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Formula 1 McLaren Red Bull Racing

2010 Abu Dhabi GP – Post-race press conference

2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Unfortunately for Mark Webber fans, and Ferrari fans too, the decision to pit early for fresh tyres at last night’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has not become any wiser. Seventh for Alonso, and eighth for Webber, left those two in places that are darker than they could have imagined before the race began. However, it’s nothing but sunshine for Sebastian Vettel.

At 23 years, 4 months, 12 days, Vettel’s victory on the Yas Marina circuit saw him become the sport’s youngest ever World Champion. On balance the young German has been the quickest driver across the season, his 10 pole positions and five race wins attest to that.

It seems a long time ago now, but poor fortune through mechanical failure robbed him of victory in the first two races at Bahrain and Australia. Then, the recent engine failure in Korea stole another race win from his grasp. Add 75 points to his tally of 256 points and take 50 points away from Alonso, who was the man to benefit with a win in two of those three races, and all of a sudden you can see how the 2010 season may well have been a procession, much like last night’s race.

Sadly, this means it wasn’t to be for Mark Webber, who must be congratulated for running Vettel right down to the wire. Webber wasn’t given much chance at the start of the year and his five pole positions and four race wins certainly made quite a few people stand up and take notice. Especially those in his own garage. Here’s hoping Webber proves to be solid nuisance value again in 2011.

For now, you can read the post-race press conference including Vettel’s comments and those of the McLaren pair of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. Perhaps, a nice sight to see the two most recent World Champions on the podium to crown the sport’s newest king.

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Sebastian Vettel wins 2010 World Drivers Championship

2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel is the 2010 Formula One World Champion. He is the youngest man to reach the summit of motorsport’s highest peak. Vettel claimed his crown by winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It was Vettel’s fifth race win of the year and he had never led the Championship until this race.

While his nearest rivals, Red Bull Racing team-mate Mark Webber (8th) and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso (7th) faltered due to poor pit strategy, Vettel drove a masterful race. Simply, the least experienced driver in the hunt for the title was the most controlled diver all weekend.

Red Bull Racing won the Constructors’ Championship last weekend in Brazil, and Vettel’s success has capped off a phenomenal year for the team.

Post-race press conference and image gallery from Abu Dhabi to follow later today.

[Pics: via OneHD]

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Breakfast of champions

Red Bull - Breakfast of champions

This amusing pic was tweeted by redbullspyf1 earlier today. The badge has been applied to the apparel of all Red Bull Racing team members. Of course, the graphic pays homage to the badge made famous by James Hunt, which read “Sex – Breakfast of Champions”. You can see a pic of the original after the break.

With the Constructors’ title safely locked away, here’s hoping a minor miracle goes the way of Red Bull Racing and Mark Webber at Abu Dhabi tonight, and he earns the right to wear this new badge for all of 2011.

[Pics: Red Bull & Allsport UK/ALLSPORT]

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Ferrari Formula 1 McLaren Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber leaves mountain to climb

2010 Abu Dhabi GP

Mark Webber put in one of his more disappointing qualifying performances at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last night. Fifth was the best he could muster. Crucially, his Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel claimed his 10th pole of season 2010 and fellow title contenders Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) and Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) will start ahead of him on the grid, in second and third respectively.

Questions about Mark’s ability to handle the pressure must be asked and the size of the mountain he must now climb is starting to look impossible to conquer.

With Webber qualifying in fifth place he was not part of the official FIA press conference. However, Autosport has an interview with Mark that offers us some insight into his current frame of mind.

Perhaps a pick-me-up for Mark Webber fans can be had by reading this excellent summary of Webber’s career to date on Peter Windsor’s website.

Meanwhile, you can read the full transcript from the post-qualifying conference after the break, along with some television highlights courtesy of FoxSports.com.au.

[Pics: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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Formula 1

CAMS fights back in Melbourne melee

Australian Grand Prix

Today’s battle between CAMS and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation has shifted up a gear with a stern press release issued by CAMS. Key to their reply is the claim that their fee charged to the AGPC is “substantially less than the AUD$800,000 or £500,000 stated in some reports”.

According to the CAMS statement they are “acutely conscious of the need to reign in spending on Formula One events”. Further, it is claimed that CAMS and AGPC Executives had negotiated a satisfactory deal several months ago only to have that deal rejected by the AGPC Board.

“In August 2010 after months of negotiation CAMS and AGPC’s Chief Executives reached agreement on a proposal which was put to AGPC’s Board. However that proposal was rejected by AGPC’s Board,” reads the press release.

The CAMS statement continues, “Since that time AGPC’s Board has refused to negotiate further with CAMS and has summarily rejected two revised proposals put to it, despite CAMS and the FIA making it clear that the consequences of failing to appoint an organiser by 19 November will be that the 2011 Australian Grand Prix does not take place. The Victorian Government has been kept informed of developments.”

CAMS say the dispute is a matter of safety over budget and adds further context to the matter saying, “the cost to AGPC of CAMS’ services is less than 0.625% of the AGPC’s annual budget.”

“This is an issue about safety and not fees and we do not believe the Australian Formula One Grand Prix can be run safely without the high degree of professional and safety expertise that CAMS can deliver.”

Looks like we’ll need to watch this space over the next week. CAMS has also issued a separate statement to its members which can be read in full after the break.

