ABOUT F1

Cockpit / safety
At the heart of the modern Formula One car lies the immensely strong 'monocoque' structure, often referred to as the 'tub'. This incorporates the cockpit and the driver's 'survival cell', but also forms the principal component of the car's chassis, with the engine and front suspension mounted directly to it. Both roles - as structural component and safety device - require it to be as strong as possible.

Like the rest of the car, most of the monocoque is constructed from carbon fibre. Normally it comprises high-density woven laminate exterior panels, and a strong, light 'honeycomb' structure inside. Constructing the monocoque is one of the biggest jobs faced by a team's composite technicians. It's not dissimilar to a 1:1 scale model kit, with hundreds of separate carbon fibre components being bonded together using very powerful adhesives.

The fact so many Formula One drivers have survived enormous accidents is testament to the enormous strength of the survival cell. This, in turn, is a tribute to the teams' very real commitment to safety, but also the constantly evolving technical regulations (laid down by the FIA) which define the increasingly stringent safety requirements.

The fundamental principle remains, as always, that the driver should be able to get out in the least possible time - five seconds, according to the regulations, and without having to remove anything except the steering wheel. (The regulations also say that the driver should be able to put the steering wheel back on in another five seconds, vital for the safe manoeuvring of stricken cars near the track). Crash protection areas are incorporated into the front and rear of the survival cell, as is the mandatory roll-over protection hoop behind the driver's seat. In recent years effort has been concentrated on increasing the protection for drivers' heads - the area most vulnerable to harm by flying debris, by specifying taller and tougher cockpit side walls.

As with road-cars, all Formula One cars must pass several crash and loading tests before being passed fit for racing. It is no coincidence that the FIA is one of the active partners in the Euro-NCAP road-car testing programme. The impact tests require the car's survival cell to be attached to a special trolley with a 75 kg crash-test dummy in place - this then being collided with a solid object at a speed of 15 m/s (54 km/h, 33 mph), with the forces applied to the dummy and the trolley carefully measured. The low speed of the test is no reflection on a Formula One car's ability to absorb the forces of larger impacts - the speeds have been chosen to allow the most accurate measurement of the car's ability to safely absorb the unwanted momentum of an accident. Rear impact and steering column loading tests are also carried out.

Barrichello staying with Honda for 2008
Honda driver Rubens Barrichello has revealed that he will continue to race for the team next year. It will be Barrichello’s third season with the Japanese squad following his departure from Ferrari at the end of 2005.

“I am delighted to confirm that I am staying with Honda for 2008,” Barrichello said on his official website. “When I came here in 2006, it was always my intention to develop a long-term relationship and help build a strong team together. 2007 has been tough so far but I believe we are heading in the right direction again.”

Barrichello has yet to score a point this season, his best result to date being a ninth place at Silverstone. However, the Brazilian believes a number of forthcoming staff appointments to the team, including Williams’ chief aerodynamicist Loic Bigois, will help bolster their fortunes.

“In addition to the great team we have already, there are some good new people coming on board and I have confidence that we will make progress now,” he added. “Jenson (Button) and I have a great relationship together as team mates and stability will be key as we look forward to the challenge of 2008.”

As expected, Honda have also confirmed that Jenson Button will remain as Barrichello’s team mate. It will be Button’s sixth year with the squad, after joining back in 2003.

“Although we are still very firmly focused on the current season, I am excited about the opportunity that we have for 2008,” commented the British driver. “It goes without saying that 2007 has been extremely frustrating but over the past few races we have gradually started to see some improvement. Every team has good times and bad and I am confident that our recent difficulties are now behind us and that next year looks promising.”

The news comes just days after Gil de Ferran left his role as the Honda team’s sporting director.

Ralf reassures fans he will be back in 2008
Despite enduring a poor start to the season, Toyota’s Ralf Schumacher has dismissed speculation he plans to call time on his 11-year Formula One career. Schumacher, whose contract with the Japanese team expires at the end of 2007, is confident he will still be on the grid in 2008.

“I am certainly not going to permit myself to be irritated by media rumours,” Schumacher told fans on his official website. “I promise you: In 2008 I will definitely be racing in Formula One. When the time is ripe we will make an announcement regarding which team I will be driving for. Nothing has been decided at present.”

Schumacher has scored just two points in nine races and has only finished three events in the top ten. The German has also been noticeably slower than team mate Jarno Trulli in qualifying, only getting into Q3 on three occasions. He believes his lack of pace has stemmed from the handling characteristics of the Toyota TF107, which were not initially to his liking.

“During the early races its characteristics just did not suit my style,” he explained. “In the meantime the team has made slight changes, and I have tried to adapt to the challenges brought about by the rule changes, which was certainly not easy. Despite what the armchair experts say, it is simply not possible to change one’s driving style, one which, after all, functioned extremely well for many years, overnight.”

But after clinching a sixth-place grid slot at the last race in Britain, Schumacher believes things may be looking up.

“Admittedly, the season has not gone the way we had imagined it would,” he added. “It would appear, though, that we are on the right track after a faltering start to the season, as my sixth place at the Silverstone grid indicates. That is not where I would like to be in the medium-term, but it is a start.”

At 32 years old, Schumacher is six years younger than his brother Michael, who retired from Formula One racing at the end of 2006.

Welcome to the 10th round of the 2007 FIA Formula One World Championship, the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring, Germany 20-22 july.

after 2 str8 wins ferrari are favorites to take this one with Massa and Raikonnen in good form.

