FIA

The Formula One’s governing body (FIA) have fined the USF1 team $414,000 (€309,000) for failing to make an appearance at this years world championship.

The FIA found the USF1 team guilty of having infringed the FIA International Sporting Code, the sporting regulations of the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship and the obligations resulting from it’s entry in this championship.

The team have also been be deprived of the right to take in any further competition for life and ordered to pay costs incurred by the FIA for the disciplinary hearing.

A month before the start of the 2010 F1 season, the team initially asked for a delay in their entry onto the grid before asking for a years suspension which was refused.

Jean Todt

Jean Todt, former Ferrari boss has been confirmed as the new president of the FIA for the next four-years after winning the majority of the votes. Todt won 135 votes compared to the 49 for his rival, the former rally champion Ari Vatanen in Friday’s election of the General Assembly in Paris and was said to be delighted.

The 63-year-old replaces Max Mosely with the former president fulling supporting the Frenchman in his campaign.  Todt said at a news conference;

“I like action, I like to make things go forward and I am really happy to see that so many countries chose me but everything is yet to be done.

The day the election is over everybody must share the same goals, including those who did not support me,  I am not closing the door to anybody.

I want to nominate commissioners because I am not intending to run Formula One as a first person.  I don’t want to underestimate the problems but success in my career has always been to have the right people in my teams.”

Nelson Piquet Jr.

Nelson Piquet is adamant that he was instructed to crash his Renault Formula One car at last year’s Singapore Grand Prix, in order to help his team-mate Fernando Alonso’s race strategy.

Piquet allegedly claims that he agreed to the crash at a pre-race meeting between himself, Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds, as he believed it was within his interests to do so.

Today a copy of the statement sent to the FIA back in July , said to be from Nelson Piquet Jr. appeared on a website.  The statement claims that Briatore even told the Brazilian driver, which corner to crash on to cause the safety car deployment.

The hearing for the case is set to take place on September 21st in Paris, with Bernie Ecclestone already warning that if found guilty, there would be serious consequences for both Piquet and the Renault team.

Felipe Massa - Hungarian Grand Prix 2009

The Formula One Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, underwent further surgery on Monday to repair the skull damage he received at the Budapest Grand Prix weekend in July.

The Brazilian driver had more than four-hours of surgery to insert a titanium plate to the area where his skull was damaged in the accident.  He is currently at the Sao Paulo Albert Einstein hospital but is expected to return home in a few days to begin his recuperation.

Massa said of the surgery, it is to….

“close a bone in my head that they had taken away because it was completely damaged.  A normal guy can live like this without any problem. But for a driver, if you have an accident and you have this problem, the recovery is more difficult.

That’s the only reason they won’t allow me to race now.  Otherwise I feel the same as before.  I’m going to Europe to use the simulator and drive some go-karts and then I will know very well if I’m 100%.”

Massa intends to speak with the FIA and drivers on his return to find ways to improve safety and stop head injuries like the ones he sustained and also by the late Henry Surtees.

Massa said;

“We need to look for improvements.  I’m not saying we need to cover (the cockpit) completely. But maybe there are some other things we can do to the car to stop a wheel hitting your head.

When I come back this is something I want to discuss with Charlie Whiting, the FIA and the drivers – because we all need to work together”.

FIA

On Wednesday, a meeting to place in Germany involving the governing body of Formula One and the FOTA, not including of course, the two suspended team, Williams and Force India, to discuss proposals for the 2010 season.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA), issued the following statement;

“Unfortunately, no discussion was possible because FOTA walked out of the meeting.”

After a meeting in Paris last month, it appeared that the threat from FOTA to form a break-away group had been averted, however, now FOTA have said that once again the future of Formula One is again in jeopardy.

The meeting was arranged ahead of the German Grand Prix this weekend, and it’s aim was to bring together the eight FOTA members, Ferrari, McLaren, Brawn GP, Toro Rosso, Renault, Red Bull, BMW Sauber and Toyota, plus Williams and Force India and also to include the new teams coming into the sport in 2010, Campos, Manor and US F1.

