Giancarlo Fisichella feels that Force India could be the surprise package in this year's Formula One Championship.
Incidentally, former Red Bull driver David Coulthard, now an F1 pundit, had a similar hunch about the Silverstone-based outfit following its tie-up with McLaren-Mercedes late last year.
Fisichella believes the slew of sweeping changes has, to a large extent, evened out some of the glaring F1 inequalities and insists Coulthard didn't merely talk through his hat.
"Why not? I think this year is a good opportunity for us as a team," Fisichella told PTI on the eve of Force India's new challenger VJM02's official track debut at Jerez, Spain on Sunday.
"Everyone has had to redesign their cars, so if you had a good car last year you might not have a good one this year. We're all a lot more equal this year and with a good overall package I think we could be strong once we've had a few races," he said.
The late unveiling of VJM02, however, limits the outfit's testing opportunities and the lack of laps doesn't amuse the Italian. "It is a disadvantage as it's important to drive as much as you can before the start of the year to get a feeling with the car and try and establish a good set-up," said the 36-year-old Roman.
"It's not easy in just four days, especially with the new rules coming in this year. We are just going to have to try and get as much as we can from these eight days before the season," he added.
A veteran of 200-plus F1 races, Fisichella reckons slick tyre, reduced role of aerodynamics and other changes would mix things up this season and negotiating corners would be the key for the drivers.
"F1 was very tight last year, with the whole field separated by just over a second, so it will be hard to be that close this year. But I do think that the field will be a lot more mixed -- we don't know who has got it right as the rules are so different and teams have all interpreted them differently.
"I think this year we will have to be very smooth. The cars will have less grip from the aero, but more grip from the tyres so you will have to be very smooth through the corners. If you get it wrong then you might go off more easily than last year," he explained.
Force India came close to scoring its maiden point a couple of times last year only to fall short of it. Asked how difficult it was to go through an entire season without points, Fisichella said it is now a thing of past for him. "I love Formula One so it's not hard to stay motivated as I love driving the cars and still want to do well. There are always challenges in motorsport, but you have to keep looking to the next opportunity and not think too much about the past," he said.
Instead, Fisichella is rather keen to look at this year's Championship.
"I think this year is maybe the biggest change for many years, with KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), slick tyres, downforce and new aero rules, so it's very exciting. It would be good to see all the teams mixed up and to be able to fight for points," he said.
Friday, February 27, 2009
"Force India can surprise"
US team plans to enter F1 in 2010
The founders of a proposed Formula One team from the United States insist they are ready to enter the sport in 2010.
Peter Windsor and Ken Anderson, the duo behind the scheme, have said the cars will be built in North Carolina and driven by American drivers.
They also confirmed they have finance in place and that F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has given them his backing.
"I told Bernie Ecclestone about this in Brazil 2006, and he just said, 'great, get it done'," Windsor told Autosport.
"He has kept in touch ever since and has always been supportive."
Windsor, a journalist and television presenter, is a former Williams team manager and will assume the role of sporting director while Anderson has many years of experience in both F1 and Indy Car as a race engineer. The current global economic crisis has forced many teams into cost cutting measures ahead of the new season on 29 March, while struggling Honda are still looking to find a buyer.
Despite this USF1 will not be be backed by a manufacturer or wealthy businessman, with Windsor saying they have put together a viable business plan that will work.
"If you look at the way it's gone in the recent past, it's been either you find a rich trillionaire and have him dominate, or you are lucky enough to be invited by a large car company to set up their F1 operation," he said.
"Ken and I have been around long enough to know we didn't want to do those things.
"We always wanted to do our own team our way. We have got some things we want to bring in.
"The key was not to selling anything more than a very small stake in the team.
"We set ourselves some unbelievably steep hills to climb in a recession, but we only wanted to sell a small part of the team, and, as we sit here now, I'm pleased to say we've done that and we're now two guys that can say we are going to do an F1 team because we have the capital to do it." F1 has a rich history in north America and can boast two former world champions in Phil Hill and Mario Andretti.
