GP: Don't count on a winning formula

Formula One has ripped up six decades of history by ushering in a controversial new method of selecting its world champion, based on race victories rather than points scored.
The FIA's World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) voted through the controversial rule change, which will take effect from the opening round of the 2009 championship in Melbourne on Sunday week.

Read more

McLaren's Hamilton fastest again

McLAREN'S Lewis Hamilton was fastest in Formula One testing in Spain for the second straight session as drivers continue to familiarise themselves with the season's new cars.The F1 champion wrapped up the four-day testing session at the Jerez Circuit with a fastest lap time of 1 minute, 19.632 seconds from 117 laps.Former teammate and local favorite Fernando Alonso of Renault was next, followed by Nico Rosberg of Williams and Red Bull's Mark Webber. Williams driver Kazuki Nakajima also tested.Webber drove for the second time since undergoing off-season surgery for a broken leg. The 32-year-old Australian managed 92 laps despite an early mechanical problem.Sebastien Bourdais set a fastest lap of 1:17.472 in Toro Rosso's last session involving their 2008 car.Alonso was particularly pleased with his drive after having the slowest showing of any 2009 model on Thursday. Cars have undergone a series of changes to comply with new regulations on aerodynamics and a return to slick tires. At the Bahrain International circuit, Ferrari, BMW Sauber and Toyota were all able to seriously test for the first time since Tuesday after sand storms had affected running the past two days.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen was fastest with a time of 1:33.325 ahead of Toyota's Jarno Trulli and Christian Klien of BMW Sauber.

AP

Former F1 winner Williams unveil new car

Their new car, the FW31, at Portugal’s Algarve circuit near Portimao.

I won't rest on my laurels

LEWIS HAMILTON today took the wraps off the silver dream machine in which he will defend his world championship – and vowed not to rest on his laurels.

He said he would go back to basics and "re-set" his ambitions for 2009 to those he had when he first entered Formula One.

He added: "I don’t sit here saying I am world champion. I say I WANT to be world champion."

But he admitted he loved seeing the number 1 on the nose of his sparkling new McLaren-Mercedes MP4-24.

Hamilton was nursing a heavy cold as the car was launched at McLaren’s space-age HQ in Woking.

It was the first time he had seen the MP4-24 in one piece – and he immediately called it "beautiful". Read more....

Massa gives new Ferrari first run

Ferrari always like to stay ahead of the pack and are the first team to launch its 2009 car with team boss Stefano Domenicali (centre) and drivers Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen on hand

Ferrari have become the first team to launch their 2009 car ahead of a season that heralds the biggest Formula One rule changes for 25 years.

The team's F60 car employs a raft of features to meet the new regulations, including an energy recovery system and aerodynamic changes to aid overtaking.

Felipe Massa, who was runner-up in the 2008 drivers' championship, ran the car for two laps at the Mugello test track.

He said: "I expected it to be big, but it's small like a Formula Three car."

The Brazilian revealed he had been "a little surprised" by the car's design, adding; "I expected it to (have) huge (front) wings like they were 10 years ago.

"The new F60 seems tiny, very compact and cute. I feel emotional but I'm also happy to take it out on track for the first time."

Massa became the first F1 driver to experience a definitive 2009 car when he put the F60, named to mark Ferrari's 60th season in the sport, through its paces at Mugello. Read more.....

Ferrari unveils new F60 car

Formula One constructors' world champions Ferrari unveiled their new F60 racing car for the 2009 season on Monday on their official internet site.

The car is named F60 in reference to the number of championships Ferrari have participated in and it is the 55th different F1 car designed by the Italian manufacturer.

The vehicle will debut in testing at the famous Mugello circuit just outside Florence later Monday with world championship runner-up Brazilian Felipe Massa at the wheel as the tests have been switched from Fiorano due to icy conditions.

Most of the changes from last year's F2008 are due to regulations imposed by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) in order to increase overtaking in a sport often lacking in excitement due to the difficulties in passing the car in front.

A shorter front wing, a larger and higher rear and standardised central chassis are all modifications introduced by the Overtaking Working Group (OWG).

Other changes include an improvement to the suspension to make handling in difficult conditions easier, while slick tyres will be re-introduced this year.

The Kers system to recuperate kinetic energy has been installed on the engine while the transmission has been redesigned to improve aerodynamic efficiency.

The new F1 season opens in Melbourne on March 29 with the Australian Grand Prix, which last year was won by eventual world champion Lewis Hamilton.

