07-Jan-09: Singapore Organisers Offer Revisions for ‘09
Welcome to F1 Minute for the 7th January 2009.
It’s all circuit news today, starting with Singapore. The organisers of the night race are talking to teams and the FIA about the state of the track, with some revisions being offered for the 2009 event. The chairman Colin Syn says some decisions are already made: “We are modifying turns one, two and three because we want drivers to have more opportunities to overtake this year.” He added that they are also thinking about smoothing the surface – as bumps were the number one complaint from drivers in 2008.
Elsewhere, Bernie Ecclestone has said that Donington Park have a deadline for things to be going to plan. There are a lot of doubts over the circuits capacity for holding a Grand Prix, but Bernie says: “I am relying on what they told me they will deliver, and we have a September deadline to see that all is as it should be. If it’s not then we have 4 or 5 venues ready to stage a race.” Donington Park will receive news on their planning application from the local council tomorrow.
That’s it’s for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
05-Jan-09: Sir Jackie Stewart Launches Attack on Bernie and Max
Today is the 5th January 2009 and this is F1 Minute.
An interview with Sir Jackie Stewart was printed in The Times newspaper today, and the former Champ has some scathing opinions about Bernie Ecclestone, Max Mosley, and the way the sport is being run. He believes Ecclestone has too much power and worries that there is no plan for who will replace him when the time comes. Just one quote: “The financial distribution of Formula One appears to have been sorted out by two people who have directed it in whichever way they have seen fit. Although this has been a significant benefit in some ways, it has also hurt the sport because the balance of contribution within Formula One is absolutely untenable.”
Elsewhere today, Red Bull have announced they will launch the RB5 in Jerez on the 9th February, whilst Ferrari are all set to launch the F2009 next Monday. A Ferrari spokesperson also confirmed that the team plan to use their pit stop traffic lights during the season, despite the troubles they caused last year.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
01-Jan-09: Round Up of Festive F1 News
Welcome to F1 Minute, it’s the 1st January 2009 – Happy New Year.
Here is a quick catchup of the news we’ve missed over the festive season:
- It almost looked as though Honda Racing would be saved by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, as there were rumours he had visited the factory and was about to sign on the dotted line. He has since come out and dismissed this speculation as “completely false”.
- Hamilton has been named in the Queen’s New Years Honours list, meaning he will pick up an MBE. He says it is a massive privilege and an honour.
- Kubica isn’t rejecting some of the praise he has received after a great year of driving in 2008, but does admit a title would be nicer: “It’s a much better feeling to win the world championship because that is what counts. It would be better for me to win and have people saying that I have not been such a good driver, than it is to finish fourth and have people saying that I did a good job.”
- Finally, Bernie Ecclestone has said that Button deserves a place in a top team, and would prefer him to sit out a year rather than be at the back of the grid in 2009.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
16-Dec-08: Buemi Leads Again and Feels Confident
Today is the 16th December 2008 and this is F1 Minute.
Sebastien Buemi continued his domination of the testing timesheets today, by leading the way at Jerez in his Red Bull. Vettel was also out on track in the same car, and was three tenths slower over the same number of laps. Buemi is now super confident that he’s going to get a drive with Toro Rosso and said: “It would be good to know before Christmas, but I am not in a hurry. I feel very confident based on my test results, so I’ll await the team’s decision.”
BMW were third and fourth on the timesheets, with Kubica doing some advanced KERS setup work, and bringing up the rear were Williams once again, this time in the hands of Nakajima.
Over in Portugal, McLaren’s de la Rosa led both Badoer and Gene in the Ferrari.
Elsewhere today, Hockenheim have put their fate into the hands of the government, hoping they can plead with Bernie Ecclestone to lower the cost of entering F1. If not they will definitely have to withdraw from the 2010 calendar.
That it’s for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
11-Dec-08: Ecclestone Hits Out at Honda
Today is the 11th December 2008, and you’re listening to F1 Minute.
Bernie Ecclestone hasn’t held back his opinion on Honda, telling The Telegraph newspaper that they will not be missed. He said: “Just look at where they finished in the championship – ninth. They wasted millions and were a bad example to other teams.” He then goes on to say he’s looking forward to bringing in some buyers with more sense. Harsh words.
