Catch-up Session – Week No. 44
Once again, casinoenlignefrance.eu.com offers you this Monday, November 2, 2009, a recap session of last week’s F1 news. This summary article features the prestigious Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It was the last race weekend of a season dominated by Brawn GP and Jenson Button, as each won a title (constructor and driver). This weekend was […]
Once again, casinoenlignefrance.eu.com offers you this Monday, November 2, 2009, a recap session of last week’s F1 news. This summary article features the prestigious Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It was the last race weekend of a season dominated by Brawn GP and Jenson Button, as each won a title (constructor and driver). This weekend was undoubtedly the most prestigious of the season after a race that took place at twilight, meaning a daytime start and a nighttime finish. The infrastructures are impressive, with the circuit boasting a pass under the 5-star Yas Marina hotel and a pit exit through a tunnel! The lucky winner, Sebastian Vettel, can be proud of winning this first race in Abu Dhabi. He finished on the podium alongside his teammate Mark Webber and Jenson Button. Rubens Barrichello came in 4th, and the four main protagonists of this year occupy the top four spots. What a setting to end the 2009 season! The past eight days were also marked by the issue of the 2010 British Grand Prix. To date, no one knows whether Donington Park or Silverstone will win the bid to host the race, if and only if, it takes place in 2010 since the outcome is becoming more uncertain. Finally, Williams made headlines over the last week of October. Indeed, new logos, driver departures or arrivals, and a new engine, it’s a lot! But what can you do, it’s transfer season.
Something Grand in Abu Dhabi to End the 2009 Season
Everything was about grandeur and excess during this last race weekend live from the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. The seventeenth and final event of the championship concluded with a Red Bull double, with Sebastian Vettel ahead of Mark Webber. The two drivers took advantage of Lewis Hamilton’s retirement to move up a rank. The German seized the opportunity to secure the runner-up position behind Jenson Button in the drivers’ championship. Button himself reached the podium in 3rd place for Brawn GP. His teammate, Rubens Barrichello, followed, finishing 3rd in the world standings. The two Red Bulls were pursued by the two Brawn GP cars in this last race, marking the ultimate battle of the season. In 5th place was Nick Heidfeld for BMW-Sauber, participating in his last GP. The Hinwil team moved up a spot in the constructors’ championship, overtaking Williams. Revelation of the past two weekends, Kamui Kobayashi scored points in his second Formula 1 appearance. He represented the Toyota team and outperformed his teammate, Jarno Trulli, who also scored points in 7th position. Nobody doubts his presence in the sport next year as a racing driver rather than a test driver. Finally, Sébastien Buemi for Toro Rosso secured the last point with 8th place. Neither Renault, McLaren, nor Ferrari appeared in the top 10. McLaren retained 3rd place in the constructors’ standings over Ferrari, and Hamilton did the same over Räikkönen for 5th place in the drivers’ standings. The 2009 regular season ends, opening the era of driver transfers and offseason testing. The next Grand Prix is scheduled for mid-March 2010, to be held in Bahrain.
Read the summary of the Abu Dhabi race
View the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Live
More than a matter, will there be a 2010 British GP?
This was the question that could be asked last week as uncertainties are numerous. The Donington Park and Silverstone circuits are both in the starting blocks. But their destinies will not be the same. At the beginning of the week, last Monday, the last deadline to find funds for Donington expired. That’s why Bernie Ecclestone, the big boss of F1, made a new proposal to Silverstone to host at least one more race. This circuit had thought it was organizing its last Grand Prix last June. To everyone’s surprise, the next day, Tuesday, October 27, the deadline was not expired and extended until that same evening at 11:59 PM. However, the reality remains the same, to find 150 million euros to finance the end of the work! Wednesday, October 28, the situation focuses on Silverstone and is not resolved yet. With a Donington Park circuit that seems out, Silverstone plays its position and seeks to negotiate this new contract as much as possible. The opposition is strong between Damon Hill, head of the BDRC (equivalent to the FFSA in France), and Bernie Ecclestone. Finally, and it is a confirmation, on Thursday, October 29, 2009, the financial chief of F1 confirmed that Donington Park’s last hopes had vanished. The only solution for 2010 with a potential British Grand Prix would be to reach an agreement with Silverstone, but nothing is done yet… To be continued.
First announcement from Ecclestone, Donington out
A non-expired deadline for Donington
The organization of the 2010 British Grand Prix is more than uncertain
Second announcement Ecclestone, Donington has no more hope
Things are moving at Williams
At the end of the 2009 season, the Williams team has accelerated its preparation for the 2010 year. First, for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Grove team placed two new logos on its cars or on the helmets of its drivers, Rosberg and Nakajima. One is a charitable organization, the SIA, which supports spinal injury victims, a cause dear to Sir Frank Williams. Additionally, Williams has partnered with QTSP to create a Williams technology center in Qatar, aiming to commercialize technologies from Formula 1. It’s official: Nico Rosberg is leaving the Williams team. He announced it during the Abu Dhabi GP after four years of dedicated service. He is expected to join Button at Brawn GP or possibly McLaren, as the door remains open for the young German driver. Finally, Frank Williams confirmed the use of Cosworth engines in 2010. The contract with Toyota had previously been terminated for the end of this season. The only thing left was the official announcement date, which occurred during the Abu Dhabi GP, although Monday had initially been stated. Monday will bring another significant announcement: the driver lineup. Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hülkenberg are the new drivers for the Grove team.
& Les deux nouveaux logos de Williams
