You'd Have To Buy My Team If You Want Nico, 22 million quids anyone (Ron)?

-Prodrive is a No Drive Folks-

Now if you're an F1 nutter you would know that Prodrive's application to race in F1 next season was accepted out of a few but then (yes a then), THEN Williams (who is not so happy about Prodrive using a full fledged 'customer car,' engine and chassis built by McLaren) did a I-may-use-another's-engine-but-I-ain't-happy legal challenge. Of course this matter could and would have been taken care of early on but no, it was dragged on and on.

Weeks later, we finally got a clarification, when it is clear that they will not be able to place a car on the 08's grids that is. Note that the current Concorde Agreement currently basically says no to the use of the same cars manufactured by a fellow just a few garages down from you in the pit lane at the same year... So basically DR's team would race, in 09 if they're lucky. Which brings the question, would they get fined? I remember a while ago Toyota dropping out and getting fined (well who cares, their pockets are deep). But one can argue on the virtue of Max's promise that Prodrive would be allowed to race even though on customer cars... Which will it be?

-Barney On the Attack! Beware of the Purple Gloop! No Wait, it's Just Bernie On the British GPs...-

Part 1
First he slammed Silverstone (on time might I add for his monthly rants on circuits...) saying "Britain is supposed to be the heart of Formula One racing and our circuit is bottom of the list. With a tiny percentage of what the government are wasting on the Olympics, they could support Silverstone. They know exactly what they have to do. They've known for at least five years. It's not for us to say where the money comes from but it's strange because most of the events we have now are supported by governments." Firstly, why don't you kick Monaco out? It's useless, it's boring, it's absolutely a draaaaag to watch. Secondly, how bout YOU shell out some moolah from YOUR own £2,243 m pocket? It won't cost ya that much (like you said) and b'sides, you'd be getting extra money from that auction of your 50 very rare cars...

Part 2
After having his share of fun on Silverstone, he moved on to London. He said that a race in London would be a money spinner (true, a Piccadilly circus background and fast cars whooshing past by the river makes for a nice scene). Again he poked around at the you-are-focussing-too-much-on-the-olympics-when-you-can-spend-less-and-
gain-more-through-F1 stick. Come on Mr. E, be a bit more...giving (who am I kidding?)...

-The Drivers Market: Grumpy Gramps Wants That Macca Seat-

>>>Grumpy Gramps also known as Ralf Schumacher to some<<<
His really really bad days of Toyota logs ended by Brazil this year. Okay fine, good, thanks, bye! But now, he is without drive and without sizzle... Not to mention he thinks he's perfect for the coveted McLaren seat. Wait. McLaren never even contacted him... Nothing to speculate here folks, move along...

>>>Ferd the Blurb, Biding His Time<<<
*silence* Alright for the sake of filling the space, reports say that he is vacationing in Spain, location unknown while his manager starts to sound like he needs to be replaced by the Flav. Oh speaking of the Flav, he reportedly said Ferd will be back in his arms in two days time, the second time. 6 days have passed, nothing. Ferd wants one year to be free when Kimi's contract expires, Ghosn wants 3. You gotta get your money's worth...

Let's take the Tritter plot line from the TV show House, it bares a very good lesson... The longer you hold out, the sooner your chances go. This may be to someone in Alonso's camp a way to make it happen in Renault, the psych games... But they are a team that is capable of getting good drivers. It's only because of Flav that Renault hasn't lost interest in him. If Flav wasn't there, don't you agree that they would have said "adios" to Ferd by now? He's in no condition to bargain. If he loses Renault, he would have to take a mid fielder team, or worse, chase after that damn Spyker seat that seems to be so hot right now. Then his chances of getting into Ferrari goes from a teensy itsy bitsy chance to well you get the picture...

Two time champ or not, when you take too long, it annoys people, so they pull out. Patience may be a virtue but if you tug on it too much, well... When most of the field has been decided, doesn't that signal for you to start so? The longer he takes, the less room he gets...

DC also said the door to Red Bull for Alonso is closed. When DC speaks, it never hurts to tune in. BUT in his latest entry for his column in ITV F1, I only found myself making it as far as one fourth of the darn thing. It may be just because it was a Sunday, lazy day, or maybe something about it. Who knows...

>>>The Empty McLaren #2 Single Seater<<<
Bottom line, Nico is the number one choice to replace Ferd at Macca. The thing is, Williams are not so willing to let him go. Reports claim that at 22 million quids, there might be a chance but Patrick said "No way!" and Sir F. Williams said "If I sold Rosberg, I'd sell the team." Keke ain't so happy about the idea of Nico to Macca either. This time around, daddy knows best...

