Formula One 2005 season thread

[GypsySoul]

It makes me wonder if kids in Finland ask Santa Claus for a Formula 1 race car instead of the typical football jersey...since he is so close to Finland?

Dear santa claus:

"Since I've been such a good boy this year, I'd like a Formula One race car..."

No.? Only the weird ones who think that the real Santa is from Finland.?

Santa is Finnish. Everybody knows that.?

/jarmo

ON TOPIC:? Well, I actually don't have anything to say on topic? ?


Edited (because I thought of something "on topic" to say)

ON TOPIC:? Any chance Scott Speed will move up to the 1st or 2nd driver's spot in 2006?
IMO, it would be a great PR move if they let him race at Indy next season.

Scott Speed
By Hilary - June 20 2005

Scott Speed has never been in an f1 race, but already people are getting excited about his potential. Speed is going to be the third driver for Red Bull in Canada and the USA. There is also much speculation that he may be driving for Red Bull Racing next year instead of Klien or Liuzzi.

Source and full story:? http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s111/st74712.htm

[jarmo]

Any chance Scott Speed will move up to the 1st or 2nd driver's spot in 2006?

I think he might be driving for the second Red Bull team (today known as Minardi).



/jarmo

[jarmo]

BUTTON SET TO STAY AT BAR
Last Updated: Monday, 19, September, 2005, 17:27
 
 
Jenson Button has secured a deal to stay with the BAR-Honda team in 2006 after agreeing to a substantial multi-million pound, multi-year deal, according to a report on Autosport's website.

Williams is reported to have accepted a cash deal to release the Briton from his commitments to the team.

The deal brings to an end the long-running dispute between Williams and Button.

Button publicly announced in July that he did not wish to switch teams despite having a binding contract to do so.

While Williams has refused to comment on the news, according to Autosport Button will pay not to drive for the team and will then be re-imbursed by BAR-Honda.

An announcement is expected before the Brazilian Grand Prix, and, should it happen it is likely to shake loose the driver market.

Nico Rosberg is considered a hot favourite to take Button's place in the vacant Williams slot but British hope Anthony Davidson and Antonio Pizzonia are also in the frame.

Button's confirmation alongside Ruben Barrichello in the BAR-Honda race line-up, puts Takuma Sato's position with the team in doubt, unless the Japanese driver is willing to accept a third driver role.

http://www.itv-f1.com/



Not surprising at all. Williams needs money after losing HP as their sponsor and having to buy engines next season.




/jarmo

[Pinball Wizard]

F1 BRACES ITSELF FOR BRAZILIAN RAIN
Last Updated: Monday, 19, September, 2005, 12:01

Formula 1 figures are preparing themselves for a second consecutive wet race, with many predicting that next weekend?s Brazilian Grand Prix will be rain affected.

Until the Belgian Grand Prix, the entire 2005 F1 season had been dry, but the damp conditions turned Spa into one of the most incident filled races so far this year.

Most expect the Brazilian race to be a similar story.

?The weather can be unpredictable in Sao Paulo and I wouldn?t be surprised if we had some rain this year,? said Antonio Pizzonia, who stays with Williams for his home race.

Rain has played a big part in the last two Interlagos races, with Giancarlo Fisichella taking Jordan?s last ever win in the remarkable 2003 event, and Juan Pablo Montoya triumphing last season as the previously dominant Ferraris struggled in the conditions.

"Although the Brazilian Grand Prix has been brought forward in 2005, weather conditions might be similar to those we encountered last year - modest ambient temperatures interspersed with heavy showers,? said Michelin?s motorsport boss Pierre Dupasquier.

Drivers were amazed by how long the track took to dry at Spa last weekend, but Dupasquier warned them to expect more of the same at Interlagos.

?It is a particular feature of this circuit that small rivers form on the track surface,? he said.

?As a result, some parts of the circuit remain wet for quite a long time after the rest has dried."

But Jenson Button ? who drove through the field to take a spectacular third in the rain at Spa ? is looking forward to the weather shaking things up again in Brazil.

?The race is usually an exciting one with the weather quite often coming into play to liven things up a bit,? he said

source: http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=34088

I'm hopping for a rainning race in this weekend!!!

[Shoco]

yeah i heard it was a ?20 deal to let button stay with BAR

[jarmo]

WILLIAMS CONFIRMS BUTTON RELEASE
Last Updated: Wednesday, 21, September, 2005, 12:30
 
 
The Williams team has confirmed that it has freed Jenson Button to drive for his team of choice, BAR-Honda, for 2006 and beyond.

Button was contracted to Williams for next year but was adamant that he wanted to race for BAR, triggering a protracted and unseemly dispute which was quickly dubbed ?Buttongate?.

The two parties appeared to be at a stalemate before Williams acceded to Button?s request to be released from his contract in return for substantial compensation.


Williams said in a statement: ?As consideration for the release from the terms of his contract, Jenson has agreed a financial settlement with WilliamsF1."
 

