2016 F1 News and Prediction Tournament

[PeteC]

Some initial news about schedule dates and engine/tire rule changes. Pete

http://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/34990290

[PeteC]

Renault is to return to Formula 1 as a constructor after deciding that it will take over the Lotus team.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/35002555

[PeteC]

Here is every stat you would probably ever want to know. Pete

2015 Formula 1 season in numbers

http://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/34947749

[PeteC]

Off season drama.

Bernie Ecclestone battling to keep a grip on Formula 1

http://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/35037357

[PeteC]

BBC to end Formula 1 television contract early

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35149963

[Terry]

If Bernie goes then I'm sure that Blatter & Platini could fill his boots - or their own for that matter.........

[PeteC]

Below seems to be the firm schedule:

2016 RACE CALENDAR - All races live on Sky Sports F1
20 March: Melbourne, Australia
3 April: Bahrain, Bahrain
17 April: Shanghai, China
1 May: Sochi, Russia
15 May: Barcelona, Spain
29 May: Monte Carlo, Monaco
12 June: Montreal, Canada
19 June: Baku, Azerbaijan*
3 July: Spielberg, Austria
10 July: Silverstone, United Kingdom
24 July: Budapest, Hungary
31 July: Hockenheim, Germany
28 August: Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
4 September: Monza, Italy
18 September: Singapore
2 October: Sepang, Malaysia
9 October: Suzuka, Japan
23 October: Austin, USA**
30 October: Mexico City, Mexico
13 November: Sao Paolo, Brazil
27 November: Abu Dhabi, UAE

*race start to be scheduled to avoid conflict with the conclusion of the 24 Hours of Le Mans / **subject to agreement with the promoter and the ASN

[PeteC]

Mark your calendar for January 16. There's some kind of announcement coming from Ecclestone that day about engines and other things he wants to do. Indications are it could prompt a fierce reaction from Ferrari and Mercedes to the degree that they could quit F1 completely. Stay tuned........Pete

[Pleng]

I think it's the other way around... Jan 16th, I believe, is the deadline for Merc, Ferrari, Renault and Honda to submit a cost-cutting proposal to counter Bernie and the FIA's previous "low cost engine" plan.

There then presumably follows a negotiation and/or refinement period. Jan 31st is the deadline for the new plans (whatever they turn out to be) to be solidified.

All seems a bit pointless when Pirelli are still going to be providing (what they call an excuse for) tyres, anyway.

[pharvey]

Certainly taken some time to sort this one out!

Formula 1 Drivers 'Happy' as Head Protection gets 2017 Go-ahead

"Formula 1 bosses are planning to introduce driver head protection for the 2017 season.

Governing body the FIA has told teams it wants to introduce a device called a 'halo', designed to protect drivers' heads from large airborne debris.

The FIA sees no reason why it cannot be introduced and is working with teams to finalise plans, BBC Sport has learned.

GP Drivers' Association chairman Alexander Wurz said drivers were "happy" a commitment had been made.

Wurz made clear last week, before a meeting of F1's technical chiefs, that the drivers felt it was time for the 'halo' to be introduced."

Full Report: - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/35488050

[Pleng]

Open engine development from 2017

[Nereus]

Schumacher news not good, says Montezemolo

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport ... good-news/

Sombre ex-Ferrari chief Luca de Montezemolo admitted Thursday that he did not have "good news" regarding the condition of stricken Formula One legend Michael Schumacher.
Former seven-time world champion Schumacher suffered head injuries in a skiing accident in the French Alps in December 2013 and spent six months in an induced coma before returning to his home in Switzerland to continue his rehabilitation.

"I get news about him constantly, and unfortunately it's not good," said Montezemolo when asked about Schumacher in Milan on Thursday.
Montezemolo did not elaborate on 47-year-old Schumacher's condition, but he added: "He was the most successful driver Ferrari ever had. He only suffered one accident in his entire career, in 1999, and it was our fault, not his.

[bsdk1960]

Magnussen confirmed at Renault 2016

http://planetf1.com/news/magnussen-conf ... t-renault/

[PeteC]

The below seems to be the final 2016 schedule. Pete

phptwgePYPM.jpg (196.3 KiB) Viewed 6159 times

[PeteC]

Here's the driver lineup. The only pending item is the second driver for Manor per below. The Superbru F1 pool is not open yet. I'll post when it is. Pete

Mercedes
Nico Rosberg (Confirmed)
Lewis Hamilton (Confirmed)

Ferrari
Sebastian Vettel (Confirmed)
Kimi Raikkonen (Confirmed)

Red Bull TAG-Heuer
Daniel Ricciardo (Confirmed)
Daniil Kvyat (Likely)

Williams-Mercedes
Valtteri Bottas (Confirmed)
Felipe Massa (Confirmed)

McLaren-Honda
Fernando Alonso (Confirmed)
Jenson Button (Confirmed)

Force India-Mercedes (re-brand to Aston Martin rumoured)
Nico Hulkenberg (Confirmed)
Sergio Perez (Confirmed)

Toro Rosso-Ferrari
Max Verstappen (Confirmed)
Carlos Sainz (Confirmed)

Renault
Kevin Magnussen (Confirmed)
Jolyon Palmer (Confirmed)

Sauber-Ferrari
Marcus Ericsson (Confirmed)
Felipe Nasr (Confirmed)

Manor-Mercedes
Pascal Wehrlein
TBA
(Possible candidates: Will Stevens, Alexander Rossi, Rio Hartyanto, Roberto Merhi)

Haas-Ferrari
Romain Grosjean
Esteban Gutierrez