The fact Belgium did not win its bid for the 2018 World Cup could be a blessing in disguise for fans of the historic F1 race at Spa-Francorchamps.

Spa’s grand prix contract expires in 2012, and it has been suggested that Bernie Ecclestone might drop one or two of the less lucrative European races to make way for new hosts.

Alain Courtois, a Belgian politician who was the front-man for the failed Benelux World Cup bid, thinks the region should now ensure that it does not lose its highest profile event.

“I think we need to be careful, because one of the conclusions to be drawn is that the sports world is heading towards southeast Asia and all these emerging countries,” he told RTBF television.

“So, we are not going to have the World Cup. Our other world event, the only one, is the formula one grand prix,” Courtois insisted.

“We need to try at least to keep this because you hear ‘it costs so much’. But the key is to position Belgium. We have a country that is dynamic, that is efficient, that has successful companies. We also need to have an image to the world.

“It (having the World Cup) was now or never. Let’s now continue with what we have, because it is not bad,” he insisted.

Max Mosley believes a title for Fernando Alonso with less than seven points ahead would be dangerous for Formula 1
If Fernando Alonso the world title this year did not win more than seven points ahead, then it would devalue the Formula 1, says the former FIA president Max Mosley. Thus the British refers to the change of place, the Ferrari at Hockenheim has been implemented, as Felipe Massa Alonso had to leave the victory. Although the team was then a penalty of $ 100,000 due to team orders, but there were other sanctions, although Mosley before the hearing before the World Motor Sport Council had meant there had to be penalized.

“I have a feeling that at least the extra points scored by Alonso overtaking Massa should be withdrawn,” Mosley told the BBC repeated now. “This is the absolute minimum, because if Alonso for some reason the World Cup less than the seven-point lead would gain, he has brought there, would devalue the World Cup. But this is a personal view ..”

It remains unclear who will take over after Bernie Ecclestone, Formula 1 – FIA president Jean Todt who had no worries and sees a positive future

Bernie Ecclestone is celebrating 28 October 80th Birthday. The Briton has expanded the “Formula 1 to a global stage. In 1958, he was even reported for two races, could not qualify in Monaco and Britain, however. has managed with Jochen Rindt, the Ecclestone for some time, first ideas for the marketing possibilities of Formula 1 were born. As Brabahm manager was happy the man shook hands with quality in the eighties on world title. In the new millennium Ecclestone has expanded the formula 1 in the new markets in Asia. But it is the eternal question: who comes after him?

Ecclestone has no plans to go into retirement. On the question of who will succeed him, he said that “some car dealers. He acted in front of the Formula 1 cars to rise. No one knows if Ecclestone has already organized his successor. Martin Whitmarsh, who currently heads the association FOTA team, says that it is “impossible to predict.”
FIA president Jean Todt believes that the succession is a matter for the CVC, which holds the marketing rights to Formula 1. “The responsibility for the future of Formula 1 is located at more than CVC at Bernie,” is dead by ‘TheHindu.com’ quotes. “It is up to them.” The Frenchman appreciates the CVC bosses as “wise business people” and is not afraid of the future.

“I am confident that Formula 1 has a very strong future. We must not forget that the formula counts one of the major sports on the planet. The World Cup is held every four years. The Olympics are only every four years . Formula 1 is held every year. ”
Todt passes out, however, that the formula may look a nothing for granted. For Ecclestone’s successor might not be easy. “Bernie knows that CVC knows this and we know it,” the FIA president.

Jean Todt has poured cold water on reports Africa might join the formula one calendar in the next few years.

While South Africa hosted the football World Cup earlier this year, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone said he hoped the continent would be on the calendar “in about three years time”.

Around the same time, it emerged a consortium was working on a F1 project that had requested state support from president Jacob Zuma.

But according to the president of F1′s governing body FIA, “I don’t see any opportunity in the next three to five years,” Frenchman Todt said on a visit to Kenya.

The Associated Press quoted Todt, who had been invited by the Kenya Motor Sports Federation, as saying a world rally or cross country event is more likely.

