F1 News

Valencia Grand Prix Future in Doubt

• Posted in F1 News

The future of the European Grand Prix in Valencia is in doubt after the city’s government indicated that it wants to renegotiate its race fee.

Jose Ciscar, vice-president of the Generalitat Valenciana, said he was embarking on a “complete and thorough review” of the major events budget.

Valencia has a contract to host the race on a street circuit on the city’s waterfront until 2014.

Ciscar does not rule out cancelling the race. “We do not discount anything.”

He also said that he would be contacting F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone to discuss the city’s wishes.

The move makes Valencia, which is reputed to pay in the region of 25 million Euros (£20.6m) a year to host the grand prix, the second race to ask Ecclestone to reduce F1′s fees.

Korea, which made its debut on the calendar in 2010, is also reconsidering the future of its race.

There are also doubts about two races on the 2012 calendar – Bahrain because of ongoing unrest in the Gulf state and the new US Grand Prix, on account of delays in building the track in Austin, Texas.

Read more: bbc.co.uk

Oliver Rowland Awarded with F1 McLaren test

• Posted in F1 News

Oliver Rowland will have a Formula One test with McLaren after collecting a coveted award previously won by the likes of Jenson Button and David Coulthard.

The 19-year-old won the Autosport British Racing Drivers’ Club award, which also includes £100,000 in prize money and full membership of the BRDC.

Rowland was runner-up in the Formula Renault UK race series in 2011.

The winner was announced after evaluation in Formula 2, HWA Mercedes-Benz DTM and McLaren MP4-12C GT3 cars at Silverstone, and Rowland said that it had been far from a smooth year.

“I don’t know what to say,” Oliver Rowland said. “It’s been a difficult year for me. I lost someone very close to me in [karting guru] Martin Hines, who passed away this year. He’s helped me for six or seven years. I’ve had lots to learn this year in my first year of Formula Renault. I have learned a lot and now I’m here. I just can’t believe it.”

The award is backed by McLaren, motorsport magazine Autosport and the BRDC. It was set up in 1989 to acknowledge young racing drivers from the UK.

Meanwhile Germany’s Sebastian Vettel, a double world champion after winning his second successive Formula 1 title with Red Bull this year, was named as International Racing Driver of the Year.

Force India F1 driver Di Resta was named Rookie of the Year.

Kimi Raikkonen Returns to F1 2012 with Renault

• Posted in F1 News

Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen will return to Formula 1 next season after signing a two-year deal with Renault, who will become Lotus in 2012.

The 32-year-old left F1 at the end of 2009 to pursue a career in rallying.

The Finn was strongly linked with a move to Williams just a few week ago, but Renault have pounced for his signature after it was confirmed that Robert Kubica will miss the start of next season due to the injuries he sustained during a rallying accident earlier this year.

“My hunger for F1 has recently become overwhelming,” said Raikkonen. “It was an easy choice to return with Lotus Renault GP.”

The Finn, who won the title in 2007 with Ferrari, added: “I have been impressed by the scope of the team’s ambition. Now I’m looking forward to playing an important role in pushing the team to the very front of the grid.

“My time in the World Rally Championship has been a useful stage in my career as a driver.”

Kimi made his Formula One debut back in 2001 with Sauber. He then spent five seasons with McLaren, from 2002 to 2006, winning nine Grands Prix and twice finishing runner-up in the drivers’ championship. He moved to Ferrari for 2007.

Team owner Gerard Lopez said the high-profile signing of Raikkonen was one of several steps the squad are taking to return to the front of F1, adding that he is delighted to have captured the services of a world champion.

“All year long, we kept saying that our team was at the start of a brand new cycle. Backstage we’ve been working hard to build the foundations of a successful structure and to ensure that we would soon be able to fight at the highest level,” he said.

Raikkonen’s return to F1 means there will be six World Champions on the grid next year as the Finn will line up next to Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel.

