Brits on Pole

Martin Brundle has hit back in his Sunday Times column against the FIA and its decision to issue a libel writ over a piece he wrote in September questioning the impartiality of its actions.

McLaren should expect to start the 2008 season “critically handicapped” due to the “vengeance” of Max Mosley, according to an article in today’s Scotland on Sunday.

News just in from William Hill on the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. It’s a two-horse race, with the horse being ridden by Lewis Hamilton roughly half a length in front. The Boy Wonder is odds-on at 4/7 with legendary boxer Ricky Hatton, due to take part in the fight of his life…

The Battle of the Sebs at Toro Rosso has a clear victor. Der Seb, young Mr Vettel, has beaten Le Seb, young Mr Bourdais, hands down after topping the rankings on the fourth day of Jerez testing.

Wannabe pole-sitters hoping to join Lewis Hamilton at McLaren for 2008, then leapfrog him to the championship, look to be facing disappointment. McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh has hinted the team may quietly suspend its traditional equality policy next year and make Lewis Hamilton its number one driver in all but name.

Mike Conway has said that he is pleased with how his second opportunity to test in a Honda F1 car has gone. He joined fellow GP2 racers Andreas Zuber and Luca Filippi for a try-out after the trio impressed at the first winter testing session in Barcelona.

The FIA has announced that it intends to sue The Sunday Times newspaper over an accusation that it has behaved unfairly towards McLaren. A statement issued after the World Motor Sport Council meeting in Monaco said the body had been given the go-ahead to make the legal move.

Will Lewis Hamilton have a potentially championship-winning car at his disposal in 2008? Or will he be forced to compete in a machine that’s been hobbled because it’s considered illegal? That question will not be answered until February – leaving McLaren with less than a month to cope with any consequences before it is required…

Renault has not been penalised for possession of confidential data belonging to its rival McLaren because there was no proof that the team benefited from it. That is the finding of the World Motor Sport Council, released today after its verdict in the case was announced yesterday.

The Times has just published a long and illuminating interview with Sir Jackie Stewart, in which he discusses his career in F1, its appalling safety record at the time and the toll that the deaths of many friends and colleagues took on him.