Mercedes GP reveals 2010 colours

This is the new colour scheme for the Mercedes GP Petronas team. As expected, the ‘Silver Arrows’ treatment has been added along with the shades of green due to the new sponsorship deal with the Malaysian oil company.

Even though the car presented at the Mercedes-Benz motor museum in Stuttgart is basically last year’s BGP-001 with a new paint job, the proper 2010 Mercedes – to be called the MGP W01 – will be officially unveiled on February 1st at the Valencia race track.

The colour scheme is a tribute to the German’s manufacturer rich motor sport history, in particular the 1955 championship. That season, Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss represented the ‘Three-Pointed Star’ with the W196 and it marked the last season in which the manufacturer competed in Grand Prix racing.

By returning to Formula One this season, it signals a return as a team in its own right after ending its long-time partnership as an engine supplier with McLaren, which dated back to 1995.

Hopefully the new livery will reward success for both Nico Rosberg and seven times world champion Michael Schumacher as the car hits the tracks this coming season.

Goldfrapp’s latest single and album

This is a surprise! Thanks to Alison Goldfrapp’s blog and the popular we7 music website, you have the unique opportunity to listen to her new track Rocket from the forthcoming fifth Goldfrapp album Head First.

According to a press release issued ahead of the new album, it describes Head First as their “most powerful trip to date, a speedy rush of synth optimism, euphoria, fantasy and romance. With life affirming lyrics and stellar production it lifts off at full tilt and takes us on a journey to the heart of 2010.”

Judging by the initial response after listening to Rocket – full of 1980s synth – I believe the press release has hit the spot on the band’s new musical direction.

In fact, high expectations are set on the new album with a possibility that it might sound a mix between Seventh Tree and the earlier synth-based album such as Supernature.

As to the track listing, here is the full list:

Rocket
Believer
Alive
Dreaming
Head First
Hunt
Shiny And Warm
I Wanna Life
Voicething

Head First will be release on March 22. In the meantime, check out the album cover art (the post’s main image). Simply beautiful.

UPDATE: See the official music video to Rocket via YouTube by clicking on this link.

New season of 24 returns to Sky1 on January 24th

Jack Bauer’s new nightmare day returns to Sky1 on January 24th with a two-hour episode set in the Big Apple.

Season eight sees a new threat to Bauer and after watching this brief teaser trailer via YouTube, it promises to be more tense and dramatic.

As to what we should expect in the next 24 episodes, the official Sky1 website has provided some details on Day 8. See the full extract below:

When we last saw Jack Bauer (Golden Globe® and Emmy® winner Kiefer Sutherland), his life was hanging in the balance. But, true to form, the hardest man in television is back for another heart stopping, action-packed series of the award-winning US drama series 24. With a relocation to New York, the return of CTU and new exciting cast additions, this season looks set to follow Day 7 in being one of the best yet when it returns to Sky1 HD and Sky1 on Sunday 24 January.

At the start of 24’s new, eighth season, Bauer is hoping for a quiet life with his daughter Kim (Elisha Cuthbert, Captivity) and his granddaughter. However, a group of terrorists have other plans and an assassination plot against a visiting Middle Eastern leader Omar Hassan (Anil Kapoor, Slumdog Millionaire) is uncovered. It’s not long before Bauer is called upon to help prevent Hassan’s murder.

Kiefer Sutherland said: “Season 7 and 8…are really connected together. The storylines from Season 7 really do play all the way through into Season 8. The setup for [this season] is the most realistic political thing that I think we’ve ever done since we started the show. This season is more grounded in what possibly could happen. There’s a sense of reality that almost brings it back to Season 1.”

CTU is back in action and based in New York, headed up by Special Agent Brian Hastings (Mykelti Williamson, Forrest Gump). He is joined by brainy bombshell Dana Walsh (Katee Sackhoff, Battlestar Galactica) and her fiancé, head of field operation Cole Ortiz (Freddie Prinze Jr, I Know What You Did Last Summer).

