F1 2007

[MattR]

Originally Posted by Tahoe C5

BTW I heard Paul Tracy and Kurt Busch will be driving a Scion powered H2 for the WWF!!!!

I wish someone would smack PT around. What a bitch.

Anyway, my hope is that Toyota surprises everyone next year (Finally) .

[Nick Koan]

Okay, the big one from the weekend. Michael is retiring, and Ferrari is getting Kimi and Massa.

During the broadcast, they also mentioned that Anthony Davidson is confirmed for Super Aguri, but I can't seem to find a new article anywhere.

[Nick Koan]

Spyker signed Albers.

Their first, I believe. http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=131181

[Nick Koan]

Not really related to the drivers market, but to next season. Spyker announces that they will be running Ferrari engines. During qualifying, Varsha (I think it was Varsha) announced they were going to be buying Renault engines, but that was wrong. Spyker MF1 is going to run Ferrari engines.

http://www.crash.net/news_View.asp?t...id=1&id=138165

Spyker MF1 has filled another piece of the jigsaw for its first full season in Formula One, after announcing its cars will be powered by Ferrari V8s in 2007.

Rumours have been rife about the team's engine supply for 2007 ever since the Dutch consortium took over from Midland at the Italian Grand Prix, with Spyker's link to Ferrari through common shareholders seemingly securing it a plum supply line with the multiple champions, albeit for only a single year.

Coming a day after the team announced that Christijan Albers would be retained for next year, Spyker will become the third team to receive a supply of Ferrari engines next season after the Italian team itself and one of the Red Bull squads.

Ferrari engines are the latest in a series of coups the team has snared recently, following the signing of respected technical director Mike Gascoyne, with Spyker director Michiel Mol claiming this will put the team on the path of competitiveness.

"After the completion of the sale yesterday, this announcement completes the first chapter of the Spyker MF1 team and I believe truly illustrates our commitment and ambition. We are in F1 to be competitive," he insisted.

With the team's current Toyota customer engine supply defecting to Williams next season, Cosworth had been thought to be the popular choice for MF1, thus conducting a straight swap. However, Spyker confirming its purchase of the Midland team at Monza started a flurry of rumours linking Ferrari to the team in a deal that is also thought to stretch to supplying the Dutch concern's road cars.

"It has been an agonising wait for this decision, but I think it reflects the new found stature of our team under the Spyker ownership," team principal Colin Kolles said.

"The most important element for our technical team is that, for the first time in many years, they have long-term stability, which is something which has hurt our design process in recent years. There is a lot of work to do before we get running in early 2007, but we all love a challenge!"

The deal almost certainly means that Cosworth is unlikely to feature on next year's grid, with the V10 units in the back of the Toro Rosso entries set to be replaced by either Ferrari or Renault V8s.

[Nick Koan]

BMW Sauber confirms Heidfield and Kubica

http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=133373

[MattR]

I thought this was interesting....talk about consistency.

Originally Posted by speedtv (regarding 2006 season)

...Interestingly, Renault has confirmed that Fernando completed every race in chassis R26-3 – it’s very rare in the modern era for a driver not to swap cars at some point.

[Nick Koan]

Looks like Jean Todt will not be doing Formula One for Ferrari next year.

He just became the CEO of Ferrari S.p.A.

http://f1.racing-live.com/f1/en/head...25184742.shtml

The Ferrari S.p.A. Board of Directors, which met today in Turin under the presidency of Luca di Montezemolo, has appointed:

# Jean Todt as Chief Executive Officer of Ferrari S.p.A.

# Amedeo Felisa as General Manager of Ferrari S.p.A.

Amedeo Felisa has joined the Board in place of Renato Pagliaro who has resigned.

There is no announcement yet about who will replace Jean Todt at the helm of Ferrari’s Formula One team.

[MattR]

Wow, so is that like a "desk job" ?

[Nick Koan]

Yeah, there is a lot of talk around the internet about Ferrari next year.

Jean Todt is now leaving, Rory Byrne is only a consultant, and Ross Brawn might also be retiring. Without the team behind him, will Kimi have a car worth driving?

[MattR]

Boy, I'm starting to think that Ferrari will suck next year. You can't change THAT many key roles and expect the same level of quality initially.

With Ferrari on the skids with personel, Renault moving to 2 mediocre drivers, and Mclaren lumbering along with the best driver but continued mechanical shortcomings...Who will be on top next year?

Maybe Honda and BMW-Sauber have a genuine shot next year.

[MattR]

Originally Posted by Pat R.

I can't see Kimi staying at McMerc. They're the reason he drinks.

How did I miss that Youtube link before Damn Kimi's insane.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by MattR

Boy, I'm starting to think that Ferrari will suck next year. You can't change THAT many key roles and expect the same level of quality initially.

With Ferrari on the skids with personel, Renault moving to 2 mediocre drivers, and Mclaren lumbering along with the best driver but continued mechanical shortcomings...Who will be on top next year?

Maybe Honda and BMW-Sauber have a genuine shot next year.

Toyota.

[MattR]

As I said before, I've always hoped for Toyota to succeed, but they seemed really flat at the end of this season, whereas BMW and Honda were in the rise.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by MattR

As I said before, I've always hoped for Toyota to succeed, but they seemed really flat at the end of this season, whereas BMW and Honda were in the rise.

I was being sarcastic.

But realistically, I don't see why Toyota couldn't succeed next year... *everything* is mixed up... all the "big" teams have lost drivers or team principles, etc. Plus with the change to spec tires, IMO the team w/ the most money and least changes should have a decent shot at winning. So don't count Toyota out.

That said, I think Honda will be the team to beat next year. I think Button will finally have a real shot at coming into his own, and Rubens is already one of the most experienced drivers in F1. There's no real hole in that team's strengths.

