KIMI RAIKKONEN: F1 IS BORING

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* F1 is MUNDANE and predictable.

* He is NOT jealous of title-winning Brits Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, nor of seven-times champ Michael Schumacher's comeback.

* The sport is too COLD and there is lack of friendship.

The New Toro Rosso F1 Car For 2010 Season, STR5!

http://www.mibz.com/5156-gallery-heres-the-new-toro-rosso-f1-car-for-2010-season-str5.html

Renault R30 launch

http://www.f1sa.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19850&Itemid=219

GALLERY: The New BMW-Sauber C29 F1 Car For The 2010 Season

http://www.mibz.com/5099-gallery-the-new-bmw-sauber-c29-f1-car-for-the-2010-season.html

Renault F1 Sign Vitaly Petrov for 2010

http://sidepodcast.com/2010/01/31/renault-f1-sign-vitaly-petrov-for-2010/

McLaren Unveils MP4-25, 2010 Formula 1 Car

Like other F1 teams, McLaren publically unveiled its latest Formula 1 car -- the MP4-25 -- this week.

The MP4-25 is as different from last year’s MP4-24 as that car was from its MP4-23 predecessor. Drastic rule changes implemented over the past two years have kept engineers on their toes to ensure their cars remain competitive. Last year, the FIA drastically revised the aerodynamic regulations, requiring a smaller rear wing and a larger front wing. A new ban on in-race refueling forced the use of a larger fuel tank, which in turn required the car’s wheelbase to grow. Subsequently, McLaren redesigned its cooling system and electrical architecture to accommodate the tank.

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Heidfeld gets reserve spot at Mercedes

It amazes me that Heidfeld is the reserve and Roseburg gets the regular seat. It should be the opposite.

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Nick Heidfeld is to join the new Mercedes GP Formula One team as reserve and test driver, Germany's Bild newspaper reported.

Mercedes were due to officially announce the signing later on Friday, according to the report.

If confirmed, Heidfeld would complete an all-German driver line-up at the team, alongside returning seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg.

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Hamilton Sr to launch F1 testing academy

Anthony Hamilton, father of world champion Lewis, is planning to launch a programme called GP Prep Drivers Academy to help young drivers to get testing experience in current F1 machinery.

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Toyota to pull out of Formula One

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Toyota's exit from Formula One racing is imminent, Japanese media reported Wednesday.

Toyota was widely expected to follow Honda as the second major Japanese automaker to withdraw from the sport. Honda pulled out last December, citing a slowdown in the global economy. Brawn GP, which took over the old Honda team, won the 2009 F1 championship.

Toyota, the world's largest automaker, is seeking to cut costs as it expects to post an operating loss for the six months ended Sept. 30. It is due to report earnings Thursday.

The company posted its worst ever loss in the financial year ended March.

Briatore leaves Renault; team won't dispute charge

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Renault managing director Flavio Briatore and executive director of engineering Pat Simonds have left the Formula One team.

Renault have also decided not to dispute the recent allegations made by the FIA concerning the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, the team have announced.

A statement from the team read: "The ING Renault F1 Team will not dispute the recent allegations made by the FIA concerning the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

"It also wishes to state that its managing director, Flavio Briatore and its executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds, have left the team.

Mercedes to take 75 pct stake in Brawn

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FRANKFURT, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Mercedes has agreed to take a 75 percent stake in Formula One leaders Brawn GP within the next three years, German magazine Auto, Motor und Sport reported on Wednesday.

Citing Formula One sources, it said the partners had reached an oral agreement and a contract would be signed soon.

There was no comment on the report from Mercedes or Brawn, with team officials heading for Monza for this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

Vitantonio Liuzzi Now Drives Formula 1 for Force India

India lost its star performer Fisichella to Ferrari last week. Vitantonio Liuzzi now assumes the new responsibility of driving car #21. He has been Force India’s reserve driver since 2008. He has already fulfilled team’s crucial tests and development role since the start of 2008 season to fit the needs.

