Formula One News — September 2005

Belgian GP - Practice Session 3 Results

There are whispers that there is a reshuffle of roles going on amongst the engineers at Red Bull Racing with Mark Smith taking on a bigger role in the months ahead.

Belgian GP - Friday Photos

Belgian GP - Friday Press Conference

The word on the street in Japan is that Toyota is pushing hard for a Grand Prix at Mount Fuji early next year, presumably fitting it in with the plan to hold the first three races in Bahrain, Malaysia and Australia.

Belgian GP - Friday Team Quotes

Belgian GP - Practice Session 2 Results

The second practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix was a complete washout with only three cars going out at the very beginning of the session to look at the conditions.

Kimi Raikkonen signalled his intentions at Spa by setting the fastest time in the first practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix. Raikkonen lapped the track just a fraction faster than the McLaren team test driver Alexander Wurz, the pair ending up four-tenths faster than Giancarlo Fisichella 's Renault.

Belgian GP - Practice Session 1 Results

The struggling Fiat Auto has announced an alliance with the Ford Motor Company to make small cars. Lapo Elkann, one of the Agnelli Family and a man who is in charge of brand promotion at Fiat confirmed the deal in a radio interview in Italy.

The tobacco companies in Formula 1 appear to be developing new marketing theories around Formula 1 which do not involve the use of branding on Formula 1 cars.

McLaren has confirmed a sponsorship deal with Hilton International, the hotel company. The sponsorship is aimed at drawing attention to the Hilton brand amongst the new generation of young and affluent international travellers, who watch F1.

Michelin will announce tomorrow its plans for 2006 and beyond and we believe that at least two teams - probably Williams and Toyota - will be switching from Michelin to Bridgestone in 2006. The big news, however, will be Michelin's attitude towards a single tyre formula.

Belgian GP - Preview

Rafael Lotilla, the energy secretary of the Philippines, is proposing a ban on all forms of motorsport in the country in an effort to save fuel and slow the increases in fuel prices.

The new F1 rules for 2008, when they are fully agreed, will include the sale of cars and car parts from one team to another. The logical extension of this is that some teams will expand to run two operations because it makes sense with economies of scale.

The Formula One group is backing a Formula 1 sponsorship forum which will be held in Monaco on November 16-17. The plan is for the event to enable all of sport's stakeholders to network, debate and close deals.

It is worth reporting a passing comment, which appeared in today's Financial Times, which may strike fear into Ferrari hearts down in Maranello.

The WilliamsF1 Team has confirmed that Antonio Pizzonia will race for the team at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa this weekend, replacing Nick Heidfeld.

There are reports in Greece that Bernie Ecclestone and the Greek government are discussing plans to hold a race in Athens as early as 2007. This could be achieved because the city has a ready-made venue at the Helliniko Olympic Complex.

The word from Munich is that Nick Heidfeld has signed a two-year deal to race for BMW in 2007 and 2008. There is currently no word about 2006 as Heidfeld is under a Williams option at the moment but this runs out in about a week from now and it may be that Heidfeld can then be confirmed officially with a three-year BMW deal.

Formula 1 moves swiftly on from week to week and things fade quickly from the memory but this week Petronas reminded everyone in F1 that there is a value in using F1 technologies in the automobile industry.

Frustrated in his efforts to break into Formula 1, Belgium's Bas Leinders, Minardi's test and reserve driver in 2004, has decided expand his horizons and has established the Bas Leinders Junior Racing Team, which will enter cars in the Formula 3 Euroseries in 2006.

A week ago Antonio Pizzonia was rather keen to get out his Williams contract and get on with his racing career. Frustrated that the team picked Nick Heidfeld this year (as a sop to BMW) Pizzonia has sat around all year waiting for the deal to end.