Month: November 2019

Force India and Sauber’s complaint to the European Union [EU] “has gone to the next level”, according to Bob Fernley.

The two teams lodged a complaint with the EU last year over what it believes to be a breach of competition regulations due to the unequal distribution of funds in F1. With a year having passed since the issue was raised, Force India deputy team principal Fernley says the EU has taken an interest and wants more information.

“Yes, we have put the complaint, that’s common knowledge, I think about a year ago, it has gone through due process and I can confirm it has gone to the next level in terms of a request for further information from the EU,” Fernley said. “Who those have been sent to, I don’t know.

“From our point of view, because we’re in legal process with them, we can’t say anything about what we’re doing – but I can confirm it is at that stage from an EU point of view.”

Fernley was also asked if the teams are seeking legal advice from in the United States, and would not rule out doing so in order to bring about change in the distribution of funds.

“With regard to your question on the US legal matters, I think, you know, it’s not appropriate for us to discuss something where we’re getting legal advice. It’s probably a bit speculative – but for sure everything is still on the table from our side.

“We are very, very committed to challenging what we believe is a very anti-competitive system with these bi-lateral agreements. Whatever it takes to deliver that, we will certainly look at.”

The three other team representatives in the FIA press conference alongside Fernley – McLaren’s Eric Boullier, Toro Rosso’s Franz Tost and Manor’s Dave Ryan – all denied having been contacted by the EU for more information.

GALLERY: Magnussen’s fire at the Malaysian Grand Prix

FP2 REPORT: Hamilton hits back to lead Rosberg in FP2

Silbermann says … Bugged by Liberty

Romain Grosjean exclusive column: Haas can build momentum for 2017

Chris Medland’s 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix preview

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Lewis Hamilton took pole position for the Mexican Grand Prix as Nico Rosberg delivered on his final lap to secure a front row start.

Having had the advantage over his team-mate all weekend, Hamilton’s first lap of 1:18.704 was good enough for pole position, with his second attempt in Q3 leaving him 0.006s shy. Rosberg had been on the back foot throughout the session and started his final run in fourth place, but a good lap promoted him to second, albeit a quarter of a second off his team-mate.

• AS IT HAPPENED: Mexican Grand Prix – Qualifying

Rosberg’s record of qualifying on the front row at every race since Suzuka 2015 was under threat from the Red Bulls, with Max Verstappen having the edge over team-mate Daniel Ricciardo. Ultimately, Verstappen was unable to match his Q2 lap – which was a 1:18.972 – as he qualified third on a 1:19.054, 0.079s ahead of Ricciardo.

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Nico Hulkenberg impressed with fifth place on the grid for Force India, pipping the Ferrari pair of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel. All three drivers were covered by 0.051s, with Vettel struggling to improve on his Q2 time having appeared to be a threat for pole.

Valtteri Bottas, Felipe Massa and Carlos Sainz round out the top ten, as 0.8s covered the first eight cars.

Tyre strategy was crucial in the second part of qualifying, with the top ten all starting on the tyres they set their best time on. For Mercedes that meant using the soft compound, with Rosberg needing an extra run to be sure of his progress in fifth place. Verstappen was quickest as Red Bull used supersofts – as did Raikkonen – but Hamilton and Vettel also used softs.

The home fans were left unhappy after Sergio Perez was eliminated in Q2 after a poor final lap, with a mistake at Turn 1 proving costly in a close session. Perez dropped out in 12th behind Fernando Alonso, as team-mate Hulkenberg impressed in sixth place. Jenson Button made it two McLarens out in Q2, but starting from 11th and 13th opens up strategic options for the team.

Kevin Magnussen, Marcus Ericsson and Pascal Wehrlein were the other three drivers knocked out in Q2, with all three having used the best of their tyres to progress from the first part of qualifying.

Jolyon Palmer didn’t take part in qualifying after Renault found a crack in his chassis after FP3, meaning only five further drivers would be eliminated in Q1. Much higher track temperatures meant it was a new challenge for teams, but the order was largely unchanged from final practice. Daniil Kvyat was eliminated early after he needed to return to the pits, with Ericsson jumping up the order to knock him out.

Esteban Gutierrez looked set to progress as a result of a spin right at the end of the session, with the Mexican losing control of his Haas at Turn 9. The resulting yellow flags made it difficult for those behind him to improve, meaning team-mate Romain Grosjean dropped out as the slowest runner behind Esteban Ocon’s Manor and Felipe Nasr in the Sauber. However, Gutierrez was then eliminated by an impressive final lap from Wehrlein as the Manor progressed in 16th place.

15 minutes with … Nico Rosberg

Silbermann says … Masked in Mexico

Chris Medland’s 2016 Mexican Grand Prix preview

2017 driver line-ups so far

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FP1 at the Malaysian Grand Prix was halted as a result of a fire for Kevin Magnussen’s Renault in the pit lane.

Magnussen was returning to the pits after his installation laps when he was told to jump out of his car quickly in front of the garage, with flames starting to emerge from the airbox above his head. The car caught fire but Renault mechanics were quickly on the scene to try and bring it under control.

• LIVE: Malaysian Grand Prix – FP1

The cause of the problem appeared to be a fuel leak, with liquid flowing out of the top of the car and down the sides of the engine cover, again catching light a number of times as Renault attempted to put the fire out. With extinguisher all over the pit lane, the session was red flagged after 11 minutes of running, with Renault then taking its time to work on the car.

