The 2012 Formula One Thread

[JulesMaximus]

for years he's been called "britney" and was once voted the 2nd prettiest woman in f1.

schumacher is the old wizard in the top right, and jenson button looks pretty good as a bearded thing. the monster bar and coke cans are a reference to the malaysian gp that was cut short - well before the official decision kimi had already made his and headed for the fridge. who is the troll in the bottm left?

That's the only one I couldn't figure out. Is it Romain Grosjean?

 

[busydude]

I think it's Petrov.(That is pretty ironic.)

 

[punjabiplaya]

and Kimi is fastest in testing day 1, awwww yeahhh (I know it doesn't really mean anything, but still)

 

[The Boston Dangler]

i found a larger version of this:

 

[busydude]

A shocking development. Vitaly Petrov replaces Jarno Trulli at Caterham.. kind of surprising given that there is less than a month to the first race.

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/2/13023.html

 

[The-Noid]

A shocking development. Vitaly Petrov replaces Jarno Trulli at Caterham.. kind of surprising given that there is less than a month to the first race.

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/2/13023.html

Petrov brings money with him, it's not all that surprising. Based on the fact they brought in a new technical director as well, I am sure they needed money to pay him as well as the season's ongoing development of the car.

My guess is Trulli didn't bring the funds that were needed, so they had to go to with Petrov who has oil oligarch money behind him.

Seems logical. Driving an F1 car is about having marginal talent and bringing in money unless you are in the top three, (RBR, Ferrari, Mac) where it is about having the best talent as they don't need pay drivers.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Petrov brings money with him, it's not all that surprising. Based on the fact they brought in a new technical director as well, I am sure they needed money to pay him as well as the season's ongoing development of the car.

My guess is Trulli didn't bring the funds that were needed, so they had to go to with Petrov who has oil oligarch money behind him.

Seems logical. Driving an F1 car is about having marginal talent and bringing in money unless you are in the top three, (RBR, Ferrari, Mac) where it is about having the best talent as they don't need pay drivers.

Petrov is a pretty good driver though. I definitely wouldn't call him a marginal talent.

 

[The-Noid]

Petrov is a pretty good driver though. I definitely wouldn't call him a marginal talent.

Petrov is a pay driver. There are plenty of "pretty good drivers," Petrov just has the bank to make it into a seat.

F1 is an incredibly expensive sport and unless you are a top 3 or top 5 driver in the world, it's going to be tough to get a break without serious financial support.

He's very comparable to the other GP2 drivers that have come up. He's not a top tier driver, but like Maldonado brings with him a very big bank roll.

You have 24 guys on the grid. To say that any of them aren't at least pretty good would be a misnomer. What sets apart the top 5 or 6 is great skill, then the next 18 is very much how much money they can bring in. That's what gets them a seat and a chance to prove that they are a top tier talent, thus far Petrov has not.

 

[busydude]

This should be interesting. Petrov Vs Kovalainen.. Kovalainen absolutely trounced Trulli last season.

 

[RiDE]

Last time there was no Italian driver on the grid was 1970.

Fernandes seems more concerned about turning his team into a mini-Ferrari or McLaren so I suppose Paytrov made the most business sense to him at this point.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

You have 24 guys on the grid. To say that any of them aren't at least pretty good would be a misnomer. What sets apart the top 5 or 6 is great skill, then the next 18 is very much how much money they can bring in.

no way it's that many, even if you include fernando.

 

[The-Noid]

no way it's that many, even if you include fernando.

Both RBR's, although Vettel is probably cash positive as this point because of the double WDC.

Both Mac's.

Fernando is net money out the door.

Nico Rosberg isn't exactly known for bringing in bank.

Kimi will most likely be cash positive because he is at Lotus now, however when he was at Ferrari he wasn't a cash generator.

Every other spot has as much to do with ability to bring in sponsors as it does on ability to drive.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

fernando's paycheck comes from santander, although that's just icing on the cake. kovalinen, kobyashi, massa, di resta, hulkenberg, and grosjean don't bring huge sponsorship with them.

 

[The-Noid]

fernando's paycheck comes from santander, although that's just icing on the cake. kovalinen, kobyashi, massa, di resta, hulkenberg, and grosjean don't bring huge sponsorship with them.

Kobiyashi and Massa both bring lots of money with them.

I haven't followed the story of the rest.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Nico Rosberg shakes down the Mercedes W03 at Silverstone (helmet-cam)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4zcuuFNtp4&feature=related

 

[manimal]

Nico Rosberg shakes down the Mercedes W03 at Silverstone (helmet-cam)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4zcuuFNtp4&feature=related

Awesome video.


I want Kers in my car ><

 

[busydude]

Love the sound of those V8s.. Hope those off throttle blown diffusers never come back.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/03/02/frank-williams-steps-board-williams-grand-prix/

Williams founder Sir Frank Williams will step down from the board at his team at the end of the month.

His daughter Claire Williams will join the board on April 1st, taking over from Dominic Reilly as director of marketing and communications.

Frank Williams will remain the team principal of the F1 operation. He said: &#8220;This is an opportune moment, also, for me to consider my own role in the team. I turn 70 in April and I have decided to signal the next stage in the gradual but inevitable process of handing over the reins to the next generation by stepping down from the Board at the end of this month.

&#8220;This is not as dramatic a move as it may appear: I shall continue to work full-time as Team Principal and I shall continue to attend all Board meetings as observer. I also remain the majority shareholder of Williams Grand Prix Holdings PLC.

 

[LTC8K6]

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/9/0/8/2063809.jpg

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/6/3/8/2071836.jpg

 

[busydude]

Frank Williams is only 70? I thought he was in his 80's. Anyway, he will still be in charge of the F1 team.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/9/0/8/2063809.jpg

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/6/3/8/2071836.jpg

i never doubted it. money talks and bullshit walks.

 

[RiDE]

i never doubted it. money talks and bullshit walks.

Their track still blows... unless of course you're one of the people that have acce$$ to the beautiful paddock/harbor.

 

[foghorn67]

Rubens. Officially in Indycar.
KV Racing with Tony Kanaan as a teammate.

 

[The-Noid]

Their track still blows... unless of course you're one of the people that have acce$$ to the beautiful paddock/harbor.

You could get rid of that and Valencia and I would be a happier man.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

http://en.espnf1.com/usa/motorsport/story/72006.html

USGP founder sues partners

The founder of the new United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas - Tavo Hellmund - has sued his partners for an improper and unlawful takeover.

Autoweek reports that Hellmund has filed suit in an Austin court against his partners after investors withheld the promised funding for the project and caused the initial contract to be cancelled by Bernie Ecclestone. The investors - including major backers Bobby Epstein and Red McCombs - then negotiated a last minute contract themselves with Ecclestone.

While the race was ultimately saved, Hellmund claims that it was his vision of more than 20 years that led to the race coming to Austin and that his partners "executed an improper and unlawful takeover of the very project he conceived, and may well have it careening toward a wall." He also says in the law suit that he has not been paid for his role at the head of the project since September 2011.

Although seeking damages, Hellmund is not looking to halt the hosting of the race, which currently has a date of November 18. Construction continues at the site, with the latest images showing the pit and paddock complex being built.