The signing of the new Concorde signals the return of commonsense to F1

FIA president Max Mosley signed the new Concorde Agreement on Friday bringing an end to a tumultuous few months for F1. After being at the centre of most of the problems, Mosley wasted no time in signing the agreement to bring stability back. Common sense will once again have a place in F1 but will this be the end of conflicts, bickering and politics?

The new Concorde agreement signed by all parties excluding BMW Sauber, ushers in a new era for F1. By signing the new Concorde, the FIA, FOTA, non FOTA teams and CVC have committed to working together with the World Motor Sports Council’s blessings. This brings to an end the recent turmoil and frictions which were becoming a daily fixture in F1.

The new agreement sees the return of the F1 commission whose main task will be overseeing the introduction of new regulations. The commission made up of team representatives, the FIA, CVC, sponsors as well as promoters, will ensure that new regulations are passed democratically. This will dramatically reduce conflicts within F1 as no one party will have the power to dictate to others.

A more sensible approach to cost cuts is another benefit of the new agreement with all parties agreeing to play their part. So instead of the FIA imposing cost cuts on teams, they work together just as they did after Honda’s withdrawal last year. The most important thing is that everyone realizes the significance of cutting costs. Meaning working together rather than trying to out do one another becomes the logical route to take.

Another major coup for the teams is a much more reasonable share of revenue generated by F1. The teams’ share of the pie increases by almost 100%, from 27% the teams share will now be an improved 50%. This has been a long standing born of contention between the teams and Bernie Ecclestone and it might be one of the sweeteners the CVC gave the FOTA teams not to jump ship.

The new agreement also means that Renault, Toyota, Ferrari and Mercedes will not withdraw from F1 at least until the end of 2012. With Honda’s withdrawal last year and BMW’s recent announcement, this will be a welcomed relief. The manufacturers’ commitment is important because it keeps the household names in F1 during these difficult times.

The manufacturers’ presence maintains the sport’s value while at the same time giving F1 time to rebuild itself. So come 2012 the economy will have picked up and F1 will be in a position to further solidify its own future.

The new agreement will bring stability back to F1 at least until 2012 allowing racing to take centre stage. Whether the agreement will resolve all conflicts is doubtful, but it means that common sense will eventually prevail. The potential for trouble might come towards the end of the new agreement if it isn’t implemented properly. But with the departure of Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone on CVC’s leash, odds are in favor of a somewhat smooth ride after 2012.

PS: But this is F1 anything can happen




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Sifting through credible articles on BMW’s withdrawals from F1.

BMW today announced that they will be quitting F1 at the end of this season, casting a shadow on the future of F1. With strategic realignment (whatever that means) given as the reason for the withdrawal, many are left wondering what this all means. The following is a look at online articles trying to explain what all this means to F1 as a whole.

REASONS FOR QUITING

'Since returning to Formula 1 as an engine supplier in 2000, BMW has regularly flirted with success without quite managing to fulfil its title-winning potential. AUTOSPORT looks back over its last decade in F1, as well as its previous involvement in the sport, when it emerged as a world champion power supplier'. Click here for the full article.

'You could point to the economic situation and the fact that they aren’t selling as many cars as they did in the past, and clearly there is a financial aspect to this'.

'Clearly, then, this is as much as anything about the damage to their brand from a lack of success, and frankly they only have themselves to blame for that'.

'They had a golden opportunity to win the world championship last year, and I always felt that they were bottling it and diverting too much attention to 2009'. Click here to read the full article on itv-f1.com

'BMW executives - in the usual daft jargon of business - have been waffling about “strategic realignment” being the reason for leaving. In plain English: they spent a shed load of cash and still couldn’t win'. Click here to read the full article at timesonline.com

'Last season BMW made up the Big Three with McLaren and Ferrari and driver Robert Kubica was a world championship contender'.

'But this year Kubica and team-mate Nick Heidfeld have been way off the pace of the front-runners.
They have scored just EIGHT points between them in ten races'. Click here to read at full article at thesun.co.uk

REPACATIONS

'BMW’s involvement in motor racing extends far beyond Formula 1. It runs the Formula BMW junior single seater champioship which unearthed such talent as Sebastian Vettel, and spawned an F1-supporting European class last year'. Click here to read the full article at f1fanatic.co.uk

BLAME

'F1's governing body on Wednesday suggested it is the bosses of other manufacturer-backed Formula One teams who are to blame for BMW's decision to quit the sport'.

