A BMW anunciou que venderá as instalações de sua equipe novamente a Peter Sauber, que fundou a escuderia em 1993. Até então, a marca bávara estava negociação com a Qadbak Investiment, da Suíça. Em nota, o membro do conselho administratio da fabricante alemã informou que a boa relação com Sauber foi essencial para a decisão.

Agora, a Sauber depende apenas da aprovação da Federação Internacional de Automobilismo (FIA) para garantir sua baga na temporada 2010, no lugar da Toyota. A escuderia deverá reduzir seu quadro de colaboradores (de 388 para 250) para conter custos.

Ainda não se sabe se a BMW cooperará com a Sauber ou se ela terá de iniciar o processo de parcerias novamente.

It’s been almost thirty days since the Formula 1 season finale, the Abu Dhabi dazzle in the twilight. It’s been almost thirty days since I’ve been able to recognize this sport we love so much.

It’s also been almost thirty days since Toyota announced the end of their relationship with us and F1. Since that large blow, Mercedes split from McLaren and bought 75.1% of Brawn GP inevitably turning the team into ‘Mercedes GP.’ A few clicks of your mouse later and Button and Raikkonen were both testing waters for a McLaren seat which Button landed. His salary of peanuts sounded better to Mercedes better than Raikkonen’s asking price of a hand and a leg. The Finn decided it was better to ditch next year all together, seeing that Ferrari are paying him enough to get through the inactive year.

With McLaren sitting happily with an all British line-up, it seems reasonable to suggest that Mercedes might be aiming for an all German line-up especially with the news that Rosberg has joined camp. That makes rumors of a Schumacher return tickle our fancy even more.

After BMW’s shocking exit announcement after the 2009 season, their future is not clear until… they announce selling the team back to Peter Sauber.

You consume all that and then take a breather. Oh, and Alonso announced his move to Ferrari. That slipped my mind because after a few pictures were snapped of him walking alongside Massa as an official Ferrari driver, he disappeared into Ferrari Land.

For 2010, refueling has been banned which was an idea proposed to help cut costs rather than improve F1 excitement. Anyone who knows anything about F1 knows that some of the best race moments takes place during pit stops. But life is all about money so we shall only nod our heads and hope it helps us enjoy the show.

As of next season, Lotus, Campos, Manor and USF1 will be given a small nudge by the FOM: a $10 million grant including the free transportation of two chassis and 10,000 kg of freight to each race. That’s a good way to encourage fresh interest. Hands up for Volkswagen anyone?

KERS is still permitted in 2010 even though the FOTA have agreed to do without it. The minimum car weight has been increased from 605 kg to 620 kg to eliminate any driver height or weight disadvantage if any team decides to use the electric box.

Mercedes GP, Red Bull Racing, McLaren, Ferrari, Sauber F1, Williams, Renault, Force India, and Toro Rosso have been joined by Lotus, Campos, Manor and USF1. That makes it 26 cars. With 24 cars in 2009, qualifying rules have been reevaluated accordingly: 8 drivers knocked out in Q1, 8 drivers in Q2 and 10 drivers fight it out in Q3.

Wheel covers have been banned, in season testing is still banned, a limit has been placed on number of aerodynamic upgrades per season including a limit on the number of team personnel able to attend a Grand Prix.

ING is gone after the Renault controversy and has been replaced by TW Steel.

RBS has canceled its trackside sponsorship in 2010 and will end its sponsorship agreement with Williams after next season.

YouTube has joined USF1.

Vigin Group have bought a 20% stake in Manor Grand Prix and plan on renaming the team.

Banco Santander is sponsoring Ferrari in 2010 and has extended its agreement with McLaren as well.

Since when has there been this much information during an off season? And in less than 30 days? I can’t remember when. It’s a busy winter and I am sure it’s going to get busier. I just hope all these changes are for the better. KERS had some pros but most of its cons were reoccurring. I honestly think KERS is genius and just needs more time to evolve for F1 to become accustomed to it.

Let’s hope with all these changes Formula 1 is still worth retaining their number.

BMW has just announced that it has sold its Formula 1 team back to Peter Sauber, from whom it originally purchased the squad half a decade ago. The contract, however, remains subject to the team being granted a starting place on the 2010 F1 grid, a factor which is still in some debate as the legal position of Toyota following its withdrawal from the sport remains in question.

Dr Klaus Draeger, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG with responsibility for Development, stated this morning: “We are very happy with this solution. This fulfils the most important requirement for a successful future for the team. Our relationship with Peter Sauber has always been excellent and marked by absolute respect. We would like to express our thanks to Peter Sauber and the whole team for the excellent cooperation during the recent four years.”

Peter Sauber himself was clearly delighted to have resolved the situation, with BMW’s original plan to sell to the Qadbak outfit having experienced a number of hurdles.

“I am very relieved that we have found this solution,” he said. “It means we can keep the Hinwil location and the majority of workplaces. I am convinced that the new team has a very good future in Formula One, whose current transformation with new framework conditions will benefit the private teams. Our staff here are highly competent and motivated, and I look forward to taking on this new challenge together with them. I would like to thank BMW for four shared years that have in the main been very successful.”

The BMW statement this morning also confirmed that an agreement had been reached which would see personnel cuts from the current level of 388 to around 250 employees, in line with future FIA frameworks.

