2009 FIA Formula One World Championship Race Calendar

01 2009 FORMULA 1 ING AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX (Melbourne) 27 - 29 Mar
02 2009 FORMULA 1 PETRONAS MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX (Kuala Lumpur) 03 - 05 Apr
03 2009 FORMULA 1 CHINESE GRAND PRIX (Shanghai) 17 - 19 Apr
04 2009 FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX (Bahrain) 24 - 26 Apr
05 2009 FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE ESPANA TELEFONICA 2009 (Catalunya) 08 - 10 May
06 2009 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DE MONACO 2009 (Monte Carlo) 21 - 24 May
07 2009 FORMULA 1 TURKISH GRAND PRIX (Istanbul) 05 - 07 Jun
08 2009 FORMULA 1 SANTANDER BRITISH GRAND PRIX (Silverstone) 19 - 21 Jun
09 2009 FORMULA 1 GROSSER PREIS SANTANDER VON DEUTSCHLAND 2009 (Nürburgring) 10 - 12 Jul
10 2009 FORMULA 1 ING MAGYAR NAGYDIJ 2009 (Budapest) 24 - 26 Jul
11 2009 FORMULA 1 TELEFONICA GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE (Valencia) 21 - 23 Aug
12 2009 FORMULA 1 ING BELGIAN GRAND PRIX (Spa-Francorchamps) 28 - 30 Aug
13 2009 FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO SANTANDER D'ITALIA 2009 (Monza) 11 - 13 Sep
14 2009 FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX (Singapore) 25 - 27 Sep
15 2009 FORMULA 1 FUJI TELEVISION JAPANESE GRAND PRIX (Suzuka) 02 - 04 Oct
16 2009 FORMULA 1 GRANDE PREMIO DO BRASIL 2009 (Sao Paulo) 16 - 18 Oct
17 2009 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX (Abu Dhabi) 30 Oct - 01 Nov

http://f1.com/races/calendar_preview.html

 

China May Be Next Site To Drop off Formula 1's Calendar

Date posted: 11-14-2008
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=135827

SHANGHAI, China — The Shanghai International Circuit has only been running Formula 1 Grand Prix races since 2004, but already officials there are considering calling the whole thing off, news reports are saying. Poor ticket sales are blamed.

An executive with the Shanghai Administration of Sports told Agence France-Presse this week that the governing body is "doing the assessment" of whether continuing to run Grand Prix racing at the relatively new circuit is worthwhile. Deputy director Qiu Weichang is quoted as saying the decision will be made "by next year" and could mean no more F1 races there after 2010.

Apparently ticket sales are not keeping pace with the Chinese officials' expectations. Shanghai built the more than $240 million racetrack specifically for Formula 1 racing, and Qiu said the organization "would like at least to break even." He did say the racetrack was used by other racing groups, both public and private for "about 200 days" per year and was quoted as saying the group would like to turn the track into "Disneyland for cars."

Inside Line says: The F1 calendar has already been heavily revised lately, and this lack of enthusiasm can't be good news for the sport's future. — Laura Sky Brown, Correspondent
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Canadian GP fails in rescue bid

Sunday, 16 November 2008 21:06
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.a...44618&PO=44618

he Canadian Grand Prix's hopes of returning to the 2009 Formula 1 calendar appear doomed after Montreal officials said they were unwilling to meet Bernie Ecclestone's “unreasonable” financial demands.

Montreal's mayor Gerald Tremblay admitted at a press conference on Sunday that organisers had failed in their attempts to strike a deal to reinstate the race, with the government unable to justify the cost of keeping the event at the current asking price.

Tremblay and officials from various government levels had hoped that a fresh injection of money from both public and private sources could help keep the grand prix after it was axed from next season’s schedule last month.

But the mayor says a rescue deal couldn't be agreed, with F1 supremo Ecclestone asking for a guarantee of CND$175 million over the next five years while the government was only willing to pay $110m.

"We were constantly guided in our negotiations by principles of responsible management,” Tremblay said in a statement.

“However, despite our endeavours and those of the business community, the unreasonable demands of Formula 1 exceeded the taxpayer's ability to pay.”

The Canadian race had been a permanent, and popular, fixture on the calendar since the late 1960s before it was surprisingly dropped from the provisional 2009 schedule.

