Make it official, for the reported tidy sum of US$10-million, Michael Schumacher is coming back to Formula 1 with Mercedes after a 3-year "retirement".
The deal starts off as a 1-year deal, but Schumacher is quoted as saying that "It's not a one off thing", with discusssions leading him to drive through to 2012 with the team.
The 41 year old, former 7 time world champion joins Nico Rosberg on an all German team.
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Showing posts with label F1. Show all posts
Showing posts with label F1. Show all posts
F1: Toyota quits
Toyota is pulling out of Formula One racing, the world's largest automaker announced Wednesday, saying it needs to cut costs and focus on its core business.
"Based on the current economic environment, we realize we have no choice but to withdraw from Formula One," Toyota president Akio Toyoda said at a news conference in Tokyo. "This has been a very painful decision for the company."
...
Toyota made its F1 debut in 2002 but never won a grand prix. The team's best result was in 2005 when Jarno Trulli finished second in Malaysia and Bahrain.
Toyoda said the team's poor results were not a factor in the decision to leave the sport.
"Our decision would not have changed even if we had a victory," Toyoda said. "The fact that we are unable to give our drivers a chance to compete is very sad."
Full story at the link above
Globe & Mail: F1's return to Canada will be at bargain price
Manufacturers' teams were eager to have a race in North America again
By Jeff Pappone // Globe and Mail Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009
Less than a year after losing its grand prix because it couldn't afford the price tag, Formula One looks ready to return to Montreal at a relative bargain.
With the recession tempering expectations and the teams' desire to return to North America combining to force F1 commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone's hand, it is thought the deal on the table to bring the race back to the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in 2010 is worth about $75-million over five years.
Last fall, Ecclestone demanded a guaranteed $175-million over five years from Montreal and then axed the race when he didn't get it.
.... continued at the link above
Note: Jeff Pappone is an active Twitterer....
CBSSports: F1 in jeopardy as teams walk out of meeting in Germany
"Formula One's fragile peace deal was thrown into doubt again Wednesday when eight leading teams walked out of a meeting with the governing body after being told they had not been entered into the 2010 championship and would have no say on finalizing cost-cutting measures..."Click here for the full story.
Negotiations back on for Montreal F1 race for 2010
Under the category, off and on more times than a light switch.... off and more more times than the next federal election.... off and on more times than Britney's gitch.... off and on more times than Jim Balsillie's purchase of the Coyotes.... off and on.... well, you get the idea.
TSN is reporting:
"Quebec Finance Minister Raymond Bachand is confirming that negotiations are underway in an attempt to bring back the Canadian Grand Prix in 2010.
Bachand said today talks are ongoing with Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone for a potential return of the popular F1 race to Montreal.
Montreal was dumped from the circuit this year in favour of Istanbul but this month's race in Turkey was hamstrung by poor attendance.
Bachand told reporters in Quebec City the province, Ottawa and the City of Montreal are still willing to come up with financing to ensure the race returns.
The finance minister says he's confident but added that F1 has its own financial problems that need to be resolved.
The 2010 F1 schedule is to be unveiled before the end of the month."
P.S. - The story doesn't say who Bernie is negotiating with, but doesn't NASCAR have the contract to put on all races at Ile Notre Dame now?
Bachand said today talks are ongoing with Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone for a potential return of the popular F1 race to Montreal.
Montreal was dumped from the circuit this year in favour of Istanbul but this month's race in Turkey was hamstrung by poor attendance.
Bachand told reporters in Quebec City the province, Ottawa and the City of Montreal are still willing to come up with financing to ensure the race returns.
The finance minister says he's confident but added that F1 has its own financial problems that need to be resolved.
The 2010 F1 schedule is to be unveiled before the end of the month."
P.S. - The story doesn't say who Bernie is negotiating with, but doesn't NASCAR have the contract to put on all races at Ile Notre Dame now?
I'm building an F1 track in Ontario, and so is my wife
Isn't it funny when a legitimate void is filled... with 10 competing entities?
