F1 News
Date: 31/July/2011
Rival F1 drivers should probably reply "do whatever Jenson Button does", when asked over the team radio about tyre and pitstop strategy during tricky wet-dry races.
Button's four wins since joining McLaren as the reigning world champion in 2010 have all been aided by the Englishman's sixth sense in changeable conditions.
That includes Sunday's thrilling victory in the Hungarian Grand Prix, Button's 200th race, which began on intermediate tyres after a short rain shower on the grid.
"It's just perfect for my 200th grand prix," smiled Button. "This track is where I won my first grand prix, back in 2006 in these sort of conditions, and I have won here again, so a great moment."
Third in the early stages behind team-mate Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel, Button used the switch to slicks to get the better of Vettel, and his second pit stop looked set to be equally profitable.
While Hamilton pitted for another set of the softer slicks, Button went for the harder option, the increased durability of which meant he could stay out for the remainder of the race.
Button was on course to assume the lead when Hamilton pitted, but a further rain shower meant it wouldn't be that simple.
A spin by Hamilton then put the pair level and some exciting wheel-to-wheel driving followed, before Lewis dived into the pits for intermediates.
It was a bad move and Button knew it.
"Lewis and I passed each other and then the team said ‘in this lap for inters’," revealed Button. "To me that was a big surprise.
"Then they suddenly said 'no, no, stay out. Lewis is coming in’.
"I was never going to come in anyway as it was nowhere near inter conditions. We braved it out on slicks and it was definitely the right call.
"We were struggling but we weren’t that slow. And when you put inters on, you’ve got to put slicks back on after, so you’ve got to stop twice more.
"For me, it wasn’t the right decision. I didn’t think it was wet enough and these guys [Vettel and Alonso, who finished 2nd and 3rd] didn’t either."
Button confessed that he has something of a Midas touch when it comes to calling pit-stop strategy on a damp track, but couldn’t - or wouldn't - reveal the secret to his success.
"You’re not always going to make the right call in these conditions, but I feel that I’m pretty good at making the right call when it comes to tyre changes," he said.
However he insisted that strategy wasn't the sole reason for his latest victory: "The reason we won today was because we were quick. If it didn’t rain, it wouldn’t have made any difference."
And on that note, Button added: "It’s been one of my most enjoyable races, but I would like to win one in the dry please."
Button is fifth in the world championship, nine points behind Alonso.
Making the new BBC-Sky F1 deal work for fans
F1 News
Date: 30/July/2011
The announcement that Formula One TV coverage in the UK is to be shared between the BBC (free) and Sky Sports (subscription) from 2012 has caused uproar among many fans.
At present, all F1 races are shown live on the BBC. But, under pressure to reduce its budgets, the BBC has now cut a deal with Sky which means that from 2012-2018 only Sky will broadcast all F1 track action live in the UK.
The BBC will broadcast half of the races (and qualifying) live, with the non-live events being shown as 'extensive' highlights. Online polls show that less than 5% of F1 fans consider the move to be a positive one - but here is how to limit the damage within the new deal:
We know that the BBC will definitely show the British, Monaco and final grands prix of each season live - so that makes up 3 of its 10 live races per year. What the BBC should now do is ensure that the ten races it can’t show live includes all the early morning events.
These are: Australia (9 hours ahead of UK time), Japan (+8 hours), South Korea (+8 hours), Malaysia (+7 hours), China (+7 hours) and India (+4.3 hours).
Those are events that many British F1 fans might tolerate seeing a few hours late, especially if it gives them a longer lie-in on a Sunday morning.
And what about the four other races that the BBC must sacrifice?
The evening races (UK time) are usually good for audience figures, so the BBC should try to keep Canada, the USA and Brazil - and the same goes for the 'special' Abu Dhabi and Singapore night events.
With Brazil also the final round that makes 7 of the 10 BBC live events, and we'd add to that the first European round of the year, at Catalunya, the challenging Belgian Grand Prix and historic Monza round in Italy.
This way the BBC would only miss out on three European rounds - Valencia, Germany and Hungary.
Our live BBC TV schedule, in order of the proposed 2012 calendar, would be as follows:
1. Australia - Sky
2. Malaysia - Sky
3. China - Sky
4. India - Sky
5. Spain - BBC & Sky
6. Monaco - BBC & sky
7. Canada - BBC & Sky
8. Valencia - Sky
9. Great Britain - BBC & Sky
10. Germany - Sky
11. Hungary - Sky
12. Belgium - BBC & Sky
13. Italy - BBC & Sky
14. Singapore - BBC & Sky
15. Japan - Sky
16. Korea - Sky
17. Abu Dhabi - BBC & Sky
18. Bahrain - Sky
19. United States - BBC & Sky
20. Brazil - BBC & Sky
Date: 30/July/2011
The announcement that Formula One TV coverage in the UK is to be shared between the BBC (free) and Sky Sports (subscription) from 2012 has caused uproar among many fans.
At present, all F1 races are shown live on the BBC. But, under pressure to reduce its budgets, the BBC has now cut a deal with Sky which means that from 2012-2018 only Sky will broadcast all F1 track action live in the UK.
The BBC will broadcast half of the races (and qualifying) live, with the non-live events being shown as 'extensive' highlights. Online polls show that less than 5% of F1 fans consider the move to be a positive one - but here is how to limit the damage within the new deal:
We know that the BBC will definitely show the British, Monaco and final grands prix of each season live - so that makes up 3 of its 10 live races per year. What the BBC should now do is ensure that the ten races it can’t show live includes all the early morning events.
These are: Australia (9 hours ahead of UK time), Japan (+8 hours), South Korea (+8 hours), Malaysia (+7 hours), China (+7 hours) and India (+4.3 hours).
Those are events that many British F1 fans might tolerate seeing a few hours late, especially if it gives them a longer lie-in on a Sunday morning.
And what about the four other races that the BBC must sacrifice?
The evening races (UK time) are usually good for audience figures, so the BBC should try to keep Canada, the USA and Brazil - and the same goes for the 'special' Abu Dhabi and Singapore night events.
With Brazil also the final round that makes 7 of the 10 BBC live events, and we'd add to that the first European round of the year, at Catalunya, the challenging Belgian Grand Prix and historic Monza round in Italy.
This way the BBC would only miss out on three European rounds - Valencia, Germany and Hungary.
Our live BBC TV schedule, in order of the proposed 2012 calendar, would be as follows:
1. Australia - Sky
2. Malaysia - Sky
3. China - Sky
4. India - Sky
5. Spain - BBC & Sky
6. Monaco - BBC & sky
7. Canada - BBC & Sky
8. Valencia - Sky
9. Great Britain - BBC & Sky
10. Germany - Sky
11. Hungary - Sky
12. Belgium - BBC & Sky
13. Italy - BBC & Sky
14. Singapore - BBC & Sky
15. Japan - Sky
16. Korea - Sky
17. Abu Dhabi - BBC & Sky
18. Bahrain - Sky
19. United States - BBC & Sky
20. Brazil - BBC & Sky
F1 reacts to loss of Turkish Grand Prix
F1 News
Date: 29/July/2011
The 2012 F1 calendar looks set to remain at 20 events after teams were unofficially informed that the Turkish Grand Prix has been removed from the schedule.
With the US Grand Prix returning for 2012 and the teams' contracted for no more than 20 events, it was a case of where the axe would fall.
Despite action-packed races and a challenging layout, Turkey's Istanbul Park circuit was always the prime candidate for removal, although rumours had suggested that Spain may be restricted to one rather than two rounds in future.
"It’s always sad when we lose a grand prix from the calendar," said McLaren managing director Jonathan Neale. "We’ve enjoyed racing there very much, but there are a limited number of [events] and the sport has to move forwards. We are sorry to see Turkey go."
Virgin Racing's Graeme Lowdon insisted that the 20-race limit had to stand.
"The calendar has 20 races next year and - speaking for one of the smaller teams – 21 would have been too many and so the reality is that there had to be some give somewhere," he said.
Legendary F1 designer Adrian Newey, whose Red Bull cars are first and second in the 2011 world championship with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, is concerned that an ever-higher proportion of temporary street circuits are appearing on the calendar.
"It’s a shame, Turkey is a good circuit, a circuit that was enjoyable from a car perspective, the drivers’ perspective," began the Englishman. "I think the key thing is that we don’t go too far down the temporary tracks route, that Formula One as an industry supports the permanent tracks.
"I gather there’s a danger that Barcelona could be lost relative to Valencia, and I think that would be a tragedy, to end up going to a temporary Valencia rather than a permanent Barcelona."
Street circuits tend to have lower average speeds - and far fewer fast corners - than purpose-built race tracks. With that in mind, Newey was asked if the loss of Istanbul Park would be taken into consideration when choosing the attributes for Red Bull's 2012 car.
"Not really, because it’s an incremental change so yes, if you consider the changes in the calendar perhaps over a five or ten year period, the general trend towards slower circuits then that would change your car, but losing one race on its own doesn’t change the overall philosophy of the car," Newey replied.
The Turkish Grand Prix joined the F1 calendar in 2005 and, despite the fine racing, has never been able to attract enough fans to fill the grandstands. The Istanbul Park track also hosted a motorcycle grand prix from 2005-2007.
Date: 29/July/2011
The 2012 F1 calendar looks set to remain at 20 events after teams were unofficially informed that the Turkish Grand Prix has been removed from the schedule.
With the US Grand Prix returning for 2012 and the teams' contracted for no more than 20 events, it was a case of where the axe would fall.
Despite action-packed races and a challenging layout, Turkey's Istanbul Park circuit was always the prime candidate for removal, although rumours had suggested that Spain may be restricted to one rather than two rounds in future.
"It’s always sad when we lose a grand prix from the calendar," said McLaren managing director Jonathan Neale. "We’ve enjoyed racing there very much, but there are a limited number of [events] and the sport has to move forwards. We are sorry to see Turkey go."
Virgin Racing's Graeme Lowdon insisted that the 20-race limit had to stand.
"The calendar has 20 races next year and - speaking for one of the smaller teams – 21 would have been too many and so the reality is that there had to be some give somewhere," he said.
Legendary F1 designer Adrian Newey, whose Red Bull cars are first and second in the 2011 world championship with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, is concerned that an ever-higher proportion of temporary street circuits are appearing on the calendar.
"It’s a shame, Turkey is a good circuit, a circuit that was enjoyable from a car perspective, the drivers’ perspective," began the Englishman. "I think the key thing is that we don’t go too far down the temporary tracks route, that Formula One as an industry supports the permanent tracks.
"I gather there’s a danger that Barcelona could be lost relative to Valencia, and I think that would be a tragedy, to end up going to a temporary Valencia rather than a permanent Barcelona."
Street circuits tend to have lower average speeds - and far fewer fast corners - than purpose-built race tracks. With that in mind, Newey was asked if the loss of Istanbul Park would be taken into consideration when choosing the attributes for Red Bull's 2012 car.
