01-Dec-08: Hockenheim Reveal Doubt About F1 Future
Today is the 1st December 2008, and this is F1 Minute.
Hockenheim has become the next circuit to admit they’re struggling for money and will have to rethink their F1 commitment. At the moment, Hockenheim alternates hosting the German Grand Prix with the Nurburgring, and is due to return to the calendar in 2010. However, reports suggest that the track made a loss of over 5 million Euros this year, and says the only way to carry on is with government intervention. With so many well known circuits struggling financially, Bernie Ecclestone is going to have to sit up and take notice, isn’t he? Let me know what you think at F1Minute.com.
Elsewhere this weekend, Brazil was the scene of yet more racing action, as Renault were there for their lastroadshow of the year. More than 100,000 people turned up and enjoyed the demos from Nelson Piquet. Also in Brazil, Barrichello won the charity kart race organised by Felipe Massa. The F1 veteran beat off the likes of Massa, Michael Schumacher, Badoer, Liuzzi and di Grassi.
That’s it for today, please join me again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.
Honda - Barcelona test report, day two
November 18, 2008 by Christine
Filed under Press Releases
Jenson Button takes over from Alex Wurz on the main programme while Lucas di Grassi gets his full day of running with the Honda Racing F1 Team.
Date: Tuesday 18 November
Track: Circuit de Catalunya, Spain
Drivers: Jenson Button / Lucas Di Grassi
No of Laps: 110 laps / 110 laps
Best Lap Time: 01:21.770 / 1:22.283
Kilometres Covered: 1024km
Track Length: 4.655km
Weather: Cool and overcast
Ambient Temperature: Maximum 14°C
Track Temperature: Maximum 15°C
The Honda Racing F1 Team continued the test programme in Barcelona today with Jenson Button and Lucas Di Grassi at the wheel of the Honda RA108 cars.
Jenson joined the team at the Circuit de Catalunya this morning to take over from Alex Wurz for the final two days of the test. After adjusting the set-up of the car to his liking, Jenson concentrated on a tyre programme using the Bridgestone Potenza slick tyres to evaluate various set-up and balance changes.
The team’s evaluation of Lucas Di Grassi continued today with the young Brazilian driver having his opportunity for a full day in the RA108. After an installation run, Lucas completed a back-to-back balance evaluation on used slick tyres from Jenson’s programme before the team fitted new tyres for his final run of the morning. In the afternoon session, Lucas was able to use two further sets of new tyres as he worked though a chassis set-up programme.
This brings Lucas’s test activity in Barcelona to a close and Bruno Senna will take over the car tomorrow for his full-day programme.
LUCAS DI GRASSI
“I completed 110 laps today so I have had a really productive day and I am very pleased. I ran for the first time properly with new tyres and the difference was massive compared to the used tyres from yesterday. With each new tyre run I was getting faster and faster. The slick tyre has much more grip and compared with the grooved tyre is easier to drive and more consistent over a run. I was very pleased with the performance of the car, the way the day developed and ultimately my lap time. I ended the day 0.5s from Jenson’s time and getting as close to him as possible was my target. I don’t think the day could have gone much better. I felt like I gave everything I could to the day. Finally I would just like to thank Honda for giving me this experience and I hope they are happy with my performance today.”
Honda - Barcelona test report, day one
November 17, 2008 by Christine
Filed under Press Releases
Honda runs a dual test programme with Test & Reserve Driver Alex Wurz and the two young Brazilians Bruno Senna and Lucas di Grassi.
Date: Monday 17 November
Track: Circuit de Catalunya, Spain
Drivers: Alex Wurz / Lucas Di Grassi / Bruno Senna
No of Laps: 77 laps / 48 laps / 39 laps
Best Lap Time: 01:21.198 / 1:25.512 / 1:24.343
Kilometres Covered: 763.5km
Track Length: 4.655km
Weather: Cold and sunny
Ambient Temperature: Lunchtime 13°C
Track Temperature: Lunchtime 26°C
The Honda Racing F1 Team returned to the test track today just two weeks after the 2008 season finale in Brazil as the Formula One teams travelled to the familiar testing venue of the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona to commence preparations for the 2009 season.
