Formula 1 General Chat & Discussion

A litle reminder :

Friday :
1st practice session | 03:00 - 04:30 Uhr
2nd practice session | 07:00 - 08:30 Uhr
Saturday :
3rd practice session | 04:00 - 05:00 Uhr
Qualifying | 07:00 Uhr
Sunday :
Race | 08:00 Uhr

These are the CET times

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

The Important News of today

Michael Schumacher to retire at the end of 2012
Michael Schumacher will retire from Formula 1 at the end of the 2012 season, the 43-year-old German announced on Thursday at Suzuka. Following last week's announcement that the seven-time world champion will be replaced by Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, Schumacher called a press conference along with the team in Japan to call time on a career that has spanned 21 years and more than 300 races.
Speaking of his decision, Schumacher said: "It is without doubt that we did not achieve our goals to develop a world championship fighting car. But it is also very clear that I can still be very happy about my overall achievements in the whole time of my career.
"In the past six years I have learned a lot about myself. For example, that you can open yourself without losing focus. That losing can be both more difficult and more instructive than winning.
"Sometimes I lost sight of this in the early years. But you appreciate to be able to do what you love to do. That you should live your convictions and I was able to do so.
"I would obviously like to thank Daimler, Mercedes-Benz, the team, the engineers, and all my mechanics for all the trust that they put in those years in to myself. But I would also like to thank all of my friends, partners and companions who over many years in motor sport supported myself."
Schumacher added that he had felt his energy and enthusiasm had begun to wane, just as it did when he quit Ferrari and the sport the first time at the end of 2006.
"I have been thinking for quite a while [about this]," he said. "We had a three-year agreement, hard to keep motivation and energy - it's natural you think about this more than when you are young.
"I have had my doubts for quite a while whether I had energy to [carry on]. I said in 2006 my battery was empty and now I am in the red zone. I don't know if there is time to recharge them - but I am looking forward to my freedom.
"I have no hard feelings. In a different way we achieved a great deal...
"Now I will do exactly as I did the first time - to finish and focus 100 per cent on what I do."
Speculation had linked Schumacher to a move to Sauber, where he began his world championship-level career with the Mercedes-backed Swiss-team's endurance prototype squad in 1990, but that proved wide of the mark.

Michael Schumacher's retirement speech in full
It is probably not a complete surprise to explain a little bit on how my thoughts are on this. Basically I have decided to retire by the end of the year. Although I am still able and capable to compete with the best drivers that are around, at some point it is good to say goodbye - and that is what I am doing this season. This time it might even be forever. During the past month, I was not sure if I still had the motivation and energy which is necessary to go on. It is not my style to do something that I am not 100 per cent feeling for. With today's decision, I feel released from those doubts and in the end my ambition to fight for victories and the pleasure of driving is nourished by competitiveness. It is without doubt that we did not achieve our goals to develop a world championship fighting car. But it is also very clear that I can still be very happy about my overall achievements in the whole time of my career. In the past six years I have learned a lot about myself. For example, that you can open yourself without losing focus. That losing can be both more difficult and more instructive than winning. Sometimes I lost sight of this in the early years. But you appreciate to be able to do what you love to do. That you should live your convictions and I was able to do so.
I would obviously like to thank Daimler, Mercedes-Benz, the team, the engineers, and all my mechanics for all the trust that they put in those years in to myself. But I would also like to thank all of my friends, partners and companions who over many years in motor sport supported myself.
But most of all I would like to thank Corinna, and my family for standing always by my side, giving me the freedom to live my conviction and share my joy. That is very special.
I would like now to concentrate until the end of the season for the last races, and enjoy them together with you. Let's have fun.
Thank you.

Michael Schumacher relieved to announce exit from Formula 1
Michael Schumacher says he feels a sense of 'relief' after announcing his retirement from Formula 1.
After weeks of speculation about his future plans intensified following Mercedes' decision to sign Lewis Hamilton for 2013, Schumacher revealed on Thursday that he would not be continuing in F1 after the end of this campaign. And rather than be sad about the tough decision he has had to take, Schumacher said he felt some excitement that he could now look forward to a rest after his three years back in the sport.
"If [anything] at all, it is relief," he explained. "We had a three-year agreement and already it was hard work for me to keep the motivation and keep the energy and always go forward.
"With all that I have achieved, it is natural that you think about it a little bit more than maybe being young. So in a way how things have developed, I am actually very pleased.
"I have always been informed by the team, so I knew what was going on and I am quite happy that things have developed in this direction and I am free to get back the freedom I had before."
He added: "I told you at the time [of my first retirement] in 2006 that my battery was empty, and [now] I am on the red zone with my batteries.
"I was not sure if I could recharge them with the time we have available or not, and I felt it is time for freedom again." Schumacher said the final call on his future was made after Hamilton committed to Mercedes last week - as up until that point he was unsure of his own desires.
"The special moment in a way was obviously that the team found an option with Lewis that sort of helped me find that decision," he said when asked about what was the key factor in him reaching a conclusion on his plans.
"Obviously there was an option for me to do so at an earlier stage and I was in the picture when there was the negotiation going on, but I didn't want to decide.
"I wasn't sure about myself, so it is like this. Sometimes in life your destiny will develop by itself and so it did. But without any hard feelings and without any regrets."

