F1 - Susie Keeps Wolff from Door

Susie Wolff - Getty Images

Former Williams test driver Susie Wolff has defended Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone after his controversial comments about female drivers.

Ecclestone said they would "not be taken seriously" and are "not physically" able to drive a car fast.

Wolff set up Dare to be Different, an initiative which aims to increase the number of women in motorsport.

"After hearing Bernie's comments in context and speaking to him it's clear we both have the goal," she tweeted.

"Last week he agreed to come onboard with @D2BDofficial and support the next generation of girls aiming for the top, on and off the track.

"Through my years in motorsport he was supportive of my mission to make it onto the starting grid. For me, actions always speak louder than words. @D2BDofficial is about driving female talent and Bernie is with us."

In so-far unreported comments in the interview, after being challenged by interviewer Sir Martin Sorrell on his remarks, Ecclestone went on to say that he would "love" to see a woman driver in F1 and that he would even be prepared to financially contribute to making it happen.

Meanwhile, USA's Leilani Munter, who races stock cars in the ARCA Racing Series, described Ecclestone as "an embarrassment" and "just a sad, pathetic, sexist old man with pre-historic views of women".

Wolff, 33, started working with Williams in 2012, after racing for seven years in the German Touring Car Championship, before retiring last year.

She spent three years involved in test and development work and drove in four practice sessions over the 2014 and 2015 seasons - becoming the first woman to take part in a grand prix weekend for more than 20 years.

Related articles

• The 10 things in advertising you need to know today (YHOO, FB, WPPGY)
• What Really Fuelled Gene Haas' $1 Billion F1 Bet
• F1 2016: Live elimination qualifying format to be employed at Bahrain Grand Prix despite failing to excite fans
• Ecclestone agrees with drivers over governance
• Fantastic Start to New Formula 1 Season Overshadowed by Many off-Track Issues
• Big firms face a shareholder spring revolt to hold bosses accountable for excessive pay and poor results

Halo Could Have Helped Alonso - Button

Jenson Button believes Formula One’s controversial halo device would have helped Fernando Alonso in his spectacular crash.

The halo, which made its debut in pre-season testing, has attracted some criticism – not least from Lewis Hamilton, who labelled it as the worst modification in the sport’s history – but is set to be introduced next season.

It is a concept which has been designed to shield a driver’s head from flying debris – in the wake of a number of high-profile incidents – but among its drawbacks is whether it would hinder a driver getting out of the cockpit.

Alonso, after hitting the wall and being catapulted airborne, landed upside down in his McLaren before crawling out of his car.

“He was upside down when he landed and if he had the halo it would have helped him,” Button, Alonso’s McLaren team-mate, said. “There was no need for him to get out in that situation. There’s more safety risk of things hitting our head than anything happening when the car’s upside down.

“With the halo he would have had less impact on his helmet. It’s very unusual that there would be an issue with fuel spillage or anything like that. The halo is the right direction and we need it.”

While Nico Rosberg beat Lewis Hamilton to win the curtain raiser in Melbourne, Alonso’s incredible crash, which the Spaniard unsurprisingly said was the biggest of his career, has dominated the post-race agenda.

After he careered into the back of Esteban Gutiérrez at close to 200mph, Alonso was merely a passenger as he slammed into the wall before barrel-rolling through the air twice.

Coincidentally, two of Formula One’s other big crashes in recent times – involving Martin Brundle in 1996 and Jacques Villeneuve five years later – also occurred on the same bit of tarmac. The latter saw a track marshal killed after he was hit by a flying wheel. It is testament to the sport’s remarkable safety record that there were no fatalities on Sunday.

“Everything hurts a bit because everything inside your body moves when you are going so fast,” said Alonso. “The knees hurt a bit, because you are crashing against the cockpit and the steering column. I’ll need some ice but other than that, all fine.”

The Spaniard, who was given the all-clear by doctors at the track, also tweeted: “I am aware that today I spent some of the luck remaining in life, I want to thank McLaren, the FIA for the safety on this car. Also my colleagues and fans for the concern and unconditional support.”

