F1: Sepang *****Spoiler*****

[jyl]

Originally Posted by t951

I want F1 to be unrestricted, the rules that are leading to a spec series in the future need to go away. Allow pure engineering to win (it is amazing what they do now, but imagine if they were unrestricted!!)

They are trying to hold down the cost of fielding a competitive F1 team. Otherwise only a handful of teams could afford to score points and the field would shrink. I love seeing Ferrari win, but even I was getting a bit bored with the parade of red. Great to see new drivers and new teams winning now.

A truly and completely unrestricted F1 car would be too fast. Older tracks would be unsafe. Passing would be even more aerodynamically difficult. Too much computer control is not fun - wasn't it great when they took away traction control? And at some point, the drivers might not be able to hold up - how many 7 g corners can a driver take, and for how long?

I think a balance somewhere between the NASCAR circus show and all-out track war is needed. Whether they have got that balance right, we'll see. At this point, with every car company losing tons of money, F1 needs to get through this global recession without losing too many teams.

[ted]

Originally Posted by DaveE

There's got to be some shake-up at Ferrari. Their decision-making sucks. It's a far cry from the days of Jean Todt and Ross Brawn.

Funny and mean comments from a friend ...

Stefano Domenicali is trying to defend himself against the virulent attacks of the always busy-body Italian press, demanding an "inquiry" into the matter.
One smiles as the Italians may re-institute the use of wine at lunch time, that was banned by Jean Todt when he landed there. That should fix things.

Italy will always be Italy, and Ferrari will have a tough time without Brits or French in their teams to run the show, it has always been that way since the late 1960's, when Mike Parkes straightened that team and the darling favorites such as Scarfiotti were eventually replaced by Brits or Yanks that could drive.

Now we have a drunken Finn liking to party and no longer so much interested in driving a racing car, and a competent but not brilliant Brazilian whose success is in great part due to the huge amount of money his family invested to get him an education.
They need a Hamilton, an Alonso or a... Button, as well as a... Brawn.

[Stanley]

Reports are saying that it was Schumi's decision to send Kimi our on full wets. I was very surprised to hear that he had that much authority in the Ferrari camp.

'Schumi to blame for Kimi's tyre call'
Tuesday 7th April 2009

Michael Schumacher was allegedly responsible for Kimi Raikkonen's lost points in Sunday's Malaysian GP, having made the call to send the Finn out on full wets on a bone-dry track.

Schumacher, who signed on as a special advisor to Ferrari after retiring as a F1 driver, is now sitting on the pitwall with the hope that his vast experience in the sport will pay dividends as the Scuderia bid to win the titles.

But it didn't pan out that way on Sunday.

According to reports in both the Italian and German media, it was Schumacher who decided to put Raikkonen on full wet tyres in his first pitstop despite the rest of the field opting to keep the softer Bridgestone tyres.

The decision cost the 2007 World Champion over 20 seconds per lap, dropping him from a solid points-scoring position to 14th place.

And with this blunder bringing Ferrari's points tally for the season to nought from two, it remains to be seen whether Schumacher will be confined to his Swiss castle come the next race in China...

http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3213_5156679,00.html

In other F1 news, Dave Ryan got canned from McLaren in the 'lie-gate' saga.

[Wickd89]

I cannot miss a race.
End the addiction and end F1!
Maybe new constructors series moving forward run by real professionals; not nuts!!

[ted]

This is out there too...

Weber: Schumacher criticism unfounded

By Michele Lostia and Pablo Elizalde Tuesday, April 7th 2009, 09:20 GMT


Michael Schumacher's manager Willi Weber has labelled as "idiotic" the criticism aimed at the seven-time world champion following the Malaysian Grand Prix.

German and Italia media report that Schumacher, who works as a consultant for the Ferrari team, was the man in charge of making the decision that ruined Kimi Raikkonen's race on Sunday, the Finn switching to extreme weather tyres too early.

Weber said Schumacher had nothing to do with it.

The German also suggested the former world champion's contract with Ferrari was unlikely to be renewed.

"The criticism aimed at Schumacher is totally idiotic," Weber was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport. "His contract with Ferrari ends at the end of the year, but I don't know whether it will be renewed.

"The attack against Schumacher makes no sense. He knows everyone and was in Sepang just by chance. The decisions from the pit wall were taken by the team.

"It's possible that his contract won't be renewed, but there will be a meeting midway through the year, so we'll have to wait.

"Should his contract really not be renewed, then it would certainly not be because of the Malaysian GP. Michael may give some advice to the team, but he is not the team leader nor the team manager at Ferrari."

Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali refused to speak about Schumacher's situation following the race on Sunday.

"This is something we will discuss internally, it is not something that we will discuss outside," he said.

[legion]

Wow. Results have stood for half a week. A new record this season!

[Wickd89]

Originally Posted by ted

This is out there too...

Weber: Schumacher criticism unfounded

By Michele Lostia and Pablo Elizalde Tuesday, April 7th 2009, 09:20 GMT


Michael Schumacher's manager Willi Weber has labelled as "idiotic" the criticism aimed at the seven-time world champion following the Malaysian Grand Prix.

German and Italia media report that Schumacher, who works as a consultant for the Ferrari team, was the man in charge of making the decision that ruined Kimi Raikkonen's race on Sunday, the Finn switching to extreme weather tyres too early.

Weber said Schumacher had nothing to do with it.

The German also suggested the former world champion's contract with Ferrari was unlikely to be renewed.

"The criticism aimed at Schumacher is totally idiotic," Weber was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport. "His contract with Ferrari ends at the end of the year, but I don't know whether it will be renewed.

"The attack against Schumacher makes no sense. He knows everyone and was in Sepang just by chance. The decisions from the pit wall were taken by the team.

"It's possible that his contract won't be renewed, but there will be a meeting midway through the year, so we'll have to wait.

"Should his contract really not be renewed, then it would certainly not be because of the Malaysian GP. Michael may give some advice to the team, but he is not the team leader nor the team manager at Ferrari."

Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali refused to speak about Schumacher's situation following the race on Sunday.

"This is something we will discuss internally, it is not something that we will discuss outside," he said.

If Schumi made a recommendation or not is not the issue. The press is idiotic because in the end race strategy is with Stefano! Team boss is the decider and "if" he is not, he should be sacked for lack of leadership.

F1 is loosing class all the time since managers are not taking responsibilities for the behavior of their teams. Last 2 years have been a joke with scapegoats everywhere; and now in Mclaren with Ryan as well. Sad....