Nelson Piquet continues with Renault

The immediate future of Nelson Piquet seems to be in F1 with Renault. The Brazilian driver will race in Hungary next weekend. This has become obvious from ING Renault F1 press release ahead of Hungarian Grand Prix. In it the team discussed the upcoming race with both their drivers Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet. Here is what Nelson Piquet has to say on Hungarian GP:

Nelson, you had mixed fortunes in Germany. Talk us through your weekend…

It wasn’t an easy weekend as the weather kept changing, especially during qualifying. It was good to get through to Q3 but then I had a poor start to the race and struggled to get heat into the hard tyres, which cost me a lot of places on the first lap. After that I pushed hard, but my car didn’t have the new updates that Fernando had and it was difficult to make much progress or match Fernando’s pace.

Hungary is a circuit where you’ve been successful in the past. Are you looking forward to this year’s race?

I enjoyed Hungary last year and it was probably one of my best races as I finished sixth. It’s also a circuit where I won in GP2. Although there are no quick corners, it’s a fun place to drive and the twisty layout makes it feel like a go-kart track. It’s still quite challenging and you have to find the rhythm of the circuit and be accurate through the slow corners as the exit of one corner is the entry to the next. Any mistakes therefore cost you a lot of time.

What are your aims for next weekend?

I should have the same upgrades as Fernando in Hungary and I think I can be more competitive. As always I will be aiming to qualify in the top ten and hopefully score some points in the race. Qualifying will be vital as it’s so tough to overtake at the Hungaroring because the braking zones are small and it’s very dirty offline, so it’s important that we concentrate on getting the most from Saturday.

Romain Grosjean can continue his GP2 title challenge for now.

Photo: Renault/LAT

Nelson Piquet stays on, will race in Hungary

Mark Webber celebrating his first F1 win

Mark Webber finally has an F1 race win under his belt, let’s have a look how his German GP win changed the F1 statistics:

Mark Webber has officially become the driver with most F1 races before first win. Here is how the table looks now:

1. Mark Webber – 130th race
2. Rubens Barrichello – 123rd race
3. Jarno Trulli – 119th race
4. Jenson Button – 113th race
5. Giancarlo Fisichella – 110th race
6. Mika Hakkinen – 96th race

Interesting that current F1 drivers make up the top 5 …

Let’s have a look who has the best chance to take away Mark Webber’s top spot. Here are the current F1 drivers without a race win after Webber’s name disappeared from this list:

1. Nick Heidfeld – 159 races
2. Nico Rosberg – 62 races
3. Adrian Sutil – 44 races
4. Timo Glock – 31 races
5. Kazuki Nakajima – 28 races
6. Nelson Piquet – 27 races
7. Sebastien Buemi – 9 races

Nick Heidfeld first win would put him firmly in the lead in the driver with most F1 races before first win table. He has also another option – to overtake Andrea de Cesaris who currently is the all time driver with most F1 starts without a win (208).

There has been a lot of comparing Mark Webber to Nigel Mansell since Webber’s win. But actually it is Nico Rosberg who is challenging Mansell’s place in the history books. It took Nigel Mansell 72 races to win his first, Nico Rosberg is on 62 at the moment.

The other interesting number is that currently there are 12 race winners on 2009 Formula 1 grid – Alonso (21), Raikkonen (17), Massa (11), Barrichello (9), Hamilton (9), Button (7), Fisichella (3), Vettel (3), Trulli (1), Kubica (1), Kovalainen (1), Webber (1). I am not sure when was the last time there were so many race winners competing in F1 championship at the same time …

Changes to history books following Mark Webber’s German GP win

Le Seb's F1 career with Toro Rosso came to an end ...

So, it is official now. Sebastien Bourdais’ F1 career with Scuderia Toro Rosso is over. The team has decided to bring new driver for Hungarian GP. Franz Tost:

“In Sébastien’s second year with us, the partnership has not met our expectations and therefore we have decided to replace him as from the next round of the World Championship, the Hungarian Grand Prix.”

And so Sébastien Bourdais becomes the first driver since Scott Speed in 2007 to be dropped by the team during the season (if we do not count Alex Wurz who dropped himself and retired the same year with a race to go). He also joins the privileged company of Juan Pablo Montoya, Jacques Villeneuve and others – the drivers whos F1 seasons or careers ended in July …

No replacement has been confirmed yet although it is widely expected that Spanish youngster Jaime Alguersuari will get the seat and become the youngest ever F1 race driver.