The F1 Calendar at a glance

Magyar Nagydíj - Hungarian Grand Prix 03-05 August
Petrol Ofisi Turkish Grand Prix  24-26 August
Gran Premio d'Italia 2007 - Italian Grand Prix 07-09 September
ING Belgian Grand Prix    14-16 September
Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix  28-30 September
Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix   05-07 October
Grande Prêmio do Brasil - Brazilian Grand Prix   19-21 October

Practice One - BMW push McLaren and Ferrari hard

McLaren and Ferrari duked it out at the Nurburgring as practice for the European Grand Prix got underway this morning, with BMW Sauber right in there with them.

All three teams seemed evenly matched thus far, with Lewis Hamilton setting the pace on 1m 32.515s chased by Kimi Raikkonen (1m 32.751s), Fernando Alonso (1m 32.932s) and Nick Heidfeld (1m 32.975s).

European Grand Prix - facts and figures

Ahead of this weekend’s European Grand Prix at Germany’s Nurburgring, catch up on some trivia about the event itself and the legendary circuit…

- The European Grand Prix has been hosted at four different circuits including British tracks Brands Hatch and Donington, and Jerez in Spain. The Nurburgring, however, has staged the event more than any other venue. Indeed this weekend’s European race will be the 12th held at the German track.

- Only 56 percent of a Nurburgring lap is driven at full throttle, which makes the German track one of the least taxing for engines. A car’s gearbox, however, is put under more pressure with an average Formula One driver making 49 shifts per lap.

- Nigel Mansell and Mika Hakkinen both scored their maiden Formula One wins at the European Grand Prix, with Mansell triumphing in 1985 for Williams and Hakkinen taking victory at the 1997 event for McLaren. Neither, however, won from pole position. Mansell started from third, behind Nelson Piquet and pole-sitter Ayrton Senna while Hakkinen won from fifth on the grid.

- The best locations for overtaking on the Nurburgring are into the downhill hairpin at Turn Seven and through the final chicane. Occasionally passes have been made into the downward right-hander of Turn One.

- Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen scored his first pole position (for McLaren) at the 2003 European Grand Prix. Nick Heidfeld also clinched a debut pole at the event in 2005 for Williams, but the only other driver to have done the same was Elio Angelis back in 1983 for Lotus. All three, however, failed to win the race, with Raikkonen and Angelis both retiring with technical problems and Heidfeld crossing the line second behind Renault’s Fernando Alonso.

- Located alongside the modern Nurburgring circuit is the legendary Nordschleife track, which was home to the German Grand Prix from its inauguration in 1927 onwards. One of the toughest driving challenges ever devised, the Nordschleife hosted some of the most exciting races in Formula One history. Designed without any run-off areas or gravel traps, it was also incredibly dangerous and when Niki Lauda suffered a serious accident in the 1976 event, the track lost its license.

- Michael Schumacher is the only driver to record more than one victory at the European Grand Prix. Schumacher won the event six times between 1994 and 2006 for both Ferrari and Benetton. Five were at the Nurburgring, but the German’s first victory in 1994 was at Jerez in Spain.

- As a result of Schumacher’s European success, Ferrari can claim to be the most successful team at the event. The Italian squad scored five victories between 2000 and 2006. Although four were thanks to Schumacher, one, in 2002 was clinched by Rubens Barrichello, who finished just ahead of his illustrious German team mate.

- Williams have enjoyed the most qualifying success at the European event. The British team has taken pole on six occasions, each with a different driver. Lotus, McLaren and Ferrari have each twice claimed P1 on the grid.

Lewis Hamilton's championship lead was slashed as he failed to score points in a dramatic European Grand Prix won by his McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso.

The Spaniard took the lead from Felipe Massa's Ferrari with five laps left in a race defined by rain showers.

Hamilton finished ninth and is now just two points ahead of the world champion, with Massa a further nine behind.

Mark Webber's Red Bull was third as Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen retired, dealing his title hopes a heavy blow.

The Finn was in third place behind Massa and Alonso when his engine started to cut out shortly after half distance and he was forced to retire.

Raikkonen remains 18 points behind Hamilton with a maximum of only 70 still available in the remaining seven races.

Hamilton's hopes of scoring points were dashed in a torrential early shower of rain.

After starting 10th following his crash in qualifying, he was up to fourth after the first few corners.

But it was pouring down by the time the cars were halfway around the first lap.

Debutant Markus Winkelhock in the Spyker, who had started from the pit lane on wet tyres, assumed the lead as everyone else pulled into the pits to change to wet-weather tyres.

But the rain was soon so hard that cars were spinning off all over the place and the race was stopped after four laps.

Hamilton was among six drivers - including Honda's Jenson Button - to go off at the first corner, where the track was under water, but he kept his engine running and was able to rejoin the race at the back of the field.


Hamilton survived this moment but it was a bad day for him
The re-start took place under blue skies on a still-damp track, and Massa and Alonso wasted no time in passing Winkelhock.

But Hamilton gambled on using dry-weather tyres at the re-start, and initially it did not pay off - he ran off the track and into the gravel on the first racing lap.

He managed to rejoin, though, and was soon setting fastest laps as he attempted to make up lost ground, prompting the other leading runners to come in to the pits to follow his lead in fitting dry tyres.

Hamilton drove flat out for the rest of the afternoon and had hauled himself up into eighth place when a late shower of rain hit with nine laps to go.

