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[/13/Ален Шмит/]

Sainz's Renault switch agreed as McLaren deal looms

Carlos Sainz has signed a deal to join Renault, Motorsport.com has learned, in a move that will trigger a series of dominos to secure McLaren the French car manufacturer’s engine for 2018.

While news of McLaren’s progress in its efforts to switch from Honda engines has not been forthcoming in public, behind-the-scenes developments appear to show it has succeeded.

High level sources have confirmed that Sainz’s deal has been agreed as part of a sweetener for Renault to end its Toro Rosso contract early.

With the Sainz deal agreed, that has opened the way for Toro Rosso to finalise a switch to Honda engines next year, which in turn ensures McLaren gets hold of its supply of customer Renaults for 2018.

Sainz element

After a frantic Italian Grand Prix weekend, where discussions to sort the McLaren-Honda situation had been intense, it emerged that Sainz was becoming a key part of the equation.

Renault indicated that it wanted some incentive to switch its customer supply from Toro Rosso to McLaren - and with Sainz, it has a promising youngster that it can place alongside Nico Hulkenberg to help its efforts to move up the grid.

Although the provisional deal is for 2018, sources have suggested that Sainz could join Renault as early as this year’s Malaysian Grand Prix if the outfit elects not to continue with Jolyon Palmer.

If the Sainz switch happens from Sepang, then it is likely that Pierre Gasly will be given the call-up to join Daniil Kvyat at Toro Rosso.

No firm decision has been taken regarding Sainz’s replacement for 2018, but one contender would be Honda junior driver Nobuharu Matsushita, who will likely be released from his McLaren development driver role.

However, Matsushita does not yet have enough superlicence points to be able to race in F1, so needs to have a strong end to his F2 campaign to be in with a chance of a step up.

McLaren to Renault

Sainz’s Renault deal has cleared the way for Toro Rosso to complete its switch to Honda engines, with the Faenza-based team also taking a supply of McLaren gearboxes for the Japanese power unit.

Once the Toro Rosso-Honda agreement has been finalised, then the final issue to be sorted will be McLaren’s Renault contract – although that will then likely be a formality.

It is thought that all the deals will be complete by the start of next week, to ensure that announcements can be made ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix.

A switch to Renault power is thought to be enough to convince Fernando Alonso, who had lost patience with Honda's lack of progress in recent months, to remain at McLaren in 2018.

[alberto.ascari]

Vrlo me interesuje duel Sainz - Hulk sa istom tehnikom.

[/13/Ален Шмит/]

Lista sponzora i partnera timova
 

 

Original

 

 

Original

[/13/Ален Шмит/]

Singapore to host the Formula 1 World Championship until 2021

Formula 1, the pinnacle of motor sport, is delighted to announce together with Singapore GP Pte Ltd and Singapore Tourism Board that the Singapore Grand Prix will continue to be part of the Formula 1 World Championship for four more years, from 2018 to 2021.

Since its debut in 2008, the first ever night Grand Prix is one of the highlights of the F1 calendar and one of the most attractive and spectacular races. Over the years, the Singapore event has distinguished itself as one that is not just about the competition, but one complemented by a strong line-up of concerts, entertainment and lifestyle offerings both within the circuit park and throughout the city.

The announcement comes against of the background of a year-on-year 19% growth in ticket sales, with the race weekend sales still to be included.

Chase Carey, Chairman and CEO, Formula 1, said:
“The Singapore Grand Prix is a signature Formula 1 race and therefore we are very pleased that it will continue to feature on the calendar for a further four years. The first ever night race in this sport is one of the most thrilling events of the year, taking place against the stunning backdrop of Marina Bay.

"The Singapore Grand Prix, the Singapore Tourism Board and the Singapore Government have all done an excellent job of making this an event that involves the whole city. We are looking forward to offering our continued support to make the next four years even more spectacular and exciting.”

S. Iswaran, Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry), said:
“The F1 Singapore Grand Prix has generated significant benefits for our economy as well as the Formula 1 franchise. With its global viewership and media coverage, the race has reinforced Singapore’s image as a vibrant and innovative city to a wide international audience. It has also created good opportunities for Singaporeans and the local business community. We look forward to the continued support of all Singaporeans as we work with Formula 1, Singapore GP, and all stakeholders, to ensure the F1 Singapore Grand Prix remains an event that we can all be proud of.”
 
