Official F1/Motorsport thread

[VR46]

Just didn't realise Kimi was on so much money (assuming it's right), £35m a year. Gulp.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7789155.stm

[ChrisF]

Explains the straight face all the time... He's trying not to burst out laughing.

[Richard.John]

Why do I get the feeling that this is akin to setting off an A-bomb in F1. Let the conspiracy theories begin...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72546

[Darwock]

Good god, what the hell is Bernie thinking?? Isn't he supposed to be a shrewd guy? Or is he just preparing for his overdue retirement and doesn't care what happens any more? Why else would he be providing all these nails to the F1 coffin maker...

[Senna]

It is high time Ecclestone left the sport. He's made his money, F1 wouldn't have been the same without him, but his time is over. When Max Mosley leaves, he should go at the same time.

The crazy amount of money he demands from race organisers for the rights for a GP are crippling the traditional circuits' ability to pay.

The examples of Silverstone, Montreal, Hockenheim, Nurburgring, Imola and Magny Cours all shine as a beacon with which people need to look at.

It will only get worse in this time of economic woes.

[Richard.John]

That Bernie vs Montreal letter recently was quite revealing. He really is a a used car salesman, a very good one, too.

[VR46]

Don't know how reliable this page is, but they reckon Trulli could be out on his ear

http://www.orange.co.uk/sport/formulaone/pics/5070_1.htm

[Roddie]

Think it would be a big mistake to drop him in favour of Kobayashi; the only time he ever did well in GP2 was thanks to the grid reversing.

[abigsmurf]

Why do I get the feeling that this is akin to setting off an A-bomb in F1. Let the conspiracy theories begin...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72546

Incredibly rich of Ferrari to be saying that teams should get more money. They're the ones who actively are taking money away from every other team thanks to that stupidly unfair agreement in place.

[Roddie]

Also, rather hilariously, Massa today spoke out against cutting driver salaries and the much-discussed switch to single engine supplier. Saying it's the "wrong way for the sport" is fairly obvious when you're on a multi-million pound contract and have a Ferrari engine in your car.

[Salsa Party Animal]

I would like to see a 20m driver salary cap in total for every team. Why do Kimi neeed stupid amount of money.

[Richard.John]

But then asking a driver for a cut in wages is like asking a cow if he likes hamburgers!

Odd that they mention drivers retainers as being a small percentage! Okay, possibly true, but the single biggest manpower expense is the star driver. You can't blame them and the market dictates, I suppose, but the disparity is ludicrous. Kimi just has a great management team. The most laughable in recent memory was Irvine at Jag, Villeneuve at BAR and that twit, Ralf, at Toyota. Lewis, Kimi and Fernando are possibly different as their potential calibre is well known, with all three being WDCs.

It reminds me of Harrison Ford when asked how receiving USD 20,000,000 for a few months work (a film) could be justified. I think he just said that if the studios are stupid or willing enough to pay, who is he to disagree.

[ChrisF]

Another one for the haters out there - it's now Lewis Hamilton MBE... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7804822.stm

[Kieran76]

You would have to be a real miser to complain about Lewis getting the mbe. Love him or hate him you have to recognise his achievement.

[TheForce]

bad news for Melandri and Hopkins , seems that Kawasaki is thinking off pulling out MotoGP .. http://moto.gpupdate.net/en/news/200...saki-s-future/
That would be a shame, then we have even less bikes on the track in 2009!