F1 News Updates
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Next season will have three race out with nurburgring returning only the following year. The European GP will be held at Valencia and together with the Singapore GP to make up for the lossOriginally posted by Kuali Baba:First it was Magny-Cours, now Indianapolis will not be staging a Grand Prix next season as well. Talks between Bernie Ecclestone and IMS's Tony George broke down over sanctioning fees.
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=40034 -
Full of McLaren stuff
Ron admits to mistrust between drivers
McLaren team boss Ron Dennis has admitted that there are tensions and mistrust between his two drivers amid their intense battle for the world championship – but insists the team will maintain its commitment to treating them scrupulously equally.
Dennis was visibly emotional after a tumultuous weekend in which Fernando Alonso was relegated five grid positions for impeding Lewis Hamilton in the pit lane during qualifying and the team precluded from scoring any constructorsÂ’ points.
Although Hamilton beat Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen for victory on Sunday and Alonso finished fourth, Dennis said he felt “empty” and too emotionally drained to take any pleasure from the result.
“I’m pretty tired to be honest,” he told ITV Sport’s Steve Rider.
“A lot of stress, a lot of pressure and a bit of emptiness at the end of an extremely difficult weekend for the company and for the team.
“I am so drained it is difficult to have any emotion left.”
Asked by Mark Blundell about the relationship between Alonso and Hamilton, Dennis admitted that the team is finding their rivalry difficult to handle and that it has generated some mistrust between them.
“There is a tremendous amount of tension in the team and the tension really comes – understandably maybe – from two guys who are phenomenally competitive and who are currently heading the world championship points and are looking for every advantage they can get in a system which does not generate advantage,” he said.
“There are frustrations with both of them and sometimes mistrust with both of them.”
Nonetheless Dennis is adamant that McLaren will not try to resolve the situation by giving one driver preferential treatment or nominating a de facto number one.
“It’s tough for us, but we will not deviate from equality – it’s the foundation of the company,” he said.
“In the end we head both championships still.
“We have taken a difficult emotional blow.
“We’ve just got to dig deep and emerge from it, and that’s what we will do. But we will not, under any circumstances, favour one driver over the other.”
Dennis again spoke of his distress at the consequences that flowed from the teamÂ’s qualifying procedures going awry.
“What happened yesterday was really unacceptable,” he said.
“We have a very, very strong commitment to parity.
“This was one of those times when as hard as you try – and we try very hard – there was a deviation from our plans in qualifying, and that put the team in an extremely difficult position which has cost us all of the constructors’ points today in the event that we don’t follow through with lodging an appeal.” -
Alonso's not talking to me, admits Lewis
Lewis Hamilton has revealed that McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso has not spoken to him since the qualifying controversy at the Hungaroring on Saturday.
The world champion was stripped of pole position and relegated to sixth on the grid after stewards deemed he had unnecessarily held-up his rookie team-mate in the pit lane in the dying minutes of the final part of qualifying.
McLarenÂ’s problems were triggered by HamiltonÂ’s decision to ignore team orders instructing him to let the Spaniard pass him on the opening lap of the fuel-burn phase.
The Briton says he has apologised to the team since for his own actions but admits Alonso hasnÂ’t spoken to him since the controversy blew up.
“He doesn't seem to have been speaking to me since yesterday, so I don't know if he has a problem,” he said in a press conference following his win on Sunday.
“In terms of speaking to the team, I spoke to everyone, I have told everyone the situation, apologised if they feel I have done something against them but this is the way it is.
“It is higher than them if you know what I mean.”
McLaren boss Ron Dennis told ITV Sport after HamiltonÂ’s victory that there were tensions and mistrust between his two drivers amid their close championship battle.
Hamilton admits it is hard to have a close relationship with an equally competitive team-mate and that each driverÂ’s determination to win has created tensions between the pair.
“I think it is always difficult,” he said.
“I have had it with every team I have been in.
“When you have the two most competitive people in the team, possibly the two most competitive people around, both wanting to win. It puts the team under immense pressure.
“It is just extremely hard for everyone to play fair and to make it easy.
“That's why sometimes it appears that one driver is favoured over the other.
“That's why sometimes I feel he is favoured and vice-versa.”
However he insists that he doesnÂ’t hold a grudge against the Spaniard and that his respect for the double world championÂ’s career achievements remains.
“I think going on from now, I hope he still speaks to me," he said.
