British Grand Prix 2009: Red Bull’s Maintain Lead In FP2

Red Bull racing continued their good Friday with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber leading the way in FP2.

Pos  Driver       Team                       Time              Laps
 1.  Vettel       Red Bull-Renault      (B)  1:19.456            39
 2.  Webber       Red Bull-Renault      (B)  1:19.597  + 0.141   35
 3.  Sutil        Force India-Mercedes  (B)  1:20.141  + 0.685   41
 4.  Nakajima     Williams-Toyota       (B)  1:20.209  + 0.753   36
 5.  Alonso       Renault               (B)  1:20.237  + 0.781   36
 6.  Barrichello  Brawn-Mercedes        (B)  1:20.244  + 0.788   26
 7.  Hamilton     McLaren-Mercedes      (B)  1:20.417  + 0.961   35
 8.  Trulli       Toyota                (B)  1:20.458  + 1.002   40
 9.  Rosberg      Williams-Toyota       (B)  1:20.468  + 1.012   42
10.  Piquet       Renault               (B)  1:20.608  + 1.152   37
11.  Kubica       BMW-Sauber            (B)  1:20.622  + 1.166   23
12.  Kovalainen   McLaren-Mercedes      (B)  1:20.733  + 1.277   37
13.  Glock        Toyota                (B)  1:20.762  + 1.306   37
14.  Button       Brawn-Mercedes        (B)  1:20.767  + 1.311   28
15.  Heidfeld     BMW-Sauber            (B)  1:20.932  + 1.476   35
16.  Bourdais     Toro Rosso-Ferrari    (B)  1:20.945  + 1.489   36
17.  Massa        Ferrari               (B)  1:21.005  + 1.549   37
18.  Raikkonen    Ferrari               (B)  1:21.132  + 1.676   38
19.  Fisichella   Force India-Mercedes  (B)  1:21.413  + 1.957   40
20.  Buemi        Toro Rosso-Ferrari    (B)  1:21.668  + 2.212   37

Rossi Would Drive 3rd Ferrari In New Series

Valentino Rossi has been quoted as saying he would happily drive a 3rd Ferrari race car if one was fielded in the potentially new FOTA racing series.

Everyone thought that the FIA/FOTA war was over as Max Mosley brought the rules for 2010 back to the 2009 ones, said there would be more continuity and also declared he would step down in October at the end of his term as FIA president.

However these promises were thrown into doubt after British newspapers, including The Daily Telegraph produced an open letter sent from Mosley to Luca di Montezemolo the head of Ferrari and the FOTA that he could well stand for another term.  Christian Horner said this morning that another war between FOTA and the FIA would be terrible for the sport, but it looks likely the battle’s could begin once again.

Rossi, who just won his 100th Motorcycle Grand Prix has driven for Ferrari twice before, most recently last year impressing with the 2008 car on the Mugello circuit.  He has also dabbled with World Rally Championship.  His contract with Yamaha motorcycles ends in 2010 and a 2011 race car seat could be beckoning.

“I am quite happy about it, it could happen in 2011 — why not?” Rossi was quoted as saying by Corriere Dello Sport

“In 2010 I have a contract with Yamaha so it would be difficult or even impossible. What’s more, Ferrari do not have a third car and I have taken no decision about changing sport,”

Scrap Empty Stadia Races Like Turkey – Briatore

Flavio Briatore is on the warpath after being named as someone who could advise the FIA and FOM on how to make F1 more attractive to fans by attacking empty circuits.

This season’s Turkish Grand Prix was farcical with thousands of empty seats, as no fans really turned up.  This, in direct contrast to Silverstone where it held it’s final British Grand Prix and there were over 100,000 fans present.

The FOM TV coverage tried to hide the lack of fans in Turkey by removing multiple camera angles, but Briatore and indeed the fans see this as no solution.

The tracks that have been constructed in the far flung locations of the world are usually found quite empty, as F1 is not a favourable sport within the countries that the races are present while European races at the old venues are filled to the brim with hardcore F1 fans.

“Even if the likes of Turkey are paying more money, we would rather have stadia that are full,” Briatore said.

“It is better for the spirit of the sport. We want stands full of fans. There is no point spending all that money on an empty cathedral,” he added.

"Spectator" at the Turkish Grand Prix a few weeks ago

Refuelling Ban Still On For 2010 Despite FOTA/FIA Agreements

The refuelling ban set out by the FIA as part of it’s eleborate new rule system for the 2010 season will still go ahead despite the majority of the new regulations being binned after FOTA/FIA agreement talks for FOTA team involvement in the 2010 Formula One Season.

The teams are fairly positive towards the refuelling ban due to the high cost of transporting refuelling equipment around the world, and also some accidents which have led to large fires, such as Jos Verstappen’s memorable pitfire at Hockenheim 1994, Eddie Irvine 1995 at Spa and Michael Schumacher’s at the 2003 Austrian Grand Prix when despite flames licking the car he still went on to win the Grand Prix.

A source within FOTA said this was still on track, despite 2009 rule revisions for 2010.

The source said: “There will be a few amendments to the rules that need to be agreed unanimously. This will be about refuelling and a few other items, and should be completed in the next few weeks.”

A pitfire for Gianmaria Bruni's Minardi in 2004

Just wanted to add, R.I.P Michael Jackson – King of Pop who sadly died yesterday evening of a cardiac arrest.

Zander Parts Ways With Brawn GP

Joerg Zander, the instrumental designer and deputy technical director in the Brawn GP team has resigned.

