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Formula One 2015


Lineker

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Whether you like how it went down or not, Nico Rosberg won the race. Was he lucky today? Yes, and he readily admitted so on the podium. Should Hamilton have won the race today? Again, yes, but these things happen in Formula 1 sometimes, it is what it is. At the end of the day Rosberg was the winner & he clawed back 10 points on his teammate & rival, so why the hell shouldn't he celebrate? It's not like he caused the accident that brought out the Safety Car, nor was it he who made the call to bring in Hamilton for another pitstop.

Hamilton might be a massively talented racing driver, but he needs to handle losing much better. His behaviour on the podium today was that of a petulant child who'd just had his favourite toy taken away from him. He knows he isn't going to win every single time, he should be a professional on the occasions that it doesn't quite work out for him

Hamilton did the podium interviews, shook everyone's hand and vowed to come back for the next one. I fail to see what he's done wrong. His team has cost him a dominant victory but he hasn't publicly blamed them.

Lewis has had the reputation of being a spoilt brat. Sometimes rightly so, but today isn't one of them.

He did the podium interview after trying to walk off with his champagne, only to be sent back by a Mercedes PR director. He had no interest in being part of the interview.

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Nico outright said Lewis deserved to win. He didn't, that's just how sport goes - and if Hamilton wasn't just talking big by saying the lead could've been bigger if he'd pushed it, then he's dumb for not doing that and should blame himself just as much as his pit crew.

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Just for the record, I at no point said that Rosberg was "to blame" for Hamilton not winning, also my post was whilst Rosberg was driving back to the podium, screaming with joy on the radio and waving his hands around before he had given any interviews.

Since then Rosberg has been far more logical about the whole thing which is to his credit.

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Just for the record, I at no point said that Rosberg was "to blame" for Hamilton not winning, also my post was whilst Rosberg was driving back to the podium, screaming with joy on the radio and waving his hands around before he had given any interviews.

Since then Rosberg has been far more logical about the whole thing which is to his credit.

What else did he have to do? Start sulking and talking about how your teammate deserved the win? I'm sorry, but when you win a race after driving a bike around your living room for 87 laps and won, you're gonna be ecstatic. And Nico did not know the details of what had happened either, so it's not like he knew exactly what was going on.

You win, you celebrate, it's easy as that. Hamilton has done the same in the past, just like every other race winner who won under dubious circumstances. We can also go back 12 years to when Massa had to give up 1st place to Schumacher on the final stretch. Schumacher celebrated despite the circumstances, he knew it was messed up but you celebrate nonetheless.

F1 simply is not a sport for being sentimental. They are all competitors who compete at the highest racing class in the world, and every single one of them will celebrate a victory any way they get it. Criticising them for celebrating is stupid, again Rosberg did nothing wrong and it's his place to celebrate in front of the fans that have gathered.

If the roles were reversed, Hamilton would have done the same thing just like every other driver on the field...

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An investigation into Maria de Villota's accident when testing a Marussia Formula 1 car in 2012 has concluded no action will be taken against the parties involved.
De Villota crashed into an articulated trailer while carrying out a straightline test for Marussia at Duxford Aerodrome.
She lost her right eye but was able to make a full recovery from her other injuries.
De Villota died in October 2013, aged 33.
Soon after the incident, Marussia ruled out a problem with its car as the cause following its own in-depth investigation.
And the Health and Safety Executive, whose remit is to investigate incidents where someone has been injured as a result of a work activity, has now concluded its own enquiry.
"The investigation into the incident has now concluded and no enforcement action will be taken against any parties involved," a HSE spokesman told AUTOSPORT.
The Marussia team still competes in Formula 1 but under the Manor name and it is not commenting following the HSE's study.
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Manor has made a crucial acquisition as part of its Formula 1 revival with the capture of former Mercedes technical director Bob Bell as a technical consultant. Bell is recognised as one of the most experienced players in F1, previously working at McLaren, Benetton, Jordan and Renault, and most-recently at Mercedes for three and a half years up until November last year. The team claims Bell will be "applying his considerable industry experience supporting and advising Manor's senior management as they rebuild the team and formulate an ambitious long-term plan". Bell's appointment comes soon after the acquisition of Gianluca Pisanello as chief engineer and former Toro Rosso chief designer Luca Furbatto as its head of design.
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It's instrument in the moves Manor are making, but I wonder how much money they have to throw at it because just signing a bunch of engineers, designers, and consultants won't get you a title...

Unless your name is Ross Brawn...

