Silly season 2010

[djos]

considering nick only participated in 13 events in 2005 after suffering an injury ,
and bagging a pole position ,2 second place race result etc ... vs Webbers one 3rd place it seems a bit over the top to call this average compared to the aussie..
please be so kind and don´t call a guy who managed to stay in F1 for a decade on merit average ,he´s not Michael ,yes but webber is not as well.

He only got 2nd place at Monaco over Webber due to team orders bringing him in a lap earlier than Webber, that 2nd place was Webber's but he got shafted as he was stuck behind someone else (I forget who) and Heidfeld was behind Webber - williams should have brought webbo in as he was the lead williams driver at the time!

Besides Heidfelds injury's where tame compared to what Webber started the 2009 season with (destroyed right leg and broken shoulder) and he went on to get a pole position, 2 fastest laps and 2 race wins + half a dozen or so podiums most of which were 2nds.

[sticky667]

translated to English:
EXCLUSIVE M21

Campos Meta already has a pilot partner for the next course, which is not part any pilot Spanish as a starter since, as has learned exclusively Motor21, Nelson Piquet has signed for the Spanish team. The Brazilian, a former Renault and son of triple world champion in F1, has signed a contract for the next three seasons, leaving the site of a Spanish test driver, whose name has not yet been decided.

Finally, the Brazilian family money has been greater than that presented the Russian Vitaly Petrov and Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado, who also pushed for it to be companions of Bruno Senna, so far only confirmed driver for the team of Fuente Alamo. Moreover, experience in Formula 1 Piquet (Renault season and a half) is taken into account in Campos Meta as having two rookies was a somewhat risky choice for the first season in the top category of motorsport.

Piquet option is not the first time there is. In fact, when last season was still ongoing, jumped on rumors that the Brazilian could buy a seat in Campos, now becoming part of the ownership of the team, as has happened but Piquet, with the invaluable help of his father, has bought 15% of the team also arrived accompanied by several sponsors, Brazilians, to help the team financially. Days after we know the rumor, Adrián Campos asserted that Piquet was a possibility, possibility Motor21 can confirm that today.

Thus, the two Spanish pilots who remained in the air with options to fill the wheel, Pedro Martínez de la Rosa and Andy Soucek, were left without him and now must fend for themselves on other computers, Sauber and USF1, as well as Soucek have the option Renault.

Piquet, Renault fired last summer for poor performance during the first part of the 2009 season, led the Brazilian to uncover the crash-gate scandal, which ended with a lifetime penalty for Flavio Briatore, sanction currently in use. Despite an image created somewhat harmful to their interests, Piquet still hoped to continue in F1, being supported by Lewis Hamilton. Now this support has come from Murcia, and after being in the shadow of Fernando Alonso at Renault, Piquet will enjoy a great opportunity in Campos Meta show their quality as a driver in Formula 1.

[Giblet]

What about Ralph?

Apparently now he has turned down one drive, but that might be BS from his camp. He showed some good spoeed earlier on, but like he said, being signed for Toyota, getting no results, and sailing away with kabillions on his yatch has done nothing for his career.

He admits his rep was dmaged with Toyotas, and has a little mountain to climb.

[marcush.]

What about Ralph?

Apparently now he has turned down one drive, but that might be BS from his camp. He showed some good spoeed earlier on, but like he said, being signed for Toyota, getting no results, and sailing away with kabillions on his yatch has done nothing for his career.

He admits his rep was dmaged with Toyotas, and has a little mountain to climb.

Sorry I can´t take this serious ....

[Giblet]

No need to apologize, I saw the humor there to, but either way, he was not the worst driver in the beinning of his career. If he was driven....

Deserving of a second shot?

No more than anyone else, but maybe less.

[Henne]

No need to apologize, I saw the humor there to, but either way, he was not the worst driver in the beinning of his career. If he was driven....

Deserving of a second shot?

No more than anyone else, but maybe less.

For sure he wasn't slow when he drove at Williams... But he wasn't very fast either. He just doesn't have the fast constant pace IMO. And yes, his career got some beatings when he was driving at Toyota

[ESPImperium]

I Just hope Piquet dosnt race in 2010, but its inevitable that he will with Campos-Dallara as they need funds over drivers.

I hope there is a drive for Ralf, as i think he is a better driver than say Piquet, and altho his reputation was damaged by that option year in 2007 with Toyota, when he could have gone elsewhere for a better car, the fact his judgement was clouded by money at Toyota. However, with what he has done in DTM, he is more than worthy of a drive back in F1 again, id say if he gets a good enough car (Renault or STR for the best avalable drives currently???) id say he would be quick and a perfect foil for a faster driver in what could be called the "Rubens" role in a good team.

