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Two bidders for Honda

It seems that the plans for a management buyout at Honda were almost completed when a new bidder arrived on the scene, which has thrown the whole process into some confusion. The new bidder is believed to be very serious and to have the kind of brand that will benefit from F1 - and benefit the sport as well. The fact no-one is saying anything publicly suggests that things are at a very delicate stage and the new bid could result in a new management being brought in to the team.

Honda now has to decide what to do and as time is now very short because the cars need to be built and this work cannot be completed unless there is guaranteed money for an engine supply deal to be secured, a decision has to be made soon, unless Honda wishes to find itself paying for an engine deal that it cannot use.

Source:
http://www.grandprix.com

Ferrari tested new pit system in Bahrain

Ferrari appears on schedule to bring back its controversial 'traffic lights' pitstop system for the 2009 season.

The Italian team abandoned the unique automated system late last season following several incidents, including at the Singapore grand prix where Felipe Massa dragged the fuel hose down the pitlane.

Team manager Luca Baldisserri, however, said recently that engineers have improved the system so that the car
will be electronically prevented from driving away if the fuel hose is attached.

It has now emerged that Ferrari trialled the revised system, which by the use of sensors, buttons and lights replaces the traditional 'lollipop' holder, at the recent Bahrain test.

Source:
http://www.newsonf1.com

Renault in talks with Indian sponsor

Renault is in talks to replace the outgoing title sponsor ING with an Indian multinational, an official has told the Indian news agency PTI.

In the wake of the Dutch bank ING's decision to withdraw from the sport at the end of the season, a senior official of Renault India said negotiations for its replacement are already taking place.

PTI said a possible visit by Fernando Alonso to India this year would be indicative of Renault's desire to widen its fan base in the populous country.

"Currently, talks are on with a major Indian multinational for sponsorship," the Renault India official is quoted as saying.

He did not go into details beyond saying the talks "are ongoing".

The most prominent Indian sponsor already involved with F1 is Tata, currently with Ferrari but previously affiliated with Narain Karthikeyan at Jordan and Williams.

Source:
http://www.newsonf1.com

Honda: search for a ‘serious buyer’ continues

Amidst widespread media speculation, Honda revealed on Monday they are yet to find a serious buyer for their Formula One team. The Japanese car maker put the team up for sale in December, after announcing they were to withdraw from the sport in light of difficult economic conditions in the global auto market.

Although a bid from the Virgin Group and an internal management buyout have both been rumoured, Honda CEO, Takeo Fukui, disclosed at a press conference in Japan that the company’s search for a viable purchaser is still ongoing.

“There are various offers for the team but we have not seen any serious buyer yet,” said Fukui in Tokyo. “We find the sale process difficult.”

Honda also announced on Monday that Fukui will step down from his role as CEO and President of Honda in June, to be replaced by Senior Managing Director Takanobu Ito. Fukui will continue in an advisory role.

Source:
http://www.formula1.com

BMW Sauber upbeat after Bahrain test

BMW Sauber are in a confident mood for the season ahead after enjoying a productive test in Bahrain this week. Driver Nick Heidfeld and tester Christian Klien completed over 2,300 kilometres in the F1.09 during the four-day session at the Sakhir track.

“The long test in Bahrain was very productive,” said technical director Willy Rampf. “We could work with the cars in temperatures we would not have encountered in Europe at this time of the year, making it good preparation for the first races of the upcoming season.

“We worked mainly on the general set-up of the F1.09, trying numerous solutions on the mechanical and aero side of the car as well as gaining experience with the three available tyre compounds. We also made good progress with KERS. Overall we reached our target of collecting as much data as possible about the car's reactions to changes in the set-up.”

While Klien tested on Monday, Heidfeld spent three days in the F1.09 and covered 300 laps. The German clocked his best time of the week on Thursday, when he went second quickest with a lap of 1m 32.225s. And after finishing under a tenth of a second down on Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, Heidfeld was also pleased with progress.

"The track conditions were the best they have been all week," explained the 31 year-old, after Thursday’s session had concluded. "We could already try a couple of improvements. The car reacts to changes as planned, so I'm confident we are working in the right direction."

BMW Sauber will return to the test track in a little over a week’s time, when the majority of teams come together for a four-day test at the Spanish circuit of Jerez.

Source:
http://www.formula1.com

USF1 team to launch later today

Four years of intense preparation will culminate later today with the launch of the new USF1 team.

Peter Windsor and Ken Anderson, the men behind America's first F1 team in more than two decades, will today reveal their plans for the new outfit, launching on American-based Speed TV.

"We have spent time putting together the right infrastructure," Windsor told The Independent.

"In many ways we have done the really hard work, sourcing the right investment and sponsorship which will enable us to keep the team in the hands of the people who know what they are doing without the need to sell 80 per cent to a figurehead.

"We finally achieved our investment goals two weeks ago, and have the money to do what we want to do. We will be a lean and mean operation and will viciously control the head count.

"We always said that we would officially go public once we started to hire people. That moment has arrived."

As for rumours that the team could sign Danica Patrick, Windsor said: "We have yet to speak to any drivers, but we are looking at every American with the right credentials, and Danica is definitely on the list."

Source:
http://www.planetf1.com

Kimi reiterates: Ferrari will be my last team

Kimi Raikkonen has reiterated his desire to end his F1 career with Ferrari.

The 2007 World Champion is currently contracted to the Italian stable until the end of the 2010 season, with some rumours claiming that could be his final year in F1.

However, Raikkonen says he may yet continue - but only if he stays on at Ferrari.

"We'll see whether in two years' time I'm still enjoying myself or whether I want to do other things," the Finn told Corriere della Sera.

"But what's certain is that Ferrari will be my last team. Which doesn't meant that I will definitely quit in 2010..."