Formula 1 General Chat & Discussion

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News Round Up of the complete week Part 1:

Whitmarsh convinced that McLaren is still in the hunt in 2012 :
McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh is adamant that his squad has not dropped off the pace, but is just losing out in Formula 1's tyre lottery at present.The Woking squad appeared to be 2012's benchmark as it opened the year with two straight poles for Lewis Hamilton and a Melbourne win for Jenson Button. But it has not managed a podium finish since China, and its drivers are now down to third and fifth in the championship standings after spells in the points lead.
Whitmarsh denied that McLaren has gone into a slump, saying it was impossible for any team to stay at the front consistently in such an up-and-down year - as Monaco qualifying proved.
"It's an extraordinary season," he said. "I didn't think even at the start of Q3 that Michael [Schumacher] was going to come out with a time like that and Lotus have looked good here, I thought, and Lewis was in front of the two of them."
"We think that we've got to keep working. This year's championship is very unusual and is undeniably going to continue to be a fight to develop the car and to understand and work with these tyres. If you get it right, you've got a huge performance uplift." He suggested that even teams achieving good results remained baffled by tyre performance this year. "I think in truth, if you look back at a number of the almost surprise quick guys, if they're really honest they're not sure why they were quick at the moment they were quick," said Whitmarsh.
The McLaren chief said he was convinced there was nothing wrong with the team's current package that would prevent it winning on days when it mastered the tyres better than its rivals.
"I think we've got a competitive car. We haven't always got the best out of it," said Whitmarsh.
"We've got two great racing drivers, so it's going to be a fight for the whole year. There are moments of frustration and moments of elation, and that's how a world championship should be.
"Of course we'd all like to understand everything, to be improving the car and to understand the tyres every time you go out. Evidently it's not like that for us. It's not like that for anyone. That's the real challenge.
"These tyres seem almost organic, non-linear, and very difficult and very complex. We don't have as good an understanding of them as we should do and as we'd like to have, but I don't think there's anyone out there at the moment - any team, any driver, any engineer - who feels they've got it nailed on the tyre front."

No Reason For Webber To Leave - Horner :Red Bull Racing head says Mark Webber has good reasons to stay with team :
Christian Horner has indicated that Mark Webber’s expected departure from Red Bull Racing at the end of 2012 is not a foregone conclusion.The consensus in the paddock has long been that Webber will either retire at the end of this year or take Felipe Massa’s place at Ferrari – and will be replaced by either Daniel Ricciardo or Jean-Eric Vergne.
However, Horner said that there are good reasons for Webber to stay.
“Mark’s had a great day today, he’d driving very well, he’s in great shape,” said Horner after the Monaco GP. “And you can see on a day like today that he’s absolutely on the top of his game. We have a very open and straightforward relationship with Mark, and today certainly doesn’t change that. It’s been the same situation for the last couple of years.
“Why would he want to leave? He’s comfortable in the team. The team know Mark very well, Mark knows the team very well. We’re only at race six. Obviously, a lot depends on his desire and motivation going forward which at the moment looks very clear. He’s doing a great job, we’re really happy with him. He’s really deserved today’s result.
“Mark’s doing a good job. Let’s focus on today, and the future will take care of itself.” Asked to compare the team’s three Monaco wins, Horner said: “I think they all are sweet. The third one was pretty special, the second one was special, as well, and this one feels just as good to become triple winners in Monte Carlo.
“I don’t think you do that by luck, and Mark’s become a double winner. He joins an elite group of double winners or multiple winners in Monaco. He really deserved it today.”

