25-Nov-08: Red Bull Buy Back Toro Rosso Share
Welcome to F1 Minute for the 25th November 2008.
Red Bull have bought back their 50% share in Toro Rosso from Gerhard Berger, despite the fact that owner Dietrich Mateschitz was previously contemplating selling his interest in the team. Now, the Austrian says: “I am very grateful to Gerhard for his huge input. Together we turned Toro Rosso into a team that qualified on a regular basis in the top 10 and collected world championship points.”
Also in Red Bull news, Christian Horner says the only positive thing from Webber’s accident is the timing, and they plan to put Vettel and Buemi in the car during upcoming tests. He said Coulthard had other priorities at the moment, having just become a first time dad.
Meanwhile, Rosberg has said he doesn’t regret staying with Williams and will wait to see what 2009 brings before rethinking his position. Obviously he wants the team to get back to their winning ways but knows the field will spread out with the drastic regulation changes in the coming season.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
17-Nov-08: Takuma Sato Tops Day 1 of Barcelona Test
Welcome to F1 Minute, it’s the 17th November 2008.
Testing got underway at Barcelona today, with our first glimpse of the 2009 wings in action. BMW ran a very high rear wing and low front wing, and it’s not that pretty. They were also testing out KERS, with the mechanics protected with thick gloves.
Toyota were the only team not in action, and we saw Takuma Sato top the timesheets in his test for Toro Rosso. Sebastien Buemi, also in the Toro Rosso, was just three tenths slower.
There were three red flags, caused by Robert Kubica for BMW and Nico Hulkenberg for Williams, with the main disaster saved for Giedo van der Garde in the Renault. He completed 27 laps as part of his World Series prize, but crashed out and finished the day in 16th.
Elsewhere, it appears the Canadian Grand Prix will definitely be off the calendar as the Montreal Mayor has admitted: “Despite our endeavours, the unreasonable demands of Formula One exceeded the taxpayer’s ability to pay.”
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
13-Nov-08: New 2009 Spec Williams is Revealed
This is F1 Minute for the 13th November.
We have seen our first proper pictures of a 2009 specification car, as Williams shook down their new aerodynamic package in Gloucestershire today. Formula 3 driver Jonathan Kennard was behind the wheel, as the team tested out the new higher, shorter rear wing, and lower, flatter front wing without a bridge over the nose. Kennard said he enjoyed the test and thanked the team for the opportunity, but there’s no word on how the new wings affected performance.
While we’re on the subject of Williams, they have extended their partnership with financial service providers Allianz. The pairing have been together for over ten years now, and both are very happy with the support from the other side of the fence.
Elsewhere today, organisers of the Canadian Grand Prix say they are still working hard to get the event reinstated. There’s only a few weeks left, and the Montreal mayor is considering every option to try and rescue the race.
And very quickly to finish, Barrichello says if he doesn’t retain a seat in Formula 1, he’ll give up competitive motorsport for good.
That’s it for today, please join me again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.
01-Nov-08: Massa Takes Pole Position for Home Grand Prix
Welcome to F1 Minute for the 1st November 2008.
Saturday in Brazil turned out a bit cloudy in the morning for Free Practice 3 but the sun was shining by the time qualifying got going. Alonso had repeated his Friday feat of jumping to the top of the timesheets at the very last minute and we were expecting more of the same.
The first session was not out of the ordinary, except that neither Williams driver got out of the bottom five. Button was also out in Q1, and suffered his car running out of fuel on the way back to the pit lane.
Quali 2 was more interesting, as both Red Bull drivers were out, Coulthard quite disappointed on his final Saturday, and Kubica stuck between them.
On to Q3, and Massa put in the first early benchmark. He was clearly lighter than Hamilton and managed to retain pole position throughout the session, whilst Hamilton posted second, only to be pushed down by Raikkonen and Trulli as well! Kovalainen qualified behind Hamilton but Alonso lines up behind him on the grid. It’s going to be a fascinating first corner.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
11-Oct-08: Hamilton Takes Pole Position in Japan
Today is the 11th October 2008, and this is F1 Minute.
Free Practice 3 was declared wet on Saturday morning in Japan, although the rain had stopped and the track dried throughout. We saw a mixed up session, with Kubica, Glock and Piquet ending up the fastest three.
For qualifying, the rain had well and truly gone, and the sun came out. Hamilton took pole position by two tenths of a second. Raikkonen managed to improve on his recent qualifying performances by lining up second on the grid. Meanwhile Massa posted the third fastest time, but was pushed down by both Kovalainen and Alonso, and so lines up fifth.
