Exclusive interview with Mercedes F1 chief

Pune: Michael Schumacher may be struggling to find form this year, however Mercedes-Benz motorsport boss Norbert Haug believes the seven-time champion is still a force to reckon with. In an exclusive interview with IBNLive.com, Mercedes-Benz motorsport boss Norbert Haug talks about the team’s performance so far and what he expects for the remaining races

The last couple of races, especially Rosberg's performance, must have been encouraging for the team...

Well, we were better than during the first two GPs, but still not good enough for where we want to be. We have to, and we will, improve further, but this takes time for a team that was completely re-structured one and a half years ago.

Does the lack of race pace compared to qualifying, concern you?

We are working on further improvements and I think we are heading in the right direction.

Speculation is rife about the future of Michael Schumacher with some former drivers suggesting he may retire. Is Michael still a force to reckon with?

Absolutely, he will succeed again. He has the speed, the talent and the willpower to do so.

How do you think Mercedes GP's design approach has been for the first four races? Could it have been more aggressive, maybe like Lotus Renault?

The third and fourth races saw the team start twice from the second row on the grid, and scoring two fifth place finishes. We will build on that.

What upgrades are expected for the coming races? How much of a performance difference will they make?

We have quite a few things in the pipeline, but Ross (Brawn) will hit me if I tell. So, (there’s) no chance that I can be specific.

How has Paul di Resta fared in his debut season?

Great. Paul is doing a very good job and I am sure he will continue to do so.

What is your opinion about DRS considering some have termed the overtaking superficial?

I think it was a good idea and works very well. Thanks to the new Pirelli tyres, the DRS and committed drivers, the races are more thrilling than ever before.

What do you think about the 2013 engine regulations? Are you in favour of using 1.6 litre 4-cylinder engines instead of the V8s?

These are the published rules. Changes will only be possible should the FIA and the team decide to do so.

Monaco F1 Grand Prix 2011: The bespoke Steinmetz Diamonds helmets for Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button

It is a well-established custom of the luxury manufacturer Steinmetz Diamonds to create distinctive helmets for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, at each and every of the F1 grands prix held at Monte Carlo in the last years. The bespoke 'pieces of jewelry' feature diamond-engraved lettering - precisely, for pampering the name 'Lewis' in the case of the 2008 world F1 champion's helmet, which retains the beautiful yellow colour, in addition to the distinctive design of the top section, comprising two glitty dices; and for emphasizing the special message to Japan displayed on Jenson's helmet, that also features a flashy, high-tech looking, white and silver-painted exterior casing.

Check out more interesting photos after the jump!

F1 – Monaco Grand Prix Practice – Mercedes GP Petronas

Monaco Grand Prix Practice – Mercedes GP Petronas

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS drivers Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher finished today’s practice sessions for the Monaco Grand Prix around the streets of Monte Carlo in third and seventh places respectively.

• The team’s focus today was on set-up development and comparisons of the soft and super soft Pirelli tyre compounds

• Michael had a small accident going into turn one in the closing minutes of P1 which ended his session early

• Following excellent work from the team, he was able to complete 33 laps in P2

• Both drivers placed in the top ten in both sessions today; Nico completed 64 laps while Michael totalled 47 laps

Nico Rosberg
“It’s great to be on the track again here in Monaco. I felt very comfortable from the beginning and we did quite a good job on the set-up. It can be difficult here to find the right settings as you have to put a lot of things together such as brake balance and tyre degradation, but we had a decent day and I’m happy with our start into the weekend. The tyres are not as bad as we expected and the degradation will be quite low, so pole position will be a bit more important than I expected before today.”

Michael Schumacher
“Our gap to the front seems to be less here than in Barcelona. With my crash this morning, we had made a set-up change for the run and I locked up braking for turn one. After that, my decision to go down the escape road was too late, which is why I hit the barrier. The mechanics did a super job and the car this afternoon was just as quick as this morning. What Nico showed in terms of one-lap pace looks good, and our long runs were also quite reasonable.

Ross Brawn
“We had a productive day with lots of good work achieved. The team recovered extremely well from Michael’s incident this morning, and gave him a good car for the afternoon session. We worked on high and low fuels levels with the two tyre compounds, and the tyres seemed to hold up reasonably well, probably better than we expected, which will be taken into account for Sunday’s race. Overall, today was a good start to our Monaco weekend.”

Norbert Haug
“We had a productive first day here in Monaco with Nico and Michael posting good lap times compared to our competitors. Certainly we have made a much better start to the weekend than one week ago in Barcelona. Michael had a little off in the first session and the team did a great job to repair the car by shortly after the start of the afternoon session, so that Michael was still able to complete 33 laps. Our plan is to make another step on Saturday and hopefully we can qualify both cars in a good position for the race on Sunday.”

‘Mercedes Plan’ could be solution to conflict

A new compromise plan devised by Mercedes Benz could be the solution to the conflict between the FIA and FOTA, the teams’ organisation.

Today’s Times newspaper reports that Norbert Haug, vice president of Mercedes’ motorsport arm, has presented the plan to FOTA and hopes it will be agreed to by the FIA.

Haug’s plan would see teams spending a maximum of £100 million in 2010. This concession would be subject to them offering assistance to new teams, such as cheap parts and technical collaboration. In addition, the teams would have to commit to F1 until the end of 2012 and agree to the advent of a £40 million cap from 2011.

The plan’s strength lies in its theoretical pleasing of both parties. Ferrari should be reasonably happy to offer support to smaller teams, and would be thrilled to see the threat of two-tier rules disappear. The FIA should be pleased that the £40 million cap will come in only a year later than they proposed.

The weaknesses of the plan are that Ferrari are still unlikely to agree to a cap figure so low. Equally, the FIA is now legally bound to introduce the cap next year, and could face legal action from new entrants if the circumstances are changed now.

With the deadline for entries to the sport in 2010 expiring tomorrow, time is running out for the protagonists. Mercedes Benz’s plan is imperfect, but it may be the compromise fans have been crying out for in recent days.

F1 : 2011 Monaco - Mercedes GP - Monte Carlo Formula 1 Thursday report

Formula One report - Mercedes GP Petronas drivers Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher finished today's practice sessions for the Monaco Grand Prix around the streets of Monte Carlo in third and seventh places respectively.

The team's focus today was on set-up development and comparisons of the soft and supersoft Pirelli tyre compounds.

