Jun.17 (GMM) The auction of the abortive formula one team USF1′s assets has raised $1.4 million.

With a queue of creditors to pay off, the entire contents of the American outfit’s Charlotte headquarters went under the hammer.

Among the 427 lots – including bins, computers, tools, a vacuum cleaner, a forklift, a barbeque, a wheel and a bottle of champagne – was a carbon fibre mock-up of the unraced chassis, which sold for $7,850.

Jun.17 (GMM) Recent championship leaders Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton disagree about the likely direction of the 2010 season.

After winning the Turkish and Canadian grands prix in the wake of Red Bull’s earlier dominance, McLaren driver Hamilton said the fight for the title is “tight”.

The statistics so far appear to support his argument, given the five different race winners and the fact they are all separated by just 19 points.

“So it’s the ultimate challenge I’ve experienced in formula one, perhaps in formula one history,” the Briton added.

Australian Webber, however, predicts that the current five-driver championship fight will ultimately become a more regular head-to-head as the season winds down.

“Last year,” the Red Bull driver told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, “Jenson won many races at the beginning. But that’s not usually what happens.

“It is more often the case that until mid-season there are three to five drivers all together.

“70 per cent in there will probably be only three or so in it, and with a few races to go it becomes a duel,” Webber predicted.

“Perhaps the champion will even be known before the last race.”

The 33-year-old also played down suggestions that, given the outcome of the Montreal race, McLaren is now the pacesetter.

Red Bull had predicted after Turkey that the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve would not suit the RB6.

“Valencia is another track on which we might not be so good,” said Webber. “But we surprised ourselves in Canada when we were more competitive than we thought we would be.”

Jun.17 (GMM) Formula one team bosses have backed the apparent stability in the 2011 driver market.

Usually at about the mid-point of each season, rumours about driver switches within the top five teams are becoming rampant.

But Red Bull and Ferrari have already locked in their current drivers for next year, while McLaren, Mercedes and Williams will almost certainly also field unchanged lineups.

And Renault’s Robert Kubica looks set to stay put.

“I think it is a perfect situation,” said Mercedes’ Norbert Haug.

“I think the first five teams probably will have the same driver lineup next year and that’s good for formula one and I think we will see some very good races.”

McLaren’s Martin Whitmarsh added: “Clearly the driver market is more stable than it normally is.”

And Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said: “I think most of the seats are fairly fixed going forwards, so I don’t think there is going to be too much movement in the front half of the grid.”

Jun.17 (GMM) Pirelli may be looking to acquire a Toyota formula one car with which to do some specific tyre testing later this year.

With the Italian brand likely to succeed Bridgestone as F1′s official supplier in 2011-2013, it emerged recently that some development track testing is probable in the coming months.

Mercedes reserve driver Nick Heidfeld has already volunteered to participate.

“This is what we have to discuss with the tyre manufacturer as soon as we know who it will be,” confirmed Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali.

Milan based Pirelli has not yet received the official green light, but it is believed that contracts with F1′s commercial rights holder have been signed.

And Italy’s Autosprint claims that the 12 current teams signed a letter of intent in Montreal last weekend about being shod with Pirelli rubber in 2011.

The next step is the agreement of the FIA, with the World Motor Sport Council set to meet next Wednesday.

The magazine said talks between Pirelli and Toyota could result in a formula one car belonging to the Cologne based former competitor being used for tyre testing late this summer.

The solution would ensure that tyre data can be produced by Pirelli without any single team obtaining an advantage.

Jun.17 (GMM) Hopeful teams are facing a delay in the FIA’s decision about the final place on the 2011 formula one grid.

That is the claim of Joan Villadelprat, whose Spanish outfit Epsilon Euskadi as well as Nicolas Todt’s ART are considered the two favourites for the 13th team entry.

The FIA’s expression of interest process ended in April, with teams then lodging full applications and a fee by the end of June followed by “due diligence leading to a decision in July”.

But Villadelprat has now indicated that a delay is likely.

“I am optimistic about our chances,” he is quoted by Italy’s Autosprint, “but worried that the FIA will make a decision probably in August.”

“That gives the team an extremely short preparation time.

“It is therefore unavoidable at this stage to invest in the 2011 project without knowing whether we will be on the grid.”

Villadelprat said he is targeting a start-up budget of EUR 100 million, which is substantially more than the amount being spent this year by any of the three new teams.

“With a lower budget we would only make up the numbers,” he said.

Jun.17 (GMM)  Nick Heidfeld is tipped to combine an ongoing role as Mercedes’ reserve driver next year with a race cockpit in the German touring car series DTM.

The 33-year-old said recently he wants to be back on the F1 grid in 2011 because “I feel too young for DTM or for taking part in Le Mans”.

But with many teams likely to secure unchanged driver lineups next year, Heidfeld admitted this week: “I’m afraid that the top ten seats are gone already.”

Now, in the Auto Plus column of the well-known French TF1 journalist-commentator Jean-Louis Moncet, veteran of 167 grands prix Heidfeld may be leaning towards a move to DTM.