“I am easy to get along with, I don't hold grudges on anyone.
“I'm still leading the championship, I haven't lost respect for him.
“If he doesn't want to speak to me than that is for him to decide, but I'm open.” -
Alonso's McLaren future uncertain
Fernando AlonsoÂ’s long-term future at McLaren has been thrown into question after speculation grew over the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend that he may look to leave the team at the end of the season.
The double world champion is contracted to the Mercedes-powered squad until the end of the 2008 season but the future length of that partnership now seems uncertain after the SpaniardÂ’s relationship with team-mate Lewis Hamilton reached new levels of tension at the weekend.
Alonso was asked about his future with the team in an interview with the Spanish media following his fourth-place finish in Hungary.
And when asked if it was possible to continue with the current situation at McLaren for the duration of his contract he replied: “I don’t know”.
The speculation about the 26-year-old led McLaren boss Ron Dennis to answer questions about the SpaniardÂ’s future in his own post-race press briefing.
However the Briton said such speculation is always inevitable and that his team would respect its contracts with both Alonso and Hamilton – adding that he hoped both drivers would do the same.
"There is an inevitability that these things are rumoured and discussed in other teams," he said.
"We have two drivers who are contracted for several years into the future.
"We will respect our part of that bargain and that part of the situation.
“We hope that the drivers respect theirs because that's what a contract is about."
The rumours surrounding AlonsoÂ’s McLaren future come after his former team RenaultÂ’s engineering director Pat Symonds recently admitted that the world champion squad hoped he would one day return to them.
The Spaniard spent five seasons as a test and then race driver with the Anglo-French squad, winning both of his world titles there and establishing himself as the successor to Michael Schumacher as Formula 1Â’s pre-eminent driver.
Symonds was asked in an interview in the August issue of F1 Racing magazine if Renault could or would take its former protégé back.
"Would we? Yes. Could we? I hope so," Symonds responded.
"He is a damn good driver though and weÂ’d happily have him back.
"IÂ’d love to think that one day he might come back." -
Alonso free to leave McLaren
Ron Dennis has signalled that Fernando Alonso is free to leave McLaren after this season if he is cannot live with the teamÂ’s commitment to treating both drivers equally.
Alonso is contracted to McLaren until the end of 2009, but after his increasingly tense relationship with team-mate Lewis Hamilton flared up in Hungary, he told the Spanish press that he was unsure whether he would see out the three years.
Alonso is understood to be unhappy that Hamilton has been given equal status in the team, when he had expectations of being the clear lead driver.
But Dennis remains adamant that McLarenÂ’s commitment to parity between the two drivers is non-negotiable.
“We will continue to function as a grand prix team with specific values and if anybody does not want to be part of those values – irrespective of where they sit in the organisation – ultimately they will have a choice,” he said.
“But we will not deviate away from our values.”
Despite the tense atmosphere in the team, Dennis is hopeful that both Alonso and Hamilton will see out their multi-year contracts.
“We have two drivers who are contracted for several years into the future,” he said.
“We will respect our part of that bargain and that part of the situation.
“We hope that the drivers respect theirs because that's what a contract is about.” -
Spy case appeal set for September
The International Court of Appeal hearing into the spying controversy will take place on Thursday September 13, Formula 1Â’s governing body the FIA has confirmed.
The verdict of the World Motor Sport Council was referred to the appeal court last week by FIA president Max Mosley following a request from the Italian motor sport authority.
McLaren was found guilty of possessing confidential Ferrari documents in the initial WMSC hearing after they were found in its chief designer Mike CoughlanÂ’s home.
But the Woking squad was not penalised after it was deemed that there was “insufficient evidence” to suggest that it had benefited in any way from the data – a decision which promoted criticism from Ferrari.
As requested in a letter to Mosley by the Italian motor authority last week, Ferrari will be allowed to present both written and oral submissions to the appeal court.
McLaren and any other team that so wishes will also be given the opportunity to speak at the hearing in Paris. -
ChampCar driver Sebastien Bourdais has been confirmed at Torro Rosso for the 2008 season.
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Engine development in Formula 1 is to be totally frozen for a period of 10 years from 2008, following a meeting of the FIA Motor Sport World Council on Wednesday.
The sportÂ’s governing body is believed to have pushed through this latest measure to promote alternative and more environmentally-friendly methods of increasing the performance of F1 cars.
Development work on V8 power plants had been restricted since 2007, although certain changes were allowed to be made to the units under the rules.
