Latest F1 news in brief
- Journalists overlook Hamilton for award
- No 'grief' from bosses despite injury – Webber
- Cars not allowed at 2010 Donington GP
- Young charger impresses at debut Ferrari test
- Kubica says BMW had different goal in 2008
- Heidfeld to marry partner Patricia Papen
- Hartley in running for Red Bull test seat
Journalists overlook Hamilton for award
(GMM) Lewis Hamilton, Britain's first world champion in 12 years and the youngest in history, has been beaten to a respected British sports plaudit.
The 23-year-old McLaren driver is expected to shortly be named the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year as the result of a popular vote.
But it was Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy who this week secured the Sportsman of the Year award voted by the 600-plus members of the Sports Journalists' Association of Great Britain.
The British Olympic cycling team, meanwhile, secured the teams' prize, it was announced at an awards lunch hosted by association president Michael Parkinson in London.
Hamilton will have another opportunity to even the score with Hoy when he takes on the 32-year-old in a 'race' at the Race of Champions at Wembley stadium next month.
It will hardly be a fair fight, however, as while Hamilton will be driving a Mercedes-Benz road car, Hoy will take to the saddle of his bike, on which he generates less than three horse power.
After the demonstration, the pair will immediately depart for Liverpool for the BBC awards.
No 'grief' from bosses despite injury – Webber
(GMM) Mark Webber has dismissed any suggestion he was rebuked by his F1 employer or managers after breaking his right leg in a high-speed cycling collision with a car last weekend.
Following the incident that occurred during his own outdoor adventure race in Tasmania, the 32-year-old Red Bull driver is still recovering from surgery in hospital.
He told the local newspaper The Mercury that he did not receive any "grief" from officials and paymasters back in Europe.
"I've been in touch with many people in my team, including team principal Christian Horner," the Australian said.
"They've been really supportive and have also had major input into the rehabilitation program."
Webber also said Renault boss Flavio Briatore, who oversees his management, was supportive and did not respond angrily to the news.
"Of course he didn't," Webber said.
"Many, many people have sent well wishes including drivers and members of other teams."
Following reports that the injury could mean the end of future editions of the Mark Webber Challenge, he admitted that the event is under review.
"The next step is for us to do our usual review of the event prior to any announcements about the future," said Webber.
"Unless you're close to this event you tend not to realize the scale of it, so we only commit to the next one when we know we're going to deliver an event of international quality, like we did this year."
Cars not allowed at 2010 Donington GP
(GMM) Cars will be banned from the 2010 British grand prix at Donington.
The irony of having to leave their own four-wheeled vehicles at home in order to see the famous formula one single seaters will not be lost on race-goers, who must instead use buses or trains to get to the circuit.
During an open day at Donington, which is yet to receive planning permission for renovations, chief executive Simon Gillett said F1 spectators will be able to book their transport with their tickets and accommodation.
"This will be the first public transport grand prix. We are not bringing cars here," he is quoted as saying by the Nottingham Evening Post.
Young charger impresses at debut Ferrari test
(GMM) The top three finishers in this year's Italian F3 series this week made their formula one test debuts at Ferrari's local Fiorano circuit.
In a joint initiative of the Maranello based team and the Italian governing body ACI-CSAI, Mirko Bortolotti, Edoardo Piscopo and Salvatore Cicatelli all got turns at the wheel of the constructors' championship-winning F2008 on Wednesday.
F3 champion Bortolotti, who is just 18, achieved the extraordinary feat of beating the fully competitive benchmark lap time – just over 59 seconds – set by regular Ferrari test driver Andrea Bertolini.
"I was able to get comfortable very quickly," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport, "because this car keeps giving you confidence.
"At the end I captured the record, so it could not have gone better," he added.
Piscopo's best lap was a 1.00.3, while Cicatelli's best was a 1.01.2 after 33 laps.
Kubica says BMW had different goal in 2008
(GMM) Robert Kubica has renewed his criticism of the BMW-Sauber team.
The 23-year-old Pole won his and the German team's maiden grand prix in Canada, and left North America with the lead in the drivers' world championship.
He stayed in contention for the sport's biggest prize until late in the season, but had a disastrous last couple of races and ultimately finished fourth.
Earlier in 2008, Kubica outlined has belief that BMW-Sauber were more focused on consolidating its third place in the constructors' championship, and bringing the struggling Nick Heidfeld back up to speed, than winning the drivers' title.
"In the last two or three months, I had the feeling that the team and I were no longer pursuing the same goal," he confirmed in interview with Formule 1 Race Report.
Heidfeld to marry partner Patricia Papen
(GMM) In true romantic style, Nick Heidfeld asked his partner Patricia Papen to marry him.
It is believed the 31-year-old German, who drives for BMW-Sauber, took the mother of his two young children to Paris, where Patricia, also 31, said "yes" beneath the Eiffel Tower.
They live with their daughter Juni (3) and son Joda (1) in Stafa, Switzerland.
A wedding date has not been set.
Hartley in running for Red Bull test seat
(GMM) Brendon Hartley is in the running to become a full time formula one test driver for Red Bull in 2009.
The 19-year-old New Zealander's agent Peter Johnston confirmed to the local news agency NZPA that Hartley, who finished third in this year's British F3 series, will substitute for the injured Mark Webber at the Jerez test later in December.
"Depending on his performance, he could become a full time test driver for Red Bull in 2009," Johnston said.
Hartley is now among the cream of the Red Bull's junior driver program, and has done some limited testing with the energy drink's two formula one teams in 2008.
Johnston said: "The Red Bull test is another step forward for his dream of reaching formula one — it's all part of his apprenticeship."
Hartley visited Red Bull's Milton Keynes (UK) factory this week for a seat fitting.
This year's Red Bull test driver was Sebastien Buemi, who is tipped to move up to a race seat at Toro Rosso in 2009.