Jean Todt (right) and Ari Vatanen (left)

Max Mosley is finally leaving Formula One but not without some kind of involvement behind the scenes in his final letter.

He recommends close aide, Jean Todt, the former former Ferrari team principal as the one who should be handling future motorsport matters.

The 69 year old has official sent out his ’stepping down’ letter as the the President to all members of the FIA.

The letter partly read, “Since my announcement on 24 June that I was not going to seek re-election, I have received almost 100 messages from FIA member clubs urging me to think again.

From a personal point of view it would be very diffcult for me to change my mind and stand again.

I also informed senior FIA staff that I would not be a candidate.

Therefore, with these new arrangements in place, extremely grateful though I am for all the letters, emails and messages I received, I have decided to reconfirm my decision. I will not be a candidate in October.

I believe the objectives of those who have been kind enough to support me can be achieved if you elect a strong, experienced and competent team, one which will maintain the independence of the FIA and ensure that both the sport and the mobility side are properly run. As an ex officio member of the Senate, I hope to play a modest role myself.

I believe the right person to head that team would be John Todt.”

I myself don’t believe Jean Todt will bring any changes to F1 as what the FOTA wants in their bargaining rally-cry previously.

Todt I believe is still an ‘old-school’ racer, similar to Mosley, just take a look at how he handled Ferrari back in his heydays. Plus he’s an unpopular figure in the paddock.

He ruled with a fist firm hand, and his saying is final, again as with Max Mosley. Recall the time when Todt ordered Barrichello to slow down and let Schumacher win the race. That kind of decision tars F1 image, as it should be fair and free.

That’s why I believe electing a successor instead for the FIA Presidency is the best, instead of appointments.

So far Ari Vatanen has declared his candidacy. The 57 year old Finn is the former 1981 World Rally Champion and a two-term member of the European Parliament. He has also gained the support of the American Automobile Association as well as McLaren Mercedes team principal Martin Whitmarsh.

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Sebastien Bourdais (left) and Jaime Alguersuari (right)

Sebastien Bourdais who drives for Toro Rosso had an abysmal season so far.

This season after nine Grand Prix, he could only garner two Championship points, lying in 16th position, and his best results were 8th position in Australia and Monaco.

I wasn’t surprised on the rumors that the Scuderia Toro Rosso has decided to drop the 30 year old for a 19 year old prodigal driving teen.

Spain’s Jaime Alguersuari is expected to drive for the Italian team, and you might just see him in the next race in Hungary.

If so, that would make him the youngest ever driver to compete in Formula 1, taking over the mantle held previously by Sebastian Vettel.

Toro Rosso is interested to sign the young driver for the long haul.

Alguersuari is a reserve driver for Red Bull Racing, and was the champion at the British Formula 3 Championship last year, so the kid has the calibre to drive.

Will he be another Vettel in the making? Who knows, but he is indeed an exciting prospect.

As for Bourdais, the Frenchman might just return to Le Mans 24 Hours or Champ Car World Series.

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1st lap of German Grand Prix

Rubens Barrichello critisises BrawnGP

F1 German GP 2009 Highlights (Video Photo Slides)

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A win for webber at Nurburgring, Germany

An elated Mark Webber was ecstatic at his first ever Grand Prix win after 130 races.

He made his breakthrough at the German Grand Prix, where starting from pole position, he won the race, but not with some drama.

At the start of the race, he clipped the tyres of both Rubens Barrichello and Lewis Hamilton on the first bend.

Barrichello came out alright, but Hamilton was relegated to an early pit stop for a tyre replacement.

That incident cost Webber a drive-through penalty, but against all odds, the Aussie came back from behind and clinched his maiden GP win in Formula One.

Webber was quoted, “I knew my start was not absolutely fantastic, I thought the penalty was a little bit harsh, but maybe they wanted to spice things up a bit. That sort of thing is definitely not my style, but I lost (sight of) Rubens for a while. The way the mirrors are set up for aerodynamic purposes, it’s difficult to see and when we touched I s*** myself. So when they told me, I had a fair idea what it was for. I couldn’t believe it was for touching one of the McLarens. Then I came pretty close to speeding in pit lane too because I was quite frustrated. Fortunately, my engineer kept me calm. I was thinking to myself, ‘Now I knew how Seb felt at Silverstone, being able to control a grand prix.’ It’s very tough to overtake because these cars are so even. You need free air, and good qualifying, and that’s where we got the job done this weekend.”

It was a well deserved win for the 34 year old as it has been 28 years since Alan Jones in 1980, that the Australia’s national anthem was played and flag raised on the winning podium.

Despite the win, Jensen Button still commands a 21 point lead to the nearest driver, and the constructor, Brawn GP is still the runaway leader with 112 points to RedBull’s 92.5 points.

