Formula 1 Race result - Australian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton begins year with victory; Heidfeld and Rosberg complete podium followed by Alonso and Kovalainen; Raikkonen and Massa both fail to score - only seven runners finish; Barrichello disqualified...

1. Lewis Hamilton Britain Vodafone McLaren Mercedes-Mercedes 58 laps 01:34:50.616
2. Nick Heidfeld Germany BMW Sauber F1 Team-BMW +5.48
3. Nico Rosberg Germany AT&T Williams-Toyota +8.16
4. Fernando Alonso Spain ING Renault F1 Team-Renault +17.18
5. Heikki Kovalainen Finland Vodafone McLaren Mercedes-Mercedes +18.01
6. Kazuki Nakajima Japan AT&T Williams-Toyota +1 lap
7. Sebastien Bourdais French Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari +3 laps
8. Kimi Raikkonen Finland Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro-Ferrari +5 laps

9. Robert Kubica Poland BMW Sauber F1 Team-BMW 47 laps
10. Timo Glock Germany Panasonic Toyota Racing-Toyota 43 laps
11. Takuma Sato Japan Super Aguri F1 Team-Honda 32 laps
12. Nelson Piquet Jr Brazil ING Renault F1 Team-Renault 30 laps
13. Felipe Massa Brazil Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro-Ferrari 29 laps
14. David Coulthard Britain Red Bull Racing-Renault 25 laps
15. Jarno Trulli Italy Panasonic Toyota Racing-Toyota 19 laps
16. Adrian Sutil Germany Force India F1 Team-Ferrari 8 laps
17. Mark Webber Australia Red Bull Racing-Renault 0 laps
18. Jenson Button Britain Honda Racing F1 Team-Honda 0 laps
19. Sebastian Vettel Germany Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari 0 laps
20. Anthony Davidson Britain Super Aguri F1 Team-Honda 0 laps
21. Giancarlo Fisichella Italy Force India F1 Team-Ferrari 0 laps

DQ. Rubens Barrichello Brazil Honda Racing F1 Team-Honda Disqualified - had finished 6th

F1 license plate bought for $740.000

When it comes about a car you love, you might understand why someone will pay almost $1 million for it, but when you pay this amount of money for a F1 license plate... well, you might have reasons not to agree with the guy! But who am I to tell people what to do with their money, right?

The man who did this is the businessman Afzal Kahn (Kahn Design owner) who paid this week-end £375,000 plus VAT (meaning £440,625 or $873,000) for a F1 license plate, Britain’s most expensive registration.

Previous record was £331,000 for M1, sold by auctioneers Bonhams in July 2006.


The license plate was put on a new Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR, which cost £200,000 less than the number.

It is a 104 years-old registration, and previously was on a £30,000 Volvo S80 used by the council chairman.

"I knew I just had to have it," said Mr Kahn. "I have spent years chasing it. I cannot believe I’ve finally got it. I am privileged to have acquired such a prestigious plate. It’s every man’s dream to have his perfect car with a number plate like this."

The money will be used for charity which aims to raise the standards of young drivers.

F2008 breaks cover

Scuderia takes wraps off car to defend 2007 titles

Clothed in familiar rich red clothes, the 54th single-seater built by Ferrarispecifically for Formula Onewas unveiled to a select band of journalists and media in Maranello as the Scuderia became the first team to launch its 2008 campaign.



Eschewing the usual ceremony of past Ferrari launches, the Prancing Horse made a discreet start to its double title defence, just 24 hours before world champion Kimi Raikkonenis due to give the car - which will be known as F2008 - its first track outing at Fiorano.

New McLaren breaks cover.

Stuttgart launch for MP4-23

McLarenhas taken the covers off its 2008 Formula 1challenger after unveiling the new MP4-23 in Stuttgart.

Having initially planned to not hold a launch of the new car, the team then back-tracked and elected to reveal the new car to the press just a day after biggest rivals Ferrarilaunched the F2008 in Italy.



