Hendy's Blog
Ferrari and McLaren scandal
Ferrari was allegedly sabotaged by Nigel Stepney (Ferrari's mechanic) at Monaco GP and police raid on Mike Coughlan's (a McLaren designer) house resulted in hard evidence: Ferrari's documents.
Hot and sensational. This is an interesting side of F1. F1 is not just about racing. It's about politics too. And dirty play is supposedly part of politics.
Full news
here.
Labels: f1
Singapore confirmed on F1 2008
http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,18954,3213_2120426,00.htmlDamn, I have to start booking the ticket.
Labels: f1
F1 boss to discuss Singapore Grand Prix with Minister of State
SINGAPORE: While 11 Formula 1 teams work frantically to get their cars in top gear ahead of Sunday's Australian Grand Prix, race ringmaster, Mr Bernie Ecclestone, is still in Singapore for at least another day of talks about bringing a race here next year.
The Briton arrived on Monday and is expected to meet Singapore's Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Mr S Iswaran, before leaving Thursday for the opening race of the 2007 Formula 1 season in Melbourne.
Mr Ecclestone has been in separate negotiations with local hotel and property tycoon Ong Beng Seng and luxury marina club developer Arthur Tay to bring a race to Singapore.
Both men are bound by a strict non-disclosure agreement.
Since arriving in Singapore, the Formula 1 boss has met Mr Ong but has yet to meet Mr Tay.
Sources say the Singapore race could be held in April or August 2008 and that it would be the first night race in the history of the sport.
Last week, Mr Iswaran told Parliament that the Government was taking a serious look at hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
He said the Government was willing to be a partner in the project and to offer financial and other support.
Before arriving in Singapore, Mr Ecclestone told the British daily Mail on Sunday that he wanted 20 races on the Formula 1 calendar next year, up from 17 this season.
With the bulk of the television audience - 350 million a race - in Europe, the 76-year-old added that he was looking at "three or four" night races in Asia, due to the time difference with Europe.
"Apart from the fact that it's a new development, and there will be a novelty factor behind it, the main reason is because so many of the Grand Prix are east of Europe and instead of having to watch them in the early hours of the morning, Europeans can instead watch them during the day if staged in the evenings in the East," Mr Ecclestone said.
"I think, for example, it's a terrible shame that the first Grand Prix of the new season should be staged in the afternoon in Australia ... Having to get up and watch it in the night over here is not the best way to get the show on the road."
The F1 boss also wants to make changes to the sport's points-scoring system for next year.
The current format awards 10 points for a win, eight for second, down to one for eighth, but Mr Ecclestone wants to give more points to the race winner.
In the last two years, drivers such as Fernando Alonso, preferred not to challenge leading cars when they had an overall points advantage in the drivers' standings.
"With second place getting eight points, it is not right that the winner takes only 10," said Mr Ecclestone, who introduced the current system in 2003. "For 2008, I will propose a change. The guy who wins more should be champion." - TODAY/yy
Looks like it's getting hotter now that Bernie is in Singapore. I'm pretty sure it will happen in 2008. That will be my first live GP ever and the first night GP in history. Btw, this is posted from Google Docs.
Labels: f1
Singapore close to F1 deal
Singapore close to F1 dealSingapore could be confirmed as a F1 venue for the 2008 season as early as next week according to a daily newspaper in the island republic.
Quoting a source close to negotiations, the Today tabloid claimed that Lion City would host the race either in April or August next year.
"I can confirm that Singapore is on the calendar next year and it could either be the third race of the season, or towards the end of the season in August," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
An update on the event could be made next week when the Committee of Supply debate on the budget for the Ministry of Trade and Industry, which oversees Singapore's new tourism initiatives, is held in parliament.
Reports in January suggested that the island republic were in advanced negotiations to host a night race on a street circuit in downtown Singapore.
Malaysia, Bahrain, China and Japan are scheduled to host races on the 2007 F1 calendar, while Abu Dhabi will be added in 2009 and Korea in 2010.
Good news. At least I can watch live F1 now. To bad Michael is not racing anymore. It's a missed opportunity that I've never watched him race live.Labels: f1, news
Mika may be back
Mika: I'm not done yetMika may be back to F1. I hope he is. I really hope so. Without Schumi, it's kind of less interesting.
