Welcome to the official Formula 1 thread for 2008. :)

Post up in this thread any testing times throughout the season, any driver or team news, track news, race stories or any news concering F1 whatsoever.

At this time of year most of the cars are being unveiled, so it might be useful to merge all the car threads into this one, and post up any new car news (there are quote a few of 2008 challengers to be unveiled yet) in this thread.

It's going to be a thrilling season this year, I can't wait for it, and there's bound to be quite a bit of news for it.

I'll start us all off by posting up some testing times:

Jerez day one, Ferrari quickest:
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41602

Jerez day two, Renault quickest:
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41609

Jerez day three, Totota fastest:
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41623

Get posting. :)

Toyota deny two year ultimatum
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080117170648.shtml
Humph. Well, so much for that. In until at least 2012...gives them more time to get their act together :p

I know, double post, but this is some serious news that could otherwise go unnoticed.

Firstly:
Mosley confirms F1 budget cap for 2009
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080118100724.shtml

Wow! Wow wow wow wow wow! Big news inside! It goes down like this:

- From 2009, a budget cap will be placed on all teams, to be estimated at about US$150 million.
- Engine, driver, marketing and team principal remuneration costs are all exempt from this budget cap, so really it's targeting development time and effort on the cars themselves.
- The decision can still be blocked by a majority vote from the F1 teams
- The budget cap will allow unlimited aerodynamic testing like today, unlike the proposed wind tunnel reduction rules posed by the FIA in the past

Also, the article explains that the FIA has decided to cut the engine freeze period from 10 to 5 years, making way for an all new engine formula in 2013. What exactly it is is completely unknown, but I must say it is quite coincidental timing, what with the EU's recommendation for 4 cylinder engines and/or hybrids.

In other news:
Drivers to get 1 free engine change in 2008
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080118091219.shtml

The teams, together with the FIA, have decided that the first engine change the teams suffer will come with no penalty. All other engine changes will come with it the 10 grid position penalty.

I found this one kind of funny, as the engines are reliable as now that they have been capped at 19,000rpm. That being said though, it could be a means of reducing the effect of a top team getting an engine failure, especially if the championship is close.

I think the Budget cap sounds like a not bad idea.

But i still want Mosely out, i doubt hes even interested in F1, I've read interviews hes had, and hes a right prat and needs to go soon. He thinks far too much of himself.

Also the 1 free engine change thing will interesting, but not radical

Anyone think that cap is too low ? I mean, they fined Mclaren $100 million, so that would be a 2/3rds of a budget.

$250 million then that's about right I reckon. The smallest teams can't match it, but the biggest teams can spend twice that. Nice and in the middle.

sounds like a trend. This is exactly what is happening to NHL as well. It evens out the teams abit but none the less, it makes it quite boring to watch.

sounds like a trend. This is exactly what is happening to NHL as well. It evens out the teams abit but none the less, it makes it quite boring to watch.

Yeah but in the NHL it is working, I mean we no longer have the Red Wings Stanley Cup domination now and the past 3 Stanley Cups have been won by non traditional Hockey markets do you think that would have happened pre lockout (well it did with the Lightening, yes I'm still bitter :mad: !) ??????

No thats why it is working its basically got all teams on a level playing field and then they choose how they will spend that $50million some waste it like the Capitals by signing Ovechkin to a 12 year deal at $10 mil each year and other spend it wisely like developing young talent like the Penguins, Kings & Blue Jackets with players like Crosby, Johnson & Nash respectively.

So yeah it will work in F1 aswell but it could do with being higher what with how much teams currently spend !

.....


But has long as Kimi is still in a car that can win him a championship I'll be happy :D !!!!!!!

But F1 isn't like NHL. The developement of the cars and the technology will be slowed down and I dont think the technology of F1 would always be the best of the best anymore.

But F1 isn't like NHL. The developement of the cars and the technology will be slowed down and I dont think the technology of F1 would always be the best of the best anymore.

Yeah i see what your trying to say like A1GP could take over F1 that sought of thing.

Yeah but if the FIA play this right and listen to the teams this could work out to be a great thing for F1, which hopefully it will be.

Hamilton commits to McLaren until 2012
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/1/7276.html

Hamilton commits to McLaren until 2012
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/1/7276.html
Seems like wonder-kid's in a serious relation now :D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Ahhhh, at least Kimi knows the secret to success in motorsport...

Seems like wonder-kid's in a serious relation now :D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Ahhhh, at least Kimi knows the secret to success in motorsport...

Ha ha you say 'wonder kid' good good lol !!!!!!!!!!


Yeah Kimi knows if Ferrari start to slip up he will move but stupid Hamilton will stay I feel a Buttonesque situation coming on here when McLaren start to slip (this year :D ????????) and he will have to put on a brave face for the press and say he is happen to be running midfield instead of being a major player for the title contention.

What a shame :rolleyes: !!!!!!

Aha, I seriously hope this season is amazing! I want to see the most unanticipated cars up there with the Ferrari's and I really hope that BMW can get it together! Ahh, I would love it if all these teams who want to win actually could.
But, something tells me it will be a two horse race with the odd lucky break..boring!

