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Ferrari Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

2011 British GP: Qualifying press conference

2011 British GP

Mark Webber claimed his eighth career pole position after posting the fastest time in qualifying at the British Grand Prix overnight. One Australian leads the field, while another is at the rear, with F1 debutant Daniel Ricciardo setting the slowest time in a weather-affected Q1.

Expectations at Hispania Racing are not so high, of course, and there will be greater things to follow for young Ricciardo.

Webber, on the other hand, will be expecting to win tonight’s race. Silverstone is clearly a place where Webber loves to race, following his famous win last year and at the 2008 British Grand Prix he found himself on the front row for the first time.

Despite hissy fits from Christian Horner and Martin Whitmarsh over changes to exhaust mapping, Red Bull again found a way to lockout the front row of the grid. Webber’s quickest time (1:30.399) was just three hundredths faster than runaway championship leader Sebastian Vettel (1:30.431), who maintains his 2011 record of starting every race from the front row.

Fernando Alonso is the next best in his Ferrari (1:30.516) ahead of teammate Felipe Massa (1:31.124), Nico Rosberg (MercedesGP, 1:31.898) and Paul di Resta (Force India, 1:31.929).

Comments from the first three can be read after the break, along with words from Daniel Ricciardo and HRT.

[Pics: Red Bull/Getty Images & Hispania Racing]

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Formula 1

2011 British GP: Daniel Ricciardo in practice

Daniel Ricciardo, 2011 British GP

Daniel Ricciardo has just finished his first proper day in an F1 hot seat. No longer performing a testing role, but gathering data for his race debut on Sunday. In the two free practice sessions, both marred by inclement weather, the young Aussie soon found out life will be tough in a team with comparatively low funding.

In Free Practice 1 Ricciardo finished 24th out of 24 runners, 1.2 seconds behind teammate Vitantonio Liuzzi. The 22-year-old improved his standing in Free Practice 2, placing 23rd, 0.2s ahead of Liuzzi.

Speaking afterwards Ricciardo said, “I’m a bit more familiar with the controls now in the Hispania Racing car and hopefully the weather tomorrow is a bit drier and we can then do some proper testing in order to be ready for qualifying.

“It’s another race car so I’m always trying to learn and find the best compromise for it and the best way around the race track so I think today was not a bad day for that. I think I’m learning ok, quite quickly and as long as I keep progressing I think it will be a good weekend and a good 2011.”

After the break you’ll see 30+ pics of Ricciardo’s first couple of days with HRT, along with slightly odd YouTube clip and official press releases.

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Formula 1 Infiniti Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber previews 2011 British Grand Prix

In the above video Mark Webber talks about his return to Silverstone for this weekend’s British Grand Prix. All while he is taking passengers out for hot laps around the Rockingham circuit.

Last year Webber bagged the win at Silverstone in what is considered Red Bull Racing’s home GP. He’ll have his work cut out to beat Vettel on current form, but here’s hoping he can find something extra and claim his seventh F1 win.

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Formula 1

Hispania Racing Team sold as expected, but…

2011 European Grand Prix

As we reported yesterday Hispania Racing Team has been sold. But in typical F1-style twist not to who we thought. It had been reported by Spanish media that HRT would be sold to a Japanese investment firm. We now know that Spanish investment group, Thesan Capital, had the loot and used it to ink a deal in exchange for a majority shareholding in the team.

Thesan Capital will retain the current directors and team with a view to injecting a strong Spanish influence throughout, which will include new headquarters in Spain.

The full statement from HRT can be read after the break.

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Formula 1 Renault

Williams F1 reunites with Renault

Williams-Renault engine deal

Williams F1 has reignited memories of its glory days by signing a new engine deal with Renault for the 2102 and 2013 seasons. The deal is being described as ‘long-term’ and both parties expect the relationship will continue into 2014 and beyond, following the switch to turbocharged V6 engines.

During the last Williams F1 deal with Renault Sport F1 (1989–1997) the partnership returned 63 race wins, four word drivers’ titles, five constructors titles.

Speaking at the announcement Sir Frank Williams said, “Our previous relationship with Renault was one of the most successful in Williams’ history but we will not allow ourselves to dwell too much on the past. We must look to the future and continue to re-build our on-track reputation, which I am hopeful that today’s announcement will help us to do.”

The full statement from Williams F1 can be read after the break, including a Q&A interview with Adam Parr, Chairman.

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Formula 1

Hispania Racing Team expected to confirm sale

2011 Monaco Grand Prix

Hispania Racing Team has been sold, just days after signing Daniel Ricciardo, it is being reported . It’s understood current HRT owner José Ramón Carabante has agreed to terms for an AU$32 million sale to Japanese investment bank Nomura.

Confirmation of the sale is expected in the next 24 hours. Daily operation of HRT is unlikely to change in the short term and we can still look forward to Ricciardo’s F1 debut this weekend.

