F1 News, Interviews & Stuff...

[Anna]

Ever find an interview with some random F1 personality and not know where to post it?

Some inferior piece of news that doesn't deserve its own thread?

Post it all here .

[Anna]

’Rogue trader’ costs major F1 sponsor billions

UBS could see its forcasted profits for the quarter wiped out

Friday 16 September 2011 - 10h03, by GMM
A major formula one sponsor has had a $2 billion hole blown into its books by a so-called rogue trader.

The Financial Times reports that a 31-year-old has been arrested in London as the Swiss group UBS, a ’global partner’ of grand prix racing, saw its shares plunge almost 11 per cent.

On the alleged investment fraud, a spokesperson for Swiss banking regulator Finma said: "From the scale of this case, you can be sure that it’s the biggest we’ve ever seen for a Swiss bank."

Reports suggest the scandal could single-handedly wipe out UBS’s forecasted profits for the quarter.

[r1ch91]

Massa secures six Formula 1 regulars for kart race
By Jonathan Noble Thursday, September 29th 2011, 10:18 GMT

Felipe Massa has secured the highest number of F1 driver entries ever for his annual charity kart race - with six of his current on-track rivals signing up for the event.

Rubens Barrichello, Bruno Senna, Vitantonio Liuzzi, Jaime Alguersuari, Pastor Maldonado and Adrian Sutil have all agreed to take part in the International Challenge of Go-Kart Champs, which takes place in Florianopolis on December 2-4.

As well as the F1 regulars, Pirelli test driver Lucas di Grassi, MotoGP's Jorge Lorenzo, Ferrari reserve driver Jules Bianchi and IndyCar race winners Tony Kanaan and Helio Castroneves are all confirmed.

Sebastien Buemi and Sergio Perez are also considering invitations to attend the event, but have not yet finalised their plans.

The full entry list so far is:

1 - Felipe Massa (Formula 1)
2 - Rubens Barrichello (Formula 1)
3 - Bruno Senna (Formula 1)
4 - Lucas di Grassi (Formula 1)
5 - Vitantonio Liuzzi (Formula 1)
6 - Jaime Alguersuari (Formula 1)
7 - Pastor Maldonado (Formula 1)
8 - Adrian Sutil (Formula 1)
9 - Jules Bianchi (GP2 Series-Formula 1)
10 - Jorge Lorenzo (MotoGP)
11 - Tony Kanaan (IndyCar)
12 - Helio Castroneves (IndyCar)
13 - Bia Figueiredo (IndyCar)
14 - Vítor Meira (IndyCar)
15 - Pietro Fittipaldi (LLM-Nascar)
16 - João Paulo Oliveira (GT Series - Japan)
17 - Cacá Bueno (Brazilian Stock Car-Trofeo Linea)
18 - Popó Bueno (Brazilian Stock Car-Trofeo Linea)
19 - Christian Fittipaldi (Trofeo Linea)
20 - Marcos Gomes (Brazilian Stock Car-Trofeo Linea)
21 - Leonardo Nienkötter (Trofeo Linea)
22 - Antonio Pizzonia (Brazilian Stock Car)
23 - Ricardo Zonta (Brazilian Stock Car)
24 - Xandinho Negrão (Brazilian Stock Car-GT3 Brazil)
25 - Max Wilson (Brazilian Stock Car)
26 - Luciano Burti (Brazilian Stock Car)
27 - Allam Khodair (Brazilian Stock Car-Trofeo Linea)

[Anna]

THAT looks like a brilliant line up not holding my breath for Jules though he was confirmed for last year and never showed up but at least its not totally Brazilian this year not that it matters but it was funny that the ONLY non-Brazilian in the competition was Jaime.

[Anna]

F1 panel says no to customer cars


It has not been approved

Friday 4 November 2011 - 07h56, by GMM
The unofficial news emerging from the F1 Commission on Thursday was the approval of team name changes and the 2012 calendar.

The sources, however, were much quieter about the big-ticket discussion — the speculated liberalisation of the Concorde Agreement to allow the purchase and sale of full ’customer cars’ between competing teams.

"In general, but not always, when a controversial topic is discussed by the F1 Commission and the result is not immediately made public, then it has not been approved," wrote Livio Oricchio in his O Estado de S.Paulo column.

Indeed, Italy’s Autosprint - also reporting after the Geneva meeting broke - thinks the most likely outcome for the future is a further tightening of the existing rules, which could endanger partnerships such as the one between McLaren and Force India.

Upon announcing the extension of its partnership with Williams on Thursday, for example, HRT found the need to state explicitly that the gearbox and KERS deal "strictly follows the terms agreed in the Concorde Agreement".

The two teams "will compete independently in the formula one constructors’ championship", added the media statement.

Along with Ferrari, one team arguing in favour of customer cars is Toro Rosso, who last year was forced to become a full constructor despite previously enjoying a much closer collaboration with its parent Red Bull Racing.

"The precise cause of this change in regulation (in 2010) is hard to determine," team boss Franz Tost told Sportwoche.

"Today, we see big corporations working together, which from an economic perspective makes complete sense. But in formula one a close collaboration between teams is not possible, which to me is absolutely the wrong way."