“Africa is a fantastic field to organise road racing,” he confirmed.

Mika Hakkinen followed eagerly the current World Championship match between Webber and Vettel. The criticism of Michael Schumacher does not understand the ex-F1 racer.

Mika Hakkinen has hung up his F1 helmet while 2001 to the nail, but the two-time champion continues to pursue racing. Specifically, the current World Cup situation has done to the Finns. “The last few years in F1 were exciting, but this year surpasses everything. This is just unbelievable, because so many drivers are still fighting for the championship. This is great,” gushed Häkkinen. Mark Webber has impressed with his performance Häkkinen.
“Webber has made 2010 a great job. He has shown a trend and become very mentally strong. Something has changed with him in a positive way,” said the Finn. Although the Australians in the lead, Hakkinen will not be fitted into a championship favorite. “There are still three races and Vettel is not an easy opponent. He is a young, energetic man, and he pushes to the limit,” said the Finn. The former McLaren Mercedes driver can see parallels between Vettel and his former rival Michael Schumacher.

“Vettel has to go no fear over the limit, as then Schumacher. But reckoned with the fact that mistakes happen when you go over the limit. This can be painful, but I myself have also preferred to be on the limit as under. I understand the mentality of the two “, said Hakkinen. The Finn also follows the progress of Schumacher in his comeback season trusts, however, not to evaluate the performance of the record world champion.
“I still know from my F1-time for the people to practice criticism and a fast rate. This is really hard. I do not want to say anything about his performance, because you never know from the outside, making the team, what the reasons for performance, or what the team is working. Therefore, the criticism of Michael is unfair, “said Hakkinen. For him, the German has lost none of his skill. “I know Michael and he is an incredible racer and a great person. I think his comeback is great for F1,” said the Finn.

Whether Schumacher will drive in 2011 in Formula 1, he could not answer because he knows how hard the F1 world. “F1 is a great challenge. It takes a lot of energy, because you experience more disappointments than successes. It is a very tough world, but if he can handle it and enjoy it, then I wish him all the best,” said Hakkinen off of the DTM race at Hockenheim.

(TMS)

Because of the current summer break all Formula 1 teams are sentenced to to suspend altogether two weeks to work completely. But Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali is convinced that “we are on vacation, but that does not mean that our brains cease to function.” Perhaps one could even inspire new if you are even staying outside the normal working environment, so Domenicali on the official website of the Scuderia.

Ferrari is also to use the summer break to get to the meeting of the FIA World Council on 8 September to prepare. Then it will be decided whether the Italian racing team is penalized go on for its stable government at the Grand Prix of Germany. Domenicali has the whole debate, but enough already. “I was speechless whether the whole hypocrisy in our world.”

Instead, the team manager would like to concentrate on continuing the upward trend in sports. “The second half of July went very well and I hope this has given us the momentum for the last part of the season. We know that there is still much to do, because we still do not have the best car. But that should only be a further incentive. ”

Domenicali was with the reaction of his team very happy when they threatened to lose at some point of the season following the World Cup top. Ferrari, Fernando Alonso is now back in the middle of a world title fight. “We have discussed with Fernando a few days: should we manage to always be on the front seats, can we get satisfaction.”

Rubens Barrichello feels with his friend and countryman Felipe Massa set the tiresome topic stable government finally over
The Sorrows of Felipe Massa Rubens Barrichello can understand very well. The Williams driver had in his Ferrari-times do often enough behind team leader Michael Schumacher. The same experiences his Landsann now in the shadow of the superstar Fernando Alonso. “That such things happen, is the reason why I have often changed the team,” said Barrichello, who was sick role as number two.

Under the real joy of the journalists present, the Brazilian said on Thursday at the press conference: “If I were a ‘Bad Guy’ has to be to be world champion, then I’d rather the world title. Such a world champion I do not want to be. Permit me has brought up my father, so I raise my boys. So I’m happy. ”
“The drivers have to each other go, all, this is the sense of racing. And if I end up with a point for the world title is missing, then so be it,” Barrichello said after the Ferrari team orders last Sunday in Hockenheim. “I’m very sorry for him. Felipe is a friend and I would have liked him that he must not do this experience. He feels the same now as I have felt many times.”

