New movie set to hit screens in 2011

An officially sanctioned Formula 1 movie is set to hit the cinema screens early next year after a landmark deal was reached with the sport’s commercial chief Bernie Ecclestone.

Preparations are now well underway for the film, which will be an action documentary charting the history of the sport but focusing especially on the period between 1968 and 1982.

The film is being produced by Hollywood-based Michael Shevloff, and is being worked on by the partnership of Oscar winners Mark Monroe (writer) and Paul Crowder (director).

With the full support of Ecclestone, it is hoped production for the film will be completed this year with a release date scheduled for early in 2011.

Monroe, who won an Oscar with Crowder last week for his recent documentary film ‘The Cove’, said the plan was for the F1 movie to appeal to both casual fans and the hardcore enthusiast as it charted the sport’s history and growth.

“My partners and I really believe that documentaries can be entertaining and engaging – not just reporting facts,” he told AUTOSPORT during a visit to the Bahrain Grand Prix.

“We want to make a big action movie – do something that puts people in the car and makes them gasp at the speed of the thing. Then, tell the human stories all the while, so you can dip in and out of these human stories with these big action moments that are enhanced from archive footage.

“We will do it with music, flare and energy – and get people excited about it. It is a pretty tall task as we have to hit the right tone so the proper fans don’t think it is a rubbish, but also make it broad enough so that someone who doesn’t know anything about the sport can really enjoy it.

“That is the task and it is a tough one – but it can be done and that is what we have set out to do.”

Although previous plans for F1-based movies have fallen through, with Sylvester Stallone abandoning his own efforts and making the widely-lambasted ‘Driven’ movie based on ChampCar instead, Shevloff believes that by having a documentary approach, rather than creating fiction, the idea had every chance of being successful.

“It is a tough order to make a dramatic film about a dramatic sport,” he explained. “To make a film and say we will spend 100 million dollars or 200 million dollars on this movie – well Bernie would just reply and say the teams spend a billion dollars on the sport.

“So I don’t know how you would make it bigger than it is. It is bigger in real life than you could ever make in a film, so a documentary is a much better form for this. The real thing is so huge that if you put it in a movie, the whole thing would seem contrived.”

The film does not yet have an official name – but it has been decided the main focus will be on the period between Jim Clark’s death at Hockenheim in 1968 and Gilles Villeneuve’s fatal accident at Zolder in 1982.

“We don’t have a title. We are still looking at titles – and it is the last thing on our plate at the moment,” added Shevloff.

“We have had various working titles, from ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’, to ‘The Untitled F1 Doc’. We need to find something that is a film rather than a documentary title – we are intent on making people see it as a film.”

WRC calendar decision delayed

The proposed calendar for next year’s World Rally Championship has not been ratified by today’s World Motor Sport Council meeting in Bahrain.

The WMSC has instructed FIA president Jean Todt, WRC Commission president Morrie Chandler and North One Sport, the WRC’s promoter, to “further consider the World Rally calendar.”

A final version of the calendar is to be decided, according to the FIA’s communication from the meeting, no later than April 16.

North One Sport proposed a 15-round calendar at last month’s meeting of the WRC Commission. The calendar, which would start with Rally Poland if the Monte Carlo Rally organisers decided to remain in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge for a third successive season, included a brand new event in Abu Dhabi – at the expense of Rally Jordan, the first WRC event ever to run in the Middle East.

Abu Dhabi’s inclusion, while commercially sensible given the Emirate’s heavy investment in the sport, has not been greeted with universal acclaim from the sporting side of the world championship.

The candidate event for a Yas Marina-based event does not run until December and, as an AUTOSPORT source put it: “There are concerns about the way one event looks set to jump into the championship at a time when calendar slots are extremely precious. This is something which will need more talking about.

“But, at the same time, it would have been nice to have come away from today’s meeting with a firm decision on the calendar for next season, particularly after North One Sport has put so much time into it.”

The inclusion of Abu Dhabi on the provisional calendar was boosted by the UAE’s vice-president of the FIA Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who stated: “I am convinced that now is the right time to bring the WRC to Abu Dhabi.”

Thursday’s press conference – Bahrain

Participating: Fernando ALONSO (Ferrari), Jenson BUTTON (McLaren), Lewis HAMILTON (McLaren), Felipe MASSA (Ferrari), Michael SCHUMACHER (Mercedes GP).

Q. A question to all of you. What are you most looking forward to during this season? Who is going to start? The World Champion.

