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[commadore183]

Here's the first post for the 2010 season. I'll update this one once the teams start filling in for next season.

First, the teams:

*Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes
Chassis: McLaren MP4-25
Engine: Mercedes-Benz FO108 2.4L V8
Drivers: 1 Jenson Button, 2 Lewis Hamilton
3rd Driver: Garry Paffett
Official Website: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes - The Official Website

*Mercedes GP Petronas F1 Team
Chassis: Mercedes-Benz MGP W01
Engine: Mercedes-Benz FO108 2.4L V8
Drivers: 3 Michael Schumacher, 4 Nico Rosberg
3rd Driver: Nick Heidfeld
Official Website: Official site of the Brawn GP Formula One Team

*Red Bull Racing
Chassis: Red Bull RB6
Engine: Renault RS27-2010 2.4L V8
Drivers: 5 Sebastian Vettel, 6 Mark Webber
3rd Driver: Brendon Hartley, Daniel Ricciardo
Official Website: Red Bull Racing

*Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro
Chassis: Ferrari F10
Engine: Ferrari 056 2.4L V8
Drivers: 7 Felipe Massa, 8 Fernando Alonso
3rd Drivers: Giancarlo Fisichella, Marc Gene, Luca Badoer
Official Website: Formula 1

*AT&T Williams F1 Team
Chassis: Williams FW32
Engine: Cosworth CA2010 2.4L V8
Drivers: 9 Rubens Barrichello, 10 Nico Hulkenberg
3rd Driver: Valtteri Bottas
Official Website: AT&T Williams F1

*Renault F1 Team
Chassis: Renault R30
Engine: Renault RS27-2010 2.4L V8
Drivers: 11 Robert Kubica, 12 Vitaly Petrov
3rd Driver: Ho-Pin Tung, Jan Charouz, Jérôme d'Ambrosio
Official Website: Renault F1 Team's official web universe (currently shut down for now)

*Force India Formula One Team
Chassis: Force India VJM3
Engine: Mercedes-Benz FO108 2.4L V8
Drivers: 14 Adrian Sutil, 15 Vitantonio Liuzzi
3rd Driver: TBA
Official Website: Force India F1 Team - Official Team Site

*Scuderia Toro Rosso
Chassis: Toro Rosso STR5
Engine: Ferrari 056 2.4L V8
Drivers: 16 Sebastien Buemi, 17 Jaime Alguersuari
3rd Driver: Brendon Hartley, Daniel Ricciardo
Official Website: Toro Rosso

*Lotus F1 Racing
Chassis: Lotus T127
Engine: Cosworth CA2010 2.4L V8
Drivers: 18 Jarno Trulli, 19 Heikki Kovalainen
3rd Driver: Fairuz Fauzy
Official Website: Home - Lotus F1 Fan Site

*Hispania Racing F1 Team
Chassis: TBA
Engine: Cosworth CA2010 2.4L V8
Drivers: 20 Karun Chandhok, 21 Bruno Senna
3rd Driver: TBA
Official Website: CAMPOS META

*Sauber
Chassis: Sauber C29
Engine: Ferrari 056 2.4L V8
Drivers: 22 Kamui Kobayashi, 23 Pedro de la Rosa
3rd Driver: TBA
Official Website: none yet

*Virgin Racing
Chassis: Virgin VR-01
Engine: Cosworth CA2010 2.4L V8
Drivers: 24 Timo Glock, 25 Lucas di Grassi
3rd Driver: Luiz Razia
Official Website: Virgin Racing

Sadly, Toyota has announced their withdrawl from next year's championship. Now, Toyota has one of two options to go here. They can sell their team off to a buyer a la Honda to Brawn; that team would compete in Toyota's spot, as Toyota signed the 2009 Concord Agreement. Toyota could also just drop out completely without selling the team; this would allow Sauber (as the first reserve entry) to become the 13th team. It all depends on what Toyota would do. The "13th Entry" I have on the list is a placemarker of sorts, ready when Sauber (or someone else) is granted the entry.

EDIT: Sauber has been granted the 13th entry pending their signing of the Concorde Agreement.

