Formula One News — June 2008

Triple FIA World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx is to demonstrate a BMW Sauber F1 car at Brands Hatch on July 26-27 when the WTCC comes to Britain. Priaulx, who did occasional F1 tests with Williams-BMW in 2005 and 2006, will be racing as usual with Bart Mampaey's team from Mechelen in Belgium, which is competing this year as BMW Team UK.

Nazir Hoosein has long been a controversial figure in motorsport circles. The Indian was an FIA steward in F1 for many years and was responsible for some very controversial decisions, notably at Silverstone in 1998 after which he "voluntarily" handed in his steward's licence for a year.

The word in F1 circles is that GP2 frontrunner Bruno Senna is in talks to become the BMW Sauber test driver next season.

In recent weeks The Times has become the conduit for the thoughts of Bernie Ecclestone, while Max Mosley has generally kept quiet and said nothing, hoping that silence, coupled with some populist policies, will come across as presidential behaviour and help to rebuild his damaged image.

The General Assembly of the Federation Francaise du Sport Automobile (FFSA), the national sporting authority in France, and the promoter of the French GP, met today and having reviewed the results of this year's race, agreed that they would continue to promote the race at Magny-Cours in 2009.

Willy Rampf, the Technical Director of the BMW Sauber F1 team, is to have a slight change of job at the end of the current season. From November 1 Rampf will become Technical Coordinator and will continue to be responsible for the vehicle concept and to lead the team at the race track, but his management of the manufacturing side of the operation is to be handed over to Walter Riedl (48), the current managing-director of the team.

The FIA World Motorsport Council did not produce the fireworks that had been suggested might happen. However there are clear indications that Max Mosley is pushing ahead with his strategy to improve his historical reputation by creating the sport as it ought to be - rather than the sport he had fashioned before the scandal began.

The FIA has issued its first draft calendar for the 2009 Formula 1 World Championship.

The FIA World Motor Sport Council met today in Paris, and a number of decisions were announced, including the provisional 2009 F1 calendar.

Bernie Ecclestone has told The Times that he had nothing to do with the revelations about FIA President Max Mosley's sex life, as revealed in March by the News of the World.

It has been reported for some time that Mohammad Bin Sulayem, the UAE's representative at the FIA, was largely responsible for Max Mosley's recent victory in a vote of confidence by the FIA General Assembly. Bin Sulayem is now admitting what he did, telling the Gulf News that he organised 41 of Mosley's 103 votes.

The FIA World Council will consider a proposal to make teams pay for various "services and equipment at every F1 race" and intends to add the cost to the entry fee.

The area to the north of Nevers is known for its sensational white wines. The reds are average. Down at Magny-Cours the reds were exceptional - the rest were just old plonk...

French GP - Race Notes

French GP - Sunday Photos

French GP - Sunday Press Conference

French GP - Sunday Team Quotes

French GP - Race Incidents

French GP - Race Results

Rubens Barrichello has dropped five places on the grid because of a gearbox change. The Honda driver will thus start last on the grid, having qualified 17th. This moves Giancarlo Fisichella, Adrian Sutil and Nico Rosberg up a place.

The FIA World Motor Sport Council will meet in Paris on Wednseday and we anticipate that there will be discussions over a proposal that will, if agreed, spark a major fight for the control of Formula 1.

Ferrari looks set to run away with the race on Sunday in Magny-Cours after a dominant performance in qualifying for the French Grand Prix.

French GP - Saturday Photos

French GP - Saturday Press Conference

French GP - Saturday Team Quotes