Seven F1 men for Speedcar
The Dubai-based Speedcar Series kicks off later this week for its second season of racing with seven teams from six countries.
Germans talk of troubles with Grand Prix
Hockenheim says that without financial aid from the state of Baden-Wurttemberg there will be no more Formula 1 races at the circuit near Heidelberg. Hockenheim made a substantial loss on this year's German Grand Prix and says that it is not possible for that to happen again.
Scott Speed lands a permanent NASCAR drive
Scott Speed will join fellow F1 refugee Juan Pablo Montoya next year as a full time driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup The former Scuderia Toro Rosso driver has taken the oval racing world by storm this year and has now been confirmed as the permanent replacement for AJ Allmendinger at Team Red Bull.
South Africa getting serious about F1?
There are reports in The Citizen newspaper in South Africa that a new company called GP Motorsport (which apparently stands for Gauteng Province) has been formed with the goal of bringing Formula 1 back to the country.
No cars for Donington Park
The British Grand Prix at Donington - if it happens - will be held without fans being able to drive into the circuit. If all goes according to plan the spectators would have to take buses from Nottingham, Leicester or Derby, take the train to East Midlands Parkway Station or fly to East Midlands Airport.
Forum to discuss F1 survey results in Monaco
Key representatives from Formula 1’s teams, sponsors, media and governing body will take centre stage at this year’s Motor Sport Business Forum to discuss the findings of a recent global survey of motor racing fans.
Ferrari looks to a new generation
Scuderia Ferrari has been testing three young Italian drivers to see how they do wioth F1 power. The team ran a test for Edoardo Piscopo, Salvatore Cicatelli and Mirko Bortolotti at Fiorano. Piscopo currently races in the Atlantic series in the United States, while Cicatella and Bortolotti have been racing in Formula 3 in Italy.
Bahrain and Abu Dhabi to work together
The Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) and Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management (ADMM) have reached an agreement to work together to identify and harness opportunities stemming from the presence of two Grand Prix circuits in the Gulf region.
Global partnerships and F1
The announcement of a global partnership between LG and the Formula One group seems set to mark the start of a campaign to raise money for the sport from marketing partnerships. This is logical given what has been seen with the Olympic Games and the soccer World Cup.
What is wrong with a gong?
Bernie Ecclestone's desire to have medals rather than points to decide the World Championship is much in the spotlight again. Ecclestone argues that deciding the World Championship on the number of gold, silver and bronze medals that a driver collects is a better way than adding up points in the course of the season.
Building up the pressure
The FIA wants Formula 1 teams to come up with a sensible scheme for cost-cutting in the mid-term and it seems to be intent on forcing the issue if there are no concrete proposals agreed with regard to engine supply.
It takes two to tango
It seems that the authorities in Shanghai have become rather uppity at reports that the Chinese Grand Prix may not continue in the city at the end of the current contract. The authorities say that the reports, quoting the city's deputy sports director, Qiu Weichang, were incorrect, probably due to problems of translation.
LG joins Formula One as a global partner
The Formula One group is moving forward with its plans to increase revenues in the years ahead with the announcement in London of a global partnership with Korea's LG Electronics.
Red Bull buys out Berger
Red Bull has bought Gerhard Berger's share of Scuderia Toro Rosso and will once again own 100% of the shares in the Italian-based team, previously known as Minardi. "I'm very grateful to Gerhard for his enormous input," said Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz.
Liuzzi fastest in Speedcar testing
Force India F1 test driver Vitantonio Liuzzi clocked the quickest lap at the Speedcar Series test at the Dubai Autodrome, beating Jacques Villeneuve's best time and clear of rising star Nico Hulkenberg, who in the Formula 3 Euroseries champion and the Williams F1 test driver.
Manwaring moves to Mallock
Rupert Manwaring, who for many years was involved with various Formula 1 teams, has departed Lola Cars International and will become the new sponsorship and marketing director of the RML Group.
Webber talks about his accident
Mark Webber has been talking to the Herald Sun newspaper in Australia about the cycling accident in Tasmania which left him with a broken right leg. The Red Bull driver is in Hobart Private Hospital and says he will be back in action as soon as he can be.
