tweety bird

if only james hunt was still alive and commentating. la sigh.

orly? Just a few months ago Felipe Massa was a dead man walking at Ferrari, but now he appears to be edging towards a new contract. The Brazilian's contract at the Italian marque runs out at the end of the current season and his disappointing form at the start of the 2012 campaign coupled with his below par displays in 2011 left him in danger of losing his seat. Although his form has picked up in recent months, he has only scored 51 points compared to the 194 of his team-mate Fernando Alonso, who is leading the Drivers' Championship. Alonso, though, has had plenty of positive things to say about Massa in recent weeks while Swiss newspaper Blick claims the Ferrari bosses are ready to hand the 31-year-old a new deal. Massa, meanwhile, told lancenet that is "very close" to securing a new contract but admitted he cannot make any announcement until a deal has been signed adding "it should not take long for me to have a clear understanding of the situation". Team principal Stefano Domenicali, though, admits Ferrari are in no rush to make a decision. "I don't know, I'll leave you with this question mark," he said when asked about a timeframe for resolving Massa's future," he is quoted as saying by Autosport. "There are no limits in the regulations, as you know. This is the fundamental thing for me: management of drivers - like players - is done internally. "It's not important to communicate outside. So, we'll communicate to you as soon as there are things to say, but not before then." http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/8111459/Massa-Very-Close-To-New-Deal

.. kimi to mclaren ftw!!!

Thailand has moved a step closer hosting its first Formula 1 race after agreeing a deal in principle for a 2014 event. "It will be a city race like in Singapore and Monaco. It will be a night race like the Singapore Grand Prix," he was quoted as saying by the Bangkok Post. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/102873 Four-time Formula 1 world champion Alain Prost will return to the wheel of a grand prix car when he drives Red Bull's RB6 at Paul Ricard this weekend. The Frenchman will be in action in the 2010 title-winning car as part of the exhibitions organised for the World Series by Renault event at the circuit. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/102874 Formula 1 teams will be able to hide stepped noses in 2013 Formula 1 teams will have the option of fitting a special panel to their cars next year to help hide stepped noses, the FIA has confirmed. Following discussions between teams to come up with a solution to the ugly designs that would not entail a big redesign for next year, motor racing's governing body has rubber stamped new rules that will allow a special 'modesty panel' to be fitted. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/102883

i'm not interested in dick swinging with the big boys i'm more interested in having fun and seeing if it's the career path i want to go down.

do you guys have any advice for noobs who would like to have a go in the nsw hillclimb champs?

you guys are epic whores lol.

that's what i thought.

red light?

Vitaly Petrov's manager has admitted that he will be without a drive in 2013 if he fails to come up with the right sponsorship. http://www.planetf1....rive-for-Petrov- McLaren is ready to match Mercedes' wage offer to Lewis Hamilton in a bid to further tempt the former world champion to remain at his current team. On the back of frenzied speculation about Hamilton's future caused by Eddie Jordan's claim that he would move to Mercedes in 2013, negotiations have been ongoing between the Briton's management team, XIX Entertainment, and McLaren. Although no deal has yet been agreed, high-level sources suggest that the wage deal on offer is no longer an issue. McLaren is believed to be offering at least, if not more, than the approximate £11.5 million per season deal that it is understood Mercedes has put on the table. The main issue to be debated now is whether or not the greater commercial freedom that Hamilton could have at Mercedes - because personal sponsorship deals are not as tightly controlled as they are at McLaren - is worth enough for Hamilton and XIX to consider it a better option. McLaren has a number of extensive commercial tie-ups with companies like Hugo Boss that limit the personal sponsorship possibilities that are open to its drivers. However, as Hamilton's current deal with Reebok shows, there is scope for personal deals to be part of a McLaren package. And sources suggest the outfit may be willing to be more flexible in what it allows Hamilton to do if it guarantees securing his future. The financial situation is also further complicated by the fact that any deals Hamilton could get at Mercedes may not be as much as win bonus possibilities he could have at McLaren. McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh said over the Singapore Grand Prix weekend that he felt Hamilton appeared more focused. When asked by AUTOSPORT whether there were any worries that the disappointment of retiring from the race would impact on Hamilton's decision about his future, Whitmarsh said: "I have to say that Lewis has been incredibly strong. "I've spoken to Lewis first hand and he is in a very focused frame of mind. He came around, thanked everyone in the team for their efforts this weekend and it was a much stronger-minded Lewis that we have seen before. "He is very focused, he knows there are 150 points that are available and he knows we are going to work hard to collect all of them, or as many as we can." Other team members were equally keen to praise Hamilton's attitude over the Singapore weekend. The situation for Hamilton is also further complicated by suggestions that Mercedes may be poised for a management shake-up. Speculation in the Singapore paddock pointed to the Mercedes board pondering a reorganisation of how the outfit is run, having finally given agreement to a deal that will commit it to Formula 1 until 2020. A decision could come at a board meeting that is scheduled for this week. Sources have suggested that former world champion Niki Lauda could even be drafted in to take a role with the team, following his successful involvement in negotiations between Mercedes and Bernie Ecclestone to frame a new Concorde Agreement deal. Lauda himself denied that he had a firm offer in place from Mercedes, but did not dismiss the possibility completely. "I've not been asked," he told AUTOSPORT about speculation of a role at Mercedes. "It would be wrong of me to say anything because I haven't been talked to about it. "The only thing I did was help Mercedes with the Concorde Agreement discussions, and that was just to get the ball rolling between the two parties." http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/102848

Fernando Alonso 194 Sebastian Vettel 165 Kimi Räikkönen 149 Lewis Hamilton 142 Mark Webber 132 wtf has happened to webber???