However, races in America and Canada have recently been taken off the calendar and there are currently no US or Canadian drivers competing in the sport.
Danica Patrick, the first woman to compete in the Indy Car series in the US, has been linked with a seat with the new team as have former Torro Rosso driver Scott Speed, and Andretti's grandson 21-year-old Marco.
Anderson has admitted that Patrick would be an attractive proposition for USF1 and is keen to see if the 26-year-old would fancy becoming the sixth female F1 driver.
"Danica's great - she gets a lot of press," he said.
"IndyCar Series boss Tony George would probably be pretty mad with me if I took her out of the IRL (Indy Racing League), but we'll see.
"I don't know if it's something she wants to do. We'd certainly love to test her and go from there."
Ex-Honda team closes on F1 return
The former Honda team plans to test at Silverstone and Barcelona in the next fortnight, raising hopes it will start the new Formula One season next month.
Honda pulled out of F1 in December as a result of the global financial crisis, leaving the British-based outfit to search desperately for a buyer.
BBC Sport understands the team will not test in Jerez next week but will have a "shake-down" test at Silverstone.
The outfit then hope to make the full team test in Barcelona on 9 March.
Team members have been told a deal is close and to prepare to race in 2009, with the new season getting under way at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on 29 March.
It is unclear who the new owners would be, but speculation has focused on a buy-out led by the current management of chief executive Nick Fry and team principal Ross Brawn.
A senior source at the former Honda team, which is based in Brackley, Northamptonshire, told "We're carrying on as if we're going to Melbourne."
The source likened the situation to "being in the final stages of buying a house when the contracts are agreed and signed and it's with the lawyers".
The source added that Brawn had told employees that "everything's positive - it's all going ahead". No decision had yet been made on a driver line-up, but BBC Sport has learned that Englishman Jenson Button will definitely race for the team if it gets the official go-ahead.
The second seat is understood to be between two Brazilians - veteran Rubens Barrichello, Button's team-mate since 2006, and novice Bruno Senna, the nephew of F1 legend Ayrton.
The car will be fitted with a Mercedes engine.
"There's no way we'd go to any test without an engine deal," the source said. "If we're going to Jerez, it means it's a done deal."
It is unclear whether any official announcement would be made before the test.
Even if the team make it to the final pre-season test in Barcelona in mid-March, they still face an uphill struggle to be competitive at the start of the season.
At the time of Honda's withdrawal, Brawn expressed his belief that the car could run in the top three in 2009, despite the team's poor form in the last two years.
But the recent uncertainty will have affected development effort, and they have lost running time to their rivals, most of whom have completed at least two full four-day tests already.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
'Line drawn' under F1 spy scandal
The Formula One spy scandal has reached a conclusion after Italian authorities ended all legal action against McLaren.
Charges against former McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan and three current senior employees have been dropped but all will have to pay fines.
The row started when then-Ferrari engineer Nigel Stepney was accused in 2007 of giving Coughlan a 780-page document containing confidential data.
Stepney, who Ferrari fired, is the subject of an ongoing case in Italy.
Coughlan, who has in the past also worked for Ferrari, will still have to pay £158,000 in exchange for not contesting charges of copyright infringement.
Engineers Paddy Lowe, Jonathan Neale and Rob Taylor - all still employed by McLaren - will each have to pay £131,500 (150,000 euros).
McLaren were fined £49.2m by F1's governing body the FIA in 2007 after being found in possession of Ferrari data and were also stripped of all their constructors' points.
A McLaren spokesman said: "The proceedings in Italy were merely the officialising of what had been proposed long before, namely the 'nolo contendere' (no contest) agreement.
"A line has finally been drawn under this matter."
Earlier this month, the FIA said it was withdrawing a recommendation that Coughlan and Stepney not be employed in motorsport.
Honda struggle to find F1 buyer
Honda has revealed it currently has no serious buyers to take over its Formula One team.
The company announced last year that it was pulling out of the sport, blaming the global economic crisis.
