f1
Schumacher Rumored to Retire at Season’s End; Ecclestone Blames Mercedes
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When seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher announced his return to motorsports, fans rejoiced and Mercedes was thrilled to have the best-known name in racing on its payroll. Since then, it’s been one disappointment after another, with the legend even being one-upped by his less-experienced team-mate Nico Rosberg. All this has led to rumors…
Ferrari to Use KERS System in 2011 Formula One Season
Ferrari has announced that it will run a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) in its Formula 1 cars next season. The team had tested a KERS system in 2009 but scrapped the plans for 2010 when all the competing manufacturers collectively agreed to avoid the system in a bid to cut costs. Ferrari has been…
Taxpayers Foot $25 Million Bill For Formula One Race In Texas
There’s a reason they call Formula 1 “The Circus.” Not only are race days a dramatic spectacle that draw thousands of fans from thousands of miles away, but also they can pretty much demand anything they want from cities for the right to host races. These “sanctioning fees” are anywhere from $25 million to $50…
Formula 1 May Return To The United States At Monticello Motor Club
It’s been three years since Formula 1 last raced on American soil at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but the owners of the exclusive Monticello Motor Club (essentially a country club with a race track rather than a golf course) are hoping that the sport will return to the United States at their venue. According to a…
FIA Looking To Bring Back 107% Rule For F1, Backmarkers Suddenly Doomed
FIA President Jean Todt is looking at re-instating the 107% rule as a means of whipping chronically under-funded under-performing teams into shape. The 107% rule gets its name from the stipulation that in order for a driver to qualify for a race, he must obtain a qualifying time within 107% of the polesitter’s time. The…
VW May Enter Formula 1 Under Audi Or Porsche Moniker – How’s That For Elitist?
The latest nugget of information surrounding Volkswagen‘s often-rumored foray into Formula 1 came at last weekend’s 24 Hours of Nurburgring race, with a VW executive claiming that the Volkswagen Group’s premium brands, like Audi or Porsche would be the best fit for the company’s shot at the world’s most prestigious motorsport. “Within the group, for…
Toyota Has No Intention Of Returning To Formula 1, Will Stick With Turning Left
Toyota announced that they have no intention of returning to Formula 1, labeling the sport as “elitist” and a bad fit with the company’s customer base. The sour grapes come from Tadashi Yamashina, the head of Toyota’s international racing program. Yamashina said that the company would focus on “grassroots” motorsports like Nascar and endurance racing such…
F1 News: Lotus Racing Looking Stronger for Spain GP [video]
After an understandably slow start to the season, Lotus Racing appears to be discovering some added pace during testing prior to this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix thanks to the Lotus Cosworth T127’s updated aerodynamics package. Jarno Trulli pumped in 26 practice laps and was 19th fastest during his second session, while Heikki Kovalainen completed 17…
Jersey City Cans Proposed U.S. Formula One GP Site at Liberty State Park
News that Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ, directly across the Hudson River from downtown Manhattan, was being considered as a potential site for a 2012 U.S. GP emerged yesterday, but Jersey City mayor Jerramiah Healy announced today that the Formula 1 proposal was no longer being considered. The story of a possible NYC GP…
Volkswagen Looks To Become Sole F1 Engine Supplier
With Formula 1 looking to ressurect the turbo 4-cylinder powerplant, as well as make a possible to move to a “spec” engine, Volkswagen is positioning itself as a contender to supply the field with engines. The problem is that all current teams competing in the series are firmly against the measure. Speaking to Auto Bild…
Front Wheels Simultaneously Fly Off Toro Rosso F1 Car During Chinese GP Testing
During testing for the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend, Torro Rosso’s Sebastien Buemi was involved in a bizarre crash that just has to be seen. While under hard breaking down the main straight heading into Turn 14, both front wheels and tires came flying off his race car, leaving him without steering or much braking….
