The Official F1 News & Discussion Thread

[The Bear]

EDIT - I thought I'd make this thread into a season long news thread so we don't have to keep opening new ones or go off topic in the individual GP threads. Saves forum's bandwidth etc.

2004 F1 CALENDAR

The FIA have released the final timetable for the 2004 season.

7 March Australia (Melbourne)
21 March Malaysia (Sepang)
4 April Bahrain (Bahrain)
25 April San Marino (Imola)
9 May Spain (Barcelona)
23 May Monaco (Monaco)
30 May Europe (Nurburgring)
13 June Canada (Montreal)
20 June USA (Indianapolis)
4 July France (Magny-Cours)
11 July Great Britain (Silverstone)
25 July Germany (Hockenheim)
15 August Hungary (Budapest)
29 August Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
12 September Italy (Monza)
26 September China (Shanghai)
10 October Japan (Suzuka)
24 October Brazil (Sao Paolo)

[cervaro]

Thought I'd read a week or two back that McLaren were having trouble with the new Mercedes engine fitting into the car properly? Still think Schumi will do the business again this year, but not so sure Ferrari will win the team championship. Depends if they get the car/tyre combo right earlier this season. Hopefully Bridgestone will have pulled their fingers out over the winter break and produced some decent tyres to make Ferrari's job easier than 2003.

[Panavision]

Personally I don't think BAR will be as big an improvement as everyone has been making out, as they have admitted that all their best time were in qualifying trim. All the top teams seem to be tipping Renault to be right up there and I suppose they would know better than anyone else.


I think Renault will be very consistent, but now that the launch control system is banned...they won't be making up as many places at the start.

Anyone going to the test at Silverstone next week? Not sure which teams are going to be there, though.

[barcelona26051999]

Great to see Belgium back on the list, best circuit by miles.

[The Bear]

Give me Imola any day. Hope it doesn't get pulled next year like it's been reported.

[richardp]

Originally posted by The Bear
Personally I don't think BAR will be as big an improvement as everyone has been making out, as they have admitted that all their best time were in qualifying trim.

That's true but remember the old saying 'You can't polish a turd', the BAR is fast there is no doubt about it. From the test times I'm guessing it's going to be between BAR and Ferrari B for 5th place in the constructors, both have good drivers and both will have good engines.

[richardp]

Originally posted by The Bear
Give me Imola any day. Hope it doesn't get pulled next year like it's been reported.

Imola was a good circuit, I don't think it is any more :( There was an interesting article about track in F1 Racing recently the order as voted by various people (Drivers, engineers, journos etc) was:

Spa
Suzuka
Monaco
Interlagos
Monza
Sepang
Albert Park
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Silverstone
Catalunya
Imola
Indy
Hungaroring
nurburgring
magny-cours
Hockenheim

[theNOB]

Originally posted by The Bear
All the top teams seem to be tipping Renault to be right up there and I suppose they would know better than anyone else.



Renault certainly have looked good. Pre-testing, I didn't rate their chances much due to the radical change in the engine (110 degrees to 72!). If they can come out and compete with the top three in Australia then they will have done an amazing job. Also, not sure whether they will miss Gascoigne as the season progresses.

My money will be on Williams. They've done loads of testing and have looked realy solid, fast and reliable. JPM for WDC methinks...

...unless McLaren produce a good car in which case I would go for Kimi because I think he is marginally better than JPM. Don't know how to read their tests. They were blisteringly fast to begin with but as soon as they ran with the 04 spec rear wing seemed to lose their pace. Rumours of sandbagging? I can't see the point. Possible, though that they are way ahead of the others and are testing radical components for later in the season.

Oooh, I'm so excited!

Oops forgot to mention MS. Nobody seems to have much confidence in the Bridgestones. If they are off the pace we could see Ferrari behind the Williams and McLarens (and maybe Renaults) and dicing with BAR. Nice. :clap:

[Mark]

I'd like to see Williams win the Constructors this year. I can see JPM and Ralf taking points off of each other, therefore I'm not expecting either of them to be World Champion.