While the other drivers immediately pitted to change tyres, Hamilton stayed out on his dry-weather tyres, hoping to benefit from the others' stops.

But his second gamble of the afternoon also failed to pay off - the rain continued and Hamilton was forced to stop with five laps to go, dropping him to 10th.


Massa held off Alonso for much of the race until a late shower
He gained one place before the end at the expense of Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella.

The battle at the front was equally eventful.

Once the race had settled down after the re-start, Massa led from Alonso and Raikkonen, and the Brazilian slowly began to build an advantage over the McLaren driver.

Massa and Alonso made what they thought would be their final pit stops shortly after Raikkonen's retirement, on laps 37 and 38, and soon the world champion began to make in-roads into the Ferrari's seven-second lead.

Alonso had cut Massa's lead to four seconds when the weather played into his hands.

Much faster than Massa in the slippery conditions, he quickly caught the Ferrari.

The Brazilian earned the world champion's wrath with some robust defensive driving, but the Spaniard finally took the lead with a brave move around the outside of turn five.

"I enjoy this kind of race, it was incredible," Alonso said.

"In dry conditions the Ferraris were quicker than us. The rain at the end helped, our car seems to be quicker in the wet. Always when it rains I am quite happy and I have some fun."

Webber drove a strong race to reward Red Bull with their first podium finish in a difficult season plagued by poor reliability.

The Australian had to fight off a late challenge from Williams driver Alexander Wurz, who used all his experience and guile to take advantage of the chaotic conditions - just as he did in Canada last month - and finish fourth.

Heikki Kovalainen looked set to finish fifth after the latest in a series of impressive races, but he and Renault gambled on stopping early for wet tyres with 10 laps to go.

That dropped the Renault driver to eighth and promoted Webber's team-mate David Coulthard to fifth.

The BMW Saubers of Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica were sixth and seventh.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

European Grand Prix result after 60-lap race:

1. Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren-Mercedes two hours six minutes 26.358 seconds
2. Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari 8.155 seconds behind
3. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault at 1:05.674
4. Alexander Wurz (Aut) Williams-Toyota 1:05.937
5. David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull-Renault 1:13.656
6. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 1:20.298
7. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 01:22.415
8. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) Renault 1 lap behind
9. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren 1 lap
10. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 1 lap
11. Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Honda 1 lap
12. Anthony Davidson (GB) Super Aguri-Honda 1 lap
13. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 1 lap
R Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 34 laps completed
R Takuma Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri-Honda 19 laps completed
R Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 18 laps
R Markus Winkelhock (Ger) Spyker-Ferrari 13 laps
R Jenson Button (GB) Honda two laps
R Adrian Sutil (Ger) Spyker-Ferrari two laps
R Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-Toyota two laps
R Scott Speed (US) Toro Rosso-Ferrari two laps
R Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Toro Rosso-Ferrari two laps

R = retired

Fastest lap: Massa, 1:32.853, lap 34

Crazy crazy race! I thought Massa had this race all wrapped up before the rains showed up again in the closing stages. Alonso's car was perfectly set up for the wet conditions and he maximized it to full effect. My major worry is Ferrari's recent reliability issues, first it was Massa's Ferrari stalling @ Silverstone, then Kimi's hydraulic system. We need to step up our game to challenge for this year's championship, its still wide open though, 7 more races to go. The race was nevertheless intriguing amidst the changing conditions and different team strategies, lets hope for drier conditions in Hungary.

Alonso must love the rains c'os it happened again and he won in Hungary!

Alonso weathers the storm to win Nurburgring thriller

McLaren’s Fernando Alonso won a humdinger of a European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring on Sunday afternoon, in a contest that at the start was almost rendered farcical by rain.

But it was only when more precipitation fell on parts of the track in the closing laps that the Spaniard was able to pounce on erstwhile leader Felipe Massa, and to snatch the triumph from the Brazilian in the Ferrari.

It was a great day for Alonso, for team mate Lewis Hamilton had an up and down race which ultimately brought him no points and ended his nine-race string of podium visits. Alonso thus has 68 points to Hamilton’s 70, and with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen failing to finish, Massa lies third on 59 to the Finn’s 52.

To begin with there was total confusion as a deluge, which arrived earlier than expected, flooded the track during the opening lap. That then prompted the extraordinary sight of rookie Markus Winkelhock leading on his debut by the second lap, thanks to Spyker presciently putting him on full wets after the parade lap. As everyone else headed for the pits (well, not leader Raikkonen, who tried to, but then slid over the pit lane entry line and back on to the track!), the first corner claimed Honda’s Jenson Button (who had risen to third but got slightly short-braked in the appalling conditions behind Massa and Alonso), Spyker’s Adrian Sutil and Toro Rosso team mates Scott Speed and Tonio Liuzzi (whose STR07 had broken its rear suspension after being rear-ended on the opening lap). Hamilton also went off there, but was rescued by a crane that Liuzzi nearly struck.

The race was wisely red flagged on the fourth lap as everything was tidied up, then restarted behind the safety car in better conditions half an hour later. Everyone who could run was allowed to, and after three more laps behind the safety car (in which Hamilton was allowed to unlap himself), the racing resumed on Lap Eight. Massa quickly asserted himself over Alonso, but another flurry of pit stops as people switched from wet Bridgestones to dry tyres as conditions improved, enabled the canny Raikkonen to jump up to a challenging third by Lap 14 as Massa and Alonso continued their duel.

