F1 testing has winded down and the McLaren car has proven to be quite the competitor after setting the pace. As always, the competition isn’t too happy about the results.

Red Bull claims that McLaren’s rear wing, the airbox and the engine cover are designed in such a way to give the MP4-25 an advantage on the straights. Ferrari has also joined in on the issue.

“There’s a bit of a fuss over McLaren’s rear wing,” Red Bull boss Christian Horner said. “They have a slot on it and they can pick up a lot of straight-line speed.

Formula 1 has issued rules on the use of aerodynamics such as the specifications of wings and the prohibition of winglets in order to level out competition.

McLaren, however, insists that the car is legal and that they have designed it within FIA regulations on aerodynamics. If the FIA has indeed been notified of a protest, the matter is expected to be resolved before the first race of the season.

No one would have expected that the Lada badge would be placed on anything this fast. Over the years, Lada has been associated as the Russian’s people’s car. Not really well built. Not even stylish. But it gets the job done. It even still has that commie vibe decades after the fall of the USSR.

But Formula One fans would probably be amazed to see the Lada logo slapped on a Formula One car. Renault has just unveiled its new livery for the 2010 season and on the car is Lada’s logos. This is after Lada agreed to sponsor the Renault F1 team.

For conspiracy nuts out there, this is not some commie plot to ruin F1. Renault owns a 25% stake in Lada’s parent company AvtoVaz. Instead, it’s actually a move to promote F1 to good old Russia once again. Renault also has tapped Russian Vitaly Petrov to pilot one of its cars for next season.

Talks have already begun on a possible comeback of F1 to Russia with the possibility of a Moscow Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton is in the market for a new Formula One manager. This is after an announcement that Lewis has dropped Anthony, his father, as manager.

The announcement cited Lewis’s “growing maturity” as one of the reasons for the move. The older Hamilton also has quite a lot of business interests that need his attention.

“I’ve been in F1 for quite a while now and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my dad. He’s done a fantastic job. But he’s done that job,” said Hamilton.

Lewis has been under his father’s management ever since he started his racing career. Anthony Hamilton made much work and sacrifice to support his son’s racing career.

Anthony Hamilton will be busy with his GP Prep academy which allows up-and-coming drivers to have a go at one-year old F1 cars.

While the other teams had been doing their laps around Jerez in the 2010 season tests, newcomer US F1 has yet to come out with a car with which to compete.

Now, rumors have been abound regarding the possibility of competing in the season opener at Bahrain and even for the whole season.

US F1 is reported to be asking the FIA to miss as many as four races before entering competition. The team currently has no racing car yet and has signed just one driver – Jose Maria Lopez who is only known as a touring car champion.

F1 official Bernie Ecclestone has already said that he has doubts regarding US F1’s participation.

Formula One cars continuously lapped the Jerez track from the third official test run for the 2010 season. The fourth day say a sunny sky and 11 drivers do their laps and, unlike the result of the first two runs, the field saw a varied lap time board as teams continue to tweak their cars for optimal performance.

2009 world champion Jenson Button saw the top of the leader boards at the end of fourth day, edging out Renault’s Robert Kubica and BMW Sauber’s Kamui Kobayashi.

Lotus, who missed out on the first trial runs, made up the time lost by lapping the track 141 times with Jarno Trulli behind the wheel. Former Toyota F1 teammate Timo Glock now driving for Virgin only completed 28 laps due to hydraulic problems.

The 2010 season might just offer some really interesting battles especially with the old dogs like Michael Schumacher back in the pack to slug it out with the younger crowd.

Combined times lust after the cut.

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Michael Schumacher thinks that his team – Mercedes GP – has a great chance to clinch the title this season. Schumacher thinks that the new car has got what it takes to give every team a real competition.

This is despite finishing 8th fastest in the 2nd round of tests in Spain. He managed to be the third fastest in the 1st round of tests. Still, that shows that the old dog has a lot of bite and give the younger pups a lesson out on the track.

Schumacher officially comes out of retirement this season teaming up again with Ross Brawn with whom he has previously teamed up in Benetton and Ferrari team and won championships.

His 2009 comeback (supposedly filling in for the injured Felipe Massa for Ferrari) was trumped by his motorcycle injuries sustained earlier in the year. Schumacher now claims to be in tip-top condition for the full season.

Looks like Ferrari has done a fine job developing their racer for this coming season. And with drivers like Massa and Alonso, they seem to be poised for another winning season.

