Adam Cooper F1

Pastor Maldonado blames Lewis Hamilton for the crash that put him out of the Monaco GP shortly after the restart.

Hamilton tried a move up the inside at Ste Devote, which ended in heavy contact that put the Venezuelan into the barrier. Hamilton was given a 20 secs penalty that didn’t affect his sixth position.

“I think he tried on myself exactly the same manoeuvre that he tried on Felipe,” said Maldonado. “Exactly the same. He was too optimistic. I think this is a very narrow track. I think you must be very carefully on the overtaking. I did many overtakings all through the race, and I never had some problems, because I was very convinced to do that.

“For sure he was maybe in some troubles because of his position, he’s fighting for the championship. I think we did a very great job until the crash.

“In order to overtake there you must be side by side, and he wasn’t. You know I think he was too optimistic, because of the conditions of the race, and he was on option tyres. That’s it.”

Asked bythis blog whether he had seen Lewis coming or expected a move, he said: “I was looking for my line you know, and I just feel the crash. No way.”

Lewis Hamilton has created a storm with some ill-advised comments after the Monaco GP, in which he finished sixth after two controversial collisions.

Yesterday Lewis was critical of his team and today he slagged off the FIA and hios fellow drivers and even managed – albeit apparently in jest – to introduce a race element.

He received a drive through for pushing Felipe Massa and after the race received a 20 seconds penalty for a clash with Pastor Maldonado, although he didn’t lose any positions. Both drivers have made their displeasure clear.

Asked about his race by the BBC’s Lee McKenzie, Hamilton said: “It’s an absolute frickin’ joke. I’ve been to see the stewards five times out of six this season.

“Massa held me up in qualifying, I got the penalty. He turned in to me, I got the penalty. These drivers are ridiculous. It’s stupid.

“People want to see racing. But you get done trying to put on a show, trying to make a move. Fair play, if I feel I’ve gone too late I’d hold my hand up to admit I’ve caused an incident. But it’s not the case. I’ll just try and keep my mouth shut and try to enjoy the rest of the season.”

Asked why he was always in trouble, Hamilton said: “Maybe it’s because I’m black. That’s what Ali G says.”

Sebastian Vettel was given the wrong tyres at his pit stop in Monaco and RBR had to change its strategy thereafter.

Vettel was supposed to get another set of supersofts but due to a radio blunder he was given softs instead – and in the confusion he lost a few seconds.

“We had an issue at the first stop where the radio seemed to get jammed,”  Christian Horner told this blog. “And the communication from the pit wall upstairs didn’t reach the guys downstairs. So there was some confusion over the tyres to go on the Seb’s car. We were looking at going on another set of options and he drove out of the pitlane with another set of primes on.”

After that the team had to adjust its strategy and eventually settled on a one-stop. Luck seems to be riding with Seb at the moment…

As expected Lewis Hamlton has lost his qualifying time in Q3 after cutting the chicane at the exit of the Swimming Pool.

Because it was his only proper flying lap in that session he drops to the back of Q3, and with Sergio Perez non starting, that means ninth.

Lewis has paid the price for not having set a banker time early on. Even though he was on a bad lap when he jumped the chicane, because it was his only flying lap, it came up as a green sector time.

Hamilton went off because the team sent him out early and his tyres cooled down as he waited at the end of the pitlane.

Perez had a lucky escape - his helmet was unmarked

Sergio Perez has escaped with no serious injuries from his huge crash in qualifying in Monaco.

Despite the severity of the accident his helmet was unmarked, although the headrest foam did its job and was cracked.

He will have to pass FIA tests before he is allowed to race in Montreal.

Sauber released a short statement as follows: “It was with great relief the Sauber F1 Team received the news that Sergio Pérez has no serious injuries after his heavy accident in the closing minutes of the final part of qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix. Shortly before 15:00 hrs he had crashed into the barrier after the fast tunnel section of the circuit.

“The 21-year-old Mexican was taken to the Hospital Princess Grace in Monaco from where the team received further information at 16:25 hrs: The doctors said Pérez had suffered concussion and a sprained thigh, but no broken bones and, following a scan, they could find no further injuries.

“The reason for the accident will be investigated and the team will update the media as soon as it has any further information.”

A couple of weeks ago after a tip from a good source I suggested that the Indian GP might end up on December 11, and Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali confirmed today that Bernie Ecclestone has indeed proposed the date.

Bernie is trying to move Delhi to free up October 30 for Bahrain. The problem with the previously suggested date of December 4 is that it is regarded as almost impossible to get F1’s infrastructure into India from the Brazilian GP on November 27.

New races are never scheduled as back-to-backs because of the lack of experience with customs and so on.