"Naturally to start doing a second test, or more tests, I will get stronger and quicker.
"I will have more knowledge about what tools we can use and can help more for the future.
"But I don't know. We have to discuss and think about it and see what happens."
Looks like a positive clue to me. Mika vs Kimi vs Alonso, how's that? And if Schumi choose to come back too, wow..
Labels: f1
Schumi 2, Alonso 5, Massa 1
Yessshhhh!!!
Schumacher. Must. Win.
Qualifying: Massa beats Schumi to poleLabels: f1
Alonso is under pressure?
"They wanted us to finish second and third because they do not want me to take the number 'one' to a different team. They are not helping me as much as they could."
Too much pressure? Losing his cool now? He shouldn't have said that.
Maybe he's right, but now that he said it, the team will be less supporting. Which means bye bye world champion and since mclaren will be unlikely to deliver next year, he can say good bye to the next world champion too.
I understand that the pressure is very high for him. losing his lead after comfortably leading. 2 gp left, with ferrari having the momentum, his team not supporting. oh, double world champion is so very very close but he's going to lose it.. ouch..
Alonso accuses team of sabotaging his chances of winning the titleLabels: f1
Sweating and coding and bye bye Montoya
just ran 4.4 km. the time is 28.25.81. that's 154.77 meter/min. my record speed. the further away, the faster :)
maybe this is because i ran almost 2 hours after dinner. i felt better during the run and can maintain the good speed.
last friday was 4 km in 26.30.33, which is 150.94 meter/min. dropping compared to previous.
wondering how i calculate the speed? i code it last week, using java with eclipse as the IDE. i want to pick up java, and i have to solve real problem to make the learning more interesting. then i came up with this runner calculator thing.
first i wrote the classes. in the end, there are 6 classes that i use. 2 of the classes are available in .NET, but not in java (or i don't know the existence of it). the 2 classes are TimeSpan and a text box that selects its text when you tab to it.
so i wrote my own TimeSpan class and extends the JTextField class to select its text when focussed on. after that, i feel that .NET do have its advantages. at least the TextBox is better, with validation built in and all.
on to montoya. i heard the news from my friend yesterday. what a shock. and the news about his immediate exit today adds to the shock. i don't believe that the immediate exit is for his own good. if i were him, i'd like to have my last GP to just enjoy it and pay tribute to the fans. mclaren, at least give him one farewell grand prix please.
i know i'll miss this guy, one of the best overtaker in current F1. bye montoya, i hope he rules the NASCAR and i hope i can see NASCAR once in a while.
Labels: f1, running
now the denial
Rossi denies he's switching to F1Monday May 16 2005
Valentino Rossi has denied reports that he's swapping to Formula One in 2007.
Reports emerged last week that Rossi had already decided he would be leaving MotoGP at the end of his current Yamaha contract and switching from two wheels to four.
"We have already agreed on a one-year contract and we know that from 2007 he will be in Formula One," his Yamaha team director Davide Brivio reportedly told The Guardian.
The MotoGP Champion has, however, denied these reports, saying he's tired of having to answer questions about his alleged swap.
"It's becoming a big problem," the Italian said. "I've said nothing new and still new things are being written."
He added: "I'll finish my career in motorcycling and stay in MotoGP for the next ten years."
Meanwhile Brivio now insists he was misquoted.
"I was asked about any plan Valentino might have to drive in Formula One and I said that would be Valentino’s decision and it might happen," he told Reuters.
"I certainly did not say that he would be in F1 from 2007. From Yamaha’s side we hope that we will still be riding for us, but I cannot predict Valentino’s future."
some reporters or people, maybe, seem to be f**ked up in trying to make sensation.Labels: f1
Rossi wants to enter F1 in 2007
Rossi wants to enter F1 in 2007Friday May 13 2005
Valentino Rossi has targeted 2007 as the year that he wants to make the change from MotoGP to Formula One.
The reigning MotoGP has long been linked to swap to four wheels and although there were times he expressed an interest in the World Rally Champion, his team manager says Rossi’s future lies with Formula One.
