OZCUBAN Posted July 14, 2009 Posted July 14, 2009 German G.P was good for all the right reasons But 3 mins from home in the taxi from airport got result on cabbies radio absolutely spewing (not happy jan) still enjoyed race though Cheers Oz :
MIKA27 Posted July 14, 2009 Author Posted July 14, 2009 German G.P was good for all the right reasons But 3 mins from home in the taxi from airport got result on cabbies radio absolutely spewing (not happy jan)still enjoyed race though Cheers Oz : DAMN, I hate it when you miss a race and hear the results before you get to watch the re-run! Lucky that Ten HD show re-runs a couple days after the race.
IceChant Posted July 17, 2009 Posted July 17, 2009 Great race, I watched it only this afternoon. I moved city and don't have tv the time being, thanks to internet... Well earned victory about time Mark Webber will win.
OZCUBAN Posted July 21, 2009 Posted July 21, 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix preview There's a world championship fight hotting up, and a host of sleeping giants clawing their way back towards contention, but the biggest story of the Hungarian Grand Prix could be the fortunes of a relatively unknown 19-year-old driving what has recently been the slowest car in the field. Jaime Alguersuari has found himself thrust into a Toro Rosso race seat at the age of 19, making him Formula 1's youngest ever race driver - and in the new restricted testing era, Alguersuari's giant leap could have major implications for other young drivers on the cusp of greatness. The testing ban was bad news for potential rookies, as with little prospect of getting them up to speed during the reduced winter allowance, teams were more likely to stick with experienced drivers. Conversely, it also opened the door to more mid-year sackings, for if a team felt it simply had to drop its incumbent driver sooner or later, it made sense to bring the replacement in during the summer and use the remaining races to at least ensure they hit the ground running in 2010. That appears to be the plan with Alguersuari, although the possibility of World Rally legend Sebastien Loeb also featuring in Toro Rosso's plans raises question marks over whether the young Spaniard is being groomed for a big future or just keeping the seat warm. Alguersuari has been highly rated since karting, he impressed by winning the British Formula 3 title at the first attempt, knows most of the remaining tracks from his junior career, and has far more car racing mileage under his belt than Kimi Raikkonen did when joining F1. However, unlike Raikkonen, who benefited from a full winter of testing, Alguersuari"s only F1 experience comes from street demonstration events and straightline tests. Critics also point to his slightly underwhelming current eighth place in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, a less highly regarded GP2 alternative (although it did produce Robert Kubica and Sebastian Vettel), where he has been fast but so far unable to consistently beat the more experienced drivers. Adding to the pressure is the fact that Alguersuari will step into a close relation of the fastest car in the field. Toro Rosso has been left behind in recent months, but from Hungary it will become the final team to add a double diffuser, as it receives more of the upgrades that have turned parent team Red Bull into a seemingly unstoppable world-beater since Silverstone. The last time STR received such a delivery from the Red Bull Technologies factory, it set off a surge in form that culminated in Vettel's astounding Monza win. So if all goes well - if he learns fast and is allowed time to get up to speed - this could be a massive opportunity for Alguersuari, and for other young drivers, if he can prove that the modern rookie can make up for a lack of track mileage with simulator work and is therefore a better bet than clinging on to a faded star. But if this proves to be too much too soon, and bear in mind how excited the fervent Spanish fans will be to see a rising star joining Fernando Alonso on the grid, then he's unlikely to get a second chance and what could have been a promising F1 career might be over before he turns 20... Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello and Sebastian Vettel may well sympathise with Alguersuari, for they all took similarly fast-track routes to the top, albeit in eras when they could at least rack up testing time first. And all three have their own sources of immense pressure to cope with in Hungary too. For Button, two successive defeats - by a hefty margin too - have given the impression that his title campaign is lurching off the rails. Still win-less this year, Barrichello did not make his life any easier with his public rant against the Brawn team in Germany, for while Ross Brawn expertly diffused the situation with some deft responses to journalists, Rubens' harsh words will be tough to forget. And for Vettel, the pressure comes from the inter-team challenge, as Mark Webber's breakthrough victory at the Nurburgring raised new questions about which of the Red Bull drivers stands the best chance of chasing down Button. With its virtually guaranteed sunshine, Hungary is set to reveal whether Brawn has been toppled from its dominant position just because the Silverstone and Nurburgring weather was too cold for its characteristics, or because Red Bull is now simply faster, although the picture will be skewed by the developments both teams are throwing at their cars for this weekend. If the status quo remains as it did two weeks ago, then Brawn is in trouble, for not only will Red Bull run away with the race again, but the rapidly improving McLaren, the steadily ever more competitive Ferrari, and the Renault that Alonso set such phenomenal race times with in Germany could force Button down towards the lower reaches of the points. On the other hand, this could be the weekend when Button reclaims control of the title fight and crushes his rivals' dreams at the circuit where he took his infamous first victory three years ago. Few used to look forward to the Hungaroring - but now it's far from the only track where overtaking is very tough and a lack of other racing leaves the surface filthy off-line, and with things getting closer in the points and an intriguing newcomer in the field, there is plenty to look forward to. For most fans, Button versus the Red Bulls will be the focal point, but for the ambitious young drivers in GP2, F3 and other feeder series, the bigger issue will be whether Alguersuari can convince F1 to shed its anxiety about under-prepared rookies and give youth a chance. OZ: The season is certainly hotting up and all eyes will be on the newbie Alguersuari,wether he can he can perform at the top level only time will tell he cannot do any worse than bourdais. The hungoring is not one of my favorite circuits but always seems to produce good racing though i still can't understand why it is still on the calendar ,but that aside should be a cracker of a race Cheers Oz
