F1 2010

Keith

Moderator
No really I didn't...

But I am closely related to this guy or so my daughters tell me....

Homer.jpg
 

Pete McCluskey.

Lifetime Supporter
The bar-code livery is not owned by Philip Morris and is not one of their registered brands or trade marks, so it might be hard to prove that it is advertising, subliminal or otherwise. Quite a concept advertising by not advertising.
(Yet we all know it represents Marlboro. Except for Homer that is.)
 

Pete McCluskey.

Lifetime Supporter
F1 for New York?

A report in the Jersey Journal suggests that plans are afoot to host a possible F1 race in Liberty State Park, possibly at night and with the New York City skyline as backdrop.
Preliminary talks are believed to have already taken place with a proposal outlining a 3.6-mile road course and the possibility of a Singapore-style event to run from 2012. "The incredible backdrop of the New York skyline will not only boost ticket sales but also provide striking TV footage," said the proposal.
In a similar move to the early opposition to the Melbourne race in Albert Park, however, 'The Friends of Liberty State Park' have already written to the Jersey City mayor, complaining that such race plans fly in the face of the park's intended use as a haven, with nature areas and a habitat for walking, biking and jogging.
 
F1 for New York?

A report in the Jersey Journal suggests that plans are afoot to host a possible F1 race in Liberty State Park, possibly at night and with the New York City skyline as backdrop.
Preliminary talks are believed to have already taken place with a proposal outlining a 3.6-mile road course and the possibility of a Singapore-style event to run from 2012. "The incredible backdrop of the New York skyline will not only boost ticket sales but also provide striking TV footage," said the proposal.
In a similar move to the early opposition to the Melbourne race in Albert Park, however, 'The Friends of Liberty State Park' have already written to the Jersey City mayor, complaining that such race plans fly in the face of the park's intended use as a haven, with nature areas and a habitat for walking, biking and jogging.

Sounds familiar. Years ago I was on a team that was organizing an Indy car race through Grant park in downtown Chicago. Carl Haas was part of the group, and we had the backing of the Mayor's office and all city agencies. It would have been a terrific event. Unfortunately, the Friends of the Park objected, stating the opinion that the race would ruin the intended use of the park for "walking, cycling and playing softball". The Mayor rolled over and withdrew support and the race went to Detroit.
 

Pete McCluskey.

Lifetime Supporter
Sounds familiar. Years ago I was on a team that was organizing an Indy car race through Grant park in downtown Chicago. Carl Haas was part of the group, and we had the backing of the Mayor's office and all city agencies. It would have been a terrific event. Unfortunately, the Friends of the Park objected, stating the opinion that the race would ruin the intended use of the park for "walking, cycling and playing softball". The Mayor rolled over and withdrew support and the race went to Detroit.

I remember the protesters at the Melbourne Grand Prix in Albert Park, they were playing the same tune saying the ducks and swans would leave and the place would be overrun by drop bears.
None of which happened of course, if these people had their way we would all still be living in caves.
 

Russ Noble

GT40s Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Yeah, but they wouldn't be caves filled with carbon monoxide and carcinogens like we've got now.......;)
 

Pete McCluskey.

Lifetime Supporter
You are right Russ, but there would be no GT40's, motor racing or politicians for David to rant about either. Bloody boring mate.:thumbsdown:
 

Pete McCluskey.

Lifetime Supporter
Sir Stirling on the season so far, nice little dig at Schumacher.
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http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/15237.html


"The story in Shanghai, just like in Melbourne, was all about Jenson Button. Both the races he's won, he's done it because he made the right decision. He's taken victory by using his head and that shows he is working at a very high level in the car. So far this season I've been saying Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel have been the top drivers, now I'm happy to say Jenson has joined them.

