Edward Gorman's Formula One webchat

The Times Motor Racing Correspondent answers your questions

Today from 1pm for an hour, Ed chaired a debate on all things F1. Read on to see what he had to say ...
by TimesSport at 11/2/2009 11:45:03 AM
by TimesSport at 11/2/2009 11:45:48 AM
Ed is getting ready for your questions on what has already been a buys morning in Formula One. While working out what you want to ask him, find out what the latest is on Toyota's exit from the sport here: www.timesonline.co.uk and what Ed had to say about their decision here: www.timesonline.co.uk
by TimesSport at 11/4/2009 11:36:59 AM
Ok, start leaving your questions and Ed will begin responding soon. Also, check out his blog: timesonline.typepad.com
by TimesSport at 11/4/2009 12:40:32 PM
Hello everybody...this our secon go at a webchat. Last time I was in Suzuka and we weren't able to do it for various technical reasons, so now we are having another go. We hope, as they say in Formula One, to do a "fantastic job". All we need is some questions. This time I am trying this from the unfamiliar surroundings of my own home. By the way, if you don't live on the south coast of eastern England, I can tell you it is a gorgeous day...if it wasn't for this and Toyota, I'd be out there raking up the leaves....
by EdGormanTimes at 11/4/2009 12:48:17 PM
Hello Ed, do you think Jenson Button will successfully defend his title next year or was the second half of the season a better guide as to how he will perform? Could Lewis Hamilton do it again?
by Gearstick Gary at 11/4/2009 12:48:41 PM
Gearstick Gary - that's a new one. Well, I'm not sure Jenson can do it again. My hunch is that once is enough for him. He could surprise us but I think it will be much harder next year for him, asssuming he stays at Brawn. McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull are all going to be coming out of the blocks on the pace, one imagines. Is Jenson a serial champion like Michael or Fernando?
by EdGormanTimes at 11/4/2009 12:50:24 PM
Great season Ed, and great debate along the way. I am uinaware of the changes for next season (although I hear there are fewer than last). At the AD GP I saw only two genuine passes. Maybe it's time for worse brakes to ensure more overtaking?
by Rick T at 11/4/2009 12:50:35 PM
Rick T: worse brakes...how about better tracks, less races in blindingly hot conditions, further changes to the cars to make them more even...
by EdGormanTimes at 11/4/2009 12:51:17 PM
Hi Ed, my question for later is:

Do you think a People's Candidate should stand at the next FIA election? - and what might their policies be?

If it were me, I would dissolve the FIA Foundation and make an immediate refund of $50 million to McLaren Team

I would then distribute the other $50 million between the FIA member clubs to promote motor sport and motoring safety at a local level.

I might also sell off the Federation's head office in Paris, and move a reduced staff to more humble accommodation.

The money raised by cutting costs and selling off assets could be used to reduce membership subscriptions across the board for several years to come - thus yielding more funds for good work around the world.

Does anybody agree it's time for radical change?
by Graham Fudger at 11/4/2009 12:51:22 PM
Hi Graham
by EdGormanTimes at 11/4/2009 12:51:30 PM
I'll try that again...hi Graham...yes I agree a breath of fresh air at the top of the FIA was long overdue after the years of Max. However it is up to the members, not us, to elect their leader. I also have the feeling that JT is going to be much more his own man than some may have feared. He will also be far less confrontational than Max and far less obsessed with the media and seeing his name in print...all that is positive. If he turns out to be half as good at running the FIA as he was at running Ferrari, then the sport will only benefit
by EdGormanTimes at 11/4/2009 12:53:55 PM
Would you please comment on the current deadlocked farce (aka: The America's Cup) and compare and contrast with this years FIA/F1 farce.
by ColinM at 11/4/2009 12:54:03 PM
Colin M: In my view the farce in the America's Cup is worse than anything in Formula One. It is unforgiveable to effectively suspend that competition for so long and jeopardise so many jobs while two egoes fight it out
by EdGormanTimes at 11/4/2009 12:55:08 PM
Follow on q: So you don't think the Yas Marina cicuit is a good one? GP2 cars were passing lots of times
by Matthew at 11/4/2009 12:55:15 PM
Anonymous: Yas Marina, a good one? I thought the race was pretty dull I have to say, Jenson and Mark W apart. Imagine spending all that money for that?? I am very uneasy about all these new races. I am not sure those stands will ever be full - they weren't this year. My view is that the FIA has to draw up a new constitution on this subject to protect the old races where people actually want to turn up and watch racing...
by EdGormanTimes at 11/4/2009 12:57:06 PM
Ed, with the withdrawal of Toyota, do you think that Bernie and CVC now have a stronger hand to negotiate the post 2012 'concorde'? It's much easier to divide and conquer small independents than big motor companies. Only Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault are left. And Renault look iffy.
by Aaron James at 11/4/2009 12:57:19 PM
Hi Aaron - the blog big hitters are coming into the paddock. I agree Renault look iffy. They should have been punished by the WMSC but got off for obvious reasons. I suppose it might make things a little easier but agreeing deals in Formula One is never going to be straightforward whoever is taking part...difficutlt to say...
by EdGormanTimes at 11/4/2009 12:59:27 PM
Following Toyota's pullout, are Sauber now "certain" to be included on the grid for 2010?
by Matthew at 11/4/2009 12:59:32 PM
The status of Sauber remains a mystery. Bernie seems to think the team could be finished. Most of the rest of us were assuming they would get a slot if someone else dropped out like Toyota
by EdGormanTimes at 11/4/2009 1:00:18 PM
Hi Ed (avid reader), with Toyota going what's the prognosis for the Japanese GP?
by JamesR at 11/4/2009 1:00:24 PM
Japanese Grand Prix - one of the best tracks but the worst travelling experiences for us - looks pretty safe as far as I know. Honda have spent a fortune on upgrading the facilities at Suzuka and I believe it will stay
by EdGormanTimes at 11/4/2009 1:01:17 PM
How big a loss would the British GP be if it disappeared from the map next season?
by Pete at 11/4/2009 1:01:21 PM
Pete: If the British GP did not appear, it would be a disaster as far a I am concerened and a massive own goal by Bernie. Talk about biting the hands that feed...Fleet St will go nuts. I'd love to get Donald McKenzie to go on the record and say he would be happy to see it go: I can't believe he could think that would be the right way forward
by EdGormanTimes at 11/4/2009 1:03:07 PM
by TimesSport at 11/4/2009 1:03:20 PM
^
Hi, Ed, and thanks for holding this session! I hope you enjoyed the season personally.

