F1: Bahrain GP: Brawn GP race report
Grand Prix Live — Brawn GP’s Jenson Button achieved his third victory of the 2009 Formula One season today at the end of an exciting Bahrain Grand Prix. Team-mate Rubens Barrichello brought his Brawn-Mercedes car home in fifth position to score valuable points and consolidate the team’s lead in the Constructors’ Championship after the opening four rounds. Jenson’s victory was set up with a strong opening lap which saw him pass Vettel at turn one before fighting with Hamilton round the first lap and taking his opportunity at turn one on the second lap. Jenson put in some quick laps to overtake the Toyotas at the first round of pit stops and controlled ...

F1: Bahrain GP: Toyota race report
Grand Prix Live — Jarno Trulli (Car 9, Chassis TF109-06) Grid: 1st Race Classification: 3rd (+9.170s) Pit Stop Laps: 12, 37 Timo Glock (Car 10, Chassis TF109-05) Grid: 2nd Race Classification: 7th (+42.880s) Pit Stop Laps: 11, 33 Panasonic Toyota Racing is celebrating its third podium of 2009 after Jarno Trulli took third place at today’s Bahrain Grand Prix. On another sweltering day, Jarno started on pole with Timo alongside him on P2, both on the super soft tyre. Both cars made good starts but Timo edged in front into the first… Source ...

F1: Bahrain GP: Renault race report
Grand Prix Live — It was a hot afternoon in Sakhir as Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet finished in 8th and 10th places in the Bahrain Grand Prix. Having picked up another point, the team is now 5th in the constructors’ championship with 5 points. The team’s attention now turns to the Spanish Grand Prix in two weeks time for the start of the European season. Fernando Alonso, R2903, P8 First stint: 16 laps on soft tyres Second stint: 21 laps on soft tyres Third stint: 19 laps on hard tyres Fernando: “We did our maximum today. The start of the race was not… Source ...

F1: Bahrain GP: BMW Sauber race report
Grand Prix Live — Weather: sunny and dry, 35-36C Air, 47-50C Track Sakhir (BH). The Chinese Grand Prix was bad, and the Bahrain GP even worse. Thanks to starting from rather hopeless grid positions, the BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers found themselves at the back of the pack after being involved in first corner incidents. Robert Kubica finished 18th and Nick Heidfeld 19th. The team now awaits the update of the F1.09 for the Spanish Grand Prix. Robert Kubica: 18th BMW Sauber F1.09-05 / BMW P86/9 (KERS) Fastest lap: 1.35,706 in lap 50 (13th fastest overall)… Source ...

F1: Bahrain GP: Bridgestone race report
Grand Prix Live — Brawn GP driver Jenson Button used a super soft - super soft - medium tyre strategy to win a thrilling Bahrain Grand Prix in searing hot conditions at the Bahrain International Circuit. Button finished 7.1 seconds ahead of Sebastian Vettel, who used the same strategy in his Red Bull. Pole-sitter Jarno Trulli used a super soft - medium - super soft strategy in his Panasonic Toyota Racing car to finish third. Bridgestone’s super soft tyre worked particularly well here, even with a track temperature of over 50 degrees Celsius, delivering good grip and consistency.… Source ...

F1: Bahrain GP: Red Bull race report
Grand Prix Live — 3 PODIUMS IN 7 DAYS Car 15, SEBASTIAN VETTEL, (Finish Position 2nd, Start Position: 3rd)“Very good. A good result and good points, but it was a difficult race. The start was okay, but then suddenly Lewis (Hamilton) was next to me he must have pressed his special button and got an advantage. At the first corner we were three deep, me in the middle and Jenson (Button) on the outside, so I had to give way and lost two positions. Unfortunately I then got stuck behind Lewis, which caused degradation to the tyres you… Source ...

F1: Bridgestone tyre specifications for next four rounds
Grand Prix Live — Bridgestone Motorsport announce tyre specifications Bridgestone, the Official Tyre Supplier to the FIA Formula One World Championship, is pleased to announce the compound allocations of Potenza tyres for a further four rounds of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship. This year, the return of slick tyres to Formula One after eleven season’s absence has been a significant talking point. Bridgestone’s new allocation philosophy of having a more significant change between the two tyre compounds brought to each race - with the compounds differing in rubber stiffness and… Source ...

F1: Bahrain GP: Toro Rosso race report
Grand Prix Live — NO OASIS FOR TORO ROSSO IN THE DESERT Sebastien Bourdais (STR4-02) Pos.13th“It was a really good day for me, except that I started so far back on the grid, which meant I couldn’t get into the points. But clearly, the car was working well and I had a good race pace. The team adopted the right strategy starting me on Primes and after that I was quite quick. It was nice to drive a race on the attack, feeling comfortable with the car and I knew that with the different strategies, I had to push right to the end, running the… Source ...

F1: Bahrain GP: Ferrari race report
Grand Prix Live — K. Raikkonen: 6o. 1:32.30.239 + 42.057, 57 laps, Chassis 276 F. Massa: 14o. 1:31.55.017 + 1 giro, 56 Laps, Chassis 275 Weather: air temperature 38/36 C, track temperature 51/49 C, sunny. First championship points for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, which ended the sixth running of the Bahrain Grand Prix with one driver, Kimi Raikkonen in sixth place and the other, Felipe Massa, in fourteenth. Stefano Domenicali: “Today we were aiming to get both cars home in the points and we got it half right. Unfortunately, Felipe’s race was… Source ...

F1: Bahrain GP: McLaren Mercedes race report
Grand Prix Live — LEWIS HAMILTON Started: 5th Finished: 4th Fastest lap: 1m34.915s on lap 13 (6th) Pitstops: two (Op-Op-Pr) Championship points: 9 Championship pos: 7th Lewis made a fantastic start, converting fifth to third after vaulting both Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel into the first corner. On the opening lap, he was even able to look up the inside of Jarno Trulli’s Toyota for second, but prudently dropped back. At the start of lap two, he was relegated to fourth by a charging Button.… Source ...

F1: Williams Bahrain GP debrief
Grand Prix Live — SYNOPSIS Despite encouraging practice pace, the AT&T Williams team were unable to convert early promise into points at this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix and return home from a six week trip to the Far East with just 3.5 points on the board. Practice saw the team carry out the usual programme of mechanical and aero set-up work on Friday, all the more important for Nico Rosberg in Bahrain as he was using an upgraded aero package on his FW31 for this race. With temperatures hovering around the mid-to late thirties for the duration of the… Source ...

F1: Williams announces F1 drive contest
Grand Prix Live Racing 2009 - Motorsport Network — Drive an AT&T Williams car! Philips Consumer Lifestyle, Official Partner of the AT&T Williams team, is giving you the chance to win five laps driving an actual Williams F1 car on a Grand Prix circuit. If you think you have what it takes then this is the challenge you can’t afford to miss. The ten fastest entrants at the Philips Driving Academy will win an expenses paid trip to the UK. There you will battle it out at a motor racing school against drivers from around the world as well as facing a gruelling… Source ...

F1: McLaren wrist slapped in suspended race ban
Grand Prix Live — Formula One team McLaren Mercedes has been waved through by the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) of sanctioning body International Automobile Federation (FIA). Meeting in Paris on Wednesday, the Council undertook to levy a penalty for McLaren, whose team manager Dave Ryan and driver Lewis Hamilton lied to race officials about a passing incident in the closing laps of last month’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Jarno Trulli of Toyota was tricked into passing Hamilton under caution conditions, thereby… Source ...

F1: Toyota Bahrain GP debrief
Grand Prix Live — Q+A with Jarno Trulli Were you happy with third place in the race? To be honest, I was disappointed because qualifying went so well and expectations were high that we could challenge for Toyota’s first victory. I expected more than third place but it wasn’t to be unfortunately, although I did set the fastest lap of the race which shows the potential of the car. Is that disappointment a sign of the progress the team has made? Absolutely. To be disappointed with third place makes such a difference compared to the previous few seasons. Last year my third place at Magny-Cours was a really special moment and the season before it was ...

F1: Williams announces F1 drive contest
Grand Prix Live — Drive an AT&T Williams car! Philips Consumer Lifestyle, Official Partner of the AT&T Williams team, is giving you the chance to win five laps driving an actual Williams F1 car on a Grand Prix circuit. If you think you have what it takes then this is the challenge you can’t afford to miss. The ten fastest entrants at the Philips Driving Academy will win an expenses paid trip to the UK. There you will battle it out at a motor racing school against drivers from around the world as well as facing a gruelling… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: BMW Sauber preview
Grand Prix Live — Munich/Hinwil, 30th April 2009. With all eyes focused on the challenge ahead in the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship, the BMW Sauber F1 Team engineers at the factories in Hinwil and Munich are working flat out on improvements to the F1.09. The team will line up for the first race of the European season in Barcelona on 10th May with an initial development package in place. Robert Kubica:“I am looking forward to the race in Barcelona. After a block of four overseas races Formula One comes back to Europe, which I am happy about. As all Formula One teams have… Source ...

F1: World Motor Sport Council notes 2009-04-30
Grand Prix Live — An extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council was held in Paris on 29 April 2009. The following decisions were taken: FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship Applications to compete in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship are to be submitted to the FIA during the period 22-29 May 2009. Teams must state in their application whether they wish to compete under cost-cap regulations. The maximum number of cars permitted to enter the Championship has been… Source ...

F1: Williams statement on WMSC decision
Grand Prix Live — World Motor Sport Council: Statement Oxford, UK, 30 April 2009. The Williams F1 team acknowledged the FIA World Motor Sport Council decision to introduce a budget cap for 2010 at its meeting on 29 April 2009. Frank Williams said, “Williams has supported the introduction of a budget cap since the idea was first put forward early in 2008. Since then FOTA has made tremendous steps forward on costs but the rationale for a budget cap has also grown even stronger. We would like to see all the teams operating to one set of regulations and under a budget cap in 2010 and that is the… Source ...

F1: FIA sets Formula One cost cap at $$;58.9 million
Grand Prix Live — The World Motor Sport Council of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), the sanctioning body of Formula One, announced in Paris on Thursday its regulations for cost cutting in the sport. The Council imposed a spending cap of £40 million ($$;58.9 million), £10 million ($$;14.8 million) more than the amount originally proposed. The figure was arrived at through a cost analysis that determined 70 per cent of competitors could show a profit on that budget.… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: McLaren Mercedes preview
Grand Prix Live — Lewis Hamilton“The schedule for the first four races was very tough for everyone, so going back to Europe almost feels like a fresh start. After such a positive performance in Bahrain, we’re fully aware that the characteristics of the Barcelona track won’t suit our car so well. In addition, we won’t have the bigger upgrades of some of the other teams as we already introduced several new parts during the opening flyaways, so it will be interesting to see where we sit in the order. Nevertheless, the engineers are optimistic that our new diffuser and… Source ...

F1: McLaren FIA World Motor Sport Council hearing notes
Grand Prix Live — McLaren attends FIA World Motor Sport Council hearing This morning the FIA World Motor Sport Council met in Paris to discuss a number of subjects including issues related to events that took place at the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix. The FIA World Motor Sport Council members heard from Martin Whitmarsh (Team Principal) and have issued the following statement:“Having regard to the open and honest way in which McLaren Team Principal, Mr Martin Whitmarsh, addressed the WMSC, and the change in… Source ...

F1: Williams interview with Sam Michael
Grand Prix Live — Q&A WITH WILLIAMS F1′S TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, SAM MICHAEL Q: Has FW31 lived up to your pre-season expectations? SM: It’s been quite quick in the opening few races, but we haven’t delivered in terms of points and that’s been very frustrating. Our rivals are catching up quickly and it will be difficult to maintain a development edge over them during the year, but that’s our job and we’ll keep pushing. Q: What problems have kept the team out of the points? SM: We’ve made a few mistakes. In Australia we had a problem with a wheel nut, which cost Nico… Source ...

F1: WIMRC developes chocolate powered racer
Grand Prix Live — Environ-MENTAL The steering wheel is made from Carrots… powered by Waste Chocolate and Vegetable Oil… with Potatoes used to produce the bodywork… and it goes 125mph round corners! Following the recent turmoil in Formula 1 arising from the high costs of running competitive motor racing teams, and doubts in sponsors’ minds over the commercial value of their involvement, the viability of motor racing is being critically questioned. With this in mind the Warwick Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre (WIMRC) at the… Source ...

F1: WMSC cost cap Q&A
Grand Prix Live — Why does Formula One need cost capping? Formula One faces a period of great uncertainty during this harsh recessionary period. Funding a team is increasingly seen as a discretionary spend for the majority of team owners and sponsors. To ensure a healthy grid all are agreed that costs need to be cut. Two main philosophies have emerged, either i) reduce activity levels through very restrictive technical rules, plus a degree of standardization if required; or ii) restrict the money that teams are allowed to spend (cost… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Red Bull preview
Grand Prix Live — THE SEASON SO FAR New rules, biggest change for decades, hurray for slicks, KERS is occurring, adjustable front wing, no testing during the F1 season, money’s too tight to mention, Honda’s saved and reborn as Brawn, three Sebs and one Mark in Red Bull F1 line-up, seven good legs between them, pullrod rear suspension for Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso FOTA? ‘Fota Schmota’ says Bernie, Rubens and Jenson on top in winter testing, the D word finally appears DIFFUSER! Drivers looking anorexic to fit KERS, take your hat off… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Williams technical preview
Grand Prix Live — Talking technical Car dynamics Average turn angle indicates the average angle of a circuit’s corners expressed in degrees. The higher the average turn angle, the more acute the corners in the circuit’s configuration and the greater propensity for understeer to compromise lap time. At Barcelona, the average turn angle is 113.170, against a season average of 1100, ranking it as the circuit with the 8th highest average turn angle across the Championship. th The end of straight (EOS) speed at Barcelona was 308kp/h in 2008. Barcelona ranks as having the 6 fastest… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Williams preview
Grand Prix Live — At a Glance When Friday May 8 to Sunday May 10, 2009 Where Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain Round 5 of 17 Standings AT&T Williams 3.5pts (8th), N Rosberg 3.5pts (11th), K Nakajima 0pts (19th) Spain’s Hot Topics Who’ll come out top of the development war with the new European aero packages? How will the teams react to the budget cap? Will we see any new motorhomes in the paddock this year? Circuit de Catalunya in a nutshell… Source ...

F1: The new Formula One World Order
Grand Prix Live — Cost-regulated teams Last week the FIA presented some new facts about the earlier this year announced cost cap regulations which will be applied to the sport from 2010 onwards. Again, the FIA did not come up with the technical regulations regarding the capped and non-capped teams. And time is running out, the FIA also stated that all teams who want to compete in 2010 should submit their application during the period 22-29 May 2009. Teams now have less than 3 weeks to make a decision whether they wish to compete under the cost-capped… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Brawn GP preview
Grand Prix Live — The Spanish Grand Prix, Round Five of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship, marks the start of Formula One’s European season and the first of nine races to be held on the continent between the months of May and September. Located just outside the vibrant city of Barcelona, the Circuit de Catalunya has hosted the Spanish Grand Prix since 1991 and has a demanding and varied layout which makes it a renowned testing venue and well known to the teams and drivers. The 4.655km (2.892 mile) circuit has undergone a series of modifications… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Toyota preview
Grand Prix Live — Date: Sunday 10 May, 2pm CET Round: 5 of 17 Venue: Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona Distance: 4.655km (66 laps) Lap record: 1min 21.670 (2008) History: The Spanish Grand Prix was first run in 1913 as a sports car race but made its Formula 1 World Championship debut in 1951 at the Pedralbes track in Barcelona. Since then the race has visited Jarama, Montjuich Park and Jerez. The Circuit de Catalunya hosts the race for the 19th consecutive time this weekend. Panasonic Toyota Racing heads to the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona this weekend for the start of the European season. Following the flyaway races ...

