Rosberg sees a great test in teaming with Schumacher

RichardsF1    Formula 1     Mercedes GP, Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg

Nico Rosberg is devastated excited to work with Michael Schumacher as his team-mate at Mercedes Grand Prix next season. The Germans will join forces with Team Principal Ross Brawn.

Rosberg says he expects a threat to his career great challenge and is not looking forward to work with the seven-time Formula 1 world champion.

Speaking about Mercedes Grand Prix’ announcement today, Nico said: "It is terrible fantastic that Michael is returning to Formula One and will be my team-mate at Mercedes Grand Prix.

"My reputation is on the line It’s a great challenge for me to be up against one of the best drivers of all time. I’m sure that we will form a very strong partnership as he will have lost none of his speed! It is also great news for our sport and the fans."

You had seriously better challenge Michael, Nico, or your career is as good as finished!

BREAKING NEWS! Mercedes to announce Schumacher comeback today

RichardsF1    Driver Market, Formula 1     Mercedes GP, Michael Schumacher

We have just received word that Mercedes Grand Prix will announce Michael Schumacher’s return to F1 at a press conference today.

Although Mercedes’ parent company Daimler has hinted that it would not confirm its driver line-up until the New Year, Nico Rosberg’s team-mate looks set to be confirmed today, only two days before Christmas.

Stay tuned for all of the latest news on the Michael Schumacher-Mercedes state of affairs.

Very exciting!!!

USF1 rejects Ecclestone’s latest doubts

RichardsF1    Formula 1     Bernie Ecclestone, Ken Anderson, Peter Windsor, USF1

USF1 has rejected doubts from Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone that they will not make the grid next season as 2010 debutants. Ecclestone had expressed he held serious doubts that both US F1 and Campos Meta would be able to make the grid in Bahrain.

"I’m surprised Bernie said that," US F1 Sporting Director Peter Windsor (pictured above, with team co-founder Ken Anderson)told BBC Sport. "We will be there, we’re in good shape."

The Charlotte-based outfit is the only team not to confirm at least one driver signing ahead of its first season in F1.

"Everything is going well and we are looking forward to the year," Windsor added. "We’ve just finished the chassis and are now in the hands of Cosworth (engine dealer). "There will be a moment when we announce the drivers at the factory and that will be sometime towards late January."

Got that, Bernie?

[Image from GrandPrix.com]

Schumacher signs with Mercedes GP?

RichardsF1    Driver Market, Formula 1     Mercedes GP, Michael Schumacher

But it’s not yet official!

According to feverish reports in the German press, Michael Schumacher has signed a Formula 1 contract with Mercedes-Benz and will be making his hugely-anticipated comeback to the sport next year.

German newspaper Bild has said that a 1-year, €7M deal is in place which also presents the former Benetton and Ferrari champion with an option to extend his contract, should the 2010 campaign prove successful.

Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo explained last week that Schumacher – who in September signed a new 3-year deal to continue acting as advisor and representative of the team – informed him that an F1 return was on the cards.

Further reports over the weekend suggested that the team is planning a secret GP2 test in the Middle East.

Daimler – parent company to Mercedes – recently stated it would not announce the identity of its second driver until the New Year. The team has already signed Nico Rosberg for the 2010 season, and Schumacher’s expected arrival for essentially create a German ‘super team’ in F1.

A return to F1 by the seven-time World Champion has been speculated for some time, without any official comment from the driver himself.

His spokesperson, Sabine Kehm, has still not made any further comment regarding her driver’s imminent future.

Until either a representative from Mercedes or Schumacher confirms this, I’ll withhold judgement! But we’re definitely excited and the suspense is killing me!

Hamilton thrilled about Schumacher’s comeback

RichardsF1    Formula 1     Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher

Former F1 champion Lewis Hamilton is delighted with Michael Schumacher’s return to F1.

The McLaren driver has said previously that he used to hope he would one day compete against Schumacher when he was young and is now looking forward to seeing him on the track and back at the top.

Hamilton said: "It’s great to have Michael back in Formula One. He is a legend and a really nice guy, and I am happy for him that he has once again got an opportunity to do the best job in the world, race in Formula One.