^^^^

I don't think McLaren will be strong, they might get the odd win but tbh I think it will be a Ferrari-BMW battle this year :D.

I hope we see Williams on top of things. Since Rosberg, one of the best drivers of this century, has yet to even get a podium. Thats hardly fair.

Williams new car is very Mclaren-esque, but seems less fluent. I'm not an aerodynamicist though, so to be honest I have no clue. I'm only going on what my eyes tell me.

Plus, the new Renault is interesting to say the least. It's a much more complex design than I was expecting, and a very interesting new nose cone.

New Honda revealed in Spain
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/1/7288.html

I have a feeling also that McLaren will not cap with Ferrari's this year.
I am waiting as well, BMW's to be strong as well as Honda's to get improved.

I say the teams going up will be BMW, Williams and Toyota.
Teams going down, McLaren, Red Bull, Renault.

Honda kind of have to get better this year, its just a question of by how much. Just my predictions, though i don't want to see McLaren drop down, I just get the feeling they will,

I say the teams going up will be BMW, Williams and Toyota.
Teams going down, McLaren, Red Bull, Renault.

Honda kind of have to get better this year, its just a question of by how much. Just my predictions, though i don't want to see McLaren drop down, I just get the feeling they will,

What makes you say that? Red Bull now has Newey-designed cars, and he's produced lots of winners before...and it's not like Renault could get any lower. And Flavio is smarter than Dennis - he knows that keeping Alonso happy means victories.

I just don't think one man makes a team. Newy may be good, but people put too much faith in the man, and i believe Red Bull may have made that mistake.

As for Renault, i don't think they'll get slower, i just think others will do a better job

Toyota deny two year ultimatum
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080117170648.shtml
Humph. Well, so much for that. In until at least 2012...gives them more time to get their act together :p

Interesting. Well, I think they will give it a few more years and see what happens. Their car isn't exactly setting testing alight and both drivers say that there is a lot of work to do with the new car. For the sake of them staying in F1, I hope they are competitive this year. But I hope Honda will beat them. :)

I think the Budget cap sounds like a not bad idea.

But i still want Mosely out, i doubt hes even interested in F1, I've read interviews hes had, and hes a right prat and needs to go soon. He thinks far too much of himself.

Also the 1 free engine change thing will interesting, but not radical

The only interesting he seems to make in F1 is when the word ''enviironment'' is mentioned. As you said, I want him out. He's hellbent on making the cars more greener and more environmentally friendly instead of making them more overtakable and the stuff that really matters to F1 to make it better. Get what the public wants! It's what you want, more money!

Anyone think that cap is too low ? I mean, they fined Mclaren $100 million, so that would be a 2/3rds of a budget.

$250 million then that's about right I reckon. The smallest teams can't match it, but the biggest teams can spend twice that. Nice and in the middle.

Teams spend like, three times as much as that a year. If the FIA want to seriously diminsh the technological aspects of the cars and let GP2 and A1GP overtake them, then fine. $250 million is a good budget, but it could be raised to I dunno, $275 million or something. But as you said, for me, $150 million is too low. And besides, not everyone agreed so I think it's going to be higher than that anyway, which is good.

Ha ha you say 'wonder kid' good good lol !!!!!!!!!!


Yeah Kimi knows if Ferrari start to slip up he will move but stupid Hamilton will stay I feel a Buttonesque situation coming on here when McLaren start to slip (this year :D ????????) and he will have to put on a brave face for the press and say he is happen to be running midfield instead of being a major player for the title contention.

What a shame :rolleyes: !!!!!!

Raikkonen has hinted that his stay at Ferrari might be his last, and I can almost guarantee that is Ferrari 'slip-up' he will not move. McLaren were inhumanely fast at most of the tracks last year so what makes you think that they will be slow this year? I can still see them challenging Ferrari next year.

So far Ferrari and Mclaren are the fastest in testing, so, it looks like the top teams are still the top teams. However, testing, is just that. They are often very mixed results.

I just don't think one man makes a team. Newy may be good, but people put too much faith in the man, and i believe Red Bull may have made that mistake.

As for Renault, i don't think they'll get slower, i just think others will do a better job

Colin Chapman made Lotus. Guarenteed fact. Adrian Newey is one of the most celebrated engineers and desingers of our age, and to say that he makes red bull what it is isn't entirely untrue. Of course, other peopl have the input, but without his lead, they wouldn't be where they are.

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41658

Testing day two Valencia.

Kovalainen 1st, Hamilton 4th, Mas/Rai in 3rd and 4th respectively.

Seems as though, as Sparky said, the top teams are the top teams, but as he again said, it's only testing.

BMW aren't doing as well as they would have hoped, but they have said there is no cause for concern.

As for Honda, their RA108 is a full second slower than anyone else in that testing....

....:(

_

Valencia Thursday, Kimi beats Kovi by 0.02s. Honda dead last. :(
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41664

Equal driver policy still reigns at McLaren:
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41667

February 7th launch at Mumbai for Force India car:
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41669

BMW are sandbagging. As usual. Look back over last years testing, BMW were never near the top. But race after race they were at right behind the front runners.

