Bridgestone announce tyre specification

As in 2007, the regulations state that each driver will receive 14 sets of dry tyres for a Grand Prix (seven of each compound), in addition to four sets of wet tyres and three sets of extreme wet tyres. The softer of the two specification Potenzas at each race will once again be marked by a white line painted in the base of the second from inside groove.

Looking beyond this season, Bridgestone also announced this week that they plan to test slick tyres again in April, ahead of their possible return in 2009.

Tyre compounds for the first nine Grands Prix of 2008:

1. Australia - soft, medium
2. Malaysia - medium, hard
3. Bahrain - soft, medium
4. Spain - medium, hard
5. Turkey - medium, hard
6. Monaco - super-soft, soft
7. Canada - super-soft, soft
8. France - soft, medium
9. Britain - medium, hard

Tyre specification for the two new street circuit at Valencia and Singapore will be announced at a later date.

Source: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/2/7406.html

Honda still struggling

Honda RA108

It seems like Honda did alot of changes on the new RA108, the look, as well as the team member, Ross Brawn. But what have not change? The speed, the position on the timesheet...

It is rather disappointing, despite the among of work that invested.

Due to the unsolve problem, Honda will stay in spain for the another 3 days (most team will be leaving spain) to rectify the handling issue, hopefully it will helps to improve the situation.

Honda will use their final pre-season test at Jerez next week to trial an all-new aerodynamics package, as the team bid to get the RA108 on the pace ahead of the forthcoming Australian Grand Prix.

Williams aiming high in Melbourne

The new Williams powered by Toyota engine

After the 3 days testing in Barcelona, Williams are safe say that they are among the top player in the coming season, if not, at least in Melbourne.

Both Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima pilot the FW30 beautifully, and manage to bring the team within the top 5 spot on the time sheet. (related post)

Remark by the technical director, Sam Michael:

“All of the systems on the FW30 have been checked thoroughly and we’ve signed
off the performance parts ready for the first race. The car has
completed numerous race simulations on the track, but we won’t know its true
competitiveness until the first few races. We can't wait to get to Melbourne to
see how the field forms up and to get racing again!”

Barcelona Summary (26 Feb - 28 Feb 2008)

Unofficial Monday times from Barcelona - Day 1:
1. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 1:22.276
2. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:22.319
3. Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 1:22.428
4. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 1:22.724
5. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren, 1:22.852
6. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 1:22.974
7. Fernando Alonso, Renault, 1:23.021
8. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 1:23.075
9. Adrian Sutil, Force India, 1:23.091
10. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:23.115
11. Sebastian Vettel, Toro Rosso, 1:23.188
12. Vitantonio Liuzzi, Force India, 1:23.239
13. Timo Glock, Toyota, 1:23.270
14. Christian Klien, BMW Sauber, 1:23.442
15. Nelson Piquet Jr, Renault, 1:23.609
16. Kamui Kobayashi, Toyota, 1:23.880
17. Rubens Barrichello, Honda, 1:24.660
18. Alexander Wurz, Honda, 1:24.667
19. David Coulthard, Red Bull, 1:24.826


Unofficial Tuesday times from Barcelona - Day 2:
1. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 1:21.234
2. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren, 1:21.434
3. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:21.722
4. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 1:22.309
5. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:22.513
6. Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India, 1:22.516
7. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 1:22.558
8. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 1:22.625
9. Jenson Button, Honda, 1:22.659
10. Vitantonio Liuzzi, Force India, 1:22.942
11. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 1:22.977
12. Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 1:23.023
13. Fernando Alonso, Renault, 1:23.112
14. Rubens Barrichello, Honda, 1:23.169
15. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 1:23.284
16. Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso, 1:23.323
17. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:23.458
18. Nelson Piquet Jr, Renault, 1:23.467
19. Timo Glock, Toyota, 1:23.561

Unofficial Wednesday times from Barcelona - Day 3:
1. Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 1:20.801
2. David Coulthard, Red Bull, 1:21.258
3. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 1:21.293
4. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren, 1:21.309
5. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:21.368
6. Nelson Piquet Jr, Renault, 1:21.443
7. Fernando Alonso, Renault, 1:21.454
8. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 1:21.796
9. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:21.933
10. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 1:22.011
11. Timo Glock, Toyota, 1:22.155
12. Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India, 1:22.233
13. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:22.286
14. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 1:22.299
15. Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso, 1:22.465
16. Adrian Sutil, Force India, 1:22.521
17. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 1:22.624
18. Jenson Button, Honda, 1:23.754
19. Alexander Wurz, Honda, 1:24.154

Spy Scandal - Not Over Yet

McLaren executives were questioned by Italian investigators in Britain on Tuesday as part an ongoing legal enquiry into last year’s ‘spy scandal’ affair. Accompanied by British police, the officials visited both the executives’ homes and McLaren’s Woking factory.

