| By Jonathan Noble | Monday, September 29th 2014, 15:55 GMT |
Caterham believes a new front wing that it will bring to the Japanese Grand Prix should lift it clear of main Formula 1 rival Marussia
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| By Dieter Rencken and Ben Anderson | Tuesday, September 30th 2014, 11:02 GMT |
Jenson Button reckons Honda will need an experienced driver in order to get the best from its new engine when it rejoins Formula 1 next season
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| By Ben Anderson | Tuesday, September 30th 2014, 09:20 GMT |
Williams believes aerodynamic upgrades plus recent operational success, combined with circuits that should suit its 2014 Formula 1 car, should help carry the fight to Ferrari in the world championship
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| By Dieter Rencken and Jonathan Noble | Monday, September 29th 2014, 09:00 GMT |
Jenson Button says McLaren is bracing itself for a 'tricky' time at the Japanese Grand Prix, with the Suzuka circuit's high-speed swoops not ideal for its 2014 Formula 1 car
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| By Jonathan Noble | Monday, September 29th 2014, 10:27 GMT |
Max Verstappen will have his first official Formula 1 race weekend outing at the Japanese Grand Prix, with Toro Rosso confirming he will drive in first free practice
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| By Ben Anderson | Monday, September 29th 2014, 10:21 GMT |
Fernando Alonso is confident the Ferrari Formula 1 team will overhaul rival Williams for third place in the constructors' championship before the 2014 season ends
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| By Ben Anderson | Friday, September 26th 2014, 11:43 GMT |
Ferrari team principal Marco Mattiacci says it is too early to know how recent management changes at the top of the company will affect his Formula 1 team
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| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, September 26th 2014, 10:16 GMT |
The study that has begun into ways of making Formula 1 cars more challenging to drive follows ongoing complaints about them being too easy at the moment
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| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, September 26th 2014, 18:12 GMT |
Nico Rosberg's retirement from the Singapore Grand Prix was caused by a freak substance contamination creating an electronics short circuit in his Mercedes Formula 1 car, AUTOSPORT has learned
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| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, September 26th 2014, 10:15 GMT |
Formula 1 chiefs have begun a study to look at ways of making grand prix cars more challenging to drive in the future
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| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, September 26th 2014, 10:16 GMT |
The study that has begun into ways of making Formula 1 cars more challenging to drive follows ongoing complaints about them being too easy at the moment
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Ben Anderson | Friday, September 26th 2014, 11:43 GMT |
Ferrari team principal Marco Mattiacci says it is too early to know how recent management changes at the top of the company will affect his Formula 1 team
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| By Jonathan Noble | Thursday, September 25th 2014, 10:05 GMT |
Sebastian Vettel now has no doubt that his driving style simply does not suit the characteristics of the 2014 Red Bull Formula 1 car
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| By Jonathan Noble | Wednesday, September 24th 2014, 15:20 GMT |
Red Bull has no doubt that the performance gap to Mercedes is closing, but doubts it will overcome Formula 1's dominant benchmark team before 2014 is over
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| By Jonathan Noble | Thursday, September 25th 2014, 10:28 GMT |
Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone says the easiest way to bring down grand prix ticket prices is for teams to accept less commercial rights income
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| By Ben Anderson | Wednesday, September 24th 2014, 09:50 GMT |
Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff has warned that relaxing Formula 1's engine freeze regulations could have unintended negative consequences.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Wednesday, September 24th 2014, 09:13 GMT |
Ferrari is accustomed to batting away rampant speculation about Fernando Alonso's Formula 1 future, but its relationship with the Spaniard has reached a defining moment.