While the views of many team leaders and partly also the drivers for the abolition of the prohibition order-stable, Barrichello has a different view. “We must do something to make the stop. Otherwise it will end at some point in a great drama. It is in the hands of the top people to change that. You should clean may go against each other. What did you do it when you win the World Cup only because someone gave you points? “

Jenson Button is at his home race never stood on the podium. Last year, the 30-year-old was leading the championship and as the clear favorite to Silverstone. In the race, finally gave it only to a disappointing sixth place. The best result in 2004 he took fourth. As McLaren has many improvements in the luggage, Button now wants the big triumph.

“I have triumphed in Monaco and won the World Cup. I lack only the victory in my home,” is the two-season winner of ‘ESPN’ quoted. “Everyone wants to win, of course, the home race. The British Grand Prix is something special, since in this region are many teams and many fans come year after year.”
His team mate Lewis Hamilton is also hot on a home triumph. Two double victory celebrated the chrome arrows in this season. In the UK, which is in 45 years, however, happened only once. 1999 saw David Coulthard (McLaren) to the checkered flag in front of Eddie Irvine (Ferrari). This day is mainly with the broken leg of Michael Schumacher remembered.

In the duel approached his stall colleagues said Button: “Lewis is very fast and there is a good competition between us. In the last race he has come before me to the finish, if only just ahead of me. I want to win at Silverstone Lewis as well. He does not think differently than I do. We will just go out there and have fun. Hopefully one of us wins. ”

Button feel pressure to succeed after the departure of the “Three Lions” is not in the World Cup. “Lewis and I have achieved a lot in our sport,” said Button. “We have pressure from outside and from within usual. I do not feel more at Silverstone under pressure, at least I feel it.”
Around the British tradition of track fans in the past have been held much spectacle. Unforgettable is the Mansell-mania in the early nineties, when the red number five was dominated by Williams. After 1987 Nigel Mansell 1991 and 1992 was also celebrated as the winner. After Damon Hill a year later had to retire due to an engine failure on the way to his debut triumph, he finally went in 1994 with the Union Jack as the winner down lap.

Now it is the British Dream Team Button and Hamilton to inspire the fans. “I am very excited and look forward to the many spectators with the British flag in the stands,” said the reigning world champion. “It is a very special Grand Prix. I think this year will be even better for a long time. I want to see not only a British winner, I want to win themselves.”

Sebastian Vettel declared on the radio he is “back on track” after winning Sunday’s European grand prix.

“Germany one, England nil,” grinned third-placed Jenson Button, before leaving the FIA press conference to watch Germany score the first goal for real as the countries battle for World Cup survival in South Africa.

With his win, pole sitter Vettel snatches third place in the world championship – behind both McLarens – from his Red Bull teammate Mark Webber, who escaped unhurt from a frightening backflip crash.

Caused by the Australian striking the rear of Heikki Kovalainen’s Lotus, the crash mirrored one during the earlier GP2 race, in which Josef Kral was hospitalised.

Some figures, including David Coulthard, slammed Kovalainen’s decision to race Webber’s much faster car, but Lotus technical boss Mike Gascoyne said on Twitter that the Finn was “pissed off with Webber”.

“For all those saying we should not have defended from Webber, when it is for position on track we race,” Gascoyne insisted.  “Always.”

The race was also controversial for other reasons.  Hamilton finished second after a drive-through penalty for overtaking the safety car, while Fernando Alonso did not make the illegal pass and finished just ninth.

“It is really unfair, it is like no penalty,” Alonso’s race engineer Andrea Stella told the angry Spaniard by radio during the race.

And nine drivers – Button, both Williams, both Renaults, both Force Indias, Sebastien Buemi and Pedro de la Rosa – are under investigation by the stewards for driving too fast on their pitstop in-lap while the safety car was out.