"Not really, because it’s an incremental change so yes, if you consider the changes in the calendar perhaps over a five or ten year period, the general trend towards slower circuits then that would change your car, but losing one race on its own doesn’t change the overall philosophy of the car," Newey replied.
The Turkish Grand Prix joined the F1 calendar in 2005 and, despite the fine racing, has never been able to attract enough fans to fill the grandstands. The Istanbul Park track also hosted a motorcycle grand prix from 2005-2007.
FEATURE: Ducati's MotoGP dilemma
MotoGP News
Date: 28/July/2011
The present situation at the beleaguered Ducati MotoGP team cannot continue.
Ten rounds into the 2011 season, new signing and home Italian hero Valentino Rossi has taken just one podium finish - a fortuitous third, after two riders clashed ahead of him, at Le Mans in May.
For Rossi, winner of a record 79 premier-class races - and seven world titles - it's his longest losing streak since joining MotoGP in 2000.
And with a radically redesigned version of the 2011 Desmosedici (the GP11.1) looking like a false dawn, Ducati - perhaps with a gentle nudge from Rossi and his mechanics - are rumoured to be considering dumping its unique carbon-fibre chassis and jumping on the aluminium twin-spar bandwagon.
Ducati used its traditional steel trellis frame when it entered MotoGP in 2003, but quickly become ever more technically adventurous.
The Bologna-based manufacturer moved nearer to F1 design principles by making the engine part of the frame, rather than simply carried within it, then swapped metal for carbon fibre at the front and rear sections by 2009.
While his team-mates struggled, Casey Stoner took the 'stressed member' engine concept to stunning title success in 2007. But the following introduction of carbon fibre seemed to stump even the Australian, who labelled a lack of front-end feel as the cause of his accidents.
Stoner still won races using the carbon fibre chassis - seven during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, before moving to Honda - but Rossi, whose previous premier-class career had been spent exclusively on Japanese bikes, looks totally stumped.
Rossi's previous Hondas and Yamahas all used twin-spar aluminium frames, a conservative design that has been perfected by the Japanese over 20 years. Yamaha's recently retired technical guru, Masao Furusawa, explained why he continued to turn down carbon fibre.
"Carbon fibre is very good for keeping rigidity and it is very lightweight. But for a motorcycle I don’t think it is so good," he said.
"When you lean a motorcycle at over 45 degrees there is almost no suspension, so you need some flexibility in the frame. You also need smooth stiffness changes along the length of the frame to avoid chatter.
"But with carbon fibre it is really hard to control stiffness. It is a case of the stiffer the better with carbon fibre, which is why it is perfect for a Formula One chassis."
So why did Ducati leap a whole generation of MotoGP frame development, moving from steel to stressed-member carbon fibre without pausing to use the proven twin-spar aluminium concept?
The answer is that, without taking such gambles, it is difficult for Ducati to succeed in MotoGP.
The relatively small Italian company knows it will be outgunned in a head-to-head arms race with the massive Japanese brands, so they take big risks to beat them.
Livio Suppo, head of the Factory Ducati team from its 2003 MotoGP debut until the end of 2009 - when he switched to Honda - explains:
“With the limited resources of Ducati you need something special to dominate. You need to be very smart or lucky.
"The 2007 championship is a perfect example: Choosing Casey and the 'crazy' idea to move from Michelin to Bridgestone tyres. Without those two things it would probably have been impossible to win.
"The bigger the company the more possibilities you have to get it right. Because of that Honda usually has the highest and longest positive cycles in MotoGP. Yamaha is a little below and Ducati is more up and down.”
Ironically, one of the biggest motivators behind Ducati's risk-taking design strategy was that they always felt it would be impossible to beat Rossi on similar equipment.
But now they have finally achieved their dream of signing the Italian megastar, Ducati is facing the prospect of deconstructing its radical approach in order for Rossi to unleash his talent.
Date: 28/July/2011
The present situation at the beleaguered Ducati MotoGP team cannot continue.
Ten rounds into the 2011 season, new signing and home Italian hero Valentino Rossi has taken just one podium finish - a fortuitous third, after two riders clashed ahead of him, at Le Mans in May.
For Rossi, winner of a record 79 premier-class races - and seven world titles - it's his longest losing streak since joining MotoGP in 2000.
And with a radically redesigned version of the 2011 Desmosedici (the GP11.1) looking like a false dawn, Ducati - perhaps with a gentle nudge from Rossi and his mechanics - are rumoured to be considering dumping its unique carbon-fibre chassis and jumping on the aluminium twin-spar bandwagon.
Ducati used its traditional steel trellis frame when it entered MotoGP in 2003, but quickly become ever more technically adventurous.
The Bologna-based manufacturer moved nearer to F1 design principles by making the engine part of the frame, rather than simply carried within it, then swapped metal for carbon fibre at the front and rear sections by 2009.
While his team-mates struggled, Casey Stoner took the 'stressed member' engine concept to stunning title success in 2007. But the following introduction of carbon fibre seemed to stump even the Australian, who labelled a lack of front-end feel as the cause of his accidents.
Stoner still won races using the carbon fibre chassis - seven during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, before moving to Honda - but Rossi, whose previous premier-class career had been spent exclusively on Japanese bikes, looks totally stumped.
Rossi's previous Hondas and Yamahas all used twin-spar aluminium frames, a conservative design that has been perfected by the Japanese over 20 years. Yamaha's recently retired technical guru, Masao Furusawa, explained why he continued to turn down carbon fibre.
"Carbon fibre is very good for keeping rigidity and it is very lightweight. But for a motorcycle I don’t think it is so good," he said.
"When you lean a motorcycle at over 45 degrees there is almost no suspension, so you need some flexibility in the frame. You also need smooth stiffness changes along the length of the frame to avoid chatter.
"But with carbon fibre it is really hard to control stiffness. It is a case of the stiffer the better with carbon fibre, which is why it is perfect for a Formula One chassis."
So why did Ducati leap a whole generation of MotoGP frame development, moving from steel to stressed-member carbon fibre without pausing to use the proven twin-spar aluminium concept?
The answer is that, without taking such gambles, it is difficult for Ducati to succeed in MotoGP.
The relatively small Italian company knows it will be outgunned in a head-to-head arms race with the massive Japanese brands, so they take big risks to beat them.
Livio Suppo, head of the Factory Ducati team from its 2003 MotoGP debut until the end of 2009 - when he switched to Honda - explains:
“With the limited resources of Ducati you need something special to dominate. You need to be very smart or lucky.
"The 2007 championship is a perfect example: Choosing Casey and the 'crazy' idea to move from Michelin to Bridgestone tyres. Without those two things it would probably have been impossible to win.
"The bigger the company the more possibilities you have to get it right. Because of that Honda usually has the highest and longest positive cycles in MotoGP. Yamaha is a little below and Ducati is more up and down.”
Ironically, one of the biggest motivators behind Ducati's risk-taking design strategy was that they always felt it would be impossible to beat Rossi on similar equipment.
But now they have finally achieved their dream of signing the Italian megastar, Ducati is facing the prospect of deconstructing its radical approach in order for Rossi to unleash his talent.
How do MotoGP riders beat the pain?
MotoGP News
Date: 27/July/2011
Jorge Lorenzo's pole position in last weekend's US Grand Prix, just hours after being slammed into the Laguna Seca asphalt, was the latest example of a MotoGP rider defying pain and injury.
Lorenzo, Yamaha's reigning world champion, was launched high into the air after forgetting that the electronic traction control system on his motorcycle is temporarily disengaged when doing a race start.
Traction control re-engages when the rider changes down a gear, as they always do at the first corner of a race. Lorenzo's mistake was to let his guard down after a practice start on Saturday morning, the Spaniard tipping into the following turn without downshifting.
In a graphic illustration of just how reliant the modern breed of grand prix motorcycles have become on electronic control systems, Lorenzo's unrestrained Yamaha literally leapt off the ground as the 24-year-old twisted the throttle sharply on the exit.
Lorenzo performed a somersault before crashing down onto the asphalt with such force that his body bounced visibly back off the ground. He was then hit by the bike as he slid into the gravel. Lorenzo immediately grabbed his right leg, prompting fears of a fracture, and the rider himself later revealed that he had no feeling in his arms or legs for a few seconds.
Amazingly nothing was broken and a battered-and-bruised Lorenzo was not only out on track just hours later for qualifying - but took pole position! Lorenzo then led for 26 of the 32 race laps on Sunday, before being overtaken by Casey Stoner.
So how did Lorenzo do it?
"I really don’t know," admitted Lorenzo, no stranger to injuries during his MotoGP career. "Maybe it's because riders are not so clever! Perhaps smarter people would think more about the risk after a big crash.
"Seriously though, when you get on the bike with the adrenaline pumping, you are more focussed. This allows you to forget about the pain and makes you stronger. That's the only way I can explain it."
Championship leader Stoner has been fortunate to avoid serious injury, but has raced through the pain of a slow-to-heal wrist fracture in the past.
The Honda rider said: "If the injuries they do not really hinder you on the bike you can mentally forget about them. You have to get out there. You have to race. You have to get points.
"It’s quite easy to ignore the pain or problems that you have if they are not too big. As long as you can get on the bike and ride. It's not comfortable and over a race distance is when really starts to bother you. But for me, I can forget about it easily."
Team-mate Dani Pedrosa has more experience of riding injured than just about any other rider in recent premier-class history.
The Spaniard has undergone collarbone surgery three times this year alone - and missed three races - but has still taken two race wins.
"I have had a lot of injuries and, if you had more time to heal, you would take it. But the world doesn’t stop just because you are hurt," said Pedrosa. "And if you have to go out, it is better to go out and do well.
"This is our life. Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it is perfect. But the pain is just for a short time, so we know we've got to do it."
Stoner is 20 points ahead of Lorenzo with eight rounds of the 2011 MotoGP season. Lorenzo and Pedrosa now have nearly three weeks' to heal before the Czech Republic Grand Prix at Brno in mid-August.
Date: 27/July/2011
Jorge Lorenzo's pole position in last weekend's US Grand Prix, just hours after being slammed into the Laguna Seca asphalt, was the latest example of a MotoGP rider defying pain and injury.
Lorenzo, Yamaha's reigning world champion, was launched high into the air after forgetting that the electronic traction control system on his motorcycle is temporarily disengaged when doing a race start.
Traction control re-engages when the rider changes down a gear, as they always do at the first corner of a race. Lorenzo's mistake was to let his guard down after a practice start on Saturday morning, the Spaniard tipping into the following turn without downshifting.
In a graphic illustration of just how reliant the modern breed of grand prix motorcycles have become on electronic control systems, Lorenzo's unrestrained Yamaha literally leapt off the ground as the 24-year-old twisted the throttle sharply on the exit.
Lorenzo performed a somersault before crashing down onto the asphalt with such force that his body bounced visibly back off the ground. He was then hit by the bike as he slid into the gravel. Lorenzo immediately grabbed his right leg, prompting fears of a fracture, and the rider himself later revealed that he had no feeling in his arms or legs for a few seconds.
