| By Jonathan Noble and Matt Beer | Wednesday, August 28th 2013, 13:54 GMT |
Heikki Kovalainen says he will not compromise his stance over bringing money to Formula 1 teams even if it means he is left off the grid again in 2014
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| By Dieter Rencken and Jonathan Noble | Thursday, August 29th 2013, 09:25 GMT |
Sauber is hoping to finalise a fresh Formula 1 engine contract with Ferrari before next week's Italian Grand Prix
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| By Jonathan Noble | Thursday, August 29th 2013, 09:57 GMT |
FIA president Jean Todt is to face opposition in this year's presidential election after FIA Foundation director General David Ward announced on Thursday that he will stand against him
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| Tuesday, August 27th 2013, 12:07 GMT |
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh believes Kimi Raikkonen is "determined" to leave Lotus, and has hinted his outfit could be tempted to sign the Finn
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| By Jonathan Noble | Tuesday, August 27th 2013, 15:24 GMT |
Red Bull insists it is in no rush to confirm that Daniel Ricciardo has secured a 2014 Formula 1 seat with the team, as it still wants to see what other options are available
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| By Edd Straw | Wednesday, August 28th 2013, 10:28 GMT |
The success of Lotus's long-wheelbase car will be a key barometer of the team's technical approach to the 2014 Formula 1 campaign, according to team principal Eric Boullier
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| By Jonathan Noble | Tuesday, August 27th 2013, 08:28 GMT |
Red Bull says it must get to the bottom of Mark Webber's ongoing start problems after seeing them cost the Australian another strong result in Belgium
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| By Edd Straw | Tuesday, August 27th 2013, 08:50 GMT |
Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery believes the tyre company needs to establish better lines of communication with Formula 1 drivers
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| By Jonathan Noble | Tuesday, August 27th 2013, 09:50 GMT |
Mercedes has faith its disappointing Belgian Grand Prix form was a one-off, and sees no reason why it cannot get back to winning ways in the next Formula 1 race in Italy
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| By Jonathan Noble | Monday, August 26th 2013, 09:13 GMT |
Ferrari says its Spa step forward was only the start of the progress it must make if Fernando Alonso is to win the 2013 Formula 1 world championship
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| By Jonathan Noble | Monday, August 26th 2013, 10:24 GMT |
Red Bull confessed it never expected to win the Belgian Grand Prix, let alone deliver the dominant performance that moved Sebastian Vettel closer to a fourth Formula 1 title
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| By Jonathan Noble | Monday, August 26th 2013, 11:49 GMT |
Lotus still remains convinced that Kimi Raikkonen will stay at the team next year, despite the speculation linking him with both Red Bull and Ferrari
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| By Jonathan Noble | Saturday, August 24th 2013, 16:23 GMT |
Kimi Raikkonen reckons he was simply 'unlucky' not to have made it across the line at the end of qualifying for a final lap when the track was at its best
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| By Edd Straw | Saturday, August 24th 2013, 17:06 GMT |
Giedo van der Garde has admitted he was close to abandoning the slick tyre run that yielded a stunning third fastest time in the first part of qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix
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| Saturday, August 24th 2013, 20:06 GMT |
Belgian GP: post-qualifying press conference
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| By Jonathan Noble | Saturday, August 24th 2013, 08:54 GMT |
The FIA has assured drivers and teams about the safety of Pirelli's tyres for the Belgian Grand Prix after overnight investigations pointed towards a piece of debris causing Friday's punctures
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| By Sam Tremayne | Saturday, August 24th 2013, 10:05 GMT |
Sebastian Vettel kept Red Bull on top at Spa with a late flyer in a dry final Belgian Grand Prix practice session
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| By Edd Straw | Friday, August 23rd 2013, 09:47 GMT |
Felipe Massa believes Eau Rouge is no longer a great corner despite it being one of the most famous parts of any circuit in the world
