Latest F1 news in brief
- Abu Dhabi happy despite losing final F1 slot
- Team ownership adventure made Brawn millions
- Heidfeld to leave Pirelli role on Friday
- Durango confirms Villeneuve's plans to buy F1 team
- Yamamoto mechanic to sit out next races
- Ferrari's driver hierarchy stance unchanged – Domenicali
- Pirelli happy with Heidfeld despite Sauber deal
- Korea boss says track 'must' be ready for F1
Abu Dhabi happy despite losing final F1 slot
(GMM) Organizers of the Abu Dhabi grand prix insist they have no qualms about losing the coveted final slot on formula one calendar.
The impressive Yas Marina circuit was scheduled to close the last two calendars, but for 2011 that privilege is reverting to Brazil.
"We're not disappointed at all, we're happy with it," track chief executive Richard Cregan is quoted by local newspaper The National.
"It's always been our intention to feature at the latter end of the calendar, but not to necessarily be the last round. The penultimate race could well be a championship decider, but that's not our priority," he added.
Meanwhile, Mohammed ben Sulayem, president of the United Arab Emirates' motor racing sanctioning body, said Abu Dhabi is also happy with the event's unique day/night format.
"It went perfectly last year, so why change it? The day-to-night timing, in terms of international broadcasting and our spectators at Yas, is perfect," he said.
Team ownership adventure made Brawn millions
(GMM) Ross Brawn and other directors shared an impressive dividend after his Brackley based formula one team won the 2009 titles.
According to financial news service Bloomberg, the team's 55-year-old British boss shared $31 million with his co-directors before the team was sold to Mercedes for about US $170 million.
The business filing in London's Companies House also showed a $152 million profit for 2009, the year after Honda pulled out of the sport and sold the team to Brawn and other management for a symbolic pound.
In salaries, Brawn paid himself and his colleagues more than $10m, and they loaned the team $4.5m as it struggled to stay afloat, which was paid back.
Heidfeld to leave Pirelli role on Friday
(GMM) Contrary to reports elsewhere, it is certain that Nick Heidfeld will vacate his role as Pirelli's tire development tester.
After it was announced the 33-year-old is joining Sauber to immediately replace Pedro de la Rosa, speculation emerged that German Heidfeld might make his race return whilst remaining with Pirelli.
It is true that the veteran of almost 170 grands prix is testing Pirelli's tires for a third time this week at Jerez, but then on Friday his role with the Italian marque ends.
Indeed, whilst not referring specifically to Pirelli, Sauber confirmed that Heidfeld's new contract only begins on Friday — after the Jerez test and his final Pirelli outing.
"This is all being done rationally," confirmed Heidfeld's manager Andre Theuerzeit, according to DPA news agency.
"Everyone is well aware that, first of all, a driver wants to go racing," he said.
Auto Motor und Sport magazine said the ousted de la Rosa, with years of experience as McLaren's highly respected main tester, is the obvious candidate to replace Heidfeld at Pirelli.
Durango confirms Villeneuve's plans to buy F1 team
(GMM) Durango, the Italian racing team, has confirmed Jacques Villeneuve's announcement that there are plans to buy an existing formula one team.
After the FIA decided recently to leave the 13th team entry vacant in 2011, 1997 world champion Villeneuve said "plan B" is to "take over one of the existing teams".
Press reports in recent days said HRT and Virgin are the French Canadian's most likely targets.
"The only way to enter F1 in 2011 is to buy an existing team," confirmed Durango spokesman Giuseppe Dorigo to French language Radio Canada Sports.
"And as planned we will do it together with Jacques Villeneuve. Yes, we believe it's worth it.
"Our only goal now is to be on the starting grid next year," added Dorigo.
Yamamoto mechanic to sit out next races
(GMM) The mechanic knocked over at Monza by Sakon Yamamoto during the Japanese's pitstop last Sunday will not be travelling with the HRT team to Asia for the next scheduled races.
The German mechanic, whose first name is Marco, is still in hospital and nursing a broken leg and concussion, according to a report in Finland's Turun Sanomat.
"I was very worried," Yamamoto, whose rear wing and wheel violently struck the radio mechanic when the lollipop was lifted, said after the Italian grand prix.
"I asked if he was ok and I was told that he was not badly injured," he added.
Added team boss Colin Kolles: "We wish that he will recover quickly."
Ferrari's driver hierarchy stance unchanged – Domenicali
(GMM) Felipe Massa has not been relocated to a purely supportive role for the rest of the 2010 season, Ferrari team Stefano Domenicali has insisted.
Brazilian Massa, who contentiously moved over to let his teammate Fernando Alonso win July's German grand prix, sounded resigned to a subordinate role on Sunday at Monza.
"I will continue to fight for the wins and for the good of the team," said Massa, who is 63 points behind the leader with five races left to run.
But despite the perception that Ferrari's main focus is now Alonso's 21 point gap to the championship leader, Domenicali insists there has been no recent change of position with regards to Massa.
"For myself and for us, the consideration is always that everyone does their best for the team," he is quoted by Brazil's Globo Esporte.
"We have not changed our position from the start of the season, but maybe some others have.
"But for ourselves we are happy with our way at looking at the whole situation," added Domenicali.
Pirelli happy with Heidfeld despite Sauber deal
(GMM) Pirelli on Wednesday said it is happy with Nick Heidfeld despite the German signing to race at Sauber for the rest of 2010.
It has been reported that the 33-year-old might not vacate his tire testing role even though this could give the Hinwil based team an unfair advantage over its rivals.
"You should ask Sauber," a spokesman for F1's incoming official tire supplier said.
"For now we have nothing to add or to comment except that we are working very well with Heidfeld," he added.