FORMULA 1 2009

[MIKA27]

Bourdais slams 'stupid' Kovalainen

Sebastien Bourdais has hit out at Heikki Kovalainen for his "stupid" move that cost them both the chance of finishing Sunday's British GP.

Fighting well down the order, Kovalainen moved aside to let his team-mate Lewis Hamilton take a position off him and then abruptly swung back onto the track right into the path of Toro Rosso's Bourdais.

The accident, which damaged Bourdais's front nosecone and Kovalainen back left tyre, saw both retire after first coming into the pits for repairs.

"He changed his line three times," Bourdais told the BBC. "He was inside, outside and inside again. The third time we touched.

"I don't know whose responsibility it is, but it looks a little stupid when you're fighting for 17th position."

However, Kovalainen, who had just let his team-mate Lewis Hamilton go by, insists it was Bourdais fault.

"I moved over to defend, but Bourdais just went into the back of me in the left rear corner,"he said.

"I was not distracted (by Hamilton). He had his tyres warmed up and had less fuel, so he was having a run at me into Turn Seven. He passed me and I was trying to re-join back in behind him.

"I saw there was someone behind me coming into Turn Eight. Then I just felt someone touch me and it punctured my left rear tyre. Game over."

MIKA: From where I was sitting... Heikki moved over to allow Lewis through and then moved back to defend against Bourdais which is allowed. And did Sebastian think that Heikki would just let him through as well? I think not bud! Go back to Indy Car.

[MIKA27]

Fans give hope to Silverstone

Silverstone bosses believe fan power has boosted their hopes of a place on next season's Formula One calendar.

The British Grand Prix attracted a cumulative crowd over the three days of 310,000 - including 120,000 for Sunday's race - the highest at the Northamptonshire circuit for 15 years.

The race is now due to switch to Donington Park for next year, but the track's ongoing financial problems - not helped by the threat of a breakaway series - continues to put their plans in doubt.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and FIA president Max Mosley both also suggested during the course of the weekend Silverstone may yet host the event next season.

With the venue an overwhelming favourite with the drivers, it is becoming increasingly difficult to see Silverstone not playing a part in the sport in the future.

Richard Phillips, managing director of Silverstone Circuits Ltd, said: "The support for Silverstone and the British Grand Prix over the past three days - from fans, drivers and teams - has been overwhelming.

"The fans have a real affinity with Silverstone, and the drivers love coming here. It's a fantastic circuit.

"You just have to look at the attendance figures over the past three days, and Sebastian Vettel's reaction to winning here, to see that Silverstone is a very special place."

Such was the reception Vettel received from the fans, he admitted afterwards regret at not being English.

Phillips added:[color="#2F4F4F"] "We have the best fans in the world and I sincerely hope to see them back at Silverstone next year.

"There have been growing concerns over Donington Park's ability to host the British Grand Prix, in 2010 and beyond, but comments over the weekend from Mr Ecclestone and the FIA have been reassuring.

"The support from fans over this weekend has undoubtedly had an impact on the way they are viewing the future of the British Grand Prix and Silverstone.

"We've said all along that Silverstone is ready to step in if Donington's plans fall over, and that remains the case.

"Silverstone has never looked so good. This year's British Grand Prix was phenomenal, one of the best run and well supported events I have ever worked on.

"We're hopeful we'll see everyone back here next year." [/color]

MIKA: Silverstone is old school, a classic F1 venue which SHOULD stay. Maybe if they just update the facilities a little, that should suffice. Silverstone isn't the greatest track for overtaking but fans and drivers alike love the venue.

[MIKA27]

Button: Vetel won't win that easily again

Jenson Button is praying for a warm German GP after the "bloody English weather" cost him any chance of a podium finish in Sunday's British GP.

The Championship leader began his home race sixth on the grid but lost places at the very start. Added to that he also had to contend with cold tyres as his Brawn GP battled to get any heat into its rubber.

As a result he finished down in sixth place and has now turned his attentions to the next race in German, where he intends making sure Sebastian Vettel doesn't again lead home a Red Bull 1-2.

"The bloody English weather - the sun didn't come out until after the race," he said.

"Hopefully Nurburgring will be warmer. If it is we'll be challenging. I don't think Vettel will be winning by 45 seconds there.

"I'd love to have won the British Grand Prix but it didn't happen."

MIKA: Well you win some, you lose some.....

Some drivers are great in the wet weather such as Rubens whilst others dominate on a dry surface. I'm looking forward to seeingthe German GP, that's one of my favourite races.

[OZCUBAN]

F1 deal ends threat of breakaway

An agreement has been reached between Formula 1's governing body and the teams to prevent a breakaway series.

The two parties had been engulfed in a bitter row over planned budgetary and technical changes for the 2010 season.

But it appears a resolution has now been found and, as part of the deal, Max Mosley has agreed not to stand for re-election as president of the FIA.

"There will be no split, there will be one F1 championship. We have agreed to a reduction of costs," said Mosley.

"The objective is to get back to the spending levels of the early 90s within two years."

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone added that he was "very happy common sense has prevailed" following a meeting of 120 members of the FIA in Paris aimed at resolving the crisis.

