Dashing Through the Snow

Sebastien Buemi gets behind the wheel of the Red Bull demo car to race on the snow in Canada. The initial plan was to run on a frozen lake, but the ice wasn’t thick enough, so Buemi stuck to the relative safety of the snow.

Credit: www.tororosso.com

21-Sep-09: Renault Given Two Year Suspended Ban

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Today is the 21st September 2009 and this is F1 Minute.

The hearing we’ve all been waiting for took place in Paris today, as the FIA decided the punishment for Renault, for the Singapore 2008 Piquet crash. The team had already said they weren’t arguing against the charges, so it was a short meeting, and the result was: a two year suspended ban for the team, with Briatore and anyone associated with him banned from motorsport indefinitely and Pat Symonds banned for at least five years.

In other news, and presumably to distract us from the politics, the FIA also announced the 2010 calendar today, with some interesting things to note. Bahrain starts the season, with Brazil ending it, and it’s a long season finishing on the 14th November. Canada has returned to the calendar, pending agreements with Bernie, and Korea has also been added in October. That makes a 19 race calendar, with four back to backs.

That’s all for now, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.

First Date

Nick Heidfeld during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend in 2007. Canada has returned to the calendar, with the FIA announcing the official 2010 list. The race at Montreal is a popular one, with both fans and drivers, but it is still dependent on contract talks between the circuit and Bernie.

Credit: BMW AG

14-Sep-09: Canada Returns to 2010 Calendar

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This is F1 Minute and it’s the 14th September.

The most important news of the day is that officials at the Montreal circuit have confirmed there will be a Canadian Grand Prix on next year’s calendar. The CEO of the company said: “I never doubted that the Canadian race would regain its rightful place on the FIA schedule, and my discussions with F1 management led me to believe that the event would return soon.” There is a provisional date of 6th June but that is not confirmed as yet.

Elsewhere, McLaren issued a statement announcing an extension to their partnership with Santander. We weren’t sure this would happen, with the banking giant also signing up as Ferrari’s main sponsor for five years, but both sides are pleased to extend the deal through next year.

Finally, Sir Jackie Stewart has revealed that an important F1 figure asked him to stand for the FIA presidency, but he refused as he felt he was too old, and it should be someone who isn’t associated with a current team.

That’s all for now, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.

17-Nov-08: Takuma Sato Tops Day 1 of Barcelona Test

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Welcome to F1 Minute, it’s the 17th November 2008.

Testing got underway at Barcelona today, with our first glimpse of the 2009 wings in action. BMW ran a very high rear wing and low front wing, and it’s not that pretty. They were also testing out KERS, with the mechanics protected with thick gloves.

Toyota were the only team not in action, and we saw Takuma Sato top the timesheets in his test for Toro Rosso. Sebastien Buemi, also in the Toro Rosso, was just three tenths slower.

There were three red flags, caused by Robert Kubica for BMW and Nico Hulkenberg for Williams, with the main disaster saved for Giedo van der Garde in the Renault. He completed 27 laps as part of his World Series prize, but crashed out and finished the day in 16th.

Elsewhere, it appears the Canadian Grand Prix will definitely be off the calendar as the Montreal Mayor has admitted: “Despite our endeavours, the unreasonable demands of Formula One exceeded the taxpayer’s ability to pay.”

That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.

Quotes Roundup – Week Ending 16th Nov

The very best from the mouths of those in the know.

The Force India / McLaren Partnership

On what that deal means for the team, and the sport…

• “Force India Formula One team has been in existence for only one year, and inevitably our first season has constituted a learning period. But we said at the outset that we meant business and were not interested in merely making up the numbers.” Dr. Vijay Mallya
• “I would love to see a Force India car on the podium in the inaugural Indian grand Prix. Obviously that has to be a core objective as well. Now that is in 2011 and I say why not? I’m sure Martin would love to see a Force India and a McLaren racing each other” Dr. Vijay Mallya
• “We are going to learn lessons by looking over the shoulder of Force India. I believe that we will become stronger as a consequence of this. I would not have gone into this partnership unless I believed it was going to help us to win world championships in the future.” Martin Whitmarsh

Ongoing Circuit News

Canada and China both worry about the future, Singapore doesn’t…

• “We’re doing the assessment. By next year we should be able to give you an answer. We want to create a win-win situation, for our side and for Bernie and the F1 organisers as well. If this is something we can do, and our cooperation is very happy and smooth, we will consider it.” Qiu Weichang, deputy director of the Shanghai Administration of Sports
• “We need to know if we’re going to have a Grand Prix in 2009. We’re trying to find a proposal that will meet with the approval of Bernie Ecclestone and his board of directors. He’s not interested in where the money’s going to come from, he just wants to get the money to which he thinks he’s entitled.” Gerald Tremblay, Montreal Mayor
• “We have received a great many compliments from around the world since the running of the race in September, but this is an award given by our peers, the professionals who work in motor sports. It therefore is especially gratifying to receive this award.” Jonathan Hallett, Singapore GP’s media director

