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

10-Nov-08: Force India Announce Partnership with McLaren-Mercedes

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This is F1 Minute and it’s the 10th November 2008.

Force India have confirmed what we all suspected, that they are partnering with McLaren next year. The deal will see the 2009 Force India feature a Mercedes HighPerformanceEngine and a McLaren gearbox and hydraulic system. The agreement lasts for five years, and has given Vijay Mallya a lot of hope for the future. He says: “Of course in 2009 it’s virtually a brand new car and a brand new design. At least from my perspective, winning races I think I can certainly aspire for maybe in 2010, but for 2009 I would be happy if we are regularly in the points. ” For McLaren, Martin Whitmarsh has said the deal makes the two teams very close, and they will discuss all aspects of racing together, however they won’t be making driver decisions on Force India’s behalf.

Also this weekend, the FOTA have agreed that cutting the cost of customer engines is a way to appease the FIA, and have set the price at £4 million.

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

Quotes Roundup - Week Ending 9th Nov

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

Reactions to the Brazilian Grand Prix

On the closest Formula 1 championship finish…

• “In all my years in Formula One, I haven’t seen such an incredibly exciting finish to a championship. I always said that we’d be fighting until the last corner of the last Grand Prix and that’s exactly what happened at the end of a brilliantly tense competition.” Luca di Montezemolo
• “He is great. Lewis went out there to win the title and he has won it. I believe the finale was amazing - but congratulations to Lewis. It was fantastic for the sport. It was fantastic for the television and an amazing finish.” Flavio Briatore
• “Both Felipe and Lewis are fantastic drivers to be honest. They have done the sport a credit, both of them, with their approach and their attitude. It is a shame that one of them had to lose as both did a great job.” Ross Brawn

Renault’s Driver Announcement

On the re-signing of Alonso and Piquet…

• “I have decided to stay with the ING Renault F1 team because, as I have often repeated this season, they have always been my first choice and I feel very happy and comfortable with them. It’s a very close-knit team with a competitive and winning mentality, and also a relaxed and warm attitude, which suits me perfectly.” Fernando Alonso
• “Although I have had a tough year, I have learned a lot from my rookie season and I will aim to put that experience to good use next season. I want to thank the team for their support this year and for the trust they have shown in me for the future.” Nelson Piquet Jr
• “This gives the ING Renault F1 Team one of the most exciting driver pairings with the perfect blend of youth and experience.” Flavio Briatore

Team Principals and Future Plans

On 2009 and beyond…

• “For me the reference point is BMW and the job they have done, it is pretty impressive. They have still to continue their climb but I think if we as a team achieve the competitiveness BMW manage to we will be quite pleased.” Ross Brawn
• “We have come a long way this season, but we need more and that requires some radical reorganisation of the management structure to ensure the maximum productivity. I would like to thank Colin Kolles for his tireless efforts in keeping such a small team alive and to Mike Gascoyne for bringing his wealth of technical expertise. Both have played an instrumental part in making the team what it is today.” Vijay Mallya
• “Formula One is set to experience the most significant rule changes in its history. Wide-reaching controls on aerodynamics systems will see the cars looking totally different in 2009, treadless tyres will be brought back and the totally new KERS technology introduced. “This may bring about shifts in the balance of power. This extremely challenging scenario does not alter our goal of fighting for the world championship title in 2009.” Mario Theissen

Force India Unveils New Management Structure

Following on from today’s announcement regarding the amicable termination of the Ferrari contract, the Force India Formula One Team has taken yet another step forward with its 2009 revamp plans.

Force India’s senior management structure will be streamlined with immediate effect. Dr Vijay Mallya will assume the responsibilities of Team Principal in addition to his position as Chairman, to play a greater role in the direction of the team, assisted by Robert Fernley, Director of Force India. In a reorganisation of the team’s technical department, Mark Smith, design director, and James Key, technical director, will share entire responsibility for the design of the VJM02 and future cars.

As a result of the restructure, Colin Kolles, Mike Gascoyne and Patrick Missling, formerly corporate and business director, will no longer form a direct part of the team’s design, manufacture, race and test operations.

Dr Vijay Mallya commented, ‘Force India is my most difficult project to date and it has become clear that it requires more direct input from my side and greater performance accountability. We have come a long way this season, but we need more and that requires some radical reorganisation of the management structure to ensure the maximum productivity. I would like to thank Colin Kolles for his tireless efforts in keeping such a small team alive and to Mike Gascoyne for bringing his wealth of technical expertise. Both have played an instrumental part in making the team what it is today. On Monday November 10th,I will announce the new Technical direction of the team as well as the appointment of a new Chief Operating Officer who will assume overall responsibility for our Silverstone and Brackley facilities, Race and Test operations.”

07-Nov-08: Force India Change Engine Partners and Technical Direction

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Welcome to F1 Minute, it’s the 7th November.

It’s all change at Force India, as the team issued a press release today confirming that they will be ending the partnership with Ferrari. The contract was due to expire after next season, but Force India have called for it to end a year early. We are all assuming that there will be news of a McLaren engine agreement soon.

