F1 - GP (General Purpose)

Chode ^ | 8/5/2009 | Chode

[Chode]

more Formula 1 gossip and rumors

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Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve is close to signing a contract with Formula One hopefuls Stefan GP.
Full story: autosport.com

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel, who finished runner-up in 2009, says the team will bring some new parts to next week's final test in Barcelona but is cautious about saying how much they will improve their new car.
Full story: autosport.com

Formula 1 newcomers Virgin Racing say the car's performance on track is in line with the predictions made by its computer design system. The team have designed their maiden F1 car solely using computation fluid dynamics (CFD) rather than a wind tunnel.
Full story: gpupdate.net

"We are not gone, as many reported. More news soon." USF1 dampen speculation about their future on their

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8523793.stm

[God luvs America]

isn’t Stefan GP likely to replace USF1 if Windsor does not get the car on the track??

[God luvs America]

found this biggie from the AP...

US F1 boss appeals to FIA

(UKPA) – 2 hours ago

US F1 team principal Ken Anderson has revealed he is in talks with the FIA over the possibility of missing the first four grands prix of the season.

Speculation has been rife this past week the team had collapsed in the wake of a number of sponsorship deals falling through.

Anderson has now finally broken his silence, admitting his team is struggling financially, with their only hope now coming via negotiations with motor sport’s world governing body. “We’re working with the FIA to clarify how many races we can miss,” confirmed Anderson to the New York Times.

“In an ideal world, we can miss the first four races and show up in Barcelona (Spanish Grand Prix on May 9).”

If the FIA accede to US F1’s request, it means the North Carolina-based team would sit out the races in Bahrain, Australia, Malaysia and China.

Only recently the FIA confirmed any team missing a race would be in breach of the Concorde Agreement - relating to the terms by which the teams compete in the series - and so would be penalised.

Anderson, however, believes it would not be in the FIA’s interests to punish his team, and is hoping president Jean Todt will look on his outfit’s troubles sympathetically.

“I guess anything’s possible, but what would be the point of that?” remarked Anderson on the FIA’s threat of sanctions. “Why would they give us a franchise and just, the first time there’s a bump in the road, yank it and put it out of business?

“That’s definitely not the message I’m getting from them. They want to help us, not shut us down.”

Anderson is hoping the FIA do not dither, adding: “We have a timeline in place that if we get a decision quickly, it triggers funding and we’re good to go. If it takes another week or two to make a decision, it keeps backing up.”

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gjfSlirwO4ZauCB6aUtCL6D4rkag

[Chode]

wow... thx!

[Chode]

personally, i think they should let the next in line race if they can, even though they would only run the four races, it would give them enormous exposure and r&d as well as sponsorship camera time and if they do well will might keep/get more/better sponsorship as well...

[Moltke]

Uh oh...is US F1 going to be to F1 what Greece was/is to the euro? Go in underfunded and then cannot deliver?

[Chode]

Jerez day four - Button ends test on top

McLaren’s Jenson Button leapt to the top of the timesheets, as this week’s four-day test in Jerez drew to a close on Saturday. Button lapped the Spanish circuit in 1m 18.871s to finish over two-tenths of a second ahead of Robert Kubica in the Renault.

The British driver spent the day evaluating set-ups and assessing tyre durability in the MP4-25, and covered 108 laps. Kubica, meanwhile, completed 117 laps, as he carried out long runs in the R30.

"It was a good day and we tried a lot of different things, which has given us lots of useful information,” said the Pole. “To begin with we did some evaluation with different fuel loads to check the balance of the car and then in the afternoon we did long runs with heavy fuel to simulate a race distance. We completed most of the programme and I was pretty happy with the car."

Third quickest was Kamui Kobayashi in the BMW Sauber C29. "I'm really happy with our final day of testing in Jerez,” said Kobayashi. “It was a perfect day for us. The conditions were ideal and the car ran trouble-free, so we were able to complete 117 laps and gather a lot of data. We made some progress with the set-up of the car. We will now analyse the data and draw the relevant conclusions for the next test in Barcelona."