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| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, August 23rd 2013, 10:21 GMT |
Jenson Button thinks McLaren needs the pressure of setting its sights on a podium finish in this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix
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| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, August 23rd 2013, 10:42 GMT |
Jenson Button is still waiting for McLaren to confirm that he will be racing there next season
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| By Sam Tremayne | Wednesday, August 21st 2013, 15:20 GMT |
Sergey Sirotkin will get his first taste of Formula 1 machinery in a Sochi demonstration run for Sauber next month
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| By Jonathan Noble | Thursday, August 22nd 2013, 08:37 GMT |
Heikki Kovalainen will return to Formula 1 action at the Belgian Grand Prix as he takes part in first free practice for the Caterham team
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| By Jonathan Noble | Thursday, August 22nd 2013, 09:59 GMT |
Kimi Raikkonen may be at the centre of the Formula 1 media spotlight right now, but he will be a notable absentee at Spa on Thursday because he is unwell
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| By Andrew van de Burgt and Matt Beer | Wednesday, August 21st 2013, 09:50 GMT |
Nico Hulkenberg says he is using his tough 2013 Formula 1 season with Sauber as a chance to prove his character, rather than bemoaning his team choice
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| By Sam Tremayne | Wednesday, August 21st 2013, 11:12 GMT |
McLaren's managing director Jonathan Neale admits the team's troubled MP4-28 is unlikely to become a racewinner across the second half of the 2013 championship
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| By Edd Straw | Tuesday, August 20th 2013, 09:57 GMT |
Toro Rosso's aerodynamic department is stronger than it was this time last year, according to technical director James Key
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| By Jonathan Noble | Tuesday, August 20th 2013, 10:33 GMT |
Lotus says there is no point in busting the bank to keep Kimi Raikkonen next year, as talks intensify to finalise the Finn's Formula 1 future
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| By Jonathan Noble | Tuesday, August 20th 2013, 10:49 GMT |
With Kimi Raikkonen no longer in the Red Bull running, his best alternative outside Lotus if a deal cannot be agreed appears to be Ferrari
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| By Edd Straw | Monday, August 19th 2013, 10:33 GMT |
Force India team principal Vijay Mallya is confident his team can overcome any disadvantage caused by the change to Formula 1's control tyres
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| By Edd Straw | Monday, August 19th 2013, 10:38 GMT |
Pat Symonds will attend his first grand prix as Williams technical director in Belgium this weekend
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| By Glenn Freeman | Friday, August 16th 2013, 11:49 GMT |
Kimi Raikkonen believes the consistency that has taken him to second in the Formula 1 standings will not be enough to fight Sebastian Vettel for the world championship.
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| By Matt Beer | Friday, August 16th 2013, 16:22 GMT |
Mark Webber believes the return of the Austrian Grand Prix will prove the value of Formula 1 revisiting European tracks with established F1 tradition.
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| Saturday, August 17th 2013, 19:45 GMT |
Former BMW motorsport chief Karl-Heinz Kalbfell was killed on Saturday in a motorcycle accident at Brands Hatch, at the age of 63.
Kalbfell was competing in a practice session for historic machinery when he ran wide exiting Druids and fell on the run down to Graham Hill Bend, before being struck by a fellow competitor who was following closely behind.
He was taken by ambulance to Darneth Valley hospital, where he died as a result of his injuries.
After working as an engineer in the caravan industry, Kalbfell joined BMW in 1977 and remained with the manufacturer until 2004.
During that time he worked his way up to become head of the 'M Performance' motorsport division, overseeing BMW's switch from the DTM into Super Touring competition at the end of 1992.
He then played a key role in the development of the engine that powered the McLaren F1 to Le Mans 24 Hours victory in '95 and - after climbing to a more senior position - BMW's re-entry to Formula 1 as an engine supplier with Williams in 2000.
