Toyota will launch the new TF109 and its race livery on 15 January 2009. However, as part of the team’s commitment to cutting costs in Formula One racing, there will be no traditional launch ceremony.
Instead, all press material will be distributed to the media via the internet, before the TF109 begins pre-season testing on 20 January, the start 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.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Toyota to launch TF109 in mid januvary
LG Electronics becomes a Global Partner of Formula 1
LG Electronics (LG), a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, announced Wednesday that it has signed an agreement to become a Global Partner of Formula 1™ and a Technology Partner of Formula 1™.
As part of this top level association LG acquires exclusive designations and marketing rights as the official Consumer Electronics, Mobile Phone and Data Processor of Formula 1™. The multi-year agreement runs from January 2009.
“Formula One represents the absolute peak of technological innovation and style, which is also our vision for the LG Electronics brand,” said Dermot Boden, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of LG Electronics. “We feel the excitement and electricity of F1 is unmatched by any sport, and we feel the same passion and energy here at LG.”
“LG is a leader in its field, it pioneers cutting edge technology, delivering innovation and excellence in a stylish package, which is what Formula 1 is about too,” said Bernie Ecclestone, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Formula One Group. “We have so much in common, I am very excited to begin our association and look forward to the technology solutions they can bring to us also.”
As the Official Data Processor of Formula 1™ LG will be identified and credited on the official live timing service at Formula One events and in the associated timing and data TV graphics. They will also enjoy a comprehensive package of premium marketing rights worldwide in association with the Formula 1™ brand.
Boden added: “In today’s economic climate, all organizations need to be strategic with their expenditures. Here at LG we can think of no more important investment than our brand. After having carefully researched marketing and sponsorship opportunities, I am confident that this exciting partnership will best highlight and enhance the profiles of both global organizations over the long term.”
Established in 1958, LG Electronics, Inc. (LG) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications, employing more than 82,000 people working in over 110 operations, including 81 subsidiaries around the world.
Young Italian drivers test for Ferrari at Fiorano
The top three finishers in this year’s Italian Formula Three Series got the chance to drive a Formula One car at Ferrari’s Fiorano circuit on Wednesday, as a reward for their success in the championship.
Mirko Bortolotti, Edoardo Piscopo and Salvatore Cicatelli all enjoyed time behind the wheel of the F2008 during the special day of testing, which was devised by Ferrari and Italian motorsport's governing body, the ACI-CSAI. The trio of young drivers also worked with engineers from the outfit’s race team and met tester Andrea Bertolini.
Bortolotti ended the day fastest, clocking a quickest time of 59.111s, after covering 40 laps. Piscopo’s best time was a 1m 00.336s after he completed 29 laps, while Cicatelli finished with a fastest time of 1m 01.243s over 33 laps.
Webber targets return in February
Mark Webber is aiming to recover from his broken leg in time for the test debut of his Red Bull team's new Formula One car in February.
The Australian suffered a compound fracture of his lower right leg in a mountain bike accident on Saturday.
"I'm aiming to drive the car at the first test," Webber told BBC Sport.
"Whether that's possible, I don't know, but if I have to wait another week or 10 days for the sake of the whole season, then I will."
Red Bull's new car is set to make its first on-track appearance on 10 February - nearly seven weeks before the start of the 2009 season in Melbourne, Australia, at the end of March.
"I will make sure I'm in the best shape I can be for the first race," said Webber.
"Both [lower leg] bones are broken but the compound fracture was of the tibia and the bone was exposed.
"That complicates things a bit more but I am just learning to get up and about on crutches now.
"At the moment there is pressure and swelling whenever I stand up. There is talk it will be like that for the next two or three weeks and come the first week of February we should be on target for me to be able to walk unaided.
"And then the acceleration between the first week of Feb and the first week of March will be quite extreme in terms of me getting about.
"In terms of me driving the car, it is impossible for me to say how I will feel when the car comes out for the first time.
"We'll look at how much driving I'll do early on. If I have three decent tests going into Melbourne then I am totally focused on not letting the team down in final qualifying and on Sunday in Melbourne.
"That's a long way away - it's the last week in March. That's when it counts for me.
"I think it will be a bit slow to start with. I'm just going to have to get used to a few things the first time I drive the car but that won't last long at all.
"In a perfect world, I would do every single day and test we had in mind for pre-season but it's not just the leg that will be suffering.
"Early on, I will need to work on my general fitness, which will take some work but which again will be spot on for Melbourne."
Webber's accident happened while he was riding in his own charity event in Tasmania.
Mark Webber on his Pure Tasmania Challenge
Webber's Tasmania Challenge is a gruelling seven-day fitness marathon
The Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge is a 250km endurance event consisting of mountain bike riding, kayaking and trekking on the Australian island.
The 32-year-old was riding along a forest road near historic Port Arthur when he collided with a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
He revealed the initial time after the accident was "pretty tough".
"It's a pretty remote area and it's quite hard to get a helicopter up there as well - the forest canopy was quite tight - but there were good people there and it was all right."
Webber added: "It takes an unbelievable impact to break our bodies. It's unbelievable how strong we are."
He said that he was initially down after the accident but that the experience of other racers who had come back to compete after more serious injuries was an inspiration.
He cited the example of ex-F1 and IndyCar driver Alex Zanardi, who has returned to race in touring cars after losing both his legs in a crash in 2001.
"I think a lot about Zanardi and these sort of guys - [five-time world motorbike champion] Mick Doohan as well," he stated. "It's such an inspiration. I could be worse off."
Webber's accident leaves Red Bull relying on his team-mate, the inexperienced German Sebastian Vettel, for their testing in the meantime.
That could be a hindrance to the team because there are major changes to the technical regulations, with refinements to the aerodynamics and the introduction of energy-storage systems.
But Webber said he was not concerned that the team's preparations would be affected by his lay-off - adding that he would try to attend as many tests as his rehabilitation allowed even before his injury has healed.
"I still could be there, physically," he added. "We've got a youngster who has got his head totally screwed on.
"There is a big regulation change and a lot of excitement for a lot of teams with the clean sheet of paper. I could go down to tests but I want to make sure it doesn't affect my rehab. The best thing is to concentrate on myself and work closely with the team and I'm ready when I'm ready.
"In a funny sort of way I'm looking forward to seeing the progress. I've never been in this position before in my life. I've got good people around me. The team have been amazing. I'll make sure we work very hard together to make sure it's seamless."
Kiwi Hartley to test for Red Bull
New Zealand's Brendon Hartley will test for the Red Bull Formula One team in the wake of regular driver Mark Webber breaking his leg last week.
The Formula Three driver will join Sebastian Vettel and Sebastien Buemi for testing at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain on 15 December.
Hartley, a Red Bull junior driver, recently finished third in the Macau F3 Grand Prix after starting in 20th.
The 19-year-old Hartley also set a lap record in the process.
"Brendon is one of several promising talents in the Red Bull Junior Team and an opportunity has arisen to allow him to get some time in a Formula One car," said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.
Webber broke his right leg last weekend after a collision with a car while cycling in a charity event in Tasmania.
The 32-year-old hopes to be back behind the wheel for the first test of the team's 2009 car in February. The 2009 season starts in Australia on 29 March.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
No French GP until 2011 - F1 boss
The French Grand Prix will not be on the calendar until at least 2011, says Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone.
Ecclestone said he wanted to be sure he finds the right venue for the event after plans to hold the race near Paris in 2010 were rejected last week.
EuroDisney and Lagardere Sports this week said the Ecclestone-backed project was not economically viable.
