Formula One News — July 2005

Hungarian GP - Friday Team Quotes

Hungarian GP - Practice Session 2 Results

Sir Frank Williams has made it very clear that he is not about to sell Jenson Button's contract to BAR-Honda.

There was no big surprise on Friday morning with McLaren test driver Alexander Wurz setting the fastest time of the first practice session for the Hungarian Grand Prix, setting a time which was 1.4secs faster than Rubens Barrichello's Ferrari and the rest of the pack.

Hungarian GP - Practice Session 1 Results

Jenson Button's remarks this week about his future have not gone down well with Sir Frank Williams, with whom Button has a contract for 2006.

Jos Verstappen is to remain a Dutch national hero with the news that he has signed to drive for the country's A1 Grand Prix team, which is being run by another former F1 man Jan Lammers.

The history of Formula 1 is dotted with cases of people not knowing when to retire. That goes for drivers, team principals, officials, journalists and now it seems that tobacco companies as well do not wish to go gracefully.

Hungarian GP - Preview

DaimlerChrysler's chief executive Jurgen Schrempp will leave his job at the end of the year. Schrempp will hand over to Chrysler boss Dieter Zetsche. The news sent DaimlerChrysler's stock up by more than 8%, adding about $4.5bn to the value of the company.

Jenson Button has managed to upset most of the British Formula 1 media in recent days with an ill-conceived exclusive interview with The Times newspaper about his wishes for next year.

With the July 31 deadline drawing ever closer, we hear that Jordan F1 has finally got serious and come up with the money necessary to secure for the team a supply of Toyota V8 engines for 2006.

Johnny Herbert was never a Formula 1 driver known for his organisational abilities but he was popular and one must suppose that his new role as Sporting Relations Manager of Jordan F1 is an attempt by the team management to improve the team's relationship with the sceptical Formula 1 media.

Jenson Button has a problem. He can get out of his BAR contract, but Button's problem is that while he would like to negotiate a new deal to stay where he is, he is contracted to go to Williams.

The Formula 1 tyre companies are currently vying for position with Michelin saying it has been approached by an eighth team and Bridgestone saying that five teams have asked for its tyres.

There was bad news from Budapest yesterday with the news that Darren Hawker, a chef with the Absolute Taste company, which is part of the McLaren group of companies, falling to his death from the terrace of a Budapest hotel,

The Mubadala Development Company - which is wholly owned by the Government of Abu Dhabi - has announced the purchase of a five percent stake in Ferrari from Mediobanca for $137m. The deal values Ferrari at $2.75bn.

Darren Manning has parted ways with Target Chip Ganassi Racing. The Indy Racing League team will run only Scott Dixon and Ryan Briscoe this weekend at the Michigan International Speedway.

There have been a lot of reports in recent days suggesting that Williams has a deal with Cosworth for 2006. This may be so but we still believe that the deal is contingent on whether or not Toyota renews with Jordan F1.

Scott Speed was charged up last weekend at Hockenheim and although the American youngster made some mistakes he still showed his pace and it cannot be long before he wins a race in GP2.

The French love blue racing cars and this year they have been able to watch as Fernando Alonso came home to victory on six occasions and Giancarlo Fisichella won in Australia. The funny thing is that it has been clear for a long time now that McLaren has a faster car.

The announcement from the Formula 1 teams and the newly-formed Grand Prix Manufacturers Association was not the work of a moment.

Nine teams and five manufacturers have now finalised their joint proposals for the future of Formula 1 and have issued a statement giving details of their plans. The plan includes the foundation of an organisation called the Grand Prix Manufacturers' Association (GPMA).

German GP - Race Notes

German GP - Sunday Photos