that's some good news there, just hope they dont fook it up

So stroll to force india next year then,,,,, lol

Looks that way.

CARLOS SAINZ TO RACE FOR McLAREN FROM 2019

Probably no real surprise for some, since he lost his seat to DR, and he and Max don`t get on, so he wasnt joining the main RB Team.

FIA approve Racing Point Force India F1 entry

23 Aug 2018

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Force India's new owners have been granted an official championship entry by F1 governing body the FIA, with the team free to race in this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.

Earlier this month, a consortium of investors led by Canadian businessman Lawrence Stroll agreed to bring Force India out of administration.

The FIA said the joint administrators of Force India Formula One Team Limited have now completed the sale of the business and its assets to the consortium, now known as Racing Point UK Limited.

Racing Point Force India is a completely new entity, starting with no points, with the former Force India entry excluded from the 2018 constructors’ championship due to its inability to complete the season. However, race drivers Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon will keep their points in the drivers’ standings.

The FIA said in a statement: “Following a disciplinary investigation and prosecution by the FIA under Article 4 of the FIA’s Judicial and Disciplinary Rules, the Sahara Force India F1 Team has accepted its exclusion from the 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship with immediate effect, due to its incapacity to comply with Article 8.2 of the Sporting Regulations moving forward, and forfeits all Constructors Championship points under Article 6.2.”https://www.formula1.com/content/fom...5045432506.jpgFormula 1 Chairman and CEO Chase Carey commented: “We are very pleased that the situation around Racing Point Force India has been resolved and that the team will continue to race in Formula 1.

“It is also very gratifying that in partnership with the stakeholders involved we have been able to safeguard the livelihoods of the many hundreds of people working at its Silverstone base. It’s enormously important that we have a full grid of competitive, capable teams in Formula 1 and we are confident that Racing Point Force India will go from strength to strength in the future.”

FIA President Jean Todt added: “I am very pleased that a strong, positive outcome has been reached and welcome the mid-season entry of Racing Point Force India.

“Creating an environment of financial stability in Formula One is one of the key challenges faced by the sport, however thanks to the hard work of the FIA, the Joint Administrators, Racing Point and Formula One Management we have a situation now that safeguards the future for all of the highly-talented employees, and will maintain the fair and regulated championship competition for the second half of the season.”

Joint Administrator Geoff Rowley said: “This has been a complex process, but as a result of following a detailed and thorough procedure we have achieved a successful outcome. Under its new ownership, the team will now be able to operate to its full potential and its future is secured.”

Otmar Szafnauer will be the Team Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Racing Point UK Limited.

“This heralds a new and exciting chapter for us,” he said. “Just a few weeks ago, an uncertain future lay ahead, with more than 400 jobs at risk; now the new team has the backing of a consortium of investors, led by Lawrence Stroll, who believe in us as a team, in our expertise and in our potential to achieve success on the track.

“We are grateful to the FIA, the Joint Administrators and Formula One Management for their support in helping us achieve such a welcome outcome and ultimately, we trust, for the sport and its many fans.”

Under Force India's new ownership structure the team’s Deputy Team Principal, Robert Fernley, will stand down from his role. The remainder of the senior management team remains unchanged.

Horner just called Alonso a liar . . Sums Alonso up.

Fernando Alonso wants Red Bull to apologise after they denied his claim they offered him a drive for 2019.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/45477134

Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen will leave Ferrari at the end of this season and rejoin Sauber.

The 38-year-old Finn will be replaced at Ferrari by 20-year-old Monaco-born Sauber driver Charles Leclerc, who will partner Sebastian Vettel in 2019.

Raikkonen has spent five years at Ferrari in his second spell at the Italian team.

He has has signed a two-year contract with Sauber, where he made his Formula 1 debut in 2001.

"Feels extremely good to go back where it all began," said Raikkonen in a
Raikkonen is the last Ferrari driver to win the world championship in 2007, before taking a two-year break from F1 in 2010 to compete in the World Rally Championship.

He returned to the sport with Lotus in 2012 and then rejoined Ferrari in 2014. He has 20 Grands Prix wins and 100 podiums in his career to date.

"Signing Raikkonen as our driver represents an important pillar of our project, and brings us closer to our target of making significant progress as a team in the near future," said Sauber team boss Frederic Vasseur.

Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene said: "Kimi's contribution to the team, both as a driver and on account of his human qualities, has been fundamental. He played a decisive role in the team's growth and was, at the same time, always a great team player."

