car

Renault announced today that they have sold a stake in the team to Lotus Group – not to be confused with Team Lotus, who are at the other end of the grid. The team will be rebraned Lotus-Renault, and will run the black and gold paint scheme of old. Danny Bahar, CEO of Group Lotus says: “We’re well aware that there has been a lot of controversy around the usage of our brand in F1 and I’m delighted to be able to formally clarify our position once and for all: we are Lotus and we are back.”

Credit: Renault F1

F1 T Na s Renault Lot Renault

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Hello and welcome to F1 Minute for the 6th December 2010.

It has emerged today that Mark Webber was participating for the final four races of 2010 with a fractured shoulder. In his new book, he revealed that he got back on a mountain bike for the first time since breaking his leg at the end of 2008, and his friend crashed, toppling Webber over as well. If I were him, I’d never get on a bike again! He raced onwards, grateful that the weather in Japan meant a delayed qualifying to give him a bit of a rest. Crucially, he didn’t tell the team, and although it was a relatively mild injury, I cannot wait to hear what Christian Horner has to say about it.

Elsewhere, it has been confirmed that Timo Glock will race on at Virgin next year, although who will join him is unknown. The German said: “I am already confirmed so there is nothing new to announce about me. But I understand that the team wants to announce the line-up together when the second seat is confirmed.”

Finally a quick note that Sauber have announced their launch date – the 31st January.

F1 Webber Raced Season End with Fractured Shoulder

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Hello there, today is the 1st December 2010, and this is F1 Minute.

Finally, Williams made the announcement I think we all knew was coming – that Pastor Maldonado will be joining Rubens Barrichello for the 2011 season. Frank Williams said he has been watching Pastor for a few years now, and his GP2 title win this year was a highlight. For his part, Maldonado is happy to be joining the grid, he says: “It has been nearly 30 years since Venezuela has had a driver in Formula One so the country has been pushing young drivers in the hope of having someone represent them. I am happy to now be that driver.”

Meanwhile, the FIA released their official entry list, and there are lots of gaps, not so much at Williams now of course. There were no real surprises in the list, but notably Sauber have finally managed to drop the BMW bit of their name, whilst Lotus have listed themselves as Team Lotus. Tony Fernandes tweeted: “Well we made the call after tremendous support from public. Team Lotus it is. Sure there will be many battles ahead but Higham is pumped.”

F1 Maldona Confirmed at Williams for 2011

The FIA confirmed the initial 2011 F1 driver entry list on Tuesday. A total of six teams are still yet to reveal their full lineups for next season.

F1 FIA Publish Official 2011 F1 Entry List

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Hello, welcome, this is F1 Minute for the 29th November 2010.

Two drivers who featured in the young driver test in Abu Dhabi earlier this month are looking set to make their way into F1 next season.

First up, Red Bull hot shot Daniel Ricciardo has been given a dedicated Toro Rosso reserve driver role, with the bonus of driving during Free Practice Fridays. STR boss Franz Tost says that it is the team’s aim to bring in young drivers and having new blood will keep their current line-up on it’s toes. For his part, Dan says that his main priority for next year is in the Formula Renault 3.5 championship, but with F1 as his ultimate aim, the Friday role is a great step forward.

Meanwhile, Force India test driver Paul di Resta won the DTM championship this weekend, after a long season of attending both the Mercedes series, and every single F1 weekend as well. di Resta is hoping to continue his association with Force India, saying: “Obviously I’m hoping I can get a seat there and we can build a long relationship. F1 is my dream and I will keep working to make it happen.”

F1 Ricciar and di Rest Eye Future in F1

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This is F1 Minute and it is the 26th November 2010.

I think we all know the only way to describe how Webber must be feeling right about now is… gutted. But, Red Bull boss Christian Horner is keen to buoy his second favourite driver up, saying that he is bound to be right back up there in the title hunt in 2011. He said: “I think he’ll take a little bit of time to reflect but when he looks back in the cold light of day at this year, he can be very proud of what he has achieved… Obviously there is disappointment in not having achieved his ultimate goal, but I think he has driven very, very well this year.” He says he’ll bounce back with lessons learned for next season.

Elsewhere, Christian Klien has admitted it is really hard to get a seat in F1, harder than ever, in fact, but he is still hoping to work with HRT next year.

Not quite so positive news, now, it has emerged that Bernie Ecclestone was mugged on Wednesday night, with jewellery estimated at being worth £200,000 stolen. Bernie was with his girlfriend, and taken to hospital with a head injury, but was discharged and is at home recovering. Get well soon Mr E.

F1 Horner Believes Webber Will be Back Stronger in 2011

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It is the 24th November 2010, and this is F1 Minute.

