Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Australia Sunday quotes: Renault

Fernando Alonso - 6th: "Sixth place is not the best result, but in a way we have to be happy because we started the race in a difficult position and I was pushed wide at turn 1 onto the grass and so I dropped to the back of the pack. After that, it was difficult and so it's great to score points. With what happened during the race, the incidents and the safety car, we managed to finish 6th. In terms of the overall results and looking at our competitors, we have to be happy with the result. With the KERS I didn't feel a big difference and I was a little bit disappointed at how it worked. We also need to work on the tyres a bit more at the next race."

Nelson Piquet - DNF: "I was really happy because we were lucky at the beginning of the race to gain some positions. The car was good and I was having a consistent drive. But when the safety car came out I started to have some problems with the brakes. I had a good restart and overtook Nico Rosberg, but when I touched the brakes again they were gone. I spun out and I was lucky I ended up in the gravel, so there was no damage to myself or the car. The car was not as competitive as we wanted it to be in the race but we were still running in the top 8. The Malaysian circuit should suit us better and I'm sure that we can get a good result there next week."

Flavio Briatore, Managing Director ING Renault F1 Team: "The three points scored by Fernando are not a great consolation for what has been a disappointing weekend for us. We were just not competitive enough and our qualifying performance penalised us for the race. Fernando lost several positions at the start because of the first corner incident which he could not avoid. That said, our two drivers were consistent and tried to make the most of the situation. Nelson made a good start and his race was very promising, but a technical problem unfortunately brought his race to an end. It's only the first Grand Prix and our intention is to work hard to fight back quickly, starting at the next Grand Prix in Malaysia.

Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering: "Nelson's accident appears to have been caused by a problem with the brake system, although as yet we don't know what that might be. It's a shame because he was in a reasonable position. We are clearly not as competitive as we need to be and there is a lot of work to be done to get to the front."

Remi Taffin, Head of Engine Operations: "A mixed result this afternoon with the retirement of Nelson and we will need to look into why he couldn't finish. We would have been able to do something good with Nelson who had a great start to the race. I think he could have been on the podium, so it's a shame. We finished 6th with Fernando and when you consider the level of competitiveness that we have shown this weekend, it's not a bad result. We know that we have to do better and so we will take these points and work hard to try and get a strong result at the next race."



  • Brazil Saturday quotes: Renault
  • Zambrano Game 2’s central figure
  • Japan Sunday quotes: Renault
  • ‘Frank TV,’ take two
  • LA revitalized at Moyer’s expense
  • Singapore Sunday quotes: Renault
  • Kubica says Vettel 'too optimistic'

    Kubica says Vettel too optimistic

    Robert Kubica said Sebastian Vettel was "too optimistic" when defending his position, after the crash that spoilt their race in Australia.

    Kubica, running much faster than his Red Bull rival, tried to pass the German on the outside of the third corner with three laps left.

    The duo made contact, however, and Vettel was found guilty by the race stewards, who imposed a grid penalty on the Red Bull driver.

    Kubica admitted he was not sure whose fault the accident was, but believes Vettel was too optimistic.

    "It's difficult to say who is at fault," the BMW Sauber driver said. "I think he was a bit optimistic. If that was the last corner of the last lap it's OK, but in the first race it's important to score the points. It's important you understand what position you are in.

    "If I didn't overtake him there I would do it in three corners because I was lapping three seconds quicker. It's a shame because we we have both had a great weekend but didn't score any points."

    BMW boss Mario Theissen said that Kubica was set to win the race, his pace being much better than Vettel's and leader Jenson Buttton's.

    "I was lapping very well, I was much quicker than him (Button) and Vettel, catching up, and especially in the last lap they were for sure getting troubles with their tyres," Kubica said.

    "In fact, he went wide in corner one, closed the line, I was on the clean line into the braking for corner three already in front, but I think then he tried to defend too much his position and picked up a lot of understeer as he was graining the front tyres and he hit me.

    "I tried to restart, but my front wing was under the car and unfortunately in Turn 5 it went under the wheel and crashed."



  • Kubica completes F1.09 shakedown
  • The story of ‘Boo’ for a new generation
  • Buemi on top at Jerez again
  • Lack of grip costs Kubica Q3 place
  • Ferrari admits lack of performance

    Ferrari admits lack of performance

    Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali admitted that the team has a lot of work to do to get onto terms with Brawn GP following its double retirement in the Australian Grand Prix.

    Despite the non-finishes, Domenicali says pace rather than reliability is the main issue for Ferrari.

    "Reliability was one big issue, but I have to be fair and honest - the results of today's race were decided by a lack of performance," he said.

    "With Felipe, retrospectively, we were wrong with the strategy – it was maybe too aggressive and that was pretty clear. With Kimi it was okay in terms of strategy. So we have to put all the things in the proper list of priority.

    "We saw Brawn is really very, very fast, strong and consistent. In normal circumstances, without any safety car, they would fly away. So if we have to target, that is our target."

    Domenicali believes that Brawn GP has reaped the rewards from starting work on its 2009 car earlier than its rivals, but the Italian says the different characteristics of the Sepang circuit could help Ferrari to improve in Malaysia next weekend.

    "There is a lot of work to do, this is natural, because on this side the fact that you [Brawn] are able to have more time to spend on a new project gives you results.

    "For sure they were better than us, so just to understand maybe better the situation next weekend where we will be at a different track, at a track like Malaysia with a different grip situation. One element of important understanding is the tyres. The usage is also connected to the KERS, so there is a lot of things we need to understand in these days about that."



  • Zambrano Game 2’s central figure
  • Piquet not surprised by Brawn form
  • LA revitalized at Moyer’s expense
  • China Saturday quotes: Ferrari
  • Stats-crunching finds a new hero
  • Theissen: BMW will learn from 2008
  • Monday, March 30, 2009

    Williams pace wasted on mistakes

    The Williams team was left to rue several mistakes that cost it the opportunity to capitalise on prodigious race pace in the Australian Grand Prix.

    Nico Rosberg, who dominated for much of free practice in Melbourne, set the fastest lap of the race but could manage no better than seventh after inheriting two points when Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica crashed contesting second place.

    Rosberg lost six positions in the last ten laps of the race as he became the first of the front-runners to suffer severe performance drop-off from his soft tyres.

    But the German admitted that a mistake at the start and a bungled pit stop had already cost him a significant amount of time.

    "It was a challenging race and we suffered with a few glitches here and there, firstly from my side when on lap one I left the door open at turn three and I lost some positions, and then we had a problem on my first pit stop," he said.

    "The restart after the first safety car on cold tyres was very difficult, I had no grip at all and again in the last part of the race, I had taken everything out of my tyres and they were dropping out, so it was impossible to keep anyone behind me.

    "All said, I think two points is a good outcome because I believe we are faster than a couple of the cars who finished ahead of us today, so from a championship perspective, it looks okay."

    Rosberg's team-mate Kazuki Nakajima was taken to the medical centre for precautionary checks after crashing out on lap 17 which he put a wheel over the kerb at Turn 4.

    The Japanese was unhurt in accident which prompted the race's first safety car, but was fuming with himself for crashing out.

    Williams technical director Sam Michael agreed with his drivers that errors had cost the team dearly: "We made too many mistakes as a team today and we will be looking to make a better job of what the car offers at the next race in Malaysia."



  • Best-of-seven series a better test
  • Zambrano Game 2’s central figure
  • Rosberg disappointed with fifth
  • Five-run second propels Dodgers
  • Brazil Saturday quotes: Williams
  • Australia Sunday quotes: McLaren

    Lewis Hamilton - 4th: "We scored way more points than we could have realistically expected. I was looking to try and get one point, so to get six is a great achievement. We've definitely not forgotten how to win: our strategy was perfect and the team did a fantastic job. Considering the package we've got, I wrung every last ounce of pace out of the car, drove one of my best ever races and absolutely raced my heart out - I'm so satisfied. Also, my heartfelt congratulations to Jenson – he's driven brilliantly all weekend and both he and his team really deserve this success."

