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LotusTalk - The Lotus Cars Community - The Racing Den http://www.lotustalk.com/forums Discuss Formula 1, World Challenge, Rally, etc en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:20:44 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/v2/images/misc/rss.jpg LotusTalk - The Lotus Cars Community - The Racing Den http://www.lotustalk.com/forums Kimi In Party Mode for 2010 http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f223/kimi-party-mode-2010-a-80949/ Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:45:51 GMT
Raikkonen to Take a Sabbatical in 2010

By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, November 17th 2009, 23:55 GMT


Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen will take a sabbatical from Formula 1 next year, his manager has revealed, following the collapse of talks with McLaren about a deal for 2010.

Raikkonen said last month that, in the wake of being released from his Ferrari contract, his only option to remain in F1 was with McLaren - because he wanted to be guaranteed a top-line grand prix car.

However, amid increasing speculation that Jenson Button is on his way to the British team, Raikkonen's manager Steve Robertson revealed on Tuesday night that discussions with McLaren had come to an end.

"The options in F1 were with McLaren next season or not at all," Robertson was quoted as saying by respected Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat, which has close links with the Raikkonen camp. "Kimi and McLaren were unable to reach an agreement, so he will not drive at the F1 level - at least not next year.

"A gap year means nothing for Kimi. He is more interested in fighting for wins and the world championship. F1 will miss Kimi. He worked hard over the summer - doing things in a Ferrari that only the best drivers are capable of."

AUTOSPORT understands that there were several stumbling blocks to a deal being completed with McLaren prior to the team finding out that Button was available and interested.

As well as a difference of opinion about wages, Raikkonen and McLaren were believed to not be in agreement about the number of sponsorship appearance days he should do, or about how free he was to do rallies.

With Raikkonen only interested in returning to F1 in a race-winning car, his best option for 2011 would appear to lie with Red Bull Racing - which has a theoretical vacancy for 2011 with Mark Webber currently only contracted until the end of next year.

Although it is not clear what Raikkonen will do next year, it is possible that he will focus his efforts on the World Rally Championship - while he sorts out an F1 return. Red Bull could be involved in his rally plans too. ]]> The Racing Den Feffman http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f223/kimi-party-mode-2010-a-80949/ Aabar, Daimler to Buy Majority Stake in Brawn GP http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f223/aabar-daimler-buy-majority-stake-brawn-gp-80861/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:15:29 GMT http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...325559224.html

NOVEMBER 16, 2009, 11:19 A.M. ET.
Aabar, Daimler to Buy Majority Stake in Brawn GP
By NOUR MALAS And OLIVER KLAUS

DUBAI--Aabar Investments PJSC, the largest shareholder in Daimler AG, Monday said it would acquire jointly with the German car maker a majority shareholding in the Brawn GP Formula One team, at a time when the F1 racing series is struggling with the fallout from the world economic crisis.

Gero Breloer/Associated Press Daimler's Dieter Zetsche talks to Ross Brawn, team principal of Brawn GP at the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix in early November.

Under the deal, Aabar and Daimler will jointly buy 75.1% of Brawn GP, the winner of this year's Formula One constructors' and drivers' championships, with the existing owner, Ross Brawn, to hold the remainder, the Abu Dhabi investment firm said in an emailed statement.

Aabar, which is majority-owned by Abu Dhabi state fund International Petroleum Investment Co., or IPIC, will hold a 30% stake in Brawn GP, while Daimler will hold 45.1%, the company said. The deal is still subject to regulatory approvals in Switzerland and the European Union.

The new Mercedes racing team "will compete in the 2010 Formula One World Championship under the continuing leadership of Team Principal Ross Brawn" as Silver Arrow team, Aabar said.

The deal, which follows the inaugural Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi in early November, comes at a critical time for Formula One. The racing series has been affected by a slowing global economy and tight funding, leading sponsors to withdraw and teams to quit.

MoreWSJ.com/Mideast: News, video, graphics .
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, F1's top governing body, last year agreed to cut the budgets of Formula-One teams by at least 30% to safeguard the future of the FIA Formula One World Championship. Measures introduced to meet the target included reducing engine costs, in-season testing and staff numbers. Formula One teams also agreed to use lower-cost, longer-lasting engines from 2009.

