Official 2011 Formula 1 Season Discussion
02-27-2011, 07:44 AM
#351
Alonso attempted to sabotage Hamilton's car
http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/41944.html
Lewis Hamilton's former team-mate Fernando Alonso attempted to sabotage the Briton's drive during their partnership in 2007, according to a new biography titled: "No Angel: the Secret Life of Bernie Ecclestone".
Hamilton's acrimonious relationship with Alonso has been well documented, with the pair becoming embroiled in on- and off-track battles during the 2007 season. One such row broke out during the Hungarian Grand Prix, when the Spaniard was stripped of pole position after he blocked Hamilton in the pits.
Fresh details have now been released about the pair's relationship, with Tom Bowers' book claiming Alonso asked McLaren team manager Ron Dennis to make sure Hamilton's car ran out of fuel.
It also details an ultimatum issued by Alonso to Dennis, threatening to supply the FIA with incriminating emails unless he was treated as McLaren's No. 1 driver ahead of the Briton.
The duo are now on separate teams as the 2011 season approaches, starting in Australia on March 25, and their rivalry is likely to have intensified following the latest revelations.
Hamilton's acrimonious relationship with Alonso has been well documented, with the pair becoming embroiled in on- and off-track battles during the 2007 season. One such row broke out during the Hungarian Grand Prix, when the Spaniard was stripped of pole position after he blocked Hamilton in the pits.
Fresh details have now been released about the pair's relationship, with Tom Bowers' book claiming Alonso asked McLaren team manager Ron Dennis to make sure Hamilton's car ran out of fuel.
It also details an ultimatum issued by Alonso to Dennis, threatening to supply the FIA with incriminating emails unless he was treated as McLaren's No. 1 driver ahead of the Briton.
The duo are now on separate teams as the 2011 season approaches, starting in Australia on March 25, and their rivalry is likely to have intensified following the latest revelations.
02-28-2011, 12:10 AM
#353
Registered
02-28-2011, 04:09 AM
#355
Your team mate is your biggest rival. If you finish a lap 1/1000th of a second slower than him, then you are not as good. That is if all things, in the team are equal. In McLaren they may not have been.
The headline is misleading. Alonso didn't sabotage Hamiton's car. He did attempt to sabotage Hamiltion's position in the team. But that wasn't going to happen because McLaren is British, Hamilton is British and Alonso is Spanish. As long as there was a quality British driver there, Alonso didn't have a chance.
The headline is misleading. Alonso didn't sabotage Hamiton's car. He did attempt to sabotage Hamiltion's position in the team. But that wasn't going to happen because McLaren is British, Hamilton is British and Alonso is Spanish. As long as there was a quality British driver there, Alonso didn't have a chance.
02-28-2011, 04:17 AM
#356
You're right but Alonso is supposed to behave in a certain way, with dignity. He whined like a 2yo child.
That's the main problem imho, the title surely is misleading but the real problem still present!
That's the main problem imho, the title surely is misleading but the real problem still present!
02-28-2011, 06:31 AM
#357
Well, apparently the writer of that biography exaggerated everything.Alonso didn't threat Bernie with "random" emails but told McLaren that if they didn't make him the first driver he would give him solid proof of the spy scandal.
Who should i trust?
Who should i trust?
02-28-2011, 09:14 AM
#358
I believe at McLaren the quicker driver will receive the edge when necessary. They try to avoid playing favorites no matter the nationality of it's drivers. Of course they revel in having one or more quick British drivers
Paul.
Paul.
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03-01-2011, 09:55 AM
#362
Ecclestone keen to 'make' it rain during races
more @ http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/42110.html
I have said it here before, just make the tires narrower and harder. You don't need water on the track to bring the driver back.
Bernie Ecclestone would like to see trackside sprinklers at Formula One circuits to artificially create the excitement of a wet circuit midway through grands prix.
The F1 CEO, who also sticks by his medal proposal, said it would be a sure-fire way to increase overtaking.
"Look at the races we have now," Ecclestone told Formula1.com. "Overtaking is almost impossible because in the dry there is only one line good for maximum speed because of the rubber on the track. You have a completely different picture when it is wet. We always had the most exciting races in the wet so let's think of making rain…
The F1 CEO, who also sticks by his medal proposal, said it would be a sure-fire way to increase overtaking.
"Look at the races we have now," Ecclestone told Formula1.com. "Overtaking is almost impossible because in the dry there is only one line good for maximum speed because of the rubber on the track. You have a completely different picture when it is wet. We always had the most exciting races in the wet so let's think of making rain…
I have said it here before, just make the tires narrower and harder. You don't need water on the track to bring the driver back.
03-01-2011, 11:53 AM
#363
Ecclestone Targets August Date for F1's Bahrain GP
http://sports.myway.com/news/03012011/v3160.html
Don't you think it will be pretty hot there in August?
LONDON (AP) - Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone says the Bahrain Grand Prix could be staged during the series' summer break after being called off due to unrest on the island.
