February 8, 2015 · 5:12 pm

Qatar about to sign deal to host GP, says ASN boss

Qatar appears to have moved a step closer to hosting an F1 race, despite the Bahrain and Abu Dhabi events already having a firm on the schedule.

The chief of the Qatari ASN (QMMF) Nasser bin Khalifa al-Attiyah, a rally driver who has been the FIA Vice-President for sport in the Middle East since December 2013, says that a contract is about to be completed for a third race in the region. It had been thought that Bahrain would exercise its veto on an extra race being added.

“We are about to sign contracts to organise a Formula One race,” Al-Attiyah told agency AFP. “We have completed all the steps and there are only a few details before the official signature.”

He added that the race could be on the schedule as early as 2016, and that it was still not clear whether it would take place at the established Lusail MotoGP venue – he is its general manager – or on a new street track in capital Doha.

Qatar is already holding the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as well as the 2019 IAAF Athletics World Championships.

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February 6, 2015 · 5:46 pm

Lowdon says Manor still aiming for 2015 grid

Marussia/Manor GP CEO Graeme Lowdon has responded to suggestions from Force India’s Bob Fernley to the effect that the team did not provide any “substance” when asking to run its 2014 car this year – and has emphasised that the team is not giving up its hopes of being on the grid.

He said work is continuing on a 2015 car, and that confidentiality was the reason why no details of any new investors or owners had been revealed. He also denied that the team had been asked to provide a more detailed application to the Strategy Group.

It was announced a few days ago that the company would come out of administration on February 19, via a process known as a CVA.

“It has been a very good step to finally get the CVA process underway this week,” said Lowdon in a statement that was headlined ‘Manor F1 Team.’. “This is the first external sign that we have been able to make of all the hard work that has taken place privately over the past four months to get us to our current position.

“I was surprised to hear some of the comments made today, particularly regarding an application we were said to have made to yesterday’s meeting, which I can confirm was not the case. We did make a request on 17 December last year and we have been working since to satisfy the requirements subsequently communicated to us, specifically complying with all the Regulations, aside from the exempted articles.

“The comments also mentioned that issues of compliance were raised, that it was felt that our application lacked substance and contained no supporting documentation to reinforce the case for offering special dispensation. Again, we did not make any application to yesterday’s Strategy Group meeting and nor were we asked to.

“Instead, we are proceeding with our clear process regarding compliance and building our operation. We are doing everything possible to adhere to the process set out for us to return to the 2015 grid. This is a fantastic good news story for the whole sport and we just want to go racing.”

Meanwhile the statement added some details of how things have unfolded in recent weeks, and what the team believes will happen next. However, it made no mention of power unit/gearbox supplier Ferrari:

– On 17 December 2014, the team made a request to the Strategy Group to consider allowing it to use a 2014 race car, modified to meet certain 2015 regulations, for part of the 2015 season. Following analysis, the team highlighted that this would need some form of dispensation on only a small number of clauses in the Regulations.

– Subsequent to this application, the team was informed on 5 January 2015, that the Strategy Group felt that two teams – Marussia and Caterham – should be permitted to race a 2014 car in the 2015 championship. The letter stated that the Strategy Group agreed that the car should comply with all of the 2015 technical regulations, with the exception of four articles, those articles being Articles 3.7.9, 15.4.3, 15.4.4 and 16.2. The team can confirm that the modifications to its 2014 car would meet this stipulation.

– A change to the Regulations at this stage does require unanimous consent from all teams and following the initiation of the CVA process, the team is now actively engaged in achieving this. This process involves providing all relevant information to the teams to allow them to fully consider its request.

– As the press release from FRP Advisory of 4 February states, given the confidential nature of the negotiations underway, neither they nor the team are able to provide further details regarding the team’s new investors, however those investors have either met with or spoken to the key F1 bodies.

– The team has been busy preparing its 2014 cars such that they comply with the stipulations of the Strategy Group and at the same time it is pressing on with the development of its 2015 car to ensure it can supersede the 2014 car as soon as possible.