The FIA’s end of year meetings – including the F1 prizegiving involving the top three drivers – is due to take place in Delhi the week before the proposed new date…

The other more pressing in problem is that many race team staff members are committed to holidays in December because that’s the only time available.

“What we discussed yesterday was related to the possibility of a calendar that will be presented to the WMSC on Friday [June 3],” said Domenicali, “that will shift the last date not in the first week of December, but the second week. This is quite a tricky calendar, I might say. We need to sort out and see if the logistics of all of this can be sorted out.”

Domenicali said Ferrari is keen to return to Bahrain: “I think that first of all I can speak about Ferrari, Ferrari wants to go to Bahrain for the future, for a long time. We feel Bahrain is a race where F1 has to go. We need to work together with them to see if for the benefit of being there for a really long, long time it’s good to do a choice for this year, or wait and see.”

Meanwhile someone who should know indicated to me that Delhi could do with the extra time…

Group Lotus had provided more details of today’s judgement, undelining the fact that it has won on several points and can continue to use the name – without ‘Team’ in front of it – in F1.

This is what Group Lotus says:

Mr Justice Peter Smith today gave his judgement in the dispute between Group Lotus plc and Team Lotus, Tony Fernandes and others in respect of the right to use the name “Lotus” in Formula 1.

Judgement Summary

• Group Lotus has the right to use the name “Lotus” on its own within Formula 1

• Group Lotus entitled to race in the historic black and gold livery

• 1Malaysia Racing Team (1MRT) ruled to be in breach of licence agreement, Group Lotus awarded damages

• Team Lotus Ventures Limited trademarks revoked for non-use

• Group Lotus trade marks unaffected

• Group Lotus has the right to use the Lotus marque on cars for road use

The Judge found that:

Group Lotus has goodwill associated with the name “Lotus” in Formula 1 and is free to compete in the sport under that name using the Lotus roundel;

Group Lotus is entitled to race in F1 using the historic black and gold livery;

1MRT is in breach of the Licence granted to them by Group Lotus to race in F1 under the name Lotus Racing and has awarded Group Lotus damages in respect of that breach;

Team Lotus Ventures Limited’s trade mark registrations in the name of Team Lotus are cancelled as a result of non-use;

Group Lotus trade mark registrations are unaffected; and

Group Lotus has the right to use the Lotus marque on cars for road use.

The Judge also found that Team Lotus has the right to continue to race in Formula 1 under the name Team Lotus but the effect of the Judgment is that only Group Lotus can use the name “Lotus” on its own in F1. Group Lotus is concerned that this aspect of the Judgment will cause confusion in the eyes of spectators and the wider public. Accordingly, Group Lotus is seeking leave to appeal so that the right to use the Lotus brand in Formula 1 is clarified once and for all in the interests of the sport and the fans. Group Lotus and its shareholder Proton Holding Bhd are confident of success on appeal.

Speaking after the judgement, Sarah Price, Head of Legal, Group Lotus plc said: “Group Lotus is pleased that its right to race under the Lotus name in F1 has been upheld and that the Defendants’ attempts to stop that have failed.

“The on-going dispute with Team Lotus and associated companies has been a cause for concern for all at Group Lotus. Despite the detailed judgment there are issues which still require clarification and we remain committed to obtaining this much needed clarity for the many fans of the Lotus marque – we are extremely grateful for their continued support. The decision to appeal has not been taken lightly.”

Mr Justice Peter Smith has this afternoon delivered his judgement in the case of Gorup Lotus plc v 1Malaysia Racing Team in the High Court in London and has found in favour of Team Lotus, who can continue to use the name in F1.

However, Group Lotus can continue to use the ‘Lotus’ name and black and gold livery.

Tony Fernandes announced the news on Twitter as follows:

“We won. I’m over the moon. Team Lotus belongs to us. Our chasis name stays Lotus. No one can use the chasis name. We are the only Lotus. Team Lotus”

He added: “Well done to everyone at team lotus and thank you to all our fans for supporting us. The good do always win. Judgement was just given by Justice Smith a few mins ago.”

The team then followed up with more from Tony: “We are all pleased that it has been clarified that we are the rightful owners of Team Lotus. We have always been confident that the factual evidence we presented would lead to this decision and today’s judgment confirms that belief. We are of course disappointed about the decision that Group Lotus was entitled to end the our licence agreement in 2010.

“We entered into that contract on the basis that we were beginning a long-term partnership with Group Lotus but unfortunately they then used technical breaches of the merchandising pre-notification process to bring the licence and our partnership to an end. However, my fellow shareholders and I are firm believers that when one door closes another door opens.

“In the early days of our agreement we realised its termination was inevitable and as events have unfolded the end of the licence has proved positive for us, with many new avenues being opened up as a result.