Mark Webber will leave Singapore empty-handed after he was hit with penalty post race. Car #2 left the track and gained an advantage when he rejoined", said the stewards. http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8104591/Webber-loses-point-after-penalty Michael Schumacher was slapped with a grid penalty for the incident with Jean-Eric Vergne. Schumacher admitted after the accident that it was "unavoidable" as he "just went straight on the brakes and it locked up". Despite the German's "guilty plea", the stewards have decided to hand him a 10-place grid penalty for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka in a fortnight's time. http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8104323/Schumi-gets-grid-penalty Sebastian Vettel keeps win despite inquiry into safety car near-miss. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/102820

watch this for you're dreaming of becoming a f1 engineer. http://ninemsn.carpoint.com.au/videos/2012/sports/how-to-get-a-job-in-the-f1-32487?_t=555314999&_r=NH_editorial

fyp.

yep, they changed the rules because they feared the high noses might take a drivers head off in a crash.

Next season's provisional calendar has been released to the teams with just two notable changes, Valencia is out and New Jersey is in. Provisional 2013 Calendar Mar 17 Australia (Melbourne) Mar 24 Malaysia (Sepang) Apr 14 China (Shanghai) Apr 21 Bahrain (Sakhir) May 12 Spain (Barcelona) May 26 Monaco (Monte Carlo) Jun 09 Canada (Montreal) Jun 16 America (New Jersey) * Jun 30 Britain (Silverstone) Jul 21 Germany (Hockenheim) Jul 28 Hungary (Hungaroring) Sep 01 Belgium (Spa) Sep 08 Italy (Monza) Sep 22 Singapore (Marina Bay) * Oct 06 Japan (Suzuka) Oct 13 Korea (Yeongam) * Oct 27 India (Buddh International Circuit) Nov 03 Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina) Nov 17 United States (Austin) Nov 24 Brazil (Interlagos) http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8096961/-New-Jersey-in-Valencia-out-

re engines. speed cafe interview official v8 supercar interview

merc's in ha. Hmmmmm. i'd love to see a black and gold bmw on the grid too..........

^ this.

as per wasteland rules he voted for someone else. bit slack really..

yes. la sigh.

Kylie Minogue plays Friday, Nickelback on Saturday and the awesome Eminem tops the bill for the finale on Sunday. All three After Race Concerts are exclusive to F1TM ticket holders only.

McLaren's hopes of retaining Lewis Hamilton are fading with reports he could be lured to Mercedes by big money and the chance to work with Ross Brawn. In the wake of the Belgian GP reports emerged claiming that Hamilton is off to Mercedes next season to replace the retiring Michael Schumacher. All parties, though, were quick to deny. The rumours refused to die down with Hamilton questioned about the matter several times during the Monza weekend. The Brit refused to give a 'yes' or 'no' answer, adamant he's focusing on the title race and his management team on his future. XIX Entertainment, Hamilton's representatives, are believed to be locked in negotiations with McLaren while having also spoken to Mercedes about the British driver. And while Sportsmail claims McLaren are only willing to offer Hamilton a deal "worth considerably less than his existing £15million-a-year terms", Mercedes have put an offer on the table that matches his "current deal while bonuses could push the sum towards £60m over three years." Hamilton, the report claims, is "shocked by McLaren's unwillingness to at least match his current salary." But it's not all about the money. Added to it Mercedes have sweetened the deal by offering Hamilton "undisputed" number one status while the 27-year-old is "excited by the prospect of working at Mercedes under Brawn." The report continued saying that, despite just one win in three seasons for Mercedes, Hamilton is "understood to be satisfied that, with Brawn at the helm and the backing of one of the planet's biggest car manufacturers, Mercedes can provide him with a car capable of realising his dream of emulating Ayrton Senna's record of three World titles. "Key to this belief is the fact that Mercedes, along with Ferrari and Renault, are developing the new V6 turbo engine scheduled to be used in Formula One from 2014. "Brawn admitted that while McLaren will remain a Mercedes customer, the fact his is the 'works team' means they are privy to all of the research and development of the new engine and are therefore better placed to design their car around it." As for Brawn's point of view, the Mail says he views Hamilton as the "final piece of the jigsaw" needed to put Mercedes at the front of the pack. Meanwhile, Swiss publication Blick has put forward Sergio Perez as Hamilton's possible replacement at McLaren after the Sauber driver raced to a very impressive runner-up result behind the Brit at last Sunday's Italian Grand Prix. Although the 22-year-old is a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, Scuderia president Luca di Montezemolo recently said he won't race for him next season as Perez needs "more experience", paving the way for McLaren to swoop in. http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/8076702/-Hamilton-To-Merc-Perez-To-McLaren- it's a long read but i found it interesting.

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh has admitted they have 'no Plan B' should he decide to quit the team, but the Daily Mail claims Caterham's Kovalainen along with Sauber's Sergio Perez and Paul di Resta from Force India are on the "possible replacement list". http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8073964/-McLaren-considering-Heikki- it's the daily mail so meh.