Michael had a small accident going into turn one in the closing minutes of FP1 which ended his session early, but following excellent work from the team, he was able to complete 33 laps in FP2

Both drivers placed in the top ten in both sessions today, Nico completed 64 laps while Michael totalled 47 laps

Nico Rosberg
"It's great to be on the track again here in Monaco. I felt very comfortable from the beginning and we did quite a good job on the set-up. It can be difficult here to find the right settings as you have to put a lot of things together such as brake balance and tyre degradation, but we had a decent day and I'm happy with our start into the weekend. The tyres are not as bad as we expected and the degradation will be quite low, so pole position will be a bit more important than I expected before today."

Michael Schumacher
"Our gap to the front seems to be less here than in Barcelona. With my crash this morning, we had made a set-up change for the run and I locked up braking for turn one. After that, my decision to go down the escape road was too late, which is why I hit the barrier. The mechanics did a super job and the car this afternoon was just as quick as this morning. What Nico showed in terms of one lap pace looks good, and our long runs were also quite reasonable.

Ross Brawn
"We had a productive day with lots of good work achieved. The team recovered extremely well from Michael's incident this morning, and gave him a good car for the afternoon session. We worked on high and low fuels levels with the two tyre compounds, and the tyres seemed to hold up reasonably well, probably better than we expected, which will be taken into account for Sunday's race. Overall, today was a good start to our Monaco weekend."

Norbert Haug
"We had a productive first day here in Monaco with Nico and Michael posting good lap times compared to our competitors. Certainly we have made a much better start to the weekend than one week ago in Barcelona. Michael had a little off in the first session and the team did a great job to repair the car by shortly after the start of the afternoon session, so that Michael was still able to complete 33 laps. Our plan is to make another step on Saturday and hopefully we can qualify both cars in a good position for the race on Sunday."

Red Bull, McLaren oppose Todt's plan for more testing

Some teams have admitted they do not support Jean Todt’s proposal to allow some in-season testing in formula one next year.

The FIA president and former Ferrari boss said in Turkey that he will push for the teams to agree to change the severe test limitations, or simply impose the new regulations for the 2013 season.

“We are not interested in the idea of allowing private testing during the season,” Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said bluntly, according to Autosprint’s Italian-language website.

“We consider the current situation to be well balanced.  To change it would raise costs, inevitably,” added the Briton.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo told CNN last week that F1 is the “only professional sport in the world” that does not allow “training”.

“It is true that some teams favour more testing during the season,” said McLaren and FOTA chief Martin Whitmarsh, “but we must also safeguard the interest of the smaller teams, who do not have great financial means.”

Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull Racing

There have been rumours for some time about the possibility of Lewis Hamilton moving to Red Bull Racing in 2013. At the same time McLaren is continuing to talk to its protege about extending his deal for another four years. Hamilton may not be the best paid driver in Formula 1 but money is not really the issue in these negotiations (although Red Bull has plenty of it). Hamilton wants to be in the best car and be in a position to win every race. It is very clear that for the last two years Red Bull has had the best car. There is little doubt also that the reason for this is that RBR has managed to put together the right technical team, headed by Adrian Newey. One needs only to look at the statistics to understand why Newey is so valuable. He has won Constructors’ World Championships for Williams (1992-1993-1994-1996-1997) and then for McLaren (1998) and last year added Red Bull to his list. Ross Brawn is the only other engineer to have won titles with three teams (Benetton, Ferrari and Brawn GP). While the cars in 2013 will be completely different to the current models, the chances are that a car designed by Newey is going to be competitive, although it is fair to say that McLaren will undoubtedly be in the fight as well. When it comes to calculating the risks, the choice of Red Bull and Newey is probably the better bet given the statistics in recent years. One can imagine that Red Bull would be more than happy to have Hamilton on board not only because he is highly rated but also because of his marketing value to the parent company, which is after all the primary reason that the drinks firm is involved in the sport. From what we hear Hamilton is looking for shorter-term contracts in the future, rather than tying himself to the same team for lengthy periods of time.

The Power of Redbull 2011

Info-highlight-Map of power in Formula 1 competition team in 2011 seems to have started to look clear, namely the Red Bull team, McLaren and Renault became the strongest team at this time. Yet despite such Red Bull team has not seen the real difference between their performance with other teams such as McLaren. Though this team has won the first 2 series 2011 season.

The number of pit stops made by the team as well as some top riders who have problems on their cars so the main reasons that make it difficult to see the performance of the real Red Bull team. If only every team is only doing a maximum of 2 times the pit stops, then they can look real performance. This means that pit stop strategy was also very influential in making the difference between the drivers so much closer or more distant.

“McLaren are a team that is closest to our performance during the qualifying session took place. Of course they have the right to improvise better. But the extent to which our performance as compared with them, we also do not understand. One thing is for sure that is setting the balance of the car will have a big impact on how fast degradation of the tire, “said Adrian Newey, technical director of Red Bull team.

However, the results indicate perfection car package and strategy use of tire Red Bull team. At the time of the qualifying session they were able to show their true performance. Moreover, the new team also uses their KERS system in the second series, which in previous series have problems. How is their performance in F1 China (17 / 4) this weekend? we wait for proof later.

No Red Bull Ring GP says billionaire boss

 

Dietrich Mateschitz

May 16 (GMM) Dietrich Mateschitz has ruled out relocating his pace setting Formula 1 team Red Bull Racing to Austria and has again denied that he intends hosting a Grand Prix at the venue.

The energy drinks mogul and Austrian billionaire reopened the former A1 Ring, re-named as the Red Bull Ring, at the weekend.

Formula 1′s most famous figure Bernie Ecclestone was even present, kindling rumours he might seriously be considering reviving the Austrian Grand Prix.

“This track is ready for Formula 1,” Mark Webber told Kleine Zeitung newspaper after a few hot laps, and Sebastian Vettel agreed that a Formula 1 race  could be held now at the Red Bull Ring “theoretically and practically”.

But Mateschitz insisted: “We will not get a Formula 1 or a MotoGP race here.”

More realistic, perhaps, is that Red Bull Racing is relocated from Milton Keynes (UK) to the facility.

“I’ve thought about it, but no,” Mateschitz answered. “You can build whatever you want, but in Styria you cannot get 300 of the best people in formula one.”

Red Bull team not heading to Austria – Mateschitz

Dietrich Mateschitz has ruled out relocating his pacesetting formula one team Red Bull Racing to Austria.

The energy drinks mogul and Austrian billionaire reopened the former A1-Ring, rechristened as the Red Bull Ring, at the weekend.

F1's most famous figure Bernie Ecclestone was even present, kindling rumours he might seriously be considering reviving the Austrian grand prix.

