Williams has withdrawn a protest against Ferrari and Red Bull Racing “in the interests of the sport”. It had protested that the pod wings on the front of the F60 and RB5 contravened the rules. After cancelling the protest it issued a statement saying (emphasis added):
Month: March 2009 articles archive
Australian GP grid and race weights
Posted onMore bad news for Brawn GP’s rivals: as well as having locked out the front row of the grid, they are also carrying more fuel than anyone Q1 apart from Timo Glock. Robert Kubica’s strong qualifying position appears to have been partly fuel-assisted as he is the lightest driver on the grid. Before his exclusion, … Continue reading Australian GP grid and race weights
Toyota drivers lose qualifying positions
Posted onToyota drivers Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock will start the Australian Grand prix from the back of the grid after being excluded from qualifying. The rear wings of their TF109s were found to be in contravention of the rules limiting how much they may flex. Glock and Trulli originally qualified sixth and eighth respectively. But … Continue reading Toyota drivers lose qualifying positions
McLaren are slow – and unreliable too
Posted onEven when McLaren admitted their MP4-24 wasn’t on the pace there was still a suspicion that maybe, just maybe, they were having us on. But qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix proved not only that the new car is slow – it’s unreliable too. A disastrous combination for defending world champion Lewis Hamilton. The question … Continue reading McLaren are slow – and unreliable too
Button leads stunning front row lock-out for Brawn
2009 Australian Grand Prix qualifying
Posted onA few weeks ago we had never heard of Brawn GP. Now the team that rose from the dead has sensationally locked out the front row of the grid for the Australian Grand Prix.
F1 Rocks, apparently
Posted onF1 has announced a series of music events to be called “F1 Rocks”: Universal Music Group International and its JV company All The Worlds is pleased to announce the signing of an agreement with Formula One Administration Limited creating F1 ROCKS, a pioneering and electrifying new global entertainment platform. F1 ROCKS fuses the world’s most … Continue reading F1 Rocks, apparently
Australian GP press conference: Friday
Posted onDrivers: Fernando Alonso (Renault), S?â?®bastien Burmi (Toro Rosso), Lewis Hamilton (McLaren Mercedes), Mark Webber (Red Bull) Q: How have the first official practice sessions been for you? Mark, can you give a rough run down of how it has been? Mark WEBBER: It didn’t go that well in the first session. We didn’t get that … Continue reading Australian GP press conference: Friday
Australian Grand Prix predictions
Posted onWith the first two practice sessions out of the way it’s time for the traditional F1 Fanatic predictions game! But this year it’s different – this year we’re playing for prizes…
F1 news round-up: 27th March
Posted onHere’s a collection of my F1 clippings from the past 24 hours. If you’ve spotted any more stories worth sharing please post them below. Turning Point Article in the Wall Street Journal with some quotes from me. FOA issues media statement "FOTA claimed that monies are owed by CVC (FOA’s controlling shareholder) to the teams … Continue reading F1 news round-up: 27th March
Diffuser row set to drag on
Posted onBrawn GP, Williams and Toyota’s diffusers have been given the all-clear by the stewards in Melbourne. But Ferrari, BMW, Renault and Red Bull are intending to protest the decision. This means a Court of Appeal hearing into the legality of the parts will have to be held, most likely in the week after the Malaysian … Continue reading Diffuser row set to drag on
Virgin to sponsor Brawn GP?
Posted onThe Times claims Brawn GP is about to reveal a sponsorship deal with the Virgin Group. Virgin was previously tipped to buy the team outright but is now expected to join as a sponsor. This could mean a dramatic change in livery for the team which, up until now, has run in white with yellow … Continue reading Virgin to sponsor Brawn GP?
Australian GP press conference: Thursday
Posted onDrivers: Jenson Button (Brawn GP), Robert Kubica (BMW), Felipe Massa (Ferrari), Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) Q: Gentlemen, what are your feelings going into the new season? Jenson BUTTON: I have not slept that much this week, I must say. It is great to be here to start with for me. It is great to be … Continue reading Australian GP press conference: Thursday
Jenson Button changes helmet design
Posted onJenson Button has changed his helmet design for his first race with Brawn GP. He’s dropped his usual Union Flag design for one that incorporates the lurid yellow colours of the Brawn team. Button has dabbled with different helmet styles in the past but usually stuck to a patriotic theme. He donned a red and … Continue reading Jenson Button changes helmet design
Lewis Hamilton in publicity storm over ‘McLaren quit’ remarks
Posted onSeveral British newspapers are running stories this morning claiming Lewis Hamilton has said he might leave McLaren. Hamilton has a contract with the team up to 2012 and has previously said he wants to spend his whole career with the team.
Force India and Brawn GP change numbers
Posted onThe FIA have changed the F1 teams’ car number yet again after a complaint from Force India. Having finished last in 2008, Force India had been expecting to use numbers 20 and 21 for Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella’s cars. It had already begun printing its merchandise using those numbers. But when the FIA re-classified … Continue reading Force India and Brawn GP change numbers
CURSE – Complicated way to Undermine Revenue, Safety and the Environment
Posted onDoctorvee from Vee8 joins us as a guest writer and begins with a look at the controversial Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems introduced this year. In a year of big changes to F1, perhaps the biggest is the introduction of KERS, the Kinetic Energy Recovery System. But given the way things have developed over the winter, … Continue reading CURSE – Complicated way to Undermine Revenue, Safety and the Environment
F1 news round-up: 26th March
Posted onHere’s a collection of my F1 clippings from the past 24 hours. If you’ve spotted any more stories worth sharing please post them below. SPEEDtv.com Spotlight: Voices of SPEED “For too long the dominant rulemaking trend in racing – NASCAR, IndyCar, Daytona Prototypes, you name it – is to make all the cars the same. … Continue reading F1 news round-up: 26th March
F1 2009: Your predictions
Posted onThe new season is almost upon us so it’s time for the traditional round of new season predictions. Tackle these 15 questions on how the 2009 season will unfold and compare your answers with those of other F1 fans.
Heikki Kovalainen on slicks in F1 (Video)
Posted onIn these two videos McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen and Bridgestone’s Hirohide Hamashima explain what impact the new slick tyres will have on F1 racing this year: Read more F1 2009 technology: front wing F1 2009 technology: Mid-region F1 2009 Technology: Rear wings, diffusers – and the inevitable controversy
Hartley loses third driver role to Coulthard
Posted onRed Bull will not be able to use Brendon Hartley as a reserve driver this year after the young New Zealander failed to acquire a super licence in time. David Coulthard, who retired from F1 last year, will instead take the role of Red Bull’s third driver and will return to the cockpit if Mark … Continue reading Hartley loses third driver role to Coulthard