After a season overshadowed by the F1spying scandal, the Woking-based outfit will look to make headlines for the right reason with the new car which will be driven by Lewis Hamiltonand Heikki Kovalainen, who moves over from Renaultto join the young Briton in a quick but inexperienced line-up – with both drivers going into their second season of Formula competition

Mattias Ekström Won the "Race Of Champions"

DTM champion beats Michael Schumacher in finale Audi factory driver’s second consecutive win Audi A4 DTM and Audi R10 TDI thrill 50,000 fans Mattias Ekström has made one of his biggest dreams come true: In the final round of the "Race of Champions" the Audi driver defeated the seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher, triumphing for the second time in a row at the motorsport spectacle that was staged in front of over 50,000 spectators at London’s Wembley Stadium for the first time this year. Also part of the action were stars like David Coulthard, Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel, Heikki Kovalainen, Sébastien Bourdais, Marcus Grönholm and Petter Solberg.



"For me, Michael Schumacher is one of the world’s greatest drivers. To beat him in the same equipment is an incredible experience I won’t forget for a long time," said the elated 29-year-old Swede after the nail-biting finale. After Ekström and Schumacher had each won a round, the third heat had to produce the decision. As at the DTM finale two months earlier, Ekström kept his cool in front of the impressive backdrop of the stadium and did not give his role model Michael Schumacher the slightest chance. Before that, he had eliminated – among others – Britain’s World Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx.

Heikki Kovalainen joins Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

“We had a number of options open to us and as always we want to make sure that we have the most competitive driver line-up and I think that Lewis and Heikki will be a formidable combination,” said Martin Whitmarsh. “Both enjoyed great rookie seasons in 2007 and share a genuine passion for winning and being the best. Heikki made a strong impression and Lewis’ performance so far has been outstanding and speaks for itself. I am confident that they will push each other on track and work well together off track.

Norbert Haug, Vice President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport commented: “Heikki is a talented driver who showed his skills during his debut season in Formula 1 this year. Heikki’s most impressive performance was at the Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji where he finished second behind Lewis in extremely treacherous wet conditions. He is not only a quick driver but also one of the most consistent having finished in every Grand Prix except the last which puts him in the top five together with our drivers who covered most laps in 2007. Everybody in the team is looking forward to a very fruitful co-operation. Lewis and Heikki will form one of the youngest driver line-ups, and I am convinced that both will be very strong and at the same time co-operative competitors.”

26-year-old Heikki, who made his Formula 1 race debut last year with Renault, joins the team on a long-term contract and will commence his on-track programme in early January.

“I am so excited to join a team like Vodafone McLaren Mercedes,” said Heikki. “So far I have been blown away by the dedication and commitment to winning which is clear through the entire organisation and I am really excited about our joint future. As a Finn it’s an honour for me to follow in Mika and Kimi’s footsteps. I haven’t really spent a lot of time with Lewis so far but from what I know I think we will work well together and do our best for the team.”

Lewis who enjoyed the most successful rookie season in the history of the Formula 1 World Championship with consecutive podiums in his first nine races is looking forward to the 2008 season.

“As soon as the chequered flag went in Brazil I began to count down the days until Australia,” said Lewis. “I am really looking forward to 2008 and working with Heikki as my team mate. Together with the team we will do everything we can to ensure that our Championship challenge is as strong and focused as possible. My first year in Formula 1 was incredible and I was so fortunate to spend it with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and I hope that Heikki will enjoy his first year with the team as much as I did mine.”

The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-23 is scheduled to commence its on-track testing programme at an exclusive test at the Jerez circuit in Spain during the second week of January 2008. There are currently no plans for a launch presentation but the team will provide the media with photographs and further details about the car when it runs.

FIA declares spy row closed

Biggest controversy of 2007 finally comes to an end

Following on from McLaren's letter of apology to the FIAover the ‘Spygate' saga that has rocked Formula 1in 2007, the sport's governing body has seemingly moved to officially bring an end to the matter.

McLaren, Ferrariand Renaulthave all been implicated in the row, with the former being fined a sporting record $100 million USD and excluded from the 2007 world constructors' standings back in September. The Woking-based outfit's 2008 contender was also due to be heavily scrutinised before being cleared to compete in next year's championship.