The deadline for an agreement to buy the team is believed to be this week, one month before the 2009 season's first race in Melbourne.
"There are various offers for the team but we haven't seen any serious buyer," Honda president Takeo Fukui said.
"We find the sale process difficult."
It is thought the team are up for sale for £1 - although any buyer would need to find a budget in the region of £40m to run the outfit for the new campaign.
A management buyout, led by current chief executive Nick Fry and team boss Ross Brawn, has been mooted for some time.
On Saturday, Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson told the BBC that he would be interested in becoming involved in Formula One, but refused to confirm he was in talks with Honda.
Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone told the News of the World that team bosses had turned down his offer to help with a management buy-out.
"I tried to help with the management buy-out," he was quoted as saying.
"It was a very good offer. It gave them complete protection but they wanted to do things on their own.
"They should have taken what I offered. It was a very good offer for everybody concerned.
"Now all we can do is hope and pray."
Friday, February 20, 2009
Malaysia night-race plan aborted
Organisers of the Malaysian Grand Prix plan to host a "twilight" race from next season after the proposed night event was deemed too costly.
Sepang International Circuit chairman Mokhzani Mahathir said Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone had agreed to start the race at 1700 local time (0900 BST).
Mokhzani described the cost of lighting up the Sepang circuit as "prohibitive" in the current global economic climate.
It will be the second race of the 2009 season, taking place on 5 April.
The race was previously held two hours earlier but should now attract more locals in the cooler late afternoon.
"We are experiencing an economic slowdown. But we are offering attractive packages and activities to attract spectators," said Mokhzani, who is expecting 12,000 spectators.
Malaysia held its first Grand Prix in 1999 with Ferrari's Eddie Irvine triumphing.
Under a new contract signed in 2008, in which it agreed to be prepared to stage night racing, Malaysia will continue to host races until 2015.
Last year neighbouring Singapore hosted the first F1 night race, while Dubai will make its debut this year.
Branson keen on Honda - F1 boss
Tycoon Richard Branson would "love" to take over the Honda Formula One team, Bernie Ecclestone has said.
Honda have confirmed Branson's Virgin Group is one of several potential buyers of their F1 outfit.
The British-based team was put up for sale in December after Honda announced they would quit the sport as both a constructor and engine supplier.
"I've spoken to Richard's people about it. He would love to do it," said F1 supremo Ecclestone.
The Japanese carmakers hope a deal can be done in time for the start of the 2009 season in Australia on 29 March.
It is thought the team are up for sale for £1 - although any buyer would need to find a budget in the region of £40m to run the outfit for the new campaign.
Honda have said they are negotiating with several buyers and hope a deal can be done in time for the start of the new season on 29 March.
Speaking about the prospect of Virgin being involved with F1, Ecclestone said: "I'd like it very much. It would be super. We're working to try to make it happen."
The team are very short on time to put a deal together to enable them to compete this season.
They are planning to use Mercedes engines, but the German company has set a deadline by which the team have to prove they have the finances in place to pay for the power-plants.
BBC Sport understands that deadline expires in a matter of days.
Honda announced they were pulling out of F1 because of the effects of the global economic crisis.
Since then the leading contender was rumoured to be a planned management buyout led by the team's current chief executive Nick Fry, principal Ross Brawn and three other senior Honda Racing executives.
Honda are prepared to provide some funding to go towards a racing budget for 2009 as this would be cheaper than paying off the contracts of the team's 700 employees.
Branson has been involved with F1 in a minor capacity - his Virgin Mobile company sponsored the Jordan team in 2002.
Virgin Atlantic Japan have also been personal sponsors of Honda-backed Japanese driver Takuma Sato for the past four years.
But a source close to Branson told BBC Sport that the entrepreneur had in the past been reluctant to get involved with F1, because he saw the sport as a "big black hole for money".
Should a buyout be put together, it would be a major boost for the career of English driver Jenson Button as well as the jobs of the team's 700 employees.
Button has no other options for a place in F1 this coming season.
Honda first competed in F1 in 1964 and has clocked up three Grand Prix wins as a full works team.
