The Formula 1
The Independent

Vettel wins Japanese Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel kept alive his outside chance of winning the Formula One world championship after the Red Bull driver led from pole to win the Japanese Grand Prix.
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guardian.co.uk

Jenson Button visits McLaren HQ

• World champion given a guided tour round McLaren HQ• Button would share equal billing with 2008 world championMcLaren have teed up Jenson Button to partner Lewis Hamilton in their 2010 Formula One line-up and the world champion could be close to turning his back on the Brawn team for whom he won this year's title. Button and his manager, Richard Goddard, today visited the McLaren headquarters at Woking, where they were given an escorted tour of the facilities by Martin Whitmarsh, the team principal. A contract could be signed as early as next week if terms can be finalised, creating the first team with two world champions competing alongside each other since Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost were team-mates at McLaren in 1989."As I've said many times before, Jenson wants to drive a car which is capable of winning the next world championship," said Goddard. "We've been talking about possible terms for 2010 with Brawn for months and we're not being difficult or unreasonably expensive in our demands for Jenson. In fact we've given up quite a lot of negotiating ground in our discussions with them."McLaren have made Kimi Raikkonen their second choice if the Button approach fails, with Nick Heidfeld third favourite.Goddard made it clear that Button was not aiming for the ÂŁ10m annual fee that drivers such as Hamilton and Fernando Alonso have under the terms of their existing agreements. But it is clear he wants more than the bargain-rate, reputed ÂŁ4m deal he agreed with the emergent Brawn team before the start of last season to stay on the Formula One grid in a year when he was almost left kicking his heels in the pits with nothing to drive."I think it's also important that Jenson wants to feel valued in whatever situation he finds himself next season," Goddard added. "He needs to explore all the feasible options." A McLaren spokesman said: "Having just arrived at Heathrow, Jenson made a small detour to Woking to say hello."It is understood that Button has moved to the top of McLaren's wish-list over the past couple of months, with Whitmarsh and his fellow directors impressed by his tenacity in regaining his form to round off the season with two outstanding drives in the Brazilian and Abu Dhabi grands prix.However, Niki Lauda, who won the last of his three world championships with McLaren in 1984, and was paired there with Prost for two years, believes that Button would be best served in the long run by continuing to negotiate with Brawn. "One of the problems faced by drivers today is that there is generally less money around in the business than there was," he said. "So if I was Jenson, I would try to stay with Brawn even if Ross might pay him slightly less than McLaren. Of course, if McLaren are going to pay a lot more, then he must go."But the other thing he must consider is that it is Lewis's team and he needs to be sure he has the confidence to deal with this. It is a tough decision for Jenson and he needs to think it through carefully."McLaren also played host to Raikkonen on Wednesday when the 2007 world champion visited their base with his managers, David and Steve Robertson. The Robertsons – father and son – have an impressive reputation as negotiators, having not only secured Raikkonen an income of around ÂŁ27m from Ferrari in 2008 but also cleverly inserted a clause in his contract whereby Ferrari were obliged to exercise their option to keep him in 2010 if he scored a certain number of championship points by the middle of 2008.That led to the current situation whereby Ferrari have chosen to pay off Raikkonen's contract for a figure believed to be between ÂŁ15 and ÂŁ17m to make room for Alonso. Raikkonen previously drove for McLaren from 2002-06.If Button should eventually join McLaren he would do so on equal footing to Hamilton as the team have always given absolute parity of equipment to their drivers and both would be permitted to race unfettered for grand prix wins and the world championship.Heidfeld, who was a McLaren test driver in the late 1990s, and the incumbent Heikki Kovalainen are also under consideration as potential candidates for the seat alongside Hamilton, although very much as outsiders.Formula OneJenson ButtonMcLarenBrawnAlan Henryguardian.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 Town parade for F1 team success

An open-top bus parade is due to take place in a Northamptonshire town to celebrate Brawn GP's Formula 1 success.
11/09/09
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cbc.ca Hamilton wins, Button pads lead at...

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton has won the Singapore Grand Prix, and Brawn GP driver Jenson Button extended his Formula One championship lead by one point.
09/27/09
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F1-Live.com Toyota ends its Formula One adventure

Over the eight-year span of its Formula One foray, the Toyota F1 team reached the podium 13 times and scored 87 points...  
11/04/09
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The New York Times Sponsorship Woes Threaten Future of...

