Formula One 2009

[Rainiac]

It's just emerged that the British Grand Prix has been saved thanks to a new deal that Bernie Ecclestone made with Silverstone...

Silverstone has agreed a 17-year deal to host the British Grand Prix from 2010, ensuring the prestigious race is not axed from the Formula 1 calendar.

The Northamptonshire circuit stepped in to stage the event after Donington Park was stripped of the rights after being unable to generate the necessary funds.

And the news ensures the oldest race on the F1 calendar retains its place.

Under the new agreement, Silverstone will be redeveloped, with work focusing on rebuilding the pits and paddock.

More to follow.

Thoughts?

[Rich]

fan-dabi-dozi news, love Silverstone and we needed to keep the GP, deal for 17 years?!? I'll be almost 40 when thats done!

[GA!]

fan-dabi-dozi news, love Silverstone and we needed to keep the GP, deal for 17 years?!? I'll be almost 40 when thats done!

Stop making me feel old! It's bad enough I'll be in my 30's if England get the World Cup in 2018 as it is...

Anyway, this is good news. The tabloids will be unable to go 'BRITISH GP IS IN DANGER, OMG!' for a long time, which will make a refreshing change. And after the whole debacle with Donington, I can't see the Grand Prix move away from Silverstone for quite a few decades yet.

[Guest Raving Rich]

Just got this from BBC Sport:

Renault to carry on in F1 next year after team is sold to new owner, BBC Sport understands

I'm glad they're not pulling out, despite the fact they cheated in Singapore last year

EDIT: And here's the full article, courtesy of BBC Sport:

Renault to continue in Formula 1 after deal is agreed

By Andrew Benson

The Renault team will race on in Formula 1 next year after a deal was struck to secure its future, BBC Sport has learned.

Thecompany had considered its future in F1, but sources say its team willcontinue under new owners with Renault keeping a minority shareholding.

A private announcement to the team is at its headquarters on Friday with an official announcement next week.

The team name is unclear but it seems the car will race as a Renault.

The two front-runners in the race to take over the team wereLuxembourg businessman Gerard Lopez, and David Richards, the boss ofthe British motor racing engineering firm Prodrive and former teamprincipal of Benetton and BAR in F1.

Lopez is considered the favourite to take over Renault under the auspices of his Genii Capital investment company.

Some sources say Renault will retain a 25% share in the team.

Theteam's future has been in doubt since Renault held an emergency boardmeeting in early November to discuss whether to continue in F1.

Theissue has been discussed at further meetings of Renault bosses lastweek and this, with a final decision understood to have been taken atan executive board meeting on Wednesday.

Detail beyond that issketchy at the moment, including whether Robert Kubica will be retainedas lead driver after signing a contract to replace double worldchampion Fernando Alonso, who has moved to Ferrari.

Given thatthe Renault identity will remain to one degree or another, though, itseems certain that the highly rated Pole will be retained.

Renault'sdecision to examine its participation in F1 came after the team's worstseason since it returned to the sport as a constructor in 2002.

They finished eighth out of 10 teams in the world championship, with a best result Alonso's third in the Singapore Grand Prix.

Far worse for Renault's reputation, though, was the Singapore race-fixing scandal.

Renaultwere handed a ban from F1, suspended for two years, after being foundguilty of asking Nelson Piquet to crash deliberately in the 2008Singapore Grand Prix to aid Alonso's chances of winning.

Teamboss Flavio Briatore and engineering director Pat Symonds were givenbanned from motorsport for their part in the conspiracy - Briatore forlife and Symonds for five years.

Both are contesting their bans in the French courts, with a verdict due in the new year.

Piquetwas not punished by governing body the FIA after agreeing to blow thewhistle on the affair, even though Symonds gave evidence that the planwas the Brazilian's idea.

Two of the team's major sponsors, theDutch bank ING and the Spanish insurance company Mutua Madrilena end their relationship with the team with immediate effect over the affair.

Edited December 10, 2009 by Raving Rich

[Adam]

Formula 1 to bring in new points scoring system in 2010

Formula 1's points scoring system is likely to be radically changed next season under a new scheme proposed by the sport's bosses.

At the moment, the top eight finishers earn 10, eight, six, five, four, three, two and one point respectively.

