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F1: Bernie Ecclestone furious at drivers no-show

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Khatir Soltani
From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone was furious on Friday when Michael Schumacher, Bruno Senna and Timo Glock did not show up for F1's end-of-season photograph.

Amid the backdrop of the colour-changing Yas Marina Hotel late on Friday, team bosses and all the drivers were summoned for a photograph with the international media.

The report said Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn tried in vain to call Schumacher on his mobile phone. "Has he retired again?" angry F1 chief executive Ecclestone is quoted as saying.

According to another report, Senna apologised for not showing up, insisting that his team had not informed him in time after being summoned to the stewards to explain his practice incident with Lewis Hamilton.

Two explanations were given for Glock's absence. The first was that he was having treatment for a sore foot, and the second that he was on the other side of the paddock and simply ran out of time to appear.

Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo is not ruling out a move into formula one next season. Red Bull's F1 reserve driver finished the Renault World Series in second place in 2010, but Dr Helmut Marko said he is not sure what the Australian will be doing next year.

The 21-year-old will test the title-winning RB6 in Abu Dhabi next week, but the energy drinks company's four F1 race seats appear locked out for 2011.

"I think I achieved enough in world series this year to move," Ricciardo is quoted by AAP news agency.

Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
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