Jenson BUTTON: The same as all of us I think, and that is getting out there. It has been a few months since we actually raced for three of us here, so getting out there and racing, that’s what we all love. Testing is part of the job but racing is the bit what we really enjoy. I am looking forward to getting out there. It is such a competitive season, it looks like. It is possibly one of the most exciting seasons we have seen in Formula One, so just being a part of that is very special.

Q. Lewis, what are you most looking forward to?

Lewis HAMILTON: Just getting on the track. Testing was good fun but obviously we did not have as much testing as we have had in the past and the more time in the car the more fun we have. Just looking forward to it all kicking off and to see where everyone else sits.

Q. Felipe?

Felipe MASSA: Well, to get back to racing after eight months. It is a long time. I am looking forward to getting back to racing, to starting in a good direction after as Lewis said not many tests. But it is nice to be back racing.

Q. Michael, after an even longer absence what are you looking forward to? And welcome back.

Michael SCHUMACHER: Thank you. The green light or the red light going off.

Q. The green light or rather when the red goes off?

MS: Yes.

FM: You are very motivated. You are already in the overalls.

MS: Exactly.

Q. Fernando?

Fernando ALONSO: The same as everybody. Just starting the competition, the racing. Testing is okay but it is just preparation for the race itself, so looking forward to Sunday.

Q. Who has walked around the circuit? Any of you? Michael, what are your thoughts on the new section of the circuit? It is all probably fairly new to you.

MS: The first part looks quite exciting. The later part a little less exciting, but then you have to drive it and feel it in reality.

Q. Has anyone else been around the circuit to have a look at it? Jenson, been around the circuit?

JB: No, we are going out this afternoon.

Q. Lewis?

LH: The same.

Q. Jenson, a new team. What are the greatest changes and challenges for you?

JB: I think moving teams. I was with my previous team for seven years, so moving teams can be tricky. It is a completely new environment, it is a real challenge and most of us do not really like change, but it has been good. Even after sort of two months I really feel part of the team. We have not even gone racing yet and I feel a big part of the team. I have always worked very hard to make myself fit into a team reasonably well but the team have been great. They are so hungry for a good season. Last year for them was not the best and it has made them hungry for success this year.

It has been good and having the simulator there has helped me a lot to get used to the environment of being in this car. I spent a lot of time at the factory, not just with the engineers, just spending time at the factory, so I am part of the furniture there. Testing has gone well as well. It is important to really use every second or every minute you are with the team as it comes around very quickly. We have Friday and Saturday morning before qualifying but it is not a lot of time, so you have got to be ready for when you arrive here in Bahrain.

Q. Having number one and being World Champion on the car. How motivating is that or is it even restrictive?

JB: I can’t see it as restrictive in any way. You should look at it in a positive way. Stepping into the car and seeing the number one on it is a very special feeling, especially here in Bahrain at the first race. Just before I put on my helmet and I look at the car and see the No 1 it is going to be an emotional moment but as soon as you step into the car and close your visor last season is out the window and you are purely focussed on this year.

Q. You won here last year. Is it a good circuit for you?

JB: I like it. It is a fun circuit to drive and it is a place you can overtake which is great. The new section is pretty slow. There are nine new corners on the circuit and most of them are slow now, so it is tricky and I look forward to getting out there and seeing what we make of it as it is difficult walking around it and trying to understand it. The simulator is useful but still in reality it is nice to get out there and feel it in the car. I hope it does make overtaking better but I am not sure if that is going to be the case. I think it could possibly make the racing more exciting as it is very tricky, so I look forward to getting out on the circuit tomorrow morning.

Q. Lewis, the man next to you is the reigning World Champion. How does that change things for you? Is that extra motivation?

LH: I don’t think it makes a huge difference. Jenson has been welcomed into the team and he seems to be doing a great job, very productive, enthusiastic and he has really brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the team. I can only see it as a positive. On my side, for me, just from coming from not so good a year last year but to finish on quite a high I feel just as determined as ever if not more.

Q. Which of the rule changes has been the most challenging as far as you are concerned?

LH: Probably just being a little bit heavier. Otherwise it has been pretty straight forward. Just trying to understand the tyres a little bit and understand the approach to the long stints being a little bit different to last year on lighter fuel but otherwise it is pretty straight forward. I am sure this weekend will be a challenge for everyone but we are all in the same boat.

Q. You finished second here in 2007, the first time you came here.

LH: That seems like a long time ago. We had a good car back then. The last two years things haven’t been particularly special but hopefully this weekend will be a new start for us and hopefully a positive for me and Jenson.

Q. Felipe, a big welcome back to you. What is it like to return, to be back in the car and back at a race meeting again?

FM: It is just nice to be back in business. That is my job for many years. I have lost a bit of races and just nice to be back. I feel really happy and a lot of motivation to get back to the job.