'Dreams do come true'

Leclerc has been picked as the Ferrari's next potential star, after impressing in his debut F1 season.

"Dreams do come true," Leclerc "I will be eternally grateful to Ferrari for the opportunity given."

In a statement he paid tribute to his late father and his friend Jules Bianchi, who died in 2015, after a crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.

"To a person that is not part of this world anymore but to whom I owe everything of what is happening to me, Papa," said Leclerc. "To Jules, thank you for all the things you learnt me, we will never forget you, and to all the persons that supported me and believed in me.

"I will work harder than ever to not disappoint you. But first, there is a season to finish with an amazing team that gave me the opportunity to fight and show my potential."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/47564762

Charlie Whiting, the head of Formula 1 for motorsport's governing body the FIA and one of the most influential people in the sport, has died aged 66.

Whiting suffered a pulmonary embolism on Thursday morning in Melbourne, where he was due to officiate this weekend's season-opening Australian GP.

Whiting was the official race starter and oversaw all rules matters in F1.

FIA president Jean Todt called Whiting "a central and inimitable figure who embodied the ethics and spirit" of F1.

Whiting had worked for the FIA since 1988, when he joined initially as technical director.

He was previously chief mechanic and then chief engineer of former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone's Brabham team, which won world championships in 1981 and 1983.

Whiting began his F1 career with the Hesketh team in 1977, moving to Brabham for 1978 and staying there until he joined the FIA, where he had been a central part of the organisation's running of F1 ever since. Todt added: "Formula 1 has lost a faithful friend and a charismatic ambassador in Charlie."

Ex-team boss Ross Brawn, now F1's managing director, said: "I have known Charlie for all of my racing life. We worked as mechanics together, became friends and spent so much time together at race tracks across the world.

"I was filled with immense sadness when I heard the tragic news. I'm devastated. It is a great loss not only for me personally but also the entire Formula 1 family, the FIA and motorsport as a whole. All our thoughts go out to his family."

Whiting's death leaves a hole at the FIA - he was the go-to person for teams on all matters pertaining to an F1 weekend.

yeah sad news :(

no word yet on any impact on the race weekend yet, i'm guessing ross brawn may take over

They have already named a guy called "Mesi" to take over the race starts and control.

where have they said that?

Nice of you to read my link . . .lol
"Australian Michael Masi will take Whiting's place as race director, safety delegate and permanent starter this weekend in Melbourne."

i totaly missed that int he artical haha

so 3 races in, Ferrari are doing there absolute best to let mercedes win, tripping over themselves trying to back the wrong man, Leclerc is def showing Vettle is second rate.

Yep, I think Leclerc is showing Vettel his heals and has a very bright future. Vettel is certainly not the same class of wheel to wheel racer as the other top drivers like Verstappen, Hamilton, Leclerc etc. No doubt Vettel can be quick in qualifying, but he makes too many forced errors when under racing pressure.

I really thought Ferrari would have it this season, but it could be a really interesting mixed season with Ferrari winning on faster tracks and Mercedes on tighter circuits.

Good start to the season that's for sure.

tbh i dont think ferrari will ever be in the hunt if they keep backing vettle without having a much quicker car than mercedes. Hamilton is just too good with anything like an equal car to them.

They need to get behind Leclerc now before ham is too far away.

Also seems to be ferarri may have a serious flaw with their engine and heat. Time will tell if that becomes a big factor or not as the hotter races happen.

I totally agree. Hamilton is just in a different class. I thought Bottas showed a promising start to the season with good pace, but I can never see him beating Hamilton as he seemed to mentally give up last year.

It was a terrible Ferrari decision to make Leclerc move over and let Vettel through IMO.

When in recent history have ferrari ever made a good team decision? haha

One of their biggest weaknesses IMO is they always want a 1 and 2 driver, not equal. Other teams wait to see whos coming out on top before pulling that trigger. Right now they should be 3rd and 4th in the drivers champ, instead 4th and 5th and 67 points behind in the constructors after 3 races is def not looking good indeed.

Also read about the potential development for their design is rather limited compared to Mercedes due to the design of the front wing/barge boards. That doesn't bode well for ferarri later in the season either.

It's looking like it may well be another Ferrari failed season due to their own problems if the start is anything to go by. Time will tell on that one of course.

its 2019 now lol

hmmm, may well need a new thread i suppose. give me a sec.