Renault are meant to be going really well in testing, particularly long runs, which would suggest they're not just doing low fuel laps (unless they're running without sufficient ballast, which I doubt). The new car seems to work very well with the Michelins, so I'm expecting them to be very close to McLaren / Williams.

[Panavision]

2 weeks today - we go racing!!!! :clap:

[Panavision]

Went to Silverstone today; got to see 2 BARs, a Jordan and a Mac. My first trip to a race track...it was incredible, the sound of those engines :luv: :luv: :luv: and the smell :luv: :luv:

The TV doesn't do it justice, the speed of these machines :eek:
Has to be seen for real.

[The Bear]

Any pics? Where did you watch from?

[Panavision]

Bridge, Luffield and Woodcote: They are the only places you can view free testing.

I only took video footage today, not easy to capture when they come of Bridge, those things fly. :eek:

[Andrew70]

Originally posted by Panavision
Went to Silverstone today; got to see 2 BARs, a Jordan and a Mac. My first trip to a race track...it was incredible, the sound of those engines :luv: :luv: :luv: and the smell :luv: :luv:

The TV doesn't do it justice, the speed of these machines :eek:
Has to be seen for real.
I've just been told (unofficially) this morning that as a thank you for some stuff I've been doing at work this year, I've been bought a three day pass for Silverstone. I think it's for the grandstand at Club but I won't know for sure until I'm told officially.

This will be my first GP and grateful swine that I am, my first thought was of the traffic and jams chaos I'll have to fight through :D

A.

[Panavision]

I can imagine the A roads being jammed!!! Loads of car spaces, all tarmac now. The circuit facilities require some work, some parts look tatty

[The Bear]

Can i draw everyone's attention to this (http://www.thedvdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=270792) thread. New forums F1 comp :thumbs:

[The Bear]

Special 1/2 hour pre-season show on ITV1 this sunday at 2pm. Covers all the usual rules and driver changes plus reports from new circuits Bahrain and Shanghai.

Shame it's not a bit longer though. Not gonna get much info on all of those in 1/2 hour.

[Mr M0by]

What, no mention of MS breaking the fastest lap record for Imola?

Not long now. Can't Wait.:clap:

[Crawf]

Originally posted by Panavision
Went to Silverstone today; got to see 2 BARs, a Jordan and a Mac. My first trip to a race track...it was incredible, the sound of those engines :luv: :luv: :luv: and the smell :luv: :luv:

The TV doesn't do it justice, the speed of these machines :eek:
Has to be seen for real.

Now imagine 20 odd of them in close proximity, all giving it some welly, surrounded by thousands of fans all with flags etc. Now you see why people go to see "little cars go round and round for hours" :clap:

[Samiad]

I was going to go on Wednesday, but backed out coz wasn't optimistic on BAR and Mclaren running cars (really wanted to see Renault in the flesh as it were).

Got my tickets ordered for the race weekend, just general admission tho. :clap:

[Panavision]

I think I will go to my first proper race next year, probably Monaco if I can.

[unrealnils]

That f1 programme was crap didnt even tell us about new drivers :nono:

[The Bear]

Yeah the only decent bit was the drive around the Bahrain circuit.

What do we expect from ITV though.

[Panavision]

Abysmal programme! Bahrain and China look mighty impressive!!!!!!!!

[philipjg]

Originally posted by unrealnils
That f1 programme was crap didnt even tell us about new drivers :nono:

Glad to hear it cos I've been looking forward to it all weekend and then completely forgot about it this afternoon.
:o

Sorry only jealous that I missed it!

[Crikey!]

i'm currently staying in a hotel opposite albert park. can't see a racetrack in there though! to give an example of how calssy the joint is, we have a F1 team staying here - ferrari? williams? jordan even? - no, minardi :nuts:


PS - looks like it's a scorcher for the w/end - gonna be 36C here today (wed) apparently

[Crikey!]

oh, and BAR Honda are here as well.