Honda have only released the RA108. So they are just doing some reliabilty and other stuff testing. So they take it easy, thus why they are so off pace.

As for Mclaren, who knows, Kovy did admit he had a low fuel lap that put him up there.
I just want Austalia to come soon, so we know just were everyone stands.

Haha, I really want Kovi to be ahead of Hammy, so lets hope it stays that way ;)
I think sonicadg is right about the Honda theory and I'm surprised at Nakajima, not bad for a Williams!

I predict Ferrari will have a slow start to the season again then show BMW (Lets face it, it isn't gonna be McLaren :p !!!) whos boss :D.

I'd say it will be ferrari start to finish. Massa will win the championship of course. :D
With McLaren and BMW battling it out.
With a Renault vs Williams battle behind that. Then the rest will follow. Its just what I think, but for all we know, one of teams could of made a mess of their car already, or one could pull a blinder. I don't really know, this year is just so unpredictable.

Haha, I really want Kovi to be ahead of Hammy, so lets hope it stays that way ;)
I think sonicadg is right about the Honda theory and I'm surprised at Nakajima, not bad for a Williams!

Unlikely, but not impossible. We'll see Kovi and Hamilton's real driving talent shown through this year. Plus you have to rmember at one time Williams where an unstoppable force in F1, and came up with some of the best ever cars bar none.

I predict Ferrari will have a slow start to the season again then show BMW (Lets face it, it isn't gonna be McLaren :p !!!) whos boss :D.

Stupid prediction.

I'd say it will be ferrari start to finish. Massa will win the championship of course. :D
With McLaren and BMW battling it out.
With a Renault vs Williams battle behind that. Then the rest will follow. Its just what I think, but for all we know, one of teams could of made a mess of their car already, or one could pull a blinder. I don't really know, this year is just so unpredictable.

Pretty much summed it up. Last year, as spectacular as it was, was controversial, and hat has worked to our advantage this year. The littler teams have started developing earlier, the bigger teams were busy battling, so the teams have tightened up very much so. However, the top three I believe will still be the top 3. If nothing else, they possibly have the 6 best drivers at the moment, maybe not for pure talent, but can utilise what is put in front of them and make an advantage for it. Arguements of who is better in this sport are somewhat irrelevant, because they will always be driving different cars.

But, lets just look forward to a lot of fun this year, and some out and out ballsy racing. I can't wait. I might even buy one of those fancy metallic Mclaren shirts (when I've lost some weight :p).

I really hope Honda gets their act together. And I wish they would go back to the Championship White/Red color scheme :(

I think it will be ferrari with both championships, mclaren second and renault third

force india will make lots of progress (or maybe im saying that because im indian)

Honda present RA108 with new livery
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080129130133.shtml

Nice to see them incorporate some white and red, and I really like how they;ve made the livery more racy, I think what lacked with the old livery was that it wasn't exactly very exciting from a race car perspective, seeing as though it was a big shot of the earth with a black back.

Exciting to hear also about Brawn commenting that the car has been designed with upgrades in mind, with the first major upgrade to come at Melbourne. That front nose cone is so high though, I still can't believe it! lol

Super Aguri may not stay the whole season
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080129093759.shtml

Super Aguri may not survive the whole season, according to FIA president Max Mosley. The team, suggested by some as Honda's 'B-team', ran into financial troubles late in season 2007 after their main sponsor, SS United, failed to pay the Formula 1 team.

The team were unsuccessful in attracting another major sponsor over the winter, and as a result, start the 2008 season with a financial cloud over their heads.

That's awful. Could the field be down to 20 half way through the season?

No. F1 just isn't the same without Super Aguri. I'll sponsor them for petes sake. Just keep Aguri in it.
Honestly, losing Super Aguri would be like losing a big part of F1. No other team tries harder. Think when Sato overtook Alonso. That was the most amazing thing ever. Then Davidson's quali in Turkey. That to was a moment of pure brilliance.



I like Honda's new livery. Its cool, and fresh. I just wonder how it will look on track. Maybe that means Honda will do better this year.
Since bad livery has proven that it makes your car slower.

Its true. Renault had awful livery, bad 2007 season. Honda had the horrid earth car, bad year. Many complained about Toyota not updating their image, thus they have got slower. Proof. :P

Oh god, Honda kept the green crap in their car livery. It's hideous looking.

Oh god, Honda kept the green crap in their car livery. It's hideous looking.

Because trying to be a little more conservation minded is such an awful thing, isn't it?

Honda is a company with a vision, and they are just spreading the love to their F1 division. It's all just advertising on the cars anyways, right? So, think of it as advertisement for the company and not a "green" message.

Because trying to be a little more conservation minded is such an awful thing, isn't it?

Honda is a company with a vision, and they are just spreading the love to their F1 division. It's all just advertising on the cars anyways, right? So, think of it as advertisement for the company and not a "green" message.

F1 and conservationalism go hand in hand.
Spread the love!

lol.

Do their drivers get FXC hydrogen cars as company vehicles now? That'd be cool...though not as cool as Kimi's car :D

Alonso had the best company car from last year. Mclaren gave him a SLR 722 edition.

Hamilton suffers racist abuse:
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41721

Spain's F1 future on line:
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41723

That really disgusts me. How sad can somebody be to do something like that.

