Remember when they banned those fins on the Arrow team a few years ago?

Indeed I do, and these Tyrell winglets back in 1997 as well. An F1 car would look rediculous with all those extra aero bits added on.

They are damn ugly!!! But seems the FIA has ok'd them. Similar wings were banned on Tyrell and Jordan a few years back.

Well its looking more and more likely Kimi is going to Renault!! There are rumours he has been offered a huge 4 year deal - but that would be too risky. A 2 year deal would definately entice him I think. Add to that the fact that Schumacher looks like he wants to continue on racing (especially if he doesnt win the WDC this year) and that he would never accept Kimi as his teammate (on equal terms) - its all the more pointing to Renault.

Raikkonen is Renault's priority for 2007

By Michele Lostia Wednesday, July 19th 2006, 09:17 GMT


Renault F1 team president Alain Dassas has admitted signing Kimi Raikkonen for the 2007 season is the French squad's main priority.

Raikkonen is still to decide his future, with his current contract with McLaren expiring at the end of the season. The Finn is believed to be considering offers from both Renault and rivals Ferrari.

Renault will lose their star driver Fernando Alonso at the end of the year, the Spaniard having announced last season he will drive for McLaren in 2007. Renault have renewed Giancarlo Fisichella's contract for next season, but the other seat is still to be filled.

Although the world champions are still considering their test driver Heikki Kovalainen for the seat, Dassas admitted their first priority is Raikkonen.

"It's no secret, Raikkonen is our priority for the 2007 season," Dassas was quoted as saying by the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper. "We are talking with Raikkonen for an eventual contract.

"If we could find a definitive agreement we'd be very satisfied because that would mean we brought to our team one of the greatest drivers, who by the way is very young and can further improve."

Dassas said Kovalainen's lack of experience was playing against the Finn.

"To have a driver with no experience like [Kovalainen] would be risky. In F1 nowadays you need quick, immediate results, and it could be a problem to obtain them with a debutant," added Dassas.

Kovalainen, last year's runner-up to Nico Rosberg in the GP2 series, said earlier this season he was not interested in another year of testing.

Did you guys watch the German GP?

I thought it wasnt too bad by 2006 standards. The Ferrari/BS package is now the best and seems like Alonso is struggling when the Renault isnt so good. Unlike Kimi and Michael - he needs the car to be at its best so he can perform. He is now falling into the clutches of Fisichella like he did with Trulli in 04. Michael is only 11 points behind in the championship now.

Kimi did all he could and some great overtaking moves to finish best of the rest.

I cant help think that Massa could have won the GP - but this late in the championship its expetced he tows the line.

Good drives from Button, Trulli and Klien too.

saw the race. quite interesting.

Massa impressed me in this one but i was most interested in what coulthart could have done if he hadn't been in an accident early on.

It was a pretty decent race, It was a pity to see Webber retiring. That Cossie is pretty quick but really unreliable, a consiquence of trying to keep up with the big manufacturers I'd imagine. And we saw that when a car isn't at its best Fisi is the best man for the job. If everyone were in Super Aguri's he'd be made.

Shame about Webber. He and Williams are deciding his future as we speak.

I thought DC could have done well - perhaps 6th or 7th.

Fisi is now getting the upper hand over Alonso. I always rated Fisi highly - so before the Melbourne season opener last year I put money on a Fisichella pole as I reasoned that Trulli beat Alonso over half of 2004 and I thought fisi was better than Trulli. Regardless - I won $300 as Fisi did get pole - but the rest of the season didnt work out that way.

