Autoblog

Video: Fernando Alonso shows us how to get around Fiorano... and the test ban

Noah Joseph — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Ferrari

Fernando Alonso takes the Ferrari F10 around Fiorano - Click above to watch the video after the jump

The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty may have made the world a better place, but the test ban in place in Formula One has had some other rather interesting effects. Take Jaime Alguersuari, for example, who was racing in actual grands prix before getting a chance to actually test out the machinery. Or Michael Schumacher, who had to sharpen his skills in a GP2 car before coming out of retirement. Or in this case, Fernando Alonso, who had never even lapped Ferrari's iconic private Fiorano test track... until now.

Ferrari took advantage of a loophole in the regulations that allows teams to run their cars during the season for "promotional purposes." So in order to test the revisions that the Scuderia made to its F10 racer in advance of this past weekend's European Grand Prix, and allow their two-time world champion to get some track time at Fiorano, Ferrari had to release this clip. Follow the jump to watch the video from inside the cockpit, and consider the team suitably promoted.

[Source: Ferrari via Axis of Oversteer]

Continue reading Video: Fernando Alonso shows us how to get around Fiorano... and the test ban

Video: Fernando Alonso shows us how to get around Fiorano... and the test ban originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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F1 backmarkers should drop to GP2, says Montezemolo

Noah Joseph — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Ferrari

Luca di Montezemolo has never been one to mince words. The outspoken president of Ferrari - who until recently also chaired the Fiat group as well as the Formula One Teams Association - consistently makes headlines for speaking his mind, and has of late focused his criticism on the backmarker teams (principally comprised of newcomers), which most recently cost his star driver Fernando Alonso position - and arguably the lead - in last week's Canadian Grand Prix.

During the closing laps of the Montreal round, Alonso lost the lead to race leader Lewis Hamilton when Heikki Kovalainen's Lotus got in the way, and dropped further to third behind Jenson Button when Karun Chandhok's HRT blocked his way past.

In speaking with Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport, Montezemolo said that the newcomers are running closer to the pace of the lower-rung GP2 series and ought to leave the bigger teams to race in F1. To fill their slots on the grid, Montezemolo has long advocated allowing teams like his to run a third car. His former right-hand man Jean Todt, now president of the FIA, is reportedly in favor of instituting a qualifying threshold that would force the backmarker teams to either shape up or ship out.

[Source: Autosport | Image: Pascal Guyot/AFP/Getty]

F1 backmarkers should drop to GP2, says Montezemolo originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scuderia Ferrari chief says Massa is here to stay

Noah Joseph — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ferrari

The 2010 Formula One season isn't even halfway through, and already speculation has been ramping up for next year's line-up. The biggest piece of the puzzle revolves around Felipe Massa, the Brazilian driver who has - notwithstanding a few seasons spent farmed out to Ferrari-powered Sauber - been with the Scuderia since advancing to the series in 2002 with the European Formula 3000 title under his belt.

Word around the paddock is that Ferrari has been unsatisfied with Massa's performance this season. After coming a close second in the championship in 2008, Massa suffered a crippling crash last season, sidelining him for the remainder, only to return to the scarlet cockpit this year. So far, however, Massa's been languishing behind his rivals, currently sitting seventh in the standings while his team-mate Fernando Alonso holds on to fourth place.

The lackluster performance has led to rumors that Ferrari would opt to release Massa - who is managed by FIA president and former Ferrari CEO Jean Todt's son Nicolas - rather than renew his contract which is due to expire at the end of this season. That, in turn, led to speculation that either Red Bull's Mark Webber or Renault's Robert Kubica could get called up to Maranello. But speaking with the BBC in the ramp up to this past weekend's Turkish Grand Prix, team principal Stefano Domenicalli indicated that Massa's contract would, in all likelihood, be renewed after all. Nothing is certain until the papers are signed - and even then things can change - but for now it looks like Felipe is set to stay in the red.

