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Hate to say it but perhaps the relaxed testing restrictions in 2012 will reduce the importance of Barrichello's experience to a team?

Beyond that, Williams do have a history of apparently not putting much stock in the ability of their drivers.
I'm not just talking about the "glory years" (where every WDC came with a P45) but even more recently they've binned some pretty decent drivers in favour of unknown quantities.

Barrichello sometimes bugs me with some of his petty criticisms but, overall, he's a decent enough fella and it's always nice for us old scrotes to have guys like him and MS still in F1 cos it keeps our own fantasies alive.

If/when he gets a seat for 2012 I WILL be opening a bottle to toast his success.

There is only one mid season test which will now become a vital time to gather critical development information so even more reason to have a seasoned driver to give measured feedback.

However, you are correct at Williams habit of binning good drivers for unknown quantities - especially if they are bearing large sponsorship cheques, sadly that has become important to Williams these days. Can you imagine McLaren binning Hamilton or Button so they could get their hands on Maldonado's sponsorship cash?

Rubens criticisms are not usually petty, promised upgrades delivering no benefit become frustratinf for a competitive driver, again we have seen Hamilton criticise development at McLaren this year and last. A good team will respond to this as the driver is pushing them but mediocre teams will go corporate and try to shut the driver up - Petrov anyone???

I hope Rubens get the drive but you make good vailid points Si.

Clicky!

I know we all assumed it'd happen but ForceIndia have confirmed di Resta and Hulkenberg for next year.

Glad to see that sponsorship doesn't always trump talent.

So Petrov, Alguersuari and Sutil have all been dumped out of F1 by their teams even though they've all had good seasons. And instead we have Grosjean and Hulkenberg who were piss poor last time. I don't get it.

^To put it simply... money talks.

Grosjean is the current GP2 champion and deserves to have another chance at F1. He was too young before but should do better this time.

Hulkenberg is another driver who deserves a chance and is underrated as well.

Hulkenberg really does deserve another go in F1. Performed nicely in his season at Williams and should be able to show what he can do in a Force India.

It would be nice to see Sutil get a race seat though as he did pretty great last season and deserves to still be in the sport.

Also same could be said for Alguersuari. Perfomed brilliantly in the second part of the season and deserves a race seat in the sport.

Hulkenbuerg may deserve a race seat, but I dont think he should have got one at the expense of Sutil. Sutil has had a very good season. I think Force India may come to regret their decision of dropping Sutil. It would have been netter for them if the kept Di Resta and Sutil.

The BBC have come and said that it was them who approached sky. Confirming what I though all along. It was obvious that they didnt want to lose F1 to another free-to-air channel, which is why they approached sky. Hopefully now people will stop blaming sky...but I doubt it.

I was just reading this article http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/form...e/16225954.stm .. how dare the tracks want to make a profit before investing all that time and energy and money in building a track to make a profit for Bernie.
naturally, Bernie is a well know philanthropist that has never made mroe than a living wage from F1, while ploughing all that extra cash back into the sport for the benefit of the teams and venues.

He is such an odious little twerp

Why did the F1 chicken cross the road...

'I give the chicken 5 out of 10 for crossing to the other side of the road. In 2012 it knows it must do better.'
Luca Montezemolo

'The other side of the road, that's what I'm talking about.'
Sebastian Vettel

'Hey chicken good job!'
'Don't touch the chicken, man!'
Felipe and Lewis

'We have penalised the chicken for being black.'
Monaco Stewards

'The chicken needs to look in its murr-errs'.
DC

'I'm sure the duck won't have any trouble crossing the bridge.'
Eddie Jordan

'I had a nice battle with the chicken.'
Michael Schumacher

'Michael, you've got to remember to leave room for the chicken.'
Ross Brawn

'I really don't mind if I beat the chicken this season or not...'
Nico Rosberg

'The performance related task of effecting a carriageway transition was completed in optimal time by the chicken package. Then we painted it grey.'
Ron Dennis

'Is there a road? We'll see. Let's hope so.'
Bernie Ecclestone

'I think it's been a growth season for the chicken.'
Lewis Hamilton

'Guys, the chicken is limping.'
Ted Kravitz

'I was only hanging round the chicken coop out of curiosity.'
Mike Coughlan

'In 2012 we're planning to feed the chicken beans, beans and more beans. We're trying to create an organic rear blown diffuser.'
Adrian Newey

'If the chicken didn't get to the other side it was obviously Lewis's fault.'
Niki Lauda

'You know, I can remember a time when we were losing a chicken a week.'
Jackie Stewart

'The data shows that we're closing the gap to the chicken.'
Ross Brawn

'I think the chicken's lost his mojo this season.'
Eddie Jordan (Rhode Island Ed)

'What IS the chicken DOING?!'
Jenson Button

'Felipe, the chicken is faster than you. Good lad. Sorry.'
Rob Smedley

'The chicken is looking a bit tasty. Will there be a party when it gets to the other side?'
Jake Humphrey, BBC

'Nobody bothers pronouncing the 'i' in Australia - so it's chckn'
Danel Rccardo

'The chicken did it. The chicken is what it is.'
Sebastian Vettel

wadda we reckons gonna be the "killer feature" now EBD are banned

or will someone find a loophole?

I reckon some sort of passive F duct on the rear wing

ITV have closed their F1 website 3 years after given up their F1 broadcasting contract.

Watched the BBC F1 2011 Season Review yesterday. No Martin Brundle in the show I assume because of his defection to Sky.

I see Rubens is still in with a shout at Williams

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewben...illiams_f.html

I believe the teams are trying to get some form of exhaust blown rear wing working.

http://scarbsf1.wordpress.com/category/blown-rear-wing/

It would be nice to see Rubens at Williams for another season but surely Adrian Sutil with the form that he showed last season should be considered as the other driver in the team.

It appears the FIA in regards to racing on the track have provided some rule clarification.

I find this interesting but any time I read stuff like this the number one question in my mind is "how will this affect the on track racing?"

Sounds like with all that dirty air over the rear wing the car behind is going to have even more trouble following and trying to pass the car ahead next year.

And also how will all this downforce creating air over the rear wing react when the DRS is opened and the airflow pattern changes considerably?

The blown diffusers were mainly used in corners. Thus giving more downforce in the corner, and allowing the driver to corner faster. They were not used in the straights. When travelling in a straight, the normal aero on the car would provide all the downforce required. Which is why when watching a race, when a car went into a corner it made a rather loud racket (that was the hot gasses being blown out). I am assuming any new system developed would be to optimise downforce in corners.

Valencia Grand Prix under threat?


Full story

So if Valencia is dropped from the schedule assuming the contract is not renewed, that would leave a gap for a South Africa or perhaps even a return to Turkey? I gather Valencia is not one of the most popular destinations for the teams?

Or the TV audience.

As gomez says, its one of the more boring races of the season.

Dont forget Russia and the 2nd American race (New York). Room will have to be found for the NY race. Russia will host its first GP race in 2014, if everything goes to plan. They have a 7 year contract.