Unbelievable!!! Adrian Sutil has hinted that Lewis Hamilton's seemingly perpetual run-in with F1's governing body could be a case of racism. As the latest scandal - dubbed 'lie-gate' by the media - occupies the Formula One world, the reigning World Champion's closest friend on the grid expressed concern about constant controversies involving Hamilton. German Sutil, 26, who was the Briton's F3 teammate in 2005, believes Hamilton is "sick" of falling on the wrong side of the FIA's attentions. "I have no idea how he has got so many punishments," he is quoted as telling his column in the Dutch Formule 1 Race Report. "Slowly you start to ask yourself why it always happens to him. Is it his skin colour?" Sutil wondered. © CAPSIS International Source: GMM
Chinese GP AUS EST FRI Practice 1 12:00 Results FRI Practice 2 16:00 Results SAT Practice 13:00 Results SAT Qualifying 16:00 Results SUN Race 17:00 Results
All through liargate I've heard how Davey Ryan is the salt of the earth, a top guy, loved by the whole paddock. Listened to Midweek Motorsport on radio LeMans last night, a discussion on current racing events by 5 motorsport journos. Was surprised to hear one break the line and say the guy is a scum bag and he wouldn't put anything past him!!
Journo on McLaren payroll probably. Trying to make DR look bad so Hamilton and McLaren look like victims.
As if. No, they're all friends and its a regular discussion. Anything like that and the others would put heaps on him. These are the guys who had a regular segment called Dirty Sexy Mosley. They take no prisoners and are all fans at heart.
Court of Appeal declares disputed diffusers legal The FIA International Court of Appeal (ICA) has rejected protests against the diffusers used by the Brawn, Toyota and Williams teams, after concluding that their ‘double decker’ designs comply with the 2009 regulations. BMW Sauber, Ferrari, Red Bull and Renault had all questioned the legality of the diffusers, but following Tuesday’s hearing in Paris, the ICA decided that race stewards in Australia and Malaysia had made the right call in declaring them legal. Full statement from the FIA: The FIA International Court of Appeal has decided to deny the appeals submitted against decisions numbered 16 to 24 taken by the Panel of the Stewards on 26 March at the 2009 Grand Prix of Australia and counting towards the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship. Based on the arguments heard and evidence before it, the Court has concluded that the Stewards were correct to find that the cars in question comply with the applicable regulations. Full reasons for this decision will be provided in due course.
Chinese GP - Ferrari - Preview 16/04/09 12:50 There has been a ahort break since the Malaysian race allowing Ferrari some time to develop the F60 package following its poor start to the season. The team has worked hard to address the problems it encountered in both Melbourne and Sepang, particularly the reliability issues. The team has now dropped KERS for this weekend's race. Putting to one side the diffuser issue, a bitter subject for the Italian team, Ferrari accelerated its development programme on the F60, with test driver Marc Gene carrying out an aero test at Vairano last week, evaluating some new components. This means there will be some aero updates on the car for the third round of the championship, including modifications to the front wing, the front wheel flanges and the turning vanes.
Its a shame really whats happening. Mclaren goes a long way back in the history of F1. Bruce would not be impressed.
He's our Brabham. http://www.bruce-mclaren.com/about-bruce-mclaren Didn't realise he was the youngest winner of an F1 GP and that he and Jack were so close. The old Aussie Kiwi thing again.
True but its history, the team carries his name. no differnt to Ferrari really, except he didn't build road cars. Remember Ferrari is the "only" car company that sells cars to fund racing. Everyone else race cars to sell them.
Martin Whitmarsh on Thursday revealed he offered to resign as McLaren Team Principal after the recent Malaysian Grand Prix. The 50-year-old had been in charge of the Woking-based team for just a month when the 'lie-gate' scandal struck. It has already claimed Sporting Director Dave Ryan, brought Lewis Hamilton's relationship with the team to an all-time low, and reportedly paved the way to Ron Dennis walking away from all involvement in Formula One. But Whitmarsh, whose comments to a BBC reporter after the Australian Grand Prix will be probed by the World Motor Sport Council later this month, told reporters in Shanghai that McLaren's shareholders 'graciously' rejected his offer to quit. He refused to link Dennis' departure to the affair directly, but indicated it might lead to McLaren enjoying a better relationship with F1's ruling authorities. "I think anyone who has looked at the relationship between McLaren and FIA over the last few years would have to conclude it would be healthier and more positive for all of us to have a more constructive relationship than we've had in the past," said Whitmarsh. He also effectively ruled out reinstating Ryan, who has been characterised by the specialist press as a scapegoat. "I think part of this process is that we show the FIA that we accept the seriousness of what has occurred and that we are working hard to change the culture of the business," said Whitmarsh. E.A. © CAPSIS International Source: GMM
McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh has defended the decision to keep Lewis Hamilton out of the spotlight on the 'media day' Thursday activities at Shanghai. At a time when Formula One is attempting to be more fan-friendly and transparent, the British team did not organise any time for the reigning World Champion to speak with the press corps. Amid the 'Lie-gate' scandal, it is suggested that Hamilton's radio silence, and Ron Dennis' announcement on the same day that he is stepping back from all team involvement, was no coincidence. Rumours indicate an increasingly broken relationship between the Hamilton camp - particularly the 24-year-old's father-manager Anthony - and Dennis, worsened by the damage done to Lewis' image by the lying affair. Pre-event reports from China have suggested that Hamilton's failure to front the media on Thursday may actually be a breach of FIA regulations. Whitmarsh, 50, said the Briton will be available to the media later this weekend. "It's a question of the extent to which he will be available, and I think all we're asking is please understand that Lewis is here to go motor racing," he told reporters in Shanghai. Whitmarsh explained that the decision to shield Hamilton on Thursday is related to the questions he would have been asked about the forthcoming World Motor Sport Council hearing. "He can't get drawn into those things. There is a balance, and we will try, with you guys, to find the right balance," he told the press. © CAPSIS International Source: GMM
