Massa has scored pole position for the very first F1 night race at Singapore, beating Lewis Hamilton by six tenths of a second. Hamilton pulled out an impressive lap at the end of qualifying, especially considering the fact that he almost didn’t make it through to Q3. His first lap in the second session went wrong, and he had to abort it, and his second lap saw him tenth. Once again, he had to abort the third, and thankfully for him no one managed to push him out. Alonso finished 15th in that session, as he had to retire his car moments after hitting the track.
In team mate comparisons, Vettel pulled out an impressive 7th to Bourdais’ 17th, and Button finished in 12th to Barrichello’s 18th. Fisichella finished last having only managed to complete two laps due to a gearbox problem from Free Practice 3.
We also learned today that Kovalainen is using up his free engine joker for this race, and will therefore start with a fresh motor.
That’s it for today, please join me again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.
This is F1 Minute and today is the 22nd August 2008.
Free Practice kicked off today, with our first look at the new Valencia street circuit. Initial observations appeared to be that the circuit lacked some colour, and seemed to be a little industrial, whilst the track itself looked like it would provide a good race.
The drivers struggled only slightly with learning the huge number of new corners, and in Free Practice 1, we were left with the surprise leader of Sebastian Vettel. This seemed out of place, but team mate Bourdais finished the morning in third, with Massa in between, so the Toro Rosso boys must have been trying something the others weren’t. The track was pretty slippery and we saw plenty of run off areas put to good use, but no major incidents.
In Free Practice 2, Alonso was the surprise with a last ditch effort to grab the top of the timesheets. Unfortunately, Raikkonen pipped him to the top, but the strangeness continued with Button slipping into third. Alonso’s day wasn’t all good though, as he was fined 10,000 Euros for cutting the entrance to the pit lane.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
It’s a very slow news day today, but we have a few thoughts ahead of Valencia. Jenson Button has been preparing for the new circuit, and says the simulator at the factory has been a real help in this matter, although it doesn’t give you a total feeling of what the car will be like. It is useful for getting the braking distances and learning the corners.
Ross Brawn has also been taking a look at the new track, and says they have been getting some information from some of the previous races that have already taken place. He says that whilst the circuit is compared to Monaco, it will not require as much downforce as that street circuit because it is not quite as twisty.
Finally, BMW have released their preview quotes and are looking forward to the weekend because the team has some close ties with Valencia. They roll out their new F1 car there usually, and Heidfeld says: “The first few metres in a brand-new car are always a very special experience.”
That’s it for today, let’s hope there’s more news for tomorrow’s F1 Minute.
Hamilton took an easy pole position at the Hungaroring today, just ahead of team mate Kovalainen. Hamilton also had the jump on Ferrari in the first Free Practice session of the day, leading Massa, and then Glock.
On to qualifying, and the only major incident happened in the first session. Heidfeld was on a hot lap, and stumbled across Bourdais and another car negotiating a corner. It looked like Heidfeld believed he was being held up, and he also ran wide at the final turn, causing some serious fist waving at the Toro Rosso. Heidfeld starts on the grid in 16th. In the second session, Vettel and Button did supremely well to finish 11th and 12th respectively, whilst Rosberg got through to Q2 but couldn’t set a lap time due to hydraulics problems.
Finally the third session had Glock leading the way and then second for a good few minutes, but in the end, common sense ruled. Hamilton leads Kovalainen, Massa and then Kubica.
That’s it for today, enjoy the race, and I will be back with the results tomorrow in another F1 Minute.
The Valencia street circuit has been given it’s licence by the FIA meaning it can now hold the European Grand Prix next month. In order to get the licence, the circuit hosted races for two different series over the weekend. The International GT event, and Spanish Formula 3 race went without a hitch, and Charlie Whiting was there keeping an eye on proceedings. Afterwards, boss of the circuit, Jose Martinez said: “To be honest, I thought we would have more problems, but everything went fine. Our big worry was security and safety, but we have had no problems at all, just minor things.”
With this news, Jenson Button has been eyeing up the new circuit, and said he believes the spectacle will bring a lot of new fans to Formula 1. He continued: “It looks quick for a street circuit but you have the run-off that is necessary. It is a very different circuit to Singapore, and in their own ways they will both be exciting. Valencia for the high-speed and overtaking aspects and Singapore more for the new idea of the night race.”
I can’t wait.
That’s all for today, please join me again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.
Today is the 18th July 2008 and this is F1 Minute.