Force India’s Vitantonio Liuzzi ended the day in fourth. “We covered 80 laps without any issues and got through our programme of test items for this week,” said Liuzzi. “Everything went pretty well - we worked on understanding the car's performance with different fuel loads and ran through some set-up changes and the car is responding well. Overall I think we can be very satisfied with how this test has gone and can look forward to another good test next week.”

Mercedes GP’s Nico Rosberg took over from team mate Michael Schumacher in the MGP W01. Rosberg finished in fifth, after covering 130 laps. “We’ve had a very positive day today and were able to complete a lot of valuable mileage which is a great way to end the tests here in Jerez," said the young German. "We’ve made some good progress on our set-up comparisons and learnt a lot which will be useful to prepare for the final test in Barcelona."

Fernando Alonso took sixth for Ferrari, ahead of Jaime Alguersuari in the Toro Rosso. Alonso was charged with trying different set-up options in the F10 and completed 137 laps. Alguersuari spent the morning carrying out aero evaluation runs, before tackling a race simulation in the afternoon. He covered 139 laps.

“These past two days in the car have been successful and it was good that the weather improved, so I could manage to drive in the dry,” said Alguersuari. “The most important aspect is that the car ran reliably, which was our main target here in Jerez. It puts us in good shape to tackle the final test in Barcelona.”

Friday’s quickest runner, Mark Webber, ended the test down in eighth for Red Bull. Webber covered 88 laps, but lost two and a half hours of running time when the RB6’s engine failed. “We did a lot of stuff with Renault and also learned about the aerodynamics and the chassis,” said the Australian. “We need a nice clear run in Barcelona. A little more reliability there and we’re ready to go racing.”

Nico Hulkenberg was ninth fastest for Williams, whilst tenth spot went to Timo Glock in the Virgin VR-01.

Completing Saturday’s line-up was Jarno Trulli, who was in action in the Lotus for the first time. Trulli covered a mammoth 141 laps in the T127. “It was a very positive day,” said the Italian. “I’m really happy about my first day testing with Lotus Racing and I was very lucky to have everything right today with no major issues. We were able to put a lot of mileage on the car and get a lot of information out of it. I had the chance to start developing a real feel for the car and it’s good to be here.”

The team’s chief technical officer, Mike Gascoyne, added: “An excellent day today, concentrating on reliability and race pace. 141 laps from Jarno is a great effort when you consider it is his first day driving this year and also a great effort from the team who worked all night to get the car prepared. Overall it’s been a very encouraging four days.”

Testing will resume at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya next week, with another four-day session commencing on Thursday February 25.

Unofficial Saturday times from Jerez:
1. Jenson Button, McLaren, 1:18.871, 108 Laps
2. Robert Kubica, Renault, 1:19.114, 117 Laps
3. Kamui Kobayashi, BMW Sauber, 1:19.188, 117 Laps
4. Vitantonio Liuzzi, Force India, 1:19.650, 80 Laps
5. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes GP, 1:20.061, 130 Laps
6. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1:20.436, 137 Laps
7. Jaime Alguersuari, Toro Rosso, 1:21.053, 139 Laps
8. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:21.194, 88 Laps
9. Nico Hulkenberg, Williams, 1:21.919, 137 Laps
10. Timo Glock, Virgin, 1:22.433, 28 Laps
11. Jarno Trulli, Lotus, 1:23.470, 141 Laps

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10456.html

[truth_seeker]

Hamilton, Massa?

[Chode]

they drive alternate days...

[frithguild]

Things are not going according to plan for Formula One newcomer US F1, team principal Ken Anderson revealed last week they are in discussion with the FIA to get permission to miss the first four races of this season, which would mean they would join the rest of the teams during the Spanish Grand Prix on May 7-9. What exactly is going on, is unknown, they could have financial problems, or problems with building the car. Insiders reported that "sponsor money didn't come through the way it was supposed to." And without money to pay their suppliers, US F1 will certainly not get the parts they need to finish the car in time.

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=358482

[Chode]

personally, i think they should let the next in line race if they can, even though they would only run the four races, it would give them enormous exposure and r&d as well as sponsorship camera time and if they do well will might keep/get more/better sponsorship as well...

