Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2013/04/29/a-little-logic/
Keith Andrews Elio de Angelis Marco Apicella M·rio de Ara˙jo Cabral Frank Armi
Saturday, May 4, 2013
A little logic?
If the Formula One group does not have a commercial agreement with the 11th Formula 1 team, as is being widely broadcast today, then it is logical to assume that the team in question has no obligations to the Formula One group. It can turn up if it wants to, but does not have to [...]
Friday, May 3, 2013
Button plays down importance of Spain upgrade | 2013 Spanish Grand Prix
Jenson Button says he's not attaching any special importance to McLaren's upgrade package for next weekend's Spanish Grand Prix. 
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/e_H5zgw_SyU/
Chris Bristow Peter Broeker Tony Brooks Alan Brown Walt Brown
Brawn expecting improved Mercedes race performance
Mercedes believes that it has got to the bottom of its poor race performances thus far in 2013 – although that knowledge might not fully translate to the track for a while. The team has earned two poles in the … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2013/05/03/brawn-expecting-improved-merecdes-race-performance/
JeanChristophe Boullion Sebastien Bourdais Thierry Boutsen Johnny Boyd David Brabham
Lewis Hamilton: ?Even when I pushed I was massively slow??
Lewis Hamilton kept up his good 2013 strike rate by recovering to fifth in Bahrain, having run outside the top 10 early on. Hamilton?s steady scoring this year has put him into third in the World Championship, behind only Sebastian … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2013/04/23/lewis-hamilton-even-when-i-pushed-i-was-massively-slow/
Toni Branca Gianfranco Brancatelli Eric Brandon Don Branson Tom Bridger
2014 Nissan 370Z Nismo gets detailed
Nissan has released some new details about the 2014 370Z Nismo, ahead of its U.S. launch this summer.
Harry Blanchard Michael Bleekemolen Alex Blignaut Trevor Blokdyk Mark Blundell
2014 Nissan GT-R Track Edition pricing announced (US)
Nissan has announced the 2014 GT-R Track Edition has gone on sale in the United States for $115,710. 
Juan Manuel Bordeu Slim Borgudd Luki Botha JeanChristophe Boullion Sebastien Bourdais
XCAR tests 2013 Range Rover in Moroccan desert and mountains [video]
After doing a side-by-side comparison between the BMW E30 and E92 GTS, XCAR is back with a test drive of the 2013 Range Rover. 
Tom Belso JeanPierre Beltoise Olivier Beretta Allen Berg Georges Berger
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Volkswagen still considering a compact roadster - report
Volkswagen design chief Walter de Silva has revealed the company is still considering a roadster like the BlueSport concept. 
Georges Berger Gerhard Berger Eric Bernard Enrique Bernoldi Enrico Bertaggia
No M Version for the BMW i8
Early last year it was rumored that BMW could offer an M version for its i8 hybrid supercar. It was supposed to drop the hybrid powertrain in favor of a conventional V-8 powerplant with an output of about 600 horsepower. Sounded pretty great, right?
Now - one year later - it appears that BMW has dropped the idea of developing such a model. While no other explanation has been offered, it looks like the M8 is "no longer part of the program." We do not understand why this decision was made, considering the i8 platform can easily accept front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive alternatives.
So, while we are hoping that the company will change its mind in the future, we’ll just have to wait for the i8. It will arrive sometime later this year and comes with a driving range of about 20 miles in near-silent, zero-emission mode. This figure, combined with a 0 to 60 mph sprint time of 4.9 seconds, and the top speed of 156 mph makes it the ideal car for both city and track.
Click past the jump to read more about the rumored BMW M8 supercar.
No M Version for the BMW i8 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 2 May 2013 13:00 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/no-m-version-for-the-bmw-i8-ar154539.html
Bill Cantrell Ivan Capelli Piero Carini Duane Carter Eugenio Castellotti
How to become a motor sport marshal | 2013 F1 season
F1 Fanatic reader Becca Cann had her first taste of marshalling earlier this year. Here's how you can get involved - and even become a marshal at an F1 race. 
