Archive for Formula 1

BMW F1 driver Nick Heidfeld and two-time motorbike world champion Troy Corser swap their race machines in this video produced sometime late last month. If you think about it… was this a subtle hint by BMW to Heidfeld that he will soon have to look to other forms of racing instead of his current BMW F1 car? Probably not… that’s got too much conspiracy theory kind of madness in it. Ah well. Watch the video after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Heidfeld races against an F1 car… on a bike

2009 F60 Formula 1 car.

Michael Schumacher is racing in a Formula 1 car again, and the whole world is excited about it. He is a racing legend, and is perceived by many as the ‘best’ Grand Prix driver there is. Schumacher, who has temporarily taken over Massa’s race seat following the Brazilian’s freak accident last weekend in Hungary, is now undergoing extensive training programs to prepare himself for his first race since 2006’s Brazilian Grand Prix.

Highlights of his training program would be made up by: physical exercise, driving in a Ferrari simulator and actually driving a real Formula 1 car. All of these have to be cramped within three weeks, since the European Grand Prix at the streets of Valencia happens on August 23rd. With the physical exercise, the 7 times World Champion will focus on his stamina and neck muscles, especially after suffering from a motorcycle crash in February.

2007 F2007 Formula 1 car.

The Formula 1 simulator is an important part of his training. Modern Grand Prix drivers rely on this tool, since it is the next best thing there is, after driving the actual car. Especially these days, when there is a mid-season testing ban, it becomes more important. The simulator offers real-life driving scenarios, with tracks that are developed using laser technology and satellite images. Even the virtual car features real-life driving characteristics, and various scenarios can be added, such as different weather conditions, rain for example. The simulator works like those high quality racing games available out there, although it is definitely better.

The part where the 40-year old has to drive the real car is the most important one. Unfortunately, there is a mid-season testing ban. However, there is a loophole. Schumacher is allowed to drive the F2007 race car, which is the car used for the 2007 championship. The car was not supplied by Ferrari and wasn’t classified a test car. In fact, the car is provided by F1 Clienti, which is a workshop owned by Ferrari, meaning the German is allowed to drive it. Schumacher just concluded his first test yesterday, at the Mugello circuit and the results were positive.

The car is of course outdated and was developed using different rules set by the FIA, but Ferrari fitted slick tires (from a GP2 car) and ran the car. Ferrari has requested permission to use this year’s F60 race car, but has only received the green light from FOTA (Formula One Teams Association). The Prancing Horse is waiting for the FIA’s verdict regarding the matter.

Michael Schumacher is now back in Formula One! The 7 times world champion will be racing in Felipe Massa’s seat for the European Grand Prix in Valencia on the 23rd of August 2009 and will do so for the rest of the season until Massa is ready to be back in the driver’s seat.

This must be something big for Schumacher himself as well, as he has probably in a mental state that F1 is a chapter that is pretty much closed in his life. They say quit while you’re ahead right? The 40 year old also has to physically prepare himself for the sport now as he is not exactly in F1 driving shape since retiring from the sport in October 2006, and this calls for extensive fitness programs.

“The most important thing first: thanks God, all news concerning Felipe are positive. I wish him all the best again. I was meeting this afternoon with Stefano Domenicali and Luca di Montezemolo and together we decided that I will prepare myself to take the place of Felipe. Though it is true that the chapter Formula 1 has been closed for me since long and completely, it is also true that for loyalty reasons to the team I cannot ignore that unfortunate situation. But as the competitor I am I also very much look forward to facing this challenge. Ultimately I like challenges and this is a great challenge,” said Schumi.

I’m sure droves of fans who say they have begun to lose interest in the sport will flock back to their TV sets for the races now that there is a very interesting new contender.

New shocker in the Formula One scene – BMW has announced that it will be exiting F1 at the end of 2009, after a 3 year run in the team’s current incarnation, the BMW Sauber F1 team. In the middle of 2005, BMW acquired the Swiss team Sauber and took to the starting grid under the team’s new name.

“Unfortunately, we were unable to meet expectations in the current season. Nevertheless, our ten years of Formula One experience have had a major impact on our development engineers. We have racing to thank for numerous technological innovations as well as the competitive spirit that drives us to develop mass-produced cars,” said board member Dr. Klaus Draeger.

NEW VIDEO: BMW withdraws from F1

“The main reason for this decision was not our current performance in Formula One racing or the general economic situation. It was solely the company’s strategic realignment. Premium will increasingly be defined in terms of sustainability and environmental compatibility. This is an area in which we want to remain in the lead. In line with our Strategy Number ONE, we are continually reviewing all projects and initiatives to check them for future viability and sustainability. Our Formula One campaign is thus less a key promoter for us. Mario Theissen has been in charge of our motor sports program since 1999. We have scored a large number of successes in this period, including some in Formula One racing. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mario Theissen and his team for this,” said chairman Dr. Norbert Reithofer.

Looks like the green movement killed yet another Formula One team, as similiar reasons were given by Honda when it decided to exit the sport. BMW will continue to participate in other sports like the ALMS, and of course, Formula BMW. These activities will continue to be supervised by Mario Theissen. The focus in the future will be more on programs like Efficient Dynamics.

I’m not sure what’s going to happen to the team. Perhaps someone will buy them over, and one man rumoured to possibly step in and take over the team is Peter Sauber, the man whose name is the other half of the team’s name. Whatever it is, BMW will work to find solutions for all current F1 employees, and someone else taking over is definitely one of them. Our national oil company Petronas could continue their F1 sponsorship with this new team and their new owners, if they choose to remain in the sport.

Right before the crash… look at the throttle and brake position indicators

28 year old F1 driver Felipe Massa is currently in the AEK military hospital’s intensive care unit after an accident at the Hungarian Grand Prix left him with a fractured skull, a concussion and a cut on his forehead above his left eye.