[Source: Autosport | Image: Alberto Cridpa/AFP/Getty]

Scuderia Ferrari chief says Massa is here to stay originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reports place Red Bull's Vettel, Webber at Ferrari

Noah Joseph — Mon, 17 May 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ferrari, Rumormill

After winning three out of the seven races so far this season and topping both championship standings, Red Bull's dynamic duo of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber must be looking mighty tempting to any number of rival teams on the grid. But the most alluring, according to recent reports, could be Ferrari.

For his part, Vettel is widely regarded as the personal favorite of one Bernie Ecclestone, who could be helping to broker a deal that would see the young German wearing red in the near future. Vettel, however, is on a long-term contract with Red Bull, leaving the possibility open for a few years from now.

More likely for the near future, however, could be Webber. The 33-year-old Australian driver - fresh from back-to-back victories at the Spanish and Monaco grands prix - is on a year-to-year contract with Red Bull, which could leave him free to switch teams in the off-season. Red Bull chief Christian Horner has hinted at his intention to retain the driver currently topping the standings, but until a contract is signed... mind you, contracts in F1 aren't worth what they once were.

While Fernando Alonso continues to impress, Ferrari is widely speculated to be dissatisfied with their second driver Felipe Massa, and could cut the Brazilian lose for next season. Alternative reports place Renault's Robert Kubica in the Scuderia's hot seat, but only time will tell.

[Source: ESPN | Image: Clive Mason/Getty]

Reports place Red Bull's Vettel, Webber at Ferrari originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 May 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari addresses criticism over Marlboro sponsorship

Noah Joseph — Sun, 02 May 2010 17:35:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising, Ferrari

2010 Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro F10 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ferrari has found itself at the center of controversy once again as pundits have accused the Scuderia of subliminal advertising of tobacco products through its longstanding partnership with Philip Morris International, producer of Marlboro cigarettes.

Historically, tobacco advertising has been commonplace in motorsports, F1 in particular. Imperial Tobacco's Gold Leaf brand started off sponsoring the 1968 Monaco Grand Prix, leading a trend that would see tobacco companies sponsoring teams and races for decades to come. British American Tobacco went so far as to field its own cars - the British American Racing team that later became Honda, then Brawn GP and now races under the Mercedes GP banner. For several years, Marlboro (like Santander today) sponsored both McLaren and Ferrari, before concentrating its efforts on the Scuderia. By the late 1990s, however, European countries in particular began outlawing tobacco advertising in sports, leading to the withdrawal (no pun intended) of most major tobacco companies from Formula One. Williams became the first major team to run without cigarette branding in 2000, and since then all the major tobacco companies have pulled out of the sport, with the notable exception of Philip Morris.

Like other teams had initially, Ferrari continues to run livery on its F1 cars that - in compliance with European regulations - doesn't explicitly include the name of its sponsor. The brand continues, however, to be part of the team's name (known officially as Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro in a deal reportedly worth $1 billion), and over the years the Marlboro logo has grown increasingly abstract on the livery to the point that today it's little more than a red, white and black bar-code. Although the team had, until a couple of years ago, run with the Marlboro name on the cars in overseas races where regulations permitted tobacco advertising, since 2008 Ferrari has run only with the bar-code logo.

British pundits, however, say the abstraction is not enough, pointing to the bar-code and even the team's use of the color red as subliminal advertising of the team's title sponsor. Ferrari has released a statement refuting the charges, saying the bar-code logo has not been scientifically proven to be subliminal advertising, and that the red livery has been integral to the team since its inception and the dawn of motorsports. Follow the jump for Ferrari's argument and judge for yourself.

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Ferrari addresses criticism over Marlboro sponsorship

Ferrari addresses criticism over Marlboro sponsorship originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 02 May 2010 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alonso's other other ride: Ferrari 458 Italia

Noah Joseph — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Ferrari, Celebrities

Fernando Alonso's Ferrari 458 Italia - Click either image to view in higher resolution

Formula One pundits have for years been saying that Ferrari was the team where Fernando Alonso was always supposed to be. The folks at the Scuderia evidently agreed when they finally signed the only driver to beat Schumacher at his own game. And they aren't about to let him forget it now that he's home.

