Today In F1

[HandyNZL 1]

That was because Adrian had designed the sweetest looking car in F1 in many a year...

[JHS 1]

And he might have done again. We just don't know. Really, it's just speculation currently. Until after the Bahrain race, I don't think you can really say they are in a bad position because "OMGZ THEY AR RELEAZING THEIR CAR LATERZ!!!!!!!1111".

[Insider 0]

A clever little bird told me [and it wasn't Steph - no insult intended], that ze noveau lump de Reno does not fit in ze car, monsieur! Though I find that hard to believe, [the power plant dimensions are presumably the same as last year], there is apparently a slight foul up at the rump of the beast. Of course, this could be classic 'sandbagging' and there is some design element that is eminently nickable that the team which to conceal. Personally, I'll go with the former. Newey is notorious for being the odd thou out here and there - the price of brilliance.

[Persevere 0]

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/1/10330.html

What are the opinions here on the viability of Cosworth's return to F1 for 2010? Other than name, I suspect that there is little relationship to the company founded by Costin and Duckworth 50 odd years ago. Are they simply providing a powerplant for those teams who can't make their own or can't align with a major manufacturer; i.e., acting as a supplier of last resort?

[JHS 1]

Apparently now Nakajima being rumoured for a Campos seat (man, they must be desperate for cash!) whilst the Sato to Renault rumours grow.

[mikathegreat2 2]

Apparently now Nakajima being rumoured for a Campos seat (man, they must be desperate for cash!) whilst the Sato to Renault rumours grow.

Is it just me or is F1 slowly turning into Pearl Harbour??

[Insider 0]

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/1/10330.html

What are the opinions here on the viability of Cosworth's return to F1 for 2010? Other than name, I suspect that there is little relationship to the company founded by Costin and Duckworth 50 odd years ago. Are they simply providing a powerplant for those teams who can't make their own or can't align with a major manufacturer; i.e., acting as a supplier of last resort?

Cosworth make a fine engine, no doubt about it.

[JHS 1]

This silly season gets sillier. Apparently, Bruno Senna could leave Campos (obviously if it's the case they are in serious problems) for STR!

[Silas Talbot 0]

In an interview with Stefano Domenicali here, the author wrote: "Despite Alonso and Massa having a chequered past, [Domenicali] insisted all would be well in the camp."

What chequered past is he talking about? Would that have been the race later in the 2007 season where Massa was ahead but losing time in the rain/with a slow puncture and Alonso came up fast to overtake him and they made contact? The one where they argued with each other afterwards about who was the idiot..

Is there any other past incidents I'm not aware of, or is this the entirety of the events that would generate animosity?

Thanks!

[Quiet One 15]

In an interview with Stefano Domenicali here, the author wrote: "Despite Alonso and Massa having a chequered past, [Domenicali] insisted all would be well in the camp."

What chequered past is he talking about? Would that have been the race later in the 2007 season where Massa was ahead but losing time in the rain/with a slow puncture and Alonso came up fast to overtake him and they made contact? The one where they argued with each other afterwards about who was the idiot..

Is there any other past incidents I'm not aware of, or is this the entirety of the events that would generate animosity?

Thanks!

Not really. Massa mumbled something about "Ferrari is only for team players" and "Nobody can come to Ferrari and expect to be Number One" and some Massa-Schumi loving when Schumi was still at Ferrari. Nando never replied to those as far as I know and...that's it. Not even worth the pixels

If that is having "a chequered past" I would like to know how would describe Massa and Coulthard's relationship after the latter said that he would "knock seven shades of sh!t out of Massa's arse" after that crash in Melbourne...

[Rainmaster 7]

In an interview with Stefano Domenicali here, the author wrote: "Despite Alonso and Massa having a chequered past, [Domenicali] insisted all would be well in the camp."

What chequered past is he talking about? Would that have been the race later in the 2007 season where Massa was ahead but losing time in the rain/with a slow puncture and Alonso came up fast to overtake him and they made contact? The one where they argued with each other afterwards about who was the idiot..

Is there any other past incidents I'm not aware of, or is this the entirety of the events that would generate animosity?

Thanks!

I think that is probably what is being referred to. I also think there may have some other issues during 2007 between Massa and Alonso but suffice to say there was/is some dislike between them on track.

Off track there was also what Andre 3000 mentioned above: Massa's response to Alonso's signing was less than classy and spoke of fear more than dislike; but Alonso never bit back (the guy has learned). It's also worth noting that Massa was Schui's sidekick during the battles in 2006 and that won't help either.

So, there is probably more animosity between Alonso and Massa than many other driver pairings I'd imagine.

However, I doubt any of that will make any difference to the harmony of the team in 2010. That will depend on if they're able to beat each other and how Ferrari manage that, not some petty disagreement(s) in the past.

[Quiet One 15]

I think that is probably what is being referred to. I also think there may have some other issues during 2007 between Massa and Alonso but suffice to say there was/is some dislike between them on track.

