- Formula 1 - Season 2008 -

[nightsurfer]

-=- F1 - 2008 : All Ferrari Show? -=-

[mustaffa]

MUAH!!... good luk to u... u knw i never knew tht driving aids wre gone... oh miserable me :S

[rozzzzz]

@mustafa

kid its not always the driver who can take u on top.....u see car is thier 2.........dont forget the fukin ferrari wanished the ending of schmi carred in a patahtic way...although heeeeeeeeeeeeeee

well leave that its just 9 days to go......last car is also now on screen......

and do read the steve slater comments ....will help yr mind to get some satisfaction

[rozzzzz]

Q: You are used to winning races and you had your share of trophies last year. Are you ready for a season without the occasional Sunday afternoon champagne shower?
FA: I am a racer and so my goal is to win races. I have been fortunate in my career to have had some quick cars and to be able to fight for podiums, wins and championships. This was the case with Renault in the past, and last year too. However, you have to be realistic, and sometimes you cannot always win; sometimes you have to be happy with knowing that you have given your best and done the maximum with the car. But at the moment we are not thinking like this - the team is working hard, pushing the development of the car and I hope that we will be able to fight for many podiums and even race wins

see alonso already down...hope we see a stuning gp this eason

[nightsurfer]

Ferrari drivers predict close title battle
Raikkonen predicting a four way fight for the title

Kimi Raikkonen has played down any suggestions that, as reigning world champion and with Ferrari's rapid new F2008, he could be set to dominate the 2008 season.

The Finn even dismissed the popular media claim that the upcoming title battle could essentially be a two-way duel between himself and McLaren's highly rated British driver, Lewis Hamilton.

Nightsurfer: Kimi is being modest. His main rivals this season comprise of his team mate, an ex-rookie that blew it in the last race and a former champion willing to be in his shoes.

[beglar_begi]

Ron Dennis ready to step down?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7280752.stm

[UncleKracker]

Irvine says F1 has 'dumbed down'

Former world championship contender Eddie Irvine has claimed that Formula 1 is being 'dumbed down'.

Irvine, who fought for the 1999 title with Ferrari and also raced for Jordan and Jaguar during his nine-year F1 career, supported Alain Prost's recent suggestion that driver skill now played a smaller part than ever.

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41867

[UncleKracker]

Ferrari head expects 'boring' championship

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo thinks Formula One is heading for a less exciting season in 2008, compared to the dramas and controversies of last year.

With Ferrari having been embroiled in the 2007 spy scandal with McLaren, di Montezemolo told Italian reporters at the Geneva motorshow that his Maranello outfit wanted to win the title again with the same team spirit that had helped them last season.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/65485

[UncleKracker]

Williams: Ferrari and McLaren closer now

Ferrari and McLaren will not enjoy as big an advantage over their opposition this season as they did in 2007, claims Williams technical director Sam Michael.

The British and Italian teams dominated last season, winning every race, and appear to be on their own again in the fight for the world championship this year.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/65496

[nightsurfer]

Interseason driver transfers
A few have changed (or rejoined) teams

Amongst the 22 drivers set to participate in the 2008 Formula One World Championship, three have switched teams during the interseason, three will be taking on their maiden foray as Grand Prix drivers, one rejoins the F1 scene, and another will return to participate in his first full season.

A few more have changed roles with hopes of returning to the forefront, while others have left the Formula One circus entirely.

[nightsurfer]

Force of a billion to power India's F1 ambition
A new team on the block with high aspirations

Not even the drivers expect to win a race this season but the new Force India team will not be lacking in support when the Formula One season opens in Melbourne next week.

Millions of Indians, home and abroad, will cheer Force India's gold, tungsten and white cars race past the chequered flag at Albert Park, judging by the media build up in the run up to its debut season.

NightSurfer: Now that is what I call marketing through all means. All the other teams are teams, manufacturers but then there is one unique team that would want to take the challenge to a national level.

[UncleKracker]

McLaren not relegated to end of pitlane

McLaren have not been relegated to the bottom of the pitlane, despite being thrown out of the constructors' championship last year over the spying scandal.

The Woking-based team lost all of their constructors' championship points and, with pitlane order being decided on the basis of a team's finishing position.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/65575

[UncleKracker]

Super Aguri set for new season

Super Aguri are all set to start the new Formula One season, even though there has been no official news on if they have resolved their financial difficulties.

The Honda-backed team were forced to miss several test sessions because of money problems, and team boss Aguri Suzuki flew to Japan last month to seek fresh investors to help secure his outfit's future.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/65578

[UncleKracker]

F1 2008: WHERE THEY STAND

Can the 2008 season possibly be as close-fought and competitive as last year? Will anyone step up to challenge Ferrari and McLaren at the front of the field?

To kick off our new season preview features, expert analyst Mark Hughes looks at how the field is shaping up for the 2008 championship ahead of next weekend's season-opener in Australia.

http://www.itv-f1.com/Feature.aspx?Type=General&PO_ID=41881

[beglar_begi]

Reverse F1 grids - Williams boss

The veteran said races could be boring and wants the fastest cars to start at the back and the slowest at the front.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7282861.stm

Now that would make things really interesting... fastest cars have to make their way through the traffic and fight it out with the smaller guy... I think the guy might have something... but then there is drawback of drivers not giving it all in qualifying but I think that could possibly be remedied by offering points for qualifying too...
Its an interesting idea I think... any comments?!

[nightsurfer]

Interesting idea indeed. But I don't think that it would be feasible, I mean you can not be penalized to be on the pole.

[beglar_begi]

@NS

Its true... not very conventional for the guy scoring pole position to be sent to the rear of the grid but I really think something has to be done to shore up the minions on the track... the smaller teams are choking in the dust of the bigger teams... I find it funny that its williams who have made a suggestion... I am guessing their future outlook isnt very positive

[zia1288]

this would give unfair advantage to slower ones in qualifying. suppose kimi is on pole position with hamilton and alonso in 2nd and 3rd then these two drivers are no slower than kimi and will give unfair advangtage to those two, so i don't think its a good idea at all.

[beglar_begi]

@zia

first off i like the way you think... kimi on pole and hamilton and alonso to follow... yeah you have a point... i mean its not a perfect science... i doubt moxley is going to go for anything too revolutionary anyway... but I do think something has to be done to help the smaller teams and I dont think its going to help if we make the faster teams slower...

[nightsurfer]

I had the exact same point as Zia and then for the guys in the middle it won't really matter would it. On circuits like Monte Carlo it will be like awarding victory to the slowest cars.