Waldschmidt completes maiden Panasonic Toyota Racing test

Young Dutch driver Henki Waldschmidt took part in his first official Formula 1 test when he completed a successful two-day run for Panasonic Toyota Racing at the Bahrain International Circuit.

The 20-year-old, who was born in The Hague, is a member of the Toyota Young Drivers Programme (TDP) and raced in the Formula 3 Euro Series in 2008, having previously progressed through the Formula Renault ranks.

As in previous year’s Panasonic Toyota Racing is playing its part in developing TDP drivers and Henki was given two days behind the wheel of a TF108 at the team’s penultimate test of 2008 to give him invaluable experience of a Formula 1 car.

Henki completed 128 laps and improved continuously throughout Wednesday and Thursday, finishing with a highly respectable best lap of 1min 33.430secs, within 1.5secs of Jarno Trulli’s fastest time in qualifying for the 2008 Bahrain Grand Prix, despite different track conditions and different goals.

He said: “I am very grateful to Panasonic Toyota Racing for giving me this opportunity to test a Formula 1 car for the first time. It has been a fantastic experience and I have learned a lot. The performance of the TF108 is incredible compared to the cars I am used to driving and the experience of handling the power, the brakes and the downforce will be very helpful to me in my career.

“I was very impressed to see how professional the team is and I can understand why they have made so much progress in the last year or so. They gave me a lot of useful information to prepare me for each day and helped me to improve my understanding of the car.

“I was not particularly familiar with the Bahrain circuit so it was a big learning curve on Wednesday but I am very pleased with my performance.”

Jarno was also on track in Bahrain this week, gathering more data on the new Bridgestone Potenza slick tyres and a low downforce aerodynamic configuration to help the team prepare for the 2009 season.

He also tested the RVX-08 engine with a view to the regulation change which extends engine life next year, while trying out a new gearbox and other mechanical devices looking ahead to the 2009 season.

He enjoyed three trouble-free sessions, completing a total of 258 laps over the three days and setting a fastest time of 1min 32.463s.

Test Team Manager Gerd Pfeiffer said: “It has been a productive test and we have achieved what we set out to. The good weather conditions here have helped us to complete a full programme aimed at gathering as much information as possible to help our preparations for 2009; lap times were not our priority. Of course, this was Henki’s first full Formula 1 test and he has made a good impression; he has been very professional and has made a lot of progress over the two days.”

Bridgestone Motorsport Barcelona Test Summary

Bridgestone Motorsport, the Official Tyre Supplier to the FIA Formula One World Championship, has completed its first post-season test of 2008 at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona, Spain, where two compounds of 2009 specification slick tyres were used as well as 2008 specification grooved tyres.

Nine teams were present over three days of testing between 17-19 November and they made use of hard and soft compound slick tyres as well as grooved tyres. Dry conditions meant that there was no use made of Bridgestone’s wet, extreme wet or development single wet tyre.

Although the weather was dry, it was cold, meaning that attaining and maintaining tyre temperature was a challenge for teams, particularly with the hard compound slick. A significant amount of data was gained with twenty-two different drivers over the course of the three days. Teams used visibly different packages, with development 2009 aerodynamic packages, interim and 2008 specification cars all in use. There was also some use of KERS systems by certain teams.

Bridgestone’s Potenza Formula One tyres will next been seen in use in Jerez on December 9-11, where eight teams are scheduled to test, and in Bahrain on December 10-12, where one team is scheduled to test.

Q&A with Tetsuro Kobayashi – Technical Manager, Bridgestone Motorsport:

Which tyres did Bridgestone bring to this test?
“We have brought two compounds of 2009 specification slick tyres, of a hard and soft compound. We also have several compounds of 2008 grooved tyre here as well as our current wet and extreme wet tyres, and the developmental single wet tyre.”

What was learnt with the slick tyres?

“We already have a lot of data from previous running with slick tyres, so the test helped build on this and allowed the teams to evaluate and develop their approach to using these tyres. The weather here in Barcelona has been quite cold so teams have found it difficult to warm up and maintain the heat in their tyres with the harder compound slick. We have gained a lot of data over the three days and we are still analysing it. This is not a completely straight-forward process as there were so many variations of car specification used here over the three days, with current cars, simulated 2009 downforce cars, and cars with early versions of the 2009 aerodynamic packages. Also, there were cars with KERS systems, which are still under development. It has been a very interesting three days, particularly as we have had feedback from a five-time World Rally Champion, as well as seeing new drivers, including the very well known motor sport name of Senna out on track.”