After leaving BMW he had a spell as CEO of Alfa Romeo and Maserati and was recently a board member of Group Lotus.
BMW issued the following statement:
"We received the news of the tragic accident with great sadness.
"BMW Motorsport mourns an amazing person and a passionate racer. For many years he was a formative figure and a driving force behind BMW Motorsport and BMW M.
"In these difficult circumstances, our thoughts are with his family."
Jonathan Palmer, CEO of Brands Hatch owner Motorsport Vision, said: "I am deeply saddened to hear of this tragic news.
"I knew Karl-Heinz, though not well, and had great respect for his achievements in the motor industry and particularly with BMW.
"He was a really good guy who did a huge amount for motorsport during his time at BMW.
"Karl-Heinz's passion for machinery and sport was demonstrated by his love for classic motorcycle racing and it is particularly cruel that he should lose his life enjoying his hobby, and one which has a good safety record too.
"I extend my deepest sympathies to Karl-Heinz's family."
| By Glenn Freeman | Friday, August 16th 2013, 11:49 GMT |
Kimi Raikkonen believes the consistency that has taken him to second in the Formula 1 standings will not be enough to fight Sebastian Vettel for the world championship.
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Matt Beer | Friday, August 16th 2013, 16:22 GMT |
Mark Webber believes the return of the Austrian Grand Prix will prove the value of Formula 1 revisiting European tracks with established F1 tradition.
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Glenn Freeman | Friday, August 16th 2013, 11:49 GMT |
Kimi Raikkonen believes the consistency that has taken him to second in the Formula 1 standings will not be enough to fight Sebastian Vettel for the world championship.
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Edd Straw | Thursday, August 15th 2013, 09:04 GMT |
Marussia is in no rush to appoint a new technical director to succeed Pat Symonds.
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| By Edd Straw and Matt Beer | Wednesday, August 14th 2013, 12:06 GMT |
Ferrari protege Jules Bianchi believes staying at Marussia for a second season in Formula 1 could be a good option for his career, despite the team still struggling to score.
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| By Edd Straw and Pablo Elizalde | Thursday, August 15th 2013, 11:31 GMT |
Felipe Massa believes the Formula 1 summer break will be crucial for Ferrari to try to regain its form after a difficult end to the first half of the season.
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| By Jonathan Noble and Matt Beer | Tuesday, August 13th 2013, 15:00 GMT |
Romain Grosjean believes his 2013 Formula 1 campaign has been much stronger than the results suggest
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| By Dieter Rencken and Matt Beer | Wednesday, August 14th 2013, 08:22 GMT |
Sauber has reiterated that its major new partnership with several Russian companies is still on course, and slammed "falsehoods and rumours" in the media.
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| By Jonathan Noble and Matt Beer | Wednesday, August 14th 2013, 10:12 GMT |
Sebastian Vettel's critics 'disrespect' Mark Webber, reckons Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, who says Vettel's ability to consistently beat a team-mate as strong as Webber proves his class.
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| By Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde | Monday, August 12th 2013, 11:16 GMT |
Pirelli motorsport boss Paul Hembery has described the Formula 1 tyre contract situation as "bizarre".
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Matt Beer and Edd Straw | Tuesday, August 13th 2013, 09:53 GMT |
With the 2013 Formula 1 season at its halfway point, AUTOSPORT has delved into the statistics from the first 10 races of the season to see how drivers' and teams' form has soared or plummeted during the campaign so far
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Edd Straw | Tuesday, August 13th 2013, 10:50 GMT |
Force India is set to upgrade its technical facilities in a bid to continue its climb up the Formula 1 grid, but wants clarity on future spending rules first
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| By Edd Straw and Matt Beer | Monday, August 12th 2013, 09:36 GMT |
Williams is set to sign a new protege to mould for a future Formula 1 seat as it did with current race driver Valtteri Bottas.
