Here’s today’s round-up:
Links
Di Grassi joins forces with Addax GP3 (Autosport)
“Virgin Formula 1 driver Lucas di Grassi has become a part-owner in the Addax team’s GP3 operation.”
Boutsen: Technology has taken over F1 (F1 Pulse)
“Technology has taken over. The driver is somebody who is just driving the car but the influence of a driver on the setup of car or the building, construction or engineering of a car is no longer there. It’s a shame.”
Comment of the day
The first sight of Hermann Tilke’s new track for Austin has been generally well-received. Here’s what Pinball had to say:
I think the best looking section is turn eight, nine and ten, as the cars will be climbing up to turn ten which sort of looks like it has a crest either at or just beyond the apex of the corner, which means from the drivers point of view they won’t be able to see where the track goes. But cause the actual horizontal deflection through corner is maybe only ten or 15 degrees, the limitation of the speed through the corner isn’t going to be function of the amount of available grip or downforce from the cars, but rather the guts of the drivers. I see it as a corner where a driver in a lesser car, who may be braver than another driver in a better car will be able to use his / her judgement to negotiate the corner faster.
I also like how the track has been fitted to suit the natural topography, which means Tilke have been able to use natural slopes as viewing areas or "natural stands" as they are referring to them.
Overall I think it looks good, but I’m kind of disappointed that a few of the corners seem to be duplications of other corners at other circuits, but from what I understand that was a request from the circuit owner. Without those constraints I’m sure Tilke would have been able to make even better use of the natural topography.
Pinball
From the forum
Which racing drivers have the best helmet designs?
Site updates
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Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to KateDerby and Notna!
On this day in F1
Juan Manuel Fangio won his fourth world championship on this day in 1956, in the last race of the season at Monza.
The steering on Fangio’s car broke early in the race, putting him out. That left his Ferrari team mate Peter Collins with a shot at winning the championship, if he won the race and set fastest lap (which was worth an extra point in those days).
But when Collins came into the pits to change tyres with 16 laps to go he spotted Fangio on the sidelines and offered his car to his rival (car-sharing was also allowed). Fangio took it and drove it to second place, enough to claim the by three points from race winner Stirling Moss.
Collins said afterwards he expected he would have other opportunities to win the world championship in the future. But just two years later he was killed in a crash at the Nurburgring.
OEL
2nd September 2010, 9:28
So which car will be pace setting on Monza? Will it be the McLaren as everyone seem to be sure about, or will Ferrari or perhaps Force India surprise them? And what about Red Bull? Are they going to struggle, or will their cornering speed put them in the top 4 anyway?
Steph (@)
2nd September 2010, 9:51
Mclaren will win. RBR and Ferrari along similar lines with pace but maybe Ferrari will have the edge out of thsoe two. FI shold get some solid points but I think Renault could maybe hassle them.
Tango
2nd September 2010, 9:52
You forgot Renault. The car is fast in straight lines now (as demonstrated at SPA).
OEL
2nd September 2010, 9:55
Ok, Renualt might be quick, but the question is if they’ll use F-duct there or not. And if they aren’t, will they put resources in a low downforce package, or will they focus on 2011 instead? The same goes for Force India.
Tango
2nd September 2010, 10:16
I don’t know. However, Renault has quite important ressources (behind top 4 probably, but not far) and great facilities. I believe they will try to get fourth place in front of Mercedes so they can be strong sponsors contenders during inter season. With Petrov maturing and Kubica exploiting the car well, there is no reason why they wouldn’t at least try.
OEL
2nd September 2010, 10:26
“there is no reason why they wouldn’t at least try.” Well, yes, there is one. Next year. If they want to be championship contenders next year, maybe they should focus on 2011 instead. But I think they are going to try beating Mercedes anyway.
David-A (@david-a)
2nd September 2010, 14:32
Focusing on “next year” certainly didn’t help BMW Sauber, probably even Ferrari did it?
Tango
2nd September 2010, 14:44
I have to agree David A. “Focusing on next year” souds a lot like “Giving it up”.
BasCB
2nd September 2010, 16:58
I agree with you that Renault could/should try getting 4th in the WCC from Mercedes. They might still have a chance at winning a race this year.
I think Boullier confirmed, that they are bringing further updates as they learn more about the car and what their updated facilities can bring them, making improvements which carry on for next years car.
George
2nd September 2010, 17:47
@David A
It never really seems to work, it’s just an excuse teams use when they have a bad car after a good one ‘we were trying to win the championship last year’.