How different are the slicks from the grooved tyres we have seen for the last eleven seasons?
“Grooved tyres are a different concept of tyre from slicks and their introduction brought many challenges such as graining and a change of tyre construction. The return to slick tyres in some ways makes things simpler, and the drivers in particular have welcomed their return. Our current slicks are very different from those we last used in Formula One in the 1997 season, and we have applied the lessons learnt from eleven seasons of working with grooved tyres and from our long experience of other categories of slick tyre.”

Will there be two specifications of tyre at each race next season, and how will you distinguish between them?
“We will take two specifications of tyre to each race and we have worked to engineer two specifications which have a greater difference in characteristics between the two than we saw in the 2008 season. The harder tyre of any given allocation should offer very good consistency, but not nable as good an initial lap time. The softer compound should offer a very good initial lap time, but will experience performance drop-off the more it is used. It is hoped that this should provide competitors with many challenges and strategy options to encourage exciting racing. As regards tyre markings, we are still evaluating exactly what we will use.”

Have you decided which compound allocations to take to each race yet?
“We are still accumulating data and it will be some time before we determine the particular tyre
allocations for each Grand Prix.”

What effect do the Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) have from a tyre perspective?
“There should be no difference to overall tyre performance from the additional burst of power that the KERS systems are designed to provide. This is shown by the data we have seen from the systems that have been used so far. In terms of the overall performance of a Formula One car it is quite a complex area. To be effective, a good KERS system needs to be compact and light so it does not compromise the weight distribution opportunities of the chassis. Weight distribution, of course, affects tyre performance so the designers have this in mind when they design their KERS set-ups. This is all part of the challenge of Formula One, and illustrates why Formula One is an excellent test bed for new and emerging technology.”

20-Nov-08: Valentino Rossi Takes to the Track for Ferrari

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Welcome to F1 Minute, it’s the 20th November 2008.

The test in Barcelona is over now, but the track time continued for Ferrari in Mugello. Valentino Rossi took to the wheel of the F2008, completed about 30 laps, and was a couple of seconds off the pace. He says it’s all for fun, and will be back in the car tomorrow.

Meanwhile, everyone is evaluating what they learnt over the three test days, especially Bridgestone. They ran slick tyres with some of the teams in Barcelona and gathered plenty of data, but have said it will take them a while to process everything. Technical Manager Kobayashi said: “It has been a very interesting three days, particularly as we have had feedback from a five-time World Rally Champion, as well as seeing new drivers, including the very well known motor sport name of Senna out on track.”

Finally, two Red Bull stories – they have said that Loeb is fast enough for F1, despite only being in a car for the second time this week, and there are rumours that the Red Bulletin will be shutting down production.

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

Bridgestone Motorsport’s Brazilian Grand Prix report

Lewis Hamilton (Vodafone McLaren Mercedes) has been crowned 2008 FIA Formula One drivers’ champion after finishing fifth in a nail-biting season finale played out in Sao Paulo for the Brazilian Grand Prix. Felipe Massa (Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro) won the race and looked set to become champion with Hamilton only regaining the fifth place to win the title within sight of the finishing line.

Massa won by over thirteen seconds from Fernando Alonso (ING Renault F1 Team) with Kimi Raikkonen (Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro) finishing a further three seconds behind. Sebastian Vettel finished fourth ahead of Hamilton whilst Timo Glock (Panasonic Toyota Racing) took sixth. Heikki Kovalainen (Vodafone McLaren Mercedes) finished seventh and Jarno Trulli (Panasonic Toyota Racing) took the final championship point with eighth.

The drivers’ championship went in Hamilton’s favour with 98 points to Massa’s 97. Raikkonen was tied on 75 points with Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber F1 Team) but the out-going drivers’ champion takes third position through virtue of more race wins. Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro won the constructors’ championship with 172 points to Vodafone McLaren Mercedes’ 151. The BMW Sauber F1 Team finished third with 135.

Today’s race was an epic conclusion to a thrilling season. Rain fell just before the scheduled start meaning the start was delayed by ten minutes. All drivers started on Bridgestone’s wet tyre, but the rain proved short-lived and drivers were soon making pit stops for Bridgestone’s dry tyres. In the final ten minutes of the race the rain started again leading to a flurry of activity as competitors pitted to return to the wet tyres.

Glock did not make a final stop for wets, opting to remain on the dry tyres, but was unable to keep fourth place and was passed by Vettel and Hamilton a handful of corners before the chequered flag, meaning Hamilton won the championship. The race’s fastest lap, a 1min 13.736secs, was set by Massa using the medium compound on lap 36.

