As the start of the 2009 F1 season draws tantalisingly close, today sees the beginning of the final major test before the Australian Grand Prix. Scuderia Toro Rosso will reveal their STR4 which we expect to be very similar to the Red Bull RB5, but with a Ferrari engine. And we’ll have our first chance … Continue reading 2009 F1 testing: March 9th (Update: pictures and video added)
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2009 F1 testing: March 3rd (Update: pictures added)
Posted onMore rain at Jerez yesterday meant Ferrari didn’t even bother sending Felipe Massa out on track. Fernando Alonso joins the test today and Adrian Sutil will get his first run in the Force India VJM02. But will they get a reprieve from the rain?
2009 F1 testing: March 2nd (update: pictures added)
Posted onTesting continues today with eight F1 teams in action at Jerez. Yesterday a spate of red flags and brief rain show hindered the teams’ testing efforts – will things go more smoothly today?
2009 F1 testing: March 1st (Pictures)
Posted onToday saw all eight of the 2009-specification F1 cars launched so far on track together for the first time at Jerez in Spain. Sebastian Vettel was comfortably fastest in the Red Bull, over 1.3s quicker than Felipe Massa’s Ferrari.
ING quits F1 ?σΤιΌΤΗ£ will Renault follow?
Posted onRenault?σΤιΌΤδσs title sponsor ING has confirmed what was widely expected ?σΤιΌΤΗ£ that it will not continue its F1 activities beyond the end of 2009. As well as sponsoring the French team, ING also backed the Australian, Hungarian and Belgian Grands Prix in 2008. Faced with the loss of such a major backer, will Renault cut … Continue reading ING quits F1 ?σΤιΌΤΗ£ will Renault follow?
2009 F1 testing: February 11th (Update: pictures added)
Posted onTesting continues at Bahrain and Jerez today with eight teams putting more miles on their 2009 cars. Among the many things to keep an eye on today is the planned return of Mark Webber to the cockpit, 82 days after breaking a leg in a cycling accident. He was seen limping during the Red Bull … Continue reading 2009 F1 testing: February 11th (Update: pictures added)
2009 F1 testing: February 10th (Update: video and pictures added)
Posted onNow the run-up to the 2009 F1 season really gets under way, with major tests on three of the next four weeks. After the launch of Red Bull’s RB5 yesterday there are now seven new F1 cars in action. The first of those starts today with F1 teams running in Jerez and Bahrain. Follow today’s … Continue reading 2009 F1 testing: February 10th (Update: video and pictures added)
The teams: Renault (F1 2008)
Posted onRenault started the year struggling to get into Q3 and score points. Eight months later it has scored back-to-back victories in Singapore and Japan and re-signed star driver Fernando Alonso ?σΤιΌΤΗ£ which seemed a remote possibility earlier on. Can it continue the progress over the winter and return to championship-challenging form in 2009?
The future of Renault’s F1 team
Posted onA few developments in recent weeks have planted seeds of doubt in my mind about Renault?σΤιΌΤδσs future in Formula 1. Fernando Alonso seems to want to leave the team and they?σΤιΌΤδσve admitted their engine programme has fallen behind their rivals’. The general economic outlook remains gloomy and it seems particularly poor for Renault?σΤιΌΤδσs car making … Continue reading The future of Renault’s F1 team
Has Flavio Briatore lost interest again?
Posted onWhat’s the problem with Renault? It was no great surprise to see the champions of 2005 and 2006 lose their way in 2007. There was certainly no shortage of explanations: they had lost their champion driver and talisman of the team, Fernando Alonso. They had lost the Michelin tyres to which generations of Renault chassis … Continue reading Has Flavio Briatore lost interest again?
Flavio Briatore’s risky gamble on Fernando Alonso may not pay off
Posted onAfter leaving McLaren and returning to Renault, Fernando Alonso is a happy bunny now, right. Apparently not – in an interview with a Spanish publication he showed he was already thinking of moving on again: I’m at Renault because I wanted to get back to winning, like in 2005 and 2006, if not this year … Continue reading Flavio Briatore’s risky gamble on Fernando Alonso may not pay off
2008: Renault
Posted onRenault are one of the most fascinating propositions of 2008 for me. As Felipe Massa said yesterday, many expect them to struggle again in 2008: If you have to take on Alonso it’s better that he’s driving for the French team than McLaren because it seems to me that Renault aren’t at the same level … Continue reading 2008: Renault