    Heikki Kovalainen - DNF: "Obviously, my race was very short. Webber had a moment at the first corner and his front wheel hit my left-front. It was a racing accident – these things unfortunately happen."

    Martin Whitmarsh – team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes: "Today was one of those days on which Lewis demonstrated very clearly just what a fantastic racing driver he is. Throughout the race he showed great speed and tenacity, tempered when necessary by commendable patience. The car we supplied him wasn't as competitive as we'd have liked it to be – we've made no secret of that – but we're working flat-out, night and day, to improve it.

    "The points Lewis scored today are of course very welcome – and, as and when we regain our form, we hope they'll take on a greater significance still. As for Heikki, he started with a heavy fuel-load and could also have scored points today – but, sadly, and blamelessly on his part, his race was ended early on when he happened upon an incident involving two other cars. Lastly, well done to all at Brawn GP – and of course also to Mercedes-Benz, whose superb engines powered the first three cars."

    Norbert Haug – vice-president, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: "Lewis finally in third place and the best car with KERS – this is more than we had expected after starting 18th. He drove an excellent race under very difficult circumstances and proved his world-champion class. During the second Safety Car period, Trulli had an off and Lewis overtook him for third place, but he let Trulli past again. But the stewards' decision after the race gave him back third place.

    "It's a shame for Heikki; without the first-corner multiple-car collision which was not his fault, he also could have scored a solid result in this turbulent race. Congratulations to Brawn GP, Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello on their one-two victory – three times Mercedes-powered cars in the top three makes us happy. Our customer team did a great job and we helped to 'Keep the Customer Satisfied'!"



  • FIA revises final 2009 entry list
  • Evans busts out for Indios
  • Fisichella sorry for pitstop blunder

    Fisichella sorry for pitstop blunder

    Giancarlo Fisichella was sorry for the pitstop blunder that cost him the chance of scoring a better result at the Australian Grand Prix.

    The Force India driver overshot his pit slot during his first stop, the Roman admitting he was used to his team being in the last pitlane place.

    Fisichella's car had to be pushed back in order to have his pitstop, losing several seconds in the process.

    He went on to finish in 12th position.

    "I'm very disappointed with the mistake I made in the pitstop," said the Italian. "I was just confused with last year as we were always in the last slot in the pitlane, so I just overshot and had to be pulled back into the pits.

    "I'm really sad about this as I think we could have got a good result.

    "We can take some positives away from this race though - we were able to fight with the others and the car felt good over the race. I'm really looking forward to Malaysia now."

    Team-mate Adrian Sutil finished in 10th position after having to pit at the end of the first lap when he hit Mark Webber's Red Bull.

    "As expected we got a very exciting race," said Sutil. "I had a good start, but in the first corner I think Webber slowed down and there was nowhere I could go. I damaged my front wing and had to get the car back to the pits. I lost some time behind Heidfeld's BMW: I was faster but there was no way I could get through.

    "After the first safety car everything was fine - we had a good strategy with a short stint on the soft tyres in the middle. On the restart I could get past a few cars and then on the hard tyre it went really well. I could finish in 10th position - I think we can be happy with this."



  • China Sunday quotes: Force India
  • Rays closing in on playoff roster
  • Ferrari to look into pitstop system
  • Alonso: Brawn will dominate race

    Former world champion Fernando Alonso thinks Brawn GP will be even more dominant in the race than they were in qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix.

    With Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello having locked out the front row of the grid in Melbourne, Alonso is expecting the duo to have a fairly easy run to victory in the first race of the season.

    "I think the race pace [of Brawn] will be even stronger than qualifying," said Alonso, who will start from 10th on the grid.

    "In qualifying when we put on new tyres our cars are good to drive. When it is a scrubbed set and the tyres are old, the mechanical grip of the car is much more important. So the Brawn in the race will be much quicker than in qualifying, that is for sure. But I think they don't go flat out.

    "It was the same in Q1 and Q2. They used scrubbed tyres, so they go 100 per cent when they want. In the race after a couple of laps they will slow down, otherwise they will lap everybody."

    Despite his feelings about the current pace of the Brawn, Alonso does not share the thoughts of some of his rivals who believe the team will have an easy ride to the world title.

    "Everybody was surprised when they tested the first time the car," he said. "Now we arrive to the first grand prix, those testing times were real and they are better than everybody.

    "It is true and hard to believe that one month ago they were sitting at home, and now they are ready to fight for the world championship. Now we have to wait.

    "The championship is long. Also last year, there were teams that started very strong and after three or four races they were at the back of the grid. The times are very close now, in four or five tenths you can be P3 or P15, so we need to wait and see.

    "But for sure Brawn at the moment, the first four or five grands prix, they will be racing more or less alone."

    Although Alonso was expecting more than a midfield starting position for the first race of the season, as happened last season, he still believes that the R29 has enough potential to lift him into contention for the world title fight.

    "Last year the car was undrivable and there were no hopes on that car," he said. "With this year, more or less, we are in the same position unfortunately, with a very difficult start and our performance is not what we were expecting.

    "But I still am confident that we can turn around again as we did last year, although hopefully not as late."



  • Music video highlights: WS Game 4
  • Music video highlights: ALCS Game 7
  • Honda plan full-scale attack on testing
  • Honda expected tough home race
  • Australia Saturday quotes: Red Bull

    Sebastian Vettel - 3rd: "It's been a difficult two days leading up to qualifying. I only had the pleasure of completing one lap in the first practice, then I made a mistake in the second, which meant we couldn't run through our programme. Then we had a failure this morning, which cost us some track time, so it's been anything but ideal! Nevertheless, I think we pulled everything together; we've been looking deeply at the data and trying to prepare well for qualifying. I think we succeeded, so thanks to everyone.

    "We had a tough winter and I've been surprised how close the feeling in the car is to last year. With all the regulation changes it's impressive what all the people have done - it's very tight at the front of the grid and all through the midfield. At times we have even wondered if we would make it to Q2, so now we are third on the second row of the grid, I'm looking forward to tomorrow. This is for sure a good starting point."

    Mark Webber - 10th: "I'm not rapped with my last lap. My previous flying laps had gone well, so I would have liked a better result, but that's where we are so we'll try to make something from the race. The bumps were quite bad in Turn nine on the final run. The team's done a good job and we've worked well through our programme over the winter. It's a shame I didn't get the best time in qualifying, but we'll see how we go from there tomorrow."

    Christian Horner, Team Principal: "It was a great team effort today and we have two cars in the top ten. After losing some track time this morning, Sebastian has done a great job. Third is a fantastic place to start the first Grand Prix and he's the nearest car to the super-quick Brawns. I think we can enjoy a good race tomorrow. After all that Mark has been through in the last few months, recovering from a broken leg, I think he put in an excellent performance today. A small mistake on his final lap in such a tight grid cost him several positions, but I'm sure he will have a strong race tomorrow."

    Fabrice Lom, Renault, Principal Engineer Track Support: "After the last test, we didn't know where we were in terms of pace, so it's great to see that we are very near the front. Third is very good and Mark made some fantastic laps and showed good pace, so I'm positive for tomorrow. I'm happy and the engine is working fine. I have sadness for Pierre-Emeric and want to remember him. I think about him, especially in this moment of qualifying, when he was so focused and enthusiastic. So, we think about him and let's see for tomorrow."



  • No time to dwell on loss for Rays
  • China Saturday quotes: Ferrari
  • Brazil Saturday quotes: Renault
  • Brazil Saturday quotes: Williams
  • Rosberg disappointed with fifth

    Rosberg disappointed with fifth

    Nico Rosberg says he was happy to be disappointed with fifth position on the grid for the Australian Grand Prix.

    The Williams driver has dominated all practice sessions in Melbourne, but was then unable to turn that into pole position-setting pace.

    Rosberg qualified on the third row of the grid, but he reckons his team is in a strong position for the race.

    "I think it is a good thing to be a bit disappointed with fifth place," said Rosberg. "Our qualifying session itself was consistent with everything else I have experienced so far and the car has been nice to drive all weekend.