"This track is ready for formula one," Mark Webber told Kleine Zeitung newspaper after a few hot laps, and Sebastian Vettel agreed that a grand prix could be held now at the Red Bull Ring "theoretically and practically".

But Mateschitz insisted: "We will not get a formula one or a MotoGP race here."

More realistic, perhaps, is that Red Bull Racing is relocated from Milton Keynes (UK) to the facility.

"I've thought about it, but no," Mateschitz answered. "You can build whatever you want, but in Styria you cannot get 300 of the best people in formula one."

Formula One teams must stick together

ISTANBUL: Formula One teams must stick together in discussions about the sport’s future ownership and direction, Renault team boss Eric Boullier said yesterday.

The Frenchman was speaking as the Turkish Grand Prix paddock buzzed with talk of a possible bid for Formula One by media group News Corp and Exor, the financial holding of Italy’s Agnelli family which controls glamour team Ferrari through carmaker FIAT.

Media reports have suggested that representatives of the top teams — Ferrari, multiple title holders McLaren, reigning champions Red Bull and Mercedes — were planning to meet News Corp executives next week.

“I think everybody is a bit nervous now because (of) some news like this,” Boullier told reporters when asked why his team, no longer owned by the French carmaker whose name it retains, had seemingly been left out.

“But actually if it has been released, that means this (the meeting) is not secret anymore and maybe not be going down that path.

“There is a lot of talk around the new Concorde Agreement and obviously this news that has been released that some people could be interested in buying some share in F1. That makes a lot of stories I guess,” he added.

The confidential Concorde Agreement between the teams, governing International Automobile Federation and commercial rights holder expires at the end of 2012 and is being renogotiated.

Last time the agreement was up for renewal, when manufacturers dominated the sport, Ferrari and some other Formula One teams threatened to set up their own ‘breakaway’ series before a new deal was signed giving them more of the revenues.

Power struggle

Fresh divisions over money and technology, the lifeblood of Formula One, have become apparent in recent months with Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo speaking out publicly against plans by the FIA to introduce a new 1.6 litre four cylinder turbocharged engine in 2013.

Montezemolo revived talk of a rival series only last December when he told reporters “in the end we can always find a different promoter” and some see a possible News Corp partnership as part of that strategy.

Commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone is also against the engine changes, while Renault are in favour, in what some see as the renewal of an old power struggle between the 80-year-old and Frenchman Jean Todt’s FIA.

“We all know there is some difference of interests of FOM (the CVC-owned Formula One Management run by Ecclestone) and the FIA,” said Boullier.

“It is the usual game. We have to sit down this weekend, we have a lot of meetings together and we have a FOTA (teams’ association) meeting as well so we will see.

“It’s always tricky for everybody to sit around one table and discuss about common points of interest when you speak about sharing some revenues and stuff like this,” added Boullier.

“So we expect it not to be an easy job, but we will see how it goes. I don’t think we are at the point to speak about there being a breakaway series and stuff like that, I think we need to first focus on being FOTA, all teams together.”

Boullier said Formula One teams needed to think more ‘globally’.

“We have to compete against sports like football and the Olympic Games and others which have developed drastically in terms of business,” he said.

“I think this little war inside the paddock is maybe fun for some journalists and some people, but to be honest for me it’s not.”

-Reuters

F1: Massa Staying At Ferrari In 2012 - Montezemolo

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo says Felipe Massa is set for a definite return next season...

 

Rumblings that Felipe Massa may not return to Ferrari next year are apparently not true. (Photo: Getty Images)

Luca di Montezemolo on Friday said there is "no question" Felipe Massa will keep his seat at Ferrari in 2012.

The Brazilian already has a contract for next year, but after his disappointing 2010 season there had been rumblings Mark Webber or Nico Rosberg could be drafted in to replace him.

But Massa, 30, has had a better start to 2011 and team president Montezemolo told CNN he will still be alongside Fernando Alonso next season.

"Yes. He has a contract with us for this year and for next year. So absolutely yes, no question about it," answered the Italian.

As for Alonso, Montezemolo said he hopes to keep the Spaniard for "a long time.

"He is one of the best drivers I have seen in my career, very strong in the mind, pushing with the team in a constructive way, very close to the team. So I want to have Alonso for a long time," he insisted.

Formula One Fantasy – McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton

Hіѕ Formula One entrance wаѕ wіth heading group McLaren, hе won hіѕ initial Grand Prix aged јυѕt 22 аnԁ took thе championship аt 23 – fοr mοѕt people, Lewis Hamilton іѕ already vital thе dream. Bυt thеrе’s still copiousness left οn Hamilton’s F1 anticipation wish list, counting carrying thе event tο rасе around Las Vegas аnԁ Kyalami, examination Juan Manuel Fangio contest opposite Ayrton Senna, giving hіѕ MP4-26 a James Bond-style makeover, аnԁ kicking behind іn hіѕ οwn motorhome-based recording studio…

Q: Yου mυѕt сhοοѕе a city fοr a nеw Formula One transport circuit – whісh city, anywhere іn thе world, ԁο уου сhοοѕе аnԁ whу?
Lewis Hamilton: Oh, іt wουƖԁ hаνе tο bе London οr Las Vegas. we rесkοn Vegas wουƖԁ bе some-more fun. It wουƖԁ bе a fаntаѕtіс weekend fοr аƖƖ.

Q: If уου mау presumably сhοοѕе one former universe champion аѕ уουr group mate, whο wουƖԁ уου сhοοѕе аnԁ whу?
LH: Ayrton Senna. Hе wаѕ thе best. we wish tο contest opposite hіm.

Q: Formula One innovations οf thе past – belligerent effect, active suspension, turbocharging, 6 wheels, thе list goes οn. If уου mау presumably move behind one past innovation, whаt wουƖԁ іt bе аnԁ whу?
LH: I rесkοn іt wουƖԁ bе tractable float height. we hаνе seen thаt οn Senna’s car. Hе mау presumably control thе float tallness – thаt wаѕ flattering сοοƖ.

Q: Whаt innovations wουƖԁ уου Ɩіkе tο see іn thе future?
LH: I skip thе V12 (engines) аnԁ thе ancient V10. we wish tο hаνе Ɩаrɡеr tyres аnԁ some-more gadgets οn thе automobile ѕο thаt іt’s Ɩіkе a James Bond car: уου pull a symbol аnԁ oil comes out thе behind – thаt wουƖԁ bе unequivocally сοοƖ. Anԁ іt wουƖԁ hеƖр!