[The Bear]

An interesting development today concerning Ralf Schumacher:

http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=44655

Willi Weber claims that they have agreed terms with Renault and Flavio Briatore, and are just waiting to sign the contract :eek: :eek:

Is this a joke!! Why the hell would Renault or Briatore want to fork out Ralf's wages when they already have IMO a better driver in Webber as an option for next season?

What seems most likely as hinted to in that article, is that Frank Williams has got sick of him and told him to sign the current offer or leave.

If true, it would of course leave the door open for a Webber/Button Wiliams partnership in 2005!! What a prospect that would be. Two of the top rated young drivers in a Championship challenging team :thumbs:

It would be funny to watch Alonso crap all over Ralf from a great height at Renault too.

Ralf and Coulthard would get on like a house on fire. I think they should join up in 2005 to create the ultimate moaning, whinging partnership EVER!!

[unrealnils]

Thats not good news for trulli :(

I like him as well and i hope he aint forced out as Renulat become one of the trident of best teams in the sport.......


:nono:

[Mr M0by]

Originally posted by The Bear
What seems most likely as hinted to in that article, is that Frank Williams has got sick of him and told him to sign the current offer or leave.

Ralf Schumacher and Willi Webber have both stated all weekend that they agreed new contract terms with Williams last September but the offer was subsequently withdrawn by Williams in the days/weeks preceeding Ralfs withdrawl from 1-2 race weekends. It would appear that Frank was happy to offer what he did at the beginning of last season, before having doubts as it drew on. So yes he probably has got 'sick of him'.

The offered and agreed contract was supposed to be entirely performance related - in which case a similar deal could easily have been negotiated with Renault, especially if Flavio then thought he could coin it in by 'leasing'/'selling' Mark Webber to Renault at a good price.

How many years 'option' does Flavio have left on Mark? If it's only this season and next season, and Mark has hinted that he favours a Williams seat, then there's no point bringing him into Renault solely for next season.

[Panavision]

Ralf is so overrated!!! Does the guy ever try to overtake???

[unrealnils]

He overtakes just not againts his brother :oh-hum:

[DanWilde1966]

Briatore denies the move:

Ralf Schumacher's manager has claimed the German is on the verge of a move to Renault - only for the team to deny it.

Willi Weber said Ralf had agreed terms with the French-owned team's boss Flavio Briatore and would sign if last-ditch talks with Williams failed to produce the deal he wants.

Weber told German newspaper Bild: "We're in agreement with Briatore - a contract is purely a formality.

"In Bahrain, we will have a last meeting with Frank Williams. If we cannot agree Ralf will leave."

He added: "Ralf is not compelled to stay."

But Briatore issued an immediate denial of the story.

He said: “I saw Willi Weber in Melbourne and we certainly talked to each other – we are friends, so that is perfectly normal.

"However, at no time did we discuss, or have we discussed, a possible future for Ralf Schumacher in a Renault car."

Ralf has been in dispute with Williams for some time, with the German demanding more money than the team is willing to pay.

The idea of Schumacher moving to Renault is something of a shock, however. It had been thought his most likely destination was Toyota.

In addition, Renault have some of the best talents in F1 safely under contract - including Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber. The latter has been continuously linked with a move to Williams so it is not inconceivable that he could replace Schumacher at the British team.


http://www.itv-f1.com/news/news_story/20077

[Andrew70]

Quite a nice FT article here (http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/SpecialFullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1078381599019&p=1018260769690) about the sums involved with F1 sponsorship, and another
here (http://search.ft.com/search/article.html?id=040308008904&query=bernie&vsc_appId=totalSearch&state=Form) about how F1 viewing figures are interpreted.

A.

[The Bear]

After speculation that Renault are still using some kind of launch control after both got excellent starts in Australia, Renault's Pat Symonds (technical director) has given this up:

Symonds, though, is not worried about other teams' suspicions because he believes whatever Renault are using to aid their starts is not classified as launch control and therefore is not illegal.

"It's not something we want to talk about, but read the rules…" the Renault technical director told Autosport.

