Grand Prix Rejects

www.f1rumours.net wrote:American Media Links Haas to Chinese Buyers

According to a report by Fox Sports, a Chinese car manufacturer is looking to purchase either full control or a majority ownership of H&M Haas F1 Team with the change in ownership to be completed before the start of the 2020 season.

The American squad has finished sixth in the championship for every year of its existence. Gene Haas is said to be displeased with the failing improvement, the ambitious team owner having hoped to challenge for a top three spot by 2019.

www.f1rumours.net wrote:Double Points to Be Awarded for Season Finale

As part of the return to the single-race format, the FIA has confirmed that the season finale will offer double points from 2020 onwards. This means that the winner of that race will score 30 points, the second-placed finisher will score 24 and so on.

The concept is designed to provide Formula One with a closer title battle, increasing the likelihood of a title race going down the final race of the season. The Shanghai International Circuit signed a deal to be the F1 season finale until at least 2028 earlier this month.

www.f1rumours.net wrote:Controversal Success Ballast to Be Reviewed by FIA

The controversal success ballast rule will be reviewed for possible removal before the Bahrain Grand Prix, the FIA confirmed. It was subject to severe criticism by the media and fans; Sebastian Vettel joined in after the Australian Grands Prix.

The German world champion stated in an interview with German television that the rule is "unfair and absolutely broken", mentioning that it "punishes those who give it their best effort". Vettel struggled in qualifying all year long, failing to take a single pole.

Autosport wrote:Martel: Vettel "absolutely correct" with success ballast criticisms

Caterham team principal Edouard Martel has unequivocally backed Sebastian Vettel regarding the ongoing debate on success ballast in a press conference held earlier today.

"It's frankly ridiculous," said Martel, "I think the more deleterious effects of the rule were masked in the previous few years by the greater disparities in team performance, but they've become spectacularly apparent now. We should be watching Sebastian and Lewis fighting it out with the other cars at the front without impediment; this, after all, is what the audience wants to see. Rather, we're having to explain why some great drivers are qualifying well down the field, why they aren't fighting with the other protagonists, because of some arbitrary, artificial, contrived system [sic]."

"Something like this doesn't add any value," Martel continued, "It didn't truly close up the field when there was a dominant team, and it's only serving to undermine and discredit the current competition, now that the field is actually competitive. The sooner we are rid of it, the better."

autosport.com wrote:Haas to leave Formula 1 at end of 2019

The Haas F1 Team will leave Formula 1 at the end of the current season, it has been confirmed.

Entering F1 in 2016, Haas was primarily entered as a vehicle for Haas Automation to market its range of CNC machines to a wider European market. After four seasons, the American outfit has decided to pull the plug on its racing operations at the end of the year.

"We came into F1 to prove that American engineering can succeed" said Gene Haas. "I think our results, our wins, have proved that it absolutely can."

"Thanks to the efforts of people like Stoffel (Vandoorne), Jordan (Davies) and (Johnny) Cecotto, Haas Automation has produced record sales in Europe over the past year."

"Our F1 programme helped us break into the European markets, but now we've reached an impasse with it. We've managed to get three sixth-place finishes in the championship in a row, and I don't think we'll be able to achieve any higher with our budget relative to the others."

Haas managed to achieve four wins over its past three years in the sport, and team principal Gunther Steiner suggests that the team are going all-in to end on a high.

"We have been very successful with limited resources, and we've now got the most balanced driver lineup we've ever had." said Steiner. "Hopefully, if we keep pushing until the end of the year, we can get another win or two."

It is unknown whether Haas will find a buyer for its F1 operations, based in the former Marussia facilities in Banbury, but rumours are afoot that the Chinese Media Capital group and a consortium led by KFC Indonesia chairman Ricardo Gelael are in talks to purchase the team for 2020.

Autosport wrote:Aleshin to sub for Kirchhofer?

As internal sources confirmed to Autosport, Williams has struck an one-off deal with Mansell Engineering to run their test driver, Mikhail Aleshin, in the #5 car at Race 2 in Turkey, after regular driver Marvin Kirchhöfer has been punished with a race ban.

www.f1rumours.net wrote:Akrotiri Bay Track Management KG Extends Cyprus GP Contract

In an earlier announcement, Formula One Management confirmed that an agreement has been reached with the government of Cyprus and Akrotiri Bay Track Management KG which will see the Cyprus Grand Prix remain a part of the F1 calendar for the next 15 years.

"We strongly believe in the positive impact the Formula One race has had to local tourism," a government spokesperson was quoted in the announcement, "and therefore considered it elementary to sign a long-term deal to ensure its place on the F1 calendar for 2020 and beyond."

Furthermore, the 2019 editions of the Cyprus Grand Prix will revise a tradition from the 50s and 60s. To celebrate the 15th anniversary of Cyprus joining the European Union, the upcoming Grands Prix will also carry the honorific title European Grand Prix.

www.f1rumours.net wrote:Double Points Rule, Success Ballast to be Abandoned

Earlier this week, the FIA announced a number of further rule changes. The most important rule change is the immediate abandonment of the controversal success ballast rule. After various drivers, including Sebastian Vettel, complained about the rule, the FIA took action.

