HRT Formula 1 Team announces the incorporation of Chinese driver Ma Qing Hua to the Spanish team’s young driver development programme.

The formation programme designed by HRT F1 Team for Ma Qing Hua includes professional assessment in his career as a driver, private tests with cars from different categories and simulator tests. If the results of the partnership are satisfactory, Qing Hua could take to the wheel of the F112 at the Formula 1 Young Driver test.

Ma Qing Hua will perform his first official act with HRT Formula 1 Team on Thursday the 12th of April at a press conference previous to the Chinese Grand Prix (13th to 15th of April), which takes place at the Shanghai International Circuit. The details of the press conference will be announced shortly.

The incorporation of Ma Qing Hua to HRT Formula 1 Team’s driver development programme is part of the Spanish team’s strategy in order to serve as a platform for the formation of professionals in the pinnacle of world motorsport. The driver born in Shanghai has been competing in different categories of national and international motorsport for many years. His incorporation to HRT F1 Team’s Driver Development Programme takes place after some simulator tests and a testing session in Cheste (Valencia) at the wheel of a World Series car. The qualities and attitude of Qing Hua convinced Luis Pérez-Sala of his potential to incorporate him to the programme which Dani Clos, HRT F1 Team test driver, is also a part of.

Ma Qing Hua: “I’m very honoured to form a part of the driver development programme at HRT Formula 1 Team since, with work and effort, it will allow me to become the first Chinese Formula 1 driver. It’s a very special moment for me and it’s hard to express how happy I am. I’ve dreamt of becoming a Formula 1 driver since I was very small. I started in the karting world when I was 8 years old and I worked really hard to learn and become quicker every time. After competing in categories such as Formula campus, Formula Renault and F3, I learned a lot about car set-up, technique on circuits and team work to become more professional every time. And now finally my childhood dream has become true thanks to the opportunity that HRT has granted me to become an F1 driver. And even more so this year with all the drivers who are competing, with 6 world champions amongst them. Driving an F1 car will be the most incredible experience and I’m going to work hard to earn it. Thanks to HRT for offering me the chance to show what I’m capable of. And thanks to my family and everyone who has always supported me. This is only the beginning”.

Luis Pérez-Sala, Team Principal: “We are working so that one of the team’s signs of identity is to serve as a platform to launch young drivers, both nationally and internationally. Ma Qing Hua is one those talents in which we believe and we want to help him in his career so that he can make it to Formula 1. We like his conditions and we want to take part in his formation by incorporating him to the team’s Driver Development Programme so that he can participate in races and private tests, with the objective of him being able to take part in the Formula 1 tests reserved to young drivers. Due to my responsibility in the Circuit de Catalunya young driver programme, I’ve been able to follow his progress and personally assisted some tests he did. I knew he had potential, but I was surprised with his speed, safety, adaptation capacity, attitude and professionalism. All these virtues make us believe that his incorporation to the programme will be very positive and will lead to a fruitful and lasting relationship”.

Profile

Date of Birth: 25th of December 1987
Place of Birth: Shanghai, China
Nationality: Chinese

Ma Qing Hua started racing at the tender age of 8 and won the youth National Karting Championship when he was 12 years old. He continued to race and achieve successful results in karting until 2004, when he entered the Asian Formula Renault Series and won the championship. In 2005 he represented Team China in A1 Grand Prix. From here he would move on to Formula Renault 2.0 NEC, before competing in Formula 3 Spain and Formula 3 Spain “Copa de España”, managing two podiums this season. One year later, the Chinese driver took part in various events of the British Formula 3 International Series. In 2010 he represented Team China for two races in Superleague Formula before moving onto the Chinese Touring Car Championship in 2011 where he came away with the title after four wins and four podiums in the eight-race season.

Career Summary:

2011: Chinese Touring Car Championship: 1st in the Championship (4 wins and 4 podiums)
2010: Superleague Formula: Team China
2009: British Formula 3 International Series: Team West-Tec
2008: Formula 3 Spain, Copa de España F3: Team West-Tec: 7th in the Copa (2 podiums)
2007:Chinese National Karting Championship (Super Group): 1st in the Championship
2006:Formula Renault 2.0 NEC: Team Astromega
2005:A1GP: Team China
2004:Asian Formula Renault Series: 1st in the Championship
Formula Campus Asia Championship: 1st in the Championship
Shanghai Karting Grand Prix (ICA Group): Winner
2003:Chinese National Karting Championship (ICA Group): 6th position
2002:Chinese National Karting Championship: 2nd position
Indian International Karting Championship: 2nd position

Charlie Whiting has vowed to do what he can to ensure next year’s cars are not as ‘ugly’ as the 2012 generation.
“It’s an ugly regulation,” said Red Bull’s Mark Webber, referring to the compromise reached between the FIA’s push for lower nose heights, and the teams wanting to keep the old monocoque dimensions.