Massa’s helmet was hit by an 800 gram (0.8kg) spring that came off Rubens Barrichello’s Brawn GP car right before Turn 4 on the track. Right after he was hit, he lost consciousness for about 2 seconds and in an F1 car at such high speeds that’s alot of distance to be covered. It was not enough for him to stop in time and he crashed into the Turn 4 tyre barrier.

He was sent to the AEK via a helicopter and underwent surgery immediately. His condition is serious and life-threatening but luckily stable. Ferrari described the outcome of the surgery as “positive”. Unfortunately this means he will miss the Hungarian race day as he has to stay in the ICU for observation.

Click here to read the rest of Massa crash puts him in serious but stable condition

The FIA have announced that a deal has been reached with the FOTA and the breakaway series will not happen, instead next year’s Formula One series will continue with a full grid consisting of the existing teams and three new players – Manor, Campos and US F1.

The deal involves the teams reducing championship competing costs down to early 1990s levels within 2 years, via internal cost cutting measures. Thing is, I’m not sure what 1990s levels are, anyone have any idea? It must be higher than the 40 million budget cap though, for the manufacturers to accept it. The manufacturer teams have also agreed to assist the new entries for 2010 by providing technical assistance.

The final bit is that FIA president Max Mosley will not stand for re-election in October this year. That must have been part of the agreement – they want Max out and Max is out. The Max and Bernie circus will end this October. FOTA appears to be in the stronger position now and next they will probably try to get the commercial rights holder to give them more share of the cash, something they have been complaining about for the longest time.

US GPE, which will be racing in next year’s Formula 1 World Championship has officially revealed its intention of having current Indy Car racer Danica Patrick on board the outfit.

The team’s sporting director, Peter Windsor said, “We’re getting near to the point where we start looking at drivers and Danica is on our list for sure, because she’s the best-placed American in the leading single-seater championship of the United States.”

He also added that, “There are some other great drivers out there, Marco Andretti, Graham Rahal, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Jonathan Summerton…the list goes on. There are some really good guys and we’ve got to start focusing on that.”

27-year old Danica Patrick currently races for the Andretti Green Racing team and has thus far finished four times in the top five, after seven races of the current season. Last year she finished sixth in the championship standings and became the first female to win a major closed-course auto race in April at Twin Ring Motegi. The Charlotte-based US GPE will compete next year with Cosworth powerplants, and has yet to select which rule it will run with, with or without the budget cap.

Regarding the current situation between FOTA and the FIA, Windsor revealed, “We are open to the political instability. We’re building various iterations of the car based around the ways we think the regulations could go.”

Related Posts:
American USF1 drivers: Scott Speed and Danica Patrick?

8 of the current F1 teams that make up the Formula One Teams Association have announced that they (with the exception of FOTA members Williams and Force India) will leave F1 at the end of the current season. These 8 teams are: BMW Sauber, Brawn, Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull, Renault, Toro Rosso, and Toyota.

Continue reading after the jump for the full story.

Click here to read the rest of 8 FOTA members announce new breakaway race series, RIP Formula 1?

The FIA has unveiled its 2010 team line-up, which ended up consisting of all existing teams and 3 new teams. The following is the team list:

1. AT&T Williams – Toyota
2. BMW Sauber F1 Team – BMW
3. Brawn GP Formula One Team – TBA
4. Campos Grand Prix – Cosworth
5. Force India F1 Team – Mercedes
6. Manor Grand Prix – Cosworth
7. Panasonic Toyota Racing – Toyota
8. Red Bull Racing – Renault
9. Renault F1 Team – Renault
10. Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro – Ferrari
11. Scuderia Toro Rosso – TBA
12. Team US F1 – Cosworth
13. Vodafone McLaren Mercedes – Mercedes

I’m not really sure of how they pick which new teams to slot in, but there were more teams competing for the 3 free slots than those who made it. The teams which did not made it are Lola, Aston Martin (Prodrive), Team Superfund, Brabham, Litespeed and N. Technology. I wonder why Prodrive did not make it, would have been nice to see Aston Martin in F1. Litespeed also did not make it, despite calling itself “Team Lotus” to try to ride on the past heritage of Lotus involvement in F1.

The current teams that have been listed as confirmed are stil against the £40 million budget cap. Especially Ferrari, who issued this statement: “Ferrari submitted on 29 May 2009 an entry to the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship which is subject to certain conditions. As of today, these conditions have not been met.

“Notwithstanding this and despite Ferrari’s previous written notice to the FIA not to do so, the FIA has included Ferrari as a unconditional participant in next year’s Formula One World Championship. For the avoidance of any doubt, Ferrari reaffirms that it shall not take part in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship under the regulations adopted by the FIA in violation of Ferrari’s rights under a written agreement with the FIA,” the Italians whose name have been pretty much synonymous with F1 added.

F3 team Litespeed will be participating in the Formula One along with a few other new teams like Campos Racing, Lola, Prodrive (future Aston Martin) and USGPE for the 2010 season. But get this – they will be calling themselves Team Lotus.

The team founded by ex-Lotus employees Nino Judge and Steve Kenchington wants to use the Lotus brand name to help the team secure a place on the grid. They say they’ve licensed it, but the real Lotus has come out with a statement today saying they have nothing to do with the team and may take action to protect its brand name. It could be that Litespeed is only still in negotiations to license the name and Lotus is not too happy about them going around announcing it without confirmation.

“Team Lotus” will use Cosworth engines and a chassis designed by a team led by former Toyota and Renault technical director Mike Gascoyne. They will be leasing the RTN factory in Hingham near the real Lotus.