F1 2009 megathread

[92 white 0650]

Re: Yeah, and just how is tech relevent anyway?

"90 per cent of the technology that exists in F1 comes from the US anyway," he said.
Like What?

Yeah, the real question is where does 90% of the money to buy the tech come from? It ain't the good ole' U.S. of A.

 

[enigma]

Re: Here's a "Gotcha"

On the GP Update site there's a small window that says:

So, like a dumb shit I click on it and a black screen with the Honda logo comes up and a spinning cursor indicating it's loading.....and loading............ 15 minutes later, still nothing. OK, I get the point. :wink:

After that my thought was: "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and hoping for a different result." (Just a reflection on mother Honda's current approach to F-1 racing, nothing more)

Maybe it's just me. Click this and see if you get anything. http://dreams.honda.com/home/#/feature_fa

You had mentioned this video earlier... I actually just found it again and watched it.

http://dreams.honda.com/#/video_fa

You'd think after a video like that, that Honda would be excited to bring us the RA109... After two years of failure, things were looking up, and instead, they pulled the plug.

 

[BD]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73187

"90 per cent of the technology that exists in F1 comes from the US anyway," he said.
Like What?

There are lots of F1 car parts are produced here in the US. As for the technology, 90% is most likely an exaggeration, but the percentage is actually quite high.

USF1 team sounds good, but if they want a all US team, who will make the engine? Cosworth? The cost will be higher than other F1 team since they have to fly every thing to Europe for half of the races. There is a good reason why Honda and Toyota operate out of GB.

 

[liftnot]

There are lots of F1 car parts are produced here in the US. As for the technology, 90% is most likely an exaggeration, but the percentage is actually quite high.

thats true Vance. the US may have technology in bits and pieces. I think Pete Wiseman still got something to do with the F1 gearbox and he is from LA(afaik). Now building a winning tub in F1....which american has that kind of talent?
There must be a reason(s) why Roger Penske is not in F1. He seems to have the resources and the most likely to succeed.
as much as I love to see a competitive USF1 team, The UK folks seems to have more F1 "DNA" in their blood than us.

 

[TC]

Assuming the USF1 gets off the ground, who would you like to see as the American F1 drivers? If it were 5 years ago, I would love to see Jeff Gordon race in F1. I'm still amazed how he was able to jump into the Williams F1 car at Indy and within 2-3 laps, put in a time that would have qualified him for the previous year's race. IIRC, he was only a bit over 1 sec slower than Montoya that day and the car was setup for Montoya. I think it was 2002 or 2003 when he won the RoC on his first try. And last year he raced in his first 24 Hours of Daytona and came in 3rd.

 

[liftnot]

Jeff Gordon - born in 1971

While he was fast testing the FW F1 car, he is a bit old for F1. you really need someone who came up the ranks from the Euro open wheel competition and who is american, who is very fast and young.
Jeff Gordon could have been that special one but he went with the Na$$car route and not sure how much open wheel experience he has.
I don't want to root for a backmaker in F1 if I can help it. Michael Andretti was a tough one to cheer for yet all his experience was in open wheel...well, maybe Marco?

 

[TC]

Yes, he's a bit old today, that's why I said "if it were 5 years ago..." I'd like to see Jeff Gordon race in F1. While he did not race CART/IRL, he came up the USAC open wheel ladder. By his 6th b-day, he had won 35 midget races and had 5 track records to his name. He's raced all kinds of series - midgets, sprint cars, sports cars, stock cars.

Marco isn't ready for F1 - not fast enough and too sloppy. Until he can win in the IRL (beyond the one race where he lucked out on fuel strategy and his teammate blocked the rest for the field for the final 10 laps) and A1GP, he isn't good enough for F1. Even he admits that he does not do well on road courses. He did do well in his two test with Honda F1.

 

[92 white 0650]

Re: Are we there yet?

There's a bunch of intense and optomistic smiling :smile: going on over on the Real Honda F1 fan board.

Detailed rumors on the message board starting near the bottom of page 11 of the Deal is Done thread.

Don't know myself............just kibitzin'

 

[92 white 0650]

Re: Kinda lonely in here

The rumor mill is going nuts out there in cyber space and not one peep here. Guess everyone's working, trying to save their job?

Well, I'm goin' racing. With the weather forecast I'd be better off sitting in the RV reading the book "The Art of Racing in the Rain" than actually going out there. Well, anyway, hope to find some juicy tid-bits on here Sunday nite.

 

[ChopsJazz]

Re: Kinda lonely in here

The rumor mill is going nuts out there in cyber space and not one peep here. Guess everyone's working, trying to save their job?

Well, there's a little bit of talk about it here.

