news

F1: Ecclestone Pushing To Kill V6 Engine Plan Before 2014 Debut

Ecclestone pushing to 'get rid of' V6 engines Perez no longer a 'pay driver' – Whitmarsh Nationality played against di Resta for McLaren seat – Coulthard Schu to take 'months' to decide future – Brawn


  • Ecclestone pushing to 'get rid of' V6 engines
  • Perez no longer a 'pay driver' - Whitmarsh
  • Nationality played against di Resta for McLaren seat - Coulthard
  • Schu to take 'months' to decide future - Brawn

Ecclestone pushing to 'get rid of' V6 engines

Bernie Ecclestone is determined to scrap F1's engine regulation change for 2014.

The F1 chief executive recently visited Ferrari's Maranello headquarters, where he heard the tamer sounds of the incoming turbo V6 engine.

"Even (Ferrari president) Luca di Montezemolo said it sounded terrible and didn't like it," Ecclestone told The Hindustan Times.

The 81-year-old Briton tipped FIA president Jean Todt to "get rid of it".

"I think Luca is also saying we should suspend it for two or three years. I think it is sensible to get rid of it and stick with what we have got," added Ecclestone.

(GMM)

Perez no longer a 'pay driver' - Whitmarsh

Sergio Perez is no longer a "pay driver", McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh insists.

Mexican Perez, also backed by Ferrari, started his F1 career by bringing millions in Carlos Slim-linked Telmex dollars to Sauber.

But he is now moving to McLaren, amid speculation Telmex might eventually replace the grandee British team's title sponsor Vodafone.

The Telegraph, however, quotes Whitmarsh as insisting there are no "side deals" to McLaren's Perez contract.

"I did have a conversation with Carlos Slim yesterday but we have made an offer to Sergio, we are paying him well and there are no side deals," he said.

"I'm not saying that ultimately there won't be other fresh partners coming forward because of it but that wasn't the motivating force," insisted Whitmarsh.

He is quoted by Sky Sports F1 HD channel: "He (Perez) is not a pay driver, he is being paid a lot of money.

"Sponsorship was not a factor, we picked Sergio because he is the most exciting young talent in Formula One.

"Do I believe there will be some exciting commercial opportunities in the future? Yes. Have we looked at them yet? No."

(GMM)

Nationality played against di Resta for McLaren seat - Coulthard

Fellow Scot David Coulthard thinks Paul di Resta could still be a contender for a top seat in 2012.

Coulthard, the former long-time McLaren driver, believes his former team "looked at" Force India's di Resta as a possible replacement for the departing Lewis Hamilton.

But even though McLaren made much of their all-British driver pairing of Hamilton alongside Jenson Button since 2010, Coulthard thinks di Resta's nationality actually played against him.

"My feeling is they (McLaren) had shaken the British tree as much as they could sponsor-wise and Perez, quite apart from his undoubted ability behind a wheel, offered something different in that respect," he wrote in a column for the Telegraph.

Coulthard is probably referring to rumours Sergio Perez - Hamilton's actual 2013 successor - could eventually bring his backer Telmex and other Mexican pesos to McLaren to replace wavering title sponsor Vodafone.

McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh confirmed di Resta was considered for the seat.

"I know Paul very well and the true answer is that I rate him but it would probably have been continuing a little bit too much with the British theme to have gone that route," he said.

But what about Ferrari?  Even though Felipe Massa seems set for another season in red, Coulthard thinks di Resta is still a contender.

"Why not?" he said.  "I'm biased but I feel Paul is the obvious choice."

(GMM)

Schu to take 'months' to decide future - Brawn

It could be "months" before Michael Schumacher has decided his future, Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn has revealed.

The seven time world champion has lost his race seat for 2013 to Lewis Hamilton, but he has been tipped to switch to Sauber or a team management role at Mercedes.

"I think Michael's going to take a few months to think about things and reflect on things, to decide what to do in the future," Brawn told Reuters Television.

The Briton said Schumacher, 43, is welcome to stay in the Mercedes family.

"There are opportunities within the team, within Mercedes for Michael to stay involved in some capacity or other, and he's particularly interested in developing high performance cars, that sort of thing," said Brawn.

(GMM)

 

Drive Team

The Drive Team brings you trusted, expert reviews of your next new car and is home to the best new car awards program in Australia.

Read more about Drive TeamLinkIcon
Chat with us!







Chat with Agent