Final 2016 Formula 1 calendar confirmed by World Motor Sport Council
By Mitchell Adam Wednesday, December 2nd 2015, 19:16 GMT


Next year's United States and Mexican GPs will be held back-to-back, in the only change to the final version of the Formula 1 calendar ratified by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.

Following its return to the F1 calendar this year, the Mexican Grand Prix moves forward by one week in 2016, from November 6 to October 30.

With the Circuit of the Americas' future jeopardised by local funding cuts, the American Grand Prix is subject to a promoter's agreement being reached.

As the Mexico City race was originally scheduled for the week before the Brazilian Grand Prix, there will still be six back-to-back events - Canada/Europe (Baku), Austria/Britain, Hungary/Germany, Belgium/Italy, Malaysia/Japan and United States/Mexico.

As previously confirmed, the season will start in Australia on March 20 and conclude in Abu Dhabi on November 27, while August represents a summer break between the German GP on July 31 and Spa on August 28.

2016 FORMULA 1 CALENDAR:

March 20 - Australia
April 3 - Bahrain
April 17 - China
May 1 - Russia
May 15 - Spain
May 29 - Monaco
June 12 - Canada
June 19 - Europe (Baku)
July 3 - Austria
July 10 - Britain
July 24 - Hungary
July 31 - Germany
August 28 - Belgium
September 4 - Italy
September 18 - Singapore
October 2 - Malaysia
October 9 - Japan
October 23 - USA
October 30 - Mexico
November 13 - Brazil
November 27 - Abu Dhabi

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/122103

F1 teams to get more choice between Pirelli dry compounds in 2016
By Ian Parkes Wednesday, December 2nd 2015, 20:22 GMT

The FIA has confirmed that Formula 1 teams will have greater freedom when it comes to tyre choice in 2016.

As has been widely known for some time, tyre supplier Pirelli has determined that there will be three dry compounds available over the course of each grand prix weekend next year.

Since Pirelli's return to F1 in 2011, there have only been two types of dry tyre on offer, both of which have had to be used during a race.

Next year, teams will choose which two of the compounds they would like to use at an event, offering the scope for varying strategies should there be differing compounds selected by rivals.

Pirelli held a 12-hour F1 test in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, as it develops its new-for-2016 ultra-soft compound.

Following a meeting of the WMSC in Paris, it was confirmed that: "The tyre supplier will now provide three dry-weather compounds instead of two.

"Of the 13 sets of dry tyres available to each driver, the tyre supplier will choose two for the race (only one of which must be used in the race), and one set (the softest available) that may only be used in Q3.

"Each driver may then choose their remaining 10 sets from the three available compounds.

"Unless intermediate or wet-weather tyres have been used, a driver must use at least two different specifications of dry-weather tyres - at least one of these must be the one chosen by the tyre supplier."

The WMSC has also announced tweaks to the Virtual Safety Car (VSC) rules.

DRS will now be re-enabled immediately after a VSC period, while the VSC may also be used in practice sessions, so avoiding the need for red flags.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/122107

Momo

21 GPs next year!
Thats a lot of time away from home for all the F1 staff

Yes, that's a lot.

Good for us, not so much for them.

I really hope the US GP reaches an agreement whith the promoters soon.

interesting comments about Lewis, but I am more interested in who Kimi is talking to? Is it Ericsson?

http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/24181/1...ther-f1-drivers

Quote: Denorth wrote in post #50

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interesting comments about Lewis, but I am more interested in who Kimi is talking to? Is it Ericsson?

http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/24181/1...ther-f1-drivers

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Mercedes sues former engineer for data theft
By Phillip van Osten, 08/12/2015 at 10:44


Mercedes-Benz is suing one of its former Formula 1 engineer's for taking confidential information and data prior his move to join rival Ferrari.

According to an October 19 legal filing, Benjamin Hoyle, who joined Mercedes' performane engineering department in 2012, searched and saved files which included a 2015 Hungarian Grand Prix race report, mileage and damage data relating to the manufacturer's power units, and files containing code required to decryp race data.

In its law suit, the company alleged that "Hoyle's actions were calculated to destroy or seriously damage the relationship of trust" he has with Mercedes.

"Mr. Hoyle and potentially Ferrari have gained an unlawful advantage."

Hoyle apparently informed his employer on May 21st of last year of his intent to resign when his contract expired at the end of 2015. Mercedes then reassigned the engineer to duties unrelated to F1 while the manufacturer learned of his intention of moving to Ferrari shortly later.

In spite of this, it was later discovered that Hoyle had forced access to confidential data and race reports, while also attempting to cover his tracks by deleting files.

Mercedes is now determined through legal action to block Hoyle from joining the Scuderia or any other F1 competitor until the end of the 2016 season. It has also demanded the return of all documents and information as well as payment of its legal fees.

"Legal action is underway involving Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains Ltd. and an employee," Mercedes said in an e-mailed statement to Bloomberg. "The company has taken the appropriate legal steps to protect its intellectual property."


http://en.f1i.com/news/36565-mercedes-su...ata-theft.html?