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| Wednesday, September 24th 2014, 11:56 GMT |
Red Bull junior team boss Helmut Marko has likened the abilities of new Toro Rosso Formula 1 signing Max Verstappen to those of the late Ayrton Senna
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| By Jonathan Noble | Tuesday, September 23rd 2014, 09:06 GMT |
Red Bull boss Christian Horner says he had no qualms about Sebastian Vettel taking points off Daniel Ricciardo in the Singapore Grand Prix, despite its potential title implications
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| By Jonathan Noble | Tuesday, September 23rd 2014, 09:46 GMT |
Nico Rosberg's problems in the Singapore Grand Prix showed how hard it is going to be to manage a Formula 1 team radio clampdown next year, says his Mercedes team
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| By Jonathan Noble | Tuesday, September 23rd 2014, 10:46 GMT |
McLaren racing director Eric Boullier says his Formula 1 team has no obvious explanation as to why Kevin Magnussen suffered heat issues in the cockpit during the Singapore Grand Prix.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Monday, September 22nd 2014, 08:45 GMT |
McLaren believes that Formula 1 rival Red Bull used coded radio messages during the Singapore Grand Prix to help Daniel Ricciardo finish on the podium
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| By Jonathan Noble | Monday, September 22nd 2014, 09:16 GMT |
Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff says his team risks having the shine taken off its Formula 1 success this year if the battle between its drivers is decided by reliability
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| By Ben Anderson | Monday, September 22nd 2014, 11:37 GMT |
Felipe Massa says he drove "like a grandmother" in order to keep his Williams Formula 1 car's tyres alive long enough to finish fifth in the Singapore Grand Prix
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| Saturday, September 20th 2014, 17:18 GMT |
Singapore Grand Prix post-qualifying press conference with Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Daniel Ricciardo
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| By Jonathan Noble | Saturday, September 20th 2014, 17:36 GMT |
Sebastian Vettel thinks his Red Bull Formula 1 car was good enough to deliver pole position at the Singapore Grand Prix.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Saturday, September 20th 2014, 18:09 GMT |
Felipe Massa says the Williams Formula 1 team's return to form on Saturday at the Singapore Grand Prix was down to it getting on top of tyre temperature problems
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| Friday, September 19th 2014, 21:28 GMT |
Singapore Grand Prix Friday press conference with team chiefs from McLaren, Williams, Sauber, Caterham, Toro Rosso and Force India F1 squads
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| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, September 19th 2014, 17:52 GMT |
Sebastian Vettel has been told he will definitely get a Formula 1 engine change penalty this season, following the problem he suffered in Friday practice at the Singapore Grand Prix
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| By Stuart Codling | Saturday, September 20th 2014, 11:15 GMT |
Fernando Alonso was quickest again for Ferrari in third practice for the 2014 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, edging Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo by 0.051 seconds
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| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, September 19th 2014, 08:40 GMT |
Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has suggested that the double points regulation will likely be dropped for 2015 following the backlash it has caused this year
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| By Stuart Codling | Friday, September 19th 2014, 11:44 GMT |
Fernando Alonso scored a coup for Ferrari in the first practice session of the 2014 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, edging out Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton
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| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, September 19th 2014, 11:51 GMT |
Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone believes third cars should be considered for next year - even if all the current teams survive
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| By Ben Anderson | Wednesday, September 17th 2014, 14:31 GMT |
Valtteri Bottas says the Williams Formula 1 team is focused on beating Ferrari to third place in this year's constructors' championship rather than trying to catch Red Bull for second
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| By Jonathan Noble | Wednesday, September 17th 2014, 16:27 GMT |
McLaren chief Ron Dennis says it may be the end of 2015 before his Formula 1 team can judge whether its restructuring has succeeded
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| By Jonathan Noble | Thursday, September 18th 2014, 09:59 GMT |
Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has hinted that there could be further rules tweaks to make drivers work harder, in the wake of the controversial team radio clampdown.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Wednesday, September 17th 2014, 09:17 GMT |
Renault says that only a pole position will be good enough to prove that its Formula 1 engine has closed the gap to the dominant Mercedes power unit.
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| By Ben Anderson | Wednesday, September 17th 2014, 08:55 GMT |
Ex-Formula 1 world champion Alain Prost believes Mercedes must be extra careful in the way it handles any future flashpoints in the title rivalry between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton.
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| Wednesday, September 17th 2014, 10:51 GMT |
Kamui Kobayashi will keep his Caterham Formula 1 drive for the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend
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| By Ben Anderson | Monday, September 15th 2014, 13:40 GMT |
Outgoing Toro Rosso Formula 1 driver Jean-Eric Vergne has hinted he would consider racing in other disciplines if he fails to secure an alternative drive on the 2015 F1 grid.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Tuesday, September 16th 2014, 08:33 GMT |
The FIA has told Formula 1 teams that the ban on advice being given to drivers will also extend to pit boards from this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix.