Its engines have also been behind dozens of victories by stars such as world champions Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Global crisis hits Renault team
Renault has become the latest Formula One team to be hit by the economic crisis after their main sponsor ING withdrew its support from 2010.
The Dutch financial services company decided to end its involvement in F1 in order to cut costs.
"ING has been an enthusiastic partner," said Renault boss Flavio Briatore.
"But we have been aware for some time that the world's current financial climate was calling for a restructure of our sport."
ING announced last month that it needs to to lose 7,000 jobs to save £949m.
"In light of the recently announced cost reduction programme, ING confirmed not to renew the three-year sponsorship (2007-2009) contract with Renault F1 and to end its presence in F1 beyond the 2009 season," the company said in a statement.
"F1 remains a powerful business driver even in a difficult economic climate.
"ING has enjoyed the relationship with Renault F1 and will continue to work closely with the team during the final year of the partnership."
Despite the loss of ING's key investment, Briatore remained optimistic about Renault's future in F1.
"Drastic cost reductions have been on the Formula One Teams' Association's (Fota) agenda as one of the first priorities.
"With the ongoing programme of measures we are confident we can guarantee a solid future for our team and for F1."
Last month, BMW Sauber also lost one of their main backers when Credit Suisse opted not to renew their deal.
The impact of the global credit crunch claimed its biggest F1 victim at the end of last year when Japanese car manufacturer Honda withdrew its team with immediate effect.
A buyer for the team, which spent more than £300m a year, has yet to be found ahead of season-opening Grand Prix in Australia on 29 March.
In light of the global economic downturn, the teams and governing body, the FIA, agreed a raft of measures in December which aimed to cut team budgets by at least 30%.
But FIA president Max Mosley has urged Fota to reduce costs further and has set the teams a target of operating on about 50m Euros (£44m) a year in 2010.
Currently, the richest teams are spending as much as six or seven times that amount.
Britain cannot lose GP - Stewart
Sir Jackie Stewart has said that Silverstone should continue to host the British Grand Prix, if Donington is not ready to stage the race in 2010.
Donington is currently undergoing a £100m revamp in order to stage the race in July next year.
"It would be very bad form if it wasn't held," Stewart told BBC Northampton.
"If Donington couldn't - and I hope they can - but if they couldn't then Silverstone, I hope, would be asked to run the British Grand Prix."
Donington is set to host its first Grand Prix since 1993 after taking over from Silverstone as the venue for the British race.
But there has been speculation as to whether the development of the circuit will be completed in time.
If it is not ready then commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone would have to decide whether or not to scrap the British Grand Prix.
Stewart, the former president of the British Racing Drivers' Club which owns Silverstone, added: "Well, I think Bernie is a Brit and a proud Brit and I don't think he really wants to see no British Grand Prix.
"I think that would be a very negative thing on him and the people around him.
"I hold nothing against Donington trying to do it but I would love to be assured that there will be a British Grand Prix.
"We have had it since 1950. It's the oldest Grand Prix in the world and it would be terrible to lose it."
Hamilton expects tough F1 battle
Lewis Hamilton admits the raft of technical changes in Formula One will make retaining his title even harder.
Of all the new regulations being implemented for 2009, the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (Kers) presents constructors with the biggest test.
Kers stores energy that would normally be lost during braking and converts it into power.
Hamilton said: "There are lots of unknowns which makes it even harder to predict once the season starts."
Some drivers have already announced they would prefer to run without Kers, while others have voiced safety concerns, but Hamilton is happy with the system in his car.
Speaking to the official F1 website, he said: "Of course, there are safety concerns but I'm extremely comfortable with the way McLaren have approached the Kers programme.
"I can tell you everything related to Kers has been designed with safety in mind, so I'm happy that our car will be safe.
"And the way you use it will vary from track to track. Maybe some teams won't run it at every race.
"But I like it - it's something else to play with in the cockpit, and that's not a bad thing.
"Of course, unlike the engines, which are frozen, Kers development will continue throughout the whole season so it's an area where the teams will be making advances on a regular basis."
