Force India’s F1 team chairman Vijay Mallya (centre) poses with Bollywood actresses Lara Dutta (left), Sameera Reddy (2nd left), Shilpa Shetty (2nd right) and Shamita Shetty during the launch function for the team’s new car for 2008 in Mumbai.
Not even the drivers expect to win race this season but the new Force India team will not be lacking in support when the Formula One season opens in Melbourne next week.
Millions of Indians, home and abroad, will cheer Force India’s gold, tungsten and white cars race past the chequered flag at Albert Park, judging by the media build up in the run up to its debut season.
Bankrolled by beer-to-airlines tycoon Vijay Mallya, this repackaged version of the Ferrari-powered former Spyker team is injecting patriotism to fire up India’s cricket-obsessed public in an unfamiliar sport.
“No one believed India would have a Formula One team but we are there,” the flamboyant billionaire Mallya said during the team’s launch in January.
“I feel proud that an Indian has put its flag on the F1 circuit,” Mallya added, pointing to the white, saffron and green of the Indian tricolour in the team’s logo.
India became hooked on Formula One when home-grown Narain Karthikeyan raced for Jordan in 2005 and test drove with Williams over the past two years. Compatriat Karun Chandhok test drove with Red Bull.
The sport’s commercial rights’ owner Bernie Ecclestone is convinced Formula One’s fi nancial future lies in India and China in the form of untapped advertising revenues from large TV audiences.
India has been provisionally granted a race in 2010 provided the promoters, the Indian Olympic Association, meet the stuatory requirements – like building an expensive race track. Television currently reaches around 110 million Indian homes. While cable and satellite are quickly adding to the number, half of India’s population is under 25, a goldmine for advertisers.
And Mallya has set a target of 2012 for an Indian Formula One driver to be spraying champagne after a race and is identifying talent in India to be handpicked for training in Malaysia and France.
An Indian driver would clearly help further Mallya’s and Ecclestone’s cause. “No Indian fi ts the bill yet,” Mallya said, explaining why he hired Italian Giancarlo Fisichella – a veteran of 196 Grand Prix – and German rookie Adrian Sutil to power his US$120 million adventure this season. – AFP
Source: The Sun 06 March 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Vijay Mallya on Force India
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Singapore - Getting ready for the first F1 Night Race
A worker puts up a mock Formula One racing car on a bus stop roof in Singapore.
In this coming September (2008), new pages will be added in Formula 1 history book. Singapore GP will be the first Asia street circuit, and the first ever circuit to held a F1 night race.
Using public road snaking around the Marina Bay area, organisers say the track will be almost four times brighter than a typical stadium. Nearly 1,500 projectors linked by 108km of cabling will produce enough light to meet High Definition television broadcast standards.
Tickets to Singapore GP are selling like hot cakes, and it will definitely be one of the highlight of the 18-round season that will start in Australia next week.
Google Map View - Singapore F1 Street Circuit Layout
Previous related post:
http://bcosurich.blogspot.com/2008/01/first-ever-f1-night-race.html
http://bcosurich.blogspot.com/2008/01/singapore-f1-street-circuit-layout.html
Lewis Hamilton - 2008 season will be easier!
McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton expects to have an easier time fighting for the Formula One title this season than in his extraordinary 2007 rookie year.
“Perhaps there is more pressure but I feel there is less,“ the 23-year-old told British reporters during a training workout in the gym at McLaren’s Wokingfactory, 90km south-west of London yesterday.
“Last year I had so much to prove. There was the press asking ‘can he do it or not?’ I’m sure even people in the team were wondering. I was quick in testing but racing is a different thing. People wait for you to fail.
“I think this year is slightly easier. People know how well I can drive. I’m not going into an unknown world.
“I don’t have any doubts that I will do a job this year but that means somethingdifferent now. It means I want to win the world championship.
“Last year Ferrari were ahead by maybe three or four tenths of a second,“he said. “They have a very good car again but now we are in equal cars.
“I thought it was strange that they were not at some of the tests with the other teams and I think Barcelona is a very accurate measure. It will be a lot closer than last time.“ – Reuters
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Interview - Lewis Hamilton
Re-writing history in your rookie year is not the average start to a driver’s Formula One career. And when your first year has been so startlingly good, as the second season looms there are likely to be higher than average expectations.
McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, however, shrugs off the pressure with a knowing wink. With a year of intense learning under his belt and a car that already looks like a frontrunner at his disposal, Hamilton is looking as confident and unfazed as ever…
Q: Last year you went into the season with the prevailing sentiment of ‘wow, I am in Formula One’. Then you turned into a championship contender. How do you feel ahead of your second season?
Lewis Hamilton: I would say it looks pretty much the same. I still feel like ‘wow, I am a Formula One driver’. It’s still hard to believe that I am going into my second season but I feel more confident than this time last year. The knowledge I gained throughout last year as a Formula One driver has given me greater confidence for the 2008 season.
Q: You lived the ‘zero to hero’ dream last year. How has your life changed? What have been the ups and downs and how do you feel about everyone’s high-flying expectations?
LH: I have always had high expectations in all championships. Obviously, Formula One is on another level and you are in front of millions of people and have a huge team and important sponsors behind you, but from a personal perspective my own goals and expectations of myself are the biggest challenge.
Q: The tests have so far given the impression that the MP4-23 is as strong as its predecessor and that you’ll be starting the season at the front. What are your thoughts on the MP4-23?
LH:Yes, I would agree, we have a good car. We are in a similar position to where we were last year, where we also had very good pace. In testing everybody is doing something different so it’s only when we get to the first race where we will see the real pace of ourselves and our competitors, but I’m confident we will be ready.
Q: Looking at Heikki Kovalainen’s test results over the winter, the situation seems pretty even between the pair of you. How are you getting on with him, now you have worked more closely together?
LH: Heikki and I get on really well. We have known each other for a few years. We are both in our second year of Formula One and both of us want to win races and be world champion and do the best job we can for ourselves and for the team. The chemistry is good and we have a laugh, but at end of day we are competitors as well so we will be fighting hard.
Q: Unless BMW Sauber, Renault and Williams make massive strides, it’s likely we’ll see McLaren and Ferrari fighting for victory in Melbourne. Team strategy could make all the difference. Can you draw any conclusions from your experiences last year?
LH: No. We will have to wait and see.
Q: You have signed a five-year contract with the team. It’s a strong commitment from both sides, so what enticed you to sign for so long?
LH: I think it was just an extension of the longevity we have already got. McLaren has been my home for many years so I was just happy that they wanted me to stay. I am committed to McLaren-Mercedes and I want to repay them for their support and belief in me by delivering a world championship - or two - and so it seemed natural to sign a long-term deal. I strongly believe this is where I need to be to be world champion.
Q: Knowing the strengths - and weaknesses - of your team, and having observed your opponents over the last few weeks, how do you believe the first three flyaway races will unfold?
LH: I am extremely comfortable with our 2008 package and look forward to the first three races. Naturally, we will have further developments throughout the season but I think we have a great car, a great team and a great will to win so it will be interesting to see what develops.
Source: http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/3/7415.html
Interview - Frank Williams
It has been ten years since Williams last won a Formula One world championship, but that decade away from the top hasn’t fazed the British team’s owner, Frank Williams, only made him more determined to fight back.
Reading recent media reports, you’d be forgiven for thinking the new FW30 was the squad’s best chance yet to regain their previous form, but for the moment at least Williams is remaining typically wary of his rivals up and down the pit lane...
Q: The team will mark several landmarks this season. Did you foresee such success when you first started your career?
Frank Williams: It never crossed my mind so no, not at all. Back then, my mind concentrated on yesterday’s and today’s problems.
Q: This year also sees you become the longest serving constructor in Formula One and celebrate 600 Grands Prix entries. What has motivated you over the past 38 years and what keeps motivating you?
FW: It’s very easy to be hooked by Formula One. Once you’re in, you can’t get out. It’s almost an addiction, but an enjoyable one.
Q: You had no connections to motorsport as a child. What propelled you into the sport do you think?
FW: When I was very young, motor cars were few and far between but I always loved them. I was just thrilled by their speed and their specification, I was hooked from the first time I came across one.
Q: Formula One has changed considerably during your tenure, what has been the most significant change, in your opinion?
FW: Undoubtedly safety. The advances we’ve seen over the years are very much down to Max Mosley and the FIA.
Q: Your relationship with Patrick Head is the most enduring partnership in the paddock. What do you think has been the key to its longevity?
FW: A common sense of purpose. We also have an understanding of what each other is good at so we very rarely tread on each others’ toes.
Q: Williams has an impressive employee retention record with a number of employees having worked for you from the start. What do you think encourages people to work at WF1 for so long?