Ferrari chief president Luca di Montezemolo, head of the Formula One Teams Association (Fota), added: "I think the decisions we have shared this morning are important. We will have the rules of 2009, same rules for everybody.

markolee

"It means that we have stability.

"I think [Max Mosley] has done a very good fix of the problem. When you have reached an agreement everyone has to help in the same way."

Ahead of the meeting, Mosley had insisted that he would not step down as part of any potential agreement and might even seek re-election as head of world motor sport.

He hit out at what he described as "wholly unjustified criticism" of the FIA, adding: "It is for the FIA membership, and the FIA membership alone, to decide on its democratically elected leadership, not the motor industry and still less the individuals the industry employs to run its F1 teams."

However, it appears Mosley has now agreed to move aside when his fourth term as FIA president ends in October, saying: "I will not be up for re-election, now we have peace."

Furthermore, writs that had been threatened against Ferrari and the other teams in Fota - McLaren, BMW Sauber, Renault, Toyota, Red Bull Racing, Toro Rosso and Brawn GP - are likely to be shelved.

"Fota's public stance before this meeting was that they weren't in the mood for negotiation or compromise - and if we take that on board, the fact that they've got their way today must be seen as something of a capitulation by the FIA," reported BBC Five Live's David Croft.

I always thought there wasn't much between us, now we've agreed there isn't

FIA president Max Mosley

And that is a view shared by Ferrari, who issued a statement reading: "The FIA's World Motor Sports Council has approved all Fota's proposals."

It added: "The objective is to avoid continuous changes decided by one person alone."

However, Mosley sought to play down suggestions he had bowed to Fota's requests, telling BBC Sport: "I know it's an old cliche but everybody's won.

"What we wanted was to get new teams into F1. We've got new teams in, which we haven't been able to do for 10-15 years, and at the same time got costs down so independent teams are profitable

"If they're happy with what they (Fota) have got, fine, I've won what I wanted.

"As far as I'm concerned the teams were always going to get rid of me in October, well they still are. Whether the person who succeeds me will be more to their liking remains to be seen."

The agreement ends two months of wrangling since Mosley announced after a World Council meeting at the end of April that a voluntary £40m budget cap would be imposed from next season - a plan that prompted a rebellion from eight teams, with Fota announcing on Thursday they were planning a rival series.

But the new agreement ends that threat, while still maintaining the "financial viability" of teams which had been targeted with the initial budgetary restrictions.

Mosley explained: "There is no budget cap because costs will come down to the levels of early 1990s in two years - it's a different way of doing the same thing. I always thought there wasn't much between us, now we've agreed there isn't."

As part of the agreement, existing teams must help new outfits - Campos, US F1 and Manor - with their engines and chassis.

We look forward to working with the FIA Senate to achieve a prosperous and exciting future for Formula 1

Toyota president John Howett

Toyota president John Howett, the vice-chairman of Fota, hailed the unity of the teams even though Williams and Force India broke ranks and submitted unconditional 2010 entries earlier this month.

"This has been a challenging period," he said.

"But thanks to the unity of the Fota teams and the foresight of the World Motor Sport Council members we have achieved the right result for Formula 1," he said.

"We look forward to working with the FIA Senate to achieve a prosperous and exciting future for Formula 1 and its millions of fans around the world."

BBC sports news correspondent James Munro, reporting from Paris, said: "It's come as a bit of a surprise, given that Fota was planning to meet in Bologna on Thursday to discuss plans for the breakaway championship.

"But what we got today after a meeting of World Motorsport Council was an impromptu press conference and Mosley began by saying there will be no split, there will be one championship.

"He said that over the course of the negotiations he had been able to secure guarantees from the teams who were threatening to break away that they would try to rein back the levels of their spending to the levels they were spending in the early 90s.

"It was him that had come up with the idea that next season all teams would have a budget cap of about £40m, but there has clearly been a trade-off as he has also agreed to do what he says was always the plan - stand down as president of the FIA this October."

It is not the first time Mosley has promised to stand down as FIA president - in June 2004, he announced he would stand down from his position in October of that year, only to rescind his decision a month later and secure re-election.

But he was adamant that with his 70th birthday approaching, and with the row finally settled, there was no way he would be having a change of heart this time.

"As long as the teams behave themselves I will be gone," he said. "A deal is a deal and if it is not stuck to you sometimes have to reconsider things. However, I have absolute confidence that this resolution will be stuck to."

Fota was expected to address the media at a press conference on Thursday.

Story from BBC SPORT:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport2/hi...one/8116756.stm

Published: 2009/06/24 11:50:50 GMT

© BBC MMIX

Oz:I am Glad that a resolution has been reached I would have hated to ditch F-1 for a rival series (but would have done it),to me its always been about F-1 the history etc etc... but its also about the technology and the mechanical aspects and the speed it cannot under any circumstances be hobbled .

Oh and the best part Mosley is also not going to stand for re-election (what do expect from the son of a fascist )

good riddance I say.