Kers is not mandatory, and some teams have so far reserved judgement on whether they will use it at the season-opening race in Melbourne on 29 March.
One man who may not currently share Hamilton's opinion on the new technology is Kimi Raikkonen, whose Ferrari had to stay in the pits for over three hours on Tuesday because of a problem with the system during testing in Bahrain.
Despite the problem, Raikkonen ended the day fastest in testing ahead of Jarno Trulli of Toyota by about one tenth of a second, with BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld further behind.
Overall, Hamilton announced himself pleased with McLaren's pre-season testing in Jerez, Spain, and believes he may cut a more relaxed figure during the forthcoming season.
He said: "Obviously, becoming the champion does take some weight off your shoulders but I don't really look too closely at it - I'm just spending every moment focusing on 2009.
"Winning the world championship in Brazil seems such a long time ago now - things move so fast in Formula One, even when you're not at the racetrack.
"To be honest, I don't really think of myself as world champion yet - I think that will finally sink in when I get to Melbourne for the first race - so I don't put any extra pressure on myself to live up to that."
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Bahrain day one - Glock sets the standard at Sakhir
Toyota’s Timo Glock was the early leader as this week’s test in Bahrain got underway on Tuesday. With the majority of teams choosing to test at the Spanish circuit of Jerez this week, Ferrari and BMW Sauber were the only other outfits in action at the Sakhir track.
Despite fog delaying the start of the session, conditions at the circuit improved before lunch and Glock was able to cover 79 laps of set-up work in the TF109. The German, who set a best time of 1m 33.501s, enjoyed a trouble-free day and will continue to test on Wednesday.
“The fog held us up briefly at the start but it wasn't a major problem,” he explained. “We did a lot of set-up work and in the end we found a good direction. The car felt quite consistent so this is already a positive sign. We got through a lot of laps so this was an encouraging start to the test.”
Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, meanwhile, finished the day in second in the F60, which featured the same aerodynamic configuration the Italian team ran at Mugello last month. Massa focused on set-up work in the morning, before carrying out a long run in the afternoon, and covered 98 laps.
Completing the day’s line-up was Robert Kubica, who was third for BMW Sauber. Despite a brief mechanical problem, Kubica managed to complete 95 laps in the F1.09 over the course of the day.
“It was the first time I was able to drive the new car in warm weather”, said the Polish driver. “We learned a lot about the car’s behaviour in these conditions, so overall
it was a good day.”
Toyota, Ferrari and BMW Sauber will continue to test at the Bahrain track on Wednesday.
Unofficial Tuesday times from Bahrain:
1. Timo Glock, Toyota, 1:33.501
2. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:33.615
3. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 1:33.702
Coulthard fears for Button future
Jenson Button's Formula One career may be over unless current team Honda find a new owner, former driver David Coulthard has warned.
With every other team having confirmed their line-up, Button's only chance of a drive in 2009 looks to be with Honda, who were put up for sale in December.
"You cannot say 100%, but it would be very difficult to imagine where he goes from there.
"It is a fickle business," said Coulthard, who retired last year.
Coulthard believes his 29-year-old fellow Briton cannot afford to sit out a season if Honda do not make the grid.
"The way the sport is now, there are so many young drivers coming through and there are so many opportunities for teams to pick up these guys," he added.
Honda announced they were pulling out of Formula One in December, blaming the global economic crisis.
The team remain hopeful of a rescue bid, but with the season beginning in Melbourne on 29 March, time is running out.
Coulthard, speaking at the launch of Red Bull's new car in Spain, warned that even if the team are bought out, Button could still experience a hugely frustrating season at the back of the grid.
"Honda, off the back of a bad season, suddenly when they realise they are up for sale start talking that this (their 2009 car) is a winning design and it's a great opportunity for anyone to buy this winning design," Coulthard said.
"I don't think it is a given that it will suddenly be a winning design.
"You would like to imagine that it would be better than what they were given last year but I think the team at the back of the grid potentially could be Honda.
