F1 Cockpit

Briatore and Symonds leave Renault F1

2009-09-16T16:25:00.000-07:00

Renault announced on Wednesday that both team boss Flavio Briatore and Executive Director of Engineering, Pat Symonds, have left the team. Furthermore, the French squad has announced in a statement that it will not dispute the recent allegations made by governing body the FIA concerning the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

The Renault team, without the men accused of race-fixing, will still have to attend the FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) hearing in Paris on Monday 21 September due to the 'Crashgate' scandal but said in the statement that, until then, no further comment will be made.

In last year's Grand Prix in Singapore city, also scene of the next event on the 2009 calendar, Nelson Piquet Jr. crashed his Renault - allegedly under instruction from the two men in question - to aid team-mate Fernando Alonso's run to victory. The Spaniard has denied involvement or knowledge in any previously planned plot.

Source: GP Update

Barrichello: Massa is my inspiration

2009-09-16T16:24:00.000-07:00

Rubens Barrichello has revealed the secret to his excellent form recently. It would appear that Rubens has been seeking advice from the sidelined Felipe Massa over the past few races. Massa has been out of contention since his accident in Hungary, ironically caused by a spring from the back of Barrichello's Brawn.

"I went to his house before Valencia and he explained to me how to deal with that track, where he dominated last year, and then I won," Barrichello told Italy's Gazetta dello Sport. "He also dominated in Singapore so I wanted him to tell me how he did that too!"

Rubens is currently 14 points adrift of team-mate and championship rival Jenson Button but hopes that four successive wins in the run up to the end of the season will help him close the gap. Along with this, the improving performances of Lewis Hamilton's McLaren and Kimi Räikkönen's Ferrari, Rubens could hope to place cars between himself and Button to possibly overhaul the Briton.

Rubens also explained that he will continue to utilise the advice given by compatriot Massa and will continue to prepare for races in a more appropriate manner, with the hope of avoiding the pitfalls of last year. "I will get there more prepared this year," he added. "They have changed some corners, the track has been re-surfaced and all of those awful bumps should be gone - I wear contact lenses and I had a headache whenever I stepped out of the car! Now I know what to expect."

Source: GP Update

'Something very unusual happened' - Mosley on Piquet crash

2009-09-16T16:23:00.001-07:00

FIA President Max Mosley admits that the crash of Nelson Piquet Jr. in last year's Singapore Grand Prix does appear to be suspect. The Renault team remains under investigation for the incident, which eventually helped team-mate Fernando Alonso to victory.

There is no doubt over the fact that Piquet's incident assisted Alonso's victory, as the Safety Car was deployed just a few minutes after the Spaniard's first pit-stop, although the FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) will hear the team's official version of events on Monday 21 September.

"Certainly the data from the car indicated that something very unusual had happened on the corner where he crashed, according to the experts who look at these things," Mosley told The Guardian, "so there was enough there to make it unthinkable not to investigate. This week Renault will send in written documents but the actual hearing of their defence is next Monday."

The FIA President, who will move into retirement next month, also admits that gossip surrounding the incident reached the FIA some time ago. "Two or three months earlier I'd heard this allegation was floating around," he explained. "Of course, there was nothing one could do then because there was no evidence, it was all rumour and hearsay; so I knew the allegation existed but, yes, I was quite surprised they were actually prepared to come forward and make it.

"Nelson Piquet Sr. (father and Manager of Nelson Jr.) came to see me after the Hungarian Grand Prix in late July and said all this had happened, so I listened to him and said 'Well, if Nelson (Jr.) makes a sworn statement then obviously we'll investigate it.' The father arranged for that to happen. We then started to look at all the on-board data and all the recordings we've got of everything that happened in the car."

Source: GP Update

Lotus returns to Formula One

2009-09-16T16:21:00.001-07:00

The famous Lotus name will be back on the F1 grid next year, the FIA has confirmed. The governing body revealed on Tuesday that the Lotus F1 Team entry has been accepted to fill the vacant space left by the departing BMW Sauber, which has also submitted what has been described as an 'impressive application'.

With 13 positions currently available on the grid next year and several entries left to select following BMW's July announcement that it will be pulling out of the sport, governing body the FIA confirmed on Tuesday that the Lotus name will be returning to the sport for the first time since 1994.

The latest version of the Lotus team will be funded by both the Malaysian government and a consortium of Malaysian entrepreneurs. The full title of the outfit will be 1Malaysia F1 Team, based at the factory of RTN in Norfolk, England. The building, only ten miles from Lotus Cars, was originally built for Toyota's F1 organisation at the start of the decade before Bentley used the facility for its Le Mans team.

Funding will be provided by the Malaysian Tune Group - the company behind airline Air Asia and headed by Tony Fernandes, who will also be Team Principal - with Mike Gascoyne making his Formula One return as Technical Director, having left Force India last year.

The team will be using Cosworth engines with gearboxes provided by Xtrac and aerodynamics developed by FondTech.

Source: GP Update

Symonds exempt from FIA punishment

2009-09-16T16:16:00.000-07:00

Formula One governing body the FIA has granted Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering at Renault, immunity in the controversial case surrounding race-fixing in last year's Singapore Grand Prix. Like driver Nelson Piquet, the Englishman will not receive a possible punishment of a lifetime ban from the sport providing that honest evidence is provided.

Piquet claims that both Symonds and Managing Director Flavio Briatore instructed the Brazilian to crash deliberately during the night race in order to encourage the deployment of the Safety Car in order to aid team-mate Fernando Alonso's race victory.

The Spaniard duly took the chequered flag and Renault's first win of the year although Renault will attend an FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) hearing on Monday 21 September.

Providing the FIA feels a full and sincere description of events is provided by Symonds, he will not be charged with a lifetime ban from Formula One. The Times reports on Tuesday that the Englishman refused to answer initial questioning from an FIA advisor, pointing out the following quote: "I have no intention of lying to you. I have not lied to you, but I have reserved my position just a little."

It is believed that the FIA-appointed stewards from this year's Belgian Grand Prix have analysed the telemetry information of Piquet's car during the race, claiming that - having viewed the data - Piquet's claims are 'reasonable' and 'on balance'

Source: GP Update

Alonso knew the plan, says Piquet Sr.

2009-09-14T21:41:00.001-07:00

Triple World Champion Nelson Piquet claims that Renault's Fernando Alonso was fully aware of the scheme to cause a deliberate crash involving his son in last year's Singapore Grand Prix. Nelsinho Piquet's retirement in the race led to the deployment of the Safety Car, which assisted the Spaniard to victory.

With the Piquets having accused Renault team chiefs Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds of originating the idea of a crash before the race, Alonso has already explained that he knew nothing of such an idea. However, Nelson Piquet Sr. - World Champion of 1981, 1983, 1987 and manager of his son - is certain that the Spaniard was aware of the proposal.

"Fernando knew everything," Piquet is quoted as saying by Spain's Diario Sport. "Alonso could not ignore it. If you are fifteenth on the grid at a street circuit, there is no point in just hoping for the best; at most, you can pass three cars - it's a senseless strategy."

Further reports suggest that Piquet will do all in his power to 'destroy' Renault Managing Director Flavio Briatore, who some predict could leave the team even before its FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) hearing on Monday 21 September. 'Crashgate' is the second serious case with which Alonso has been linked in two years, having been at the centre of the Ferrari-McLaren 'liegate' scenario in 2007.

Source: GP Update

Piquet unemployable now, says Brundle

2009-09-14T21:40:00.001-07:00

Former driver Martin Brundle believes that Nelson Piquet's recent race-fixing accusations against the Renault team and the subsequent controversy now make the driver unemployable in Formula One.

Ex-Renault pilot Piquet and father Nelson Sr. claim that team chiefs Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds planned a crash in Singapore last year in order to see the deployment of the Safety Car to assist other driver Fernando Alonso to race victory.

"The word in the paddock is that team boss Flavio Briatore will step away from F1 - possibly even before the hearing," television commentator Brundle told the BBC. "The sad thing is that the damage to F1 is already done because of the leaked information."

With Piquet managed by his triple World Champion father, Brundle feels the execution of their actions is a let down to the sport. "I'm disappointed in Piquet father and son," he continued. "Like many of us in the paddock, they have benefited enormously from being in the privileged inner sanctum of F1 and the boy's career opportunities and funding existed only because of F1.

"So, crashing deliberately in the first place, as he claims, and then lobbing this nuclear bomb into the paddock is not impressive to say the least; they've cut off their noses to spite their face because surely Nelson Piquet Jr is unemployable in F1 now. Which team and sponsor wants to be associated with all this? Anger has got the better of them here. F1, though, will survive it and move on."

Source: GP Update

Domenicali vague over Räikkönen future

2009-09-14T21:38:00.000-07:00

Ferrari General Manager Stefano Domenicali is refusing to discuss 2007 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen's future prospects with the team. The Finn remains under contract with the Scuderia for another season although, with Fernando Alonso also linked with the outfit, most drivers in the field are currently out of contract for 2010.

With only the Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso line-ups known ahead of the new season, Alonso's move is widely viewed as the trigger for the rest of the field although, with Felipe Massa injured and his 2010 return by no means confirmed, Ferrari are holding station as teams and drivers remain in limbo with only four races left this season.

"I am definitely not going to discuss that now," Domenicali told the official F1 website of Räikkönen's situation. "As everybody is aware, Kimi has a contract with us next year and I am very happy with his performances because he is driving very, very well, especially in the second part of the season.

"For the last four races he has always been on the podium and I think, after Barrichello, he has scored the most points, so he has shown the true qualities of fighting for the championship. That is our position."

Source: GP Update

Sutil fastest again in free practice

2009-09-12T03:59:00.000-07:00

Force India driver Adrian Sutil was once again the fastest driver out on track. On Saturday morning the German completed the fastest lap in the 60-minute free practice session. He ended ahead of Jenson Button and Nick Heidfeld. Ferrari driver Giancarlo Fisichella crashed into the tyre barriers in Parabolica but was fortunately unharmed.

The third and final free practice session during this weekend's Italian Grand Prix started at 11:00am at Monza. Temperatures are up to 25 degrees Celcius already and it looks like it will remain dry for the rest of the day. Rain during the night caused the track to be a bit more slippery at the start of the session than during yesterday's free practice session.

The fans at Monza saw yellow flags being waved at Parabolica, the final corner at Monza, after thirty minutes. In front of his home crowd Giancarlo Fisichella lost control of his Ferrari and crashed sideways into the tyre barriers. His Ferrari was heavily damaged on the right but is probably going to be repaired in time for the qualifying session. Fisichella himself was fortunately unharmed.

Lewis Hamilton and Adrian Sutil topped the time sheets for most of the session but in the end of the one-hour free practice session it was Adrian Sutil who ended first.

At Red Bull the team faced problems with Mark Webber's car at the start of the session but all looks fine for qualifying.

Source: GP Update

Mosley: We may lose one or two more F1 teams

2009-09-12T02:50:00.000-07:00

At the end of July BMW announced that it will withdraw its Formula 1 team from Formula 1 at the end of the 2009 season. According to FIA president Max Mosley F1 could lose another one or two more car manufacturers and also one or two of the private F1 teams.

Speaking about next year's Formula 1 grid Max Mosley is not sure if the fans will be able to enjoy 13 teams at the grid. "I think we may lose another one or two car manufacturers and there's also one or two of the private teams who will find it difficult to survive," Mosley said.

"I'd stake my worldly goods on Ferrari being there. But not on all the manufacturers. But I may be wrong."

Source: GP Update

Piquet: I will not be bullied again

2009-09-12T02:49:00.000-07:00

Nelson Piquet has vowed never 'to be bullied again' into making a forced decision such as the one he allegedly made ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix last year. The Brazilian claims to have been forced into crashing on purpose during the night race although the Renault team fiercely denies such accusations.

With Piquet having crashed at Turn 17 on Lap 14 of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, there is no doubting that Renault team-mate Fernando Alonso benefitted from the incident's subsequent Safety Car period before going on to win the race. It is unclear at this point, however, as to whether Piquet's claims are true and, if so, to what extend.

'Regarding the current FIA investigation, I confirm that I have co-operated fully and honestly with the sport's governing body,' Piquet wrote on his website, 'because I am telling the truth I have nothing to fear, whether from the ING Renault Team or Mr. (Flavio) Briatore (Renault Managing Director) and, whilst I am well aware of the power and influence of those being investigated and the vast resources at their disposal, I will not be bullied again into making a decision I regret.

I have every confidence in the FIA investigation and World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) and I will be making no further comment until the conclusion of the hearing of 21 September 2009.'

Briatore, on the other hand, has launched legal proceedings again Piquet and father/manager Nelson Piquet Sr, claiming that the allegations are 'outrageous'. "The fact that we (supposedly) put a plan for blackmail against the two Piquets means that I think we are very confident that the truth will come out," the Italian commented.

"You know what? Whatever happens, if someone goes against the rules, they go against the rules. If I tell you to go rob a bank: afterwards, you decide whether to rob the bank or not. I don't feel I have any responsibility and we don't feel we have done absolutely anything."

Source: GP Update

Fisichella: More work in Ferrari cockpit

2009-09-12T02:48:00.001-07:00

Giancarlo Fisichella has said that he is happy with his first day in a Ferrari but does admit that the controlling of the F60 requires more work inside the cockpit than with the Force India which he drove to second place at Spa a fortnight ago. The Roman wound up in eighth and twentieth positions in Monza's first two practice sessions on Friday.

Having chased Kimi Räikkönen to second place at Spa, Fisichella now joins the 2007 World Champion as a dream is achieved although the Italian must adapt quickly to the car, plus the likes of KERS. "Force India, for the last couple of races, was very strong," Fisichella said of Adrian Sutil's top ranking in Practice 2 at Monza. "We made a step forward and my last race was fantastic so I knew it would be quick be here."

Giancarlo then explained the initial changes which he has experienced: "It's a different circuit, so it's difficult to say as the level of downforce is much less," he continued. "It's a different car, so there is different reaction going into the corners; you work much more with the steering wheel and the switches compared to Force India.

"With Force India, I was just concentrating on the driving but here I am quite busy. Tomorrow is going to be another important day for me - it's important to do another good amount of laps to do a little bit more."

Italy sees Fisichella reunited with Rob Smedley, the Race Engineer with whom he worked with at Jordan in 2002 and 2003. "All session-long I've been in touch with my engineer, who's been very good on the radio, and was following him," 'Fisi' recalled. "It's not so difficult - you just have to be very concentrated to do it. In the afternoon I was mainly doing the job on my own, without the help of Rob, so I'm improving all the time and that's the right direction to go in."

Source: GP Update

Piquet granted immunity in Renault case

2009-09-12T02:46:00.000-07:00

Nelson Piquet has received the protection of immunity from prosecution by Formula One governing body the FIA. The Brazilian is currently deeply involved in a scandal with ex-team Renault after claiming that chiefs Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds asked him to crash on purpose during last year's Singapore Grand Prix.

With the situation now dubbed 'Crashgate', Renault will face the FIA's World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) over the matter on Monday 21 September. Managing Director Briatore labelled Piquet's claims as 'outrageous' on Friday before confirming that the French marque is taking legal action towards its former driver, who was sacked after the Hungarian Grand Prix this season.

FIA President Max Mosley has explained, however, that Piquet does not face any punishment, providing that honest evidence is given. "Yes, we have said that to him," Mosley told the BBC. "I don't know exactly how it was phrased but he has been told if he tells us the truth he will not be proceeded against."

In the event of Piquet being proven right, however, Mosley has warned that consequences for the team would be severe. "If, and it is a very big if, they are guilty, obviously it is very serious indeed," he continued. "It is not really for me to say whether it is as bad as the McLaren case ('Spygate', of 2007); that would be for the World Motor Sport Council. On the one side, one of the bad things about McLaren was that they did not tell the truth, so that went against them.

"But on the other hand, what is alleged to have been done here is probably more serious. As for any penalty, if you look at any other sport, if somebody fixes the result then it's usually taken seriously.

"Fixing is one degree worse than cheating, like if you're a cyclist and you take dope, that's cheating. If you bribe the other cyclists, or you get somebody to have a crash in the peloton so the yellow jersey guy crashes, that's more serious. Then if it puts human life at risk - whether it's the spectators, the marshals or the drivers - then it's more serious again. But I stress, until they put their defence in, we've got to assume they're innocent."