As for Sauber, i hope they can get a driver in place soon to team up with Kimui, Heidfeld would be perfect, but carries no sponsorship value for the team altho quick and consistant, however a driver that is maybe not so quick and consistant but carries sponsor value will get his place.

STR with Jamie, this is about sponsor value, but i feel that STR are weighing up their options with Jamie Alguasuari. I feel that they, with 2 really young drivers lost focus last year in the difficult middle of the season. Could they be looking for a experienced driver alongside Buemi, would ultimatly be better for STR over the season, and not points at the start and end as was last year as that car would have scored more points if they sacked Bourdais earlier and pt in a more experienced driver than Jamie in the seat.

USF1, i think need to get drivers sorted out ASAP, they are starting to look fools now. Nothing but fools as they dont even have a single driver announced.

6 seats remaining, and id say about a good dozen or more drivers avalable. Id say theese names are the names to look for that are avalable:


Vitaly Petrov
Luca Filippi
Giedo van der Garde
Jérôme d'Ambrosio
Dani Clos
Pastor Maldonado
Andy Soucek
Adam Carroll
Bertrand Baguette
Brendon Hartley
Adrian Zaugg
Robert Wickens
Mikhail Aleshin
Jules Bianchi
Marco Andretti
Sébastien Bourdais
Paul di Resta
J.R. Hildebrand
Filipe Albuquerque
Daniel Ricciardo
Nelson Piquet
Takuma Sato
Jacques Villeneuve
Pedro De La Rosa
Kazuki Nakajima
Romain Grosjean
Jose Maria Lopez
Anthony Davidson
Giancarlo Fisichella
Christian Klien
Jaime Alguersuari
Nick Heidfeld

[marcush.]

No need to apologize, I saw the humor there to, but either way, he was not the worst driver in the beinning of his career. If he was driven....

Deserving of a second shot?

No more than anyone else, but maybe less.

C´mon ,on this very site you will find this box where famous words of the past are popping up :
one is of Sir Frank Williams -referring to his driver RS about him not having a go towards his brother when the material was definitly up to the task....
He was frankly speaking obscenely overpaid for a very long time because everyone thought of the Michael factor in him ,which was if ever very rarely visible.
But hats off to him and his management to make that sort of money out of the potential that is or was there. Still has a works drive in DTM but achieved not much in two years ,did he? should he get another 3 years to acclimatise ? I do not think of the DTM to be more than a PR event,so just why he is not perfoming is somehow shaded ,but it makes you wonder how on earth a F1 pro does not cut the mustard against drivers who did not make it into F1.

[dumrick]

No need to apologize, I saw the humor there to, but either way, he was not the worst driver in the beinning of his career. If he was driven....

Deserving of a second shot?

No more than anyone else, but maybe less.

Let's be fair, if USF1 don't make it into F1, we'll need a laughing stock in 2010 and Ralf could do the trick...

As for Nelsinho, if he does do it into the Campos Meta seat, at least we'll be able, finally to compare him with Bruno Senna. My bet is that, nowadays, Nelsinho, not being a great driver, nor having his father's inspired moments has such low expectations on him, that people will be astonished at his relative form (Bruno hasn't really impressed me last year)...

[Giblet]

If USF1 doesn't make the grid, I will immediately jump on the bandwagon of pain and carve them in earnest like everyone else.

I do have a tiny little soft spot for Nelson somewhere on the bottom of my left foot. not a big one, but one.

Working for a large corportation, can push a person to do things that formerly would be off their ethical radar. Having a Flavio threatening you with your career, or maybe with more, might be enough to push you over the edge.

Nelson is still young, and the immense pressure he may have been put under personally, including possible blackmail (the rumors of his man-love with some older man) might havebeen a huge factor, crushing the kid.

I do NOT beleive that Flavio should be let near anything inlvolving sport. His scare tactic management/bankrupting of Benetton store owners shows his sheer ruthlessness, but a small second chance for Nelson with his father bankrolling, if it is true, might be a good environment for him to prove himself.

He was no Lewis when he was in GP2, but the odds of ever seeing another Lewis like rise in the near future is slim, and he is at such an early stage of his career, he might be able to recoup some honor with hard work and good speed.

[Pup]

If they don't make it onto the grid, it will be because of money rather than their ability to actually put a car together. I mean, so long as it looks like an F1 car, passes the safety tests, and they can get the engine connected to the rear wheels and the steering connected to the front, they'll be there. It might not be fast, or reliable, or safe to be in or around, but it'll get the job done.

But you can't cheat the money - either it's there or it isn't. They say they've got it, but do they? I tend to say no, mainly because secrets like that are hard to keep and, well, there's really no reason to keep them anyway; but also because all of their press releases are pretty defensive, which I wouldn't expect if they were actually confident of making it. (Does Windsor really not see the irony about putting out a press release solely about not putting out press releases?) Maybe they have some secret sponsor (doubt it), or Hurley is willing to dig deep into his pockets (real deep), but my suspicion is that right now they're looking at some pretty blank bodywork.