Amazingly nothing was broken and a battered-and-bruised Lorenzo was not only out on track just hours later for qualifying - but took pole position! Lorenzo then led for 26 of the 32 race laps on Sunday, before being overtaken by Casey Stoner.
So how did Lorenzo do it?
"I really don’t know," admitted Lorenzo, no stranger to injuries during his MotoGP career. "Maybe it's because riders are not so clever! Perhaps smarter people would think more about the risk after a big crash.
"Seriously though, when you get on the bike with the adrenaline pumping, you are more focussed. This allows you to forget about the pain and makes you stronger. That's the only way I can explain it."
Championship leader Stoner has been fortunate to avoid serious injury, but has raced through the pain of a slow-to-heal wrist fracture in the past.
The Honda rider said: "If the injuries they do not really hinder you on the bike you can mentally forget about them. You have to get out there. You have to race. You have to get points.
"It’s quite easy to ignore the pain or problems that you have if they are not too big. As long as you can get on the bike and ride. It's not comfortable and over a race distance is when really starts to bother you. But for me, I can forget about it easily."
Team-mate Dani Pedrosa has more experience of riding injured than just about any other rider in recent premier-class history.
The Spaniard has undergone collarbone surgery three times this year alone - and missed three races - but has still taken two race wins.
"I have had a lot of injuries and, if you had more time to heal, you would take it. But the world doesn’t stop just because you are hurt," said Pedrosa. "And if you have to go out, it is better to go out and do well.
"This is our life. Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it is perfect. But the pain is just for a short time, so we know we've got to do it."
Stoner is 20 points ahead of Lorenzo with eight rounds of the 2011 MotoGP season. Lorenzo and Pedrosa now have nearly three weeks' to heal before the Czech Republic Grand Prix at Brno in mid-August.
F1 considering 'fighter pilot' cockpit canopy
F1 News
Date: 22/July/2011
F1 cars have changed enormously since the inaugural 1950 grand prix season, but one thing they've always had in common is an open cockpit.
That could change in the near future, with a canopy - similar to that used on fighter jets - one of three possible solutions under consideration to lower the risk of debris striking a driver's head.
"This is something that’s been under discussion for a few Technical Working Group meetings now," confirmed Renault's James Allison. "We’re trying to look after the driver’s head, both from large scale things like tyres and also small scale things like the very unfortunate incident that Felipe [Massa] suffered.
"There are a few suggestions around: one of them was looking into a fully enclosed canopy. Another one was looking into a visor-type [screen], where it’s still open above the driver’s head but he has a visor in front of him.
"And then there is a third type of proposal as well, where there isn’t a see-through windscreen at all but there is like a roll [bar] structure in front of the driver that would anyway deflect any big objects.
"All those things are still in fairly early discussion and… there are a lot of questions to answer before we can bring it to a practical solution."
Those questions include "egress [exit] in the event of an accident and, in the case of a canopy or visor, keeping it clean when it might get covered in oil.
"Each of the proposed solutions has advantages and disadvantages and we need to do the basic research to find out what is the best way forward."
Mercedes boss Norbert Haug added that any eventual cockpit solution should become standard not just in F1, but all single-seater championships.
"I think that if this makes sense for Formula One it needs to be applied to all formula: the junior drivers, everybody and I think we should carefully think that idea through," said the German.
Date: 22/July/2011
F1 cars have changed enormously since the inaugural 1950 grand prix season, but one thing they've always had in common is an open cockpit.
That could change in the near future, with a canopy - similar to that used on fighter jets - one of three possible solutions under consideration to lower the risk of debris striking a driver's head.
"This is something that’s been under discussion for a few Technical Working Group meetings now," confirmed Renault's James Allison. "We’re trying to look after the driver’s head, both from large scale things like tyres and also small scale things like the very unfortunate incident that Felipe [Massa] suffered.
"There are a few suggestions around: one of them was looking into a fully enclosed canopy. Another one was looking into a visor-type [screen], where it’s still open above the driver’s head but he has a visor in front of him.
"And then there is a third type of proposal as well, where there isn’t a see-through windscreen at all but there is like a roll [bar] structure in front of the driver that would anyway deflect any big objects.
"All those things are still in fairly early discussion and… there are a lot of questions to answer before we can bring it to a practical solution."
Those questions include "egress [exit] in the event of an accident and, in the case of a canopy or visor, keeping it clean when it might get covered in oil.
"Each of the proposed solutions has advantages and disadvantages and we need to do the basic research to find out what is the best way forward."
Mercedes boss Norbert Haug added that any eventual cockpit solution should become standard not just in F1, but all single-seater championships.
"I think that if this makes sense for Formula One it needs to be applied to all formula: the junior drivers, everybody and I think we should carefully think that idea through," said the German.
Ben Bostrom talks shock MotoGP debut
MotoGP News
Date: 22/July/2011
At 37-years-old, and over five years since his last season in World Championship racing, Ben Bostrom will make a shock MotoGP debut in this weekend's US round at Laguna Seca.
The popular American will ride a second LCR Honda in the event - and also continue to compete for Basketball legend Michael Jordan's team in the AMA Superbike race.
Bostrom finished third in the 2001 World Superbike Championship for Ducati, with six race wins, but struggled the following season and - barring an unsuccessful return to WSBK in 2005 - has raced in America ever since 2003.
"It's going to be a big weekend. It's an honour just to sit next to these guys. I took a photo of my name tag up here just to remember it," said Bostrom in the pre-event press conference.
"It's a dream come true. It could be the only opportunity I'll have to ride in MotoGP. I've watched these guys race on TV and I'm a massive fan.
"This track is not too far from where I grew up and I feel the energy from the fans. I think I've won on every type of bike I've ridden here, but never an 800c and I've seen these guys ride.
"MotoGP is pretty awesome. It's definitely the pinnacle of the sport. You got to be a little bit intimidated. I'll just go out there, put my head down and try not to do anything I don't normally do.
"There's going to be a big difference between the two bikes I'll ride this weekend. I thought about it maybe a thousand times while lying in bed last night, staring at the ceiling!
"The Superbike is pretty standard. You’re literally flogging the thing around this track. The GP bike will probably roll around at that speed and then you gotta fight it above that.
"Just getting used to the 'fast-forward' nature of MotoGP and trying to get my brain up to speed. That's going to be the most difficult."
LCR's full time rider, Toni Elias, has had a demoralising season to date, the reigning Moto2 champion sitting 14th in the championship with a best finish of eighth, in the wet Silverstone race.
Bostrom hopes they can spur each other on this weekend.
"I've been in Toni's situation," said Bostrom. "Sometimes you just need a carrot to chase. I might be casing him, he might be chasing me. But regardless, if you have a guy on the same bike within ten feet of you in the garage, that's the first race. And then you overcome the next one after that. I hope the competition will help us both."
The last American to win at the US MotoGP was Nicky Hayden in 2006. The Ducati star welcomed Bostrom's surprise debut.
"I've known Ben since my dirk track days," said Hayden. "Having Ben on the grid is great for the fans. They want to support people they know. Ben is pretty special at this track, so hopefully he won’t show any of the regulars up!"
Date: 22/July/2011
At 37-years-old, and over five years since his last season in World Championship racing, Ben Bostrom will make a shock MotoGP debut in this weekend's US round at Laguna Seca.
The popular American will ride a second LCR Honda in the event - and also continue to compete for Basketball legend Michael Jordan's team in the AMA Superbike race.
Bostrom finished third in the 2001 World Superbike Championship for Ducati, with six race wins, but struggled the following season and - barring an unsuccessful return to WSBK in 2005 - has raced in America ever since 2003.
"It's going to be a big weekend. It's an honour just to sit next to these guys. I took a photo of my name tag up here just to remember it," said Bostrom in the pre-event press conference.
"It's a dream come true. It could be the only opportunity I'll have to ride in MotoGP. I've watched these guys race on TV and I'm a massive fan.
"This track is not too far from where I grew up and I feel the energy from the fans. I think I've won on every type of bike I've ridden here, but never an 800c and I've seen these guys ride.
"MotoGP is pretty awesome. It's definitely the pinnacle of the sport. You got to be a little bit intimidated. I'll just go out there, put my head down and try not to do anything I don't normally do.
"There's going to be a big difference between the two bikes I'll ride this weekend. I thought about it maybe a thousand times while lying in bed last night, staring at the ceiling!
"The Superbike is pretty standard. You’re literally flogging the thing around this track. The GP bike will probably roll around at that speed and then you gotta fight it above that.
"Just getting used to the 'fast-forward' nature of MotoGP and trying to get my brain up to speed. That's going to be the most difficult."
LCR's full time rider, Toni Elias, has had a demoralising season to date, the reigning Moto2 champion sitting 14th in the championship with a best finish of eighth, in the wet Silverstone race.
Bostrom hopes they can spur each other on this weekend.
"I've been in Toni's situation," said Bostrom. "Sometimes you just need a carrot to chase. I might be casing him, he might be chasing me. But regardless, if you have a guy on the same bike within ten feet of you in the garage, that's the first race. And then you overcome the next one after that. I hope the competition will help us both."
The last American to win at the US MotoGP was Nicky Hayden in 2006. The Ducati star welcomed Bostrom's surprise debut.
"I've known Ben since my dirk track days," said Hayden. "Having Ben on the grid is great for the fans. They want to support people they know. Ben is pretty special at this track, so hopefully he won’t show any of the regulars up!"
Schumacher, Mercedes 'can make it' in F1 'stock market'
F1 News
Date: 21/July/2011
Mercedes and Michael Schumacher 'can make it' claimed the 'optimistic' German, ahead of his second home grand prix since his F1 comeback, at the Nurburgring this weekend.
The seven-time F1 world champion - twice with Benetton and then five times with Ferrari - ended a three-year retirement when he signed-up for a shock F1 return with Mercedes, the German marque that supported him early in his racing career.
But F1 is no fairytale and the Schumacher-Mercedes partnership is yet to yield even a podium.
The 42-year-old managed a best race finish of fourth on his way to ninth in last year's championship, and is currently tenth after nine rounds of this season.
"Yes, I am, absolutely," replied Schumacher, when asked if he was disappointed to have scored less points than at this time last year. "I think we all expected something different. We were very excited going to the first race in Australia, having had a good winter test and then it didn’t transform."
Despite his disappointment, Schumacher remains positive that the Mercedes team - which won the 2009 F1 title under its previous guise of Brawn GP - can reach the top.
Schumacher said: "As I so often mention, it’s a mission and the mission unfortunately doesn’t always go in one line upwards. It’s like a stock market: before it goes up, it falls down a couple of times.
"The general trend, what I can see in the factory and the progress we are making in terms of how the team is building up - I see very good signs that we can make it."
But exactly when Schumacher and Mercedes might stand on the top step of the F1 podium is far too early to say.
"I don’t think we are in a position yet to talk about winning races. We are on the way," said Schumacher, a winner of 91 F1 races.
"I am very optimistic to be quite honest. It wasn’t initially a long term project for me when I signed up, but after a while I understood it is going to be and there is nothing that you can rush through.
