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Formula 1
F1: Grand Prix News Briefs (Update 5)
Ferrari's media guru and Fernando Alonso have dismissed rumors linking Flavio Briatore with the top job at the famous team...
Flavio Briatore, the disgraced and banned former Renault team boss, has been linked with a move to Ferrari. (Photo: Getty Images)
Ferrari Dismisses Briatore Team Boss Rumors: Ferrari's media guru and Fernando Alonso have dismissed rumors linking Flavio Briatore with the top job at the famous team. The Dutch website f1today.nl this week said Briatore, the disgraced and banned former Renault team boss who is still Spaniard Alonso's manager, is "in talks with Ferrari" about replacing current principal Stefano Domenicali. The report quoted a source saying president Luca di Montezemolo is "furious" with Ferrari's progress in 2011 and wants to see more fundamental changes. Alonso told Diario Sport newspaper in Canada that he knows nothing about the Briatore rumors. "I am delighted with how everything is now," he insisted. Ferrari spokesman Luca Colajanni was far less polite. He referred to the Briatore rumors while discussing Ferrari's reluctance to let its drivers use the social networking site Twitter. "I often have to deal with rumors spread on websites, of which I don't know the source," the Italian said at the FOTA fan forum in Montreal on Thursday. "I can mention one (rumor) from a Dutch website, which is complete bullshit."
Vettel Recalls F1 Fisticuffs: According to Sebastian Vettel, he made his F1 debut in 2007 as the result of a fist-fight. The paddock is still buzzing with rumors at present amid reports Adrian Sutil cut a Renault team executive's neck with a broken champagne glass earlier this year in China. Vettel, the reigning World Champion and runaway 2011 drivers' title leader, told the Swiss newspaper Blick that he made his F1 debut in mid 2007 thanks to a fight. Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost has previously denied that he fought with Scott Speed in the pits before the American driver was sacked. Referring to his earlier debut in Robert Kubica's car after the then BMW driver's big Montreal crash, German Vettel said another incident then led to his full-time seat. "This time it was a fight between the driver Speed and team boss Tost that opened the door to Formula One for me," said the German. But according to paddock legend, Vettel has also been in a F1 fight — with Nick Heidfeld during a test in Bahrain in early 2007. "That was made up," German Heidfeld is quoted as responding, despite Nelson Piquet confirming the pair had a "wild brawl in the pits." Added Heidfeld: "Anyway, I don't hit children."
Reserve Gutierrez Unhappy To Miss Sauber Debut: Esteban Gutierrez sounded upset on Friday after missing the opportunity to make his F1 race debut. The Mexican teen was signed by Sauber to be the Swiss team's official test and reserve driver at all races in 2011. But the reigning GP3 champion, who now races in the F1 support category GP2, was not in Canada on Friday when his countryman Sergio Perez had to withdraw from the event due to illness. Instead, Sauber turned to in its 2010 driver Pedro de la Rosa after hurried negotiations with McLaren, which now employs the veteran Spaniard as its reserve driver. Despite Perez's hospitalization, concussion and bruised thigh in Monaco, and the fact FIA doctors only cleared him to race on Thursday, Sauber was caught so unprepared that de la Rosa was wearing McLaren overalls when he took to the C30 in afternoon practice at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. And Gutierrez, apparently in his native Mexico, wrote on Twitter that Sauber displayed a "lack of transparency" in informing its official reserve of the situation. "I learned from Twitter," he said on the social networking website. "It's a shame to hear about Montreal. I hope 'Checo' (Perez) recovers soon," added Gutierrez in Spanish. "I never received any instructions to prevent this situation. I was ready."
HRT Wavers In Opposition To Blown Exhaust Ban: HRT is apparently no longer pushing so hard to have exhaust blown diffusers banned in 2011. At recent races, the Spanish team has been threatening to protest the results after the FIA vowed to crack down on the technology that has moved into the realm of outlawed "movable aerodynamic devices." But ahead of this weekend's Canadian GP, Hispania announced that one of its developments is a "new exhaust system." It emerged during morning practice in Montreal that, in collaboration with engine supplier Cosworth, the system is indeed a blown exhaust. That means that the only team not running a blown exhaust of any type at present is HRT's nearest competitor, Virgin, which according to will not be ready to re-introduce a similar layout until Silverstone. The FIA still intends to push on with the ban, however, with talks scheduled for the technical working group meeting next Thursday. Asked on Friday about speculation of a ban, HRT's technical director Geoff Willis told the BBC: "It's going to be very tricky. There may be a solution for 2012, but what we do for 2011 is going to be very difficult in terms of what's fair for everybody."
