F1 News
Date: 28/October/2011
Representatives from some of the middle-ranking F1 teams have rejected the concept of handing them extra concessions to help compete with the likes of Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari.
One proposal is that lower ranking teams could be allowed more time for testing, in order to help close the gap to the front runners, but Toro Rosso's Franz Tost thinks it isn’t that simple.
"I don’t think that if the teams which are running in the midfield get the possibility for more tests that it would increase their performance, or put them in front of the current best teams," he said.
"It’s always a combination. If you look at Red Bull, they have a fantastic team with Adrian Newey who is a fantastically good designer, they have one of the best drivers in their car, and the team itself is also doing a very, very good job.
"That means that this combination has grown up in the last two years and it’s not that you say now, for example, to any other team which is behind, ‘OK, we give you more tests and then you will beat them.’ "
Sauber's Monisha Kaltenborn felt that introducing a kind of two-tier rule system was against the sprit of F1.
"I think any such measures would basically distort the championship and the sport," she said. "Looking at our team, we know our strengths and we can be more flexible than bigger teams can, so we have to focus on them, seeing where the resources restriction [which limits spending] is going, these kind of measures. We need to wait for our chance and we need to be there then."
Williams chairman Adam Parr said it would be 'inappropriate' to receive any favours and that controlling the costs was his main priority.
"Just two thoughts: first of all we don’t expect any favours on the track, and I think it would be inappropriate to ask or suggest that," he said. "Where I do think the sport needs to work together is off the track and that includes the economics.
"So while I don’t think we should get any advantage, I think that having a sensible control over the total spending is logical."
Jean Francois Caubet of Renault F1 Sport believes the present F1 hierarchy will remain until major rule changes in 2014.
"I think you must wait until 2014 because in ’14 you will have new regulations, new chassis, new engine, probably a lot of creativity and things will be completely different in ’14," he explained.
"I think it will be something like a new Formula One and the gap will be very big in comparison to now."
High hopes on eve of F1's Indian adventure
F1 News
Date: 27/October/2011
Formula One will make history this weekend when the much-anticipated first ever Indian Grand Prix takes place at the Buddh International Circuit, on the outskirts of Delhi.
It's a massively important moment for both F1 and India, as the most glamorous and expensive sport in the world takes centre stage in one of the most important emerging economies.
The finishing touches were being put on the newly constructed 5.14km circuit as the F1 'circus' descended on Thursday and the overall mood is extremely positive - not least due to the challenging layout of the track.
"They've done quite a good job on the circuit," said Adrian Sutil, who drives for the 'home' Force India team. "I went around the circuit this morning and it all looked finished.
"For us it is very special and now since a few years we are doing better and better so India knows about our team here and now I think it is time to introduce Formula One here in India. Great weekend for us, many people watching us, and I look forward to it."
For home star Narain Karthikeyan, who will drive for HRT this weekend, it is a dream come true.
"I did not think in my career that I would be racing F1 in India and here we are just around the corner," he smiled. "The circuit is wide in some places, there are lots of different lines and I'm sure you are going to see lots of overtaking. It is definitely a very challenging circuit, with lots of run off areas and so on, so they have done a very good job, no doubt."
The most eye-catching part of the track layout seems to be the wide hairpins, which drivers' hope will encourage overtaking.
"It is pretty interesting," said Ferrari's Felipe Massa. "All these hairpins with very wide braking points, which you can choose two different lines. I think that is a very interesting for overtaking."
Massa's former team-mate and seven time world champion Michael Schumacher agreed.
"It is a new sort of philosophy for overtaking, making the circuits very wide at corner entry so that if you defend, the other guy choosing the outside line can take a good run at you at the end of the straight [after the corner]," explained the German.
"It offers a good tactical perspective for overtaking, for having a good show, and hopefully help make the Indian fans enjoy Formula One this weekend."
Free practice for the Indian Grand Prix takes place on Friday.
Date: 27/October/2011
Formula One will make history this weekend when the much-anticipated first ever Indian Grand Prix takes place at the Buddh International Circuit, on the outskirts of Delhi.
It's a massively important moment for both F1 and India, as the most glamorous and expensive sport in the world takes centre stage in one of the most important emerging economies.
The finishing touches were being put on the newly constructed 5.14km circuit as the F1 'circus' descended on Thursday and the overall mood is extremely positive - not least due to the challenging layout of the track.
"They've done quite a good job on the circuit," said Adrian Sutil, who drives for the 'home' Force India team. "I went around the circuit this morning and it all looked finished.
"For us it is very special and now since a few years we are doing better and better so India knows about our team here and now I think it is time to introduce Formula One here in India. Great weekend for us, many people watching us, and I look forward to it."
For home star Narain Karthikeyan, who will drive for HRT this weekend, it is a dream come true.
"I did not think in my career that I would be racing F1 in India and here we are just around the corner," he smiled. "The circuit is wide in some places, there are lots of different lines and I'm sure you are going to see lots of overtaking. It is definitely a very challenging circuit, with lots of run off areas and so on, so they have done a very good job, no doubt."
The most eye-catching part of the track layout seems to be the wide hairpins, which drivers' hope will encourage overtaking.
"It is pretty interesting," said Ferrari's Felipe Massa. "All these hairpins with very wide braking points, which you can choose two different lines. I think that is a very interesting for overtaking."
Massa's former team-mate and seven time world champion Michael Schumacher agreed.
"It is a new sort of philosophy for overtaking, making the circuits very wide at corner entry so that if you defend, the other guy choosing the outside line can take a good run at you at the end of the straight [after the corner]," explained the German.
"It offers a good tactical perspective for overtaking, for having a good show, and hopefully help make the Indian fans enjoy Formula One this weekend."
Free practice for the Indian Grand Prix takes place on Friday.
MotoGP in mourning as Simoncelli dies at Sepang
MotoGP News
Date: 23/October/2011
The MotoGP World Championship was in a state of mourning on Sunday evening following the tragic loss of one of its brightest and most exciting stars, Marco Simoncelli.
The flamboyant 24-year-old Italian lost his life when he slid from his Gresini Honda whilst holding fourth place on the second lap of the race, held at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia.
What would normally have been a relatively harmless fall turned deadly when Simoncelli's bike regained traction after he fell and then swerved across the racetrack, pulling the former 250cc world champion with it.
Simoncelli slid straight into the path of Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi, who had no time to avoid the fallen rider. The massive impact tore off Simoncelli's helmet and left him lying unconscious in the middle of the track, while a tumbling Edwards dislocated his shoulder.
Nine time world champion Rossi, a good friend of Simoncelli, was sent spearing off track but was able to keep control of his Ducati.
Championship organisers faced stiff criticism after the last two fatalities - Daijiro Kato (MotoGP) in 2003 and Shoya Tomizawa (Moto2) in 2010 - for not stopping the race.
There could be no criticism of the reaction on Sunday, with red flags immediately raised and Simoncelli taken by ambulance to the medical centre. Sadly, nothing could be done to save the popular young rider, instantly recognisable due to his Jimi Hendrix style hair.
An emotional Doctor Michele Macchiagodena, Medical Director for MotoGP, later explained: “I’m very sad to be here to report about the death of Marco Simoncelli, a friend. Because of the crash he had during the race, in which he was hit by other riders, he suffered a very serious trauma to the head, to the neck and the chest.
"When our medical staff got to him he was unconscious. In the ambulance because there was a cardiac arrest they started CPR. Immediately in the Medical Centre, with the help also of the Doctor of our staff at the Clinica Mobile and local Doctors, he was intubated and it was possible to take off some blood from the thorax.
"The CPR was continued for 45 minutes because we tried to help him for as long as we thought it was possible. Unfortunately it was not possible to help him and at 16:56 (local time) we had to declare he was dead.”
Simoncelli, penalised earlier in the season for the hard-riding style that made him so popular with fans, had taken his best MotoGP finish of second place the previous Sunday in Australia.
Nicknamed 'Super Sic', SIC being the abbreviation of his name on the timing screens, Simoncelli had recently signed a new factory Honda contract to remain at Team Gresini in 2012.
Kato, the last premier-class rider to be killed, had also ridden for the Italian-based squad, run by former racer Fausto Gresini.
Date: 23/October/2011
The MotoGP World Championship was in a state of mourning on Sunday evening following the tragic loss of one of its brightest and most exciting stars, Marco Simoncelli.
The flamboyant 24-year-old Italian lost his life when he slid from his Gresini Honda whilst holding fourth place on the second lap of the race, held at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia.
What would normally have been a relatively harmless fall turned deadly when Simoncelli's bike regained traction after he fell and then swerved across the racetrack, pulling the former 250cc world champion with it.
Simoncelli slid straight into the path of Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi, who had no time to avoid the fallen rider. The massive impact tore off Simoncelli's helmet and left him lying unconscious in the middle of the track, while a tumbling Edwards dislocated his shoulder.