Cheers Oz

[OZCUBAN]

BRAWN GP ANNOUNCES NEW TEAM PARTNERSHIP WITH GRAHAM-LONDON

Hi Guys Thought you might find this interesting these are such cool avant-garde watches(I want that one )

Graham_London_20Press_20Release_20BrawnGP_202009.pdf

Cheers

Oz

[MIKA27]

BRAWN GP ANNOUNCES NEW TEAM PARTNERSHIP WITH GRAHAM-LONDON

Hi Guys Thought you might find this interesting these are such cool avant-garde watches(I want that one )

Graham_London_20Press_20Release_20BrawnGP_202009.pdf

Cheers

Oz

WOW!!!!

The Chronofighter even looks as if it has a built in lighter for your stogies!!

I still have my Seiko Sportura Limited Edition Bar Honda watches;

2006 Model.

2007-08 Model

I may just have to get the Brauns!

[MIKA27]

Hockenheim no longer able to host German GP

Hockenheim would appear to have staged its last Formula One grand prix due to spiralling losses.

The city, which staged its first F1 race in 1970, suffered a £5.1million loss in hosting last season's German Grand Prix, and is no longer prepared to run the event.

The decision was taken following a stakeholders' meeting last night after which city mayor Dieter Gummer confirmed: "We will not be the promoters any more."

Gummer, however, is open to welcoming outside investment, whilst he confirmed talks have taken place with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone with regard to finding a solution.

As the German Grand Prix now alternates between Hockenheim and the Nurburging - the latter due to play host in just over a fortnight's time - there is a possibility there will be no race in Germany for 2010.

MIKA: No Way!!!!

"I can't quite understand the theory behind keeping an exciting track like Nurburgring out of the calendar. Tracks like N/Ring comes as a respite from the boring snorefests we have in races like Bahrain,Turkey,Barcelona, Valencia, Budapest. After Spa, its one of the exciting races.

I've been to this track in 2002 and I love it!

It seems F1 is losing alot of it's traditions such as Silverstone and now N/Ring....

[OZCUBAN]

Hi Mika

Guess what here is mine spooky or good taste i don't know

Cheers Oz

[OZCUBAN]

Mosley warning over F1 peace deal

Motorsport boss Max Mosley has claimed Formula 1's peace deal could be jeopardised by continuing antagonism between him and the sport's teams.

He accused the F1 Teams' Association (Fota) of misleading the media after an agreement to end the sport's civil war.

"If you wish the agreement we made to have any chance of survival, you must rectify your actions," Mosley said.

Mosley, who had said he would not stand for re-election in October, added that he now considered his "options open".

In the letter, written on Wednesday to Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, the chairman of Fota, Mosley accused Fota of falsely stating he had behaved like a dictator and that he had been forced from office.

And he hinted that he might reconsider the deal that secured an end to the political row in the sport.

In that deal, Mosley abandoned his plans for a cost cap but secured the commitment of the teams to F1 until 2010 and agreed not to stand again for the FIA presidency in October.

"A fundamental part of [the deal] was that we would both present a positive and truthful account to the media," Mosley wrote.

"I was therefore astonished to learn that Fota has been briefing the press that Mr (Michel) Boeri (president of the FIA Senate) has taken charge of F1, something which you know is completely untrue; that I had been forced out of office, also false; and, apparently, that I would have no role in the FIA after October, something which is plain nonsense, if only because of the FIA statutes [which grant former presidents a place on the senate]."

In the letter, leaked to news agencies, he added: "There was no need for me to involve myself further in Formula 1 once we had a settlement.

"Equally, I had a long-standing plan not to seek re-election in October. It was therefore possible for me to confirm both points to you yesterday.

"Given your and Fota's deliberate attempt to mislead the media, I now consider my options open. At least until October, I am president of the FIA with the full authority of that office.

"After that it is the FIA member clubs, not you or Fota, who will decide on the future leadership of the FIA."

Mosley demanded an apology at at a news conference held by Fota on Thursday.

No doubt we face a difficult period and this may well result in short-term problems in Formula 1

FIA president Max Mosley

There was no apology there, and Fota's members expressed a wish to have a neutral figure governing their sport, but Di Montezemolo did praise Mosley's tenure as FIA president.

"I have to say that after a month of confrontations, we are pleased to thank the president of the FIA for his decision to leave the FIA in October, for the work that he has done - particularly for safety because this was, and still is, a big priority in F1 and the sport," Di Montezemolo said.

"F1 has made a huge, huge improvement in safety. We want to thank the FIA and the World Council for the unanimous agreement (on Wednesday) to approve and accept Fota's proposals."

However, the Italian's efforts clearly failed to placate Mosley, who sent a subsequent letter to all the presidents of the FIA member clubs urging them to appoint a "strong president" in the wake of what he sees as bullying by Fota.

It follows calls from Fota vice-president on John Howett for Mosley successor to be "independent".

The inference was a man such as Jean Todt, currently favourite, would not be an ideal candidate as Mosley's successor given his prior length of service with Ferrari.

But in Mosley's letter to FIA member clubs on Friday, he wrote: "The question of FIA president is a matter exclusively for you and most definitely not for the vehicle manufacturers who make up Fota.

