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From GMM

Recently linked with McLaren's quest for a top driver lineup for the Honda era, Valtteri Bottas' future is suddenly not a topic in the F1 paddock.

According to Finland's Turun Sanomat newspaper, that is because the on-form Finn looks set to stay put at Williams.

"Maybe we will hear something quite soon," 25-year-old Bottas is quoted as admitting.

Indeed, correspondent Heikki Kulta said Bottas "smiled" as he insisted that he is not feeling "any kind of pressure" with regards to his contractual situation.

Even his F1 veteran teammate Felipe Massa acknowledges that the promise shown by Bottas in 2014 "definitely" marks him out as a champion of the future.

"He's a great driver," the Brazilian is quoted by AFP. "It's clear he's doing everything correct. People need to see him as a great driver in the field."

Valtteri Bottas, Williams FW36-Mercedes. (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

Sebastian Vettel's 'new' Red Bull chassis for Monza and beyond is not the one used to such good effect by on-form teammate Daniel Ricciardo in 2014.

However, Germany's Sport Bild reports that the team did briefly consider giving Australian Ricciardo a different RB10 while Vettel takes a turn in the title-contending machine.

But Vettel will be using an entirely different 'Suzie' at Monza, after struggling so notably for Ricciardo's pace two weeks ago in Belgium.

"We have found a couple of things (on the old chassis) and so it should help us here," the reigning quadruple world champion said.

Vettel smiled that the 'new' chassis is in fact a 'new old' one, but he played down the significance of the change amid his disappointing 2014 campaign.

"It was always the plan to change it at some point," he told German reporters at Monza. "It's not unusual.

"The last race was not very good for us so we decided to use the opportunity to check everything."

Red Bull RB10's chassis. (Photo: WRi2)

Former double world champion Mika Hakkinen tips Vettel to eventually bounce back from his slump.

"With time, he will get the car back where he wants it and then he will attack again," the Finn told Germany's SID news agency.

As for the 2014 title, however, Vettel's campaign is already essentially over.

Instead, Bernie Ecclestone is tipping teammate Ricciardo as a genuine challenger to the warring Mercedes teammates Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton.

"Ricciardo can be world champion this season," the F1 chief executive told Kronen Zeitung newspaper.

"At the start I was convinced that Mercedes would be too far ahead, but now I'm not so sure," Ecclestone added.

The 83-year-old said his unpopular Abu Dhabi 'double points' finale boosts Ricciardo's chances even more, and so too might team orders -- with Vettel forced to fall in line and support his teammate's push.

The smiling Australian, however, plays down that likelihood.

"It's still too early for that," Daniel Ricciardo said at Monza. "At the most, maybe if three or four races before the end of the season I have a chance to compete for the title, we might discuss it."

Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Nevada governor Brian Sandoval yesterday announced during a press conference that the state has been selected as the official site for the Tesla gigafactory. The exact location will be disclosed later.

Musk also said Tesla could build more than one giant battery factory in the next few years.

The project in Nevada will cost $5 billion and involve Panasonic as well as other partners.

“This is great news for Nevada. Tesla will build the world's largest and most advanced battery factory in Nevada which means nearly one hundred billion dollars in economic impact to the Silver State over the next twenty years. I am grateful that Elon Musk and Tesla saw the promise in Nevada. These 21st century pioneers, fuelled with innovation and desire, are emboldened by the promise of Nevada to change the world. Nevada is ready to lead,” stated Governor Brian Sandoval.

Through economies of scale, the gigafactory will help Tesla's plan to sell the new Model 3 compact sedan at US$35,000 or under starting in 2017.

Tesla also considered sites in New Mexico, California, Arizona, and Texas.

Source : teslamotors.com

From Williams

Williams Grand Prix Holdings PLC Friday announced its interim results for the six months to 30 June 2014.

WGPH is the holding company of the Williams Group of companies, which includes Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited.

Overall Group income for the period was £46.6m (2013: £56.4m), with EBIT of £(17.1)m (2013: £(2.7)m), a loss of about 20m euros.

The year over year reduction in revenue and earnings is accounted for by the recognition in 2013 of a special non-recurring sponsorship payment for 2014 within last year's accounts [PVDSA of Pastor Maldonado].

Group Chief Executive Officer Mike O'Driscoll said, “At the beginning of the second half of last year we began an ambitious strategy to rebuild the Formula One organisation, develop a strong Advanced Engineering division, and divest non-core operations. We have already made substantial progress towards our objectives.

“This strategy has required significant investment, as illustrated by our first half results, and it is anticipated that this will also impact the full year results.

“After a number of disappointing seasons, our Formula One team has been significantly strengthened across all key functions. Our long-term power unit supply agreement with Mercedes provides strength and stability. As a consequence we have made a significant step-change in our on-track performance. We have also made great progress commercially, underscored by our title partnership agreement with Martini”.

Toyota introduced Canadians to its original hybrid, the Prius, nearly 15 years ago. This week, the company reached an impressive milestone: 100,000 hybrid vehicles sold across the country.

