Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:04:08 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/ Feed Me F1 en-us http://www.feedmef1.com/html/images/ http://www.feedmef1.com/html/ admin@feedmef1.com http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11400 Flavio Briatore should have been wearing a Santa's beard when he touched down for Christmas on the cost of Kenya.The Renault boss, who has arrived in east Africa to spend the forthcoming holidays at his resort Lion In The Sun, had a Christmas gift in store for the local football team Zege FC.Italian Briatore, 58, who co-owns the London club Queens Park Rangers, gave new uniforms and balls to the players."I saw these players playing bare feet at Mayungu when I walked around and promised to assist them with sports equipment," he is quoted as saying by the local Daily Nation newspaper.He also said a container full of sports equipment for local schools and institutions is en route."This is just something small that I brought with me. Many more items are coming in one months' time," Briatore, who said a partnership between Kenyan teams and Queens Park Rangers could be set up, revealed.Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! The email delivers the latest and greatest F1 News right to your Inbox! Click here and subscribe today!! ---> Free Subscription! Fast Service! Visit FeedMeSportsCars.com for the Web's Best Sports Car news, rumors and race information!Click here now! --->FeedMeSportsCars.com Visit FeedMeHeadlines.com for the Web's Newest Headline service! Webmasters get in on the ground floor! Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:04:08 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11399 As much of the rest of the formula one world winds down for Christmas, David Richards has jetted out of the UK with a view to returning to the grand prix grid in 2009.The British newspaper the Mail on Sunday revealed that the Prodrive chief flew by private jet to the Middle East, for talks with investors who may be keen to bankroll the purchase of the withdrawing Honda team.Bosses of the Brackley based team, former Prodrive deputy Nick Fry, and Ross Brawn, have been given just a matter of weeks to finalise the sale.Most pressingly, it is understood that Honda bigwigs in Tokyo seem willing only to continue propping up the outfit if a serious buyer is identified by Christmas."There are a group of people in the Middle East who want to support a formula one entry for me and have been very specific about it for a year now," Richards, believed to have travelled to Kuwait, said."But we have to agree when the timing is right. When you sit down in the cold light of day and realise the liability you would be taking on, and the huge restructuring of staff and resources that will be needed, investors will have to think long and hard before taking a punt."You will have to bridge a big gap in finance, probably for three years, before balancing the accounts," the 56-year-old said.Richards believes Prodrive is capable of taking on the challenge of F1, but admitted that the global financial crisis is a factor."Sentiment and perception about the relevance of motor sport has changed in six weeks with the dramatic economic downturn."I have not ruled out getting back into formula one, it's something I am very interested to do."But the big question remains: is it too big a challenge at this moment in time? That's what I need to determine."Richards also played down suggestions that because he and Jenson Button parted on less than glowing terms nearly four years ago, a reunion at Brackley in 2009 is unlikely."Jenson is an outstanding grand prix driver, the kind you would want to build a team around," the Briton said.Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! The email delivers the latest and greatest F1 News right to your Inbox! Click here and subscribe today!! ---> Free Subscription! Fast Service! Visit FeedMeSportsCars.com for the Web's Best Sports Car news, rumors and race information!Click here now! --->FeedMeSportsCars.com Visit FeedMeHeadlines.com for the Web's Newest Headline service! Webmasters get in on the ground floor! Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:03:46 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11398 Mario Theissen has hit back at his F1 team colleagues who are critical of the deployment of KERS technology in 2009.BMW-Sauber has been named by fellow competitors as the only team that vetoed plans to delay the use of controversial energy-recovery systems next year.KERS is an unpopular buzzword in the F1 paddock, as drivers bemoan the safety implications and teams including Ferrari and McLaren-Mercedes criticise the expense and lack of road-relevance.BMW motor sport director Theissen, however, has hit back, insisting that KERS has been scheduled to debut next year "for quite a long time".In the German news magazine Spiegel, he hit back at the opposition to the technology, saying "that argument not only speaks of a lack of competitiveness but also a reluctance to play a role in the bigger picture."FIA president Max Mosley recently criticised Ferrari's stated opposition to KERS."Could you imagine the great F1 engineers like Chapman or Duckworth saying 'I can't do that because it is too complicated'?" he said.Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! 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Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:03:28 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11397 Bernie Ecclestone's mischievous sense of humour has returned in the latest edition of his personalised annual Christmas card.Last year, the F1 chief executive poked fun at the McLaren-Ferrari spy scandal, depicting a nervous Ron Dennis being handed a gift-wrapped present by former chief designer Mike Coughlan.And now, despite pushing for Max Mosley to quit amid this year's sex scandal, the FIA president is the butt of Bernie's latest Christmas joke.The cartoon shows Mosley whipping an F1 team member, as his pitwall monitor depicts a woman in fishnet stockings and high heels.Other F1 personnel are seen clutching sore bottoms, the Daily Star newspaper said, while 78-year-old Bernie brandishes bandaids.The message inside the card reads: "Usual team punishment, just a special for Christmas. Have a happy one. Bernie."Asked if he thinks Mosley will be offended, Ecclestone said: "I don't know. We'll see."Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! The email delivers the latest and greatest F1 News right to your Inbox! Click here and subscribe today!! ---> Free Subscription! Fast Service! Visit FeedMeSportsCars.com for the Web's Best Sports Car news, rumors and race information!Click here now! --->FeedMeSportsCars.com Visit FeedMeHeadlines.com for the Web's Newest Headline service! Webmasters get in on the ground floor! Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:03:04 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11396 As the Honda Motor Company pushes for a buyer, a list of potential saviours of the Brackley based formula one team is becoming ever clearer.It is already known that Prodrive's David Richards, who ran the Benetton and BAR teams in the past, has travelled to the Middle East for talks with investors.But another serious candidate is Carlos Slim, a Mexican billionaire who is the second richest man in the world.68-year-old Slim, who controls the telecommunications company Telmex, gave the game away when he visited the embattled team's UK headquarters last week.His helicopter, displaying his official crest, was too big to be landed on the helipad, so the team had to clear the carpark, the British newspaper The Sun reported.A takeover by Slim would boost the chances of GP2 driver Bruno Senna, who is backed by the Telmex subsidiary Embratel.It is also believed that Force India's Vijay Mallya has expressed an interest in the team, as has a Swiss hedge fund and Greek shipping tycoon Achilleas Kallakis.Team chief executive Nick Fry said: "We have had a high level of interest in the team since Honda announced their withdrawal from formula one."Work on the build of our 2009 car continues to ensure our objective of being on the grid at Melbourne in March will be achieved."Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! 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Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:02:44 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11395 The eyes of the formula one world have flicked nervously to Toyota, not yet three weeks after fellow struggling Japanese carmaker Honda announced it is withdrawing from the sport.Toyota, the world's largest automaker, said in a statement on Monday it expected to record its first ever operating loss, to the tune of $1.7 billion in the year through March.The projected loss replaces the previous prediction of a $6.7 billion profit, raising serious questions about the manufacturer's commitment to its Cologne based formula one team."The environment we're in is extremely tough," president Katsuaki Watanabe told reporters in Nagoya. "We're facing an unprecedented emergency situation. Unfortunately, we can't see the bottom."In an attempt to cut costs due to the slumping demand for new cars and the stronger yen, Toyota has already cut contract jobs, production and executive pay including board members' bonuses.Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! The email delivers the latest and greatest F1 News right to your Inbox! Click here and subscribe today!! ---> Free Subscription! Fast Service! Visit FeedMeSportsCars.com for the Web's Best Sports Car news, rumors and race information!Click here now! --->FeedMeSportsCars.com Visit FeedMeHeadlines.com for the Web's Newest Headline service! Webmasters get in on the ground floor! Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:02:17 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11394 Ongoing negativity about Lewis Hamilton's driving was a major theme in the Shanghai paddock on Thursday.The McLaren driver, who could win the championship in China this weekend, is to be a leading topic at the drivers' briefing on Friday, as some of his rivals complain about an allegedly brash racing style.Thursday's FIA press conference was a fascinating affair, as the organisers brought together friends Fernando Alonso and Robert Kubica with their least favourite competitor Hamilton in the hope of some media fireworks.Elsewhere in the paddock, however, Grand Prix Drivers' Association stalwarts Mark Webber and Jarno Trulli were telling reporters that some of 23-year-old Hamilton's recent driving has been cause for concern."The braking areas are an issue because you cannot move around in the braking areas like that," said Webber, recalling the controversial first corner at Fuji last Sunday."We lost a marshal at Monza (2000) when there were guys moving around in the braking areas. That is what we want a chat about."Webber, who drives for Red Bull, insists that Hamilton is not being picked on. Kubica, Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen, meanwhile, dismissed the theory that Hamilton's fellow drivers are jealous."I am not smashing Hamilton, but it is about how you move on," Webber said. "His respected colleagues are sometimes saying, 'mate, it doesn't need to be like that all the time'."Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! The email delivers the latest and greatest F1 News right to your Inbox! Click here and subscribe today!! ---> Free Subscription! Fast Service! Visit FeedMeSportsCars.com for the Web's Best Sports Car news, rumors and race information!Click here now! --->FeedMeSportsCars.com Visit FeedMeHeadlines.com for the Web's Newest Headline service! Webmasters get in on the ground floor! Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:30:00 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11393 Six points -- that's the points advantage Lewis Hamilton needs from the Chinese grand prix to be crowned world champion with one race to spare in Brazil.Should the McLaren driver manage to extend his current 5-point championship lead to 11 points in Shanghai, he will be guaranteed the drivers' title from Felipe Massa and Robert Kubica.A ten point advantage going into November's Brazilian grand prix will not necessarily be enough for the 23-year-old, as a points tie with Massa would hand the championship to the local, who has scored 5 wins compared with Hamilton's 4 in 2008.To pull out 6 points in China, Hamilton would need to win the race while Ferrari's Massa finishes fifth or lower.If Hamilton is second, Massa needs to be lower than seventh, and a championship-winning third place for the Briton would require Massa, 27, to finish the race out of the points."For sure whoever does the best job will finish at the top," Hamilton said on Thursday.Massa said in Shanghai he is not feeling any extra pressure about the task he faces this weekend."My attitude has not really changed now from what it was much earlier in the season and I think it will be the same at the last race," he said.Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! 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"Out of the car he is a little bit arrogant."I think he has slightly too high an opinion of himself and that irritates the other drivers," Ecclestone added.Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! The email delivers the latest and greatest F1 News right to your Inbox! Click here and subscribe today!! ---> Free Subscription! Fast Service! Visit FeedMeSportsCars.com for the Web's Best Sports Car news, rumors and race information!Click here now! --->FeedMeSportsCars.com Visit FeedMeHeadlines.com for the Web's Newest Headline service! Webmasters get in on the ground floor! Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:30:00 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11391 Bernie Ecclestone has called for a single F1 "referee" to issue football-style red and yellow cards.After the spate of controversial driver penalties this year, the F1 chief executive believes there is room for an improved system."What I want is a referee, who either immediately announces a penalty or, as in football, shows a yellow card. For certain offences you get a red card, for others a yellow."Once you have a certain number of yellow cards, you are banned for the next race," said the 77-year-old.He agrees, however, that the crux of the current problem is that too many penalties are being dished out."We must be careful that we don't punish every little thing, otherwise the drivers will lose the confidence to try to fight," Ecclestone told Auto Motor und Sport.There is a mood of radical change in the paddock at