Q. You are a former winner here, but also in the past you have had some slow parts to the season. Is that something you are conscious of and determined to change?

FM: I think it is something that we understood in the past that the first race is important to finish, important to score points. Even in the last years we always had some problems in the car to finish the race. That I hope doesn’t happen. I hope we can finish most of the races in good points as we know at the end of the season it is always important to be there on a good amount of points. Many people say at the beginning of the season what is important is the reliability. Reliability is always important. It is important to finish the race. We did a lot of kilometres in the winter test which helps when you have a good car to start the season.

Q. Michael, what’s it like to be back at a race meeting when you are a driver and fully involved after an absence of three years?

MS: Well, naturally it is a bit more intense. From the morning to the evening with lots more details than you want and naturally you have to pay attention.

Q. How much are you still team building? People have spoken how you built a team at Ferrari. What is happening at Mercedes now?

MS: I think it is difficult to say right now what is going to be the development. Naturally you have to adapt, you have to evolve developing into the team. It is probably the thing that you will find some potential, you still can improve, to understand how at certain moments the team will work, why it will work, how you can combine the two things. But so far I have to say that the guys are good guys. It is good harmony, particularly due to knowing the boss quite well and he knows me too. It makes things a lot easier, a lot smoother, but otherwise I am sure there is some potential we will have to develop.

Q. You are a two-time winner here. What are your feelings about this circuit?

MS: Making it three.

Q. Fernando is a two-time winner as well, aren’t you?

FA: Yes, three also.

Q. But Fernando, again new team, new challenges. What are the major challenges? What are the major changes?

FA: As Jenson said I think every time you change team you need to adapt yourself a little bit to the new people, the new philosophy of working, of preparing the season. It has been a great time so far. I have been very comfortable with the team from day one to now, so I think we arrive at the first race with a good preparation and ready for the fight.

Q. Ferrari have been said to be one of the two top teams. Is that the way you see it?

FA: Not really. We are not comparing too much the times in winter or making many predictions for these first races. We have just been concentrating on our programme to try to be as prepared a possible for the first race. I think the four teams – Red Bull, Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari – any of the four teams can be a favourite for this race and for the first part of the championship with, I am sure, some teams also like Sauber and Force India, they will have a very good race as well. I think we will do our best. We are well prepared for this start of the season but we want to be World Champions in November, not in March. We will do our best but the goal is to win the championship and we know this is not easy at all and we need to work very hard for 10 months, so it is only the start.

QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR

Q. (Thomas Richtr – TV Nova) For all the drivers. If it was up to you and not working groups or the FIA, would you choose this year’s regulation regarding the refuelling ban and heavy cars at the start or last year’s regulation when it was a sprint from pit stop to pit stop?

FA: I am happy with any decision. It is just a new challenge for all of us. For the engineers, teams, drivers it is change in Formula One, so any change is normally welcome as it offers you the possibility of discovering some new area of our sport. I am happy with the change but I was happy last year. We will see. We need to give some time to the new regulations to see how the races are. If we see more overtaking, if not? Maybe the races are very spectacular or maybe the races are very boring. We need to wait and see a few races to see if the new regulations are working or not.

MS: Last year… yeah, for the simple fact it leaves more scope for strategy. Naturally, as a race driver you want to drive the fastest car and if you have full tanks to half full tanks it naturally makes a big difference.

FM: I think the regulations have to be good for everybody: for the drivers, for the teams but also a lot for the guys who are watching the race. It’s very difficult to say which ones (regulations) I prefer, the new ones or the ones from last year. We haven’t yet done a single race, it’s very early to say which one I prefer, but I think if it’s good to everybody – for the moment I don’t think anybody is against the regulations, so if it’s good for everybody, it should be no problem to change. It’s also a new challenge for everybody, as Fernando says, so we just need to focus on every new point and try to do the best.

LH: I think it’s a new challenge in the sport for all of us and the key is that we’re moving forward, so I’m excited to see how it works and I’m sure we will do everything we can, collectively, to put on a good show.

JB: I think everything’s been said. I think turn one’s going to be pretty interesting with that much fuel – going down to turn one. I think we forget about qualifying as well. Qualifying is different to last year: we will be running on low tanks all the way through, which is great. I think we will have more of an understanding after qualifying than the last couple of seasons with the cars on low fuel. But I think the differences from qualifying to the races will be bigger than we’ve seen before. Some cars will be very good on light fuel, maybe not so good on 150/160 kilos of fuel, so it’s going to be interesting to see.

