Crisis? What crisis? Bernie Ecclestone has publicly denied that there is a crisis within F1 following the collapse of the Caterham and Marussia F1 teams in the past few weeks. Speaking to reporters at the Interlagos circuit, home of the Brazilian Grand Prix, last weekend, the 84-year-old Briton who ‘owns’ the commercial rights to the series, said that the sport is not in trouble – just a couple of teams are and that teams “come and go”.
After a two-year investigation into inaccurate gas mileage claims by Hyundai and Kia, both South Korean automakers have been ordered to pay a US$100 million civil penalty – US$56.8 million from Hyundai, US$43.2 million from Kia – to the US government. This should be the start of a series of settlements for car companies who overstate the efficiency of their cars – and many of them do – to comply with emissions standards, yet the EPA has not revealed whether it is also investigating other car companies.
Another day, another teaser. Audi has released a teaser video of its new concept car, which will be fully revealed at the LA Auto Show. Narrated by its new Chief Designer, Marc Lichte, Audi takes a more personal approach in this teaser ad with Lichte
Flags bearing Lewis Hamilton’s name were waved in the grandstands in Austin, just outside of Texas, and the Brit didn’t disappoint. Hamilton caught teammate Nico Rosberg unaware, diving up on the inside on lap 24 and taking over the lead.
Only four days after Caterham entered administration, Marussia followed in its rival’s tyre tracks last Monday. The absence of both teams from the United States GP is an apparent sign of an imminent crisis for the F1 sport.
Proton launched the Iriz last Thursday in a bid to reclaim market share from the other domestic carmaker, Perodua, and help the ailing national automaker get back on its feet. The Iriz, a compact car with a 1.3-litre or 1.6-litre engine, took four years and US$172 million to develop, and Proton’s Chief Executive, Abdul Harith Abdullah, has touted the Iriz as a “game changer”. During the launch at the company’s plant in Perak, Abdul Harith said, “We will continue to forge ahead to restore Proton’s glory days as the leader of the industry.”