Diffuser saga isn't end yet due Ferrari claims

The FIA on Monday backed Adam Parr's claim that Ferrari said it fielded technically illegal cars in Formula One.

A spat broke out in Shanghai between the Italian team and Parr, who is the Williams team's chief executive.

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali, backed by Renault's Flavio Briatore, hit out at Parr after comments attributed to him suggested Ferrari had used illegal cars in the past.

But on Monday, the FIA said Ferrari did indeed admit to committing "a technical violation" of the technical regulations in the past during the Court of Appeal hearing last Tuesday.

"Ferrari acknowledged that multiple vertical transitions had been used by many teams in the past, including Ferrari itself, and argued that all such prior uses (including its own) had constituted a technical violation of the (technical regulations) which had been tolerated," the Court of Appeal finding said.

The FIA published the court's 20-page findings in full on Monday.

In the document, the court - which found in favour of the diffuser teams Brawn, Toyota and Williams - acknowledged the loophole that led to the saga.

Amazingly, the diffuser teams and their rivals had argued at length about whether holes in the controversial designs were actually holes.

"The (diffuser teams) and the FIA submit that, while there may be spaces between different surfaces, the surfaces themselves do not have holes in them.

They contend that the spaces between different surfaces are not holes within the very specific meaning of" article 3.12.5.

The FIA also denied Red Bull's claim that the governing body turned down its clarification in January 2007 about designing a similar concept.

Monday's document reads: "The questions put to (the FIA) in previous cases were different and answered correctly and in a manner consistent with its present position."

The contesting teams had also argued that if the design of 'double-decker' diffusers were considered legal, the seven remaining teams would have no choice but to spend great amounts of money redesigning their own diffusers, creating a situation contrary to the current efforts to reduce costs in F1.

The FIA separated the concepts by stating that "the possibility of teams not presently using the Contested Design Concept incurring future development costs is not a factor relevant to the legal assessment of whether the Contested Decisions comply with the (technical regulations) or not."

BMW Sauber will not write off the 2009 season

Unlike Ferrari, BMW is not close to assessing whether or not to write off the 2009 season, team boss Mario Theissen insists.

It was reported on Monday that, after another point-less weekend in Shanghai, Ferrari will sit down after the forthcoming Spanish Grand Prix to consider turning all efforts to regrouping in 2010.

BMW Sauber at least has a few points on the board, but is far from its pre-season ambition of being in a position to fight for the championship.

"We are not content with our start to the season, but we will not give up our goals after the third of 17 races," Theissen is quoted as saying by Germany's SID news agency.

"We must understand the car's shortcomings," the German continued, "and make big steps forward from now. The arrears is able to be recovered."

Theissen, however, acknowledged that because the 'double diffuser' solution is more complicated than it appears, a fully-developed version may not be part of the major Barcelona upgrade.

Celebrating the past and the present - McQueen and Hamilton on duel

A new TAG Heuer Film pits the iconic Ambassadors against each other in an exciting virtual race at Le Mans, and invites the public to guess the winner.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the mythic Monaco watch, TAG Heuer has created Steve McQueen and Lewis Hamilton: The Duel, a cinematic showdown between Steve McQueen, the man who wore the iconic chronograph first, and Lewis Hamilton, the man who wears it now.

The film uses advanced special effects to pit the two TAG Heuer Ambassadors against each other in a virtual race on the storied track of Le Mans, where the Monaco first caught the world's attention.

The Legend and the Virtuoso on the same track... 40 years apart!
McQueen drives a Porsche Gulf 917, as he did in his 1970 race film classic, Le Mans. On his wrist – the same Monaco he wore in the film, the blue-dialled, square-shaped icon that changed the face of Swiss watchmaking. Hamilton drives the single-seat McLaren in which he won the F1 World Drivers' Championship in 2008. On his wrist – the Monaco LS Chronograph Calibre 12, the Monaco's radically redesigned and seriously supercharged descendent.

Cutting-edge editing techniques
With the help of chroma key techniques, Hamilton and his racecar were integrated into the original footage of Le Mans. Max Casanova, the film Director hired by Digital District, the Paris-based post-production house who created the film, explained the technique:

"We chose shots from Le Mans where we could swap in Lewis Hamilton in place of characters in the film who talk with Steve McQueen," he said. "We shot Lewis Hamilton from the same angles and with the same lighting, but in front of a green screen, so we could then integrate him into the original images. The same technique was used to key his F1 car into the driving scenes."

The result is staggeringly realistic. The two men joust verbally before the race, then match each other curve for curve on the track.

But who wins?

"That's the big, unanswered question," said TAG Heuer President and CEO Jean-Christophe Babin after the first half of the film was screened at the BaselWorld fair on March 26.

"Who wins? The legend or the virtuoso? The Porsche 917 or the McLaren? The marathon runner or the sprinter? The past or the present?"

The victor won't be revealed until later.