"You have to progressively step up and that’s what we are doing."
Despite his comeback troubles, countryman and reigning F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel - sometimes referred to as 'Baby Schumi' by the German media - paid tribute to Schumacher's achievements.
The Red Bull star said: "All of us will always be compared to Michael. His big shoes will be very, very difficult to fill. Everything he achieved is quite phenomenal. The question is not if there will ever be a German achieving that again, but if there will ever be a driver in Formula One achieving what he has done again."
Schumacher then indicated his own high opinion of Vettel, saying: "I think we both have similar sized shoes, so [his future] should be good."
Date: 21/July/2011
Mercedes and Michael Schumacher 'can make it' claimed the 'optimistic' German, ahead of his second home grand prix since his F1 comeback, at the Nurburgring this weekend.
The seven-time F1 world champion - twice with Benetton and then five times with Ferrari - ended a three-year retirement when he signed-up for a shock F1 return with Mercedes, the German marque that supported him early in his racing career.
But F1 is no fairytale and the Schumacher-Mercedes partnership is yet to yield even a podium.
The 42-year-old managed a best race finish of fourth on his way to ninth in last year's championship, and is currently tenth after nine rounds of this season.
"Yes, I am, absolutely," replied Schumacher, when asked if he was disappointed to have scored less points than at this time last year. "I think we all expected something different. We were very excited going to the first race in Australia, having had a good winter test and then it didn’t transform."
Despite his disappointment, Schumacher remains positive that the Mercedes team - which won the 2009 F1 title under its previous guise of Brawn GP - can reach the top.
Schumacher said: "As I so often mention, it’s a mission and the mission unfortunately doesn’t always go in one line upwards. It’s like a stock market: before it goes up, it falls down a couple of times.
"The general trend, what I can see in the factory and the progress we are making in terms of how the team is building up - I see very good signs that we can make it."
But exactly when Schumacher and Mercedes might stand on the top step of the F1 podium is far too early to say.
"I don’t think we are in a position yet to talk about winning races. We are on the way," said Schumacher, a winner of 91 F1 races.
"I am very optimistic to be quite honest. It wasn’t initially a long term project for me when I signed up, but after a while I understood it is going to be and there is nothing that you can rush through.
"You have to progressively step up and that’s what we are doing."
Despite his comeback troubles, countryman and reigning F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel - sometimes referred to as 'Baby Schumi' by the German media - paid tribute to Schumacher's achievements.
The Red Bull star said: "All of us will always be compared to Michael. His big shoes will be very, very difficult to fill. Everything he achieved is quite phenomenal. The question is not if there will ever be a German achieving that again, but if there will ever be a driver in Formula One achieving what he has done again."
Schumacher then indicated his own high opinion of Vettel, saying: "I think we both have similar sized shoes, so [his future] should be good."
Vettel ducks Nurburgring team orders question
F1 News
Date: 21/July/2011
Will Sebastian Vettel back off and let team-mate Mark Webber win at the Nurburgring this weekend - Vettel's home grand prix - if asked to do so by the Red Bull team?
That was the question put to reigning F1 world champion and runaway title leader Vettel, in the aftermath of Webber being controversy told to 'maintain position' behind the second-placed German in the closing stages of the recent British Grand Prix.
The request - which Webber claims he ignored, despite subsequently failing to overtake Vettel - reignited both the debate on the use of team orders in F1 and also accusations of favouritism towards Vettel within the Red Bull team.
Vettel, seeing the trap laid ahead of him by reporters on Thursday, used the kind of skill he usually reserves for the race track to avoid a direct response.
Vettel said: "I think it always depends on the situation in the race. Obviously I know where you’re coming from. I don’t think there was anything for us to gain as a team in the last race.
"It depends, as I said, on the situation. On the one hand you want to race for yourself and on the other hand you try the best for the team. To be honest, I don’t think there’s much we have to talk through and go through again.
"On Sunday, obviously for that [scenario] to happen, first of all we have to have a lot of good laps to then be in a position to fight against each other for the victory, so I think that stage is quite far away."
Vettel has won six of the nine races so far this year and start's this weekend's tenth round with a massive 80-point advantage over nearest rival Webber, who is yet to win in 2011.
Date: 21/July/2011
Will Sebastian Vettel back off and let team-mate Mark Webber win at the Nurburgring this weekend - Vettel's home grand prix - if asked to do so by the Red Bull team?
That was the question put to reigning F1 world champion and runaway title leader Vettel, in the aftermath of Webber being controversy told to 'maintain position' behind the second-placed German in the closing stages of the recent British Grand Prix.
The request - which Webber claims he ignored, despite subsequently failing to overtake Vettel - reignited both the debate on the use of team orders in F1 and also accusations of favouritism towards Vettel within the Red Bull team.
Vettel, seeing the trap laid ahead of him by reporters on Thursday, used the kind of skill he usually reserves for the race track to avoid a direct response.
Vettel said: "I think it always depends on the situation in the race. Obviously I know where you’re coming from. I don’t think there was anything for us to gain as a team in the last race.
"It depends, as I said, on the situation. On the one hand you want to race for yourself and on the other hand you try the best for the team. To be honest, I don’t think there’s much we have to talk through and go through again.
"On Sunday, obviously for that [scenario] to happen, first of all we have to have a lot of good laps to then be in a position to fight against each other for the victory, so I think that stage is quite far away."
Vettel has won six of the nine races so far this year and start's this weekend's tenth round with a massive 80-point advantage over nearest rival Webber, who is yet to win in 2011.
Pedrosa rejects 2006 crash comparison
MotoGP News
Date: 18/July/2011
Dani Pedrosa, still seething over his collarbone-breaking clash with Marco Simoncelli at Le Mans, has rejected comparisons between the Italian's error and his own 2006 collision with team-mate Nicky Hayden.
Pedrosa, then in his first premier-class season, stunned the motorsport world when he lost control of his Repsol Honda and wiped Hayden out of both the Estoril race and the world championship lead - with only one round remaining.
"The difference is that I did one thing, maybe ten or eleven years and he [Simoncelli] - I don't have enough figures to count what he has done wrong," said Pedrosa.
"In my case I couldn’t stop the bike, lost control and I crashed into Nicky. I did nothing on purpose.
"With Simoncelli he was next to me and he could brake and let me go in, and instead he decided to turn in tight to the corner. He's done it I don’t know how many times."
Pedrosa's huge Portuguese error went unpunished by race direction - as it was seen as simply as racing incident - and had a relatively happy ending when Hayden won the title from Valentino Rossi at the following final round.
However the personal relationship between Hayden and Pedrosa never fully recovered.
Frequent-faller Simoncelli received a ride-through penalty for his collision with Pedrosa, which sidelined the Spaniard for three races and looks to have cost him any chance of the 2011 title.
Pedrosa won his first race since the injury on Sunday in Germany, but is 74 points behind team-mate and title leader Casey Stoner.
Date: 18/July/2011
Dani Pedrosa, still seething over his collarbone-breaking clash with Marco Simoncelli at Le Mans, has rejected comparisons between the Italian's error and his own 2006 collision with team-mate Nicky Hayden.
Pedrosa, then in his first premier-class season, stunned the motorsport world when he lost control of his Repsol Honda and wiped Hayden out of both the Estoril race and the world championship lead - with only one round remaining.
"The difference is that I did one thing, maybe ten or eleven years and he [Simoncelli] - I don't have enough figures to count what he has done wrong," said Pedrosa.
"In my case I couldn’t stop the bike, lost control and I crashed into Nicky. I did nothing on purpose.
"With Simoncelli he was next to me and he could brake and let me go in, and instead he decided to turn in tight to the corner. He's done it I don’t know how many times."
Pedrosa's huge Portuguese error went unpunished by race direction - as it was seen as simply as racing incident - and had a relatively happy ending when Hayden won the title from Valentino Rossi at the following final round.
However the personal relationship between Hayden and Pedrosa never fully recovered.
Frequent-faller Simoncelli received a ride-through penalty for his collision with Pedrosa, which sidelined the Spaniard for three races and looks to have cost him any chance of the 2011 title.
Pedrosa won his first race since the injury on Sunday in Germany, but is 74 points behind team-mate and title leader Casey Stoner.
Stoner joins Lorenzo in Japanese GP boycott
MotoGP News
Date: 16/July/2011
The MotoGP World Championship is facing a rebellion from within, after two of its leading riders publically declared that they will not participate in the Japanese Grand Prix.
World champions Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo, first and second in this year's championship, defiantly laid their cards on the table and declared they "will not go" due to radiation fears.
The event, held at the Honda-owned Motegi circuit, has already been moved from its late April date to October 2, following this year's Earthquake and Tsunami.
However, the risk of radiation from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant continues to worry the riders.
Motegi is just over 100km from the radiation leak, but with no firm evidence of any danger MotoGP organisers have made clear that, unless they receive evidence to the contrary, the event will go ahead.
Organisers seemed to hope that an independent European agency report, due to be released later this month, would reassure the riders. But Stoner and Lorenzo, who have won all but two of the eight races this year, have already made up their minds.
Stoner declared: "I will not go. That's my opinion and I've had it for some time. I'm sure most riders feel the same. I guess it's up to the organisers to figure out what's going to happen."
Factory Yamaha rider Lorenzo added: "I made my decision a long time ago. I am not active in any discussions about racing in Japan because I made my mind up a long time ago."
Quizzed on whether he will face any sanctions from Honda, Stoner responded: "They know my position. Whether they think I'm going to change my mind or not - it’s something we’ve got to discuss very shortly and make it very clear.
"If there's no race there won’t be any penalty, but I'm not going regardless. I've already made up my mind."
Asked if he would now remove the "With You Japan" sticker from his motorcycle, Stoner responded: "This doesn’t mean we're not supporting Japan. I don't think supporting someone and being in the same place is the same thing.
"If a similar thing happened near my home in Australia I wouldn’t be going back there. It'd be the same situation."
Lorenzo agreed: "I really think if we go there things in Japan will not change. If something like that happened in Spain I would not go there either. If we can help Japan in another way we will, but I think going there is not real support."
Two weeks' previously, at the Italian Grand Prix, it was revealed that all but one of the 17 MotoGP riders - Japanese Hiroshi Aoyama being the exception - had signed a petition indicating that they did not want to race at Motegi.
Date: 16/July/2011
The MotoGP World Championship is facing a rebellion from within, after two of its leading riders publically declared that they will not participate in the Japanese Grand Prix.
World champions Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo, first and second in this year's championship, defiantly laid their cards on the table and declared they "will not go" due to radiation fears.
The event, held at the Honda-owned Motegi circuit, has already been moved from its late April date to October 2, following this year's Earthquake and Tsunami.
However, the risk of radiation from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant continues to worry the riders.
Motegi is just over 100km from the radiation leak, but with no firm evidence of any danger MotoGP organisers have made clear that, unless they receive evidence to the contrary, the event will go ahead.
Organisers seemed to hope that an independent European agency report, due to be released later this month, would reassure the riders. But Stoner and Lorenzo, who have won all but two of the eight races this year, have already made up their minds.
