Robert Kubica, not the happiest driver after 2008 season

The BMW Sauber team bosses are generally happy with the 2008 season. They are also happy with the overall progress of the team since the purchase of Sauber by BMW after 2005 season. Mario Theissen:

“BMW kept its schedule that was set in 2005 after acquiring Sauber: to be in the points in 2006, to be on the podium in 2007, to be on the top podium 2008. We made the two-way title campaign a three-way battle in the first half of the season. We did not have the fastest car in 2008, but the overall package counts. Reliability was an issue in 2007 and our focus on this in 2008 paid off as we had no single retirement because of a technical failure.”

It is all good and according to the long term plan. But it does not really reveal the full story. Although they never had the fastest car early on in the season BMW Saubers were often quicker than one of the top two teams. But by the Canadian GP BMW Sauber already felt behind Ferrari and McLaren. They may have won their first race and even in 1-2 fashion but it is clear to everybody that they have only Hamilton to thank for that win. Should Hamilton pay attention to the traffic lights or should he choose Kubica instead of Raikkonen as his target at that Montreal pit lane exit, there would be no win.

Hamilton crashes into Raikkonen, Kubica takes Canadian GP lead

Despite this they still managed to keep the team and both drivers in contention for the titles for quite a while. With 2 races to go Kubica still had mathematical chance. And this is what clearly hurts the Polish star. The opportunity was there but the team did not do enough to make the most out of it.

“In the last two or three months, I had the feeling that the team and I were no longer pursuing the same goal.”

Earlier Kubica said that he felt like he was the only one who believed he could actually win the title. He also expressed his unhappiness about the team focusing on Heidfeld’s qualifying issues while he himself was there with a shot at the title.

But still, with at best the 3rd best car on the grid he won his first F1 race, he finished on podium 7 times, he scored points in 14 out 16 races he finished and only the end of season slump cost him the 3rd place in drivers championship (finished 4th equal on points with Kimi Raikkonen). Still, he does not sound too happy.

Canadian GP podium - Maiden F1 win for Kubica

It is hard to say if these are Kubica’s real feelings or only some quotes taken out of context by media. But if I were in his position, I would also consider the 2008 season as an opportunity lost.

BMW Sauber may well build better and stronger car for 2009 season. But as I said on Stew’s BMW F1 blog in Formula 1 it is not only about how good car you build. It also also about where your competition stands.

This year both front running teams - Ferrari and McLaren - did exceptionally good job in trying to throw away the titles. This is a scenario that does not happen every year. BMW may build a car that equals the Ferrari or McLaren in the future. But that does not mean they will win the titles. Look at McLaren. In recent years, perhaps with the exception of 2004, they always had a top car. But Hamilton’s 2008 title is their first since Mika Hakkinen in 1999 ! They came very very close with Kimi Raikkonen in 2003 when only 2 points separated him from Michael Schumacher. But it took 5 more season before the title made it back to Woking and only just …

The 2009 season is a big unknown. The brand new technical regulations result in fresh start for everybody. It may mean nothing and we may see the same team rule the field. But we may also see more teams entering the title game. Ferrari and McLaren (if they manage to stay in the front of the grid) may well be joined not only be BMW Sauber but also by Renault (sounding very confident), Honda (said to be quite far in their 2009 car development), Toyota and Vettel powered Red Bull. The top may get very crowded. Or not … Someone may get much better grasp on the new rules and charge ahead of the field … And there is no guarantee that someone will be BMW Sauber.

It is nice to have long term vision, long term plan and go ahead in line with that. But that all went according to BMW Sauber’s plans between 2006 - 2008 does not mean that it will continue that way. They are not the only team dreaming about winning titles. The future may still prove BMW Sauber long term strategy right. But if opportunity presents itself earlier than expected, one should go and take it. It may never come back and Robert Kubica is probably well aware of that …

Photo: BMW Motorsports, F1Wolf

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Robert Kubica, shouldn’t he be happy about his 2008 season ?

F1 fans - they can handle it, right ?

The news are full of reports that following the French and Canadian GPs we may soon see the German Formula 1 races go too. This would be sad development in the country that between 1995 and 2006 had been hosting two Formula 1 races per year - the German GP proper at Hockenheim and European / Luxemburg Grands Prix at Nurburgring. Now Hockenheim bosses make it clear that without government money they will not be able to host the race again when their turn comes in 2010. Nurburgring responded saying that their venue is unable to organize the Formula 1 race on annual bases.