    "From the work we have done today, we are in a good position to start the race, perhaps better than we would have imagined when we arrived here.

    "We are among the fastest cars but it will be interesting to see what fuel load everybody is running. The start tomorrow of course will be important, but thankfully we will don't have too many cars running KERS close by us and possibly challenging us off the line.

    "The big factor tomorrow will be tyres, but I think we have a good strategy and positive reliability, so we have all the tools to do a good job in the race."

    Team-mate Kazuki Nakajima was unable to match Rosberg's pace and had to settle for 13th position.

    "The car was good enough to make it into Q3 today, but I made a small mistake and it cost me quite a few places," Nakajima said.

    "There is however plenty to consider tomorrow and I think I still have a good opportunity, so it will be important to concentrate and get absolutely everything right.

    "As it the first race I think there will be plenty going on, which will make it exciting, but challenging."



  • Barrichello sorry to miss out on points
  • Sox revitalized, stay alive at home
  • Saturday, March 28, 2009

    Trulli says car balance needs work

    Trulli says car balance needs work

    Jarno Trulli says Toyota still has work to do before he is comfortable with his car, despite a strong showing in practice on Friday.

    The Italian driver finished as third fastest in the afternoon, just three tenths of a second behind the pace-setting Williams of Nico Rosberg.

    Trulli, however, said he was not completely happy with his car's balance and that, despite its pace, the TF109 was not easy to drive.

    "It was a tough day because we covered quite a few laps and had a lot of things to work on," said Trulli. "In general we have worked really hard to understand the tyres and find the right set-up, which is not easy.

    "I am still not completely happy with the car balance and, even though when you look at the timing sheets things look pretty good for us, the car isn't completely comfortable to drive.

    "Now we have to work on improving the set-up and the balance for tomorrow when it is most important.

    "Anyway, I have to say it's great to be back at a Grand Prix because I love being behind the wheel with the atmosphere and excitement of a race weekend; this is what I live for."

    Team-mate Timo Glock completed a good start to the weekend for Toyota after posting the sixth fastest time.

    The German admitted he also had some problems with his car's handling, but was pleased with his day's work nonetheless.

    "In the end I am satisfied with our day but I have to say the first session went better than the second session for me," he said.

    "In the first session I had a good feeling from the car and things were running well but then later on I suddenly had a few problems because the car was a bit nervous and didn't feel as stable on the long runs.

    "The behaviour of the car seemed to change between the sessions so we have to look at the data to understand why that happened. So we still have some work to do but that is the purpose of practice and we will work hard on the car set-up before qualifying tomorrow."



  • Raikkonen leads the way in Bahrain
  • Brazil Friday quotes: Red Bull
  • Gillick’s method produced success
  • Culture shock just what Rays needed
  • Trulli: New cars very difficult in wet
  • Australia Friday quotes: Renault

    Fernando Alonso - 12th: "At last, after lots of winter testing, expectations and predictions, we have started the 2009 season. Today we concentrated on car set-up in hot conditions without being too concerned by what our competitors were doing.

    "We now have lots of valuable information and, as usual, we will go over that this evening. We are missing some grip but we have some ideas about how we can overcome these issues. So I'm still confident. We should deliver a better performance tomorrow."

    Nelson Piquet - 19th: "That wasn't an easy day. I struggled to find a good balance on a green track with little grip. However, the settings that we worked on today have still helped us explore some interesting developments for tomorrow and I remain positive."



  • Brazil Saturday quotes: Renault
  • Phillies’ win honors Manuel, mother
  • Rosberg also tops final Australia practice

    Nico Rosberg completed a clean sweep of fastest practice times for Williams in the final session at Melbourne.

    The German beat Toyota's Jarno Trulli to the top spot by just 0.003 seconds with a last-gasp time, while Jenson Button took third for Brawn GP.

    Felipe Massa put his Ferrari in fourth place, but his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen managed only five laps before having to park at the far side of the circuit with a hydraulic problem, leaving him slowest of all.

    Kazuki Nakajima (Williams) and Rubens Barrichello (Brawn) completed the top six.

    The Brawn GP cars, freshly bedecked in Virgin sponsorship logos, had been quickest for much of the session.

    Button set the first representative time with a 1:27.863 after 23 minutes, before Williams briefly reprised its Friday form as Nakajima and Rosberg took a one-two.

    They were swiftly usurped by Barrichello, with the two Brawns and two Williams covered by just 0.134s as the session neared its halfway point.

    Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel then raised the bar by lapping half a second clear of the rest of the field, but on their next runs the Brawns returned to the front, with Button producing a 1:26.691 to beat Vettel by 0.4s, and Barrichello then going a further 0.2s quicker on the softer tyres.

    The rest of the field opted for soft rubber shortly afterwards, and with 12 minutes to go Timo Glock used the green-striped Bridgestones to put Toyota on top by 0.079s over Barrichello.

    Button and Barrichello restored Brawn GP's superiority a few minutes later - only for first Trulli, then Rosberg to leap ahead with their final laps.

    Trulli's 1:25.811 lap was the fastest of the weekend so far at that point, and although Button closed in, he could not beat the time. Rosberg could, however, lapping in 1:25.808 in the penultimate minute of the session.

    Outside the top six, Mark Webber took seventh for Red Bull, as Glock slipped back to eighth position ahead of the two BMWs.

    Raikkonen's failure was the most significant incident of the session, which saw various minor excursions - particularly at the tricky braking area for Turn 1. Nakajima and both Red Bulls visited the grass here, with Vettel slowing and complaining of brake problems afterwards.

    McLaren showed better form than on Friday, with both Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen featuring in the top five at times. They eventually fell to 11th and 12th, with Kovalainen also having a quick spin at Turn 4.

    Renault also had a difficult session. Fernando Alonso was only 17th, while Nelson Piquet had several minor trips off the road and beat only Raikkonen on the timesheets.

    Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:25.808 21 2. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:25.811 + 0.003 19 3. Button Brawn GP-Mercedes (B) 1:25.981 + 0.173 20 4. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:26.020 + 0.212 17 5. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:26.078 + 0.270 18 6. Barrichello Brawn GP-Mercedes (B) 1:26.348 + 0.540 19 7. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:26.355 + 0.547 16 8. Glock Toyota (B) 1:26.410 + 0.602 25 9. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) 1:26.514 + 0.706 18 10. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) 1:26.555 + 0.747 19 11. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:26.652 + 0.844 13 12. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:26.714 + 0.906 18 13. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:27.009 + 1.201 12 14. Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:27.062 + 1.254 12 15. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:27.152 + 1.344 16 16. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:27.192 + 1.384 17 17. Alonso Renault (B) 1:27.357 + 1.549 18 18. Fisichella Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:27.492 + 1.684 20 19. Piquet Renault (B) 1:27.739 + 1.931 22 20. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:28.801 + 2.993 5 All timing unofficial

  • FIA revises final 2009 entry list
  • Vettel fastest again on final day in Spain
  • Button back on top at Jerez
  • The story of ‘Boo’ for a new generation
  • Hockenheim future still up in the air

    The future of the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim will be decided in May in a meeting with state officials and F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone.

    Hockenheim, which is one of two tracks hosting the German race along with Nurburgring, was due to decide on next year's race this week, as the event continues to be in doubt.

    A track official admitted at the end of last year that the circuit would need help from the government in order to make sure it could afford to host the race next year.

    The circuit bosses fear they would lose millions if the race takes place in 2010.

    Officials have now said they will wait until a May 20 meeting with Ecclestone before deciding on next year's race. The meeting will also include representatives from BMW and Mercedes.

    "We have agreed to accept the invitation for this talk," Hockenheim mayor Dieter Gummer was quoted as saying by Reuters. "But by this summer there has to be a solution."



  • Rays closing in on playoff roster
  • Hockenheim calls for government help
  • Meet Koufax, the band
  • No time to dwell on loss for Rays
  • Protest lodged over teams' diffusers

    Protest lodged over teams diffusers

    Ferrari, Renault and Red Bull Racing have lodged protests about the legality of diffusers on rival cars, after BMW Sauber's similar complaint was rejected on a technicality.