Off track there was also what Andre 3000 mentioned above: Massa's response to Alonso's signing was less than classy and spoke of fear more than dislike; but Alonso never bit back (the guy has learned). It's also worth noting that Massa was Schui's sidekick during the battles in 2006 and that won't help either.

So, there is probably more animosity between Alonso and Massa than many other driver pairings I'd imagine.

However, I doubt any of that will make any difference to the harmony of the team in 2010. That will depend on if they're able to beat each other and how Ferrari manage that, not some petty disagreement(s) in the past.

Yup. Good ole George is right, as unusual.

Animosity is there. I'd like to think that Alonso is not so stupid as to make the same mistakes he made at Macca, so it will probably take better mind games from Massa to get him riled up. Massa is not stupid, either (although his comments plus the "Felipebabystaycoolgate" show that he has not had the benefits of a disastrous Macca experience to show him that acting like a spoilt kid never pays off) he will say some comments like that here and there, and Alonso will probably reply to them when asked by Spanish journalists but none of them will push too far.

In any case, the guys at Maranello are not stupid either and everybody knows what is at stake now. Should Alonso or Massa try to take their animosity beyond reasonable levels, Ferrari will be more prone to kick them out unceremoniously than Macca did, and replace the culprit with Fisico/Badoer or Piquet Jr.

EDIT: on the other side, no matter how small the incident will be, the journos will blow it completely out of proportion.

[mikathegreat2 2]

DLR signs for BMW Sauber : http://press_en.bmw-sauber-f1-team.ch/2010/01/pedro-de-la-rosa-startet-im-bmw-sauber.html

[JHS 1]

Oh, Pedro for BMW-but-not-really Sauber! Wonder what team he'll be a-spying on this time then?

[Persevere 0]

Oh, Pedro for BMW-but-not-really Sauber! Wonder what team he'll be a-spying on this time then?

With de la Rosa having been all but confirmed in the Sauber seat for a few weeks I've been waiting for someone to bring this up. The wait is over.

[JHS 1]

Yep, would have been much easier (would have saved him a lot of time) to just shoot himself through both feet IMO!

[AleHop 0]

Brawn: "Schumacher will be 2010 F1 World Champion", sorry Nico.

Piquet: "I had F1 offer for 2010", what for?

[Quiet One 15]

http://www.totalf1.com/full_story/view/328877/Schumacher_asks_for_number_swap/

And the process of turning Nico into a crumbling heap deprived of all ego and self pride has begun...by February Schumi will have him potty trained, hopefully.

[Argento Reloaded 1]

Piquet: "I had F1 offer for 2010", what for?

Someone must clean the pitlane!

[cavallino 2]

Are they simply providing a powerplant for those teams who can't make their own or can't align with a major manufacturer; i.e., acting as a supplier of last resort?

Well the suppliers have run off with their engines, but Cosworth were very competitive when they were last in F1 and there has been more or less a freeze since then. I don't think they would be a bad choice..

Cosworth make a fine engine, no doubt about it.

Indeed.

It's also worth noting that Massa was Schui's sidekick during the battles in 2006 and that won't help either.

So, there is probably more animosity between Alonso and Massa than many other driver pairings I'd imagine.

However, I doubt any of that will make any difference to the harmony of the team in 2010. That will depend on if they're able to beat each other and how Ferrari manage that, not some petty disagreement(s) in the past.

Massa wasn't playing Schumacher's rearguard in 2006 and blocking Alnso or anything, so I doubt if that matters. On the other hand, after seeing off Kimi, Massa is (and justifiably so) on a confidence high, despite his injury. Remember, not all that long ago, Alonso and Kimi were supposed to be the future of the sport, the drivers that would dominate the post Schumacher era. If he can see off Kimi, I doubt if he's too scared of Alons-who?

[cavallino 2]

Yup. Good ole George is right, as unusual.

Animosity is there. I'd like to think that Alonso is not so stupid as to make the same mistakes he made at Macca, so it will probably take better mind games from Massa to get him riled up.

Oh he is utterly stupid, because going by his remarks like "I was number two in 2007", he hasn't learned a thing. It's the same Alonso, if Massa is at the top of his form, he will challenge Alonso, and Alonso will not take it well.

[AleHop 0]

Oh he is utterly stupid, because going by his remarks like "I was number two in 2007", he hasn't learned a thing. It's the same Alonso, if Massa is at the top of his form, he will challenge Alonso, and Alonso will not take it well.

If Massa blah blah blah he will blah blah blah Alonso and blah blah blah and Alonso will blah blah blah.

[JHS 1]

Brawn: "Schumacher will be 2010 F1 World Champion", sorry Nico.

Piquet: "I had F1 offer for 2010", what for?

1. "Hi Nico by Nico"

2. Maybe this:

for Sutil?

[Persevere 0]

Someone must clean the pitlane!

Put a number on it and, oh, about 25 sponsor decals and you have a photo of his 2010 NASCAR ride.

[Grabthaw the Hammerslayer 4]

Put a number on it and, oh, about 25 sponsor decals and you have a photo of his 2010 NASCAR ride.

No, sorry - can't be - it has real rather than painted-on headlights