It has meant every 2012 machine, with the notable exception of the McLaren, has a conspicuous ‘duck head’-style bump in the middle of the front of the car.

“We only got a sense of what was coming in December,” Whiting is quoted by Brazil’s O Estado de S.Paulo, “when it was too late.”

The Briton said the new rule for 2013 would have to be agreed by the end of June.

“I promise to do everything I can so that the representatives of the teams agree to a change,” said Whiting.

Argentina is close to returning to the formula one calendar, the president of South America’s second-largest country has revealed.
EFE news agency quotes Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner as saying it is likely an Argentine grand prix, last held at the ageing Autodromo Oscar Alfredo Galvez in Buenos Aires in 1998, will take place in November or December 2013.

She said next year’s race would take place on the streets of the coastal city of Mar del Plata.

“For us this is very important,” she said, “because after football, motor racing is the second favourite sport of Argentina.”

Fernandez said the deal would be initially “for three years, in 2013, 2014 and 2015″.

Jaime Alguersuari has admitted he was “hurt” by Red Bull’s late decision to oust him from Toro Rosso.
The 21-year-old announced this week that, amid speculation he might rescue his career with the reserve role at Mercedes, he will in fact be missing entirely from the F1 paddock in 2012.

In a Spanish-language statement, he admitted the career interruption was “unnecessary”.

“At the Brazilian grand prix, my continuity (at Toro Rosso) was confirmed verbally.

“After this confirmation by Red Bull and STR, we turned down a very good deal.

“A few days later, Toro Rosso sent me to the headquarters of (sponsor) Cepsa, and at a dinner I talked about my relationship with Toro Rosso and Cepsa with a script written at Faenza.

“No one has ever explained to me why, having fulfilled the expectations asked of me by the team, improving from 2010 and beating my teammate, I am stopped in December with no time to get a good position in 2012,” said Alguersuari.

He insisted, however, that he is not giving up on F1.

“I am thinking only of F1,” he said. “I am 21, have played 46 grands prix, I’m not a rookie driver anymore.

“Yes to formula one, but not at any price.

“I contacted (HRT team boss) Luis Perez-Sala, my friend and former mentor, in December, but we both agreed — HRT does not have a car for me and I cannot spend everything at my age struggling to improve a car that far behind.

“Williams? That option never even occurred to me as nowadays they only want drivers who pay.

“In January I had discussions with one of the best teams that could be decisive in my future. I was received with great affection and respect and we have opened a path.

“For obvious reasons I cannot reveal the nature of our intention, but what I can say is that I will devote myself body and soul to F1 in 2012.

“I will prepare myself, with no contractual relationships with anyone, to be ready and available for any opportunity that arises.”

Adrian Sutil has categorically denied recently visiting the Williams factory.
But the Force India driver admitted to Auto Motor und Sport in Singapore that, when he read the pages of speculation about his future last week, even he had to make efforts to verify the stories.

“It’s just rumours,” said Sutil, “but I read them too and called my manager. He told me that there is no contact with Williams.”

It is an uncomfortable situation for the experienced 28-year-old, despite the fact his personal sponsors Medion and Capri-Sonne can offer some money to his employer.

According to the paddock grapevine, Force India boss Vijay Mallya would probably prefer to pair Paul di Resta with Nico Hulkenberg next year, and that is why the Indian billionaire is delaying his decision until December.

“I have no other choice than to drive as well as possible to the end of the season and hope that I get a contract either here or somewhere else,” said Sutil.

By mid December, his contract option for 2012 will have expired and the German may have fled to another team.

Even rookie di Resta, however, sounds frustrated. “It is useless to get upset about it,” said the Scot, admitting he would like Mallya to make an earlier call.

At Williams, Venezuela-backed Pastor Maldonado is secure while Rubens Barrichello is sitting tight as the British team reportedly looks around for a suitable pay-driver.

Confusing, then, are the reports that insist the normally highly-paid Kimi Raikkonen really did visit the Grove factory recently and is seriously in the running for Barrichello’s seat.

“Right now is a big time for rumours,” Barrichello told reporters on Thursday, “and there is no point adding to them.”

Predictably, 2007 world champion Raikkonen – a former race winner for McLaren and Ferrari until two years ago – is saying little.

“I have no plans for next year,” the Finn is quoted as saying by Spain’s Diario Sport. “There are many reasons why I quit formula one and I always said I don’t know if it’s forever.

“I never make plans for the next year before January, so I will have to see what will happen.”

