Well, that is true enough. Why else is there a red phone at the FIA with a 24 hour attendant?

 

hmmm ive been hearing alot of rumors about Alonso signing for only a year with Renault because of talks with Ferrari... and despite kimi being champ and masses contract extension i can still see this happening within the next 2 years

 

Whatever, the silly season is in full effect.

 

Didn't Alonso sign a two year deal? I heard somewhere that he signed a two-year 100 million euro deal. And I also read somewhere that a move to Ferrari is pretty much impossible. Apparently, Ferrari had tried to sign him in the past before the first time he moved to Renault. The contract was basically all written up until he reneged on the deal. Ferrari took this as a betrayal and will no longer consider him. If I find the story I will post it.

 

I can't ever see Alonso driving for Ferrari while Kimi is still there. I'd also like to think if Massa is quicker than Kimi on any given weekend, the team will allow him to push for the win.

The only time Massa was held back in '07 was the last race of the year, and with good reason.

If you want to say ferrari can get away with anything, the you should throw Renault into that same conversation. How do you explain the ruling against Mclaren(which I agree with), and then not even slap Renault on the wrist for what they did?? Think it has something to do with Flavio and Bernies' friendship??

 

The enmity between Ron Dennis and Max Mosley is why McLaren had such a huge penalty. Plain and simple, if the team was run by Jean Todt it would have had a completely different outcome.

 

I agree. Like I said before, look at what happened to Renault for violating the same rules Mclaren did....nothing happened.

 

Boy boys boys, now be nice to the red cars.

 

I wonder if F1 allowing Mclaren to manufacture all of the ECUs for this year is their underhanded way of saying "Sorry we brought the hammer down ole boy." "No hard feelings, eh?"

Jean Todt has allready gone on the record by saying Mclaren will have a decided advantage because of that this year.

 

he signed for 1 year and the option of staying another year if he chooses

 

Most likely the contracts for the ECU development were signed long before the spy scandal broke out.

 

Good point.

I understand F1 trying to make the sport more competitive by using technology freezes.

But when they tell teams certain components (a la gearbox) must last longer, that still encourages spending. Now instead of spending money on how to make shift times quicker, the teams will be spending their money on durability.

Let us not forget that the best two teams of the last 20 years won because of experience, driver talent, and leadership(not necessarily in that order).

One might argue that trying to decrease spending in F1 will only help the top teams to further the gap, not decrease it, since money spent(IMO) is not the #1 reason for said teams success.

 

Absolutely great picture....very cool

 

They should feel that way. When you're number one there's always people looking for excuses to take you out. They are the most respected, and well behaved team in F1. They don't cheat. They don't spy (or get caught spying) they don't hold their teammates up in the pit, they cry in public about other teams. They are the pinnacle of professionalism in motorsport. Look at how many teams have copied their ideas.

For example.

1. Wheel covers. Yes they look like ****, but look at how many teams use them now.
2. Quick shift carbon gearbox.
3. Flexible front aero
4. High exhaust
5. Semi Auto Gearbox

Just to name a few. So how is it that a team with $500 M in their yearly budget i.e. Toyota can't win a race? It's because you can't just win with money. You need a combination of things.

1. A Team not just one spoiled former world champ that thinks he deserves to be first
2. Desire
3. Professionalism
4. Budget
5. Knowledge
6. Partnership
7. Innovation

 

They don't cheat? Google check "moving floor" and "Ferrari".

Also, as far as professionalism, there are a lot of teams that have that professionalism level, check Williams, BMW. It's not like Ferrari is the be-all-end all of Gran Prix teams, yeah they have had a good spell the last 10 years, but before Schumacher came, Ferrari was nowhere and hadn't won a title in 20 years.

 

When it comes to trying to get over on the rules by using your own teams' resources, I believe the old adage....If you ain't cheatin you ain't tryin...applies.

Being in possision of another teams intellectual property, however, is breaking real laws, not just the rules of a given motorsport organization.

