Formula One Times: 5th November UPDATE- ALONSO AT RENAULT & DENNIS TO STEP DOWN

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BREAKING NEWS: Alonso & Piquet to Stay at Renault

Renault have just announced that two-time World Champion, Fernando Alonso, and current team-mate, Nelson Piquet Jr will stay at Renault for the 2009 season.

"We are happy to confirm both Fernando and Nelson for next season," said team boss Flavio Briatore.  "This gives the ING Renault F1 Team one of the most exciting driver pairings with the perfect blend of youth and experience.

Alonso has been secured for a further two seasons whilst Piquet has secured a one year extension, with a possible extra year at the end of 2009.

Alonso told the media, "I have decided to stay with the ING Renault F1 team because, as I have often repeated this season, they have always been my first choice and I feel very happy and comfortable with them."

Piquet was happy with the news and said, "Although I have had a tough year, I have learned a lot from my rookie season and I will aim to put that experience to good use next season," he said.  "I want to thank the team for their support this year and for the trust they have shown in me for the future."

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Ron Dennis to Change Role Within McLaren

Lewis Hamiltons mentor and McLaren team boss, Ron Dennis, has suggested that his role within Formula 1 will change from next season.

"My role will broaden in some aspects and reduce in others," the team principal told a press conference in Brazil. "I have believed passionately in the need for a Grand Prix team to diversify and it is not by accident that McLaren is a group of companies, we do intend to try to match the success of Ferrari and to do that we cannot just be a Grand Prix team."

Fans are urged not be concerned that Hamilton will be disadvantaged by the absence of Dennis from the pit-wall from next season as the McLaren boss has groomed his likely successor, Martin Whitmarsh- Martin has long had a comfortable relationship with Hamilton. On top of that, Dennis is much too fond of Formula One to wish to spend any lengthy period of time away from it.

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Formula One Wants to Return Races to North America by 2010

The FIA are in discussions about taking F1 back across the pond by 2010 after the race was dropped from the 2009 calendar.

The 2009 Canadian Grand Prix was removed after a contractual dispute between even organizers and the FIA.  An event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway dropped off this year's calendar after eight years.

Speaking to the media, Honda CEO, Nick Fry, believes that this would be a positive step forward, "It's a vital market not only for the car manufacturers but also for many of the sponsors, A quick return to North America would be positive for Formula One.''

Could the sudden rush to get an American Grand-Prix back on the calendar be down to the fact that the FIA have managed to lose us two races from the 2009 season, Canada and France.  Panic setting in Mr. Mosely? 

The final word is that the event would be held "near one of the country's biggest cities."

Anthony Hamilton: Racist Taunts Hurt

The Father of Lewis Hamilton has admitted that racial taunts towards his son really do hurt and at one point forced him to reconsider whether they should continue in the sport.

“I am Lewis’s dad and my first duty is to be protective of my family,” he told the Daily Mail .  “Sometimes you wonder whether it is worth staying in Formula One, even when it has been your dream for so long.  When people behave as they do by talking against Lewis it hurts, and nobody wants that for people they love and care about.”

The World Drivers Champion has received many racial attacks this year after his heated feuds with Spaniard, Fernando Alonso.  The attacks started in testing, back in February when a group of Spaniards started hurling racial abuse towards Hamilton at the Circuit de Catalunya .  My article explains more.

BMW to Reveal New Car on January 20th

BMW have today confirmed that they will track test their 2009 car for the first time in Valencia on January 20.  BMW have stated that they believe that the new car will allow them to put in a full-blown challenge for the World Championship next year, and even be ahead of Ferrari and McLaren at the start of the season.

Reports on the teams Official Website state, “The roll-out of the BMW Sauber F1.09 has been scheduled for 20th January at Valencia.  Afterwards, we will conduct three further tests before the 2009 season kicks off in Melbourne on 29th March—some weeks later than was the case in recent years."

When asked how the car would line up against the big dogs, Ferrari and McLaren, the BMW spokesperson said, “The challenges are big but we will stick to our ambitious goal: in 2009, we want to be one of the teams battling it out for the title.”

Montezemolo: Formula One Needs a New Points System

Ferrari boss, Luca di Montezemolo, has told the Italian press that he believes that the sport needs a new points system, and should he ever take charge, it would be the first thing he would change.

The bitter Italian told La Stampa, " Massa won six races (in 2008), Hamilton five, but the Englishman is the champion."  This comment comes despite an official statement in which he says that Hamilton's title win was "well deserved."

Under pre-2003 scoring system, Massa would have claimed the title.  In 2002 and before, Grand-Prix winners received 10 points compared with six points for second. Today, the winner's margin is just two points.

Bourdais Keeps him "Fingers Crossed" for Second Season in F1

Sebastien Bourdais has said this week that he will keep his "fingers crossed" that he can extend his contract for a further year—an extension that would see the Frenchman with Toro Rosso throughout 2009.

"You could conclude that it was a bad season; indeed, if I were to start again, instead of seeking a radical solution to my problems, I would concentrate on smaller things," Bourdais said.  "I hope to know more very soon and have my fingers crossed for good news. I really want to continue."

Lead Pussycat Declares Her Love for Lewis

Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, the girlfriend of Lewis Hamilton, has publicly declared her love for the champion.  The couple who started dating late on in the 2007 season, have had a lot to celebrate over the last year- the "Dolls" have released a chart topping album, "Doll Domination," and of course the title win by Hamilton.

The 30-year-old singer joined the Hamilton family in Sao Paulo for the Brazilian Grand Prix to watch her "toy boy" clinch the World Championship title.  As a gesture of thanks for his girlfriend's support, Lewis has stated that he will join the Pussycat Dolls on their upcoming tour.

On a personal note, "get in there Lew' she's hot."

Ecclestone: Give Lewis the Recognition he Deserves

F1 boss, Bernie Ecclestone, has claimed that the Drivers Champion is still battling accusations of being arrogant- something that Michael Shumacher also fought on his way to his seven World-titles.

"Lewis has achieved an awful lot and it would be bloody difficult for any of us to be the same as him," said the F1 supremo.  "I think he comes over as a bit over-confident but don't forget they said the same about Michael.  He has to be careful what he says and how he presents himself, otherwise there are no fears."

Ecclestone has stated that he believes Lewis could attract a new audience to the already growing fan-base of Formula One and calls this the "Tiger Woods effect," after Tiger almost doubled the audience of professional golf.

As I say, keep an eye out for the announcement from Renault today as they reveal whether Fernando Alonso will be with them next year.  But, for now, I just wanted to say a massive congratulations to Barack Obama on his Presidential success—this from a UK citizen.