motor

blue8 · 11-04-2007, 08:11 AM

Rumor is Toyota already offered a contract worth millions which Al0nso turned down. What about him and Ross Brawn in Red Bull?

Red Bull are being tipped to pull off a dramatic double coup by securing the services of both Fernando Alonso and Ross Brawn.

According to The Observer, 'informed sources' claim the team are ready to complete the signings of both men in a coup that would propel them into the mainstream of F1.

The double World Champion has been linked with Renault, Williams and Toyota and now the Anglo-Austrian team have joined the race for his signature.

And Brawn, who is widely regarded as the best tactician in the business, could be willing to return from his self-imposed sabbatical.

The axis of Brawn and Michael Schumacher proved almost unstoppable in the early part of the century as they won five successive World Championships together at Ferrari.

Red Bull's ultimate goal will be to re-create such a dream team, with Alonso working closely with Brawn.

The Englishman has previously claimed that should he return to the sport, it will be with the Scuderia. But since this pronouncement, the situation has evolved at Maranello with the new generation of staff coming to the fore. Furthermore, Brawn and team principal Jean Todt no longer see eye to eye. Reports suggest that their relationship soured over the spygate saga, as the infamous Nigel Stepney was one of Brawn's favoured employees.

As such Red Bull could intervene and recruit Brawn to work alongside chief designer Adrian Newey. Such an appointment would free the burden of responsibility off Newey's shoulders and allow him to focus on the technical development of the RB4.

And Dietrich Mateschitz, Red Bull owner, could jump at the opportunity to sign personnel of Brawn's caliber. The tycoon has not yet ruled out a deal with Alonso either. He told Gazzetta dello Sport: "Let's see how things go.

"[David] Coulthard and [Mark] Webber are 100% our drivers for 2008. But there's nothing certain in F1, only things that are very probable."

blue8 · 11-07-2007, 04:01 AM

Official: Rosberg and Nakajima confirmed for Williams

"I am delighted to confirm that Nico will be racing for the team for his third consecutive year after demonstrating impressive and widely applauded form in 2007," team owner Frank Williams commented.

"Nico will be ably partnered by Kazuki, who has impressed the team over the past year. He has pace and the right aptitude to develop into a competitive Formula One racer and over the course of the next season, we will provide him with all the necessary support and assistance to hone his talents."

Teams so far:
Ferrari: Raikkonen and Massa
BMW Sauber: Heidfeld and Kubica
Williams: Rosberg and Nakajima
Red Bull: Coulthard and Webber
Honda: Button and Barrichello
Toro Rosso: Vettel and Bourdais
Super Aguri: Sato and Davidson
McLaren: Hamilton
Renault:
Force India: Sutil
Toyota: Trulli

dali · 11-07-2007, 06:33 AM

I wonder if William's confirmation of Nico is serious or if he is just gambling with McLaren?!

J.K. · 11-07-2007, 07:54 AM

Formula 1: Renault, 62 milioni di euro dagli sponsor per riavere Al0nso
Indice Ultim'ora

PARIS - Fernando Al0nso and the Renault are always more' neighbors. Of it and' convinced the Spanish printing than does not exclude that the Agreement can arrive in day, even if the daily one "As", talks about a negotiation than durera' still some day but that could conclude itself in week. According to "As" the Renault and' in search of backers for take again Alonso and yesterday to Madrid there a meeting between three large businesses would have been, that would have found an Agreement to fund the operation and have been ready to put available 62 millions of euro to season. (Agr)

62 millions :shock:

McLaren4eVa · 11-15-2007, 01:20 PM

I'm over the moon that allonso is out of my team, it seems as though he conspired against McLaren and brought about this whole debacle. Well that's exxagerating but he is a twat and good riddence for all I care.

blue8 · 11-19-2007, 12:39 PM

Timo Glock to race for Toyota

Reigning GP2 champion Timo Glock will race for Toyota in 2008, it was announced on Monday. Glock, who competed in four Grands Prix for Jordan back in 2004, is understood to have signed a multi-year contract with the Japanese squad.