Stoner declared: "I will not go. That's my opinion and I've had it for some time. I'm sure most riders feel the same. I guess it's up to the organisers to figure out what's going to happen."
Factory Yamaha rider Lorenzo added: "I made my decision a long time ago. I am not active in any discussions about racing in Japan because I made my mind up a long time ago."
Quizzed on whether he will face any sanctions from Honda, Stoner responded: "They know my position. Whether they think I'm going to change my mind or not - it’s something we’ve got to discuss very shortly and make it very clear.
"If there's no race there won’t be any penalty, but I'm not going regardless. I've already made up my mind."
Asked if he would now remove the "With You Japan" sticker from his motorcycle, Stoner responded: "This doesn’t mean we're not supporting Japan. I don't think supporting someone and being in the same place is the same thing.
"If a similar thing happened near my home in Australia I wouldn’t be going back there. It'd be the same situation."
Lorenzo agreed: "I really think if we go there things in Japan will not change. If something like that happened in Spain I would not go there either. If we can help Japan in another way we will, but I think going there is not real support."
Two weeks' previously, at the Italian Grand Prix, it was revealed that all but one of the 17 MotoGP riders - Japanese Hiroshi Aoyama being the exception - had signed a petition indicating that they did not want to race at Motegi.
Valentino Rossi names his greatest race
MotoGP News
Date: 15/July/2011
MotoGP superstar Valentino Rossi has selected his victory over Casey Stoner at the 2008 US Grand Prix as his best moment in grand prix racing.
Rossi, a nine-time world champion, will make his 250th grand prix start this Sunday in Germany, having made his debut in the 125cc class back in 1996.
The Italian has won 105 races since, including a record 79 in the premier-class, but it is the shock Laguna Seca win that stands out most.
That event saw Rossi - then a Yamaha rider - smother world champion Stoner's huge practice advantage by lunging for the lead at every opportunity.
The thrilling contest came to a premature end when a frustrated Stoner fell from his Ducati with eight laps to go, rejoining to finish a distant second.
An angry Stoner felt some of Rossi's moves were over the limit, but as a spectacle it remains one of the most exciting races of the 800cc era.
"I have a lot of memorable wins. It is always difficult to decide between Welkom 2004 and Laguna 2008," explained Rossi, who was sitting next to Stoner as he spoke.
"But I will say Laguna 2008 because it is closer and I remember it better."
That Laguna victory proved to be a turning point in the 2008 championship and further falls for Stoner, when being chased by Rossi, handed the Italian his first premier-class title of the 800cc era.
Welkom 2004 saw Rossi take a close win over Max Biaggi on his Yamaha debut.
Date: 15/July/2011
MotoGP superstar Valentino Rossi has selected his victory over Casey Stoner at the 2008 US Grand Prix as his best moment in grand prix racing.
Rossi, a nine-time world champion, will make his 250th grand prix start this Sunday in Germany, having made his debut in the 125cc class back in 1996.
The Italian has won 105 races since, including a record 79 in the premier-class, but it is the shock Laguna Seca win that stands out most.
That event saw Rossi - then a Yamaha rider - smother world champion Stoner's huge practice advantage by lunging for the lead at every opportunity.
The thrilling contest came to a premature end when a frustrated Stoner fell from his Ducati with eight laps to go, rejoining to finish a distant second.
An angry Stoner felt some of Rossi's moves were over the limit, but as a spectacle it remains one of the most exciting races of the 800cc era.
"I have a lot of memorable wins. It is always difficult to decide between Welkom 2004 and Laguna 2008," explained Rossi, who was sitting next to Stoner as he spoke.
"But I will say Laguna 2008 because it is closer and I remember it better."
That Laguna victory proved to be a turning point in the 2008 championship and further falls for Stoner, when being chased by Rossi, handed the Italian his first premier-class title of the 800cc era.
Welkom 2004 saw Rossi take a close win over Max Biaggi on his Yamaha debut.
FIA announcement signals end of diffuser debacle?
F1 News
Date: 14/July/2011
Off-throttle blown diffusers will continue to be used in Formula One until the end of the 2011 season, the FIA confirmed on Thursday.
The sport's governing body made what turned out to be a messy attempt to stop teams enhancing their 'off-throttle' exhaust gases for aerodynamic reasons at the recent British Grand Prix.
That ban resulted in a public war of words between the title leading Red Bull (Renault) and McLaren (Mercedes) teams over concessions granted, on reliability grounds, to their respective engine suppliers.
The regulations were modified repeatedly during Silverstone practice and, with no quick cure in sight, the FIA finally suggested teams should race under the same regulations as the previous Valencia round, until the end of the year.
Unanimous agreement has now been reached on that proposal, ending speculation that the Ferrari-powered teams, which seemed to gain most at Silverstone, might sink the deal.
"All cars will run under 'Valencia' conditions for the remainder of the season," said an FIA statement.
'Valencia' conditions mean that restrictions on special qualifying engine maps will remain in place, but that there will be no limits on the use of off-throttle blown diffusers.
"We are optimistic that there will be no protests over any engine mapping and exhaust tailpipe issues this season. In addition to the main part of the agreement reached in the TWG meetings it was also agreed that no team would raise a protest against another on these matters for the rest of the season," the statement added.
Blown diffusers of any sort - on or off throttle - will now disappear at the end of the year, due to future rules which will force exhausts to exit on top (rather than underneath) the car.
"The teams have already agreed to strict constraints on exhaust tailpipe position which will result in them exiting the bodywork much higher up and no longer in the vicinity of the diffuser. Therefore, any aerodynamic benefit from exhaust gas flow over bodywork will be kept to an absolute minimum," said the statement.
Date: 14/July/2011
Off-throttle blown diffusers will continue to be used in Formula One until the end of the 2011 season, the FIA confirmed on Thursday.
The sport's governing body made what turned out to be a messy attempt to stop teams enhancing their 'off-throttle' exhaust gases for aerodynamic reasons at the recent British Grand Prix.
That ban resulted in a public war of words between the title leading Red Bull (Renault) and McLaren (Mercedes) teams over concessions granted, on reliability grounds, to their respective engine suppliers.
The regulations were modified repeatedly during Silverstone practice and, with no quick cure in sight, the FIA finally suggested teams should race under the same regulations as the previous Valencia round, until the end of the year.
Unanimous agreement has now been reached on that proposal, ending speculation that the Ferrari-powered teams, which seemed to gain most at Silverstone, might sink the deal.
"All cars will run under 'Valencia' conditions for the remainder of the season," said an FIA statement.
'Valencia' conditions mean that restrictions on special qualifying engine maps will remain in place, but that there will be no limits on the use of off-throttle blown diffusers.
"We are optimistic that there will be no protests over any engine mapping and exhaust tailpipe issues this season. In addition to the main part of the agreement reached in the TWG meetings it was also agreed that no team would raise a protest against another on these matters for the rest of the season," the statement added.
Blown diffusers of any sort - on or off throttle - will now disappear at the end of the year, due to future rules which will force exhausts to exit on top (rather than underneath) the car.
"The teams have already agreed to strict constraints on exhaust tailpipe position which will result in them exiting the bodywork much higher up and no longer in the vicinity of the diffuser. Therefore, any aerodynamic benefit from exhaust gas flow over bodywork will be kept to an absolute minimum," said the statement.
Red Bull face team orders controversy
F1 News
Date: 10/July/2011
For the second year running, Mark Webber left the 2011 British F1 Grand Prix feeling he had been wrongly treated by his own Red Bull F1 team.
In 2010 a victorious Webber made the famous quote "not bad for a number two driver", in a public dig at being forced to hand 'his' new front wing over to team-mate Sebastian Vettel earlier in the weekend.
This time it wasn't new parts that riled Webber, but the instigation of dreaded team orders in the closing stages of the race.
Having hunted down Vettel, Webber looked to have an excellent chance of snatching second place from the German. Red Bull thought it was too much of a risk and repeatedly radioed Webber to 'maintain position'.
Webber claims he ignored the instruction, but was unable to overtake and finished just 0.4sec behind his team-mate.
"I am not fine with it. No," said Webber of the team orders. "If Fernando [Alonso] retires on the last lap we are battling for the victory so I was fine until the end.
"Of course I ignored the team as I want to try and get another place. Seb was doing his best and I was doing my best. I don't want to crash with anyone, but that was it."
Webber revealed that he was asked "four or five" times to back off by the team, indicating the level of concern by Red Bull that he wouldn’t obey.
"There was a lot of traffic coming to me [over the radio], but I was still trying to do my best to pass the guy in front.
"I just want to race to the end," he added. "Of course, [the team] want the points, but I also need to try and get some more points as well."
Points shouldn’t be too much of a concern to Red Bull.
Reigning world champion Vettel now leads the drivers' standings by a massive 80 points over nearest rival Webber, with Alonso 92 points from the top despite his first win of the year.
Red Bull is also 110 points clear of McLaren in the Constructors' championship and has exactly double the points of third-place Ferrari.
There are few things that irritate the public and press more about F1 than team orders, but a previous ban was overturned on the grounds of being unworkable.
Nevertheless, a surprised Vettel found himself being asked if the Silverstone result was 'a sham' - and even if he could be considered a worthy champion.
"Mark tried to pass me; I could stay ahead," shrugged Vettel. "If it would have been the other way round - of course, I would like to overtake Mark, but there's no point trying to do something stupid, especially from a team point of view. So I don't see why there is a big fuss really."
Vettel added that there is a difference between being asked to hold position and being asked to change position.
"I think we were racing, it was not a scheduled 'I move right, you move left.' As Mark said, he stayed flat out and tried to race me, as hard as he could, didn't find his way past. To me, at this stage it's quite amusing," smiled Vettel.
Team orders controversy had previously flared up after the 2010 German Grand Prix, when Felipe Massa allowed Alonso to pass after a radio message - complete with an apology - made clear what Ferrari expected him to do.
Despite uproar from fans, that incident ultimately led to the removal of the team orders ban, because it highlighted how difficult it was to police.
Ironically, Webber had been one of the few drivers sympathetic to Ferrari's situation.
"I stick by what I said last year," he insisted on Sunday. "They had one guy trying to stay in the championship fight - Fernando. Fernando was much, much quicker, it was in the middle of a grand prix and he [Massa] released him."
Alonso himself insisted Red Bull had no case to answer at Silverstone and couldn't understand the level of interest being shown by the press.
"I'm not happy with any politics, not to me and not to Red Bull," he said. "I don't think there are polemics. What you try to ask here to them, they answer very well, so there are no polemics but I'm sure tomorrow you will write something."
Red Bull did not impose team orders last season, a decision that paid off when Vettel - behind Webber in the championship for most of the year - snatched the title from Alonso at the final race.
Had Vettel been asked to support Webber in earlier rounds, that shock title victory may not have been possible.
Date: 10/July/2011
For the second year running, Mark Webber left the 2011 British F1 Grand Prix feeling he had been wrongly treated by his own Red Bull F1 team.
