Michelin F1 Teams Not Guilty
The FIA senate has recommended that the World Motor Sport Council reverses the guilty verdict it imposed on seven Formula One teams following the US Grand Prix. It is anticipated that this recommendation will be put to the World Motor Sport Council by means of a fax vote in the next few days.
Continue ReadingHybrid Turbos for F1
FIA president, Max Mosley, is considering introducing turbo boosters into Formula 1, The Guardian has reported. According to the newspaper, Mr Mosely is in discussion with “several of the car makers.” The idea is to introduce energy retention systems, like those used in hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Prius.
Continue ReadingF1 Back On Track in France?
This weekend’s French Grand Prix, was a lot more straight forward than last month’s US race – Renault and Michelin’s Fernando Alonso won what commentators described as an emphatic victory. Mclaren’s Kimi Raikonnen took second place, while Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher filled the last remaining podium position. Jenson Button gained his first points of the season by taking fourth place (Button’s San Marino result was annulled after BAR were disqualified).
Continue ReadingFIA Finds Teams Guilty on Two F1 Charges
FIA, the world motorsports governing body, has found the seven F1 teams that pulled out of the US Grand Prix guilty on two charges, but has deferred punishment. The compromise is seen as a way of buying time for the international motorsports series to recover. The teams – Renault, McLaren, Williams, Toyota, Sauber, Red Bull and BAR – were found guilty of failing to arrive at Indianapolis with proper tyres and wrongfully refusing to allow their cars to race after Michelin issued a safety warning. However, the teams were cleared of charges of failing to inform race stewards of their intention not to race, refusing to race subject to a speed limit and combining to put on a spectacle damaging to Formula One. Punishment was deferred until 14 September. The FIA cannot punish Michelin directly.
Continue ReadingMichelin: F1 Tyres Wrong Spec, Not Faulty
Having completed an internal investigation into why its tyres were not suitable for the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis, Michelin has found that its tyres were the wrong specification, rather than faulty. “The tyres were not intrinsically flawed, but were insufficiently suited to the extreme racing conditions encountered through Turn 13 of the Indianapolis circuit this year”, an official statement read.
Continue ReadingFIA Publishes Charges Against Michelin’s F1 Teams
Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, has published charges against the seven Michelin supplied teams that declined to take part in Sunday’s disastrous US Grand Prix. The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said teams had “committed one or more acts prejudicial to the interests of a competition and the interests of motor sport in general.” Specific charges alleged that teams failed to ensure that they had a supply of suitable tyres for the race. Perhaps most controversially, the teams were also accused of making a demonstration damaging to the image of Formula One by pulling into the pits immediately before the start of the race”.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Wants F1 Tyre Contract
Bridgestone has put itself forward to be the sole F1 tyre supplier if Max Mosleys 2008 regulations come into place. “We want to showcase our technology,” said the manufacturer’s technical manager Hisao Suganuma, “even with a one make situation. We want to be in Formula One.” FIA president, Mosley, claims that imposing a single slick tyre would improve safety and reduce the need to test. It will also ensure that no team is affected by being “contracted to the wrong supplier”, an FIA dossier read.
Continue ReadingF1: Schumacher May Quit Soon
Michael Schumacher, one of Formula 1’s most successful drivers, is not having fun in the sport and may retire soon, his brother Ralph told the Sport Bild Newspaper on Wednesday. “I don’t believe that Michael will be driving for very much longer,” Toyota driver Ralph told the German sports publication.
Continue ReadingF1 Statistics: Michelin Hot on Dunlop’s Heels
If Michelin can continue its recent run of Formula 1 success by winning in Montreal, the French tyre maker could find itself moving up a place in the sport’s list of all-time greats. Goodyear is top of the pile when it comes to F1 tyres suppliers, but this is mainly due to its position as exclusive supplier for many years. Goodyear leads with 368 victories (between 1962 and 1998), while Bridgestone is in second place with 94 victories (1997 to 2004). Dunlop has clocked up 83 successes (1958 to 1970).
Continue ReadingMichelin Suffers Tyre Theft
Michelin recently suffered the theft of one of its tyres during a British Superbike Championship event. A police investigation showed that the theft of one of its most technologically advanced tyres appeared to have been professionally carried out. In an effort to safeguard its industrial secrets, Michelin is reconsidering its involvement in competitive race series’ outside the MotoGP World Championship.
Continue ReadingMichelin to Exploit F1 Advantage
Williams and Michelin are working to “exploit” their advantage having experienced “minimal” tyre wear in the opening three races of the season, reports Planet F1. The team spent three days testing at Barcelona where they covered a total of 533 laps. “We worked through a comprehensive test on tyre compounds, aerodynamic parts, traction control and general set-up,” technical director Sam Michael said. “The tyre wear that we have is far from the limit, as it has been in the first three races with the FW27, and we are working with Michelin to exploit this further.”
Continue ReadingF1 Teams Boycott FIA Meeting
(Akron/Tire Review) Associated Press has reported that nine Formula One teams and five F1 car manufacturers will boycott a meeting this week with the FIA in another move interpreted as increasing their bid for a new grand prix series. FIA’s meeting on 15 April was reportedly called to discuss 2008 race season regulations. The only race team and constructor committed to attending the meeting is Ferrari, which signed a multi-year deal to remain in F1.
Continue ReadingNo Control Tyre in F1
The FIA World Motor Sport Council has released an official statement confirming that there will be no rule changes in Formula 1 until 2008, according to Adrivo Sportpresse. A control tyre will not be introduced in F1 before the end of 2007 stated the press release. Bridgestone received the news well, commenting that the absence of a control tyre keeps healthy competition thriving between the tyre manufacturers.
Continue ReadingMichelin Teams Dominate Opening F1 Race
Michelin supplied teams took all but one of the top eight places at Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix. The opening race of the season saw Giancarlo Fisichella’s Renault win at the chequered flag, followed by Rubens Barichello’s Bridgestone equipped Ferrari. Fisichella’s teammate, Fernando Alonso took the final podium position. In a further development, the Red Bull team’s drivers (David Coulthard and Christian Klein) took fourth and seventh place respectively. During the official press conference that followed the race, racewinner Giancarlo Fisichella told journalists: “Honestly because of the first part of the race I was a bit conservative on the tyres. I never pushed to the limit, only at the end when Rubens was catching me.” Its going to be a lot closer this year, but I do feel were going to be in with a shout all year, Renaults technical boss Pat Symonds also commented.
Continue ReadingHankook Becomes US Touring Car Championship Sponsor
Hankook Tire America Corp has signed a three-year agreement making Hankook the official sponsor of the Hankook US Touring Car Championship (USTCC) race series until the end of 2007. According to a Tire Review report, under the agreement, Hankook’s Ventus RSS Z211 R-Compound racing tyres will be the control tyres for the 2005-series racing event. In addition, the tyre company’s logo will be prominently displayed at each racing venue and on competitors’ vehicles. “Hankook is dedicated to expanding our motorsports activities, both as a demonstration of our technology, as well as our brand-building marketing campaign,” said Choi. “We look forward to a productive relationship with the USTCC — and to excellent competition over the next three years,” commented J W Choi, president and CEO of Hankook.
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