Manor boss positive about F1's future

The end of the manufacturer era and the arrival of more independents in Formula 1 is proof that the sport is heading to the future in good shape, reckons incoming team boss John Booth.

Although the decisions by Toyota and BMW to leave F1 this year prompted fears about the state of grand prix racing, Manor Grand Prix chief Booth says he is far from concerned about what state the sport is in.

"I think that for the long term health of F1 there had to be change," he said at the Macau Grand Prix, where he is taking part in his last race prior to next year's Bahrain season opener. "The budgets that the manufacturers were spending were unsustainable - and were obscene, if I can use that word.

"Funnily enough, I was watching on the plane over here a documentary on Stirling Moss, and it was fascinating how you had the independent teams back then. Someone would buy a car from a manufacturer and run it themselves, and it was great. It will never be the same again, but it is heading that way again."

He added: "It was only six months ago that FOTA was almost a manufacturers' club, but now it is going to be in control of independents. And now you have to call McLaren an independent as well."

Booth believes that there is enough impetus from the teams, and newly elected FIA president Jean Todt, to bring down costs that will make the sport sustainable for non-manufacturer teams.

"I think some things that Jean Todt has said, it sounds like he wants to encourage cost restriction," he explained. "With the majority of teams now being independents, we have every chance of pushing that to the targets that have been set for 2012."

Booth has said Manor GP is ahead of target with its preparations for next year, and it is expected to confirm its commercial tie-up with Virgin within the next fortnight.

"I think we are all a little bit in front of where we hoped to be," said Booth. "The start-up [of the car] is scheduled for January 24. The shakedown is on January 29. That side is the calmest area of all, which is incredible. Nick and the guys at Wirth have done an incredible job."

On the driver front, Booth says the arrival of Timo Glock has been a big boost because of the valuable F1 experience he has.

"The wonderful thing about Timo was that he came over to meet everybody and it was not hours and hours of negotiation and selling to him what we could do," he said. "He just bought into the concept straightaway - and made his decision almost immediately.

"We had to finalise contracts and things, but he liked what he saw and wanted to be part of it. So somebody of his experience and quality, wanting to be part of it, not just an employee, is great. He wanted to build a team around him is as he put it. It is a fantastic boost for Timo to believe in us like he does.

"It is massive for us. Massive. Throughout the seat fitting, which we are doing at the moment, his knowledge even now is helping us plan for the first test."

Lucas di Grassi is expected to get the second seat at the team, with a decision expected within the next fortnight. Booth admitted that the Brazilian would be a good addition.

"Lucas would be great for a number of reasons," he explained. "He is an ex-Manor driver anyway. He won here in Macau for us. It would be great for us to have Lucas, and he has F1 testing experience as well in F1. Somebody like Lucas would be perfect."

And Booth admits that the team is keeping its ambitions in check for next year – with it well aware of how tough it will be to challenge more established outfits.

Sebastian Vettel shocked by Button's Moves

Sebastian Vettel was shocked by title rival Jenson Button's move to McLaren, and expects Mercedes GP to be a strong contender in 2010.

The German, who finished second in this year's world championship, said he was not expecting Button to leave the team with which he won both the drivers' and constructors' titles, especially given that it had just become a manufacturer outfit, with Mercedes taking controlling equity.

"I think it was a surprise to everyone," Vettel told AUTOSPORT. "Brawn GP, now Mercedes GP, was very very strong this year. They won the drivers' and constructors' championships. They had a very good car, a good team and it's always a surprise if a champion, in a champion team, is leaving.

"You don't know if things will change completely next year, but in that regard for Brawn GP it was a very positive thing to happen that Mercedes is now taking over and it's a manufacturer team.

"So it was a surprise and for next year they're going to be strong. McLaren always has been. This year they were struggling a little bit but I think looking back they've always been strong."

Vettel said it would be intriguing to watch how Button fares as the new boy coming in at McLaren, with Lewis Hamilton entering his fourth season with the team.

"I think it will be interesting," he said. "They're obviously both English and McLaren is an English team. Lewis knows the team very well, already for a couple of years now, Jenson is the new one coming in, so we will see."

The 22-year-old expects the usual top teams to be back in contention for the world championship in 2010, following a year of shake-ups in the established order due to the new tehcnical regulations. However he remains confident of Red Bull Racing getting even stronger after being Brawn GP's main rival this year.

"I'm very confident in how strong we are in Red Bull and we will get even stronger," said Vettel. "It will be a nice challenge next year, not only with McLaren, also with Mercedes GP, whose drivers we don't know yet, and also with Ferrari, same as McLaren.

"The rules change a little bit, no refuelling, a little bit different tyres but not that much. Not like from 2008 to 2009, so we'll see in the first test."

Nico Rosberg, says the World Champion's move to McLaren is "not a big News"

The man expected to replace Jenson Button at Mercedes GP, Nico Rosberg, says the World Champion's move to McLaren is "a bit surprising".

Barely a month after winning his maiden World Championship, Button sensationally decided to quit the Brackley-based outfit in favour of McLaren.

