F1 2009

[David Morton]

Keith,
I'd like to be associated with your comments.
Having stated that, I would also go back to my insistence ( for a long time now) that F1 is no longer a sport and has not been for about the last 15+ Years. Renault along with most of the other teams are in it for the glamour, publicity and to some - the money spinoff. The last time something terrible happened ? Look at what happened in Imola 1994 - the race continued. To me thats when it all went to worms. Since then a sport it has not been.

 

[Jack]

I'd go for a return to the older regulations, no wings, real shifter & clutch pedal, etc.
No telemetry, KERS, etc. Keep the chassis safe as currently done and make a 2.5L
limit for non-turbo engines, otherwise unrestricted. THEN real drivers will prevail!

 

[Grady]

It is 10:30 PM eastern here, I've got to get up at 5 AM....but these last 25 post have me rolling in front of the CRT. What a wonderful world we live in...the ease of communication. Different languages, work, and likes....but this shared common interest and knowledge is here is so very human we share. Someone needs to write this story and make a movie. Fast cars, sexy women, money, intrigue, danger, a twisting story plot that goes forward and back in time. I can see it now, Clive Owen to play Mark Webber, Woody Allen could be Bernie.

Would it fly?
Night all, or is it good morning?

 

[tom pritchett]

With the radio calls sounding normal, etc... my personal vote on this one is still up in the air. One question is... is it against the rules to wreck your own car on purpose? If this was orchestrated, it was genious.

 

[Pete McCluskey.]

With the radio calls sounding normal, etc... my personal vote on this one is still up in the air. One question is... is it against the rules to wreck your own car on purpose? If this was orchestrated, it was genious.

It happened alright Tom, Renault have already pled no contest. I'm with you, I would love to find out how they did it.

Molleur, I think this is the first time I have disagreed with any of your posts. F1 has always been at the sharp end of innovation, and I think it should remain so. KERS is just such an example.
Formula Ford has what you are after, albeit with a smaller engine and they are great fun to watch.

TU152, a movie like that would be too far fetched to rate.
It is Thursday afternoon 2.45 pm here.

 

[Pete McCluskey.]

With the radio calls sounding normal, etc... my personal vote on this one is still up in the air. One question is... is it against the rules to wreck your own car on purpose? If this was orchestrated, it was genious.

Tom, This is how they did it.

 

[Paul Brameld]

You may well be right Frank.
I would love to see it being re awarded as a result of this scam by Renault.
I think everybody would inwardly cheer if it did go to Massa irrespective of
the PC aspect it clearly evokes. For me - it would be a very loud HOOOORRRRAAAYY
to see the championship re awarded to Massa.
PC? not me sunshine.......

Hi David,
I seem to remember that you thought the sun shone out of Pat Symonds's posterior ? Maybe they are all as bad as "your mate" the good Ron!!
Paul

 

[David Morton]

Hi Paul - Yes - he gave me a start with Racemet in 1996 and then I worked with him again for 6 years from 2002. I thought he was a very clever man and probably one of the best tacticians in motorsport bar none and took Renault to two world championships as well. Why did things change in recent times? Maybe because of desperate times and maybe because of pressure for results from Renault in France in the business that is F1? Renault, as an aside, who were under new management by a man who was not all that keen on F1? I cannot really make any more comments save those in the previous posts on this thread and I don't know any more than is now in the public domain. I've had a couple of text messages from Pat but they were private.
Ron was a slightly different individual and much less talented to be up on the pitwall as was/is his sidekick Whitmarsh.
Paul - I have not changed my opinion.
Pat is a friend of mine.
I don't do fairweather !!

 

[Jon Briggs]

I know Pat was one of the best tacticians in the paddock, anyone who can take Renault to two world championships must be very good. He will be missed.

