F1 Fantasy Racings » News & Media

Chip Ganassi rules out F1 team

Nicky — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:57:47 +0000

Well-known US motor racing team owner Chip Ganassi has ruled out entering formula one.
His cars have been winners in Nascar, Indycar and US sports car racing.

So with Austin joining the calendar this year, and New Jersey to follow in 2013, might it be the ideal time for Ganassi to look into running a F1 team?

“There was a time when I would think about that,” he is quoted by examiner.com.

“But now when I get that feeling I go lay down until it goes away.”

© 2012, www.fantasyracings.com. All rights reserved. The total or partial reproduction of text, photographs or illustrations is not permitted in any form. Copyright by F1 Teams Media Departaments, (GMM) and (CIAM)

Toyota to announce Buemi for Le Mans soon

Nicky — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:49:14 +0000

Toyota will shortly confirm Sebastien Buemi as the lead driver for the Japanese marque’s second Le Mans entry for 2012.
That is the claim of the Swiss website 20min.ch.

Earlier, it emerged that the former Toro Rosso driver – who has been signed by Red Bull Racing as its official reserve driver for this season – wanted to add the fabled 24 hour Le Mans race to his 2012 programme.

“His wish will come true this summer,” said the report.

On Wednesday, Toyota announced that former F1 drivers Alex Wurz and Kazuki Nakajima will front the lineup for one Toyota prototype at Le Mans.

“Discussions are still ongoing to finalise the driver lineup for the other (car),” said a spokesman.

Bank problem could spin Virgin off F1 track

Nicky — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:19:15 +0000

Virgin’s part-ownership by the British bank Lloyds is threatening to run the struggling formula one team off track.
Part taxpayer-owned Lloyds bought an undisclosed stake in the team – to be renamed Marussia in 2012 – last year.

The Independent now reports that directors risk prosecution by Companies House as a deadline to lodge documents relating to the Virgin investment runs out.

“On 25 October, Companies House sent a notice of dissolution to them and all of the company’s other directors, including team principal John Booth” read the report written by Christian Sylt and Caroline Reid.

Companies House confirmed: “If they’ve promised to file a document and they don’t, it will go through prosecution.

“They go through the courts for prosecution and if they don’t bring it up to date, they could close the company down. So they’ve got until Wednesday really.”

Team co-owner Marussia and Lloyds declined to comment, and a Virgin team spokesman said the story was a “procedural communication from Companies House”.

© 2011, www.fantasyracings.com. All rights reserved. The total or partial reproduction of text, photographs or illustrations is not permitted in any form. Copyright by F1 Teams Media Departaments, (GMM) and (CIAM)

Organizers of Circuit of The Americas suspending construction

Nicky — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 22:53:00 +0000

(pitpass) The future of the United States Grand Prix at the Texas venue took a further twist tonight when the organizers issued the following statement:

“Organizers of Circuit of The Americas, a premier motor sports racing and entertainment venue being developed in Austin, Texas, are suspending further construction of the project until a contract assuring the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix will be held at Circuit of The Americas in 2012 is complete. The race contract between Formula One and Circuit of The Americas has not been conveyed to Circuit of The Americas per a previously agreed upon timetable.

While construction at Circuit of The Americas has progressed as scheduled with over 300 workers at the construction site daily, all work will suspend immediately. The delivery of the Formula One Grand Prix race contract will allow construction operations to resume.

“We have spent tremendous resources preparing for the Formula One and MotoGP™ Championship races, but the failure to deliver race contracts gives us great concern,” said Bobby Epstein, founding partner of Circuit of The Americas. “We believe the United States is vital for the future of Formula One and its teams and sponsors. Given the purpose-built Tilke design, creating a unique fan experience and iconic challenge for drivers, we hope that Texas will not be left behind. More than 100,000 fans have expressed an interest in purchasing tickets for Formula One alone.”

“It is in the best interest of all parties to reach a timely resolution,” said Red McCombs, chairman of McCombs Enterprises and founding partner of Circuit of The Americas. “Local businesses, fans and the State of Texas are counting on us.”

Italians think title record possible for Vettel

Nicky — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:19:27 +0000

Most Italians do not believe Sebastian Vettel will ever trouble Michael Schumacher’s record of seven world championships.
But a significant 45.4 per cent of respondents answered ‘yes’ when asked by La Gazzetta dello Sport if the Red Bull driver, the youngest ever back to back world champion, will smash Schumacher’s record eventually.

54.6 per cent of the almost 9000 survey respondents answered ‘no’.