Montreal authorities dismissed claims that the axe had fallen because race organisers had defaulted on payments to Ecclestone over the past three years, but did admit to a commercial disagreement over the 2008 event.

Government chiefs quickly expressed their desire to find a way back onto the list and a Quebec delegation flew to London to meet with Ecclestone at the end of October, before leaving to return to work on a rescue package.

Details of the contractual deliberations between the two parties have now emerged in the statement, with Ecclestone demanding a promoter put up a government or bank guarantee of $175m over five years in what it says was a final contract offer to the government on October 28.

The statement says Montreal was unable to find a private promoter willing to take on such a guarantee given the limited revenue generated by the event and instead envisioned setting up a non-profit organisation to act in this role.

This was included in a final proposal sent to Ecclestone last week which offered to pay $110m over five years to stage the race, with Formula One Administration to also receive 75% of the first $10 million of profits from the race and 25% of profits thereafter.

The three levels of government also committed to making a combined $5m contribution to each grand prix, with that total to be matched by the local tourist industry.

However, Ecclestone replied in a letter last Wednesday stating that he was “unable to yield” on his stated request to have “the performance of the race promoter be fully guaranteed or underwritten by the Government, the City and/or institution of sound financial repute”.

He added that he felt the terms proposed “are not economically viable” in other major aspects.

He concluded the letter by saying: “I know we have both done our best to explore all the options to save the race, but I think we must both admit defeat on this occasion.”

Tremblay said that the city explored all possible avenues in its quest to broker a deal with Ecclestone.

"We did everything that was humanly and financially possible and responsible to try to save the race," Tremblay was quoted as saying by the Montreal Gazette.

"I'm very very disappointed for Montrealers, for Quebec and Canada.”

Quebec economic development minister Raymond Bachand admitted the only way back for the Canadian GP now was for Ecclestone to lower his demands.

“We worked very hard over the past few weeks to ensure there would be a Grand Prix in Montreal, while staying fiscally responsible,” he said.

“We cannot meet Mr Ecclestone's unworkable demands. Unless he eases his requirements and adopts a different approach, there will be no Grand Prix in Montreal in 2009."

The breakdown in talks will come as a blow to Formula 1’s manufacturer teams after many expressed unhappiness that there would be no North American round in 2009 considering it was an important market for car sales and many of their major sponsors were US-based.

 

yay way to kick off a new thread.

wow new track

17 2009 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX (Abu Dhabi) 30 Oct - 01 Nov

but i really hope Sepang track does not fall off. like that track alot.

 

As much as I would like to say this picture is one of Alfy's "Photoshop masterpiece" creations, but sadly it is not.

 

your right, i am 100 times better then that

 

OMG OMG i just looked over Alnie track post. SUZUKA Is back . so happy, and glad they didnt use boring zzzZ Fuji track again .

 

Monday, 17 November 2008 11:14
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.a...44619&PO=44619

After a very brief pause to catch its breath following the drama of Brazil, Formula 1 has roared back into action in Spain this morning as preparations for 2009 get underway in earnest.

Most of the teams will be in action during this week's three-day Barcelona test, and the majority are expected to use hybrid cars featuring elements of the very different 2009 rules.

BMW Sauber was the first team to take to the track with a new-style wing package this morning, giving an early indication of what next season's cars might look like.

In a bid to improve overtaking, the 2009 machines will feature wider front wings and narrower rear wings - which should reduce the problems caused by aerodynamic turbulence from the rear of one car unbalancing the front of a chasing car.

The definitive 2009 cars will also feature much cleaner bodysides with most of the aerodynamic appendages between the wings now banned, Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems, and slick tyres.

Some teams plan either to try KERS systems this week, or simulate the additional weight involved, and Bridgestone has brought two choices of slick tyre compound.

As well as previewing how the cars might look in 2009, the test will also play a crucial role in shaping the final driver line-up, with shoot-outs for two of the remaining vacancies underway.

Former Honda and Super Aguri driver Takuma Sato is going head-to-head with GP2 driver and Red Bull protege Sebastien Buemi for the empty Toro Rosso seat - but both may yet have a shot at a race drive if the team chooses not to retain Sebastien Bourdais, who is testing alongside them.

