Formula One 2015

[Lineker]

The German Grand Prix has been officially removed from the 2015 Formula 1 calendar by the sport's governing body, the FIA.

It will be the first time since 1960 that the German Grand Prix will not feature on the F1 schedule.

The Nurburgring was due to host the race on July 19, but talks with the track's new owners collapsed over the winter.

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone said in January that he expected to close a deal with Hockenheim, but the venue gave up hope of hosting the race earlier this week.

On Friday, the FIA World Motor Sport Council announced that the race had been dropped from the calendar because "the CRH [commercial rights holder] and promoter did not reach agreement".

There will now be a three-week gap between the British Grand Prix on July 5 and the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 26, with the calendar reduced to 19 races.

[Gazz]

Omnishambles

[JasonM]

Im really displeased with the German GP dissapearing as both tracks were among my favourites. Sure they might not have been as exciting as some, but Hock was a great nimble fast track, and the Strecke was a good technical track. Now we don't have a German GP in almost 60 years.

But in Bernie's mind, he gives no craps about traditions and as long as there are Malaysians, Mexicans, or Qatar-ians paying a buttload of cash Bernie is going to continue to ruin the traditional races.

[Rich]

I agree tradition should be important in F1, but losing the German GP hasn't bothered me because the tracks are uninspiring.

You have to remember, the traditional tracks pay much less than the new tracks to stage a race and Monaco pays nothing towards their race :/. Also it looks like we may lose Monza going forward, and if that goes, that's really going to annoly me. :/

The reason being that the new tracks tend to pay a lot due to the state supporting it which no longer happens in Europe.

[Sam]

Bernie and his love for money will destroy F1 at this rate. Losing tracks and cars isn't exactly what fans want to see.

Edited March 22, 2015 by Sam

[Rich]

It's not just his love for money, its his investors.

[Gazz]

It's going to end up like WRC with two manufacturer teams and a worldwide TV audience of Sebastian Leob's mum.

[Lineker]

Alonso has been medically cleared to compete at Sepang. Bottas is yet to receive the go-ahead, but he has traveled to Malaysia and is expected to compete.

[Noah]

If anyone's interested, I just started up a fantasy F1 game on Fox sports. Fairly simple, just select 4 drivers and 4 cars. Better the driver you select, the worse the cars you'll be able to afford and vice versa.

Scoring is as follows.

-You'll score points based on actual driver and car performances from your selected starting grid;
-Your selected captain scores double points;

-Points are awarded on our comprehensive scoring system based on qualifying/grid and finishing positions.

Comp Name: EWB Championship.

Comp Number: 603617

[Lineker]

• Formula 1 drivers' engine allocation is set to be increased from four to five for the rest of the 2015 season. Teams met on Thursday to discuss the proposal, and following the meeting have agreed to the regulation change. The rule will now go to the FIA for approval, which could happen before the Chinese Grand Prix in two weeks time. AUTOSPORT understands that the main motivation for the change is to allow engine upgrade tokens to be utilised with more flexibility.
• Manor made it out onto the track in practice! So thrilled for them.
• Although Bottas (and Alonso for that matter) have been cleared to race, Williams have appointed Adrian Sutil as its reserve driver. Bottas has admitted to still being in "some discomfort", however.
• Lewis Hamilton says Red Bull boss Christian Horner's call for the FIA to take action to peg back Mercedes is "funny" considering his team's recent success in Formula 1. Hamilton told reporters at Sepang on Thursday that he was amused when he heard Horner's complaints. "I find it quite funny," he said. "It's an interesting opinion coming from an individual who has had so much success."
• Williams has been given a suspended €10,000 (£7,300) fine after Felipe Massa used a set of tyres outside the permitted window in Malaysian Grand Prix practice.
• Rosberg and then Hamilton topped P1 and P2.

Fernando Alonso is certain his McLaren Formula 1 car's steering "locked" in his Barcelona test crash and dismissed suggestions he cannot remember the accident or that wind was a factor.

The two-time world champion missed the final pre-season test and the Australian Grand Prix following the crash, in which he suffered concussion.

On Thursday, the FIA medical delegate and track doctor gave the Spaniard the all-clear to return for Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix.

McLaren had initially ruled out mechanical failure and intimated that a gust of wind was a likely cause, but Alonso said: "Even a hurricane would not move the car at that speed.

"There was a lot of attention on that day and probably the first answers the team and my manager had was some guess.

"But you cannot say anything for three or four days until I remember. That would have become even worse. They said the theory of the wind but obviously it was not a help.