Next year's race at Magny-Cours has been dropped after organisers cancelled it for financial reasons.
Ecclestone said: "We want the right spot - the French GP has to be long-lasting."
France has an important historic status within motorsport as the first country to hold a Grand Prix, in 1906.
But the event's future has been plagued with uncertainty in recent years.
France has a contract for a race at Magny-Cours - near Nevers in rural central France - for two more years, but organisers have cancelled the 2010 race for financial reasons.
"I think it is quite sure (that there will be no race in 2010)," Ecclestone told French newspaper L'Equipe.
"We went to Magny-Cours for the wrong reasons, for political reasons," he added.
"Let's try and avoid a repeat. What we want is to find for sure the right spot because the French GP has to be long-lasting."
Ecclestone added that the withdrawal of the Euro Disney project had condemned France to being without a race for at least a year after 2009.
"I've always thought it was the right spot for us, that it was the new location that suited the French Grand Prix," he added.
"We went to Magny-Cours for the wrong reasons, for political reasons, so let's try and avoid a repeat."
Two other possible venues are now being discussed for the race to return to the calendar.
They are Sarcelles, 17.5km from Paris and backed by former French Formula One driver Jean-Pierre Beltoise, and Flins, 43km from Paris.
"The first thing now is that I want to go there myself and see by myself how it looks like," said Ecclestone.
Buemi poised for Toro Rosso seat
Swiss Sebastian Buemi is poised to make his Formula One debut with the Toro Rosso team next season.
Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz, who has two teams in F1, told autosport.com Buemi was "very likely" to be one of the drivers for junior team Toro Rosso.
German Sebastian Vettel has been promoted to the senior Red Bull team, while his 2008 Toro Rosso team-mate Sebastien Bourdais may not be retained.
Toro Rosso tested Buemi, Bourdais and former F1 racer Takuma Sato last week.
Japan's Sato, who has raced for Jordan, Honda and Super Aguri in F1, set the fastest times of the three at Spain's Circuit de Catalunya.
Mateschitz said the Toro Rosso line-up would be confirmed "before the last test in December", which is at Jerez in southern Spain from 15-17 December.
Buemi, 20, told the official formula1.com website after his test: "I am young and I learn quickly.
"I think that all teams now try to have an experienced driver and a young driver, as you see for example, at Renault (who partnered double world champion Fernando Alonso with rookie Nelson Piquet Jr in 2008).
"The immediate past has shown that the young guys don't need too long to deliver results... Young drivers have shown that they can deliver almost straight away."
Vettel became F1's youngest ever winner with victory in the Italian Grand Prix in September, while Lewis Hamilton is now the sport's youngest world champion following his success this year in only his second season.
Berger quits as Toro Rosso boss
Formula One team Red Bull are set to regain 100% control of sister outfit Toro Rosso after buying out the 50% share owned by Gerhard Berger.
The deal is pending approval by regulatory authorities.
If it goes through, Red Bull chief Dietrich Mateschitz will wholly own two teams on the F1 grid.
Fellow Austrian Berger, who won 11 Grands Prix in a 14-year career, had been Toro Rosso's boss but will cease all involvement with the team.
The team said they were not planning any further changes to their management structure.
Toro Rosso, the former Minardi team, are Red Bull's junior team and use the same car but fitted with Ferrari engines rather than Renaults.
They outperformed Red Bull in the 2008 season - German rising star Sebastien Vettel won the Italian Grand Prix in September, the team's and Red Bull's first F1 win, and has moved from Toro Rosso to Red Bull for 2009.
The German became the youngest winner in Formula One history at the age of 21.
"I am very happy that I can support Didi (Mateschitz) - who has committed himself to Formula One with so much dedication - with the reorganisation of the team and in this process to make use of my knowledge so effectively," said Berger.
"A 100% financing of a joint project by one partner can only make sense, to my mind, at an initial stage. This stage is over now. That's why Red Bull will take over the shares again."
Mateschitz added: "I'm very grateful to Gerhard for his enormous input.
"Together we have made Toro Rosso a team which, from 2008 onwards, will regularly qualify for the top 10 and collect championship points.
"Red Bull will now run Toro Rosso alone on this basis."
Red Bull suffered a blow last week when Australian driver Mark Webber broke his leg in a bike crash but the team expect him to be fit to start the 2009 season.
F1 boss plans scoring revolution
Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone says he is determined to introduce a new scoring system that would see the driver with most wins crowned champion.
Lewis Hamilton would have failed to win this year's title under such a system, which Ecclestone wants for 2009.
"It's going to happen. All the teams are happy. The whole reason for this is I am fed up with people talking about there being no overtaking," he said.
Gold, silver and bronze medals would be given to the top three finishers.
Regardless of the distribution of those medals, the driver who won most races would be crowned world champion.
The system still requires approval from F1's governing body, the FIA.
Its world council - the body that would decide whether to introduce the system - meets next month.
BBC Sport's Adam Parsons, who was attending the news conference where Ecclestone made the remarks, said: "Ecclestone said he was determined to bring in a radical new scoring procedure.
Instead of scoring points for the top eight positions, as is the case now, it would see gold, silver and bronze medals being awarded for the top three positions, and at the end of the season the driver with the most race victories would take the championship.
"Ecclestone says it is a way of introducing more overtaking and says all the teams back it. In reality, it is difficult to see F1's minnows backing a system that would see them end the season empty-handed."
Ecclestone said: "The reason there is no overtaking is nothing to do with the circuits or the cars - it's because the drivers don't need to overtake.
"If you're in the lead and I'm second, I'm not going to take the risk of falling off the circuit or doing something stupid to get two points.
"If I need a gold medal to win the championship, I will overtake. It's just not on that someone can win the championship without winning a race."
The teams, through their umbrella organisation Fota, have made it clear they are keen to come up with new ways of improving F1 - and that includes considering a new points system.
But BBC Sport understands that several of the teams have misgivings about the system and that these surround a number of issues.
Prime among them is that the new system could lead to the world title being settled earlier than has become the custom under the new system.
The current 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 points distribution was introduced in 2003, partly to try to ensure the world championship stayed open for longer at a time when Michael Schumacher and Ferrari were dominating the sport.
In 2003, the world title went down to the last race between Schumacher and McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen even though the German had won six races to the Finn's one.
Under Ecclestone's new proposal, the title would have been decided after the Italian Grand Prix in September when there were still two races remaining.
Conversely, the 2005 title - which Renault's Fernando Alonso won with two races to go - would have been decided in the Spaniard's favour only after the last race on a countback of second places after he and Raikkonen tied on seven wins each.
This season, McLaren's Hamilton won one less race than Ferrari's Felipe Massa - but only because the Brazilian was controversially handed victory in Belgium after the Englishman, who had won on the road, was given a penalty.
Ecclestone claimed on Wednesday that there were quite a few races Hamilton did not try to win in 2008.
Former team boss Eddie Jordan, who will be a BBC Sport pundit in 2009, said: "I think they (Ecclestone's proposals) are a nonsense.
"I can't possibly believe he's thinking straight, especially on this one. His focus must be on cost-cutting and nothing else. The rest is just dressing it up.
"The points are necessary. I was one of the team principals who advocated the points should go down to eighth place because one point is as important to those teams as a win is to McLaren and Ferrari.
"He is tinkering with something on which he has lost the understanding. He thinks only wins matter.
"When Hamilton lost the race in Spa and it was given to Massa, can you believe the controversy that would have created?
"There has not been enough thought put into this and for him to say that it comes with the full approval of all the teams - I'm sorry, I just don't believe it."
