Hamilton: Senna summed up my motto

Lewis Hamilton has revealed he will continue to live by one of the most inspiring quotes of hero Ayrton Senna's career

It is a remark that features in the documentary movie 'Senna' that has taken cinemas by storm recently, and came in a conversation with three-times World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart in 1990.

The Scot criticised Senna, claiming the Brazilian had been involved in more accidents over the preceding four years of his career than all the other F1 Champions put together.

Senna's reply remains legendary as he said: "Being a racing driver means you are racing with other people, and if you no longer go for a gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver."

Hamilton has admitted it was a comment he heard when he was young, one that motivated him then and will continue to do so regardless of the recent incidents he has been involved in.

"It's stuck with me and it is absolutely true. I don't know if other drivers have that same feeling, but I definitely do," said the McLaren driver.

Two crashes in each of the last two races in Monaco and Montreal - one of which was with McLaren team-mate Jenson Button during the latter - have drawn considerable criticism.

"I have stood back and had a look at things, and I like the way I drive, so I'm going to continue to drive the way I do," added Hamilton.

"If I wasn't able to drive that way then I just wouldn't enjoy it. Of course you can always make better judgments and better calls.

"But of the 100-odd manoeuvres I've made over the last couple of years you are bound to have some that don't come off so well.

"But sometimes they do, and when they do they are pretty good.

"Of late I've had a bit of a bad run, but hopefully we'll have a more positive run from here.

"When you have a bad day in the office all you can do is try and analyse things, take a step back, reflect, and then move forward in a pro-active way."

The likes of Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber, however, have come out in support of Hamilton, insisting he should not change.

Unsure what to make of their approval, Hamilton said: "They're only saying that because I'm not finishing races."

He then added: "But if they're saying that in a positive way then that's fantastic, and it's nice to see there is some support."

One of his detractors, however, remains Ferrari's Felipe Massa, one of the drivers he tangled with in Monte Carlo.

"Everything he did wrong, he paid for it," said Massa.

"He needs to understand the direction he takes with his driving style because anything he does which is not inside the rules, then he will pay."

Source: Planet-F1

Webber likely to end career at Red Bull

Mark Webber insists he is keeping his options open for next year but admitted it was unlikely he would leave Red Bull for another team.

Webber is on a rolling year-by-year contract with the team and it was about this time last year, after two victories in Spain and Monaco, that he signed up for 2011. But he said the situation is different this time around and a decision would not be dependent on results.

"It's a bit harder," he told reporters on Thursday. "So whether it ends this year or I go again next year, it doesn't depend on results. Results will be fine. It depends on how I feel."

Webber played down the likelihood of driving for another team in 2012 after stories last week that he might look elsewhere.

"I've three options: stay here, stop or drive somewhere else - which is probably unlikely," Webber added. "I am obviously in good contact with the team, and every year we've done the same. It's obviously a lot down to how I feel about things and we'll see how we feel later in the year. We haven't had too many discussions of yet, but obviously in the next few months things will start."

He said moving from Williams to Red Bull in 2007 had been a key moment in his career and, hinting that he was keen to stay at bit longer, added: "There have been a lot of things that have happened in the last few years that have been big highlights for me, sensational moments. I hope I can add to those in the next few years and go from there. There are still a lot of big boxes to tick."

Source: ESPNF1

Jense plans to end F1 career at McLaren

Jenson Button has reiterated his desire to see out his Formula One career with McLaren

The 31-year-old's three-year contract with the team expires at the end of the 2012 season, but both parties have previously indicated that they would be keen to extend the deal so that the "dream team" of Button and Lewis Hamilton remain intact for the foreseeable future.

Recent reports suggested that McLaren would be willing to spend up to £100m in order to retain their current line-up until 2017.

Button admits he is eager to remain part of the Woking-based outfit until he quits the sport.

"When I finish racing here, I won't be racing in Formula 1 anymore," Button told Autosport. "I'm very happy here. I want to enjoy my racing and I'm really enjoying my time here. I can't see any reason to be anywhere else.

"I'm driving for one of the best teams in the world. It's a position that most drivers would love to be in and I've worked very hard for it. I might be around for three years, five years... I don't know."

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh also gave the clearest indication yet that they are eager to hang onto Button's services.

"If Jenson says he is totally committed and wants to do x more years, then I suspect that we could quickly come to an agreement," Whitmarsh told Autosport. "He's a tremendous asset to the team and when we get around to that, I hope that it will be a quick and easy conversation."