The Finn stopped later with an intermittent problem that crippled his Ferrari on the 35th lap, and as the race went into its second half Massa pulled away from Alonso. Then the rain came back with 10 laps to run, prompting another rash of stops. Massa and Alonso came in together on Lap 53. Later the Brazilian complained of a set of tyres that vibrated badly, and soon Alonso was able to reel him in before grabbing the lead on the 56th lap, the sides of their respective cars briefly making contact in the process. Massa clung on to second, while behind them Red Bull’s Mark Webber just managed to keep hold of the third place he had held for much of the race, as a similarly vibrating set of tyres on the Red Bull enabled Alex Wurz to mount a late challenge for Williams. They finished nose to tail.

Further back, David Coulthard made it a great day for Red Bull with fifth, ahead of the duelling BMW Saubers of Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica. They had tangled on the opening lap when the Pole tried a move in Turn Two that spun the German, and it was only at the very end that Heidfeld moved back ahead. He faced a post-race investigation after pushing Toyota's Ralf Schumacher off the track in the final corner on Lap 19, but the stewards ultimately deemed it a racing incident.

Poor Hamilton! He had made a brilliant start to run fourth by Turn Two, only to sustain a puncture that crippled his car. No sooner had he pitted for a replacement than he slid off the road in the lake in Turn One, from whence he was lucky to be rescued by the mobile crane. A lap behind now, he was allowed under the new rules to make up that lap behind the safety car, but a premature switch to dry tyres put him off the road again briefly. He then launched a great comeback as he traded fastest laps with Massa while trying to get back on the lead lap. After a dogged drive he got back into the points in eighth place on Lap 53, but then the need to pit for wets dropped him back. In the final laps he passed Renault’s Giancarlo Fisichella (for the second time, having overtaken him earlier round the outside in Turn 12), but he just ran out of time to deprive Heikki Kovalainen in the second R27 of the final point, even though he was at that stage lapping three seconds faster than the Renaults.

Behind Fisichella, Rubens Barrichello brought the surviving Honda home 11th, having been given a hard time for much of the race by Anthony Davidson’s Super Aguri, and Jarno Trulli brought his Toyota home 13th.

Besides Raikkonen, Schumacher, Button, Sutil, Speed and Liuzzi, Nico Rosberg was taken out when he was hit from behind shortly after doing likewise to Barrichello on the second lap, Super Aguri’s Takuma Sato retired after 19 laps, and so did Winkelhock after 13, following his moments of glory in the Spyker early on.

It was one of those races with a thousand moments, many of which are still being unravelled. But three things stood out: the superb performances by Alonso, Massa and Hamilton; the wisdom of the FIA in stopping the race initially but later leaving it to run its course (when conditions were nothing like as severe) and Red Bull’s best day in Formula One racing.

Roll on Hungary!

DRIVER STANDINGS

01 Lewis Hamilton 70
02 Fernando Alonso 68
03 Felipe Massa 59
04 Kimi Räikkönen 52
05 Nick Heidfeld 36
06 Robert Kubica 24

CONSTRUCTOR STANDINGS

01 McLaren-Mercedes 138
02 Ferrari 111
03 BMW 61
04 Renault 32
05 Williams-Toyota 18
06 Red Bull-Renault 16

http://www.formula1.com/

The Australian Grand Prix has lost its traditional place as the curtain raiser to the Formula One season, with Bahrain set to replace it in 2008.

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation have announced that the March 16 event, held in Melbourne's Albert Park, will be the second race on next year's calendar, and will also start 90 minutes later than usual - at 3.30pm local time - to accommodate European TV audiences.

The date is subject to final confirmation from Formula One's governing body, the FIA, but AGPC chairman Ron Walker admitted: "This is the best option for our event and the people who support it.

"Going later will benefit fans at Albert Park, who will enjoy an even bigger day of entertainment, and people watching the race live in other parts of the world - especially Europe, where fans will be able to get up closer to breakfast time."

Walker also rejected a plan mooted by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone that Melbourne might stage a night race in order to boost flagging ratings.

Ecclestone had warned in May that the race could disappear if organisers were not prepared to hold a floodlit event, the type of which Malaysia and Singapore are looking at.

The Victorian state government, which supports the race, had said it would investigate the option, but Walker asserted: "Our investigations have convinced us that as things currently stand, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages."

http://msnsport.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=478176&CPID=583&clid=&lid=2579&title=Aussies+lose+opening+slot&channel=Formula+One&

McLaren await their fate in Paris

McLaren will appear at an extraordinary meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris on Thursday morning to answer charges relating to the alleged possession of confidential technical data belonging to rivals Ferrari.

The British team, currently atop both the drivers’ and constructors’ standings, are accused of breaching Article 151c of the International Sporting Code. If found guilty they could have points docked or even be disqualified from the championship.

Article 151c relates to “any fraudulent conduct, or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition, or to the interests of motor sport generally”. The charges stem from claims that McLaren’s chief designer Mike Coughlan, currently suspended by the team, held almost 800 pages of Ferrari documentation - enough to design, engineer, build, check, test, develop and/or run a 2007 Ferrari Formula One car.

McLaren have maintained throughout the affair that prior to Coughlan’s suspension no other member of the team was aware of the material, and have insisted that no Ferrari information has at any stage been used in the development of their 2007 car.

