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From GMM

Former champions Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso were right to leave their respective teams ahead of 2015.

That is the view of the outspoken 1997 title winner turned pundit Jacques Villeneuve.

"Both are in a better situation now that they have gone," said the French Canadian, referring to Vettel's move to replace Alonso at Ferrari, and the Spaniard's return to McLaren to lead the new Honda era.

Speaking to Italy's Omnicorse about Vettel's Red Bull exit with four drivers' titles in his pocket, Villeneuve said of the German: "He was no longer the 'golden boy'.

"He was no longer wanted by Red Bull, who are not the family that they want you to believe. They have only one interest -- to sell a lot of drink cans and, therefore, the team was now 'in love' with Daniel Ricciardo.

"He (Vettel) had no alternative but to leave and now he arrives at a time when Ferrari is rebuilding. It will take a little patience in 2015 but the results will be seen in 2016," Villeneuve insisted.

Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari F2012. (Photo: Ferrari)

As for Alonso, 43-year-old Villeneuve said it was clear the Spaniard needed "fresh air" after five years of trying to win a third drivers' title wearing red.

"He came to Ferrari to win," he said, "but when things went wrong, he did not remain a Ferrari man. The same thing happened in his first experience with McLaren.

"In my opinion," Villeneuve said, "he is the best driver in formula one when the visor is down, but outside of the car he works not for the team but for himself.

"He uses the internet and Twitter to his advantage, and top teams don't like that -- especially a team like Ferrari that has always protected its drivers even when things are not going well.

"Look at Kimi (Raikkonen): Ferrari, unlike Red Bull, is a family."

Villeneuve wonders, however, if McLaren will be able to deliver the results Alonso is expecting from Woking, despite the dawning of British team's new highly-resourced Honda era.

Fernando Alonso, McLaren. (Photo: McLaren)

Jacques Villeneuve, who raced with Honda power in F1 last decade, said: "McLaren had the best engine available this year (Mercedes), but they were behind Williams and sometimes even Sahara Force India, with a budget half the size.

"It is a clear sign that there is a problem."

As for Honda, he added: "I keep hearing that the Japanese know how to make a turbo engine, but this V6 is something different. Ferrari also made excellent turbo engines in the 80s, as did Renault, but who is winning now?

"So Honda is an unknown," Villeneuve added, "but thank goodness they have kept hold of (Jenson) Button, who will help them to solve their problems more quickly."

He also wonders if Honda, like Alonso, will have the patience to wait for success.

"Honda is a brand that comes in and out of formula one," said Jacques Villeneuve. "It's not like Mercedes, who follow a programme until the end."

Eric Boullier admitted trailing Sahara Force India for so long had forced McLaren to raise its game.

"Being behind Force India was a concern and a wake-up call for everybody. We were not exactly on the same playing field as Mercedes, but we can't complain as we had the best engine," Eric Boullier told Autosport.

"It's easier when you know your downforce and windtunnel is not working [and] you've found the problem with your car. When it's more about culture, process and leadership then it's less easy to find the problem. It takes a lot of hard work to understand what's wrong and how to bring everybody back together. I think we are there now, so we are more efficient and I think everyone at McLaren understands what has happened, which is important so we do not repeat the same mistakes," added McLaren racing director.

Nico Hulkenberg, Sahara Force India-Mercedes, leading Jenson Button, McLaren-Mercedes. (Photo: WRi2)

Eric Boullier has spent most of the season in Woking restructuring the technical team at McLaren.

"We got on the podium in Australia, but we knew looking at the numbers we were not competitive and we were lucky to get there. We were perhaps the sixth fastest team at the beginning of the year and now we are the third, which means we have improved," Boullier added.

"My target by the end of the season was to have around a 95 per cent restructure at McLaren and that is done. All targets have been reached and we can make the transition (to Honda engines).

"It's not easy to manage as it's a different car and different concept, and we have had new people join us, but we are on it. We know where we want to go, so I think things look OK (for 2015)," to conclude Eric Boullier.

The young Russian says he's not scared of going up against Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull next season.

For his first year at Red Bull, Daniel Ricciardo had a strong season and won three races, overshadowed his teammate Sebastian Vettel.

"He (Ricciardo) proved to be a driver of an extremely high level this year," Daniil Kvyat told Autosport.

"I will be at Red Bull not to watch him do well, but to do my best and be in front of him and everybody; that's how it's going to be. I wouldn't go there if I was scared. I know what he can do, but I will also do my best and my best isn't that bad."

Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat, Red Bull. (Photo: WRi2)

The young russian driver is aware of the significance of stepping into Sebastian Vettel's shoes.

"Vettel had the perfect shot with Red Bull and got four titles; he did a fantastic job," added Daniil Kvyat.

"What makes me so excited about going to the team is that the history is so big in the team already. People outside will look at one thing and draw comparisons, but I am only looking at what makes me go faster. I feel absolutely ready. It's a challenge, but it's an opportunity as well."

The Russian is also conscious about racing with established champions at the front in 2015.

"I have been wheel-to-wheel with some of them this year as it's been an up and down season for everyone, but next year is an opportunity to fight at a high level. It's never going to be easy for anyone and I am aware of this, but everyone started from where I started. I have to have confidence as there is no point doing it otherwise," said Daniil Kvyat.

From GMM

Exactly a year after Michael Schumacher's skiing accident, the Meribel resort director wants to move on.

As the world looks back to 29 December 2013, when the most successful driver in grand prix history famously fell and struck his head on a snow-covered rock, a reporter for the major German newspaper Bild-Zeitung returned to the crash site.

