Formula One: China GP / backgrounds to Ron Dennis

The verdict is in, Formula One can (hopefully) return to what it does best: deliver exciting racing

Because regardless of previous GPs in the ranking of Formula One is not nearly as secure as you think. Presumably BrawnGP will indicate the tone again in China, the question will be but also how closely Toyota will be tuned to the English. Ross Brawn himself has mentioned in early times, that he does not believe that his team will be on all routes forward. This may be an understatement, but can also vote. Noticed I feel that in the qualification was not the speed that you could go in the race. This was on many fuel in the tank, and I'm curious how long Brawn go with the risk of tank filling in Q2. Now of course in Shanghai is not so much different than in Malaysia. He has but two passages that will be very interesting.

For example, there is the passage to Turn 6 to Turn 9 to A high-speed passage in which the pressure will play a major role. Since this is also the second Meßsektor, you have to take a look at the good times. The second area is starting gymnastics 13th The more pressure because you have, the quicker you get onto the long back straight. Here I would be interested to the speed of the car on corner exit. Maybe you can get but at least one measurement of the curve apex.

Large Aero updates are not expected in China. Most teams had left their equipment in Asia and will at best bring little new parts. At Toyota, there should be a slightly revised front wing, possibly a copy of the Brawn. McLaren will also have new parts here, just as Renault, both because it has so desperately needed. Something should be changed to the STR, which gets Red Bull donated the most recent upgrade, go with Vettel and Webber have been Australia. According to Christian Horner is supposed to bring about three-tenths.

In terms of KERS, it's so much movement that you lose track. BMW will buy at least Robert Kubica KERS on Friday, after it has slimmed down the car a bit. Heidfeld will probably also be traveling with the electric acceleration.

Interestingly, Ferrari KERS waived. This is both surprising since the two long straights in Shanghai are really suitable for use. How well you can defend himself against an overtaking on the straights, so Alonso has been in Malaysia. But Ferrari has massive problems with KERS (ruptured batteries, etc.), and other sites exist on F60 too. For this reason the waiver is perhaps understandable, since the increased weight in long curves nor the grip helps. McLaren goes well with again.

The rest is probably on the road again without KERS. At Red Bull I'm surprised that a little, because, first, the car should be very light, so the use of batteries tolerated, on the other Renault KERS seems to have just as McLaren handle. The RB waived on KERS may be related to a lack of cooling. The question is also whether KERS, except at the start, on the track brings anything, because by the increased weight you lose again in terms of time.

It is still too early to create a ranking. Especially when it comes to racing speed. Australia is no reference price, Malaysia was a bit short. If you have to wait and see, but everything else as two yellow / white car front, now would be quite a surprise. But I'm very curious how it will look behind it. China could be the first real indicator of the season.

Goodbye, Ron Dennis

Now Ron Dennis leaves McLaren so. The company, which he had taken over after the more or less hostile takeover of the early 80s by Teddy Mayer. On the death of Teddy Mayer in February this year I had the acquisition times described as follows :

When it comes to the official version, it was like this: Marlboro was the lie of Ron Dennis' Project Four "on the table. Dennis wanted it to Formula One and the support of the group hoped to get. Here, we were saddened by the situation at McLaren, wondering what to do. Teddy Mayer was successful, but apparently he had come to problems with the changing Formula One clear. Mayer was a man of the 60s and the new management methods told him not to, it was thought at the sponsor. Instead of letting fall but to switch to McLaren and Dennis suggested Marlboro, grasp the two projects together. Mayer, McLaren should do more, but with Ron Dennis at his side, who should organize the team again.

The unofficial version goes like this: Marlboro, Dennis in his back pocket and put a gun to his chest Mayer. Either he would agree to a takeover by Dennis, or the company would withdraw their money immediately. As such, it would be a "reverse takeover" was. It was named McLaren as a shell and fill it with the "Project Four" by Dennis.

Dennis himself the victim is now its own policy is a bit tragic. His head was probably due to the espionage business since 2007, in which he acted a little strange. For Mercedes it was probably "not amused" some things that Dennis had pulled through without consultation and that he has survived the drama was a small miracle.

But behind the scenes it must have crashed more powerful. On the temporal proximity between the 100 million judgment, a massive humiliation of Ron Dennis, and the scandal surrounding Max Mosley has been much speculation, and a Czech FIA delegate pointing a finger in the direction of McLaren open times (before it was carved on selbige and he apologized). It is clear, but probably that Mosley and Dennis are in this life is not good friends.

The signal that McLaren and Mercedes set with the departure of Dennis, but also something to do with the "lying" affair. The amateurish attempt by McLaren to grab a few more points, you can follow, but the tenacity with which the operator of the FIA ​​is already noticeable. McLaren is not the first racing team, which can be caught in a lie, the matter was cleared up quickly, so you have to hang up the matter is not so. Certainly does not need to convene an extraordinary emergency meeting of the World Motor Sport Council, in which one sits in judgment on McLaren.

Apparently, the FIA ​​has come to some ears, and in this case, the tipster was once again one of the team. In the espionage affair, it was Alonso, Ecclestone has taught, in this case it was the father of Lewis Hamilton, the FIA ​​asked to not only support but also probably chatted a few more details out. When Alonso was able to understand the anger still, but at the Hamiltons? They have McLaren and Ron Dennis especially thanks to some. Without his support Hamilton might now be sitting at a desk, or would even drive around in GP2.

Hence, it is extraordinary that the family has asked Hamilton to McLaren so massive that it probably took a massive intervention by Mercedes to calm things down. Anthony Hamilton has openly admitted that he has knocked in Malaysia with other teams. A departure from Hamilton Mercedes can not afford it.

To Ron Dennis but you can very well do without. My guess: Mercedes has done a deal behind the scenes with the FIA. It sacrifices the military character Ron Dennis admits to in the course of the season in racing, but you do not get the end of April at the hearing, a slap, but more. This also means that Mercedes will probably gradually take over complete control of McLaren. The restructuring by spinning off of McLaren Automotive shows at least in the direction that we want to keep as a technology platform and McLaren racing team. The Auto Group can not do anything, because one has now himself enough in-house.

With the departure of Ron Dennis is not necessarily an era is ending. As a figure in Formula One, he was always a little too smooth, too technocratic than that I would say now that you could miss it. His management services are, however herrausragend. There is no team manager who has managed since 1980, the fortunes of a racing team so successful. Frank Williams is the only one who goes yet touch him, but his successes, he also does not have. 10 drivers title in almost 30 years are remarkable, to his collaboration with Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna. In the 90 years he led his team after the loss of Honda engines from a very dark period in cooperation with Mercedes. This, too, an achievement that should be appreciated that one, especially when you see how bad it was for Williams.

I have respect for his performance in each case. But I will not miss him.

And what else?

Very quickly, the TV Times tomorrow, along with reps. Tomorrow morning, the rest comes in the usual epic breadth:

Formula One - 1st FT China - 03:55 LIVE Premiere Clock

Formula One - 2 FT China -. 07:55 clock Premiere, DSF LIVE

Repetitions premiere:

First FT: 11.45, 16:15

Second FT: 09.45, 13.15, 17.45, 22:00

DSF:

First FT: 07.00

Both together: 20:15

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The verdict is in, Formula One can (hopefully) return to what it does best: deliver exciting race because regardless of the current GPs is the ranking in the ...