– The team has a significant number of staff already working on both its 2014 and 2015 cars. It also has the benefit of being able to recruit further staff very quickly from the rich pool of experienced and talented F1 personnel who were left unemployed following the closure of Marussia and Caterham and due to job cuts made by other teams in the sport.

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February 6, 2015 · 3:42 pm

Force India VJM08 still on course for final test, says Fernley

Force India deputy team principal Robert Fernley is adamant that the team is on course to debut its VJM08 at the final pre-season test at Barcelona, which commences on February 26.

The plan is to use the 2014 chassis at the first Barcelona test.

The new car has yet to be seen in part because cash flow issues led to delays with the arrival of key components from outside suppliers. However the first chassis has been delivered, and it is now being readied for Barcelona. The team does of course have to get the VJM08 through all its FIA crash tests before it can run in Spain.

“The chassis is in production and is being worked on at Silverstone,” Fernley told this writer. “We’re behind schedule for a number of reasons. One of them was our move across to the Toyota wind tunnel. Unfortunately we could not complete the contract on that until very, very late because of the Caterham issue [the Leafield team had an ongoing contract to use it]. It was just one of those things.”

Fernley says the main problem is that, in the current climate, suppliers are less generous with payment terms than in the past.

“We’re having to support suppliers at the moment, and of course they got hurt with Marussia and Caterham. They need funding, which we understand. What we would normally have been able to do we can’t do today, and it has an impact on our cash flow. We are where we are, and we’ve got to make the best of it.”

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February 6, 2015 · 12:13 pm

Plans for 1000bhp F1 cars in 2017 still under discussion

The brief debate over Marussia’s 2014 car was just a sideshow to the main business of yesterday’s F1 Strategy Group meeting, which was to look ahead at potential rule changes that are intended to increase the sport’s appeal.

All the big players were at the meeting, including Bernie Ecclestone, Jean Todt, Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda (Mercedes), Ron Dennis and Eric Boullier (McLaren), Sergio Marchionne and Maurizio Arrivabene (Ferrari), Christian Horner (Red Bull), Claire Williams (Williams) and Bob Fernley (Force India).

Although there were no definite conclusions and discussions will continue, F1 is still heading towards 1000bhp engines in 2017. The F1 Engine Group is exploring how a relaxation of the limits of fuel flow, and the maximum amount available for the race, can best be adjusted to that end.

Major changes to bodywork and the introduction of wider rear tyres remain in the table for 2016, and Bernie Ecclestone apparently said that Pirelli would be able to deal with the latter, despite earlier suggestions that the Italian company would prefer to wait.

One of the key focuses of the current research is what the cost implications are for the teams, given that any rules changes involve extra expense.

“That’s what they are looking at now,” said once source. “One of the failings that we’ve had before is that it’s always been engineering driven, and now it’s going to be an engineering desire, but cost driven. It’s 2017, the question is can it be brought forward to ’16?”

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February 6, 2015 · 9:43 am

Marussia bid “lacked substance” says Force India’s Fernley

Marussia’s application to run its 2014 car this season was rejected by the F1 Strategy Group because it lacked substance and had compliance issues, according to Force India team principal Robert Fernley.

It’s understood that one of the compliance issues related to the fact that the letter came from team CEO Graeme Lowdon, and not from the administrator, as should have been the case.

The brief letter also contained little or no information about the team’s future plans, such as a possible new owner or investor, or any intention to ready a 2015 car. As such some of those present at the meeting, including Bernie Ecclestone, did not believe that the team – whose Banbury factory has been sold to Haas – had a chance of mounting a credible entry into the 2015 championship.

In order to grant permission to Marussia, unanimity was required. Force India was the first to vote, and as soon as the team responded with a ‘No’ in effect it didn’t matter what anyone else had to say. It’s understood that others also expressed opposition, as would other teams not represented in the meeting, such as Sauber and Lotus, who would have had a vote had the matter proceeded to the F1 Commission. Apparently the discussion on the subject was relatively brief.