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Formula 1's plans to return to refuelling are dead in the water as the teams have unanimously rejected the plan, AUTOSPORT has learned.
Following a meeting of the Strategy Group last month, the FIA announced via a statement a number of ideas designed to improve the spectacle of F1 from 2017.
Within a raft of proposals designed to make cars five to six seconds per lap quicker than at present, it was suggested refuelling make a comeback, with the system last implemented in 2009.
But in the wake of a comprehensive study undertaken by all the teams it has been decided the idea lacks merit on a number of fronts.
The team managers, in a meeting with FIA race director Charlie Whiting in the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve paddock ahead of this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix, spelled out their concerns.
Primarily they believe there will be absolutely no benefit to the show, in fact the contrary opinion was expressed that it would likely prove detrimental.
Although a number of drivers expressed a favourable opinion when the idea was placed back on the table a few weeks ago, the study found overtaking improved in 2010 as a consequence of a ban on refuelling.
Add in one of the other main prohibitive factors in an increase in cost, at a time when F1 is trying to make savings, and the plan carried very little substance.
As one unnamed paddock observer noted: "This was so obvious it was going to be a non-starter even a blind man could see it."
Given F1's convoluted quirks of governance, Whiting will now report back to the Strategy Group with the team managers' findings.
With not one team in favour the idea is now simply set to disappear.
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The Manor Formula 1 team has signed 2013 GP2 champion Fabio Leimer as its reserve driver for the remainder of the season. Leimer missed out on an F1 seat following his GP2 title triumph, and last year he raced for the Rebellion LMP1 team in the World Endurance Championship. The 26-year-old, who tested for Sauber in the 2011 young-driver test, will drive in yet-to-be confirmed Friday free practice sessions.
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Pirelli and Michelin will go head-to-head in the battle to become Formula 1's next tyre supplier, but Pirelli says it will not emulate Michelin in proposing its own rules.
Pirelli motorsport boss Paul Hembery told reporters in Austria that there were only two bidders for the three-year contract from 2017 and independent sources confirmed to AUTOSPORT this was the case.
Michelin's bid is based on switching from 13-inch to 18-inch rims, as is currently the case with its supply to Formula E, and longer-lasting rubber.
However, Pirelli's proposal is more flexible, with the Italian supplier saying it will follow whatever rules the FIA chooses to enforce.
"Our bid is to follow the rules," said Hembery.
"An example would be an engine manufacturer coming in and proposing a five-litre V8 then acting surprised when the sport says it wants a 1.6-litre turbo.
"We can only reply to the rules and we've said we will supply what they want.
"Do you want to do 20-inch? We'll do 20-inch.
"Tyres that last the whole race? We'll do that.
"Tell us what you want and we'll do it.
"We do what the sport asks from us. It's not our position to change the rules.
"We can have suggestions, of course.
"At the moment it's very clear that the size of the tyre is set by the FIA together with the teams and the promoter and it sets a certain type of tyre.
"They are still asking us to help assist create a number of pitstops. If that changes, of course we can do that as well."
Pirelli took over from Bridgestone as F1's control tyre supplier at the start of the 2011 campaign.
Michelin left the championship at the end of 2006 after a five-season tyre war with Bridgestone.
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Hamilton on pole, Rosberg second. Both men went off on their final laps though.

The penalty system is ridiculous. Kvyat qualifies 8th and starts 15th after taking a ten place drop. Jenson has to serve a stop-go penalty because he can't take all of his 25(!) place drop, Fernando has a drive-through for similar reasons plus a change of gearbox. Meanwhile, Ricciardo has five seconds added to his first pit-stop because like Kvyat, he had a ten place drop, but qualifying 14th meant he couldn't fully take it.

So yeah, nice and simple for casual fans.

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No further action was taken, btw, it was declared to be a racing incident. But just look how close the side of Alonso's car was to Kimi's steering wheel. That could have been so much worse.

Sergio Marchionne, president of Ferrari, as it happens, has declared that he would be happy to supply Red Bull with engines. Would be very intriguing to see RB move back to prancing horsepower.

Meanwhile, Formula 1 will suffer if Honda and Renault are not allowed to catch up and compete with Mercedes and Ferrari power, according to Red Bull boss Christian Horner. The FIA previously allowed Renault to retune its engine to bring it up to the level of its rivals after the 2008 season, when it had fallen behind early in the first incarnation of the engine freeze rules.

Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene says it is too early to decide if Kimi Raikkonen will stay with the team in Formula 1 in 2016. Arrivabene has said he will have to make a recommendation to president Sergio Marchionne later in the year, believes it would be demotivating to decide Raikkonen's future already, particularly if he is not retained. He added Ferrari has an internal deadline by which time it has to have a decision made, and the final say will be with Marchionne.
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A joint US and Qatari effort is reportedly targeting the purchase of a substantial stake in Formula 1 from its current primary shareholder, CVC Capital Partners.
The Financial Times reports that RSE Ventures and Qatar Sports Investments are keen to acquire a 35.5 per cent stake in Formula 1's holding company from CVC, in a move valued at between seven and eight billion US dollars.
RSE Ventures is the owner of NFL's Miami Dolphins, while Qatar Sports Investment's portfolio includes the Paris Saint-Germain football club.
The article states that no formal bid has been lodged and that due diligence is still being undertaken.
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is quoted as not being aware of a "deal on the table", but also notes elsewhere within the article that "my shares will be sold with theirs".
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Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says Formula 1's Strategy Group is "inept" and should be abolished, endorsing the notion that an independent should write the rules.
Formula 1's rulebook has come under fire in recent months, with the sizeable penalties being handed out to McLaren and Red Bull in Austria for engine infringements reigniting the debate.
Rather than having the Strategy Group - currently made up of Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren, Williams and Force India - to discuss the regulations, Horner said F1 should call upon the expertise of someone without vested interests in the paddock, such as ex-Mercedes chief Ross Brawn.
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I love Horner complaining now his team aren't number 1.