Coulthard Predicts Three-Team Scrap In Canada: Ferrari could turn the race for Montreal victory into a three-team scrap, according to David Coulthard. The BBC commentator and former 13-time Grand Prix winner observed after Friday practice in Canada that Red Bull and McLaren are not the only likely protagonists this weekend. "Don't discount Ferrari," said Coulthard in his Telegraph column, after Fernando Alonso topped the afternoon session. "While most people are forecasting Red Bull vs. McLaren, Alonso could be strong. The tire compounds here are the soft and the super soft, which Ferrari got on well with in Monaco. I'm expecting a three-way fight." Also strong on Friday was Mercedes, with Nico Rosberg fastest in the morning session, but Coulthard predicted: "They might do well in qualifying but I'm not sure they can keep it up during the race."
Sponsor Branson Committed To Struggling Virgin: Sir Richard Branson on Saturday said he remains committed to F1. The British billionaire is lending the name of his Virgin group to the struggling team despite it failing to improve in its second season in 2011. Indeed, not long after Branson spoke, Jerome d'Ambrosio became the only driver in the Montreal field to fail to achieve the necessary 107 percent lap time to qualify for Sunday's grid. But Branson, 60, said on a rare visit to the F1 paddock: "I'm committed. I thoroughly enjoy Virgin's involvement with the team and the sport, and hope it will be for a while." Virgin Racing, however, is now backed by the Russian supercar maker Marussia, and Branson pointed out that his company is "effectively a sponsor. Hopefully Marussia can use the Virgin brand to start raising its profile globally, and I'm very happy to be used when I can be helpful," he said. The team has cut its ties with Nick Wirth as the technical direction faltered, but Branson said he is unbeat about the future. "Everybody within the team accepts performance needs to improve," he said. "The've made tough decisions, and they've one or two quite exciting things they've told me about — which I can't talk about — which will hopefully see them go up the grid over the next year or two."
Hulkenberg Not Considered For Perez seat - Sauber: Pedro de la Rosa's last-minute Sauber race drive in Canada raised more than one set of eyebrows. The team's official reserve driver Esteban Gutierrez was in Mexico when his countryman Sergio Perez reported ill in Montreal, disapprovingly revealing that he followed the saga of de la Rosa's move from McLaren on Twitter. But another driver wondering why he wasn't given the call was Nico Hulkenberg, the highly-rated Force India reserve who lost his Williams seat for 2011 to Pastor Maldonado. "Did Herr Sauber not have my phone number?" the German is quoted as saying by Swiss newspaper Blick. Auto Motor und Sport, however, claims that Hulkenberg is too tall for the C30 cockpit, while de la Rosa was an obvious choice because Sauber still has his seat mould. Agrees Hulkenberg: "You don't just jump into a Formula One car these days and drive it." Peter Sauber confirmed: "He (Hulkenberg) is too tall for our car. He is also employed by our direct competition. Between us and Pedro's McLaren, on the other hand, there is no conflict of interest."
Vettel Recalls F1 Fisticuffs: According to Sebastian Vettel, he made his F1 debut in 2007 as the result of a fist-fight. The paddock is still buzzing with rumors at present amid reports Adrian Sutil cut a Renault team executive's neck with a broken champagne glass earlier this year in China. Vettel, the reigning World Champion and runaway 2011 drivers' title leader, told the Swiss newspaper Blick that he made his F1 debut in mid 2007 thanks to a fight. Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost has previously denied that he fought with Scott Speed in the pits before the American driver was sacked. Referring to his earlier debut in Robert Kubica's car after the then BMW driver's big Montreal crash, German Vettel said another incident then led to his full-time seat. "This time it was a fight between the driver Speed and team boss Tost that opened the door to Formula One for me," said the German. But according to paddock legend, Vettel has also been in a F1 fight — with Nick Heidfeld during a test in Bahrain in early 2007. "That was made up," German Heidfeld is quoted as responding, despite Nelson Piquet confirming the pair had a "wild brawl in the pits." Added Heidfeld: "Anyway, I don't hit children."
