carpediem602004

Well, all that fuzz over Fisichella at Ferrari replacing that awful Badoer. And the results so far? It doesn't look like Fisico can do much better than Luca at all!! Pretty dismal.

After Spa, Fisico was considered great, reborn, on top of his game, ready to give points to Ferrari.

Then after today's qualifying I'm questioning if Fisichella is bad as Badoer, or is Badoers as good as Fisichella?

And this whole thing makes you wander: Is Ferrari really that bad? And Kimi is a genius to take it to podiums and (aside from today in Singabore, yes with a "b") show well in qualifying? That same Kimi that Ferrari want to get rid of?

Something doesn't make sense.

1) Flavio is Alonso's, Webber's, Grosejean's, and Piquet Jr's manager. Aside for Nelsinho, how is Flavio's ban going to affect those drivers? Especially Alonso through his Ferrari negotiations?

2) Who do you think will take over as manager for those drivers? Alonso and Webber are top drivers who can generate high income, not only from the employers (teams), but also under a promotional standpoint.

3) Flavio has been banned for life. However, under a legal standpoint, how can a person be sentenced when the person has not had the chance to defend himself? It goes against any basic principles of law. I understand they must have had proof of him being the mastermind behind the dirty trick, but he has the right to defend himself. I am not questioning Briatore being guilty or innocent. I question the due process, which was unquestionably faulty and unfair under any standards. Clearly requiring an appeal and a civil court follow-up for damages. Your view?

4) Will you miss Flavio's flamboyant behavior in the circus? Or do you prefer him disappearing with his abrupt modes and fancy sunglasses?

5) How do you think Flavio has treated his #2 drivers in the years he managed? Was he right in setting a team strategy so different all the time between his #1 and #2 drivers?

6) Will this blow result in Flavio being exonerated as part owner of the football team as well? (Who really cares, but as I am here, I am throwing it to you)

7) Flavio, regardless of his flaws, has won 3 world championships as team manager. Not too shabby. He must have done something right sometime, somehow, somehwere. But will he be remembered as the manager who won 3 titles and who promoted a young Schumi and a young Alonso, or the manager who masterminded the biggest scam in motor sports?

I am sick of the whole Renault - FIA joke. I think it is more interesting to comment on the newly announced 2010 calendar. 19 races in total. 2 more than this season. 17 same venues as this year (switched around a bit) with the return of Canada and the addition of Korea.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/21092009/23/fia-anno...

I am happy with 19 races, even if I still hate the 4-week break before the Belgian G.P. What do you think? Would you have preferred a different calendar?

<<May I have your attention please?

Will the Real Slim Shady please stand up?

We're gonna have a problem here>>

Don't you think the coincidence of Alonso being the beneficiary of both spy-gate and Singapore-gate is...too much of a coincidence? The two biggest controversies, and he is behind the scenes. Maybe he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, poor Freddy. Or someone else may say he was in the right place at the right time. As far as I am concerned Freddy looks Shady to me.

Then, haven't you seen Alonso whistling and singing at Monza:

<<So I have been sent here to destroy you

And there's a million of us just like me

Who cuss like me, who don't give a f*** like me

Who dress like me; walk, talk and act like me

And might be the best thing but not quite me!>>

Hey mates, if you think that Alonso is the Real Slim Shady, please stand up, please stand up!

Really, have you heard the radio conversation when Adrian Sutil was close behind Kimi? The team radioed Sutil instructing him to "... now you can push the Mix 2 button to overtake the Ferrari". So, even without KERS, some other cars have special buttons to allow perhaps a different fuel mixture? It would be interesting to know how this system works and how many times you can use this button in a race. I think it is a very intersting technical aspects hat has not been discussed. Is this an anti-KERS? Or is it just Force India bluffing in an attempt to scare the competition with their own magic button?

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/10092009/23/transcri...

If that is true, it is very, very serious. I thought they will never find proof. But what if telemetry can prove that Nelsinho accelerated when he should have used the brakes? I think this is bigger than I thought. I cannot believe that even I - a simple F1 fan and viewer - have been scammed by these sorts of unsportsmanlike tactics. Forget about Schumi's cheating practices, this is true cheating to the max (Mosley too).

How would you handle the situation?

This week we have had:

Liuzzi confirmed as Force India driver for the rest of the season.

The rebels Williams and Force India are back in FOTA.

What do you expect next during the upcoming Italian G.P? This time of the year is usually prime time for important announcements. Banco Sanatnder? Alonso? Rosberg? Any other relevant news? Let's see how creative (or connected) you are.

1) Renault want out of F1. That's no secret.

2) If they pull out like Honda or BMW it won't look good for PR and for France in general. They don't want public opinion believing they don't want to be in F1.