His criticism is founded, but it just sounds like prattle coming from a guy who has been moaning every week for the past 1.5 season about how Renault are terrible suppliers, the FIA are working against him, and the Strategy Group have it out against him.

The penalties at Austria were ridiculous, and it's hurting teams from trying to become better and catching up. Especially knowing that McLaren are in for two more huge penalties at Silverstone because Alonso's (brand new) engine was damaged in the crash, and Jenson's gearbox broke down later on too.

It's also a bit ridiculous that the F1 teams have such a big say in the proceedings, because you'll end up with the succesfull teams trying to retain the status quo, and the not-winning teams trying to change the status quo, and it generally causes the entire system to be hung indefinitely... A team of former racers, former team bosses, safety experts etc. should be formed letting them decide what's being changed in the sport.

There's a big reason why big manufacturers like Audi, Porsche, and Toyota are sticking with WEC rather than trying their hands at F1...

The sport is too expensive to even be a backmarker (look at Manor's financial woes, and the shittonne of money needed to keep them in the sport)...

The ruleset is too restricted to have teams truly challenge each other consistently... The 2008-2013 engine freeze had Red Bull win 4 out of 5 times. The 2014-???? freeze has had Mercedes easily dominate the first season, and is well underway of dominating the next few seasons too...) Now the engines are frozen, teams have little leeway in improving their engines even within the current V6Turbo ruleset, which means that Mercedes has a comfortable lock on being top dogs for a long time.

Finally and probably most importantly the sport has little to no use in modern car manufacturing, there's little to no advancement in applicable technology coming from F1 anymore, whilst WEC has been mostly on the forefront of technology with diesel powered winners, and most recently hybrid-diesels becoming the norm. The art of creating a fast, sturdy, and efficient car have more uses to modern cars than creating a vehicle that goes 330kmh for 1.45 hour.

Generally the idea of an engine freeze is stupid, and whilst it's been there to cut down costs, it has done little in keeping costs down regardless. So basically teams are stuck with a bum car and getting back on pace takes simply too long for a team to manage... And despite RBR being moany bitchy childish cunts about it, it's obvious that Renault will take too long getting the engine up to snuff, so they're better off with a lesser Ferrari engine because the 40-50HP can be made neglible through strategy, skill, and aero.

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Maria de Villota was "fighting" the Marussia Formula 1 car and struggling to slow down when she crashed into an articulated trailer during a test in 2012, documents have revealed.
The Health and Safety Executive, whose remit is to investigate incidents where someone has been injured as a result of a work activity, last month concluded no action will be taken against the parties involved.
De Villota's injuries in the crash included the loss of her right eye.
Part of the HSE's report has been released to AUTOSPORT through the Freedom of Information Act.
The straightline test took place at Duxford Aerodrome on July 3 2012, a day after de Villota had a seat-fitting in the car.
According to the report, the Spaniard said she could not operate the clutch when the steering was on full-lock but was told "it does not matter as there would be no need for full-lock during the straightline test".
She was also given notes from the race engineer ahead of the drive, but these did not feature information about stopping the car or "which gears should be selected when arriving at the pitlane".
The report added that a standard trailer, rather than the usual race trailer, was used, and it had an "unusual" and "larger" tail-lift.
De Villota began the day by completing a drive in a saloon car with her race engineer where the programme was explained to her, however the report added the stopping procedure was not discussed.
The report said the Spaniard completed two runs up the runway successfully and on returning to the garage area, with the car travelling at 45 km/h, she braked and the car continued to slow.
As the engine dropped to 4100rpm and with the gear still engaged, the engine idle control attempted to prevent the speed dropping further in a bid to stop the engine stalling.
"This is the start of the first of three periods of oscillation in the data which show that the car is 'fighting' the driver," said the report, which added the Spaniard had "not been provided with any information on how the engine idle control would affect the stopping performance of the car".
De Villota said in the report that she had pressed the button to unlock the clutch, but it did not work.
The front-right wheel locked, with de Villota trying to steer the car to the right. As she braked harder, the front-left wheel then locked.
She then attempted to change down from second to first gear, but the change was rejected as the torque was greater than 100Nm.
De Villota eased off the brakes, allowing the wheels to turn, but re-applied the brakes and that caused the left-front to lock again.
The report said "the car was pushed along the apron of the runway into the tail-lift of the trailer".
De Villota had thought she would miss the lorry but the report said: "the tail-lift had been left in a position which not only created risk of injury, but was also protruding outwards at the level of the DP's [deceased person's] eye."
It also said the team was "relying on the skill and experience of the driver".
De Villota died in October 2013 at the age of 33.
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Elsewhere - the new B-spec Force India has nostrils!
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That was a stonker of a British GP! Terrible fuck up from Williams though.

Rumours of Aston Martin coming in at Red Bull/Williams/Forice India/Lotus (who were served with a winding up order today) are picking up pace.

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