Adam Cooper F1

Grand Prix of America promoter Leo Hindery Jr says he’s proud that the New Jersey race has appeared on the FIA schedule published today.

However he made no comment on the ‘to be confirmed’ status, or Bernie Ecclestone’s recent claim that no contract exists at present.

“I am proud that years of hard work have brought us to this point and we look forward to bringing world-class Formula One racing to New Jersey,” Hindery said in a statement from the venue.

“The support we have had from elected officials like New Jersey Governor Christie and the mayors of Weehawken and West New York, a committed property developer and a great management team has been incredible. They have stuck by us through this process and we owe them our thanks. The Grand Prix of America will be a special and historic race for New Jersey and New York, for the drivers and, most importantly, for the dedicated fans of Formula One racing.

“I became a racer very late in my life. But if you’re committed, passionate and have a great team of people behind you, you’re on the road to success.

“Formula One’s president and chief executive officer, Bernie Ecclestone, has set the highest possible standards for the drivers and their teams, fans, sponsors, and the region we call home. We won’t be satisfied until those standards are met.”

COTA today issued guidance for fans attending the forthcoming US GP, and while much of it makes sense (or is just plain funny), restrictions on photographic equipment may come as a surprise to many.

Here for your interest is exactly what the list says:

“The following items will not be permitted inside the gates of the circuit. In addition to items specifically listed here, other items that may be deemed to present a potential hindrance or threat may also be prohibited.

• Alcoholic Beverages
• Animals (exception for certified service animals)
• Bags or parcels larger than 12X12X20 inches
• Bicycles, scooters, skateboards, skates, segways, golf carts or other unauthorized means of transportation
• Coolers, thermoses or ice chests
• Distribution of unauthorized promotional or commercial material
• Food and Beverage (Note: sealed, individual, plastic bottles of water are allowed)
• Fireworks, explosives or other incendiary devices
• Glass or metal containers of any style
• Illegal substances
• Items that may be deemed a safety hazard or annoyance to participants or guests (balls, Frisbees, balloons, projectiles, horns, radios, bells, whistles, musical instruments, laser pointers, etc.)
• Large, golf-type umbrellas
• Non-collapsible chairs
• Tents or canopies
• Video cameras, still cameras with lenses exceeding 10 inches in length or detachable lenses of any kind, audio recording devices and tripods; no video recording will be allowed
• Weapons of any kind, including guns, knives, pepper spray, handcuffs, nightsticks or other items

The following items will be permitted inside the circuit gates.

• Blankets
• Umbrellas (small, hand-held style)
• Baby strollers
• Portable, collapsible chairs
• Personal camera equipment (e.g. digital cameras, point-and-click digital cameras or film cameras)
• Binoculars

“All bags, purses, backpacks and persons are subject to screening by security personnel. Fans entering Circuit of The Americas should prepare accordingly.

“Smoking will only be allowed in authorized areas. All security measures are subject to change without notice.
“Ticketholders should be aware that there are no provisions for returning banned items to them when such items are left at the race entrances.  Patrons are encouraged to leave all banned items at home or in their vehicles before entering the venue or boarding any of the complimentary shuttle buses transporting ticketholders to Circuit of The Americas.

“Individuals who deliberately attempt to bring banned items through security checkpoints are subject to removal from the facility.”

So now you know…

The 2013 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar was confirmed by the World Motor Sport Council today.

Changes from the version circulated last week include Germany and Belgium both being moved a week forward to separate them from Hungary and Italy respectively, and Korea being slotted in before Japan.

New Jersey remains ‘to be confirmed,’ due to the lack of a contract.

The announcement about Lewis Hamilton’s move to Mercedes gave us no insight at all into how things unfolded with Michael Schumacher – and there is no mention either of retirement plans or a future role with the company.

The only conclusion we can draw is that Schumacher was shown the door – and possibly the very future of the team depended upon Hamilton’s arrival.

The fact that Niki Lauda has been announced as a non-executive chairman of the team suggests that there is no room for Michael in any kind of management role.