Vijay Mallya also announced that he is reorganising the team and has shuffled the management around to give himself more responsibility. The move sees both Colin Kolles and Mike Gascoyne without a job. Mallya said that Force India was the toughest project he’d ever had and having watched from the sidelines for a year, he can see he needs to be more hands on. He now takes over the Technical Director role and says: “On Monday November 10th, I will announce the new technical direction of the team as well as the appointment of a new Chief Operating Officer.”

Finally, a quick notice. As the season is now over, F1 Minute returns to it’s weekday only schedule, so have a great weekend, and I’ll be back on Monday with another F1 Minute.

29-Oct-08: Mallya Will Reveal Force India Engine Supplier Soon

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Welcome to F1 Minute for the 29th October 2008.

In his preview quotes ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend, Force India owner Vijay Mallya admitted that they would be revealing their engine supplier for next season very soon. He said: “I will make sure that my team has the best solution for engine, drivetrain and KERS possible so we can get a good head start and try to get the points that have eluded us so far this season.” He also mentioned that the lack of points was disappointing, because he knows the team are improving, but says it’s because they are concentrating on 2009.

This comes on top of Ron Dennis’ thoughts on the subject a few days ago. He said that discussions with Force India were still on track, despite the standard engine concerns: “So far we are not in a binding commitment on either side. We are very open to trying to achieve our goal, which is not to make money or lose money, but to be an absolute supporter of one of the independent teams - who are not the lifeblood of F1 but an essential ingredient of F1.”

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

22-Sep-08: Ross Brawn Defends 2009 Rear Wing Style

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

At the Jerez test last week, Williams ran a brand new but old-style rear wing in preparation for 2009. Not everyone, including myself, is in favour of the look of the cars with this wing, but Ross Brawn has defended the change. “I think they look okay - and they look in many ways nicer because the bodywork doesn’t have all this furniture. It is a much bigger front wing and smaller higher rear wing, but we have had things like that in the past.” He said that just like when grooved tyres were introduced, people didn’t like the look of them, but we will soon get used to it.

Talking of 2009, Vijay Mallya has spoken about how he is measuring the performance of his team, and whilst he says Force India are doing well this year, next season will be the real test. “I’ve always said that we will take baby steps in 2008, such as getting into Q2, and I think we have managed to do that. In 2009 we have no excuses, I know that, and I will make sure that we perform.”

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

11-Aug-08: Mallya Discusses Force India Improvements

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Today is the 11th August 2008, and this is F1 Minute.

The boss of Force India, Vijay Mallya, has been talking to Formula1.com today about how he thinks his team are getting on. For a start, Mallya believes that his investment in the team this year has had to bring them up to scratch, from a position he says was about three years behind everyone else. The improvement this year has impressed him, and he’s expecting even more.

“I am quite optimistic that my experience so far has pointed us very correctly into the right direction. I know now precisely what I am up against, I know precisely the challenge before me, so I can plan better. I feel happy that maybe I learned the hard way, but it is good to learn! So 2009 will see a much more competitive Force India team.”

Mallya also points out that the team are happy with their new seamless shift gearbox and can’t wait to introduce it in Valencia, but it will be the last major improvement for them in 2008.

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

15-Jul-08: Force India to Concentrate on 2009

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Welcome to F1 Minute for the 15^th July 2008.

Force India have joined the list of teams to switch their development focus from this year to next years car. Honda and Renault have already hinted at the fact that they are concentrating on adapting to the 2009 regulations. Now Vijay Mallya has said the only major update for the Force India this year is to switch to a seamless shift gearbox, and that’s it. Mallya also defended his team’s performance, saying: “Ferrari didn’t win a world championship for years until Michael Schumacher came along in 1996, and even then it took three or four years to win. So people can’t expect miracles from me in one season, but I’m getting there, and I’m showing that I’m inching forward.”

Elsewhere today, it looks like Spanish fans may be able to watch the remainder of the season live on their mobile phones if they so desire. The company HYC is partnering with TV broadcasters to enable this: “richer communications experience though a personalized and interactive service.” We’ll see.

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

02-May-08: Super Aguri and Weigl Open Up About Potential Deal

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This is F1 Minute for the 2^nd May 2008.

Super Aguri have revealed that their future is looking slightly brighter, as they are in the final stages of a deal with German company Weigl. The automotive group are apparently in discussions for a substantial shareholding, and are being very open about it, which is unusual for a business deal of this size and importance. The CEO of Weigl issued a statement simply expressing their support of Super Aguri, whilst Aguri Suzuki also spoke out saying: “Super Aguri F1 Team believes this to be a just and reasonable offer.”

In other news today, Vijay Mallya has asked his Force India team to find out what is hampering their pace in qualifying, as he believes a good slot on the grid is key to moving up the finishing order. Mallya said the team had demonstrated they had the race pace, but: “”We do need to sort out our qualifying pace, which is our Achilles heel at the moment. If we start a few places up the grid we won’t get into traffic or be a little accident prone like we are when starting from the back.”

That’s all for this week, have a great weekend and join me on Monday for another F1 Minute.

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