Welcome to F1 Minute, it’s the 17th November 2008.
Testing got underway at Barcelona today, with our first glimpse of the 2009 wings in action. BMW ran a very high rear wing and low front wing, and it’s not that pretty. They were also testing out KERS, with the mechanics protected with thick gloves.
Toyota were the only team not in action, and we saw Takuma Sato top the timesheets in his test for Toro Rosso. Sebastien Buemi, also in the Toro Rosso, was just three tenths slower.
There were three red flags, caused by Robert Kubica for BMW and Nico Hulkenberg for Williams, with the main disaster saved for Giedo van der Garde in the Renault. He completed 27 laps as part of his World Series prize, but crashed out and finished the day in 16th.
Elsewhere, it appears the Canadian Grand Prix will definitely be off the calendar as the Montreal Mayor has admitted: “Despite our endeavours, the unreasonable demands of Formula One exceeded the taxpayer’s ability to pay.”
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
The very best from the mouths of those in the know.
The Force India / McLaren Partnership
On what that deal means for the team, and the sport…
“Force India Formula One team has been in existence for only one year, and inevitably our first season has constituted a learning period. But we said at the outset that we meant business and were not interested in merely making up the numbers.” Dr. Vijay Mallya
“I would love to see a Force India car on the podium in the inaugural Indian grand Prix. Obviously that has to be a core objective as well. Now that is in 2011 and I say why not? I’m sure Martin would love to see a Force India and a McLaren racing each other” Dr. Vijay Mallya
“We are going to learn lessons by looking over the shoulder of Force India. I believe that we will become stronger as a consequence of this. I would not have gone into this partnership unless I believed it was going to help us to win world championships in the future.” Martin Whitmarsh
Ongoing Circuit News
Canada and China both worry about the future, Singapore doesn’t…
“We’re doing the assessment. By next year we should be able to give you an answer. We want to create a win-win situation, for our side and for Bernie and the F1 organisers as well. If this is something we can do, and our cooperation is very happy and smooth, we will consider it.” Qiu Weichang, deputy director of the Shanghai Administration of Sports
“We need to know if we’re going to have a Grand Prix in 2009. We’re trying to find a proposal that will meet with the approval of Bernie Ecclestone and his board of directors. He’s not interested in where the money’s going to come from, he just wants to get the money to which he thinks he’s entitled.” Gerald Tremblay, Montreal Mayor
“We have received a great many compliments from around the world since the running of the race in September, but this is an award given by our peers, the professionals who work in motor sports. It therefore is especially gratifying to receive this award.” Jonathan Hallett, Singapore GP’s media director
Upcoming Test Drivers
We’re going to see a few new names on the timesheets in Barcelona…
“Going back to Enstone will be very special for me. I often used to go and train there when I was on the Renault Driver Development programme. So I’ll be seeing people I already know. That will help me to integrate into the team more easily.” Giedo van der Garde
“To have this opportunity is a dream. Even though I’ve been racing for only four years, it’s as if I’ve waited for ten years to drive an F1 car. I’ve worked hard in preparing for it, on the neck particularly. GP2 in any case is a good basis.” Bruno Senna
“I don’t expect Barcelona to be easy at all: it’s the first time that I will be testing against the regular drivers in Formula One, so that’s obviously going to be interesting!” Sebastien Loeb
We have seen our first proper pictures of a 2009 specification car, as Williams shook down their new aerodynamic package in Gloucestershire today. Formula 3 driver Jonathan Kennard was behind the wheel, as the team tested out the new higher, shorter rear wing, and lower, flatter front wing without a bridge over the nose. Kennard said he enjoyed the test and thanked the team for the opportunity, but there’s no word on how the new wings affected performance.
While we’re on the subject of Williams, they have extended their partnership with financial service providers Allianz. The pairing have been together for over ten years now, and both are very happy with the support from the other side of the fence.
Elsewhere today, organisers of the Canadian Grand Prix say they are still working hard to get the event reinstated. There’s only a few weeks left, and the Montreal mayor is considering every option to try and rescue the race.
And very quickly to finish, Barrichello says if he doesn’t retain a seat in Formula 1, he’ll give up competitive motorsport for good.
That’s it for today, please join me again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.
The World Motorsport Council met in Paris today and came up with some interesting developments, including the latest version of the provisional 2009 calendar. This time round, France has understandably gone, and China has moved from the bottom of the calendar up to the third race of the season. Notably, the Canadian GP hasn’t been restored, but apparently there is still hope.
The WMC also moved to make stewarding more transparent. There will be more information about the credentials of each steward available, and selecting them will be a tighter process. All penalties should be handed out in the race, unless there is a real need to see the footage after the event. Talking of which, any evidence the stewards see to help them make their decision will be made available on the FIA and FOM websites. This is real progress.
Away from politics, Alonso’s future decision has finally become clear with Renault announcing he’ll stay with them until 2010, and they’ll also keep Piquet on for another season.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow for another F1 Minute.