Photo: Red Bull Media

Sebastien Bourdais dropped by Toro Rosso

Video – Mark Webber – The scream

The jailbirds

There were 3 high ranking Chinese officials greeting the spectators from the 2005 Chinese GP official program (click on the above image). Two of them are now in jail for graft …

The case of Yu Zhifei, general manager of the Shanghai International Circuit Management and Development Co Ltd has been making headlines for a while. The investigation of the man credited with bringing the Formula One to China begun in 2007. He was sentenced to 4 years in prison for embezzlement of funds in the late 1990s when he was head of Shanghai Shenhua Football Club.

The future looks much more gloomy for Chen Tonghai, former president of Sinopec, China’s second-largest oil company and until this year also the main backer and title sponsor of the Chinese Formula One GP. He was convicted today of corruption and taking bribes and received a suspended death sentence. Chen Tonghai was convicted of illegally receiving 190 million yuan (US$27 million). His death sentence came with with a two-year reprieve. Such sentences in China usually are commuted to life in prison.

What a difference can few years make …

From organizing F1 GP to jail or worse – The Chinese jailbirds

Max Mosley

Max Mosley, the FIA president, sent a letter to all the FIA member clubs confirming he will not run for re-election in October. This is the part of the letter that should satisfy also FOTA:

“I began some months ago to rearrange my family life with effect from next October. I also informed senior FIA staff that I would not be a candidate. To continue now would greatly complicate my domestic arrangement and be inconsistent with my obligations to my family, particularly after our recent loss. Also, I have felt for some time that I would like to work less. After all, I will be 70 next year.

Therefore, with these new arrangements in place, extremely grateful though I am for all the letters, emails and messages I have received, I have decided to reconfirm my decision. I will not be a candidate in October.”

Mosley also for the first time made public whom he would like to see to take his place. No surprises here, it is Jean Todt.

“I believe the right person to head that team would be Jean Todt. Jean is unquestionably the outstanding motorsport manager of his generation and arguably of any generation.

If he agrees to stand, I think he would be the ideal person to continue but also to extend the work of the past 16 years. He can be relied on in all areas where the FIA is active. I very much hope you will give him your support.”

Not long ago John Howett said this on behalf of FOTA:

“We would like to see someone who actually is independent. Perhaps independent from any of us currently or historically.”

There are many people who could fit that description but the former Ferrari team boss is not one of them. At the end of the day however it is up to the FIA member clubs to decide, FOTA has no say at all in the FIA president selection process.

Well it looks like we may end up with Ari Vatanen running against his former rally team boss Jean Todt. That contest probably will not be decided by toss of a coin .

(In case you do not know the Vatanen, Ickx, Todt coin story, read here).

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Photo: Red Bull Media

Max Mosley confirms he will not run again

There is now three way tie at the top of the provisional standings.

Round 9 results:

20 – Wil
19 – Mitch, Kudlakova, dibsmjf, shaggy
18 – pk_dude04, James, nieuwe, daniel
17 – Jose Arellano, zblkhwk, Steve Robertson, alicotero, JR, draconte, Saigon56
16 – Queen Bee, FISHEYE, Rich, Clive.Einkamerer, Fantoci
15 – Ozzi, F1Wolf, mcw3, psychy, Klokan, ncngrr5, osama
14 – bmwf1guy, Chobi, Flying Dutchman, velvet demon, Dank, Kotenok, sky, Nic B 205
13 – pawelf1, brabhamburger, Amrit
12 – Aaron Mullan
10 – Blazena

