Archives de la catégorie : View

F1 – The Mosley Legacy

par Marc Limacher publié le 21 février 2010

Max Mosley_FIAThe legacy was too heavy. USF1 is dead (or not), Campos Meta 1 attempts to survive. Virgin demonstrates the technical limitations of designing a car in CFD. His teams wanted by Max Mosley, are now shame to Formula 1.
In June 2009, surprise USF1, Manor and Campos Meta 1 are advertised as new teams for the 2010 season. The return of small teams was a good idea, but their selection based on a lie. All teams have been developed around a business model to a budget ceiling of 34/45 million.
A willingness to Max Mosley, to replace manufacturers too greedy politically and financially. But a heavy legacy for the FIA and FOTA today. Jean Todt and FOTA want a plan to cut costs rather than budget ceilings. An agreement indicates that the goal is to reach 35 million euros of sponsorship in 2011. A common unofficial agreement.
Except that during this time, USF1, a year after its introduction, died for lack of funding. Campos Meta 1 seeks 20 million euros. The financial result for Virgin Racing could be negative in 2010, help the bank by Lloyd, who has given a loss of 8 million euros.
The failure of his teams was writing fiction join reality. The selection of Sauber and Lotus, is more serious.
Article 9.9 of the Concorde Agreement indicates that only 13 teams were accepted in Formula 1 between 2010 and 2012. But it is a maximum figure, since only 10 teams will receive money from the FOA / FOM. The support fund of 10 million euros in the year 2010 will not be renewed in 2011 and 2012.
The legacy of Max Mosley is a disgrace for Formula 1, a very poor image, that only time can solve.

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F1 – Heidfeld: deny to confirm

par Marc Limacher publié le 25 janvier 2010

Interesting manipulation of the media Friday. Andre Theurzeit, officer Nick Heidfeld confirmed in Auto Bild that his client was interested in being a test pilot Mercedes GP. To deny an hour later information on other German media. The principle of deny for confirm.

The future of Nick Heidfeld is unclear. Between Renault and Mercedes GP he hesite. I think (having not yet information on the subject) that Heidfeld is aware of his situation. He wants to run at Renault but claim a very high salary, which blocks the negotiations. Then, on the other hand, Mercedes-Benz offered him a low salary and no guarantee of returning to Formula 1 in 2011.

A Formula 1 team in rebuilding, or a golden retirement pilot luxury ? The choice of Heidfeld seems to lean in the second solution. The agent of German driver, quickly in denying, has confirmed the primary interest for Mercedes GP, but not to Mercedes  price. This is probably the subtlety of the approach on Friday. Answer today on the future of Nick Heidfeld.

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F1 – USF1 : Communication before work

par Marc Limacher publié le 11 janvier 2010

« The selection of drivers will be a series that will last all year, and we’ll do a real real TV program. « Indicated in February, Peter Windsor, team boss USF1.

The questions now arise. Who will drive for USF1? Probably both drivers pay. However, Windsor has it all wrong. Rumors are still there. Windsor says « he does not understand the need to communicate all the time to exist. » But USF1 has been presented as a new project. A Web 2.0 project. But instead, the game of F1, we have seen nothing, or almost.
Windsor had it all wrong, on the principle of « real TV » for driver selection. Indeed, this principle is hollow. Favoring the form that the funds of a selection. A hollow spectacle. The original would have been to vote in the 2nd pilot of the team by fans, like Big Brother. But then, the principle is more obscure. USF1 was the promise Web 2.0 but is a team Web 1.0, with a few social web.

As often, the idea was good, but its implementation has not kept its promises. Disappointment.

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F1 – Ron Dennis, Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna

par Marc Limacher publié le 4 janvier 2010

Ron Dennis is an interesting man. A great career, personality, character and management of drivers, who belong to him forever. The man brought back Niki Lauda Formula 1, with a title as a gift in 1984, save the career of Alain Prost, Renault after the episode, in 1983, back into history with his duet Prost-Senna in 1988 – 1989 and his adventure with Mercedes-Benz, the duo Hamilton and Alonso as Lewis Hamilton in 2008.

