06-Dec-07: Renault Escape Sanction From WMSC
Today is the 6th December 2007, I’m Christine and this is F1 Minute.
The World Motorsport Council gathered today to discuss McLaren’s espionage accusation against Renault. They found Renault to be in breach of Article 151C of the Sporting Code, but issued no penalty against the team. A transcript of the meeting will be released at some point, but further details will be forthcoming tomorrow.
Renault issued a statement almost immediately after the decision was announced, with Briatore thanking the sponsors for their support and the team for quote: “handling the matter with integrity and dignity.” McLaren have yet to comment.
Out on track, Kubica set the fastest time in the third day of testing at Jerez. He was running with slick tyres and just managed to beat Hamilton, who was on the regular grooved tyres. Michael Schumacher was back with Ferrari, running the slick tyres, and posted only the 8th fastest time.
Brother Ralf was in the Force India car, but struggled throughout the day, causing a red flag and ending up bottom of the timesheets. Another red flag came from Nakajima, who had to stop on track with engine problems.
That’s all for today, please join me tomorrow for another F1 Minute.
30-Nov-07: Ecclestone and Fisichella Battle It Out
This is F1 Minute for the 30th November 2007.
Another war of words has hit the headlines, this time between Bernie Ecclestone and Giancarlo Fisichella. Ecclestone was quoted on the Official Formula 1 website as saying he thought perhaps it was time Fisichella and Ralf Schumacher called it a day, instead of prolonging an unproductive career. Fisichella has retaliated on his own website saying that when he and Alonso were team mates, he was actually the first to get a win from the championship winning Renault.
Ron Dennis has been in the news talking, once again, about how McLaren are in no rush to pick their second driver. An interesting quote, though, regarding Alonso, he said: “You can’t win at all costs. It’s good that the only ambition is to win and that’s what they are hired for, but you have to know how to deal with your impulses and with difficult situations.”
And finally, rather unsurprisingly, Lewis Hamilton has been shortlisted as one of ten possibilities for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. He is up against nine other stars of the year including Paula Radcliffe, Jonny Wilkinson and Andy Murray.
That’s all for today, have a great weekend and please join me on Monday for another F1 Minute.
28-Nov-07: The Incredibly Popular Force India
This is F1 Minute for the 28th November 2007.
Given all the McLaren headlines of late, you would think they are the team everyone wants to join. But it looks like Force India are giving them a run for their money, with no less than seven drivers hoping for a race drive.
Among the many are Ralf Schumacher, Giancarlo Fisichella, Christian Klien, Tonio Liuzzi and Franck Montagny. Force India have confirmed that Schumacher and Fisichella will each get a full day of testing in Jerez next week, to assess potential for the spare seat alongside Adrian Sutil. Liuzzi and Klien are both testing for the second time for the team, having been called back from Barcelona.
Current test drivers Roldan Rodriguez and Giedo van der Garde make up the seven interested parties, although neither of them have any race experience within Formula 1. With such big names fighting for a place in a small team, an interesting post over on the International Herald Tribune blog points out that many drivers race for the love of it, rather than simply to win. And apparently, they also get their travel and food expenses for the test paid for them.
That’s all for today, please join me tomorrow for another F1 Minute.
27-Nov-07: Teams, Drivers, Their Futures
Today is 27th November 2007, I’m Christine from Sidepodcast and this is F1 Minute.
All the headlines today focus on driver and team futures, starting with Ralf Schumacher’s apparent desire to get in the McLaren seat. The actual quotes appear to point to him saying it is simply a coveted seat, that’s all.
Rosberg has announced that he hopes to stay with Williams for the long haul, because he wants the challenge of bringing them back to the top again. He said he’s not going anywhere for at least another season, and hopes for more than that. He says it’s nice to be linked to McLaren and he’d like to drive with his old friend Lewis Hamilton, but for now he wants to be to Williams what Schumacher was to Ferrari.
After Coulthard’s statement yesterday that Alonso would most likely not be joining Red Bull, Webber has come out and said he’s confident about his own race seat. And Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz has confirmed that Alonso is not in their plans.
And finally, Adrian Sutil has ruled out joining another team in 2008, despite his name being linked with several opportunities around the grid. Mike Gascoyne from Force India has also spoken out, saying that the one point the team scored last year will only spur them on to try even harder in the next.
That’s all for today, please join me tomorrow for another F1 Minute.
19-Nov-07: Toyota Confirm Timo Glock as New Driver
Welcome to a brand new week of F1 Minute. These are your headlines for today, 19th November 2007.
Toyota were expected to confirm Timo Glock as their Ralf replacement at Fuji this weekend, but the announcement was made today. Glock won the GP2 series this year, and said he is looking forward to working with the team. Toyota have said that Glock’s deal covers multiple years and they hope to arrange for his early exit from BMW.
Christian Klien was one of the many drivers testing for Force India last week, in the hopes of securing a drive with the new team for 2008. Klien said he was impressed with the car and the team, and they obviously thought the same of him, as he has been invited to join them again in Jerez in December.
And finally, Flavio Briatore has been talking about their drivers for next year. The rumours are out that Fisichella has already hung up his Renault boots, and Briatore’s words have caused speculation about Kovalainen’s future as well. The team boss also said that he is 60% confident they can get Alonso back to Renault, but that an announcement either way would be made soon.
That’s all for today, please join me tomorrow for another F1 Minute.