Maintaining that "we need a race in Bahrain," Ecclestone believes the original season-opener can go ahead in August despite the country's intense summer heat.
The teams will also need to agree to their planned three-week break being interrupted.
After talks with FIA president Jean Todt, Ecclestone says they want a new date for the race chosen before the season starts in Melbourne on March 27.
A decision could be made by the World Motor Sport Council next Tuesday.
Anti-government protesters forced Bahrain's crown prince to cancel the March 13 race.
Maintaining that "we need a race in Bahrain," Ecclestone believes the original season-opener can go ahead in August despite the country's intense summer heat.
The teams will also need to agree to their planned three-week break being interrupted.
After talks with FIA president Jean Todt, Ecclestone says they want a new date for the race chosen before the season starts in Melbourne on March 27.
A decision could be made by the World Motor Sport Council next Tuesday.
Anti-government protesters forced Bahrain's crown prince to cancel the March 13 race.
Don't you think it will be pretty hot there in August?
03-01-2011, 12:06 PM
#367
More likely evaporate...
I am against racing there anyway. War is war, be it an army or civil one. By racing there they'll just give another chance to show that money is worth more than wealth to them. Bad propaganda i'd say!
Why don't they race in Libia?
The gladiators' age to fight discontent is over. No more panem et circenses in the contemporary era!
I am against racing there anyway. War is war, be it an army or civil one. By racing there they'll just give another chance to show that money is worth more than wealth to them. Bad propaganda i'd say!
Why don't they race in Libia?
The gladiators' age to fight discontent is over. No more panem et circenses in the contemporary era!
03-01-2011, 08:01 PM
#368
oh ****
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/moto...ne/9411112.stm
Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button admit to car worries
Hamilton finished fourth in last season's championship
McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button are concerned their new car is already lagging behind their rivals ahead of the new season on 25 March.
The MP4-12C was belatedly unveiled at second testing in Jerez, and technical issues affected Barcelona testing.
"We left it [unveiling the car] a bit later... and perhaps it's not played right into our hands," said Hamilton.
And Button confessed: "We've not done as much running as we would have liked, which has hurt our set-up."
After choosing to focus on development, McLaren delayed their car launch and missed first testing in Valencia, while things did not go smoothly for the car's debut in Jerez because of a lack of spare parts.
Hamilton, who finished fourth in last season's championship as Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel took the title, clocked up a useful 107 laps on the final day in Catalonia.
But Hamilton, 26, finished 1.378 seconds off Felipe Massa's pace-setting time for Ferrari. And after Button had spent two days at the wheel, he concluded: "I still don't know where we stand."
Hamilton, however, did not deliver a wholly downbeat assessment of the new model.
Speaking at a media day at Surrey's Dunsfold Aerodrome, Hamilton continued: "We've good things in the pipeline, and we definitely improved in the last couple of days' testing."
McLaren are understood to be working on upgrading their exhaust package as they attempt to close the perceived gap on pacesetters Ferrari, who also have championship runner-up Fernando Alonso in their line-up, and Red Bull, who are led by Vettel and Mark Webber.
And it is a race against time that has been aided by the cancellation of the originally scheduled 13 March opener in Bahrain, where civil unrest has wiped the race off the F1 calendar until further notice.
The prospect, therefore, of further improvements before the revised season-opener in Melbourne (25-27 March) was also a source of optimism for Button.
"We do have four more days and hopefully things are going to run more sweetly at the next test [again at the Circuit de Catalunya beginning on 7 March] - we get a lot of laps in, and then we can improve the base we have," said 2009 champion Button.
"When I first jumped in the car my first reaction was not 'wow, we're going to blow everyone away'.
"But then I don't think anyone would have felt that because the car has a lot less downforce and the tyres [Pirelli] are working very differently to the previous tyre [Bridgestone]."
Hopefully things are going to run more sweetly at the next test in Barcelona
Jenson Button
Next season all teams will race with less downforce because of rule changes which ban the double diffuser and the aerodynamic aid the F-duct.
Lack of downforce cost then-world title holder Hamilton dear in 2009 when McLaren were two seconds off the pace at the first test - Button eventually crowned champion in a Mercedes-powered Brawn.
It was little wonder then that Hamilton was also uneasy that his new McLaren had brought back memories of the '09 version.
"This car is closer to the '09 car in the sense of downforce," said Hamilton. "The '09 car was terrible as it was hopping, three-wheeling through corners, locking up, and it had no downforce.
"This car doesn't lock up, it doesn't three-wheel, and it handles really nice, better than last year's car, but it just doesn't have as much downforce.
"Because the regulations have changed, it's a similar downforce level to '09. We have a little more, but it's not far off, so it feels weak in that area. Hopefully we've more downforce coming onto the car."
Meanwhile, Hamilton has revealed he is "closer" to revealing his new management team having spent last season without one after parting company with his father as manager 12 months ago.
