Formula One News — October 2004

We are getting conflicting reports about the seriousness of the deal between Team Dubai F1 and McLaren Mercedes-Benz, with some sources suggesting that the deal has been put together at a very high level.

Jenson Button and David Richards had breakfast together yesterday in Brazil and then faced the Formula 1 media, explaining that all was well, despite the recent kerfuffle over whether or not Button drives for the team in 2005.

The West McLaren Mercedes F1 team has signed a deal with Nescafe Express, which will see the brand appearing on the helmets and drink bottles.

With just three weeks remaining until entries for the 2005 Formula 1 World Championship must be completed and filed with the FIA, there is a great deal of hustle and bustle on the Formula 1 market.

Bernie Ecclestone's lawyers say they are to sue Sir Jackie Stewart, the president of the British Racing Drivers' Club, for alleging on BBC radio on Wednesday that Ecclestone had broken his word to Richard Caborn, the Minister of Sport.

Brazilian GP - Preview

The Kumho Tire Co. Inc. has announced its plans to enter Formula 1 by 2007. The company has announced that it is investing $25m in order to put together what is needed for the programme and will begin testing tyres in 2005 and will then be testing with an F1 team in 2006 and 2007.

Joaquin Hendricks, the governor of the state of Quintana Roo in Mexico has announced that it will be hosting a Grand Prix from October 2006. The news will be officially announced on Monday.

The next few days will be critical for Jordan Grand Prix and its 200 employees as team boss Eddie Jordan and his staff try to find ways to keep the team going.

The Korean tyre company Kumho is rumoured to be on the verge of announcing a plan to enter F1 to improve the company's worlwide visibility.

The FIA's deadline for establishing new rules runs out today and it is expected that there will be an announcement, following a fax vote by the Formula 1 Commission.

The failure of BMW Williams to sign Jenson Button has not been greeted with dismay at Grove. It was a good try and the team believe that it had a good case. In the end, after a lengthy deliberation, the Contract Recognition Board concluded that BAR had a marginally better case than Williams.

Jenson Button will be staying at BAR next season after a ruling by the Contract Recognition Board in favor of the team. But our sources have confirmed that Williams will not be appealing the decision with the board.

Jenson Button will stay at British American Racing in 2005, following a decison by the Contract Recognition Board.

The F1 Commission is being asked to vote through a new qualifying system for next year.

Bernie Ecclestone and Melbourne Grand Prix boss Ron Walker are big mates and whenever Bernie has a new street venue up his sleeve, he tends to give Ron a call.

Bernie Ecclestone told The Times newspaper that he has to end talks over the British Grand Prix because he has to give a commitment to a new promoter.

Sebastien Bourdais hopes this weekend to leave Australia as the winner of the Vanderbilt Cup, the prize for the winner of the Champ Car World Series.

World Champion Alain Prost says he is considering returning to Formula 1 as a team manager and it looks pretty clear that he is hoping to be picked up by Renault when Flavio Briatore departs at the end of 2005.

Bernie Ecclestone says the British Grand Prix is dead - but we will have to wait and see if that is actually a reality. Cancelling the British Grand Prix would be a major step for Ecclestone as he is sure to upset the Formula 1 teams.

Formula 1 does not often get much coverage in scientific journals but the latest edition of Nature magazine featured a lengthy article about Grand Prix racing.

Toyota F1 boss Tsutomu Tomita says that the company is "disappointed and frustrated" with its Formula 1 programme to date.

There are clear signals that the world's stock markets are now losing interest in sport after burning their fingers with a series of flotations at the end of the 1990s. This has not stopped people in F1 talking about their desire to float companies, despite the experiences of some of those who did go to the markets.

The Formula 1 community continues to blithely ignore the fact that on July 31 2005 all Formula 1 teams with any link to the United Kingdom will have to stop running their cars with tobacco sponsorship, no matter where in the world the races are taking place.

Sportel, the international sports television convention, took place last week in Monaco with broadcasters from all over the world meeting with sports marketing companies to do deals for the future.