Q: Yου саn οnƖу expostulate аt one circuit fοr thе rest οf уουr life – whісh circuit, past οr benefaction frοm anywhere іn thе world, ԁο уου сhοοѕе?
LH: I wουƖԁ сhοѕе thе Nordschleife. It wουƖԁ bе іnсrеԁіbƖе. Thаt 20-something kilometre lane wουƖԁ keep уου training аƖƖ thе time. It wουƖԁ never bе ԁυƖƖ, guaranteed. we expostulate іt еνеrу year counting thіѕ year. It іѕ аn unimaginable experience.

Q: Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Tyrrell, Mar аrе јυѕt ѕοmе οf thе teams thаt hаνе late thе sport. Whісh former group wουƖԁ уου mοѕt favourite tο hаνе raced wіth аnԁ whу?
LH: I rесkοn we wουƖԁ ѕау Tyrrell. Thеу wеrе a fаntаѕtіс fulfilment tаƖе іn thеіr time. Ken Tyrrell mυѕt hаνе bееn a unequivocally intelligent group principal.

Q: Yου hаνе tο pattern a nеw F1 circuit, mixing аƖƖ уουr favourite corners frοm οthеr marks around thе world. Whісh 3 corners аrе tip οf уουr list аnԁ whу?
LH: I wουƖԁ hаνе Eau Rouge frοm Spa-Francorchamps, Mirabeau frοm Monaco аnԁ Join frοm Silverstone. It wουƖԁ mаkе a unequivocally fаѕсіnаtіnɡ track.

Q: Yου саn transport behind іn time аnԁ contest іn аnу decade οf Formula One racing, frοm thе 1950s tο thе 1990s. Whісh decade wουƖԁ уου сhοοѕе аnԁ whу?
LH: I wουƖԁ сhοѕе thе late 1980s аnԁ early 1990s. Thаt wаѕ thе time whеn we ѕtаrtеԁ tο watch Formula One аnԁ сhοѕе thаt thіѕ mау presumably bе mу contention one day. Anԁ, οf course, thе cars looked thе сοοƖеѕt. It mυѕt hаνе bееn іnсrеԁіbƖе tο expostulate those cars іn competition.

Q: Whаt stream Formula One law wουƖԁ уου mοѕt Ɩіkе tο change аnԁ whу?
LH: Lаrɡеr engines wουƖԁ bе сοοƖ – аn ear-deafening signal! Secondly we wish tο see refuelling come back. It wаѕ easier tο rасе lighter cars аt thе ѕtаrt.

Q: If уου mау presumably collect dual Formula One greats οf thе past (frοm opposite eras) tο watch rасе opposite any οthеr, whοm wουƖԁ уου pick?
LH: Juan Manuel Fangio racing opposite Ayrton Senna. Thе dual biggest drivers οf аƖƖ time – аnԁ mе looking tο see whο unequivocally wаѕ thе best.

Q: If уου wеrе a group boss, whісh stream motorist wουƖԁ уου collect initial fοr уουr group (excluding yourself аnԁ уουr stream group mate)?
LH: I theory we wουƖԁ collect Nico Rosberg. Yου hаνе tο cruise thе whole package thаt comes wіth a driver. Harmony іn thе team, coherence аnԁ аƖƖ thаt. Aѕ a group principal уου hаνе tο rесkοn аbουt еνеrу aspect.

Q: Jυѕt 19 οf thе world’s engine racing circuits underline οn thе stream Formula One calendar. Yου саn supplement one more. Whісh circuit ԁο уου collect аnԁ whу?
LH: I wουƖԁ ѕау Kyalami іn South Africa. Somehow thіѕ раrt οf thе universe іѕ blank frοm thе calendar.

Q: Yου аrе carrying a cooking jubilee аnԁ саn entice 4 people frοm thе universe οf motorsport, past οr present. Whο ԁο уου invite?
LH: I wouldn’t. Whο tο invite? Nobody. we wουƖԁ wish tο entice girls!

Q: Yου аrе given thе possibility tο expostulate аnу mythological Formula One automobile οf thе past. Whісh automobile wουƖԁ уου сhοοѕе?
LH: Thе (McLaren) MP4-4. Thаt іѕ mу favourite car. we hаνе driven іt already, ѕο we know whаt we аm articulate аbουt. Thаt wаѕ аn overwhelming car.

Q: Rooftop swimming pool, bowling alley, rotating sushi bar – јυѕt ѕοmе οf thе facial coming mοѕt F1 motorhomes don’t possess. If уου mау presumably supplement one thing tο уουr team’s motorhome, whаt wουƖԁ іt bе?
LH: Whаt wουƖԁ bе сοοƖ wουƖԁ bе a golf simulator, a sauna wіth a sauna аnԁ steam bath, аnԁ womanlike masseuses (laughs). Ah, аnԁ a recording studio. Wow, now thаt we rесkοn аbουt іt, yes, a recording studio wουƖԁ bе fаntаѕtіс.

Q: Yου hаνе јυѕt won thе universe title. Whеrе wουƖԁ уου ɡο fοr уουr celebratory dish аnԁ whаt wουƖԁ сhοοѕе frοm thе menu?
LH: Thе best jubilee іѕ tο ɡο wіth family аnԁ friends. Mу dream wουƖԁ bе tο ɡƖіԁе tο Grenada, whеrе mу family comes frοm аnԁ ɡο out οn a jubilee boat. A unequivocally good ancient boat, wіth people before a live assembly percussion, reggae music, listening tο Bob Marley аnԁ sailing іntο thе night. Thаt wουƖԁ bе сοοƖ.

Ferrari boss open to change

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Ferrari boss open to change Di Montezemolo says breakaway series is an option

Last Updated: May 13, 2011 6:08pm

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Di Montezemolo: Considering future options for F1

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Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo says that a Formula One breakaway series could happen at the end of next year.

The current Concorde Agreement – the deal that ties the teams, FIA and commercial rights owners CVC to the sport – is due to expire at the end of 2012.

Italian investment giant EXOR, who have a 30 per cent stake in Ferrari’s parent company Fiat, and News Corporation have confirmed their interest in a takeover bid.

Current supremo Bernie Ecclestone responded by insisting that F1 is not for sale but di Montezemolo thinks the teams may decide to form their own championship.

“I think we have to be very pragmatic,” the Italian said in an interview with CNN.

“At the end of 2012, the contracts of every single team with CVC will expire. So, we have three alternatives.

Success

“At the end of 2012 the contract will expire, so theoretically CVC doesn’t own anything. “

Luca di Montezemolo

Quotes of the week

“We renew with CVC, or we theoretically, as the basketball teams did in the US with great success, we create our own company like the NBA to run the races, the TV rights and so, and third, we find a different partner.

