- Formula 1 - Season 2008 -

[UncleKracker]

Berger says Vettel is staying put

Toro Rosso co-owner Gerhard Berger has categorically denied speculation that Ferrari could snatch Sebastian Vettel away from his team.

After the young German's impressive start to 2008, the Italian press suggested that Vettel could take Felipe Massa's Ferrari seat next season.

But in Malaysia all parties involved dismissed the rumours.

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?id=42122

[UncleKracker]

Alonso expecting no big leap from Renault

Fernando Alonso says he was not surprised by his Renault team's form in Malaysia, and the Spaniard believes his team are unlikely to take a big step forward this season.

The two-time champion enjoyed a promising start to the season in Australia, benefiting from all the retirements to finish in fourth place.

In Malaysia, however, Alonso had to settle for eighth position after struggling for pace.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/66072

[UncleKracker]

Fastest laps: Nick surprises at the top

Nick Heidfeld and his BMW F1.08 proved to be the surprise of the Malaysian GP as the German set the fastest lap of the race ahead of Ferrari and McLaren.

After struggling a bit in pre-season testing, there had been some concerns over BMW's pace entering the new season.

http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3213_3341408,00.html

[comtrak]

Kovalainen heralded by Lauda and Gene''The right choice for McLaren''

Praise for Kovalainen's Sepang performance
Heikki Kovalainen is the 'surprise of the year' in Formula One so far, Ferrari test driver Marc Gene said at Sepang.

The Finn's highly-rated McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton dropped out of podium contention with a bad pit stop in Malaysia, but it remains the case that the championship leader was marginally outpaced all weekend by the occupant of the sister MP4-23.

"I must say something about Heikki Kovalainen," Gene, in Malaysia as Ferrari's reserve driver, wrote in his post-race column for the newspaper El Mundo.

[comtrak]

Domenicali looks back at Malaysia''We wanted to show the reaction of Ferrari''

Malaysia brought better fortunes than Australia
Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Stefano Domenicali was understandably delighted with the team's performance after Kimi Raikkonen's emphatic 19.5s win in Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix at Kuala Lumpur.

"We are very happy in a way, because of course we wanted to show the reaction of Ferrari after a very different weekend in Australia," he said. "That was not really our standard. So I'm very happy because we showed that the team can do a great job."

"I think the best thing that I have seen is that we kept cool and calm as we normally are, without softening, in a negative way, the pressure that is normal when you have such a difficult start. That's the main reason why I'm happy, to be honest," he added.

[beglar_begi]

ALONSO SAYS HE COULD QUIT RENAULT FOR FERRARI!!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7312280.stm

Well I thought this sort of news would be later in the year if not next year but looks like the two non-finishes from massa have gotten the people chatting...

[UncleKracker]

@beglar_begi
Rumours were rife last year when Alonso would not commit to any team when all knew he was going to be at Renault with reports that he was looking for only a ONE year contract for 2008 with any team on the grid as he has something, an understanding of sorts, a loosely written contract on the lines that Raikkonen had, to move to Ferrari for 2009. His current contract is said to be for 3 years, and it makes him the highest paid driver in F1 but it has a get out clause on Alonsos part if the Renault does not perform up to a certain standard, and i think its safe to assume the Renault is not performing to the level which must be in his contract.
Apart from Ferrari one has to wonder how long a team like BMW would be willing to go on in F1 without having one of the top drivers. Same goes for Toyota who had offered him a multi-year contract which he turned down again because he was interested in a one year deal. Last but not the least would be Honda. With Rubens clearly coming to the end of his career, and Ross Brawn in-charge at Honda they would be another team willing to offer Alonso a competitive seat.

P: S Don't know if there are any Jenson Button fans here. Doubt there are many in the world but if there are any sorry but in my humble opinion Button cannot hold a candle to Fernando Alonso

[UncleKracker]

Raikkonen predicts tight battle for title

Kimi Raikkonen is predicting a season-long tight battle for the championship following the first two rounds of the 2008 season.

The Ferrari driver dominated the Malaysian Grand Prix last Sunday, while rivals McLaren were unable to fight on top after being hit by penalties in qualifying.

A week earlier, McLaren's Lewis Hamilton had taken a commanding win in Australia while Ferrari had a weekend to forget.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/66087

[UncleKracker]

Give Renault time, says Briatore

Renault team boss Flavio Briatore reckons it is still too early to judge the French team's form after the first two rounds of the championship.

The French squad, aiming to bounce back from their disappointing 2007 season, have struggled to match the pace of the leading teams despite the arrival of Fernando Alonso.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/66086

[UncleKracker]

I detest Fox News. There are very few things I hate in life and that Channel happens to be one of them. They have this segment where while closing one of their programs they end it by saying " and now to the most ridiculous item of the day" Its usually something funny of course. So for me Ill finish today`s F1 news with the most ridiculous item of the day.This about a man who had some very good races in the second half of 2007.

Dennis: McLaren have rebuilt Kovalainen

McLaren have rebuilt Heikki Kovalainen's confidence and turned him into a Formula One driver who can push teammate Lewis Hamilton all the way this season, according to Ron Dennis.

