In the round-up: Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher reveal cars at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
Links
Top F1 links from the past 24 hours:
Michael and Nico unveil DTM AMG Mercedes C-Coupe (Mercedes)
Infiniti unveils Vettel-designed crossover (The Independent)
Cronenberg’s F1 movie blockbuster given the red flag by Ecclestone (The Independent)
“Ecclestone was initially responsive to the proposals. ‘All of these things he was talking about as being possible,’ the director said. ‘Of course, ultimately it would have come down to money.'”
“We completed our third straight-line aero test of the season in Vairano today, giving another opportunity for a rising talent from our Young Driver Programme to gain their first experience in a Formula One car. This time, it was Robert Wickens’ turn, Marussia Virgin Racing Reserve Driver.”
“More goodies for Singapore. Completely new front wing and bodywork package The factory is still pushing hard!”
Via the F1 Fanatic live Twitter app
Interview with Carlos Tavares (Renault Sport F1)
“That four teams are coming to us to supply their engines and we have the ability to satisfy them is very positive. If we have to supply more partners I would not be opposed to it.”
Barrichello wins – in a virtual world (Reuters)
“This weekend I won my first virtual race, which was great. It’s amazing how competitive it is. It’s called STCC 2, which is the Swedish touring cars. I’ve done four races now and I’m leading the championship. That’s quite fun.”
Changing F1 date wasn’t easy (Austin-American Statesman)
Tavo Hellmund: “Everyone assumed I could get it done because of my relationship with Bernie [Ecclestone]. But the thing is he has 19 other children, if you will.”
Stephen Mullens departs… (Joe Saward)
“Stephen Mullens has resigned from his various positions in the Formula One group of companies.”
Follow F1 news as it breaks using the F1 Fanatic live Twitter app.
Comment of the day
Calum praises the efforts of F1’s amateur cameramen:
I love start videos from the sidelines, it just shows how unbelievably fast the acceleration of these cars is, and it highlights there is a huge difference between a great start and a sluggish start.
It doesn’t come across on the front on TV camera, but from the fan-cam Alonso’s start is rocket boosted compared to the McLaren that got bogged down, those cars looked like they were different Formula because of the difference in acceleration.
Far more emphasis and excitement, the famous Monza atmosphere really came across to in these amateur videos compared to the F1 Feed videos because you could actually hear the fans – and the camera shaking to build up tension was a nice touch too!
Calum
From the forum
Eddief is looking for some F1 fans to answer a few questions for his dissertation.
Tom Cruise
An article on Tom Cruise driving Red Bull’s F1 car was taken down from the site last month after Red Bull blocked the video from appearing on YouTube.
The video for this article was supplied by Red Bull for editorial use. However it was subject to restrictions beyond their usual terms of use which were not declared at the time.
I have sought and obtained the removal of Red Bull’s copyright restriction on the video on the F1 Fanatic YouTube account, on the understanding that the video would then be deleted from the account, which has now taken place.
These steps were taken to ensure that all concerned are clear that no deliberate infringement of copyright took place.
Happy birthday!
No F1 Fanatic birthdays today. If you want a birthday shout-out tell us when yours is by emailling me, using Twitter or adding to the list here.
On this day in F1
Sebastian Vettel scored his first Formula 1 win on this day in 2008.
In a rare wet race at Monza, Vettel started from pole position and won the race for Toro Rosso, giving them their only F1 triumph to date.
- 2008 Italian Grand Prix review: Sebastian Vettel brushes title rivals aside to win
- Rate the race: 2008 Italian Grand Prix
- 2008 Italian Grand Prix facts and stats
Images © Daimler, Infiniti, Red Bull/GEPA
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
14th September 2011, 0:05
Infiniti could’ve released a sports car for the “Vettel edition”, couldn’t they? Red Bull said SV helped to develop it. Uhm… it’s a 4×4!
DeadManWoking
14th September 2011, 0:10
Vettel drives an FX and I seem to remember an interview where he said his favorite road car is a VW Bus!
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
14th September 2011, 3:16
Infiniti don’t have a sports car in their current line-up – they make sedans and SUVs.
Cacarella
14th September 2011, 3:29
In Canada you can get this…
http://parkoffka.ru/media/6/20070110-1-g35-preview.jpg
It’s the equivalent to the Nissan 370Z which I believe is a sports car (or a sport-coupe)
I still think of them as sports cars and more appropriate for a Vettel edition
matt90 (@matt90)
14th September 2011, 12:32
Yeah I think you can get a coupe over here too, based on a Nissan Skyline I believe.
@HoHum (@hohum)
14th September 2011, 13:45
PM don’t get the American disease of thinking that what exists in your world is all that exists in the whole world. The G35 and it’s successor the G37 are really nice 2+2 GT / businessmans express models.
kowalsky
14th September 2011, 16:26
infinity g37 is a sports car.
