There is no offseason for Bernie Ecclestone and his constant running at the mouth. With news that HRT is all but done heading into 2013, Bernie has made some statements in regards to the number of teams involved. Ecclestone would rather there be 10 teams on the grid versus 11. “It’s just that 10 is easier to handle, for the promoters, for transport,” he said. “We’d rather have 10, so long as we don’t lose Ferrari.” – Bernie Ecclestone comments from BBC F1 The news of HRT folding up shop…
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F1 – COTA’s Last Struggle to Make the 2012 Schedule
Christmas come yet for the Circuit of the Americas and all American Formula 1 fans! We reported earlier that it seemed that the inaugural Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in Austin at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) was all but off the schedule. Even in a press release made by COTA, the organizers were convinced that they weren’t going to be making the 2012 season and were instead already setting their sights on the 2013 season. In a release today, it seems that may have changed! COTA has…
Read MoreF1 Soap Box – The Gathering Concorde Storm
If you thought the last round of Concorde Agreement talks were wild and wooly, with a threatened breakaway series and posturing galore from FOTA, well aren’t you in for a treat in the coming months. Some strange forces are aligning as we hear more details about the supposed News Corp interest and with Ferrari sounding off about their displeasure with the current state of F1 and the future technical package. The Timeframe and Players The current Concorde Agreement expires at the end of this season, so this means the teams…
Read MoreF1 Soap Box – 2012 Venues Under Threat
Bahrain The May 1 deadline imposed by the FIA for Bahrain to reapply for a 2011 race date is upon us. But don’t look for a grand reshuffling of the season finale races to take place to allow Bahrain to slot in around Abu Dhabi. The situation continues to worsen in the tiny kingdom as Saudi troops have been blowing up Shia mosques and similar such things. While it is in Formula One Management’s (FOM) best interests to get this race rescheduled, the FIA is likely to spurn any attempt…
Read MoreF1 – USGP Returns in 2012
The United States Grand Prix is set for yet another return as the traveling circus trades in their glitz in glamour for cowboy hats. The event was announced to day by Formula 1 and will be held in Austin Texas from 2012 to 2021. The race is slated to be held on a new fixed circuit that will be purpose built for the event. This is the first time since 1980 that the race will be held on a purpose built, fixed road course and the first time ever a…
Read MoreF1 – Bernie’s Epic Fail
The British GP is in jeopardy for next year due to the schemes hatched by F1’s very own dottering old man. This saga has taken a few twists and turns over the last year, but we will do our best to lay out the process that started with Bernie’s displeasure with Silverstone and ends with Bernie making the statement earlier this week: “The contract they have is the contract we like. We are not prepared to charge less. Do we need a British Grand Prix? No. I want a British…
Read MoreF1 – Renault Ban Lifted for Valencia
The FIA Court of Appeals met today to discuss the Renault ban that was put in place after a tire came off the car of Fernando Alonso during the Hungarian Grand Prix. The team’s defense was that there was no conscious wrong doing when Fernando left his pit box on his first stop. The highlight was well shown during the US coverage in which there appeared to be a problem on the right front wheel lock that later seen the tire come off the car and go into a grassy…
Read MoreF1 – Why So Quiet Bernie?
This is the sport that Bernie and Max brought to prominence. It has been Bernie’s life for decades. Mr. Ecclestone has proven to all that he is an unimaginably shrewd and capable businessman. So, why has he stood by the sidelines while Max and FOTA scuttled the ship? We can only make conjecture at this point. Bernie did make a statement this morning, “You’ll have to ask Max about it. For me, this situation is just back to the future.” Maybe referring to how he and Max gained control of…
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