OZCUBAN Posted July 21, 2009 Posted July 21, 2009 Patrick says no F1 switch in 2010 IndyCar star Danica Patrick appears to have ruled out joining the new Team US F1 in 2010, admitting it is “not in my heart” to make the switch to Formula 1. The female ace has been linked to a drive with the Ken Anderson and Peter Windsor’s North Carolina-based operation since the new team first confirmed its bid for next season’s grid in February, the founders aiming to secure the services of at least one American driver. But while both Anderson and F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone have expressed interest in the possibility of her making the switch, Patrick herself seems to have now shut the door on any move despite currently being a free agent at the end of the IndyCar season. Asked in an interview with the Los Angeles Times newspaper if she had narrowed down the series' she was considering driving in next year, she said: "I'd say it's probably not F1." Although Patrick said in February that she would be willing to speak to US F1 should the team get in touch after speculation first emerged about a potential F1 switch, five months on she says she hasn’t had contact with the team. The 27-year-old added that a move away from American racing was not a particular ambition of hers. "Not really, and the fact that to my knowledge they've never called,” she said when asked whether she was interested in joining US F1. "I've had opportunities to take it a step further with Formula 1, and I don't want to lead anyone down a path. “It's not in my heart to go there. I've explored Europe before. “I particularly like to be here [in America] and I like my family and I like my friends and I like my creature comforts of my home country." In the American media Patrick has been repeatedly linked with a move to NASCAR for next season, while rumours of a switch to Chip Ganassi – which runs both IndyCar and NASCAR operations – has also been mooted. Asked about the latter speculation, she said: “I already drive for a great team [Andretti Green Racing], so I need to be on a great team no matter what I do. "At the end of the day the team has to make sense, the deal's got to make sense, the progression has to make sense. I might race IndyCar and never go to NASCAR at all. I'm not really sure right now. We'll see." OZ: Well I for one would like to see her in F-1 apart from being real easy on the eye she is an incredibly talented driver to boot,its a shame we don't get to see Indycar on free to air like we used to always liked to watch it when it was on Cheers Oz
ucla695 Posted July 26, 2009 Posted July 26, 2009 Prayers sent to Massa http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77288 Felipe Massa has successfully undergone surgery for the injuries he suffered in his accident in qualifying in Hungary. Ferrari said the driver will now remain under observation in the intensive care unit at the AEK hospital in Budapest, where the Brazilian was taken after being hit by a spring during Q2. Massa had suffered a damaged skull and brain concussion, as well as a cut on his forehead. The Italian team said a further update on his condition will be issued tomorrow morning. Brawn confirmed the spring belonged to a damper from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn car, weighing around 800 grams. "We had a problem at the back, so we are still investigating and we haven't had the piece back from the FIA yet so once we get it back we can understand what occurred and then draw some conclusions," said team boss Ross Brawn. "It is the first time we've had a problem with the car. The car has been really reliable and we are obviously looking all through the data to understand what caused the problem. It is hard to comment at the moment until we have studied everything. "We put a new component on Jenson's car in qualifying just to be safe, but we are still studying everything that went on to understand what happened." http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?id=46468 Ferrari said that Felipe Massa has undergone successful surgery in hospital in Budapest on the head injuries sustained in his violent qualifying crash at the Hungaroring on Saturday. The Ferrari driver slammed into the tyre barriers at the fast turn four having been hit on the head by a spring from a damper which had become dislodged from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn car. Massa was airlifted to a local hospital where he arrived conscious and in a stable condition and underwent examinations which showed he had suffered skull damage, a brain concussion and a cut to his forehead. On Saturday evening Ferrari confirmed that the Brazilian underwent "positive" surgery on the injuries and will now remain under observation in intensive care. "Felipe Massa has undergone surgery this afternoon at the AEK hospital in Budapest and the outcome of the procedure was positive," the Ferrari statement said. "Now, Felipe will remain under observation in intensive care. "An update on his condition will be issued late tomorrow morning." Massa had made it through to Q3 prior to the crash, which occurred right at the end of Q2, but will not compete in Sunday's race given his injuries.
OZCUBAN Posted July 26, 2009 Posted July 26, 2009 BBC Sport's fuel-adjusted Hungarian GP grid Fernando Alonso might be on his first pole position of the season for Renault at the Hungarian Grand Prix - but the double world champion was actually only the seventh fastest man on pure pace in qualifying on Saturday. The top 10 in qualifying are not allowed to refuel before the race, so they have to go into the final session with enough fuel to see them through to their first pit stops in the race. And the more fuel you carry, the slower your car is over one lap in qualifying. That means that once the weight of the cars is published, it is possible to work out not only who was actually the fastest, but also when the various drivers are likely to stop for the first time. Here at the Hungaroring, that information leads to the following fuel-corrected grid: 1 Sebastian Vettel (lap 20) 2 Mark Webber + 0.242 seconds (lap 19) 3 Nico Rosberg +0.319 (lap 18) 4 Lewis Hamilton + 0.394 (lap 18) 5 Heikki Kovalainen +0.470 (lap 20) 6 Jenson Button +0.562 (lap 25) 7 Alonso +0.592 (lap 13) 8 Kimi Raikkonen +0.987 (lap 18) 9 Kazukia Nakajima +1.120 (lap 20) That sets up a potentially fascinating race. As has been the big talking point all weekend, the McLarens are in a position to interfere significantly in the battle for victory and for the world title. Their Kers power-boost system gives them a gain of 16 metres on the run to the first corner - slightly more than two grid positions - so Lewis Hamilton in fourth place could easily leapfrog at least one of the two Red Bulls into the first corner. The situation is complicated, though, by the fact that both McLarens are starting from the dirty side of the grid - which in Hungary is often a significant factor. Drivers starting in the dust often lose places to those who start on the outside, the racing line, in the odd-numbered grid positions. Hamilton and Kovalainen believe their Kers systems will be enough to negate the disadvantage of starting on the dirty side of the grid. Vettel - who starts second behind Alonso and ahead of Webber - is in theory doubly vulnerable, to the McLaren and to his own team-mate. In theory, Alonso, three places ahead of Hamilton and also light on fuel, is less vulnerable to the world champion. For the Renault driver, that is