There hasn’t been an enormous amount of news over the past two days, but boss of Toro Rosso, Franz Tost, has been talking quite a lot. First up, he’s been bigging up Jaime Alguersuari, with this: “I think that he learned this season how to set up the car, how to drive the car, and I’m looking forward to the next season because I think he has matured enough to continue improving himself.” Good news. No mention of Buemi though. Franz Tost did point out that for the team to do better, it’s not just about improvement from the drivers, but also the car. He admitted they’ve got a long off-season ahead, with lots of hard work to do over the winter. He added: “We have a lot of work in front of us, but hopefully all these tasks we have set up. we will find a successful solution for them.”

Finally, in non-Toro Rosso news, Mario Theissen has left as boss of BMW. They’re not in F1 anymore, but Theissen is stepping down before the manufacturer joins in the DTM series.

F1 Franz Tost Talks Toro Rosso s Winter Plans

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Hello, welcome, this is F1 Minute and it’s the 22nd November 2010.

Last time, I updated you on the Young Driver test in Abu Dhabi, and after two days of that, we had two days of regular driver testing, with brand new Pirelli tyres. We ushered out the age of Bridgestone and welcomed in the new guys. The times were a bit slower, and it was Ferrari who made the most of it. Massa was fastest on the first day, whilst Vettel suffered from a puncture right at the end of the session. He was still second fastest though. On Day 2, Alonso was on top, and again Vettel was second despite having another puncture. Pirelli have looked into it, though, and they say they are happy with how the test went.

Meanwhile, Lotus technical chief Mike Gascoyne has admitted that he doesn’t understand why Group Lotus won’t work with them rather than against them, he said: “We’ve brought great value to the brand and the development of the team, and we’re a little bit failing to understand why Group Lotus seem to want to try to kick us out.” Us too, Mike, us too.

F1 Ferrari Lead Both Days Pirelli Testing

There are some new boys in town, as preparations get underway ahead of the first official test with Pirelli tyres bolted on the cars. The new rubber is lined up in the paddock and has been fixed on to some of the cars, but we will see it make it’s debut (or return) to the track tomorrow in Abu Dhabi.

Credit: Pirelli & C. S.p.A.

F1 Calendar Boys

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Today is the 17th November 2010, and this is F1 Minute.

We’ve had two days of young driver testing in Abu Dhabi, starting yesterday, with Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo posting the fastest time of the day. No one could match him on pace, but it was potential Williams driver Pastor Maldonado who completed the most laps – touring the circuit 108 times. The second day of testing, today, once again saw Ricciardo untouchable at the top, although at one point Sam Bird was managing to keep up with him. There were a few more red flags today as well, but no major incidents.

Meanwhile, Renault are still pondering their second driver for 2011, and team boss Eric Boullier will take his time assessing Petrov’s potential. He says: “His performance in Abu Dhabi will be a positive in our consideration. But we still have to sit down and I want to make sure my mind is fresh to think over the situation. There are still some frustrations but I have to consider the global package.” He suggests an announcement will be made in the next month or so.

F1 Red Bull Dominate Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi

Sutil and Di Resta form Force India's lineup for the 2011 season.

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It’s the 26th January 2011 and this is F1 Minute.

Force India have confirmed their lineup for the upcoming season with Adrian Sutil joined by Paul di Resta, replacing the outgoing Tonio Liuzzi. The duo will be supported by ex-Williams driver Nico Hulkenberg, who takes on the reserve driver role. Paul di Resta has moved up from the test driver role in 2010, in which he participated in eight free practice sessions, and followed the team around the globe, as well as competing in the DTM series.

Team boss Vijay Mallya has explained the thinking behind the lineup, saying: “Adrian has matured into one of F1’s most consistent and highly-rated young drivers, while Paul is, I believe, a real star of the future. He has won in every category in his career and this base speed was in evidence when he got in the car on Fridays last year. With Nico, signing him was too good an opportunity to let by.”

Today’s announcement just leaves one seat open on the grid, and that’s alongside Karthikeyan at HRT.

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Paul di Rest Confirmed Alongside Sutil at Force Indi

HRT, Virgin Racing and Team Lotus are all gearing up for 2011 to get started.

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Hello and welcome to F1 Minute for the 25th January.

The news continues to be about the Lotus name battle, with both sides declaring they are feeling optimistic about the future. Team Lotus have the column inches edge slightly today, as they’ve also announced their launch - next Monday at 5am, and it’ll all be online.

The other new teams have their own headlines, although they can no longer be classed as new teams, can they? Timo Glock has declared his optimism about the coming year with Virgin Racing, after previously being less than enthusiastic about the team’s chances. He said: “The team is moving in the right direction and we’ve got some good sponsors on board. Marussia is a big partner now. I think they are quite straightforward and they want some success in the future, and that’s good. That’s what the team needs, and in the end we have to find out how quickly we can move up.”

Finally, HRT have confirmed they are hoping to have their new car ready for the test in Bahrain, the last one before the season begins.

