Formula One News — March 2006

The rules about replacing engines in Formula 1 are in the spotlight at the moment with Felipe Massa and David Coulthard going into the Grand Prix weekend in Malaysia facing a penalty of 10 places on the grid after qualifying.

Malaysian GP - Thursday Press Conference

There is a story with very interesting implications in Japan with Aguri Suzuki's rumoured backer Softbank reported to be in the process of raising money to buy Vodafone KK, the Japanese subsidiary of Vodafone.

There have been reports that Bernie Ecclestone is considering buying a share in the Ferrari company. Fiat owns 56% of Ferrari and thus remains in control but banks now own much of the rest, although Piero Ferrari still holds 10% of the business.

The Mole, a shadowy figure who operates a network of spies throughout the motor racing world, has for the last six years, provided clandestine insights in Formula 1 for the ITV-F1 website. After months of secret negotiation, The Mole has now decided to switch operations to grandprix.com.

The Grand Prix in Bahrain may be doing wonders for the reputation of the city and there is clear development going on all over the island but this does not seem to have had much of effect on the crowds. In 2005 the circuit said that it had attracted 77,257 spectators over three days.

McLaren's new sponsorship deal with Vodafone is in the spotlight following the news of ructions within the mobile company.

Toyota's Fuji Speedway will host the 2007 Japanese Grand Prix, replacing Honda's Suzuka circuit as the venue for the event. Suzuka has hosted the race since 1987 but Fuji was the home of the first Japanese F1 races in 1976 and 1977.

Bahrain GP - Race Report

Renault has named Alain Dassas as the replacement for Patrick Faure as president of the Renault F1 Team.

The British Grand Prix at Silverstone is offering British Grand Prix ticket holders a ride of a lifetime with F1 driver Button if they purchase tickets between March 10 and May 1.

Ozjet, Paul Stoddart's airline in Australia, has suspended its scheduled services because of a lack of support.

Bahrain GP - Race Notes

Bahrain GP - Sunday Photos

Bahrain GP - Sunday Press Conference

Bahrain GP - Sunday Team Quotes

Bahrain GP - Race Incidents

Bahrain GP - Race Results

The Hockenheim Ring is to have a new managing director with the announcement that Rene Jaeggi, the boss of the FC Kaiserslauten soccer team is to take on the role.

Honda has no plans to move into NASCAR stock car racing, according to Robert Clarke, the president of the Honda Performance Development, the US company which runs all the company's racing activities in the United States.

A number of teams have been muttering about the way in which the rear wing of the Ferrari 248F1 flexes under loading. The FIA has inspected the car and says it is legal but some of the other teams are not happy with the decision.

The Grand Prix Manufacturers' Association met with the commercial rights holders of Formula 1 last night in Bahrain and we hear that the negotiations did not go as smoothly as had been hoped and the meeting broke up without any solution having been found.

Gulf Air has extended its sponsorship for the Bahrain Grand Prix sponsorship until 2010. The company has sponsored the race for the last three years but has now signed a four-year extension to the deal.

Michael Schumacher won pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix, but he did not set the fastest time in the qualifying session. That honour went to Fernando Alonso who set the fastest lap, two-tenths of a second faster than Michael's best in the second part of the three-part session.

Bahrain GP - Saturday Photos