Mr. Ong Beng Seng, Singapore GP, said:
“Since 2008 we have enjoyed a close working relationship with Formula 1 and all of its key players. We believe this has been a beneficial partnership for all parties, for our city and for the sport, and we look forward to building on that foundation with F1’s new owners.”

Mr Lionel Yeo, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board said:
“The race in Singapore has provided an excellent platform for businesses to test bed new lifestyle initiatives and products. This has not only created an exciting atmosphere during the race season, but also injected creative concepts and experiences that continue to attract tourists to Singapore all year round.”

[/13/Ален Шмит/]

F1 boss open to Indian GP return

F1 CEO Chase Carey says he would like the Indian Grand Prix to return “down the road”, insisting the Asian country is an important market for the sport.

India hosted three Grands Prix between 2011-13 at Greater Noida's Buddh International Circuit, before bureaucratic and taxation hurdles forced F1 out of the country.

While the financial troubles of organisers Jaypee Group has worsened in recent years, with one of the conglomerate's companies being declared insolvent by the government, Carey says he will continue to evaluate India's return on the F1 map.

"India is a country that certainly has great potential and as we go forward, we will continue to study," Carey told Indian news agency PTI.

"We have so far not got a chance to engage in depth yet, it has only been a little over half a year since the complete change in ownership."

"Our focus as of today is making sure that the 21 races next year is everything as it can be.

"But there are places around the world that present us with great opportunities for us to grow the sport overtime and certainly a country like India with the success and the growth it has had in recent years, makes it an exciting opportunity down the road."

India currently has two years remaining on its original five-year contract, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to accommodate new races on the ever-increasing F1 calendar.

Over 40 new venues have shown interest in hosting a race, according to F1 chiefs, while the 2018 calendar is already jam-packed with 21 races.

Carey is keen on expanding the sport to markets in Asia and America.

"We have interest from many countries around the world for races in the future. We are pretty full schedule right now. But Asian in general is tremendously important.

"We have talked about the opportunity to grow the sport in Asia as well as the Americas. It is truly a unique opportunity for us to reach out to new fans around the world," said Carey.

Indian Grand Prix's return is further complicated by previous tax issues, with the country's Supreme Court ordering F1 to pay $15.45 million in accrued taxes earlier this month.

 

 

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Hearing @f1 tech regs could be changed for 2018 to permit retention of shark fin - to retain space for sponsor logos and driver numbers.

Edited by /13/Ален Шмит/, 15 September 2017 - 17:08.

[alpiner]

McLaren-Renault: The long-term repercussions

The many strands of the saga around McLaren's divorce from Honda came together on Friday in Singapore and the repercussions will continue for years to come.

These will be felt in the engine supply field, the driver market and even in the commercial side of F1 and the way it is governed as they will bring about a hastening of the showdown over the new F1 rules, budget cap and F1 constitution after 2021.

McLaren goes from being a works Honda team to a Renault customer, with significant financial consequences. It's not a path that many have willingly walked before.

But McLaren divorced Honda because of failed promises, desperate performance and because it felt the only way to pull out of the nose dive that the alliance was in was to make a change.

Honda is unrecognisable from the company that dominated F1 in the late 1980s and early 1990s. People say that it is the technology that the engineers have failed to master, but Honda is the world's biggest engine maker and if you think about it, it struggled in the late 2000s with the much simpler V8 engine when it had its own team.

This latest failure indicates that the problem is more one of culture. The senior people are not getting the right cues from the engineers below them, somewhere in the system is a blockage, a system of denial.

How else to explain a programme going backwards from 2016 to this year? Or promised upgrades for Montreal this year failing to materialise?

It is certainly one of the strangest episodes in modern F1 history and after three years of torment McLaren's new management and the powerful shareholders had had enough.

Fernando Alonso made it clear that he would not tolerate another year with Honda, but is expected now to stay and show faith with the team using Renault engines. He has real leverage there thanks to his successful history with Renault.

Renault pays back Red Bull

That change at McLaren has had unforeseen consequences for Red Bull, which has been told by Renault that it will not receive engines after the end of 2018.