F1: Spanish GP: Renault preview
Grand Prix Live — The ING Renault F1 Team looks ahead to this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix. Fernando Alonso: “Hopefully we can qualify well and score some big points in the race” Fernando you had a physically draining race in Bahrain, but you still came away with a point… Yes, my drink pump failed and so it was a tough race and I was a bit dehydrated when I got out of the car. It was good to score a point, but we were hoping for more after all our hard work over the last couple of weeks. I didn’t make a good start and lost ground which decided my race… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Force India preview
Grand Prix Live — Following a physically demanding start to the calendar with four races in five weeks, the Spanish Grand Prix from 8 - 10 May marks the start of the more regularised European leg of the FIA Formula One World Championship. Teams will now return to a standard one race per fortnight format, shorter travel distances and the comfort of personalised hospitality units at familiar tracks. With a solid start to the year and further modifications to its VJM02 cars to come, the Force India Formula One Team is eagerly anticipating this next stage of the… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Bridgestone preview
Grand Prix Live — Bridgestone Motorsport Spanish Grand Prix Preview Bridgestone opens the start to nine Formula One races in Europe with the hard and soft tyres at the Spanish Grand Prix, the Gran Premio de Espana Telefonica, at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona, on May 8-10. The Spanish Grand Prix is the fifth round of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship and it takes place at a circuit that teams know very well because of the use of Barcelona as a test venue. The 4.66 km track layout features one long straight and a variety of different corners making set-up a… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Toyota interview with Jens Marquardt, Team Manager
Grand Prix Live — Spanish Grand Prix Preview Q+A - Jens Marquardt What tasks do you face now you are Team Manager? Basically my job is to ensure all practical operational aspects of the team run smoothly whilst also liaising with the FIA on sporting and logistical matters. At Grands Prix I am responsible for operations at the track so I am involved in every element of the team’s work, from pit stops to driver’s schedules to catering - everything. I need a complete overview of the whole team’s tasks so I can make sure they have the best possible working… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Renault technical preview
Grand Prix Live — Barcelona: Tech File The Grand Prix circuit near Barcelona is one that every F1 team knows well from the hundreds of kilometres of testing carried out there over the winter. Few venues offer such a variety of medium and high-speed corners and it is widely acknowledged as the definitive aero circuit that provides a stern test of an F1 car. With few big braking zones and so many high-speed corners, overtaking remains extremely difficult and a good qualifying performance and sensible strategy are paramount for a… Source ...

F1: Brawn GP forms new partnership with Willans
Grand Prix Live — BRAWN GP CONFIRMS NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH WILLANS Brawn GP is pleased to confirm that the team has agreed a new partnership with Willans, the world’s leading brand of racing harnesses, who become a Team Supplier for the 2009 Formula One season. Manufactured by Stockbridge Racing in the UK, Willans harnesses have been used as essential safety equipment for all forms of motorsport since 1967. From Formula One to Nascar and IRL to Rallying, the company has supplied top motorsport teams around the world and to date supported… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Felipe Massa preview
Grand Prix Live — Massa: “keep working and push forward” Montmelo, 7 May 2009 — After four races of impromptu press conferences, held outside offices or sitting on garden furniture, the return to Europe means that today Felipe Massa faced the media in the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro media hospitality unit. Some journalists took a moment to find it, given that two impressive and identical units now sit in the “motorhome” space allocated to the Scuderia. Paid for by team partners and sponsors, the brand new Team and Partner unit made its debut here today. It was actually… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Kimi Raikkonen preview
Grand Prix Live — Raikkonen: “no new championship” Montmelo, 7 May 2009 — Kimi Raikkonen has had a busy couple of days, as on Wednesday, he was in London to officially open the new Ferrari Store in Regent Street. Today, he faced the media at the Catalunya circuit and it was a bigger crowd than usual, as, for many of the F1 media, this return to Europe signalled their first race of the year. And indeed, the opening questions asked the Finnish driver if he felt that the Spanish Grand Prix could be the start of a new championship for him and… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Ferrari preview
Grand Prix Live — Spanish GP - Now the season really begins In the past, when the Formula 1 calendar reached its first European event of the season, phrases such, “now the season really starts” and “this is where the title is decided” were commonplace. However, these days, as in every world class sport, there is no time to relax, no warm-up period and no time for complacency. Therefore, although finally wiping the zero off the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro scoreboard, thanks to Kimi Raikkonen’s sixth place in Bahrain, was an encouraging morale booster for… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Williams signs Hell Energy Drinks
Grand Prix Live — Team Signs Hell Energy Drinks The AT&T Williams team today announced a significant new sponsorship agreement with Hell Energy Drinks. The Hungarian energy drink brand, which has aspirations to be the number two international energy drink, is joining the team as its official drinks partner from the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona this weekend. Bucking the adverse economic climate, the engagement is one of the few on-car level sponsorship agreements to have been concluded recently. Hell Energy Drinks will appear on the team’s race cars on the rear wing endplates… Source ...

F1: Rosberg tops Spanish GP Friday practice times
Grand Prix Live — And so, after a busy opening act, to Europe, where the Formula One Circus finds politics trumps sportsmanship and McLaren Mercedes are given a suspended race ban for lying to race stewards, where the president of the sanctioning body has carried out a cost-reduction scheme that kicks up a feud with the oldest marque in the sport, and where a disgraced world champion continues his image rehabilitation. On track, home ground represents a psychological shift. Teams are back at Barcelona, Spain’s Circuit de Catalunya, the one they know best from… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Practice 2 times
Grand Prix Live — Categorized | Formula 1 F1: Spanish GP: Practice 2 times Posted on 08 May 2009 Source F1: Spanish GP: Practice 1 times Leave a Reply Click here to cancel reply. You must be logged in to post a comment.

F1: Spanish GP: Practice 1 times
Grand Prix Live — Categorized | Formula 1 F1: Spanish GP: Practice 1 times Posted on 08 May 2009 Source F1: FIA Statement Of Condolence to Mosley family F1: Spanish GP: Practice 2 times Leave a Reply Click here to cancel reply. You must be logged in to post a comment.

F1: Spanish GP: Toyota qualifying report
Grand Prix Live — Jarno Trulli (Car 9, Chassis TF109-06) 3rd Practice: 6th, 1m 21.256s (+0.703s), 23 laps 1st Qualifying: 15th, 1m 21.189s (+0.705s), 10 laps 2nd Qualifying: 9th, 1m 20.420s (+0.466s), 7 laps 3rd Qualifying: 7th, 1m 21.254s (+0.727s), 8 laps Timo Glock (Car 10, Chassis TF109-05) 3rd Practice: 8th, 1m 21.377s (+0.824s), 26 laps 1st Qualifying: 8th, 1m 20.877s (+0.393s), 10 laps 2nd Qualifying: 3rd, 1m 20.107s (+0.153s), 7 laps 3rd Qualifying: 6th, 1m 21.247s (+0.720s), 8 laps… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Ferrari qualifying report
Grand Prix Live — K. Raikkonen: 16o. 1.21.291 5 laps F. Massa: 4o. 1.20.934 6 laps Chassis: F. Massa 275, K. Raikkonen 279 Weather: air temperature 26/25 C, track temperature 39/37 C, hazy sky. One car on the second row, the other on the eighth: that was the outcome of qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix. Felipe Massa qualified fourth in the final part of the session, having been fastest in Q1 and fourth in Q2. Kimi Raikkonen failed to make it through to the second session and is thus left to start from sixteenth place. “A day of varying fortunes,” commented… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Bridgestone qualifying report
Grand Prix Live — Bridgestone’s soft tyre allowed Brawn GP driver Jenson Button to qualify with his third pole position of the season for tomorrow’s Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya. Button set a time of 1min 20.527secs, a tenth faster than Red Bull Racing driver Sebastian Vettel. Rubens Barrichello (Brawn GP) went third fastest. Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver Felipe Massa used the soft tyre to go fastest in the morning practice session with a time of 1min 20.553secs. Q&A with Hirohide Hamashima - Bridgestone Director of Motorsport Tyre Development… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Brawn GP qualifying report
Grand Prix Live — Brawn GP’s Jenson Button secured his third pole position of the season at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona today in qualifying for Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix. Team-mate Rubens Barrichello put his Brawn-Mercedes car on the second row of the grid after a closely-fought qualifying hour and will start from third place. Jenson and Rubens both used the Bridgestone Potenza prime tyre for their first run in Q1 before switching to the softer option tyre for the remainder of the hour. The pair were closely matched throughout qualifying with Rubens having the advantage over the low fuel runs in Q1 and Q2, posting the fastest lap of the day ...

F1: Spanish GP: Force India qualifying report
Grand Prix Live — Adrian Sutil (car 20, VJM02/03): FP3: 19th 1:22.232 (19 laps) Q1: 19th 1:21.742 (11 laps) Giancarlo Fisichella (car 21, VJM02/04): FP1: 17th 1:21.909 (19 laps) Q1: 20th 1:22.204 (11 laps) The Force India Formula One Team will start tomorrow’s Spanish Grand from 19th and 20th positions following a competitive qualifying session at the Circuit de Catalunya on the outskirts of Barcelona. Adrian Sutil will line up for the 66 lap race in 19th position while team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella will start from 20th.… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Red Bull qualifying report
Grand Prix Live — FRONT ROW ALL THE WAY We’re front row on the grid — and you can be front row in the air…. Research shows it takes around 1.32 seconds for the euphoria of not having to get another long haul flight to evaporate with the realisation that it’s time for the European torture that is… The Budget Airline. Car 15, SEBASTIAN VETTEL, Position 2nd“I felt very comfortable in the car today. The lap time in Q3 was good, unfortunately not good enough to beat Jenson — last minute he took the… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Toro Rosso qualifying report
Grand Prix Live — Sebastien Buemi (STR4-01)“We were hoping for better than that. Apart from going off the track, I also encountered some traffic in Q2 and I think without that I could have been two or three tenths quicker and been a couple of places higher. Now, we will work hard to be well prepared for tomorrow when they say it might rain, which could be good for us. It’s hard to overtake here, so it will be tough to get up into the points places, but you never know what might happen on the first lap. I have not given up on the idea of having a good weekend.” … Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Renault qualifying report
Grand Prix Live — Today’s qualifying session saw Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet qualify in 8th and 12th places respectively for tomorrow’s Spanish Grand Prix. FREE PRACTICE 3 Fernando Alonso: 17 laps, P10, 1:21.499 on lap 15 Run 1: 6 laps, new hard tyres Run 2: 6 laps, new hard tyres, change to front anti-roll bar and rear ride height Run 3: 4 laps, new soft tyres Nelson Piquet: 18 laps, P15, 1:21.685 on lap 17 Run 1: 6 laps, new hard tyres Run 2: 6 laps, new hard tyres, change to aero levels… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Williams qualifying report
Grand Prix Live — In today’s qualifying session for round five of the championship, the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona, AT&T Williams’ Kazuki Nakajima missed out on a place in Q3 by the narrowest of margins yet achieved the best qualifying result of his season so far and will line up for tomorrow’s race in P11 with the benefit of a flexible strategy. Nico Rosberg once again made it into the top ten shoot out and will start Europe’s opening round on the clean side of the grid in 9th place. Nico Rosberg: I must say I am very pleased with today’s result because we weren’t looking good this morning. In… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: BMW Sauber qualifying report
Grand Prix Live — Weather: dry and sunny, 20-23C Air, 28-37C Track Barcelona (ES). The new aerodynamic package meant an improvement to the BMW Sauber F1.09, but neither driver could get the most out of it for different reasons. Nick Heidfeld wasn’t very well prepared for qualifying after he crashed in the morning’s free practice. He came 13th. Robert Kubica made it into the top ten qualifying but couldn’t improve on his last run due to a mistake by the team when fitting the tyres. The Pole qualified tenth for the Spanish Grand Prix.… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Renault race report
Grand Prix Live — The ING Renault F1 Team scored four points today as Fernando Alonso finished fifth in the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona. Teammate Nelson Piquet finished in 12th place. Fernando Alonso, R2904, P5 First stint: 17 laps, soft tyres Second stint: 25 laps, soft tyres Third stint: 24 laps, hard tyres Fernando: “It was a great race for us. We were not too optimistic before the start and our simulations suggested we would finish in 9th or 10th place. But I had a good start and I was up to 6th after the first corner.… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Brawn GP race report
Grand Prix Live — Brawn GP achieved the team’s second one-two result of the 2009 Formula One season today with Jenson Button taking his fourth victory of the year at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona and team-mate Rubens Barrichello securing second position. Starting from third on the grid, Rubens had a fantastic start to the race as he passed Sebastian Vettel and Jenson, who started on pole, on the run down to the first corner. A multi-car collision brought out the safety car for the first four laps of the race with Rubens and Jenson heading the field in first and second positions.… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: McLaren Mercedes race report
Grand Prix Live — LEWIS HAMILTON Lewis was delayed at the start as he attempted to pass Nelson Piquet and ran onto the grass as the Renault jinked right ahead of him. Perhaps fortuitously, it dropped him behind the first-lap carnage, and he was able to steer around most of the debris to emerge 15th. A lengthy first stint saw him slowly work himself up the order to run as high as sixth before making his first pitstop on lap 31 to fit another set of options. Resuming inside the top 10, he struggled with his rear tyres, which… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: BMW Sauber race report
Grand Prix Live — Weather: dry and sunny, 24C Air, 38-43C Track Barcelona (ES). The BMW Sauber F1 Team scored two points at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday with Nick Heidfeld finishing seventh. While Heidfeld gained some places at the start, his team mate, Robert Kubica, lost several at this early stage and later in the race was stuck in traffic. He finished 11th. The new aero package on the F1.09 proved to be a clear improvement. Nick Heidfeld: 7th BMW Sauber F1.09-06 / BMW P86/9 Fastest lap 1:23.878 min on lap 29 (10th fastest overall)… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Red Bull race report
Grand Prix Live — ANOTHER TRADE-MARK PODIUM! Car 14, MARK WEBBER (Finish Position 3rd, Start Position: 5th)“It’s good to be back on the podium. It’s interesting how the team’s mentality has changed — last year we would have been happy to score points and now we want podiums at every race! We’re working incredibly hard and the guys’ eyes are falling out of their heads with all the late nights and long hours. Sebastian had more trouble with traffic today, but the team got us both home with a lot of points, which is fantastic.… Source ...

F1: Williams Spanish GP debrief
Grand Prix Live — After unrewarding races in China and Bahrain, the team brought home one point from Europe’s opening round at Barcelona at the weekend courtesy of Nico Rosberg’s 8th place finish. Kazuki Nakajima’s race was compromised from the outset after a first lap collision forced a premature first pitstop for a new nose. Friday’s two practice sessions were dominated by set-up work as the drivers spent time bedding in new aero components brought to Spain as part of the team’s upgrade package. All the new parts behaved as expected. The team also ran through its usual tyre evaluation programme with the prime… Source ...

F1: Renault charges ahead with the all Electric Vectrix
Grand Prix Live — Responding to the environmental challenge, ING Renault F1 has partnered up with Vectrix, the world’s leading manufacturer of high performance, zero emission electric motorcycles. A number of special edition ING Renault F1 Vectrix VX-1 bikes have been unveiled and deployed for the first time at the Barcelona Grand Prix to provide the most environmentally friendly on-site and shuttle transport for the drivers and the team at all Grand Prix events this season. The Vectrix completely fractures any pre-conceived ideas about electric… Source ...

F1: Formula One’s sacred cow is a horse
Grand Prix Live — The so-called two-tier Formula One championship as proposed by the FIA for the 2010 season has caused quite a stir amongst Formula One fans, but also amongst Formula One teams themselves. The general consensus is that a two-tier competition (in any sport for that matter) is not very desirable to say the least, many fear a competition with two different sets of rules will split Formula One into two camps. The new rules are fiercely opposed by the most loved, respected, legendary, charismatic and imaginative team in… Source ...

F1: Renault reconsidering 2010 entry
Grand Prix Live — The decision of the Federation International de l’Automobile (FIA) to introduce two sets of Formula One technical regulations for the 2010 Formula One season has caused the Renault Group to reconsider its entry in next year’s FIA Formula One World Championship. There is frustration that FOTA’s constructive proposals, including major cost saving measures to be adopted progressively between 2009 and 2012, which were carefully constructed by FOTA members, have been completely ignored without any form of consultation by the FIA with the teams.… Source ...

F1: Spanish GP: Toyota Spanish GP debrief
Grand Prix Live — Q+A with Timo Glock How do you sum up your Spanish Grand Prix weekend? It was a tricky weekend and in the end it was really disappointing. We all hoped for a lot more from the Spanish Grand Prix so to finish in 10th place was way below our expectations. Clearly our performance in the race did not meet the high standards we set earlier in the season but we are working flat-out to respond in the next races. What can you say about the upgrade package the team took to Spain? The guys back in Cologne worked incredibly hard to prepare several upgrades to the car, and I’m grateful to them for such a big effort. When you see how much work ...