Returning for Day 8 are CTU devotee Chloe O’Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub, Little Miss Sunshine), Renee Walker (Annie Wersching, General Hospital) and President Allison Taylor played by Cherry Jones (Ocean’s Twelve) fresh from her Emmy® win for her work on Day 7. Plus, villainous ex-president Charles Logan (Gregory Itzin, The Mentalist) is set to return when Taylor enlists him to assist with an escalating crisis. “The opportunity for these two remarkable actors to share the stage was simply too compelling to pass up,” said executive producer Howard Gordon of the unison of the current and previous presidents.

It all sounds great and I look forward to seeing Bauer Action Hour every Sunday night from January 24th!

Schumacher signs deal with Mercedes GP

Schumacher Nurburgring 2006

Multiple Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher will make his return to the sport driving for the new Mercedes GP team in 2010. The German will race alongside compatriot Nico Rosberg in the rebranded team that took the drivers’ and constructors’ titles as Brawn GP in 2009.

News speculation surrounding the identity of the second driver at Mercedes has been mounting for days with the initial rumour pointing to Nick Heidfeld. But it seems that the seven-times world champion was the more suitable candidate to lead the team to another championship success and with Schumacher rejoining the ‘three-pointed star’ he reunites his former racing colleague Ross Brawn, who masterminded all seven of his titles at Benetton and Ferrari.

Schumacher’s return to Formula One comes after three years since announcing his retirement at the end of the Italian Grand Prix. Since then, the German still maintains his competitive spirit by taking part in karting event and motorcycle races. Unfortunately in one of those motorcycle races, he suffered a neck injury in a crash.

That injury proved a major setback for Michael, as he was assigned to replace the injured Felipe Massa in the Ferrari. Due to his neck injury, Schumacher sadly declined the offer to step-in the F60 and the Scuderia gave the unique opportunity to test driver Luca Badoer and Force India’s Giancarlo Fisichella instead.

Michael commented he was deeply disappointed at the time, and it may have been the excitement he felt about returning to Formula One then that helped motivate him to conclude the deal with Mercedes GP.

German newspaper Bild is reporting that Schumacher has signed a one-year deal and it is likely he will have the option to continue beyond 2010 if his return goes well. In addition, it is reported that Michael will earn £6.2 million racing the Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team – the official team’s title for next season, with the Malaysian oil company announced as a major sponsor.

With Michael Schumacher competing in Formula One once again and representing ‘Team Germany’ with Mercedes, the 2010 Formula One World Championship is going to be a fascinating season. To witness the wheel-to-wheel duel against former champions Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button (Ferrari and McLaren respectively) is going to be spectacular. Hopefully, Michael still has that racing sprint to compete with the young pretenders.

New points system for F1 2010

From next season, a new points system has been devised for the Formula One World Championship with the top ten drivers awarded points.

At present, only the top eight finishers receive championship points with ten going to the winner, then eight for finishing in second, six for third, five, four, three, two and one.

With the new points system proposed by the F1 Commission, the race winner will now receive 25 points, then 20, 15, 10, 8, 6, 5, 3, 2 and 1.

The increase in points is part of a new scheme to award championship points to the top ten finishers in each race due to the expanded grid in 2010.

Taking this new system into account, that means the new Formula One world champion Jenson Button has amassed 230.5 points compared to the actual 95 points he earned in taking the drivers’ title this season.

However, the margin of points between each finishing position seems rather inconsistent, with only a two-point difference between seventh and eighth, while only a single point for sixth and seventh.

In addition, there is only a five-point gap for the race winner and the driver coming home in second. The importance of winning the Grand Prix should have been made more significant, like 30 points for example. By adopting this idea, the driver behind will push even harder for the overall victory.

Hopefully the new system will encourage drivers to overtake each other in the race. Whether it will improve the spectacle remains to be seen.

Raikkonen joins WRC with Citroen

Former Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen has joined Citroen’s junior rally team and will take part in the series from next season.