In the midst of this incredible story, a name missing.: Michael Schumacher. The German driver and McLaren have never worked together. A failure that many consider as the biggest mistake of Ron Dennis in the 90s. On paper perhaps, but in the spirit of Dennis, the answer is no. Ironically, Dennis never tried to sign Schumacher. Perhaps after dealing with the egocentric genius of Senna, he was Unwilling to put himself through the mill a second time. He certainly emotionally invested in his drivers’ careers. He describes his relationship with Hamilton, whom he groomed to be champion from the age of 12, as ‘paternal’. But for Senna, he admits his eyes ‘is almost edged male love’. I use the word quite Deliberately, ‘he adds. ‘It did not have any homosexuality about it, it was not that sort [of love].  » Say Ron Dennis in the Daily Mail.

After the departure of Ayrton Senna, and before Mercedes-Benz once, Ron Dennis has had an intent with Michael Schumacher. That was in 1994. Except that this statement of intent was only verbal, in an interview, but was never really materialized. Rubens Barrichello was the priority for McLaren for 1994. Willi Weber has spread the rumor of interest from McLaren to increase prices for Benetton. For Barrichello? Jordan demanded $ 5 million, Dennis had no money. He still had to pay the salary of Ayrton Senna in 1993 until 1996.

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Edito : Myth of traitor

par Marc Limacher publié le 28 décembre 2009

Michael Schumacher in Maranello, the love story seems lost in the past: « Currently, Schumacher is an opponent like any other and we will try to beat him, » said the spokesman of Ferrari, Luca Colajanni, with emotions. The return of Schumacher in F1 is criticized by the media and the fans of Formula 1. « Why this return? » means T’on for a week now. From the myth traitor, says the Italian daily, Il Giornale.

Not a return has been so sad. What to expect Schumacher to life? Schumi is open to new challenges. « 41 years, it will be very difficult to win again. Ferrari and Schumacher, from now on they will be opponents. We never thought of having to connect the word with its name, still less with the word traitor «  Continued the Italian newspaper.

This transfer, Ferrari divided according Tuttosport. Some already announced that Ferrari will carry an average season. Alonso was probably not the man for the job. « Many fans talking openly of treason, others are excited to see him on the track, but many are asking questions. » Said an expert from Formula 1, Italian television. This tale fairy Ferrari will destroy from within. But will good for Formula 1.

Treason? Really? I do not know, but I think that this return is deeper. Probably guided by the relationship Ross Brawn and Michael Schumacher. Part of the answer is there.

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Edito : The "hell" of manufacturers in F1

par Marc Limacher publié le 21 décembre 2009

Choice: A Swiss-based team of around 115 million dollars or equivalent for a majority stake in a team based in Enstone. Or plans for a modern and competitive car designed by engineers based in Cologne. The choice for new investors in Formula 1 is large enough.

The manufacturers are selling at a loss. Sauber did not make the same deal that QADBAK with BMW, and took his team for much less. Renault has not done better than the German manufacturer recently with Genii Capital, but remains present in the team (25%) and its decisions. Toyota will sell for $ 7 million, the plans of his TF110, to the team Stefan GP. Remember that Honda had sold his team to a symbolic $ 1, but with a check for more than 40 million dollars. In short there are always solutions for buyers.

The return of Independent Formula 1, after the era of manufacturers desired by Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley, is a pleasure. But there will be a time of adjustment after 10 years of budget crazy to return to the realities of 90 years, with smaller teams and clever. The return of Lotus, the new independence of McLaren Racing and Virgin etc. …
Deeply 2010.

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Edito : the hopes of the Schumacher generation

par Marc Limacher publié le 14 décembre 2009

« The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield, » says a quote from Oscar Wilde. Thus, may have interpreted the media frenzy around the back of Michael Schumacher in Formula 1, more on a German car, a Mercedes. Hope to rekindle interest in Formula 1 and the generation Schumacher. Many journalists write about the topic, discussions are going well, even people who do not know Formula 1 ever spoke to me last week. Schumacher is a myth, images of a champion and the controversies also did not forget. Still, his return was orchestrated and updated this year by a serious rumor every month since August From the time Schumacher has agreed to replace Felipe Massa at the European Grand Prix in Valencia, the media machine was launched.

Who remembers the rumor of a rumor in October when Schumacher said on his website: « I expect a return, but who knows what will happen. (..) The risk is calculated. (…) ». And again in January this year: « I had two good opportunities to return to competition, but I immediately drove the desires of my head. « A year is long, even for a star driver once more.

But reading the reactions of fans, it’s nostalgia that transpires. Old Formula 1 is always better than new. That may be true, but it is also false. How successful have their driver come back? Andretti, Lauda, Prost, Mansell (in 94), but remember that his return has received the blessing of Bernie Ecclestone. This is not the case back to Schumacher.