F1: FIA and FOTA still in standoff
Grand Prix Live — ‘No compromise,’ Mosley says Nothing settled, nothing changed, was the report from a Heathrow airport hotel outside London on Friday where International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Max Mosley and the sport’s commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone met with Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) representatives to work on their impasse over money. Mosley said the FIA will not compromise. Mosley told reporters he has invited the teams to present a countering notion to the FIA’s budget scheme that would limit team spending in… Source ...

F1: McLaren Mercedes and Steinmetz ready for Monaco
Grand Prix Live — STEINMETZ DIAMONDS GOES FOR #1 AT THE 2009 MONACO GRAND PRIX Steinmetz, creators of the world’s finest diamonds, and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes will team up again for the Monaco Grand Prix — in one of the most exciting years yet. Steinmetz has been a partner of the team at the Monaco Grand Prix for four years and is proud to announce the continuation of their long-running association into 2009. In 2008, Steinmetz and the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team collaborated on… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: BMW Sauber preview
Grand Prix Live — Munich/Hinwil, 15th May 2009. The Monaco Grand Prix is both a relic of the past and a highlight of the Formula One calendar. Guests and teams alike will be looking to put on impressive displays around the narrow streets of the principality from 21st to 24th May. Nowhere else do the drivers complete so many laps of the circuit (78), yet the race distance here is the shortest of any Formula One GP. The tightness of the track makes this an unforgiving place for the drivers: errors are punished with damaged cars, a successful… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: McLaren Mercedes preview
Grand Prix Live — 2009 MONACO GRAND PRIX PREVIEW Lewis Hamilton“Monaco is my favourite circuit. The sensation you get from racing up the hill at 175mph, trying to make as straight a line as possible between the barriers while just shaving them with the walls of the tyres is unbelievable — the best sensation you could ever have in a Formula 1 car. There’s an expectation that Monaco will be another good circuit for our car package because the combination of low-speed corners and absence of any really fast stuff should suit MP4-24. I really… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: Brawn GP preview
Grand Prix Live — The Monaco Grand Prix, Round six of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship, is widely considered to be the most prestigious motorsport race in the world. Set around the spectacular harbour backdrop of Monte Carlo, the race winds around the barrier-lined streets of the Principality, providing a fantastic spectacle of speed and noise for the thousands of fans who pack the grandstands and viewing areas. The 3.340km (2.075 mile) street track is the slowest circuit of the year with the cars averaging speeds of just 160kph (100mph) throughout the… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: Renault preview
Grand Prix Live — The ING Renault F1 Team prepares for round six of the season: the Monaco Grand Prix. Fernando Alonso: “Monaco is the race that all the drivers want to win” Fernando, you had a strong home Grand Prix in Barcelona. Did you enjoy the race? Yes, racing at home is always a big motivation and although we couldn’t fight for the podium, we got the maximum from the car and I was pleased to finish fifth. I was lucky towards the end of the race when Felipe [Massa] slowed, but it was exciting to gain an extra point on the final… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: Bridgestone preview
Grand Prix Live — Bridgestone makes an exception to its 2009 race tyre allocation philosophy of leaving a gap between compounds by bringing the soft and super soft tyres to the most slippery race of the year, the Monaco Grand Prix. Despite its relatively short length, the 3.34km Monte Carlo track has a seemingly endless supply of corners with barely a straight to mention, all bordered by unyielding Armco barriers. To make matters more difficult, the track surface is polished smooth by constant road traffic through the year, meaning… Source ...

F1: Formula One - five down, twelve to go
Grand Prix Live — After five races, and back on European soil again, Ross Brawn and his team are still in command in Formula One. Jenson Button has won four out of five races, and is still the leader in the Drivers Championship with 41 points. Teammate Rubens Barrichello is in second position with 27 points, followed by the drivers of the other very successful team of this year, Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber with 23 and 15,5 points.… Source ...

F1: BMW Motorsport and NGK extend partnership
Grand Prix Live — Munich/Ratingen, 18 May 2009. BMW Motorsport and NGK Spark Plug Co. Ltd. have extended their successful partnership in the motorsport arena. Under the terms of the new agreement - the world’s No1 spark plug manufacturer will supply spark plugs to BMW teams in Formula One, the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) and, for the first time, also to the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). As in the past three years, NGK Spark Plug Co. Ltd. is named “Official Supplier” to the BMW Sauber F1 Team and to BMW Team Germany that competes in the World… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: Williams preview
Grand Prix Live — At a Glance When Thursday 21 to Sunday 24 May, 2009 Where Monte Carlo, Monaco Round 6 of 17 Monaco’s Hot Topics Who’ll have the biggest gin palace? Which team will have the best celebs? Will anyone be serving cava rather than champagne? Monte Carlo in a nutshell Fierce braking and acceleration are a major feature, and suit a lighter car, but the race distance is about 40 kilometres shorter than most, so drivers have less chance to capitalise. More pertinently, it’s essential to qualify… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: Williams technical preview
Grand Prix Live — Talking technical Car dynamics Average turn angle indicates the average angle of a circuit’s corners expressed in degrees. The higher the average turn angle, the more acute the corners in the circuit’s configuration and the greater propensity for understeer to compromise lap time. At Monaco, the average turn angle is 950, against a season average of 1100, ranking it as the circuit with the 5th lowest average turn angle across the Championship. The end of straight (EOS) speed at Monaco was 286kp/h in 2008. Monaco ranks as having the slowest EOS… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: Force India preview
Grand Prix Live — There are 17 Grands Prix on the calendar and they all count for the same amount of points, but one race stands above all the others in terms of pure spectacle, glamour and prestige: the Monaco Grand Prix. Last year’s Monaco Grand Prix was a particularly memorable one for the Force India Formula One Team. While Giancarlo Fisichella celebrated his 200th race start in Formula One, Adrian Sutil raced from the back of the grid to fourth position in the closing stages of the Grand Prix. A canny strategy and a faultless drive from Adrian so nearly yielded Force… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: Toyota preview
Grand Prix Live — Date: Sunday 24 May, 2pm CET Round: 6 of 17 Venue: Monaco, Monte Carlo Distance: 3.340km (78 laps) Lap record: 1min 14.439 (2004) History: The Monaco Grand Prix was first run in 1929 and hosted the Formula 1 World Championship in its inaugural 1950 season. It returned to the calendar in 1955 and has remained a fixture ever since. Panasonic Toyota Racing heads to the most glamorous and famous destination in Formula 1 for the Monaco Grand Prix on the twisty, barrier-lined streets… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: Renault technical preview
Grand Prix Live — Monaco may be the most unique race on the Formula 1 calendar, but for the engineers the challenge remains the same: fine-tuning the car to achieve maximum performance around the demanding street circuit. It’s an unforgiving place, and getting the most from the R29 around the twisty streets will require an unusual set-up and total commitment from the driver. As a street course, the track usually offers low grip in the early part of the weekend, but come Sunday, the track will be nicely rubbered-in and will continue to improve until the final lap of the Grand… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: illiams signs with Ridge Solutions
Grand Prix Live — The AT&T Williams team today confirmed the launch of a new partnership with Ridge Solutions. Ridge Solutions is one of Africa’s leading private sector companies, based in Angola, with interests in real estate, agriculture and natural resources. Ridge Solutions’ logo will appear on the nose of the AT&T Williams race cars and on the sleeve of the drivers’ uniforms from this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix. Jose Ferreira Ramos, chairman of Ridge Solutions, said, “We are proud to join AT&T Williams and to be able to contribute to the team’s Formula One… Source ...

F1: Ferrari pours scorn on 2010 F1 hopefuls
Grand Prix Live — Having lost its bid to have the 2010 rules declared invalid, Ferrari openly mocked a band of teams wanting to enter Formula One next year. In addition to the teams already revealed by the media as clamouring for a budget-capped spot on the 2010 grid, names including Wirth Research, Epsilon Euskadi, RML and Formtech were leaked as likely to make the May 29 deadline for an official entry. As already reported, letters from the hopeful teams formed part of the FIA’s defence in the Paris hearing.“Can a world championship with teams like them - with due respect - have… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: Ferrari preview
Grand Prix Live — Monaco GP — an exception to the Formula1 rule Since the championship started in 1950, the Scuderia cannot consider the trip to Monte Carlo a truly profitable one, as the last victory for a Prancing Horse car dates back to Michael Schumacher’s win in 2001, the final one of five times that the German won here. In fact, after a victory for Gilles Villeneuve in 1981, Ferrari had to wait until Michael was first past the flag in 1997 to record another Monegasque win. When Niki Lauda took victory in an incident packed 1975 race, it was the first time the Scuderia… Source ...

F1: Raikkonen rejects latest Alonso rumours
Grand Prix Live — Kimi Raikkonen has moved to downplay the latest round of speculation about his Ferrari seat. At a sponsor event this week, Fernando Alonso made no secret of his desire to one day race for the famous Italian team. At the same event, the Santander chief Emilio Botin again openly hinted about his Ferrari sponsorship deal for 2010, adding that the icing on the cake would be to sit “the world’s best driver” in the red car. He then suggested coyly that there may be a vacancy for 2010, despite both… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: Felipe Massa preview
Grand Prix Live — Massa: “I will always support my team” Monte Carlo, 20th May — Felipe Massa did not have far to come to work today, as a Monaco resident and he joined three other drivers in today’s FIA Press Conference. With the decision from the Paris court dominating the F1 headlines, the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver’s views on the circuit were not the main topic for the world’s press, although he was asked to assess the most challenging point on this famous street circuit. “It’s definitely the Casino Square, as it is quite difficult to get right and you pay the… Source ...

F1: Barwa Addax has no plans for F1 team
Grand Prix Live — BARWA ADDAX TEAM HAS NO PLANS TO PRESENT A FORMULA 1 PROJECT With reference to news printed in various press media sources, including the F1 specialist website, motorsport.com, Barwa Addax Team, successor to the previous Barwa Campos Team project, would like to make the following statement: The Barwa Addax team, which is currently taking part in the GP2 series, does not have, at this moment in time, the intention of presenting any project to compete in the 2010 Formula 1 World Championship. With this,… Source ...

F1: Williams vows to ‘fight’ to keep Rosberg
Grand Prix Live — As speculation about the German driver’s future rises, Sir Frank Williams has revealed he will “fight” to keep Nico Rosberg at his eponymous team. It is regularly rumoured that, with the 23-year-old’s contract set to expire at the end of this season, he is looking to step into a more competitive or lucrative seat for 2010.“I will fight for Nico,” said Williams, who brought the son of the 1982 world champion into the sport as a teenage test driver.“For me, Nico drives on a par with Hamilton or Vettel. Other teams are… Source ...

F1: Ingram’s Flat Spot On: Monaco or bust
Grand Prix Live — Ingram’s Flat Spot On by Jonathan Ingram Monaco or Bust Monaco. It’s like no other city — or country — and no other race. All the Grand Prix greats have raced in Monaco since the first race in 1929 and most of them have won on the streets that wind through the steep hillsides of the tiny principality best known for its casino, the absence of income taxes and for the Grand Prix.… Source ...

F1: McLaren Automotive announces plans for new facility
Grand Prix Live — Driving ambition: McLaren Automotive announces plans for new British high technology production facility * Ron Dennis reveals details of proposed investment supporting over 800 jobs * McLaren answers UK political and industrial calls for high-tech manufacturing and engineering work supporting exports * McLaren Production Centre planned to build McLaren Automotive’s range of high performance sports cars from 2011 Ron Dennis, Chairman of McLaren Automotive, announced today plans for… Source ...

F1: Formula One or Formula Farce?
Grand Prix Live — The Prancing Horse is threatening to leave the barn unless the controversial budget cap of only ?40M ($$;62M) per year is removed. Mosley and his merry men claim this is required to help new entrants into the sport. As the deadline to register for 2010, May 29, approaches the once glorious sport of Formula 1 is being turned into Formula Farce, driven by egos and self-interest agendas.… Source ...

F1: US F1 team makes ‘no sense at all’ - Stewart
Grand Prix Live — A United States-themed Formula One team makes “no sense at all” without there being a Grand Prix in America, Sir Jackie Stewart insists. Team USF1, run by Peter Windsor and Ken Anderson and to be principally based in North Carolina’s ‘NASCAR country’, submitted its official entry for the 2010 world championship on Friday. But Scot Stewart, the famous triple world champion who is well known in the States for his commentating and long association with Ford, doubts the project can succeed while North America is completely absent from the F1… Source ...

F1: Two teams lodge 2010 F1 entry paperwork
Grand Prix Live — As the one-week window to lodge an official entry for 2010 opened at midnight on Friday, it emerged that at least two teams sent off their signed and sealed paperwork. Fittingly to the New York Times, joint principals Peter Windsor and Ken Anderson confirmed that they have applied, accepting the budget cap regime, with the official name Team USF1.“We’ll do whatever we can to make it happen,” said F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, who on Thursday sullenly predicted that, amid the row between existing teams and the FIA, not many others will join USF1 in… Source ...

F1: More Friday news briefs from Monaco
Grand Prix Live — Cloud will be present for the remainder of the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, and there is a forecast possibility of rain for Saturday, when practice and qualifying action resumes. “There is a chance of rainy conditions,” Giancarlo Fisichella agreed. - The worldwide economic recession has not foiled plans for an Indian Grand Prix, according to Vijay Mallya, owner of the Force India team and a high ranking Indian motor racing official. “I am very optimistic that (the circuit) will be built on time and that we will have our first Grand Prix… Source ...

F1: Ecclestone threatens to sue if Ferrari quits
Grand Prix Live — Bernie Ecclestone in Monaco issued a veiled threat to sue Ferrari should the famous Italian team pull out of Formula One at the end of the season. After the Paris court action earlier this week, an interesting detail to come out of the verdict was its reinforcement of the binding nature of the commercial agreement in force between Ferrari, the FIA, and its commercial rights holder. Friday is traditionally a ‘free day’ at the Monaco Grand Prix, but as official entries for the 2010 championship opened, word filled the media… Source ...

F1: Crucial Monaco meetings underway
Grand Prix Live — The meeting of the Formula One teams association FOTA is underway, ahead of the crucial gathering involving Max Mosley and Luca di Montezemolo later on Friday. The sport’s team bosses were spotted travelling in dinghies from the Monaco harbour to Flavio Briatore’s moored triple-storey superyacht Force Blue, before they sat down for a pre-meeting lunch. Montezemolo, the Ferrari president and FOTA chairman, is expected to be present for this afternoon’s meeting with Mosley. Mosley told La Gazzetta dello Sport that he hopes Friday’s meeting is more… Source ...

F1: Three teams confirm budget cap support
Grand Prix Live — Three F1 team chiefs on Thursday said they would welcome the imposition of a budget cap in 2010 and beyond. With five of their rivals clearly threatening to quit over the dispute with FIA president Max Mosley, Williams, Force India and even BMW said setting a maximum expenditure limit would be acceptable. Mercedes-Benz, too, has already explained its desire to find an agreement with F1’s governing body rather than threaten to quit.“We are clearly wholly in support of it (a budget cap),” said Sir Frank… Source ...

F1: Friday news briefs from Monaco
Grand Prix Live — On 13 occasions in the history of Formula One, a driver has won four of the opening four races of a season. In all cases, the championship leader in question has gone on to become world champion. “Sounds great to me,” Jenson Button, the latest driver to achieve the four-out-of-five feat, said in Monaco. “It’s a great stat but there are 12 races to go,” the Brawn driver added. Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton finally broke his habit of the last few races and at Monaco agreed to sit down with the English-speaking media… Source ...

F1: Williams surprised by Ferrari ‘veto’
Grand Prix Live — The confirmation of Ferrari’s previously secret right to ‘veto’ proposed FIA regulations has caused a great deal of rumbling in the Monaco paddock so far this week. Sir Frank Williams, the 67-year-old Formula One stalwart, boss and team co-owner, on Thursday mentioned what many observers have wondered: how the agreement is legal in the eyes of the European Commission. Williams said the revelation of Ferrari’s special rights, which are not possessed by the other nine teams on the grid, had caught him by surprise.… Source ...

F1: Brawn and Virgin may split
Grand Prix Live — The Virgin logos may soon disappear from the livery of the championship leading Brawn team. According to The Times newspaper, the glitch in the tie-up with high profile billionaire Sir Richard Branson’s brand is the immense success of the Brackley outfit in 2009, and Branson’s persisting desire for a low-price deal. The initial deal, clinched on the eve of the Australian Grand Prix, was for just $$;250,000 per race, but after four out of a possible five wins, the cost - overseen by Brawn’s CEO Nick Fry - has logically skyrocketed.… Source ...