So it should come as little surprise that, after handing him the keys to a Maserati GranCabrio, reports are surfacing that the champ has also received (or is soon to receive) a Ferrari 458 Italia as well. Sources suggest that the car may have been part of his contract.

The car in question was spotted by a FerrariChat forum member while in Maranello, decked out in Bianco Fuji (Ferrari-speak for pearl while) with Alonso's signature logo embroidered into the headrests right below the Prancing Horse... right where it's always belonged. Thanks to Patrick for the tip!

[Source: FerrariChat]

Alonso's other other ride: Ferrari 458 Italia originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fernando Alonso gets himself a Maserati GranCabrio

Noah Joseph — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Convertible, Performance, Maserati, Celebrities, Luxury

Fernando Alonso with his new Maserati GranCabrio - Click above for high-res image gallery

What do Formula One drivers drive in their downtime? Well, when you're a two-time world champion like Fernando Alonso, you get to drive pretty much whatever you want. That is, assuming the team you're driving for isn't owned by a specific automaker. Then you'll need to drive whatever the provide you with. And in Alonso's case, notwithstanding his solo 2001 debut season with Minardi-Cosworth, he's pretty much only driven for automaker-owned teams: Renault, McLaren-Mercedes, then back to Renault and now Ferrari.

While at Renault, Alonso drove a Megane RS that was later offered for sale on eBay. When he moved to McLaren, he got his finely-honed hands on an SLR 722. Now that he's at Ferrari, you'd expect him to be driving a new 458 Italia or a 599 GTB Fiorano, right? Almost, but not quite.

Ferrari's sister company Maserati has announced that Alonso has acquired a new GranCabrio - to be sold Stateside as the GranTurismo Convertible, lest we be confused. The Spanish driver - who's already off to a great start, having won his first race with the team to which everyone said he always belonged - picked one out in (very) dark gray with a two-tone beige and bordeaux interior with a matching canvas roof. And if you think about it, his selection makes sense: if you're driving a high-strung performance machine for work, wouldn't you want to unwind in something a little more relaxed? Press release after the jump, photos in the galleries below.

Gallery: Fernando Alonso's Maserati GranCabrio

Gallery: Maserati GranCabrio

[Source: Maserati]

Continue reading Fernando Alonso gets himself a Maserati GranCabrio

Fernando Alonso gets himself a Maserati GranCabrio originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari Driving Academy already yielding results

Noah Joseph — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ferrari

Jules Bianchi tests for Scuderia Ferrari - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ferrari got seriously caught with its pants down last year in Formula One. When Felipe Massa was sidelined with a head injury halfway through the season, the Scuderia found itself without a viable replacement after Michael Schumacher proved unfit to take his place, veteran test driver Luca Badoer failed to rise to the challenge and Giancarlo Fisichella didn't manage to score a single point. But the venerable F1 team is learning from its mistakes with the launch of the Ferrari Driving Academy.

Similar to the programs run by Red Bull and Renault, the Ferrari Driving Academy was established to foster young talent along the ladder to Formula One, starting way down in karting. The program is run by Luca Baldisserri, the strategist who replaced Ross Brawn during his sabbatical and who currently serves as the team's track manager.

The first pupil selected for the program is Jules Bianchi. The young French driver, managed by former Ferrari CEO Jean Todt's son Nicholas, is the scion of a successful racing family: his grandfather Mauro Biachi won the FIA GT Championship three times, and his great uncle won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and competed in nineteen grands prix. Jules himself won the French Formula Renault 2.0 title in 2007 and the F3 Euroseries in 2009, and following his test for Ferrari in December, has scored a podium finish in his debut in the GP2 Asia series. Not a bad start, so we'd better keep our eyes open for Bianchi and future Ferrari Driver Academy pupils making their way up the ladder. Press releases after the jump.

