The Official 2010 F1 Megathread

Yeah, I thought Massa's blocking move was fairly blatant. But Macca choose the wrong tire any way so a top 3 quali was out of the equation anyway.
 
Mike-san said:
What's up w/ F-1 these days ? For such a long time, Weber was always around, but never on the podium. Now it seems he's a constant top three. Do the cars really make that much of a difference ? I guess so. Anyway, good for Mark. That guy is a public relations dream for Red Bull....He's got model looks, is humble, and now seems to have a chance to make a championship run.
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Webber dominated Rosberg, Coulthard and a stable of countless scrubs. Only Vettel has beaten him, and the Heidfeld vs Webber was a close battle in a shitty, unreliable Williams. He put shitty Jaguars/Williams/Red Bulls far higher on the grid than they deserved. Probably the unluckiest driver in terms of retirements over the course of his career (exception: Kimi?) and he's had some horrible starts after qualifying his car better than it deserved.

Webber was arguably the best 'one lap' qualifier when they did that in 03/04 (?). He's a top 5 qualifier, but lets see if he can beat Vettel this year (who is a top 3 driver along with Alonso/Hamilton).
 
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Re: Whacky rule

What's the logical need/background for such a rule? A restart on the last lap is no more dangerous or different than a restart on the 4th lap.

What am I (and apparently, Brawn and other teams) missing? And why wouldn't Whiting know there might be ambiguity and caution the teams that the rule was in play? Just another "F-1 thing" I guess. :rolleyes:
 
Re: OK, we're down the F-1 rabbit hole now

When waving green really means yellow. my, my, my

Even the Alice in Wonderland and Schumi haters can't believe this one. :rolleyes:

Imagine trying to explain that to a bunch of SCCA rookies in license school. :eek:

I would imagine Damon Hill is drunk and reveling in his revenge about now.
 
Re: Food for thought

Ross's explanation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQerOq_7DcA&feature=player_embedded

Looked to me that Fred was racing as well, as he got pretty sideways trying to hold off MS. If he knew the rule and was clear enough (confident) of it, he wouldn't have been influenced by MS's move or the green flags.

Steve Matchett stated the intent of the new rule well before the SC pulled in. I wonder if he was surprised by the green flags.
 
Re: Food for thought

92 white 0650 said:
Ross's explanation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQerOq_7DcA&feature=player_embedded

Looked to me that Fred was racing as well, as he got pretty sideways trying to hold off MS. If he knew the rule and was clear enough (confident) of it, he wouldn't have been influenced by MS's move or the green flags.
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Think is the instinct when someone try to pass you.Last year Lewis was also punished for passing Jarno thats the rule,no passing before start
lane.Stupid or not valid for all.
 
Re: A brief moment of clarity

The FIA admits the rules were confusing.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8694284.stm

As James Allen notes, the stewards should be able to assess any fraction of a second as well as full seconds time penalties. That way they could have done what's fair: dropped MS back behind Fred. But, apparently they didn't even consider that the rules could be confusing and open to different reasonable interpretation; a drive thru is about as stiff as they reasonably could have made it.
 
Okay, so by now, we've all heard that F1 is coming to Austin in 2012. How awesome is that?! The managing company that secured the rights is called Full Throttle and they're, from what I've read, keeping tight lipped on location. I'm not too familiar w/ Austin but I'm hoping they build a dedicated track and it's not a street circuit. However, less than two years is going to be tough to build a dedicated track.

Either way, looks like the famn damily and I are going to Austin in 2012.
 
Autosport said:
The United States Grand Prix will return to the Formula 1 calendar in 2012 after a deal was struck for a race to be held in Austin, Texas.

Following weeks of speculation about the potential return of a race in America, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone announced on Tuesday night that the event will take place from 2012 to 2021 on a new purpose-built facility in Austin.

Ecclestone said: "For the first time in the history of Formula 1 in the United States, a world-class facility will be purpose-built to host the event.

"It was thirty years ago that the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix was last held on a purpose-built permanent road course circuit in Watkins Glen, NY (1961-1980), which enjoyed great success.

"Since then, F1 has been hosted by Long Beach, Las Vegas, Detroit, Dallas and Phoenix all on temporary street circuits. Indianapolis joined the ranks of host cities in 2000 when they added a road course inside the famed oval.

