F1 News thread! - 2009

[El Gordo]

I plan to use this as a news thread - I think it'd be a good idea if I keep it all in here, then if stuff gets discussed in here fair enough, but I'd like to encourage people to join the F1 social forum to really pick over stories individually.

[El Gordo]

First up - a story about a new team planning to enter F1 in 2010. It is rumoured they have significant backing from a major American film and music group, and they'll have all sorts of film deals and theme park rides linked to them to help bankroll things. http://www.usf1.com/


The news as follows:

USF1, a prospective new formula one entrant to be based in America, looks set to launch its foray on February 24, according to one of the figures central to the project.

Peter Windsor, a former team manager and now journalist, said he was surprised his and Ken Anderson's plans were kept under wraps for several years.

The Briton, the pitlane reporter for F1's US television coverage on Speed, told the channel's website speedtv.com that "the real announcement" about USF1's plans could be made on February 24.

Windsor explained that since the rumours broke, the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

"Of course it's not easy raising money in the recession," he admitted. "Having said that, the recession is all about adapting to changing times and re-setting the boundaries.

"That is what we are going to with USF1 -- and that is what the FIA are doing with the F1 rules.

"We know that we're primarily in the entertainment business and so every aspect of USF1 will reflect that," said Windsor.

And a second news item that suggests they'll be bringing some boobies to F1 that aren't in lycra and holding an umbrella!

Ken Anderson, one of the principals behind the prospective F1 team USF1, has confirmed interest in signing Danica Patrick. Patrick, the 26-year-old female IndyCar star , is "great", Anderson said in an interview with the Associated Press.

"She gets a lot of press," he added. "(Indianapolis Motor Speedway president) Tony George would probably be pretty mad with me if I took her out of the IRL but we'll see.

"I don't know if it's something she wants to do. We'd certainly love to test her and go from there."

The American news agency also revealed more details about USF1's 2010 plans, to be officially launched next week.

The annual budget, for example, will be around 50m euros, there will be at least 100 staff, and American names Scott Speed, Conor Daly and Josef Newgarden were mentioned as other candidates for a seat.

Anderson also confirmed reports that USF1 is considering setting up a European base at the Spanish headquarters of the Le Mans team Epilson Euskadi.

The new USF1 team will be unveiled on 24 February.

[El Gordo]

Honda is yet to find a "serious buyer" for its formula one team, the Japanese carmaker's outgoing chief executive Takeo Fukui told a news conference on Monday.

"There are various offers for the team but we have not seen any serious buyer yet," he is quoted as saying.

"We find the sale process difficult."

Fukui's comments follow speculation that the interest of the Virgin Group might have scuppered the finalisation of a management buyout headed by Nick Fry and Ross Brawn and some other chiefs of the Brackley based team.

30 days remain until scrutineering for the 2009 season opener in Australia.

[El Gordo]

Ferrari appears on schedule to bring back its controversial 'traffic lights' pitstop system for the 2009 season.

The Italian team abandoned the unique automated system late last season following several incidents, including at the Singapore grand prix where Felipe Massa dragged the fuel hose down the pitlane.

Team manager Luca Baldisserri, however, said recently that engineers have improved the system so that the car will be electronically prevented from driving away if the fuel hose is attached.

It has now emerged that Ferrari trialled the revised system, which by the use of sensors, buttons and lights replaces the traditional 'lollipop' holder, at the recent Bahrain test.

[ABF]

Ferrari appears on schedule to bring back its controversial 'traffic lights' pitstop system for the 2009 season.

Cue a monumental Kimi Raikkonnen cock-up then.

[El Gordo]

Cue a monumental Kimi Raikkonnen cock-up then.

In a way I'd like it to happen to Massa because he's become arrogant beyond his ability, which isn't endearing. Arrogance when it's backed up with skills to pay the bills is almost endearing.

But then on the other hand I'd like to see Raikonnen flip out like a ninja, and storm off to BMW mid-season.

[ABF]

I'd like to see Raikonnen flip out like a ninja

haven't you seen him on the Johnnie Walker?! Walks about in his undercrackers apparently. Pisses in plant pots at parties and everything ...

