FIA Formula 1 rule changes for 2006

[sperry]

Originally Posted by MikeK

That is some shock news. I wonder how it will affect his relationship with the Renault team next season, knowing that he is leaving at the end of the year

It probably won't be too big an issue. They worked well together and won the championship. As long as they believe they can win it again in '06 they won't have issues. In fact it may even make them better knowing '06 may be their best shot at winning it again in the near future if he's leaving.

However, if the car isn't there for him, or if Alonso starts crashing out, then there's potential for some mid-season antics.

[MattR]

Originally Posted by nKoan

http://www.crash.net/uk/en/news_view...d=1&nid=123394

Woah, Alonso to McLaren in 2007.

That came out of nowhere..

You know, I really dislike this trend of announcing seat changes a year in advance. NASCAR has pretty much made it the way it is, and now F1 drivers are doing the same. It pretty much kills any "team" effort in the lame duck season ,IMO.

[Nick Koan]

I guess the big worry is that Renault won't be racing in 2007. Their new CEO has said that he measures F1's effectiveness not on the race track, but in the showroom. If more people start buying Renaults, especially in new markets, then he will view F1 as a success.

Otherwise, there seems to be a good chance that he'll pull the team after 06.

[MattR]

Maybe he'd sell more cars if they weren't so "French".

[MattR]

Originally Posted by nKoan

http://www.crash.net/uk/en/news_view...d=1&nid=123394

Woah, Alonso to McLaren in 2007.

So, I've been reading about this whole transaction, and there's some weird behind the scenes stuff taking place. Mainly, Renault Team Boss Flavio Briatore doubles as team director AND ALONSO'S MANAGER

Originally Posted by speednews

I do wonder exactly where Flavio Briatore stands in all this. As we all know, he is Fernando’s manager, although not in the accepted way of looking after his day-to-day wants and requirements – other people do that. But what he does do is oversee his contractual arrangements, so therefore he must have been involved in the McLaren discussions in some way, shape or form.

How can the team boss feel okay about taking apart his own team? Is Flavio going somewhere too? strange.

[Nick Koan]

According to reports, Flavio wasn't a part of the deal with McLaren. It was purely Alonso.

Two interesting articles (don't have source for, pulling from nasioc)

Ecclestone criticises Dennis on Alonso deal

By Michele Lostia December 21st 2005, 10:34 GMT

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has hit out at McLaren's handling of the Fernando Alonso affair.

The sport's commercial rights boss believes that the Woking team went out of their way to embarrass Renault boss Flavio Briatore by unilaterally announcing they had captured the world champion for 2007. And he thinks it would have been better for the sport if the teams had acted together in announcing the deal.

"I'm reminded of when I was the owner of Brabham and, in the summer of 1977, I contacted Lauda at the Italian Grand Prix and offered him a drive for the following season," he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"He accepted immediately, but I told him: 'Look Niki, I don't want to have any issues with Enzo Ferrari. You explain to him how things have gone, and then we'll announce it.' He did that.

"In this case it was Alonso dealing with Dennis, bypassing Briatore. I know how things have gone, but I can't reveal the details. Flavio has been left, how can you say it, deceived. On top of that, with Dennis being Briatore's worst enemy, he spited him by exposing things publicly in order to make it difficult for him.

"It wasn't nice, even though stealing drivers among teams is normal. Dennis and Briatore could have written a joint press release and they would have both looked much better. Dennis's move hasn't been intelligent."

Ecclestone has said, however, that he is not surprised that Alonso has decided to switch from Renault to McLaren.

"I suppose his name was on the list of all the top teams," he added. "Besides McLaren, knowing that Raikkonen will go to Ferrari, did the right thing in hiring the best there was on the market - which is Alonso.

"Yes, I think Raikkonen will go to Ferrari. It's in the interests of both parties. But it's not certain it'll end up this way, because if Schumacher will carry on beyond 2006, always with Ferrari, Raikkonen will have to find another place. At that point he might end up at Renault!