"It's true that it's very difficult to overtake in F1 and the start is one of the best times to do it. Obviously we work very hard at that."

Taken from http://www.planet-f1.com/Home/story_14618.shtml

Interesting that he would virtually admit they are using something to help starts as they would probably be investigated if teams make complaints. The FIA said it would be looking closely at data from the starts to make sure no-one is using a launch control system.

[Mark]

Ralf won't go to Renault. Both Flav and Patrick Faure have stated that F1 costs need to be brought down. They won't want to spend the kind of money that Ralf must be asking for. If Trulli was not at Renault next year (which I agree would be a shame), they'd bring in someone to support Alonso's championship attempt.

On a different subject, does anyone fancy a personalised number plate (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/3544773.stm)? :)

[jolt]

Does anyone have the rules regarding lauch control? I want the exact rules as written, so I can try and see if there is a way round them.

[Mark]

Originally posted by jolt
Does anyone have the rules regarding lauch control? I want the exact rules as written, so I can try and see if there is a way round them.

According to Pitpass (http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=20130), Renault may have found a way already...

[The Bear]

Not seen Pitpass before. Some very interesting and well written features on there. Opinionated, but interesting :)

Qualifying is now staying as it is until after Bahrain, when it will be reviewed.

Incidentally, don't forget F1onboard. They have 3 complete qualifying laps from Australia posted up (Button, Sato & Raikkonen) with more to come at the weekend from all sessions, including the race.

http://www.f1onboard.com/

[jolt]

Originally posted by Mark
According to Pitpass (http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=20130), Renault may have found a way already...

Yes I know that, that is why I need to read the rules.

[Andrew70]

I don't know if these (http://www.formula1.com/insight/rulesandregs/14/479.html) are the full blown rules as issued to the teams but there seems to be a lot of detail.

A.

[jolt]

8.2 Start systems:
8.2.1 Any system, the purpose and/or effect of which is to detect when a race start signal is given, is not permitted.
8.2.2 Whichever driver input device is used to initiate the propulsion of the car during the start of a race, a verifiable signal must be provided which indicates its instant of operation.


Seems a bit hazy to me. If those are the only 2 rules then there is obviously some way round them.

[Andrew70]

I wondered if the site is either a) comprehensive or b) up-to-date because the post Australian race reports have mentioned something about driver aids not being allowed until the car reaches 100kph.
Having said that, I've also read in the past that the regulations are intentionally vaguely worded in order to force the teams to seek clarification when they come up with something.

A.

[philipjg]

The FIA rules and regulations can be found here;

http://www.fia.com/sport/Regulations/f1regs.html

[jolt]

Originally posted by philipjg
The FIA rules and regulations can be found here;

http://www.fia.com/sport/Regulations/f1regs.html

Just says the same as the other link. They must be from last year because they're just far too vague.

To me those regulations just dont cover all possibilities. I mean, you could have a traction control system that was on all the time and those regulations do not stop it.

[The Bear]

I can't see anything in the rules that says Launch Control is not allowed.

In fact I can't see where it says automatic gears aren't allowed, unless that is what a 'continuously variable transmission system' is? :confused:

[Bearhorn]

There was an interesting paragraph from Autosport after the race on the Renault starts:

There are fundamentally three ways of controlling wheelspin, via throttle inputs, fuel supply and ignition and it seems that although the launch control ban requires a driver to regulate the throttle inputs rather than doing it via a button, there is nothing to stop the teams controlling the other two factors electronically. It seems that whatever system Renault was adopting last year is still relevant.

My take on this (substantiated by what Pat Symonds seems to be saying) is that Renault's launch control system is not based on direct throttle input to regulate wheelspin, but instead are using the throttle in some way to control the two other determinants i.e. ignition and fuel supply to indirectly control wheelspin. I would think probably using throttle displacement to vary ignition timing is the most likely method that they are using for launch control.