"Lewis Hamilton won the last F1 United States Grand Prix in 2007, signalling the end to eight years at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This however, will be the first time a facility is constructed from the ground up specifically for F1 in the US."

The deal with Ecclestone has been put together by promoters Full Throttle Productions, and its managing partner Tavo Hellmund.

Speaking about the deal, which comes after speculation of events in New Jersey and New York State, Hellmund said: "This is a case of the right timing in the right place. As many Americans know, Austin has earned a reputation as one of the 'it' cities in the United States.

"We are extremely honoured and proud to reach an agreement with the F1 Commercial Rights Holder. We have been diligently working together for several years to bring this great event to Austin, the State of Texas and back to the United States. All parties involved have a great amount of trust and confidence in each other and are committed to establishing the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas as a prestigious global event."

No details have yet emerged about the track layout, or whereabouts in Austin the venue will be built.
Click to expand...

Read that last sentence again. I just don't see how they're going to manage a purpose built facility in less than two years.
 
Autosport said:
One of the promoters of the new United States Grand Prix event says Austin, Texas is the ideal location for Formula 1's return to America.

Tavo Hellmund, a partner in the Full Throttle Productions organisation that is behind the project, told the Austin American Statesman newspaper that three sites for the new purpose-built track were under consideration.

He believes F1, which has struggled to establish itself in the US, will find Austin a perfect fit.

"Austin is more of an F1 crowd than a NASCAR crowd," Hellmund told the newspaper.

"The geography, the tech money, the nightlife, the music. It all just fits with what Formula 1 is all about."

Hellmund also believes the arrival of F1 will be a huge boost for the area.

"Texas has never had an annual global sporting event," he added. "I think everyone is going to be really proud of it."

The Austin venue will host the US GP from 2012 to 2021, it was announced on Tuesday. The deal will bring F1 back to America for the first time since the final grand prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2007.
Click to expand...

So the bolded words can be interpreted as there were three cities that were considered or that there are three possible locations for the track in Austin. I'll have to check out the actual article from the newspaper.
 
Austin American Statesmen said:
...Local race car driver Tavo Hellmund is managing partner of Full Throttle Productions, which will partner with Ecclestone's company for the Grand Prix project.

"I got 18,000 e-mails in three minutes," Hellmund said as he was rushing to a plane. Hellmund said that neither city nor state money would be used to build a track. He declined to reveal his investment group, but said he had talked with Ecclestone as early as 1999 about a Grand Prix event for Austin and began serious discussion four years ago.

"Austin is more of an F1 crowd than a NASCAR crowd," Hellmund said. "The geography, the tech money, the nightlife, the music. It all just fits with what Formula One is all about."

He said that the bidding process alone cost more than $1 million. Hellmund said land has not yet been purchased, but that three sites are being considered.
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So three sites being considered with one possibly being a 600 acre tract along the Texas 130 toll way near US 290 that quite work out previously. Track needs b/t 600 and 1000 acres and estimates are that it'll take as much as 250 millition to get it built.

Why do I get the feeling that Bernie is just playing with America again?
 
Re: Bernie's tricks

Why do I get the feeling that Bernie is just playing with America again?
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Yeah. Bernie's got too many irons in the fire to really care about any particular one. It's just money to him. This deal is prolly just like he did with Silverstone and the other track (brain fart; can't recall their name). He's just stringing everyone along to see who can spend the most to pull a rabbit out of the hat. :wink:

I posted on ApexSpeed that if it was CA, the track wouldn't (couldn't) be open before 2016 and that's with Bernie. the Governator and influence peddlers in D.C. pushing all the way.

But as you know, the accepted buzz is that since this is Texas we're talking about, things can get done in record time. We'll see if any public works project managers in Texas respond.
 
Ponyboy said:
So three sites being considered with one possibly being a 600 acre tract along the Texas 130 toll way near US 290 that quite work out previously. Track needs b/t 600 and 1000 acres and estimates are that it'll take as much as 250 millition to get it built.

Why do I get the feeling that Bernie is just playing with America again?
Click to expand...

