http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns20397.html

MAY 24, 2008

The word in the F1 paddock in Monte Carlo is that Fernando Alonso has just inked a deal to drive for Ferrari in 2010.

No confirmation is expected for a year, and there may be denials of any arrangement, as there would obviously be some serious knock-on effects for other parties in the F1 paddock.

Alonso went to Renault this year after splitting with McLaren unexpectedly at the end of last season. It was a stop-gap solution for the Spaniard, although it was dressed up as the big return to the team with which he won his two World Championships. This year the team's performance has been rather disappointing and Fernando has scored just nine points, while Nelson Piquet has failed to score and the team is languishing in seventh place in the Constructors' Championship. Unless there is a dramatic improvement soon the team will have no hope of finishing the year better than fourth in the championship and there have been rumours for some time that ING may be looking around at other opportunities.

Fernando has made no secret of the fact that he will consider other offers if they are sensible. He has been angling for a ride at Ferrari for some time. It may seem that is a rather premature move, but these days in F1 deals are being done much earlier than used to be the case. Kimi Raikkonen's deal with Ferrari, which began in 2007, was first reported as being done as early as October 2005. Alonso's 2007 deal with McLaren was announced in December 2005. Thus now would be the time that deals are being done for 2010.

 

^ Isn't 2010 when Massa's contract ends?

 

I wonder if it is not already signed... I would hate it for my red cars ...however stranger bedfellows have happened in GP racing.

 

man i feel bad for Sutil. but awesome race indeed. glad my fAvorite racer last session and this session took 1st place. kubica did really awesome also. its really weird seeing bmw do this well compared to last year.\

 

Alonso is a bad luck charm for every team he has been with since he won the championship. Looks like Ferrari will go down the tubes too.

Yes, that was fortunate. But, in racing, **** happens. Kimi made a mistake in not reading track conditions and Sutil was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

I highly doubt Ferrari will go down the tubes...pretty broad statement

 

Agreed. Alonso is doing a phenomenal job this year considering what he has to work with.

I have to hand it to Hamilton. Regardless of rain/strategy, he was the best driver today.

 

He's a solid driver and should get even better over time, plus he's keeping his relationship tight and honorable with Ron Dennis.

I couldn't help wondering whether Kimi had stayed out partying; I wouldn't put it past the Finnish phenom.

Paul.

 

If he stays out partying and wins titles who cares? Just wait to see if Lewis sticks around once McLaren isn't competitive for a couple years.

 

I wouldn't be suprised if Ferrari had two different drivers by 2010. Never forget that their goal every year is the constructor's title. If one of their drivers is champion, that is just icing on the cake from their point of view.

 

Well, Kimi will most likely win another title and call it quits. I would not be surprised to see Massa go too, except he is still in with the Todt's and Ferrari. I would like to see Kubica in a prancing horse.

 

I just read a few posts here ... here are my comments :

-About Alonso signing with Ferrari :
Im not sure Ferrari would already commit for 2010 with Alonso since there is many rising stars like Kubica, Rosberg (maybe Vettel and Heikki too?). But its true that Ferrari only take winning confirmed drivers and not promessing stars. So Alonso would be a logical choice... They dont like to invest in drivers and form them ... They keep that job for cheaper teams. But as it was mentionned many time by Ferrari's Domenicali and also by many other reliable sources, it would defenetely be a suicide to have two champion in the same team (ie Kimi and Alonso). It would harm the team more than anything else. But since Kimi dont seem to want to race beyond 2010... There's clearly an open seat available. Im not sure Massa should also stay. He's too immature and irregular. But I love the way he expresses his feelings

Last Monaco GP
Poor Sutil, Kimi really unlucky and cant be blamed for final laps mistake (he was clearly quicker than Adrian), Hamilton by far the best driver that day (very lucky too with safety car timing) , Kubica as always impressive (poor Heidfeld) and Im glad Alonso finally admitted that the crash with Heidfel was totally his fault...

I think Alonso is doing pretty good with Renault considering the car he's driving. And I think he's much more motivated than before to win.
Piquet should be out, dont you think ?

Next GP is in Montreal. Anyone will be in town?

!! Go Go Ice Man !! [I was taking a ****...]

 

damn, did i call it or what? Kubica would have won had Hamilton not gotten that huge break from the first saftey car. wonderful mistake free race from the "Flying Pole".

now, i just hope i get to see him do as well or better in canada. he wasn't racing in Indy last year so i'm so stoked to see him.

 

Mosley stays on as FIA president

Mosley won the vote but remains under pressure within the sport.

Max Mosley has won a vote of confidence to stay on as president of motorsport's governing body, the FIA.

More than a third of delegates did not back Mosley at Tuesday's meeting in Paris but he won 103 of 169 votes.

more..... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ne/7430939.stm

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Germany boycotts FIA, USA may follow
Fallout from the Mosley vote of confidence 03/06/08 14:33

The fallout of Max Mosley's survival as FIA President has begun, with Europe's largest automobile club vowing to now boycott the Paris-based governing body.

After a clear majority of FIA affiliates voted to keep the scandal-gripped Briton as President on Tuesday, Germany's Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club (ADAC) announced in a statement they would boycott the FIA in protest.

The club said it viewed the outcome of the vote "with regret and incredulity".

"This is a reason for Europe's largest automobile club to let its functions and co-operation in FIA working groups rest at world level," the statement read.