My thoughts on this is that Renault have done a deal with the FIA. They have said they will not contest the charges, that is slightly different to pleading guilty. Monday will not be a hearing and all we will learn is what punishment will be dispensed. It wont be too big or too small. Renault will probably be kicked out of this years championship. What worries me is that we will never get to the truth. The FIA and the truth were never great bed fellows, but somehow this is all going to be brushed under the carpet, and Pat has been made the scape goat.

What really interests me is what the Teflon coated Alonso knew about all this, I struggle to believe he knew nothing.

 

[Pete McCluskey.]

I know Pat was one of the best tacticians in the paddock, anyone who can take Renault to two world championships must be very good. He will be missed.

My thoughts on this is that Renault have done a deal with the FIA. They have said they will not contest the charges, that is slightly different to pleading guilty. Monday will not be a hearing and all we will learn is what punishment will be dispensed. It wont be too big or too small. Renault will probably be kicked out of this years championship. What worries me is that we will never get to the truth. The FIA and the truth were never great bed fellows, but somehow this is all going to be brushed under the carpet, and Pat has been made the scape goat.

What really interests me is what the Teflon coated Alonso knew about all this, I struggle to believe he knew nothing.

I am sure Alonso would have known all about it, he is the senior driver and Piquet was the struggling new bloke. Alonso would have been consulted on the tactic for sure.
This may give Renault's new C.E.O. a chance to get out of F1 and cut his losses. I hope not.

I'm off to Singapore on Wednesday, rain is forecast for the entire weekend which will be interesting under lights. Anyone else going to be there? I'm staying at Raffles.

 

[Brett James-McCall]

This may give Renault's new C.E.O. a chance to get out of F1 and cut his losses. I hope not.

Maybe the buyers of BMW will now be able to fill the slot after their 'impressive' entry proposal.....

 

[Pat Buckley]

Alonza had to at least wonder about the fuel strategy......

 

[David Morton]

Sorry Peter, I'd love to be there but can't at the moment.
Remember to eat at Fatties on Bugis Street (Sizzling King Prawn)
and the food market about 3 blocks behind Raffles (really nice cold Tiger)
and good food for almost nothing. The Pilots watering hole is directly behind
Raffles (North Bridge Street) - adjacent to Raffles - almost in the same block. A good selection of beers - probably including Australian beer as well.
I'll be going later on - probably when the smoke abates. (It may be worth packing a mask to take with you). The Natives are burning in Indonesia. No - that doesn't sound right. The Indonesians are setting fire to the jungles to clear them and it's giving some smoke in the downtown area in Singapore.
Enjoy

 

[Pete McCluskey.]

Thanks for the tips David, I'll make a point of going to the Pilots pub, do you remember its name? You never know I might collect some stories about a certain Captain Morton :lipsrsealed:

 

[David Morton]

Just exit Raffles via the Arcade at the rear of the hotel, turn right and it's almost facing you on the next block. My last visit in there was 10 yrars ago.

 

[roaldin]

Yrars? I thought you were a pilot, not a pirate.

Watch out for the press gang Pete' me lad.

Yrar me hearties

Tim.

 

[Paul Brameld]

Paul - I have not changed my opinion.
Pat is a friend of mine.
I don't do fairweather !![/QUOTE]

Hi Dave,
I did not suggest that you did!
However the fact that you mention PS has much higher intellect that others on the pit wall, just makes the actions taken, that much more incredible.
Paul

 

[David Morton]

Yes Paul,
It leaves me a bit mystified as well. It will all be a bit more clear next week but apparently there is a nice mansion for sale just down the road from here with a helicopter pad and pool and the neighbours are supposedly pleased he (Flav) is moving into the West End.
I though he already had.
Spilling mistakes abuv are a result of yping one handed, several caiperinhas, a tramadol, and slight fateegue.

 

[David Morton]

Anyone to hazard a guess on how much in dollars Renault will have to pay as a fine to the FIA ?
As a ball roller - 1/4 million?

 

[Frank Catt]

As Malcolm said, if its any less than the MAC fine it just gets a bigger farce !