F1 is introducing a major change of technical regulations for 2009 in an attempt to spice up the racing.
These include changes to the aerodynamics and engines to make it easier for cars to follow one another through corners.
The front wing will be wider and lower, the rear wing narrower and higher and the number of aerodynamic appendages elsewhere on the car has been slashed - in an attempt to reduce the cars' sensitivity to aerodynamic turbulence.
On top of that, the introduction of kinetic energy recovery systems (Kers) - where energy expended under braking is stored and reapplied during acceleration - will give drivers "push-to-pass" buttons that they can use for a limited amount of time each lap.
Ecclestone made his remarks at a news conference to announce that South Korean electronics giant LG would become a sponsor of F1 and have its branding on on the international broadcast feed, timekeeping systems and graphics.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Formula 1 boss faces divorce case
The wife of Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has filed for divorce, it has been confirmed.
A spokeswoman for Slavica Ecclestone said the announcement had been prompted by media speculation.
This year's Sunday Times Rich List estimated her husband's personal fortune to be in excess of £2bn.
Mrs Ecclestone will be represented by divorce lawyer Liz Vernon, who represented the wife of Arsenal and England footballer Ray Parlour in 2004.
She secured a deal which gave her client a third of her ex-husband's future earnings for four years.
Simon Bethel, a family law specialist with law firm Mills & Reeve, said: "Given Mr and Mrs Ecclestone were reputed to be worth £2.4bn in the 2008 Rich List, this case may see the highest award to a wife in legal history."
He added that if Mrs Ecclestone filed for divorce in the UK, she could be awarded as much as half of her husband's fortune.
He said: "If Mrs Ecclestone is keen to push for a substantial award, and on the face of it there is no reason why she should not, she could maybe end up with a third or a half of his fortune."
The couple, who married in 1985, have two daughters, Petra, 19, and Tamara, 24.
Mr Ecclestone, 77, has a stake in Alpha Prema, which owns Formula One.
Last year he diversified when he took over Championship football club Queens Park Rangers with Renault team boss Flavio Briatore.
Honda coy over Senna & Di Grassi
Honda will take their time before deciding whether one of Bruno Senna or Lucas Di Grassi will drive for them in Formula One next season.
At the end of three days of winter testing in Barcelona, Honda boss Ross Brawn said: "We will take some time to carefully consider our findings."
Senna completed 107 laps on Wednesday and was faster than Di Grassi, who did 110 laps of the circuit on Tuesday.
"Whether what I did is good enough is for the team to decide," said Senna.
Senna had his first full day in a Formula One car and the nephew of F1 great Ayrton added: "It has been a really good day and I'm very pleased.
"But for me personally, for my first time in a Formula One car, I have to be happy with what I achieved today.
"The Honda team are very professional and I am proud to have spent the time with them during this very special week for me."
Germany's Sebastian Vettel was fastest in Barcelona for the second successive day for Red Bull Racing, the team he has joined from stablemate Toro Rosso, with a best of 1:19.295.
Senna's quickest lap was one minute, 21.676 seconds, while Honda lead driver Jenson Button was fifth fastest of the 12 on the circuit on Wednesday with a best of 1:21.387. Di Grassi's fastest lap on Tuesday was 1:22.283.
Button's contract with Honda expires at the end of the year, though he looks likely to remain, but Senna and Di Grassi are vying for the spot occupied by Rubens Barrichello, who also hopes to stay.
Brawn added that both Senna and fellow Brazilian Di Grassi had been "a pleasure to work with".
"Both drivers spent one and a half days in our car which has enabled the team to assess their performance and level of technical skill.
"Lucas and Bruno have both performed admirably over the course of the week."
Di Grassi took part in the testing for Honda after being overlooked by Renault, who have stuck with drivers Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet Jnr for 2009
The 24-year-old has raced in GP2, which has provided several drivers for F1 since its incarnation in 2005, for the last three seasons, finishing second in 2007 and third this year.
Senna finished runner-up to Italian Giorgio Pantano in the GP2 feeder series.
Honda had a dismal 2008 season, with Button picking up just three points from 18 races.
The testing is to help develop the 2009 car and Button worked through a series of aerodynamic and suspension evaluations.
"It's nice to be back in a car that I enjoy driving," said Button.
"Taking a lot of the downforce off and running on slick tyres suits my driving style a lot more than grooved tyres.
"I've had a fun couple of days and it's been very useful as we have tested many things which should help us with the new car.
"It's been a positive start to 2009 already and I'm very pleased."
F1's rules are changing for the 2009 season, with the sport reverting to slick tyres and adopting heavily revised aerodynamics to try and create more overtaking.
Brawn added that Honda had been running two modified RA108 chassis during the testing and had conducted an intensive programme with the Bridgestone Potenza slick tyres.
Webber breaks leg in bike crash
Formula One driver Mark Webber has broken his leg after colliding head-on with a car while riding a bike at his own charity event in Tasmania.
The Australian, 32, who drives for the Red Bull racing team, was airlifted to hospital where he underwent surgery on a broken right leg.
"The surgery is complete, a pin inserted and the recovery begins," said the event's director, Geoff Donohue.
Red Bull say they "fully expect" Webber to return for the new F1 season.
The accident happened south-east of state capital Hobart on Saturday, while Webber was taking part in the Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge - a 250km endurance event consisting of mountain bike riding, kayaking and trekking on the Australian island.
He was riding a bicycle along a road near historic Port Arthur when he collided with a four-wheel drive vehicle at 1240 local time.
"Mark's in good spirits," said Donohue. "The broken leg is the injury, and beyond that, he's in really good shape.
"He has a little bit of a graze on his left forearm, but he has had full scans and everything else is clear.
"He'll be in hospital for at least three days, for sure under a week. I was speaking to him before the operation, and he was already thinking about his rehabilitation."
Sergeant Jon Ford, of Tasmania Police, said: "We received reports of a collision between a bicycle and a motor vehicle on the Fortescue Bay Road on the Tasman Peninsula.
"He was airlifted from the scene by helicopter and taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital where he is now being treated for serious but not life-threatening injuries.
"He suffered a broken leg and other injuries and is reported to be in a stable condition."
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Hamilton to race Hoy at Wembley
Britain's triple Olympic cycling gold medallist Chris Hoy is to compete in a man versus machine race against Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton at Wembley.
Hamilton, 23, will drive a Mercedes road car at the Race of Champions event on 14 December while Hoy will race his bike round the twisty circuit.
"It will be special, the atmosphere is going to be crazy," said Hamilton.
"To see 80,000 fans for the first time since becoming world champion will be a great way to end a fantastic year."
Hoy won sprint, keirin and team sprint gold medals in Beijing to become the first Briton to win three gold medals at the same Games for 100 years.
And while the 32-year-old knows he will struggle to match the acceleration of the Mercedes, he hopes the tight and twisty track may prove a leveller.
"I can kick out about two-and-a-half brake horsepower so that's not going to quite match his car but I think they'll make the race as close as possible and I'll be giving it absolutely everything. I'm really looking forward to it," he said.
Hamilton, who became the youngest driver to win the Formula One world title this year, will also perform a demonstration run in his McLaren F1 car.
The duo will then head for Liverpool to take part in the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony later in the evening.
The Race of Champions event sees competitors from various strands of motorsport race against each other in a range of cars around a parallel two-lane track.
Germany's seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher, France's five-time World Rally champion Sébastien Loeb, Britain's triple World Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx and Australia's triple Superbike world champion Troy Bayliss head the list of competitors.
