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F1 Complete

Ecclestone: "We don't need British GP"

Oct.24 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone insists he is prepared to scrub Britain's name from the 2010 calendar if Silverstone does not want to pay the going rate for its formula one race.
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guardian.co.uk

Schumacher sets sights on eighth title

• German signs one-year contract with Ross Brawn's team• Schumacher will be 41-years-old upon return to trackMichael Schumacher believes he can win an unprecedented eighth Formula One world championship next season after confirming that he will come out of retirement to drive for Mercedes.Schumacher, who will be 41 on 3 January, has signed a one-year contract, with options for a further two seasons, to partner Nico Rosberg at the former Brawn team. Brawn GP collected the drivers' championship, through Jenson Button, and the constructors' title last season and Schumacher is targeting identical success for the rebranded squad."I have won it seven times and I'm with the team that won both titles last season, so what do you expect?" he said. "You can't expect anything else other than to go for the world championship and that's what we are aiming for."Schumacher secured the last of his championships with Ferrari in 2004 and has not raced in Formula One since 2006. The German will be the grid's oldest driver. Button, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, three likely title rivals, will be 30, 25 and 22 when the season starts.A neck injury sustained in a motorcycle accident in February ruled out Schumacher's proposed comeback for Ferrari last season as a substitute for the injured Felipe Massa. But he has no doubts about his fitness or competitiveness in joining the Mercedes team run by Ross Brawn, who managed Schumacher's seven world championships at Benetton and Ferrari."I am absolutely confident I can do what's necessary," Schumacher said. "When I returned to the go-kart [for a recent race against F1 drivers in Brazil], I straight away was on the pace. Now I have to prove it in the real car and go wheel to wheel with many of those guys."The motivation is pretty straightforward. I got a call from Ross at the beginning of November asking me to race again, telling me Mercedes were going to be involved. That seemed pretty good to me. I was tired of F1 by the end of 2006 and three years' absence gave back all the energy that I'm feeling right now. Having played around with motorbikes and go-karts, I feel ready for some serious stuff."Before I gave a final OK, I had to be sure 100% that there were no further issues with my neck. Unfortunately it was too close to the accident in the summer when I considered going to Ferrari after Felipe's accident. But the time is enough now to heal [the injury] completely. I have tested everything that I can and I have no problem whatsoever now."Brawn said the renewal of his association with Schumacher did not come at the expense of Button, who has joined Hamilton at McLaren for 2010. "We made a big effort to keep him but it wasn't possible in the end," he said. "I had a loyalty to Jenson but, when that started to look difficult, I started talking to Michael."Brawn said he had let Schumacher answer questions about his motivation and speed following a long absence from such a competitive arena. "I trust him implicitly and he told me he can do it. He has always been his own best critic, the man himself knows what he is capable of. I am very comfortable and confident and put my trust in Michael, and it won't be misplaced."Schumacher's lengthy list of records includes the most world titles, most race victories (91), most pole positions (68) and highest number of wins in one season (13 in 2004). His return with Brawn severs a 14-year connection with Ferrari, Schumacher having spent the past three years as a consultant and ambassador there."The only reason I seriously thought about my return is because it is old friends that have asked me. Working with Ross and Mercedes is now possible and I'm happy to give something back that Mercedes gave me in the early days," he said, referring to its support for his career before he reached Formula One.Hamilton welcomed the chance to race Schumacher, whom he described as "a legend". He said: "I used to watch Michael race when I was in the junior categories and I always hoped that I would be in F1 while he was still around. I'm really looking forward to seeing him on the track and back at the top. It's brilliant news."Michael SchumacherMercedes GPFormula OneMotor sportMaurice Hamiltonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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B.B.C. NEWS Button out to prove class - Brawn

Mercedes boss Ross Brawn says world champion Jenson Button joined McLaren to prove his driving ability.
12/23/09
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F1 Complete Ecclestone: "Button deserves to be...

Oct.20 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone on Tuesday gave his seal of approval to formula one's new world champion Jenson Button.
10/20/09
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F1 Complete Ecclestone gives Donington another GP...