It seems that Michael is keen to carry on somewhere else, and he has been linked to Sauber – although an Esteban Gutierrez/Jaime Alguersuari line-up is being mooted for the Swiss team.

In the Mercedes release Schumacher said only: “I have had three nice years with the team which unfortunately did not go as well as we all would have wanted on the sporting side. I wish Lewis well and for the team to achieve the success we worked so hard for in the build-up. I would like to thank the team for their trust and all the guys for their unconditional commitment. I will now concentrate on the next races.”

Meanwhile the management chose its words very carefully.

“I would first of all like to thank Michael Schumacher for the important contribution he has made to the growth of our team over the past three seasons,” said Ross Brawn. “His energy and commitment have never wavered, even when results have not matched our own expectations, and we are determined to finish the 2012 season together on a high. As always, it has been a pleasure to work with Michael.”

“Of course, it takes a great driver to replace such a legendary and successful one as Michael Schumacher,” said Norbert Haug. “Over the past three years, Michael has been a great driver and an exemplary ambassador for MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS.

“His experience has been an important factor in guiding the development of our team in Brackley and we extend our sincere thanks to Michael for his loyalty, team play and commitment. We will be working very hard together in order to achieve the best possible results in the remainder of the 2012 season.”

Ross Brawn says that Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg will give Mercedes a “dynamic” pairing on the grid in 2013.

Michael Schumacher appears to have been shown the door in order to make way for Hamilton.

“Looking ahead to 2013, I am delighted to welcome Lewis Hamilton to our team,” said Brawn, who also paid tribute to Schumacher. “The arrival of a driver of Lewis’ calibre is a testament to the standing of Mercedes-Benz in Formula One and I am proud that Lewis shares our vision and ambition for the success of the Silver Arrows. I believe that the combination of Lewis and Nico will be the most dynamic and exciting pairing on the grid next year, and I am looking forward to what we can achieve together.

“Over the past three years, we have been putting in place the foundations and building blocks that are needed to compete regularly for the world championship. Behind the scenes, we have assembled a team that is technically stronger, more experienced and better resourced, thanks to the support of PETRONAS and all of our loyal team partners.

“The potential is now there to match any other team on the grid, which is the minimum standard for a Mercedes-Benz works team. Our task is now to translate that potential into on-track performance for next season and beyond.”

Norbert Haug added: “Mercedes-Benz has supported Lewis throughout his career, from karting, to Formula 3, to our successful partnership with McLaren, and it will be a very nice moment for all of us in the team to see him at the wheel of a works Silver Arrow next season, following in the tradition of British Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix drivers Sir Stirling Moss and Richard Seaman.

“The central task of any racing team is to deliver a car that allows the drivers to fully express their talents. In the 52 races for our works team, we have achieved a number of important milestones, including an historic victory for Nico Rosberg in China this year. We know that it is now time to take the next step, in order to deliver consistent front-running performances in the tradition of the Silver Arrows. Every single person in our team is working with total commitment and focus on achieving this ambition.”

Mercedes has officially confirmed that Lewis Hamilton is joining the team and that Michael Schumacher is leaving.

There is no mention of any retirement plans for the seven-times champion so clearly he is still considering a future in the sport.

“I have had three nice years with the team which unfortunately did not go as well as we all would have wanted on the sporting side,” said Schumacher. “I wish Lewis well and for the team to achieve the success we worked so hard for in the build-up. I would like to thank the team for their trust and all the guys for their unconditional commitment. I will now concentrate on the next races.”

Lewis Hamilton said: “It is now time for me to take on a fresh challenge and I am very excited to begin a new chapter racing for the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team. Mercedes-Benz has such an incredible heritage in motorsport, along with a passion for winning which I share.

“Together, we can grow and rise to this new challenge. I believe that I can help steer the Silver Arrows to the top and achieve our joint ambitions of winning the world championships.”

McLaren has confirmed that it has signed Sergio Perez to a multi-year deal as replacement for Lewis Hamilton, who is going to Mercedes.

Perez is a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy and has tested for the Italian team, but he emerged as a potential candidate for McLaren after his superb performance in the Italian GP.