But Heidfeld would combine the 2011 seat, presumably in one of the Mercedes-powered DTM cars, with an ongoing role at grands prix, Moncet added.

The same split is being managed this year by David Coulthard, who races a 2008 C-Class as well as attending F1 events as a British television pundit and occasional Red Bull reserve driver.

However, Germany’s Bild newspaper recently said Sauber, currently fielding Pedro de la Rosa alongside Kamui Kobayashi, could host Heidfeld’s return to formula one in 2011.

Heidfeld drove for the independent Sauber team between 2001 and 2003, and then again with BMW ownership in 2006-2009.

Sebastien Buemi drove for the first time in Canada and took a strong eighth four points. After a poor qualifying (starting 15th) are considered the Toro Rosso driver out of all the skirmishes and even led the race at the meantime. This was the 14th since July 1979 when Clay Regazzoni won on a Williams at Silverstone, the first time a Swiss at the top of a Grand Prix. With this result, outdated Toro Rosso this exact Williams team in the constructors’ standings.

“I’ve been to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, known only by the simulator,” said Buemi. “But really to go out is a different story. I like the track very much, because the atmosphere is unique. Nevertheless, our engineers prepared the runway was quite an headache, because the tire situation very critical and provided all with a challenge.”
Despite the strong performance of the 21-year-old remains on the ground of reality. “We have achieved the result with a little luck. The team has worked very well, however, and the strategy was excellent. The biggest problem lies in qualifying. We were even further behind the two Williams. It is clear that we are competitive in the race. We must continue in the top-10 or start the top-12. I think both the team and the drivers do not bring out the maximum from a fresh set of tires. With a full complement of fuel car, we bring the tires much better in the work window. ”

Now, the journey to Valencia, where Buemi had last year with a broken brake disc up early. This season, the direction is clear: “It is obviously difficult before the first practice to make a prediction. Our main aim is qualifying as close as possible to the top 10 to come. We want to take the positive momentum from Canada and Force India catch up in the standings. “

Jules Bianchi, Mirko Bortolotti and Daniel Zampieri were earlier this week to try out the Formula 1 Ferrari in 2008. As members of the Ferrari Driver Academy they tested on our own race track in Fiorano, the F2008, the F1 Clienti department of the mark is used. Thus what is not violated in the current Formula 1 Test ban.

“At Ferrari they believe in me,” said Bianchi, who was allowed to slip first into the cockpit. The Frenchman will start otherwise, in the GP2. The next round is on 27 June in Valencia on the program. “Of course I want to win, just because opportunities like this offer a second time.”
On the same weekend Bortolotti will be back in action, but in the GP3. “I’ll tackle the next event with maximum use. Of course, my goal is to win,” said the Italian. Zampieri starts against again this weekend as part of the Renault World Series.

The Ferrari Driver Academy, the young drivers become familiar not only with the technical processes at work in a Formula 1 race car, but they are also trained in other areas. Thus, besides fitness training and English lessons were on the agenda of the three drivers.

Jun.16 (GMM)  The promise of more money motivated a swathe of key people to defect to Lotus.

That is the claim of Otmar Szafnauer, chief operating officer of the Force India team.

Shortly after Force India promoted Mark Smith to replace the Sauber-bound technical director James Key, Lotus announced that Smith will move to the new Malaysian-backed team next year.

Force India’s Lewis Butler (chief designer) and Marianne Hinson (head of aerodynamics) are also defecting to Lotus.

“Lotus has double the salary,” Szafnauer is quoted by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

“So you either have to pay more or look for an alternative.”

Third in line after Key and Smith for Force India’s top technical job is reportedly Andy Green.

Jun.16 (GMM)  Robert Kubica is the first formula one personality to oppose plans for ‘proximity wings’ in 2011.

After a meeting in Canada last weekend, teams agreed that drivers should next year be able to adjust their rear wings when they are following a car, in order to boost their chances of overtaking.

“I think that could be quite exciting,” said FOTA chairman Martin Whitmarsh, insisting that drivers will not be able to use the straightline speed-boosting system to defend position.

FOTA’s technical chairman Ross Brawn added: “It’s going to be an enhanced F-duct, where the car that is following will be allowed to reduce its drag to attack the car in front.

“I think that will give a lot more opportunity for overtaking.”

But Renault driver Kubica insists that grands prix have been exciting enough in 2010 without the radical innovation.

“And secondly,” he told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, “why it is only now that people are noticing that overtaking is difficult?

“I watched my first formula one race in 1997, and there was not much overtaking then,” noted the Pole.

Jun.16 (GMM)  Ross Brawn claims he was mistranslated in suggesting Mercedes should not supply engines to Red Bull next year.

The Italian magazine Autosprint quoted Brawn, Mercedes GP’s team principal, as saying the German marque should think “long and hard” before adding another customer team to its 2011 stable.

The comments were interpreted as Brawn not wanting the best engine in the field to be mated to Red Bull’s arguably best chassis.

“I was asked by an Italian journalist whether Mercedes could cope with a fourth team,” Brawn explained to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

“I replied that Cosworth should supply any vacancies, because that’s the way it was planned by the FIA — that they (Cosworth) should be in business so that in an emergency there is not the reliance on the manufacturers.