“We wanted to develop a long-term relationship with Group Lotus and help them sell more cars around the world but that door closed and now we are delighted that we can turn our attention to ensuring success for Caterham Cars on the road and Team Lotus on track.

“These are two very exciting brands and their future development, bringing these two iconic brands together under the Caterham Team Lotus umbrella, will see us introduce new Caterham cars and a range of new Team Lotus brands into the global marketplace.

“Now our main aim is to build on the solid foundations that has made Caterham Cars the model for how to run a profitable contemporary car company and add more history to the incredible story of Team Lotus over the coming months and years and with the people, spirit, passion and determination we have in both businesses we know that marks the next stage in our incredible story.”

FOTA has today written a letter to F1 fans summing up the organisation’s achievements in the light of last year’s fan survey – although it will be interesting to see how Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA react to some of those claims.

The letter reads as follows:

Monaco, 27 May 2011

Dear Formula 1 fans,

As some of you may remember, in early 2010 FOTA undertook a global research study together with our partners at F1 Racing and LG Electronics.

The study sought opinions and feedback from the global fan base, and was conducted to help us better understand our strengths and to prioritise our challenges for the future. The survey was exhaustive and took on average more than 35 minutes to complete, so we were very pleased and grateful to receive detailed feedback from more than 85,000 fans from more than 190 countries.

A year on from the announcement of the initial findings, we feel it is appropriate to share the work we have undertaken and the actions we have implemented over the past 12 months. First, you provided FOTA with a very strong mandate (more than 80% support) to work to support the teams, to develop technological improvements and to enhance the reputation of F1 around the globe.

As fans you voiced your opinion that F1 needed to attract new followers by ensuring its position as the pinnacle of motorsport from both a technical perspective and driver perspective. More than 90% of you highlighted that more exciting racing and increased opportunities for overtaking represented the most important issues for us to address.

Through the FOTA Technical Regulations Working Group and in partnership with the FIA and our new tyre supplier, Pirelli, we put this issue at the top of our agenda. Writing as we are after the Spanish Grand Prix, five races into the 2011 season, we hope you feel that innovations such as the Drag Reduction System and the revised tyre compounds have made very positive contributions in this area.

Within the 2010 study we asked you about KERS Hybrid, and the feedback from fans was that you did not feel the technology had been given sufficient time to prove its benefits to the sport. So the rules have been amended, increasing the minimum weight, to allow its use again in 2011. In this way we hope that F1 can become an invaluable “laboratory” via which we may fast-track this technology to road car applications and thereby spread the benefits of F1 to society as a whole.

We also asked for your feedback on our proposed points system for 2010, and, while you were in favour of our plan to award points down to 10th place, you also stated a preference for a greater differential between points awarded for race wins and points awarded for lesser placings. We took that feedback on board and the points system was revised ahead of the 2010 World Championship, resulting in the closest F1 title battle for many years, with four drivers vying for the Drivers Championship at the final Grand Prix.

Thanks to FOM Productions, HD television broadcasts has been adopted from the start of the 2011 season and this is an important achievement that matches the expectations of many of you.

We are pleased with these achievements, but we are not complacent. We know that there is more work to be done, and we aim to continue to listen to our global fan base so that you may continue to guide our efforts to improve the sport we all love.

Finally, in the 2010 study, you asked for the opportunity to engage directly with the teams and drivers; we conducted a Fans Forum in London in 2010 and we are pleased to announce three further Fans Forums planned for this year in Canada, Great Britain and Italy.

And while we will not be able to meet you all, rest assured that we will be listening and will be continuing to push for enhancements wherever and whenever possible. Together with you, we now look forward to a fascinating and challenging race here in Monaco.

Force India boss Vijay Mallya says that the team is supporting Adrian Sutil in the light of the nightclub incident involving Eric Lux in China.

Mallya made the point that no legal proceedings have been brought against the German, despite threats from Lux.

“As far as my position is concerned, there has been a press release issued which describes an incident,” said Mallya. “We have not heard of any formal complaint being registered in any country for any sort of misconduct by Adrian. So it would be highly inappropriate for us to presume that he did something. It would be equally presumptuous that he would guilty of wrong-doing and take action against him.

“So my position is very clear: if at all we receive a formal complaint or there is some form of formal legal enquiry in any country, we’ll take appropriate action at that time but we can’t be presumptive.”

Pressed on the contractual situation, Mallya said: “You know, contracts do not supercede misconduct, so unless I’m convinced that there is misconduct, the contract shall prevail. And I’m not willing to jump to any conclusions, based on a press release that has been given out by a potentially or supposedly aggrieved party.

“I don’t know what happened there, none of my people know what happened at that particular incident so there’s a due process of law. So if Adrian is to be charged with misconduct, let him be charged. If and when he’s charged, I will assess the situation.”