The announcement draws to a close the links with Qadbak and Russell King, and there will be many in the sport breathing a large sigh of relief. Qadbak had been in the media spotlight in 2009 as its purchase of the Notts County Football Club in England had caused much controversy. The group, however, was judged by the Football League to be “fit and proper” as owners of the club, despite alleged financial irregularities.

Qadbak’s plans to takeover the BMW F1 team however hit the rocks when it became clear the group did not have the funds to complete the purchase, and did not have a bank guarantee. Bahrain Capital International, whom it was understood to be the guarantor, turned out to be a shell company of Russel King with no assets.

It remains unclear where Sauber has found the funds to secure the purchase of his old team back from BMW, with rumours linking an unnamed US investor with the buyout. Sauber was initially known to have been trying to convince Malaysian oil partner Petronas to help him purchase the team, when BMW first made their plans to withdraw from F1 public, although with Lotus’ entry being backed by the Malaysian government, it seems likely that Petronas will end up as a backer for the Norfolk-based team.

Após a saída oficial da Toyota da Fórmula 1, esperava-se que a Federação Internacional de Automobilismo (FIA) anunciasse a Sauber como sua substituta. A empresa já desejava voltar à categoria desde que a BMW deixou o circo da F1. No entanto, a Lotus foi escolhida. Agora chegam à imprensa os motivos que poderiam ter levado a entidade a adiar a autorização à Sauber: a acusação de corrupção e fraude de um de seus parceiros.

O retorno da Sauber à F1 deveria acontecer devido ao apoio financeiro da empresa suíça Qadbak Investments. O problema é que um dos investidores da companhia europeia seria Russel King, um britânico acusado de práticas fraudulentas. No entanto, não foram dados mais detalhes sobre o processo e a investigação enfrentados por King – nem a quantas andam estes procedimentos.

Porém, é provável que a Sauber acabe ficando sem uma vaga na Fórmula 1.

E hoje pretendo dar fim à série dos motores Cosworth na F1, falando da série  denominada CR e suas variantes.

Na terceira parte da história eu falei a respeito da série Zetec. É verdade que a história ficou pobre, no que diz respeito à evolução do motor e modificações feitas por preparadores particulares porque falta fontes na internet. Porém, a partir deste ponto ficou um pouco mais fácil, pois a história do motor é compartilhada com várias equipes.

Sauber de 1996

A partir de 1996 a Cosworth passa a fornecer motores para a equipe Sauber, única equipe a andar com os motores ingleses neste ano. Os motores fornecidos eram os novos Zetec-R 3.0 de 10 cilindros em V, montado num ângulo de 72º. Pesava 120 kg e rendia ao redor de 670 à 690 cv. A diferença de potência existe porque na época os motores de qualificação eram mais potentes e feitos somente para essa finalidade. Os motores de corrida eram mais fracos, porém confiáveis. O melhor resultado alcançado foi um pódio com Herbert em Mônaco e dois quarto lugares com Frentzen.

Já em 97, a Ford-Cosworth começa sua trajetória com a equipe formada pelo tri-campeão Jackie Stewart. Foi neste ano que Barrichello conquistou segundo lugar em Mônaco. O motor recebeu melhorias e passou a render 720 CV para corrida e 730 CV para a qualificação. Era um bom motor, mas o carro quebrava demais e o brasileiro só terminou mais duas corridas na temporada. Além de fornecer para a Stewart, a Cosworth fornecia motores para a Lola e Tyrrell, mas na versão de 8 cilindros.

Barrichello comemora o pódio em Mônaco – 1997

Em 98 eles continuaram com a parceria com a equipe Stewart e ainda forneceram os mesmos motores para a Tyrrell e Minardi. Nenhum resultado surpreendente, mas a Stewart estava evoluindo a cada dia que passa e a Ford se envolve cada vez mais com a equipe. Já os motores Zetec-R ficaram em atividade até o ano de 2001, quando eram desenvolvidos pela European e equipavam os carros da equipe Minardi.

Em 1999 a Stewart passa ser a principal equipe a receber os motores da Ford-Cosworth. Neste ano, a Cosworth passa a fornecer uma nova gama de motores, denominada CR-1, 20 kg mais leve que o último motor Zetec e com uma série de melhorias mecânicas. Foi no ano de 1999 que a Cosworth volta ao lugar mais alto do pódio, com o inglês Johnny Herbert vencendo o GP da Europa, em Nurburgring. Além disso, Herbert e Barrichello conseguiram vários resultados expressivos durante a temporada.

Vitória de Herbert  e da Stewart no ano de 99

Barrichello e sua Stewart em Spa, 1999

A temporada de 1999 havia sido muito boa para a Stewart que conquistou o quarto lugar no mundial de construtores, uma coisa inimaginável para uma equipe que havia sido criada a dois anos e que vinha de uma fraca temporada no ano anterior. Como o envolvimento com a equipe crescia cada vez mais, a Ford resolve comprar a equipe, que passa a se chamar Jaguar. Porém, a investida da Ford com uma equipe própria não foi feliz, como veremos mais adiante.

No ano 2000, a Cosworth lança o CR-2, um 3.0 V10 2OHC, 4 válvulas por cilindro. Pesava 97 kg e o número de rpm alcançado era bem maior que seu antecessor, chegando aos 18000 giros. Porém, o início de temporada foi um fiasco, com a equipe conseguindo pontuar somente na 7ª corrida da temporada, um quarto lugar conquistado por Irvine em Mônaco. Depois disso, voltaram a pontuar somente na última etapa, com um sexto lugar de Irvine no GP na Malásia. Um péssimo ano para a Ford e para a Cosworth.

