Both sides agree F1 row is close to conclusion

Last night it looked as though World War Three had broken out again between the F1 teams and the governing body, but having got to the Nurburgring and heard both sides, it seems to me that, bizarrely, a lasting solution is close.
Despite the fire and brimstone of various statements over the last 48 hours, in [...]

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New teams on collision course with FOTA?

We are in for a fascinating weekend in Germany as we look to see whether Red Bull has its nose in front on all circuits now or whether Silverstone flattered their car.
But behind the scenes in Germany will be very interesting as well as the latest developments in the ongoing row over next year’s [...]

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Fresh round of cost cutting hits F1

The belt tightening in F1 continues. Today Toyota confirmed that it is withdrawing from a deal to host the Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji Speedway, as it deals with mounting losses. Earlier this year the company said that it expected to lose over $1 billion in 2009.
The race will now be held at Suzuka, [...]

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Bernie explains and gives F1 pause for thought

Bernie Ecclestone’s interview in the Times last weekend has brought a furious response from politicians and virtual silence from the F1 community.
Most people in F1 don’t really want to get drawn into it, as they argue he shouldn’t have allowed himself to be in the first place.
What most people don’t understand is why he [...]

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On Bernie, dictators and struggles for new teams

There are a few interesting threads around today. The Times has an extraordinary interview with F1 commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone where he explores the theme of ‘dictators’.
Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo recently implied that FIA president Max Mosley was a dictator and Bernie sets out here to defend the breed as people who ‘get things [...]

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Fernando Alonso and Ferrari

Here we go again; summer’s here, the temperatures are sky high, there’s a long three week gap between races and Max Mosley and FOTA have gone quiet.
If a vacuum is created something will come along to fill it and in this case it is the Spanish sports paper AS claiming that Ferrari is set [...]

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Remembering a brave F1 fan

You’ve probably not heard of Liam Fairhurst but he was a mad keen F1 fan and he died this week.

But there’s more to it than that. Liam was only 14 and he had been battling against cancer for four years. He thought he’d beaten it, but it turned out he hadn’t.
Liam was remarkable because when [...]

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Webber fancies a crack at Button

Mark Webber has come out with some perky quotes today about the second half of the season and his chances of having a run at championship leader Jenson Button.

Mark is 28.5 points behind Button (wish we could get rid of the half point thing, but without another rained off race we won’t be able [...]

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A chat with Richard Cregan about Abu Dhabi

The new Yas Marina Island circuit at Abu Dhabi is taking shape, ahead of its first Grand Prix on November 1st, the season finale.
Today the organisers launched a video game which offers fans the chance to drive a virtual lap of the circuit.

At Silverstone I sat down for a few minutes to chat with Richard [...]

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Things that have caught my eye lately

In the parallel F1 world, away from FIA and FOTA, there have been a few interesting little developments lately.
Donington got its planning permission, thanks to the resolution of the legal row between Simon Gillett and the landowners Wheatcroft and Son. Also the company which is selling the debentures, ISG, an offshoot of IMG, broke cover [...]

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