In its 13 September decision, the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) had instructed the FIA technical department to ‘conduct an investigation of the preparatory work by McLarenon its 2008 car with a view to determining whether that car incorporates any Ferrari confidential information, and report back before the WMSC meeting of December 2007'.

Now, however, it appears the issue may finally have been put to bed, following the FIA's response to McLaren's apology [click here].

An official FIA statement read:

‘In the light of McLaren's public apology and undertakings, the FIA President has asked the members of the World Motor Sport Council for their consent to cancel the hearing scheduled for 14 February 2008 and, in the interests of the sport, to consider this matter closed.'

McLaren apologise over spy saga

Woking concern makes formal apology to governing body over 'Spygate' saga.

In a letter to the sport's governing body, McLarenhas admitted that more Ferrariinformation had infiltrated the team than had at first been realised or revealed.

The Woking-based outfit was fined a sporting record $100 million USD for having been found in possession of confidential Ferrari data earlier this year, and excluded from the 2007 constructors' championship at a World Motor Sport Council hearing in September.

With its 2008 car now due to be heavily scrutinised by the FIAbefore being cleared to race in case it is deemed to contain any influences from Maranello, McLaren has taken the step of writing to the governing body to apologise over the matter – one that has rocked the sport to its core – and insist it will offer its full co-operation in any upcoming inspections.

A statement on the team's official website reads as follows:

‘As a result of the investigations carried out by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, it has become clear that Ferrari information was more widely disseminated within McLaren than was previously communicated. McLaren greatly regrets that its own investigations did not identify this material, and has written to the World Motor Sport Council to apologise for this.

‘McLaren has written a letter to the FIA, which in the interests of transparency it is publishing with this press statement. That letter speaks for itself, and the sentiments expressed in it are sincerely held by McLaren. McLaren has also written to the World Motor Sport Council to apologise that it has taken an FIA investigation to find this information, and have expressed our deep regret that our understanding of the facts was improved as a result of the FIA inspection rather than our own investigations.

McLarenhas recognised that this entire situation could have been avoided if we had informed Ferrariand the FIAabout Nigel Stepney's first communication when it came to our attention. We are, of course, embarrassed by the successive disclosures, and have apologised unreservedly to the FIA World Motor Sport Council.

‘To avoid even the possibility of Ferrari information influencing our performance during 2008, McLaren has offered a set of detailed undertakings to the FIA which will impose a moratorium on development in relation to three separate systems. During the course of these incidents, McLaren has conducted a thorough review of its policies and procedures regarding the recruitment and management of staff. The proposals arising from this thorough review have been disclosed to the FIA, and McLaren has agreed to demonstrate that all of these policies and procedures have been fully implemented.

‘McLaren wish to make a public apology to the FIA, Ferrari, the Formula 1community and to Formula 1 fans throughout the world, and offer their assurance that changes are now being made which will ensure that nothing comparable to what has taken place will ever happen again. McLaren have also agreed to pay the costs incurred by the FIA for their investigation.

‘McLaren now wishes to put these matters behind it and to move forward focusing on the 2008 season

Schumacher - Germany’s fastest taxi driver?

Being seven-times world champion is not an excuse for taking taxi by time to time. The problem is that the way others drive might not please you that much; after all you are one of the fastest man on Earth. Yes, we are talking about Michael Schumacher. He needed to take a taxi like any other person, but he asked the driver, very politely, to allow him driving. And how seeing Schumacher driving is the biggest dream for person dream, the cab driver set on the right seat during the journey.

But why did Schumacher needed a taxi in the first place? Relax there was no big emergency! Just a puppy! Yes, a puppy! Schumacher flew into the aerodrome at the Bavarian town of Coburg on Saturday and took the taxi to the village of Gehuelz, 30 kilometres away, to pick up a new puppy - an Australian Shepherd dog called "Ed". And he wasn’t alone: his wife and his two children were with him.

Tuncer Yilmaz, the cab driver, said: "I found myself in the passenger seat, which was strange enough, but to have "Schumi" behind the wheel of my cab was incredible."

And if you consider that at the end of the journey Tuncer took a nice tip (on top of the 60 euros (88 US dollars) fare, he was also given a 100 euros (146 US dollars)), we can say that it was indeed a good day for him!