Estréia da Ford na F1 foi terrível

Para o ano de 2001, a Cosworth desenvolveu melhorias ao motor, que recebeu a denominação de CR-3. Nesta versão, o novo V10 desenvolvia 840 CV à 18500 rpm. Em comparação com os outros motores da época, o CR-3 era um motor moderno, que rendia potência suficiente para fazer frente aos demais construtores, sendo somente 10 cv mais fraco que os BMW’s que equipavam a Williams em 2001. Só isso já mostra o quanto o carro da Jaguar era ruim. Mais uma fez a equipe decepciona, conquistando apenas 9 pontos durante todo o campeonato. Consegue o primeiro pódio da equipe, com um terceiro lugar de Irvine em Mônaco. E só.

Em 2002 o motor passa por algumas melhorias e passa a se chamar CR-4, enquanto os CR-3 eram entregues para a Arrows. Mas as coisas não iam bem para a Jaguar, que sofreu com muitas quebras e abandonos. Conseguiram seus primeiros pontos somente no GP da Bélgica, o 14º no ano, com um sexto lugar de Irvine. No GP seguinte a equipe consegue seu último pódio na F1, com um 3º de Irvine. O motor CR-4 já não batia mais de frente com os adversários, era hora de outra mudança.

Em 2003, a Cosworth apresenta o CR-5, um V10 compacto e mais leve que os anteriores, com uma arquitetura nova e formando um “v” de 90º. Além disso, forneceu motores para as equipes Minardi (CR-3) e Jordan (Cosworth RS1). A Jaguar foi um pouco melhor com Webber, que entrou no lugar do aposentado Irvine. Neste ano, Webber ia muito bem nos treinos e muito mal nas provas. No final das contas, o time conseguiu somar 18 pontos. Mas neste ano tem tudo foi perdido para a Cosworth. A Jordan de Giancarlo Fisichella venceu o GP do Brasil em 2003. Foi a última vitória da Ford e da Jordan na Fórmula 1.

A bagunça na entrada da reta dos boxes

*Eu estava lá, sentado na arquibancada de frente pro “S” do Senna. Foi realmente uma bagunça, Barrichello pintou e bordou na corrida, estava ganhando o GP, mas a Ferrari deixou ele sem gasolina. Uma p#@%ta sacanagem. Houve uma série de batidas durante a corrida por causa da aquaplanagem. Webber bateu na subida reta dos boxes. Depois disso, Alonso acabou acertando os restos do carro de Webber. Por causa deste incidente, a corrida foi interrompida e a vitória caiu no colo de Fisichella.

No ano de 2004 a Jaguar mantém Webber e contrata o novato austríaco Christian Klien. O motor passa por melhorias e recebe a denominação CR-6, conhecido como  TJ2004 Série 8. Já a Jordan recebeu os motores de nomenclaturas Cosworth RS2 e o TJ2004 Série 8 e a Minardi recebeu os Cosworth CR-3L V10 (CK2004). Webber tem um desempenho inferior ao da temporada passada e Klien faz apenas três pontos na temporada. Com o melhor resultado da equipe no ano sendo um sexto lugar na Alemanha, com Webber, e na Bélgica com Klien. Depois de passar tanta vergonha, no final de 2004 a Ford sai com o rabo entre as pernas e a equipe é vendida para a Red Bull, que seria a futura cliente da Cosworth.

Acho que a Minardi andou com todos os motores disponíveis na F1

Como podem perceber, as denominações que o motor recebia eram variadas a ponto de eu ter que parar por aqui para o texto não ficar maior do que já esta.

Acredito que a próxima história seja a derradeira.

Abraços

Christian Klien has declared his confidence that a reformaed Sauber/Qadbak investment team will be on the Bahrain Grand Prix’s grid for the start of the 2010 season.

The Austrian is quietly confident that he will be driving for the new entity, which despite Toyota’s withdrawl from F1 has not been guaranteed a grid spot.  Klien mentioned that he would have had a seat with BMW had they remained in the sport for the forthcoming season.

“Had BMW Sauber signed in for 2010 I would most likely have been guaranteed a race seat,” he told his official website.

“As mentioned before, the successor has no official entry for 2010 yet. But everyone in Hinwil is working flat out on next year’s race car.

“Having said that it seems clear that all decisions such as sponsorship deals and driver line-up cannot be announced before that matter is resolved. I am positive that the traditional Sauber team from Hinwil will be on the grid in Bahrain in 2010.”

Austríaco pode retornar em 2010 à categoria pela qual competiu por quatro anos

O austríaco Christian Klien revelou que tem intenções de retornar à F-1, categoria pela qual competiu por quatro anos e testou nesta temporada, pela BMW.

Ele, inclusive, disse que protelou a assinatura de seu contrato com a Peugeot para competir na 24 Horas de Le Mans por conta de seus negociações com a principal categoria do automobilismo.

“No momento, estou focado em todas as minhas opções na F-1. Então, não posso me comprometer com a Peugeot para a Le Mans em 2010 porque o dia 13 de junho coincide com o GP do Canadá”, disse Klien.

O austríaco disputou 48 provas na F-1, pelas equipes Jaguar, Red Bull e Honda. Atualmente, Klien tem mais chances de competir pela c em 2010, caso a equipe, adquirida por um grupo suíço, consiga uma vaga no grid. As novatas Lotus, Manor e USF1 também são opções, ainda que mais distantes.

