THE MOST UNSUSTAINABLE SPORT BEGINS THE NEW SEASON

Well, the new season begins now and the first race in Bahrain will start soon. Michael Schumacher is back but not with Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button are in the same team, which is the most incredible thing to ever happen to Formula 1. Who will be more powerful and influential in the team? Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso are in the Ferrari team. This could be a very interesting season. Sebastian Vettel is tipped to be the man to steal the show this season. What about the new teams coming into the race where two are from budget airline bosses? Will Lotus, Virgin and Hispania HRT all falter or at least one or two of them making an impact in their debut season?

We heard of the new points system, the tyres usage and refueling rules for the new season which will make the season very challenging and complicated. We could end up having a very unpredictable season since so many new factors will be added to the most expensive sport in the world.

Will Michael Schumacher again be the force to be reckon with? Will he need time to chase the current top drivers? Well, we will have a sneak preview of what to expect for the new season soon. I just hope that all these new measures will increase the excitement of the race and not make it more boring. Anything can happen, only time will tell!

SINGAPORE, ARE YOU READY?!!!


The UFO (the object at the center of the photo) is ready!


The Maybank Tower is ready!


The entire CBD is ready!


The Supreme Court is ready!


The Fullerton is ready!


The Anderson Bridge is ready!

9 DAYS TO GO!

LET THE STREET RACE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!

2009 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX

PADDLE POP & THE MALAYSIAN FORMULA 1 TEAM

The biggest joke nowadays is what Wall's Paddle Pop ice-cream has in common with the Malaysian Formula 1 team? Of course the design of Malaysian Formula 1 race car. The country which lacks creative design from local university professors who plagiarize to the origin of the national anthem melody to Made in Malaysia logo similarity to Nike's to having the Agro bank logo to be so similar to Airwalk's to all the arguments with Indonesia that we expect the same from the race car body design. I am sure this car design will cause chaos, confusion and eye strains to rivals on the track.

F1 COST

Ferrari and McLaren estimated annual expenditures in 2006 of over US$400 million.
Toro Rosso (Minardi) was estimated to have spent US$75 million.
Toyota is estimated to be spending US$450 million a year but has yet to win a single race.
Honda, was also estimated to have spent US$380 million in 2006.

A £40 million budget cap incentive, however, has been offered to teams next year in exchange for greater technical freedom. The cap, however, does not cover driver salaries, engine costs, marketing and promotion.

Ferrari was estimated to have spent US$44 million in driver salaries in 2003 and US$175 million on engines. Minardi was estimated to have spent US$500,000 on salaries and US$15 million on engines during the same period. But that does not take into account start-up costs.

How much will it cost Malaysia to have this team?

Let's sing along now
Paddle Pop
Paddle Pop
Super Duper Yummy!


Photo credits:
Top left: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_vJdH9HPWwZmFfojFvWT6-caVMD4DF4NqZRQh9ZaDKfPGg-eNLsdQdclG7H9d58-OlScfaguCEMvJVkcgHMcngyDEkMp12XmK2HHgNmo7l-8KaBXbnczzk9uHktVWfCILjoTpg/s400/qlion.jpg
Bottom left: http://12.media.tumblr.com/3PatDBgqAi4vzgpiBK5gNUNAo1_400.png
Top right: http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/9/15/1253030188703/1MalaysiaF1Lotus-001.jpg
Bottom right: http://media.sanluisobispo.com/smedia/2009/09/15/07/16Malaysia_F1.sff.mi_embedded.prod_affiliate.76.jpg

SIC: 1Malaysia F1 Team HQ Will Include Wind Tunnel
September 16, 2009 15:50 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 (Bernama) -- Sepang International Circuit (SIC), a joint partnership involving the government and a consortium of Malaysian entrepreneurs for the 1Malaysia Formula (F1) One Team project, has allocated between 8,000 and 12,000 hectres for the development of the Made-in-Malaysia F1 team headquarters.

SIC chief executive officer (CEO) Ahmad Razlan Ahmad Razali told Bernama the headquarters, to be located at the circuit, would be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including a wind-tunnel, to test the aerodynamics of the Malaysian-made machines.

He said the headquarters comprising an office, reseach & development (R&D), manufacturing, technical centre and other related departments would be fully functional, two years after the preliminary works expected to begin by the middle of next year.

"SIC have chosen a suitable site for the team headquarters which will be located at the parking area before the tunnel, to enter the podium building.

"But it's all in the preliminary stages. All the parties involved will have to sit together after the Hari Raya and submit whatever plans we have to the motorsports governing body, the Federation of International Automobile (FIA) for endorsement," he told Bernama here Wednesday.