So what would happen is, Alonso and Trulli could sit on the grid, clutch in, with maximum throttle, which would tell the ignition system that it is to operate in 'launch mode timing' once the clutch is released. Thereafter, because the car will never be held on clutch at maximum throttle for the duration of the race the system does not need to be switched off at all and no one would ever know about it.

Of course, the above is all speculation on my part based on a paragraph out of Autosport, but one cannot help but wonder that given Renault's launch control has always been significantly better than other team's (even though they were the last team to implement such a system) - whether it is because they have approached the problem from a completely different angle to the other teams all these years. If it is so, this would be ingenuity of the highest order, reminiscent of the Colin Chapman years.

[The Bear]

Could they not just be limiting engine revs to the optimum speed for pulling away at, via pressing a button on the steering wheel, Then once they are away release it. Or is that exactly what launch control used to do? :nuts:

[Bearhorn]

Originally posted by The Bear
Could they not just be limiting engine revs to the optimum speed for pulling away at, via pressing a button on the steering wheel, Then once they are away release it. Or is that exactly what launch control used to do? :nuts:

From the Autosport paragraph:

"the launch control ban requires a driver to regulate the throttle inputs rather than doing it via a button."

The ban on launch control seeks to return the throttle input to control engine revs to the driver. It can no longer be controlled independently of the throttle. My speculative point above was that while the Renault drivers may control the throttle and the revs, the ignition could be used as the variable to regulate the revs regardless of driver throttle input to thereby control wheelspin.

[jolt]

In other words the dorks that think up the regulations are ignorant windpieces.

[The Bear]

In the latest edition of the "Secret Diary Of Michael Schumacher" over at PlanetF1 I had to crack up at this sentence on the Ralf/Williams contract debacle.

Ralf wants to get my kind of salary for doing much less which was always his way at home. It was me who had to wash up the dishes while he played with his Kinder Surprise.

:lol:

[jolt]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[unrealnils]

Schumacher ready for Toyota deal (http://f1.racing-live.com/en/index.html)


not sure if i even care to be honest :thinking:

[Andrew70]

With a bit of luck the Villeneuve/Toyota rumour is true which will put the wind up Ralf a bit and leave him sweating on a seat for 2005.

A.

[Mark]

Originally posted by unrealnils
Schumacher ready for Toyota deal (http://f1.racing-live.com/en/index.html)


not sure if i even care to be honest :thinking:

Nigel Roebuck seems pretty convinced that Ralf's deal with Toyota is already done. He makes reference to Ralf joining them both in his 5th column in this weeks Autosport, and also in this weeks "Ask Nigel" on the Autosport website. The way he mentions it in both instances is not as a piece of groundbreaking info, rather as something that is old news.

[jolt]

It's the wisest move for Ralf, Toyota have a huge budget.

[Panavision]

BMW won't be happy if Ralf moves! I'm sure Webber will be at Williams next year. I can see DC moving there, too.

[The Bear]

DC at Williams would be a big mistake. Replacing like with like (Ralf - not Montoya!!).

I'd like to see Webber/Button or Webber/Fisichella. Though there are rumours that the 2003 IRL champ, Kiwi, Scott Dixon could move there if Ralf goes.

[jolt]

There's no way Williams would want DC back imho.

[Samiad]

Button definitely, and part of me wants Villeneuve back for a season! :clap:

Failing that, Button/Webber would be a good pairing, but I reckon Coulthard isn't out of the picture, and that's a worry!

[The Bear]

I'd love to see Villeneuve back, in either Williams or Toyota.


The rest of Australia's videos are now up here (http://f1.tottoro.hu/2004/01_australia/index.html) with some absolutely fantastic videos. Especially the full onboad of Michael Schumacher's Pole lap with no commentary to intefere, Raikkonen's engine fizzling out, Fisichella executing some amazing late braking and car control when he passed and touched the Jordan, Montoya doing a manual start, and Heidfeld almost missing his pitbox.

Some big files but :thumbs:

[Mr M0by]

Originally posted by The Bear
I'd love to see Villeneuve back....

