[Blue_V]

Its not paint thiner, its petrol. You will see Lewis leaving Mercedes, just look at the last race, he ignored a team order. Im just joking.

But its heart breaking to see Alonso/Ferrari struggle so much. I wonder if Pat Fry took them around the merry go round. He made them change the wind tunnel to mask his incompetence. Now Ferrari are again back to being on the back foot. Williams with a lower budget have come up with a superb car. Alonso at Mclaren will make a lot more sense. Jensen can be the perfect No.2

[polopm]

Alonso might agree to a one year deal with Ferrari keeping his options open for McL or RBR whichever works out better in the next year after that. McL might retain 'no grip' button and Kevin after all.
How long is Massa contracted, about retirement time I guess.

[StarrySky]

Originally Posted by polopm

Alonso might agree to a one year deal with Ferrari keeping his options open for McL or RBR whichever works out better in the next year after that.

Alonso is anyway contracted to Ferrari till the end of 2016 season. He or Ferrari does not need to make a one-year deal for next year. The situation can change if Alonso has some release clauses in his contract which are activated if Ferrari drop of out of top-3 in WCC for example. Then he may be free to look for a seat outside Ferrari.

[polopm]

Originally Posted by StarrySky

Alonso is anyway contracted to Ferrari till the end of 2016 season. He or Ferrari does not need to make a one-year deal for next year. The situation can change if Alonso has some release clauses in his contract which are activated if Ferrari drop of out of top-3 in WCC for example. Then he may be free to look for a seat outside Ferrari.

Apparently there is one where we hear that if Ferrari fails to land in the top 3, then Fernando can exercise the option of easing out or that's what was mentioned in the websites.

[zenren]

Originally Posted by StarrySky

Alonso is anyway contracted to Ferrari till the end of 2016 season. He or Ferrari does not need to make a one-year deal for next year. The situation can change if Alonso has some release clauses in his contract which are activated if Ferrari drop of out of top-3 in WCC for example. Then he may be free to look for a seat outside Ferrari.

Originally Posted by polopm

Apparently there is one where we hear that if Ferrari fails to land in the top 3, then Fernando can exercise the option of easing out or that's what was mentioned in the websites.

Interesting. That would probably also explain why Ferrari set aside their ego and hired Kimi back. His consistency in the Lotus during the last two years would have given them the hope that even if Alonso decided to get out and didn't put in his full potential this year so that Ferrari stays outside the top 3, Kimi's performance would ensure Ferrari finished in top 3 and foiled Alonso's plans of an easy exit.

Of course, we now know how Kimi ended up performing so far this season but no one saw this coming pre-season.

[mustang 99]

Originally Posted by h@r$h@l

Just came across this. India not listed

The 2014 calendar in full:

16/03 Australia
30/03 Malaysia
06/04 Bahrain
20/04 China
27/04 Korea (provisional)
11/05 Spain
25/05 Monaco
01/06 America, New Jersey (provisional*)
08/06 Canada
22/06 Austria
06/07 Britain
20/07 Germany
27/07 Hungary
24/08 Belgium
07/09 Italy
21/09 Singapore
05/10 Russia
12/10 Japan
26/10 Abu Dhabi
09/11 USA, Austin
16/11 Mexico (provisional*)
30/11 Brazil

Formula 1 will return to India in 2015 and 2016. This will complete 5 year contract with Jaypee Sports. Till then only memories remain. I was a Medical Marshall in 2011 and had an opportunity to be in the medical chase car which follows F1 cars during the 1st Lap on a live F1 circuit.

[deetjohn]

Bernie pays $100M to end trial on charges of bribery.

German law permits defendants to settle trials by payment in some situations, without being judged guilty or innocent.

It brings an end to a trial which lasted four months and threatened to leave Ecclestone with a prison sentence of up to ten years had he been found guilty.