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| By Ben Anderson | Tuesday, September 16th 2014, 10:11 GMT |
Ferrari boss Marco Mattiacci says his team's performance at the Italian Grand Prix showed exactly how far it is behind the dominant Mercedes squad in Formula 1 this season.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Monday, September 15th 2014, 08:57 GMT |
The McLaren Formula 1 team believes that new chief engineer Peter Prodromou will make a big impact, following his return to the squad on Monday.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Monday, September 15th 2014, 09:55 GMT |
Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff says Formula 1 teams have dared to broach concerns about ticket prices being too high with the sport's supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Monday, September 15th 2014, 10:56 GMT |
Red Bull is under no illusions about how tough it will be to beat Formula 1 rival Mercedes in Singapore, even though the track should suit its car more.
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| By Ben Anderson | Friday, September 12th 2014, 14:28 GMT |
Kimi Raikkonen feels Ferrari will have to improve the Energy Recovery System on its car if it is to close the gap to its quicker Formula 1 rivals
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| By Jonathan Noble and Dieter Rencken | Friday, September 12th 2014, 11:02 GMT |
The FIA is to conduct a review of the Formula 1 superlicence system in the wake of questions about the way that drivers are qualifying for them
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| By Ben Anderson | Friday, September 12th 2014, 16:24 GMT |
Force India reserve driver Daniel Juncadella says he will commit to the DTM full-time next season, if he cannot secure a race seat in Formula 1 for 2015
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| By Ben Anderson | Friday, September 12th 2014, 16:24 GMT |
Force India reserve driver Daniel Juncadella says he will commit to the DTM full-time next season, if he cannot secure a race seat in Formula 1 for 2015
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| By Jonathan Noble and Dieter Rencken | Friday, September 12th 2014, 11:02 GMT |
The FIA is to conduct a review of the Formula 1 superlicence system in the wake of questions about the way that drivers are qualifying for them
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| By Ben Anderson | Friday, September 12th 2014, 14:28 GMT |
Kimi Raikkonen feels Ferrari will have to improve the Energy Recovery System on its car if it is to close the gap to its quicker Formula 1 rivals
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| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, September 12th 2014, 10:25 GMT |
Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff is expecting a controversial Singapore Grand Prix in the wake of the FIA's clampdown on Formula 1 team radio
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| Friday, September 12th 2014, 10:52 GMT |
The FIA has announced a 20-race calendar for the 2015 Formula 1 season, equalling the longest schedule in grand prix racing history
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| By Jonathan Noble and Dieter Rencken | Friday, September 12th 2014, 11:02 GMT |
The FIA is to conduct a review of the Formula 1 superlicence system in the wake of questions about the way that drivers are qualifying for them.
You have viewed over 20 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.
| By Ben Anderson | Wednesday, September 10th 2014, 17:52 GMT |
Toro Rosso has praised new signing Max Verstappen for the job he did in his first proper test for his new squad at Adria on Wednesday
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| By Ben Anderson | Thursday, September 11th 2014, 09:28 GMT |
Four-time Formula 1 world champion Alain Prost has backed a planned clampdown on team radio messages, as he believes they have a negative impact on public perception of the sport
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| By Jonathan Noble | Thursday, September 11th 2014, 10:32 GMT |
The FIA confirmed on Thursday that Formula 1 teams are now banned from all forms of radio transmission that help with car or driver performance, as revealed by AUTOSPORT
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| By Jonathan Noble | Wednesday, September 10th 2014, 09:24 GMT |
JONATHAN NOBLE explains why Ferrari's lack of Formula 1 success was critical in Luca di Montezemolo's departure - and what happens next at Maranello
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| By Jonathan Noble | Wednesday, September 10th 2014, 08:39 GMT |
Santander chairman Emilio Botin, the driving force behind his company's high profile sponsorship in Formula 1, has died. He was 79.
The Spaniard helped turn Santander from a small domestic finance house into Europe's biggest bank, with €1.4trillion of funds and 200,000 employees worldwide.
He decided that F1 was the perfect way to boost the profile of his company, first arriving as a sponsor of McLaren when Fernando Alonso joined the Woking-based team in 2007.