Never mind if McLaren’s got two of the most recent world champions and that Schumacher’s back and driving for Mercedes. The Italians showed how strong they are after dominating the first test at Valencia.

Ferrari topped the pace board in all the days of the tests with Massa and Alonso both grabbing the quickest times in the days they hit the track. BMW-Sauber consistently placed second as well while Lewis Hamilton pipped third place on the day Schumacher wasn’t driving.

However, Alonso still advices caution stating that it’s still to early to base everything on their strong showing. Wise words but what Ferrari has showed out there should be enough to have some teams start figuring ways for them not to eat dust once the season starts.

It’s final, folks. The FIA has tweaked the Formula One points system for the 2010 season to favor race winners.

The points distribution will now be: 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1. The new ruling widened the gap between 1st and 2nd place winners.

As additional rulings, the FIA placed more restrictions on tires. All drivers who enter the top 10 in qualifying must start the race on the tires they used for their quickest lap. Teams will also be allowed to used just 11 sets of tires insstead of 14.

With all of these new rules, we could all just hope that drivers get some brass balls. It’s been a while since we saw real battles out on the field.

For some reason, it looks like Formula One drivers have been pampered too much by their Monaco lifestyles to push things closer to the edge. The new points system should help make drivers go for the win.

The FIA needs to get their act together real quick. This is the type of shoddy rule making that turn off fans.

Just over a month ago, the FIA announced that they have replaced the good old 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 with the 25-20-15-10-8-6-5-3-2-1 right out of the MotoGP rulebook. They say it’s designed to favor winners.

Such point system greatly favors consistent podium finishers. But now FIA seems to be thinking of increasing the point difference between 1st and second place finishers which would have the points system changed to 25-18-15-10-8-5-3-2-1.

With that format, the winner of the race gets a huge advantage over everyone else. That gives drivers more motivation to finish ahead of the pack. Whether that would give the sport more aggression next season, we’d only know.

Besides, it’s only a proposal for now. The rule makers still need to approve the matter in their next meeting.

And the drivers’ seats are filling up for the 2010 Formula One season. The latest confirmed signing goes to veteran Pedro de la Rosa. De la Rosa inked a deal with BMW Sauber.

De la Rosa spent his seven years as McLaren’s test and reserve driver. His last race was in 2006 when he stood in for Juan Pablo Montoya.

De la Rosa will be joining young Japanese sensation Kamui Kobayashi in the BMW Sauber stable.

BMW might have left the competition but Peter Sauber bought his team back and due to certain legalities, the team will be keeping its name.

De la Rosa’s involvement with a top flight team like McLaren should give BMW Sauber a bit of experience and wisdom. He could also play mentor to Kobayashi.

So the maestro’s back and Schumacher fans will just be delighted that he’s back on the field. At 41, Schumacher will be the oldest driver racing this coming season.

Critics have been saying that it’s a bad move for Schumacher to come out of retirement. History hasn’t really been kind to Michaels who have tried making comebacks after winning it all. (Michael Jordan comes to mind.)

Ross Brawn would not have any of that though as he’s convinced that Schumacher will become champion. Brawn was instrumental to Schumacher’s championships with Benetton and Ferrari. Whether the reforged partnership in Mercedes GP would bring Schumacher more gold will be one of the greatest stories this season.

Maybe Brawn needs to keep in mind that he’s betting on his number two driver in Schumacher. He wouldn’t want to demoralize his number one driver (Nico Rosberg), right?

When Schumacher retired, Fernando Alonso could’ve relished the fact that he was the best driver in Formula 1 but deep inside him, he probably knew that he wasn’t the best driver in the world. That even though the maestro opted out, Michael Schumacher will still be the best driver out there.

Alonso has two championships under his belt but Schumacher has seven and can probably hike it up to eight now that the maestro’s back driving for Ross Brawn with Mercedes GP next season.

Alonso knows he has unfinished busienss with Schumacher and says he’s looking forward to compete against Schumacher. Alonso will be driving for Ferrari starting next season.

“To beat a legend is very motivating. Now he’s back it’s very special,” Alonso said.

Source: BBC

So Jenson Button won the championship and upped and left Brawn GP in favor of the bigger McLaren paycheck.

The signing gave McLaren the two most recent world champions in Button and Lewis Hamilton. Many still think that Hamilton is the better talent and that last season was mostly due to the car not working as good as it should.

So what’s this bit about Hamilton owning up to be the Number 2 driver for McLaren?

“I’m not the world champion – I’m just the No2 driver, but I think it’s a level playing field,” said Hamilton. “We’re very much equal and heading into the year as a fresh start.”

