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| Master Fan   Joined: May 2001
Posts: 22,701
| Formula One #16 - Michael still thinks that JV is a threat  Thanks to *MH* for the banner. [img]smilies/wave.gif[/img] Welcome to The Formula One Thread On this thread we discuss the wonderful sport of F1. We post up to date news and the general info about the sport. We also talk about the drivers and the teams and what we like or dislike about them. Our previous threads are: Formula One is GO GO GO Formula One #2 - To Finish First, First You Must Finish Formula One #3 - Can Anyone Truely beat Michael Schumacher? Formula One #4 - The Iceman Cometh Formula One #5 - IF is F1 backwards Formula One #6 – This Season Will Ferrari still be the team to beat? Formula One #7 - Now it's unpredictable! Formula One #8: It's no longer the Ferrari show! Formula One #9 The f2003 GA... as sexy as an F1 car's gonna be Formula One #10 ~ Kimi a world champion in the making Formula One #11 ~ With every race Alonso's star is getting brighter Formula One #12 ~ Watch Out When Juan is About! Formula One #13 ~ We are Running Out of Races and the Championship is wide open! Formula One #14 ~ It's Ferrari vs Everyone Else in the Tyre War of 2003 Formula One #15 ~ It Ain't Over Till Its Over Thanx to *MH* for the thread title 2003 Driver line up  1st row jacques villenueve, jenson button, giancarlo fisichella, ralph firman, jarno trulli, fernando alonso 2nd row: ralf schumacher, juan pablo montoya, nick heidfeld, heinz-harald frentzen, david coulthard, kimi räikkönen, christiano da matta, olivier panis 3rd row: mark webber, antonio pizzonia, michael schumacher, rubens barrichello, jos verstappen, justin wilson thanx to L i N d $ @ y for posting the photo Moments for Hitzi there is fuel in this car. amazing how i can tell just by looking at it [img]smilies/lol.gif[/img] yes David, that's the gravel trap The Calendar for the season. 09/03/2003 AUSTRALIA - MELBOURNE 23/03/2003 MALAYSIA - SEPANG 06/04/2003 BRAZIL - INTERLAGOS 20/04/2003 SAN MARINO - IMOLA 04/05/2003 SPAIN - BARCELONA 18/05/2003 AUSTRIA - A1-RING 01/06/2003 MONACO - MONACO 15/06/2003 CANADA - MONTREAL 29/06/2003 EUROPE - NURBURGRING 06/07/2003 FRANCE - MAGNY-COURS 20/07/2003 GREAT BRITAIN - SILVERSTONE 03/08/2003 GERMANY - HOCKENHEIM 24/08/2003 HUNGARY - HUNGARORING 14/09/2003 ITALY - MONZA 28/09/2003 U.S.A - INDIANAPOLIS 12/10/2003 JAPAN - SUZUKA Standings after America: Drivers Standings Pos. Name Team Points 1 M. Schumacher Ferrari 92 2 K. Räikkönen McLaren 83 3 J.P. Montoya Williams 82 4 R. Schumacher Williams 58 5 R. Barrichello Ferrari 55 = F. Alonso Renault 55 7 D. Coulthard McLaren 45 8 J. Trulli Renault 29 9 M. Webber Jaguar 17 10 H. Frentzen Sauber 13 11 G. Fisichella Jordan 12 = J. Button BAR 12 13 C. da Matta Toyota 8 14 N. Heidfeld Sauber 6 = J. Villeneuve BAR 6 = O. Panis Toyota 6 17 M. Gené Williams 4 18 R. Firman Jordan 1 = J. Wilson Jaguar 1 -- A. Pizzonia Jaguar 0 -- Z. Baumgartner Jordan 0 -- N. Kiesa Minardi 0 -- J. Verstappen Minardi 0 Constructors Standings Pos. Team Points Ferrari 147 2 Williams 144 3 McLaren 128 4 Renault 84 5 Sauber 19 6 BAR 18 = Jaguar 18 8 Toyota 14 9 Jordan 13 -- Minardi 0 2003 Grand Prix Winners Australia: David Coulthard (Scot) - McLaren Malaysia: Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) - McLaren Brazil: Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) - Jordan San Marino: Michael Schumacher (Ger) – Ferrari Spain: Michael Schumacher (Ger) – Ferrari Austria: Michael Schumacher (Ger) - Ferrari Monaco: Juan Pablo Montoya (Col) - Williams Canada: Michael Schumacher (Ger) - Ferrari Europe: Ralf Schumacher (Ger) - Williams France: Ralf Schumacher (Ger) - Williams Britain: Rubens Barrichello (Bra) – Ferrari Germany: Juan Pablo Montoya (Col) – Williams Hungary – Fernando Alonso (Spa) – Renault Italy – Michael Schumacher (Ger) - Ferrari America - Michael Schumacher (Ger) - Ferrari Australia David Coulthard  Malaysia Kimi Raikkonen  Brazil Giancarlo Fisichella  San Marino Michael Schumacher  Spain Michael Schumacher  Austria Michael Schumacher  Monaco Juan Pablo Montoya  Canada Michael Schumacher  Europe Ralf Schumacher  France Ralf Schumacher  Great Britain Rubens Barrichello  Germany Juan Pablo Montoya  Hungary – Fernando Alonso  Italy – Michael Schumacher  America - Michael Schumacher  [ 10-07-2003: Message edited foreva_99 ] __________________ After Roswell avatars? Look no further. Fetch's Site | |||
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| Master Fan Joined: May 2001
Posts: 22,701
| [img]smilies/party.gif[/img] Welcome to the new thread [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] [img]smilies/bawl.gif[/img] still very upset about JV __________________ After Roswell avatars? Look no further. Fetch's Site | |||
