F1 news briefs from Hungary

(GMM) The timing foul-up at the end of qualifying on Saturday wasn't the only technical problem so far this weekend in Hungary. On Friday, the mobile phone network O2 crashed, leaving British based teams including Red Bull and Williams offline. Suffice it to say, many journalists and other personnel at the circuit were also affected.

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Mercedes' Norbert Haug was not impressed with the timing failure in qualifying, which left millions of live television viewers – not to mention drivers like the pole sitter Fernando Alonso – initially unaware of the final result. "At formula one level it is not acceptable," said German Haug.

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Ari Vatanen continued his FIA presidency campaign in the Hungaroring paddock, meeting with the formula one drivers' union the GPDA. As the drivers emerged, spokesman Mark Webber said he hopes Jean Todt extends the Grand Prix Drivers' Association a similar invitation.

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Ferrari will scrap the development programme for its 2009 car, the F60, following the forthcoming August summer break, which includes a mandatory two-week factory closure on the grounds of cost cutting. "I think that after the August break, we will be fully concentrated on next year's car," said team boss Stefano Domenicali.

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Bernie Ecclestone gave the sleepy Hungaroring paddock a loud wake-up call early on Saturday morning when he arrived at the circuit via the VIP's entrance named 'Bernie Way'. The F1 chief executive's chauffeur-driven car, which travelled all the way into the paddock alongside the teams' transporters, was escorted by a police motorcycle that had its siren blazing.

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Toro Rosso's most experienced rookie Sebastien Buemi on Friday received a hefty fine for speeding in the Hungaroring pitlane. The breach cost the Swiss 1800 euros.

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Williams has confirmed an agreement over the sport's future is close, despite taking a hard stance in the latest negotiations with the manufacturer-dominated FOTA group. Team chief executive Adam Parr as well as Bernie Ecclestone met in Hungary with FOTA figures Stefano Domenicali and Flavio Briatore, and afterwards told Reuters that Williams made "a couple of very significant concessions". Parr's chief concern was that while FOTA wants to limit wind tunnel time, the bigger teams will simply turn to sophisticated computer methods for aerodynamic development. "Nonetheless, we said 'fine'," he revealed.