Perez said: “I’m thrilled and delighted to have become a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver. The McLaren name is one of the greatest in the history of Formula 1. For more than 40 years McLaren has been a team that every racing driver has aspired to drive for – I was brought up on the great stories of Ayrton Senna’s many world championship triumphs for McLaren – and I’m truly honoured that they’ve chosen me to partner Jenson from 2013 onwards.

“I’ve spent the 2012 season working very hard to demonstrate my potential, but I’ve always remained humble and focused. I am, and always will be, extremely grateful to Peter [Sauber] and everybody at the Sauber Formula 1 team for their belief in me, and for giving me the chance to race in Formula 1.

“In fact, they gave me the perfect opportunity to demonstrate what I can do – and I’m now equally grateful to Martin [Whitmarsh] and everyone at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes for giving me the chance to take this next very big step in my career.

“I’m under no illusion that it is indeed a very big step – as it would be for any driver – but I’m ready for it. So, while I’m still fully focused on doing my best for Sauber for the remainder of this season, I’m already massively looking forward to working with everyone at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, and with Jenson, who’s someone I’ve long admired as a brilliant driver and a great champion.

“I’d like to thank Carlos Slim Jr, who has helped me since I was 14 years old, without whom I wouldn’t be where I am today. Our journey together over the past eight years has been an incredible one, and I’ll do everything in my power to deliver with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes the results that he and I have been working so hard and so long to achieve together.

“As I say, I’ve worked very hard to get to this stage in my career, and I’m now massively looking forward to this next even more exciting stage. It’s fantastic that all the sacrifices I’ve made are now paying off. For example, I remember very clearly the first day I left my family, when I was 15, to live in Germany to race in Formula BMW. It was tough for me – I was sleeping in a restaurant at that time – but the dream of one day becoming a Formula 1 driver kept me going through those difficult days.

“Finally, I’d like to thank my beloved family, who’ve encouraged me at every turn, and last but far from least the people of Mexico, my home country, whose magnificent support I’ll do my very best to reward with future successes with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.”

Martin Whitmarsh said: “On behalf of everyone at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, I’m delighted to welcome Sergio on board. His performances throughout 2012 have convinced us that he’s an extremely exciting prospect for the future.

“It was a string of giant-killing performances, a trio of podiums and a brilliant fastest lap in this year’s Monaco Grand Prix that showed us that Sergio lacks nothing in terms of speed and commitment. We’ve been monitoring his progress carefully for some months – and, now that he’s become part of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team, our task will be to refine and develop his abilities as his career progresses over the coming years.

“Uniting Sergio alongside Jenson will give us a very broad base of driver ability. Jenson is one of motorsport’s greatest ambassadors, and his unique blend of prodigious speed and canny race-craft makes him formidably well-armed to fight for victory on any grand prix circuit in the world. While Sergio is still developing his palette of skills, we’re convinced that he’s not only talented and quick, but also that he’s willing and eager to learn.

“He’s perfectly poised to develop into a world championship challenger. His addition to the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team provides us with the perfect two-pronged driver line-up for the new season.

“Finally, it’s entirely appropriate that I should take this opportunity to pass on our thanks to Lewis [Hamilton]. He wrote a huge chapter of his life and career with us, and was, and always will be, a fine member of an exclusive club: the McLaren world champions’ club.

“It goes without saying that we all wish him well for the future, just as it also goes without saying that we hope and believe that Sergio, too, will become a member of that exclusive club before too long.”

For more on what it means, see previous story.

Sergio Perez is believed to be top of the list of potential replacements for Lewis Hamilton – and it’s being reported that the Mexican could be confirmed as early as Friday.

Perez is a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy and has tested for the Italian team.

However, Luca di Montezemolo has made it clear that he felt that the youngster was not yet experienced enough to replace Felipe Massa for 2013. If that was a power play in a game with Perez’s backers, it may have misfired if he has indeed signed for McLaren.

He emerged as a potential candidate for McLaren after his superb performance in the Italian GP.