Lotus Unveils T127 Formula One Race Car for 2010 Season: With Video
Lotus has just unveiled its 2010 Formula 1 car as the historic British automaker returns to the top tier of motorsports after a very long absence. Backed by the Malaysian government, the new Lotus team will field two cars, driven by Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen. Earlier in the week, the car made its first…
Top 10: The Biggest Mercedes-Benz News Stories of 2009
While 2009 was a tumultuous year for automakers, the worldwide economic crisis pushed the auto industry into the mainstream automotive media’s spotlight, making big automotive news stories even bigger. And while new products continued to be introduced, they garnered possibly even more attention that ever before. With that in mind, we thought we’d take a…
Report: Lotus Exige S Type 72 Celebrates British Brand’s Return to Formula One
To help celebrate the brand’s return to the pinnacle of motorsports, iconic British sports car maker Lotus has just announced the release of the Exige S Type 72. As the name suggests, it’s inspired by the Type 72 F1 car, which was driven by drivers like Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Ronnie Peterson and Jacky Ickx,…
Breaking: Michael Schumacher Will Race for Mercedes-Benz in 2010
He’s back! That’s right, seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher will make his return to the pinnacle of motorsports next year, driving for Mercedes-Benz. The German will join fellow countryman Nico Rosberg in representing Mercedes on the grid, starting March 12th at the Bahrain Grand Prix. “It is a new chapter in my racing…
Breaking: Schumacher Says He’s “Very, Very, Very” Likely to Be Driving for Mercedes
Michael Schumacher has all but traded in his Ferrari red for the silver and black of Mercedes-Benz. According to Ferrari team president Luca di Montezemolo, the retired Formula One superstar told him in a recent phone conversation that there is a, “very, very, very strong possibility,” that he will be behind the wheel of a…
Report: Lotus F1 Racing Signs Jarno Trulli, Heikki Kovalainen for 2010 Season
Lotus has just confirmed its driver lineup for the 2010 Formula One season with both Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen signed on to pilot the new Lotus cars on the team’s rookie season and the brand’s return to F1. Trulli was long rumored to join the Lotus team as he has a strong relationship with…
Video: Racing in Super Slow Motion II Compilation Released
Going by the name of Mattzel (or FONESupports), his videos have become a YouTube phenomenon. That being said, we couldn’t resist the urge to post up his latest motorsports-related work – a compilation of slowed down clips from some of the world’s premiere racing series including: Formula One, NASCAR, ALMS, WRC and there’s even some…
Report: Mercedes Dumps McLaren, Buys Brawn
As rumored, Mercedes-Benz has decided to part ways with McLaren after 15 years as partners in Formula 1, opting instead to buy a majority stake in the Brawn GP team. The new team, named Mercedes Grand Prix, will run in the 2010 F1 season, keeping much of the Brawn team, including team principal Ross Brawn….
Official: Toyota to quit Formula 1
Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, is pulling out of Formula One racing to focus on its core business. The decision comes a day before the Japanese manufacturer is expected to announce its worst ever financial results. “Based on the current economic environment, we realize we have no choice but to withdraw from Formula One,” said…
Report: Lotus Unveils F1 Wind Tunnel Test Car, Announces Plans for 2010 Season
Lotus is set to return to Formula 1 next year and with a dedicated group of followers and the media circus that surrounds any British F1 team, the company has released some of its plans and ambitions for the 2010 season, along with the first full-sized wind tunnel model. Lotus F1 Racing Chief Technical Officer…
Report: Volkswagen considering Formula One
Volkswagen may enter Formula One racing if the International Automobile Federation (FIA) is successful in cutting costs in the world’s premiere auto racing series. “Today, it costs well over a hundred million Euros to take part in F1,” Reinhold Carl, managing director of Audi Singapore, told Singapore paper The Straits Times. “If the cost is…
Frankfurt 2009: Lotus returning to Formula One
Lotus is returning to Formula One racing with a team run by the Malaysian government and a group of Malaysian investors. The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile selected the Lotus F1 Team to replace the withdrawing BMW team in the 2010 season. Lotus will be the 13th team, restoring the brand as an F1 constructor for…
Report: Neck Injury Ends Michael Schumacher’s Return to Formula 1
Sadly, Michael Schumacher will not return to Formula 1 this weekend, although there is a possibility that the 7 time World Champion will be back in 2010. Schumacher today posted on his personal website that he could not return to the sport after recent testing at Ferrari’s private track in Mugello revealed fractures in his…