[Fonte: tazio.uol.com.br]

Elérkeztünk a Száguldó Cirkusz azon szakaszába, amelyik bombahírektől és bombapletykáktól hangos: bár a pályán semmi sem történik, most alakul ki a 2010-es felállás, és a pilótapiac „felszabadulásával” egyre erőteljesebben pusztítják a csapatok a kérdőjeleket. Ettől függetlenül van belőlük bőven, és még hosszú ideig találkozhatunk megválaszolatlan kérdésekkel.

Jövőre 13 csapat indul, minden istálló két pilótát vonultat fel. A teljes mezőnyből mindössze négy csapat ismertette mindkét versenyzőjének a kilétét:

Red Bull: Sebastan Vettel (német) és Mark Webber (ausztrál) – tehát a 2009-es felállás.
McLaren Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton (brit) és Jenson Button (brit) – az utóbbi évek legerősebb felállásának tekinthetjük abból a szempontból, hogy két világbajnokot vonultat fel a csapat. Utoljára 1989-ben volt példa arra, hogy két, már világbajnok pilóa ugyanazon csapatban versenyezzen: a francia Alain Prost és a brazil Ayrton Senna éppen a McLaren színeiben rótta a köröket, és csúnya marakodástt eredményezett a „bajnokok harca”.
Ferrari: Felipe Massa (brazil) és Fernando Alonso (spanyol) – a maranellóiak fizettek Räikkönennek, hogy 2010-re még érvényes szerződése ellenére hagyja el a csapatot.
Williams: Nico Hülkenberg (német) és Rubens Barrichello (brazil) – Hülkenberget az a Wili Weber menedzseli, aki korábban a Schumacher-testvéreket is „beszervezte” a Forma–1-be.

További négy csapat már hivatalosan bejelentette a szerződését az egyik pilótájával:

Renault: Robert Kubica (lengyel). A francia gyártó lehetőségei között elsősorban a már idén kipróbált francia Romain Grosjean szerepel, de korántsem biztos, hogy ő kapja a másik autót.
Toro Rosso: Sebastien Buemi (svájci).
Manor: Timo Glock (német).
Campos: Bruno Senna (brazil) – a fiatal dél-amerikai tehetség a néhai Ayrton Senna unokaöccse.

A Brawn GP utódja, a Mercedes GP egyik pilótája a német Nico Rosberg – annak ellenére, hogy a szerződést hivatalosan még nem közölték. A világbajnok csapat másik 2010-es versenyzője több mint valószínű, hogy a szintén német Nick Heidfeld. Kavarog a hír Michael Schumacher szerződtetéséről – aki egyébként elérte, hogy a Ferrarihoz kapcsoló tanácsadói szerződését bármikor felbonthassa –, de a szerződés életképességéről eléggé megosztott a vélemény.

Szinte biztos, hogy a Force Indiánál megmarad Adrian Sutil. Bár az idén kiválóan versenyző németet korábban a McLarennel is összefüggésbe hozták, jelenleg egyetlen lehetősége az átigazoláshoz a BMW utódcsapata, a Sauber-Qadhok. Az indiai csapat tehát az egyes számú pilótájában sem lehet biztos, a második számú pedig ennél is nagyobb rejtély.

Az említett Sauber csapat mellett a visszatérő Lotus és az újonc amerikai US F1 berkeiben még nincs konkrétan megnevezett pilóta. Eléggé nagy a valószínűsége, hogy az amerikai csapat színeiben visszatér 1997 kanadai világbajnoka, Jacques Villeneuve, viszont egyre több pletykát hallani a tengerentúliak felkészületlenségéről. Számos szakértő kétségbe vonja a US F1 2010-es indulását.

A bejegyzés végére pedig érdekességnek: Ross Brawn jelképes összegért, 1 fontért vásárolta fel a Forma–1-es bukás után a Honda-csapatot. A Brawn által felpofozott csapat megnyerte a konstruktőri vb-t, és az egyéni világbajnokot is – Buttont – ő adta. Ma a csapat értéke mintegy 245 millió dollár – derült ki, miután a Mercedest birtokló Daimler és részvényese, az Abar 184,2 milliót fizetett a 75,1 százalékos többségi tulajdonért.

Kovács Hont-Imre

It’s not often that a recent race winner and world champion ends a season without a confirmed seat for the following year, but that is just the situation that 2009 Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen is facing.

With Fernando Alonso joining the Italian team to partner Felipe Massa in 2010, Raikkonen is still to find a new cockpit in which to ply his trade. However, the Finn, who is a season shy of his 10-year anniversary in Formula One racing, doesn’t seem too anxious about his future and is instead determined to find the right drive.

And on Friday he reiterated that he is more than willing to bide his time until there’s a suitable vacancy at a team that can offer him the chance to challenge for more race victories and further titles.

“It’s hard to believe that I have been in Formula One for nine years already,” the 30 year-old said on his official website. “I am very motivated to win races and a championship again and will only remain in Formula One if I can race for a team that can give me a car to fight at the front. Let’s wait and see what happens.”

Although the 2010 driver market remains pretty open, with plenty of seats still up for grabs, Raikkonen has considered taking a sabbatical next year if he can’t find an acceptable drive. And speaking in Abu Dhabi a week ago, he made it quite clear to the media that time off remained an option.