The championship has had difficult times in the past, and no doubt will again in the future. But that is no reason to hand control to an outside body, still less one with little or no understanding of sporting ethics and under the control of an industry we have constantly to monitor

FIA president Max Mosley

"To have an FIA president under the influence of the vehicle manufacturers would put at jeopardy all the excellent work our organisation... if nothing else, this attempt to tell FIA members who they should or should not elect demonstrates precisely why the FIA needs a strong president who is experienced and knowledgeable."

And the 70-year-old hinted again that he was prepared for further ructions with Fota, "even if this leads to difficulties in the sport", he wrote.

"No doubt we face a difficult period and this may well result in short-term problems in Formula 1.

"It is possible Fota will set up an independent series. That is their right, provided they do so under the International Sporting Code.

"But the Formula 1 world championship will continue to be run by the FIA as it has been for 60 years.

"The championship has had difficult times in the past, and no doubt will again in the future. But that is no reason to hand control to an outside body, still less one with little or no understanding of sporting ethics and under the control of an industry we have constantly to monitor."

Story from BBC SPORT:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport2/hi...one/8119983.stm

Published: 2009/06/26 14:25:34 GMT

© BBC MMIX

Oz Here we go again

[MIKA27]

You know what...?

I believe FOTA should apologise to MOSLEY, give him what he wants to hear and be rid of him!

I really do not wish to continue reading about the politics of F1 but rather focus on the sport. I think all fans of F1 would agree.

[OZCUBAN]

Bridgestone to close tyre compound gap

Bridgestone has decided to close the gap between the tyre compounds it will bring to the four races from the Hungarian Grand Prix later this month.

At all rounds so far this year apart from Monaco, Formula 1’s tyre supplier has brought tyre types which are two compounds apart in its range – such as super-soft and medium – in a move intended to help spice up the racing and strategy.

However, the Japanese firm says it will revert to using tyres just one compound apart in Hungary, Valencia, Belgium and Italy due to the nature of the respective circuits.

Hirohide Hamashima, Bridgestone’s director of motorsport tyre development, said: “We have made the change to the tyre allocation concept based on the data we have collected from races so far this year combined with our knowledge of the tracks we visit for these races.

“The cars of 2009 are very different to those used last year so we have learnt a lot so far this year, and they do use their tyres differently from before.

“Hungary is a circuit where the characteristics demand our softest tyres.

“This is also true for street courses, and we used the softest allocation earlier in the year at Monaco, and will again in Valencia.

“In Spa the weather temperatures can be quite cool, so the hard compound could have caused difficulties, and the super soft would have been too soft for this track, so that means the allocation of medium and soft is obvious.

“In Monza the hard compound would have given too big a difference between it and the soft, so we will bring the soft and the medium.”

Bridgestone’s move to increase tyre disparity in 2009 has generally seen teams face a challenge to get both compounds working well over a weekend, with the season-opener in Australia in particular resulting in drivers suffering wildly fluctuating fortunes on the super-soft and medium rubber.

OZ Lets hope this brings the field a bit closer together and we don't see the brawns suffer as much like at Silverstone because they have the ability to look after their tyres better than other teams

Cheers Oz

[MIKA27]

Button: I'm the best

Jenson Button cheekily reckons he's "the best" racing driver in history.

Although he's currently sitting at the top of Formula One, having claimed six victories in the opening eight races of this year's Championship, the Brit's road to success has been anything but simple.

In fact, it has also been anything but a hint that he's the greatest.

And yet that's how Button billed himself when the affable Piers Morgan, interviewing him for August's GQ Magazine, asked the Brawn GP driver for his opinion on the greatest racing driver in history.

"Me, I'm the best," was Button's response. No doubt with his tongue firmly in his cheek.

The interview also touched on last year's Championship success by fellow Brit Lewis Hamilton.

Asked for his thoughts on Hamilton's 2008 title, 29-year-old said: "It doesn't matter who wins if I don't. I only care if I win.

"I'm jealous of anyone else who wins.

"But him winning was great for the sport and good for me because I was able to get my head down without much attention and get a great car sorted out.

"I didn't have to worry about people writing rubbish about me because Lewis was getting it all."

The two Brits, though, have had a remarkable turnaround in form this season. While Button from being lapped to winning races and doing the lapping himself, Hamilton has gone from race winner to the chap finishing a lap down.

As such Button has already put a lap on Hamilton on more than one occasions this season but instead of crowing about it, he has a bit of sympathy for the trials the McLaren driver is having to go through.

"I know everyone loved that! Lewis was asked about it on the BBC and he said nothing," he said when asked what it was like to lap Hamilton.

"But he's in a difficult situation now, the kind I've been in a lot before, and it's tough for him but we'll see what he's really made of, and I think we'll find he's mentally strong, and very quick, and will come through it well."

MIKA: I like JB but for him to say he is the greatest, that's a big statement and shows he's possibly letting his succes get to his head...Will this effect his future races if this attitude continues?

[strayvector]

Button: I'm the best

Jenson Button cheekily reckons he's "the best" racing driver in history.

...

"Me, I'm the best," was Button's response. No doubt with his tongue firmly in his cheek.

....

MIKA: I like JB but for him to say he is the greatest, that's a big statement and shows he's possibly letting his succes get to his head...Will this effect his future races if this attitude continues?

