Official 2011 Formula 1 Season Discussion
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Ecclestone changes stance after more Bahrain violence
more @ http://en.espnf1.com/bahrain/motorsp...ory/41258.html
more @ http://en.espnf1.com/bahrain/motorsp...ory/41258.html
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Ecclestone to let Bahrain judge safety
more @http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89578
By letting them take the responsibility, I suppose now he can and will fine them if they make the wrong decision.
Liuzzi pleased with first day at HRT
more @http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89575
It looks like Liuzzi has the HRT seat sewn up. That would be the last open seat in F1. I never saw the official announcement, but Heinfeld is the replacement for Kubica.
Bernie EcclestoneBernie Ecclestone says he will let the crown prince of Bahrain decide whether it is safe to the season-opening grand prix to go ahead.
The British Foreign Office has advised against any non-essential travel to the country, and Renault team boss Eric Boullier said yesterday that he was concerned about sending his team to the event.
But Ecclestone today says Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa is in the best position to judge whether Formula 1 can hold a race in safety.
The British Foreign Office has advised against any non-essential travel to the country, and Renault team boss Eric Boullier said yesterday that he was concerned about sending his team to the event.
But Ecclestone today says Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa is in the best position to judge whether Formula 1 can hold a race in safety.
By letting them take the responsibility, I suppose now he can and will fine them if they make the wrong decision.
Liuzzi pleased with first day at HRT
Vitantonio Liuzzi declared himself happy with his first day of testing with Hispania.
The 30-year-old Italian finished the day 12th fastest of the 14 drivers and completed 70 laps in the HRT, though he was sidelined during the afternoon by a gearbox problem.
"Today was positive," he said. "We made a lot of changes on the car, focusing particularly on the set-up and the tyres. It was a chance for me to get to know the new tyres and the team as it was my first day.
The 30-year-old Italian finished the day 12th fastest of the 14 drivers and completed 70 laps in the HRT, though he was sidelined during the afternoon by a gearbox problem.
"Today was positive," he said. "We made a lot of changes on the car, focusing particularly on the set-up and the tyres. It was a chance for me to get to know the new tyres and the team as it was my first day.
It looks like Liuzzi has the HRT seat sewn up. That would be the last open seat in F1. I never saw the official announcement, but Heinfeld is the replacement for Kubica.
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http://en.espnf1.com/bahrain/motorsp...ory/41407.html
ESPN says it's still rumors, but Gulf News are well informed.
IMO it's too bad the season will be delayed for 2 weeks but with what's happening right now in Bahrein I just wish F1 would leave to never come back. The army is shooting on unarmed protesters... you can see videos on youtube it isn't pretty. F1 shouldn't support the monarchy and act like nothing's happening.
Also even if the track is a real kick for the drivers, and those playing F1 2010 :p, it always turns out to be a pretty boring race.
If you wonder why Bernie didn't already cancel everything and asked the Prince to take the decision it's pretty simple: If Bernie cancels he has to pay 44M euros back to the Kingdom of Bahrein (what they pay every year for the race) and probably big amounts to the sponsors, teams, etc..., but if the Prince cancels they can't get anything back.
ESPN says it's still rumors, but Gulf News are well informed.
IMO it's too bad the season will be delayed for 2 weeks but with what's happening right now in Bahrein I just wish F1 would leave to never come back. The army is shooting on unarmed protesters... you can see videos on youtube it isn't pretty. F1 shouldn't support the monarchy and act like nothing's happening.
Also even if the track is a real kick for the drivers, and those playing F1 2010 :p, it always turns out to be a pretty boring race.
If you wonder why Bernie didn't already cancel everything and asked the Prince to take the decision it's pretty simple: If Bernie cancels he has to pay 44M euros back to the Kingdom of Bahrein (what they pay every year for the race) and probably big amounts to the sponsors, teams, etc..., but if the Prince cancels they can't get anything back.
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2011/02/2...in-grand-prix/
Mark Webber just earned some biggggggggggg respect from me.
Mark Webber just earned some biggggggggggg respect from me.