Reserve Gutierrez Unhappy To Miss Sauber Debut: Esteban Gutierrez sounded upset on Friday after missing the opportunity to make his F1 race debut. The Mexican teen was signed by Sauber to be the Swiss team's official test and reserve driver at all races in 2011. But the reigning GP3 champion, who now races in the F1 support category GP2, was not in Canada on Friday when his countryman Sergio Perez had to withdraw from the event due to illness. Instead, Sauber turned to in its 2010 driver Pedro de la Rosa after hurried negotiations with McLaren, which now employs the veteran Spaniard as its reserve driver. Despite Perez's hospitalization, concussion and bruised thigh in Monaco, and the fact FIA doctors only cleared him to race on Thursday, Sauber was caught so unprepared that de la Rosa was wearing McLaren overalls when he took to the C30 in afternoon practice at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. And Gutierrez, apparently in his native Mexico, wrote on Twitter that Sauber displayed a "lack of transparency" in informing its official reserve of the situation. "I learned from Twitter," he said on the social networking website. "It's a shame to hear about Montreal. I hope 'Checo' (Perez) recovers soon," added Gutierrez in Spanish. "I never received any instructions to prevent this situation. I was ready."
HRT Wavers In Opposition To Blown Exhaust Ban: HRT is apparently no longer pushing so hard to have exhaust blown diffusers banned in 2011. At recent races, the Spanish team has been threatening to protest the results after the FIA vowed to crack down on the technology that has moved into the realm of outlawed "movable aerodynamic devices." But ahead of this weekend's Canadian GP, Hispania announced that one of its developments is a "new exhaust system." It emerged during morning practice in Montreal that, in collaboration with engine supplier Cosworth, the system is indeed a blown exhaust. That means that the only team not running a blown exhaust of any type at present is HRT's nearest competitor, Virgin, which according to
Coulthard Predicts Three-Team Scrap In Canada: Ferrari could turn the race for Montreal victory into a three-team scrap, according to David Coulthard. The BBC commentator and former 13-time Grand Prix winner observed after Friday practice in Canada that Red Bull and McLaren are not the only likely protagonists this weekend. "Don't discount Ferrari," said Coulthard in his Telegraph column, after Fernando Alonso topped the afternoon session. "While most people are forecasting Red Bull vs. McLaren, Alonso could be strong. The tire compounds here are the soft and the super soft, which Ferrari got on well with in Monaco. I'm expecting a three-way fight." Also strong on Friday was Mercedes, with Nico Rosberg fastest in the morning session, but Coulthard predicted: "They might do well in qualifying but I'm not sure they can keep it up during the race."
Sponsor Branson Committed To Struggling Virgin: Sir Richard Branson on Saturday said he remains committed to F1. The British billionaire is lending the name of his Virgin group to the struggling team despite it failing to improve in its second season in 2011. Indeed, not long after Branson spoke, Jerome d'Ambrosio became the only driver in the Montreal field to fail to achieve the necessary 107 percent lap time to qualify for Sunday's grid. But Branson, 60, said on a rare visit to the F1 paddock: "I'm committed. I thoroughly enjoy Virgin's involvement with the team and the sport, and hope it will be for a while." Virgin Racing, however, is now backed by the Russian supercar maker Marussia, and Branson pointed out that his company is "effectively a sponsor. Hopefully Marussia can use the Virgin brand to start raising its profile globally, and I'm very happy to be used when I can be helpful," he said. The team has cut its ties with Nick Wirth as the technical direction faltered, but Branson said he is unbeat about the future. "Everybody within the team accepts performance needs to improve," he said. "The've made tough decisions, and they've one or two quite exciting things they've told me about — which I can't talk about — which will hopefully see them go up the grid over the next year or two."
Hulkenberg Not Considered For Perez seat - Sauber: Pedro de la Rosa's last-minute Sauber race drive in Canada raised more than one set of eyebrows. The team's official reserve driver Esteban Gutierrez was in Mexico when his countryman Sergio Perez reported ill in Montreal, disapprovingly revealing that he followed the saga of de la Rosa's move from McLaren on Twitter. But another driver wondering why he wasn't given the call was Nico Hulkenberg, the highly-rated Force India reserve who lost his Williams seat for 2011 to Pastor Maldonado. "Did Herr Sauber not have my phone number?" the German is quoted as saying by Swiss newspaper Blick. Auto Motor und Sport, however, claims that Hulkenberg is too tall for the C30 cockpit, while de la Rosa was an obvious choice because Sauber still has his seat mould. Agrees Hulkenberg: "You don't just jump into a Formula One car these days and drive it." Peter Sauber confirmed: "He (Hulkenberg) is too tall for our car. He is also employed by our direct competition. Between us and Pedro's McLaren, on the other hand, there is no conflict of interest."
Spanish Grand Prix
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