Source: GP Update

Leaked documents damaging F1, says FOTA

2009-09-12T02:44:00.000-07:00

The Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) has expressed its feelings over the fact that documents surrounding the controversial Piquet-Renault case have been linked onto the internet. The group feels that no evidence should have been made public until after the FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) hearing on 21 September.

Renault will face the WMSC the Monday after next following claims from former driver Piquet that team chiefs Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds arranged a crash in last season's Singapore Grand Prix in order to assist the team's other driver, Fernando Alonso, who went on to an eventual victory.

With Piquet's full views over the situation having been leaked, however, FOTA - which now represents all teams again - released a statement on Friday:

'FOTA today express concern at the leakage of information, which may or may not be relevant to the FIA current enquiry into the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. All parties to the dispute should have the right to a fair hearing carried out in private and not in the public arena, which is producing adverse publicity damaging to the corporate image and credibility of Formula One.

FOTA believes that differences within the sport should be handled in a professional manner and condemns the habit of intentionally releasing confidential documents to influence public opinion. Confidential documents should remain under the control of the competent authority.'

Source: GP Update

Di Montezemolo: Alonso will join Ferrari one day

2009-09-12T02:43:00.000-07:00

Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo has said that, sooner or later, double Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso will join the Ferrari team. The Italian does suggest, however, that it won't be in 2010.

Earlier today Michael Schumacher announced that he has extended his contract at Ferrari whereas Felipe Massa, Kimi Räikkönen, Giancarlo Fisichella, Marc Gené and Luca Badoer are already contracted to the team for next year.

Di Montezemolo admits that Spain's Alonso will probably join the squad one day, as he revaled to Spanish reporters at Monza on Friday: "Sooner or later it will happen but we'll have to wait and see when that will be. For 2010 we have Räikkönen, Massa, Fisichella, Badoer, Gené and Schumacher so we have plenty of drivers.

"I have always been a big fan of Alonso because he is a great driver; he has won titles and sooner or later all great drivers come to Ferrari."

Source: GP Update

Schumacher extends Ferrari contract by 3 years

2009-09-12T02:42:00.001-07:00

Michael Schumacher and Ferrari's partnership will continue up to and including 2012, it has been revealed by the multiple winner. The seven-time World Champion will continue at the Maranello squad under his supervisor role, mostly for the Scuderia's development of road cars.

Having retired from Formula One at the end of the 2006 season, German Schumacher looked to be making a surprising return this year until neck injures forced the 40-year-old out. However, with his current contract expiring at the end of this year, Michael revealed on his website on Friday that he will be remaining part of the organisation.

"Yesterday Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo and I agreed in extending our cooperation for another 3 years," Schumacher wrote. "I am very happy about this as I always like to be part of the Ferrari family and, as the name Ferrari also symbolizes passion, quality and the highest (sporting level) for me.

"We agreed that I will give my input more and more into the GT department, the area of the road cars. I have already enjoyed a lot participating in the development of the Ferrari California, the 430 Scuderia and the new 458 Italia, which we will present next Tuesday at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and so I very much look forward to participating in future projects."

Source: GP Update

Renault launches lawsuit against Piquets

2009-09-12T02:38:00.000-07:00

Renault Managing Director Flavio Briatore has announced on Friday that the team is to launch legal proceedings against former driver Nelson Piquet Jr. and his triple World Champion father following the former's recent claims that he was forced into developing a plan to crash deliberately in last year's Singapore Grand Prix.

With Renault set to appear before the FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) on Monday 21 September, Piquet has claimed that both Briatore and Executive Director of Engineering Pat Symonds advised him to crash on purpose in Singapore, causing the instant deployment of the Safety Car and helping team-mate Fernando Alonso to victory in the process.

'The FIA has announced that it is to hold an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council ('WMSC') on 21 September 2009,' a statement from the team reads. 'The ING Renault F1 Team is to attend that meeting and answer allegations that members of the team conspired with Nelson Piquet Jnr to cause a deliberate accident at the 2008 Singapore GP, so that Fernando Alonso might benefit from the resulting safety car.

The ING Renault F1 Team had not commented publicly during the FIA's initial investigation into this matter.

However, today the ING Renault F1 Team and its Managing Director Flavio Briatore personally, wish to state that they have commenced criminal proceedings against Nelson Piquet Junior and Nelson Piquet Senior (Manager to his son) in France concerning the making of false allegations and a related attempt to blackmail the team into allowing Mr Piquet Jnr to drive for the remainder of the 2009 season. The matter will also be referred to the Police in the UK.'

Source: GP Update

Santander and Ferrari announce 5-year partnership

2009-09-10T19:22:00.001-07:00

Ferrari and Spanish bank Santander confirmed at Monza on Thursday that the two parties will be joining forces for five seasons, starting next year. The bank, Spain's largest, will therefore end its partnership with McLaren although there was no mention of the much-rumoured move to the team from Fernando Alonso.

After first being reported last year, final confirmation and details of the Ferrari-Banco Santander partnership came at Monza on Thursday. The company, owners of British bank Abbey since 2004, will be linked with Ferrari for at least the five seasons between 2010 and 2014, with logos appearing on the cars and driver overalls of the Scuderia.

"We are very happy to have a new partner like Santander, with whom we are beginning a very important and long term collaboration," commented Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo.

"We share common values, such as striving for excellence, a passion for competition, an international approach and, last but by no means least, the colour red. These values will make this a fruitful partnership, noteworthy around the world."

"I dare say that Santander is today in banking what Ferrari is in Formula One," added Emilio Botín, Chairman of the Spanish group, "an irreplaceable pillar and a symbol of tradition, success and strength. Formula One has turned red-hot."

With Santander having joined McLaren in 2007 (the year of Alonso's arrival at the English outfit) the move by the bank to Ferrari fuels further speculation although no news on a switch from the driver has been released.

Source: GP Update

Vettel worried about KERS cars

2009-09-10T19:21:00.001-07:00

Italy 2008 winner Sebastian Vettel is both intrigued and worried over the possible pace of KERS-shod cars at Monza this weekend. Ferrari, McLaren and Renault will all be running the power boost system for the Italian Grand Prix on a track which features three long straights.

KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) gives those using it an additional 80 brake horse power for 6.6 seconds per lap and is estimated to be yielding an extra two tenths of a second per lap for the final European race of the season. Neither championship-contending team will be running the device although a potential loss of points to those using it could prove extremely costly come the end of the season.

"We should be in good shape but it all depends on how big the effect of KERS is," said German Vettel of a possible (approximate) 10-second deficit over the course of the race. "How big the effect of KERS is will be we will known tomorrow but, with no testing (traditional pre-race test) and no experience of this circuit (with 2009 cars), we don't know - we (non-KERS runners) will either have a good or bad surprise tomorrow!"

As well as presenting an opportunity to enhance starts and overtaking, KERS can also be used in a defensive fashion. "Overtaking the KERS cars is never easy," the Red Bull driver continued, "and, in a place where you have more straights than anywhere else, it is even harder."

Source: GP Update

Alonso 'very surprised' at scandal reports

2009-09-10T19:18:00.001-07:00

Fernando Alonso has said that he is astonished by the reports on Thursday that claim Renault management developed a plan with Nelson Piquet to crash deliberately in last year's Singapore Grand Prix. The reports say that the Brazilian was asked to crash on purpose to allow Alonso a chance for victory.

Piquet's crash on Lap 14 of the night race led to the instant deployment of the Safety Car, which subsequently handed the lead of the race to Alonso after the Spaniard had pitted several minutes before. Claims on Thursday, however, suggest that Renault Team Principal Flavio Briatore met with both Executive Director of Engineering Pat Symonds and driver Piquet to discuss the scenario before the race.

"I am very surprised," Alonso explained to a mass crowd of reporters in Italy. "I cannot imagine this situation so, as I said, I am surprised and it is time to think about another job because I am not spending any more time on this. We're at Monza for the next Grand Prix.

"I will not comment too much about this, as the team has said that we will not comment; for me, it is not even the time to think or pay attention to that because it's difficult to understand the situation and this investigation. It's just another day and I'm trying to prepare for the Monza race and to get a good result here."

The former double Champion did make his point clear, however, that he both was unaware of and not involved with the alleged talks. "No," the Spaniard said plainly, "but Flavio has been always a nice boss - he is a friend and a boss and has supported my career since the Minardi times."

Source: GP Update

'Piquet Singapore crash result of pre-race meeting'

2009-09-10T19:13:00.000-07:00

Reports on Thursday have suggested that Nelson Piquet's race-ending crash in the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix was believed to have taken place following a pre-race meeting between the Brazilian and Renault team chiefs Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds.

The French team will go before the FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) on Monday 21 September as it remains under investigation for causing a deliberate crash in order benefit the team's other driver, Fernando Alonso, thanks to the deployment of the Safety Car in Singapore City.

Piquet's car spun and hit the Turn 17 wall to retire on Lap 14, with the Safety Car immediately being brought out as a consequence. Alonso, who had already made his first pit-stop after starting 15th, then inherited the lead as the previous leaders were forced to travel at slower speeds behind the Safety Car whilst waiting for the pit lane to open.

Autosport reports on Thursday, however, that a meeting between Piquet, Briatore (Team Principal and Manager to the driver) and Symonds (Executive Director of Engineering) planned the event shortly before the start of the race. Furthermore, Piquet is believed to have accepted the plan due to feeling 'uncomfortable' over his future with the team and lacking a 2009 race contract at the time.

The reports claim that Piquet, whose relationship with the Enstone outfit ended in disrepute this season, was instructed to crash on either Lap 13 or 14, a few minutes after Alonso's pit-stop; in addition, Turn 17 is also believed to have been pointed out as a crash location due to the lack of cranes for lifting the car out of harm's way, ensuring the Safety Car would come out.

The claims go on to state that Piquet contacted FIA President Max Mosley of the sequence of events on Sunday 26 July 2009 - the day of the driver's last race for Renault in Hungary. "I confirm the meeting with Piquet on Sunday morning but nothing like that was ever talked about," quotes from Briatore read. "I also remember that Piquet at Singapore was in a very fragile state of mind. Besides that, there are the audio recordings where I express disappointment when I see on the screens that Piquet had crashed."

"It's true, during the Sunday meeting with Piquet the issue of deliberately causing a SC deployment came up, but it was proposed by Piquet himself," Symonds is believed to have said. "It was just a conversation." Autosport also reports on Thursday that race winner Fernando Alonso knew nothing of the supposed arrangement.

Source: GP Update

'More speed to be found with current regulations'

2009-09-10T19:11:00.000-07:00

McLaren Chief Engineer Pat Fry believes that all teams are far from finding the optimum level of performance this year's technical regulations offer. Formula One underwent a major refurbishment technical-wise this year and the Englishman believes that the sport will be long into the 2010 season before the current rules are fully understood.

The 2009 season has possibly been the most changeable in the 60-season history of the Formula One World Championship, as the likes of KERS and double diffusers hit the world's race tracks for the first time. With ex-Honda team Brawn GP and Red Bull Racing the initial pace setters and still championship leaders, only in recent races have last year's winners Ferrari, McLaren and BMW found some competitive pace.

"Historically, a couple of years into a set of rule changes tends to level out," Fry commented. "I think we are still at a very early stage in terms of understanding what you can do with the current aero package; I think there will be a reasonably steep learning curve at least through into the middle of next year."

Controversy and boycott threats had already arrived before the start of the first race this year as Brawn, Toyota and Williams were the first three teams to take advantage of radical 'double-decker' rear diffusers. "Obviously, with the double diffusers, a lot of people were adapting those onto their cars rather than having designed the car for them," Fry explained of the likes of McLaren or Red Bull. "I'm sure there will be some variations on that and it might take a year or two to settle out."

Source: GP Update

Sponsors do not choose our drivers, say Ferrari

2009-09-10T19:10:00.001-07:00

Ferrari has moved to clarify any gossip that the team's choice of drivers for 2010 may have been influenced by sponsors of the team. The Scuderia is set to confirm its partnership with Spanish bank Santander at Monza on Thursday, with many also expecting Fernando Alonso to soon be announced as a driver for next season.

With Santander set to make the move from McLaren to Ferrari, 2010 will be the company's fourth year of involvement in Formula One after entering with McLaren in 2007, the year Alonso joined the Woking team. However, di Montezemolo stresses that sponsor and driver selection remain sole decisions of Ferrari as opposed to shared ones with partners.

"As far as Ferrari is concerned, this will be a Grand Prix, which is traditionally not very good to us, but we will give it everything for a good result," the President of the Maranello team said. "I am happy that I've chosen an Italian driver, Fisichella, to race here and also Räikkönen is on great form.

"I'll be back here tomorrow (Thursday) to talk about a new partnership but that doesn't mean anything in terms of choices for the near future: I want to say it again, that the drivers are chosen by Ferrari and not by the sponsors."

Source: GP Update

FOTA considering 3 cars per team

2009-09-10T19:08:00.000-07:00

The Wednesday meeting of the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) at Monza not only resulted in the welcoming back of Williams and Force India to the group but also touched upon the possibility of running three cars per team in future seasons.

The triple line-up idea was first mentioned this year after Michael Schumacher was unable to drive for Ferrari in Valencia; Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo, Chairman of FOTA, put forward the proposition to fellow competitions as teams discussed the idea in Italy this week.

"We spoke about the future, the possibility of a third car on the track and the possibility to give young drivers the chance to test," the Italian explained. "This has become the only sport where you can't train and maybe we've exaggerated a bit."

Source: GP Update

Räikkönen braced for competitive weekend

2009-09-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

Kimi Räikkönen will be aiming for a podium finish at the Italian Grand Prix this weekend as the 2007 World Champion arrives at Monza off the back of a first Ferrari win of the season in Belgium. With KERS on-board, the local team had initially been tipped as front-running favourites although the Finn has played down his chances.

After holding off Giancarlo Fisichella's Force India at the way to the finish at Spa, Räikkönen will now be driving alongside the Italian in front of the passionate Tifosi. "These are very intense weeks: after the two consecutive races in Valencia and Spa there is now Monza on the calendar, this year's last race in Europe," Räikkönen wrote on his website.

"In Belgium we won and we want to go on like this in the last races, trying to stay on the podium. It's one of the most important Grands Prix of the year because we race in front of our fans and it would be great to give them satisfaction." Kimi then admitted that Spa was the first time in a 'long time' - 16 months, in fact - that the Finnish and Italian national anthems had been heard consecutively on the podium.

How does the leading Ferrari driver expect to fare against his new associate? "He's one of the most expert drivers and we will give our best to help Ferrari keep third place in the Constructors' Championship," he said of Fisichella. "The performance levels change from one race to the next this year."

Ferrari has openly admitted that, unlike many of its rivals, development on its 2009 car has now been ceased although Kimi refuses to give in. "It will be a difficult weekend but I can promise the fans that we will give our best as usual," he added.

Source: GP Update

Badoer and Gené likely to stay at Ferrari

2009-09-09T21:47:00.000-07:00

Stefano Domenicali has revealed that current Ferrari test drivers Luca Badoer and Marc Gené are most likely to be retained by the Italian team ahead of the 2010 season. Although in-season testing is currently set to remain barred, the Team Principal has explained that the duo is still able to contribute to other projects within the organisation.

With Giancarlo Fisichella already signed as Ferrari reserve driver for 2010, the team revealed on Wednesday that the ex-Force India pilot could still be loaned to other teams in order to maintain his racing experience next year.

With regulations stating that no circuit running can be performed outside of Grand Prix weekends, though, test drivers' work is limited to the winter.

"It's true that development work is now done by the race drivers but we use test drivers for promotional engagements and work on road cars," the Team Principal explained to Gazetta dello Sport of Italian Badoer and his Spanish team-mate. "We'll find a solution for him and for Marc Gené."

Source: GP Update

Williams and Force India rejoin FOTA

2009-09-09T21:46:00.000-07:00

Following meetings at Monza on Wednesday, the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) has announced that the previously suspended Williams and Force India teams are now part of the group once again, which is also inviting Formula One's new entrants to join for 2010.

FOTA made history last year as all F1 teams officially grouped together for the first time in order to ensure a safer future for the sport; however, controversy reigned in the Spring of this year when, amid the argument surrounding governing body the FIA's proposed budget cap, both Williams and Force India were banned from further meetings after submitting early, full entries for the 2010 campaign.