BasCB (@bascb)
14th September 2011, 8:26
To be honest, i fear the infinity sports car would have looked just as bloated and enormous as this 4×4 SUV thing.
AdrianMorse
14th September 2011, 9:47
Quite agree.
Yeah, that’s really lightweight!
BasCB (@bascb)
14th September 2011, 12:10
featherweight!
F1fanNL (@)
14th September 2011, 22:10
That almost puts F1 cars to shame.
Havergal
14th September 2011, 0:17
The world must surely be a poorer place without a David Cronenberg F1 film. I’ve an image in my mind of F1 drivers controlled by parasites or something else suitably Cronenbergian – not so much Bernie’s cup of tea, I’d guess.
Mike
14th September 2011, 3:00
In my mind it’s a bit of a non-story.
If you’re not willing to do it Bernie’s terms… Well… What did he really expect?
BasCB (@bascb)
14th September 2011, 12:14
Who knows what the storyline would have been. But its nice to hear, that people were really seriously thinking about getting a film done.
Then again, when you consider the worldwide audience for such a film in 1986-88 and compare to the potential now, I think its safe to say there would be quite a big risk in having done it at the time.
@HoHum (@hohum)
14th September 2011, 13:40
Sounded like a serious attempt to convey the drama of F1 to me, I would have wanted to see it at the time and I was not the only F1 fan in 1986.
mcmercslr
14th September 2011, 0:25
I’m so easily amused
matt90 (@matt90)
14th September 2011, 0:52
haha
BasCB (@bascb)
14th September 2011, 12:15
:-)
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
14th September 2011, 1:05
It’s a shame Bernie shot down the idea of a Cronenberg-directed Formula 1 film. Cronenberg is one of the best directors around, though he is somewhat under-rated given that he made his name in the body horror genre with The Fly and Videodrome. But Eastern Promises was an absolutely fantastic film, and A Dangerous Method doesn’t look too bad, even if it is a little low-key for my tastes.
Even worse is the fact that Sylvester Stallone managed to get his racing film Driven (otherwise known as Drivel) green-lit. I know Bernie shot it down as a Formula 1 film – thank the stars he had the foresight to dodge that bullet (and doubly so given that Stallone’s original vision was a Senna bipic) – but the fact that Stallone made it and it was an unmitigated disaster is abhorrent; even Stallone said he regretted making it.
Still, we hve Ron Howard’s Rush to look forward to. I haven’t really been a fan of anything he’s directed since 1996’s Ransom (I haven’t seen Frost/Nixon), but I think he can deliver.
Havergal
14th September 2011, 9:11
Agree – Howard doesn’t have great a great reputation, but Frost/Nixon was actually brilliant – do see it if you can.
BasCB (@bascb)
14th September 2011, 12:16
Howard does not have a great reputation?
Cacarella
14th September 2011, 13:30
Wow, what does a guy have to do to get a little respect in Hollywood?
A beautiful mind, the Davinci Code, Apollo 13, and earlier… Backdraft, Willow, Cocoon.
These are just a few of his credits.
It’s not as if we’re talking about Pauly Shore movies!
BasCB (@bascb)
14th September 2011, 20:59
I have A beautifull mind on DVD and watch it at least once a year (I am not that much for watching repeatedly, as I tend to remember too much of it) even after having it for years now.
Apollo 13 is another oscar winner, etc. These guys down under must be really missing something (dig at you PM :-) )
Joey-Poey (@joey-poey)
14th September 2011, 1:11
Hey, George! Our mission is clear: get Barrichello to start competing in iRacing. WE CAN DO IT.
George (@george)
14th September 2011, 17:59
Haha! I played with some guys that used to run an STCC server, they did seem like the more hardcore GTR crowd.
I wonder if he’s tried iRacing already actually, it’s not that long since they introduced the Williams F1 car.
BasCB (@bascb)
14th September 2011, 18:25
But better not let him make it closer to reality then, if you don’t want to finish close to the back with it :-0
joey-poey
14th September 2011, 22:43
Well, the nice thing will be if he does race, he’ll have to race under his real name, so it won’t be hard to spot him X)
Mike
14th September 2011, 1:40
There really is zero point to that special Infiniti. I imagine plenty of people with more money than sense will lap it up though (pun very much intended).