Botin duly formed a close partnership with Alonso, and his backing moved to Ferrari when the Spaniard joined the Maranello outfit in 2010.
But Botin's support of F1 expanded beyond just Alonso, as Santander maintained ties with the McLaren team and became title sponsor of a number of grand prix races.
McLaren Group CEO Ron Dennis was one of the first to pay tribute to Botin and the role he had played in F1.
"Passionate and charming, he was firm but always fair. I feel privileged to have known him, and proud to be able to call him a friend," said Dennis.
"He adored motor racing - there was no one more enthusiastic in the McLaren garage than he was when a race win was in the offing. The world has lost a great man."
A statement on Ferrari's Twitter feed added: Sad day today. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the chairman Emilio Botin."
| By Ben Anderson | Wednesday, September 10th 2014, 11:09 GMT |
Force India Formula 1 boss Vijay Mallya believes Sergio Perez's drive in the Italian Grand Prix was "outstanding", as the Mexican closes in on a 2015 deal with the team
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| By Jonathan Noble | Tuesday, September 9th 2014, 05:52 GMT |
Formula 1 chiefs are considering a team radio clampdown as part of a push to make the sport more challenging for drivers again, AUTOSPORT can reveal
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| By Jonathan Noble | Tuesday, September 9th 2014, 09:42 GMT |
Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff insists that television images that appeared to show him smiling after Nico Rosberg lost the lead in the Italian Grand Prix were not live
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| Tuesday, September 9th 2014, 10:07 GMT |
Ferrari's current performance in Formula 1 is 'unacceptable', says the boss of its parent company Fiat
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| By Jonathan Noble and Dieter Rencken | Monday, September 8th 2014, 10:45 GMT |
Sauber's future in Formula 1 could be boosted if talks with Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll to buy in to the team are successful
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| By Ben Anderson | Monday, September 8th 2014, 09:15 GMT |
Fernando Alonso reckons he could have fought Daniel Ricciardo's Red Bull for fifth place at the Italian Grand Prix, had his Ferrari not suffered ERS failure
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| By Jonathan Noble | Monday, September 8th 2014, 10:05 GMT |
Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff believes fans are wrong to boo drivers on the podium, after Nico Rosberg was subjected to more jeers following the Italian Grand Prix
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| By Jonathan Noble | Sunday, September 7th 2014, 08:26 GMT |
Williams will keep the same two Formula 1 drivers next year, with Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas staying on board for 2015.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Saturday, September 6th 2014, 17:39 GMT |
Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff has total confidence that there will not be another collision between his Formula 1 drivers Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton in the Italian Grand Prix
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| By Jonathan Noble | Sunday, September 7th 2014, 11:01 GMT |
Formula 1 is set for a return to a 20-race calendar next season, according to a draft version that has been circulated to teams at the Italian Grand Prix.
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| By Jonathan Noble | Saturday, September 6th 2014, 08:37 GMT |
Daniil Kvyat has incurred the first engine change penalty of the 2014 Formula 1 season, after Toro Rosso had to fit his sixth Renault power unit for the Italian Grand Prix
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| By Jonathan Noble | Saturday, September 6th 2014, 10:03 GMT |
McLaren chief Ron Dennis has not ruled out his team keeping its current Formula 1 drivers next year, even if a big star becomes available
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| By Stuart Codling | Saturday, September 6th 2014, 10:13 GMT |
Lewis Hamilton dominated third practice for the 2014 Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, while his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg completed just three laps after encountering a gearbox problem
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| By Jonathan Noble | Friday, September 5th 2014, 09:25 GMT |
Williams says the investment required to move towards the front of the Formula 1 grid explains losses of more than £20million for the first six months of the year
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| By Ben Anderson | Friday, September 5th 2014, 07:55 GMT |
Romain Grosjean will sit out first free practice for this weekend's Italian Grand Prix so that Lotus Formula 1 reserve Charles Pic can drive
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| By Stuart Codling | Friday, September 5th 2014, 09:44 GMT |
Lewis Hamilton was fastest in opening practice for Formula 1's 2014 Italian Grand Prix at Monza by 0.623 seconds from McLaren's Jenson Button, with Hamilton's Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg third
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| By Ben Anderson | Monday, September 1st 2014, 15:11 GMT |
Felipe Massa has urged the Williams Formula 1 team to change its brake systems after struggling in wet qualifying at the recent Belgian Grand Prix.