Gallery: F1 Young Driver Test, Jerez, December 2009

[Source: Ferrari | Image: Mark Thompson/Getty]

Continue reading Ferrari Driving Academy already yielding results

Ferrari Driving Academy already yielding results originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: Alonso, Massa dominate Valencia testing in new Ferrari F10

Noah Joseph — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:34:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Ferrari, Racing

Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso lap Valencia in the 2010 Scuderia Ferrari F10 - Click above for high-res image gallery

We know, we know. The pace set on track tests doesn't necessarily indicate how a given team, car or driver will perform in an actual race, let alone across a whole season. But it's hard not to read too much into it when we've been waiting for a sign since the end of last season, when the winningest team in all of motorsports - which has been working on this car since the middle of a dismal last season - with its veteran driver recovered from injury, and with a two-time World Champion taking the helm for the first time, when all these elements come together and the team absolutely dominates.

Half of the F1 teams that'll be competing for honors this season descended on Valencia for three days of official testing. And when all was said and done, Ferrari had dominated the time sheets on each of the three days. The first two days saw Felipe Massa run the new car, setting the fastest times on both days. Then Alonso took his turn on Day 3, beating Massa's time and everyone else's in the process - including returning seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher in the new Mercedes and reigning champion Jenson Button in the new McLaren.

For his part, Alonso was quick to quell speculation. Reliability, fuel loads, yadda yadda yadda. But when this is the first and only indication we have of how the season is shaping up, we can't help but sit back and stroke our five o'clock shadows in contemplation. We invite you to do the same while viewing the mega gallery of on-track images below.

Gallery: 2010 Scuderia Ferrari F10 on track at Valencia

[Source: Ferrari]

Pics Aplenty: Alonso, Massa dominate Valencia testing in new Ferrari F10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari leads the way with new F10 for 2010 F1 season

Noah Joseph — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:55:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Ferrari, Racing

2010 Scuderia Ferrari F10 - Click above for high-res image gallery

With nearly all the seats accounted for and the first group test at Valencia (scheduled for February 1) fast approaching, the time has come once again, boys and girls, for the unveiling of the 2010 F1 cars.

A couple of months ago, it looked like all the teams would get together under the auspices of the Formula One Teams Association to unveil their cars in one massive exposition concurrent with the Valencia test session, but that won't come to fruition. Several teams are expected to debut there still, while others are doing their own thing once again. And Ferrari is first among them.

Unveiled at the team's headquarters in Maranello, the new F10 is the chariot with which Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa will be contending for the championship against other top-rated challengers from Mercedes GP, McLaren and Red Bull, to say nothing of the other ten teams on the grid. The latest Prancing Horse - whose Santander-dominated red and white livery we saw a few days ago - is the product of several months of development, as the Scuderia stopped development of last year's car half-way through the season after realizing it was way off pace and concentrated on this year's car instead.

You can have a look at the initial batch of photos in the gallery below, but don't expect to see much of the rear end of the car. Ferrari kept its diffuser design - of the double design that caused controversy last year but won't be banned until next - hidden from prying eyes for the time being. Stay tuned for the more as the teams roll out their latest.

Gallery: 2010 Scuderia Ferrari F10

[Source: Ferrari]

Ferrari leads the way with new F10 for 2010 F1 season originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mo' Money, Fewer Problems: Can Raikkonen earn more by not racing?

Noah Joseph — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs

If you scoffed at the notion that unionized auto workers were being paid not to work, you're going to love this one: According to reports emerging from Europe, Kimi Raikkonen could stand to make more money next year if he doesn't race than if he does.

The bizarre circumstance comes down to the terms of his departure from Scuderia Ferrari. Kimi was reportedly offered a whopping 17 million euros in order to make room for an incoming Fernando Alonso, but that's only if he doesn't find a suitable seat with another team. If he does, Ferrari will only be required to pay the 2007 world champion ~~5 million~~ 10 million euros (corrected). Seeing an opportunity to get a world champion on the cheap, McLaren is reportedly offering Raikkonen only 5 million euros to drive for them, knowing that Ferrari - and migrating sponsor Santander - will cough up the rest.

