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The F1 Commission met today for the first time in 4 years, and successfully proposed new rules and regulations to go before tomorrows World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) Meeting, in an effort to spice up the F1 show.

Today's meeting hosted by the FIA is the first meeting of the F1 Commission in its new structure since the signing of the 2009 Concorde Agreement, earlier this year.

Chaired by Commission President Bernie Ecclestone, the Formula One Commercial Rights Holder and with FIA President Jean Todt in attendance, the F1 Commission is made up of key championship stakeholders from F1 teams, promoters, suppliers and sponsors.

The F1 Commission agreed that the Brawn team will be allowed to change its chassis name from Brawn to Mercedes. The team will continue to receive payments based on its historical performance.

This has been granted on a one-off exceptional basis due to Mercedes-Benz's long-term involvement and commitment to Formula One.

Further to this the Commission has agreed to a change in the points system for implemention into the 2010 F1 Championship and beyond.

In light of the increased grid size for 2010 the Commission has decided that points should be awarded down to 10th position.

The following points system will therefore apply, should tomorrows WMSC accept the proposal.

1st - 25pts
2nd - 20pts
3rd - 15pts
4th - 10pts
5th - 8pts
6th - 6pts
7th - 5pts
8th - 3pts
9th - 2pts
10th - 1pt

Other points to note from the meeting of the Commission include:

- A strong mandate has been given to the Sporting Working Group, a sub-committee of the F1 Commission made up of the FIA and F1 teams, to develop detailed proposals to improve the show. These will take effect from the 2010 championship.

- The FIA and FOM will further collaborate to enhance the communication and promotion of the championship to the media and its worldwide fanbase.

 

The next meeting of the F1 Commission will take place at Bahrain's Sakhir Circuit on Wednesday March 10th 2010, just 4 days before Round 01 of the 2010 FIA Formula 1 World Championship.

Formula 1 will return to Silverstone in 2010 after the circuit reached a landmark agreement with Bernie Ecclestones FOM for a 17-year contract, including a get-out-clause after 10 years.

The British Grand Prix has been in doubt ever since Donington Park failed to raise the required funding to upgrade the Leicestershire circuit. However Silverstone have stepped into the breach with a gaurantee of a new pit and paddock complex for 2011 and the use of the new 'Arena Circuit' from 2010, designed originally for the use of MotoGP.

Damon Hill; Chairman of the BRDC and 1996 Formula One World Champion, annouced the deal at a specially organised press conference at Grosvener House in London.

He said of securing the deal; "The title of Silverstone as home of motorsport has come true. It is a place for all motorsport. Everyone in the BRDC loves motorsport and we are looking forward to the MotoGP as well as the British Grand Prix.

"It is not easy to enter into a contract of this magnitude and you have to take on a lot of responsibility, but the BRDC wanted this relationship to continue.

"Everyone was well aware that the British GP is not just a sporting event, but it is dynamo of the industry in this country. Losing it would have been damaging and perhaps there would have been no coming back."

Regarding giving the fans more value for money, Silverstone Circuit Managing Director Richard Phillips added "Even this year with the new circuit we are trying to get better access for public, changing granstands for better viewing and running our own campsites to be better than the current ones,"

"We want to increase the entertainment factor."

Commenting on the new Arena Circuit Phillips said, "The FIA have been to see it, it has been submitted for homologation and we hope to be running on the 'arena' circuit next summer. If not we can run on the current circuit."

Work on the new circuit is under way already and will hopefully be finished by late spring, well before the MotoGP event in June. Meanwhile work on the new pit and paddock complex will begin after Christmas now that a long-term deal is in place for the race to be held and will be completed before the British Grand Prix in 2011.

Next years Santandar British Grand Prix will be taking place on the weekend of July 9-11, the same date as the Mens Final of Wimbledon and the FIFA World Cup Final in South Africa.