German GP Sun. Race (12 July 2009)

1. Mark Webber (RBR-Renault) 60 laps [1:36:43.3] 10 pts
2. Sebastian Vettel (RBR-Renault) 60 laps [+9.2 secs] 8 pts
3. Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 60 laps [+15.9 secs] 6 pts
4. Nico Rosberg (Williams-Toyota) 60 laps [+21.0 secs] 5 pts
5. Jenson Button (Brawn-Mercedes) 60 laps [+23.6 secs] 4 pts
6. Rubens Barrichello (Brawn-Mercedes) 60 laps [+24.4 secs] 3 pts
7. Fernando Alonso (Renault) 60 laps [+24.8 secs] 2 pts
8. Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren-Mercedes) 60laps [+58.6 secs] 1 pts
9. Timo Glock (Toyota) 60 laps [+61.4 secs]
10. Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber) 60 laps [+61.9 secs]
11. Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India-Mercedes) 60 laps [+62.3 secs]
12. Kazuki Nakajima (Williams-Toyota) 60 laps [+62.8 secs]
13. Nelsinho Piquet (Renault) 60 laps [+68.3 secs]
14. Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber) 60 laps [+69.5 secs]
15. Adrian Sutil (Force India-Mercedes) 60 laps [+71.9 secs]
16. Sebastien Buemi (STR-Ferrari) 60 laps [+90.2 secs]
17. Jarno Trulli (Toyota) 60 laps [+90.9 secs]
18. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes) 59 laps [+1 Lap]
19. Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 34 laps [Radiator damage Retired]
20. Sebastien Bourdais (STR-Ferrari) 18 laps [Hydraulics Retired]

Drivers Points Season 2009

1. Jenson Button (British) Brawn-Mercedes / 68 pts
2. Sebastian Vettel (German) RBR-Renault / 47 pts
3. Mark Webber (Australian) RBR-Renault / 45.5 pts
4. Rubens Barrichello (Brazilian) Brawn-Mercedes / 44 pts
5. Felipe Massa (Brazilian) Ferrari / 22 pts
6. Jarno Trulli (Italian) Toyota / 21.5 pts
7. Nico Rosberg (German) Williams-Toyota / 20.5 pts
8. Timo Glock (German) Toyota / 13 pts
9. Fernando Alonso (Spanish) Renault / 13 pts
10. Kimi Räikkönen (Finnish) Ferrari / 10 pts
11. Lewis Hamilton (British) McLaren-Mercedes / 9 pts
12. Nick Heidfeld (German) BMW Sauber / 6 pts
13. Heikki Kovalainen (Finnish) McLaren-Mercedes / 5 pts
14. Sebastien Buemi (Swiss) STR-Ferrari / 3 pts
15. Robert Kubica (Polish) BMW Sauber / 2 pts
16. Sebastien Bourdais (French) STR-Ferrari / 2 pts
17. Adrian Sutil (German) Force India-Mercedes / 0 pts
18. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italian) Force India-Mercedes / 0 pts
19. Kazuki Nakajima (Japanese) Williams-Toyota / 0 pts
20. Nelsinho Piquet (Brazilian) Renault / 0 pts

Constructors Points Season 2009

1. Brawn-Mercedes 112 pts
2. RBR-Renault 92.5 pts
3. Toyota 34.5 pts
4. Ferrari 32 pts
5. Williams-Toyota 20.5 pts
6. McLaren-Mercedes 14 pts
7. Renault 13 pts
8. BMW Sauber 8 pts
9. STR-Ferrari 5 pts
10. Force India-Mercedes 0 pts

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Mark Webber at the German Grand Prix

Australian Mark Webber achieved his first ever maiden pole position at the German Grand Prix.

The RedBull driver pipped Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button who was second and third from the grid respectively.

The 32 year old clocked 1:32.230 in Q3, completing a total of 22 laps at the Nürburgring circuit.

Last year winner Lewis Hamilton will start fifth from the pole, just behind the last GP winner at Great Britain, Sebastian Vettel who settled for fourth.

The race begins today local time at 2pm.

