F1: Friday Notes From the Desert
The fourth event in the F1 World Championship brings desert winds and sand, a flat nondescript Hermann Tilke track and the usual vocal hot air from various personalities.
First the prerequisites:
McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton topped the time sheet in Free Practice 1 in Bahrain ahead of the BMW’s of Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica.
The Williams of Nico Rosberg was the quickest in the second free practice session.
Ho-hum, if anyone thinks Mclaren or either of the two Williams’ will be close to the pole I’ve got a 200mpg fuel injection system to sell you.
And now, the Soap Opera, ’cause what would a GP event be without intrigue?
With Ferrari lapping at considerably less proficiency than the past former world champion Niki Lauda recently offered a reason for Ferrari’s failure - their “Italian character.”
Ouch! That remark just sent Enzo spinning from his grave and into low Earth orbit.
Prima Donna - Italian for “first lady” make of that what you will - status maintained!
Formula One’s governing body agreed to exclude drivers’ salaries and marketing costs from an optional budget cap to be introduced for teams next season.
Speaking of salaries, Renault Formula One boss Flavio Briatore and senior team members cut their salaries by a fifth in response to the credit crunch. Second-tier employees take a 10 per cent cut while lower-rung staff lose five per cent.
That makes sense, Flava-Flavio is a master at cut-rate comments there’s every reason to believe his salary now matches his repartee.
In light of recent reports to the contrary McLaren’s partner Mercedes will stay in Formula One despite pressure from powerful union representatives in Germany for them to leave.
That’s vice-president Norbert Haug’s story and he’s sticking with it.
OTHER BAHRAIN NOTES:
The final event in Speedcar’s second season takes place Saturday. Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert captured pole position followed by Frentzen and Alesi.
Kamui Kobayashi, who currently leads the GP2 Asia championship, will start Saturday’s long race from pole in the final round of the Asian GP2 Series Championship.
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If Mercedes is getting pressure from the German auto union to pull out of F1, they would do well to remember what happened with Opel & the reasons behind its sudden pull out of the DTM.
Having your own workers body telling you to spend the money on the business & not on F1 is a powerful voice.
Odd that you mention Opel.
In the midst of the General Motors/Chrysler debacle in the U.S. comes word that Fiat could take over General Motors Europe, including UK-based Vauxhall and Germany’s Opel.
GM is facing a possible bankruptcy as early as June 1st have you heard or seen any rumblings there as it relates to the V8 Series?
Only that if GM goes down there is a chinese & a Indian concern happy to snag Holden. It cracks me up how GM’s overseas division design better product AND run at a profit. Opels product range & inovation makes GM look foolish.
Same with Ford, they are lobbying the gov to be able to import the EU Ford products.
As for GM, the EU divisions have been the ones keeping the company afloat the last couple years.
Even crazier, GM’s Pontiac div is said to be history come Monday. One of the best products from GM in recent years is Pontiacs G8 that came straight from Holden.