Autoblog

Ferrari's Montezemolo slams Ecclestone over Vettel overtake investigation

Jeffrey N. Ross — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 15:59:00 EST

Sebastion Vettel recently celebrated his third Formula One title by driving his Red Bull Racing car through the streets of Graz, Austria, but Ferrari is still caught up in the controversy it stirred up by asserting that Vettel made an illegal pass under yellow at the Brazilian Grand Prix. After Ferrari asked for clarification on the pass, Bernie Ecclestone called the whole issue a "complete joke," and now Luca di Montezemolo, president of Ferrari (shown above), has responded to Ecclestone's comments with some scathing words of his own.

According to ESPN F1, Montezemolo sarcastically said "you have to show respect for your elders, especially when they get to that stage in which they are no longer in control of what they say" in regards to Ecclestone. Seemingly putting the whole controversy to rest, though, Montezemolo went on to congratulate Vettel and Red Bull for the win in what he refers to as a difficult season.

The pass in question came on the fourth lap of the rainy race when Vettel seemed to have passed Toro Rosso driver Jean-Eric Vergne under a local yellow. In the final standings, the resulting 20-second penalty would have knocked Vettel from sixth to eighth position, which would have been enough for Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso to win the Driver's Championship by a single point. Despite flashing yellow lights, the FIA said that a green flag was waving making the pass legal.

Ferrari's Montezemolo slams Ecclestone over Vettel overtake investigation originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Dec 2012 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Brazilian Grand Prix wraps up the season at Interlagos [spoilers]

Noah Joseph — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, South America

It's been one heck of a season in Formula One racing. Not since the days of Michael Schumacher at the pinnacle of his career with Ferrari have we seen the kind of domination that his fellow countryman Sebastian Vettel has smote upon the championship.

Leading into this weekend's final round in Brazil, Vettel had already won eleven out of eighteen rounds from fourteen pole positions. As a result he'd been crowned champion early on, and helped secure the constructors' title for his Red Bull Racing team as well. But would the young champ - the youngest multiple champion in F1 history, in fact - be able to tie up the season in as grand a style as he'd displayed all year? Follow the jump to find out.

Continue reading 2011 Brazilian Grand Prix wraps up the season at Interlagos [spoilers]

2011 Brazilian Grand Prix wraps up the season at Interlagos [spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Brazilian Grand Prix closes ranks to season's end [Spoilers]

Noah Joseph — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 15:05:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, South America

2010 Brazilian Grand Prix - Click above for high-res image gallery

The naysayers dismiss Formula One racing as elitist. They say the same handful of teams win every year and nobody else has a chance. Maybe once upon a time, but with teams like Brawn GP and Red Bull Racing climbing out of nowhere to compete for victories and world championship standings, who could say it's still the case today?

Of course when one team rises, others must fall. While teams like Ferrari and McLaren are still veritable forces to be reckoned with, others have fallen by the wayside - arguably none more emphatically than Williams. The team of Damon Hill, Nelson Piquet, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna; the team with nine constructors' titles to its name and seven drivers' championships; the team that once struck fear into the hearts of all challengers has long since fallen off its perch.

It's all the more surprising, then, when the team's young talent Nico Hulkenberg knocked the others off theirs this weekend in Brazil by taking pole position in qualifying on Saturday. Would he be able to defend the lead at such a vaunted circuit against such a formidable field of title-seeking adversaries? Follow the jump to find out.

[Images: Mark Thompson/Getty | Ricardo Mazalan, Silvia Izquierdo, Andre Penner/AP Photo]

Continue reading 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix closes ranks to season's end [Spoilers]

2010 Brazilian Grand Prix closes ranks to season's end [Spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Nov 2010 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sauber engineers also ambushed in Brazil

Alex Nunez — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 10:32:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, South America

Jenson Button wasn't the only member of Bernie Ecclestone's traveling Formula One circus victimized by Sao Paolo's rampant criminal element yesterday. Sauber Motorsport says that three of its engineers were also robbed after leaving the Interlagos circuit last night around 8pm. While stopped at a traffic light, the group's minivan was reportedly surrounded by five robbers, one carrying an automatic weapon. The van's front passenger opened his door in response to the threat, and the bandits made off with a pair of backpacks, one of which contained a staffer's passport and phone among other items. After taking the bags, the thieves left, and no injuries were reported. The local police were informed of the incident, for whatever that's worth. Thanks for the tip, Pasi!

[Source: TotalF1.com]

Sauber engineers also ambushed in Brazil originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Nov 2010 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jenson Button escapes armed attack in Brazil

John Neff — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 00:52:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Safety, Celebrities, South America

Here's what we know. According to The Press Association, reigning Formula One World Champion Jenson Button has survived an armed attack on the vehicle in which he, his father, trainer and manager were being transported back to their hotel in Sao Paulo, Brazil after Saturday's qualifying session for the Brazilian Grand Prix. Button was fortunately riding in an armored vehicle provided by his team, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, that was piloted by a police driver trained in avoidance techniques.