Bayerische Landesbank claimed Ecclestone had bribed their employee Gerhard Gribkowsky with £27m ($44m) in 2006 to ensure Formula One was sold to its current owners CVC Capital Partners. They alleged he preferred CVC as a buyer because they would keep him in charge of the sport.

Source

[arunphilip]

Originally Posted by deetjohn

Bernie pays $100M to end trial on charges of bribery.

LOL, paying a legal bribe to escape the consequences of an illegal bribe!

[polopm]

Originally Posted by arunphilip

LOL, paying a legal bribe to escape the consequences of an illegal bribe!

McLaren got the same amount slapped on them for Spygate and Bernie with all this mega episode gets this. Pathetic justice.

[Blue_V]

Asked what he thinks Ferrari's main problems are, Costa replied: "It is not absolute -- it is my opinion. But very serious mistakes were made in the strategic vision.

"An example: in 2008, we in the racing team thought it essential to have a new wind tunnel to remain competitive. We were told there was no need."

"In Ferrari, all the strategic decisions were always made by (Luca di) Montezemolo. He took them when Ferrari triumphed and when Ferrari ceased to triumph. Just to be clear."

I was way wrong about Pat Fry, but still what's actually wrong with Ferrari, the tech team or the boss?

[Fullrevs]

Intersting quote there Blue_V. Where did you read that article??

I also once read that Luca and Stefano tried really hard to make it an all italian team (bar the drivers since there are no good ones). In that quest a lot of things went upside down for them.

They seem to be getting everyone from the old group out. Marmorini is gone. There are rumours that Pat Fry is next. James Allison is not a Paddy Lowe or a Adrian Newey, I seriously have doubts of their future. Meanwhile, like many of u said. I am sure there is a performance clause for both driver and team. Alonso may exercise that if the car isnt quick after the summer break.

As for the silly season, heres my take:

Vettel to Mercedes. Hamilton to Ferrari or Red Bull depending on where Alonso may go. Kimi Raikkonen and Button will retire, the latter maybe at the end of the year (since he has no contract) and Kimi after the end of 2015. Bottas may go to a top team like Mclaren.

[arunphilip]

Originally Posted by Fullrevs

Intersting quote there Blue_V. Where did you read that article??

I read a version of that interview at F1technical: http://www.f1technical.net/news/19555

However, it doesn't have that particular quote, but focuses on other aspects of the interview.

[redrage]

Now the famous Parabolica at Monza has been asphalted

Nonsense this is becoming. That Gravel trap was a key element in that corner testing a drivers ability on not getting it wrong as it laid to main straight. Now this is a joke.

[nipcarlover]

Originally Posted by Fullrevs

Intersting quote there Blue_V. Where did you read that article??

I also once read that Luca and Stefano tried really hard to make it an all italian team (bar the drivers since there are no good ones). In that quest a lot of things went upside down for them.

They seem to be getting everyone from the old group out. Marmorini is gone. There are rumours that Pat Fry is next. James Allison is not a Paddy Lowe or a Adrian Newey, I seriously have doubts of their future. Meanwhile, like many of u said. I am sure there is a performance clause for both driver and team. Alonso may exercise that if the car isnt quick after the summer break.

Originally Posted by arunphilip

I read a version of that interview at F1technical: http://www.f1technical.net/news/19555

However, it doesn't have that particular quote, but focuses on other aspects of the interview.

Here's the article on James Allen's website:

MERCEDES DESIGNER ALDO COSTA ON WHY HIS OLD TEAM FERRARI IS STRUGGLING

Originally Posted by redrage

Now the famous Parabolica at Monza has been asphalted

Nonsense this is becoming. That Gravel trap was a key element in that corner testing a drivers ability on not getting it wrong as it laid to main straight. Now this is a joke.

Attachment 1272124

Only half is getting asphalt coated. The exit is still gravel, so it will punish the drivers.

Reddit thread discussing this

[StarrySky]

New rumours are that Luca is leaving Ferrari. He is off to run an airline (Ethihad-AlItalia).