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Belgian Grand Prix
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
31, 01, 02 September 2012
Length of lap: 7.004 km (4.352 mi)
Total number of race laps: 44
Race length: 308.052 km (191.410 mi)
Most wins (constructors): Ferrari (16)
Fastest lap 2011: Mark Webber Red Bull 1:49.883

Last Race

Hungarian Grand Prix

Hungaroring Circuit

1 Lewis Hamilton McLaren
2 Kimi Räikkönen Lotus
3 Romain Grosjean Lotus
Fastest Lap
Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 1:24.136
Pole Position
Lewis Hamilton McLaren 1:20.953

2011 Cars images

Spanish GP, Catalunya Circuit - Race. F1 image 2011 (HD PHOTO)
Michael Schumacher, Mercedes MGP W02
Spanish GP, Catalunya Circuit
Formula 1 image 2011 (Photo 1920x1280)
Turkish GP, Istanbul Park Circuit - Race. F1 image 2011 (HD PHOTO 1920x1280)
Lewis Hamilton & Jenson Button, McLaren MP4-25
Turkish GP, Istanbul Park Circuit
Formula 1 image 2011
Chinese GP, Shanghai International Circuit - Race. F1 wallpaper 2011 (HD PHOTO 1920x1280)
Fernando Alonso. Ferrari 150° Italia
Chinese GP, Shanghai International Circuit - Race.
Formula 1 image 2011

Fisichella to race for Ferrari at Monza, reserve role for 2010

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Giancarlo Fisichella will race for Ferrari at the remaining five rounds of 2009 after Force €ndia agreed to release him from his contract on Thursday. Fisichella will replace Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer as stand-in for the injured Felipe Massa, starting at next weekends €talian Grand Prix. He will then serve as Ferrari's reserve driver in 2010.


Force €ndia have yet to confirm who will take over from Fisichella alongside Adrian Sutil in the teams number 21 car, though third driver Vitantonio Liuzzi is already being tipped to succeed his fellow €talian.

“We've chosen Fisichella because we can expect him to make a valuable contribution in this final part of the season,” said Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali. “Giancarlo has shown throughout his long career that he's fast and competitive and we are therefore proud to be able to run an €talian driver in our home race.”

Fisichella, who scored Force €ndias first-ever pole position, points and podium at last weekends Belgian Grand Prix after finishing a close second to Ferraris Kimi Raikkonen, commented: “€ am very grateful to (Force €ndia boss) Vijay Mallya for allowing me this opportunity to drive for the Scuderia Ferrari team.

“€t is true that it has always been an ambition to do this, and for Vijay to have allowed it to become a reality is very generous. € hope in my turn € have helped Force €ndia grow up and be on the right path to achieve their own ambitions. They are now a very competitive team and € wish them all the very best.”

Badoer was drafted in by Ferrari after Massa fractured his skull in a qualifying accident at Julys Hungarian Grand Prix. However, the 38-year-old €talian struggled to get to grips with the F60 in a race environment, prompting the team to seek an alternative as they chase third place in the constructors championship.

“We wish to thank Luca Badoer for the team spirit he demonstrated in these circumstances,” added Domenicali. “€t is a shame he was unable to show his true worth in these last two races, tackled under conditions which anyone would have found difficult.”

Mallya said he had made the decision to release his driver for the good of Fisichella and of Formula One racing, and not in exchange for any financial settlement. He also hinted that the 36-year-olds Ferrari deal extends beyond 2009, suggesting a possible testing role for the Roman next season.

“For any €talian driver, a Ferrari race seat is a long-held dream and for Giancarlo it was no exception,” said Mallya. “No one should stand in the way of this. Furthermore the agreement will secure Giancarlo's long-term future with Ferrari and it would be incorrect to jeopardise this. A competitive €talian driver in a Ferrari for Monza is a positive story for Formula One, which can only help raise the sport's profile in these difficult times.”

Mallya went on to thank Fisichella for his contribution to the team over the past one and a half seasons, but insisted his departure would not have a major impact on Force €ndias impressive recent form: “He has been an integral part of the team and we owe him a great deal for his input behind the scenes and performance out on track - we wish him all the best for the future.

“This sport is a team effort and removing one part, even a major one, will not significantly affect our performance.The competitiveness of the team seen in Belgium was a result of hard work in the factory and wind tunnel and we have further developments coming for the final races, so we are confident this momentum can be sustained.”

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Flash news

Petrov confirmed at Renault until 2012

Renault have announced they will retain Vitaly Petrov for the next two seasons. It means the Russian driver will again partner Robert Kubica in 2011.
"I am very happy to continue with the team and proud to be representing Lotus Renault GP for the 2011 and 2012 seasons,” said Petrov, who has just completed his rookie F1 campaign with the team. “I learned a lot about the sport, the circuits and the car this year. That will help me improve even more in the future.
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2012 Race Drivers

Sebastian Vettel
Mark Webber
Lewis Hamilton
Jenson Button
Fernando Alonso
Felipe Massa
Michael Schumacher
Nico Rosberg
Kimi Räikkönen
Romain Grosjean
Paul di Resta
Nico Hulkenberg
Kamui Kobayashi
Sergio Perez
Daniel Ricciardo
Jean-Eric Vergne
Pastor Maldonado
Bruno Senna
Heikki Kovalainen
Vitaly Petrov
Pedro de la Rosa
Narain Karthikeyan
Timo Glock
Charles Pic

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