The move marks the end of the 25 year-old’s role as BMW Sauber's reserve driver. Toyota hope that they will be able to reach an agreement with the German-Swiss squad, which will allow Glock to drive the TF107 at the next multi-team test in December.

“I am convinced Timo has the potential to help this team move forward and achieve its aims,” said Toyota team principal Tadashi Yamashina. “Timo has great experience of motorsport in several different categories and he reinforced his reputation by winning the highly competitive GP2 Series, which we have already seen is fantastic preparation for Formula One. He has demonstrated a fighting spirit and good race craft in GP2 so we believe he is the right man for the job.”

Glock scored two points at his Grand Prix debut for Jordan back in 2004 after finishing the Canadian race in seventh. He moved to the Champ Car World Series in 2005 before switching to GP2 a year later. He won this year’s title after enjoying five wins.

“It’s a great feeling to be a Formula One race driver again and I am really looking forward to this new challenge,” explained the German. “I have worked hard over the past few years to get this opportunity and I must say I am grateful to Panasonic Toyota Racing for having faith in me. From what I have seen of the team at the track I am confident we will be able to work well together to move forward. Even though I have not raced in Formula One since 2004, I have tested quite regularly so I expect it will take very little time for me to get back in the groove.”

“I have been lucky enough to race and succeed in several different championships in my career but my goal has always been to become a full-time Formula One race driver. I believe this experience has made me stronger as a driver and as a person. Of course, to return to Formula One racing as GP2 Series champion is a real honour and we’ve all seen how well Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton have performed as champions so that is very encouraging. I hope I can also make a strong impression next season.”

Regarding Alonso, he is highly speculated to drive for Renault or Red Bull.

sameerrao · 11-19-2007, 02:10 PM

Flavio has been quoted as saying that Renault will have two new drivers next season - i.e. Piquet Jr and most probably Alonso. There will be an announcement in 2 days time.

blue8 · 11-22-2007, 12:36 PM

Only 11 teams on the grid as Prodrive officially confirms it won't debut next year:

David Richards has confirmed for the first time that Prodrive will definitely not debut in Formula One as planned in 2008.

"There was a dispute about our eligibility," the Briton said in an interview with the German specialist magazine Auto Motor und Sport.

"In addition, the new Concorde agreement has been repeatedly delayed. We asked the FIA to be able to start mid-way through the season: our request was rejected.

"So for 2008 there is not a realistic chance of there being a Prodrive Formula One team," Richards stated.

In April of last year, F1's governing body announced that Banbury-based Prodrive, an outfit famous for its involvement in the World Rally Championship with Subaru, had been selected to become the twelfth and final team in 2008.

But the touted 'customer car' rules have since been the subject of intense controversy in the paddock, moving Richards last month to reveal that a planned link-up with McLaren-Mercedes had been called off.

Richards explained that Prodrive's target now is to debut in 2009, pending the consent of the FIA World Motor Sport Council.

"Secondly, we must wait for the new Concorde. Only then can we fully assess our options," he added.

Richards, former Benetton and BAR boss, said: "Our ambition is still to be in Formula One.

"But there was the risk of legal procedures because we wanted to use a customer car. As a result, our entire business plan was put into doubt.

"So we have chosen to re-group instead of simply race ahead blindly," he explained.

Car Debuts:
Ferrari (F2008): Jerez, January 14; "evolution of the F2007"

BMW Sauber (F1.08): Valencia, January 14; "It's really a matter of fine-tuning - evolution rather than revolution,"

Toyota (TF108): Toyota HQ, Cologne, January 10; "Our 2008 car will be very different" but "not revolutionary"

Raikkonen won't get #1 status:

He also said Kimi Raikkonen, the newly crowned world champion, will not enjoy number one status next year over team-mate Felipe Massa.

