Formula 1: Sauber is Third Team to Leave FOTA, Toro Rosso to Follow?

A spokeswoman for the Sauber Formula 1 team has confirmed to ESPN that it has sent a letter to the Formula One Teams’ Association (FOTA), informing them that it will no longer be part of it.

The move makes Sauber the third team after Red Bull and Ferrari to leave FOTA which, ironically, was formed on July 2008 in a meeting in Maranello in order for the F1 teams to present a unified stance in talks with FIA and the Bernie Ecclestone-owned Formula One Group that owns F1’s commercial rights.

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Infiniti Offers Select FX European Buyers a Chance to See the Inner Workings of Red Bull F1 Team

The FX “concept” that was unwrapped at the Frankfurt Motor Show was supposed to be a one-off model designed with input from 2010 (and, subsequently, 2011) Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel.

However, Infiniti did what everyone expected, and less than a month later confirmed that the tweaked, 420HP luxury crossover would indeed enter production, albeit in limited numbers.

Now, as part of the celebrations for Sebastian Vettel's 2011 championship, Infiniti is offering European buyers of the FX the chance to get a unique insight of the inner workings of the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team.

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Ferrari and Red Bull Quit F1 Teams Association over Rules Disagreement, FIA Announces 2012 Entry List

Now we know what Ferrari CEO, Luca di Montezemolo’s statements were all about when less than a month ago, he hinted at the Scuderia leaving Formula 1, something that the company had then denied claiming that its head honcho’s words were misinterpreted.

Well, leaving the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) is an action that is not really open to any sort of interpretations - especially when Ferrari itself issues a lengthy statement explaining why it is leaving the association that di Montezemolo himself was presiding over until 2009.

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Formula 1: Brazilian Grand Prix Race Results

Always the bridesmaid, never the bride: this perfectly describes Mark Webber’s participation at the 2011 Formula 1 season so far. Despite driving the best car on the grid and being in the top-performing team, the Australian not only watched his younger teammate clinch the title with considerable ease, but until the last race of the season didn’t have a single win to show for himself. Read more »

Formula 1: Brazilian GP Qualifying Results

In Abu Dhabi, Sebastian Vettel matched Nigel Mansell’s record of 14 pole positions in a single Formula 1 season, which stood for 19 years. In the final qualifying session of the season at the Brazilian track of Interlagos, he had his last chance to break it - at least for the current season. Read more »

Formula 1: McLaren’s Boss Says Team “Must Win Races from the Start” in 2012

McLaren is second only to Ferrari in Formula 1 World Championships, having won 12 constructors’ titles, three less than the Scuderia. Yet the 2011 season has not lived up to the team’s expectations despite winning six races, because the combination of Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull was clearly superior.

Speaking at the opening of McLaren’s new Production Center, the F1 team's principal, Martin Whitmarsh, admitted that they underperformed this year.

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F1: Sebastian Vettel takes his 6th Win in Valencia

Sebastian Vettel is on a roll and no one seems able to stop him and his Red Bull from adding a second Formula 1 championship to their trophy list. This was confirmed once again today in the European Grand Prix in Valencia, in the eighth race of the 2011, where Vettel took his sixth win of the season. The German world champion started from the pole position and was never challenged during the race as he cruised to another win.

The only driver to even come close was Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso who started from fourth place and, like his team-mate Felipe Massa, made a terrific start. Alonso had a fight with the Red Bull of Mark Webber who, despite starting from the front row, eventually lost out to the Spaniard who finished the race second, more than 10 seconds behind Vettel.

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