With the bickering now over, however, FOTA welcomes back the two teams as well as openly inviting the debutant Campos, Manor and USF1 squads for next year - the latter has in fact already submitted an application for membership.

'The FOTA Executive Committee looks forward to working with the FIA and Commercial Rights Holder to promote a healthy, dynamic and sustainable sport,' a FOTA Wednesday press release reads.

'To this end, FOTA intends to now enter into open discussion with the Commercial Rights Holder (Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One Management) with the wish to confirm arrangements beyond 2012. Furthermore, FOTA will now arrange a seminar, open to representatives of the major stakeholders (including Media, Sponsors and Promoters), to discuss how working together we can develop the show creating a more attractive spectacle for the fans.'

Source: GP Update

Ferrari: Fisichella could race for others in 2010

2009-09-09T21:44:00.002-07:00

Ferrari have explained that Giancarlo Fisichella, despite being contracted to the Italian team as reserve driver next year, could still be loaned to other teams in order to maintain his racing prowess. The Rome driver will compete alongside Kimi Räikkönen as stand-in for Felipe Massa for the rest of this season.

Having been selected to drive at Ferrari and released early from his Force India contract, Fisichella will realise a dream at Monza this weekend by competing in his home Grand Prix for the country's legendary motoring name. With a transfer to the Scuderia's test team for 2010, however, the F1 racing career of the 36-year-old would have appeared to be over come the end of this season.

"There are no clauses that would stop him from racing with other teams," Team Principal Stefano Domenicali explained to Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport. "On the contrary, in fact - he could keep himself trained that way." With a return to Force India a possibility, suggesting which other team Fisichella would race with is more of a puzzle, with only Toro Rosso being linked to Ferrari through an engine deal.

Source: GP Update

Schumacher welcomes Fisichella to Ferrari

2009-09-09T21:44:00.001-07:00

Had he not injured his neck whilst motorcycling in February, Michael Schumacher could have found himself on the grid for Ferrari this weekend although the German, who was unable to substitute for Felipe Massa this season, has wished Giancarlo Fisichella all the best ahead of the Roman's first Ferrari race.

With Massa having been injured in Hungary, Schumacher unable to replace him and reserve driver Luca Badoer off the pace in Valencia and Spa, Fisichella becomes the fourth Ferrari race pilot this year.

"I saw Giancarlo yesterday at the eSafety event (pictured at top with former Ferrari Team Principal Jean Todt) and could welcome him into the Ferrari family," seven-time Champion Schumacher said wrote on his website. "Of course I wish him well for Monza.

"We've know each other for so many years - and we still often play football together for the Nazionale Piloti team - that I can imagine well what it means for him to be a driver for Ferrari now. Ok, then: welcome to the club, Giancarlo."

Source: GP Update

Domenicali predicting tough weekend in Italy

2009-09-09T21:42:00.000-07:00

Stefano Domenicali fears that Ferrari may be in for a rough ride at Monza as the Scuderia heads home for the final race of the European season. Despite being one of only three teams to be running KERS, the Team Principal worries the raw pace of rivals' cars may outweigh any advantage which the Maranello squad holds.

With KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) onboard, the Ferrari, McLaren and Renault drivers are expected to enjoy an additional two tenths of a second off each lap time during the Grand Prix, although Domenicali is unsure whether a second consecutive victory is a realistic goal for Ferrari.

"We know it will be difficult to repeat because our rivals continue to develop their cars and we do not," he explained to Italy's La Stampa, "but we must be ready to exploit the mistakes of others."

Stefano hopes that Ferrari new boy Giancarlo Fisichella is able to at least score World Championship points this weekend alongside Kimi Räikkönen but also revealed his own feelings over the F1 return of the seven-time World Champion. "The way Michael responded to our call - I think in his mind there is always the desire to go back to being a driver," Domenicali said of Schumacher, who was unable to replace Felipe Massa this year due to a neck injury picked up from a motor cycle accident in February.

Felipe Massa was Ferrari's best Monza finisher last year, coming home in sixth place
"Otherwise, he observed and he hung up his helmet - but never say never. The third machine? It remains a winning solution that would do only good for Formula One; we'll talk with the FIA (governing body) and (Bernie) Ecclestone (commercial rights holder)."

As Ferrari ponders the possibility of running three cars per team, Domenicali also moved to spell out recent reports of multiple MotoGP Champion Valentino Rossi being called by the team in past weeks. "That has already clarified," he said plainly. "We, at this time, need maximum points and we decided accordingly, so the idea of Monza was more of a dream for his admirers - but for Vale, it might still be an exciting challenge one day."

Source: GP Update

Santander-Ferrari confirmation expected on Thursday

2009-09-09T21:40:00.000-07:00

After first being reported back in November, final confirmation of Santander's sponsorship of Ferrari is expected on Thursday. The news of the Spanish banking group's move from McLaren to Ferrari could also be the first piece of the driver jigsaw fitting into place ahead of the 2010 season.

With the silly season in full swing, Santander - owners of Abbey in the UK since 2004 - will make the move from McLaren to Ferrari after three seasons with the Woking team.

The group made its entrance to Formula One, which includes title sponsorship of Grands Prix, in 2007 when Fernando Alonso moved to McLaren although an early exit from the former double Champion came as unexpected.

With Alonso highly tipped to be joining Ferrari next year, however, Santander's move looks all the more logical. The company is the largest bank in Spain and, according to Reuters, Chairman Emilio Botin and Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo are expected to announce the partnership together on Thursday.

Source: GP Update

Brazilian brewery to sponsor Brawn

2009-09-08T20:22:00.000-07:00

Brazilian beer Itaipava will be advertised on the Brawn GP cars of Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button for a special one-race deal at the penultimate Grand Prix of the season. The Cervejaria Petrópolis brewery has linked up with the championship-leading team for the event in Sao Paulo only.

The link-up with Brawn marks the first move into Formula One for Itaipava, manufactured by the third-largest brewery in Brazil. The logo of the drink will be seen on the nose cones and sidepods of the two cars as well as on the helmets of Button and Barrichello.

"Brawn GP is delighted to welcome Cervejaria Petrópolis and their Itaipava brand to the team and to Formula One for the very first time," commented Brawn CEO Nick Fry of the company founded in 1994.

"The Brazilian Grand Prix is always a great event with a fantastic atmosphere and we are very proud to be associated with a prestigious Brazilian company for their home race. Our new partnership should prove to be very exciting as the season and the battle for the championship reaches its climax."

"We are very pleased to have agreed the partnership between Cervejaria Petrópolis and Brawn GP for the Brazilian Grand Prix," added Douglas Costa, Corporate Marketing Manager at Cervejaria Petrópolis. "Raising awareness of the Itaipava brand and our responsible driving message through involvement in motorsport is extremely important to our company strategy and our first venture in Formula One is designed to take this awareness to a wider audience through the global reach of the sport."

Source: GP Update

Massa: Button battling pressure for the title

2009-09-08T20:20:00.000-07:00

2008 championship runner-up Felipe Massa believes that Jenson Button's main rival is pressure and not Brawn team-mate Rubens Barrichello with just five Grands Prix still to run this season. The Ferrari driver, who continues to recover from his Hungary accident, claims that the leading strain is beginning to affect the Englishman.

Having won six of the opening seven races this year, Jenson Button and Brawn GP looked comfortable although, with over half of the season still remaining at that point, more recent races have proven that a turnaround from rivals was possible; although Ferrari and McLaren - winners in Hungary and Belgium - may be out of touch in the title race, Button can still lose crucial points to last year's contenders.

"Look at me - I came to Brazil (seven) points behind (Lewis Hamilton) and I almost won the championship," Ferrari's Massa recalled to The Guardian of last year's Interlagos finale. "That was one race. Rubens has five races to close in by 16 points - it's a big possibility but it depends on Jenson; if Jenson carries on in this bad way it will help Rubens a lot. In my opinion, Jenson has gone down because of the pressure, it's the only reason."

Retirement in Belgium was Button's first since the British Grand Prix of last year
Since his last win in Turkey, Frome's Button has notched up results of sixth, fifth, two seventh places and one retirement in the last five races. "At the start of the season everything was nice, everything was easy," Massa continued. "He was in a new team, winning six out of the first seven races - that's different to fighting hard for the championship.

"Now he has a different kind of pressure. In the earlier races he was almost half a second quicker than some teams; you win the race easily - and there is not so much pressure - but now we have races where things are more difficult. So, for me, the pressure has had a big impact on his mind and he needs to deal with it better. If he does not cope with the pressure he will not win the championship.

Source: GP Update

Monza kerb change good news for Brawn

2009-09-08T20:18:00.000-07:00

Formula One governing body the FIA has revealed that larger kerbs have been installed to deter drivers from cutting chicanes at Monza. The new installations, similar to those in Barcelona and the Nürburgring, should help the championship-leading Brawn cars which ride kerbs worse than rivals.

With Brawn GP hoping to limit damage to its championship leads against the six KERS cars at Monza this weekend, Team Principal Ross Brawn spoke of the ability to ride the kerbs ahead of the 80th Grand Prix at the legendary venue.

"The aerodynamic efficiency of the car is crucial so we have a specific package designed to minimise drag levels and achieve the high top speeds required," he explained. "Good engineering can make a significant difference at Monza so we'll be working hard to get the car set up well to allow our drivers to be aggressive over the kerbs."

What Ross didn't know at that point, however, was that modifications have been made to the Rettifilo and Roggia chicanes which sees the 'combination kerbs' placed on the apexes of the corners; any car which does cut the corner, therefore, will almost certainly damage its front wing and floor.

Source: GP Update

Massa escaped blindness by a millimetre

2009-09-08T03:52:00.001-07:00

Felipe Massa has explained that a distance as small as one millimetre was all it took to decide whether he had or had not lost sight in his left eye following his Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying crash. Thankfully, the Brazilian is on the road to making a full recovery following his freak accident in Budapest 45 days ago.

Whilst approaching the Hungaroring's Turn 4 on Saturday 25 July, Massa's helmet visor was struck by a flying metal spring - weighing 800g and at speeds of approximately 160mph - which had detached itself from compatriot Rubens Barrichello's Brawn car.

"You need to think about luck in different ways," Massa told The Guardian after being asked whether he considers himself lucky to be alive or unlucky to be involved in such an incident. "I was actually very unlucky with the spring in my face," he laughed.

"But I was very lucky as well. Every doctor said the same: if the spring had gone one millimetre to the right, I would have lost my sight. One millimetre to the left and who knows? I could have been brain damaged. So I was very lucky and this is more important because it is my life.

Cosmetic surgery for Massa (in the region of the left eye socket) proved successful on Monday and the Ferrari driver now continues to recover at home in São Paulo with the target being to return to the Formula One grid next year.

Source: GP Update

'Adaptation key to Monza success' - Fisichella

2009-09-08T03:50:00.000-07:00

Giancarlo Fisichella has admitted that he will be needing to get used to the change of car as quickly as possible when first free practice begins at Monza on Friday. The Italian will achieve the life-long dream of driving for Ferrari at his home Grand Prix but has noted several key changes to bear in mind.

Although the Force India-Mercedes VJM02 chased the Ferrari F60 to the chequered flag last time out at Spa, Fisichella will now need to use the KERS device which prevented him from winning in Belgium. "The dream has come true and now the challenge is not really easy," he admitted.

"I'm starting from the beginning with a new car, a new team and a new steering wheel - I found a very open atmosphere here at Maranello. I know that in Monza I can count on two forces I didn't have before; the KERS - which means 70 to 80 brake horse power more, and we can see that this was what I was missing at Spa when I was behind Räikkönen - and the Ferrari fans' enthusiasm…I have to give them everything back, with results a driver with my experience can gain."

The last podium result for 'Fisi' before Spa came for Renault at the 2006 Japanese Grand Prix although the Roman is now hoping for a second consecutive rostrum placing. "With my feet on the ground, if I gain places on the podium or win then it's on merit," he added. "After Friday's emotion I will lower my visor, put it in first gear and give it 100 per cent."

Source: GP Update

Vettel: Expectations higher in 2009

2009-09-08T03:49:00.000-07:00

The 2008 Italian Grand Prix will forever be remembered for the magical moment when Scuderia Toro Rosso won its home race and Germany's Sebastian Vettel became the youngest ever winner in Formula One. Now with sister team Red Bull and a contender for the championship, the 22-year-old is hoping for more success.

A repetition of the rain of last year's race at legendary Monza could come as good news for Vettel, whose engine situation is perilously close to resulting in a 10-place grid drop if a ninth unit is used during the season; the German currently has one new powerplant remaining plus previously used engines although four Renault blowups have proven costly in 2009.

"Without a doubt, Monza 2008 is one of my best memories, as it was when I scored my first F1 win after taking my very first F1 pole," said Vettel, who has since notched up a further three poles and two Grand Prix victories this season. "It was a perfect weekend and one I will remember always, whatever else I achieve during my career."

With five races to go this year, Italy marks the final European race of the campaign before the teams head to Asia and South America for the Singapore, Japan, Brazil and United Arab Emirates races. "Monza is, in any case, a special appointment on the calendar as you can really feel the history of the place," Vettel continued, "especially as, just a short walk from the paddock, you can see impressive banked corners of the old oval track."

After making his F1 debut for BMW at Indianapolis two years ago, Vettel now finds himself 19 points behind championship leader Jenson Button and the leading non-Brawn driver in the standings. "Things have changed a lot in the space of 12 months," he continued. "Although - at this point last year - the Toro Rosso car was improving and, even if we saw we were competitive even in Friday practice, my pole and win were something of a surprise to everyone.

"This year, Red Bull Racing and Mark (Webber) and I are fighting for the championship titles, so we are considered front-runners; it doesn't put me under any more pressure but it does mean that our expectations are higher."

Source: GP Update

Plastic surgery successful for Massa

2009-09-08T03:47:00.000-07:00

The latest phase of Felipe Massa's recovery is running smoothly, Ferrari can confirm. The Brazilian, who suffered a freak accident in qualifying ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, spent approximately four and a half hours in surgery on Monday but is now resting following a successful procedure.

Having been struck in the head by an 800g steel spring at the Hungaroring, Massa remained in Budapest's ÁEK hospital for nine nights before flying home to São Paulo, Brazil.

Two Sundays ago the Ferrari driver, who has since slipped to ninth in the Drivers' Championship, travelled to the United States in order to visit specialist Professor Stephen Olvey in Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital.

The Brazilian underwent surgery in his hometown on Monday for roughly four and a half hours as doctors performed cosmetic surgery to the area of Felipe's head - just above the left eye socket - which was struck by the flying object. Massa will remain in hospital for a short time before returning home to continue physical preparations ahead of his F1 return in 2010

Source: GP Update

Renault: Significant gains with KERS

2009-09-07T18:07:00.000-07:00

The Renault team will be reintroducing the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) at the Italian Grand Prix this weekend as the French squad is confident that a noteworthy increase in performance can be gained by doing so. Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering, explains the team's decision.

Having elected - with Ferrari, McLaren and BMW - to run KERS at the start of the season, Renault abandoned use the device after the Malaysian Grand Prix - with only the former two using the system at Spa last time - out although Symonds is confident that bringing KERS back is the right decision for the Italian Grand Prix.

"There are three aspects of KERS that need to be considered," he explained. "Lap time, the advantage it gives from the start and the ability to assist overtaking." KERS functions by collecting kinetic energy dissipated in the car's engine (whilst off the throttle), storing it in a battery and allowing drivers to use this for a power boost at the push of a button; horsepower is then able to increase by 80 for 6.6 seconds per lap.

"Firstly, the gain in lap time of running KERS at Monza is likely to be around a quarter of a second and it's worth even more in qualifying, as you can do one release before you start a timed lap and another release during the timed lap," Symonds continued, referring to the fact that KERS' energy amount automatically defaults to full as a car crosses the start/finish line.

"In terms of the advantage at the start, it's a long way from the grid to the first corner at Monza and KERS will give an advantage of well over fifteen metres compared with non-KERS cars. For assisting overtaking, you have to remember that Monza is a circuit where it's very difficult to overtake but running KERS certainly won't disadvantage us in that respect. All these factors combine to make Monza a very favourable circuit for KERS."

Source: GP Update

The car is yours, Fisichella tells Massa

2009-09-07T18:05:00.000-07:00

Giancarlo Fisichella has said that he has no desire to seek a full-time race drive at Ferrari, having been confirmed as replacement for Felipe Massa for the final five races of the season. The Italian will remain at the Scuderia as test driver in 2010 and looks forward to the return of the injured Brazilian.

