Formule 1

[Kinga]

^^^yeah, LOL, at least Kimi's name is there ... :lmao:

Here it is Laura Pausini's booklet. Is it better? I think it's a little bit better.

 

[The One.]

^ Yeah, she at least says something else than only thanks to Kimi..

 

[Kinga]

Really really good article from autosport.com:

What happened to Kimi?

The reigning world champion had a poor season by his own standards, and ended up playing second fiddle to Felipe Massa at Ferrari. But occasional flashes showed that his incredible speed is still in there somewhere, so what went wrong? Edd Straw explains… Autosport's F1 Editor

Everyone had a theory for Kimi Raikkonen's underwhelming 2008 season. Was he demotivated? Was one world championship title enough for him? Was he enjoying himself a little too much off track? Was he letting his fitness slip a little? Was it all about the tyres? Was the balance of the Ferrari F2008 wrong for him? Was he on the cusp of retirement?
As ever, the reality of the situation was far more complex than such broad brush strokes allow, but what was beyond question was that by the final third of the season he was looking every bit the number two to team leader Felipe Massa.

So was Kimi just slow in 2008? Well, actually he wasn't. Astonishingly, the Finn claimed ten out of 18 fastest laps over the course of the year, matching Michael Schumacher's all-time record for a season. Granted, fastest laps are not necessarily the best indicator of overall race performance - after all they only reflect a small snapshot of a 200-mile grand prix - but in the case of Kimi, that one statistic is the key to understanding his problems.
Even during his more lacklustre performances, the Finn was capable of setting fastest laps, and he frequently did. The Hungarian Grand Prix, where he qualified a distant sixth and was only promoted to a third-place finish by Massa's last-gasp engine failure, is a classic example of that, as is Singapore where he was a massive eighth-tenths off Massa's pole lap. Yet despite two poor races, he still added a couple of marks to the FL column.

In simple terms, this doesn't add up. How can you combine being one of the quickest drivers over one lap in a race with so often under-delivering in qualifying? Most often cited as the root of the problems were the Bridgestone control tyres. Like a number of other drivers, including BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld, Raikkonen struggled with tyre warm-up in qualifying, meaning that his front tyres weren't at their optimum operating temperature throughout a qualifying lap. Once again, there is more to this than meets the eye.

The way the tyres performed was more of a symptom of the problem than the absolute cause. After all, as Bridgestone's director of motorsport tyre development Hirohide Hamashima points out, weren't these the same tyres that, despite difficulties adapting to at the start of the year, Kimi won the title on in 2007? "Of course, the tyres may have some responsibility, but I believe that car set-up affects him more than tyre warm-up because those compounds have been used for two years already," says Hamashima. "Last year Kimi didn't mention it, but this year many times he has complained about tyre warm-up. "So basically I think that the car characteristics are different from last year to this year - the Ferrari has a little bit more of an understeer tendency. That's why Kimi couldn't control the car so well in qualifying, but sometimes had a quickest lap during the race."

Here things begin to add up. As a rule, the Ferrari F2008 understeered. This meant that Raikkonen struggled in qualifying, particularly as the season went on and the prevailing characteristics of the car edged further towards understeer. Add in a few tyre warm-up difficulties to exacerbate the problem and you have car No.1 languishing on the second or third row of the grid.

Come the race start, it's a similar situation with the car understeering. However, as the first stint goes on, the Bridgestone tyres begin to wear. In terms of balance, this would generally move the car's behaviour towards oversteer, meaning that Kimi finds the car more to his liking a little later in the stint.
But by then, he's bottled up behind the odd BMW and Heikki Kovalainen, maybe even a Toyota or two, and can't exploit that speed. It isn't until he finds some space in the second or third stint that he is fully able to show his speed once the tyres have transformed the handling of the car.

That was the story of too many of Raikkonen's races in 2008. "Basically the tyre is going to an oversteer tendency during the race," says Hamashima. "Maybe the car is a little bit understeery, but as the tyres move more towards oversteer Kimi finds a good balance and as a result could get the best lap in the race." Of course, there were races where the characteristics of the circuit - Magny-Cours for example - meant he was able to get the tyre warm-up right in qualifying and was able to excel on Saturday afternoon. There were also times - Spa for example - where Raikkonen was able to charge to the front on the opening lap, and we witnessed a performance worthy of a world champion.