Now for the races:

*Bahrain
Official Name: Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix
Circuit: Bahrain International Circuit
Circuit Location: Sakhir, Bahrain
Date: 14 March, 2010
Race Distance: 57 laps for 308.238 km (191.539 mi)

*Australia
Official Name: Quantas Australian Grand Prix
Circuit: Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit
Location: Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia
Date: 28 March, 2010
Race Distance: 58 laps for 307.574 km (191.110 mi)

*Malaysia
Official Name: Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix
Circuit: Sepang International Circuit
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Date: 4 April, 2010
Race Distance: 56 laps for 310.408 km (192.887 mi)

*China
Official Name: Chinese Grand Prix
Circuit: Shanghai International Circuit
Location: Shanghai, China
Date: 18 April, 2010
Race Distance: 56 laps for 305.066 km (189.568 mi)

*Spain
Official Name: Gran Premio de España Telefónica
Circuit: Circuit de Catalunya
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Date: 9 May, 2010
Race Distance: 66 laps for 307.104 km (190.825 mi)

*Monaco
Official Name: Grand Prix de Monaco
Circuit: Circuit de Monaco
Location: Monte Carlo, Monaco
Date: 16 May, 2010
Race Distance: 78 laps for 260.520 km (161.887 mi)

*Turkey
Official Name: Turkish Grand Prix
Circuit: Istanbul Park
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Date: 30 May, 2010
Race Distance: 58 laps for 309.396 km (192.250 mi)

*Canada
Official Name: Grand Prix du Canada
Circuit: Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Location: Montreal, Canada
Date: 13 June, 2010
Race Distance: 70 laps for 305.270 km (189.694 mi)

*Europe
Official Name: Telefónica Grand Prix of Europe
Circuit: Streets of Valencia
Location: Valencia, Spain
Date: 27 June, 2010
Race Distance: 57 laps for 308.883 km (191.931 mi)

*Britain
Official Name: Santander British Grand Prix
Circuit: Silverstone Circuit
Location: Silverstone, United Kingdom
Date: 11 July, 2010
Race Distance: 60 laps for 308.355 km (191.604 mi)

*Germany
Official Name: Großer Preis Santander von Deutschland
Circuit: Hockenheimring
Location: Hockenheim, Germany
Date: 25 July, 2010
Race Distance: 67 laps for 306.458 km (190.433 mi)

*Hungary
Official Name: Magyar Nagydíj
Circuit: Hungaroring
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Date: 1 August, 2010
Race Distance: 70 laps for 306.663 km (190.560 mi)

*Belgium
Official Name: Belgian Grand Prix
Circuit: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Location: Francorchamps, Belgium
Date: 29 August, 2010
Race Distance: 65 laps for 308.052 km (191.410 mi)

*Italy
Official Name: Gran Premio Santander d'Italia
Circuit: Autodromo Nazionale Monza
Location: Monza, Italy
Date: 12 September, 2010
Race Distance: 53 laps for 306.720 km (190.596 mi)

*Singapore
Official Name: SingTel Singapore Grand Prix
Circuit: Marina Bay Street Circuit
Location: Marina Bay, Singapore
Date: 26 September, 2010
Race Distance: 61 laps for 309.087 km (192.066 mi)

*Japan
Official Name: Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix
Circuit: Suzuka International Race Course
Location: Suzuka, Japan
Date: 10 October, 2010
Race Distance: 53 laps for 307.573 km (191.117 mi)

*Korea (pending circuit completion)
Official Name: Korean Grand Prix
Circuit: Korean International Circuit
Location: Yeongam, South Korea
Date: 24 October, 2010
Race Distance: 55 laps for 305.2 km (189.6 mi) (estimate)

*Brazil
Official Name: Grande Prêmio Petrobras do Brasil
Circuit: Autódromo José Carlos Pace
Location: São Paulo, Brazil
Date: 7 November, 2010
Race Distance: 71 laps for 305.909 km (190.067 mi)

*Abu Dhabi
Official Name: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Circuit: Yas Marina Circuit
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Date: 14 November, 2010
Race Distance: 55 laps for 305.470 km (189.810 mi)

Now, the schedule may change depending on if FOM and the BRDC (the owners of Silverstone) can come to a contractual agreement (Donington deal has fallen through and the race will not be held there), and if the Korean circuit can be completed in time. Sadly, still no French Grand Prix

EDIT: Silverstone will hold the British GP from 2010 on to 2017 or so.