The move raised quite a few eyebrows. Even Rosberg was slightly taken aback, describing it as "a bit surprising and [an] interesting step" during a PR event for Allianz at the Hungaroring.

While Rosberg's move to Mercedes is expected to be confirmed over the next few days, the identity of his future team-mate remains a mystery. Several drivers from Michael Schumacher to Kimi Raikkonen have been linked with the seat.

The German says he hopes his team-mate isn't a "completely egocentric person".

"It's nice to have someone you can get on with, it's nice to have someone who isn't a completely egocentric person that just thinks about himself and tries to trick the other driver, because there is lots work you have to do together."

The 24-year-old Rosberg confirmed late in October that he is leaving Williams after four years and insists change will be good for him.

"I've been at Williams for four years and it's good for me to see something else," he said.

"That will give me the opportunity to see how another team works, and also develop as a driver. And I also wanted to have the opportunity to make the next step to get a car with which I can win races.

"I'm looking forward to next year, because I'm changing teams, and I think I will have a good chance of doing well and having a very competitive car, wherever I'll be driving."

Kimi Raikkonen will not race in the 2010 Formula One

"The option in Formula One was to be at McLaren or nothing. Kimi and McLaren were unable to come to an agreement, so he will not drive in Formula One, at least not in 2010. Kimi only wants to be in a team where he can fight for the World Championship, F1 will miss him, I'm sure. He fought hard this summer at Ferrari to develop the car and was able to improve it."

Kimi's only other perceivable option is to sign with the new Mercedes team with Jenson Button leaving the former Brawn GP to join McLaren. Reports in the Finnish media suggest a deal is highly probable, while Robertson has denied such a link:

"I have not held talks with Brawn. I feel they will run two German drivers next year, now that Mercedes are involved."

It would also seem unlikely Mercedes would be willing to pay Raikkonen's asking price, when Ross Brawn was reluctant to up the salary of Jenson Button, who is considerably less expensive than Raikkonen.

It would thus seem Kimi will take at least a year away from Formula 1 and enjoy the pay out on his contract with Ferrari and certainly numerous rallies. Whether he will return in 2011 is exceptionally uncertain as he will no doubt demand a championship capable car which may not be available. Raikkonen's sabbatical may even follow that of fellow Finn Mika Hakkinen's 2001 break which was followed soon by a full retirement.

Timo Glock to Join Manor Grand Prix in 2010

Starting from next season, former Toyota driver Timo Glock will be pursuing his Formula 1 career with new Manor Grand Prix F1 team. The racing experience behind this ambitious British team has been extremely successful in various junior series in recent years, responsible for developing great talents such as Kimi Räikkönen and Lewis Hamilton in their early careers.

“It might seem like a brave step,” explained Glock. “But there are many good reasons to join this team. For me as a driver, for example, it was important that I was assured I would be involved in the development of the team and the car. The car is being designed by Nick Wirth. That was another argument in the team’s favour as far as I was concerned,” added Glock.

“Nick Wirth has a lot of race car design experience and a very good reputation. You only need to look at the Acura ARX-02a to see what he and his team can do. That prototype was immediately successful in the American Le Mans Series despite not spending a single hour in a wind tunnel. It is a sensational car!”

Many Formula 1 fans will remember Wirth as a leading aerodynamics engineer at the Benetton team, and he later designed a complete car for the first time with Simtek. The Brit learned his trade while working alongside star designer Adrian Newey at March and Leyton House. “When Nick and his colleagues John Booth and Graeme Lowdon talked to me, we were on the same wavelength straight away. They really wanted to have me on board to help develop the car,” said Glock.

“With a year left on the Toyota contract, we originally had other plans and were aiming to really compete for the world championship with the team. Now, for obvious reasons, that is not going to happen,” continued the German. “Ahead of me now is a great challenge. And I’m really looking forward to it!”

It is not only the technical side of things that has convinced Timo to join Manor. He explained: “The personal side is also extremely important to me. The atmosphere in a private British team like this is always terrific. I saw that during my time with iSport International in GP2. There we worked very closely together to achieve shared success. Manor is starting out with a similar working style which is why I have actively decided to join this team. We will all be pulling in the same direction and encouraging each other in order to drive the programme forward.”

Timo’s friend and manager Hans-Bernd Kamps looked at all the options available to Timo in 2010 and concluded: “I think it’s great that Timo is taking on this challenge with Manor Grand Prix. I know the team will benefit from his commitment, determination and speed.”

López not agree to USF1 deal

José María López has said that he came to an agreement with USF1 on Friday and that, once the necessary sponsorship budget is in place, he will be racing for the team in 2010. Having visited the outfit's Charlotte facility, the Argentine must now find a number of sponsors for the new team.
López is a former GP2 and Renault F1 test driver. According to USF1's Peter Windsor, Sporting Director for the team, his FIA Superlicense shouldn't be an issue. "I don't think his license will be a problem with the many miles he has covered as Renault test driver," Windsor explained.

"We would like to sign a contract as soon as possible. It is important for both team and driver to sign a driver as early as possible but, as long as we have not signed a deal, it would be inappropriate to say more