In India last weekend, Vettel beat Nigel Mansell’s old record for the number of laps led in a single season.

“I love what I do,” said the German when told about the record. “I think we all do so it is great and in a way we don’t want this (season) to end.”

TV commentators want windows for 2012 India GP

Nicky — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:11:04 +0000

F1 commentators might have a better view of next year’s Indian grand prix.
At the brand new Buddh circuit, television broadcasters were horrified to discover that the commentary booths did not have windows.

“I might as well be in Shepherd’s Bush,” said the BBC’s David Coulthard.

So annoyed were Coulthard and his colleagues that the broadcasters called a meeting with F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone.

In charge of the design of the new Indian venue was Hermann Tilke.

On the window controversy, he told Auto Motor und Sport: “This is a problem that we definitely have to solve.”

As for whether the solution will be in place for 2012, he answered: “We’ll see.”

Wheldon crash under investigation

Nicky — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 01:37:49 +0000

(Reuters) – IndyCar officials have begun an investigation into the cause of the 15-car crash that killed two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon, series boss Randy Bernard saying on Monday they need to understand what went wrong.

After attending Wheldon’s funeral in Florida on Saturday, many of the Briton’s fellow drivers were back in Indianapolis on Monday to meet with IndyCar officials for what was described as a frank discussion about driver safety.

“We must continue to move forward with a thorough investigation,” IndyCar CEO Bernard said in a statement. “Fortunately, that has already begun, and we have the protocols in place to get this done.

“This was a tragic accident, and IndyCar needs to understand everything possible about it.”

Phase one of the investigation, led by series safety and competition officials, has already begun and is expected to last several weeks.

An evaluation of the data will be used to make a factual determination of the circumstances surrounding the entire incident and the results handed over to an independent, third-party group for validation.

In the aftermath of the crash, which occurred during the opening laps of the IndyCar season-ending finale on October 16 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, drivers voiced concerns over several factors, including the safety-fencing that surrounds the oval and the number of cars and extreme speeds that produced dangerous “pack” racing.

Investigators will have access to data retrieved from the Accident Data Recorders (ADR) from all 15 cars involved in the accident.

The investigation will also include analysis of hours of photos and videos, including footage from in-car cameras and safety vehicles.

“We’re heading in the right direction,” said 2004 series champion Tony Kanaan. “(The meeting is) not something that is being done because something happened now. We set the standards. We’re just trying to make it better.

“What people have to understand is that we’re not going to make motor racing 100 percent safe. That’s the fact. We’re the lab and hopefully we can make it better, make it safer but we’ll never make it 100 per cent safe.”

By Steve Keating

Ecclestone: Indycar traded safety for high-risk racing

Nicky — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:31:04 +0000

Bernie Ecclestone has accused Indycar of playing with drivers’ lives by organising “wrestling”-style races.
Briton Dan Wheldon was killed just over a week ago in a 15-car crash at Las Vegas speedway, a 1.5-mile oval whose event boasted Indy 500-like speeds.

“We would never have let that race take place in Las Vegas last week,” F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone told the Daily Mail.

“With 34 cars racing on a 1.5-mile oval track, they were heading for disaster.”

Wheldon started the race dead last and, in an Indycar season finale gimmick, he stood to share a $5 million prize with a fan if he carved through the field and won.

At the time of his crash, he had already passed ten cars.

“It made the race a little like all-in wrestling — with a high risk attachment,” said Ecclestone, referring to British no-holds-barred professional wrestling.

“While our sympathies lie with Dan’s family, the whole episode has not been good for motor sport in general.”

Ayrton Senna Game is currently under development

Nicky — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 18:21:28 +0000

(Yalla F1) Twenty years ago, on October 20th 1991, Ayrton Senna won his third world championship in Japan, bringing joy to millions of fans all over the world as he did so.

The overcoming of such great challenges and the intense battles fought out on track throughout that great season make up part of the Brazilian driver´s legendary figure, whose shine remains strong to this day.

Now, for the first time fans will have the chance to virtually relive the Senna experience racing to the limits on race tracks around the world, as Reiza Studios is proud to announce a partnership with the Ayrton Senna Institute to develop a new Game for Windows – PC.

With the recently released Game Stock Car, the Brazilian developer has already demonstrated its capacity to combine professional level simulation with first-class gameplay, in order to create the most realistic and immersive racing games.

