Nuts And Bolts 2

Posted on March 13th, 2010 by Stephen Rhodes in Formula 1 - News/Rumors

Some news tidbits from the world of Formula 1:

Todt Not Stepping Into To Solve McLaren Wing Saga: Jean Todt on Friday ruled out stepping in to end F1’s new ‘knee-gate’ controversy. The FIA’s Charlie Whiting this week declared legal an innovation on the 2010 McLaren that gives Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button a straight-line advantage. It is believed the drivers use their left knees to shut off airflow in order to ’stall’ the rear wing of the car. Some teams – including Red Bull, Ferrari, Renault and Williams – believe the design contravenes the rules about moveable aerodynamic devices, even though the only moving part is the driver’s body. ‘Spirit of the regulations’ or not, the situation means teams will now deploy resources to also exploit the loophole. “Everyone is going to go and do it, no one will have an advantage, we will go and spend loads of money — and for what?” new team Lotus’ technical boss Mike Gascoyne told PA. But at the Sakhir circuit, FIA president Todt said he had confidence in Whiting’s ruling. “I think they did a very good job. I totally trust the people that have to judge it,” added the Frenchman. Todt also told reporters that he is “very in favor” of reinstating a 107 per cent qualifying rule in formula one, but admitted that it might have to wait until 2011.

Ecclestone, Todt, Want Bridgestone To Stay In F1: Bernie Ecclestone has vowed to try to convince Bridgestone to remain in Formula One beyond 2010. The Japanese marquee has already decided to cease being the official tire supplier. “We could certainly find a replacement,” F1 chief executive Ecclestone told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, “but I hope that they will rethink their decision “We are working on it,” the Briton added. FIA president Jean Todt admitted in an interview with the New York Times that Bridgestone’s decision to join the carmaker exodus was “a shock”. But the Frenchman said Bridgestone decided to quit because F1 is not seen to regard “sustainability, environment and climate change” as important. “So, will they change their mind in light of what we are trying to implement? I don’t know,” added Todt.

Ecclestone Says Rome Will Not Replace Monza: Bernie Ecclestone has given his personal assurance that Rome is not set to replace historic Monza on the Formula One calendar. “Don’t worry: the Grand Prix of Italy is staying at Monza,” Enrico Gelpi, president of the Italian sanctioning body ACI, is quoted as saying by Il Messaggero. Gelpi sought out Ecclestone, the F1 chief executive, at the meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Bahrain on Thursday. His informal meeting followed news that Ecclestone, 79, is set to add a Rome street race to the calendar in 2013, with the Italian capital rumored to be willing to pay significantly more than Monza for the hosting rights. “Ecclestone’s assurance, as we have repeatedly confirmed, is that there has never existed the possibility to separate Monza from the Italian Grand Prix,” said Gelpi. Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno said: “Ecclestone’s clarification confirms what we have said for some time. There is no competition between the two races (Monza and Rome).”

Ron Dennis In Bahrain Pits: A casually-clothed Ron Dennis was spotted in the McLaren garage in Bahrain Thursday. The Woking based team’s former team boss, who handed over the role to Martin Whitmarsh last year, said recently he plans to attend “quite a few races” in 2010. The 62-year-old has since been concentrating on the company’s chairmanship and the establishment of its new road car group. Following a controversy surrounding its rear wing design, McLaren’s 2010 car passed inspection on Thursday, with the FIA’s Charlie Whiting telling the BBC that he has seen the MP4-25 “and I’m entirely happy with it”. Also happy is Williams’ German rookie Nico Hulkenberg, who hinted that a fifth team could be set to join Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes near the top of the pecking order. “At (the) Barcelona (test) I think we were either equal to or slightly ahead of Mercedes,” the 22-year-old told reporters at Sakhir. And the logos of the technology company HP will be added to Renault’s single seater both this year and next, following the announcement of a “major” sponsorship deal.

Alain Prost To Be Bahrain GP Steward: Yet another world champion has stepped into the mix for this weekend’s 2010 season opener in Bahrain. Active drivers’ title winners Michael Schumacher, Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso posed for photographers in the FIA press conference. Shortly afterwards, it emerged that quadruple world champion Alain Prost will act as a steward throughout the race weekend. The governing FIA said late last year that permanent stewards will in 2010 “sit with experienced former F1 drivers” to “reach decisions very efficiently”. 55-year-old Frenchman Prost, the arch-nemesis of 2010 rookie Bruno Senna’s late uncle Ayrton, won four titles and 51 wins in the 80s and 90s, and headed his eponymous team until 2001.

De La Rosa Plays Down Tire Performance Reports: Pedro de la Rosa has backed his boss in playing down reports the 2010 Sauber car could be set to be a dark horse in 2010. Although often impressive in the February tests, it was previously not thought the Ferrari-powered C29 would be good enough to trouble the top four teams this year. But a Bridgestone official said earlier this week that the Sauber has proved better than all its rivals in terms of looking after its tires on long runs, which given the refueling ban could prove a significant strategic advantage. Speaking with reporters at the Sakhir circuit on Thursday, the team’s Spanish driver de la Rosa agreed. “I don’t think that the tire information is that relevant because we come from winter testing where the track temperatures were very low and now we come to reality. “The way the teams use the tires will change dramatically from how it was in Barcelona,” the 39-year-old added. More strident in Bahrain was Nico Rosberg, who is reported to have an even better grasp of Mercedes’ new W01 than his seven time world champion teammate Michael Schumacher. “I feel very, very comfortable in the car, very confident,” the 24-year-old German said in a morning press briefing in the island Kingdom.

Rome Vows To Find GP ‘Agreement’ With Monza: Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno has played down reports the Italian capital is set to take historic Monza’s place on the 2013 Formula One calendar. Bernie Ecclestone said earlier this week that a Rome street race will be on the 20-race schedule in 2013. Milan mayor Letizia Moratti responded to the news by saying she was worried Monza is set to lose its race at the famous Autodromo Nazionale. Monza mayor Marco Mariani told La Stampa: “It’s the ultimate act of arrogance by a capital that for 2000 years has lived by removing the oxygen of others.” Said Rome’s Alemanno: “We will organize a Grand Prix in Rome, but we will make an agreement with Monza. The grand prix of Rome will be a Grand Prix of Europe. “It will not replace the Italian Grand Prix,” he added. Alemanno added in Italy’s Tuttosport: “It is clear. I spoke yesterday with (Rome GP organizer Maurizio) Flammini that before we start this we will find an agreement with Monza.”