2006 F1 Season

[ctjet]

Green light for 2007 Belgian Grand Prix

The Belgian Grand Prix, axed from this year's Formula One calendar, will definitely return to the historic Spa-Francorchamps circuit in 2007, it was confirmed Wednesday.

The classic race's comeback was assured after the signing of a contract between Formula One Supremo Bernie Ecclestone and the race's new management team, the local regional government announced.

It is due to be staged on September 16 by the Spa-Grand Prix company which succeeded DDF1, whose bankruptcy led to the cancelling of this season's race. Ecclestone gave his go-ahead after Spa-Grand Prix agreed to carry out major renovation to improve the track's infrastructure at an estimated cost of 40 million euros.

YAAAAAAYYYYYYY!!!

best

track

ever...

[gtr660hp]

double Yaaaah

I lurv this track

[JaiJai]

Still not over what happened to ferrari...

[ctjet]

looks like its Pedro and kimi in Brazil for Maclaren... so they say

[gtr660hp]

newsflash....Alonso is a self obsessed wanker

[ctjet]

McLaren confirms de la Rosa for Brazil

[blackrex]

Got to give him a chance to say goodbye...

[ctjet]

i didnt know Ron was getting so compassionate in his old age

[ctjet]

Kimi keen to end his career with Ferrari

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen says he does not intend to be racing in F1 for the next 10 years and has joined Ferrari so that he has the best chance of becoming World Champion very soon. The Finn, who turns 27 on the 17th October, admits that he will miss working with his McLaren team but that his decision to leave for the Scuderia was "one hundred percent technical."

Raikkonen has been with the McLaren-Mercedes outfit for five years but has had a disappointing and unsuccessful year with the British team in 2006 and is looking forward to donning the Ferrari red next season.

"I am really happy to be joining Ferrari".

"They are the most successful team since the beginning of Formula 1 and the team to beat the past seven or eight years, so to be driving for them is a dream come true".

"I joined them because I believe they will give me the best opportunity of being a world champion. Hopefully that we be in 2007! I can't wait".

Rumours surrounded the lengthy Schumacher replacement saga with one of the most frequent reporting that the Raikkonen had a pre-contract with Ferrari. The Iceman, as he is affectionately known in racing circles, denies this though, saying that he had signed a three-year deal from the very beginning. Unlike his predecessor, Raikkonen says he does not intend on being in Formula One for a very long period of time, saying in fact that he believes Ferrari will be his last stop in F1.

"I do not think I will drive as long as Schumacher did. Ferrari will probably be my last team," he told Auto Motor Und Sport.

looks like the iceman will be around for 3-5 years and Ferrari has to replace him already... suppose the tabloids are harrasing him as to who will replace him?

[gtr660hp]

Kimi and ferrari for 3-5 years is a good thing for both parties

Iceman FTW next year

[ctjet]

F1 scraps third cars, amends engine rules

18 October 2006

F1 teams will not be allowed to run three cars at Grand Prix practice sessions from next season, the FIA announced on Wednesday. Third drivers, however will still have their time in the spotlight in a revised weekend timetable.

Friday free practice will be extended to two 90-minute sessions, from the current two 60-minute format. However, teams will be limited to using two cars in any one session which will be driven by a nominated third driver or the team's regular two race drivers. In another twist, Friday practice will be exempt from the two-engine rules.

At the moment engines must last for two successive Grands Prix and any unscheduled engine changes incur a ten place grid penalty. This has meant that the main drivers have not run much on Fridays to conserve engine mileage. The new rule is designed to fix that problem.

Tyres will also change next season as Bridgestone will be the only supplier, teams will have 14 sets available per driver per weekend - twice as much as currently.

Another change involves safety cars where lapped cars will be allowed past the pace car so they don't get in the way of the leaders. Any lapped car between cars running on the lead lap will have to pass those cars and the safety car and proceed around the track to take up position at the back of the line of cars behind the safety car.

More on track action next year

[ctjet]

No more engine penalties for friday practice... im sure theres a loop hole in there that will be exploited

[djr81]

It is going to suck in a way becuase by freeing up testing on track on Fridays the teams will undoubtedly go to the race with more refined set ups. So the animals (aka teams) will basically be forming up on the grid two by two. Still it is better than not having anyone who's name you recognise going around on the Friday....

[ctjet]

fuel strategies i think will play a big part in next years championship... i dont think the two by two dilemma wil be too much of a problem next year, teams opt for different tyres, fuels, strategies etc etc... plus some teams have drivers that are not in the same calliber as their teammate

[djr81]

How dare you insinuate that Yamamoto is not in the same league as Sato.

[ctjet]

[ctjet]

i was thinking more along the lines of:

>

[dezz]

Sato > Raikkonen

[ctjet]

Looks like the The land of goat sphincter rings F1 organisers got their fine cut in half... I have to admit, 5 mil is pretty steep

[Beer Baron]

c'mon let's all get behind MS. love him or hate him i'm sure you hate alonso more. i mean the guy is a massive tool, plus i hear he has erectile disfunction, and he once tried to crack onto to fillepe massa. and he's fashioned himself to look like a dorky version of zoro.