“In the translation from Italian into English someone has added one and one together and come up with Red Bull.”

However, competition director Norbert Haug told German reporters in Turkey that it would be “definitely very difficult” for Mercedes to supply a fourth team with engines in 2011.

Jun.16 (GMM)  Mark Webber is not promoting any of the conspiracy theories after losing his championship lead in Canada last week.

After their infamous Turkey crash, the Australian qualified ahead of his Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel in Montreal.

But he had to move back five grid places after a precautionary gearbox change.

Some pundits joked that Dr Helmut Marko, who allegedly favours Vettel, must have taken a crowbar to Webber’s transmission.

“I would also have changed the gearbox,” the 33-year-old is quoted as saying by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

“It’s better to lose a few places but still get to the finish line.  In my situation, I need every point,” said Webber.

Webber’s problem was not the only one for Red Bull on Sunday; Vettel was also asked to slow down with what team boss Christian Horner confirms was a “gearbox-related issue”.

At least the Istanbul saga seems now to be in the past.  On Wednesday evening in Canada, Webber and Vettel jointly shouted the entire race team to dinner.

“I ordered the most expensive meal on the menu, because I know how hard it is to separate drivers from their money,” laughed Horner.

After the project is USF1 is finally broken the 13 Launch site for 2011 at stake. Several teams have applied to participate in Formula 1 next year. In addition to the successful GP2 team ART by Frédéric Vasseur and Nicolas Todt also Joan Villadelprat has applied again with his Epsilon-Euskadi team.

“I’m optimistic, but also a bit worried, because the FIA will publish its decision until probably the end of August,” says the former Benetton team manager in the magazine ‘Auto Sprint’. The Spaniard has claimed a good chance of being awarded. Epsilon-Euskadi has experience in prototyping, the company is as a showcase with a direct connection to the university. Sergio is ready Rinland an experienced Formula 1 designer.
“That team, which gets the award, has only very little time for the construction of Formula 1 cars,” criticized Villadelprat. “For us, this means that we now have to invest in a project that we do not even know whether we can realize it 2011.” The funding would seem to Epsilon Euskadi not be a big problem.

“We have been a very long time in intensive discussions with major international companies wishing to invest in us,” reports the team boss. “In two weeks we have accurate numbers, and then know how much money we can take control. One thing is certain: Our approach is long term. The budget must from the outset for at least two seasons to be sure. As a Formula 1 team you can not think from year to year. ”

With interest Villadelprat pursued the development of three new teams, Lotus, Virgin and HRT. In particular, the team of Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi’s view of the Spaniard is underfunded. have “I think if you really want to build a promising team, then you have to start at least 100 million euros. Sure, you can ride with 40 million €. But then, stay out of the progress every year and you may start over again .

(TMS)

Jun.16 (GMM)  After a dismal Montreal weekend for the Swiss team, boss Peter Sauber admitted the C29 car is not a good one.

But the 66-year-old has also been quoted indicating that he is not happy with the ongoing poor reliability of the customer Ferrari engine.

“Five problems with the Ferrari engine in eight races is unacceptable.  At this rate we will need more than eight engines per driver for the season.

“We need better reliability,” he is quoted by the Swiss newspaper Blick.

In Canada, Pedro de la Rosa’s race ended with an unspecified engine failure.

Earlier in 2010, both Sauber and the works team were struggling with poor reliability, but Maranello based Ferrari were given FIA clearance to implement a fix.

“Ferrari has solved its problems with the engines but Sauber has again had a failure,” Ferrari test driver Marc Gene wrote in his post-Canada column for the Spanish newspaper El Mundo.

“It is an issue that will be analysed thoroughly by the team,” he added.

“Two months ago there was a basic reason, but now … it is very strange,” wrote Gene.  “They will need to work to analyse it with Ferrari.”

The Spaniard seemed to indicate that Sauber’s ongoing engine problems are probably related to the C29 car.

“It is surprising that (Ferrari powered) Toro Rosso have never had a problem,” said Gene.

Jun.16 (GMM)  Sauber must now turn its attention to designing a much better car for next season.

That was the assessment of team owner and boss Peter Sauber in the wake of last weekend’s Canadian grand prix.

After an uncompetitive and unreliable start to the post-BMW period this year, there had been signs of a recovery until Montreal, where the C29 was faster only than the three new teams.

“We are only able to tinker with this car,” Sauber, 66, is quoted as saying by the veteran Blick correspondent Roger Benoit.

“It was an unpleasant parting gift from BMW and Willy Rampf,” he added.  “All our hopes rest now with the C30 for next year.”

Pedro de la Rosa has already confirmed he is on the market for a job for 2011, while the Japanese rookie Kamui Kobayashi has also been unconvincing.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport gave the 23-year-old a “1 out of 10″ for the Canada weekend, after almost being outqualified by a Lotus and then crashing on the first lap.

“Kamui came into my office and apologised immediately,” Sauber revealed.  “Okay, that is the price one pays if one goes to the line with a rookie.”