Belgian Grand Prix | Ferrari Force Win

As Kimi Raikonnen took Ferrari's first victory of the season, Force India came in second with Fisichella being quicker for most of the race. Beaten by KERS at the start, it was not possible to take the win but only a second separated first and second at the end.

Vettel closed the championship gap on Button with third place. Button had his first DNF of the year after being hit from behind by Grosjean on lap 1.

India Force Spa Front Row

Giancarlo Fisichella put his Force India F1 car on pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix tomorrow. This is of course the team's best ever result and is a fitting reward for some steady development progress this year.

F1 Champs

This weekend the F1 GP team moves to Spa Francorchamps. This is perhaps the most evocative of all circuits and in particular the Red Water Road or Route de l'Eau Rouge. This corner creates immense compression and lateral G-Forces which may have concerned Schumacher when considering whether his neck was up to a return this year.

Picture credit: www.spa-francorchamps.be

Rubens Dedicates Win

Rubens Barrichello dedicated his win in Valencia today to his absent friend Felipe Massa.

In an emotional mood he drove the BrawnGP to his first victory in five years.

As Vettel retired with a broken engine and Webber finished behind him, Jenson Button was able to limit the damage from his seventh place.

-- Post From My iPhone

Hamilton on Pole | F1 | Valencia

Remember our blog from Hungary?

"if Lewis Hamilton continues his Hungary form and closes out the season by winning the next 7 races he could be world champion with 89 points".

Well he is moving forward to this goal by setting an excellent pole time with Button back in 5th.

F1 Valencia

Alonso celebrated his permission to race by setting FTD in Friday practice.

Jenson Button came in second fastest.

Meanwhile Vettel's Valencia was marked by his confirming a seat at Red Bull again next year.

Alonso in Valencia

The FIA Court of Appeal have reduced the sentence passed on the Renault F1 team. This followed their expulsion from the next Spanish Grand Prix in Valencia after failing to secure a wheel on Fernando Alonso's car in Hugary and then failing to notify the problem.

The sentence has been reduced from a ban to a fine which means that Alonso will race after all.

Massa To Race at Monza | F1 News

Rumours are spreading that Felipe Massa will reappear at the Italian Grand Prix to race for Ferrari again.

However all will depend on the medical prognosis from his accident.

The Third Car

Schumacher surpassed Fangio's record of 5 F1 World Championships which had stood for 46 years.

Imagine him driving a Lancia Ferrari, Maserati or Alfa Romeo as a third car next year entered by Fiat group.

Schumacher in a Lancia Ferrari

What will Schumacher do next is a question that has been posed on this site and others.

How about a Lancia Ferrari drive?

Come on Luca you know it makes sense...

Maserati For F1

As Luca di Montezemolo proposes 3 Ferrari cars for next years F1 grid there must be a better alternative...

If the funding is there for an additional car let's have instead a Maserati from di Montezemolo's group or an Alfa Romeo.

Far more exciting and evocative.

Imagine a Maserati 2050F!

Meanwhile here's an older version...

What Will Schumacher Do Now?

You will likely have seen Michael Schumacher testing in advance of his recent announcement. He used a kart which he considers to be the closest thing to the Formula One driving experience.

The kart was supplied by 2008 karting world champions Tonykart.

In terms of balance, steering input, reflexes and hand to eye coordination, karting is viewed generally as the best preparation for the demands of F1.

Picture courtesy of TonyKart website.

Schumacher Says - 'I'll Not be Back'

Unlike Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Schumacher will not be back.

He states on his website "Yesterday evening, I had to inform Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo and Team Principal Stefano Domenicali that unfortunately I'm not able to step in for Felipe. I really tried everything to make that temporary comeback possible, however, much to my regret it didn't work out. Unfortunately we did not manage to get a grip on the pain in the neck."

Instead test driver Luca Badoer will take the seat.

Schumacher to Fly in Space

According to magazine Arabian Business Michael Schumacher has signed up for a trip into space on the Virgin Galactic. It is not clear whether he will be allowed to train for this or carry out testing in advance.

Schumacher's Track Day

While the rest of F1 is observing a testing ban as a cost-cutting measure. Michael Schumacher has to get out his own personal cheque book.

