Ollie Millington

Alonso makes first visit to Ferrari factory

Friday, 6. November 2009, 19:37:47

Fernando Alonso paid his first visit to his new Ferrari team today.

The double world champion has not yet been released from his Renault contract and cannot test for Ferrari until the testing ban ends in February next year, but went to Maranello to meet his new colleagues.

Alonso had meetings with team boss Stefano Domenicali, the Ferrari engineers, and chairman Luca di Montezemolo, as well as visiting the windtunnel to check progress on the 2010 car and working on his seating position.

He also took to the Fiorano test track in a Ferrari 458 Italia road car.

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Caubet more positive about Renault's future

Friday, 6. November 2009, 19:31:11

Renault's managing director Jean-François Caubet has offered a more positive outlook on Renault's F1 future, revealing that the team's budget for next season has been approved.

Following Wednesday's extraordinary board meeting, Renault's participation in Formula One was thrown into even more doubt as the team's chief executive Carlos Ghosn refused to commit to the sport.

"You will have to be patient," Ghosn told Reuters. "We will make an announcement on our participation in Formula 1 before the end of the year."

However, Caubet, the team's managing director, insists Renault's preparations for next year's Championship are already in full swing.

"We have already signed our drivers, our budget has been approved," Caubet told L'Équipe. "Season 2010 has begun already. We will not be World Champions in 2010, but we do have hopes to improve."

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Renault refuse to commit to F1

Friday, 6. November 2009, 19:28:43

Renault have called for patience as the French manufacturer weighs up the pros and cons of following Toyota out of Formula One.

On Wednesday, Toyota announced their immediate withdrawal from Formula One, citing the "current severe economic realities" for their decision.

Hours later another team, Renault, appeared to be facing the same fate as the French carmakers held an extraordinary board meeting to discuss its future plans.

And with the recent Singapore race-fixing scandal fresh in the minds as well as the two-year suspended ban hanging over their heads, many are predicting Renault will be the next team to walk away.

However, Renault Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn has revealed that no decision was made on Wednesday, although one will be forthcoming before the year is out.

"You will have to be patient," Ghosn told Reuters.

"We will make an announcement on our participation in Formula 1 before the end of the year."

Should Renault quit Formula One, they will become the fourth major manufacturer to leave, joining Honda, BMW and Toyota.

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McLaren KERS partner wins award

Friday, 6. November 2009, 19:21:54

British company Zytek won the Powertrain Innovation of the Year award at the Professional Motor Sport World Expo held in Cologne this week. The prize came as a result of development work performed on the hybrid technology seen in Formula One and the American Le Mans Series.

Zytek is the operation behind the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) used by the McLaren MP4-24 this year, and also designed the device fitted to the GZ09HS Le Mans Prototype hybrid which raced in the United States.

McLaren's KERS assisted Lewis Hamilton in winning the Hungarian Grand Prix in addition to the Singapore night race; he also finished second in Valencia and was contesting the victory in Abu Dhabi until a braking issue forced him to retire.

"Turning the concept of kinetic energy recovery into a race-winning reality was a major breakthrough and Zytek made a vital contribution to this achievement," said awards judge Charles Armstrong-Wilson.

"Motorsport is one of the best environments in the world to showcase and develop technology," said John Manchester, Zytek's Operations Director. "This type of focus can help to educate people about hybrid systems and ultimately lead to the transfer of technology onto our everyday road vehicles."

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Montezemolo still championing third cars

Friday, 6. November 2009, 19:17:42

Ferrari is still pushing hard to arrange a third car for Michael Schumacher to race next year.

With BMW and Toyota now departed, Renault thinking about following suit and the famous Italian team scornful of the sport's new entrants, Luca di Montezemolo has renewed his campaign to have the rules changed.

"This is perhaps an opportunity to have a third car for each team," the Ferrari president told Bild newspaper. "I will do everything I can. And naturally we are thinking of Michael Schumacher for our third car."

At the same time, Schumacher - despite calling off his return in Felipe Massa's car in August due to injury - is not ruling out making another bid to come back to the grid.

"Let's put it like this, I do not see a reason why I should confirm or rule out anything," the seven time world champion told Gulf News.

However, Sir Frank Williams doubts the 40-year-old German is serious.

"Not a chance. No," said the Briton, who believes Schumacher decided against returning this year after underestimating his fitness.

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Aerolab confirms Force India legal action

Friday, 6. November 2009, 19:15:19

Italian wind tunnel firm Aerolab has confirmed it is taking legal action against the Force India team following allegations this week of collusion between parent company, Fondtech, and the new Lotus F1 project.

The company claim that the collaboration with the Silverstone-based team came to an "abrupt and unhappy" conclusion in September “after serious and persistent breaches of contract” by Force India.

“It is quite unusual for us to comment on negative matters but we have been given no other choice but to make public the facts after press reports in recent days suggested that Aerolab has passed on information to parent company Fondtech which enjoys a close technical relationship with Lotus F1 Racing," stated Aerolab MD Jean-Claude Migeot.

"These rumours are designed only to tarnish the company’s reputation and professionalism and to divert attention away from the facts. The truth is that Aerolab is suing Force India for not fulfilling its obligations.”

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