But, the fact was, there were just too many races where his struggle to adapt his driving style to the understeering Ferrari F2008 undermined his chances. Ironically, the Belgian Grand Prix, the very race that could have heralded his return to form, was the one that seemed to kill off his chances of defending the drivers' title. Although he again qualified disappointingly, it was largely as a consequence of a mistake and he claimed to have made a stride forward with the handling. "I am happier with the car now, but the mistake I made didn't help," he said at the time. "So we didn't get exactly what we wanted but at least the car feels better."

He made amends for the mistake with a scintillating first couple of laps. Pushing Massa towards the grass on the run to Les Combes on the opening lap was definitely the Kimi of old, not a demotivated shadow, and once he had capitalised on Lewis Hamilton's La Source spin on the second lap to take the lead a couple of corners later, he was gone. This really could have been the race that turned things around. Then, in the closing laps, it rained.
Hamilton carved into his lead and passed him - controversially - into La Source in the closing stages. With the Ferrari hardly a user-friendly car in the wet, he did amazingly well to retake the lead from Hamilton, only to crash at Blanchimont later that lap. Ten points became none and in the remaining five races he didn't even look like winning a race.

By his own admission, the motivation had waned a little despite being able to secure an extra year on his Ferrari contract to take him through to the end of 2010, a deal understood to be a result of him scoring a certain proportion of the team's net total of points over the previous 18 months. "That is the way it is," Raikkonen recently told Finnish TV station MTV3 when asked about his motivation. "If you know you are fighting only for third place then you maybe don't have the same speed for the whole race as normal. If you have no chance to overtake or improve your position, it is definitely not very interesting. When you are driving for the title, naturally, things are completely different."
Other than in Shanghai, where he had to let Massa past for second place, he was very much the junior partner at Ferrari in the title run-in. And you wouldn't completely blame Kimi for becoming a little demotivated - there were times when it wasn't just the handling of the car that wasn't on his side.

Wind back to the Spanish Grand Prix and things were looking very good for him. He had just won in Barcelona - his second victory in the opening four races - and was nine points clear of Hamilton in the drivers' championship. Things were looking very good; certainly far better than they were last season when there were suggestions he was under pressure for his seat after a difficult start to his Ferrari career.

In the next four races, Raikkonen was beset with catastrophic luck that cost him big points. At Monaco, he had pole position but was given a drive-through penalty because the team failed to get his wheels on quickly enough before the start. No points. In Canada, he was preparing for a pit-exit drag race with Robert Kubica when Hamilton clattered into the back of him at the traffic lights. No points.

At Magny-Cours, he was supreme, obliterating Massa in qualifying and cruising to victory when some exhaust damage dropped him to second. Two points lost. At Silverstone, he was carving into Hamilton's lead prior to the first pit stop, only for Ferrari's dodgy weather forecast to lead to him being sent back out on worn standard wets on the brink of a deluge. More points gone begging. Big points.

But ranged against that bad luck, there was also a second half of the season during which there were too many races where he looked more like an also-ran than a defending champion. Not even the occasional majestic performances in Spain, Bahrain, Magny-Cours and Spa can counter that.

Two wins could have been three or four. That could have kept him at the sharp end of the title chase. That could have given him the boost he needed to find that extra few tenths he needed. The fact was, that wasn't how it turned out and Raikkonen has to be considered one of the disappointments of the season in terms of delivering on his ability. Those days when he was on his game served only to remind us of just how good he is.

The question is, can he bounce back after what was, pound for pound, the worst season of his F1 career? With the return to slick tyres expected to make the control Bridgestone tyres oversteery even on qualifying laps, don't bet against the driver who simply became "The Finn" in 2008 regaining the right to insert "Flying" into his name next year. But if he has another year like 2008, who knows what the future will hold.

 

[Kinga]

Here's an analysis from a Hungarian F1 site. It's funny.


There were 13 occasions where the champion of the year would have changed if we count with the medals only.