Source:Yahoo News

FIA: Renault guilty, but no penalty

Without explaining its reasons – yet – the FIA World Motor Sport Council today found Renault guilty of obtaining secret information from McLaren-Mercedes. The case centered on information purloined by a McLaren employee as he left that company to join his new employer, Renault. Renault has self-reported itself to both the FIA and McLaren when it discovered that the employee had brought floppy discs with McLaren information when he joined Renault.

The FIA announced that the reasoning behind the decision would be made available on Friday, and the transcript of proceedings published after that.

Though Renault was judge guilty of “brining the sport into disrepute,” no penalty was imposed by the Council. Inside word has it that the decision against imposing a penalty was based on the conclusion that Renault had not used the information.

A similar rationale had been used when McLaren initially appeared before the Council last year, charged with spying on Ferrari. The later penalty imposed by the FIA occurred only after it became apparent that McLaren had, in fact, used the stolen information.


Source:International Herald Tribune

Raikkonen wants to stay with Ferrari

Kimi Raikkonen says that he wants to spend the remainder of his career with Ferrari.

“Ferrari will be my last team, I’m not interested in going anywhere else. It suits me. I have two years on my contract and it may not be the last." That’s what Raikkonen told the British newspaper, the Daily Mail, according to a report on the BBC. Raikkonen, of course, won the World Driver’s Championship last year, in a Ferrari.

Raikkonen won out over McLaren’s upcoming star, Lewis Hamilton. Raikkonen attributed that, in part, to Hamilton’s inexperience in Formula One. “Hamilton made a mistake in China and then had something wrong with the gearbox, or whatever, in Brazil,” according to Raikkonen. Nonetheless, the Ferrari driver was clearly proud of his, and the Ferrari team’s accomplishment: "We won it fair and square. He [Hamilton] would say it wasn’t pressure that got to him, but it wasn’t an easy thing for him to do. Everyone is under pressure."

Since the end of the season, the focus of the media has been elsewhere. That suits Raikkonen just fine: “I wouldn’t say winning has changed my life but it is good to get what I have always dreamed of. If there is focus on Lewis getting prizes and Michael Schumacher testing with us, or where Fernando Alonso is going, I’m happy. I have a nice quiet life. I’ve got the trophy they probably all wanted. I’d rather take the world title than any other prize."




Source:BBC

McLaren won the Racing Car of the Year Award

After a busy year, in which they were accused of stealing Ferrari’s secrets, after being disqualified from the Formula One’s Constructor Championship, that they could easily have won, after their driver Lewis Hamilton lost the Driver Championship by 2 points, finally McLaren can be happy. They have a better car than Ferrari. A car that won eight of Formula One’s 17 races, a car – MP4-22 – that won the Racing Car of the Year award at the Autosport Awards ceremony held in London.

Paddy Lowe, the engineering director of McLaren’s car, declared after he received the prize that all the team is proud to take that prize. He also said: “It was a very, very fantastic year. I really enjoyed it and, despite the politics, the team did a fantastic job.”

Lewis stuns on Top Gear debut.

Britain's new F1 favourite showed all his ability behind the wheel of TV show's 'reasonably priced car'.

Anticipation was high ahead of Lewis Hamilton's appearance on BBC television's Top Gear programme at the weekend, and Britain's latest Formula Onesensation did not disappoint.

Despite being confined to the popular show's Suzuki Liana 'reasonably priced car' - the pensioned-off model being resurrected so that Hamilton could challenge lap times posted by other F1drivers on a level playing field - the 22-year old did not disappoint.

Wilson lands McLaren test.

Stefan Wilson has been handed the chance to test one of Formula One's most potent weapons after just one year in single-seater racing.

While elder brother Justin would no doubt love another chance to impress the Woking outfit, there will be no prouder onlooker as Stefan Wilson tests with McLarenas part of his 2007 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award selection.