Is it really impossible to save the Formula 1 races in Germany ?

According to Der Tagesspiegel the 2008 Hockenheim race ended up 5.3 million Euro in red. I am not really sure how big is this sum considered in Germany. But it does not seem to me like impossible amount of money to be raised. With most of the revenue going to the pocket of Bernie Ecclestone the organizers may have to turn to the fans for more funds. There must however be many ways how to milk more money out of the Formula 1 race goers, here are some:

1) Ticket surcharge and Bernie surcharge on surcharge

Hockenheim has seating capacity 120,000 people. All the organizers need to do is to make sure that all the seats are filled up or at least sold and slap a 44 Euro surcharge on each ticket. If they are not confident they can sell all 120,000 seats, make it 53 Euro surcharge and pocket any profit should more than 100,000 people show up at the gates. And make it very clear that the surcharge is subject to further Bernie surcharges should the FOM insist on annual fee increases. I checked how much the grandstand tickets for the Nurburgring race are for next year - between EUR160 and EUR500, depending on the seat. I expect Hockenheim prices to be within similar range. For sure fans would not mind paying 10% - 30% extra on top of that knowing the money is for good cause - keeping a billionaire happy !

2) Bernie accomodation tax

Leave the ticket prices alone, that may anger the fans. Try something Montreal organizers were contemplating but did not dare to go far enough. Require every fan to stay at least for 4 nights. Whether they stay in hotel or in the camp charge everybody Bernie tax. Let’s make it 13 Euro a night, minimum 4 nights. For this to be successful the organizers again have to be confident about attracting at least 100,000 people in. For sure fans would not mind paying around 50 Euro extra on their travelling expenses knowing the money is for good cause - keeping a billionaire happy !

Bernie tax on hotels should do the trick

3) Bernie beer tax

Another option is to make it compulsory to drink F1 taxed beer. The actual tax would depend on the level of responsible drinking the organizers would choose to promote. Unfortunately we can’t get the responsible figures for beer from Michael Schumacher or Lewis Hamilton as one promotes don’t drink and drive rum and the other one don’t drink and drive whisky. But let’s say that on the hot summer day 6 nice cold half a liter glasses in 24 hours would do. Make it 6 beers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday + 3 on Thursday as a warm up. That is 21 beers over the course of the weekend. If fathers come with kids below the drinking age, they would have to drink on their kids behalf. All that would be needed is 2.50 Euro tax on each glass and the money issue would be solved. Fans sure would not care knowing they are drinking towards the future of their Grand Prix and keep the billionaire happy in the process !

Drink and save (the Grand Prix)

If the above measures seem a bit too extreme it is always possible to combine the three of them. Who cares anyway as long as the fans come up with the millions for Mr. Ecclestone.

I think we can easily replace Germany with France or Canada or USA, change the amounts a bit and go on from there.

Any other ideas and suggestions for the Formula 1 organizers in countries where governments simply do not find it reasonable to use more and more taxpayers money to satisfy the ever increasing demands of the Formula 1 boss ?

Photos: RedBull/GEPA, FreeRange Stock

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How to save the German Grand Prix ? Few tips

After checking the photos in detail it looks like the images on FIA web haven’t been updated for years. The latest names on the trophies on these photos are from 2000 - Michael Schumacher and Ferrari . Perhaps this is a part of the new green approach - why change something when we still can recycle the old stuff .

Photos: FIA

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So this is what it is all about - The Formula 1 trophies

Nico Rosberg looking into his post Williams future ?

The last few days have been pretty quiet in F1, the main topic of the past week was Red Bull’s purchase of Gerhard Berger’s share in Toro Rosso and all the implications of this (Gerhard Berger’s departure from the team, the future of Toro Rosso itself). This however may have been only the silence before the storm. The World Motorsport Council of FIA is meeting today if I am not mistaken and among other things should release the final version of 2009 Formula One Calendar as well as do something about that medal system proposed by Bernie Ecclestone. But before that let’s sum up the other F1 related news from last week.

Quick return to the medal system. Contrary to Ecclestone claims it seems that there are voices claiming that the medals do not have the support of all the F1 teams and even if the system is at the end implemented it will not be from 2009 season. We will see soon.

Now some driver news:

Ferrari tested 3 young Italian drivers in Fiorano last week - Mirko Bortolotti, Edoardo Piscopo and Salvatore Cicatelli. The test was a prize for their performances in Italian and Atlantic series F3 championships. The last Italian Ferrari F1 driver was Ivan Cappeli in 1992, the last Italian race winner in Ferrari car was Michelle Alboreto in 1985 … But although the young trio impressed the Ferrari sporting director Luca Baldiserri it may still take a while before another Italian races for Ferrari. Especially with the renewed speculations that Fernando Alonso may be on his way following the Santander sponsorship switch.

