F1 2007

[Chris Simpson]

I know it is not F1, although he was considered for an F1 test at one time I understand, I would just comment on the extremely sad death of Colin McRea in a helicopter accident yesterday. It was a multiple tragedy as his 5 year old son was killed as well along with one of his friends and a 6 year old. As a pilot, albeit fixed wing only, I am always aware of how quickly things can go wrong and require instantaneous live or death decisions. One can only offer sincere condolences to the families of all involved.

Just to complete a rather depressing weekend, I was spectating at the Shoreham air show yesterday when the pilot of a WW2 Hurricane was killed. On the news tonight, we heard that a passenger jet had gone down in Thailand with many killed and that David Richards had been involved in a helicopter accident today on his way home from Spa but was thankfully unharmed. Thank God that fatalities in modern F1 are almost unheard of.

Chris

 

[Pete McCluskey.]

Very sad, Colin McRae was one of the best.

 

[David Morton]

Big Ron​

Just a snippit posted on AOL yesterday:


McLaren boss Ron Dennis (Big Ron)has revealed an act of generosity spared him from firing Fernando Alonso earlier this year.

Dennis concedes to being involved in a bust-up with Alonso on the morning of the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 5 - the day after the controversial qualifying session that led to Alonso being dumped from pole to sixth on the grid after being found guilty of deliberately blocking Lewis Hamilton.
Dennis said: "I want to have positive relationships with my drivers, but it's difficult sometimes."
During the argument, the reigning world champion disclosed he had email evidence in the spy scandal that could potentially prove damaging to the team. It is reported Alonso threatened to use such information unless he was granted number one driver status ahead of Hamilton.
When asked if Alonso made the threat, Dennis shies away from answering, although it is clear from his response that the exchange was an unpleasant one. It was that heated debate that ultimately resulted in McLaren being fined £50million and stripped of all constructors' points in this year's Formula One world championship.
"At the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday all hell broke loose, and it was not until around 11.35pm they (the stewards) moved him (Alonso) five slots," recalled Dennis. "The next morning I phone Fernando's manager to tell him what has happened.
"Fernando arrives and is pretty upset, upset by many things; upset with life, upset with this, that. He was emotional. In the conversation that took place he said 'I have something on my email system that is from one of the engineers'.
"There was a discussion. I got Martin (Whitmarsh) in, his manager was there, and he said it again. Martin and I looked at each other. I said 'What do you think?' He said 'Fernando should inform the FIA'.
"When Fernando left, I phoned the FIA and told them what happened. Half an hour later, Fernando's manager came back and said 'Look, I'm sorry, he was angry', and retracted everything, that it was a load of old rubbish.
"I picked up the phone again. I said 'I've been told by Fernando's manager that it's a load of old rubbish'. There was dialogue, we went forward. After the race he (Alonso) came into my office, apologised, shook my hand and said 'let's get on with motor

 

[Paolo-LoveGT40 Modelworks]

what a shame for him anyway.
Mess with pilots, terrible working ambient...where anyway a LOT of money are gone,fights with the best active driver...world champion indeed,stole draw and pictures from ferrari.

Really better for big ron to change work...

 

[Frank Catt]

F 1 is now totally boring ! The FIA even have a panel looking at more overtaking possibilities, so why not jusy give the awards at the end of practice and everyone have a day at home on Sunday, the results are the same ! OR have practice only ( no qualifying ) on Saturday only, each race to start with drivers on the grid in reversed points standings, ie. current points leader at the back of the grid, lowest or non points scorers at the front. At the end of each race the grid for the next race would be known, the teams could programme strategy accordingly, and the better DRIVER wins on his merit, not on some political game played out away from the track. And of course there would be anticipation right through to the very last lap as to who would pass who at the flag. Of course this is a nonsensical solution, but great as a spectator sport, which F1 needs if it is not to follow CART/INDYCAR into the doldrums.

 

[Paolo-LoveGT40 Modelworks]

Frank, do u think something can change (in better) since next year when they will delete the traction control?

 

[Russ Noble]

Good thinking Frank.

What about having reverse grids with half the points allocated for qualifying position and half for race results? i.e. Fastest qualifier gets maximum points for qualifying but starts from the back of the grid. That'd liven things up a bit! I'm a great fan of reverse grid races.

Maybe 50/50 isn't a good split, perhaps 40/60 qualifying/race.

I love reverse grid races, gives a good driver the opportunity to display his talents....

Cheers,

 

[David Morton]

Absolutely Frank.
I've been told that Spa had to be the ultimate yawn - I didn't see it as I was packing up to leave.
My daughter recorded it for me - maybe I'll leave it until the dark nights of winter .
No, change of mind - I'll free up some hard disc space instead.
Spa was the last race for me for the 2007 season and I was very happy to get home last night. It's time to take things a bit easier again.

 

[David Morton]

India from 2010 at a track to be built outside New Delhi.
Oh shit......................

 

[David Morton]

Another slant on the same crap.............

McLaren Boss told FIA Alonso threatened to give FIA email eveidence.