"Nothing has been signed or fully firmed up, which is why I've not announced anything," added Hamilton.
"But I'm really hopeful in the next week or so we have an announcement for you guys, definitely before Australia."
IMG, who have Tiger Woods and Roger Federer among their clients, and Simon Fuller, a long-time associate of David and Victoria Beckham, are the two leading contenders.
"One is 85%, and the other is still hanging in there," revealed Hamilton.
"It's a big decision to sign with someone for a period of time, but I'm confident with what I'm going to do, and you'll find out very soon."
Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button admit to car worries
Hamilton finished fourth in last season's championship
McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button are concerned their new car is already lagging behind their rivals ahead of the new season on 25 March.
The MP4-12C was belatedly unveiled at second testing in Jerez, and technical issues affected Barcelona testing.
"We left it [unveiling the car] a bit later... and perhaps it's not played right into our hands," said Hamilton.
And Button confessed: "We've not done as much running as we would have liked, which has hurt our set-up."
After choosing to focus on development, McLaren delayed their car launch and missed first testing in Valencia, while things did not go smoothly for the car's debut in Jerez because of a lack of spare parts.
Hamilton, who finished fourth in last season's championship as Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel took the title, clocked up a useful 107 laps on the final day in Catalonia.
But Hamilton, 26, finished 1.378 seconds off Felipe Massa's pace-setting time for Ferrari. And after Button had spent two days at the wheel, he concluded: "I still don't know where we stand."
Hamilton, however, did not deliver a wholly downbeat assessment of the new model.
Speaking at a media day at Surrey's Dunsfold Aerodrome, Hamilton continued: "We've good things in the pipeline, and we definitely improved in the last couple of days' testing."
McLaren are understood to be working on upgrading their exhaust package as they attempt to close the perceived gap on pacesetters Ferrari, who also have championship runner-up Fernando Alonso in their line-up, and Red Bull, who are led by Vettel and Mark Webber.
And it is a race against time that has been aided by the cancellation of the originally scheduled 13 March opener in Bahrain, where civil unrest has wiped the race off the F1 calendar until further notice.
The prospect, therefore, of further improvements before the revised season-opener in Melbourne (25-27 March) was also a source of optimism for Button.
"We do have four more days and hopefully things are going to run more sweetly at the next test [again at the Circuit de Catalunya beginning on 7 March] - we get a lot of laps in, and then we can improve the base we have," said 2009 champion Button.
"When I first jumped in the car my first reaction was not 'wow, we're going to blow everyone away'.
"But then I don't think anyone would have felt that because the car has a lot less downforce and the tyres [Pirelli] are working very differently to the previous tyre [Bridgestone]."
Hopefully things are going to run more sweetly at the next test in Barcelona
Jenson Button
Next season all teams will race with less downforce because of rule changes which ban the double diffuser and the aerodynamic aid the F-duct.
Lack of downforce cost then-world title holder Hamilton dear in 2009 when McLaren were two seconds off the pace at the first test - Button eventually crowned champion in a Mercedes-powered Brawn.
It was little wonder then that Hamilton was also uneasy that his new McLaren had brought back memories of the '09 version.
"This car is closer to the '09 car in the sense of downforce," said Hamilton. "The '09 car was terrible as it was hopping, three-wheeling through corners, locking up, and it had no downforce.
"This car doesn't lock up, it doesn't three-wheel, and it handles really nice, better than last year's car, but it just doesn't have as much downforce.
"Because the regulations have changed, it's a similar downforce level to '09. We have a little more, but it's not far off, so it feels weak in that area. Hopefully we've more downforce coming onto the car."
Meanwhile, Hamilton has revealed he is "closer" to revealing his new management team having spent last season without one after parting company with his father as manager 12 months ago.
"Nothing has been signed or fully firmed up, which is why I've not announced anything," added Hamilton.
"But I'm really hopeful in the next week or so we have an announcement for you guys, definitely before Australia."
IMG, who have Tiger Woods and Roger Federer among their clients, and Simon Fuller, a long-time associate of David and Victoria Beckham, are the two leading contenders.
"One is 85%, and the other is still hanging in there," revealed Hamilton.
"It's a big decision to sign with someone for a period of time, but I'm confident with what I'm going to do, and you'll find out very soon."
03-01-2011, 08:40 PM
#370
Registered
03-02-2011, 08:31 AM
#371
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More likely evaporate...
I am against racing there anyway. War is war, be it an army or civil one. By racing there they'll just give another chance to show that money is worth more than wealth to them. Bad propaganda i'd say!
Why don't they race in Libia?
The gladiators' age to fight discontent is over. No more panem et circenses in the contemporary era!
I am against racing there anyway. War is war, be it an army or civil one. By racing there they'll just give another chance to show that money is worth more than wealth to them. Bad propaganda i'd say!
Why don't they race in Libia?
The gladiators' age to fight discontent is over. No more panem et circenses in the contemporary era!