Formula One 2014

[Chris2K]

And again he'll be at the back of the grid anyway, I'd be surprised if he even runs in Q1.

He drove straight out of the pit lane and straight into another car causing a dangerous accident. He gets half the penalty of a guy who drove off from a pit stop too early. Formula One everybody.

[MJB]

He hasn't even apologised. All he said was that he was on cold tyres and had nowhere to go. What a tit.

[LUKIE]

And again he'll be at the back of the grid anyway, I'd be surprised if he even runs in Q1.

He drove straight out of the pit lane and straight into another car causing a dangerous accident. He gets half the penalty of a guy who drove off from a pit stop too early. Formula One everybody.

I am by no way defending Maldonado in this situation, as that was one of the dumbest things I have ever seen, but the wheel coming off the car in the pit lane is FAR more dangerous then what happened on the track. Those cars are built to withstand ridiculous crashes. Human skulls are not built to withstand a tyre.

[Gazz]

Then all pit crews should be Samoans. Problem solved.

[Lineker]

Here we go again...

The McLaren and Red Bull Formula 1 teams are in a legal dispute over the latter's new head of aerodynamics Dan Fallows.

Red Bull announced on Wednesday morning that Fallows would become its new aero chief, and that Peter Prodromou, who has agreed a deal to join McLaren, would begin a period of "gardening leave" before taking up his new post at the Woking team.

Fallows was formerly a team leader in Red Bull's aerodynamics division.

He left the squad for a period last year before the announcement that he would return in the lead role.

But prior to that, Fallows had also been tipped for a move to McLaren - with the team mentioning him alongside Prodromou and ex-Lotus men Ettore Griffini and Ciaron Pilbeam when it highlighted a list of new technical recruits its its pre-season launch media material.

A spokesman for McLaren told AUTOSPORT that the team believed it had secured Fallows' services and had referred the situation to its legal team.

"Dan Fallows has a legally binding contract with McLaren, and the matter is now in the hands of our lawyers," said the spokesman.

McLaren has undertaken a number of staff changes in recent months as it bids to recover from a disappointing 2013 season.

Long-time team boss Ron Dennis has reclaimed direct control of the F1 operation and ex-Lotus chief Eric Boullier has come in as racing director, with erstwhile team principal Martin Whitmarsh losing his position.

Neither McLaren nor Red Bull has won a grand prix so far in a 2014 season dominated by Mercedes to date.

Elsewhere, Mercedes dominated the post-race Bahrain test today.

[Lineker]

Stefano Domenicali has stepped down as team principal of the Ferrari Formula 1 team.

After a disappointing start to the season, that has left Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen without a podium finish, Domenicali has shouldered the blame for the team's lack of form.

He has moved aside with immediate effect, and will be replaced for now by Marco Mattiacci, the president and CEO of Ferrari North America.

An announcement confirming the changes is expected imminently.

Domenicali had been team principal at Ferrari since 2008, having previously worked for the Maranello-based outfit in administration and human resources roles, before becoming its sporting director.

Despite Domenicali helping the team secure the constructors' championship in his first year in charge, Ferrari was pained by the fact that it failed to secure a drivers' title under his tenure.

It did come close to it, with Felipe Massa only losing the drivers' crown in 2008 at the final corner, while Alonso lost out in title showdowns in 2010 and 2012 to Sebastian Vettel.

The arrival of new regulations in 2014 delivered a golden opportunity for Ferrari to return to the very top, with the manufacturer teams expected to have an advantage this season because of the increased importance of the engine.

But, while Mercedes dominated the opening three races, Ferrari found itself on the back foot - with its power unit struggling to match what its German car manufacturer rival had delivered.

Its engine struggles were highlighted in Bahrain, where both Alonso and Raikkonen were left fighting for the lower points positions and found themselves powerless to defend against many of the Mercedes customer teams.