I'll update this post as more information comes in. Until, enjoy the politics and silliness of the F1 off season

UPDATE1: Buemi to stay on with Toro Rosso

UPDATE2: Mercedes takes over Brawn F1 team

UPDATE3: VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES SIGNS REIGNING WORLD CHAMPION JENSON BUTTON TO MULTI-YEAR DEAL (McLaren press release)

UPDATE4: NICO ROSBERG TO DRIVE FOR MERCEDES IN FORMULA ONE (Mercedes Grand Prix press release)

UPDATE5: Alguersuari all signed up with Toro Rosso

UPDATE6: Force India retains Sutil and Liuzzi

UPDATE7: Canadian GP secures new deal

UPDATE8: 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship Entry List

UPDATE9: Sauber secures 2010 Formula 1 slot

UPDATE10: Silverstone secures British GP from 2010

UPDATE11: World Motor Sports Council Press Release (Formula One calendar final)

UPDATE12: Trulli, Kovalainen confirmed at Lotus

UPDATE13a: Di Grassi to partner Glock at Virgin

UPDATE13b: Parente, Razia join Virgin as testers

UPDATE14a: Sauber F1 team recruit Japan's Kamui Kobayashi

UPDATE14b: Petrov piace alla Renault (Italian language website)

UPDATE15: Schumacher makes F1 return

UPDATE 16a: Added the team's official websites

UPDATE16b: Scuderia Ferrari pilots page (confirms Badoer and Gene as test drivers).

UPDATE17: BMW Sauber F1 Team Press EN: Pedro de la Rosa to race for BMW Sauber F1 Team

UPDATE18: Argentine Lopez set to drive for US F1 team

UPDATE19a: Renault reveals R30, confirms Petrov

UPDATE19b: Tung leads Renault reserve line-up

UPDATE20a: Team US F1 shuts down operations

UPDATE20b: Newcomers Campos rebranded as Hispania Racing F1 Team

UPDATE21: Chandhok announced as HRT driver

Edited by commadore183, 07 March 2010 - 12:28 PM.

[F.Michael]

Bridgestone has announced that the 2010 season will be their last in F1...Another kick in the nads for Bernie since just a day ago Toyota announced their withdrawl as well.

IMHO it couldn't happen to a larger collection of self-righteous assholes who have more, or less run the series into the financial woes that it sees today.


EDIT - anyone want to wager whom will take over from Bridgestone?...Me thinks it'll be an Asian tire manufacturer (possibly a few will offer tires, and we'll see another 'tire war' like we had with Michelin/Bridgestone) such as Kuhmo, Yokohoma, or Toyo will step up to the plate.

Edited by F.Michael, 05 November 2009 - 03:00 PM.

[commadore183]

Bridgestone has announced that the 2010 season will be their last in F1...Another kick in the nads for Bernie since just a day ago Toyota announced their withdrawl as well.

IMHO it couldn't happen to a larger collection of self-righteous assholes who have more, or less run the series into the financial woes that it sees today.


EDIT - anyone want to wager whom will take over from Bridgestone?...Me thinks it'll be an Asian tire manufacturer (possibly a few will offer tires, and we'll see another 'tire war' like we had with Michelin/Bridgestone) such as Kuhmo, Yokohoma, or Toyo will step up to the plate.

Well, we can take Goodyear and Pirelli out of the equation, so, yeah, that leaves Kuhmo, Yokohama, Toyo, and other tyre manufacturers. If the FIA can't get a control tyre supplier, then you'll see multiple tyre manufacturers back in the sport. For a control tyre supplier, I'll take Continental.

[commadore183]

Big news for the 2010 season, as Mercedes takes over the Brawn F1 team, becoming Mercedes Grand Prix. It's the first time since 1955 that Mercedes will compete in a full F1 effort. The last title under a Mercedes factory team was 1955, when the late Juan Manuel Fangio took the title.

[VanDer]

I'm looking foward to see lotus in f1 again and hopefully we will see button and hamilton in the same team aswell

Edited by VanDer, 16 November 2009 - 12:22 PM.

[VanDer]

got my wish Button signs for mclaren. dissapointed to see kimi leaving he is a top quality driver

[commadore183]

got my wish Button signs for mclaren. dissapointed to see kimi leaving he is a top quality driver

Yep, I kinda saw that coming, see as Brawn wasn't willing to give Jenson a pay raise. Not sure where Kovalainen will go now that his seat is taken, but I'm sure there's some team on the grid that would like to have a veteran talent in the car. The last time two world champions drove for the same team was in 1968, when the legendary drivers Jim Clark and Graham Hill drove for Team Lotus.

And as a Kimi fan, I'm disappointed to see him go, but he seemed to have enjoyed his brief stint in rally racing, so maybe there's a new seat for him on the horizon, just not in F1.