a good job, because to have any chance of the podium finish he is aiming for, he needs to stay in the lead on the first lap. If he does that, he has a chance to run at his optimum pace until his first stop on about lap 13 - which is five laps earlier than Hamilton and seven before Vettel - and make up some time. The Spaniard will almost certainly have to do three stops from there, whereas the others have the flexibility to do two or three - and most likely two. But if Alonso is passed, his afternoon will be ruined - all the advantage of being at the front will be wasted and he will quickly fall down the field once the pit stops start to come into play. For championship leader Jenson Button, this is turning into a nightmare weekend. The Brawn driver qualified eighth, but is not as slow as that suggests. He is carrying a heavy fuel load and fuel-corrected, he is sixth. His 0.562secs margin to Vettel is slightly less than it has been in the last two races, but even that may not be an accurate reflection of his form. He was hampered in qualifying following the accident that befell the unfortunate Felipe Massa. The Brazilian was hit on the head by a spring that fell of Button's team-mate Rubens Barrichello's car, so Brawn felt they had no choice but to change the offending part on Button's car. That meant he was late out in the final session and when he did go out he found he did not like the feel of the car on heavier fuel. It is too soon, then, to judge the Brawn's ultimate pace, but in some ways that may be immaterial. Down in eighth place, he may not have a chance to display it until it is too late. Button's best hope is that Hamilton will get into the lead at the first corner and hold everyone up. Whatever happens, though, Sunday's race is a great opportunity for the Red Bull drivers to carve a significant chunk out of their rival's championship lead. Oz: It should be a cracker. Get well soon Felipe
OZCUBAN Posted July 26, 2009 Posted July 26, 2009 Massa surgery 'positive' - Ferrari Ferrari said that Felipe Massa has undergone successful surgery in hospital in Budapest on the head injuries sustained in his violent qualifying crash at the Hungaroring on Saturday. The Ferrari driver slammed into the tyre barriers at the fast turn four having been hit on the head by a spring from a damper which had become dislodged from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn car. Massa was airlifted to a local hospital where he arrived conscious and in a stable condition and underwent examinations which showed he had suffered skull damage, a brain concussion and a cut to his forehead. On Saturday evening Ferrari confirmed that the Brazilian underwent "positive" surgery on the injuries and will now remain under observation in intensive care. "Felipe Massa has undergone surgery this afternoon at the AEK hospital in Budapest and the outcome of the procedure was positive," the Ferrari statement said. "Now, Felipe will remain under observation in intensive care. "An update on his condition will be issued late tomorrow morning." Massa had made it through to Q3 prior to the crash, which occurred right at the end of Q2, but will not compete in Sunday's race given his injuries. Oz Hopefully Felipe will be back next race or one after. Also our thoughts are also with the Surtees family after their tragic loss this week with the death of their son Henry in an f-2 accident see separate post watering hole Cheers Oz
OZCUBAN Posted July 26, 2009 Posted July 26, 2009 Really freakish accident Massa had. Getting struck in the head by a flying metal part. What's the odds of that happening? Sure was Magste I never seen anything that freaky in recent memory ,good posts to mate hope you find this thread of interest Cheers Oz
OZCUBAN Posted July 26, 2009 Posted July 26, 2009 F1 to investigate Massa accident By Andrew Benson BBC Sport at the Hungaroring Formula 1 is to conduct an investigation into the accident in which Ferrari driver Felipe Massa suffered a fractured skull. The probe will attempt to discover the causes of the incident and whether any changes are required to improve safety. Brazilian Massa was hit on the helmet by a spring that had fallen off Rubens Barrichello's Brawn GP car during Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying. Massa, 28, is stable after surgery and will undergo a further scan on Sunday. His accident came six days after 18-year-old Henry Surtees was killed after being hit on the head by a wheel from a crashed car in a Formula Two race in England. The investigation into Massa's incident will be conducted by F1's governing body the FIA and the Brawn team. Barrichello's car suffered a failure in its rear suspension as the Brazilian, one of Massa's closest friends, went through Turn Three of the Hungaroring during final qualifying. The spring came off the car and bounced along the track until Massa's Ferrari came on to the scene four seconds later. The spring hit the front left-hand side of Massa's helmet when he was travelling at 162mph. His feet were on both the accelerator and the brake before he hit the barrier at Turn Four, at which point he had slowed to 62mph. Insiders believe Massa's life may have been saved by the latest generation of carbon-fibre helmets, which were introduced four years ago and are approximately twice as strong as their predecessors. The stronger helmets are one of a number of improvements that have been made in recent years to protect drivers' heads. Cockpit sides have been raised and the drivers wear a head and neck restraint device to protect them from the high G-forces involved in accidents. Brawn team boss Ross Brawn described the incident as "a freak accident" and said F1 needed to fully investigate what had happened before deciding whether changes needed to be made. Something broke on my car - Barrichello "We need to keep a perspective on it - from what's been seen last weekend and this, we need to have a proper study to see if we need to do anything," he said. "We need to digest what's happened and understand it properly. "It is time to look at the whole thing and take a balanced approach. You can have covers or canopies but you have to be able to get at the driver and extract him if there is an accident. "And you don't want anything that collapses down on a driver. "It is something we will look at. In the history of F1 it is a fairly rare occurrence, but we must take it seriously and see what we can do. "If there's a need to react, I'm sure F1 will promptly. But we must make sure we don't do something that makes the situation worse." Additional reporting by Sarah Holt Oz Lets just hope that the authorities investigate properly the last thing we need is another knee jerk reaction that happened after the Senna accident Cheers Oz