Related articles

• New Mercedes F1 car breaks cover
• F1 preseason starts with teams targeting Mercedes again
• Hamilton forced to 'raise the bar' for gruelling F1 title defence
• Formula 1 Pre-Season Testing 2016: Times and Tuesday Report from Barcelona
• F1 2016, Barcelona test, Day 2: Sebastian Vettel sets the pace yet again on the ultra soft tyres, and driver reactions
• Honda Formula One shakes up leadership

F1 Halo Not Enough - Philippe Bianchi

Jules Bianchi’s father Philippe feels Formula One “must go further” with cockpit safety after being left unconvinced by the new Halo device.

Kimi Raikkonen became the first F1 driver to run with the Halo closed cockpit system during Thursday morning’s testing in Spain. Raikkonen tested the driver’s visibility of the Halo for two laps at the Circuit de Catalunya – the first time the system has been seen on an F1 car during a public session – before his Ferrari team removed the installation.

The Halo, which features a single column down the centre, is designed to shield drivers from flying debris and prevent the sort of accident that killed Henry Surtees last summer. Surtees, the son of the 1964 world champion John, was killed after he was hit on the crash helmet by an errant tyre while competing in a Formula Two race at Brands Hatch.

The F1 driver Bianchi also succumbed to the devastating injuries he sustained at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix in July, although it is not believed improved head protection would have saved the Frenchman. But Bianchi’s father says the Halo device does not provide a total fix for the dangers of an open cockpit and called on F1’s governing body, the FIA, to do more when it comes to driver safety.

“I consider that this is a step forward in terms of security,” Bianchi told the French television channel Canal Plus. “It is obvious that in the case of when a wheel comes off, this system would be effective. However, in the case of small debris, as Felipe Massa and Justin Wilson [the Indycar driver who was killed last August] had, that wouldn’t have changed anything. So this is a step forward, but it does not solve everything.”

Bianchi says such a concept would not have helped his son in his accident at Suzuka in October 2014. “For Jules, it would have changed nothing, because it’s the extremely violent deceleration that caused the damage that we know to his brain,” Bianchi said. “I think developments of the HANS system to better absorb big deceleration in a severe impact could help in this case.”

Standing for Head and Neck Support system, the HANS device works in conjunction with the driver’s helmet and seatbelts to drastically reduce the forces exerted on the head and neck during an accident.

“This is obviously not me who would raise myself against something that brings more security to drivers, but the version of this Halo system did not convince me and has yet to be perfected,” said Bianchi. “Aesthetically, it’s pretty bad, and I wonder what the driver gets to see behind the Halo. The FIA wished to act after Jules’s and Justin’s accidents, but it must go further.”

Related articles

• F1's car launch and testing schedule
• Williams 'a lot different' to 2015 car - Massa
• Daniel Ricciardo gives the ultra-soft a spin
• Daniel Ricciardo gives the ultra-soft a spin
• Ferrari presents new F1 car it hopes can challenge Mercedes
• F1 2016, Barcelona test, Day 2: Sebastian Vettel sets the pace yet again on the ultra soft tyres, and driver reactions

F1 New Qualifyng System Delayed

The introduction of Formula One’s new qualifying system will be delayed until the fifth race of the season because of technical issues, the sport’s commercial supremo, Bernie Ecclestone, said on Saturday.

The season starts in Australia on 20 March but the new qualifying format, announced by the governing FIA last week, will require changes to the software controlling the timing system.

“My guys who do the timing said ‘Mr E, we don’t want to be put in the position because we don’t think we can get it done properly in time’,” Ecclestone told the BBC.

He said the new format would probably be introduced at the Spanish Grand Prix in May. The season is due to feature a record 21 races.

Ecclestone’s Formula One Management handles the timing software, along with screen graphics and data, and he said the changes involved in the new elimination format were not straightforward.

