Ex-F1 Mechanic Alastair Gibson brings racing materials to fish sculptures. Wait, wha?

Alistair Gibson's sculptures from F1 car parts - Click above for a gallery of images

Alistair Gibson spent 22 years in Formula 1 paddocks as a mechanic with teams like Benetton and BAR Honda. With decades of carbon fiber and shiny bits swimming in his head, it probably shouldn't come as a complete surprise that after leaving pit lane he has begun fabricating motorsports-influenced sculptures of fish.

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Lola considers 2010 F1 team entry

Lola considers 2010 F1 team entry

British racing car company Lola has announced it is contemplating a formula one foray for 2010.


"Lola has appointed key new staff to the project and allocated some of its top engineers to this stage of the evaluation," read a statement issued by Lola, which last attempted a F1 team in 1997.


Spurred by the FIA's plans for budget caps, the Huntingdon-based marque said it has commenced a "full technical, operational and financial evaluation" in view of developing a F1 car.


"The current necessity for formula one to adopt a responsible approach in times of economic uncertainty has created the ideal conditions for us to consider developing a car for the world championship," said executive chairman Martin Birrane.


That project was abandoned after one race, but Lola's history of involvement with the sport dates back to the early 1960s.

Currently, it produces prototype Le Mans sports cars.
via:World Car Fans


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Chinese Grand Prix – Vettel scores Red Bull's first pole

Red Bull and Sebastien Vettel will start the Chinese Grand Prix from Pole position as Baby Schumi scythed his way up the order despite running just 11 laps because of a driveshaft problem. Joining him alongside will be the Renault of Fernando Alonso who pushed down early P1-holder Mark Webber into 3rd place. The two Brawns of Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button will start 4th and 5th with Jarno Trulli, Nico Rosberg, Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastien Buemi completing the top 10.

Jarno Trulli, much fancied before qualifying, was sixth for Toyota on 1m 36.835s, ahead of fuel-heavy Nico Rosberg on 1m 37.397s in the Williams, Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen on 1m 38.089s, McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, who only got one run for his 1m 38.595, and Sebastien Buemi who put his Toro Rosso 10th with 1m 39.321s.

Q2 had surprisingly accounted for four fancied stars. Nick Heidfeld could not better 11th with 1m 35.975s for BMW Sauber, together with the McLarens the only car that will go into the race with KERS. Heikki Kovalainen was next up for the Woking team on 1m 36.032s ahead of Felipe Massa’s Ferrari on 1m 36.033s and Timo Glock’s Toyota on 1m 36.066s. Glock is set to drop five grid places thanks to a gearbox change. Once again, the times were incredibly closed. Kazuki Nakajima was 15th with 1m 36.193s for Williams.

Sebastien Bourdais was the fastest faller in Q1, lapping his Toro Rosso in 1m 36.906s for 16th. Nelson Piquet had another unhappy ride for Renault for 17th on 1m 36.908s, which left him ahead of a disappointed Robert Kubica whose BMW Sauber was left on 1m 36.966s. At the back were the Force Indias of Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella, evenly matched on 1m 37.669s and 1m 37.672s.
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FIA official crashes F1 Renault car

An official of F1's governing body FIA on Thursday had a high speed crash at the wheel of a contemporary grand prix car.

The FIA official driving the R28 was none other than Mohammed bin Sulayem, the U.A.E. automobile club president and FIA Vice President. According to early reports, the car swung heavily to the right under heavy acceleration on the main straight of the Dubai Autodrome, causing it to crash into a concrete barrier. Sulayem was subsequently sent to the on-track medical center and according to a Renault spokesman, he was uninjured and the car will be repaired to continue this weeks 'Roadshow.'
via jalopnik



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Button Leads BrawnGP 1-2 in F1 Season Opener in Melbourne

The 2009 championship opener on Sunday lived up to its pre-season hype, with Jenson Button leading an eventful Brawn one-two at Albert Park.
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Brawn locks out Melbourne front row

Mar.28 (GMM) The newly Virgin-branded Brawn's winter testing victory translated on Saturday into locking out the front row of the grid for the 2009 season opener.

After Williams' Nico Rosberg captured the fastest times in all three pre-qualifying practice sessions, Jenson Button shifted into a higher gear to capture pole in Australia.

His teammate Rubens Barrichello was three tenths slower but still a comfortable second, as Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel joined the white-overalled drivers from Brackley in the post-session press conference.
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New Ferrari.com website to go live during first 2009 F1 Grand Prix season opener

Ferrari is launching its redesigned website this Sunday on March 29. A host of new features will ensure visitors to the site never forget the experience. One of the latest features will be the Maranello Experience section. When going into this visitors are able to take a virtual tour of the company complex in Maranello. The images and video clips will give visitors a 360° view and much better understanding of how Ferrari cars are assembled.

