From GMM
Jacques Laffite tests Renault F1
Former grand prix winner Jacques Laffite, 64, has tested a modern Renault formula one car. At the Paul Ricard circuit, the Frenchman - who raced 180 times in the 70s and 80s and is now a commentator for the broadcaster TF1 - drove last year's Renault R27.
Hamilton says Massa crash 'deliberate'
Lewis Hamilton has accused his championship challenger Felipe Massa of deliberately colliding with him during Sunday's Japanese grand prix. Ferrari's Massa was penalised for tipping Briton Hamilton into a spin that dropped him to the rear of the field at Fuji Speedway. 27-year-old Massa strongly denied that his move could be compared to the controversial title tactics of his mentor Michael Schumacher.
Alonso vows to help Massa win title
Backto back grand prix winner Fernando Alonso has admitted he would assistthe title challenge of Ferrari's Felipe Massa in the last two races of2008. After his disastrous tenure at McLaren last year, the Spaniardmakes clear he is not barracking for the British team's Lewis Hamilton."After last year, I want Ferrari to win. I will help Massa if I can."
Kimi drops out of 2008 championship hunt
Sunday'sJapanese grand prix hammered the final nail into the coffin of reigningworld champion Kimi Raikkonen's title defence. Also officially out ofthe running are BMW-Sauber's Nick Heidfeld and leader Lewis Hamilton'sMcLaren teammate Heikki Kovalainen. Joining Hamilton and Felipe Massain with a mathematical chance of the title, however, is BMW's RobertKubica, who collected 8 points at Fuji while his championship rivalsfaltered.
Coulthard fit for China after Fuji crash
David Coulthard has brushed aside fears he might have to miss the penultimate race of his long formula one career. The veteran Scot crashed heavily at the start of Sunday's Japanese grand prix when his Red Bull single seater sustained a suspension failure. The 37-year-old was subsequently spotted taking off his racing boot and sock and inspecting a sore foot. But Coulthard told reporters in Japan: "The impact was pretty hard, but I'm fine and I'll have no problem being ready for China."
Renault, Honda, Toyota to improve F1 engines
Renaultand Honda have confirmed they will be among the teams authorised tomake performance improvements to their engines ahead of the 2009season. The FIA declared recently that some teams will be allowed to"equalise engine performance", following the emergence of a situationwhereby some frozen-specification V8s have pulled ahead this year. Itis believed that Toyota is the other carmaker likely to be approved forengine performance improvements.
'All resources' focused on 2009 - Honda boss
"Frustrated" Honda workers are now switching their focus to 2009 as the Japanese team fights to emerge from its competitive crisis. The Brackley based squad has struggled through two consecutive seasons at the back of the grid. "All of our resources are going into 2009," said Ross Brawn.
Several aspects of the 2009 package are already beginning to show at grands prix in 2008. The RA108 is now one of the quickest cars off the grid, and at Fuji the team began to tinker with next year's 'traffic lights' pitstop system. Another welcome addition for 2009 would be Fernando Alonso, who is being openly wooed by Honda.
Major Williams backer in strife
Afteradmitting mounting financial losses, the independent British F1 teamWilliams is now facing a fresh hit of bad news. One of its majorsponsors, the Royal Bank of Scotland, is a high profile casualty of thecurrent global financial crisis, as the British government prepares tobail it out. The British bank is therefore expected to wind up itssports sponsorship programmes in the near future. Williams' RBScontract, scheduled to run until 2010, is estimated at about $14m perseason.
Jacques Laffite tests Renault F1
Former grand prix winner Jacques Laffite, 64, has tested a modern Renault formula one car. At the Paul Ricard circuit, the Frenchman - who raced 180 times in the 70s and 80s and is now a commentator for the broadcaster TF1 - drove last year's Renault R27.
Hamilton says Massa crash 'deliberate'
Lewis Hamilton has accused his championship challenger Felipe Massa of deliberately colliding with him during Sunday's Japanese grand prix. Ferrari's Massa was penalised for tipping Briton Hamilton into a spin that dropped him to the rear of the field at Fuji Speedway. 27-year-old Massa strongly denied that his move could be compared to the controversial title tactics of his mentor Michael Schumacher.
Alonso vows to help Massa win title
Backto back grand prix winner Fernando Alonso has admitted he would assistthe title challenge of Ferrari's Felipe Massa in the last two races of2008. After his disastrous tenure at McLaren last year, the Spaniardmakes clear he is not barracking for the British team's Lewis Hamilton."After last year, I want Ferrari to win. I will help Massa if I can."
Kimi drops out of 2008 championship hunt
Sunday'sJapanese grand prix hammered the final nail into the coffin of reigningworld champion Kimi Raikkonen's title defence. Also officially out ofthe running are BMW-Sauber's Nick Heidfeld and leader Lewis Hamilton'sMcLaren teammate Heikki Kovalainen. Joining Hamilton and Felipe Massain with a mathematical chance of the title, however, is BMW's RobertKubica, who collected 8 points at Fuji while his championship rivalsfaltered.
Coulthard fit for China after Fuji crash
David Coulthard has brushed aside fears he might have to miss the penultimate race of his long formula one career. The veteran Scot crashed heavily at the start of Sunday's Japanese grand prix when his Red Bull single seater sustained a suspension failure. The 37-year-old was subsequently spotted taking off his racing boot and sock and inspecting a sore foot. But Coulthard told reporters in Japan: "The impact was pretty hard, but I'm fine and I'll have no problem being ready for China."
Renault, Honda, Toyota to improve F1 engines
Renaultand Honda have confirmed they will be among the teams authorised tomake performance improvements to their engines ahead of the 2009season. The FIA declared recently that some teams will be allowed to"equalise engine performance", following the emergence of a situationwhereby some frozen-specification V8s have pulled ahead this year. Itis believed that Toyota is the other carmaker likely to be approved forengine performance improvements.
'All resources' focused on 2009 - Honda boss
"Frustrated" Honda workers are now switching their focus to 2009 as the Japanese team fights to emerge from its competitive crisis. The Brackley based squad has struggled through two consecutive seasons at the back of the grid. "All of our resources are going into 2009," said Ross Brawn.
Several aspects of the 2009 package are already beginning to show at grands prix in 2008. The RA108 is now one of the quickest cars off the grid, and at Fuji the team began to tinker with next year's 'traffic lights' pitstop system. Another welcome addition for 2009 would be Fernando Alonso, who is being openly wooed by Honda.
Major Williams backer in strife
Afteradmitting mounting financial losses, the independent British F1 teamWilliams is now facing a fresh hit of bad news. One of its majorsponsors, the Royal Bank of Scotland, is a high profile casualty of thecurrent global financial crisis, as the British government prepares tobail it out. The British bank is therefore expected to wind up itssports sponsorship programmes in the near future. Williams' RBScontract, scheduled to run until 2010, is estimated at about $14m perseason.