Formula One News — April 2008

Max Mosley has hired the private investigation company Quest to look into the question of whether the revelations about his sexual activities were the result of a plot against him. Quest has been asked to identify who, if anyone, was behind the investigation which Mosley claims was going on into his private life.

Justice Joel Boyer has ruled that he cannot ban Internet access to the video of Max Mosley's London adventures with prostitutes, simply because the FIA is headquartered in Paris.

Williams F1 has acquired a company called Automotive Hybrid Power Ltd, which was established at the end of 2006 in order to look at the technologies involved in the planned Kinetic Energy Recovery System which will be introduced in F1 next year.

The Weigl Group, a German automotive component supplier, is tipped to be bidding to save the Super Aguri F1 team. The bad news is that Weigl has been around for some months and Honda has shown no great interest in getting involved in a deal, as Weigl does not appear to have the kind of money that is needed to bankroll an F1 team.

There was not a great deal to analyse about the Spanish Grand Prix of 2008. The Finnish journalists in the F1 Paddock reckoned before the race that Kimi Raikkonen would lead from start to finish and even keep the lead during the pits stops.

The Formula One company is beginning to exploit the potential of licensed products which are not immediately related to the sport. In the past the company has produced F1-branded clothing and accessories, such as watches, but these have not been a huge success.

The Singapore government is hinting that some of the hotels need to reassess their policies regarding the forthcoming Grand Prix at the end of September. The government is keen to allow market forces to dictate the price of hotel rooms, but with the price being as high as $1500 a night, with a minimum of three or even five nights, the race teams, the sponsors, the media and the fans are beginning to complain.

The Eurosport TV channel is currently working on a new documentary which will be called The Factory and will concentrate on the activities of a handful of different members of the Williams F1 team who work at the team's headquarters in Grove but never go to the Grands Prix.

While the political situation in Formula 1 at the moment is somewhat unstable as some of the players seem to be beginning to look beyond the current regime, particularly in the light of the weakening of the power of FIA President Max Mosley as a result of the ongoing sex scandal and his reaction to it.

The global credit crunch has yet to have any real impact on Formula 1 but there is little doubt that some of the companies involved in the sport are feeling the pain being caused by the downturn of the world economy.

The Australian Racing Drivers' Club (ARDC) has asked Apex Circuit Design, a British company, to evaluate the Eastern Creek racing facility, in the western suburbs of Sydney, and advise on how easy it will be to upgrade the facility to Formula 1 standard. The aim of the study is to try to convince the state government of New South Wales to fund a Grand Prix.

Spanish GP - Race Notes

Spanish GP - Sunday Photos

Spanish GP - Sunday Press Conference

Spanish GP - Sunday Team Quotes

Spanish GP - Race Incidents

Spanish GP - Race Results

Kimi Raikkonen took pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix, while Fernando Alonso made a Lazurus-like comeback to grab second place on the grid, in front of his own home crown.

Spanish GP - Saturday Photos

Spanish GP - Saturday Press Conference

Spanish GP - Saturday Team Quotes

The Formula 1 team principals gathered for a meeting on Saturday morning in Barcelona and, after a fruitless discussion about whether to speed up or slow down the introduction of KERS, the conversation turned to whether or not the teams should issue a public statement asking FIA President Max Mosley to resign.

Spanish GP - Qualifying Results

Nick Heidfeld set the fastest time of the Saturday morning in Barcelona but the times suggested that we have yet to see a serious effort from the big players. David Coulthard was second quickest for Red Bull with Fernando Alonso third in his Renault.

Spanish GP - Practice 3 Results