Bahrain will not only controversially return to a reshuffled 2011 schedule, the island Kingdom will also kick off the 2012 season.
The news was confirmed in a media statement issued by the governing FIA after its Barcelona meeting on Friday.

The Paris-based body said the decision to reschedule Bahrain to October 30 this year “reflects the spirit of reconciliation” in the troubled Kingdom, following months of civil unrest.

“The World Motor Sport Council feels that reinstating the grand prix is a means of helping to unite people as the country looks to move forward”, the FIA added.

A new date for India has not yet been set, but the FIA hinted strongly that it will be in December, “combined with the FIA annual general assembly and prize-giving gala” in Delhi.

Ross Brawn said in Monaco that December is “totally unacceptable” to the teams, so well-known F1 photographer Darren Heath on Friday dared the teams’ group FOTA to show its mettle.

“The safety of everyone in F1 will surely be put at risk,” he wrote on Twitter.

FOTA responded by saying Friday’s decision will be “discussed internally” with a position to be announced later.

Also on Friday, Bahrain was announced as the season opener for the 2012 season, with the provisional calendar for next year featuring an unprecedented 21 grand prix dates.

Turkey in May, however, accompanies an asterisk warning it is “subject to confirmation”, while Texas is as expected paired with Canada in June.

The FIA also reinforced the 2013 engine rules featuring four-cylinder turbos, but said the “implentation date” could be reconsidered by fax vote “by June 30 latest”.

Next year, meanwhile, the cars’ nose tip height will be limited for T-bone style crashes, while the minimum weight will increase to 660kg.

The lead attorney for the US grand prix promoter has denied reports the Austin track will not be ready for its scheduled 2012 race debut.

An official document that emerged this week showed that the expected build time for the Austin circuit, with construction set to begin in December, is 24 months.

But lawyer Richard Suttle, representing race organiser Tavo Hellmund, said the project is still right on schedule.

Indeed, at a meeting of the City of Austin’s environmental board on Wednesday, the first approvals for the circuit’s plans were granted.

“This project is on track, it’s on schedule with the help from the city and the county that we’ve (received),” Suttle told local KVUE News.

“We’ve been able to stay on track and we’re definitely on schedule, if not ahead,” he added.

Fernando Alonso believes Ferrari’s rivals are “trying to divert attention” from their own problems by playing psychological games in the media.

With just two races still to run in 2010 and Alonso leading the championship, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner this week admitted it would be “frustrating” to lose to the Spaniard after the Hockenheim team orders affair.

Stefano Domenicali hit back by suggesting it is a “miracle” the energy drink-owned team has not already wrapped up the title due to its car advantage, and his driver Alonso has now weighed into the squabble.

“There are some favourite teams, who have not resolved their own problems, trying to divert attention,” he said in an interview with Diario Sport newspaper.

“Fortunately for us, we are united as a team, as we show at each race, including my relationship with Felipe (Massa),” added Alonso.

“There are always media strategies designed to make you nervous or put you under pressure,” he said.

In another interview, with the O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, Alonso insisted he is not concerned that – as he bids to wrap up his third championship this weekend – his personal image within Brazil is not the best one.

“In several countries they say my image is not good, but when I land at airports or go to the hotels or race tracks, what I see is the opposite.

“I’m not worried about it. My job is to get results at the track and to have the team happy with my work,” Alonso added.

He said he hopes his teammate Massa’s home supporters at Interlagos will understand if the Brazilian pulls aside to let him win the race on Sunday.

“Those who will understand know that this sport is complicated, where at least at Ferrari, the team comes first. There will of course be those who don’t understand,” said Alonso.

“But my job is not to understand the views of the fans, but to do my job on the track.”

He denied that Massa is the weakest teammate he has ever had.

“No. Felipe is very capable, 100 per cent professional, working from January to December on his goals,” said Alonso.

New information casts doubt upon whether organisers of the 2012 United States grand prix can prepare the Austin site in time for its inaugural race date.

Construction is set to begin in December, but an official document – obtained by the Austin Business Journal – shows that the expected build time for the bespoke circuit east of the Austin-Bergstrom international airport is 24 months.

According to the local KXAN Austin News, the news was confirmed by a spokesman for F1, who said the 24 month timeframe could include months of planning before the December start-date.

Earlier in 2010, Bernie Ecclestone warned that organiser Tavo Hellmund risked penalties if the inaugural race does not go ahead in 2012.

A race contract for an inaugural Bulgarian grand prix in 2012 could be signed as soon as next month, according to the head of the south east European country’s motor racing federation.

A proposed race in Bulgaria has been on the table for some time, including when F1 chief executive met with the country’s economy minister at Monza last month.