British Formula One drivers David Coulthard, who retired this season, and Jenson Button are also racing.
Canadian GP stays off F1 calendar
Canadian officials have failed to reach a deal to reinstate Montreal's Grand Prix to the 2009 Formula One schedule.
The race was dropped from the calendar for next season following a commercial dispute over the 2008 Canadian GP.
It means no North American races in 2009, with the United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis already dropped.
A statement on the City of Montreal's website claimed Formula One had made "unreasonable demands" in a final contract proposal on 28 October.
The statement said that offer called for an eventual promoter to put up a government or bank guarantee of some £96.3m over the next five years.
It said no private promoter was willing to take on such a level of risk, considering the limited revenue generated by the event.
Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay said: "Despite our endeavours, the unreasonable demands of Formula One exceeded the taxpayer's ability to pay."
The decision to drop Canada, along with the US Grand Prix, dismayed Formula One teams by cutting off a major market for their car-manufacturer owners and sponsors.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
China considers ditching F1 race
China is considering ditching its loss-making Formula One Grand Prix, according to a senior race official.
Qiu Weichang, deputy director of the Shanghai Administration of Sports, told AFP a decision on the future of the event would be announced in 2009.
"We're doing the assessment. By next year, we should be able to give you the answer," Qiu is reported to have said.
Qiu, who appeared cool on the idea of a night race, added that organisers "would like at least to break even".
Shanghai, China's biggest city, spent $240m (£161m) building a track suitable for F1 and has hosted a Grand Prix since 2004.
It has a contract with F1 until 2010 and is said by F1 insiders to pay about $50m (£34m) annually for the race.
But the event has not proved popular with local people and attendances have been poor - even with some spectators being transported in specifically to give the appearance of a fuller venue.
The event has been lucrative for F1 commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone, who is believed to charge China some of the highest fees to host a race.
China is one of a string of locations which have joined the F1 circuit at a heavy cost in recent years in an attempt to boost their global image, joining the likes of Malaysia, Bahrain and Singapore on the calendar.
With the exception of Singapore, which held its inaugural Grand Prix as a night race in September, all have failed to capture widespread interest among locals.
Qiu said: "We want to create a win-win situation, for our side and for Bernie [Ecclestone] and the F1 organisers as well.
"If this is something we can do, and our co-operation is very happy and smooth, we will consider it.
"Of course we would like at least to break even. But there are two factors - one is the assessment; the other part is the win-win situation that we can create."
Asia is a growth area for F1. Abu Dhabi is to host its first race in 2009, with South Korea and India scheduled to follow suit in 2010 and 2011.
Ecclestone is keen for locations in the eastern hemisphere to hold their races as late in the day as possible in order to make the start time more attractive for F1's core audience in western Europe.
But asked about the idea of night racing, Qiu said: "In Singapore... holding the event at night is a good way to attract tourists to a small country.
"Singapore is hosting this event in their own unique way but we have our own situation."
Qiu said that the Grand Prix had succeeded in creating "this huge wave of car fever, so in that sense it is good news".
He said the circuit would continue to exist if the Grand Prix dropped because it was already in use for most of the year by car clubs, who hosted private driving sessions.
China has already ditched its MotoGP race, which was also held at Shanghai.
And in January, the head of the track, Yu Zhifei, who helped bring F1 to China, was jailed on corruption charges.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Toro Rosso to assess 2009 drivers
Toro Rosso will evaluate three drivers at next week's first post-season Formula One test as they seek to finalise their line-up for 2009.
Sebastien Bourdais, who raced for the team in 2008, will be joined by Red Bull tester Sebastian Buemi and former Jordan and Honda driver Takuma Sato.
The drivers will be evaluated over three days at Spain's Circuit de Catalunya, starting on Monday.
Both Toro Rosso seats are up for grabs after Sebastian Vettel joined Red Bull.
Frenchman Bourdais, a four-time winner of the US-based Champ Car series, is battling to convince the team he is worthy of a second season in F1 after an up and down debut year.
Buemi, from Switzerland, is a member of the Red Bull junior team while Japanese Sato is aiming to revive his career following the collapse of the Super Aguri team early in the 2008 season.
Brazilians Rubens Barrichello and Bruno Senna are also believed to be contenders for a Toro Rosso seat.
Veteran Barrichello is also in with a chance of staying at Honda next season alongside Jenson Button.
Senna, the nephew of the late three-time champion Ayrton Senna, is also in the frame at Honda - he is testing for the Anglo-Japanese team at Catalunya next week.
The former Minardi team, bought by Red Bull in 2006, won their first race last season, with Vettel taking the chequered flag in Monza.
They outstripped senior team Red Bull in the second half of 2008, when they were often battling to be best of the rest behind title contenders Ferrari and McLaren.
They use the same car as Red Bull, but fitted with a Ferrari engine rather than the Renault used by the senior team.
Mallya sparks Force India changes
Force India owner Vijay Mallya is to replace Colin Kolles as team principal in a major shake-up for next season.
Chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne, former technical director at Jordan, Renault and Toyota, has also left.
The team announced it will use Mercedes engines, which power world champion Lewis Hamilton at McLaren, in 2009 after ending its deal with Ferrari.
"These new resources and developments will provide an enormous boost to our technical armoury," Mallya said.
The deal with Force India marks a shift for Mercedes, who since 1995 have worked exclusively with McLaren.
In another step forward, McLaren Applied Technologies, a company owned solely by McLaren, will also supply Force India with gearboxes and hydraulic systems.
Both McLaren and Mercedes will share their kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) - which will convert energy generated under braking into power that can be used for acceleration - with Mallya's marque.
"McLaren and Mercedes-Benz are two of the most famous names in motorsport history, having achieved great success in Grand Prix racing over many years," added Mallya.
"We said at the outset that we meant business and were not interested in merely making up the numbers.
"The announcement of our new technical partnership clearly underlines that we meant what we said."
Indian billionaire Mallya bought the Spyker team along with Dutch businessman Michiel Mol in 2007 and the outfit raced under its new moniker for 2008.
However, Force India failed to win a single point in their first season with Giancarlo Fisichella's 10th place at the Spanish Grand Prix their best result.
Team-mate Adrian Sutil was running in a brilliant fourth place in Monaco before Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen slammed into the back of him in the closing laps, forcing him to retire.
Now Mallya, who has stuck with Fisichella and Sutil for 2009, has initiated a major management restructure as he seeks success on the track.
"Force India is my most difficult project and requires more direct input from my side and greater performance accountability," Mallya said.
"We have come a long way this season but we need more and that requires a radical reorganisation.
"I would like to thank Colin Kolles for his tireless efforts in keeping such a small team alive and to Mike Gascoyne for bringing his wealth of technical experience."
Honda to test Di Grassi in Spain
Honda will give Renault's third driver Lucas Di Grassi the chance to test for them in Barcelona later this month.
The 24-year-old Brazilian will join the team for their first winter test at the Circuit de Catalunya on 17 November.
Honda plan to name their 2009 drivers before Christmas with both Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello out of contract at the end of the year.
As well as Di Grassi, the team will also give Bruno Senna, the nephew of F1 legend Ayrton, a test in Barcelona.
The team will run this season's RA108 car in Barcelona for three days as they begin their build-up to next season.
Di Grassi will take part in the test after being overlooked by Renault, who have stuck with drivers Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet Jnr for 2009.
"This is a very well-deserved opportunity for Lucas to prove his potential," said Honda team principal Ross Brawn.
"After such an impressive performance in GP2 this season and during his testing responsibilities with Renault, we look forward to seeing Lucas in action and will take a keen interest in how he performs."