The new project will see Reiza going beyond, combining a brand new Game engine with a meticulous research process – passion and technical perfectionism in the best Senna style, to recreate in all its details a magic era in racing, when Ayrton wrote his history

The new Reiza project will also have a social purpose, as part of the revenue will be destined to the various educational programs developed by the Ayrton Senna Institute all over Brazil, which every year benefits over 2 million children and youngsters with quality public education.

The Ayrton Senna Game is currently under development and is predicted to be released at the end of 2012.

High-altitude scare for Vettel after Singapore

Nicky — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:41:23 +0000

World champion Sebastian Vettel had a high-altitude scare when returning to his home in Switzerland from Singapore earlier this week.

Media reports say the Singapore Airbus A380 carrying the Red Bull driver, as well as other F1 personalities including Peter Sauber, encountered a problem just before landing in Zurich.

The pilots diverted to Frankfurt, and Bild newspaper said it was a failure of the aircraft’s instrument landing system (ILS).

Passengers recalled that as the plane descended for landing, the pilots suddenly pulled back up at full power.

“We were never scared, because we were given very good information from the cockpit,” Sauber is quoted as saying by the Swiss newspaper Blick.

“But during the approach I did think, oops, the forest down there is looking rather close. Then we went back up.”

Said Vettel’s press manager Britta Roeske: “The captain came immediately to Sebastian and explained the electronic defect. Sebastian was very relaxed and even let himself be photographed with the crew members and passengers.”

Former Minardi press officer dies

Nicky — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:58:05 +0000

A press officer well-known to F1 journalists a few years ago has passed away.
Canadian-born Graham Jones, who died in Britain last weekend of cancer, worked at Minardi throughout Paul Stoddart’s reign beginning in 2001.

He subsequently worked as a columnist for the Toronto Star.

“What I remember most is his kindness,” said Molson Indy communications manager Sid Priddle. “He was always willing to listen to ideas and was always a gentleman.

“You never felt like you were in a PR/journalist situation but working with a friend.”

BMW insists ‘no comment’ on Heidfeld/DTM rumours

Nicky — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 17:12:54 +0000

BMW’s motor sport boss has refused to comment on speculation Nick Heidfeld could move from formula one to the DTM series next year.

German Heidfeld, 34, was appointed as injured Robert Kubica’s replacement for 2011, but Renault has now dumped him in favour of Bruno Senna.

It is being reported that talks between Heidfeld and his former employer BMW, no longer in F1 but to tackle the German touring car series DTM next year, have already begun.

With Andy Priaulx and Augusto Farfus already confirmed for 2012, there are still four official BMW M3 cockpits to fill.

“We have always said we would look first at the drivers from our own programme,” Jens Marquardt, who has replaced Mario Theissen as BMW’s motor sport director, told the German news agency SID.

When asked if Heidfeld is a candidate, he answered: “We do not comment on rumours.

“I am confident that we will have a competitive driver lineup in 2012,” he is also quoted by sport1.de, denying that BMW will look specifically for a German driver.

Ecclestone skips wedding day-three for Belgian GP

Nicky — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 16:16:37 +0000

Bernie Ecclestone will be trackside on Sunday for the Belgian grand prix.

So far this weekend, the F1 chief executive has been in Rome where he has bankrolled his daughter Petra’s $2 million wedding, which took place on Saturday.

Ecclestone, 80, said the event has actually taken place over three days, but he intends to skip the final lunch instalment in deference to his commitments at Spa-Francorchamps.

“As I said to (new son-in-law) James (Stunt), I shall be there for the practice on Friday and the qualifying on Saturday,” he joked to the Express newspaper.

Briatore in Russian champagne scam

Nicky — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:24:50 +0000

A group of Russians have scammed former F1 team boss Flavio Briatore to the tune of EUR 86,000.
According to the Unione Sarda newspaper, they got off a superyacht and entered Briatore’s ultra-expensive Billionaire club in Sardinia, charging 90 bottles of EUR 900 Cristal champagne to a Russian oligarch’s account.

Police are now searching for the group.

“We trust our clients and there are some who choose not to settle their bills until the end of the summer,” Briatore’s spokeswoman Patrizia Spinelli told the Daily Telegraph.

“This was a very unfortunate exception.”

Police investigator Giulio Brandanu told The Guardian: “We have seen people here skip out on drinks bills before, but never this much.”

Todt happy with Interlagos safety for F1 finale

Nicky — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:25:35 +0000

Jean Todt insists he is happy with the safety of Brazil’s formula one circuit at Interlagos.
Following recent stock car fatalities at the Sao Paulo venue’s high speed Cafe corner, organisers vowed to make significant changes that will involve demolishing a grandstand.