Source: Planet-F1

Jense hopes to end career with McLaren

Jenson Button is ready to see out his Formula One career with McLaren

Button is in the second year of a multi-million pound three-season contract with the Woking-based team, and at present is so happy he believes they will be the last he works with.

Approaching the start of his 12th season overall in Formula One, after spells with Williams, Renault, BAR, Honda and Brawn, the 31-year-old has no intention of hanging up his driving gloves yet.

But as far as Button is concerned, given the enjoyment of working with a team he feels show him the ultimate respect, he can see no reason of driving for another team after McLaren.

"I've a few years that I still want to race in Formula One," said Button.

"I'm sure it will come to a point with me where I'll think 'Right, I don't want to do it any more, I want to do something else'.

"That point isn't yet, and I can't even imagine it happening yet.

"In fact, I can't imagine going somewhere else in Formula One after McLaren. I'm really happy here.

"When I was younger, at the start of my years in Formula One, I never thought I'd drive for McLaren.

"But now I'm here I feel very at home, strangely at home after one season. They've really welcomed me, and there's a good atmosphere."

After experiencing many lows during his career, such as the two wretched years with Renault and the problems he endured at Honda when their car ran towards the back of the grid, Button has been amazed by the honesty he has so far encountered within McLaren.

"When something goes wrong there is no finger-pointing. You talk about it," added Button.

"For instance, (technical director) Paddy (Lowe) will come up to me, and say 'I'm so sorry, this isn't what we want, and what we want you to see either. We're going to get back on track'.

"I'm not talking about this year as such, but there's such a great atmosphere here and they are such positive people.

"They really tell you what is happening. They don't keep you in the dark. They really involve you in everything they do.

"For me that is great. I love being involved in what is happening within a team. It's important to me that I'm not just doing the driving."

Source: Planet-F1

Singing and dancing career for Hamilton?

Lewis Hamilton’s decision about his new manager is not just about formula one, the 2008 world champion has admitted.

The McLaren driver on Monday said signing up with XIX Entertainment is because its chief Simon Fuller “shared my ambitions for the longer term”.

Fuller is famous for creating American Idol and its spinoffs, managing the Spice Girls and coming up with Honda’s ‘earth car’ concept of 2007.

A report in Germany’s Bild newspaper said Hamilton “Wants to get away from having purely an athletic image”.

26-year-old Hamilton, whose girlfriend is Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger, confirmed: “I’m open to music and film.”

Source: YallaF1

Lewis Hamilton's brother to begin motorsport career this year

Former World Champion Lewis Hamilton's younger brother is set to kick off his own motor racing career.

Nineteen-year-old Nicolas Hamilton, who has cerebral palsy, has reportedly gained a National B licence and, with initial tests having already taken place, will start the Renault Clio Cup with a race at Brands Hatch in April.

The series is a support event for the British Touring Car Championship.

"I have loved motor sport from a young age and watching my brother achieve so much has given me inspiration to make my own racing debut," said Nicolas, who is a well-known face in the F1 paddock.

"I know this will not be an easy task, but I hope my doing this will give inspiration to others who have challenges in their life," he added.

Source: Auto123

Massa in make or break season with Ferrari

The 2011 Formula 1 season is going to be the most critical year of Felipe Massa’s career, but the introduction of Pirelli tyres could stop his career from sliding backwards

This season is make or break for Massa because it may decide the direction the rest of his F1 career takes.

If he delivers a considerably improved performance he will stay at the front of the grid, and still have the possibility to be a world champion. On the other hand a repeat of 2010 would probably see Massa being relegated to a midfield team and his career potentially fading away.

After a poor couple of seasons with McLaren in 2008 and 2009, Heikki Kovalainen dropped a long way down the pecking order to the new Lotus team. This is the same risk Massa faces. From there it’s very hard to make it a comeback to a front running team.

For Massa it would be particularly hard considering he turns 30 in April. Therefore it may be too late in his career to work his way back to the front, particularly as younger drivers are favoured these days.

There have never been so many high calibre drivers in Formula 1, and there isn’t enough room at the front for them all.

Last year Massa finished just sixth in the championship, having only scored 57% of the points that team mate Fernando Alonso managed to rack up.

