F1 2007

[twinspark]

Originally Posted by 6'bore

Why would that be interesting to see?

Well, they're a sports car manufacturer which brings them a certain type of glamour. It's not like I expect them to have much effect on the sport itself or even be more competitive than what Midland has been so far.

[magracer]

Originally Posted by 6'bore

Why would that be interesting to see? They are only a small company so I can't see them injecting massive funds into Midlands.

It's all about cost effectiveness... Renault spends way less than Ferrari, McLaren, and Toyota (maybe Honda), and they are currently fighting for the Championship.

That Spyker, which has limited experience building sports cars and even less racing them, will achieve something by going F1, is a very different issue.

[Nazmacher]

Originally Posted by magracer

It's all about cost effectiveness... Renault spends way less than Ferrari, McLaren, and Toyota (maybe Honda), and they are currently fighting for the Championship.

F1 Racing had a spread of spending efficiency in Formula One. In the stats I mention, remember they are Estimated Budget over '03-'05, and points scored over '03-'05

Renault ($801.58m) 384 points 0.48 (points/$m)
Ferrari ($1277.45m) 520 points 0.41
McLaren Mercedes ($1138.50m) 393 points 0.35
BMW Williams ($1074.75m) 298 points 0.28
BAR Honda ($1013.62) 183 points 0.18
Toyota ($1264.77m) 113 points 0.09
Minardi ($136.41m) 8 points 0.06

Renault are the most efficient. Actually I was quite surprised with Ferrari's efficiency, considering the salary they pay a certain Mr. Schumacher and over that period they were the only front runnning team with Bridgestones (hence huge testing load)
Toyota and Minardi... opposites, but very close! hehe

[twinspark]

Apparently we'll see some changes in the race calendar for next year, as

- there'll be no San Marino GP in Imola
- there'll be no European GP in Nürburgring (edited in to prevent misunderstandings)
- there will be a Belgian GP in Spa Francorchamps
- German GP will be raced every other year in Hockenheim and every other in Nürburgring
- Japanese GP will move from Suzuka to Fuji

The 17 race season starts in Australia and finishes in Brazil, though there has been speculations about adding one more race to the calendar, as there's a four week break between races 3 and 4.

[fpv_gtho]

There was alot of speculation that the Pacific GP might return as the 18th spot, in the 3 week gap between Australia and Sepang, but now it looks like Imola might have one last chance. It should have the track updates ready for next year, so if it can still make the grid it might be interesting to see what the revisions can provide in the way of on track action. IIRC theyre removing one of the chicanes.

[Jack_Bauer]

I'm a little suprised that Bernie has decided to chop 2 events off the calendar without having something in to replace them. It's fairly well known that Bernie wants there to be as many GPs as they can possibly fit in, and ideally ones in places outside the EU where tobacco sponsorship isn't so tightly restricted. Although the Nurburgring and San Marino haven't exactly been the most profitable races recently I thought that at least one of them would survive until a viable alternative on another continent became available.

Still, great news that Spa seems to be back on the cards, although it was on the provisional calendar this year and had to be scrapped for financial reasons. The Belgian GP is perhaps not out of the woods yet, so to speak.

[Wouter Melissen]

Kovalainen and Briatore confirmed for 2007 at Renault! Zonda and Piquet Jr. will take up testing duties.

[twinspark]

Originally Posted by Wouter Melissen

Kovalainen and Briatore confirmed for 2007 at Renault! Zonda and Piquet Jr. will take up testing duties.

Finally a confirmation about Kovalainen. And all the other pieces should fall into their places soon, it's just a long time to wait till sunday.

[Daz27]

Ive read somewhere that Renault may have UPS as a sponsor... Im not overly thrilled at seeing a brown and white Renault belting around, and it'd only be inevitable that somewhere through next season, they wont be performing at the standard we are all used to, so people are going to be making comments about the car being the right colour, ie shitty brown...

[fpv_gtho]

Well UPS wont be the title sponsor, so the colouring is unlikely to spread further than the corporate logo etc. Last i heard Telefonica were going to step up as the title sponsor.

[Daz27]

Telefonica apparantly are pulling out of Renault. They have lost interest since Alonso announced his deferral and also Renault is announcing a new title sponsor at the end of the year. When I remember where I read it I'll put up a link.

[twinspark]

So it'll be Felipe Massa and Kimi Räikkönen in Ferrari for a couple of years. That's now confirmed.

Edit: Massa 2007-2008 and Räikkönen 2007-2009.

[Mr.Tiv]

Perhaps we will see Massa's full potential...

[Jack_Bauer]

After all the rumour and gossip a Ferrari and McLaren was finally put to bed at the weekend, the only places yet to be confirmed are at the other end of the grid.

Today it has been announced that Christian Klien has been dropped by Red Bull Racing for the final 3 races of the season, to be replaced by Robert Doornbos. The rumour is that he was offered a deal to stay within the Red Bull stable by going to drive for them in Champ Car. However, it appears he has turned that down and has been allowed to leave to "further his career elsewhere". The suggestion is that Klien will stay in F1 in 2007 by moving to the 'new' Spyker-MF1 team where he's likely to partner Dutchman Christijan Albers.

Nothing official, but that is the hot gossip at the moment...

[magracer]

Originally Posted by fpv_gtho

Well UPS wont be the title sponsor, so the colouring is unlikely to spread further than the corporate logo etc. Last i heard Telefonica were going to step up as the title sponsor.

Highly unlikely as McLaren stole Vodafone from Ferrari a year ago.