Hamilton frustrated to go backwards after finishing fifth in the Monaco GP :
Lewis Hamilton ended the Monaco Grand Prix frustrated with both his start and his pitstop after his third place on the grid became only a fifth position finish. The McLaren driver could not keep up with leaders Mark Webber (Red Bull) and Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) in the first stint, was jumped by Fernando Alonso's Ferrari when both pitted early on, and then found Sebastian Vettel rejoining ahead of him as Red Bull executed an alternative strategy for the world champion.
"It wasn't the best result. But this is motor racing. I really dislike going backwards," said Hamilton.
"But we still came away with some points and there are many, many more races ahead of us so we just have to keep our heads up and keep pushing." He warned that McLaren, which has not had a podium finish since China in April, had to react fast. "I think the team have definitely got some work to do because we are falling behind race by race," said Hamilton. "The others are picking up some serious pace. If we're not lucky then it will fall away from us."
Hamilton was particularly disgruntled about his start. Although he did not lose any positions, he felt a chance to gain ground had been missed.
"My start was one of the worst starts I've had in a long time," he said. "I just don't understand why it happened when the two guys next to me and the guy behind me got perfect starts. I was very, very fortunate not to get caught up in the crash.

Ross Brawn -Michael Schumacher should stay at Mercedes :
The German legend qualified fastest for last weekend's Monaco Grand Prix before a five-place grid penalty was applied.
Schumacher's contract runs out this year, and asked if he wanted him to stay on, Brawn said: "I think it would be everyone's wish.
"We always said Michael himself will know when it's time to retire and after a performance like that why should he?"
Schumacher retired from the race with a fuel-pressure problem after running seventh - he lost ground at the start following a collision with Lotus driver Romain Grosjean. But his qualifying performance was arguably his most convincing since he made a return to Formula 1 in 2010 after three years in retirement.
"It's great for the team and I think it's great for F1 as well," Brawn said. "Let's hope he continues on as long as he can do what he did today." Schumacher, 43, would not be drawn on his plans for his future.
He said: "You imagine that just because of one result I've done at this moment I'm suddenly restarting or opening a different subject. No, that's not the case.
"I'm focused on what I'm doing right now. There will come a time when I will make summary of everything and then I will sit down with the team to see what we're going to do." In the run up to Monaco, there had been some suggestions that the team felt Schumacher needed to up his game. Mercedes chief executive officer Nick Fry had said: "I am sure if we get to the end of this year and it continues as it has done for the last few races, I think he will probably be asking himself that question [about whether to continue]. "There is time to go and we are not making any decisions yet."
But in Monaco Mercedes vice-president of motorsport Norbert Haug said the seven-time champion had never let his poor results affect him. "Michael handled it quite well all the time," Haug said. "I never got the impression he was frustrated or down. He knows what he can do, and he thinks if the car is right he can deliver.
"Ross and I and the whole team were always convinced he was a good driver and could do it. That he needed to learn after such a long time was very clear but he shows commitment and his talent was there."
Schumacher struggled through the first 18 months of his comeback, but in the second half of 2011 there were signs that he was recovering some form. He continued to struggle to match team-mate Nico Rosberg in qualifying - the score was 15-4 in the younger man's favour last season - but he produced some strong performances in races.
This year, the qualifying score is three-all, and the two have generally been closely matched on pace, although Schumacher has suffered three retirements, only one of which was driver error.
The exception was the Chinese Grand Prix, when Rosberg beat Schumacher to pole position by more than half a second. The pace differential continued as Rosberg romped to his maiden victory and Schumacher retired with a loose wheel.

Fernando Alonso says third in Monaco Grand Prix means goals achieved :
Fernando Alonso reckons third place means he achieved his target from the Monaco Grand Prix, which was to finish ahead of his closest championship rivals Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. The Ferrari driver is now in the sole lead of the world championship, with 76 points, ahead Vettel and Monaco winner Mark Webber, who are both on 73.
And while a second Monaco victory escaped Alonso by less than a second, the Spaniard said he was satisfied from his weekend's haul.
"Our target was to finish in front of Sebastian and Lewis - they were with us in the world championship and if you go race-by-race you concentrate on different drivers," he said afterwards. "The next one will be Mark, who is now second in the championship.
"It will be interesting this season with the see constant development of the car and the constant surprises that we are having every race. You never know which one is for pole or race win."
Alonso admitted that he was lucky to emerge unscathed from the fracas at the start which eliminated Lotus driver Romain Grosjean and mixed up the order behind, bringing Vettel, who started ninth into contention.
"I had a fantastic start, so in the first ten metres I was side by side with Romain and I was passing Lewis [Hamilton] as well who was third," he said. "They went close to each other and I put the car in the middle and I think I touched with Romain with my rear left and his right front.
"After that touch he spun, so were lucky that nothing was damaged in the car. After that spin of Romain I think the positions mixed a little bit because I saw Vettel like position five or six – so people were helped and some people gained advantage.
"Everything went smooth after the start – at that point I thought maybe the car was damaged or something – but it was fine," he added. "I felt good, I felt competitive, but obviously in Monaco it is difficult to manage the traffic.
"We overtook Hamilton at the stop with perfect time and perfect stop again, so thanks to team we are in a privileged position."