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 T Not So New Teams Talk Up 2011 Season

Tony Fernandes tries to clear up the confusion of the Lotus trials.

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Today is the 24th January and this is F1 Minute.

The argument between Team Lotus and Group Lotus will go to trial in March, thanks to a High Court judge pushing for the dispute to be settled as quickly as possible. Group Lotus had asked for a summary judgement today to stop the matter going to court, but the judge rejected that. He has set a date for the 21st March, with instructions that the trial shouldn’t be longer than ten days. We should get a resolution to the Lotus debacle by April.

Before today’s hearing, Tony Fernandes attempted to tweet an explanation of what was going to happen, showing that he is at least aware of the confusion these cases are causing. He said: “Today’s case is Group Lotus’s desperate attempt to use their one-way unlawful termination of the license agreement on Lotus Racing. Saying One Malaysia can’t use Lotus... so nothing changes on Team Lotus.”

Whilst nothing has been decided today, that simple fact could be seen as a small victory for Fernandes, as the matter won’t just be brushed aside.

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Team vers Group Lot Trial Set for March

Frank Williams and Adam Parr consider the stock market for the team.

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Hello and welcome to F1 Minute for the 21st January.

Williams F1 issued a statement today confirming that the team are thinking about the possibility of floating the company on the stock market. The statement was simply that the team are considering the idea, rather than anything being in place just yet, but it did come as a bit of a surprise. Frank Williams has always been fiercely independent, but he did say that this idea is partly to do with keeping the team in good shape after his tenure at the top ends.

Chairman of the team Adam Parr was on hand to answer questions about the potential flotation, and he was keen to dispel any concerns that Frank was in ill health or planning to retire, and also that the team were having financial difficulties. He said: “It’s very important to state that we are not, as a company, seeking to raise funds. This would not, if it goes ahead, involve any new equity or fund-raising. The company is in good financial health.” He added that the team have recorded a profit for the last three years, so the move is more about structure and stability than cold, hard, cash.

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Williams F1 Consider Their Future Options

Team Lotus talk rivalry on Twitter, whilst Red Bull announce their launch.

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This is F1 Minute and it’s the 20th January 2011.

Team Lotus boss Tony Fernandes has had a brief rant about the situation he finds himself in via the medium of Twitter today, with some choice quotes about his rivals for the Lotus name. Some highlights include: “Lotus Renault is a Renault end of story. McLaren is McLaren, not Vodafone, and Mercedes is Mercedes. And can someone tell me who owns Renault and Genii. So many different names.”

He then turned his attention to where the Lotus name has come from, adding: “Not much said about David Hunt. All I can say he is the most honourable man in all of this. Moody at times but his love for the Lotus brand is immense. More to come on my feeling and the truth on this Lotus saga. The good always win.”

Meanwhile, Red Bull also took to Twitter today to confirm the launch of their new car - it will take place on the 1st February, at Valencia, ahead of the test session there. They were even specific enough to announce the launch at 8:30am.

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Tony Fernandes Opens Up on Twitter About Lot

Tyre supplier Pirelli complete their four-day Abu Dhabi test.

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Hello there, this is F1 Minute for the 19th January.

F1 tyre supplier Pirelli completed their four-day test yesterday, with two night sessions to test the wet tyres and two daytime sessions to sample the dry tyres. Altogether, test driver Pedro de la Rosa completed about 2000 kilometres at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, which brings the total testing distance for Pirelli up to 20,000 kilometres.

Pedro de la Rosa now feels comfortable to say: “In my opinion, Pirelli is ready now for Formula One.” Motorsport director of the tyre firm, Paul Hembery, added: “While we are well aware that we are new to Formula One and still have plenty to learn, I’m confident that we can approach the start of this year’s official testing next month with a strong package.” Like Paul says, the next day out for the tyres will be in Valencia at the beginning of February.

Meanwhile, Hembery also believes that their compounds are less durable than those supplied by Bridgestone which would mean two tyre stops per Grand Prix, he said: “We want to try to create more of a show.”

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Pirelli Feel Ready Put on S

One driver makes a Lotus switch, whilst the naming matter heads to court.

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Today is the 18th January, and this is F1 Minute.

Renault have confirmed that Fairuz Fauzy will be their reserve driver for 2011, with the Malaysian ending his contract with Team Lotus early. He had a five year deal with Tony Fernandes’ team that saw him able to participate in some Friday free practice sessions, but Fauzy has now made the switch to Renault, saying: “It is a great team. I will try my best to hopefully be in a race seat one day.”