Visitors can click on the GT & Sport cars section if they are keen on choosing and personalising a Ferrari of their choice, from exterior colours and interiors to taking their pick from the list of optional extras. They can even take a virtual test drive at the Mugello Circuit and have Michael Schumacher advise them on the best racing lines to take.


During F1 GP race weekends users can keep up with the two cars live on the track, including getting information on telemetry. Test driver Marc Genè will give the users advice on each situation as well. An exclusive area is being reserved for existing Ferrari customers in order to facilitate better communication between themselves and the company.


Ferrari promises a never-ending adventure on their new website thanks to these and other features, plus the 500 articles, 2173 images and 600 video clips that are posted.
via:teamspeed



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Timo Glock goes up on two wheels in a Toyota Hilux

Just another example of how versatile F1 drivers really are, Glock managed to master the extremely difficult task of controlling a Toyota Hilux pickup on two wheels on only his third attempt.

The 27-year-old German then repeated the feat a number of times - piloting the near-standard Hilux more than 60m on two wheels on his final run.

"This was a lot of fun," Glock said of his stunt driving cameo. "Although, I think it would be a little hard to drive a Formula 1 car on two wheels."


In the lead up to F1’s season opener in Melbourne, Australia, this weekend, Toyota driver Timo Glock has been treated with a ride by the company’s renowned ‘Toyota V6 Hilux Heroes’ stunt driving team. Glock spent the day at Calder Park Raceway north of Melbourne where he learnt the secrets of stunt driving from the team’s professional teachers.


Glock was tutored by Guinness World Record holder, Lawrence 'The Legend' Ryan, and the team's lead driver Jack Monkhouse, who showed off the finer points of two-wheel driving before unleashing the F1 pilot behind the wheel.
via:motorauthority




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FIA introduces voluntary budget cap for 2010

The FIA on Tuesday announced that a voluntary budget cap will apply in formula one next year.

Following a meeting in Paris of the World Motor Sport Council, the body said the annual limit, set for now at 33m euros, will be "an alternative to running under the existing rules" which will remain unchanged until 2012 according to a deal reached with the FOTA alliance.

The budget cap is clearly designed to make the sport accessible to existing and new independent outfits, while allowing the bigger teams to keep spending bigger amounts of money.

The catch for the non-capped teams will be less technical freedom than the capped teams, who will be able to run a more efficient (standard) underbody, moveable wings, and engines without rev limits or frozen development.

Capped teams will also have no limits on testing, and FIA president Max Mosley said a bigger-capacity KERS is a possibility.

"The FIA has the right to adjust elements of these freedoms to ensure that the cost-capped cars have neither an advantage nor a disadvantage when compared to cars running to the existing rules," a statement read.

The 33m figure will cover "all expenditure of any kind", including driver and team boss salaries, and only excluding the motor home and FIA fines.

"These rules will encourage clever engineering -- success will come to the teams with the best ideas, not only the teams with the most money," said Mosley.

He said "very intrusive audits" and the fear of "severe penalties" will deter capped teams from overspending, and that the number of teams allowed in F1 will be increased from the current 12.

"We understand that FOM will pay the cost-capped teams on the same basis as other teams and will also provide $10 million plus the standard transport package for the 11th and 12th teams starting in 2010," added Mosley.



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Toyota nearly axed F1 team - boss

Executives of the Toyota Motor Corporation considered following fellow struggling Japanese carmaker out of formula one, a top chief of the Cologne based team has admitted.

Tadashi Yamashina, team principal and chairman of the marque's motor racing arm Toyota Motorsport GmbH, told a news conference that the global financial crisis led Tokyo based officials to consider reducing costs by pulling out of the sport.

"I stressed again and again in the company's executive board meetings there was no way we should pull out, although we have to drastically cut our costs," he is quoted as saying by the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.

"Obviously our negative business reports did cause some doubt."

Yamashina said Panasonic's decision to extend its contract as team title sponsor through to 2012 was instrumental.

"I was extremely happy that Panasonic decided to renew its contract with us even though they also had some financial trouble. Their understanding of what we are doing allowed us to keep racing," he admitted.
Source: GMM



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Even the cynics were astonished when Jenson Button cut the timing beam on the Circuit de Catalunya pit straight on Wednesday.

Low fuel run to impress potential sponsors or not, the Brawn GP had circulated the Barcelona layout in an unofficial 1:19.1.

Last April for the Spanish Grand Prix at the same venue, Robert Kubica's BMW was the fastest car in the low-fuel Q2 phase - a 1min20.5.
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Formula One racers at Barcelona testing session

Toro Rosso F1 driver Sebastien Bourdais takes a curve in his new STR4 racing car during a testing session at Catalunya's racetrack in Montmelo near Barcelona March 9, 2009.