3) But if they create a controversy in which the related investigation forces them to retire from the sport...to protect the team and their personnel from embarrassment and unnecessary legal battles...to avoid difficult-to-prove theories and confrontations...then Renault will look like the martyr who would end up retiring from F1 to help the team as the best option for all. A reverse psychology theory.

4) Without ever coming to the end of the investigation (which will be dropped) Renault will be out of F1 - as they wanted. Their principals not charged - as the team won't exist any longer. And the team will be available for sale to Briatore or anyone else, starting from scratch with no bans or penalties. A win-win situation for everybody.

Hey, this could be science fiction but...I think it can be very very possible. Renault self destructing on purpose, manipulating public opinion. Who is with me on this crazy theory?

This is the official Ferrari waiting list for drivers who are considered for the following F1 races (from their website):

http://www.ferrari.com/English/News/Pages/090827_F...

Fisrt paragraph: A little corky, but OK.

List: Science fiction.

Last paragraph: This is gossipy and very questionable to be placed in an official team website.

Considerations: Out of all the names mentioned, there are 3 names which are not there, and which are the 3 most plausible candidates:

1) Badoer: Believe it or not, there is still a chance that he may be there for another G.P. (especially if Massa comes back the following race. Why create so much confusion for just one race?)

2) Massa: The crazy dude wants to come back at Monza. Hopefully today in Miami the specialists will tell him to take it easy, but there is a chance.

3) M. Schumacher: Mr. Pain-in-the-neck-comeback is a definite candidate. Nobody has said that is definitely NOT coming back.

Question: I am astonished at Ferrari's official gossip attitude. This is no joke, and they are portraying the Ferrari vacancy like something funny. Is it only me, or they have gone a little too far? One thing is for the press to gossip and speculate, but officially make fun of the situation?

BTW: In the list they forgot Lauda. Why not?

For this 2009 Belgian Grand Prix the first row is made of Giancarlo Fisichella and Jarno Trulli, both Italian drivers.

1) When was the last time 2 Italian drivers occupied the first row in a F1 Grand Prix? And who were the drivers?

2) Since F1 inception in 1950, how many times did it happen that the front row (P1 and P2) was taken by Italian drivers?

3) Can you name those drivers?

4) What is the age average of the first 4 qualifiers for this 2009 Belgian Grand Prix? Can you believe it?

5) Aside from qualifying last, what record has Luca Badoer established today (this pertains solely to today's qualifying, and has nothing to do with his pointless career)?

Do you know how he got this unexpected pole position?

He hit a rabbit in the morning free practice, and the engineer on the radio told him that aside from the damage it was a definite sign of good luck (this is true).

So, do you think that from now on all teams will have a cage of rabbits in their motorhomes, and specifically employed team personnel will go in strategic parts of the next circuits and release the rabbits right before their drivers go by in the morning free practice to make sure they hit at least one for good luck, and consequently grab pole position?

Animal rights activists will have a field day, won't they?

Or what other more humane solution would you have?

(Sorry, I couldn't come up with many other sensible explanations)

BTW: Congratulation to Fisico and F.I. Their dedication was well paid off today with their "rabbit-like pole".

I am not asking for the race prediction (there is already another question posted about that), I am only interested in Mr. Turtle (Badoer)

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/26082009/23/mirko-bo...

Mirko Bortolotti holds the Fiorano track record with the F2008 when he tested just once for Ferrari. He is a young promise. I would endorse him 100%. Unfortunately it's all speculations and rumors. But this would be the greatest occasion to promote new talent (Hulkenberg, etc. should be considered). If Badoer doesn't get one point at Spa (it now looks unlikely), I would expect a change for Monza. What better than new talent, Italian, with hopes for the future, with a great track record at Ferrari (ops, double meaning here) ????? Why dig on old drivers (people have mentioned Coldtart and Fishychella) and not start planning the future instead? What do you think?

With 6 races to go we have now a clearer picture of the title contenders:

1) Vettel: With 2 engines left out of the next 6 races and 4th in the points, he is basically done. Agreed?

2) Webber: Until Valencia huge steps ahead. Last race at Valencia very disappointing. Not even one point! Pitiful. He was not able to capitalize on Button's latest poor performances. Will he re-surge? Can he contend?

3) Barrichello: Finally outperformed his teammate. Looks in great form, and is on pace to create some screw ups at Brawn GP. Can he endure the euphoria? Or the Valencia win was just a one-time event for him?

4) Button: Statistically the title winner since race 6 this season. But lately he cannot get much out of the car. A few points here and there, leaving his chances right on the table. His he cooked, or what?

I am not putting Lewis in the mix because his miraculous comeback (well, McLaren's comeback) arrived too late in the season.

