Reversed starting grids, one of several proposals under discussion by Formula One team bosses on Tuesday in meetings about the sport's future look and direction, would spell "disaster", according to French driver Romain Grosjean. The concept of setting the grid by reversing the order of the top 10 drivers from qualifying, so that the fastest starts 10th, has been discussed previously to make races less predictable. The usual front-runners would then have to fight through the field rather than pulling clear at the front without being challenged. Championship points would be awarded for qualifying to give drivers every incentive to chase pole position. Grosjean, now with the new U.S.-owned Haas F1 team, experienced the reversed format on his way to winning the GP2 feeder series. "Disaster," he told Reuters when asked about the idea during pre-season testing. "I've been doing it in GP2 and it's probably why you win the title but it's not why you win races." Grosjean said making cars harder and more physical to drive, and drivers more susceptible to fatigue and mistakes, would have the same end result in terms of adding to the excitement without being artificial.
The sanctions, while nothing to do with actions on the track, could have championship ramifications with three reprimands in a season triggering an automatic 10 place grid penalty for the next race.
Bahrain is a safe place to race and this weekend's Grand Prix will go ahead as planned, Formula One's governing body and commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone said in a joint statement on Friday.
Formula One will be noisier next year after the sport's governing body approved new measures on Wednesday to raise the decibels after complaints about the V6 turbo hybrid power units introduced in 2014.
Second-tier Formula One teams Sauber and Force India lodged official complaints with the EU's competition regulator, alleging that the sport's governing body mismanages prize money.
Michael Schumacher should have stayed in retirement rather than risked his reputation in a disappointing Formula One comeback with Mercedes, Bernie Ecclestone said on Friday.
Heather Knight's majestic maiden T20I century helped England to a record-breaking 98-run victory over Thailand in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup match at Manuka Oval, in Canberra, on Wednesday. In the day's second match, played later, Pakistan claimed the scalp of the West Indies outplaying the 2016 winners in an eight-wicket victory.
Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone has distanced himself from the storm kicked up by Ferrari's decision to have the Italian navy's flag on its cars during the Indian Grand Prix, saying the national association should look into such 'political matters'.
Races in New Jersey, Mexico and South Korea were dropped from Formula One's official 2014 calendar on Wednesday, with the season remaining at 19 races instead of a record 22.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Sunday
The Silverstone-based team have finished fourth for the past two years
Cancelling the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday would only "empower extremists", the country's Crown Prince told reporters on Friday, following pro-democracy protesters' calls to mark the event with "days of rage".
"The 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar was confirmed as previously published," the International Automobile Federation said in a statement issued after a World Motor Sport Council meeting in New Delhi.
World Champions Red Bull and rivals Ferrari will withdraw from the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) after failure to reach agreement over cost cutting measures.
Motor sport racing company Formula One has delayed its Singapore initial public offer worth up to $3 billion due to weak markets, with the sport's boss and part-owner, Bernie Ecclestone, saying the firm is waiting until the time is right.
The Bahrain Grand Prix will go ahead next weekend despite concerns over security but the race organisers' decision has split opinion in the Gulf state, which has been shaken by a year of anti-government protests.
British-based Force India, who have Mexican Sergio Perez and Germany's Nico Hulkenberg confirmed as drivers for 2016 and use Mercedes engines, contract out much of their chassis work to keep costs down.
Alternation of circuits and team personnel could be the way forward for Formula One to add new races to a crowded calendar without losing existing ones.
Teething problems were evident at India's new Buddh International circuit but Formula One's boss declared that he is satisfied.
The deepening of the Formula One financial crisis prompted Force India boss Vijay Mallya to say that the sport's owners must fix the revenue sharing model among teams for the survival of smaller outfits like his.
A day after Formula One head honcho Bernie Ecclestone addressed the press in New Delhi singing praises about the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, circuit developers the Jaypee Group finally made way for the fans.
demanded that the inaugural Indian Grand Prix keep its original October 30 date for logistical reasons.
Formula One will have 20 races next year and not the record 21 listed on a calendar published last week, according to International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Jean Todt.
Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes completed the takeover of Premier League club Queens Park Rangers on Thursday and promised to take the club to new heights in the next few years.
The country's largest telecom operator Bharti airtel joined hands with the Formula One Group Companies to become title sponsor of the Indian leg of the race series, scheduled on October 30. The race in India, which will be the 17th in the Formula One World Championship, will be called the 'Airtel Grand Prix of India', following the telecom major's tie-up with the Formula One Group Companies.
Bahrain refused to give up hope of rescheduling its postponed Formula One Grand Prix on Saturday with a statement that kept all options open.
India's motor sports chief has dismissed concerns about the readiness of the track for the country's Formula One debut in October but is unhappy about reports the race could be shifted to the stifling heat of April next season.
Formula One teams are keeping a wary eye on the situation in Bahrain with the Gulf kingdom due to host a Grand Prix next April after this year's was cancelled due to civil unrest.
US media group News Corp and Italian financial holding Exor, which controls Ferrari through carmaker Fiat, are teaming up to explore options on how to run Formula One motor racing.
Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone gave a one-word reply when asked how the new season would be for the three teams that made their debuts last year: "Difficult".
Former FIA president Max Mosley has warned that Formula One risks serious difficulties unless it changes direction and cuts costs.
Formula One teams and stakeholders failed to agree a fix for the sport's failed new qualifying format at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday and agreed instead to go away and consider a compromise by next Thursday.
McLaren have no fears about losing Fernando Alonso to Mercedes after Formula One world champion Nico Rosberg's sudden retirement, the team's new executive director Zak Brown said.
Having an Indian driver in Force India just for the sake of it would have been counter-productive for the Silverstone-based outfit, said Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
Force India co-owner Vijay Mallya has rejected speculation about his Formula One team's finances, saying they will be racing for years to come.
Bahrain could replace Australia as 2010 Formula One season-opener while Canada may also reappear on the calendar, BMW-Sauber boss Mario Theissen said on Thursday. Australia has hosted the season-opener since 1996, although Bahrain took the slot in 2006 when the Melbourne race was moved back to avoid a clash with the Commonwealth Games in the same city.
Formula One continues to break new ground away from its traditional European base and as Asia expands its interest with the addition of the Korean Grand Prix this season, India is next in line to join the fray from 2011.
Formula One will return to the United States in 2012 with a 10-year deal for a race in the Texas state capital Austin, commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone announced on Tuesday.
Bernie Ecclestone wants to introduce "shortcuts" on race tracks to boost entertainment and allow the top drivers to do more overtaking, the Formula One supremo said on Wednesday.
India's hopes of hosting a Formula One Grand Prix in 2011 are on track despite exchange control obstacles, according to Force India team owner Vijay Mallya.
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