“I can do whatever I want,” he said, “but like I said before, I haven’t made my decision about what I want to do yet. Basically I have a few different options and we will see what is the best one overall and then I’ll make my decision.”

During his nine-year F1 career, which has included spells at Ferrari, McLaren and Sauber, Raikkonen has racked up one world championship, 18 wins, 16 pole positions, 35 fastest laps and 579 points.

Reference: f1.com

Kubica bez zespołu?

Zarząd koncernu Renault dyskutuje o przyszłości w Formule 1. Kontrakt z tym francuskim zespołem podpisał niedawno Robert Kubica.

Według BBC, w spotkaniu uczestniczą tymczasowi szefowie zespołu Formuły 1 Bob Bell i Jean-Francois Caubet, ale bez prawa udziału w dyskusji. Nikt z Renault nie zdradził na razie szczegółów rozmów.

Renault, które w latach 2005-06 zdobyło mistrzostwo świata za sprawą Fernando Alonso, podobnie jak inne koncerny motoryzacyjne zmaga się z kryzysem. Z powodów finansowych z Formuły 1 wycofał się dotychczasowy zespół Kubicy – BMW-Sauber oraz dwie japońskie firmy – w środę Toyota, a wcześniej Honda.

Po tym, jak Renault stracił kluczowego sponsora zespołu, holenderską grupę finansową ING, wzmogły się spekulacje na temat przyszłości teamu. Jednak jak do tej pory nie pojawiały się żadne oficjalne informacje o możliwości wycofania się z rywalizacji w F1.

- Musicie być cierpliwi. Decyzję o ewentualnym wycofaniu Renault podejmiemy do końca roku – powiedział Ghosn.

Wiadomość o rozmowach na temat wycofania Renault pojawiła się w mediach w środę wieczorem. W czwartek rano Jean-Francois Caubet uspokajał, że o rezygnacji francuskiego teamu z F1 nie może być mowy. Według najnowszych informacji, taka możliwość jednak istnieje. Jak i rozwiązanie umowy z Robertem Kubicą…

The Malaysian sponsor Petronas is likely to stay with its long term F1 partner Sauber now that Toyota has withdrawn from Formula One.

With Sauber’s plans uncertain following BMW’s decision to quit, it had been rumoured that Petronas intended to stay in F1 next year by switching to another team.

Lotus, with Malaysian ownership, was touted as a favourite to receive Petronas, and team boss Tony Fernandes confirmed to the New Straits Times newspaper that an approach was made.

“As it is, it looks like an announcement will be made by Petronas in the coming days once it becomes clearer whether that vacancy left by Toyota becomes Sauber’s,” said a source.

“If Sauber are back in F1 for sure, and it looks a virtual certainty, then Petronas aren’t going anywhere.”

Reference: f1-live.com

WITH one stroke of a Japanese pen yesterday, a new twist unfolded for the future of Formula One and a new scenario for the Lotus F1 team.

It took just the first piece of bad news on Toyota’s pullout from F1 for a handful of opportunities to emerge and much concerns Malaysia’s F1 hopeful Fairuz Fauzy.

As a result of Toyota’s move, it is imminent that Sauber, the victims of BMW’s pullout from F1 previously, will be back in keeping the projection of 13 teams to start next season.
For Lotus F1, this will mean the loss of a potential sponsor in national oil company Petronas, who remained tied to Sauber as a premium partner.

On the positive side, this will mean that both Toyota drivers Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock, confirmed by technical director Mike Gascoyne on Tuesday as having had detailed discussions with the team, are now available.

Gascoyne, himself, was previously technical director at Toyota.

Fairuz is likely to be part of the Lotus F1 Team either as a test driver with possibilities of him taking up a race seat as well. But Fairuz said he has yet to sign on the dotted lines.

This leaves the 27-year-old, who finished second in the Formula 3.5 World Series by Renault championship this season, suddenly with more than one option.

BMW had announced in July that they would end their F1 campaign at the end of the recently concluded season, leaving Sauber in the lurch.

But the outfit found a new lease of life in Switzerland-based Middle Eastern investment group Qadbak and their return as the 14th team was up to an agreement by the rest of the teams in F1.

That return now seems a certainty with Toyota out, but it could still turn out otherwise if the International Automobile Federation (FIA) decides to fall back on a similar approach to invite other teams initially rejected, to reapply as they did following BMW’s initial pullout.

British team Prodrive and Basque team Epsilon-Euskadi are two teams waiting to pounce on any vacancies for slots in F1 next season.

Without BMW, Petronas would act as the biggest sponsor for Sauber and this provides the company a firmer grip on team decisions.

Insiders claim it could now be payback time for Petronas, who has served as an obedient sponsor of Sauber since 1995, without a say in driver selections.

These claims indicate that there will be a strong push for Fairuz to drive for Sauber than before.

A reliable source said the decision makers at Petronas had been approached by Lotus F1 for sponsorship, but this depended on whether the Sauber deal was really due to end prematurely.

Lotus F1 team principal Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes confirmed that he had approached Petronas offering an attractive commercial package.

“As it is, it looks like an announcement will be made by Petronas in the coming days once it becomes clearer whether that vacancy left by Toyota becomes Sauber’s,” the source said.

“If Sauber are back in F1 for sure, and it looks a virtual certainty, then Petronas aren’t going anywhere.”

