Wheelers Blog & News

Jean-Eric Vergne has announced his departure from Toro Rosso. On Twitter, the Red Bull-owned junior team's driver for the past three seasons said: "Despite a good season and 22 points, I'll not drive anymore for Toro Rosso in 2015. "Thanks for those years. Let's go for another big challenge," the 24-year-old Frenchman added. Speaking later to the French broadcaster Canal Plus, Vergne gave little away about his plans for 2015 and beyond. "All I can say is that I am working very hard with...

The Middle East is a rapidly growing market for motorsport, with racetracks and rally stages in different Middle East countries – including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon and Qatar – hosting, in present day, plenty of international, regional and local racing activities. However, this growth cannot be fully attributed to race organizers and racetracks, for racing teams are also part of this ongoing expansion, and the quintessential success story is Abu Dhabi Racing. Abu...

FIA president Jean Todt insists he does not have unlimited powers to force change within the seemingly crisis-struck world of formula one. Two backmarkers collapsed in 2014 and three other outfits are furious about the concentration of power and income in the paddock. Efforts to cut costs this year notably failed, and fingers of blame have been pointed in the direction of the sport's ultra low-profile Todt, who many are now contrasting with his dictatorial predecessor Max Mosley. "What...

Ferrari on Monday confirmed reports team boss Marco Mattiacci is being replaced after just seven months in the job. In a media statement, the Maranello team – having started the season with Stefano Domenicali in charge – also confirmed the identity of Mattiacci’s successor. It is Maurizio Arrivabene, a Marlboro branding executive who is also well known within the sport as the sponsorship representative on the F1 Commission. “We decided to appoint Maurizio Arrivabene because, at this...

Privacy protection guidelines agreed to last week in the U.S. won’t become a global template because they fall short of what is already required in Europe to keep driver data safe, a lawyer specializing on topic says. BMW, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai-Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen agreed on Nov. 12 to industrywide principles to handle consumer data and safeguard customer privacy. The principles were crafted by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the...

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton produced a faultless performance in Abu Dhabi on Sunday evening to claim his 11th win of the season and with it his second world drivers’ crown. It was the 33rd win of Hamilton’s career, moving him clear of his great rival Fernando Alonso into fifth in the all-time list. Hamilton, second in qualifying, took the lead at the start and controlled the race, as Mercedes team-mate and title rival Nico Rosberg suffered car trouble and finished 14th. While Hamilton made a...

Scuderia Ferrari announces that it has reached an agreement of three years duration with Sebastian Vettel, who will drive for the team as from the 2015 season. The driver line-up next season will consist of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel.  “Scuderia Ferrari has decided to put its faith in the youngest multiple champion in the history of Formula 1” – commented Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal, Marco Mattiacci. “In Formula 1 terms, Sebastian Vettel is a unique combination of youthfulness...

Nico Rosberg has kicked off the Abu Dhabi championship showdown by telling teammate Lewis Hamilton to keep their fight clean. A first or second place will guarantee the the title for Hamilton, so Mercedes teammate Rosberg is hoping trouble strikes or a strong rival from another team is able to split the pair on the podium. "I need to do what I can to try and put the pressure on," Rosberg said on Thursday. "In Brazil Lewis made a mistake so there is a chance. I need to do what I can to...

Cadillac has introduced the 2015 ATS-V.R at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Set to enter competition next year, the ATS-V.R has an aerodynamic body kit that includes a new front fascia, a carbon fiber front splitter and carbon fiber canards. The car also has carbon fiber side skirts and a prominent rear wing. Other notable changes include a full-length underbody tray, a side exiting exhaust and 18-inch BBS wheels with racing tires. Motivation is provided by a twin-turbo 3.6-liter V6 engine that...

Marussia's eleventh-hour bid to return to action in Abu Dhabi has failed. With Caterham already set up at Yas Marina, insiders on Wednesday then spotted F1 personnel wearing Marussia team shirts in the Abu Dhabi paddock. It is believed they were Ferrari employees set to work on Marussia's customer engines. But rumours then circulated in the media centre that Marussia, having missed the official freight deadline, was indeed making an eleventh-hour trip from the UK to contest the 2014...