Formula One News — April 2008

For the last few days the Formula 1 world has held its breath. Almost nothing was said. At the Bahrain Motor Sport Business Forum no-one was willing to talk publicly about the allegations levelled at FIA President Max Mosley by the News of the World newspaper on Sunday.

The content of the publications is disgraceful. As a company, we strongly distance ourselves from it. This incident concerns Max Mosley both personally and as President of the FIA, the global umbrella organisation for motoring clubs. Its consequences therefore extend far beyond the motor sport industry. We await a response from the relevant FIA bodies.

New Zealand teenager Brendon Hartley has been secretly testing for Toro Rosso in Italy in recent days. The 18-year-old from Palmerston North drove the Italian team's latest F1 car at the Vairano circuit in Italy.

The second day of the Motor Sport Business Forum Middle East resulted in Formula 1 team bosses calling for the championship to be expanded to 20 races. During his keynote speech, McLaren's Ron Dennis fully supported the Formula One companys expansion into new markets and said that 20 races would be the natural logistical limit for teams.

The Motorsport Business Forum is to expand to Asia in 2009. The concept which has been taking place in Monaco in December in recent years spread to the Middle East this year and will expand further next year with an annual conference in Malaysia/Singapore. I

The Motor Sport Business Forum in Bahrain kicked off to day with a keynote speech from David Richards, highlighting the development of the region in the last 10 years and drawing attention to the estimated $11bn that has been invested in motorsport in the last few years with a series of new circuits springing up and new championships being established.

So be prepared for daft stories such as Ernesto Bertarelli buying out Bernie Ecclestone and leaving the America's Cup behind. Formula 1 has enough crazy stories of its own at the moment.