Upcoming Test Drivers

We’re going to see a few new names on the timesheets in Barcelona…

• “Going back to Enstone will be very special for me. I often used to go and train there when I was on the Renault Driver Development programme. So I’ll be seeing people I already know. That will help me to integrate into the team more easily.” Giedo van der Garde
• “To have this opportunity is a dream. Even though I’ve been racing for only four years, it’s as if I’ve waited for ten years to drive an F1 car. I’ve worked hard in preparing for it, on the neck particularly. GP2 in any case is a good basis.” Bruno Senna
• “I don’t expect Barcelona to be easy at all: it’s the first time that I will be testing against the regular drivers in Formula One, so that’s obviously going to be interesting!” Sebastien Loeb

13-Nov-08: New 2009 Spec Williams is Revealed

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This is F1 Minute for the 13th November.

We have seen our first proper pictures of a 2009 specification car, as Williams shook down their new aerodynamic package in Gloucestershire today. Formula 3 driver Jonathan Kennard was behind the wheel, as the team tested out the new higher, shorter rear wing, and lower, flatter front wing without a bridge over the nose. Kennard said he enjoyed the test and thanked the team for the opportunity, but there’s no word on how the new wings affected performance.

While we’re on the subject of Williams, they have extended their partnership with financial service providers Allianz. The pairing have been together for over ten years now, and both are very happy with the support from the other side of the fence.

Elsewhere today, organisers of the Canadian Grand Prix say they are still working hard to get the event reinstated. There’s only a few weeks left, and the Montreal mayor is considering every option to try and rescue the race.

And very quickly to finish, Barrichello says if he doesn’t retain a seat in Formula 1, he’ll give up competitive motorsport for good.

That’s it for today, please join me again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.

05-Nov-08: WMC Reveal New Provisional Calendar

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This is F1 Minute for the 5th November 2008.

The World Motorsport Council met in Paris today and came up with some interesting developments, including the latest version of the provisional 2009 calendar. This time round, France has understandably gone, and China has moved from the bottom of the calendar up to the third race of the season. Notably, the Canadian GP hasn’t been restored, but apparently there is still hope.

The WMC also moved to make stewarding more transparent. There will be more information about the credentials of each steward available, and selecting them will be a tighter process. All penalties should be handed out in the race, unless there is a real need to see the footage after the event. Talking of which, any evidence the stewards see to help them make their decision will be made available on the FIA and FOM websites. This is real progress.

Away from politics, Alonso’s future decision has finally become clear with Renault announcing he’ll stay with them until 2010, and they’ll also keep Piquet on for another season.

That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow for another F1 Minute.

23-Oct-08: Di Montezemolo Wants Team Orders Rule Changed

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Welcome to F1 Minute for the 23rd October 2008.

Luca di Montezemolo has been busy this week, but still has time to request a regulation change. He wants to get rid of the team orders ruling, as he says it’s really quite hypocritical. After the Ferrari switch at last weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, opinion is divided on whether the ruling should be ditched because teams are obviously flouting it, or whether the FIA should tighten up on the regulation and stop it happening. We heard yesterday that Kimi was more than happy to step down in favour of Felipe, and di Montezemolo says that was the right thing to do: “The important thing is not to damage others. Besides that, team work, in a team sport, is one of the best things.”

Another follow up on yesterday’s minute is the meeting between the Montreal mayor and Bernie Ecclestone, with the mayor saying: “”We have a better understanding of the issues, we still have a lot of work to do to evaluate all the options, but it is still possible to hold a Grand Prix in Montreal in 2009 and subsequent years.”

That’s it for today, please join me again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.

22-Oct-08: Raikkonen Happy to Help Massa Where he Can

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It’s the 22nd October 2008, and this is F1 Minute.

Kimi Raikkonen has confirmed that he was happy about giving up his place to Massa in the Chinese Grand Prix, and that he’d do so again in an instant. Regarding the switch, Raikkonen said: “Once you don’t fight for the title anymore, it doesn’t make a difference if I come in second or third, as long as the points for Ferrari remain the same.” For the Brazil race, he said: “I’d be glad if I could do something for Felipe, that he can win the title and Ferrari will be again victorious in the constructors’ championship in the last race of the season.” That’s quite a wishlist!

Elsewhere, Autosport.com are reporting that members of the Montreal government have flown in to meet with Bernie Ecclestone in London today to discuss the future of the Canadian Grand Prix. The mayor and two ministers are meeting or have met with Ecclestone, and have said that they are willing to negotiate. Apparently the Grand Prix is worth around $75 million to Montreal, and brings in plenty of spin off tourism as well.

That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.

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