Cheekily and "tongue firmly in his cheek" means he was completely joking.

[MIKA27]

Webber: Only rain could've stopped me

First-time grand prix winner Mark Webber admits missing out on victory at Silverstone made him more determined to win the German GP.

Webber was odds on favourite to win the race at the Nurburgring after starting on pole, but he had to overcome several obstacles to win his maiden grand prix and lead home Red Bull's third 1-2 of the season.

"It's incredible," he said on BBC. "I wanted to win so badly after Silverstone. The only thing I thought could beat me was the rain."

Webber bumped into Rubens Barrichello on the first lap and consequently lost P1 to the Brawn GP driver. The incident also cost him a drive-through penalty.

"I lost Rubens completely off the start and banged into him," he said. "It's not normally my style, so I had to take the drive-through and recover from that. It's a great day for me."

The Australian had a difficult build-up to the 2009 season after breaking his leg in November and was forced to take a backseat to team-mate Sebastian Vettel for the opening fear races.

"It was a difficult winter, Sebastian showed in winter testing what the car could do, so I kept my motivation high and I was hurting a lot.

"The team had patience with me, everyone in Australia and a few people who doubted me too so hello to them as well. So thank you to everyone who helped me here."

The Australian reckons that despite the gap to Button, the championship is now very much open.

Webber's victory saw himself and Red Bull Racing close the gap to Brawn GP and their Championship leader Jenson Button. The Australian is now just 22.5pts behind Button while Red Bull are second in the Constructors' race, 19.5 adrift of Brawn.

"They are both still up for grabs," he said of the titles. "Brawn are leading the Constructors', which they deserve to be, but we are not giving up, pushing as hard as we can to be consistent.

"The biggest problems at the factory is building a trophy cabinet, the hard work is being paid off. We love fighting against teams like Ferrari and McLaren, so to take the fight to the big boys is a big credit for us."

MIKA: About time this bloke won a race. Well deserved.

[MIKA27]

Barrichello accuses Brawn team of 'making me lose'

Rubens Barrichello has launched an incredible rant against his Brawn team, accusing them of 'making me losing the race', that will surely put his career with the team in severe doubt.

In an outburst that plunged to new depths in self pity, Barrichello accused the team of throwing away victory in Sunday's German GP. Remarkably, Barrichello made the accusations without speaking to the team before he questioned his team's competence to the BBC.

Asked 'where it had gone wrong' for him, Barrichello replied: "Our strategy from the pitwall. The team have shown how to lose a race. I am terribly upset.

"I did all I could but they made me lose the race basically. I feel sorry for myself.

"To be honest, I wish I could just go straight on the plane and go home. I don't want to talk to anyone in the team because I don't want to understand. All it will be from them is 'blah, blah blah'."

"I'm not saying they are favouring anyone, all I'm saying is that they have given a good show in how to lose."

MIKA: Rubens, Rubens, Rubens!!! When will you learn to stop your complaining, blame and self pity and just get on with it! Some things never change with this guy. He did this with Ferrari and now that he is in such an incredible team with virtually a new life in F1, he's about to throw away his career if he continues to disrespect his team.....

[OZCUBAN]

Webber proud to end Oz F1 win drought

Monday, 13 July 2009 12:25

Mark Webber has spoken of his pride at ending Australia’s 28-year Formula 1 victory drought in Sunday’s German Grand Prix.

Webber became the first Australian to win a grand prix since Alan Jones at Las Vegas in 1981, and only the third in history after Jones and three-time world champion Sir Jack Brabham, with his dominant drive at the Nurburgring.

The 32-year-old said it meant a huge amount to him to put his country back on the F1 map.

“It’s very, very important for me to win because not many Australian drivers have reached Formula 1 and there are even fewer that are successful,” said Webber.

“I’ve had a long career [and] for sure I wanted better results but this year has been very, very special and now we are able to say that we’ve won a grand prix fair and square, which is nice.

“It’s a real message to the Australian people.

“I’ve always tried to represent my country as best as I can.

“We’re a very proud sporting nation. We have done well on two wheels, on motorbikes with Mick [Doohan] and with Casey [stoner], but the motorbikes aren’t motorsport in general at world level, where we haven’t been amazing.

“It’s a great day for me and Australia and that’s why it was a special one.”

After seven and a half years of largely unrewarded effort, in which he was more lauded for his qualifying pace than his race results, Webber hopes his maiden win will prove a turning point.

“I hope they are like muscles – when you get one you get a few more,” he said.

“I have done a few grands prix now. I think this is the first year I’ve really had a chance to win grands prix.

“I have had a few second places but today pulled the win off.

“But what is really important to me is that it wasn’t handed to me. I had to work for it.”

The normally stoic Webber let out a prolonged cry of jubilation over the team radio after taking the chequered flag and choked back the tears on the podium.

“I’ve certainly had testing times in my career with unreliable cars and being in a position to get results hasn’t happened for whatever reason,” he reflected.

“It’s happening at the moment and as you say there was a lot of emotion.

“What happened today is not going to change my life massively but it’s a very, very important thing.

“I will sleep well tonight, everything’s fine but I’m not a different person because I’ve won one race.