As qualifying prepared to take place at Spa-Francorchamps, a new row was brewing between Ron Dennis and FIA president Max Mosley.
While speaking to reporters about the espionage affair at the Belgian circuit, Mosley praised Fernando Alonso for blowing the whistle about incriminating emails.
The Briton's account did not match up with that of McLaren boss Dennis, who on Friday said he was in fact the source of the tip-off.
Mosley said he received a phone call from Dennis before the Hungarian GP following the now widely reported argument with Alonso.
Dennis told Mosley that the Spaniard was "threatening" to take incriminating evidence to the FIA.
"And then Ron said, 'But there isn't any information'," Mosley told reporters.
"(He said): '(It's) a completely empty threat. There's no information, there's nothing to come out'."
Mosley said he then wrote a letter to Alonso and the other McLaren drivers, and Alonso replied with the emails.
Dennis reacted to Mosley's comments by denying that he lied to the FIA.
"I put my integrity above everything," the McLaren boss said in an interview with ITV.
To the news agency Reuters, however, he admitted that his relationship with Alonso is far from cosy.
Dennis said: "My job is to win the world championship. My job isn't for people to love and hug me."

 

[Paolo-LoveGT40 Modelworks]

ahahahahaha..poor david!

 

[David Morton]

Paolo,
I went there (India) so many times in a previous life.
I have served my sentence,
I cannot contemplate a return visit. Ever.
The beer is just awful anyway.rockonsmile

 

[Mesa]

If true Alonso must be a nut case.... Who in the world would threaten a guy who builds the cars he risks his life in every time he climbs in? Oh sorry Fenando that braking system never failed like that on Hamilton's car........... Life at the top must be some weird twisted life indeed, be it owner or driver.

 

[Ian Anderson]

Ok so how I see it

Alonso has proved himself a pratt of note
He made threats and his bluff was called.

So can you see Ron offering him a drive next year?

Or can you see any other team offering him a drive knowing how stupidly he has behaved?

I recon in 2008 he'll be relegated to racing a dust cart on the local Spanish resort roads!

Ian

 

[Paolo-LoveGT40 Modelworks]

suspect for 2008 he will have Renault waiting for him..and probably easy win WC again..in friendly Flavio area..

 

[Pete McCluskey.]

If it is one thing I have learnt over my sixty odd years it is, never never try and blackmail the boss.

Alonso will not be at McLaren next year and wherever he goes he will not be trusted.

Paolo, I'm with you I'm thinking Renault, at a reduced salary? Or Williams?rockonsmile

David, when you watch Spa just put the first two laps on a loop and repeat for two hours. That may generate some excitement. Or alternatively watch the first lap, then open a bottle and invite Flavio's missus round for a drink.

 

[Russ Noble]

Yeah, the boss is always the boss.

Alonso has done himself no favours and made 2008 more difficult for McLaren.

What's the bet, that if in one of the future races Alonso's track position would potentially put him ahead of Hamilton on points, that he would encounter a disastrous pitstop or have a fuel rig problem and be short fueled.....

Just a thought, no constructors points at stake now.....

Cheers,

 

[David Morton]

Looks like Flav is pumping up on steroids. Or maybe it's Elisabeths cooking.

Chris - Don't pity Big Ron - he knew exactly what was going on and so did Whippy (Whitmarsh). All the crap about Big Ron's integrity in an article by Mexicali Joe ( Joe Ramirez) a few weeks ago was just that. Crap. Ron could not exact the control in McLaren that he does without knowing who is doing what, to who, and when.
There used to be Rule in the F1 rulebook that the conduct of subordinates was the responsibility of the team managers. It may still be in the rule book but who cares. None of the F1 management care. The 'J's (Kenwood) were monitoring Ferrari and other teams as well as long ago as 97, and in turn F were monitoring Mac and even Racemet(me), but nobody really cared .
Before all this saga goes away again, there will be a few more untruths and lies exposed and then they'll all kiss and make up, though it may take a while for Ron's team to shake the 'cheat' tag.

 

[Pete McCluskey.]

If copying someones go faster design is cheating then everyone in F1 has been doing it forever.

One example is ground effects and skirts, I think the Lotus 78 was the first F1 car to use them effectively, someone please correct me if I'm wrong. Shortly thereafter every car going around was using skirts and ground effects. Cheating? Well if using someone else's idea is cheating then yes.

I think the FIA and Ferrari are being bloody precious about the whole episode.

David, you will be interested to know that at the V8 Supercar race on Sunday there was a guy sitting on a hill near Sandown, relaying weather data back to one of the teams and another stooging around in a Helicopter checking how far the rain was from the track.

Imitation is the highest form of flattery.

P.S. Flav probably has to take steroids to keep up with her.

 

[Mesa]

From what I've seen Flav will need a tummy tuck just to reach the promised land (my girlfriend is just GROSSED out by the sight of the guy) ...then the 'roids might be of some benefit. I have not seen Flavio this year, is he alll buffed up? maybe he skipped the hard work at the gym and went straight to implants <LOL>

Silicone .....not just for the ladies anymore.