Whilst we’re on the subject of the Lotus teams, the matter over who gets to keep the name will be heard in court next week, the 24th January, far earlier than we had anticipated. Group Lotus have asked for a summary judgement, which would mean the case would be kept away from a potentially costly and lengthy high profile trial. CEO of Group Lotus Dany Bahar is hopeful things can be sorted now, saying: “I don’t think it will be a matter solved by English courts. I think it will be solved before that. But if we have to go the legal way, we will - and our shareholders will support that.”

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Fairuz Fauzy Switches From Team Lot Renault

Pirelli gather information about their rubber in wet conditions.

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Welcome to F1 Minute, it’s the 17th January 2011.

Pirelli broke records today by becoming the first to conduct an F1 test, at night, in wet conditions. Pedro de la Rosa spent about six hours on track at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, testing out the new F1 tyre supplier’s rubber on damp track.

Ever since night racing was introduced to F1, there have been concerns about safety implications if it began to pour down, and although Pirelli say this is not the reason they are testing in Abu Dhabi, it is certainly bringing some additional information.

Motorsport director Paul Hembery said: “The reason we’re here is because it’s warmer... and we’re testing at night time because we don’t want the sun to evaporate the water on track... The compounds are extremely sensitive to temperatures in wet conditions, so this provides different information for us on competitive use.”

Meanwhile, de la Rosa said: “We did a sample run yesterday with the lights at about 50% and the visibility was actually better than when it rains in the daytime.” The test will continue tomorrow.

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Pirelli Take F1 s First Night Test Abu Dhabi

FOTA chairman Martin Whitmarsh discusses the situation with HRT.

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It is the 14th January 2011 and this is F1 Minute.

More news on the fallout of HRT leaving FOTA today, as apparently there has been speculation about the whys and wherefores. I wouldn’t have thought it was that important, but according to Autosport, HRT are adamant that they have offered to pay the outstanding membership costs, despite the fact that FOTA are suggesting they were suspended for not doing so. HRT also said at the final FOTA meeting in December that they didn’t want to be in the group anymore, which has led us to this tricky situation.

On stage at Autosport International, chairman of FOTA Martin Whitmarsh has said that the organisation will not let any of the current problems grind them down - problems including both HRT and arguments over the Resource Restriction Agreement they are trying to put in place. He said: “F1 has some of the most competitive people in the world, and getting those people to work together is an interesting challenge. We have some issues, and it is not useful to talk about them in public, but we will power through those.”

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 HRT and FOTA Continue Their War Words

The Lotus and Renault sides both have their say about their combined team entry.

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Hello and welcome to F1 Minute, it’s the 13th January.

Lotus-Renault unveiled their new colour scheme at the Autosport International event in Birmingham today, although it is barely different to the black and gold livery that was revealed when Lotus began their sponsorship of the French team. Talking of which, Renault boss Eric Boullier confirmed that the team will be running under a British licence rather than a French one. He said: “Lotus is an English manufacturer... It means that if we win, we will play the British national anthem - and that is important for everybody inside the team. We are rebranding everything inside the company now.”

Meanwhile, CEO of Group Lotus Dany Bahar had a different view, saying: “We follow the same Lotus strategy we apply in every single motor racing activity... We first of all, just act as a sponsor and maybe a shareholder, but we leave the things as they are today... Renault is an exceptional name, we keep the name as it is and the chassis will be called a Renault.”

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Lot Renault Tell All at Autosport International

Red Bull dominate during Australia qualifying, whilst Hispania don't make it.

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Welcome to F1 Minute for the 26th March 2011.

Sebastian Vettel has taken the first pole position of the season with a storming lap around Albert Park to finish eight tenths above next place Lewis Hamilton and third place Mark Webber.

It wasn’t a surprise to find that Hispania fell outside the 107% qualifying rule, with both cars completing 11 laps but neither making it - and the FIA have confirmed that the cars won’t be allowed to race.

Surprise drop-outs included Nick Heidfeld in the Renault, who fell out of Q1, despite the fact Vitaly Petrov qualified sixth. Also, Rubens Barrichello made it through to the second session but spun his Williams after just a couple of corners and beached it in the gravel. He started 17th.

Paul di Resta outqualified teammate Adrian Sutil for Force India, whilst Kamui Kobayashi and Sébastien Buemi finished in the top ten for Sauber and Toro Rosso respectively. Whilst the top five were the usual suspects, the rest of the field is pretty mixed up and the race should be fascinating.

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Sebastian Vettel takes pole position for t Australian Grand Prix

Red Bull and McLaren take the top honours for the first day of the 2011 season, whilst Lotus and HRT have a difficult start.

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It’s the 25th March 2011 and you’re listening to F1 Minute.

The 2011 season is officially underway with Red Bull and McLaren taking top honours in Free Practice in Melbourne. Mark Webber led the way in FP1, with Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso close behind. In FP2 there were a few rain showers but that didn’t stop the McLaren boys improving their pace and Jenson Button taking the top spot for the end of the day.