In the meantime, you can cast your vote for who wins at tagheuer.com. Each lucky winner drawn will receive a Monaco Gulf Limited Edition.

Lewis Hamilton: movie star?
It is the second time that Lewis Hamilton has shared the screen with an iconic TAG Heuer Ambassador: he appeared alongside the brand's long-time ambassador Tiger Woods in Knights of Modern Time in 2008.

"This time, though, it was so bizarre because, of course, Steve wasn't there! But his spirit was incredibly present," said Hamilton. "And I could definitely feel the atmosphere of the film, Le Mans. The best part for me was the challenge of rising to the occasion and completely throwing myself into this imaginary duel."

"I am no Leonardo DiCaprio (a TAG Heuer Ambassador since January, 2009), and believe me, acting is not my strong point, but I hope people will enjoy watching this movie. And who knows, my virtual encounter with Steve might change the way Hollywood sees me!"

Vettel cut his finger on Shanghai podium ceremony

It was a bittersweet podium ceremony in Shanghai not only for Red Bull, but also the team's Grand Prix winner Sebastian Vettel.

We have already reported that whoever was in charge of the post-race ceremony at the Shanghai International Circuit played the wrong national anthem to mark the Austrian energy drink-owned constructor's win.

Instead of the Austrian song 'Land der Berge, Land am Strome' being played to honour owner Dietrich Mateschitz, the loudspeakers instead proclaimed 'God Save The Queen', presumably because while Red Bull races with an Austrian licence, the team is based in Milton-Keynes, UK.

Bild newspaper, meanwhile, reports that 21-year-old German Vettel sustained a slight injury on the podium as he handled his winner's trophy.

Video and photos show the Red Bull driver sucking the side of his thumb. Vettel revealed to the German publication: "When I was raising the cup, I cut myself, no big deal."

"I put on a sticking plaster and still went to the party," he joked.

Toyota cutting F1 costs

Toyota will shed up to 150 Formula One staff at its Cologne headquarters by the end of 2009, team President John Howett has revealed.

The local newspaper Express said the cuts are a reaction to the diminished F1 budget, brought on by rule changes including the test ban and restrictions on wind tunnel use.

"I estimate that by the end of the year we will have around 100 to 150 fewer workers compared to the beginning of the year," Howett is quoted as saying.

McLaren boss denied of Hamilton departure

Martin Whitmarsh has denied that a team rift could lead to Lewis Hamilton's premature departure from McLaren Mercedes.

It was reported last weekend that the reigning world champion is now enduring a trying relationship with many of his mechanics.

Reports said the mechanics lost faith in Hamilton after the 'lie-gate' saga cost long-serving Dave Ryan his job, while at the same time the British driver made veiled threats about leaving the team.

Hamilton then fuelled the speculation further by twice refusing to simply answer 'yes' when asked by reporters in Shanghai if he will honour his full five-year commitment to McLaren.

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh told the Mirror: "Lewis has come to me at the last two Grand Prix and told me he loves the team and this is where he wants to be. He's asked me what he can do to help."

"This talk of him being disliked by his mechanics over what happened to Davey is just rubbish."

"The reality is that there is an agenda here: some people are out to get us," Whitmarsh continued.

Whitmarsh believes Hamilton's mixed popularity is a failure to understand the two distinct sides of his personality.

"Champions have to be hard as nails, but Lewis is different because he also has this humanity and that gets misunderstood sometimes," he said.

Drivers backed decision to start the Chinese GP behind Safety car

Drivers backed the controversial decision to start Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix behind the safety car.

For most spectators, the start of a race is arguably the most exciting element of a Grand Prix weekend.

In the Shanghai rain, however, not only was the start called off, the race then fell into an eight-lap monotony of slow driving behind the safety car.

But podium sitter Mark Webber said FIA race director Charlie Whiting's decision was spot on.

"I think we've seen the safety car work quite well on releasing the field in a much more controlled fashion," the GPDA Director said.

The Red Bull driver recalled Spa 1998, when an aquaplaning car triggered the biggest start-line crash in F1's history.

"Now we have different methods to maybe make the race a bit safer to start," said Webber.

He also urged circuit officials to improve water drainage ahead of the next race in China.

"I must say, an incredibly challenging Grand Prix for the drivers and one that was right on the limit for safety," said the 32-year-old.

The only rookie in the field, Toro Rosso's Sebastien Buemi, backed Webber's stance, while Sebastien Bourdais told the media he does not believe the race should have gone ahead at all.

"To try to start the race normally in those kinds of conditions could have led to a disaster," Buemi told the Swiss newspaper Blick.

Piquet will be upgraded to new diffuser in Bahrain

Nelson Piquet's Renault will be upgraded to feature a 'double diffuser' in time for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Mechanics of the French-owned team worked frantically on Fernando Alonso's R29 in Shanghai, after a single set of new components was sped from the UK factory to China aboard Flavio Briatore's own jet.

It was suggested in the Shanghai paddock that, to accommodate the large diffuser, the seats of Briatore's Lear jet had to be removed.

So rushed was the development, meanwhile, that when it was fitted to Alonso's car for Saturday practice, it caught fire after mere laps.

"I feel bad for Piquet, that he could not have it too," the team boss is quoted as saying in the Spanish press.

Briatore said it is certain that the Brazilian driver's Renault will be upgraded in time for the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend.

The Spanish newspaper Diario AS, however, said the underperforming Piquet's days at Renault could be numbered. Takuma Sato, Alex Wurz, Lucas di Grassi and Romain Grosjean were named as potential successors.

Ferrari will revive KERS in Bahrain

Ferrari will try to reinstate a Kinetic Energy Recovery System into its package for this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix.

Due to reliability and safety concerns, the Italian team pulled the technology from its F60 in China.

The heavier Kimi Raikkonen didn't seem to mind not having the power boost, but diminutive Felipe Massa admitted in Shanghai that it is "definitely a handicap in my case."

"This is another area where we must work, to go back to using it as soon as possible," said the Brazilian.

Substantial improvements for the car will have to wait until Barcelona next month, but team boss Stefano Domenicali said Ferrari will attempt to bring back KERS immediately.

"The car will be the same as here," he said before leaving China, "even though we will look at running the KERS again."

Down from seven in Australia and Malaysia, only three cars were using KERS in the Chinese Grand Prix.

Renault has for now withdrawn the technology, with staunch opponent Flavio Briatore quoted in the Spanish media as saying the energy re-use systems would best be used as "anchors in the sea."

"We are going to analyse the data, the numbers. BMW were most in favour of them and it seems they have discarded it now," the Italian said. "I believe it has been a dramatic exercise in throwing away money."

Brawn GP is not yet using McLaren Mercedes' customer unit, but boss Ross Brawn believes KERS will be "a crucial aspect in the second half of the season."

Senna hope to enter F1 sooner this season

Bruno Senna has confirmed suggestions that his goal is to enter Formula One perhaps as soon as this season.

The 25-year-old Brazilian last week turned down Mercedes-Benz's offer of a 2009 seat in the German touring car series DTM.

German news agency SID reports that the reason for the snub is that Norbert Haug could not guarantee the 2008 GP2 runner-up a Formula One seat for 2010.

It is claimed that Senna is now holding out for a drive this year, as names including Giancarlo Fisichella, Kazuki Nakajima, Sebastien Bourdais and Nelson Piquet come under increasing pressure to perform.

"Formula one is the goal, which is subordinate to everything else this year," said Senna, whose uncle Ayrton died during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

SID reports that his biggest hope of a vacant cockpit this year is for the one currently occupied by his countryman Rubens Barrichello.

"Bernie (Ecclestone) told me that I should not too tightly commit myself (outside of F1)," Senna admitted.

FOTA to discuss Brawn's 30m on May 6

The Formula One Teams' Association meeting that could cost the Brawn team up to 30 million Euros has been scheduled for May 6th, the week of the Spanish Grand Prix.

Furious about the diffuser saga, Flavio Briatore - FOTA's commercial chief - will propose at the meeting that Brawn GP not receive any of the sport's TV or travel revenue for at least three years.

"I don't want to be Robin Hood," the Spanish press quotes the Renault boss as saying, "but I do not have money in my budget for a diffuser and I cannot finish the season a second behind Brawn.”

"I believe the distribution of the money must be reviewed," Briatore said.

Briatore also said in Shanghai last weekend that he will move to oust Ross Brawn as head of FOTA's technical committee.

The German news agency SID reports that 70 percent of the teams would have to agree that money due to the Honda team in 2009 be paid to the new Brawn guise.

Ross Brawn was reluctant to comment.

"I'm not going to respond. It's a shame that he brings those things into the public arena as they're FOTA business, but that's his style. I'd rather not talk about it," he said.

Ferrari F60 delvelopment may decided to abandon

Ferrari will decide after next month's Spanish Grand Prix whether to abandon development of the current F60 challenger.

In Malaysia, the word was that the Maranello team had endured its worst start to a season since 1992. Another pointless race in China means the rot has not been this bad so early in a campaign for 28 years.

A major raft of car improvements is due when the European season begins in Barcelona, but if the championship is still in a downward spiral, Ferrari could turn its focus to 2010, team boss Stefano Domenicali admits.

"I think for sure we will see after Spain where we are," the Italian said in Shanghai.

"In that period we will see really what can be the situation, so when we come back to Europe basically," said Domenicali.

Observers are wondering if, in the post Ross Brawn, Jean Todt and Michael Schumacher era, elements of Ferrari's overly reactive and shambolic past are creeping back in. But Domenicali insists he is thinking dispassionately about what road to take.

"I think we have to wait. We need to stay cool. It is not easy, I know, but we need to stay cool because there are too many things that can change very quickly," he said.