Sebastian Vettel: Michael Schumacher quitting is a big loss for F1
Michael Schumacher's retirement from Formula 1 is a big loss to the sport according to reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel. The seven-time champion announced on Thursday that he was leaving Formula 1 at the end of the year, in what is his second retirement following the first one in 2006.
Red Bull driver Vettel, who had said in the past that Schumacher was a childhood hero to him, admitted he would have preferred for Schumacher to continue racing.
"I think it's a big loss. It's a shame," said Vettel at Suzuka. "There's a lot of people who wanted him to continue, including myself.
"Hopefully he'll be around in some other function so that at least we get to see him from time to time."

I had options to stay in F1, says Michael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher says he had options to carry on racing in F1 next season before deciding to call time on his career. The seven-time champion announced at Suzuka on Thursday that he will retire from F1 at the end of the year, following a comeback that failed to deliver the results he and his Mercedes team had hoped for.
However, Schumacher said that he had the chance to carry on driving - and also that he is evaluating other non-racing options that exist, including a management role at Mercedes.
"If I wanted to stay I had options to stay, but I didn't really feel like it, quite honestly," said Schumacher in front of a packed press conference in the Suzuka paddock.
When asked what was the next step for him, Schumacher said: "It is very clear what comes next. Six races to go. That is what comes next.
"Whatever comes after, we will see. There is no point or any need to find any decisions right now, and I will do it exactly as I did it the first time, although I didn't at that time think there was a second time but here we are, which is to focus and finish 100 per cent on what I do.
"And then I will think about what I am going to do next after that.
"There is no more to say about this. I have options obviously yes, and you know some of the options. But whatever they will be, we will decide when the time is there."

Ross Brawn reckons Michael Schumacher is the driver of the century
Mercedes boss Ross Brawn says Michael Schumacher deserves the label as 'driver of the century' - even though his comeback did not achieve the high targets that were set.
Schumacher returned to F1 in 2010 hoping to be gunning for championship glory, but in three campaigns he has so far been fastest in qualifying once and only delivered a single podium finish.
Nevertheless, Brawn believes that Schumacher's contribution to the team and the sport should not be underestimated.
"I think he is the greatest racing driver of this century," explained Brawn at the press conference where Schumacher announced his retirement.
"I was very privileged to work with Michael from the very beginning and obviously we had some fantastic times, tough times too, but also very successful times.
"I think Michael brought a lot to the team in this second period that people don't see. There was a huge contribution behind the scenes.
"We have not achieved what we wanted to achieve together, and that is frustrating, but I think what we do achieve in the future, Michael will have made a contribution to it. So for me personally, [that is why] he is the greatest racing driver of this century."
Mercedes-Benz motorsport boss Norbert Haug was also full of praise for the way Schumacher had applied himself to the job - even though success was hard to achieve.
"He gave it everything. He never complained, and he was a constructive guy," said Haug. "I learned from this 'new' Michael in his second career even more than in the first, because he was successful and we were friends and we are friends."
Brawn said that Mercedes did discuss future plans with Schumacher - but in the end it was unable to reach an agreement because of issues over the potential length of the deal.
"Michael was well aware and kept informed, and we discussed our options with him," explained Brawn. "Michael was considering the situation, and you have to remember that if there was an agreement reached it wouldn't just be for one year, we needed a longer agreement than that.
"So it evolved as a mutual decision. It suited everyone to make the decision that we did but, of course, Lewis took some time before he made his mind up on what he wanted to do. There were no conflicts or decisions in the process, it evolved very smoothly.
"Michael kept us aware, kept me very aware of his feelings and his thoughts, and we discussed the way that decisions were going, or discussions were going, and I think the important thing for the team is someone of the calibre of Lewis does not become available every day. That was an important factor that came into it."

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Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

1st Kaleya ,than Lia and now Gia & "Der Meister " Schumi 0...it can get a bit too much sometimes for a person