Meanwhile Honda is evaluating GP2 front-runners Bruno Senna and Lucas di Grassi to see if either should replace Rubens Barrichello.

Should he not get the Honda drive, di Grassi could return to testing duties for Renault, where Dutch driver Giedo van der Garde (once a McLaren protege and Spyker test driver) is having a run this week as part of his prize for winning the Formula Renault 3.5 title.

Two much bigger names are also having F1 outings this week, with rallying legend Sebastien Loeb and MotoGP superstar Valentino Rossi appearing for Red Bull and Ferrari respectively.

Both are being rewarded for their 2008 successes, Loeb having clinched a record fifth World Rally Championship title this year and Rossi having returned to the top in MotoGP.

But while Loeb is testing alongside the F1 field at Catalunya, Rossi will get his Ferrari run in a private test at Mugello on Thursday and Friday.

Loeb and Rossi both have previous F1 testing experience - the rally ace have previously sampled an F1 Renault, and Rossi having tested extensively for Ferrari while pondering a career change in 2005 and 2006.

 

Honda's costs highest in F1
Budgets Vs Costs in Formula One
18/11/08 09:28
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headline...18092845.shtml

Honda's annual costs are the highest of any competitor in the sport, according to the Japanese-owned team's latest accounts.

While the actual total budget is undoubtedly higher, the Daily Telegraph reports that Honda, funded by the Japanese automobile giant, spent nearly $218 million to finish eighth in the 2007 constructors' world championship.

Team CEO Nick Fry said recently that "the budgets for the top teams are in excess of $300m.

"While that is sustainable for a team like Honda, we recognise that others cannot compete at that level."

The British newspaper said that only about $10 million of the turnover came from sponsors, with the rest pumped in by the Tokyo-based Honda Motor Company.


The bulk of the costs were spent on the engine programme, but more than $52 million was used to pay the team's 667 staff, representing an average annual salary of close to $80,000.

The Telegraph said Honda's accounts for 2008 are likely to show even higher costs, given Ross Brawn's heavy technological developments in preparation for next year.

In contrast, top team McLaren's total costs were $186 million, with 570 staff.
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'This is the worst looking F1 car ever!'
18 November 2008
http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2008/...g-f1-car-ever/



Formula One's preparations for 2009 got under way this week at Circuit de Catalunya. The BMW Sauber F1 team clearly showed F1's new looks at the Spanish track and according to BMW's test driver it is clearly the worst car he has ever seen in Formula 1.

GPUpdate.net caught up with BMW's driver Robert Kubica and the team's test driver Christian Klien. The duo is testing for the team in Spain and both agreed that the new specs are interesting to see. "It's sexy isn't it," Klien joked when asked about his opinion of car new car. "For me it's the worst looking F1 car I've ever seen. It just doesn't look like it fits, with big wings and everything. But we will get used to it and a lot of things will change.

"It drives quite nice actually. The laptimes were quite good already, slick tyres compensate quite a lot with the downforce. Low speed corners give a lot of grip, high speed corners are now a bit more tricky. The main problem was the cold temperatures in the morning but in the afternoon it got much better."

His team mate Robert Kubica agreed with Klien. The Polish driver said: "We all agree that it is not the best looking car, but fortunately from the inside it looks better than the outside. The car's characteristics are completely different now with reduced downforce, but with the slicks we regain some of that grip. The car has more drag, so it is a bit slower on the straight. Here in Barcelona we're now just testing some basic stuff so we can get as much data as possible."

According to Kubica the team doesn't expect it has a major advantage on the other teams at the moment as it is running with the new specs already. Kubica said: "I don't know really. The sooner you start the better obviously, but it's quite a long time to the first race and I think all the teams will be ready. This week we're already testing this, but next year's car will be different, we're trying to get as much data as possible.

"It is difficult to predict who is competitive next season. It will be a big lottery but even more a big challenge for the designers. I expect a big gap between the teams, especially at the start of the season."

 

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=36601

Test times from Barcelona. Not too much to be gleaned here as far as team performance. Interesting drivers stories include:

 

i didnt know Force India is going to use a Mclaren Heart in 2009. should be very interesting.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/9081118....india-in-spain


The Silverstone based team's 2008 car in Spain is still being powered by a Ferrari engine, but a major technical collaboration for next year and beyond was recently concluded with McLaren-Mercedes.