German GP Sat. Qualifying (11 July 2009)

1. Mark Webber (RBR-Renault) [Q1] 01:31.257 [Q2] 01:38.0 [Q3] 01:32.230 [22 laps]
2. Rubens Barrichello (Brawn-Mercedes) [Q1] 01:31.482 [Q2] 01:34.455 [Q3] 01:32.357 [22 laps]
3. Jenson Button (Brawn-Mercedes) [Q1] 01:31.568 [Q2] 01:39.032 [Q3] 01:32.473 [23 laps]
4. Sebastian Vettel (RBR-Renault) [Q1] 01:31.430 [Q2] 01:39.504 [Q3] 01:32.480 [20 laps]
5. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes) [Q1] 01:31.473 [Q2] 01:39.149 [Q3] 01:32.616 [19 laps]
6. Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren-Mercedes) [Q1] 01:31.881 [Q2] 01:40.826 [Q3] 01:33.859 [21 laps]
7. Adrian Sutil (Force India-Mercedes) [Q1] 01:32.015 [Q2] 01:36.740 [Q3] 01:34.316 [20 laps]
8. Felipe Massa (Ferrari) [Q1] 01:31.600 [Q2] 01:41.708 [Q3] 01:34.574 [22 laps]
9. Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) [Q1] 01:31.869 [Q2] 01:41.730 [Q3] 01:34.710 [23 laps]
10. Nelsinho Piquet (Renault) [Q1] 01:32.128 [Q2] 01:35.737 [Q3] 01:34.803 [24 laps]
11. Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber) [Q1] 01:31.771 [Q2] 01:42.310 [14 laps]
12. Fernando Alonso (Renault) [Q1] 01:31.302 [Q2] 01:42.318 [15 laps]
13. Kazuki Nakajima (Williams-Toyota) [Q1] 01:31.884 [Q2] 01:42.500 [17 laps]
14. Jarno Trulli (Toyota) [Q1] 01:31.760 [Q2] 01:42.771 [17 laps]
15. Nico Rosberg (Williams-Toyota) [Q1] 01:31.598 [Q2] 01:42.859 [14 laps]
16. Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber) [Q1] 01:32.190 [10 laps]
17. Sebastien Buemi (STR-Ferrari) [Q1] 01:32.251 [11 laps]
18. Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India-Mercedes) [Q1] 01:32.402 [11 laps]
19. Timo Glock (Toyota) [Q1] 01:32.423 [11 laps]
20. Sebastien Bourdais (STR-Ferrari) [Q1] 01:33.559 [11 laps]

German GP Sat. Prac #3 (11 July 2009)

1. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes) 01:31.121 [16 laps]
2. Fernando Alonso (Renault) 01:31.340 [18 laps]
3. Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 01:31.351 [20 laps]
4. Sebastian Vettel (RBR-Renault) 01:31.542 [17 laps]
5. Mark Webber (RBR-Renault) 01:31.610 [16 laps]
6. Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 01:31.615 [19 laps]
7. Jarno Trulli (Toyota) 01:31.620 [23 laps]
8. Nico Rosberg (Williams-Toyota) 01:31.690 [20 laps]
9. Kazuki Nakajima (Williams-Toyota) 01:31.731 [20 laps]
10. Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber) 01:31.928 [21 laps]
11. Jenson Button (Brawn-Mercedes) 01:32.009 [22 laps]
12. Timo Glock (Toyota) 01:32.022 [20 laps]
13. Adrian Sutil (Force India-Mercedes) 01:32.104 [20 laps]
14. Rubens Barrichello (Brawn-Mercedes) 01:32.124 [13 laps]
15. Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India-Mercedes) 01:32.135 [21 laps]
16. Nelsinho Piquet (Renault) 01:32.223 [15 laps]
17. Sebastien Buemi (STR-Ferrari) 01:32.239 [23 laps]
18. Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber) 01:32.269 [20 laps]
19. Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren-Mercedes) 01:32.742 [18 laps]
20. Sebastien Bourdais (STR-Ferrari) 01:32.883 [21 laps]

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It was wet and slippery at the Nuerburgring circuit

British driver Lewis Hamilton for the McLaren team is still fighting hard keep up with the runaway champion of Brawn and RedBull.

The defending World Champion flexed his driving muscles in the second practice session yesterday and come out tops, just some two hundred of a second faster than Sebastian Vettel.

The Nuerburgring circuit saw Hamilton as the king in the wet condition of Germany for now, and he hopes to capitalize on this good momentum for pole position today.

The Brit was quoted, “For us this will be a big step, If we’re able to challenge for the points every weekend, that would be a huge boost for us. Hopefully we’ll now do our job at the track and try to keep everything moving forward.”

Showers are expected for today Saturday’s qualifying.