While many love the idea of two Brits driving for McLaren, rumors have been abound on the brewing prima donna complexes of the two drivers. The two drivers have yet to meet.

Stop shitting us, Lewis. People of your caliber don’t like to play second fiddle. If that Top Gear lap tells us anything, you’re still quicker than Jenson.

Oh yeah. Lewis and that Pussycat Doll Nicole just recently broke up as well.

We might not have to wait until after Christmas after all to know whether or not Michael Schumacher will be making his grand comeback.

German media now reports that Michael Schumacher has agreed to a 3.5 million Euro deal to drive for Mercedes GP (formerly Brawn GP) next season.

The deal’s a standing verbal contract as of now but by the looks of it, Schumacher has just been one big tease. He’s been hankering to return since last year and Mercedes GP offers him to be part of a Ross Brawn team.

Brawn and Schumacher has had great years together in Benetton and Ferrari teams.

Schumacher and Ferrari has already ended their ties as far as Formula One is concerned leaving Schumacher to explore other F1 endeavors.

If the deal pushes through Schumacher will be Mercedes’ second driver next to Nico Rosberg.

So will his comeback be worthy of John Travolta and Robbie Williams? Let’s just hope so.

Source: Autocar

The FIA tried to impose the new points system last season but that met quite a lot of opposition from teams and drivers alike. Now, they have ample time to impose the new system and made full use of it.

The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council just approved a new system will undoubtedly favor top finishers compared to the existing points system.

In the new system, only the top ten finishers will be getting points but compare to the old format, the point discrepancies wouldn’t be spare change. Finishers will be awarded points on a 25-20-15-10-8-6-5-3-2-1 scale. Finishing outside the top five would feel like not finishing at all.

With a lot of cars competing next season (26 slots), fierce competition will be expected. We just hope this inspires drivers to revert from being pansies like they’ve been for the past decade or so. We want more epic battles!

Despite the scandal last season, the Renault F1 team will continue to compete in Formula One next season. The team’s 75% stake has been sold to a still unnamed buyer.

Prodrive has been hotly tipped to be the ones taking over the team but reports are still unclear whether or not the company has been chosen by the Renault board with whom to ink the deal.

Genii Captial was also in the running to takeover Renault but the recent team officials favored Prodrive over Genii despite Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn favoring Genii.

Robert Kubica has taken over Fernando Alonso’s lead driver’s seat with Renault and the team has yet to select a second driver. New owners now face a possible Kubica exit as his contract states that he can opt out if the team is sold.

Source: Autocar

There’s no stopping the exodus from Formula One. Renault held an emergency meeting to decide upon the fate of the F1 team and the board has decided to sell it.

At least there’s no shortage of buyers to take over the team as Prodrive and Genii Capital both made offers to take control over the team.

Genii Capital wants to take over the team financially but will have the team continue to be under Renault for two years. In addition, Genii will be funding Renault’s young driver’s program. Renault boss Carlos Ghosn favors this option.

The current F1 team officials, however, think that Prodrive’s offer is the better option especially with Prodrive boss David Richard’s experience in motorsport.

Any development on the matter will have a domino effect with the rest of the players. Robert Kubica has already been signed to drive for Renault next season but his contract states that he can opt out if the team is sold.

Source: Autocar

BMW has pulled out of the competition but the team is most likely to stay as Peter Sauber decides to rescue his own team and field an entery to next year’s championship.

Just a couple of weeks ago, BMW was reported to be sellings the F1 team to Qadbak Investments, a British Virgin Islands, investment group. However, the deal fell sqaure on its ass just a few days ago, prompting Sauber to step in.

The FIA ruled that Sauber will get an entry subject to signing the Concorde Agreement. It will be taking the place of Toyota which pulled out of the competition earlier this year.

Maybe Sauber wants to be the next Brawn.

Source: Autocar

There’s still no definitive word yet on whether or not seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher will be making a return to Formula One.

Schumacher teased a return to competitive racing last season to fill in for the injured Felipe Massa but had to withdraw due to his own injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident earlier in the year.

Again, Schumacher is teasing a return after ending his ties with Scuderia Ferrari and is reported to have had discussions with Mercedes GP (formerly Brawn GP).

Schumacher’s magaer WIlli Weber told German press that Schumacher is now “absolutely fit” – yet another return teaser from his camp.

Source: Autocar

Oh boy. Aren’t Mercedes GP and Michael Schumacher teases.