"We had a steering problem in the middle of Turn 3. It locked to the right, I approached the wall, I braked at the last moment, I downshifted from fifth to third."

Earlier this week McLaren acknowledged that Alonso had reported "heavy steering" afterwards, and said it would add new sensors from Malaysia to get better data from this area of the car.

Alonso admitted that the available data from the crash did not confirm the steering problem.

"Unfortunately on the data, we're still missing some parts. The data acquisition on that particular area of the car is not top," he said.

"It is clear that there was a problem on the car. It's not been found on the data at the moment. There is not a clear answer."

In the aftermath of the crash there were conflicting reports about Alonso's level of consciousness and other post-crash symptoms, but the Spaniard said he remembers "everything" and was only unconscious when sedated by doctors.

"I remember everything," he said. "It was a sunny morning, [i remember] all the set-up changes, all the lap times. [sebastian] Vettel was in front of me before Turn 3 but cut the chicane to let me go.

"After the hit, I was kissing the wall for a while, then I switched off the radio first because it was on, then I switched off the master switch. I was perfectly conscious at that time.

"I lost the consciousness in the ambulance or in the clinic at the track.

"The doctors said this is normal because the medication they give is for the helicopter transportation and the checks they do in the hospital like the MRI and evaluation need this protocol, it needs this medication, so it's normal."

[Lineker]

Here is what Fernando had to say in full:

Fernando Alonso was the centre of attention in the Malaysian Grand Prix press conference as he made his first appearance since crashing his McLaren in Barcelona Formula 1 testing.

He duly provided a detailed description of the crash and events surrounding it from his side, reproduced in full below.

Q. Fernando, this has been a happy hunting ground for you throughout your career. You took your first pole here, you've won with three different manufacturers, so a good place to come back from what has been a difficult episode. What can you tell us about what you've been through in the last few weeks?

Fernando Alonso: I'm happy to be here for another F1 season, I start one race later than I should be, but unfortunately, I had the accident in Barcelona and following the recommendation the doctors, I missed the first race.

Malaysia has been always a very nice circuit for me in my F1 career. My first pole position was here in 2003, my first podium and then three wins with three different teams gives me possibility to enjoy this circuit. It is going to be very tough this year to repeat such a result. But happy to be back in the cockpit and ready to enjoy it again.

Q. You've only done around 500km of testing in this car so far. How do you see the journey ahead and the challenge now to hit the targets the team has set?

FA: We need to be with feet on the ground, knowing we are not in a position that we wanted and where we won't be very soon. It will be like a test session in the first races.

I did in this car more or less the same number of laps [in total in testing] that another guy did in one day. I'm not probably confident with the car in this moment. I need to learn many things, not only the driving style but also the approach McLaren has to the weekend. There are many things to learn.

It's a very challenging moment of my career and I'm ready to take it.

Q. Fernando, how long after the accident did you start to get memories of the accident back? What did you learn about it when you went to the factory last week and do you now believe there was no problem with the car?

FA: Everything was more or less as a normal concussion. I had this concussion, went to the hospital in good conditions. There is a time that I don't remember in the hospital from 2 o'clock to 6 o'clock or something like that.

But everything again was normal because of the medication they give you to go to the helicopter and do some tests. It was normal.

I didn't wake up in 1995, I didn't wake up speaking Italian, I didn't wake up all these things probably out there. I remember the accident and I remember everything the following day.

With the team, we have been working closely and with the FIA and they were very helpful. We were in close contact all three parts constantly.

It's not in the data anything clear that we can spot and say it was that, the reason. But definitely we had a steering problem in the middle of Turn 3, it locked to the right, I approached the wall, I braked at last moment, I downshift from fifth to third.

And unfortunately from the data we are still missing some parts. Also data acquisition on that particular area of car is not at the top. There are some new sensors here this race. There are some changes to the steering rack and other parts. That was main thing.

Last week at the factory was working in the simulator and trying to explain all these new sensors and new parts for this race.

Q. Fernando after this episode have you got more respect or more fear to your job?

FA: No, not really. At the end of the day we know motorsport is dangerous. We know that sometimes we have a big accident, spectacular, and the car is completely destroyed and nothing happened. Sometimes you crash in a low speed corner. It depends on the angle. It depends on which part of the body you hit if you have more or less injuries.

It's the same in the normal day life. Sometimes you live a street life and nothing happens and sometimes you walk on the street and you have a big issue, so it's just a very normal thing. I felt ready to go to Australia, but I understand the recommendations from the doctor. It was maybe too early and we wait for one more race.

