F1 - Russia Qualifying Sat 11 Oct 2014 21:30 AEDT ONE HD

[gary]

Coverage of the Qualifying session for the inaugural Russian Grand Prix
at the Sochi Autodrom will be on this Saturday 11th October 2014 starting
at 21:00 Australian Eastern Daylight Light (AEDT) on ONE HD.

Coverage of the race itself on Sunday will start at 21:30 AEDT on TEN.

In the wake of the terrible accident involving Jules Bianchi at Japan last
Sunday, in an article which has appeared in The Guardian,
some drivers have been described as "angry" with the FIA.

There is to be a meeting later today between the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association
and the FIA which is expected to be heated.

Marussia were considering withdrawing from their home race as a mark
of respect for Jules Bianchi, who was driving for the team.

Originally Posted by Paul Weaver in Sochi writing for The Guardian

The Williams driver Felipe Massa said: “It was the worst day of my life. It’s a really bad race – worse than the race of my accident [in Hungary in 2009] because I don’t remember it. It’s a very difficult weekend for all of us, thinking about Jules. We will race and do the best we can for him, for his family.”

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel said: “It is probably the most difficult race to digest so far,” while Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) added: “It’s emotionally very difficult.”

See http://www.theguardian.com/sport/201...-grand-prix-f1

The Bianchi accident appears to have overshadowed any controversy
surrounding the fact that the race is to be held in Russia, particularly
in the wake of the downing of MH17 in the Ukraine.

Weather conditions are expected to be sunny over the weekend.

A Hermann Tilke designed track, video of laps around it look impressive.
It certainly is a very long, very high-speed track, so the Mercedes should
perform well here.

In an interview on the F1 web site, Tilke says :-

Originally Posted by Hermann Tilke, F1 web site

“But tyres - tyres will be the biggest problem. This track will work the tyres very hard. Managing that could make the difference.”

Read more about the track here :-
http://www.formula1.com/news/feature.../10/16469.html

Using the F1 video game as a demo, Daniil Kvyat talks us through a hot lap
here in this video :-
http://www.redbull.com/en/motorsport...game-lap-sochi

[gary]

Practice 1 has just finished with Rosberg setting the fastest time,
followed by Hamilton, Button, Alonso and Magnussen.

Daniel Ricciardo was 12th some 1.5 seconds slower than Rosberg
and Vettel was 14th, nearly 2.2 seconds slower than Rosberg.

Marussia will only enter one car in this weekend's race, driven by Max Chilton.

[astroron (Ron)]

Ricciardo out of the car in second practice with 4 minutes to go with engine problems,session red flagged.
Hamilton fastest by quite a bit from Magnissun about ¾ second.
Rosberg is forth fastest.
Session over.
Cheers

[gary]

Hi Ron,

With that 0.864 second lead over the next fastest, it's as if Lewis discovered
a shortcut on the circuit that nobody else has spotted yet.

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by gary

Hi Ron,

With that 0.864 second lead over the next fastest, it's as if Lewis discovered
a shortcut on the circuit that nobody else has spotted yet.

They mustn't have any cameras in that part of the circuit,Gary.
Cheers

[MrB (Simon)]

Originally Posted by gary

it's as if Lewis discovered
a shortcut on the circuit

Haha, starting to sound like the WRC!

[gary]

Andrew Benson, Chief F1 writer at the BBC, reports that drivers have backed the
introduction of a "virtual safety car" as one measure to try and prevent the
type of accident that tool place in Japan last weekend.

Originally Posted by Andrew Benson, BBC

Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso added: "I support it. In fact I raised the point in the drivers' briefing [on Friday] because between the Japan and Singapore races I went into an indoor go-kart circuit and when there is a yellow flag they push a button and the engines cut and we all go at the same speed.

"If some kind of similar system can be done also in F1, you maintain the gap, there is not a rush, nothing to be done, just slow down, same for everybody."

Originally Posted by Andrew Benson, BBC

Any system that limited the engines could not be implemented immediately owing to the complexity of the cars.

But governing body the FIA is planning run a test of a new system after one of the practice sessions at the next race in Austin, Texas in three weeks' time.

World champion Sebastian Vettel said: "Last week shows we have to do something. We have the technology to do a lot. We need to find out what is the best.

"If we talk about a speed limit, what sort of speed limit?

"What you want to do is make it as fair as possible. I'm sure we have the opportunity. With the current systems we have in the car it shouldn't be a big problem. It is more about finding the right compromise so everyone is happy."

Before the system is introduced fully, Whiting will exercise "extreme caution" in the event of any incident.

Article here :-
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/29566864

[astroron (Ron)]

Lewis Hamilton on pole again.
I really don't think Alan Jones likes Lewis, he is very begrudging
of him,Greg Rust said how well Lewis was on song this weekend
and Jones said yes but if he has a row with his girl friend then it all
goes to pot,then went straight on to wax lyrical about Daniel Ricciardo
Without taking a breath,even though Daniel did nothing special.
Jones said last week that Nico was the better racer the Lewis literally made him look pedestrian overtaking him on the outside,which the commentators said was one of the best moves seen for a long time.
Alan Jones never even mentioned it. Sour grapes Mr Jones.
Lewis has won 8 races to Nico's 4, and Lewis would have won at least one or two more if not for his car conking out, or busted by Rosberg.
Nico's body language tells a big story,but I think tomorrow will be the race that will really be the telling for the final three races.
Bernie Eccelstone has said he thinks it wasn't a good idea for double points at the last and it wont be in next years points.
Go Lewis Hamilton

[gary]

There are many professional drivers and quite a few F1 fans that
might fantasize about driving for Ferrari.

Some, I have no doubt, would be willing to do it for free if given the chance.

There was mention in last night's broadcast of the rumour of what Ferrari
might have negotiated to pay Sebastian Vettel for his upcoming contract
to drive for them.

The UK's Daily Mail in an article on 4th October suggests it is £150million for
three years, equivalent to about AUD92.6 million a year.

See http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/for...nd-season.html

Forbes magazine reports that the highest paid salaried athlete last year
was soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo at USD52 million (AUD59.8 million).
Thus Vettel's deal, if true, would make him the highest-salaried
sports-person in the world.

Plus he gets to drive that company car at 320 km/h every other
weekend and it comes with its own parking space.

See http://www.forbes.com/sites/allenstj...aried-athlete/