Nico Rosberg warned Williams once again that 2009 season may be his last one with the Grove based team. Give me a competitive car or else is how his message can be translated. What would that else be though ? Would McLaren still be as keen on him as they were a year ago ? Would he really want to go to McLaren ?

Rubens Barrichello confirmed he is talking with Toro Rosso about a drive for next year. This is not a big surprise as Barrichello is keen on staying in F1 and Honda and Toro Rosso are the only options left for 2009. He may not be the bad choice for Toro Rosso as they need some experience alongside Buemi (almost assured of his seat). Barrichello would however have to bring in more cash than Takuma Sato … Last weekend Barrichello competed in Brazil in kart race - International Championship of Kart Champs and won it ahead of one his rivals for the Honda seat - Lucas di Grassi.

Brendon Hartley, 3rd in recent Macau Grand Prix will be testing for Red Bull in Jerez in next week in a place of injured Mark Webber. According to Hartley’s agent the New Zealand driver is in running for 2009 test drive with Red Bull and that makes the Jerez test even more important for him.

Brendon Hartley, Macau 2008

Giancarlo Fisichella continues to dismiss any suggestions that Pedro de la Rosa may take his seat in Force India next year. Fisi says his contract was reviewed back in September between Singapore and Chinese GPs. He also revealed that the de la Rosa’s test has been planned since September too.

Fernando Alonso had something to say about his future. He has no plans to retire before he claims 3rd drivers title.

Robert Kubica lashed out again at BMW Sauber team saying that “In the last two or three months, I had the feeling that the team and I were no longer pursuing the same goal.” Kubica said earlier this season that he felt that he was the only in the team believing there was a chance to win the title.

The team however (understandably) still considers the 2008 season success. The BMW Motorsport squad of Formula One drivers (Robert Kubica, Nick Heidfeld and Christian Klien), FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) works drivers and the junior racers from Formula BMW were joined by over 500 guests at the Postpalast venue in central Munich on Saturday evening for the end-of-year party and Sports Trophy presentation.

BMW Motorsport Party, Postpalast, Munich - Robert Kubica

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen:

“We’re proud that we achieved our goals once again in the third year of our Formula One team. We were aiming to record our maiden victory, and we did so with a 1-2. Plus, we collected our first pole position and two fastest race laps.”

Staying in Germany - The future of German Grand Prix is in danger, at least that is what this article in The Guardian says. Vettel may have to start winning titles soon…

Here on F1Wolf - Looks like my post on ESPN Star Sports F1 coverage angered someone close to their F1 commentary team, judging from this comment addressed to me.

And finally - the voting for 2008 F1 Driver of the Year enters the week two. After close to 500 votes it looks like Lewis Hamilton is edging away from Fernando Alonso. Two more weeks left to vote, cast yours ! For more information check the Driver of the Year post.

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The Formula 1 Off Season News Round Up - Part 4

2008 Macau GP Formula 3 from F1Wolf on Vimeo.

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2008 Macau GP - Formula 3 video highlights

When it was announced early September that ESPN Star Sports renewed their Formula 1 broadcasting deal for another five years my feelings were mixed. On one hand I was happy that we will continue to have Formula 1 races live in this part of the world. On the other hand I freaked out - five more years of Steve Slater ?!? Can’t be happening …

Unfortunately Steve Slater’s incompetent commentary is not the only problem with Star Sports (the channel that actually airs the Formula 1). But let me start with him.

Steve Slater may have a lot of Formula 1 knowledge and that I do not really doubt. But he is rather useless as a commentator. I appreciate that commenting live on TV is not as simple as it may sound to us in front of the screen. But he is supposed to be the pro bringing the F1 race to viewers in 24 countries and territories. Instead he is confusing everybody with mixed up names of drivers, he even mixes up the teams ! Often he gets so excited by totally insignificant event that he overlooks something important. Then few minutes later he discovers America and starts screaming about something that millions have seen and realized already. I wonder how do those guest commentators feel when they have to keep subtly correcting Mr. Slater’s observations. Why on Earth they still keep this guy I have no idea. It can’t be because he is good … Can’t be …

Let’s move from Mr.Slater to those annoying ads. I understand that the TV needs income. I really do. But why do they have to take commerical break even during the Q1 ? Why everytime the ads are on the volume level doubles ??? Why during the race itself the ads must be on every ten minutes and half of them are not even commercial messages but only self promo for ESPN Star Sports !