Nigel Mansell and Jim Clark would have been 3-times world champions, not just 1-time world champions. Alain Prost would have gotten 1 more WDC, to his existing 4 (1981 and 1983 would have been his anyway, he should have given back his 1986 and 1989 trophies, in 1981 he was only the 5th overal but had he been gotten medals he would have been WDC). The biggest loser would have been Nelson Piquet who would not have been a 3-time world champion, he wouldn’t have gotten any trophies at all. Niki Lauda would have been only 1-time world champion instead of 3. The most extreme situation is Keke Rosberg’s because he has been the world champion in 1982 with only 1 GP victory, but in the overal standings he would have been only 6th instead of winning the WDC that year.:bugeyed


Massa would have been the WDC this year had he gotten DNFs all the remaining races, because Hamilton got only 5 victories.:bugeyed


1st column: wanna-be champions/2nd column: the real champions


1958Stirling MossMike Hawthorn1964Jim Clark John Surtees1967Jim Clark Denny Hulme1977Mario Andretti Niki Lauda1979Alan Jones Jody Scheckter1981Alain Prost Nelson Piquet1982Didier Pironi Keke Rosberg1983Alain ProstNelson Piquet1984Alain Prost Niki Lauda1986Nigel Mansell Alain Prost1987Nigel Mansell Nelson Piquet1989Ayrton Senna Alain Prost2008Felipe Massa Lewis Hamilton
Isn’t this strange??? So I’m happy that these news came yesterday:


Bernie Ecclestone's radical plan to replace the points system by which the Formula One drivers' championship is scored, with gold, silver and bronze medals for the podium places, is likely to be rejected by the FIA, which must approve the new system to bring it into being.

The Formula One rights holder re-stated his determination to introduce a medal-based championship during a press conference in London yesterday. Ecclestone believes that a medal regime would encourage drivers to overtake and he repeated his resolve to have the new system up and running in time for the first race of next season, in Melbourne at the end of March. “It's going to happen,” he said.

But influential voices in the sport have criticised the scheme. Eddie Jordan, the former team owner, called it “a nonsense” and Damon Hill, the former world champion, said he was “baffled” by a proposal that could mean the championship is decided by the halfway point. Under Ecclestone's plan, Felipe Massa would have been crowned world champion this year rather than Lewis Hamilton.

Ecclestone will need FIA endorsement of his idea at its World Motor Sport Council meeting in Monaco next month, but he is not expected to get it. The world governing body is far from convinced that the teams are in favour of the change as Ecclestone has claimed.

Even if Ecclestone managed to get his proposal through, it would not be implemented until the beginning of the 2010 season at the earliest.

 

[The One.]

Here's an analysis from a Hungarian F1 site. It's funny.


There were 13 occasions where the champion of the year would have changed if we count with the medals only.

Nigel Mansell and Jim Clark would have been 3-times world champions, not just 1-time world champions. Alain Prost would have gotten 1 more WDC, to his existing 4 (1981 and 1983 would have been his anyway, he should have given back his 1986 and 1989 trophies, in 1981 he was only the 5th overal but had he been gotten medals he would have been WDC). The biggest loser would have been Nelson Piquet who would not have been a 3-time world champion, he wouldn’t have gotten any trophies at all. Niki Lauda would have been only 1-time world champion instead of 3. The most extreme situation is Keke Rosberg’s because he has been the world champion in 1982 with only 1 GP victory, but in the overal standings he would have been only 6th instead of winning the WDC that year.:bugeyed

Well in that case I change my mind

Nah, well okay maybe it won't come to next season yet, I hope however that it would come someday, or even something that would bring more overtaking to the races.. and imo it would be only fair if the wins would count something.. and fastest laps.

 

[Kinga]

Well in that case I change my mind

LOL I knew you would change your mind reading that... :lmao:

Nah, well okay maybe it won't come to next season yet, I hope however that it would come someday, or even something that would bring more overtaking to the races.. and imo it would be only fair if the wins would count something.. and fastest laps.

I would like them to give more points for the 1st place. Whoever wins the GP gets e.g. 12 points and the 2nd gets 8 points. That 2 points gap is very little. 1st: most of the drivers won't risk for those 2 points but 2nd: what about the situation when the driver simply is not able to overtake how Kimi described in his writing. Let's see how the aerodynamical changes turn out next year. I'm really looking forward to that!:yes: Would there be more overtakings? That's the question.

 

[The One.]