 

[CKS Papa]

F1: Honda Have “Many” Potential Buyers
Written by: SPEED Staff / GMM 02/18/2009 - 11:55 AM
Brackley (GBR) Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group is not the only bidder for the Brackley based Formula One team, a spokeswoman for owner Honda Motor Co. said on Wednesday.

The Honda team say that they have several options to continue in 2009 (LAT) » More PhotosVirgin's eleventh-hour bid came to light this week, and is reported to have scuppered the finalisation of a Nick Fry and Ross Brawn-led management buyout.

But the Japanese carmaker's spokeswoman insisted that Virgin's is just "one of many" bids. She told the Bloomberg agency that there are "several potential buyers".

She declined to name the other bidders, but said the team will only be sold with the approval of Honda'sTokyo-based board of directors.

Should a renamed Honda Racing team make it to Melbourne next month, it is reasonably clear that the drivers would be Jenson Button alongside the Brazilian rookie Bruno Senna.

Senna told the latest edition of Italy's Autosprint magazine that, given the lack of testing this winter, his debut would be among the most difficult of any F1 driver in recent times.

"However, it's always better to be in F1, even under difficult conditions, than to be out of it," the 25-year-old, a nephew of the great Ayrton Senna, said.



F1: USF1 “Would Love To Test” Patrick
Written by: SPEED Staff / GMM 02/16/2009 - 07:41 AM
Charlotte, NC Ken Anderson, one of the principals behind the prospective F1 team USF1, has confirmed interest in signing Danica Patrick.

Patrick, the 26-year-old female star of America's open wheeler series Indycar, is "great", Anderson said in an interview with the Associated Press.

"She gets a lot of press," he added. "(Indianapolis Motor Speedway president) Tony George would probably be pretty mad with me if I took her out of the IRL but we'll see.

"I don't know if it's something she wants to do. We'd certainly love totest her and go from there."

The American news agency also revealed more details about USF1's 2010 plans, to be officially launched next week.

The annual budget, for example, will be around 50m euros, there will be at least 100 staff, and American names Scott Speed, Conor Daly and Josef Newgarden were mentioned as other candidates for a seat.

Anderson also confirmed reports that USF1 is considering setting up a European base at the Spanish headquarters of the Le Mans team Epilson Euskadi.

 

[Jetpilot3]

One of the smartest things the USF1 team could do is sign Danica Patrick. The team will not win in its first or second seasons so they should concentrate on getting the most exposure they possibly can from the Global Audience. With having a female driver the endorsement's and attraction will be huge. We live in a time when pay to drive is common so let some ladies apparel or personal hygiene companies foot the bill.

Now team Danica up with a great male driver from the U.S. and the team will do quite well one would assume.

Too bad the team isn't from Canada as you could then easily sign Jacques Villeneuve who is presently racing speedcars here in Dubai. Got his autograph and sat with him a few weeks back...only in Dubai can you go up to the likes of he, Johnny Herbert and Jean Alesi and say hello. It rocks. Empty grandstands here in Dubai doesn't rock though...:frown:

 

[swbatte]

I think Danica is an amazing driver, but I wonder if she could physically handle the extreme conditions & g-forces of driving in F1.

 

[Dr.Honda]

Interesting point. I watched the IRL at Iowa Speedway last year, the drivers there sustain an almost continuous 2.5-3 lateral g's due to the small size of the track. I think the bigger challenge for her would be re-learning road courses (she did fine in her F3000 days in England).

 

[BD]

I think Danica is an amazing driver, but I wonder if she could physically handle the extreme conditions & g-forces of driving in F1.

Danica Patrick in my opinion, is in the right place, at the right time.

There were few female F1 drivers, none of them last one season.

Danica may do better, but it's the mentality, mental preparation that will make or break a driver, and I don't think she has what it takes to be an F1 driver.


On the other note, Honda found a buyer.

http://planet-f1.com/story/0,18954,3213_4979804,00.html

 

[Ponyboy]

26 DAYS, 11 HOURS, 7 MINUTES AND 22 SECONDS BEFORE THE AUSTRALIAN GP.

Ted?! Where the hell are you in this thread? McFly?

 

[Ponyboy]

RUBENINHO lives!

Rubens Barrichello will extend his record as the most experienced Formula One driver in history this year, autosport.com has learned, after agreeing a deal to race for the soon-to-be-renamed Honda Racing outfit.

Although it is understood that a final contract has not yet been signed, high level sources close to the Brackley-based team have confirmed that the veteran Brazilian has been given the nod to line up alongside Jenson Button in 2009.