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| By Jonathan Noble and Matt Beer | Monday, August 12th 2013, 08:45 GMT |
Mercedes motorsport chief Toto Wolff has warned his Formula 1 team not to jeopardise its longer-term chances with an all-out bid for the 2013 championship.
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde | Monday, August 12th 2013, 11:16 GMT |
Pirelli motorsport boss Paul Hembery has described the Formula 1 tyre contract situation as "bizarre".
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Jonathan Noble and Glenn Freeman | Friday, August 9th 2013, 09:40 GMT |
McLaren believes that some of its problems this season were caused by its 2012 car "overdelivering" towards the end of last year.
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Edd Straw and Pablo Elizalde | Friday, August 9th 2013, 10:54 GMT |
Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn is sure Esteban Gutierrez is capable of delivering point-scoring finishes for the Swiss squad.
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Edd Straw | Friday, August 9th 2013, 15:49 GMT |
Lotus Formula 1 team chairman Gerard Lopez has hit out at reports that his team is in financial trouble.
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Jonathan Noble and Glenn Freeman | Friday, August 9th 2013, 09:40 GMT |
McLaren believes that some of its problems this season were caused by its 2012 car "overdelivering" towards the end of last year.
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Edd Straw and Pablo Elizalde | Friday, August 9th 2013, 10:54 GMT |
Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn is sure Esteban Gutierrez is capable of delivering point-scoring finishes for the Swiss squad.
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Edd Straw | Friday, August 9th 2013, 15:49 GMT |
Lotus Formula 1 team chairman Gerard Lopez has hit out at reports that his team is in financial trouble.
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Pablo Elizalde | Thursday, August 8th 2013, 14:32 GMT |
Paul di Resta believes his Force India team has "let things slip" in the last few races and needs to raise its game after the summer break
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Jonathan Noble and Glenn Freeman | Friday, August 9th 2013, 09:40 GMT |
McLaren believes that some of its problems this season were caused by its 2012 car "overdelivering" towards the end of last year.
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Edd Straw and Pablo Elizalde | Friday, August 9th 2013, 10:54 GMT |
Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn is sure Esteban Gutierrez is capable of delivering point-scoring finishes for the Swiss squad.
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde | Wednesday, August 7th 2013, 14:49 GMT |
Pirelli says Mercedes' form in the Hungarian Grand Prix had nothing to do with the new tyres introduced, but rather with something the team has done
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| Thursday, August 8th 2013, 09:28 GMT |
Jenson Button is convinced McLaren will be able to show the progress it has made in the Belgian Grand Prix later this month
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| By Jonathan Noble and Sam Tremayne | Thursday, August 8th 2013, 11:50 GMT |
Lotus boss Eric Boullier says the costs of competing in Formula 1 must be brought down in order to safeguard the future of the current grid.
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Jonathan Noble and Sam Tremayne | Tuesday, August 6th 2013, 10:22 GMT |
Nico Hulkenberg insists Sauber is not ready to abandon its 2013 Formula 1 campaign despite its underwhelming form
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Jonathan Noble and Sam Tremayne | Tuesday, August 6th 2013, 11:26 GMT |
Felipe Massa accepts he must raise his game in order to avoid being axed by Ferrari at the end of the current Formula 1 season
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| By David Evans and Matt Beer | Tuesday, August 6th 2013, 13:21 GMT |
Alex Wurz believes the Austrian Grand Prix will produce one of the most spectacular races of the Formula 1 season when the Spielberg track rejoins the calendar in 2014
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| By Mark Hughes | Monday, August 5th 2013, 11:58 GMT |
John Coombs, 1922-2013, obituary
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| By Jonathan Noble and Sam Tremayne | Tuesday, August 6th 2013, 10:22 GMT |
Nico Hulkenberg insists Sauber is not ready to abandon its 2013 Formula 1 campaign despite its underwhelming form
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Jonathan Noble and Sam Tremayne | Tuesday, August 6th 2013, 11:26 GMT |
Felipe Massa accepts he must raise his game in order to avoid being axed by Ferrari at the end of the current Formula 1 season
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Edd Straw | Monday, August 5th 2013, 09:24 GMT |
Romain Grosjean's recent strong form is largely down to his improved approach outside of the car, according to Lotus trackside operations director Alan Permane.
