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Formula One
F1: British Grand Prix News Briefs UPDATED
A wrap-up of the latest British Grand Prix news...
SPEED Staff / GMM  |  Posted June 20, 2009   GMM Newswire
Nico Rosberg on Saturday suggested that, without a solution to F1's political crisis, Williams will likely lose its main driver ahead of the 2010 season. (Photo: Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Rosberg would leave Williams for breakaway -- Nico Rosberg on Saturday suggested that, without a solution to F1's political crisis, Williams will likely lose its main driver ahead of the 2010 season. The 23-year-old German is out of contract and openly looking for a new seat, but is actually happy with the Grove squad's FW31 car and also in talks with Sir Frank Williams. But because Williams is on the other side of the row with the rebel FOTA outfits, Rosberg would risk racing in a series devoid of the star teams and drivers if he committed to the British team now. "If all the big teams and drivers are there, I believe the FOTA championship would be more attractive than the Formula One championship," he said at Silverstone on Saturday.

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Donington or Silverstone for 2010 -- The future of the British Grand Prix took a huge step forwards on Saturday, as Bernie Ecclestone guaranteed the country will not drop off the calendar in 2010. After Donington inked a 17-year deal beginning next year, F1 chief executive Ecclestone had warned that - even if the Leicestershire track is not ready for 2010 - his sport will not return to Silverstone. However, a day after the 'breakaway eight' threatened to abandon his series, the 78-year-old has changed his tune, clarifying that if Donington is not in a position to deliver, Silverstone will "for sure" host Formula One in 2010. Meanwhile, as for the FIA/FOTA war, Ecclestone vowed to "try" to restore peace to the sport. "Bernie is the key," former team owner Eddie Jordan said. "If Bernie moves to the teams, that's the end of the game, but he hasn't, so Max (Mosley) remains strong." Earlier at Silverstone, Red Bull's Christian Horner revealed that Ecclestone is not fond of the disputed 2010 rules. Ecclestone confirmed: "I sympathise with the teams because they should spend what they like. "We'll do our best. I'm sure we'll find a way. I think in the end people will have to see sense and not bust all this business, for what? Basically, nothing."

Abu Dhabi wants 'breakaway' race -- Another circuit has put its name forward as a potential venue for a round of FOTA's breakaway world championship. Far from worrying about the major F1 teams' war with the governing FIA, the boss of the new Abu Dhabi track sees the situation as a potential opportunity to host a second major annual event at the Yas Marina Circuit. The purpose-built track is due to host its inaugural Grand Prix in November. "This (the crisis) won't affect Yas," Richard Cregan, chief executive of Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management, told the local newspaper The National. "We might have two races in the future. We will never not consider any kind of an event. In the case of that (a breakaway series) we will look at that event the same as any other," he added.
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McLaren scraps KERS for British GP -- For the first time in 2009, neither McLaren will feature a KERS system in qualifying and the race at Silverstone. The British team experimented during Friday's practice sessions by not using the energy recovery system on the car driven by Lewis Hamilton. McLaren confirmed that the "benefits of using KERS are less pronounced" at the circuit, and on Saturday morning removed the system on Heikki Kovalainen's MP4-24. Mercedes' Norbert Haug said: "Silverstone is a circuit where you do not brake too often: you get less of a benefit from the system here than you would on heavy-braking circuits." The decision means the only KERS-equipped cars at Silverstone are the two Ferraris.

Two more TV broadcasters worried about split -- Another TV broadcaster has indicated its interest in joining the 'breakaway eight' in leaving Formula One at the end of the year. It has already emerged that Sky Italia and Britain's BBC are concerned about being left in an official F1 series devoid of the star names. Germany's RTL is also worried about its contract. "We would have to examine whether there is an exit clause," spokesman Matthias Bolhofer told the DPA news agency. A spokesman for Premiere said the German Pay-TV broadcaster will also be keeping "close contact" with the relevant parties in the midst of the political crisis.


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