That means Kimi would make 15 million euros if he drove again for McLaren next year - which is tipped to be the one and only team he's considering - but 17 million if he sat the year out. Of course negotiations are ongoing, but all things being equal, the Finn could be looking at one very lucrative year off.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via F1-Live | Image: Vladimir Rys/Bongarts/Getty]

Mo' Money, Fewer Problems: Can Raikkonen earn more by not racing? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Massa charges that Alonso knew about Piquet crash plan

Noah Joseph — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:21:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Ferrari

From his brief tenure at McLaren, we know that Fernando Alonso has a bit of trouble getting along with his teammates. Especially when he doesn't get the clear preferential treatment as the team's #1 driver. After all, as has often been said, a driver's teammate is his chief rival. So after Ferrari confirmed that Alonso and Felipe Massa would be put on equal footing, we smelled some trouble a-brewin'. But we didn't expect it to start at least until the beginning of next season. Turns out, that was a bit premature, as some cracks in the relationship between the two teammates-to-be have already started to show.

Speaking with a group of journalists in his native Brazil where the F1 circus is preparing for this weekend's grand prix, Felipe Massa said with "absolute certainty" that Alonso knew about the plan to have wingman Nelson Piquet crash to hand him the controversial victory. That's a pretty hefty charge levied by his future teammate, and Ferrari naturally scrambled to issue a clarification (which you can read after the jump) but you can't take back what's already been said.

Massa was suitably - and vocally - upset when the Crashgate story broke, because without Alonso's ill-earned victory, Massa would have won the championship last year, instead of losing to Lewis Hamilton by one point at the last corner of the last lap of the last race of the season. Better luck next year, gents.

[Sources: Autosport; Ferrari | Image: Vanderlei Almeida/AFP/Getty]

Continue reading REPORT: Massa charges that Alonso knew about Piquet crash plan

REPORT: Massa charges that Alonso knew about Piquet crash plan originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jean Alesi returns to racing Ferraris

Noah Joseph — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:35:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ferrari

Jean Alesi returns to Fiorano - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you checked out the images we posted of Felipe Massa's return to Maranello, you may have spotted the returning Brazilian driver chatting with one Jean Alesi and wondered what he was doing there.

The French driver raced for the Scuderia from 1991 through 1995, scoring a handful of podiums and a solitary grand prix victory in Montreal. Along with longtime team-mate Gerhard Berger, Alesi switched places with Michael Schumacher to Benetton-Renault in 1996, then bounced between a few other teams before retiring from Formula One at the end of 2001. Since then he's been competing in DTM and then headlined the new Speedcar Series.

With the ill-fated Asian stock car series now deceased, however, the racing world has been wondering what the retired F1 driver would try his hand at next, and on Tuesday they got their hint when Alesi showed up at Fiorano to test the Ferrari F430 GT2. Alesi's slated to race for AF Corse, the team run by Amato Ferrari, who shares strong ties with both Maranello and Maserati but no direct familial relation despite the common name.

AF Corse is the reigning two-time champion in the FIA GT series, but is reportedly preparing to tackle the European Le Mans Series, including its headline event, next year. The test session apparently exceeded expectations, paving the way for the 45-year-old driver to race Ferraris once again, for the first time in fourteen years, next season. Details in the press release after the jump and images in the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Jean Alesi tests Ferrari F430 GT2 at Fiorano for AF Corse

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Jean Alesi returns to racing Ferraris

Jean Alesi returns to racing Ferraris originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Giancarlo Fisichella, meet your new Ferrari race seat

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:20:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs

First thing this morning, no one knew who'd be replacing Luca Badoer in the second Ferrari alongside Kimi Raikkonen - in addition to Williams test driver Nico Hulkenberg and former Toro Rosso driver Sebastien Bourdais, the likes of current BMW driver Robert Kubica had been mentioned. Force India driver Giancarlo Fisichella's name has also been persistently mooted, but the scuttlebutt was consistently shot down by team principal Vijay Mallya.

Ah, Formula One. No sooner had Mallya quashed the rumor again that he then turned around and announced that Fisichella was indeed let go to Ferrari. This gives Fisi the race seat for the rest of the year and, according to Mallya, "will secure Giancarlo's long-term future with Ferrari." We have no idea what that could mean for 2010, since Ferrari already has Raikkonen and Massa, and supposedly Alonso to deal with currently.