He was vital in designing the BGP001, which has won 6 races already this season and been on the podium at every single event.  With Jenson Button now leading the championship, the BGP has been highly successful in turning around the fortunes of the former Honda team.

Zander has been in F1 for some time, working with BMW Sauber, British American Racing and Honda.

“Joerg contributed significantly to our success so far this season for which we thank him and wish him all the best for the future,” a Brawn spokesperson said.

FIA/FOTA War Over As Agreement Made At Last Minute

An agreement between the FIA and FOTA has been made at the last moment in an emergency meeting called in Paris today.

With all FOTA member teams present, along with members of the FIA, including the contraversial Max Mosley who also said today he will not stand for another term as president, a deal was reached for a single racing series – F1.  FOTA will now not breakaway from the standard formulae.

The concorde agreement of 1998 will be continued, along with new rules which agree to cost cutting over the next few seasons.  Technical assistance will also be offered to the three new teams allowed into F1, USF1, Campos and Manor.

“There will be no split,” said Mosley. “We have agreed to a reduction of costs. There will be one F1 championship but the objective is to get back to the spending levels of the early 1990s within two years.”

“They’ve got the rules they want and the stability; we’ve got the new teams in and the cost reduction…so that’s very helpful.”

Mosley added “As far as I’m concerned, the teams were always going to get rid of me in October.  Well they still are.”

The official statement from the FIA read;

“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 arrangements for the FIA Formula 1 World Championship until 2012 and have agreed to renegotiate and extend this contract before the end of that period.

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

“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 the new entries for 2010 by providing technical assistance.”

The teams and FIA made a unilateral agreement for the future...

Domenicali Infuriated By KERS Failure And Waste

Stefano Domenicali, the boss of Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team has told reporters how infuriated he is with the complete flop of Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems.

The Italian, normally a quiet and reserved character was scathing over the KERS system which is being described as a “white elephant”.  With BMW Sauber, McLaren and Reanult – the 3 teams who still used KERS alongside Ferrari – all opting to disband and discontinue development, the Scuderia are the last team with the boost button.

The extra weight carried by the systems means that the boost is an in-effective equal compared with teams like Brawn and Red Bull who do not carry they weight and systems.  Ferrari alledges that it has ruined handling of the 2009 Ferrari aswell.

It has been a waste of money and time for the Italian’s who are lagging well behind in the title championship.

“A lot of money was spent without the desired effect. Let me put it this way: if it had been spent instead on the car, Ferrari would now be just as fast as this Red Bull,” Domenicali insisted at Silverstone

“That is something easily said, but it is true. [that KERS is a failure]“

“For passenger cars, KERS is the future, but in Formula One we are in a different environment. For us there are too many compromises: ultimately, it is all about the speed of our cars.”

Toro Rosso Awaiting Red Bull Aero Updates

Toro Rosso, the feeder and sister team to Red Bull Racing have admitted they expect progress to be slow until they recieve the aerodynamic upgrades which powered the RB5 to victory at the hands of Sebastian Vettel last weekend at the British Grand Prix.

The new aerodynamic updates included a new front wing and nose section, new diffuser, floor and rear wing.

Toro Rosso were formed in 2006 after Red Bull admitted desire for a second team, and with one owner not being allowed to own two teams Gerhard Berger and Franz Tost were co-owners with exclusive Red Bull support and sponsorship.  The team are still based in Faenza, Italy and scored their first win last season in Monza.

“We suffer from the lack of new specification aero parts,” Franz Tost told F1Live.

“We will have these for Hungary, when I expect and hope that this will bring us back to the front end of the midfield.”

Surfers Paradise For FOTA’s 17 Round Calendar?

As the rumours continue to hot up over FOTA’s breakaway series from F1, one which looks ever increasingly likely Surfer’s Paradise was one of the tracks banded around as a possible venue for a GP.

The track in Queensland, Australia is an exciting street track which could be known as the Pacific GP as Adelaide was mentioned as the possible Australian Grand Prix event location.

Surfer’s, a place which considered taking the F1 race from Melbourne late last year as it’s future dwindled has previously hosted CART and ChampCar events and this year hosts a round of the A1GP Championship by Ferrari.

The owner of the track seemed welcome to the idea, especially if they charged less than Bernie Ecclestone wants for F1.

“We couldn’t do this sort of bid on our own but if Queensland Events backed us we would be very interested,” said Ron Clarke.

“There is the chance this breakaway group might not charge as much as the original series organisers,” acknowledged Clarke.

Other circuits mentioned for the FOTA Racing Series included Jerez, Buenos Aires, Imola, Mugello and Silverstone.

Branson Unlikely To Put Money Into Brawn As Virgin Sponsorship Dwindles

Sir Richard Branson has dashed hopes for Brawn GP of more sponsorship finances, a new livery and possibly new name as he claimed he would not be putting millions into the GP team as we head over towards the half-way mark of the 2009 season.

The British born billionaire owner of the Virgin group began sponsoring Brawn GP not long after the cars appeared in Australia with minor logos which have expanded across the cars which remain largely blank.  With Brawn’s early successes, and Virgin using BGP in their current online and newspaper commercials, many analysts believed that Virgin could be on the verge of re-branding the team altogether.

However in a 5Live interview all this seemed to be gone.

“We got in when it was very cheap and it’s been great for us with global coverage, but I suspect next year the price will be astronomical and we may have to look somewhere else with a smaller team,” Branson commented.

It is believed that Branson invested £250,000 into Ross Brawn’s small team.