"Whereas going into previous years with Honda he was all full of hope and expectation that this could be the year that Honda will step up, he has to take a different view now.
"He has to now consider himself as driving for a mid-grid, privateer team.
"Whether they can deliver to his expectations or not is more difficult to judge going into this season and presumably longer term he has to be looking to try to make a step up to a manufacturer team."
Grand Prix project 'will succeed
The owner of Donington Park has insisted the British Grand Prix will be held at the circuit in 2010.
Simon Gillett dismissed reports that financial problems would prevent the completion of improvements to the site in time to hold the event.
Planning permission was granted in January for a £100m revamp of the circuit including a new pit complex and extension to the track.
Construction work on the improvements started last week.
Mr Gillett dismissed suggestions he would struggle to find the money to implement his plans in the current economic climate.
In a statement, he said: "It's business as usual at Donington Park and absolutely nothing has changed.
"Work is continuing on site and all of our staff are completely focussed on delivering a full and exciting calendar of events in 2009 ahead of our hosting the British Formula One Grand Prix in July 2010.
"Our 2008 financial report has not been filed with Companies House, which leaves me confused as to where certain publications have sourced their facts and figures from.
"Our plans are not dreams, but vision...we will succeed."
The new facility will feature a race control centre and a media centre with the pits fitted out to the latest specifications.
The track will also be lengthened to three miles (4.8km).
It last hosted a grand prix in 1993 when Ayrton Senna won the European Grand Prix.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Red Bull expect wins from new car
Red Bull have said they expect to be in the fight for race victories in 2009 as they unveiled their new car on Monday.
Sebastian Vettel, who is to put the first miles on the new Renault-powered RB9 later in the day, unveiled the car alongside team-mate Mark Webber.
And team boss Christian Horner said there was "no reason" why the team could not join the fight at the front.
"The new rules present an opportunity for teams to compete on a more level playing field," Horner said.
F1 bosses have introduced major changes to the cars in an attempt to make overtaking easier and improve the quality of racing.
And Horner believes his design team, led by the highly-regarded former Williams and McLaren engineer Adrian Newey, are in a good position to capitalise.
Vettel took the first victory for a Red Bull-designed car last year when he won the Italian Grand Prix while driving for junior team Toro Rosso.
"There is no reason to believe we cannot do that again with these new rules," Horner said.
"The regulation changes almost constitute a new formula for the sport and it will be interesting to see how the teams interpret them."
Newey's new car was one of the year's most eagerly anticipated - he is regarded as one of F1's most innovative designers, as well as the most highly paid.
The car appears to include a number of innovative features - including a top to the chassis in front of the cockpit which is lower than on other cars, and a more extreme aerodynamic treatment in front of the sidepods alongside the driver.
It also has longer rear-wing endplates than have been seen on other cars so far, and a very tightly-waisted rear.
Vettel will continue his test on Tuesday, when Red Bull will be joined by a number of other teams, with Webber taking over on Wednesday.
It will be the first time Webber has driven an F1 car since breaking his right leg in a mountain bike accident in November.
Newey described the new rules as the biggest change since flat-bottomed cars were introduced in 1983.
They include changes to the aerodynamics, the re-introduction of slick, untreaded tyres after 11 years with grooved rubber and the potential use of a kinetic energy recovery system (Kers), which stores energy that would have been dissipated during braking and reapplies it while the car is accelerating.
Horner said: "The regulation changes almost constitute a new formula for the sport and it will be interesting to see how the teams interpret them.
"Certainly in the early part of the season we expect to see a much bigger spread in terms of performance between the teams than we have over the past two years."
Drivers hit back in licences row
Formula One drivers have hit out at the International Automobile Federation (FIA) in a row over the increasing cost of the licence they need to race.
The price rose almost five-fold to 10,000 Euros (£8700) in 2008, and will go up in line with inflation this year.
The Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) says it is unfair and the FIA is using it to fill budgetary gaps.
FIA boss Max Mosley said the claims were "nonsense" but drivers have been advised not to sign the 2009 licences.
