Out to Pasture

Nick Heidfeld poses at Melbourne Zoo for BMW ahead of the 2009 season. The German has been confirmed as reserve driver at Mercedes GP for 2010, making it an all German outfit based in Brackley. Heidfeld says he is slightly disappointed with not having a race seat for the upcoming season but is determined to make it work with his new team.

Credit: BMW AG

08-Jan-10: Sauber Reorganise Directors for 2010 Season

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This is F1 Minute for the 8th January 2010.

With Peter Sauber taking back control of his team from BMW, he has been spending some time sorting out who’s in charge of what. Sauber will be the president of the team, heading up the board of directors, and will also take the role of Team Principal. Apparently, though, he won’t be doing much in the way of operations, instead handing the day to day tasks to Monisha Kaltenborn as managing director. Monisha has been on the board since 2001 and she has been part of the legal team since before then, but will now take a more hands on role. It will be good to see a female getting involved at a top level of F1.

Quickly to finish, Heikki Kovalainen has been talking to Autosport during a seat fitting for his new Lotus team, and says being at McLaren taught him a lot and he is a much better driver in every area since his days at Renault, but at the same time he’s always been a good driver. Mixed signals.

That will do for now, have a great weekend and join me on Monday for another F1 Minute.

You Sure It Will Be Ready in Time?

Kamui Kobayashi gets a seat fitting in his new car – hoping for some additions to it before he hits the track, no doubt. With the team ready to launch at the end of January, the team have debuted a new site, continuing with the name BMW Sauber.

06-Jan-10: Sauber Confirm Launch Date for New Car

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Today is the 6th January 2010 and this is F1 Minute.

Good news to start with, the ex-BMW team Sauber have confirmed the launch of their 2010 car – it will take place at Valencia on the 31st January, which is the day before the first test of the year. They are the first team to announce a launch date, I hope we’ll hear more from the others now.

Back to the unpleasant Briatore business unfortunately, the Italian has suggested that he will be taking legal action against the Piquet father and son duo, saying “The bad that has been done to me won’t be forgotten in one day.” He also has another go at Max Mosley while he’s at it. Meanwhile, Bernie Ecclestone would be ready to welcome Flav back to the paddock with open arms, saying: “He was a great character in F1 but I am not sure if that’s what he wants to do now. I think he will move on from that. It’s good for him but it is not good for the FIA when you read the verdict.”

That’s all for today, please join me tomorrow for another F1 Minute.

Sauber Sunday

A media scrum gets a good look at the BMW F1.06 in the garage at Valencia, during a test after the 2006 season was wrapped up. Fast forward several years, and the Sauber team today confirmed their 2010 launch date as Sunday 31 January, in Valencia ahead of a pre-season test. The car will apparently be called the C29.

Credit: BMW AG

Kubica Set to Stay at Renault

Kubica sorts out his future, whilst Button gears up for the new season.

Welcome to F1 Minute, today is the 4th January 2010.

After a worrying period towards the end of 2009, Robert Kubica’s manager has said it’s looking likely the former BMW driver will stand by his commitment to Renault. The pair had been a bit concerned after Renault had serious investment from Genii Capital, and Kubica had some questions to ask, but his manager Daniele Morelli said: “We are going in the right direction. There were no doubts, really, but it was very important we understood who were in the key roles in the team… it is fundamental you have that for the updates to the car.”

Elsewhere, the moment 2009 became 2010, McLaren unveiled Jenson Button as their new driver, with him posing for photos and video beside the car and in the team gear. Jenson is super happy and ready to get to work – he laments there is no testing until February.

That’ll do for now, please join me tomorrow for another F1 Minute.

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04-Jan-10: Kubica Set to Stay at Renault

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Welcome to F1 Minute for the 4th January 2010 – ooh, that sounds weird! Anyway, Happy New Year! On with the news.

After a worrying period towards the end of 2009, Robert Kubica’s manager has said it’s looking likely the former BMW driver will stand by his commitment to Renault. The pair had been a bit concerned after Renault had serious investment from Genii Capital, and Kubica had some questions to ask, but his manager Daniele Morelli said: “We are going in the right direction. There were no doubts, really, but it was very important we understood who were in the key roles in the team… it is fundamental you have that for the updates to the car.”

Elsewhere, the moment 2009 became 2010, McLaren unveiled Jenson Button as their new driver, with him posing for photos and video beside the car and in the team gear. Jenson is super happy and ready to get to work – he laments there is no testing until February.

That’s all for now, please join me tomorrow for another F1 Minute.

Chasing Tails

Jenson Button follows Robert Kubica during a test session in Barcelona during March 2009. Button has been introduced as an official McLaren driver now, posing in the team gear and next to the car. Meanwhile, Kubica’s manager is pretty sure his driver will line up on the grid in Bahrain for Renault, after clearing up any doubts they had about the team’s new investors.

Credit: BMW AG

21-Dec-09: Mercedes Sign Petronas as Title Sponsor

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Welcome to F1 Minute, it’s the 21st December 2009.

It is Christmas week, and you would think the news would be dying down a little bit. Um, no. Today, Mercedes GP confirmed they were bringing Petronas back to Formula 1 as their title sponsor. The Malaysian oil company was previously involved with the BMW team and had been rumoured to get involved with Lotus – thanks to the Malaysia connection – but it is Mercedes who will get the branding. There’s even a livery concept floating round the web, released by the team, and it’s… well, it’s grey and green. Hmm.

Elsewhere, F1 organisers in Rome have said they agreed a deal with Bernie that he will help them get a race on the calendar. Apparently the written confirmation says that Bernie will support the GP in Rome, and whilst it’s good to get the FOM boss on your side, they don’t have approval from any of the governments or the FIA. Plans look to be for 2012 at the moment.

That’s all for now, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.

Kobayashi to drive for BMW Sauber F1 Team from 2010

Kamui Kobayashi has been signed on as a BMW Sauber F1 Team driver as of season 2010. The 23-year-old Japanese drew attention to himself in 2009 with two strong performances as a substitute driver for Toyota.

“I’m very much looking forward to working together with Kamui,” said Peter Sauber. “In the final two Grand Prix of last season he was granted an unexpected chance to show his skills, and he made impressive use of it. Particularly in the Abu Dhabi race he demonstrated not only that he can drive fast and aggressively, but also his ability to successfully implement a strategy. I am convinced he has a great deal of potential and will be able to make the most of it in our team.”

“Ever since the start of my career I have dreamed of racing in Formula One,” said Kobayashi. “Now this dream has come true. I am very happy that my two races in 2009 have earned me a cockpit place. I will do my very best for Peter Sauber’s team and I am proud to be able to carry on flying the Japanese flag in Formula One.”

Kamui Kobayashi was born on 13th September 1986 in the Japanese city of Amagasaki. He took up karting at the age of nine. Toyota’s Young Drivers’ Programme was the passport to Formula Renault in 2004 and 2005, after which he took part in the Formula 3 Euro Series, winning the race in Magny-Cours, France in 2007. Further podium places earned him fourth place in the final rankings – and with it promotion. At the end of 2007, Toyota had already signed him on as a Formula One reserve driver from 2008 on.

At the same time, Kobayashi was competing in the GP2 Series in Asia and Europe in 2008 and 2009. He claimed an early maiden win in the European GP2, and in winter 2008/2009 he took a convincing title in the GP2 Asia.

Kamui Kobayashi lives in Paris. He speaks Japanese and English.
He is 1.70 m tall and weighs 63 kg

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