But the work will only be done after November’s 2011 season finale, and it recently emerged that a temporary chicane in place for recent stock car races will not be used by the formula one cars.

FIA president Todt, however, insists he is not worried.

“We are aware of the incidents that occurred at Interlagos in another category,” the Frenchman is quoted as saying by Agencia Estado.

“We made detailed inquiries about the cars (involved in the crashes), not the track. Everyone can rest assured that all measures will be taken to avoid repetition of such accidents,” added Todt.

He insisted that, in general, the level of safety in F1 is “excellent”.

“For 17 years there have been no deaths in formula one. We know it is a dangerous sport, but the FIA works constantly to avoid problems like accidents and to reduce the risks.”

Briatore involved in Ecclestone bribe affair

Nicky — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:41:59 +0000

Banned former F1 chief Flavio Briatore has been named as being also involved in the Gerhard Gribkowsky bribery affair.
The Italian, a friend and business partner of Bernie Ecclestone, was reportedly involved in the F1 chief executive’s payment of millions to jailed German banker Gribkowsky.

The Seddeutsche Zeitung newspaper said Briatore, as well as a Swiss lawyer, helped Ecclestone get the money to Gribkowsky via a web of shell companies and fake consultancy contracts.

And the report said four of Ecclestone’s lawyers – three in Geneva and one in London – have been subject to searches by prosecutors.

The 80-year-old has said he was effectively blackmailed by Gribkowsky and argued that the amount paid to the former BayernLB risk manager was much less than $44m.

APA news agency said the prosecutors have declined to comment on the latest reports.

Coulthard: McLaren trailing victory battle in Germany

Nicky — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 14:52:24 +0000

Red Bull and Ferrari will fight it out for victory this weekend, David Coulthard has predicted.
“It would appear that Ferrari and Red Bull have the edge on McLaren,” the Scot, a veteran of almost 250 grands prix, surmised after watching the practice sessions at the Nurburgring on Friday.

“Red Bull have taken pole at every race this year and I would expect that trend to continue,” he told the Telegraph.

It is a neat summary in the wake of Ferrari’s continued resurgence and the fact that McLaren, as at Silverstone two weeks ago, appears to have taken a step backwards.

Also looking stronger is Mark Webber, with his team orders stoush with Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel appearing to have given him wings.

At the same time, championship leader Vettel appeared to struggle somewhat in front of his home crowd, but forecast rain and low temperatures could give him the edge over Ferrari in the coming days.

“In the rain we still have a problem,” admitted Silverstone winner Fernando Alonso to Auto Motor und Sport. “The worst thing for us is a wet and cold track.”

German Vettel told O Estado de S.Paulo: “Our forecast is for rain.”

With his 80 point lead, however, the weather is a minor concern for the bigger picture. More important for Alonso is a consistently quick car — and for McLaren to improve.

“I need six or seven ‘teammates’ to be able to finish ahead of Vettel and take points off him. Otherwise it (the title) is going to be difficult,” he said.

There are also mind games at play, with McLaren’s Jenson Button openly admitting to trying all he can off the circuit to add to the current tension at Red Bull.

“I love it that there is a disagreement. It is what McLaren need,” he said.

Ecclestone says he paid Gribkowsky after threats

Nicky — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 18:14:55 +0000

Bernie Ecclestone has finally confirmed reports he paid $40 million to jailed German banker Gerhard Gribkowsky.

But the F1 chief executive, who was officially named in the Munich prosecutors’ charges against Gribkowsky this week, denies it was a bribe, hinting instead that he was effectively blackmailed.

Ecclestone, 80, told the Daily Telegraph he was “threatened” by Gribkowsky who was warning of tax trouble for the diminutive Briton.

He said Gribkowsky was alleging irregularities with Ecclestone’s offshore family trust Bambino and “threatened that he was going to say that I was running it”.

Ecclestone added: “The taxation people in England at the time were in the middle of settling everything with the trust and the last thing you need is for them to start thinking something different.

“He (Gribkowsky) was shaking me down and I didn’t want to take a risk.”

Ecclestone said he asked his lawyers for advice about how to deal with Gribkowsky’s alleged threat.

“They said ‘I tell you what would happen, the (inland) Revenue would assess you and you would have to defend it, because you could defend it, and you would be three years in court and it would cost you a fortune. Better pay’,” said the F1 chief executive.