I would like them to give more points for the 1st place. Whoever wins the GP gets e.g. 12 points and the 2nd gets 8 points. That 2 points gap is very little. 1st: most of the drivers won't risk for those 2 points but 2nd: what about the situation when the driver simply is not able to overtake how Kimi described in his writing. Let's see how the aerodynamical changes turn out next year. I'm really looking forward to that!:yes: Would there be more overtakings? That's the question.

I really really really hope so!!! :angel:

Yeah, bigger gap would be also good, you should suggest that to Mr. Ecclestone. And one point for fastest lap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Kinga]

^^^No matter how much we would like it for the drivers to get 1 point for the fastest lap. It won't happen. It would be great for Kimi for example but if you think about it... it's just a little piece in the race, it's only about that certain lap.

 

[Kinga]

Dear Hanna!

I have 2 surprises for you!

With which one should I start?

Ok, here is Nr1: you like Kimi and ice-hockey, so 2 in 1:

Kimi played ice-hockey with his friends! It's so great to watch!!! I just loved it! That's our Kimi, how he behaves with his friends and when there's no camera.

http://www.viddler.com/explore/Evenstar1KRS/videos/1/

Nr2: you like Michael and Kimi, so 2 in 1:

I've made a video about Kimi with Michael's Keep the faith song. The thought about making a video in this theme and with this song has been in my mind since the German GP when the bad things came in this season. Then I couldn't make any videos just wanted one with this song. Now, the time came and I was able to do it by myself. I'm really proud of this. I think it turned out quite good. It seems that I got the biggest inspiration when I'm working with Michael's songs. I think my Smile video and this one are my bests so far. The song just fits to Kimi's career that he has so many downs and so many bad luck but also some great moments! After this awful season he needs his fans stand by him more than ever I think. We should show him that we are with him no matter what. He won't give up, I know it... but still.

Hope you'll love it, tell me what do you think, please.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzv12gpDJfw

 

[The One.]

Dear Hanna!

I have 2 surprises for you!

With which one should I start?

Ok, here is Nr1: you like Kimi and ice-hockey, so 2 in 1:

Kimi played ice-hockey with his friends! It's so great to watch!!! I just loved it! That's our Kimi, how he behaves with his friends and when there's no camera.

http://www.viddler.com/explore/Evenstar1KRS/videos/1/

^_^
Yep I saw that on tv yesterday. He didn't score any goals though, and sometimes looked like he was having hard time staying on the skates (00:33)

Nr2: you like Michael and Kimi, so 2 in 1:

I've made a video about Kimi with Michael's Keep the faith song. The thought about making a video in this theme and with this song has been in my mind since the German GP when the bad things came in this season. Then I couldn't make any videos just wanted one with this song. Now, the time came and I was able to do it by myself. I'm really proud of this. I think it turned out quite good. It seems that I got the biggest inspiration when I'm working with Michael's songs. I think my Smile video and this one are my bests so far. The song just fits to Kimi's career that he has so many downs and so many bad luck but also some great moments! After this awful season he needs his fans stand by him more than ever I think. We should show him that we are with him no matter what. He won't give up, I know it... but still.

Hope you'll love it, tell me what do you think, please.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzv12gpDJfw

That's great, Kinga! I really mean that, you built it very well first showing the sad pics and then ones where Kimi was winning
Some of the accidents looked very dangerous, I didn't even remember all those :mello:

 

[Kinga]

^^^I'm really glad you liked my vid!!!

LOL Kimi fans are getting into Michael because of my influence, some of them wrote this to me:

Wooo! I've been singing that Jackson song this morning

I just love the video of Kimi playing ice-hockey. *sigh*

 

[Kinga]

:lmao: :lol:

Where is my hair?

I have too long hair...

 

[The One.]

^ :rofl:

Jenni and Kimi don't know yet how they'll spend their Christmas. But they're not going to Thailand! Just read that somewhere :lol:

 

[Kinga]

^^^:lol: What a big problem!!! But I've heard that Kimi likes to spend Christmas at home. Maybe after Christmas they would travel to Thailand...

Look, who's pulling Santa's Ferrari... :lmao: Here's a cute red nosed lil reindeer...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/Engine24Dupont/xmas.jpg

LOL it's so funny and cute IMO. It's fanmade, it seems one fan was in a really childish mood... hehehe

 

[The One.]

Look, who's pulling Santa's Ferrari... :lmao: Here's a cute red nosed lil reindeer...