"There aren't any problems regarding the renewal of his contract for 2006. We have decided to talk about it after the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello," Yamaha team director Davide Brivio told The Guardian.
"We have already agreed on a one-year contract and we know that from 2007 he will be in Formula One."
And although Rossi has yet to commit to a Formula One team he has confirmed that he’ll be ready to do so in 2007.
"From the end of 2006 I will be free and if I have offers to race in a car I will weigh them up," he said.
"When I was a kid I started out in cart racing and then, luckily, I discovered motor cycling but my passion for the car has remained."
this will be interesting to watch.
Labels: f1
stupid rule
malaysian tv actually cencors the victory champagne in F1. whoever caused or made that cencoring rule is a fucked up moronic idiotic bastard.
Labels: f1
Kimura Takuya was in Sepang
old news, but new to me. his clothes are horrible, isn't it? certainly he forgot to take his stylish with him. but look at this one photo...
for a girl, this is a to die for photo isn't it?
Labels: f1
imola, man of the race: undoubtedly schumacher
how happy i am to see schumi leapfrog from 12th to 3rd place in one pit stop and then overtook button and pressure alonso till the end of the race. that was a superb performance and a trhilling race.
when i saw that he's more than 20 seconds before the race leader, i thought finishing in the point is good enough. but towards the end of the race, i thought he should really win the race. too bad alonso is a tough driver himself. he's really a future champion. he got the nerves to handle a pressure from a great man like schumi.
in the press conference, schumi seems to be introspective on his mistake at qualy 2. he should've won if only he had not made the mistake.
let's hope ferrari is doing even better in spain.
Labels: f1
Singapore denies plans to host a F1 GP
Singapore denies plans to host a F1 GP
Monday April 18 2005
Singapore MotorSport Association President Matthew Lee has denied recent reports that the country is bidding to host a Formula One event.
According to Singapore's Electric News Paper, Lee "met with the Singapore Tourist Board late last year" to discuss hosting a Formula One grand prix and had even gone as far to plot the "exact roads for a possible F1 street circuit."
However, Lee has not only denied meeting Singapore's Tourist Board but also ever saying that he had or that Singapore was wanting to host a round of the F1 World Champion.
"I'm so surprised by all these stories," the SMSA Pesident said.
"The last time I met STB officials was in 2003 for the Asian Supercross motorbike Championship at Suntec City."
"As it was an international event, we had to work with STB to promote it. But we have never discussed anything relating to Formula One."
He added: "People have asked me if Singapore could host a Formula One race."
"My answer is, sure, of course we can. We can build a street circuit or a permanent circuit, but whether this would be allowed is another matter."
"Singapore is a small country and hosting a Formula 1 race is not cheap. So I am not too sure if it would be in Singapore's interest to do so."
SMSA Vice-President, Tan Teng Lip, also dismissed the reports, saying: "We have not made any approach to anyone concerning a Formula One race in Singapore."
"You need a promoter to organise a major race like Formula One and the SMSA are not in a position to play that role."
what's that news before? stupid gossip?Labels: f1
Singapore bids to host an F1 race
Singapore bids to host an F1 raceWednesday April 13 2005
According to Singapore Motor Sports Association (SMSA) President Matthew Lee, talks have already been held between the SMSA and the country’s tourist board regarding the possibility of hosting a race.
“We met with the Singapore Tourist Board late last year to discuss it in a feasibility study group, and we’ve knuckled down the exact roads for a possible F1 street circuit since,” Lee told Singapore’s Electric News Paper.
Lee revealed that a site has already been chosen for the street circuit, however, admits that that project will only get off the ground if Singapore’s tourism board agrees to underwrite it.
“Money talks first, especially when it comes to Bernie Ecclestone,” he said. “This is an open secret in the world of Formula One.”
Lee is expecting it cost around £16 million to set-up the street circuit, while the annual expenses will be around £7-10 million. The majority of that going to Ecclestone for the rights to host the race.
that will be GREAT! i've never even thought that it is possible.Labels: f1
montoya is a father now
It's a boy!
Tuesday April 12 2005
Juan Pablo Montoya became a proud father on Monday when his wife Connie gave birth to their first child.
The baby boy, named Sebastien, arrived into the world at 18h30 BST and weighed six pounds nine ounces.