[Nick Koan]

I'm curious to see how Red Bull does next year. Its still unknown whether they'll be running Ferrari or Renault engines next year, but the chasis will be Adrian Newy designed. Get a good techical team under that (and good mechanics) and they could be a force to be reckoned with as well.

[MattR]

Originally Posted by nKoan

I'm curious to see how Red Bull does next year. Its still unknown whether they'll be running Ferrari or Renault engines next year, but the chasis will be Adrian Newy designed. Get a good techical team under that (and good mechanics) and they could be a force to be reckoned with as well.

Don't forget, They also employee the two biggest underachievers in F1...I like Webber and Coulthard, but if they don't succeed in 07, I expect them to be hitting golf balls with Michael by mid-season.

I think Red bull will be much more competitive next year.

[Nick Koan]

Here is an interesting quote from Jenson Button

"Over the last six races, I've scored more points than anyone, but that's only six races. The problem is there are 18 races," he told the Daily Express.

I checked it out, and it's true. Even though Alonso (who was only one point behind him for the last six races) was probably on the defensive in the last third of the season its still an interesting factoid.

Damn, I'm already getting excited for next season.

[MattR]

Red Bull to get Renault engines, Toro Roso to run Ferrari.

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/formulaone/33706/

Originally Posted by speed

Red Bull managed to obtain its wishes, and confirmed today a change of engine supplier for its two Formula 1 teams, Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso.

The energy drinks company had signed an engine-supply deal with Renault for next season; however, RBR still had one year to go in its contract to use Ferrari power.

Yet since the “junior” Toro Rosso squad’s agreement with Cosworth expired by this season’s end, Red Bull had hoped to transfer its commitment with Ferrari from RBR to STR, a move initially resisted in public by the Scuderia’s general manager Jean Todt.

Ferrari has eventually been persuaded though, and RBR will indeed have Renault power in 2007, while STR will run Ferrari engines. Renault’s RS26 V8 mill, believed to be the most compact in F1 today, was sought by new RBR chief designer Adrian Newey to motivate next year’s RB3, the first Newey-penned Red bull car.

Today’s confirmation also makes official that Cosworth will be out of Formula 1 next year

[Nick Koan]

Super Aguri confirms Anthony Davidson.

http://www.crash.net/news_View~t~Sup...~id~140250.htm

As has been expected for some time, Honda test driver Anthony Davidson will be joining Super Aguri F1 to partner Takuma Sato in the team's 2007 line-up.

Rumours of the move have been rampant for some time, with the possibility that Davidson could even join Sato in the line-up before the end of the 2006 campaign, but it has only now been made official as Super Aguri firms up plans for its second season in the top flight.

The Briton is highly regarded in the F1 paddock for his test and development ability, but has only made three race appearances - two with Minardi and one with BAR/Honda - in five years since becoming BAR's third driver. He consistently topped the Friday timesheets when eligible to run during grand prix weekends, and was credited with playing a pivotal role in the steady improvement which led to the Honda team's first win in Hungary this season.

Despite approaches from the likes of Williams in recent seasons, Honda managed to retain his services, but eventually had to bow to the inevitable and give Davidson the opportunity to pursue his race ambitions, albeit with 'sister' team SAF1. He now rejoins former Carlin F3 team-mate Sato, who will lead the squad - which has abandoned its all-Japanese ambitions - for a second season.

"This is a great opportunity for me and I'm really excited about approaching my first full season as a race driver in Formula One," Davidson admitted in a team statement, "I'd like to thank everyone at the Super Aguri team, and at Honda, for giving me this chance."

With the Aguri team closing the gap on Spyker and Scuderia Toro Rosso in the closing weeks of the season, despite starting the year with a reworked four-year old design, Davidson is confident that he will have a chance to make a good impression in 2007, especially as SAF1 is still hoping to use a version of this year's Honda RA106, a car he is particularly familiar with.

"I've been impressed with the improvements the team has made through the 2006 season, and I can already see from my first visits to the factory that the team is very hard-working and highly motivated," he continued, "I can't wait to get started!"

Davidson's deal means the end of Sakon Yamamoto's race deal with the team, but there is a chance that the Formula Nippon frontrunner could retain a place as third driver next year.

"I am delighted to have Takuma and Anthony as our drivers for next year," team boss Aguri Suzuki said, "Takuma performed outstandingly in our first year and I hope that he will be able to build on this with us next year.

"As you know, Anthony has been with Honda as a test driver for a while now, and he brings to us a wealth of experience in Formula One. I believe that he will make a positive impact on the team and that he will fit into the family atmosphere that we have at Super Aguri F1 perfectly. I am looking forward to seeing both our drivers rising to the challenge in the 2007 season."

[tysonK]

I hope Davidson thought long and hard about that. He sounds positive in the interview of course.

[Nick Koan]

Its a tough call for sure.

He always said he'd rather be a test driver at Honda then a race driver at a lesser team, but I guess the bug to actually race might have bitten him. It also probably helps to see Montagny do decent during the practices of the last few races of the season.

I think Super Aguri is ready to get off the back row, and Davidson might be the driver to do that. Hopefully it doesn't mean he'll just flounder in mid-pack though.

[MattR]

Here's something silly, rumors flying around about Mika returning to McLaren!!

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/formulaone/34015/

[MattR]

Hamilton gets 2007 McLaren drive

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/moto...ne/6179704.stm

[tysonK]

Originally Posted by MattR

Hamilton gets 2007 McLaren drive

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/moto...ne/6179704.stm

I heard Michael Richards was outraged!

[Nick Koan]

Adrian Sutil to the second seat at Spyker