Force India is yet to officially announce its race driver lineup for next year, despite team boss Vijay Mallya's declarations that Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella will be staying in 2009.

However, Mallya subsequently admitted that he will from now on take McLaren's advice in all areas, including drivers.

De la Rosa, 37, is a veteran of more than 70 races, and despite fulfilling the role of McLaren's primary test and reserve driver for several years, harbours a desire to return to the grid.

The news of de la Rosa's two-day Force India test was reported widely in the Spanish press, including in the sports newspaper Marca, as well as Diario AS, El Pais and El Mundo, and by the news agencies EFE and Europa Press.

The Spaniard is already in Barcelona, where on Monday he tested McLaren's KERS-equipped hybrid 2008 car, the newly-named MP4-23K.

On Monday he also met with Force India officials, where the details of his test were discussed, including which sponsors will be displayed on his car, helmet




http://www.worldcarfans.com/9081118....-india-in-2009

Pedro de la Rosa has already signed a contract to race with the newly Mercedes-powered and McLaren-equipped Force India team in 2009, the Spanish press declared on Tuesday.

The Spaniard, currently McLaren's primary test and reserve driver, climbed into the Silverstone based team's Ferrari-powered 2008 car at Barcelona in the morning, and he will remain in the cockpit for the duration of the test.

The Spanish newspaper Diario AS said de la Rosa's signing will be confirmed within a few weeks, insisting the 37-year-old is almost certainly taking the seat of the Roman veteran Giancarlo Fisichella.

In a recently-confirmed deal, Force India will utilise McLaren expertise, KERS systems, hydraulics, transmissions and Mercedes engines in 2009 and beyond.

"I am very happy to do this test with Force India, thanks to McLaren," de la Rosa confirmed on Tuesday.

"I am excited, but this test does not mean anything. I have nothing to say, and nothing to lose," he added.

To the Spanish newspaper El Pais, he explained: "For the moment, this is just two days of tests and nothing more. My contract is with McLaren, and I thank them for allowing me to do this.

"So far, nobody has promised me anything," de la Rosa insisted.

 

Ah I'm stoked for this season...

 

I posted this in the 2008 thread. Thanks to Alnielsen who steered me to the correct place.

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headline...18091013.shtml

Ernie is trying to scrap the point system in F1. I'm not certain what I think about it. I kind of like the tactical play of getting good points consistently. The new system as I understand it will be that the driver with most gold medals win the championship.

To drag that to an extreme: a driver who has gotten second place in every race and all the other driver having won one race each. The 2nd place driver would not win even if he has been driving far more consistently.

 

Subscribing

 

 

Yeah, Kimi needs to stop drinking if he's to have any chance next season

 

http://www.worldcarfans.com/9081119....hamilton-title

jesus has returned..



Nov.19 - Lewis Hamilton's world championship will be immortalised with a set of British postage stamps.


The Times newspaper reports that the UK's national postal service is planning to honour the 23-year-old's achievement with the stamps in the new year.

A Royal Mail spokesman would not confirm the news, but he admitted: "It is certainly an idea which is under consideration."

Earlier this year, Finland's postal service similarly honoured its 2007 world champion, Kimi Raikkonen, in the form of a commemorative stamp set.

 

I wonder what's planned for that rare 4 week break smack dab in the middle of the summer....

 

Alternating years, man.

 

Maybe they are holding it open incase Canada, France or the U.S. get something together.

 

It's the summer break. They have one every year.

 

The new cars look terrible... absolutely rubbish. I bet the Ferrari will still manage to look better than all the other cars.


Was anyone else heartbroken when Massa lost the championship on the last corner? I swear I almost punched a hole into my flat panel.

 

NOpe , but they where





i was jumping for Joy

 

bah... massa deserved it... Hamilton is a great driver but I'm not ready for him to be this good, this early.

 

Yes sir, exactly my thoughts. A "just in case" for Magny Cours (or whereever it is those frogs hold their grand prix )

 

Okay, I am deciding to bit the bullet and go to Monaco this year since there is no US or Canadian GPs.

Anyone been there before??? If so, where is the best grandstands?