FIA Considers Reinstating Tyre Changes Into F1
As Kimi Raikonnen celebrates what he has described as one of his best victories ever, the FIA is said to be considering a U-turn on its policy of keeping to one set of tyres per race weekend. Despite starting back in 17th on the grid, Raikonnen powered to victory on the last lap of the Japanese Grand Prix. Renault’s Giancarlo Fisichella and Fernando Alonso filled the remaining podium places. Once again, Michael Schumacher’s seventh place Ferrari was the only Bridgestone shod vehicle to score points.
Continue ReadingWilliams and Toyota F1 Teams Leave Michelin
Michelin has confirmed it will end its F1 links with Williams and Toyota in a press conference at Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday evening. As expected the company also suggested it would pull-out of Formula 1 altogether if it became a single supplier series. However the sport’s governing body, the FIA, hit back at Eduoard’s Michelin’s statement saying: “If Mr Michelin is not aware of these simple facts he shows an almost comical lack of knowledge of modern Formula 1.”
Continue ReadingMichelin to Shed F1 Teams
Tyre supplier Michelin is set to shed at least two F1 teams next year, online news sources have reported. Michelin currently dominates the Formula 1 grid, supplying tyres to 70 per cent of entrants. Michelin CEO Edouard Michelin is expected to announce which teams will swap suppliers to Bridgestone at Spa this weekend. Further speculation has suggested that Michelin may pull out of F1 completely at the end of 2006. Teams tipped to move to Bridgestone include Red Bull and Williams. Toyota is also reported to be under pressure to team up with the fellow Japanese company.
Continue ReadingMonza Demanding Circuit For F1 Tyres
The high-speed Monza Grand Prix circuit will test tyres to the limit, tyre suppliers Bridgestone and Michelin have reported. “Being the fastest circuit on the F1 calendar, the Monza GP is always a fast and furious race. The cars reach around 350km/h in four different places and in the approach to the first chicane, they are actually reaching close to 360km/h,” said Bridgestone F1 technical manager, Hisao Suganuma, adding:
Continue ReadingMichelin Covers US F1 Refund Costs
Michelins half year financial results, published last week, include provision for the cost of reimbursing ticket holders at this years US F1 Grand Prix at Indianapolis, when seven Michelin-shod teams withdrew from the race. The cost, estimated at around 12 million euros, has been accounted for in the operating income figure before non-recurring items, says the company.
Continue ReadingBridgestone to Gain F1 Teams
The Williams, Red Bull and possibly the Toyota Formula 1 teams are to join the Bridgestone camp next season, German publication “Auto Motor & Sport” has reported. Bridgestone currently provides tyres to Ferrari, Jordan and Minardi, while Michelin produces tyres for all the remaining teams. This could mean that the current 7:3 ratio in favour of Michelin could become 6:4 in favour of Bridgestone next year. Both Bridgestone and Ferrari are likely to see the news as a positive development, as the manufacturer is currently only basing its data on one top team.
Continue ReadingEcclestone Insists F1 Will Not Go to Hutchison
The speculation that Formula One might soon be under new ownership was correct, but contrary to reports, the sport will not be falling into Far Eastern hands, the Daily Telegraph has reported. Bernie Ecclestone yesterday dismissed talk of a $1 billion bid from a Hong Kong-based conglomerate, Hutchison Whampoa. “I spoke to Hutchison. They sent a boy to do a mans job. We are not interested in selling to them. We get offers like this every day, but it is not what we want for the future of F1,” Mr Ecclestone told the newspaper.
Continue ReadingIs F1 For Sale?
Hutchison, a company that also owns the UK’s 3 mobile phone network, is reported to be preparing to buy Formula One for about $1 billion (£575 million). Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One tycoon, confirmed on Sunday that he had been approached by the Hong Kong firm.
Continue ReadingMichelin Says F1 Tyre Supply Unbalanced
Michelin has revealed that an eighth team has approached Michelin looking for a Formula supply agreement. Michelin stated that since its return to Formula One it has noticed an imbalance of teams requesting its tyres, with seven teams currently using its products.
Continue ReadingMichelin F1 Tyres The Answer?
Renault F1’s executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds, has spoken of his confidence that Michelin can provide the tyres that will help the team win at the German Grand Prix.
Continue ReadingMichelin F1 Teams Not Guilty
The FIA senate has recommended that the World Motor Sport Council reverses the guilty verdict it imposed on seven Formula One teams following the US Grand Prix. It is anticipated that this recommendation will be put to the World Motor Sport Council by means of a fax vote in the next few days.
Continue ReadingHybrid Turbos for F1
FIA president, Max Mosley, is considering introducing turbo boosters into Formula 1, The Guardian has reported. According to the newspaper, Mr Mosely is in discussion with “several of the car makers.” The idea is to introduce energy retention systems, like those used in hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Prius.
Continue ReadingF1 Back On Track in France?
This weekend’s French Grand Prix, was a lot more straight forward than last month’s US race – Renault and Michelin’s Fernando Alonso won what commentators described as an emphatic victory. Mclaren’s Kimi Raikonnen took second place, while Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher filled the last remaining podium position. Jenson Button gained his first points of the season by taking fourth place (Button’s San Marino result was annulled after BAR were disqualified).
Continue ReadingFIA Finds Teams Guilty on Two F1 Charges
FIA, the world motorsports governing body, has found the seven F1 teams that pulled out of the US Grand Prix guilty on two charges, but has deferred punishment. The compromise is seen as a way of buying time for the international motorsports series to recover. The teams – Renault, McLaren, Williams, Toyota, Sauber, Red Bull and BAR – were found guilty of failing to arrive at Indianapolis with proper tyres and wrongfully refusing to allow their cars to race after Michelin issued a safety warning. However, the teams were cleared of charges of failing to inform race stewards of their intention not to race, refusing to race subject to a speed limit and combining to put on a spectacle damaging to Formula One. Punishment was deferred until 14 September. The FIA cannot punish Michelin directly.
Continue ReadingMichelin: F1 Tyres Wrong Spec, Not Faulty
Having completed an internal investigation into why its tyres were not suitable for the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis, Michelin has found that its tyres were the wrong specification, rather than faulty. “The tyres were not intrinsically flawed, but were insufficiently suited to the extreme racing conditions encountered through Turn 13 of the Indianapolis circuit this year”, an official statement read.
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