02-Mar-10: US F1 Operations Have Ceased

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Welcome to F1 Minute, it’s the 2nd March 2010.

Today, US F1 have called it quits. It’s been on the cards for a long time now, and the speculation has only been increasing, but it was revealed today that any staff who had remained at the factory were out of a job. Dieter Rencken had the story, and reported that Ken Anderson and Peter Windsor stayed away from the factory, leaving production manager Dave Skog to break the bad news. Not good form. There has been no official announcement from the ex-team as yet. This may pave the way for Stefan GP to get their desired entry, but it is too early for that decision to be made.

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, Lotus Racing have confirmed a deal with CNN – the US news network. Tony Fernandes said: “It’s a sign of the positive impact we have already made in the global business market that such a prestigious brand… has made the decision to partner with us.”

That’s all for now, please join me again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.

Quotes Roundup – Week Ending 17th January

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

Preparing to Test

The teams are starting to get ready for pre-season testing…

• “We have been given special dispensation to have six straight line/full-scale tunnel days, rather than the four to which all the other teams are limited. It is an example of how the FIA and the teams have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome.” Peter Windsor
• “I think there is no other sport in the world where you test for seven days before the championship. I cannot imagine a tennis player testing seven times before Roland Garros, or a football player training seven days before a world cup, so this is something strange in our sport.” Fernando Alonso
• “All of the cars on the grid have had incredible reliability over the last few years – on the first day of running with the RB5 we did 90 laps. We’ve got high expectations in terms of track time with RB6 so we feel that it’s a plan that suits us and it’s one that we plan to execute.” Christian Horner on skipping the first test

Bernie Ecclestone’s Opinions

The FOM chief has been sharing his thoughts again…

• “Obviously when you speak to these people they say everything’s fine and there’s no drama. But I’m sure there is drama. I honestly believe that one or two of these new teams that are now coming in will be much better off running one car which is supplied by any of the other teams” Bernie Ecclestone
• “My idea was to make a much bigger gap between first and second, and maybe second and third. What I was trying to do was give people the incentive to overtake, not to sit there getting points.” Bernie Ecclestone
• “The other thing I’ve been pushing like crazy with people is that brakes these days are so efficient that – I’ll say this and it’s probably wrong – I could brake as late as anyone else if I saw the braking markers” Bernie Ecclestone

Talking Silverstone

The legacy that Donington has left behind…

• “Donington is a fabulous circuit and I think it’s such a tragedy frankly that it’s been buggered up so much. I’m afraid Simon Gillett’s done that circuit no favours whatsoever. An awful lot of promises, very few of which ever came to anything.” Jonathan Palmer
• “We are building the new Arena circuit. It has gone into the FIA for [F1] homologation so we should be able to run FIM MotoGP and F1 on it. The issue really for 2010, is whether we can do that logistically. So we have issues with maybe Paddock Club, and Paddock Club parking and things like that to resolve.” Richard Phillips, managing director of Silverstone
• “The facilities at Silverstone are already better than a lot of other grand prix circuits. We were at Barcelona for Formula 2 and the paddock area and buildings were far shabbier than Silverstone is now. Silverstone has worked really hard in the last year or two to smarten that place up and I think they’ve done a good job.” Jonathan Palmer

The Grass Is Always Greener

Tony Kanaan on track at Barber Motorsports Park during the open test for the Indy Racing League. The Formula 1 team US F1 have been given special dispensation by the FIA to carry out three test sessions in the States before joining the rest of the grid in Spain for the final testing before the season begins.

Credit: Ron McQueeney

Quotes Roundup – Week Ending 27th December

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

Schumacher’s Big Comeback

Michael Schumacher joins Mercedes for 2010…

• “Michael and I kept very close over the years and I saw from his disappointment over the summer, when he couldn’t drive a Ferrari, how much passion he still has for the sport. We’re incredibly excited now about the prospect of Michael being part of the team.” Ross Brawn
  
• “I never left the race track. I was tired of F1 by the end of 2006, but in three years of absence I got back all the energy that I am feeling right now. I played around with motorbikes and I feel ready for some serious stuff now.” Michael Schumacher
  