“McLaren looks forward to having the opportunity to present the complete and accurate picture of events in the appropriate forum,” said the team, after admitting their disappointment at being called before the FIA.

If the Council does accept McLaren’s defence it will then be faced with the unenviable task of deciding whether the team should be held accountable for the actions of one individual. Ferrari will be present to witness the outcome, though it is not clear whether they will be presenting evidence to the hearing.

Whatever the result, the affair is likely to rumble on for some time to come. Coughlan has submitted an affidavit detailing his version of events, but, along with his wife, remains the subject of a London High Court action by Ferrari over the materials allegedly found in his possession.

And then there is the question of sacked Ferrari engineer Nigel Stepney, a former colleague of Coughlan’s. Stepney was dismissed following allegations of theft and also remains the subject of legal proceedings by the Italian team. The Englishman has protested his innocence and denies he was the source of the now infamous 780-page dossier.

For most Formula One fans, of course, the biggest question mark is over the 2008 championship. McLaren’s drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, are separated by just two points at the top of the standings, with Ferrari counterparts Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen still very much in the running, both within 18 points of the lead.

In fact, with the current pace of the McLaren and the Ferrari so evenly-matched, it looks set to become one of the most keenly-contested title fights in years - and whatever decision the Council comes to could have a huge impact on its outcome.

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2007/7/6532.html

McLaren have escaped any immediate penalty after a disciplinary hearing into how they came to be in possession of confidential Ferrari documents.


McLaren suspended chief designer Mike Coughlan after a 780-page technical dossier was found at his home.
But the World Motorsport Council (WMSC) said there was "insufficent evidence" it had affected this year's title race.

McLaren still face a championship ban if in the future they are seen to have gained any advantage from the data.


Ferrari reacted angrily to the decision, saying it "legitimises dishonest behaviour in F1 and sets a very serious precedent".

The official statement from the WMSC read: "The WMSC is satisfied that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes was in possession of confidential Ferrari information and is therefore in breach of Article 151c of the International Sporting Code.

"However, there is insufficient evidence that this information was used in such a way as to interfere improperly with the FIA Formula One World Championship. We therefore impose no penalty."

The statement also said it would ask Coughlan and the other man at the centre of the drama, Ferrari's former head of performance development Nigel Stepney, to justify their actions to motorsport's highest authority, the FIA.
We reserve the right to invite McLaren back in front of the WMSC where it will face the possibility of exclusion from not only the 2007 championship but also the 2008 championship
FIA statement

"The WMSC will also invite Mr Stepney and Mr Coughlan to show reason why they should not be banned from international motor sport for a lengthy period, and the WMSC has delegated authority to deal with this matter to the legal department of the FIA."

But with legal action still pending in Italy and England, the governing body did not rule out returning to the case in the future and potentially imposing harsh penalties.

"If it is found in the future that the Ferrari information has been used to the detriment of the championship, we reserve the right to invite McLaren back in front of the WMSC where it will face the possibility of exclusion from not only the 2007 championship but also the 2008 championship," the FIA said.

McLaren team chief Ron Dennis's immediate reaction was that he was "not completely comfortable with the outcome but the punishment fits the crime".

FIA reveals 18-race calendar for 2008

Formula One racing’s governing body, the FIA, has confirmed the calendar for the 2008 world championship. The addition of races in Singapore and Valencia in Spain, combined with the omission of a US Grand Prix, makes for 18 rounds - one more than in 2007.

The Australian Grand Prix will kick off proceedings on March 16, followed by Malaysia and Bahrain, before the championship heads to Europe. Turkey has been brought forward to May, while the sole North American round in Canada provisionally retains its traditional June slot.

The Valencia race, to be known as the European Grand Prix, will take place in August, while the other new event, the first-ever Formula One night race, will be staged in Singapore in late September. The season will finish in Brazil at the start of November.

The 2008 calendar in full:

16 Mar Australia
23 Mar Malaysia
6 Apr Bahrain
27 Apr Spain
11 May Turkey
25 May Monaco
8 Jun Canada*
22 Jun France
6 Jul Great Britain
20 Jul Germany
3 Aug Hungary
24 Aug Europe**
7 Sep Italy
14 Sep Belgium
28 Sep Singapore**
12 Oct China
19 Oct Japan
2 Nov Brazil

*Provisional
**Subject to circuit approval

McLaren’s chief designer Mike Coughlan had access to leaked Ferrari data prior to the start of the 2007 season which prompted the team’s subsequent request for FIA clarification over the use of ‘moveable’ floors. That is the claim of Ferrari boss Jean Todt, after his rivals escaped sanction in last week’s World Motor Sport Council hearing.

The Council agreed that McLaren were in possession of Ferrari data, but chose not to penalise them as they could find insufficient proof the team had made use of it. However, Todt believes it was utilised by the British team, albeit indirectly, to give them an advantage over Ferrari.

"The McLaren bosses, with no exceptions, admitted that their chief designer had obtained since back in March, prior to the Australian GP, documents from [former Ferrari engineer] Nigel Stepney,” said Todt on the official Ferrari website.

“Some of this data was used to prepare a clarification request submitted to the FIA, aimed clearly at us, given that throughout the Melbourne weekend, McLaren team principal and his closest colleagues made statements in which they threw doubt over ‘some cars’. Therefore, such information was in fact used to obtain an advantage over us: not through an improvement in their performance, but instead through limiting ours.”

