2BETDSI Sports News - Latest US and International Sporting News

McLaren inks Kovalainen

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 14:36:35 GMT

Kovalainen was left without a seat at Renault when two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso returned to Renault (from McLaren) last week.

"We had a number of options open to us and as always we want to make sure that we have the most competitive driver line-up and I think that Lewis and Heikki will be a formidable combination," said McLaren chief executive Martin Whitmarsh. "I am confident they'll work well together." McLaren's 2007 season was filled by a squabble between Hamilton and Alonso that almost tore the team apart and certainly cost them a championship. They were also kicked out of the manufacturer's championship after receiving and using documents detailing Ferrari's race car.

Renault signs Alonso

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:50:20 GMT

The Spaniard signed a two-year deal after one tumultuous season with McLaren- Mercedes.

It is rumored to be a $51.1 million deal, however Renault would not confirm the numbers.

No penalty for Renault in second F1 spying scandal

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 14:03:06 GMT

"They were found to be in breach of article 151c, but there is no penalty," said an International Automobile Federation (FIA) spokesman.

The ruling, which will be published in detail on Friday, opens the way for Renault to resign two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso to drive in 2008. The French manufacturer is one of three teams interested in having the Spaniard drive next season.

2007 F1 Year in Review

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:34:45 GMT

McLaren-Mercedes was fined $100 million and kicked out of the manufacturers championship after they were found to have pages upon pages of Ferrari data in their possession. Ferrari mechanic Nigel Stepney, accused of supplying those documents to the rival team, was subsequently fired. McLaren chief designer Coughlan was suspended.

Further, two-time F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso testified, after given immunity, that the team did indeed have and use the Ferrari data.

Brawn appointed Honda team principal

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:35:15 GMT

Brawn left Ferrari at the end of 2006 to take a sabbatical.

"I am very excited to be joining the Honda Racing F1 Team, said Brawn. "Honda has a proud heritage in Formula One and the opportunity to help the team to realize its potential represents a fantastic new challenge for me in the sport.

Massa wins Brazilian GP, while Hamilton clinches F1 title

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 14:19:40 GMT

Hamilton was on the verge of losing the championship to Massa as he was running sixth on the final lap, but Hamilton passed Toyota's Timo Glock and grabbed the coveted fifth spot as he entered the last corner. He becomes the youngest driver ever to win the F1 title.

Massa recorded his sixth victory of the season and the 11th of his F1 career.

McLaren, Alonso announce split

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 09:54:21 GMT

Alonso, who won the F1 championship in 2005 and 2006 with Renault, joined McLaren for the 2007 season and finished tied for second in this year's driver standings.

He won four races and had 14 top-five finishes in 17 starts, but a third-place result in the final race of the year left him one point behind champion Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari.

Massa captures third-straight pole for Brazilian GP

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:52:35 GMT

The pole victory was Massa's third in a row at Interlagos, sixth of the season and the 15th of his Formula One career.

The Ferrari driver enters the Brazilian GP seven points behind McLaren rival Lewis Hamilton.

Raikkonen and Ferrari pull off upset to win championship

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:40:36 GMT

The victory for Raikkonen, the man who replaced the legendary Michael Schumacher, was his series-leading sixth of the season and 15th of his F1 career. He is Ferrari's 15th World Champion and the first since 2004.

"We always believed that we could recover and do a better job," said Raikkonen.

Massa edges Hamilton for Brazil pole

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:34:48 GMT

The pole victory was Massa's second in a row at Interlagos, sixth of the season and ninth of his Formula One career.

Starting on the front row with Massa will be points leader Lewis Hamilton, who posted a second-best time of 1:12.082.

Hamilton moves closer to F1 title with Chinese GP victory

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 05:48:16 GMT

The victory was Hamilton's fifth of the season and the ninth of his Formula One career. It was his first win, however, since taking the German Grand Prix in July.

Hamilton also increased his championship lead to seven points over Felipe Massa, who finished second, heading into the season-finale November 2nd in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

FIA monitor to watch McLaren treatment of drivers

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:57:57 GMT

Despite assurances from McLaren that the drivers would be treated the same, the Spanish Motorsport Federation requested the move because of the "cool" relationship between Spaniard Alonso and McLaren boss Ron Dennis.

Hamilton and Alonso have also had a strained relationship after Alonso said earlier this season that the Englishman was getting preferential treatment.