“The fuel needed by Toyota hybrids is over 30% less than vehicles with conventional gas engines,” said Seiji Ichii, President and CEO of Toyota Canada Inc. “That means since 2000, Toyota and Lexus hybrids have avoided more than 600,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions while saving over 259 million litres of fuel. That's the equivalent of filling 103 Olympic-size swimming pools.”

Available models include:

Toyota:

• Prius;
• Prius c;
• Prius v;
• Prius Plug-in;
• Camry Hybrid;
• Highlander Hybrid.

Lexus:

• CT 200h;
• ES 300h;
• GS 450h;
• LS 600h;
• RX 450h
• NX 200h (coming soon).

Source : Toyota Canada

Are you easily distracted behind the wheel? Do you text while driving? Watch out! Your car may be spying on you!

Well, maybe not now, but at some point in the not-so-distant future.

General Motors has signed a deal with Australian-based manufacturer Seeing Machine to equip 500,000 of its vehicles with facial-recognition cameras and other driver-monitoring sensors by the end of the decade.

Similar technologies exist in the auto industry, like Mercedes' Attention Assist system which can detect and alert drowsy drivers. However, GM wants to take it one step further by monitoring head and eye movements and alerting drivers who are not paying attention to the road ahead or neglecting their rearview mirror.

Ultimately, the technology could help drivers activate an app simply by looking at a precise spot inside the car and pressing a button on the steering wheel. Likewise, there would be a way for the vehicle to recognize authorized drivers and prevent them from starting the engine (great when your teenage son wants to go out past a certain hour).

General Motors has yet to specify which models will integrate the technology first. Meanwhile, other automakers that are developing autonomous vehicles could be interested in driver-monitoring cameras.

Source : ft.com

Former Renault F1 Team boss, Italian Flavio Briatore said in Monza that he was not interested in heading the new Formula 1 popularity working group.

In an interview with British magazine Autosport, the controversial former team principal said however he agrees to say that some aspects of the new F1 are 'completely mad'.

"It is the teams who need to sort out the problems [not me]," Briatore told Autosport.

"The bosses are big enough to resolve the problems - there is no need for anyone outside to suggest anything."

The 2014 Formula 1 at Bahrain. (Photo: WRi2)

The Italian mentioned that he thinks that today's F1 is all about technology, which is wrong.

"It is a new F1," he declared.

"Maybe it is better, but a lot of people don't understand. It is as simple as that. F1 is about the race, the event. What we are talking about? We are only talking about a piece of technology”.

On a final note, Briatore said the costs of running a team are simply too high. That topic needs to be addressed.

“First the costs, it is completely mad. With the current costs, no private people can come to F1, it is impossible. We are talking about 250-300 million euros per season. It is completely mad. This is what you have. And after you spend 300 million euros - you get to Sunday and you have to save fuel, you have to save tires. Next they will want to save overalls..." Briatore explained.

Drivers, rejoice: There's an all-new app for iOS and Android called Automatic that can detect various problems with your vehicle and alert you like a Check Engine light would.

You're running out of windshield washer fluid? One or several spark plugs need to be replaced? Automatic will tell you all about it. This could potentially save you lots of dollars at the shop.

The app costs $100 and is constantly updated with new functionality.

Source : uncrate.com

Due to various incentives to EV buyers, including lower car-insurance premiums, free tolls and parking spots as well as reserved lanes shared with public transit, Norway is currently dealing with a unique problem: too many EVs on the road.

In Oslo, buses often get stuck in those reserved lanes, and the city's transportation department argues that “the time wasted by thousands of its public transit users far exceeds the time saved by a few dozens of electric vehicle owners.”

A study has shown that 85% of cars in reserved lanes during rush hours are EVs.

Norwegian authorities don't plan to reduce the number of incentives to EV buyers — at least not yet — because they fear not being able to reach their climate goals.

Something's gotta give, though...

Source : automobile-propre.com

Two weeks after the infamous collision with his teammate Nico Rosberg at Spa-Francorchamps, Lewis Hamilton immediately set the pace around high-speed Monza on Friday morning.

Hamilton's fastest time of 1m26.187 was a significant eight-tenths faster than his championship-leading teammate Nico Rosberg could manage.

Jenson Button surprisingly went second quickest for McLaren, splitting the Mercedes, six tenths back on Hamilton.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso was fourth, ahead of Kevin Magnussen (McLaren) and Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing), struggling a bit with insufficient top speed.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG. (Photo: WRi2)

Second free practice session
Rosberg finished the second free practice session fractionally ahead of Hamilton after the Briton was once again forced to battle unreliability problems.

Hamilton lost the opening hour of the session due to what Mercedes AMG described as “electronic problems” which meant the team were unable to start his W05.

After changing the sensors on the car, Hamilton was sent out for a series of runs. On his qualifying simulation, he caught traffic and lost a bit of time.

Behind the Mercedes duo, Kimi Raikkonen and Alonso pleased the passionate Tifosi crowd by taking third and fourth, respectively.