However next year all modifications will be banned with the caveat that a change to the unit can be made after five years if it gains unanimous approval and precedes a two-year notice period.
“There will be a total freeze on engine development for a period of 10 years, starting from 2008,” an FIA statement said.
“A change can be made after five years but only with the unanimous agreement of all stakeholders and following a further two-year notice period.
“Total freeze means that there will be no exceptions for development of certain parts of the engine, as is the case under the current regulations.”
At one stage it seemed likely that F1 was to adopt a 1.4-litre, turbo-charged engine formula mated to an introduction of KERS technology.
But now the FIA has opted to keep the current engine platform stable, while encouraging the sport's manufacturers to pursue performance gains through KERS and other socially-relevant technology advances.
The sport's key manufacturers made a proposal to FIA president Max Mosley earlier this month, in which they wanted the current 2.4-litre V8s to stay until 2009, and then modify them to run to four races with KERS and improved fuel efficiency.
However this proposal was rejected by the FIA and it instead suggested keeping the current engines until 2017.
The engine manufactures were planning to enlist the support of F1's independent teams before resubmitting their plans.
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41179 -
FIA green light Singapore night race
Formula One racingÂ’s governing body, the FIA, has confirmed the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix will take place at night as planned. The inaugural Singapore event, to be held on a new street circuit in the Asian city, is scheduled to take place on September 28.
“We are well on our way to creating history," commented Colin Syn, Deputy Chairman of Singapore GP. "With two positive lighting tests under our belt, we are on track to delivering the first night-race in Formula One history.”
The second new venue for the 2008 season, Valencia, is also understood to have received track approval. The event, to be titled the European Grand Prix, will take place in August on a newly-constructed street circuit around the Spanish cityÂ’s redeveloped marina.
In its latest update to the 2008 schedule, the FIA also confirmed next seasonÂ’s Canadian race, removing its previously provisional status. The Montreal event will take place on June 8.
The 2008 calendar in full:
16 Mar Australia
23 Mar Malaysia
6 Apr Bahrain
27 Apr Spain
11 May Turkey
25 May Monaco
8 Jun Canada
22 Jun France
6 Jul Great Britain
20 Jul Germany
3 Aug Hungary
24 Aug Europe
7 Sep Belgium
14 Sep Italy
28 Sep Singapore*
12 Oct Japan
19 Oct China
2 Nov Brazil
*Night race -
The date of the appeal:
15/11/07 -
(GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has now confirmed officially that a deal has been struck to bring formula one to the world's second most populous country, India.
It was reported earlier on Thursday that F1 chiefs had penned a contract with Indian company JP Associates to build a circuit just outside capital city New Delhi.
Ecclestone, 77, clarified that the contract is with JPSK Sports Private Ltd, a subsidiary of JP Associates, to stage the first Indian grand prix in 2010.
"India has always been known for its love of cricket, but F1 has been growing hugely in popularity in recent years as the viewing figures would suggest," Ecclestone said on Thursday.
"Now with Vijay Mallya's team, Force India, and the news that Karun Chandhok could soon be driving in F1, the announcement of the future grand prix in India will spark an explosion of further interest to rival that of the traditional sport," he added.
(GMM) The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has declined to confirm reports that the inaugural Indian grand prix will be staged in Delhi in 2010.
The news seemed to be at odds with the Indian Olympic Association's earlier exclusive efforts to bring formula one to the populous country.
The IOA's Suresh Kalmadi reportedly reached a provisional deal to promote the race earlier this year, and at his behest hosted circuit designer Hermann Tilke who earmarked acceptable circuit sites near Delhi.
But despite F1 chief executive Ecclestone's announcement of a contract with JP Associates subsidiary JPSK Sports Private "to stage the first ever formula one grand prix in India", Kalmadi refused to confirm the story.
When contacted by the Calcutta newspaper Telegraph, he said: "I'm not aware of this development."
JP Associates chairman Manoj Gaur, however, did confirm the news of a ten-year contract with formula one.
"We are very excited and fortunate that we would cater to the interest through this unique opportunity," he said. -
Michael Schumacher lost to Matthias Ekstrom (who races in DTM) in the finals of the Race Of Champions at Wembley Stadium, London yesterday evening.
However, he and Sebastian Vettel won the Nations Cup for Germany. Heikki Kovalainen beat Schumacher but Vettel's margin over Marcus Grönholm was enough to hold off the Finnish contingent.