So for now, enhancing the Red Bull-Toro Rosso relationship will have to be done within the existing limits, with Tost revealing that "in the medium term it is our goal to have the same engine manufacturer (Renault) as Red Bull".

Currently, Toro Rosso is powered by Ferrari.

[Anna]

F1 panel approves name changes, 2012 calendar


Team Lotus will become Caterham, Renault will be called Lotus and Virgin will adopt the name of Marussia

Friday 4 November 2011 - 07h44, by GMM
The F1 Commission on Thursday approved name changes for three formula one teams ahead of the 2012 season.

Next year, Team Lotus will become Caterham, Renault will be called Lotus, and Virgin will adopt the name of its Russian supercar partner Marussia.

Brazilian Livio Oricchio wrote in his O Estado de S.Paulo column that the Renault team no longer has "anything to do with the French carmaker" and in fact owes money to the Boulogne-Billancourt marque.

And the Telegraph reports that although Virgin will now be known as Marussia, Sir Richard Branson’s brand "will continue to pay money" to the team.

"As part of the new deal, believed to be for four years, Virgin will not have any equity but will continue to pay sponsorship", the report added.

The changes - voted on by the 26 members including Bernie Ecclestone, Jean Todt, race promoters, teams, manufacturers and sponsors - are pending the approval of the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council meeting in December.

Also discussed in Geneva was the 2012 calendar, with events in Austin, Korea and Bahrain reportedly in doubt and Turkey apparently hoping to slot back in with a reduced sanctioning fee.

But a source close to Texas’ scheduled 2012 US grand prix reports that the F1 Commission confirmed next year’s calendar as originally published by the FIA.

[Anna]

Two drivers not using safer visors after Massa injury


"Perhaps with the g-forces it adds up to a bit more"

Thursday 24 November 2011 - 10h28, by GMM
At least two F1 drivers are still refusing to update their helmets with the new feature designed in the wake of Felipe Massa’s 2009 head injury.

Last month at Suzuka, it was believed all the race drivers were wearing helmets fitted with a bulletproof Zylon strip across the top of their visors.

But because the strips add 50 grams of weight to the helmet, and affect the visor tint coatings and also the tear-off strips, it ultimately emerged that some drivers remained unwilling.

Indeed, Turun Sanomat reports that the zylon visor is not yet mandatory, despite most drivers now using it because it is safer.

"(Michael) Schumacher and (Lewis) Hamilton don’t use it because it saves them an extra 50 grams," said Japanese helmet manufacturer Arai’s Peter Burger.

"Perhaps with the g-forces it adds up to a bit more (than 50 grams)," he conceded.

He said world champion Sebastian Vettel, on the other hand, does use the zylon strip.

"I had to carefully explain to him why to use something that is not actually compulsory," said Burger.

"It was supposed to become mandatory in Japan but the FIA only sent a letter to each driver strongly recommending that they use it."

[Anna]

Ferrari and Red Bull Racing withdraw from FOTA
By Jonathan Noble Friday, December 2nd 2011, 12:24 GMT

Ferrari and Red Bull Racing have decided to withdraw from the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) on the back of the ongoing row over the Resource Restriction Agreement, AUTOSPORT can reveal.

Amid ongoing debate about the future of FOTA, with teams failing to agree a way forward for the RRA after a crunch meeting at the Brazilian Grand Prix, high level sources have revealed that both Ferrari and Red Bull Racing have lodged notification that they intend to leave the organisation.

It is understood that both teams wrote to FOTA earlier this week to inform them of their decision.

Neither Red Bull Racing nor Ferrari would comment on the situation when contacted by AUTOSPORT on Friday to discuss it.

A spokesman for FOTA confirmed only that the body had received notice from two teams that they no longer intended to be a part of it, but would not elaborate on which teams they were.

"FOTA confirms it has received the resignation of two teams," said a spokesman. "Whilst considering its next steps, FOTA will continue to work on behalf of its members to achieve the aims of the organisation."

FOTA's latest statutes mean that teams must give a two-month notice period to leave the organisation, which means Red Bull Racing and Ferrari will officially depart the body by the start of February next year - providing they do not change their mind.

Ferrari has viewed a deal over the RRA as key to FOTA's future – with Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali warning earlier this year that if a deal could not be reached to sort out cost controls within FOTA then the future of the body should be called into question.

Speaking at the Korean Grand Prix, Domenicali said: "If this [mistrust] will come out of FOTA activity then what is FOTA all about? We know the reason why FOTA started, and now we need to understand if FOTA is still needed. What are the objectives of the future of FOTA, if there is a future for FOTA?

"We need to do that in a very constructive way, a very open way. That is the discussion that I believe in the next weeks is important to take over."

Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner said at the same race: "I think that FOTA has reached the crossroads where it needs to deal with some of the key issues moving forward or we'll stop. It's as simple as that.

"The principal issues are obviously the Concorde Agreement, the direction that goes in, and fundamentally the RRA (Resource Restriction Agreement). If we can't find agreement within FOTA on that, then what is the purpose of FOTA?"