With Massa having been hurt in a freak qualifying crash on Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, Fisichella takes over from reserve pilot Luca Badoer from the Italian Grand Prix onwards. However, the Roman has wished Massa all the best and hopes to see the Paulista driving in Formula One again as soon as possible.

"I spoke with Massa by phone and he told me he's very happy for me and that I was the right choice," 'Fisico' told Italian news agency ANSA. "I replied that I'm very sorry about what happened to him and told him to get better soon: 'Whenever you want your car come and take it because this is yours. I just hope I can do what you would have done.'

"I began my career with Minardi in 1996 and, after nearly 14 years, I had pretty much given up hope of driving a Ferrari so I'm filled with happiness and pride now." Giancarlo add that only one fellow competitor has wished him luck ahead of his debut for the Scuderia, with that man being another former Ferrari driver.

"He congratulated me," he said of Brawn's Rubens Barrichello. "We've been good friends since we were 14." Finally, Fisichella explained the moment he told his father - a mechanic working in Rome - the big news: "He's my No. 1 fan and he was waiting anxiously…he kept on asking me and I didn't know what to tell him! It was one of the most beautiful moments of our lives."

Source: GP Update

Renault reintroduces KERS for Monza

2009-09-07T18:04:00.000-07:00

Romain Grosjean is planning to last for longer than half a lap as Formula One moves to Italy this weekend. The unfortunate Frenchman became entangled in the first-lap collision which took four cars out of the Belgian Grand Prix although the Renault driver is hoping to make use of the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) at Monza.

Having first appeared in F1 with a strong outing in Valencia, Grosjean's Spa weekend resulted in no more than a back row grid slot and a multiple collision. "My race was very disappointing," he confirmed. "I had some problems in qualifying, so I started at the back of the grid, but at the start of the race things were looking good as I made up five or six places on the first lap - then I got caught up in the incident at Turn 5."

As the sport moves from one classic venue to another, Renault has revealed that it is bringing back its KERS as Monza presents both chicanes to charge the unit and long straights for its deployment. "We will be using KERS this weekend so I will need to get used to that during free practice on Friday, as I've not used it before," he continued. "It should give us an advantage, especially at the start of the race.

"My aim is to do better than I did in Spa so I need to make it through to at least Q2, get a good grid position and finish the race. At the moment I am still learning about Formula One and I will continue to use every opportunity and every lap to improve as a driver and help the team. I'm continuing to build a good relationship with my engineers, which of course plays an important role in getting the most from the car."

Source: GP Update

Asturias buzzing after Alonso visit

2009-09-06T20:43:00.001-07:00

Spanish crowds were delighted to witness the homecoming of hero Fernando Alonso on Saturday as the former double World Champion travelled to hometown Oviedo in order to star in Renault's latest roadshow. The Renault driver took a Formula One car home for the first time at the weekend in front of 170,000 onlookers.

With the huge crowds delighted to hear the sound of a V8 F1 engine in town, Alonso sampled last year's race-winning R28 in 2009 livery. A temporary 1.8km (1.1m) circuit was configured in the centre of the city at Plaza de America in order for Fernando to perform a series of dramatic moves, including tyre burnouts and donuts.

"It has been a beautiful day and a dream come true for me," Alonso said after driving for personalities such as Mayor Gabino de Lorenzo. "I have to say a big 'thank you' to the government of Oviedo and also to Renault for allowing me to have a roadshow in my home city; Oviedo should be very proud of this event because less than twenty cities have had the opportunity to see a Formula One car on their streets.

"I was pleased to see so many fans come along and watch the show and I hope that everybody enjoyed the event - I think this was the perfect way to reward my supporters and to show the people of Oviedo the excitement of Formula One." The Mayor also announced that a street in the city is soon to be named after Alonso, World Champion of 2005 and 2006.

Source: GP Update

Ecclestone hoping to lower ticket prices

2009-09-06T20:41:00.000-07:00

Good news for Formula One fans this weekend is that commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone is hoping to reduce ticket prices at Grands Prix. The Englishman, head of Formula One Management (FOM), has explained that overall cost-cutting in the sport will help to lower entrance fees.

With F1 fans and drivers alike having raised the point of ticket prices this year - particularly when attendances were noticeably low in Turkey - Ecclestone agrees that both ticket prices should be slashed and drivers should be more accessible to their fans.

"The problem is, the cost of running teams today is just crazy but now we are getting the teams to come to their senses and reduce expenditure dramatically," Ecclestone commented. "When that happens we won't have to produce so much money for them and, therefore, we can ask for less money for the promoter and the ticket prices will come down - we want that to happen as soon as possible."

The former Brabham team boss does think, however, that F1 competitors remain too concealed from the supports of the sport. "I still think we should be doing an awful lot more to make the drivers more exposed to the public," Bernie continued. "We have a few things, like autograph sessions and things like that, so they are slowly coming round.

"The trouble is, if one or two of the top guys won't do it, the other guys say 'Why should we if they won't?'. I've always said that the guy who's World Champion owes an awful lot to the sport so, if he took the lead, other people would follow; the incredible thing is, as I pointed out the other day, when Michael Schumacher was driving for Ferrari he had a contract with a television company saying that he wouldn't have an interview with anybody else until he had spoken to them.

"This is the sort of thing we have always been up against, I'm afraid. They don't want to - they could but they don't want to - but you can't make people do what they don't want to do; if they are doing it but not being sincere about it, it's a waste of time."

Source: GP Update

Hamilton prepared to adapt in Italy

2009-09-06T20:39:00.000-07:00

World Champion Lewis Hamilton admits that this year's preparations for the Italian Grand Prix will unusual in that the customary pre-event testing at the parkland circuit will not take place. With the in-season testing ban still in full swing, no running will be seen until first practice on Friday morning.

With the test having been a suitable warm-up for the field, its absence will be strange for Hamilton to get used to. "Since we no longer test at Monza before the Italian Grand Prix, it will take the drivers a bit of acclimatisation to get used to running in low downforce at this high-speed circuit," the McLaren driver explained.

"It's a real challenge to get the setup right because there's never an ideal compromise between speed along the straights and through the corners; it's never easy to keep the car on the track because it slides all the time.

"At most tracks, you feel like the downforce is sticking you to the track at high speeds, but not at Monza - it's like you are skating across the surface but it's a fantastic circuit - our car has traditionally gone well there so I am looking forward to another competitive weekend."

Source: GP Update

Indian company puts in BMW offer

2009-09-06T20:38:00.000-07:00

An Indian consortium has placed an offer to buy the BMW Sauber team. The German manufacturer will be leaving Formula One at the end of 2009 after four full seasons in the sport and latest reports from India explain that the company in question is linked to A1 Grand Prix driver Neel Jani, whose father is Indian.

With the Hilwil-based outfit hoping to stay in F1 once Bavaria's BMW has exited the sport, the Indian group is reported by the Times of India to have placed an offer in the region of €50m ($43.6m).

Team Principal Mario Theissen continues to work with Peter Sauber, ex-team owner and now 20 per cent shareholder, but has stated that the bid from India is one of a selection to be considered. "There are several interested parties and we are just about to evaluate the individual proposals," he explained.

Source: GP Update

Rossi considered Massa substitution

2009-09-06T20:33:00.000-07:00

Multiple MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi has admitted that he considered stepping in for Ferrari as the replacement for the injured Felipe Massa this year. The Brazilian was injured in qualifying for the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix although Rossi, who has been linked with the team several times, turned down the offer.

With Massa out of action and seven-time Champion Michael Schumacher also having been unavailable due to injuries of his own, Ferrari eventually elected to use reserve driver Luca Badoer before switching to Giancarlo Fisichella for next weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

"We spoke with (Stefano) Domenicali (Ferrari General Manager) but we had two big problems," Yamaha rider Rossi explained at Misano. "The first one is the neck (strength) because I don't know if I would be able to finish the race with my neck; Monza is not very strong for the neck but, anyway, it still needs great effort.

"Also, because we're fighting for the (MotoGP) championship; for sure, the race at Monza would be a big stress and it's better to stay in MotoGP; we had already decided before that, to go into a Formula One racing without testing the car, is more risky than fun - it's not possible to arrive over there and do all the work to understand the car in just three days."

Rossi has qualified on pole position for this weekend's San Marino Grand Prix.

Source: GP Update

Fine but no driving ban for Ross Brawn

2009-09-04T19:16:00.000-07:00

Ross Brawn's Plymouth court hearing on Friday afternoon has landed the Brawn GP team owner with a fine and six points on his driving licence after being caught speeding on the road four months ago. The Englishman does not, however, receive an alternative punishment of a driving ban.

With his Mercedes E320 believed to have reached speeds of over 100mph on a 70mph stretch of a Devon dual-carriageway in May, Brawn's original hearing on 3 August was postponed until this Friday as the Team Principal was out of the country on the initially-planned date.

After claiming to have arrived late for an appointment due to holdups on the M4 and M5 motorways on the day in question, Brawn eventually received a fine of £700 plus £75 costs and a six-point endorsement on his driving licence. Brawn was not in court on Friday but instead represented by lawyer Denis Brennan.

Mr. Brennan explained to the court that Brawn - who has been driving for 33 years - accepted fault and was aware of the ban threat. "The traffic was light," the barrister explained. "He fully co-operated with the police. He apologises." The court explained that Brawn already held three penalty points due to an offence in February and that a further case of speeding could result in a six-month ban.

Source: GP Update

McLaren hoping for KERS advantage at Monza

2009-09-04T19:15:00.000-07:00

The McLaren team believes its possession of the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) at Monza can help it to achieve the highest top speeds in the rapid Italian Grand Prix next weekend. Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh hopes the device could assist the Woking squad to a repetition of its 2005 and 2007 wins at the track.

Since the turn of the new millennium, McLaren has won twice at Monza and hopes to finish off this decade with another victory in Ferrari's home nation. "Monza is a venue where the team has traditionally gone well and we love racing on a race track that's so steeped in Formula One history," Whitmarsh explained.

"The unique high-speed nature of the track places unique demands on the cars and, like every team, we'll arrive at the circuit with a bespoke high-speed aerodynamic package; it will be another interesting test for the MP4-24 as we continue to develop the car - it will be useful to understand how it works in a low-downforce setup."

With the series of straights broken up by chicanes, the Englishman knows that the braking areas will be ideal for charging KERS before its use over the starting grid. "Of course, Monza is notable for being a power circuit, and, with KERS, we should see some incredible speeds," he added, "particularly during qualifying when the drivers will double-deploy KERS along the start/finish straight."

Source: GP Update

Vatanen reveals contenders for Vice President

2009-09-04T19:13:00.000-07:00

FIA presidential candidate Ari Vatanen has revealed the names of those who will be acting as candidate for Vice President for Mobility in his cabinet. The Finn is challenging ex-Ferrari Team Principal Jean Todt for the head position of F1's governing body ahead of Max Mosley's retirement next month.

With Vatanen keen to present a diverse but united group, the 1981 World Rally Champion is bidding for the position in the French-based federation having retired this year after spending a decade in the European Parliament.

"This is a first-class team and all its members came on board spontaneously because they all want to make a change together with me," Vatanen explained. "We have people from all regions, North and South, East and West, bigger and smaller clubs, so the team is well-balanced.

"I am particularly happy for two reasons: firstly because we have also a lady on the team and secondly that Jamaica has chosen to join us. The first ever rally I drove outside of Finland was actually in Jamaica, back in 1975, so I have something like a sweet spot for Jamaica - which by the way has a successful track record in sports, too! I feel that it is a big circle in life closing."

Vatanen's seven candidates for Vice President for Mobility are:

- Iván Dibós
- Mike Harris
- Earl Jarrett
- Niklaus Lundsgaard-Hansen
- Peter Meyer
- Tim Shearman
- Maria Spetz

Source: GP Update

Worries remain over Barrichello gearbox

2009-09-04T19:12:00.000-07:00

Rubens Barrichello has briefly explained that it remains to be seen as to whether or not his gearbox remains fully in tact after suffering an oil leak at the end of Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix. The Brazilian was able to finish the race and pick up two valuable points although a fire could have scuppered his chances.

Despite being the lightest car on the Spa grid, Barrichello's starting position of fourth meant the Paulista was the highest placed championship contender heading into Round 12; however, an anti-stall moment at the start put paid to that as he rapidly sunk to the back of the pack as the red lights went out.

It wasn't until the final three laps of the race that worries began to build for the Brawn driver, however, as the oil leak's initial smoke signals soon became a full-on fire in Parc Fermé. Having backed off from Heikki Kovalainen for sixth place, Rubens was able to keep Nico Rosberg and Mark Webber at bay for seventh.

"The team told me that my engine is fine after the fire," Rubens wrote on Twitter on Friday afternoon. "The gearbox seems okay but only after Saturday practice (at Monza) we will know more."

Source: GP Update

Renault to make no comments before hearing

2009-09-04T19:10:00.000-07:00

The Renault team has stated that it has acknowledged the FIA's request to summon key representatives of the outfit to the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in Paris later this month but stresses that it will not discuss the matter beforehand.

Renault has been requested to attend the hearing as part of an investigation surrounding the team's possible attempts to have cheated sporting regulation to win last year's Singapore Grand Prix.

The FIA will be talking to the team on Monday 21 September surrounding the viewpoint that Nelson Piquet was instructed to crash to bring out the Safety Car and therefore help team-mate Fernando Alonso to win what was Formula One's first ever night race.

Renault released a statement regarding the matter on Friday evening:

'The ING Renault F1 Team acknowledges the FIA's request for representatives of the team to appear before the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris on the 21st of September 2009. Before attending the hearing, the team will not make any further comment.'

Source: GP Update

FIA requests meeting with Renault over cheating claims

2009-09-04T19:08:00.000-07:00

Formula One governing body the FIA has called upon Renault to attend a hearing with the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in Paris regarding the conspiracy which says that the team instructed Nelson Piquet to crash in order to help team-mate Fernando Alonso to victory in last year's Singapore Grand Prix.

News of the claims first appeared in the aftermath of the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday when an FIA spokesperson revealed that a case, involving Renault and claims surrounding a deliberate crash, were being investigated from one of last year's races.

The 2008 Singapore Grand Prix saw Nelson Piquet Junior's accident bring out the Safety Car mid-race; with team-mate Fernando Alonso having already pitted, the Spaniard emerged ahead of the field and leading the race once those originally at the front had come in.

It is believed that the FIA interviewed key members all teams at Spa last weekend in a quest to find anymore evidence or opinion surrounding the issue. It is also rumoured that Felipe Massa confronted Renault Team Principal Flavio Briatore after the race in Singapore last year, as the Brazilian's evening was ruined when a rushed pit-stop for Ferrari under the Safety Car period in question resulted in a mistake which cost the championship contender the lead and any chance of a points finish.

'Representatives of ING Renault F1 have been requested to appear before an extraordinary meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris on Monday, 21 September 2009,' the FIA's Friday statement reads, calling Renault to the WMSC the Monday before this year's night race.

'The team representatives have been called to answer charges, including a breach of Article 151c of the International Sporting Code, that the team conspired with its driver, Nelson Piquet Jr, to cause a deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix with the aim of causing the deployment of the safety car to the advantage of its other driver, Fernando Alonso.'

Source: GP Update

Ross Brawn set to appear in court

2009-09-04T02:42:00.000-07:00

Ross Brawn is expected to attend a court hearing on Friday afternoon after receiving speeding charges whilst on the road. It was first revealed that the Brawn GP team owner faced a driving ban a month ago.

It is believed that the Englishman's Mercedes road car reached approximate speeds of 100mph on a 70mph stretch back in May; the car was clocked on the A30 dual-carriageway near Okehampton in Devon.

Having been out of the country on 3 August and therefore not able to travel to Plymouth Magistrates Court for the originally set date of the appointment, Brawn was granted adjournment with the hearing now due to take place at 2pm local time on Friday (BST / GMT +1).

Source: GP Update

Di Montezemolo: Fisichella deserving of Ferrari drive

2009-09-04T02:41:00.000-07:00

Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo believes that Giancarlo Fisichella deserved to race a Ferrari in Formula One in this, the Italian's fourteenth season in the sport. However, with only five races left to run this season, Ferrari continues its battle for third overall in the Constructors' Championship.