Here’s my question.

Do you now share my view that Luca di Montezemolo’s decision effectively squeeze Michael Schumacher out of his drive at Ferrari at the end of 2006 in order to shoe-horn in Kimi Raikkonen was a massively bad one?

Personally, I think the results speak for themselves and that the fact Ferrari is now paying Raikkonen a staggering $24 (or whatever) just to be shot of him simply underlines them.

Regards,

D (the real one!)

<>
by D at 11/4/2009 1:03:35 PM
Hi D: I couldn't agree more. I have always felt Kimi is a good driver but he was very lucky to win the title in 2007 and since then he ahs been sliding. He has driven well in the latter half of this season, but he puts so little in and he is no team player. I remember Luca di M saying at Madonna earlier this year that Kimi was like a stiker in football who just needed to score and I thought "nonsense"
by EdGormanTimes at 11/4/2009 1:05:17 PM
Bruno Senna, Ayrton's newphew is to be in F1 next season. How much have you seen of him? How will he do?
by Alex at 11/4/2009 1:05:21 PM
Hi Alex: I have only seen him a few times but I can report that the general paddock view is that this could be a case of "name-over-content". Would he be getting the nod if he was not a Senna?
by EdGormanTimes at 11/4/2009 1:06:05 PM
what actually cause Ron Dennis to leave F1. Was he implicated in the 'liegate' scandle?
by Tony at 11/4/2009 1:06:10 PM
Great question. I would love to sit down with Ronald and discuss that one...I ahve my own views. It seemed a very odd coincidence that Ron should suddenly go all "automotive" on us, and without any prior warning, immediately after "lie-gate"....very odd
by EdGormanTimes at 11/4/2009 1:07:19 PM
Hi Ed, how many of the new teams would make it? Could we get three car teams and Schumi returning if the latter happens?
by DavidJ at 11/4/2009 1:07:37 PM
DavidJ: As far as I know three car teams is a non starter and an idea being foisted on Stefano Domencali by his boss. A better prospect is Michael returning if Felipe finds he is not quite the driver he once was. (I hope that is not the case, by the way)
by EdGormanTimes at 11/4/2009 1:09:01 PM
Accepting that teams are making staffing cuts amid the global recession and competition for jobs in F1 is going to be tougher than ever, what advice would you give to someone looking to work in the sport from a media/communications perspective?
by James at 11/4/2009 1:09:17 PM
Crumbs...maybe try something else first?
by EdGormanTimes at 11/4/2009 1:09:54 PM
Hi Ed - what do you think about the prospect of the people voting in the FIA's next presidential election?
by Graham F at 11/4/2009 1:10:02 PM
Liek any private organisation, you'd have to be a member I guess
by EdGormanTimes at 11/4/2009 1:10:23 PM
Any inside info on who will have the best car next season? Mr. Newey seems to have regained his "touch".
by Matthew at 11/4/2009 1:10:25 PM
I think McLaren will be good and probably Ferrari too (though the jury is a bit further out on Stefano's reign than it is on Martin's). Red Bull should be good and Brawn are confident their new car has not suffered from the attention they have given to this year's championship. You never know though, do you? The change in fuel regs is going to have a very big impact on the balance of the cars and there is plenty of scope for even the big teams to screw this up
by EdGormanTimes at 11/4/2009 1:12:23 PM
There was an interesting report by James Allen this week, that Schumacher described his motivation to return to F1 as emotionally driven. Given that the announcement of his return must have been signed off at all levels (i.e. Domenicalli and Montezemelo) do you think this is a sign of a return to the reactive days of Ferrari pre-Todt? And will the pairing of two, let's just say 'passionate' drivers, exacerbate that?
by Aaron James at 11/4/2009 1:12:45 PM
Aaron - I was away on hols when this all blew up. To be honest it worried me, the way it as handled. Probably too much emtional stuff and not enough dispassionate analysis. Then there was the Badoer debacle and finally Fisi.. as I mentioned just now, Stefano has some way to go yet. A great guy but those do not always prosper in Formula One...
by EdGormanTimes at 11/4/2009 1:14:44 PM
I think the teams missed a trick this year. If they'd gone their own way and dumped Bernie and the FIA, the huge sums generated by F1 could have come back to the teams instead of lining Bernie and co's pockets. What do you think?
by Big Nige at 11/4/2009 1:15:14 PM
Big Nige: it was hard to believe the breakaway would ever happen...the changing of the guard in Formula One is well underway in any case..organic development might be better than revolution..
by EdGormanTimes at 11/4/2009 1:16:11 PM
Have you ever been in danger of having your FIA press pass revoked?
by Matthew at 11/4/2009 1:16:12 PM
Anonymous: No...at least not as far as I know.
by EdGormanTimes at 11/4/2009 1:16:36 PM