-Slicks Gonna Go Grubbin' at Jerez Testing-

The last we saw of the slick rubber tyres was ten years ago. But they will be supplied by Bridgestone for the Jerez testing for data collection, keeping in mind that in 09, "bye bye grooves" is very likely... It's all about more stability and grip with these slicks. It was kicked out because, well you're already going fast on that V10 then. But now that we stepped back into V8s, hhm... Did I mention that there was a suggestion for tyre warmers to be banned? Crazy....

Bye Bye V10s: check
Spy Scandal: check
Engine freeze: check
Tyre Warmers Ban: ???

-Schu Wins Massa's Charity Kart Event-

Yup that's right. The King came and showed us he still knows how to drive. The seven time champ won race one but lost out in race 2 when he found out he basically had no brakes finishing sixth but rounding a total of 35 points, enough to give him overall victory by two points from second place dude, Luciano Burti. Last year's winner, the event organizer himself Felipe Massa was still happy even though he came in fifth overall. After saying he (Schu) would happily return next year to defend his title, Massa offered and he immediately accepted.

Race 1:

Pos  Driver                 Time
1.  Michael Schumacher     21:59.406
2.  Nelsinho Piquet        +   5.687
3.  Luciano Burti          +   5.737
4.  Rubens Barrichello     +   8.147
5.  Lucas Di Grassi        +   8.218
6.  Marcos Gomes           +   9.090
7.  Felipe Massa           +  16.328
8.  Thiago Camilo          +  16.548
9.  Ricardo Zonta          +  18.736
10. Tony Kanaan            +  19.107
11. Enrique Bernoldi       +  22.220
12. Vitor Meira            +  22.616
13. Ricardo Mauricio       +  29.499
14. Caca Bueno             +  34.065
15. Popo Bueno             +  34.252
16. Tarso Marques          +  36.523
17. Roberto Pupo Moreno    +  36.703
18. Xandinho Negrao        +  1 lap
19. Gil de Ferran          +  1 lap
20. Antonio Pizzonia       + 10 laps
21. Felipe Giaffone        + 10 laps
22. Rodrigo Sperafico      + 12 laps
23. Alexandre Barros       + 31 laps

Fastest lap: Rubens Barrichello, 40.681 seconds

Race 2:

Pos  Driver                 Time
1.  Lucas Di Grassi        22:12.328
2.  Luciano Burti          +   3.506
3.  Felipe Massa           +   4.579
4.  Rubens Barrichello     +   4.775
5.  Marcos Gomes           +   6.674
6.  Michael Schumacher     +   7.087
7.  Felipe Giaffone        +   7.273
8.  Antonio Pizzonia       +  11.157
9.  Tony Kanaan            +  16.198
10. Vitor Meira            +  21.943
11. Enrique Bernoldi       +  23.248
12. Rodrigo Sperafico      +  24.042
13. Ricardo Zonta          +  29.616
14. Roberto Pupo Moreno    +  30.973
15. Luca Badoer            +  31.273
16. Popo Bueno             +  31.416
17. Nelsinho Piquet        +  1 lap
18. Ricardo Mauricio       +  1 lap
19. Tarso Marques          +  1 lap
20. Thiago Camilo          +  2 laps
21. Caca Bueno             + 12 laps
22. Alexandre Barros       + 13 laps
23. Gil de Ferran          + 14 laps
24. Xandinho Negrao        + 23 laps

Fastest lap: Michael Schumacher, 40.956 seconds

Final standings:

Pos  Driver                Points
1.  Michael Schumacher      35
2.  Luciano Burti           33
3.  Lucas di Grassi         31
4.  Rubens Barrichello      26
5.  Felipe Massa            24
6.  Marcos Gomes            21
7.  Nelson Piquet           20
8.  Tony Kanaan             13
9.  Ricardo Zonta           12
9.  Enrique Bernoldi        10
9.  Vitor Meira             10
12. Felipe Giaffone          9
13. Thiago Camilo            8
13. Antonio Pizzonia         8
15. Ricardo Sperafico        4
16. Ricardo Maurício         3
17. Caca Bueno               2
17. Roberto Pupo Moreno      2
19. Popo Bueno               1
19. Luca Badoer              1
21. Tarso Marques            0
21. Xandinho Negrao          0
21. Gil de Ferran            0
21. Alexandre Barros         0