# Last Practice (11:00 – 12:00, 11 Jul)

# Qualifying (14:00, 11 Jul)

German GP Fri. Prac #2 (10 July 2009)

1. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes) 01:32.149 [23 laps]
2. Sebastian Vettel (RBR-Renault) 01:32.331 [31 laps]
3. Jenson Button (Brawn-Mercedes) 01:32.369 [32 laps]
4. Mark Webber (RBR-Renault) 01:32.480 [28 laps]
5. Jarno Trulli (Toyota) 01:32.511 [32 laps]
6. Adrian Sutil (Force India-Mercedes) 01:32.585 [32 laps]
7. Rubens Barrichello (Brawn-Mercedes) 01:32.664 [26 laps]
8. Fernando Alonso (Renault) 01:32.774 [24 laps]
9. Kazuki Nakajima (Williams-Toyota) 01:32.872 [32 laps]
10. Nelsinho Piquet (Renault) 01:32.992 [29 laps]
11. Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber) 01:33.012 [36 laps]
12. Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 01:33.052 [34 laps]
13. Nico Rosberg (Williams-Toyota) 01:33.128 [34 laps]
14. Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber) 01:33.161 [28 laps]
15. Timo Glock (Toyota) 01:33.172 [34 laps]
16. Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 01:33.182 [29 laps]
17. Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren-Mercedes) 01:33.724 [27 laps]
18. Sebastien Buemi (STR-Ferrari) 01:33.903 [30 laps]
19. Sebastien Bourdais (STR-Ferrari) 01:34.025 [30 laps]
20. Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India-Mercedes) 01:38.877 [3 laps]

German GP Fri. Prac #1 (10 July 2009)

1. Mark Webber (RBR-Renault) 01:33.082 [19 laps]
2. Jenson Button (Brawn-Mercedes) 01:33.463 [18 laps]
3. Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 01:33.745 [21 laps]
4. Jarno Trulli (Toyota) 01:33.795 [23 laps]
5. Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India-Mercedes) 01:33.839 [26 laps]
6. Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) 01:33.840 [23 laps]
7. Nico Rosberg (Williams-Toyota) 01:33.902 [26 laps]
8. Sebastian Vettel (RBR-Renault) 01:33.909 [13 laps]
9. Kazuki Nakajima (Williams-Toyota) 01:33.952 [25 laps]
10. Fernando Alonso (Renault) 01:34.148 [16 laps]
11. Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber) 01:34.221 [25 laps]
12. Rubens Barrichello (Brawn-Mercedes) 01:34.227 [17 laps]
13. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes) 01:34.483 [14 laps]
14. Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber) 01:34.694 [23 laps]
15. Nelsinho Piquet (Renault) 01:34.738 [24 laps]
16. Sebastien Bourdais (STR-Ferrari) 01:34.827 [27 laps]
17. Sebastien Buemi (STR-Ferrari) 01:34.878 [28 laps]
18. Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren-Mercedes) 01:34.893 [26 laps]
19. Timo Glock (Toyota) 01:34.911 [23 laps]
20. Adrian Sutil (Force India-Mercedes) 01:35.092 [6 laps]

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Fernando Alonso - Is he or isn't he a Scuderia

I think this is the longest running rumor in Formula One ever.

The past 4-5 years, Renault’s Fernando Alonso has been speculated with moves to Ferrari.

This time again in recent months, with former World Champion Kimi Raikkonen eying a move to rally driving, the possibly empty slot at the Scuderia might just be Alonso’s.

Well the Spaniard once again dismissed the rumors when asked by the press.

Blimey for once and for all Alonso, just move to the bloody Scuderia outfit, we all know you want to be there.

Well Alonso was quoted diplomatically,

“They are only rumours. They have been happening in the last four or five years. t is important, but it is not the end of the world. I am missing winning, there are no doubts. I want to win and to have a performing car as soon as possible, but I also understand that this is sport and it happens everywhere not only in motor racing.

It happens in tennis, it happens in NBA, in football. Sometimes you go up and down in your career. In motorsport, it is even more important to have the car and the package. We saw with Michael (Schumacher), maybe the greatest driver ever, two world championships in Benetton and then five years in Ferrari waiting because this is not only the human part, it is also the team and the package. So, I put myself in that part of my career, in stand by, and I am preparing myself very strong physically and mentally.”

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Singapore hotels bookings during F1 week now comes with assurances

Looks like after learning their mistake of putting the prices of their hotel too high last year, it saw poor early bookings.

The chain of hoteliers has now come out with a “Best Rate Guarantee” offer.

What that means is that when fans book their hotel now during the F1 period, they have a greater degree of assurance that the hotel prices during the F1 period which has price drops during the race weekend, they will get to enjoy it too.

Last year fans was fuming that hotels dropped the hotel prices considerably when the hoteliers was trying to entice more visitors at last minute, trying to make up the losses due to low turnout bookings.

The fan who booked earlier basically paid more than those who booked in during race weekend.

Book Singapore F1 Ticket and Hotel Packages

Book Singapore F1 Tickets only

This initiative was a result of feedback from corporate and general ticket-holders, and the race promoters has partnered with some of Singapore’s leading 28 hotels to offer this new offer.

The hotelier claims that the hotel rates this year are 30-50 per cent lower than last year.

The 2009 Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix will be held from 25th – 27th September.

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Schumacher also shares his thoughts on the late Ayrton Senna.

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