Q. (Jonathan Legard – BBC Sport) Michael, do you remember how you felt coming into the sport for the first time, up against champions who you had watched, the likes of Senna and Prost and so on? With your record and reputation, you’re very much the man to beat; is it going to be everyone else’s aim to attack you and challenge you on the track?

MS: Yes. Basically when I arrived, I wasn’t that full of confidence to be on the same playing field but being with them the first time, I noticed that I could be (competitive) and I do feel pretty much the same now. There’s no reason why somebody should not feel in the position to fight me because all those guys who will be on the grid on Sunday have good reasons to be there because they’re highly talented. I have the greatest respect for each of them; for me, each one is a big competitor that I have to look at.

Q. (Livio Oricchio – O Estado de Sao Paulo) Michael, you always said you don’t like understeer in your cars, and this year, due to the weight of the car, the tyres, the nature of the cars, you have understeer. Do you think that because of that we may not see the best of you?

MS: I think it varies very much from car to car, it’s a characteristic which is given to a car. Sometimes, you’re right, it may be given by the tyres, then it’s up to you and your team to get the balance that you want, because in the past, don’t forget a car suited me because I like oversteer, I like a neutral car, the fastest car, whatever that is!

Q. (James Allen – Financial Times) Fernando, you’ve talked about settling in; do you think you’re ready to win? And what do you think of Michael coming back?

FA: Yes, I think I’m ready to win. Every time you arrive at the first race of the championship you’ve been preparing yourself all winter for this moment, so I’ve been waiting very long to be here at Ferrari as well, many years of preparation for this moment, so now I feel ready to fight and hopefully we’re in a position to do that. To have Michael here, OK – it was a surprise for sure when he came back but as I said many times, it’s a very good thing for all of us, for all the drivers, for our sport and that can only help Formula One and because we are part of Formula One, all the drivers, it also helps us, so I am very happy that he’s here and hopefully we can have good fights.

Q. (Ian Parkes – The Press Association) Question to Jenson and Lewis: just been watching the dynamic between you two guys while the other three have been answering questions at the front. You’ve been having a good laugh and a joke, sharing comments etc. Is that a good indicator of the friendship/relationship you two have already developed over the past few weeks together?

JB: It’s all for show! Exactly what we were told to do by Steve (press officer Steve Cooper).

LH: I agree. We’re focusing on a potential move to acting in the future!

JB: And no one’s asking us any questions, so…

Q. (Sarah Holt – BBC Sport) I have a question for you, Jenson. How do you feel about defending your title this season against Fernando in the Ferrari, Michael back at Mercedes, Lewis in the same equipment as you will have? Do you feel you will need a dominant start again this weekend?

JB: Yes, I think every championship, for any champion, I think it’s important to be quick out of the blocks. If you look back, normally the guy that really fights for the championship and gets the championship is strong from the word ‘go’, so yes, I think it is important for all of us to be up there at the front here in Bahrain. The competition is very fierce, I must say, but that’s why it is exciting. For a fan of Formula One, this season should be electric, it really should be. If it’s not, we’re doing something seriously wrong. It’s obviously great to have Felipe back after his horrific accident last year. Great to have Michael back because it makes me feel young again! Looking at this race, I don’t think there have been so many competitive drivers in competitive cars for a long time, so it’s great to see.

Q. (Jacques Deschenaux – GP Guide) To all of you, will the new distribution of points with 25 for the first, 18 to the second, change your approach and maybe your strategy for the race?

MS: You still want to score the 25, so that’s the main strategy. It’s certainly a little bit fairer, I think, in a way that if you have somebody who wins most of the races, naturally you will most likely say that he is going to be the champion by the end of the year, rather than somebody there just sitting, waiting and taking second and third places and suddenly being World Champion. I don’t think that makes much sense, as it has been in past years. Actually I think I was the reason why it was implemented, the small gaps, because I was winning so much and nobody could find a way to stop that. I think it’s absolutely correct, the way it is now.

FM: I think it’s correct as well. I think the winner, the victory is always more important than anything, so if you win, maybe to have a little bit more points is always better. So I’m with Michael.

LH: Well, what they said was right. It’s another challenge, it’s a small change to the results. As Felipe said, when you win the race it should be rewarded perhaps a little bit more than the guys who come in second and third. I think it will be interesting to see how it pans out. I’ve not really thought about it too much to be honest.

JB: I think we need to see how it goes. It’s the same as before. You still want to go out and win as many races as you can. Obviously when you’re fighting for a championship – I know how that feels now – it’s about being consistent as well. When you’re fighting for a win, it’s very difficult to hold back and think ‘I’ll come in second and pick up the points.’ We all want to win races and that’s what we’re here to do.