"[Schumacher] is always a winner and he will be the favourite in the next championship. I don't see him tired enough to think about retiring. He races because he enjoys it and has gone beyond the money barrier. With Ferrari and their men he's built a strong, loving relationship. He will never race with another team."

F1 better without managers, says Ecclestone

By Michele Lostia December 21st 2005, 10:59 GMT

Formula One driver contracts should be done without the involvement of managers, claims the sport's commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone.

On the back of Fernando Alonso opting to do his deal with McLaren face-to-face with the team rather than via his manager Flavio Briatore, Ecclestone is adamant that it would be a better way for the sport as a whole to operate.

"I'd prefer a Formula One where the drivers do their deals directly, as it used to happen with Lauda, Senna, Prost and Berger," he said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Nowadays they can't live without their managers behind their shoulders. They are useless obsessions. If I had a team, I would never accept to deal with a manager.

"I am used to looking in the face of who I am hiring; observing him in the talks, discovering him. Who was good at doing deals usually was fast too.

"But F1 has changed and nowadays it happens that whoever has a team also looks after the interests of one of his drivers. There isn't just Briatore..."

Ecclestone has also said he believes that Alonso did the deal without any involvement from Briatore, despite the Renault boss being his manager.

"I could never ever believe [Briatore] would give one of his drivers, any driver, to Dennis," added Ecclestone. "In this case, a rare one, he found himself out of the games, unable to intervene, because Alonso didn't want to stay at Renault anymore.

And it also looks like Super Happy Fun Aguri Racing will be on the grid in 2006, as they now have all the teams support for their late entry (they still need to do the actual paperwork though )

[MattR]

Good find there, poor Flavio. The Renault-McLaren ravalry will be a bitter one from this point forward. There is no way that all this can go down without causing a distraction.


As far as Super Happy Fun Chimpo Sporty Drive Action Aguri Racing goes, I think another backmarker team is a good idea, more cars = good. Plus, old Arows fans will be happy to see those old jalopies on the track.

[sperry]

I'm laughing my ass off if McLaren and Renault trade drivers because MSC doesn't retire after '06. Seeing Kimi in a Ferrari might be cool though, I think he'd be a pretty good match for that team, assuming they're back to their winning ways now that tire changes are allowed again.

Oh and I was gonna try to top "Super Happy Fun Chimpo Sporty Drive Action Aguri Racing" but I don't think I can.

[MattR]

Originally Posted by sperry

Oh and I was gonna try to top "Super Happy Fun Chimpo Sporty Drive Action Aguri Racing" but I don't think I can.

c'mon, at least give it a shot...or, you could make up their logo

[Nick Koan]

Originally Posted by MattR

c'mon, at least give it a shot...or, you could make up their logo

Have at it Scott! Make a SECCS logo out of their logo!

Super Aguri F1 has released the first images of their team logo.

A statement from the Leafield based squad, which announced Wednesday that its late entry application to participate in the 2006 FIA Formula One World Championship has been accepted by all ten of the current F1 teams, explained that the logo 'symbolizes three elements'.

"Firstly, the 'S' - the challenge every team and driver must take to find a circuit's perfect racing line," added the team.

"Secondly, 'Fire' - strength and ability to overpower all and thirdly, 'Shuriken' [Ninja throwing star] - speed, power and precision."

Super Aguri now look almost certain to take part in F1 next season, although they must still apply to the FIA to complete the process. Until this has been done their entry remains provisional.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by MattR

c'mon, at least give it a shot...or, you could make up their logo

Super Happy Fun Chimpo Sporty Drive Action Win Aguri Racing Extreme Edition version 2 spec-B, now with new fresh scent!

[skimonkey30]

Originally Posted by sperry

I'm laughing my ass off if McLaren and Renault trade drivers because MSC doesn't retire after '06. Seeing Kimi in a Ferrari might be cool though, I think he'd be a pretty good match for that team, assuming they're back to their winning ways now that tire changes are allowed again.

