2009 FIA Formula One World Championship

[LfcFan]

Very true FunkyG.Jenson rightly saying that his first lap was the key to his whole race.A superb victory for him and BrawnGP who looked off the pace through Friday and Saturday.
I think Jarno Trulli and Sebastian Vettel both helped JB's cause by holding up one and other due to their different statigies.
Good result for Lewis Hamilton.McLaren starting to make significant progess to the car.Unfortunately let down again by Hiki Kovalainen.Maybe we will see Pedro de la Rossa in the 2nd McLaren before to long.
Another under achiever today was Jarno Trulli.Again showing that he has some strange problem with long runs behind the wheel.His team mate was also poor today with a lackluster middle stint.Some his lap times were shocking for whatever reason.
Sebastian Vettel delivered more good points to add to his title charge.Definately a star in the making and a possible future world champion.Great drive.
Massa continues to prove to me that he hasnt got what it takes to ever be a champion.Out driven by Kimi Raikkonen in a shed of a Ferrari.
Great race.
Watched it on BBC tv with live onboard camera's from the BBC website and live timing screen from Formula1.com.A really great service from both websites.It makes it so much easier to follow all the action.

[FunkyG]

The latest new from the F1 website.

The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council has handed McLaren a three race ban for bringing the sport into disrepute after they were found to have misled race stewards at March’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

The ban will be suspended, however, in light of the ‘open and honest way’ in which team principal Martin Whitmarsh addressed the Council on Wednesday, and will only be applied if further evidence emerges, or there is another breach of the International Sporting Code.

The full statement from the FIA:
At an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council held in Paris on 29 April 2009, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes admitted five charges of breaching article 151c of the International Sporting Code relating to events at the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix.

The following decision was taken:

“Having regard to the open and honest way in which McLaren Team Principal, Mr Martin Whitmarsh, addressed the WMSC and the change in culture which he made clear has taken place in his organisation, the WMSC decided to suspend the application of the penalty it deems appropriate.

“That penalty is a suspension of the team from three races of the FIA Formula One World Championship. This will only be applied if further facts emerge regarding the case or if, in the next 12 months, there is a further breach by the team of article 151c of the International Sporting Code.”

The full reasons for this decision will be issued shortly.

[LfcFan]

Thanks for the update Funky
I think McLaren have been extremely lucky to swerve a ban.Sounds like they went infront of the WMSC with Ferrari jackets on lol.
Lets hope that is the end of it all and we can finally concentrate on the championship.

[LfcFan]

Slightly off topic but still F1 related

Senna film

A new film documentry about the legendary Ayrton Senna's F1 career is set to start filming in May.
Read more here ---> The Official Formula 1 Website

[LfcFan]

Can the British Grand Prix be saved?

Donington Park has until the end of June to satisfy planners over proposed upgrades to the circuit to enable it to stage the 2010 British Grand Prix.

Donington Park 2010

[FunkyG]

I realy hope that we can keep the British Gran Prix, it's one of the oldest fixtures in F1.

From what i just read from the link and looked at the Donington web site, the ideas they have look great, if they can implement it all the trak will look fantastic.

It's a shame that Silverstone will no longer be holding it but they didn't want to spend money on improving the facilitys, when i first heard that they were not holding it, the Brandshatch and Donington traks spang to mind as successors.

[LfcFan]

Im thinking its gonna be another 10 points for Jenson this weekend.Seems nothing can stop Brawn at the moment.

Looking at the three practice sessions and the results so far,it could well be a Brawn 1-2 on Sunday

[LfcFan]

Great pole for Jenson.Another 10points on the way to him tomorrow afternoon,it seems.
McLaren appear to have made a step sideways in terms of upgrades but where was Heikki Kovalainen,very poor again.Tough and probably fruitless race for Lewis Hamilton this time.
No Kimi Raikkonen in the top 10,a massive mistake from Ferrari.Well done to Felipe Massa for giving Ferrari something to work with.
Sebastian Vettel is going great guns this season.A real solid driver with a good head on his sholders.
Toyota are there or there abouts.Two better race day drivers are needed to get the full performance out of what is a good car.

