19-Mar-08: McLaren to Revise Pit Speed Limiter System
This is F1 Minute for the 19th March 2008.
McLaren will be looking into their pit speed limiter process after the incident in Australia with Kovalainen. Engineering director Paddy Lowe has said they will be revising the system in future as: “It shouldn’t be something you can pick up by accident when you’re moving your hands around.”
Ferrari test driver Marc Gene has criticised the system used by McLaren, saying he was surprised it happened, as his team has a way of making the button inactive over a certain gear or speed.
The GPDA fallout continues, after Jackie Stewart’s disappointment in Hamilton yesterday. Pedro de la Rosa has said they don’t back this attitude. “We look forward to Lewis becoming a GPDA member at some time in the future. But it isn’t mandatory to join and it isn’t our intention to put pressure on Lewis, as he has always been extremely helpful with any safety issue we have engaged in in the past.”
And a Toyota official has confirmed that Timo Glock will be okay to race in Malaysia this weekend.
That’s all for today, join me again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.
07-Feb-08: McLaren Four Called to Face Italian Questioning
Today is the 7th February 2008, and this is F1 Minute.
Ron Dennis, Mike Coughlan, Paddy Lowe and Martin Whitmarsh have all been called to appear before the Italian magistrate who is investigating the espionage affair from last year on behalf of Ferrari. McLaren have simply confirmed that their lawyers “received some papers from the Modena authorities which are currently being reviewed.” Ron Dennis is believed to be due at the meeting on the 18th February.
Pat Symonds has been speaking to Autosport magazine about the new car, and it’s chances. He said that last year’s car faced two separate issues – differences with data from the wind tunnel and the track, and the change from Michelin to Bridgestones. He believes that they’ve got those sorted now, and this year Renault will be back challenging for wins.
They all said their piece yesterday, and now the machinery to help them achieve their goals has been released. The Force India car for 2008 was unveiled in Mumbai today. The most significant things to gain from the launch are the colours, a white and gold livery, plus the prominent Kingfisher branding, Vijay Mallya’s own company.
That’s all for today, please join me tomorrow for another F1 Minute.