I'm happy to be here. Happy to help the team. We struggled a bit at the moment. The winter has been quite difficult. The first race was hard for me to watch on TV with the team not performing so well. We are here to help and give McLaren and Honda all the experience we have, Jenson and me, and try to recover from this form as soon as possible.

Q. Fernando you said the steering just locked. For a racing driver the steering is a very delicate thing. If you still don't know what the problem was is that something that worries you despite all the new sensors on the car?

FA: Not really. Together with FIA and the team, we were constantly doing the checks and some investigations and some possibilities. Some areas in the car instrumentation-wise that aren't probably at the level to see this problem. A problem which may occur in this race. 20 years ago, F1 didn't have that technology to spot that problem. Sure we are missing something in the data which we will spot in ten years' time when there is more technology. I have zero doubt [inaudible].

Q. Given that you remember the accident, as far as you're concerned it wasn't driver error or fatigue or, as the team put it, a gust of wind that blew you off course?

FA: No, no, definitely not. When you see the video, even a hurricane would not move the car at that speed. Also if you have any problem, medical issue, normally you will lose power and go straight to the outside, never to the inside. That's one thing.

Honestly, with the accident and the repercussions, a lot of attention on that day, and probably the first answers and first press conference that the team had, my manager whatever, it was just some guess. The wind. Maybe other possibilities.

That creates a little bit of confusion, but you cannot say nothing for three or four days until I remember everything because these three or four days become even worse. They said the theory of the wind, but obviously it was not.

Q. With everything that's happened over the winter, one of the big debates with the fans and people in this room is whether you made the right decision to go to McLaren. What was your reaction to that debate?

FA: I'm one of the happiest people in the world. I have a challenge in front of me, a tough challenge clearly. It's difficult but it's going to taste better when we do it.

The team that I grew up watching on TV, with McLaren-Honda domination and [Ayrton] Senna in the cockpit. I understand now we are too far back, we will be heavily criticised and it would be fair. But there is nothing we can do now but work.

It's a long-term project. All my career, I experienced some beautiful moments here in the last few years. With Ferrari, we didn't win the championship, but it was a fantastic experience. I prefer to risk and to challenge for the victory even if you have to take some risks for the first year.

Q. Can you remember one thing, if you lost consciousness before the first impact or not. And when, why?

FA: I remember everything. It was a sunny morning, all the set-up changes, all the lap times. [sebastian] Vettel was in front of me, but cut the chicane to let me go.

After the hit, I was kissing the wall for a while, and then I switched off radio first and then I switched off the master switch for the batteries to switch off the ERS system because I saw the marshals were coming so they could touch the car. So I was perfectly conscious at that time.

I lose the conscious in the ambulance I think, at the clinic at the circuit. Doctors said this is normal for the medication for helicopter transportation and checks in the hospital, the MRI and evaluation needs this protocol, needs this medication, so it's normal.

Q. What have you learned about the accident?

FA: What I learned probably is I have so much support from so many people. It's been amazing how many messages from people I've received. So many well wishes from sport, government, everyone was so interested. Also in the F1 paddock as well.

Even from the flight on Tuesday to today, it's been a very nice experience to see wishes of good health for me. You don't realise until you have a problem or you miss one race that so many people are behind you.

Q. The team said there was nothing wrong with the car and yet you're saying the steering locked. How do those statements work together?

FA: It's clear that there was a problem in the car. It's not found on the data at the moment.

One of the things I did in the factory last week, with the simulator, I went through with the engineers the data available. We went through the moments. Some spots here and there but not a clear answer but I understand completely and support the team until they find a clear answer that it was this or that.

They will find something anytime, I don't know. If after one month we haven't found in the data, whatever part we have not found, maybe it's not available in the data. Maybe it will never be.

Q. Do we have now a precise idea of the violence of the impact?

FA: I don't know exactly the details.

Q. There's nothing on the data, you lost consciousness, some say you didn't lose consciousness, the team says there was a gust of wind. It's all very confusing. If there's no data, could the problem happen again?

FA: Some of the confusion comes from the very early quotes and explanations because the attention was very high at the moment, the stress was very high.

I was in intensive care and there was some urgency to say something. That was part of the confusion probably.

On the data, there is some lack of instrumentation on the car to miss the exact problem. There are some actions taken for this race, which probably aren't necessary, but are extra care.

Some parts on the car are unique for me, that I request because of my driving style. Of course there are some actions for this race. There is zero worries on my side - everything is OK.

Q. What happened this morning with the tests?

FA: Today we have been through the normal process as has been the last month. Everything I needed to happen, happened. The concussion, the rehabilitation, the checks, the extra checks, the recommendations of waiting two or three weeks before any dangerous activity, everything went normal.