The truth will out
For years there have been indications that Rubens Barrichello was forced to hand over victory to Michael Schumacher in the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix at the A1 Ring. Ferrari wanted Schumacher to win the race and collect the maximum points for the Drivers' World Championship but he could not beat Barrichello and only won the race when Rubens let him at the finish line.
Careful Nico...
Nico Rosberg has warned Williams F1 that he could leave after next season if the former World Champions fail to give him a competitive car. Rosberg is free to go at the end of the current season.
Racing man to be commercial chief of British Olympic Association
The British Olympic Association has appointed Hugh Chambers as its chief commercial officer. Chambers was a leading player in Prodrive from 1995 until 2005 during which time the company won multiple touring car, Le Mans and World Rally titles.
Globetrotter - Ouch, this economic crisis thing is hurting...
By Joe Saward
The world economic crisis is not good news for Formula 1, but it may be a catalyst for change that will improve the way things are done in the sport.
Globetrotter - Respect and chivalry
By Joe Saward
Sunday was the best day I can remember in my motor racing career. I have thought about it a fair bit on the way home and while I have many great memories from 25 years in the sport, this one really stands out. Why? Because it was the most extraordinary piece of sporting theatre. Yes, but also because I was proud of the sport. Really proud.
A hack looks back - On Brazil
By Mike Doodson
How much of a boost does a driver get from his home crowd when he's racing at his home circuit? Nigel Mansell used to insist it was worth a second a lap to be performing in front of the Silverstone fans, and although I am sure his engineers had sufficient data to pooh-pooh such an extravagant claim, there is undoubtedly a useful psychological advantage to have ten or twenty thousand people urging you on.
Globetrotter - The Cavern Club, the Bund, Toy Town and reality TV
By Joe Saward
The last few weeks have been spectacularly busy for the Formula 1 community with two trips to Asia and back - and three races in four weekends. This is useful if you are trying to qualify for an airline's frequent flyer gold card - which is a useful thing to have - or if you need to catch up on the new movies of the last 12 months, but not much good for the old body clock.
A Hack Looks Back - On Japan and China
By Mike Doodson
As the F1 circus sets up its show this weekend at the foot of an extinct volcano in Japan's wettest prefecture, you might be tempted to imagine that Britain's own rain-master, the web-toed Lewis Hamilton, has a fine chance of repeating last year's five-star performance in torrential conditions and wading home to an easy win for McLaren-Mercedes.
Global partnerships and F1
The announcement of a global partnership between LG and the Formula One group seems set to mark the start of a campaign to raise money for the sport from marketing partnerships. This is logical given what has been seen with the Olympic Games and the soccer World Cup.
Quitting time?
The threat by Ferrari to pull out of Formula 1 if the FIA President Max Mosley goes on with his plans to introduce standard engines is not unexpected. This, of course, provides the media with a good story for the next 24 hours, but what does it really mean?
Thoughts after the yelling and screaming
There continue to be different opinions about Lewis Hamilton's penalty in Spa, including some rather bizarre comments from Surinder Thatti, the Tanzanian steward (who represents Kenya), who was part of the decision-making process.
What games are these?
Bernie Ecclestone has told the BBC that he would welcome Max Mosley back into the Grand Prix paddock after the sado-masochistic sex scandal in March, which has kept Mosley out of F1 for most of the year. The FIA President made a brief appearance at Monaco, but this was simply a photo opportunity designed to give the impression that it was business as usual.
And so to Valencia
Formula 1 teams have been visiting the city of Valencia for some time, to test at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo. This was not enough for the local government, which was looking for a sporting event to draw people to the city, following the successful America's Cup event in 2007.
An interesting settlement
Ferrari and McLaren have announced that they are bringing to an end the various legal disputes between them. McLaren has agreed to pay Ferrari's legal costs arising from the actions, which relate to the spying scandals of 2007.
Planning permission in England
Donington Park says it will be the home of the British Grand Prix by 2010, but there are many obstacles to be got over before that announcement becomes a reality.
Analysing the World Council
The FIA World Motorsport Council did not produce the fireworks that had been suggested might happen. However there are clear indications that Max Mosley is pushing ahead with his strategy to improve his historical reputation by creating the sport as it ought to be - rather than the sport he had fashioned before the scandal began.