Currently on 56 points, Ferrari holds the top three spot although McLaren lies 12 behind with Toyota a further 5.5 back. "I chose Fisichella for several reasons, the first being that he deserves it," di Montezemolo explained to Italian television broadcaster TG1. "He is on great form and an expert driver.

"On top of that, we all want to have an Italian driver in our car at Monza and, finally - looking at it in the long-term - he will be our third driver (in 2010). "It is an important moment after a great win for Kimi Räikkönen; we also have the good and important news that Felipe Massa is recovering well and will be more than ready for the first race of next season."

Also noting that he would have liked to seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher racing, di Montezemolo thanked the team's reserve driver for his recent efforts: "I wish to thank Luca Badoer who, once again, has been so willing with Ferrari."

Source: GP Update

Fisichella thanks Force India for opportunity

2009-09-03T18:21:00.001-07:00

Giancarlo Fisichella has expressed his gratitude to the Force India team after it was announced on Thursday that the Italian would be joining Ferrari for the rest of the season. The Roman will compete with the Scuderia for the final five races of the year and leaves Force India having been with the outfit since its founding.

After entering Formula One in 1996 with Minardi, Fisichella will finally achieve his life-long dream of driving with Ferrari at his home Grand Prix at Monza next weekend as the Maranello team introduces its fourth driver of the season.

"I am very grateful to Vijay Mallya (Force India co-owner) for allowing me this opportunity to drive for the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro team," Fisichella commented. "It is true that it has always been an ambition to do this and for Vijay to have allowed it to become a reality is very generous.

"I hope in my turn I have helped Force India grow up and be on the right path to achieve their own ambitions. They are now a very competitive team and I wish them all the very best." Giancarlo scored Force India's first points and podium finish at Spa on Sunday by finishing second to now-team-mate Kimi Räikkönen in the Belgian Grand Prix

Source: GP Update

Mallya: No-one should stand in the way

2009-09-03T18:19:00.000-07:00

Vijay Mallya sees no problems with Giancarlo Fisichella being released to move to Ferrari for the remainder of the season. The Italian, who scored Force India's first points with a podium finish in Belgium, has overseen the entire project for the Silverstone team since its F1 induction at the start of last year.

With Fisichella having finished second to Kimi Räikkönen at Spa-Francorchamps whilst Ferrari reserve driver Luca Badoer remained off the pace, the Maranello team brought an end to much speculation this week by confirming Fisichella's role with the team until the end of this season.

"Giancarlo and his management team approached me yesterday (Wednesday) with the proposal from Ferrari," explained the Force India Chairman. "For any Italian driver, a Ferrari race seat is a long-held dream and for Giancarlo it was no exception. No-one should stand in the way of this.

"Furthermore, the agreement will secure Giancarlo's long-term future with Ferrari and it would be incorrect to jeopardise this, particularly when Giancarlo has made such a vital contribution to Force India." This comment could hint that Fisichella will remain at Ferrari, most likely as reserve driver, for the 2010 season.

"We would like to stress that we have not agreed any financial settlement with Ferrari. This agreement has been made in good faith and for the good of Giancarlo and the sport in general. A competitive Italian driver in a Ferrari for Monza is a positive story for Formula One, which can only help raise the sport's profile in these difficult times.

"We would like to thank Giancarlo for all his help over the past one and a half seasons and for delivering us our first World Championship points last weekend. He has been an integral part of the team and we owe him a great deal for his input behind the scenes and performance out on track. We wish him all the best for the future."

Force India test driver Vitantonio Liuzzi is expected to make a return for the first time since 2007 in order to replace Fisichella and partner Adrian Sutil at the Italian Grand Prix.

Source: GP Update

Official: Fisichella replaces Badoer at Ferrari

2009-09-03T17:55:00.000-07:00

In the wake of much speculation this week, it has now been confirmed that Giancarlo Fisichella has been released from the Force India team to join Kimi Räikkönen at Ferrari for the remainder of the season. The Roman finished second to the 2007 World Champion in Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix.

With Felipe Massa injured and Michael Schumacher also having been unable to race, Ferrari drafted reserve driver Luca Badoer into the car for the European Grand Prix; however, having been off the pace in both Spain and Belgium, the oldest driver in the field will now be replaced by his compatriot.

Ferrari will be the seventh Formula One team for which Fisichella has raced
"We have chosen Fisichella because we can expect him to make a valuable contribution in this final part of the season," explained Stefano Domenicali, General Manager of Ferrari, after Räikkönen was chased to victory by the Force India four days ago. "Giancarlo has shown throughout his long career that he is fast and competitive and we are therefore proud to be able to run an Italian driver in our home race.

"We wish to thank Luca Badoer for the team spirit he demonstrated in these circumstances: it is a shame he was unable to show his true worth in these last two races, tackled under conditions which anyone would have found difficult."

It is likely that another Italian, Force India test driver Vitantonio Liuzzi, will be partnering Adrian Sutil at Monza; the return would mark Liuzzi's first Formula One race since the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix with Toro Rosso.

Further development: Fisichella confirmed as Ferrari 2010 test driver

Thursday's news marks the teaming of the two drivers who famously battled for victory on the final lap of the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix:

Source: GP Update

Fisichella to be Ferrari 2010 test driver

2009-09-03T17:54:00.000-07:00

As well as confirming Giancarlo Fisichella as substitute for Felipe Massa for the remainder of the 2009 season, Ferrari also revealed on Thursday that the Italian will remain as reserve driver for the team next year, bringing the curtain down on a full-time Formula One race career after fourteen seasons.

With Fisichella, who finished second in the Belgian Grand Prix, replacing Luca Badoer for the rest of the year, Ferrari Team Manager Stefano Domenicali gave the Scuderia's motives.

"We chose Giancarlo because we think that he can make a significant contribution in terms of points during the finale of this uncertain season," explained Domenicali, who took over from Jean Todt at the start of last year.

"Furthermore, we considered what his role could be inside the team in the near future, also taking this year's experiences into account. He will be the reserve driver in 2010. I want to thank Vijay Mallya and Force India F1 for giving Giancarlo the possibility to cancel his contract in such a happy moment for the team, allowing him to crown his dream as a driver.

"Now we have to concentrate on Monza, an event we really care for in a very special way; we know that it will be difficult to keep the performance level we have had over the last Grands Prix but we'll give our best to entertain our fans and I hope there will be lots of them at the track to support us."

Source: GP Update

Hamilton refuses to give up on title

2009-09-03T04:59:00.000-07:00

Lewis Hamilton admits that his Formula One career has been a fortunate one until this year, having enjoyed title attacks in his first two seasons in the sport. Despite being out of contention for most race wins this season, the World Champion stresses that he will continue to push for the crown until the task becomes unattainable.

2009 has been a season of ups and downs for the reigning World Champion, who had climbed to sixth in the Drivers' Championship after the European Grand Prix but is now pushed back to seventh after a win for 2007 Champion Kimi Räikkönen in Belgium.

"I know I've been very lucky: for the past two seasons I've been in with a shot at the championship right until the end of the last race of the season so, obviously, this year feels a bit different," Stevenage driver Hamilton admitted, "but it's been fun to just push like crazy and try and get the maximum result from the car at each race rather than looking at stringing together a more consistent title bid."

After being disqualified in Australia and in trouble with FIA stewards in Malaysia, it was a harsh start to the season for Hamilton although things have been on the up since Germany. "We know we've taken huge steps with the car since the start of the summer but it's frustrating that we didn't get to see our race pace at Spa on Sunday," he continued, having been taken out of the race in the first-lap pile-up. "We've got a low-downforce package for Monza and some more upgrades ahead of Singapore so I think we'll be in the hunt among the front-runners."

Lewis has been reminded of the fact that, with a maximum of 50 points still on offer this year and Jenson Button 45 ahead of him, retaining his title is still feasible. "I think that the last five races should be good for us for a lot of different reasons," Hamilton continued. "I might have missed out at Spa but I really want to win Monza and see how competitive we'll be in the flyaways. The five remaining races are a great mix of circuits and I'm looking forward to all of them.

"I'll still be going for it, trying to get every single point I can. I know it sounds crazy but I'm not going to put the title out of my mind until I know that it's mathematically impossible."

Source: GP Update

Rome exhibition planned for Senna

2009-09-03T03:48:00.000-07:00

An exhibition dedicated to the life and works of Ayrton Senna has been staged to take place in the aftermath of the Italian Grand Prix. The event will also mark the fifteen-year anniversary of the founding of the Ayrton Senna Institute, a non-governmental organisation funded by the success of Senna-licensed products.

All proceeds from the Institute go towards improving the lives of unprivileged children in Senna's home nation of Brazil as the exhibition in the Italian capital of Rome is set to take place from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 September, the weekend after the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

The event will be held at the Brazilian Embassy and will see the arrival of three of Senna's racing cars (from Formula One, Formula Three and Formula Ford) plus helmets and racing overalls as well as other mementos of the man who lost his life at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

Those who attend will be guided through the tour by photographer Keith Sutton of Sutton Motorsport Images, a close friend of Senna, explaining the Brazilian's career which including winning the F1 world title in 1988, 1990 and 1991.

Source: GP Update

Klien doubting Kubica-Ferrari 2009 move

2009-09-03T03:46:00.000-07:00

As the silly season reaches its peak for 2009, BMW Sauber test driver Christian Klien does not expect to see team-mate Robert Kubica move to Ferrari before the end of the year; the Pole has been linked as a possible replacement to Luca Badoer although Austrian Klien expects no mid-season changes at Hilwil.

With Felipe Massa still injured and test driver Badoer driving alongside Kimi Räikkönen at Ferrari, Force India have called off any chances of Giancarlo Fisichella taking the reigns, as has Renault's Fernando Alonso. With Kubica's name also linked to the Scuderia, Klien believes that this is no more than speculation but admits that he would be ready in the event of such an occurrence becoming reality.

"I can only confirm what everybody knows anyway," Christian wrote on his website. "Ferrari has yet to confirm a second driver for Monza and obviously they are looking around on the market for alternatives. I understand my team-mate Robert Kubica has a contract with the BMW Sauber F1 Team and I assume he will be driving our car for the rest of the season.

"As the team's third driver, I am naturally interested in racing. Whenever one of my team-mates should be unavailable, I am ready - this is the reason why I go through at least the same fitness regime as my colleagues and keep myself in shape with endurance races like Le Mans. This week I am at the wheel again, testing the BMW Sauber F1.09. We made a big leap forward at Spa and want to finish this season in style. Every single point in the Constructors' Championship may be vital in the end.

Source: GP Update

Ecclestone expects Indian F1 race in 2011

2009-09-02T18:07:00.001-07:00

Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has said he expects to see Formula 1 travel to India for the first Indian F1 Grand Prix in 2011. According to Ecclestone the organisers of the race will start building its track in October. Ecclestone will lay the foundation stone next month he confirmed.

Ecclestone told PTI: "It's been on for a long time. There's never been any doubt. The contract has been signed long time back. We are waiting for the circuit to be constructed. The foundation stone would be laid in late October. I will be in India to lay the foundation stone."

Source: GP Update

Alonso looking forward to F1 demo in hometown

2009-09-02T18:06:00.001-07:00

Fernando Alonso will travel to his hometown Oviedo, Spain, this weekend for the Renault F1 team roadshow. On Saturday the Spaniard will race his Renault R28 through the streets of Oviedo.

The event will take place in the city centre in front of the Plaza de América on a 1.8km temporary track where Fernando will drive last year's Renault F1 car, the R28, and various other Renault road cars. The track, which has been specially created, will also include Calle del Conde de Toreno, one of the main highways in Oviedo, offering spectacular viewing opportunities with over 100,000 fans expected to turn out and watch the show.

"It will be fantastic and definitely one of the moments of the year for me," Alonso said. "It has been one of my dreams to drive my F1 car on the streets where I grew up in front of my family, friends and the people who have always supported me. After the difficult year we have had, it will be nice to experience something different and to celebrate the magic of Formula One. I always enjoy the roadshows, but this one will be extra special.

The Roadshow will get underway at midday on Saturday 5th of September with a series of demonstrations until 1:00pm. Fernando will drive a go-kart, Renault Mégane CC, Mégane Sport RS, Mégane Trophy and finally his Renault F1 Car.

Source: GP Update

Championship will go down to the wire - Webber

2009-09-02T18:03:00.000-07:00

Red Bull Racing driver Mark Webber missed out on scoring points in Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix, while team-mate Sebastian Vettel managed to score six points to get closer to championship leader Jenson Button. According to Webber the championship is still tight and he expects the championship will be decided in the final race in Abu Dhabi.

With a maximum of 50 points left to score a lot is still possible for Button's competitors Barrichello, Vettel and Webber. "There's still a huge amount of points to go and we've seen how wacky and crazy things can be of late," Mark Webber said in his column for the BBC. "One weekend it's Rubens, then mine, then Seb. We're all over the place. But the guy who's treading water a little of late is Jenson. If one of us can get some momentum and he doesn't, then everything's to play for. But if he get's momentum, then the wind goes out of our sails. It's not rocket science.

"I'm sure the next two races will be very interesting in terms of where the championship goes. Monza and Singapore are both pretty slow-speed circuits, in terms of corners. And Monza has its notoriously fast straights - you don't need much driving talent on those.

"When Red Bull gets to Singapore, we'll be better than we were at Valencia. But it's going to be tight. We won't have a Silverstone advantage, but we're going to be in the hunt to pick up some points here and there - and that's what we've got to keep doing until we get to the last race in Abu Dhabi.

"I really believe the championship race will go down to the wire. Jenson needs to have an 11 point lead at Brazil for that not to happen. And that doesn't look likely at the moment."

Mark Webber has scored 51.5 points so far, while championship leader Jenson Button has scored 72 points.

Source: GP Update

Ferrari to work on fuel economy

2009-09-01T19:32:00.000-07:00

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has highlighted fuel economy as an aspect of its performance the Maranello squad needs to improve, after it was shown up on that score by Force India last weekend.

Kimi Raikkonen delivered the Scuderia’s first win of the 2009 campaign at Spa, but was pushed all the way by Giancarlo Fisichella.

One of the surprising aspects of their duel was how far Fisichella was able to stretch his first fuel load; the Force India started the race 7kg lighter than the Ferrari yet the two cars pitted together on lap 14.

It appeared to be a case of Fisichella’s Mercedes-powered VJM02 being particularly efficient rather than the Ferrari being uniquely thirsty, since BMW’s Nick Heidfeld and Red Bull’s Mark Webber also pitted on lap 14 despite starting the race with 7-10kg more fuel than the polesitter.

Nevertheless, Domenicali readily admitted that Ferrari needs to improve in this area.

“This is a point that we need to work on, and understand how different teams are doing with fuel saving and fuel consumption,” he said.

“Other teams are maybe doing a better job so we need to understand exactly why.

“It is a point that has made a difference, and can make a difference for the future.”

Domenicali said it would be particularly vital to have an economical car next season, when in-race refuelling will be banned and fuel will account for a large proportion of the car’s weight when running with full tanks.

“Looking ahead to next year, fuel saving and fuel consumption is one of the most important elements because that kind of difference in terms of kilos can be a big difference at the end of the race,” he said.

“So for sure it’s a point that we need to work very hard to understand.”

Source: ITV

Ferrari expects Massa return in 2010

2009-09-01T19:31:00.001-07:00

Ferrari expects Felipe Massa to be "100%" ready to resume his Formula 1 career at the start of next season, based on the results of a thorough medical examination carried out on Monday.

The Brazilian, who suffered head injuries in a July 25 accident at the Hungarian Grand Prix, visited the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit at Miami’s Jackson Memorial Hospital where he was examined by motor racing trauma specialist Dr Steve Olvey.

Ferrari said various neurological tests and an eye exam “all had a positive outcome” and the prognosis was good for Massa to return to racing.

However, minor plastic surgery will be performed on his skull in the next few days and Ferrari does not expect him back in the cockpit this season.

“Naturally the results were received with great joy and satisfaction at Maranello, with the prospect of being able to count on Felipe 100% for the start of the next racing season,” the team said in a statement.

After a brief period of recuperation following the procedure, Massa should be able to start physical training for the first time since the accident – a prospect he welcomed as a “big step forward”.

“I’m very happy with the outcome of the tests,” he said before flying back home to Sao Paulo.

“After the small operation that I will have done in the coming days, I will finally be able to start working out a little in the gym to get back into shape, and after that I can even begin to do some testing in karts.”