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/THkMrm1am7E/
Peter Ashdown Ian Ashley Gerry Ashmore Bill Aston Richard Attwood
Frustrated Alonso thought open DRS was tyre problem
Fernando Alonso?s Bahrain GP was ruined by a DRS problem that caused an extra pit stop and ultimately left him without the use of the device for the majority of the race. Alonso?s DRS flap stuck open on lap seven, … Continue reading 
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2013/04/21/frustrated-alonso-thought-open-drs-was-tyre-problem/
Stories about Long Beach
Stories suggesting that Formula 1 may be looking to return to Long Beach in California in the next few years have been kicking around for a year, ever since Chris Pook popped up in Montreal amid suggestions that he is working on a plan to get Formula 1 back to California. The Long Beach Grand [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2013/04/30/stories-about-long-beach/
Chris Bristow Peter Broeker Tony Brooks Alan Brown Walt Brown
Team orders in spotlight again
 Will Christian Horner regret not utilising team orders in Brazil? |
?The extra seven points Alonso collected when Ferrari ordered Felipe Massa to move over for him in Germany earlier in the season are now looking even more crucial. ?And the �65,000 fine they picked up for ruthlessly breaking the rules will seem loose change if Alonso clinches the title in his first year with the Maranello team. ?Red Bull could have switched the result yesterday given their crushing dominance and still celebrated their first constructors' championship just five years after coming into the sport. ?That would also have given Webber an extra seven points, leaving him just one behind Alonso.?The Guardian?s Paul Weaver says that if Fernando Alonso does take the drivers? title in Abu Dhabi, Ferrari owes a debt of gratitude to Red Bull for their decision not to employ team orders in Brazil.
?If Alonso does take the title next week it would not be inappropriate were he and Ferrari to send a few gallons of champagne to Red Bull's headquarters in Milton Keynes. ?While Red Bull should be heartily applauded for the championship they did win today their apparent acceptance that Ferrari might carry off the more glamorous prize continues to baffle Formula One and its globetrotting supporters. ?Their refusal to make life easy for Webber, who has led for much of the season and is still seven points ahead of Vettel, means that whatever happens in the desert next week Alonso, the only driver who was capable of taking the championship in the race today, only has to secure second place to guarantee his third world title.?The Independent?s David Tremayne is also of the opinion that Red Bull may regret not using team orders in Brazil.
?Had Red Bull elected to adopt team orders and let Webber win ? something that the governing body allows when championships are at stake ? Webber would have left Brazil with 245 points ? just one point off the lead. For some that was confirmation of his suggestion that Vettel is the team's favoured driver ? which generated an angry call from team owner Dietrich Mateschitz in Austria and was much denied by team principal, Christian Horner. ?And it sets up a situation where, if the result is repeated next weekend, as is likely, Vettel and Webber will tie on 256, five behind Alonso.?The Mirror?s Byron Young has put Lewis Hamilton?s fading title chances down to an inferior McLaren machine and he admits the 2008 World Champion now needs a miracle.
?Sebastian Vettel's victory sends the world title fight to a four-way showdown for the first time in the sport's history. ?Hamilton goes there as part of that story with a 24-point deficit to Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, but with just 25 on offer in the final round in six days' time it would take more than a miracle. ?Driving an outclassed McLaren he slugged it out against superior machinery and stiff odds to finish fourth.?
Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/team_orders_in_spotlight_again_1.php
Chris Bristow Peter Broeker Tony Brooks Alan Brown Walt Brown
Frustrated Alonso thought open DRS was tyre problem
Fernando Alonso?s Bahrain GP was ruined by a DRS problem that caused an extra pit stop and ultimately left him without the use of the device for the majority of the race. Alonso?s DRS flap stuck open on lap seven, … Continue reading
Source: http://adamcooperf1.com/2013/04/21/frustrated-alonso-thought-open-drs-was-tyre-problem/
Carlo Abate George Abecassis Kenny Acheson Andrea de Adamich Philippe Adams
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
A little logic?
If the Formula One group does not have a commercial agreement with the 11th Formula 1 team, as is being widely broadcast today, then it is logical to assume that the team in question has no obligations to the Formula One group. It can turn up if it wants to, but does not have to [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2013/04/29/a-little-logic/
Bob Christie Johnny Claes David Clapham Jim ClarkÜ Kevin Cogan
Five ways to improve F1
 Emerson Fittipaldi in his heyday |
Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/five_ways_to_improve_f1.php
Paolo Barilla Rubens Barrichello Michael Bartels Edgar Barth Giorgio Bassi
Vettel set for titles aplenty
 |
?Here, after all, is a young man, already dubbed ?Baby Schumi? by Germany?s tabloid press, winning the first of what will presumably be multiple world championships, and all at the tender age of 23. Plenty of time yet to match Schumacher's incredible haul of seven world titles. And yet, their phenomenal ability to drive racing cars apart, there is little similarity between the two men. ?There are still lingering doubts over his racing ability but with such blistering qualifying pace he is nearly always leading from the front anyway. Vettel is set for multiple world championships. Just don?t call him Baby Schumi.?The Guardian?s Paul Weaver says it was difficult to begrudge Vettel his moment of glory after he won the first of what will be many world titles. He also looks back at some of the season?s highlights.