Nine time world champion Rossi, a good friend of Simoncelli, was sent spearing off track but was able to keep control of his Ducati.
Championship organisers faced stiff criticism after the last two fatalities - Daijiro Kato (MotoGP) in 2003 and Shoya Tomizawa (Moto2) in 2010 - for not stopping the race.
There could be no criticism of the reaction on Sunday, with red flags immediately raised and Simoncelli taken by ambulance to the medical centre. Sadly, nothing could be done to save the popular young rider, instantly recognisable due to his Jimi Hendrix style hair.
An emotional Doctor Michele Macchiagodena, Medical Director for MotoGP, later explained: “I’m very sad to be here to report about the death of Marco Simoncelli, a friend. Because of the crash he had during the race, in which he was hit by other riders, he suffered a very serious trauma to the head, to the neck and the chest.
"When our medical staff got to him he was unconscious. In the ambulance because there was a cardiac arrest they started CPR. Immediately in the Medical Centre, with the help also of the Doctor of our staff at the Clinica Mobile and local Doctors, he was intubated and it was possible to take off some blood from the thorax.
"The CPR was continued for 45 minutes because we tried to help him for as long as we thought it was possible. Unfortunately it was not possible to help him and at 16:56 (local time) we had to declare he was dead.”
Simoncelli, penalised earlier in the season for the hard-riding style that made him so popular with fans, had taken his best MotoGP finish of second place the previous Sunday in Australia.
Nicknamed 'Super Sic', SIC being the abbreviation of his name on the timing screens, Simoncelli had recently signed a new factory Honda contract to remain at Team Gresini in 2012.
Kato, the last premier-class rider to be killed, had also ridden for the Italian-based squad, run by former racer Fausto Gresini.
MotoGP stars talk 'Rocky Movie' Marquez
MotoGP News
Date: 21/October/2011
Marc Marquez may be yet to start to a MotoGP race, but the 18-year-old's decision to delay a move to the premier-class until at least 2013 was the main talking point in the Sepang paddock on Thursday.
Marquez, the reigning 125cc world champion, has taken the Moto2 series by storm this year, mounting a magnificent comeback after non-scores in the first three rounds to briefly take the title lead.
The Spaniard will start Sunday's penultimate round just three points behind German Stefan Bradl, after keeping his championship chances alive by riding from last on the grid to third place in Australia.
But regardless of whether he takes the 600cc title at his first attempt, Marquez will stay on a Repsol-backed Suter in 2012, having opted against an early graduation to MotoGP with Honda.
Asked to comment on the decision, newly crowned double world champion Casey Stoner said it is possible to be successful in MotoGP without spending more than one year in the intermediate class.
"On paper I did two seasons in 250 [now Moto2], but one of those was my first season in grand prix," said Stoner. "After that I rode for two seasons in 125, then one season in 250, and then MotoGP.
"A lot of people say it was a mistake [to just do one year in 250/Moto2] but I don't think so. If you've achieved all you can achieve, then unless you want to win the championship, there is no reason why not to go up a class. That is their decision though and I'm sure he'll be joining us the year after anyway."
Other riders, including seven time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi, felt Marquez is doing the right thing - although partly for selfish reasons.
"I think he has made the right decision," said the Italian superstar. "If I am Marc I would do the same. First, because he is very young and has a lot of time. Second, it takes some pressure off this year, because if he is champion he is happy, but if not he can try again next year.
"Also it is so positive for us [in MotoGP] because it is one less Honda!"
Colin Edwards also had his own reasons for wanting Marquez to stay in Moto2.
"It's the best news I've heard all week, because I enjoy watching Marquez before I go out. If he's in the same race as me then I might not see him!" smiled Edwards.
"Watching him is like watching a Rocky movie or something. You get all pumped up seeing him come through the pack or whatever he does. He's definitely going to be a threat when he comes to MotoGP."
But Marquez is not without his critics, particularly for his aggressive all-out riding style, which contributed to a grid penalty in Australia, for smashing into another rider after practice had finished.
"I think he has a really good talent but he needs to arrive in MotoGP a bit calmer, because many riders start well but after a few crashes they go down," warned Andrea Dovizioso. "He will be a strong rider in the future but he needs to be careful about this."
Date: 21/October/2011
Marc Marquez may be yet to start to a MotoGP race, but the 18-year-old's decision to delay a move to the premier-class until at least 2013 was the main talking point in the Sepang paddock on Thursday.
Marquez, the reigning 125cc world champion, has taken the Moto2 series by storm this year, mounting a magnificent comeback after non-scores in the first three rounds to briefly take the title lead.
The Spaniard will start Sunday's penultimate round just three points behind German Stefan Bradl, after keeping his championship chances alive by riding from last on the grid to third place in Australia.
But regardless of whether he takes the 600cc title at his first attempt, Marquez will stay on a Repsol-backed Suter in 2012, having opted against an early graduation to MotoGP with Honda.
Asked to comment on the decision, newly crowned double world champion Casey Stoner said it is possible to be successful in MotoGP without spending more than one year in the intermediate class.
"On paper I did two seasons in 250 [now Moto2], but one of those was my first season in grand prix," said Stoner. "After that I rode for two seasons in 125, then one season in 250, and then MotoGP.
"A lot of people say it was a mistake [to just do one year in 250/Moto2] but I don't think so. If you've achieved all you can achieve, then unless you want to win the championship, there is no reason why not to go up a class. That is their decision though and I'm sure he'll be joining us the year after anyway."
Other riders, including seven time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi, felt Marquez is doing the right thing - although partly for selfish reasons.
"I think he has made the right decision," said the Italian superstar. "If I am Marc I would do the same. First, because he is very young and has a lot of time. Second, it takes some pressure off this year, because if he is champion he is happy, but if not he can try again next year.
"Also it is so positive for us [in MotoGP] because it is one less Honda!"
Colin Edwards also had his own reasons for wanting Marquez to stay in Moto2.
"It's the best news I've heard all week, because I enjoy watching Marquez before I go out. If he's in the same race as me then I might not see him!" smiled Edwards.
"Watching him is like watching a Rocky movie or something. You get all pumped up seeing him come through the pack or whatever he does. He's definitely going to be a threat when he comes to MotoGP."
But Marquez is not without his critics, particularly for his aggressive all-out riding style, which contributed to a grid penalty in Australia, for smashing into another rider after practice had finished.
"I think he has a really good talent but he needs to arrive in MotoGP a bit calmer, because many riders start well but after a few crashes they go down," warned Andrea Dovizioso. "He will be a strong rider in the future but he needs to be careful about this."
Edwards CRT MotoGP plans taking shape
MotoGP News
Date: 20/October/2011
On the eve of this weekend's penultimate round of the 2011 MotoGP season, at Sepang in Malaysia, class veteran Colin Edwards gave an update on his 'new adventure' for next season.
Edwards is the first and so far only rider to sign-up to ride one of the new cut-price 'Claiming Rule Team' bikes - the unfortunately bland name officially given to the new class of non-manufacturer entries, designed to boost flagging grid numbers.
Coinciding with the switch from 800cc to 1000cc engines, CRTs will be able to use more fuel and utilise more engine changes to help keep them on the same page as the horrendously expensive factory-built prototypes.
Edwards, 37, has been gently nudged from his happy home at Tech 3 Yamaha, but resisted retirement by signing to ride for Forward Racing Team, which is using the new CRT opportunity to step-up from Moto2 to MotoGP.
And the former double World Superbike champion has now revealed the engine and chassis combination that he will race with next season.
Edwards said: "It's a BMW-Suter, which is what I signed up for in the beginning and I'm happy to be working with those guys. It's probably not going to be competitive in the first race, maybe not in the last race either, but we'll work extremely hard to build it and test it.
"It's a new adventure and a lot of work. Sorting out personnel, crew chiefs, mechanics and all that. I'm accustomed to coming to a new team, signing a piece of paper, riding the motorcycle and going home! So it's a lot more work than I'm accustomed to.
"But at the end of the day our sport has a dream and a vision. I think everybody wants to see closer, competitive racing in MotoGP like it is in Moto2. Somebody has to start it."
The present MotoGP grid contains just 17 full-time riders, supported by four manufacturers - Honda, Yamaha, Ducati and Suzuki.
All except Suzuki have confirmed they will remain in MotoGP next year, although exact bike numbers remain a mystery with some satellite teams struggling for the necessary budgets.
That loss could be CRTs gain, with some of the established independent teams now looking to follow in Edwards' footsteps, rather than try and find the much higher costs needed to lease a manufacturer bike.
The BMW-Suter lapped 3.9sec behind Casey Stoner's pace-setting 1000cc RC213V in August's Brno test.
Date: 20/October/2011
On the eve of this weekend's penultimate round of the 2011 MotoGP season, at Sepang in Malaysia, class veteran Colin Edwards gave an update on his 'new adventure' for next season.