Meanwhile, Vijay Mallya has admitted the 2009 lineup for Force India is not official, despite both drivers confident they’ll be driving next year. Mallya previously said they would both be back, but now apparently has to “discuss this issue with McLaren and take this decision at an appropriate time.”
Finally, it was Toro Rosso on top again in Jerez, Buemi just ahead of Sato, with both drivers completing well over 100 laps each. BMW were the slowest of the day, but as ever, these times aren’t really representative.
That’s it for today, please join me again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.
08-Dec-08: Reactions Flood in Over Honda Withdrawal
Today is the 8th December, and this is F1 Minute.
There’s been plenty of reaction to the Honda exit news, so let’s quickly run through some of the things we’ve heard:
- BMW, Renault, McLaren, Ferrari, Toyota and Williams have all said they are committed to their future in Formula 1. Red Bull also said both their teams intend to stay in the sport, although motorsport advisor Helmut Marko said they were going to be looking at the budget quite closely. The only team we haven’t heard from is Force India.
- Outsiders have been sharing their opinion, with Jacques Villeneuve saying Honda’s decision was purely political, and Dave Richards saying it’s a harsh lesson for Formula 1 to learn.
- The team themselves are still hopeful they can find a buyer, and will accept a relatively small price. Ross Brawn says he’ll stick with them to the end, whatever that might be.
- The FOTA are meeting with Mosley this week to look at more cost-cutting measures, and the organisation also want to meet with Bernie to discuss the possibility of teams getting a bigger share of F1 revenues.
That’s it for today, join me back here tomorrow for another F1 Minute.
Quotes Roundup - Week Ending 7th Dec
December 7, 2008 by Christine
Filed under Weekly Quotes
The very best from the mouths of those in the know.
Honda’s Exit
The manufacturer took everyone, including themselves, by surprise…
- “It’s a real shame and I feel deeply sorry for Jenson Button. We had no choice in the current financial conditions.” Takeo Fukui, CEO Honda
- “I think Formula One is in no bigger crisis than any other company throughout the world. The world is in crisis at the moment, but it won’t stop - the world won’t stop, that’s for sure.” Bernie Ecclestone
- “We have to have credible interest this side of Christmas. Clearly that doesn’t mean we are going to have a deal done by the end of the year, but Honda need to be convinced that there are serious, potential buyers out there. If that is the case then we are funded through January and February - so right up until Melbourne.” Nick Fry
The FOTA Get Organises
An upcoming meeting with Max, and they want a word with Bernie…
- “In the short run we’ll organise a meeting with Max Mosley to present him the details of our proposals and to discuss with him how to improve the show our sport offers. Furthermore we also agreed that it’s necessary to meet with Bernie Ecclestone to talk about the distribution as far as the earnings are concerned.” Luca di Montezemolo
- “FOTA wishes that the technologically advanced expertise of the team based in Brackley is not dispersed and that the sporting challenge is resumed soon.” Statement regarding Honda
- “The teams had previously unanimously agreed measures that will significantly reduce costs in 2009. In today’s meeting the teams have agreed to further measures implementing substantial cost cutting for 2009 and 2010, and additional initiatives to improve the show.”Statement
2009 Ambitions
It’s a difficult time for F1 at the moment, but some still dream of the new season…
- “I’ve learnt a lot about what it takes to be a Formula One driver, but there’s always still more to learn. To get better results than I did this year and to maybe get a podium. That would be really great.” Kazuki Nakajima
- “BMW kept its schedule that was set in 2005 after acquiring Sauber: to be in the points in 2006, to be on the podium in 2007, to be on the top podium 2008. We made the two-way title campaign a three-way battle in the first half of the season. We did not have the fastest car in 2008, but the overall package counts.” Mario Theissen
- “My target and the team’s is the title. It’s a very clear goal, although it may have to be altered as the year goes on. But here, today, in December, the goal is very clear.” Fernando Alonso
01-Dec-08: Hockenheim Reveal Doubt About F1 Future
Today is the 1st December 2008, and this is F1 Minute.