OZCUBAN Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 Injured Massa no longer critical Felipe Massa is attended to by F1 medical officer Gary Hartstein Felipe Massa's condition is "severe but not critical" after surgery on his fractured skull, but there is concern about damage to his left eye. The Ferrari driver's surgeon confirmed Massa's eye was injured when a spring from Ruben Barrichello's car hit him in qualifying in Hungary on Saturday. "We don't know if he'll be able to race again. It's too early to say about his future," added surgeon Robert Veres. "But the immediate life-threatening condition has been averted." Massa has been taken out of an induced coma and is able to communicate "actively" and move his hands and legs but cannot speak. A Ferrari spokesman said: "Felipe had a quiet night. He is OK and he is due to have another CT scan." A Hungarian hospital spokesman revealed they are "optimistic" that a "slow recovery is beginning". "He's woken up [from sedation] more often and is able to communicate actively," added Istvan Bocskai, a spokesman for the Hungarian defence ministry, which administers the Budapest hospital where Massa is being treated. Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo flew to the AEK military hospital on Monday to be at Massa's bedside, alongside the driver's father, mother and pregnant wife, who have all flown in from Brazil. Di Montezemelo staged a joint news conference with Massa's doctors and said the team were focused on their driver's recovery and not on considering any possible replacements. "For us, the first priority is to find out Felipe's recovery progress and situation. He is a very important member of the Ferrari family not just the Ferrari team," said Di Montezemelo. "First we will find out the situation with Felipe and then we will see and we will think, without pressure. "Only at that moment will we make a decision and if we have to take a decision we will make a good decision." Massa was injured when a spring from fellow Brazilian Barrichello's car struck his helmet during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, with the Ferrari driver then hitting a tyre wall. Following Kimi Raikkonen's second-place finish at the Hungaroring on Sunday, Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali dedicated the result to Massa. "At this time all our thoughts are with him and his family and I think this sentiment also applies to those who are close to him and to fans all over the world," stated Domenicali. "We got the best result we were capable of but please allow me on behalf of everyone at Ferrari to send our best wishes to Felipe. We love you and we are all thinking of you." Race winner Lewis Hamilton extended his goodwill to Massa following the Briton's first victory of the season. "Maybe I can speak for all the drivers but Saturday was quite a sad day and we missed Felipe," commented the defending world champion. "I'm just glad the surgery went well and we're just going to keep him in our thoughts and prayers, and we wish him a speedy recovery. "He's got a child coming, so he needs to get back into top shape so when he's finally a dad he can do the job well." After being struck on the helmet by the 1kg spring from Barrichello's car, Massa's feet are believed to have come to rest on both the throttle and brake and his car ploughed head-on into a tyre wall at about 125mph. Massa was swiftly attended to by trackside medics before being taken to the circuit's medical centre, after which he was airlifted to hospital. Barrichello revealed his thoughts were with Massa, even during the race. He said: "I would love to see him because he is a friend, not just because the spring came from my car. "It is for the fact that I know he would have done the same for me. But at the same time I have to think of my kids, of my family, and to be there for them, so it is a bit of an emotional moment. "It is burning a little bit in my stomach and I would be lying if I said I wasn't thinking of him in the the middle of the race." Massa's accident came days after Formula Two driver Henry Surtees, 18, was killed in what was described as a freak accident during a race at Brands Hatch. The son of motorsport legend John Surtees was struck by a wheel that flew off a competitor's car. Barrichello has led the calls for more stringent safety measures to be looked into. Referring to Surtees, the veteran refused to believe the two incidents were coincidental.. Thank goodness Massa, having made it through the night, looks like he his winning The Legend that is PhilSlocombe "I honestly don't believe in coincidences in life," he said on Saturday. "Things happen for a reason and I think this is the second message. "Imola [where Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger died in 1994] was a message and the cars were improved. Unfortunately, we lost a boy [surtees], which is tremendously sad. "It is not a coincidence something happened right now. In the Grand Prix Drivers' Association we talked quite a lot about it yesterday - and something needs to be done. Absolutely." Button and Barrichello's team boss Ross Brawn said the team are still investigating why the spring came loose from the back of their car. "We haven't had the piece back from [motorsport governing body] the FIA yet so once we get it back we can understand what occurred," he said. "It's the first time we've really had a problem with the car as it has been so reliable." Oz Lets hope that Felipe can make the long road back while I have never been a huge ferrari fan Felipe has always struck me as a really nice Guy one of the gentlemen of the sport.but with a pregnant wife and injuries not withstanding he may decide to hang up his helmet lets hope not he will be sorely missed. GET WELL SOON FELIPE Cheers Oz
OZCUBAN Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 Renault suspended from next race Renault have been suspended from the next Grand Prix in Valencia after a wheel from Fernando Alonso's car came loose at the Hungaroring on Sunday. The pit crew failed to attach Alonso's right front wheel correctly and it bounced across the track. Race stewards ruled that Renault released Alonso from a pit stop knowing the wheel was not properly secured and then failed to tell the driver. Renault have told the FIA, motorsport's governing body, that they will appeal. Should it stand, the ban would apply to the whole team and would deny Alonso the chance to race in front of his home fans at the European Grand Prix on 23 August. Having started on pole, the Spanish double world champion was leading the Hungarian Grand Prix when he came in for his first stop on lap 11. mintroyalle However, he was released before the right front wheel had been fully attached and it worked its way loose on turn nine, bouncing alarmingly across the track. The stewards said Renault's pit crew "knowingly released car number seven from the pit stop position without one of the retaining devices for the wheel-nuts being securely in position, this being an indication that the wheel itself may not have been properly secured." They also determined that "being aware of this, Renault failed to take any action to prevent the car from leaving the pit lane... and failed to inform the driver of this problem or to advise him to take appropriate action given the circumstances, even though the driver contacted the team by radio believing he had a puncture." The incident came amid heightened concern about safety in motorsport. A week ago, 18-year-old Formula 2 driver Henry Surtees - the son of former F1 champion John Surtees - was killed when he was struck by a loose wheel during a race. On Saturday, Ferrari driver Felipe Massa suffered a fractured skull when he was hit by a part which came off the Brawn GP car of Rubens Barrichello during qualifying at the Hungaroring. Story from BBC SPORT: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport2/hi...one/8169649.stm Published: 2009/07/26 16:47:20 GMT © BBC MMIX Oz :on face value this penalty might seem quite severe but I guess in the light of recent tragedies namely Henry Surtees maybe not ,for me it is just a shame for the spanish fans Cheers OZ