Ferrari unlikely to protest Red Bull's Monaco win after floor 'hole' controversy :
Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali has suggested his team is not planning to lodge a protest against Red Bull after the Monaco Grand Prix. There was speculation after the race that rival teams would protest the legality of Red Bull's floor design. Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes are believed to have questioned the design of a 'hole' in the floor ahead of the rear wheels of Red Bull's car. Domenicali said, however, there were no plans to protest the design in Monaco.
"At the moment there is no indication that that is the intention," said Domenicali.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner said it would be a shame it someone protested, but insisted he is convinced there is nothing illegal about his cars.
"I'd be disappointed if there was," says Horner . "It would be a shame for that to happen after the race, but we are totally confident that the car complies with the rules.
"We have got clarification that the technical director agrees with our interpretation. You know, we are totally comfortable with the car we have entered here, we've run it like this for other races as well. So we will see, but it will be disappointing if there was."


F1 unpredictability may be a turn-off for fans, says Jenson Button :

With Mark Webber claiming victory in Monaco on Sunday, F1 history was made with the championship having had six different winners of the opening six races for the first time. After Red Bull’s domination of the past two years, many have welcomed this, but Button thinks the randomness over a race weekend, and of the season, is starting to prove unattractive.
‘You say I’m quite inconsistent but [Pastor] Maldonado has had four no-score races, and then he’s had a win [in Spain two weeks ago] and an eighth, so it’s pretty up in the air,’ he said.
‘Clearly everyone is excited about so many different winners, which initially was great for the fans and great for the sport. But there will come a time when fans will say, “So anyone can win a grand prix, everyone can lose a grand prix like that?” I think they’re finding it a little bit strange now.
‘I don’t know but hopefully a pattern will emerge after the next couple of races and we’ll understand the teams and drivers we need to beat to win the championship.’
Button also admitted he is enduring his most frustrating time since joining McLaren. After picking up two points from his last three races, the Briton is now 31 points behind championship leader Fernando Alonso.
Casting an eye over his results, Button said: ‘That’s awful but that’s where it is right now. These things happen, so I’ve just got to get through it. But it’s certainly my most frustrating time with McLaren, which is a fantastic team.
‘Suddenly the last three races, I don’t know where the pace and feeling I get from the car has gone.
‘It’s tough but it’s nothing we can’t sort out. We will solve the issues. It’s just whether we do it in time.’

Alonso warns unpredictable F1 could lose credibility :
Fernando Alonso warned F1 is in danger of losing credibility because results have been so unpredictable this year.
Speaking to CNN Alonso said “It’s a fantastic season, it’s so unpredictable. I think people stand in front of the TV with some surprises every race and it’s good for the audience, it’s good for the sport to bring attention to the races.”
“On the other hand we can lose credibility. We cannot lose that the best teams, the best drivers, the best strategies or whatever, they win the races. Because at the moment from the outside it seems that in every race [anyone] can win and it doesn’t matter the talent, it doesn’t matter the team, the performance – it’s like a lottery.
Alonso, who is leading the world championship by three points ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, said that what a driver achieves in Formula 1 is “not by chance”.
He added: “We need to make clear that if you win a race, it’s because you did something better. And at the moment I don’t know if this is clear for everybody.”