The team are awaiting the final green light from the Honda Motor Company for the imminent management buyout led by Ross Brawn and Nick Fry, and only when that happens will the 2009 deals be finalised.

It is suggested that the situation could be fully resolved by the end of this week, with the team expected to conduct a shakedown of their 2009 challenger in Britain on Friday before joining next week's final group test session at Barcelona in Spain.

"We expect to be able to make an announcement from the company and the team in the near future," the Yomiuri daily quoted a source at the company's Japan headquarters as saying.

"Honda has been making all possible efforts to avoid the worst option of having to disband the team."

Barrichello has started 267 Grands Prix in a career that stretches back to the start of the 1993 season.

Speaking to autosport.com at the end of last year, Barrichello said he was fired up to remain at the Honda Racing despite the uncertainty that had surrounded the team since December.

"I have unfinished business in F1," he said during a visit to England before Christmas to let the team know how keen he was to remain with them. "I am sure I can finish higher up, if not winning the championship. I really believe that is what I deserve.

"It would be a shame not to use the services of someone so eager to do it, plus with all the experience and the speed. It is the right time - and it comes with the willingness to do well.

"If you sign someone with the speed but whose time is over, they will set up the car differently and badly. You are 80 percent of the time going through corners, and you set up the car different compared to someone who comes and wants to go flat out.

"For me, I am still taking it flat - and sometimes this year in qualifying you have that little pimple on your skin saying 'just remember you are not a boy any more' after the corner. So it is still there very much."

 

[92 white 0650]

Re: Rubens; so broke he hasn't got a pot to p*ss in?

"If you sign someone with the speed but whose time is over, they will set up the car differently and badly......For me, I am still taking it flat - and sometimes this year in qualifying you have that little pimple on your skin saying 'just remember you are not a boy any more' after the corner. So it is still there very much."

Rubens, bless his soul, obviously wrote this himself. He must not have enough money to pay a press agent or a manager who's paying attention.

So, a few questions...........ya think Ross took Bernie's money? Is there a {gasp} sponsor this year??? Is it Samsung? I don't know how much Bruno was gonna bring but it appears that with Honda's donation, Ross (& Nick?) have scrounged up enough from Bernie and/or a sponsor to keep Rubens one more year. And how much is enough? $200M? Bruno will likely be in the seat next year when Honda is totally out of the picture.

And, back to Nick, is he 1) in or 2) out? or 3) In but tied up in the backroom? How come we haven't heard from that little twit? No one has said one good word about him thru this whole ordeal.

 

[Ponyboy]

Re: Rubens; so broke he hasn't got a pot to p*ss in?

So, a few questions...........ya think Ross took Bernie's money? Is there a {gasp} sponsor this year??? Is it Samsung? I don't know how much Bruno was gonna bring but it appears that with Honda's donation, Ross (& Nick?) have scrounged up enough from Bernie and/or a sponsor to keep Rubens one more year. And how much is enough? $200M? Bruno will likely be in the seat next year when Honda is totally out of the picture.

From what I understand, the title sponsor will be Emirates and that the team may be named Brawn Racing (couldn't they think of a more original name?). Caroline McGrory, longtime Honda F1 counsel, registered that name. Funds are coming from Honda itself for a year, Bernie, and commercial sponsorship.

Of course, these are just rumors though.

 

[92 white 0650]

Re: Sponsors, the last big unknown

From what I understand, the title sponsor will be Emirates .....
Of course, these are just rumors though.

Emirates? Hmmmmm, you might be right since they denied it.

I'm going with the Pepsi/white & blue livery rumor. I mean if Red Bull keeps making money these days, Pepsi might have some dough and reason to compete. :wink:

Oh and good on Ross for keeping Rubens and taking the heat. Since they'll be developing the car on the race weekends, Ross needs a development guy in the car and Wurz just won't have enough time in it to contribute.

 

[BD]

Re: Sponsors, the last big unknown

Emirates? Hmmmmm, you might be right since they denied it.

I'm going with the Pepsi/white & blue livery rumor. I mean if Red Bull keeps making money these days, Pepsi might have some dough and reason to compete. :wink:

Oh and good on Ross for keeping Rubens and taking the heat. Since they'll be developing the car on the race weekends, Ross needs a development guy in the car and Wurz just won't have enough time in it to contribute.

They deny every thing!!!

Western girls brought into their country as sex slaves.
Dubai is not hurt by the recession
Iran denied the existence of Isreal
Saudi Arabia denied the world of pumping more oil when the world really need it.
etc etc.

Just joking. The Middle East nations want to be involve in F1, and they have the money to do it. If the news is true, it will be a huge boost to the team.

There is a massive attraction here. Honda has one of the best facility of all F1 teams, now it is up to them to have resource to bring out the talent of the staff to get it going.