Ferrari won the season opener in Melbourne, but their performance dropped off in the following races after the FIA tightened the regulations relating to floor mountings, limiting teams’ ability to use movement in the floor for aerodynamic gain. McLaren have insisted no one in the team, bar Coughlan, knew of the Ferrari data prior to July 3, when Coughlan was suspended.

Admitting he remains bitter about the World Council’s decision, Todt also accused McLaren of hypocrisy after revealing that he had recently signed an accord with them, aimed at preventing disputes between the two teams.

"A few weeks after the race in Melbourne, the McLaren team principal proposed that we should reach a sort of agreement to establish a better relationship between our two teams, thus avoiding any future denunciations to the sporting authority,” said Todt.

“I replied that I found it impossible to believe him, because on several occasions we had seen that certain commitments had always been disregarded by McLaren. There was an exchange of views and, believing in their good faith, I agreed to sign this agreement on 9 June last.

“Since that time and even earlier, McLaren was perfectly aware, not only of the e-mails sent by their informer within our company, but also of the fact that their chief designer had stayed in contact with him and had received and continued to be in possession of a significant amount of technical information that belonged to us. So, on the one hand, they had come to say ‘let us trust one another,’ and on the other they were hiding serious facts such as those just stated above.”

Summarising his feelings on the FIA’s findings, Todt concluded: "This decision remains very disappointing and surprising. It is not acceptable to create a precedent in such an important case in which the guilty verdict for serious and persistent violation of the fundamental principle of sporting honesty does not automatically incur a penalty.”

Todt confirmed that Ferrari will press on with legal actions relating to Stepney and Coughlan currently taking place in Italy and in England, and that the team have not ruled out taking further action over the matter.

Ferrari still feeling bitter about how no action was taken against the McClaren team. I think they should just forget about it and concentrate on the championship. I just hate seeing this kind of things in sports, it takes the excitement out of the game.

McClaren not off the hook just yet as Mosley refers McLaren-Ferrari case to Court of Appeal

The World Motor Sport Council’s (WMSC) decision not to sanction McLaren for possessing Ferrari data could yet be overturned after FIA President Max Mosley referred the case to the Court of Appeal on Tuesday.

It follows a plea by the Italian Automobile Club and Italian Motor Sport Commission (ACI-CSAI) on Ferrari’s behalf and means the team will now be able to formally present evidence in the case - something they were unable to do at last Thursday’s hearing.

In a letter to Mosley, ACI-CSAI President Luigi Macaluso said the body could not comprehend how McLaren had not received a penalty, given the Council’s findings that the team had indeed breached the International Sporting Code. He also implied that the result might have been different, had Ferrari been able to give evidence.

In response, Mosley admitted that there had been “suspicious elements” in McLaren’s defence, but agreed with the Council that these elements did not constitute proof of wrongdoing. However, in light of Ferrari’s lack of representation and the importance of the case, Mosley agreed to refer it to the Court of Appeal.

Replying to Macaluso, he said: “Your letter suggests that the outcome may have been different if the Council had given Ferrari further opportunities to be heard beyond those that were in fact offered.

"Because of this and the importance of public confidence in the outcome, I will send this matter to the FIA Court of Appeal under Article 23.1 of the FIA Statutes with a request that the Court hear both Ferrari and McLaren and any other Championship competitor who so requests and determine whether the decision of the WMSC was appropriate and, if not, substitute such other decision as may be just.”

A date for the appeal has not yet been announced.

McLaren fire back: Ferrari won with illegal car

McLaren have publicly detailed their version of events in the ongoing Ferrari ‘spy scandal’. In it, the British team accuse Ferrari of winning the Australian Grand Prix with an illegal car and of manipulating media coverage of the affair to damage McLaren’s reputation.

It follows the FIA decision earlier this week to refer the case to the Court of Appeal, despite the World Motor Sport Council having chosen not to sanction McLaren for being found in possession of Ferrari data.

In a letter to Luigi Macaluso - the President of the Italian motorsport authority, ACI-CSAI, who successfully requested the appeal referral - McLaren boss Ron Dennis admits that Ferrari engineer Nigel Stepney did draw their attention to potentially illegal elements of the Ferrari car prior to the start of the 2007 season.

However, Dennis said these tip-offs - which related to the now infamous moveable floor and to a rear-wing separator - were dealt with in the proper fashion by requesting FIA clarification and stressed that they were not related to the dossier of Ferrari information later found in the possession of the team’s chief designer Mike Coughlan.

“This is a fantastic World Championship and it would be a tragedy if one of the best World Championships in years was derailed by the acts of one Ferrari and one McLaren employee acting for their own purposes wholly unconnected with Ferrari or McLaren,” said Dennis.

Concluding his lengthy letter he added: “We believe that the Ferrari press releases, the leaks to the Italian press and recent events have been damaging to Formula 1 as well as McLaren. The World Championship should be contested on the track not in Courts or in the press.

“We will naturally present our case before the FIA Court of Appeal as we strongly believe McLaren has done nothing wrong. It is our belief that justice will prevail and that McLaren will not be penalised.”

The full letter from Dennis to Macaluso can be found @ http://www.fia.com/mediacentre/Press_Releases/FIA_Sport/2007/July/310707-01.html

Weekend weather update - rain possible in humid Hungary

Welcome to the 11th round of the 2007 FIA Formula One World Championship, the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring.