No-one saw that one coming, but it certainly has its origins in the criticism that Red Bull laid at Renault's door during from 2014 onwards, after winning four consecutive world championships together.

Red Bull appeared to have manoeuvred itself into a position where it had two options going forward; stay with Renault or take the Honda works engine in 2019 or 2020 if it comes good.

It also has another longer-term iron in the fire with Porsche giving careful consideration to making an F1 entry, possibly with the new engine regulations from 2021 onwards.

But if Porsche takes the plunge there will be competition from others, including McLaren, for that deal.

Red Bull's short-term position has been made more delicate, apparently reliant on Honda coming good by the end of next season.

Drivers are part of the trade-off in the McLaren/Renault/Honda/Toro Rosso deal. Carlos Sainz will switch to Renault, although it tried its luck at the 11th hour in the negotiations, asking for Daniel Ricciardo to transfer to the works Renault team.

That was rejected and Sainz is the one making the move, as originally planned. However Red Bull had the foresight to add a piece of elastic to the deal in case it loses one of its two current stars.

The Renault termination will not please either of the Red Bull drivers, who are now clear transfer targets for Ferrari and Mercedes.

Both teams have retained their number two drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Valtteri Bottas on a single year extension in case the Red Bull drivers become available and there will now be real pressure there.

My sense of it is that Daniel Ricciardo would fit with Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, whereas Max Verstappen would not. Ferrari has been interested in Verstappen for some time, but it would be a less than comfortable fit with Sebastian Vettel.

If the German achieves his goal and wins the championship with Ferrari this year or next then the situation would certainly be easier, but if not then it could be tricky putting Verstappen in there in 2019, when Vettel would have another two years left on his contract as team leader.

Both Ferrari and Mercedes will tell you that it's not a slam dunk that they will poach the Red Bull drivers; both teams are excited by the young drivers they have coming through with Esteban Ocon for Mercedes and Charles Leclerc for Ferrari.

Ocon could be ready for a promotion in 2019, if he continues his current rate of development. Meanwhile Valtteri Bottas, as the incumbent, also has his destiny in his hands, if he can improve his consistency - so the Mercedes driver decision for 2019 will be fascinating.

For Red Bull's owner Dietrich Mateschitz all of this will be hard to stomach. His investment over the years in F1 has been huge and Red Bull has certainly had plenty of brand benefit from it, but will he continue to keep pumping money into F1 if his team starts to slide, potentially losing one or both of its star drivers, if there is not a huge improvement in the Honda engines it appears compelled to use in 2019 and if the rule makers persist with a hybrid engine formula he detests?

Focus switches to F1's post-2020 world

So now that the tectonic plates have shifted on McLaren, Renault and Red Bull, the focus shifts to the next stage of negotiations over budget caps and a new constitution for F1. This will now come out into the open.

CEO Chase Carey and his team have a clock ticking down to December 31 2020, the expiration date for the current deals binding in all the teams, except Renault, which signed up beyond that when it returned to F1.

The value of Liberty Media's US$8 billion investment lies in the post-2020 renewals and while it is doing well on renewing contracts with promoters, the teams - the actors in the F1 show - are not tied in yet. Stock market investors hate uncertainty.

The F1 teams also have an urgent interest in knowing how things are going to be post-2020. The smaller and middle sized teams want a budget cap as soon as possible. The top teams need to know soon as well as they will need a three-year glide path to shed the 200 or so staff that they will need to lose to get into that cap.

Ferrari and Mercedes in particular don't see themselves in the same bracket as all the other teams, don't believe a 'one size fits all' approach recognises their status and history in the sport.

A fight is inevitable and Ferrari has the much-discussed veto right over rules it doesn't like, which was granted to it in the Bernie Ecclestone/Max Mosley days. Many insiders believe it would be better to get that fight out into the open now, rather than wait another six months, which runs down the clock further into 2018.

Carey and the FIA need to know by 2020 who's in and who's out, so they can make provisions for 2021. So that leaves two years from now to resolve everything. Rather like Brexit, it's a complex negotiation with a two-year time limit !

That's why Toto Wolff famously said at the FIA Sport Conference in June, "I wouldn't want to be in Chase's shoes."

