Zitat von Sonny

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Just saw the news on autosport! This shows you how (not) important the fans are. And how money makes the world go round..

Come to USA YiNing! We can take pics all weekend

I followed the leaderboard through my lens (couldn't see it without zoom). I'm definitely getting an add on grip so I can have a spare battery now

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Yeah, actually if I want to walk around and take photos probably don't have much chance to watch Fanvision... h" title="hih" /> but come to think of it, I think it's even more important to have Fanvision when I'm in Austin, because my mobile phone will probably run over the data limit in 2 minutes with international roaming so I can't even get the live timing app to run on my phone... " title="ha" />
I have the battery grip, but haven't even tried to put it on h" title="hih" /> I alway have a spare battery no matter what anyway.

Zitat von Olga

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its a device that you actually rent and gives you live timing, info on drivers, you can also lock on a drivers onboard...its very handy, we usually get one and share it...

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Olga, thank you very much for the info! " title="hug" /> " title="hug" />

Spa was not nice, without a Fanvision " title="no" /> If Sonny dont send me news during the race, I would have been lost " title="tantrum" />

At least I can feel better now for having to watch races on TV instead of LIVE h" title="hih" />

TV is definitely the best way to watch F1 race. They show best views from different angles with comments, timing, interviews... and it's a lot cheaper too h" title="hih" /> The only thing you can't get from the TV is the first hand experience of being there, soaking up the atmosphere and meeting people who share the same passion... t" title="hat" />

I know... " title="oi" />

But at least let me enjoy for one minute h" title="hih" />

Zitat von Olga

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A glimpse into how F1 will change in 2014....

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2013/01/a ... e-in-2014/

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Olga thank you very much for the article! " title="ty" /> " title="hug" /> I hope that Kimi will stay in F1 also in 2014 and beyond it! " title="pray" /> " title="pray" />

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105206

Zitat

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Toto Wolff set to join Mercedes in senior management role
By Jonathan Noble and Jamie O'Leary Sunday, January 20th 2013, 18:44 GMT

Toto WolffToto Wolff is set to take a senior role in the management of Mercedes-Benz's motorsport activities, senior sources close the German car manufacturer have revealed to AUTOSPORT.

The Austrian, an executive director and shareholder of the Williams team but also a co-owner of the HWA company that runs Mercedes-Benz's DTM programme, is poised to take on a host of responsibilities that were controlled by former motorsport boss Norbert Haug, who quit last year.

It is not clear, however, how Wolff's responsibilities will be divided between DTM and F1, with fellow Austrian Niki Lauda taking on a role last year as non-executive chairman of the F1 team last year.

News of Wolff's new role at Mercedes-Benz was broken by the German newspaper Bild on Sunday morning.

Wolff was unavailable for comment about the situation, while Mercedes-Benz itself declined to comment on the matter when contacted.

A spokesman for Mercedes-Benz told AUTOSPORT said: "We would like to ask for your understanding that we do not comment about speculation."

Sources with knowledge of the situation have revealed, however, that a deal has been agreed in principle but that there remain issues to still be resolved.

One of the biggest hurdles that needs sorting is what happens to Wolff's shareholding in the Williams team.

In November 2009 it was announced that Wolff had become a shareholder in Williams, while last year he ramped up his involvement with the outfit as he became an executive director.

Toto WolffWolff was widely tipped as a future team principal of the outfit.

Although the 49 per cent stake he holds in HWA AG has not been a problem in the past alongside his Williams involvement, any formal role with Mercedes-Benz could put him in a difficult situation regarding a clash of interests.

Speaking to AUTOSPORT last month, Wolff said he was delighted with the direction that Williams was heading after a season that had delivered the team's first victory since 2004.

"I'm happy with the team, and I love what I do," he said. "All of us together are moving this company forward. It's not a one-man show like it maybe used to be, it's a modern structure based on balanced intelligent decision-making and I'm part of that.

"We are looking well. We have fantastic people in the team and new people who have been there before and it's about putting things together. Maybe there are one or two missing positions in there and we are looking at that, but I think we are quite an attractive option."