[Anna]

And GPD thoughts on the FOTA break up

@grandprixdiary
Ferrari and Red Bull quit FOTA over the Resource Restriction Agreement meaning they can spend what they like, which they were doing anyway.

[r1ch91]

FIA announces new sporting rules for 2012 Formula 1 season
By Pablo Elizalde Wednesday, December 7th 2011, 11:55 GMT

The FIA's World Motor Sport Council has announced several changes to the sporting rules for the 2012 Formula 1 season.

From next year, all cars will have to pass all the mandatory crash tests in order to be able to take part in winter testing.

The ruling body has also confirmed there will be a three-day test during the season, which is set to allow teams to run with their drivers mid-campaign. Previously, teams were only allowed to run during the season in the Young Driver test near the end of the year.

From 2012, all lapped cars will be allowed to unlap themselves and then join at the back of the field during safety car periods, ensuring a clean restart without slower cars in front of the leaders.

There will now be a maximum race time of four hours during each grand prix, ensuring that lengthy suspensions do not result in events that are longer than that.

The FIA also said that from 2012, drivers will not be allowed to move back onto the racing line after having moved off it to defend their position.

Also from next year, cars which were in the pitlane when a race is suspended will now be allowed to rejoin the grid in the position they were in when the race was stopped.

The governing body has also altered the use of tyre allocations, with drivers now allowed to use all tyres from the start of practice. Previously, only three sets were permitted.

Finally, the FIA said drivers will not be allowed to leave the track - like cutting a chicane on reconnaissance laps or 'in' laps to save time and fuel - without a justifiable reason.

The WMSC also announced that former grand prix driver Gerhard Berger has been appointed as the new president of the Single-Seater Commission.

[Anna]

F1 must brace for tough times admits Ecclestone


"If the situation does not change globally"

Monday 23 January 2012 - 12h03, by GMM
F1 "must be prepared for problems" as Europe and the world suffer economically.

That is the admission of the sport’s chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, when asked if Peugeot’s withdrawal from Le Mans sports car racing could also indicate tough times ahead for F1.

Amid the world’s last financial crisis, F1 lost multiple carmakers including BMW, Toyota and Honda.

"They had good reasons to go and save their money because they just weren’t successful enough and didn’t get the media coverage they wanted.

"Simple as that," Ecclestone told Austria’s Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper.

So, with Peugeot pulling out of Le Mans and grand prix promoters considering the future of their races due to the costs, Ecclestone was asked if he is worried F1 could now lose more of its marques and sponsors.

"Due to the length of our contracts, we are almost immune," he insisted.

"But if the situation does not change globally, we must be prepared for problems," admitted Ecclestone.

A report in the UK newspaper Express said every one of F1’s twelve competing teams unusually failed to pay their bills on time last season.

"The findings ... show that the recession has hit the motorsport", wrote journalist Christian Sylt.

"The five slowest paying teams all have backing from carmakers, which could indicate that in the current economic climate F1 may not be sustainable for them," he added.

[Anna]

FIA bans Lotus-style ride height systems


After further investigations and representations from rival teams

Saturday 21 January 2012 - 18h37, by GMM
F1’s governing body has banned the 2012 innovation known commonly as ’reactive ride height’.

The concept, pioneered by Lotus and first spotted in action at last November’s young driver test, was also reportedly being worked on by teams including Ferrari, Mercedes and Williams.

The system, until now deemed legal by the FIA, cleverly adjusts a car’s ride-height under braking via a passive method in the suspension.

But the BBC said the Paris federation changed its mind about the legality following "further investigations and representations from rival teams".

Some team figures are believed to have said the intention is only to improve braking stability, but some rivals argued that the primary function is aerodynamic.

One F1 regulation says "any car system, device or procedure which uses driver movement as a means of altering the aerodynamic characteristics of the car is prohibited".

An FIA spokesman told Reuters that Whiting sent the directive on Friday following "a number of technical enquiries from teams" about the legality of the Lotus-type concept.

[Anna]

Ecclestone hoping Vettel dominance is over

23 January 2012

Bernie Ecclestone would prefer to see a more open championship battle in 2012, despite being an admirer of Sebastian Vettel. Last year, the German comfortably wrapped up a second consecutive crown five races before the end of the campaign.

“I hope not!” Ecclestone, head of F1 commercial rights holder Formula One Management (FOM), laughed when asked by Salzburger Nachrichten if more dominance looms. “If I’m being honest, I expect more of the same, but I would rather have a title fight right down to the final race.”


World Champion Vettel in the paddock with Ecclestone
However, if Ecclestone’s title prediction is correct, the 81-year-old Englishman hopes the excitement of individual races is still enough to satisfy the public.

“Television viewers should find that the excitement of races pulls them more than the overall championship battle,” he continued before sharing some final thoughts on the season ahead. “I would be very surprised if Mercedes couldn’t improve and I also hope we have a clear improvement from Ferrari; Fernando Alonso is a super talent and deserves to have the perfect car.”

Pre-season testing begins in Jerez, Spain on 7 February, with the first set of five red lights then going out in Melbourne, Australia on 18 March.