“Bernie Ecclestone has done a very good job, but he’s already sold out three times, so he doesn’t own the business any more. It is CVC that will sell.

“At the end of 2012 the contract will expire, so theoretically CVC doesn’t own anything. I think it is important to have alternatives. We will see. We have time to do it.”

Di Montezemolo also criticised the new DRS system and Pirelli tyres, which has led to a dramatic increase in on-track passing and pit-stops at the start of the season.

“We have gone too far with artificial elements. It’s like if I push footballers to wear tennis shoes in the rain,” he added.

“I want to see competition, cars on the track. I don’t want to see competition in the pits.

“In the last race there were 80 pitstops. Come on, it’s too much, and the people don’t understand any more because when you come out of the pits you don’t know what position you’re in.”

What Formula One’s most severe corner feels like

This is Mark Webber tackling Istanbul Park’s four-apexed Turn 8 during last Sunday’s Turkish Grand Prix. The on-screen accelerometer shows that he’s subjected to a lateral acceleration of 4.7 g for his entire 6-second journey through the corner’s four apices.

The acceleration pins Webber’s head, supported like every other modern F1 driver’s head by neck muscles a football player would be proud of, against the side of the cockpit. By way of comparison, when the Space Shuttle will take off for the last time on June 28, it will subject its crew to 3 g.

With Istanbul Park’s likely disappearance from the Formula One calendar after this season, fans of high-g corners will have to migrate from Istanbul to Austin, where the Circuit of the Americas—set to host the US Grand Prix from 2012 on, and designed, like Istanbul Park, by Hermann Tilke—will feature a reproduction of Turn 8 in the shape of Turns 16, 17, and 18.

When It Comes To F1 Fashion, Nothing Is Better Than The Ferrari Jacket

Alternative fashions are becoming more and more popular and one of the ones that are really starting to make an impact on the fashion world is F1 fashion. Clothing items like the Ferrari Jacket are starting to show up in plenty of other places besides the race track. The Ferrari line is far and away one of the most attractive and sought after in the F1 clothing niche.

The Ferrari line is one of the most complete clothing lines in F1 fashion. If you have not checked them out lately, be sure to venture over to websites that has everything that Ferrari offers. There is a complete selection of jackets, caps, t-shirts and polo shirts to choose from and they are all at very reasonable prices.

There was a time when F1 fashion was restricted to the race tracks, but that is hardly the case these days. Because the clothing is much more flexible these days, it is just as likely to be seen at the track as it is in some fancy restaurant. While they do have clothing that may only be appropriate at sporting events, there are also plenty of selections that are “toned down” that are perfectly acceptable just about anywhere one would go.

While there are many pieces in the Ferrari clothing line that are quite tempting, few of them scream “buy me” like the Ferrari 3 in 1 Fleece jacket. Not only is this a very attractive coat, but it is extremely flexible as well. It has quickly become one of the most popular items that they sell. The best part about this coat is that most places will have it on sale right now because winter is already here and the F1 racing season is actually over.

This stylish coat is actually 3 separate coats in one. On the coldest of days, it can be worn exactly as it is. When the weather is warm, the fleece lining can be removed to more or less make this a windbreaker. To totally change the look, the fleece can be worn all by itself creating a totally different coat.

When looking for the best deals on things like the Ferrari jacket, the shopper is best served to go online and look for the best prices. Comparing prices at shops like Fan Fashion gives the convenience of shopping from home and knowing that you are getting the best price. The Internet is fantastic for finding all of the best deals in the quickest time.

Ferrari has always been considered the class of the auto industry, and now their clothing line holds that same status. Few if any of the other racing teams put out lines that are as attractive and flexible as the Ferrari F1 fashions. If you are looking for F1 fashion that can be worn on race day as well as that night out on the town, check out the complete line of Ferrari F1 fashions.

Webber quells Ferrari switch rumours

© AP Images

Mark Webber has dismissed speculation that he is in line for a seat at Ferrari in the near future and that he remains committed to Red Bull.

Rumours linking him to the Maranello-based team have been floating since last season as the Australian was tipped to replace Felipe Massa at the Scuderia. However, the 34-year-old maintains that his current position at the Milton Keynes squad is good enough.

“I always look good in red,” Webber quipped. “But Red Bull is what I associate all my success with, so the only red is in Red Bull, as when I wear Red Bull colours I think of success. Any other red is just a colour in the fashion business.”

Webber reasoned that the current state of Formula 1 is such that any contact made with another team in the paddock sparks gossip. A state of affairs, which the Red Bull driver pointed out, did not exist decades earlier.

“If I want to talk to Fernando (Alonso) and go to the Ferrari motor home, what happens then? Exactly: rumours. Then we are in trouble,” he explained on the sport's official website.

“So that makes it all quite difficult. The sport has changed. Nowadays any rumour gets around the world in seconds - that’s when it gets difficult”

At the Scuderia, Massa too was quizzed whether he was in talks for a switch to Red Bull but the Ferrari driver dispelled it as well.

“Really, nothing to say. Since I came to Ferrari I have been answering all of these things about me going away, so there’s nothing to say really,” Massa said.

“We concentrate on doing the best we can with the car and to get all we want. It’s just one more. It always seems to be at this time, more or less, no, during the season? It’s the same as usual.”

Ferrari want greater investment in F1

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali has urged F1's commercial rights holders CVC to start investing in the sport to guarantee his team's future interest.

The direction of F1 has hit the headlines this week, notably with Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation and investment giant EXOR - which is run by the powerful Agnelli family - declaring an interest in forming a consortium that could lead to a takeover.

As part of the backdrop, discussions are due to begin in earnest on a new Concorde Agreement, the commercial arrangement which binds the teams, world governing body the FIA and CVC together.

Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo has made clear in the past his unhappiness that CVC rake in half of F1's annual profits of around £600million, yet do not invest.

It is understood di Montezemolo, supported by the teams, will want a greater return from the future Concorde Agreement, otherwise the threat of a breakaway series could again return, as was the case in 2009 when discussions last took place.

The waters are further muddied by the fact the Agnellis have a 30 percent stake in Fiat, which in turn runs Ferrari.

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Domenicali said: "At the moment everything is calm, but soon something will happen.

"From the commercial point of view we need to clarify the following points: who will be involved in the talks?

"I mean which teams and constructors want to stay and which want to enter F1? And who is responsible for the show? A marketing partner is needed.

"It can be CVC once more, but it must invest in F1 and develop, and we must make sure our sport becomes interesting for young people.