    Following intense speculation in the build-up to the race about protests being lodged, an FIA statement on Thursday night confirmed that Ferrari, Renault and Red Bull Racing have lodged formal complaints with the race stewards.

    The protests are against Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams over the design of their diffusers, which teams claim exploit a loophole in the regulations to extend the diffuser higher than some believe is legal.

    BMW Sauber had also joined in the complaints but it is understood that the team failed to complete the necessary paperwork in time, so the stewards rejected its protest.

    The FIA stewards have called representatives of Williams, Toyota and Brawn GP to a meeting in race control to discuss the situation. Following that meeting, it is expected they will make a ruling on the matter on Thursday night.

    Whatever the outcome of that stewards' decision, the losing party is expected to appeal the matter - which would force an International Court of Appeal hearing to take place in the next few weeks.

    Toyota president John Howett said on Thursday night that he remained confident the stewards would confirm that the diffuser designs were legal.

    "As far as I know in motor racing anyone is allowed to protest and I don't have an issue with that," said Howett. "It is in the sporting regulations, it is in the main regulations and as far as we are concerned we have studied the regulations in detail and we are very confident that we have interpreted them correctly.

    "We've used the consultation process with the FIA technical department and we are satisfied that they have verified our interpretation. Now we wait to see what the stewards or subsequent court may decide."



  • Briatore frustrated by diffuser rules
  • Zambrano Game 2’s central figure
  • New system could give Button title shot
  • Diffuser row won't affect FOTA unity

    Leading figures within the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) are confident that the organisation's unity will not be fractured by the diffuser row that has overshadowed the build-up to the new season.

    With Ferrari, Renault and Red Bull Racing going to the FIA's International Court of Appeal in dispute about the diffuser designs on the Brawn GP, Williams and Toyota cars, there had been suggestions that the arguments could threaten harmony between the teams.

    However, senior team figures are adamant that FOTA's unity will not be destroyed by the situation.

    When asked if there was a threat of a FOTA split because of what has happened, BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen said: "No, not at all. We have discussed this openly between the FOTA members.

    "There is a clean line between moving forward jointly in order to shape the future of F1 from our perspective on one hand, and on the other hand there is the daily operational basis which is competition and this is one of the second issues."

    FOTA vice chairman John Howett added: "I can't understand it is anything to do with FOTA. In FOTA we talk about long term strategic issues for developing the sport for the future, things that are right.

    "Racing is racing, and under racing it is perfectly understood that a team can protest another team if they consider they have valid grounds to do so. We don't have any negative feeling as a team that could be protested. It is part of the sport we are in."



  • FOTA hopes Honda’s team is sold
  • Economic state may affect spending
  • Thursday, March 26, 2009

    FIA revises final 2009 entry list

    The FIA has revised the Formula 1 entry list once again after Force India pushed to get its old race numbers back.

    Motor racing's governing body had issued a revised entry list last week because of Brawn GP becoming a new team, and designated Force India with Honda Racing's old 18 and 19 numbers, and Brawn GP getting 20 and 21.

    However, Force India wanted to get its former 20 and 21 numbers back because all its pre-season promotional material and merchandise had been based around them.

    With Brawn GP not objecting to sacrificing those numbers, Force India now has 20/21, while Brawn GP will get 22 and 23. There will be no car numbers 18 and 19.

    The full entry list is:

    1 Lewis HAMILTON (GB) VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES McLAREN MERCEDES 2 Heikki KOVALAINEN (FIN) VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES McLAREN MERCEDES 3 Felipe MASSA (BRA) SCUDERIA FERRARI MARLBORO FERRARI 4 Kimi RÄIKKÖNEN (FIN) SCUDERIA FERRARI MARLBORO FERRARI 5 Robert KUBICA (PL) BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM BMW SAUBER 6 Nick HEIDFELD (D) BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM BMW SAUBER 7 Fernando ALONSO (E) ING RENAULT F1 TEAM RENAULT 8 Nelson PIQUET (BR) ING RENAULT F1 TEAM RENAULT 9 Jarno TRULLI (I) PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING TOYOTA 10 Timo GLOCK (D) PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING TOYOTA 11 Sébastien BOURDAIS (F) SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO STR FERRARI 12 Sébastien BUEMI (CH) SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO STR FERRARI 14 Mark WEBBER (AUS) RED BULL RACING RBR RENAULT 15 Sebastian VETTEL (D) RED BULL RACING RBR RENAULT 16 Nico ROSBERG (D) AT&T WILLIAMS WILLIAMS TOYOTA 17 Kazuki NAKAJIMA (J) AT&T WILLIAMS WILLIAMS TOYOTA 20 Adrian SUTIL (D) FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM FORCE INDIA MERCEDES 21 Giancarlo FISICHELLA (I) FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM FORCE INDIA MERCEDES 22 Jenson BUTTON (GB) BRAWN GP FORMULA ONE TEAM BRAWN MERCEDES 23 Rubens BARRICHELLO (BR) BRAWN GP FORMULA ONE TEAM BRAWN MERCEDES

  • Heidfeld goes quickest at Barcelona
  • One for all, all for one: Phils get it done
  • Renault adamant R29 can win races

    Renault adamant R29 can win races

    Renault's chief of engineering Pat Symonds is adamant the French squad's R29 car will be capable of fighting for victory this season.

    Symonds, whose team endured a difficult start to the year in 2008, admits the team's target for the season is to be challenging for the title, but always staying realistic once they see the level of competitiveness of the rest of the field.

    "The target I set at the beginning of the season is always the same: to be winning races and challenging for the championship - it would be wrong to have any other intention," said Symonds.

    "However, when you start tempering your expectations with reality, you may moderate that target a little bit.

    "Nonetheless, I do believe that we've got a car that is good enough to challenge for wins and when you combine that with our drivers and the team's ability to go racing, I'm fairly confident we can deliver a strong start to the season."

    Two-time champion Fernando Alonso conceded it was very hard to tell how competitive Renault will be following all the regulations changes.

    Alonso, however, is hopeful he will be one of the drivers fighting at the top in Melbourne.

    "We finished in a strong position last year and this year our goal is to fight for the championship," the Spaniard said. "But we have lots of new regulations this year and nobody really knows what will happen when we get to Melbourne.

    "From what we have seen in testing it seems all the teams are very close and so we will certainly have a fight on our hands."

    He added: "In the past Albert Park has been a good track for Renault and so I hope we can have a strong weekend.

    "I think the order of the teams will probably be different from the last few years as we have got used to Ferrari and McLaren dominating, but with the new rules I think there will be lots of cars fighting for the win. Hopefully we will be in that fight."



  • Renault comeback an ‘enormous boost’
  • Cooper has his bullpen’s back
  • Rough start sinks Moyer, Phils in LA
  • Brawn GP keeps expectations in check

    Rubens Barrichello says Brawn GP is keeping its expectations in check, despite being many people's favourites for victory in this weekend's season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

    The Brazilian and team-mate Jenson Button have delivered some strong times in winter testing and most of their rivals believe the BGP001 is the car to beat in Melbourne.

    But Barrichello insists the team is not getting too carried away with its prospects - especially since it did not have a full winter testing programme.

    "We have only six days of testing behind us, so every prediction is a gamble," Barrichello told Gazzetta dello Sport. "We keep our feet on the ground, even though we know we have a quick and reliable car."

    He added: "So Melbourne could spring a surprise. We are the team that has shone most in testing, and I've come here with great confidence."

    Barrichello believes that the early development work the team conducted in creating the car is paying off - and making up for some frustrating times he had at Honda.

    "Especially the last two seasons were very disappointing, it looked like there was no limit to the worst," he said. "At the end of 2005 I left Ferrari to find a team with whom to fight for the championship without someone always telling me what to do, when I could win and when I couldn't.

    "But up until now I've never had a good car to go for it: the Honda from the last two years was almost an insult.