The three-day test will see the Honda team run two programmes. Alex Wurz and Jenson Button will focus on the development of the 2009 car whilst the team also evaluates young Brazilians Lucas Di Grassi and Bruno Senna.
Alex kicked off the main test programme evaluating various aerodynamic components for next season and running the Bridgestone Potenza slick tyres. Jenson will take over the car tomorrow to complete the final two days of the test.
Lucas was the first of the young drivers to complete his half-day familiarisation programme this morning. He went out for an initial run on grooved tyres to acclimatise to the car before the team fitted used slicks for the remainder of the session. After lunch, Bruno took to the track for his first ever drive in a Formula One car. He followed the same programme as Lucas, starting on grooved tyres before moving to used slick tyres midway through the session.
Lucas will complete a full day of running tomorrow with Bruno taking over the car on Wednesday.
ALEX WURZ
“The view from the cockpit is just so much nicer with slick tyres on the car! As a driver, I prefer the driving style with slicks so I am happy that the change has finally come, even if it is too late for me to race with them. My focus for today was on gathering information on the tyres whilst running various 2009 downforce levels. We have come away with good answers and a clear direction so I am pleased with the work that we achieved. It was nice to see the two young guys in action with Honda today. Both understood the car very quickly but how they develop from here with a full day in the car will be important.”
LUCAS DI GRASSI
“My first day in the Honda car has been a good experience. The focus of my half day programme today has been to get the best possible feeling for the car ahead of my full day tomorrow. One of us had to be the first out on track today and that was me, but this morning the track was really very ‘green’ and took a while to improve. I ran with slick tyres for the first time and in a car that is both new to me and which had a combination of 2008 and 2009 aero elements, so it was a totally new experience for me but a very enjoyable one. Today I have been using old tyres, running with low downforce and working through a variety of set-ups. Tomorrow will be a better test of what I am capable of.”
BRUNO SENNA
“The first day of my first Formula One test has been just as big a moment as I expected it to be. I have also had a lot of fun and really enjoyed myself. This morning I focused on doing as much as I could to prepare for my turn. I listened to the team radio and watched and learned how the team works. I was feeling quite calm but on my first lap out of the garage I realised the significance of the moment. This is a very special opportunity and one which has been a dream my whole life. The team were great and left it to me to find my level, but by the end of my second run I was feeling very much at home in the car. There were lots of new sensations as the gearshifts, engine power and aerodynamics compared to a GP2 car were all very different. I need a few adjustments to be fully comfortable in the car for Wednesday but generally I am feeling good. Obviously my full day is when everything will count but I am very pleased with what I achieved today and the more laps I do, the quicker I’ll be hopefully. A great, great day for me and I am incredibly grateful to the Honda team for making it possible.”
The ING Renault F1 Team visits New Delhi for its first Roadshow in India
November 10, 2008 by Christine
Filed under Press Releases
After visits to Johannesburg, Kiev and most recently Lisbon, the ING Renault F1 Team travelled to New
Delhi in India at the weekend to demonstrate its cars as part of its 2008 Roadshow programme.
Following several weeks of preparation in close collaboration with Renault India, the ING Renault F1 Team was on the streets of the Indian capital this weekend for a special demonstration with recently confirmed 2009 driver, Nelson Piquet, and compatriot, Lucas Di Grassi, the team’s third driver. The Indian demonstration was a first for Renault and for the residents of New Delhi who showed great support for the event.
In all 120,000 people turned out to watch Nelson and Lucas display their cars in a relaxed, friendly environment as both men put on a spectacular show to demonstrate the raw power of a Formula 1 car.
The 1.2km track was especially designed for the event and took the cars along the famous Rajpath Road
through the heart of the Indian capital from the India Gate to the Janpath Road.
