Officially Official: Fernando Alonso signs with Ferrari F1 for three years ? Autoblog

Officially Official: Fernando Alonso signs with Ferrari F1 for three years ? Autoblog

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F1 to get private sponsors

SINGAPORE: The Government will hold no equity in the 1Malaysia F1 Team project, either directly or indirectly, through any of the government-linked companies.

Private investors will put in RM110mil to RM165mil a year, while sponsorship was expected to contribute a significant sum, according to team principal Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes.

He added that F1 had approached Petronas to sponsor the Lotus F1 team.

“Yes, we have spoken to them.

“We will also approach Malaysian Airlines, Genting Bhd and other organisations,” he told a press conference at the Singapore F1 circuit yesterday.

“It would be good if they can sponsor us as they do not have a team for the next season,” Fernandes said.

“Other countries have been bidding hard for this spot but Malaysia, through our concerted effort and strength in the true spirit of 1Malaysia, managed to pull it through.

“This will be an excellent opportunity for Malaysian corporates to share this dream that has finally come through,” he said.

He described the team as a lifetime achievement for all Malaysians.

Fernandes said the project would help Malaysia move up the value chain by emphasising innovation and technology.

Petronas’ sponsorship with BMW Sauber will expire this season. Fernandes also said that the F1 team car would be ready in February for testing at the Sepang circuit. They have also identified several young personalities who will be part of the team either as drivers or part of the crew.

Meanwhile, 1Malaysia F1 Sdn Bhd aims to employ 225 people and the job advertisements have been published this week in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

As for sponsorship in the current economic climate, it could come from Asia in the future, although Europe has been the traditional source of sponsorship, Fernandes said.

The team will have a start-up capital of RM168mil while its baseline annual budget is estimated at RM308mil, according to a statement it released on Friday.

The 1Malaysia F1 Team (1MF1T) is a collaboration between the Government and three entrepreneurs — Fernandes, who is AirAsia Group CEO, AirAsia deputy CEO Kamarudin Meranun and Naza Group CEO SM Nasaruddin SM Nasimuddin.

The privately-funded project is jointly-owned by the Tune Group, Naza and Litespeed UK. Tune Group is jointly-owned by Fernandes and Kamarudin.

Proton Holdings’ British subsidiary, Lotus, is the team’s constructor. In a statement, the team said Proton Holdings Bhd would license its Lotus brand to the 1MF1T. The partnership license will include a variety of benefits for both Lotus and Proton involving technology transfer, marketing rights and employment opportunities, both within the national F1 Team, at the team’s technical centre in Sepang and its satellite base in Norfolk, United Kingdom, it said.

Proton’s Managing Director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said the company as very excited and supportive of the Malaysian initiative.

“Through the impending licencing arrangement between Lotus and the team, the brand association will be beneficial to both Lotus and Proton as it would definitely heighten global brand awareness,” he said.

Similarly, Syed Zainal said the Proton Group also hopes to capitalise on this opportunity from a technical and engineering aspect.

“The exposure to be obtained from Formula 1 racing is invaluable, especially when Lotus is a renowned sports car manufacturer and a respectable engineering firm,” he said.

The team will collaborate with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS to help realise the aspiration of creating a growing class of high-technology and knowledge-intensive human capital for the country.

www.thestar.com.my

Lotus confirmed for 2010 as FIA pushes for 14 teams

Following an intensive selection and due diligence process, the FIA has awarded the 13th entry in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship to the new Lotus team.

The FIA also received an impressive application from the BMW Sauber team. As such, it has awarded BMW Sauber the '14th place' in the championship meaning that it will be entitled to fill any vacancy that arises on the 2010 grid.

In addition, the FIA believes that a good case can be made for expanding the grid to 14 teams. The FIA will be consulting urgently with the existing teams regarding the introduction of an appropriate rule change to expand the grid to 28 cars in time for the first Grand Prix in 2010.

Detailed below is information about the new team that has been confirmed to compete in the championship from next year, joining fellow newcomers Manor Grand Prix, Team US and Campos Meta.

