2004 F1 Championship
- Thread starter the B
- Start date
I'm still expecting Schumacher to do it tomorrow though Trulli has the pole.
And the run down to the first corner is tiny, I reckon Schumacher can keep the Renault behind him for that long...and if not, he'll still beat past them both...
After a session with some rain, no rain and then heavy rain - it's Trulli, M Schumacher, Alonso, Coulthard, Fisichella, Barrichello and then the rest in a rather muddled order because of the weather.
It wasn't even a Minardi at the back
And the run down to the first corner is tiny, I reckon Schumacher can keep the Renault behind him for that long...and if not, he'll still beat past them both...
After a session with some rain, no rain and then heavy rain - it's Trulli, M Schumacher, Alonso, Coulthard, Fisichella, Barrichello and then the rest in a rather muddled order because of the weather.
It wasn't even a Minardi at the back
wordie
What's in a word?
Wow what a race!
Congratulations to Schumacher for taking yet another Drivers Championship, although he looked pretty mediocre in this one against JPM and Kimi. Maybe he was just making sure, by playing safe!
Well done Kimi on bring the McLaren home in 1st place without the usual mechanical trouble. What a pity he's such a dull character when he's out of the car! I would have expected a little more than that half hearted smile when he got on the top step... FFS, he's just come through the season from hell to win at Spa!
What's the story with all the right rear Michelin's disintegrating? That needs to get well sorted out before Monza or we could find some drivers getting injured. It seems that the right rear at Spa is not the tyre with the most stress either. Very strange!
Over here the commentators were saying that by taking the car too far over the kerbs at the 2nd part of the Bus Stop meant the sidewalls were sliced up by the rough/sharp reverse/inner edge of the concrete kerb, especially as that's where the drivers are getting their clog down as well...
They were saying this because no Bridgestones exploded, so debris from accidents was probably not a cause. Seems like the Michelins are a bit too fragile, and that's a dangerous thing for tyres to be!
Other noteworthy points: Why did Pantano just drive into the back of the Minardi? From the chopper shot in replay, he had loads of time to go left and avoid the accident. Maybe he was looking in his mirrors at the time... but even then, he was last on the grid so I don't expect there was much coming up behind him.
Scary ride for Jenson. He could have done well if the tyre hadn't blown!
Great move from JPM on Schumacher at the Bus Stop. Pity his attempt to repeat the trick on Trulli was a bit too agricultural. He seems to be out to emphasise his "hardnose" reputation before going to McLaren, although on yesterday's form he's going to have his work cut out with Kimi....
All in all a fascinating race. More please at Monza!
Congratulations to Schumacher for taking yet another Drivers Championship, although he looked pretty mediocre in this one against JPM and Kimi. Maybe he was just making sure, by playing safe!
Well done Kimi on bring the McLaren home in 1st place without the usual mechanical trouble. What a pity he's such a dull character when he's out of the car! I would have expected a little more than that half hearted smile when he got on the top step... FFS, he's just come through the season from hell to win at Spa!
What's the story with all the right rear Michelin's disintegrating? That needs to get well sorted out before Monza or we could find some drivers getting injured. It seems that the right rear at Spa is not the tyre with the most stress either. Very strange!
Over here the commentators were saying that by taking the car too far over the kerbs at the 2nd part of the Bus Stop meant the sidewalls were sliced up by the rough/sharp reverse/inner edge of the concrete kerb, especially as that's where the drivers are getting their clog down as well...
They were saying this because no Bridgestones exploded, so debris from accidents was probably not a cause. Seems like the Michelins are a bit too fragile, and that's a dangerous thing for tyres to be!
Other noteworthy points: Why did Pantano just drive into the back of the Minardi? From the chopper shot in replay, he had loads of time to go left and avoid the accident. Maybe he was looking in his mirrors at the time... but even then, he was last on the grid so I don't expect there was much coming up behind him.
Scary ride for Jenson. He could have done well if the tyre hadn't blown!
Great move from JPM on Schumacher at the Bus Stop. Pity his attempt to repeat the trick on Trulli was a bit too agricultural. He seems to be out to emphasise his "hardnose" reputation before going to McLaren, although on yesterday's form he's going to have his work cut out with Kimi....
