Formula One News — April 2009

The FIA has announced its plans for a budget-capped F1.

Bernie Ecclestone has said that he will cut the payments being made to the Formula 1 teams, in order to help the Grand Prix circuits survive. For years Ecclestone hs been pushing up the fees paid by circuits in order to fund himself, his business partners and to provide money to keep the teams happy.

At an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council held in Paris today, McLaren Mercedes admitted five charges of breaching article 151c of the International Sporting Code relating to events at the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix.

The A1GP race scheduled for Mexico City on May 22-24 has been axed because of Swine Flu. This will save the organisers a great deal of money, at a very difficult time.

There are many rumours circulating at the moment about Donington, including the suggestion that the track (or at least the right to operate it) has been bought by Bernie Ecclestone.

Formula 1 fans will be able to have their own credit card shortly, following an agreement between the Formula One group and Corpcom.

Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, has reported a first quarter loss in 2009 of $1.86bn. This compares to a $3bn profit in the same period a year ago. The results were much worse than had been expected with all the company's divisions posting losses as a result of the dramatic drop in demand for the company's products.

Movistar and Vodafone are to broadcast race coverage of Formula 1 via mobile phones in the Spanish market. They will work with the rights-holder La Sexta and will provide practice and qualifying free, but wil charge for the race coverage.

The FIA will reveal its plans for 2010 and beyond later this week and the word is that the federation will try to force the issue of regulations and budget caps by moving forward the deadline for entries for the 2010 World Championship so that the F1 teams have no time to risk opposition to the new rules.

The financial troubles that have hit Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd (DVL), the operators of the Donington Park, are bad news for the British Grand Prix, which is scheduled to take place at the track in 2010.

Jenson Button won the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday, scoring his third win in four races with the incredible Brawn-Mercedes Benz. The Englishman's pace ended Toyota's hopes of a first victory in Formula 1, and Sebastian Vettel in his Red Bull-Renault added to Toyota's woes...

Germany's Motorsports-Magazine.com is reporting that GP2 team owner Paul Jackson is planning to bring his iSport team into Formula 1 if there is a budget cap in 2010.

Inside the Formula 1 paddock there is much talk about what an important week this is going to be. This is true, but not for the reasons that some might think.

Bahrain GP - Race Notes

Bahrain GP - Sunday Photos

Bahrain GP - Sunday Press Conference

Bahrain GP - Sunday Team Quotes

Bahrain GP - Race Results

Jarno Trulli took pole position for the Bahrain GP on Saturday afternoon in his Toyota, beating his team-mate Timo Glock by three-tenths of a second. The two Toyotas were well clear of Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull and the indications are that the two cars were running less fuel than some of the opposition.

Bahrain GP - Saturday Photos

Bahrain GP - Saturday Press Conference

Bahrain GP - Saturday Team Quotes

Bahrain GP - Qualifying Results

Timo Glock set the pace on Saturday morning in Bahrain but the Toyota driver then pulled off immediately and stopped beside the track. He was a tenth faster than Felipe Massa's Ferrari and three-tenths clear of Nico Rosberg's Williams

Bahrain GP - Practice 3 Results