Formula One

'American Idol's' Simon Cowell and Simon Fuller Moving on to Formula 1?

Filed under: Sports

Between the two of them, Simon Cowell and Simon Fuller have no shortage of successes to claim their own. Many of those accomplishments revolve around reality television programs like "American Idol," "X Factor," "So You Think You Can Dance?" and "America's Got Talent." Bernie Ecclestone apparently thinks quite highly of their show business acumen, and is now reportedly recruiting their talents to bring an added dose of showmanship to Formula One racing.

One idea Cowell and Fuller have reportedly put forward to the billionaire F1 chief is to cut the three-day grand prix weekend to two, and to replace the customary Friday practice sessions with a second preview race.

Cowell is a known racing fan and automotive enthusiast, while Fuller has been actively involved in the sport previously. The producer/promoter headed up the Honda F1 Team's branding initiative several years ago, and recently signed former world champion Lewis Hamilton to his talent agency alongside the likes of David Beckham, Sir Michael Caine and Jennifer Lopez.

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Tags: American Idol, bernie ecclestone, f1, formula 1, formula one, racing, simon cowell, simon fuller

German Carmakers Tapped for Motorsport Safety Cars

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Sports

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Estate F1 Medical Car

German cars Mercedes-Benz, Porsches and BMWs are loved by their owners for their meticulous engineering. But private consumers aren't the only ones who've noticed their capabilities. So have the organizers of some of the most prestigious motor racing series in the world. And though both compete at the top levels, it's not for racing cars that they've been tapped this time. It's for safety cars.

Tags: alms, american le mans series, bmw, bmw 1 m, bmw 1 series m coupe, emergency vehicle, f1, formula 1, formula one, mercedes, mercedes-benz, mercedes-benz c63 amg, mercedes-benz c63 amg wagon, moto gp, motogp, pace car, porsche, porsche panamera, porsche panamera turbo, safety car

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Jenson Button's Ferrari to Sell At Bonhams

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

A 1978 Ferrari 512BB Berlinetta Boxer owned by British Formula One driver Jenson Button is to be sold by Bonhams at its sale of Collectors' Motor Cars at the RAF Museum in Hendon, UK on the 11th of April. The car, which was bought last year by Button, the then-reigning Formula One World Champion, has attracted a pre-sale estimate of up to $180,000.

Tags: auctions, Bonhams, celebrity cars, Ferrari, Ferrari 512BB Berlinetta Boxer, Formula One, Jenson Button, racing, UK

Continue reading “Jenson Button's Ferrari to Sell At Bonhams”

Jose Cuervo Tequila to Sponsor Sauber F1 Team

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Sports

As tequila enters the mainstream as a premium spirit alongside the likes of vodka and whisky, so will it need a platform to promote itself. And few fora are proving as fitting as motor racing.

After rival distiller Patron promoted its sponsorship of individual teams in the American Le Mans Series to title sponsorship of the entire championship, Jose Cuervo has announced a new deal that takes them straight to the very pinnacle of motor racing: Formula One. The tequila company will be sponsoring the Sauber F1 team, and announced the deal shortly after the team signed Mexican driver Sergio Perez to race its cars this season.

Although Sauber may not be among the top teams today, it has fielded some of the best drivers in the sport, including world champions Kimi Raikkonen, Jacques Villeneuve and Sebastian Vettel. Though its best results came during the BMW years in 2007 and 2008 when it placed second and third in the championship, the team has since returned to using Ferrari engines.

Tags: cuervo, f1, formula 1, formula one, Jose Cuervo, sauber, sauber f1, sauber f1 team, tequila

Winning Ferrari F1 Car Listed for Sale at $3 Million

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

The amazing 2006 Ferrari 248 F1 racer (above) that was Philip Massa's No. 1 car for the 2006 Grand Prix season has been listed for sale via global online luxury marketplace JamesList for about $3 million. The car, designed by Rory Byrne and Aldo Costa featuring a 785 hp V8 engine, won seven of the last nine races of the '06 season; overall, the 248 gave Ferrari nine race wins and four pole positions, and second place finishes in both the Drivers' and Constructors' World Championships. It's just one of the rare Ferrari F1 cars listed on the site by the UK's Red Dog; also up for grabs is a 1974 Ferrari 312 B3 F1 car for $2.2 million; a 1984 Ferrari 126 C4 F1 car for $940,000; and a 1994 Ferrari 412 T1 for $810,000, all with various victories under their bonnets. Gentlemen, start your engines.

Tags: F1, Ferrari, Formula 1, Formula One, grand prix, JamesList, motor racing, race car, racecar, racing

Bernie Ecclestone Capitalizes on Mugging with Hublot Ad

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Crimes and Misdemeanors

Late last month Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone and his girlfriend were robbed outside his offices in London. The thieves reportedly punched and kicked Ecclestone and made off with some $300,000 in jewelry – including a special-edition Hublot wristwatch – leaving the octogenarian bruised and battered.