Di Grassi has raced in GP2, which has provided several drivers for F1 since its incarnation in 2005, for the last three seasons, finishing second in 2007 and third this season.
The Brazilian has also been part of Renault's development programme since 2004 and was the team's third driver in 2008 but is now keen to take the next step in his career.
"The next two weeks will be a very important stage in my development," said the 24-year-old.
"I will be spending a lot of time at the Honda factory before the test to speak with the engineers and learn as much as possible in advance of the test.
"I am very excited to have the opportunity of testing with Honda in Barcelona and look forward to proving myself to the team."
Honda are expected to keep faith with British driver Button next season despite another difficult campaign for the 28-year-old.
Button collected just three points whilst team-mate Barrichello claimed eight in a season marred by a lack of pace and reliability.
Barrichello has spoken of his desire to stay with Honda but the Brazilian is out of contract at the end of the year and at 36 is the oldest active driver in F1.
Monday, November 10, 2008
F1 teams to reduce engine costs
Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo says Formula One teams have unanimously agreed to reduce engine costs by more than 15m euros (£12m) by 2011.
Montezemolo recently presided over a meeting of the newly founded Formula One Teams Association.
And he said: "We're working with all the teams to reduce costs even more for 2010 and 2011.
"We unanimously decided that by 2011 an engine will cost £4m, compared to the more than £16m they used to cost."
Montezemolo also revealed that he smashed a television set after watching McLaren's Lewis Hamilton snatch the world title from Felipe Massa at the final Grand Prix of the season at Interlagos.
"I broke the television, I must tell the truth," he said.
"When a television breaks it makes a terrible bang. My daughter in the other room was given an awful fright.
"Luckily we had another television so I was able to watch the podium ceremony, which I enjoyed."
F1 boss plays down Hamilton abuse
Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has dismissed suggestions the sport has a problem with racism.
Britain's Lewis Hamilton was the victim of abuse during pre-season testing in Spain and in the build-up to Sunday's deciding Grand Prix in Brazil.
Ecclestone described the supporters' actions as "a joke" and told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I don't think it has anything to do with racism."
But Hamilton responded by saying: "I didn't see it as a joke."
Despite being unhappy with his treatment at the hands of fans at certain circuits on the F1 calendar, Hamilton said he would not allow the incidents to get to him.
"It's something that happened but it is in the past," added Hamilton, the first black driver in F1 history.
"What's more important to me is that I had a lot of support, especially from UK fans.
"As long as I have my country behind me, it makes me very proud. I'm proud to see my fellow countrymen holding up the flag. All the other stuff I need to put behind me.
"I don't generally keep up with what's being said and I haven't read what Bernie said. I know Bernie and have a huge amount of respect for him. I can only assume he said positive things."
Hamilton became the sport's youngest world champion when he pipped Felipe Massa to the title in Brazil.
But he has become a hate figure amongst some motorsport fans in Spain because of his rivalry with Fernando Alonso after the pair clashed during their time together as team-mates at McLaren.
Spain's former world champion Alonso complained the team were favouring Hamilton and left to join Renault at the end of the 2007 season.
Hamilton was taunted by spectators during pre-season testing at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona earlier this year with some fans turning up with blackened faces and wigs, prompting the sport's governing body to launch an anti-racism campaign.
The FIA also condemned people who targeted Hamilton with abusive messages ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix at Sao Paulo.
Visitors to a "voodoo-style" website were invited to drop imaginary nails on a computer version of the Interlagos track, in the hope that Hamilton would suffer a puncture and hand the title to home favourite Massa. Many of the posts were obscene, while others referred to Hamilton's colour.
Hamilton's father Anthony spoke out about the abuse after his son's title triumph.
"My family have taken a lot of stick this past week, not just this week, but the past few months," he said.
"I did think that maybe this isn't the place for my family because as a parent you make sure you do right for your family and kids.
"But I never said anything to Lewis. I kept it to myself, even though I was going home and thinking 'I didn't think the world was quite like this'."
Renault team boss Flavio Briatore described the abuse as "completely disgraceful".
But Ecclestone feels the situation has been blown out of proportion and likened the actions of the fans in Spain to Ferrari fans sporting red wigs to back their team.
"There were a few people in Spain...and it was probably meant as a joke more than anything abusive," he added. "People look and read things into something that is not there.
"It's all nonsense. In Spain people supported Fernando Alonso and in Brazil they supported Felipe Massa.
"People are entitled to support who they want to support.
"When was he insulted? Do you remember the Ferrari guys that wore the red wigs when they went? People are [just] expressing themselves."
Ecclestone was thrilled at the dramatic end to the season which saw Hamilton, who just missed out on the title at Brazil in 2007, claim the crown by edging out Massa on the last lap in Sao Paulo.
"I'm emotionally detached from most things, but it was one of those things you couldn't believe," he said. "It wasn't until the end that you'd realise who had won. You would have been sure Massa had won, but out of the blue came a super surprise.
"It was a pity they couldn't both win but the right guy did in the end. Lewis should have won it last year."
After the win, Hamilton told the BBC that he had set his sights on winning the drivers' title three times.
"I don't think he'll have any problem with that," said Ecclestone. "There's no limit. You have to rely on the car and the team and a little bit of luck. I suppose you could say he was lucky this year."
Alonso opts to stay with Renault
Fernando Alonso has ended months of speculation about his future by opting to stay at Renault for two more years.
The double world champion had been a Honda target but has turned them down following Renault's upturn in form.
Alonso, who scored more points than any other driver in the season's final five races, will be partnered by Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jr for a second year.
He said he stayed because Renault had "always been my first choice and I feel happy and comfortable with them."
The Spaniard rejoined Renault, with whom he won the drivers' title in 2005 and '06, at the start of 2008 after a tumultuous season as Lewis Hamilton’s team-mate at McLaren.
The team started the year poorly but they came on strong in the final third of the season after making significant improvements to the car.
That performance, in which Alonso won superbly at both Singapore and Japan, has convinced him to stay with the team in the face of Honda's courtship.
The Anglo-Japanese team have had a poor two seasons with an uncompetitive car but wanted to build their future around Alonso and were said to have effectively offered him an open chequebook.
But in a statement issued by Renault on Wednesday, Alonso said: "Renault are a very close-knit team with a competitive and winning mentality, and also a relaxed and warm attitude, which suits me perfectly.
"After a difficult start to the season, we have overcome our difficulties and constantly improved our performances.
"My back-to-back wins in Singapore and Japan, and my recent second place podium finish in Brazil, have proved how competitive we can be.
"In the past we have won championships together, as well as going through tough moments, but we are now determined to show that we can repeat that success together in the coming seasons."
Alonso had been widely linked with a move to Ferrari either in 2009 or 2010 until the Italian team decided to extend Kimi Raikkonen’s contract.
But Alonso's new deal expires at the same time as Raikkonen's, making a future move to Ferrari a real possibility.
Renault's decision to retain Piquet is a lifeline for the son of triple world champion Nelson Piquet after a disappointing debut season.
Piquet, who was a title rival of Hamilton in the GP2 feeder series in 2006, has been well off Alonso's pace this season, although he did take a fortunate second place in the German Grand Prix in July.
There had been speculation he would be dropped in favour of another Brazilian, the team’s test driver Lucas di Grassi.
But some improved performances in the closing races of the season appear to have persuaded team boss Flavio Briatore to give him a second chance.
Piquet said: "Obviously I am delighted to have the opportunity to race for Renault for a second year.