Toro Rosso F1 driver Sebastien Bourdais takes a curve on his new STR4 racing car during a testing session at Catalunya's racetrack in Montmelo near Barcelona March 9, 2009


Renault Formula One driver Nelson Piquet takes a curve on his racing car during a test session at Catalunya's racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona, March 9, 2009.


Toyota Formula One driver Jarno Trulli takes a curve on his racing car during a test session at Catalunya's racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona, March 9, 2009.


Ferrari's F1 driver Kimi Raikkonen walks near the paddock during a testing session at Catalunya's racetrack in Montmelo near Barcelona March 10, 2009.


Renault's Formula One driver Fernando Alonso of Spain walks by the paddock during a testing session at Catalunya's racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona, March 10, 2009
(xinhua)

Honda Announces Sale of the Honda Racing F1 Team

TOKYO, Japan, March 6, 2009 – Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has announced the sale of the Honda Racing F1 Team (HRF1) to Ross Brawn, the former Team Principal of Honda Racing F1 Team.

The entire shares of the HRF1, held by Honda GP Holdings Ltd., the UK-based holding company for HRF1 that managed all operations of Honda’s Formula One racing, were sold to Ross Brawn. As a result of this sale, the team ownership has transferred to Mr. Brawn, who plans to have the new team compete for this year’s FIA Formula One World Championship.
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Fry hints team survival announcement imminent

Mar.5 (GMM) Nick Fry on Thursday all but confirmed widespread speculation that the Brackley based team will survive the withdrawal of Honda and race in 2009.

The Briton, thought to have assumed a diminished role in the Ross Brawn-led management buyout, in fact was the sole representative of the team at the FOTA press conference on Thursday.
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Geneva 2009: FOTA reveals F1 blueprint

Formula one teams have proposed a new points scoring system for the 2009 season and beyond.

The FOTA alliance fronted a media event in Geneva on Thursday, where they laid out their blueprint for the evolution of the sport.
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Button agrees to slash 2009 retainer

Jenson Button has agreed to cut his 2009 retainer in half as the Honda team survives the withdrawal of the Japanese manufacturer.

A management buyout headed by Ross Brawn has apparently been green-lighted by the carmaker's Tokyo board, but it will mean a drastically reduced budget this season.

The Daily Telegraph in Britain claims up to 300 of the 700 Brackley based staff will be shed, while 29-year-old Button voluntarily cuts his contracted $15m salary for this season in two.

Some of the Brackley staff, however, are reportedly unhappy with the Brawn buyout and prepared to strike.

If Honda had folded the team, the manufacturer would have dished out healthy severance packages, while under the Brawn deal, many staff will still be shed but not compensated as handsomely.

Those surviving the job cuts face pay cuts, the Telegraph added.


Source: GMM

Raikkonen friends with Guns N' Roses rocker

Ferrari driver and former world champion Kimi Raikkonen has revealed in an interview that he is friends with a legendary American rock singer.

47-year-old Axl Rose is the iconic Guns N' Roses front man, and has known Raikkonen since the Finnish racer's days at McLaren, the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera said.

In the booklet of the band's latest album Chinese Democracy, Axl Rose thanked Raikkonen. "I don't know why, but we know each other quite well," Kimi said.

"We've been together several times, the first time was years ago and he has also come to Finland to meet with me," the 29-year-old added.
Source: GMM via:f1way



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Richard Branson's Virgin Group interested in Honda F1 team

Is there anything in this world that billionaire Richard Branson isn't interested in? The British tycoon already has over 360 ventures under the control his Virgin Group, and he may soon add another. According to an unnamed spokesperson for Honda, Branson is in discussions, along with other unknown interested parties, to purchase the erstwhile Formula 1 team that was formerly part of a factory-backed effort from the Japanese automaker.

The 2009 F1 season begins in Australia on March 29, and officials for the ex-Honda racing team have been under frantic negotiations to get their stars aligned and cars on the starting grid ever since Honda announced it was pulling its support from the team late last year. Current speculation suggests that the team may use engines from Mercedes-Benz, though a decision on the team's fate would need to be made as quickly as possible.

F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone has said that he's personally spoken with Branson about the possibility and has offered public support for Virgin's bid.
Source: Reuters via:autoblog



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'All banks' to exit F1 - Marc Surer

Feb.17 (GMM) ING's departure from formula one represents the end of an era for the sport, according to former grand prix driver and Swiss commentator Marc Surer.

Following the Dutch bank's announcement on Monday morning, the Flavio Briatore-led Renault team said the news justifies the current moves for a "restructuring of our sport" and "drastic cost reductions".
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Rumours tip Virgin as late Honda bidder

As the clock to Melbourne clicks down to less than 40 days, the latest rumour in the Honda saga is that Sir Richard Branson may be the mysterious late bidder for the Brackley-based team.

It seems clear that the proposed management buyout, led by Nick Fry and Ross Brawn, came close to fruition in recent days, until reports that an 'unnamed third party' stepped in at the eleventh hour.
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