F1: Barrichello steeled to win after Spain storm
Grand Prix Live — Rubens Barrichello held forthright talks with team boss Ross Brawn after suspecting his teammate Jenson Button received preferential treatment in Spain two weeks ago. The Brazilian veteran was outwardly irritated after Barcelona that, despite outpacing his championship leading teammate throughout the weekend until the race, a late strategy change saw Button race to victory. Barrichello, 36, said he was so upset by the events at the Circuit de Catalunya because, again under Brawn’s strategic rule, exactly the same… Source ...

F1: Crisis meetings not constructive - Ecclestone
Grand Prix Live — Bernie Ecclestone on Saturday threw a spanner in the works, as other F1 stakeholders proclaimed “constructive” talks to pull the sport out of crisis. Half the grid, and possibly even more, are threatening to quit over the rules and governance spat with Max Mosley, but many hours of meetings in Monaco sparked signs of cautious optimism. F1 chief executive Ecclestone, however, who may also be at odds with the teams over the issue of commercial revenue, is clearly still concerned about the precarious situation.… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: Toyota qualifying report
Grand Prix Live — Jarno Trulli (Car 9, Chassis TF109-06) 3rd Practice: 19th, 1m 16.810s (+1.646s), 26 laps 1st Qualifying: 19th, 1m 16.548s (+1.338s), 11 laps Timo Glock (Car 10, Chassis TF109-05) 3rd Practice: 17th, 1m 16.527s (+1.363s), 29 laps 1st Qualifying: 20th, 1m 16.788s (+1.578s), 12 laps Panasonic Toyota Racing suffered a desperately disappointing qualifying session for the Monaco Grand Prix today. After a tough opening day of practice on Thursday, the team used the traditional ‘day off’ on Friday to study data and improve the set-up of the TF109s for Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock. However, the twisty Monaco streets proved to be not suited ...

F1: Monaco GP: Ferrari qualifying report
Grand Prix Live — K. Raikkonen: 2o. 1.14.927 8 Laps F. Massa: 5o. 1.15.271 7 Laps Chassis: F. Massa 276, K. Raikkonen 279 Weather: air temperature 24 C, track temperature 37 C, sunny. Best qualifying of the season for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, which results in Kimi Raikkonen starting from second place on the grid and Felipe Massa from fifth. “This is a good result and confirms the team is working well,” commented Stefano Domenicali. “There’s obviously slight regret at Kimi missing out on pole by a whisker and at the fact that Felipe hardly managed… Source ...

F1: Bourdais denies ‘row’ with boss Tost
Grand Prix Live — Sebastien Bourdais has denied speculation that an apparent falling out with team boss Franz Tost could cost him his Toro Rosso race seat. Already under pressure after a difficult start to the 2009 season, the 30-year-old French driver is said to have got into a row with Tost in Barcelona, after crashing into teammate Sebastien Buemi at the start of the race. Team figures obviously blamed Bourdais for the incident, with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko telling Switzerland’s Blick newspaper: “Maybe he… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: Renault qualifying report
Grand Prix Live — FREE PRACTICE 3 Fernando Alonso: 24 laps, P10, 1:15.165 on lap 21 Run 1: 7 laps, new hard tyres Run 2: 7 laps, same set of hard tyres, change to weight distribution Run 3: 8 laps, new soft tyres Nelson Piquet: 27 laps, P15, 1:16.382 on lap 25 Run 1: 10 laps, new hard tyres Run 2: 8 laps, new hard tyres, change to front wing Run 3: 7 laps, new soft tyres QUALIFYING Fernando Alonso P9, 1:16.009 Q1: 1 run on new hard tyres, 1 run on new soft tyres Q2: 2 runs on new soft tyres… Source ...

F1: Teams may seek May 29 entry extension
Grand Prix Live — Formula one teams may request an extension to the May 29 deadline for official 2010 entries, it emerged after qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix. In the paddock of the famous street circuit on Saturday, representatives of all the teams met yet again, this time in the Toyota motor home. Entries for 2010 opened officially on Friday, and are now set to close in less than a week. It is rumoured that hard-liners like Ferrari and Toyota are prepared to miss the deadline, but others including BMW and McLaren-Mercedes may be… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: Brawn GP qualifying report
Grand Prix Live — Brawn GP’s Jenson Button secured his fourth pole of the season and his best qualifying position ever for the Monaco Grand Prix around the iconic Monte Carlo street circuit today. Team-mate Rubens Barrichello put his Brawn-Mercedes car on the second row of the grid for tomorrow’s 78-lap race with an excellent third position. A tight qualifying hour began with an interrupted Q1 as the session was briefly red-flagged to clear a car on track. The Brawn GP drivers completed two runs, firstly on the prime and then the softer option tyre, to end the session with Jenson in second position and Rubens in fifth place.… Source ...

F1: More Saturday news briefs from Monaco
Grand Prix Live — Lewis Hamilton’s Saturday nightmare went from bad to worse in Monaco, after the Briton crashed out of Q1 despite earlier looking a contender for a front row berth. The Briton was due to start 16th on the grid, but the damage to his McLaren required an unscheduled gearbox change, which pushes him a further five places down the grid to last. - Race director Charlie Whiting warned F1’s drivers on Saturday morning about cutting the Monaco kerbs, and installed observers at key sections including the Nouvelle and Swimming Pool chicanes. Giancarlo Fisichella had… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: Red Bull qualifying report
Grand Prix Live — Car 15, SEBASTIAN VETTEL, Position 4th“As I came out of Rascasse, Nakajima was almost stopped on the circuit and, you know, if you want to get everything right here in qualifying you have to have a clear lap. That wasn’t the case on the last half of my lap when I was stuck in traffic — when that happens you lose downforce and start to slide, so it’s anything but qualifying! It was a shame today as the car was good and we could have done better — but there are 78 laps to go, so let’s see what happens tomorrow.” … Source ...

F1: F1 Group sets revenue per employee mark
Grand Prix Live — F1 Group beats FTSE 100 to top of podium on revenue per employee On the eve of the Monaco Grand Prix, the motor race most synonymous with excess, new research has revealed that, in contrast, Formula One’s commercial rightsholder has a leaner and more productive workforce than any of the top 100 companies in the UK. Research by F1’s industry monitor Formulamoney shows that the 260 employees of the Formula One Group each generate more revenue than those at any company in the FTSE 100. The revenue generated per employee at the F1 Group is an impressive US$$;4.4m (GBP2.2m) over… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: Toro Rosso race report
Grand Prix Live — ONE IN THE POINTS, ONE IN THE WALL Sebastien Bourdais (STR4-01) Pos.8th“It feels good to score points here, at what can be considered my home grand prix as there is no French race. The team worked really hard today. I felt that, again, I hadn’t done a good job in qualifying, so, I can be happy to finish P8, given the small number of incidents today. It’s another point which is important: it’s not enough, but it’s better than nothing! The car performed consistently, especially on the Prime tyre although the balance wasn’t perfect. Then, on the… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: Red Bull race report
Grand Prix Live — NOT ALL PLAIN SAILING ROUND THE HARBOUR Car 14, MARK WEBBER, (Finish Position 5th, Start Position: 8th)“We’re pretty happy with fifth to be honest, to get a few points after a challenging qualifying session is pretty good. There were a few more people that came in on the act this weekend, so for us to still come away with a few points is good for us in the Constructors’ Championship. The guys worked like hell this weekend to fit a lot of new parts so it was important for us to get some points. At other venues we’ll be… Source ...

F1: Brawn hoping to keep Button for 2010
Grand Prix Live — Jenson Button is moving towards signing to remain with Brawn GP beyond 2009, the team’s chief executive said on Sunday. 29-year-old Button agreed to screw up a lucrative long-term contract ahead of this season, that was inked before big-spending Honda decided to pull out of Formula One.“I could have taken the money and run — because it was a lot of money,” the Briton told The Times earlier this week. “But what would be the point? What was I going to do with it?” In its place, Button agreed a single-year deal on a much reduced retainer… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: Toyota race report
Grand Prix Live — Jarno Trulli (Car 9, Chassis TF109-06) Grid: 18th Race Classification: 13th (+1 lap) Pit Stop Laps: 49, 65 Timo Glock (Car 10, Chassis TF109-05) Grid: Started from pit lane Race Classification: 10th (+1 lap) Pit Stop Laps: 57 Panasonic Toyota Racing left the Monaco Grand Prix empty-handed despite a valiant effort from Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock. Following yesterday’s disappointing qualifying session, the team fully expected a challenging race and prepared accordingly. Timo started the race from the pit lane after modifications to the set-up of his TF109 and both began on very heavy fuel loads, using the soft Bridgestone ...

F1: Monaco GP: Renault race report
Grand Prix Live — Fernando Alonso, R2904, P7 1st stint: 28 laps, soft tyres 2nd stint: 38 laps, soft tyres 3rd stint: 12 laps, super-soft tyres Fernando: “It was a hard race and very tight from the beginning, but the car felt good and kept improving during the race. We had a good strategy but here in Monaco the starting position is essential and so starting ninth and gaining two places and two points is a satisfying result. My motivation and the motivation of the team remain very high. We have a lot of new things for the upcoming races and we are confident that the second… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: Brawn GP race report
Grand Prix Live — Brawn GP dominated the Monaco Grand Prix today as Jenson Button led from the front to secure his fifth win of the 2009 Formula One season with team-mate Rubens Barrichello taking second place for the team’s third one-two finish of the year. To cap a fantastic weekend for the team and engine partner Mercedes-Benz, Jenson’s win today was his third victory in a row using his current Mercedes-Benz engine, a record for modern day Formula One. After achieving pole position on Saturday, Jenson led the race from the front with Rubens making an excellent start from third on the grid to take second place from Kimi Raikkonen before the first ...

F1: Monaco GP: BMW Sauber race report
Grand Prix Live — Weather: dry and sunny, 25-26C Air, 40-52C Track Monaco. The BMW Sauber F1 Team leaves Monaco empty handed. Nick Heidfeld finished 11th, while his team mate, Robert Kubica, retired after 29 laps because of brake problems. Nick Heidfeld: 11th BMW Sauber F1.09-06 / BMW P86/9 Fastest lap 1:16.268 min on lap 49 (15th fastest overall)“I tried to make up positions at the start and on the first lap, but this time it just didn’t work out. It is too narrow here. I was stuck behind Adrian (Sutil) for quite a while. Apparently he had… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: Force India race report
Grand Prix Live — Adrian Sutil (car 20, VJM02/01): 14th: 1:41:31.730 (+ 1 lap) Giancarlo Fisichella (car 21, VJM02/04): 9th: 1:41:49.322 (+ 65.040 secs) 24 May 2009 - The Force India Formula One Team enjoyed its most competitive race performance to date in today’s Monaco Grand Prix. Giancarlo Fisichella finished a fighting 9th position, just 1.8secs from eighth and and one point, and the final driver to be on the lead lap at the end of the race. Adrian Sutil passed the flag in 14th place. Giancarlo drove a faultless race to gain four places on his starting… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: McLaren Mercedes race report
Grand Prix Live — LEWIS HAMILTON MP4-24-04 Started: 19th Finished: 12th Fastest lap: 1m15.706s (8th) Pitstops: two (Op-Pr-Pr) Championship points: 9 Championship pos: 9th Starting from 19th on the grid after a precautionary overnight gearbox change, Lewis was always going to struggle to overtake cars around the twisting streets of Monte-Carlo. His early struggle for pace was exacerbated by damage to a front-wing footplate, caused after he tangled with Nick Heidfeld at Ste Devote in the early laps. Stopping early on lap… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: Bridgestone race report
Grand Prix Live — Brawn GP driver Jenson Button used a two stop, super soft - soft - soft tyre strategy to win a fast paced and tactical Monaco Grand Prix in hot and sunny conditions on the streets of Monte Carlo. Button finished 7.6 seconds ahead of team-mate Rubens Barrichello, who used the same tyre strategy. The final podium position went to Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver Kimi Raikkonen who used a soft - soft - super soft tyre strategy for third. His team-mate Felipe Massa used the same strategy to finish fourth, showing a return to form for the reigning constructors’ champions. Massa… Source ...

F1: Williams submits official 2010 entry
Grand Prix Live Racing 2009 - Motorsport Network — Williams on Monday lodged paperwork with F1’s governing body to officially enter the 2010 world championship. Presently, the move is at odds with the other members of the FOTA teams alliance, who as recently as Sunday told Max Mosley in an unanimous letter that they would not be making the May 29 deadline unless the proposed rules are repealed. But the Grove team’s CEO Adam Parr, whose boss Sir Frank Williams signed the Mosley letter in Monaco on Sunday, insisted to the Reuters news agency that it does not mean Williams no longer backs the alliance.… Source ...

F1: Teams tell Mosley to tear up 2010 rules
Grand Prix Live — As night fell in Monaco and teams packed up after Sunday’s Grand Prix, the politics kept racing ahead. FIA president Max Mosley had been highly visible in the paddock, telling reporters that a compromise was near. But at the same time, a letter signed by every team principal was making its way to the 69-year-old Briton, and its command was clear: tear up the proposed 2010 rules or no FOTA member will meet Friday’s deadline for team entries. Earlier, it was suggested that independent teams including McLaren,… Source ...

F1: Haug admits interest in Nico Rosberg
Grand Prix Live — Norbert Haug, Mercedes-Benz’s F1 boss, has admitted interest in seeing his German countryman Nico Rosberg at the wheel of a McLaren. Rosberg, 23, is out of contract at Williams at the end of the season, and - while happy with the Grove team’s progress this year - is openly assessing his options for 2010. With Lewis Hamilton the darling of the works team and under long-term contract, the seat in question is the one currently occupied by Finn Heikki Kovalainen, who joined McLaren last year to replace Fernando Alonso.… Source ...

F1: FIA rejects request for May 29 extension
Grand Prix Live — The Formula One teams have asked for a grace period beyond Friday’s deadline for 2010 entries, Flavio Briatore has revealed.“We asked and we had no luck,” said the Renault boss, also a leading light of the teams’ alliance, FOTA. Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali said before departing Monaco that he is expecting the days of this week to be “very long”, as May 29 and the closing of official team entries for next year looms.“Every year it (the entry deadline) is in November, and this year it is in… Source ...

F1: An analysis of the 2010 F1 regulations
Grand Prix Live — The deadline for teams to submit their application for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship is rapidly approaching, and it’s time to find out what the consequences would be of the new capped and non-capped regulations, and to see what they really mean for a Formula One team. First we will have a closer look at the Cost Cap Regulations; after that we will look at the Sporting and Technical Regulations. All team applications must be entered during the period May 22-29 2009 and must include:… Source ...

F1: Alonso ‘tired’ of F1 midfield
Grand Prix Live — According to the Spanish press, Fernando Alonso is growing weary of life in the Formula One midfield. With every passing day, the signs are growing stronger that the Spaniard will definitely leave Renault - perhaps at the end of this season - to join Ferrari. In multiple press interviews now, the 27-year-old has spoken glowingly about the famous team, and on Sunday said he was “excited” to hear that a poll in an authoritative Italian newspaper showed that the country’s fans want him to occupy a red car in 2010.… Source ...

F1: Four teams want Cosworth power in 2010
Grand Prix Live — Four teams have reportedly paid the necessary deposit to reserve a supply of Cosworth’s customer Formula One engine for 2010. Accompanying the sport’s lower-cost future, the independent British company is set to return to F1 next year at the initiative of the FIA, guaranteeing a low-cost engine amid quit threats of engine makers that are currently involved. Peter Windsor, the British journalist behind the USF1 team, confirmed at Monaco that accompanying a team’s official 2010 entry must be an arrangement for an engine supplier.… Source ...

F1: Williams submits official 2010 entry
Grand Prix Live — Williams on Monday lodged paperwork with F1’s governing body to officially enter the 2010 world championship. Presently, the move is at odds with the other members of the FOTA teams alliance, who as recently as Sunday told Max Mosley in an unanimous letter that they would not be making the May 29 deadline unless the proposed rules are repealed. But the Grove team’s CEO Adam Parr, whose boss Sir Frank Williams signed the Mosley letter in Monaco on Sunday, insisted to the Reuters news agency that it does not mean Williams no longer backs the alliance.… Source ...

