Good thinking with the FP1 drives. It'll reduce the time Miss Wolff spends in the car but at the end of the day she has zero chance of being a full F1 driver so it would make sense to give someone that probably will be a full driver seat time.
Which is a shame. Along with talk of a sprint race for F1, there were rumours that a race just for the 3rd drivers in F1 cars may happen. If that were the case, based on who is employed by the teams at the moment the grid for that race would be: Mercedes - Pascal Wehrlein Red Bull - Sebastian Buemi Williams - Adrian Sutil Ferrari - Esteban GutiƩrrez McLaren - Kevin Magnussen Force India - N/A Toro Rosso - N/A Lotus - Jolyon Palmer Sauber - Raffaele Marciello Manor Marussia - Fabio Leimer If it were to happen, maybe there should be a rule that the drivers can't have done more than x number of races just to ensure that it is younger guys rather than drivers being held on to just in case.
As much as I'd love to see Button in LMP1s, I'd love it if this scenario came true. I'd like to see them replace Massa too, would be good to see someone with more of a future in that seat. I don't think Williams would bear any grudge over the previous contract issues, it was so long ago now.
please log in to view this image Baku is set to host an Azerbaijan Grand Prix in 2016 Azerbaijan is set to make its Formula 1 debut in July next year with Germany returning after a year's absence, according to a 21-race provisional calendar published by the FIA. The inaugural race in Baku, which is to revive the European GP name, is scheduled to take place on July 17 Malaysia moves to a September date, with the race back-to-back with Singapore, while Sochi in Russia takes a May 1 slot as the fourth race of the year, a weekend after Bahrain. This year's calendar has 19 races, with Germany absent for financial reasons and Mexico making its return for the first time since 1992, and 21 would be a record number. No venue was specified for F1's return to Germany, but Hockenheim was always scheduled to host the 2016 event as part of its race-share deal with the Nurburgring before the latter failed to strike a deal with Bernie Ecclestone for 2015. As previously announced, the 2016 season is set to start later than usual on April 3 in Australia and it will conclude in Abu Dhabi on November 27. The British Grand Prix will take place one weekend earlier than this year on June 26. The provisional calendar features the same races and schedule as the leaked version which appeared in April, with seven back-to-back grands prix. With F1's pre-season schedule already having been cut from three to two test sessions for next year, it raises the likelihood that the sport will be off track for three months after 2015's season finale in Abu Dhabi in late November. Provisional 2016 F1 calendar: April 3: Australia April 10: China April 24: Bahrain May 1: Russia May 15: Spain May 29: Monaco June 12: Canada June 26: Britain July 3: Austria July 17: Azerbaijan July 31: Germany August 7: Hungary August 28: Belgium September 4: Italy September 18: Singapore September 25: Malaysia October 9: Japan October 23: United States October 30: Mexico November 13: Brazil November 27: Abu Dhabi
It's in Europe? it's west of Iraq FFS. edit: lol, I meant east of course, left and right, east and west, always get them mixed up
That's the kind of response that would make Bernie think he's going senile. Bernie: "We're adding an exciting new venue for the European Grand Prix" Big Ern: "Cool. Where well it be?" Bernie: "Azerbaijan" Big Ern: " " Bernie: "Did you hear me? I said Azerbaijan" Big Ern: "Umm, yes. I did hear you. I wasn't sure whether I had. But it seems I did." Bernie: (a bit confused). "Aren't you excited? They're oil-rich." Big Ern: "That's all very well, but... European?" Bernie: (pleased with himself) "Great for marketing. Good eh?" Big Ern: "But Azerbaijan isn't in Europe." Bernie: (confused again) "But... they're oil-rich." Big Ern: "But the European Grand Prix should be in Europe." Bernie: "But nobody in Europe was offering the same money." Big Ern: "So don't call it the European Grand Prix." Bernie: "But that's great for marketing. If we don't call it the European Grand Prix, nobody will be interested." Big Ern: "That's because there's no history. No romance. There's nothing." Bernie: (nonplussed) "But they're oil- rich." Big Ern: "You can't hold the European Grand Prix in Azerbaijan. You just can't. It's obscene. Azerbaijan isn't in Europe and it has no F1 history." Bernie: (thoroughly confused). "But.... they're oil-rich." Big Ern: "But money isn't the be-all-and-end-all." Bernie: (suddenly concerned that he's hallucinating). "Oh, dear god. This must be it. I'm hearing crazy voices. I have Alzheimer's."
Well they did hold the 1st 'European games ' last month that nobody knew about. Also Bernie has azerbaijalzheimer's
Seems weird that a government would spend millions on an event to put their country on the map, and then map it in the wrong continent. This is Azerbaijan's biggest marketing **** up since they bought the naming rights to the third Harry Potter novel. They just can't seem to get it right.
Just seen these comments from Ricciardo: Seems pretty clear from his tone that he wants away. I wonder how long it will be before he can realistically break that contract, and where he'll end up.