Financial terms weren't announced, but it is suspected that in return for letting Fisichella go Ferrari forgave Force India's €4 million bill owed the Scuderia for the engine contract that the Indian team terminated last year. While Fisi gets five races to prove his worth in one of the best cars on the grid, now we get to wonder who will be Adrian Sutil's new teammate. Hat tip to everyone!

[Source: F1 Live | Image: John Thys/Getty]

REPORT: Giancarlo Fisichella, meet your new Ferrari race seat originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari weighs its options with Massa reportedly not expected back this season

Noah Joseph — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ferrari

When Felipe Massa was taken out of commission at the Hungarian Grand Prix last month, the questions on everyone's mind was who would replace him and when he'd be back. With regards to the former, Ferrari is one of the few teams on the grid that doesn't have a junior driver development program in place. The team doesn't usually have a problem getting the best drivers, but when disaster (literally) struck, the Scuderia was left without options.

Michael Schumacher prepared to come out of retirement to fill his prodigy's seat, but his own lingering physical issues prevented that, leaving Ferrari with little choice than to promote one of its aging test drivers - finally opting for Luca Badoer after his ten-year hiatus from active racing instead of its other test driver, recent Le Mans winner Marc Gene - with less than satisfactory results. After finishing just about dead last in both of the races he's contested so far, Ferrari has admitted that it's looking at other options for the rest of the season. Giancarlo Fisichella is said to be one possible Ferrari driver and could stay on in the long term to replace Badoer as test driver as well. Robert Kubica is being touted as another, while still more reports suggest that Fernando Alonso could bolt from Renault a bit early and take up residence with Ferrari.

If these rumors seemed at first a little odd with Massa first rumored to return by the upcoming Italian Grand Prix and then readjusted to the subsequent Brazilian Grand Prix - the home races for the team and driver respectively - it now looks like Felipe won't be back this season at all. After undergoing tests at the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Massa is scheduled to undergo plastic surgery to repair a fractured section of skull resulting from the incident in Hungary. Tellingly, Ferrari says they're looking forward to Massa's return for the start of next season.

That's all in the short term, however, and Ferrari is keen to avoid such strategic mistakes in the future. Accidents happen, and the team needs to be prepared, so its looking into setting up a junior driver development program that would give them access to a pool of emerging talent for the future.

[Source: Ferrari via Autosport; F1-Live]

Continue reading Ferrari weighs its options with Massa reportedly not expected back this season

Ferrari weighs its options with Massa reportedly not expected back this season originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari to sign Fisichella to replace Badoer?

Noah Joseph — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ferrari

Ferrari has had plenty of time to get its hands on Giancarlo Fisichella. The Italian driver has been on the grid since 1995 when he started as a test driver for Minardi, and later driving for Jordan, Benetton, Sauber, Renault and now Force India. But the Scuderia wasn't interested. Not until its fortunes were down, and Fisico's were up.

The 36-year-old driver pulled off a shocking command performance at this past weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, grabbing pole position and a relentless second place behind Ferrari's own Kimi Raikkonen. All the while, Ferrari itself has been struggling with its veteran test driver Luca Badoer, who has been suffering from a difficult time readjusting to the competition. The team's test driver, promoted to the race seat after ten years of developmental duties when Felipe Massa and Michael Schumacher were both knocked out of commission by head-eye injuries (as has now been revealed), has finished the two races he started so far in 17th and 14th positions. Ferrari is plainly disappointed and embarrassed, but with no junior driver in place for a rainy day, Maranello has been left with little choice.

For his part, Ferrari's outspoken former triple world champion Niki Lauda has called on the team to poach Fisichella from Force India, which is experiencing financial troubles and would surely take the money and run. One way or another, Fisichella's in for a hero's welcome at his home race at Monza into two weeks. And Ferrari will have an experienced Italian driver behind the wheel for the Italian Grand Prix. Exactly which one that will be, however, remains to be seen.

[Source: F1-Live | Image: Fred DuFour/AFP/Getty]

Ferrari to sign Fisichella to replace Badoer? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:28:00 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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Massa to return for Italian Grand Prix in early September?