F1: Final news briefs from Monaco
Grand Prix Live — F1 drivers campaigned to have a huge billboard depicting an attractive woman removed prior to Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix. The advertisement for Martini stood right in the drivers’ line of sight as they accelerated out of the Loews hairpin and turned right. Race winner Jenson Button admitted to Bild newspaper: “Every time you passed her, it was as though she was looking right at you.” The model, 29-year-old Jessiqa Pace, was in Monaco, laughing at the story but admitting she would have felt “terrible if someone got hurt”.… Source ...

F1: Richards yet to decide on 2010 F1 entry
Grand Prix Live Racing 2009 - Motorsport Network — David Richards says a decision about whether to submit a Formula One team entry for the 2010 world championship by Friday’s deadline is still yet to be taken. The former BAR and Benetton boss is considering running a new budget-capped outfit from next year, possibly with Prodrive, Aston Martin or Middle Eastern branding. He said three months of groundwork including chassis design has already been done, and is now waiting on how the sport’s political situation develops.“Everything depends now on two questions: will the new rules permit us to… Source ...

F1: Vettel to drive old Toro Rosso on Sunday
Grand Prix Live — Sebastian Vettel will on Sunday return to the cockpit of a Toro Rosso. The 21-year-old German moved up from the Faenza based team to its parent outfit Red Bull Racing at the end of last year. But it is for his achievements at the wheel of the Ferrari-powered STR3, including winning the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, for which he is being honoured with the prestigious Lorenzo Bandini trophy. To mark the occasion in style, Vettel will drive the 12 kilometres along the scenic Via Fireze, from the Faenza factory to Bandini’s nearby… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: Ferrari debrief
Grand Prix Live — Raikkonen: “The podium rewards the team” Maranello 26th May 2009 - I wasn’t too happy with the third place at the Monaco GP. For sure it was the best result in the last time, but that was nothing new to me and we knew that we could arrive on a place on the top. When the leaders in the Championship are so far ahead in the classification, in the end it’s only a victory that counts. Being back on the podium is a nice reward for the whole Team. The hard work of the last weeks finally bears some fruit, which is really positive for all of us. We know that we’re… Source ...

F1: FOTA suspends Williams
Grand Prix Live — Williams has been suspended from the Formula One teams’ association. Until now, every team on the grid has been united under the FOTA banner, but on Monday it emerged that the Oxfordshire based team broke ranks and signed up for the 2010 world championship. Despite the looming May 29 deadline, the other teams - led by Ferrari - are for now holding off amid the dispute with the sport’s ruling bodies. After a FOTA meeting in London on Wednesday, Williams revealed in a statement that the other teams decided to “temporarily suspend” the… Source ...

F1: Monaco GP: Williams debrief
Grand Prix Live — Following Thursday’s two practice sessions, the AT&T Williams team again demonstrated competitive pace, but contrary to some commentators’ expectations, carried their form through into the tactically- critical qualifying session on Saturday. Kazuki Nakajima matched his career-best 10th place which made it his first appearance in Q3 this season, and indeed since Singapore last year. Nico Rosberg showed strongly in his first timed laps in final qualifying and, in discussion with his engineers, confirmed that there was more in the car. It was a disappointment to him that traffic in his final pair of… Source ...

F1: Richards yet to decide on 2010 F1 entry
Grand Prix Live — David Richards says a decision about whether to submit a Formula One team entry for the 2010 world championship by Friday’s deadline is still yet to be taken. The former BAR and Benetton boss is considering running a new budget-capped outfit from next year, possibly with Prodrive, Aston Martin or Middle Eastern branding. He said three months of groundwork including chassis design has already been done, and is now waiting on how the sport’s political situation develops.“Everything depends now on two questions: will the new rules permit us to… Source ...

F1: Williams statement on FOTA suspension
Grand Prix Live — FOTA SUSPENDS WILLIAMSF1 FROM WORKING GROUP Oxford, UK. 27 May, 2009. Following Monday’s confirmation that the team has submitted its formal entry for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship, the Formula One Teams Association has today decided temporarily to suspend Williams F1 from membership of FOTA. Frank Williams, Team Principal:“FOTA’s decision, although regrettable, is understandable. However, as a racing team and a company whose only business is Formula One, with obligations to our partners and our employees, submitting our entry to… Source ...

F1: FOTA to meet in London on Wednesday
Grand Prix Live — The F1 teams’ alliance FOTA will meet later on Wednesday, as the May 29 deadline for official 2010 entries looms. We reported on Tuesday that, because the series of get-togethers at Monaco last weekend netted no concrete result, the scene of the next meeting would be London. Williams has already broken ranks and lodged its paperwork to compete next year, and the move - that could lead to fellow independents McLaren, Brawn and Force India following suit - is understood to have angered other FOTA… Source ...

F1: Hungarian GP in doubt beyond 2012
Grand Prix Live — The Hungarian Grand Prix beyond 2012 is in doubt, reports out of the central European country on Wednesday said. The economics and political daily Vilaggazdasag claims the Republic’s government is questioning its commitment to the event, despite the apparent extension of the race deal last year for the period 2012-2016. The newspaper said it has seen material showing that finance and local government ministries no longer support the Grand Prix due to a lack of central funds and the recent weakening of the Hungarian currency.… Source ...

F1: Briatore also derides new F1 entrants
Grand Prix Live — After Ferrari derided next year’s prospective entry list as turning F1 into ‘Formula GP3′, Flavio Briatore has followed suit. The Renault boss says the sport risks watering down its prestige and value by opening the door to outfits worthy of junior categories.“We are devaluing Formula One,” Italian Briatore is quoted as saying in Spain’s El Mundo newspaper. “It is not correct that teams of GP2 race with us; it brings down our image and our technology.” The 59-year-old also rejected claims that making it easy for new teams to… Source ...

F1: Toro Rosso’s Ascanelli in demand
Grand Prix Live — Toro Rosso may be facing competition to keep its technical director Giorgio Ascanelli. The Italian has had an illustrious Formula One career, initially as a race engineer with Ferrari, Benetton and McLaren, and famously behind some of Ayrton Senna’s most memorable Grand Prix wins for the latter team. Now as a leading technical boss, he is in demand, receiving offers from many current teams including Ferrari, Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport claims. Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost commented: “We have a contract with… Source ...

F1: Boss says Williams move not political
Grand Prix Live — Team chief executive Adam Parr insists Williams’ decision to sign up for the 2010 world championship was not politically motivated. The move this week led to the former champions’ suspension from the Formula One teams association FOTA, whose previously total unity has therefore been weakened. At the same time, questions about Parr’s personal friendship with FIA president Max Mosley, also a former barrister, have been raised.“There is no agenda on the part of Williams,” he insisted to the Daily… Source ...

F1: Google may enter F1 as sponsor
Grand Prix Live — The famous internet brand Google could soon be seen on the painted carbon bodywork of a Formula One car. The company’s co-founder Larry Page, one of the world’s richest billionaires, was a guest of McLaren title sponsor Vodafone at last weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix. Interestingly, the 36-year-old American is a friend of Sir Richard Branson, the British billionaire who has been considering ramping up his Virgin backing of the dominant Brawn team. Page was married on Branson’s own Caribbean island, and the pair have also… Source ...

F1: Indy GP revival prospects dwindle
Grand Prix Live — The prospect of Indianapolis returning to stage a United States Grand Prix in future dwindled yet further this week. Tony George, CEO of the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway that hosted the Formula One race between 2000 and 2007, is on the verge of being ousted, American media reports claim. George is credited with bringing F1 back to the US on a novel road course inside the fabled Indy 500 oval, and until recently was keen on penning a new race promotion deal with Bernie Ecclestone. Contrary to reports, the 49-year-old survived a board meeting on Tuesday,… Source ...

F1: Locals complain after Renault testing
Grand Prix Live — Local residents have complained about the noise of Renault’s recent straight-line testing near the Cambridgeshire village of Duxford (UK). Recently, the French team conducted two days of running, including on Wednesday this week, at the site of the Imperial War Museum. The Cambridge News said a local councillor has arranged to meet with the venue’s boss to discuss noise concerns next week.“I have some sympathy with people about the noise,” said team manager Steve Nielsen. “We have eight of these days a year and three of them have… Source ...

F1: Glock admits fears for Toyota future
Grand Prix Live — Timo Glock has acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the future in Formula One of his employer Toyota. Prior to the start of the 2009 season, officials of the Cologne based outfit made clear the ultimatum that without a maiden win this year, Toyota’s future on the grid was dire. Moreover, Toyota is currently among the hard-liners of the FOTA alliance, and until now has staunchly refused to accept any compromise that would result in a budget cap descending on the sport. At the same time, speculation persists that Tokyo executives have already… Source ...

F1: Briatore could buy Renault team - reports
Grand Prix Live — Flavio Briatore could buy Renault’s Formula One team and continue to run it in 2010 and beyond, according to media reports. The reports, in Italy’s Autosprint and also carried by the Dutch publication Formule 1 Race Report, tie in with persistent rumours that the French carmaker is contemplating pulling out of the sport at the end of this season. It is suggested that, amid the slump in new car sales, three seasons of average race results, the expiring contract of title sponsor ING, and the likely departure of Fernando Alonso, Renault - already threatening to quit… Source ...

F1: Massa eyes F1 record at next GP
Grand Prix Live — Felipe Massa could join an exclusive club of very illustrious talent if he manages to win next weekend’s Turkish Grand Prix. With the exception of the inaugural Istanbul event in 2005, the Brazilian driver has won every Turkish Grand Prix. Only four other drivers in the history of Formula One - Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Graham Hill and Michael Schumacher - have won four successive races at the same venue. The dominance of the Brawn team and Jenson Button is likely to be a spanner in the works of Massa’s hopes, but Ferrari’s flagging form took a big… Source ...

F1: More current teams set for FOTA split
Grand Prix Live — Without a rapid solution to the teams’ FIA standoff, Force India and Brawn will be the next current teams to imminently sign up for the 2010 world championship. It is now believed that the crisis is indeed nearly over, after at a Heathrow meeting on Wednesday, the FOTA alliance apparently agreed a compromise that is likely to be accepted by Max Mosley. But with Friday still looming as the deadline for next year’s entries, any further delays will result in Brawn and Force India - who like Williams see… Source ...

F1: Turkish GP: McLaren Mercedes preview
Grand Prix Live — Lewis Hamilton“I love racing in Turkey: it’s a real challenge because you need to attack the lap to get a good time, but you also need to be careful with your tyres — if you push too much, particularly through Turn Eight, then your tyres are going to suffer. It’s all about finding the perfect balance in practice and being disciplined in the race so you don’t overdo it. I also love the fact that it’s a new circuit that has really captured the flavour of some of the older, classic tracks — it’s got a bit of everything and… Source ...

F1: French PM vows to revive Grand Prix
Grand Prix Live — French prime minister Francois Fillon has vowed the government’s support in reinstating the country’s Formula One race. After the demise of the Magny Cours event, and also the alternative Disneyland Paris project, Alain Prost said last week that the latest Flins-Les-Mureaux foray had also hit “political problems”.“I cannot believe that we do not have a Grand Prix of France,” prime minister Francois Fillon, born in Le Mans and a keen motor racing enthusiast, told Europe 1 radio. He promises that the “government will do everything so that there is a… Source ...

F1: Turkish GP: BMW Sauber preview
Grand Prix Live — Munich/Hinwil, 29th May 2009. The work continues and there’s no time for licking our wounds. After the disappointing result in Monaco, the BMW Sauber F1 Team will be turning up on the grid for the Turkish Grand Prix with a batch of further developments for the F1.09. An initial aero update sparked a forward trend at the fifth Grand Prix in Spain, but didn’t bear fruit under the specific demands of the Monaco circuit. Meanwhile, the next package of innovations is in place for World Championship race number seven on the modern high-… Source ...

F1: Fuji to give up Japanese GP - report
Grand Prix Live — Owners Toyota have decided to no longer host the Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji Speedway, the Asahi newspaper reported on Friday. The circuit, located in the foothills of Mount Fuji west of Tokyo, hosted the country’s 2007 and 2008 F1 races, and was due to return to the calendar in 2010. This year, an annual alternating scheme with Suzuka commences. The Asahi Shimbun said Toyota’s decision was based on the need to cut costs, amid speculation the Japanese carmaker may not lodge an entry on Friday to enter its Cologne based team in the 2010 world championship.… Source ...

F1: Ferrari leads group Formula One sign-up
Grand Prix Live — The deadline arrived. The teams complied. Kind of. Nine teams currently contesting the International Automobile Federation (FIA) Formula One Championship signed up “conditionally” Friday for the 2010 season. Friday was the deadline set by the FIA, which sanctions the sport. Ferrari, Toyota, BMW Sauber, Brawn GP, Force India, Renault, McLaren Mercedes and Red Bull Racing, which comprises Red Bull and Scuderia Toro Rosso, agreed to join if they can operate on 2009 technical regulations. The nine teams were unified as Formula One Teams Association (FOTA),… Source ...

F1: FOTA teams to lodge 2010 entries by deadline
Grand Prix Live — The remaining Formula One teams, with the possible exception of Toyota, are expected to lodge their official entries for the 2010 world championship on Friday. The registration period closes at 11.59pm on Friday night, but Ferrari, McLaren, BMW, Renault, Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Brawn and Force India are expected to deliver the paperwork to the FIA in a block FOTA package several hours earlier. The news comes in the wake of multiple sources reporting that the standoff between the teams’ association and the sport’s ruling bodies is now over,… Source ...

F1: FOTA teams lodge ‘conditional’ 2010 entries
Grand Prix Live — The nine FOTA teams on Friday said their entries to contest the 2010 world championship are “conditional”. Five new teams, and suspended FOTA team Williams, have already met the FIA’s midnight deadline. Attached to the block entries by Ferrari, Toyota, McLaren, BMW, Renault, Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Brawn and Force India, however, is the stipulation that the sport’s governing body tear up its published 2010 rules and revert to this year’s regulations “amended in accordance with proposals… submitted to the FIA”.… Source ...

F1: Turkish GP: Red Bull preview
Grand Prix Live — CAN RED BULL RACING COOK UP A TREAT IN TURKEY? Christian Horner, Team Principal:“In Istanbul, the RB5 will essentially be in the same specification as in Monaco, with a few minor aero updates. Istanbul Park is a fast and flowing track with the particularly challenging Turn 8 and a relatively slow final section - it therefore has some similarities to Barcelona.“This is an important race in the Championship and our target is to challenge the Brawns who have had a remarkable run so far. It was also clear at the last two races that Ferrari… Source ...

F1: David Richards set for 2010 F1 entry
Grand Prix Live — David Richards’ Banbury-based outfit is set to make its Formula One debut next year. The team, expected to link up technically with McLaren-Mercedes, will initially enter the world championship as Prodrive, before becoming Aston Martin by 2012. It is believed Richards, formerly team boss at Benetton and BAR, committed to lodging his official paperwork by Friday’s deadline after discussions with Bernie Ecclestone that lasted until late Wednesday night. It was on Wednesday that the FIA rules finally became clear (pending… Source ...

F1: Three more teams lodge 2010 entries
Grand Prix Live — F1’s potential entry list for 2010 swelled to five names on Friday, even if nine of the current teams are yet to lodge their paperwork by the midnight deadline. USF1, Campos and former champions Williams had submitted their entries prior to May 29, which is the last day of the FIA’s one-week registration window for next year. By mid afternoon on Friday, three more teams - all new ones - confirmed they have signed up: Lola, Prodrive and British F3 outfit Litespeed, whose bid is supported by the well-known engineer Mike Gascoyne.… Source ...

F1: Webber hopes for breakthrough wins in 2009
Grand Prix Live — Mark Webber is certain he will record his breakthrough Grand Prix victory in 2009. The 32-year-old Australian is only 3.5 points behind his highly rated young teammate Sebastian Vettel, who after winning the Chinese Grand Prix last month was named as perhaps Jenson Button’s most serious threat for the 2009 title.“I really do think I’ll win a Grand Prix this year and hopefully more than one because for the first time in my career, I think I’ve the chance to do that,” Webber said. But while Vettel, 21, has won twice in his short career spanning just 32… Source ...

F1: FOTA teams not accepting budget caps
Grand Prix Live — Some observers saw Friday as an easing of hostilities, but in truth dissident teams are no closer to accepting plans for budget capping in Formula One. Stefano Domenicali, team boss of the sport’s longest serving and most influential and important competitor Ferrari, clarified on Saturday that FOTA is “absolutely not” willing to accept Max Mosley’s budget cap concept. With the exception of suspended member Williams, all the existing F1 teams on Friday lodged entries for next year’s world championship.… Source ...

