Max Mosley refused to acknowledge the craven manner in which the FIA backed down from punishing Renault yesterday. He insisted the team received “the harshest [penalty] we can impose”, which was patently false given that they kept all the points and money earned by their ill-gotten victory, and have not been banned from any events. … Continue reading Mosley says Renault got the ‘harshest penalty’ but hardly anyone agrees
Month: September 2009 articles archive
Nelson Piquet Jnr wants F1 return
Posted onNelson Piquet Jnr has issued a statement following the Renault verdict in which he tries to wash his hands of the conspiracy. Rather optimistically, he sets out his case for why he feels he should get an F1 drive in 2010: I can only hope that a team will recognise how badly I was stifled … Continue reading Nelson Piquet Jnr wants F1 return
2010 F1 calendar has 19 races, starts in Bahrain and ends in Brazil
Posted onUpdate: The 2010 F1 calendar has now been confirmed. See the full calendar here: 2010 F1 calendar The 2010 F1 calendar revealed by the FIA today has 19 rounds. That equals the record for the most races in a season, set in 2005. The championship will start in Bahrain, as it did in 2006. The … Continue reading 2010 F1 calendar has 19 races, starts in Bahrain and ends in Brazil
Renault escape ban for crash
2009 F1 season
Posted onThe FIA used strong words to describe how Renault conspired to cause a deliberate crash to win the Singapore Grand Prix. It said: The World Motor Sport Council considers Renault F1’s breaches relating to the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix to be of unparalleled severity. Renault F1’s breaches not only compromised the integrity of the sport … Continue reading Renault escape ban for crash
Renault face Singapore hearing today
Posted onThe only foregone conclusion as Renault face the World Motor Sports Council today is what the verdict will be. Having revealed they will not contest the charges they caused a deliberate accident during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, a verdict of ‘guilty’ seems inevitable. But there are many more questions awaiting answers, some of which … Continue reading Renault face Singapore hearing today
Renault’s 3-seat F1 car in Russia (pictures)
Posted onRenault face the wrath of the FIA shortly but for the time being they’re still out there spreading the F1 gospel in distant lands it hasn’t reached yet. This weekend Romain Grosjean and Adam Khan visited Sochi in Russia, which is hosting a major economic forum. I must confess I didn’t know Renault had a … Continue reading Renault’s 3-seat F1 car in Russia (pictures)
F1 links: Raikkonen tipped for McLaren
Posted onThe 2010 F1 driver market rumours just get stranger. Now the Daily Mirror claims Kimi Raikkonen could return to McLaren to join Lewis Hamilton. Fact, fiction or total fantasy? Meanwhile Jaime Alguersuari continued his appearances in the World Series by Renault at the Nurburgring this weekend. But elsewhere in motor racing all eyes are still … Continue reading F1 links: Raikkonen tipped for McLaren
Singapore Grand Prix TV Times
Posted onHere are the times for the BBC’s F1 coverage of this weekend’s Singapore
Singapore GP weather: storms and smog
Posted onSeveral of the weather forecasts for the Singapore Grand Prix point out the chance of thunderstorms during the weekend. But we saw similar predictions before last year’s event and the five sessions went by without a drop of rain. Another atmospheric problem that could interfere with the race weekend is smog. Singapore’s air quality plunged … Continue reading Singapore GP weather: storms and smog
Three-car teams: yes or no? (Poll)
Posted onFerrari boss Luca di Montezemolo has mentioned several times in recent weeks he wants F1 teams to be able to run three cars in 2010 in the hope that he can lure Michael Schumacher back to drive. FIA president Max Mosley has scoffed at the idea, dismissing it as “fantasy”. But would you like to … Continue reading Three-car teams: yes or no? (Poll)
F1 links: Alonso will be at WMSC hearing
Posted onIt’s been a quiet weekend for news so far, but there have been some small developments in the ‘Crashgate’ saga. Fernando Alonso will be appearing at Renault’s WMSC hearing on Monday. Meanwhile the boss of the Spansh motor sport federation has strongly criticised both Piquet and condemned the FIA for offering Piquet Jnr immunity. FIA … Continue reading F1 links: Alonso will be at WMSC hearing
Can Andy Soucek jump from F2 to F1?
Posted onAndy Soucek became the first winner of the re-formed Formula Two championship at Imola this weekend. The 24-year-old Spanish driver now hopes to join countrymen Fernando Alonso and Jaime Alguersuari in F1 in 2010. The re-launched series is intended to be a new, low-cost proving ground for drivers aiming to step up to Formula 1. … Continue reading Can Andy Soucek jump from F2 to F1?
Singapore Grand Prix organiser says: “There’s no such thing as bad publicity”
Posted onThe Singapore Grand Prix organisers say they are not concerned that the Renault scandal has detracted from last year’s inaugural F1 race. Singapore GP CEO Michael Roche told F1 Fanatic: They say that there is no such thing as bad publicity. The governance of Formula 1 is strictly the responsibility of the FIA. However the … Continue reading Singapore Grand Prix organiser says: “There’s no such thing as bad publicity”
No punishment for Briatore or Symonds?
Posted onAn (un-bylined) article in the Daily Express suggests Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds may go unpunished for their role in the Renault crash scandal. Having left Renault, Briatore and Symonds are no longer represented by a licence holder, and so cannot be punished: Although the Council have unlimited power when it comes to imposing a … Continue reading No punishment for Briatore or Symonds?
Singha back Red Bull, but for how long?
Posted onMixing Red Bull and beer might not sound like a good idea, but the team has joined Brawn in announcing a new alcohol sponsor. Thai brand Singha will put its logos on Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel’s race suits and cars for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. But alcohol sponsorship deals in F1 could … Continue reading Singha back Red Bull, but for how long?
Did more foul play by Renault scupper Schumacher in the 2006 title decider?
Posted onFollowing Renault’s admission that Nelson Piquet Jnr crashed during the Singapore Grand Prix last year to help Fernando Alonso win, you have to wonder whether anything similar has happened before. In the 2006 title-decider at Interlagos, Michael Schumacher’s slim title chances were ruined when he made contact with Alonso’s then team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella. Did Flavio … Continue reading Did more foul play by Renault scupper Schumacher in the 2006 title decider?
F1 links: Piquet after Briatore, not Alonso
Posted onNelson Piquet the elder has come out fighting about the possibility of taking Flavio Briatore on in court, but has clarified his comments regarding any involvement by Fernando Alonso in the Renault crash scandal. I suspect many of you are, like myself, suffering from ‘crashgate fatigue’, so for something different check out David Tremayne’s interview … Continue reading F1 links: Piquet after Briatore, not Alonso
Renault reaction: Briatore speaks
Posted onFlavio Briatore has told the world’s press he stepped down from Renault to protect the team. Here’s a round-up of what people are saying about the Renault crash scandal and further developments in the story this morning: ‘I quit to save the team’, claims Flavio Briatore as Renault accept race-fixing charge (Daily Mail) "I was … Continue reading Renault reaction: Briatore speaks
Canon returns to F1 with Brawn
Posted onBrawn has picked up another new sponsor, this one in time for next weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix. Canon, which famously sponsored the championship-winning Williams-Hondas of the 1980s, will have their logos on the side of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello’s BGP001s. Brawn previously announced beer brand Itaipava as a new sposor for the Brazilian Grand … Continue reading Canon returns to F1 with Brawn
Fernando Alonso should renounce his Singapore Grand Prix ‘win’
Comment
Posted onA two-times F1 world champion like Fernando Alonso has no need of tainted triumphs handed to him in a corrupt fashion.