Kimi Räikkönen Leaves Formula One

Kimi July 25, 2009

After failing to find a car for 2010, Ferrari’s world champion has announced that he is to leave F1 for rallying.

The laconic Finn’s premature exit was the talk of the sport for most of the year, especially after Ferrari’s 2009 car turned out to be quite a dud. Nowhere was Räikkönen’s indifference more stark than at the Malaysian Grand Prix, where during a break forced by torrential rain, he wandered about the pits with a bar of ice cream instead of remaining by his racing car.

Räikkönen was forced to leave Ferrari at the end of the season to make way for Fernando Alonso. There were talks with Toyota, hampered by Räikkönen’s high price and ultimately by Toyota’s exit from Formula One, then there were talks with his former team McLaren, which fell through. One has to wonder whether Räikkönen’s exorbitant salary demands—rumored to be close to $50 million, very much not in synch with his performance over the last two seasons—were a deliberate move on his part to ease his exit from the sport.

Kimi July 31, 2009

Going where many Finn have gone before, Räikkönen is set to continue his career in rallying. He has, in fact, already debuted in the World Rally Championship: Räikkönen drove a Super 2000 class Fiat Grande Punto Abarth for Tommi Mäkinen Racing at this year’s Rally Finland in August.

He leaves the sport after nine seasons, with occasional displays of devastating speed and a lucky world championship in 2007, when he exploited the rivalry between McLaren’s Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton and the hubris of the latter to beat both at the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix, claiming the title which had eluded him at McLaren.

Author: Peter Orosz

Source: www.jalopnik.com

Photo Credit: Mark Thompson/Getty Images, Massimo Bettiol/Getty Images

Michael Schumacher Return Welcomed by Rivals

Michael Schumacher

Forget the radical regulation changes, the withdrawal of BMW from the championship, Felipe Massa’s life-threatening accident and the potential break-up of Formula 1, the focus of Formula 1 is clearly on the return of F1 legend Michael Schumacher.

Schumacher will return to Formula 1 on August 23rd in Valencia, Spain for the European Grand Prix in place of the injured Felipe Massa for Ferrari.

Current Formula 1 drivers are welcoming the return of Schumi.

“It will be good to have Michael back out there racing again,” said Button.

“There are very good people out there racing at the moment, but to have Michael there again will be very special, although I’m sure we all wish Felipe was there also.”

Current Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton has also commented on Schumacher’s return, saying it will be an “honour and a privilege” to compete against the F1 “legend.”

“I am excited by the possibility of Michael Schumacher’s return to Formula 1 assuming it happens, but my thoughts are still with Felipe and his family following his terrible accident in Hungary,” said Hamilton.

“Michael is one of the sport’s greatest competitors and a legend in his own right and it would be great to compete against him.

“The whole world will be watching his return to the cockpit in Valencia and it will not only be fascinating to see how he readies himself for his grand prix comeback but also an honour and a privilege to race against him for the very first time. I wish him well.”

Source: PlanetF1.com

BMW Sauber Announces They Will Quit Formula 1

BMW Sauber

BMW has announced that they will not continue to race in Formula 1 after the 2009 season. The freed up resources will be dedicated to developing new drive technology and projects related to sustainability. BMW will remain active in other less expensive motor sports series such as touring car series and the young driver promotion program in Formula BMW.

BMW did achieve success in Formula 1 over the years. They had eight Formula 1 victories between 1982 and 1985 while with Brabham. BMW won the drivers’ championship in 1983 with Nelson Piquet (Brabham BMW).  BMW Williams racked up 10 victories between 2000-2005 with Williams.

Source: PlanetF1

Michael Schumacher Returns to Formula 1

Michael Schumacher

Michael Schumacher only needs to pass an FIA physical in order to fill Felipe Massa’s spot at Ferrari for the remainder on the season. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion should have no problem with the physical since he’s been keeping fit by racing motorcycles and moonlighting as the Stig. Schumacher should be available to make his Formula 1 return at next month’s Europena Grand Prix in Valencia.

Schumacher never really left Ferrari as he has been on board as an advisor since his 2006 retirement. Expect Valencia, Spain to be extra red on August 23 when Ferrari’s hero returns.

Button Confident of Returning to Winning Ways in Hungary

Jenson Button

Jenson Button is looking to get back to his winning ways with at least a podium finish in Hungary for Brawn GP this weekend. The current points championship leader hasn’t finished in the top three in the past two races after starting the season with a blistering pace.

Button scored his first Formula 1 win at the Hungaroring three years ago and didn’t reach the podium until this season after a miserable stint with Honda.

“It’s not a race where I’m going in worried too much,” Button told the Associated Press after the German GP. “I’m going there thinking we do have a really good chance of winning. The Red Bulls are quick, they’ve made improvements, but I don’t think it’s as big as it looks at the moment.”

Source: USAtoday.com

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. Although it would be a great addition to any motorsport-loving guy or gal’s vehicle, good luck trying to find a steering wheel cover that fits it.

Source: auto123.com