Sebastian Vettel Extends Red Bull Contract Until 2015

It has been confirmed that Sebastian Vettel has extended his multi-year contract with Red Bull until 2015, following recurring rumors regarding the three-time Champion’s future in Formula 1. This announcement comes after the German’s dominant display of race-craft last time out at the Canadian Grand Prix, where he won by +14.408 seconds.

Since his switch to Red Bull back in 2009, Sebastian Vettel has been a dominant figure in the world of Formula 1. The German sensation has stormed to a sensational 28 victories for the team, including three Championship titles, 50 podium finishes and 38 pole positions. The 25-year-old has been a figurehead for Red Bull’s young driver programme, with the German progressing to Formula 1 after competing in junior categories such as the Formula 3 EuroSeries and World Series by Renault.

Despite his extremely competitive career with Red Bull, rumors were floating around the Formula 1 paddock that the German could well be on the move to Ferrari in the future. Although this announcement dampens such rumors, it is still perfectly feasible that he could make the switch for the 2016 season. Such speculations aside, it seems Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull’s dominance will continue for the foreseeable future as the German unquestionably begins to set his sights upon Michael Schumacher’s record.

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Three-Year Extension Confirmed For IndyCar At Barber

It has been announced that the IZOD IndyCar Series will continue to visit the wonderful Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama for the next three years, after a contract extension was reached between IndyCar CEO Jeff Belskus and ZOOM President and CEO Gene Hallman. The agreement was confirmed just several hours before the green flag last weekend.

Once again fans from all over the world attended the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama last weekend, including fans from all 50 states in the United States. These flocking petrol-heads contribute to an annual economic impact of $28 million, and have seen the event voted as the “Best Annual Event” and the “Best Sporting Event” by Birmingham Magazine in recent years. Despite being a relatively new addition to the IZOD IndyCar Series calendar, the Barber Motorsports Park has quickly become a fan favorite with the 2.38-mile circuit winding its way through picturesque green landscapes with the fans viewing the action from naturally wooded and grass-covered banks.

“We are pleased to have agreed to terms to continue the tradition of our fast and versatile racing at Barber Motorsports Park,” explained IndyCar CEO, Jeff Belskus. “Not only is Barber a terrific facility to showcase our close and exciting on-track product, it also gives IndyCar a strong presence in key southeastern markets to further help us grow our sport.”

Last weekend at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, reigning Series Champion Ryan Hunter-Reay ended Team Penske’s dominance at the Barber Motorsports Park with a superlative victory after a tough race which saw the Andretti Autosport driver battle alongside the likes of Helio Castroneves and Scott Dixon. Prior to this year’s event, Team Penske had won each of the three races with Helio Castroneves and Will Power.

Team Penske will be striving to retain their dominance of the Alabama circuit throughout the next three races at the venue, as the IZOD IndyCar Series continues to return to the Barber Motorsports Park. Throughout recent years, the once oval-only Series has gradually added more street circuits and road courses, whilst loosing ovals such as Michigan, Homestead-Miami and Chicagoland.

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Felipe Massa: “I’m Extremely Happy With This Agreement”

Felipe Massa is delighted with the new one-year contract extension which has recently been announced by the Scuderia, an agreement which will see the Brazilian driver remain with the Scuderia for one more season until the end of 2013. This has therefore ended ongoing speculation over his immediate future within the sport.

After months of speculation over his future with Ferrari, which as seen Felipe Massa yield slightly uncompetitive results in comparison to team-mate Fernando Alonso, the Scuderia have seen fit to extend the Brazilian’s contract at Maranello for a further year despite strong rumors that both Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta were potential candidates to replace him.

“I’m extremely happy with this agreement,” enthused Felipe Massa, after confirmation of his contract extension with the Scuderia. “Ferrari is my sporting family and I’ve always raced in Formula 1 with engines built in Maranello: I can’t see myself at the wheel of a single-seater powered by other engines. I want to first of all thank president [Luca di] Montezemolo and Stefano Domenicali, who have put their faith in me and have always supported me, even at the most difficult times. Both of them, the team and every fan can be certain that I will do everything within my possibilities to help the Scuderia in reaching the goals it sets for itself every year.”

At the Japanese Grand Prix several weeks ago, Felipe Massa finally returned to the podium after a competitive 2nd place behind eventual race winner Sebastian Vettel. With Fernando Alonso retiring on the opening lap, this saw Massa bring home valuable points for the Maranello-based outfit as they strive to catch reigning Constructors’ Champions Red Bull. Last weekend in Korea, Massa continued his competitiveness with 4th, albeit after being issued team orders in the latter stages of the race ordering him to back-off and not overtake team-mate Fernando Alonso for 3rd.

Despite an uncompetitive start to the season for Felipe Massa, which saw him start 16th at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Ferrari’s team principal Stefano Domenicali has expressed great satisfaction in signing Felipe Massa for another year alongside unarguably one of the most complete drivers in the sport, Fernando Alonso.

“We are happy to have lengthened the relationship with Felipe for one further year,” explained Stefano Domenicali, who hinted that Massa would stay with the team after the Korean Grand Prix. “He has been part of our family for more than 10 years and he has demonstrated, especially in this last part of the season, to be again competitive at the maximum levels, as is expected of every driver at the wheel of a Ferrari. We have always supported Felipe, even during the most difficult moments of his career, and we are certain of his worth and that he will be able to repay the faith that has again been put on him.”

This announcement has fueled further speculation that Ferrari could well be lining up Sebastian Vettel to replace Felipe Massa for the 2014 season, despite strong denial from both the Scuderia and Red Bull. This would once again see a race-winning German driving for Ferrari, but could the reigning World Champion remain a dominant factor in the sport alongside Fernando Alonso?

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Ferrari Officially Confirm Felipe Massa For 2013

Ferrari have officially confirm Felipe Massa alongside Fernando Alonso for the 2013 season, ending months of continued speculation over the 31-year-old Brazilian’s future with Ferrari. After enduring months of lackluster results with the Scuderia, drivers such as Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta had been speculated as possible replacements.

After his season-long battle with Lewis Hamilton during the 2008 season, which saw Massa take six race victories, the Brazilian driver has since failed to return to the top step of the podium. Since then, Massa has endured copious amounts of bad luck including a near-fatal incident during qualifying for the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, as well as team orders issued against him on numerous occasions.

However, after a highly uncompetitive start to the year, Felipe Massa has improved greatly over recent races finishing consistently in the points on a regular basis. At the Japanese Grand Prix several weeks ago, Massa was finally able to return to the podium for the first time since the 2010 Korean Grand Prix with a competitive 2nd behind eventual race winner Sebastian Vettel and ahead of local hero Kamui Kobayashi.

Over recent months, Felipe Massa’s future with Ferrari has been highly questioned by many within the Formula 1 paddock, with many drivers hinted at being possible replacements. This has seen the likes of Adrian Sutil, Robert Kubica, Nico Hulkenberg, Paul di Resta, Sergio Perez and even Jenson Button linked to Ferrari over the course of the 2012 season. However, as Felipe Massa’s season has gradually improved, it has become clear that the Brazilian driver could well remain with the Scuderia for next season.

After Sergio Perez was signed by McLaren in place of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Hulkenberg became strongly linked to Sauber, remaining at Ferrari quickly became Felipe Massa and Ferrari’s the only feasible option. This decision has therefore ended the “silly season” at the sharp end of the grid, with the drive line-ups at Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes all officially confirmed ahead of the final four races of the current season.

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Belgian Grand Prix Extended Until 2015

One of the most spectacular races on the calendar, the Belgian Grand Prix, has been confirmed until 2015. This comes after the race was initially expected to alternate with the returning French Grand Prix, however with the French race looking increasingly unlikely to return, the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit will continue to host the Belgian Grand Prix for at least three more years after 2012.

The Minister of Economy for Wallonia, Jean-Claude Marcourt, confirmed the extension for the 2013, 2014 and 2015 seasons, after the Belgian Grand Prix looked increasingly in danger of being dropped off the calendar in future years. The Belgian Grand Prix almost always produces exciting and unpredictable races, and with the weather system at Spa like none other experienced throughout the season, rain is always a threat throughout the race weekend.

“We were able to negotiate a contract extension for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015 where there will be a race at Spa-Francorchamps,” Explained Marcourt to Belgian broadcaster RTBF. “What we really want is for the Grand Prix to play a part in the economic development of the region. We want to increase the exposure of Wallonia. What I wanted to do was reduce the size of the expenditure in the budget of the Walloon region, and when comparing what was taken in the previous contract and the new, I would say it is a mission accomplished. There was no way we could continue to lose as much money as we lost in previous years. This circuit is an expense but it is not as much. What we will do is increase the attractiveness of Belgium.”

With the return of the French Grand Prix initially planned for next season around the Paul Ricard circuit, plans to alternate the Belgian Grand Prix with France were announced. However, once the French elections took place, the plans for a return of the French Grand Prix died down. Once the deal with France was abandoned, Marcourt explained how negotiations were extensive yet straightforward.

“The negotiations were not difficult,” Continued Marcourt. “We had one for a while when France wanted an alternation. They said they were open because it was an opportunity. The negotiations were long. Ecclestone is someone who is extremely difficult to deal with, but was very respectful of the commitments made to us.”

With new races planned in America and Russia in the next few years, it’s a breath of fresh air that a historic and legendary circuit such as Spa-Francorchamps will remain on the calendar for a few more years to come. Dull races are a rarity around the 7.004km (4.352 mile) circuit, and races such as the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix live long in the memory.

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Mercedes Set To Offer Schumacher Contract Extension

After unveiling their 2012 challenger at the Circuit de Catalunya yesterday, Mercedes seem eager to offer 7-time World Champion, Michael Schumacher, a contract extension that would see the German remain at the team until 2014.

After returning to the sport in 2010, Schumacher has been highly uncompetitive in comparison to his former self when he dominated the sport with Ferrari. However, Schumacher still believes he has what it takes to win an eighth World Championship, and is confident Mercedes can build a competitive enough car in the future.

The 43-year-old is without a doubt the most successful driver ever to race in Formula 1, utterly dominating the sport between 2000-2004 with Ferrari. However, upon returning to the sport, he has yet to win a race yet alone finish on the podium. With this in mind, many believe Mercedes should look elsewhere once his contract with the team ends, however Mercedes seem to have other ideas.

“Before we talk to any other candidate, our first contact will definitely be Michael,” said team principal, Ross Brawn, who has worked alongside Schumacher during all seven of his World Championship titles as both Benetton’s and Ferrari’s technical director. This alone fuels speculation that the Brawn/Schumacher partnership is set to continue beyond 2012.

With testing currently underway at the Circuit de Catalunya, Michael Schumacher seems pleased the progress of the Mercedes AMG F1 W03, and has commented: “I’ll decide when the time is right,” regarding his future in Formula 1.

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HRT To Extend Williams Partnership Into 2012

 

It was announced today that the HRT Formula 1 team have extended their deal with Williams which permits use of their gearbox and also a new addition of KERs for 2012. 

HRT are currently lying last in the Constructors’ Standings whereas Williams are only 5 points ahead of them and are currently struggling in their worst season in their history in F1. 

The extension of this deal will now permit HRT to use the KERs device, something which they haven’t had on their cars this season and which could well boost them into the right direction of gaining their first ever points in F1. 

Since their first race in last years Bahrain Grand Prix, HRT have struggled to make an impact on the F1 world and have since used 7 different drivers with a mix of rookies such as Bruno Senna, Karun Chandhok and Daniel Ricciardo and experienced drivers such as Christian Klien, Tonio Liuzzi and Narain Karthikeyan. Even using many different drivers in such a short time, their highest finish in a race has yet to better 14th, and that was in the 2010 Australian and Korean Grands Prix. 

HRT Team Principal, Colin Kolles, will be hoping that these new additions to next years car will have a positive effect on the team and push them towards higher finishes next season.