"Although I have had a tough year, I have learned a lot from my rookie season and I will aim to put that experience to good use next season."
Briatore said the decision gave Renault "one of the most exciting driver pairings with the perfect blend of youth and experience".
He added: "Fernando's commitment for the next two seasons confirms the faith he has in the team and we are delighted to continue working with him.
"He has been a big asset throughout this difficult season and his leadership and talent, matched with the team's hard work and determination, have paid off with our recent performances."
Hamilton in McLaren career pledge
World champion Lewis Hamilton says he intends to drive for the McLaren team for the rest of his Formula One career.
Hamilton made the pledge at a "welcome home" event staged by McLaren at their base in Woking, Surrey, on Wednesday.
"I'm with the team I've always dreamt of driving for, and I've got the car I always wanted - so why change?" said 23-year-old Hamilton.
"I don't know how long I'll be in F1 - but I want to see my career out with this team, and that's my plan."
Hamilton, who won his first world title in a nail-biting climax to Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix, was welcomed at the McLaren Technology Centre by the team's 1,000-strong workforce, plus another 500 ancillary staff.
He drove his F1 car around the Norman Foster-designed building's ornamental lake, parked it outside the main entrance and entered to huge cheers from the McLaren staff and applause from the media.
Standing in front of a collection of the trophies McLaren have won during their 40 years in F1, he made a composed, eloquent speech to the employees and described how he had still not fully come to terms with the magnitude of his achievement.
A congratulatory message from The Queen was read out, and on the morning Barack Obama was elected the next President of the United States, Hamilton was asked about the historic parallels of two mixed-race men making such landmark achievements in their respective fields.
"I tried to watch it," he said. "I've got a huge amount of respect for both candidates and I'm very happy and proud to see Obama out front. Congratulations to him."
But he added that, like Obama, he did not see himself as a role model exclusively for minorities.
"I don't sit here and say I want to be an inspiration for one generation or race," he said.
"The great thing is it opens up doors for all groups – anyone can get into it. I want to be as positive a role model as possible because I don't believe there are that many out there."
He added: "I never go around the track thinking I'm the only one here. We've always been well treated and well respected and I'm proud I have managed to achieve this."
Hamilton was joined at McLaren by his girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger, singer with the pop group the Pussycat Dolls, who posed for photographs with McLaren employees.
He arrived back in Britain from Brazil on Tuesday morning, and said he had spent the intervening 24 hours laying low "at home" in Stevenage, Hertforshire, the town in which he grew up.
"My heart's still racing – it hasn't really hit home yet," said Hamilton, whose career has been guided by McLaren since he was 12 years old.
"I'm out of breath. I can't believe there are so many people here. To know I have made so many people happy, I'm a bit overwhelmed.
"I've been thinking about my time with McLaren, all the landmark moments, just the whole journey. I love this team, and I ain't going nowhere.
"When I was 13, I went to the old headquarters [in another part of Woking] and I used to go to the museum and see the old cars.
"I used to touch Ayrton Senna's car and imagine what it would be like to drive it and be in his position.
"That day has come, and I'm very proud."
Hamilton acknowledged that he had made winning the title more difficult than it might have been this season by making too many mistakes.
His error count was a stark contrast to his performance in his debut season last year, when he was virtually flawless until letting the title slip through his fingers in the final two races.
"It was easier to a certain extent last year. In the state of mind I was in, it was easier to just jump in the car and enjoy myself and go well and be consistent," he said.
"This year, new things kept coming out. I'd be leading a race and at the end of the pit lane everyone stopped or something. I haven't sat at traffic lights for a while.
"It's just something you have to deal with. Through life, I'm sure next year and the years to come I will make many more mistakes. It's how you learn from them and grow [that's important].
"I will analyse this year and really try next year to make less."
McLaren chief executive officer Martin Whitmarsh paid tribute to Hamilton's "humility, his character and his star quality.
"It's Lewis's championship and he is a true, true star."
Button still has a future - Honda
Honda insist they still have faith in Jenson Button despite another disappointing Formula One campaign.
The Briton, who is out of contract at the end of the year, collected just three points in 2008 and has won just one Grand Prix in more than 150 races.
But Honda chief executive Nick Fry told BBC Sport's Olly Foster: "Jenson is an immensely talented driver.
"I am absolutely convinced that if we, at Honda, give him the car that can do the job he can compete with Lewis."
Honda have already announced they plan to give Bruno Senna, the nephew of F1 legend Ayrton Senna, the chance to test one of their cars in Barcelona at the end of the month.
"I'm sure he will do a great job," said Fry. "He's a prospective candidate."
Fry also revealed that another, as yet, unnamed driver will also get a runout as they look to finalise their driver line-up for 2009.
"We are not hurrying to choose our drivers for next year," added Fry. "We can afford to wait until possibly just before Christmas."
Button is not the only Honda driver out of contract at the end of the year. Team-mate Rubens Barrichello, who picked up just 11 points in 2008, could also be looking for another drive for 2009 and beyond.
"It is Formula One, everyone is under pressure to retain their position," said Fry.
"The drivers are no different from any other person in the team. They've got to deliver the results and the best people will get the race seats."
But Fry, who revealed Honda had been keen on luring former world champion Fernando Alonso from Renault, admitted both Button and Barrichello were hampered by an uncompetitive car.
"We deliberately had a strategy of not doing much to this year's car, investing all our resources in next year," he said.
"As a result we knew we were going to get worse during the course of the year. That's exactly what happened. The car was weak."
With former Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn now in the Honda camp, Fry said he was confident there would be a revival in 2009.
"He has invested all this year making sure we have the best possible year next year," said Fry.
"We've really gone for it inside the company in terms of deploying resources for next year.
"Motivation in the team has been huge because they can see what's happening for next year. I'm sure you are going to see us take a big step forward next year."
FIA instigates stewarding changes
Formula One stewarding rules will be revised next year in a bid to bring some consistency to decision-making.
A new replay system will allow stewards to investigate incidents and take action during the race.
National stewards will also be required to observe at least one race before officiating for the first time.
The rules should help end controversial calls such as the one to give McLaren's Lewis Hamilton a 25-second post-race penalty at Spa and strip him of a win.
Hamilton was penalised after he cut a chicane to avoid a collision with Kimi Raikkonen and then did not sufficiently surrender his advantage before overtaking the Finn one corner later.
There was also controversy at Valencia when Ferrari's Felipe Massa escaped a rap after he was illegally released from the pits into the path of Adrian Sutil.
However, when GP2 driver Bruno Senna was involved in a similar incident, he was given a drive-through penalty.
The new system will also see a written explanation of the stewards' decisions published on the FIA website after the race.
At the meeting of the International Automobile Federation's world council in Paris, it was also agreed that former drivers will be able to apply for national stewarding licences.
Meanwhile, the sport's ruling body revealed that the life of an engine would be extended from two to three races and the Chinese Grand Prix will be stage in April instead of October.
Changes made to 2009 F1 calendar
The Chinese Grand Prix will be the third race of the 2009 season after the World Motor Sport Council made several amendments to the Formula One calendar.
The Shanghai race has traditionally been held towards the end of the season but will be staged in April next year.
Brazil is now the penultimate race, on 18 October, and the Bahrain Grand Prix has gone back a week to 26 April but there is no Canadian race scheduled.
The championship ends with the first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 1 November.
And in order to boost television coverage in Europe, the council has also moved the start of the first two races, in Australia and Malaysia, to 1700 local time.
Despite recent talks between F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and the Canadian government with regard to reinstating the Montreal race, it remains absent from next year's calendar.