LOL it's so funny and cute IMO. It's fanmade, it seems one fan was in a really childish mood... hehehe

Ahaha :rofl: I love it.

 

[The One.]

Mika Häkkinen escapes from terrorist attacks in India​

Terrorist attacks shattered the F1 world champion's commute in India, tells Ilta-Sanomat.​

Mika Häkkinen was in Mumbai on Thursday evening when terrorists were still raging in the city.​

The double-F1 champion and his manager Didier Coton arrived there late in the evening, but the visit ended quickly.​

Häkkinen didn't even have time to leave the airport when he discovered how serious the situation of terrorist attacks ripping the town, was.​

Häkkinen and his manager decided to go leave immediatly back to Europe.​

Racing event could not be arranged ​

Häkkinen was meant to participate in street race in Mumbai and also tell Indians about a campaign he advertises called "always drive with clear head".​

As soon as the plane landed the host country's representatives, however, indicated that the racing event could not be able to arrange, because the security situation was so bad.​

According to Ilta-Sanomat Häkkinen didn't even leave the airport's transit hall but ordered a new ticket for a return flight to Europe.​

Häkkinen's quick India -visit lasted just over 20 hours with it's flights.​

 

[Kinga]

^^^OMG!... :bugeyed

 

[Kinga]

Did you know that?

Hamilton and Kovalainen raring to go

Engineers from McLaren Mercedes are busily preparing for the 2009 season in Woking, Brixworth and Stuttgart. Meanwhile, the test team has been readying two cars for December outings to Jerez, Spain, and the new Autodromo Internacional do Algarve circuit in Portugal.

Elsewhere, Lewis Hamilton, Heikki Kovalainen, Pedro de la Rosa and Gary Paffett are preparing for an outing of a different kind; limbering up for a five-day pre-season training camp at the Kuortane Sports Institute in western Finland.

The human performance partner of the team, Kourtane has helped train some of the world’s top athletes, including Finland’s Olympic hopefuls, for more than 40 years. The training camp also acts as a useful team-building exercise, with mechanics and engineers joining the drivers for group exercises and tests at the Kuortane campus.

Lewis Hamilton
"Travelling to Finland for our winter training camp is one of the best weeks of the year for me; it feels like you’re miles from anywhere and totally cut off from the outside world. It allows me to focus solely on my training, which is great."

"It’s certainly not an easy week: Finland in the winter is cold and icy and we’re pushed hard for day after day. We spend the first part of the week doing tests to monitor our core strength and flexibility and spend the rest of the time building on specific exercises that will help us once we’re back in the car.

"After Brazil, it’s good to get a proper rest because it’s the one time of the year when you can relax your training a little. But Finland is when it all starts again in earnest. Brazil already seems a long time ago and I’m now focusing 100 percent on 2009. I had my seat-fitting at MTC earlier this month and while the plan at the moment is to start testing in January, I’m really keen to get going."

"After Finland, I’m looking forward to a couple of big events in the UK. I’ll be attending the Autosport Awards, the Race of Champions and the BBC Sports Personality of the Year event. They’re all fantastic events and they give me a lot of energy because I get to spend time with some of my peers in a relaxed environment and also to meet the British fans, who are always fantastic."

"Before Christmas, I plan to take a holiday and return fresh and positive to kick-start our winter test programme with the MP4-24. I’ve already had a close look at the new car and the engineers have explained the philosophy behind it and just how different things will be next year."

"I’ve been watching testing with a lot of interest, I think the new cars will make next year’s championship wide open and I’m really looking forward to tackling the new regulations."

Heikki Kovalainen
"The end of the season is a very important time for me; it’s the best time of the year to properly rest and recharge before everything begins again. That’s why it’s so important for your fitness. It’s vital to start the year with very good core fitness because it’s difficult to train as much as you’d like during the season. That means the basic fitness level you reach over the winter is what keeps you going for much of the year."

"That’s why our training camp in Seinajoki is so important: it’s just for the team and there are no distractions. It’s a hard schedule; up early, and training all day - often outside in the cold - but it’s always fun. Of course, it helps that it’s in my home country of Finland, which makes it especially relaxing and rewarding for me."

"For me, the 2009 season started as soon as I got home from Brazil. I spent two days at the McLaren Technology Centre having my seat-fitting in the 2009 chassis - which already looks like a very promising car for next year, I went to Stars & Cars in Stuttgart, then I went on a short holiday."