Looking at the McLaren driver pairing, the most exciting without a doubt is Hamilton but it's Jenson who's calmly getting the job done. When he went to McLaren over the winter I said to him, "You've put your head in the lion's mouth now," to which he calmly replied: "It'll be interesting". And I think it is interesting, because Hamilton has shown immense talent coming through the field but Button has out-qualified him and scored more points. The difference is that Button is thinking properly. It reminds me of the story of the young bull and the old bull. The two of them are stood at the top of the field and the young bull says to the old bull, "Let's run down there and screw one of those cows." To which the old bull replies, "No, let's walk down there and screw the lot of them". A crude analogy maybe, but Button is seeing the bigger picture and he's winning.

It's good to see the two of them have a genuinely good relationship too. Obviously they want to beat each other, but I was pleased to see Hamilton congratulate his team-mate so enthusiastically in China. Looking back at my career, I was very good friends with some of my closest rivals. I got on very well with Pete Collins for example, but that didn't stop me wanting to beat him on the track and he felt exactly the same way. So you can battle someone very hard in the races and still be good friends afterwards. Ultimately, Hamilton and Button's friendship is a good thing for McLaren and it should benefit both of them this season.

However, I do think it's a great shame Hamilton has split from his father Anthony. I can compare that to the relationship I had with my father, because he used to help me out at races and we'd talk about all sorts of things. It's important to have that confidential release away from the media spotlight and to have someone you can really trust. I don't think Lewis would have got involved in that scrape with the police in Australia had his father been there, not that the incident bothers me, but it wasn't good for his preparations for the race. Anthony was a very positive influence at the races and Lewis has lost that now.

Another place where the relationship might not be as rosy as it once was is at Ferrari. Alonso pulled a pretty saucy move on Felipe Massa to ensure he was first in the pits for fresh tyres in Shanghai. More than anything that really showed Alonso's character; that's the kind of man he is, he's a racer. And I'm not saying that's a bad thing because I would have done the same if I'd been in that situation.

But if I were to put myself in Massa's shoes, a man who is facing doubt about his future with rumours he might be replaced by Robert Kubica in 2011, I'd be keen to show the team what I'm made of. If Ferrari is considering Kubica, Massa has to convince the boss he is making a mistake, and if that means being ruthless to Alonso in return then so be it. There's certainly no point in getting angry about it because that won't get him anywhere. It'll be interesting to see how that situation evolves.

A lot of media focus has also been cast on Michael Schumacher after his disappointing start to the season. People say it's because he's been away for three years and that sort of stuff, but I'm going to stick to what I said at the start of the season: Until now, he's never had a truly competitive team-mate. His seven world titles are, in my mind, misleading and I think we are seeing proof of that now he is up against Rosberg. What's more I'm not sure he is taking F1 as seriously as he was earlier in his career. You need a compulsion to be there, you can't just do it for fun, and I don't think Schumacher has that compulsion anymore. To win you need to believe that there is no way anybody else can beat you and, frankly, I don't think he's in that kind of mindset. It seems as though this year is just part of his retirement rather than an extension of his career.

I hear Mercedes has got some big updates coming to the car and a lot of people are saying that will benefit Schumacher. But I think an intelligent team like Mercedes will develop the car to suit both drivers, so I don't see the order changing anytime soon. Rosberg has proved himself as the team's No.1 and he's been faster than Schumacher in all circumstances. That will be an enormous boost for his self-confidence and that will filter back to the team. Earlier I said that Button had joined my top three drivers, but I wouldn't say the same about Rosberg just yet. We shouldn't let our judgement be clouded by the fact he is beating Schumacher as that isn't quite the achievement it used to be.

Despite a poor race in China, by the time we get to Spain Red Bull will still be the team to beat. Adrian Newey has built a fantastic car and now it's down to the people at the track to make sure it takes the wins it deserves. Mark Webber will improve this season but Vettel is the one to watch, he's such a great talent. Barcelona might not offer the best racing, but with all the updates and intra-team battles up and down the paddock, I'm sure they'll still be plenty to talk about in my next column."
 

Pete McCluskey.

Lifetime Supporter
Ferrari Bar code questioned.