    "Now I have a truly competitive car, in a small yet high-quality team. We've spent four months at home to make developments, we knew where to change and what to fix. Now it's the right time to take it to the track and win. I can do it."



  • Evans busts out for Indios
  • Honda plan full-scale attack on testing
  • Wednesday, March 25, 2009

    Piquet not surprised by Brawn form

    Nelson Piquet reckons it is no surprise that Brawn GP is heading into the Australian Grand Prix as favourites for victory.

    Brawn GP has been one of the sensations of pre-season testing - dominating the timesheets despite having faced a winter unsure if it would even make the grid.

    And although few would have predicted weeks ago that Brawn would be in contention for victory, Piquet says that the team's current strong form is simply the end result of the early development push the outfit made on its 2009 car.

    "They have been developing the car for a year now, so I think it is natural and normal that they have been going quick," Piquet told AUTOSPORT about the form of Brawn GP.

    "They were the first ones to begin developing the [2009] car, and they have done a good job. So it is going to be a tough team to beat. Brawn is quick, Ferrari is quick – and apart from that it is hard to say who else is going to be up there."

    Piquet believes that with teams only beginning to get to grips with their 2009 contenders, and car upgrades still delivering a lot of performance, there is nothing certain about where his Renault team will stand.

    "It is difficult to say. It is all going to be all a bit of a mystery how quick we are," he explained. "I really have no idea if we are going to right up there at the front or fighting in the midfield. Hopefully the car will be good."

    He added: "To be honest, it gets better and better. But for every other team it gets better and better too. The secret is to get better than the other teams quicker, and that is not an easy task.

    "I know a lot of teams are going to come with upgrades here, and at the moment when you upgrade the car you get quite big differences because we are quite new in this phase of the regulations.

    "It means every change is quite big. So it is still going to be a bit of a mystery. We can think we are good and then we can arrive here and not be quick. Let's see, and hopefully we will be okay."

    Piquet has said he is also feeling more ready for F1, having now had a full season behind him.

    "I think [I am] much more relaxed," he said. "It is just one more race now, it is not like the 'beginning' you know. After 18 races now, it is just one more weekend where I know how the whole thing works and I know it is going to be much easier."



  • Best-of-seven series a better test
  • Button back on top at Jerez
  • Missed chances haunt Rays
  • Massa: Brawn GP pace unreachable
  • Rough start sinks Moyer, Phils in LA
  • Piquet says he was ‘green’ on F1 debut
  • Australia preview quotes: Renault

    Fernando Alonso

    Q. Fernando, you ended the 2008 season strongly. Can you carry that form into 2009?

    FA: That is certainly our intention! We finished in a strong position last year and this year our goal is to fight for the championship. But we have lots of new regulations this year and nobody really knows what will happen when we get to Melbourne. From what we have seen in testing it seems all the teams are very close and so we will certainly have a fight on our hands.

    Q. There has been less testing available this season, but are you pleased with the progress of the R29?

    FA: The first test in Portimao was tough as we had some bad luck with the weather, but when we introduced updates at the later tests we quickly improved the car. We've learnt how to optimise the set-up and we now have a car that is easy to drive and consistent. What is important now is that we keep improving and developing the car throughout the year.

    Q. Are you excited about the new regulations introduced this season?

    FA: Yes, with the KERS and moveable wings the drivers now have more work to do inside the cockpit. During testing I have been working hard to adapt to these new systems so that I can get the most from them in Melbourne. I'm really pleased with the KERS system that we have developed and hopefully this will give us an advantage at the start of the season. I'm not sure if it will make overtaking easier, but it will certainly improve lap times.

    Q. What are your expectations for Melbourne?

    FA: In the past Albert Park has been a good track for Renault and so I hope we can have a strong weekend. I think the order of the teams will probably be different from the last few years as we have got used to Ferrari and McLaren dominating, but with the new rules I think there will be lots of cars fighting for the win. Hopefully we will be in that fight.

    Nelson Piquet

    Q. Nelson, you're entering your second season of Formula 1 - are you excited about the year ahead?

    NP: Absolutely - I'm feeling much more confident this year and looking forward to returning to Melbourne. I learned so much with the team in 2008 and I now have a year of experience under my belt which will make things easier. It's also a new era for Formula 1 with lots of changes, but we've made good progress with the car during testing and we are heading to Melbourne with high hopes.

    Q. How difficult has it been adapting to the new rules introduced this season?

    NP: The cars are totally different to last year and so all the drivers have had to adapt to this. Learning about KERS has been a challenge for the engineers and drivers, just as the moveable front wing flaps have been because these are totally new systems that are being introduced this year.

    We've also had to adapt to the return of slick tyres, but I'm really happy to see them back as they are always more fun.

    Q. What are your thoughts on the Albert Park circuit?

    NP: It's a challenging track and quite a difficult place to set the car up as it's a mixture between a permanent venue and a temporary street course with lots of tricky slow speed corners, as well as some quicker sections. As a city, I love Melbourne: the fans are great and the atmosphere of the race is always pretty special.

    Q. Have you set yourself a target for Australia?

    NP:It's still difficult to know how we compare to the other teams and so setting a target isn't easy. We know we have a good race car that is consistent and so I think we will be competitive in Melbourne. I will do my best to try and reach Q3 in qualifying and hopefully finish in the points.



  • Ferrari to race KERS in Melbourne
  • Australia preview quotes: BMW
  • Music video highlights: WS Preview
  • Music video highlights: ALCS Game 7
  • Music video highlights: NLCS Game 4
  • FIA confirms points system unchanged

    The FIA has now officially reverted Formula 1's points system back to how it was last year, after abandoning the 'winner takes all' concept.

    Last week, the FIA's World Motor Sport Council approved a move to hand the world championship to the driver who scored the most wins, rather than the one who scored the most points.

    That decision angered F1 teams and, through the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA), it complained that the rule change had been implemented against the FIA's own regulations - which state such late alterations to the regulations cannot go through without the unanimous support of the teams.

    The FIA reacted to FOTA's stance by stating that if the teams were unhappy it would revert the points system back to what it was originally.

    That process has now been completed, with the official 2009 Sporting Regulations updated on Tuesday to confirm that the world championship will be decided by points.

    The confusion about the points has left the sport facing criticism from observers, however. Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber was one who was particularly unimpressed by the events of the last week.

    "We changed our minds again and we washed our clothes in public again," said the Australian.



  • Music video highlights: NLCS Game 4
  • FOTA says points change is not valid
  • Fresh matchup offers must-see baseball
  • Tuesday, March 24, 2009

    FIA agrees to reduce superlicence fees

    Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, announced on Monday it has agreed to reduce the fees for superlicences from the 2010 season.

    Drivers had been unhappy about the huge hike in fees that was introduced at the start of the 2008 season, and were aiming to talk discuss the matter with FIA president Max Mosley.

    But the ruling body said on Monday that, following a meeting between members of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association and Mosley, it has been agreed that a reduced fee will be introduced from the following season.

    "Following a very positive meeting between FIA President Max Mosley and representatives of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA), a proposal will be made to the World Motor Sport Council to revise superlicence fees for drivers in the 2010 championship," said the FIA in a statement.

    "A reduced fee would reflect the major cost reductions that will be brought into the sport for next season.

    "A number of other issues were discussed and the FIA has agreed to meet representatives of the GPDA on a regular basis to maintain what promises to be a constructive dialogue."

    No financial details were given on the new fees.



  • Vettel: GPDA open to licence talks
  • Zambrano Game 2’s central figure
  • Rollins brings devotion to grand stage
  • Licence grumble nonsense, says Mosley
  • FIA believed teams supported new rules

    FIA believed teams supported new rules

    The FIA believed it was acting with the full support of the teams when it introduced a new 'winner-takes-all' points system ahead the new Formula 1 season, according to its president Max Mosley.

    The sport's governing body announced yesterday that it was prepared to defer the new system until 2010 if the teams were unhappy about it.

    This was in response to a statement from the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) on Friday questioning the validity of the rule change.

    In an interview with The Daily Telegraph: "Bernie [Ecclestone, F1's commercial rights holder] told me that he talked to all the teams and everybody was happy.

