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'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

Continue reading “German Carmakers Tapped for Motorsport Safety Cars”

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

Larry Ellison's McLaren F1 Up for Auction at Pebble Beach

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

It's not every day that a McLaren F1 becomes available for purchase. After all, only a hundred were made. But that day is coming up, and coming up soon.

At the fast-approaching Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Gooding & Company will auction off one very desirable example of the supercar that's still trouncing the competition a dozen years since it ceased production. This particular example, in silver with black interior, once belonged to Larry Ellison, whose company Oracle sponsored the McLaren racing team, and stands as one of the few ever registered for use in the United States. Pre-sale estimates place its value at around $3 million... give or take $500k.

[Image: Paul Litwinski © 2010 Courtesy of Gooding & Company]

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Tags: f1, gooding, Gooding and Company, gooding co, gooding company, larry ellison, mclaren, mclaren f1, monterey, pebble beach, Pebble Beach Concours dElegance

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

F1 Champ Fernando Alonso Gets a Free Custom Ducati

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Celebrity Shopping

Two-time world champion Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso is stocking up on high-end Italian toys now that he's in pole position for Ferrari. Back in March we reported that he'd splashed out on a new Maserati GranCabrio from Ferrari's sister marque, selecting a dark gray model with a two-tone beige and bordeaux interior with matching bordeaux roof. Now another iconic Italian brand known for its superfast machines – Ducati – has gifted the champ with a wicked custom Desmosedici RR (above). The $60,000 superbike is painted in a combination of Ducati MotoGP and Ferrari F1 graphics, matching Alonso's race livery. Now that he has a Ducati, observers are looking for Alonso to make good on his challenge to 9-times Grand Prix World Championship motorcycle racer Valentino Rossi. We'll see.

[via Motorbiker.org]

Tags: Ducati, F1, Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, Formula 1, Maserati, racing, superbike

McLaren Art Car by César Tipped to Top €2 Million at Auction

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

When automobiles break the seven-figure mark at auction, they're usually pre-war or even post-war classics. But a sportscar from the 90s? This one is an exception.

As it is, the McLaren F1 remains a highly coveted collectors item, pristine examples still commanding seven-figure price tags in their own right. A race-spec McLaren F1 GTR is an even more sought-after rarity. But even in this field, this particular example is rarer still.

After racing it at Le Mans in 1994, French industrialist Jean-Luc Maury-Laribiére handed his McLaren over to famed artist César. The result has a similar effect as BMW's own art cars, which makes sense considering that the McLaren is powered by BMW engines and enjoyed factory backing in its motorsport exploits. This one-of-a-kind example is set to cross the auction block during the Le Mans Classic on July 9, where auctioneers Artcurial Motors anticipates it will fetch between $2.5 and 3 million.

Gallery: McLaren F1 GTR art car by César

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Tags: art car, art cars, artcurial, artcurial motors, bmw art car, bmw art cars, césar, cesar, f1, f1 gtr, le mans, le mans classic, mclaren, mclaren F1, mclaren f1 gtr

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

Tags: diamonds, f1, formula 1, formula one, grand prix, jenson button, lewis hamilton, mclaren, monaco, monaco gp, monaco grand prix, monte carlo, steinmetz, villa la vigie

F1 Champion Fernando Alono's Thumbs Insured for $14 million

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Celebrity Shopping, Sports

The world has no shortage of celebrity performers insuring their limbs for all they're worth. Soccer star David Beckham reportedly has a $70 million policy out on his legs and feet. Michael "Lord of the Dance" Flatley's legs are insured for $39 million. And Heidi Klum's are insured for $2.2 million. Fernando Alonso, however, went a different route.

The latest reports indicate that the two-time Formula One world champion – who recently took possession of some serious wheels for on-road use – has taken out a $14 million policy... on his thumbs. The insurance is provided by Santander, the firm that sponsored him when he was at McLaren and has since followed him to Ferrari. According to the company, the importance of Alono's thumbs extend beyond his driving skills, and stand as a symbol of his dominance in the sport.

