McLaren and Renault Threaten to Pull Out of Melbourne Race

Britain's Times newspaper reported that Renault team boss Flavio Briatore and McLaren Chairman Ron Dennis threatened to organise a boycott of Sunday's race unless Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone paid up.

Ecclestone in return has reportedly threatened to cancel the charter plane taking the cars to Melbourne. A statement posted on the official Formula 1 website (www.formula1.com) by his Formula 1 Administration accused FOTA of making "inaccurate and misleading" comments. "Neither CVC nor FOA owes any amount to any team," it said.

McLaren team Principal Martin Whitmarsh said that while he had not been at the meeting, he believed Ecclestone's version of events to have been "relatively theatrical".

"There is a lot of tension in this climate about lots of teams being owed lots of money," he said. "I think that is a business between the teams and Bernie that needs to be resolved urgently."

McLaren Does Not Have The Pace This Year says Lewis Hamilton

It seems everyone but the reigning champion himself is the only person who is not sure he will repeat his historic triumph this year, if his comments are anything to go by.

"We don't know what to expect this weekend," Lewis Hamilton said. "It will be a real challenge for everyone, so much has changed. It doesn't only affect drivers but the teams.

"People will be making adaptations and getting used to it."

"We'll have pretty much the same people up there as last year, except for us obviously," Hamilton said at a publicity event on Thursday.

"I've reset the targets again. I want to be world champion again, although it will be tough this year."

Ferrari looking to Dump Kimi Raikkonen

Stefano Domenicali, the Ferrari boss, has given strong indications that Kimi Raikkonen's future with the team may be in doubt.

Raikkonen's contract with Ferrari expires only at the end of the season but rumours persist that Renault's double world champion Fernando Alonso could replace him if his agreement is bought out.

Incidentally, Domenicali was full of praise for Felipe Massa, who easily outperformed Raikkonen last year, winning more races than the eventual world champion Lewis Hamilton.

New Changes Are Unilateral Claims Ferrari

Ferrari is leading the opposition against the latest changes announced in Formula 1 racing.

Among the most contentious rules agreed to by the FIA on Tuesday is the move to award the world championship to the driver with the most race wins for the year rather than the most points, starting at this month's season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

Ferrari boss and Formula One Teams' Association chairman Luca di Montezemolo says "The framework of the regulations as defined by the FIA, to be applicable from 2010, runs the risk of turning on its head the very essence of Formula 1 and the principles that make it one of the most popular and appealing sports".

More Cost-cutting in Formula 1 racing

More cost-cutting measures are due in Formula 1 racing if reports from the International Automobile Federation are to be believed. Formula 1's governing body is due to present a further round of cost-cutting measures overnight and vote on whether to change the scoring system for this year's championship.

While no details have been given, they are likely to involve more standardisation of parts and the possible imposition of a budget cap on top of significant steps already taken.

The Formula 1 Teams' Association has put forward cost-cutting proposals it says will halve the expense of competing next year compared with last year.

Queen Elizabeth Will be Watching Lewis Hamilton

Last week, Lewis Hamilton was at Buckingham Palace to meet Queen Elizabeth II who told the driver she had watched the closing stages of his win in Brazil.
"The pressure's on now. She'll be watching as I go into the first race," he said.

Everything is going great for the boy from Stevenage. He is in a long-term relationship with Nicole Scherzinger, lead singer of The Pussycat Dolls after previously dating Miss Grenada. He must be feeling good since the end of the last season when the knives were out with Hamilton facing accusations of arrogance and aloofness with rivals suspicious of his driving technique and his judgement.

Bernie Ecclestone - Most Powerful Man in Formula 1 Gets Divorced

Formula 1 tycoon Bernie Ecclestone was divorced by his wife yesterday on the grounds of "unreasonable behaviour". Slavica Ecclestone, 50, was granted divorce by a judge in central London. So, Slavica will be taking home a lot of money as Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone is all set to pay the world’s most expensive divorce settlement to his wife of 24 years. The settlement could amount to almost £1 billion, according to legal experts. So, Slavica will be taking home a lot of money as Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone is all set to pay the world’s most expensive divorce settlement to his wife of 24 years. The settlement could amount to almost £1 billion, according to legal experts. Most of the property owned by the racing boss is in the name of his ex-wife because of tax reasons. It includes a hotel in Switzerland and ownership of the Queens Park Rangers Champions League soccer team, apart from Alpha Prema, the holding company of Formula 1 racing.

It is interesting to learn that Bernie, often called “Mr Formula One”, had to pursue his future bride before winning her. In 1984, at the age of 54, Bernie met the 26 year old Croatian model, Slavica Radic, during a Formula 1 event. Despite being nearly a foot shorter than the 6′ 2″ Slavica, Bernie fell for her and chased her relentlessly. At the time Bernie spoke no Croatian and Slavica spoke only her native tongue and Italian, so the courtship must have been a bit difficult.
Yet, in true determined Ecclestone fashion, Bernie won his bride and they were married. They have two daughters, Tamara and Petra, and the marriage had lasted for more than twenty years.

Formula 1 technology used in cycle

It's possibly the world's most advanced bicycle, in fact, and it's been officially unveiled yesterday at the Science Museum in London as part of the "Fast Forward" exhibition which covers 20 ways F1 tech is changing the world.

It's made out of carbon fiber which gives it excellent structural rigidity as well as being very light--the entire machine weighs less than 7 kilos, and was designed using the same modeling and analysis tools used to create the F1 cars. It's specifically designed to help athletes train, so the entire machine is laced with different sensors.

Read the rest of the story here

Malaysian Grand Prix to provide variety

The 2009 Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix, which celebrates its 11th edition next month, has marked the beginning of a new era as Sepang International Circuit (SIC) promotes the F1 event differently.

SIC spokesman Azhar Ghazali said with the new approach, SIC wants to showcase itself as an entertainment venue as well, and not just a racing circuit.

Met at the F1 Roadshow in Gurney Plaza here today, he said with an aim of bringing the fans closer to the F1 fraternity and SIC, among new programmes incorporated to inject further excitement for the fans and spectators included a meet-and-greet session with the F1 drivers where fans can meet and get their autographs in one special session at the spectator areas.

Read the full story here

Button and Barrichello to remain as Honda F1 team sold to Ross Brawn

Honda F1 Racing Team has been sold by its owner, Honda, to rescue it from a crippling financial crisis to former team principal Ross Brawn. The two team drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello would keep their seats as their experience would bring benefits to the new team. "The vast experience and knowledge that both drivers bring to our team will prove invaluable as we aim to get up to speed in the shortest possible time to be ready for the first race of the season," Ross Brawn said. The new team will now be known as Brawn GP Formula One Team. The Honda team had been struggling to stay afloat after falling victim to the global economic crisis. The new team will have to face a lot of hurdles in this year's championship where they make their debut and is heavily counting on the vast experience of the two drivers as well as Ross Brawn to help them carry forward.

Major Desicions Expected at FOTA meeting in Geneva

The senior management of the FOTA affiliated Formula One teams are meeting at the FOTA headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland for finalising their proposals aimed at increasing the stability, sustainability, substance and spectacle of the sport. Among those participating in the meeting include Mario Theissen from the BMW Sauber F1 team, Flavio Briatore from the Renault F1 team, Christian Horner from the Red Bull Racing team, Luca di Montezemolo from Ferrari and Ron Dennis from the McLaren group.

The absence of Vijay Mallya, the flamboyant owner of Team Force India, was conspicious by his absence.

A press conference will be held today to announce the decisions of the meeting.

FOTA [Formula One Teams Association]is a group of Formula One teams that was formed in 2008.