Shanghai 04

[Rohan 0]

Yep i agree the Zhuhai tack is really rough because as you heard from Jens the altitude changes.....NC on Zhuhai but for the Chinese wierd character track, the only thing i am looking forward to is massive engine blow-ups and i am just waiting because i think JPM is gonna be the first one to blow....as the ALL NEW Williams chasis and probably a new engine supplied by BMW which would go to higher RMP's than this years 19500!!! i am hoping for many spins as i think the first sector (depending how they divide it) will create some entertaining movements because of all teh bad turns and high speeds and sharp wierd corners...........

overall the track is a symbol of a chinese art and you know the art is known as crappy motor racing!!!!

[nichosnz 0]

BMW will go higher with the rev's than this year, but even BMW say that 20000 is unlikely to be acheived in 2003. After that there is no way with the one enginge rule, rev's will drop so the engines don't blowup so much.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Definitely, if the one-engine rule is indeed put into play then I think we'll be back at 17,000 for 2004, which is a shame in my opinion. The one-engine rule is not an effective way in cutting costs in my opinion.

[nichosnz 0]

No I agree with you Jens as the development of new and upgraded engines and the testing (dyno and on track) would IMO cost a lot more than a team using 4 to 6 engines every race.

[ozrevhead 0]

In case you are wondering this is the layout of the circuit Jens was talking about in Zhuhai

It is a lot better even before the elevation changes.

i like that circut much better

there must be more overtaking chances in F1

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Gerhard Berger simply said more overtaking, have qualifying on Friday as well. I think this is the easiest way if any changes have to be made, as it really doesn't do anything to the whole spirit of F1.

[nichosnz 0]

Absolutely, I agree completely. Pitstops is a cause of cutting down passing, how many times have you seen a faster car held up by a slower one try a few times, then wait till the stops when it doesn't work?

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I dont think that F1 should get rid of pitstops though, they do make it interesting..

[Rohan 0]

PIT stops should in....and probably get more stops by reducing the intake ability....i especially like the pit-lane-poker!!!! and all the opportunities possible!!

1 engine no way!! wut happens to Montoya then lol...

[nichosnz 0]

I think pitstops should stay too. I was just stating an observation, not an opinion.

[DJC-Grafix 0]

pit stops should stay, races can be won or lost in them, and they make some tense moments.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

But I hope Bernie doesnt take the idea to control pitstops, like in CART. In CART the cars have to pit by a certain lap, I think at least twice or three times in a race, which ruins the whole idea in my opinion.

[nichosnz 0]

Absolutely, controled pitstops are the worst idea of the 3 major options.

[Rohan 0]

SPA STAYS!!!!

Next year's Belgian Grand Prix appears to be on the verge of being axed according to reports on Friday. Team bosses had decided at a meeting on Thursday not to go to Spa Francorchamps next year after the Belgian government said tobacco sponsorship would be banned in August 2003 before the grand prix.

The team chiefs were holding further discussions with International Automobile Federation (FIA) officials before a meeting of the Formula One Commission on Monday.

The decision on Spa, which would reduce the championship from 17 to 16 races, must be approved formally at Monday's meeting in the presence of FIA president Max Mosley and the sport's supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

The FIA would not confirm any decision on Spa saying it would be up to the Formula One Commission to decide. Spa was included provisionally on the 2003 calendar dependent on a unanimous agreement by the teams to take part in the race without tobacco sponsorship.

*espnstar.com

pretty good news to end the week!

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Rohan, I dont know if you are confused or not, but that article is bad news. It is telling us that Spa is going to be axed from the calendar for next year...

[DJC-Grafix 0]

i saw that on Autosport, it will be a shame if we lose Spa, even though they can now take Eu Rouge flat, it is still is a great track and loads of drivers like it

Fans too, its produced some sprectacular crashes

[nichosnz 0]

Very bad news. And DJC, great crashes and some of the seasons best racing too.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

And some of the best qualifying battles, I especially am thinking of 2000 and this year when Raikkonen was excellent. The racing as well, probably one of the best passes in F1 (Hakkinen/Zonta/Schumacher) along with the entire 1998 deal. It will be one of the stupidest things Bernie does, and on Monday we find out the results of the meeting. The Wrap will come out a day late as I will incorporate a whole section on the meeting and its results.

[Rohan 0]

WE DONT LOSE SPA!!!! BELGIUM most probably!!

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

What? Belgium and Spa are the same...

[nichosnz 0]

Sir Michael Schumacher, has come out saying

"It has been like this for two or three years now when people have questioned the race's future," he said.

"In the past they have always found a solution and I hope they will find a solution for the future."

And I am willing to bet he is not the only driver, who hopes for a solution.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Raikkonen and Salo have both voiced their support for Spa in the Finnish press.

[Rohan 0]

oh sorry i actaly was thinking of writing "we dont lose Spa and then Belgium stays and it was a big BIG typo......sorry ppl

but recent developments confirm that Belgium is on the verge of being axxed from the list!!!

LONDON (espnstar.com) - Next year's Belgian Grand Prix appears to be on the verge of being axed according to reports on Friday. Team bosses had decided at a meeting on Thursday not to go to Spa Francorchamps next year after the Belgian government said tobacco sponsorship would be banned in August 2003 before the grand prix.

the decision is not final yet...so keep hoping!!!

[nichosnz 0]

The Belgium race would have been on 31 August. So the Belgian goverment could have kept 2003 and had a year to sort out 2004, if they had just delayed the ban by 1 month!!!!

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Axed, gone, goodbye. The team bosses couldn't come to an agreement on running without tobacco ads so we will not see Belgium next year.