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Nah, they're not fucked.
The big problem is that bernie still wants to race there and said that it's a decision that belongs to the prince...
He'd rather race there than pay the seven-digits penalty for not doing so.
What a crappy human being.
The big problem is that bernie still wants to race there and said that it's a decision that belongs to the prince...
He'd rather race there than pay the seven-digits penalty for not doing so.
What a crappy human being.
Last edited by bse50; Feb 21, 2011 at 06:42 AM.
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Liuzzi plans Hispania talks
http://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/news/...alks_1_1463322
itantonio Liuzzi could be in line for the final seat in Formula One after revealing talks were planned with Hispania.
The Italian bettered the time set by the team's only contracted driver Narain Karthikeyan during the final day of testing in Barcelona before heading home to Italy, but before he left he confirmed he was due to have talks with the team.
Liuzzi told BBC Sport: "We'll talk in the next few days and see what comes. It's open at the moment. We have a few things I'm working on, there are talks elsewhere (in F1) but we are not talking about driving as we know the only seat available is Hispania."
Despite losing his Force India drive to Paul di Resta, Liuzzi is not too despondent over his future.
"Back home I was thinking what to do, if I wanted to be back or not," he added. "But when you jump on the track and it is what you love, you feel really good. It's a big relief and I felt happy when Hispania gave me this chance."
The Italian bettered the time set by the team's only contracted driver Narain Karthikeyan during the final day of testing in Barcelona before heading home to Italy, but before he left he confirmed he was due to have talks with the team.
Liuzzi told BBC Sport: "We'll talk in the next few days and see what comes. It's open at the moment. We have a few things I'm working on, there are talks elsewhere (in F1) but we are not talking about driving as we know the only seat available is Hispania."
Despite losing his Force India drive to Paul di Resta, Liuzzi is not too despondent over his future.
"Back home I was thinking what to do, if I wanted to be back or not," he added. "But when you jump on the track and it is what you love, you feel really good. It's a big relief and I felt happy when Hispania gave me this chance."
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http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2011/02/2...in-grand-prix/
Mark Webber just earned some biggggggggggg respect from me.
Mark Webber just earned some biggggggggggg respect from me.
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Maybe it is just Melbourne trying to ease Bernie's vice grip on the mayors nuts but surely, knowing how childish Bernie can get, it would be possible for Adelaide to come with an offer to host instead of Melbourne.
If Bernie's feelings have been hurt enough he will not extend the Melbourne contract.
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Lewis Hamilton To Drive NASCAR
http://www.totalf1.com/full_story/vi..._Drive_NASCAR/
According to ESPN’s Marty Smith it has been agreed that F1 star Lewis Hamilton and former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart are due to swap cars this summer. News of the swap was confirmed by Stewart-Haas racing spokesman Mike Arning.
Hamilton will get to drive a road course prepared Chevrolet Impala – a different animal to the oval versions – and Stewart will drive a 2010 F1 McLaren MP4-25, both cars being legitimate race cars. The swap is said to have been arranged by Mobil 1 which sponsors both drivers and the most likely venue Watkins Glen, a road course.
This won’t be the first such swap, in 2003 Jeff Gordon drove Juan Pablo Montoya‘s F1 Williams whilst JPM drove Gordon’s DuPont Chevrolet. Both men claimed to have learned a lot about each others’ discipline and, of course, after losing interest in F1 Montoya moved to NASCAR where he still races for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing.
Hamilton will get to drive a road course prepared Chevrolet Impala – a different animal to the oval versions – and Stewart will drive a 2010 F1 McLaren MP4-25, both cars being legitimate race cars. The swap is said to have been arranged by Mobil 1 which sponsors both drivers and the most likely venue Watkins Glen, a road course.
This won’t be the first such swap, in 2003 Jeff Gordon drove Juan Pablo Montoya‘s F1 Williams whilst JPM drove Gordon’s DuPont Chevrolet. Both men claimed to have learned a lot about each others’ discipline and, of course, after losing interest in F1 Montoya moved to NASCAR where he still races for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing.