Formula 1: Sauber is Third Team to Leave FOTA, Toro Rosso to Follow?

A spokeswoman for the Sauber Formula 1 team has confirmed to ESPN that it has sent a letter to the Formula One Teams’ Association (FOTA), informing them that it will no longer be part of it.

The move makes Sauber the third team after Red Bull and Ferrari to leave FOTA which, ironically, was formed on July 2008 in a meeting in Maranello in order for the F1 teams to present a unified stance in talks with FIA and the Bernie Ecclestone-owned Formula One Group that owns F1’s commercial rights.

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Infiniti Offers Select FX European Buyers a Chance to See the Inner Workings of Red Bull F1 Team

The FX “concept” that was unwrapped at the Frankfurt Motor Show was supposed to be a one-off model designed with input from 2010 (and, subsequently, 2011) Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel.

However, Infiniti did what everyone expected, and less than a month later confirmed that the tweaked, 420HP luxury crossover would indeed enter production, albeit in limited numbers.

Now, as part of the celebrations for Sebastian Vettel's 2011 championship, Infiniti is offering European buyers of the FX the chance to get a unique insight of the inner workings of the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team.

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Ferrari and Red Bull Quit F1 Teams Association over Rules Disagreement, FIA Announces 2012 Entry List

Now we know what Ferrari CEO, Luca di Montezemolo’s statements were all about when less than a month ago, he hinted at the Scuderia leaving Formula 1, something that the company had then denied claiming that its head honcho’s words were misinterpreted.

Well, leaving the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) is an action that is not really open to any sort of interpretations - especially when Ferrari itself issues a lengthy statement explaining why it is leaving the association that di Montezemolo himself was presiding over until 2009.

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Formula 1: Brazilian Grand Prix Race Results

Always the bridesmaid, never the bride: this perfectly describes Mark Webber’s participation at the 2011 Formula 1 season so far. Despite driving the best car on the grid and being in the top-performing team, the Australian not only watched his younger teammate clinch the title with considerable ease, but until the last race of the season didn’t have a single win to show for himself. Read more »

Formula 1: Brazilian GP Qualifying Results

In Abu Dhabi, Sebastian Vettel matched Nigel Mansell’s record of 14 pole positions in a single Formula 1 season, which stood for 19 years. In the final qualifying session of the season at the Brazilian track of Interlagos, he had his last chance to break it - at least for the current season. Read more »

Formula 1: McLaren’s Boss Says Team “Must Win Races from the Start” in 2012

McLaren is second only to Ferrari in Formula 1 World Championships, having won 12 constructors’ titles, three less than the Scuderia. Yet the 2011 season has not lived up to the team’s expectations despite winning six races, because the combination of Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull was clearly superior.

Speaking at the opening of McLaren’s new Production Center, the F1 team's principal, Martin Whitmarsh, admitted that they underperformed this year.

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Formula 1: Indian Grand Prix Results

Niki Lauda may have been wrong in our opinion about Michael Schumacher’s return to Formula1, but as far as the latest world champion is concerned, his predictions appear to be spot on.

The Austrian had said that, given the right circumstances, Sebastian Vettel has the potential to match and even surpass Schumacher who so far, has broken nearly all records in F1.

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Live Photos and Video of the Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel Edition

Infiniti is relying on its partnership with Red Bull Racing and the blessings of reigning Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel to promote a sportier image for the brand

At this week's 64 International Auto Show in Frankfurt, the Japanese automaker put the spotlight on a one-off Infiniti FX50 designed in conjunction with Vettel. The special crossover features a host of aerodynamic, styling and mechanical improvements, all designed with Vettel's input.

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IAA 2011: Sebastian Vettel's 420HP, 300km/h One-Off Infiniti FX50 Special

After many teasers but only six months since the idea surfaced during a conversation between Infiniti’s Chief Creative Officer, Shiro Nakamura, and Red Bull racing driver Sebastian Vettel, the Japanese firm's one-off FX50 Performance Concept dedicated to the reigning Formula One World Champion has been fully revealed.

Sebastian Vettel, who already owns an FX as Infiniti's Global Brand Ambassador [sic...], cooperated with the company's engineers to create the concept model that sports several changes over the standard production version both mechanically and cosmetically.

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Red Bull and Renault Renew their F1 Partnership for 5 More Years

You don’t change a winning team, or so the saying goes. And Red Bull Racing's collaboration with Renault isn't only about winning – it is about absolutely dominating Formula 1 as the pair has almost secured both drivers’ and constructors’ titles for the second year in a row six races before the 2011 season's finale.