FW: It helps to have been around a while, obviously! We tend to attract people who enjoy what they do and people who really want to win races. Our atmosphere is certainly disciplined, but has a light touch which I think helps.
Q: The team stands as one of just two independent teams in the pit lane. What pressures does that bring and do you see Williams staying as a force in the paddock for another ten years?
FW: Making ends meet is the single largest problem that I face with Adam (Parr) our CEO but we have a very able marketing department who always work their socks off all year round. Better results always help, but when we have had a good year we reap the rewards for the following few years. We haven’t been what I would call a force for a good few years, but I hope that we will be an honest and able competitor whilst enjoying what we do as well as being a team that helps to give the fans good value for money.
Q: The team hasn’t won a championship for ten seasons now but is it fair to say it seems to be turning a corner?
FW: Ten years is a miserably long time, Patrick and I wince every time we think about it. But life’s tough, it’s never meant to be easy, you just have to get on with it and work hard to get back to the top. Whether we’ve turned a corner, we will only be able to tell once the season gets underway.
Q: The press are speculating that Williams could be the leading team behind Ferrari and McLaren this year. Are you cautiously optimistic of improving on last year’s performance?
FW: Personally, not in the slightest, I don’t subscribe to what the press has said. Our competitors around us, of which there are many, are just as competitive. Formula One is never easy; it’s not supposed to be easy, so to think that we’re going to sail in to third place in the first few races is pie in the sky. If we do, it’ll be a tight fit.
Q: Nico (Rosberg) returns for his third season this year. How important is he to the team?
FW: He’s fundamental. We have the highest regards for him and we have great confidence that, given the right equipment, he will win races.
Q: Kazuki (Nakajima) has been promoted from test to race driver, how has he been doing over winter testing and what are your expectations of him in a race seat?
FW: We knew we were taking a bit of a gamble when we signed him, but we’ve been pleasantly surprised by his testing pace. It’s really only a question I’ll be able to answer properly after the first few races of the season.
Q: There’s a new face in team this year in the form of Nico Hulkenberg. What prompted you to take him on as a test driver?
FW: We like his background. The fact he’s a Willi Weber driver gives us confidence in our choice. He hasn’t done much running to date, but he does not appear to be a waste of time.
Q: And lastly, what are your predictions for the season ahead?
FW: I think the first four places are most likely to be occupied by the same people as last year, sadly. But I do think it will be a brilliant racing season.
Source: http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/3/7413.html
Interview - Heidfeld and Kubica
Nick Heidfel and Robert Kubica - Melbourne 2007
BMW Sauber were the surprise package of 2007, eclipsing reigning champions Renault to take an impressive second place in the constructors’ standings. This year the team’s management are hoping they can take their first win.
Following recent tests in Valencia, Jerez and Barcelona, drivers Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica talk about the recent winter break and their expectations for BMW Sauber’s third season on the grid…
Q: Did you enjoy the winter break?
Nick Heidfeld: I'm pleased to say the winter break was not actually that long thanks to the regular testing we've been doing. And in between times I've been getting through some intensive fitness training. I've got a small studio at home where I can do special exercises aimed at building up the muscles in the neck, arms and torso. I managed to spend some time with my family over Christmas and the New Year, which I really enjoyed, of course.
Robert Kubica: My winter break was pretty similar. I also spent a few days with my family and chilled out a bit. And, like Nick, I stepped up my fitness training, which included joining the team for the training camp in St Moritz. I mainly focused my training on the endurance side.
Q: Coming out of the winter break, how hard is it to motivate yourself again for testing ahead of the new season?
RK: It's not an issue. For me the short break was enough to recharge my batteries. I also like being in the car for testing. Plus there was the added incentive - and honour - of being the first person to drive the new BMW Sauber F1.08 on the track.
NH: As far as I'm concerned, the winter break could have even been a bit shorter. I love being in the car and look forward to every opportunity to drive it. All in all, I would prefer it if we tested less and raced more often. Almost five months without a race is just too long, if you ask me.
Q: With winter testing complete, how do you see things shaping up?
NH: Even for us as drivers it has been a long time since it was this difficult to say how the F1 teams stand against each other. The testing results of the big teams have simply been too variable to form an opinion. As for us, we have made huge progress since the roll-out in Valencia.
RK: The engineers took a certain amount of risk and have entered new territory in some areas with the F1.08. One of the consequences of this is that we were not quite where we hoped to be at the start of winter testing. But since the roll-out everybody in the team - and that means both the testing crew and the guys back at the plants - has been working at full steam, seven days a week. These efforts have paid off; we have made great steps forward and registered improvements in all areas. And I'm sure we are still far from exhausting the full potential of the F1.08.
