From GMMMontezemolo joins Ecclestone in ItalyIn
the wake of Bernie Ecclestone's surprise arrival at Madonna di
Campiglio, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo also made an
unscheduled visit to the team's 'Wrooom' media event in the Italian
Dolomites. The pair posed for a photograph and dined together.
But
their
positions are still diametrically
opposed; the F1 chief executive has already indicated he is not
budging over the issue of the sport's commercial revenue, and
Montezemolo on Friday continued to question the British billionaire's
dictator-like rule.
Raikkonen rests up with throat complaintKimi
Raikkonen left Ferrari's media 'Wrooom' event at an Italian ski resort
early due to a throat inflammation. He returned to his home in
Switzerland to recover from his throat ailment over the weekend.
The
team's Finnish race driver was also suffering from a fever at noon on
Friday, but it is believed he will be fit to test the new car over two
days next week, with Felipe Massa set for a similar schedule.
The
test will almost certainly be moved from the Algarve region back to
Mugello in Italy. The rain is very likely to affect the opening days of
the Portimao action, although weather at Mugello could also be bad.
Ferrari's
Spanish test driver Marc Gene also left the 'Wrooom' event early to
conduct an aerodynamic test with the F60 at Vairano, but the session
was called off due to bad weather.
Hulkenberg to debut new WilliamsNico Hulkenberg, Williams' test driver, has been assigned to give the British team's new car its track debut on Monday.The Toyota-powered FW31 is scheduled to roll out of the Portimao circuit pitlane, with a media photocall to occur in the early morning.
The event is not a normal 'launch', given that the only driver in attendance will be Hulkenberg, and the car will be wearing an interim test livery. Technical director Sam Michael will also be in attendance, Williams said.
Fry denies conflict of interestNick
Fry has denied reports that his dual-role in vetting bids for the Honda
F1 team and also contemplating a management buyout is a conflict of
interest.
Fry insists he has not been left alone by Honda to
handle the negotiations with other potential buyers "and we have taken
legal advice at all times to ensure no conflict of interest. It is
evident that attempts are being made by certain parties to frustrate
this process."
The process of attempting to secure the team's future continues.
Time running out for Honda-Merc deal"Time
is running out" for the team currently known as Honda to finalise a
supply of engines for the 2009 season, but
Mercedes-Benz is still willing to help the beleaguered outfit.
"The
timing is anything other than fantastic obviously but we still could do
it," the McLaren partner's competition chief told reporters at the
launch of the MP4-24 at Woking. "There is not a deadline like tomorrow
or next week but of course time is running out."
Haug also
insisted that any arrangement with Honda would have to make sense for
Mercedes, despite his desire to assist for the sake of the sport. "This
is not a sponsorship deal, it is financial deal and we need to get the
finances right and then we can help."
McLaren keeps same sponsors for 2009McLaren has the strength to ride out the global financial crisis, team boss Ron Dennis insists, "the same brands" feature on this year's single seater in the wake of Lewis Hamilton's 2008 title at the wheel of its predecessor.
He added: "We have had a close relationship with Hugo Boss for 32 years which must be a record for any sport, let alone formula one. This is when you need that longevity and understanding to power you through the difficult times."