2006 Teams & Drivers:

Driver = confirmed


Team: Renault F1?
Engine: Renault
Tyre: Michelin
 
Fernando Alonso (Spain)

Possibilities:
Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy)
Heikki Kovalainen (Finland)
Mark Webber (Australia)
Franck Montagny (France)


**************

Team: McLaren Mercedes?
Engine: Mercedes
Tyre: Michelin
 
Kimi R?ikk?nen (Finland)
Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia)

**************

Team: Ferrari
Engine: Ferrari?
Tyre: Bridgestone
 
Michael Schumacher (Germany)
Felipe Massa (Brazil)

**************

Team: BAR Honda
Engine: Honda?
Tyre: Michelin?
 
Rubens Barrichello (Brazil)
Jenson Button (UK)
 
**************

Team: Toyota Racing?
Engine: Toyota
Tyre: Bridgestone
 
Jarno Trulli (Italy)
Ralf Schumacher (Germany)

**************

Team: Williams F1?
Engine: Cosworth
Tyre: Bridgestone
 
Mark Webber (Australia)

Possibilities:
Nico Rosberg (Germany)
Antonio Pizzonia (Brazil)
Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy)

**************

Team: BMW (today known as Sauber)
Engine: BMW
Tyre: Michelin
 
Nick Heidfeld (Germany)

Possibilities:
Jacques Villeneuve (Canada)
Nico Rosberg (Germany)

**************

Team: Red Bull Racing?
Engine: Ferrari
Tyre: Michelin
 
David Coulthard (UK)

Possibilities:
Christian Klien (Austria)
Vitantonio Liuzzi (Italy)

**************

Team: Midland (today known as Jordan)
Engine: Toyota
Tyre: Bridgestone
 
Possibilities:
Christijan Albers (Netherlands)
Franck Montagny (France)
Takuma Sato (Japan)
Anthony Davidson (UK)
Tiago Monteiro (Portugal)
Narain Karthikeyan (India)

**************

Team: Red Bull #2 ?? (today known as Minardi)?
Engine: Cosworth
Tyre: Bridgestone
 
Possibilities:

Scott Speed (USA)
Vitantonio Liuzzi (Italy)


**************

Team: New team (possibly Coca Cola's new F1 team)?
Engine: Honda ?
Tyre:?
 
Possibilities:

Takuma Sato (Japan)
Anthony Davidson (UK)


/jarmo

[jarmo]

Rosberg is set to follow in his father's footsteps with Williams

Button deal paves way for son of former world champion

Alan Henry
Thursday September 22, 2005
The Guardian


Nico Rosberg emerged yesterday as a likely candidate for promotion to a full-time formula one driving position with Williams next year after Jenson Button reached a deal to stay with the BAR-Honda squad.

The 20-year-old has already been named as a possible driver for Williams in next month's Japanese and Chinese grands prix. It is believed these outings will be used to assess Rosberg's potential in a racing environment after his confident showings during work as one of the team's test drivers

The Williams team had no comment to make on the question of who would fill the seat left vacant by Button's withdrawal, but there are a limited number of experienced drivers available and with 2006 being regarded as a transitional season for the team after losing their contract with BMW, there is less risk in trying out a new man than if they were expecting to mount a serious championship challenge. Rosberg has emerged as one of the GP2 championship's brightest stars, which he leads with one round remaining. He has a strong racing heritage: his father Keke was recruited to the Williams team in 1982 after the 1980 world champion Alan Jones abruptly told Sir Frank Williams at the 1981 Italian grand prix that he would be retiring at the end of that season. Williams took a gamble on Rosberg senior and he rewarded that faith by winning the 1982 title.

Nobody is suggesting Nico Rosberg is in line to win the 2006 world championship, but there are those who say that at the moment he may be a less speculative choice than his father was two decades ago. Asked whether Rosberg would drive in the last two races of the year, Williams said last week: "Nico is on a list with quite a few other people and with quite a few variables to be considered before we reach a conclusion."




/jarmo

[Skeletor]

Possibilities:
Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy)
Mark Webber (Australia)
Franck Montagny (France)
Heikki Kovalainen (Finland)

Ooh! Ooh! Can I choose?

I don't know about that Nico Rosberg guy, seems to be a kind of a spoiled, "pappa betalar" (=daddy's paying) type of brat. Plus he's a German citizen and can't even speak Finnish even though his father is Keke Rosberg, what's up with that?


off-topic: Did you know Koreans type "hehe" as "keke"? So Keke must be a pretty funny name over there

[jarmo]

I don't know about that Nico Rosberg guy, seems to be a kind of a spoiled, "pappa betalar" (=daddy's paying) type of brat. Plus he's a German citizen and can't even speak Finnish even though his father is Keke Rosberg, what's up with that?

His daddy didn't pay for him to score points in GP2.

He's done pretty well in GP2 this year.


A lot of people with Finnish parents don't speak the language. It's not that unusual when you live outside of Finland where Finnish isn't exactly a big language. 

off-topic: Did you know Koreans type "hehe" as "keke"? So Keke must be a pretty funny name over there

I didn't know that. 