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Andrew van de Burgt and Sam Tremayne | Monday, August 5th 2013, 10:19 GMT |
Mark Webber believes the quality of the Formula 1 grid has dropped since he made his debut in 2002 because of the prevalence of pay drivers.
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde | Monday, August 5th 2013, 11:07 GMT |
Adrian Sutil says he remains open-minded about his future in Formula 1, admitting he is unsure about where he will be next year
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| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, August 2nd 2013, 11:12 GMT |
Kimi Raikkonen has been given a perfect score by his team boss Eric Boullier, on the back of his strong start to the season.
The Finn is Sebastian Vettel's nearest rival in the world championship, having delivered a run of second place finishes as well as victory in the season-opener in Australia.
Boullier has nothing but praise for the job Raikkonen has done.
"I would have to give Kimi 10 out of 10," Boullier told the Lotus website as part of a review of the first half of the campaign.
"He's done a terrific job right from the beginning of the season and his remarkable run of 27 consecutive points finishes speaks for itself.
"No matter what happens he's always there, as we saw in the final few laps at Monaco. He is playing a big part in pushing the team forwards, and of course having such a popular character in the seat has its advantages too."
Boullier believes that Raikkonen's team-mate Romain Grosjean still has room for improvement, but he has faith the Frenchman can deliver what is required of him.
"For Romain it was a more difficult start to the year coming off the back of a tough season in 2012, and it maybe took him a little while to settle down and start performing to the best of his ability," he said.
"With that in mind, it gives me great pleasure to see him learn from those experiences and to really start delivering the kind of results we've always known he is capable of.
"In Germany and Hungary he really put together the complete package over two consecutive weekends, and this should now be his baseline.
"He knows that if he wants to be winning races and fighting for championships then he must deliver this kind of quality drive at every grand prix.
"If he can keep up this level, Romain can be a future contender for titles, I'm sure of it."
| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, August 2nd 2013, 16:12 GMT |
Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has ordered a detailed investigation by his technical chiefs in to why his team's race pace disappeared at the Hungarian Grand Prix
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| Saturday, August 3rd 2013, 14:27 GMT |
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has stood by his decision to rebuke Fernando Alonso following the Hungarian Grand Prix
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| Friday, August 2nd 2013, 10:44 GMT |
Mark Webber should have stayed for another season in Formula 1, reckons his manager Flavio Briatore.
The Australian informed his Red Bull bosses on the eve of the British Grand Prix that he was quitting F1 to join Porsche for its assault on the World Endurance Championship.
Although Briatore understands why Webber no longer wanted to race on in F1, he thinks he should have stayed another season because he would have been assured of the Red Bull seat.
"He [Webber] was already tired at the end of last season," Briatore told Gazzetta dello Sport.
"It is his decision, even if it's wrong in my opinion, because he's still quick as he's shown last Sunday.
"He can still finish third, fourth, fifth and take points away from rivals."
Briatore does not see an obvious candidate to replace Webber, and thinks that there is a lack of decent young talent in the sport.
"I don't see any interesting youngsters," he said. "There is no new [Lewis] Hamilton, [Fernando] Alonso, [Sebastian] Vettel and [Kimi] Raikkonen around.
"Had Mark decided to stay for another year, the seat would be his."
Translation by Michele Lostia
| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, August 2nd 2013, 11:12 GMT |
Kimi Raikkonen has been given a perfect score by his team boss Eric Boullier, on the back of his strong start to the season.
The Finn is Sebastian Vettel's nearest rival in the world championship, having delivered a run of second place finishes as well as victory in the season-opener in Australia.