[Chode]

F1 news...

Red Bull in better shape than others, says Mark Webber

Mark Webber said he believed his Red Bull team were ahead of their rivals after setting the pace on the first day of the final pre-season test.

The Australian set a fastest time of one minute 21.487 seconds at the Circuit de Catalunya, a second faster than anyone else on Thursday.

Webber, who also suffered a delay when his car stopped on the track, said: "We had a pretty good day's testing.

"Every day is crucial but we're in better shape than the other teams."

On a day when it emerged that new team US F1 will almost certainly fail to make the grid this year, and that Indian Karun Chandhok is poised to seal a drive at fellow new team Campos , Williams driver Nico Hulkenberg impressed with the second fastest time.

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg was third fastest ahead of Sauber's Pedro de la Rosa and McLaren's Jenson Button.

It is notoriously difficult to judge form based on headline times in pre-season testing as it is impossible to be sure of the amount of fuel the cars had on board.

We are very confident going into Bahrain Mark Webber

Judging by the manner in which Webber set his best time, it is believed that he was doing some low fuel qualifying runs.

Webber said: "This time is one of the best if not the best in the pit-lane in terms of what we've done last year and what we're doing this year.

"So we are very confident going into Bahrain (for the first race on 14 March) that we're working hard and that the team is doing a good job."

Webber said the Red Bull was in "pretty close to Bahrain set-up", adding: "We had some new aerodynamic updates which worked pretty well and some of that stuff will go to the Middle East."

He said: "It was a clean day's testing apart from a precautionary stop on the circuit because of gearbox oil pressure with a pretty high mileage part, so it wasn't a huge surprise that that had to be done.

"We tried to take it into the afternoon but it didn't quite work for us.

"But there were plenty of positives, a lot of data to dig through before we get to Bahrain."

Asked whether he had any worries about the car's reliability after being forced to stop out on the track at least three times in three pre-season tests, Webber said: "You know, you can always make the car more reliable, there is no question about it."

Alonso's Ferrari had to be towed back to the pits after an electronic problem

Ferrari, who are widely regarded to have had the fastest car at the three tests preceding Barcelona, had an early set-back when new recruit Fernando Alonso stopped out on the track in the morning with an electronic problem.

The Spanish double world champion was seventh fastest overall with a time set early in the afternoon session, 2.683 seconds behind Webber.

Rosberg, who hands over to Michael Schumacher on Friday, said: "I'm feeling quite confident and comfortable in the car.

"Aerodynamically the car will change quite significantly for the first race in Bahrain so we're not focusing on the details but on general set-up work and seeing how the car behaves over long runs."

The new Virgin team had to abandon testing after their novice driver Lucas di Grassi crashed at the 150mph Turn Nine, forcing the team to abandon testing for the day.

Di Grassi said on his Twitter page that he did not know why he had crashed.

606: DEBATE I'm quite surprised at any driver coming out and saying they're in the best car at the moment LJ

But technical director Nick Wirth said: "Unfortunately when we were running some experimental control settings on the car, which were adversely affecting its handling, this caught Lucas out on the entry to turn nine resulting in a spin and contact with the barrier.

"We're going to need to spend the time before tomorrow (Friday)replacing some broken suspension and wings. We should be back on track in the morning, when we hope to really start building up our mileage."

The team are also worried that they have failed to do any pit stop practice so far.

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Thursday's Barcelona testing times:

1. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault 1:21.487, 109 laps

2. Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Williams-Cosworth 1:22.407, 82 laps

3. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Mercedes GP 1:22.514, 107 laps

4. Pedro de la Rosa (Spa) BMW Sauber 1:23.144, 73 laps

5. Jenson Button (GB) McLaren-Mercedes 1:23.452, 101 laps

6. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Force India-Mercedes 1:24.064, 65 Laps

7. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Ferrari 1:24.170, 74 Laps

8. Vitaly Petrov (Rus) Renault 1:24.173, 74 Laps

9. Jaime Alguersuari (Spa) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:24.869, 111 Laps

10. Lucas di Grassi (Brz) Virgin-Cosworth 1:27.057, 31 Laps

11. Fairuz Fauzy (Mal) Lotus-Cosworth 1:28.002, 76 Laps

Indian Karun Chandhok in line for F1 debut with Campos

India's Karun Chandhok is set to make his Formula 1 debut with the new Campos team this year, BBC Sport has learned.