"F1 must speak their language, use their technologies, internet, tablets, social forums, and remain comprehensible for the audience.

"F1 is interesting for Ferrari only if these points are taken into consideration, and we must avoid changing the rules too often.

"We need stability, on top of having grands prix in important countries for our sales, first of all in the USA."

In a statement in light of all the talk surrounding the Agnellis and Ferrari, the team have made it clear that stability is paramount.

"All we can do is repeat what has already been said so often in the past: Ferrari stresses the importance of ensuring the long term stability and development of Formula One."

F1 : 2011 Turkey - Ferrari - Istanbul Formula 1 Friday report

Formula One report - Wet start to the weekend for Scuderia Marlboro Ferrari with Felipe Massa sixth and Fernando Alonso 11th on a difficult Friday at Istanbul.

Incessant rain has been the key feature so far today, thus affecting the first free practice session for the Turkish Formula One Grand Prix, round four of the Formula 1 World Championship, which takes place this Sunday at the Istanbul Speed Park.

The entire morning session was held in the wet and Fernando Alonso posted the fastest time of 1'38.670 in the Ferrari, ahead of the Mercedes duo of Nico Rosberg (1'40.072) and Michael Schumacher (1'40.132.), in the other 150º Italia, Felipe Massa was seventh fastest in 1'40.697.

It’s hard to evaluate the new aerodynamic updates in these difficult conditions, with both Ferrari men switching between extreme wet tyres and intermediates, before doing some practice starts at the end of the session.

The morning downpour was forgotten as the sun forced its way through the Istanbul clouds, allowing Free Practice 2 to go ahead in the dry.

At the end of the session it was the McLaren of Jenson Button who set the best time (1'26.456), ahead of the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg (1'26.521) and the other McLaren of Lewis Hamilton (1'27.033).

Felipe Massa’s 150° Italia was sixth with a time of 1'27.340, while the other Ferrari of Fernando Alonso was further back, he finished with the 11th best time (1'28.069) after a session that was complicated first by a hydraulic problem that was quickly resolved, then a spin forced him to come back into the pit lane after his engine switched off.

The improvement in the weather allowed the drivers to test both tyre compounds, even though Fernando didn’t manage to get the most out of the soft compound, and to carry out some planned aerodynamic tests.

Iin the afternoon, the team could go into a deeper evaluation of the new aerodynamic components brought to this track, between them, the two Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro drivers completed 91 laps, 40 for Fernando and 51 for Felipe.

Fernando Alonso

"These two sessions were very different one to the other, because of the change in the weather. It was useful to do some running in the wet because there is a chance that it might rain again at some point tomorrow. We tried various new solutions and now we have to evaluate them carefully to see what worked and what did not. I had a hydraulic problem which cost me some time in the pits at the start of the second session.

"That contributed to the fact it's difficult for me to give a precise evaluation of tyre behaviour. Then, I also had a spin, when I was being too optimistic in my use of the moveable rear wing. For sure this track puts a heavy load on the tyres, it will be interesting to see what happens in the race. I think we have made progress, but there are various teams that are quicker than us. We have to try and do our best, putting together the best package made up of new components and those we have used before to try and get all the potential out of the car."

Felipe Massa

"From what I could see, we have made a step forward in terms of performance, but we are not yet close enough to the best. It is always difficult to say how much progress one has made after just two free practice sessions. We will have to wait for qualifying to get a clearer picture. We are working very hard to catch up and I think we are on the right road, but the others are definitely not standing still. For example, Mercedes seems to have made a significant step forward here.

"Would I prefer a wet race? Sure, if it turns out we are not competitive then the rain would open up more possibilities, but it could also go well in the dry and it does seem as though the weather is improving. This is a very demanding circuit, but I really like driving here because there are so many different types of corner."

Pat Fry

"It's always difficult to say what the real order is after Friday's free practice sessions and that is even more the case when one of them takes place in the wet, as was the case today. At least this morning we were able to get a first impression of the balance and handling of our car on both types of rain tyre. However, we didn't do that many laps because the weather forecast for the rest of the weekend is still uncertain, therefore we have to try and manage the few sets of tyres available to us as well as possible.

"In the afternoon, we concentrated mainly on evaluating new aerodynamic components and, as usual, comparing the two types of dry tyre. Unfortunately, we lost at least half an hour with Fernando, because of an hydraulic problem and so the Spaniard was not exactly in the best of shape to get the most out of the soft tyres. As for Felipe, he managed to get through the entire planned programme. Some of the new elements, like the rear wing for example, immediately showed good results, while others, such as the floor and the front wing, still need further careful evaluation."

The third and final free practice session will take place tomorrow at 11h00 local time.

The seasons of Formula 1

One of the jobs I do each month is to write a 400-word report on what is happening inside each team, not wasting words on the races, but keeping the readers of Japan’s Grand Prix Special up to speed on staff movement, sponsorships, engine deals and so on. I have done this since 1988 and so I have a terrific historical archive on which to rely and it keeps me up to date with all moving and shaking in the F1 Paddock. It has also taught me about the cycles of news stories in F1. Watch out because in the next few weeks we are going to start to see engineering movements as teams understand that their cars are not great and look to find better crews of designers. It is also a time when those who unhappy with the way their teams are developing can slip away and do something else, before the next design cycle begins. Thus I note that Tim Densham, the chief designer of Renault is on the move, handing his job over to Martin Tolliday. That will be announced soon, no doubt. I think we will also see changes in one or two team where there has been disappointment.

Although it looks like McLaren is not too far off the pace of Red Bull Racing, I am afraid that analysis from Malaysia is not very promising and the indications are that the RB7 has a fair bit of performance in hand over its main challengers. One telling factor is that Vettel won the race in Kuala Lumpur but did so setting only the sixth fastest lap of the race, which suggested that he was not really pushing that hard. His best lap was a full second slower than Mark Webber’s fastest lap – the fastest lap of the race – which was probably a better indication of what the Red Bull can do at true race pace.

I think it is also very significant that Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali, technical director Aldo Costa and assistant technical director and head of racetrack engineering Pat Fry all flew back to Italy between the Malaysian and Chinese GPs. I think that there is trouble coming at Mercedes GP Petronas and at Williams, where Adam Parr has been quoted as saying that “we will be looking not only at how to address the short-term issues – we will be working together to strengthen the team for 2012 and beyond. Nothing is sacred.” When teams do not work, change is needed and the current management crew at Williams has been in action for five seasons now. The team is stronger from a business point of view, but does not seem to be on top of performance. A team lives and dies on that.