[LfcFan]

Jenson shows his quality yet again.Its lovely to see such a talent getting the results he deserves.A great drive....again
I feel a bit sorry for Rubens Barrichello,that win should have been his but in my eyes his race was spoiled by his race stratigists.Very unlucky but a solid 2nd and good points.
Mark Webber finally gets some luck and some more silverware for his trophy cabinet.That'll do his confidence the world of good and he never lacks that anyway.
Sebastian Vettel was as level headed as ever.He did well to keep presure on Felipe Massa and to stay patient whilst staring at the back of that Ferarri for so long.Again though,I think he was let down my his race stratigists but not short filling him at the first pitstop an getting him out infront of Massa.
Fernando Alonso made the best of his below average machinery and showed up his below average team mate.
Lewis Hamiltons poor start and the crash at turn two made it very difficult for him to get anything out of today.His persistance and hard work just didnt quite pay off.Full marks for effort though.

[white_wizard]

:two brits on the podeam cannot be bad,,,Jenson seems unstopperble,

[LfcFan]

Two Brits? Mark Webber is Australian and Rubens Barrichello is Brazilian

[stjimmy]

what a great start to the season for jenson. totally out of the blue. you would have probably got odds of 100/1 at the start of the season for jenson to win it. now he is odds on at 4/7. just a great shame that lewis wont be up there too. anyways, this is looking like this season will be one of the most exciting ever. and its great to see it back on the bbc...

[LfcFan]

F1 as we know it,could be coming to a end.
The proposed rule changes involving budget caps for the next few seasons could destroy the championship.
F1 is the pinical of global motorsport and should therefor be that way in all aspects.If the costs are limited then so is the quality.
With less testing time and now less cash,reliability will drop dramatically.
It may well lead to closer racing and/or a more varied championship table but that doesnt mean it would be the best in the world.
The more investment that is put into developement,the better the results.Life saving drugs were not created in somebodies garden shed.
Over the last few years there has been a shadow cast over this formula with the talk of a break-away championship.Ferarri have spoken about it in the past and have stated they will leave F1 if the budget cap ruling is introduced.Renault,Toyota and Red Bull have also claimed similar intensions.
BBC news report

[LfcFan]

[LfcFan]

Its time for the Turkish GP.
The 1st anti-cockwise circuit of the season which will provide a different challenge to all the drivers.
Here are the time sheets for Fridays practices,a ciruit diagram and a bit of information.
Istanbul
Race Date: 07 Jun 2009
Number of Laps: 58
Circuit Length: 5.338 km
Race Distance: 309.396 km
Lap Record: 1:24.770 - JP Montoya (2005)

[LfcFan]

Well well well,its looking more like Jenson Button is gonna hav this championship wrapped up way before the end of the season.Can anybody stop him from making in a complete white-wash?

Under the new proposed rules for medals next season,Jenson would win the title if he bags two more wins.Right now that looks like Silverstone and Nürburgring.Then he wouldnt have to race again all season.

Brilliant race by JB again.His early pace was unbelievable,fastest lap after fastest lap,shocking.Although he would never admit it,it was an easy victory once Sebastian Vettel dropped it at turn 9/10.The Red bull driver had no chance after JB shot past and the team screwed up his strategy.

[DASKALAKI]

i like hamilton......my vote will go to him !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LfcFan]

The last Silverstone GP for what could a decade.Gladly its packed out event with the fans turning out in their tens of thousands to cheer on Jenson.It will be sad to see the race exit this historic circuit but it will be great to see it back at donnington park and i might just go next year with it being alot closer to my home.

If i have to put money on any race this year then i'll back Sebastian Vettel to win the British Grand Prix.Topping three of the 4 sessions is never easy.
This could very well be the turning point in the season but it'll a up hill climb for anybody to overcome Jenson Button's lead.

[LfcFan]

Sebastian Vettel absolutely cleaned up this weekend,way ahead of anybody else over the three days.He was simply the class of the field with top times in practices,in qualifying,during the race and a brilliant 1st place podium finish.Excellent.
You could see on the faces of Mark Webber and Rubens Barrichello that 2nd and 3rd werent what they set out to achieve but happy enough that they both picked up good points and trophies.
The race at the front would have been completely different if Mark Webber hadnt been blocked my Kimi Raikkonen on the final flying lap of qualifying,i think MW would have taken the pole position and won the race.
Some great battles throughout the race with more overtaking than i expected.
Jenson Button really struggled to get the performance out of the Brawn due to his smooth style not being enough to warm the tyres underneath him.He battled on though and so nearly picked off Nico Rosberg and Felipe Massa in the closing stages.Tough race for him but good points to keep the pressure on the rest of the drivers.
A frustrating Sunday for Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.So much hard work for no gain.LH looked like he had fun though.
I nice way to sign out from Silverstone.Lets hope they can finish Donnington park in time for next season,whatever happens to the F1 championship.

[LfcFan]