If penalised, Sauber’s Kamui Kobayashi – finishing behind four of the investigated drivers – could be the big winner, after finishing seventh with an unique race strategy that saw him make a very late single pitstop.

By performing impressive late-race passes on Fernando Alonso and Buemi, meanwhile, the Japanese also rekindled memories of his stirring late debut for Toyota last year.

Provisional Race Result -  27 June 2010

Ferrari intensifies for the decisive phase of the Formula 1 World Championship in the technician field. The Italian team of the Spanish world champion Fernando Alonso Ex-bound former McLaren chief engineer Pat Fry and hoped for, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport ‘by the British also had a decisive impact for the season 2011th

Fry had dissolved his contract with Ferrari rivals McLaren recently after more than eight years. His career in the premier class of the 46-year-old had started in 1987 with Benetton. Alonso shows in the World Cup driver standings after eight of 19 races as the best Ferrari driver in fourth place, while the team from Maranello in the constructors’ standings to third place is.
Pat Fry was brought to his departure from McLaren, with several Formula 1 teams as possible. Among their tasks, even Red Bull and Mercedes have been interested in the 46-year-old British. When the renowned engineer will take up his duties at the new employer in Maranello is as yet unclear.

McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh would even be disappointed if the new parts on the McLaren “We would not be a big step further forward.” The goal was, in every race for a quarter-second to be faster. Compared to ‘Reuters’ he gave on record that he certainly does not underestimate Red Bull, but “we have already fought several world championships and have therefore probably a little more experience than Red Bull to be the come back strong, so we have to develop the car well or we do not win races, and no World Cup. ”

His driver showered with compliments and Whitmarsh already designated it as the best drivers in the world. “This is a huge compliment. He has to bring in any event, two drivers, a solid performance. I am also glad and happy happy about Jenson’s performances,” says Hamilton, who expressed the first time about a possible second title: “He would have a much higher value, but to win in his second year, the World Cup is a great achievement. ” Button shows also highly motivated: “I had a good season so far, but there is more to come.”

Hamilton also said that it was now more difficult than in past years to take the title. “In the past three drivers have competed for the title, this year there are fewer than six or seven. One must always give his best. It used to be good enough and we got away with it. But now you have to be at the highest level, so that one before the other remains. Currently, I am as constant as never before in my career, “said the Briton, adding:” There will be some opportunities for me and I will grab with both hands. “

Although we will not successes, Mercedes continues to focus on the current cars and does not focus exclusively or even to 2011. The team led by Ross Brawn had in 2008 decided early on to go back to the weak development of the Honda, and to focus on the upcoming season. With success, for there were both won World Cup titles. But unlike today, the rules were then already in place. Currently, there are officially in the coming year still no tire manufacturer and is about the return of the KERS energy recovery system and an adjustable rear wing still spoken.

In addition, says an old Formula 1 Wisdom: If you do not understand the problems on the current cars, it does not help to incorporate these difficulties in the coming model. Therefore, the Mercedes team is working feverishly to close the gap to McLaren and Red Bull. “I think every team is already thinking about the car for 2011, but we want to achieve with the current model, some important improvements,” Brawn says to ‘Autosport’.
“In the second half of the season, we must then consider our position. We hold nothing back on the engine. A little bit of focus but we have to next year,” the team boss. The riders start in 2011 but already think. Michael Schumacher said after Montreal that his title chances this season would be virtually over, and his focus shifts to the coming year.

(TMS)

Michael Schumacher enjoyed a Grand Prix of Canada to forget. The Mercedes star fell after a promising beginning, back after a puncture and was finally passed up to eleventh place. After the setback, the world champion but could console himself with a strong opening game of the German national team at the World Cup in South Africa.

