The first of five days of testing began in Jerez today, with four teams present. But one, McLaren elected not to do any running, and will stay on for an extra day at the end of the test. Brawn GP repeated their form from earlier this week with Rubens Barrichello posting the fastest time.
Fernando Alonso articles archive
2009 F1 testing: March 12th (update: pictures and video added)
Posted onIt’s the final official test day at the Circuit de Catalunya before the 2009 F1 season gets started in Australia. There’s a huge amount of speculation about what’s going on at McLaren. Compiling all the best times from the Barcelona test sees the MP4-24 down in 16th and 19th. But what about the other teams? … Continue reading 2009 F1 testing: March 12th (update: pictures and video added)
2009 F1 testing: March 11th (Update: pictures and video added)
Posted onIt’s all change at Barcelona today as most of the teams swap their drivers around for the last two days of official testing before the 2009 season gets started. Lewis Hamilton, Felipe Massa and Robert Kubica are among those joining the test today.
2009 F1 drivers helmets (Pictures)
Posted onFernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel and Nick Heidfeld have all changed their helmet designs for the 2009 seasons. Several others have made minor changes to their designs. Here’s a look at each of the helmets this year’s F1 drivers will be using.
2009 F1 testing: March 4th (Update: pictures added)
Posted onLewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen join in the testing action at Jerez today. McLaren have been using their 2008-spec rear wing again recently, prompting speculation over whether they are having problems with their MP4-24. Timo Glock has been fastest for Toyota over the past two days. Will Jarno Trulli keep the team on top as … Continue reading 2009 F1 testing: March 4th (Update: pictures added)
2009 F1 testing: March 3rd (Update: pictures added)
Posted onMore rain at Jerez yesterday meant Ferrari didn’t even bother sending Felipe Massa out on track. Fernando Alonso joins the test today and Adrian Sutil will get his first run in the Force India VJM02. But will they get a reprieve from the rain?
F1 drivers’ superlicence dispute over
Posted onThe dispute over F1 drivers’ superlicences has come to an end as the drivers have agreed to pay their fees. Max Mosley had demanded the drivers pay an new fee for 2008 which would increase the FIA’s income from superlicences in that year from ?óÔÇÜ?¼330,000 (?é?ú293,000) to ?óÔÇÜ?¼1.5m (?é?ú1.33m). After initially refusing to pay it … Continue reading F1 drivers’ superlicence dispute over
Hamilton is top F1 driver on Facebook – but Valentino Rossi thrashes them all
Posted onFor all the stick Lewis Hamilton gets on the internet, he’s not short of a fan or two as these stats from Facebook show. But Hamilton would lose his status as most popular F1 driver on Facebook immeditaely if Valentino Rossi’s much-rumoured switch to Ferrari came true…
2009 F1 testing notes: January 21st (Update: video and pictures added)
Posted onLewis Hamilton, Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso are among the F1 drivers testing today. See below for more information on today’s F1 tests and share your thoughts on testing as it progresses throughout the day. Update: Video and pictures from today’s test added.
Ron Dennis on how the Hamilton-Alonso row compared to Senna and Prost
2009 F1 season
Posted onMcLaren boss Ron Dennis gave the annual Watkins lecture at Autosport International yesterday. He was interviewed at length by veteran commentator Murray Walker for around an hour. One of the most interesting moments came when he discussed how he managed the rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso in 2007, and how it compared to … Continue reading Ron Dennis on how the Hamilton-Alonso row compared to Senna and Prost
Will Fernando Alonso go to Ferrari in 2011? Here’s why I think so (Poll)
Posted onRumours about Fernando Alonso joining Ferrari kept surfacing last year but seemed to have been killed off when the Scuderia revealed it had extended Kimi Raikkonen’s contract. So what do we make of the fresh rumours of Alonso joining the team in 2011? Here’s why I think they make a lot of sense.
F1 links: Walker’s win and Alonso’s deal
Posted onIt’s out! Alonso has a Ferrari contract My good friend and colleague Pino Allievi is writing in La Gazetta dello Sport in Italy that Fernando Alonso has a four year contract with Ferrari starting 2011, but with clauses which allow that contract to be brought forward one year to 2010. Fans vote John Motson’s Tottenham … Continue reading F1 links: Walker’s win and Alonso’s deal
2008 F1 driver biographies updated
Posted onI’ve updated each of the F1 Fanatic driver biographies with details of their performances in 2008. Links to the new biographies below:
2009: Hamilton vs Alonso Part 2?
Posted onAlmost lost among the news of the many cost cutting changes made by the FIA last week was the news that Renault will be allowed to increase the power of their engine to catch up to the other teams. This raises the prospect of Fernando Alonso being able once again to challenge for wins all … Continue reading 2009: Hamilton vs Alonso Part 2?
Should F1 drivers take pay cuts?
Posted onNASCAR star Jeff Gordon has offered to take a pay cut to ease the strain on his team during the financial crisis: I’ll do whatever it takes for us to have the best team we can possibly have. If that means take part of my salary to keep certain people on… I would be open … Continue reading Should F1 drivers take pay cuts?
The championship droughts of Ferrari, McLaren, Williams and Benetton/Renault
Posted onLewis Hamilton has become the first McLaren driver to claim the world championship since Mika Hakkinen nine years ago. With that in mind, Lustigson suggested an article looking at the longest droughts suffered by championship-winning teams. Ferrari went 21 years between drivers’ champions from 1979 (Jody Scheckter) to 2000 (Michael Schumacher) – and that’s not … Continue reading The championship droughts of Ferrari, McLaren, Williams and Benetton/Renault
Robert Kubica voted 2008 F1 driver of the year by F1 Fanatic readers
Posted onOver 1,400 of you voted in the poll to decide the best Formula 1 driver of 2008. World champion Lewis Hamilton led the voting early on but it was Robert Kubica who came out on top with 40% of the vote. Here are the results in full.
The teams: Renault (F1 2008)
Posted onRenault started the year struggling to get into Q3 and score points. Eight months later it has scored back-to-back victories in Singapore and Japan and re-signed star driver Fernando Alonso ?óÔé¼ÔÇ£ which seemed a remote possibility earlier on. Can it continue the progress over the winter and return to championship-challenging form in 2009?
Alonso and Piquet Jnr confirmed at Renault for 2009
Posted onFernando Alonso has committed his future to Renault, ending speculation over a possible move to Ferrari.
Brazilian GP facts and statistics
Posted onFelipe Massa dominated in Brazil and joined three of his countrymen in becoming a two-time winner of his home Grand Prix. Here are more facts and stats from the Brazilian Grand Prix.