Ecclestone said he paid Gribkowsky through Mauritius and British Virgin Islands-based companies because “he wanted to be paid so it didn’t look like it came from me and didn’t look like it had come from England”.

And he said he has consistently denied making the payment at all until now because “the prosecutor had asked me not to say anything”.

Gribkowsky’s legal representative declined to comment.

Boss says Renault to stay in F1 if ‘conditions’ met

Nicky — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:07:52 +0000

French carmaker Renault’s continuing involvement in formula one relies on “certain conditions” being present.
That is the claim of Carlos Tavares, who is the marque’s freshly appointed chief operating officer.

After the ‘crashgate’ scandal, Renault effectively withdrew from F1 as a works team and is now only an engine supplier to the Red Bull, Lotus Renault, Team Lotus and – in 2012 – Williams teams.

“It was a reasonable decision which led us to a level of expenditure in line with our means,” Tavares is quoted in a French language report by Agence France-Presse.

“Renault does not have infinite funds,” he insisted. “This decision allowed the company to refocus its efforts on the core of the race engines.”

AFP said that instead of paying EUR 220 million to run the works Renault team in 2009, the marque now spends just 60 million on its F1 programme.

Asked about the difference in image, Tavares answered: “I don’t know that we have lost anything.”

As for the future, he said Renault’s “strategy is to be the leaders in zero-emission vehicles.

“Our commitment to F1 is long-term when the conditions of cost, image and sporting fairness are also met”, added Tavares.

“As long as the conditions are there, there is no reason to not be in F1. It has been almost 30 years that we have demonstrated our passion (for F1) and we continue to do so every day.”

HP getting best value as F1 sponsor

Nicky — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:57:08 +0000

Hugo Boss is getting some of the best value for money as a formula one sponsor, a leading sponsorship consultancy firm has found.

The evaluation by Cologne based Sport Und Markt compared brand awareness versus the amount spent by F1 sponsors in 2010.

The result showed that fashion brand Hugo Boss, a long-time McLaren sponsor, had among the most efficient investments in F1, reaching 4.9 million people for its $3.1 million annual spend.

The very best however was Hewlett-Packard, reaching 6.6 million people by spending just $1.5 million for its minor Renault branding.

Allianz comes in at 11th place, Puma 14th and Mercedes-Benz far behind in 23rd, because each person reached cost the German marque a considerable $4.78.

Also struggling for sponsorship efficiency is DHL, one of F1′s official partners, ranking 32nd with its $10 million annually buying recognition among only 300,000 people.

A spokeswoman insisted to German business newspaper Handelsblatt: “This long-term partnership is for us one of the most powerful marketing platforms.”

F1 director buys stake in sponsorship agency

Nicky — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 14:05:29 +0000

One of F1′s non-executive directors is looking to get involved with formula one sponsorship deals.
The Financial Times reports that global communications services company WPP, headed by founder and boss Sir Martin Sorrell, is taking a minority stake in the biggest F1 sponsorship agency Just Marketing.

Sorrell is a board member of CVC, the controlling shareholder of formula one.

He said motor sport and F1 have grown significantly “But it needs a more professional approach from the marketing side”.

Zak Brown-headed Just Marketing handles the F1 sponsorships of clients including LG, Johnnie Walker and UBS.

“Motor sport is a very interesting area. It is very global, it has good reach, and with its live events has tremendous cross-media and new media opportunities,” added Sorrell.

Brown confirmed that the deal is going ahead and will “result in bringing in more clients and more money in the sport”.

But he remains concerned that F1′s constant politics is a barrier to the involvement of some potential sponsors.

“I do think it crosses the line from time to time, and I’m sure there are some companies that won’t participate in F1 because they can’t stomach the politics,” said Brown.

Ecclestone admits interest in buying back F1

Nicky — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 14:28:30 +0000

Bernie Ecclestone has admitted he is interested in buying back formula one.
The F1 chief executive currently works for the sport’s majority owner CVC, whilst retaining a small percentage of the commercial rights for himself.

It has been reported recently that Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation in collaboration with the Fiat-linked Exor company is interested in buying F1, as are the grandee teams.

Asked if he is interested as well, Ecclestone told the International Herald Tribune: “Yes, absolutely.

“I wouldn’t buy at the price that I think CVC would sell it. But I would certainly buy at the price that they (News/Exor) want to pay.”

Ecclestone, 80, was quoted recently as saying he thinks formula one is worth between $6 and 7 billion.

He reacted: “I have never quoted anything. It may have been written, but I haven’t quoted. A gentleman never speaks about money and last night.”

