FOTA Walks Out on FIA Meeting

FOTA (Formula One Teams Association) reportedly walked out of a FIA technical meeting in Germany. The FIA was holding a routine Technical Working Group meeting at the Nurburgring in order to finalize Formula 1 rules for the 2010 season. This is the latest incident to raise new doubts about the recent agreement between FOTA and the FIA to hold a unified championship for the 2010 season. FOTA has even announced that they are still keeping the option open for a breakaway race series.

Source: Autosport.com

FOTA and FIA Resolve Dispute, Mosley Out as FIA President

A deal has finally been reached between the FIA and FOTA (Formula One Teams Association), which will ensure there will be one unified Formula 1 Championship in 2010. FOTA, comprised of eight Formula 1 teams, banded together in response to the FIA’s proposal to place a budget cap of $65 million per team. After much bitter debate, FOTA announced that they would break free of Formula 1 and the FIA to form their own racing championship. After being served this ultimatum, Formula 1 Supreme Leader Bernie Ecclestone was forced to negotiate in order to save his empire.

On Wednesday it was announced that current FIA President Max Mosley has agreed not to run for re-election. This may have been mandated by either Ecclestone or FOTA as the tone of recent statements from Mosley suggested negotiation was not an option.

Source: Jalopnik

FOTA vs. FIA Battle Time Line Revealed

FOTA - Formula One Teams Association

The recent announcement by the FOTA has rocked the Formula 1 world. The FOTA teams are showing their solidarity and making their intentions known to the world. A resolution is still possible and if Ecclestone wants save his empire he will have to cave and give these top tier teams what they want. How do did we even get to this point? F1-live.com provides a great time line showing the key points in this politically charged year in Formula 1.

Click the link below:

FOTA vs. FIA Time Line

Formula 1 Rebel Teams Announce Break Away From FIA

The Formula One Team Association (FOTA) has announced their intention to withdraw from the Formula One Championship at the end of the season and create their own championship series for 2010. FOTA is comprised of Brawn GP, McLaren, Renault, Ferrari, BMW Sauber, Toyota, Red Bull and Toro Rosso. FOTA has been frustrated by recent budget cap proposals of £40 million and a general disregard of the team’s opinions by the FIA.

Click through to read the statement released by FOTA:

Formula 1 Steering Wheel Picture and Guide

This Formula 1 steering wheel from BMW shows how much input a Formula 1 driver deals with on race day.  The steering wheels have an amazing amount of functionality, from setting the differential, to having a drink to even confirming the tire choice at the upcoming pit stop.

Formula 1 steering wheels are hand made and cost around $30,000 each. They weigh less than three pounds and are made from carbon fiber and electrical components.

Source: auto123.com

‘KERS Not Relevant to Road Cars According to Mercedes Engineer

KERS - Kinetic Energy Recovery System

McLaren-Mercedes is the only Formula 1 team that has run KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) on both of its cars in every race this season. McLaren has developed two different KERS. One system is electric and uses batteries to store power, while the other is mechanical and uses a flywheel to store power.

A source inside the engineering department has stated that neither KERS system currently has an application for road vehicles at this time. McLaren managing director Anthony Sheriff recently said, “What’s important is that it’s pushing the envelope of battery technology to its limits and that has got to be good news.”

Source: Autoblog

Formula 1 to Make Return to North America?

The only Formula 1 Grand Prix in North America last year was the Canadian Grand Prix, and in case you haven’t checked this year’s schedule yet, North America has been excluded completely.

Canadian officials have confirmed that they have been talking to Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone to bring Formula 1 back to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. The Canadians are hoping to come to a more reasonable agreement with Bernie in order to secure another Formula 1 stint in Canada. While bringing back the Canadian Grand Prix would be the easiest solution for North America, other projects are in the works.

A track near Niagara Falls, Ontario is rumored to be built which would include a 1 mile oval track for NASCAR (yawn) and a 2.5 miles road track. Seating for the venue to reported to be at 100,000. Other projects which are supposedly in the works include a track in upstate New York and near Detriot.

Source: Autoblog.com

Ferrari Scrambles as Questionable Diffuser Design Ruled Legal

Formula 1 Diffuser

The complaints over the double-decker rear diffuser designs have been rejected as the diffusers were ruled legal by the FIA’s International Court of Appeal. Brawn, Toyota and Williams were all using the different diffusers which are believed to give the cars at least a half second advantage per lap.

Following the recent ruling, Ferrari stated that they have no choice but to modify the Ferrari F60 in 2009 in order to be able to compete.

Ferrari have gotten off to a horrible 2009 campaign as team drivers Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen haven’t secured even one point in the first two races.

Source: Formula1.com

BMW Tries to Lighten Load to Accommodate KERS for Kubica

KERS - Kinetic Energy Recovery System

BMW Sauber is attempting to launch a lighter version of its F1.09 in time for the Spanish Grand Prix to increase the chances of Robert Kubica being able to use KERS in his car. Kubica hasn’t been able to use KERS yet due to the extra weight it adds. The extra weight hurts the handling and increase the tire degradation.

Nick Heidfeld, Kubica’s BMW teammate has been able to use the KERS since he is weighs much less than Kubica.

Source: Autosport.com

BMW is confident that KERS provides an advantage on the track, which is why they are making such an effort to equip Kubica’s car.

Caught On Tape: FIA Official Crashes Renault R28

U.A.E. F1 representative Mohammed bin Sulayem crashed a Renault R28 Formula 1 car during the Renault Roadshow at the Dubai Autodrome. He was drag racing another car when the Renault suddenly veered to the right and crashed into the concert barrier. Bin Sulayem was not hurt in the accident.