I completely agree with you CarRocker, its disgusting. As much as I love the Spanish Grand Prix and I dont wish to offend any Spanish members of SCF, I feel that the Spanish Grand Prix should be dropped from the 2008 calender and replaced with a more deserving and less racist track, perhaps bringing back an old favourite, such as Brands Hatch? :D

^^ And Zandvoort :p

But in all seriousness, I'm glad the FIA takes immediate action. But I think it's hard for the Spanish national motorsport federation to guarantee it won't happen again. Maybe you can ban some people from the races and tests who you've got the faces from, but that won't stop other people from visiting the races.

Lets just hope it was once, and that it won't happen again. The last thing I want to see is football/soccer like hooliganism in F1. Because it's great you can sit as a Ferrari fan, next to a McLaren fan and a Williams fan, in front of a Renault fan etc.

The Spanish obviously took the RD-'Wonder Kid' relationship to heart .........

They need someone to blame !!!!


So they take it out on the first black F1 driver !

How pathetic ????????????

Yes, its true RD and the wonder kid have a good relationship and it was obvious the fabouritism towards Hamilton but come on is there any need for the racism ??????

No there wasn't !!!!!!!

http://images.worldcarfans.com/articles/2008/2/5/9080205.015/9080205.015.1L.jpg

Irony has always worked like that. While McLaren has been fined in US$ 100 million due to last year’s espionage scandal, Ferrari is said to have earned exactly the same amount of money for this year’s season, the biggest payout for a team ever made by F1 Group, controlled by Bernie Ecclestone.

Part of this huge amount of money (US$ 68.9 million) has gone to Ferrari because of last year’s Constructors’ Championship, while the rest of it (US$ 33.3 million) has been paid when Ferrari accepted to continue competing until 2012 (not that anyone thinks Ferrari will ever withdraw from F1).

While in previous years the top 10 F1 teams shared only 47% of TV transmission rights revenues, in 2007 they got a bigger piece of a bigger cake: 50% of all the profits generated by all F1 commercial rights, including trackside advertising, for example. This helps explain the great payout Ferrari has received.

Although the pilots’ wages may diminish the money the team can invest, the US$ 100 million amount does not include Ferrari sponsors’ earnings. In the 2002 season, they have surpassed the US$ 200 million barrier. 2008 could represent another record breaking year for the Italian team. And we do not mean fast laps, pole positions or points…

from WorldCarFans

First off: Bloody idiotic Spanish! What they hell do they think they're playing at? Going all the way to Spain to call Hamilton racist names and boo him whenever he was in their sight? Seriously, what a bunch of knobs, who does that?

If I was in charge of the races I'd have a serious think in dropping the race from the 2008 calendar to make sure it won't happen again. Besides, none of the Spanish races have been all that thrilling have they?

Ferrari's payout is just another part of F1....more bonuses for more important people within Ferrari I guess, then. Pretty nice to them. 1-0 to Ferrari against McLaren, and the season hasn't already begun, lol.

_

Racism exaggerated?:
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41731

Raikkonen bloody fast in the new F2008:
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41734

He ran a grand prix simulation and his fastest lap was two seconds faster than the fastest lap recorded at the race last year.

Raikkonen fastest day 1 Bahrain:
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41725

Good old Kimi :D !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So he was 2 seconds faster than last year, So I wanna see 'the wonder kid', Alonso, Kovi, Kubica, Heidfeld & Massa do something spectacular before the start of the season ????????


They won't trust me, so you guys still gonna support the 'so called better than Kimi drivers' ??????


This is gonna be a walk over for Kimi, long live the master :D.

Walk Over lol, don't be silly.

We haven't seen any other manufactuers test on this track, other than toyota, so we don't know what numbers they are capable of yet. This car is two seconds quicker than last years, which it has to be said, is damn impressive, but whose to say that the equivalent Mclaren and BMW, or even renault aren't ?

These, as of yet are assumptions. Mclaren and the likes have yet to do a full GP simulation, as far as I know, so it'll be interesting to see the pace.

It has to be said though, that's alot of pace. I'm really looking forward to this opener now.

EDIT: Hey, you never know, it's a possibility they may be cheating. A lot of engineers reckon that the new standard ecu, a lot of teams can hack, and give ghost traction control. Of course, this being Ferrari, if it were the case, they'd walk away with only a smacked bottom. :p

Man, i had a dream last night that I missed the Aus GP, it was the Saturday and quali was on and I wasn't there! Terrible!

Seriously though, the racism thing is pretty stupid of them, but I don't think it is as bad as what it is portrayed in the media. It is still an issue, and it shouldn't be around (lord knows why it was there in the first place), but I hope people can still see the country as a accepting sporting nation and doesn't automatically get a racist stereotype.

2 seconds up on last year for Kimi? That's pretty darn good, but remember that Bahrain was almost 10 months earlier from where we are now, and everything moves so fast in this sport. If Ferrari have foudn2 seconds, I would imagine other teams would have found similar gains also.

It wasn't just Kimi, that speed in Bahrain is because ferrari have created a beast, and will destroy the competition next year.