Company Name: 1Malaysia F1 Team Sdn Bhd

Team Name: Lotus F1

TeamCountry: Malaysia

Team Principal: Tony Fernandes

A partnership between the Malaysian Government and a consortium of Malaysian entrepreneurs, 1Malaysia F1 Team returns the Lotus name as a constructor to Formula One for the first time since 1994. The team will initially be based at the RTN facility in Norfolk, UK, some 10 miles from the Lotus Cars factory. A 50,000 square foot fully equipped facility, RTN was built by Toyota for its initial Formula One programme and then used by Bentley for its successful Le Mans programme.

The team’s future design, R&D, manufacturing and technical centre will be purpose built at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit.

Team Principal Tony Fernandes is the founder and CEO of the Malaysian-based Tune Group, owner of the Air Asia airline. The team’s Technical Director Mike Gascoyne has over 20 years of experience in Formula One having previously performed the same role for the Force India, Toyota, Renault and Jordan Formula One teams.

As part of its application to compete in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship, the team has agreed an engine supply deal with Cosworth and a wide variety of technical partnerships including Xtrac and FondTech.

The team is understood to already have a shortlist of six drivers, including both Malaysian and international names, and an announcement confirming their line-up is expected in late October.

15 September 2009

www.formula1.com

The 2010 F1 Drivers Market

 

In what is one of the most multiple-possibility Formula One drivers’ market seen in years, the decisions of a few key players have many other racers standing by to pick up their own options for the 2010 season and beyond. Two announcements in particular are expected to provoke a cascade effect all along the grid.

Fernando Alonso has long been rumoured for a switch to Ferrari, Nico Rosberg is linked with a move to McLaren, and several other drivers are contemplating their future destinations based on the conclusion of the Alonso and Rosberg suspense stories.


With five races to go and less than two months remaining to the season, confirmations regarding 2010 driver combinations should be announced in the near future. Meanwhile, here are the possibilities - and speculation - making the rounds within and without the paddock.

Brawn:
The Brawn team has good chances of pulling off its fairy-tale dream of taking the constructors’ championship this year, but it must still be wary of the Red Bull Racing effort. Jenson Button holds a good lead in the drivers’ standings and teammate Rubens Barrichello has chances of being this year’s Vice-Champion, although the Red Bull drivers also have a word to say on the matter.

In view of such results, the Brawn team has no solid reason to change its line-up for the 2010 season, especially since Barrichello has been bettering Button lately. However, it is nonetheless rumoured that Ross Brawn has made an offer to Nico Rosberg. If accepted, the German would most likely replace the veteran Barrichello, but that remains to be seen as the Brazilian’s form remains strong.

Red Bull:
The Red Bull team is where the clearest situation can be found as it has already been confirmed that Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber will remain teammates in 2010. The only unanswered question concerns the team’s engine supply, as Renault power might be dropped in favour of Mercedes.

Ferrari:
The red-clad team has two drivers under contract for the 2010 season: Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa. But with the persistent rumours surrounding Fernando Alonso’s arrival – without mentioning the apparent hints dropped by the man himself – all indicates that Ferrari management have a decision to make.

It seems the team may not be interested in keeping Raikkonen for another year; the aloof Finn does the job but does not appear to have the same passion as Massa. Raikkonen has never hidden his interest in an eventual rallying career, and with Ferrari’s parent company Fiat, might very well have a car at his disposal if he decided to make the jump next year – not that he has indicated he wishes to do so.

The recuperating Felipe Massa will not return to the cockpit before next season, so performance comparisons with Raikkonen are now impossible. It would be surprising to see Ferrari let go of Massa, but with the strong possibility of Alonso coming in, the temperament of an Alonso-Raikkonen line-up might be easier to handle.

McLaren:
Lewis Hamilton will remain a McLaren driver next year, but he may not have the same teammate. Heikki Kovalainen has been asked to up his game if he wants to remain on board, meanwhile tenacious rumours speak of Nico Rosberg’s arrival in 2010. A McLaren offer to Rosberg would not be very surprising in fact, since the team tried to woo him away from Williams at the end of the 2007 season; the team apparently signed with Kovalainen after the German opted to stay put.

Toyota:
The team is hoping to keep Timo Glock within its ranks next season; negotiations with Jarno Trulli are ongoing. However, upper management in Tokyo intend to cut the team’s budget by as much as 40% next year, but that decision will not me made until November - once the season is over. Both Glock and Trulli are right in looking at their options elsewhere while uncertainty hovers over Toyota despite the Japanese manufacturer’s vow to continue with its F1 programme.