"The proposed increases are inherently unfair, both in the way they were introduced and they way they impact on individual drivers," said a statement from the GPDA, which claims the costs were opposed unanimously by the drivers.
But Mosley responded by insisting that drivers were not really in a position to complain because of the salaries they earn.
"In the present climate, somebody who is earning several million a year and doesn't want to spend one or two per cent of that to get a licence for his trade is not going to get a lot of sympathy," he said.
He said the FIA might reconsider in a case of genuine hardship, but drivers should first disclose their gross earnings, a gesture which would be "irrelevant", according to the GPDA.
"Drivers' gross (and net) earnings are confidential to the drivers, their management and financial advisors and any relevant tax authorities, and should be respected as such," the association's statement said.
It added that drivers were not opposed to a "reasonable increase", but did not want their licences to be a "revenue stream" for the FIA.
"The FIA should raise sufficient funds from the exploitation of its commercial rights," the statement continued.
"As a principle, the drivers should not be taxed to fund the costs of others fulfilling their legal duty to the drivers."
Bourdais seat cuts Button options
Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais has earned a second year at Toro Rosso, reducing British driver Jenson Button's hopes of staying in Formula One.
The 29-year-old Bourdais had spent an anxious winter waiting while the team assessed alternatives.
But he was confirmed as team-mate to rookie Sebastian Buemi on Friday.
Button was one of those linked to Toro Rosso and their decision means the Englishman's hopes rest with a rescue package for the collapsed Honda team.
Honda quit F1 in December, citing falling car sales and the global financial crisis.
Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost said: "We expect him [Bourdais] to profit from the experience he gained last season.
"He now knows the F1 environment, tracks and the team and the return of slick tyres should suit his driving style."
After 11 years using grooved rubber, slick, untreaded tyres, are being re-introduced to F1 this season among a raft of other rule changes aimed at improving the quality of racing.
Bourdais was overshadowed for much of last season by former team-mate Sebastian Vettel, who has been promoted to the main Red Bull team alongside Mark Webber for 2009.
And Bourdais, a four-time winner of the US-based Champ Car series, admitted his relief at finally securing the drive.
"It has been a very long and difficult winter, but now the waiting is finally over and I am really excited about tackling my second season with Scuderia Toro Rosso," he said.
"Now I can focus on preparing for the coming season. It promises to be a very interesting one, thanks to all the rule changes."
Red Bull launch their new car in Jerez in Spain on Monday, ahead of a major three-day test involving many of the leading F1 teams.
Toro Rosso will use the same car as Red Bull, but fitted with a Ferrari engine rather than the Renault used by their parent team.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Renault R29 - front aero package
Despite the restrictive aerodynamic rules for 2009, teams have adopted various approaches to the front ends of their cars. The major design difficulties to overcome have been the standardised central section of the front wing and the wing's lower position, which together risk making the nose very pitch sensitive under braking. To avoid this on the R29, Renault have adopted a stepped main profile, which helps create a kind of Venturi effect under the nosecone. The nose's bulging shape is designed to speed up airflow, reducing pressure and boosting downforce, whilst the two central pillars boast backward extensions that continue along the underside of the nose, acting like turning vanes. The wing features a single flap and wide endplates which divert air away from the front tyres and reduce drag.
Webber recovery ahead of schedule
Driver Mark Webber says his recovery from a broken leg is "ahead of schedule" as he prepares for the start of the new Formula One season.
Red Bull will launch their 2009 car in Jerez on 9 February and Webber expects to be fit enough to test that week.
The Australian has been using a cryogenic chamber to aid his recovery.
"The results over the last few weeks have been incredible. Dare I say it, we're probably a little bit ahead of schedule," he told Red Bull's website.
Webber broke his right leg in November when he collided head-on with a car while riding a bike at his own charity event in Tasmania.
The 32-year-old has been working intensely to get strength back in his leg and as well as improving his fitness in the pool and on a static bike, he has been using a cryogenic chamber to help knit the broken bones together.
