Massa oversteps the mark

Posted on 31/08/2010

Felipe Massa overshot his grid box in Belgium © Getty Images

Unlike the Pakistani cricket team bowlers, Felipe Massa appears to have escaped punishment for over-stepping his own white line at the start of the Belgian Grand Prix.

Footage on youtube clearly shows Massa significantly over-running his grid slot before the start of the race with almost half of his Ferrari past the front of his grid box.

Massa went on to finish the race in fourth although the FIA may well have issued him with a penalty if they deemed he gained a significant advantage at the start.

Hamilton denies demanding payment for signature

Posted on 29/08/2010

Lewis Hamilton says he is happy to sign autographs © Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton has denied that he demanded payment for signing a helmet for organisers of Abu Dhabi's Formula One race.

It was reported at Spa that every driver on the grid had signed the helmet, to be used for an end of season prize, with only the 2008 world champion demanding to be paid. It is understood that Hamilton, recently listed as F1's second highest earner, initially refused to sign the helmet misunderstanding what it would be used for.

"I would never ask for money to sign anything," Hamilton is quoted by the News of the World. "The only thing I ever ask is whether it is for charity."

McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh added that it was little more than a misunderstanding and that his drivers gave more time than most signing autographs.

"Lewis has said he will sign it. Both Lewis and Jenson do more signature signings than any driver I have ever witnessed and they do it with good grace. They never ask for money.”

Flaming Ferraris

Posted on 25/08/2010

A Ferrari ablaze in California © www.wreckedexotics.com

Ferrari is investigating a number of incidents where its new £170,000 458 Italia supercar has caught fire.

Photos of several burning or crashed 458s have surfaced on websites and in newspapers over the last few weeks, leading to questions over the car’s reliability.

Six of the cars are believed to have been involved in crashes, while three have burst into flames and another was destroyed in a warehouse fire. Ferrari is understandably keen to get to the bottom of the incidents.

"The company is currently investigating the particular incidents in which vehicles have apparently been involved in a vehicle fire, and it is currently treating these as separate incidents,” read a Ferrari statement.

Webber goes Craven mad

Posted on 24/08/2010

Mark Webber with Manchester United's Michael Carrick © Getty Images

A self-confessed avid sports fan, Mark Webber’s latest outing came at Craven Cottage, where he watched Fulham play host to Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League.

Webber reported on his twitter blog that he was looking forward to the game and that he had no preference on who would win.

“Off to watch Man U v Fulham later today with a few Aussies at the Craven! Don't care who wins, 7 goals each would be a good day out!!”

As it happened, Webber nearly got his wish, the teams playing out an entertaining 2-2 draw. The real highlight for Webber, however, was getting to meet a real legend of the game.

“Yep great at the footy yesterday, enjoyed it. Had a chat to a real special man and what a gentleman he is - Sir Bobby Charlton.”

Last summer, Webber was seen with Ricky Ponting and the Australian cricket team at Lord’s and compatriot Lleyton Hewitt at Wimbledon. A keen cyclist, he has also had the honour of riding alongside another sporting hero, Lance Armstrong.

Hamilton avoids Melbourne court

Posted on 22/08/2010

Lewis Hamilton says he has learned from his mistake © Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton will not attend a Melbourne court on Tuesday to answer changes resulting from an incident during the Australian Grand Prix when he was stopped by police for doing burn-outs and fishtails on a public road.

He will be represented by a lawyer rather than fly to Australia so close to the resumption of the season in Belgium next weekend. "It was something small,” Hamilton said. “You pay the price and learn from it." He is likely to be hit with a hefty fine.

Rosberg shares in Button's triathlon passion

Posted on 16/08/2010

Jenson Button recently completed the London Triathlon © Getty Images

Nico Rosberg has followed in Jenson Button’s footsteps by completing a full Olympic distance of the triathlon world championship round in Kitzbuhel, Austria.