The 26-year-old is understood to have secured his drive, and the deal will be announced imminently, sources say.

Chandhok, who raced in the GP2 feeder category last year, is expected to be partnered by Brazilian Bruno Senna.

The nephew of the late F1 legend Ayrton Senna signed for Campos last year and his manager has dismissed speculation that he could lose his seat.

Campos team boss Colin Kolles refused to confirm Senna's position when contacted by BBC Sport on Thursday, saying only that the team's driver line-up would be announced "soon".

But Senna's manager Chris Goodwin told BBC Sport: "There's no reason to think Bruno won't be part of it. It's clear as far as we're concerned. He signed a contract in October and he'll be in the car this season."

Chandhok, who has won two GP2 races in three years in the category, will be the second Indian driver to compete in F1 after Narain Karthikeyan took part in 19 races for Jordan in 2005.

His presence will be a fillip for F1 with an Indian Grand Prix expected to make its debut on the calendar in 2011.

Chandhok was Senna's team-mate in the iSport team in 2008, when the Brazilian narrowly missed out on winning the GP2 championship.

Kolles has insisted that Campos will be in Bahrain for the first race of the season on 14 March after a winter of uncertainty over their funding.

A management reshuffle earlier this month saw co-founder Jose Ramon Carabante take 100% ownership of the team and his partner Adrian Campos replaced as team principal by Kolles.

606: DEBATE I would love to see Bruno Senna on the grid in Bahrain McLaren_Monkey

Senna was announced as a driver last year but there has been speculation that the team could instead take the Argentine Jose Maria Lopez.

Lopez has signed for fellow new team US F1, but they look almost certain not to race this year and his reputed £5.2m of sponsorship could be attractive for Campos.

But if Senna is retained as a race driver, there could still be room for Lopez in the test and reserve role.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8537003.stm

US F1 team on verge of collapse

The new US F1 team will almost certainly not race this season as doubts increase about their future.

They will not make any of the first four races, are two months away from having a car and have insufficient funds, BBC Sport has learned.

US F1's main backer, YouTube founder Chad Hurley, is in discussions over a switch to rival new team Campos.

Colin Kolles, Campos's new team boss, refused to confirm the talks. US F1 boss Peter Windsor was unavailable.

US F1 could also lose their only signed driver, the Argentine Jose Maria Lopez, to Campos as a result of any deal between them and Hurley.

Brazilian novice Bruno Senna, the nephew of the late F1 legend Ayrton, has signed to race for Campos in 2010.

Kolles refused to confirm Senna's place, saying: "We will make an announcement on drivers very soon."

But Senna's manager Chris Goodwin told BBC Sport there was "no reason to think Bruno won't be part of the team".

BBC Sport has learned that the Indian GP2 front-runner Karun Chandhok is expected to be announced as Campos's second driver imminently.

Senna's future at Campos is uncertain following a change of management

With US F1's hopes of being on the grid now virtually non-existent, Lopez could be an appealing prospect for Campos as he brings with him a reputed $8m (£5.2m) in sponsorship, although he could also join as reserve driver.

It is clear, though, that reports about a merger between the two teams are wide of the mark as US F1 effectively has nothing to merge with.

In effect, the talks are about Hurley transferring his backing from one team to the other.

He had originally provided US F1 with the money team bosses Windsor and Ken Anderson required for getting the team up and running and to the first races of the season.

But it appears that the funding required was underestimated.

US F1 have already asked governing body the FIA for permission to miss the first four races of the season, and FIA race director Charlie Whiting was at the team's base in Charlotte, North Carolina on Wednesday to inspect the team's readiness.

But US F1 have no chance of attending the first few races even if the FIA does give them permission to miss them.

They have no race team - only a team manager and a single mechanic - and all the suppliers have been put on hold.

The team's employees have been paid up to the end of last month, but are waiting nervously to see whether their salaries will be paid on schedule on Friday.

