Claims

1. Rubens Barrichello threatened with sack at Austria 2002

Sezione: F1

...career looks at an end, has followed through with his promise to one day reveal more about his six-year tenure with the famous Italian team. On the Brazilian TV programme Fantastico, he claims he was threatened with the sack while he led the infamous 2002 Austrian grand prix. While circulating in front of Schumacher, Barrichello said he was told over the...

Data: 2008-11-25

2. Michael Schumacher says Ferrari treated Rubens Barrichello fairly

Sezione: F1

...teammate at the Italian team, during which time the German secured five of his seven drivers\' titles. In the same period, Barrichello won just nine races, but Schumacher has rejected claims the Brazilian was not given a fair chance to succeed. \"Nobody can make you slower because of a contract,\" he told the Cologne newspaper Express. \"If you are fast, you...

Data: 2008-11-17

3. Formula Master Vice-Champion claims GP2 prize

Sezione: GP2 Series

Formula Master Vice-Champion Fabio Leimer made his mark on the GP2 Series by setting the fastest rookie time yesterday morning at the Paul Ricard circuit in France. The 19-year-old Swiss took part in the test with team Trident Racing as a prize for finishing runner-up in the 2008 Formula Master Series. Despite being his first experience in a GP2 car, Leimer...

Data: 2008-11-13

4. No cash bonus for Lewis Hamilton title - Ron Dennis

Sezione: F1

...with either drivers or sponsors," the 61-year-old clarified. It was reported by the British press after Interlagos a week ago that Hamilton's career could make him a billionaire, amid claims that McLaren may renegotiate his current contract to stave off the temptation of a switch to Ferrari. Dennis told The Times: "Lewis's income is fixed for the duration of...

Data: 2008-11-10

5. Ecclestone not ruling out Glock race 'fix'

Sezione: F1

...because you never know?" F1 chief executive Ecclestone told The Times. In a subsequent interview, with BBC radio's Radio 5 Live programme, the 78-year-old billionaire stepped away from claims of a race 'fix' even further. He slammed the conspiracy theories as "complete and utter nonsense". "I'm quite sure Glock had no idea what the position with everybody...

Data: 2008-11-07

6. Lewis Hamilton 'not arrogant' - Ron Dennis

Sezione: F1

Lewis Hamilton's boss has defended the new world champion in the face of claims he is "arrogant". Many observers acclaim the 23-year-old McLaren driver's talent, but insist his overconfidence is less appealing. But Ron Dennis, head of the McLaren-Mercedes team, does not agree: "People say Lewis is aggressive, that he's arrogant, but he is not. Definitely...

Data: 2008-11-06

7. Brazil GP: stories differ as McLaren explains last laps

Sezione: F1

...behind Sebastian Vettel with two laps to go. His subsequent pass at the final corner of the 71-lap race on the dry-tyre shod Timo Glock is now the subject of outlandish 'race fix' claims, moving Toyota to issue a clear denial in the form of an interview with Glock sent to the media on Monday. The message emerging from McLaren, however, is less clear, with...

Data: 2008-11-04

8. Hamilton father admits F1 quit thoughts

Sezione: F1

...come clean about what they really think of the 23-year-old McLaren driver. It sparked a barrage of criticism about Hamilton's Swiss tax exile, his "smug and arrogant" personality, and claims that Sunday's race was a "fix" involving Toyota's Timo Glock. "The BBC need to put their own house in order before they criticise anyone else," British F1 great Sir...

Data: 2008-11-04

9. Ferrari delay Force India-McLaren deal

Sezione: F1

...engine, KERS and transmission package. Mallya revealed last week that he is willing to "reimburse" Ferrari for pulling out of the 2009 contract, but Germany's Auto Motor und Sport claims this has not yet been agreed. For that reason, the Force India-McLaren linkup will not be announced this weekend, with McLaren chief executive Martin Whitmarsh confirming...

Data: 2008-11-02

10. Brazilian GP: Felipe Massa promises no 'dirty' title tactics

Sezione: F1

Felipe Massa has rejected claims he might resort to hostile tactics in his championship showdown with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton this weekend. The Ferrari driver was accused by Hamilton of crashing into him "deliberately" in Japan earlier this month. Former team owner Eddie Jordan, meanwhile, recently advised 23-year-old Hamilton to "take him out" should the...