If talks with a funding consortium reportedly comprised of Arab, US and Canadian companies and the government go well, Ecclestone could travel to capital Sofia to sign the contract between November 15 and December 15, Bogdan Nikolov told the Sofia news agency Novinite.

The report said Bulgaria aims to be unique on the F1 calendar by having an asphalt surface that can be artificially heated.

Nikolov, chairman of the Bulgarian Motorcycling Federation, added that the circuit will bid for both F1 and its two-wheeled equivalent MotoGP.

“We have created a project that meets the requirements of both FIA and (MotoGP governing body) FIM,” he said.

Many countries complain of declining audience figures at the Formula 1 race, but after the Turkish is pleased to now, the Canadian Grand Prix on a regular Plus. In Montreal today, even had the tickets be set because the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is now completely sold out!

Even at today’s pit walk, thousands Formula 1 fans, even though it was raining heavily in part. But the Canadians have always had something left for the Grand Prix racing after a year and are downright hungry. What is more, much more fans than in past years have come from Europe to the famous flair in Montreal once even able to witness live.

“There are thousands of fans that the Canadian Grand Prix have ever seen on TV and were now ready to fly across the Atlantic to a Formula 1 Grand Prix in Montreal-style witness,” said organizer François Dumontier of the Octane Group. “We welcome them, just like all the other fans. And I invite all of Montréal to come too!”

As the tickets were issued last December, there was in Quebec immediately a run on the Formula 1 Montreal will be the first Grand Prix to be completely sold out this season. Therefore, the organizers have decided to commence with the advance booking for 2011.

Ferrari on Thursday came close to confirming that Felipe Massa will be retained as Fernando Alonso’s teammate for the 2011 season.

Brazilian Massa’s contract expires in December, and it has been rumoured that Robert Kubica or Mark Webber are being lined up as potential replacements.

The 29-year-old has struggled with the F10 car alongside Alonso so far this season, but when asked if Ferrari will field an identical lineup in 2011, team boss Stefano Domenicali answered: “Yes, I think so.”

The Italian indicated that Maranello based Ferrari prefers to work with Massa to overcome his difficulties rather than oust him.

“Massa was struggling with the hard tyres in certain conditions in the first part of the year, so I think that is the area we need to work with him so he has more confidence in the car,” Domenicali is quoted by the BBC.

“It’s easy to criticise a driver when he is not performing well, so we need to make sure the package for him is the best.”

At Istanbul Park on Thursday, Pole Kubica said it is “too early” to talk about his whereabouts for 2011, but indicated that he is happy at Renault.

Luca di Montezemolo has indicated that Felipe Massa is on the road to having his Ferrari deal extended beyond December.

The 29-year-old Brazilian has driven for the famous team since 2006, alongside highly rated teammates including Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen.

But so far in 2010, Massa has struggled with the F10 car, while team president Montezemolo told La Gazzetta dello Sport that he is “very happy” with new long-term recruit Fernando Alonso.

Amid rumours Ferrari is considering replacing Massa with Robert Kubica or Mark Webber, Gazzetta correspondent Pino Allievi asked Montezemolo what Massa needs to do in order to keep his seat.

He answered: “Continue as before, with the same spirit, thinking of his interests but also those of the team.”

F1′s now-traditional end of season test for young drivers could be held in Abu Dhabi.

Last December, Jerez hosted the three days of winter testing set aside in the regulations for ‘young driver training’.

But Italy’s Italiaracing reports that for 2010, the test could take place in the days after Abu Dhabi hosts the season finale on Yas Island in mid November.

With all the cars and equipment already in place, the move would be a significant cost-saving.
(GMM)

Amid intense speculation about his future and a slump in his personal performance, Felipe Massa is looking to bounce back this weekend.

Turkey’s Istanbul Park has hosted five consecutive rounds of the world championship, and Massa won three of them consecutively between 2006 and 2008.

“It probably is my favourite track,” the Brazilian is quoted by the Swiss newspaper Blick, referring to the layout with the now-famous four-apex Turn 8.

29-year-old Massa should get a clear chance to perform in Turkey this weekend, as although rain is forecast early this week, the race event looks to be staged under warm and sunny skies.

His current contract runs out in December, but Massa is quoted as instead focusing on the challenge of making the F10 car respond better to his driving.

“The only thing that matters is my work within the team and how we prepare for the future,” Massa is quoted by France’s Le Nouvel Obs.

“I came here to be with Michael (in 2006) and I have also teamed up with Kimi and today I’m with Fernando. They are all strong drivers.

“I feel a lot of respect within the team and that is what matters,” he added.
(GMM)