This is a classic ‘oops’ from Nick Heidfeld. Watch the clip above, where BMW have allowed Heidfeld to show off the BMW Sauber F1.08 at BMW’s Munich headquarters, all goes well and the usual burning rubber stunts keep the fans happy. But, at around 1:23 on the clip Heidfeld has his crash. It’s actually very tame, and nobody got hurt. But it is the lamness of the stack that makes this clip so good! We like Nick Heidfeld because he’s driven the Nürburgring in an F1 car, but bloopers like this show he’s just one of us after all.
Category: Formula 1
Polish driver Robert Kubica has just earned his first pole position in qualifying at the Bahrain Grand Prix. He edged out Britain’s Lewis Hamilton by 2/10 of a second, and Brazilian Felipe Massa by just 3/100 of a second with his fastest time of 1:33.096 and in the process gave BMW Sauber their first pole position as a constructor. Australia’s Mark Webber qualified in 11th position.
The continuing Max Mosley orgy saga shows no signs of letting up. Several Formula 1 manufacturers have issued official statements condemning Mosley’s sexcapades, while the Crown Prince of Bahrain has personally written to the F1 supremo telling him “I feel that under the current circumstances, it would be inappropriate for you to be in Bahrain at this time.†This statement, powerfully issued just days before the Bahrain Grand Prix, leaves Mosley in a virtually untenable position.
Further adding to his woes are the revelations that BMW and Mercedes-Benz have issued a joint statement asking the FIA for a response to their President’s “disgraceful” actions. Toyota went further by stating “Toyota Motorsport does not approve of any behaviour which could be seen to damage Formula 1’s image, in particular any behaviour which could be understood to be racist or anti-Semitic.”
Honda also hit out at the embarrassed and embattled Mosley in their statement, which read, “The Honda Racing F1 Team is extremely disappointed by recent events surrounding Mr Mosley and we are concerned that the reputation of Formula One and all its participants is being damaged. We request that the FIA gives this matter careful consideration and reaches an immediate decision in the best interests of F1 and motorsport.”
Mosley has taken legal action against News of the World—which broke the story last Sunday—and has claimed any Nazi connotations as being “entirely false”.
Source: BBC, TimesOnline
Update: FIA to hold Mosley crisis meeting, BBC
In news surely set to rock the FIA to its foundations, several media outlets are reporting that FIA President Max Mosley has been captured role playing in Nazi-style sex orgies. The 67 year old former Oxford scholar’s extra curricular activities have been exposed by UK newspaper News of the World and reveal the F1 supremo was apparently whipped into a frenzy by as many as five prostitutes while allegedly screaming orders in German. It looks like a nasty sordid affair that will become either a minefield of legal briefs or bring a terribly indecent ending to Mosley’s power over Formula 1.
The News of the World expose includes secretly captured photographs and video filmed last Friday, forming a damning case for Mosley. I bet he hopes news of his long lost twin brother will be the next news item to shock the world of motorsport. Oh dear. Unsurprisingly, news reports are calling for Mosley’s resignation.
Source: The Age, Australia and News of the World, UK
Update: Bernie stands by sex-claim Mosley, Daily Mail, UK
The big improvers at the start of the 2008 Formula 1 season so far have been the BMW Sauber team. Robert Kubica all but took pole position in Melbourne and Nick Heidfeld followed up this promising sign finishing the race in second place. The following weekend in Malaysia, the team continued their good form with Kubica taking second place and Heifeld placing in the points in sixth place.
This promo clip from the excellent BMW-web.tv site gives a small insight into the BMW F1.08. Okay, it’s a fluffy promo piece with little in terms of technical detail, but it is worth a look!
The 2008 Melbourne Grand Prix was a bit of a procession with Lewis Hamilton sweeping all before him. One highlight, for those enjoying the view from their couch, was David Coulthard’s outburst towards Felipe Massa after the two collided, forcing Coulthard to retire from the race. DC’s spray was captured live by ITV, and here it is for your viewing pleasure (language warning applies).