Hockenheim has become the next circuit to admit they’re struggling for money and will have to rethink their F1 commitment. At the moment, Hockenheim alternates hosting the German Grand Prix with the Nurburgring, and is due to return to the calendar in 2010. However, reports suggest that the track made a loss of over 5 million Euros this year, and says the only way to carry on is with government intervention. With so many well known circuits struggling financially, Bernie Ecclestone is going to have to sit up and take notice, isn’t he? Let me know what you think at F1Minute.com.
Elsewhere this weekend, Brazil was the scene of yet more racing action, as Renault were there for their lastroadshow of the year. More than 100,000 people turned up and enjoyed the demos from Nelson Piquet. Also in Brazil, Barrichello won the charity kart race organised by Felipe Massa. The F1 veteran beat off the likes of Massa, Michael Schumacher, Badoer, Liuzzi and di Grassi.
That’s it for today, please join me again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.
Quotes Roundup - Week Ending 30th Nov
November 30, 2008 by Christine
Filed under Weekly Quotes
The very best from the mouths of those in the know.
Toro Rosso Buyout
In which Dietrich Mateschitz regains full control…
- “Dietrich’s interest will focus on Red Bull Racing, therefore the support for STR will become smaller and prevent the team from improving further from sixth. I don’t want to decline, that is not in my nature.”Gerhard Berger
- “I am very grateful to Gerhard for his huge input. Together we turned Toro Rosso into a team that qualified on a regular basis in the top 10 and collected world championship points.” Dietrich Mateschitz
- “I will be out of STR, but the split with STR and Dietrich is completely amicable and there was no rift between us.” Gerhard Berger
The Medal Proposal
Bernie says it will be introduced in 2009…
- “All the teams are happy. The whole reason for this was that I was fed up with people talking about no overtaking. The reason there’s no overtaking is nothing to do with the circuit or the people involved, it’s to do with the drivers not needing to overtake.” Bernie Ecclestone
- “The points are necessary. I was one of the team principals in the team principals’ meetings who advocated that the points should go down to eighth place, because one point to a team down there is as important as a win is to the likes of McLaren and Ferrari, and we must never forget that.” Eddie Jordan
- “There are a lot of people who have ridiculed this suggestion, and honestly I have to admit at first that I thought the stress of divorce had got to him. But I think he actually has a point. Like him, I think the winner of the most races in a season should automatically be the world champion.” Jos Verstappen
Circuits Planning Ahead
Although many are pulling out of the calendar, some are thinking to the future…
- “This will be the first public transport Grand Prix. We are not bringing cars here. We are looking to use public transport from all the major conurbations, the airport and the Parkway station.” Simon Gillett, chief executive of Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd
- “With Bahrain at the start of the year and Abu Dhabi at the season finale there are many projects on which we can work together to attract more spectators, corporate clients and sponsors to both the region’s races.” Zayed Alzayani, Bahrain circuit boss
- “We think Formula One is a very good product, a very good event for Shanghai city so at least from our company’s point of view we want to continue promoting and building the event. Research shows there are more and more race fans in China, so I don’t think we will say no to the Formula One Grand Prix.” General Manager of Event Management at Shanghai
26-Nov-08: Bernie Wants Medals in for 2009
Today is the 26th November and this is F1 Minute.
Bernie Ecclestone has hit the headlines today by saying he is determined to get the medals scoring system in place for the 2009 season. In a news conference, Ecclestone said: “It’s going to happen. All the teams are happy. The whole reason for this is I am fed up with people talking about there being no overtaking.” Assuming all the teams are happy about this new system, Bernie still needs to get the go ahead from the FIA, who will decide at a World Council meeting next month.
In more Bernie news, he announced a five-year deal with LG Electronics, who become the technology partner of Formula 1. The deal officially includes: Consumer Electronics, Mobile Phones and Data Processing, which actually means they’ll sort out the live timing and television graphics. Despite the economic climate being worrying, LG say there is nothing more important to invest in than their brand.
And a final story, another deal in place, Santander have confirmed a switch from McLaren to Ferrari in 2010.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.