Sources have told BBC Sport that hopefuls Stefan Grand Prix will almost certainly be given the slot vacated by US F1.

606: DEBATE Is this a merger? Or is it just the death of USF1 and the stakeholder moving over to Campos? sergeant chadders

Stefan GP are a new team set up by Serbian businessman Zoran Stefanovich with backing from the country's government.

There will use the cars that were designed and built by the former Toyota team before the troubled Japanese manufacturer pulled out of F1 at the end of last season.

Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve is tipped to drive for Stefan GP, with ex-F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, brother of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, in line if a deal cannot be done with the Canadian.

Campos have had their own troubles, with co-founder Jose Ramon Carabante becoming the majority shareholder after buying out partner Adrian Campos.

But Kolles, who was appointed as part of the management shake-up, insisted the team would be on the grid at the opening race in Bahrain on 14 March.

"We are working flat out and will be in Bahrain," said the German, who ran the Force India team and its previous guises of Jordan, Midland Spyker from 2005 until 2009. "We'll complete the season and be in F1 long term.

"I know how to run a team that were struggling. We will be in Bahrain but it will be hard work."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8536567.stm

[the crow]

it looks like USF1 is done, sorry to say.

this story is from Speed, but I have seen similar stories on several other sites.

F1: Game Over At USF1
Written by: Adam Cooper http://www.speedtv.com
03/02/2010
Balen (BEL)

Ken Anderson (Left) and former Williams team manager Peter Windsor (Right) founded USF1 and had hoped to make the 2010 Formula One Grid. (Photo: LAT Photographic) » More Photos

There has been no official confirmation - very little has come out of the team in months - but the dream of Ken Anderson and Peter Windsor appears finally to be over after the staff of US F1 were told today to pack up and go home.

A desperate attempt by Anderson and Chad Hurley to salvage the project by asking the FIA for permission to postpone for a year has not worked.

It’s been said for some days that Windsor is out of the picture, but even Anderson was not around to give the bad news to the guys on the shop floor. One source says that they have been told that it may yet be temporary, which suggests that there may be some hope for a revival for 2011.

However the signs are that the shutdown was prompted by a negative response from the FIA to the request for a year’s grace - and that if there is any tiny glimmer of a future for US F1, it’s merely that the team would be able to re-apply along with anyone else if there is still a free slot in 2011. And logic suggests that US F1 won’t get a second chance if there are other credible bidders.

Meanwhile a source close to Chad Hurley says that the Silicon Valley entrepreneur sounded yesterday like he had had enough of trying to get involved in F1, and that the chances of him investing elsewhere appear to be slim.

We now await news from the FIA about what happens next. It seems likely that there will be two documents from the governing body within the next day or so - a definitive 2010 entry list, along with a separate statement that either explains why Stefan GP is on it, or confirms that there will be an open spot in 2011 and that an entry bid process will be launched.

It still seems likely that the latter course
will be chosen. It if is, then it will to some degree showcase Jean Todt flexing the FIA’s muscles in the face of strong pressure from Bernie Ecclestone to let Stefan in.

Intriguingly a source in Cologne told me tonight that it was now ‘almost impossible’ for the team to make it to Bahrain, so a positive decision is going to have to come very soon.
The entry list will also confirm the new name of Campos Meta - some sources suggest that Hispania Racing might not be the final choice - and will finally show the name of the BMW Sauber team for the first time.

[Chode]

just damn...

[the crow]

nice of Peter and Ken to not even show up.

they had 2 pay drivers at $8 mil apiece, a 3 year deal for $32 mil from a sponsor, and who knows how much Hurley was putting up and whatever else.

second rate to say the least. what an embarrassment.

[God luvs America]

the hits keep coming...that shmuck eccelstone must be laughing

USF1 team wants to delay entry into championship until 2011

• Team cannot raise finance to start in Bahrain
• Stefan GP hope to take their place on grid
The troubled USF1 team have asked to defer their Formula One debut for a year to 2011, the team principal, Ken Anderson, said.