Oct.13 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has issued yet another deadline to Simon Gillett, despite the Donington boss breaching the contract to host next year's British grand prix by...
10/13/09
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F1 Complete Ecclestone still wants medal system

Oct.12 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone disputes claims that the outcome of the 2009 world championship proves that his 'medals' scoring system proposal was a bad idea.
10/12/09
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The Independent Ecclestone gives Donnington more time

Donington Park boss Simon Gillett has been given a final two-week ultimatum by Bernie Ecclestone to resolve his financial issues or risk losing the British Grand Prix.
10/12/09
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F1 Complete Ecclestone: "Not all new teams will...

Oct.12 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has admitted the possibility that some of F1's new teams might not actually make it to the Bahrain grid next March.
10/12/09
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F1-Live.com

Senna death was 'good for F1' - Ecclestone

After enraging the world earlier this year with his remarks about such people as Adolf Hitler and Saddam Hussein being good at getting things done, Bernie Ecclestone is once again making headlines for all the wrong reasons...  
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F1-Live.com

Ecclestone tips Button to take title in Brazil

Wearing his hat as F1's commercial ringleader, Bernie Ecclestone's dream outcome to this year's title contest is a repeat of 2008, when the world championship was still undecided at the last corner of the season finale...  
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F1-Live.com Ecclestone confident Renault will...

Bernie Ecclestone has played down reports that Renault is set to withdraw from Formula One...  
12/04/09
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The Independent Raikkonen set for rally switch

Kimi Raikkonen is to switch from Formula One to the World Rally Championship for next season.
12/04/09
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F1 Complete Ecclestone: "Briatore could prove...

Oct.7 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has hinted that his friend and business partner Flavio Briatore has a chance of one day returning to the formula one paddock.
10/09/09
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F1-Live.com Ecclestone denies reviving Donington bid

Bernie Ecclestone has ruled out rumours he is prepared to revive Donington's collapsed Formula One bid if Silverstone does not imminently agree a deal to host the British Grand...
11/27/09
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F1 Complete Donington administrators welcome...

Nov.23 (GMM) Donington's administrators are encouraged after Bernie Ecclestone left the door open to a future British grand prix deal.
11/23/09
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guardian.co.uk Brawn rules out Schumacher return

• Nico Rosberg confirmed as first nominated Mercedes driver• Fellow German driver Nick Heidfeld likely to join RosbergMichael Schumacher's return to Formula One was...
11/23/09
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F1 Complete

Ecclestone thinks Button will secure WDC in Brazil

Oct.14 (GMM) Wearing his hat as F1's commercial ringleader, Bernie Ecclestone's dream outcome to this year's title contest is a repeat of 2008, when the world championship was still undecided at the last corner of the season finale.
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F1-Live.com

Raikkonen turned down F1, not the contrary

Kimi Raikkonen decided to walk away from the F1 paddock for the 2010 season, not the other way around, his manager Steve Robertson insists...  
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F1-Live.com Ecclestone puts pressure on Silverstone

Bernie Ecclestone has warned that, if next month's World Motor Sport Council were to be held today, the British Grand Prix would be scratched from the 2010 calendar...  
11/20/09
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The Independent Ecclestone excited by Alonso switch

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone believes Fernando Alonso's Ferrari switch has set the stage for a vintage year for the sport next season.
10/01/09
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F1 Complete Ecclestone hopes Raikkonen returns to...

Oct.1 (GMM) If Bernie Ecclestone is up to date with inside information, he dropped a couple of big hints in the paddock of the Suzuka circuit on Thursday.
10/01/09
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cbc.ca Raikkonen, McLaren at odds

Kimi Raikkonen will sit out of Formula One next season after failing to clinch a deal with McLaren, Finnish daily Turun Sanomat has reported.
11/18/09
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B.B.C. NEWS Raikkonen rejects F1 for rallying

Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen will not race in Formula 1 next year after failing to agree a deal with McLaren.
11/18/09
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guardian.co.uk Mercedes to take over Brawn

• Mercedes to end its partnership with McLaren• Move could lead to Jenson Button joining McLarenMercedes-Benz today announced it was taking over the Brawn GP Formula One...
11/16/09
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F1 Complete Ecclestone says F1 owner CVC supports...

Sep.27 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has played down the danger to his role in charge of formula one posed by Sir Martin Sorrell, an outspoken director of F1's commercial rights...
09/27/09
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The Sydney Morning Herald Ecclestone hits back in Briatore row

Bernie Ecclestone has hit back at Sir Martin Sorrell, a senior figure in the sport, after he was accused of being "totally out of touch" for saying Flavio Briatore's life ban...
09/27/09
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