"After the training camp, I’m really looking forward to getting back in the car after a month out of the cockpit. I’m testing in Jerez and Portimao later this month and then preparing over Christmas for my first taste of the MP4-24."

"For me, 2009 can’t start soon enough and I’m really looking forward to beginning I’m really looking to getting back in the car and understanding how the new regulations will affect the drivers. I can’t wait to get started."

 

[Kinga]

One more ring is in trouble???!!! :no:

Nürburgring wants to keep F1

Walter Kafitz, the boss of the German Formula One circuit at the Nurburgring, has rejected suggestions the country could soon be permanently unrepresented on the sport's calendar.

The Nurburgring currently alternates the privilege of staging a single annual Grand Prix in Germany with Hockenheim. But it has emerged that, without state support, Hockenheim will not host races in 2010 or beyond.

Although carrying similar financial losses, however, the Nurburgring is happy to continue to organise races into the future, Kafitz told the German news agency SID. "The Hockenheimring is clearly in a worse situation to us," he said.

He revealed that even in Hockenheim's absence, the Nurburgring will seek a new contract, covering the period beginning in 2011, to host Formula One every two years.

"We regard a race every two years as a good compromise between the benefits to the region and what it costs us," Kafitz said.

 

[The One.]

^ NOOOO!!! I don't want to lose Hockenheim
Why they are doing this, where they got new cirquits?

 

[Kinga]

^^^yeah, it's too bad. Even though Hockenheim was not so kind to Kimi but it's an old and traditional track so it would be awful if we loose it... I think it's because of the economical crisis. I'm very happy that Hungarian GP has not been in trouble (and is not in trouble!). Our ecomony is quite bad also and we know how strict Bernie is. I just don't know what is so good in our track. Pilots like it though there aren't much overtaking points (to be honest, there isn't any... LOL) and Bernie like the stuff maybe because they are professionals and they know and do their job very well. When Turkey had their maiden GP in 2005, they sent there Hungarian experts and stuff to help the Turkish team!

 

[Kinga]

... and they say Kimi doesn't sign autographs... here's the proof of the opposite!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzBF8yoxyCY

and what about Felipe or Luca? :mello:

 

[The One.]

... and they say Kimi doesn't sign autographs... here's the proof of the opposite!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzBF8yoxyCY

and what about Felipe or Luca? :mello:

Aww that was very nice from Kimi It's not true at all what media says about him and what most people believe he's like.

 

[The One.]

Honda pulls out of formula one and leaves Button in limbo


Formula One is bracing itself this morning for confirmation that Honda will close down its formula one team before the start of next season unless a buyer can be found for the operation which employs over 700 people at their factory at Brackley, Northamptonshire.

The news, which will have seismic implications for the sport's future, is expected to be made public this morning in a formal announcement from the Honda corporate headquarters in Tokyo and will leave Jenson Button out of a drive for next season and destroy any prospect of Bruno Senna, nephew of the late Ayrton Senna, of graduating to the sport's senior category as the British driver's team-mate.

Button, who won the team's only victory of the contemporary era in Hungary two years ago, will find it difficult to find an opening elsewhere as all the top teams have finalised their drivers for 2009.

Honda's decision will have far-reaching implications for a sport which has all too often considered itself immune from the commercial turbulence of the economic market place, triggering fears that Toyota, who have been competing in formula one at huge expense and with little success since 2002, could follow Honda and quit. The other teams were told of Honda's decision at a meeting of the Formula One Teams' Association in London on Wednesday and the workforce were told last night that they would be on three months' notice as from the start of January.

"They [Honda] have a month to find a buyer, otherwise they are closing the team," one highly placed source quoted the Honda team bosses, Ross Brawn and Nick Fry, as telling a meeting of the Fota. He added that it was no real surprise given the team "were running up costs to a level that were self-evidently unsustainable".

If Honda withdraws, some will conclude that it has vindicated the stance of the FIA president, Max Mosley, who warned earlier this year that the sport was becoming unsustainable in the current economic environment because of the high costs required to compete. The withdrawal will mean only 18 cars on the starting grids in 2009 and could prompt other teams to re-think whether formula one is currently worth the investment.