Edwards is the first and so far only rider to sign-up to ride one of the new cut-price 'Claiming Rule Team' bikes - the unfortunately bland name officially given to the new class of non-manufacturer entries, designed to boost flagging grid numbers.
Coinciding with the switch from 800cc to 1000cc engines, CRTs will be able to use more fuel and utilise more engine changes to help keep them on the same page as the horrendously expensive factory-built prototypes.
Edwards, 37, has been gently nudged from his happy home at Tech 3 Yamaha, but resisted retirement by signing to ride for Forward Racing Team, which is using the new CRT opportunity to step-up from Moto2 to MotoGP.
And the former double World Superbike champion has now revealed the engine and chassis combination that he will race with next season.
Edwards said: "It's a BMW-Suter, which is what I signed up for in the beginning and I'm happy to be working with those guys. It's probably not going to be competitive in the first race, maybe not in the last race either, but we'll work extremely hard to build it and test it.
"It's a new adventure and a lot of work. Sorting out personnel, crew chiefs, mechanics and all that. I'm accustomed to coming to a new team, signing a piece of paper, riding the motorcycle and going home! So it's a lot more work than I'm accustomed to.
"But at the end of the day our sport has a dream and a vision. I think everybody wants to see closer, competitive racing in MotoGP like it is in Moto2. Somebody has to start it."
The present MotoGP grid contains just 17 full-time riders, supported by four manufacturers - Honda, Yamaha, Ducati and Suzuki.
All except Suzuki have confirmed they will remain in MotoGP next year, although exact bike numbers remain a mystery with some satellite teams struggling for the necessary budgets.
That loss could be CRTs gain, with some of the established independent teams now looking to follow in Edwards' footsteps, rather than try and find the much higher costs needed to lease a manufacturer bike.
The BMW-Suter lapped 3.9sec behind Casey Stoner's pace-setting 1000cc RC213V in August's Brno test.
'Glum' Hamilton pricks Red Bull's pole bubble
F1 News
Date: 15/October/2011
Judging by body language alone, few would have guessed that Lewis Hamilton had finally ended Red Bull's 2011 pole domination in Korea on Saturday.
The McLaren star took his first pole of the season by 0.232sec, just the kind of boost the Briton needs to turn around a difficult run of incidents and criticism.
Or so it seemed. Despite the result, Hamilton struggled to raise a smile and faced repeated questions as to why he looked so glum.
"No, no. I am happy, I am happy," Hamilton replied, unconvincingly. "It’s been a tough second half of the season and it’s great to get pole. It doesn’t really mean a huge amount because tomorrow’s really what counts.
"Well it is probably one of the first positives I have had for a while and to be back on pole is a great feeling," added the double 2011 race winner. "But, as I said, tomorrow is the most important day. I have had some difficult races in the past so hopefully will try to redeem myself tomorrow.
"As long as we can get some really strong points for the team as they have put an incredible amount of effort into getting us to where we are today so a big thank you to them and I hope that tomorrow me and Jenson can repay them."
Newly crowned double world champion Sebastian Vettel will start second on the grid for Red Bull, with Hamilton's team-mate Jenson Button in third. Button has beaten Hamilton at the last five races.
Vettel will be seeking his ninth win of the year on Sunday, with Button chasing his fourth victory as he seeks to gain breathing room over Ferrari's Fernando Alonso in the battle for second in the final standings. Alonso will start sixth.
Date: 15/October/2011
Judging by body language alone, few would have guessed that Lewis Hamilton had finally ended Red Bull's 2011 pole domination in Korea on Saturday.
The McLaren star took his first pole of the season by 0.232sec, just the kind of boost the Briton needs to turn around a difficult run of incidents and criticism.
Or so it seemed. Despite the result, Hamilton struggled to raise a smile and faced repeated questions as to why he looked so glum.
"No, no. I am happy, I am happy," Hamilton replied, unconvincingly. "It’s been a tough second half of the season and it’s great to get pole. It doesn’t really mean a huge amount because tomorrow’s really what counts.
"Well it is probably one of the first positives I have had for a while and to be back on pole is a great feeling," added the double 2011 race winner. "But, as I said, tomorrow is the most important day. I have had some difficult races in the past so hopefully will try to redeem myself tomorrow.
"As long as we can get some really strong points for the team as they have put an incredible amount of effort into getting us to where we are today so a big thank you to them and I hope that tomorrow me and Jenson can repay them."
Newly crowned double world champion Sebastian Vettel will start second on the grid for Red Bull, with Hamilton's team-mate Jenson Button in third. Button has beaten Hamilton at the last five races.
Vettel will be seeking his ninth win of the year on Sunday, with Button chasing his fourth victory as he seeks to gain breathing room over Ferrari's Fernando Alonso in the battle for second in the final standings. Alonso will start sixth.
What's in an F1 name?
F1 News
Date: 14/October/2011
If you own an F1 team you can call your car whatever you want, right? Wrong.
In order to provide stability and prevent frequent name changes, teams must either get unanimous agreement from all their rivals or forfeit prize money associated with the previous identity.
The rules help stop cars, for example, being renamed annually to suit the latest title sponsor. So while the team name can be easily modified to include a title sponsor, changing the official Constructor name (Ferrari, McLaren, Williams etc) is no easy task.
But is the process too difficult and even open to abuse? A selection of team principals spoke about why the rules exist and the consequences of them during Friday's opening day of the Korean Grand Prix.
"We’re a team that has changed its name a number of times over the last 10 to 15 years," began Mercedes boss Ross Brawn. "We started as Tyrrell and that is the same company all the way through to now, with some variations of our name.
"I think it would obviously be very, very disappointing if a brand of the strength of Ferrari changed its name. But we know that’s never going to happen and if it suits the commercial purposes of teams to change their name and it helps them survive then we should consider it.
"We wouldn’t stand in the way of a sensible proposal. We don’t want any names that are perhaps derogatory to Formula One… but otherwise we have no strong views."
The discussion was particularly apt since the name Lotus is, confusingly, associated with two different teams this year - as a title sponsor for Renault and as a separate Lotus Racing (constructor) entry.
Although a court decision allowed both to use the name this year, the Renault constructor name is expected to be changed to Lotus for 2012, with Lotus Racing voluntarily switching to a new team and constructor identity (probably Caterham).
Red Bull principal Christian Horner, fresh from celebrating Sebastian Vettel's title defence last weekend in Japan, agreed that the current Lotus confusion should be sorted out - but warned that brand names must be protected.
"I think the situation is a tricky one in many respects because there are two sides to it. On one side, it doesn’t make any sense for a team to be called Renault when it isn’t Renault, therefore a name change in a situation like that makes sense," he said.
"I think that where Formula One needs to be a little bit careful is that the teams are brands and when the promoter is selling Formula One around the world, can sell Ferrari, can sell McLaren and now sell Red Bull Racing and Mercedes – they are all strong brand names.
"As Ross says, if there’s a logical, sensible reason then why not, but I think we also have to be careful that it just doesn’t end up in a merry-go-round and companies that have the same company number just change effectively [the] entrant name on a yearly or biannual basis."
Brawn then revealed that 'favours', which might be viewed as a form of blackmail, were made by some teams to ensure the change from 'Brawn' to 'Mercedes Benz' went ahead for 2010.
"I guarantee those teams that are trying to change their name [for next year] will have had approaches from other teams who want different favours paid in order to agree to the name change, and that’s not correct," he said.
"I know that happened to us when we wanted to change our name. People sought to get favours from that decision. That’s what we mustn’t have. If there’s a genuine reason why a team shouldn’t change its name, because it’s not in the interests of Formula One, that’s correct, there should be a proper debate. It needs to be done in an adult way and not used in a divisive way."
Second only to Ferrari in terms of F1 heritage is the McLaren team, which is taking part in its 700th grand prix this weekend.
"This is the 700th Grand Prix of McLaren, but in that time 107 teams have failed," revealed McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh. "Now that’s a sobering thought.
"I think we should be doing everything we can to help and facilitate teams and as Ross said, if they come up with a clearly silly, divisive name or a name that’s damaging to Formula One, then we should be able to use good judgement to prevent it.
"But if it’s clear that the name change facilitates the funding and the retention of that team within Formula One, then we shouldn’t use the polemics and politics of Formula One to prevent it."
Date: 14/October/2011
If you own an F1 team you can call your car whatever you want, right? Wrong.
In order to provide stability and prevent frequent name changes, teams must either get unanimous agreement from all their rivals or forfeit prize money associated with the previous identity.
The rules help stop cars, for example, being renamed annually to suit the latest title sponsor. So while the team name can be easily modified to include a title sponsor, changing the official Constructor name (Ferrari, McLaren, Williams etc) is no easy task.
But is the process too difficult and even open to abuse? A selection of team principals spoke about why the rules exist and the consequences of them during Friday's opening day of the Korean Grand Prix.