Data: 2008-10-28

11. WTCC: Augusto Farfus claims pole position for Bmw in Japan

Sezione: Sport

Augusto Farfus (BR) and Jörg Müller (DE) claimed the best-possible result for their team in qualifying for the 21st round of the FIA World Touring Car Championship in Okayama (JP): BMW Team Germany’s Farfus set the fastest lap of the day, which was 1:37.040 minutes. Müller finished second, crossing the line 0.227 seconds slower than his...

Data: 2008-10-25

12. N.Technology's James Thompson claims fourth place

Sezione: Sport

N.Technology's James Thompson claimed a fourth-place finish at Okayama, Japan, in the penultimate meeting of the 2008 FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). The British driver had a superb sprint from 17th place on the grid to fourth, securing a five-point finish in the second race of the weekend. After qualifying in 14th place for race one, Thompson...

Data: 2008-10-27

13. Heikki Kovalainen unhappy with McLaren role

Sezione: F1

...Kovalainen is uncomfortable with his escalating role as a supportive driver for his championship contending teammate Lewis Hamilton. The Straits Times, a major Singaporean broadsheet, claims the driver has told "friends that if his interests are not better served next season, he may have to consider his position". The report said Kovalainen is specifically...

Data: 2008-10-24

14. Felipe Massa tells Hamilton he thrives on pressure

Sezione: F1

...positive from the fans and that helps you do your best." The Brazilian driver also replied to news that his British rival Hamilton consulted with celebrity magician Uri Geller, who claims to have physic powers, about how to go about sewing up the 2008 title. "I met him and discussed the power of the mind," Geller, 61, is quoted as saying by the Daily Star...

Data: 2008-10-23

15. Canada GP blasts Ecclestone 'accusations'

Sezione: F1

...order to meet our 2008 obligations when Mr. Ecclestone, without notice, surprised everyone by unilaterally dropping the Canadian grand prix from the 2009 FIA schedule," he said. He claims that Ecclestone's allegations could tarnish the "reputation" and "integrity" of the Canadian grand prix. "It is totally untrue to suggest that our organisation has...

Data: 2008-10-20

16. FIA man defends stewarding system

Sezione: F1

...a former driver to occupy a permanent role in the F1 stewards room. Donnelly, the non-voting advisor to the three nominated stewards at each grand prix, said he does not agree with claims the current system needs to be overhauled. In an interview with Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport, he doubted that simply adding a driver to the system would improve it....

Data: 2008-10-20

17. Roldan Rodriguez claims first GP2 win

Sezione: GP2 Series

The Spaniard scored maiden win in Shanghai Dams’ Kobayashi may have been the quickest man on track today at the opening race of the GP2 Asia Series in China, but it was Roldan Rodriguez who claimed victory at the end of the 34 laps after the Japanese went too wide in the last stages of the event. When the lights went off, poleman Rodriguez made a good...

Data: 2008-10-18

18. Kimi Raikkonen faces huge winter test programme - Costa

Sezione: F1

...the Finn said. "Around Christmas time we will see exactly how it is going and how much we have improved or not." Since last Sunday's Japanese grand prix, Raikkonen has faced renewed claims that he is no longer fully motivated. By finishing third in the Fuji race, the Ferrari driver dropped out of mathematical contention for the 2008 crown, but he seemed not...

Data: 2008-10-15

19. Lewis Hamilton denies 'better than Senna' claim

Sezione: F1

...still don't believe anyone would beat him. "If I could achieve just a small part of what he's achieved, it would be a dream for me," Hamilton said. He was also asked to respond to claims that he is often perceived as being over-confident and arrogant, and explained that his belief in himself often comes across wrong. "Sometimes I've said things that have...

Data: 2008-10-15

20. Five-year FIA cost-culling plan revealed

Sezione: F1

...package, to be discussed with the F1 teams' alliance FOTA next week in Geneva, is the standardisation of expensive car parts that add little to the show. The London publication The Times claims that Bernie Ecclestone, the chief executive of F1's commercial rights holder, backs the Max Mosley-devised plan to "dramatically" cut costs. Among the measures is the...

Data: 2008-10-15