Whilst Ferrari was competing for the driver’s championship courtesy of Alonso, Massa’s lack of form cost Ferrari dearly in the constructor’s championship.

Had Massa scored the same amount of points that Alonso did, Ferrari would have won the constructors championship six points ahead of Red Bull.

To be able to win the constructors championship both drivers have to be scoring big points. Another problem from Ferrari’s point of view is that Massa rarely took points off Alonso’s key championship rivals.

For Massa to have a chance of remaining with Ferrari he has to score a bigger percentage of the points that Alonso scores at the very least. He will of course hope that he can do more than that and challenge for the title.

On his day Massa is as fast as anybody on the grid. He delivered some fantastic drives during his 2008 title battle with Lewis Hamilton.

In 2009 when Ferrari failed to adapt to the new rules Massa regularly out-drove the car, and was a driver who was coming of age. On the weekend of his horrific accident his practice pace was a match to race winner Hamilton. We will never know whether he could have won that race or not.

Since the accident the same Felipe Massa from 2008 and 2009 hasn’t shown up at the race track.

The key reason for Massa’s lack of form was he simply couldn’t adapt to the 2010 spec Bridgestone tyres.

Massa says: “I was never comfortable with the tyres, in particular the front ones. I didn’t manage to adapt my driving style to those tyres, which were very different to the ones from 2009.”

He had to constantly change to a setup which was less optimal to compensate for this. So effectively you could say that Massa was racing with one hand tied behind his back.

Massa is pinning his hopes on the fact that the Pirelli tyres are more suited to him. Switching to a different tyre manufacturer can dramatically alter a driver’s fortunes. For example Kimi Raikkonen was never the same driver on Bridgestones as he was on Michelins

At the moment it’s looking like there is a strong chance of Felipe’s wish coming true, as Pirelli have been working on making their front tyres stronger than the 2010 Bridgestones which is key to Massa’s driving style.

Massa had already felt postive about the tyres after his first test on them in Abu Dhabi: “The first [test] that we did with the Pirelli’s was positive. The way of driving the car was better, in terms of the tyre’s front grip, which was different in 2010. I think it was positive to my driving style.”

Another positive for Massa is that Pirelli are making their tyres softer and more aggressive than Bridgestone. Last season we saw how Massa’s struggle deepened on race weekends, when Bridgestone brought the hardest tyres in their range.

His main issue was getting heat into them. This really hurt him in qualifying, where getting heat into the tyres on the out-lap is critical to a good flying lap.

In the past Massa’s qualifying speed was always his strength, and this put him in a good position in races where he was often able to waltz away into the distance and win.

In 2010 it became his weakness, which cost him dearly as overtaking is so tough in F1 these days, and with the re-fuelling ban you can’t rely on strategy to make up places.

Softer tyres from Pirelli should mean that Massa shouldn’t have the same problem with warming up the tyres as he did with Bridgestone.

In 2011 qualifying could become his strength again, and change his fortunes. If he can start more races from the sharp end he will surely have a much stronger season.

It’s also worth remembering that in low fuel qualifying he can compete evenly with Alonso. This unlike the days when drivers took race fuel into the qualifying session, and the teams could favour their number one driver by giving them less fuel.

The other aspect of Pirelli tyres which could help Massa is how well Alonso adapts to them. Back in 2007 when Alonso switched from Michelin to Bridgestone tyres he initially struggled. It took him half a season to fully adapt to them.

Fernando has already admitted that he will have to alter his driving style slightly to adapt to Pirelli tyres.

If Alonso is not quite adapted to Pirelli in the early stages of the season, then Massa has to ensure he is quick out of the blocks and capitalises.

It is critical Massa starts the season well, and doesn’t let Alonso quickly build up a gap over him.

Overall Massa should be in much better form in 2011 mainly due to the new Pirelli tyres. There’s a good chance he will feature at the front more, and generally have a better season than 2010.

Stefano Domenicali is confident that the Brazilian will bounce back: “Felipe had a difficult season, but I am totally convinced that he will know how to react in just the right way, as he is capable of doing.”

He added: “In fact, he has often been under pressure and in these situations, he has delivered in a way that surprised many people.”

We know that when Massa is happy with the car that he is a very quick driver. Whether this is enough for him to challenge Alonso is an entirely different matter.

Massa says: “In the past I’ve always had very strong teammates, like Michael (Schumacher) and Kimi (Räikkönen), but I’d never found myself in a situation of not being comfortable with the car, as I had in 2010.”