Massa preferred not to set a target date for his F1 return, saying: “Let’s take it one step at a time. For the moment I’m concentrating on taking up physical activities again, which is already a big step forward.”

Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali said after last Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix that the team would announce within three days who would drive its second car for the remainder of the season.

Italian Luca Badoer stood in for Massa at Valencia and Spa but, after a decade away from the F1 front line, was badly off the pace at both events.

Badoer has made a plea for one more chance, arguing that it would be “absurd” to replace him before Monza, a circuit he knows intimately from his testing experience.

But Ferrari is understood to be considering other options, including Badoer’s countryman Giancarlo Fisichella, who highlighted his qualities with a brilliant performance at Spa that saw him qualify on pole and almost win the race in the unfancied Force India.

However, Force India boss Vijay Mallya has signalled that he may not release Fisichella – at least not without a deal that worked to the advantage of his team – saying on Monday that he fully expects the Italian to race for him at Monza.

Source: ITV

South Korea secures funds for 2010 GP

2009-09-01T19:29:00.000-07:00

Promoters of the planned South Korean Formula 1 race say they now have the funding in place to build a circuit that will be ready in time to host a grand prix next year.

The Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO) – a joint-venture between private firm M-Bridge Holdings and the provincial government – said in a statement that it had secured loan agreements with nine local banks worth 198 billion won (£95 million).

The remaining 236 billion won (£114m) required to build the track and run the event will come from public subsidy and the organisers’ capital.

South Korea agreed a deal with Bernie Ecclestone three years ago for a race in 2010, but the construction of the venue has been delayed by a lack of funds.

KAVO said it was now in a position to accelerate preparations for the country’s first F1 race and expected the track to be completed by next July.

The 3.5-mile circuit has been designed by Hermann Tilke and will be located approximately 200 miles south of Seoul in the southwestern province of Jeollanam-do.

A South Korean round was not included in various draft versions of the 2010 calendar circulated to the teams at last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, but it is understood that the schedule is still some way from being finalised.

Source: ITV

Massa: Test results positive, 2010 return likely

2009-09-01T05:10:00.001-07:00

Felipe Massa's latest examination in Miami has proved successful. The Brazilian, who was struck by a steel spring in Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying, flew to the United States from hometown São Paulo on Sunday where specialists cleared the 28-year-old for cosmetic surgery in the area of his left eye socket.

Having been struck in the left-hand side of his helmet visor at the Hungaroring, the flying metal object's approximate impact speed of 170mph caused instant concussion and a deep gash above Massa's left eye. Felipe travelled at the weekend to the Jackson Memorial Hospital's Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit where Professor Stephen Olvey headed proceedings.

A official press release from Ferrari explains that Massa underwent neurometric tests - to check the brain's electric activity - as well as impact and cognitive capacity tests. Results show that Felipe is continuing on the path to a full recovery in order to race in Formula One again, although a return this season has now been ruled out.

The next step will involve plastic surgery in the area of Massa's head where the helmet was pushed in due to the force of the spring which flew off compatriot Rubens Barrichello's car, with the operation due to take place in 'upcoming days'.

'After a short convalescence Felipe can then gradually start with physical preparations,' Ferrari's report reads. "I'm very happy about the results," Massa told the Ferrari website before heading home. "After the small surgery in the next days I can finally start to go to the gym to get back into shape and drive some tests in karts."

Felipe is not rushing his comeback to F1, however, with half a year still to go until next season begins. "Let's take it step-by-step," he added. "At the moment I'm concentrating on taking up physical activities, which is a great step forward."

Source: GP Update

'I had a little swear on the radio' - Barrichello

2009-09-01T05:09:00.001-07:00

Rubens Barrichello remains positive with five races to go after further reducing Jenson Button's points lead at the Belgian Grand Prix. The Brazilian expressed his frustrations at suffering a bad start to the last race at Spa but believes he holds a realistic chance to clinch this year's championship.

Having entered Formula One with Jordan in 1993, the closest Rubens Barrichello has come to sealing the Drivers' title was finishing 34 points behind Ferrari team-mate Michael Schumacher for second overall in 2004. "It's positive that my season has come alive," Rubens, who has reduced Button's points lead by ten in the last two races, told The Press Association.

"As for the pressure, it is something that you create in your own head; in a golf match, for example, if you play against somebody it could get into your head but if you play against the golf course, it's easier - you just have to do your best and that's what I'm doing. I did really well over the whole weekend although I got lucky that I finished with two points, with all the problems."

Rubens does not have any worries over a lack of parity in the Brawn team, though, feeling that outside issues are more of a worry to the Brackley outfit. "Looking at it, my chances are bigger here," he continued. "The team cannot say that they are going to support one driver over another because Red Bull are right there as well - they have to support both and I feel good about that."

The Belgian Grand Prix saw Barrichello endure a terrible start to a race for the third time this season by sinking to the back of the field after qualifying fourth fastest. "I had a little swear on the radio because of the start," he admitted. "Obviously, you're always annoyed when something like that happens.

"After it, I changed page and I had a good race although I did think it was over when I saw the smoke towards the end; I just prayed everything I could in every language and it worked out. I have to look at what happened as a positive, that two points is better than nothing, and better still when you think that two weeks ago I was 26 points behind and now it's 16."

Source: GP Update

Recuperating Schumacher returns to karting

2009-09-01T05:07:00.000-07:00

Michael Schumacher has driven a go-kart for the first time since receiving news that he would not be able to replace Felipe Massa at Ferrari. Damage to the seven-time World Champion's neck prevented a Formula One comeback at the European Grand Prix although the German is now karting again and pleased with Ferrari's latest result.

With Schumacher having been the initial choice of replacement for Felipe Massa, who was injured in Hungary, Schumacher announced that he would be unable to step into the seat after reviewing medical test results. The 40-year-old's return to karting signals a step in the right direction, however, as Schumacher continues to recover.

"I have been at the old kart track in Kerpen (Germany) this weekend and, as I was here anyway, I decided to even compete in the races," Michael explained on his website. "It went quite well, I have to say; I came in second in the first final and first in the second one.

"My neck is okay, I still feel it a little bit but by far not as much as after the F1 (test) day. I could go karting even in the week after that day, as the stress is much less here."

Schumacher has made no decisions, however, to make a full-time return to Formula One. "Whoever thinks this was practise for a later F1 comeback is interpreting way too much into that fun drive," he continued. "I met friends here and experienced a funny weekend; some telephone calls with Luca (di Montezemelo, Ferrari President), the engineers and Stefano (Domenicali, Ferrari Team Principal) at Spa included. Nothing more.

"And of course I know about Kimi's victory at Spa and am happy for him and the whole team - it was about time this season. The victory confirms what Stefano Domenicali is always saying: that Ferrari is a team which you can never write off and that, even in hard times, demonstrates fighting spirit and sporting motivation. Again, I am very happy for all the guys who can now travel to Monza with their heads held high."

Source: GP Update

Alonso: Impossible to drive for Ferrari in 2009

2009-09-01T05:06:00.000-07:00

Fernando Alonso has stated that in no uncertain terms will he be driving for the Ferrari team before the end of this season. Although the former double World Champion remains quiet about his future, the Spaniard has confirmed that any moves to Ferrari to replace Luca Badoer in 2009 are 'impossible'.

With rumours tipping several drivers, not least Giancarlo Fisichella, to be team-mate to Kimi Räikkönen from the Italian Grand Prix onwards, Alonso - who is strongly believed to be heading in Maranello's direction for 2010 - cleared up word that he could be a substitute for reserve driver Luca Badoer, who is currently standing in for the injured Felipe Massa.

"After the week it seems like Fisichella but now maybe somebody else will come in," Alonso told Spanish radio station Cadena SER when being asked who he thought could replace the Italian. However, when quizzed over his own name being on the side of the Ferrari, the Oviedo driver's response was clear.

"No, not me," he said plainly. "No, no, it's impossible and I am sure that the answer is no." Gossip in the Spa paddock at the weekend has linked Alonso with not just Ferrari but even a return to McLaren ahead of next season although Fernando is sticking with facts as opposed to speculation.

"We need to soon but I don't know - the next weeks, the next months…" he laughed after being asked when his future would be revealed, "…when we've made a decision and know where we are next year."

Source: GP Update

Ecclestone worries for Renault departure

2009-09-01T05:04:00.000-07:00

Formula One commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone has admitted that he is apprehensive over the future of the Renault team in Formula One. The French marque is currently under scrutiny from governing body the FIA for claims that Nelson Piquet was instructed to crash in Singapore last year, handing victory to his team-mate.

News in the Spa paddock of the FIA's probe came on Sunday night when then Paris-based federation announced that it was looking into one of last year's Grands Prix, strongly suspected to be Singapore, and an incident that saw a deliberate crash in order to aid the team; Piquet's shunt during the race saw the appearance of the safety car which, as leaders pitted, handed the top spot and eventual victory to Fernando Alonso.

"This is not the sort of thing we need at the moment," Ecclestone told The Times, as the Formula One Management (FOM) owner worries for Renault's future after the manufacturer exits of Honda in December and BMW at the end of this season. "I think it will p*** off Renault for a start. Them leaving the sport is a danger, obviously. I mean, I hope that it isn't like that, but it's the sort of thing that might happen."

Ecclestone added that the investigation, which was first triggered by reports on Brazilian television channel Globo, could have been started by the ousted Nelson Piquet Junior although the F1 supremo is unsure. "What I know, I can't say, to be honest with you," he continued. "All I know is that Flavio (Briatore, Renault Managing Director) is insisting that he knows nothing about it. I think the FIA are looking into everything, they are trying to find out the reality; I suppose they would be upset if they found out that what people are assuming is true, is in fact true, I suppose.

"The only way you could say there is a case to answer is if there is any real evidence. If it's just young Piquet saying this because he wants to say it, that's one thing. If, on the other hand, there's some reality to it, then it's all different. It will be difficult to prove. If there is something on the (team) radio that said, 'Err, Nelson, you'd better crash now,' then what the hell can they do? It depends exactly what comes out of the investigation."

Despite remaining hesitant over the issue, Ecclestone does believe that Piquet, who was replaced by Romain Grosjean from the European Grand Prix onwards, is likely to suffer ramifications of his own. "You can safely say that he's sort of in trouble now," Ecclestone added. "You'd have to wonder what next, wouldn't you?"

Source: GP Update

FIA investigates race-fixing allegations

2009-09-01T00:10:00.000-07:00

The spectre of a new cheating scandal is hanging over Formula 1 after it emerged that the FIA has launched an investigation into allegations of foul play at a “previous world championship race”, believed to be last year’s Singapore Grand Prix.

Renault driver Fernando Alonso won the city state’s inaugural grand prix, which was also F1’s first floodlit event, after benefiting from a timely safety car period caused by his team-mate Nelson Piquet hitting the wall.

At the time Piquet put the crash down to a simple error, but it is understood that the FIA has been presented with new evidence suggesting a more sinister explanation.

The FIA would only confirm that “an investigation is under way regarding alleged events at a previous world championship race” and has not divulged either the race in question or the identity of its informant.

Alonso’s Singapore victory – his and Renault’s first of 2008 – was unexpected because he had started from 15th on the grid after being sidelined by a fuel feed problem in qualifying when he looked capable of challenging for pole.

Having gambled on an unusually short first stint, he had already made his first refuelling stop when Piquet’s crash brought out the safety car, promoting him to the top of the leader board as the rest of the field pitted.

Although the fortuitous timing of the safety car was widely noted, suggestions that Piquet had been ordered to crash to aid Alonso’s cause were left to conspiracy theorists.

Alonso admitted he had been “very lucky” after his misfortune in qualifying and said: “I’m extremely happy, I cannot believe it right now. I think I need a couple of days to realise that we won a race this year.”

Piquet, meanwhile, explained that his car had been virtually “undriveable” as it had been bottoming badly over the bumps on his heavy fuel load.

“The team was telling me to push, I was trying to push, with Rubens [Barrichello] in front of me because I didn’t know how long he was going, and I just touched slightly the rear on one side of the wall and the car just moved to the outside,” he told ITV Sport.

“We didn’t expect the car to touch that much – on the straights I was having to really concentrate on keeping the car straight because it was so bumpy and touching the floor.

“Basically the tyre degradation was much worse than we expected.”

Piquet was axed by Renault earlier this month for failing to satisfy performance clauses in his contract.

The 24-year-old son of his three-time world champion namesake reacted angrily to his dismissal and accused his manager and team boss Flavio Briatore of being his “executioner”.

He claimed he had been treated unfairly Briatore and also alluded to “some strange situations” that occurred during his rookie season with Renault – but the only specific complaints he made concerned not being given as much testing time as Alonso or equal status within the team.

It is not known whether Piquet had any involvement in the allegations that have prompted the FIA’s inquiry, or whether they originated from elsewhere.

Brazilian television network TV Globo carried the story during its coverage of Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix.

If the governing body finds evidence of wrongdoing it could call a hearing of its World Motor Sport Council, which may impose huge fines and/or sporting penalties as it did in the McLaren ‘spygate’ case of 2007.

Formula 1 has already been hit by one cheating scandal this year, after world champion Lewis Hamilton and a senior member of his McLaren team were found to have lied to race stewards in the aftermath of the Australian Grand Prix.

On that occasion McLaren escaped with a suspended three-race ban after parting company with its sporting director Dave Ryan who was at the centre of the controversy.

Source: ITV

RBR to confirm engine deal in 2-3 weeks

2009-09-01T00:08:00.001-07:00

Red Bull Racing expects to confirm what engines it will be using next year “within two to three weeks”, team boss Christian Horner said on Sunday.

The Milton Keynes-based squad’s customer contract with Renault expires at the end of this season, and it is expected to switch to Mercedes-Benz having been in talks with the German manufacturer for several months.

Horner said no new deal had yet been signed, but that the team would need to finalise its engine supply arrangements soon to avoid compromising the design of the 2010 car.

“We haven’t concluded an agreement with any engine supplier for next year, but we’re entering that time of year with the design of next year’s car that questions are going to need to be answered fairly shortly,” he said.

“So certainly within the next two to three weeks I would expect to know who our engine partner for 2010 will be.”

The recent spate of engine problems Red Bull has experienced – potentially scuppering its world title challenge – is likely to be a factor in any change of supplier.

Sebastian Vettel suffered two blow-ups in Valencia, leaving him with just two engines remaining in his season’s quota of eight before penalties kick in and forcing Red Bull to curtail his practice mileage at the Belgian Grand Prix.

A further problem struck team-mate Mark Webber during final practice at Spa, but Horner confirmed that this engine had not been terminally damaged.

“We will be able to use that engine again, so we’re in the same engine situation as we were going into the weekend,” he said.

“It was an ancillary component that failed, so we made a precautionary change.”

Regarding Vettel’s situation he added: “Everything has gone according to plan and we’ve managed the mileage accordingly.”

Mercedes is hoping to confirm its customer engine plans at the Italian Grand Prix in a fortnight’s time.

Should it finalise a deal with Red Bull, it will supply four teams on next year’s grid.

Source: ITV

Kimi unmoved by 2010 speculation

2009-09-01T00:05:00.000-07:00

Kimi Raikkonen insists he is not worried about his Formula 1 future despite the continued speculation about where he will be driving next season.

The former world champion’s 2010 plans have been clouded in uncertainty for several weeks, with speculation suggesting Ferrari is trying to move him aside so it can partner Fernando Alonso with Felipe Massa even though Raikkonen has a year left on his contract at the team.

But after claiming the team’s first victory since last November and his first for 26 races in Belgium on Sunday, Raikkonen was typically unmoved by the latest round of rumours – claiming if Ferrari has had a change of plans it hasn’t informed him.

“There have been rumours almost every year since I've been in Formula 1, so I don't really care about them,” he said after his fourth Spa victory in his last five attempts.

“I'm not worried about next year. I have a contract, so it's nothing that I should be worried about.

“I don't make the decisions in the end but we will see what happens.

“Maybe Ferrari have some other plans, but as far as I know nothing has changed.”

Raikkonen’s Spa win came on the back of two consecutive podium finishes since taking on the mantle of Ferrari’s undisputed team leader following Massa’s accident in Hungary last month, results which have helped Ferrari strengthen its grip on third in the constructors’ championship.