Button recently completed the London triathlon in 2hr14mins despite struggling with tonsillitis and Rosberg finished his respective event in 2hr7mins, according to German media reports.

Rosberg placed 44th overall, and 13th in the up-to-29 age category although DPA news agency said he was nearly disqualified for a helmet violation during the 40km cycling stage.

"I've never done it before," said Rosberg. "It was a great event - very hard, but I had a lot of fun. In the last five kilometres, I had no energy left. How people can do it is amazing. This is a new passion for me."

Recognition at last for the fastest woman

Posted on 13/08/2010

© Getty Images

When Hellé Nice died in obscurity in 1984, she was so poor she was buried in a pauper’s grave. And yet in the 1930s she was one of the most glamorous and successful drivers, commanding attention in a way that would have Danica Patrick green with envy. Like Patrick, she also modelled, although Nice shocked polite society by revealing even more than the scantily-clad Patrick has in her many photoshoots.

Now the Hellé Nice foundation has announced a marker will be placed on Nice’s unmarked grave at the Ste-Mesme church in the South of France in a ceremony which will take place on September 4.

“I was amazed no one had publicly celebrated her life and accomplishments,” Sheryl Greene, originator and founder of The Hellé Nice Foundation, said. “I decided at that moment to start the foundation with a goal of properly honoring her.”

Several surviving members of Hellé’s family will also be present to speak, Club Bugatti France will exhibit several examples of Bugatti cars Hellé Nice drove on the track, as well as on the road.

“We invite lovers and devotees of the car in general, and of motor sport in particular, to join us in restoring the memory of one of automobile history’s great women racers,” Greene said.

The ceremony begins at the church in Ste-Mesme located at Chemin de l'Eglise, 78739 Sainte-Mesme, France, on September 4 at 11.00am.

How Webber saved Power

Posted on 09/08/2010

Mark Webber helped to salvage Will Power's career © Getty Images

Mark Webber has revealed how he helped keep fellow Australian Will Power’s racing career alive.

Power met the then Jaguar Racing driver at Silverstone where Power was sitting out the British F3 race after running out of sponsorship money.

"It was a make-or-break time for him but I could see how determined he was not to give up and go home," Webber is quoted as recalling in the Canadian Globe and Mail newspaper.

Thanks to Webber, Power was introduced to Minardi's Paul Stoddart and other key figures, and Webber contributed to his budget for the 2005 Renault World Series. He progressed to Champ Cars, and now leads America's premier open wheel Indycar series.

"I can't tell you exactly why he helped me out, but if he didn't think it was worth it, he wouldn't have," said Power. "When I am well established and in a strong place financially, I would like to help someone out too."

Weber escapes jail term

Posted on 06/08/2010

Willi Weber [right] must pay EUR360,000 to charitable organisations © Getty Images

Famous driver manager Willi Weber has narrowly avoided a prison term, according to reports in Germany on Thursday.

Weber, who manages the affairs of Nico Hulkenberg and was previously the manager of the Schumacher brothers, was recently back in court for matters regarding the fraudulent bankruptcy of 'Pole Position Marketing' and embezzlement.

German reports including the news agency DPA and the Suddeutsche newspaper reported on Thursday that Weber has been sentenced to a further two-year probation period. He must also pay EUR360,000 to charitable organisations.

Two years ago, Weber was sentenced to probation and a hefty fine in a case involving an insolvent Schumacher merchandising company.

Briatore backs Webber's superior brain

Posted on 05/08/2010

Flavio Briatore thinks Mark Webber uses his brain more than most drivers © Getty Images

Mark Webber’s manager, Flavio Briatore, says the reason his driver will come out on top in the battle for the title is that he uses his brain more than many others on the grid.

"Mark is a driver capable of exceptional feats. He has now reached a maturity and inner calmness that can take him really far,” Briatore told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“In Hungary he was the first one understanding that he could take a risk in running for three-quarter distance on the soft tyres he had at the start. That was the winning move, but it also demonstrated how much he uses his brain, unlike many others."