So, out of the four above, what's your take?

http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/regulations/Pages/F...

Nothing unexpected: Ban of refueling during the race as pre-announced. Q3 on empty tanks (If they have to start the race on full tanks, what would be the point otherwise?). Tyre warmers still allowed. KERS still optional, but min. weight increased from 605 kg to 620 kg to give more flexibility to weight distribution. These are basically the changes. Everything else stays "as-is".

What do you think? Were you expecting more? Or perhaps you disagree of the refueling ban?

Do you think the show will improve?

Maybe I am jumping the gun, but I am on the impression that Ferrari made a very quick decision after being sure of Schumi's return, and didn't have time to plan the way they wanted as Valencia is coming up quickly. Then the next race is at Spa only a week later. This seems to fit well for the substitute (Badoer) of the substitute (Schumacher). But I am of the opinion that brainstorms are already taking place at Maranello to determine who will drive the red car from Monza and beyond. Possibly a drive-by-committee while waiting for a true possible Schumi comeback before the end of the year? Anyone really thinks that Badoer can do so well and earn good points at Valencia and Spa to ensure him the drive for the rest of the season? I have a hard time believing it. So, what's your take on this?

Now that Schumi cannot race "neck and neck" with ther F1 drivers, let's check your knowledge of the Red Baron:

1) What will happen to the three 12,000 Euro helmets that Schumi has had commissioned for his comeback? Will Ferrari get involved to auction at least one of them to partially pay for all these worthless tests?

2) Schumacher in German (well it should be schuhmacher technically), but what about in:

a) English? (example Shoemaker)

b) French?

c) Italian?

d) Spanish?

And if know it in other languages, you get bonuses.

3) What is the square surface of Shumi's chin? In square cm? And in square inches?

4) How many times did Shumi intentionally bang other drivers during the course of his career? (This may require a lot of research).

5) How many of you know that near Rascasse in Montecarlo the parking meters have little red stickers that say " Schumi once parked here illegally"?

6) How about poor Lewis: He really wanted to show off, but now he is denied the confrontation. Will he pull out a temper tantrum?

7) How many TV sets has Luca broken today after receiving the news that Shumi is not ready to race?

8) Can you guesstimate the number of tickets which were purchased for Valencia, Spa and Monza under the premises that Shumi would be racing, and that now the ticket holders want to return?

9) How many towels has Kimi used today to wipe off the sweat in relief of the news that Schumi won't breath up "his neck"?

10) Last but not least, I am going to stick my neck out (yes because "I" can) by saying that I deserve retroactive Y!A points for saying from day one that Schumi's neck problems would have been a major issue affecting his comeback. But all of you unfaithful have snobbed my answers. So, after this saga, how many points do I get back?

1) In the 2000s both cars from the same team retired from the same race due to right-rear tyre failure (twice for each car). What team was it? And when did this happen (year and G.P.)?

2) What did Sauber, Minardi, BAR and Jordan have uniquely in common?

3) Which are the only three F1 Grand Prix's where there were no retirements?

4) In the 2000s, who was the driver whose car blew the engine in the final 2 corners while he was in the points and ended up stalling the car about ten meters before the finish line? When, where, and why did he deliberately stop before crossing the finish line?

5) Always in the 2000s the engine of a F1 car was damaged in transport and the driver received a 10 spot penalty on the grid for the engine change. Who was the driver, what car, and in which G.P. did this penalty take place?

6) Which was the last G. P. where the McLarens ran with the famous red and white car and the famous Marlboro sponsorship?

7) In the 90s there was a race where several milestones were reached at once: One driver recorded his 50th race entry; another his 75th entry; a team set their 100th entry and their 25th win at the same time. All this in one G.P. Who are we talking about, and when all this happened?

8) In which G.P. David Coulthard was a lap down on lap 2 having been involved in 2 collisions, but ended the race in second place?

9) Again in the 90s in which G.P. one team set their 100th race entry while another team set their 100th pole position? And which teams?

10) There was a race in the 80s where second place wasn't awarded to anyone. What G.P. and why?

How about that!

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/03082009/58/williams...

Do you think that Williams' blocking move is in the best interest of Formula One?

1) What driver raced for the last time in the 1990 Spanish Grand Prix, and what was the reason for his retirement from F1?

2) Who is the F1 driver that was asked to drive in the movie "Les Mans" by Steve McQueen, but his contract with Porshe did not allow him to play the role, while at the same time the replacement driver hired, David Piper, was severely injured in the movie shooting?

3) Who is the young driver who greatly impressed in testing the Ferrari F2008 last year? What was so impressive?

4) Who is the driver that holds the record for most Grand Prix raced with the same number? And what is that number?

5) Who is the driver that holds the record of longest time-gap between G.P's?