Trouble arose when the FOTA members were told that they had no voting rights as they had not yet fully entered for 2010, meaning that the remaining five groups were the only ones with a right to vote as they were the only confirmed members for the following year.

The FIA have since issued their own statement;

“During the course of this meeting, the team managers were informed by Mr Charlie Whiting of the FIA that, contrary to previous agreements, the eight FOTA teams are not currently entered into the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship and have no voting rights in relation to the technical and sporting regulations thereof.

It will be remembered that all eight active FOTA members were included on the ‘accepted’ entry list as endorsed by the FIA World Motor Sport Council and communicated by FIA press statement on June 24.

In light of these claims, the FOTA representatives requested a postponement of today’s meetings. This was rejected on the grounds that no new Concorde Agreement would be permitted before a unanimous approval of the 2010 regulations was achieved.

However, it is clear to the FOTA teams that the basis of the 2010 technical and sporting regulations was already established in Paris.

As endorsed by the by the WMSC and clearly stated in the FIA press statement of 24 June ‘the rules for 2010 onwards will be the 2009 regulations as well as further regulations agreed prior to 29 April 2009′.  At no point in the Paris discussions was any requirement for unanimous agreement on regulations change expressed. To subsequently go against the will of the WMSC and the detail of the Paris agreement puts the future of Formula One in jeopardy.

As a result of these statements, the FOTA representatives at the subsequent Technical Working Group were not able to exercise their rights and therefore had no option other than to terminate their participation.”

Stalemate yet again, maybe it is time for a break-away group, I, like many other fans across the world, am getting sick and tired of the political back-biting surrounding the once great sport!

Ross Brawn - Head of Brawn GP F1 Team

Rumours have been circulating for sometime about Richard Branson’s sponsorship move with Virgin from the Brawn GP Team to the new Manor Team in 2010, and an alleged email has all but confirmed it to be true.

The ‘Guardian’, has today published the email, sent by Max Mosley’s right-hand man and chief steward Alan Donnelly, stating that the deal was completed weeks ago.

The Formula One teams are said to have already sent a letter of complaint to the World Motorsport Council, concerning Donnelly and questioning a conflict of interest,  Donnelly has insisted however, that he has “no direct involvement”.

The Sheffield-based Manor F1 Team, had already raised suspicion when it was announced that they would be working with former Benetton designer Nick Wirth, head of  Wirth Research.  It was Wirth who founded the Simtek Research company alongside Max Mosley before putting his own F1 Team on the grid in 1994.

Off we go again!

Max The Menace

FIA President Max Mosley, is said to be furious over alleged false statements made by Ferrari President Luca de Montezemelo, after the breakthrough meeting in Paris last week which put an end to the breakaway F1 group.

Mosley sent a letter to Montezemelo and FOTA, demanding a public apology over suggestions that he had been forced out of office and that he would have no seat in the FIA when he steps down from his presidency role in October.

In the letter Mosley wrote;

“We made a deal yesterday in Paris to end the recent difficulties in Formula One. A fundamental part of this was that we would both present a positive and truthful account to the media.

I was therefore astonished to learn that Fota has been briefing the press that Mr [Michel] Boeri [president of the Fia senate] has taken charge of Formula One, something which you know is completely untrue; that I had been forced out of office, also false; and, apparently, that I would have no role in the Fia after October, something which is plain nonsense, if only because of the Fia statutes.

Furthermore, you have suggested to the media I was a ‘dictator’, an accusation which is grossly insulting to the 26 members of the World Motor Sport Council who have discussed and voted all the rules and procedures of Formula One since the 1980s, not to mention the representatives of the FIA’s 122 countries who have democratically endorsed everything I and my World Motor Sport Council colleagues have done during the last 18 years.

There was no need for me to involve myself further in Formula One once we had a settlement. Equally, I had a long-standing plan not to seek re-election in October. It was therefore possible for me to confirm both points to you yesterday.