[Pic: Mercedes GP Petronas]

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Formula 1

Follow the leader

Jordan team orders, Spa 1998

Throughout the 2010 Formula One season the subject of team orders has been an ongoing discussion point. Mostly due to the Vettel–Webber crash in Turkey and the Massa–Alonso passive overtake in Germany. Of course, the debate over team orders has been rife going into this weekend’s final race at Abu Dhabi, as well. Commentators the world over have been trying to establish if it is a masterstroke that Red Bull Racing have two guys in with a chance of winning the world crown, or if they’re stark raving mad for not having their drivers work together to lock away the Drivers’ title a race or two ago.

While that debate rages, most seem to have missed the fact that Vettel has all but guaranteed he will assist Webber to win the World Championship, if there is no other option to prevent Ferrari and Alonso from stealing the ultimate success from the Red Bull team.

Such controversies have encouraged numerous critics of the ban team orders to come forward. Former team owner and regular BBC pundit Eddie Jordan reckons the ban on team orders is “a nonsense“.

So, then, enjoy two F1-related videos after the break which cover well-known incidents of drivers being forced by their paymasters to act against their will, including a clear case of Jordan putting his money where his mouth is.

[via motorcentral]

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Formula 1

Fee fight foe fun

Australian Grand Prix

A cat fight has emerged that has the potential to see the Australian Grand Prix de-registered and removed from the 2011 calendar. The fighting foes are the Australian Grand Prix promoters and Australia’s motorsport governing body CAMS.

It’s essentially a fight over money, what else; CAMS charges a fee to the Australian Grand Prix each year in return for providing a race track with officials, marshalls and the like. The promoters, led by Ron Walker, are asking CAMS to lower their fee.

CAMS are sticking to their guns and refusing to meet Walker’s demands. However, Walker is not really bothered by all the fun, and expects everything to be finalised by a CAMS imposed deadline of 19 November.

“CAMS is threatening us, using the FIA as a big stick, to comply with the request of November 19 or they will apply to have us de-registered off the calendar for next year,” said Walker who is in Abu Dhabi to discuss the matter with F1 boss Bernie Eccelstone. “I know it is going to be resolved because there are powers that be, such as Mr Todt and Mr Ecclestone who are sure it will be resolved in an amicable way.”

It’s always nice to have friends on your side, isn’t it. Anyway, Walker is quite happy to take his bat and ball elsewhere, “The organisers at Silverstone would be very happy to organise Melbourne, the organiser of Abu Dhabi could organise it. There are plenty of organisers that would be delighted to come down under and be approved by the FIA.”

[Source: Autosport | Pic: Renault/LAT]

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Ferrari Formula 1 McLaren Red Bull Racing

2010 Abu Dhabi GP – Pre-race press conference

2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

There’s not long to go now. The first Free Practice session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix begins in under 12 hours. This is the first time in Formula One history that four drivers have still been in the hunt for the Drivers’ title going into the last race.

There are numerous permutations that could lead to any one of those guys in the picture above being crowned World Champion after the race; the pressure on Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and Red Bull’s Mark Webber, in particular, is huge. Check out the pre-race presser after the break to see how they’re coping so far.

[Pics: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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Formula 1 Lotus

Gold and black

Lotus F1 history

One of Formula One’s most revered racing liveries will be making a return in 2011 with news that Lotus will be turning out in a new gold and black colour scheme. Even better, you could have a say on how the new cars look. Lotus Racing’s Head of Marketing Silvi Schaumloeffel explains, “We are all very excited about the move to a black and gold paint scheme for next season, and we want our fans to help us design the livery that will be racing around the world next year.

“We will shortly be announcing exactly how the fans can take part in our design process, so keep an eye on our website www.lotusracing.my for more details. The person who designs the livery we finally choose will be joining us at our first test next year to see the car out on track for the very first time, so for Lotus and F1â„¢ fans it is the chance of a lifetime to help us take the next step forward in our amazing story in 2011.”

[Source: Lotus Racing]

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber drives virtual lap of Yas Marina

Red Bull Racing

There’s just four sleeps to go until the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Just four sleeps until we learn the ultimate outcome of the 2010 Formula One season. Until then one of the main players, Mark Webber, is talking about the hot, new and clean Yas Marina track. With three ideal spots for overtaking, let’s hope this race is exciting and as close as the entire season has been to date. And, of course, that Mark wins and Alonso finishes third, or lower.

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing Renault

Red Bull Racing – 2010 Formula One Constructors’ Champions

2010 Brazilian Grand Prix

To honour Red Bull’s success in the 2010 Constructors’ Championship and the genius of Adrian Newey’s RB6 here is their post-Brazilian Grand Prix press release, accompanied by a short video montage from BBC TV. Of course, there’s more images from Red Bull’s celebrations in the Brazilian Grand Prix in pictures article.

Also joining in the fun is Renault who have just inked a new two-year deal with Red Bull.

[Thanks to Micky for the video tip]

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Ferrari Formula 1 McLaren Red Bull Racing Renault

2010 Brazilian Grand Prix in pictures

2010 Brazilian Grand Prix

The Brazilian Grand Prix has been run and won. Red Bull Racing have taken the last of the lollies from the Constructors’ jar; well done them, it’s a ripping effort. Sebastien Vettel’s win at Interlagos made sure the Drivers’ race will go right down to the wire, with Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso his most likely barriers between world title success.

Truth be told, the biggest excitement in Sao Paulo last weekend involved poor old Jenson Button and some masked men. The race itself largely sorted itself out after the novelty of Nico Hülkenberg’s pole position had passed.

You can relive the event after the jump. Unfortunately the pics from McLaren are not available in 2000px super sizing. The good news is, all the others are, so get clicking.

Now, bring on Abu Dhabi!

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