same fearsome drive and determination required to succeed in Formula 1. "Obviously, Michael is a seven-time champion and has absolutely nothing left to prove - so it will be fascinating to see what he can achieve in a new team. "To Michael, Norbert [Haug, vice-president of Mercedes-Benz Motorsports], Ross, Nick, and everyone at Mercedes GP, we offer our warmest regards and congratulations and, most importantly, we look forward to some terrific racing in 2010." JOHNNY HERBERT, former F1 driver and Le Mans 24 Hours winner "The fitness side is very, very important, but the way Michael keeps himself in shape - he brought the physical aspects of F1 up a couple of notches - it isn't going to be an issue. "I don't know of anyone that has gone out of F1 and come back and actually achieved something by coming back. Alain Prost wasn't the same when he came back but because of Michael's mentality it is different." EDDIE IRVINE, former Ferrari driver "The speed will be there, though he won't be as fast as he was seven years ago. "He's not at the peak of his game, but he's still good enough to win races as he has such an immense talent. It's still four wheels, a steering wheel and an engine and there's never been anyone better than Michael."
I've never been a fan of Schumacher, although I am in awe of his incredible driving abilities (skill and talent). No chub for me, but I am pretty excited about his return to F1. He is a great driver, and the pairing with Ross Brawn will be formidable. My beef with Shu was always about his tendency to use any means available to secure his victories: His "parking" job at Rascasse during Quali in Monaco during his last season springs to mind. Brake-checking David Coulthard in the rain in the late 90's also comes to mind. There are countless other instances where his methods were those of someone with less integrity. Thing is, he IS amazing! No one has demonstrated the abillity to not only identify every opportunity to improve lap time on a course, but to then work methodically to work on each of those opportunities and master the circuit. No other driver has demonstrated the combination of desire and ability to achieve the impossible during a race, as when Brawn asked Shu to give him several seconds a lap in order to win the race from behind. (Actuallky, KIMI showed quite a bit of this during his last seasons at McLaren... That race where he flat-spotted his tires and managed to still stay in the lead and the tire blew in the final turns of the final lap... He deserved the title that year, but McLaren let him down. There were other flashes of brilliance from Kimi as well. I don't know that he deserved his Championship the year he moved to Ferrari, but he deserved it for past efforts without a doubt!) But Shu was able to do this sort of thing on a regular basis. To me, it did get a little boring watching Shu consistently do better than the rest of the field, and I was happy that he was sportsman enough to finish the season when Alonso became World Champ. I was happy to see Shu retire as a driver, but I always expected him to come back. It's clear that he lives to race. Now we get to see him return as a sort of underdog: the old man who may have been away from the scene too long to be competitive... I wish him well, and I look forward to seeing him spank some of the upstarts. I hope he has to work for it, and I hope he can refrain from the dirty stuff. In any case, it should be quite a show, as folks like Hamilton ramp up their game to see if they can beat the master. The season can't start soon enough! _Dave_ PS: I almost laughed out loud reading Eddie Irvine's comments. Seems like none of the "support" drivers at Ferrari during Shu's reign understood that they were only fast because Shu was driving the team to be fast. For some reason, they all believed they were as good as Shu, "If only given the chance to prove it!" heh heh
I read a post from someone elsewhere saying these talks started six months ago, and no wonder Barrichello left the team...and maybe Button as well. I like the language Rosberg uses. He's been downplaying the whole thing for weeks and being careful to point out that he will not be number 2 to Schumacher and now he chooses his words carefully to include "... will be my teammate." and "... we will form a very strong partnership ..." Poor guy. I bet he expected to be the star on that team and feels a bit shafted. Just hope he knows that the car he gets to drive will improve because of his teammate's input, so he'll probably do better WITH Schumacher around than without him. I was a Schumi fan for the most part and I think that may be one of the reasons I haven't been so keen to see him come back. It would be a shame to see his record tarnished by poor performances if he (and/or the car) aren't up to it. Been looking forward to a good 2010 season without him anyway. I won't mind if he does fairly well the first year because the press will be generally favorable...unless they're complaining he's stealing thunder from poor Button and Hamilton. On the other hand, if he doesn't do so well the press (who absolutely loved to hate him until the day he retired) will turn on him and all the news will focus on Michael the has been...thus stealing "column space" from better stories.