However, this could be a story to keep watching. Only a couple of days ago Autosport reported HRT Team Principal, Colin Kolles, was stepping aside to allow the Carabante family a more hands on role with the team.

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Formula 1 News

Daniel Ricciardo secures Formula One seat

2011 European Grand Prix

Fantastic news for Australian F1 fans with confirmation Daniel Ricciardo has landed an F1 race seat with Hispania Racing Team for the rest of 2011.

It’s expected Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan will make way for Ricciardo at HRT under a new agreement struck between the Spanish team and Red Bull. This will allow Red Bull to compare Ricciardo to Vitantonio Liuzzi who has driven for both Toro Rosso and Red Bull Racing in the past.

So far in 2011 Ricciardo has experienced F1 seat time in all Friday practice sessions for Toro Rosso. In the eight events completed the young West Australian, and 2009 British Formula 3 champ, has impressed to the point recent speculation has been rife Ricciardo might have displaced current Toro Rosso drivers Sebatien Buemi or Jaime Algeusuari before the year was out. Those two can rest easy, for now.

Ricciardo, who turns 22 today (1 July), is expected to have 10 races with HRT, starting with next weekend’s British Grand Prix, to establish his reputation in motorsport’s elite category. Assuming he performs well, it is thought he will get a drive with Toro Rosso or even Red Bull Racing in 2012.

Note: There are 11 F1 races remaining this year and it is understood Karthikeyan will be allowed to race in the inaugural Indian Grand Prix in late October.

The 2011 British Grand Prix is now shaping to be the first time two Australians have made an F1 starting grid since Alan Jones (Shadow-Ford) and Vern Schuppan (Surtees-Ford) started the 1977 Austrian GP. Incidentally, that race was Alan Jones’ maiden Grand Prix win.

The official announcement from HRT can be read below.

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Formula 1

Formula One to use V6 turbo engines from 2014

2011 Monaco Grand Prix

From 2014 F1 cars will be powered by 1.6-litre V6 turbo engines with energy recovery systems. Confirmation of the news from the World Motor Sport Council follows protracted negotiations, hissy fits and threats of withdrawal from some F1 teams after an earlier four-cylinder engine proposal was presented. Ferrari were the most vocal opponents on that score.

It’s understood the new engine regulations will see revs capped at 12,000rpm. However, the teams are asking for that cap to be raised to 15,000rpm. They’re also hoping to defer changes to chassis regulations until 2014. At this stage those requests have not bee signed off.

[via Autosport]

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Formula 1 Skoda

VIDEO: Robert Kubica’s rally accident recreated

Skoda Fabia crash simulation

Details are a bit scant on this story, but it seems Skoda has gone to the trouble of recreating a life-size simulation of Robert Kubica’s horrific rally accident. When seen like this, and assuming the impact captured in this video is accurate, then we must be thankful Kubica is alive to tell us the tale. It’s bloody nasty.

The clip appears to have been sourced from Polish website Onet, where you will also find various angles and slow-motion clips of the recreation.

We wish Kubica well in his continuing recovery and hope we see him back in Formula One next year.

[via Autoblog]

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Ferrari Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

2011 European GP: Post-race press release

2011 European Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing) won the 2011 European Grand Prix in Valenica overnight. It was his sixth win of the year. He has quite a large lead on the championship leaderboard.

Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) finished second. It was his equal best finish for the year.

Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing) finished third. He had problems with his gearbox.

Pretty exciting report so far? Well, it matches the lack of excitement in the race. If you didn’t, perhaps you should have watched the Nürburgring 24 hour race instead.

[Pic: Red Bull Racing/Getty Images]

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Formula 1

Charlie Whiting talks about mid-season changes

Charlie Whiting

The FIA has taken the unusual step of release a Q&A transcript from a press conference held with Charlie Whiting, Formula One Race Director ahead of tonight’s European GP in Valencia.

We’ve already been updated by Whiting once this year when he discussed the banning of off-throttle exhaust gasses. That topic is mentioned again here, along with new changes to engine mapping, safety car use and the drag reduction system.

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Formula 1 McLaren Red Bull Racing

2011 European GP: Qualifying press conference

2011 European GP

The qualifying dominance of Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing has continued again at the 2011 European Grand Prix. Vettel’s best time (1:36.975) was a couple of tenths ahead of teammate Mark Webber (1:37.163).

Webber needed to bites at the cherry, though, as his first flying lap in Q3 placed him on the third row of the grid. All drivers came out again for a second timed run, but most aborted when it was clear they could not match the pace of the Red Bulls. Nick Heidfeld (Renault) and Adrian Sutil (Force India) elected to conserve tyres and didn’t even bother to post a time in Q3.

That leaves Lewis Hamilton (McLaren, 1:37.380) as the fastest challenger to Red Bull, ahead of the two Ferraris and teammate Jenson Button.

The transcript of the post-quali press conference can be read after the break.

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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