“I’m just very, very happy that I’ve won it fair and square, that I’ve beaten everyone else today, so that’s the most important thing to me.”

Webber also admitted that his rehabilitation from a broken leg after a winter cycling accident had taken longer than he expected, despite his protestations of fitness in the run-up to the season.

“I think I was kidding myself a little bit,” he said.

“I thought I was ready to go for winter testing but I wasn’t.

“It is absolutely clear that the leg was a long way from healed and it was still broken.

“It was just the metal holding it in place, so it has come a long way since then.

“Time has been a little bit on my side. I was lucky that Melbourne was put back a little bit in the calendar and a few things have gone my way, along with having fantastic people around me, like Roger [Cleary], my physio.

“We spent a lot of time together getting back and even things like walking in the swimming pool and things like that in the first part of January was very tough for me.

“But there is always someone worse off and I always stayed positive, and I knew that looking at the times Sebastian was doing in testing the car was going to be quick.

“That gave me incredible motivation to be ready.”

OZ:Well done Mark well deserved been a long time coming,let the Battle Royal commence

Cheers Oz

[MIKA27]

Bourdais set to be dropped

Toro Rosso are due to confirm on Tuesday that Sebastien Bourdais has left the team, with Jaime Alguersuari poised to become the youngest driver in Formula One history.

Frenchman Bourdais was given his F1 chance after winning four successive ChampCar titles in the United States from 2004 to 2007.

But the 30-year-old struggled throughout his time in the sport, winning just six points from the 27 grands prix in which he competed.

Bourdais was overshadowed last year by Sebastian Vettel, who gave the often uncompetitive team a dream win in last season's Italian Grand Prix.

Given another chance this season, Bourdais again found himself second best to Swiss rookie Sebastien Buemi, who out-qualified his more experienced team-mate seven to two.

Bourdais' F1 career ended in suitably downbeat fashion in Sunday's German Grand Prix when he retired with a hydraulic failure at the Nurburgring.

Although team principal Franz Tost refused to confirm Bourdais' departure after the race, reserve and test driver Alguersuari is expected to step up to the plate for the rest of the season.

The rising Spanish star is the reigning British F3 champion and another product of the Red Bull Young Driver Development programme.

Alguersuari will take his place in the record books at the Hungarian Grand Prix in a fortnight by becoming the sport's youngest ever driver at the age of 19 years and 126 days.

That would beat New Zealander Mike Thackwell's record by 57 days set in the 1980 Canadian Grand Prix.

MIKA: I think removing Bordais is an excellent decision, he really has done nothing positive and in most cases, seemed overwhelmed to be driving a 'real' race car.

Most guys who are often successful in champ car always believe they have what it takes to be a successful F1 driver but quite often, that is not the case.

I think the closest person who was successful in F1 (To a degree) was Juan Pablo Montoya, a great driver, fast, focused but often reckless but great nonetheless. In the end however, he too left the sport.

[MIKA27]

Massa downplays significance of German podium

Felipe Massa has downplayed suggestions that his podium finish in Germany is a sign that Ferrari are back to their best.

Ferrari's 2009 season has been anything but stellar as the Scuderia's F60 has lacked pace while too many mistakes have been made by the drivers and the men on the pitwall.

But the Italian marque seemed to have put their dismal first half of the campaign behind them when Massa achieved his first top-three finish of the season in Germany.

And although delighted to be back on the podium, Massa has downplayed claims that Sunday's result is an indication that Ferrari are back at the front.

"A podium is always important. Third place is a good result for us but we cannot say it's really our return. I think we are improving the car step-by-step a little bit, so I think that's good motivation for the people," he said.

"So we know if we work we can manage to have a good car, a competitive car, so I push my team very hard because as soon as possible I want a car that gives us a chance to fight for victory and for the championship.

"It's what Ferrari is able to do and we have done for so many years.

"But nothing is coming for free, so we need to work and push very hard to steer things in the right direction, so that we can have a car that will bring us into this place (indicates the first place position), not on the left (in third position), in the middle.

"I think that's our aim and that's what we're working for."

MIKA: The more I read about this guy, the more I like him. I stand corrected because to go back 2 years ago, he was arrogant, reckless and really nothing that special but this season and even towards the end of last, Massa has showed a great deal of calm, thought, maturity and skill as a driver. This is a great example of a driver who whilst is not having the best of seasons, is so level headed and this is the trait I most admire about a true driver.

I say all of the above and I am not really a Massa fan.

[MIKA27]

Alonso: Renault had podium pace in Germany

Fernando Alonso believes Renault had the "potential" to finish on the podium in Germany, giving the Spaniard hope for the second half of the season.

After a trying first half of the campaign, which yielded just 11 points for the double World Champion, Alonso is seeing signs of improvement after a solid performance around the Nurburging on Sunday.

Despite starting the race from 12th position on the grid, Alonso quickly made his way into the top eight, finishing in seventh place and setting the race's fastest lap time on the way.

"It is definitely a step forward," said the Spaniard. "I'm quite happy with the race but there is a little bit of frustration because two points is not enough for us.

"It doesn't make a lot of difference but we had the potential to be maybe on the podium because we have been quicker than the Ferraris all weekend and Felipe is third. So I am quite optimistic and confident for the coming races."