Bridgestone’s Potenza Formula One tyres will next be in test action at Barcelona on November 17-19. Two compounds of 2009 specification slick tyres will be available for teams as will one compound of the 2008 specification grooved tyre. The next Grand Prix is scheduled to take place in 21 weeks’ time at Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix on March 27-29.

Hiroshi Yasukawa, Director of Bridgestone Motorsport says:
“Congratulations to Felipe Massa and Ferrari for a fantastic race win, and congratulations to Lewis Hamilton and McLaren Mercedes for winning the drivers’ championship. This was a superb way to end a great season and not many races have been as exciting as we saw today. Bridgestone celebrated its 200th Grand Prix this year. Ten years ago we celebrated the first drivers’ and constructors’ world championships won with our tyres when Mika Hakkinen and McLaren Mercedes triumphed, so it is an honour to see Lewis Hamilton win the drivers’ title using our tyres today. Lewis has driven with Bridgestone tyres for most of his career, from the early days in karting, through the GP2 Series to Formula One. We also celebrate the eighth constructors’ championship won using our tyres by Ferrari and this is a momentous achievement. This was the first season where we have been the Official Tyre Supplier to Formula One and we offer our thanks to all teams and organisers around the world, the FIA and all of our Bridgestone personnel in Formula One and around the world.”

Hirohide Hamashima - Bridgestone Director of Motorsport Tyre Development, said:
“Congratulations to Lewis Hamilton for winning the 2008 drivers’ championship. Congratulations also to Felipe Massa for winning his home Grand Prix and well done to Ferrari for winning the constructors’ championship. We are very appreciative of the fine battles we saw on track today in a very exciting race. The weather was crucial and it made for difficult tyre choices for competitors. Everyone started on the wet tyre then opted for the dry tyres for their second stint. The race pace was very good in the conditions and the rain at the end made it very interesting indeed. Looking back over the season I am very happy with Bridgestone’s participation. We have enabled very close competition throughout the year and there were no tyre defects. Thank you to all Bridgestone staff and all competitors. We now look forward to the 2009 season and a return to Bridgestone slick tyres.”

Bridgestone Motorsport’s Saturday Update

Felipe Massa will start from pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix after using Bridgestone’s soft compound tyre to set a time of 1min 12.368secs at Interlagos. He was over three tenths faster than his next quickest rival, Jarno Trulli (Panasonic Toyota Racing), who will join him on the front row .

Kimi Raikkonen was the third fastest and will be joined on the second row by drivers’ championship leader Lewis Hamilton (Vodafone McLaren Mercedes). Heikki Kovalainen (Vodafone McLaren Mercedes) was fifth fastest and Fernando Alonso (ING Renault F1 Team) was sixth. Sebastian Vettel (Scuderia Toro Rosso) set the seventh fastest time and Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber F1 Team) was eighth. Sebastien Bourdais (Scuderia Toro Rosso) and Timo Glock (Panasonic Toyota Racing) were the final two drivers to qualify in the top ten.

In the morning practice session Fernando Alonso topped the times with a 1min 12.141secs lap, set using the soft compound. Alonso was over seven hundredths faster than Hamilton, with Kovalainen the third quickest. Times were close, illustrated by the fact that the top seventeen cars were within a second of each other.

Today saw a discernable difference in weather between the morning practice session and afternoon qualifying session, with the afternoon warmer than the morning. Today’s fastest lap time, a 1min 11.768secs, was set by Kovalainen using the soft tyre in Q2. Last year’s pole time was a 1min 11.931secs set by Massa using the super soft compound. Massa also set the day’s fastest lap time in
2007, a 1min 11.810secs, set using the super soft in FP3.

Hirohide Hamashima - Bridgestone Director of Motorsport Tyre Development, said:
“Congratulations to Felipe Massa for a stunning lap to give him pole position in front of a massive Brazilian crowd. This is his third consecutive pole position in Brazil and I’m sure he will be strong in tomorrow’s race. Congratulations also to Jarno Trulli for qualifying on the front row for the first time since 2005. Tomorrow we should have an interesting battle for the championship as Massa is on pole and Hamilton has a very fast McLaren Mercedes, as was illustrated by Kovalainen’s fastest lap in Q2. The circuit surface condition is better than it was yesterday, but we are still seeing graining. The key point in tomorrow’s race will be who manages the graining phase of their tyres the best in order to get a strong result.”

