Red Bull bought Jaguar
(GMM -- Nov.15) Energy drink brand Red Bull has bought Formula One team Jaguar, Dieter Mateschitz told an Austrian newspaper.

The company's owner - reported to have paid more than $28 million - was quoted by the Salzburger Nachrichten as saying ''It's true -- we bought (the team) at the weekend.''

November 15, Monday, is the deadline for official team entries for the 2005 world championship season.

The Austrian boss, Mateschitz, said young countryman Christian Klien, Red Bull-backed in 2004, would test the car later in November and another season on the race grid 'would make sense.'

A Red Bull-owned car would be Cosworth-powered next year, Dieter also revealed.








Sauber set for KL launch
(GMM -- Nov.15) Switzerland-based Formula One team Sauber will launch its 2005 car - to be called C24 - in Malaysia on 11 January, a statement said prior to the weekend.

The event is set to coincide with oil sponsor Petronas' 10-years-in-Formula One celebration in Kuala Lumpur.

''(Petronas) has been a vital partner to the Swiss outfit since (1995),'' the team statement read.

Sauber's customer Ferrari engine deal is paid for with the Malaysian money.

In 2004, Sauber launched the C23 car at sponsor Red Bull's 'Hangar-7' in Salzburg. The energy drink's owner Dieter Mateschitz has just bought Jaguar.








Banks bowl Bernie blow
(GMM -- Nov.15) On Friday, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone's fight to remain in control of grand prix racing suffered a blow.

A London appeal judge ruled against a request to have a case - brought by three F1-owning banks - heard under Swiss, not British, law.

It means the case will now be heard in the London High Court later in November.

''The overall dispute concerns the control and future of Formula One racing,'' said the judge, who explained that shifting the case to a Geneva court would only involve a delay and more expense.

GPWC, a group of rogue car manufacturers in Formula One, said in a statement after the ruling that the banks seem 'closer' to gaining control of the sport.

''Whatever happens (the case) won't stop GPWC,'' said a spokesman.







Jordan 'will enter'
(GMM -- Nov.15) Financially struggling F1 team Jordan will lodge an official entry for the 2005 world championship, a spokeswoman has said.

''We haven't (yet),'' she revealed, ''but we will definitely do so before Monday.''

November 15 is the FIA-governed deadline.

The formerly Ford-powered team, led by Irish entrepreneur Eddie Jordan, is close to sealing a customer Toyota engine deal and may have new support from China, according to speculation.

''The FIA usually publishes a list of entrants (shortly after the deadline),'' the Jordan spokeswoman told us.








Bike legend wants F1 test
(GMM -- Nov.15) Mark Webber has promised to ask new employer BMW-Williams if friend and Tour de France legend Lance Armstrong can test a Formula One car.

''He said he wanted to drive ... rather than be a passenger,'' the Australian - who just completed a training regime with Lance in Texas (USA) - said.

27-year-old Webber recalled the 'amazing' experience of cycling alongside his American-born hero, who once conquered testicular cancer.

''My breaths soon got shorter,'' he laughed, ''as did my answers to his questions.''








Williams didn't 'expect' beating
(GMM -- Nov.15) BMW-Williams didn't expect to be beaten by rivals BAR-Honda and Renault in 2004, team co-owner and principal Sir Frank Williams admitted.

''We expected Ferrari to dominate,'' the wheelchair-bound chief said in an interview. ''(But) the developments (of BAR and Renault) compromised our championship chances.''

After a difficult early season, though, the formerly 'tusked' FW26 became more competitive until - finally - it won, with Juan Pablo Montoya at the wheel, in Brazil.

Frank said Grove-based BMW-Williams 'underestimated' other teams.







Jaguar cost $55m - report
(GMM -- Nov.15) Formula One team Jaguar cost new owner 'Red Bull' more than $55 million, according to a British newspaper.

'The People' said, unlike speculation that a nominal fee - such as $1 - would be sought so long as the drink brand could guarantee Jaguar's future, Ford's price tag would 'shock' other team principals.

It sheds some light on 'why the team ... struggled to find a buyer,' the tabloid newspaper report read.