'Had these regulations not been so strongly opposed by a number of team principals, the withdrawal of BMW and further such announcements in the future might have been avoided," the FIA said on Wednesday'. Click here for the full article at motorsport.com

SUPPORT

'The FOTA group on Wednesday said it will support moves for the Hinwil based team to continue in Formula One following BMW's decision to withdraw from the sport'.

'FOTA teams have immediately consulted each other and are ready to assure all the necessary support to the Swiss based team, whose membership in the association is confirmed, to continue its involvement in F1," said the teams association's secretary general Simone Perillo'. Click here to read the full article on motorsport.com

THE FATE OF:-

'Drivers BMW’s withdrawal leaves Robert Kubica looking around for a drive. I’ve heard his name connected with Renault, and if and when Fernando Alonso moves to Ferrari – which looks pretty certain for next year now – I can see Kubica sliding into his seat'.

'I think Nick Heidfeld will struggle to find another drive in F1'. Click here to read the full article on itv-f1.com

'BMW Sauber star Robert Kubica is now a potential candidate to replace Felipe Massa at Ferrari, possibly even as soon as the European Grand Prix in Valencia, Spain'.

'Kubica is unlikely to jump ship unless it is 100 percent clear that he will get seven races this year, and he probably also will require a longer-term commitment from the team--in other words, that it becomes apparent that Massa won't be racing next year. In that case, Ferrari could end up with a Fernando Alonso-Kubica combination in 2010'. Click here to read the full article at autoweek.com

'Today's announcement could spark a battle for Kubica, with the talented 24-year-old a potential target for Ferrari or possibly Brawn GP if they decide to replace Rubens Barrichello, who turns 38 next year'. Click here to read the full article at thisislondon.co.uk

'Heidfeld, who has been with BMW Sauber since their inception in 2006, admits he was taken aback by the announcement'. Click here to read the full article at skysports.com

'Staff The fate of BMW Sauber's staff remains undecided, according to Laus Draeger - a member of the board of management at the car manufacturuer'. Click here to read the full article at inthenews.co.uk


POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS

'Epsilon Euskadi would be interested in taking the BMW Sauber team's vacant slot in Formula 1 in 2010, if the German squad is not sold on to new owners'.

'Epsilon boss Joan Villadelprat said, "What we can say is that the people who were interested in helping us are still interested, which is something incredible. And if the opportunity arises, we are going to attack it, there's no doubts about it'. Click here to read the full article on autusport.com.

And work has already begun to examine the possibility of teams running three cars each.
That could take the grid up to 36 cars in 2010, the healthiest number in recent years. Click here to read the full article at mirror.co.uk


OTHER MAJOR MANUFACTURERS

'Committed Toyota has moved to quell speculation that it is set to follow BMW out of Formula 1, insisting it remains fully committed to the sport'.

'Mercedes-Benz, which is McLaren’s largest shareholder and also supplies engines to Brawn and Force India, likewise reaffirmed its commitment to F1'.Click here to read the full article at itv-f1.com

'Doubtful There are huge doubts that Toyota and Renault will carry on for much longer, which will leave Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley with some substantial fire-fighting to carry out if they are to douse the flames licking around Formula One‘s entire structure'. Click here to read the full article at timesonline.com

When Honda quit F1 last season, Brawn GP emerged but most importantly F1 took a long hard look at its finances and did something about it. BMW’s departure from F1 will not be as distractive as Honda’s because, the sport learned its lessons and finds itself better prepared to deal with the aftermath of BMW’s decision.

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Was the stewards’ decision to ban Renault influenced by Massa and Surtees’ accidents?

After Renault was handed a race ban by the stewards for Alonso’s loose tire incident, questions have been raise regarding the ban. The severity of the ban and its wholesale approach, points to something other than just crime and punishment. And the big question here is, was the punishment influence by the recent accidents?

The stewards’ decision to impose a one race ban on Renault came as a result of two things.
i, Renault knowingly releasing Alonso out onto the race track with as unsecured wheel.
ii, Renault’s failure to inform Alonso of the problem even when he radioed the team
complaining of a possible puncher.

According to the stewards at no point was Alonso implicated, if anything he was put in as much danger not to mention his ruined race. Now if Alonso new or was told of the problem and continued anyway, that would have been a different story. So banning the victim (Alonso) and an innocent party (Piquet Jr) together with the culprits seems a bit strange.

With Massa’s horrific freak accident and Henry Surtees’ fatal accident still fresh on stewards’ minds, it’s hard not to see their influence in the stewards’ decision. It looks as if the stewards were trying to send a message but unfortunately went about it the wrong way.