At the end of the demonstration, Nelson Piquet commented: “It was my first visit to India and I have to say that I have been really amazed. I hope that our demonstration entertained the fans and that they enjoyed the day as much as I did. I’m really happy to have been involved with this event, which was important for Renault, for ING and for India, which is becoming more and more interested in Formula 1.”
Lucas Di Grassi added: “It was also my first trip to India and even though I have not been able to see an awful lot of the country, I have to say that I’ve really enjoyed being here. We have been really warmly welcomed and I hope that the public now have a better understanding of the true potential of a Formula 1 car.”
Honda Racing F1 Team to Test Lucas di Grassi in Barcelona
November 7, 2008 by Christine
Filed under Press Releases
The Honda Racing F1 Team has invited Formula One test driver Lucas Di Grassi to join the test in Barcelona later this month.
The Brazilian driver will join the Honda team at the Circuit de Catalunya for the first test of the winter from Monday 17 to Wednesday 19 November. Lucas will spend all three days with the team, commencing with a part-day familiarisation programme and culminating in a full day of testing in this year’s RA108 race car.
Lucas, 24, has three seasons of experience in GP2, finishing second in 2007 and third in 2008 despite missing the first three rounds. He has been the ING Renault F1 Team’s third driver for the 2008 season and part of their Driver Development Programme since 2004.
Ross Brawn, Team Principal of the Honda Racing F1 Team, said: “We are delighted to provide Lucas with a test with the Honda Racing F1 Team later this month. This is a very well-deserved opportunity for Lucas to prove his potential after such an impressive performance in GP2 this season and during his testing responsibilities with the ING Renault F1 Team. We look forward to seeing Lucas in action and will take a keen interest in how he performs.”
Lucas Di Grassi commented; “I am very excited to have the opportunity of testing with the Honda Racing F1 Team in Barcelona and look forward to proving myself to the team. I would like to say thank you to the ING Renault F1 Team for all their support and for allowing me this opportunity to help further my career. The next two weeks will be a very important stage in my development and I will be spending a lot of time at the Honda Racing F1 Team’s factory before the test to speak with the engineers and learn as much as possible in advance of the test.”
24-Oct-08: Portugal to Host Mid-Winter Test
This is F1 Minute for the 24th October 2008.
Both McLaren and Honda have today confirmed that they will be visiting a new track for some of their winter testing. The Autodromo Internacional Algarve in Portugal opens at the beginning of November, and the test will be in mid-December. According to Autosport.com, the track will be under evaluation as a possible entrant to the 2009 test schedule, and it’s no secret that officials will be looking to impress in the hopes of getting an F1 race held there in the future.
Elsewhere today, Lucas di Grassi believes there is a “good possibility” he could make the step up from Renault test driver to race seat in 2009. He says: “They have the possibility of extending my contract, so I am waiting for their decision to see if it will be with Renault or if I will have permission to negotiate with other teams”.
Finally, McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh has been talking about the buildup to Brazil, and says that reliability is the main worry in the garage, that and the possibility of a safety car.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
30-Sep-08: Ferrari Boss Gives Singapore Race Thumbs Down
Welcome to F1 Minute, it’s the 30th September 2008.
If you ignore the slight marshalling issue, all reports regarding the Singapore Grand Prix have been good. Until now. Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has some pretty harsh words about the race, and Formula 1 in general. He’s reported as saying: “When we race on tracks which should be used for the circus, anything can happen. This is humiliating for F1 and it is an aspect I want to talk about with the other teams in the next few weeks.” In particular, he’s annoyed about the safety car, as are many of the teams.
Elsewhere today, Renault believe they have done enough to convince Alonso to stay with them for next year, including a rumoured replacement of Piquet with tester Lucas di Grassi. Alonso, in turn, says that his lack of enthusiasm on the podium this weekend was because he was tired, and not because he wants to leave the team. But, he’s still going to leave us waiting for a decision until the end of the season.
That’s it for today, please join me again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.