Big Hugs in Bahrain
Jarno Trulli hugs a Toyota team member after achieving his fourth career pole position at the Bahrain International Circuit in 2009. Timo Glock helped the Toyota team lock out the front row with a second place qualifying spot. Trulli went on to claim 3rd position in the race whilst Glock finished 7th.
The Toyota team won’t be present at this year’s Bahrain GP. Jarno can be found a long way from pole position at Lotus F1 Racing, and Timo finds himself in a similar position with Virgin Racing.
Credit: Toyota Motorsport GmbH
Way Back When…
Michael Schumacher drives the Bahrain International Circuit back in 2006, the last time the track held the opening round of the Formula One World Championship. It also marks the last time Schumacher raced an F1 car in the desert, back when grooved tyres were all the rage and cigarette advertising had yet to be banned.
Michael returns to the track this year after a three year absence, this time at the wheel of his Mercedes MGP W01.
No Room for Nerves
Renault driver Vitaly Petrov prepares to get in the car during F1 testing in Jerez. Petrov has said that he isn’t feeling nervous ahead of the season, although people keep asking him. He’s still learning but he says he’s used to racing and knows what’s expected of him. Team boss Eric Boullier confirmed the team were aiming for around about fourth in the championship – not aiming too high, then.
Credit: Andrew Ferraro / LAT Photographic
Business Affairs
Giancarlo Fisichella and Ian Phillips of Force India celebrate the Italian’s pole position at the Belgian Grand Prix in 2009. Ian Phillips most recently held the position of director of business affairs at the team but it has been announced that he will be leaving. He’s been with the squad for 19 years since they were Jordan.
Credit: Force India F1
Slot Car Racing
Jenson Button peers into Lewis Hamilton’s MP4-25 cockpit. The McLaren team are coming under close scrutiny at the moment from rivals who are questioning the functionality of the car’s airbox and rear wing.
Red Bull Racing’s Christian Horner said today that his team have asked the FIA for clarification on the matter, and suggested that a slot in the wing might be an attempt to stall the wing to pick up straight line speed.
Credit: McLaren.com
No Worries Ahead of Bahrain
Fernando Alonso finished second today in Barcelona testing. The new Ferrari driver is very happy with his car, proclaiming it the best he has ever driven – with the caveat that it may not be the best on the grid. He’s also happy they have no worries ahead of the season beginning in Bahrain, despite the fact that Hulkenberg pipped him to P1 in testing.
Red Bull on a Charge
Mark Webber on the first day of testing in Barcelona today. Webber led the way, giving Red Bull some much needed headlines, as the Australian finished about a second ahead of his nearest rival. Towards the back of the grid, Lotus and Virgin continued to struggle, with di Grassi crashing off halfway through the day. Testing continues tomorrow.
Credit: Mark Thompson/Getty Images
Some Light on the Matter
The VJM03 sits in the Force India garage, awaiting testing in Jerez last week. The team’s former technical director James Key was confirmed today at BMW Sauber, replacing the outgoing Willy Rampf. Key said that with the ever-changing world of F1, and the team set up as they are, he’s relishing the challenge and thinks they’re in a good position to do well.
Credit: Force India F1
Established Teams Only
Felipe Massa keeps his Ferrari ahead of a following Williams during testing in Jerez last week. In a post on the official website, Ferrari have hit out at the FIA for allowing new teams onto the grid who might not make it. They specifically call out Campos for reorganising their whole management structure and US F1 who have “gone into hiding.”
Credit: Bridgestone Motorsport
The Impression of Speed
Timo Glock gives the impression of speed whilst testing in Jerez last week. Technical Director of Virgin Racing, Nick Wirth, has said that the reliability issues they struggled with in Spain have knocked their pre-season schedule back a little, and that they are now going to turn their attention to Bahrain. He added that they had worked with heavy fuel loads though, and they weren’t worried about the slower times posted.
Credit: Virgin Racing