Australian Grand Prix 2011 Race Report

• Posted in F1 2011 . F1 News

Vettel beats Hamilton in season opener

World champion Sebastian Vettel got his title defence off to the ideal start with a well-judged 11th career victory in the Australian Grand Prix.

The Red Bull ace made a perfect getaway from pole position and was never seriously threatened – though nor did he disappear into the wide blue yonder as it appeared he might when he finished the opening lap with a 2.4s lead.

Indeed, Lewis Hamilton kept him within sight for much of the race as McLaren again showed better than expected pace, then coped superbly with a detached undertray to bring the MP4-26 home in second place. read more

A brilliant start from Russian Vitaly Petrov propelled him to his first podium with third for Renault.

Scot Paul di Resta was 10th for Force India on his debut.

He finished 12th but the two Saubers were disqualified for a technical infringement.

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso jumped Mark Webber’s Red Bull in his final pit stop to take fourth place from the Australian, who could only equal his career-best finish at his home race.

There was more frustration for Mercedes as both Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg retired from the race.
read more

Sauber’s Sergio Perez was another sensation. Driving on his debut with the spirit of Pedro Rodriguez at his shoulder, the young Mexican drove an incredible race with just one pit stop (up to four had been predicted) and beat team mate Kamui Kobayashi for seventh place on a great day for Peter Sauber’s team.

The Swiss cars’ pace was too much for Toro Rosso, who saw a resurgent Sebastien Buemi fighting with Massa for ninth place. The Swiss moved ahead on Lap 51, only to be repassed by the Ferrari three laps later. read more

Singapore Grand Prix 2010 Race Report

• Posted in F1 News . Singapore GP

Singapore Grand Prix 2010
24 – 26 September, Singapore

Alonso Wins Singapore GP 2010

Flawless Fernando Alonso edges Vettel for Singapore win

Fernando Alonso moved himself right into the thick of the world title battle by taking his second consecutive victory with a consummate drive in the Singapore Grand Prix.

The brilliant pole position the Ferrari team leader earned on Saturday gave him the upper hand in a relentless race-long duel with Red Bull rival Sebastian Vettel, who finished just 0.2s behind in a rousing finish.

Alonso’s win moved him into second place in the championship standings ahead of Lewis Hamilton, whose title hopes took a further knock when he crashed out in a collision with Mark Webber shortly after half-distance.

Read more

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton failed to finish after colliding with the Red Bull of Mark Webber.

Webber went on to finish third, ahead of Hamilton’s team-mate Jenson Button.

Alonso’s win lifts the Spaniard to second in the drivers’ championship, just 11 points behind Webber, with Hamilton nine points adrift in third.

The twisting nature of the street circuit meant the start was likely to represent one of the only genuine overtaking opportunities in the race.

The fact the first five on the grid came out of the second corner in unchanged order did not appear to bode well for those hoping to see plenty of passing action.

Read more

Singapore Grand Prix result

1 ALONSO Ferrari 1h57m53.6s
2 VETTEL Red Bull +0.2s
3 WEBBER Red Bull +29.1s
4 BUTTON McLaren +30.3s
5 ROSBERG Mercedes +49.3s
6 BARRICHELLO Williams +56.1s
7 KUBICA Renault +1m26.6s
8 SUTIL Force India +1m52.4s
9 HULKENBERG Williams +1m52.8s
10 MASSA Ferrari +1m53.3s
11 PETROV Renault +1 lap
12 ALGUERSUARI Toro Rosso +1 lap
13 SCHUMACHER Mercedes +1 lap
14 BUEMI Toro Rosso +1 lap
15 DI GRASSI Virgin +2 laps
16 KOVALAINEN Lotus +3 laps
R GLOCK Virgin +12 laps
R HEIDFELD Sauber +25 laps
R HAMILTON McLaren +26 laps
R KLIEN HRT +30 laps
R KOBAYASHI Sauber +31 laps
R SENNA HRT +32 laps
R TRULLI Lotus +34 laps
R LIUZZI Force India +60 laps