Both Toro Rossos and both Toyotas are in the top ten, whilst Heidfeld was the surprise of the day, failing to get through the first session. BMW left him on the harder tyre during the first stint to try and save rubber for later on in qualifying, but unfortunately it was the wrong decision, and there was no later on in qualifying for him. Kubica, meanwhile, starts sixth. The other disappointment was from Williams who had been looking strong but start 14th and 15th.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
08-Oct-08: Bridgestone to Paint Grooves Green in Japan
Today is the 8th October 2008, welcome to F1 Minute.
This weekend in Japan, Bridgestone are painting the stripes on their tyres green. The FIA has a promotion called “Make Cars Green”, and in support Bridgestone will be painting every groove on the harder tyre a bright green colour. The announcement of coloured tyres, came with a joint statement from Honda, Williams and BMW, all supporting the idea of Formula 1 becoming greener. I can honestly say the green does not look great, but it’s all in a good cause.
Along with environmental issues, Max Mosley has also issued a stark warning that if Formula 1 doesn’t drastically cut costs it will face serious difficulties in the future. Today it was announced that the FOTA will meet with the FIA president immediately after the Chinese Grand Prix to discuss the matter. The FIA statement read: “At this meeting the FIA will discuss and share with the teams the strategic decisions which are now urgently required, having regard to current world-wide economic problems.”
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
04-Oct-08: F2 Champ Will Get Chance of Williams Test
You’re listening to F1 Minute and today is the 4th October 2008.
This week, Williams hosted the launch of the F2 series at their factory, and we got to learn some more details of the new feeder formula. We already know that Williams have designed the F2 cars, and that Jonathan Palmer has secured the rights to operate the series. Now we know that the winner of the F2 championship will get to spend time in the Williams F1 simulator and then get a test in the car out on track. Of his hopes for the series, Palmer said: “I am absolutely determined that Formula 2 will attract the greatest depth of talent by virtue of its extraordinary cost effectiveness, and through its carefully considered format and equality of opportunity produce most of the best future F1 star talent in the coming years.”
Elsewhere, technical director of Renault, Bob Bell, has said the Alonso we saw in Singapore was “the Fernando of old”, the one who was capable of winning championships.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
02-Oct-08: Williams Confirm Nakajima for 2009
Welcome to F1 Minute for the 2nd October 2008.
Williams have confirmed their driver lineup for next season and it remains unchanged. We already knew that Rosberg would be driving for them in 2009, but now Nakajima has been signed up for next year as well. Frank Williams believes it is good to be consistent with the two drivers, plus Nico Hulkenberg as tester, and says: “Nico Rosberg continues to be one of the most capable drivers in the sport. Kazuki is getting stronger all the time and has more to offer and Nico Hulkenberg is developing well.”
Also today, Flavio Briatore has apparently said he will be taking a different role at Renault next year, and bringing a team director on board to run the day-to-day business. Briatore has said he already has someone in mind.
Finally, Red Bull believe they have found what caused Webber’s gearbox to malfunction in Singapore. They’ve narrowed it down to an electrical surge from the tramlines on the street circuit. What are the chances?
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
22-Sep-08: Ross Brawn Defends 2009 Rear Wing Style
It’s the 22nd September 2008, and this is F1 Minute.
At the Jerez test last week, Williams ran a brand new but old-style rear wing in preparation for 2009. Not everyone, including myself, is in favour of the look of the cars with this wing, but Ross Brawn has defended the change. “I think they look okay - and they look in many ways nicer because the bodywork doesn’t have all this furniture. It is a much bigger front wing and smaller higher rear wing, but we have had things like that in the past.” He said that just like when grooved tyres were introduced, people didn’t like the look of them, but we will soon get used to it.
Talking of 2009, Vijay Mallya has spoken about how he is measuring the performance of his team, and whilst he says Force India are doing well this year, next season will be the real test. “I’ve always said that we will take baby steps in 2008, such as getting into Q2, and I think we have managed to do that. In 2009 we have no excuses, I know that, and I will make sure that we perform.”
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
17-Sep-08: BMW on Top for Second Day at Jerez
Today is the 17th September and this is F1 Minute.
BMW climbed to the top of the timesheets for the second day at Jerez, where this time eight teams were in action, instead of just the three we saw yesterday. Klien was at the wheel, and he finished ahead of Vettel. The German was driving for Red Bull, as a pre-cursor to him joining them for next season. To add to the confusion, normal Red Bull test driver Sebastian Buemi was third fastest of the day, but with a Toro Rosso under him. He was under evaluation for a possible race drive in 2009.
Also today, McLaren were testing out their KERS setup for the first time, and Williams hit the track with their 2009 spec rear wing – a much narrower and higher evolution of this year’s wing. Nakajiama finished the day last and 2 seconds off the pace of his nearest rival.
Ferrari, meanwhile, were at their own private test with Badoer in the hotseat, whilst Force India have not joined the testing fun yet.
That wraps up everything for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.