Now that Button has signed, I can start adding the racing numbers to the drivers. Numbers are assigned by the FIA, based off of the World Championship from the previous season. The WDC gets the #1 and his team mate gets #2. Then the numbers are assigned to the remaining teams based off of the constructors championship. As such, Mercedes Grand Prix (nee Brawn Grand Prix) will be numbered 3 & 4, as they are the reigning WCC champions. The numbers are assigned to the teams to give to whoever driver they want. So, here's what I think the numbers are going to be assigned:

McLaren-Mercedes: 1 & 2 (Button being the reinging WDC, he and the team gets the #1)
Mercedes Grand Prix: 3 & 4
Red Bull: 5 & 6
Ferrari: 7 & 8
Williams: 9 & 10
Renault: 11 & 12
Force India: 14 & 15 (the #13 probably won't be assigned to FI)
Toro Rosso: 16 & 17


Now, I'm not sure how the FIA determines which of the new teams get the remaining numbers, but the FIA should publish a list of the numbers given to the team sometime in the next month or two (I can't remember when the published the list last time).

Edited by commadore183, 18 November 2009 - 12:37 PM.

[F.Michael]

Anyone hear if there'll be a USGP within the next few years?...Now that there's a USA based F1 team I'd like to think there would be a greater effort made in returning to Indy.

[commadore183]

Anyone hear if there'll be a USGP within the next few years?...Now that there's a USA based F1 team I'd like to think there would be a greater effort made in returning to Indy.

I have read several online articles saying that Bernie wants either New York City or Las Vegas as the next venue for the USGP (I'm on a netbook right now, tomorrow I'll see if I can find them on the desktop PC). So, no USGP at Indy for the time being. The only way you'll see a USGP at Indy is when Bernie is not in charge of the commercial aspects of F1, and it doesn't look like Bernie will be leavin anytime soon.

No French Grand Prix, no Canadian Grand Prix (looks like it), no USGP, and we might not get a British Grand Prix with the way Bernie is screwing around with Silverstone. That's possible 4 GP lost over 3 years. And as long as Bernie stays on with CVC to help repay CVC's debt to RBS for obtaining the commercial rights F1, we might see more "traditional" GPs leave Europe and head to the Middle East or 3rd world countries looking to up their "prestige" on the world stage. Sad, really.

[F.Michael]

I have read several online articles saying that Bernie wants either New York City or Las Vegas as the next venue for the USGP (I'm on a netbook right now, tomorrow I'll see if I can find them on the desktop PC). So, no USGP at Indy for the time being. The only way you'll see a USGP at Indy is when Bernie is not in charge of the commercial aspects of F1, and it doesn't look like Bernie will be leavin anytime soon.

No French Grand Prix, no Canadian Grand Prix (looks like it), no USGP, and we might not get a British Grand Prix with the way Bernie is screwing around with Silverstone. That's possible 4 GP lost over 3 years. And as long as Bernie stays on with CVC to help repay CVC's debt to RBS for obtaining the commercial rights F1, we might see more "traditional" GPs leave Europe and head to the Middle East or 3rd world countries looking to up their "prestige" on the world stage. Sad, really.

Isn't it?

I cannot fathom what goes on inside of Bernie's head (something for FOX Network I guess), and how he snubs the traditional/long time hosts of F1 for these new "emerging economies" whose governments pump millions into a track just to show the rest of the world that they now wipe their asses with toilet paper

Bernie may have helped F1 15 to 20 years ago, but IMHO he pretty much has screwed things up these past several years.

IMHO Indy is still the only track that'll be capable of hosting a legit F1 race here in the States...A street track in NYC sounds like a logistical nightmare; a parking lot track in Lost Wages is too a joke...If anything there needs to be a multi-purpose track (of course it'll be designed by Tilke ) constructed in the desert just outside of Vegas; ample space out there with piles of $$$...The more affluent F1 crowd will bring their piggy banks with them, and will spend as much (if not more) than the NASCAR crowd.

Wasn't there a rumour where Flavio Briatore invited several Vegas big-wigs to be his guests in the pits for the 2005 USGP (with hopes of impressing them into wanting to build a track)?...Well - we all knew what happened that race Sunday .....At least Michelin did the right thing and comped us for the 2006 USGP, and gave us 2 extra tickets free of charge

[commadore183]

Some news...

Bernie ready to scrap 2010 British GP

Silverstone has but a few weeks to cement a deal with Bernie Ecclestone and FOM if the 2010 Formula One calendar is to host a British Grand Prix, the F1 supremo telling the Times that unless the necessary paperwork is signed to put a deal in place by the time the World Council meets on the eleventh of next month, then they will have to pull it off the 2010 agenda.

.....

"The World Council will meet and we will just pull it off, we will have to. We'll have no other choice, if we don't have a contract. We shouldn't have anything on the calendar unless we have a contract in place,� he told the Times. "Of course we want a British grand prix. "I’ve been spending an awful lot of time trying make sure it does happen, but there is no chance of an exceptional contract for Silverstone. Why should there be? They are close and they know they are close. It's not the terms and conditions so much as whether the investors are prepared to bankroll them and take the risk."