Although not among the title-winners in the six-man shortlist, car racing debutant Wilson impressed sufficiently in a two-day 'selection shoot-out' at Snettertonlast month to earn the judges' nomination to follow in the footsteps of his brother's former F1rivals Jenson Button and David Coulthard. Justin will know what his sibling went through during the selection process, having been a one-time nomination himself.

Having finished second to Tim Bridgeman in the Formula Palmer Audi championship, Wilson tackled on-track assessments in Porsche Carrera Cup, Mercedes DTM and World Series by Renaultmachinery, as well as facing up to questions from the selection panel, before being chosen ahead of British Formula Ford champion Callum McLeod, Formula Renault champion Duncan Tappy, FFord Festival and FPA Shoot-out winner Nick Tandyand racewinners Henry Arundel and Dean Smith. As usual, however, the 18-year old had to wait several weeks before being announced as the winner at Sunday night's Autosport Awards

Lewis: I want to be the best ever.

Hamilton aims high for the future

As he prepares to hit the track alongside Michael Schumacherfor the first time during Formula 1testing at Jerez this week, Lewis Hamiltonhas admitted that he hopes to emulate the German and become the most successful driver in F1history.

Hamilton missed out on the title in his debut season by just one point to Kimi Raikkonen, despite leading the Finn by 17 points with two races remaining, and will go into 2008 amongst the favourites to secure the championship crown.

Eager to get over the disappointment of the final two races of the season - when an off in China and mechanical problems in Brazil ended his title hopes - Hamilton said he was fully focused on improving as a driver for 2008 and was focused on emulating the likes of seven-time champion Schumacher and his boyhood hero Ayrton Senna in the record books.

I'm over that disappointment," he told the News of the World. "I've learnt from the mistakes and am fully focused on next season. I get better every year and I don't see why next season will be any different.

"I am going to be fitter, stronger and more experienced, ready to take that next step up and be champion. I have time on my side to win many titles. If I get the opportunity to break Michael's record then I will go for it.

"Michael was a phenomenal driver but for me, Ayrton Senna was the greatest ever. If I could get one world championship that would be great; if I could three, the same number as Ayrton did, that would be a dream. But I want to be the best driver there has ever been."

Hamilton added that he still couldn't believe how things have changed over the past twelve months, with him going from virtual unknown to global superstar over the course of the year.

"I'm still coming to terms with all that's happened this year," he said. "It's been a roller-coaster of emotions. I still see myself as a normal guy, but my focus has to be on my job in F1.

"I'm going to put in maximum effort over the winter to come back even better next season."

Edwards explains Schumacher speed

How did Michael Schumacher lap just five seconds slower than the MotoGP lap record?

Colin Edwards has explained how he believes it was possible for former seven-times F1world champion Michael Schumacherto ride a MotoGPbike just five seconds off the Valencia lap record.

Schumacher set his stunning time during the press and guest day immediately after the season-ending grand prix - and despite only limited sportbike experience. The test was also the German legend's first on an 800cc Ducatiand just his second ever MotoGP ride.

Renault tell Alonso: 3 years or no deal.

Is expected deal about to fall flat after persistent stalling over length of contract..?
Fernando Alonso's much-vaunted return to Renaultfor the 2008 Formula 1season could have hit yet another hitch over the length of his contract, with reports suggesting the team will settle for nothing less than three years.

Reports from both Alonso's homeland of Spain, and Renault F1boss Flavio Briatore's native country of Italy, are adamant what was believed to be as good as a done deal is anything but. Daily Spanish sports newspaper Marca claims although Briatore is happy to accept the double world champion's demands for a one-year agreement, the Régie's president Carlos Ghosn is insisting on three years – take it or leave it.

Alonso is keen on signing for one year only, as he has his eye on a subsequent move to Ferrarialongside Kimi Raikkonenin 2009, with some Italian sources convinced that is already a certainty. Wire service Agenzia Giornalistica Italia, however, quotes Ghosn as saying: “It's three years or nothing.”

Prodrive admit F1 dream has hit skids

World's leading private motorsport concern acknowledges aim to break into the top flight next year now little more than a pipe dream.
Following months of speculation, Prodrive has finally conceded its ambition to enter Formula 1in 2008 has failed to get off the starting grid, confirming there will remain just eleven teams in the sport next year.