Also I found this years horror team, Toyota. Apparently they admitted the car is both slow and unreliable. They have been working on that car for under a year, how the hell did they mess it up. Unbelievable.

Toyota want a drastic improvement this year but it doesn't look as though they've got it. It was a pretty radical design to start off with but it hasn't really taken off and if they don't want another miserable campaign in 2008 then they need to really start working their asses of for some new parts to the car for Melbourne.

As for Ferrari, yes they have made a bloody fast car and I'm still sticking to my prediction of Ferrari probably being the fastest car next year. If Kimi has his head screwed on the right direction then we might have a good partnership coming along nicely.

Anyway onto the new Force India car:
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41746

They are the real deal. They've got Sutil, who is blindily quick, and they've got Fisichella, who knows what he's doing behind the wheel. Mallya seems to put enough cash in, and the good thing for us is that he seems like he actually cares about his F1 team, his drivers, and overall, the success he wants.

And to be fair, the car is pretty good looking aswell.

Mmmmmmm, that's a good livery! ah ah ah

Seriously, looks great, much better than their winter testing livery. Shame they've started on the old Spyker F8-VII, but I think they have the resources to continually develop the car.

Last year’s Formula One spy scandal doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon, as McLaren boss, Ron Dennis, has been summoned to appear in front of an Italian magistrate on February 18th. On Thursday McLaren confirmed they "had received some papers from the Modena authorities which are currently being reviewed".

The scandal occurred when McLaren was caught with technical information which apparently contained Ferrari’s car specifications and racing tactics. The suggestion is that Nigel Stepney, from Ferrari, passed along data and other pieces of information to McLaren's chief designer, Mike Coughlan. In July of last year, Formula One’s governing body said that McLaren was in procession of confidential information and was charged with breaking the rules, however they also stated that there was not enough evidence to determine if McLaren used this information to their advantage. As a result McLaren was fined $100 million dollars and stripped it of its constructors' championship points for the season.

McLaren chief executive Martin Whitmarsh, chief designer Mike Coughlan and engineering director Paddy Lowe have also been summoned.

from WorldCarFans

Let there be light - illuminating the Singapore Grand Prix
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/2/7341.html

Let there be light - illuminating the Singapore Grand Prix
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/2/7341.html
I think it will be a well prepared race. All are planned.

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41761
An intresting end to the Bahrain testing.

While Massa was on top, as it should be.
Toyota were a very close 2nd. Which interesting because, despite ferrari being a bit slower today, thats still very fast for Toyota, just maybe they have done it right.
I think it will be very interesting to see weither Toyota sink or swin at Australia.

Toyota still have a lot of work to do on both of their cars before they can get really competitive. There's a lot of work to do aswell I think, for Honda, as early signs show that they have done what was seemingly impossible; go backwards. What a waste if 2008 is like 2007 again. Urgh. Anyone else thinking what I'm thinking?

Racism exists, has always existed, and might always exist. We can only work to reduce it. I grew up in, and still live in the alledgedly more racist "redneck" southern US. I haven't been to a NASCAR race in a few years; but I always saw black fans (a minority, but growing) in the stands. People stand up and cheer for their driver making a good move. No problem. If you stand up and hurl curses, obscenities, and vulgarities at a driver; you got problem, whatever color you are (except at Talladega: Jeff Gordon needs an armored car or a chopper to get in/out of the infield there!).

Both of the first links referring to the Spanish spectator incident mentioned in the second paragraphs the former champion Alonso's treatment by McLaren. Slice it any way you want; the former champion, Spain's first, was immediately #2 driver for McLaren when Hamilton came on board. The team had spent millions on Lewis in development series for his greater marketing value.

I can't speak for "football hooligan" pride; but I can see the frustration of Spanish F1 fans. The least of these acted arses. To take the race dates away would be extreme. Spaniards (and other Spanish speaking) F1 fans might be seriously alienated.

Well for Honda the probelm is simple.
They had to start for scratch, so they are still working hard on the set-up, so I think we can expect a faster Honda this year, and they will probaly gradually climb the feild over the year.

Jenson mentioned it in an interview here.
JB: The RA108 is completely new which means we are starting from zero in terms of developing the set-up. We are also working on driveability as we adapt to the new ECU. These challenges were reflected in our speed at our debut test in Barcelona, especially on single fast laps, but our long-run consistency improved. We have a good basic car with new opportunities for aerodynamics and other areas and a clear plan for addressing any issues in the coming tests.

I'm giving this thread a much neede bump. no ones posted for ages.

First off, Williams to be thrid best team,
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080218142541.shtml

New changes for 2008
http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2008/2/7366.html


Also, i don't think I mentioned yet. All the cars have to be weighed during qualifying now, and this information will be pubicly broadcasted. So now we will know what kind of strategy the cars are using. Cool

If someone want to see Raikkonen`s new TV-advertising you can find it in here: http://www.mtv3.fi/urheilu/f1/ and there is sentence where says: "MTV3-mainos: Kimi Räikkönen taksikuskina". It`s very nice. There is some F-1 news, but everything are in finnish...