[El Gordo]

haven't you seen him on the Johnnie Walker?! Walks about in his undercrackers apparently. Pisses in plant pots at parties and everything ...

So would I if I were a playboy race driver on €24m a year - Johnnie Walker or no

[Templar]

Top thread, seeing as the social group (most social groups that is) is populated by tumbleweeds these days

[El Gordo]

BBC coverage announcements:

he BBC will be providing comprehensive coverage of the 2009 Formula One season across all its platforms.

F1 returns to BBC television for the first time in 12 years and there will be extensive coverage on network TV, red button, radio, online and mobile.

BBC One will carry live coverage of all 17 Grands Prix and every qualifying session except that in Brazil, which will be shown on BBC Two.

And every single on-track session can be watched on the red button or online.

Jake Humphrey will present the TV coverage, joined by 13-time Grand Prix winner David Coulthard and former team boss Eddie Jordan as pundits.

Jonathan Legard will commentate alongside award-winning broadcaster and former F1 driver Martin Brundle.

The pit lane reporters will be Ted Kravitz and Lee McKenzie.

F1 fans will be able to customise their viewing experience through the BBC's multi-platform offering with options such as: split-screen action; a live leaderboard; in-car cameras; choice of commentary; live online streaming; live text; interactive forums; circuit guides; and blogs.

TELEVISION COVERAGE

Every race and qualifying session will be shown live on BBC One, with the exception of qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix on 17 October, which will be shown on BBC Two.

All races and qualifying sessions that finish before 1000 will have a full repeat on either BBC One or Two later that day.

There will be a one-hour evening highlights programme at 1900 UK time on BBC Three for all races except Brazil.

RED BUTTON

The BBC's red button interactive TV service will broadcast live coverage of all on-track sessions - Friday and Saturday practice, qualifying and race.

There will be an additional interactive analysis programme following on from the end of the BBC One coverage of each race.

On race day, viewers will be able to choose from three different video streams.

These will be: the main network feed with a choice of commentary from BBC One and BBC Radio 5 Live; a split screen comprising the main network feed; an in-car camera feed and leaderboard; rolling highlights.

RADIO

Radio 5 Live will again be providing extensive coverage and live commentary of all on-track action - on 5 Live on 909 and 693MW and 5 Live Sports extra on digital radio.

David Croft will be the commentator, with former F1 driver Anthony Davidson as the expert analyst and Holly Samos as pit-lane reporter.

The station will continue with its half-hour 5 Live Formula One show on Friday evenings during race weekends.

It also has the Chequered Flag Podcast which is available after every race and features interviews with all the main players and in-depth analysis.

ONLINE

The BBC Sport website will carry live all BBC One, BBC Two and red button coverage of F1.

There will be multiple live video streaming, which will mirror what is available on the red button.

For the first time, video will be available in high quality, enabling viewers to watch on the internet near-television quality video.

In addition to the live text commentary and news and analysis which was already a feature of the website, there will be a number of new features for 2009.

These will include: extensive post-race video highlights; video race reviews by Murray Walker; interactive circuit guides; several blogs, including a diary-type F1 mole; columns; and comprehensive results and statistics.

The new-look BBC F1 website will be launched in the run-up to the season.

Mobile users will be able to access the latest news, insight and results.

Lewis Hamilton starts his defence of the drivers' title he won in dramatic style last year in Melbourne, Australia, on 29 March.

We will provide further details of our coverage plans closer to that date.