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| #3 | |||
| Master Fan Joined: May 2001
Posts: 22,701
| [img]smilies/lol.gif[/img] Thanks for the list Marie. Maybe JV will be able to find a drive at one of those teams ::keeps fingers crossed:: Maybe at Jordan?? __________________ After Roswell avatars? Look no further. Fetch's Site | |||
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| #4 | |||
| Master Fan Joined: May 2001
Posts: 22,701
| Quote:
__________________ After Roswell avatars? Look no further. Fetch's Site | |||
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| #5 | |||
| Supreme Fan  Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 9,114
| Quote:
i would say Jordan and Minardi were the weakest of the teams but if this new finacial backing that Jordan are getting is used effectivly they may get back to the level they were at a few seasons ago and a good driver would deffinatly help them with that. __________________ Fernando Alonso is the youngest F1: World Champion! (24 years 58 days) Race Winner Podium Finisher | |||
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| #6 | |||
| Supreme Fan Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 9,114
| Quote:
__________________ Fernando Alonso is the youngest F1: World Champion! (24 years 58 days) Race Winner Podium Finisher | |||
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| #7 | |||
| Master Fan Joined: May 2001
Posts: 22,701
| [img]smilies/lol.gif[/img] Very true. JV might even be able to say a whole lot more now that he knows that no one can stop him. Hope that he gets a drive with either Jag or Jordan. They are at least a little competitive and have a chance at improving as well. Minardi, sorry to say, are the weakest team in the comp. They never seem to be making any improvements at all. __________________ After Roswell avatars? Look no further. Fetch's Site | |||
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| #8 | |||
| Supreme Fan Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 9,114
| tres true [img]smilies/lol.gif[/img] that would be quite funny to see!!! as much as Minardi are the weakest team I really do [img]smilies/love.gif[/img] them and I really like to see them doing well [img]smilies/sigh.gif[/img] anyway I am going for a while [img]smilies/wave.gif[/img] have a good evening/night [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] __________________ Fernando Alonso is the youngest F1: World Champion! (24 years 58 days) Race Winner Podium Finisher | |||
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| #9 | |||
| Master Fan Joined: May 2001
Posts: 22,701
| [img]smilies/wave.gif[/img] Night Marie. Talk to you again really soon [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] __________________ After Roswell avatars? Look no further. Fetch's Site | |||
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| #10 | |||
| Elite Fan   | [img]smilies/wave.gif[/img] new thread [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] thanx for staring bel [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] marie: [img]smilies/rotfl.gif[/img] eddie 'big mouth' irvine! [img]smilies/rotfl.gif[/img] bel: hopefully, jv will get a seat next season, hope someone picks him up [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] __________________ ♥ Jackson/Ashley | Jasper/Alice ♥ av | |||
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| #11 | |||
| Supreme Fan Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 9,114
| [img]smilies/wave.gif[/img] hey all! I'm back... a few hours later than i would have liked [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] no doubt I'm now the only one around [img]smilies/sigh.gif[/img] [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img] Quote:
Bel - yeah i hope to talk to your more soon [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] i don't think I'll be around at the same time as you tomorrow (wednesday) but maybe on thursday or friday I may see you again [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] __________________ Fernando Alonso is the youngest F1: World Champion! (24 years 58 days) Race Winner Podium Finisher | |||
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| #12 | |||
| Supreme Fan Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 9,114
