Secret Meeting in London to Next year Formula 1 teams

A secret meeting was held in London yesterday between FIA president Max Mosley and eight dissident teams to posting unconditional entries.

Scuderia, along with Renault, Toyota and the two Red Bull-backed teams have been the most vocally-opposed to Mosley's budget cap plan, claiming that the technical benefits signing up to it may confer on rivals would lead to a two-tier split in the sport. The move has been proposed by Mosley in a bid both to cut the cost of competing in the wake of Honda's 2008 demise and, as a result, bring in new blood to swell the grid.

Reuters claims that various sources have suggested that one compromise could see the entry list published incomplete, with some entries unfilled pending further talks.

The news agency also claims that a letter, from Mosley to FOTA president Luca di Montezemolo, admits that the level at which the budget cap is set could be massaged to start at a higher level before following a 'glide path' to the FIA's desired £40m limit in future seasons. That, however, could alienate some of the ten or so organisations who have lodged bids to join the grid under tight cost-capping measures.

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".

Sebastien Vettel will replace Kubica in US GP

The doctors disagreed with Robert Kubica and disallowed him from competing in the US Grand Prix, giving newcomer Sebastien Vettel his chance for hisfirst ever Formula One race.

Formula One driver Robert Kubica came to Indianapolis Motor Speedway proclaiming he was alert, clear-minded and ready to race Sunday in the U.S. Grand Prix.

FIA, the international governing body of racing, ruled Kubica could not yet climb back into the cockpit four days after sustaining a concussion and spraining an ankle in a frightening crash at Montreal. He will be replaced by Germany's Sebastian Vettel, a test driver for BMW Sauber.

"I felt absolutely ready to race," Kubica said in a statement issued by the team after the doctors' decision. "I respect the decision. It was made because there is too much risk to let me race in this Grand Prix in case I have an impact so soon after Montreal. I will go home now."

Vettel, a 19-year-old rookie, is expected to make his first F1 start Sunday.

Alonso not ready to cede to Hamilton

Fernando Alonso has made it clear that he is not ready to give way to the young upstart Lewis Hamilton in yesterday's Montreal Grand Prix.

Alonso whipped around the Montreal Grand Prix track in his McLaren Mercedes in one minute, 16.550 seconds -- more than five-10ths ahead of Ferrari's Felipe Massa (1:17.090) and more than seven-10ths ahead of Hamilton in the other McLaren Mercedes in the second of two practice rounds.

Still, Hamilton's 1:17.307 lap around the 4.361-kilometre track was remarkable in that it was his first trip to the Montreal Grand Prix.

Alonso -- the defending Montreal Grand Prix champion -- and Hamilton are tied atop the world championship with 38 points, but Alonso has the edge with two wins to Hamilton's none. In his most recent win at Monaco, there were complaints that team orders had more to do with Alonso's victory than a faster car, but a probe by FIA -- F-1 racing's ruling body -- cleared the team of any wrongdoing.

Ron Dennis lost no sleep over Monaco row

Ron Dennis almost certainly did not lose a wink of sleep over the three nights it took the FIA to conduct their investigation into Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix - just as he said he wouldn't.

Dennis and his McLaren team emerged with reputations intact after being cleared of issuing team orders which resulted in the one-two processional finish for Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton around the streets of Monte Carlo.

The 59-year-old insisted immediately after the race his conscience was clear, maintaining that his team "are scrupulously fair at all times".

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McLaren's "Team Orders" to be investigated by FIA

The FIA has announced that it has launched an investigation into incidents involving the McLaren Mercedes team at the 2007 Monaco Grand Prix, in light of a possible breach of the International Sporting Code. This is based on claims made mainly in the media that the team played its race strategy in such a way as to help Fernando Alonso to win the race, rather than Lewis Hamilton.

The FIA will now review all the available evidence, including any radio calls between the cars and the pits and whatever other data is available. The FIA says it is simply doing its job and if that makes it unpopular that is an unfortunate part of the role of being the regulator. The FIA says that the rules were changed in 2002 after the mess in Austria when Rubens Barrichello backed off to allow Michael Schumacher to win the race.

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FIA new rule package to be complete by 2011

The FIA has sent out a new briefing note to the Formula 1 Manufacturers’ Advisory Committee regarding the technical plans for Formula 1 in 2011 and beyond. The package was dreamed up by Tony Purnell and Peter Wright and reviewed by Professor Neville Jackson, the Technical Director of the Ricardo company. The FIA is working with Ricardo to run simulations and to review strategy in the light of Ricardo's experience in mainstream automotive research and development. The document we have obtained says that discussions are still going on and that a Power-train Working Group will be formed to assist the FIA in detailing the technical regulations. The aim is to have to 2011 regulations settled by the end of the year.

The FIA says that the changes are needed because they need to lower costs in F1 and to react to public concern about the environment. Research and development relevant only to Formula 1 will be discouraged, whereas that which has relevance to road car development will be encouraged. The FIA says it will overtly encourage energy-efficient power-train development and contrain many other areas of the cars. It will also reduce waste by requiring parts to be used at more races.

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Malaysia must be prepared to stage Formula One races at night says Bernie Ecclestone

Malaysia must be prepared to stage Formula One races at night to stay on the FIA's F1 calendar or even harbour any hope of an extension of the Malaysian Grand Prix contract that expires in 2010.

This was among a number of conditions, or rather terms, put forward by Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone with regards to talks of an extension of the contract for staging the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Sepang International Circuit (SIC) chairman Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir said: "The FIA wants us to be prepared to stage night races as well as carry out some upgrading works at the circuit.

"We are actually studying what kind of light that would be suitable, the security aspects, which will certainly be our top priority, and a few other things before anything can be firmed up."

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