Further down the order, more interesting things were taking place. The first driver out on track for FP1 was Karun Chandhok in the Lotus, after his last minute appointment as reserve driver this week. Unfortunately, the grip was poor and after only a couple of corners, he had spun off and crashed into the wall. The team worked really hard to get the car back up and running for Jarno Trulli to participate in FP2, but it was not a good start for anyone involved.

Better than HRT, though, who only had Tonio Liuzzi’s car ready to roll and that was only complete just in time for one installation lap before the final session ended.

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Mark Webber and Jenson Button lead free practice Friday in Australi

Karun Chandhok gets a last minute gig as reserve and test driver for Team Lotus.

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Today is the 22nd March 2011 and this is F1 Minute.

Team Lotus have confirmed that Karun Chandhok will join them as a reserve driver, just days before the season gets underway in Australia. Despite already having three testers on their books, Lotus have signed up the former HRT driver to attend races and participate in some Free Practice sessions on Friday. Talking about the deal, Chandhok said: “The details of exactly which sessions I will be in the car for are being worked out now and after having spent some time with them at the recent pre-season tests I can see exactly how passionate everyone in Team Lotus is...” Although he says details are still sketchy, we are expecting to see him out on track in Melbourne.

Team Principal of Team Lotus, Tony Fernandes, had nothing but praise for his newest signing, saying: “I do not think it is going too far to say that Karun represents the future of motor racing - he is living proof that geography is no boundary to talent and ambition and that you will succeed if you work hard and keep dreaming.”

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Team Lot sign up Karun Chandhok as reserve driver

Pirelli present multi-coloured sidewalls for the various compounds, and will give teams an extra set of tyres for practice in Australia.

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Hello and welcome to F1 Minute for the 21st March 2011.

F1 tyre supplier Pirelli have confirmed they will provide teams with an extra set of tyres in free practice this weekend as the season gets underway in Australia. The FIA tweaked the tyre regulations so that Pirelli can give 12 sets to teams, rather than the 11 allowed, but only at specific events. Australia has been chosen because it will be warmer conditions than Pirelli have seen so far during testing. The extra set of tyres can only be used on a Friday.

Pirelli also revealed the colours they’ll be using to distinguish the different compounds, and it’s a veritable rainbow of coloured sidewalls. Your homework is to memorise: silver for the hard compound, white for medium, yellow for soft, red for supersoft, and then blue for the intermediates, and orange for the wet tyres. Already it looks difficult to distinguish between the silver and the white, although they shouldn’t be in use at the same time. Motosport Director Paul Hembery said the colours reflected Pirelli’s desire to be a “proactive and colourful partner in F1.”

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Pirelli announce compounds and extr tyre provisions for Australi

Red Bull sign Sebastian Vettel until 2014, whilst Webber remains unconfirmed.

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This is F1 Minute and it’s the 14th March 2011.

Red Bull Racing confirmed today that they’ve extended their contract with Sebastian Vettel, the German now signed up with the team until the end of 2014. There have been vague rumours that Vettel would be a good fit at Ferrari, and speculation had begun that Mercedes were interested but team principal Christian Horner is glad that they can put those rumours to bed, saying: “It’s good to have it done and tidied up prior to the beginning of the season - rumours had already started about other teams. We were keen to take away that distraction and concentrate on the racing.”

Meanwhile, motorsport advisor to the team Helmut Marko, who has always been a big fan of Vettel, said it was not a particularly momentous announcement: “It was in mutual agreement that we extended Sebastian’s contract to 2014. Both sides wanted to continue the partnership, so it was no big issue.” It’s thought that Mark Webber’s contract will be discussed midway through the season.

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Sebastian Vettel signs for Red Bull Racing until 2014

Tonio Liuzzi gets his long-rumoured drive at Hispania, whilst Pedro de la Rosa rejoins McLaren as reserve.

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Hello and welcome to F1 Minute, it’s the 9th March 2011.

Tonio Liuzzi has become the final driver signed to the F1 grid this year after his deal with HRT was confirmed today, putting an end to the speculation. Team Principal at HRT, Colin Kolles, spoke of his recent signing, saying: “I have known Tonio for many years as he raced with me in lower categories. He is a very professional driver who will bring a lot of benefits to the team.” Meanwhile, Liuzzi said: “I never lost hope to be in Formula 1 as I knew I have the experience and the right attributes for a young and ambitious team. I face a new challenge now and this excites me.” Liuzzi was at Force India last year but made way for Paul di Resta there, and is now teamed up with Narain Karthikeyan.

In other signing news, it was confirmed today that Pedro de la Rosa will return to McLaren as reserve driver, alongside Gary Paffett. Pedro was at Sauber last year, completed a stint as Pirelli test driver and now joins the team he previously spent seven years with.

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Tonio Liuzzi Confirmed at HRT and De l Ros at McLaren

Ferrari and Ford settle their debate over the F150 chassis name.