It’s never easy to rise against a driver who you were forced to concede a race win to, as David Coulthard and Rubens Barrichello will testify. In Coulthard’s case though he was much closer in pace to Mika Hakkinen later on in their partnership.

When both Ferrari drivers are on top form it would be fair to say that Alonso has something extra over Massa. His ultimate peak performance is extremely high as the second half of last season demonstrated

Despite that there would be no shame in losing out to Alonso narrowly, and would show the F1 paddock that Massa can still perform at a very high level.

This would probably be enough to keep him in a race winning car, which has to be his realistic aim for 2011.

Source: YallaF1

Kimi Räikkönen will strongly continue his rally-career

- We have agreed upon ten but it's possible that there would be more races, Riku Kuvaja tells.

- We will continue the same way. We also have a test program, Kuvaja tells.

According to Kuvaja the sponsors in Kimi's rally project and a more accurate race program will be published later.

Source: MTV3
Courtesy: Nicole

Manager confirms to MTV3: Kimi's career will continue

Kimi Räikkönen's manager Steve Robertson, knocks out the talk of the F1 world champion would take a year off at the motor sports

Räikkönen got some sad news during Christmas when his Matti-dad suddenly died after an illness-attack. According to rumours Kimi put all negotiations in ice and even started to consider stopping his career.

- There has been a lot of talk about it and of course he is sad over his father passing away which is normal. Yet talks about him keeping a break are pure speculation, Robertson told.

Robertson told that he is still negotiating with several quarters. According to some rumours the deal with Citroen might be announced soon.

- I'm pretty sure that Kimi is still in motorsporting, Robertson assured.

The manager didn't want to comment if Räikkönen could possibly drive in some other serie than WRC.

- Kimi is a WDC in F1 so of course Kimi has had other options too. However at this moment we don't have anything to announce, Robertson emphasised.

There might be some news concerning Räikkönen's future to be expected soon.

- We are now in January so I don't think it takes much longer anymore, Robertson promised.

Source: MTV3
Courtesy: Claudie and Nicole

Räikkönen considers career after father's death

Kimi Räikkönen has ceased talks about his plans for the 2011 season following the death of his father Matti.

The major Finnish newspaper Iltalehti reports that the grief-stricken 31-year-old, who was reportedly considering switching teams for the next world rally championship, may even call time on his racing career.

Räikkönen was reportedly very close with his father, a road builder, who supported his sons' careers from an early age and died suddenly at the age of 56 two days before Christmas.

"Since the death of Matti Räikkönen, all the plans (of Kimi Räikkönen) are on ice," confirmed the Finn's rally co-driver Kaj Lindström.

He added: "Let's hope he stays in rallying. The chances of success are much better in the second year than the first, because you don't have to be learning all sorts of things all of the time."

Source: Motorsport

Jenson Button's 'Number One' tattoo says all you need to know about the man

Jenson Button has two tattoos that tell you much of what you need to know about Formula One's leading driver. EXCLUSIVE BUTTON BARES HIS SOUL

The one the world sees is a whimsy; a round black coat button on his right forearm. The other, hidden on his ankle, is the one of significance.

He added it long before he won the world title but told no one. It was his message to himself. Translated, the Japanese hieroglyphics say Ichi Ban. Number One. After his victory in China 10 days ago few would doubt the sentiment as he sailed through the rain-lashed chaos for his second victory in three Grands Prix against the greatest gathering of talent in decades.

Yet Button admitted to Mirror Sport that his own laziness and naivety almost torpedoed his own career.

Within two years of his remarkable debut at just 20, he was dumped by Renault and derided publicly by team boss Flavio Briatore as a feckless playboy.

"Everyone has tough times in their career and I've had my fair share," said Button.

"For me it was 2001 and a lot of it was my own fault and the fault of the people I had around me. I didn't realise how competitive F1 was and I thought I could just drive around those problems and didn't have to work on them.

"Now I know you need to spend a lot of time with your engineers.

"You need to change the car to make it your own, you need to spend time on your fitness.

"When I came into F1 there were so many areas I didn't know about. I was just very excited about racing against my heroes, the drivers I'd looked up to in the past.

"I didn't come in with my eyes wide open. I had blinkers on. You learn very quickly in this sport. It's not really the place to learn but I did it. I had to.

"That's when I realised there was more to it than just driving the car.