If someone want to see Raikkonen`s new TV-advertising you can find it in here: http://www.mtv3.fi/urheilu/f1/ and there is sentence where says: "MTV3-mainos: Kimi Räikkönen taksikuskina". It`s very nice. There is some F-1 news, but everything are in finnish...

Hey, a Finn! Welcome!

I'm American, but only second generation, and I'm almost all Finnish in heritage. What part of Finland are you from?

Nice!



I come from Vantaa. It is small city nearby Helsinki, but in Vantaa we have the biggest airport of Finland.

Schumacher back for Ferrari next week
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/2/7386.html

Yes, i read the news. What's the date for the first race in Australia? On the 16th of March?

Hm, i must watch it.

I know. 18 days. Its getting tense now.

We still have no idea how everyone will do, come melbourne. The testing times tell us nothing. Neither Ferrari, McLaren or BMW have tested alongside each other for a while. BMW are cliaming to go extreme, how will that go.
Are Williams actually back on top. Can Renault make up for last year. Can Honda climb back up the feild, where will the title battle be, are ferrari as fast as they look, and can Super Aguri make it to the grid.

Argg. Roll on Melbourne

I know. 18 days. Its getting tense now.

We still have no idea how everyone will do, come melbourne. The testing times tell us nothing. Neither Ferrari, McLaren or BMW have tested alongside each other for a while. BMW are cliaming to go extreme, how will that go.
Are Williams actually back on top. Can Renault make up for last year. Can Honda climb back up the feild, where will the title battle be, are ferrari as fast as they look, and can Super Aguri make it to the grid.

Argg. Roll on Melbourne
Very true. We have no idea. Alhough i think that BMW will perform good.

Also the grandprix will be broadcasted early in the morning and i might loose it. :| That's sad.

^ (to Sonic)And on top of that, teams run variable fuel loads in testing, so all the times are basically relative. Some teams may be going a qualifying simulation, a race simulation or just finding their feet with their new car. So nobody knows. All we know is that the Ferrari is blisteringly fast and they haven't even decided on their Melbourne spec race package, so they could go even quicker.

On another note, sorry I haven't been posting for the last few days in this thread, it's just I haven't visited the ITV website in a while for the testing times and news stories.

Over the last few days I've been missing F1 and I really can't wait for the new season to get up and running, and it's only round the corner now, it seems.

I'm giving this thread a much neede bump. no ones posted for ages.

First off, Williams to be thrid best team,
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080218142541.shtml

New changes for 2008
http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2008/2/7366.html


Also, i don't think I mentioned yet. All the cars have to be weighed during qualifying now, and this information will be pubicly broadcasted. So now we will know what kind of strategy the cars are using. Cool

The changes for 2008 sound quite cool, and so does the weight of the car being broadcast live on TV. Now there's something to look forward to.

_

Anyway, news!

Hamilton picks up Laureus Sports Award:
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41791

Barcelona Test Day 1:
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41797

Barcelona Test Day 2:
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41801

Barcelona Test, Day 3:
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41807 (that's Williams fastest on 2 out of 3 days)

Alonso defends Spanish fans in racism row:
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41803

I'd love to see Williams get back on top. There like the classically cool team in F1, sought of if you discount Mclaren.

The background is great, and William's has some great stories. Frank Williams was a car dealer, and though, ay, F1, I'll have a crack at that, so he did. Literally, just like that. They weren't successful straight away, but weren't all that bad either.

When it started to become a technological tour deforce, a bit more pricey game, Williams became a bit lean, and started to drop down, due to lack of funds. From this comes one of the best stories I've ever heard. Frank was trying to close a sponsorship deal with a middle east oil firm (I think) but they weren't completely sure. Frank knew that the baron was staying in a Hotel in London. So, what they did is take their car for that year, dressed in full livery, and left it outside the hotel.

The company signed up the very next day.

William's became pretty much one of the greatest teams ever, and still hold a few records I think, especially in Britain, and it's slightly strange how their pace has dropped. It makes no sense how they have dropped this far back. Again, it is more than likely down to funding.

However, let's hope we can see them back up on the podium. Good Luck getting frank up their though (oooooooooo, in bad taste. :p)

Yeah, Williams are the team I really want to see do well this year.
Somthing that annoys me though is that rosberg has never been on the podium. He highest finish was 4th, Vettel got that how many races in, driving for STR.
Rosberg deserves more than anyone to get on the podium this year.

and if my guess is right, this year will be less predictable, and that should provide the chance for alot more different teams on the podium

The Spanish daily sports newspaper Marca says McLaren team head Ron Dennis has been fired from his job as chief of the Formula One team. It says official confirmation will be sent to the world media shortly.

Dennis, who has run the team since the 1980s and still owns 15 percent of it, has been dogged by claims that he has been under severe pressure to resign after last season’s debacle in which the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team was fined a record USD100 million for their role in the spygate saga. Not only that, the team was docked all their constructor’s points, ending up with no points at all for the season. This after leading the driver’s championship, which it also did not win, for most of the year.