The key to it is the alignment between Liberty and the FIA; between Carey and Ross Brawn on one side and Jean Todt on the other.

You hear different views about how aligned they are at this point and Todt will surely have his conditions and his objectives in terms of what the FIA gets from F1 post-2020.

But the teams will exploit any weakness in that alliance.

http://www.eurosport...368/story.shtml

[alberto.ascari]

Odličan tekst!

[alberto.ascari]

Checo potpisao FI za 2018.

[alberto.ascari]

Ima li nekih vesti da li je oštećena pista u Mexico City i hoće li biti trka?

[/13/Ален Шмит/]

Pista nije oštećena i trenutno služi kao sklonište. 
 

In the dramatic magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Mexico City, there was no damage to the crutch called Rodriguez Brothers who would host the GP in forty days. Emergency and emergency services are ...

The drama that struck Mexico City is bound to have major trajectories on all the activities planned in the Capital in the coming months. The state of emergency now afterwards confirms an extremely serious picture, involving several areas of the city, including the one where the circuit named for the Rodriguez brothers is located.

It will take a couple of days to get detailed information on the state of the plant and the first intentions of local authorities on future programs, more than understandable considering the dramatic priorities of the time.

The first signs coming from the circuit do not damage the structures, even if it is still to be inspected in the Foro Sol area (the stadium).

A welcome field was set up for people who do not have access to their homes, with emergency services and health care. Only forty days from the Grand Prize it seems difficult and premature to think about what the choices of local authorities will be.

It is very likely that both FIA and Liberty Media will make their decisions: if they think it is appropriate to cancel the event it is credible that there will be no problem with who runs Formula 1, if the Grand Prize will be seen as a a symbol for restarting, will be the same Circus to be available ...

[/13/Ален Шмит/]

Mexican Grand Prix organisers determined to have race as planned after earthquake

Mexican Grand Prix officials say there is no concern over the status of this year's race, which they now believe has added importance after the devastating earthquake that hit the capital this week.

Over 200 people have been killed since the 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit central Mexico and its capital Mexico City on Tuesday. The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, set to host the Mexican Grand Prix on October 29, did not sustain any damage.

Race organisers and employees have been focused on helping with the relief effort in any way possible.

When asked if there was a chance of the race schedule being affected by the disaster, Mexican GP director of marketing Rodrigo Sanchez told reporters: "I don't think so. If things stay the same, we'll just keep doing what we're doing, keep helping. The track is fine and we just need to refocus and get the show done.

"It's a relatively new circuit. In Mexico all the new structures are built with that purpose because the chances [of an earthquake] are very high. It's been inspected twice already, from the track surface and also the buildings, and it's OK. So we'll continue doing the assessments as we go but so far there's really no concern, we'll have a race."

F1 driver Sergio Perez -- the face of the Mexican Grand Prix and one of the nation's biggest sporting icons -- has already started a fundraising effort for those affected by the disaster.

With the race set to be the first high-profile sporting event in the capital city since the earthquake, organisers are determined to put on the show -- which last year attracted nearly 340,000 spectators across the weekend -- as normal as a sign of Mexican solidarity in the face of crisis.

"The Mexican people, in times, like this we bring ourselves together and we know how to move on," Sanchez added. "Things like this, it's important to show our unity, not only amongst ourselves but to the world. So in that aspect I think we're fine."

"Its times [like this] where you get to sit down and see what all of us are capable of doing. We need to remain together in the bad and the good, not only in the bad. That's a powerful message and something we need to show and I think Mexicans are a good example of that, their pride and their energy.

"The same pride you usually see in the grandstands we are seeing in the devastation zones right now, everyone is not even sleeping, people are staying overnight just to get people out of buildings."

Sanchez said the immediate response to the disaster shows why the priority has to be getting Mexico City back to functioning as normal.

"Right now we are working with the federal government, who declared Mexico City as a national crisis, which allows them to put federal resources -- the army, the navy, the airforce -- to us. We need to get back into place quickly.

"A good example is there was some damage to the airport, and it was shut down from the morning until midday. By 8pm it was already open, we were sending flights out and receiving flights in. Now the concern is to getting things moving again from a city perspective, that's where we're at."

The circuit is a long way removed from the worst-affected areas and as such is not being used as a shelter for those affected at the present time.