Vitantonio Liuzzi said on the occasion, “I can’t wait to get back into the car in race trim, particularly at my home Grand Prix in Monza. I really appreciate the opportunity Vijay has given me, particularly now Force India now has a great car that’s performing very well. I am confident I can carry on our progress. I’m very motivated; I’m in good shape and hungry to get some more points on the board. Although it’s unfortunate that this came about as a direct result of Felipe’s accident, this is my opportunity to show people what I can do and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Dr. Vijay Mallya who is the chairman and team principal welcomed Luizzi behind the driving seat. “I’m delighted to give Tonio the opportunity to get back into a race seat, which I know he has been itching to do for the past two years. He also stated that Team India is in a very competitive position and it needed a driver suitable to continue the momentum gained so far. “This will be the chance for Tonio to demonstrate to both the team and the field that he has the commitment, speed and professionalism to perform and I am sure he will seize this opportunity,” he said.

Luizzi’s last test was in the VJM02 was on Thursday 3 September at Kemble airfield when he conducted an aero test with the Monza down force configuration. He has a long list of kudos and accolades in the field of Grand Prix and holds records with Juan Pablo Montoya and Nick Heidfeld. In 2001, he also won FIA-CIK World Karting Championship title.

Loeb cleared by WRC team to race F1

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Five times WRC champion Sebastien Loeb has been given permission by his Citroen team to make his Formula One debut in Abu Dhabi if he is offered a drive.

Loeb has long expressed a wish to try his hand at an F1 race, having impressed during testing for both Red Bull and Renault in recent years.

With Red Bull being a major sponsor of Citroen's WRC team, a link-up with Red Bull's 'junior' outfit Scuderia Toro Rosso seems the most likely option.

Citroen team principal Olivier Quesnel has now come out and said that Loeb can race in F1 provided the opportunity arises itself outside of the WRC season.

F1: Ferrari Confirms Fisichella Signing

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FERRARI HAS CONFIRMED the worst kept secret in Formula 1 by announcing it has secured the services of Belgian Grand Prix pole winner Giancarlo Fisichella until the end of the season.

Despite early concerns Force India would reject Fisichella’s plea to fulfil a lifelong dream, team boss Vijay Mallya agreed to release the Italian from his contract, saying it would have been wrong to deny him such an opportunity.

“For any Italian driver, a Ferrari race seat is a long-held dream and for Giancarlo it was no exception. No one should stand in the way of this,” he said.

“Furthermore the agreement will secure Giancarlo’s long-term future with Ferrari and it would be incorrect to jeopardise this, particularly when Giancarlo has made such a vital contribution to Force India.”

Fisichella said he was overjoyed at news of his move to Ferrari, continuing the unexpected revival of a career which appeared to be on the wane until his podium finish in Belgium.

“I’m in seventh heaven. I still can’t believe it – that the dream of my life comes true,” he said.

“Over the last week some really incredible things happened to me: the pole position and then second place at Spa and now I’m called by Ferrari to race the last five races of the season for them.

“I’ll give my best to recompense the Scuderia for this great opportunity they gave me: I know that it won’t be easy, but I’ll give it everything to gain the best possible results.”

In Conversation - Bernie Ecclestone and Sebastian Vettel

Well worth a read.

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Q: Mr Ecclestone, when was the first time you took notice of a youngster called Sebastian Vettel?
Bernie Ecclestone: Me? I have never heard of him before! To be honest it was in Turkey in 2006. ‘Who is that Vettel?’ I thought to myself, and why is there again a German at the top of the time sheet?

Q: Can you remember when you gave him your hand for the first time?
BE: I never gave him anything - not even my hand. (laughing)
Sebastian Vettel: The first time I saw Bernie was in Imola in 2006 when I was there as a guest. The real introduction was then in Turkey.