Reminds me of fancy bread places on Bayview Avenue (obscure Toronto reference). One week, you couldn't find anything other than white Wonder bread. The next, there are 5 high-brow bread places on the strip, smack dab in the middle of the low-carb diet craze.
Anyway, back to racing....
Russ Bond flipped me a link to a story noting that there are now THREE groups working to build F1/NASCAR/IRL-worthy tracks in Ontario's Golden Horseshoe region. THREE. One would be nice. Two would be too much. But THREE?
After hearing these stories for 20 years - and attending a ground-turning ceremony (12 years ago?) at what sounds like one of the locations that is supposedly in play again - if one of them actually gets built, I'd have a stroke.
We'll see......
UPDATE: There's a poll on this on the Inside Track Pit Board Forum where you can vote on whether or not you think there will be a major league facility in the Niagara / Ft. Erie region within 5 years.
F1 Montreal: Mayor reportedly in negotiations to bring back race
According to this report on Canada.com, the mayor of Montreal has been involved in extensive negotiations with Bernie Ecclestone to bring F1 back to Montreal.
"Mayor Gerald Tremblay is hoping to entice Grand Prix racing back to Montreal for 2010 and Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone says he’s interested.
Ecclestone told Motor Sport magazine’s May edition that he is in discussions with the city to bring the race back to Montreal.
Martin Tremblay, spokesperson for the mayor, confirmed Sunday that discussions have been ongoing for about two months."
Ecclestone told Motor Sport magazine’s May edition that he is in discussions with the city to bring the race back to Montreal.
Martin Tremblay, spokesperson for the mayor, confirmed Sunday that discussions have been ongoing for about two months."
F1 turned its back on Montreal because it thought there was more money to be had elsewhere. If F1 is hoping to come back to Montreal, it's safe to assume Plan A didn't work out so well.
Let's hope those negotiating with Canadian taxpayers' dollars show Mr. Ecclestone the same level of compassion he showed Canadians when he yanked the race in the first place.
Spreading a viral ad... but it's cool anyway
Just a little too polished to be real... but a neat concept. It's actually Frank Williams' dream car.... he wouldn't even need to hire a driver.
(h/t David Swain for the heads up)
Is F1 using Montreal as leverage to light a fire under Abu Dhabi?
The new facility in Abu Dhabi is reportedly behind schedule. According to a report at Wheels.ca, there is chatter that F1 may approach Montreal to replace the Abu Dhabi event. Apparently, the mayor of Montreal and the premier of Quebec are willing to have Montreal serve as F1's kindling as they try to light a fire under the group in Abu Dhabi, to 'encourage' them to finish their track.
Should Canadian politicians play a supporting role in F1's tactics to pressure places on the other side of the world to live up to its agreements with F1, given that these people have turned their backs on North America? Is anyone else surprised that no one seems to be shedding a tear that F1 is history in these parts?
And finally... for the people who ridicule IRL/IndyCars... what is your reaction to those goofy things with snow ploughs that raced in Australia on the weekend? Mind you, they might come in handy if Montreal does end up getting Abu Dhabi's season-ending November race date.
UPDATE: In response to rumours that it was behind in facility preparations and may lose its race to Montreal, organizers of the Abu Dhabi event issued a press release earlier today denying their race won't take place as scheduled.
F1 backtracks on nutty points system... for 2009
That thud you just heard was the sound of Formula 1's plan to award the driver's championship to the racer with the most wins... doing a crash and burn.
Sanity prevailed in the form of the teams' refusal to go along with the nutty scheme. You can read the full story here.
Last year's championship went down to the last turns, of the last lap, of the last race. Only the brains who run F1 could have viewed that result as a situation in need of repair. Yes, minds would be open to considering increasing the points gap between first and second place, but F1's scenario was insane.
What are the odds that any driver with a two-win cushion following the midway point of the season wouldn't spend the rest of the schedule doing the 'Schumacher First Turn Blitz' on the driver with the next-highest win total? Slim and none.