I am also a MS fan, and I'm excited that he got to come back to F1 as a driver. Many in the paddock were convinced that Ferrari had him tied up contractually to keep him out of a competitor's car, it's nice to see that Ferrari let him go (unwillingly, but they did) However, I'll be surprised if he's much more than mid-pack, at least at first. Even tho he's been in the cars and I'm sure he's driven plenty of test miles in last year's car, it's not the same, and there are some terrific young drivers on track now, including his teammate Nico. I think he will finish better, but the first part of the season may be a disappointment for those who think he'll step in exactly as he left the sport three years ago. I'm sorry to see Nico's big break get pushed out of the limelight, but as others wrote, having MS on the team will only improve Nico's chances as the year goes along. Anybody wanna bet where Jens will finish in relation to the Hamster? I think he's about to learn it was the car after all.......
I prefer to see Schumi in mid-pack. That is where most of the interesting fights happen and with him being there we should see more coverage of that. Watching the leader lap the track for 15 laps before the camera changes can be boring.
I absolutely agree, esp. since I don't really care who actually wins the race unless it's close at the front and there's "racing" going on there! I want to see racing not just the fastest car doing laps. This is also why I like that lately they've been covering the midfield more than they used to. Is that just because Schumacher isn't the one doing laps at the front? I hope they're not that shallow, but maybe. I expect Schumi to struggle to get out of the midfield probably for most, if not all, of the first year. I think Merc made a great decision to take him on though because he'll help them turn the car back into a consistent contender within a year or two...that is, IF they're willing to put the right sort of resources into development. I also still say Nico hasn't lost his chance at a big break at all. He could have had a lesser teammate to easily outperform and they probably would both struggle to do well. This way he gets the chance to do even better but might have to take the back seat re media attention. If lack of starring role limelight and attention is a problem for him then I have no sympathy...I'm not a fan of egos. I'll only consider him screwed if Merc give him less car and conspire to keep him down, which I really doubt will happen.
Crap, looks like Piquet Jr will be back for the 2010 season. Piquet buys into Campos, gives Jr 2010 return. (uk.eurosport.yahoo.com)
I was kinda hoping USF1 would hire Scott Speed, at least for the first season. He is an experienced F1 pilot now....
Campos, F1's new Spanish team, will not be accommodating Nelson Piquet in 2010. It has been revealed that reports claiming a three-year deal for the 24-year-old 'crashgate' conspirator, because the Brazilian's famous father bought into the team, were not true. But the Italian newspaper La Stampa said it is true that Piquet and Campos have been in contact, aided by F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone. Ecclestone and triple world champion Piquet Snr are well acquainted, dating back to their title efforts at the Brabham team more than 20 years ago. "In fact," said Campos' Daniele Audetto, "we received an offer from Piquet. "We have nothing again Nelsinho, even though he was involved in the accident scandal. He is a good driver, fast and experienced. "But, having signed Bruno Senna, we cannot have two Brazilians. And the supposed 15 per cent investment would be less than what other drivers could bring; Italian, Russian, Chinese, German, to name a few nationalities. "There are ongoing negotiations that will go on until all the details are defined," Audetto added.
Here's the rest of the Campos/Piquet story. Website admits Piquet story was hoax (motorsport.com) Strikes me as pretty funny that the thought of Piquet returning is so off the wall that it even works as an April Fools type hoax.
Everyone has their own opinion of what symbolizes the low water mark of the current state of F1. Mine is the thought expressed by Anthony Davidson below. That is, if it's not just Davidson inflating the situation as an excuse to explain his own lack of a drive. Obviously there are others being paid handsome wages so it's not ALL about having to pay to drive, but it's looking like there's more of that going on now than ever. Latest rumor re USF1 drivers is their first seat will be secured by Jose Maria Lopez of Argentina because he is able to come up with $8M in cash and sponsorship for the seat. Davidson: If I had 5m euros I'd be in Formula One (planetf1.com)