Dr. Vijay Mally strikes deal with Mclaren...

Force India ended their partnership with Ferrari as the 2008 season came to an end. Though Ferrari gave them great support throughout the season, Force India decided to look elsewhere in the pitlane for technology under the hood for 2009. And while doing so, it seems they have decided to enter the Mclaren backyard for the 2009 VJM02! 

The deal includes a supply of gearboxes, hydraulic systems and the KERS, apart from the basic engine. The deal will also give Force India an access to Mclaren's other vendors for rest of the components if needed. This would be the first time in the history of Mclaren that the company will support a satellite team with their technology. Talking to the media, team boss Vijay Mallya said, "We are absolutely delighted to be able to announce a technical partnership with McLaren Applied Technologies and Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines, and also our plan to expand the composite manufacturing capability and drawing office within our Silverstone facility."

F1: Title decider today!

Its been a great F1 season this year, as yet again, the title battle has come down to the last race. Hamilton currently leads the standings with a 7 point lead of Massa. The Brazilian however, will race on his home turf today and has already cemented his confidence with a pole position at yesterday's qualifying. 

Hamilton is on the second row of the grid with a fourth position in qualifying. However, for Massa to take the title, he'll not only have to win, but will also have to pray that Hamilton finishes is 6th or worse to negate the points advantage Hamilton holds. With Kimi Raikonnen in 3rd place on the grid, its but understood that team orders will come into play and the Finn will try his best to hold back Hamilton and let Massa increase the distance. 

We are all geared up for the grand finale tonight...are you?

Catch the action live on Star Sports at 2130 hours tonight!

Ferrari may write off F1 by 2010

The most prominant livery on the F1 enviorns - the scarlet red Ferrari, may soon disapprear from the grid, come 2010. Max Mosley's latest brainwave of using a similar engine on all the race cars to drop produciton costs, has led to this debacle. While most F1 teams are against this rule, Max seems pretty stern on implementing this rule. 

Ferrari amongst all other teams believes that such a rule will question the very basis of Formula 1 - which in iteself is an engineering challenge. If the FIA goes ahead and implements the rule, the Italian marquee will walk out of F1 and find solace in some other motorsport. The official statement from Ferrari is as follows:

"The Board of Directors of Ferrari SpA met today under the chairmanship of Luca di Montezemolo, to examine the third quarter results. The Board of Directors also examined the proposed changes to the Formula One regulations, in the light of the current global economic crisis.
"Whilst reiterating its wholehearted commitment to a substantial and needed reduction in costs in Formula One, starting with propulsion, the Ferrari Board of Directors expressed strong concerns regarding plans to standardise engines as it felt that such a move would detract from the entire raison of a sport with which Ferrari has been involved continuously since 1950, a raison d’etre based principally on competition and technological development.
"The Board of Directors expressed the opinion that should these key elements be diminished, it would have to re-evaluate, with its partners the viability of continuing its presence in the sport."

Formula 1: FIA releases 2009 calendar

2009 FIA Formula One World Championship:
29 March Australia
5 April Malaysia
19 April Bahrain
10 May Spain
24 May Monaco
7 June Turkey
21 June Great Britain
28 June France
12 July Germany
26 July Hungary
23 August Europe (Valencia)
30 August Belgium
13 September Italy
27 September Singapore
11 October Japan
18 October China
1 November Brazil
15 November Abu Dhabi