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This is F1 Minute and it’s the 7th March 2011.

Since Ferrari launched their 2011 challenger, they’ve faced a battle with Ford over the name. Initially, the car was called the F150, which is similar to the Ford truck known as the F-150, with added hyphen. Legal proceedings were started, and settled, with Ferrari agreeing to change the name of their car to the F150th Italia.

However, the team weren’t happy with that either and it’s changed again, to the Ferrari 150° Italia. Already, it is impossible to say out loud, but, the degree symbol is the Italian equivalent of the 'th' part of 150th.

Ferrari are happy with it, although clearly not happy with Ford, as a post on their website stated: “In order to avoid the slightest risk of anyone confusing a Formula 1 car with a pick up truck... the car will lose the F that precedes the number 150.” They went on: “It should make it clear even to the thickest of people that the name of the car is a tribute to the anniversary of the unification of our country.”

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Ferrari settle on chass na 150° Itali

Timo Glock recovers at home after successful appendix removal.

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Hello and welcome to F1 Minute for the 3rd March 2011.

Timo Glock has become the latest casualty in Formula One, having been to hospital to have his appendix removed. The Virgin Racing driver was taken ill in Switzerland a few days ago and rushed to hospital, where he was diagnosed with appendicitis. Some keyhole surgery to remove the offending appendix took place, and Glock was allowed back home yesterday. Despite the quick recovery, it is clearly not fast enough for Timo who is already tweeting his frustration: “Mega weather and I am just able to do a little walk how boring is this!!! My bike puts on rust already !!!!”

Meanwhile, team principal at Virgin John Booth has confirmed that Timo may miss the upcoming test, he said: “To ensure a swift recovery, it is unlikely that he will take part in next week’s test at Barcelona and that Jerome will run on all four days instead. We will make a final decision early next week. We look forward to having Timo back with us very soon.”

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Timo Glock in recovery from appendix removal surgery

Williams launch their 2011 car proper, whilst Sam Michael answers some questions.

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Today is the 24th February 2011 and this is F1 Minute.

The Williams team launched their 2011 livery today, revealing the expected blue and white paint scheme - although there was slightly more white than we’ve seen in previous iterations. In an online presentation, the FW33 was unveiled and then technical director Sam Michael took to the stage.

Michael touched upon several interesting subjects, including the reason why Williams have gone for a battery KERS rather than the flywheel option they spent so much on a couple of years ago. It’s all to do with the packaging and where it fits in the car, but he was keen to point out that they haven’t discounted flywheel and will revisit the device in 2012. He also talked about their two drivers, praising Pastor Maldonado for his maturity and his ability to develop the car, particularly as he is already reflecting teammate Rubens Barrichello’s comments on the new car.

Finally, he said that despite all the data all the teams have, lap after lap of information, no one knows who is fast and who will do well.

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Williams F1 reveal 2011 livery and discuss KERS

Ferrari lead the final day of testing, whilst Lotus close up early.

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This is F1 Minute and it’s the 21st February 2011.

The four-day test in Barcelona came to a close today, with Felipe Massa posting the fastest time. Over the course of the test, Red Bull led with Sebastian Vettel on top for the first two days, Nico Rosberg topped the timesheets on day three, and Massa today.

Lotus had to close up shop early today as Jarno Trulli suffered a car failure out on track which resulted in a heavy crash. The car was recovered to the garage but Lotus didn’t have the parts to fix it up, so their running was brought to a halt mid-morning. He finished the day at the bottom of the times.

Toro Rosso have had a good test, with Jaime Alguersuari third and then second on the first two days. Sebastien Buemi took over on day three and was ninth yesterday, but improved to third for this final day.

We also saw some new names out on track. Hispania hosted former Midland F1 test driver Giorgio Mondini, whilst Lotus gave Angolan driver Ricardo Teixeira a seat on Saturday - but he finished up last.

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Felipe Mass heads up final day Barcelon test

Bahrain International Circuit confirm withdrawal from F1 season opener.

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Hello and welcome to F1 Minute, it’s the 21st February 2011.

Organisers at the Bahrain International Circuit have confirmed they have pulled out of hosting the 2011 F1 season opener, putting an end to the speculation that has dominated over the past few days. The political troubles in the country have put a shadow over the event for the past week, and Chief of Formula One Group Bernie Ecclestone has been keeping a close eye on the area with a view to making a decision soon. As it is, the Crown Prince of Bahrain phoned Ecclestone to tell him they have to withdraw. He said: “Bahrain’s priority is on overcoming tragedy, healing divisions and rediscovering the fabric that draws this country together to remind the world of the very best that Bahrain is capable of as a nation once again united.”

