On the heels of the cost capping announcement from the FIA, a bright light bulb has appeared above Bernie Ecclestone’s head. He has thrown out the idea that the teams should pay back some of their 50% share of the commercial revenue to help circuits make their sanction fee payments to him. Bernie works for CVC capital partners who is the current commercial rights holder, having bought those rights from Bernie. When they purchased the rights, they took out massive loans to pay off their investment and have pumped as…
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F1 – The Future of F1?
The WMSC took the opportunity of their McLaren meeting to put the final touches on their plans for 2010. The FIA also decided that there shall be cost capped teams and unlimited budget teams. Here is a summary of what they decided. Cost capped teams shall be limited to £40 million which is higher than the original amount of £30 million proposed by Max Mosley. They shall be allowed movable aero on the front and rear wings. No rev limit shall be imposed on their engines. No limits shall be…
Read MoreMcLaren Dodge Punishment
Judgement has been rendered on the McLaren “lie-gate” and the team has gotten off relatively light for a scandal that was blown into massive proportions. The team was handed a suspended three race ban. Stipulations in the verdict indicate that if any further details come to light or if the team steps out of bounds once more this year then they will be banned from competition for three races. The FIA WMSC stated that due to the “culture” change withing the organization and the fact the team admitted to lying,…
Read MoreKubica is Mad…Again
After this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix, Robert Kubica is mad yet again at the team and their current development path. BMW finished worse of all the teams and finished last on track with Nakajima’s Williams behind them only due to mechanical failure. As we take a trip down memory lane we remember that last year Bobby K was spouting the same kind of rhetoric at his current employer. BMW stopped a potential title winning car and driver development to focus on the 2009 season, which up to this point has…
Read MoreF1 – Bahrain Wrap Up
The Bahrain Grand Prix has ended and with it we have a season first. Jenson Button has finally won under race pace. Many folks said the wanted to see Vettel win a race in the dry. I said forget that, I want Button to win at over 50 mph. That is exactly what happened. Brawn GP took victory with Jenson Button and took a further lead in both title races. Sebastian Vettel put on a stellar show and Jarno Trulli sat in the press room looking as though he could…
Read MoreF1 – Bahrain Preview
Here we are on the eve of the first free practice session and for me, it feels like the first race of the season. We have had a number of variables thus far that have hampered us from really gauging the field. And what would be a Formula 1 weekend without a little news to build up the show. The Sakhir circuit is a hot, dry, and a wide open race track. The long straightaways and twisty turns are going to be ideal for the KERS on the few select…
Read MoreF1 – Look to Bahrain for True Pace
Bahrain may be the first pure grand prix of the season. As always, Melbourne was a safety-car stunted crash fest where the only true pace we got to observe was the FIA’s snail speed bureaucracy which still hasn’t finished its proceedings with the hapless McLaren team. Sepang has traditionally been the race that everybody starts to see how the championship is going to unfold, but this year Bernie, in his infinite wisdom, decided to push back the start of the race so that it would end at twilight despite protests…
Read MoreDennis Quits Formula 1
Ron Dennis has just announced he will be quiting all Formula 1 operations effective immediately. In a press conference outside Woking, the long time McLaren supremo stated he “had no problem with Martin taking over the team.” This press conference came as a result of mounting pressure in regards to the current scandal McLaren find themselves in. This is the second scandal of this size in the last two years which have shaken the foundations of the silver team. Some believe this move also came at the request of Anthony…
Read MoreChinese Grand Prix Preview
The F1 traveling circus has left the WMSC and is now heading to Shanghai, China for the Chinese Grand Prix. This event has been moved from the end of the year and now settles in as the third stop on tour. The race has been struggling as of late and attendance is not what it was before. So much so, that the race has been mentioned as being scrapped if numbers do not improve. Where have I heard that before? Brawn GP and Jenson Button will be the favorites…
Read MoreDiffuser is Ruled Legal
After a day full of testimony and saber rattling, the diffuser row has finally come to an end. The Times Online is reporting that the double diffuser that many teams stated were illegal have been given the thumbs up by the WMSC. While keeping the championship standings the same, we now will see who will have a new diffuser lined up for Shanghai this weekend and if those without can keep pace. I am happy to see that the WMSC made the right decision. However, I am also still very…
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