The 2017 race was initially set to build on the theme of the country's Day of the Dead festival, which occurs the following week, but Sanchez says there has not yet been time to consider whether that will change given this week's events.

http://www.espn.co.u...nned-earthquake

[/13/Ален Шмит/]

FIA ANNOUNCES WORLD MOTOR SPORT COUNCIL DECISIONS

Thursday, 21 September 2017, Paris - The FIA held its latest World Motor Sport Council meeting today in Paris

The meeting began with the FIA President Jean Todt paying special tribute to those affected by the natural disasters occurring in Mexico and Puerto Rico this week.

The President, on behalf of the entire FIA, the World Motor Sport Council, and the broader motor sport community offered his support and condolences to those affected by the tragic events, and recognised the presence of the FIA Vice President José Abed, attending on behalf of Mexico despite the devastating earthquake that affected that country’s capital.

The following decisions were taken during the meeting:

FIA Formula One World Championship

A number of amendments to the Sporting and Technical Regulations – including the specifications and testing parameters for the Secondary Roll Structure (‘Halo’), as well as improvements to chassis strength and wheel retention systems – were unanimously approved for the 2018 season. These will be available in the regulations section on FIA.com.

Following a tender process, the World Motor Sport Council approved the selection of Sentronics as the exclusive supplier of Fuel Flow Meters to teams for the 2018 and 2019 championships.

FIA Formula 3 International Championship

After consolidating the positions of FIA Formula 4 and FIA Formula 2, the FIA is currently working on the creation of an FIA F3 International Championship for 2019 in order to consolidate the FIA pyramid structure from Karting to Formula One.

As such, the World Motor Sport Council approved the launch of three calls for expressions of interest regarding the planned FIA F3 International Championship:

• to select a chassis manufacturer
• to select an engine provider
• to designate a promoter – a candidate promoter may also submit a proposal for chassis and engine

The concept of the championship has been defined as follows:

• A grid of 24 cars (eight teams with three cars)
• Nine to ten events, with two races per event
• Single-make engine, chassis and tyres
• Completely new chassis incorporating improved high level safety features
• Engine power output – 350 BHP
• Limited and regulated testing

FIA Formula 3 Regional Championships

The World Motor Sport Council agreed to the launch of an intermediate single-seater category between Formula 4 and Formula 3 International, to be sanctioned by the FIA and run by ASNs as International Series in a similar model to FIA Formula 4.

General championship concept:

• Multiple chassis and engines homologated by the FIA
• Each championship would generally feature a single supply of engines, chassis and tyres – however, ASNs or promoters are free to propose an alternative format
• Approximately 220-240 BHP – production-based engine, potentially turbocharged
•  

FIA Formula 3 World Cup

The World Motor Sport Council approved the recommendation (following a tender process) of Panta for the exclusive supply of fuel in the 2017 FIA Formula 3 World Cup.

FIA Formula 4

Updated Technical Regulations for all homologated F4 cars were approved by the World Motor Sport Council. These amendments include a frontal anti-intrusion panel and an updated rear impact structure, to be retrofitted on existing cars by the teams themselves and for all new manufactured cars. The safety update kit is designed to significantly improve the compatibility of the front end of the chassis and the rear impact structure. This update will be mandatory for all F4 Championships as from 1 March 2018.

FIA Safety Commission

A number of amendments were approved by the World Motor Sport Council regarding changes to the Super Licence points table – as well as adjustments to the eligibility of championships and drivers to accumulate points.

 

These changes are in this appendix:

 

In order to establish a clearer path for drivers around the world to progress from grassroots to World Championships, a new structure for FIA International A Licences – the licence level immediately below the F1 Super Licence – was approved by the World Motor Sport Council. This licencing system will now be based on the same principle of point allocation as the Super Licence system introduced three years ago.

In collaboration with the FIA Circuits Commission, the Safety Commission will implement homologation processes for manufacturers of circuit equipment to allow ASNs and circuits around the world to equip their facilities to an appropriate and tested standard. This will have the combined effect of improving circuit equipment, making the organisation of safe and efficient motor sport events easier, as well as encouraging equipment manufacturers to achieve the published standards.