Luca di Montezemolo has been busy this week, but still has time to request a regulation change. He wants to get rid of the team orders ruling, as he says it’s really quite hypocritical. After the Ferrari switch at last weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, opinion is divided on whether the ruling should be ditched because teams are obviously flouting it, or whether the FIA should tighten up on the regulation and stop it happening. We heard yesterday that Kimi was more than happy to step down in favour of Felipe, and di Montezemolo says that was the right thing to do: “The important thing is not to damage others. Besides that, team work, in a team sport, is one of the best things.”
Another follow up on yesterday’s minute is the meeting between the Montreal mayor and Bernie Ecclestone, with the mayor saying: “”We have a better understanding of the issues, we still have a lot of work to do to evaluate all the options, but it is still possible to hold a Grand Prix in Montreal in 2009 and subsequent years.”
That’s it for today, please join me again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.
It’s the 22nd October 2008, and this is F1 Minute.
Kimi Raikkonen has confirmed that he was happy about giving up his place to Massa in the Chinese Grand Prix, and that he’d do so again in an instant. Regarding the switch, Raikkonen said: “Once you don’t fight for the title anymore, it doesn’t make a difference if I come in second or third, as long as the points for Ferrari remain the same.” For the Brazil race, he said: “I’d be glad if I could do something for Felipe, that he can win the title and Ferrari will be again victorious in the constructors’ championship in the last race of the season.” That’s quite a wishlist!
Elsewhere, Autosport.com are reporting that members of the Montreal government have flown in to meet with Bernie Ecclestone in London today to discuss the future of the Canadian Grand Prix. The mayor and two ministers are meeting or have met with Ecclestone, and have said that they are willing to negotiate. Apparently the Grand Prix is worth around $75 million to Montreal, and brings in plenty of spin off tourism as well.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
Today is the 20th October 2008 and this if F1 Minute.
BMW technical director Willy Rampf believes the team should be very proud of what they’ve achieved this year, despite being out of the hunt for the championship now. He said there’s no need to be disappointed because they are still competing with the two teams in front. Regarding Kubica, Rampf has only the highest praise: “During the race he is sometimes asking questions – it is something when a driver has enough time and mental capacity to think about things. He is a very quick driver and also a very intelligent driver.”
Meanwhile, the Canadian Grand Prix organisers have refuted Bernie Ecclestone’s claims that they breached their contract. The suggestion is that they owe money from both 2007 and 2008, but the marketing department says: “”It is true that we have a commercial disagreement regarding our monetary obligations, but only for 2008. This is the result of an historical difference within the contractual understanding between the two parties.”
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
It seems only moments since Canada was left off the 2009 calendar, and now France, who had a slot on the season guide for next year, look like they’re pulling out. The FFSA, who organise the sport, have several options as to where the Grand Prix should be held next year, but with the current financial meltdown, the 10% increase in fees, and the fact that the event would most likely make a loss, they just don’t want to do it. They’ve said it would be better to sit out for one year, and come back when they’ve got some long term funding on board. Whether a replacement will be found, or if there will just be a gap in the calendar has yet to be seen.
Finally, I mentioned yesterday that Berger wouldn’t be drawn on whether Bourdais would be resigned for 2009, preferring to wait until the end of the season. Today, Bourdais himself has said that he can’t wait until December for a decision, otherwise he might be left with no other racing opportunities.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back again tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
The action kicked off in Japan today, with Hamilton leading Free Practice 1. It was bright and sunny, a vast difference to the state of the track this time last year. There were barely any incidents, bar a few wide corners, and we spent most of the session trying to distinguish between the soft and hard tyres with the lovely green stripes.
Free Practice 2 saw much more action, although still few incidents, and several drivers led the timesheets at one stage or another. Timo Glock ended the day as the fastest man, giving Toyota a much needed boost at their home race weekend. Alonso was close behind in second, whilst early pace-setter Hamilton settled for third.
Elsewhere, the Montreal government have said they will meet with Bernie Ecclestone to try and get the Canadian Grand Prix reinstated. Mayor Gerald Tremblay said he wants to understand the economic state of the race first, as the disagreement with Bernie is worth between $10 and $20 million.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
Apparently, F1 team principals are organising a meeting to get together and discuss the possibility of reinstating Canada to the calendar. They don’t want to lose the only North American Grand Prix of the season, and no one wants to lose the Canada race as it’s such a good one. However, it seems as though a commercial disagreement cut short negotiations between organisers of the Canadian GP and Bernie Ecclestone, and the Montreal circuit officials say the only way it could return is with government help.
Other negotiations are going on, according to autosport.com, who are reporting that Force India, McLaren and Mercedes Benz are in talks to supply engines for 2009. Force India do have a contract with Ferrari for next season, but are clearly keeping their options open. The engine deal proposed could also extend to technical help and Force India running some drivers to eventually make the switch to McLaren.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.