"ADAC will stay with its decision as long as Max Mosley holds the top FIA office as President.
"

The representative of America's automobile association (AAA), Robert Darbelnet, said the club was considering joining ACAC in the protest.

He told reporters in Paris that the result was a "disappointing day for the FIA".

"I will give it very serious consideration whether or not to remain effectively engaged in an organisation that condones this type of activity," Darbelnet added.

.................................
Note: ACCUS (http://www.accusfia.us/) not the AAA is the major US motorsport representitive to the FIA. Is AAA anything more than Insurance/motorclub?

 

Maybe the FIA needs to be shaken up. If I were a major player there with my financial future at stake I would want him to step down; BUT as a spectator, I sometimes get tired of rules that limit technology(in the name of competition), while forcing smaller teams out of competition.

Not to mention politics that keeps my country from having a GP race.

 

http://www.f1complete.com/content/view/8842/900/

Tuesday, 03 June 2008
Jun.3 (GMM) Formula one drivers Nelson Piquet Jr, David Coulthard and Sebastian Vettel could be at the centre of an elaborate and imminent musical-chairs scenario.

The Swiss publication Motorsport Aktuell on Monday published speculation that the duo might be subject to the reshuffle following Sunday's Canadian grand prix.

Stage one of the rearrangement, according to the rumour, would be the replacement of rookie Piquet - who has struggled in the high profile Renault seat so far this season - by F1 veteran Coulthard, who currently drives for Renault-powered Red Bull.

22-year-old Piquet, meanwhile, would be slotted into Vettel's Toro Rosso seat, with the burgeoning German to fill Coulthard's vacant spot at parent outfit RBR.

Motorsport Aktuell explained that Piquet's move to Toro Rosso would enable the Brazilian to develop as a grand prix driver in a lower-pressure environment.

The rumour assumes that Vettel and Piquet will then stay in their respective new seats in 2009, while Coulthard steps into retirement.

"Nothing is impossible," the report at motorsport-aktuell.com pointed out.

 

^^^ if true, which most likely it is since Piquet hasnt been doing well. I guess they might stick him back in to the test driver seat. very awesome find alnielsen.

 

The thing I find a little weird about this is D.C. Ya, he won a few races a while ago. But, what have ya done lately? Would Renault want him on their team? Is he too good and **** off Alonso?

 

Alonso has signed an option with Ferarri for 2010 - not a contract. I guess that's why Massa has been looking depressed lately. But the signing has lit a fire under Massa. He has closed the gap on Raikkonen. Ferarri will let the two drivers race and determine who gets turfed if Alonso does make the move in 2010.

I the drivers are mercenaries and all the teams treat drivers as a commodity. So, anything goes.

I'm from MTL, so Canadian GP is home race.... hehe. Let the festivities begin!

 

Six more clubs may snub FIA over Mosley
Montezemolo calls for Mosley to stand down
05/06/08 10:23

Mosley still in power but he has his critics
A growing list of national motor racing bodies could be set to join Germany's ADAC in boycotting the FIA, following the retention of controversial President Max Mosley.
America's AAA is already giving very serious consideration to also actively withdrawing from the governing body of world motoring and racing.
"One of the possibilities will certainly be to leave the FIA," a spokesman for Finland's automobile and touring club is quoted as saying by The Guardian.
Representatives for clubs in Holland, Denmark, Switzerland and Austria are considering similar action, the newspaper added.
The Italian club voted to keep the scandal-gripped Mosley in power in Paris on Tuesday, but the country's most famous racing marque is now calling on the 68-year-old to quit.
"I think that he should realise that sometimes it is necessary to say to yourself 'I have to leave for reasons of credibility'," Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo told the Ansa news agency.
The Guardian insists that no major sponsors are considering pulling out of Formula One over the Mosley issue, but F1 Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone is quoted as saying to The Independent: "The teams - the manufacturers - are violently opposed to him."
Meanwhile, it has been suggested that the running of Germany's two Grand Prix could be in danger because of the ADAC snub. ADAC, however, sanctions only the Nurburgring race, which is due to return to the calendar only in 2009. The other German sanctioning body, the AvD, controls the Hockenheim event, which is scheduled to take place late next month.

..................................

South Africa unhappy with FIA vote
04/06/2008
The Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) has expressed its concern following yesterday's Extraordinary General Meeting and the vote which saw Max Mosley maintain his position as President.
The AASA Head of Public Affairs, Rob Handfield-Jones, said today: "Autoclub brands are highly respected in all of the countries in which they operate, not least because of their high standards of service, and their values.
"These standards and values should be shared by the FIA and, in particular, its President," he added, "but today's vote of confidence in Mr Mosley does not support the values held by many autoclubs worldwide.
"The AA accordingly distances itself from the outcome of the vote and is now considering how best to manage its relationship with the FIA into the future," he concluded.

 

Max is such a douche, he really should just read the writing on the wall.

 

Guess what has two thumbs and is going to the F1 of Montreal this weekend... This guy!!

 

Nice, have fun. Enjoy the sights and sounds.

 

Qualify was pretty intense, Kimi took 1st away from hamil, then hamil took it back

 

^ Lewis pulling out 6 tenths right at the wire, 3 tenths in the last sector alone, like whoa. He's owning the street circuits this year. That said this being Montreal, nothing is a given.... wouldn't surprise me if a moose walked across the track mid-race.