OZCUBAN Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 Martin Brundle column By Martin Brundle BBC F1 broadcaster Felipe Massa's accident during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix was one of the most alarming incidents in Formula 1 since May 1994 when his fellow Brazilian Ayrton Senna was killed at Imola. Massa was hit on the left side of his helmet by a spring which escaped from the rear suspension of Rubens Barrichello's Brawn. It was very surprising how the part was able to bounce along the track for over four seconds and still manage to be at driver head height. The impact, at more than 160mph, partially concussed Massa and he ploughed into the tyre wall on the exit of the next corner a few hundred metres away. Fortunately he was somehow instinctively braking to an extent, and so the final impact was head on at just over 60mph. He is now in care at Budapest's military hospital after an operation to repair a fractured skull. He is one of the most pleasant and likeable drivers I have ever met, and like the rest of the sport I wish him only the very best outcome It has become easy for anyone who climbs into a modern single-seater to think they are invincible, but it is not a question of if you have an accident, but when. I believe fate plays a large part in who gets lucky and who doesn't. I don't like the term 'freak accident' because while regularly travelling the world's tracks at 200mph, serious accidents are inevitable. The reason Massa's incident has had such a profound effect on those inside F1 is because the news of his condition became progressively worse. At first it appeared his car had simply nosed relatively heavily into the tyre wall, which means almost nothing these days. Then it was clear that he was not communicating with his team radio and the red flags were flying. Sharp-eyed TV production crews, watching replays, spotted the flying shrapnel which had earlier struck his helmet, and the real story began to emerge. Photographs would later appear on the internet and in the press showing his damaged crash helmet and closed left eye, but after he was extracted from the car he was seen apparently conscious on a stretcher, and soon after that we were told he was speaking, albeit animatedly. Next the news spread of his fractured skull and induced coma - F1 has lost drivers before, a day or so after they appeared out of danger, such as Mark Donahue and Ronnie Peterson, albeit decades ago. The fact that there have been two similar events in the space of this week added to the sense of alarm. Henry Surtees, son of 1964 world champion John Surtees, was killed during a Formula Two race at Brands Hatch the preceding weekend when he was hit by a loose wheel from another driver's accident. The repercussions of both Surtees's death and Massa's accident have led to widespread calls for increased safety. Renault have also been excluded from the European Grand Prix for allowing Fernando Alonso to continue for a lap with a loose front right wheel that had not been fitted properly during a routine pit stop. The sport's governing body, the FIA, says Renault broke the sporting regulations but the team almost certainly would not have been penalised for the same situation at the previous race. We have seen many cars lose a wheel without retribution. There is an automatic wheel retaining device fitted to all F1 wheel spindles which clearly also failed in this case and which would normally have prevented the wheel parting company fully. I find it bizarre that we tend to have clusters of similar incidents. In 1985 I saw two sportscar drivers killed in two consecutive races and another seriously injured. Then in the space of two weeks in 1994, Senna and Roland Ratzenberger were killed and Rubens Barrichello and Karl Wendlinger seriously injured in F1. At these times everybody understandably becomes scared as to what will happen next. The philosophy of single-seater racing is that cars are designed with both open wheels and cockpit. Throughout the 60-year history of F1 there have been many deaths and injuries, but these have been dramatically reduced as car and circuit safety evolved along with onsite medical facilities. In the 1950s drivers wore leather helmets and had no seatbelts. Their best chance of surviving an accident was if they were thrown clear of their cars, taking their chances bouncing down the road. Drivers still weren't belted in for much the sixties but were seated further inside the faster and more nimble cars, so deaths were basically guaranteed. In the seventies there was a huge risk of fire because fuel tanks were positioned all around the car's structure and the drivers were belted into chassis made of aluminium and pop rivets. The tracks were only just beginning to evolve with the safety of drivers and spectators in mind. By the time I started racing in F1 in the eighties, fuel was now held in well protected rubber bladder tanks but drivers had been moved to the front of the car for better weight distribution, so many of those from my generation who are still alive limp badly. With the arrival of carbon-fibre materials and a driver safety cell the cars became stronger, but this meant that by the nineties the drivers were getting beaten up because the cars were stronger than their unprotected heads and bodies inside the cell. With intense safety work on front, side, rear, and roll hoop crash testing, moving the driver back behind the front axle line, eight point harness seat belts fitted to easily removable seats, crash helmet design, and applying head and neck protection and support, this generation now have an environment where the driver will most likely survive. Robert Kubica's accident in Canada two years ago is ample proof of that. In the wake of Surtees's death and Massa's accident what direction will the FIA take now? One option would be to consider a removable tubular frame in front of the driver to keep out larger pieces of debris and also prevent other cars riding up towards the cockpit in a collision. The problem with this concept is the evacuation of the driver in an accident and ensuring the frame can't inflict further damage itself in heavy contact. And it would look seriously ugly. The second option would be to devise a canopy similar to a fighter jet. That too raises questions about the ability to extract a driver quickly in the event of a crash or fire, as well as issues such as visibility and heat retention. F1 window wipers and demisters anyone? Cockpit temperatures are already as high as 55 degrees Celsius; if they were enclosed that would soar and air conditioning would have to be installed - similar to enclosed Le Mans cars - which is heavy and unreliable. Placing a solid roof over the driver is touring car racing, in F1. It's a difficult problem which is why it hasn't been sorted already. Driver visibility is already compromised