I dont think they can do any significant design until they know what the new tyres are like anyway.
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
2nd September 2010, 10:35
I think Mclaren will win if it’s dry, then Ferrari. Red Bull have to bring out the maximum out of it.
Steph (@)
2nd September 2010, 9:35
That was great form from Collins. It’s nice after all the team order stuff to remember that sometimes drivers were/are sometimes exceptionally kind to one another.
OEL
2nd September 2010, 9:39
I’m glad the days of sharing car are over. It was really mad! Of course, team orders still exist, but Ferrari can at least not tell Felipe to hand his car over to Alonso!
BasCB
2nd September 2010, 16:59
Well, they did do that didn’t they? And we’ll have to see, weather they get away with it (with only a monetary penalty)
OEL
2nd September 2010, 19:34
Read more carefully before commenting! I wrote “but Ferrari can at least not tell Felipe to hand his car over to Alonso!” Yes, hand the car over, not slowing down to let him pass!
OEL
2nd September 2010, 9:40
F1 in Rome for 2012 is now definate? At least according to swedish media.
OEL
2nd September 2010, 9:46
I don’t like it. Annother street circuit and, more importantly, with Korea, India and USA coming, which circuits will have to be dropped?
Icthyes (@icthyes)
2nd September 2010, 12:16
Hopefully Valencia. Like that’ll happen.
BasCB
2nd September 2010, 16:59
Maybe they want to replace the Turkish GP after it’s contract runs out next year.
Osvaldas31
2nd September 2010, 9:55
David Coulthard yesterday was in Lithuania with Red Bull road show, pity the shw was in capital Vilnius, and I live in other city Kaunas. I could’t be there cause new academic year began yesterday and i had to be in university.
TomD11 (@tomd11)
2nd September 2010, 10:03
Are they actually going to choose a 13th team or have they just swept that under the carpet now?
OEL
2nd September 2010, 10:06
Good question. Really it’s extreamely late now, if a new team would get an entry now, it will almost be impossible to build a car for next year. It’s rediculous FIA haven’t made the disicion yet!
BasCB
2nd September 2010, 17:00
Will probably be at the end of next week, after the FIA WMSC meeting.
Mike
3rd September 2010, 7:52
I’m sorry, I thought Bernie was complaining how slow they were?
This is ridiculous…
I’m starting to get the impression, and by starting I mean it’s reinforcing my absurd notion, that some factors in the sport, don’t actually have any intention of running like a sport…
If a new team does enter… And I hope they do, No one in the higher ups should feel in a position to criticise… not least Bernie.
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
2nd September 2010, 10:37
Car sharing! I wonder if that were allowed this days then Alonso would have retired & ask Massa to lend him the car & finish into 4th place in Spa.
Mike
3rd September 2010, 8:06
Hey, Hey! I’ve just worked it out! Vettel isn’t a rubbish passer! He’s just trying to share his car!!! With Webber, and Button, and…
Dev
2nd September 2010, 12:15
there is an video showing that Massa started atleast half a meter ahead of the grid mark at Spa. don’t know how the stewards missed that!!
http://www.f1pulse.com/news/massa_escaped_penalty_at_spa/news-2010-september-news_20100902_5/news_article.aspx
Paulo
2nd September 2010, 13:46
I’m surprised Charlie didn’t spot that as that’s a pretty big advantage to be taking
Dev
2nd September 2010, 14:17
could that be team orders where he does that on purpose to get a stop go or a pit lane penalty so alonso can inherit one more position? sounds crazy but nelson piquet’s crash was crazy too!!
Tango
2nd September 2010, 14:45
Just a tad too crazy IMO. Massa could find better ways of pitting.
Jack Peekoc
2nd September 2010, 22:23
1) Perhaps it was the line-mans fault for not placing his board at the right spot (drivers cant see the lines on the road, so they rely on the line’s men who hold rods out with their numbers on them).
2) Perhaps he was not penalised because he did not gain an advantage (even if he had the opportunity).
I doubt Charley missed it. The commentators even said it and we all know how he does what ever they expect.
BasCB
2nd September 2010, 17:18
The YAM seems to be the only one who knows what’s going on at HRT, looks like he will driving all races until the end of the year!
http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/241695/yamamoto-i-m-staying-until-the-end-of-the-season/
I am curious to find out exactly how much money did he bring into the team, or is it possible him being there helps in getting Toyota technical support (i.e. a car based on the TF110) for next season.