Moss urges Hamilton to reappoint father/manager

Nicky — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:04:33 +0000

F1 legend Sir Stirling Moss has urged Lewis Hamilton to reunite with his father.
Although the pair have patched up their personal relationship, McLaren driver Hamilton – guided into F1 and through his championship year by his father – is no longer managed by Anthony Hamilton.

Moss, 81, said he is concerned with Hamilton’s current behaviour.

“I am very concerned about him because I think he is an enormous talent,” he told the Daily Mail.

“It would appear to me that his persona has changed since he moved away from being with his dad,” added Moss, referring to Anthony, who now manages Force India rookie Paul di Resta.

Hamilton has been under fire in 2011 for on-track driving incidents and the way he has reacted to that criticism.

“I quite understand it is the bravado of youth and all that, but it is pretty dumb and he is not dumb,” Moss insisted. “You can’t be a world champion if you are stupid.”

Hamilton’s teammate Jenson Button declined to weigh in on the 2008 world champion’s situation.

“He will always be quick. It is about whether he is happy within himself and that’s for him. I see him when we do events and when we are at the circuit (but) I don’t sit down with him as friends,” he said.

Villeneuve: Artificial DRS makes F1 ‘boring’

Nicky — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:43:03 +0000

Jacques Villeneuve on Monday admitted he has given up on formula one.
Last year, the 1997 world champion was pushing hard to make a comeback, but at Williams’ headquarters in Oxfordshire he admitted he no longer even watches the races.

“I just can’t be bothered. Halfway through the race I’m yawning and it’s really tough … and I just get upset,” the 40-year-old told Reuters at the launch of his former team’s new engine supply deal with Renault.

Villeneuve explained that his major qualm is with the DRS overtaking system, which he has previously denounced as “too artificial”.

“When I see these guys not even being able to defend, like Michael (Schumacher) — he should have been on the podium in Montreal,” he said.

“All the … overtaking with the DRS, I’m just falling asleep … useless, boring, it’s not even racing.”

He is also critical of the amount of penalties handed out to drivers like Lewis Hamilton for banging wheels with his rivals.

“It’s fun, it’s a good show, the fans are up in the grandstands and they can scream and shout about it … that’s good, that’s what you want,” said Villeneuve.

FIA: V6 engines will still sound like F1

Nicky — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 08:08:02 +0000

Formula one engines will still sound good in the wake of the current V8 era, the governing FIA has insisted.
The unique noise produced by powerful high-revving engines has been an issue each time the regulations substantially changed, including when V8 engines became mandatory at the abolition of the V10 era for 2006.

But the proposed switch in 2013 from V8 to 1.6 litre four-cylinder turbo engines caused unprecedented angst, including from Bernie Ecclestone and the majority of his race circuit promoters, who threatened to boycott F1 if the cars sounded like “tin cans rattling”.

A compromise has been reached in the form of a 1.6 litre V6 turbo engine, producing 15,000rpm rather than the 12,000 proposed for the inline-four rules, to debut in 2014.

But in a media document on Thursday, the FIA denied the rev increase for V6s was in deference to the sound debate.

“This parameter has been updated from 12,000 to 15,000rpm to allow engineers more flexibility in power and energy management,” read the statement.

“However, as a consequence of the new architecture and the change in rev-limit, the engine will sound different, but will remain representative of formula one,” claims the FIA.

The governing body also insists that the V6 engines will not use more fuel than under the defunct four-cylinder plan.

“The fuel flow limit will stay the same,” read the document. “The challenge will be even bigger than originally planned and will therefore enhance the technological lead of formula one.”

F1 reliability better than ever in 2011

Nicky — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 08:03:00 +0000

Technical reliability in formula one has taken a great leap forward in 2011.
Last Sunday at Valencia was the first-ever 24-car finish in F1 history, with every competitor entered in the world championship making it to the chequered flag.

And Germany’s Die Welt newspaper noted that in the eight races so far this season, there were only 18 technical failures, compared to 38 at the same point one year ago.

“Reliability is at least as important as speed,” said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, “and to be the best requires a combination of both.”

But Jarno Trulli, a veteran driver who has spent the last season and a half at the back of the field with Team Lotus, is not so sure perfect reliability is good for F1.

“When I started racing (in F1), a driver knew how he’d start a race but not how he would finish it.

“This implies two things,” he wrote in a column for La Repubblica. “The first is that the chances for a small team to get in the points have sensibly reduced; the second is a further loss of appeal for F1.”