"We’re a team that has changed its name a number of times over the last 10 to 15 years," began Mercedes boss Ross Brawn. "We started as Tyrrell and that is the same company all the way through to now, with some variations of our name.
"I think it would obviously be very, very disappointing if a brand of the strength of Ferrari changed its name. But we know that’s never going to happen and if it suits the commercial purposes of teams to change their name and it helps them survive then we should consider it.
"We wouldn’t stand in the way of a sensible proposal. We don’t want any names that are perhaps derogatory to Formula One… but otherwise we have no strong views."
The discussion was particularly apt since the name Lotus is, confusingly, associated with two different teams this year - as a title sponsor for Renault and as a separate Lotus Racing (constructor) entry.
Although a court decision allowed both to use the name this year, the Renault constructor name is expected to be changed to Lotus for 2012, with Lotus Racing voluntarily switching to a new team and constructor identity (probably Caterham).
Red Bull principal Christian Horner, fresh from celebrating Sebastian Vettel's title defence last weekend in Japan, agreed that the current Lotus confusion should be sorted out - but warned that brand names must be protected.
"I think the situation is a tricky one in many respects because there are two sides to it. On one side, it doesn’t make any sense for a team to be called Renault when it isn’t Renault, therefore a name change in a situation like that makes sense," he said.
"I think that where Formula One needs to be a little bit careful is that the teams are brands and when the promoter is selling Formula One around the world, can sell Ferrari, can sell McLaren and now sell Red Bull Racing and Mercedes – they are all strong brand names.
"As Ross says, if there’s a logical, sensible reason then why not, but I think we also have to be careful that it just doesn’t end up in a merry-go-round and companies that have the same company number just change effectively [the] entrant name on a yearly or biannual basis."
Brawn then revealed that 'favours', which might be viewed as a form of blackmail, were made by some teams to ensure the change from 'Brawn' to 'Mercedes Benz' went ahead for 2010.
"I guarantee those teams that are trying to change their name [for next year] will have had approaches from other teams who want different favours paid in order to agree to the name change, and that’s not correct," he said.
"I know that happened to us when we wanted to change our name. People sought to get favours from that decision. That’s what we mustn’t have. If there’s a genuine reason why a team shouldn’t change its name, because it’s not in the interests of Formula One, that’s correct, there should be a proper debate. It needs to be done in an adult way and not used in a divisive way."
Second only to Ferrari in terms of F1 heritage is the McLaren team, which is taking part in its 700th grand prix this weekend.
"This is the 700th Grand Prix of McLaren, but in that time 107 teams have failed," revealed McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh. "Now that’s a sobering thought.
"I think we should be doing everything we can to help and facilitate teams and as Ross said, if they come up with a clearly silly, divisive name or a name that’s damaging to Formula One, then we should be able to use good judgement to prevent it.
"But if it’s clear that the name change facilitates the funding and the retention of that team within Formula One, then we shouldn’t use the polemics and politics of Formula One to prevent it."
Hamilton hoping to mend Massa relationship
F1 News
Date: 13/October/2011
Lewis Hamilton insists he still has plenty of respect for Felipe Massa and hopes they can 'be cool again', despite the Ferrari driver's colourful reaction to their on-track skirmishes.
Hamilton and Massa, rivals since their tense 2008 title battle, have clashed repeatedly this season - culminating in Massa publically confronting Hamilton in front of the TV cameras in Singapore.
To make matters worse, the pair made contract again at the recent Japanese round, when Hamilton failed to spot the Brazilian alongside him.
But while Massa has got madder, calling on Hamilton to be punished by the FIA, the Englishman - censored earlier this year for an ill-judged outburst after a frustrating Monaco Grand Prix - has kept his composure.
Hamilton again tried to diffuse the tension when asked about the situation with Massa on the eve of this weekend's Korean Grand Prix.
"I’ve always had respect for Felipe and still do today, regardless of the negative comments that he’s constantly coming up with," said Hamilton.
"It’s easy, in this sport, when you’re competitive and in the heat of the moment, to say things that perhaps you don’t mean, whether or not he does mean them. But regardless, I’ve tried to show respect, particularly in the last race, I’m very, very sorry for that.
"I really didn’t see him," Hamilton explained. "So by the time I realised he was on the left it was too late. I think I’ve been in the wrong place in the last few races.
"Perhaps if I was doing the right job I wouldn’t be in this situation with Felipe. But again, just all due respect and I hope that in the future we can put our guards down and he can be cool with me again. I’m cool with him, so I have no problems with him."
Hamilton, outperformed by team-mate Jenson Button this season, hasn’t been on the podium since his second victory of the season, in Germany.
"It’s been five bad races," he admitted. "I think it’s a combination of things. I put most of it down to myself and of course, there are times that you find yourself a little bit unfortunate."
Date: 13/October/2011
Lewis Hamilton insists he still has plenty of respect for Felipe Massa and hopes they can 'be cool again', despite the Ferrari driver's colourful reaction to their on-track skirmishes.
Hamilton and Massa, rivals since their tense 2008 title battle, have clashed repeatedly this season - culminating in Massa publically confronting Hamilton in front of the TV cameras in Singapore.
To make matters worse, the pair made contract again at the recent Japanese round, when Hamilton failed to spot the Brazilian alongside him.
But while Massa has got madder, calling on Hamilton to be punished by the FIA, the Englishman - censored earlier this year for an ill-judged outburst after a frustrating Monaco Grand Prix - has kept his composure.
Hamilton again tried to diffuse the tension when asked about the situation with Massa on the eve of this weekend's Korean Grand Prix.
"I’ve always had respect for Felipe and still do today, regardless of the negative comments that he’s constantly coming up with," said Hamilton.
"It’s easy, in this sport, when you’re competitive and in the heat of the moment, to say things that perhaps you don’t mean, whether or not he does mean them. But regardless, I’ve tried to show respect, particularly in the last race, I’m very, very sorry for that.
"I really didn’t see him," Hamilton explained. "So by the time I realised he was on the left it was too late. I think I’ve been in the wrong place in the last few races.
"Perhaps if I was doing the right job I wouldn’t be in this situation with Felipe. But again, just all due respect and I hope that in the future we can put our guards down and he can be cool with me again. I’m cool with him, so I have no problems with him."
Hamilton, outperformed by team-mate Jenson Button this season, hasn’t been on the podium since his second victory of the season, in Germany.
"It’s been five bad races," he admitted. "I think it’s a combination of things. I put most of it down to myself and of course, there are times that you find yourself a little bit unfortunate."
Stoner dismisses home Championship chance
MotoGP News
Date: 13/October/2011
Casey Stoner dismissed his chances of becoming a MotoGP world champion for the second time this Sunday, during his home Australian Grand Prix.
Stoner, the 2007 world champion, holds a 40-point lead over Jorge Lorenzo with three rounds remaining. That means that he can hand Repsol Honda its first world title since 2006 if he scores ten points more than Yamaha's Lorenzo on Sunday.
"My chances of winning the championship this weekend are very, very slim to almost none," he insisted. "Jorge has to finish fourth or worse and then I have to try and win the race.
"For me the most important thing is just to win the race. We didn’t win last time in Japan so we'll try and bounce back here"
Despite his comments, Stoner has an excellent chance of fulfilling his side of the championship deal. The Australian, who will celebrate his 26th birthday on Sunday, has won the last four Phillip Island MotoGP races, as a Ducati rider.
"It's a grand prix I always enjoy coming back to. Most people enjoy their home grand prix. There's a bit more stress and things to do, but we're looking forward to riding this circuit on a Honda," he said.
"It'll be our first time with the Honda here and we'll see how we do. Until we get out there we won’t really know. The last four years have been pretty successful. The track is a lot of fun and now we just have to wait and see about the weather - as usual!"
While Stoner is thinking only of race victory, Lorenzo has an equally clear target.
"I'm going to fight to the end to delay Casey's world championship for as long as possible," said Lorenzo on Thursday. "That means we need to fight for the win every weekend. It'll be tough, but we'll try."
Date: 13/October/2011
Casey Stoner dismissed his chances of becoming a MotoGP world champion for the second time this Sunday, during his home Australian Grand Prix.
Stoner, the 2007 world champion, holds a 40-point lead over Jorge Lorenzo with three rounds remaining. That means that he can hand Repsol Honda its first world title since 2006 if he scores ten points more than Yamaha's Lorenzo on Sunday.
"My chances of winning the championship this weekend are very, very slim to almost none," he insisted. "Jorge has to finish fourth or worse and then I have to try and win the race.
"For me the most important thing is just to win the race. We didn’t win last time in Japan so we'll try and bounce back here"
Despite his comments, Stoner has an excellent chance of fulfilling his side of the championship deal. The Australian, who will celebrate his 26th birthday on Sunday, has won the last four Phillip Island MotoGP races, as a Ducati rider.