He has to hire a 2007 car for a test day and pay for it himself including the petrol.

This is in order not to to infringe the ban on testing a 2009 specification car imposed on all the teams.

Should his neck not hold up he may not be able to claim this hire cost against expenses, as a failure to pass the impending medical will mean Ferrari have to look elsewhere for a substitute driver. This may prove difficult as the testing will not be wholly in connection with his profession. Rules, rules rules.

By the way track days are great fun.

Silverstone | F1| 2010

I am sure the British Grand Prix will be at Silverstone in 2010.

As you will see from the earlier post, Eddie, Johnny and Damon would rather perform at Silverstone than Donington. It is not clear at this time whether Beyonce will also be on stage after the Singapore show. Eddie used to work opposite, Johnny has won there and Damon is BRDC President so the clubhouse is a short walk.

I remember going to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone and Brands Hatch. To me Silverstone is the place.

Quotes March 2009 - Times Change!

"If they carry on like that they will win the championship by the end of the year".

So spoke Felipe Massa, last year's runner up to Lewis Hamilton about BrawnGP in Australia.

The F1GPnewsonline.com Blog continued 'Let's not forget also that Button was on pole in Australia as recently as 2006. That year Ferrari were 11th on the grid (Schumacher) and in the other Ferrari (Massa) no time was set due to a crash in qualifying.'

Now Schumacher is back and Massa is in recovery.

Button Getting Fitter

Jenson Button continues is 2009 fitness regime by taking part in triathlon events, most recently the London Triathlon.

Motor racing is viewed by many as somehow not requiring the fitness levels of other sports.

However all serious drivers have a fitness regime comparable to any other top athlete.

Of course Mark Webber has only recently returned to full fitness following his pre-season cycle race accident and injury to his leg and shoulder. Clearly training is itself not without risk.

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Does Schumacher Have the Neck to Return to Formula 1?

It is well known what G-Forces modern Formula 1 cars create due to braking and cornering. Drivers have to train with weights to strengthen their necks. Schumacher has already complained that his injury in a motorcyling accident earlier this year is giving him pain. He is continuing his training in the gym and in 2-stroke karting which is excellent for training cooordination and handling balance.

Schumacher understandably does not want his return to create a pain in the neck for himself or others to have to deal with.

F1 | GP Testing Ban Between Races

The BBC reports that Ross Brawn may face a ban for alleged high speed driving in Devon.

Brawn is well aware that high speed driving and testing vehicle limits between races is banned. It is not clear whether Brawn components were being used on the car.

Meanwhile Schumacher continues to test using GP2 tyres on older models of his car.

Eddie Jordan to Perform at British GP

As Singapore GP promoters prepare for this years race, meanwhile the British Grand Prix promoters may perhaps consider a return by Eddie Jordan, Johnny Herbert and Damon Hill to play as a band at Donington. It is felt however that BRDC president Hill would prefer to perform at Silverstone.

Beyonce to Appear at Singapore F1 GP

As part of the race promotion, 24-26 September 2009, the F1Rocks concert will feature Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas, ZZ Top and Jacky Cheung.

This will take place at Fort Canning Park Singapore and is a measure of the serious import the race promoters are giving to F1.

F1 News | Return of Red 5?

We hope sincerely that there are no more accidents this year. However if Nico or Kazuki should fall victim to the swine flu - Maybe Nigel will make a comeback!

Should Schumacher re-enter F1 Part Way through the Season?

Let's not forget that Schumacher replaced Roberto Moreno at Benetton part way through the 1991 season. He also replaced Bertrand Gachot at Jordan in the same manner.

F1 News | Massa Flies Home to Brazil

Following his accident at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Felipe Massa boarded a private jet today.

He returns to Brazil with his wife to continue his recovery from head and eye injuries sustained in the accident when he was hit by a flying spring from Barrichello's BrawnGP. Massa walked unaided onto the jet.

Brawn vs Ferrari in Valencia

Jenson Button must be looking forward to qualifying in Valencia.

The weather will be hot. Michael Schumacher is back. Schumacher's long-term engineer and strategist is on Button's side now and Brawn does not like to be beaten.