Nonetheless, Webber is joining a team that is expected to be amongst the front runners eventually, with next year’s car being designed by the fabled hand of Adrian Newey, while
Renault are rumoured to be providing the engines.
His introduction though means Christian Klien is looking at his final five races in
Formula One for the time being, the Austrian admitting his departure came as a surprise. Although he has reportedly been given two weeks to decide whether he wants to move with
Red Bull into DTM and Champ Car, Klien insists he wants to remain in Formula One next year.
Jacques Villeneuve looks to have competed in Formula One for the final time after he chose to leave
BMW Sauber when they could not guarantee his future.
With few offers available, Villeneuve is set to join
Juan Pablo Montoya in NASCAR, while
Robert Kubica, who debuted with the team in Hungary, is likely to keep his seat to the end of the season and probably for next year.
Indianapolis will remain the home of the United States Grand Prix in 2007 after a deal was struck between Tony George and
Bernie Ecclestone. However, the deal is for just the one year and although IMS claim they want to host the US Grand Prix, much maligned after the 2005 tyre fiasco, in the future, changes in the regulations for 2008 have stopped them from putting pen to paper on a further contract for the moment.
Toyota meanwhile have confirmed that they are stepping down from the Grand Prix Manufacturers Association, claiming they have achieved everything they set out to do since they entered the sport in 2002, while rumours have surfaced that
McLaren could be ousted in favour of an all-Mercedes team should the German brand choose to buyout the team, something sources have suggested they are close to concluding.
On a side note, Eddie Cheever did what he failed to do when he raced in Formula One by taking the Grand Prix Masters victory at a sodden
Silverstone, with Eric van de Poele and Christian Danner second and third.
NEWS FROM THE TEAMS:
Renault – Fernando Alonso (#1), Giancarlo Fisichella (#2):
Renault have been pushed onto the back foot ahead of the Turkish Grand Prix following the confirmation that their mass damper use is indeed illegal, a blow that could see their title challenge over, should Renault’s claim of its importance to their performance come to fruition.
