Latest F1 news in brief
- Renault to be in F1 for 'long time' – CEO
- BMW pressure 'high' for Heidfeld – Ralf
- Italian press hails Monaco master Hamilton
Renault to be in F1 for 'long time' – CEO
(GMM) The CEO of Renault says the French auto maker remains committed to formula one.
On a visit to the Monte Carlo paddock on Sunday, Carlos Ghosn said that – despite Enstone based Renault's second consecutive season out of contention for the title – there are no plans to scrap the F1 team.
At the same time last year, Ghosn insisted that Renault must always be among the quickest two or three teams in formula one.
But on Sunday, the Frenchman was quoted by the Spanish newspaper Marca as insisting that Renault will be on the grid for a "long time".
"We are working on being able to fight with the top teams again.
"We will be here for a long time," he added, also apparently in reference to Max Mosley's recent claim that the sport is on the cusp of a major financial crisis that could mean the withdrawal of more teams.
Meanwhile, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone vigorously denied Mosley's 'crisis' warning, albeit admitting that the cost of running a team should be reduced.
But wrote in his letter to FIA club presidents: "There is no financial crisis in formula one.
"On the contrary, formula one is in robust health, it enjoys the support of most of the world's leading automotive manufacturers and is sponsored by many of the world's other most prestigious brands.
"Revenues continue to grow, television ratings are high and demand from countries to promote a new grand prix continues to exceed the number of places on the calendar," Ecclestone added.
BMW pressure 'high' for Heidfeld – Ralf
(GMM) Nick Heidfeld will be in no doubt as to the need to emerge quickly from his performance crisis, former BMW-powered driver Ralf Schumacher said on Monday.
Heidfeld, the 31-year-old who finished dead last at Monaco on Sunday, deepened his run of poor form after struggling in 2008 to match the impressive performances of his young BMW-Sauber teammate, Robert Kubica.
BMW boss Mario Theissen has already alluded to the need for all team members to "contribute" to the outfit's progress.
Schumacher, who was BMW-powered at Williams between 2000 and 2004, told the German newspaper Bild when asked about Heidfeld's form: "Clear words are spoken at BMW; expectations are very high."
Heidfeld on Sunday afternoon was not keen to embrace the concept that Monaco proved he is spiraling into a crisis.
But he acknowledged: "It is obvious that I am not getting all the speed out of the car."
Italian press hails Monaco master Hamilton
(GMM) Even the notoriously nationalistic Italian press had to hail Ferrari adversary Lewis Hamilton's win on the streets of Monaco on Sunday.
"With extraordinary talent, Lewis was the master of the wet circuit; he did not even have the best car," La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Italian sports newspaper, wrote.
Famous Italian marque Ferrari, hindered by numerous team and driver mistakes on Sunday afternoon, struggled at the Principality despite locking out the front row of the grid in qualifying.
"Ferrari remains strong enough but Maranello may take the liberty of no more errors," Corriere dello Sport, another Italian sports newspaper, surmised.
Tuttosport, a Turin based sports newspaper, characterized the Prancing Horse's Monte Carlo outing as a "half-disaster", and La Stampa said the race had been a "blackout" amid the common perception that the F2008 is still the quickest car in the field.
"After seven years Ferrari had hoped for victory in the Principality but must again accept humiliation.
"McLaren fully deserves this victory," Tuttosport concluded.