Hamilton back on track with Chinese GP pole

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 04:31:34 GMT

The McLaren driver held off Ferrari rivals Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa by posting a time of one minute, 36.303 seconds on the final lap.

It was Hamilton's seventh pole of the season and the 13th of his Formula One career.

Alonso picks up second-straight F1 win

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 02:28:04 GMT

The victory was Alonso's 21st career in Formula One competition.

Kimi Raikkonen, Nelson Piquet and Jarno Trulli completed the top-five.

Hamilton beats Raikkonen for Japanese GP pole

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 03:30:07 GMT

The McLaren driver posted a time of one minute, 18.404 seconds on the final lap for his sixth pole of the season and the 12th of his Formula One career.

"We had quite a good qualifying session, quite a bit different to Singapore and Monza," Hamilton said. "The first lap (in the third session) didn't seem to be very good, but the last lap, I managed to put all sectors together and pick up my last sector and bring it home." Hamilton holds a seven-point lead over second-place Felipe Massa in the World Championship standings with just three races remaining in the season. Hamilton is also the defending winner of the Japanese GP.

Raikkonen wins in China, championship still up for grabs

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:01:04 GMT

The victory was Raikkonen's fifth of the season and 14th of his F1 career. The win was the 200th for Ferrari.

With rain on the way, Hamilton brought the field to the green flag for the scheduled 56-lap event.

Hamilton on pole for Chinese GP

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 03:11:48 GMT

The No.2 McLaren circled the 3.386-mile, 16-turn circuit in one minute, 35.908 seconds to take the top spot.

The pole victory was Hamilton's second in a row, fifth of the season and fifth of his Formula One career.

Schumacher to leave Toyota at season's end

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:05:36 GMT

"Having been a Toyota driver for the past three years, I've decided to look foranew challenge," saidSchumacher.

"I joined Toyota with high expectations.

Hamilton on verge of title with win in Japan

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:14:46 GMT

The victory was Hamilton's fourth of the season.

"A very, very eventful race," said Hamilton. "There were so many times when we thought they should stop the race (because of the conditions)." With the rain pounding the track, the 67-lap event began with the safety car on track. Behind him sat pole winner Hamilton and his McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso.

Hamilton wins pole in rain at Japan

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:13:49 GMT

The pole victory was Hamilton's fourth of the season and of his Formula One career.

Starting on the front row with Hamilton will be Fernando Alonso who posted a second-best time of 1:25.438.

Alonso snaps winless drought with Singapore GP victory

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 11:28:49 GMT

The victory was Alonso's 20th career F1 victory but his first since the Italian Grand Prix one year ago.

"It was fantastic," Alonso said. "I'm extremely happy and cannot believe it. I think I need a couple of days to realize that we won a race this year." Alonso started 15th after mechanical problems plagued him during Saturday's qualifying session. He crossed the finish line 2.9 seconds ahead of Williams' Nico Rosberg.

Massa captures pole for F1's first night race at Singapore

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 12:28:15 GMT

It was Massa's fifth Formula One pole of the season and the 14th of his career.

"The car was just perfect and so nice to drive," Massa said. "I managed to do a perfect lap so that always helps when I have a good car and don't make any single mistakes in whatever corner you go." Hamilton will start on the outside pole after posting a time of 1:45.456.

Hamilton Belgian GP appeal denied

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:57:36 GMT

Hamilton, the current Formula One points leader, appeared before a five-judge panel in Paris on Monday to contest the timed penalty that was assessed to the McLaren driver by race stewards at Spa-Francorchamps after he gained an advantage by cutting a chicane while battling Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen for the lead in the final laps.

Hamilton was originally declared the winner of the race, but dropped to third after the penalty was enforced.

McLaren won't appeal spying verdict

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 11:27:08 GMT

The September 13 ruling included penalties of a $100,000 fine and a forfeiture of points in the constructors' standings for the 2007 season.

"We believe the time has come to put this huge distraction behind us," said McLaren chairman and CEO Ron Dennis in a statement.

Raikkonen goes wire-to-wire at Spa

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:47:19 GMT

The No.6 Ferrari driver crossed the finish line 4.695 seconds ahead of teammate Felipe Massa.

The victory was Raikkonen's third straight at Spa, fourth of the season and 13th of his Formula One career.