Bad news for Frank Williams after Toyota’s departure! Although the Grove based organization parted ways with the Japanese manufacturer last month in order to ink a deal with British company Cosworth, Toyota’s quit might affect them in other ways too.

For example, it will leave a spot open for a 13th entry in the 2010 Formula One championship, the vacancy becoming the perfect opportunity for BMW Sauber to stay in the series for another season. If BMW’s Mario Theissen will convince the FIA members – and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t succeed – to grant the Swiss team with the vacant spot, Peter Sauber will most likely keep all his former sponsors for 2010 as well.

Here’s where things get complicated for Williams, as the British outfit was planning to “steal” BMW Sauber’s main sponsor Petronas, in case the Swiss team wouldn’t have made it to the 2010 grid. The Malaysian company admitted it wants to stay committed to the sport of Formula One and would seek another deal if that were to happen.

However, as this may not be the case – Peter Sauber’s forced withdrawal from the sport now seems unlikely – Petronas confirmed that they will stick with the Hinwil based organization next year. The condition, of course, would be that FIA allows the team to continue their F1 operations and the team would sign the Concorde Agreement (binding them to the sport until the end of 2012). That would insure both Sauber’s and Petronas’ future in the series for at least 3 years, basically a win-win situation everybody is looking forward to be in.

“As it is, it looks like an announcement will be made by Petronas in the coming days once it becomes clearer whether that vacancy left by Toyota becomes Sauber’s. If Sauber are back in F1 for sure, and it looks a virtual certainty, then Petronas aren’t going anywhere,” a source was quoted as saying to the Malaysian media on Wednesday.

Lotus F1 Team also seemed likely to approach Petronas for an F1 partnership – as the team is also Malaysian – but they will likely have other things to worry about in the next few months.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) — Petronas says it will continue to be the title sponsor of the Petronas Malaysian F1 Grand Prix which has proven to be an effective platform to promote Malaysia on the global stage.

In a statement issued to Bernama Thursday, the national oil corporation said its participation and investment in Formula One – and in other sports – had always been based and was built on partnerships that provided direct support towards its business expansion, while complementing international branding efforts.

“This requires Petronas to constantly review, evaluate and explore its position and involvement in international motor sports,” it said.
“The final race of the 2009 season at Abu Dhabi marks a turning point for Petronas’ involvement in Formula One.

Petronas’ partnership with the BMW Sauber F1 Team, which is a progression of its earlier relationship with Sauber, has now come to an end following BMW’s decision to exit Formula One at the end of the season.”

Petronas also said that it was currently evaluating its future options based on similar commercial considerations, with the eventual decision hinging upon the ability of the new partnership in facilitating and generating sustainable business growth for Petronas, particularly in its global operations.

“Petronas’ past and current participation in international motor sports has not only built its global brand but has significantly contributed to the growth of its business, in particular, its lubricant and fluids business in several key markets across Asia and Europe.”

It has also paved the way for technological and knowledge acquisition relevant to the oil and gas industry, Petronas said.

Time will tell whether the stampede out of Formula One will damage the quality and competitiveness of the sport but for the time being it does not look great.

Toyota’s abrupt announcement that it will pull out of F1 racing after posting its worst ever financial loss may prove to be a bigger blow than Bernie Eccleston may lead us to believe.

The Japanese car manufacturer has become the third team this year to end its association with the world’s premium car race after Honda pulled out 11 months ago and BMW at the end of July.

Its decision means the starting grid of next year’s championship will have a distinctly different feel.

Toyota will no longer participate in Formula One

Toyota may not have been a dominate force in F1, having never reached the top step of the podium, but its withdrawal may well mean a weaker team takes its place.

Sauber are favourites to line up in Australia next March but having failed to win a race in its previous stint in F1 its future competitiveness does look promising.

Many may point to Brawn’s success this year in an attempt to prove new teams can compete but Brawn has been a one off. Never before has a team won both Drivers and Constructors Championships in its debut season.

The threat of a two-tier championship in 2010, in which established teams pull away form new ones, is continuing to draw closer.

With the French car giant Renault’s future in the sport still uncertain as it ponders whether to pull the plug on its operations fans can only wait and see whether F1 can withstand the sucker punches delivered by the economic crisis.

BMW Motorsport boss Mario Theissen is hoping Sauber’s future is resolved by the end of the year.

Although Theissen admits there is no deadline regarding a possible entry for Sauber in 2010, time is fast running out.

BMW’s four-season foray in Formula One concluded with Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Nick Heidfeld gaining a respectable fifth.

It leaves Sauber fighting to secure a place on the grid for 2010 because although the FIA are willing to include them as the 14th team, there is opposition, primarily from the likes of Williams.

If Sauber are unable to obtain 100% agreement from all the teams, it becomes a waiting game, hoping for another marque to fall by the wayside.

There remains speculation about the future of Toyota and Renault, but it is almost certain both will be in Bahrain for the opening race of next year in mid-March.

Then there are doubts about the new teams, Manor, Lotus, US F1 and Campos, and whether their plans will come to fruition.

Appreciably though, Sauber cannot wait indefinitely as they would naturally be ill-prepared for the rigours of what could be a 19-race campaign.

“Everybody says it’s very likely another team will go, that we are unlikely to have 14 teams ready for next year, maybe not even 13,” said Theissen.

“But that’s all speculation at the moment. What we know is there’s no unanimous agreement on the 14th team, so another team pulling out is the easiest way (to be in F1) from our perspective.