BasCB (@bascb)
14th September 2011, 8:28
A good reason to ask extra money for it? Having a Vettel fan emblem emroided on its seats :-(
Alpinestar (@alpinestar)
14th September 2011, 2:36
Good to see Robert Wickens getting some seat time in the Virgin, even if it is only straight-line aero test. It’s a shame not more Canadian drivers are given such great opportunities to show their racing talent
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
14th September 2011, 2:49
That’s all well and good, but it’s not exactly practical if there aren’t enough Canadians in open-wheel motorsport. I can’t think of anyone besides Wickens who could get a tesing role (unless you believe that idiot on Wikipedia overnight who insisted Mark Webber is, in fact, Canadian).
Craig Woollard (@craig-o)
14th September 2011, 10:33
There’s north American open-wheel racing?
Tom
14th September 2011, 15:29
Bruno Spengler. Didn’t someone at Mercedes say that if Spengler wins the DTM Championship this year that he will be given an F1 test?
Mike
14th September 2011, 3:16
Ah Rubens has found the internet :D
I really hope Williams can give him a car worthy of his talents next year.
Mike
14th September 2011, 3:19
I wonder if F1 drivers ever see this site…
Prisoner Monkeys seems fairly disagreeable, My god! It’s Luca! Get him! :D
(For the record, I love reading PM’s comments)
Calum
14th September 2011, 3:22
No joke but I was thinking this was the best round up in a while, with all the pictures and plenty of articles then -boom! – I saw the COTD! ;)
BasCB (@bascb)
14th September 2011, 8:29
Must have been socking, right Calum! Nice one.
Rudolph
14th September 2011, 5:27
Customs row threatens Indian Grand Prix
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/racing/Customs-row-threatens-Indian-Grand-Prix/articleshow/9973546.cms
All because the Indian Govt considers F1 as entertainment and not sport!!??
Seriously ***???
Maybe the real Indian prime minister must get involved in this, as she is a Italian tifosi & India is the only hope of another Ferrari win, because Alonso is good at virgin circuits.
David-A (@david-a)
14th September 2011, 8:30
Virgin circuits?
bosyber (@bosyber)
14th September 2011, 9:14
If I read it correctly, it would mean the organisers have to pay the money, then get it back afterwards. But minus a 2%, presumably administrative fee – easily earned money for the budget I guess for those in charge of this government branch.
It looks pretty ridiculous and dodgy.
HounslowBusGarage
14th September 2011, 14:22
Sounds like a great idea to me. Make them race Nano’s instead!
Dan Thorn (@dan-thorn)
14th September 2011, 8:15
Ahhh, so Rubens has seen the joys of virtual racing! Not only great fun to play and get involved in, but also great fun to watch. Some sim leagues even go so far as to make brilliantly edited review videos like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Emfz9XBbmSM
BasCB (@bascb)
14th September 2011, 12:19
Seems he is enjoying it far much than driving the Williams this year. And rightly so!
BasCB (@bascb)
14th September 2011, 8:34
A real shame about that Red Bull video. It was nice to see it going through the desert and Tom Cruise was doing quite nice a job of showing how nice F1 can be AND promoting Red Bull.
Almost looks like being restrictive like Bernie there. Do you know any place (Red Bull’s website?) where the video can be viewed?
snowman
14th September 2011, 10:31
In this instance I completely understand Red Bull’s view point as they made the video free and available on their website and their YouTube channel.
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=redbull#p/search/0/UyW8FdzH9dg
With FOM nothing is available anywhere except a 5 minute race edit about a month after the race has happened and only on their website!!
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
14th September 2011, 10:32
To be clear, that was not necessarily the case at the time the article went up.
F1 Fan
14th September 2011, 8:53
India does not deserve a grand prix. Not when billions of them are in poverty & dying of hunger. In fact no third world country deserves a grand prix. F1 is a first world sport & should be confined to the first world only.
xtophe (@xtophe)
14th September 2011, 9:01
The ‘first’ world has its fair share of poverty aswell as far as I know.
F1 Fan
14th September 2011, 9:07
But we here in the UK don’t have people dying of hunger, do we? The point is how can you expect people over there to enjoy F1 when they don’t have food to eat? I guess people over there in India who brought tickets for race will have to go hungry for several months to make up for it.
These third world countries have no motoring culture & heritage. Its a pity that France and Finland have no F1 races and India & Bahrain have it.
Burnout (@burnout)
14th September 2011, 13:25
That’s a lovely little piece of generalization and bigotry there. I suppose you would’ve been against the very first Paris-Dakar for the same reason. We’ve had motor racing in India since the 70’s at least. Granted it was stock cars and happened in South India, not near Delhi, but we have a motor racing culture.
The Indian middle class is almost 300 million strong. That’s more than the population of Britain, France and Germany combined. I think we can afford to watch a grand prix and still feed ourselves.
But hey, if you’re so concerned for our welfare and think we shouldn’t be a part of your club, show Bernie you mean business. Watch something else on October 30. That’ll teach him.
Cacarella
14th September 2011, 13:34
+1
I can’t believe some of the things I read sometimes.