But then that's nothing new. Wait and see, wait and see...

[ISLAMATRON]

USF1, i think need to get drivers sorted out ASAP, they are starting to look fools now. Nothing but fools as they dont even have a single driver announced.

6 seats remaining, and id say about a good dozen or more drivers avalable. Id say theese names are the names to look for that are avalable:


Vitaly Petrov
Luca Filippi
Giedo van der Garde
Jérôme d'Ambrosio
Dani Clos
Pastor Maldonado
Andy Soucek
Adam Carroll
Bertrand Baguette
Brendon Hartley
Adrian Zaugg
Robert Wickens
Mikhail Aleshin
Jules Bianchi
Marco Andretti
Sébastien Bourdais
Paul di Resta
J.R. Hildebrand
Filipe Albuquerque
Daniel Ricciardo
Nelson Piquet
Takuma Sato
Jacques Villeneuve
Pedro De La Rosa
Kazuki Nakajima
Romain Grosjean
Jose Maria Lopez
Anthony Davidson
Giancarlo Fisichella
Christian Klien
Jaime Alguersuari
Nick Heidfeld

All those drivers are exactly why USF1 has no need to hurry in selecting drivers... they could charge 1 million a test for their first couple tests(shakedowns really) and still pick the drivers with the biggest bank rolls. Drivers are the 1 thing that wont be a problem for them, but they can use the drivers to help them fix their biggest problem... money.

[alelanza]

translated to English:
EXCLUSIVE M21

Campos Meta already has a pilot partner for the next course, which is not part any pilot Spanish as a starter since, as has learned exclusively Motor21, Nelson Piquet has signed for the Spanish team. The Brazilian, a former Renault and son of triple world champion in F1, has signed a contract for the next three seasons, leaving the site of a Spanish test driver, whose name has not yet been decided.

Finally, the Brazilian family money has been greater than that presented the Russian Vitaly Petrov and Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado, who also pushed for it to be companions of Bruno Senna, so far only confirmed driver for the team of Fuente Alamo. Moreover, experience in Formula 1 Piquet (Renault season and a half) is taken into account in Campos Meta as having two rookies was a somewhat risky choice for the first season in the top category of motorsport.

Piquet option is not the first time there is. In fact, when last season was still ongoing, jumped on rumors that the Brazilian could buy a seat in Campos, now becoming part of the ownership of the team, as has happened but Piquet, with the invaluable help of his father, has bought 15% of the team also arrived accompanied by several sponsors, Brazilians, to help the team financially. Days after we know the rumor, Adrián Campos asserted that Piquet was a possibility, possibility Motor21 can confirm that today.

Thus, the two Spanish pilots who remained in the air with options to fill the wheel, Pedro Martínez de la Rosa and Andy Soucek, were left without him and now must fend for themselves on other computers, Sauber and USF1, as well as Soucek have the option Renault.

Piquet, Renault fired last summer for poor performance during the first part of the 2009 season, led the Brazilian to uncover the crash-gate scandal, which ended with a lifetime penalty for Flavio Briatore, sanction currently in use. Despite an image created somewhat harmful to their interests, Piquet still hoped to continue in F1, being supported by Lewis Hamilton. Now this support has come from Murcia, and after being in the shadow of Fernando Alonso at Renault, Piquet will enjoy a great opportunity in Campos Meta show their quality as a driver in Formula 1.

Disregard, dec 28th is the equivalent of april's fool in spain/latin america

[xpensive]

I wonder how the "new teams" will be monitored by the FIA between now and Bahrain, will they be given the benefit of the doubt until first practice to show up, or are there mechanisms to freeze before that, in order to give others a go?

[pipex]

Don't know where to put this, if in the USF1 thread or here. This is an article from the argentinean press (in spanish...):
http://www.corsaonline.com.ar/2009/11/2 ... scamos.php

Main points:
- The budget is not yet completed (8 million dollars), but this is not a prerequisite
to sign the contract with Jose Maria Lopez. Windsor said that they are helping to find
more sponsors.
- Ecclestone signed a letter in which he asked for "special attention" to the project
of the argetinean car club.
- For the second seats options are: Alexander Rossi and Johathan Summerton. Windsor said
that Lopez will bring the experience for the car development (previous tester at Renault)
so they can take the risk of a new driver. They had talks with Wurz and De la Rosa.
Villeneuve is not an option.
- Lopez will begin an intense training programme in Austria with a duration of 12 days.

In another article they said that USF1 will pay to bring a World Series car to Argentina to allow Jose Maria to acclimatise himself to Formula cars.