Alongside with the plan to have double points at the season finale from 2020, this rule was removed from the rule books. The points system itself will remain unchanged, 15-12-10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 will be the points on offer for each race of the upcoming season.

Another rule change announced is that F1 will move away from the numbering system which saw teams pick two consecutive numbers. From 2020 onwards, each driver will be asked to pick one number for his entire career, keeping that number even when switching squads.

It is believed that Christian Horner has lobbied for that change, believing it to be significantly easier to market individual drivers with individual numbers, as, with a handful of exceptions, there has been little marketing success by associating F1 teams with their car numbers.

www.f1rumours.net wrote:Endurance Challenge Team to Jump to Formula 1?

According to insiders in the FIA Endurance Challenge scene, German racing team Joest Racing are currently considering a move to Formula 1 and are currently looking into potential sponsorship deals to provide the required funding.

Joest Racing has become de facto a private entry, as Volkswagen AG are putting their financial backing behind Kay Lon's indulgently-titled Best In The World team, having it compete under the prestigeous Bentley brand.

Therefore, the team is looking to see whether it can earn a spot on the F1 grid either as a privateer or in an association with Toyota, who still have not confirmed their participation in F1 as a entrant. News on the decision are expected by the end of Summer.

www.f1rumours.net wrote:F1 Jump for Magda Szervánszky Possible?

According to British and Hungarian media, Vivion Daly Trophy winner Magda Szervánszky is being looked at to immediately jump from Formula 4 to Formula 1. An impressive outing by the Hungarian driver saw her score a win in the AI Formula 4 season opener.

With the age limit established as a response to team interest in Max Verstappen being removed, winning the Formula 4 series and running three race distances in testing would suffice to earn Szervánszky a super license for the 2020 season.

The teams rumoured to be looking at Szervánszky are said to be Caterham as contingency plan in case the Sebastian Vettel-Lewis Hamilton superteam does not last beyond 2019 and Dawson GP, who would be interested in trying a new option as backmarker.

Szervánszky or her manager have not responded to the rumours yet, as the Hungarian young gun as the option of simply denying offers and moving on to Eurasian Formula 3 instead. Perhaps this option would be more sensible, as she would only be 17 by the start of the 2020 season.

Williams: +40 qualifying grip, +20 race grip
Ferrari: +20 race grip
Red Bull: +10 race grip, +20 qualifying grip
Holden: +90 qualifying grip
Theodore: +100 qualfying grip
Precision: +30 qualifying grip, +60 race grip
Dawson: +40 qualifying grip, +20 race grip
Mansell: +30 qualifying grip,
Haas: +40 qualifying grip, Jordan Davies feels like he has made significant improvement, +40 race grip
Caterham: +70 race grip
Sauber: +50 race grip
FAST: Pedro de la Rosa would be a minor downgrade from our current drivers, Sandra Yoo would be a major downgrade from our current drivers, Sergio Sette Camara would be a major downgrade from our current drivers
Calinetic: Ant Whorton-Eales would be a major downgrade from our current drivers, Bradley Dagnall would be a major downgrade from our current drivers, Annakpok Pootoogook would be a major downgrade from our current drivers

www.f1rumours.net wrote:Five Races Added, Mexico Removed on 2020 Calendar

The FIA has published a provisional 2017 F1 calendar As confirmed earlier this year by the FIA; the return to the proper one-race schedule of Formula One has opened up many slots for new races.

We will see the return of the Argentinian, South African, Portugese, European and Indian Grands Prix next year. However, F1 will not return to Mexico, as the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez will focus on regaining the ARWS race.

Shell Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit - 1 March
Grande Prêmio Petrobras do Brasil - Autódromo Internacional Orlando Moura - 15 March
Gran Premio Shell de la República Argentina - Autódromo Roberto José Mouras - 22 March
Continental South African Grand Prix - Aldo Scribante Race Circuit - 5 April
Panasonic Turkish Grand Prix - Istanbul Park - 19 April
KFC Bahrain Grand Prix - Bahrain International Circuit - 26 April
Cyta Cyprus Grand Prix - Akrotiri Bay International Circuit - 3 May
Aral Grote Prijs van Nederland - Circuit Zandvoort - 24 May
Marlboro Swedish Grand Prix - Mantorp Park - 7 June
Vodafone Grand Prix de France - Circuit Charles de Gaulle - 21 June
Certina British Grand Prix - Donington Park - 28 June
Benson & Hedges Jordan Grand Prix - Grand Prix Circuit of Zarqa - 12 July
Finlandia Finnish Grand Prix - Streets of Lappeenranta - 26 July
Großer Vodafone Preis von Deutschland - Nürburgring - 2 August
Allianz Magyar Nagydíj - Hungaroring - 30 August
Gran Premio Telefónica de Espana - Valencia Street Circuit - 13 September
Gran Premio Siemens d'Italia - Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola - 6 September
ING Singapore Grand Prix - Marina Bay Street Circuit - 27 September
Airtel Indian Grand Prix - Buddh International Circuit - 4 October
Casio Japanese Grand Prix - Okayama International Circuit - 18 October
Toyota United States Grand Prix - Circuit of The Americas - 1 November
DHL Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina Circuit - 15 November
Toyota Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai International Circuit - 29 November

www.f1rumours.net wrote:F1 Engine Suppliers Agree on Switch to Hydrogen Engines

According to sources within the affected companies, the three remaining engine manufacturers who have not switched to producing hydrogen F1 engines for next year - Judd, Mercedes-Benz and Holden - have agreed with Ferrari and Toyota to switch to the new engine type as well.