Just as Renault can’t use the excuse of no harm no foul, the stewards can’t penalize innocent people for the sake of sending a message. In Melbourne this year Vettel tried to finish the race with a dislocated tire and was only given a demotion for the next race. This was every bit as dangerous because of the trail of debris Vettel’s car was leaving on the race track.

Both incidents endangered other drivers and in both incidents the teams failed to act. Why does one walk away with a slap on the wrist and the other (a victim not a perpetrator) gets punished. The disparity between the two incidents is simply outrageous and both Alonso and Piquet Jr have every reason to feel hard done by.

The bottom line here is, if the two accidents hadn’t happened the stewards wouldn’t have reacted the way they did. Whichever way you look at it, an injustice was done to both Renault drivers. And if the FIA follows the stewards lead on the Massa accident, F1 will find itself in a lot of unwarranted and unnecessary problems in the not too distant future.




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A somber weekend announces the return of F1’s big boys.

A somber weekend dominated by Massa’s accident announces the return of Mclaren and Ferrari at the Hungarian GP. Lewis Hamilton secured his first win of the season with an impressive performance ahead of Kimi”s Ferrari in second. Redbull continued their good form while Brawn are still struggling to rediscover their lost form. Does this mean that the big boys are now ready to play after a long hiatus?

Massa
Massa’s horrific accident during Saturday’s qualifying session dominated and cast a dark shadow over the weekend. With conflicting news coming out in the first few hours, finally great news of a successful surgery and doctors optimism eased tensions. Although he might miss the rest of the season, he is expected to make a full recovery which is the best news to come out of the entire race weekend.

The big boys
After what was slowly becoming Mclaren’s worst ever season, Lewis Hamilton announced his team’s return to form with a resounding win in Hungary. Using his KERS to perfection Lewis starting fourth, leapfrogged both Vettel and Webber before out breaking himself to let Webber through. After that he managed to overtake Webber and the rest was a demonstration of a Mclaren enjoying it’s return to form.

Kimi Raikonnen’s second place finish was not only his best result this season but his best performance in a while. Driving an improved Ferrari which didn’t have the same power as the Mclaren’s, Kimi managed to overhaul Mark Webber and even challenge Hamilton at one point. Despite being a step behind Mclaren this weekend, Kimi has shown that Ferrari has just about enough to consistently challenge for the podium.

Redbull and Brawn
Of the championship leaders, Redbull had a better weekend overall with Webber finishing on the podium in third. With almost zero fast corners, this wasn’t Redbull’s favorite track but Webber still managed to get a podium. Vettel had an incident with Raikkonen at the first corner which proved terminal and was forced to retire.

Brawn on the other hand had a bad weekend which ever way you look at it. Button their only points scorer could only manage a seventh place finish. On a circuit that’s supposed to be their bread and butter, Brawn’s weekend went wrong from the beginning with its worst qualifying session to date. While everyone around them has moved forward, Brawn seems to be moving backwards with their cars visibly uncompetitive.

Renault and the two Spaniads
Two time world champion Fernando Alonso who started from pole saw his race disappear after a botched pit stop. Pitting earlier than expected, Alonso was on course for at least a podium but a loosely secured front wheel disintegrated and then came off completely half way through his out lap.

This forced his early retirement and with young Hendry Surtees’ fatal accident a week ago fresh on steward’s mind, Renault have been banned from the European GP for releasing an unsafe car into the race track. Renault are appealing the decision but in light of recent safety concerns, I don’t see them on the grid come the European GP.

F1’s youngest ever driver Jaime Alguersuari had a fantastic start to his F1 career finishing a commendable 15th ahead of teammate Sebastain Buemi. After a few hiccups during Saturday’s qualifying, Alguersuari had a quiet but consistent race performing better than most expected.

After Brawn and then Redbull dominated the first half of the season, the big boys Mclaren and Ferrari have finally come alive. With Mclaren the livelier of the two and Ferrari likely to improve, Brawn and Redbull will find the going much tougher from now on.

FULL RESULTS OF THE 2009 HUNGARIAN GP
Pos No Driver Grid Pts
1 1 Lewis Hamilton 4 10
2 4 Kimi Räikkönen 7 8
3 14 Mark Webber 3 6
4 16 Nico Rosberg 5 5
5 2 Heikki Kovalainen 6 4
6 10 Timo Glock 13 3
7 22 Jenson Button 8 2
8 9 Jarno Trulli 11 1
9 17 Kazuki Nakajima 9
10 23 Rubens Barrichello 12
11 6 Nick Heidfeld 15
12 8 Nelsinho Piquet 14
13 5 Robert Kubica 18
14 21 Giancarlo Fisichella 16
15 11 Jaime Alguersuari 19
16 12 Sebastien Buemi 10
Ret 15 Sebastian Vettel 2
Ret 7 Fernando Alonso 1
Ret 20 Adrian Sutil 17




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Despite the on going financial fallout, more countries are falling over themselves in a bid to join the F1 show.