Given your and Fota’s deliberate attempt to mislead the media, I now consider my options open. At least until October, I am president of the Fia with the full authority of that office. After that it is the Fia member clubs, not you or Fota, who will decide on the future leadership of the Fia.

If you wish the agreement we made to have any chance of survival, you and Fota must immediately rectify your actions. You must correct the false statements which have been made and make no further such statements. You yourself must issue a suitable correction and apology at your press conference this afternoon.”

Still handbags at twenty paces boys and girls, just when we thought that the end was in sight they’re off again for the next round.  All we want to see is good racing but I guess those days are well and truly over!

FIA

It appears that a deal has today been reached amid the crisis surrounding the break-away threat of the Formula One Championship series.

Max Mosley told a news conference today;

“The basic news is that there will be no split.  There will be one championship in 2010 which is I think something we all hoped.

We’ve reached an agreement on a number of items.  In particular we’ve reached agreement on reduction of costs.  We’ve had significant help from the teams.  The objective is to get back to early 1990s levels within two years.

Now the manufacturers, that’s to say FOTA, have committed commercially until 2012… as far as the FIA is concerned the commitment is indefinite.”

The World Motor Sport Council meeting took place this morning in Paris with Mosley confirming that he will be stepping down from his post of President in October when his mandate ends.  Mosley said;

“I will now be able to look at Formula One knowing it’s peaceful and stable and be able to stop, as was always my intention, in October of this year so I won’t present myself for re-election now that we’ve got peace.”

Bernie Ecclestone said after the meeting;

“I’m obviously very, very happy that common sense has prevailed which I’ve always believed it would because the alternative was not good at all.

I’m also, I must say, very, very, very happy that the teams have come to their senses to stop spending large amounts of money.”

The FIA statement stated that;

“There will be no alternative series or championship and the rules for 2010 onwards will be the 2009 regulations as well as further regulations agreed prior to 29 April 2009.

As part of this agreement, the teams will, within two years, reduce the costs of competing in the championship to the level of the early 1990s.  The manufacturer teams have agreed to assist new entries for 2010 by providing technical assistance.

The manufacturer teams have further agreed to the permanent and continuing role of the FIA as the sport’s governing body.  They have also committed to the commercial agreement to renegotiate and extend the contract before the end of that period.

All teams will adhere to an upgraded version of the governance provisions of the 1998 Concorde Agreement.”

The official entry list for the 2010 Formula One Championship has now been released which includes the three new teams that have signed to race year, they are the Campos Meta Team, Manor Grand Prix and Team US F1.

British Grand Prix 2009

Yesterday saw the final race at the Silverstone circuit for the British Grand Prix dominated by the Red Bull Racing driver Sebastian Vettel, claiming his second victory of the season after qualifying in pole position.

This week it was announced that eight of the Formula One teams had failed to reach an agreement with the FIA and were planning a breakaway series.  However, Max Mosley seems adamant that a solution is possible and feels that things will soon be back to normal, it’s just a matter of time.

Many of the British fans were hoping that Jenson Button in the Brawn GP car would be taking the chequered flag at his home track, but after qualifying in sixth place on Saturday the 29-year-old blamed the temperatures of the track leaving him with cold tyres and unable to find grip.

As the race got underway, Vettel led the group into the first corner with Button dropping back to ninth after a terrible start.  Rubens Barrichello in the Brawn GP was in second ahead of second Red Bull Racing driver Mark Webber and the Williams driver Kazuki Nakajima, who qualified in his best ever position of fifth.

Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari was in fifth followed by Nico Rosberg in the second Williams, Jarno Trulli in the Toyota and Felipe Massa in the second Ferrari.

Button passed Massa on lap 2 as the Ferrari ran wide and on the next lap, Fernando Alonso in the Renault ran wide and forced Lewis Hamilton onto the grass as he rejoined the track.

Adrian Sutil, driving his spare car,  started from the pit lane after a spectacular crash towards the end of the qualifying session on Saturday, when he miraculously walked away from what was left of his Force India.