“Naturally the backers are keen to have a decision soon because you can only sign driver and sponsor contracts when you have a place on the grid, so they are pushing, together with us.

“There is no clear deadline on this, but obviously it becomes more difficult day by day.

“I don’t think, though, we could leave it as late as mid-January. I hope it will be decided before the end of the year.”

Theissen has also yet to make a decision on his future as there is a strong chance he would become team principal of Sauber should they survive.

For now he remains in charge of BMW Motorsport, with Theissen due to be in Macau in less than a fortnight for the final round of the World Touring Car Championship.

“My future is open,” confirmed Theissen.

“I have the option to stay with BMW, or one of the other racing programmes.

“I deliberately pushed a decision out of my mind, and I will deal with it in the coming weeks.

“The top priority is to get a place on the grid for the team, and after that I will think about my own future.”

Reference: PlanetF1.com

Toyota has confirmed that it is pulling out of Formula 1 racing after posting its worst ever financial loss.

The world’s largest car manufacturer will concentrate on its core business.

Toyota president Akio Toyoda said the Japanese team had no option but to pull out citing “the current severe economic realities” affecting the world.

The team failed to win any of the 139 races it entered after making its F1 debut in 2002 but was fifth in the 2009 constructors’ championship.

Toyota’s withdrawal leaves the sport with no Japanese team after Honda left F1 at the start of the 2009 season.

Honda was replaced by Brawn, who went on to win this year’s drivers’ championship with Jenson Button and the constructors’ championship.

The company revealed its worst set of figures for the financial year to March 2009, and is expecting further losses to continue when it posts its results to September 2009 on Thursday.

Toyota’s demise could pave the way for Sauber to return, after Swiss-based Qadbak Investments stepped in in September following BMW’s withdrawal from the BMW Sauber team in July.

At the time, the FIA gave Sauber “14th place” for next season, meaning they were first reserve to fill any vacancy.

Toyota’s season promised much after long-term driver Jarno Trulli finished third in the opening race of the season in Australia and followed that with another third in Bahrain, after starting race four from pole position.

His team-mate Timo Glock also stood on the podium after finishing third in the rain-affected second race of the season in Malaysia.

But neither driver would reach the podium again until race 14 when Glock finished second behind Britain’s Lewis Hamilton in Singapore, equalling the team’s best finish to a race.

One week later, in early October, Trulli also came second in Toyota’s final home grand prix at its Fuji Speedway circuit.

Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi joined Trulli, who finished the season eighth in the standings, for the final two races of the season after Glock, who came 10th, was injured.

Germany’s Ralf Schumacher, France’s Olivier Panis and Britain’s Allan McNish have also all driven for Toyota over the years.

Williams also announced last month that it would be replacing its Toyota engine with a Cosworth for next season.

And Japanese tyre firm Bridgestone announced on Monday that it would not be renewing its contract to supply F1 after its current deal runs out at the end of the 2010 season.

In July Toyota pulled out of hosting the Japanese Grand Prix at its home circuit from next year.

Fellow Japanese companies Subaru and Suzuki withdrew from the World Rally Championship prior to this season while Kawasaki pulled out of MotoGP.

Reference: bbc.com/f1 (BBC Sport)

Nick Heidfeld has emerged as the leading candidate to become Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren teammate in 2010, according to a leading German newspaper.

Bild-Zeitung claims the 32-year-old “suddenly has the best chance” to replace Heikki Kovalainen, after Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button were also touted for the seat.

“Nick’s qualities are well known to us, but still nothing is decided,” Mercedes competition boss Norbert Haug is quoted as saying.

Bild said his asking price is less than €5m; about half Button’s desired retainer, and much lower than Raikkonen’s demands.

Retaining his services would also fully appease Mercedes’ desire for German drivers, with Nico Rosberg expected to go to Brawn in 2010 with the carmaker’s blessing.

With BMW pulling out of F1 and the fate of the Sauber team uncertain, Heidfeld is on the market to extend his career into a tenth season next year.

Having enjoyed Mercedes support through his formative career and acting as McLaren test driver in 1999, he was gutted to have been looked over for the race seat in 2002, when his then Sauber teammate Kimi Raikkonen moved to the British team.

Perhaps coincidentally, Heidfeld walked into the paddock wearing a t-shirt with the words ‘The future is not what it once was’ printed on the front.

Q. What exactly happened in Suzuka?

Timo Glock: I just crashed in the tyre wall, because I made a mistake out of the chicane. Maybe I was not 100 per cent super fit from the Friday problem, when I had the fever, so this was maybe another factor where I was not fit enough and made a mistake. Everybody thought it was a problem of the steering or whatever, but I just misjudged the corner, went wide and when I saw it, I just knew it would be a heavy crash.

Q. How are you feeling now? How’s the leg?

TG: The cut in the leg is okay. The problem is that the job was not perfectly done in Japan, so after a few days, a lot of blood still came out of some blood vessels that were open – so there was a lot of fluid and blood in the leg, which doubled the recovery time.

Q. And the cracked vertebrae?

TG: They are okay. I have no problems with them – that is the strange point. I have no pain, I don’t feel anything, and it just makes you crazy as a driver if the doctor says it is better not to drive. You tell him you don’t have any pain, but the doctor says – don’t do it, it will be better for you. The point is that I can do the weekend without any problems, but if there is unlucky crash at the start of the race, then I could be in big trouble.