However, it is understood Ecclestone is to a hold a further meeting to discuss the financial issues that led to Canada's omission.
The French Grand Prix has also been removed from the calendar due to lack of funding.
With a four-week summer break after the race in Hungary on 26 July, there is scope for a further amendment, but for now the calendar incorporates 17 races.
Revised 2009 F1 calendar:
29 March: Australia
5 April: Malaysia
19 April: China
26 April: Bahrain
10 May: Spain
24 May: Monaco
7 June: Turkey
21 June: Great Britain
12 July: Germany
26 July: Hungary
23 August: Spain
30 August: Belgium
13 September: Italy
27 September: Singapore
4 October: Japan
18 October: Brazil
1 November: Abu Dhabi
Monday, November 3, 2008
Coulthard says farewell to F1
David Coulthard recalls the day he flicked Michael Schumacher the finger with great satisfaction, although he is not proud of the angry gesture.
The incident took place as the Scot battled his way to victory in the French Grand Prix in 2000.
That victory, one of 13 race triumphs, is one of the driver's personal highlights in a 15-year Formula One career that came to a close in Brazil on Sunday.
Coulthard only got as far as the first corner in his final race when he spun off the rain-hit Interlagos circuit after being nudged at the start by Nico Rosberg.
But the 37-year-old has no regrets - and will head into retirement as a man satisfied with what he achieved.
"I wanted to take the chequered flag, but I can't complain after a good career," said Coulthard.
He added: "I'm obviously disappointed I didn't complete a lap of the Grand Prix. What an exciting end to the world championship and what a great day for motorsport.
"I will be back next year in a different capacity. My journey and my love of with motorsport will continue, it just won't be behind the wheel."
The presence of a dominant Schumacher probably denied Coulthard a world championship title.
His best season finish was second behind the German in 2001, while he claimed third in the standings on four occasions.
"I know opinion is divided as to whether I was any good or not," he told BBC Sport prior to his last race in Sao Paulo.
"If I'd won a championship, that would take away any real discussion.
"But I finished second and who really remembers the runner-up in the World Cup or in the Olympic 100m final?
Ultimately, it's all about winning. But I don't feel unfulfilled in finishing second to someone who turned out to be the most successful driver in the history of the sport.
"It was just bad timing for me to be around at the time of a seven-time world champion."
It's an understandably sanguine philosophy from a man who, in May 2000, narrowly survived a private plane crash in which both pilots were killed.
The last of Coulthard's wins came in Australia in 2003, with the Scot, now 37, coping best with changeable weather, despite starting 11th on the grid.
He was also a back-to-back winner in front of his home crowd at Silverstone in 1999 and 2000.
However, those fantastic achievements do not rank highest in the memories of a driver who does not like to dwell on his past.
"I'm not really someone who reminisces a great deal," he said.
"I certainly don't talk about the good old days because I think I'm living them now.
"I've been asked a lot of questions about highlights and the beginning of my career in 1994, but it seems so long ago that I don't really remember the details.
"I've just been enjoying the journey."
The F1 adventure began when he moved up from testing to be a front-line driver for Williams after Ayrton Senna's death.
He won his first F1 race in Portugal in 1995 before going on to win a further 12 during a nine-year spell with McLaren.
The Scot has been with Red Bull for the last four seasons and has agreed to stay on and help develop the team's young driver programme.
When pressed for his highlights, Coulthard said: "A couple of races stand out.
"Those who follow F1 closely may remember I gave Schumacher the finger at Magny-Cour in 2000.
"I'm not proud of it because it's not big and it's not clever.
"But it was a race full of frustration.
"Michael tried to shove me off the circuit at the start of the race and I dropped to third and had to battle back to get in behind him and eventually pass him.
"I was particularly pleased that I was able to control my emotions.
"Winning in Monaco for second time (in 2002) was also very special.
"I led from the front on a circuit where there is just no room for error.
"It's almost a two-hour race, it's hot and physically demanding.
"If anyone was to say I wasn't any good as a driver, I would always put forward Monaco as an example of being able to win on one of the most difficult circuits."
Having amassed the fifth-highest points tally in the history of F1, it's unlikely that Coulthard will have to argue his case very often.
Brazilian Grand Prix Photos
David Coulthard answers questions ahead of his final race as he brings down the curtain on a career that has spanned 15 seasons
With the start getting ever nearer, Massa joins fellow title contender Lewis Hamilton for the formality of the pre-race photos
A heavy downpour minutes before the off delays proceedings
Sadly for Coulthard his race ends moments after it begins following a collision with Williams driver Kazuki Nakajima on Turn One
Sensing a possible championship win for their man, the local fans in the Sao Paulo crowd do their best to urge him on
Having been promoted to fourth by Toro Rosso's three-stop strategy for Sebastian Vettel, Hamilton stays on course for the crown
Hamilton embraces his ecstatic brother, Nicholas, as he returns to the paddock as the new world champion
Massa is joined on the podium by Renault's Alonso, who finishes second, and Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, who comes third
Hamilton gets to savour the victory with his brother Nicholas, father Anthony, stepmother Linda, and girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger
Lewis Hamilton heads out of Interlagos, in the company of his girlfriend and his father, as the youngest ever F1 world champion
Last-gasp Hamilton takes F1 crown
McLaren's Lewis Hamilton became the youngest world champion in Formula One history by the skin of his teeth after a thrilling Brazilian Grand Prix.
The 23-year-old Englishman's title rival Felipe Massa won the race in his Ferrari but Hamilton grabbed the fifth place he needed at the last corner.
A late-race rain shower looked to have cost Hamilton the title when he dropped to sixth after a stop for wet tyres.
But he passed Toyota's Timo Glock as they entered the pit straight.
Renault's Fernando Alonso, the previous youngest champion, was second ahead of Massa's team-mate Kimi Raikkonen and Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel.
Hamilton's success buries the ghosts of last year, when after a remarkable debut season he let slip a massive lead in the final two races and Raikkonen sneaked in to win the title.
Ultimately, there were no similar mistakes this time around - but as he entered the final lap Hamilton was not going to win the title.
He - like Massa - had stopped to change to wet tyres as the rain fell in the closing laps.
But while the Brazilian held on to his lead, Hamilton dropped to fifth place behind Glock - who stayed on dry tyres.
Hamilton then lost that position - which was the minimum he needed if Massa won - when he was passed at the start of the penultimate lap by Vettel.
Hamilton tried hard to get back past the German, but he could not get close enough to him and he would have thought he had lost the title until he came to the last two corners of the lap.
There, Glock - who had started the final lap 18 seconds ahead of Hamilton - was struggling badly on the now-slick track and the McLaren slipped past the Toyota as it accelerated up the hill towards the finish line.
"It's pretty impossible to put into words," Hamilton said.
"I thought do I have it? Do I have it? And when they told me I was ecstatic."
It was heartbreaking for Massa, whose family were celebrating what they thought was his success for a few seconds until they realised what had happened.
"It was an emotional day for me. You get here and you've almost done everything perfect but we saw Lewis passing Glock again and that mixed emotion.
"Unfortunately we missed [out] by one point but that's racing.
"We need to be proud of our race and our championship. It's one more day of our life when I will learn a lot but for sure I'm very emotional."
His only consolation was that his victory helped secure the constructors' title for Ferrari.
The thrilling climax was a stark contrast to the rest of the race, which Hamilton had approached with the caution he felt was required to avoid mistakes.
The 23-year-old - watched from the sidelines by his girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger, singer with the Pussycat Dolls - went into the race knowing he only had to finish fifth even if Massa won his home event.