As part of the Safety Commission’s work, the World Motor Sport Council reiterated that one of the primary roles of the FIA is to always focus on making motor sport safer.

FIA Commissions

The World Motor Sport Council also decided on the formation of two new strategic commissions that will work across both Sport and Mobility.

The Disability and Accessibility Commission will be created to provide advice on strategies to encourage and facilitate participation in motor sport for people with disabilities.

The Environment and Sustainability Commission will advise on issues relating to environmental performance and sustainability in motor sport and mobility, as well as supporting the achievement of best practice by the FIA and its Member Clubs in relation to relevant criteria measuring environmental performance.

Having gained approval from the World Motor Sport Council, the commissions will now need the approval of the World Council for Automobile Mobility and Tourism.

Next

The next World Motor Sport Council meeting will be held on 6 December in Paris.

https://www.fia.com/...cil-decisions-7

Edited by /13/Ален Шмит/, 21 September 2017 - 18:49.

[/13/Ален Шмит/]

Even tougher 2018 engine grid penalty rules confirmed

The FIA has confirmed even tougher engine grid penalty rules will come into force for the 2018 F1 season in the current version of next year’s regulations.

From next year the maximum number of engine components each driver may use without penalty will drop from four to just two for some parts of the power unit.

Drivers will be limited to two examples each of their MGU-Ks, energy stores and control electronics. The 2018 F1 calendar features 21 rounds which means some of these units will have to be used in as many as 11 events.

Of the remaining power unit elements – the internal combustion engines (ICE), turbochargers and MGU-Hs – drivers will be limited to three examples of each. These will therefore need to cover up to seven races each.

After the first 14 races of the current season one driver, Stoffel Vandoorne, has already used as many as ten examples of some power unit parts. Eight drivers – the entire Renault and Honda-powered contingent – have already exceeded this year’s upper limit of four examples of at least one of their power unit components.

The extent of grid penalties being issued to drivers for power unit component changes was criticised at Monza, where a total of 150 grid place penalties were handed down, most of which related to power unit changes. This was the second-highest quantity of penalties ever seen at a race weekend.

As well as increasing the possibility drivers might incur penalties, lowering the limits yet further will also reduce engine manufacturers’ opportunity to introduce upgrades once the season has begun.

http://www.f1fanatic...lf-season-2018/

[/13/Ален Шмит/]

Teams 'getting nothing' from Liberty Media about Formula 1's future



Formula 1 teams are "getting nothing" in terms of information regarding the future shape of the championship despite new owner Liberty having been in charge since January, says one boss.

F1's new chiefs have held talks with team bosses, with discussions ongoing about a new engine formula from 2021 that is central to the bid to bring costs down.

But Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley says he expected to have a clear direction by now.

"I'm disappointed in some ways," he told Autosport.

"We have done an awful lot of talking and an awful lot of ideas have come through.

"But when we're nine months down the road, you'd have thought we'd have been firming something up a bit more now.

"The engine programme should be finalised because that is the cornerstone of the cost control programme.

"Cost control should be coming though very closely behind it, if that's where we're going, because people have to respond to it.

"The clock is ticking, it won't be long until we're into next year.

"I was hoping we would be seeing something now, at least a skeleton of where we're going but we're getting nothing at all."



Fernley believes there have now been enough talks and the responsibility lies with F1's owner Liberty Media to make firm decisions.

"There has been a lot of meetings behind closed doors," he said.

"Really now, it's a case of Liberty presenting something that can be considered.

"Ross [Brawn, F1's sporting boss] has taken a very careful approach to everything, he's talked to all the teams, he's got all the feedback.

"They have a direction they want to go into. Now they need to get something out in the discussion process to all teams."

https://www.autospor...-over-f1-future

[alpiner]

The sport's commercial boss, Sean Bratches has revealed that plans are underway for a microphone to be placed on cars' exhausts in order that the sound can be amplified.
"One of the things that we want to amplify going forward are the sounds of the sport," he told Reuters, "because they are viscerally moving to fans and critically important in all the research that we do."
He then revealed that David Hill, a man with a "stellar reputation in sports television and broadcast innovation" is working on the idea.
"He's working with a German concern to develop a ceramic microphone that we can actually adhere to the exhaust pipe to get the true amplification of sound for fans," said Bratches.