McLaren has made some unexpected moves on the driver market in the past, most famously when it took Kimi Raikkonen from Sauber after the Finn had been in F1 for just one year.

The signings of Juan Pablo Montoya, Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button also came out of left field at times when those drivers appeared to be committed elsewhere.

Perez’s face certainly fits at McLaren. Mature beyond his years, he will be low maintenance and gel easily with Jenson Button.

And crucially he will certainly go to McLaren in conjunction with substantial funding from Mexico. Vodafone is widely believed to be leaving at the end of this season, which would even open the door to title sponsorship for TelMex.

The next question will be whether the Mexican funding also remains at Sauber, and reserve driver Esteban Gutierrez is promoted to a race seat. Without that backing Sauber could face a serious financial shortfall.

Lewis Hamilton will be confirmed on Friday as a Mercedes driver from 2013, according to UK newspapers the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph.

In conjunction with that dramatic announcement will come the news that Michael Schumacher is leaving the team – but whether that is for retirement or a swansong elsewhere remains to be seen.

The move will reunite Hamilton with his former karting team mate and F3 rival Nico Rosberg.

The Daily Mail says that he will have a deal worth £15m a year, with bonuses on top. And as has been widely discussed, he will have more freedom to earn from personal sponsorship deals.

While many have been sceptical in recent weeks, a move to Mercedes always seemed like a worthwhile choice for Hamilton – if a little risky.

Although the team’s results this year have been disappointing since the win in China, the potential of the outfit remains huge. Under Ross Brawn’s guidance the stellar technical team of Bob Bell, Aldo Costa and Geoff Willis came together too late to have a proper impact in this season, but it should pay dividends next year, and especially as F1 makes the transition to the turbo era in 2014. Hamilton is undoubtedly convinced that, working with Brawn, he can make the difference.

For Mercedes hiring Hamilton is a massive PR coup and also relieves the pressure on the team from the Stuttgart board, who now have one of the very best drivers on the grid, and some good motivation to sign the new Concorde and stay in the sport.

As noted it’s not entirely clear whether Schumacher’s second retirement will be confirmed. If it is, the question will be whether he jumped or was pushed. He recently attended the young driver test at Magny-Cours, which was not the action of someone coasting towards retirement.

However his Singapore crash, which received widespread criticism, could not have been more poorly timed.

Schumacher is believed to have a contract that pays him a huge sum to stay on in an ambassadorial role should he stop driving, but he didn’t enjoy a similar experience with Ferrari, and he could yet be hungry for more.

McLaren is now looking for a replacement, with Sergio Perez and Force India drivers Paul Di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg among the obvious candidates. A seven-times World Champion is also available…

Mark Webber sampled the streets of Bangkok in 2010

Thailand could be ready to host a Grand Prix as early as 2014, according to the governor of the country’s Sports Authority.

The Bangkok Post reports that Kanokphand Chulakasem, who met with Bernie Ecclestone in Singapore, says that a deal was agreed in principle.

“It will be a city race like that in Singapore and Monaco,” he said. “It will be a night race like the Singapore Grand Prix.”

However he also conceded that details such as the fee have yet to be determined, which suggests that any announcement is somewhat premature.

Two years ago Mark Webber did a street demonstration on a course laid out on Bangkok’s Ratchadamnoen Avenue, in the vicinity of the proposed track (see video above).

Thailand has a population of around 65m – which would make it the seventh largest current F1 host after China, India, USA, Brazil, Japan and Germany – and would be an interesting market for sponsors.

Inevitably much of the impetus for the event comes from Thai-owned Red Bull and its associated beer brand, Singha. Interest in the country has been increasing, and prospects for a race have been discussed for some time.

With the support of the aforementioned companies the country is already hosting this year’s Race of Champions event in December, with the likes of Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel in attendance.

Thailand’s major claim to racing fame is of course Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh of Siam, better known as B Bira. He competed in Europe with considerable success with ERAs before WW2, and later started 19 World Championship races between 1950 and 1954 in Maserati, Connaught and Gordini chassis.