Monday, October 30, 2006

Todt is CEO and Braun is Leaving


Ferrari Formula One team boss Jean Todt has been announced as the Italian car manufacturer’s new Chief Executive Officer. The position of General Manager, previously held by Todt, will be taken by Amedeo Felisa.

Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn is to leave the team at the end of the month. Brawn’s position will be taken by Mario Almondo, with Stefano Domenicali taking on the role of Sporting Director. New Ferrari CEO Jean Todt will become interim Managing Director.

According to Ferrari, Brawn has decided to turn his attention to his personal life after devoting the past decade to the Italian team.

The End of an Amazing Career



He didn’t win the title or even the race. Indeed he didn’t even make the podium. However, Michael Schumacher’s farewell drive in Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix illustrated the grit, skill and determination that has made him the greatest driver Formula One racing has ever seen.

The odds were stacked against the Ferrari star from the outset after technical problems in qualifying at Interlagos left him only tenth on the grid. However, an excellent start saw him up to sixth place by the time the safety car intervened following Williams’ Nico Rosberg’s early accident.

Soon after the race restarted, Schumacher dived down the inside of Giancarlo Fisichella’s Renault to seize P4, but as he exited the Senna S he appeared to lose the back end of the car, the Italian promptly regaining the position. The cause of the slide quickly became clear - a left-rear puncture thought to have been caused by debris on the track.

Schumacher limped back to the pits to take on fuel and fresh rubber, but when he rejoined he was running 19th - and last. However, he was immediately back up to speed, slamming in fastest sector times and slicing his way past backmarkers. His progress slowed somewhat when he once more found himself behind Fisichella in the closing stages, but the Renault driver was eventually forced into a mistake by Schumacher’s relentless pressure, running wide at Turn 1 and surrendering fifth place in the process.

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen - the man who will replace Schumacher at Ferrari - was the next target, and the Finn defended aggressively to maintain fourth place. It took a special move from Schumacher, the pair going side-by-side into Turn 1 just inches apart, with the seven-time champion ultimately emerging ahead.

That left him chasing Jenson Button for a podium, but with just two laps remaining there simply wasn’t time to catch the Honda, despite Schumacher's penultimate lap being the fastest of the race, over half a second quicker than team mate Felipe Massa’s best.

Schumacher’s competitive Formula One career may be over, but true to form, the great man entertained us to the last. Thank you for years of amazing racing Michael.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Ferrari 599 Road Trip Video

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Its all over for Schumacher

Alonso has managed to clinch the championship with Schumacher DNF today. Its a sad day for Ferrari team and their fans. I think thats all that needs to be said on this subject.

Monday, October 02, 2006

Schumacher is tied for first with Alonso















Schumacher is tied for first place in the championsip race with Fernando Alonso. This looks like it could be the tightest championship race in quite awhile.