Ron’s deputy Martin Whitmarsh is said to be the one who will take over the embattled team. Doom may be safely predicted at Woking, for Dennis has been to McLaren what Flavio Briatore has been to Renault. He is the F1 godfather of championship hopeful, rookie-of-the-year Lewis Hamilton. What this claimed departure will do for team morale ahead of the season’s start in Australia in a couple of weeks time will only be seen if and when Dennis walks out of this, considered his second marriage.

from WorldCarFans

^^^


So if that is true McLaren are pretty fecked for this year, I mean:

2 Rookies (There still rookies, I don't care what people say !)
Bottom pit
Lack of experienced drivers
Lack of RD ????????

All equals disaster for McLaren IMO.


I wouldn't want to be a McLaren fan :D.


KIMI FTW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That isnt true! He hasnt been fired! xD

Also Nemphis, McLaren have actually been allocated the 3rd place box in the pit lane, despite having cars 22 and 23.

Id say both have done pretty well considering their lack of experience, wouldnt you?

I would want to be a McLaren fan.

HAMMY FTW!!!!!!!! :D

^^ lol, I'm not a particular driver fan so I'll just stick with whoever drives for Mclaren. (only exception would be for Ayrton Senna)

I had the same sort of dream as Timbit last night.
I dreamt I missed quali for Australia, and it had rained during quali, with Massa pulling a surprise a poll, Kovy second, and Rosberg 3rd. If only that could happen come melbourne, without me missing it.

Actually, bugger. I think I do miss the aussy open. I think i leave for holidays on march 16th. Thats the race weekend.

I had the same sort of dream as Timbit last night.

It truly is a bad dream, isn't it? :p

I'm hyper-excited. AAHH!!!!

It truly is a bad dream. It was raining to.

turns out i do get to see the aussy open, well just. We leave the very next day

In a reversal of technology transfer of sorts, International Advanced Mobility Forum, whose new president is Max Mosley, met in Monaco in the presence of his Excellency Prince Albert, to agree on certain issues surrounding hybrid technology and Formula One.

Mosley said hybrid technology would not only be accepted in F1, but would be promoted as well. He gave the years 2009, 2011, and 2013 as the critical years in which F1 would, step by step, assimilate into the world of energy and fuel saving. According to Mosley, from 2009 F1 cars should be able to recover energy lost in braking. By 2013 the recycling of exhaust fumes would be feasible. Recycling of exhaust fumes? Did he say recycling or reusing? Don’t we already have such a system in most cars that sport a T next to their engine names? A return to the “T” engines known in the 1980s would ignite some serious excitement in Formula One, while the use of hybrid technology to generate engine power would have serious trickle-down effects on road cars.

from WorldCarFans

Push-to-pass will be fun, but real game will begin with the turbos (:

For the 2008 season there is no push-to-pass correct?

^^ No. Neither do they have Traction Control.

http://images.worldcarfans.com/articles/2008/3/13/9080313.001/9080313.001.Mini3L.jpg

Australia could still be in the running to host a Formula One Grand Prix, despite what the sport’s supreme leader Bernie Ecclestone has pronounced recently. The premier of New South Wales Mr Morris Iemma says Sydney, his state’s largest city, could host F1 races with a little modification. At night, as per Ecclestone requirements. Sydney’s Eastern Creek race track currently hosts A1 GP races.

"It's not a blank cheque,” Iemma is said to have told the Herald Sun of Melbourne, “but it could be held at a place like Eastern Creek, obviously with modifications…
"If Formula One is looking for a night race then Eastern Creek could be converted to suit them".

There are sceptics as always, one such man is Tim Holding, the Melbourne-living events minister. "The proof of the pudding is in the tasting," he said. "They have to secure some events and people will take them seriously after that."

The question remains though, if Sydney could bring back the Australian crowds whose first love is super V8 saloon racing, to Formula One.

from F1-Live and WorldCarFans

^^ No. Neither do they have Traction Control.

Thanks. Yeah I knew about the TC, which I think is going to make a really interesting year.

Imagine. Monaco, in the rain, 600HP cars, without traction control, and a heated championship.

I'm praying.

600 hp ? Try more like 900hp. I hope it is wet. It sorts the men out from the boys, see if we have any Senna like prodigies in the ranks. Their was a race ar Monaco once where Aryton Senna started at near enough the back of the grid. The made up 14 positions in roughly as many laps, and finished second. The only reason he was second was due to the fact the race was stopped. Aryton was known for his unbelievable driving technique in the wet. Wet racing is what truly sorts the ment from the boys.

Thanks. Yeah I knew about the TC, which I think is going to make a really interesting year.
Also there wouldn't be Engine brake mapping. So downshifting in the corner is going to be a little bit more challenging.

Also there wouldn't be Engine brake mapping. So downshifting in the corner is going to be a little bit more challenging.

Interesting, I did not know that. That should add to the excite in the corners. Thanks.

Interesting, I did not know that. That should add to the excite in the corners. Thanks.
It is because of the new regulation of all teams using the same ECU chip from 2008.

Bernie wants to abolish points
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?id=42020

Is he mad, how do backmarkers win, how do we decide whos 4th and so on. This has to be thee worst idea i've ever heard.

What a twurp. I think he's getting a bit old...

Bernie wants to abolish points
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?id=42020

Is he mad, how do backmarkers win, how do we decide whos 4th and so on. This has to be thee worst idea i've ever heard.