F1: Did Friday bring peace to F1?
Grand Prix Live — The fact that nine FOTA teams lodged conditional 2010 entries was hailed by some as the end of hostilities with F1’s ruling bodies. But the crux of the fight was always Max Mosley’s budget cap, and though FOTA did meet the championship entry deadline, its statement made no mention of the controversial cost-limiting mechanism. Later in a press interview, Toyota team president and FOTA vice-chairman John Howett confirmed that a budget cap is indeed still not on the agenda, even in 2011. Sources, however, were suggesting that FOTA’s promise of “significant” … Source ...

F1: Formula One: Rien ne va plus
Grand Prix Live — Home Paddock Babes Racing Circuits Racing Calendars Formula 1 MotoGP Calendar 2009 Championship standings MotoGP Championship standings Racing TV Racing Jobs Valentino Rossi [image] F1 & GP2 Formula 1 F1 Championship F1 Qualifying Times F1 Race Results Motorcycle MotoGP MotoGP Race Results Categorized | Formula 1 F1: Formula One: Rien ne va plus Posted on 02 June 2009 Rien ne va plus No further bets please, teams and wannabe teams can no longer submit their entry for the FIA ...

F1: Turkish GP: Williams technical preview
Grand Prix Live — Talking technical Car dynamics Average turn angle indicates the average angle of a circuit’s corners expressed in degrees. The higher the average turn angle, the more acute the corners in the circuit’s configuration and the greater propensity for understeer to compromise lap time. At Istanbul Park, the average turn angle is 1340, against a season average of 1100, ranking it as the circuit with the 3rd highest average turn angle across the Championship. The end of straight (EOS) speed at Istanbul Park was 314kp/h in 2008.… Source ...

F1: Raikkonen to do more rallies in 2009
Grand Prix Live — Jun.1 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen’s affair with the world of professional rallying is not over for this year, his co-driver has revealed. After two outings in the winter, the Ferrari driver crashed out of his latest foray last weekend in the Rally della Marca, again at the wheel of his own Fiat Abarthe Grande Punto. But Kaj Lindstrom, who also famously sat alongside multiple world rally champion Tommi Makinen’s career, told wrc.com that the 29-year-old Finn’s impact with a stone wall was triggered by a handling problem due to a… Source ...

F1: Turkish GP: Williams preview
Grand Prix Live — Turkey’s Hot Topics Could it possibly be cooler in Turkey than at home in the UK this weekend? How long will the longest journey to the track be? Will Jenson make it six out of seven? Istanbul Park in a nutshell This relatively new addition to the Formula One calendar, it staged its first race in 2005, was greeted as an instant classic. Turn Eight, a long, fast left-hander, is adored by drivers who regard it as one of the season’s most testing corners. It generates more friction energy than anywhere else… Source ...

F1: Raikkonen crashes out of tarmac rally
Grand Prix Live — Jun.1 (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen at the weekend crashed out of his latest foray into the world of professional rallying. The Ferrari driver, having entered two rounds of the Finnish rally championship in the winter, entered the same Tommi Makinen-prepared Fiat Abarthe Grande Punto into the Rally della Marca. But on the third stage (SS3) of the event in northern Italy’s Treviso region, while running 8th in his category, he crashed and struck a rock verge, terminally damaging the right rear corner of his white car.… Source ...

F1: Turkish GP: Renault technical preview
Grand Prix Live — Istanbul: Tech File The purpose-built anti-clockwise circuit on the outskirts of Istanbul offers a mix of challenging low and high-speed corners and has already established its position as a firm favourite with the drivers. Overtaking is difficult, especially in the first half of the lap, but the long back straight leading into the tight hairpin of turn 12 offers the ideal opportunity for a lunge under braking. Combine this with the challenge of turn 8, which is one of the most demanding of the year, and you have all… Source ...

F1: Two more new teams filed 2010 entries
Grand Prix Live — Jun.1 (GMM) Two more prospective small entrants are reported to have signed up to compete in next year’s Formula One world championship. While nine of the current teams lodged only conditional entries before last Friday’s deadline, former champions Williams as well as new entrants USF1, Campos, Lola, Prodrive and Litespeed confirmed the filing of their official paperwork. At the weekend, it then emerged that the veteran of nearly 70 grands prix Alex Wurz is bidding to run a team next year, to be called Team Superfund… Source ...

F1: Turkish GP: Toro Racing preview
Grand Prix Live — WILL IT BE A MAGIC CARPET RIDE IN ISTANBUL? Sebastien Bourdais: “The Monaco weekend went pretty well, bringing home a point, which is always good for morale, especially at such a prestigious race. It was a good race and I hope we can continue to move forward with this momentum, starting in Turkey. We have begun to get a better understanding of what we are doing with this car, which should allow us to get more performance out of it now. In Istanbul, we will run the car in a way which we hope will provide the key to a good step forward in… Source ...

F1: Turkish GP: Renault preview
Grand Prix Live — The ING Renault F1 Team looks forward to round seven of the season, the Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul Park. Fernando Alonso: “It’s important that we score points at every race” Fernando, you picked up a couple points in Monaco — tell us about your race? It was a tough race, just as it always is in Monaco and very demanding mentally. Starting ninth made it difficult to do much in the race and even with a good strategy we only managed to make up a couple of positions as the traffic did not work out well for us. To score two… Source ...

F1: Turkish GP: Massa revels in Turkish Delight
Grand Prix Live — MASSA - REVELLING IN TURKISH DELIGHT With such a track record of victories at circuits that suit his driving style, Scuderia Ferrari driver Felipe Massa speaks of his confidence ahead of the Turkish Grand Prix. Massa also talks about his chances at the season finale in Abu Dhabi - a circuit layout that already excites the Brazilian. In a recent in-depth interview with shell.com/ferrari, Felipe Massa said:“I love quick tracks like Spa and Turkey; everyone loves tracks where they have been successful.” Following a difficult start to the season, Felipe… Source ...

F1: Turkish GP: Ferrari preview
Grand Prix Live — Turkish GP - A return to the team’s planned development programme Maranello, 2nd June 2009 - Going into the seventh round of the world championship, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro is in fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship, a long way behind the leading team. Nevertheless, the Scuderia arrives in Istanbul in optimistic mood, based on strong showings in the last two rounds in Barcelona and Monaco and the fact that it has a fantastic track record at the Istanbul Park circuit. As of this race, the F60s driven by Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa will… Source ...

F1: Iconic names bid for 2010 F1 return
Grand Prix Live — Jun.3 (GMM) Two iconic names are bidding to return to Formula One’s front line in 2010. It has emerged that March, founded in 1969 by a group involving Max Mosley, and also Brabham, originally headed by triple world champion Sir Jack Brabham, have been named in official entries for budget-capped teams. The internet publication ESPN Racing-Live has sighted a fax sent by the FIA, confirming that March’s new owner Andrew Fitton lodged its entry paperwork by the deadline last Friday. Moreover, a source close to March Racing Organisation, which is not… Source ...

F1: Turkish GP: Brawn GP preview
Grand Prix Live — Round seven of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship takes Brawn GP to Istanbul Park for the Turkish Grand Prix. Located 90kms from the Turkish capital and on the Asian side of the Bosphorus channel, the Istanbul Park circuit was designed by renowned Formula One architect Hermann Tilke and hosted its first Grand Prix in 2005. The 5.338km track, one of only two anti-clockwise laps on this year’s calendar, is technically challenging and physically demanding. A well-balanced car is essential around the 14-turn circuit which is… Source ...

F1: F1 aces to play before endangered Turkey GP
Grand Prix Live — Jun.3 (GMM) The F1 drivers’ football team will be back in action on Wednesday, at Istanbul’s Ali Sami Yen stadium. The Nazionale Piloti will be raising money for children’s charities by taking on a Turkish all-star team. In action will be Grand Prix racers including Fernando Alonso, Nico Rosberg, Felipe Massa, Sebastian Vettel, Giancarlo Fisichella, Jarno Trulli and Sebastien Bourdais. At a press conference on Monday, organisers said they are expecting a big crowd at the 24,000-capacity ground, but the same cannot be said for the… Source ...

F1: Turkish GP: Force India preview
Grand Prix Live — The Turkish Grand Prix, held at the Istanbul Park circuit from 5 - 7 June, will be the seventh event on the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar. The Force India Formula One Team travels to this next event in Istanbul fresh from its best-ever race weekend performance at the last round in Monaco. Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil put both VJM02 cars through to Q2 for the first time and consolidated the result with a solid finish. Giancarlo was less than two seconds from scoring Force India’s first points in the race while Adrian came home in… Source ...

F1: Kubica bitter after missed title chance
Grand Prix Live — Jun.3 (GMM) Robert Kubica is now bitterer than ever about his missed opportunity to win the 2008 world championship. The Pole was in the running for last year’s title until late in the season, when he mysteriously fell off the pace after declaring that BMW-Sauber had instead decided to focus on its 2009 campaign. But the failure of the Hinwil team’s current title bid was starkly demonstrated last time out at Monaco, when Kubica and his teammate Nick Heidfeld qualified a dire eighteenth and seventeenth respectively.… Source ...

F1: Turkish GP: Toyota preview
Grand Prix Live — History: The Turkish Grand Prix has been held four times since its debut on the Formula 1 calendar in 2005, all of these races being at Istanbul Park. Panasonic Toyota Racing heads beyond the eastern boundary of Europe this weekend for the Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul Park on the outskirts of the historic city. The modern 14-turn circuit, located on the Asian side of Istanbul, includes the triple-apex Turn 8, which challenges car and tyres alike. This weekend the team will be using the same soft and hard compound Bridgestone Potenza tyres as in Malaysia, although this combination has yet to be raced this season due to the Sunday ...

F1: Turkish GP: Felipe Massa
Grand Prix Live — Massa: “I have a very good record in Istanbul” Maranello, 2nd June 2009 - It’s nice to be able to have something really positive to say for the first time this season and finishing third and fourth in the Monaco Grand Prix and setting the race fastest lap are two excellent reasons to be positive. Sure, at Ferrari we are used to not settling for anything less than a win, but given where we were at the start of the season, there is now a good reason to be optimistic for the next few races. The car had definitely made another step forward in between Spain and… Source ...

F1: Mercedes ready to help new F1 teams
Grand Prix Live — Jun.2 (GMM) McLaren and Mercedes would be ready to technically assist new Formula One entrants, Norbert Haug said on Tuesday. With prospective new cost-limiting rules aimed at bringing up to three new teams onto the 2010 grid, Mercedes’ Haug also suggested that chassis partner McLaren may be willing to help.“If the appropriate regulations are in place, then definitely we are ready to assist, but it must be clear that Formula One is not a charity,” the German said. When Prodrive intended entering F1 in 2008, a deal was in place for a full… Source ...

F1: Fans asked to choose venue for Polish GP
Grand Prix Live — Jun.3 (GMM) Poland could be among the next names to feature on future Formula One calendars. The electronics firm LG, a global sponsor of the world championship, is backing a campaign in the central European country to select a location for an inaugural Polish Grand Prix. Polish fans, whose numbers have grown enormously since the debut of Poland’s first F1 driver Robert Kubica in mid 2006, are being asked to select between the locations Warsaw, Krakow, Breslau and Gdynia for a circuit. Votes will be accepted until August, when one of the four locations will be… Source ...

F1: Mosley told teams to lodge conditional entries
Grand Prix Live Racing 2009 - Motorsport Network — Jun.4 (GMM) Mario Theissen on Thursday said the F1 crisis remains“critical”, but another interesting detail emerged during his meeting with the press at Istanbul Park. While the FOTA teams insist they will not accept the announced 2010 rules, and Max Mosley insists the FIA must write the regulations, BMW chief Theissen was asked about the ‘conditional entries’ lodged by the deadline last Friday.“The term ‘conditional entry’ came from Mosley,” the German is quoted as saying by the SID news agency.… Source ...

F1: Heidfeld concerned about F1’s future
Grand Prix Live — Jun.4 (GMM) In the wet paddock of the Istanbul Park, it was clear that F1’s grim politics - not the weather - would again be the main talking point of the weekend’s events. The biggest fear, as admitted by the German driver Nick Heidfeld, is that the current teams will carry through their threats to quit the sport, leaving the door open to a grid of unfamiliar names.“If it’s going to be something like formula 3, it would not necessary be a place you would want to stay,” the BMW-Sauber driver, out of contract at… Source ...

F1: Mosley told teams to lodge conditional entries
Grand Prix Live — Jun.4 (GMM) Mario Theissen on Thursday said the F1 crisis remains“critical”, but another interesting detail emerged during his meeting with the press at Istanbul Park. While the FOTA teams insist they will not accept the announced 2010 rules, and Max Mosley insists the FIA must write the regulations, BMW chief Theissen was asked about the ‘conditional entries’ lodged by the deadline last Friday.“The term ‘conditional entry’ came from Mosley,” the German is quoted as saying by the SID news agency.… Source ...

F1: Brabham family considering legal action over F1 bid
Grand Prix Live — Jun.4 (GMM) Sir Jack Brabham and his family have left open the door to legal action after it emerged that a company aims to take their famous surname back to the Formula One grid in 2010. Following media reports, it was confirmed officially on Thursday that a German automotive supply company, Formtech, now controls the Brabham Grand Prix Ltd moniker and has filed an official team entry for next year. Former triple world champion Brabham, an Australian who is now 83, founded the outfit in 1960 and it later raced under Bernie Ecclestone’s… Source ...

F1: Rosberg admits looking around for new team
Grand Prix Live — Jun.4 (GMM) Nico Rosberg on Thursday admitted he is actively contemplating his alternatives to simply staying at Williams in 2010. Sixty races ago, the 23-year-old German commenced his Formula One career with the famous British team, but his current contract expires at the end of the season.“I’m looking around because my contract ends at the end of this year,” he told reporters in Istanbul. Days ago, Mercedes’ F1 boss Norbert Haug played down reports he is openly hinting at a McLaren seat for Rosberg in 2010.… Source ...

F1: Villeneuve laments no ‘hate’ in today’s F1
Grand Prix Live — Jun.4 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve has nominated his favourites of F1’s latest generation.“The problem with Formula One is that there are no more warriors,” the 1997 world champion, who admits he would jump at the chance to return to the grid, said in an interview with Germany’s Sport Bild.“Alonso is one (a warrior), but who else is there? These days no-one says anything unless a PR person has told them they are allowed to. There are no more fights.“I realised it last year, when Massa was fighting Hamilton for the title;… Source ...

F1: F1 crisis still ‘very critical’ - Theissen
Grand Prix Live — Jun.4 (GMM) Mario Theissen on Thursday insisted the political situation in the sport is still “very critical”. FIA president Max Mosley is engaged in an intense standoff with nine of the current teams, but after meetings two weeks ago many players departed Monaco admitting optimism. But BMW motor sport director Theissen, whose Hinwil based outfit is not yet unconditionally signed up for 2010, said in Istanbul that nothing significant has developed since Monaco. The situation is likely to escalate further on June 12, when presumably the… Source ...

F1: Heidfeld uncertain about future, no KERS in Turkey
Grand Prix Live — Jun.4 (GMM) Nick Heidfeld on Thursday admitted his future in Formula One is currently insecure. In his tenth season on the grid, the 32-year-old is still yet to achieve his maiden victory, while his team BMW-Sauber flounders in its 2009 championship effort. German Heidfeld confirmed at the Istanbul circuit ahead of the Turkish Grand Prix that he does not currently have an assured contract for 2010.“As always, at the appropriate time I will consider the relevant options that promise the most success in the future,” he is quoted as saying by… Source ...

F1: Ferrari needs ‘an Alonso’ - Minardi
Grand Prix Live — Jun.4 (GMM) Ferrari needs a more consistent and technical driver, in the form of Fernando Alonso, according to Gian Carlo Minardi. Minardi, who recommended the then rookie Spaniard to Paul Stoddart as the Australian took over his Faenza based team at the end of 2000, believes the former double world champion would do better not only than the Scuderia’s Kimi Raikkonen, but also 2008 runner-up Felipe Massa.“Ferrari needs a driver like Alonso to rise again, although I must admit that Raikkonen had a good weekend in Monaco,” Minardi, 61, said.… Source ...

F1: New F1 steward to debut in Turkey
Grand Prix Live — Jun.4 (GMM) A new Formula One steward will make his debut at this weekend’s Turkish Grand Prix. It has emerged that Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the United Arab Emirates’ automobile club president and FIA vice president for sport, will be one of the three officials on duty at the Istanbul Park circuit. He is the first Arab to fulfil the stewarding role, and will reprise the task later this season in Hungary.“This is a new responsibility and something that cannot be taken lightly,” said Ben Sulayem, who in April crashed Renault’s Formula One… Source ...