“If you’re going to try and explain it to the public properly, it’s not just a case of ‘OK, the guy was the last one, bye-bye’,” he said.

“We’ll have to deal with it. I’ve told the FIA this and asked them what they’d like to do with it but the bottom line is there’s not a lot they can do with it because we do all the timekeeping.“

Under the new procedure, the slowest drivers will be eliminated as the three sessions progress rather than at the end of each phase.

After seven minutes of the first session has elapsed, the slowest driver will be eliminated, with others following at 90-second intervals.

Fifteen of the 22 will go through to the next phase, with the slowest eliminated after six minutes. The same 90-second sequence ensues until eight drivers are left.

In the final session one driver will be eliminated after five minutes and then one every 90 seconds until two are left fighting for pole position with one-and-a-half minutes remaining.

Related articles

• Formula 1 testing LIVE from Barcelona as Ferrari, Mercedes, Williams and co practise with 2016 cars
• New Mercedes F1 car breaks cover
• F1: Romain Grosjean rejects backward thinking of reversed grids
• F1 to ramp up 'knockout' qualifying for 2016
• Husband of F1 heiress charged with assisting offender
• Tamara Ecclestone's husband Jay Rutland accused of helping drug baron

Sports Quotes - Ayrton Senna

"My biggest error? Something that is to happen yet."

Ayrton Senna

Related articles

• Senna Knew Winning Isn't Everthing
• Sid Watkins, F1's former medical delegate who tended to Ayrton Senna, dies of heart attack, aged 84
• Senna Knew Winning Isn't Everything
• Sharing Some Quotes from the "late, great" Ayrton Senna
• The Asphalt Jungle: Ayrton's Car
• Is Lewis Hamilton the new Ayrton Senna?

Haas Reveal new F1 Car

Haas Racing

Haas have revealed their first F1 car, the VF-16 - and immediately targeted scoring points during their debut season.

F1's first US-owned outfit for 30 years revealed a striking grey, black and red livery for their debut season. The VF in the car's name stands for 'Very First'.

"Our goal with this car is to score points," said team boss Guenther Steiner. "First, we need to go out there and show that we can do the job, that we can finish races, that we are respected by the fans and other teams in the paddock.

"Then, we want to score points. That is the ultimate goal."

Much of the design work on the VF-16 was carried out at Ferrari's Maranello base, with Haas's technical partnership allowing them access to the Scuderia's wind tunnel and simulator.

The chassis itself was also built in Italy by Dallara and it will be powered by a 2016 Ferrari power unit, mounted to a current-spec gearbox from the Scuderia.

"We have very experienced designers who worked hard to develop all the little things from an aerodynamic perspective that, collectively, add up to a lot," added Steiner.

"And our technical partner, Ferrari, provided our power unit, and that really defined the rear end of the car and how big it needed to be."

Former Lotus driver and 10-time podium finisher Romain Grosjean has been signed to spearhead Haas' debut campaign, with Mexico's Esteban Gutierrez returning to an F1 race seat after year in a reserve role at Ferrari.

Discussing Haas' partnership with Ferrari, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said it's "clearly a very intelligent way of entering Formula 1" which "opens up an avenue for new models of collaboration".

Who's who at Haas in 2016

Team owner Gene Haas

COO Joe Custer

CMO Adam Jacobs

Team principal Guenther Steiner

Team manager / sporting director Dave O'Neill

Chief race engineer Ayao Komatsu

Chief designer Rob Taylor

Chief Aerodynamicist Ben Agathangelou

Race drivers Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez

Related articles

• Top Gear's Matt LeBlanc's Favorite Car Is His Scary Porsche GT2
• Gutierrez targeting immediate points with Haas
• Matt Leblanc: 'New Top Gear Pairing Is Like Joey And Chandler'
• F1's car launch and testing schedule
• Raikkonen must beat Vettel in 2016 - Salo
• Manor confirm Rio Haryanto as second driver for 2016 Formula 1 season

Haryanto First Indonesian F1 Driver

Rio Haryanto will become Indonesia’s first Formula One driver after signing a deal with Manor Racing.

