Formula One News — October 2005

Formula One Administration has announced a deal with Dubai's Union Properties for the establishment of a F1-theme park in Dubai. The plan is for Formula One World to be located at the MotorCity in Dubai.

Honda has announced that it will continue to supply engines to the Indy Racing League until the end of 2009. The announcement will come as a major boost for the series following the withdrawal of Toyota and Chevrolet.

The qualifying session for the Chinese Grand Prix was all about race strategy. It was clear that Renault would need to have a plan to stop Kimi Raikkonen taking off and winning the race.

Chinese GP - Saturday Photos

Chinese GP - Saturday Press Conference

Chinese GP - Saturday Team Quotes

Red Bull GmbH has confirmed the takeover of Minardi on November 1 and has announced that the team will be called Squadra Toro Rosso (Team Red Bull in Italian).

The idea of a Coca-Cola sponsorship in Formula 1 is to some extent at least a logical move.

Chinese GP - Qualifying Results

There were rumours circulating in Shanghai that the second Honda engined team will involve Italy's Daniele Audetto, who was in the paddock on Saturday. Our sources in Japan continue to insist that while others may be involved in Europe, the money and the team principal will be Japanese.

Kimi Raikkonen may not be able to win the World Championship this season but if all goes well on Sunday the Finn can score his eighth victory of the year, help McLaren win the Constructors' Championship and make the point that but for mechanical failures the Drivers' World Championship would have been his.

Chinese GP - Practice 4 Results

Chinese GP - Practice Session 3 Results

The McLaren team dominated an overcast day of action in Shanghai with test driver Pedro de la Rosa coming out at the top of the timesheets, just clear of Toyota test driver Ricardo Zonta. The two testers were a full second clear of the nearest challenger, Kimi Raikkonen.

Chinese GP - Friday Press Conference

Chinese GP - Friday Photos

Chinese GP - Friday Team Quotes

Credit Suisse has confirmed that it will be remaining as a major sponsor of the BMW Motorsport when the Munich car company takes over Sauber. Peter Sauber will be an advisor for Credit Suisse and will attend four races a year.

The new Red Bull-owned Minardi team is to be renamed Squadra Toro Rosso. The team, which will be run by former BMW Motorsport man Franz Tost, will be renamed after the takeover of Minardi is completed on November 1.

Chinese GP - Practice Session 2 Results

Pedro de la Rosa set the pace at the start of practice for the Chinese Grand Prix with a best lap that was 1.8secs clear of the rest of the Formula 1 field, indicating that the order of those behind him was not very significant.

Chinese GP - Practice Session 1 Results

The Formula 1 circus has been going through a series of farewell parties this year in Shanghai. Much is being made of the departure of Peter Sauber and Paul Stoddart and the disappearance of the Jordan name but probably the most significant departure of all has been rather more low-key.

There are rumours this morning in China that Jenson Button may not be taking part in the Chinese Grand Prix.

The McLaren team is waiting to hear whether its factory in Woking will win the Stirling Prize, Europe's biggest annual award for architectural design.