However the 29-year-old dismissed the idea that his recent results had come about because he had consciously upped his game to remind Ferrari of his abilities, stressing the team was now simply getting the best out of its F60.

“Nothing has changed,” Raikkonen said.

“We found a pretty good way to work with the car. We did well in Monaco. The last race was very similar, Hungary was similar.

“This place [Spa] is a bit different than many others.

“It's purely that where the car has been strong we've been doing quite well every time. There's nothing that I've done differently.

“We've just achieved a good result now and hopefully we can keep it up. I think there will be races where it's not going to be easy for us but we can always try.”

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali again refused to be drawn on the rumours surrounding the team’s driver line-up for 2010, although he did joke that the media was free to keep speculating if it helped Raikkonen maintain his recent good form.

“No one has said anything different from the team point of view, so this is a lot of speculation going on outside [the team],” Domenicali said.

“I really hope that you people keep on doing that, because if this is the reaction [from Kimi] then please do it day and night.

“It is important to understand the situation and I don't think this is a point of discussion that we need to put on the table today.”

Source: ITV

Fisichella admits second is bittersweet

2009-08-31T23:58:00.001-07:00

Giancarlo Fisichella admitted his superb runner-up finish in the Belgian Grand Prix left a bittersweet taste because he felt he had a fast enough car to win.

The Italian veteran spent the whole race in Kimi Raikkonen’s slipstream after the Ferrari driver used his KERS button to pass him at the lap four restart, and finished just 0.9s behind the victorious Finn.

Fisichella was naturally delighted to deliver not only Force India’s first points but a podium finish, saying: “Obviously it’s a great result for us.

“An important target was even to score a point, and we finished second with eight points – so it’s a great result, a great day.”

But he was disappointed to miss out so narrowly on victory, particularly since he had matched Raikkonen’s race pace despite running in his turbulence.

Indeed, the ease with which he caught the Ferrari after briefly losing ground at the second pit stops suggested the Force India had the greater underlying pace.

Fisichella was in no doubt that he had the measure of Raikkonen.

“Actually I was quicker than Kimi,” he declared.

“He could overtake me just because of KERS at the restart after the safety car.

“I’m a little bit sad for that because I was quicker than him, I was keeping his pace even behind his car, and we did exactly the same strategy.

“It’s great, because I finished second just one second behind the leader, but actually we could have won the race.”

Source: ITV

Button: I want to win races

2009-08-31T23:10:00.000-07:00

Jenson Button has decided that he will drive in a more determined manner from now on after losing only two points of his championship lead despite crashing in the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday. The Englishman holds a sixteen-point advantage over team-mate Rubens Barrichello with five races to go in 2009.

Having last won in Turkey six races ago, championship leader Button has failed to achieve a result higher than fifth for the last ten weeks although the Frome driver knows that the championship advantage is his. "I suppose having six wins in seven races is the reason why it's taken them so long to close up," he said of his rivals, in reference to his strong start to the year.

"We have got to start getting back to being competitive; I know all I need to do is finish fourth or fifth but that's not what I want to do - I want to win races, it's what I'm here to do and it's what I love doing, competing at the front, so I'm going to be aggressive.

"I'm not going to suddenly back off after qualifying and take it easy in the races because - even if I'm in fifth - I still want to do well; I still want to win races and I still want to be competitive and that's exactly what I hope will happen at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza a week next Sunday."

Source: GP Update

Ignore Phillips comments, say Force India

2009-08-31T23:08:00.000-07:00

An official statement from the Force India team has moved to clarify what could be misleading remarks from its commercial director. Ian Phillips claimed on Monday morning that a move by Giancarlo Fisichella to Ferrari is now highly likely although the team encourages onlookers to 'ignore' what it claims are unauthorised comments.

With Phillips having told BBC Radio 5 Live that team co-owner Vijay Mallya should expect a call from Ferrari within twenty-four hours, a statement of response issued by the team explains that there is no such communication between the two parties.

'During a press conference via telephone shortly after the team's podium finish, in response to specific and repeated questions on the subject, Fisichella has himself clarified that he has 'not received any invitation from Ferrari' and went on to add that he was 'looking forward to driving the Force India car at the Monza GP',' the statement reads.

'There has been absolutely no change whatsoever on this front since yesterday (Sunday) and we look forward to Fisichella scorching the tracks at Monza.'

Having highlighted those comments of the driver, the press release went on to refer directly to the Director of Business Affairs' feelings. 'Ian Phillips' comments do not reflect the views of the Force India team management since he is not the designated spokesperson for the team nor is he authorised to speak to the media.

His comments should therefore be ignored.

We completely deny as baseless, whatever is reportedly attributed to him in reports that have appeared in a section of the press a short while ago.'

Source: GP Update

'Replacing me now would be absurd' - Badoer

2009-08-31T23:06:00.000-07:00

Ferrari stand-in Luca Badoer claims that it would be 'absurd' for the Italian team to replace him less than a fortnight before his home Grand Prix. The reserve driver, Ferrari's longest-standing pilot, currently remains set to continue replacing the injured Felipe Massa although media pressure is increasing to change the line-up.

With Kimi Raikkonen having won the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, Badoer finished last of the runners and over a minute and a half behind his team-mate. "I can say that, after two races, I have much more of a grip on this mountain of things to learn," Badoer told the waiting media after the race at Spa.

"From these two Grands Prix I have learnt so much and grown in experience. From my point of view, it would be a shame to change things now." With the F1 circus heading to Ferrari's home race of the season next time out, Luca is confident of performing well in front of the Tifosi.

"Monza, Mugello and Fiorano are the tracks where I have driven for most in my life," he continued. "It would be absurd and I would be very disappointed (to not drive) because I am convinced that, at Monza, I have the feeling needed.

"Going to a track that I could drive with my eyes closed, I am sure that I could get a good result. If I had to set myself a deadline, maybe I would do it for after Monza - I would be the first to say 'Lads, it's not working out'."

Source: GP Update

Force will be quick again, warns Mallya

2009-08-31T23:04:00.000-07:00

The only Indian team to ever compete in Formula One certainly lived up to its name by harassing Kimi Raikkonen from start to finish in the Belgian Grand Prix. In a season of innovation, the Finn's KERS device was all there was between Force India and Giancarlo Fisichella winning at Spa on Sunday.

The championship heads to Italy next weekend and another power circuit at Monza; with rumours flying around linking Fisichella to the second Ferrari seat alongside the 2007 Champion, whether the Italian will be driving for the Silverstone team is another matter but Force India's co-owner is confident that the speed of the car in Belgium was no solitary stroke of luck.

"Why not?" Vijay Mallya - who shares ownership of the team with Dutchman Michiel Mol - replied to Reuters when asked if Force India can challenge at the front again. "We know that the car is quick…blindingly quick I would say. The sector times show it and I think the Monza track will suit us."

Source: GP Update

Räikkönen: Monza will be difficult

2009-08-31T23:02:00.000-07:00

Kimi Räikkönen does not believe that the Italian Grand Prix will provide a repeat victory of that at Spa on Sunday. The Belgian Grand Prix saw the Finn bring an end to a sixteen-month losing streak stretching back to Spain last year but the 2007 World Champion believes that rivals' abilities to straight-line kerbs will be help them at rapid Monza.

With four of Räikkönen's 18 Formula One wins having being registered at Spa-Francorchamps, the Finn is yet to win at Monza; a best result of second came for McLaren in 2006. "It will be difficult," he admitted. "Our car is not as strong as some others over the kerbs and that is really the key to go fast there.

"To be able to drive the kerbs as much as you want, that is not our strongest point, so it will be difficult I think but we will see how our car will handle there and what we can do." Kimi finished ninth and out of the points in Italy's wet race of last year.

Source: GP Update

Force India expecting Fisichella-Ferrari move

2009-08-31T03:47:00.000-07:00

Force India Commercial Director Ian Phillips has admitted that the Silverstone-based team expects to be contacted by Ferrari this week in order to place Giancarlo Fisichella alongside Kimi Räikkönen for the upcoming Italian Grand Prix. Sources say that an announcement is expected by the Scuderia on Tuesday.

With Italian Fisichella having driven an incredible race to finish less than a second behind Räikkönen at Spa, Phillips told BBC Radio 5 Live on Monday morning that a call from Ferrari is now expected. "We do expect a move will probably be made in the next twenty-four hours or so," he said after Ferrari reserve driver Luca Badoer finished last of the runners for the second race in succession in Belgium.

"Nobody's asked us yet but I think it's pretty likely that somebody will make a phone call to Vijay Mallya (Force India co-owner) over the next twenty-four hours or so, asking if we would release him to Ferrari."

With Fisichella contracted to Force India until the end of the season, does Phillips see Ferrari paying a required fee for the loaning of the F1 veteran? "I don't think they have really got any options," he continued. "Ferrari being Ferrari, it's their home race at Monza, which is a place with a cauldron-like atmosphere, particularly for the Italians - seats will be thrown on the track if Ferrari aren't doing well.

"They're going to have to put somebody in there who can basically run around with Räikkönen at the front of the field." With regards to the Maranello team, no representative could confirm anything over the matter at the weekend although no predictions of Fisichella's move have been denied either. The almost certain replacement at Force India would be another Italian in reserve driver Vitantonio Liuzzi.

Source: GP Update

Satisfying birthday present for di Montezemolo

2009-08-31T03:46:00.001-07:00

Luca di Montezemolo's 62nd birthday on Monday has been made all the more sweeter by the fact that Ferrari notched up its first win of the 2009 season in Belgium on Sunday. The Chairman of the Italian marque has endured a tough time this year, although Kimi Räikkönen's success demonstrates that performances are firmly on the up.

Having qualified sixth, Räikkönen achieved his fourth Belgian Grand Prix triumph from his last five races at the track. "I'm very content with this victory," di Montezemolo told the Ferrari website having called Team Principal Stefano Domenicali in the immediate aftermath of the race.

"I'm happy for Domenicali, for the whole team and for our fans. Over the last four Grands Prix, starting with the Nürburgring, we have always been on the podium. Kimi drove an excellent race, demonstrating his talent on the most beautiful track in the championship - they really made me a nice present for my birthday!"

It may have taken Ferrari twelve races to succeed this year but the result marks the 210th Formula One victory from for the Scuderia, its third consecutive success in the Ardennes and its 17th in the country since first winning at Spa with Alberto Ascari in 1952.

Source: GP Update

Indian GP on track, confirms Mallya

2009-08-31T03:45:00.001-07:00

Indian GP on track, confirms MallyaForce India co-owner Vijay Mallya has ensured that all plans to host a first ever Grand Prix in India are running smoothly. The country hopes to makes its Formula One debut in 2011 although a number of commercial upsets have recently cast a shadow over the event.

With the Indian sports ministry having denied a request by race promoters JPSK Sports in January, the latter was unable to forward the required race hosting fee of US$35.5m (£22.4m) to F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone and his Formula One Administration (FOA) group.

"The Indian Grand Prix for 2011 is on track," Kingfisher supremo Mallya told Reuters in Belgium, casting aside any doubts over the race. "The promoters of the event have acquired land and spent a fairly significant sum of money in getting the track built, together with surrounding infrastructure.

"I think the recent media reports of the government of India's ministry of sports not supporting the event is limited only to permission that the promoters sought to remit about 38 millions dollars (£23.4m) to FOA because we still have exchange controls in India; they ran into some difficulty with that but, in the entire environment of exchange control in India, that is not surprising at all.

"Maybe they just have to go back to the ministry of sports and give some better explanation. At the end of the day, it's a lot of Indian rupees and so a typical government officer would not just readily sign it off."

Source: GP Update

Vatanen vows to work with FOTA

2009-08-31T03:43:00.000-07:00

FIA presidential candidate Ari Vatanen has promised to work closely with the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) should his cabinet be voted into power in October. The Finn, 1981 World Rally Champion, believes that close relations with teams are vital for the overall stability of the sport.

With the current head of the governing body - Max Mosley - due to step down in October, Vatanen is running head-to-head against former Ferrari Team Principal Jean Todt for when the role changes hands for the first time since 1991. "There is so much untapped potential in the sport but we can realise it if we work together," Vatanen told Autosport.

"The people in FOTA are the ones that know what the sport and the business is about. The fact is that the sport has not been run as they would like over the years and they have realised that they can work together, and with the FIA, in the common interest." FOTA currently consists of eight current teams (all bar Williams and Force India) and Vatanen believes that the group, which represents 16 of the 20 cars on the current grid, should be treated with the upmost respect.

"They have lived in fear, without knowing what the future holds, and that's no way to run a sport," he stressed, having retired from politics this year after a decade in the European Parliament. "I can't see why different members of the same family cannot work together without one side or another wanting to dominate the other.

"My message is that it doesn't take away anyone's independence to work together, it's in everyone's interest that the competitors prosper and remain in the FIA championship; our role is to give them a platform from which to perform - it's in the interest of everyone to make sure that this platform is as solid as possible and that there are as many competitors as possible."

Source: GP Update

Badoer: I really want to race at Monza

2009-08-31T03:42:00.001-07:00

Luca Badoer was disappointed to come home as the final runner in the Belgian Grand Prix. Having started from the back of the grid, the Italian replacement driver for Felipe Massa finished fourteenth and last of the runners at Spa-Francorchamps but feels more confident for his home Grand Prix in a fortnight's time.

Having qualified and finished last in Valencia just over a week ago, recent history repeated itself for the oldest driver on the grid in Belgium. "Today I did my best," said Badoer, 38. "Unfortunately, at the first corner after the start I flat-spotted the front tyres and so always had strong vibrations throughout the first stint.

"Once the tyres were changed, the situation improved but the performance of the harder compound (Medium) was not as good as the soft one (Soft). I have upped my performance level yet again and I really want to race at Monza, one of the tracks I know best, along with Fiorano and Mugello. I am very happy for Kimi (Räikkönen) and the team; this is a fantastic victory, which was just what we needed at this point of the season."

Rumours continued to circulate at Spa on Sunday, however, that Belgium runner-up Giancarlo Fisichella could be taken from Force India to replace Badoer at Monza next time out.

Source: GP Update

Räikkönen ends losing streak at Spa

2009-08-30T17:10:00.000-07:00

Kimi Räikkönen has won the Belgian Grand Prix for the fourth time to bring an end to a losing streak stretching back to the Spanish Grand Prix of last year. Behind the Ferrari, the Force India of Giancarlo Fisichella continued to pile on the pressure all afternoon-long as championship leader Jenson Button retired on the first lap.

With ambient temperatures at 16°C (61°F), the crowd at Spa was not blessed with large amounts of sunshine but could at least be thankful that the rain of Friday morning stayed away. One of the most mixed up grids in Formula One history saw Giancarlo Fisichella's Force India starting from pole position with compatriot Jarno Trulli his closest challenger.

Rubens Barrichello was the grid's leading championship contender from fourth on the grid although the Brazilian carried the lightest car into the race. Team-mate and championship leader Jenson Button would need to adapt a cautious approach from the midfield and 14th spot as the two Red Bull cars of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber started from eighth and ninth.

Fisichella was able to make a clean getaway as the five red lights went out although trouble at the first corner saw Adrian Sutil's Force India spun into the left-front wheel of Fernando Alonso's Renault. Räikkönen elected to take to the tarmac run-off area on the outside of La Source as a late-braking Nick Heidfeld slipped wide, allowing team-mate Robert Kubica through to third in the second BMW.

The biggest drama of the race in terms of the championship came at only Les Combes on the first lap at a touch from Grosjean's Renault put championship leader Button into a spin, broadside across the charging pack. World Champion Hamilton anticipated the action although a rear-end hit from Jaime Alguersuari ensured that all four cars took to the barriers and out of the race. Both pairs of incidents are being investigated after the event, with possible outcomes being 10-place grid penalties in Italy.

The resultant safety car period allowed for early pit-stops for Adrian Sutil, Jarno Trulli, whose Toyota was tapped at Turn 1, and championship-contender Rubens Barrichello; the Brazilian was later able to fight back through the field, making best use of stops, to challenge Heikki Kovalainen's McLaren for sixth in the closing stages although a suspected oil leak saw the Paulista drop off the pace to confirm seventh shortly before a fire started in the engine bay once arriving in Parc Fermé.

Räikkönen had dragged past Fisichella in a brave move down the Kemmel Straight on the restart but a suspected easy run to the chequered flag did not happen for Ferrari, who were forced to push hard in order to fend off the flying Fisichella on an identical race strategy.