Oh and I was gonna try to top "Super Happy Fun Chimpo Sporty Drive Action Aguri Racing" but I don't think I can.

even if MSC doesnt retire in 06, Massa is only signed to a one year deal with ferrari

Kimi will race for Ferrari in 07 I am pretty much sure of it

[Nick Koan]

Originally Posted by skimonkey30

even if MSC doesnt retire in 06, Massa is only signed to a one year deal with ferrari

Kimi will race for Ferrari in 07 I am pretty much sure of it

Yeah, when Bernie says "Besides McLaren, knowing that Raikkonen will go to Ferrari, did the right thing in hiring the best there was on the market - which is Alonso." something tells me he knows what he's talking about.

[sperry]

I'll be a Ferrari fan again if Kimi's behind the wheel.

[MattR]

Some video released of SuperSuper Happy Fun Chimpo Sporty Drive Action Aguri Racing's engineers at work in preseason testing.

[skimonkey30]

Originally Posted by MattR

Some video released of SuperSuper Happy Fun Chimpo Sporty Drive Action Aguri Racing's engineers at work in preseason testing.

watch out for flying japs

[MattR]

Looks like the Belgian GP will be cancelled for 2006. It looks as though the GP will return in 07, but who knows for sure. What a bummer, that is one of the best circuits in all of F1.

Originally Posted by E.A.,Source GMM @F1 live

The 2006 Belgian Grand Prix, at highly-popular Spa Francorchamps, is off. That's the unhappy revelation of Belgian radio station Bel-RTL and local Wallonian politician Serge Kubla, who told the parliament on Friday that he was informed officially by Bernie Ecclestone's company.

With the race's promoter broke, Ecclestone, 75, had been tipped to take over the organisation of Spa's historic event.

But while the 2007 Grand Prix should be okay, Ecclestone is reportedly refusing to sanction the September race because work on a new pit and paddock complex will not be completed in time for the event.

There has been no official comment from the FIA which lists the Grand Prix as taking place on 17th September.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by MattR

Looks like the Belgian GP will be cancelled for 2006. It looks as though the GP will return in 07, but who knows for sure. What a bummer, that is one of the best circuits in all of F1.

Next season's FIA motorsports are gonna be lame. GPC better rule!

[MikeK]

No!!! The first corner during the first lap of the race is pure carnage at that track. I look forward to that all year

[sperry]

Originally Posted by MikeK

No!!! The first corner during the first lap of the race is pure carnage at that track. I look forward to that all year

Not to mention the way it's totally dry on one half of the course, and pouring rain on the other. That's always interesting.

[Nick Koan]

http://www.crash.net/news_view.asp?t...id=1&id=124510

Looks like we'll see Super Aguri on the grid next year. Well... we won't see them here in the US, but they'll be on the grid nonetheless.

[Nick Koan]

http://www.speedtv.com/programs/28/

Phew, SpeedTV finally has F1 in their programming listing finally... no rally, but at least there will be F1.

[MattR]

Originally Posted by nKoan

http://www.speedtv.com/programs/28/

Phew, SpeedTV finally has F1 in their programming listing finally... no rally, but at least there will be F1.

Thank Jesus! I was gonna be sick if we didn't get to see the F1 season. I can live without WRC this year, not happily, but I can get by...

However, you can't F with my F1 coverage

[MikeK]

Originally Posted by nKoan

http://www.speedtv.com/programs/28/

Phew, SpeedTV finally has F1 in their programming listing finally... no rally, but at least there will be F1.

Oh no, 4 races on network TV again

I hope they don't have the same mentally disabled commentators as last time.

"Here is a slow motion shot of a wheel, I'm not sure why they are showing us this"

[Nick Koan]

Originally Posted by MikeK

Oh no, 4 races on network TV again

I hope they don't have the same mentally disabled commentators as last time.

"Here is a slow motion shot of a wheel, I'm not sure why they are showing us this"

They should enable SAP for sound with no comentaters. Or I'll just use the mute button.