The child is the Montoyas’ first and according to Juan-Pablo’s team, McLaren, both mother and son are doing well."
Labels: f1
Schumi makes Time's 'influential people' list
Schumi makes Time's 'influential people' listMonday April 11 2005
Michael Schumacher has joined four other sportspeople in being voted onto Time Magazine’s list of the world’s 100 most influential people.
The diversity of the list, which hits the newsstands on Monday, means the likes of the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela appear alongside terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
It also comprises people from 31 different countries, including rappers, designers, world leaders, a tsunami survivor and of course the five sportspeople including Schumacher.
Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason said of the Ferrari driver 'watching Schumacher compete is a chance to see the most complete driver the world has known give a master class in motor racing.”
The four other sportspeople on the Time's list are NBA All-Star LeBron James, sailor Ellen MacArthur, Russian businessman and Chelsea owner Roman Ambromovich and anti-doping chief Richard Pound.
how could a racing driver become one of the most influential people in the world? not even a soccer player is on the list (soccer is the most watched sport on earth, btw). but someone from F1, the sport with very little fans here, is on the list. that's a testimonial of just how great Schumi is.
if you haven't watched F1, maybe you should start now. with michael schumacher still around, this is history in the making...Labels: f1
F2005 in Bahrain
see? f2005 is having its debut in bahrain. just what i predicted.
bridgestone promised better performance too.
this is interesting. it's better to see the champion losing first and making his way up, isn't it?
Labels: f1
malaysian gp & tripod ad
if you haven't noticed yet, this website is full of annoying ads now. sorry guys. i'll try to figure out how to remove these ads. by the way, if you use firefox, the some of the ads can be removed. just follow the instruction here
http://www.mozilla.org/support/firefox/adblock and most of them will be gone.
malaysian gp. great, eventually i was able to see some action after the boring australian gp. the most exciting part was the battle between fisi, webber, and heidfield. damn cool. too bad fisi & webber crashed in the end. but that's good for schumi, hehe.. i bet the sluggish ferrari will force to bring their new car in bahrain. they are lacking behind too much. but maybe it is the tyres which is not good. it makes sense because the testing miles for bridgestone is said to be only about 1/5 of michelin's. but fortunately ferrari can test their car more than the rest of the field. i hope they will improve soon.
Labels: f1
first gp 2005
fisi wins! renault is strong, ferrari is still great too. ferrari can still manage 2nd position. for schumi, it's bad luck all the way. but looking at rubens' position, i can say that ferrari still have the power. they did this with their modified old car. what if the new car come in? domination again?
the pit stop is boring, not interesting. the mechanics just inspect the tyres. no fun at all :(
now, my prediction for this year's championship is.... schumi win again, yeahh.. no 2 is either rubens, someone from renault, or someone from mclaren. too broad for the 2nd position huh? that's a bit of unpredictable, but most likely for 2nd place is rubens if ferrari dominates, fisi if renault is strong enough, kimi if mclaren is strong.
i also play an f1 manager game.
i choose kimi as the driver, toyota as the chassis, mercedes as the engine, and michelin as the tyres. all not perfroming well except the tyres. ah.. should've chosen renault stuffs.
Labels: f1
waiting for F1 to begin soon this sunday, woohoo....
who will win this year?
i say schumacher again.
yeah, quite boring he always wins, but he's the best
schedule:
Date Grand Prix Circuit
07 Mar Australia Melbourne
21 Mar Malaysia Sepang
4 Apr Bahrain Bahrain
25 Apr San Marino Imola
9 May Spain Barcelona
23 May Monaco Monte Carlo
30 May Europe Nurburgring
13 Jun Canada Montreal
20 Jun United States Indianapolis
4 Jul France Magny-Cours
11 Jul Great Britain Silverstone
25 Jul Germany Hockenheim
15 Aug Hungary Budapest
29 Aug Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
12 Sep Italy Monza
26 Sep China Shanghai
10 Oct Japan Suzuka
24 Oct Brazil Interlagos
Labels: f1
US GP: Schumacher Triumph Ends Montoya's Hopes
Look's like Schumacher is gonna win again unless he's extremely unlucky. Too bad for Montoya.
Labels: f1