Felipe Massa boosted by Monaco Grand Prix performance :
Felipe Massa believes his improved pace in Monaco can act as a springboard to an upturn that might be enough to save his Ferrari career. The Brazilian is widely expected to be dropped at the end of 2012 after seven seasons with Ferrari, having struggled to match team-mate Fernando Alonso and following a poor start to this year's Formula 1 season.
In Monaco, Massa reached Q3 for the first time in 2012 and took only his second points finish of the year. But the Brazilian was mainly satisfied with how close he had been to the leaders, as he was part of a six-car train battling for victory .Asked by the reporter if he thought he could still keep his Ferrari seat if he kept his Monte Carlo form up, Massa replied: "I think so. The race was very good, and the result at the end, I'm not very happy with because you always want more, but it was a good start for now until the end."Massa said the Monaco weekend had given him a very big confidence boost. "For sure I'm very confident," he said. "I was very confident during the whole weekend and I think the result helps a lot to push a bit harder and to get even better results from now to the end of the year ".
"The championship up to now was not like I expected, but the championship is still very long, so I hope we can completely change what's happened up to now and go in a different direction from now to the end."

Ferrari sure Massa has turned the corner after troubled start to the 2012 F1 season :
Felipe Massa has turned the corner on his so-far troubled campaign with his performance in Monaco, according to Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali. The Italian team had not hidden away from the fact in the build-up to the Monaco race that Massa needed to raise his game amid questions over his future.
Speaking about Massa's form, on the back of his sixth place finish in the train of cars behind race winner Mark Webber, Domenicali said: "I think that he did a great weekend. It was the weekend that he deserved, after a lot of weeks of big pressures.
"I am sure this will be the turning point of his season. It was a great boost for him to perform in a difficult moment. It is something we need for the Constructors' Championship, so I am expecting a good Felipe up until the end [of the season].
"He did a great qualifying, and you always can say it could have been better in Q3, but we need to look at it from different angles. He did a great race and he was a bit unlucky because he could have got out in front of Lewis for a fraction. But he was there in the first six cars that were very close, so that is for me the best point."
Massa said that sixth place is not what he is racing in F1 for, but on the back of his troubles earlier in the campaign it was a positive weekend.
"It was a good race," said the Brazilian. "It's always a difficult race, and I think this was a race where everything went okay.
"There was good pace and to finish with good points at the end, even if it was sixth - not a position that gives you a lot of happiness - with what had happened up to now was good. I would say everything worked in a good direction during the weekend."

Stefano Domenicali says Ferrari must focus on single-lap pace :
Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali believes his team must focus on improving the single-lap pace of its car if it is to seize control of the world championship battle. Fernando Alonso has been in brilliant form this season with an under-performing car, and his third-placed finish in Monaco helped him move back to the top of the world championship standings. However, Domenicali thinks that Ferrari must start qualifying on pole position to take advantage of the benefits of running in clear air at the front of the field.
"If you are fighting for pole position, and even on pole position, then the race is totally different," said Domenicali. "This is something we need to keep focusing on to make sure things are going in the right direction.
"In terms of the pure performance of the car, we had a very difficult start. We have a situation where we are not happy and where we want to improve the car because we have seen other cars at the moment have pole positions, and we do not. So that has to be a target for the team."
Ferrari's update package for the F2012 that it delivered at the Spanish GP appears to have provided the step forward in form it needed to keep the team in the title hunt.
Further improvements are set for the next few races, and Domenicali thinks there is also an onus on Alonso to keep producing the kind of performances that he has done so far this year.
"I feel that at home everyone is working to make sure that every race we keep putting performance on the car, and that is what we have to do," he said.
"I am happy we are leading but with such a championship we have to make sure that we don't lose points. There are so many drivers and teams that are fighting for the win that you have to be always there."

