Whoops!! [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AKTJq0xg2I]YouTube - Kubica finds cellphone in cockpit[/ame]
He should have pitched it out when he passed the pits. Here's a funny tale... Back in the dark ages I was sitting on the grid at Mid Ohio ready to start the pace lap of an IT race when a friend of mine comes screaming into pit lane does a smoking stop & starts heaving tires, tool boxes, & jack stands out of his Pinto. I almost pissed myself laughing as did most of the folks standing in pit lane. We started without him. That was back in the day when a lot of guys drove their race cars to the track. Life was simpler then. Back on topic... Distracted F1 drivers. :lol:
Will Gray speculating a bit on the 2011 addition of adjustable rear wings and return of KERS (snipped from a longer article found on uk.eurosport.yahoo.com). They didn't make KERS use compulsory but looks like they artificially stacked the deck to make it almost crucial.
Well that and to coerce interest in KERS regardless of the challenge of integration and any genuine interest in using it.
As much as I love Ferrari I fear that they are pushing hardest.. They already have the technology and the history of manipulating F1 for their benefit and to insure few upstarts have a chance.... Don't know about you guys but I like to see new teams and competitors in racing; it keeps old favorites on their toes and a freshness to the sport...
Another pundit (Ted Kravitz) contemplates 2011's movable rear wings: How new rules could change the championship (news.bbc.co.uk)
I agree, I love to see new blood. The problem is I want them to mix it up with the established teams and that's sort of a bridge too far without either big budgets (for the new teams) or punitive rules (for the established teams) designed to make things easy for the new boys. Of course it's crazy to expect them to catch up in their first year so results in 2010 really shouldn't be used as justification for persecution. Ferrari do seem to be complaining more than most about the new teams being embarrassing jokes and little more than movable chicanes. They're also the ones pushing (still) to fill out the field by allowing three cars per team instead of adding new teams. Here's where I agree with Max Mosley (probably for the first time ever) who said Ferrari's logic is short-sighted and would do more harm than good.
Here's a different spin on Ferrari's 3 cars per team idea. Verstappen: Ferrari’s third-car plan has merit (gpupdate.net)
:lol: I know! I can just imagine Montezemolo reading about Verstappen's idea while sipping his morning coffee and doing a spit take. Imagine all the back-tracking he'd be doing if the FIA decided Verstappen was right? I actually like Verstappen's spin except it would dump on the smaller teams who wouldn't be able to afford it. Still say young driver development for F1 took its biggest hit from the test restrictions.
Agree! While testing isn't cheap it is the best way for a driver to develop the skills required for F1 and when compared to all the Techno stuff the big teams have, it can be more cost effective for new teams developing new cars.... Might also consider that if the powers at be could narrow the teams involved down to say 4 or 5 with multiple entries then they have more control over the whole series and can funnel the money to Bernie much more efficiently .... Lol
Not 2011, but a great video of 2010... [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_ptaf3PRWs]YouTube - FIA Gala 2010 - F1 Season Highlights[/ame]
Bringing up this new rule again because I read another article that explained it better. It's not as much of a departure as I thought it was. A driver CAN cross the white line and use the curb as long as ALL of his wheels are not off the track, i.e., outside the white line. If all four wheels are over the line simultaneously and it doesn't appear to have been a mistake or result of something else unplanned, then the stewards can/might say/do something. The intent is to allow the stewards to step in if someone is intentionally trying to change the shape of the track to his benefit, like to shave time or pass someone he can't get around on the "legal" part of the track. Just a bit of stupid-proofing.
Jan.6 (GMM) McLaren has denied speculation it is set to drop its traditional silver livery for the 2011 season. Reports had linked the team’s launch of mainly black and red official clothing for this year with rumours McLaren may want to differentiate itself from former works partner Mercedes, who now compete with a similarly silver-liveried car. “Black livery? Er, no,” McLaren said via its official Twitter feed TheFifthDriver. The Woking based team, still powered by Mercedes engines, added that the 2011 livery will be “the same Rocket Red and chrome finish that you’ve grown to love since Vodafone McLaren Mercedes was born in 2007″. “That’s official, btw” McLaren confirmed.
Lotus-Renault set for January launch The Lotus-Renault GP team will unveil their 2011 challenger on 31 January in Valencia. The team have already released images of their livery for next season, but the R31 will be officially revealed at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia where the year's first testing session will take place the following day. 2011 launch dates: Ferrari: Final week of January Sauber: 31 January Renault: 31 January Toro Rosso: 1 February