So today’s announcement that the two parties have renewed their partnership, which started in 2007, for a further five years came to no surprise. Renault Sport will continue to supply V8 engines and KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) to Red Bull Racing until 2013, and the new 1.6-liter turbocharged units that rules mandate from 2014 until at least 2016.

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F1 Results: 2011 Italian Grand Prix in Monza

The Italian GP that took place on Sunday at the Monza racetrack was nothing if not exciting. From the moment the red lights went off and the cars started accelerating, it was all drama. Although Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was on the fourth place of the grid, he was able to beat both McLarens as well as pole man Sebastian Vettel and take the lead in turn one. Read more »

Formula 1: Italian GP Qualifying Results

McLaren may have tried to secure some publicity by opening its only Italian showroom in Milan just before the local GP, but on the track, it was Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel who captured the spotlight with his 10th pole position of the year in Monza. Read more »

Infiniti Shows More of its Frankfurt-Bound FX50 Sebastian Vettel Concept

We are now less than two-weeks away from the opening of this year's edition of the Frankfurt Motor Show and Infiniti decided to provide us with a better look of its high-performance FX50 study designed by, and built for, Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel.

The new pictures show that along with the revamped front end that sports a carbon fiber apron shaped like an F1 car's front wing, the carbon fiber mirrors and side sills, the one-off FX50 also sports a new rear bumper design with a diffuser made out of –you guessed it- carbon fiber.

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Formula 1: Belgian GP Race Results

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso summed up perfectly the outcome of the Belgian GP that took place yesterday at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in the Ardennes forest: “Red Bull had a pace advantage of one second of something like that today. And in the final part of the race maybe more, maybe 1.5 seconds. So when you have a car that is 1.5 seconds faster than the rest it’s easy for you to stop one lap earlier or one lap later.” Read more »

Infiniti's Sebastian Vettel-Inspired FX50 Performance Concept Breaks Cover

When the doors open to the 64th IAA International Motor Show on September 13, Infiniti will premiere a new concept study that takes the firm's partnership with F1 racing team Red Bull to the next level.

The Infiniti FX50 Performance Concept was inspired by reigning Formula One World Champion and Red Bull driver, Sebastian Vettel. The 24-year old German, who is Infiniti's first ever Global Brand Ambassador, is said to have helped in the design of the FX50 study.

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Days of Gravel: Tom Cruise Drives Red Bull F1 Racecar

It’s not every day that you see a Hollywood megastar driving a racing car. Sure, many of them own one (or 10) supercars, and some, like former 90210 Beverly Hills lead Jason Priestley and Grey’s Anatomy Dr. Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd, aka Patrick Dempsey, double in motor racing as a hobby.

And no one can forget the late Paul Newman who competed as a professional racing driver from 1972 until 2005 winning, among other things, his class in the 24 hours of Daytona at the age of 70 years and 8 days. He was also the co-founder and owner of the successful Newman/Haas Racing Champ Car team.

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Infiniti to Launch Sebastian Vettel-inspired Edition of the FX50 in Frankfurt

According to media reports, Infiniti is planning to unveil a limited edition of its FX50 SUV at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. The new edition is inspired by last year’s Formula 1 world champion, Sebastian Vettel. Infiniti already sponsors the Red Bull F1 cars, which are powered by its partner, Renault, and wants to get the best out of this partnership.

Four months ago, before the Shanghai Grand Prix, the 24-year old world champion who is already an Infiniti “ambassador” drove an Infiniti FX50 in a demonstration (as you can watch in the video that follows) describing it as “sporty” and “very well handling”.

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F1: Hungarian Grand Prix Results

It seems like someone was bound to get a present this Sunday at the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix. But it wasn’t meant to be Fernando Alonso, who yesterday turned 30 and also raced for the 30th time with Ferrari. Read more »

F1: Hungarian Grand Prix Qualifying Report

It's probably getting kind of old, but a Red Bull has once again claimed pole position this year. This time Sebastian Vettel is the one who managed to break teammate Mark Webber's two previous pole positions, while also beating the two McLarens piloted by Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button to start from the first row of the Hungaroring circuit on Sunday. Read more »

Video: Red Bull Drivers Take Production Infinitis for a Spin at the Nordschleife

Yesterday, we told you about Red Bull Racing's intentions to enter the car-making business. With the team being in Germany for the local Grand Prix, Infiniti, which looks like the most probable partner if Red Bull Racing's plan receives the green light, grabbed the opportunity for a little promotion activity at the Nürburgring. Read more »