FA: I agree.

Q. (Carlos Miquel – Diario AS) Fernando, in the past you have said Michael is the best driver in history. Now, Michael is back, do you believe the same? And a question for Michael: who could be your biggest rival this year?

FA: Yes, if I said that, it’s because I really think that. If you see the World Championships that Michael has it’s something that is impossible to repeat and part of the history in our sport, as I said. Looking at the numbers, Grand Prix wins, pole positions, championships etc, I think we all agree that Michael is the best ever, so I’m happy that he’s here and as I said, hopefully winning a championship or winning a Grand Prix with Michael on the track has more value, so we will try.

MS: At my age, I keep forgetting things if they are too long away, so what was the question? Basically, I think there are the four main teams that you’re looking at and in all those cars – so you’re talking about a potential eight drivers, seven around me that I have to look out for. Four of them are sitting here right now and there are three more that aren’t here right now. It’s very tough to mention which is the one, but it doesn’t matter who it is, because you’re focused on the one that it is.

Q. (Joris Fioriti – AFP) To all of you apart from Michael Schumacher: you were saying, Fernando, that winning a race ahead of Michael Schumacher would bring more importance. Don’t you think that if Michael starts to win too much, it’s going to be very bad for all of you in the end and for the sport too?

FM: Well, for sure we need to work very hard not to let him win too much. Every team wants to win but it’s the best for the sport to have the best drivers on the track, the best teams fighting on the track and I think that’s always great for the sport. Anyway, everybody wants to win, everybody wants to keep winning all the time. But it’s a big competition, so I think it will be very difficult as we saw in the tests, to see a single car winning every race. But anyway, you never know. The race starts now and we need to wait and see.

LH: We have to wait and see, we have to wait and see.

JB: Yeah. I think you’ve answered it yourself.

FA: I agree!

FIA approves GT2 postponement

The FIA World Motor Sport Council has approved GT promoter Stephane Ratel’s request for the 2010 FIA GT2 European Championship to be called off.

GT2 previously ran as a class within the FIA GT Championship alongside GT1, but with the formation of the new GT1 World Championship this year, Ratel had intended for GT2 to become a standalone series.

However a lack of entries forced this plan to be called off for 2010, although the series is only postponed at present and the FIA hopes it will be revived in 2011.

For this year a one-off GT2 European Cup is set to be run within the Spa 24 Hours instead.

In the wake of news of FIA GT2’s postponement, Le Mans organiser the Automobile Club de l’Ouest issued a statement insisting the class was an important part of the 24 Hours and the ACO’s affiliated worldwide championships.

Ratel has previously denied that the plan to stipulate a pro-am driver pairing format in FIA GT2 was behind the series’ troubles. Leading teams AF Corse and CRS decided to switch to the Le Mans Series earlier this year.

“If we had left it as it was, we would have had 11 cars like last year,” Ratel told last week’s AUTOSPORT magazine.

“We knew our plan would lose us some cars, but we thought it would bring in others.”

HP signs Renault sponsorship deal

The Renault F1 team has announced a sponsorship agreement with HP for the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

The new deal means the HP branding will appear on the Renault cars from this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

As part of the agreement, Renault will gain access to HP technology in order to improve on-track performance.

“We are delighted to welcome a global leader of the stature of HP to our partner network,” said Renault team chairman Gerard Lopez. “F1 has a proven ability to boost brand awareness around the world, and we are proud that Renault F1 Team will be HP’s partner of choice in achieving this goal.

“Genii Capital believes that F1 can also be used as a very powerful business development platform.

“We hope that HP can develop new business opportunities through Genii Capital’s B2B platform and Mangrove Capital’s access to exciting technology opportunities.”

FIA re-opens 2011 selection process

Formula 1’s ruling body will re-open the selection process for a potential 13th team to join the sport in 2011, the FIA said on Thursday.

The governing body has taken the decision after US F1, which had the 13th slot for the 2010 season, failed to be ready to compete in this year’s championship.

The American team had requested that the FIA delayed its entry for next year.

However, the FIA has decided to re-open the selection process for the final slot, meaning there is likely to be a significant number of candidates hoping to race next season.

Lola, Epsilon Euskadi, Prodrive and N.Technology were among the teams to have applied for an entry for this year.

The governing body also said US F1 could face sanctions for its absence.

“With regard to the USF1 team’s non-participation in the 2010 championship, the world council mandated the FIA president, in full compliance with the new code of practice for disciplinary matters, to take forward the most appropriate action,” it said in a statement.

The FIA also confirmed that rookie Karun Chandhok had been granted his superlicence to competed with the HRT team at this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.