For the fourth race in succession the weather forecast is not particularly benign. It will be cloudy with an ambient temperature high of 29 degrees Celsius on Thursday, but there could be showers in the region thereafter when, respectively, temperature highs of 32, 25 and 22 degrees are anticipated for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It is also likely to be very humid.

The race will run over 70 laps of the 4.381 kilometre (2.722 mile) circuit, or 306.663 kilometres (190.560 miles). It starts at 1400 hours local time, which is two hours ahead of GMT *naija enthusiasts, take note!

The Hungarian Grand Prix Preview

Don’t expect a happy atmosphere between Ferrari and McLaren in Hungary this weekend as the two top teams go head-to-head again on the track after doing so recently in official hearings.

As Formula One racing returns to a high-downforce circuit, McLaren are hoping that they will be able to enjoy the performance advantage they had in Monaco; Ferrari, however, believe they have made significant improvements to their F2007 since then.

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton is confident that he can defend his world championship lead this weekend. “We had a productive test in Jerez,” he reported. “I was there for a day and spent the time focusing on set-up and development work for Hungary, in the hot and dusty conditions. Following a mistake on my out lap in qualifying, I started at the back of the grid in GP2 here last year.

“It was not a great start to the weekend, but I managed to work my way back up through the field, which was a good learning experience of the track - how to drive it and where it is possible to pass, which is notoriously difficult. I quite like the circuit; it is quite quick considering how tight it is. You have gradient changes, some high and low speed corners and a good chicane up the back. There is one bump right at the back, which is so easy to catch you out, that is what happened to me in qualifying last year.

“We have as good a chance as anyone at the race. We have a great car and it is important that I go with a clear mind and the same approach as normal, but there is no reason why we can’t go there and win.”

Since there is really only one overtaking place at the Hungaroring - the entry to the first corner - qualifying is always very important here, even at the expense of ideal race strategy, so expect even more of a shoot-out in all three sessions. Ferrari and McLaren will vie for the first two rows barring problems, with BMW Sauber again challenged by Renault and, on recent form, possibly Toyota and Williams, for row three.

Renault in particular are still smarting after some self-confessed mistakes early in the race at Nurburgring, which they feel cost them strong points finishes, and further work at Jerez is believed to have honed the car around the new front wing with which they were very pleased in Germany.

Red Bull have their tail up after strong performances from Mark Webber and David Coulthard at the European race, so it will be very tough in the midfield. Over at Honda, Jenson Button’s best chance of repeating his 2006 breakthrough victory is if race conditions are affected by the weather.

Among the smaller teams, BMW Sauber have released their reserve and test driver Sebastian Vettel, and he now replaces Toro Rosso’s Scott Speed alongside Tonio Liuzzi. Vettel is contracted in the long-term to Red Bull. BMW Motorsport director Mario Theissen said: “As our test and reserve driver, Sebastian has carried out sterling work for us. When he stood in for Robert Kubica in the US Grand Prix he made history by becoming the youngest debutant to earn a world championship point. However, the current testing rules mean that he barely gets a chance to drive for us. Now he has been offered the opportunity to get inside a Toro Rosso cockpit. We have sponsored and coached Sebastian over a number of years. To place obstacles in his career path now would go against our concept of talent promotion.”

Meanwhile, at Spyker, Markus Winkelhock’s tenure of Christijan Albers’s old seat is over as former Jordan and Super Aguri driver Sakon Yamamoto will be back in harness.

Team principal Colin Kolles said: “Sakon is a very good all-round package. We were very clear that the driver we chose needed to bring a certain financial benefit, but needed to have good, relevant experience too. Sakon has both covered. He has driven on all of the circuits we are going to in the second half of the season, except for Spa, which will be an advantage to the team as we move forward.”

Besides the fact that overtaking is so difficult, the Hungaroring poses other problems for the teams. The track is usually very ‘green’ on Friday, and won’t really have rubbered-in fully until Saturday afternoon. Thus, they will have to be very precise with their set-ups to avoid graining problems with Bridgestone’s softer tyre in the low-grip conditions. The Japanese company will be bringing the same soft and super-soft compounds that were used in Monaco and Canada.

BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica set the quickest time in first practice for Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Pole held off the Ferrari pair of Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen.

Reigning Formula One champion Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, less than a tenth of a second quicker than his McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

Three times Hamilton, who leads Alonso in the drivers' championship, set his fastest lap only for the Spaniard to come out and eclipse his times.

It was the first time this season that a BMW Sauber driver had topped the standings in practice.

The 22-year-old Kubica, who is sixth in the drivers' standings, lapped the Hungaroring in one minute 22.390 seconds, 0.129 faster than Brazilian Massa.

Kubica made his F1 debut in last season's Hungarian Grand Prix, coming an impressive seventh only to be disqualified after his car was found to be underweight at the end of the race.

With seven races left in the calendar, Briton Hamilton leads Alonso by two points in the championship, with Massa a further nine points adrift.