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Tags: abbey santander, alonso, f1, fernando alonso, ferrari, formula 1, formula one, insurance, insurance policy, santander, thumbs

Hublot F1 King Power Revealed During Chinese Grand Prix

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

After securing a lucrative merchandizing agreement with Formula One Management last month, Swiss watchmaker Hublot revealed the F1 King. But if its decidedly lackluster, monochromatic design didn't do it for you, this very well might.

Presented in Shanghai during this past weekend's Chinese Grand Prix, the F1 King Power is packed with racing-inspired design touches. Its ceramic bezel is designed after an F1 car's brake disc. The automatic chronograph movement's push-buttons are styled after the high-tech steering wheel on an F1 car. Even the wrist strap is made of fire-retardant Nomex, just like an F1 driver's racing suite. The case itself is made of satin-finish zirconium and affixed with PVD-coated titanium components, and features a 42-hour power reserve. The Hublot F1 King Power will only be made in limited quantities, so interested parties had better act fast.

Gallery: Hublot F1 King Power

Tags: f1, f1 king power, formula 1, formula one, hublot, hublot f1 king power, time piece, watch, wrist watch

The Fairmont Does a 180 at the Monaco Grand Prix

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Fairmont Hotel in Monte Carlo has a prime view of one of the most best corners in all of Formula 1 – it's the tightest turn of any track in the entire Formula 1 calendar, turned so tight around on itself that the cars' steering has to be modified to cope. In years past it was called the Lowe's Hairpin, but no longer. Thenceforth, it will be known as the Fairmont Hairpin, and the hotel has a plans to offer amenities and entertainment as exciting as the race itself.

The completion of a €46 million renovation has graced the Fairmont with a new top-floor restaurant called L'Horizon with 360-degree views of the Principality. The 5-star menu includes vegetables grown in the Fairmont's gardens in the countryside surrounding Monaco, which means the food probably tastes exceedingly rich in more ways than one. When not at the repast, there's the Willow Fitness Center overlooking the Riviera, the Willow Stream Spa with 8 treatment rooms and a sauna and Hammam. You can even order Adidas t-shirts, shorts and shoes from the hotel for your workout, and the Fairmont will provide an MP3 player with EMI tunes to enjoy while you tread on the mill.

For GP weekend, May 13-16, the resort's got two packages: one for the historic grand prix that gets you a bed from April 30 to May 2, and one for the Formula 1 weekend with flexibility from one to four nights. Another benefit of staying in-house is you'll have a better chance of getting into the Fairmont's Salle d'Or ballroom, where Flavio Briatore's Sardinia-based Billionaire's Club will be hosting parties from 11:30 p.m. until 5 a.m. And you can bet that any action that might be missing on track will be more than made up for at the Salle d'Or...

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Tags: f1, fairmont, fairmont hotel, fairmont hotel monte carlo, fairmont hotels, fairmont monte carlo, formula 1 2010, monte carlo

Hublot F1 King: The Official Watch of Formula One

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos

The F1 season kicked off this past weekend in Bahrain. But in addition to the race action, Formula One Management signed there a new commercial agreement with Swiss watchmaker Hublot. The arrangement gives Hublot the right to use the F1 name commercially, and will see the brand represented at select races with unique hospitality events throughout the year. But more than that, it means that Hublot will begin marketing a special F1-branded line of watches.

The first example is what you see here: the Hublot F1 King. The opposite of the kind of bling you'd typically associate with grand prix racing, the timepiece is based on the King Power model, with everything blacked out for a sleek, matte look. Only 500 examples, each individually numbered, will be on offer before Hublot unveils its next F1 edition.

Gallery: Hublot F1 King

Tags: f1, formula 1, formula one, formula one management, hublot, hublot f1 king

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