We’re in the run-up to the first race of the season. More 2010 previews and, of course, the Bahrain Grand Prix coming your way this week. Here’s the daily round-up:
Links
Nigel Mansell tips Lewis Hamilton to edge Jenson Button (BBC)
“When asked if he might return, said: ‘Never say die. If there’s a good Formula One seat, who knows? Why not, it would make a bit of history, wouldn’t it?'” He’s only joking… isn’t he?
Comment of the day
I liked Patrickl’s response to Ferrari’s latest criticism of the new teams:
Ferrari really is the last team that should complain about putting poor drivers driving slowly on track.
The disgraceful performance they put up with Badoer was just that?óÔé¼?ª an utter disgrace.
Patrickl
Site updates
If everything goes according to plan later today I should have an exciting announcement on the prizes for the F1 Fanatic Predictions Championship. More here and on Twitter soon…
Happy birthday!
Many happy returns to Les and Icthyes!
On this day in F1
The Australian Grand Prix on this day 12 years ago was the first race in F1’s new era of narrower cars running on grooved tyres. Several drivers complained that the switch to groove tyres, intended to reduce cornering speeds and improve safety, placed an even greater emphasis on aerodynamics than before, making it even harder for them to follow other cars closely and overtake.
The objective of reducing cornering speeds was not sufficiently met in 1998 so the next year an additional, fourth groove in the front tyres was added. Tyred remained in that form until last year, when slicks were re-introduced.
In the meantime the FIA had ended competition between tyre suppliers, leaving just one manufacturer- Bridgestone – providing rubber for the entire grid. This should prove a more effective way of keeping tyre performance under control.
However, Bridgestone announced last season they will leave F1 at the end of 2010.
Patrickl
8th March 2010, 1:11
Heh lol. Thanks.
I saw a lot of support for Chandhok lately. Apparently Vijay Mallya, Narain Karthikeyan and Ecclestone are all happy for Chandhok to be in F1.
I especially wonder how involved Ecclestone was in this deal.
Gman
8th March 2010, 3:58
Probably alot ;)
Matthew H
8th March 2010, 4:48
I Think Bernies spells india ‘$$INDIA$$’.. imagine is India got hooked on F1 half as much as they loved cricket… Ecclestone would probably become a god in his own eyes..
Rum and Coke
8th March 2010, 7:09
Bernie Shekelstone only has 1 thing on his mind………….#:)
dsob
8th March 2010, 9:58
Matthew,
Bernie already is a god in his own eyes.
Tho I agree that $nd$a is prolly the way he spells that country’s name.
Leon
8th March 2010, 16:37
Ecclestone and Money.
A few months ago somebody on this blog
summed it up better than anybody ever has…
‘Bernie is coin operated’
Gman
8th March 2010, 4:06
Funny that tires (as we call them over here :)) should be a point of interest, with numerous teams at the Sprint Cup race this afternoon being dogged by tire wear problems.
Steve
8th March 2010, 6:00
A lot of teams, primarily Hendrick, set there camber way off. It was always the edge of a right side tire. I wouldn’t blame Goodyear for this one. Busch, montoya, kahne etc didn’t have those problems.
Ferrero
8th March 2010, 7:10
Personally I think the introduction of grooved tyres has to be the worst rule change in the history of F1. The drivers put it best- it prevents overtaking and does very little to slow cornering speeds. How it took 11 years to fix that is beyond me!
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
8th March 2010, 8:26
Couldn’t agree more. Max Mosley smacked down Jacques Villeneuve when he should have listened to him.
steph
8th March 2010, 8:37
Agree Ferrero. I wouldn’t have minded so much if they just tried it out for a season or two but to keep the tyres for so long was ridiculous
VXR
8th March 2010, 8:58
I get sick of saying this, but the grooved tyre rule only came about because the teams couldn’t agree amongst themselves to provide other solutions to the aftermath of Senna’s accident.
Yes JV was right to berate the FIA, but the real culprits were the teams that refused to take a step backward in development of downforce on the cars.
Icthyes
8th March 2010, 15:00
Unfortunately, you make a very good point. Even today we’re seeing it, for example the two-compound and “start on qualifying tyres” rules.
The teams did do well with the 2009 rules, but then they squabbled over a loophole over the DDDs they should have seen coming (it’s more the squabbling that’s the issue, since the general knowledge that the DDDs reduced a car’s ability to follow another has been disproved, although I imagine their shortening of braking zones diesn’t help much in this aero-dependant age), and it’s now estimated they will claw back all the lost downforce at some point this year.