This generation Schumacher, who begs his return, has known only Schumacher to his television, as others have experienced Senna. But Formula 1 has survived after Schumacher, and live very well without his back also.

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Edito : The phenomenon Raikkonen

par Marc Limacher publié le 7 décembre 2009

A flood of reports, tributes, but a regret. Regret to see Formula One lost one of its biggest champions. A media champion at odds with his character Iceman. Well, to summarize the week’s media Kimi Raikkonen since announcing his signing with Team WRC Citroen.

A loss to F1 and a gain for the WRC and especially for Citroen and Red Bull, who inherits a media champion and a good image. Save Raikkonen, rejected by Formula One, because a large salary. McLaren was his only option for 2010. Mercedes GP was not an option. Steve Robertson has been the circumstances, instead of having advance.

However, Raikkonen is a great man, besides being a pilot. He is not afraid to go to a new discipline, only envy and likely to motivate.

Certainly, it will be paid 44 million euros by Ferrari and receive money as with Citroen in 2010. But no time for regret but respect. Fans of Formula 1 Raikkonen regret, but the F1 does not end with his departure. A return is probable for 2011, so it’s just a « goodbye » then.

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F1 – Adieu Grand Prix de France

par Marc Limacher publié le 2 décembre 2009

Un an, un an de rien, une année d’attente face au néant. L’avenir du Grand Prix de France de Formule 1 était prévisible depuis 12 mois. La recherche d’un circuit pour remplacer Magny-Cours a vécue désillusion sur désillusion.

Le projet Disneyland ? Abandonné, deux autres projets n’ont jamais donné de nouvelle depuis des mois, Magny-Cours 2 ? Dans l’attente. Restait alors deux projets : les Yvelines (Flins) et Sarcelles. Mais il y a quelques jours, la sanction est tombé, le conseil général des Yvelines annonce son retrait du projet (voir ici pour en savoir plus). Reste donc le projet Sarcelle, jusqu’à ce que Didier Arnal, Président PS du Conseil du Val-d’Oise n’annonce que le projet était mort aussi : « Le projet Sarcelle ne se fera pas. Il y a un problème avec un gazoduc sur le terrain. J’ai bien peur que le Grand Prix de France soit mort. »

Colère de Jean Pierre Beltoise, soutien du dossier Sarcelle et du député maire PS de Sarcelles, François Pupponi. L’affaire devient politique et donc n’aboutira nulle part.

Résultat des courses : zéro. Un projet aux prises avec des affaires politiques et un circuit mort-né. Reste donc Magny-Cours 2 et Le Castellet. Du coté de la Nièvre, l’espoir renait. Des traveaux ont discrétement commencés. La ligne droite des stands est en train d’être élargie de trois mètres. Mais les espoirs sont minces.

Reste donc le Castellet, propriété de Bernie Ecclestone depuis plus de 10 ans. Mais là encore, l’addition sera salée pour la location de cette piste ultra moderne, afin de permettre d’organiser un GP de France.

Toutefois, construire une piste n’est pas vraiment le problème. Reste à savoir qui soutiendra les frais de grille que demande Bernie Ecclestone. Des frais à plus de 15 millions d’euros annuel. Lagardère Sport ne veut pas. Qui alors ?

Pour suivre la saga du GP de France sur TomorrowNewsF1, cliquez ici

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Edito F1 – The choice, is another…

par Marc Limacher publié le 30 novembre 2009

« My sponsor is my experience. » Said Pedro de la Rosa last Wednesday after admitting his failure to the team Campos Meta 1. The Spaniard is now back at McLaren as test driver.
The phrase is a phrase that many drivers could get used to a Formula 1 for 2010. Jarno Trulli, Jacques Villeneuve, Giancarlo Fisichella, etc. … the list goes on. But experience does not sponsor, and some teams want younger drivers, provide a good bank account. These special benefits, or the number of dollars is stronger than experience, is in the tradition of Formula 1

When all goes well, drivers adapt themselves, denounced the benefits, while trying to obtain for himself. But when the driver is unemployed, the situation becomes unbearable.

So what? Take a young driver with 8 million dollars or take an experienced pilot, you will, perhaps, to have sponsors and to score championship points for the TV rights FOA / FOM? The answer is in the instantaneous and not in view.
But, as often happens in Formula 1, there is no real logical sport. Only one logical economy.

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