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41463 -
lol wth
Hamilton fined for speeding in France
Lewis Hamilton has had his driving licence suspended for a month after being caught speeding on a French motorway.
According to a report by news agency Reuters, the 22-year-old was driving a Mercedes on Sunday when he was clocked at 196km/h (122mph) near the northern town of Laon.
Police stopped him, impounded the car and fined him 600 euros (£430).
“He was very polite and cooperative,” said a police spokesman, who added that Hamilton had since had the car collected for him. -
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im back
soory if i abandoned this forum for slightly too long -
Super Aguri pulls out of F1
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?id=42514Suzuki: Time ran out to save team
http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=42519Honda: Aguri withdrawal 'inevitable'
http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=42520 -
All 10 teams were in action at the Paul Ricard circuit’s short configuration layout to simulate Monaco-style conditions ahead of next weekend’s grand prix at the high downforce track.
Testing times from Paul Ricard (Wednesday 14 May)
1. HAMILTON McLaren 1m05.600s
2. RAIKKONEN Ferrari 1m06.098s
3. KUBICA BMW 1m06.177s
4. WEBBER Red Bull 1m06.348s
5. VETTEL Toro Rosso 1m06.372s
6. ROSBERG Williams 1m06.571s
7. WURZ Honda 1m06.681s
8. GLOCK Toyota 1m06.936s
9. LIUZZI Force India 1m07.346s
10. DI GRASSI Renault 1m07.430s
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Testing times from Paul Ricard (Thursday 15 May)
1. RAIKKONEN Ferrari 1m05.381s
2. KOVALAINEN McLaren 1m05.471s
3. KUBICA BMW 1m05.905s
4. COULTHARD Red Bull 1m06.001s
5. BUTTON Honda 1m06.091s
6. BOURDAIS Toro Rosso 1m06.125s
7. TRULLI Toyota 1m06.205s
8. PIQUET Renault 1m06.355s
9. NAKAJIMA Williams 1m07.080s
10. SUTIL Force India 1m07.104s
11. FISICHELLA Force India 1m07.123s
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After two days running in Monaco-style high-downforce trim, the teams switched to a longer 3.3-mile configuration of the Le Castellet circuit to prepare for the Canadian Grand Prix.
Testing times from Paul Ricard (Friday 16 May)
1. TRULLI Toyota 1m31.360s
2. PIQUET Renault 1m31.634s
3. DE LA ROSA McLaren 1m32.143s
4. VETTEL Toro Rosso 1m32.480s
5. MASSA Ferrari 1m33.246s
6. HEIDFELD BMW 1m33.371s
7. BUEMI Red Bull 1m34.064s
8. FISICHELLA Force India 1m34.071s
9. BUTTON Honda 1m36.501s
10. SUTIL Force India 1m43.877s
11. HULKENBERG Williams 1m44.741s
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Testing times from Barcelona (Thursday 12 June)
1. BADOER     Ferrari   1m22.412s
2. KUBICA     BMW       1m22.682s
3. COULTHARD  Red Bull  1m22.724s
4. BUEMI      Red Bull  1m22.764s
5. PAFFETT    McLaren   1m22.938s
6. DAVIDSON   Honda     1m23.208s
7. HULKENBERG Williams  1m23.619s
8. GROSJEAN   Renault   1m23.899s
9. KOBAYASHI  Toyota    1m24.442s -
Testing times from Barcelona (Friday 13 June)
1. BADOER Ferrari 1m21.013s
2. DE LA ROSA McLaren 1m21.374s
3. GLOCK Toyota 1m21.573s
4. ROSBERG Williams 1m21.614s
5. COULTHARD Red Bull 1m21.668s
6. KUBICA BMW 1m21.761s
7. BARRICHELLO Honda 1m21.950s
8. PIQUET Renault 1m22.037s
9. BOURDAIS Toro Rosso 1m22.395s
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Testing times from Barcelona (Saturday 14 June)
1. PIQUET Renault 1m20.076s
2. DE LA ROSA McLaren 1m20.402s
3. BADOER Ferrari 1m20.680s
4. WEBBER Red Bull 1m21.037s
5. GLOCK Toyota 1m21.158s
6. HEIDFELD BMW 1m21.295s
7. BARRICHELLO Honda 1m21.672s
8. HULKENBERG Williams 1m21.674s
9. VETTEL Toro Rosso 1m21.880s