Actually he is making sense :D.

Kimi won more races than anybody last year yet only just won the world title !!!

I think it was the same in 2005 aswell but because of the crap McLaren reliability Alonso succeded.

So if your a Kimi fanboy (LIKE ME :D !!!) it makes total sense but if your one of those other fanboys then you are obviously not gonna like the idea.

We all know FIA suck Ferrari Ass so I expect the ferrari to agree to it so my main man Kimi can show all the other drivers up, well apart from Kubica :p.

In my opinion, one of the best things that could be done for F1 would be reversing the grid.
Whoever went first on the F1 championship would start last.
The qualification sessions would be kept so that if two drivers had the same amount of points whoever qualified above the other one would start first (as it would be the case with so many 0pt drivers).

Tell me that wouldn't make it fun!

No... the best idea for F1 is to STOP MAKING GOD DAMN RULES that regulate the safety crap on the cars.

In my opinion, one of the best things that could be done for F1 would be reversing the grid.

Actually, I like that idea and Bernie's because both encourage overtaking which is what F1 really lacks. I really enjoy it when Kimi and Lewis have a problem and end up near the rear because you know there will be action. I don't like someone leading from start to finish but I really enjoy two cars scrapping for 5th place.

You're all wrong. They should all have to complete a 10-lap race in the Aussie race cars bafore each event. Those things corner 4-5 wide through most of the race, and quite often there's 0.02 seconds seperating 3-4 cars as they cross the line for 4th, 5th ,6th, and 7th.

That should encourage them to 'drive like you stole it'.

Apart from that, give tham an incentive to overtake. Huge point differences, but you've still gotta make 12th place desperately want 11th.

If all else fails, mess around with the teams and drivers. If I had my way, it'd be M.Schumaccer and K.Raikonnen driving for Spyker in 06. Those guys have feelings too, you know.

Put Lewis in a Red Bull, Webber in a Renault (or something reliable...), Glock in a Ferrari, Massa in a ForceIndia, etc. Kimi would be great in a STR car.. Alonso (fine, bring Flavio, too) into a Honda, and stuff whoever into a Toyota (Those guys don't have feelings).

EDIT: Oh, and for the Eastern Creek round, that'd suck a fat one. The crowds are small as it is, and these things don't provide much action, aren't exactly relevant, and it's be at night...not exactly family-friendly, and there isn't the number of punters willing to do it.

Methinks Australia would gladly lose it's season-opener status...If the F1's ran a 1000km event at Mount Panorama RIGHT AFTER THE V8's HSVE FINNISHED. It'd be late-afternoon/early night, so you wouldn't have to get up early, and we get to see 22 extremely fast, very dangerous cars crash in 2 laps! Then we'd see who really has testicles and who's just pretending.
It'd be a ROFL-fest.

No... the best idea for F1 is to STOP MAKING GOD DAMN RULES that regulate the safety crap on the cars.

Because obviously you dont mind if drivers die.

No... the best idea for F1 is to STOP MAKING GOD DAMN RULES that regulate the safety crap on the cars.

Yeah, seriously, if the FIA have done one good thing in the past 10 years, is it's push to increase safety, and the actions it has taken to do so.

The static and dynamic tests required by the FIA are becoming more stricter. Larger masses with greater velocities ensure that even in a worse case scenario, no driver will die.

If you are referring to regulation changes based on car design, slicks are being reintroduced next year (most likely), downforce is being reduced but has not been linked to safety reasons, traction control is out, I think the future is promising for F1.

And the engineers are smart people. 2004 might have been the year of the quickest and fastest F1 car ever, but they are getting closer and closer.

Yea slicks are being introduced again but... aren't they banning the tire warmers???

Changing points won't make a difference. Drivers already try their hardest to overtake. What driver would accept just 2nd, would you.
its the fact we line the grid up fastest to slowest, so that cuts out a lot of overtaking.
But think about. Its only the first race, and we've alrady seen plenty of action. Whats to say that won't continue

Because obviously you dont mind if drivers die.
Haha, i fully agreed with you! Don't forget Kubica's accident last year! :rolleyes:

I really enjoy watching F1 cars without TC and all these systems. :cool:

Now we can see everyone's talent!:)

When all the world and most drivers think you should get out of the FIA, who can you trust that will always be there to help you out? Well, if you are Max Mosley that person is Jean Todt.
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?id=42342

Does it honestly surprise anyone that the former boss of Ferrari backs Mosley when everyone else doesnt?

Coulthard skeptical about 09 rules:
http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=42345

Good news for Benny, Ross says Honda on the up!
http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=42343

Be quiet and all watch the BTCC - those Hondas and Vauxhalls are epic! :eek:

Jokes aside, watch F1 too.

A bit of shocking news here
Super Arguri locked out of Istanbul
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080505093136.shtml

Apparently the trucks turned up, and were told they weren't allowed inside the paddock

That's just sad. I really hope that this deal with the Weigl Corporation goes through, because I really don't want to lose a couple of good drivers like Taku Sato and Davidson. I don't see why they are restricted from competition. They have the cars, and the crew, and the parts, so why wouldn't they be allowed to compete.