It is Meribel, in the French alps, where on Monday correspondent Nicola Pohl revealed that "Michael Schumacher is still a sensitive issue".

She said: "There is no fence to keep skiers and snowboarders away from the hidden rocks under fresh snow. Fresh tracks show that at least ten skiers passed through just this morning."

The resort is run by a company called Alpina, and resort director Jean-Louis Leger-Mattei insisted: "What happened with Michael Schumacher was long ago and not our fault.

"The accident happened outside of the marked pistes. Why should we close something off? There have been no further accidents there."

The family of Jules Bianchi released a new statement on Jules' conditions.


A Statement from the Bianchi Family | 30 December 2014
Nice, France

The parents of Jules Bianchi, Philippe and Christine, would like to provide the following update regarding Jules' medical situation:

“As we reach the conclusion of a difficult year for our family, we wanted to take this opportunity to provide a further update regarding Jules' medical situation, per our pledge to communicate continued information, when appropriate, to his many fans.


“It was a significant and very comforting step for us to be able to bring Jules home to France last month, to continue his rehabilitation surrounded by his family and friends. This is very important for Jules and also for us.


“Since that time, Jules has received the very best treatment in the Intensive Care Unit of Le Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice (CHU) and now at the CHU's rehabilitation centre for this kind of trauma.


“Jules' neurological status remains unchanged; he is unconscious but able to breathe unaided. Whilst there is no significant information to report, we take a great deal of comfort from the fact that Jules continues to fight, as we knew he would, and this has enabled the medical professionals caring for him to commence the planned, but very painstaking, programme of rehabilitation therapy.


“As we reflect on the events of the past few months, we would like to acknowledge once again the overwhelming warmth and affection shown towards our son. These continue to be challenging times for our family, but the knowledge that he has touched the lives of so many people all around the world has helped us through.


“We would also like to acknowledge the respect and support shown by the media towards our family during this time, for which we are extremely grateful.


“We will continue to provide information when it is possible to do so and our sincere appreciation to everyone who continues to pray for Jules."

From GMM

Ferrari is pushing ahead with improving its turbo V6 engine and car after a faltering start to the new era in F1.

Of the sport's three engine makers in 2014, the fabled Maranello marque was the only one not to win a single grand prix.

Ferrari, the works Renault team Red Bull and now even McLaren-Honda have admitted they want an end to the current development 'freeze' that could see Mercedes' dominance continue for years.

"F1 must be the ultimate expression of automotive technology," said new Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne recently, according to Italy's Omnicorse.

"So I hope that we are able to realise more powerful engines on the track but without jumping into the void of further driving up costs," he added.

The publication said Ferrari has now started collaborating with the engine development giant AVL, even though the Austrian company has been more closely aligned with Red Bull.

But Omnicorse said a team of AVL engineers is already hard at work at Maranello.

La Gazzetta dello Sport said the latest developments follow the radical shakeup at Ferrari, after Marchionne reportedly analysed the 2015 project and concluded as late as October that it was too similar to the failed 2014 car.

Ferrari F14 T. (Photo: WRi2)

The report said the 2015 car is therefore unlikely to feature the familiar 'vacuum cleaner' nose of this year and will instead more closely resemble the front of the Red Bull.

Ferrari's new lead driver Sebastian Vettel, however, struggled notably alongside Daniel Ricciardo with the 2014 Red Bull.

And his 2015 teammate Kimi Raikkonen was a conspicuous under-performer with Ferrari's last car.

"Kimi has an incredible feel for the front of the car," his former Lotus teammate Romain Grosjean is quoted by Speed Week, "but it was not possible (for him) with the 2014 tires."

American taxpayers lost $9.3 billion on the government's bailout of auto companies following the Treasury Department's sale of its remaining stake in Ally Financial. The Treasury took in $70.

News 30 Dec, 2014

New look UK driving licence photo card to feature Union Flag in England, Scotland and Wales

FCA US, the former Chrysler Group, is recalling almost 67,000 older-model pickups equipped with manual transmissions globally for possible clutch problems that have been linked to one death.

Takata -- the Japanese supplier at the center of a global airbag recall scandal -- named a new general counsel for its North American operations.

China's southern city of Shenzhen capped new car license plates at 100,000 a year, becoming the latest city to curb vehicle purchases to control smog and traffic congestion in the world's most populous country.

News 29 Dec, 2014

MG GTS due in the UK for 2016 but sale kick off in China early in 2015

Germany's premium automakers aim to show that they still have a leading edge in autonomous driving and car connectivity technology at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Ford is rolling out a new set of commercials with actor Matthew McConaughey behind the wheel of a Lincoln as the luxury brand extends its most talked-about advertising campaign in years.

The U.S. auto industry returned to full-fledged prosperity in 2014, racking up prerecession sales accompanied by rising transaction prices. But the year was punctuated by grim news, as two lethal product defects were linked to dozens of deaths.

After being held up since this summer by a lawsuit involving the manufacturer's right of first refusal, the sale of the five-store Long Island Automotive Group finally closed this month.

Plummeting gasoline prices have shaken up some of the mathematical calculations that made diesel an attractive alternative fuel for efficiency-minded drivers.

December was once a sleepy month for auto sales but now it's one of the top-selling periods, year after year, as consumers and many of the industry's marketing minds have embraced the notion of cars as holiday gifts.

Interior designers are working to concentrate more of a vehicle's critical information directly in front of the driver and away from center-stack display screens.