Lewis Hamilton will not wear the coveted number 1 on his Mercedes in 2015, the FIA has announced.
Shortly before Christmas, F1's governing body released a revised entry list for next season confirming that Briton Hamilton, although the new champion, has opted to defend his title wearing his usual number '44'.
"44 is my number," Hamilton said after winning the 2014 drivers' title.
"I won my first championship with 44 in karting so I'll ask the team if I can keep it on my car now," added the 29-year-old, who even has '44' tattooed behind his right ear.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W05 (Photo: WRI2)
Meanwhile, three of F1's eleven teams are listed as "subject to confirmation" on the new entry list.
It is no surprise that two of them are Caterham and Manor, the latter of which is the revised name for the team that competed in 2014 as Marussia.
But also listed as conditional is Lotus, despite the fact the official entry includes the names of drivers Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado, and Mercedes power for the Enstone team.
Luca di Montezemolo has reacted with disappointment to suggestions his reign was responsible for Ferrari's decline.
New chiefs Sergio Marchionne and Maurizio Arrivabene addressed the media earlier this week and admitted that Maranello's 2015 project will not be a title winner.
"We are now coming from behind because of choices made by other people," said Marchionne, who ousted long-time president Montezemolo earlier this year.
Marchionne also admitted that he was opposed in principle to Montezemolo's candidature as the new chairman of the Formula One Group.
Sergio Marchionne (Photo: WRI2)
Montezemolo reacted by telling the Italian news agency Ansa that, regarding Marchionne's comments, "I promised myself not to make polemics for the deep love that I have for Ferrari".
"For the respect it deserves to those who work there today and who have worked on projects that won on the race track," the 67-year-old Italian added.
"In recent weeks I have witnessed repeated utterances that in some cases do not correspond to reality," Montezemolo added.
"I do not intend to respond to these provocations," he said.
"The sporting success, greater than that achieved by any other team, the strength and prestige of the brand in the world and the financial results critical to the FCA (Fiat Chrysler) group that this year will be the best in the history of the company, all speak for themselves."
Three days after virtually destroying his Hyundai i20 when he rolled six times during Rally Germany's shakedown, Thierry Neuville claimed his first world rally victory.
The Belgian's story began when he barrel-rolled through the vineyards near Trier less than a day before the start. Team mechanics worked overnight for 18 hours to rebuild the battered car and Neuville repaid them in style, making steady progress up the leaderboard until the final leg when he leapt from third to first when first Jari-Matti Latvala and then Kris Meeke crashed out of the lead.
Thierry Neuville's Hyundai i20 after the shakedown (Photo: WRI2)
The win on the ninth round of the championship was the first for Hyundai in its debut year back in the series. Neuville's team-mate Dani Sordo added icing to the cake by finishing second for the Korean manufacturer.
"I think we did an unbelievable job during all three days of the rally and I can only say thank you to our team," Neuville said. "They did a fantastic job after our roll on shakedown and I couldn't believe we could do such a good result. We put pressure on the others and it paid off."
"When I saw the video afterwards, I realised how lucky we were. In the car, it actually felt quite soft. But then I saw the pictures and said: 'I am lucky to be on the start line'. Maybe, after a six times' roll, which I have never done before, perhaps everything got in the right position again in my head!" he added.
Hertz Global Holdings raised prices for rental cars to be picked up January 1 or later. The stock had its biggest gain of the year, and Avis shares soared, too.
Hertz Global Holdings raised prices for rental cars to be picked up January 1 or later. The stock had its biggest gain of the year, and Avis shares soared, too.
It's still 2014, but not for much longer. In the global automotive business, plenty happened in 2014. Seasoned observer Dave Leggett offers a personal take on some of the year's most significant developments. This instalment considers major car products covered on just-auto.
French auto parts maker Faurecia said today it would appeal against a 2 million euro ($2.44 million) fine imposed by the country's AMF stock market regulator for alleged selective disclosure of financial information to stock analysts in 2012.
The year 2014 "has shown strong recovery in the automotive industry following the protracted six year downturn" and year on year growth for Kia is expected in 2015, the automaker's executive vice president and CEO of the international business division, Thomas Oh, said.
Suzuki launched its redesigned Alto minicar in Japan this week, claiming a 60kg weight reduction and improved fuel efficiency for this eighth generation model, classed as a 'minicar' in Japan.
Thermal management systems specialist Gentherm said on Tuesday (23 December) it will expand production capacity in Asia by opening a new factory close to the Vietnam capital Hanoi.
Orio AB, formerly Saab Automobile Parts AB, said it had signed a contract with Nevs and has acquired all the tools located at suppliers and used for producing original [OEM] spare parts for all existing models.
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