2015 F1 News and Prediction Tournament

[PeteC]

F1 set for record 21-race season in 2015 as double points scrapped

2015 Formula 1 World Championship calendar

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/30319421

2015 CALENDAR

March 15 Australia
March 29 Malaysia
April 5 Bahrain
April 19 China
(May 3 Korea - Pending)
May 10 Spain
May 24 Monaco
June 7 Canada
June 21 Austria
July 5 Great Britain
July 19 Germany
July 26 Hungary
August 23 Belgium
September 6 Italy
September 20 Singapore
September 27 Japan
October 11 Russia (Sochi)
October 25 USA (Austin)
November 1 Mexico
November 15 Brazil
November 29 Abu Dhabi

[Pleng]

Double points and standy-restarts under the safety car dropped

[pharvey]

You would have thought they would have had slightly better security - I'm assuming of course that there is a couple of quid's worth of equipment there also.......

Glad to hear a lot of the trophies were actually replicas however.

Red Bull Formula 1 trophies stolen in Milton Keynes factory raid

More than 60 trophies won by Red Bull Racing have been stolen from the Formula 1 team's Milton Keynes factory after a 4x4 drove through the entrance.

Six men used the vehicle to gain access to the site in Bradbourne Drive, Tilbrook, about 01:30 GMT.

Team principal Christian Horner said they were "devastated" by the break-in as the trophies "took years and hard work to accumulate".

Night staff working at the site were not harmed, Thames Valley Police said.

'Aggressive break-in'
Horner said: "The break-in caused significant damage and was very upsetting for our night officers who were on duty at the time.

"Beyond the aggressive nature of this break-in, we are perplexed why anyone would take these trophies.

"The value to the team is of course extraordinarily high due to the sheer hard work and effort that went into winning each and every one.

"But their intrinsic value is low; they would be of little benefit to those outside of the team and, in addition to that, many of the trophies on display were replicas."

Full Story: - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-be ... s-30359781

[PeteC]

This drama with button doesn't sit well with me at all.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/30377787

[pharvey]

This drama with button doesn't sit well with me at all.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/30377787

Absolutely ridiculous....... I wonder if Alonso is having any "input" into who his partner will be next season.

[PeteC]

Yeah. I'm not going to search stats to justify my comment, but IMO what we have here is a semi- washed up Spaniard, but more crude and with a bigger mouth than Button. Unless he's really hurting for money, I would walk if Button and do something more fun and without the F1 hassle.

[PeteC]

Jenson Button secures McLaren seat alongside Fernando Alonso

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/30328327

"Alonso is reputed to have signed a deal worth $40m (£25.5m) a year, which would make him the best-paid driver on the grid."

"Button will be on a one-year deal at a salary reduced by at least half from the reputed £12m he was earning in 2014."

[richard]

What a good temperamental mix they make. Roll on F1 2015

[pharvey]

Well, I'm pleased he's got a drive for next season - would love to see him wipe the smile from Alonso's face though!!

Bit of a p*ss-take regarding salaries though......... mind you, I wouldn't say no to 6m a year!!

[PeteC]

Korea race dropped......

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/30698154

[pharvey]

Korea race dropped......

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/30698154

All seems a bit strange that it was ever included....

[PeteC]

^ It was a gimmick it appears, as the article alludes to. Pete

[pharvey]

Testing begins today........

Formula 1 2015: Car launch and test schedule

Formula 1 teams have begun their build-up to the 2015 season ahead of the first race in Australia on 15 March.
The teams kick off pre-season at Jerez in Spain at the start of February before moving on to Barcelona for back-to-back tests later in the month.
Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Mercedes are the only teams who have yet to reveal their 2015 challengers.
Force India will not take part in the first test, leaving just eight teams in attendance.
Pre-season testing

Jerez, Spain - 1-4 February
Barcelona, Spain - 19-22 February
Barcelona, Spain - 26 February-1 March
Car launches

Ferrari - 30 January
Force India - 19 February
Lotus - 26 January
McLaren - 29 January
Mercedes - 1 February
Red Bull - TBC
Sauber - 30 January
Toro Rosso - 31 January
Williams - 21 January

[PeteC]

2015 prediction pool is now up and running. Those who played last year should receive an automatic email this morning. If that doesn't work and/or you're a new player, go to the below to sign up. Pete

http://www.superbru.com/f1/pool.php?p=11363474

Pool name: HHAD
Pool code: glimnerd

[jjbones]

Thanks Pete - I'm in and looking forward to the new season