All in all a fascinating race. More please at Monza!
Bridgestones were fast in the race for pace...but the race was pretty chopped up with all those restarts which doesn't suit the Bridgestone tyres at all.
Pantano is a somewhat average driver might be one explanation for his shoddy driving...
There's some journo who said he would run around Silverstone naked if a McLaren won a race this season...
Pantano is a somewhat average driver might be one explanation for his shoddy driving...
There's some journo who said he would run around Silverstone naked if a McLaren won a race this season...
g force
Affects Shatner's Basoon
wordie said:
Pantano really is the worst driver in F1 at the moment - even Zsolt just puts his head down and gets on with it.
Great GP - Well done to Schumacher for 7 WDC's - a monumental feat
I glad Jenson and Bruni were okay after that accident...as JB said it could have been so much worse if he'd hit him at a different angle. Montoya's pass on MS was sublime, the Trulli one less so, but IMO a racing incident.
Worst part for me was Zonta's engine blowing after a great drive...he kept his head, used hios pit stops and SC well to get to a deserved position and then kaboom!. Absolutely gutting.
g force
Affects Shatner's Basoon
Me too....Pizz was unlucky in Spa but really, he's been slow as fuck. Been outshone by Zonta and Massa who are good but hardly going to be F1 greats.
Toyota have plenty of options....Panis isn't going anywhere yet, they have Zonta and Ryan Briscoe as 3rd/test driver and Trulli is likely to sign for them soon.
Anyway Ralf has plenty of time to recover before testing begins - his accident was huge so i'm not surprised its taking a while to recover!
Toyota have plenty of options....Panis isn't going anywhere yet, they have Zonta and Ryan Briscoe as 3rd/test driver and Trulli is likely to sign for them soon.
Anyway Ralf has plenty of time to recover before testing begins - his accident was huge so i'm not surprised its taking a while to recover!
kyser_soze
Hawking's Angry Eyebrow
red rose said:Well that was flippin good fun
Totally agree - got back yesterday after a lovely day at the campsite in Grand Coo and overnight stay in Brussels.
Cracking race - we were sat on Poudhon and had great fun watching Reubens screaming around the track during the first safety car period, then progressively moving up the ranks...
Also got to see Zonta's spill in pre-qual on Saturday.
I have to say tho - what is it with Belgium and a lack of ATMs? The ones that are there are actual 'hole in the wall' types are often shut overnight or (bizarrely) at lunchtimes, and the others require you to swipe in through a door, thewn it turns out that they only allow the customers of their bank to use the teller. And there are more along Oxford street than in the whole of Brussels. Serioulsy!!
g force
Affects Shatner's Basoon
Schumacher has escaped a big crash unhurt after the right rear Bridgestone exploded at Monza Certianly not been a good week for tyres!
Luizzi is to test for Sauber in the next few weeks with eye on a possible drive for next season - and you'd assume if he does well a possilbe move to Ferrari in 2-3 years time.
Certianly not been a good week for tyres!Luizzi is to test for Sauber in the next few weeks with eye on a possible drive for next season - and you'd assume if he does well a possilbe move to Ferrari in 2-3 years time.
Ich bin ein Mod
does his make up in his room
Could be the second chicane as well, both have fast entrance speeds
g force
Affects Shatner's Basoon
Seems the rumours at Spa regarding a new team are true - Dallara are building a chassis for a "customer", believed to be a Canadian firm that will run either Cosworth or Toyota engines.
However. there's also a rumour that a Russian conglomerate want to enter (nothing to do with Abramovich).
New F1 team
However. there's also a rumour that a Russian conglomerate want to enter (nothing to do with Abramovich).
New F1 team
Panis will retire from racing and just test for Toyota in future. Michael Schumacher will now be the oldest driver on the grid.
The Contracts Recognition Board will get to decide over the fate of the Button wrangle so it'll be relatively smooth.
Villneuve may get a 2 year performance related pay contract with Sauber but there is still a lot of backing for Liuzzi.