Boullier has nothing but praise for the job Raikkonen has done.
"I would have to give Kimi 10 out of 10," Boullier told the Lotus website as part of a review of the first half of the campaign.
"He's done a terrific job right from the beginning of the season and his remarkable run of 27 consecutive points finishes speaks for itself.
"No matter what happens he's always there, as we saw in the final few laps at Monaco. He is playing a big part in pushing the team forwards, and of course having such a popular character in the seat has its advantages too."
Boullier believes that Raikkonen's team-mate Romain Grosjean still has room for improvement, but he has faith the Frenchman can deliver what is required of him.
"For Romain it was a more difficult start to the year coming off the back of a tough season in 2012, and it maybe took him a little while to settle down and start performing to the best of his ability," he said.
"With that in mind, it gives me great pleasure to see him learn from those experiences and to really start delivering the kind of results we've always known he is capable of.
"In Germany and Hungary he really put together the complete package over two consecutive weekends, and this should now be his baseline.
"He knows that if he wants to be winning races and fighting for championships then he must deliver this kind of quality drive at every grand prix.
"If he can keep up this level, Romain can be a future contender for titles, I'm sure of it."
| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, August 2nd 2013, 16:12 GMT |
Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has ordered a detailed investigation by his technical chiefs in to why his team's race pace disappeared at the Hungarian Grand Prix
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| Friday, August 2nd 2013, 10:09 GMT |
Fernando Alonso is not tempted to join Red Bull next season and is fully committed to a future at Ferrari, says his manager Flavio Briatore.
After a weekend of speculation about Alonso's future, with Red Bull revealing that the Spaniard was a contender for a race seat in 2014 after learning that he could be available, Briatore has moved to quash such talk.
He insists that Alonso is thinking only of winning championships with Ferrari, and he sees nothing out of the ordinary about comments his driver made about wanting a 'car like the others'.
"Fernando has a contract and contracts must be respected," Briatore said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
When asked if Alonso was tempted to make a push for Red Bull's vacant seat, Briatore responded: "No, no temptation whatsoever."
Alonso: an act of war or the art of war?
Briatore added that Alonso's remarks about desiring a different car were nothing to be surprised about, even though the comments prompted Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo to rebuke his driver.
"It's normal for a racing driver to desire a competitive car and the team must work hard to supply it. End of story," said Briatore.
"Alonso has never said he wants to leave. Ferrari-Alonso remains a winning pairing.
"You also need to remember that he's lost the title twice at the final race and last year in Interlagos luck got in the way too. After a spin like Vettel's, usually the engine dies, but it didn't..."
Briatore also suggested that Alonso would be ready to accept a tougher team-mate alongside him at Ferrari if the team believed that Felipe Massa needed replacing.
"Fernando has never had problems with racing with anyone. He's like Senna. Ayrton would say 'place anyone next to me'. That's what the strong are like."
Briatore said that problems Alonso had when team-mates with Lewis Hamilton at McLaren in 2007 were down not to him, but the way the team was run.
"That's because McLaren did everything to create confusion. A top team must be able to manage two strong drivers."
Looking to the rest of the campaign, Briatore says the key factor going forward is in Ferrari delivering as soon as it can a car that Alonso can qualify nearer the front of the grid.
"He needs to have at his disposal a car that allows him to start from the top two rows. We knew it would be tough in Hungary, as it was when I was at Renault. They need to quickly find the instruction manual at Maranello."
Translation by Michele Lostia
| Friday, August 2nd 2013, 10:44 GMT |
Mark Webber should have stayed for another season in Formula 1, reckons his manager Flavio Briatore.
The Australian informed his Red Bull bosses on the eve of the British Grand Prix that he was quitting F1 to join Porsche for its assault on the World Endurance Championship.
Although Briatore understands why Webber no longer wanted to race on in F1, he thinks he should have stayed another season because he would have been assured of the Red Bull seat.
