[F1] Nieuwtjes topic deel #77

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The Korean Grand Prix will take place later this month after the FIA gave the circuit a green light on Tuesday following two days of safety inspections.

Although the event has been surrounded by speculation for weeks that the venue would not be finished in time for the October 24 race, FIA race director Charlie Whiting was happy with the progress that had been made.

Whiting told race officials that he had seen enough at the track to convince him that he will issue it with the mandatory circuit licence that it needs to host a Formula 1 race.

In a statement issued by race organisers, Whiting said: "It is satisfactory, and I will issue the license through (ASN) KARA."

Race promoter Yung Cho Chung welcomed the FIA approval, and said he believed the grand prix would ignite huge interest in his country.

"We are delighted that all works are now finished to the complete satisfaction of the FIA, and we join the whole of Korea in welcoming the Formula 1 fraternity to the Korea International Circuit for the first time," he said.

"The KIC has been constructed to the highest standards, and will become the epicentre of motorsport in the country. We believe the Korean Grand Prix will be the catalyst to ignite enormous interest in the sport across the nation."

Aerial photographs of the track this week showed that the final layer of asphalt had been laid, but that much of the infrastructure around the venue was not yet totally complete.

F1 teams said at the weekend that they expected the race to go ahead, even though F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has expressed some reservations about it in Singapore a fortnight ago.

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said: "I think we have got to respect the fact that a lot of money has been spent, and a lot of effort put in, and I am sure the Korean nation will ensure that there is a grand prix."

Mercedes GP team boss Ross Brawn said: "As far as we know, yes it will happen. The final surface has been laid and they are finishing off the kerbs and so on...I think the infrastructure will be a bit weak, but we want to race there and we need to do everything we can, as long as it is safe to race there."

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Op maandag 11 oktober 2010 12:10 schreef Stiggie het volgende:

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Tis geen goed seizoen van schumi. Combinatie van factoren denk ik... de auto die voor button zijn rijstijl is gemaakt, de banden die hem niet liggen en blijkbaar de wagen die bij het bij hem blijkbaar niet altijd even goed doet.

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Ben benieuwd naar het volgende jaar wat schumi betreft. Hoop dat hij een prachtige comeback maakt en alle criticasters de mond snoert....

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Op dinsdag 12 oktober 2010 08:25 schreef vosss het volgende:

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Vergeet ook even niet dat die auto met een voor F1 begrippen minimaal budget gebouwd is
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Dat hoop ik ook

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Op dinsdag 12 oktober 2010 13:20 schreef Waffle het volgende:
De één is wel wat flexibeler met auto's dan de andere. Misschien past Rosberg zich makkelijker aan dan dat Schumacher dat doet.

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Op woensdag 13 oktober 2010 17:00 schreef kepler het volgende:
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Op woensdag 13 oktober 2010 17:00 schreef kepler het volgende:
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Op woensdag 13 oktober 2010 17:00 schreef kepler het volgende:
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Op woensdag 13 oktober 2010 17:00 schreef kepler het volgende:
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Op woensdag 13 oktober 2010 20:29 schreef Walter_Sobchak het volgende:

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Prachtig

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Is Felipe Massa under-performing on purpose? And will he have a say in the title race?