Ferrari suspends work at Maranello base following earthquake in northern Italy :
Ferrari suspended work at its Maranello base on Tuesday following the earthquake in northern Italy.
Although the area around the Ferrari factory was not among those worst affected, with the centre of the quake 40 kilometres north of Bologna, Ferrari felt it was important to halt operations for the day.
A statement on its Twitter feed said: "After the earthquake, working activity has been suspended for today. All the workers and employees have been allowed to join their families."
Fernando Alonso added: "After the earthquake, the team has decided to stop the activities at the factory. We are all going back to home."
Ducati, located nearer to Bologna and therefore to the quake centre, also shut its factory down for the day.
"Ducati today is closed due to the earthquake. People are OK, we are verifying the factory," its Twitter feed said. "We feel very close to all the families and people that live near here for this difficult moment."
Italian media reports say that six people have so far been confirmed dead as a result of the earthquake.

Ferrari auction raises over money for earthquake victims :
Ferrari holds an online auction next week whose proceeds will go to the victims of two heavy earthquakes in northern Italy in recent times. Among the things that go under the hammer are helmets of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, a V8 Formula 1 engine and a rare 599 XX Evo, with a commercial value of 1.3 million €. Ferrari suggests in a statement: "As soon as the news of the earthquake reached the world , Ferrari customers and collectors took contact with Maranello to offer for a contribution .Again, we support most affected by this tragedy thanks to the generosity of the Ferrari enthusiasts ". Before has the Italian sports car manufacturer was already in for the 2009 hit Abruzzo region. Ferrari also donated 80 million yen for the construction of two school facilities in Ishinomaki after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan last year.


Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

The earthquake shook and continues to shakes the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy, alerting numerous clients and collectors from all over the world.
Ferrari decided to start fund raising for the families affected by the earthquake, organising a charity auction with unique items such as a 599XX Evo and memorabilia from Formula 1.A special section on ferraristore.com will be dedicated to this important initiative.

Martin Brundle 1st June 1959
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Happy Birthday to your 53rd anniversary

hanshel wrote:This season’s six races have been won by an unprecedented six different drivers.

And world champions Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher are yet to triumph this year.

Triple champion Lauda, 63, said: “We have been surprised.But if it continues, we’ll lose spectators as the main public wants to see world champions winning."
“We need two races with known winners and then the crazy stuff can start again."

Do you think the same ??? I think it is too much a tires game right now and not first a question of drivers quality. The tires too important at the moment - have a look at the last few stupid Q3 That is really a problem or !?
But concerning to Laudas problem I think this way is more interesting than only one or two teams go ahead in their own class !
I am sure after some more races only the few best drivers will survive at the top !

I think the tires are not the problem, since they are the same for everyone. The problem is the number of tires that can be used during the whole week.

I remember when there were two suppliers of tires (Michelin and Bridgestone). The difference between cars of a different brand of tire was higher than the engines used or the aerodynamics of the chassis. Ferrari suffered several years the worst performance of the Bridgestone.

I believe in equality in Formula 1. The difference should be marked by the ability of the pilots, although I know this is impossible because really are the teams that are competing and cars are not going to be equal. Is obvious.

What I find it shameful is the total number of tires available throughout the weekend. This means that, finally, Q3 becomes a Pole without quorum.

hanshel wrote:This season’s six races have been won by an unprecedented six different drivers.

And world champions Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher are yet to triumph this year.

Triple champion Lauda, 63, said: “We have been surprised.But if it continues, we’ll lose spectators as the main public wants to see world champions winning."
“We need two races with known winners and then the crazy stuff can start again."

Do you think the same ??? I think it is too much a tires game right now and not first a question of drivers quality. The tires too important at the moment - have a look at the last few stupid Q3 That is really a problem or !?
But concerning to Laudas problem I think this way is more interesting than only one or two teams go ahead in their own class !
I am sure after some more races only the few best drivers will survive at the top !

Absolutly right. Like Schumi says. The Tires sucks!!!

This season’s six races have been won by an unprecedented six different drivers.

And world champions Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher are yet to triumph this year.

Triple champion Lauda, 63, said: “We have been surprised.But if it continues, we’ll lose spectators as the main public wants to see world champions winning."
“We need two races with known winners and then the crazy stuff can start again."