USF1, the first Formula One team based in the United States since the 1970s, is plagued by financial problems and may miss the opening race of the season in Bahrain.
02/17/10
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The Independent Kimi Raikkonen: 'In Formula One too...

Paris, not quite in the springtime but a place for new beginnings nonetheless. Kimi Raikkonen could have been in Valencia last week, exchanging gunslinger glances with Michael...
02/09/10
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guardian.co.uk Lewis Hamilton on pole in Singapore

• Hamilton quickest ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg• Button qualifies 12th two places behind Rubens BarrichelloLewis Hamilton secured pole for the Singapore grand...
09/26/09
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The Independent

Vettel claims pole in Japanese Grand Prix

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel kept the pulse in his slim Formula One championship campaign by taking pole position today for the Japanese Grand Prix.
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B.B.C. NEWS

Live - Singapore Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton starts on pole for the Singapore Grand Prix, with Brawn's title rivals Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello set to battle from the middle of the grid.
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The Sydney Morning Herald Hamilton takes pole position for...

Lewis Hamilton stormed to pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix Saturday as Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello suffered setbacks to their championship hopes.
09/26/09
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The Independent Hamilton delighted by McLaren's...

Lewis Hamilton had his first taste here yesterday of the McLaren he hopes will carry him to the world championship this season, and pronounced himself satisfied.
02/03/10
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The Independent Massa fastest in Formula One testing

Felipe Massa continued to show no ill effects from the life-threatening injuries he sustained last year with the Ferrari driver fastest in Formula One testing for the second...
02/02/10
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The New York Times U.S. Formula One Team Is Shut Down...

Financial problems with the USF1 team caused FIA, Formula One’s governing body, to pull its franchise two weeks before the start of the season.
03/04/10
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The Independent Ferrari unveil 2010 Formula One car

Ferrari launched its car for the upcoming Formula One season today, naming it the F10 in hope of a return to the team's winning tradition.
01/28/10
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The Independent Schumacher back in Formula One limelight

Michael Schumacher sauntered back into the Formula One limelight in Mercedes overalls today to kick off his bid for a record eighth title at the ripe old age of 41.
01/25/10
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guardian.co.uk

Lewis Hamilton wins Singapore GP

• Hamilton puts in perfect performance to take second win of year• Button steals a march on Barrichello to gain a valuable pointLewis Hamilton scored his second victory of the season at the Singapore grand prix as Jenson Button extended his title lead by one point, to 15, despite a poor qualifying position.McLaren's Hamilton put in a perfect performance to lead home the Toyota of Timo Glock, the German equalling his best-ever finish. Meanwhile Renault's Fernando Alonso gave his team something to cheer about at the circuit that has caused their recent woes by claiming third place.Button followed Sebastian Vettel home, having overhauled his Brawn team-mate Rubens Barrichello at the Briton's last stop, to take fifth. It means he has extended his championship lead by one point with three races remaining as Barrichello finished sixth ahead of Heikki Kovalainen. Robert Kubica picked up the final points position after a late-race battle for eighth, holding off Kazuki Nakajima and Kimi Raikkonen.The 11th-placed finisher Nico Rosberg had been an early contender but his chances of repeating last year's podium finish in Singapore were dashed when the Williams driver crossed the white line while leaving the pits after his first stop. Rosberg had made an excellent start to pass Vettel on the opening lap but was forced down the order thanks to a drive-through penalty.The situation seemed to play into the hands of Vettel, who looked set to challenge Hamilton for the lead, but the Red Bull driver was himself given a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pitlane. He also damaged his car by running wide over a kerb but recovered to finish the race in fourth place, leaving him 25 points behind Button.Mark Webber, who went into the race with slim title hopes, crashed out in the closing stages through brake trouble. The accident led several teams to bring drivers, including Hamilton and Barrichello, into the pits early in case of a safety car period, although this did not transpire.This played into Button's hands as the Brawn driver was able to stay out for a long middle stint and make up ground while his rivals struggled with heavier cars. It had seemed as though Button might challenge Vettel for fourth but the Brawn driver was told to hold back and protect his position."It was a good day for us," said Button. "I was happy to get Kazuki [Nakajima] off the line; that was key for me. I'm happy to get fifth and pull a point on Rubens. I go to Japan very positive for the next race."Lewis HamiltonJenson ButtonMcLarenBrawnFormula OneMotor sportGemma Briggsguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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guardian.co.uk