Q. So it is a combination of both the leg and the back that has kept you out?

TG: No, it is more the back. The leg is okay, and in the last eight days we made a lot of progress on it. But the main problem is the back.

Q. How hard was it for you watching the races on television?

TG: It was a disaster, I can tell you! I switched off after ten minutes of free practice in Brazil and said I could not watch it. It is not very nice, I must say.

Here in Abu Dhabi, a new track, massive facilities, a great show here on Sunday, and you just have to watch it on television. It is quite hard – and it is the last race of the season. So disappointing.

Q. Is it frustrating from a career perspective too because other teams are interested in you and you have no opportunity to show what you can do?

TG: No, I don’t think that is the main problem. They came before Japan and were interested then, so it didn’t make any difference. Sure it is better if you sit in the car and you have the possibility to show what you can do, but in the end it doesn’t work.

Q. What is your latest situation for next year? Toyota has made an offer, but you are also close to a Renault deal and Sauber is interested?

TG: I was asked earlier, how my French is! There are a lot of rumours going on at the moment, and we have a couple of good possibilities. And there could be maybe a surprise in the next one or two weeks, where nobody has been thinking in that direction. We will see… The possibilities are there and we just have to sort it out now.

Q. Do you see the new two teams as a risk, or an opportunity?

TG: Everybody says that the new teams are not interesting, but next year everything is possible. With the new rules, 150-160kg on board, it will be different. When you see the rule changes this year, and the ups and downs during the season, even a smaller team like Force India had the chance to come up to the top five. Brawn GP won the championship and Red Bull – there is no real constructor at the moment fighting for the championship. Sure, McLaren-Mercedes-Benz is really, really strong again at the moment, but the point is that it is more equal.

I think you have to look in every direction because nobody knows what is going on next year. That makes it interesting and you can make the right decision, or you can make the wrong decision. It doesn’t matter where you go, you never know what is going on next year. Sure the strong teams like McLaren and Ferrari, they will be on the top and fighting at the top, but you have to be open for everything.

Q. Percentage wise, how certain are you that you will get something in F1?

TG: 100 percent!

Q. Because you already have a firm offer from somebody?

TG: We have, let’s say, a good conversation with the teams. I am quite positive on that.

Q. And is Toyota still a possibility for you?

TG: It could be, but the chance is a bit lower I would say.

Q. Of the new teams, which one do you think looks most promising?

TG: This is difficult to say. Campos could be strong together with Dallara. Manor, which I think will be Virgin F1, is something that you have to look into. They could be quite interesting, but it is difficult to say. You have to know the team and that is the main problem – nobody knows them well at the moment. But when you talk to other people, I think everybody thinks that Virgin F1 is in the best way – this is what I hear from other people. That is the only thing I can say at the moment.

Q. Is it important for you to drive for a manufacturer?

TG: No. It does not have to be on the top list for me at the moment. It depends on what the possibilities are. For me, it is all about how the team is, how the people are. As a driver, you have to have a feeling that is comfortable in the team. Team-mates are every time a point. If you are definitely equal and if you have a number one or number two driver – this is a point. These are all the things that you have to sort out, and it is not easy I must say.

Q. Do you feel ready after two full seasons to lead a team?

TG: Yes. If you have the right people around you, yes.

Q. And a good challenge?

TG: This is definitely a good challenge. I had a really nice experience a couple of years ago with iSport, good years with them. Paul Jackson, Richard Selwin, Gavin [Bickerton-Jones], they were just real racers and it made a lot of fun to work with them together. So it is a big challenge to build up a team, but it has to have the right possibilities. It does not make any sense to drive for a new team if you are five seconds off the pace. So, all around, it has to be right.

Q. On the other hand, do you feel ready to be teamed up with a Lewis Hamilton or Robert Kubica?

TG: Yeah, definitely. I would look forward to drive against these guys. It is not easy. Robert is really, really quick, and Lewis definitely – he is world champion and really quick. He has shown some really good pace in the last races, and he is a strong guy.

Reference: Autosport.com

The chequered flag will fall on the 2009 season on Sunday, but the fates of several drivers are still uncertain.

2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen, having agreed to terminate his Ferrari contract to make way for Fernando Alonso, is linked with a move to McLaren or Toyota, but is believed to have run into difficulties in terms of his wage demands.

Asked if switching to rallying is really an option for 2010, he answered: “It’s definitely one of them.”

Nick Heidfeld’s future is also unclear as his team BMW Sauber struggles to find a place on next year’s grid, but the German driver said he is in talks with a couple of teams.

“I hope Sauber will be here next year,” he said. “I’m pretty certain I’ll be here. Nothing is signed yet. I’m talking to teams, and I won’t say more than that, but I am confident I will be with a team.”

Jarno Trulli is out of favour with his Toyota team president John Howett, and whether the team will even be given a budget for 2010 by its Tokyo based executive board is unclear.
The veteran Italian has been linked with a move to Lotus.

“I have some options,” he said. “There is a high chance of leaving Toyota but it’s difficult to say and talk about it. A lot is up in the air.”

Adrian Sutil, who carries the personal backing of the German electronics brand Medion, is confident of staying at Force India but has also been linked with a move elsewhere.

“It’s still not confirmed,” he said on Thursday. “It would be a good thing to do another season there. Both sides are interested.”

Elsewhere on the grid, Nico Rosberg has announced he is leaving Williams and is linked with Brawn and McLaren.

Reference: f1-live.com