2009 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar (provisional)
29 March Australia
5 April Malaysia
19 April Bahrain
10 May Spain
24 May Monaco
7 June Canada
21 June Great Britain
28 June France
12 July Germany
26 July Hungary
9 August Turkey
23 August Europe (Valencia)
6 September Italy
13 September Belgium
27 September Singapore
11 October Japan
18 October China
1 November Brazil
15 November Abu Dhabi

The calendar will start at Australia as usual and heads to the European phase after Malaysia and Bahrain (Asia). The last race is the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

He minces no words, the iceman. Kimi Raikkonen in a candid interview after the Canadian Grand Prix wonders how Hamilton was unable to see 2 cars and a red light both. All through he keeps suggesting that Lewis Hamilton’s actions were deliberate. To me too personally it seems that there was something fishy in the whole accident. Anyway this is what Kimi Raikkonen had to say:

“It was a bitter disappointment we had at Montreal. I still can’t believe it, that someone can hit you while you are standing at the red light next to another car. I can’t imagine how Hamilton could not see the red lights and the two cars standing in front of him. I think that Hamilton deserved the penalty. He looses ten positions on the grid for the next race in France, which will make it more difficult for him at Magny-Cours.

Anyway we lost the possibility to have a good result in Canada. At the moment when the safety car came on the track, my car was running very fast: we could have won, or, in the worst case, become second. On Saturday we had some problems during Qualifying because of the breaking surface of the track. The same thing happened then at the beginning of the race. When the rear tyres were clean and the graining was gone and they started to work well, we were really fast: we drove the fastest race lap and we managed to do a great pitstop and we put the car in the front. I was ready to fight and overtake Kubica, once the lights were green. But I didn’t have the time, as Hamilton crashed into my back and the race was over. I’m not angry. Just disappointed, surprised and frustrated at the same time. He knew that the lights were red. Accidents happen, but it’s difficult not to see two cars stopped.

Seven races are done and the last two I didn’t bring home any points. Nobody could foresee that. I’m not in a strong position anymore. But it’s not the end of the world. We have not lost that much ground. I’m fourth in the Championships. Exactly where I was last year and just like last year there’s still a long way to go. It was good for us that Kubica won. Congratulations to him and to the team! Honestly, it’s better he got the 10 points than Hamilton. BMW has all the time been there this season and when something went wrong for us they benefited from that.

I came back from Montreal with a really good impression of the F2008 and I’m sure that we can win again very soon. Because now we go to circuits where we are usually very strong. You know that I don’t like to look behind: I’m concentrated on the French GP, where I want to repeat last year’s result, when we brought home a wonderful one-two win.”

Well you can love him, you can hate him but you cant ignore him. After effectively deciding the finishing order at Canada, Lewis was giving an interview about how he is all set for Magny Cours.

Quoting him :

“Going forward the mood is strong.

The fact is we destroyed everyone at the weekend(Canada). With the car we have right now there is no stopping us.” Hamilton Said

Hmmmm , I don’t think Lewis you “destroyed” everyone , just the scarlet car that mattered

There is no stopping him too, even red lights proved inadequate, only another car was able to stop him in his path.

Well i was waiting for when Force India formula one would launch its online shop, wearing its colours would have been super cool. However the Vijay Mallya owned outfit has probably forgotten the common fan. It seems the merchandise is only for the elite few much like Mr. Mallya himself who routinely invites actors to his Force India pits but not fans.

The shop is being maintained by a Netherlands based company who has kept such exhortative rates that i cant even think of buying stuff from there, let alone buy it. I will not link to the shop from here as it basically makes a mockery of the team’s name and the common fan’s emotions.

The default pricing is in Euros, but you can see INR prices too, hotdog ! Anyway here are some sample prices :

1. A cap costs Rs. 1895.57 , caps usually cost Rs.50-80 in India.
2. A polo pique costs 3797 rupees , they usually cost Rs.500
3. T-Shirts start from 2500 rupees, they cost 500 in India.

Add to all of this shipping of 15 euros 950 rupees approx., and what you have is unhappy fans. Most will now prefer to buy counterfeit shirts and merchandise .

I personally asked a few people about the prices, and they laughed their heads off, one of them said even EPL jerseys arent so expensive (dunno if its true).

No Indian can afford such expensive merchandise, except maybe the owner himself. Let the protest be heard !

Image:Copyright Force India media images

Bizarre by Lewis Hamilton, he wasn’t interested in stopping but looked more interested in passing Kimi Raikkonen and stopping parallel to the Ferrari, more to follow from the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix.

The FIA keep removing videos.