British f1 drivers

The world’s economy is still reeling from the traumas of September and October. F1 sponsors give $300m to F1 teams each year – but more and more of those companies are reporting huge profit falls and staff cut backs. Some are even falling back on their national governments for financial support. Could we soon see a major reduction in F1 sponsorship? Here’s a look at how some of the biggest names in F1 sponsorship are faring in the growing global recession. Ferrari AMD – Electronics AMD began to experience problems before the economic downturn, beginning with its $5.4bn purchase of ATI. It has posted a loss for eight consecutive quarters and cut staff , but in October announced $8.4bn of investment from Abu Dhabi . Etihad Airways – Airlines The very high oil prices earlier this year put huge pressure on airlines, forcing 30 to close this year. Those prices have now fallen but reduced demands for passenger seats and cargo continues to squeeze airlines. However … [Read more...] about F1 sponsors hit by global recession · RaceFans

Last year’s United States Grand Prix began on a wet track with the traditional standing start. That’s something you would be forgiven for thinking was no longer possible. Twice already this year we’ve seen wet races start behind the Safety Car. Now, following complaints that the Monaco and British Grands Prix did not feature classic standing starts, new rules have been drawn up for 2017 to address the problem . the race director will get a ‘second chance’ to use a standing start when the track is wet . The 2017 rules allow the field to leave the grid behind the Safety Car and complete any number of laps behind it before taking their places on the grid for a standing start. On the face of it this seems a smart change in the rules. But its full implications are yet to be tested. In this new scenario where drivers will be lapping behind the Safety Car in anticipation of a standing start, they will be keen to ensure their starting position is as dry as possible. So expect to … [Read more...] about New standing start rule to mean more Safety Car lapping – F1 Fanatic

Mercedes have handed the most coveted seat in Formula One, and a potential shot at the 2017 world championship, to Valtteri Bottas . Like his predecessor Nico Rosberg, Bottas he joins the team having spent his entire F1 career to date at Williams. And while he’s had few opportunities to mix it at the very sharp end of the field, we have seen a few clues of the potential which Mercedes obviously feel is waiting to be unlocked. Appropriately the driver of car number 77 has started 77 grands prix to date. Here’s seven of them which show why he deserves his shot at the big time. 2013 Canadian Grand Prix Realising a place in Q3 could be his if he nailed his first flying lap, Bottas overtook Jenson Button’s McLaren as he came around to begin his run. This proved vital: Button failed to get across the line in time while Bottas comfortably gained a place in the top ten. Team mate Pastor Maldonado, mired in traffic, was almost one-and-a-half seconds slower. Bottas proved his … [Read more...] about Seven Bottas races which show he’s the real deal · RaceFans

As he prepares for his first F1 season in charge at Ferrari, Fred Vasseur reckons his “close” relationship with Charles Leclerc will be an “advantage”. For the third time in his motorsport career, Leclerc has Vasseur as his team boss. The two first teamed up back in 2016 when the Monégasque driver raced for ART Grand Prix in the GP3 series. Leclerc won the title before moving onto Prema in F2. But after just one year apart, the driver and Vasseur were collaborating once again as he stepped up onto the Formula 1 grid with Alfa Romeo where the Frenchman had been appointed team boss. This year they’re again working together, this time at Ferrari. Vasseur believes their “close” relationship with benefit both of them. “I’ve been following Charles since his karting days,” he told Canal+. “After a period at ART in F3 [GP3 as it was then known], he made his F1 debut with Sauber, so we’ve always been close. “It’s an advantage for me, because I know him well, and it’s an advantage … [Read more...] about Fred Vasseur sees ‘close’ relationship with Charles Leclerc as an advantage for Ferrari