"The track will determine the hierarchy," he claimed. "The same as in the days of Schumacher. Barrichello for example ended 2003 very strongly and began 2004 full of chances, but Michael won the first five races."

HeilSvenska · 11-26-2007, 04:16 PM

While there's speculations of Toyota wanting Alfonso, Ralf wants the empty seat at McLaren.

Ralf issues McLaren declaration
Ralf Schumacher has thrown his hat into the ring to fill the McLaren Formula One drive vacated by Fernando Alonso.

"It's no secret that the seat at McLaren-Mercedes is by far the most coveted there is," the 32-year-old German told Bild am Sonntag newspaper.
"Every driver out there in the market would love to sit in their super car."
The younger brother of F1 great Michael Schumacher won six grands prix at Williams before moving to Toyota in 2005 where he failed to shine.
He has been replaced for next season by compatriot Timo Glock.
McLaren have yet to decide who will partner Britian's Lewis Hamilton in 2008, but are thought to favour a younger driver.
Nico Rosberg (Williams), Heikki Kovaleinen (Renault) and Adrian Sutil (Spyker) have all been linked with the seat. But Williams have told McLaren that Rosberg is going nowhere, Kovaleinen could be retained by Renault, and Sutil is admired by Spkyer's new owner, the Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya.

blue8 · 12-07-2007, 03:49 PM

Clearance for the McLaren MP4-23 PENDING:

McLaren will have to wait until four weeks before the start of next season to find out whether or not their car has been approved for use by the FIA.

A meeting of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in Monaco today was due to discuss whether or not any Ferrari intellectual property had been used on McLaren's 2008 challenger.

This came after a detailed examination recently of the designs for the MP4-23 at McLaren's Woking headquarters by FIA-appointed officials.

However, the WMSC felt that it would be better if both McLaren and Ferrari had some input into the findings of the report, so a new meeting has been pencilled in for February 14, 2008.

A statement issued by the FIA said: "In its decision of 13 September 2007, the WMSC instructed the FIA Technical Department to conduct an investigation of the preparatory work by McLaren on its 2008 car to determine whether that car incorporates any confidential Ferrari information.

"This investigation has been concluded and a detailed report submitted to the WMSC. The WMSC considers that McLaren, Ferrari and the other competitors in the FIA Formula One World Championship should be afforded the opportunity to make considered representations on the report at an extraordinary general meeting of the WMSC to be held on Thursday 14 February 2008 in Paris."

The delay in reaching a verdict comes after McLaren F1 Martin Whitmarsh CEO told Autosport that he hoped the matter could be dealt with swiftly so the team could focus on their 2008 campaign.

I'm not a McLaren fan, but this is very disappointing on their part. If the FIA decides that their car is illegal, they won't have a car for the season...

HeilSvenska · 12-10-2007, 12:56 PM

Poor Fisichella and Kovalainen. They can possibly look for spots at... Force India... since Ralf doesn't want to go there.

bmagni · 12-10-2007, 11:27 PM

Originally Posted by HeilSvenska

Poor Fisichella and Kovalainen. They can possibly look for spots at... Force India... since Ralf doesn't want to go there.

yeah, both are great drivers, heikki might need some more experience... i think that the renault deal is pretty much f'ing em up... but what else can you expect from Flavio?

blue8 · 12-10-2007, 01:08 PM

A couple of days ago, word is that Dela Rosa is atop the shortlist of 3 to drive alongside Hamilton. With Kovalainen out of Renault, he is certainly a better option for McLaren.

sameerrao · 12-10-2007, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by blue8

A couple of days ago, word is that Dela Rosa is atop the shortlist of 3 to drive alongside Hamilton. With Kovalainen out of Renault, he is certainly a better option for McLaren.

100X better option IMO

fabro_s · 12-10-2007, 01:42 PM

Well, things will look better for renault, but the big question here is, what is going to happen to McLaren, lets wait and see which driver ends up in Alonsos place...