The Finnish former Formula 1 driver J.J. Lehto is in the early morning was seriously injured taken to hospital. As the Finnish Agency ‘YLE News reports, “the former Benetton team-mate Michael Schumacher on Saturday against four clock had struck with a motor boat to a bridge. On board was apparently a friend of the 44-year-old who could be salvaged, but only dead.

According to initial findings, the boat had collided with a speed of 40 knots (the equivalent of almost 75 km / h) against a concrete pillar. Both occupants were thrown in the southern Finnish city Tammisare into the water. Lehto had to swim ashore and in a nearby house to get help.
The police have the identity of the former Formula 1 stars and traveling with his friend, not yet officially confirmed, but witnesses and local residents have the 44-year-olds clearly identified. Details on the accident happened and the cause is not known. Lehto was denied in its active Formula 1 career 1989-1994 a total of 62 Grands Prix for Onyx, Scuderia Italia, Sauber and Benetton.

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.15 (GMM)  British F1 pundits have rounded on Michael Schumacher after the eighth race of the seven time world champion’s comeback.

The 41-year-old German had already had difficult moments in 2010, but in Montreal – an event he has won a record seven times – he qualified 13th and on Sunday had a calamitous and pointless race.

“I think Schumacher has driven appallingly today,” said Martin Brundle, one of Schumacher’s former Benetton teammates, who now commentates for the BBC.

The Briton was referring to Schumacher being overtaken by Sebastien Buemi, both Force Indias on the last lap, and separate clashes with Robert Kubica and Felipe Massa that Brundle referred to as “naughty”.

“You have to treat the back of Schumacher’s car like the back of a donkey,” added Brundle.  “This is Schumacher’s worst weekend since he came back.”

The usually highly partisan German daily Bild newspaper agreed, describing Canada 2010 as ‘Schumi’s blackest lap’.

“Schumacher was humiliated in his comeback season like never before,” the report added.

Eddie Jordan, who gave Schumacher his initial F1 debut in 1991, commented: “The big story (of Canada) was that Michael Schumacher did not even make the top 10.

“That’s a big, big concern about the Michael Schumacher comeback.”

Former rival David Coulthard pointed out that, in his prime, Schumacher’s talents always shined on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

“In all honesty he looked a shadow of his former self on Sunday,” the Scot wrote in his latest column for the Telegraph.

“I’m not beating up on Michael.  But what is wrong with him?  If I had to guess I would say it is F1 that has changed.”

Coulthard refers not only to today’s harder and thinner tyres, but also the V8 engines and 18,000rpm rev limit, offering “no torque”.

Apr.24 (GMM)  Two former grand prix drivers have called for patience amid criticism of Michael Schumacher’s return to formula one this year.

After the first four races of the seven time world champion’s comeback, the 41-year-old is 40 points behind his teammate Nico Rosberg, who has outqualifed him at every venue so far.

“I’m not worried about Michael Schumacher,” said Frenchman Jacques Laffite, who won six grands prix in the 70s and 80s.

“The (Mercedes) car just does not fit his driving style,” the 66-year-old told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

“You can see on the track that he is struggling with understeer,” said the TF1 commentator.

Mercedes will debut a significant update, including new wheelbase and weight distribution package, at the Spanish grand prix, and Laffite thinks Barcelona “will be better” for Schumacher.

Fellow GP veteran and commentator Martin Brundle, who like Lafitte is contesting the opening round of the new Volkswagen Scirocco R Cup at Hockenheim this weekend, also backed his former Benetton teammate Schumacher.

“I believe in his abilities,” said the Briton.

“I think he needs more time.  If I was seeing the same results in September then I would be worried.

“The fact that there is no testing is difficult for him,” added Brundle, who insists he has seen “the old Schumacher magic once or twice” this year in practice sessions.

Apr.22 (GMM)  More than 60 per cent of the respondents of a survey believe Michael Schumacher’s decision to return to formula one in 2010 was a mistake.

There has been much criticism of the seven time world champion’s comeback after four races, as he trails his teammate Nico Rosberg’s points tally by 40 points and has been outqualified on every occasion so far.

With results published on Thursday by the German news agency SID, the Dortmund-based German market research company Promit said 63.3 per cent of the respondents classified Schumacher’s return a mistake.

Only 33.5 per cent had a positive opinion about the 41-year-old’s comeback at the wheel of a Mercedes.

“Maybe he has lost his feeling for driving during the three years of his retirement,” Schumacher’s Benetton teammate Jos Verstappen wrote in his latest column in the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

“What we are now seeing is that Schumacher is an ordinary man of flesh and blood and that even he cannot conduct magic,” he added.