Valtteri Bottas planted his Mercedes-powered Williams in 5th place, beating Jenson Button (McLaren), Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing), Kevin Magnussen (McLaren), Felipe Massa (Williams) and Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing).

Getting heat into the conservative Pirelli tires (medium and hard compounds) continued to be a concern for the drivers during the session, leading to some experimenting a flying lap, slow lap, flying lap sequence to get the tires into the correct operating window.

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing. (Photo: Getty Images/Red Bull)

Italian Grand Prix, Monza, free practice 1*, Friday
1 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) - 1m26.187 - 25 laps
2 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m26.810 - 27
3 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 1m26.995 - 26
4 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m27.169 - 23
5 - Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m27.228 - 30
6 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m27.271 - 27
7 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m27.493 - 27
8 - Sergio Perez (Sahara Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m27.687 - 13
9 - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m27.741 - 33
10 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sahara Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m28.112 - 23
11 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m28.114 - 21
12 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW33-Mercedes) - 1m28.148 - 20
13 - Felipe Massa (Williams FW33-Mercedes) - 1m28.150 - 21
14 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m28.300 - 30
15 - Giedo Van der Garde (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m28.429 - 19
16 - Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m28.487 - 12
17 - Daniel Juncadella (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m29.192 - 10
18 - Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1m29.512 - 24
19 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1m30.017 - 25
20 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1m30.081 - 27
21 - Charles Pic (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1m30.125 - 23
22 - Roberto Merhi (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1m30.704 - 29
23 - Marcus Ericsson (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1m30.948 - 16

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)

Italian Grand Prix, Monza, free practice 2*, Friday
1 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 1m26.225 - 41 laps
2 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) - 1m26.286 - 16
3 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m26.331 - 31
4 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m26.565 - 26
5 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW33-Mercedes) - 1m26.758 - 34
6 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m26.762 - 34
7 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m26.762 - 27
8 - Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m26.881 - 44
9 - Felipe Massa (Williams FW33-Mercedes) - 1m26.935 - 33
10 - Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m26.992 - 37
11 - Sergio Perez (Sahara Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m27.079 - 42
12 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sahara Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m27.227 - 39
13 - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m27.476 - 37
14 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m27.840 - 33
15 - Jean Eric Vergne(Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m27.929 - 33
16 - Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m28.029 - 36
17 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1m28.659 - 34
18 - Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1m28.700 - 42
19 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1m28.786 - 29
20 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1m29.085 - 29
21 - Roberto Merhi (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1m29.178 - 32
22 - Marcus Ericsson (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1m29.275 - 37

* Unofficial timing

Adapted from GMM

Right at the front of the grid, the 2015 Formula 1 'silly season' is threatening to burst into life.

On paper, the top teams are all locked up contractually.

Ferrari: Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen

Mercedes AMG: Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg
Toto Wolff is not ruling out a change to the Mercedes squad's driver line-up should the increasingly bitter Hamilton and Rosberg feud prove impossible to manage.

"We would have to take decisions and take the consequences of having a different line-up," Wolff told the BBC at Monza.

"If we are not able to manage the two of them following the Mercedes-Benz spirit then we need to admit that."

Red Bull Racing: Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo
Sebastian Vettel denied he was linked with a huge-money move to McLaren-Honda.

McLaren: Jenson Button is waiting on his future.

Sahara Force India: Nico Hulkenberg gave the strongest sign yet that he is not a player on the driver market this time around.

He said it "can be assumed" that he is staying at Sahara Force India in 2015.

"I am very comfortable where I am sitting," Hulkenberg told German reporters at Monza. "I have no headaches."

It's not quite the same situation for his teammate Sergio Perez, as Spaniard Dani Juncadella is knocking on the door with sponsor Astana in tow.

"I have only read newspaper reports," Mexican Perez said when asked about Juncadella.

"I'm not worried. It's not like a year ago with McLaren -- I have a greater role in the decision-making now and I feel comfortable at Force India."

Tesla Motors selected Nevada as the site for a massive battery factory that will be key to the success of its next generation of electric cars.

The fuel economy of light vehicles purchased in the U.S. during August hit an all-time high, a University of Michigan report said Thursday.

One month after going public, Mobileye posted lower net income but sharply higher revenue on strong demand for its camera-based systems that help drivers avoid collisions.

AutoNation said today that its new-vehicle sales in the United States during August were the dealership group's best since 2002.

Vehicle sales in Canada hit a record, jumping almost 8% in August led by strong demand in Ontario, the country's most populous province.

Fiat said that most of its shareholders had chosen not to exercise an option that could have derailed its merger with Chrysler, Reuters reported.

Cooper Standard Holdings agreed to purchase an additional stake in its Chinese automotive sealing joint venture for $60 million.

Car sales across Western European rose 1.2% in August, a 12th consecutive monthly gain, with strong gains in the UK and Spain compensating for a slowdown in Germany and France, according to LMC Automotive.

Canadian auto sales raced to an all-time record in August as consumers in the country's most populous province rushed back into the market, helping fuel a 8 percent jump in new vehicle sales, an independent industry analyst said.