I was thinking that north east side of Austin would be the best location. The land is flatter than the west side, and significantly less expensive.
Cost is whatever people want it to be. Would a world class venue cost $250 M, probably; but whatever the cost, it will be spread out to the taxpayers, hotel taxes, tickets, etc. Cowpatty Stadium in Arlington, Yankee Statium in the Bronx, over $1 B each, and everybody pays their part.

Miner
 
Re: Meanwhile back at the ranch

Anybody wondering about this weekend? Like,

is Flippy gonna get his mojo back or continue down the has-been chute to nowhere? :frown:

Is Hamo gonna blow out another front tire? :eek:

are the Macca mechanics going to count their tools so the Button can race :mad:

can Macca shine on this track? :wink:

Is Seb's new chassis gonna make a huge difference? :cool:

Has my boy Adrian just had bad luck or was he a flash in the pan? :redface:

Anybody wondering about Merc anymore? :confused:
 
Well, from what's being reported, Tilke is in fact going to be designing the Austin F1 track. Argh! The entire facility is going to cover 700 acres and be the epitome of modern design.

Crossing my fingers he doesn't produce another yawner track.
 
Ponyboy said:
Well, from what's being reported, Tilke is in fact going to be designing the Austin F1 track. Argh! The entire facility is going to cover 700 acres and be the epitome of modern design.

Crossing my fingers he doesn't produce another yawner track.
Click to expand...
Your crossed fingers will be in vain.
 
Re: Meanwhile back at the ranch

92 white 0650 said:
Anybody wondering about this weekend? Like,

is Flippy gonna get his mojo back or continue down the has-been chute to nowhere? :frown:

Is Hamo gonna blow out another front tire? :eek:

are the Macca mechanics going to count their tools so the Button can race :mad:

can Macca shine on this track? :wink:

Is Seb's new chassis gonna make a huge difference? :cool:

Has my boy Adrian just had bad luck or was he a flash in the pan? :redface:

Anybody wondering about Merc anymore? :confused:
Click to expand...


Massa,:redface:,Alonso,Hamo,Jason:smile:,Seb,Marc,:biggrin:,Merc:confused:
for Sunday.
 
Tedroe, I thought the same and echoes of USF1 came shuddering back. It's almost too good to be true. However...

Autosport said:
Austin boss says finances are in place

Unites States Grand Prix promoter Tavo Hellmund insists that the finances are in place for the event to take place in 2012 - despite the huge costs involved in putting on the ambitious project in Austin, Texas.

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone this week announced a 10-year contract for the United States GP to take place at a purpose-built venue just outside Austin from 2012.

But with estimates putting the cost of building the venue at $200 million (USD), with finances then needing to be found for running the race and paying the event fee to Ecclestone, doubts have already surfaced about whether the money can be found – especially coming so soon after the collapse of Donington Park's plans.

But speaking to AUTOSPORT, race promoter Tavo Hellmund, head of the Full Throttle Productions company that did the deal with Ecclestone, says he has no doubts about the finances.

"We've got the funding, but we don't have a billion dollars to build an Abu Dhabi," he said.

Hellmund has already attracted local government support, which includes financial backing from the state government plus the Texas Major Events Trust Fund – which was set up to help cover expenses incurred by high-profile events.

Although no track plan has yet been released, Hellmund says the venue location has been chosen and work is more advanced than many people thought.

He has also defended his decision to use Hermann Tilke, the famed F1 track designer, because he claims the German is the best man for getting venues up to the right standards.

"I signed a deal with him a long time ago," said Hellmund. "They know where FIA and FOM want every plug, literally. They've already done the design, there's already a masterplan, and we have unbelievable land, a few miles from the airport. It's a killer location."

He added: "We optioned the land nearly three years ago with this in mind. We've already got the permitting for utilities, water and waste water, and those are the biggest things to get sorted. None of the land is developed, but it already has the infrastructure, roads and that kind of stuff."
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So the race will be a few miles from the airport, nice!
 
So Red Bull is continuing it's dominance w/ Adrian Newey's excellent chassis and Weber's inspired driving.

Well, at leaset Hambone gave Weber some competition. Looks like the beginnings of a good race. Bull and Maca up front w/ Schuey not far behind.
 

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