The new proposal will see the winner take 25 points, 20 for second place, 15 for coming third and then 10, eight, six, five, three, two and one points.

It should be rubber-stamped by the World Motor Sport Council on Friday.

The plan to change the scoring system came from the FIA's F1 Commission, which is made up of key stakeholders from the teams, promoters, suppliers and sponsors, and chaired by president Bernie Ecclestone.

Last season Ecclestone tried to introduce a medals system, with the championship being decided by race victories rather than cumulative points, but the idea was shelved after receiving an unenthusiastic reception.

Under the medals system Felipe Massa would have beaten Lewis Hamilton to the 2008 world championship, but the Brazilian said it was not the correct way to decide the title.

The 2010 season will feature 13 teams, three more than in recent seasons.

A strong mandate has also been given to the Sporting Working Group, a sub-committee of the F1 Commission made up of the FIA and F1 teams, to develop detailed proposals to improve the show which will take effect from next year.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8407119.stm

I'm actually happy about this. I didn't like Bernie's 'medals' idea but did feel the need to increase the value of a victory when compared to lower points finishes, plus increasing the points scorers to 10 is also a smart move due to the fact there are so many additional cars this year. What do people think?

[hackerjack]

The new proposal will see the winner take 25 points, 20 for second place, 15 for coming third and then 10, eight, six, five, three, two and one points.

Think someone has typoed there at some point regarding 6th/7th/8th place being 6/5/3, more likely 6/4/3. (Edit: the irony of a typo in a line about someone typoing never fails to get me)

Anyway in general I'm in favour if extending the points downward, seeign the season long battle between the backmarkers for who will come out on top is a nice distraction that you rarely used to get back in the 80's/90's, I wasn't looking forward to seeing 6 teams with 0 points at the end of the year.

It doesn't actually change anything much though for the top finishers in terms of percentage points

2009: 100/80/60/50/40/30/20/10

2010: 100/80/60/40/32/24/20/12/8/4

I'd have gone with 25/17/12/8/6/5/4/3/2/1 (100/68/48/32/24/20/16/12/8/4) myself

Edited December 11, 2009 by hackerjack

[Rich]

Don't really feel it either way, It will reward the top 3 more, while not rewarding consistency as much as previously. The only concern is that the title may be wrapped up sooner as consistnet performers who finish 3rd to 5th will be falling behind in the title race. But on the other hand a guy who wins a few races, ala Jensen Button, deserves a good lead in the championship.

[Adam]

So some good changes coming out of this commission meeting such as the points system and the addition of ex-drivers to the F1 Stewards committee, but one thing I' not happy about is moving the Abu Dhabi GP so that it is once again the final race of the season instead of Brazil. I nearly fell asleep watching the inaugural Abu Dhabi race, it was about as exciting as watching paint dry. The Brazilian GP is far better, just look at the last two years with Hamilton clinching the title on the last turn, and Button working his way through the field to claim the title.

[hackerjack]

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/12/10279.html

The new points system has been agreed as 25, 20, 15, 10, 8, 6, 5, 3, 2 and 1. Still don't understand why 8th-7th gets you 2 points but 7th-6th only one though.

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/12/10283.html

Also Trulli and Kovelainnen to drive for Lotus.

That means we are down to 9 vacant spots now:

Merc: Schumacher or Heidfeld

Renault: 1 seat

STR: 1 seat (Aljesuari surely?)

Campos: 1 seat (possibly De La Rosa or Maldonado)

Virgin: 1 seat (rumoured to be Luca Di Grassi, who reckons he has signed with someone)

USF1: 2 seats

Sauber: 2 seats (possibly Heidfeld/Klien)

2009 drivers without a seat: Heidfeld, Alhesuari, Bourdais, Grosjaen, Nakajima, Koboyashi

[hackerjack]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8412892.stm

Virgin boss Richard Branson has launched his brand's new team having joined forces with the new Manor team and brought in Lucas di Grassi.

The former Renault reserve driver will join former Toyota driver Timo Glock.

Branson has decided Virgin will get more value out of backing an underdog after sponsoring Brawn GP in their championship-winning debut season.