Despite the fact that the credit crunch is well and truly in effect, more countries are lining up to replace others already in f1. With Canada and France as recent victims, half empty circuits like Turkey are worried about their future.

With Bulgaria the latest country looking to get a spot on the F1 calendar, existing GP’s are bracing themselves for an onslaught. As Turkish authorities expressing doubts about their F1 future, other countries are already jostling for position.
With Singapore and Valencia (Spain) debuting in 2008, Abu Dhabi is holding its first race this season. India is scheduled for a 2011 debut and other countries including South Korea and Russia are lining up. Key European circuits with less financial muscle are also suffering from Ecclestone’s show me the money attitude towards race promoters.
With an 18 race limit on the F1 calendar, Japan who are missing a host for 2010 might see them replaced altogether. With the voices behind the return of a USA GP are growing stronger, another cash strapped European circuit might bite the durst.
Hopefully the increased competition will lead to better circuits being built and existing once getting major improvements. But unfortunately so far it’s been a case of half empty circuits in Turkey, China and Malaysia to name but a few.




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Webber stamps Redbull’s authority as Barrichello gets the wrong end of the stick, again.

Mark Webber won his maiden F1 race at the German GP with a commanding performance. Despite getting a drive through penalty, Webber still managed to win the race with relative ease. Brawn’s Barrichello could have at least finished on the podium but questionable team strategy ruined his otherwise good race.

Mark Webber new he had to drive the race of his life if he was to win and did not disappoint. After a less than perfect start in which he bumped into Barrichello picking up a drive through penalty for his troubles, Webber set about the task of repairing the damage.

Although questionable tactics on Brawn’s part and slower cars helped him, he still had to take full advantage which he dually did. From an almost lost cause at the beginning of the race, Webber managed to take charge halfway through the race. After that it was more a case of keeping the car on the road.

Redbull's Performance

Webber’s amazing performance and teammate Vettel’s second place are testament to Redbull’s performance. Starting the season behind Brawn pace wise, Redbull are now about to leave Brawn and the rest in their wake. After dominating at Silverstone, not even a long break could stop them from carrying that momentum to German.

With championship leaders Brawn in sixes and sevens, Redbull have caught up to them and will leave them behind if the they don’t step up their game. Both the Brawns and Vettel fell foul to slower cars, but Redbull were the ones who managed to come out on top. They even managed to render a drive through penalty redundant, were most would have been cursing their luck.

Barrichello’s misfortune

Barrichello who was looking good for a race win when Webber got a drive through, fell foul to Brawn’s strategic failures. Although Barrichello has denied favoritism claims, he did not mince his words in an interview with the BBC.

“There was a great show from the team today of how to lose a race. I did all I could today, I got first at the first corner, and they made me lose the race. If we keep going like this we’re going to lose both championships.

To be very honest with you I wish I could get on a plane and just go home, because when I go to the team afterwards there will be a lot of ‘blah, blah, blah’ and I don’t want to hear that right now”.

This comes after Barrichello again suffered a similar fate and ended up losing to Button at the Spanish GP. Although Brawn insists that they don’t play favorites, it’s as if the team are doing everything they can to keep Barrichello behind his teammate.

In Spain Button switched strategy in order to win while Barrichello was hung out to dry. Today with Barrichello leading and Button far behind him, Brawn’s pit wall did nothing to ensure he has the best possible chance to win. Redbull’s pit wall managed to guide Webber to victory, why couldn’t Brawn’s pit wall do anything for Barrichello?

If Brawn don’t mend their ways they will find themselves helping Redbull overtake them in both championship standings. And with Redbull on such a scintillating form, complaisance is something Brawn should steer well clear of.

The ten of drivers’ championship after the German GP looks like this

1 Jenson Button 68
2 Sebastian Vettel 47
3 Mark Webber 45.5
4 Rubens Barrichello 44
5 Felipe Massa 22
6 Jarno Trulli 21.5
7 Nico Rosberg 20.5
8 Timo Glock 13
9 Fernando Alonso 13
10 Kimi Räikkönen 10




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Mark Webber secures his maiden F1 pole after a seven year wait.