Quote: WHATEVER wrote in post #51

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No, I think that's Felipe Nasr, Ericsson is in the back beside Mheri. I read somewhere Kimi has helped Felipe Nasr's F1 career in many ways, even financially.

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I guess money, fame and power has gone to Hamilton's head...a season like the one Alonso's just had, could serve him well. It did wonders with Alonso's ego (yeah, right)

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Hey D, I have family at London right now! They're in a holiday trip through Europe. How's the weather and the feeling in general in your city right now? They went anyway (despite terrorist threats), we are used to live like that here. Later they will go to Paris, Brussels, Holand, Germany and Spain too!... Or are you in your yearly trip to Uruguay already?

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Thanks for the info D. Yes, I saw from the pictures they sent it was a bit rainy, but that's how it usually is in London. They are in Paris right now and even though the weather is colder and cloudier there, they still have a huge smile on their faces

About the theft of documents by the Mercedes employee, I only hope it wasn't Ferrari who ask him to do it.

On the other hand, if it was his own idea, I think it's really dumb to even try something like that (besides being immoral of course) putting his career at risk unnecessarily.

This is very interesting. Sorry, its too much to translate it complete, I try to write the main content. http://www.motorsport-magazin.com/formel...s-und-abs-2015/

They looked very close to Kimis races from this season and made an analysis, how he lost his points.

So their analysis after the 19 races is:
lost points by own fault: 33
lost points by Ferrari: 20
lost points by other drivers: 17
lost points by technical defects: 48

Their Conclusion:
After a season of ups and downs, the analysis clearly shows that Kimi Raikkonen would cut off much better in 2015 and could end much closer to teammate Sebastian Vettel. Total 121 points lost Räikkönen mainly through bad luck, defects and other mistakes by Ferraris on the one hand, but also by his own mistake on the other side. Adding this to the 150 World Cup points, missing only seven on Vettel. Taking the 33 self-inflicted from, so the difference is 40 points. Although Vettel had also bust, bad luck and breakdowns- but not to a similar extent as his teammates.

Missing last one more thing: If the difference can therefore be lower between the Ferrari drivers, because Vettel would have benefited directly from problems Raikkonen? Hardly likely.

Can we please have a good season 2016?

Thank Andrea, yes, we all hope for a good and lucky season next year.

Lewis Hamilton wrote two songs...

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-o...ns-first-songs/

Quote: Denorth wrote in post #58

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Lewis Hamilton wrote two songs...

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-o...ns-first-songs/

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quote

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The Best of 2015 - Onboard with Raikkonen at Monza
For a new, end-of-year series, we've picked 10 of our favourite features, interviews and videos from the 2015 season - and first up on the daily schedule is our onboard analysis of Kimi Raikkonen’s amazing Sunday afternoon at Monza. Somewhat surprisingly the Finn has never won at the 'Temple of Speed', but he looked well positioned to challenge in September after qualifying on the front row. It didn't exactly go to plan - but at least the fight back was pretty epic. Here’s what we said at the time...

After claiming his first front-row grid slot in over two years, Kimi Raikkonen’s hopes of challenging for victory on Ferrari's home soil on Sunday were over in a matter of seconds as he made what must surely rate as the worst start of the season so far. But though the Finn’s nightmare getaway had the tifosi pulling their hair out, it did at least set the stage for an epic fightback through the field to fifth, a fightback which, as this video shows, began on the very first lap…

There can be few worse feelings for a driver than sitting vulnerably in the middle of the track as cars sweep by on either side at breakneck speed - but that’s exactly the situation Raikkonen found himself in at the start of the Formula 1 Gran Premio d’Italia 2015.

"I don't know exactly what happened,” the Finn explained after the race. “As far as I know I did everything correctly, but when I let the clutch go the car went into anti-stall and did not move at all…"

Regardless of what caused his poor launch, the fact of the matter was that by the time the field reached the first chicane Raikkonen was dead last.

However, it wouldn’t take the 2007 world champion long to move back up the order.

Studying the video shows how Raikkonen uses a great exit out of the tight right-left switchback to power past Toro Rosso’s Max Verstappen through Curva Grande, and then - moments after taking a face-full of dirt kicked up by the cars ahead - races past Pastor Maldonado’s ailing Lotus on the approach to the second chicane.

Marussia’s Roberto Merhi is the next man to be dispatched, Raikkonen breezing by on the quick blast down to the Ascari chicane - but only after he narrowly avoids losing his front wing with an optimistic look up the inside of the Spaniard into the second Lesmo.

By this stage two-thirds of the lap has been completed, but remarkably there is still time for Raikkonen to complete three more passes before crossing the start-finish line.

Approaching the Parabolica he uses all of his Ferrari's grunt to slipstream past Red Bull’s Daniil Kvyat to take P16, and then as Will Stevens slides wide midway around the long right-hander he gratefully dives inside the Marussia to pick up another place.

An amazing first-lap comeback is complete when Sauber’s Felipe Nasr - Raikkonen's next target - peels into the pits with a puncture, lifting the Finn yet further up the order.

From second to last to 14th - all in under two minutes. Rarely has a driver had a more eventful first lap of a Grand Prix.

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http://www.formula1.com/content/fom-webs...n-at-monza.html