"Definitely we improved the car. Sometimes you make some steps in the car and you cannot really feel it and the positions remain more or less the same, but it seems this weekend the parts we put on really work and finally we did a step forward."

The Renault driver, though, still has some concerns about the team's overall performance, specifically singling out qualifying as a time when Renault need to up their game.

"We need to concentrate on Saturday, to be in the top five, top six in qualifying and then after that I think the race pace is good enough to keep those positions," he told Autosport.

"If we are qualifying 10th, we are out of position in the race because we are quicker than the cars in front of us but we have traffic. Hopefully in Budapest we can improve Saturday."

MIKA: I must admit, Renault did have a great drive the last GP, well done.

[MIKA27]

Sutil & Kimi refuse to play the blame game

Both Kimi Raikkonen and Adrian Sutil are refusing to blame each other for their coming together at the German GP.

Not for the first time, an accident between Raikkonen and Sutil ended the German's chances of a points-scoring finish. However, unlike back in Monaco last season, this time Sutil admits he was the one who did the touching.

"In the first stint I did really well and it was looking very promising as I was up to second by my first stop," said the Force India driver who had been fighting for points when his car was damaged in the accident.

"When I went out of the pit lane I saw Kimi coming on the outside of the corner and I just tried to hold my line but he went to the outside and I touched him and lost part of my front wing.

"That's really when I thought the race was over for the points as I had to come back in. I kept pushing hard though as you never know what will happen."

Meanwhile, Raikkonen billed the accident, which his car came away from unscathed, as a "racing incident."

"I don't think it was anybody's fault," the Finn told the BBC. "It was just a normal racing incident.

"Unfortunately we touched, but I don't know what I can do, because I was on the outside and cannot see everything in this situation."

MIKA: This is how it should be. Accidents can happen and when two drivers are doing their best to race and in Sutils case, keep in line to avoid an accident, they can still occur and shouldn't be blamed on 'a' driver as such. That's motor sport.

[OZCUBAN]

Webber 'could be the new Mansell'

By Andrew Benson

BBC Sport at Nurburgring

Mark Webber's maiden win at the German Grand Prix could open the floodgates for his career, according to his Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.

Webber took a dominant victory at the Nurburgring to end a 130-race drought since his Formula 1 debut in 2002.

Horner said it could be the trigger Webber needs to win regularly.

"He could be the next Nigel Mansell," Horner said. "I remember when he got his first win - his career took off and it took him a long time to get there."

Webber has developed a reputation as F1's unluckiest driver - and at the Nurburgring it briefly appeared as if he was again going to fall short when everything seemed set up for him.

I hope wins are like muscles. When you get one, you get a few more

Mark Webber

He took pole position and was in a strong position to win because of the strategies the drivers around him had taken.

His task became much harder when he was given a drive-through penalty for causing a collision with Brawn's Rubens Barrichello on the run down to the first corner.

But Horner said the team always felt the win was possible because Barrichello and other leading cars were being held up by McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen and Webber drove a superb race to overcome his disadvantage.

"I hope wins are like muscles," Webber said. "When you get one, you get a few more. I have done a few grands prix now but I think this is the first year I have really had the chance to win grands prix.

"What is really important to me is that it wasn't handed to me. I had to work for it.

"It would have been a lot easier obviously without the little penalty but apart from that it was reasonably straightforward."

The win was particularly special for Webber as he has bounced back this season after breaking his right leg and shoulder in a mountain bike accident in Australia last November.

He had two titanium screws taken out of the leg before this race but there is still a rod helping the injury heal.

"Sebastian showed in winter testing what the car could do and that kept my motivation high while I was hurting a lot with all the rehab," Webber said.

"I thought I was ready to go for winter testing but I wasn't. The leg was a long way from being healed. It was just metal holding it in place, so it has come a long way since then.

"But I had a lot of good people around me and the team have been incredibly patient with me as well. I want to thank them for what they did for me over the winter.

"And I always stayed positive. Looking at the times Sebastian was doing in testing gave me a lot of motivation to keep going.

"It has been a long road to get here, but thanks to all the people who believed in me and supported me. And there have been a few people who doubted me as well. So hello to them as well."

The win puts Webber third in the drivers' championship, 22.5 points behind leader Jenson Button and 1.5 points behind his Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel.

Horner has made it clear the team will continue to give both drives equal treatment until one of them is out of the running in the championship.

"Both titles are still up for grabs," Webber said. "There's no question about it, the guys at (the Red Bull factory in) Milton Keynes have produced a special car.

"Brawn have a good car but we are not giving up that's for sure. The big problem at our factory at the moment is building a big enough trophy. It's a good problem to have."

Vettel, who finished second in Germany and paid tribute to Webber's performance.

"He was unbeatable today, he was quicker than all of us so he totally deserved to win," the German said.

Story from BBC SPORT:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport2/hi...one/8146869.stm

Published: 2009/07/12 17:21:01 GMT

© BBC MMIX

Oz:I think this is a fair assessment of Marks career so far.