"Heikki is a guy who was systematically taken apart last year and we have systematically put him back together again," the McLaren boss told Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper on Tuesday.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/66085

[beglar_begi]

@UK

I agree with your sentiments towards that news... thats actually offensive even to kovalainen himself... how very british of ron dennis to say something like that. Sorry but I just can't believe the pompous statement... sort of speechless.

And regarding the alonso saga that has re-started less than 6 months after it had ended last time. I agree with the way BMW is performing right now they would seem to be a viable seat for a champion driver but would alonso want to take a risk that way? And again my F1 knowledge is very limited thus cannot recall the last time two champions had teamed up together under the same banner... were Hill and Villeneuve at Williams together? They may have been or one after the other... can't remember exactly. So if alonso ends up with the prancing horsey then that would make for an interesting dynamic. But I seriously hope this sort of speculation does not mess up massa's performance as no doubts there will be even more pressure now that the heat is on for his seat. You never know... massa might end up at honda or toyota... ?

[beglar_begi]

@UK... and yeah Button sucks... i mean the guy turned his back on the mclaren contract the year before hamilton bursts onto the scene... imagine that eh there could have been a white british boy heading the mclaren charge......... on second thought no i dont think so... button cant hold a candle to hamiltons @$$ either...

[nightsurfer]

Thanks man!

[UncleKracker]

@beglar_begi
Hill and Villeneuve were at Williams in 1996. Jacques Villeneuve was the reigning PPG Indy car world champion and winner of the Indy500 but neither was F1 world champions at that time.
I think 2009 might well turn out to be a lottery for some drivers who might change teams during the winter break. There are so many rule changes that will affect the aerodynamic side that one cannot be sure which team will come out on top. Most of this years cars have been an evolution of last years with the notable exception of Toyota, and probably Honda. For 2009 all will have to design new cars that comply with the new regulations, and the running order might not be as it is this season.

[UncleKracker]

FIA to tweak qualifying for Bahrain

The FIA is to revise the rules for qualifying in time for the Bahrain Grand Prix in a bid to ensure there is no repeat of the controversy that marred the session in Malaysia, autosport.com has learned.

In Sepang, a quirk in the current regulations meant that several drivers were touring slowly back to the pits in a bid to conserve fuel while other drivers were on their final qualifying laps.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/66170

[UncleKracker]

FIA urged to change Singapore timetable

The Sporting Working Group and the FIA have been asked to consider making changes to the timetable for this year's Singapore Grand Prix because of new fears about the lack of running Formula One drivers will get before the race.

F1 is to hold its first night race around the streets of Singapore in September and many teams and drivers have said they are relaxed about the preparations for the event.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/66139

[UncleKracker]

Vettel not worried about STR's future

Sebastian Vettel says he is not worried about Dietrich Mateschitz's intention to sell the Toro Rosso team.

The Red Bull boss said earlier this month that he plans to sell the Italy-based squad in order to focus all efforts on Red Bull Racing.

Vettel, who has a three-year contract with Red Bull, admitted he was surprised to hear the news, but he sees no reason to be worried.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/66145

[UncleKracker]

BMW aims to maintain pace in Bahrain

BMW Sauber boss Mario Theissen says BMW heads into next weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix aiming to maintain the level of performance it has shown so far this season.

The Hinwil-based squad has put its problematic start to testing with its F1.08 firmly behind it with two second place finishes in the opening pair of races in Australia and Malaysia.

http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=42155

[beglar_begi]

I agree 2009 can turn out to be a windfall for some teams but I don't think the mould will be broken entirely... I mean at the end of the day the team with the most R&D moolah will come out on top... and whenever someone screams dollars and cents I hear ferrari and mclaren reverberate... why don't honda and toyota plough in more dough... I mean surely in F1 the money matters... the designers are pulled in like moths and so are the drivers... it has to be about the dollar bill at the end of the day...

anyway at the risk of ferrari loosing its dominance I would look forward to a 2K9 season the way you have described it... and yeah a car that is completely redesigned means a few races at the beginning of the year where perhaps only a handful of cars finish... just look at the amount of fun these guys had with the nose...

man I hate it when these guys take an extended break...

[UncleKracker]

@beglar_begi
I agree and disagree with what you say, if that is possible
Sure the teams that have good infrastructure will get around any problems that might surface as a result of rule changes. That obviously comes with having spent money over the years and have the resources and expertise. So its unlikely that Super Aguri or Force India might become the front runners next season.
As for money alone, that doesn't give you success in F1. The best example is that of BAR. They bought an existing F1 team, BAT ( British American Tobacco) arrived with all its might, and a year or so later they were joined by Honda who were supplying engines to Jordan team too, and later Honda became exclusive suppliers to BAR but all that got them no where. They had , and to this day nothing to show for it except ONE win.
Toyota has very deep pockets. They could throw probably twice the money if need be, and their budget i believe already is amongst the highest but it hasn't paid off for many reasons.