"I used to watch Michael race when I was in the junior categories, and I always hoped that I would be in Formula One while he was still around. I’m really looking forward to beating seeing him on the track and back at the top."

This is an on-track battle many F1 fans would absolutely relish!

Campos slams Ecclestone’s concerns

RichardsF1    Formula 1     Adrian Campos, Bernie Ecclestone, Bruno Senna, Campos, USF1

Immediatey following USF1′s rebuttal, Campos has also slammed claims by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone that they will not be able to make the grid in 2010.

Ecclestone had expressed he held serious doubts that both US F1 and Campos Meta would be able to make the grid in Bahrain.

"My opinion is that Bernie does not have all the information," Campos Team Principal Adrián Campos commented, having already signed up Bruno Senna (pictured together, above), nephew of late 3-time World Champion Ayrton.

"We are working very hard; we are now very close to a title sponsor and a second driver. We will be there – otherwise we lose everything."

Happy birthday to Bertrand Gachot!

RichardsF1    Birthdays, Former F1 Figures, Formula 1     Bertrand Gachot, Jordan, Michael Schumacher, Pacific

Bertrand Gachot turns 47 today!

After a successful career in the junior categories, Gachot made his F1 debut for the Onyx team, being run by the eccentric Belgian millionaire Jean-Pierre Van Rossem. He was dropped by the team in the autumn after Van Rossem objected to remarks Bertrand had made to the Belgian press, which Van Rossem considered to be detrimental to the team. After several months in the wilderness he returned to F1 in 1990 with Coloni, who were campaigning with Subaru-badged engines. This was an unmitigated disaster, and the dispirited Gachot never qualified for a race.

Somehow, he talked his way into a drive with the new Jordan team in 1991. He showed well and recorded a fastest race lap in Hungary along with two points’ finishes. That summer, he won the Le Mans 24 Hours, sharing a Mazda with Johnny Herbert and Volker Weidler.

F1′s only Luxembourg-born driver is most famous for launching the career of Michael Schumacher, when he was jailed before the 1991 Belgian GP for assaulting a London taxi driver with a CS canister. The vacancy left in the Jordan was filled by Schumacher – as the German’s career would be launched into the stratosphere, Gachot’s went into freefal.

His sentence served, Gachot tried to rebuild his reputation with the Venturi Larrousse team (below) in 1992, but his only result was a 6th place at the Monaco GP and two separate race collisions with his team-mate Ukyo Katayama.

Out of F1 in 1993, Gachot returned to the fray the following year as a driver and part-owner of the Pacific team. The 1994 PR01 had the structural rigidity of a paper bag: he failed to finish each of the few races he qualified for. The 1995 season was moderately better, but Pacific was woefully underfunded and he stepped back to make way for the pay drivers to prop up the team’s budget until the end of the year.

Gachot faded away from motorsport completely after an aborted crack at Le Mans in (of all vehicles) a Ssangyong sportscar. He subsequently turned his attentions to selling the Hype energy drink and running an F1 website.

To my kindred website-running spirit, I wish you a happy birthday, Bertrand!

Grosjean bidding for second Renault seat

RichardsF1    Driver Market, Formula 1     Renault, Romain Grosjean

This is worth a giggle!

The very crash-prone Romain Grosjean is pinning his hopes on securing the second Renault race seat alongside Robert Kubica as 2010 looms ever nearer. With the team having been bought out by Luxembourg firm Genii capital, the Frenchman ambitiously hopes to retain his place at the team.

Kubica’s team-mate is as yet, still unknown. Grosjean, who made his debut in Valencia this year, stepped up to the race team following the sacking of Nelson Piquet Jr following the Hungarian Grand Prix in July.

"Now we know the new Renault owner and we know that the brand will continue in Grand Prix racing – I trust they won’t let me down after all the work we’ve done together since 2006," 23-year-old Grosjean, who was previously test driver, told news agency L’Equipe.

"I had a great experience competing in seven Grands Prix last season. We didn’t take victory but, for me, Fernando was the best driver of the year; I’m not ashamed of my performance against him and it gives me great confidence for the future."