?An amazing Formula One season produced its final twist here on Sunday when Sebastian Vettel, who had never led the title race, won his first world championship. It is difficult to begrudge him his glory, for he had more poles (10) than any other driver and shared the most wins (five) with Fernando Alonso. There will be red faces as well as red cars and overalls at Ferrari, though, for deciding to bring their man in when they did, only to see him re-emerge into heavy traffic. ?Among the highlights, and every race felt like a highlight after the bore-start in Bahrain, there was that wonderful beginning to his McLaren career by Jenson Button, who won two of his first four races, even though he couldn't keep up the pace, especially in qualifying. ?Hamilton once again drove his heart out, and outperformed a car that looked a little too ordinary at times. He was superb in Montreal. Then there was Webber, the Anglophile Aussie who was the favourite among most neutrals to win the title. There was that spectacular crash when he ran into the back of Heikki Kovalainen and the most famous of his four wins, at Silverstone, when he said to his team at the end of the race: 'Not bad for a No2 driver.' ?But in the end there was only one German who mattered. It was the remarkable Vettel. This will be the first of a clutch of championships for him.?The Independent?s David Tremayne focuses on the plight of the other title contenders, writing it is easier to feel more sorry for one than the other.
?It was impossible not to feel for both Webber and Alonso. Yet while a frustrated Alonso gestured at Petrov after the race, the Australian, predictably, refused to complain about his pitstop timing. ?A world championship seemed an inevitable part of Sebastian Vettel's future, but it came a little sooner than most expected, after his recent tribulations. You wouldn't bet against several more, and if that record-breaking streak continues, perhaps even Schumacher's achievements will be overshadowed.?And the Mirror?s Byron Young elaborates further on the petulant behaviour of Fernando Alonso on his slowing down lap after his title dreams ended behind the Renault of Vitaly Petrov.
?Fernando Alonso was hurled into more controversy last night for a wild gesture at the former Lada racer who cost him the title. But the Spaniard brushed off accusations he gave Russian Vitaly Petrov the finger for ruining his title hopes by blocking him for 40 laps as they duelled over sixth place. "The Ferrari ace was caught on television cruising alongside the Renault driver on the slowing down lap and gesticulating from the cockpit. Petrov was unrepentant: "What was I supposed to do? Just get out of his way, pull to the side? I don't think that is how we race. It was important for the team for me to get points."
Source: http://blogs.espnf1.com/paperroundf1/archives/2010/11/vettel_set_for_titles_aplenty_1.php
John Cordts David Coulthard Piers Courage Chris Craft Jim Crawford
CUP: Penske Appeal Being Heard
Team owner Roger Penske has a lot at stake today?
Source: http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup-penske-racing-appeal-being-heard-nascar-sprint/
Jaime Alguersuari Philippe Alliot Cliff Allison Fernando Alonso Giovanna Amati
Hamilton's tough decision
Since BBC Sport chief analyst Eddie Jordan reported on this website last week that Lewis Hamilton was on the verge of switching to Mercedes from McLaren next year, Formula 1 has been awash with speculation about the 2008 world champion's future.
McLaren did their best at last weekend's Italian Grand Prix to dismiss the story - team boss Martin Whitmarsh even joked: "Any sentence that begins, 'Eddie Jordan understands' is immediately questionable, isn't it?"
But it was noticeable that not only did McLaren not deny the story was true, they said very little to suggest Hamilton was staying with them.
From Whitmarsh, it was: "Lewis and his management have made their position clear to us", "my understanding is we're talking to him" and "I'm pretty convinced we will have a very good, competitive driving line-up next year."
None of which translates as "Hamilton is staying".
Hamilton was triumphant at Monza, but how many more races will he win with McLaren? Photo: Getty
As for the doubts cast on the veracity of the story, the source is strong and credible, and the core information - that Hamilton has agreed terms on a contract with Mercedes for next year - is based in fact.
That does not necessarily mean Hamilton will move but it does mean he is thinking about it seriously. And you can make what you will of his downbeat behaviour throughout the Monza weekend - even after he won the race.
In the paddock, the general view was that a move would be a mistake - but it is a much more complicated decision than that.
Firstly, McLaren have undoubtedly been more competitive than Mercedes in the last three years. Between them, Hamilton and team-mate Jenson Button have won 16 races since the start of 2010; Mercedes only one, with Nico Rosberg in China this season.
