Formula One News — February 2009

Baugur, the heavily-indebted Icelandic company, that has been a major sponsor of the Williams team in recent years, has applied for court protection for its assets while it negotiates with creditors.

Formula 1 fans are being given an unprecedented opportunity to experience a European Grand Prix of their choice from within the Formula 1 paddock as guests of one of the teams.

The relationship between Force India's top management last year was strained at best and it seems that Vijay Mallya is now going to have to pay for having not been able to find a way to keep his Chief Technical Officer Mike Gascoyne happy.

The French Senate last week voted to fast-track the authorisation for construction of a new Formula 1 circuit at Flins, in the Seine Valley, to the west of Paris. The project, known as "Yvelines F1 - Automobile Valley" is part of a programme to relaunch the economy in the area, which has been badly affected in recent years by cutbacks in the automobile industry.

The on-season testing ban agreement is about to be modified, according to test team personnel who attended the recent testing sessions in the Algarve.

Bernie Ecclestone is showing interest in getting the Portuguese Grand Prix back in the Formula One calendar, now that the country has a new, state-of-the-art circuit in Algarve.