Just so you know..... Bahrain Fri 11 March 2011 Practice 1 18:00 - 19:30 Practice 2 22:00 - 23:30 Sat 12 March 2011 Practice 3 19:00 - 20:00 Qualifying 22:00 Sun 13 March 2011 Race 22:00
Some of you may know that Rosberg's nickname is Britney, because he's such a pretty boy...however, he was quite surprised to find this in his passport. Image Unavailable, Please Login
using MS's second best lap time.... The Pirelli tyre test concluded today in Abu Dhabi with a total of 15 drivers on track in 12 cars and Fernando Alonso setting the pace. In total the F1 teams have done 11,000 kilometres in the last two days, giving Pirelli some very good data to work with on compounds and wear rates. The next time the F1 cars will test will be at the start of February when the first 2011 runners will hit the track on the next iteration of Pirelli tyres. For detailed analysis of the Pirelli tyres see yesterdays post, but today Michael Schumacher had his first taste of the tyres and sounded a cautiously optimistic note. We gathered a lot of data and insights, and have positive feedback from our first impression of the new tyres, he said. I am probably the only driver to have driven with Pirelli tyres before but it was 20 years ago and I didnt have any certain expectations before today. In terms of consistency, it looked quite good but we were using the 2010 car today and it will be all about how these tyres suit our 2011 car. Schumacher started his F1 career on Pirelli tyres in 1991 on the Benetton, in the days when they were very good qualifying tyres, but not so durable in races. Nelson Piquet gave the tyre marque their last F1 win that year in Montreal (the infamous day when Mansell switched off the Williams on the final lap) McLaren has run the same drivers all week in both the final Bridgestone test, for young drivers and the Pirelli test. Certainly in Gary Paffetts case that will have given him a pretty good feel for the difference between the two. Force India did a similar thing with Paul di Resta. And today Sergio Perez had a run in the Sauber on PIrellis, which will have given him a comparative view too. Pirellis Paul Hembery commented, The comments from the drivers are very encouraging: they especially enjoyed the performance of our front tyre, which is an area that we have worked on considerably. This was one of our objectives, and Im delighted that we have hit our target. Throughout these two days weve tried out the medium and soft compound tyres and weve had good results from both of them, particularly in terms of wear rate. During the two days of testing here in Abu Dhabi weve racked up nearly 11,000 kilometres with all the teams: thats more than we have accumulated in three months of private testing. Pirelli Tyre Test Day Two, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi 1. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m40.529s 105 2. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 1m40.825s 66 3. Rubens Barrichello Williams 1m41.294s 101 4. Robert Kubica Renault 1m41.614s 91 5. Gary Paffett McLaren 1m41.622s 46 6. Oliver Turvey McLaren 1m41.740s 30 7. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m41.757s 74 8. Paul di Resta Force India 1m41.869s 35 9. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber 1m42.110s 43 9. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso 1m42.145s 98 10. Tonio Liuzzi Force India 1m42.416s 47 11. Sergio Perez Sauber 1m42.777s 46 12. Jarno Trulli Lotus 1m44.521s 83 13. Pastor Maldonado Hispania 1m44.768s 65 14. Timo Glock Virgin 1m44.783s 83
Centre Bet odds for WDC drivers 2011 VETTEL, Sebastian (Red Bull) 3.25 ALONSO, Fernando (Ferrari) 4.00 HAMILTON, Lewis (McLaren) 4.00 WEBBER, Mark (Red Bull) 8.00 BUTTON, Jenson (McLaren) 11.00 ROSBERG, Nico (Mercedes GP) 13.00 SCHUMACHER, Michael (Mercedes GP) 13.00 KUBICA, Robert (Renault) 21.00 MASSA, Felipe (Ferrari) 21.00 constructors Constructors Championship - WINNER RED BULL 2.50 FERRARI 3.25 McLAREN 3.25 MERCEDES GP 8.00 RENAULT 19.00 WILLIAMS 41.00 FORCE INDIA 67.00 BMW SAUBER 81.00 TORO ROSSO 201.00 LOTUS 251.00 HRT 501.00 VIRGIN 501.00 stick a lazy hundred on alonso and webber....
Lewis Hamilton says.... I was on the simulator yesterday, first time driving the new car and I was happy. Kers and rear wing is trick but felt right at home with it These new tyres r ok, not too big a difference. Rears r weak tho, they degrade fast. Reason I didn't do the test is the tyres will change Car will change and so it was best to let the test drivers get all the data needed for the sim and wind tunnel. Our kers is the best. It shud deliver Me n JB r both driving the new MP4-12C 2moro, sick car! The 12c is the new McLaren road car
Translated into English "I was playing gran turismo 5 yesterday.....I was happy because I didnt crash, had all driver aids on because I cant drive. I didnt need tyres because I was driving on TV Car will change because the setting was default to Red Bull and the test drivers drive better than me. Gran Tursimo driver aids are the best because I cant drive and the aids deliver me from evil Me and that other useless pom are driving a new car on Gran Turismo 5 and I felt sick because of the cilli con carne I ate last night. The new car is a Fiat Uno which suits my style....if I have any"
Williams has confirmed that GP2 champion Pastor Maldonado will be its second driver in 2011, taking the seat occupied by Nico Hulkenberg this season. Maldonado had been extensively linked with Williams in recent months, and tested for the team during the recent rookie sessions in Abu Dhabi, where he also spent two days with Hispania. He is believed to bring significant levels of personal sponsorship to the team. "I feel very privileged that Williams has selected me as one of their race drivers," Maldonado said. "It is a great way to end what has already been an amazing year for me. "I tested with the team in Abu Dhabi, but can't wait to start working with everyone properly to be in the best possible shape going into next year. I will be doing my best over the winter to prepare myself, and I know the team will be working hard to ensure a successful season. "2011 will be the first time in nearly 30 years that a Venezuelan has driven a Formula 1 car so I will be looking to get some good results in return for the support my country has given me to help get me to this position today." The 25-year-old took the GP2 title with seven victories this year, but team boss Frank Williams said he had been watching Maldonado's progress since his maiden GP2 win in Monaco with the Trident team in 2007, when he had just moved across from the World Series by Renault. "Pastor first caught my eye in 2007 when he drove a masterful race at Monaco," Williams said. "Since then, he has regularly reminded us of his unquestionable talent with some skilful wins, particularly during this year's GP2 championship, taking an unsurpassed record of six successive victories. "Of course, we already know Pastor from the time he spent with the team at the Abu Dhabi test, but we are very much looking forward to developing his talent over the winter and a fruitful season with him next year." Williams has already announced that Rubens Barrichello will be retained as its other race driver next season, with Valtteri Bottas remaining in the test and reserve role.
http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2010/12/fernandes-gives-up-jps-livery-but-is-determined-to-remain-team-lotus/
what a mess. A bunch of scumbags, loaded with crony/corrupt money, arguing over who owns a company that none of them have any heritage with. Nobody becomes successful in Malaysia without actively participating in the systemic corruption. I feel sorry for Colin Chapman's legacy.
it has the whiff of deja-vu about it doesn't it? They anounce a raft of models and plans to compete with Porsche and Ferrari. This is pretty much what sent them under last time and I can't think of an example of any maker who has succeeded for any length of time at the top end of the sports car market with bought-in engines.
OK, lets see. They've made one road car, the F1, and they closed production before they reached the intended volume, the last few cars took some years to sell. The new MP4 thingy has a bespoke engine where they outsourced the design and manufacture, it doesn't come from a Camry! Even so, it remains to be seen if this will outgun the 458 or the next Gallardo in the long run, I suspect not.