“We have applied to the FIA [the International Automobile Federation] to hold our entry until 2011,” he told the autosport.com website.”We are waiting for a reply from the FIA and are working with them. In the meantime, there is nothing for the employees to do, so we have told them to stop working on the current car until we have a decision.”

The governing body, who sent the Formula One race director, Charlie Whiting, on a fact-finding visit to the team factory last week, is expected to announce a final entry list in the next day or two for the season starting in Bahrain this month.

USF1, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, are one of four new teams handed a slot on the starting grid for 2010 after checks by the governing body, but have struggled to raise finance and are in no position to race.

They had announced in January that Argentina’s José María López would drive for them in a deal backed by that country’s government.

The Serbian-backed Stefan GP team, who have taken over the cars designed by Toyota before the Japanese manufacturer pulled out at the end of last year, have been lobbying hard to take USF1’s place.

“SGP would like to reconfirm its desire and its ability to compete in the whole of the FIA 2010 Formula One world championship,” the team said. “It recognises that this can only happen with the consent of the FIA and the FOM (the commercial rights holder), but has faith that the Formula One ‘family’ will make the correct decision in the end.”

The FIA could, however, decide to limit the 2010 championship to 12 teams and open bids for next year.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/mar/03/usf1-formula-one

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[Chode]

i heard that...

[Chode]

F1-news

Newcomers Campos rebranded as Hispania Racing F1 Team

The Campos Formula 1 team has been renamed Hispania Racing (HRT F1) after being taken over by Spanish financier Jose Ramon Carabante.

The new identity highlights the Spanish roots of the team, which is based in the south-eastern city of Murcia.

A formal launch of the new team will take place on Thursday, when the driver line-up for 2010 could be revealed.

India's Karun Chandhok and Bruno Senna have been widely tipped as the drivers for the team's debut F1 season.

"The new team name signifies a new birth for our Formula 1 ambitions and highlights the incredible effort that is going on behind the scenes to ensure we make a successful debut in Bahrain on 14 March," said team principal Colin Kolles.

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on Hispania Racing

"While we are a new team in the paddock, we will be very proud to stand alongside such legendary names as Ferrari, McLaren, Williams and Lotus, as we hope to build our own reputation in the coming years."

Although the driver line-up has not yet been announced, Senna's manager Chris Goodwin told BBC Sport that "it's clear as far as we're concerned" that the nephew of three-time world champion Ayrton Senna would be one of the drivers.

Senna was announced as a driver last year but there has been speculation that the team may go for Argentine Jose Maria Lopez instead, as speculation grows that his team US F1 will not be racing this year.

If Senna is retained as a race driver by Hispania, the team may still have a role for Lopez as their test and reserve driver.

Chandhok, meanwhile, is on course to become the second Indian F1 driver after Narain Karthikeyan, who drove in 19 races for Jordan in 2005.

He won two GP2 races in three years in the category, and was Senna's team-mate in the iSport team in 2008, when the Brazilian narrowly missed out on winning the GP2 championship.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8547064.stm

New team Stefan GP will be at first F1 race - Jordan

New team Stefan Grand Prix will be on the grid at the first race of the season despite not yet having an entry, according to BBC pundit Eddie Jordan.

The team has been set up by Serbian businessman Zoran Stefanovich and has been lobbying hard for a slot on the grid in place of struggling US F1.

Jordan said: "My understanding is that they will be in Bahrain with ex-champion Jacques Villeneuve driving."

He said Villeneuve was due to have a seat fitting at Stefan's German base.

The Canadian won the world championship in 1997 with Williams but has not raced in F1 since 2006.

The second seat would be occupied by a pay driver, Jordan said.

Don't be surprised if the backer of US F1 - YouTube founder Chad Hurley - joins up with Stefanovich Eddie Jordan

They will use the car that was designed by the Toyota team last year before the Japanese manufacturer quit the sport at the end of last season and the car will be fitted with Toyota's engine rather than the Cosworth that is being used by the other new teams.

Jordan said they would be given the slot vacated by US F1, who have failed to produce a car on time to make the season.

US F1 have already asked to miss the first four races and are now reported to be asking to defer their entry until 2011.