| i just thought I should bring the JV news over here SATO REPLACES VILLENEUVE AT BAR Last Updated: Tuesday, 07 October , 2003, 16:47  BAR have confirmed that Takuma Sato will partner Jenson Button at the team next season. The team announced at a Tokyo press conference on Tuesday morning that the Japanese driver would replace Jacques Villeneuve. The move comes as no surprise as BAR's engine partners Honda had lobbied hard for Sato to get the drive. Team boss David Richards said: "We welcome Takuma as Jenson's teammate for 2004. He has done an excellent job for us in testing this year and has confirmed our long-held belief that he has enormous potential. "Takuma is widely regarded as a very fast driver and he has had a meteoric rise to Formula 1. When he drove for Jordan in 2002 he had just four years' prior racing experience and during that first season we saw flashes of brilliance, which he underlined with an impressive performance in the Japanese Grand Prix last year. "After a further year of testing with BAR in 2003, we firmly believe that he deserves the opportunity to translate his natural speed into consistent race performances. "With Jenson moving into his fifth season in Formula 1 and his second with BAR, he will provide the counter-balance of experience alongside the fresh enthusiasm of Takuma. A young and hungry driver line-up is essential for us to move closer to achieving our championship ambitions." Richards, who had told Villeneuve that his services were not required at the weekend, justified his decision to dump the 1997 world champion. He said: "The team very much appreciates Jacques Villeneuve's commitment over the past five years. However, as his contract with the team has come to an end, we believe this is the appropriate time to refresh the driver line-up."  There had been some speculation that Sato might even replace Villeneuve at Suzuka this weekend but the Japanese driver's manager Andrew Gilbert-Scott denied such suggestions. Sato, 26, has earned a reputation as a quick but erratic driver. He dominated the 2001 British Formula 3 championship but suffered a hard time in his debut F1 season with Jordan last year. It did not help that his team-mate was someone as quick as Giancarlo Fisichella and he suffered plenty of bad luck, but Sato quickly gained a reputation for crashing. However, he ended the season on a high when he finished a brilliant fifth in front of his home fans at Suzuka. He has spent the last 12 months testing for BAR. Sato said: "Of course, I am extremely happy to be confirmed as race driver for BAR next year. This is what I have been working hard all year to achieve and now that the decision is made I am looking forward to proving myself again in the team next year. "A year out of racing has been tough for me, but I am confident that the work we have done this year in testing has been extremely valuable in helping me and the team become a strong partnership. I have built good relationships with many people in the team this year and feel very positive that together we can be successful next season. Now, of course, I can't wait to start the build-up to the Australian Grand Prix in March." Honda F1 project leader Takeo Kiuchi added: "Everyone at Honda is looking forward to working with Takuma again next year. We have all been very impressed with the development work he has done this season and we are sure all that effort will be turned into race results next year. "I would also like to offer my thanks to Jacques for his support over the four years that Honda have been with the team. We wish him every success for the future." BERNIE LOBBIED FOR JACQUES Last Updated: Tuesday, 07 October , 2003, 10:09 Bernie Ecclestone has admitted he tried to get teams to take on Jacques Villeneuve – but they didn’t want him. The Formula 1 supremo even suggested Villeneuve drive for free, but teams still snubbed him. Villeneuve was told last week that his services at BAR were no longer required after five years with the team. On Tuesday the squad confirmed that test driver Takuma Sato would replace the French-Canadian. Ecclestone told The Sun: "I did everything possible to talk teams into giving Jacques a drive for next season but the truth is no one wants him. "I still regard him as a great racer but he needs a team that would give him extra motivation. “Toyota would have been the perfect platform for him because they could give him a car capable of winning races. "I even suggested he should go to Ferrari and drive alongside Michael Schumacher for free. “But it didn't come off because Michael insists on No. 1 status, which shows he must still consider Jacques a threat." Ecclestone feels the cold shoulder from the teams was due in part to Villeneuve’s reluctance to do sponsorship work, a necessity in F1 nowadays. He added: "I feel Jacques has been badly advised in the past.” VILLENEUVE LOSES DRIVE Last Updated: Sunday, 05 October , 2003, 13:37 Craig Pollock has revealed that BAR will not retain Jacques Villeneuve for 2004. "We received a call from BAR managing director David Richards on Friday informing us of their decision," said his manager. "What is so disappointing is the fact that this team was