A number of prominent literary figures are publicly protesting the decision by the PEN American Center to honor the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo with its annual Freedom of Expression Courage award, arguing that it is not courageous to ridicule an oppressed minority. Writers Michael Ondaatje, Peter Carey, Francine Prose, Teju Cole, Rachel Kushner, and…
Read moreMercedes to put all its weight behind Hamilton in 2018 – Massa
Felipe Massa believes Mercedes will focus entirely on Lewis Hamilton this season, and leave the four-time world champion free of any team mate hassles. The Silver Arrows squad puts its drivers on equal footing, but Massa, who retired from the sport at the end of 2017, says the British driver’s edge over Valtteri Bottas makes…
Read moreFormula E: Jani and Dragon Racing split after one race!
Neel Jani and Dragon Racing have parted ways after just a single race in Formula E, the Swiss driver has announced. The 2016 Le Mans winner and works Porsche driver joined the all-electric series when the German manufacturer pulled the plug on its LMP1 World Endurance Championship program. Jani’s presence at Dragon was seen as…
Read moreStroll admits to ‘dramatic change’ since racing in F1
Williams Lance Stroll believes he has dramatically evolved as a driver since he lined up on the F1 grid for the very first time in Melbourne last year. The 19-year-old gained access to the pinnacle of motorsport thanks to the lavish support and funding of his passionate father, fashion mogul Lawrence Stroll. Labeled as a…
Read moreWhiting seeks to share ideas and ‘open eyes’ with FIA seminar
The FIA has held its second annual Race Directors Seminar this week in Geneva, with Charlie Whiting delivering the opening address. The event brought together 70 race directors from across the FIA’s various championships and international series. Topics included the latest changes to the International Sporting Code, and the implications of those changes on motor…
Read moreGood news and bad news for Toro Rosso
Scuderia Toro Rosso is off to a rocky start in 2018, with a major member of its tech team departing the Faenza-based squad. Toro Rosso’s head of aerodynamics, Brendan Gilhome, has left the team, forcing a reshuffle of its tech staff. The Australian engineer, who joined the junior bull outfit in 2013, having previously held…
Read moreF1 using eSports to test potential regulation changes!
Formula 1 is using the virtual world of eSports to test and simulate potential new sporting regulations, says former Williams tech boss Pat Symonds. Symonds joined Ross Brawn’s team of specialists in charge of studying and defining the sport’s future regulation platform. The former Benetton, Renault and Williams engineer revealed that F1 is exploiting the…
Read moreDutch GP prospects boosted by Charlie Whiting visit to Assen!
FIA safety delegate Charlie Whiting paid the Assen circuit a visit last week as the venue mulls a bid to host a Dutch Grand Prix. Bringing Formula 1 back to Holland, which enjoyed its last championship race in 1985 at Zandvoort, is an enticing prospect for the country, and for Liberty Media, given the massive…
Read moreKubica: ‘Walking into the paddock won’t be a nice moment’
Robert Kubica says attending the Australian GP this year after coming so close to racing with Williams won’t be a “nice moment”. The Grove-based outfit made a clear call however, and awarded the second drive alongside Lance Stroll to 22-year-old Sergey Sirotkin, with Kubica handed a testing and reserve role with the team. In addition…
Read moreName change likely around the corner for Force India
Force India will likely undergo a change of identity before the season kicks off in Melbourne according to reports. The Silverstone-based outfit initiated a name change last year with the purpose of offering a more global appeal to sponsors. The team launched its new VJM-11in the Barcelona pitlane this morning and featured a distinct reduction…
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