According to Button himself, the attack occurred while his vehicle was moving slowly past a shanty town in Sao Paulo. Six armed attackers, reportedly brandishing machine guns, attacked the vehicle, though Button doesn't mention whether shots were fired or his vehicle was hit. He has, however, praised his driver, who he says "bounced off about five cars" while ferrying the party from harm's way. That's quite a compliment coming from the reigning World Champion.

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes also provided Button's teammate Lewis Hamilton with an armored vehicle and trained police driver. The precautions were reportedly taken on account of the high number of gun crimes in Sao Paulo. We're not sure if that's standard procedure for all F1 teams visiting Brazil this weekend, but we bet it will be in the future. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

[Source: UKPA]

Jenson Button escapes armed attack in Brazil originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Nov 2010 00:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SPOILER ALERT: The Fat Lady Sings at the 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix

Noah Joseph — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:47:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, South America

2009 Brazilian Grand Prix - Click above for high-res image gallery

"Everything can change in a New York minute." It's a good thing Don Henley wrote his hit song twenty years before this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix. Because "in an Interlagos minute" just doesn't have the same ring to it. But it does go to show how quickly fortunes can be reversed over the course of a race distance. Especially when the championship is on the line.

With two races to go, the F1 circus rolled in to Sao Paulo with Jenson Button - winner of six grands prix this season - leading his Brawn GP team-mate, hometown hero and chief rival Rubens Barrichello 85 to 71, with Red Bull challenger Sebastian Vettel - fresh from victory in Japan - trailing with 69 points. The most likely scenarios placed Button clinching the title right here at the penultimate championship round, if not at the final race in Abu Dhabi two weeks from now.

But the heavens seemed to have a different plan when torrential downpours put a hamper on Saturday's qualifying session. Once the rain stopped, yesterday's proved to be the longest qualifying session in Formula One history, and the order came out all messed up. Instead of placing up at the front of the grid, Button and Vettel found themselves way down the pecking order in 14th and 16th positions. In their place, their respective wingmen Barrichello and Webber started 1st and 2nd on the grid, with half a field's worth of back-markers separating them. Follow the jump to read how the race unfolded.

Gallery: 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix

Continue reading SPOILER ALERT: The Fat Lady Sings at the 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix

SPOILER ALERT: The Fat Lady Sings at the 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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F1 Updates: BMW seeks new buyer, FIA re-opens selection process, Renault granted appeal, etc.

Noah Joseph — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, BMW, Ferrari, Renault

It's anything but business as usual this year in Formula One, and this past week has been no exception, with one team scrambling to secure its future, another receiving the go-ahead to continue racing, and others re-submitting applications in the hope of joining the grid for next year.

First up is BMW, which announced it would be withdrawing its support from the Sauber team at the end of this year. After the team's eponymous founder failed to put the cash together to buy his team back from the Bavarians, the outfit is going ahead with its program to launch successive updates to its current car for Valencia this coming weekend and Singapore later this season in to demonstrate its capabilities in the hope of finding a new buyer before the season's out.

The FIA isn't holding its breath, however, and has informed seven outfits that submitted so-far unsuccessful bids to participate in F1 next season that there'll be another spot opening up on the grid for next year. In addition to BMW Sauber, reports suggest that Epsilon Euskadi and Prodrive are vying for the spot.

Meanwhile the Renault team has been given the green light to race at Valencia after successfully appealing the ban imposed on the team at the last grand prix for a loose wheel nut. The team will have to pay a $50,000 fine, whiole newcomer Romain Grosjean is confirmed to replace Nelsinho Piquet and partner Fernando Alonso.

As for Felipe Massa, the injured Ferrari driver currently recovering, the latest reports indicate that while he could be ready as soon as the Italian Grand Prix - the home race for his team - he'll more likely wait until the later race in his home country of Brazil to make his comeback.

[Source: Autosport | Image: Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty]

F1 Updates: BMW seeks new buyer, FIA re-opens selection process, Renault granted appeal, etc. originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brazil Nuts: F1 title decided on last corner of last lap of last race

Noah Joseph — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix

It doesn't get any closer than this. A photo-finish has nothing on the last-minute - make that last-second - end to yesterday's Brazilian Grand Prix, the ultimate decider of the 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship. Even if you were watching it, chances are you might have missed it. It was that close.

Heading into this final round, the rival pair of young guns Felipe Massa (Ferrari) and Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) were the only two in contention for the drivers' title. But Hamilton's lead in points would mean that Massa would have to win the race with Hamilton coming in no better than sixth place. The win would put the two tied in points, but give Massa the crucial extra grand prix victory to just edge out Hamilton and claim the title. Any less and they'd have to start counting podiums. Saturday's qualifying set the stage: Massa on pole, wildcard Trulli beside and team-mate Raikkonen behind him, with Hamilton stuck in fourth place on the grid. Les jeux sont faites; all bets were placed and the dealer spun the ball. And we wouldn't know who had taken home the prize until the very end. Follow the jump to read how it turned out.

Gallery: 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix

Continue reading Brazil Nuts: F1 title decided on last corner of last lap of last race

Brazil Nuts: F1 title decided on last corner of last lap of last race originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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