'We've started the V8'
(GMM -- Nov.15) They don't like it, but some Formula One engine manufacturers have already started working to the new-for-2006 V8 regulations.

Mercedes-Benz, Honda and BMW will probably take the governing FIA to arbitration over the arguably illegal imposition of the new formula.

''(But) it's not an option'' to delay the start of the V8 programme, Mercedes' Norbert Haug told ESPN.com.

The German added: ''It is not a secret that we have made a different proposal.''

BMW, too, disagrees with the FIA that a smaller capacity will save money. ''(Carmakers have) to design and develop an all-new engine concept,'' said motorsport director Mario Theissen.

Honda's biggest bone, meanwhile, is with engine design limitations that will accompany the V8.








Barrichello wins in Brazil
(GMM -- Nov.15) Finally, Formula One driver Rubens Barrichello won in Brazil -- in a go-kart.

He and countrymen Tony Kanaan and Felipe Giaffone - as well as the IRL's Daniel Wheldon - crossed the line after eleven hours to the roar of a big crowd at the popular Granja Viana 500-mile race near Sao Paulo.

In second place was ex-Champ Car champion Gil de Ferran and former Penske team-mate Helio Castroneves, while F1's Juan Pablo Montoya and Antonio Pizzonia - in the same team - were a disappointing 57th of 70.








2004 'not lost year' - Kimi
(GMM -- Nov.15) Finnish Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen has denied that a disappointing 2004 campaign therefore meant the season was 'lost.'

The 25-year-old, who won just once after the heavily revised 'B' MP4-19 car was introduced mid-season, told 'Motorsport Aktuell' that he expected a bit more from Mercedes-powered McLaren.

''It was not a good season,'' the German language publication quoted Raikkonen as saying. ''In a way we were lucky we could win even once. I knew before Melbourne that we were in trouble.''

Kimi said winter testing uncovered a duel engine and chassis glitch.

Asked where the car was worst, Raikkonen replied: ''The rear end -- it was impossible to attack (with), but you have to try anyway and then you ruin the rubber.''








19-race calendar is 'too long'
(GMM -- Nov.15) A nineteen grand prix-calendar will only further 'dilute' the excitement of Formula One, four time world champion Alain Prost said.

The 49-year-old, who ran a French-based team for five years until 2001, said the sport in the Eighties and Nineties worked 'extraordinarily well.'

In Prost's racing days, there were 15 or 16 races a year. ''Now there are too many,'' said the Frenchman.








Pedro has a baby
(GMM -- Nov.15) Last week, McLaren tester Pedro de la Rosa's wife gave birth to a girl.

''In Formula One,'' said the Spaniard, who now has two children, ''timing is everything. This time, it is just right and we have a baby during the (end of year) break!''

Pedro and Maria de la Rosa's youngest daughter was born near their home in Barcelona.







Scalextric and Ferrari
(GMM -- Nov.15) 'Scalextric' will produce model Ferrari Formula One cars, brand owner Hornby announced.

A spokesman said the fabled Italian marque sold a licensing agreement to Margate-based Hornby to also produce miniature Ferrari road cars.

Hornby recorded significantly more impressive pre-tax profits in the June quarter.








Williams to welcome new teams
(GMM -- Nov.15) Sir Frank Williams will welcome new-for-2006 Formula One teams 'Dubai' and 'Midland' to the racing grid.

The Oxfordshire-based co-owner and principal said more entrants 'can only be good' for the pinnacle of motor sport as a whole.

Frank added: ''It heightens the competition and subsequently the spectacle.''

There is, also, a cost benefit for the other grand prix outfits, who - if the grid fell below twenty cars - would have to field an expensive third entrant.








Schu can't win 'em all
(GMM -- Nov.15) In Britain, sometimes seven-time Formula One world beater Michael Schumacher can't even outdo a touring car star.

The 35-year-old German was pipped at the post in an online poll, conducted by website crash.net, in the 'most outstanding motor sport performer' of 2004 category.

Ferrari's Schumacher, with 2857 votes, could not edge British Vauxhall driver James Thompson's 2903 -- for fourth place. The clear winner was MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi.

Newly crowned World Superbike champion James Toseland took second, ahead of British Superbike champion John Reynolds.

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