R1's F1 Chat

[r1 Convert]

There are 2 sports in my life, bikes n cars (who said i am a petrol head )

Though the introduction to bikes has happened later in my life and has now overtaken my love of Formula 1, my knowledge of Formula 1 is far greater than Moto GP.

So i thought id start a chat about my (now) second fav sport and hope that there are other members that have an interest !

[r1 Convert]

20 Races in next years Season....are you crazy .......

But have they taken in to account that Turkey is Danger ? The word around is that Turkey is probably going to be a no go for next season

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh concerned by F1 schedule




Thanks to the Beeb:

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh claims Formula 1 constructors are close to having to use alternate crews due to their heavy schedule.

Next year could see a record-breaking 20 races on the F1 calendar.

Whitmarsh believes that any more would put an intolerable strain on crews and drivers.

He said: "Twenty races and a lot of fly-aways is pretty hard on the team, and we're at the tipping point. We shouldn't have any more than 20."

Doubts remain about next year's races in Bahrain, Korea and the new event in the United States.

But if those three races are confirmed, Whitmarsh feels F1 teams will be at full capacity, unless they adopt a crew rotation system that is employed in NASCAR.

Whitmarsh, who also serves as chairman of the Formula One Teams' Association, believes that the crammed schedule is all about money.

He is confident that McLaren can deal with their 2012 programme but maintains that no more races can be added to the calendar with teams' current structures.

Whitmarsh added: "We're getting close to the point where you do need to alternate crews, like in NASCAR.

"Obviously, the world championship is important, but every grand prix as a stand-alone event is very special.

"I know there is always the chase of money, but 20 is a lot and we're right on the limit of what we should be.

"I think we can cope with it (next year) but it is very hard because by the time the team strips down and returns after Brazil [the final race of this season, on 27 Novmber], then it will be December.

"In January those same guys will be building the car, and then in February testing it, and then they're into a flog around the world.

"It's an incredibly difficult, challenging job for the mechanics, technicians and engineers."

Jenson Button, the 2009 world champion, insists drivers can cope with the heavy racing schedule.

But he has acknowledged that even the present race-list is tough on crews.

He said: "As drivers we love racing, and for us, that's what we're here for.

"For us, the amount of races doesn't matter, but you have to think about the guys who work non-stop, the mechanics and the engineers.

"It is a massive difference with regard to the hours they have to do over a race weekend, and it's those guys that are definitely on the limit, not us."

The first-ever Formula One world championship, in 1950, was made up of just seven races.
The schedule included 19 grand prixs for the first time in 2005, a number repeated in the last two years.

[r1 Convert]

Jenson Button dedicated the first Indian Grand Prix to the lives of Dan Wheldon and Marco Simoncelli.

IndyCar driver Wheldon and MotoGP rider Simoncelli were both killed in accidents this month.

Button - who finished second behind Sebastian Vettel - said: "We've had two fatalities and it's very difficult.

"I knew Dan from a young age so I think we should dedicate this first Indian race to Dan and to Marco, who was the most amazing man to watch on a bike."

The inaugural race at the Buddh International Circuit was preceded by a minute's silence, and Button was joined by Vettel and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso - who finished third - in dedicating the race to the pair.

"It's been a tough weekend for everyone in motorsport," added Button, who raced against Wheldon as a child.

Vettel admitted he had "mixed emotions" after his 11th win of the season, which saw him lead from the front to record another dominant win for Red Bull.

"For everyone who is a fan of motorsports it's been a hard time we had to go through," he said.

"On one hand I'm very happy and proud, but on the other hand you have to pay a certain respect to those two guys who lost their lives.

"I didn't know Dan Wheldon, but I got to know Marco Simoncelli this year and our thoughts are with them. Yes, we take great risks when we jump in the car and we hope nothing happens but you are reminded of these things."

Alonso added: "As Seb and Jenson said, we have mixed feelings. These are sad weeks for motorsport.

"We all raced for them today. We will always remember these two fantastic people."

[Eka]

F1 is very refreshing. I usually see few first laps and then i wake up couple hours later...

[r1 Convert]

Heehee

[r1 Convert]

It was so obvious that they were going to drop it, whilst turkey isnt a rich counry, the attendance this year was appalling (and Bernie doubled the price to the Government for holding the F1 in Turkey, who can blame them for saying no!!)


The Turkish Grand Prix has been dropped from next year's Formula 1 calendar which has been published by the sport's governing body, the FIA.

In July, F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone handed out a schedule that omitted Turkey and it has now been ratified.

The Istanbul track has hosted a race since 2005 and though it provided good races, attendances have been poor.

Bahrain returns to the 20-race calendar after being dropped this year following civil unrest in the country.

The Middle Eastern country was originally pencilled in for late in the 2012 campaign, but the new calendar sees the round at the Sakhir circuit scheduled for 22 April.

Australia's Melbourne Park circuit will once again host the season's curtain raiser on 18 March with Brazil wrapping things up eight months later on 25 November.

The United States Grand Prix at the new purpose-built Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, has moved from June to November when conditions should be cooler.

Earlier this month, Indian motor sport federation president Vicky Chandhok voiced concerns about the Indian Grand Prix's proposed 22 April date when temperatures in the region hover around the 40C mark.

"I am not happy with April because it's going to be hot," Chandhok said.

However, the race in New Delhi has now been confirmed as the 17th race on the calendar on 28 October.