I was a fan of Villeneuves from before he joined Williams, but the longer his tenure in F1 the more I came to think he wasn't quite as talented as I originally believed.

Hopefully Williams will give Scott Dixon a seat next year but will the same cycle begin again?

[rpn]

If Ralf is on his way out of Williams, why is Montoya also going? I thought Montoya was peeved at Ralfs preferential treatment, so if Ralf exits, won't that be problem solved for Montoya at Williams?
As it is it looks like Williams will have two completely new drivers next year. Is this a good thing.

For all those already taking part, or those who would like too, don't forget to make your predictions on http://aa.1asphost.com/podiumpredictions/

[Samiad]

Well the Montoya deal was apparantely penned AGES ago anyways, and Montoya seemed to not be happy with the whole team, not just Ralf.

[Mark]

Monty claims that he was already speaking to McLaren prior to the French GP last year. His interpretation of them favouring Ralf at Magny Cours helped him make his mind up, but apparently the straw that broke the camels back was when Williams wrote to Monty, officially reprimanding him for his conduct in France. Apparently Montoya signed with Ronzo very soon after the letter was received.

In other news, Ralf has announced that in future if JPM tries to pass him in the same way he did at Australia, then Ralf will drive him off the road.

It's all fun and games at Williams this year...

[The Bear]

Originally posted by Mark
In other news, Ralf has announced that in future if JPM tries to pass him in the same way he did at Australia, then Ralf will drive him off the road. Yeah right.....I can see Montoya's lip trembling now.

[Bearhorn]

Provided Scott Dixon goes well with Williams in his forthcoming test with them I would very much like to see talent like his in Formula 1 sooner rather than later. He is a driver who I have been following since he made his breakthrough in Champcars through to his recent success in winning the IRL championship last season and he very much deserves a shot at Formula 1.

It would also be quite nice to see an all-Antipodean line-up if Williams can prise Mark Webber out of his Jaguar contract and Flavio Briatore lets him join arch rivals Williams (there is speculation that Mr Heidi Klum is thinking about putting him in a Renault for 2004).

Mark Webber is quickly shaping up to be one of Formula 1's new superstars. Very much in the Schumacher mould, ultra-professional, he works phenomenally hard on and off the track and I suspect is more than capable of becoming Australia's first world champion since Alan Jones won it in 1980 (and who coincidentally achieved the feat in a Williams :)).

Originally posted by Mark
In other news, Ralf has announced that in future if JPM tries to pass him in the same way he did at Australia, then Ralf will drive him off the road.

A few points on this:

(i) Ralf is being rather presumptuous that he is going to be leading JPM all that much this season that JPM will actually need to pass him;

(ii) can you say 'Turn 1, Indianapolis 2002'?; and

(iii) can we have Patrick Head wired for sound during the races for the rest of the season?

[Andrew70]

So, Ralf has started backtracking and saying he's willing to stay at Williams with a substantial paycut if they'll give him performance bonuses.

Is the first whiff of sickly sweet panic detectable in the air?

A.

[DanWilde1966]

My understanding is that Monty's exit was agreed with the Williams team, because of Monty's appalling behaviour over the radio (swearing at the team repeatedly) after (the French?) GP last year. The incident led patrick Head to wonder at the McLaren move, where the ethos will certainly not suit the tantrums of an overpaid, pampered, flouncing prima-donna driver. Methinks Juan Pablo is in for a nasty shock in '05. :dork:

[The Bear]

I was impressed with Dixon's test at Paul Ricard in the Williams today. He finished 4th fastest in front of both McLarens and only 0.4s behind Ralf Schumacher. Not bad for the first time he's ever been in a F1 car.

Another name that popped up for the Williams drive next year is Pizzonia. He's always been fast in testing for Williams (faster than Gene) and is well versed in the team set-up. I think he's almost certainly better than his stint at Jaguar would suggest and it's certainly not out of the realms of possibility. Wouldn't cost Frank much either which is the way he likes it.

[Panavision]

Dixon is top talent, but I now think that Ralf will be staying and Webber joining him.