Despite the cost cutting efforts, Toyota Motor Corp. said earlier this month it would withdraw from participating in Formula-One racing events after this year due to the changed economic environment, which has left the auto giant struggling with losses after the collapse of car sales in the U.S. and other major markets.

In July, BMW AG pulled out of the series citing falling sales, poor racing results and its quest for a greener image. Last year, Honda Motor Co. exited F1 amid cost-cutting efforts due to falling sales of its cars.

Aabar's move makes it the third, high-profile Arab investor in Formula One. Abu Dhabi investment firm Mubadala Development Co. owns a 5% stake in Ferrari, while Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Co., which is wholly owned by the government of Bahrain, holds a 30% stake in McLaren Group, which is also 40%-owned by Daimler.

A spokesman for McLaren wasn't immediately available for comment on what Daimler's involvement with Brawn will mean for the team.

Flush with cash from years of soaring oil prices, sovereign-linked U.A.E. investors such as Aabar, IPIC and Abu Dhabi National Energy Co., or Taqa, are targeting foreign assets to extend their influence outside the Middle East and to seek the transfer of know-how and technology.

Aabar, which also has its shares listed on the Abu Dhabi stock market, invests in non-energy assets on behalf of its majority owner IPIC as part of the Abu Dhabi government's strategy to diversify its economy away from oil and broaden its industrial base.

Aabar has accelerated its investment drive this year, buying stakes in a wide range of assets in the real-estate, infrastructure and automotive sectors. Aabar bought a 9.1% stake in Daimler in March and said it would pursue joint projects with the Stuttgart-based company. In July, it bought a 40% share in Tesla Motors Inc. from Daimler, giving it a near 10% stake in the San Carlos, California-based electric car start-up. ]]> The Racing Den PatrickShim http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f223/aabar-daimler-buy-majority-stake-brawn-gp-80861/ Toyota Out of F1 http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f223/toyota-out-f1-80493/ Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:33:30 GMT No big surprise Toyota is leaving F1 "with immediate effect" after Honda's exit last year. Looks like Sauber will be on the F1 grid in 2010 after all.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80005

Toyota power for Lotus F1??!!

Feff ]]> The Racing Den Feffman http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f223/toyota-out-f1-80493/ <![CDATA[Nominee's for Peter Windsor's job]]> http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f223/nominees-peter-windsors-job-80409/ Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:10:35 GMT Just finished watching the last F1 race of the season and the farewell to Peter Windsor as pit lane commentator and part of the Speed TV announcer team. My wife suggested I apply for the job but I somehow don't think the Yooper accent would appeal (except to the Finnish fans.)
I have decided to nominate Richard Parramint for the job. After all, he has the requisite British accent, is certainly an accomplished speaker, and his line of B.S. would be the envy of anyone (including Burt Levy. Other nominee's???
...Dave ]]> The Racing Den dwkoski http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f223/nominees-peter-windsors-job-80409/ 1MF1T CEO http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f223/1mf1t-ceo-80398/ Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:16:08 GMT Attachment 137413 (http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/attachments/f223/137413-1mf1t-ceo-1mf1t_ceo_announcement.pdf) Attachment 137413
Attached Images
File Type: pdf 1MF1T_CEO_Announcement.pdf (47.6 KB)
]]> The Racing Den 569dean http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f223/1mf1t-ceo-80398/ What a Race! http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f223/what-race-80155/ Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:19:23 GMT Some of you may have seen it on Speed, but what a race, especially Grand Finale!

Magnussen vs. Burgmester in Laguna Seca


YouTube - Exciting GT2 finish at Laguna Seca ]]> The Racing Den Vexige http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f223/what-race-80155/ Jean Todt new FIA president http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f223/jean-todt-new-fia-president-80126/ Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:06:03 GMT I was hoping it'll be Ari, but...
Don't know how impartial Jean Todt could be. He's a Ferrari man.

Jean Todt elected new FIA president | Sport | guardian.co.uk ]]> The Racing Den Vexige http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f223/jean-todt-new-fia-president-80126/