Brawn said: "Our first year in F1 has been tremendous. Why not start another team from scratch?"

Virgin are one of four new entrants joining F1 next season, along with US F1, Campos and Lotus F1.

Branson told BBC Sport that Virgin had signed a three-year title sponsorship deal that did not involve any equity in the team. He added that Virgin had "lent the team some money".

Branson added: "Last year with Brawn, they started the season as a David and it ended it as a Goliath.

"So we searched around for another fan-dabi-dozi team, another David team, we have one and we will see how it goes."

Brawn have been taken over by Mercedes and will race as Mercedes Grand Prix next year. Nico Rosberg has been signed as one of their drivers and it looks increasingly likely that seven-time champion Michael Schumacher could come out of retirement to be the other.

Under the slogan 'a new team for a new era', Branson added: "The new era is seeing the costs of entry come down.

"This team will be the lowest-budget team in Formula 1. It will run under the £40m per year that was being set by F1.

So yeah as rumoured Di Grassi joins Virgin to race alongside Timo Glock. di Grassi has finished 2nd, 3rd and 3rd in GP2 the last three seasons so pretty much deserves his chance, though I am slightly dissapointed that they didn't go with Anthoney Davidson.

[Guest Raving Rich]

http://news.bbc.co.u...one/8412892.stm

Virgin boss Richard Branson has launched his brand's new team having joined forces with the new Manor team and brought in Lucas di Grassi.

The former Renault reserve driver will join former Toyota driver Timo Glock.

Branson has decided Virgin will get more value out of backing an underdog after sponsoring Brawn GP in their championship-winning debut season.

Brawn said: "Our first year in F1 has been tremendous. Why not start another team from scratch?"

Virgin are one of four new entrants joining F1 next season, along with US F1, Campos and Lotus F1.

Branson told BBC Sport that Virgin had signed a three-year title sponsorship deal that did not involve any equity in the team. He added that Virgin had "lent the team some money".

Branson added: "Last year with Brawn, they started the season as a David and it ended it as a Goliath.

"So we searched around for another fan-dabi-dozi team, another David team, we have one and we will see how it goes."

Brawn have been taken over by Mercedes and will race as Mercedes Grand Prix next year. Nico Rosberg has been signed as one of their drivers and it looks increasingly likely that seven-time champion Michael Schumacher could come out of retirement to be the other.

Under the slogan 'a new team for a new era', Branson added: "The new era is seeing the costs of entry come down.

"This team will be the lowest-budget team in Formula 1. It will run under the £40m per year that was being set by F1.

So yeah as rumoured Di Grassi joins Virgin to race alongside Timo Glock. di Grassi has finished 2nd, 3rd and 3rd in GP2 the last three seasons so pretty much deserves his chance, though I am slightly dissapointed that they didn't go with Anthoney Davidson.

Virgin Records

Virgin Vision

Virgin Games

Virgin Atlantic Airlines

Virgin Cargo

Virgin Holidays

Virgin Airship & Balloon

Virgin Classics

Virgin Megastores

Virgin Broadcasting

Virgin Hotels

Virgin Publishing

Virgin Radio

Virgin Vodka

Virgin Cola

Virgin Direct Personal Finance

Virgin.net

Virgin Brides

Virgin Trains

Virgin Cosmetics

Virgin Mobile

Virgin Active

Virgin Blue

Virgin Energy

Virgin Cars

Virgin Galactic

Virgin Fuel

Virgin Health Bank

Virgin Media

Virgin 1

Virgin Digital

Virgin Money

Virgin Radio Itallia

Virgin Healthcare

Virgin Money Giving

Virgin Racing

What the fuck next? Virgin Condoms? Virgin Viagra? Virgin Morning After Pill?

[Rich]

I'm virgin on a mental breakdown after that post

[EddieG]

Well, didn´t virgin healthcare start out with giving free condoms ?

[Marcos]

I know of a virgin Be as well

[hackerjack]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8415935.stm

Reenault F1 confirm 75% sale to Luxembourg businessman Gerard Lopez. This also confirms their place on the 2010 grid and most likely Kubica's drive as well.

[DFF]

Well, didn´t virgin healthcare start out with giving free condoms ?

I'm pretty sure Branson started Mates condoms.