[Mark]

Panavision has mentioned this in his San Marino thread (http://www.thedvdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=284360) , however I thought it was worth digging this thread up to discuss the details...

Max Mosley has announced his proposals for the future of F1. The initial suggestions are quite extreme, no doubt as a starting point in negotiations, to allow some compromise to get through the majority of the changes.

More details can be found on the Grandprix.com (http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns12795.html) site, and also on Autosport.com (http://www.autosport.com/newsitem.asp?id=26905&s=5) .

In other news, ITV has signed up to broadcast F1 until 2010, with more coverage planned for ITV2 and possibly the forthcoming ITV3 as well. Those registered for the Guardian website can see more info here (http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,1201927,00.html).

Oh, and Bernie's threatening the BRDC that if they don't redevelop Silverstone, the 2004 British GP will be the last one there/at all. Grandprix.com are suggesting that if Interpublic buy themselves out of the Silverstone lease in the same way they bought themselves out of the promoter contract with Bernie, then the BRDC should have a significant amount of dosh to make some improvements to the track and facilities. I hope they're right.

[blobberTHEjobber]

Originally posted by Mark

In other news, ITV has signed up to broadcast F1 until 2010, with more coverage planned for ITV2 and possibly the forthcoming ITV3 as well. Those registered for the Guardian website can see more info here (http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,1201927,00.html).


Considering they can't even be bothered to aquire the widescreen feeds this is the worse news for F1 fans since they originally aquired the rights.

[Andrew70]

Originally posted by blobberTHEjobber
Considering they can't even be bothered to aquire the widescreen feeds this is the worse news for F1 fans since they originally aquired the rights.
I thought Bernie was in charge of the TV pictures now, using the gear from his defunct digital venture to offer a consistent quality of coverage over the whole season. (I don't think there are national TV directors this year.)
I can't explain why the pictures aren't widescreen though - is there a widescreen feed shown in other countries?

A.

[DanWilde1966]

Originally posted by Mr M0by
I was a fan of Villeneuves from before he joined Williams, but the longer his tenure in F1 the more I came to think he wasn't quite as talented as I originally believed.

Hopefully Williams will give Scott Dixon a seat next year but will the same cycle begin again?
As Button wrings the neck of the BAR and blossoms before us all, I have visions of the embittered Villeneuve watching from his pad in Monte Carlo - supreme spoilt and pampered brat, angry and grizzling - spitting feathers at the team that is blooming without him. Villeneuve was definitely a cancer in the team, feeding greedily off the tobacco funding, whilst contributing very little either to the car or on the track. He scraped a world championship in 1997's best car, throwing strops at Eddie Irvine (and various others) along the way. He reminds me of a stinging open wound with salt and lemon juice being ground into it - and in the final analysis, he did not have Schumacher (or, more sweetly, Button's) ability to develop a Formula One car.

[unrealnils]

Originally posted by The Bear
I'd love to see Villeneuve back, in either Williams or Toyota.
http://f1.racing-live.com/en/headlines/news/detail/040429110613.shtml


:suspect: :wave:

[Panavision]

Webber and Villeneuve :thumbs: Ralf has got to go!

f1onboard.com has the IMOLA start from Michael's onboard camera!

[The Bear]

F1Onboard also has the onboard of Schumacher in QLF2 as he nearly lost it at the Variante Alta chicane. His reactions and car control are amazing! - Direct Link (http://f1.tottoro.hu/2004/04_san-marino/07_qlf2_mschumacher.avi).

Personally I'd like to see Pizzonia given a go at Williams next year. He may have struggled in the Jaguar, but he always tests superbly in the Williams and is virtually always faster than Gene too.

[Samiad]

Agreed, the reactions and control from Schumacher are blinding!