And:

FORMULA ONE ON THE BBC IN 2009

Schedule times, channels and services will be provided in due course

MELBOURNE - AUSTRALIA

Friday 27 March

Practice: TBC, Red Button and BBC Sport website

Saturday 28th March

Qualifying: 0500-0715, BBC One/BBC Red Button/Radio 5 Live/online

Re-run: 1300-1415, BBC One

Sunday 29th March

Race: 0600-0900, BBC One/BBC Red Button/Radio 5 Live/online

Interactive Forum: 0900-1000, BBC Red Button/online

Race re-run: 1300-1500, BBC One/BBC Red Button/online

Highlights: 1900-2000, BBC Three/BBC Red Button/online

SEPANG - MALAYSIA

Friday 3 April

Practice: TBC, Red Button and BBC Sport website

Saturday 4 April

Qualifying: 0900-1130, BBC One/BBC Red Button/Radio 5 Live/online

Sunday 5 April

Race: 0900-1200, BBC One/BBC Red Button/Radio 5 Live/online

Interactive Forum: 1200-1300, BBC Red Button/online

Highlights: 1900-2000, BBC Three/BBC Red Button/online

CHINA

Friday 17 April

Practice: TBC, Red Button and BBC Sport website

Saturday 18 April

Qualifying: 0600-0815, BBC One/BBC Red Button/Radio 5 Live/online

Re-run: 1300-1415, BBC One

Sunday 19 April

Race: 0700-1000, BBC One/BBC Red Button/Radio 5 Live/online

Interactive Forum: 1000-1100, BBC Red Button/online

Race re-run: 1230-1430, BBC One/BBC Red Button/online

Highlights: 1900-2000, BBC Three/BBC Red Button/online

BAHRAIN

Friday 24 April

Practice: TBC, Red Button and BBC Sport website

Saturday 25 April

Qualifying: 1100-1315, BBC One/BBC Red Button/Radio 5 Live/online

Sunday 26 April

Race: 1200-1500, BBC One/BBC Red Button/Radio 5 Live/online

Interactive Forum: 1500-1600, BBC Red Button/online

Highlights: 1900-2000, BBC Three/BBC Red Button/online

BARCELONA - SPAIN

Friday 8 May

Practice: TBC, Red Button and BBC Sport website

Saturday 9 May

Qualifying: 1210-1415, BBC One/BBC Red Button/Radio 5 Live/online

Sunday 10 May

Race: 1210-1500, BBC One/BBC Red Button/Radio 5 Live/online

Interactive Forum: 1500-1600, BBC Red Button/online

Highlights: 1900-2000, BBC Three/BBC Red Button/online

MONACO

Sunday 24 May
Monte Carlo

TURKEY

Sunday 7 June
Istanbul

GREAT BRITAIN

Sunday 21 June
Silverstone

GERMANY

Sunday 12 July
Nurburgring

HUNGARY

Sunday 26 July
Budapest

EUROPE

Sunday 23 August
Valencia, Spain

BELGIUM

Sunday 30 August
Spa-Francorchamps

ITALY

Sunday 13 September
Monza

SINGAPORE

Sunday 27 September
Singapore

JAPAN

Sunday 4 October
Suzuka

BRAZIL

Sunday 18 October
Interlagos

ABU DHABI

Sunday 1 November
Abu Dhabi

[Weeble]

I might have an interest in Danica Patrick...........

[El Gordo]

I might have an interest in Danica Patrick...........

Her replacement in the IRL seems set too, with Milfa Milka Duno being drafted in, so they have their token totty if Danica fecks off to F1 (well, as token as it gets with her decent results - 2nd at Daytona in 2007 iirc).

[pajr777]

No HD?

FFS...

[El Gordo]

Well, USF1 finally launched today.

BBC report:

The founders of a proposed Formula One team from the United States insist they are ready to enter the sport in 2010.

Peter Windsor and Ken Anderson, the duo behind the scheme, have said the cars will be built in North Carolina and driven by American drivers.

They also confirmed they have finance in place and that F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has given them his backing.

"I told Bernie Ecclestone about this in Brazil 2006, and he just said, 'great, get it done'," Windsor told Autosport.

"He has kept in touch ever since and has always been supportive."

Windsor, a journalist and television presenter, is a former Williams team manager and will assume the role of sporting director while Anderson has many years of experience in both F1 and Indy Car as a race engineer.

The current global economic crisis has forced many teams into cost cutting measures ahead of the new season on 29 March, while struggling Honda are still looking to find a buyer.

Despite this USF1 will not be be backed by a manufacturer or wealthy businessman, with Windsor saying they have put together a viable business plan that will work.

