F1 Minute

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You’re listening to F1 Minute and today is the 4th October 2008.

This week, Williams hosted the launch of the F2 series at their factory, and we got to learn some more details of the new feeder formula. We already know that Williams have designed the F2 cars, and that Jonathan Palmer has secured the rights to operate the series. Now we know that the winner of the F2 championship will get to spend time in the Williams F1 simulator and then get a test in the car out on track. Of his hopes for the series, Palmer said: “I am absolutely determined that Formula 2 will attract the greatest depth of talent by virtue of its extraordinary cost effectiveness, and through its carefully considered format and equality of opportunity produce most of the best future F1 star talent in the coming years.”

Elsewhere, technical director of Renault, Bob Bell, has said the Alonso we saw in Singapore was “the Fernando of old”, the one who was capable of winning championships.

That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.

Listen to this episode

Welcome to F1 Minute, it’s the 17^th June 2008.

Renault’s chief of aerodynamics Dino Toso has left the team today, to be replaced by Dirk de Beer. The move was announced back in April, and has finally come to pass. This comes at the same time as Renault confirming that they are not giving up on this year’s championship, with technical director Bob Bell saying of the team’s poor start: “The worst thing we can do is get spooked by it and start losing our attention to detail and commitment. We’ll keep our heads down and things will come right for us.” He said they will not be giving up and focusing on next year as was believed, and that they have an aggressive development plan in place.

More Renault news, Fernando Alonso has been awarded the Dialogue Prize in Spain at the French embassy. The award is for opening up communications between France and Spain and was handed over by a French Ambassador. It was also revealed a few days ago that Alonso has hired his very own professional fan, who will be paid to follow him round at races. Which is quite a job description.

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