"Don't be surprised if the backer of US F1 - YouTube founder Chad Hurley - joins up with Stefanovich," Jordan said.

Stefan GP have released a number of statements via their website saying they should be given a slot on the 2010 grid.

Although their latest release, on Sunday, was notably more conciliatory in tone towards both governing body the FIA and F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone's Formula 1 Management (FOM) company.

"SGP would like to re-confirm its desire and, importantly, its ability to compete in the whole of the FIA 2010 Formula 1 World Championship," it said.

606: DEBATE Lets hope Stefan GP get in - put USF1 dream to bed sweenie02

"It recognises that this can only happen with the consent of the FIA and the FOM, but has faith that the Formula 1 'family' will make the correct decision in the end.

"There will be no more press releases on this subject and we look forward to being allowed to show everyone our team in Bahrain."

If Stefan do race this year, Villeneuve would become the fifth world champion on the 2010 grid, alongside Mercedes' Michael Schumacher, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

Jordan correctly predicted last year that Schumacher would return for Mercedes long before the deal became public.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8544246.stm

High-level sources claim that aspiring Formula 1 team US F1 have closed down their operation, and that could open the door to Serbian team Stefan GP to join the grid.
Full story: autosport.com

BBC pundit Eddie Jordan claims that Stefan GP will definitely be on the grid at the Bahrain season opener, with 1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve driving and YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley transferring his backing from US F1.
Full story: Crash.net

Meanwhile, Red Bull driver Mark Webber has slammed some of the new F1 teams as "embarrassing", and says it would make more sense to '"field Valentino Rossi with his bike on the grid".
Full story: pitpass.com

Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin wishes the country's new F1 driver Vitaly Petrov success as Lada are confirmed in a sponsorship role with the Renault team.
Full story: autotrader.co.uk

Michael Schumacher has beaten Lewis Hamilton... in appointing a manager. Schumacher's affairs will be taken care of by Sabine Kehm, his long-time spokeswoman. Meanwhile, Schumacher's old rival Mika Hakkinen has emerged as a possible manager of Hamilton.
Full story: espnf1.com

Three-time F1 world champion Niki Lauda says Jenson Button is right in claiming that Mercedes GP are being pessimistic about their chances in 2010.
Full story: espnf1.com

[Chode]

Massa slams new teams' lack of pace

Ferrari's Felipe Massa is concerned that slow cars fielded by the new teams could make racing dangerous and believes their presence will not be good for the sport.

Lotus, Virgin and HRT will all join the grid in Bahrain, where they are expected to be up to four or five seconds off the pace of the front runners. In a column on its website last month, Ferrari was openly critical of the new teams' state of preparation and questioned the FIA's selection process. With just one week until the first race, Massa has also voiced his concerns.

"I hope they won't be a danger," he is quoted as saying on Ferrari's website. "There are six or seven teams one second apart [at the front], while those teams are four seconds behind. It's not good for the sport and not good for them; it's like two different series. They'll suffer. And we'll suffer too, when we have them in front of us during qualifying".

He also expects Williams to be challenging alongside the top four teams at the front of the field, after observing everyone's form in pre-season testing.

"We're always watching the others, not just their best time, but also race simulations," he added. "The result is that there are many competitive teams: Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes, maybe Williams. And we are in there for sure".

http://en.espnf1.com/ferrari/motorsport/story/10265.html

Raikkonen crashes out of Rally Mexico

Ex-F1 driver Kimi Raikkonen has crashed out of Rally Mexico in spectacular fashion.

Raikkonen, who swapped F1 for rallying when Fernando Alonso replaced him at Ferrari, rolled his Citroen C4 six times on the final gravel stage of day one. Both Raikkonen and his co-driver Kaj Linstrom were unharmed, but the car was destroyed in the accident and he was forced to retire.

He finished 30th in Rally Sweden last month after a number of mistakes dropped him well down the order. He was also out of contention before his big accident in Mexico, but showed real potential on an asphalt stage when he set the fifth fastest time.

He will now have to wait until early April for another chance to prove his talent at the next round of the WRC in Jordan.

http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/10236.html

[Elle Bee]

Mercedes SLS AMG F1 Safety Car

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