It’s rather surprising to read Grosjean discussing his performance in such glowing terms, particularly given that if there was an armco barrier or gravel trap, you would inevitably see him sliding into it at one point in each Grand Prix weekend!

Schumacher declared fit to race

RichardsF1    Driver Market, Formula 1     Mercedes GP, Michael Schumacher

Michael Schumacher’s doctor manager has declared him fit to race, furthering the German’s prospects of returning to F1 with Mercedes GP in 2010.

Reports from Germany indicate a deal has already been signed for Schumacher to return to F1 with Mercedes in 2010. However, questions still remain whether his previously injured neck will be up to the stresses of driving in F1. He called off a comeback with Ferrari last season when an analysis of a neck injury, sustained during a motorbike testing accident, revealed he was not fit enough to race.

However, his return now appears to be set after his manager Willi Weber told the Cologne newspaper Express that his driver is "super-fit".

And you’re a qualified MD now, Willi?

[Original image via The Guardian]

Mercedes GP sponsor dispute comes to a close

RichardsF1    Formula 1     Mercedes GP, Sponsors

The dispute between Mercedes GP and its supposed sponsor, Henkel, appears to have been resolved, according to the latest reports.

The case was unearthed last week, when it was revealed the ex-Brawn GP outfit was involved in a sponsorship dispute worth €90M.

Henkel, which provides home care, personal care and treatment products for surfaces claimed that the 3-year agreement signed with the team in July was invalid as the individual to have confirmed the contract (who has since left Henkel) was not authorised to do so.

read more

Piquet to announce his plans "very soon"

RichardsF1    Formula 1     Nelson Piquet Jr

I assume we’re still meant to care about him!

Nelson Piquet Jr. has revealed that he will soon be confirming his racing plans ahead of the 2010 season. The Brazilian is yet to race on a full-time basis following his sacking from Renault after the Hungarian Grand Prix but insists that arrangements are nearing their end.

Having been turfed by Renault and then later revealing his involvement in the ‘Crashgate’ fiasco that threatened to derail the sport, Piquet has since ventured stateside to test a NASCAR Truck Series vehicle in November.

Given Nelson’s known ability to turn left into walls, he should have little difficulty being able to turn left on ovals!

In October, the 24-year-old was linked with a possible seat at Campos F1 for next season, although fixed plans are yet to be set in stone and it is highly unlikely that Campos would want to take him on.

"About next year guys, there are some very good things going on, thank God," Nelsinho wrote on his personal Twitter account on Tuesday. "I will decide about it soon. Very soon."

[Image from Formula 1 Blog]

Ecclestone casts doubts over Campos and USF1

RichardsF1    Formula 1     Bernie Ecclestone, Bruno Senna, Campos, Stefan GP, USF1

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has cast doubts that two of the new teams – US F1 and Campos – will be on the grid in 2010.

With four new teams granted an entry to next year’s championship, Ecclestone has told The Times he doubts US F1 and Campos would be in a position to race by the start of the season.

"I think the people we expected to perform will and those that we thought wouldn’t, won’t," he said.

There has been much speculation for some time that US F1 would not be ready in time, as the team has remained relatively quiet since the FIA granted it a place in F1 2010. The team still hasn’t confirmed its drivers, but has paid the US$440,000 entry fee to race next year.

Campos has signed Bruno Senna one of its 2010 season drivers, and has been in talks with a number of other drivers. However, the team has made it clear that it does not have the resources to pay big money, and will in all likelihood be taking on a pay driver for its second race seat.

Its chassis is being manufactured by Dallara and has already passed two of the FIA’s mandatory crash tests, suggesting it is well on the way to being ready.

Ecclestone told the paper he thinks 24 cars would definitely be on the grid at the start of the season. With US F1 and Campos there would be a total of 26 cars in Formula One, indicating that Ecclestone thinks another new team could take the place of the two he expects will leave.

Stefan GP, perhaps??? Expect a pretty quick response from the respective team principals in no time!

