We are in the midst of the F1 2010 launch season with a number of the major teams having already launched their new cars for the upcoming 2010 season which kicks off in Bahrain on March 14th. Also the first of the official winter testing sessions has already gotten underway at Valencia this morning. Read more on the test session here
The FIA have announced the list of teams entered in the 2010 F1 season which kicks off in Bahrain on March 14th, 2010.
1 Jenson Button, McLaren-Mercedes
2 Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes
3 Nico Rosberg, Brawn-Mercedes*
4 TBA, Brawn-Mercedes
5 Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault
6 Mark Webber, Red Bull-Renault
7 Felipe Massa, Ferrari
8 Fernando Alonso, Ferrari
9 Rubens Barrichello, Williams-Cosworth
10 Nico Hülkenberg, Williams-Cosworth
11 Robert Kubica, Renault
12 TBA, Renault
14 Adrian Sutil, Force India-Mercedes
15 Vitantonio Liuzzi, Force India-Mercedes
16 Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso-Ferrari
17 TBA, Toro Rosso-Ferrari
18 TBA, Lotus-Cosworth
19 TBA, Lotus-Cosworth
20 TBA, Campos-Cosworth
21 Bruno Senna, Campos-Cosworth
22 TBA, US F1-Cosworth
23 TBA, US F1-Cosworth
24 Timo Glock, Virgin-Cosworth
25 TBA, Virgin-Cosworth
Note the glaring absence of Sauber, and also Toyota who are contractually bound by the Concorde agreement to enter a team. Brawn are expected to change the team name to Mercedes Grand Prix and Manor are changing to Virgin.
With only 2 races to go in the season, Brawn need only 1 point from the remaining two races to be crowned Constructors Champions in their rookie year. meanwhile, Brawns two drivers are fighting it out with Sebastian Vettel from Red BUll for the Drivers crown. Jenson Button only needs to finish the race 10 points ahead of either of the other 2, so he is the favourite.
With this in mind, there are rumours that Rubens Barrichelo is moving to Williams as Mercedes who are investing in Brawn are bringing a German driver with them, Nico Rosberg.
And Felipe Massa has competed a successful test in a 2007 Ferrari but he will still not be able to return to racing in Abu Dabi. He will however wave the checkered flag at his home race in Inter Lagos, Brazil this weekend.
The FIA World Council has confirmed a calendar for 2010. The 19 dates are as follows:
The calendar will be very expensive for the teams beginning with four fly-aways and ending with five in a row. The trip to Canada remains conditional and if the race does not happen then Turkey will move back a week later to June 6th. There are only eight European races and 11 outside Europe.
Note: The race in Australia will start at 1700 local time, in Malaysia at 1600 local time, in Singapore at 2000 local time, and in Abu Dhabi at 1700 local time.
Lately its just been too hard to keep up with all the goings on in Formula 1. There has been just too much coverage of Formula 1 on the front pages, and not on the back pages were it should be. We thought all of the political stories and other scandals (double diffusers anybody?) would be over and done with once the whole Max Mosely/FOTA standoff had been sorted out. Additional teams were then given a starting post on the grid for next year. All was looking rosey.
Then BMW pulled the plug. Minor panic, one of the manufacturer teams was leaving, the second since Honda pulled out over the winter. Rumours abounded about Renault and Toyota. Toyota have sinced said that their F1 budget will not be signed off until November, hardly ideal preparation for the new season. And then Renault! Obviously Flavio Briatore enjoys being in the spotlight, for whatever reason. So what started off with threats of counter suits and blackmail has ended with Renault “not contesting” the FIA race fixing allegations and Flavio Briator and Pat Symonds leaving the team.
How this one will end is anyone’s guess?
The full 2010 provisional schedule is as follows:
March 14 – Bahrain (Sakhir)
March 28 – Australia (Melbourne)
April 4 – Malaysia (Sepang)
April 25 – Turkey (Istanbul)
May 9 – Spain (Barcelona)
May 23 – Monaco (Monte Carlo)
June 6 – Canada (Montreal)
June 27 – Europe (Valencia)
July 11 – Great Britain (Donington Park)
July 25 – Germany (Hockenheim)
August 1 – Hungary (Budapest)
August 22 – Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
September 5 – Italy (Monza)
September 19 – China (Shanghai)
September 26 – Singapore (Singapore)
October 10 – Japan (Suzuka)
October 24 – Brazil (Interlagos)
November 7 – Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)
YAS MARINA RACE TRACK from Paul Anthony Tamin on Vimeo.
An agreement has been reached between Formula 1’s governing body and the teams to prevent a breakaway series, says FIA president Max Mosley. The two parties had been engulfed in a bitter row over planned budgetary and technical changes for the 2010 season.
But it appears a resolution has now been found and, as part of the deal, Mosley has agreed not to stand for re-election as president. For their part, the F1 teams have agreed to bring costs back to the level of the early 1990’s and also to help the 3 new entrants Campos, US F1 and Manor with engines and chassis.
The news follows a breakthrough meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris, and a cost-cutting deal being struck between the FIA and the eight members of FOTA – Ferrari, McLaren, BMW Sauber, Renault, Toyota, Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Brawn GP.
3 March – Buenos Aires, Argentina (last F1 race: 1998)
21 March – Mexico City, Mexico (last F1 race: 1992)
11 April – Jerez, Spain (last F1 race: 1997)
25 April – Portimao, Portugal
2 May – Imola, Italy (last F1 race: 2006)
23 May – Monte Carlo, Monaco
6 June – Montreal, Canada (last F1 race: 2008)
13 June – Indianapolis, United States (last F1 race: 2007)
1 July – Silverstone, United Kingdom
25 July – Magny-Cours, France (last F1 race: 2008)
15 August – Laustizring, Germany
29 August – Helsinki, Finland
12 September – Monza, Italy
26 September – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
10 October – Marina Bay, Singapore
24 October – Suzuka, Japan
8 November – Adelaide (last F1 race: 1995) or Surfers’ Paradise, Australia