    "I was led to believe they all agreed. The World Council was under the impression that they had all agreed."

    FOTA believes that the new rules, which will see the world championship handed to the driver with the most wins during the season, could not be changed at this late stage without unanimous support of the teams.

    In light of complaints from leading figures, the FIA has now said that if the teams are unhappy then the introduction of the wins systems will be delayed until 2010.



  • Zambrano Game 2’s central figure
  • Alonso hits out at FIA over rule changes
  • FIA set to postpone new points system
  • Australia preview quotes: BMW

    Robert Kubica: "I'm really looking forward to the Australian Grand Prix. I'm happy that the race season will finally get started and all the speculation of the pre-season testing will stop. It will be very interesting to see how competitive the teams really are.

    "I like street circuits in general, so Albert Park is one of my favourite race tracks. You have to be very precise. That applies to the whole circuit; you need to stay on the clean line.

    "But this year precision will be especially important for the first corner after the start, when we will have our very first fight for position with the bigger 2009 front wings. I'm pretty sure it will be an interesting race. In addition, Melbourne is a very nice city and the people create a truly special atmosphere for all of us in Formula 1."

    Nick Heidfeld: "I'm looking forward immensely to the start of the season in Australia. This time around I'm particularly keen to see how the teams and drivers stack up against each other. It's time for the speculation to stop; from now on it's only facts that matter.

    "A whole number of things have changed since last year and that means there are a lot of unanswered questions: What effect will the KERS and adjustable front wings have in the races? What will happen at the start when we are side-by-side with the larger front wings for the first time? Will overtaking really be easier, as our experiences in testing have led us to believe?

    "Last year winter testing did not go as well as it might have done for us, and we surprised everybody with our strong performance in Australia. This winter all of our testing went pretty well, and I hope this impression is confirmed in Melbourne.

    "We had to contend with some difficult weather conditions in testing, and I'm also curious to see what happens in Albert Park in this respect, as it can get very autumnal in my favourite travel destination in March."

    Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director: "The start of a Formula 1 season with perhaps the most sweeping rule changes we've ever seen is now in sight. We are pleased that Australia is again the first GP of the year in 2009. There is always a very special atmosphere in Melbourne. The Australians certainly love their sport and they've been well and truly bitten by the Formula 1 bug.

    "Last year Nick took second for us in the first race of the season, and we're hoping that we get off to a good start in Albert Park once again this year. We are heading in the right direction with the BMW Sauber F1.09; both the drivers and the engineers came back with positive feedback during testing. Plus, Nick and Robert carried out full race simulations without suffering any technical problems.

    "As far as KERS is concerned, our system will be race-ready in Melbourne. We sent the cars out regularly with KERS during testing and the results were very good. Now it's just a matter of weighing up the pros and cons. On the positive side, the drivers would have an extra 82 hp at their disposal for 6.6 seconds per lap. However, the system adds weight to the car and this has an impact on the car's weight distribution and tyre wear. We will make a decision on a driver-by-driver, circuit-by-circuit basis."

    Willy Rampf, Head of Engineering: "There's always a lot of anticipation ahead of the first race of the season, but this time it's even more exciting than usual. Winter testing gave us some initial indications of where we stand in relation to our rivals, but there are still a lot of question marks. The reason for the uncertainty is the radical changes made to the technical regulations.

    "Totally new aerodynamics with significantly lower downforce compared to last year, the introduction of KERS, the return of slicks and the double mileage requirement for the engines mean we're starting from a totally different basis. Using the potential of the tyres to optimum effect will be particularly important.

    "Melbourne is a stop-start kind of circuit, which places heavy loads on the brakes and, at the same time, demands good traction. Grip levels are very low, especially at the start of the weekend, but you cannot let that deflect you from getting the car set-up right."



  • Music video highlights: WS Preview
  • Ferrari to race KERS in Melbourne
  • Vettel concerned about KERS safety
  • Monday, March 23, 2009

    FIA set to postpone new points system

    The FIA has said it will defer the introduction of a new points system in Formula 1 until 2010 if teams are unhappy about it.

    The Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) issued a statement on Friday questioning the validity of the rule change which will see the world championship handed to the driver with the most wins.

    FOTA believes that the rules could not be changed at this late stage without unanimous support of the teams.

    The FIA has responded to FOTA's claims, suggesting that its World Motor Sport Council that voted for the changes earlier this week was under the impression that the teams had supported the 'winner takes all' proposal put forward by Bernie Ecclestone.

    In light of complaints from leading figures, the FIA has now said that if the teams are unhappy then the introduction of the wins systems will be delayed until 2010.

    The statement said: "On 17 March, the FIA World Motor Sport Council unanimously rejected FOTA's proposed amendment to the points system for the Formula One Drivers' Championship. The 'winner takes all' proposal made by the commercial rights holder (who had been told that the teams were in favour) was then approved.

    "If, for any reason, the Formula One teams do not now agree with the new system, its implementation will be deferred until 2010."



  • FOTA ‘concerned’ about FIA decisions
  • Economic state may affect spending
  • Shields takes pride in long outings
  • Hamilton saddened by FIA's decisions

    Hamilton saddened by FIAs decisions

    World champion Lewis Hamilton has called on the FIA to start working with the teams to help improve Formula 1, after becoming the latest driver to criticise rule changes announced this week.

    In the wake of the announcement about budget caps and the decision to award the world championship to the driver with the most wins rather than the most points, Hamilton has expressed his disappointment about what has happened.

    It follows critical remarks that have been voiced by former champions Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher about the changes.

    "I think it's a shame what's happening to Formula 1," said Hamilton on Friday. "It's hard to believe that these recent decisions will improve things for the trackside spectators and TV viewers, who should always be our number-one priority, but I guess we'll have to wait and see.

    "Whatever the points system, I know that all Formula 1 drivers will always race our hearts out."

    The FIA's shake-up of F1 rules went against proposals put forward by the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) following consultation with fans. Hamilton believes that the FIA's stance in rejecting FOTA's proposals is not good for the sport.

    "For the first time in recent years we have the teams, drivers, sponsors and fans all working together for the good of our sport - now we just need the governing bodies to listen to us and help us," said Hamilton.

    "Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport and that's what we all love about it; we should all be working together to maintain that."



  • MLB Network partners with Verizon
  • Theissen: Team unity good for F1
  • Fans to get access to more data in ‘09
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  • Ferrari to race KERS in Melbourne

    Ferrari to race KERS in Melbourne

    Ferrari has given its Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) the sign-off for use from next weekend's Australian Grand Prix, AUTOSPORT can reveal.

    Following successful tests of the system during its pre-season development programme, Ferrari is heading to the race in Melbourne intending for both Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen to have KERS fitted to their cars.

    Ferrari is the second team to confirm its KERS will be used in Melbourne, with Renault having announced earlier this week that it would use it in Australia.

    BMW Sauber has also said that its system is race-ready, but the team is not yet decided about whether it will be used.

    Although Ferrari admitted at the start of the development of the F60 that its KERS system was late, the team has made good progress since then - despite a few issues in testing.

    Technical director Aldo Costa said the team's plan from the start was always to have KERS ready for Australia, although a contingency plan had been put in place.

    "The objective is to arrive at the first race with a functioning and competitive KERS, but we also have a B plan: not a different car but a version without KERS," he said in January.



  • Alvarez showcases talent for Bucs
  • Zambrano Game 2’s central figure
  • Ferrari boosted by progress with KERS
  • Ferrari prepared for KERS delay
  • Ferrari still undecided on KERS debut
  • With ALDS set, Rays ready for White Sox
  • Sunday, March 22, 2009

    Mosley: FOTA response was 'weak'

    Mosley: FOTA response was weak

    FIA president Max Mosley says he regarded the Formula One Teams' Association's response to the introduction of budget caps as 'weak', and feels the teams' body should have gone further with its own proposals.

    FOTA recently unveiled plans for cost cuts that it believed would reduce Formula 1 budgets by 50 per cent, but the FIA World Motor Sport Council still chose to introduce an optional £30 million budget cap for 2010.