“The strategy group was faced with an application for Marussia’s 2014 cars to compete in the 2015 championship,” said Fernley. “During the meeting it emerged that there were compliance issues and that the application lacked substance. Equally, the speculative application submitted contained no supporting documentation to reinforce the case for offering special dispensation.

“For example, no details were supplied of who the new owners would be or the operational structures that would be put in place. Given the lack of information, uncertain guarantees, and the speculative nature of the application, the decision was taken that it is better to focus on ensuring the continued participation of the remaining independent teams.”

The Strategy Group includes Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren and Williams on a permanent basis, as well as the next best placed constructor, which this year is Force India. Each team has a vote, while the FIA has six votes and Formula One Management has six votes.

Those at the meeting included Ecclestone, Jean Todt, Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda (Mercedes), Ron Dennis and Eric Boullier (McLaren), Sergio Marchionne and Maurizio Arrivabene (Ferrari), Christian Horner (Red Bull), Claire Williams (Williams) and Fernley.

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February 5, 2015 · 8:20 pm

F1 Strategy Group rejects Marussia bid to use old car

The F1 Strategy Group has rejected Marussia’s request to use its 2014 chassis this season, sources have confirmed.

Changes to the regulations related to front chassis height for 2015 mean that most of last season’s chassis are now illegal, including the Marussia.

Given the financial problems that forced the team into administration the team’s only chance to carry on in its current form would be to utilise last year’s chassis, which used a Ferrari power unit and gearbox. Even if Marussia had got permission today, one assumes that the £16m debt to Ferrari would have to be addressed before anything was supplied for 2015.

The Strategy Group includes Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren and Williams on a permanent basis, as well as the next best placed constructor, which this year is Force India. Each team has a vote, while the FIA has six votes and Formula One Management (in other words Bernie Ecclestone) has six votes.

In theory only proposals that emerge intact from the Strategy Group can go onto the F1 Commission, and then to the World Motor Sport Council for final approval.

It was announced earlier this week that Marussia had apparently found a way forward and that it was exiting administration as of February 19, but options now appear to be limited for John Booth and his colleagues.

By co-incidence the Caterham administrator announced today that the team’s cars and other assets are going to be auctioned, in effect confirming that the attempt to keep the team running as a going concern had been abandoned.

It remains to be seen whether or not this really is the end of the story for the two teams that both made their debuts at the start of 2010.

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February 5, 2015 · 1:39 pm

No hope for Caterham rescue as team assets go to auction

The Caterham administrators have announced that the assets of the team will be put up for sale – meaning in effect that attempts to revive the whole operation as a going concern appear to have been abandoned.

A statement said: “Acting for the Joint Administrators Finbarr O’Connell, Henry Shinners and Anthony Spicer of Smith & Williamson, Wyles Hardy & Co have been instructed to realise the assets of the Caterham F1 race team.

“A series of on-line timed auction sales will be held covering the race equipment, engineering facility, F1 memorabilia, IT and communications, office furniture and as well as private treaty sales for the Race Trailer Fleet, the state of the art Race Simulator, Dell HPC super computer and Autoclaves.

“The first Auction will focus on the race support and pit lane equipment including the 2014 chassis’ and show cars and is scheduled for early March.”

Details of the auction can be found here: http://www.wyleshardy.com/caterhamf1/

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February 4, 2015 · 9:57 am

Marussia aiming for 2015 grid and “long-term viable solution”

Against the odds Marussia has taken the first steps towards being on the grid in 2015, and the team is set to come out of administration later this month.

It’s understood that confirmation that the team will receive its payment for finishing ninth in the World Championship has been the key factor.

The World Motor Sport Council is set to confirm that the team can use its 2014 chassis, after the FIA said last year that it would allow the two struggling teams to do so, despite rule changes.