Felipe Massa’s performances since Germany have raised question marks over the Brazilian’s commitment to help his team mate Fernando Alonso win the drivers’ championship, as well as his future at Ferrari. Over the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, team principal Stefano Domenicali was forced to deny for the umpteenth time speculation that Massa will no longer be a Ferrari driver in 2011, describing those reports as ‘categorically wrong…
However, that was before Massa failed to make Q3 (Alonso qualified fifth fastest) and then crashed out of the race itself at the first corner, ramming the Force India of Vitantonio Liuzzi. It set tongues wagging anew that the Brazilian is simply not up for helping his team following Ferrari’s use of team orders back at Hockenheim which cost him an almost certain victory on the anniversary of his near fatal Hungaroring crash.
Over dinner in Yokkaichi, where we were staying, this theory was mooted amongst a few journalists and I can report that the majority were of the opinion that Felipe is sticking two fingers up at Ferrari. Recent comments made by that team’s president Luca di Montezemolo were seized upon as significant. Before Japan, di Montezemolo said that he has “waited with great perseverance” recently for Massa to “shave points off” Alonso’s championship rivals, making it abundantly clear that the team must come before the individual. Immediately after Sunday’s events, he added: “I’m sure he [Massa] will be the surprise of the last three races of the season. After this bad day he will be desperately keen to react and we will do everything to give him the possibility to win.”
One Italian newspaper – La Razon – described di Montezemolo’s comments as a “subtle but powerful” ultimatum.
Even Fernando is now getting in on the act, pleading with his team mate to raise his game. “The Korean Grand Prix could be decisive for some – and for me it will be important to be able to count on my team-mate Felipe,” he said. “I know that he will be really hoping to make up for two negative results and he has all the capacities required to return to the podium.” The podium, mind. Not the victory.
It is all set up intriguingly for the final three races. In theory, Massa should be one of Alonso’s greatest weapons. That is the whole point of team orders (which Ferrari have no moral qualms about employing). He “should” be taking points off the McLarens and Red Bulls, allowing Fernando past and holding the field up as necessary. Failure to do so will only add to speculation that he is on his way out.
Bubbling away underneath the surface is the question of exactly what deal Massa signed up to when he renewed his contract earlier this summer. Was it as a paid-up “no 2″ driver to Alonso. Was there a clause that said when Ferrari feel one driver is out of title contention they can begin to favour the other? Should we have sympathy for him if that was the case (he is being paid millions by Ferrari after all…)? Ultimately, can Felipe ever expect equal treatment at the Scuderia?
I’m torn over this last one. I want to believe that Ferrari will allow their two guys to fight until such time as they deem it prudent for them to back one over the other. I want to believe that Felipe therefore has a chance to win the world title providing he can start a season strongly enough. I saw how the team reacted following his accident in Hungary last summer. They really did make it feel like a family and one in which Felipe was loved. But on the flip-side Ferrari do have plenty of history in this area and Fernando is one of the most ruthless drivers ever – so it wouldn’t surprise me if he or the team had their ducks in order from the off.
Personally, I believe Felipe will be a Ferrari driver next year. (Who else would they go for? Robert Kubica is always being mentioned but I don’t think he would want to play second fiddle to Fernando and I think Fernando would consider him too dangerous). I think his motivation and confidence have been seriously dented by what happened at Hockenheim. Clearly he is not driving well. The tyre argument – that he can’t make these Bridgestone compounds work – may well be true but is not good enough.
If Felipe doesn’t raise his game in Korea, though, he surely can’t fail to give it 100 per cent in Brazil. He loves Interlagos, he will have home support, and it would be no surprise if he had a say in the podium positions. Imagine if he was ordered to make way for Fernando to win there? If he accepted there would be a riot. Literally. If he refused, my 2011 prediction could be wide of the mark.

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Op donderdag 14 oktober 2010 09:46 schreef Googolplexian het volgende:

[ Is Felipe Massa under-performing on purpose? And will he have a say in the title race? ]

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Op donderdag 14 oktober 2010 12:26 schreef Sally het volgende:

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Ik zal mezelf niet herhalen, maar volgens mij leest of Felipe Massa - of de buitenlandse media - hier mee met mijn opmerkingen

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Op donderdag 14 oktober 2010 09:46 schreef Googolplexian het volgende:

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Op donderdag 14 oktober 2010 17:20 schreef Schunckelstar het volgende:

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of jij trapt steeds open deuren in

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Op donderdag 14 oktober 2010 17:28 schreef kepler het volgende:

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Dat is wel sneu en bijna even erg als de 'crash' van Piquet... Beetje traag gaan rijden in een F1-wagen Als je het er niet mee eens bent, zeg dat dan gewoon en neem ontslag!

Ik zou bijna zeggen dat hij gestraft kan worden onder het mom van; het in diskrediet brengen van de sport...

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Op donderdag 14 oktober 2010 17:45 schreef Sally het volgende:


Het is in dit geval een stukje 'heads to heads', naar mijn mening. De een (Ferrari) wil niet toegeven aan de ander (Massa), en vice versa.

En Massa is wel vaker zo behandeld, als Tweede Viool. Met zijn Braziliaanse temperament in gedachten, vind ik persoonlijk dat hij het nog netjes houdt. 'Huilie' van een Spanjool Alonso was er allang op hoge (stieren)poten vandoor gegaan. Of had er al stampend van woede hoog van de (ivoren?) toren geblazen in alle media die maar naar hem wilden 'luisteren'.

My 2 cents.

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Op donderdag 14 oktober 2010 18:26 schreef kepler het volgende:

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Dat vind ik beter dan wat Massa nu (volgens de geruchten) aan het doen is... Dat is gewoon laf gedrag. Express langzaam rijden Komop zeg

En voorlopig is Alonso 2x WK en nog steeds in de running voor dit jaar. Dan kan je het dus beter op de Alonso manier doen

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Op donderdag 14 oktober 2010 19:36 schreef kepler het volgende:
Daar gaat het me niet eens om (had Massa niet gezegd dat het zijn eigen keus was? )

Prima dat Massa het daar niet mee eens is, erg goed zelfs Maar laat het dan ook echt weten, neem ontslag, ga er direct tegenin via de pers, negeer eventuele toekomstige team-orders, weet ik veel. Maar express langzaam rijden in een F1-wagen Nee, als dat waar is dan ben ik klaar met Massa...