 

[92 white 0650]

Re: My, my, my, The deal is done

http://www.brawngp.com/pr.php :biggrin:

 

[Ponyboy]

Looks like it's official. What I found interesting is the lack of Nick Fry being mentioned. My .02 - the common denominator of Honda's lack of success is Nick Fry's management. I'm sure he'll have some sort of role but, IMHO, the less the better.

BRAWN GP takes over Honda F1 Racing

Ross Brawn has taken control of the former Honda Racing outfit in a move that secures the survival of the tenth team in Formula One.

After months of speculation about the future of the Brackley-based outfit, following Honda's decision to quit grand prix racing last December, a 100 per cent buyout by Brawn has resulted in the team being renamed 'Brawn GP'.

A statement issued at midnight on Thursday said that Brawn had reached agreement with the Honda Motor Company to take ownership of the team. It was also confirmed that the outfit will be powered by Mercedes-Benz engines.

As autosport.com revealed earlier this week, Jenson Button will be partnered by Rubens Barrichello, who is set to extend his record as the most experienced driver in Formula One history.

Speaking about the new deal, Brawn said: "The past few months have been extremely challenging for the team but today's announcement is the very pleasing conclusion to the strenuous efforts that have been made to secure its future.

"Firstly, it is a great shame that having worked with Honda Motor Company for so long we can no longer continue together. I would like to thank Honda for the fantastic co-operation and support we have received throughout this process - particularly those members of the senior management who were closely involved with concluding our agreement - and for the faith they have demonstrated in myself and our team.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to pay due credit to our staff at Brackley. The levels of motivation and commitment that I have witnessed at the factory deserve the highest praise."

Brawn added: "It would be impossible to mention all of the people without whom today's announcement may not have been possible, however I would like to express particular appreciation for the support we have received from Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, the FIA (Fédération Internationale de L'Automobile), FOM (Formula One Management), FOTA (Formula One Teams Association), BERR (the UK's Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform), Bridgestone, our other team partners and our many fans the world over.

"The journey ahead will be challenging but exciting and we know we can count on their continued enthusiasm for our team and its ambitions."

Brawn said that the huge experience that Button and Barrichello have between them, having started 423 races in total, would be invaluable to the outfit as it bids to make up for lost time over this winter.

"I am delighted that Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello will form our race driver line-up for the 2009 season," he said.

"The vast experience and knowledge that both drivers bring to our team will prove invaluable as we aim to get up to speed in the shortest possible time to be ready for the first race of the season in Melbourne on 29 March. In what will be their fourth season together, their experience with our team in Brackley, our systems and our engineers, will prove a real asset."

Honda made it clear it was delighted to have finally put together a deal to safeguard the future of the team.

Hiroshi Oshima, Managing Officer of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. responsible for Corporate Communications and Motor Sports, commented: "Since announcing our withdrawal from Formula One racing on December 5 of last year, we have conducted various studies and discussions so that the team can continue its activities as a new team.

"We are very pleased that we could sell the team to Ross Brawn, with whom we have been partaking in the challenges of F1 competition, and are grateful for his decision. We offer our sincerest wishes for the new team which will be led by Ross."

Brawn GP, whose official colours appear to be yellow, black and white, are scheduled to shake down the new BGP 001 at Silverstone tomorrow in a behind-closed-doors test session, prior to a full blown run out at Barcelona next week and Jerez on March 15-17.

 

[enigma]

It's official boys! Jenson and Rubens have a drive for 09 under the team name Brawn GP. Team Principal Ross Brawn led a management buyout of the Honda team, which is now powered by a Mercedes engine. Reports are that extensive work has gone into the BGP 001 to modify the gearbox and chassis to accomodate the Mercedes engine and that everyone at Brackley are in high spirits about making it to Melbourne.

Brawn is targeting "respectable performance" for the BGP 001, but does realize that the team may have some reliability issues going into Melbourne as they will only have two tests under their belt.

I dunno about you guys, but I am excited! Not only because I was always a huge advocate of the Honda team, but I'm glad there will be more than 18 cars on the grid this year.

Here are a couple pics from the shakedown at Silverstone today... Looks like Jense took her for a spin. I'm looking forward to seeing the car next week at Barcelona! One thing to note is that the front of the car is dramatically lower than all the other cars thus far... The slope down makes it... prettier than all the other cars at least. Let's hope it proves to be quick.

We'll see you in Melbourne!

 

[NSXrunner]

Kudos to the team and crew! Good luck for the 2009 season! :biggrin:

Still sad that Honda is gone, but at least the JB, RB, and the crew get to keep going.