12-Sep-08: Raikkonen and Sutil Lead Wet Friday in Italy
This is F1 Minute for the 12th September 2008.
Free Practice got underway in Monza today, with Sutil leading the first session, and Raikkonen the second. Yes, you head me right. Both sessions were declared wet, but FP1 saw torrential rain, that meant organisers red-flagged the session with just five minutes remaining. The Force India driver’s time was set earlier in less treacherous conditions. Man of the morning, Sutil, let himself down slightly by missing the pit entrance once the second session was over, and he had to complete an extra lap.
Also today, a couple of important announcements were made. Red Bull confirmed they are using their freebie engine on Mark Webber’s car, as both a precautionary measure, and to get him on a better engine cycle for the upcoming races. Ferrari announced that Raikkonen had extended his contract with the team until 2010, which means Alonso won’t be moving there anytime soon. And finally, the date of the Belgium penalty hearing has been set as 22nd September, just before the Singapore Grand Prix.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
29-Aug-08: American Racer Phil Hill Has Died Aged 81
This is F1 Minute and it’s the 29th August 2008.
Sad news to begin with, ex-F1 champion Phil Hill has died aged 81. Hill is the only native-born American to have won the title, and did so in 1961 driving for Ferrari. He won three Le Mans races, and started 48 F1 races, winning just three of them. He retired in 1967. Hill died yesterday due to complications from Parkinson’s Disease.
Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo issued a statement after hearing the news, saying: “I, as well as all employees of Ferrari, am extremely saddened by the news of the passing of Phil Hill, a man and a champion who gave so much to Ferrari and who has always greatly represented the company’s values inside and outside the racing track.”
Finally, a quick update on the test at Monza, Hamilton has finished the final day with the fastest time, followed by Raikkonen and then surprisingly, Fisichella in the Force India.
That’s it for today, please join me again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.
28-Aug-08: Heidfeld Leads Monza on Test Day Two
Welcome to F1 Minute, it’s the 28th August 2008.
It was just yesterday that I told you about BMW’s desire for Nick Heidfeld to start getting some better results, and the German driver has made a good start. He topped the timesheets for Day 2 at the Monza test, pipping Rosberg in the Williams by just two tenths of a second.
Kovalainen was third ahead of Vettel and then Massa, who caused the one red flag throughout the day, having a quick trip into the gravel.
Whilst we’re on the subject of Ferrari, team principal Stefano Domenicali has been talking about the dynamic within the team. Whilst they’re not ready to put their full support behind just one driver yet, Domenicali is quoted as saying that Raikkonen is more than happy to support Massa if it should fall that way. He also said he has faith that Raikkonen can pick up his game once more, it’s just a matter of the team giving him a car that he likes.
And talking of the championship, McLaren’s Martin Whitmarsh believes a big part of the title this year will come down to the uncontrollable factor of the weather.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
27-Aug-08: Massa Leads the Way at Monza
Today is the 27th August 2008, and this is F1 Minute.
Day 1 of the test at Monza has wrapped up with a fine showing from Felipe Massa. He topped the timesheets just ahead of Kovalainen in the McLaren and then Rosberg in the Williams. Piquet did the most work, 117 laps, but he ended the day as the slowest car.
Having said that though, Renault seem to think that going slowly can actually help them get better results. We’ve seen the two Renault drivers posting painfully slow lap times during practice at the last two Grands Prix, and we’ve not really known why. Now it seems that Renault are convinced their tyres do better after running a couple of slow laps. They’re using data from the German race when Piquet finished second having run some laps behind the safety car. Apparently Alonso will be testing this phenomenon when he gets his turn in the car this week.
And very quickly to finish, BMW have apparently told Heidfeld he needs to start getting some better results if he is to keep his race drive for next year.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.