A few years ago I went for dinner at one of those trendy Italian restaurants where the tablecloth is a big sheet of paper and they give you a jar of crayons. Knowing one of the waiters was an F1 fan I scrawled “Forza Minardi” in fat letters on my side of the table. “Who … Continue reading Forza Minardi! (Simon Vigar, 2008)
Ferrari articles archive
2008: Ferrari
Posted onOn paper, 2008 should be all about Ferrari. Double champions last year, they ended the season on an upswing in form that saw them dominate the Brazilian Grand Prix. They appear to have carried that momentum through into the off-season where Kimi Raikkonen has usually been the man to beat. As far as technical director … Continue reading 2008: Ferrari
F1 testing round-up 10: Catalunya & Jerez
Posted onThe final big test before the 2008 season was completed this week and it wasn’t Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen or Michael Schumacher who set the fastest time – it was Jarno Trulli. Afterwards a confident Trulli praised the new Toyota: The TF108 is a completely different car. Last year straightaway I knew we had a … Continue reading F1 testing round-up 10: Catalunya & Jerez
F1 blogs review: Ferrari aero video
Posted onHere’s some of my favourite picks from the F1 blogs this week including an excellent video showing the detail changes Ferrari have made to their front wing in time for the first race at Melbourne. Plus Michael Schumacher gets back in an F1 car, rumours about Ron Dennis, and a Ferrari that’s good enough to … Continue reading F1 blogs review: Ferrari aero video
F1 news review: Changes to Canadian GP track
Posted onIn the F1 news this week the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve gets some changes – but are they safety fixes or just cosmetic tweaks? Also in the F1 news this week a pair of excellent features in “The Times”, one adapted from the hugely expensive new book “F1 Opus”. Plus Michael Schumacher on Nico Rosberg, and … Continue reading F1 news review: Changes to Canadian GP track
2008: The calendar
Posted onLast year Ferrari and McLaren took every race victory on offer and, more often then not, filled the top three. On only five of 51 occasions did we see a driver in something other than McLaren or Ferrari overalls on the podium. But we also saw the two teams dominate at different types of track: … Continue reading 2008: The calendar
2008: The year ahead in numbers
Posted onBeing a sucker for stats I wanted to take a look at what milestones were coming up in 2008. There’s already been some discussion about Rubens Barrichello being poised to break Riccardo Patrese’s 15-year record as the most experienced driver in Formula 1 – but exactly when will he pass the mark? McLaren have one … Continue reading 2008: The year ahead in numbers
Is Jarno Trulli complimenting or complaining about Ferrari?
Posted onDrivers don’t pay compliments to other drivers or other teams very often. On the face of it, Jarno Trulli seems to think Kimi Raikkonen should start clearing a place on his mantlepiece for the 2008 FIA F1 World Drivers’ Championship trophy: When you watch Ferrari’s performance on the track your arms drop [in amazement]. They … Continue reading Is Jarno Trulli complimenting or complaining about Ferrari?
Is Bernie Ecclestone sticking up for McLaren again?
Posted onRumours abound that McLaren will not have to set up base at the poor end of the pit lane this year after all. Frecon spotted this in a Spanish newspaper and the report has also been run by the Finnish publication Turun Sanomat. Allegedly, Bernie Ecclestone has struck a deal with the teams to let … Continue reading Is Bernie Ecclestone sticking up for McLaren again?
2008 F1 testing round-up 7: Bahrain
Posted onFerrari and Toyota completed their second three-day stint of testing yesterday – but this time although Ferrari remained extremely quick they also ran into reliability problems. But Toyota looked quicker over the second three days than the first and their reliability looked promising as well.
Video: F1 testing at Bahrain (part 4)
Posted onFerrari looked very quick in testing at Bahrain International Circuit last week. Here’s some video from the test and an interview with a very happy-looking Kimi Raikkonen. But it didn’t all go well for the team – there’s some footage of Felipe Massa pulling to a halt with apparent technical problems. Toyota, who were also … Continue reading Video: F1 testing at Bahrain (part 4)
F1 news review: McLaren pulled back into spy row
Posted onTop McLaren personnel Ron Dennis, Martin Whitmarsh, Paddy Lowe and Mike Coughlan (who is still ‘suspended’ rather than ‘fired’) are among those to face questioning from Italian magistrates conducting their own investigation into the spying case. Plus further developments in the Lewis Hamilton racism row, interviews with past F1 greats Stirling Moss and Dan Gurney, … Continue reading F1 news review: McLaren pulled back into spy row
2008 F1 testing round-up 6: Bahrain
Posted onFerrari and Toyota left the other F1 teams behind by testing in Bahrain this week – perhaps McLaren wished they’d followed them after the events at the Circuit de Catalunya? It may prove an advantage for them as the other teams are not likely to test at Bahrain before its Grand Prix, but Ferrari and … Continue reading 2008 F1 testing round-up 6: Bahrain
Kimi Raikkonen shows Ferrari speed at Bahrain
Posted onShortly before the start of the 2004 season, Michael Schumacher and Ferrari tested the new Bridgestone tyres at Imola and suddenly found they were whole seconds quicker than the opposition. Kimi Raikkonen’s highly competitive lap times at Bahrain today may have reminded Ferrari’s rivals of that moment. But with only Toyota testing alongside them it’s … Continue reading Kimi Raikkonen shows Ferrari speed at Bahrain
The Massa delusion
Posted onFirst Kimi Raikkonen’s manager, now Felipe Massa is claiming unreliability has cost him a world championship: I think my countrymen understand that I would have been the 2007 World Champion if my car had been more reliable. Let’s get the calculators out and do some sums…
Max Mosley can’t stop talking about spygate
Posted onI enjoyed American political drama “The West Wing” very much before it was cancelled two years ago. I thought of it today, and how the president’s communications experts in the series would earnestly debate the implications of anything he said in public, when I read a new quote from Max Mosley. The same care and … Continue reading Max Mosley can’t stop talking about spygate
A close look at McLaren’s standard ECU
Posted onAt the Autosport International show last weekend I came across the stand for McLaren Electronic Systems – the company which won the bid to provide the standard engine control unit to Formula 1 teams for 2008. Although the deal attracted little attention when it was announced in 2006 it has become a bone of contention, … Continue reading A close look at McLaren’s standard ECU
F1 news review: Lewis Hamilton’s ?é?ú70m deal
Posted onIn the F1 news this week speculation over the value of Lewis Hamilton’s new McLaren contract, while Ferrari suggest the Briton will struggle without traction control this year. There’s also intrigue over the futures of two of the sport’s top team bosses – Jean Todt at Ferrari and Ron Dennis at McLaren. Read on for … Continue reading F1 news review: Lewis Hamilton’s ?é?ú70m deal
Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa disagree on traction control
Posted onWhen I read Kimi Raikkonen’s response at the 2008 Ferrari launch on Sunday to a question about whether banning traction control will make F1 less safe I was delighted to see he’d offered an opinion about it. And when I realised what he said went completely against team mate Felipe Massa’s feelings I was even … Continue reading Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa disagree on traction control
Ferrari reveal their 2008 F1 car: the F2008
Posted onThe wraps have come off Ferrari’s new car for the 2008 season – the machine in which Kimi Raikkonen will defend his drivers’ championship crown. It’s good to see they’re retained the darker red they started using part-way through the 2007 season. I much prefer it to the bright red they used before then. Compare … Continue reading Ferrari reveal their 2008 F1 car: the F2008