Honda has consistently under-delivered in terms of hard results in recent years. In 2008 the team finished ninth in the constructors' championship despite having recruited Brawn, the former Ferrari technical director who masterminded five of Michael Schumacher's seven world championships, as team principal.

Brawn had been pinning hopes on gaining a performance advantage in 2009 when new technical regulations, introducing slick tyres and radical aerodynamic changes, would play to Honda's technical strengths. Now it seems that Brawn will be deploying all his skill and negotiating nous to find a potential buyer for the team who can commit to bankrolling the £200m annual cost of running the Honda operation, perhaps using the supply of Ferrari "customer" engines made available by the Force India team's recent decision to switch to Mercedes power next year.

Prior to Button's victory in Budapest Honda had scored two grand prix victories as a constructor, in Mexico with Richie Ginther in 1965 and at Monza with John Surtees two years later. Honda withdrew its team from formula one at the end of 1968, returning in the 1980s to win multiple world championships as an engine supplier to Williams and McLaren, before getting involved again as a constructor when it bought the BAR team in 2006.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/dec/05/formulaone-motorsports1

 

[Kinga]

^^^It's awful!!!! I cannot believe it!!!!

I have some great memories about McLaren Honda... those were the good old days...

Maybe you remember, I mentioned in my Hungaroring visit summary that the most beautiful engine sound was the Honda's.

 

[Kinga]

Every world champion and key person of Ferrari has a "via" (street) in Maranello. Here is Kimi's!!! I would like to walk on this street! It would be great!

Here's a extra high-res photo of Kimi from Belgium. I was about to faint when I first looked at this pic because it was like Kimi was with me in the room...... :wub:

 

[Kinga]

Here's a funny article about TAG Heuer releases Kimi's Speedway sunglasses for sale. He's been wearing them throughout the season and now you can buy it....

So let's say your best buddy is an F1 buff and he's been a little down lately. See, that pesky ace McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton (not to mention Ferrari's own Felipe Massa) have been just a little too quick lately and managed to dethrone your buddy's F1 fave - Ferrari driver and former F1 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen. Now it looks like your friend's got a pretty long, cold winter ahead before Kimi can hop back in the saddle and get his crown back.

Well, we've got just the Christmas gift to cheer him up this holiday season. See, TAG Heuer - a brand best known for its luxury watches - has jumped in the eyewear market and teamed up with Kimi to create a special edition line of sunglasses designed by the F1 champ himself. Kimi's TAG Heuer Speedway sunglasses were designed by Kimi for his own personal use and are constructed with a titanium-alloy frame and shock-resistant, scratch-resistant polycarbonate lenses that are optionally polarized to keep away unwanted glare.

Black or red elastomere tips at the end are emblazoned with the "Speedway" logo and Kimi's name appears on both the arms and the lens corner. Of course, the glasses also offer full UV-A and UV-B protection and were mighty lightweight and comfortable when we got the chance to try on a pair - and of course we were also instantly better drivers (and more handsome too).

TAG Heuer says it is only offering the glasses in limited quantities and for a limited time, so if these appeal to you, acting fast will be your best bet. Though, if you're a Lewis fan, we probably wouldn't bother. For more info, check out TagHeuer.com.

 

[The One.]

^ I'm sure you would love to have those glasses though they are for men

^^^It's awful!!!! I cannot believe it!!!!

I have some great memories about McLaren Honda... those were the good old days...

Maybe you remember, I mentioned in my Hungaroring visit summary that the most beautiful engine sound was the Honda's.

Yep, I remember that.. :yes: And the situation there now is quite bad

Every world champion and key person of Ferrari has a "via" (street) in Maranello. Here is Kimi's!!! I would like to walk on this street! It would be great!



Here's a extra high-res photo of Kimi from Belgium. I was about to faint when I first looked at this pic because it was like Kimi was with me in the room...... :wub:

How cool is that street! He should have own street in Finland!
And that pic is gorgeous.:wub:

 

[The One.]

Finnish Boys ~ He's a Hero ( a tribute song to Mika Häkkinen :rofl: )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rORYhkJ4Wo

 

[Kinga]

^^^Lol that was funny!

2:46... bald headed

Have you seen this before? Juice fight... LOL it's bad quality but anyway
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kucqLpjCv1w&feature=related