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.

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."

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.

Symonds seeks two-tenth step in Canada

F1’s reigning world champion team Renault is making strides towards returning to the pace in 2007.

That is the outlook of the French squad’s veteran engineering chief Pat Symonds, who suggested to the magazine Auto Motor und Sport that Renault is finally getting to the bottom of the reasons for its mysterious lack of speed earlier this season.

“The modified front suspension in Barcelona was the first step, and the new front wing in Monte Carlo (was) the second,” Symonds is quoted as saying by the German publication.

It is understood that the problem with the R27 has therefore been isolated to the front of the car, but even with improved pace, Giancarlo Fisichella still finished a lap behind the McLarens in Monaco.

Kovalainen: "I don’t really like Piquet Junior so much"

Heikki Kovalainen has given a noteworthy insight into his relationship with his Renault team colleague Nelson Piquet Jr.


Finn Kovalainen has had a difficult start to his rookie season as the French squad’s race driver, after testing for the team last year.


Waiting in the wings in the Renault pit garage, meanwhile, is 21-year-old Piquet Jr, who filled Kovalainen’s test-seat shoes this year and wants to move into a racing cockpit no later than 2008.



In a blithe interview with ITV, Kovalainen, 25, was asked which famous racer he most admired — 1992 title winner Nigel Mansell or triple world champion Nelson Piquet.


He answered: “To be honest I don’t really know them so well -– it was too early for me when they were racing.


“(But) I don’t really like Piquet Junior so much, so maybe Mansell.”

Renault run thrills spectators in Warsaw

Renault kicked off their 2007 roadshow programme in style on Sunday, as race driver Heikki Kovalainen took to the streets of downtown Warsaw in a R26. Kovalainen’s demonstration run, the first of its kind to be held in Poland, attracted a crowd of 80,000.

“I am really pleased to have been able to come to Warsaw for this roadshow,” enthused the young Finn. “At Renault, we are always trying to get people to see Formula One in a new way and to get them behind the scenes, and the roadshow is a brilliant way of doing it! I really enjoyed myself today, and people were very friendly, and I hope they had as much fun watching the show as I did behind the wheel!”

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The Monaco of Britain

"Yes, well the poor chap is struggling a bit and if he's not careful they will be sticking Piquet in the car."

"Don't be silly," said Mrs Mole. "Piquet must be nearly 60."

The Mole paused for a moment but decided not to even attempt to explain about Nelson's children.

"I expect they will put Webber in one of the Renaults next year," he said.

"But Webber's at Williams," said Mrs Mole.

The Mole rolled his eyes.

"Well, maybe not for much longer."

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Symonds defends Heikki's progress

Renault's executive director of engineering Pat Symonds says people should not compare Heikki Kovalainen's progress with fellow rookie Lewis Hamilton's stunning achievements.

"It's an unfair comparison," he said in Renault's official podcast.

Symonds is convinced that Kovalainen would fare better if the car gave him more confidence.

"Perhaps the most important thing that you need to give a rookie is a car he can trust - a car that he can take to the limit and a bit beyond, and get it back," he said.

"And I think that's where we're probably letting Heikki down a little bit this year."

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Rules Makeover Will Improve Spectacle, Mosley Says

Max Mosley believes that moves to improve the spectacle of Formula 1 should be focused around boosting overtaking rather than a radical overhaul of the race weekend.

Earlier this year, Renault team boss Flavio Briatore suggested a shake-up to F1’s format, with a GP2-type double header instead of the traditional single race (click here for story). Mosley says the FIA will consider all possibilities, but he reckons making passing easier should be the first priority, rather than changes to the established race format.

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