A week full of F1 news

July 12, 2007 by
Filed under: Uncategorized 
  • “Spyker have dropped Dutch driver Christijan Albers with immediate effect because of a problem with sponsorship.” “The Dutch team have also hinted that India’s Narain Karthikeyan or Austrian Christian Klien could be a potential replacement for Albers. Karthikeyan is the second Williams test driver while Klien is testing for Honda after three seasons with Red Bull. Markus Winkelhock, already under contract to Spyker as a test driver, could also be drafted in for the German Grand Prix.” [source: BBC]
    I suspect they’ll go with Klien if they can, but Karthikeyan has driven well in the past.
  • “Austrian Christian Klien will take part in a one-day test for Spyker”; “Klien, 23, is a test driver for Honda but the team have given him permission to drive for Spyker in Spa on Thursday.” [source: BBC]
  • “The Honda team have signed BMW Sauber’s chief designer Jorg Zander as they attempt to improve their poor form.” [source: BBC]
  • Talking of designers, the “spying saga” continues; the latest news is that “McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan has agreed to provide a sworn declaration about how he obtained important Ferrari documents” [source: BBC] and “McLaren have been summoned by Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, to face charges of breaking the sport’s rules.” [source: BBC]
    I hope they get to the bottom of this quickly – this is not good for the sport. It’s worrying, too, to hear that Ferrari technical manager Nigel Stepney & his family had to flee Italy because of threats.”
  • Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has ended speculation by revealing there will not be a 2008 US Grand Prix. [source: BBC]
    I can’t say I’ll miss Indy but I feel sorry for the circuit – they probably lost the race because they wouldn’t give Bernie what he wanted … which is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ – I hope Silverstone is safe.”

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3 Comments on A week full of F1 news

  1. paul on Sat, 14th Jul 2007 7:10 am

    2. “McLaren will appear in front of the FIA on 26 July”; “The sanctions open to the FIA range from fines to disqualification.” [source: BBC]

  2. paul on Thu, 19th Jul 2007 8:03 pm
    • Former Indianapolis 500 winner Gil de Ferran has left his role as sporting director of the Honda Formula One team. [source: BBC]
    • Former Ferrari performance director Nigel Stepney, who is the subject of a criminal investigation in Italy, has asked for a meeting with the team. His lawyer Sonia Bartolini said: “Stepney has stressed he is innocent and is ready to give the names of the people he suspects.” [source: BBC]
    • Markus Winkelhock is to become the latest son of a famous driver to race in Formula One. The 27-year-old German, whose father was the late F1 and sportscar driver Manfred Winkelock, will drive for Spyker at Sunday’s European Grand Prix. He replaces Dutchman Christijan Albers, who was dropped because of a lack of sponsorship after the British race.[source: BBC]
    • Britain’s Jenson Button and Brazilian Rubens Barrichello have been confirmed as Honda’s drivers for next year’s Formula One campaign. [source: The BBC, of course!]
  3. F1 update between races | blog.henman.ca on Sat, 28th Jul 2007 3:51 pm

    4. [...] of the Formula One season.” [source: BBC] Markus Winkelhock filled the seat left vacant by Christijan Albers’ departure but he could only find funding for one [...]

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