Whiting denies changing rules to hurt Red Bull

Nicky — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 09:36:13 +0000

Charlie Whiting on Friday denied the FIA’s mid-season clampdown on blown exhausts is a political move aimed at slowing down the dominant Red Bulls.
“I am aware of some stories being written but to be frank with you I know it is not a political one,” the governing body’s technical delegate told reporters at Valencia.

Red Bull team figures including Adrian Newey, Christian Horner and the drivers of the RB7 have been pointing out that earlier innovations, like the F-duct and double diffusers, were banned only at the end of a season.

“I know it is a purely technical intervention from our side and I feel perfectly comfortable with that,” insisted Whiting.

A distinction between the F-ducts and double diffusers and the blown exhaust issue is that while the FIA deemed the former as clever rules interpretations, it believes using the engine as an aerodynamic aid is illegal.

“What we are doing is stopping people breaking the existing rules,” said Whiting. “We are not changing the rules; they’re staying the same.”

And he clarified that changing engine maps between qualifying and the race has not been completely banned.

“They (the drivers) are allowed to change things that they can do with a switch, on the steering wheel for example,” he said, explaining that connecting laptops to the cars to change the settings is now forbidden.

Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn backed Whiting’s action and said it has probably prevented some teams from lodging official protests.

“And that (protests) wouldn’t be very good for formula one,” said the Briton. “The stewards would probably find it quite a difficult argument to resolve and it would probably end up in the appeal courts and that’s no good.”

Hollywood film about Lauda called ‘Rush’

Nicky — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:52:22 +0000

A Hollywood movie about Niki Lauda will be called ‘Rush’.
We reported in April that British script writer Peter Morgan, best known for The Queen and Frost/Nixon, was working on a screenplay to immortalise F1′s 1976 season.

35 years ago, Austrian great Lauda almost burned to death in a fiery crash but returned six weeks later to battle James Hunt for the title.

It was recently believed that Bourne Ultimatum and Green Zone director Paul Greengrass would direct Rush, but the LA Times quotes a source as saying The Da Vinci Code’s Ron Howard is now being touted to lead the project.

The film, having gained the financial backing for the project, “aims to shoot this year in Europe”, added the report.

Ecclestone admits BBC ‘facing problems’

Nicky — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:47:57 +0000

The BBC warned Bernie Ecclestone about “facing problems”, the F1 chief executive has admitted.

His comments follow reports this week that the British broadcaster’s highly respected free-to-air live television coverage of formula one might be dropped for 2013.

It has been feared that the only option for F1 in the BBC’s absence would be Rupert Murdoch’s pay network Sky, but the Daily Mail newspaper said ITV – the F1 broadcaster between 1997 to 2008 – might also be interested.

“We want formula one to stay free to viewers,” Ecclestone said. “That is 100 per cent.

“They (the BBC) did warn me that they were facing problems but, so far, nothing more has been said. I hope they want to keep us because it is such a success and I will do my best,” the 80-year-old added.

It has been suggested the reports might indicate the BBC’s desire to continue to broadcast F1 with improved contractual terms.

Red Bull drops NASCAR, eyes US GP title sponsorship

Nicky — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:46:30 +0000

F1 team owner Red Bull looks set to pull the plug on its NASCAR project.
The failure of the project compared with the energy drink company’s meteoric success in formula one is being blamed for the decision.

Reports in the American media early this week say staff at the Red Bull Racing Sprint Cup team are being told the operation will close at the end of the season.

“We are not at liberty to comment on details while negotiations (with investors) are under way,” said the team.

NASCAR insiders say North Carolina based Red Bull Racing, headed technically by ex-F1 figure Gunther Steiner, has struggled since its debut in 2007.

A report in the Toronto Sun said it is “well known” that Red Bull mogul Dietrich Mateschitz has been “unhappy” with the NASCAR effort.

“They never really had the level of success (in NASCAR) that I’m sure they were hoping for,” said F1 marketing guru Zak Brown, according to USA Today.

“And on the flip side, you have enormous success around formula one. I’d probably say it’s a combination of both, and I’m not sure there was ever the same level of excitement and passion (for NASCAR).

“Dietrich is a winner, and he’s not going to go on forever if he doesn’t get the results,” added Just Marketing’s Brown.

He said it is likely Red Bull will chose instead to spend its North American dollars on title sponsoring next year’s US grand prix in Austin.

“Not that the US GP will ever be the size and magnitude of NASCAR,” admitted Brown, “but I’m sure they’re not going to just drop the NASCAR team and not fill the void in another sport or with a title sponsorship. The US is too big a market for them.”