"It's a grand prix I always enjoy coming back to. Most people enjoy their home grand prix. There's a bit more stress and things to do, but we're looking forward to riding this circuit on a Honda," he said.
"It'll be our first time with the Honda here and we'll see how we do. Until we get out there we won’t really know. The last four years have been pretty successful. The track is a lot of fun and now we just have to wait and see about the weather - as usual!"
While Stoner is thinking only of race victory, Lorenzo has an equally clear target.
"I'm going to fight to the end to delay Casey's world championship for as long as possible," said Lorenzo on Thursday. "That means we need to fight for the win every weekend. It'll be tough, but we'll try."
Button's battle, Vettel's war
F1 News
Date: 9/October/2011
Jenson Button won his third race of the 2011 F1 season at Suzuka in Japan on Sunday, but Sebastian Vettel more than made the point he needed to be crowned the youngest ever double world champion at the age of 24.
A harsh defence by pole sitter Vettel at the start dropped Button to third, before the Englishman recovered to claim his first dry race win as a McLaren driver by 1.1sec from Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.
While Alonso reeled-in Button during the closing stages, Vettel likewise put pressure on the Spaniard before ultimately settling for third (two-seconds from Button) to wrap-up the title with four rounds still remaining.
"To win the championship here is fantastic," said Vettel. "I am just so thankful to everyone in the team.
"One person that really stands out is my trainer Tommi Parmakoski. He was the one not allowing me at any stage to lose the grip, or think about things that are not in our control.
"Congratulations to Jenson, congratulations to Fernando. They also know how to drive as well and are doing a fantastic job, but I think this year we have always been just this one step ahead."
In contrast to last season, when Vettel snatched the title at the very final round, the young German has totally dominated in 2011, winning nine of the 15 races to date.
"Some people will draw the wrong conclusion, to say that we had a very easy run this year," said Vettel. "Things like this happen for a reason, not because things were easy for us. We had a very, very good car, no doubt, but we had an even stronger team.
"I think the car this year was less dominant than the car last year.
"Last year we had so many races where sometimes you may say we were unlucky but we made stupid mistakes as well, which cost us a lot of points.
"A championship is not one race, it’s a lot of races pulled together and I think that’s where the difference came from this year."
Vettel takes the record of youngest ever double F1 world champion from Alonso, who claimed he wouldn’t miss the accolade. "Now we will see who is the youngest three time world champion," shrugged Alonso.
For Button, his fifth win in McLaren colours was the perfect way to mark the signing of a new multi-year contract extension.
"It was a very exciting race and it wasn’t just down to being quick over one lap as tyre wear was massive. You really had to think through the race," said Button, now a twelve-time F1 race winner.
"I really enjoyed it out there. It is always a very special place to race, Suzuka, a fast, flowing circuit and it is unforgiving, so one little mistake and it is game over. This is one of the most perfect circuits in grand prix racing and also with one of the most special crowds as well.
"The Japanese people here have been so supportive of us and it is great to see so many fans here supporting this weekend and hopefully we have planted a small, good memory in their heads as it has been a very difficult year for them.
"To get the win here is one of my most special victories as I don’t think I have ever won a race on such a high-speed circuit, so it means a lot to me."
An hour and a half earlier Button had far less composed, radioing his team to say "surely he will get a penalty" after Vettel's start-line swerve sent him onto the grass.
"I thought he was coming across more than I expected and didn’t give me any room and I was on the grass. Maybe when I watch it back on TV I will have a different opinion," said Button.
"But at that moment in time, yes, I felt that it was a little bit more than was needed. But it was obviously fair, as the stewards said it was fair, so that’s it."
Vettel insisted the move wasn't malicious.
"I didn’t really see him," he explained. "By the time I saw him, I realised that maybe I was a little bit too far to the right and by then he was backing off."
A later incident between Button's team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who once again made contact with Ferrari's Felipe Massa, also went unpunished.
Date: 9/October/2011
Jenson Button won his third race of the 2011 F1 season at Suzuka in Japan on Sunday, but Sebastian Vettel more than made the point he needed to be crowned the youngest ever double world champion at the age of 24.
A harsh defence by pole sitter Vettel at the start dropped Button to third, before the Englishman recovered to claim his first dry race win as a McLaren driver by 1.1sec from Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.
While Alonso reeled-in Button during the closing stages, Vettel likewise put pressure on the Spaniard before ultimately settling for third (two-seconds from Button) to wrap-up the title with four rounds still remaining.
"To win the championship here is fantastic," said Vettel. "I am just so thankful to everyone in the team.
"One person that really stands out is my trainer Tommi Parmakoski. He was the one not allowing me at any stage to lose the grip, or think about things that are not in our control.
"Congratulations to Jenson, congratulations to Fernando. They also know how to drive as well and are doing a fantastic job, but I think this year we have always been just this one step ahead."
In contrast to last season, when Vettel snatched the title at the very final round, the young German has totally dominated in 2011, winning nine of the 15 races to date.
"Some people will draw the wrong conclusion, to say that we had a very easy run this year," said Vettel. "Things like this happen for a reason, not because things were easy for us. We had a very, very good car, no doubt, but we had an even stronger team.
"I think the car this year was less dominant than the car last year.
"Last year we had so many races where sometimes you may say we were unlucky but we made stupid mistakes as well, which cost us a lot of points.
"A championship is not one race, it’s a lot of races pulled together and I think that’s where the difference came from this year."
Vettel takes the record of youngest ever double F1 world champion from Alonso, who claimed he wouldn’t miss the accolade. "Now we will see who is the youngest three time world champion," shrugged Alonso.
For Button, his fifth win in McLaren colours was the perfect way to mark the signing of a new multi-year contract extension.
"It was a very exciting race and it wasn’t just down to being quick over one lap as tyre wear was massive. You really had to think through the race," said Button, now a twelve-time F1 race winner.
"I really enjoyed it out there. It is always a very special place to race, Suzuka, a fast, flowing circuit and it is unforgiving, so one little mistake and it is game over. This is one of the most perfect circuits in grand prix racing and also with one of the most special crowds as well.
"The Japanese people here have been so supportive of us and it is great to see so many fans here supporting this weekend and hopefully we have planted a small, good memory in their heads as it has been a very difficult year for them.
"To get the win here is one of my most special victories as I don’t think I have ever won a race on such a high-speed circuit, so it means a lot to me."
An hour and a half earlier Button had far less composed, radioing his team to say "surely he will get a penalty" after Vettel's start-line swerve sent him onto the grass.
"I thought he was coming across more than I expected and didn’t give me any room and I was on the grass. Maybe when I watch it back on TV I will have a different opinion," said Button.
"But at that moment in time, yes, I felt that it was a little bit more than was needed. But it was obviously fair, as the stewards said it was fair, so that’s it."
Vettel insisted the move wasn't malicious.
"I didn’t really see him," he explained. "By the time I saw him, I realised that maybe I was a little bit too far to the right and by then he was backing off."
A later incident between Button's team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who once again made contact with Ferrari's Felipe Massa, also went unpunished.
Vettel punishes Hamilton pole fumble
F1 News
Date: 8/October/2011
With just five minutes of Saturday's qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix remaining, the scene looked set for the first non-Red Bull pole of the 2011 season.
McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button were holding first and second, as they had finished in all but one of the free practice sessions.
But champion-in-waiting Sebastian Vettel was able to overcome them both on his final lap to claim a twelfth pole of the year.
Vettel beat Button, fastest in every session prior to qualifying, by just 0.009sec, while a frustrated Hamilton was relegated to third after being denied even the chance of a final lap.
The Briton was overtaken on either side by Vettel's team-mate Mark Webber and Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher, as he entered the chicane with just seconds to spare before the end of qualifying.
The time lost as he took evasive action cost Hamilton meant the session ended before he could start his planned last lap. It looked like the Englishman had been caught napping, but Hamilton felt the others had acted dangerously.
"I felt I was in a position to at least fight with these guys [for pole] but it was a bit dangerous at the last corner where I had Mark attacking me and Michael down the outside," said Hamilton. "It was very, very strange and that’s really where we lost the lap.
"Jenson was in front of me. He slowed down to get his gap and I was coming up to the last corner, trying to make sure that I had a gap between me and him.
"Just as I was coming into the chicane I looked in my mirror and I saw Mark diving up the inside of me. I didn’t even see Michael, but as I gave Mark room, Michael nearly crashed into me on the left. So it was quite dangerous."
In contrast to Hamilton's negative body language was a glowing Vettel, who needs to score just a single point on Sunday to be crowned champion for a second year in succession.
"What a qualifying!" grinned the young German, who began the weekend badly with a crash in practice. "Yesterday I went off in the free practice and damaged the wing, so it wasn’t ideal to prepare the car for today.
"We sat down after the practice session this morning and fortunately got everything together and we were able to get everything, every single bit out of the car, which was crucial.
