Archive for January, 2010

• Technical insight – Renault’s James Allison on the R30

  F1 Interviews 31/01/2010 19:50 no comments

  Renault’s technical director James Allison discusses the team’s 2010 car, the R30, and explains how the latest rule changes have impacted its design and development…

  Q: James, how different is the R30 compared with last year’s car, the R29?
  James Allison: It’s very different and even my Mum could tell the exterior differences! The R30 is a considerably more svelte and attractive car than its predecessor. These changes are not made for aesthetic appeal however…

   

• Q&A with Renault’s Kubica and Petrov

  F1 Interviews 31/01/2010 18:03 no comments

  Following Sunday’s unveiling of the R30 in Spain, Renault drivers Robert Kubica and the newly-confirmed Vitaly Petrov give their thoughts on the new car and the season ahead…

  Robert, you’ve had a long association with Renault throughout your career and now you’re racing for Renault in F1. How does it feel?
  Robert Kubica: I’m very happy to be here and, as you say, I do have a long history with Renault. In fact my single-seater career started in a Formula Renault in 2001

   

• Petrov confirmed as Renault launch R30

  F1 Headlines 31/01/2010 16:00 no comments

  Russian driver Vitaly Petrov will partner Robert Kubica at Renault, it was confirmed on Sunday. The news came as the team revealed their 2010 car, the R30, at Spain’s Valencia circuit, where pre-season testing begins on Monday.

  Petrov, 25, was runner-up in the 2009 GP2 Series and will become the first Russian to compete in Formula One racing when he takes to the grid in Bahrain in March…

   

• BMW Sauber C29 unveiled in Valencia

  F1 Headlines 31/01/2010 14:10 no comments

  BMW Sauber became the third team to reveal their 2010 car on Sunday as the wraps came of the C29 at the Valencia circuit in Spain, where pre-season testing gets underway on Monday.

  Drivers Pedro de la Rosa and Kamui Kobayashi were on hand to unveil the Ferrari-powered machine, with the team back under the leadership of founder Peter Sauber following the departure of BMW…

   

• Online launch for Virgin next week

  F1 Headlines 29/01/2010 17:06 no comments

  Virgin Racing, one of four new entrants to the Formula One grid for 2010, will reveal their first car next week. The VR-01 will be unveiled online on the morning of Wednesday 3 February.

  The Cosworth-powered car, which has been designed entirely in the digital domain by technical chief Nick Wirth’s Wirth Research organisation, will be raced by former Toyota driver Timo Glock and team mate Lucas di Grassi…

   

• Q&A with McLaren’s Button and Hamilton – updated

  F1 Interviews 29/01/2010 13:52 no comments

  Friday may have been the world’s first opportunity to glimpse the new McLaren, but surprisingly it was also the first time either of the British team’s drivers had laid eyes on the MP4-25. Unsurprisingly, both Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton seemed enthralled with their new charge and can’t wait to get behind the wheel. Here the pair reveal their first impressions and look ahead to next week’s debut test…

   

• Technical insight – McLaren’s Goss & Lowe on the MP4-25

  F1 Interviews 29/01/2010 13:00 no comments

  With the regulation changes for this season far less extensive than they were for 2009, you’d be forgiven for thinking McLaren’s 2010 car would bear more than a passing resemblance to its predecessor. The MP4-25, however, is a very different beast, with its distinctive dorsal fin just one of a number of major design changes. The British team’s director of engineering, Paddy Lowe, and the car’s chief engineer, Tim Goss, explain…

   

• McLaren reveal innovative MP4-25

  F1 Headlines 29/01/2010 11:29 no comments

  Hot on the heels of Ferrari, McLaren presented their 2010 car to the world on Friday, when the MP4-25 was unveiled at the UK headquarters of sponsors Vodafone. The team hope the new machine will maintain their strong momentum from the latter part of 2009 and put them firmly back in title contention.

  With its dramatic looking engine-cover fin, the car will bear the prestigious number one, thanks to reigning world champion Jenson Button joining fellow Briton – and 2008 champion – Lewis Hamilton…

   

• London launch for new Lotus

  F1 Headlines 29/01/2010 10:19 no comments

  They had already named the date, but now the new Lotus team have also announced a venue for the launch of the car in which Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen will contest the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship.

  The wraps will come off the Malaysian-backed squad’s first F1 car at London’s Royal Horticultural Hall in the UK on Friday 12 February. An expected audience of 400 guests will be the first to see the new Lotus livery…

   

• Williams sign Bottas as official test driver

  F1 Headlines 29/01/2010 10:02 no comments

  Williams have confirmed the appointment of Finland’s Valtteri Bottas as the team’s official test driver. Bottas, a 20-year old from Nastola, will take up the role vacated by Nico Hulkenberg as he steps up as a team race driver…

   

• Alonso certain new Ferrari will be strong

  F1 Headlines 28/01/2010 17:36 no comments

  After two years of lacklustre results at Renault, Fernando Alonso is impatient to get back to his front-running ways with new team Ferrari this season. Speaking at the launch of the Italian team’s 2010 challenger, the F10, Alonso was very optimistic he’s got a machine that could put him right back into contention.