08-Oct-08: Bridgestone to Paint Grooves Green in Japan

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Today is the 8th October 2008, welcome to F1 Minute.

This weekend in Japan, Bridgestone are painting the stripes on their tyres green. The FIA has a promotion called “Make Cars Green”, and in support Bridgestone will be painting every groove on the harder tyre a bright green colour. The announcement of coloured tyres, came with a joint statement from Honda, Williams and BMW, all supporting the idea of Formula 1 becoming greener. I can honestly say the green does not look great, but it’s all in a good cause.

Along with environmental issues, Max Mosley has also issued a stark warning that if Formula 1 doesn’t drastically cut costs it will face serious difficulties in the future. Today it was announced that the FOTA will meet with the FIA president immediately after the Chinese Grand Prix to discuss the matter. The FIA statement read: “At this meeting the FIA will discuss and share with the teams the strategic decisions which are now urgently required, having regard to current world-wide economic problems.”

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

24-Sep-08: Berger Wants More Support From Red Bull

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It’s the 24th September, and you’re listening to F1 Minute.

Although Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz has already expressed his desire to sell sister team Toro Rosso before the end of 2009, co-owner Gerhard Berger wants more investment into his team. He believes Toro Rosso’s first win should inspire more support to get better results.

As well as that, customer cars are being outlawed after next season, and Berger knows they will need to increase the infrastructure. “If we need to build the entire car, it’s clear that to do that I can’t wait until 2010, I will have to start before then, and I will need more people. From the 160 staff we are now, to build and produce the entire car in 2010 we’ll need to grow to 230 people.”

Elsewhere today, Nakajima has spoken about Bridgestone’s new one-size fits all wet weather tyre, as he tested it at Jerez last week. He concludes that it was way too slippery, like driving on an ice rink: “It is the first generation one and I think we need to do a lot of work there.”

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

04-Sep-08: New Single Wet Weather Tyre to be Tested

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Welcome to F1 Minute for the 4th September 2008.

There’s more Bridgestone news today as they’ve revealed they are looking at revamping the Formula 1 wet weather tyres. At the moment, there are two types, extreme wet and intermediate, and Bridgestone want to reduce this to just one. They’ve done it successfully in GP2, and although the F1 regulations don’t allow it yet, Bridgestone are planning to try out their new compound at the next wet test.

Talking of testing, Red Bull have confirmed that Sebastian Vettel will be hopping into their car at Jerez this month – the first time since he was signed up for 2009. It will be for two days to give him a taster of the team and the machinery he will be running with next season.

Finally today, Nick Heidfeld has said he is perfectly aware of the pressure on him to retain his seat at BMW, but says he puts the pressure on himself as well: “It is pretty clear that if one car finishes on the podium and I finish ninth then nobody needs to tell me anything.”

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

03-Sep-08: Bridgestone Discuss Slick Tyres

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It’s the 3rd September 2008, and this is F1 Minute.

Last week saw the deadline for Bridgestone to submit their slick tyre specifications for the 2009 regulations. Autosport.com spoke to the director of motorsport for Bridgestone, Hirohide Hamashima, and found out what he thinks the tyres will be like. “We will bring two different working range compounds to each race, and there will be a time difference and also a character difference. The degradation will be different, so it may give the teams some more difficulties.”

With the grooved tyre disappearing, and nowhere for the white stripe to go, Bridgestone are also faced with the challenge of making the distinction between soft and hard tyres obvious for fans. “It will be on the sidewall design only though, with white paint or a white ring or something like that.” It doesn’t sound too different to what we have already then.

Now that the specifications have been submitted to the FIA, they will not be able to change for the entire 2009 season.

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

04-Aug-08: Hungarian GP Gets Five Year Extension

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It’s the 4th August 2008, and this is F1 Minute.

Some snippets of news following the race yesterday: Bridgestone haven’t confirmed it yet, but believe that Hamilton’s puncture was caused by debris in the sidewall. The tyre is being flown to Japan for further investigation. The Hungarian GP has been given a five year extension. It was already contracted until 2011 and will now run to 2016.

In other news, Autosport.com is reporting that the drivers will test out a new audio warning system in their cars, as part of the overhaul of the safety car rules. The idea is that anything on the dashboard is just going to add more distraction for the drivers, so some kind of signal over the team radio may be more effective.

Finally, in the rumour mill, the speculation has increased that Alonso will join Honda in 2009 for a one-year deal before moving on to Ferrari. It’s believed that Honda are willing to offer the short term contract in return for a big name signing.

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

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