Mansell one of my all time heros (F-1) had a similar start to his career also,a lot of it has to do with timing and being on top of your game and being at the right team with the right car at the right time evidence of this is Lewis Hamilton in 2009 begs the question how much is lewis and how much the car.

All i know is that this years championship has only just begun

Cheers Oz

[OZCUBAN]

F1 row nears endgame

The paddock at the Nurburgring is a low-key place this weekend, but behind the scenes there have been ground-shaking developments that could change the face of Formula 1.

It appears that Max Mosley's latest manoeuvrings in the political battle in the sport have backfired.

The motives behind the FIA president's actions in the last fortnight are not entirely clear but their consequences are coming into focus.

To recap briefly, on 24 June it appeared that Mosley, F1 commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone and Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo had come to a deal that ended the threat of Ferrari and seven other leading teams setting up a rival championship.

Their agreement was widely - and accurately - reported as a victory for the eight 'rebel' teams, who are represented by the umbrella group Fota.

But two days later, Mosley - apparently upset by what he interpreted as the teams' ill-advised triumphalism, and by the widespread perception that he had been defeated - hinted that he could go back on his guarantee that he would not stand in October's FIA presidential elections, which had been part of the peace deal.

And this week, through the proxy of FIA technical delegate Charlie Whiting, he told the eight Fota teams that they did not have entries for 2010 - despite the fact that the FIA had published an entry list with them on it. That led to renewed talk of a Fota breakaway, as a last-resort option.

Mosley and Fota are actually very close to an agreement on all matters of issue, but the teams are not prepared to sign any legally binding documents until they are absolutely sure that the FIA president will not renege on his part of the bargain.

The shenanigans have deeply concerned CVC, the venture capital group that owns F1's commercial rights. Sources tell me that CVC is very nervous about what it perceives as the risk Mosley is putting on its business, and it is exerting pressure to ensure it is removed.

Behind the scenes, I'm told, CVC and Fota are finalising a new commercial agreement with Ecclestone's F1 Management company (FOM). The plan is apparently to tie the three entities together and then present Mosley with a fait accompli.

Effectively they will say: "This is what we have agreed. These are the new arrangements for the world's premier single-seater championship. We would like to run this with the FIA as its F1 world championship, so we would like you to sign these contracts, on our terms. But if you don't, fine. We will go and do it ourselves."

There is no obvious reason for Mosley not to sign, but it will be made clear to him that, if he doesn't, CVC will launch legal action against him for breach of contract.

At the same time, it appears that a new Concorde Agreement - the legal agreement between the teams, the FIA and FOM that enshrines the relationship between them, the teams' rights and the distribution of funds - is ready for signing. And, as of Saturday, that is scheduled to happen on Wednesday.

In theory, this should be a way out of the impasse in which F1's senior figures currently find themselves. Certainly, that is what many insiders hope.

But when I asked a senior figure whether this was now the endgame, he gave me a withering look and said: "No, because as soon as this is sorted out we have to work out what happens with everything after 2012."

For Mosley, though, it does appear that his four decades in a central position in F1's power games may be coming to an end - even if it should be remembered that, as an ex-president, he would have a place on the FIA Senate and might well be able to wield influence from there, and he might also succeed in having an ally such as ex-Ferrari boss Jean Todt elected as president.

Intriguingly, people are also beginning to look at what all this means for Ecclestone.

As this row has dragged on, it has become clear that he does not have the near-miraculous fixing powers of old. The fact that the teams have had direct negotiations with CVC is another new development. So Ecclestone's remarks last weekend about Adolf Hitler - which have caused deep disquiet among the major multi-national companies that back F1, and are said to have infuriated CVC - were badly timed as well as ill-advised.

All of which has led to speculation that his position may not be secure in the medium to long term.

F1 without Bernie Ecclestone as its powerbroker and money-maker? Now that really would be the start of a new era.

Oz: I think that the winds of change are upon us and remember change is a good thing (stops stagnation ) wether its F-1 or a breakaway series I just want to see the best cars and drivers and some really good racing at the cutting edge of technology

[MIKA27]

Oz:I think this is a fair assessment of Marks career so far.

Mansell one of my all time heros (F-1) had a similar start to his career also,a lot of it has to do with timing and being on top of your game and being at the right team with the right car at the right time evidence of this is Lewis Hamilton in 2009 begs the question how much is lewis and how much the car.

All i know is that this years championship has only just begun

Cheers Oz

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How right you are Oz.

Red Bull have a dominant vehicle this season, Adrian Newey at his very best, RBR, both Vettell and Webber are using this to their advantage and with another 80 points up for grabs, makes this seasons GP a nail biter as to who will take the crown.

Placing aside the politics earlier on this season, we seem to be having some great races thus far, a great deal of challenges from various teams and seeing Brawn GP were looking as if the 'race was in the bag', this may not be so....?

[OZCUBAN]

Hi Mika

Good posts mate i agree on all points I also like drivers that show strength of character etc etc....Keep up the good work

Cheers Oz

[MIKA27]

Hi Mika

Good posts mate i agree on all points I also like drivers that show strength of character etc etc....Keep up the good work

Cheers Oz

You too my friend, love reading your posts!

Finally, we seem to have a season of 'pure' racing that is exciting to watch, no more politics, but racing.