After Joachim Löw’s team at the start of the match against Australia clouded some ways, it always came into the game and let the “Socceroos” from “Down Under” Finally, no chance: 4-0 was the convincing result. And not only in South Africa, the joy was great – even the talented amateur kicker Michael Schumacher was jubilant: “This was a super game of the German team, which was to look great.”
Schumacher was lucky that the start time of the Grand Prix of Canada at the World Cup has been adapted – through interviews and internal analysis after the race, he missed only the beginning of the game, as he confirmed: “I have not seen, although the initial can, but the second half was great about this young team. The best way I found it quick short passing game, really impressive. ”

The German, who at FC Aubonne in the third Swiss league chasing even occasionally even the round leather trusts, his national team after the blowout against some of Australia: “I certainly hope that the team’s keep it plays, so we have all long fun able. ” Maybe give Philipp Lahm & Co. Schumacher even some hope for the mixed season opener: Finally, we stood before the World Cup by some failures, including top striker Michael Ballack, under enormous pressure – the shooting brought the critics but for the moment silenced.

Source: Totalmotorsports

Lewis Hamilton was just two weeks after his triumph in Istanbul once again delighted with the victory. So that the McLaren-Mercedes driver took over in World Cup standings and the lead. For the British it was the second win in the third race at the Circuit de Montréal.

“This was an incredible weekend, it was fantastic,” said Hamilton, who won from pole position. “I arrived here on Wednesday and things have just gone well. I enjoyed the incredible support of the fans are. With so many Britons at the track, which is great to see.”
“The team continues to provide incredible work,” the former Formula 1 world champion. “It was so far one of the toughest races, but that’s also what you want. I am very happy and proud of the team.”

Jenson Button was in second place, the result for the team perfectly, but Hamilton has Red Bull is still more than just on the bill: “We do everything to close the gap on them. On the other courses, where slightly more Downforce is necessary, they may perhaps be a bit forward. But I have no doubt that we will close the gap. ”

Lewis Hamilton is hoping that the positive trend of recent weeks may be maintained: “At the race weekends, we do obviously better job. I hope we can continue with it. For me it is a special day. I have won my first race, and to repeat those three years is really a pleasure. ”
The most exciting moment experienced Hamilton during the pit stop as he drove alongside the Ferrari from Fernando Alonso through the pit lane, “I think I have something against him came on the air, but I was clearly not the best pit stop.”

“I saw how he was let go, and when he left, he was in my blind spot. Suddenly he was beside me, we went on that ground at the first corner and he came up to me. He had a great speed.” After Hamilton was able to overtake Alonso successful on the track.

With the fifth place in the first free practice session in which Red Bull is almost always with a lot of fuel on the road, pointing to Sebastian Vettel, that he could be competitive in Montreal. The Germans lacked less than half a second to Jenson Button, of the McLaren F-shaft system and Mercedes-Power has two advantages that fall on the long straights particularly significant.

“This track is an interesting test for us,” says team boss Christian Horner. “It should help the Mercedes team and the teams with F-bay system – and we have not both, so we must try to extract otherwise lap time out of our car. When we are fast, then it should be in this be no more World Cup races, in which we have to fear us. ”
For Red Bulls great strength is the high contact pressure, which affects mostly in fast curves, on straight lines but does nothing. In the first free practice at least another five were missing Red Bull to ten km / h top speed. At least, appear after the collision of Istanbul smoothed the internal waves to be. Furthermore, the decision was taken that Vettel and Mark Webber continues to be free to go against each other.

“Both drivers agree that it was a bad outcome for the team and for themselves, as both have lost points,” said Horner. “But it was wrong to let them go against each other? I think not. If we want processions, we would apply to drivers immediately after the start to hold the positions, but that’s not what Red Bull is – and it is also not what we mean by Grand Prix racing. ”
“Therefore we will continue to allow our drivers to drive against each other, but we expect them to respect themselves as teammates, as they have done in the past so many times,” Horner for the record. He also admits that it was a mistake to discuss the question of guilt in public, but for a new team like Red Bull are just such situations, even a “discovery trip”.

“We are a young team, but the progress we have made over the past five years is remarkable,” said Horner. “Two cars in front have to compete for the Grand Prix victory is the reward for the hard work in the factory, and behind the scenes. But I must admit: from team perspective, from an individual perspective and from the driver’s view you can still learn something. ”
(TotalMotorSports)