AFP

Rookie Buemi confirmed as F1 driver for Toro Rosso

BAHRAIN-based Swiss rookie Sebastien Buemi will race for Toro Rosso in Formula One this season, the Ferrari-powered team announced yesterday.

Buemi, 20, competed in the GP2 support series last year and was also reserve driver for Toro Rosso's sister team Red Bull Racing.

Toro Rosso said in a statement that they would name Buemi's team mate "at some point" before the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 29.

Buemi will be the first Swiss driver to compete in Formula One since Jean-Denis Deletraz raced without success for the Pacific Ford team in 1995.

A1GP Powered by Ferrari Car

The first image of the new Powered by Ferrari car has been unveiled by A1GP World Cup of Motorsport. The A1GP World Cup of Motorsport was launched in March 2004 and pits driver against driver, without any financial or technological advantage.

The A1GP Powered by Ferrari car will have its inaugural shakedown test in Southern England, and it will be used in season four (2008/09). Equipped with a V8 Ferrari engine, the A1GP Powered by Ferrari car may develops around 600 bhp.

Ferrari to unveil new model

FERRARI'S new car which they hope will see Felipe Massa avenge his narrow defeat to McLaren's Lewis Hamilton in last season's Formula One championship will be unveiled next Monday on its' website, the team announced. The team - which had some consolation in winning the constructor's championship - said that Massa, who lost the title by just one point to Hamilton effectively on the last lap of the final race the Brazilian Grand Prix when he won but the Briton managed to squeeze into fifth place, would test drive the car that same day on the Fiorano circuit.

Alonso Turned Down 2009 Ferrari F1 Offer

Fernando Alonso turned down an opportunity to switch immediately to Ferrari out of loyalty to his current F1 employer Renault.

That is the claim of a Spanish newspaper, following authoritative reports from Italy that the former double world champion has now penned a deal to race with the famous Maranello based team in 2010 or 2011.

Diario AS said Ferrari were prepared to put Alonso, 27, into the 2009 race seat of Kimi Raikkonen, who despite winning the title in 2007 had a disappointing season last year.

But Alonso, said the newspaper, put a stop to the deal because it would have left Renault in the lurch less than three months from the start of the 2009 season.

"In short, the Italian team's sudden interest came too late for Fernando," AS said.

Source: GMM

Bekas pemandu teksi minat Honda

Honda mungkin boleh diselamatkan andai jutawan dari Mexico, Carlos Slim menjadi pemilik baru pasukan Formula Satu (F1) itu.

Slim dilaporkan berminat membeli pasukan yang berpangkalan di Jepun itu selepas dia melawat kilang pasukan tersebut minggu lepas.

Slim, 68, merupakan seorang pemandu teksi sebelum dia berjaya menubuhkan syarikat telekomunikasi dan kini mempunyai aset bernilai lebih 55 bilion pound.

Ia menjadikannya sebagai orang kedua terkaya di dunia di belakang pelabur Amerika Syarikat, Warren Buffet.

"Helikopter miliknya terlalu besar untuk mendarat di tempat sepatutnya, jadi mereka terpaksa mengosongkan tempat letak kereta bagi membolehkan dia mendarat.

"Tetapi lambang syarikatnya tertera di helikopter tersebut, jadi semua orang tahu siapa dia," kata sumber Honda.

Terdahulu, pasukan F1 Honda terpaksa dijual dengan harga yang murah ekoran krisis ekonomi global.

SLIM dilapor berminat membeli Honda selepas dia melawat kilang pasukan tersebut di Jepun minggu lepas.

---

Bekas ketua pasukan BAR Honda, David Richards kini dilaporkan berada di Timur Tengah bagi mencari 'rakan baru' yang boleh menjana peruntukan 150 juta pound untuk mengharungi saingan F1 musim 2009.

Dalam pada itu, ketua pasukan Force India, Vijay Mallya juga melahirkan minatnya untuk melabur dengan pasukan tersebut bersama jutawan Switzerland dan juatwan perkapalan Greece, Achilleas Kallakis.

"Ramai orang di kilang ini (Honda) bimbang mengenai pengambilalihan oleh Richards atau Mallya.

"Mereka fikir Mallya hanya mahu memberi kelebihan itu buat pasukannya, Force India.

"Dan bagaimana Richards boleh mengatakan bahawa dia mahu mengambilalih pasukan ini ketika dia masih meminta peruntukan daripada kerajaan untuk membantu syarikat Aston Martin miliknya," tambah sumber berkenaan.

sumber: Agensi