That luxury showed in the way in which he and his McLaren team approached the Grand Prix.
A shower of rain five minutes before the scheduled start introduced a random element that was exactly what Hamilton did not need.
It caused a five-minute delay and shaped the entire race.
The heavy shower doused the track in the area of the pits and some of the corners, but other areas remained dry.
And with the sun shining as the race started, it was only a matter of time before drivers started to pit for dry tyres.
Hamilton and McLaren played it safe, leaving it as late as they could before coming in to change tyres.
Hamilton stopped a lap later than Massa on lap 11 - and two laps after Vettel and Alonso.
McLaren's decision was the right one in that it limited their risk, but it was not the best in terms of absolute pace.
Vettel and Alonso's early stops vaulted them up into second and third places behind Massa.
Hamilton, by contrast, was demoted from fourth to sixth behind Massa, Vettel, Alonso, Raikkonen and the Force India of Giancarlo Fisichella, who had changed to dry tyres as early as lap three.
McLaren were confident the required result was always within their grasp.
But that was reckoning without the unfolding drama ahead.
Hamilton did not pass Fisichella until lap 18, out-braking him in a brave move at the first corner on the still-slippery track.
That put Hamilton into the fifth place he needed, and he was promoted to fourth by the three-stop strategy chosen by Toro Rosso for Vettel in contrast to the two stops of the other leading teams.
Hamilton was only a couple of seconds ahead of Vettel by the time the Toro Rosso had made its stop and he had to up his pace to hold his rival off.
And a late shower increased the anxiety for Hamilton as he sought to close out the championship.
Hamilton stopped for wet tyres on lap 66 - a decision that could have cost him the title.
It dropped him to fifth place behind Glock, with Vettel right behind him.
Vettel pushed Hamilton hard and passed him with two laps to go, leading to the nail-biting finish.
Scot David Coulthard's final race ended at the first corner after he was knocked into a spin by Williams's Nico Rosberg, and was hit by the other Williams of Kazuki Nakajima.
Brazilian Grand Prix result:
1. Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari one hour 34 minutes 11.435 seconds
2. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 13.298 seconds behind
3. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari +16.235
4. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Toro Rosso-Ferrari +38.011
5. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes +38.907
6. Timo Glock (Ger) Toyota +44.368
7. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes +55.074
8. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota +1:08.463
9. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault +1:19.666
10. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber one lap behind
11. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber one lap
12. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-Toyota one lap
13. Jenson Button (GB) Honda one lap
14. Sebastien Bourdais (Fra) Toro Rosso-Ferrari one lap
15. Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Honda one lap
16. Adrian Sutil (Ger) Force India-Ferrari two laps
17. Kazuki Nakajima (Jpn) Williams-Toyota two laps
18. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Force India-Ferrari two laps
R Nelson Piquet (Brz) Renault 0 laps completed
R David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull-Renault 0 laps
Key: R = retired
Fastest Lap: Massa 1:13.736 on lap 36
Ecstatic Hamilton revels in glory
Lewis Hamilton was overwhelmed by emotion after capturing the 2008 world championship by a single point at a thrilling season finale in Brazil.
"It's pretty impossible to put into words," said the 23-year-old, who is now the youngest ever F1 champion.
"It's been such a long journey and I'm so speechless. After all the sacrifices we've made I am so thrilled to be able to do this for everyone.
"It was one of the toughest races of my life - if not the toughest."
Hamilton clinched the title when he passed Timo Glock accelerating out of the final corner of the race to snatch the drivers' crown from Felipe Massa, who took the chequered flag ahead of him.
With Massa winning at Interlagos, the Englishman knew he had to finish fifth to claim the title but he had slipped to sixth with one lap to go.
In one final twist, however, Hamilton overtook Glock's slowing Toyota to clinch the fifth place he needed - and with it the title.
"The team didn't say anything so I thought I was shot," said Hamilton, who became Britain's ninth world champion and the first since Damon Hill in 1996.
"I didn't know where Glock was and Vettel was the guy to beat and I couldn't catch him, so at that point I was going to finish sixth. My heart was in my mouth," said Hamilton
"When it started to drizzle, I didn't want to take any risks but at the final corner I got past Glock and I couldn't believe it.
"I thought 'do I have it, do I have it?' When they told me, I was ecstatic.
"It was absolutely fantastic, an amazing achievement on one of the most troubled days.
"It was such a hard race and I'm ecstatic, very emotional, very thankful for my team and my family and everyone who has supported me.
"I have done enough and we made it. I can forget everything else.
"I need to rest because my heart is on edge. I want to shout out to all my supporters at home - I love them all."
Glock insisted he had not handed the title to Hamilton and explained how his decision not to change tyres as the rain began to fall ultimately cost him fifth place.
"Six laps from the end I asked about the tyre situation and about the weather conditions, and I said every time I'll stay out, 'one more lap, one more lap' and at the end I stayed out for the whole race," the German told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"That last lap just cost us the chance to be in the top five, and in the end (decided) the world championship."
After a record-breaking rookie season, Hamilton continued to rack up the landmarks with his feat in Brazil.
The Englishman joined Canada's 1997 winner Jacques Villeneuve as the only other driver to claim the championship in just their second season.
At the age of 23 years and 301 days, he succeeded Fernando Alonso, who was 122 days older when he won the title in 2005, as the sport's youngest champion.
He is McLaren's first world champion since Mika Hakkinen in 1999, and joins a club that includes his hero Ayrton Senna and all-time greats Alain Prost and Niki Lauda.
Hamilton, who headed to a Sao Paulo nightclub after the race to celebrate with relatives, team-mates and pop singer girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger, paid tribute to McLaren team boss Ron Dennis, who has mentored him for a decade.
"It's a fairytale story that he gave me that opportunity years ago and he had the foresight to bring me in and groom me to get to this position," Hamilton said.
"I've grabbed it with both hands and I've paid him back. I've paid him back in full so I'm happy with that."
When asked if the title would be the first of many, Hamilton said: "I hope so. I don't know if my heart will be able take that final lap for many more seasons but I'll try to do it in a bit of style maybe."
Massa struggled to hold back the tears after winning his home Grand Prix but losing the world crown by the smallest of margins.
"I had completely mixed emotions because by the time I had crossed the line, I was still the champion, and then suddenly my engineer was telling me everything on the radio," said the 27-year-old, who was racing in his hometown of Sao Paulo.
"He told me when I was already in turn three that Lewis had passed Glock.
"It was a completely mixed emotion because I was still waiting to hear the confirmation (of the title) and then we didn't have (what we wanted)."
The Ferrari driver had been aiming to become the first Brazilian since the late Ayrton Senna in 1991 to win the drivers' title.
"It was an emotional day for me," said Massa. "The race was perfect, we did everything fantastically in such difficult weather.
"We finished in front and we have to be very proud of that but unfortunately we missed [the championship] by one point.
"But that's racing - we need to be proud of our job, our race, our championship.
"We need to congratulate Lewis because he did a great championship and he scored more points than us, so he deserves to be champion.
"I know how to lose and I know how to win and it is another day of my life from which I am going to learn a lot."
Among those to congratulate Hamilton was former McLaren team-mate and double world champion Fernando Alonso.
The Spaniard has become an arch-rival and outspoken critic of the British-based team after a fraught year with them in 2007, but he went to the McLaren garage two hours after the race.
He shook Hamilton by the hand and said "well done, well done", while the Briton responded: "Thank you mate" and clasped Alonso on the shoulder.
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