Schumacher: Team boss role not for me

Michael Schumacher has revealed he turned down the offer to take Jean Todt's job at Ferrari because it would have been too time consuming.

Todt left his post at the helm of the Italian squad ahead of the start of this season, and he was replaced by Stefano Domenicali.

Seven-time champion Schumacher, who retired from Formula One racing at the end of 2006, admitted he could have replaced Todt, but the German said the job would have taken up too much of his time, so he decided to turn down the offer.

"I had a possibility to do what Jean Todt was doing, to become director of Ferrari for the racing part," Schumacher told the International Herald Tribune in an interview.

"And when I saw how much passion and dedication that he put into his job - similar to what I did in my job - but he simply was just sitting in Maranello, day by day, even on weekends, late into night - I said: 'Do I need this? Simply not. Simply not."'

Schumacher, who has been racing bikes occasionally since his retirement, added that he is not interested in focusing in just one project right now.

"I don't want to be focused straightaway on a different project. I just want to be free and see what is the next thing that I want to do in my life. I'm free right now; I choose what I want to do," Schumacher added.

But the former champion acknowledged that he will need to find a new challenge he is passionate about.

"I'm sure something will come up that will interest me in a way that I will have passion for," he said. "I need this passion, otherwise I don't want to just sit at an office desk and pass the time."

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Kolles, Gascoyne to leave Force India

Colin Kolles and Mike Gascoyne have parted company with Force India in a major management reshuffle that has taken place ahead of an announcement about their future technical plans early next week.

Team principal Kolles and chief technical officer Gascoyne will no longer play any formal role at the team, with Force India owner Vijay Mallya taking full responsibility for running the outfit.

Mallya will be assisted in his new role of team principal by Robert Fernley, director of Force India. On the technical side, design director Mark Smith and technical director James Key will share responsibility for the design of future cars.

Speaking about the changes, Mallya said: "Force India is my most difficult project to date and it has become clear that it requires more direct input from my side and greater performance accountability.

"We have come a long way this season, but we need more and that requires some radical reorganisation of the management structure to ensure the maximum productivity.

"I would like to thank Colin Kolles for his tireless efforts in keeping such a small team alive and to Mike Gascoyne for bringing his wealth of technical expertise. Both have played an instrumental part in making the team what it is today.

"On Monday November 10th, I will announce the new technical direction of the team as well as the appointment of a new Chief Operating Officer who will assume overall responsibility for our Silverstone and Brackley facilities, Race and Test operations."

Force India are expected to conclude a technical partnership deal with McLaren-Mercedes, having announced earlier on Friday that they have ended their engine deal with Ferrari.

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Kovalainen: I can match Hamilton in 2009

Heikki Kovalainen says he is ready to step up his game and become a much stronger challenger to Lewis Hamilton next season, after admitting he was not happy with how his first year with McLaren went.

The Finn started off the 2008 campaign with some impressive performances - especially in qualifying - but his form slipped away in the second half of the year as McLaren's own challenge became stronger.

And despite taking his maiden victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix, he confesses that things were far from ideal. However, he thinks he knows what he has to do to up his pace next season.

"I'm clearly not happy, certainly not with the results," Kovalainen said at the Mercedes-Benz Stars & Cars event in Stuttgart on Saturday. "I think the fact is I didn't make any big mistakes this year, but the season was quite difficult.

"We didn't finish all the races, there were also some things happening with me, and with my car technical issues that prevented us from a few results. But I think I'm much better prepared now for next year, and I'm looking forward to starting work for next year.

"Hopefully we can finish more races, without any problems, and get some better results."

It is understood that Kovalainen will have to improve his performances in 2009 if he to retain his seat beyond the end of the season - with McLaren and Mercedes already believed to be weighing up other options including Robert Kubica.

However, Kovalainen sees no reason why he cannot improve enough to become a thorn in the side of Hamilton.

When asked if this year had prepared him enough to be able to compete with his world championship teammate, Kovalainen said: “Yes, I think so.

“Even this year, the potential was there to get much better results. In terms of ultimate pace, there's never been a problem.

“If you look at some of the qualifying sessions this year, if you really measure the speed, it's quite positive. So I think we just need to keep working on the details. So to answer your question, yeah, I think I can do a much better season next year.

“We don't know at the moment how it is going to go, and what kind of package we are going to have. But, thinking ahead, and suspecting that we're going to have a good car, then I will do the maximum to be in a position to have a better season."

And he insisted there was no issue of Hamilton being granted automatic number one status at the team because of his title success.

“I think it is quite clear that we have the same chances,” explained Kovalainen.

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Webber: KERS will penalise heavier drivers

Mark Webber fears that one of the consequences of the introduction of KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems) next season will be that Formula One's heavier drivers will be put at a disadvantage.

With KERS weighing between 25 and 60 kilogrammes, there will likely be less available ballast for teams to move around their cars to help with weight distribution.