    A FOTA statement expressed the teams' 'concern' at this development, but Mosley says the independent outfits are in favour of the concept.

    "It was a weak response," Mosley told the Daily Telegraph. "They knew we were considering a budget cap, but I don't think they expected us just to do it like that.

    "The complaint was that we didn't consult them. Well, we've been talking a lot to Force India and Williams, both of whom were very supportive. I've not spoken recently to [Red Bull owner Dietrich] Mateschitz but I would have thought it might appeal to him too.

    "In any case, we had to do something. All we've had from the teams so far is 'We've done a fantastic job, we've reduced costs by 50 per cent'. So what?

    "It has come down from $300-$400 million to $150-$200 million? Well, that's admirable, but I'm dubious as to whether they will still have $150-$200 million in 2010 and 2011.

    "It is provisional. I actually think it could be done for £25 million but that's just my opinion. All my advisers think it should be more."

    Mosley remains convinced that the teams will ultimately welcome the idea of a budget cap.

    "When people calm down a little bit they will see that all of this is brilliant for Formula 1," he said. "It won't hurt the DNA of the sport - £30 million is still vastly more than any other series."



  • Long balls lead Dodgers in Game 1
  • FIA: Cap to lead to clever engineering
  • Phils take 2-0 NLCS lead over Dodgers
  • Economic state may affect spending
  • Analysis: Reading between the times

    Brawn GP's stunning start to testing has left observers and rival teams in no doubt that the outfit will be contenders for victory when the new Formula One season kicks off in Australia next week.

    But although its headline-grabbing pace has made it fairly straightforward to judge its potential, behind Brawn GP the picture has not been so clear with teams delivering varying performances at different stages of their pre-season preparations.

    Last week's test at Barcelona in Spain, however, offered the best chance so far to judge where the teams stand.

    The end of day times released can be very misleading with regards to car pace, as teams run vastly different programmes, vary the parts on the car and, of course, change drivers between days.

    However, a more accurate estimation of relative pace can be achieved by taking long-run data and correcting it for various factors such as tyre degradation and how fast the track is due to weather conditions and grip levels.

    An analysis by autosport.com of the entire week's data from Barcelona has delivered the first detailed hint of where teams stand.

    In terms of demonstrated pace, the field is separated by around 1.8 seconds - with Brawn GP leading the way and McLaren bringing up the rear.

    Such an outcome tallied in with the general feeling from the test, but as the graph below shows, it is interesting to see that Toyota and BMW appear to be Brawn GP's closest challengers - enjoying a couple of tenths advantage over Ferrari who is in fourth place.

    Analysis: Reading between the times

    Of course it is impossible to be 100 percent sure that the results of the test tally with an ultimate car's performance, because there is a chance that some teams could be 'sandbagging' or running super light for added speed.

    This particular set of results is also slightly marred by the fact that several teams, most notably McLaren, only brought new developments partway through the week and the testing times with older revisions were slower.

    Comparing only the fastest times that each team demonstrated sees Brawn GP still leading the field, with an eight tenths advantage over their nearest challenger Williams, with Toyota in third.

    Analysis: Reading between the times

    * There is further analysis of the Barcelona testing times in this week's AUTOSPORT magazine, demonstrating how Brawn GP's long run pace leaves it well clear of its rival at the end of stints.



  • Brawn enjoy promising start to testing
  • MLB Network signs Vasgersian
  • Loeb under no illusions over F1 test
  • Massa: Brawn GP pace unreachable
  • Best-of-seven series a better test
  • FOTA says points change is not valid

    FOTA says points change is not valid

    The Formula One Teams' Association has questioned the validity of the FIA's decision to impose a new points structure for this season.

    The FIA announced on Tuesday that it would hand the world championship to the driver who scored the most wins in 2009. That decision was drawn criticism from several high profile figures, and FOTA now believes that the FIA is in fact not allowed to have made the change without the unanimous support of the teams.

    In a statement issued on Friday, FOTA said that it hoped it could work together with the FIA for a new points structure to be put in place for 2010.

    "Following the decision of the World Motorsport Council of the 17 March 2009 to change the way the drivers' championship is awarded, the Teams gathered and unanimously agreed to question the validity of this decision," said the statement.

    "FOTA had made a proposal that was carefully based on the results of a Global Audience Survey, which allowed listening to preferences of the public, and all the Teams firmly believe that these indications should be properly taken into account.

    "The amendment to the sporting regulations proposed by the World Motorsport Council was not performed in accordance with the procedure provided for by Appendix 5 of the Sporting Regulations and, as per the provisions of the article 199 of the FIA International Sporting Code, it is too late for FIA to impose a change for the 2009 season that has not obtained the unanimous agreement of all the competitors properly entered into the 2009 Formula 1 Championship.

    "Since the change to the scoring system unanimously agreed by the Teams and proposed to FIA did not receive approval of the WMSC, no change can occur in 2009, and the Teams wish to reaffirm their willingness to collaborate with the FIA in order to jointly define a new point system for the 2010 season within a comprehensive set of measures aimed at further stimulating the attractiveness of the F1 Sport."

    Appendix 5 of the F1 sporting regulations details how regulations can be changed in F1, while Article 199 of the International Sporting Code says that the FIA cannot make changes to the sporting regulations at this late stage without unanimous approval of the teams.

    It says: "Changes to sporting rules and to all regulations other than those referred to in b) above are published at least 20 days prior to the opening date for entry applications for the championship concerned, but never later than 30 November each year.

    "Such changes cannot come into effect before 1 January of the year following their publication, unless the FIA considers that the changes in question are likely to have a substantial impact on the technical design of the vehicle and/or the balance of performance between the cars, in which case they will come into effect no earlier than 1 January of the second year following their publication.

    "d) Shorter notice periods...may be applied, provided that the unanimous agreement of all competitors properly entered for the championship or series concerned is obtained."



  • Fresh matchup offers must-see baseball
  • FOTA calls for points system overhaul
  • Q and A with Force India's Simon Roberts

    As well as a new-look car in 2009 and a new engine partner, Force India has a new management structure this season too.

    The team's chief operating officer Simon Roberts arrived at the team at the end of last year as part of its technical collaboration with McLaren, and he has already been left impressed by what he has seen.

    With the new VJM02 looking solid in testing, autosport.com caught up with Roberts to get his verdict on how the team is looking on the eve of the new Formula 1 season.

    Q. How have the pre-season preparations gone?

    Q and A with Force Indias Simon Roberts

    Simon Roberts: The guys have done a fantastic job. They designed and built the car in 108 days, between the decision to change engine and the first track running. So we haven't been able to do as much winter testing as we wanted, but we have proven reliability which has been really good.

    It means that we have been able to do some performance work, so in the time we had available we have got everything done that we wanted to. We went through it all yesterday and there is nothing missing in terms of going out to Australia. If we had had another two weeks testing then we would have done even more, but it's good.

    And we found some things, particularly the first week when we ran it in anger. There were faults, inevitably, but we were lucky. We had things that could have stopped the car. We found them under red flag conditions or on the way back to the pits, so although it was downtime we didn't break anything.

    When you can find things going wrong before they have completely broken then you can quite often find the cause - which we did. So because the team worked so quickly we were able to put things in place and validate it last week in Barcelona.

    Apart from what we don't know, touch wood, we expect to run reliably. And we fundamentally know how the car works, we know how to move the weight around and move the aero balance around, which is good.

    Q. What has been your focus since you joined the team?

    SR: The big structural stuff was done with me arriving, so we haven't fundamentally changed anything. There have been a few minor things as you can imagine over the few months period, but all I've done is work with the guys and focus on getting the programme to delivery, keeping the supply base lined up, and keeping engineering in terms of the off-car stuff working - and fundamentally making sure that we work effectively with McLaren and Mercedes-Benz, which has gone really well. We've got a really good team in place, and everyone gets on well, which is really good.