George (@george)
14th September 2011, 18:10
Thanks Burnout. Not only am I too poor to afford F1 race tickets, I’m also forced to live in the same country as ‘F1 Fan’.
These teething problems almost always happen to new races (especially ones in big countries), I expect everything will be ironed out by the time we get there.
BasCB (@bascb)
14th September 2011, 18:27
+1 well written
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
14th September 2011, 9:05
I don’t for one moment underestimate the problems of poverty and hunger. So let’s not pretend they don’t exist in other countries which hold F1 races, nor try to make crude distinctions between ‘first’ and ‘third’ world nations.
BasCB (@bascb)
14th September 2011, 12:23
What is that for a ground to decide on “deserving” a Grand Prix?
You want to keep it to yourself, or what? I think its nice to see countries making a go at getting into motorsports.
The fact its a private company investing probably means that is part of economical activity for the region involved for the longer term, the only thing that will in time bring prosperity to the locals as well, if done right.
Not to mention the fact that you can find poor people dying of hunger just about in every coutry in the world, if you open your eyes to actually see it.
Icthyes (@icthyes)
14th September 2011, 8:53
That DTM is an awful-looking car
bosyber (@bosyber)
14th September 2011, 9:17
Ugh, yes. The chrome/silver paint is too much bling, I can only hope it develops scratches like nothing else and thus goes matte very quickly. The F1 car has a much nicer colour scheme.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
14th September 2011, 12:34
It’s only a show livery. BMW and Audi did the same thing with the M3 and A5.
BasCB (@bascb)
14th September 2011, 18:29
the “chromed look” parts remind me of some Playmobil parts painted silver, it looked so fake.
Really don’t understand why they do not stick with the brushed aluminum look they have on the Mercedes cars (unless they have already agreed with McLaren to go black/red from next season onwards)
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
14th September 2011, 17:23
I like it. A lot.
I really need to watch DTM next year.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
14th September 2011, 17:31
With a new manufacturer and no fuel stops it’s definitely heading in the right direction. Pity it’s on ESPN…
Craig Woollard (@craig-o)
14th September 2011, 22:27
*ahem*
Could be on Sky Sports ;)
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
14th September 2011, 22:50
Last I saw Sky Sports have a delayed highlights package which is so poorly made it’s unwatchable. ESPN has the live races.
George (@george)
14th September 2011, 18:14
Maybe they’re aiming to blind the opposition?
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
14th September 2011, 10:59
Jaime Alguersuari’s first single (under his alias DJ Scratch):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br59k8ehhcw&feature=player_embedded#!
Way better than anything LMFAO has ever released (I can’t stand Bodyrockers).
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
14th September 2011, 11:21
Sorry, It’s DJ Squire, not “Scratch”.
BasCB (@bascb)
14th September 2011, 12:28
Thats actually quite nice to listen to! The kid has good taste.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
14th September 2011, 12:35
Indeed. I don’t usually like club music, but I could happily listen to that.
Fixy (@)
14th September 2011, 14:20
I thought I’d hear him sing :(
The video was nice as well, better than what most singers do.
BasCB (@bascb)
14th September 2011, 18:35
Agree, really nice to watch and figure out what you are seeing!
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
14th September 2011, 17:29
Nice one, been looking forward to hearing some of his stuff. Makes for nice easy listening.
Victor.
14th September 2011, 17:56
I’m actually impressed with that. Not bad at all. In my opinion though it could do with a little more depth.
George (@george)
14th September 2011, 18:21
Video: 9/10
Music: 6/10
I do like his style though, hope he keeps it up.
@HoHum (@hohum)
14th September 2011, 13:54
Question ; If the DTM can afford to develop 100% carbonfibre cars and full-on racing motors, why must the F1 teams be so restricted in the development of their engines?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
14th September 2011, 14:10
Hasn’t their car design been frozen for the last few seasons? Plus they only have ten races a year and I think only one of those is outside Europe.
BasCB (@bascb)
14th September 2011, 18:39
It has.
And while the body is carbonfibre, its based on a single Dallara chassis which means restricted options for engine, wishbone and suspension options with quite a lot of common compounds to save cost, apparently 40% down from the last generation.
This means, that the car itself is far more spec-series like then before and in other touring car series.
@HoHum (@hohum)
15th September 2011, 15:24
Thanks for the info, I don’t get to follow DTM, occasionally see a race when I am in Europe, always preferred the BTC for its more “real” cars.
BasCB (@bascb)
14th September 2011, 14:56
Lets hope this is true: According to Press Trust of India Jaypee have agreed in principal on a tax exemption or will pay the tax bill for the equipment to make sure the GP goes ahead without any trouble. – link reporting the story