by the low seating position and the high-sided headrests. A solution I can envisage is a partial clear canopy with struts and deflectors, complete with a ballistic or quick release mechanism. Neither of these however would guarantee to have prevented Massa's injury where a relatively small object was involved. I experienced the end of an era where to some hardened characters in the paddock, a driver was like a light bulb - one goes out and so you put another one in. In today's world people will not readily tolerate fatalities in the name of sport. The car manufacturers and sponsors do not want their products associated with death; safety and performance are what they are selling. A new step forward is needed with an elegant solution. It's well within their ability for F1 designers to create something but it will take a while to research, develop and implement. The consequences for Massa himself remain unclear although the very latest news is more hopeful of a full recovery. I hope he gets back in a racing car this year. The opening grand prix of 2010 in Melbourne is nine months away and that is a long time to be out of the cockpit. I just hope neither his reactions nor ability and confidence behind the wheel have been affected. He is one of the most pleasant and likeable drivers I have ever met, and like the rest of the sport I wish him only the very best outcome. Martin Brundle was talking to Sarah Holt. Story from BBC SPORT: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport2/hi...one/8170736.stm Published: 2009/07/27 13:49:06 GMT © BBC MMIX
OZCUBAN Posted July 28, 2009 Posted July 28, 2009 Schumacher would consider return Michael Schumacher is working in a consultancy role for Ferrari this season Michael Schumacher is not ruling out the possibility of standing in for injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa. The Brazilian fractured his skull in Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying and may be out for the rest of the year, while Schumacher, 40, is a Ferrari adviser. "The whole thing will be considered by Ferrari. If they approach Michael, then he will consider it," the seven-time champion's spokeswoman told BBC Sport. "But there is no reason for him to step into their discussion." Schumacher, who retired from Formula 1 at the end of the 2006 season, told the BBC in an interview at the German Grand Prix two weeks ago that he was not interested in returning to F1. However, his spokeswoman Sabine Kehm said that was a reference to a permanent return. "Usually, I would say he's not interested because he's fine with his life and he doesn't miss anything but now the situation is so different - it's very hypothetical - and Michael doesn't want to step into that [discussion]," she stated. She added that Schumacher still trained every day but that she did not know whether he was fit enough to race an F1 car again. "Michael had a motorcycle accident in February when he had a neck problem - and I really can't tell you if his neck would be fine to drive an F1 race," she said. "If Ferrari asked him whether he would consider driving, he would have it checked - and remember he is a 40-year-old man, too." Schumacher's manager Willi Weber insists the German will not drive for Ferrari in the next race - the European Grand Prix in Valencia in Spain on 23 August. "Michael will not sit in a car in Valencia, this is out of the question," Weber told Germany's SID news agency. Massa has had surgery on a fractured skull sustained when a spring from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn hit him on the helmet at more than 160mph during qualifying in Hungary on Saturday. He is in a "severe but not critical" condition, according to the hospital that is treating him in Budapest and there is also concern about damage to his left eye. The surgeon treating him, Robert Veres, revealed it was "too early to say" whether Massa would be able to compete again. But he will almost certainly not be able to drive at the next race in Valencia and probably not for the rest of the year either. I don't think it will happen, but as a big Schumacher fan I would love it, if he did. Steven Davis 7 That means Ferrari need to find a team-mate for Kimi Raikkonen for the Valencia race. Schumacher, who won a record 91 grands prix in his career, is under contract to the team after taking on a consultancy role following his retirement. The German is close to Massa, who was his team-mate in his final season, and has taken a close interest in the Brazilian's career. But he has not driven an F1 car since April 2008 and may consider that he has nothing to gain from a temporary return. A number of other drivers have been mentioned as possible replacements for Massa. Among them is Renault's Fernando Alonso, who is expected to move to Ferrari in 2010 anyway - although the team have not confirmed that report and the Spaniard has denied it. Renault have been banned from the Valencia race after allowing Alonso to return to the track with a loose wheel following a pit stop. The wheel and its fairing both became detached from the car as he toured slowly back to the pits - an alarming sight only 24 hours after Massa's accident. Renault have appealed against the decision to suspend them and a hearing of the court of appeal of governing body the FIA is expected in the next couple of weeks. It has been speculated that Alonso's move to Ferrari may simply be brought forward - but that would leave Renault without a recognised top driver for the rest of the season. 40-year-old Schumacher has kept himself fit since retiring from F1 The team were on the verge of sacking Alonso's team-mate Nelson Piquet before the Hungarian race and while Alonso, a two-time world champion, qualified on pole in Hungary, Piquet qualified 15th and finished 12th in a similar car. Ferrari have two reserve drivers, the Spaniard Marc Gene and the veteran Italian Luca Badoer. Spaniard Gene - who raced intermittently for Williams as a stand-in during 2003/2004 and has competed in 36 races with a best result of sixth - is the more likely to be given the drive. Badoer has been a test driver for Ferrari but has not raced since 1999 and has never scored a world championship point. A number of other drivers have been mentioned as possible stand-ins. The most qualified, Schumacher aside, is BBC F1 pundit David Coulthard, who won 13 grands prix before retiring at the end of last season. He is under contract to Red Bull, who would need to give him permission to race if Ferrari approached him. Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais, who was sacked by the Toro Rosso team before the Hungarian Grand Prix, has been mentioned as he has the same manager as Massa - Frenchman Nicolas Todt. And last winter, Italian Formula Three champion Mirko Bortolotti reportedly impressed Ferrari in a test. The 19-year-old is racing in Formula Two this season. Oz Personally i think that Michael will pass on the call up I also think it would be a good opportunity to blood new talent if you pardon the pun As in everything time will tell Cheers Oz
