03-Nov-08: Contract Extensions, Launch Dates, and Testing News
You’re listening to F1 Minute and it’s the 3rd November 2008.
Here are some of the news stories we might have missed this weekend.
Firstly, after such an amazing race, the good news is Interlagos has had it’s F1 contract extended, and will now feature on the calendar until 2014.
Toyota have confirmed that they intend to launch their KERS package in the middle of 2009, and not from the outset. Team President John Howett said they are working flat out on the device, but people “underestimate some of the major challenges.” Toyota announced the launch of their car a while ago, and now BMW have become the second team to confirm a launch date. Their 2009 car will be unveiled in Valencia on January 20th.
And finally, in testing news, Bruno Senna will have a go in the Honda in the hopes of a race seat for next year at the Barcelona test this month. Also, Red Bull will be testing with five-times world rally champ Sebastien Loeb, proving that the Red Bull empire really does have a thing for drivers called Sebastien.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
28-Oct-08: Ferrari Warn of Exit Over Standard Engines
You’re listening to F1 Minute and it’s the 28th October 2008.
Finally, we are getting word from teams about how they feel the standard engine will affect them. Toyota president John Howett said that manufacturers would be bound to leave if the standard engine came in to the regulations. He said: “If it is forced through, then it is not a decision we will take here, it will be taken by the board in Japan, but they want a degree of differentiation between teams.” Ferrari also issued a warning saying: “The use of same engines would deprive F1 of its competition and technological development. The board reserves the right to consider, together with our partners, our presence in this discipline.”
Despite two of the major teams in F1 admitting they might leave, the FIA remains steadfast on the ruling. The governing body issued a statement saying it wasn’t up to them to give in and change it, but for teams to either agree or come up with a suitable alternative.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
21-Oct-08: FOTA Issue Statement Following Mosley Meeting
This is F1 Minute for the 21st October 2008.
Max Mosley and the FOTA have met today in Geneva, with Luca di Montezemolo and John Howett representing the organisation. After the meeting, a joint statement was issued saying that significant cost savings had been agreed upon for the next two seasons, with 2010 and beyond still to be decided. No real details were released, but we do know that engine life will go up from two races to three from next year, manufacturers now have to supply customer engines at an agreed price, and there will probably soon be an agreement that bringing a standard KERS unit into the sport is a good idea.
There is plenty still up for discussion, including customer cars, and testing limits, but the current standard engines proposal is notably missing from the FOTA statement. Before the meeting, Mosley said he would be pushing the standard engine as he would prefer F1 to concentrate on technology that will benefit all areas of the motorsport industry.
That wraps up the news for today, please join me again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.
05-Aug-08: Toyota Will Most Likely Keep Current Lineup
Welcome to F1 Minute for the 5th August 2008.
It’s looking likely that Toyota’s line up for next year will still feature both Trulli and Glock, although no official announcement has been made yet. President of Toyota Motorsport John Howett has hinted at such a lineup, well, he’s basically confirmed it: “As we stand here today, we intend to keep both drivers. And I don’t think that’s ever been in any doubt to be honest.”
Whilst we’re on the subject of Toyota, they hosted a meeting at their motorhome in Hungary, for representatives of all the teams to discuss KERS. It looks like more than half of teams want to delay the introduction of the new technology for a year. Four teams voted against the delay, including BMW, Honda and Williams. These are all teams who have invested heavily in the new systems already.
BMW Team Principal, Mario Theissen, says: “There were three aspects discussed in the meeting - two of them openly, which is safety and financial implications. And the other one, underlying the picture, is competitiveness…“
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.