McLaren were fined $100 million and stripped of their 2007 constructors’ points after they were deemed to have benefitted from the possession of confidential Ferrari data. Formula One racing’s governing body, the FIA, has since drawn a line under the matter, but legal proceedings started by Italian magistrates are continuing.

“McLaren Racing has today continued its co-operation with enquiries instigated by the Modena Magistrate,” said the team in a statement.

“The Surrey Police accompanied Italian investigators to the homes of a number of McLaren executives as part of their ongoing investigation. A similar process has been performed at the McLaren Technology Centre.

“The police are completely satisfied with the co-operation they have received. These actions are part of a normal judicial process in connection with the ongoing investigation, and are supported by McLaren Racing.”

The Modena magistrate, Giuseppe Tibis, has already questioned McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa and former team mate Fernando Alonso over the affair.

Source: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/2/7398.html

Hamilton outpace three world champions

Despite a damp start to the day’s running, Hamilton covered 78 laps in the MP4-23

Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya, and clocking 1m 22.276s beat all three world champions, Kimi Raikkonen, Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso.

Michael Schumacher manage to clock third fastest time 1:22.428, 1 tenth behind Kimi Raikonen second place.

Williams continued to impress, with Kazuki Nakajima taking fourth slot and Nico Rosberg finishing in sixth. The duo covered over 150 laps as they continued to carry out set-up work and engine system checks.

Nick Heidfeld led the BMW Sauber line-up in eighth, with team tester Christian Klien 14th. It was the first time Klien had driven the squad’s F1.08 in dry conditions and he covered 42 laps as he carried out system checks and basic set-up work. Heidfeld, who completed 75 laps, will be joined by team mate Robert Kubica on Tuesday.

Renault’s Fernando Alonso just missed out on making it under the 1m 23s mark and ended the session seventh. Team mate Nelson Piquet Jr, meanwhile, took up 15th spot. The French team ran through a race simulation in the morning before switching to pit-stop practice in the afternoon.

Unofficial Monday times from Barcelona:
1. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 1:22.276
2. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:22.319
3. Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 1:22.428
4. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 1:22.724
5. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren, 1:22.852
6. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 1:22.974
7. Fernando Alonso, Renault, 1:23.021
8. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 1:23.075
9. Adrian Sutil, Force India, 1:23.091
10. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:23.115
11. Sebastian Vettel, Toro Rosso, 1:23.188
12. Vitantonio Liuzzi, Force India, 1:23.239
13. Timo Glock, Toyota, 1:23.270
14. Christian Klien, BMW Sauber, 1:23.442
15. Nelson Piquet Jr, Renault, 1:23.609
16. Kamui Kobayashi, Toyota, 1:23.880
17. Rubens Barrichello, Honda, 1:24.660
18. Alexander Wurz, Honda, 1:24.667
19. David Coulthard, Red Bull, 1:24.826

Detailed report: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/2/7390.html

Force India - First Day

Force India’s chief technical officer, Mike Gascoyne, described the team’s Monday session in Barcelona as ‘very productive’ after Adrian Sutil and test driver Vitantonio Liuzzi debuted the new VJM01.

Despite grey and rainy weather conditions for the opening day of the three-day session, Force India worked through the majority of the scheduled shakedown of the cars, with both drivers focusing on understanding the behaviour of its new aero package.

“Today was a very productive day today considering we were running new parts and an aero package we hadn't tested before,” said Gascoyne after 100 laps. “We were running 60 percent of the aero package we will use in Australia, and it seemed to go well.”