As always, it comes down to money . Bernie has been saying that Silverstone needs to upgrade their facilities to his (sky-high) standards, which would cost mucho $$$$$$. From what I understand, Bernie wants the paddock upgraded to uber-luxoury, and that the parking facilities need to be paved (as, from what I hear, is a grassy field on clear days). BRDC, who owns Silverstone Circuit, wants a special exemption to the (extortion) fee because of its special significance (the British GP has been held since 1950, I believe. since the very beginning of Formula One). Sadly, I can see the British GP being scrapped for this year.

Williams sells minority stake to Austrian group

Frank Williams says he is not preparing to relinquish control of the Williams Formula One team despite selling a minority stake on Friday.

Williams and co-founder Patrick Head have been sole owners of the team since its creation in 1977, but now have agreed to sell an unspecified percentage of the team for an undisclosed amount to an investment firm headed by former racing driver Toto Wolff.

“I want to emphasize he is a minority shareholder and the company is still totally under my control,� Williams said Friday in a conference call. “I have no intention of losing control of this company.�

Looks like Williams is going to try to get back to the pointy end of the field for this year (they haven't won a WDC or a WCC since 1997), and with the switch to Cosworth engines (last used in 2006, so they have a relationship), they could compete for podiums, at least. Still have to beat Mercedes Grand Prix, McLaren, and Ferrari, but it should be entertaining for next year

And here's Bernie's opinion as far as where a USGP should be held:

Bernie admits interest in Montreal and New York

The British billionaire is less keen on making up with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, saying instead he is interested in pursuing options in New York.

"It is the one place where someone could make a business out of it," he said.

"Apart from Indianapolis (...) there is nowhere in America we could go to and hold our head up and say 'this is comparable to other circuits we are building around the world'," he added.

Ecclestone cautioned that reinstating North American races also depends on teams agreeing to more than 17 Grand Prix per season.

Fat chance of a GP held in New York City, Bernie. The people there nearly rioted at the notion of a NASCAR track being built near NYC, so what makes them think holding a race on the city streets would be a good idea?

Frankly, in my view, it's either Indy or nothing. No other race circuit in the US has the facilities that Bernie wants, nor the FIA Grade 1 certification that Indy has, and that doesn't include who in their right minds would hold a race for a guarnteed loss (Bernie demands that the FOM/FOA have the TV rights and merchandise sales, while the track is left with concessions and ticket sales, from what I understand). Unless the person behind the USGP is either Donald Trump or Bill Gates, or there isn't a title sponsor for the race, then there will be no USGP, at least, as long as Bernie is still the head honcho on the commercial side of F1 .

No word on whether Sauber will return to the grid with the recent departure of Toyota. Here are the reserve teams (as far as I know):

Sauber
Lola
Superfund
N. Technologies
iSport
Litespeed

The next few weeks should see more drivers named and whether we'll have 18 or 19 race in 2010.

[commadore183]

Isn't it?

I cannot fathom what goes on inside of Bernie's head (something for FOX Network I guess), and how he snubs the traditional/long time hosts of F1 for these new "emerging economies" whose governments pump millions into a track just to show the rest of the world that they now wipe their asses with toilet paper

Like I said above, the main reason is so that Bernie can help pay off the debt CVC has to the RBS for the loan to aquire the commercial rights to F1. As such, Bernie will go anywhere if someone flashes enough money in his face.

If it were up to me, these would be the races I'll have on a GP calendar:
1 France (Magny-Cours, as Paul Ricard is owned by Bernie and is now a test track)
2 Britain (either Silverstone or Donington Park, maybe even Brands Hatch)
3 Germany (Hockenheimring or Nuerburgring, or hell, for added craziness, how about AVUS )
4 Belgium (Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Nothing more needs to be said)
5 Spain (Circuit de Catalunya)
6 United States (Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it used to host a GP as the Indy 500 from 1950-1960, as well as the last site for the GP)
7 Canada (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve or Mosport, either would be fine by me)
8 Japan (Suzuka International Race Course. Again, nothing more needs to be said)
9 Australia (Albert Park or, for kicks, Bathurst)
10 Monaco (do I really need to explain it )
11 Italy (Monza, the spiritual home of the Italian GP since the very beginning of F1, except for 1980 when it went to Imola)
12 San Marino (Imola, as I've heard it was reconfigured to remove the last chicane after Rivazza)
13 Brazil (Interlagos, host of the Brazilian Grand Prix since 1990)
14 Austria (A1-Ring should be good, as it is undergoing renovations last I read, but the circuit owner has stated he didn't want an F1 race there. Maybe if the price has dropped by a couple million... )
15 Netherlands (Zandvoort, as it's new circuit configuration seems like a good challenge to the drivers)
16 Singapore (a night race, something that's new to F1. Plus, give the circuit a little more work, it could come out fine. Get back, Tilke )
17 South Africa (Kyalami, this way there's a race on every continent, except for Antarctica, which Al Gore says doesn't exist )