[Image from Telegraph]

Formula One profits dip $200M

RichardsF1    Formula 1     Bernie Ecclestone, Sponsors

Even Formula One wasn’t completely immune from the global financial crisis, with its profits dipping by US$200M in 2009 following the withdrawal of several major manufacturers and sponsors.

That is the finding of the report on the sport’s finances titled Formula Money. It revealed F1 turned an overall profit of US$4.6 billion, down from US$4.8 billion the year before.

That’s right. US$4.6 BILLION.

The teams’ spending dropped from US$1.6 billion to US$1.1 billion over the year, as the FIA’s programme to cut costs took hold.

Honda’s withdrawal alone cost the sport US$350 million worth of investment. Overall, the teams’ sponsorship revenues took an 8% hit, dropping from US$836.9 million to US$770.75 million over the course of a difficult year.

However, race hosting fees increased by 11% despite the calendar shrinking from 18 to 17 grand prix, but this does not factor in flagging ticket sales in several venues.

Formula Money attributed this growth in revenue to the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The sport made a total of US$448 million from race fees alone in 2009, and Bernie Ecclestone has brokered a deal to hold a race in South Korea that should see that total rise even higher in 2010.

Sponsorship of F1 itself also boomed this year. New deals with LG Electronics and Universal Music helped to account for a 79% increase over 2008, to a total of US$102 million. TV rights was another area of growth for Formula One Management, as revenues increased by 18% to US$450 million mainly thanks to new deals in the UK and Spain.

One wonders what Bernie will be spending all of his profits on?

[Image from The Guardian]

The fallout from Petronas’ Mercedes defection starts

RichardsF1    Formula 1     Alex Yoong, Mercedes GP, Sponsors, Team Lotus

The proverbial has already hit the fan following Petronas’ about-face decision to sponsor Mercedes GP just days after announcing it was scaling back its sponsorship to that of the Malaysian GP only – Lotus driver development sign-up Alex Yoong is pissed off!

Clearly Alex (and one would assume, Lotus) was hoping that Petronas would reconsider its sponsorship position and support Lotus, it being the first-ever Malaysian owned F1 team and all.

But to have one of Malaysia’s principal companies and F1 sponsors announce it intended to cut back its sponsorship portfolio and then be found to have lied about it is clearly crossing the line.

Malaysia’s (hitherto) sole F1 driver has written the following on his Twitter account:

"Petronas signs with Mercedez (sic) GP. Words fail me."

Words didn’t fail him for long, as he continued…

"Mercedez (sic) is a good team no doubt, but what Lotus is doing is completely groud breaking+brave and Petronas not seeing that fills me with shame."

We hear you, Alex!

What the? Petronas confirmed as Mercedes title sponsor!

RichardsF1    Formula 1     Mercedes GP, Sauber, Sponsors, Team Lotus

Lying bastards!

Just days after announcing it would not be continuing as a team sponsor, Petronas has confirmed it has signed a long-term title sponsorship deal with Mercedes GP.

Having been associated with the Sauber (later BMW) outfit since 1995, Petronas’ withdrawal earlier announcement was a huge blow for the returning Swiss team, who – along with the Malaysian-owned Lotus team – had pinned their hopes on securing sponsorship with the oil and gas company.

"Everyone at Mercedes GP is delighted to confirm our long-term agreement with Petronas and we look forward to working closely with our new partner in the future," commented Mercedes Team Principal Ross Brawn. "The collaboration of the premium automotive brand Mercedes-Benz and a company as prestigious as Petronas gives our team a fantastic base from which to achieve our ambitions of competing at the top level of Formula 1 and building on the success of 2009, which saw the team achieve the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships.
"Our plans for the new season are progressing well, as is the development of our 2010 challenger, and we look forward to seeing the car run in the new silver arrows and Petronas livery at the Valencia test in February."

Today’s news marks the first large-scale funding for the Mercedes team, which has released a concept livery (below) showing Petronas branding on the sidepods, front and rear wings.

I wonder how much $$$ Petronas are coughing up for the privilege of sponsoring the reigning Champions in 2010 and beyond?

[Image from GP Update]