Catching-up session – Week #40
Every week comes with its dose of F1 news, and these past seven days are no exception. That’s why casinoenlignefrance.eu.com offers you this catch-up session within a single article, summarizing the essential F1 news of the past week. On the agenda, the Japanese Grand Prix primarily marked by the return of the Suzuka circuit, the […]
Every week comes with its dose of F1 news, and these past seven days are no exception. That’s why casinoenlignefrance.eu.com offers you this catch-up session within a single article, summarizing the essential F1 news of the past week. On the agenda, the Japanese Grand Prix primarily marked by the return of the Suzuka circuit, the former Honda team’s territory. A technical and dangerous track where young drivers unfamiliar with it experienced some real scares. Sebastian Vettel clinched the victory for Red Bull Racing. Recent days have also seen the official announcement of Fernando Alonso joining Ferrari for 2010. casinoenlignefrance.eu.com invites you to revisit the reactions of the three parties: Alonso, Ferrari, and Renault. Finally, we will take stock, with two races left in the season, of the increasingly active transfer market across all teams.
A Rather… Accident-Prone Japanese Grand Prix!
The Formula 1 circus made another stop for the weekend at the Suzuka circuit. It had been three years since an F1 car last graced this track. In those three years, a whole new generation of young drivers has flooded the premier class of auto racing. So it’s hard to blame them for putting on a show over the three days of racing. It all started very calmly on Friday with practice sessions significantly reduced due to the rain pouring down on Japan’s eastern coast. Very few laps were completed by the teams as the weather forecast promised sunshine for the rest of the weekend. Notably, Timo Glock, who was too feverish to participate in the tests, was replaced by Toyota’s reserve driver, Kamui Kobayashi. A new day dawned with the sun shining, marking the last practice session and the first in dry conditions. Trulli (Toyota) took the opportunity to shine.
At 7:00 AM French time, the kickoff is given for the most eventful qualifying session in the history of the sport. It lasts no less than an hour and thirty minutes! Indeed, three red flags came to punctuate the three sessions. Only Q1 goes smoothly, while in Q2, Alguersuari causes the first interruption without major issues, although he is evacuated by ambulance as a safety precaution. Glock is a bit more unlucky, as he goes straight into the wall at the last corner. He is airlifted to the nearest hospital. Ultimately, he won’t take part in the following day’s race due to a rather significant leg injury. Buemi has his second off-track excursion but with much more consequence… He returns to the pits with an unrecognizable car, earning him a penalty alongside four other drivers who didn’t slow down when the yellow flags were waved. Finally, in Q3, Kovalainen causes the last red flag. Vettel will ultimately start on pole ahead of Trulli and Hamilton.
It is the same trio that will be found on the podium the next day, and in the same order. The Grand Prix was marked by another off-track excursion, this time by Alguersuari, which triggered the appearance of a safety car with only five laps remaining. The safety car would eventually withdraw, leaving the drivers to battle it out over three laps. It was a suspenseful end to the race as all the cars had regrouped behind the Safety Car, allowing for potential overtakes. However, in the end, the order remained the same, with Vettel ahead of Trulli, Hamilton, Räikkönen, Rosberg, Heidfeld, Barrichello, and Button. The Renault and Force India teams didn’t achieve anything, while both Toro Rosso drivers retired. No title has been won yet. Vettel gains 8 points on Barrichello and 9 points on Button, who remains the undisputed leader, though mathematically all three drivers have a chance. Brawn GP missed the constructors’ title to Red Bull by 0.5 points and will have to wait for the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos in two weeks.
Read the race summary of the Japanese GP
See the full Live race weekend
Alonso becomes (finally!) a Red!
After weeks of rumors that had increasingly circulated, Fernando Alonso has finally been officially announced as part of the Scuderia Ferrari. It was Stefano Domenicali who made the announcement once the Spaniard’s contract was fully drafted and signed. Alonso will be driving a Ferrari from 2010 to 2012 inclusive, with a possible two-year extension. As he approaches 30, he wishes for the Scuderia to be his last team and aims to win the maximum number of titles, and perhaps five consecutively, like a certain Michael Schumacher. For now, the Reds are delighted to have reached an agreement. On the other side, Renault can no longer retain its driver. The French manufacturer will forever remain the true family of the Iberian, who won two championships with the team in 2005 and 2006. The separation will inevitably be painful.
The official announcement of Alonso at Ferrari
Alonso’s reaction interviewed by the Renault team
A transfer market that is becoming heated!
As has happened several times at the end of this season, casinoenlignefrance.eu.com invites you to review in detail the transfer market ahead of the 2010 season. Currently, Alonso is moving to Ferrari in place of Räikkönen, who is being let go. The Spaniard will therefore be Massa’s teammate. Räikkönen is rumored to go to McLaren, but he will not make his final decision until late in the year, possibly early 2010. In any case, he wants to be part of a winning team. He will replace Kovalainen in the Woking team since Hamilton has a contract of exclusivity for a few more years! The Finn is thus entering the transfer market without real opportunities, perhaps Williams, a new team, or Toyota. Indeed, the team has not yet confirmed its drivers for 2010. Trulli and Glock are therefore at risk, as budgets have not yet been set, and Toyota’s presence is not even certain! Fernando Alonso is thus the catalyst and will be replaced by Kubica, who is expected to be officially announced as the number 1 driver tomorrow. His teammate next season may not be Grosjean given his somewhat disappointing results. Finally, the latest rumors suggest a possible exchange between Rosberg and Barrichello between Williams and Brawn GP. Rosberg saw the McLaren door close and might be attracted to the team that will be champions in two weeks. He would then team up with Button, leader of the championship and future champion for sure! This would allow Barrichello to stay one more season in F1 even though he is currently 2nd in the driver standings this year.
Toyota’s doubts about its 2010 drivers
The possible exchange between Rosberg and Barrichello