   

• Ferrari’s Marmorini and Tombazis on the F10′s design

  F1 Headlines 28/01/2010 14:32 no comments

  Although the regulation changes for this season are a lot less extensive than they were for 2009, Ferrari’s technical team have had their work cut out over the winter months. Charged with not only fine-tuning their engine and chassis to fit the new rules, they have also strived to overcome the performance shortfall that saw the Italian team clinch just one race win last year…

   
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  Racing the desktops

  Chit Chat 28/01/2010 10:56 no comments

  Now i know that i have promise a blog about Formula 1 news and tech’s data but from time to time is good for you to look around and enjoy the world with all it’s good, bad, normal and strange things. That’s why i’m going to tell you guys that [...]

   

• Ferrari take wraps off 2010 car

  F1 Headlines 28/01/2010 10:29 no comments

  Ferrari have become the first team to officially launch their 2010 car after unveiling the F10 on Thursday. The machine will be driven by Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, as they attempt to return the Italian squad to title contention following a difficult 2009 season, which brought the team just one victory.

  The F10 is the 56th single-seater produced by Ferrari to contest the world championship and will make its track debut on Friday at the team’s Fiorano circuit, with Massa behind the wheel…

   

• Ferrari ready to kick off launch season

  F1 Headlines 27/01/2010 15:17 no comments

  It has been months since we bid farewell to the 2009 season after its spectacular Abu Dhabi send off. But finally the wait is almost over and within hours we’ll catch a glimpse of a 2010 car. First out of the gates will be Ferrari, who are set to launch their new challenger at their Maranello factory on Thursday morning, ahead of McLaren’s Friday event.

  The wraps will come off the as-yet unnamed Ferrari at 1030 local time during a ceremony held at the Italian team’s new GT Assembly Line pavilion. Chairman Luca di Montezemolo, team principal Stefano Domenicali, 2010 drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, and various engineers will all be present, with the whole event broadcast live on Ferrari’s official website.

   

• Exclusive Ross Brawn Q&A: I can strike it lucky again

  F1 Interviews 27/01/2010 09:19 no comments

  Ross Brawn is a fortunate man. During his Formula One career he has already won everything there ever is to win, but it doesn’t look like he’s reached the end of the road just yet. And after sensationally clinching both titles last year, he’s hoping to do the same again with the newly-formed Mercedes GP team.

  With Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg and the might of Mercedes-Benz on his side, you wouldn’t bet against him…

   
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  Red Bull – Ready for revenge

  Chit Chat 26/01/2010 19:30 no comments

  Well guys is clear now the Red Bull car is finally  done and it will be presented on 10th of  February on the Circuito de Jerez Spain. Vettel and Webber will dresup for test on this day and finally they will get to see how the new creation of the [...]

   

• Q&A with Mercedes’ Michael Schumacher & Nico Rosberg

  F1 Interviews 26/01/2010 09:52 no comments

  If ever a driver line-up had that certain smell of success, this is it. There may be 15 years between Mercedes GP drivers Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg, but they are united in their attitude towards making the ‘Silver Arrows’ a success through teamwork. Whether it really is a match made in heaven, only time will tell…

   

• Hartley and Ricciardo named Red Bull reserves

  F1 Headlines 26/01/2010 09:43 no comments

  Red Bull and sister team Toro Rosso are to have an all-Australasian reserve line-up this season after it was announced New Zealand’s Brendon Hartley and Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo will occupy their subs’ bench. Ricciardo and Hartley, who are both members of the Red Bull Junior team, will alternate reserve driver duties on a race-by-race basis.

  Ricciardo is the reigning British Formula Three champion. A native of Perth, the 20 year-old moved to Europe in 2007 to compete in the Italian Formula Renault series. In 2008 he switched to the Formula Renault West European cup, winning the title after taking eight victories. He competed in the British F3 series in 2009, where he wrapped up the championship with two races to spare.

   

• Lopez to race for US team

  F1 Headlines 26/01/2010 09:21 no comments

  The North Carolina-based US team have confirmed that Jose Maria Lopez will race for them this season. Lopez, who has previously tested for Renault, will be the 24th Argentine Formula One driver in the history of the world championship.

  “Securing ‘Pechito’ Lopez for our debut season has been a goal of ours for a long time,” said the team’s vice president Peter Windsor. “We’ve been following his career since he dominated the Renault V6 Championship in 2003…