During that time, Renault connected its fuel lines to try and drain the car, and was able to remove the engine cover to address the problem before finally wheeling the car back into the garage.

After a further 15-minute delay, the session was restarted.

Romain Grosjean exclusive column: Haas can build momentum for 2017

Chris Medland’s 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix preview

TECHNICAL: F1 telemetry: The data race

FEATURE: When F1 team-mates fight for the title

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Nico Hulkenberg admits Formula One drivers can get hot under the collar whilst racing but the Force India ace says Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel “is very special in that regard”.

Growing frustration led the Ferrari star to a radio meltdown of epic proportions at last weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix, with Vettel going as far as telling FIA race director Charlie Whiting to “f**k off!”.

“It’s always the world against Seb,” Hulkenberg replied when asked on his compatriot’s infamous rant. “I’m sure Charlie is not that happy, not impressed. Of course, sometimes you go ‘what a wanker’ or ‘what an idiot’ but usually they cut it out.

“But it does happen in the heat of the race, don’t take this wrong but in the media centre or at home on the couch, everything is on the limit with the finest margins and you try hard. So if something doesn’t go right you just feel ‘Aghhh’. Seb is very special in that regard.”

Formula One’s governing body considered calling the German in front of the International Tribunal for his foul language but eventually decided against punishing Vettel in the light of his immediate apologies and the letters he sent to both Whiting and FIA president Jean Todt.

FEATURE: Foul Play or Foul Language

Scene at the 2016 Mexican Grand Prix

Mexican Grand Prix – Quotes of the week

DRIVER RATINGS: Mexican Grand Prix

15 minutes with … Nico Rosberg

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Jenson Button says McLaren is targeting being the fourth quickest team at this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix after a poor race in Mexico.

McLaren was off the pace at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, with both cars finishing outside the top ten having dropped out in Q2. However, Button expects Interlagos to suit the MP4-31 and Honda power unit more, allowing him to target being best of the rest behind Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull.

“The last race wasn’t that great for us, but this race, I think we go into every race thinking that we should be fighting for being the fourth best team,” Button said. “I think that should be possible here. It should be a good little fight between us, Force India, Toro Rosso and Williams.

“It is a circuit that suits us pretty well and that is in the dry. If it is wet, who knows and there is a good chance we are going to have some rain showers. Hopefully that will mix it up and we will have Austria all over again.”

And Button says wet weather will also make for a more dramatic title battle, with Nico Rosberg able to win the championship with victory in Brazil.

“If you win a World Championship you are a worthy champion. I think this weekend is going to be an interesting one. If it is dry I think it is very easy for him to clinch the title here, but if it is wet I think it really does mix things up.

“It puts a lot of pressure on both of them if it is wet because Lewis knows he is very strong in the wet and he can get a big points’ haul here and Nico knows he has got more to lose if it is wet. It is tricky in the wet and everything is to play for and one tiny mistake can end in disaster.

“In the dry if you lock up a wheel you run wide and you come back on. In the wet it is completely different. I hope it is wet. It is good for Formula 1 if there is a good fight in the wet. I am sure Nico wants it to be dry, but everybody else that watches Formula 1 and is in Formula 1 wants it to be wet.

“I still think Red Bull is very strong and they will be good in the wet conditions. It will definitely mix it up a little bit and who knows who else will be quick. Force India at times in the wet are very competitive, for example. I think for us all watching and being part of it, it will be great if it does rain this weekend. It mixes it up.”

Romain Grosjean column: Time for Haas to raise its game

Chris Medland’s 2016 Brazilian Grand Prix

FEATURE: What Rosberg need to do to win the title in Brazil

INTERVIEW: Fernando Alonso: Why F1 is no longer just for heroes

TECHNICAL: Under the skin of the Ferrari SF16-H

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The United States was the only country in the world that voted Wednesday against the United Nations investigating human rights violations in Gaza unleashed by Israel’s military assault.

Of the 47 members of the UN Human Rights Council, 29 nations voted to set up a commission to launch an international, independent inquiry, effectively passing the resolution. Seventeen countries abstained, including Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.

The inquiry will look at “all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Gaza Strip in the context of military operations conducted since mid June,” according to a statement from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The council criticized Israeli military operations for perpetuating “widespread, systematic and gross violations of international human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

U.S. ambassador to the Council, Keith Harper, said he issued the “no” vote because the resolution is a “biased and political instrument” that “will not help” the “cessation of hostilities.”

But Josh Ruebner, policy director for the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, told Common Dreams that the U.S. vote simply “shows the great extent to which the U.S. goes to protect Israel in international forums from any accountability for its actions, no matter how egregious.” Ruebner added that U.S. claims of imbalance are illegitimate, as the inquiry will investigate human rights violations perpetrated by Hamas as well as Israel.

Phyllis Bennis, senior fellow at Institute for Policy Studies, told Common Dreams that the U.S. “no” vote is part of a larger pattern. “The U.S. is the reason why the United Nations is not able to play the role its charter requires, which is to stop the scourge of war,” said Bennis. “The U.S. vetoes and threatens to veto in the Security Council, and in arenas like the General Assembly or Human Rights Council where there is no veto, they threaten other countries.”