Ahmad Razlan admitted, the cost to build the team headquarters at SIC would involve millions or may be, billions of ringgit, but could not reveal the actual cost because it was still in the preliminary phase.

SIC would only build the physical infrastructure but the hardware and software of the projects would be decided by other parties, he said.

Ahmad Razlan said cooperation between SIC and Air Asia began a few months ago when Asia's low-budget airlines boss Datuk Tony Fernandes told him about his ambitious dream to set up an all Malaysian F1 team.

For SIC, the idea will not only enhance the level of the company's involvement in the motorsports industry but also show Malaysia's direct involvelment with F1.

"This is a new chapter for SIC...as organiser of Malaysian F1 race to the niche Home of Motorsports and now, we can boast that we're the hub for motorsports in Asia," said Ahmad Rzalan.

Asked if the Malaysian-made machines would be on the grid before the Australian Grand Prix in March next year -- the first round of the 2010 F1 calendar -- he said the mean-machines would be in Malaysia before the race.

"I can assure all Malaysian that the 1Malaysia F1 Team machines will be in this country before the Australian race, most probably for testing at the 5.543km Sepang Circuit.

"We're not building the car from scratch. We already have the Lotus technology for the engines and within three month, the car is fit to be on the road. The Malaysian car has enough time to make a pinacle for the motorsports industry. That, I can assure them," he said.

He said the team's technical director Mike Gascoyne had over 20 years experience in F1, and previously performed the same role for the Force India, Toyota, Renault and Jordan Formula One Teams.

Meanwhile, National Sports Institute director-general Datuk Dr Ramlan Abd Aziz said the institute was willing to share its expertise with the budding F1 drivers.

He said former national F1 driver Alex Yoong used to undergo physical training under the institute's supervision as F1 drivers needed to be physically and mentally ready.

"If necessary, we will set up a team comprising experts to help in the training.

"However, before we provide any assistance, we must get the green light from the youth and sports ministry," added Dr Ramlan.

-- BERNAMA


September 17, 2009 19:45 PM

F1 Team Investment 100 Times Better, Says Dr Mahathir

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 17 Bernama) -- The value of advertisement benefits derived from the country's F1 team is 100 times more than the cost of investment for the team, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Thursday.

He said it was not a waste of money to invest in the country's F1 team as the advantages, including tourism and technological advancement, had always outweighed the disadvantages.

Even when the country was experiencing economic recession and negative growth, Tun Dr Mahathir said, there were industries that could flourish such as tourism.

"We viewed Formula One as an important instrument to promote Malaysia to the world," he said in an interview with Bernama.

He said Malaysia would have to pay US$1 million just for a three-minute advertisement in Japan.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced that the 1Malaysia F1 team would participate in Formula One race starting next year.

Najib had said that the project was a joint government and private sector initiative with the government investment through Proton, the national car manufacturer.

According to news reports, it is estimated that at least RM1 billion a year is needed to keep the FI team.

"With the F1 race, Malaysia is shown to the world for hours. We don't have to pay a single sen. If we were to calculate the advertisement in Japan alone, it may run into US$100 million or US$200 million.

"So imagine... more than 300 television stations telecast the F1 race. People will know more about Malaysia if we have our own F1 team," Tun Dr Mahathir said.

He said investing in an F1 team was not merely about motor racing as technology developed for the motor racing engine could be applied for the country's automotive industry.

Najib had stated that the 1Malaysia F1 Team car would be designed and made by Malaysians in Malaysia.

Tun Dr Mahathir said that owning a team would also encourage the country to produce its own drivers to take part in the world-class race.

Malaysia has been involved in Formula One since 1999 through the Sepang circuit which has been on the race calendar since then.

Petronas, the national oil and gas giant, has made further advancements in this arena via its sponsorship of the BMW Sauber team for the last four years.

Tun Dr Mahathir, who is also the Petronas advisor, said it was cheaper for Malaysia to set up its own team than taking over the Sauber team after BMW withdrew from sponsoring the team.

"If we (Malaysia) can invest billions of ringgit for corridors which we can't see, why can't we invest for our own F1 team?" he said.

The national F1 team will integrate a Malaysian technical and pit crew totaling some 200 people.

Six local and international drivers have been shortlisted for evaluation and the team will announce its two drivers by the end of next month.

-- BERNAMA

WHO IS ROSS BRAWN?

The most famous name in Formula 1 today is Ross Brawn and Jenson Button. We know who is Jenson Button but not many know Ross Brawn. Many may not heard of him but success has come a long way for this guy in the history of Formula 1 racing. He has been involved in the sport since 1977, way before I was born.