SOME PRETTY BIG NEWS





Wurz delighted to return to racing




Wednesday, August 2nd 2006, 15:15 GMT


Austrian Alexander Wurz says he "couldn't be happier" after the news was confirmed that he will return to racing next season with the Williams team.
"My natural habitat is racing, so I couldn't be happier to have received Williams' vote of confidence for this job next season," said Wurz, who was the team's third driver in 2006.
"Of course I know the team well having been a part of the race programme at every Grand Prix this season, but now my role takes on additional responsibility and I am really looking forward to this."
Wurz has been a test and reserve driver with McLaren and Williams since the 2001 season, having last raced in the 2005 San Marino Grand Prix when he replaced the injured Juan Pablo Montoya.
"Alex brings us important technical continuity and understanding of the car and as well as being an excellent communicator with our engineers, he is ultra-competitive during the Friday 'full tank' practice sessions," said team boss Frank Williams.
"Alex will be a great racing driver for us as he is one of the few men I have seen in a wheel banging confrontation with Michael Schumacher and come out on top."
Williams, who will switch from Cosworth to Toyota engines next season, will line up Wurz alongside German Nico Rosberg, who made his Grand Prix debut this year.
Today's announcement means Australian Mark Webber will leave Williams after two years with the team.
"Retaining Nico for next year was not a tough decision," added Williams. "He has shown great promise so far in his debut season and I know he will build on this with every race.
"As much as taking great pleasure in confirming Alex and Nico for next season, I must also commend Mark Webber for his contribution to the team over the past two seasons as he has been a credit to himself and Williams and has never let up in his pursuit of competitive success.
"I know Mark will give his all until the end of the season and we wish him well in his future arrangements."
Following the announcement, Webber looks increasingly likely to land the second Renault seat next year


Brawn to step down at the end of the year


By Anthony Rowlinson Wednesday, August 2nd 2006, 17:01 GMT


Ross Brawn will step down from his post as technical director at Ferrari next year, this week's Autosport magazine reveals.
The 51-year-old will take a sabbatical in 2007, with no decision currently made about his long-term future with the team.
The sabbatical will end a run of ten seasons for the Briton with Ferrari, and he has worked with Michael Schumacher in all but one season for the past 15 years.
The two began working together in 1991, when Schumacher joined the Benetton team mid-season.
All of Schumacher's seven world championship titles were captured with Brawn at the helm of the technical department, and the two are known to have a close relationship.
Ferrari would not confirm or deny Brawn's situation, a team spokesman telling autosport.com today: "This is one of the various speculations regarding the future of our team.
"We can only repeat once again that the structure of the team will be announced after the end of the season."
However, sources have told Autosport it is "100 percent certain" that Brawn will take a break from F1 at the end of the year.
Brawn's departure could be seen as a hint that Schumacher too has decided to retire. However, Autosport reports that Schumacher is in fact expected to stay on with Ferrari for one more season, partnering Kimi Raikkonen in what will possibly become the strongest driver line-up since Ayrton Senna teamed up with Alain Prost in McLaren, nearly twenty years ago.
Brawn himself made it clear that his future with Ferrari does not depend on Schumacher staying on. In an interview with Autosport earlier this season, he said: "I have a lot of very good friends and colleagues at Ferrari and Michael is one of them and obviously I'll be disappointed when the day comes that he doesn't want to carry on. And an era will pass. But Ferrari is much bigger than that.
"Yes, there are still some formal discussions to take place [between Brawn and the team] and they'll happen during the summer. Anyone who is in a responsible position, particularly for a team that they love, like Ferrari, has always got to be thinking about how to groom and develop their successors.
"It's only correct that we have an evolution for the future, be it next year, be it two years' time, be it three years or whatever. We will all stop one day and it is important that we have a proper plan for the future." 


from: http://www.autosport.com

2 interesting bits of news. Have to admit swapping Webber for Wurz is a small step down but I doubt Williams had much say in the matter. As for Brawn well It looks like the Ferrari/Schumacher era is finally drawing to a close and really does send the sign that if this year ain't Schumi's last next year definetly will.

NEWS HAS IT

villenueve and BMW are having trouble. there is news in the paddocks of villenueve skipping things and everyone coming up with excuses for it when it reality, people think its due to some rift. possibility that he may leave BMW even before the end of the season and some speculation of NASCAR>

Formula 1s bleeding of drivers with personalities continues. Kubica is a like a cardboard cut-out from what I've seen

Just heard that Alonso has been docked 2 seconds from his eventually qualifying time due to an infringment in practise. On a track like the Hungaroring that will really hurt bad.