Oldest ex-F1 driver turns 100

Nicky — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:55:54 +0000

Paul Pietsch on Monday becomes the only living former formula one driver with a three-digit age.

The German, born on 20 June 1911, drove Alfa Romeos and Maseratis in the modern world championship’s earliest years, failing to win a race or even score a point.

But he is also remembered for founding the authoritative magazine Auto Motor und Sport, and in his more recent years for refusing to use a walking stick or a hearing aid because they are “for old people”.

Ironically as a 100-year-old now, Pietsch’s nickname was ‘Rennbaby’ (baby racer), due to his spending much of his earlier career as the youngest in the field.

When his career stalled due to flagging finances, he founded a publishing company in a bid to get back on track.

“I wanted to race again. We had to get the funding somehow, by selling something. I said to myself that I could sell my knowledge about motor racing,” he told the FAZ newspaper.

Ecclestone summons F1 Commission for 2013 engine vote

Nicky — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 17:10:54 +0000

Bernie Ecclestone has organised a meeting of the F1 Commission in an attempt to formally scuttle the proposed engine rules for 2013.
That is the claim of the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport, revealing that the meeting will take place on Wednesday.

The report said F1 chief executive Ecclestone, a staunch critic of the proposed rules, believes FIA president Jean Todt improperly introduced the four-cylinder turbos by bypassing the official bodies including the F1 Commission.

Despite Renault’s apparent threat to quit F1 over the controversy, Ecclestone is understood to have attempted to overturn the rules with a recent vote of the World Motor Sport Council.

The rules narrowly survived and Wednesday’s F1 Commission is his ‘plan B’ according to Auto Motor und Sport, with the 80-year-old also not ruling out a legal challenge.

BBC F1 axe reports ‘inaccurate’

Nicky — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 15:56:37 +0000

The BBC’s F1 anchor Jake Humphrey has dismissed reports the British broadcaster is looking to drop its coverage of the sport beyond 2013.

The Sunday Times, citing “senior sources”, is reporting that BBC chiefs are aiming to use the money saved by axing its expensive formula one coverage to avoid shutting down a digital channel.

“I have no inside information on its (the coverage’s) future,” host Humphrey wrote on Twitter.

“But I know little else gets the audience share and the millions that we do. BBC F1 is a huge success.”

He added that there were “many inaccuracies” in the Sunday Times article.

FIA waiting for new calendar from Ecclestone

Nicky — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:18:09 +0000

The key to calling off the rescheduled 2011 Bahrain grand prix is held by Bernie Ecclestone.
That was the claim of the FIA on Friday, after F1 chief executive Ecclestone confirmed the Sakhir race is “not on” and the circuit admitted it will not host the race in October.

Official confirmation from the sport’s governing body, however, is still missing, with the FIA website showing Bahrain deleted from the calendar despite the recent World Motor Sport Council decision and India – originally with the October 30 date – now unlisted as “to be announced”.

“In the light of the statement by the Bahrain International Circuit, we are now waiting for the commercial rights holder (Ecclestone) to suggest a new calendar to the World Motor Sport Council,” a FIA spokesman is quoted by Reuters.

Ecclestone: Vettel’s rivals need ‘very good luck’

Nicky — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:52:21 +0000

If Bernie Ecclestone were to bet a few dollars of his fortune on the outcome of the 2011 title, he would safely back his young friend Sebastian Vettel.
The F1 chief executive is famously friendly with the 23-year-old German who last year became the sport’s youngest champion and this year is running away with the spoils.

“Put it this way,” Ecclestone, 80, told the German magazine Speed Week. “Someone else would have to have very good luck to win this world championship.

“When I look at the speed of his car, I think only his own teammate has a chance,” added the Briton.

Vettel has won five of the opening six grands prix so far this season but there are more than a dozen to go.

“Until then, it’s a long way to go,” he is quoted by the SID news agency. “Last year we saw how quickly things can change.”

Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko agrees: “Sebastian has a comfortable lead but there are 350 points to go.”

In reality, Vettel is on target to set a new record for the earliest-decided title, with Michael Schumacher holding the current record for winning in 2002 with 6 races to go.

But he is cautious: “Anything – reliability, mistakes – can happen.”

FIA president Jean Todt hopes so.

“It is obvious for the sport that it would be best to have a different winner at every grand prix, but he has done a great job and has a great talent,” the Frenchman told Spain’s Diario Sport.