Button targets podium in home Grand Prix

Next weekend’s British Grand Prix will be the twelfth for Jenson Button, although the 2009 World Champion is yet to record a rostrum result in his home race. After debuting for Williams eleven years ago, Button’s best Silverstone finishes to date are his fourth place results for BAR and McLaren in 2004 and 2010, respectively.
“Hopefully I can get onto the podium and that’s my aim- for some reason I’ve never been on the podium at the British Grand Prix,” he said in a Tuesday interview for McLaren title sponsor Vodafone.

“I think Lewis (Hamilton) and myself were a bit negative after the (Valencia) race because we just weren’t quick enough. But, looking at it now, we have some good improvements for Silverstone. I don’t know whether it’s going to be enough to fight with the Red Bulls or to get onto the podium, but we have improvements and we’re positive that we’re going to get the best out of them. We’ll see. We want to put on a good show for the British fans and I think that’s why we were a little bit negative after the last Grand Prix.”
When asked if Sebastian Vettel’s championship advantage of 77 points can be cut down, Button replied:
“He’s got a big advantage after eight races but…who knows. We’re not going to stop trying. We’re going to be trying our best, we’re a fantastic team and I feel that, if we keep pushing hard, we’ll slowly, slowly pull them back. I hope so.
“It’s tricky because they’re doing a great job, and they are doing a great job. The only people that have beaten them have been us – Lewis and myself – so we are the challengers.”

Pirelli considers qualifying tyre for 2012

A quicker tyre for qualifying is one of the ideas Formula 1 tyre supplier Pirelli is discussing ahead of the 2012 season. Another suggestion from Paul Hembery, the company’s Motorsport Director, is to take three Slick compounds to each race.
“We are already thinking about next season now and see where the weaknesses are in our system,” Hembery explained to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

Pirelli's Paul Hembery

“For example, when the first two practice sessions are held in wet conditions, we really need an extra set of Intermediates, and we have already agreed that next year this should be included in the rule.
“We have more ideas, too. Perhaps we can develop a total of up to six different (dry weather, Slick) compounds and give teams three different types to choose. There are lots of options. We could also create a tyre with much grip for one lap, a special qualifier. Ultimately, the decision is down to the teams; if they don’t want it, we won’t do it.”
Qualifying tyres were last seen in F1 in the 1980s.

Mosley hits out at decision to reinstate Bahrain

Former FIA President Max Mosley has taken the same stance as Red Bull driver Mark Webber over the restored Bahrain Grand Prix, claiming the decision to set a new date for the event is a ‘mistake’. A unanimous vote at a World Motor Sport Council gathering on Friday resulted in the race being rescheduled for October 30, but Mosley believes the outcome could be costly for the sport. 

"Sporting bodies also have to overlook human rights violations in places where events are held and even in some member countries of the federations themselves," Mosley explained in a column for the Daily Telegraph.  

"There are several reasons for this. First, to apply the highest standards of human rights you would have to exclude a very large number of countries from international sport, including at least one close ally of the United Kingdom. 

"Secondly, if you were to apply anything less than the highest standards, you would be faced with endless debate about where to draw the line. Third, it is not the function of a sporting body to seek to dictate to governments what they can and cannot do. Politics should be left to the politicians. 

"Why is this different to running an event in any number of countries where people are oppressed, kept in poverty, held without trial and mistreated (or worse) in prison? Surely the line has to be drawn when a sporting event is not mere entertainment in a less-than-perfect country, but is being used by an oppressive regime to camouflage its actions." 

Mosley also stated that the FIA's choice will last in the memories of many people after the violence seen within the country earlier in the year, arguing that it could be very costly for the sport.

"If a sport accepts this role, it becomes a tool of government. If Formula 1 allows itself to be used in this way in Bahrain, it will share the regime's guilt as surely as if it went out and helped brutalise unarmed protesters. The decision to hold the race is a mistake which will not be forgotten and, if not reversed, will eventually cost Formula 1 dear."

FIA reveals 21-race calendar for 2012

Formula 1 governing body the FIA has released the first draft of the 2012 race calendar, following a World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) meeting in Barcelona on Friday. The calendar features a number of notable changes, not least that it increases in length once again to 21 races.

Beginning in Bahrain and ending in Brazil over eight months later, the schedule features five pairs of back-to-back weekends with the usual four-week summer break between Hungary and Belgium. The European season setup will begin in Turkey again, with Korea being brought forward to the fifth slot, in April. After a four-year absence, the United States returns with its brand-new Hermann Tilke-built track in Austin, Texas. Staged in June, the race will run a week after the Canadian Grand Prix.

The FIA also notes that it is now working alongside the FIM, governing body for MotoGP, to ensure that events do not clash.

The provisional 2012 F1 calendar is as follows:

Round 1 Bahrain, Sakhir – 11 March
Round 2 Australia, Melbourne – 18 March
Round 3 Malaysia, Sepang – 1 April
Round 4 China, Shanghai – 8 April
Round 5 Korea, Yeongam – 22 April
Round 6 Turkey, Istanbul – 6 May *
Round 7 Spain, Barcelona – 20 May
Round 8 Monaco, Monte Carlo – 27 May
Round 9 Canada, Montreal – 10 June
Round 10 United States, Austin – 17 June
Round 11 Europe, Valencia – 1 July
Round 12 Great Britain, Silverstone – 15 July
Round 13 Germany, Hockenheim – 29 July
Round 14 Hungary, Budapest – 5 August
Round 15 Belgium, Spa – 2 September
Round 16 Italy, Monza – 9 September
Round 17 Singapore – 30 September
Round 18 Japan, Suzuka – 14 October
Round 19 India, Greater Noida – 28 October
Round 20 Abu Dhabi, Yas Marina – 11 November
Round 21 Brazil, São Paulo – 25 November


* Subject to confirmation

Mark Webber Not Happy With Bahrain Decision

Mark's thoughts on yesterday's announcement to reschedule the 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix
“My opinion is unchanged since I was first asked about this in late February. Even though a decision has been made, I’ll be highly surprised if the Bahrain Grand Prix goes ahead this year.”

Mark Webber not happy with FIA decision

Photo by: xpb.cc

"In my personal opinion, the sport should have taken a much firmer stance earlier this year rather than constantly delaying its decision in hope of being able to re-schedule it in 2011. It would have sent a very clear message about Formula One’s position on something as fundamental as human rights and how it deals with moral issues.”
"It’s obvious that the parties involved have struggled to reach a decision but sadly I feel that they still haven’t made the right one. Like it or not, Formula One and sport in general isn’t above having a social responsibility and conscience. I hope Formula One is able to return to Bahrain eventually but now isn’t the right time.”
"As a competitor I do not feel at all comfortable going there to compete in an event when, despite reassurances to the contrary, it seems inevitable that it will cause more tension for the people of that country. I don’t understand why my sport wishes to place itself in a position to be a catalyst for that."

Source: markwebber.com