Leading doctors are demanding an immediate government inquiry into “subliminal” tobacco advertising on Ferrari’s Formula One cars, and the company’s $1 billion relationship with the maker of Marlboro cigarettes, The Times has learnt.

The red, white and black bar code emblazoned on Ferrari’s racing cars and its drivers’ overalls is designed to remind viewers of a packet of Marlboro cigarettes, it is claimed. Under EU legislation it is an offence for a tobacco company to sponsor sporting events.

Yesterday a spokesman for the European Public Health Commissioner said he thought that Marlboro’s approach constituted potential subliminal marketing. He urged the Spanish and British governments to ascertain whether the world’s second-biggest tobacco company might be in breach of the law.

Formula One teams are due to fly into Spain for the European leg of the season which begins in 5 days’ time. The British Grand Prix is on July 11.

Don Elgie, chief executive of Creston, which owns the advertising agency DLKW, said he thought that the bar code was subliminal advertising — where a brand is so recognisable that consumers can be reminded of a product without actually seeing it.

John Britton, a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and director of its tobacco advisory group, said: “The bar code looks like the bottom half of a packet of Marlboro cigarettes. I was stunned when I saw it. This is pushing at the limits. If you look at how the bar code has evolved over the last four years, it looks like creeping branding.”

Gerard Hastings, director of the Centre for Tobacco Control Research, said: “I think this is advertising. Why a bar code? What is their explanation?”

Frank Dobson, who was Health Secretary between 1997 and 1999, also called for an inquiry. Mr Dobson, now a backbench Labour MP, said: “The tobacco firms were working out years ago how they could advertise if there was a ban on tobacco advertising.”

Spokesmen for Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer, and the Department of Health refused to comment. A spokesperson for the BBC, which has a contract to broadcast Formula One, said: “We are confident that Formula One, and as a result our coverage of Formula One, is fully compliant with regulations.”

In September 2005 Philip Morris, the maker of Marlboro, extended its financial backing for the Ferrari team until 2011, despite the ban on cigarette branding on cars racing in the European Union. The contract is understood to be worth $1 billion over ten years and Philip Morris said Ferraris would not carry Marlboro branding where there was a ban.

A spokesman for the Italian car maker said: “The bar code is part of the livery of the car, it is not part of a subliminal advertising campaign.”

Asked about the Philip Morris contract he said: “$100 million [a year] is not a correct figure. We do not disclose the figure — the figure you mention, it is lower.”

Ferrari is the only Formula One team with a tobacco brand in its formal title, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro. Its logo also has the bar code and its drivers, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, wear overalls bearing the bar code next to the Ferrari logo on each arm.

Philip Morris said: “We are confident that our relationship with Ferrari does not violate the UK 2002 Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act. The Formula One Grand Prix in the UK does not involve any race cars, team apparel, equipment or track signage carrying tobacco product branding. The same is true for all other Formula One races across the world.”

Ferrari removes barcode from livery

06 May 2010

Following speculation that the barcode on Ferrari's engine cover was 'subliminal advertising' for tobacco company Phillip Morris, courtesy of its Marlboro brand, the Italian team has elected to remove the area from its livery.

With tobacco sponsorship strictly forbidden in Formula 1, leading doctors have claimed that the Ferrari barcode logo is illegal as it subconsciously reminds smokers of a Marlboro cigarette packet although the team - which does have the Marlboro name in its official title - has strongly contested the claims.


However, the Maranello squad revealed on Thursday in Barcelona that it has now removed the pattern from its cars.

'Together with Philip Morris International we have decided to modify the livery of our cars starting with the Barcelona Grand Prix,' reads an official statement from the Scuderia.

This decision was taken in order to remove all speculation concerning the so-called 'bar code' which was never intended to be a reference to a tobacco brand.

By this we want to put an end to this ridiculous story and concentrate on more important things than on such groundless allegations.

Yeah right,
A lot of publicity for Marlboro.
 
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