Q: How has the absence of traction control and engine braking control affected you?
RK: In testing we noticed that the driver has a big influence over tyre wear. And that applies to an even greater extent the higher the temperature of the asphalt. Plus, it is also extremely important to avoid straying from the ideal line as much as possible. In the past, we could rely on the traction control to keep everything in check if we went off line, and even if you had a bit of a slide you would only lose a relatively small amount of time. Without traction control the driver has to take his foot off the accelerator to avoid the risk of spinning. And that means you lose more time, of course. As a whole, though, it is not exclusively a question of driving style. The car also has to make optimal use of the tyres.
NH: All the drivers have been really keen to find out how the latest Formula One cars react without traction control, and we have all adapted our driving style accordingly - after all that's part of our job. I also had the opportunity to try the car out in the wet in testing. I have to say that it was really fun to drive without traction control. The challenge for the drivers is greater, and that's the way I like it.
Q: In what ways does your team mate get on your nerves?
NH: When he's quicker than me. But that's obvious, isn't it?
RK: I would not like to be in a situation where I didn't have a good relationship with my team mate. Luckily Nick and I work very well together.
Q: What personal aims have you set yourselves for 2008?
RK: I will always give 100 percent and am looking to finish in the points on a consistent basis.
NH: I'm aiming to squeeze the maximum from both myself and the BMW Sauber F1.08, to minimise mistakes and to keep on developing as a driver.
Q: The first night race in Formula One history does not take place until September (in Singapore), but the idea has already been floated of holding further races in the dark. What do you think of this possibility?
NH: I'm generally a fan of all things new, so I can't wait to see how it all works in Singapore and what the atmosphere is like. The plan is to use artificial light to illuminate the race track as if it were daylight. So there is no comparison with the Le
Mans 24-hour race, where I once drove in the dark.
RK: I don't think there will be any problems if the weather plays along. We will probably notice hardly any difference to a normal race. But things might turn out rather differently if it rains, as reflections from the floodlights could have a negative effect on visibility. However, I'm sure that the FIA has planned for that eventuality as well and will ensure that the race takes place safely.
Q: And looking ahead to Melbourne…
RK: I'm a fan of street circuits, so I also like going to Melbourne. I've always been very quick there in the past. But I also like the atmosphere in the city, and the friendly, motorsport-mad fans there. At any rate, I can hardly wait for practice to start for the Australian Grand Prix. It will finally put an end to the weeks of speculation caused by winter testing.
NH: The opening race of the season is always something special. I like the
Melbourne circuit, as it has a character very much of its own - a cross between a street circuit and a permanent race track. As the circuit is not constantly used for racing, grip levels are extremely low particularly during the initial practice sessions. With no traction control or engine braking control it will certainly be a big challenge. Added to which, the weather has sometimes come up with the odd surprise in the past. For me, there is the extra attraction that Australia is my favourite travel destination, and I'll have a couple of days' holiday there before the race. Basically, I'm just really looking forward to the season finally getting underway.
Source: http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/3/7410.html
McLaren condemn Italian police report
MCLAREN have condemned reports sourced to Italian police which suggested that investigators probing last year’s spying controversy had collected incriminating evidence from the Formula One team. "McLaren Racing wishes to record its extreme displeasure with the wording of a statement that the Italian police are reported to have made yesterday," the British-based team said in a statement yesterday.
"If those reports accurately reflect the police statement, the statement is grossly inaccurate and misleading." McLaren executives, including team principal Ron Dennis and chief executive Martin Whitmarsh, were questioned in Britain on Wednesday as part of a legal enquiry into the team's unauthorised possession of Ferrari technical information last season.
That scandal cost McLaren the constructors' championship, with the Mercedes-powered team stripped of all their points and fi ned a record US$100 million.
Thursday's Italian police statement said material taken from the team "will fit into the ample picture of evidence" from which "clearly emerges the responsibilities of the management and some technicians at a high level in McLaren".
McLaren said that was wrong. "In fact, the Italian police have not yet even been given access to any of the material taken, nor have theyeven started to review that material," their statement said. "We would be extremely surprised if the review of the documentation reveals anything which has not already been disclosed as a result of the extensive investigations already carried out." – Reuters
Source: thesun - 02 March 2008