Q: How was that for you?
SV: Gee, there he was, Mr Formula One, the big boss, the legend. Formula One is Bernie and Bernie is Formula One.
BE: At the beginning I didn’t know what Sebastian is made off. I generally take notice of them when they start winning. He reminded me of Kimi (Raikkonen). He also appeared out of nowhere and had only a provisional super license. Kimi, Lewis (Hamilton) and Sebastian meant a threat for others because of their age.

Q: Bernie, do you think Sebastian made the right choice in signing with Red Bull Racing for another two years?
BE: Yes, absolutely. The team is very professional, Sebastian is happy there and the team supports him in anything he’s doing.

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Scuderia Toro Rosso refugee Sébastien Bourdais has wasted little time in answering questions about where his career heads next after being evicted from Formula 1 – in signing to compete for Spanish club FC Sevilla in the football-related Superleague Formula by Sonangol.

The record-breaking former multiple Champ Car king was sacked by Toro Rosso midway through the 2009 F1 campaign and replaced by rookie Jaime Alguersuari, after his performances failed to live up to the expectations of the Red Bull 'junior' outfit and he was unable to build upon the encouraging improvements he had made towards the end of his maiden season in the top flight in 2008.

“For a driver, Superleague Formula is the best alternative to F1,” asserted the man from Le Mans, who confessed to being a fan of both his home football team and the French national side. “Today, it's the only other championship in Europe to offer a driver the possibility of racing single-seaters at a high, professional level.

Young drivers poised for Formula One opportunity - USF1

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Among them is 17-year-old Alexander Rossi, who won his second race in the International Formula Master Series at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium on Sunday.

Another is Jonathan Summerton. The 21-year-old won his third Atlantic Championship race of 2009 at the Mosport track in Ontario on Sunday.

The new North Carolina-based USF1 Grand Prix team is seeking at least one American driver to fill its two seats during the 2010 Formula One season.

Scott Speed is the only American to compete in Formula One since Michael Andretti ran a shortened season with McLaren in 1993.

Speed, who ran for the Toro Rosso team in 2006 and half of the 2007 season, was the only American to graduate to Formula One from the Red Bull Driver Search program that ran from 2002-2005. He now competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series for Team Red Bull.

J.R. Hildebrand, a 2004 Red Bull Driver Search graduate, on Saturday became the first American to win the Firestone Indy Lights title since 2002. The 21-year-old Californian clinched the championship with a fifth place finish at Chicagoland Speedway.

Briatore Embroiled In F1 Scandal

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Formula 1 can be close to another scandal. On Sunday, Reginaldo Leme, a commentator for TV Globo, revealed that the International Automobile Federation (FIA) has hired an independent company to investigate the accident of Nelson Piquet Grand Prix in Singapore in 2008, a fact crucial to the victory of Fernando Alonso. Flavio Briatore, Renault team boss is said to have instructed the Brazilian to crash on purpose on lap 16, three after the first pit stop of the Spaniard.

F1: Schumacher training hard

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(ANSA) - Rome, August 4 - Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher said Tuesday he is continuing to train hard for his return to racing, well aware that physical fitness will be key to any comeback success.

The 40-year-old Schumacher agreed last week to come out of retirement to substitute Felipe Massa at Ferrari after the Brazilian had a life-threatening accident July 25 while qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Pirx.

The German said his return to Ferrari was out of loyalty to the team which helped him win five of his seven titles and where he continued to work as a consultant after he retired at the end of the 2006 season.

F1’s Sebastian Vettel Has Sights Set on WRC

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Red Bull Racing Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel has expressed a desire to follow Kimi Raikkonen’s lead and tackle a round of the World Rally Championship.

Vettel travelled to Finland this weekend and met up with Citroen Total World Rally Team drivers Sebastien Loeb and Dani Sordo, before heading out to the stages to witness the action of the fastest round of the WRC.

“This is my first time at the World Rally Championship and it’s been fascinating,” said the German.