F1: Turkish GP: Ferrari Friday practice report
Grand Prix Live — First Session F. Massa: 5th 1.29.342 22 laps 276 chassis K. Raikkonen: 7th 1.29.398 25 laps 279 chassis Second Session F. Massa: 11th 1.29.416 38 laps 276 chassis K. Raikkonen: 15th 1.29.520 33 laps 279 chassis Weather First session: air 22/23 C, track 30/34 C, sunny. Second session: air 25 C, track 41/37 C, sunny then partially cloudy. The lesson from the first day of practice for the Turkish Grand Prix is that everyone is closely matched, given that the first sixteen in the second… Source ...

F1: Turkish GP: BMW Sauber Friday practice report
Grand Prix Live — Weather: dry, partly cloudy, 23-27C Air, 31-45C Track Istanbul (TR). The BMW Sauber F1 Team runs a new aero package including a double diffuser in Istanbul. Due to the Formula One test ban the team had to run a packed programme during the two 90 minute practice sessions on Friday. Robert Kubica: BMW Sauber F1.09-03 / BMW P86/9 1st Free Practice: 16th, 1:30.645 min / 2nd Free Practice: 3rd, 1:29.056 min“Today we worked on the set-up of the car and tried to understand the two tyre… Source ...

F1: Force India faces FOTA expulsion
Grand Prix Live — Despite earlier denying the reports, Force India has now confirmed officially that it has lodged an unconditional entry to contest the 2010 world championship. Toyota’s John Howett, the vice-chairman of the F1 teams’ alliance FOTA, said the action is likely to result in the Silverstone based team following Williams into suspension from the body. It means that only eight out of F1’s current ten teams are still threatening to sit out next year over the budget cap dispute with the FIA.“While the Force India team is broadly in agreement with the FOTA… Source ...

F1: FOTA, FIA skirmish flares anew
Grand Prix Live — Categorized | Formula 1 F1: FOTA, FIA skirmish flares anew Posted on 06 June 2009 Do you really want to read this?… Source F1: Turkish GP: BMW Sauber Friday practice report Leave a Reply Click here to cancel reply. You must be logged in to post a comment. [image] [image] Popular Latest Comments Tags Subscribe Bahrain Grand Prix – Race result Steering wheels pictures of Formula 1 cars Jenson Button claimed pole for the Australian Grand Prix FIA Friday press conference - Australia 250 bahrain barbera button china ...

F1: Turkish GP: McLaren Mercedes Friday practice report
Grand Prix Live — HEIKKI KOVALAINEN MP4-24-03 P1 programme 20 laps 1m29.590s (10th) Evaluating the latest series of aero modifications (additions to the front wing and the rear floor), Heikki started the programme on a set of Options (after his initial set of Primes were removed with a loose valve). He completed two runs (five laps/1m31.076s best and two laps/1m31.686s) before switching to a set of Primes to carry out a four lap run at the end of the session (1m29.263s best). The morning was largely spent refining the balance as Heikki felt the set-up required… Source ...

F1: Turkish GP: Toro Rosso Friday practice report
Grand Prix Live — Sebastien Bourdais (STR4-01)“A tough day and I wish we could have been a bit higher up the order. We are not such a long way off, but there is a little bit missing to put us in the fight. I know that tomorrow will be better, but today we struggled to get the tyres working properly. Usually, the soft is quite a bit better, but today it didn’t bring anything and it was harder to drive with it. In terms of balance it seems like a 50-50 split between oversteer and understeer, but the main problem is lack of grip. Now we… Source ...

F1: Renault decides against KERS for Turkey
Grand Prix Live — Renault has decided against reintroducing its KERS system for this weekend’s Turkish Grand Prix. Having dropped the controversial energy re-use and power boost technology for Barcelona and Monaco, team engineering boss Pat Symonds said that decision would be “reassessed” ahead of Istanbul. Unlike Monaco, where even getting the engine’s normal power down around the twisting curves is difficult, the Turkish layout features three long straights. Some calculations predict that at Istanbul, KERS-equipped cars could wield… Source ...

F1: Turkish GP: Force India Friday practice report
Grand Prix Live — Adrian Sutil (car 20, VJM02/01): FP1: 12th 1:29.864 (22 laps) FP2: 17th 1:30.081 (33 laps) Giancarlo Fisichella (car 21, VJM02/04): FP1: 18th 1:30.729 (22 laps) FP2: 18th 1:30.091 (38 laps) The Force India Formula One Team’s preparations for Sunday’s Turkish Grand Prix got underway today at the Istanbul Park Circuit, as Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella participated in the two opening free practice sessions. With the track seldom used for racing activities over the course of the… Source ...

F1: New entrants just ’shell companies’ - Briatore
Grand Prix Live — Flavio Briatore on Friday dismissed small teams vying for budget-capped spots on next year’s Formula One grid as “shell companies”. In Istanbul, the Renault boss as well as colleagues Stefano Domenicali (Ferrari) and Toyota’s John Howett denied suggestions the teams’ association FOTA is aggressively and selfishly trying to prevent newcomers from entering the sport. But Briatore, in the mist of attempting to replace the departing title sponsor ING, expressed frustration that the political situation is being… Source ...

F1: Turkish GP: Renault Friday practice report
Grand Prix Live — Fernando Alonso, R2904 Free practice 1: 24 laps, 1:29.422 on lap 21, P8 Run 1: 7 laps, new hard tyres Run 2: 7 laps, same set of hard tyres, change to anti-roll bar and front wing Run 3: 8 laps, same set of hard tyres, change to front wing Free Practice 2: 35 laps, 1:28.847 on lap 33, P2 Run 1: 5 laps, set of new hard tyres, change to gear box ratios Run 2: 7 laps, same set of hard tyres, change to front wing Run 3: 7 laps, same set of hard tyres, change to front wing Run 4: 9 laps, new soft tyres… Source ...

F1: Boycott threat dropped before Turkey GP
Grand Prix Live Racing 2009 - Motorsport Network — In the run to Sunday’s Turkish Grand Prix, a rumour swept through the Istanbul paddock that the eight FOTA teams intended to boycott the race over the conflict with the governing body. If confirmed, the situation would have left just Williams’ Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima, and Force India’s Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella, on the grid. The four drivers were the only ones not invited to a meeting with the FOTA teams in the Toyota motor home on Sunday morning, after which it was believed that the 16 drivers would from now on be fully supportive of their… Source ...

F1: Team Lotus set for F1 return with Litespeed
Grand Prix Live — Even without current grandees like Ferrari and McLaren, Formula One could potentially have yet another famous name on the 2010 grid. After entrants bearing the names March and Brabham - despite having no connection with their founders - lodged paperwork for next year’s budget-capped championship, it has now emerged that F3 team Litespeed intends to race under the famed Team Lotus branding. Litespeed’s chiefs Nino Judge and Steve Kenchington worked with the English marque in Formula One; Judge in aerodynamics and structure testing… Source ...

F1: Theissen wants Friday practice for testers
Grand Prix Live — Mario Theissen intends to propose that Friday morning practice in future be reserved for reserve and test drivers. The BMW-Sauber team boss laments that a side effect of the almost total ban on testing has resulted in the near-death of the role as a dedicated‘third’ driver.“It was overlooked,” the German is quoted as telling the New York Times, referring to the fact that it is still a requirement for teams to have on standby a driver able to replace at short notice their nominated race drivers.… Source ...

F1: Hamilton drops guard in Turkish despair
Grand Prix Live — After falling at the first of qualifying’s three hurdles in Turkey, reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton then dropped his guard with the world’s media. Until recently the McLaren driver, embroiled in the ‘lie-gate’ saga, was operating under a press gag, but on Saturday the floodgates truly opened as - just two weeks from perhaps his last home Grand Prix at Silverstone - he contemplated starting the Istanbul race from a lowly 16th. TV pundit Eddie Jordan had told the BBC that the MP4-24 was “possibly the… Source ...

F1: Turkish GP: Red Bull qualifying report
Grand Prix Live — Car 15, SEBASTIAN VETTEL, POLE POSITION: “We have a good car here and a good chance for the race. I expected to face more difficulties in qualifying today, I mean it wasn’t easy, but we made it to pole. We now have the best position to start from and it’s definitely an advantage to be on the clean side of the track in terms of grip level. This is just the half-way point though, the main task comes tomorrow. It’s a long race here, very tough and very hot so it won’t be easy for the cars or the drivers — but it should be exciting.… Source ...

F1: FOTA guarantees unity with $$;50m pledge
Grand Prix Live — With Williams and Force India on the outer after filing unconditional FIA paperwork, the F1 teams’ alliance FOTA has moved to ensure its unity is not further eroded. Martin Brundle, a former driver and now an expert broadcaster for British TV, wrote in his column for the Sunday Times that the manufacturers face a crippling penalty if they break ranks and pledge to the 2010 world championship before a block compromise is brokered.“Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Renault and BMW have signed a $$;50m bond… Source ...

F1: Unstoppable Button stretches lead in Turkey
Grand Prix Live — Jenson Button’s charge to the 2009 world championship continued in style on Sunday, as pretenders Sebastian Vettel and Rubens Barrichello mounted flawed challenges at Istanbul. The Brawn driver’s advantage over Sebastian Vettel, who by some is considered the Briton’s most likely challenger for the crown, blew out to more than double the Red Bull racer’s points tally of 29.“Today we were a step ahead,” Button said, “and it’s a nice feeling.” Vettel, third, had to follow his teammate Mark Webber to the chequered… Source ...

F1: Coulthard defends ‘honest’ Hamilton
Grand Prix Live — David Coulthard has defended Lewis Hamilton, after the reigning world champion qualified 16th in Turkey and then wrote off his 2009 campaign and car. Hamilton, 24, was also outpaced in Istanbul by his teammate Heikki Kovalainen, but then told the press that “it’s the car” at fault and advised McLaren to begin turning its focus to 2010. But retired Coulthard, who raced for McLaren between 1996 and 2004, wrote in his column for the BBC that while Hamilton “just didn’t get it right” on Saturday, and also two weeks ago in Monaco, his subsequent attitude is… Source ...

F1: Boycott threat dropped before Turkey GP
Grand Prix Live — In the run to Sunday’s Turkish Grand Prix, a rumour swept through the Istanbul paddock that the eight FOTA teams intended to boycott the race over the conflict with the governing body. If confirmed, the situation would have left just Williams’ Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima, and Force India’s Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella, on the grid. The four drivers were the only ones not invited to a meeting with the FOTA teams in the Toyota motor home on Sunday morning, after which it was believed that the 16 drivers would from now on be fully supportive of their… Source ...

F1: Name-dropping: Now it’s Team Lotus
Grand Prix Live — A visible part of the flurry of applications for the 2010 Formula One season has been the revival of the revered classic names of Formula One, and now Team Lotus is proposed as one of the new entries. Lola, the world’s leading single-seat racing car manufacturer, has already lodged an entry — considered one of the most viable of the ones known to be submitted — and the defunct March name is also proposed to be resurrected. Further, German businessman Franz Hilmer has lodged an entry in the name of “Brabham Grand Prix,” much to the… Source ...

F1: Now champ Hamilton issues F1 quit threat
Grand Prix Live — F1’s reigning world champion has joined other drivers and eight current Formula One teams in threatening to quit the FIA world championship at the end of the season. Outspoken 2005 and 2006 drivers’ title winner Fernando Alonso has been widely quoted as saying he would “prefer to race in any other category” if Max Mosley’s budget cap is imposed in 2010. His comments followed a meeting between the drivers of the FOTA-affiliated teams and officials of the alliance prior to Sunday’s Turkish Grand Prix.… Source ...

F1: Turkey boycott rumours ‘a joke’ - Domenicali
Grand Prix Live — Just before the pitlane opened on Sunday afternoon, wild rumours swept the Istanbul paddock suggesting that the eight FOTA teams were preparing to boycott the Turkish Grand Prix. With five days still to go before the FIA’s entry list publication on June 12, the action’s timing would have been odd, but pre-race fears were nonetheless real that non-members Williams and Force India would be the only cars contesting victory. Ultimately, the boycott did not happen, but the question remains; from whence did the rumour spring?… Source ...

F1: Williams sure F1 crisis will be resolved
Grand Prix Live — Sir Frank Williams says he is “absolutely, 100 per cent” certain the current Formula One crisis will eventually be resolved. The 67-year-old’s viewpoint is noteworthy, given his withdrawal from the intense politics and the FOTA alliance to unconditionally sign up his famous British team for next year’s championship. The move resulted in Williams’ expulsion from the F1 teams’ body, but the Briton insists that, come Melbourne next March, he is confident his team will be competing against its current rivals.… Source ...

F1: Alonso repeats Ferrari affection
Grand Prix Live — If the Spaniard had not already made it crystal clear, he has stated once again his affection for the famous Italian Formula One team Ferrari. The current Renault driver is so strongly linked with the Maranello outfit that many observers believe he has already penned a document pledging his future, perhaps as soon as next year, to the Scuderia. In numerous interviews now, the 27-year-old has openly spoken about his affection for Ferrari. The latest is with the Italian broadcaster Sky.“When we become professional drivers, we all want to have one of those… Source ...

F1: Ecclestone missed Turkey with kidney infection
Grand Prix Live — Bernie Ecclestone watched the Turkish Grand Prix from his lounge room in London. The F1 chief executive, who is the leaseholder of the Istanbul circuit, was forced to miss the weekend’s action due to a kidney infection. He took the opportunity to share his experience of watching a race from home on his 60-inch television with a reporter of the Daily Express newspaper, and revealed that he rarely watches a Formula One car greeted by the chequered flag.“I go on the grid, watch the start and get out. My job is done. I’m… Source ...

F1: Barrichello hits out at Button’s smooth ride
Grand Prix Live — Rubens Barrichello has expressed irritation that, while teammate Jenson Button seemingly strolls to the 2009 world championship, the sister Brawn is not proving such a smooth ride. After 15 laps of the Istanbul circuit on Sunday, runaway leader Button, before going on to equal Michael Schumacher’s record run of six wins from the opening seven races of a season, said he was tempted to radio the pits and hail the BGP001 “outrageous”. That word, however, could also have been used by 38-year-old Barrichello,… Source ...

F1: Ecclestone blames Turkey for GP failure
Grand Prix Live — Bernie Ecclestone has blamed Turkish officials for the apparent failure of the country’s Formula One foray. Istanbul Park, having first hosted the Grand Prix in 2005, boasts highly impressive circuit facilities and arguably the best layout penned by Hermann Tilke. F1 chief executive Ecclestone now rents the track from the Istanbul chamber of commerce, but believes the promotion of the event is up to the locals. Watching Sunday’s Grand Prix from his London home with a Daily Express reporter, the 78-year-old admitted his concern about the almost totally… Source ...

F1: FOTA looks to MotoGP for 2010 breakaway
Grand Prix Live — Carmelo Ezpeleta could be the figure FOTA turns to if the major Formula One teams decide to quit Formula One at the end of the year, according to the Spanish sports newspaper Diario AS. He is the CEO of Madrid based Dorna Sports, the commercial rights holder of F1’s two-wheeled equivalent MotoGP. Dorna was bought by CVC, F1’s current owner, in 1998 but is now controlled by its management. It has been credited with transferring the rule-making power of the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) to the GP Manufacturers… Source ...

F1: Webber on Turkey - ‘there was no-one here’
Grand Prix Live — Instead of covering grandstands with asphalt-coloured tarpaulin or removing trackside broadcast cameras, organisers of the Turkish Grand Prix should have swung open the gates, Mark Webber said after finishing second at Istanbul Park. All weekend at the impressive Hermann Tilke-penned circuit, observers have marvelled at the scarcity of spectators, as did the Australian driver as he and his fellow drivers waved at near-empty grandstands while on the back of a slowly circulating flat-bed truck prior to Sunday’s race.… Source ...

F1: Barrichello still concerned about team orders
Grand Prix Live — Both Brawn drivers clarified before Sunday’s Turkish Grand Prix that team orders would not be in place, Rubens Barrichello has revealed. The veteran Brazilian, frustrated that teammate Jenson Button’s smooth run of form has not translated to the sister car, wondered aloud after the Spanish Grand Prix whether he was receiving equal treatment in 2009. Clear-the-air talks were subsequently held, but 37-year-old Barrichello, who has not won a single race this year compared with Button’s six, is clearly still anxious to ensure that boss Brawn does not oversee another… Source ...

