Rossi turns his back on F1

As reported on ITV-F1.com “No Formula 1, at least for the moment. I will stay with motorcycles,” he said in a statement. “I will carry on racing in MotoGP for a while yet.” “I feel that my work on motorcycles is not finished yet,” he said. “I still have much motivation and I will continue [...]

Ecclestone supports Shnaider

As reported on f1racing.net “When Jordan was for sale it was Shnaider who was the only one putting the money on the table to save the team,” Ecclestone told Autosprint. “If it wasn’t for his intervention, the team would have folded and there would have been only 18 cars in 2005. He represents a serious [...]

Briatore fears 2007 tyre rules could favour Ferrari

As reported on Reuters Renault team boss Flavio Briatore fears Michelin’s departure from Formula One at the end of the year could give Ferrari an advantage in 2007 unless the governing body steps in. “I believe we need to be worried about that, absolutely,” he told reporters in Spain at the weekend when asked whether [...]

Alonso fined $2,000 for speeding in pit lane

As reported on reuters World champion Fernando Alonso collected a $2,000 fine on Friday for exceeding the pit lane speed limit in the first free practice session for his home Spanish Grand Prix. But that was about the only excitement the Renault driver could offer the crowd chanting his name at the Circuit de Catalunya. [...]

Upgrade to kick-start Button’s season?

As reported on channel4.com British Formula One driver Jenson Button is hoping that an improved Honda engine will kick-start his season at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix. Honda’s sporting director Gil de Ferran is also upbeat his team’s chances at Circuit de Catalunya on Sunday, adding: “We have the latest specification engine for both drivers. [...]

Honda appoint chief aerodynamicist.

As reported on crash.net The decision comes as the Brackley based team prepare for the final commissioning of its new state of the art wind tunnel, with building work on the full scale tunnel nearly completed. As such Alperin-Bruvera will now lead the efforts of a ‘significantly’ expanded team of aerodynamicists, designers, technicians and model-makers, [...]

Toyota ring changes post-Gascoyne

As reported on BBC The two technical director roles have been abolished, leaving engine boss Luca Marmorini and chassis boss Vasselon as senior general managers. Despite his new title, Vasselon will take on many of Gascoyne’s responsibilities in chassis design, aerodynamics, race and test engineering and team management. Toyota team president, John Howett, said teamwork [...]

BMW oppose F1 engine freeze

As reported on wheels24.co.za BMW motor sport director Mario Theissen told sport1.de, “It is true that this (engine freeze) idea does not correspond with our beliefs.” “On the other hand, we see that excessive money and resources are wasted in formula one, (so) we work with other engine manufacturers on the possibility of saving money [...]

New report reveals $4 billion value of F1

As reported on pitpass.com Formula One generated more than $4 billion (£2.17bn) in revenues in 2005, with more than $2.5 billion (£1.4bn) of this flowing to the teams. Over a quarter of the total revenues is made up by spending from the team owners, who are believed to have plunged more than $1.3 billion (£708m) [...]

Prodrive confirmed as 12th team

As reported on itv-f1.com The sport’s governing body issued a list of the 12 successful applicants on Friday morning, confirming that David Richards’ Banbury-based organisation will join the 11 existing F1 teams on the 2008 grid. The FIA said Prodrive was chosen (by a fax vote of the World Motor Sport Council) because it had [...]