The 23-year-old will make his F1 debut at the Australian Grand Prix on 20 March after testing in Barcelona next week. Haryanto replaced the Briton Will Stevens, who failed to score a point in 18 starts last year.

“Manor Racing is a team with an exciting vision and ambitious plans,” Haryanto said. “They have produced a great package and I can’t wait to get in the car. Melbourne will be a huge moment for me, my country, supporters and fans and I want to thank everyone who’s been with me since I started in single seaters; 2016 is my chance to reward that faith and represent Asia in F1.”

Haryanto will join the German rookie Pascal Wehrlein, a former Mercedes reserve driver, at Manor.

“We are delighted to announce Rio as our second race driver for 2016,” said Stephen Fitzpatrick, Manor Racing’s owner. “Rio’s been racing since he first got into a kart at six years old. He’s tenacious on and off the track and made a big impression on last year’s GP2 battle.

“Rio’s huge following in Indonesia is great for the team and for F1. They are keen to see him on the grid and we’re confident that we’ll see him enjoying some exciting battles in the year ahead.”

Related articles

• Manor confirm Rio Haryanto as second driver for 2016 Formula 1 season
• Haryanto becomes Indonesia's first F1 driver
• Figures disagree over Wehrlein potential
• News about Schumacher 'not good:' Montezemolo
• The Lowdown on the 2016 F1 Season
• Formula One: 2016 Pirelli Wet Tyre Test

Don't Cry Wolff Bernie - F1

Bernie Ecclestone has claimed a female driver “would not be taken seriously” in the sport. The Formula One chief executive, who last year called for a women’s series to run in tandem with the main grand prix schedule, also suggested the sport may never see a female racer again.

It is now almost 40 years since the Italian driver Lella Lombardi became the last woman to start a Formula One race at the 1976 Austrian Grand Prix.

In an interview on the Canadian network TSN, when asked if he anticipated the return of a female driver to the grid, Ecclestone said: “I doubt it. If there was somebody that was capable they wouldn’t be taken seriously anyway, so they would never have a car that is capable of competing. There was a girl that was driving in GP3 for a whole season so it is not something that hasn’t happened.”

The reporter then asked: “But it is not going to happen in the main event?” Ecclestone replied: “No. I don’t think so.”

The British driver Susie Wolff became the first woman to compete at a Formula One race weekend in more than two decades when she took part in practice for Williams at the 2014 British Grand Prix. But the 33-year-old, who is married to Mercedes’ director, Toto Wolff, retired from motor racing last year after claiming her dream of reaching the starting grid was “unachievable”.

On Thursday, the Scot launched the Dare to be Different initiative – a scheme that is aimed at increasing the number of women involved in motor sport.

Alice Powell, the 22-year-old Briton who became the first female winner of the Formula Renault series in 2010 and has subsequently competed in GP3, is an ambassador for the initiative. She said: “Someone needs to prove Bernie wrong. It would be a shame if a team would turn down a female to race in F1 because they would not be taken seriously.

“That is one of the issues though, that people don’t take the chance as they think it will be a joke. We’re not a joke and it is just another factor which makes it harder for females to race at the highest level.”

The Spanish driver Carmen Jordá was employed as a development driver for Lotus last year but is yet to compete for the team.

The highly-rated Simona de Silvestro tested for Sauber in 2014 before running out of funds. She now competes in the FIA-approved electric series Formula E.

Related articles

• Ferrari Has Encouraged Many Carmakers to Join Formula 1
• Bernie Ecclestone Admits Formula One Is Crap (Again)
• ITV to take Formula 1 rights from BBC
• BBC to give up coverage of Formula 1 to cut costs
• Tata Communications: If We Can Do It For F1, We Can Do It For Anyone
• Petra Stunt's husband James 'mocked family butler's sexual orientation'