Full report: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/2/7391.html

Barcelona Testing - Summary

Unofficial Tuesday times from Barcelona - Day 1 (20 Feb 2008) WET:
1. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 1:30.675
2. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 1:32.370
3. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:32.599
4. Fernando Alonso, Renault, 1:32.820
5. David Coulthard, Red Bull, 1:32.924
6. Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 1:33.283
7. Nelson Piquet Jr, Renault, 1:40.073
8. Kamui Kobayashi, Toyota, no time

Unofficial Wednesday times from Barcelona - Day 2 (21 Feb 2008) WET:
1. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:30.673
2. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:31:213
3. Luca Badoer, Ferrari, 1:31.288
4. David Coulthard, Red Bull, 1:31.654
5. Fernando Alonso, Renault, 1:31.731
6. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 1:31.963
7. Timo Glock, Toyota, 1:32.407
8. Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 1:32.571
9. Nico Hulkenberg, Williams, 1:33.102
10. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, no time
11. Nelson Piquet Jr, Renault, no time

Unofficial Thursday times from Barcelona - Day 3 (22 Feb 2008) DRY:
1. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 1:22.153
2. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren, 1:22.185
3. Pedro de la Rosa, McLaren, 1:22.208
4. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:22.213
5. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 1:22.248
6. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:22.477
7. David Coulthard, Red Bull, 1:22.499
8. Luca Badoer, Ferrari, 1:22.535
9. Fernando Alonso, Renault, 1:22.657
10. Timo Glock, Toyota, 1:22.901
11. Nelson Piquet Jr, Renault, 1:23.286
12. Kamui Kobayashi, Toyota, 1:24.132
13. Nico Hulkenberg, Williams, 1:24.222

Jerez Testing - Summary

Unofficial Monday times from Jerez - Day 1:
1. David Coulthard, Red Bull, 1:20.645
2. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:20.798
3. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 1:20.831
4. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 1:20.945

Unofficial Tuesday times from Jerez - Day 2:
1. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 1:19.102
2. Pedro de la Rosa, McLaren, 1:19.287
3. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 1:19.539
4. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 1:19.601
5. Nelson Piquet Jr, Renault, 1:19.660
6. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 1:19.958
7. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:20.013
8. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 1:20.029
9. Sebastian Vettel, Toro Rosso, 1:20.105
10. David Coulthard, Red Bull, 1:20.176
11. Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso, 1:20.418
12. Rubens Barrichello, Honda, 1:21.133
13. Lucas di Grassi, Renault, 1:21.200
14. Takuma Sato, Super Aguri, 1:21.400
15. Vitantonio Liuzzi, Force India, 1:21.553
16. Alexander Wurz, Honda, 1:21.950

Unofficial Wednesday times from Jerez - Day 3:
1. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:18.628
2. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 1:19.091
3. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 1:19.215
4. Fernando Alonso, Renault, 1:19.710
5. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 1:19.829
6. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 1:19.857
7. David Coulthard, Red Bull, 1:19.883
8. Sebastian Vettel, Toro Rosso, 1:19.889
9. Nelson Piquet Jr, Renault, 1:20.014
10. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren, 1:20.152
11. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 1:20.201
12. Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso, 1:20.536
13. Jenson Button, Honda, 1:21.147
14. Takuma Sato, Super Aguri, 1:21.376
15. Rubens Barrichello, Honda, 1:21.710
16. Adrian Sutil, Force India, 1:22.244

Unofficial Thursday times from Jerez - Day 4:
1. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren, 1:17.974
2. David Coulthard, Red Bull, 1:18.485
3. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 1:19.117
4. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 1:19.429
5. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 1:19.535
6. Sebastian Vettel, Toro Rosso, 1:19.688
7. Nelson Piquet Jr, Renault, 1:19.817
8. Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso, 1:19.848
9. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 1:19.934
10. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:19.980
11. Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India, 1:20.669
12. Jenson Button, Honda, 1:20.988
13. Anthony Davidson, Super Aguri, 1:21.010
14. Nico Hulkenberg, Williams, 1:21.116
15. Lucas di Grassi, Renault, 1:21.286
16. Alexander Wurz, Honda, 1:21.605

Red Bull - Fin Bull

We have seen Red Bull, and we have seen shark's fin, but have you seen a Bull with a fin?



The Red Bull RB4 quickly established itself as the most-photographed car at Barcelona testing on Friday, thanks to a revised aero package featuring a ‘shark fin’ extension on its engine cover.