The race coverage begins an hour in advance. But all we get during that hour is very brief recap of qualifying, a quick flashback year back to the same race and the rest is collection of videos that are freely available of web days before the race … The original input from Star Sports is limited to features like for example Paula Malai Ali showing us places to eat around the track. The rest of course are ads and more ads.

The post race show starts with podium ceremony, fine. But we have to go through 20 minutes of ads interrupted talk talk talk before we get to see the post race press conference, taped … Why ? Why can’t we see it live as it happens ?

ESPN Star Sports recently revamped their website so I want to believe that some revamp of their lousy Formula 1 TV coverage may follow. There is no sign of any plans yet though, perhaps they still keep them secret.

I would like them to do at least this:

- Steve Slater out and some true experts in. Assemble a proper commentary team !

- Coverage of Friday and Saturday practice sessions. If there is no space on TV just follow the example of ITV last year and put the feed online.

- More original stuff on the pre race show. Star Sports obviously can get their people into the pitlane so let them do something useful there !

- Do something with those ads ! Do not interrupt qualifying sessions, do not interrupt the race only to tell us that week later there will be golf on at 8pm … And stop turning up that volume to painful levels !

- Give us optional HD broadcast, ads free, for a reasonable fee

- Think about showing us GP2 one day too …

How are you happy with your F1 broadcaster ? What do you like and what you don’t about them ?

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ESPN Star Sports and F1 - Will they raise their game, finally ?

2001 Arrows, high wing but at the wrong end of the car

When BMW Sauber took their latest creation to the track in Barcelona many (including BMW Sauber test driver Christian Klien) branded it the ugliest F1 car ever. Well, the car sure ain’t any beauty but ugliest ever ?

I checked out several f1 forums to see what are the other cars often considered the worst ever. I think thin the latest BMW Sauber is still way too beautiful if compared to some of these :

1979 Arrows, a massive car

1983 Tyrell - look at those beautiful curves

1983 Tyrell once again

1985 Arrows - What was it with Arrows and those front wings ?

1978 McLaren - When one front wing was not enough

1978 McLaren

1976 Tyrell - A pair of wheels too many

1969 Brabham F2 car - Godd to know Formula 2 will be back

1967 Lotus - The pillars are there, what happened to the roof ?

There are several other candidates like for example the 1973 Ferrari, or more recently the twin towers on BMW Sauber:

2006 BMW Sauber - Twin Towers

or the walrus by Williams:

2004 Williams - I am the Walrus

Any other candidates for the ugliest ever cars list ?

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Are really the 2009 F1 cars going to be the ugliest ever ? Check these …

Santander will switch from McLaren to Ferrari from 2010 season

I planned only one round up a week (roughly) during this off season but this day deserves its own wrap up. Some of the developments of last 24 hours may have some serious implications of the future of Formula 1. Or not …

First Bernie Ecclestone managed to convince somebody that Formula 1 is a good investment even in these rough times. LG Electronics will become new technology partner of Formula One from January 2009. The most visible part of this arrangment will be the LG logo on live timing screens. Let’s hope LG brings also some technology to make that live timing a bit more 21st century like.

Then the same Ecclestone said it again and loud, the medal system is going to happen next year. The whole reason for this is that Bernie is

“fed up with people talking about no overtaking. The reason there’s no overtaking is nothing to do with the circuit or the people involved, it’s to do with the drivers not needing to overtake.”

All the teams are happy and Ecclestone says and hopes this will be approved next time FIA meets.

Now to the teams. Big changes in Toro Rosso. Gerhard Berger is not only no longer a co-owner (see the earlier post), it looks like he is also leaving his post with the team although I haven’t seen that said out loud anywhere yet. But what else to make from this statement (to autosport.com):

“The new rules leave no room for improvement for a small team as STR. Also, Dietrich’s interest will focus on Red Bull Racing, therefore the support for STR will become smaller and prevent the team from improving further from sixth. I don’t want to decline, that is not in my nature. Yes, I will be out of STR, but the split with STR and Dietrich is completely amicable and there was no rift between us.”

It now looks more and more likely we will see Red Bull favourite Sebastien Buemi and the marketing ace (for Japanese market) Takuma Sato in the cockpits to Toro Rosso cars next year.