"He [Webber] was already tired at the end of last season," Briatore told Gazzetta dello Sport.
"It is his decision, even if it's wrong in my opinion, because he's still quick as he's shown last Sunday.
"He can still finish third, fourth, fifth and take points away from rivals."
Briatore does not see an obvious candidate to replace Webber, and thinks that there is a lack of decent young talent in the sport.
"I don't see any interesting youngsters," he said. "There is no new [Lewis] Hamilton, [Fernando] Alonso, [Sebastian] Vettel and [Kimi] Raikkonen around.
"Had Mark decided to stay for another year, the seat would be his."
Translation by Michele Lostia
| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, August 2nd 2013, 11:12 GMT |
Kimi Raikkonen has been given a perfect score by his team boss Eric Boullier, on the back of his strong start to the season.
The Finn is Sebastian Vettel's nearest rival in the world championship, having delivered a run of second place finishes as well as victory in the season-opener in Australia.
Boullier has nothing but praise for the job Raikkonen has done.
"I would have to give Kimi 10 out of 10," Boullier told the Lotus website as part of a review of the first half of the campaign.
"He's done a terrific job right from the beginning of the season and his remarkable run of 27 consecutive points finishes speaks for itself.
"No matter what happens he's always there, as we saw in the final few laps at Monaco. He is playing a big part in pushing the team forwards, and of course having such a popular character in the seat has its advantages too."
Boullier believes that Raikkonen's team-mate Romain Grosjean still has room for improvement, but he has faith the Frenchman can deliver what is required of him.
"For Romain it was a more difficult start to the year coming off the back of a tough season in 2012, and it maybe took him a little while to settle down and start performing to the best of his ability," he said.
"With that in mind, it gives me great pleasure to see him learn from those experiences and to really start delivering the kind of results we've always known he is capable of.
"In Germany and Hungary he really put together the complete package over two consecutive weekends, and this should now be his baseline.
"He knows that if he wants to be winning races and fighting for championships then he must deliver this kind of quality drive at every grand prix.
"If he can keep up this level, Romain can be a future contender for titles, I'm sure of it."
| By Jonathan Noble | Thursday, August 1st 2013, 10:24 GMT |
Kimi Raikkonen should not be ruled out of the Formula 1 world championship battle, reckons his Lotus boss.
The Finn delivered his second consecutive podium finish in last weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, and more crucially finished ahead of points leader Sebastian Vettel.
Although he is still 38 points behind his Red Bull rival in the standings with nine races remaining, Lotus team principal Eric Boullier thinks that a big push by his team could still be enough for him to end the year as champion.
"It is possible," Boullier told AUTOSPORT. "Kimi is going to have to make his chances of merit; and in Hungary on merit we beat Red Bull - so there will be a good fight."
Lotus endured a lacklustre spell from Monaco to Silverstone, where Raikkonen scored just 13 points in three races, but has notched up two consecutive runner-up positions since then.
Boullier thinks that the developments being worked on at the team factory will be enough to allow Lotus to keep up its challenge, and even bid to get itself back into the runners-up position in the constructors' championship.
"We have some good upgrades coming, so I am quite happy with what we can deliver," he said. "At the factory, they have worked hard and well.
"If you look at a little bit the trace and slope of the championship, we went down in three races but we are back on to the same slope as Red Bull.
"So we will fight to get back this second place in the championship. We just have to be consistent and grab as many points as we can with both cars."
Lotus' hopes of getting its second half to the campaign off to a strong start should also be boosted by it being ready to runs its passive DRS for the Belgian Grand Prix - with Spa's layout ideal for the concept.
"It is very likely," said Boullier, when asked if the team felt its 'device' was reliable enough to run in Belgium.
Boullier also does not think that Lotus' recent run of storm form is going to be any influence on Raikkonen's decision regarding his future, as the former champion weighs up a move to Red Bull.