Do you think the same ??? I think it is too much a tires game right now and not first a question of drivers quality. The tires too important at the moment - have a look at the last few stupid Q3 That is really a problem or !?
But concerning to Laudas problem I think this way is more interesting than only one or two teams go ahead in their own class !
I am sure after some more races only the few best drivers will survive at the top !

Gianmaria Bruni 30th May 1981
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Happy Birthday to your 31st anniversary

ferrari news
Test suspended in Maranello to allow all staff to reach their families.
The Twitter profile of the stable of the prancing horse reads: "After the earthquake, the work was suspended to allow everyone to reach their families."
Ferrari has therefore today decided to stop all testing at home, because of the particular situation created due to the earthquakes that have affected this morning throughout northern Italy.
The area where the team was working, however, was not among those most affected, with a epicento about 40 miles away, but the Formula 1 team has not deemed necessary, stop all activities, for security reasons.

Ukyo Katayama 29th May 1963
(Former Driver for Larrousse,Tyrrell,Minardi)
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Happy Birthday to your 49th anniversary

after monaco gp
1 Fernando Alonso Spanish Ferrari 76
2 Sebastian Vettel German Red Bull Racing-Renault 73
3 Mark Webber Australian Red Bull Racing-Renault 73
4 Lewis Hamilton British McLaren-Mercedes 63
5 Nico Rosberg German Mercedes 59
6 Kimi Räikkönen Finnish Lotus-Renault 51
7 Jenson Button British McLaren-Mercedes 45
8 Romain Grosjean French Lotus-Renault 35
9 Pastor Maldonado Venezuelan Williams-Renault 29
10 Sergio Perez Mexican Sauber-Ferrari 22
11 Paul di Resta British Force India-Mercedes 21
12 Kamui Kobayashi Japanese Sauber-Ferrari 19
13 Bruno Senna Brazilian Williams-Renault 15
14 Felipe Massa Brazilian Ferrari 10
15 Nico Hulkenberg German Force India-Mercedes 7
16 Jean-Eric Vergne French STR-Ferrari 4
17 Daniel Ricciardo Australian STR-Ferrari 2
18 Michael Schumacher German Mercedes 2
19 Heikki Kovalainen Finnish Caterham-Renault 0
20 Timo Glock German Marussia-Cosworth 0
21 Charles Pic French Marussia-Cosworth 0
22 Narain Karthikeyan Indian HRT-Cosworth 0
23 Vitaly Petrov Russian Caterham-Renault 0
24 Pedro de la Rosa Spanish HRT-Cosworth 0

1 Red Bull Racing-Renault 146
2 McLaren-Mercedes 108
3 Ferrari 86
4 Lotus-Renault 86
5 Mercedes 61
6 Williams-Renault 44
7 Sauber-Ferrari 41
8 Force India-Mercedes 28
9 STR-Ferrari 6
10 Caterham-Renault 0
11 Marussia-Cosworth 0
12 HRT-Cosworth 0

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VIEW ALL!!!!!!!

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Fri 08 June 2012
Practice 1 10:00 - 11:30
Practice 2 14:00 - 15:30
Sat 09 June 2012
Practice 3 10:00 - 11:00
Qualifying 13:00
Sun 10 June 2012
Race 14:00

I only add to the contribution from dazaman ( Thank You dazaman )that the Fastest Lap was driven by Sergio Perez -1:17.296 . Pitstop Nico Rosberg : 2 ,and that there where 10 drivers in the same lap !


And again a problem with Schumi's car , 1st the contact with Grosjean ...this costed him allready 2 places and than the technical problem ....when will this end ? I want to see Schumi finaly on the highest place ...and that's the nr.1 place on the podium !!!!! Dito with Massa ,finaly a good drive and result ( 6th ) , so i hope that this can be a turn around for him

Ps : i found that it was a boring race ...except the 1st couple of laps and than the last 10 laps ...but for the rest it was


Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

I Congratulate Webber! A miracle has happened! Alonso and Vettel - perfect tactics pit stop! Schumacher - a series of misfortunes continues! 6 races - 6 winners (absolute record! ) What will happen next? Famously twisted plot!