OZCUBAN Posted July 29, 2009 Posted July 29, 2009 Doctors hopeful Massa could leave hospital next week With news from Hungary about Felipe Massa’s recovery looking increasingly positive, the Brazilian’s doctor has revealed to reporters that he could be well enough to walk out of hospital within the next ten days. Massa suffered a fractured skull after being hit by a spring from another car during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix. He underwent emergency surgery and was taken out of an artificially-induced coma on Monday. He has since been awake, chatting to close friends and family members, who have gathered at his bedside. "My expectation is that he would walk out of the hospital on his own,” Peter Bazso, the medical director of Budapest’s AEK Hospital told Hungarian television channel M1. “If his recovery continues at this pace, I would not rule out that he could leave within ten days. He's spending more and more time awake, talking to family and friends." Despite the Brazilian’s encouraging progress, Bazso has urged caution, revealing that Massa would continue to be monitored closely in intensive care. "I would like to point out that although he's recovering, this is not the end of the story, he is still in a life-threatening condition," he said. "Of course, the danger is decreasing by the day." Massa’s wife, his parents, his brother and his friend and manager Nicolas Todt all spent Monday night at the hospital. Former Ferrari boss Jean Todt paid a visit during the course of Tuesday, as did Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali. "It's good to have comforting news,” said Domenicali on Ferrari’s official website. “I spoke to Felipe and it was very emotional for me: he recognised me and I brought him a message from everybody at Ferrari and from the fans all over the world. I told him that his red car will wait for him until he's ready to race again. Now we've got to take it step by step and remain cautious, but it's really incredible to see all of this progress only three days after the accident." Massa’s personal doctor, Dino Altman, added: "His condition is improving quickly and constantly. He is more and more awake and reactive. He spoke to several people today, using three different languages, replying always in a coherent way. He's also progressing with his physiotherapy very well. He opened his left eye and confirmed that he can see with it. As far as the near future is concerned we have to be cautious, but I have to say that also today there are very positive signs." Oz This is great news, something to hope for the future of Feilpe's career.I know that with all motor sport fans wish wish Felipe a speedy and full recovery Cheers Oz
OZCUBAN Posted July 29, 2009 Posted July 29, 2009 BMW to quit F1 at end of season BMW will withdraw from Formula 1 at the end of this season. The German car manufacturer, who took over Sauber in 2005, have cited "current developments in motor sport" as the reason for their decision. BMW are the second major manufacturer to leave the sport in eight months after Honda's withdrawal in December. BMW had given themselves three years to win the world championship and won their first race in 2008 but have amassed only eight points this season. The team, who currently have Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld as their drivers, held a meeting on Tuesday where they made the decision to quit the sport. BMW began the season determined to challenge for the world championship but the car they designed to meet 2009's major technical regulations has been uncompetitive. "Of course, we, the employees in Hinwil and Munich, would all have liked to continue this ambitious campaign and show that this season was just a hiccup following three successful years," said team boss Mario Theissen. "But I can understand why this decision was made from a corporate perspective. "We will now focus sharply on the remaining races and demonstrate our fighting spirit and put in a good result as we bid farewell to Formula One racing." Bernie Ecclestone, Formula 1's commercial rights holder, believes the team's inability to match their title ambitions is behind their withdrawal. "It has not quite been like that so perhaps that's why they've [decided] to stop," Ecclestone told BBC Radio 5 Live. "When you consider how much money they've spent and the results they've got, it's probably not such a good investment. "They were quite sure that they were going to win the championship within three years, and I was hoping they would." However, the sport's governing body, the FIA, said it was not surprised by BMW's decision given the difficult global economic climate. "The FIA regrets the announcement of BMW's intended withdrawal from Formula 1 but is not surprised by it," a statement said. "It has been clear for some time that motor sport cannot ignore the world economic crisis. "Car manufacturers cannot be expected to continue to pour large sums of money into Formula 1 when their survival depends on redundancies, plant closures and the support of the taxpayer." The BMW Group have decided to divert their resources into other areas, although they plan to stay involved in other strands of motorsport. "Of course, this was a difficult decision for us, but it's a resolute step in view of our company's strategic realignment," said Dr Norbert Reithofer, chairman of the board of management of BMW. "Premium will be increasingly defined in terms of sustainability and environmental compatibility. This is an area in which we want to remain in the lead. "We are continually reviewing all projects and initiatives to check them for future viability and sustainability. "Our Formula One campaign is thus less a key promoter for us." BMW's takeover of Sauber in 2005 saw them enter their own team in 2006 and in their debut season they were fifth in the constructors' championship before being promoted to second in 2007 after the exclusion of McLaren-Mercedes. They put up a strong challenge in 2008 with Kubica scoring their first win at the Canadian Grand Prix and the team finished third behind Ferrari and McLaren. BMW first entered Formula 1 as an engine supplier to Brabham in 1982 and the first victory of the pairing came in 1983 when Nelson Piquet won in Brazil on the way to claiming the drivers' crown. But BMW pulled out as an engine supplier in 1987 before returning in 2000 as engine partners to Williams. The duo were together for six years and ended up as constructors' championship runners-up in 2002 and 2003, while winning 10 grands prix and taking 17 pole positions. Following their decision to withdraw from Formula 1, BMW will now focus on the touring car series, Formula BMW and the American Le Mans series. Story from BBC SPORT: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport2/hi...one/8173865.stm Published: 2009/07/29 08:13:40 GMT © BBC MMIX
brian1 Posted July 29, 2009 Posted July 29, 2009 Schumacher in for Massa...YES! so exciting never thought I would see him race F1 again. Will be glued to the rest of the season. Now we get to see hamilton V Schumacher V Kimi...what a treat.. FORZA!
Ozz1113 Posted July 30, 2009 Posted July 30, 2009 I just wonder why he's doing it? Doesn't make sense to me at all. But it will be interesting to see if he can match Kimi's pace. This is very exciting. I knew he would race for Massa's spot. He has a lot of respect for him and that is what Massa would want. Plus, he's just as good anyone else.