This agreement was strongly influenced by the FIA and Christian Horner, who both are highly interested in making the new formula the sole engine formula to attract even more work teams. With this agreement, the FIA is expected to vote on a rule change as soon as possible.

The manufacturers were unofficially assured help in developing the new engine type, in order to decrease the advantage Toyota has over them. As Mercedes-Benz and Holden were already intrigued with the new engine format, their agreement was expected with Judd having been undecided before.

www.f1rumours.net wrote:Toyota Announce F1 Entry

In a press conference at the premises of Toyota in Japan, company chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada announced the company has decided to enter their hydrogen engine with their own team. Using their facilities in Germany, the team will modify the CD-05 chassis it used in testing its new engine to comply with 2020 regulations.

The company has managed to sign a major sponsorship deal with Japan Tobacco, which played a major role in deciding to go with an own effort according to Uchiyamada. For the first six years of competing in Formula One, the new team will be noted on entry lists as Benson & Hedges Silver Toyota Motorsports.

Uchiyamada praised both Formula One for being so welcoming towards the new technology and the engineers of his company working hard to provide an engine that has brought fuel cell technology. It was already revealed that the new chassis will be called the Toyota Fine-F1. Drivers were not announced at the press conference.

www.f1rumours.net wrote:New Engine Plans a "Joke" - Kvyat

In an interview with a well-known Youtube motorsport channel, Caterham senior development driver Daniil Kvyat spoke very candidly about the upcoming hydrogen-powered F1 cars, claiming them to be a "joke" that will leave the 2020 cars unworthy of being called Formula One cars.

He revealed that the new power unit for the Caterham team is not even able to crack 600 bhp yet which would be weaker than the Judd VI used in the FIA Formula 2 World Championship and would mean that power output would drop by over 300 bhp when compared to the current engine regulations.

The Russian proceeded to speculate that the agreement by F1 engine suppliers to use hydrogen engines is the result of said problems with the hydrogen engines nowhere near able to compete with the current engines used in F1, even if those engines were severely restricted in their power output.

www.f1rumours.net wrote:Ferrari May Consider Vandoorne and Verstappen

With Daniel Melrose's contract running out and the Italian team apparently not looking to extend his contract unless a major turnaround happens for El Presidente, rumours are plentiful regarding his potential replacement at the most prestigious team in the history of Formula One.

According to an Italian newspaper, Giovanni Roda has apparentely taken two current F1 drivers into closer consideration: young talents Stoffel Vandoorne, who will be a free agent with Haas' departure of the sport and Max Verstappen, whon's contract with Calinetic ends at the end of 2019.

Charles Leclerc, who is doing well for himself in Formula 2, is apparently not being considered for a Ferrari drive until Dave Cassidy's contract runs out next year. British media reports, however, suggest Ferrari are looking to poach both staff and one of the drivers from Caterham.

Autosport wrote:Martel - Hydrogen engine allegations "rubbish"

Caterham team principal Edouard Martel strongly refuted a spate of accusations levied against the new hydrogen engine formula by various Formula One insiders today in comments made to the press, with Caterham senior development driver Daniil Kvyat prominently among the critics. It has been alleged that the new hydrogen power units are significantly less powerful than the existing gasoline-hybrid engines, with the disparity ostensibly so great that the imposition of an equivalence formula was entirely untenable, and that the comprehensive transition was forced through by the FIA for accommodation purposes.

"It's all rubbish," Martel stated with conviction. "Yes, the power won't be as high as before, and there will be a reverse in performance. Formula One will be slower in 2020, no doubt. But we won't be at 600 brake horsepower; that's just a ridiculous number. And we, as in the teams, the FIA, the promoters, not just certain teams that had already publicly committed to hydrogen...we made the decision collectively. Just because Commonwealth have not publicized our program does not mean that our program does not exist. We have been working on this as long, and as hard, as anybody."

"But that's always the case with new technology, the step back, the questions, the reaction; just look at how awful the early turbos were, or even how much worse the 3.5 litre engines were, when they came in just after the turbos. And this transition is important, much more important than a normal situation where we change formulas. Oil, gasoline will not last forever; here, we are securing the future of the planet and of our sport."

When questioned specifically on Kvyat's comments, Martel was dismissive. "Daniil has been with the company for a long time and is a talented driver. We value his feedback, and he is entitled to his opinions. But he has not had access to all aspects of the program; it is quite likely that his impressions were formed through working with a beta build. All I can say is that this is the right decision for Formula One."