Tobias Grüner F1‏@tgruener Nearly all cost saving proposals declined by #F1 commission. Race weekend will not be reduced. AMuS exclusive: http://ams.to/Ds Tobias Grüner F1 @tgruener · 46m #F1 Tyre warmers still be allowed next year. Pirelli to put logos on the blankets so teams will get 200.000⬠extra sponsor money. Tobias Grüner F1 @tgruener · 41m #F1 Changes only to test schedule. 2015: All 12 pre season days in Europe. 4 instead of 8 in-season days. AMuS: http://ams.to/Ds Tobias Grüner F1 @tgruener · 40m #F1 Test-schedule 2016: Only 8 instead of 12 pre season test days. No in-season testing at all. AMuS story: http://ams.to/Ds
all of those things sound Dumb. Teams cant decide and so we have crap rules.... I blame Whitmarsh for dissolving FOTA
Bernie making room for some new players to squeeze cash out of, [h=1]Bernie Ecclestone would be 'happy' if Formula 1 grid shrinks[/h]
Easily sorted by giving them a fairer slice of the money pot so they can have a decent budget to develop the cars.
Formula 1's 'silly season' has officially commenced amid fresh reports that McLaren have made a 'tentative' approach to Lewis Hamilton about a return to the team where his F1 career began. Hamilton's current Mercedes team, who he joined from McLaren at the start of 2013 on a three-year contract, have been the class of the field in 2014 with the Briton and team-mate Nico Rosberg sharing all bar one of the races so far. However, unlike the German, Hamilton has suffered two retirements and finds himself trailing by 29 points in the Driversâ Championship. Tensions between the Mercedes pair have been heated since their public spat at the Monaco GP and both the Daily Mail and The Daily Telegraph report that losing out to Rosberg in the title fight could prove too much for Hamilton. âThe team [McLaren] have opened very tentative dialogue with Lewis Hamilton, in case the psychological scars of this yearâs title fight at Mercedes become too great,â The Daily Telegraph reported. âThe only circumstances in which Hamilton would leave Mercedes are if he lost out to Nico Rosberg for the driversâ championship.â Santander British GP Tickets Tickets to all 3 days of the British GP plus a range of passes available from £65, with Sky Tickets Click here for further details Those sentiments echo the thoughts of the Daily Mailâs Jonathan McEvoy after the Canadian GP: âThere has been contact between McLaren and Lewis Hamilton about a possible return to the team that nurtured his genius. 'There are two possible reasons I can think of why Hamilton would want to return. The first is that Honda-powered McLaren have title-winning form. âThe second hinges on how this season works out at Mercedes. If Hamilton were to lose the title to Rosberg, imagine the trauma that would accompany that outcome.â A more realistic target could be Ferrariâs Fernando Alonso who is growing increasingly frustrated at Ferrari, but with limited years remaining in the sport, it is unclear whether the Spaniard would want to gamble on the performance of the Honda engine when they return to the sport next year. âFernando Alonso, who left the team in acrimonious circumstances at the end of 2007 and has become disillusioned with life at Ferrari, seems the most likely candidate, although it remains to be seen whether the Spaniard can be persuaded to join for the first year of Honda engines in 2015,â the Telegraph added. It remains to be seen if McLaren would opt to replace Jenson Button, whose contract expires at the end of the season, or rookie Kevin Magnussen, who was part of McLarenâs young driver programme. Whilst age could count against Button, the 34-year-old has outraced the young Dane six-two so far this season. Although Button admitted at the Canadian GP earlier this month that no progress had yet been made on a contract renewal, McLaren chief Eric Boullier has made clear that he expects the 2009 World Champion to stay with the team into a sixth season. "Since I have joined McLaren I have found out what a great competitor he is and what a good asset he is for the team," Boullier told Sky Sports News. "I more and more appreciate what he can do. I'm very pleased and when the time comes to sit down then I would love to carry on with him.
McLaren are just letting Lewis know that if he gets bored of being successful their door is always open.
I do agree, but then again he was called daft for leaving McLaren for Mercedes and he has been a lot better off than if he had stayed with McLaren.
"I always look forward to Jacques Villenueve's opinions" said no-one ever. http://www.autoweek.com/article/20140624/F1/140629927
Ferrari all but confirmed in Austria that they are now concentrating on 2015. Considering so much of this year is development for next year I'm not sure what their plan is? I guess they have the advantage that the FIA have decided that Ferrari's nose is the safest and prettiest so all others must be the same next year Seems like Lotus is chasing the Mercedes engine made available by McLaren for next season. Wonder if Honda are having second thoughts about McLaren after seeing the struggles they've had this year. If Red Bull go after a different engine (Honda?) then where does that leave Renault. The new cosworth only supplying Caterham?
I predict Jenson will remain at McLaren for another year but he is less upbeat these days...perhaps he wishes he stayed with Brawn for 2010...tho his ability against Nico may have been different/challenging. He might also be missing his father making him sound downbeat. Michael may not have returned to the sport and may not have been skiing on that fateful day as a result...sliding doors! I can't see Lewis returning to McLaren unless and until they prove themselves to have the defining car in which case hunger will make him fickle. So he will be with Merc in 2015. Let's not forget, there are still 300 points on offer. If Lewis won the last race it would close the gap to 15 points, just 2 1/2s with Lewis winning, the rest they could share more or less. Kimi, who knows if his motivation will stay? So there might be a vacancy at Ferrari, not to mention two vacancies if Alonso was tempted away. Red Bull can only be supporting Seb still, it is only 8 races in and he will come back before the season ends, against Ricciardo that is.
Magnussen is improving and if anything getting the better of Button at this moment. I think he'd moderately safe. Button on the other hand, I fear for him. I hope he can grab a cheeky good seat somewhere as i doubt Ferrari want him. Maybe Force India if Ferrari take Hulk? Perez and Button reunited
Button's seat is uncertain, he just doesn't look like he is enjoying it any more. I am sure he thought he had joined a winning team and his tenure there has been a slump in McLaren's fortunes, not because of Jenson. Ron wants winning drivers and well as a winning car and I don't think he sees Jenson as a win at all costs driver. Jenson was motivated against Lewis but while he has underperformed last couple of races I don't think he feels challenged. He knows time is short and running out, 1 or 2 seasons.
Hard to believe Button has been in F1 since 2000. He is definitely a veteran now and seems to have lost the hunger to do well. Always seems resigned to having a bad race etc etc. Just no spark about him anymore.
Could well see Button following Webber into Endurance racing really, I don't think he'll continue in F1 if/when he leaves Mclaren.