Ross Brawn, Formula 1’s kingmaker

LONDON, May 26 — Belying his name, Ross Brawn is often credited with being the brains behind Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher’s glory years at Ferrari.

Hardly known outside the world of Grand Prix racing, this 54-year-old “thoughtful workaholic”, in the words of one commentator, is widely regarded within it as a master of mechanics, aerodynamics and, in particular, race tactics.

Formula 1’s gain was the atomic industry’s loss; the Mancunian former public schoolboy’s first job was as a trainee engineer for the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority at the age of 16 in 1971.

But six years later, he took the job that was to set him on a path of sporting glory, joining the Williams team as a mechanic in 1977. A year on and he was promoted to manage William’s research and development, helping turn a little known team into the dominant force in the sport, winning the constructors’ championship for two years running.

Spells at Arrows and Jaguar followed and he was credited with significantly improving the cars at both firms. He designed the Jaguar XJR-14 driven by Teo Fabi and Derek Warwick when they came first and second in the 1991 World Sportscar Championship.

That year is also special for Brawn for another reason: he was recruited by Flavio Briatore to the lowly Benetton F1 team and designed another fastest of fast cars, which was driven to the world championships in 1994 and 1995 by Michael Schumacher.

And so when Scuderia Ferrari came calling on the world’s best driver, Schumacher made it a condition that they also acquire the services of Brawn, who was duly employed as technical director in 1997.

At the time, Williams and McLaren were the leading teams but just two years later Ferrari, Brawn and Schumacher won the first of six consecutive constructors’ titles, with the first of five drivers’ championships coming a year later.

In 2007, he left Ferrari for what was billed as a year’s sabbatical and travelled as a tourist to Russia’s Kola Peninsula, New Zealand and South America.

When he returned last year, Brawn, who lives near Henley-on-Thames with his wife and two children, not far from the boarding school he attended as a child, became head of Honda’s racing team.

However, amid the global recession, the Japanese car giant decided to pull out of racing at the end of the year.

Brawn, a quietly spoken man who lists his other interests as fishing, gardening and music, decided to step in, save the team and Brawn GP was born.

In Monaco, its driver Jenson Button won his fifth race out of six in the season, a success rate which has surprised even seasoned motor-racing observers.

Button may have a glittering future ahead of him, judging by the accolades of the man who is “statistically the greatest driver the sport has ever seen”, according to the Formula 1 website.

“His decisions changed everything for me,” Schumacher once said. “Ross is a very clever man who can examine a situation and give us a plan to win. Not everybody has that gift. He is the best in Formula One.” — Daily Telegraph

THE WRONG FORMULA?

What will happen if in the English Premier League next season, you see Manchester United and Liverpool struggling after the first 5 matches of the season without getting a single point, not to say a win. Then you have Hull City and Sunderland at the top of the league with full 15 points from 5 matches? What can cause such a surprise outcome? Well, probably the introduction of rules to make all clubs equal. One rule is a club must have at least 8 English players and of which 3 must be from the youth system. Then, another rule is no transfer fee higher than 5million pounds can be done by any clubs ever again. Finally, the FA announced that all tickets and tv broadcast rights will cost the same across all the stadiums in the Premier League.

This is probably the fate of how the Formula 1 is coming to now. They are trying very hard to introduce all kinds of rules to make the competition more even. You have teams like Ferrari and McLaren struggling in a season which I would call chaotic. I am sure fans of Ferrari and McLaren are lost. It is a testament of what to come to football if one day FIFA and UEFA come together to finalize rules to make all clubs more even. A glimpse of how it will be if rules are created to make all clubs more balanced.

Monaco is coming next and many said it will be different because of the downforce factor. I will give my doubts. However, since it is a tight street race, it will be a totally different affair since overtaking is almost impossible. Probably there will be a difference in Monaco but that's about it. The fans may have to wait until Singapore for another street race to show a difference. Well, I have no idea how the season will end but as it seems right now, Jenson Button will be triumphant and invincible. I wonder how I will feel in his shoes. It is like suddenly out of the blues I become unstoppable because of the new rules. Will I win the world title with great satisfaction?

BRAWN GP? WHO ARE THEY?

New team, debut 1-2 finish, incredible start for Button and Barichello at the Melbourne Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix with this new team. Since 1955, legend Juan Manuel Fangio achieved a similar victory. Lewis Hamilton achieved a spectacular comeback. The Ferraris are no where to be seen. Will this be another unexpected season?