For now, the FIA will just have to find another way to bugger up the sport...
F1 champion to be determined by race wins
I guess last year's down-to-the-last-lap championship was too exciting for the whizzes who run Formula 1. I say that because they've pretty much scrapped that system and will now crown their champion based solely on race wins.
God help the ratings, promoters, sponsors, etc. if someone wins a bunch of races right off the bat and locks up the title two-thirds of the way into the season.
TSN has the full story here.
F1: Bernie Ecclestone reported to lose $1.5 Billion in divorce ruling
Bernie Ecclestone's divorce could end up costing him $1.5 billion, according to this report on TSN.ca. That's a wee bit more than $1 meeeel-yon, demanded by Mini Me (at right).
Not sure why I thought of Mini Me when talking about Bernie and big money... oh well....
"A High Court in London took less than a minute to issue the divorce decree with the Formula One boss unaware that his marriage to his former fashion model wife Slavica was now over."
And you thought you had a bad day...
US based F1 team for 2010?
US F1?TSN and Autosport.com are reporting that the basis for a US based F1 Team have been put in place, with design engineer Ken Anderson and former F1 team manager Peter Windsor attempting to start it up.
A website USF1.com has been launched with Anderson as the owner.
With manufacturer supplied engines and gearboxes having a fixed "affordable" price for next season, it's considered more feasible for an independent team to enter the series next year.
One would have to wonder, does a US backed F1 team indicate that they may have knowledge of F1 coming back to North America? Maybe not, but I've heard of worse ideas (like standing nearly naked in sub-zero temperatures for minutes at a time.)
UPDATE: Could they already be thinking potential sponsors? Anderson registered the site with GoDaddy.com (link) who are already sponsors of Danica Patrick in the IRL (one would have to wonder if they're looking at drivers as well...) If that isn't a stretch, I don't know what is, but it's worth knowing.
TSN link
Autosport Link
What's good for the goose, ISN'T good for the gander
From TSN:
"The World Motor Sport Council has found Renault guilty of bringing the sport of Formula One into disrepute, however, they will not be penalized."
Continued at the link above.
Not so long ago, McLaren was tagged for a $100 million+ fine for being found guilty of largely the same thing. McLaren could pay. Some say that kind of penalty would kill the Renault team.
The WMSC has yet to issue its reasons for the Renault/McLaren decision.... leaving many to wonder if the the difference in judgements was based solely on the guilty parties' abilities to pay? Or maybe the powers that be who run F1 really, really, really dislike McLaren boss Ron Dennis?
p.s. - After being found guilty of bringing F1 into disrepute by dealing in McLaren's secrets.... Renault is considering suing McLaren. You can't make this stuff up.
p.p.s. - The TSN story says that "this decision is expected to clear the way for Fernando Alonso to re-join the team (Renault)." But do you really think Ron Dennis will be in the mood - faced with this toothless decision and legal threats from Renault - to let Alonso walk over to Renault? Me neither.
"The World Motor Sport Council has found Renault guilty of bringing the sport of Formula One into disrepute, however, they will not be penalized."
Continued at the link above.
Not so long ago, McLaren was tagged for a $100 million+ fine for being found guilty of largely the same thing. McLaren could pay. Some say that kind of penalty would kill the Renault team.
The WMSC has yet to issue its reasons for the Renault/McLaren decision.... leaving many to wonder if the the difference in judgements was based solely on the guilty parties' abilities to pay? Or maybe the powers that be who run F1 really, really, really dislike McLaren boss Ron Dennis?
p.s. - After being found guilty of bringing F1 into disrepute by dealing in McLaren's secrets.... Renault is considering suing McLaren. You can't make this stuff up.
p.p.s. - The TSN story says that "this decision is expected to clear the way for Fernando Alonso to re-join the team (Renault)." But do you really think Ron Dennis will be in the mood - faced with this toothless decision and legal threats from Renault - to let Alonso walk over to Renault? Me neither.
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