"I had a bit of a wobble in sector one, but then I made up for it in the second sector and we have been strong in the third sector, so, all in all, fantastic. We were able to extract everything we had today, which was just enough, so very happy."
Vettel continues to insist that he not thinking about 'making his point'.
"Regarding the point or no point, I am not really focusing on that," he claimed. "It is a long race. There are a lot of things that can happen and it is a very challenging track. I am looking forward to the race and not for the point."
Date: 8/October/2011
With just five minutes of Saturday's qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix remaining, the scene looked set for the first non-Red Bull pole of the 2011 season.
McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button were holding first and second, as they had finished in all but one of the free practice sessions.
But champion-in-waiting Sebastian Vettel was able to overcome them both on his final lap to claim a twelfth pole of the year.
Vettel beat Button, fastest in every session prior to qualifying, by just 0.009sec, while a frustrated Hamilton was relegated to third after being denied even the chance of a final lap.
The Briton was overtaken on either side by Vettel's team-mate Mark Webber and Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher, as he entered the chicane with just seconds to spare before the end of qualifying.
The time lost as he took evasive action cost Hamilton meant the session ended before he could start his planned last lap. It looked like the Englishman had been caught napping, but Hamilton felt the others had acted dangerously.
"I felt I was in a position to at least fight with these guys [for pole] but it was a bit dangerous at the last corner where I had Mark attacking me and Michael down the outside," said Hamilton. "It was very, very strange and that’s really where we lost the lap.
"Jenson was in front of me. He slowed down to get his gap and I was coming up to the last corner, trying to make sure that I had a gap between me and him.
"Just as I was coming into the chicane I looked in my mirror and I saw Mark diving up the inside of me. I didn’t even see Michael, but as I gave Mark room, Michael nearly crashed into me on the left. So it was quite dangerous."
In contrast to Hamilton's negative body language was a glowing Vettel, who needs to score just a single point on Sunday to be crowned champion for a second year in succession.
"What a qualifying!" grinned the young German, who began the weekend badly with a crash in practice. "Yesterday I went off in the free practice and damaged the wing, so it wasn’t ideal to prepare the car for today.
"We sat down after the practice session this morning and fortunately got everything together and we were able to get everything, every single bit out of the car, which was crucial.
"I had a bit of a wobble in sector one, but then I made up for it in the second sector and we have been strong in the third sector, so, all in all, fantastic. We were able to extract everything we had today, which was just enough, so very happy."
Vettel continues to insist that he not thinking about 'making his point'.
"Regarding the point or no point, I am not really focusing on that," he claimed. "It is a long race. There are a lot of things that can happen and it is a very challenging track. I am looking forward to the race and not for the point."
Exhausts up, DRS down in F1 speed search
F1 News
Date: 7/October/2011
The biggest performance gains for F1 teams this winter are likely to come from how well they adapt to the new exhaust rules.
That's the view of Formula One design superstar Adrian Newey, who named the ban on 'blown diffusers' as the most significant design change for 2012.
A bitter row over blown diffusers - which channel exhaust gases under the car to increase downforce - erupted between the leading teams earlier this season.
A messy attempt to resolve the issue through rule changes at Silverstone then produced a public spat between Red Bull and McLaren - prompting a u-turn by the FIA, which allowed the status quo to continue until the end the season.
But from next year, exhausts will need to exit higher up in the car, which should reduce their aerodynamic influence.
"I think the restriction on the exhaust exit position is actually a very big change; it goes through the car," said Red Bull's Newey, whose F1 designs will have won eight world titles, for different three teams, when Sebastian Vettel wins the 2011 crown.
"Other than that, the regulation changes are significant but not huge. So, in that sense, the 2012 Red Bull will be an evolution, it will bear a family resemblance to the RB5, RB6, RB7 lineage," he continued.
The major change for this year was the introduction of 'DRS' rear wings, which can be manipulated to allow a brief top-speed boost if a driver is following an opponent closely enough at the start of a predetermined zone.
DRS has helped increase the amount of overtaking and also been an area of significant development, as teams seek to maximise wing performance with DRS both on and off.
"This was the first year using DRS so for all the teams it was a big learning curve," said Ferrari's technical head Pat Fry. "It was a big opportunity to make a difference against your competitors.
"The rules next year are exactly the same with the DRS so we will see the technology mature more. Probably we will see less differences between the teams in terms of DRS effect. But we will still find more bit by bit."
Date: 7/October/2011
The biggest performance gains for F1 teams this winter are likely to come from how well they adapt to the new exhaust rules.
That's the view of Formula One design superstar Adrian Newey, who named the ban on 'blown diffusers' as the most significant design change for 2012.
A bitter row over blown diffusers - which channel exhaust gases under the car to increase downforce - erupted between the leading teams earlier this season.
A messy attempt to resolve the issue through rule changes at Silverstone then produced a public spat between Red Bull and McLaren - prompting a u-turn by the FIA, which allowed the status quo to continue until the end the season.
But from next year, exhausts will need to exit higher up in the car, which should reduce their aerodynamic influence.
"I think the restriction on the exhaust exit position is actually a very big change; it goes through the car," said Red Bull's Newey, whose F1 designs will have won eight world titles, for different three teams, when Sebastian Vettel wins the 2011 crown.
"Other than that, the regulation changes are significant but not huge. So, in that sense, the 2012 Red Bull will be an evolution, it will bear a family resemblance to the RB5, RB6, RB7 lineage," he continued.
The major change for this year was the introduction of 'DRS' rear wings, which can be manipulated to allow a brief top-speed boost if a driver is following an opponent closely enough at the start of a predetermined zone.
DRS has helped increase the amount of overtaking and also been an area of significant development, as teams seek to maximise wing performance with DRS both on and off.
"This was the first year using DRS so for all the teams it was a big learning curve," said Ferrari's technical head Pat Fry. "It was a big opportunity to make a difference against your competitors.
"The rules next year are exactly the same with the DRS so we will see the technology mature more. Probably we will see less differences between the teams in terms of DRS effect. But we will still find more bit by bit."
'Better than ever' Button talks new McLaren deal
F1 News
Date: 6/October/2011
Jenson Button will be driving with the added confidence of a new multi-year McLaren contract during this weekend's Japanese F1 Grand Prix at Suzuka.
The 31-year-old Englishman moved to McLaren straight after his shock title success for Brawn GP in 2009.
Electing to go head-to-head with McLaren prodigy and fellow world champion Lewis Hamilton was seen as a risky move by many.
But Button has flourished at the Woking-based team, winning four races and holding second in the Drivers' Championship heading into this weekend.
Speaking at Suzuka on Thursday, Button refused to state the extract length of his new contract, but was happy to explain what it meant to him.
"I can’t give details. All I can say is that I am very happy," he said. "I think this is a great opportunity over the next couple of years to really work closely with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.
"We are so close to fighting with Red Bull, but yet so far. I think it is good to have the continuity going forward for the next couple of years. It is going to help us take the fight to them next season, I hope. That’s what we are working towards.
"It’s been a good couple of weeks. I have been enjoying racing and it is nice to finally sign on the dotted line and get a deal in place for the near future."
Button, an F1 driver since 2000, believes he is driving better than ever.
"I thought I drove pretty well through my championship-winning season, but I’m definitely a better driver now: the experiences that I’ve been through - good and bad - since then," he explained.
"It’s pretty traumatic when you’re fighting for a championship and you’re struggling for pace, so the experiences I’ve been through and the confidence that I have now and the team that I’m working with - they definitely help my performances.
"Am I more content? I don’t know. I’ve been pretty content over the last few years, in terms of racing and in terms of private life, so that’s not making a difference."
Button has finished all eleven Japanese Grands Prix he has raced in, with his best result a third place with Honda in 2004.
"I would love to win here. It is a circuit, along with Spa and Monaco, that means a lot to all of us," he said. "Whether we are quick enough or not we will have to wait and see, but we are in the hunt and I am looking forward to a fun weekend."
If Button wins, Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel still needs only a single point to wrap up his second successive title with four rounds to spare.
Vettel quipped: "Even if it is only one point, we need to make sure we get it. If someone wants to do me a favour they can push Jenson down the stairs later on!"
Button was more realistic: "I think it’s great, Sebastian thinking that I have a chance of winning the title. He’s probably the only person… It’s all but over."
Date: 6/October/2011
Jenson Button will be driving with the added confidence of a new multi-year McLaren contract during this weekend's Japanese F1 Grand Prix at Suzuka.
The 31-year-old Englishman moved to McLaren straight after his shock title success for Brawn GP in 2009.
Electing to go head-to-head with McLaren prodigy and fellow world champion Lewis Hamilton was seen as a risky move by many.
But Button has flourished at the Woking-based team, winning four races and holding second in the Drivers' Championship heading into this weekend.
Speaking at Suzuka on Thursday, Button refused to state the extract length of his new contract, but was happy to explain what it meant to him.