Toyota 'to quit Formula One'

• Toyota president Akio Toyoda confirms team withdrawing• Previous commitment to F1 could raise legal issuesThe financial crisis facing Formula One deepened today after Toyota confirmed it is to withdraw from the sport in an attempt to cut costs.Toyota president Akio Toyoda said at a news conference that the company wants to focus on its core business. The world's largest car manufacturer posted its worst ever loss in the financial year ended March, and is expecting the losses to continue this fiscal year.Toyoda said: "Based on the current economic environment, we realise we have no choice but to withdraw. This has been a very painful decision for the company."The Japanese team has not won a Grand Prix since its debut in 2002 and finished a disappointing fifth in the constructors' championship this season.They follow Honda as the second major Japanese automaker to withdraw from F1, leaving the sport without a single Japanese automaker. It also further damages the sport's prestige as carmakers worldwide struggle to cope with the fallout from the financial crisis.Honda, Japan's second biggest carmaker, shocked F1 when it announced its withdrawal last December. Its Super Aguri team was taken over by Brawn GP, which went on to win the constructors' title in the current season, which ended in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.Toyota's absence next season leaves the sport with just three manufacturers - Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault - and allows BMW Sauber to take its place as the 13th team on the grid.The world's biggest carmaker is expected on Thursday to report an operating loss for the six months to September.The carmaker, which two years ago was celebrating record profits of 1.7 trillion yen, last year suffered its first annual loss - of 461 billion yen - for more than 60 years. This year's losses are forecast to rise to 750 billion yen.Toyota has not won a single race since entering F1 in 2002 and finished fifth out of 10 in this year's constructors' standings. Its drivers, Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock, finished eighth and 10th in the drivers' championship.The team has not signed any drivers for the 2010 season, and last month announced the end of its engine supply contract with Williams.Toyota's lack of success on the track comes despite annual investment of about US$300 million a year.Its pullout could be subject to legal costs as the firm had committed itself to F1 until at least 2012.Motor sport has been hit by an exodus of Japanese companies over the past year. Earlier this week the tyre maker Bridgestone announced it would pull out of F1 at the end of the 2010 season after 13 years in the sport.Bridgestone was appointed F1's official tyre supplier ahead of the 2008 season on a three-year deal but decided not to renew its contract and instead divert its resources elsewhere.In July, the Fuji Speedway circuit, which is owned by Toyota, said it would not host next season's Japanese grand prix because of the global economic downturn.Suzuki and Subaru withdrew from the world rally championship and Kawasaki scrapped its MotoGP team.Formula OneToyotaJustin McCurryguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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guardian.co.uk Vettel claims Bahrain pole

• Vettel beats Massa and Alonso into second and third• Lewis Hamilton fourth, Michael Schumacher seventhRed Bull's Sebastian Vettel will start the first race of the 2010...
03/13/10
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cbc.ca Formula One preview: Singapore Grand...

The Singapore Grand Prix is completely different from the past couple of Formula One race venues. After races at two classic F1 tracks - Spa (Belgium) and Monza (Italy) - the...
09/24/09
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The Independent BMW Sauber sign De la Rosa

Fernando Alonso will have a compatriot for company in Formula One this season, after the BMW Sauber F1 Team confirmed they have signed Pedro de la Rosa, 38, to partner the...
01/20/10
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guardian.co.uk Lewis Hamilton takes pole position

• Jenson Buttion will start in fifth position• Hamilton finished 0.7 seconds ahead of Sebastian VettelMcLaren's Lewis Hamilton will start on pole position for tomorrow's...
10/31/09
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F1 Complete Singapore Preview: Brawn GP

Round 14 of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship takes Brawn GP to the Far East for this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, the first of two back-to-back races with...
09/23/09
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The Independent Heidfeld lends supports to British...

Nick Heidfeld believes it is imperative Great Britain retains its grand prix as doubts continue to surround next year's race.
10/29/09
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The Independent Lewis Hamilton and Pussycat Doll split

Formula One star Lewis Hamilton and Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger have split after two years, it was announced today.
01/11/10
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guardian.co.uk Vettel outshines the rest in Melbourne

• Hamilton 11th on grid, Jenson Button fourth• Vettel alongside Mark Webber on front rowThe trials of Friday night, when he was apprehended by local police for...
03/27/10
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