The lack of pace in Bahrain could not have come at a worse time for Ferrari, either, with its president Luca di Montezemolo having spoken out against the new fuel-efficiency regulations ahead of the event.

He turned up at the Sakhir race, but left before the end when it became clear how much Alonso and Raikkonen were struggling.

[Lineker]

Gene Haas has secured a Formula 1 team entry for the 2015 season.

The American NASCAR team owner confirmed on Friday that he had been informed by the FIA his application to join the F1 grid had been successful.

It comes after a lengthy evaluation process to ensure that Haas had the financial means and necessary infrastructure to commit to the sport.

In a statement, Haas welcomed the FIA decision, although knew that the granting of the entry marked only the start of a huge effort to get on to the grid.

"Obviously, we're extremely pleased to have been granted a Formula 1 licence by the FIA," he said.

"It's an exciting time for me, Haas Automation and anyone who wanted to see an American team return to Formula 1.

"Now, the really hard work begins. It's a challenge we embrace as we work to put cars on the grid.

"I want to thank the FIA for this opportunity and the diligence everyone put forth to see our licence application come to fruition."

Haas is hoping to announce further details about his F1 operation next week.

The success of the Haas entry comes just a few years after the efforts of another American team, USF1, failed to come off.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone suggested at last weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix that Haas may not be the only team that gets an entry for 2015.

The FIA confirmed that it was evaluating another entry from an outfit called Forza Rossa, but a final decision on it getting the nod had not been taken.

Although no further details were released, sources have suggested that this is a bid being put together by former F1 team principal Colin Kolles.

[Lineker]

Mercedes' technical director Bob Bell will leave the Formula 1 team at the end of this season. The former Renault technical chief, who was part of Fernando Alonso's successful back-to-back world title campaigns for the French manufacturer in 2005-06, resigned from his role at Mercedes in December last year. He will leave the Brackley-based team in November to pursue "new challenges outside the company", according to an official statement from Mercedes. The squad will scrap the role of technical director when Bell, who has held the position since April 2011, leaves. Executive director (technical) Paddy Lowe will assume Bell's responsibilities as part of a streamlined structure at Mercedes.

[MJB]

Red Bull have lost their appeal.

[Lineker]

Crashtor strikes again in China practice...

[MJB]

The first one was strange but the second one was hilarious, especially the radio messages.

"I crashed."

"Oh, ok."

"Sorry."

[Fry_4000]

the unsuprising responce from the team makes it funnier.

At this rate all his sponsorship money will be blown fixing his car.

[JasonM]

Man what the hell is Maldonado doing in F1.

He had one slightly impressive season in 2012 where he got a fluke win in the Williams, last season he was non-existent and now in the Lotus he has forgotten how to drive.

I bet Lotus is loving the Venezuelan oil money he is bringing in, but is it worth him wrecking his own car and endangering the life of every living being in a 3 mile radius?

Surely anyone is better than Crashtor?

[LUKIE]

He is a Prince!

[LUKIE]

[MJB]

It would be very brave to count out Ricciardo and Rosberg but so far, this looks like a pure battle between Hamilton and Vettel for pole.

[MJB]

Incredible few laps from Hamilton and Ricciardo, they're certainly the two quickest men in 2014 so far. The Germans will not be happy starting from the second row!

[JasonM]

Even during a fucking promo showcase he crashes the car... And that Grosjean crash in GP2 made zero fucking sense.

[EddieG]

Man what the hell is Maldonado doing in F1.

He had one slightly impressive season in 2012 where he got a fluke win in the Williams, last season he was non-existent and now in the Lotus he has forgotten how to drive.

I bet Lotus is loving the Venezuelan oil money he is bringing in, but is it worth him wrecking his own car and endangering the life of every living being in a 3 mile radius?

Surely anyone is better than Crashtor?

What Venezuelan oil money? They stopped funding him, even they realized how shit he is.

[LUKIE]

Poor Massa