Williams has financial problems and Wurz is much cheaper than Webber, that's the main reason for the swap

Yeah Levy is correct - Wurz comes cheap - he'll do anything to race and Williams dont exactly have alot of $$ to spend. Its a blessing for Webber however - he will most likely, actually almost certainly go to the Newey designed Red Bull alongside DC.

After the last few days it seems like things are almost all settled for 07. This is how I see it:

MS is guranteed the champinship now - so he will retire. Regardless - he was never going to risk losing to Kimi in the same car. As great a driver as he is, his career has been carefuly orcehstrated to never have to face a strong teammate.

JV to Nascar. Yes Kyro - its a shame JV is out of BMW - but Mario Thiessen doesnt seem to even want him for the rest of this year. Kubica is racing this weekend due to JV's injured back - but hopefully JV will get back in the car before seasons end. He has driven nicely this season - better than Heidfeld IMO.


Ferrari: Kimi, Massa

Renault: Kovelanian, Fisi

Mclaren: Alonso, Hamilton

Williams: Rosberg, Wurz

Toyota: Trulli, Ralf

Red Bull: DC,Webber

Torro Rosso: Liuzzi, Speed (or maybe Klien or Jani)

Honda: Button, RB

Midland/Racing Eng: One of current drivers and one of current GP2 drivers

BMW: Heidfeld, Kubica

Suoer Aguri: Sato, Davidson

BTW - this is from autosport.com

Kovalainen front runner for Renault seat

By Jonathan Noble Friday, August 4th 2006, 23:26 GMT


Renault boss Flavio Briatore has dropped the firmest hint yet that Heikki Kovalainen will be signed to race for the French team next year.

Briatore had been chasing Kimi Raikkonen to replace Fernando Alonso, who is moving to McLaren, but the Finn appears set to make the switch to Ferrari in 2007.

Although Briatore has drawn short of confirming his driver plans, he said at the Hungarian Grand Prix that his team were ready to give Kovalainen his chance.

"There are many drivers in F1, not just the drivers that everyone knows," he said. "There are plenty of engineering talents in F1 that people don't know. We always talk only about a few people - like Adrian Newey, who went from McLaren to Red Bull.

"But there are plenty of other people in F1 who are good when it comes to managing a team. Everybody thought that when we lost (former technical director) Mike Gascoyne that Renault would collapse, but we won the championship.

"And with drivers, it is the same. Will we not get Raikkonen? Okay. But there is the possibility to have a good time with a young driver like Heikki. We don't need to wait for anything; he can get in the car straight away.

"We know all the drivers available, but it is best to have someone who has done 20,000km of testing and is ready to race in F1. Even Robert Kubica was mine - and he is a bloody good driver.

"I lost him, but no one is perfect. Although that wasn't my mistake, it was someone else's."

The news on Kovalainen rules out the Briatore-managed Mark Webber from Renault, but the Australian is now being strongly linked with a move to Red Bull Racing.

Briatore declined to elaborate on where Webber was heading, but he did make it clear that the Australian's deal was sorted for 2007 - although a final contract may not have yet been signed.

"The situation is settled, and it has been settled for some days," said Briatore about Webber. "He does not have a problem and he has got a good future in front of him."

Briatore's opinion is that Michael Schumacher will retire at the end of the season - leaving Ferrari to run Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa in 2007.

"On this cloudy day in Hungary, I must say that my opinion, and it is my opinion, is that Schumacher has decided he will stop," he said. "Ferrari will race with Raikkonen and Massa."

hmm - I didnt see what happened - but it seems a little harsh. This doesnt bring the championchip down to the wire - this hands it to Schumacher. Alonso will be lucky to make the first cut in qualifying. It does show however show Alonso cracks under pressure and when his car isnt superior. Hence why I consider him below MS and KR in "the big three" heirachy.

As of now - i'd rank them:

1. Kimi
2. Schumacher M
3. Alonso

Which is why its all the more upsetting we wont get to see any of these in the same team next year.