Although I agree that Pizzonia is better than his spell at Jaguar suggested, I wouldn't want to see him in a Williams next year. I'd defintely like to see Villeneuve back tho. :clap:

[Samiad]

So what do people think about the new F1 developments and rule changes for 2006? I'm quite happy with them overall,

Banning electronic driver aids is most welcome, but historically they've always said they can't ban traction control as it can't be regulated. How have they suddenly decided that it can? :confused:

They've also agreed to change the qualifying format before the end of the season, which can't come soon enough for me. Although they will probably only change the start times of the two qualifying sessions again! (Or something equally mundane).

[Panavision]

One tyre manufacturer and no tyre changes :D This will mean that the tyres will be a very hard compound and hardly any marbles off the racing line!

[The Bear]

List of proposed changes - here (http://www.autosport.com/newsitem.asp?id=27086&s=5).

Transcript of Max Mosley talking about the proposals after the meeting - here (http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=49809).

Overall I like the new changes, especially one tyre supplier and no traction control (policed by the FIA's proposed standardised ECU assumedly?). Also the ideas on standardised parts should even things up and reduce costs at the same time.

Not so sure about the ban on tyre changes during a race though. In changeable conditions it brings an unpredictability into the procedings which is exciting for the viewer. Also, what happens if it starts to rain heavily during a race? You can't tootle around on dry/slicks for the rest of the race.

Samiad - Mosley has only asked teams to try and come up with a solution to the qualifying format which could be implemented straight away. There is no guarantee it will change at all this year.

[Bearhorn]

Originally posted by Samiad
So what do people think about the new F1 developments and rule changes for 2006? I'm quite happy with them overall,

I am glad that sense has finally prevailed over the issue of semi-automatic gearboxes. This for me was one of the biggest inconsistencies in the general aim to reduce costs. If there is requirement for long life engines, then that has to be managed by semi-automatic gearboxes. While I am all in favour of returning driving back to the driver, a manual gearbox will only have the effect of either forcing drivers and/or engine manufacturers to be extra cautious or, as is more likely, increase costs as more engines and gearboxes are used up during the course of a season.

I sincerely hope that the "least expensive solution" to brakes is to bring back steel brakes as they have in Champ Cars. A fundamental reason why overtaking is so difficult in Formula 1 at the moment is because the braking distances and braking zones achievable with carbon brakes are so small as to practically negate good outbraking manoeuvres.

A single tyre manufacturer is good news, if only because it will restore some of the parity back to the racing. I do not think that the restriction on tyre changes during a race extends to a change from slicks to wet tyres - if nothing else the GPDA will see to it that it is allowed. It is often the most exciting part of a dry/wet race too to see who can screw their courage to the sticking point and stay out on dry tyres when all the rest have surrendered time to change to wets. Unless of course, the intention is that the manufacturer who wins the tender has to develop a tyre which works in both conditions. But this is unlikely.

However, the changes while welcome will still come at a cost and as such, it is hard to imagine that Paul Stoddart or Eddie Jordan are overjoyed, for while they will undoubtedly bring on better (or at least, different) races the initial change and preparation for such change will come at a cost. It would be the ultimate irony if, in implementing these changes brought on in part to benefit them, teams such as Minardi and Jordan fell by the wayside before they come into effect.

[The Bear]

Yet strangely Eddie Jordan was quoted as being "enormously pleased at the outcome"

[Bearhorn]

Canny as Eddie Jordan is, I do not think he has fully understood the implications of these changes in quite the same way as Paul Stoddart has.

If I were the FIA, a more equitable solution may have been to impose a moratorium on car/engine development going forward and allow everyone to catch up over the course of the next few seasons. Then introduce standardised ECUs, tyres, brakes etc. once manufacturers stabilise their car development. As it is, introducing a whole raft of changes to almost every aspect of Formula 1 as we know it against a backdrop of ferocious car development during the course of this season alone cannot but drive up costs. In particular, the richer teams will start thinking about the rule changes now and 'parallel' test while they can still test now, to the ultimate detriment of the competitiveness of the less well off teams.

[Panavision]

It should be a 3/4 year plan:

Start with steel brakes and reduce aerodynamics for 2005
Standard ECU and Engine changes in 2006
One tyre manufacturer in 2007