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So which one is correct, I think maybe he sold some of his Williams shares but still keep some? " title="hmm" />

Zitat

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Tobias Grüner F1 ‏@tgruener
#F1 Toto Wolffs investment group buys @MercedesAMGF1 shares from Aabar (24,9%) and sells 20% stake in @WilliamsF1Team he bought 2009.

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Zitat

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Williams F1 Team ‏@WilliamsF1Team

Frank:"Toto retains his shareholding & will always have a place at Grove but make no mistake; we will fight him hard on the racetrack!"

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YiNing thank you very much for the article! " title="ty" /> " title="hug" />

Olga thank you very much for the article! " title="ty" /> " title="hug" />

It is nice to see all the new cars, especially the new Lotus! " title="ii" /> " title="bliss" />

Zitat

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Race engineer remembers: This is how Kimi Räikkönen was found


The organizer of Kimi Räikkönen's first F1-contract, engineer Jacky Eeckelaert, tells to MTV3 how Räikkönen came to F1 with Sauber-team.

Eeckelaert was Räikkönen's engineer in Kimi's first test in September 2000 and he was also his race engineer in Sauber during season 2001.

Räikkönen's F1-test took place in a situation where Sauber was looking for a replacement for Mika Salo, who was going to Toyota-team. Eeckelaert contacted managers Steve and David Robertson in order to ask about Jenson Button's contract. Button had debuted with Williams in season 2000 but he lost his seat to Juan Pablo Montoya for season 2001, hence the Sauber-team was interested to know if the Brit would still be available on the market. But Button headed to Renault under Briatore's wings. The Robertsons offered Räikkönen to Eeckelaert instead of Button.

– This guy is very good, just like Jenson Button is, but only with a different personality. He has a very, very strong character because he has done many things independently without a budget. He is very committed, Robertsons described the young Räikkönen.

Sauber-team had already signed Nick Heidfeld for season 2001 and he had one F1-season in his pocket. The team dared to consider a rookie-driver in their team so they offered Räikkönen a F1-test. Before that Räikkönen had only one full season in Formula Renault -serie in his pocket.

Räikkönen drove his first test with Sauber's C19-car on Mugello's track on 12th September 2000. Eeckelaert was especially concerned about how Räikkönen's neck would endure the F1-car's G-powers, hence they made him drive only three quali-laps in the beginning. During the breaks Eeckelaert and Räikkönen compared their telemetry to Salo's and Pedro Diniz's telemetry from the earlier test. Räikkönen finished 29 laps during the first day. His laptime was 2,5 seconds slower than Diniz's on that same day, but Eeckelaert was assured that they would see an improvement in speed once Räikkönen's brains would adjust to a situation where everything moves faster.

During his second test-day Räikkönen drove already 40 laps and improved his time to 1.27,130, which was clearly an even bigger improvement than they expected from the opening day's laptime 1.30,008. By analyzing telemetry Räikkönen found new breaking points and right driving angles to corners.

Michael Schumacher from Ferrari was also driving on the track during the 3-day test.

– Of course Schumacher stopped by to ask: who is this driver who is testing for you? Eeckelaert remembers.

– When I replied that it's Kimi Räikkönen, Schumacher said: "he cam be fast, he can be fast", Eeckelaert continues..

First Peter Sauber thought of hiring Räikkönen as a test driver, but Eeckelaert adviced him to take the Finn as a racing driver. During the three test days it became clear that Räikkönen is a very talented and fast driver, but his physical condition didn't yet endure a GP with 60 laps. Hence Räikkönen started to work with Ayrton Senna's former trainer so that he would get in shape for races.

Räikkönen drove his second F1-test in Mugello on 28th September. In laptime-comparison he left Enrique Bernoldi slightly behind him, Enrique was also looking for a seat in Sauber with their sponsor Red Bull's support. The engineer thought that the most convincing matter was how the young Finn evaluated his car's setup-changes. Despite their sponsor's requirements Peter Sauber chose Räikkösen as the driver in his team.

Räikkönen debuted as a Sauber-driver in Australia GP on March 4th in 2001 and immediately drove to points by finishing 6th. From that day on he has achieved 19 GP-victories, 69 podiums and 37 fastest laps.

http://www.mtv3.fi/urheilu/f1/uutiset.s ... a-ykkosiin

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Thanks to Nicole