2009 F1Wolf’s Formula 1 Prediction Game – Standings after Round 9 (provisional):

147 – Wil
143 – Jose Arellano, Ozzi, F1Wolf
142 – bmwf1guy
140 – zblkhwk, mcw3
139 – Queen Bee, psychy
137 – Mitch
135 – Klokan, Chobi
134 – Flying Dutchman
133 – Steve Robertson, alicotero
132 – velvet demon
131 – pk_dude04
130 – Dank
129 – JR, FISHEYE, Kotenok
128 – Kudlakova
127 – ncngrr5, sky
126 – Rich
125 – James
124 – dibsmjf, nieuwe
122 – daniel, Nic B 205
121 – draconte
120 – pawelf1, Blazena
116 – Clive.Einkamerer
115 – shaggy
110 – osama
108 – Aaron Mullan
105 – Luis Miguel Sainz
85 – Saigon56
78 – Fantoci
75 – brabhamburger
69 – Timmie
67 – Marinaxxx, Cruz Gonzalez
49 – Ex-race-marshal
48 – Arun Srini
40 – Monty
38 – Amrit, vectra
29 – danpickles
21 – Sriram
14 – Lolol
12 – Emo
10 – Ben
8 – Rhysee, Shawn
7 – Blue42

(these are provisional standings as each player will have the worst result erased at the end of the season)

2009 Prediction Game Round 9 Results

Sebastien Bourdais, will he return for Hungarian GP ?

Cristiano da Matta, Patrick Friesacher, Juan Pablo Montoya, Jacques Villeneuve, Christijan Albers and Scott Speed have one thing in common. All of them were sacked by their teams in July (between 2004 and 2007). The 2008 season was a rarity. We haven’t seen a single driver change for the entire season. At the moment there is only one rookie on 2009 grid – Sebastien Buemi – who filled the gap created by Coulthard’s retirement (and Vettel’s move to DC’s place at Red Bull).

But July is here again and it looks more and more likely that the tradition of parting ways with drivers in summer month will continue afte one year break.

There aren’t too many people who expect to see Sebastien Bourdais back in Toro Rosso car for Hungarian GP. Spanish driver Jaime Alguersuari is expected to take over the duties from the next race. All rookie line up for Toro Rosso ?

Jaime Alguersuari waiting for his chance

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There are also indications that Renault may have finally lost their patience with Nelson Piquet jr. It would be ironic for Piquet to loose his drive after outqualifying Fernando Alonso for the very first time.

Nelson Piquet, all smiles before German GP

The driver widely expected to replace Piquet should Renault decide to drop him is Romain Grosjean, currently 2nd in GP2 standings.

Update: Autosport reports that Toro Rosso is expected to confirm within the next 48 hours that it has decided to part company with the Frenchman. Jaime Alguersuari will become the youngest Formula 1 driver in history when he makes his debut for the Scuderia Toro Rosso team as replacement for Sebastien Bourdais at the Hungarian GP. See the full article here – Alguersuari gets nod for Hungary debut

July, the month when F1 teams often change drivers

Photos: Red Bull Media

Mark Webber’s maiden F1 win – The celebrations in pictures

Mark Webber celebrates his first F1 win

Mark Webber dominated the field, survived a drive through penalty and went on to win his first ever Formula One race. This was Webber’s 130th race start. Sebastian Vettel completed the 1-2 for Red Bull, Felipe Massa finished 3rd, his first podium of the season. Nico Rosberg finished 4th, Jenson Button 5th, Rubens Barrichello 6th. Final two point scoring places went to Fernando Alonso and Heikki Kovalainen.

2009 German GP result:

1. M. Webber – Red Bull – 1:36:43.310
2. S. Vettel – Red Bull + 9.252
3. F. Massa – Ferrari + 15.906
4. N. Rosberg – Williams + 21.099
5. J. Button – Brawn GP + 23.609
6. R. Barrichello – Brawn GP + 24.468
7. F. Alonso – Renault + 24.888
8. H. Kovalainen – McLaren + 58.692

9. T. Glock – Toyota + 1:01.457
10. N. Heidfeld – BMW Sauber + 1:01.925
11. K. Nakajima – Williams + 1:02.327
12. G. Fisichella – Force India + 1:02.876
13. N. Piquet – Renault + 1:08.328
14. R. Kubica – BMW Sauber + 1:09.555
15. A. Sutil – Force India + 1:11.941
16. S. Buemi – Toro Rosso + 1:30.225
17. J. Trulli – Toyota + 1:30.970
18. L. Hamilton – McLaren + 1 laps

Did not finish

19. K. Räikkönen – Ferrari + 26 laps
20. S. Bourdais – Toro Rosso + 42 laps

Photo: Vladimir Rys/Bongarts/Getty Images

2009 German GP – Race result – Maiden F1 win for Mark Webber