    I think we had an advantage there, because the guys in Force India were used to dealing with engine suppliers. They dealt with Ferrari, Toyota and Cosworth before - so we had an advantage in knowing more about how to manage Mercedes-Benz and McLaren than they did. So the first few weeks was quite a steep learning curve for those guys, but once we got it going it was all fine.

    Q. There have been huge rule changes over the winter, and in the longer term with cost cuts. Has that helped you in being able to sort things out, as opposed to the days of really big budgets a few years ago?

    SR: I think with the rule changes from 2008 into 2009, there is opportunity in there for sure. But there is risk in there also. The small teams could get lucky, and we could have created a car where our interpretation of how to develop it under the new rules gives us an advantage over the others. But fundamentally the guys with the most wind tunnels, the most CFD and the most engineers - even if you are better than them on day one, they are going to catch you. So in the arms race view of life, it will all level out eventually.

    Then when you move into what happens for 2010 and beyond, whether it is cost caps or regulations, we expect that to play more into our strengths. I don't know what F1 teams will look like in a few years, but I expect them more to be Force India size and scale than Toyota.

    Q. What shape do you think your car is in as we head to Melbourne?

    SR: That's a good question! We would like to think that we will be getting through Q1 into Q2, but I don't honestly know if Q3 is on. So definitely Q2 and looking to be running competitively in the midfield, and hoping we are reliable and the others are not. What we want to do this season is get some points - that is the first challenge and in the first few races points are normally lost rather than gained, so we need to be there to take advantage of that.

    As the season moves through, I would like to think that we can reliably run in the midfield and start challenging. But this is a three-year plan, and in 2010 we want to do what Toro Rosso did last year, running up front of the midfield and if someone makes a mistake then perhaps grab a podium. In 2011, we want to have improved enough so we can fight for podiums. So, it is ambitious but not unrealistic.

    Q. With the lack of testing this year, and the timescales caused by new regulations, are you expecting a lot less reliability from teams this year to mix up the results a bit?

    SR: Possibly, but then the engines are running 1000rpm less. So there is actually less stress on the engines and gearboxes. KERS is another factor, because that could potentially introduce unreliability. So I don't know - there is a slightly different risk profile.

    On the one hand there is less testing, so you haven't got the opportunity to test, but you need to test to make sure that the things you put on the car work and are reliable. So I think the way teams approach that will be quite interesting.

    I think we are in a good position. It's not that we don't have anything to lose, but if you are trying to get into that midfield place then we can test parts on the Friday and we are not risking the drivers' championship or things like that. The teams that are up there and at that top level, they are going to have to think long and hard about what they are going to be playing around with on a Friday.

    Q. What is the progress on your KERS system?

    SR: The car is designed to run exactly the same system as McLaren. It is literally plug and play. We had a system on the car this week at Silverstone, although it wasn't live, just to double check the installation. That went very well.

    What we think is that as the season develops, KERS will become something of a performance differentiator. Early on I think it will be a bit of a mixed bag as teams learn the systems, the advantages, the disadvantages, and they will debug all the unreliability.

    So we are not intending to race it in Australia, but we would think that by the time we get to the European season then we will start introducing it. But it will be used as a performance device, depending on the circuit, the weight of the drivers and the weight of the package. Then some races we will definitely use it, and some others we definitely won't.

    Q. Both Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella had up and down fortunes last year. Have you noticed a bit of a lift from them because of all the changes at the team?

    SR: Yes, both of them. I think within the first day each of them were in the car, you could tell that they liked the package. We have had really good feedback from them - although like all drivers they want more downforce. They have confirmed from the feedback we've had, and I include Tonio Liuzzi in that, that there are no vices in the car.

    It rides the kerbs well, you can make it understeer or oversteer, so there is nothing wrong with the package. The aero map is nice and balanced, so they have got something they can really use - and we just need to take some performance to it. But as a start point, all the drivers are really positive - they see this as a good step. It is just a more refined package I think.

    Q. And what about Fisichella in particular, as a lot of people were writing him off last year?

    SR: I think he genuinely sees an opportunity. I don't know how long he will stay in F1, but it would be great for him if he had a good year - and great for us.

    Q. You are not a team gunning for the world championship, but do you think the new points structure will make any difference to teams fighting in the midfield?

    SR: I don't know. You are back into the risk element there, because if there are teams who are shooting for a drivers' championship at all costs, then they are going to have a different approach to risk and performance so they may inadvertently not finish some races, or do things with tyres that they regret later. So maybe that will affect us. But in reality I suspect it will still lead to normal levels of reliability.

    The guys who are consistently in the podium places, it will affect them a lot more. But I haven't thought too much about it, to be honest - my focus has been on getting the car out, making sure there are performance upgrades behind it and that sort of stuff.

    Q. What is your plan for developing and bringing new stuff on the car now that there is no in-season testing?

    SR: I think you have to have a strategy to move forward, and I don't think there is a right or wrong answer - only that once you have decided your approach you have to stick to it. So what we are planning to do is have performance packages that we take to the car, but it is not a do-or-die effort.

    We have just completed a performance pack for Australia, so people will see that at the race. Then anything that didn't quite make it or didn't work out as expected, we will test on the Friday in Malaysia, Bahrain and China, and if it works we will use it. And if it doesn't, we won't.

    The next upgrade will then be in Barcelona, so we will have the same approach. We will target a whole lot of stuff for Barcelona, but we will be realistic. If stuff works but we can't make it in time, then we will introduce it in Turkey or Monaco. That is our way forward, and I think if you do that you get a better result from the team because they know what they are aiming at, and they can make the right decisions and the right compromises.

    If you are just continually throwing performance at the car, you can get in a bit of a spin. And then with limited testing, it is quite hard to see if you can really make a difference. The key is not getting lost - you need to know where you are, know what you are doing, but you have to be flexible and you have to push. That is what we will do.

    Q. Where does Force India stand on the diffuser issue?

    SR: We are watching with interest - that is a polite way of putting it. We have studied it, we are sure we understand how it works, and if it is okay then by the end of the season everyone will be running them - including us. We've got one in the wind tunnel, but we can't get one to the track in Australia but it is something we could have in one of our early upgrades. We are confident we can make it work, and if they are okay and everyone runs them, then great.

    Q. With such a big change of regulations this year, can you foresee more arguments over tweaks on certain cars?

    SR: Yes, I think it is inevitable. What is really nice is that you look at the cars now, even though it is just testing, and they are all different but they are all really, really close. You think about the magnitude of the rule changes, the fact that there are so many different people with fundamentally the same tool set but working in different countries, the fact that there are such big rule changes and the fact the cars can be so close with such a different approach is really interesting.

    What is also means is that through the year, people will pick the best bits off each car. And if they can understand how they work, and can make them work on their car, then the cars will migrate in a certain direction - and then the rules will change again!

    Q. And how is the challenge for you, having come from a big team like McLaren?

    SR: I really enjoy it. When I came here, I just didn't have any preconceptions. I didn't know who was there, or what they did. I did figure that there would not be as much money to spend as we had at McLaren, which was true, but although it is very different culturally it is very similar to the way McLaren used to work in the old factory.

    It is very tight knit, a similar type of building, well integrated. The guys themselves are just fantastic; you can just get things done so quickly, which is really nice. We haven't got as much equipment and resources as the other guys - so although on the one hand you could think 'oh, if only', realistically we don't have to worry about that.

    You can decide the direction, we can agree it very quickly and then we move on. I think we have to exploit that as a strength - our ability to innovate quickly and be agile to changing situations is a strength. We are good at it, and the fact we can design and build a car in 108 days is testament to that. And it wasn't a shoddy job - it is a nice looking car, built really, really well.

    In McLaren days, if the guys building the car say this is a good car then that is a hell of a good start point. It means the mechanics are on your side from day one, and if it is easy to build and easy to look after then it is easy to bolt performance on it. If the thing doesn't go together or is too fiddly, then you are fighting it from the start.

    Yes we were disadvantaged by the late start, but we will recover. We still have performance coming from the tunnel, and we are not looking to cure any vices, so it's not like we have to fix issues before we can bring performance. It works, so we can just keep looking forward.



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