• “It is fantastic that Michael is returning to Formula 1 and will be my team-mate at Mercedes GP. It’s a great challenge for me to be up against one of the best drivers of all time. I’m sure that we will form a very strong partnership as he will have lost none of his speed. It is also great news for our sport and the fans.” Nico Rosberg
  

Ecclestone Picks His Favourite

Bernie sets his sights on a new champion…

• “There are several – Hamilton, Alonso… But I will say this now: Vettel will be the next world champion.” Bernie Ecclestone
  
• “His return is good for F1. Now this is obviously the main point of conversation, and the entire world is talking about it. But I think that once the engines start again and the season begins, there will certainly be more important things to focus on.” Sebastian Vettel on Schumacher
  
• “Don’t forget, next year we have four current or former world champions in the shape of Alonso, Hamilton, Button and Schumacher on the starting line. I can’t remember the last time that happened.” Bernie Ecclestone
  

New Team Updates

Confirmed and potential teams talk of the future…

• “A number of people have asked me why we’ve been relatively quiet over the past six months or so. My answer is twofold – one, while the F1 politics were sorting themselves out there was very little that we could do or say. We’re all in the entertainment business we call F1 and there seemed little or no point in adding to the situation from the perspective of a new team.” Peter Windsor
  
• “We have suffered from changes to the FIA rules since we became part of Formula 1, but despite difficulties we have never considered the option of giving up on the championship. Our project is solid as it has always been and we confirm we will be in Bahrain in March and of course Abu Dhabi in November.” Statement from Campos
  
• “We will offer teams, who are changing drivers during the season, or even young drivers themselves, the chance to test our car so they can gain experience. It will be purely a commercial operation.” Zoran Stefanovich, Stefan GP
  

22-Dec-09: Peter Windsor Confident on US F1 Future

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It’s the 22nd December 2009 and this is F1 Minute.

There have been a lot of doubts about the future of US F1, as whilst Lotus and Virgin Racing announce liveries, drivers and plans for the car, US F1 have been remarkably quiet. Even Bernie Ecclestone has raised a few concerns, but boss Peter Windsor has hit back at those comments: “I’m surprised Bernie said that. We will be there. We’re in good shape. Everything is going well and we are looking forward to the year.”

Also today, the name Zoran Stefanovic cropped up again. Stefan GP previously attempted to get on the grid for 2010, then sued the FIA for allegedly demanding the new teams used Cosworth engines. It’s emerged Zoran visited the Toyota factory in Cologne, and he reportedly still wants a team ready to go for next year, even if there is no space left on the grid. A statement from Stefan GP said the boss was impressed with Toyota’s work.

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

22-Oct-09: Sebastian Loeb Denied FIA Superlicence

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It’s the 22nd October 2009 and this is F1 Minute.

It’s all about potential new drivers today, although we start with the news that Sebastian Loeb won’t be taking part in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as he had hoped. He wanted to get behind the wheel of a Toro Rosso, although the team have pointed out no talks had taken place. Either way it doesn’t matter as the FIA have denied the rally champion a superlicence. Loeb says: “I told myself that I will probably only have one opportunity like this in my life, that was why I accepted. There, it is gone. I did not get the superlicence this time, I do not see how I could get it without preparation and the necessary tests in F1.”

Elsewhere, Peter Windsor has confirmed that the team are keen on talking to NASCAR star Kyle Busch for 2011. And Autosport are reporting that Renault reserve Lucas di Grassi has been talking to Manor and he is confident of having a race seat somewhere next year.

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

Quotes Roundup – Week Ending 11th October

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

Massa Returns to the Track

Felipe Massa behind the wheel of the F2007…

• “The simulator uses an A1GP single-seater, so it’s not exactly like Formula 1, but pretty close. I drove on the track in Barcelona to avoid creating an even bigger test atmosphere.” Felipe Massa
  
• “Felipe will return to Maranello tomorrow where, on Monday, he will take a further step in his recovery programme in the best possible way, taking the wheel of a private F2007 single-seater in a test under the personal assistance of the F1 Clienti department.” Ferrari Statement
  
• “Everything went well, I felt very good physically, it felt like the crash from 25 July had never occurred. I haven’t had any eyesight problem and today I’d be ready to do not just one, but two races in a row.” Felipe Massa
  

