Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 12121 Location: It was fun while it lasted. Country:
Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2013 7:26 am Post subject:
21 race F1 season tentatively set for 2014
Formula 1 is set for a 21-race calendar next year, including the return of Mexico but no New Jersey race, AUTOSPORT can reveal.
A first draft of the 2014 provisional calendar has been distributed to teams ahead of this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.
Although the 2014 schedule needs to be approved at a meeting of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council that takes place in Croatia on September 26-28, teams are bracing themselves for F1's longest ever season.
An early version of the schedule, which has been seen by AUTOSPORT, does not include the proposed event in New Jersey that F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone had hoped to include.
However, it will feature events in Russia and Mexico, providing the circuits are ready in time.
As has been widely expected, the season will start in Australia on March 16 for the traditional double-header with Malaysia.
The Korean Grand Prix has been moved from the end of season run of flyaway events to become the fourth race of the campaign, taking place in the week after the Chinese GP.
However, the event is likely to only be made official subject to the completion of a contract with Formula One Management.
The returning Austrian GP is pencilled in for June 22, earlier than the July 6 date that it was originally scheduled for.
The new Russian GP at Sochi will become a back-to-back with Abu Dhabi, while the Mexican GP is being twinned with the USA GP at Austin.
The Spanish GP is set to take place at Barcelona, with Valencia not making it back on to the schedule, while the German GP will return to Hockenheim.
DRAFT 2014 CALENDAR
March 16 - Australia (Melbourne)March 23 - Malaysia (Sepang)April 6 - China (Shanghai)April 13 – Korea* (Korea International Circuit)April 27 – Bahrain (Sakhir)May 11 – Spain (Barcelona)May 25 – Monaco (Monaco)June 8 – Canada (Montreal)June 22 – Austria (Red Bull Ring)July 6 – Britain (Silverstone)July 20 – Germany (Hockenheim)July 27 – Hungary (Budapest)August 24 – Belgium (Spa)September 7 – Italy (Monza)September 21 – Singapore (Marina Bay)October 5 - Japan (Suzuka)October 19 – Russia* (Sochi)October 26 – Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)November 9 – Mexico* (Mexico City)November 16 – USA (Circuit of the Americas)November 30 – Brazil (Interlagos)
* (subject to confirmation of track/contract)
Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 12121 Location: It was fun while it lasted. Country:
Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 4:13 am Post subject:
I guess this opens the door for Kimi:
Massa to leave Ferrari
Felipe Massa announced Tuesday on Twitter, via an Instagram post, he will no longer be driving for Ferrari in 2014.
Massa wrote: �gFrom 2014 i will no longer be driving for Ferrari. I would like to thank the team for all the victories and incredible moments experienced together. Thank you also to my wife and all of my family, to my fans and all my Sponsors. From each one of you I have always received a great support! Right now I want to push as hard as possible with Ferrari for the remaining 7 races. For next year, I want to find a team that can give me a competitive car to win many more races and challenge for the Championship which remains my greatest objective! Thank you all. Felipe.�h
Massa joined the team in 2006 and has won 11 Grands Prix for the team, although none since the memorable 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix, a race he famously won but lost the World Championship to Lewis Hamilton on the last lap.
Massa�fs injuries sustained at Hungary in 2009 cost him the rest of the season and upon his return to the team, with new teammate Fernando Alonso in 2010, Massa was never able to regain the same level of competitiveness. He was forced to move aside for Alonso in the 2010 German Grand Prix, a race he was leading at the time, thanks to the infamous �gFernando is faster than you�h radio message transmitted by the team.
It�fs been a shame in some respects because the team held firm to Massa from 2006, when he joined as Michael Schumacher�fs �glittle brother,�h to nearly winning the 2008 title, to coming back after his injuries.
The result brings Red Bull within seven points of their fourth consecutive constructors�f crown, and Mercedes within a point of Ferrari for second in the standings - Red Bull have 402 points, Ferrari 284 and Mercedes 283, while Lotus are on 239, McLaren 81 and Force India 62.
Vettel extended his championship lead over Alonso to 77 points and now sits on a total of 272. As a result the German could clinch the title in Japan next week were he to win with Alonso ninth or lower. The Spaniard has 195, and Raikkonen has displaced Hamilton from third with 168 to his 161. Webber remains fifth on 130 with Rosberg on 122.
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