In 2010 a victorious Webber made the famous quote "not bad for a number two driver", in a public dig at being forced to hand 'his' new front wing over to team-mate Sebastian Vettel earlier in the weekend.
This time it wasn't new parts that riled Webber, but the instigation of dreaded team orders in the closing stages of the race.
Having hunted down Vettel, Webber looked to have an excellent chance of snatching second place from the German. Red Bull thought it was too much of a risk and repeatedly radioed Webber to 'maintain position'.
Webber claims he ignored the instruction, but was unable to overtake and finished just 0.4sec behind his team-mate.
"I am not fine with it. No," said Webber of the team orders. "If Fernando [Alonso] retires on the last lap we are battling for the victory so I was fine until the end.
"Of course I ignored the team as I want to try and get another place. Seb was doing his best and I was doing my best. I don't want to crash with anyone, but that was it."
Webber revealed that he was asked "four or five" times to back off by the team, indicating the level of concern by Red Bull that he wouldn’t obey.
"There was a lot of traffic coming to me [over the radio], but I was still trying to do my best to pass the guy in front.
"I just want to race to the end," he added. "Of course, [the team] want the points, but I also need to try and get some more points as well."
Points shouldn’t be too much of a concern to Red Bull.
Reigning world champion Vettel now leads the drivers' standings by a massive 80 points over nearest rival Webber, with Alonso 92 points from the top despite his first win of the year.
Red Bull is also 110 points clear of McLaren in the Constructors' championship and has exactly double the points of third-place Ferrari.
There are few things that irritate the public and press more about F1 than team orders, but a previous ban was overturned on the grounds of being unworkable.
Nevertheless, a surprised Vettel found himself being asked if the Silverstone result was 'a sham' - and even if he could be considered a worthy champion.
"Mark tried to pass me; I could stay ahead," shrugged Vettel. "If it would have been the other way round - of course, I would like to overtake Mark, but there's no point trying to do something stupid, especially from a team point of view. So I don't see why there is a big fuss really."
Vettel added that there is a difference between being asked to hold position and being asked to change position.
"I think we were racing, it was not a scheduled 'I move right, you move left.' As Mark said, he stayed flat out and tried to race me, as hard as he could, didn't find his way past. To me, at this stage it's quite amusing," smiled Vettel.
Team orders controversy had previously flared up after the 2010 German Grand Prix, when Felipe Massa allowed Alonso to pass after a radio message - complete with an apology - made clear what Ferrari expected him to do.
Despite uproar from fans, that incident ultimately led to the removal of the team orders ban, because it highlighted how difficult it was to police.
Ironically, Webber had been one of the few drivers sympathetic to Ferrari's situation.
"I stick by what I said last year," he insisted on Sunday. "They had one guy trying to stay in the championship fight - Fernando. Fernando was much, much quicker, it was in the middle of a grand prix and he [Massa] released him."
Alonso himself insisted Red Bull had no case to answer at Silverstone and couldn't understand the level of interest being shown by the press.
"I'm not happy with any politics, not to me and not to Red Bull," he said. "I don't think there are polemics. What you try to ask here to them, they answer very well, so there are no polemics but I'm sure tomorrow you will write something."
Red Bull did not impose team orders last season, a decision that paid off when Vettel - behind Webber in the championship for most of the year - snatched the title from Alonso at the final race.
Had Vettel been asked to support Webber in earlier rounds, that shock title victory may not have been possible.
FIA willing to dump diffuser rule, but…
F1 News
Date: 9/July/2011
FIA, governing body of the Formula One World Championship, is prepared to dump the controversial clampdown on 'off-throttle blown diffusers' which has overshadowed this weekend's British Grand Prix.
From Silverstone onwards, the FIA wanted to prevent the use of 'off-throttle' exhaust gases being manipulated to generate downforce under the car, via the diffuser.
As such, limits were put in place regarding how much throttle opening was allowed when the driver took his foot off the accelerator. Restrictions were also placed on off-throttle ignition, to stop fuel being used to 'boost' exhaust gases under braking.
But several engine manufacturers were able to successfully argue that certain concessions were needed for reliability reasons.
To the surprise of most of the paddock, Renault was allowed to run at 50 per cent throttle opening - instead of 10 per cent - while Mercedes was allowed to continue burning fuel in half of the eight-cylinders under braking.
McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh and Red Bull head Christian Horner were then involved in a heated exchange during the Friday afternoon press conference, when each accused the other of gaining an unfair advantage.
McLaren, whose stance was backed by Ferrari and, naturally, Mercedes GP, looked to win the day when the FIA announced that Renault's 50 per cent concession was to be scrapped from Saturday morning practice onwards.
Ironically, Red Bull went on to qualify first and second for Sunday's race with Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel, while McLaren suffered more than most under the new rules, with Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton only fifth and tenth on the grid for their home race.
But with the diffuser controversy continuing to overshadow the on-track show, the FIA has now offered to ditch the new 'off-throttle' restrictions until the end of the season.
However, having warned that the new restrictions were needed because some of the (lesser) teams might have protested the race results, unanimous agreement to keep the technology will be needed among the teams.
This means the leading teams will need to convince their middle and lower ranking rivals - the majority of which are not as reliant on the technology - to allow the biggest and best teams to keep it 'for the good of the sport'.
Not an easy sell.
Date: 9/July/2011
FIA, governing body of the Formula One World Championship, is prepared to dump the controversial clampdown on 'off-throttle blown diffusers' which has overshadowed this weekend's British Grand Prix.
From Silverstone onwards, the FIA wanted to prevent the use of 'off-throttle' exhaust gases being manipulated to generate downforce under the car, via the diffuser.
As such, limits were put in place regarding how much throttle opening was allowed when the driver took his foot off the accelerator. Restrictions were also placed on off-throttle ignition, to stop fuel being used to 'boost' exhaust gases under braking.
But several engine manufacturers were able to successfully argue that certain concessions were needed for reliability reasons.
To the surprise of most of the paddock, Renault was allowed to run at 50 per cent throttle opening - instead of 10 per cent - while Mercedes was allowed to continue burning fuel in half of the eight-cylinders under braking.
McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh and Red Bull head Christian Horner were then involved in a heated exchange during the Friday afternoon press conference, when each accused the other of gaining an unfair advantage.
McLaren, whose stance was backed by Ferrari and, naturally, Mercedes GP, looked to win the day when the FIA announced that Renault's 50 per cent concession was to be scrapped from Saturday morning practice onwards.
Ironically, Red Bull went on to qualify first and second for Sunday's race with Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel, while McLaren suffered more than most under the new rules, with Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton only fifth and tenth on the grid for their home race.
But with the diffuser controversy continuing to overshadow the on-track show, the FIA has now offered to ditch the new 'off-throttle' restrictions until the end of the season.
However, having warned that the new restrictions were needed because some of the (lesser) teams might have protested the race results, unanimous agreement to keep the technology will be needed among the teams.
This means the leading teams will need to convince their middle and lower ranking rivals - the majority of which are not as reliant on the technology - to allow the biggest and best teams to keep it 'for the good of the sport'.
Not an easy sell.
McLaren, Red Bull clash over engine rules
F1 News
Date: 8/July/2011
The FIA's attempt to stamp out the controversy surrounding 'off-throttle blown diffusers' in Formula One backfired on Friday at Silverstone, where team principals from the title-leading Red Bull and McLaren teams clashed publically over a last-minute amendment.
'Blown diffusers' refers to the practice of pointing exhaust pipes under the car, so that the powerful engine gases can be used to increase downforce.
This remains legal, but from the British Grand Prix onwards the FIA intended to stop 'off throttle' use - where engines continue to pump out disproportionate levels of gases, even though the car is slowing down.
The FIA wanted to stop the increased use of the engine as an aerodynamic device, and return to a direct link between engine output and acceleration.
Making such a technical change mid-season wasn't welcomed, but FIA race director Charlie Whiting claimed there was a real chance of some teams protesting the race results if something wasn't done.
Whiting and the FIA decided the best way to reign-in the technology was to impose limits on how much the throttle could remain open when a drivers lifts his foot off the pedal.
"We're saying that if a driver comes off the throttle - zero pedal - then the throttles have got to be [no more than] 10 per cent open at 12,000rpm and [no more than] 20 per cent open at 18,000rpm," Whiting explained at the previous Valencia round.
His next sentence was to highlight the basis for the Friday controversy at Silverstone: "One engine manufacturer is asking for a little bit more [per cent open] - for what appear to be genuine reasons."
That manufacturer is now known to be Renault, which powers the championship leading Red Bull car of Sebastian Vettel and his team-mate Mark Webber.
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh revealed that, during Silverstone practice, it was announced that Renault could run with 50% off-throttle opening, having convinced the FIA that this has been part of their engine design for many years and needed to keep the engine cool.
That concession didn’t go down well with the likes of McLaren or Ferrari, although as Red Bull team manager Christian Horner later revealed, Mercedes got a concession of a different kind.
But first over to Whitmarsh: "I think we were all a little bit surprised when the regulations changed half-way through P1 and I am sure that put many teams a little bit on the back foot.
"I think the expectation is that when you are off the throttle, the engine throttles would be closed. But there has been a negotiation and, as I understand, Renault's throttles are 50 per cent open under braking. That's been a little bit of a revelation."
Horner hit back by pointing out that the Mercedes engine, as used by McLaren, has been allowed to continue running 'off throttle' fuel ignition, which provides a similar boost to the exhaust gases.
Horner explained the evolution of the off-throttle rule saga as follows:
"First of all there was a technical directive which effectively turned [any off-throttle opening] off. Certain teams were then allowed to fuel their overrun, of which there are also, obviously, secondary benefits through the exhaust plumes and thrusts that that creates.
"Renault presented their position to the FIA and demonstrated that, for purposes of throttle blip and reliability, cold air blowing open throttle was a necessary part of the operation of their engine, otherwise it would cause serious issues.
"It would be unfair to allow fire overrun and not allow the same parameters for another engine manufacturer."
But Whitmarsh believes the Renault concession is out of proportion compared with the fuelling and that the other manufacturers will now need to develop their own version of the Renault 'cold blowing' system to avoid losing out.
"At the moment, I think potentially a lot of teams will end up making the argument to cold blow," he said. "Renault have been in that domain for some time, other teams haven't and don't have that experience, but we're talking about a very substantial performance benefit..."
"Why is it any more of a performance benefit than fired overrun?" countered Horner. "If you can operate your engine in the same way as the Renault, then you are welcome to do it. The secondary effect… I think it is wrong to suggest that there is a benefit beyond that."
"But clearly if you've got, under braking, your throttles open 50 per cent then it's a reasonable benefit," insisted Whitmarsh. "There's a lot of gas going through and I imagine that all engines will end up doing that, which I think isn't what was envisaged.
"The fact that we are having this discussion [shows] it's messy and I think the intention people believed was that we were going to stop exhaust blowing when the driver didn't have his foot on the throttle.