"I really enjoyed the first season but the problem was that it was a good car and I didn't have to work on the set-up with the engineers.

"It was my mistake. You learn from it, I am the complete opposite now. I do everything I need to - plus a bit more I would say.

"I can't imagine anyone works harder than me but fair play to them if they do."

One untold chapter of the Button story is that he was the one that triggered the revolution that turned mid-table Honda into champions called Brawn.

Asked directly if he had been a traitor to the team - and its boss Ross Brawn - who made him champion by quitting for McLaren, Button's gaze doesn't waver.

"Brawn GP doesn't exist any more. I think Ross respects that decision now, I really do. He was surprised and he thought it would be a tough challenge. He's right. It is," added Button. "But life is about challenges."

And Button faces a unique one now - the chance to become the first British driver in history to win back-to-back titles. To outdo Jackie Stewart, Jim Clark, Nigel Mansell, Lewis Hamilton, Graham Hill and the rest.

"We'd all like to be the first to do that," he admitted. "It shows how difficult it is that no one has ever done it.

"If it doesn't happen I'd be disappointed. Like everyone I want to win. It would be a great stat to have.

"But I am here for more than one year and the most important thing is to be fighting for a championship.

"If I don't win it this year then maybe next year or the year after.

"That's the aim for me. What's most important to me is to win a title with this team. When is not so important."

Source: Daily Mirror

IS THIS KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN'S NEW CAREER?

The Iceman got to try his wings as an actor when the sponsor DNA's commercial was filmed in Barcelona.

– It wasn't a torturing experience at all but I doubt I'll ever become a character-actor. It will never happen, Kimi laughed.

Kimi isn't planning on becoming an actor when he retires. Yet the experience was fun and left good memories.

– It was a relatively easy day although I say so myself about a thing that has never been close to my heart.

According to Kimi shooting the commercial was remarkably easier than taking care of things in the motorworld.

– Everything was organised really well and people were really helpful and knew what to do. Usually in rally or F1 a thing that takes 30 minutes usually takes 2,5 hours because nobody knows what to do. But this wasn't a torturing experience at all, Kimi praised his sponsor.

DNA's commerciall starred by Kimi has a lot of humour too because they are joking with cheap phone bills. With Kimi's earnings one wouldn't think that phone bills would be any big money-pit; Kimi has earned over 100 million euros during his career.

Source: MTV3

Courtesy: Nicole

KIMI'S SILENCE MIGHT HAVE COST HIS F1-CAREER

From world champion and F1-star into rally rookie - there you have the biggest crossover of the year.

”He doesn't give extra comments" says Marcus Grönholm.

The myth around Räikkönen tells that he is a lazy party-boy who doesn't spit in the glass, is media-shy and far from a sunbeam in PR-events.

In Rally Sweden the F1-star copied Greta Garbo's style in an almost spooky way and he put his cap over his eyes over and over again when the photographers were crowding around his car.

You can almost talk about a nightmare situation for the international media.

While other drivers were eating sandwiches, drinking coffee and chatting with the media Räikkönen chose to hide in his car, talk on the phone and dismiss the media completely.

And because his door stayed closed Kaj Lindström had to take the 'media-punches' outside the car.

Marcus Grönholm:

– Kimi is smart when he runs away from the reporters, says Marcus Grönholm.

– To be honest all there is to it is that a name that big has started to drive rally. It's only positive although he steals the attention from others.

But Räikkönen is incredibly media-shy?

– Yeah, he is a bit media-shy. He is a great guy who doesn't want to talk with the media, Grönholm told Sportbladet.

Do you know Kimi?

– Yeah, a bit. We sat on Sågen's terrasse last summer drinking beer. He is really okay. Privately when he is in the gang he is really open and in fact really talkative.

Oh, so we have to offer him beer so that he would talk to us?

Grönholm laughs.

When Sportsbladet got a moment with Kimi in the chaotic battlefield of reporters, Räikkönen revealed that he might stay in rally permanently.

Kaj Lindström:
– The bloke knows how to drive rally and he is a great talent. The challenge is not driving the car, it's learning to trust blindly in my notes and drive according to them.

In spite of his hiding from the media Kimi Räikkönen has with his own starshine exploded into WRC.

Not because of his positions but he is the hottest driver in rally at the moment.

Source: Sportbladet
Courtesy: Nicole Planet-F1