New Teams on Schedule

US F1 and Manor confirm everything is going to plan…

• “Because of all the time we’ve lost, our ambition to run two young Americans is looking more difficult. I’m still hoping we’ll be able to run one American, but that’s a tall order because there aren’t many Americans out there with superlicences.” Peter Windsor
  
• “I personally visited the US F1 Team in August as well as this week, and I am impressed with the progress made by the organization since the Concorde Agreement was signed in late July.” Nick Craw
  
• “We are already assembling components on a mock-up chassis, the first real chassis is being built and should be ready in four or five weeks’ time. I’m very satisfied with the way crash tests are going and therefore I predict that the first car will be able to start running on the track at the beginning of February.” Nick Wirth
  

Driver Desires

Some of those drivers just want to return…

• “To me, F1 is an unfinished job so I want to get back in and just have a competitive package to drive, because now I have the experience, I have the speed. I really hope I can do it.” Takuma Sato
  
• “I’m speaking to a few teams that have open spaces and the new teams are still open. I am under no illusions about how difficult it will be, but I’m talking to people and if I’m given a chance, I will give 100 per cent.” Nelson Piquet Jr
  
• “It’s looking pretty good actually. We have some good offers on the table, and this is what we needed really. I think Formula 1 is in a tough moment, with many drivers on the market and that doesn’t make it easy for drivers outside of Formula 1 to get it.” Bruno Senna
  

07-Oct-09: Renault Announce Kubica for 2010

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It’s the 7th October 2009, welcome to F1 Minute.

Now that Alonso has been confirmed at Ferrari for 2010, the floodgates have opened and the driver market is on the move. Today, Renault announced they have signed current BMW driver Robert Kubica for next year. Kubica says he is looking forward to it, and he feels comfortable with the team, having been part of their young driver development programme. Current Renault team principal Bob Bell says: “Ever since Robert made his Grand Prix debut in 2006, he has been on our radar as one of the most naturally talented drivers of his generation, and he has delivered on that promise so it’s great to have secured him in one of our cars next season.”

On that subject, US F1 boss Peter Windsor has said because the Concorde Agreement was signed so late, their desire to run two American drivers is going to be tricky. He says: “I’m still hoping we’ll be able to run one American, but that’s a tall order because there aren’t many Americans out there with superlicences.”

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

07-Aug-09: USF1 On Schedule to be Ready for 2010

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Welcome to F1 Minute for the 7th August.

Today, Peter Windsor has been talking about his new team USF1 and confirms that they are well within their schedule to be ready for the beginning of the 2010 season. Speaking to Sports Illustrated, he said: “We haven’t lost any time at all, to be honest. We’ll start manufacturing the car in the next couple of months. We don’t have to have the car built until early January. In general, the design is completed, but you never say it’s completely done.” He went on to add that they really are hoping to get American drivers in both of their seats, and reiterated that Danica Patrick is too big a name for them right now. He says there is plenty of talent out there to choose from though.

Meanwhile, the news is scarce as the teams have all agreed to shut down their factories for two weeks in order to help cut costs. The summer break really is a break! That being the case, F1 Minute will take a week off, as will F1 Big Picture. There are plenty of photos in the archive though, if you find yourself bored.

Have a great weekend, and I’ll be back on the 17th August.

17-May-09: USGPE Plan to Hit the Track in January

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Welcome to F1 Minute, today is the 17th May.

There’s more news on USGPE’s preparations for next season. With submissions underway for 2010, and successful applicants to be announced in June, Peter Windsor has confirmed that the car will be completed by September. They want to test it out over the following couple of months and be ready to run out on track by January. Co-owner Ken Anderson revealed that the £40 million budget cap is close to what they were planning to spend anyway, so they’re happy for that to go ahead.

Elsewhere, today, Red Bull ran a demonstration through the streets of Hungary, with Sebastian Vettel and Sebastien Buemi taking to the wheel. Vettel drove the Red Bull Racing show car, whilst Buemi took to driving a NASCAR round the city – his first time in a NASCAR and he said it was heavy and difficult to turn.

Whilst at the event, Vettel confirmed that Red Bull will debut the double diffuser at Monaco.

That’ll do it for now, please join me again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.

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