Giancarlo Fisichella in the second Force India made an impressive move as a battle was taking place in front of him between Nick Heidfeld in the BMW Sauber and Alonso, both drivers ran wide leaving a gap wide enough to let Fisichella take full advantage of their error.

Nakajima was the first driver to pit on lap 16, as was expected, while running in fourth place and on the following lap Raikkonen went in for his first stop and made his exit in front of Nakajima.

After the first group of pit stops, Vettel still led the race followed by Webber, Barrichello, Rosberg, Felipe Massa, Trulli, Raikkonen, Button, Nakajima and Fisichella.

On lap 31, Alonso ran wide allowing the British driver Lewis Hamilton in the McLaren to get through.  Nelson Piquet in the second Renault rejoined from his pit-stop in front of the fighting duo as Alonso slipped back past Hamilton at Chapel when the British driver ran wide before passing his team-mate Piquet.

On lap 35, Sebastian Bourdais in the Toro Rosso, ran in the back of  Heikki Kovalainen leaving the McLaren driver with a left rear puncture and a broken front wing.  It appeared that there was some sort of problem with the McLaren which had slowed, leaving no where for Bourdais to go.  On lap 38, Kovalainen returned to the pits once again but this time he retired his car to the garage followed two laps later by Bourdais.

In the second set of pit stops, Button moved ahead of Trulli and Raikkonen up to sixth position as Massa also jumped another place to exit in fourth.

Vettel crossed the line nealy 16 seconds ahead of his team-mate Webber and Barrichello in third.  Massa finished in fourth followed by Rosberg, Button, Trulli, Raikkonen, Timo Glock and Fisichella to complete the top ten drivers of the day.

Here are the results;

1. Sebastian Vettel Germany Red Bull-Renault 60 laps 1hr 22m 49.328s
2. Mark Webber Australia Red Bull-Renault +00m 15.1s
3. Rubens Barrichello Brazil Brawn-Mercedes +00m 41.1s
4. Felipe Massa Brazil Ferrari-Ferrari +00m 45.0s
5. Nico Rosberg Germany Williams-Toyota +00m 45.9s
6. Jenson Button Britain Brawn-Mercedes +00m 46.2s
7. Jarno Trulli Italy Toyota-Toyota +01m 08.3s
8. Kimi Raikkonen Finland Ferrari-Ferrari +01m 09.6s

all results unofficial

FIA

This weekend the Formula One teams and drivers will be at Silverstone for the Santander British Grand Prix, with many fans attending to see the British reigning World Champion Lewis Hamilton in the McLaren, but it could also be a very sad day for the sport.

The latest deadline for the 2010 budget cap agreement is this Friday, 19th June, it appears that the crisis talks between the governing body and the teams are now at a stalemate.

After a failed meeting yesterday, the FIA have today issued a statement confirming that they are not willing to discuss regulations.  The statement read;

“Unfortunately, the FOTA representatives announced that they had no mandate to discuss the FIA’s 2010 financial regulations. Indeed, they were not prepared to discuss regulation at all.”

As a result, the meeting could not achieve its purpose of comparing the FIA’s rules with the FOTA proposals with a view to finding a common position.

In default of a proper dialogue, the FOTA financial proposals were discussed but it became clear that these would not be capable of limiting the expenditure of a team which had the resources to outspend its competitors. Another financial arms race would then be inevitable.

The FIA Financial Regulations therefore remain as published.”

The FOTA are rejecting the agreement for an optional £40million budget cap, aimed at helping smaller teams suffering in the economic crisis and also to assist new team wanting to enter the sport.

Ferrari, Renault, Toyota, Red Bull, BMW Sauber, McLaren and Toro Rosso,  have all threatened to walk away from Formula One and create a break-away group.

There is now only three-days to go and neither party seem any nearer to reaching an agreement.  If the teams fail to sign by the deadline then their names will be removed from the 2010 official entry list and are likely to be replaced by a host of newcomers eagerly waiting in the wings.