It’s not known if Bahrain will host a race this year, or if they have forfeited their right to a race in 2011. All we do know is that the season won’t get underway until Australia. Also, Formula One teams are due to meet this evening in Barcelona to discuss the options for the also cancelled Bahrain test.

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Bahrain withdraw from 2011 season opener

Sebastian Vettel makes a good start for Red Bull in Barcelona.

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Welcome to F1 Minute, it’s the 18th February 2011.

Sebastian Vettel topped the timesheets in Barcelona today, as the third pre-season test got underway. A wet start mixed up the team programmes, with any meaningful running saved for the afternoon. Fernando Alonso posted the fastest time midway through the day but was topped by Vettel just before testing came to a close.

Renault had Vitaly Petrov and Nick Heidfeld sharing testing duties, but a KERS problem meant Petrov was kept out of the car for longer than anticipated. Rubens Barrichello was also forced to sit out a good portion of the day as repairs were made to the Williams. Jaime Alguersuari caused a red flag after an off-track excursion into the gravel, and Kamui Kobayashi also caused a stoppage by running out of fuel - although the team were expecting it to happen as they were pushing the limits.

With the track drying throughout the day, the field spread was huge - Vettel’s time was in the 1:24s, and Heidfeld at the bottom of the timesheets was almost 20 seconds slower.

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Vettel leads first day Barcelon test

GP2 Asia bosses cancel the weekend's event, and Bernie keeps a close eye on proceedings.

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This is F1 Minute for the 17th February 2011.

Politicial tensions in Bahrain have been casting doubt over whether the Grand Prix will take place next month, and the concern has been heightened by today’s confirmation from GP2 Asia bosses that the feeder series’ second round event in Bahrain has been cancelled. Protesters and police are clashing in the country and initially the GP2 programme was pushed back, but it was soon announced that the entire weekend would be called off.

Bernie Ecclestone isn’t panicking, though, saying: “I always try not to over-react on breaking stories. Number one, you have to check what is the reality - which is not always what you hear - and to react without too much emotion and to face properly the problem.” Bernie and the Bahrain circuit officials are watching the situation carefully, not just for the Grand Prix but for testing which is due to take place a week earlier at the track. Bernie added that he has spoken to the Crown Prince who knows no more than anyone else, and a decision should be made next week.

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Bahrain Grand Prix in doubt as GP2 Asi race cancelled

Nick Heidfeld will sit in for Robert Kubica at Renault.

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Today is the 16th February 2011 and this is F1 Minute.

Renault have confirmed that Nick Heidfeld will be sitting in for Robert Kubica for the timebeing, with the German making his full time debut in the Barcelona test at the end of this week. Heidfeld participated in the Jerez test for one day, along with Bruno Senna who also had hopes for the seat, but Renault have given it to the far more experienced Heidfeld.

Team principal at Renault, Eric Boullier, is confident with their choice, saying: “The team has been through a very difficult couple of weeks and we had to react quickly. We gave Nick a chance in Jerez last week and he really impressed us. He’s quick, experienced, and is very strong technically with his feedback and understanding of the car.”

Meanwhile, Heidfeld himself admits he wishes his return to F1 was under better circumstances than his former teammate injured, but adds: “I’ve been very impressed by what I have seen so far in terms of the facilities and the dedication of the people at Enstone.”

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Nick Heidfeld confirmed as Kubic replacement

Sir Frank Williams gets a spot on the Motor Sport magazine Hall of Fame.

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Hello and welcome to F1 Minute for the 15th February 2011.

Sir Frank Williams has been inducted into the Motor Sport Hall of Fame this evening, as the magazine host their second annual event in London. BBC anchor Jake Humphrey conducted proceedings as Frank joined the eight founding members who joined last year - Tazio Nuvolari, Enzo Ferrari, Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Ayrton Senna and of course, Michael Schumacher. Alongside Frank, Sir Jack Brabham was also inducted, as were Dario Franchitti and Jody Scheckter.

As if one F1 Hall of Fame wasn’t enough, there could be another in the offing as the British Racing Drivers’ Club have revealed that part of their plans to revamp the Silverstone circuit include creating their own racing driver ‘hall of fame’ although it’s not clear whether that will include an actual hall or annual events yet.

For now, congratulations to all those in the ever-expanding Motor Sport Hall of Fame.

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Sir Frank Williams inducted Motor Sport H Fa

Kubica's first interview shows a positive outlook whilst further surgery takes place.

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Welcome to F1 Minute for the 11th February 2011.

Robert Kubica underwent further surgery today, as he continues to recover from a heavy crash during an Italian rally event last weekend. Renault confirmed that he had been in for operations on his foot, shoulder, humerous and anterior elbow, and that all four procedures had gone well.