Never one to shy away from controversy or turn away an opportunity, however, Ecclestone has appeared in an ad for Swiss watchmaker Hublot bringing further attention to the incident.

The ad for the official Formula One timekeeper features a photo of Ecclestone's bruised face, accompanied by the quote "See what people will do for a Hublot". It is set to run this week in both the Financial Times and the International Herald-Tribune.

Tags: bernie ecclestone, ecclestone, f1, formula 1, formula one, hublot

Formula One Drivers and Staff Ambushed by Gunmen in Brazil

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports, Crimes and Misdemeanors

Formula One drivers are used to making quick getaways, but found themselves in harm's way last weekend in Brazil. While in Sao Paulo for the Brazilian Grand Prix, the car carrying the defending world champion Jenson Button was attacked by a gang of gunmen. The armored vehicle was driven by a police officer away from the scene of the ambush, delivering Button to safety. The famous McLaren driver praised his driver's abilities, which comes as quite the compliment coming from the world champion.

Button wasn't the only F1 figure attacked during the race weekend, however, as additional reports depicted an attack on a van full of the Sauber team's staff. In this case armed bandits stopped the van at gunpoint and made off with the staff members' bags. Fortunately no one was harmed in this incident either.

Despite the attacks, figures in F1 are not calling for removing the event from next year's calendar, crediting the government with doing all its best to improve socio-economic conditions in Brazil and reducing crime rates, while refusing to blame race organizers for what happens off the track.

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Tags: brazil, brazilian grand prix, f1, formula 1, formula one, grand prix, jenson button, sao paulo, sauber

Sixty Years of Formula One Racing in Photos

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Sports, Books

Autocourse: 60 Years of World Championship Grand Prix Motor Racing, new from Motorbooks / Icon Publishing, is a lavishly-illustrated account of the globally successful FIA Formula 1 World Championship from its roots before World War II to the present day. After the war came the glamorous era of the winning Alfa Romeos, followed by stunning victories from Ferrari and Maserati in the 1950s maintaining the Italian tradition before mighty Mercedes captured the crown; along the way technological advances causing several re-inventions. The book follows the action in over 500 images evoking the drivers - the great Michael Schumacher gets his very own chapter – cars, circuits, personalities and issues of each era. The back of the book contains a useful compendium of statistics, champions and more. With more and more countries vying with each other to gain the right to stage a Formula 1 contest, and as the calendar heads towards a twenty-race season, the book also looks forward to the megabucks sport's seventh decade as new teams arrive to take on the established giants.

Tags: Alfa Romeo, books, cars, coffee table books, Ferrari, Formula 1, Formula One, Maserati, Mercedes, Michael Schumacher, motor racing, racecar, racing, sports, World War II

Lotus Offers Limited Edition F1-Style Racers for $1 Million Apiece

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Sports

Got a need for speed and a million bucks burning a hole in your pocket? Lotus has just the thing: a new limited edition Formula 1-style racecar for motorsports enthusiasts and gentleman racers. Just unveiled at the Monterey Motorsports Pre-Reunion in California, the Lotus Exos Type 125 is a Formula 1-inspired track car pairing F1 design and technology with a 650 hp Cosworth V8 engine. Only 25 examples will be built and sold at $1 million apiece, forming a new race league for owners that will also help Lotus develop a new F1 program. With a carbon fiber monocoque chassis and F1 styling, the car also features carbon ceramic brakes and carbon fiber pushrod suspension. Purchasers will be founding members of the exclusive Exos Club, which includes driver training overseen by a team of Lotus engineers, race drivers, mechanics, physical trainers and even physicians – just like the pros.

Tags: California, carbon fiber, Formula 1, Formula One, Lotus, Monterey, motor racing, motorsports, racecar, racing

Magnum Opus: The $40,000 Ferrari Book

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Books

UK ultra-luxury publisher Kraken Opus, known for using real blood in some of their outlandish tomes, plans to charge $40,000 for a forthcoming book on Ferrari. The epic volume, which will be limited to just 399 copies, is signed by all living Ferrari champion racing drivers. The text is contributed by the world's finest automotive writers and interviewers, accompanied by hundreds of rare and previously unpublished archival images, including unseen pictures of Enzo Ferrari's villa and action inside Formula One racing pits, along with specially-commissioned photographs and illustrations. Opus uses special color processes and only the highest grade paper stocks, and each book is individually hand-bound and designed to stand the test of time and increase in value. A hedge-fund manager has already ordered 20 copies of the book (or $800,000 worth) and will pay Kraken a quarterly fee to store them in a climate-controlled facility, Karl Fowler, CEO of parent company Opus Media Group, tells the Wall St. Journal. Of course, for $40,000 you could buy a real Ferrari, albeit an older model like a 308 or Mondial.