 

All teams cheat. That's like a staple of motorsport. It's just a matter of what you can get away with.

 

Agreed

 

So who is everyone pulling for this year? I appreciate F1 as a whole, but you gotta have a favorite driver.

I'm pulling for Massa. I think he's talented enough to pull it off(having a great car helps a little bit) and he's put in his dues. I really enjoy the enthusiasm he shows everytime he makes a podium.

 

The whole idea of putting a limit on engineering and design on what are supposed to be the pinnacle of race cars just plain sucks - from the damned grooved tires for the past decade to this b.s. about governing horsepower and revs. What next, E85-running 1.5 liter non-turbo vee sixes with tachs pegged at a maximum crank rotation of 8,000, thereby letting pathetic street cars exceed several aspects of what are supposed to be the ultimate technologically innovative race machines? Will this "high tech" then filter down into production sports cars in 15 years time? Two generations after the F430 gives us a 3 liter 6 cylinder that delivers 27 mpg city/hwy average....no mention of horsepower, of course .

The environ-wackos have taken things too far with their cries for limiting emissions, and worst of all, the FIA and people around the world buy into this load of manure; how much pollution can 22 cars racing on 18 Sundays a year put out, afterall?! Don't stop there though - let's lobby to cease the production of exotics with scare tactics and foretelling of doom and gloom around the globe, because that F430, with its yearly mileage total of 1500 really is a major contributor to the depletion of the ozone layer. Nevermind the tens of millions of trucks in the world needlessly spewing infinitely more into the atmosphere.

 

The reasoning for those limits are so that the weaker teams will be able to (theoretically) catch up to the perrinial front runners.

As far as what is next, you were close. We will see E85-running, turboed, motors.

You need to give more credit to the brilliance and ingenuity of the race teams. The cars were running within a few tenths of the old lap times @1year after being told to switch from 10 to 8 cylinders.

I like the idea of traction control going away. Now the driver skill will become much more obvious to the average viewer.

BTW, the slick tires are coming back.

 

I don't think they should put a limit on design, they should just have budget caps. Recent meetings with the FIA looks like this is going to happen in the near future. As far as F1 being environmently friendly, this is possible. Look at what these engineers are capable of already! Within 2-3 years the cars will probably be as fast, if not faster, than the current cars. The only reason why they aren't more conscience of the environment is because they haven't been given a reason to be. Relax, the cars will still be cool.

 

SORRY check your facts, that was not cheating, the rule was brought in AFTER the FIA found it and when that happened it was removed, good engineering is what is is called BEFORE a rule is in place.

 

Ok, so it was legal because there was no rule again it? That makes as much sense as the FIA calling Renaults mass damper system a movable aero device.

 

I think the FIA can always try to retard engineering prowess/progress, and can definitely succeed in many ways - witness the Fiorano times and see that the '04 car is quicker than subsequent years. True, engine capacities were dropped by 20% and power levels fell pretty much proportionately as a result; but how soon before half the downforce is reduced in the name of "safety"? And because of that, how soon before other racing series' top cars exceed the performance of grand prix cars?

It's great to hear about the slicks returning - let's hope that their grip levels far exceed the current style (which they should, unless compounds are severely restricted); and turbo'ing the engines is fine, but I'd rather see a return to the V12 formula - 3.3 liters, let's say, and let 'em run wild with revs as high as they dare. Exotic race machines that haul *** around the streets and tunnels of the world's richest municipality should have technology that matches that, and not something that's a race version of Toyota's Prius. If the governing body is afraid of sheer speed, then install energy absorbing materials at dangerous points - maybe even reconstruct some of the high speed turns if need be (witness Tamburello and Eau Rouge in the past decade or so), but don't kill the series by choking advancement. They're treading a fine line, but with only a few more regulations many teams might feel threatened and pull out. If I were a team principal I may even think about starting an alternate series if rule changes prove to be too detrimental to the progress of the the sport.