Prior to the surgery, Kubica spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport in his first interview since the crash. He seemed very positive, saying: “I want to get back on the track stronger than ever, because after these accidents you aren’t what you were before, you improve.” He added that he injured his right arm in a previous accident seven years ago, and recovered well from that so there is no reason he can’t do it again. He said: “It was the same right arm - massacred. But after four days it didn’t feel as good as it feels now, and this reassures me.”

Meanwhile, Renault have confirmed that Nick Heidfeld will be in the car at Jerez tomorrow, whilst Bruno Senna will take the seat on Sunday, as they are evaluated to start the season proper.

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Kubic undergoes furt surgery but remains positive

Schumacher leads the way whilst Williams continue to struggle.

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This is F1 Minute and it is the 11th February 2011.

It was red flags all round today, as some of the teams had a rough session testing in Jerez. Michael Schumacher led the times for Mercedes, with Felipe Massa coming in second for Ferrari. Both Jaime Alguersuari and Vitaly Petrov spun and caused red flags, as did Sergio Perez, although he wrecked the front of his Sauber while he was at it, ending their day’s running. Perez is feeling confident, though, despite the crash, saying: “I’m getting better every time I jump in the car. I’m gaining experience - I know more what the car needs, how to maximise the different compounds... this is the positive side, I feel I’m getting ready for the start of the season.”

Williams also had a crash with Pastor Maldonado finding his way into the barrier in the afternoon, trashing the car in the process. This follows their tough day yesterday - it was 14 laps then, and 38 today after a KERS problem halted their morning running. They may be getting a bit behind on their programme.

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Schumac leads second day Jerez test

Felipe Massa puts Ferrari on top for the opening day of Jerez testing.

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Welcome to F1 Minute for the 10th February 2011.

The second of the pre-season tests got underway today in Jerez, with Felipe Massa topping the timesheets for Ferrari, closely followed by Sergio Perez in the Sauber, and Mark Webber in the Red Bull. At the opposite end, Williams had a very rough day with Pastor Maldonado only able to complete 14 laps due to problems with the adjustable rear wing. Pastor could only undertake a couple of short runs throughout the day, and finished up 14 seconds off the pace.

Technical director for the team, Sam Michael, said: “It has not been a productive day for us, I’m afraid. After the installation lap we had a problem with a bleed screw for the rear wing hydraulic actuator. It is straightforward to correct, however during the day it caused a lot of downtime.”

Also out on track today, Daniel Ricciardo shared testing duties with Alguersuari for Toro Rosso, whilst Petrov was in for Renault. Nick Heidfeld will also get a chance behind the wheel this week to evaluate him as Kubica’s replacement.

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Mass leads first day testing in Jerez

All the teams have now revealed their 2011 cars, with Force India being the latest.

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Today is the 8th February 2011 and this is F1 Minute.

Force India became the latest team to launch their new car today, with an online video unveiling the 2011 challenger. The online launch featured interviews with the three drivers, Adrian Sutil, Paul di Resta, and Nico Hulkenberg, who were all pretty positive about what the season holds in store.

CEO of Force India, Otmar Szafnauer was also on hand to confirm that the team are aiming for 5th in the championship in 2011 - that would be up from 7th in 2010, and 9th the year before. Earlier in the week, the team confirmed they had extended their deal with McLaren for gearbox supply and Mercedes for engines, with both partnerships lasting until the end of 2012.

Elsewhere today, HRT released some graphic images of their new livery. Whilst not quite a launch, the colour scheme has created a bit of a stir. Gone is the dull grey of last year, and instead the car is mostly white with red highlights. There are also spaces for new sponsors which currently read: “Your logo here” and “This could be you.” Seriously.

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Force Indi and HRT reveal 2011 cars

Vettel gets his championship defence off to a fabulous start, and Hamilton and Petrov join him on the podium.

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Hello and welcome to F1 Minute for the 27th March 2011.

Sebastian Vettel converted his pole position into a dominant victory in Melbourne today, joined on the podium by Lewis Hamilton and Vitaly Petrov. Vettel led from the word go and had a relatively quiet afternoon, whilst Hamilton had some floor damage but he managed to nurse the car home for a podium position.

Mark Webber had a difficult day although for no real apparent reason, whilst Jenson Button spent most of his afternoon battling with Massa which cost him in terms of pace.

Further back, Sauber had a good Grand Prix, finishing seventh and eighth with Pérez ahead of Kobayashi, but after the race the FIA confirmed they had disqualified both cars for a technical infringement regarding the rear wing. Sauber announced their intention to appeal but it may be a while before we see any result either way.

Retirements included both Williams cars and both Mercedes contenders too, all with mechanical troubles. Heikki Kovalainen and Timo Glock also did not finish the race, although Glock did return to the track many laps down.

This is an original article published by F1Minute.com

© Copyright 2007-2011 • Christine Blachford • All Rights Reserved

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F1 Sebastian Vettel takes dominant victory for Red Bull in Melbourne