The teams failed to reach agreement on rule changes for the future - the FIA has given teams the chance to agree on a package offered by the FIA. There are 3 choices, it's all rather hard to digest without being an engineer....
The Contracts Recognition Board will get to decide over the fate of the Button wrangle so it'll be relatively smooth.
Villneuve may get a 2 year performance related pay contract with Sauber but there is still a lot of backing for Liuzzi.
The teams failed to reach agreement on rule changes for the future - the FIA has given teams the chance to agree on a package offered by the FIA. There are 3 choices, it's all rather hard to digest without being an engineer....
g force
Affects Shatner's Basoon
Yep, I read a review of them and I just didn't get it...essentially reducing downforce and some other stuff but at the moment it's a mess.
One of the major things holiding back the introduction of new teams (apart from the $40m bond
) is each team must own the chassis IP - that means Dallara and Arden can only make a chassis for either their own team or be part of a partnership with another.
JV and Luizzi wouldn't be a bad line-up for Sauber, although Pizzonia is rumoured to be in the running as well!
Toyota are still in Limbo....Panis can only test for them over the closed season, and neither he nor Zonta can take the 3rd car on Friday because they have both competed in GP's this year. So, if Ralf and Trulli are the drivers, the 3rd driver for 2005 is likely to be Ryan Briscoe. Unless, Trulli isn;t signing for them and they're taking Zonta as # 2.
One of the major things holiding back the introduction of new teams (apart from the $40m bond
) is each team must own the chassis IP - that means Dallara and Arden can only make a chassis for either their own team or be part of a partnership with another.JV and Luizzi wouldn't be a bad line-up for Sauber, although Pizzonia is rumoured to be in the running as well!
Toyota are still in Limbo....Panis can only test for them over the closed season, and neither he nor Zonta can take the 3rd car on Friday because they have both competed in GP's this year. So, if Ralf and Trulli are the drivers, the 3rd driver for 2005 is likely to be Ryan Briscoe. Unless, Trulli isn;t signing for them and they're taking Zonta as # 2.
Ich bin ein Mod
does his make up in his room
They have to say that though, teams have to say something to the press.
g force
Affects Shatner's Basoon
But they can go against the CRB and take it to the European courts as last recourse...TBH though I think Williams know they have him, Button seems sure, Ricahrds is kicking up a fuss because he knows he can go and is looking like a twat.
Monza in the wet will be very Come on you Minardi boys!!!!
Rumours still going around that Ford will rebrand Jag as Ford F1 with major money coming from the far east...still just a rumour but I don't think we'll see the Jaguar name for much longer. Shame, because Wirdhiem seems to know how to drive it and is worth a drive I reckon.
Second session over:
1. RAIKKONEN
2. BARRICHELLO
3. M.SCHUMACHER
4. BUTTON
5. PIZZONIA
6. SATO
7. MONTOYA
8. DAVIDSON
9. ALONSO
10. COULTHARD
No one has beaten MS' time from the first session. McLaren seem pretty fast, BAR too, with Renault a bit further back.
JPM could be a dark horse though - he likes Monza, might make top 4.
Pizzonia has had a crash trowards the end, team now fixing the car with no word yet on whether he will need a new engine.
Monza in the wet will be very
Come on you Minardi boys!!!!Rumours still going around that Ford will rebrand Jag as Ford F1 with major money coming from the far east...still just a rumour but I don't think we'll see the Jaguar name for much longer. Shame, because Wirdhiem seems to know how to drive it and is worth a drive I reckon.
Second session over:
1. RAIKKONEN
2. BARRICHELLO
3. M.SCHUMACHER
4. BUTTON
5. PIZZONIA
6. SATO
7. MONTOYA
8. DAVIDSON
9. ALONSO
10. COULTHARD
No one has beaten MS' time from the first session. McLaren seem pretty fast, BAR too, with Renault a bit further back.
JPM could be a dark horse though - he likes Monza, might make top 4.
Pizzonia has had a crash trowards the end, team now fixing the car with no word yet on whether he will need a new engine.
Montezemolo (Fiat and therefore Ferrari president) has made a point few F1 team directors would make, that the FIA should give more TV money to the teams, he said they currently receive 47% of it.