Lewis Hamilton topped both Free Practice sessions in Hockenheim today, the first one being a McLaren one-two, and the second seeing Hamilton ahead of Massa. Notable events included Kubica smashing into the wall in FP1, he emerged unscathed and the mechanics worked furiously to get his car out in the afternoon. Also, Glock had an airborne moment in his Toyota, and landed with a serious bump.
Elsewhere today, Ross Brawn has said that he expects Button and Barrichello to remain with the team next year. Although negotiations are still ongoing, and Brawn doesn’t believe it is of high priority at the moment, he said: “I don’t think there will be any dramatic change. It’s unfair to criticise the drivers as we haven’t provided them with a good enough car.”
Finally, Anthony Hamilton has sparked a new raft of speculation by having a not-so-secret meeting with Stefano Domenicali. Pictures have emerged of the two chatting, and whilst that’s all we know, it doesn’t stop the Hamilton to Ferrari rumours from starting afresh.
That’s all for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
It’s the 11th July 2008 and you’re listening to F1 Minute.
The only news today, aside from Jenson signing up to participate in the Race of Champions, is that McLaren and Ferrari have decided to put aside their differences and become friends again.
Okay, that might be taking it a bit far but the espionage saga is now officially over between them. A McLaren statement reads: “In light of the formal closure in December 2007 of the FIA and FIA World Motor Sport Council proceedings against McLaren, and of McLaren’s public apology to Ferrari which we have reiterated, Ferrari and McLaren have agreed to bring the various disputes between them in relation to this matter to a final conclusion. McLaren has also agreed to the reimbursement of Ferrari’s costs and expenses relating to these matters and a concluding payment.”
Ferrari said thank you very much and we accept. They also said they’d donate the final payment from McLaren to charity, and that they aren’t giving up their lawsuit against Nigel Stepney.
That’s all for today, join me again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.
This is F1 Minute and today is the 10th July 2008.
The third and final day of the test at Hockenheim came to a close with Felipe Massa the fastest man. Button was in second, and Kovalainen third. There were three red flags throughout the day, one caused by Fisichella – who suffered quite a crash – Nakajima, and Alonso. Fisichella lost control of his car and smashed into a nearby wall, he was unharmed but there was significant damage to the Force India.
Elsewhere, Donington Park have revealed their plans for improving the circuit for when the British GP descends in 2010. They are lengthening the track to get it to the required standard, introducing a new facility for race control and the media, and updating the pit complex so the teams will feel quite at home.
Finally, renowned F1 photographer Bernard Cahier has passed away at the age of 81. He had worked in motorsport since the 50s and was instrumental in organising the structure of F1 media.
That’s all for today, please join me again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.
After their unexpected podium finish at Silverstone this weekend, you’d imagine Honda might want to rethink their plans to abandon development this year. However, CEO Nick Fry says they won’t be doing that. He says: “The plan is really designing the car Ross wants for next year, and this year is about getting everything as Ross wants it in the way the team operates.” Fry does concede that the podium finish has boosted everyone’s morale (except perhaps Jenson’s) but they have to remember it was mostly down to luck.
More reaction to the weekend, and of a less positive kind, comes from Luca di Montezemolo. “I hope we’ll manage to win our eighth title in ten years. We will if we don’t carry on doing stupid things. Obviously I wasn’t pleased with what I saw yesterday, but I hope it’s a useful lesson. Knowing my men, I’m certain it is.”
Finally, Max Mosley’s court case against the News of the World has begun, and the FIA president has been on the stand today denying the Nazi side of the allegations.
That’s all for now, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
Today is the 6th July 2008, and you’re listening to F1 Minute.
It’s always hard to get a full picture of what’s happening in a race from the side of the track, but I will do my best for you, and give you a rundown of what happened at Silverstone today.
Hamilton had an amazing start, overtaking a couple of cars to sit behind team mate Heikki who was in the lead. It was only a matter of laps though, before the spirit of the crowd cheered Lewis on to overtake. From then on, despite a few rain showers, and some close calls with spinning cars, Hamilton was cool, calm and collected and took a win at his home Grand Prix.
The spins I was talking about? That would be Webber, Nakajima, Massa, Coulthard, Vettel, Massa again, Sutil, Button, Kubica, Piquet, and probably Massa once more. Essentially, it was a wet race and only those who kept clear heads and more importantly, their cars on track, were successful. The final podium was Hamilton, Heidfeld and Barrichello. The championship now has three leaders all on 48 points, although Hamilton is actually in first place.
That’s all for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.