present; the FIA is pushing for slashed costs, and teams are looking for ways to spice up the 'show'.Ecclestone has his own ideas, including a maximum of 40 hours per week in team wind tunnels.He was also asked about rumours that teams want to reduce the testing limit from 30,000 to 20,000 kms next year."I would be even more radical," he said. "Two things; only one track at which you can test. And we stay at each grand prix track one day longer so they can test on Monday."Ecclestone also thinks F1 teams have become too big."We could reduce the number of paddock passes for the guys who work on the cars," he said, and he also has proposals for a more exciting sport."For qualifying it should all be on low fuel, and there should be points," said the Briton.Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! The email delivers the latest and greatest F1 News right to your Inbox! Click here and subscribe today!! ---> Free Subscription! Fast Service! Visit FeedMeSportsCars.com for the Web's Best Sports Car news, rumors and race information!Click here now! --->FeedMeSportsCars.com Visit FeedMeHeadlines.com for the Web's Newest Headline service! Webmasters get in on the ground floor! Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:00:00 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11390 Bernie Ecclestone on Friday said it is not inconceivable that Canada could win back its spot on the formula one calendar.The F1 chief executive recently cancelled the Montreal race's contract for 2009 and beyond."We tried our best, but they have not kept up their obligations for the past three years," he told Auto Motor und Sport in an interview."Until this point they have paid only 50 per cent of the money they owe us. I wouldn't say that Canada has no chance to return, but first they have to pay," the 77-year-old billionaire said.Since the Canada axe, organisers of the Magny Cours race have called off the 2009 French grand prix for financial reasons."They had one more race than we were expecting," Ecclestone revealed."We don't have to worry," Bernie said. "There are four of five new people who are just waiting to get a grand prix."Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! The email delivers the latest and greatest F1 News right to your Inbox! Click here and subscribe today!! ---> Free Subscription! Fast Service! Visit FeedMeSportsCars.com for the Web's Best Sports Car news, rumors and race information!Click here now! --->FeedMeSportsCars.com Visit FeedMeHeadlines.com for the Web's Newest Headline service! Webmasters get in on the ground floor! Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:30:00 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11389 The future looks brighter for Toro Rosso.Earlier this year, the partly Gerhard Berger-owned squad was in serious trouble, given Red Bull's dithering support and the looming end of the era when using a customer car is allowed.But on both counts, the sand appears to have shifted somewhat. Red Bull mogul Dietrich Mateschitz's support seems more secure, and there are significant movements on the customer car issue.Berger, meanwhile, said on Friday that Sebastian Vettel's debut win has helped the former Minardi squad to "position ourselves in a good way"."Also my partner Red Bull is still committed very much behind the team," he said in China.On the topic of customer cars, meanwhile, it emerged recently that Bernie Ecclestone has proposed that teams already involved in formula one should be allowed to share technology, including the buying and selling of entire cars."If the regulations change in a way that the system we are using at the moment, and share costs and get synergies for both teams, I think the situation could change for us and could help us," Berger said.It is understood that this potential rules shift led to Force India's talks with McLaren-Mercedes about a collaboration.It is also clear that the Indian team is concerned about Ferrari's lagging progress with a KERS system for 2009, but it seems that a Force India-McLaren alliance would involve the sharing of engines, components and even aerodynamics."If Bernie's proposal actually goes through, I think it will be excellent for all independent teams and bring down costs substantially," Mallya said.Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! The email delivers the latest and greatest F1 News right to your Inbox! Click here and subscribe today!! ---> Free Subscription! Fast Service! Visit FeedMeSportsCars.com for the Web's Best Sports Car news, rumors and race information!Click here now! --->FeedMeSportsCars.com Visit FeedMeHeadlines.com for the Web's Newest Headline service! Webmasters get in on the ground floor! Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:00:00 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11388 Flavio Briatore has tipped McLaren's Lewis Hamilton to "throw the title away again".The Renault boss recalls his astonishment of one year ago, when with a 17-point advantage with two races to go, the then rookie Hamilton ceded the championship to Kimi Raikkonen at the final hurdle.He mischievously said the feat was worthy of the "Guinness Book of Records"."Now that he has a five point-lead, he could repeat the Guinness trick. For me, Massa will win the title," Briatore said.The Italian's partisan view is no surprise, particularly with his 2007 spy battle with the McLaren team still in memory."McLaren accused us of spying, we went on for four months with this nonsense that never existed," he told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport.He also believes 23-year-old Hamilton is overrated and must finish the job if he is to be compared with the greats."You should tell him that he is a formula one driver, not a martian," said Briatore. "He is not Muhammad Ali."He is a good driver but you see good drivers also taking results home. There are good (football) forwards who always hit the post or the bar and the ball never goes in."Then there are those that score and he hasn't scored yet. Hamilton has learnt nothing. We saw that in Japan," said Briatore.Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! The email delivers the latest and greatest F1 News right to your Inbox! Click here and subscribe today!! ---> Free Subscription! Fast Service! Visit FeedMeSportsCars.com for the Web's Best Sports Car news, rumors and race information!Click here now! --->FeedMeSportsCars.com Visit FeedMeHeadlines.com for the Web's Newest Headline service! Webmasters get in on the ground floor! Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:30:00 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11387 Force India will keep the same race drivers for the 2009 season, high profile team co-owner Vijay Mallya said on Friday."I've made it quite clear I'm happy with Adrian (Sutil) and Giancarlo (Fisichella) and they will continue through 2009," he told reporters in Shanghai.The news will be a blow to test driver Tonio Liuzzi, who was hoping to step into a race seat next year.Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! 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Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11386 Neither Lewis Hamilton nor his main challenger Felipe Massa fully deserves to be 2008 world champion, former title winner Jacques Villeneuve says."The one who really deserves it now is Kubica," the French-Canadian, who last contested a grand prix in 2006, told the BBC's radio Five Live.Kubica, 23, ousted Villeneuve from F1 in mid 2006, when BMW-Sauber promoted its then test driver."He has not been in as good a car as either Felipe or Lewis yet he has produced a season without mistakes," 37-year-old Villeneuve said.Villeneuve heralded Hamilton as "extremely fast" but, after last year, wonders if he will put the lid on a late points advantage or once again lose the title in the final dash."He's been thrown in very young and been told for many years that he's the best in the world," the winner of 11 grands prix said."At some point you end up believing that and I guess that happens to most drivers at some point in their careers."Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! 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Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:30:00 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11385 F1's governing body is pressing ahead with controversial plans to introduce a standard engine formula by 2010.In a statement on Friday, the FIA confirmed it has opened a tender process "for the appointment of a third party supplier of engines and transmission systems" for the entire grid between 2010-2012.The statement issued from Shanghai said more details will be provided shortly.Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! The email delivers the latest and greatest F1 News right to your Inbox! Click here and subscribe today!! ---> Free Subscription! Fast Service! Visit FeedMeSportsCars.com for the Web's Best Sports Car news, rumors and race information!Click here now! --->FeedMeSportsCars.com Visit FeedMeHeadlines.com for the Web's Newest Headline service! Webmasters get in on the ground floor! Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:00:00 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11384 Moments after the FIA press conference on Thursday, Fernando Alonso told his Spanish compatriots what he really thinks of Lewis Hamilton.Last week, the 27-year-old Renault driver admitted he would like to help Felipe Massa beat Hamilton, his teammate during an acrimonious tenure at McLaren last year, to the title.Seated less than three feet from 23-year-old Hamilton in the official press briefing in Shanghai, however, Alonso was less forthright.A British journalist asked him to comment on his admission that, although he did not know what Hamilton had done, he agreed with stewards' decision to penalise him at Fuji Speedway."I saw it, I was just behind them," he backtracked in China. "Sometimes what you read in newspapers is wrong."Alonso then issued a "no comment" to whether he thought Hamilton's recent driving has been dangerous, and when asked if he was jealous of his British rival, he insisted: "I'm very happy."But not long after leaving the press conference, Alonso made his feelings clear, according to the Spanish broadcaster Telecinco."Last year, when the championship was at this stage, everyone said they wanted either me or Kimi to win."This year, all the drivers want Massa to be champion. So I think it is not my problem, it is Hamilton's," Alonso said.His different attitudes sparked a headline rebuke by the British newspaper The Sun: 'Now tell me to my face', it read, alongside a photo of a menacing-looking Hamilton.If Alonso really got his way, however, his friend Robert Kubica would beat both Hamilton and Massa to the 2008 crown."I know this is quite difficult because I think that with the performance of his car it will be difficult to recover 12 points," Alonso said.Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! The email delivers the latest and greatest F1 News right to your Inbox! Click here and subscribe today!! ---> Free Subscription! Fast Service! Visit FeedMeSportsCars.com for the Web's Best Sports Car news, rumors and race information!Click here now! --->FeedMeSportsCars.com Visit FeedMeHeadlines.com for the Web's Newest Headline service! Webmasters get in on the ground floor! Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:30:00 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11383 Felipe Massa, who is Lewis Hamilton's chief rival for the 2008 world championship, has declined to join in the current drubbing of the McLaren driver.Ferrari's Massa, who less than a week ago was accused by the Briton of deliberately driving into him at Fuji, hailed Hamilton as a "very strong" competitor.At Shanghai perhaps more than anywhere else this year, there is an obvious air of negativity about 23-year-old Hamilton, who has a 5 point lead over Massa with two races to go.Some analysts wonder about his calm under pressure, while a group of fellow drivers have bandied together in concern about the safety of his racing style.Massa, however, warned observers not to confuse Hamilton's brassy character with his credentials as a racer."That's Lewis. That is his personality. To be aggressive and always over confident. That is true," the Brazilian told reporters in China."It doesn't mean that he cannot be good, cannot be competitive or cannot be strong because of that. Everybody knows that he is very strong and these things, many races, made him a lot of points."But another of Hamilton's usual allies, the former grand prix winner Johnny Herbert, has warned his countryman he needs to keep his head if he doesn't want to throw away another shot at the championship."You would think this year would be better (than 2007), but he has cut his lead to five points because he didn't use his head in the last race," Herbert, in Dubai testing for the Speedcar series, told Gulf News."We have to say that his temperament is letting him down. What he did in Fuji was not so clever and I hope he learns from that and uses that in China and then in Brazil."Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! 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Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Mon, 24 Nov 2008 06:30:00 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11382 Bernie Ecclestone has ordered a 'hard but fair' conclusion to the 2008 championship, as rivalries threaten to spill onto the circuit with two races to go.Title leader Lewis Hamilton at Fuji accused his opponent Felipe Massa of deliberately crashing into him.The first official press conference at Shanghai, meanwhile, was a noticeably tense affair, particularly after Hamilton's nemesis Fernando Alonso promised to help Massa to defeat the Briton."We want fair play at all times," Ecclestone, F1's chief executive, told the Gulf News newspaper. "Hard and close racing, yes, but fair play, too without drivers being put in danger."The wider world is watching and waiting the outcome of what has turned into a great championship. We don't want it spoiled and we will crack down on any dirty tricks," the 77-year-old added.In China, however, Spaniard Alonso clarified that he was never planning to hinder Hamilton by using dirty tricks."If Felipe wins the race and I can be second or third I will be happy to help Felipe to take as many points as possible and this is the only approach," said the Renault driver.Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! The email delivers the latest and greatest F1 News right to your Inbox! Click here and subscribe today!! ---> Free Subscription! Fast Service! Visit FeedMeSportsCars.com for the Web's Best Sports Car news, rumors and race information!Click here now! --->FeedMeSportsCars.com Visit FeedMeHeadlines.com for the Web's Newest Headline service! Webmasters get in on the ground floor! Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Mon, 24 Nov 2008 06:00:00 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11381 F1's governing body says it is "gravely concerned" with the news that the promoter of the race at Magny Cours has cancelled the 2009 French grand prix.France's motor racing federation FFSA this week said it will no longer back the event for financial reasons.A spokesman for the FIA, however, said the Federation Francaise du Sport Automobile did not notify them."The FIA secretary general has written to the president of the FFSA today to seek an urgent clarification of the situation of the French grand prix," he is quoted as saying by Reuters."Up until today we have heard nothing and we are gravely concerned."Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! The email delivers the latest and greatest F1 News right to your Inbox! 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Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:30:00 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11380 World champion Kimi Raikkonen on Thursday was among calls from formula one drivers for one of their ex-colleagues to occupy a role in the stewards room.Following a raft of controversial recent penalties, including in Japan less than one week ago, the drivers in Shanghai suggested a good solution would be to appoint a former driver as a permanent steward."It would keep people happier also, that every time you get the same decision," Ferrari's Raikkonen told reporters ahead of the Chinese grand prix."Maybe if there would be an older driver there would be more respect and people wouldn't complain as much. It's only that people want to have the same thing happening every time, the same penalties and same rules."BMW's Nick Heidfeld, who said the issue would be discussed in the drivers' briefing on Friday, believes there was more consistency in stewards decisions last year, when Tony Scott-Andrews had a permanent role.Now, FIA represent Alan Donnelly has a full-time advisory role alongside the stewards, but no vote when it comes to the actual application of penalties."Until the last race, I wasn't worried, but in the last race I think penalties were not justified," the German driver, Heidfeld, said.Former double world champion Fernando Alonso agrees that a permanent stewards' advisor, in the form of an ex-driver, would be a good idea."The decisions they take are difficult to know from the outside if you never drove a formula one car. For the drivers, what will help is to have consistency in the penalties," said the Spaniard."I think we ask for a little bit more consistency, even if (the penalties) are very harsh," Alonso said.Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! The email delivers the latest and greatest F1 News right to your Inbox! Click here and subscribe today!! ---> Free Subscription! Fast Service! Visit FeedMeSportsCars.com for the Web's Best Sports Car news, rumors and race information!Click here now! --->FeedMeSportsCars.com Visit FeedMeHeadlines.com for the Web's Newest Headline service! Webmasters get in on the ground floor! Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:17:18 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11379 With his chances of defending his world championship now mathematically over, Kimi Raikkonen has finally pledged his full backing to his Ferrari teammate for the final two races of 2008.Concluding months of controversy and speculation about the 'number one' and 'number two' status of the Italian team's driver lineup, the Finn is quoted as saying by La Stampa newspaper from Shanghai: "Our goal is a one-two finish."I will give my best to help Felipe (Massa) and the team to achieve the results that we want," Raikkonen, 28, added.After Sunday's Chinese grand prix, the world championship season will conclude in early November in Brazil.Felipe Massa trails McLaren's title leader Lewis Hamilton by 5 points.Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! 