03-Oct-08: BMW Will Keep Up Development This Season
This is F1 Minute and it’s the 3rd October 2008.
We heard earlier in the week that McLaren are pushing forward with development this year and it’s good news to hear that BMW haven’t given up on the title, either. Technical director Willy Rampf said that they will still develop despite Kubica being 20 points down on Hamilton. He said: “We will continue though. We will try to have at least small modifications and updates for the next races and hope to get closer to the top. We are not far away, not the team and not Robert as our leading driver.”
Elsewhere today, Autosport.com is reporting that the FOTA are looking at a new concept of sharing commercial revenues between the teams equally. Currently, teams get a bigger share, the higher they finish up the constructor’s championship. You’d imagine the larger teams wouldn’t appreciate getting less money, but Autosport has asked Frank Williams who said it’s the best way of making things more competitive. I’d love to know what you think about this potential new scheme, leave your thoughts at F1Minute.com.
02-Oct-08: Williams Confirm Nakajima for 2009
Welcome to F1 Minute for the 2nd October 2008.
Williams have confirmed their driver lineup for next season and it remains unchanged. We already knew that Rosberg would be driving for them in 2009, but now Nakajima has been signed up for next year as well. Frank Williams believes it is good to be consistent with the two drivers, plus Nico Hulkenberg as tester, and says: “Nico Rosberg continues to be one of the most capable drivers in the sport. Kazuki is getting stronger all the time and has more to offer and Nico Hulkenberg is developing well.”
Also today, Flavio Briatore has apparently said he will be taking a different role at Renault next year, and bringing a team director on board to run the day-to-day business. Briatore has said he already has someone in mind.
Finally, Red Bull believe they have found what caused Webber’s gearbox to malfunction in Singapore. They’ve narrowed it down to an electrical surge from the tramlines on the street circuit. What are the chances?
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
08-Sep-08: Williams Move Development on to 2009
This is F1 Minute for the 8th September 2008.
Everyone is still talking about the Hamilton penalty controversy, but I thought it would be good to look at some of the stories that have slipped under the radar this weekend.
Frank Williams has admitted that the team are putting most of their resources into the 2009 development now, especially after another disappointing race result at Spa. He said: “We recognise that this year’s car is almost as developed as we can successfully do it, short of a major revamp of all the aerodynamics and next year’s car is the one where we pin our hopes.”
Also this weekend, Autosport.com reported that Bernie Ecclestone has been discussing with team principals the possibility of a return of the US Grand Prix. There are no details, but we know the teams are keen to see a return to the US, for the fans and for the marketplace. Whether it would return to Indianapolis, we don’t know yet. Would you like to see F1 return to Indy, or would another US circuit be better? Let me know what you think at F1 Minute.com.
10-Aug-08: Williams Talks of Illegal Engine Development
Welcome to F1 Minute for the 10th August 2008.
Just recently, there has been an eruption in the speculation that some teams may be getting round the engine homologation rules and making gains in that particular area above and beyond their rivals. Renault boss Flavio Briatore caused a stir when he said that they were sticking to the rules to the letter, explaining why they had fallen behind others in terms of speed.
Everyone denies it, of course, but Frank Williams has spoken up, saying that he believes there may have been engine developments by the manufacturer teams, but he doesn’t believe they are deliberately trying to flout the regulations. He quoted an anecdote he heard that a Red Bull driver swapped from the Renault powered car to the Ferrari powered Toro Rosso and was amazed at the difference in speed. The best quote from Mr Williams, however, is this: “No one is cheating, but some people are better at bending the rules and knowing where to stop bending, than people who would never dream of even trying to squeeze something.”
That’s it for today, please join me again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.
19-May-08: Vettel to Suffer 5-Place Grid Drop in Monaco
Today is the 19th May and you’re listening to F1 Minute.
The Monaco Grand Prix weekend hasn’t even begun yet and already Sebastian Vettel has secured himself a five-place grid drop. After testing out the new STR3 at Paul Ricard last week, and saying he was looking forward to running the new car, Vettel has had a setback. The new car cannot house the gearbox in the same way as the old one, and so it will have to be replaced. Under current four-race gearbox rules, that means a 5-place penalty. Team mate Bourdais doesn’t suffer the same fate as he didn’t finish the last race in Turkey. Team owner Gerhard Berger has said: “Monte Carlo is the last place you want a punishment like that.”
Elsewhere, Frank Williams has admitted that he regrets splitting from former engine partners BMW, after seeing how well the manufacturer team is doing by itself. Williams blames the difficult relationship between the two factions on a lack of communication, but said he couldn’t fault BMW on their hard work and decent engines. He did make sure to complement current engine suppliers Toyota as well.
That’s all for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.