Latest F1 news in brief
- Webber set to dominate German GP
- Ecclestone backs breakaway with 'GP1 Series'
- Glock likely to start from pitlane
- Rosberg wants 2010 contract by September
- Brawn CEO Fry ties the knot
- Alguersuari 'ready' to step in at Toro Rosso
Webber set to dominate German GP
(GMM) Pole sitter Mark Webber looks set to dominate Sunday's German grand prix.
On Saturday the Australian comfortably set pole position at the Nurburgring, but it was only after the FIA published the starting weights of the field did his true dominance become clear.
Webber's Red Bull was carrying about 56kg of fuel in the Q3 qualifying round: about 15kg more than the chasing Brawns, who therefore must pit about seven laps earlier than the 32-year-old at the end of their first stint.
Any hopes that his teammate Sebastian Vettel's fourth spot on the grid can be explained by fuel was also dashed when it was revealed his fuel weight was identical to Webber's.
Off the back of his maiden pole, Webber's first win is a real probability on Sunday. "I hope so, I hope so," he told reporters.
"I am in a fantastic position to do it and I am up for it."
Another interesting point to emerge from fuel-correction calculations from Nurburgring Q3 is that Lewis Hamilton, albeit fifth on the grid, was actually the third quickest car on the track if his fuel load – about 10kg more than the Brawns – is factored in.
Also mightily impressive in the top-ten runout was Force India's Adrian Sutil, who qualified seventh with a hefty 73kg fuel load.
Ecclestone backs breakaway with 'GP1 Series'
(GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has filed trademark applications that indicate he is ready to back the breakaway plans.
Britain's Sunday Express newspaper reveals he, through one of his companies Epsilon Ltd, applied for ownership of the words 'Formula Grand Prix' and 'Formula GP' on June 19.
June 19 was the day on which FOTA originally launched its intention to break away from the official F1 series.
On the same date, Ecclestone also lodged applications to protect 'GP1' and 'GP1 Series' logos, which can be previewed by doing a public search at the European trademark consultation service website.
Also trademarked by Epsilon recently were logos for a junior series called GP3, meaning that if FOTA was to turn to Ecclestone for help with its breakaway, it could operate with GP1, GP2 – the existing F1 support category – and GP3 under a uniform umbrella.
The potential involvement not only of the eight FOTA teams but also Ecclestone and F1's commercial owners CVC would pile enormous pressure on FIA president Max Mosley to back down.
The next crucial date in the political saga is Wednesday, when FOTA could be ready to sign off its Cost Regulation contract and all parties enact a new Concorde Agreement.
Only minor disagreements are presently holding back full agreement on the proposed technical regulations.
If the FIA further dithers, it is on Wednesday that FOTA is warning it will press ahead definitively with its breakaway.
Ecclestone told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport: "Next week we will have peace in formula one. We will all agree and there will only be one series."
Glock likely to start from pitlane
(GMM) Timo Glock is likely to start the German grand prix from the pitlane, following his demotion to the back of the grid.
Stewards penalized and reprimanded the Toyota driver, who qualified a miserable 19th at the Nurburgring, for blocking Fernando Alonso on Saturday.
His three-spot demotion guaranteed a back-of-the-grid start, moving Toyota to shift Glock to the pitlane and benefit from non-parc ferme status in the hours before the race.
Asked on Sunday morning if he is due to start from the pitlane, he said: "I think so."
After qualifying, he indicated the Cologne based team had plenty to work on. "I don't know if it is only the temperatures (affecting performing) or something else as well," said Glock.
Rosberg wants 2010 contract by September
(GMM) Nico Rosberg has set a two-month deadline by which time he wants a firm contract for the 2010 season.
The Williams driver, nearing the end of his current contract, is openly musing a switch, with speculation linking him with McLaren and BMW.
"I haven't made a decision yet," he said in Sunday's Bild am Sonntag newspaper. "In two months at the latest I would like to have clarity.
"If negotiations drag on any longer it wouldn't be good — by then the best cockpits are assigned," said Rosberg.
The German has recently been declaring his satisfaction with Williams, for whom he debuted in 2006, but insists he has "several options" for the future.
"It is a difficult decision," Rosberg continued to tell the German newspaper.
Asked if money is a priority, he answered: "I am in my fourth season in formula one. I want to finally have a car with which I can drive regularly to the podium. And to win."
The Bild interviewer pointed out that an alliance of McLaren-Mercedes and a German national is the desire of many of his compatriot supporters.
Laughing, Rosberg answered: "But I also speak Italian, which would fit well with Ferrari. And English for Williams. And Spanish and French as well!"
Brawn CEO Fry ties the knot
(GMM) Brawn chief executive Nick Fry, 53, married his fiancée Kate in London last weekend.
They are both at the Nurburgring this weekend.
Alguersuari 'ready' to step in at Toro Rosso
(GMM) Jamie Alguersuari has denied the latest rumor in the Nurburgring paddock: that he has been told to prepare for his debut grand prix in two weeks.
The Spanish teenager is at the German circuit this weekend in his new role as reserve driver for Red Bull's two formula one teams.
His presence coincides with strong rumors that Toro Rosso is readying to oust French race driver Sebastien Bourdais at the conclusion of Sunday's German grand prix.
Alguersuari said: "Sincerely, as of today, I don't know anything.
"I know there are many rumors and it is being spoken about in the paddock. But my position is the third pilot and that is all I know," the reigning champion of British F3 is quoted as saying by the EFE news agency.
Alguersuari, who has a superlicense because of his F3 title, said last week that he would prefer to debut for Toro Rosso in 2010, when he will have more experience under his belt.
He said on Saturday: "I believe a driver is always ready to drive a car. If you are good enough then you are good enough without much experience."
He didn't want to discuss the possibility that he could be on the Hungaroring grid in two weeks time. "I haven't stopped to think about it," said Alguersuari, who was also asked about the man he might replace, Bourdais.
He said he had dinner with the Frenchman on Thursday and that he seemed like a "nice guy".