And again this morning, it was the normal procedure after a head injury. We did an impact test with FIA and some reaction tests and some examinations with the doctors here at the Malaysian Grand Prix. Everything went as smooth as possible. I have a green light, so it was a very positive morning.

Q. It's looking that Ferrari is stronger. Maybe you could've waited a little bit more to leave?

FA: With performance that we have right now, it's easy to criticise our team and my decision, but as I said, I'm first so, so happy. This is the most important, when you're happy with yourself, you're a healthy man inside - that is the first victory. That's what I am now because I'm following my dream now.

Secondly, I could wait and achieve some nice results, probably yes, but after 14 years of F1 and two championships, podiums or fourth place or fifth place isn't any more a nice result.

Q. How were your feelings watching, after 14 years, the race on TV?

FA: I didn't pick the best race to watch. One it was very early in the morning so it didn't help my enthusiasm about the race.

Secondly, the number of cars was not ideal on the grid and also after the first couple of laps. It was a strange feeling, no doubt I missed being there. I missed driving, it was strange.

Q. How can you not be worried? From what you're saying to us the steering was locked, heading towards the wall, fighting the steering. That's a car problem, and you're getting back in the car this weekend and don't know what caused the problem. How can you not be worried?

FA: I fully trust the team. They have been one month looking at every single component on the car, doing so many tests, changing every single part which they had some doubts about.

I think we have the safest car right now with all the studies they did. After one month, I'm probably the most checked driver medically in history, so should be fine.

[The Lusophone]

Wrong thread >_>

[hugobomb]

Manor have taken part in both practice sessions! Yes, there were hideously slow in both but the fact that they are there at all is reason for cheer!

[Lineker]

Renault admits it is considering leaving Formula 1, prompting Red Bull to suggest it could do likewise if its engine partner pulled out of the world championship.

Tensions over Renault's F1 plans were already high as it pondered whether it should create its own works outfit again.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner also complained that the French firm's engine programme was in a "bit of a mess" following a poor Australian Grand Prix display.

Renault's motorsport chief Cyril Abiteboul had initially insisted that the company had no intention of leaving F1, but he changed his stance on Friday in an FIA press conference.

Speaking while sat between Horner and fellow Renault-powered F1 team chief Franz Tost of Toro Rosso, Abiteboul said a complete exit could be on the cards.

"I can confirm that we are looking at a lot of options, including getting out of Formula 1," said Abiteboul.

"Honestly, if Formula 1 is that bad for Renault's reputation, if we see that we struggle with the current formula, if Formula 1 is not delivering the value that it costs Renault bearing in mind that when you have an engine supplier, you have no financial incentive to develop and fund engine development, then this is what we're looking at.

"[but] our first priority is to get the engine right. We have seen with Red Bull it has not been the start to the season we have been expecting.

"We have to get the engine under control.

"Then if we can do that, we have to review the situation from a marketing perspective to see if there is anything we can do better to do more or less of Formula 1."

Horner claimed that Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko's recent suggestion that the team could pull out of F1 had been misinterpreted.

He said Marko's actual point had been that Red Bull could be forced out if Renault went.

"I think what he was trying to say was should we find ourselves in a situation where we are without an a engine supplier, should Renault choose to withdraw, Mercedes wouldn't supply Red Bull with an engine and it's unlikely we would be in a position to take a Ferrari engine," Horner said.

"So we could actually find ourselves forced out of the sport.

"As with any company, Red Bull reviews its return on investment. Is Formula 1 delivering for Red Bull as a brand?

"There are some worrying signs when we see races like we saw in Melbourne. But hopefully that's one chapter in a longer story.

"Red Bull wants to compete and wants to be in F1."

[Lineker]

The rain has come pouring down in Sepang! Meaning that Kimi is essentially out in Q2 - he's 11th on the grid.

[EddieG]

Max.

[JasonM]

Max.

Equaled his dad's best quali in his second race, got the best quali for a teen ever.

In his second race, in tricky conditions.

I got the feeling he will break that quali record a few more times before the season is up, he has some great pace in that car. Now let's hope the thing doesn't break down tomorrow >_<

[Lineker]

Verstappen is sodding ridiculously good.

[MJB]

Stonking first lap in Q3 by Lewis. Vettel got close, but his lap was set 8 minutes later when the track was at it's driest. Strange to see Rosberg get in Hamilton's way on his second run.

[The Lusophone]

Strange but unsurprising. I think this season might be the dirtiest yet between the two.