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Susie Wolff had faced some criticism from Sergio Perez, however a technical problem on the Williams had shortened her morning session.

"A huge thank you to all the support and help that I have had to get me ready for today," says Susie Wolff.

"It was a great feeling driving out of the garage. When I had my helmet on, it was just me and the car. I knew what I had to do and the car felt great. It was only one and a half flying laps but these things happen, I have another session in Hockenheim that I now have to work towards. Every time I step in the car, there is something to learn, so there are a few positives to take from today," added the Williams driver.

Susie Wolff leaving the Williams' stand at Silverstone. (Photo: WRi2)

Earlier in the morning, Sergio Perez was saying on Antena 3, that Susie Wolff would be "better off in the kitchen".

The Sahara Force India driver apologized later, insisting he "admires" Wolff's talent and admitted it had been an "unfortunate joke".

Claire Williams acknowledges that Wolff's gender is at least playing a role in the opportunity she has been given this weekend.

"You would be naive to say that having a female on board does not bring commercial benefit," she told The Times newspaper. "She has to deliver as well."

From GMM

Kimi Raikkonen has revealed he will "probably" retire from formula one at the end of next season.

Despite his 2007 title and his on-form F1 comeback with Lotus, the Finn has struggled this year after returning to Ferrari to be Fernando Alonso's new teammate.

It has triggered rumours Ferrari could once again oust him, despite his existing 2015 contract.

But what is also clear is 34-year-old Raikkonen's frustration with the restraints of life in the paddock, after tasting other disciplines like world rallying and Nascar during his F1 sabbatical.

Now, it is said the 'iceman' has his eye on the increasingly popular discipline of world rallycross.

"The teams are scared that we get hurt," Kimi Raikkonen said at Silverstone. "But it would be nice not just for us but for the fans to do many things."

Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari F14 T. (Photo: WRi2)

For now, Raikkonen says he is committed to F1 and Ferrari "until my contract is finished, and then I will probably stop," he revealed.

"That is what I think is going to happen."

But until that happens, the winner of 20 grands prix appears to be part of Ferrari's plans for 2015.

The Maranello team is already hard at work on next year's car, having acknowledged the distant gap to the pacesetting teams of 2014.

"The team will definitely do some things differently for next year and some of those changes we can also try this year," said Kimi Raikkonen.

Nico Rosberg leading Lewis Hamilton in the morning, Lewis Hamilton leading Nico Rosberg in the afternoon.

In the two free practice sessions of the British Grand Prix, Fernando is third with his Ferrari.

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F14 T. (Photo: WRi2)

Susie Wolff made history by becoming the first woman to participate an official Formule 1 session since Giovanna Amati in 1992. Unfortunately, due to an oil pressure problem on her Williams, she only covered four laps.

Regarding the reserve drivers, Daniel Juncadella was aboard the Sahara Force India. Giedo Van der Garde drove the Sauber and Robin Frijns was in action with Caterham.

Suzie Wolff aboard the Williams FW36. (Photo: WRi2)

Felipe Massa had a big crash, causing an interruption of 17 minutes to clear his Williams.

Despite his best lap time, Lewis Hamilton was visibly disappointed in the afternoon, unable to properly prepare the race with only 14 laps.

Just like in the morning, Daniel Ricciardo is fourth with Red Bull, ahead of his teammate Sebastian Vettel, and Kimi Raikkonen with the second Ferrari.

The pink helmet of Jenson Button, as a tribute to his father. (Photo: WRi2)

Free Practice 1 - Results*
1 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 1:35.424 - 25
2 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) - 1:36.155 - 22
3 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14 T) - 1:36.263 - 23
4 - Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1:36.623 - 21
5 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14 T) - 1:36.703 - 23
6 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1:36.921 - 20
7 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1:36.963 - 25
8 - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1:37.175 - 29
9 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1:37.227 - 25
10 - Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1:37.231 - 30
11 - Sergio Perez (Sahara Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1:37.720 - 22
12 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1:37.910 - 21
13 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1:38.056 - 18
14 - Daniel Juncadella (Sahara Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1:38.083 - 23
15 - Giedo Van der Garde (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1:38.328 - 19
16 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1:38.917 - 12
17 - Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1:39.461 - 7
18 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1:39.814 - 24
19 - Marcus Ericsson (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1:40.597 - 19
20 - Robin Frijns (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1:42.261 - 11
21 - Susie Wolff (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1:44.212 - 4
22 - Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) - Aucun chrono - 2

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes W05. (Photo: WRi2)

Free Practice 2 - Results*
1 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) - 1:34.508
2 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 1:34.736
3 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14 T) - 1:35.244
4 - Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1:35.511
5 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1:35.627
6 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1:36.016
7 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1:36.228
8 - Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1:36.299
9 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14 T) - 1:36.554
10 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1:36.583
11 - Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1:36.671
12 - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1:36.778
13 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1:36.951
14 - Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1:37.064
15 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1:37.097
16 - Sergio Perez (Sahara Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1:37.236
17 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sahara Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1:37.449
18 - Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1:37.520
19 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1:38.658
20 - Kamui Kobayashi (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1:39.068
21 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1:39.224
22 - Marcus Ericsson (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1:39.762

* Un-official results

From GMM

Toto Wolff has revealed he had "a long row" with F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone.

Last month, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo called for a meeting with the sport's key stakeholders.

The common perception in the paddock is that Ecclestone, 83, is resisting the modern era of the internet, and so Montezemolo said the likes of Google and Apple should come along.

He also said representatives of "new media" and "social networks" could have some advice to give.

Oddly in F1, arch-rival Mercedes appears to entirely agree.

"I had quite a long row with Bernie in a meeting," the German marque's F1 chief Wolff is quoted by the Guardian newspaper at Silverstone.