The dramatic-looking modification to the Adrian Newey-designed machine is almost certainly aimed at improving the RB4’s rear-end stability under braking - a performance area that could prove critical this year thanks to the loss of driver aids, including engine braking control.

Mark Webber was charged with initial assessment of the new aero package, while team mate David Coulthard tested a rather more conventional-looking RB4.

Source: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/2/7318.html

Hamilton subjected to racist abuse by Spanish fans

MADRID: British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton suffered racist abuse from Spanish fans during testing at the Montmelo circuit in Barcelona, Spanish media reported yesterday.

Reports in a number of papers said the McLaren driver was booed and insulted whenever he made his way from the team motorhome and into the pits on Saturday.

“It is not right the way he is being treated,” McLaren test team manager Indy Lull was quoted as saying.

Marca said that the circuit director asked for fences to be put up around the McLaren paddock and ordered the removal of banners that had been put up opposite the team's base.

Daily La Vanguardia also said the circuit director had reminded fans of their obligations at the venue.

“We would like to make a plea to the fans to behave correctly, no type of offensive behaviour can be tolerated,” circuit director Ramon Pradera was quoted as saying in the newspaper.
Hamilton, who finished runner-up in last year's championship, has become a hate figure in Spain because of his rivalry with former McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso who now drives for Renault.

“McLaren have raced and tested on Spanish circuits for many years and everyone connected with the team regards Spain and the Spanish people with great affection, Lewis included,” said a McLaren spokeswoman. – Reuters

Source: http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2008/2/4/sports/20229059

Super License, Super Price Tag

LONDON: Lewis Hamilton will have to pay 228,000 euros (US$335,700) for his licence to race in Formula One this year after forking out just 1,725 euros (US$2,551) in his 2007 rookie season.

Only Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, the Finn who beat the McLaren driver to the title by a single
point in the final race, will pay more.

International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Max Mosley confirmed on Monday that the governing body had decided to make F1 super-licences far more expensive than in the past.
“We spend a fortune on safety and most of it is for the benefit of the drivers,” Mosley told reporters at a lunch.

Upbeat mood: Rubens Barrichello (right) and Jenson Button posing at the launch of the F1 Honda 2008 car, the RA108, at Brackley, England, yesterday. – AFP“A lot of the people who have otherwise been meeting the bill said ‘Hang on a minute, these drivers are all earning megabucks and we are spending a fortune to try and make sure they are safe.’
“So hence the increase.”

The FIA said the mandatory super-licence, which cost a basic fee of 1,725 euros last year with 456 added on for each point scored in the previous year’s championship, would go up to 10,000 euros with 2,000 extra per point scored.

Hamilton won four races and scored 109 points last season to Raikkonen’s 110.
The cost of his super-licence is likely to be less than a week’s wages however for the 23-year-old Briton who this month agreed a revised five-year contract keeping him at McLaren to the end of 2012.

Newspapers have estimated that F1’s first black driver, who recently moved to Switzerland for tax reasons, will earn at least £10mil a year with significant additional sums in bonuses and from sponsorship.

Mosley said some drivers had written to him pointing out that they, and not the teams, paid for their licences. His response was that he had never imagined anyone else had picked up the tab.
“The thing is, if someone is earning US$30mil or whatever some of them earn, it’s not so bad,” he said.

“If you are down the back end, if you haven’t got a point, it’s 10,000 euros.
“To people earning their kind of money, it’s not a drama. I’d settle for that, if someone said you can have US$20mil if you pay US$250,000 for a licence.”

Mosley said the extra money raised would go “into the FIA coffers” but the governing body would also be spending far more on safety than in the past.

He also moved to reassure Hamilton after the youngster suggested last year, when he was chasing the title with a team already fined US$100mil for a spying controversy, that he might be driven out of the sport by all of the “politics”.

“I think Lewis and everybody else has to recognise that it is a complex sport,” he said.
“We do our best but ... there’s probably between 50 and 100 modifications to each car between each pair of races and we are trying to keep on top of this and make sure nobody does something unfair.

“My advice to Lewis would be put your money in the bank, don’t worry too much about it.

“As long as he keeps driving quick, he’ll be all right.” – Reuters