Mercedes motorsport chief Norbert Haug has not ruled out a possible Michael Schumacher return to top-flight motorsport competition for next season.

“When will you ever say categorically anything in F1?” he said. “I fully understand that these speculations are ongoing as long as we don’t announce who is driving the other car but that’s what we have to live with.”

Michael Schumacher has recently ended his participation as consultant with Ferrari’s F1 team leaving him free to consider joining other teams for his return.

Schumacher teased a return in the 2009 season to replace Felipe Massa but had to withdraw due to his own injuries from a motorcycling accident.

Nico Rosberg has been tapped by Mercedes GP to be their first driver leaving the other seat vacant for now.

While most Brits are rejoicing that McLaren will feature an all-Brit driver lineup with current world champion Jenson Button’s decision to race alongside previous world champion Lewis Hamilton, Sir Jackie Stewart (a three-time world champion on his own right) thinks it wasn’t a good move.

Sir Jackie’s reservations dwell on two major points – 1) He’s unsure how Button and Hamilton will work together as a team especially since Hamilton has been entrenched in the team for three years and has been McLaren’s lead; and 2) Button might have disregarded the relationship he’s formed with Brawn.

Wise words from the retired veteran. While both Button and Hamilton claim that they can have a good working relationship, you can’t be too sure whether or not they will actually be a cohesive unit out on the track.

Financially, the Brawn team (now Mercedes GP) isn’t capable of matching McLaren’s offer and as reigning world champion, Button can surely command his price.

How interesting things would be if McLaren continues to suck next season and Brawn/Mercedes GP’s new driver Nico Rosberg becomes world champion.

Source: Autocar

And one of the most awaited announcements on Formula One this week has finally come – world champion Jenson Button has signed up for McLaren to create a British “dream team” with Lewis Hamilton.

“I’ve followed the McLaren team ever since I was a small boy, and it feels unbelievable to finally be a part of it,” Button said.

This all-British team is surely to shore up McLaren’s publicity stock especially with the British public. This also marks the first time that a team is composed of the two most recent champions. The intriguing question now is whether the two drivers will be a cohesive unit next season.

Button finally had a breakout season in 2009 after spending years in the competition without even winning a single race until 2006.

We sure just hope that they don’t get screwed by a poorly performing car. They will be facing a tough test with Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa in Ferrari’s stable.

Former World Champion and outgoing Ferrari driver will be taking time off from Formula One after failing to secure a deal with McLaren. The Finn wanted McLaren or bust after his contract expired with Ferrari.

Raikkonen’s manager Steve Robinson made the announcement to the Finnish Media saying, “The choices in Formula One for the next season were McLaren or nothing.”

Raikkonen will instead driver on other levels of motorsport with rallying a most likely alternative signifying Kimi’s desire to compete. A return after next season has not been ruled out.

Fernando Alonso was chosen to replace Raikkonen to drive alongside Felipe Massa for Ferrari next season.

Makes you think whether it’s the Formula One driver’s prima donna complex at work.

Source: AFP

If you’re wondering what’s up with Mercedes-Benz trying to take control of Formula 1, here’s the skinny. Rival automaker BMW has pulled out of the competition in order to concentrate on building road cars but here’s Merc increasing its stake to the sport.

Merc just purchased 75% of Brawn GP and redubbed it Mercedes GP. According to Merc, this will allow them to start transitioning towards its own factory team. Merc owns 40% of McLaren but intends to sell it back to McLaren over the next two years.

Daimler considers having a “true” Mercedes-Benz team as the way to go.

Ross Brawn will continue to be team principal and Nico Rosberg has been tapped to be the lead pilot. Jenson Button is set to make an announcement which will be most likely be to jump to McLaren.

While Mercedes and McLaren seems to be going towards independence, the two groups just renewed its engine supply deal to extend until 2015.

And in a shocking twist of events – Toyota pulls out of Formula 1!

Toyota has been considering to quit Formula 1 for quite some time now due to several seasons of dismal finishes. The auto sales crash and the company’s questioned profitability aggravated this stance even more.

Now, Toyota’s top brass has pulled the plug on the project citing the team’s failure to secure a win ever since it joined the championship in 2002.

Toyota had a great start in this recently-concluded season but ended it in a dismal one especially with the injury of Jarno Trulli.

Company president Akio Toyoda even apologized to fans about the decision. Toyota’s withdrawal means that there will be no Japanese team left in the championship. Honda exited last season.

Looks like someone has to pick up wonderboy Kamui Kobayashi for him to have a future in the sport.