Redbull’s Mark Webber secured his first ever pole at the Nurburgring circuit, giving himself the best possible chance of a maiden F1 win on Sunday. After a dramatic Q3 were Button, Vettel Barrichello and even Hamilton challenged for pole, it’s the Australian’s one minute 32.230 seconds lap that won the day.

With Webber ahead of Barrichello in second, Button in third and Vettel in fourth, its going to be a race between the two top teams of this season. Accompanying them will be a resurgent Lewis Hamilton in fifth with teammate Kovalainen in sixth.

The biggest surprise of the final qualifying session is no doubt Adrian Sutil who starts in seventh ahead of both Ferraris. After a super Q2 performance, Sutil drove his Mercedes powered Force India to seventh out qualifying teammate Fisichella who starts a lowly 18th.

Hamilton and his Mclaren team were another pleasant surprise, with the reigning world champion genuinely fighting for pole. After living in the back alleys of F1 in the first half of the season, it looks as if Mclaren have finally woken up. Hamilton’s teammate Kovalainen’s sixth behind his teammate is all the more impressive given he doesn’t have the luxury of the new toys Hamilton has at his disposal.

With Mclaren in the mix, a clean getaway is crucial for the front runners if they hope to challenge for a win. Five cars have a genuine chance of win Sunday’s race, making it the tightest grid so far this season. Who comes out on top depends on to many variables but if Webber wants this race, he will have to drive the race of his life.

Sunday’s grid for the German GP looks like this.
1. Mark Webber, Red Bull-Renault - 1′32.230
2. Rubens Barrichello, Brawn-Mercedes - 1′32.357
3. Jenson Button, Brawn-Mercedes - 1′32.473
4. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault - 1′32.480
5. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes - 1′32.616
6. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren-Mercedes - 1′33.859
7. Adrian Sutil, Force India-Mercedes - 1′34.316
8. Felipe Massa, Ferrari - 1′34.574
9. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari - 1′34.710
10. Nelson Piquet Jr, Renault - 1′34.803
11. Nick Heidfeld, BMW - 1′42.310
12. Fernando Alonso, Renault - 1′42.318
13. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams-Toyota - 1′42.500
14. Jarno Trulli, Toyota - 1′42.771
15. Nico Rosberg, Williams-Toyota - 1′42.859
16. Robert Kubica, BMW - 1′32.190
17. Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso-Ferrari - 1′32.251
18. Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India-Mercedes - 1′32.402
19. Timo Glock, Toyota - 1′32.423
20. Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso-Ferrari - 1′33.559




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Who will triumph in the battle between made in German and born in German?

This weekend it’s the battle of the Germans for the German GP at the Nurburgring circuit. Buoyed by his Silverstone exploits German driver Sebastian Vettel will be doing battle with Jenson Buttons German powered Brawn. With one trying to shore up his lead and the other intent on bridging the gap, a win on Sunday is crucial maybe even make or break.

As the beginning of the second half of the 2009 F1 season gets underway, its Brawn and Redbull who are leading the way. With the usual suspects Ferrari and Mclaren unable to find their footing, both drivers and constractors championship leader boards have an unfamiliar look to them.

The title race is now between Brawn and Redbull drivers with Button and Vettel leading their respective teammates. Brawn took the early advantage as Button dominated the first half of the season. Redbull came alive towards the end of the first half and their commanding performance at Silverstone showed they mean business.

As the German GP gets underway the race will most likely be between Button and Vettel. After Vettel’s win at Silverstone and the performance of the RB5, he is seen as the top contender at the Nurburgring. And the fact that his on home ground won’t do him any harm.

Button on the other hand will be looking to bounce back after a dismal British GP, finishing outside the podium for the first time this year. Brawn might have been found wanting at Silverstone, but have proven themselves time and time again. And after an extra weeks work, Button will be looking to shore up his championship lead.

The Nurburgring’s tight corner combined with a lack of high speed corners will play to Brawns advantage giving them an edge over Redbull. Whether that edge will be enough to counter Redbull’s new found performance is another matter.

Everyone else will unfortunately be making the numbers with maybe Ferrari getting a look in on a podium. But this weekend is all about Brawn GP and Redbull Racing, it’s between Button and Vettel with Barrichello and Webber paying very close attention.

Will it be a German powered Brawn or a German driven Redbull coming out on top? The race track gives Brawn the advantage while recent performance gives Redbull the advantage. Can Brawn up their performance or will Redbull finally conquer tight corner?

Saturday’s qualifying session will definitely be one to watch and a fitting distraction to the of track bullshit.




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