"I can’t give details. All I can say is that I am very happy," he said. "I think this is a great opportunity over the next couple of years to really work closely with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.
"We are so close to fighting with Red Bull, but yet so far. I think it is good to have the continuity going forward for the next couple of years. It is going to help us take the fight to them next season, I hope. That’s what we are working towards.
"It’s been a good couple of weeks. I have been enjoying racing and it is nice to finally sign on the dotted line and get a deal in place for the near future."
Button, an F1 driver since 2000, believes he is driving better than ever.
"I thought I drove pretty well through my championship-winning season, but I’m definitely a better driver now: the experiences that I’ve been through - good and bad - since then," he explained.
"It’s pretty traumatic when you’re fighting for a championship and you’re struggling for pace, so the experiences I’ve been through and the confidence that I have now and the team that I’m working with - they definitely help my performances.
"Am I more content? I don’t know. I’ve been pretty content over the last few years, in terms of racing and in terms of private life, so that’s not making a difference."
Button has finished all eleven Japanese Grands Prix he has raced in, with his best result a third place with Honda in 2004.
"I would love to win here. It is a circuit, along with Spa and Monaco, that means a lot to all of us," he said. "Whether we are quick enough or not we will have to wait and see, but we are in the hunt and I am looking forward to a fun weekend."
If Button wins, Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel still needs only a single point to wrap up his second successive title with four rounds to spare.
Vettel quipped: "Even if it is only one point, we need to make sure we get it. If someone wants to do me a favour they can push Jenson down the stairs later on!"
Button was more realistic: "I think it’s great, Sebastian thinking that I have a chance of winning the title. He’s probably the only person… It’s all but over."
Lorenzo: We will see how we are in some years…
MotoGP News
Date: 5/October/2011
After mild hysteria, from some quarters, the 2011 Japanese MotoGP passed off remarkably normally.
Just months earlier, the grand prix seemed in doubt as title leaders Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo headlined a rider rebellion by stating that they would not attend due to radiation fears.
The damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant is around 110km from the Motegi circuit, although independent reports insisted the radiation risk was 'negligible'. Stoner and Lorenzo, who ride for Japanese manufacturers Honda and Yamaha respectively, subsequently made a U-turn.
So too did Ducati's Valentino Rossi, MotoGP's biggest and most powerful name, who seemed content to let Stoner and Lorenzo be the public face of opposition for much of the debate, before suggesting that he too would not go when their resistance began to wane.
Ultimately Dorna (commercial rights), the FIM (Governing body) and IRTA (teams' association) held their nerve and were able to put on a show with all the uninjured MotoGP riders in place.
Stoner, who finished third in a race won by his Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa, felt that the situation should have been handled better.
"The riders all got a lot of pressure many months ago, when the situation [in Japan] still wasn't clear," he said. "We all got our own opinions, from people we trust. The more time that passed, the more clear things became."
The only Motegi absentees were a few lesser known riders from the support classes, some mechanics and the majority of the Italian media.
However food and drink was imported by many teams to help sooth fears of contamination - and Lorenzo admitted he was only showering with bottled water.
"We are alright at the moment. We will see how we are in some years!" smiled the Spaniard, second in the grand prix. "Now we are ok and the situation seems ok, no radiation. Everything is good."
Stoner agreed with that assessment: "Everything here seems normal, but you don't see these things [contamination]. It's not easy to spot. But our trip here has been like normal and for sure next year will be clearer."
Given the destruction in the region, and the uncertainly hanging over the event, only 34,000 fans attended the race - but many held home-made signs thanking MotoGP for coming.
"My view about Japan has always been very good. I love Japan and I always like to be here," said Lorenzo.
The Japanese F1 Grand Prix will be held at Suzuka this weekend. The Suzuka circuit is around 400km from Fukushima.
Date: 5/October/2011
After mild hysteria, from some quarters, the 2011 Japanese MotoGP passed off remarkably normally.
Just months earlier, the grand prix seemed in doubt as title leaders Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo headlined a rider rebellion by stating that they would not attend due to radiation fears.
The damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant is around 110km from the Motegi circuit, although independent reports insisted the radiation risk was 'negligible'. Stoner and Lorenzo, who ride for Japanese manufacturers Honda and Yamaha respectively, subsequently made a U-turn.
So too did Ducati's Valentino Rossi, MotoGP's biggest and most powerful name, who seemed content to let Stoner and Lorenzo be the public face of opposition for much of the debate, before suggesting that he too would not go when their resistance began to wane.
Ultimately Dorna (commercial rights), the FIM (Governing body) and IRTA (teams' association) held their nerve and were able to put on a show with all the uninjured MotoGP riders in place.
Stoner, who finished third in a race won by his Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa, felt that the situation should have been handled better.
"The riders all got a lot of pressure many months ago, when the situation [in Japan] still wasn't clear," he said. "We all got our own opinions, from people we trust. The more time that passed, the more clear things became."
The only Motegi absentees were a few lesser known riders from the support classes, some mechanics and the majority of the Italian media.
However food and drink was imported by many teams to help sooth fears of contamination - and Lorenzo admitted he was only showering with bottled water.
"We are alright at the moment. We will see how we are in some years!" smiled the Spaniard, second in the grand prix. "Now we are ok and the situation seems ok, no radiation. Everything is good."
Stoner agreed with that assessment: "Everything here seems normal, but you don't see these things [contamination]. It's not easy to spot. But our trip here has been like normal and for sure next year will be clearer."
Given the destruction in the region, and the uncertainly hanging over the event, only 34,000 fans attended the race - but many held home-made signs thanking MotoGP for coming.
"My view about Japan has always been very good. I love Japan and I always like to be here," said Lorenzo.
The Japanese F1 Grand Prix will be held at Suzuka this weekend. The Suzuka circuit is around 400km from Fukushima.
Pedrosa avoids chaos for Japanese MotoGP win
MotoGP News
Date: 2/October/2011
Japanese MotoGP winner Dani Pedrosa was the only rider in the top seven to complete the race without clashing with another rider, running off track or being given a ride-through penalty!
It was an emotional victory for the Repsol Honda rider, coming at the Honda-owned racetrack where he broke his collarbone one year ago.
"I'm super happy with this victory," said Pedrosa. "This is the first win at Motegi for both myself and Repsol Honda. I've had good and bad results and some bad injuries here, so to come back one year later and win is fantastic".
Pedrosa kept his nose clean to claim his third win of the season by over seven-seconds from Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo, who collided with Valentino Rossi at turn two of the race - sending the Italian megastar to the ground.
Lorenzo said: "I made a bad start, really terrible and lost a lot of positions and then I nearly crashed at the second turn when Valentino was too late on the brakes. I don’t know what happened."
Rossi refused to blame Lorenzo for the incident, which ended a run of 25 consecutive points finishes and also saw Lorenzo's team-mate Ben Spies pushed off track.
Rossi said: "Lorenzo went onto the grass slightly in Turn 1, and in the next turn he moved suddenly to get his trajectory right. He didn’t see me because I was slightly behind. When he touched me, it pushed me into Spies, who touched my front brake lever. It was normal racing contact, but I was in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Joining Pedrosa and Lorenzo on the podium was world championship leader Casey Stoner, who looked on his way to a ninth win of the season - until suffering a major scare, while leading, on lap 5.
As Stoner powered downhill some bumps sent his RCV shaking violently. The Australian kept control but couldn’t stop for the following turn and speared off into the gravel.
Stoner explained: "Everything felt good and the bike was fantastic. I saw Andrea [Dovizioso] had closed in a little so I thought 'right we'll go a bit quicker'. I came onto the back straight and I got a big 'tank-slapper'.
"The bike was shaking and my hands nearly came off the handlebars. Then when I went for the brakes there was nothing there. I pumped them up a couple of times and as the brakes came back I nearly went over the front."
Stoner kept control but had to paddle his way out of the deep gravel before rejoining the race in seventh. That quickly became fifth when Dovizioso and Marco Simoncelli were both hit with a ride-through penalty for jumping the start.
"I cannot believe it. I have never had a jump start in my career and it happened today, in a race where I felt that I could fight for the win," sighed Dovizioso. "I don’t know why the bike moved a little before the green light."
“I saw Dovizioso move and let the clutch out just a tiny bit, but enough to be given a ride-through penalty," commented Simoncelli.
Cal Crutchlow in turn reacted to Simoncelli's movement and was also penalised.
While the Dovizioso and Simoncelli worked their way forward from the tail-end of the top ten, Stoner caught and overtook Nicky Hayden (Ducati) and Alvaro Bautista (Suzuki) to claim third.
Both riders made mistakes soon after; Hayden running off track and Bautista crashing out.
Those incidents allowed warring Honda riders Simoncelli and Dovizioso to reach fourth and fifth, while Spies - who had rejoined in last place after the Rossi incident - took advantage of the chaos to take sixth place, just ahead of Hayden.