"If you look at the way it's gone in the recent past, it's been either you find a rich trillionaire and have him dominate, or you are lucky enough to be invited by a large car company to set up their F1 operation," he said.

"Ken and I have been around long enough to know we didn't want to do those things.

"We always wanted to do our own team our way. We have got some things we want to bring in.

"The key was not to selling anything more than a very small stake in the team.

"We set ourselves some unbelievably steep hills to climb in a recession, but we only wanted to sell a small part of the team, and, as we sit here now, I'm pleased to say we've done that and we're now two guys that can say we are going to do an F1 team because we have the capital to do it."

F1 has a rich history in north America and can boast two former world champions in Phil Hill and Mario Andretti.

However, races in America and Canada have recently been taken off the calendar and there are currently no US or Canadian drivers competing in the sport.

Danica Patrick, the first woman to compete in the Indy Car series in the US, has been linked with a seat with the new team as have former Torro Rosso driver Scott Speed, and Andretti's grandson 21-year-old Marco.

Anderson has admitted that Patrick would be an attractive proposition for USF1 and is keen to see if the 26-year-old would fancy becoming the sixth female F1 driver.

"Danica's great - she gets a lot of press," he said.

"IndyCar Series boss Tony George would probably be pretty mad with me if I took her out of the IRL (Indy Racing League), but we'll see.

"I don't know if it's something she wants to do. We'd certainly love to test her and go from there."

And now...

The UpdateF1 report:

Bernie Ecclestone has given the 'USF1' concept the thumbs-up, British principal Peter Windsor admitted during the launch of the American formula one team on Tuesday.

"He said, 'Great, get it done,'" Windsor, a former team manager and now full-time grand prix reporter and writer, said of his conversation with the sport's influential chief executive.

The main media interest about USF1 so far has been the possible identity of the two American-born drivers to occupy the cockpits next year.

Racing great and 1978 world champion Mario Andretti joined the USF1 broadcast and insisted his 21-year-old grandson Marco would be an ideal candidate.

But Marco, who tested for Honda a couple of years ago and is currently testing his Indycar in Florida, commented: "It would be risky because it's such a new team, that's all I would say."

It also emerges that Scott Speed, the most recent American to contest grands prix, has "no interest" in leaving his current NASCAR career to return to F1, the Californian newspaper Berrynessa Sun claims.

Graham Rahal, the son of Bobby Rahal, was also mentioned by the USF1 chiefs on Tuesday.

Windsor, and his USF1 partner Ken Anderson, confirmed that the former $48m FIA entry bond barrier to starting a team is no longer required, while admitting that the global recession is actually a help to their plans for a low-budget, small-staffed team.

"For those out there that say, 'Where's all the money? Where's the huge facility? Where's the money pouring out of the sky?' ... that isn't going to happen with USF1," Windsor, who has only sought investors wanting to buy small portions of the team, explained

Press conference video:

FORMULA-ONE - F1: USF1 Press Conference Video - SPEEDtv.com


And the spiel from the official site looks like they might be making public their driver selection programme - should be interesting to watch!

Join us as USF1 evolves from being just a name and a burning ambition into the first made-in-America F1 car since Dan Gurney's Eagle first flew from Santa Ana, California; share the selection process as we search for the next American F1 World Champion; enjoy the best of US technology as we stream on line the design and build process of the USF1 team and chassis. And, above all, give us your thoughts and ideas as the team begins to grow: because USF1 is for all of you out there who love F1, who love the idea of proving that American racing technology is on par to compete at the highest levels of the sport globally. And it is for those of you who, like us, just have a yearning to pit one human being against another in exotic pieces of machinery.

We hope you enjoy this still-young story - and we hope you will be with us for many years to come.

Ken Anderson and Peter Windsor

[ABF]

Does this mean that F1 Magazine and AutoSport will be doing better "page 3" things now? Pit & paddock babes are nice, but they don't do much ... Danica could be the saving grace here ...

ANd a tenner says David Coulthard will hit it in the first 6 races of 2010!