Over an extended period, McLaren have a winning pedigree beyond that of any other team. Only Ferrari have won more grands prix, and they have been in F1 for 16 years longer.
Hamilton, who has been nurtured by the team since he was 13, says: "I want to win." On pure performance, there's only one choice, right?
In F1, things are rarely that simple.
Yes, McLaren usually have a good car, but until this year it had been a long time since they had unquestionably the best.
It was close with Ferrari in 2007-8, although hindsight would suggest now that the McLaren was probably not quite as good then. In which case, you probably have to go back to 2005 to find the last time McLaren had conclusively the fastest car in F1.
This is known to have irked Hamilton in 2010-11, and played some part in the cocktail of issues that led to his difficult season last year, when his frustration at the car's inability to compete for the title and problems with his family and his girlfriend led to what he admitted was his worst season in the sport.
That all changed this season. The McLaren is again setting the pace. But a series of operational problems in the opening races badly affected Hamilton, costing him 40 points. Add those points to his current total and he would be leading Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, not trailing him by a win and a fourth place.
Hamilton has done well to disguise his disappointment publicly, but it was around this time that his management started approaching McLaren's rivals about job opportunities.
On top of that, McLaren are entering an uncertain period. For the first time next year, they will have to pay for their Mercedes engines - that's in the region of eight million euros they cannot spend on the performance of the car unless they find it from other sources.
Tied in with this is the question of salary. McLaren have made it clear they cannot afford Hamilton at any price. The word is they have offered him a cut in money for next season, on the basis that they cannot afford anything more. This might be offset by other compromises, such as over PR appearances, flights and so on.
Already on about half of what Alonso earns at Ferrari, one can imagine how that has gone down with Hamilton - especially as McLaren's portfolio of sponsors makes it very difficult for a driver to do personal deals elsewhere to top up his earnings. That's because almost anywhere he looks there's a clash with a company that has links with McLaren.
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Meanwhile, Mercedes are by definition a "works" team with factory engines, have the might of an automotive giant behind them. They can pay Hamilton a lot more than his current salary - believed to be about �13m - if they want to. And at Mercedes there is also a lot more freedom for a driver to do personal sponsorship deals.
The funding for Mercedes' F1 team comes entirely from external sponsors - and the budget is reputedly significantly less than enjoyed by Red Bull and Ferrari. But it is underwritten by the parent company so even if there is a sponsorship shortfall it doesn't affect the team.
Performance-wise, the team that is now Mercedes actually won the world title more recently than McLaren, when they were Brawn in 2009. Ironically, the man who won it was Button. His success - and what he interpreted as the team's ambivalence about him staying - led to him moving to McLaren.
Admittedly, Brawn's success in 2009 was tainted by the row over double-diffusers that clouded that season. Once everyone had them, the car was no longer as competitive as it had been.
Mercedes have certainly been under-performing since then, but that can at least partly be explained by the fact that Brawn, facing serious financial problems, slashed their staff by 40% in 2009. As Mercedes, they have been slowly building levels up again.
The pressure on the team to up their game is massive - hence the huge investment in terms of staffing and resources in the last 18 months or so.
And while they are a long way behind McLaren this season, they are on an upward trend, even if it is significantly slower than either the team or the Mercedes board would like.
Equally, few in F1 would disagree that Hamilton is one of the three best drivers in the world, alongside Alonso and Sebastian Vettel. Mercedes don't have any of them.
It's impossible to know how much faster the car would go in their hands than it has done so far in those of Rosberg and Michael Schumacher. Some might argue not at all. But, that's not how Hamilton, who raced and beat Rosberg in their formative years, will look at it.
Add all that up, and the decision doesn't seem so easy after all.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2012/09/hamiltons_tough_decision.html
Eugenio Castellotti Johnny Cecotto Andrea de Cesaris Francois Cevert Eugene Chaboud
Meanwhile in Izvestia
According to the newspaper Izvetia, the Russian government is investigating the preparations for the country’s inaugural Grand Prix, which is scheduled to take place in Sochi in October 2014. The report suggests that Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak has asked Igor Slyunyayev, the Minister of Regional Development, to set up a commission to urgently assess [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2013/04/24/meanwhile-in-izvestia/
Lorenzo Bandini Henry Banks Fabrizio Barbazza John Barber Skip Barber
F1: Ricciardo Moves Into Pole For Webber's Seat
Australian Daniel Ricciardo named as possible replacement for Mark Webber at Red Bull...
Source: http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-daniel-ricciardo-moves-into-pole-for-mark-webbers-seat/
Eddie Cheever Andrea Chiesa Ettore Chimeri Louis Chiron Joie Chitwood
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