2010 FIA Formula One World Championship Entry List

Number	Driver	Team	Constructor
1	Jenson Button	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
2	Lewis Hamilton MBE	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
3	Nico Rosberg	Brawn GP Formula One Team *	Brawn Mercedes Benz
4	TBA	Brawn GP Formula One Team *	Brawn Mercedes Benz
5	Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull Racing	Red Bull Racing Renault
6	Mark Webber	Red Bull Racing	Red Bull Racing Renault
7	Felipe Massa	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	Ferrari
8	Fernando Alonso	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	Ferrari
9	Rubens Barrichello	AT&T Williams	Williams Cosworth
10	Nico Hulkenberg	AT&T Williams	Williams Cosworth
11	Robert Kubica	Renault F1 Team	Renault
12	TBA	Renault F1 Team	Renault
14	Adrian Sutil	Force India F1 Team	Force India Mercedes
15	Vitantonio Liuzzi	Force India F1 Team	Force India Mercedes
16	Sebastien Buemi	Scuderia Toro Rosso	STR Ferrari
17	TBA	Scuderia Toro Rosso	STR Ferrari
18	TBA	Lotus F1 Racing	Lotus Cosworth
19	TBA	Lotus F1 Racing	Lotus Cosworth
20	TBA	Campos Meta 1	Campos Dallara
21	Bruno Senna	Campos Meta 1	Campos Dallara
22	TBA	US F1 Team	US F1 Cosworth
23	TBA	US F1 Team	US F1 Cosworth
24	Timo Glock	Virgin Racing	Virgin Cosworth
25	TBA	Virgin Racing	Virgin Cosworth
26	TBA	Sauber F1 Team	Sauber Ferrari
27	TBA	Sauber F1 Team	Sauber Ferrari

 

* This team has indicated its intention to change its team name to Mercedes Grand Prix prior to the start of the 2010 season.

The governments of Canada and Québec, Montréal and Tourisme Montréal are proud to announce that the Grand Prix du Canada will return to Montréal on June 13 through a $15 million annual investment over the next five years.

The Government of Canada and Tourisme Montréal will each contribute $5 million of this amount.

The Government of Québec will provide $4 million and Montréal will add $1 million. Montréal and its partners will in return receive 30% shares from ticket sales.

"The Conservative government is proud to award such a significant financial contribution to the nation's foremost recreational tourism event.

Through the $25 million in support that we are providing over five years, the FIA Formula One World  Championship is coming back to North America here in Montréal. Acting on behalf of our taxpayers has always been one of our prime concerns and this agreement advances that goal.

The funding in question will provide direct and tangible leveraging support to our economy. This is an excellent outcome for all concerned," said the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister responsible for the Montreal region.

"The Grand Prix of Canada has more impact on the tourist industry than any other sports event in Canada. Of the 300,000 spectators at the competition, 25% come from outside Québec. With such heavy media coverage, the FIA Formula One World not only provides an outstanding display window for Montréal, but for Québec as a whole.

This event alone delivers some $89 million in economic fallout each year, along with 75,000 overnight hotel stays. "I am certainly delighted by this news," said Québec Minister of Tourism, Nicole Ménard.

"For Québec, this event by itself results in annual tax revenues of more than $10 million, for a $4 million investment, minus revenues from ticket sales. All three levels of government have worked together tirelessly over the past few months to bring the Grand Prix back to Montréal, while acting in a financially responsible manner.

With this agreement in hand, I am delighted that our efforts have finally succeeded," said Québec Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Montréal Region Raymond Bachand.

"The return of the Formula One to Montréal attests to our sustained efforts and determination. This win-win deal falls in line with the terms we set and the taxpayer's ability to pay and will create stability for the next five years. I am very pleased that our metropolis is bringing back this crucial stage in the Formula One series for fans from around the world and an outstanding opportunity in terms of the event's international reach," said Montréal Mayor Gérald Tremblay.

"In view of the substantial trickle-down effects that the F1 will generate for members of our association, Tourisme Montréal is pleased to assist in the return of Canada's biggest tourism event. International coverage of the Grand Prix also puts Montréal in the spotlight and promotes our city as a tourist destination," said Charles Lapointe, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tourisme Montréal.