MIKA27 Posted August 1, 2009 Author Posted August 1, 2009 Rivals welcome Schumacher's return Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton have welcomed Michael Schumacher's return to racing, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to race against arguably the best driver ever in F1 history. Schumacher will return to racing at August's European Grand Prix, replacing the injured Felipe Massa at Ferrari, the team with whom the German won five of his seven World titles. However, a lot has changed in Formula One since Schumacher last raced - and not just the regulations. When Schumacher put in his final laps in the 2006 Brazilian GP, Ferrari, Renault and McLaren were the sport's leading teams while Honda and Red Bull were lapping in the midfield. This year, though, it has been Brawn GP, the former Honda team, and Red Bull Racing who have emerged as the dominant forces leading Button, the current Championship leader, to admit it's "very brave" of Schumacher to return. "It will be good to have Michael back out there racing again," said Button, speaking at the launch in Birmingham of Bridgestone's Driving Nation roadshow designed to gather opinions on motoring. "There are very good people out there racing at the moment, but to have Michael there again will be very special, although I'm sure we all wish Felipe was there also. "But it's a strange situation because the reason for Michael being there is because another driver can't take part. "In a way Ferrari are very lucky because they've someone working in their team who can jump straight into the car and be competitive, and Michael will be. "It's an interesting one, though, because if he wins people will say they expected him too, and if he doesn't, they will say he should not have come back. "So it's a tough position for him to be in, although I'm happy he has taken up the challenge. It's very brave of him." He added: "It will take a bit of the limelight away from us at the front, and maybe that's a good thing because we can get on with it and fight it out. "But it will be good to have him out there again as the Ferrari is a good car now. They've made some good improvements. "Kimi (Raikkonen) was second in Hungary on Sunday, so Ferrari are competitive and Michael is going to be at the front fighting with us, which is good." Meanwhile, Hamilton, who has previously stated in his autobiography 'My Story' that he was saddened to have missed the opportunity to race against Schumacher who retired the year before he entered F1, says it will be an "honour and a privilege" to compete against the F1 "legend." "I am excited by the possibility of Michael Schumacher's return to Formula 1 assuming it happens, but my thoughts are still with Felipe and his family following his terrible accident in Hungary," said the McLaren driver. "Michael is one of the sport's greatest competitors and a legend in his own right and it would be great to compete against him. "The whole world will be watching his return to the cockpit in Valencia and it will not only be fascinating to see how he readies himself for his grand prix comeback but also an honour and a privilege to race against him for the very first time. I wish him well." MIKA: This is perfect! It's sad to see Felipe out with such a horrific scare but for me to have a legend back in the sport, it's so good to see. Such returns seldom occur. I have always hoped Mika Hakkinnen would return, but oh well.... To look at how this season started with so much political controversy, it's amazing howon the racing side things have unfolded with so many top teams now mid to bottom of the ladder, BRWN, RBR etc and now the possibility of Ferrari back with Schumi, that's fantastic. I used to be a huge Kimi fan but his attitude to this sport has soured my respect for him, here's hoping Schumi returns and shows drivers like Kimi how it's done! And I pray that Massa recovers and returns to F1 because this guy has alot of respect from many in the F1 field including F1 fans like myself. All the very best.
MIKA27 Posted August 1, 2009 Author Posted August 1, 2009 Schumi back behind the wheel at Mugello Michael Schumacher has wasted no time in preparing for his Formula One comeback. Just two days after confirming he would replace the injured Felipe Massa at the European Grand Prix in Valencia on August 23, the 40-year-old was on Friday back behind the wheel of a 2007-spec car. With in-season testing banned, Schumacher is not allowed to drive the current Ferrari, but can run an older model, and has already begun doing so on the team's test track at Mugello. The seven-times World Champion also worked on the simulator on Thursday, in particular to get a feel for the current steering wheel and its plethora of buttons. "I was in Maranello to check the functionality of the steering wheel at the static simulator," confirmed Schumacher. "Of course, I also took the opportunity to again discuss with the engineers how to proceed further. "There is this test ban in Formula One, therefore I contacted some of the guys from F1 Clienti (the technician team at Maranello) if they could give me a car. "Although the cars are not current or last year's, I simply like to drive as much as possible, so it was a good option. "The next weeks are totally about preparation." MIKA: What a great car to test in too. The 2007 spec I believe is alot better than the current spec!
MIKA27 Posted August 1, 2009 Author Posted August 1, 2009 Kimi considering a future in rallying Kimi Raikkonen admits he is considering a move to the World Rally Championship as he takes part in his debut event. The 2007 F1 World Champion is contesting this weekend's Rally of Finland, pitting his Abarth Grande Punto against the world's best rally drivers. However, rallying is not new to the Ferrari driver, who has previously driven in a few domestic events, and it could be where his future lies. "Yes definitely," he said when asked if he would consider a permanent move to rallying. "I am still in F1 and still have one more year contract but everything is open and it is nice to be a part of it here. "I am a bit too young to do nothing so I will see. It all depends on which way F1 is going. Nobody is exactly sure how it will be. "I am in no hurry." The Finn put in a solid performance in Thursday's superspecial, which opened the Rally of Finland, finishing with the 20th fastest time.
MIKA27 Posted August 1, 2009 Author Posted August 1, 2009 NEXT RACE - 23rd August Grand Prix of Europe Valencia Length : 5.419 History : Valencia, Spain, joined the Formula One calendar in 2008, hosting the European GP around the streets of Valencia. Valencia marked the first new street course in Formula 1 since Albert Park, which has hosted the Australian Grand Prix since 1996. The other street circuits on the calendar are the newly added Singapore Street Circuit and Monaco, which was included in the first World Championship season in 1950, and has hosted a grand prix every year since 1955. However, Valencia, which has a seven-year contract to host a grand prix, didn't live up to expectations on its debut. The streets offered little overtaking, much the same as Monaco but without the glitz and glamour. The 2009 race will have to do a lot better if Valencia hopes to attract sell-out crowds in future seasons. RESULTS THIS CIRCUIT: Winner 2008 - Felipe Massa. MIKA: It will be interesting to see who wins and if Schumi can even miraculously win this one seeing he has won the GP of Europe 5 times back in; 2004, 2001,2000, 1995 and 1994.
OZCUBAN Posted August 1, 2009 Posted August 1, 2009 Great post Mika as always good reading Will he or won't he, IMHO a true champion will always rise to the occasion ,never underestimate Michael ,you know what they say if the Schu fits A the very least it puts a big spotlight on the sport,and lets hope F-1 is up to it . As a sport it has a habit of shooting its self in the foot I am finding my torn this season hoping all the best for Jenson have always been a fan ,and of course Aussie Mark,my money is on him as a dark horse cheers Oz
MIKA27 Posted August 2, 2009 Author Posted August 2, 2009 Thanks OZ but in my recent absence, I must say, you have held the fort extremely well my friend and I love your posts mate, great work! This season will and is shaping up to be a nail biter between BRAWN and RBR, who will win? I hope Webber does, not because he is an aussie but rather, the determination MW has for the elusive wins and inevitably, the Championship. Looking back weeks ago, the bloke didn't have an F1 win and now, he has done so remarkably well, his consistancy, he may just walk away with the complete and ultimate reward!! With Schumi back, it's going to be interesting to see how he fares (No doubt fantastic as always!) against Kimi. I have said this many times, I used to be a huge Kimi fan but his interest and determaination in F1 is almost NIL and as far as I'm concerned, that has soured my interest. I hope Schumi steps in and conquers!!! It's great to see the few people also reading up on our news and placing their input, so good to see and thanks to all who read and contribute, especially yourself OZ!
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