Massa qualified a lowly ninth for the Spa event, on a track where Williams was expected to run at the front.
Massa was among a selection of drivers to suffer glazed brakes in the wet session, and he has called on his team to switch from its current Carbone Industrie-only set-up to allow its car to run Brembo pads and discs.
When asked whether he wanted to move to Brembo brakes, which the Brazilian used at his previous team Ferrari, Massa said: "Yes. It's not the first time we had [glazing] this year.
"Normally the brakes we used in the conditions like this, we had [glazing] a few times this year.
"It's not great to be honest, so it's something that we are still working on.
"It's impossible to warm up the [CI] brakes [in the wet]."
Williams performance chief Rob Smedley confirmed Williams was evaluating redesigning its car to accept both types of material, but said the FW36 was designed around using CI brakes, so any change would not be straightforward to make.
"You have to set out at the start of the year essentially with your mechanical fixing that fixes the brake disc to the car able to accept both," Smedley explained.
"If you haven't done that, then it's a very big change to make to the car. It's something you couldn't just do between sessions.
"We're going through the process now, but this team has been geared up to run with CI for many years now, so to change to another manufacturer is not wholly straightforward.
"With a certain amount of resource we have to consider where to put that resource the best. We can't put all of the company on to changing to Brembo material.
"We're considering the design and considering what to do for the future.
"For next year, that [a change to design of the mechanical fixing] will more than likely be the case."
| Tuesday, September 2nd 2014, 09:57 GMT |
Ross Brawn is not currently part of Ferrari's plans for the future, even though team boss Marco Mattiacci says the Formula 1 outfit would welcome him back.
Brawn has been linked with a return to Ferrari ever since he stepped down as Mercedes team principal at the end of last year.
Speculation of such a move further ramped up this week when Mattiacci told CNN that Ferrari would be open to having Brawn back, after he helped play a part in Ferrari's title dominance with Michael Schumacher in the early 2000s.
Mattiacci said: "Ross Brawn is an iconic figure at Maranello. Everyone would like to have Ross or would like to see Ross back at Ferrari.
"He's one of the most respected personalities in F1 with the highest knowledge and pedigree. Everybody would be happy with someone like Ross."
But although Mattiacci confirmed that some talks had taken place - including during a social visit that Brawn made to Maranello with friends earlier this year - it is understood that he does not feature in the revamp plan that is underway at Ferrari.
Mattiacci has faith that current technical director James Allison is the right man to help take charge of Ferrari's recovery, although changes to the staffing structure and new appointments are expected before next year.
"As I said, at the moment I'm building a new team. James is the technical director and I want to start from this point," added Mattiacci.
"To tango you have to have two. Maybe Ross is happy with what he is doing."
Brawn has kept a low profile since leaving Mercedes and suggested at the end of last year that he had retired from F1.
| Tuesday, September 2nd 2014, 10:58 GMT |
Fernando Alonso insists he remains committed to Ferrari for now, despite a fresh push by McLaren to lure the Spaniard for its new Honda era.
As AUTOSPORT reported last week, McLaren is holding fire on sorting out its 2015 driver line-up until it knows what the plans of Alonso and Sebastian Vettel are.
The Woking-based team wants an answer from both men imminently, as it is eager to sort out its driver plans before the Singapore Grand Prix later this month.
But despite the fresh interest from McLaren, Alonso has made it clear ahead of the Italian Grand Prix that he is still determined to win the world title for Ferrari.
"It's not my intention at the moment to move," he told Sky Sports News when asked about his feelings on the fresh McLaren interest.
"I want to win for Ferrari, I want to win here and finish the job that we started some years ago and we will see what the future comes."
Although Alonso has a contract with Ferrari until the end of 2016, that has not stopped ongoing speculation about his future.
Last year, he was linked with Red Bull after his manager approached the outfit, while this season McLaren has been open about its intent to bring the Spaniard back to the team despite the acrimonious split they had at the end of 2007.
Alonso insists, however, that he has never said he wants to leave Ferrari, and he says that although overtures from other teams do pose problems it does show his value.