F1: FOTA response not all ‘negative’ - FIA
Grand Prix Live — As the F1 crisis nears its zenith, Bernie Ecclestone has warned rebel teams that crossing him could cost them “hundreds of millions of pounds”. The eight FOTA teams are openly threatening to leave the FIA-sanctioned championship and set up a breakaway series, and are believed to have told Max Mosley on Tuesday that they are not going to simply take his advice and drop the conditions attached to their 2010 entries. The Formula One teams association’s official response to Mosley’s letter of this week was not leaked, but the fact the sides are still talking was… Source ...

F1: Nick Heidfeld launches helmet design competition
Grand Prix Live — Cologne, 9th June: As of today, motorsport and design fans can visit the official Nick Heidfeld website at www.nickheidfeld.com and submit their own design proposals for a helmet to be worn by the BMW Sauber F1 driver in the Grand Prix at the Nurburgring. Contestants will have at their disposal a CAD (Computer Assisted Design) tool installed on the website, complete with colour palette, brushes and shapes to assist them in their efforts. The design proposals submitted by site users will be displayed in a gallery and then entered for the… Source ...

F1: Ferrari using STR to test engines - report
Grand Prix Live — Toro Rosso is being used by Ferrari as a sort of Formula One ‘B-team’, according to a report in the German press. Auto Motor und Sport magazine claims the Faenza based team has been asked all season to use progressively ageing engines throughout the three hours of free practice on Fridays. It is suggested that Ferrari, the supplier of customer engines to the Red Bull sister team, is using the arrangement to test the longevity of its 2.4 litre V8s. The problem for Toro Rosso, however, is that the engines used in Turkey by… Source ...

F1: Teams eye switch to 2010 car focus
Grand Prix Live — As Brawn run away and even Red Bull’s Christian Horner admits catching them will be “very difficult”, the time has come for other teams to write off their 2009 campaigns.“We have some of our technical big guns on next year’s programme because we need to,” McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh admitted, according to the Sun newspaper. A distant fifth in the constructors’ standings with the uncompetitive MP4-24, Whitmarsh said the 2009 contender has not been written off but development will now increasingly “taper” in favour of next year’s… Source ...

F1: STR drivers still waiting for double diffuser
Grand Prix Live — It will likely be yet another two races before a ‘double diffuser’ will be added to the rear of Toro Rosso’s 2009 car. We reported last month that, while parent team Red Bull Racing introduced the aerodynamic concept for its Adrian Newey-designed car at Monaco, a similar piece would not be added to Toro Rosso’s Ferrari-powered single seater until after the Turkish Grand Prix. Swiss driver Sebastien Buemi said at the time that the modifications necessary for the diffuser were “quite massive”, and it now emerges that… Source ...

F1: Hamilton wants to ’spray the Brawn silver’
Grand Prix Live — Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he felt like a volcano set to erupt when he discovered his new McLaren was not a race winner. The 24-year-old became the sport’s youngest ever title winner last year, but even team figures now agree that the MP4-23’s successor is not a tool with which the Briton can defend his championship.“After the first three races I was still extremely annoyed,” Hamilton said in an interview with Germany’s Bild newspaper. He was speaking from Stuttgart, where the title-winning MP4-23 was added to… Source ...

F1: Carmakers should supply engines only - Stuck
Grand Prix Live — Car manufacturers involved in Formula One might be better off withdrawing and serving only as engine suppliers, according to a famous German motor racing figure. Hans-Joachim Stuck, a former Grand Prix driver and now representative for Volkswagen, advises marques like BMW and Mercedes-Benz to stop spending millions dabbling in the design of the chassis. The 58-year-old acknowledges the carmakers’ past and likely future successes, but believes the necessary investment of hundreds of millions of… Source ...

F1: Turkish GP: Toyota debrief
Grand Prix Live — Turkish Grand Prix Debrief - Q+A with Jarno Trulli What is your reaction to the Turkish Grand Prix weekend? We are back on track and it was good to be fighting at the front of the grid again. To return to the top five immediately after what happened in Monaco is great and it is a credit to the team, who have worked really hard to improve our performance. We were not far away from the fastest car; there is still a small gap which we will work to close but we are moving in the right direction. How did the team achieve such a big change of fortunes after Monaco?… Source ...

F1: Mosley meets teams as zero-hour looms
Grand Prix Live — In what is no doubt an eleventh-hour effort to stave off disaster, Max Mosley is meeting with the FOTA teams in London on Thursday. Less than 24 hours before the FIA publishes the entry list for the 2010 world championship, a standoff that saw the eight teams lodge only conditional entries by the recent deadline is still yet to be resolved. The Formula One Teams Association, whose expelled members Williams and Force India broke ranks and signed up unconditionally for next year’s season, met in London also on Wednesday.… Source ...

F1: Bad news for Lotus, Superfund 2010 entries
Grand Prix Live — The Lotus Cars company has followed the Brabham family in distancing itself and threatening legal action against a proposed Formula One team bearing its name. It emerged last week that ‘Team Lotus’ could return to the grid next year in the form of British F3 team Litespeed, who said they were granted permission to use the name from rights holder David Hunt. Hunt, who bought Team Lotus from the bankrupt outfit at the end of 1994, is the brother of the 1976 world champion James Hunt. However, Lotus Cars Limited, the ongoing sports car maker that is based on… Source ...

F1: Friday looms as the day F1 split
Grand Prix Live — As the final 24 hours until the publication of the 2010 entry list beckons, the eight rebel Formula One teams known collectively as FOTA met once again in London.“I still believe that a reasonable solution can be found,” Mercedes-Benz’s Norbert Haug is quoted as saying by Germany’s DPA news agency. The current state of affairs as FOTA met on Wednesday was the ongoing stalemate between the body and the FIA, led by a seemingly equally obstinate Max Mosley. Mosley wrote to FOTA this week, requesting that the unconditional status of… Source ...

F1: F1 news briefs on Thursday
Grand Prix Live — The Swiss senate has voted against an attempt to lift the country’s more than 50-year ban on motor racing, including Formula One. The sport was banned in Switzerland after the Le Mans disaster of 1955. - Fernando Alonso and Luca di Montezemolo are apparently planning to meet at the Le Mans circuit this week, where practice for the famous 24 hour sports car race began on Wednesday. According to the wildest speculation, Ferrari president Montezemolo, to officially start the fabled endurance event on… Source ...

F1: BMW undecided about KERS for Silverstone
Grand Prix Live — BMW-Sauber has not decided whether to reintroduce its KERS system to race at the British Grand Prix next weekend. Paradoxically, the German squad was one of the only to vote to keep the controversial technology in the sport in 2010, while at the very same time not using KERS in Turkey last weekend. BMW also ran without KERS at Monaco and Barcelona, having opted instead to focus on aerodynamic improvements. Team boss Mario Theissen did not want to say whether the F1.09’s performance, aided by a double diffuser for the first time, would have been… Source ...

F1: F1 news briefs on Wednesday
Grand Prix Live — Michael Schumacher has once again sided with Ferrari, and other carmakers threatening to quit the sport, in the budget cap dispute. “The solution can only be that it suits those teams that have built up F1 to the state that it is now,” the former seven time world champion said on the Italian team’s website. - For a third straight year, the 40-year-old German Schumacher will team up with young countryman Sebastian Vettel at the Race of Champions event, which this November is to take place for the first time at Beijing’s… Source ...

F1: Renault tells suppliers F1 exit possible
Grand Prix Live — Renault has warned its suppliers that it may not be racing in Formula One beyond the 2009 season. At the same time as that news emerged on Wednesday, the French carmaker’s CEO Carlos Ghosn was aiming fire not at the controversial budget cap rules for 2010, but at the distribution of income. According to AFP France, he told a French parliamentary committee that because the teams “make the show” in F1, they should be the ones benefiting “principally from it”. Until now, while issues of governance have been playing a role in the… Source ...

F1: Horner denies Red Bull teams sign up for 2010
Grand Prix Live — Christian Horner on Thursday flatly denied rumours that the two Red Bull teams have broken ranks and signed up unconditionally for next year’s Formula One world championship. Like fellow independents Williams and Force India, who have already lodged their paperwork and will appear on Friday’s FIA entry list, Red Bull and Brawn GP are not subject to the same $$;50m bond that is holding together the unity of the remainder of the FOTA group. Williams and Force India were expelled from the Formula One Teams… Source ...

F1: Kovalainen must perform to keep seat
Grand Prix Live — It is up to Heikki Kovalainen to prove he belongs in the McLaren alongside Lewis Hamilton beyond 2009. That is the message given by Norbert Haug, competition chief of the British team’s engine partner Mercedes-Benz. The German has recently been hinting at a change for next year, coinciding with speculation that Williams’ Nico Rosberg is a prime candidate. When asked by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport about 27-year-old Kovalainen’s seat, Haug answered: “Formula one is a hard competition.“Heikki knows that it is all about performance. We are looking at each… Source ...

F1: FIA Due Diligence Q&A
Grand Prix Live — 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship - Due Diligence How are you ensuring that applicants are adequately and securely funded? We are using professional advisors to make checks on the substance behind any funding sources on top of obtaining reviews of pertinent contracts and other relevant documentation. Bank references have been supplied in many cases. What is involved in the Due Diligence process? We have requested documentary evidence to support all the new teams’ … Source ...

F1: Williams confirms 2010 entry
Grand Prix Live — The AT&T Williams team is pleased to confirm that its entry to the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship has been accepted by the FIA. Frank Williams, Team Principal, said “2010 will be my 42nd consecutive season in Formula One. We are already designing the main elements of next year’s FW32 which will build on the useful step forward taken with the FW31.” The FIA confirmed that Ferrari, Red Bull Racing, Toro Rosso and Force India have also been entered into the 2010 Championship but Brawn GP, McLaren,… Source ...

F1: FIA Formula One entry list solves little
Grand Prix Live — Home Paddock Babes Racing Circuits Racing Calendars Formula 1 MotoGP Calendar 2009 Championship standings MotoGP Championship standings Racing TV Racing Jobs Valentino Rossi [image] F1 & GP2 Formula 1 F1 Championship F1 Qualifying Times F1 Race Results Motorcycle MotoGP MotoGP Race Results Categorized | Formula 1 F1: FIA Formula One entry list solves little Posted on 13 June 2009 The 2010 entry list is out, and the International Automobile Federation (FIA) has included all 10 ...

F1: Cosworth returns to series for 2010
Grand Prix Live — Cosworth to supply 3 teams in 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship FRIDAY 12 JUNE 2009 (NORTHAMTON, UK): Cosworth, the world’s leading performance technology specialist, has agreed relationships with 3 teams whose entries to the 2010 Formula One World Championship have been accepted by the FIA. An identical package comprising high-performance Cosworth engine and technical support will be provided for Campos Grand Prix, Manor Grand Prix and Team US F1 for a period of 3 years. The deal to supply a high performance solution that represents exceptional value for… Source ...

F1: Interest in low-cost F1 ‘reassuring’ - FIA
Grand Prix Live — The interest of 15 potential new teams vindicates the efforts to lower costs in Formula One, the sport’s governing FIA said on Friday. While eight of Formula One’s existing teams are still at loggerheads with Max Mosley, three new outfits were on Friday toasting the FIA president for rubber-stamping their applications to debut in 2010. USF1, Manor and Campos, to all be powered by Cosworth’s customer engine, were granted unconditional entries for next season, while due diligence was carried out on nine other prospective outfits, the FIA said.… Source ...

F1: FOTA and FIA still struggle on
Grand Prix Live — Today the FIA finally published a list with the accepted entries for the 2010 Formula One season. Williams and Force India, who both had admitted an unconditional entry, are on the list and the FIA has put Ferrari, Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso on the list of accepted entries as well. The remaining five FOTA members, BMW-Sauber, Brawn-Mercedes, McLaren-Mercedes, Renault and Toyota are on the list with the remark‘provisional’ added to their name.… Source ...

F1: Rebel teams sympathise with ‘dismayed’ fans
Grand Prix Live — As the row with F1’s governing body gets set to drag on for at least another week, the rebel alliance FOTA on Friday sympathised with “dismayed and confused” fans.“We’re all very sad we’re not focusing on the racing and what’s exciting about Formula One.“But I really believe FOTA’s ambition is to improve the sport for the long term,” John Howett, Toyota team president and vice-chair of the Formula One Teams Association, said on BBC Radio 5 Live. In an official statement, FOTA then acknowledged fans “who are dismayed… Source ...

F1: Lola Group statement
Grand Prix Live — LOLA GROUP STATEMENT 12 June, 2009 “The Lola Group acknowledges receipt of the communication from the FIA announcing the preliminary entry list for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship. The Lola F1 Team is not currently listed as an entrant, but will continue to remain in discussion with the FIA as a potential new entry until the extended deadline of 19 June, 2009.” -credit: lola… Source ...

F1: Ecclestone calls for calm amid F1 war
Grand Prix Live — Bernie Ecclestone has called for calm as the row between eight of Formula One’s existing teams and the governing FIA widened in the wake of the publication of the 2010 entry list. Italy’s La Repubblica said Ferrari and the Red Bull teams’ inclusion on the official list against their will on Friday was a “provocation”, leading more of the world’s car manufacturers to “declare war on Mosley”. The newspaper was referring to the statement issued by ACEA, an association of European carmakers, following a meeting in Brussels.… Source ...

F1: Formula One 2010: Who are these guys?
Grand Prix Live — (FIA) released its list of expected entrants for the 2010 season Friday with explainers on the newbies. Of a list of 15 applicants wanting to take advantage of FIA president Max Mosley’s promise to lower team operating costs, nine were interviewed, and three were selected. Spanish company Campos Meta will compete as Campos Grand Prix. Started in 1998 by former F1 driver Adrian Campos, who will serve as Campos GP team principal, Campos Racing has since competed in European Formula Three and GP2, winning six drivers championships and five team… Source ...

F1: Crisis about ‘power’ not rules - Ecclestone
Grand Prix Live — F1’s political crisis is grinding on with no solution in sight because it is not about disputed rules but “power”, according to Bernie Ecclestone. The Formula One teams association FOTA may seem united, the sport’s chief executive Bernie Ecclestone told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, but he believes the major players are differently motivated.“Flavio Briatore wants to create a new series and decide everything,” the 78-year-old, who owns a British football club with the Renault boss, said.“Luca di Montezemolo has a problem with the FIA president. With John… Source ...

F1: New US team to select drivers ’soon’
Grand Prix Live — Having secured a spot on the 2010 grid, new Formula One entrant Team US F1 expects to select drivers for the North Carolina-based outfit “pretty soon”. Co-founder Peter Windsor, a British Formula One journalist and the voice at official qualifying and race press conferences, said even though the FIA only confirmed the team’s application last Friday, a shortlist of potential American drivers already exists.“We already have had the first of our week of evaluation of young Americans, and there are some very good American drivers out there.… Source ...

F1: Le Mans winner named as Campos F1 candidate
Grand Prix Live — 2009 Le Mans winner, Ferrari test driver and veteran of 36 grands prix Marc Gene has been named as a possible driver for a new Spanish Formula One team. Campos Grand Prix, headed by former Minardi driver Adrian Campos, was nominated by the FIA last Friday, alongside US F1 and Manor, as one of the winners of three new places on the 2010 grid. The Spaniard confirmed that the team, launched in 1998 and having contested series including GP2 and European F3, will prioritise targeting Spanish drivers.… Source ...

F1: F1 names miss Laureus plaudits in 2009
Grand Prix Live — Formula one drivers have failed to win coveted Laureus sports awards in 2009. Lewis Hamilton won the World Breakthrough of the Year award last year, but although nominated in 2009, Sebastian Vettel has missed out, while Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington picked up the prize in London. Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, was nominated for this year’s World Sportsman of the Year, having won the 2008 title at the final corner. But it was the Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt who received the prize, also… Source ...

F1: New rumour links Coca-Cola with F1
Grand Prix Live — New rumours have arisen linking Coca-Cola with a sponsorship foray in Formula One. Muhtar Kent, who became president and CEO of the world’s largest drinks company last year, attended the recent Turkish Grand Prix and was a VIP guest in the paddock. It is believed that Kent, who was born and is based in America but with Turkish ancestry, is a Formula One fan. Coke has never sponsored a Formula One team, but in 2005 rumours surfaced that the company was interested in title sponsorship of the entire world… Source ...