"I've been doing it for three weeks now," explained Webber, who is also a BBC Sport columist.
"You go from a normal, ambient room temperature into a chamber of -50 C for about 30 seconds and then for another three minutes into -130 C.
It's very good for your general well-being, your immune system and apparently it's good for cellulite. Not much of a worry for me but it's very good for the whole body."
Webber insists Red Bull's first test of 2009 in Jerez next week is his main focus, not his home GP in Melbourne on 29 March, which will launch the new F1 season.
With the experienced Webber sidelined, the team have been relying on new recruit Sebastian Vettel to guide them in developing the car.
But Webber is determined to play his part as fully as possible when the RB5 makes its track debut in Spain.
"I've really worked hard to get in this position," Webber said.
"I'm not focusing on Melbourne as such, I'm focusing on Jerez.
"There's been some stuff in the press that I won't be 100% fit for Melbourne. I will be 100% ready to do my job."
Monday, February 2, 2009
F1 mourns ex-McLaren boss Mayer
Former McLaren boss Teddy Mayer, who guided James Hunt to his world Formula One championship win in 1976, has died.
Mayer took over as team head when founder Bruce McLaren died in 1970.
The American, who was 73, also helped Brazil's Emerson Fittipaldi to the title in 1974, and the team to the constructors' crown in the same season.
"Teddy was one of motor racing's few truly great men," said Ron Dennis, who succeeded Mayer as McLaren team principal in 1982.
"He was part of the very small team of talented enthusiasts who, alongside Bruce McLaren, founded Bruce McLaren motor racing.
"The origins of our many and ongoing successes are with Bruce and Teddy."
Mayer briefly made a return to Formula One with the Haas Lola team in 1985 and 1986 before working with Indycar racing team Penske in the US.
McLaren & Ferrari in united front
Former bitter rivals McLaren and Ferrari are now "working extremely closely together" as teams seek to show Formula One's rulers a united front.
McLaren boss Ron Dennis confirmed their growing off-track ties on Thursday and said the result has proved "profound".
Ferrari spokesman Luca Colajanni also spent the day at McLaren's Woking factory meeting Dennis and other staff.
"If you had told me a year ago that I would be doing this I would not have believed you," he said.
Reigning constructors champions Ferrari and McLaren have a chequered recent history.
The English team was fined a record $100m (£70m) in 2007 and stripped of all their constructors' points for their involvement in a spying controversy over leaked Ferrari technical data in their possession.
Ferrari also started legal action against their rivals, with Dennis and other executives questioned by Italian police, though the action was later dropped after a McLaren apology.
But the team's top personnel, and the wider climate in which they operate, has since changed significantly.
With the urgent need for cost cutting becoming apparent, the Formula One Teams Association (Fota) was set up in July to represent teams in talks with with the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) and commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
Jean Todt also handed over as Ferrari boss to Stefano Domenicali while Dennis is due to step down as McLaren principal on 1 March to make way for Martin Whitmarsh.
Fota are headed by Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, who has criticised Ecclestone's running of the sport.
With FIA president Max Mosley stressing that he is keen to see a significant shake-up in the sport towards cheaper operating costs and, potentially, more standardised engines, Fota is determined to provide a strong voice for the interests of all F1 teams.
While Fota have agreed significant savings with the FIA for this season and beyond, they want to secure a greater share of the sport's commercial revenues than the 50% they currently receive.
Montezemolo recently described Dennis as "a first-class person from a first-class team" and said the sport needed great competition on the track and great unity off it.
And Dennis, who has said he will soon devote more of his time to Fota activities, told the official F1 website: "The result of our co-operation, supported by all the other teams, has already been profound.
"Fota has already achieved great things, and it will achieve even greater things in the weeks, months and years to come.
"We're not complacent; we're not reluctant to embrace radical change; we're not hidebound by on-track rivalries.
"Working together for the good of the future of F1, we'll continue to devise powerful strategies and innovations intended to improve our sport so as to make it more affordable, more environmentally friendly and more appealing to spectators and TV viewers."