built for and around Jacques, and he underwent all sorts of trials and tribulations over the years as BAR struggled to find its place in Formula 1. "Jacques never wavered, and his loyalty to British American Racing was constant. " He had other opportunities, and no one would have blamed him for going elsewhere, but he preferred to see the project through despite a car that did not live up to its expectations. "Our primary emotions right now are sadness and disappointment. "Jacques has given everything to BAR in its first five years, and always with a view to building a team that would be front-of-the-grid some day." It is not a total shock for the French-Canadian however it would seem to herald the end of his chequered F1 career. There are precious few drives left available and their are any number of high-quality youthful drivers in the frame. Villeneuve is likely to be replaced at BAR by Takuma Sato, who currently tests for the team, although no announcement has yet been made. Engine supplier Honda are believed to have campaigned on the Japanese driver's behalf. He will partner Jenson Button. Villeneuve joined BAR when the team was created in 1999. __________________ Fernando Alonso is the youngest F1: World Champion! (24 years 58 days) Race Winner Podium Finisher | |||
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| Supreme Fan Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 9,114
| MICHELIN GAMBLE ON NEW RUBBER Last Updated: Wednesday, 08 October , 2003, 16:02 Michelin are taking new rubber to Japan in a bid to beat Bridgestone on their home turf. The French manufacturer is keen to get back on top after a disappointing showing at Indianapolis last month. Michelin’s F1 programme manager Pascal Vasselon has revealed that McLaren and Williams, along with the three other Michelin runners, will have the chance to use previously unraced tyres over the Japanese weekend. He said: "After consultation and tests with our five partner teams, we have selected one new construction and four different dry-weather compounds for Suzuka. "Three of these have not previously been used in racing conditions. We will also have a new type of wet available." While Michelin dominated the action during the summer heat wave, they have been startlingly off the pace of Bridgestone in the cool and wet conditions. McLaren and Williams have a lot at stake this weekend and given that rain in Suzuka is a common occurrence there is much to lose. McLaren have Kimi Raikkonen fighting for the drivers’ championship while Williams are in a battle with Ferrari for the constructors’ title. But Michelin boss Pierre Dupasquier says the company are up for the challenge and are doing all they can to ensure both teams will be competitive. He said: "In my view, it's a good thing to have plenty of hard work ahead of us, because it keeps us focused. "We are going to Suzuka to help the BMW Williams F1 Team in its fight for the constructors' title and to see if Kimi Raikkonen can become Formula 1's youngest champion. “You never know. Anything is possible until the chequered flag drops." SCHU WON’T STOP Last Updated: Wednesday, 08 October , 2003, 16:56 Michael Schumacher has again insisted he won’t quit if he wins a sixth world title at the Japanese GP this weekend. The Ferrari driver is continually fending off rumours that he will retire at the end of the year as a new crop of drivers begin to threaten his domination. Schumacher insists he still enjoys the sport, is still at the top of the ladder and has no intention of hanging up his helmet just yet. He said: "As long as I am competitive, there is no need to think about stopping. "The main point is simply the love of the sport. Honestly, what could be better than to do what you love to do? This year the competition is on a much, much higher level. “But it is something very unique to have an environment where there is nothing else you want to do." Schumacher’s manager Willi Weber also issued a statement last week to assure people that the Ferrari driver would be around for at least two more years. He said: "Michael has a contract with Ferrari until 2006 and he's definitely going to fulfil it.” Schumacher needs just one point at Suzuka to take his sixth world crown. He has history on his side having won at the track five times before. He said: "I have been reasonably successful there. It's probably very difficult to envision the race up front, but I simply love the circuit." TOYOTA ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES Last Updated: Wednesday, 08 October , 2003, 10:27 All eyes may be on the battle at the top at Japan this weekend, but the mid-field have their own fight to get through. Toyota is one of five teams separated by just six points in the constructors’ championship