A sticking fuel rig hindered Trulli at his first refuelling stop of the race, as the Toyota was called back into the pit lane to retire at the end of the following lap. Alonso's first-corner wheel-bashing also came back to bite the innocent victim as Renault spent some 35 seconds attempting to change the tyre before calling their driver in on safety grounds, ending all chances of a podium finish.

BMW-Sauber enjoyed what was by far its best weekend of the season
BMW-Sauber enjoyed what was by far its best weekend of the season

It was a good day for BMW, which scored the most points after Ferrari courtesy of fourth and fifth places for Kubica and Heidfeld, and an equally impressive drive from Kovalainen to rise to sixth from fifteenth at the start. Barrichello was able to hold onto seventh from Nico Rosberg; the German's achievement of picking up a point is all the more remarkable when considering that the Williams car has been distinctly off the pace all weekend.

Disappointment was on the side of Mark Webber, who finished one place outside the points for the second time in a week, and 11th-placed Adrian Sutil who was unable to maximise the performance of the Force India car - an off-track excursion at the Fagnes chicane did not help proceedings. For Webber, a drive-through penalty after a near-collision with Nick Heidfeld in the pits could prove extremely costly come the end of the season. Luca Badoer's Ferrari was the final finisher, over one and a half minutes behind his race-winning team-mate.

Räikkönen's win at Spa is his fourth from the last five races at the Ardennes track, having narrowly missed out last year, and Ferrari's first of the 2009 season. The result also marks the sixth different winner from the last six races, dating back to Turkey at the beginning of June. Fisichella's second place marks the first points for Force India, as well as a podium result, in a quite remarkable race.

The Italian Grand Prix is next up on the calendar; rumours in the Spa paddock continue to link Fisichella with Badoer's Ferrari seat although all will become evident over the course of the next two weeks.

Source: GP Update

Winner Räikkönen: We were not the fastest

2009-08-30T17:08:00.000-07:00

Belgian Grand Prix winner Kimi Räikkönen has admitted that his Ferrari was not able to match the raw pace of Giancarlo Fisichella's Force India at Spa on Sunday but won the race thanks to its KERS device. The Finn's win brings an end to a sixteen-month losing streak for the 2007 World Champion.

Having last won in Spain last year, Räikkönen's fourth Belgian Grand Prix victory was the first of the season for the Ferrari team. "It hasn't been an easy year for us - we were behind straight away at the first race compared to the top teams," he said. "We made a big step in Barcelona but it hasn't been enough. Getting the win now, it's quite a long since the last one, is perfect - my aim has been to win at least one race."

Kimi did admit, however, that his success in the Ardennes was no stroll in the park. "For sure, I needed to put in a little bit of effort to get the win," he continued. "We were probably not fastest with lap times but we managed to keep everybody behind - we'll see what we can do in the last part of the season."

The collection of ten points means Räikkönen leapfrogs both Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg to move up to the top five of the Drivers' Championship.

Source: GP Update

We could have won, says Fisichella

2009-08-30T17:07:00.000-07:00

Dreams of scoring the team's first points soon became dreams of collecting a first Grand Prix victory for Force India as Giancarlo Fisichella resolutely challenged Kimi Räikkönen for victory in the Belgian Grand Prix. The Italian eventually finished second from pole position but knows that victory was a real possibility.

Having retained his lead on the opening lap of the race, Fisichella lost the top position to the Finn at the restart but knows that the Ferrari's 80 horsepower KERS advantage was the reason for being unable to overtake.

"We should have won here but this is a great result," Giancarlo said after the race. "Obviously it was a great result for us, it was a great day and it's important to get the first points for the team but I was quicker than Räikkönen; he passed me because of his KERS - I'm a little bit sad for that because I was keeping his pace and we had exactly the same strategy - it's a great but we could have won the race."

Force India, which brought with it a smaller motorhome to Spa, is now ahead of Toro Rosso and ninth in the Constructors' Championship as Fisichella celebrates his 19th podium finish in Formula One and first since Japan 2006.

Source: GP Update

'Button took me out' - Grosjean

2009-08-30T17:05:00.000-07:00

Romain Grosjean has talked of the four-car crash that involved championship leader Jenson Button going out of the Belgian Grand Prix. The Englishman accused the Frenchman of braking too late at Les Combes corner to remove both cars, plus Lewis Hamilton and Jaime Alguersuari, from the race before the end of the first lap.

Having survived La Source and Eau Rouge, Grosjean's Renault eventually came to rest at the Les Combes chicane at the start of the second sector. "I made a very good start, moving up to thirteenth place, and I was keeping a good pace but then Button took me out at Turn 5 and it was the end for me," the Renault man explained.

"It's frustrating because I would have loved to finish the race and learn more about the car on this very special track. Hopefully I can do better in Monza." The multi-car shunt is currently being investigated by the FIA-appointed race stewards, with 10-place grid penalties a possible punishment for the Italian Grand Prix.

Source: GP Update

Alonso annoyed by lost podium chance

2009-08-30T17:04:00.001-07:00

An opportunity to achieve a podium finish was lost for Fernando Alonso after being struck at the start of the Belgian Grand Prix by the spinning Force India of Adrian Sutil. However, with the extent of left-front wheel damage remaining unknown to the Renault team, the Spaniard eventually retired on Lap 27.

With the contact having damaged Alonso's left-front wheel fairing, the team spent some 35 seconds removing the wheel at the former double Champion's sole pit-stop of the race although, with the damage now known and with the Hungarian Grand Prix still fresh in the mind, Renault chose to retire Alonso on safety grounds.

"Today I missed an opportunity to be on the podium," he said, having climbed to third from 13th on the grid. "I had a good start, making up a few positions, and the strategy looked good. The car was better than we expected and I was in third position when I came in for my pit-stop.

"It became clear that something was wrong on my left-front tyre and the team asked me to retire. We now think it was damaged at the first corner at the beginning of the race. Anyway, Monza is in two weeks and I look forward to making up for the disappointment of today."

If paddock rumours are anything to go by, Monza should also mark the weekend that Ferrari announce Alonso as a race driver for next year.

Source: GP Update

Webber rues pit lane incident

2009-08-30T17:02:00.001-07:00

All chances of Mark Webber scoring points in Belgium went up in smoke after receiving a drive-through penalty for a near miss in the pit lane with Nick Heidfeld. Having lost significant time because of the punishment, the championship contender finished ninth and out of the points for the second consecutive race.

With championship leader Jenson Button eliminated in the first lap pile-up at Les Combes, an opportunity had been handed to Webber to catch the Brawn driver in the championship although the Red Bull man was unable to make the best of the situation.

"I had a good first lap and laid the right foundations to get some good points today," said the unfortunate Australian. "But, at my first pit-stop, I was released in front of Nick (Heidfeld), which I was given a drive-through penalty for. After that it was a case of damage limitation.

"I tried to get back into the points and when we had free air, which was not often, we had good pace, but it wasn't enough. It's very frustrating not to take any points away; I thought I deserved them from that drive but the drive-through wrecked that. No one's interested in excuses though, that's how it is, so let's get on and look ahead to the next race."

Source: GP Update

Barrichello relieved to get home

2009-08-30T16:58:00.000-07:00

A fortunate Rubens Barrichello was able to survive an oil leak to finish seventh and reduce Jenson Button's championship by a further two points in the Belgian Grand Prix. Having finished the race, Brazilian Barrichello's car caught fire in Parc Fermé.

After challenging Heikki Kovalainen for sixth place, Brazilian Barrichello was forced to drop back after plumes of smoke began to rise from the Brawn's engine bay. "I have to be happy with seventh place and the two points, really, after such an eventful race," said the Valencia winner.

"We should have had far more from today but the problem with the clutch at the start took away any chance of a podium, which is frustrating for me and the team. We changed my strategy at the end of the first lap to fuel longer for the first stint, which was a good move and gave me the chance to get into the points.

"I had fun in the race from then on and the move on Mark Webber at the Blanchimont bend was definitely one of the highlights. The oil leak gave us some worrying laps but I was able to manage the pace and bring the car safely home which was a big relief."

Source: GP Update

FIA investigating Renault deliberate crash claims

2009-08-30T16:55:00.000-07:00

Formula One governing body the FIA has confirmed that it is reviewing claims that the Renault team instructed driver Nelson Piquet to crash deliberately in one of last year's Grands Prix. The team won the Singapore race with Fernando Alonso following a subsequent safety car period for Piquet which allowed the Spaniard to take the lead.

With Piquet having now been replaced at Renault by Romain Grosjean, Brazilian television channel Globo has reported that the French team gave orders to its second driver to crash in what is highly suspected to be the night race, forcing a deployment of the safety car.

With Alonso, who had made an earlier pit-stop, taking the lead when the leaders came in, the Spaniard went on to win his first Grand Prix of the season. It is now believed that an FIA spokesperson has claimed that 'alleged incidents at a previous FIA Formula One World Championship event' are now being looked at.

Source: GP Update

Badoer 'not happy' after qualifying

2009-08-29T16:50:00.000-07:00

Luca Badoer endured a miserable day at Spa on Saturday as the Italian, who had improved to eighteenth position in final practice, slipped to the back of the grid once again. The Italian's qualifying session ended in embarrassing fashion when taking a trip into the Les Combes barriers.

Having passed Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull on the outside approaching the Les Combes chicane, the Ferrari substitute for Felipe Massa dropped his left-rear wheel into the dirt before subsequently spinning back across the track and knocking the wheel off the car against the barriers.

"I'm not happy because, this morning, at the end of free practice, I had hoped to make it through to Q2," Luca explained later. "Unfortunately, partly because of traffic and partly because of a few small problems, I didn't manage to put together a perfect lap.

"I was counting on doing so on my final run but there was the incident with Vettel which then led to me going off the track and that put an end to my qualifying. I have made another step forward in terms of performance but it's still not enough.

"For me, the hardest thing is getting into a rhythm and finding the limits of the car. Unfortunately, there's no opportunity to do the testing that would put that right. I am sure that tomorrow I will perform better than I did in the Valencia race. I will try and do my best."

Source: GP Update

Fuel loads show Barrichello as lightest

2009-08-29T16:48:00.000-07:00

Rubens Barrichello was the lightest fuelled car in Q3 and will in fact start the Belgian Grand Prix will the least fuel of anybody on Sunday. The FIA-published figures therefore prove that Giancarlo Fisichella's pole position was not simply due to carrying a light fuel load. Nico Rosberg's Williams is the heaviest top ten car.

- Lightest car: Rubens Barrichello / Brawn - 4th - 644.5kg
- Heaviest car: Kazuki Nakajima / Williams - 18th - 706.1kg

Post-qualifying car weights:

1 - Giancarlo Fisichella / Force India = 648.0kg *
2 - Jarno Trulli / Toyota = 656.5kg
3 - Nick Heidfeld / BMW = 655.0kg
4 - Rubens Barrichello / Brawn = 644.5kg *
5 - Robert Kubica / BMW = 649.0kg *
6 - Kimi Räikkönen / Ferrari = 655.0kg *
7 - Timo Glock / Toyota = 648.5kg *
8 - Sebastian Vettel / Red Bull = 662.5kg
9 - Mark Webber / Red Bull = 658.0kg *
10 - Nico Rosberg / Williams = 670.0kg *
11 - Adrian Sutil / Force India = 678.5kg
12 - Lewis Hamilton / McLaren = 693.5kg *
13 - Fernando Alonso / Renault = 684.4kg *
14 - Jenson Button / Brawn = 694.2kg
15 - Heikki Kovalainen / McLaren = 697.0kg
16 - Sébastien Buemi / Toro Rosso = 685.0kg *
17 - Jaime Alguersuari / Toro Rosso = 704.5kg
18 - Kazuki Nakajima / Williams = 706.1kg
19 - Romain Grosjean / Renault = 704.7kg
20 - Luca Badoer / Ferrari = 691.5kg

* Lightest of the team's two cars (first to pit under normal circumstances)

Note: Race entrants are displayed in provisional grid order

Source: GP Update

Webber warned for qualifying block

2009-08-29T16:45:00.000-07:00

Red Bull's Mark Webber has received a verbal word of warning from FIA race stewards followed an on-track incident during qualifying at Spa on Saturday. The Australian is judged to have held up another car during the session but will be handed no grid drop penalty.

Having qualified ninth on the grid, Red Bull Racing received the following message from the FIA late on Saturday afternoon in Belgium:

'The Stewards, having received a report from the Race Director (Charlie Whiting), have considered the following matter, determine a breach of the regulations has been committed by the competitor named below and impose the penalty referred to.'

GPUpdate.net can reveal that the incident took place just over two and a half minutes from the end of Q1 but the FIA did not share information on the other car involved in the happening.

Source: GP Update

Contrasting feelings for Brawn drivers

2009-08-29T16:44:00.000-07:00

Brawn GP drivers Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button find themselves separated by nine cars on the Belgian Grand Prix grid after differing qualifying sessions at Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday. With Barrichello fourth on the back of his Valencia win, championship leader Button starts fourteenth.

Row 7 was certainly not part of the game plan for Jenson Button in Belgium as the Englishman failed to make the cut to the top ten shootout for the first time this season. "I didn't expect to qualify in 14th position today but we really struggled with grip levels, particularly on the softer tyre," he explained of the Soft, green-striped Bridgestone compound.

"The car hasn't felt quite right all weekend and unfortunately I wasn't able to get any more out of it today. Rubens and I are usually very closely matched but he was quick on the Option (softer tyre) and I wasn't, so we need to look into the reasons for that. I just couldn't find any grip on the softer rubber so the rear end felt unstable and I had no confidence under braking, particularly in the middle sector. It's strange as our setups are different but not by much."

Having taken his first Grand Prix win for the best part of half a decade at the European Grand Prix, Barrichello's second row placing is far more comfortable. "I'm extremely happy with our qualifying performance today and the second row of the grid is a great starting position for the race," he smiled. "The results today have to be one of the biggest surprises of the year and it's great for Giancarlo Fisichella to be up there on pole. It's good to see that the 'old-timers' still have it!"

Source: GP Update

Vettel laments qualifying mistake

2009-08-29T16:43:00.000-07:00

Red Bull Racing successfully saw both of its cars into the top ten after what has been a weekend of worries so far at Spa. With Sebastian Vettel having only two engines outstanding for the final six races and Mark Webber on a new unit for qualifying, it was the German who regretted a driving error.

With only a couple of new Renault powerplants at his disposal for the remainder of the season, Red Bull is developing methods of conservation for Vettel as previously used engines are used in practice sessions. However, with the team's two cars starting the Belgian Grand Prix from eighth and ninth on the grid, Vettel was the man disappointed to miss out due to a mistake of his own.

"It was quite an interesting session and not the best for us, obviously," Sebastian said after qualifying. "Eighth and ninth will be tough tomorrow on the grid; unfortunately, I made a mistake on my last flying lap in Q3 - I lost the rear going into Turn 14, which leads onto the back straight, and lost all the speed so there was no point in completing the lap. The results were quite a surprise today; I don't think anyone expected Fisi (Fisichella) to be on pole."

"That was a strange session - we expected to be more competitive than that Fisi on pole!" Webber reiterated. "A great day for them, but we were surprised by that. A lot of the guys were too quick for us; it shows you just never know in this game, it should be an interesting race tomorrow. We had to change the engine before qualifying but that wouldn't affect our result and we were pretty confident going into the session."

Source: GP Update

Alonso hoping for rain on Sunday

2009-08-29T16:41:00.000-07:00

Fernando Alonso was a clearly disappointed man when returning to the paddock after being knocked out of the second phase of qualifying at Spa on Saturday. The former double World Champion, who has never won the Belgian Grand Prix, hopes to see a wet track for the race on Sunday.

With a number of big names down the field, Alonso may not be the only driver performing a rain dance on Saturday evening after qualifying in (a perhaps ironic) 13th position. "Today we just weren't competitive enough and we struggled in both Q1 and Q2, where I did my maximum but still missed out," the Spaniard said.

"However, it was an unusual session today as we had big competitors knocked out in Q2; tomorrow this should make for an interesting race and then there is always the weather, which may play a role, so we will not give up and will do our best to fight back tomorrow."

Rookie team-mate Romain Grosjean's run was compromised by yellow flags due to Luca Badoer's Q1 accident; the Frenchman will start alongside the Italian's Ferrari at the back of the grid.

Source: GP Update