The 30-year-old Finn, who left Ferrari a year early at the end of the 2009 season, will compete in twelve of the thirteen rounds of the World Rally Championship driving a Red Bull-sponsored C4 rally car.

His co-driver will be Kaj Lindstrom, who was the co-driver for multiple WRC champion Tommi Makinen.

Earlier this year, Raikkonen made his rallying debut in an S2000 Abarth (pictured above) competing at his home event in the Rally of Finland. Despite crashing out on leg two, the Finn earned the respect of the series regulars for the speed with which he adapted to driving on the special stages.

Raikkonen has hinted for many years that he was keen to pursue a career in rallying after Formula One, and when the Finn announced last month that he would take a sabbatical following the breakdown of his talks with McLaren, the WRC was seen as his most likely destination.

It will be fascinating next season in how the Iceman will adapt to the rally scene including driving sideways!

Mercedes buys Brawn GP, Button joins McLaren and Raikkonen takes a break from F1

The last couple of days in the Formula One world have reveal several major changes to the new 2010 season.

The first news story is Mercedes purchasing a 75.1 per cent share of Ross Brawn’s racing team. Following the success of winning the championship double, the German car manufacturer has latched onto the Brawn GP outfit and has rebranded the team as Mercedes GP for the following season.

Nico Rosberg is expected to drive for the Silver Arrows with a possibility of running Nick Heidfeld as the second German driver.

This takeover maybe one of the reason (other than pay) that has forced Jenson Button to look for a new drive elsewhere. Though there are stories that his manager was asking for more money from Ross Brawn since Button is the current Formula One world champion.

Following the buyout of Brawn GP, the focus shifted to Kimi Raikkonen. Where would the Iceman end up next season? With Fernando Alonso joining the Scuderia in 2010, the Finn was on his way out after three years representing the Prancing Horse.

There were two teams available to Kimi, his old former team McLaren and the massively financially-backed Toyota racing organisation. Unfortunately, the Japanese manufacturer pulled out with immediate effect blaming the current economical crisis, so the only place to go was McLaren.

But the amount of money Raikkonen’s management was asking for to drive the McLaren was way too much and without a race-winning car available, the Finn announced that he was taking a sabbatical from the sport.

This paved way for Jenson Button. The 2009 world champion couldn’t reach an agreement with Ross Brawn/Nick Fry over an increase in pay after winning the title, so the only option was to take the seat alongside Lewis Hamilton.

By having two British champions at McLaren-Mercedes, it brings a sense of excitement to motor racing fans. It will be interesting how these two great drivers will work with one another but one thing is certain, it marks the strongest pairing since Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost back in the late 80s and early 90s.

Whether Button can cope with the new pressure environment at McLaren or his extremely fast team-mate remains to be seen. Sir Jackie Stewart has commented that he has made an unwise decision to switch teams. But what can be said is that Formula One 2010 is shaping up to be a classic.

Jack Bauer’s new eighth day

Jack Bauer’s new eighth day
Season eight of the award-winning real-time drama 24 will be premier early next year and after watching this short teaser trailer, it certainly lives up to its reputation with more action and thrills in the company of Jack Bauer.
The new eighth day will start at 4.00 pm in a new location, New York City. After six seasons in Los Angeles and the previous season in Washington DC, the latest terrorist threat has shifted to the Big Apple.
The story arc will involve Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) contending with assassination threats made during a peace conference between President Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones) of the United States and President Omar Hassan (Anil Kapoor) of the fictional Islamic Republic of Kamistan.
In a recent interview with the star Kiefer Sutherland confirmed that Season eight will take place within very close proximity to the closing events of Season seven, and is likely to be the show’s final season. He stated “there’s only so much you can do to Jack (Bauer) before you lose realism. I think a movie would be a good way to end this story.”

Season eight of the award-winning real-time drama 24 will be premiering early next year and after watching this short teaser trailer (YouTube video below), it certainly lives up to its reputation with more action and thrills in the company of Jack Bauer.