All of the above is my opinion, but with this schedule, there' fewer race in the Middle East where there doesn't look to be a fanbase, and more in Europe, where there is an established fanbase. Also, there's two races in NA (probably could even have the Mexican GP if you are so inclined to have 3 GP in NA), A race in South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Also, there's the traditional races (France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Monaco), so hopefully a lot of people are happy

Bernie may have helped F1 15 to 20 years ago, but IMHO he pretty much has screwed things up these past several years.

IMHO Indy is still the only track that'll be capable of hosting a legit F1 race here in the States...A street track in NYC sounds like a logistical nightmare; a parking lot track in Lost Wages is too a joke...If anything there needs to be a multi-purpose track (of course it'll be designed by Tilke ) constructed in the desert just outside of Vegas; ample space out there with piles of $$$...The more affluent F1 crowd will bring their piggy banks with them, and will spend as much (if not more) than the NASCAR crowd.

Wasn't there a rumour where Flavio Briatore invited several Vegas big-wigs to be his guests in the pits for the 2005 USGP (with hopes of impressing them into wanting to build a track)?...Well - we all knew what happened that race Sunday .....At least Michelin did the right thing and comped us for the 2006 USGP, and gave us 2 extra tickets free of charge

I agree with you that it's Indy or bust. And if Bernie wants a race in Las Vegas or New York, please God, don't set up like the Parking Lot Grand Prix . And yeah, Bernie can be credited with raising the profile of F1 to the global stage that it is, but now it's become more like a way for the 3rd world countries to raise their "prestige" on the world stage. And Bernie has stated that he doesn't care if the stands at the races are empty as long as he gets paid. He can't possibly stay at the head of the commercial arm of F1 forever, can he?

[commadore183]

British GP facing final deadline

Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone says the fate of the British Grand Prix will be decided at a meeting on 9 December.

That is when the F1 Commission, which regulates the sport, is due to convene to rubber-stamp the 2010 race calendar.

"At the moment there is no British Grand Prix," Ecclestone told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek programme.

"The meeting on 9 December is when it would be taken off the calendar. If there's no contract in place, there won't be a British Grand Prix."

Donington Park was set to host the British GP but was seemingly ruled out after failing to show it had the necessary £135m funding.

According to Ecclestone, there is a very slim chance the track could still stage the race "if someone comes along with the right ideas and funding".

But the focus is still on Silverstone, which has yet to agree financial terms and faces a warning from the sport that it must modernise its facilities in order to host the event again.

"There is no change with the British Grand Prix," said Ecclestone. "They had a contract in place which they could have signed, and they haven't."

16 days from now, we'll know for sure if there will be a British GP in 2010 or not . Donington Park has been ruled out, so it's either Silverstone or bust *sigh* .

[F.Michael]

British GP facing final deadline



16 days from now, we'll know for sure if there will be a British GP in 2010 or not . Donington Park has been ruled out, so it's either Silverstone or bust *sigh* .

Gonna laugh my ass off if there's no Brit GP for 2010...F1 is gonna implode if there's no race.

Bernie is a senile old coot.

[commadore183]

Was bored and wanted to see if I can make a halfway decent schedule image. Obviously, it isn't anything like what Matt does (I would love to know how he does that ice that looks like it was skated on). I used GIMP to make it. Every image was found online, except for those flag buttons, which I made myself using flags I found on the Internet.

http://i23.photobuck...provisional.png

This is the provisional calendar. The FIA will release the official schedule on December 11th, I believe.

Obviously, this isn't meant as a desktop wallpaper or anything like that.

EDIT: decided to leave it as a link, as I don't want to cause any problems for those that have a slow internet connection. Also, I wasn't sure if the image was too big for the mods liking, so I just played it safe.

Edited by commadore183, 24 November 2009 - 05:45 PM.

[commadore183]

A bit of a tl;dr, so just scroll to the bottom for quick blurbs:

Silverstone 'set to seal F1 deal'?

Silverstone Holdings' managing director says a deal for the track to host next year's British Grand Prix is imminent.