And Webber believes that such a circumstance will make it harder for heavier drivers to achieve an optimum weight distribution for their car.

Speaking to autosport.com about the penalties for heavier drivers, Webber said: "It's certainly not going to be an advantage. I'm not exactly fat, but unfortunately it looks like the guys on the heavier side could potentially find it more difficult.

"It will depend on things like tyre choice, but if you're lighter you might have more choices.

"The guys who are in the mid-70s (kg) might find it tougher than the guys in the mid-60s. This shouldn't be used as an excuse, though. The weight distribution could turn out to be absolutely perfect once the car is designed. It is just there's less scope for the heavier guys."

The Australian reckoned it could be the first time in two decades that a driver's weight has an impact on lap times.

"It's an unusual situation," said Webber. "I've not really suffered because of weight since karting, but next year could be the first time since the 1980s that guys that are heavier are penalised by it."

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FOTA pushing for five million Euro engines

Formula One team principals are still pushing to come up with five million Euro customer engine deals for 2010 that will stave off the threat of standard power units being introduced by the FIA.

The Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) met in London this week to discuss a package of measures that they hope will reduce costs in F1 and allow the FIA to ease off their plans to introduce standard power plants from 2010.

FOTA has been discussing proposals at the last few races and, although some suggestions like a delay in introducing KERS until 2010 have been rejected, other measures were approved in this week's meeting - so can now go to the FIA for consideration.

FOTA chairman Luca di Montezemolo told Gazzetta dello Sport: "This is a first package of proposals, voted unanimously, which will bring important cost reductions. We agree on trying to have five million Euros engines in 2010. We also agree on producing new engines in 2011 at lower costs.

"Before the end of 2008 we'll face the issues regarding 2010. It was unthinkable that the future of Formula One should be decided between the Chinese and the Brazilian GP. More time is needed, but the spirit of collaboration is really nice."

Teams had gone into the FOTA meeting optimistic that the measures they were talking about – with plans to reduce testing, allow technical partnerships between teams and introduce more standard parts - would be positive for F1's future.

Toyota president John Howett, vice-chairman of FOTA, said before the meeting he was upbeat about what was on the table.

"I think it is very positive," Howett told autosport.com about the progress within FOTA. "A lot of items are at a stage where they can be voted on by the executive committee. I think it will be a really sincere and concrete package to support smaller teams, reduce costs and not alienate the bigger teams. There are still one or two contentious issues though."

Honda Racing team principal Ross Brawn added: "I think the work that FOTA is doing is very good and I hope through FOTA we can make some alternative proposals which achieve the FIA's objectives, FOTA's objectives and we can come together on that. There are some very good ideas."

The FIA has asked teams to come up with a proposal to supply independent teams with engines for five million Euros per season as an alternative for the need to introduce standard engines from 2010.

Manufacturers claim that five million Euro engines cannot be introduced for next year, however, because of the unit cost of the current power plants.

"It is impossible with the current engines," said Howett. "That is the current outline discussion, but whether it is voted and approved I don't know. All that has been agreed so far is a three-race engine and a reduction in test mileage, which is a double win for everybody."

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Q and A with Heikki Kovalainen

Heikki Kovalainen had hoped his move to McLaren this season would allow him the opportunity to fight for the world championship. However, despite taking his maiden victory in Hungary, the Finn was left slightly frustrated with how his year turned out.

But speaking at the annual Mercedes-Benz Stars & Cars event in Stuttgart on Saturday, Kovalainen made it clear he was far from dispirited by the year's events - as he eyed a big step forward for 2009.

Autosport.com heard from Kovalainen as he talked about his confidence for better fortunes next year, his winter testing plans and how he hopes to watch some skiing in the next few months.

Q. How would you sum up your performances this year, and are you happy wit them?

Heikki Kovalainen: I'm clearly not happy, certainly not with the results. I think the fact is I didn't make any big mistakes this year, but the season was quite difficult. We didn't finish all the races, there were also some things happening with me, and with my car, technical issues, that prevented us from a few results.

But I think I'm much better prepared now for next year, and I'm looking forward to starting work for next year. Hopefully we can finish more races, without any problems, and get some better results.

Q. What is the status for the drivers next year, does Lewis have number one status?

HK: I think it is quite clear that we have the same chances.

Q. Has this year prepared you well enough to compete with Lewis next year?

HK: Yes, I think so. Even this year, the potential was there to get much better results. In terms of ultimate pace, there's never been a problem. If you look at some of the qualifying sessions this year, if you really measure the speed, it's quite positive.

So I think we just need to keep working on the details. So to answer your question, yeah, I think I can do a much better season next year.

We don't know at the moment how it is going to go, and what kind of package we are going to have, but thinking ahead, and suspecting that we're going to have a good car, then I will do the maximum to be in a position to have a better season.

Q. Do you know when you will try KERS for the first time, and what are your expectations for it next year regarding improving the racing?