The new eighth day will start at 4.00 pm in a new location, New York City. After six seasons in Los Angeles and the previous season in Washington DC, the latest terrorist threat has shifted to the Big Apple.

The story arc will involve Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) contending with assassination threats made during a peace conference between President Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones) of the United States and President Omar Hassan (Anil Kapoor) of the fictional Islamic Republic of Kamistan.

In a recent interview with the star Kiefer Sutherland confirmed that season eight will take place within very close proximity to the closing events of season seven, and is likely to be the show’s final season. He stated “there’s only so much you can do to Jack (Bauer) before you lose realism. I think a movie would be a good way to end this story.”

SPOILER ALERT! DETAIL-BY-DETAIL ACCOUNT ON SEASON EIGHT FROM FOX. DO NOT CLICK MORE TO AVOID THE UPCOMING SEASON OF 24.

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Toyota withdraws from Formula One

Formula One has lost its third team in less than 12 months with the news that Toyota will quit the sport with immediate effect.

The Japanese car company revealed the decision during a news conference in Tokyo. It said the current economic situation had prompted its departure.

“Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces it plans to withdraw from the FIA Formula 1 world championship at the end of the 2009 season,” said a Toyota statement.

“TMC, which had viewed its participation in F1 as contributing to the prosperity of automotive culture, remained dedicated to competing at the pinnacle of motor sports even in the face of the abrupt economic changes that started last year.

“However, when considering TMC’s motorsports actitives next year and beyond from a comprehensive mid-term viewpoint reflecting the current severe economic realities, TMC decided to withdraw from F1”

The team’s Formula One future had been widely doubted since Honda withdrew at the end of last season. Toyota originally entered the sport in 2002 to compete with its rival, which had returned as an engine supplier two years earlier.

Toyota had also pulled its Fuji Speedway racing circuit, which hosted the 2007 and 2008 Japanese Grands Prix, blaming the worldwide financial problems.

However Toyota did signed a new Concorde Agreement, committing it to the world championship through 2012, and team boss John Howett was adamant that the squad would be on the grid next year although there were hints of a reduced budget.

The team had been pressing ahead with its 2010 preparations including the possibility of signing big name drivers like Kimi Raikkonen and Robert Kubica. There was even talks of signing impressive stand-in Japanese racer Kamui Kobayashi for next year as recently as last weekend.

Toyota’s current drivers, Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock, had already been expected to move on.

“TMC also wants to express its heartfelt gratitude to all Panasonic Toyota Racing drivers to date and to all Toyota Motorsport GmbH employees who have helped make the team’s achievements possible,” said the statement.

“TMC intends to do its best to find a solution for those parties who will be affected by any inconvenience this decision may cause.”

Toyota entered Formula One in 2002, and was tipped to swiftly become a championship challenger given its massive budget and resources. But the team has yet to win a race and has just three pole positions, 13 podium finishes, and a best result of fourth in the 2005 constructors’ standings to show for its 139 grands prix.

The departure of Toyota is set to throw the former BMW Sauber team a lifeline, as the Hinwil squad and its new owners had been relying on another team dropping out in order to claim the final spot in next season’s expanded 26-car entry.

Toyota added that it would continue to use its Formula One experience in “developing exciting production vehicles” and that it would remain involved in motor racing, albeit at a lower level.

“In motorsports, [Toyota] will not only race in various categories, but will also actively contribute to further development of motorsports by supporting grassroots races and planning events in which it is easy for people to participate.”

Vettel leads Red Bull one-two at Abu Dhabi

Sebastian Vettel took his fourth victory of the season leading his Red Bull Racing team-mate Mark Webber to a one-two finish in the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

This result also confirmed Vettel as championship runner-up behind Jenson Button. The 2009 world champion came home in third behind the victorious Red Bulls though he did had an opportunity to snatch second with a late-race duel with Webber. It was a thrilling contest to see the pair fighting over the position but at the chequered flag, the Australian just managed to hold off the Briton.