and they hope a points finish for both cars will help them take the coveted fifth spot. Team boss Ove Andersson is all too aware of the importance of this weekend’s race. He said: "The Japanese Grand Prix is possibly the most important of the season for Toyota. “Not only is it our official home race, but we also find ourselves in a very close battle in the constructors' championship, with only six points splitting 5th place from 9th. “We are again fully focused on qualifying our cars in a position on the grid from which to fight for a top-eight race result. “Suzuka should suit our car quite well, so I am optimistic we can put a TF103 in the top half of the grid for the fourteenth race and from there aim for points in front of our Japanese fans. “As always, we will do all we can to give them something to cheer about on Sunday afternoon." Since the US Grand Prix the team have been testing at Jerez working on the Michelin tyres, testing new aero parts and developing the engine. The progress has left drivers Olivier Panis and Cristiano Massa confident of a good showing on the Japanese circuit. Panis said: "Suzuka is a fantastic circuit and the perfect way to end such an exciting season. “Being so close to 5th place in the championship, it will be our aim to end the season in the best position possible and I am as determined as ever to fight for points." Da Matta added: "I have never driven at Suzuka before, but from what I have seen and heard, it is a very technical circuit, so we will have an important session on Friday morning to get up to speed as quickly as possible. “I just hope we can reward their support with some points in Toyota's home race this weekend, as we look to improve on our eighth place in the constructors' championship. “From a personal point of view, I will also be pushing hard to gain places in the drivers' standings." JORDAN RUES POINTS PUSH Last Updated: Wednesday, 08 October , 2003, 10:27 Eddie Jordan regrets proposing the new points system introduced at the beginning of the season after realising that his team will lose out on several million pounds in bonuses. The new system means the top eight drivers are now awarded points instead of the top six. Under this system Jordan are currently ninth in the constructors’ championship. But, had they been using the old format the team would be in fifth place. Financial bonuses are handed to teams based on their position in the championship and Jordan estimates that he will lose around £4m in travel costs and TV money. He told The Sun: "It was my idea to have the points changed because I felt it would give teams such as Minardi a better chance of seeing their efforts rewarded. "I thought it was a good proposal and a fairer and better way of distributing the points. I was delighted when it was accepted but now I feel pretty sick. “It has cost us a bucket full of dosh so I think I'll keep my clever ideas to myself in the future." However, Jordan does admit that the points system has made F1 and the championship more exciting. He said: "While the points system has worked against us it has made the championships far more interesting for the fans. "Kimi Raikkonen is nine points behind Michael Schumacher going into the final race and will win the world title if he takes the chequered flag and Michael fails to score. “And there are also only three points between Ferrari and Williams in the constructors' championship so the new rules have made things a lot tighter and more exciting." __________________ Fernando Alonso is the youngest F1: World Champion! (24 years 58 days) Race Winner Podium Finisher | |||
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| Elite Fan | [img]smilies/wave.gif[/img] marie: thanx for the news [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] can't wait for the race! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] qualit tomorrow! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] __________________ ♥ Jackson/Ashley | Jasper/Alice ♥ av | |||
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| #15 | |||
| Part-Time Fan Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 457
| I am finding it so hard to hold back the tears. The thought of never seeing JV race again breaks my heart. It was because of him that i became so passionate about f1, and I don't think i can follow it anymore. I always knew that one day his career in f1 would come to an end, but not like this, i can't even put into words how much i despise david richards and honda. Just a sad, sad day. I am just praying that somehow he gets a drive, imagine if he ended up at williams, that would be a dream come true. [img]smilies/cry.gif[/img] __________________ icon by Wildfire Girl | |||
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