Donington lost the right to stage the race, and Formula 1 boss chief Bernie Ecclestone has imposed a 9 December deadline for a deal to be put in place.

Richard Phillips said he hoped the deal would be for at least 10 years.

"I don't think there are any real stumbling blocks, we're going through the last details of the deal," Phillips told BBC Radio Northampton.

"I'm pretty convinced that it will be run at Silverstone next year."

Hopefully they'll come to a deal to keep the British GP on the calendar next year and further. What I have heard regarding the spat between Bernie and BRDC is that the BRDC has complained that they don't have the funds to modernize the paddock area to Bernie's needs, but when they do get funds, they use them on other projects, like a club house for BRDC members. Fortunately, it looks like cooler heads might prevail. We'll just wait for an official announcement to see if that happens.

Canadian GP back on - at a fraction of Ecclestone's price

The popular Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal will later this week be given the green light to return to the F1 calendar in 2010, claim reports - at just a fraction of the $175 million CAN fee Formula One Management chief executive Bernie Ecclestone had originally been demanding.

The Canadian Grand Prix is set to be definitively confirmed on the 2010 F1 World Championship calendar, according to reports – at an annual fee some $20 million CAN (£11.3 million) less than commercial rights-holder Bernie Ecclestone had originally been demanding.

The popular race was removed from the F1 schedule in 2009 as the result of an ongoing financial dispute between Ecclestone's Formula One Management (FOM) company and then race promoter Grand Prix du Canada, run by Normand Legault. The former's stipulation for the grand prix to be re-instated was initially a staggering $175 million CAN over five years – but now it appears a deal has been hammered out for just $75 million CAN.

Like the report of the British GP being on the 2010 schedule next year, we'll have to wait until an official announcement to see if the race will be run in 2010.

As with everything in F1, it all comes down to money- that is, money that many private promoters (like Legault), don't have, especially in the current economic climate. Bernie is pricing F1 out of the hands of people who, gasp, want to make a profit, and going to whoever flashes the most $$$$$$$$$$$$$ in front of his nose, all because of CVC's debt to get the F1 commercial rights. Bernie wants $175 MILLION Canadian dollars to host the Canadian GP. Who in the day blue hell has that kind of money? That's right, a government, in this case, the Canadian government (which gets the money from its tax base, their people and businesses). Sad, really, that Bernie is killing off promoters with his high sanctioning fees.

Lopez signs conditional USF1 deal

Argentine driver Jose Maria Lopez has reportedly signed to race with the USF1 team in 2010.

The 26-year-old former GP2 driver, who has recently been racing in his country's touring car championship, must complete a $8m sponsorship package but has signed documentation at the team's Charlotte base, the Corsa publication said.

"The agreement with the American team is done," said Carlos Garcia Remohi, an official with the Argentine club. "We have a week to finish collecting the budget."

Lopez is apparently short of about 20%, or about, what, $1.6 million. I am a bit disappointed in that Anderson and Windsor is going for a pay driver, despite having the co-founder of YouTube as an investor. I never expected that US F1 would employ drivers from the United States (hey, Lopez is American, just South American ), as there aren't any drivers that would easily qualify for an FIA Superlicense.

Here's a Wikipedia page on Lopez: http://en.wikipedia....©_María_López Lopez has 1 win in GP2, and he has tested for Renault F1 Team in 2006, I think. He has spent the past few years racing in Argentina in their touring car series, TC 2000.

To qualify for a Super License, the driver must (from Appendex L of the Inernational Sporting Code):

5.1 Qualifications
5.1.1 The driver must be the holder of a current FIA International Grade A license.
5.1.2 The driver must also satisfy at least one of the following requirements:
a) have made at least 5 starts in races counting for the FIA Formula One World Championship for Drivers the previous year, or at least 15 starts within the previous 3 years.
b) have previously held the Super License and have been the regular test driver with an F1 World Championship team for the previous year.
c) been classified, within the previous 2 years, in the first 3 of the final classification of the F2 Championship, or of the final classification of the GP2 Series, or of the final classification of the GP2 Asia Series or of the final classification of the Japanese F/Nippon Championship,
d) been classified in the first 3 of the final classification of the Indy Racing League (IRL) series or of the Champ Car World Series within the previous 2 years; been classified in the first 4 of the final classification of the Indycar IRL series the previous year.*
* From 1.1.2010: been classified in the first 4 of the final classification of the Indycar IRL series within the previous 2 years.
e) be the current champion of one of the following:
Formula 3 Euro Series
The principal national F3 championships of: Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Spain
World Series F/Renault V6
N.B.: the title of Champion is considered valid for 12 months from the last race of the relevant series or championship season.
f) be judged by the FIA to have consistently demonstrated outstanding ability in single-seater formula cars, but with no opportunity to qualify under any of c) to e) above. In this case the F1 team concerned must show that the applicant has driven at least 300 km in a current Formula One car consistently at racing speeds, over a maximum period of 2 days, completed not more than 90 days prior to the application and certified by the ASN of the country in which the test took place.