/jarmo

[GypsySoul]

My Brazil Picks:

1. Raikkonen
2. Montoya
3. Button
4. Alonso
5. Fisichella
6. M. Schumacher
7. R. Schumacher
8. Barrichello

[Skeletor]

A lot of people with Finnish parents don't speak the language. It's not that unusual when you live outside of Finland where Finnish isn't exactly a big language. 

I know that, fool Keke just doesn't seem that big on languages, so it seems a bit funny he spoke bad English to Nico when he was growing up.. Then again, I guess that happens a lot when the parents speak different languages, I don't really know what that's like.

[Pinball Wizard]

What the Hell Kimi did at the beginning of his lap...

I am gonna wait until tomorrow to post my picks...maybe it rains tomorrow, so I'll wait...

[Shoco]

 Alonso takes Brazilian pole

Fernando Alonso set himself up for taking the 2005 championship with a perfect performance in qualifying at Interlagos. The champion-elect clocked a lap of 1m11.988s to finish 0.16s clear of Juan Pablo Montoya.

Montoya did well considering he had to run early in the session after his retirement from the last race. He found himself stuck in a Renault sandwich as Giancarlo Fisichella claimed third with a lap of 1m12.558s.

Bouyed by having his contract situation for next season sorted out, Button continued BAR Honda's good run of form and qualified fourth. Kimi Raikkonen could manage to set only the fifth fastest time.

It was a positive session for Red Bull as Christian Klien put his car in sixth ahead of the Ferrari of Michael Schumacher - a strong performance considering he was third out in qualifying. Jarno Trulli, Felipe Massa and Rubens Barrichello rounded off the top ten.

Takuma Sato did not set a lap time, chosing to just pull into the pits before cutting the timing beam.

 Qualifying

Pos.     Driver     Team     Time
1    F. Alonso    Renault    1:11.988
2    JP. Montoya    McLaren    1:12.145
3    G. Fisichella    Renault    1:12.558
4    J. Button    BAR    1:12.696
5    K. R?ikk?nen    McLaren    1:12.781
6    C. Klien    Red Bull    1:12.889
7    M. Schumacher    Ferrari    1:12.976
8    J. Trulli    Toyota    1:13.041
9    F. Massa    Sauber    1:13.151
10    R. Barrichello    Ferrari    1:13.183
11    R. Schumacher    Toyota    1:13.285
12    J. Villeneuve    Sauber    1:13.372
13    T. Monteiro    Jordan    1:13.387
14    M. Webber    Williams    1:13.538
15    A. Pizzonia    Williams    1:13.581
16    D. Coulthard    Red Bull    1:13.844
17    N. Karthikeyan    Jordan    1:14.520
18    C. Albers    Minardi    1:14.520
19    T. Sato    BAR    no time
20    R. Doornbos    Minardi    no time

[John Daniels]

Alonso is fast and Montoya is more and more better race after race. Kimi has had some problems with the car's balance etc. all the weekend so it's going to be tough call to win this race but still my pics are:

1. R?ikk?nen
2. Alonso
3. Montoya
4. Fisichella
5. Button
6. M. Schumacher
7. Trulli
8. R. Schumacher

[Pinball Wizard]

My Picks:

1. Kimi
2. Alonso
3. Montoya
4. Rubens
5. Fisichella
6. Ralph
7. Michael
8. Massa

[jarmo]

My guess for the Brazilian GP:

1. ?Juan Pablo Montoya ? McLaren
2. ?Fernando Alonso ? ? ?Renault
3. ?Kimi R?ikk?nen ? ? ? McLaren
4. ?Giancarlo Fisichella Renault
5. ?Jenson Button ? ? ? ?BAR
6. ?Michael Schumacher ? Ferrari
7. ?Ralf Schumacher ? ? ?Toyota
8. ?Rubens Barrichello ? Ferrari


I think McLaren and Renault have the best cars so they should be in the top.

If it rains, anything could happen.

I also believe Alonso will be the new world champion after today's race.




/jarmo

[Graciela]

1.  Fernando Alonso      Renault
2.  Juan Pablo Montoya   McLaren
3.  Kimi R?ikk?nen       McLaren
4.  Jenson Button        BAR
5.  Giancarlo Fisichella Renault
6.  Rubens Barrichello   Ferrari
7.  F. Massa    Sauber   
8.  Michael Schumacher   Ferrari

[Ignatius]

My pics:

Montoya
Raikonnen
Alonso
Fisicho
Button
Shumacher
Barrichelo
Monteiro

[jarmo]

Finally a 1-2 for McLaren!


Congratulations to Fernando.


Finally the Michael Schumacher / Ferrari era is over! A great thing for F1.





/jarmo

[Pinball Wizard]

Yeah!! I'm happy for Alonso too...

There was a guy who work for renault(I don't know if he is an engineer or something like that) but the Brazilian TV showed this guy with a shirt like that on the back: "Schumacher who?" 


Well, i think it's pretty easy to beat Ferrari when they aren't in a good fase... I would LOVE to see Alonso beat michael with a good ferrari in his hands...

But anyway...congrats to alonso!!!