Noah Joseph — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ferrari

Luca Badoer is gearing up for his first grand prix in ten years. The veteran Ferrari test driver (who got the nod to fill in for the injured Felipe Massa after plans for Michael Schumacher's temporary return were put on hold) will get to test the Ferrari F60 which he helped develop before the upcoming European Grand Prix in Valencia after all, as Ferrari gets permission to run some "demonstration laps" around its own Fiorano circuit. But according to the latest reports, Badoer shouldn't get too comfortable in that cramped cockpit as Massa may be back sooner than expected.

Team principal Stefano Domenicali visited the downed Brazilian pilot and was encouraged by his progress, prompting reports in the Italian press that Massa could make a sensational return in time for the upcoming Italian Grand Prix at Monza at the beginning of September. Massa would need to pass a medical exam at the FIA headquarters in Paris before getting the green light to race again, and may need to wear extra protective gear. In the meantime, Domenicali insists that everyone be patient while Massa recovers.

[Source: F1-Live | Image: Mark Thompson/Getty]

Massa to return for Italian Grand Prix in early September? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big Schu to Fill: Ferrari's Luca Badoer hasn't raced in ten years, never scored a point

Noah Joseph — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ferrari

With Michael Schumacher now confirmed to have canceled his comeback due to a neck injury sustained in a motorcycle accident, Ferrari has been left with no choice but to put one of its veteran test drivers into Felipe Massa's seat until the injured Brazilian is ready to return to active duty. The trouble is that while other teams use the test driver position to groom up-and-coming drivers for the race seat, Ferrari's approach has been to use older, more experienced drivers past their prime.

Rather than give the seat to Marc Gené, who continues to race actively for Peugeot at Le Mans and last raced in a grand prix in 2004, Ferrari has decided to award the seat to Luca Badoer, its senior test driver. While testing the Ferrari California last summer, we had a chance to talk with Badoer on his way to the season-closing Brazilian Grand Prix and found him to be a good-natured and affable individual. Still, while his development skills are unrivaled, his actual Formula One race experience leaves something to be desired.

It's been ten years since Badoer last started a race - the longest gap in F1 history - and he rejoins the field as the oldest driver on the grid, narrowly eclipsing his former team-mate Rubens Barrichello at 38. Although he moved to F1 after winning the Formula 3000 title in 1992, in his four seasons and 48 grands prix in the big league (all with Italian teams, incidentally), he failed to score a single point (let alone a race win) and famously broke down in tears alongside his car after it failed to take him to a fourth-place finish at the 1999 European Grand Prix. Ten years later, he's looking to improve his record, and we'll be watching to see how he does. Follow the jump for the official press release.

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Big Schu to Fill: Ferrari's Luca Badoer hasn't raced in ten years, never scored a point

Big Schu to Fill: Ferrari's Luca Badoer hasn't raced in ten years, never scored a point originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: Schumacher not coming back after all - driving is a pain in the neck

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Ferrari

Ferrari was in with a bang, now it looks like the scarlet racers will be out with soggy whimpers: Michael Schumacher has canceled his F1 return due to lingering pain in his neck from a motorcycle accident earlier this year.

Schumacher has been testing in Ferrari's 2007 car at the company's private track in Mugello. After the first test, though, he found that the mere strain of driving aggravated the injuries from a crash he suffered in February while motorcycle testing at a track in Spain. At the time, although he went to the hospital, it was thought that everything was fine. Eventually fractures in his neck were discovered, and that is what is causing the problem now.

After laying its hopes on the 7-time world champion, Ferrari now chooses among its reserve drivers to pilot one of their cars in Valencia in 48 hours: Marc Gene or Luca Badoer - Gene's last F1 race drive was the 2004 British Grand Prix, while Badoer hasn't turned an F1 wheel on race day since 1999, at the European Grand Prix. This morning Ferrari head Luca di Montezemolo chose 38-year-old Badoer for the role.

Gallery: Schumacher tests the Ferrari F2007 at Mugello

[Source: F1 Live | Photo by Andy Hone/Getty]

Officially Official: Schumacher not coming back after all - driving is a pain in the neck originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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