"I think that was the simple concept, but that concept has been deflected and therefore it hasn't been clear and the fact that these things were only coming out during the course of today is fairly extraordinary.
"I think a lot of people are clearly getting emotional about the situation and I can understand why: it's frustrating for the engineers not to know what it is that we're allowed to do.
"By cold blowing you're getting 30, 40 points of extra rear downforce in braking and that's quite an attractive thing, so if you can do it, then you're going to try to do it, aren't you?"
"Let's not make any mistake here, that firing on overrun, the thrust that that generates through the exhaust creates a bigger effect, so let's just be absolutely clear on that," claimed Horner.
"As far as we understood, before Renault were allowed their parameters, there was a significant advantage going to any Mercedes-powered team.
"As you can see, it's a massively complex subject. I think the one thing that Martin and I will agree on is that it should have been addressed at the end of the year, but unfortunately, here we are."
Friday's on-track action was somewhat less eventful, with rain producing two wet practice sessions. Webber was fastest in the morning with Ferrari's Felipe Massa on top in the afternoon.
Final practice and qualifying takes place on Saturday.
Date: 8/July/2011
The FIA's attempt to stamp out the controversy surrounding 'off-throttle blown diffusers' in Formula One backfired on Friday at Silverstone, where team principals from the title-leading Red Bull and McLaren teams clashed publically over a last-minute amendment.
'Blown diffusers' refers to the practice of pointing exhaust pipes under the car, so that the powerful engine gases can be used to increase downforce.
This remains legal, but from the British Grand Prix onwards the FIA intended to stop 'off throttle' use - where engines continue to pump out disproportionate levels of gases, even though the car is slowing down.
The FIA wanted to stop the increased use of the engine as an aerodynamic device, and return to a direct link between engine output and acceleration.
Making such a technical change mid-season wasn't welcomed, but FIA race director Charlie Whiting claimed there was a real chance of some teams protesting the race results if something wasn't done.
Whiting and the FIA decided the best way to reign-in the technology was to impose limits on how much the throttle could remain open when a drivers lifts his foot off the pedal.
"We're saying that if a driver comes off the throttle - zero pedal - then the throttles have got to be [no more than] 10 per cent open at 12,000rpm and [no more than] 20 per cent open at 18,000rpm," Whiting explained at the previous Valencia round.
His next sentence was to highlight the basis for the Friday controversy at Silverstone: "One engine manufacturer is asking for a little bit more [per cent open] - for what appear to be genuine reasons."
That manufacturer is now known to be Renault, which powers the championship leading Red Bull car of Sebastian Vettel and his team-mate Mark Webber.
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh revealed that, during Silverstone practice, it was announced that Renault could run with 50% off-throttle opening, having convinced the FIA that this has been part of their engine design for many years and needed to keep the engine cool.
That concession didn’t go down well with the likes of McLaren or Ferrari, although as Red Bull team manager Christian Horner later revealed, Mercedes got a concession of a different kind.
But first over to Whitmarsh: "I think we were all a little bit surprised when the regulations changed half-way through P1 and I am sure that put many teams a little bit on the back foot.
"I think the expectation is that when you are off the throttle, the engine throttles would be closed. But there has been a negotiation and, as I understand, Renault's throttles are 50 per cent open under braking. That's been a little bit of a revelation."
Horner hit back by pointing out that the Mercedes engine, as used by McLaren, has been allowed to continue running 'off throttle' fuel ignition, which provides a similar boost to the exhaust gases.
Horner explained the evolution of the off-throttle rule saga as follows:
"First of all there was a technical directive which effectively turned [any off-throttle opening] off. Certain teams were then allowed to fuel their overrun, of which there are also, obviously, secondary benefits through the exhaust plumes and thrusts that that creates.
"Renault presented their position to the FIA and demonstrated that, for purposes of throttle blip and reliability, cold air blowing open throttle was a necessary part of the operation of their engine, otherwise it would cause serious issues.
"It would be unfair to allow fire overrun and not allow the same parameters for another engine manufacturer."
But Whitmarsh believes the Renault concession is out of proportion compared with the fuelling and that the other manufacturers will now need to develop their own version of the Renault 'cold blowing' system to avoid losing out.
"At the moment, I think potentially a lot of teams will end up making the argument to cold blow," he said. "Renault have been in that domain for some time, other teams haven't and don't have that experience, but we're talking about a very substantial performance benefit..."
"Why is it any more of a performance benefit than fired overrun?" countered Horner. "If you can operate your engine in the same way as the Renault, then you are welcome to do it. The secondary effect… I think it is wrong to suggest that there is a benefit beyond that."
"But clearly if you've got, under braking, your throttles open 50 per cent then it's a reasonable benefit," insisted Whitmarsh. "There's a lot of gas going through and I imagine that all engines will end up doing that, which I think isn't what was envisaged.
"The fact that we are having this discussion [shows] it's messy and I think the intention people believed was that we were going to stop exhaust blowing when the driver didn't have his foot on the throttle.
"I think that was the simple concept, but that concept has been deflected and therefore it hasn't been clear and the fact that these things were only coming out during the course of today is fairly extraordinary.
"I think a lot of people are clearly getting emotional about the situation and I can understand why: it's frustrating for the engineers not to know what it is that we're allowed to do.
"By cold blowing you're getting 30, 40 points of extra rear downforce in braking and that's quite an attractive thing, so if you can do it, then you're going to try to do it, aren't you?"
"Let's not make any mistake here, that firing on overrun, the thrust that that generates through the exhaust creates a bigger effect, so let's just be absolutely clear on that," claimed Horner.
"As far as we understood, before Renault were allowed their parameters, there was a significant advantage going to any Mercedes-powered team.
"As you can see, it's a massively complex subject. I think the one thing that Martin and I will agree on is that it should have been addressed at the end of the year, but unfortunately, here we are."
Friday's on-track action was somewhat less eventful, with rain producing two wet practice sessions. Webber was fastest in the morning with Ferrari's Felipe Massa on top in the afternoon.
Final practice and qualifying takes place on Saturday.
Home glory needed for Button 'big three'
F1 News
Date: 7/July/2011
There's not much Jenson Button hasn’t achieved during his F1 career, but there is still one space on his mantelpiece he is yet to fill.
That's because, despite ten race victories and winning the 2009 world championship, Button has never even stood on the podium in front of his home fans at the British Grand Prix.
Having won the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix during his title-winning season, Silverstone success is the one thing missing from the McLaren star's CV.
"Yeah, I haven’t even got on the podium here in an F1 car," confirmed Button. "That will be my first aim. And it is one you would love to win.
"We all want to fight for a World Championship, we all want to win Monaco and we would love to win our home grand prix. That is the one I haven’t achieved yet, so it is something I will be fighting for."
Button arrives at round nine of the 2011 season holding second in the championship with four podiums, including one thrilling victory, in Canada. That's the good news.
The bad news is that Red Bull's reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel has won six of the races and is a whopping 77 points - over three race wins - ahead of Button.
Button is hoping the ban on off-throttle blown diffusers that comes into force this weekend, in addition to the recent ban on special qualifying engine maps, can help reel in the Red Bulls.
But the 31-year-old also believes new parts and solid preparation are likely to be just as significant this weekend.
"We have updates for this race, which hopefully will help us and also we have the difference in the blown diffuser this race and the electronics," said the Englishman. "That might help us more than the other teams. We'll have to see when we get out on the circuit.
"But I think the important thing is that we have done a lot of preparation for this race with the new components and also running with the new blown diffuser system.
"This is a pretty tough circuit to race on with the new package, so preparation is key and I think we have prepared very well and hopefully that will show tomorrow when we get out there."
Looking further ahead, Button claimed he is yet to even start discussions about staying at McLaren for a third-year, in 2012.
"I haven’t sat down and talked to Martin [Whitmarsh, team principal] about the future yet. They have an option on me for next year, I keep reading in the press," he smiled. "It’s not the time to be discussing it I don’t think. We have more important things to be concentrating on, fighting for a victory here, so we will leave that on the back-burner and look into that later this season.
"But I am happy where I am. We have been a little bit behind the Red Bulls, but we are fighting on. I think the team are doing a great job of bringing reasonably big updates to most grands prix, and especially this one, the home grand prix, so I think we are all doing a very good job."
First free practice for the British Grand Prix takes place on Friday morning.
Date: 7/July/2011
There's not much Jenson Button hasn’t achieved during his F1 career, but there is still one space on his mantelpiece he is yet to fill.
That's because, despite ten race victories and winning the 2009 world championship, Button has never even stood on the podium in front of his home fans at the British Grand Prix.
Having won the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix during his title-winning season, Silverstone success is the one thing missing from the McLaren star's CV.
"Yeah, I haven’t even got on the podium here in an F1 car," confirmed Button. "That will be my first aim. And it is one you would love to win.
"We all want to fight for a World Championship, we all want to win Monaco and we would love to win our home grand prix. That is the one I haven’t achieved yet, so it is something I will be fighting for."
Button arrives at round nine of the 2011 season holding second in the championship with four podiums, including one thrilling victory, in Canada. That's the good news.
The bad news is that Red Bull's reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel has won six of the races and is a whopping 77 points - over three race wins - ahead of Button.
Button is hoping the ban on off-throttle blown diffusers that comes into force this weekend, in addition to the recent ban on special qualifying engine maps, can help reel in the Red Bulls.
But the 31-year-old also believes new parts and solid preparation are likely to be just as significant this weekend.
"We have updates for this race, which hopefully will help us and also we have the difference in the blown diffuser this race and the electronics," said the Englishman. "That might help us more than the other teams. We'll have to see when we get out on the circuit.
"But I think the important thing is that we have done a lot of preparation for this race with the new components and also running with the new blown diffuser system.
"This is a pretty tough circuit to race on with the new package, so preparation is key and I think we have prepared very well and hopefully that will show tomorrow when we get out there."
Looking further ahead, Button claimed he is yet to even start discussions about staying at McLaren for a third-year, in 2012.
"I haven’t sat down and talked to Martin [Whitmarsh, team principal] about the future yet. They have an option on me for next year, I keep reading in the press," he smiled. "It’s not the time to be discussing it I don’t think. We have more important things to be concentrating on, fighting for a victory here, so we will leave that on the back-burner and look into that later this season.
"But I am happy where I am. We have been a little bit behind the Red Bulls, but we are fighting on. I think the team are doing a great job of bringing reasonably big updates to most grands prix, and especially this one, the home grand prix, so I think we are all doing a very good job."
First free practice for the British Grand Prix takes place on Friday morning.
McLaren 'very hopeful' of keeping Hamilton
F1 News
Date: 7/July/2011
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes managing director Jonathan Neale is 'very hopeful' that Lewis Hamilton will remain with the team beyond the end of his present contract.
Hamilton, a McLaren driver since his 2007 F1 debut and supported by the Woking-based squad for almost 15 years, has a burning desire to win more than a single world title.
That championship came under dramatic circumstances in 2008, but Hamilton has only won six races since, prompting speculation that he could break his McLaren ties and join the dominant Red Bull team.