One of the keys of course is that the team has a power unit – it currently owes over £16m to Ferrari. In the past ‘Bernie money’ has often been diverted straight to engine suppliers to cover the bills of struggling teams, but in this case there is obviously a legal process to be adhered to.

Administrator Geoff Rowley of FRP Advisory said: “Since the appointment of administrators negotiations have taken place with a number of parties to try and secure a long term solution for the team.

“We can confirm that negotiations continue towards a longer term viable solution for the business and participation of a team in the 2015 season.

“It is envisaged that, prior to the commencement of the first race of the 2015 season, investment into the business will be made upon the Company exiting from administration via a Company Voluntary Arrangement (“CVA”), which is planned for 19 February 2015. A CVA is a restructuring process agreed with the Company’s creditors which allows for a turnaround of the business and the creation of a longer term viable solution for the team. Given the confidential nature of the negotiations underway we are unable to provide further details.

“The joint administrators would like on behalf of Marussia F1 Team to thank all involved with the team for their support during this process.”

The Banbury factory, which was not actually owned by the team, has been acquired by Haas, so Marussia is likely to use its original base.

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February 3, 2015 · 7:17 pm

Boullier: McLaren and Honda still opening a “Pandora’s Box”

McLaren team boss Eric Boullier is adamant that the major electronic problem that cost the team the first two days in Jerez has been resolved.

Fernando Alonso ran 32 laps today, before he was sidelined by a completely different issue.

“After the last laps of Jenson [yesterday] we believed we had fixed the issues,” he said. “But sometimes you just open the Pandora’s box and you pick up one [problem], and then another one is coming. This morning it was just a relief to see the car getting out of the garage at 9am and running actually faultlessly for a few hours.

“The reason we didn’t run this afternoon was different, it was a component which created a water cooling leak, we had to take the engine off, open everything to change it, because it’s in the middle. We could have run maybe half an hour at the end, but we decided to stop the day and make it properly for tomorrow. But the main issues are now away.

Asked how much of the planned programme had been completed he said: “Not enough, obviously we are maybe less than 50%. It’s better than nothing, but operationally we have covered everything that we wanted. The good thing is that the car is running as you saw this morning, 10 laps in a row, so we have no design concept or conceptual issues or architectural issues. Cooling is working, everything is fine.”

Although Alonso ran only in the damp the team learned a lot.

“The driver comments were very, very positive. Fernando said the car is really reacting well, the car is really stable, and you could see a couple of times on the pitwall checking in Turn One, with Mercedes driving at the same time, and you could see the car was really stable on the entry, and this is just a sign.”

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February 3, 2015 · 5:15 pm

Kimi Raikkonen: “A positive start and we have something to work with”

Kimi Raikkonen says that the new Ferrari is a big step forward from the car with which the team finished last season.

The Finn was second fastest today after running a reliable 92 laps.

“It was a positive first day, a lot of improvements in areas where we had difficulties,” he said. “And obviously it’s just a first day, and unfortunately the weather was pretty bad today. Somehow the circuit stayed damp for most of the day, but I think we had good running and we got some mileage. A big thanks to the team who built us a reasonably good starting point. It was a good first day.

“The whole package is quite a bit better than how we finished last year. Now we’ve improved in all areas. It’s just the first day, the first day, and there are a lot of things to do, and a lot of things to try and improve, but it’s definitely a positive start and we have something to work with.

“It’s too early to speak about results. Like I said we had a good, positive first day, and Sebastian had a good couple of days. There’s a good team. We;ll try to do our best, and I’m sure if we keep doing our work as a team we’ll push forward as a team with two cars, improving things, we can get some good results. What it will be, time will tell. We definitely going in the right direction, for sure, that’s the good thing. We’ll have to wait and see in the races.”

Asked by this writer about having close pal Vettel as a team mate he said: “We have a good relationship and I think we can push the team forward, and obviously try to beat each other on the circuit. I’m sure we”ll have some fun. The atmosphere in the team is already very good, and hopefully we’ll get some good results this year that will help the situation. So far, so good, but it’s early days.”

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