Which makes me wonder...where does the other 53% go?
Bernie's pockets maybe...but it was interesting to see that since not all the change in F1 has to be based around cutting costs.
Rain is no longer expected, sadly.
Which makes me wonder...where does the other 53% go?
Bernie's pockets maybe...but it was interesting to see that since not all the change in F1 has to be based around cutting costs.
Rain is no longer expected, sadly.
wordie
What's in a word?
The TV rights have been sold by the FIA to Formula One Management which is owned (effectively) by SLEC which stands for SLavica ECclestone, Bernies statuesque wife. I say effectively, since a consortium of German banks own a majority of FOM – they just don't have the management rights!the B said:Montezemolo (Fiat and therefore Ferrari president) has made a point few F1 team directors would make, that the FIA should give more TV money to the teams, he said they currently receive 47% of it.
Which makes me wonder...where does the other 53% go?
Bernie's pockets maybe...but it was interesting to see that since not all the change in F1 has to be based around cutting costs.
Rain is no longer expected, sadly.
The share of TV income that goes to the F1 teams was decided waaaaay back when Bernie (then 100% owner of FOM) agreed to take on the onerous task of marketing F1 on behalf of the FIA.
The teams agreed the split in the original Concorde agreement, so it's a bit rich complaining now, after Bernie has made F1 the marketing goldmine that it currently is today. I don't doubt they have a good point, but they signed the contract Bernie put in front of them!
In fact, the contract between the FIA and FOM, has recently been renewed for a period longer than the lifespan of a 20 year old F1 fan! (not sure exactly how long, but seriously long!)
The current Concorde agreement expires in 2007 and will be re-negotiated shortly. The teams will un-doubtedly get a bigger share of the TV income (and other sources of revenue they currently don't share in, like ticket income and circuit advertising) which is why Montezemolo has been so consistently strident in his calls for an increase in revenue for the teams, using the stick of Ferrari withdrawal from the series as his bargaining chip.
That, and the threat of a manufacturers series (the GPWC) which would see FOM (and the banks) put out of business. That scenario is very unlikely, cos the manufacturers can't get their act together and have no Bernie-like-figure to handle the deal.
In answer to your question, the 53% goes to FOM which is, as I said owned by a consortium of banks and SLEC, so a substantial amount does end up (indirectly) in Bernie's pocket.
The question of why a substantial % of the rights to F1 racing belongs to a bunch of German bankers, is the subject of another post all by itself.
The FIA are only the sporting authority and FOM/SLEC are the contracted marketers. Big difference!
But hey, can you believe just how dominant the Ferraris were? Literally light years ahead of the competition!
And what about MacLaren? So strong in Spa and nowhere in Imola.
Not a good omen for the 2005 season!
wordie
What's in a word?
Looks like Trulli may be bumped out of his Renault before the next race in China.
He's scored no points since he fell out with Flavio, even though he's scored the teams only win this year and is still a point ahead of Alonso in Drivers Chapionship.
Rumour has it that Villeneuve may be drafted in for the final three races....
He's scored no points since he fell out with Flavio, even though he's scored the teams only win this year and is still a point ahead of Alonso in Drivers Chapionship.
Rumour has it that Villeneuve may be drafted in for the final three races....
g force
Affects Shatner's Basoon
Why on earth would they want JV? He's not raced in anger for over a year and I doubt he'd do any better than Trulli, who don't forget had mechancial problems in a few GP's.
TBH I think Flavio's reaping what he sows... being a twat about the management situation has messed up one the strongest team units in F1. I hope Trulli goes to Toyota and he and Mike build a car to beat the Renault becuase at the moment Flavio is just behind the posion dwarf in my "people I hate in F1" list....waaayyy ahead of Ron Dennis and that's saying something.
TBH I think Flavio's reaping what he sows... being a twat about the management situation has messed up one the strongest team units in F1. I hope Trulli goes to Toyota and he and Mike build a car to beat the Renault becuase at the moment Flavio is just behind the posion dwarf in my "people I hate in F1" list....waaayyy ahead of Ron Dennis and that's saying something.