Japanese Grand Prix – Suzuka circuit
Suzuka is the best circuit overseas of the season and one of the fastest tracks used in Formula One. Its layout is an unusual figure of eight, with a large range of different bends as the legendary high-speed 130R curve or the Esses, a consecutive series of bends with rapid change of direction. In the second sector there are also a tight hairpin and a long double-apex left-hand, Spoon Curve. The snaking series of Esses at Suzuka, where you need a well-balanced car, is similar the Maggots Becketts Chapel complex at Silverstone. Spoon curve and 130R are large-radius turns very demanding for the tyres. I like the whole circuit and for me only Spa Franchorchamps is a bit better than Suzuka. Another very famous zone of this track is the Casio Triangle; the chicane, where in 1989 Prost and Senna collide. Prost out, Senna continues and is first under the checkered flag, but due an unfair (in my opinion) decision is disqualified after the race. The year before(1988) instead Senna won a memorable race after a fantastic recovery winning his first F1 world championship. And then Schumacher. 6 wins – 9 podiums – 8 pole positions – 4 fastest laps – 1804 kms in the lead. His biggest success was in 2000 when finally a Ferrari driver regained the world championship after 21(twenty-one) years. This year will be the 24 edition at Suzuka but 4 times the Japanese Gran Prix took place at Fuji Crcuit. The first one was held in 1976. That morning I got up very early to watch the race. Fighting for the title James Hunt (McLaren) and Niki Lauda (Ferrari), which was recently returned to racing after a serious accident at the old Nurburgring. His car had caught fire and Lauda had survived, but badly burned. 40 days later despite the injuries he was back on track at Monza. In the last GP of the season at the Fuji circuit, the race started in a torrential downpour, and Lauda retired almost immediately, so after a GP full of surprises James Hunt, third under the checkered flag, won his first and unique world championship. Just one point ahead in the standings. How many years have passed. But we return to nowadays. Tyres for Sukuza: Silver hard (prime) and Yellow Soft(option) as at Barcelona and Silverstone. DRS: only one zone.
Podium 2011: Button – Alonso – Vettel. fastest lap on race: Button – pole position : Vettel 1'30''466
Podium 2010: Vettel – Webber – Alonso. fastest lap on race: Webber – pole position : Vettel 1'30''785
victories for current pilots: Schumacher(6) Alonso(*) and Vettel (2) Hamilton(*) Raikkonen and Button(1)
*Alonso(2008) and Hamilton(2007) won at Fuji circuit
Pole position: Schumacher(8) Vettel(3) in the last three editions. Hamilton(2 always at Fuji) and Massa(1)

Shirtfull wrote:Michael Schumacher to retire

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Oh man thats sad,I say thank you Schumi and I wish you good Luck in the last Races and in your future Life. For me you will allways the best F1-Driver of all Time!!!

Michael Schumacher to retire

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Frank Gardner
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Born : 1st October 1930 - Died : 29th August 2009

now is official
f1 calendar races 2013
The FIA ​​World Council has officially launched the 2013 calendar of the world of Formula 1, which includes twenty races. There are three changes from what was communicated to the teams a week ago during the race weekend in Singapore: two relate to the dates of the Grand Prix of Germany and the Grand Prix of Belgium, both in advance of a week, while the other involves the inversion of dates between the GP of Korea and one in Japan, both to be held in October. The main change for the upcoming season is the doubling of the races in the U.S., with the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, and that of America, New Jersey, which, however, remains to be confirmed (the decision will be made in the next meeting of the World Council) and in the list released by the FIA ​​appears flanked by an asterisk. Here is the complete schedule of Formula 1 2013: March 17 Australia (Melbourne) 24 March Malaysia (Sepang) April 14th China (Shanghai) April 21 Bahrain (Sakhir) May 12, Spain (Barcelona) May 26 Monaco (Monte Carlo) June 9 Canada ( Montreal) June 16 America (New Jersey) * June 30 England (Silverstone) July 14th Germany (Nurburgring) July 28, Hungary (Hungaroring) August 25 Belgium (Spa) 08 September Italy (Monza) September 22 Singapore (Marina Bay) October 6th Korea South (Yeongam) October 13, Japan (Suzuka) October 27 India (Buddh International Circuit) November 3 Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina) November 17 United States (Austin) November 24 Brazil (Interlagos).

news
Lewis Hamilton is a new Mercedes driver. The British rider has signed a three-year contract with the German company will replace Michael Schumacher. This was announced by the German but did not specify the future plans of the former world champion. Today it was announced also the entrance of the Austrian Niki Lauda as non-executive chairman of the board of directors.

28/09/1968 happy birthday to mika hakkinen former finnish f1 driver

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One more step to championship Fernando Alonso! For him only do Vettel Hamilton Webber and Button!

Newsflash :

Michael Schumacher will get a 10 place grid penalty at the GP of Japan

Regards
Shaky-Schumi

2012 FORMULA 1 JAPANESE GRAND PRIX

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Fri 05 October 2012
Practice 1 03:00 - 04:30
Practice 2 07:00 - 08:30
Sat 06 October 2012
Practice 3 04:00 - 05:00
Qualifying 07:00
Sun 07 October 2012
Race 08:00

constructors standing after singapore gp

1 Red Bull Racing-Renault 298
2 McLaren-Mercedes 261
3 Ferrari 245
4 Lotus-Renault 231
5 Mercedes 136
6 Sauber-Ferrari 100
7 Force India-Mercedes 75
8 Williams-Renault 54
9 STR-Ferrari 14
10 Marussia-Cosworth 0
11 Caterham-Renault 0
12 HRT-Cosworth 0