Ecclestone: I can’t do my job when I’m dead

Bernie Ecclestone reverted to his typical sardonic humour and image of invincibility when asked in Turkey if he fears Formula 1 slipping from his grasp.

Asked by Bild am Sonntag if he is worried he may soon have to relinquish his role as the most powerful figure in the Formula 1 paddock, he answered simply, “Yes.”

Asked why, the 80-year-old Briton told the German Sunday newspaper, “Because I can’t do my job when I’m dead.”

He suggested to Bloomberg in another interview that he cannot understand the interest of News Corp and Ferrari linked Exor when the sport’s current owners CVC are not interested in selling.

And he revealed, “There’s been other interest for quite some time”, adding that CVC might only be swayed with a “bloody enormous” offer.

FIA president Jean Todt confirmed on Sunday that the governing body has the right to veto a sale.

Curiously, another spanner in the works could be Todt’s predecessor Max Mosley, who called the FIA veto the ‘Don King clause’ because the flamboyant boxing promoter would not be an appropriate owner for the sport.

It’s about “having a suitable, proper person” owning Formula 1, Mosley told Bloomberg. “From a personal point of view, I don’t think they’d be the right person,” he said, referring to News Corp.

Mosley’s main gripe with Rupert Murdoch is his UK tabloid News of the World, responsible not only for the infamous ‘Nazi hookers’ story but also for hacking the phones of celebrities.

“There has been clear illegality,” said Mosley.

A News Corp spokeswoman declined to comment on Ecclestone or Mosley’s comments.

Source: YallaF1

Schumacher still 'serious competitor' for 2010 title - Alonso

Fernando Alonso on Wednesday said he expects Michael Schumacher to be back up to full speed before long.

With the seven time world champion outpaced so far by his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg and 26 points behind the 24-year-old, some have written off Schumacher's ability to impress on his return to the sport.

But Alonso, who now drives for Ferrari, having beaten the 41-year-old to the last two championships of his original career in 2005 and 2006, is sure the German is still as competitive as before.

"He is still the Michael Schumacher that we know," the Spaniard told Germany's Sport Bild magazine, published on Wednesday.

"I respect him in the same way I did three years ago and am sure that he will show his true qualities when the car is better," Alonso, 28, added.

"I really believe Michael will be a serious competitor for the title this year," he insisted.

But Alonso also thinks Schumacher's records, including 91 wins and seven titles, are safe.

"Because the rules are now so tight, there will be no one who is far superior to the others, as Ferrari was in the past," he said.

"If you ask me, Michael's records are safe."

Alonso also said he feels more comfortable at Ferrari than ever before in Formula One, predicting that the Maranello based team will be his last.

"It is the atmosphere in the team," said Alonso, who since 2001 has also driven for Minardi and Renault. "(At Ferrari it's) like you're among friends.

"When they say 'goodbye', it will be time to finish my Formula One career," said Alonso.

Source: Motorsport

RIKU KUVAJA DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE GERMAN CLAIMS: NOW WE CONCENTRATE ON RALLY

The German Bild am Sonntag -magazine is busy pushing Kimi Räikkönen back into the F1-circus.

Bild am Sonntag manages to push in fresh F1-rumours in a convenient time. Räikkönen's rally career has started in a coughing way and Webber managed to make a classic blunder in Australia GP.

Riku Kuvaja doesn't listen to the claim.

- Rumours. This is a genre where there has always been and will always be a lot of rumours, Kuvaja said to Iltalehti.

- We are focusing on rally with all we got. When something new appears we will inform.

According to Kuvaja Räikkönen doesn't have the interest to follow all the rumours about him.

- He doesn't read them. Kimi has lived in the same rumour mill for ten years already.

Source: Iltalehti.fi
Courtesy: Nicole

Mildh: Red Bull is Räikkönen's only option

According to Yle Sports expert Jukka Mildh, Kimi Räikkönen's return to Formula 1 in Red Bull-team would be a natural choice for Räikkönen. If Räikkönen even returns to F1. German Bild-magazine told earlier on Sunday that Räikkönen would be transferring to Red Bull for next season.

Mildh paid a visit to Urheiluruutu [a sports news broadcast] and emphasized that Red Bull would be the only rational team for Räikkönen. And that is only if the Finn even returns to F1.

Mildh highlighted that Red Bull has a competitive car. In addition the team's other driver Mark Webber's contract ends after this season. In the other top teams the contracts continue.

- Red Bull has the fastest car and only a winning car suffices to Räikkönen. Red Bull is like that, Mildh continues.

Red Bull's other driver is German Sebastien Vettel, who has a long-term contract in the team.

Räikkönen drives in WRC with Citroen at the moment but practically the majority of his earnings comes from Red Bull.

- If he has the desire, the negotiations relating to the issue can be arranged in an instant, Mildh says.

At the moment the comeback-rumour is strenghtened by Webber's driving-error on Sunday's Australian GP.

- When the contract is on a pause after this season, Webber didn't do a favor for himself when crashing with Lewis Hamilton, Mildh notes.

Mildh reminds though, that at the moment Räikkönen is serious about rallying. He has no compelling need to return to F1.

- Kimi gets some appropriate distance to the F1-world so he can follow the development of the situation in peace also from his part, Mildh evaluates.

The German Bild-magazine has been right before about the happenings in F1-world. The magazine was the first to report about ia Michael Schumacher's comeback to F1.

Source: YLE.fi
Courtesy: Leijona

Raikkonen to partner Vettel at Red Bull in 2011 - report

Kimi Raikkonen is set to replace Red Bull's Mark Webber ahead of the 2011 season.

A report in Germany's Bild am Sonntag said the return of the Finn to Formula One, to become his friend Sebastian Vettel's teammate, is already being arranged.

Raikkonen, 30, is already under contract to the energy drinks company, having switched from Ferrari to world rallying for 2010 with the Red Bull-funded Citroen Junior Team.

RBR team boss Christian Horner recently admitted that hiring Raikkonen for 2011 is an "interesting idea", and speculation about Webber's expiring contract was re-fired this weekend when Lewis Hamilton tipped the Australian to retire.

Horner said on Saturday: "We are very happy with our drivers. Mark is driving very well, and he is not old, as Michael has demonstrated.

"The average age (of F1 drivers) has dropped, but as long as Mark is motivated, competitive and quick, I don't think that he has any thoughts of stopping just yet."

Vettel told Bild am Sonntag: "Kimi and I are good friends, but in the end I don't care who sits in the other car because I still have to beat him."

He would not confirm that the Raikkonen deal is close to being finalised.

"I don't know what the team is planning. And in the end, it is of course Kimi's decision. He needs to see how he feels."

Source: Motorsport