Williams:
The Williams line-up could change completely in 2010 – including its engine partner. It is no secret that Nico Rosberg is in demand and that Williams have little chance of retaining him despite their improved form lately. Kazuki Nakajima however is performing below expectations and has yet to score a championship point this year after a dozen races.

Nakajima’s seat is further threatened by the fact that Williams is looking to end its engine contract with Toyota in favour of Renault – and Nakajima is a Toyota-supported driver linked to the engine supply deal. Potential candidates include Heikki Kovalainen and current Williams test driver and GP2 series leader Nico Hulkenberg.

BMW Sauber:
BMW has decided to quit Formula One at the end of the season; the German constructor – with the help of Peter Sauber – must now find a buyer if the team is to continue racing next season. Potential buyers might have been found in Malyasia (possibly Petronas, or car manufacturer Proton via the Lotus brand). Failing a sale or management buyout, BMW might hold on to the Hinwil facility and use it as a technology development centre.

Team drivers Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld are watching the situation closely. Kubica has been rumoured for a seat at Renault, while Heidfeld might integrate one of the three new teams coming in next year.

Renault:
Renault certainly appear to be at a crossroads. Fernando Alonso is surely heading for Ferrari while rookie Romain Grosjean (who replaced the sacked Nelson Piquet two races ago) is still in his learning phase. Odds are Grosjean will continue as a Renault driver next year but the main seat remains open.

However, it is the FIA investigation into possible cheating (suspicions regarding a voluntary crash by Piquet at the Singapore race in 2008, directly favouring a win for Alonso) which might decide the future. If the team is declared guilty, the French manufacturer might simply decide to leave the sport despite recently committing to F1 until 2012.

If the team is cleared, it can then look for an experienced driver to partner Grosjean, but interested candidates are surely waiting for the FIA’s full conclusions first. A Renault-Raikkonen association has been suggested if the Finn leaves Ferrari.

Force India:
Giancarlo Fisichella has effectively already left the team: the Italian will now take over the injured Felipe Massa’s seat at Ferrari until the end of the season, a mission to be followed by test and reserve driver duties next year.

It is expected that Force India’s reserve driver Tonio Liuzzi will sit in Fisichella’s vacated seat for the remainder of the season, and possibly continue as a race driver next year. Adrian Sutil will probably remain with Force India in 2010.

Toro Rosso:
No changes are expected at Red Bull’s ‘junior’ team. Sebastien Buemi should be on the roster next season, with fellow rookie Jaime Alguersuari (recently brought in as a replacement for the ousted Sebastien Bourdais) aboard the other Toro Rosso car.

USF1, Campos and Manor:
Three new teams have been confirmed for the 2010 championship, but the only certain aspect is that they will all be powered by Cosworth engines. In regards to drivers, it is all speculation: names such as Bruno Senna, Marc Gene, Pedro de la Rosa and even Jacques Villeneuve have been mentioned as possibilities among many others, but all is in the air and nothing can be sure until contracts are signed.

What can be said however is that the 2010 drivers’ market is a very active market indeed…

Courtesy fo: F1-Live

Coming this Wednesday, the McLaren MP4-12C!

This coming Wednesday, McLaren will finally reveal the followup to its legendary F1 road car, but this weekend, in an interview with the Times of London newspaper, Ron Dennis finally announced the car's name. The supercar which until now had been referred to as the P11 will be dubbed the MP4-12C. That designation draws directly on McLaren's formula heritage where the company's racecars have borne the MP4 designation since 1981. Why the road car is named after the relatively unsuccessful 1997 model is not clear at this point, but perhaps we will learn more this week.

Of course, a name in-and-of-itself doesn't have anything to do with how good the car itself might be. Besides the name, Dennis did drop a few other hints about the car. As with the venerable F1, the chassis of the new supercar is to be made of carbon fiber. This time around, the car has gullwing doors and only two seats, rather than the three staggered thrones of the F1. Features like an automatic variable rate suspension likely means the MP4-12C won't be under the 2,400-pound weight of the F1.

In spite of its immense performance, the only 106 F1s were built over six years including the race cars – for the MP4-12C, McLaren is looking to achieve a much more ambitious target: 1,000 units per year.


Courtesy of: Autoblog