"Obviously there has been a lot of talk from the summer of last year, the start more or less, but from my mouth never came any interest to leave to Ferrari or any words saying that I will join another team," he said.
"There are a lot of speculations which is not disturbing but it creates a bit of tension around and stress.
"But also you feel proud, you feel happy that the best teams have interest in you and they say it in public. "
AUTOSPORT SAYS...
Jonathan Noble, Group F1 Editor (@NobleF1)
Fernando Alonso is as precise with his words off the track as he is with his driving on it.
That is why it is important to look at the specifics of everything he says, rather than just the headline grabbing sound bites, to fully understand what the Spaniard is really thinking.
For while his latest commitment to Ferrari would appear to dash all of McLaren's hopes of luring him to Woking in the future, Alonso has actually left the door slightly open.
Right in the middle of his comment about staying at Ferrari, his use of 'at the moment' is interesting, for it appears to put a timeframe on his devotion to Maranello.
Few people - even those inside McLaren - expected Alonso to turn his back on a revamped Ferrari just now and take the gamble of switching to unproved Honda engines next year. It could well be a jump from the frying pan in to the fire.
The most sensible option for Alonso was always going to be to stay put for at least one more year, as the options he has now will still be there in 12 months' time.
By the summer of 2015, Alonso will not only have a much better idea of the scope of progress being made at Ferrari under Marco Mattiacci, but he will also know just how good the new Honda engine is.
Furthermore, with Sebastian Vettel perhaps unsettled at Red Bull, and relations between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton at breaking point at Mercedes, there could well be possibilities elsewhere on the grid too.
Alonso's message in what he said today is clear: I want to win at Ferrari and right now that is my intention.
But do not think that what he says today will stand true this time next year if Ferrari is not pushing at the front of the grid. Then it will be game on for 2016.
| By Jonathan Noble | Monday, September 1st 2014, 09:15 GMT |
Leading Formula 1 team bosses think it is vital that Bernie Ecclestone is now able to concentrate fully on the sport again, after the end of his bribery case in Germany.
Ecclestone faced the distraction of lengthy court proceedings in Munich to answer allegations that he paid a $44million bribe to former banker Gerhard Gribkowsky.
But having agreed a $100million settlement to bring the court case to an end, Ecclestone is now able to focus entirely on F1 at a time when the sport is trying to understand why audiences are falling.
The Ecclestone trial unravelled
Red Bull boss Christian Horner believes that no one is better qualified to help sort out F1's problems than Ecclestone.
"It is great that Bernie is full time again," he said. "F1 needs Bernie at the moment, and there are a few issues we need to get on top of.
"There is no better person to do it than the little man himself."
Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff reckons that Ecclestone has returned to action in a stronger position than before - which he thinks is good for the future of F1.
"What is important is stability in F1," explained Wolff. "I have seen a very strong Bernie coming back from the shutdown and coming back after the court case has been settled - and this is good news.
"Whatever the governance, and whatever the management of F1 is going to be going forward, the shareholders and Bernie are looking at how it can be done for the best of F1.
The day Ecclestone took control of F1
"For us it is important to have a strong leader and good discussions - and we had one of these [at Spa].
"So I am sure there is lots of talking behind the scenes, and lots going on in the future.
"For us it is very good that Bernie is fully concentrated, back in shape, strong and leading the organisation at that stage."
| By Jonathan Noble | Monday, September 1st 2014, 09:40 GMT |
The FIA has defended the decision to lay down a large asphalt run-off area at Monza's Parabolica corner ahead of this weekend's Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix.
The change, which has meant the reduction in size of a long-standing gravel trap (pictured from last year), fuelled widespread criticism on social media with fans unhappy that it appeared to rob the corner of some of its challenge.
GP2 race winner and Ferrari junior Raffaele Marciello even posted a picture on Twitter (below) saying: "Why?"
F1 race director Charlie Whiting has revealed, however, that grand prix drivers had asked for the changes to be made.
Although accepting that the modifications may not be as challenging as before in terms of punishing mistakes when drivers run wide, he says both the FIA and drivers think improved safety justifies the tweaks.
Whiting said: "About 35 per cent of the gravel has been replaced.
"This has been requested for safety reasons by the FIA and the drivers, just as it has been at virtually every other circuit that F1 races on.