Despite that Button has ended his championship season with a podium finish, his first since the Italian Grand Prix, while his Brawn GP team-mate Rubens Barrichello survived a clash with Webber’s Red Bull on the opening lap which broke part of the front wing endplate to finish in fourth.

Competing in BMW Sauber’s final race, Nick Heidfeld recorded a solid fifth place (a nice send-off for the team) while the impressive Kamui Kobayashi scored his first championship points for Toyota in only his second appearance as a Grand Prix driver. Team-mate Jarno Trulli was seventh with Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Buemi taking the final point with eighth.

As for the race favourite, Lewis Hamilton, who started the twilight Grand Prix in pole position, the McLaren driver was forced to retire with a rear brake issue. It was a shame as he was the quickest all weekend and this non-finish was a disappointment, though the development of the MP4-24 in the late stages of this season has given optimism for Lewis into next year.

Just finishing outside the points was Nico Rosberg, racing for the last time at Williams, followed by Robert Kubica (BMW Sabuer), Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) and Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari).

After a poor qualifying session, Fernando Alonso was unable to recover from a low grid position and to finish in P14 was not the ideal way to end his seven-year stint at Renault.

The same can be said to Giancarlo Fisichella. Representing the Scuderia for the last time and potentially racing in his final race in Formula One, the Italian finished in a disappointing P16. Speeding in the pit lane didn’t help matters for Giancarlo…

And so ends the 2009 Formula One World Championship. Red Bull Racing might have missed out on the championship honours, but scoring a hat-trick of wins is an impressive achievement for the outfit. Can Vettel and the Red Bull team challenge Button and Brawn GP next year for title honours? Let’s wait and see when the new season commences in Bahrain in March 2010.

Race results from the Yas Marina circuit, 55 laps:

1.  Vettel        Red Bull-Renault      1h34:03.314
2.  Webber        Red Bull-Renault      +17.857
3.  Button        Brawn-Mercedes        +18.467
4.  Barrichello   Brawn-Mercedes        +22.735
5.  Heidfeld      BMW Sauber            +26.253
6.  Kobayashi     Toyota                +28.343
7.  Trulli        Toyota                +34.366
8.  Buemi         Toro Rosso-Ferrari    +41.294
9.  Rosberg       Williams-Toyota       +45.941
10. Kubica        BMW Sauber            +48.180
11. Kovalainen    McLaren-Mercedes      +52.798
12. Raikkonen     Ferrari               +54.317
13. Nakajima      Williams-Toyota       +59.839
14. Alonso        Renault               +1:09.687
15. Liuzzi        Force India-Mercedes  +1:34.450
16. Grosjean      Renault               +1 lap
17. Fisichella    Ferrari               +1 lap
18. Sutil         Force India-Mercedes  +1 lap

Fastest lap: Vettel, 1:40.279

Not classified/retirements:

Hamilton      McLaren-Mercedes      21 laps
Alguersuari   Toro Rosso-Ferrari    19 laps

World Championship standings, round 17:

Drivers:

1.  Button        95
2.  Vettel        84
3.  Barrichello   77
4.  Webber        69.5
5.  Hamilton      49
6.  Raikkonen     48
7.  Rosberg       34.5
8.  Trulli        32.5
9.  Alonso        26
10. Glock         24
11. Kovalainen    22
12. Massa         22
13. Heidfeld      19
14. Kubica        17
15. Fisichella     8
16. Buemi          6
17. Sutil          5
18. Kobayashi      3
19. Bourdais       2

Constructors:

1.  Brawn-Mercedes        172
2.  Red Bull-Renault      153.5
3.  McLaren-Mercedes       71
4.  Ferrari                70
5.  Toyota                 59.5
6.  BMW Sauber             36
7.  Williams-Toyota        34.5
8.  Renault                26
9.  Force India-Mercedes   13
10.  Toro Rosso-Ferrari     8