What do Lewis and Beckham have in common?

Lewis Hamilton under new management

Mar.14 (Press Release) On the verge of a thrilling new Formula 1 season, Lewis Hamilton today announced that he has signed a new management deal with Simon Fuller’s XIX Entertainment group.

Lewis won the 2008 F1 world championship

The 2008 Formula 1 world champion joins an impressive roster of British sporting talent at XIX Entertainment, which has already forged successful associations with David Beckham and Andy Murray.
Additionally, the group works in partnership with screen and entertainment stars such as Sir Michael Caine, Jennifer Lopez, Robert Pattinson, Annie Lennox and Roland Mouret.
Speaking of his decision, Lewis said: “It was important that I took my time to make this decision as it had to be right for my career and my long-term future. I spoke to many interested companies in recent months but I felt Simon Fuller, along with his team at XIX Entertainment, not only wanted to help me become an even better racing driver, but they also shared my ambitions for the longer term. I look forward to working with them closely.”

Simon Fuller with Victoria Beckham and David Beckham at the 2007 British GP

The move was welcomed by Lewis’s father Anthony, who previously guided the 26-year-old’s motorsport career. He said: “This is great news for Lewis and for Simon. Lewis has wisely taken his time to find a good person to look after him. I met with Simon a couple of years back and he was then at the top of my list as my potential replacement. I’m happy to see that, two years on, Lewis has also come to his own opinion about Simon and made his own decision.”
Simon Fuller added, “I’d met Lewis and his father several times in the past and kept an eye on his career closely over the years. Like any British sports fan, I watched with pride and admiration at his achievements, incredibly winning the world championship at such a young age.”

Lewis (pictured here in 1996) was a karting prodigy

“He’s not only one of the leading sportsmen of his generation, but he will, I believe, become one of the best of all time. It’s an honour to be partnering with Lewis in what will be a very exciting stage of his career,” added Lewis’ father.
Martin Whitmarsh, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team principal, added: “Lewis has been part of the McLaren ‘family’ since he was a kid. He was introduced to us by his father Anthony, who did so much to inspire a racing career that led Lewis from karting to Formula 1. Now, however, it’s gratifying to see Lewis open a new chapter of his career, and we at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes will relish joining him on his journey, both on track and off track, working closely with Simon Fuller and the XIX Entertainment team.”

“Challenging” final day for Rossi

Monday, 14 March 2011

The Italian had a fall on Monday at the Qatar Test where he placed 13th on the timesheet. Ducati team-mate Nicky Hayden was ninth fastest.

The final pre-season MotoGP test session was completed on Monday in chilly, windy conditions at Qatar’s Losail International Circuit, where Ducati Team riders Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi lowered their lap times from the previous night. The team will still be working hard to make up ground when practice for the first round of the World Championship starts on Thursday, with the race scheduled for March 20th (Sunday).
Nicky Hayden, 9th, 1'56.726:
“When we got here this afternoon, I wasn’t sure how much riding we were going to get to do, because the wind was really gusting. It started dying down about the time we started, though, and they did a good job of cleaning the track. We tried some different options and got a little bit better, but not like we really wanted to. I did two longer runs and was able to string together some laps at a decent pace, on both hard and soft tyres. I ended the day with a crash in Turn 2, where a lot of guys have gone down this week. I just lost the front end. Anyway, that’s enough testing, because this weekend it will really mean something. We know it’s going to be a tough one, because everyone is pushing so hard, but we’ll do our best to come in here and make a good showing.”
Valentino Rossi, 13th, 1'56.988:
“I’d say that today was pretty challenging: the weather conditions were much tougher than yesterday, and I had another crash when I slipped on a white line. Fortunately, I just fell over on the ground – it was nothing serious. The real problem was that at about an hour and a half from the finish, I started to lose strength in my shoulder, and I just couldn’t push anymore. It’s a shame, because I had just done my best time, and I may have been able to drop it a little more from there. Instead, we didn’t even mount the two soft tyres that we had. I started on a long run, but I stopped because I was losing tenths lap after lap. Let’s say that we’re not as far back as it looks, although we still have a lot of work to do, regarding both the bike and myself, because the shoulder is evidently not yet able to bear two such intense days of testing. Between now and Thursday, I’ll do some light exercise and have it massaged, and then we’ll see.”
Ducati Team press release

F1 community shocked by Japan tragedy

Mar.13 (PVM) The harrowing tragedy that has engulfed Japan in the wake of the massive earthquake on Friday and subsequent tsunami has shocked the Formula 1 community, particularly as it occurred midway through the final Formula 1 testing in Barcelona with all the teams and drivers present at Circuit de Catalunya.
Sauber’s Japanese driver was understandably depressed as the scenes on TV were digested in the Barcelona paddock. He said, “All my thoughts are with the people in Japan. My country has suffered an enormous catastrophe. The news is depressing and I’m very sad. I can’t really put in words what I feel.”
Lewis Hamilton wrote on Twitter today, “I pray hard for all those in Japan and the affected areas, to fans and their friends and families, I pray you are safe. God bless you all.”
Fernando Alonso admitted that the tragedy put things into perspective and was a reality check, “Confronted with a tragedy like the one that has struck Japan today, Formula 1 and all its problems to do with tyres, wings and engines is way down the list of priorities and today, my thoughts go first and foremost to the victims and their families.”
Jenson Button, whose girl friend Jessica Michibata is Japanese, said, “I just want to add that today’s events at the track are really put in their perspective by the terrible tragedy in Japan. Right now, my thoughts go out to everybody in Japan, particularly in the worst-affected area of Sendai. My heart is with them.”
Mercedes GP team boss Ross Brawn said, “Our hearts and minds go out to the people of Japan, who are great supporters of our sport, in this time of tragedy.”

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