Tags: books, coffee table books, Enzo Ferrari, Ferrari, Formula One, Kraken Opus, motor racing, publisher, racing, supercar, UK

Whyte & Mackay Presents Special Blends to Force India F1 Drivers

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Being an F1 driver undoubtedly has its perks, from the jetset lifestyle to the million-dollar salaries. Add to that list a specially crafted scotch and it's looking even better.

To celebrate its sponsorship of the Force India F1 team, Whyte & Mackay's master distiller Richard Paterson created a special blend for each of the team's drivers: Adrian Sutil, Tonio Liuzzi and Scottish test driver Paul di Resta. Each blend was matched to the drivers' personality, specially bottled and presented during this past weekend's British Grand Prix.

Gallery: Whyte & Mackay Scotch for Force India

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Tags: f1, force india, force india f1, formula 1, formula one, richard paterson, scotch, whisky, whyte and mackay, whyte mackay

Ferrari Store Opens in New York City

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Having any sort of car in New York City is a luxury in itself for many Manhattanites; having a Ferrari is the ultimate indulgence. That doesn't mean plenty of people don't want a piece of that prancing horse magic. Hence the opening of a new Ferrari Store in midtown Manhattan the other day, next to the Ferrari showroom at Park Avenue and 55th Street. For the opening event Ferrari had a 1959 250 California, 1984 288 GTO, a 458 Italia, a 612 Scaglieti and a 599 GTO on display at the boutique which stocks a wide range of Ferrari clothing and accessories. Designed by Italian architecture and design firm Studio Iosa Ghini, the space is meant to evoke the speed of a Formula One car. A white glass front wall lures passersby with videos and graphic panels, allowing clear views to the entrancing interior.

[via LuxuryLaunches]

Tags: boutique, clothing, Ferrari, Formula One, Manhattan, New York City, Park Avenue, stores

600 Ferraris Converge in Japan for Ferrari Fest

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events

The awesome sight of 600 Ferraris congregating in the shadow of the famous Mt. Fuji greeted spectators at the recent Ferrari Festival of Japan. Organized by the Japanese branch of the Italian auto marque in conjunction with Ferrari's Corse Clienti department, the eye candy included rare racers like the famed F399 Formula One car from 1999, four 599XXs and six FXXs (above) circling the track. The event also featured a heated competition between Challenge versions of the 348, 355, 360 and F430 for the Ferrari Trophy of Japan as well as the Japanese debut of the 599 GTO and the 458 Italia. Decidedly a showcase for modern rather than classic Ferraris, there were also a striking number of F40s, F50s and other supercar stars.

Gallery: 2010 Ferrari Festival of Japan

Tags: Ferrari, Ferrari FXX, Formula One, Japan, supercar

Michael Schumacher's Bugatti EB 110 SS for Sale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Celebrity Shopping

Seven-time Formula One World Champion driver Michael Schumacher's 1994 Bugatti EB 110 Super Sport (above) is being offered for sale in Germany via global online luxury marketplace JamesList for about $750,000. The bright yellow supercar was used by the legendary driver for about 10 years, though it only has 2,875 miles on it. The car is the only known example of the EB 110 SS (Sport Stradale) fitted with the luxury interior of the EB 110 GT (Gran Turismo). With a 611 hp engine and lightweight carbon fiber chassis, it was the fastest production car in the world of its time, reaching 62 mph in 3.26 seconds with a top speed of 220 mph. Along with the actual car you get a scale model of the vehicle which is part of the Schumacher memorabilia collection.

Tags: Bugatti, Bugatti EB 110, Bugatti EB110, carbon fiber, Formula One, Germany, JamesList, Michael Schumacher, racecar driver

Steinmetz Encrusts McLaren Gear with Diamonds for Monaco Grand Prix

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Luxury Cars & Autos, Sports

In the fast-paced, weight-obsessed, space-age world of Formula One racing, there's not much room for ornamentation. Except maybe in Monaco, the most glamorous race on the calendar. That's where the F1 circus is heading this weekend, and it's also where Steinmetz Diamonds will be unveiling a unique tribute to the McLaren team and its world champion drivers.

Steimetz has taken the helmets and steering wheels of both Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, and embellished them with Forevermark diamonds. The pieces were unveiled at Villa la Vigie – once owned by Karl Lagerfeld and now the home of the Steinmetz Salon Privé – on Wednesday. Both world champions – Button 2009 and Lewis 2008 – will be sporting their diamond-encrusted helmets and steering wheels at this weekend's grand prix, where Hamilton, for one, hopes to recreate his 2008 Monaco GP win, where he also wore Steinmetz diamonds on his helmet.

Gallery: McLaren helmets and steering wheels by Steinmetz