By exception, if supported by the Safety Commission, the FIA World Motor Sport Council may approve the issue of the Super
License to persons judged by the Council to have met the intent of the qualification process.

For the final four classified in the IndyCar Series points, they are: 1) Dario Franchitti (Scottish), 2) Scott Dixon (New Zealander), 3) Ryan Briscoe (Australian), and 4) Helio Castroneves (Brazilian). Obviously, there are no Americans in the top 4 of the IndyCar series points (first American is Danica Patrick, who finished in 5th). I also don't think there are any Americans in the IndyCar Series that would hold their own in a test with a 2009 F1 car.

While talking about Americans in F1, here's news that Force India is giving a test to Indy Lights champion JR Hildebrand, as well as to DTM driver (and former McLaren test driver) Paul di Resta. At least one American is given a shot to show what he can do. The test will be done from December 1st to December 3rd at Jerez, using Force India's 2009 spec car. The test is to determine who will become Force India's test/reserve driver for 2010.

The abridged version of the above:
1) Possible British GP deal near
2) Possible Canadian GP deal near, for less than what Bernie wants
3) Possible pay driver to US F1 Team, short 20% needed, no other American qualified for FIA Super License
4) American tabbed for test drive for Force India, could land a 2010 test/reserve driver role

That's all the big news that I have for now. Enjoy the silliness of the off season

[commadore183]

BMW sells Sauber back to founder

German car manufacturer BMW has provisionally agreed to sell its BMW Sauber Formula 1 team back to team founder Peter Sauber.

The move comes after BMW cancelled plans to sell to Qadbank Investments.

Sauber, who retained a 20% stake in the team when he sold it to BMW in 2005, will take complete control if they are allowed to race next season.

The team is not guaranteed a place on the 2010 grid because they failed to sign the Concorde Agreement in July.

BMW Sauber lost their guaranteed place on the grid to Lotus, however, Toyota's decision to leave F1 earlier this month has opened up a space on the grid.

The spot's governing body, the FIA, is yet to confirm the team as the 13th entry for next season - the official entry list will be published on Monday, 30 November - but it is likely that Sauber's entry will be accepted given its history and reputation in the sport.

Unless Toyota decides to sell their team and entry to another entity, Sauber will be on the grid for 2010. The reason it's dependant on if Toyota sells is because Toyota had signed the Concord Agreement, guaranteeing them a spot on the grid, while BMW Sauber didn't, so who ever buys Toyota's F1 team will get Toyota's guaranteed spot.

[commadore183]

Canadian GP secures new deal

The Canadian Grand Prix's return to the Formula 1 calendar in 2010 is now official, after the government stepped in to help secure a five-year deal for the race.

Following months of uncertainty about the fate of the event, which was dropped for this season after a deal could not be reached with Bernie Ecclestone, the Montreal race's return was confirmed at a press conference in the Canadian city on Friday afternoon.

The deal to secure the race's place on the calendar has been helped by the governments of Canada and Quebec, Montreal and Tourisme Montreal - who together have helped put together an £8.5 million annual investment plan for the next five years.

In return for the money, Montreal and its partners will receive 30 per cent of the profits from ticket sales for the grand prix - which will take place on June 13 next year.

Great to see a return trip to NA. Hope the Montreal circuit doesn't have the surface breaking up again like the last race

[commadore183]

The FIA has released their 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship Entry List.

One item of note is that Manor Grand Prix has apparently changed their team name to Virgin Racing (thanks to backing from Richard Branson's Virgin Group). Also, no Sauber on the list, but the FIA noted that they will announce what will happen to Panasonic Toyota Racing's entry. It's possible that Sauber will be granted an entry then.

I'll update the first post after this is posted.

[F.Michael]

Canadian GP secures new deal



Great to see a return trip to NA. Hope the Montreal circuit doesn't have the surface breaking up again like the last race

What always humors me is how many around the globe will nit-pick Indy, but then there's the run down facilities in Montreal, and Imola (obviously not racing there anymore), the death trap that's Monaco, and the borefest known as the Hungaroring.

Indy may not be the ideal F1 track - however it's facilities are top notch, and certainly worthy of hosting a F1 race.