Hmmm.....The really interesting question is what will be faster in 2007. A Renault or an Adrain Newey designed Red Bull. I think it'll be close.

Exactly.

2007 is a gamble. There is no telling who will be fastest among any of the teams. The only thing Ferrari has in their favour is the Bridgestone Tyre experience.

Well here is the Grid for tonights race! Believe it or not Shcumacher received a penalty to!! Overtaking during a red flag!!!

GO KIMI!!

Pos Driver Team Pos Time Lap Pos Time Lap Pos Time Lap
1. Raikkonen McLaren M 2. 1:20.080 3 2. 1:19.704 3 1. 1:19.599 11
2. Massa Ferrari B 1. 1:19.742 3 1. 1:19.504 3 2. 1:19.886 11
3. Barrichello Honda M 6. 1:21.141 6 3. 1:19.783 5 3. 1:20.085 11
4. Button Honda M 3. 1:20.820 6 4. 1:19.943 5 4. 1:20.092 11
5. de la Rosa McLaren M 8. 1:21.288 3 5. 1:19.991 5 5. 1:20.117 11
6. Webber Williams B 9. 1:21.335 6 6. 1:20.047 6 6. 1:20.266 11
7. R.Schumacher Toyota B 5. 1:21.112 6 9. 1:20.243 6 7. 1:20.759 11
8. Fisichella Renault M 10. 1:21.370 4 7. 1:20.154 6 8. 1:20.924 12
9. Trulli Toyota B 11. 1:21.434 6 8. 1:20.231 6 9. 1:21.132 11
10. Kubica BMW M 4. 1:20.891 3 10. 1:20.256 6 10. 1:22.049 12
11. Heidfeld BMW M 12. 1:21.437 4 11. 1:20.623 6
12. M.Schumacher Ferrari B 13. 1:21.440 3 12. 1:20.875 7
13. Coulthard Red Bull M 7. 1:21.163 6 13. 1:20.890 5
14. Klien Red Bull M 16. 1:22.027 4 14. 1:21.207 6
15. Alonso Renault M 14. 1:21.792 6 15. 1:21.364 6
16. Monteiro Midland B 15. 1:22.009 6 16. 1:23.767 3
17. Liuzzi Toro Rosso M 17. 1:22.068 7
18. Rosberg Williams B 18. 1:22.084 6
19. Speed Toro Rosso M 19. 1:22.317 8
20. Sato Super Aguri B 20. 1:22.967 6
21. Albers Midland B 21. 1:23.146 6
22. Yamamoto Super Aguri B 22. 1:24.016 6

The times of Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso include a 2-second penalty each

This a great race is.


Finally Button!

Brilliant stuff just what formula 1 needed to break the Schumi/Alonso streak. Bad luck for Raikkonen but great jobs by Button and De La Rosa.

i think michael is looking at some sort of penalty for the next race ...

I'd agree, what was he doing not letting De La Rosa thru? Rush of blood to the head it seems.

Race of the Year!! Brilliant race. Just proves what a bit of rain can do. Hungary of all places. What a weekend with all the penalties and weather - yet both championship contenders fail to finish.

Congratulations Jenson! Great to see him finally win.

Shame for Kimi - but shit happens.

Excellent first few laps from Alonso!!

DeLarosa was fantastic I thought, congrats on his first podium and congrats to Kubica on a points debut!

Now to Schumacher - again he proves his suspect metal under pressure. What a shame he resorts to dodgy tactics like he did. He also was spinning all over the place.

YES! A well deserved and long overdue win for Button! WOOHOO!

Really, a fantastic race - just a shame that we have to have anomolous weather conditions and a bizarre situation of advantages and disadvantages brought about through penalties to actually bring a bit of excitment to the proceedings...



I think next season is going to bring a bit of life back into F1. We've been seeing a lot of change over the last few years and hopefully it'll pay off in 07. Even if Schumi stays on (I don't think the WDC is his yet by any means) there's enough going on elsewhere to give him at least as much of a run for his money as he's had this year, but from maybe two or three teams instead of just Renault.

And with a bit of luck, it'll be the year of Button!