HK: I'm not exactly sure when I will run for the first time. I will probably do a couple days in before the end of the year, but I'm not sure of the programme yet. For myself, the most interesting thing to try is the slick tyres, if not this year then straightaway next year I'll be experiencing KERS.

As for the racing, I hope it will improve, but to be honest, this year, the races have been quite exciting. Lots of overtaking going on.

Again, there were a few difficult races, where it was difficult to pass anyone and they were quite boring races, but if we can have the same kind of excitement as we had this year, and maybe with these new regulations even improve it a little bit that would be great.

But I have no idea how it's going to be. I guess the people who have been dealing with it know more about it, and they know what they are doing, so it should be better.

Q. Will you have much time off this winter?

HK: I'm sure I will have a little holiday, but not much. I don't feel I need it. I will probably do a couple of days of the Jerez test in December, preparing for next year.

It's better for everyone to have a bit of time off though, especially the people in the race team, they've had a hard year, but I'm looking forward to driving the car again. I'm in good shape, good physical and mental condition, not too tired, and if I had to drive tomorrow it would be no problem.

Q. You've done marathons in the past. Do you plan anything like that for this year?

HK: I'm not planning to do any marathons, certainly not any events. Maybe I'll do a marathon on my own if I feel like it, but as soon as I joined the team this year my fitness programme changed quite a lot.

I haven't done endurance stuff, long distance training, much this year. I've been focusing on different things and I will carry on like that this winter. The focus will be on other things. Maybe I'll go and see some skiing races though, there are some good Finnish skiers around that would be good to watch.

Q. Do you see any other teams competing for the title with Ferrari and McLaren next year?

HK: Yeah, we should never underestimate anyone. Especially Renault, they had a good finish to the year with Fernando. They clearly found something, they were strong in qualifying and the races in the last few rounds so I think we can expect them to improve as well.

Also BMW, they always start the season very strong, if they can carry that pace on through the year they will be very strong.

But even the other teams, you never know. Red Bull, Toro Rosso, they were occasionally very strong this year as well.

The bottom line is we are going to keep working hard for next year, and what has happened this year, Lewis winning the championship, will push the whole team forwards. There is a good buzz going around the factory, so I think we're going to have a good package, but it's going to be a close fight.

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Ecclestone racism remarks cause uproar

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone is facing calls from anti-racism groups for him to resign in the wake of the storm that has erupted over comments he made about Lewis Hamilton.

Ecclestone suggested that insults thrown at Hamilton via websites in the build-up to the Brazilian Grand Prix, as well as earlier this year during testing, were not racially motivated.

"There were a few people in Spain and that was probably beginning as a joke rather than anything abusive," Ecclestone told BBC Radio Five Live.

"I think people look and read into things that are not there. All those things are all a bit of a joke and people are entitled to support who they want. I don't see why people should have been insulted by it."

Those comments have caused a big controversy in Britain - with some leading anti-racism campaigners believing Ecclestone's statements were unacceptable.

Kick It Out, the anti-racism sports pressure group, told The Times: "What Bernie Ecclestone said is shocking and disgraceful. In his position in Formula One, and with the sway that he holds, for him to come out and say this . . . is very worrying and short-sighted.

"You would expect [him] to be protective of someone like Hamilton and use his authority to chastise these supporters. This will upset a lot of people, particularly young mixed-race and black males who are looking up to Hamilton and what he has achieved.

"Fans blacking up in the stands was overt, old-school racism and that is still fresh in the memory. People are entitled to support who they want but that is no reason for racist abuse, which this clearly was."

Former footballer Paul Elliot, who is ambassador for European campaigners Football Against Racism in Europe, was widely quoted in the British press as saying: "The comments are shameful and disgraceful. Lewis Hamilton has made a colossal contribution to the country and the sport, and the sport has a duty of care to protect him and his family.

"Bernie Ecclestone is not fit to be in that environment and he should resign. There has to be zero tolerance. However successful Ecclestone is, it is clear he is out of touch with the 21st century. It is totally out of order, unacceptable and he should move over."

Hamilton also said that there was little humour to be found in the actions of fans who dressed up in black face paint and black wigs - although he had not heard exactly what Ecclestone had said.

"I didn't see it as a joke," he told a press conference for Vodafone. "It's something that happened but it is in the past.

"What's more important to me is that I had a lot of support, especially from UK fans. As long as I have my country behind me it makes me very proud. It makes me very proud to see my fellow countrymen holding up the flag. All the other stuff I need to put behind me. I don't generally keep up with what's being said and I haven't read what Bernie said."

Ecclestone reacted to the controversy his comments had caused by denying he was condoning racist behaviour.

"I was the one who pulled the Grand Prix out of South Africa [after 1985] in support of Nelson Mandela because of bloody apartheid before these people knew anything about racism," he told The Times.

"I said to the promoters in Barcelona, 'Let me go and get the people that blacked their faces up and bring them into the paddock and introduce them to Lewis and then see what they've got to say.' But the police said, 'Don't do it.' I personally was going to get them."

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