Thursday 26 March 2009

McLaren and Renault Threaten to Pull Out of Melbourne Race

formula1
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

Lewis HamiltonIt 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."