VILLENEUVE LOOKING AT RETURN TO FORMULA ONE

Jacques Villeneuve says he has set his sights on returning to Formula One racing in 2010.

The former world champion has been a frequent spectator in the F1 paddock recently, fuelling speculation that he is looking for a ride next season. Villeneuve says the rule changes implemented over the last few years have peaked his interest in the sport once again.

"Driving is the only thing that interests me, and all the mess that's happened helps me: with the test ban, we experienced drivers are handy," he tells Autosprint magazine.

"In my opinion today's cars are better to watch, and they will be even more so next year.

"I've been saying it for ten years: ban pitstops, get back to slick tires, and get rid of electronics. I'm only sorry that compulsory pitstops for tire changes are staying, because that takes away some of the action coming from the fuel factor."

Since leaving Formula One in 2006, Villeneuve has been attempting to revive his career in stock cars. However, without adequate funding, it's been difficult to land a full time ride in the Sprint Cup Series.

Now, Villeneuve says, he has fallen in love with F1 again.

"When I left, F1 wasn't fun anymore. Or rather, driving still was, but the atmosphere outside was bad. You'd spend your half hour with your race engineer after which the computer would prepare your set-up. And they'd tell you: 'shut up and drive'. I'm the type of person that always speaks out, but towards the end everything became very difficult."

"People want to see gladiators, instead they all sound like they love each other."

Villeneuve's chances of returning to the paddock have been bolstered by the fact three new teams will enter F1 next year – USF1, Campos Meta and Manor GP.

F1: Mosley Letter Stuns Teams Into Silence

Written by: SPEED Staff / GMM 07/16/2009
GMM Newswire
Formula one teams reacted with silence to the news that Max Mosley really will step down as FIA president later this year.

The last time the 69-year-old Briton mentioned stepping down, after the Paris faux peace deal last month, the reaction angered Mosley and he indicated he might actually stay.

But quite apart from the latest looming prospect of peace, there could be another reason the teams were quiet, according to Britain's Guardian newspaper.

"The Formula One teams' lack of enthusiasm for Max Mosley's choice of successor as FIA president was made clear by the sound of silence," the newspaper said.

"As Mosley was lauding Jean Todt, the former Ferrari chief executive officer, as the best man for the job, the teams responded by keeping their own counsel.

"That wall of silence confirmed a deep-rooted suspicion that Todt is the favored successor largely because he thinks
like Mosley and, perhaps more worryingly for the teams, may act like him too," the Guardian added.

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh hinted last weekend that the teams would rather see the independent presidential candidate, Ari Vatanen, take the top job.

The Telegraph sees October's election as a "straight fight between (the) former rally driver ... and Mosley's protégé (Todt).

"It represents a choice between change and continuity," the newspaper added.

Vatanen echoed that view in an interview with the Associated Press. "You need a new star, you need an independent person who represents change," the 57-year-old Finn said.

Haug: Teams may rethink KERS now

By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, July 28th 2009, 10:11 GMT


Lewis Hamilton's victory in the Hungarian Grand Prix could force a rethink in Formula 1 about the use of KERS, now it appears that the hybrid technology is making a big difference in races.

That is the view of Mercedes-Benz motorsport boss Norbert Haug, who thinks the way that Hamilton's triumph was helped by his KERS allowing him to move up the field may show rivals that they cannot now do without the system now.

McLaren and Ferrari are currently the only teams running KERS, with BMW Sauber and Renault having dropped their systems earlier on in the year.

Haug thinks that KERS' reputation is fast being enhanced, and it may come to a point where other teams can no longer afford not to run it if they are to have a chance of victory.

"I think it is now a different story," he explained. "If KERS helps you to win then it is mentioned. Before it was probably said that the little boys use KERS and the others do not, but I think it is different now. Maybe we will see teams changing to KERS even during this season."

F1 teams have currently agreed to abandon KERS next year, because of the huge development costs, but Haug thinks that even that decision may now be reconsidered - as he hinted at a standard system perhaps being the best way forward.

"Well, if it comes to a KERS competition this will be expensive," he said. "I should be the KERS promoter, but we definitely follow the majority verdict of FOTA. So we will see.

"But I think maybe it is a discussion for later this year about whether a team uses KERS or not, because it is just very convincing. And the Mercedes-Benz hybrid system is the best one, as we showed in Hungary."

The FIA's unofficial demand that new teams sign engine supply contracts with Cosworth was "highly irregular", unsuccessful 2010 team applicant Prodrive's David Richards has said.

Another unsuccessful 2010 team applicant, the Serbian company AMCO, has complained formally to the European Commission, arguing that the Cosworth stipulation broke anti-competition laws.

Prodrive was presumably rejected on the basis that it had lined up a technical collaboration with McLaren-Mercedes.

"In any case, I consider it to be highly irregular," Richards, referring to the FIA's Cosworth stipulation, said in an interview with motorsport-magazin.com.

"I don't think it is at all appropriate
for the sport's governing body to say that sort of thing," he added.

He said Prodrive was otherwise ready to make the move into F1. "I'm fairly certain that we were the only team who could prove to the FIA that it had 40 million (pounds sterling) in a bank account and was therefore ready for the off."

Richards hinted that he could get a Prodrive team on the 2010 grid at short notice if customer cars and components were allowed.

Bernie Ecclestone might be saying Formula One will be returning to Montreal in 2010, but the mayor of the city says there is no deal in place.

On Tuesday, the Formula One boss told CBC News there is a deal in principle to have the Canadian Grand Prix return to Montreal for the next seven years. He hopes the deal will be confirmed in a few weeks.

But, according to RDS, mayor Gérald Tremblay released a statement saying the negotiations are still ongoing between the various levels of government and Formula One. The mayor also said the offer on the table is the same one from last autumn.

Ecclestone was also quoted in the Tuesday edition of Motorsport Aktuell magazine as saying "we'll be driving in Montreal again in 2010."

Ecclestone ruled out an F1 return to Indianapolis in the magazine article.

Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed that Canada is set to return to the Formula One calendar next year.

"I promise we will be in Montreal in 2010," the F1 chief executive told Switzerland's Motorsport Aktuell.

The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve event was omitted from this year's schedule after Ecclestone could not agree financial terms with race organizers.

But he has been under intense pressure to reinstate the race as soon as possible, especially as the crucial North American market is now completely missing from the calendar.

"Everyone in Formula One loves the Canadian Grand Prix," Ecclestone admitted.

He had bad news, however, for those hoping the United Statesmight quickly return to the schedule. "Forget Indianapolis. We're not going back there," said the 78-year-old Briton.

Ecclestone also suggested that Great Britain's annual date is not under threat, explaining that if Donington can deliver a Formula One race "then we will be there".

"If not, then we will be staying in Silverstone," he added.

Ecclestone also said he hopes Korea and India are the next countries to host events.

He had bad news, however, for those hoping the United Statesmight quickly return to the schedule. "Forget Indianapolis. We're not going back there," said the 78-year-old Briton.