Cypher Group pulls out of 2011 running

RichardsF1    F1 News     Bernie Ecclestone, Cypher Group

American F1 hopefuls Cypher Group has announced its withdrawal from the running to compete in Formula 1 next season.

The group – comprised of a consortium if investors and former personnel from the defunct USF1 project – had applied for the thirteenth team entry slot and was rumoured to be in talks with Jonathan Summerton and Nelson Piquet Jr about driver roles.

However, in the wake of ART’s own withdrawal from contention and Bernie Ecclestone’s stipulation that all new entrants stump up a 19M deposit, Cypher Group admitted that it didn’t have the funds to compete.

“After much deliberation we have decided that the budget we have is not sufficient to allow us to pursue the project in a manner befitting the series,” a statements reads.

Red Bull and Ferrari wings under more suspicion

RichardsF1    F1 News     Ferrari, FIA, Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren, Mercedes GP, Red Bull Racing, Ross Brawn, Rules, Technical

McLaren and Mercedes GP have separately sought clarification from the sport’s governing body about the rules governing flexible front wings, amid ongoing suspicion in the paddock that both Red Bull and Ferrari are running such a design to improve their cars’ performance.

Despite the FIA giving both teams’ front wings the thumbs up after an inspection at the German Grand Prix, rival outfits remain suspicious that both teams are somehow able to lower their front endplates closer to the ground – thereby aiding downforce – and circumvent the rules.

This seems to have been further fuelled by footage broadcast globally by Formula One Management showing both teams’ cars’ front wings to be running lower to the ground that rival outfits’.

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Kobayashi penalised; four drivers reprimanded

RichardsF1    F1 News     Derek Warwick, FIA, Hispania Racing, Kamui Kobayashi, Lucas di Grassi, Renault, Rules, Sakon Yamamoto, Sauber, Timo Glock, Virgin Racing, Vitaly Petrov

It would seem that the FIA stewards were a little busy after qualifying, with Kamui Kobayashi slapped with a five-place grid penalty and four other drivers reprimanded for various indiscretions.

Kobayashi was demoted five placed from his 18th-placed grid slot after failing to drive to the FIA weighbridge after Q2 – the Japanese driver appeared not to see the red light as he entered the pit lane and continued to the Sauber team garages.

Consequently, he was penalised five places on the starting grid for his actions, although he remained adamant he “just didn’t see it”.

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Gripless Button slumps to 11th on grid

RichardsF1    F1 News     Jenson Button, McLaren

A lack of grip in his McLaren has seen Jenson Button plummet to 11th on the grid for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix after a disappointing qualifying session.

The defending World Champion failed to make the Q3 cut for the third time this season, with his best time in that phase of qualifying some 1.7 seconds off the pace of the dominant red Bull duo of Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel.

It seems that the same issue that caused him to miss Q3 at the British Grand Prix struck him again – a complete lack of grip.

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Petrov thrilled to outpace Kubica

RichardsF1    F1 News     Renault, Robert Kubica, Vitaly Petrov

After finally out-qualifying team-mate Robert Kubica for the first time this season en route to his best qualifying performance to-date, Vitaly Petrov was a very happy driver in the Hungaroring paddock.

Until Saturday’s qualifying session, the Russian rookie remained the sole full-time driver on the grid not to have out-qualified his team-mate this season, but his time of 1:21.229 – a tenth quicker than Kubica – put an end to that lop-sided monopoly.

Vitaly will start from seventh place for Sunday’s race, and his strong performance certainly comes at an opportune time when he is looking to extend his deal with Renault into 2011 and beyond.

Mixed fortunes for Mercedes GP

RichardsF1    F1 News     Mercedes GP, Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg

It was a mixed bag for Mercedes GP at the end of qualifying, with Nico Rosberg set to start from sixth place for tomorrow’s race, while team-mate Michael Schumacher endured a more torrid qualifying session and will start from 14th place.

Following a difficult practice session, Rosberg was seemingly delighted with the rewards for his efforts, and certainly a little surprised to be so high up on the grid.

“I’m pleased to be starting from sixth place as we didn’t think we would be that far forward today, so it’s an unexpected and pleasant surprise,” said Rosberg. “We are a long way from the front which is a concern but we took everything that we could from today and I am happy with our performance.”

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Hungarian GP: Post-Qualifying Press Conference

RichardsF1    F1 News     Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing, Sebastian Vettel

TV UNILATERALS

Q. Sebastian, 100th grand prix for Red Bull Racing. A front row lock-out and a commanding performance from yourself in qualifying.

Sebastian VETTEL: Yeah, it was a very good day for us. All weekend here we felt very comfortable, from the first practice session onwards with the car. I think we were able to improve it again another bit overnight. I said on the radio to the boys ‘this is your moment.’ Mark and myself were pushing hard to finish first and second but I said ‘it is your moment, enjoy, you built this wonderful car.’ It was a pleasure to drive yesterday and even more so today, so looking forward to tomorrow. Quite a difficult session. I didn’t have a very smooth run in Q2 with the options. I didn’t feel 100 percent, but there is not much you can do with the car. Little trims, but it worked quite well. I had a lot of confidence in Q3 and I was able to go quite a bit quicker, so overall a very good step and I am happy again to be on pole. I think every Saturday and Sunday is special, so being on pole also means a lot for us, for the team, for myself and hopefully we will have a good start tomorrow and then we should have a great race.

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Hungarian GP Qualifying: Vettel storms to pole position

RichardsF1    F1 2010, Results     Red Bull Racing, Sebastian Vettel

Sebastian Vettel has secured his seventh pole position of the season with a blistering display to take the coveted ‘P1’ grid slot for tomorrow’s Hungarian Grand Prix. It was another Red Bull lock-out of the front row, with team-mate Mark Webber shadowing his team-mate and will start from second place.

Vettel vaulted to the top of the timesheets midway through the final stage of qualifying with a 1:18.773 lap time, and was the sole driver to break into the 1:18 range. The German was never headed en route to securing his fourth pole position in a row, with Webber some 0.419s behind.

A lurid slide wide at Turn 15 on his final hot lap was enough to ensure that Webber would be unable to break Vettel’s monopoly on pole position – Vettel has picked up seven this season to-date.

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WTCC Brno: Preview

RichardsF1    News, WTCC    

The thirteenth and fourteenth races of the 2010 World Touring Car Championship season will take place this weekend at the Czech Republic’s Brno circuit, and we at Richard’s F1 will provide you with all of the latest news and highlights of the best touring car championship in the world as it takes centre stage this weekend!

Brno’s Masaryk Circuit has very much been a traditional meeting ground for the World Touring Car Championship, with the circuit hosting rounds of the European Touring Car Championship between 2002 and 2004, and it has continued to play host to the WTCC since 2006.

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Virgin, Glock fail to see the funny side of di Grassi prank

RichardsF1    Catfights, F1 News, Mishaps     Lucas di Grassi, Media, Timo Glock, Virgin Racing

Lucas di Grassi has survived an awkward gaffe within the Virgin Racing team, in which a prank played by the young Brazilian backfired.

Following the Hockenheim race – in which di Grassi retired after clobbering a kerb and team-mate Timo Glock finished in 18th place – the team’s press officer, Tracy Novak, reportedly presented each driver with proposed official quotes for the regular press release from the team.

The usual practice is that the drivers propose any changes and sign off on the release before its issued to the media.

Motorsport-total.com has reported that – while probably meant as no more than a prank – it is believed that di Grassi edited his team-mate’s official comment!

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