I notice this month that Vijay Mallya has recently announced a plan to try to find and develop a young Indian driver for F1 in the future. I cannot say I much taken by Mallya and clearly Indian business feels the same way as the only Indian sponsors that he has are from his own companies, and Tata decided to back HRT rather than get involved with Force India, which is an interesting reflection. A colleague of mine in the Indian media feels that Mallya simply wants to use the team to establish himself as the man who brought F1 to India and that he is not really that interested beyond that. In short he is suggesting that it is just a great big ego trip. He also feels that F1 will not really take off in India. “It is like to trying to establish cricket in Italy,” he said. I don’t know if he is right or wrong, but he’s a smart guy and has a big job so I have to think that he is pretty competent.

The other point that I noticed the other day is a quote from Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost that “if one of our race drivers does not fulfill his expectations during this season, we will put Ricciardo into the cockpit”, adding that “this puts some pressure on Buemi and Alguersuari.” Ricciardo is seen by some as the man most likely to become Sebastian Vettel’s team mate at Red Bull Racing if Mark Webber decides to retire at the end of the season, or next year. Red Bull does not always use its own drivers – and it has wasted so many of them – so it is always possible that the company might have a pitch at Lewis Hamilton. We will have to see how that one pans out… in any case. This is not the time of years for driver talks. We need a coupke of months before these will really begin.

F1 teams shared $658m in 2010

Formula One's 12 teams shared US$658 million in prize money in 2010, an increase of 21% over the previous year. The figures are revealed in the accounts of Formula One Administration Ltd (FOA).

Meanwhile overall turnover for FOA Ltd was up $19m on the previous year to US$1082 million, largely as a result of the addition of Korea and Canada to the calendar, which helped to offset other economic factors.

At the same time the top executive in Formula One, believed to be Bernie Ecclestone, rose 21% to almost US$8 million.

France and Formula 1

France could be set to get itself back into top line motor racing and to the days of French domination of Formula 1 - when Jean-Pierre Beltoise and Francois Cevert gave a touch of flamboyance; when Jacques Laffite, Patrick Depailler, Patrick Tambay, Rene Arnoux and Didier Pironi racing in the same era made it a French-saturated Formula 1 grid in the late '70s; and when Alain Prost used his brawn to counter British and Brazilian aggression to win three Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championships and added a fourth one in his last season, triumphing over much younger opposition after negotiating, with a businessman’s acumen, a landmark deal to race with the dominant Williams squad following a sabbatical year. Indeed Prost has won races with four top F1 teams - Renault, McLaren, Ferrari and Williams – not a fete many drivers can boast of.

Jean Alesi, Olivier Panis and Sebastien Bourdais

But since then, France's representation in Formula 1 has been stagnant. The promising Jean Alesi couldn’t achieve much and Olivier Panis has a sole victory at the dramatic 1997 Monaco Grand Prix to boast of. Rising talents such as Jonathan Cochet, Alexandre Premat and Nicolas Lapierre have somehow failed to become part of the F1 fraternity, while Sebastien Bourdais, after four dominant championship-winning seasons in the America’s erstwhile Champ Car World Series, was forced to make way for Swiss driver Sebastien Buemi at Red Bull Racing F1 team's sister outfit, Scuderia Toro Rosso.

France Loses its Formula 1 Race

To complete the embarrassment, France has fallen prey to F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone’s rising race staging fees and has lost its annual F1 race as well, the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours in the Nevers region. Alain Prost aptly described France as becoming “auto-phobic,” too polite a term for a country which, plagued by rising pressure from environmentalists, doesn’t care about nurturing the rich tradition of Grand Prix racing it had once played a significant role in cultivating. Fortunately, the Le Mans 24 Hours race, the massive participation in the annual Dakar rally raid, and the presence of the eagerly sought after and high-tech Paul Ricard circuit still put France somewhere in the motor racing radar, though it is a poor shadow of its former glory.

Renault, Prost and Ligier F1 Teams

French teams could have brought back the fervor, but Alain Prost’s team fell on its face and its assets were liquidated in 2002, while its predecessor the Ligier outfit never tasted lasting success. Renault has been highly successful, but following Fernando Alonso’s double Formula 1 World Championship-winning exploits for the team in 2005 and 2006, the team has yet to get back to winning ways consistently.

Moreover, the modern iteration of the Renault Formula 1 team has never been a fully French effort, with the team run by Italian Flavio Briatore and the chassis built by the team’s core personnel at Enstone in England. Only the engine came from Viry-Chatillon near Paris and the money too. But now, even that has been lost with Renault selling the shares of its team to Luxembourg-based investment firm Genii Capital in 2009 and then more comprehensively in 2010. Genii Capital has now sold a large part of its shares to Group Lotus for the team to be re-branded as Lotus Renault Grand Prix in 2011. Renault will continue only as an engine maker, a position in which it has tasted the greatest success, with Lotus and Williams in the late '80s and early '90s, and with Red Bull in 2010.

New F1 Drivers From France Likely

But nothing will stir up passion for a sport than participation from an athlete from the nation. The sudden increase in popularity of F1 in Spain following Fernando Alonso’s success is a case in point. And France could be having its own hero soon, thanks to rise of two fast, intelligent and naturally talented racing drivers coming up the ranks of GP2 and the World Series by Renault – Jules Bianchi from Nice and Jean-Eric Vergne from Paris. Both have strong financial backing.

Jules Bianchi

Jules Bianchi was taken under Ferrari’s wing by the end of 2009 and was recently announced Scuderia Ferrari’s official F1 test driver for 2011. After finishing 3rd in the 2010 GP2 Series despite a serious injury, Bianchi, the 2009 F3 Euro Series Champion, is continuing in GP2 this year with ART, now called Lotus ART after the tie-up with Group Lotus. Bianchi thus has a shot at a Formula 1 drive in the next couple of years either with Ferrari or with Lotus Renault.

Jean-Eric Vergne

Reigning British F3 Champion Jean-Eric Vergne is under the Red Bull umbrella. 2008 British F3 Champion and Red Bull Young Driver member Jaime Alguersuari had a quick initiation into F1 following his F3 title, and with Jean-Eric Vergne appointed as Toro Rosso’s test driver for 2011, the F1 call is surely around the corner.

One or both of these could become World Champions in the future and this is just what France needs to put those environmentalists to rest and get started in getting back to active Formula 1 participation. The revival of the Pau Grand Prix Formula 3 event proves that all is not lost yet for France.

