18-Dec-08: Barrichello Breaks Silence on Honda Racing

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You’re listening to F1 Minute and it’s the 18th December.

Finally, Rubens Barrichello has spoken. We haven’t heard from him since Honda announced their withdrawal from F1, but now the Brazilian has given an exclusive interview to Autosport. He said he was on holiday when the call came to break the news to him and he was completely shocked – more so than if he had been told another driver was replacing him. But he flew in to meet with Ross Brawn and just like Jenson, is determined to stick with the team. “I told him again that it could be a good time for me to say goodbye and start shouting bad against people for what they have done bad to me, but no. I am ready to race. I have lost half the weight of what I need to lose, and am eager to keep going.”

Two other quick stories: Ferrari have admitted they are very behind schedule with their KERS device, and are starting to think what they can do if they need to race without it. And Williams have confirmed their launch date as the 19th January, at the Portugal test.

That’s it for today, please join me tomorrow for another F1 Minute.

ING Renault F1 Team R29 Launch – New timing

As the test session at the Algarve Motor Park is now due to start on Monday the 19th of January, we have been obliged to modify our programme for the official presentation of the R29 as follow:

Monday 19/01

08:30 Photocall in front of the ING Renault F1 Team garage – Car reveal

09:00 – 17:00 Testing session

17:30 – 19:00 Media interviews in the AIA VIP Lounge with the ING Renault F1 Team drivers and management.

Accreditations to this test session and to our official launch should be requested to the Algarve Motor Park press office.

TF109 to be unveiled on 15 January

Panasonic Toyota Racing can today confirm that the new TF109 car and the team’s 2009 livery will break cover for the first time on 15 January 2009.

However, to emphasise its commitment to overall cost reduction in Formula 1, the team will not proceed with its traditional pre-season event programme.

Studio images of the TF109 in its new 2009 livery will be made available to the media exclusively on www.toyota-f1-world.com on 15 January.

In addition, the 2009 press pack, which will include exclusive interviews with the team’s drivers and top management as well as features and information on the team in 2009, will also be released on 15 January via www.toyota-f1-world.com.

All interested media are advised to register on www.toyota-f1-world.com in advance of 15 January in order to ensure immediate access.

Panasonic Toyota Racing will begin its 2009 pre-season testing with the TF109 on 20 January, the opening day of a three-day test at the new Algarve Motor Park in Portugal.

This will be the first opportunity for the media to discuss the TF109 and the 2009 season with drivers Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli, as well as selected team personnel.

Video footage of the TF109 on track, as well as comprehensive rights-free photography, will be available to the media in week five of 2009.

24-Oct-08: Portugal to Host Mid-Winter Test

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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.