The hard-charging Briton has given somewhat mixed messages about his intentions, often speaking of wanting to spend his entire career with McLaren - then adding the caveat 'so long as I have a competitive car'.
Hamilton's present five-year contract with McLaren isn’t due to expire until the end of next season, but there have been reports that a get-out clause would allow the 26-year-old to leave at the end of this year.
"I don’t want to be unduly dismissive of the press but we are entering the silly season for drivers. There has been a lot of speculation about it," said Neale of the Hamilton-Red Bull rumours.
"Of course I’m contractually bound not to disclose any of the contractual content or issues in that, but we are on record as saying that we would like Lewis to stay and be a part of the team.
"He’s a fantastic competitor and we love working with him. He’s also said that he wants to stay here with the team and I’m very hopeful that that’s the way it washes out.
"In terms of how [the speculation] affects the rest of the team, Lewis, Jenson [Button], Pedro [de la Rosa, test driver] and the guys are all here at the factory, they eat with us, we climb in and out of cars and talk to each other and there is no difference.
"These guys are fighting very hard and they have got the full force of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes behind them. We want to see them on the podium. The future is the future. Right now they're here with us and we love working with these guys."
Button, the shock 2009 world champion with Brawn GP, has been Hamilton's team-mate for the past two years. McLaren are expected to take up an option on Button for 2012.
Date: 7/July/2011
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes managing director Jonathan Neale is 'very hopeful' that Lewis Hamilton will remain with the team beyond the end of his present contract.
Hamilton, a McLaren driver since his 2007 F1 debut and supported by the Woking-based squad for almost 15 years, has a burning desire to win more than a single world title.
That championship came under dramatic circumstances in 2008, but Hamilton has only won six races since, prompting speculation that he could break his McLaren ties and join the dominant Red Bull team.
The hard-charging Briton has given somewhat mixed messages about his intentions, often speaking of wanting to spend his entire career with McLaren - then adding the caveat 'so long as I have a competitive car'.
Hamilton's present five-year contract with McLaren isn’t due to expire until the end of next season, but there have been reports that a get-out clause would allow the 26-year-old to leave at the end of this year.
"I don’t want to be unduly dismissive of the press but we are entering the silly season for drivers. There has been a lot of speculation about it," said Neale of the Hamilton-Red Bull rumours.
"Of course I’m contractually bound not to disclose any of the contractual content or issues in that, but we are on record as saying that we would like Lewis to stay and be a part of the team.
"He’s a fantastic competitor and we love working with him. He’s also said that he wants to stay here with the team and I’m very hopeful that that’s the way it washes out.
"In terms of how [the speculation] affects the rest of the team, Lewis, Jenson [Button], Pedro [de la Rosa, test driver] and the guys are all here at the factory, they eat with us, we climb in and out of cars and talk to each other and there is no difference.
"These guys are fighting very hard and they have got the full force of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes behind them. We want to see them on the podium. The future is the future. Right now they're here with us and we love working with these guys."
Button, the shock 2009 world champion with Brawn GP, has been Hamilton's team-mate for the past two years. McLaren are expected to take up an option on Button for 2012.
Stoner, Lorenzo disagree over team orders
MotoGP News
Date: 6/July/2011
When Andrea Dovizioso overtook Repsol Honda team-mate Casey Stoner to take second place on the last lap of Sunday's Italian MotoGP it looked, to most bike fans, like nothing but good racing.
Dovizioso was the only home rider on the podium at Mugello, but - in a country used to seeing Ferrari impose team orders to maximise its title chances in Formula One - some were surprised that Dovizioso was 'allowed' to beat championship leader Stoner.
The Italian Grand Prix was won by Jorge Lorenzo, Stoner's nearest championship rival. Dovizioso's pass means that the Yamaha rider has now closed to 19, rather than 23 points, behind the Australian.
It's certainly hard to imagine Felipe Massa overtaking his Ferrari team-mate Fernando Alonso in the same situation. Yet Stoner fully supports open competition within the factory Honda team and rejects the whole concept of team orders.
"I don’t think there should ever really be team orders," said Stoner. "It's not football. You're not all on the same team, playing for the same thing. We're each our own person. Andrea still has a very good chance of the championship. He's very close, so I don’t really believe in team orders."
When asked directly about comparisons with F1, Stoner added:
"There's been some questionable times in Formula One, where I think people shouldn't have pulled over and let the other driver through. If they didn’t make a better race, that is their problem.
"Okay, maybe you can win a championship with team orders, but it doesn’t really feel like a championship. There is a better way to win."
Dovizioso, third in the championship and 33 points behind Stoner, unsurprisingly agreed:
"Fortunately in our championship, team orders are rare. Not like in other sports like Formula One. I think this is good.
"If Honda has three factory riders it is because they want all three riders to try to win the title."
Lorenzo may have gained from Dovizioso passing Stoner, but - in what could be interpreted as a message to Yamaha and team-mate Ben Spies - he did feel that team orders should be used at the end of the year.
Spies, winner at Assen, is already 78 points (over three race wins) behind Stoner.
"I don’t have the same opinion [as Stoner and Dovizioso] about this, especially at the end of the year," said the reigning world champion. "If your partner can help you - and they are not fighting for the championship - we are a team, no?
"Our salary is coming from our brand, so the partner should help you if it is possible. MotoGP is not like soccer, but it is still a team and success for the brand is very important."
But Lorenzo agreed that it is far too early for Dovizioso to support Stoner.
"There are still ten races and Andrea is fighting for the championship, so if he can beat Casey then he should try," Lorenzo declared.
Honda has not won the MotoGP title since 2006, with Nicky Hayden, and this year is the factory's last chance to win an 800cc riders' championship.
Date: 6/July/2011
When Andrea Dovizioso overtook Repsol Honda team-mate Casey Stoner to take second place on the last lap of Sunday's Italian MotoGP it looked, to most bike fans, like nothing but good racing.
Dovizioso was the only home rider on the podium at Mugello, but - in a country used to seeing Ferrari impose team orders to maximise its title chances in Formula One - some were surprised that Dovizioso was 'allowed' to beat championship leader Stoner.
The Italian Grand Prix was won by Jorge Lorenzo, Stoner's nearest championship rival. Dovizioso's pass means that the Yamaha rider has now closed to 19, rather than 23 points, behind the Australian.
It's certainly hard to imagine Felipe Massa overtaking his Ferrari team-mate Fernando Alonso in the same situation. Yet Stoner fully supports open competition within the factory Honda team and rejects the whole concept of team orders.
"I don’t think there should ever really be team orders," said Stoner. "It's not football. You're not all on the same team, playing for the same thing. We're each our own person. Andrea still has a very good chance of the championship. He's very close, so I don’t really believe in team orders."
When asked directly about comparisons with F1, Stoner added:
"There's been some questionable times in Formula One, where I think people shouldn't have pulled over and let the other driver through. If they didn’t make a better race, that is their problem.
"Okay, maybe you can win a championship with team orders, but it doesn’t really feel like a championship. There is a better way to win."
Dovizioso, third in the championship and 33 points behind Stoner, unsurprisingly agreed:
"Fortunately in our championship, team orders are rare. Not like in other sports like Formula One. I think this is good.
"If Honda has three factory riders it is because they want all three riders to try to win the title."
Lorenzo may have gained from Dovizioso passing Stoner, but - in what could be interpreted as a message to Yamaha and team-mate Ben Spies - he did feel that team orders should be used at the end of the year.
Spies, winner at Assen, is already 78 points (over three race wins) behind Stoner.
"I don’t have the same opinion [as Stoner and Dovizioso] about this, especially at the end of the year," said the reigning world champion. "If your partner can help you - and they are not fighting for the championship - we are a team, no?
"Our salary is coming from our brand, so the partner should help you if it is possible. MotoGP is not like soccer, but it is still a team and success for the brand is very important."
But Lorenzo agreed that it is far too early for Dovizioso to support Stoner.
"There are still ten races and Andrea is fighting for the championship, so if he can beat Casey then he should try," Lorenzo declared.
Honda has not won the MotoGP title since 2006, with Nicky Hayden, and this year is the factory's last chance to win an 800cc riders' championship.
MotoGP riders sign petition over Japanese Grand Prix
MotoGP News
Date: 4/7/2011
All but one MotoGP rider has signed a petition saying that they don't want to go to the Japanese Grand Prix, due to radiation fears.
The event, held at the Honda-owned Motegi circuit, has been moved from its late April date to October 2, following this year's earthquake and tsunami.
However, the risk of radiation from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant continues to worry the riders.
Motegi is just over 100km from the radiation leak, but with no firm evidence of any danger - and light damage to the track already repaired - MotoGP organisers have made clear that, unless they receive evidence to the contrary, the event will go ahead.
That stance has angered the riders, who feel they are not being listed to.
Speaking after Sunday's Italian Grand Prix, world championship leader Casey Stoner explained the situation.
"Yes. Just about every rider has signed this petition, basically to comment on the fact that we're not happy with the situation," confirmed Stoner. "Our views weren't taken into consideration. And, for us, we don’t want to go. Every rider bar one signed it."
The only name not on the petition is that of Japanese rider Hiroshi Aoyama.
The FIM, MotoGP's governing body, was due to make a final announcement on the status of the Japanese round at the Italian GP, but - perhaps due to the letter - that didn’t happen.
Instead, a statement was released by FIM president Vito Ippolito, which re-confirmed that the race would "in principle" go ahead as planned - but then indicated that the decision will hinge on an upcoming report.
"The FIM is awaiting the results of a report conducted by an independent European agency on the conditions prevailing in Motegi that will be released later this month," he said.
Date: 4/7/2011
All but one MotoGP rider has signed a petition saying that they don't want to go to the Japanese Grand Prix, due to radiation fears.
The event, held at the Honda-owned Motegi circuit, has been moved from its late April date to October 2, following this year's earthquake and tsunami.
However, the risk of radiation from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant continues to worry the riders.
Motegi is just over 100km from the radiation leak, but with no firm evidence of any danger - and light damage to the track already repaired - MotoGP organisers have made clear that, unless they receive evidence to the contrary, the event will go ahead.
That stance has angered the riders, who feel they are not being listed to.
Speaking after Sunday's Italian Grand Prix, world championship leader Casey Stoner explained the situation.
"Yes. Just about every rider has signed this petition, basically to comment on the fact that we're not happy with the situation," confirmed Stoner. "Our views weren't taken into consideration. And, for us, we don’t want to go. Every rider bar one signed it."
The only name not on the petition is that of Japanese rider Hiroshi Aoyama.
The FIM, MotoGP's governing body, was due to make a final announcement on the status of the Japanese round at the Italian GP, but - perhaps due to the letter - that didn’t happen.
Instead, a statement was released by FIM president Vito Ippolito, which re-confirmed that the race would "in principle" go ahead as planned - but then indicated that the decision will hinge on an upcoming report.
"The FIM is awaiting the results of a report conducted by an independent European agency on the conditions prevailing in Motegi that will be released later this month," he said.
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