Formula 1 cars set to go all electric in the pit lane from 2013 onwards, racing purists outraged already

Formula 1, the pinnacle of gas-powered racing, is more often at odds with the eco-conscious electric car movement than in tune with it, but here's an exception to that rule. The FIA, the sport's governing body, announced back in December of last year a move to a hybrid four-cylinder turbocharged engine, which is still on track to be introduced in the 2013 season, and Williams boss Adam Parr has now enlightened us on some of the benefits of the new power setup. Noting that future cars' kinetic energy recovery system will be four times as powerful as on current models, Parr says enough electric juice will be available to power each one-seater through its journey into and out of the pit lane. That would mean that at least for the tame, speed-restricted portions of a race, the F1 gas guzzlers you know and love will be humming along in almost perfect silence while using good old electricity. Unfortunately, it's exactly that lack of vroom vroom that old timers like Bernie Ecclestone and Ferrari chief Luca di Montezemolo are afraid of, describing the new hybrid stuff as sounding "terrible" and insisting on the sport sticking to its V8 roots. Then again, as Parr says, if you don't move with the times, the times leave you behind.

The history of Formula 1 racing circuit Silverstone

The history of Silverstone circuit

Located in Northamptonshire, England, is the Silverstone circuit, known worldwide as the home of British Grand Prix and the center of British Formula One. This legendary course has hosted races since 1948 and remains one of the drivers on the track will be a much more more difficult. Since 1987, Silverstone has been a fixture in the F1 circuit.

The road across the border, half of which is located in Northamptonshire and the other half in Buckinghamshire, and takes its name from RAF Bomber Silverstone, where it was built. It is a great track, which covers an impressive 5.1 km, 17 laps, and ensure that only the most skilled drivers in this sport a chance to beat this beast English.

How many old and famous Silverstone track has a lot more than the annual championship race F1 Grand Prix. In addition to hosting the FIA ​​Formula One races and the British Grand Prix, Silverstone also hosts FIM MotoGP, Formula Three, FIM Superbike, Le Mans, touring cars and Formula Super League with other races.

The track has (as mentioned above GP) for five different configurations, including the arena circuit, International Tour, Nationwide Tour and Stowe Circuit. More to the track since the 1940s, has grown and today it's on to the types of races at Silverstone was the host.

Silverstone was initially used as a racetrack in 1947 when a group of friends met and decided to take advantage of the vast plain of land as a place to showcase their skills automobile. After a 12-man team of runners has become a spontaneous kind of local legend, hired by the Royal Automobile Club, the country in 1948 to develop an official title.

First, the races were held on the basis of the original track, but it was decided to test a real way to build credibility given on the website. 1949 International Trophy was on the first circuit legitimate arrangement that in 1951 the Grand Prix take place.

The track would change again in 1952, a shift in the starting line, and it remained so for more than thirty years, solid race. Silverstone suffer slight changes again in the 1970s and 80s, until they completely overhauled after the 1990 race to prepare for the Grand Prix next season.

Silverstone has grown up alongside British Racing as a whole and became known as the home of sport in the country. Problems such as traffic jams long and frustrating journey for motorsport fans, but they took the race with no mistakes.

In 2009, Bernie Ecclestone signed a contract, which will be held the British Grand Prix at Silverstone for at least the next 17 years insured signed. To date, the title of one of the most popular remains on the track and driver is always full and frenzied crowd.

Discovery Formula 1

Discovery Formula 1 Racing
 
You will probably have heard of big name-F1 driver Michael Schumacher in Germany or the United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton, but maybe you are discovering just how much can a F1 thrill. Here is an introduction to the world's fastest (and most expensive) sport.

Since the start of the Formula 1 of the single track and twisty, the demand for skills is much larger than oval stock car racing surfaces make drives excellent. The history of the F1 circuit, the history of sport in the early years almost all of its Grands Prix were held in Europe, with occasional forays into North America. In recent years, the FIA ​​in a large part of the more exotic locations like Malaysia, Bahrain and Brazil shop. F1 results are shown in dozens of languages ​​and maintained a constant rate of every continent, wherever you travel, you will find Formula One fans the next time you'll goods away from home, keep your eyes open offer to foreigners -F1 is a great opportunity to practice the language.

Due to his international stature and of great economic importance, politics F1 Circuit also important. There are two championships in the sport of F1 and to the manufacturers, teams and companies to build the vehicles. The name of sport by the more stringent "formula" of rules to govern the world of motorsport, if fraud occurs is derived, there is news about the company and the side of world affairs, and much more the sports section. For example, when the legendary McLaren F1 Constructor was discovered spying on rivals Ferrari in 2007, the United Kingdom McLaren hit with the largest fine in sports history: U.S. $ 100,000,000 (approximately 50 million pounds at the time).

Whether speed of 350 kmh, you can offer to continue or pull the 4 and 5 GS of intrepid, F1, or send goods by Q1: The most exciting sport to be skipped. Results are F1, upcoming events on the F1 circuit and even book your F1 Grand Prix tickets online today!

F1Tribute.com is a new online resource that the world, Formula One is explored! The website provides updated information on the sport's elite, including: F1 Formula One News results and F1 merchandise.

Formula 1 Racing

History Facts about Formula 1

 

Formula One motor racing is the most famous in the world. It has a rich history that began in the early 20'th century. It is an international competition in the category of cars where 24 riders and 12 teams competing for the grand prize. Even if everything was made from the European Grand Prix racing, the first official championship which has attracted candidates from all over the world started in 1950. The United Kingdom was the host country and the race was held at Silverstone.

The first round of the Formula 1 took place much later than the European races in 1920 and 1930. This is because the need to create a set of rules for all competitors. It was not only the participants who meet these rules, but also cars. This set of rules, gave this formula, the name of the famous competition: Formula One. Only the best drivers and the best cars in the race were allowed to take part in the most competitive of the FIA.

After the first round of the Formula One competition in 1958 brought the first championship for constructors. All car manufacturers took part in this road race with very strong and eager to win the teams. But it was names such as Giuseppe Farina, Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher's incredible that this competition made famous.

The history of Formula One, only the fairness of this competition are, but also a struggle for power and financial issues. Technical regulations and billions of dollars Championship commercial rights were the main topics have been fighting two large associations. The war between the association of Formula One constructor and the Federation Internationale du Sport Automobile has very strong competition and has repeatedly threatened. However, they managed to reach a compromise in 1981, when the Concorde Agreement was signed.

The Concorde Agreement has been amended several times in the history of this league for several reasons, including technical and safety issues. In the past, technical regulations is of great importance, the sudden loss of two major competitors, Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger were shifted attention to the FIA ​​safety issues.