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Hungarian GP first free practice times

1. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 1:22.390

2. Felipe Massa (Bra) Ferrari 1:22.519

3. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:22.540

4. Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren-Mercedes 1:22.585

5. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes 1:22.654

6. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 1:22.891

7. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-Toyota 1:22.983

8. Jenson Button (GB) Honda 1:23.294

9. Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Honda 1:23.601

10. Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 1:23.802

11. Anthony Davidson (GB) Super Aguri-Honda 1:24.102

12. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 1:24.318

13. Alexander Wurz (Aut) Williams-Toyota 1:24.321

14. David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull-Renault 1:24.474

15. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) Renault 1:24.733

16. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Toro Rosso 1:24.905

17. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 1:24.920

18. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Toro Rosso 1:24.976

19. Takuma Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri-Honda 1:25.307

20. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault 1:25.584

21. Adrian Sutil (Ger) Spyker-Ferrari 1:26.332

22. Sakon Yamamoto (Jpn) Spyker-Ferrari 1.28.118


BBC Sport

The Ferrari pair are getting more and more dangerous by the day. . . even in practice.
don't think there'll be any upsets in this one. . . i see a Ferrari, McClaren 1-2 respectively!

wetin dey happen RuuDie, yeah looking like that again. No other team can come near those two.

Reigning world champion Fernando Alonso was the quickest in second practice for Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix.
Championship leader Lewis Hamilton was third-fastest with Renault's Heikki Kovalainen splitting the McLarens.

Hamilton, whose lead in the drivers' standings has been cut to two by Alonso, saw his session end early after he spun off the track and stalled.

Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen was sixth-fastest, one place ahead of team-mate Felipe Massa.

BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica, who was quickest in first practice, was down in 10th in the afternoon session.

"I am happy with the how the car feels so far," said Alonso. "I am looking forward to the rest of the weekend where we should continue to be strong."

I was probably a little too fast going into the corner

Lewis Hamilton on his spin

Hamilton, who had a dramatic crash in practice for the European Grand Prix a fortnight ago, once again needed a crane to lift his McLaren from the trackside gravel.

But this time there was no damage done to either driver or car.

Despite the spin, Hamilton was upbeat about his performance.

"Today went smoothly, apart from my spin towards the end of the second session, which meant that I missed out on my last run, so maybe I could have gone faster," said the 22-year-old.

"I was probably a little too fast going into the corner. Despite this we were able to make some positive steps and I am confident with our performance so far."

If Kubica was the surprise package in first practice, Kovalainen filled that role in the afternoon.

"Compared to recent races, this was a much better start to the weekend, and we are on the right track with the set-up," said the Finn.

"Now we need to improve the car a little bit overnight, and stay focused on producing a good performance on Sunday."

With the cars lighter on fuel compared to the morning's 90-minute session, Alonso was comfortably quickest with a time of one minute 20.919 seconds.

In the morning, the 22-year-old Kubica, who is sixth in the drivers' standings, lapped the Hungaroring in one minute 22.390 seconds, 0.129 faster than Brazilian Massa.

Kubica made his F1 debut in last season's Hungarian Grand Prix, coming an impressive seventh only to be disqualified after his car was found to be underweight at the end of the race.

It was the first time this season that a BMW Sauber driver had topped the standings in practice.

Alonso was fourth fastest, less than a tenth of a second quicker than Briton Hamilton, who was fifth.

Three times Hamilton set his fastest lap only for the Spaniard to come out and eclipse his times.

With seven races left in the calendar, Hamilton leads Alonso by two points in the championship, with Massa a further nine points adrift.




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Hungarian GP second free practice times

1. Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren-Mercedes 1:20.919
2. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) Renault 1:21.283
3. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes 1:21.338
4. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-Toyota 1:21.485
5. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 1:21.517
6. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:21.589
7. Felipe Massa (Bra) Ferrari 1:21.620
8. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 1:21.698
9. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 1:21.857
10. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 1:21.906
11. Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 1:21.912
12. Alexander Wurz (Aut) Williams-Toyota 1:21.987
13. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault 1:22.325
14. David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull-Renault 1:22.483
15. Anthony Davidson (GB) Super Aguri-Honda 1:22.510
16. Jenson Button (GB) Honda 1:22.550
17. Takuma Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri-Honda 1:22.556
18. Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Honda 1:22.727
19. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Toro Rosso 1:23.136
20. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Toro Rosso 1:23.148
21. Adrian Sutil (Ger) Spyker-Ferrari 1:23.673
.
BBC Sport

Alonso's also coming thru' some. . . . if either of the McClaren's g'onna make the podium, it'll be him. i really don't dig Hamilton that much - think he's just been over-hyped c'uz his Black 'n Brit ! don't see him winning the Drivers that gap's g'onna be overhauled this wkend !

the brits don't disappoint when it comes to this, Lewis has the luck of having a good car and crew to back him up thats for sure. Can he win it? I think yes simply because of his consistency so far, podium finishes in all the races but the last one. Alonso is the favorite ofcourse out of the two Mcclaren drivers hes a two time champion and has got plenty more experience than lewis, if he gets his act right of which he has done lately with good luck too (engine problems can be very annoying at times) then I think he'll win. But we can't rule out the ferrari drivers yet with Kimi coming back strong too bad for him in the last race though but with a win in Hungary this weekend and a little bit of help from Alonso and Hamilton both finishing outside the top three that is (unlikely), who knows.

lewis hamiton all the way.for mclauren it is victory

I don't know about you guys, bu I think Kubica has been the most impressive driver this season

pound for pound(before Hamilton fans castrate me)

where is shumaka? what is happening to the germans,

what Germans? Micheal retired and ralf is still playing catch up to the red bull team

lewis wins again at the Hungarian grand Prix- why is Alonso hating he can always return to Renault

Well, Dinozzo. . . u was spot on


still can't believe Hamilton snatched it!