"Of course we know that it is not as punishing to a driver who leaves the track but that is the price that we pay for much improved safety: a price both the drivers and I believe is worth paying."
FINDING LIMIT EASIER
Lotus's Romain Grosjean believes that the removal of the gravel trap at Parabolica will allow drivers to find the limit much quicker because there will be no fear of a big crash if they suffer problems there.
"Parabolica is a very challenging and quick corner so from a safety point of view it is a good thing to have some more margin for the drivers," he said.
"I remember sometimes in the past coming in to the corner and knowing that to brake even a little bit too late then you could be straight in the gravel and then straight to the wall at high speed.
"I think that now what you will see is the drivers finding the limits sooner, because we know there will not be the big gravel and crash penalty like previously."
| By Edd Straw | Monday, September 1st 2014, 10:10 GMT |
Jonathan Williams, who started one world championship Formula 1 grand prix for Ferrari, has died at the age of 71.
Cairo-born Williams started his racing career in 1961, initially driving a Mini and then moving into an Austin A40 prior to switching to single-seaters in Formula Junior in 1963.
His first season in European competition was punctuated by a big accident in his Merlyn-Ford MkV at Monza, but he soon returned in a Lotus 22.
In his subsequent European outings, Williams claimed a best result of fourth in the Autobahnspinne-Rennen at the Dresden-Hellerau circuit, also finishing seventh in the Sachsenringrennen.
The following season, he competed under the Anglo-Swiss Racing banner along with close friend Piers Courage in the new Formula 3 category.
He finished second in the Preis von Tirol in Innsbruck, as well as claiming third in the Eifelrennen at the Nurburgring driving a Lotus 31.
Williams and Courage then raced for the new team set up by their old friend Charles Lucas in 1965, driving Brabham BT10s.
This well-run squad allowed Williams to make a real impact, winning the Zolder GP and two other high-profile races at Monza.
Williams then accepted an offer to drive for the works de Sanctis team in 1966, winning a number of races, including the first of three wins in the famous Monza Lottery GP.
This success in Italy led to an offer to drive for Ferrari in Formula 2 the following season.
Problems with the Ferrari F2 project meant it was a difficult year, with Williams's main success coming in the Monza Lottery GP, again driving a de Sanctis F3 car.
But Williams did get his famous opportunity to race for the F1 team after being sent on standby to the 1967 season-ending Mexican GP with little serious expectation of racing.
After a piecemeal season in F2, which included some sportscar outings in Ferrari machinery, he was not surprised to spend Friday practice on the sidelines watching Chris Amon jump between the team's two 312s.
But by Saturday, Enzo Ferrari had decided he wanted two cars in the race and 24-year-old Williams was pitched into the fray.
"I'd never even sat in the car," Williams told AUTOSPORT in 2009. "I'd only driven the previous season's for half an hour.
"Going to Mexico, I had no idea that I was going to drive. I was told to bring my overalls just in case, but not that there was a 50 per cent chance I would be in the car.
"Typical Ferrari - they loved to keep you in the dark."
Williams was in at the deep end and qualified 16th out of 19, 7.24 seconds off the pace.
"I had maybe 15 to 20 laps before the race, that's no way to prepare," he said. "I just drove as best I could. Jean-Pierre Beltoise was a pain in the neck, he had a big engine in an F2 Matra and just beat me in the end - very annoying.
"I was terribly ashamed after Mexico and was walking around in dark glasses hiding from people. But in hindsight, I don't think I did too bad a job."
In extraordinary circumstances, he did as good a job as could be expected, but despite his ability there would be no more opportunities to race in F1 and Williams parted company with Ferrari, although he was subsequently contracted to the stillborn Abarth grand prix car project.
In 1968, Williams won his third Monza Lotteria, now held to F2 regulations, driving a Brabham BT23C run by old friend Frank Williams (no relation).
He chose that win, in which he pipped Alan Rees on the line by two-tenths of a second, as his 'Race of My Life' for a feature in AUTOSPORT.
Williams continued to race until 1971, famously driving the Porsche 908 used to film footage for the Steve McQueen film Le Mans in 1970.
In later life, Williams was a professional pilot as well as a keen writer and columnist on motorsport.
AUTOSPORT sends its condolences to his family and friends.