"This year is this year, next year is next year," he said. "I am not in the head of Kimi but I imagine this is what he would say."
| By Gary Watkins | Thursday, August 1st 2013, 11:20 GMT |
Ex-Formula 1 driver Philippe Alliot will return to the wheel of a Ligier grand prix car in historic racing later this year.
The 59-year-old Frenchman, who contested 23 grands prix for the French squad in 1986 and 1990, has purchased a Ligier JS11 from team founder Guy Ligier together with two friends.
He will race the car for the first time at the invitational historic F1 event on the new Baku street circuit in Azerbaijan in October.
The car, which raced as a JS11 in 1979 and a JS11/15 the following season, has been restored in 1980-specification by the second incarnation of the Ligier team, which took over Martini Automobiles in 2004 and is best-known today for building Group CN prototypes.
Alliot, who has raced Ligier Group CN cars for fun since calling time on his professional racing career, told AUTOSPORT: "I know Guy very well and he had the car, which was in very bad condition, at Magny-Cours.
"The car, which is so beautiful, has been very nicely rebuilt. It is better than new and we have a brand new Nicholson-McLaren Cosworth DFV."
"I am very excited to race it at Baku. It will be the first time I have driven an F1 car since my last GP [with Larrousse in Belgium in 1994]."
Alliot described the Ligier as a "very historic car" because it is the chassis, #2, which Laffite used to win the opening two grands prix of 1979 in Argentina and Brazil.
It was subsequently raced by Didier Pironi in four races in 1980, finishing third in the United States GP at Watkins Glen (pictured).
The car will be run in Baku by a team involving Springbox Concept, which was founded with Alliot's help by personnel form his Force One Racing GT squad of 2001-04.
The organisers of the Baku event, which is headlined by the final round of this year's FIA GT Series on October 19/20, are putting together a field of 15 cars and are already oversubscribed.
Alliot started 109 grands prix from 1984-1994 for RAM, Ligier, Larrousse and McLaren, scoring seven points.
FACT OR FICTION?
Legend suggests that the downturn in Ligier's form after its flying start to the 1979 was the result of the loss of its set-up data - written on the back of a cigarette packet by designer Gerard Ducarouge.
The official line is that the JS11's glass fibre venturi sections deformed over time courtesy of the massive forces the ground-effect aerodynamics were producing.
| By Jonathan Noble | Thursday, August 1st 2013, 11:40 GMT |
Daniel Ricciardo says he is revelling in the increased attention surrounding him as he bids to secure a Red Bull seat for 2014.
The Australian is on the shortlist of candidates to line-up alongside Sebastian Vettel next year.
But he has to convince the team's bosses that he is a better prospect than experienced drivers like Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso.
Ricciardo is doing his chances no harm with a run of strong qualifying performances in the last few races, and impressed Red Bull during an audition during the recent Silverstone young driver test.
Analysis: how Red Bull will choose between Ricciardo and Raikkonen
He admits that rather than feel that the pressure to show well is a burden, he reckons it is inspiring him to do even better.
"I don't not like it," he said about the spotlight being on him. "I'm not saying I like all the extra media and all that, but behind the scenes, the odd phone call here and there telling me that this weekend is important, is good fun.
"It is what some of us enjoy about the sport. It is about pushing yourself when everyone is watching and, when you can prove it in front of a lot of eyes, then that is a rewarding feeling."
Irrespective of the need to do well if he is to stand a chance of the Red Bull seat, Ricciardo thinks he is at that stage of his career when it is essential he steps up his game anyway.
OPINION: Take Ricciardo, not Raikkonen
"Each race you do in F1, you expect more from yourself," he explained. "After doing more than two seasons, it is time I really have to start proving myself, even moving all the Red Bull stuff aside.
"It is really a time in my young career that I need to start impressing some people. So there is a bit of extra pressure, but motivation as well."