Colin Edwards (Tech 3) in eighth place was thus the first rider after Pedrosa to avoid contact, stay on the race track - and stay out of pit lane.
"What a race that was!" smiled Edwards. "It seemed like each time I went round a corner somebody else was in the gravel! There was so much chaos it was just about surviving."
Date: 2/October/2011
Japanese MotoGP winner Dani Pedrosa was the only rider in the top seven to complete the race without clashing with another rider, running off track or being given a ride-through penalty!
It was an emotional victory for the Repsol Honda rider, coming at the Honda-owned racetrack where he broke his collarbone one year ago.
"I'm super happy with this victory," said Pedrosa. "This is the first win at Motegi for both myself and Repsol Honda. I've had good and bad results and some bad injuries here, so to come back one year later and win is fantastic".
Pedrosa kept his nose clean to claim his third win of the season by over seven-seconds from Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo, who collided with Valentino Rossi at turn two of the race - sending the Italian megastar to the ground.
Lorenzo said: "I made a bad start, really terrible and lost a lot of positions and then I nearly crashed at the second turn when Valentino was too late on the brakes. I don’t know what happened."
Rossi refused to blame Lorenzo for the incident, which ended a run of 25 consecutive points finishes and also saw Lorenzo's team-mate Ben Spies pushed off track.
Rossi said: "Lorenzo went onto the grass slightly in Turn 1, and in the next turn he moved suddenly to get his trajectory right. He didn’t see me because I was slightly behind. When he touched me, it pushed me into Spies, who touched my front brake lever. It was normal racing contact, but I was in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Joining Pedrosa and Lorenzo on the podium was world championship leader Casey Stoner, who looked on his way to a ninth win of the season - until suffering a major scare, while leading, on lap 5.
As Stoner powered downhill some bumps sent his RCV shaking violently. The Australian kept control but couldn’t stop for the following turn and speared off into the gravel.
Stoner explained: "Everything felt good and the bike was fantastic. I saw Andrea [Dovizioso] had closed in a little so I thought 'right we'll go a bit quicker'. I came onto the back straight and I got a big 'tank-slapper'.
"The bike was shaking and my hands nearly came off the handlebars. Then when I went for the brakes there was nothing there. I pumped them up a couple of times and as the brakes came back I nearly went over the front."
Stoner kept control but had to paddle his way out of the deep gravel before rejoining the race in seventh. That quickly became fifth when Dovizioso and Marco Simoncelli were both hit with a ride-through penalty for jumping the start.
"I cannot believe it. I have never had a jump start in my career and it happened today, in a race where I felt that I could fight for the win," sighed Dovizioso. "I don’t know why the bike moved a little before the green light."
“I saw Dovizioso move and let the clutch out just a tiny bit, but enough to be given a ride-through penalty," commented Simoncelli.
Cal Crutchlow in turn reacted to Simoncelli's movement and was also penalised.
While the Dovizioso and Simoncelli worked their way forward from the tail-end of the top ten, Stoner caught and overtook Nicky Hayden (Ducati) and Alvaro Bautista (Suzuki) to claim third.
Both riders made mistakes soon after; Hayden running off track and Bautista crashing out.
Those incidents allowed warring Honda riders Simoncelli and Dovizioso to reach fourth and fifth, while Spies - who had rejoined in last place after the Rossi incident - took advantage of the chaos to take sixth place, just ahead of Hayden.
Colin Edwards (Tech 3) in eighth place was thus the first rider after Pedrosa to avoid contact, stay on the race track - and stay out of pit lane.
"What a race that was!" smiled Edwards. "It seemed like each time I went round a corner somebody else was in the gravel! There was so much chaos it was just about surviving."
Dovizioso, Marquez dodge MotoGP 2012 questions
MotoGP News
Date: 1/October/2011
Andrea Dovizioso and Marc Marquez both did a good job of dodging questions about their intentions for the 2012 MotoGP season, on Saturday at Motegi.
Dovizioso is yet to re-sign for Honda and is set to lose his place at the factory team as it cuts back to two riders for the start of the new 1000cc era.
Repsol Honda was obliged to run three bikes in order to accommodate the arrival of Casey Stoner, alongside Dani Pedrosa and Dovizioso.
Honda had considered moving Dovizioso to a satellite team for this year, but the Italian refused to settle for anything less than the factory team seat specified in his contract.
That stance may be returning to haunt Dovizioso, since Stoner and Pedrosa are already signed for 2012 - while Gresini's Marco Simoncelli recently had his factory contract extended.
That seemed a clear indication that Dovizioso has now dropped below rising-star Simoncelli in the Honda hierarchy.
Dovizioso, a Honda rider throughout his full time grand prix career, looks prepared to accept a switch to a satellite team, which would almost certainly be LCR, but is insisting on continued access to the latest Honda machinery.
However LCR needs to find the budget to afford such motorcycles, while Dovizioso would almost certainly face a pay cut even if, as rumoured, HRC offered to pay his wages.
Dovizioso's main alternative is a move to Tech 3, Yamaha's only satellite team, where he could start a new relationship which might one day result in a return to full factory status.
Offers from both Tech 3 and LCR are said to be on the table, but so far Dovizioso is giving little away about his intentions.
"I still haven't decided," he said, before quashing rumours that he must make a decision by the end of this weekend. "There is no time limit."
While Dovizioso faces demotion, reigning 125cc world champion Marc Marquez is now within six points of the Moto2 title lead after a sensational rookie season.
Should the 18-year-old Spaniard win the 600cc title, as now seems likely barring a sudden revival by Stefan Bradl, many are speculating that Marquez could join MotoGP next season.
Marquez has strong Repsol backing and Honda won’t risk losing him to another manufacturer should he want to move. So far, Marquez insists he isn’t looking beyond the end of this year.
"I don’t know. Just at the moment I want to concentrate on Moto2. Next year we will see. At the moment I think Moto2 is my place," he said.
As a rookie, Marquez would need to join a satellite team for his first MotoGP season, but can still have access to the latest equipment and factory support.
While Dovizioso and Marquez dodged questions about their future, world champion Jorge Lorenzo has revealed he has been involved in a form of 'shower dodging' this weekend in Japan.
Due to concerns about radiation from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant, around 110km away, the Yamaha rider confirmed that he has only been showering "with a bottle".
Date: 1/October/2011
Andrea Dovizioso and Marc Marquez both did a good job of dodging questions about their intentions for the 2012 MotoGP season, on Saturday at Motegi.
Dovizioso is yet to re-sign for Honda and is set to lose his place at the factory team as it cuts back to two riders for the start of the new 1000cc era.
Repsol Honda was obliged to run three bikes in order to accommodate the arrival of Casey Stoner, alongside Dani Pedrosa and Dovizioso.
Honda had considered moving Dovizioso to a satellite team for this year, but the Italian refused to settle for anything less than the factory team seat specified in his contract.
That stance may be returning to haunt Dovizioso, since Stoner and Pedrosa are already signed for 2012 - while Gresini's Marco Simoncelli recently had his factory contract extended.
That seemed a clear indication that Dovizioso has now dropped below rising-star Simoncelli in the Honda hierarchy.
Dovizioso, a Honda rider throughout his full time grand prix career, looks prepared to accept a switch to a satellite team, which would almost certainly be LCR, but is insisting on continued access to the latest Honda machinery.
However LCR needs to find the budget to afford such motorcycles, while Dovizioso would almost certainly face a pay cut even if, as rumoured, HRC offered to pay his wages.
Dovizioso's main alternative is a move to Tech 3, Yamaha's only satellite team, where he could start a new relationship which might one day result in a return to full factory status.
Offers from both Tech 3 and LCR are said to be on the table, but so far Dovizioso is giving little away about his intentions.
"I still haven't decided," he said, before quashing rumours that he must make a decision by the end of this weekend. "There is no time limit."
While Dovizioso faces demotion, reigning 125cc world champion Marc Marquez is now within six points of the Moto2 title lead after a sensational rookie season.
Should the 18-year-old Spaniard win the 600cc title, as now seems likely barring a sudden revival by Stefan Bradl, many are speculating that Marquez could join MotoGP next season.
Marquez has strong Repsol backing and Honda won’t risk losing him to another manufacturer should he want to move. So far, Marquez insists he isn’t looking beyond the end of this year.
"I don’t know. Just at the moment I want to concentrate on Moto2. Next year we will see. At the moment I think Moto2 is my place," he said.
As a rookie, Marquez would need to join a satellite team for his first MotoGP season, but can still have access to the latest equipment and factory support.
While Dovizioso and Marquez dodged questions about their future, world champion Jorge Lorenzo has revealed he has been involved in a form of 'shower dodging' this weekend in Japan.
Due to concerns about radiation from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant, around 110km away, the Yamaha rider confirmed that he has only been showering "with a bottle".
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)