Russian automobile manufacturer LADA has joined forces with F1 team Renault for the 2010 season and the entire Renault unit which includes its 2010 F1 car will be endorsing the Lada logo. The logo will appear on the monocoque sides of the R30 Renault F1 car as well as the team uniform.
It is no hidden fact that Lada owns a major share in the F1 Renault unit and even Russian PM Vladimir Putin has announced that Lada will sponsor the Renault F1 team in 2010 and even the financial participation in the project could increase later on. It seems fitting for Renault F1 unit to embrace the Lada branding for that at least gives the French automaker a chance to exist in the F1 arena.
With the Bahrain GP closing in, it was time that the Malaysian-owned F1 team Lotus unveiled its 2010 F10 car and Lotus has come up with the T127. The 2010 T127 comes in a deep green color with a yellow trim and the developers acknowledge that it is slightly overweight race car. Lotus started developing the car as late as September last year and hence it was difficult to develop a light car in just 5 months but the T127 does look shorter in appearance compared to the Ferrari or the McLaren F1 units. Team Lotus intends to finish every race this year and but realizes that it will not be easy. For Mike Gascoyne, one of the experts engineers from the F1 circuit, The T127 is a good, solid current car irrespective the fact that it was produced in 5 months. The race car will be thoroughly tested at Jerez next week.
If earlier reports indicated that Michael Schumacher will be with riding under the Mercedes F1 team flag for only one year, we just caught wind that the German racer actually intends to be with the team until 2012. After 91 grand prix wins and a 16 year long career, Schumacher returns to the circuit being persuaded by his former Ferrari technical director, Ross Brawn.
It will take time to get over the Ferrari hang as Michael Schumacher won 5 titles with the red devils over a period of 14 years, prior to becoming an advisor for the Italians. Schumacher could end up as a brand ambassador for Mercedes once he is finished racing for the team in 2012. He also clarified that his number one driver status talks were a hoax as it was always up to the team management to decide his status and it will be no different while being on the new team. [via WCF]
German newspapers are reporting the Schumacher has apparently agreed to a deal worth only 3.5 million Euros to drive for Mercedes-Benz next year.
The amount doesn’t sound right to me, but hey, we’ll definitely know in the next few weeks how much he signed for. The good news for Formula one is that its most winningest driver of all time is back on the starting grid.
Lets just hope he can still cut it.
A fifth place at the Brazilian Grand Prix was good enough to ensure the 29 year old Jenson Button and team Brawn-Mercedes, the 2009 Formula One Champion title. Button who started the race 14th on the grid, drove like a deserving champion although he did not manage a podium finish this time. This race also gave Brawn the constructors’ title outshining Red Bull by 9.5 points.
A the Brazilian GP it was Mark Webber who stood first followed by Robert Kubica from BMW Sauber and Lewis Hamilton who managed a third position on the podium. RBR-Renault driver Sebastian Vettel’s fourth place ensured that he stood second in the overall tally surpassing Rubens Barrichello (who stood 8th) but even if Vettel manages to win the Abu Dhabi edition, it will still be Button who will win the title by 5 points.
Kimster ended a 25 race drought ending first on the podium thanks to a first lap collision that saw Lewis Hamilton and the Jenson Button crash out of the race. Kimi Raikkonen did manage to win the Belgian Grand Prix but the day eventually belonged to the team that finished second on the Podium-Force India. The minnows first managed a pole finish and then Giancarlo Fisichella finished second on the podium giving Force India its first points on the table. Fisichella was a challenge all the way and he took the race down the wire with a second to choose between the two. Fisichella could have even finished first but Kimi managed to overtake the Force India Driver courtesy of the KERS-assisted technology.
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At 40 and after hanging his helmet, who would have though that Michael Schumacher will be the replacement for Ferrari’s injured driving Felipe Massa. The loyalty of the man is worth appreciating and that is what brings him back to replace his former teammate. When he left the scene, Schumi was a legend with a record seven titles and 91 overall victories and that ended in 2006. Now three years down the lane, his competitors might say that they do not care, but in the hearts of their hearts, they would know that this man is till capable of a podium finish. It’s purely for loyalty as he is quipped that he has never repented his retirement decision. He also said that he was looking forward to the challenge as a competitor. Come August 23, all on eyes will be on Ferrari’s Car #3 and for sure Massa will know that his wheel is in the right hands.
“Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro intends to put Michael Schumacher in Felipe Massa’s car untill the brazilian driver will be able to race again. Michael Schumacher said he is ready and, over the next few days, will undertake a specifc training programme at the end of which confermation will be given of his participation in the Championship with effect from the European Grand Prix on the 23rd of August.”
Although many have complained (regarding the new regulations), the 2009 F1 Championship started this weekend. And it did with a huge bang, as a team that closed down last Christmas won the Australian GP. For Ross Brawn, his team and drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello the first race of the season in Melbourne was a dream start which has thrown the remainder of the 2009 season wide open. The big boys are scurrying around for answers, while there are many out there who believe that Ross Brawn has found a little secret to success that no one knows about.
- J.BUTTON 10
- R.BARRICHELLO 8
- L.HAMILTON 6
- T.GLOCK 5
- F.ALONSO 4
- N.ROSBERG 3
- S.BUEMI 2
- S.BOURDAIS 1
Looks likea good year, isn’t it?
[via F1-Live]
There’s big news in the F1 world these days. Apparently the current pointing system— introduced in 2002, that gives points to drivers up to the 8th place is no longer viable because it rewards consistent driving over outright winning. And they may have a point if you consider that for the last championship Lewis Hamilton only won 5 races while Felipe Massa proved to rule for six races. With that in mind, F1 bosses decided that for 2009, he who wins the most races … becomes the king. And in case there’s a tie (we can bet our paycheck on it) the old system will decide … Do you think that will change anything? [via Autoblog]
Just like Ferrari, McLaren or Toyota, Renault took the time to unveil their new 2009 R29 car for this year’s F1 Championship. Though the financial crisis got them too, the French managed to get a new sponsor – Total, who pumped some money for a new design that only needs to proves itself on the track. At the official presentation, Flavio Briatore got Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet to pull the cover off of the yellow beast and to pose together. Do you think they have a chance for 2009?
Just a couple of day after Toyota announced their new F1 car, McLaren unveiled MP4-24, the little monster that will run the track for the 2009 F1 Championship. However, that’s not the only news we’ve heard? Apparently Ron Paul used the occasion to announce the pres that he’ll be stepping down as team principal starting March 1st, and that the new chief will be long time deputy Martin Whitmarsh. Now back to the new car features major aerodynamic changes that include a wider front wing and a more compact rear wing for better distribution, the addition of driver-adjustable front-wing flaps and a heavily revised diffuser. And did we mention that it will use the new KERS (Kinetic Enrgy Recovery System) device which harnesses the energy generated from the braking system and stores it in super-capacitor batteries for an additional 80 bhp. That definitely has to make it faster, don’t you think?