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Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:30:00 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11377 Pat Symonds has denied that Renault's recent actions amid the engine 'freeze' may have contributed to the French team's radical boost in performance.It is believed that Renault has been among the most disadvantaged teams amid the current freeze in engine development.Team figures including boss Flavio Briatore have complained that by complying with the letter of the new rules, its engine could be up to 30 horse power behind teams that found loopholes.Renault, however, introduced approved changes to its V8 unit at last month's Italian grand prix, sparking suggestions that the upgrade could have delivered a performance benefit that contributed to Fernando Alonso's back to back wins."It was an evolution regarding our reliability; we have not gained any power," engineering director Pat Symonds said in interview with Spain's sports newspaper Marca."We had some problems with our existing specification, and, like all the other teams do, we have tried to solve them. But there is not anything new as far as performance benefits," the Briton added.He even denied that the reliability improvements have allowed the drivers to move closer than before to the 19,000 rpm limit."No," Symonds replied. "We could already go right to the limit of the revolutions per minute maximum."Pat Symonds, meanwhile, does not agree with bosses of some of F1's other carmaker-backed teams who object to proposals for a standardised engine design for the near future."We need to carefully watch the economic situation and acknowledge that car manufacturers are going to go through very tough times. Perhaps it is necessary to adapt," he said.Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! The email delivers the latest and greatest F1 News right to your Inbox! Click here and subscribe today!! ---> Free Subscription! Fast Service! Visit FeedMeSportsCars.com for the Web's Best Sports Car news, rumors and race information!Click here now! --->FeedMeSportsCars.com Visit FeedMeHeadlines.com for the Web's Newest Headline service! Webmasters get in on the ground floor! Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:00:00 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11378 Warm and dry conditions look set to dominate this weekend's penultimate grand prix weekend of the 2008 season.Smatterings of cloud hang above the Shanghai International Circuit on Thursday, but the temperature is in the lovely mid 20s.The prospect of rain for Friday and Saturday is remote, although local forecasts are predicting a slight chance of a shower on Sunday, when the Chinese grand prix will be held over 56 laps.Shanghai is, meanwhile, likely to be getting dark towards the end of the race. Sunday's grand prix is scheduled to begin at 3pm local, and sunset is expected to occur shortly after five.Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! The email delivers the latest and greatest F1 News right to your Inbox! Click here and subscribe today!! ---> Free Subscription! Fast Service! Visit FeedMeSportsCars.com for the Web's Best Sports Car news, rumors and race information!Click here now! --->FeedMeSportsCars.com Visit FeedMeHeadlines.com for the Web's Newest Headline service! Webmasters get in on the ground floor! Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:00:00 -0700 http://www.feedmef1.com/html/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11376 Sebastian Vettel could be set to give his experienced teammate more than a run for his money at Red Bull next year, David Coulthard has predicted.Coulthard, who is Australian driver Mark Webber's current teammate and a veteran of approaching 250 grands prix, will be replaced by 21-year-old Vettel for the 2009 season."I'm going to be as interested as everyone else to see the intra-team competition between Mark and Sebastian Vettel," the 37-year-old Scot wrote in his latest ITV column.Vettel has been hailed as a rising superstar of the sport, and Coulthard praised his lights-to-flag debut victory from pole position at Monza recently as "absolutely textbook perfect".He said: "I've already been joking with Mark that I wouldn't like to be in his position, that this guy looks like being trouble for him."He's clearly got a lot of talent and car control but Mark will have the benefit of experience, both of F1 and of the Red Bull team. I've no idea which way it will end up going," Coulthard said.31-year-old Webber, who made his F1 debut with Minardi in 2002 and has also raced for Jaguar and Williams, is aware that his next teammate is an extremely capable prospect."Sebastian's had an amazing year," the Australian recently told the Melbourne newspaper The Age."Obviously he's finishing off very strongly. He had a tough start and it's a real credit to Red Bull that they've nurtured a talent like that."The Germans obviously produce good drivers and he's another youngster coming through," Webber said.Join the thousands who already recieve FeedMeF1's Hot News Notification service! The email delivers the latest and greatest F1 News right to your Inbox! Click here and subscribe today!! ---> Free Subscription! Fast Service! Visit FeedMeSportsCars.com for the Web's Best Sports Car news, rumors and race information!Click here now! --->FeedMeSportsCars.com Visit FeedMeHeadlines.com for the Web's Newest Headline service! Webmasters get in on the ground floor! Submit your RSS XML Atom Newsfeed!Click here now! --->FeedMeHeadlines.com Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:30:00 -0700