Fernando Alonso only very recently announced his commitment to Renault for another two seasons but the Alonso to Ferrari speculations are not going to stop anytime soon. Banco Santander boss Emilio Botin confirmed the switch of sponsorship from McLaren to Ferrari from 2010 (see the article here on as.com). And he made it clear whom he wants to have in the team:

“Alonso is the best driver in the world and we would like to work with him, but that’s not something that depends only on us.”

I hope that As is more reliable source than the one that said de la Rosa already signed for Force India . It wil be interesting to see how this story develops. Both current Ferrari drivers are under contract for 2009 and 2010, Alonso is to stay with Renault for two more seasons as well. Will Santander be patient and wait for Alonso till 2011 or will they push for the switch a season earlier ?

By the way, it looks like new tradition is developing in F1 - Ferrari and McLaren stealing sponsors from each other (Vodafone moved from Ferrari to McLaren after 2006 season).

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November day in Formula 1 - Medals, Bulls, technology, banks and drivers

Dietrich Mateschitz and Gergard Berger

Interesting and quite surprising news came out of the Red Bull camp. The energy drinks company bought back the 50% stake in Scuderia Toro Rosso from Gerhard Berger taking full control over the former Mindardi team.

Dietrich Mateschitz:

“I am very grateful to Gerhard for his huge input. Together we turned Toro Rosso into a team that qualified on a regular basis in the top 10 and collected world championship points.”

Gerhard Berger:

“A 100% financing of a joint project by one partner can only make sense, to my mind, at an initial stage. This stage is over now. That’s why Red Bull will take over the shares again.”

I think the statement from Gerhard Berger reveals the main reason behind this development - without any serious sponsors on board and probably nowehere in the vicinity the funding has to come from the shareholders. Berger simply can’t afford or does not want to fund the Toro Rosso operation from his own pocket.

It is however still interesting turn of events. Not that long ago there were reports that Mateschitz put his share in the team up for sale. After closing the loopholes in the regulations all the teams are to build their own chassis from season 2010 and this was something else than Mateschitz originally planned for his dual Red Bull/Toro Rosso operation. Mateschitz however later downplayed the “for sale” reports as taken out of context or misunderstood or whatever … And now he bought Berger’s shares back and fully owns two Formula 1 teams.

What does all this mean for the immediate and long term future of the team ? We will see. In the immediate future it looks like this has secured Sebastien Buemi his Toro Rosso race seat. And if Mateschitz plans to make the most of his second team as a marketing vehicle for Red Bull then Sato’s chances might have gone up as well. At the end Japan is one of the markets where Red Bull still has some job to do …

But can Mateschitz support two Formula 1 teams in a long term ?

Although as gandprix.com reports Red Bull can afford about 1 billion dollars a year on marketing I do not think that Mateschitz is ready to spend big chunk of that money on F1 only. One way how to limit the spending is to continue using same chassis for both Red Bull and Toro Rosso. For that to happen the teams would have to agree to overturn the every team own chassis rule from 2010. They may be more inclined to that now as nobody wants to see the grid reduced to 9 teams only but some teams, like Williams, may want something in return for that …

Toro Rosso livery, where is the space for sponsors ?

I also wonder if he will keep both liveries looking like moving Red Bull billboards or will he sacrifice some of the real estate for some serious sponsors. If he plans to sell some space on Toro Rosso cars, he would have to get rid of that huge splash of red paint they say is a bull …

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Red Bull buys Berger’s stake in Toro Rosso, what does it mean ?

The season of all the awards is here and F1Wolf is jumping on the wagon as well . You already know my 2008 Formula 1 drivers rankings (in case you don’t please check them out - click here ). Now I would like to know what the regular and accidental readers of F1Wolf think about the 2008 Formula 1 drivers. There are 2 ways of voting:

1) If you want to take it easy simply choose the driver you think was the best driver of the 2008 season in the poll at the bottom of this post or on the left sidebar and click “Vote”. This vote will be worth 1 point for the selected driver.

2) Alternatively you can leave a comment below this post and list your top 3 drivers of the 2008 season in the specific order 1st, 2nd, 3rd. The top driver in each vote gets 3 points, 2nd one 2 points, 3rd 1 point.

You can choose either one of these options or both of them to give your best 2008 F1 driver more votes.

This voting will go on for 3 weeks from today, I will announce the results of the voting on December 15.

Of course the more people participate the more fair result will come out of it (hopefully ) so please spread the message and get your friends to vote too !

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2008 F1Wolf’s Driver Of The Year Awards