"We have lost 30 per cent of TV audience in Italy and we have lost some of the audience in Germany, although interestingly the UK is growing. Sure the (social media) model does not work yet as you cannot monetise it, but it is just a matter of time," Toto Wolff added.

Bernie Ecclestone and Toto Wolff. (Photo: WRi2)

Mercedes' championship leader Nico Rosberg also agrees.

"We are here to entertain the people. Social networks are a young, exciting and emerging media and an excellent platform to show the fans fresh perspectives of the sport. So we should take it seriously," the German is quoted at Silverstone by Speed Week.

From GMM

Caterham's change of ownership this week also caught its race drivers by surprise.

"It was as much news to me as it was for everyone else," Swedish rookie Marcus Ericsson said at Silverstone on Thursday.

Swiftly after founder Tony Fernandes admitted his F1 project "hasn't worked", it emerged Caterham has been sold to an unnamed Swiss-Middle Eastern consortium.

Former HRT chiefs Colin Kolles and Manfredi Ravetto, and ex-Minardi driver Christijan Albers, are now in charge.

Christijan Albers, Caterham. (Photo: WRI2)

When asked about Caterham's surprise new future, team driver Kamui Kobayashi said at Silverstone: "I really didn't speak with them (the new management) about it yesterday.

"I think next week we will have more time, so let's see. I will drive for this year, sure," said the Japanese.

Oddly, the green-coloured turmoil is actually good news for Ericsson and Kobayashi, as just a few weeks ago it was being rumoured Caterham would be shut down long before the end of the 2014 season.

"I really appreciate that we can still continue to race," Kobayashi admitted, "and I think our target is clear that we need to push to get back the championship position.

"We need to focus, and I think the last few months we were struggling with the budget, but now it seems we can use a bit more budget, so let's see what we can do."

With traditional rival Marussia breaking through recently for its first ever points, Caterham risks losing access to the lucrative prize money allocated by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

"We have nothing to lose, this is simple," Kobayashi agreed. "The new boss is aggressive but I think this is what we need to do."

From GMM

Jenson Button has declared himself on the market, in the wake of McLaren supremo Ron Dennis' criticism.

Dennis is said to have dismayed other members of the Woking based team's senior management this week when the 67-year-old publicly urged Button, who is out of contract at the end of the year, to "try harder".

Clearly, Jenson Button also did not appreciate the comments.

"I think Ron is practicing to be a motivational speaker maybe," he told reporters ahead of his home race at Silverstone, where he will wear a pink helmet in tribute to his late father John.

"I don't think we should be pointing a finger at any individual within the team," said Button.

The pink helmet of Jenson Button for the British Grand Prix. (Photo: WRi2)

Jenson Button, 34, rejected Dennis' claim that he is not pushing to the maximum with the uncompetitive 2014 car.

But he said he is keen to race its 2015 successor, to be powered by a works Honda engine.

"I would like to stay," said Button, who is out of contract at the end of the season.

"This team has a bright future and the partnership with Honda will help the team a lot, having that connection with a manufacturer. But it isn't the only team in formula one," the Briton added.

From GMM

Fernando Alonso says he is not ready to look beyond his current Ferrari contract.

Although their first collaboration ended spectacularly badly, it is rumoured McLaren has approached the Spaniard about replacing Jenson Button to lead the team's Honda era.

Alonso's current contract with Ferrari runs to the end of 2016.

But reports in the Italian press, and also the Spanish sports daily Marca, say the Maranello team is willing to make "a major financial effort" to renew the deal right now in order to keep him away from key rivals.

Fernando Alonso, 32, says his current priorities lie elsewhere.

"For now, I am focused on improving the car and trying to get the best possible position for Ferrari in the constructors' championship, where we are fighting with Red Bull, Williams and Force India, and then looking at solutions for the 2015 car," he is quoted as telling Spanish reporters at Silverstone.

"Those are my priorities. I have a two year contract and eventually we will see what is the best solution for everyone," added Fernando Alonso.

General Motors car owners have been complaining to dealers about defective ignition switches since 1997, years before the automaker launched the Chevrolet Cobalt and other small cars with faulty switches linked to at least 13 deaths.

Tesla Motors, which has battled auto dealer groups over its direct sales of electric cars through company-owned stores, won another victory in Pennsylvania and a measure there allowing it to expand retail operations is headed for the governor's desk.

News 3 Jul, 2014

The new eighth-generation VW Passat has been unveiled, designed with a more premium feel

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Infiniti Americas said it hired Nick Twork as director of corporate communications, a newly created position at the company, effective July 21.

Beau Boeckmann has been appointed president and COO of Galpin Motors Inc., succeeding his father Bert Boeckmann, who will stay on with Galpin as chairman and CEO.

James Glickenhaus is known to car fans around the world as the most interesting man in the world, designing his own dream cars using some of the most exclusive supercar chassis and getting famous carrozzerias to build them for him.

Subaru is recalling more than 600,000 vehicles from northern states, built between 2005 and 2014, for a problem with corroding brake lines.

BMW plans to spend $1 billion to build a plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, with capacity of about 150,000 units per year, the company said Thursday.

BMW plans to spend $1 billion to build a plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, with capacity of about 150,000 units per year, the company said today.

BMW plans to spend $1 billion to build a plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, with capacity of about 150,000 units per year. Start of production is planned for 2019.

Fiat has revised its first quarter net loss to 173 million euros ($236 million) from a previously announced loss of 319 million euros based on accounting changes related to its buyout of Chrysler.

Fiat has revised its first quarter net loss to 173 million euros ($236 million) from a previously announced loss of 319 million euros based on accounting changes related to its buyout of Chrysler.