I’m afraid (genuinely) that until the necessary drastic action is taken (very restrictive bodywork and wing regulations, limited ground effects, thicker tyres to compensate and the removal of rev limits, which would enable KERS-like overtaking battles without needing KERS back), all these daft “improve the show” rules will be seen as necessary by the powers-that-be.
Prisoner Monkeys
8th March 2010, 22:31
That seems to be the way most new rules are introduced. People berate Mosley and the FIA for making rule changes that are unpopular, but what are they supposed to do when changes are needed but the teams cannot agree with one another on any particular subject?
The teams can be just as bad as Max Monsley was.
Calum
8th March 2010, 7:54
5 days til practice, which means television footage of ’10 cars!!
6 days til quali, when the competative season will begin
7 days til race day!!
ajokay
8th March 2010, 8:53
That’s still too many days! Arrrgh!
yelrom
8th March 2010, 8:58
Off topic, but there is a game where you are a team manger, naming the team, developind and reseraching, sighning sponsors, sighning drivers, sighning staff, and of course setting the best race and quali strats. Over throughout the game it gets easier and more better known. You make friends with ppl that will become more well known and overall I love the game! Some may just ingonre this post but them people are missing out, or there may be some who sighns up to it and will go on it for 5 mins and then hop off it, but they will be missing out. So if you are looking for a game and you love F1 go to this one.. and its free :D
http://www.f1-tm.com
Mike Gibbins
8th March 2010, 9:03
Hey,
I saw a picture of a potential new safety car for this season?
Any news on that?
Mike
Patrickl
8th March 2010, 9:54
Here is a handy link for ya:
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=safety+car+site%3Af1fanatic.co.uk
VXR
8th March 2010, 9:08
I have to agree with Brawn’s comments about Button. JB should not be underestimated.
Rob R.
8th March 2010, 9:17
Keith this is probably a stupid question but were you aware March 21st 2010 would have been Ayrton Senna’s 50th birthday?
I was just wondering if you had any article(s) planned.
F1silverarrows
8th March 2010, 9:20
hay Keith when I showed you that mistake by “The Sun” the whole estate had a power cut and I couldn’t get back online, funny though my brother walked into his door.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
8th March 2010, 10:01
Rupert Murdoch’s power is greater than we feared!
ajokay
8th March 2010, 10:58
On the BBC Red Button (at least on Freesat, and therefore probably Sky and Virgin as well, don’t know about Freeview) there is a 2010 preview on a loop. Jake in the chair with Brundle, Legard, Eddie Jordan, and DC all discussing the coming season. I saw a few minutes of it this morning and it looks like a good watch, they’re arguing already.
Anyone see BBC’s 2009 review over the weekend? It was just good to see some F1 on the telly again. Worth a watch, I’m sure it’s on the iPlayer somewhere.
VXR
8th March 2010, 11:08
Sir Stirling Moss has suffered a serious accident this weekend involving a lift. He his OK, but has some broken bones and is being treated in hospital.
http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2010/03/08/a-thought-for-sir-stirling/
BasCB
8th March 2010, 11:11
I just read some bad news about Stirling Moss in a domestic freak accident. He did survive, but has broken a lot of bones and is in intensive care.
I wish him a good recovery.
http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/formula-1-news/229464/moss-suffers-serious-domestic-accident/
K
8th March 2010, 12:40
Anyone hear about this story from any other sources?
http://www.f1technical.net/news/14333?sid=df221ca1b9957146e93e5fc3c7aa405d
maciek
8th March 2010, 14:55
Curiouser and curiouser…
K
8th March 2010, 17:17
No one else seems to be reporting it but given that they seem to have actually bothered to chase up the claims made by Stefan GP and got replies it looks reliable.
Ned Flanders
8th March 2010, 13:22
Happy birthday Icthyes and Les! Get well soon Stirling Moss
Icthyes
8th March 2010, 15:02
Thanks Ned!
Sir Stirling recovering would be a great present, so all the best!
F1silverarrows
8th March 2010, 15:20
I’m an Uncle!!!!!!!!!!
Scribe
8th March 2010, 17:39
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8551538.stm
This has to be the best F1 drivers article I have read all of the pre season. Fantastic analysis of drivers mindsets in relation to self belief and their rivals.