According to Canadian sports website TSN, the Banbury-based outfit's chairman David Richards admitted to German publication Auto Motor und Sport that Prodrive's plans to break into the top flight as F1's twelfth team have been put indefinitely on hold, until a new Concorde Agreement is finalised and agreed upon. The current agreement is due to expire on 31 December, 2007.

“We asked the FIAto be able to start midway through the season,” Richards is quoted as having told the magazine, “and our request was rejected, so for 2008 there is not a realistic chance of there being a Prodrive F1team.”

Prodrive – already heavily involved in world rallying, touring cars and sportscars for more than two decades – was picked from almost two dozen applications to be F1's twelfth team back in April this year, with Richards making no secret of the fact he intended to take advantage of new rules allowing the use of customer cars, to avoid having to build everything from scratch. A new £200 million, 200-acre motorsportcomplex nicknamed ‘The Fulcrum' has been planned for the outfit's second base near Warwick.

Prodrive was expected to tie up a chassis and engine deal with McLarenuntil several teams – most prominently Williams and Spyker(now Force India) – challenged the eligibility of customer cars under the present Concorde Agreement, constraining Richards to put any further progression on hold until a new ruling is made.

“Our ambition is still to be in F1,” he asserted. “There was the risk of legal procedures because we wanted to use a customer car. As a result, our entire business plan was put into doubt, so we have chosen to re-group instead of simply race ahead blindly.

“We must wait for the new Concorde – only then can we fully assess our options.”

Leaked info to spell end of Renault in F1?

Third team implicated in F1's 2007 spy row saga rocked by latest revelations ahead of FIA hearing.

Renault's Formula 1 team has been dealt a hammer blow in the latest revelation in the sport's ongoing spy row, with leaked legal documents painting a bleak picture for the French squad ahead of its pivotal World Motor Sport Council hearing early next month - the outcome of which is likely to determine its future in the top flight.

Renault was first named as being implicated in the espionage saga a fortnight ago. It will consequently appear before the FIA in Monaco on 6 December to answer a charge of being in unauthorised possession of documents and confidential information belonging to McLaren. It is a similar offence to that of which McLaren was found guilty during the summer, when the Woking concern was proved to have illegally received 780 pages of secret Ferrari data – and for which the team received a $100 million fine, disqualification from the 2007 constructors' world championship and a high degree of scrutiny over its 2008 model.

According to British daily newspaper The Times, the latest assertions – allegedly leaked to PA Sport from McLaren's submission to the world council in a bid to ramp up the pressure on Renault – imply the Enstone-based outfit benefited significantly from the aforementioned data, which includes, the FIA has confirmed, the layout and critical dimensions of McLaren's F1 car, fuelling system, gear assembly, oil cooling system, hydraulic control system and a novel suspension component used by the 2006 and 2007 machines.

“It is clear that McLaren's confidential design information was knowingly, deliberately and widely disseminated and discussed within the Renault F1 design and engineering team,” read a statement from McLaren's solicitors, Baker McKenzie, “thereby providing them with a clear benefit and unfair

Ferrari 'completely satisfied' with ICA verdict.

McLaren appeal a 'final and desperate' attempt to change the result, says Jean Todt.
Ferrari has welcomed the news that the FIA's International Court of Appeal has rejected McLaren's appeal against the decision not to disqualify the BMW-Sauber and Williams' cars from last month's Brazilian GP.

The decision means that Kimi Raikkonen has won the 2007 Formula 1 drivers' title in his debut season with the Scuderia.


“Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro is completely satisfied with today's decision of the International Court of Appeal which confirms the result of the Brazilian Grand Prix, as a consequence of which Kimi Raikkonen won the Formula 1 Drivers' World Championship,” read a statement from the Scuderia.
Ferrari team boss, Jean Todt meanwhile has said that the appeal was a ‘desperate attempt' by McLaren to change the result of the season finale at Interlagos.

“The decision of the ICA finally brings to an end a very intense season, both on and off the track,” he added.

“Today, a final and desperate attempt to change the result obtained on the track was rejected. Now, all our efforts are focused on preparing for next season.”