McLaren-Mercedes have announced that Heikki Kovalainen utilised his ‘free’ engine change prior to today’s qualifying session at the Singapore Grand Prix.
All drivers are permitted one ‘joker’ engine change this season, and after noticing some wear on Kovalainen’s engine, opted to play that card.
Mercedes’ motorsports boss Norbert Haug said:
“We have changed the engine in Heikki’s car as a precaution.
“We saw a little bit of usage in the engine and this is a joker engine – so there is no grid penalty applied. The decision was taken yesterday.”
Haug insisted that the move was merely precautionary, and would not have been taken under last season’s rules, where there was no ‘joker’.
“If there was not a joker engine we would certainly have done nothing, and the chances that we would not have a problem are really high.
“It is a critical time of the year and if you have it available you should use it. We have had very good reliability so far. If you see only a risk of one or two percent, maybe it is even less, then you should use it if you can.”
Fellow McLaren driver, and Drivers’ Championship leader, Lewis Hamilton still has his ‘joker’ to play with four races, including tomorrow’s Singapore Grand Prix, remaining.
Neal’s View: This penalty-free engine change helps keep the top drivers racing each other. However, the rules are there for a reason, and should an engine fail, the same penalty should apply if it is the first time, or the twentieth.
On Friday, Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone revealed his plans to hold an Indian Grand Prix from 2011 – 12 months later than previously thought.
Whilst Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi announced last year that a deal had been agreed for a Grand Prix in New Delhi from 2010, Ecclestone had his doubts that 2010 is a realistic target.
“It’s all going on as usual, but these things take time… Probably 2011 is what I want.”
The ambitious Indian plans were unveiled just over a year ago when the IOA publically announced it had received a letter from Ecclestone, stating the country could host a race if it met certain qualifying criteria – most worrying, one criteria is to build a circuit!
Neal’s View: Bernie is desperate to get in to emerging markets, like India, who will provide him with a lot of Wonga. But Formula One risks leaving the fans behind because many new tracks do not provide exciting races.
BMW-Sauber’s Polish driver, Robert Kubica, has admitted that he is frustrated with the Hinwil-based squad’s inability to challenge Ferrari and McLaren-Mercedes at the top of the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. Kubica is feeling disillusioned with his team’s lack of progress from their strong early-season form.
The Pole, fourteen points behind Lewis Hamilton in the race for Formula One’s top prize, the Drivers’ Championship, is considering his future with the team. Reports suggest that Kubica held clear-the-air talks with team boss Mario Theissen at the last Grand Prix, in Monza, but has not had his doubts removed in the run-up to this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.
“My view has not changed a lot. We did sit down but I think there was no top secret and no miracles in the talks. It was good to talk. But the situation was not really changed.
“Of course as a driver you always want the maximum, and you always want a better car and to be a bit quicker.
“Even if you win, you can always find things to improve and to get stronger. There is no secret that we did not develop as was predicted.
“Lately, we don’t have big steps forward in performance but still we are managing good results. If we hadn’t had the problem in Spa with the second pitstop most probably I would have finished three races in a row on the podium – even though there have been some strange circumstances.
“But still, maybe lap time wise we are not the strongest but reliability is very good and we are able to do strong results.”
Neal’s View: Many were surprised by BMW’s early decision to focus on their 2009 car, but Kubica should take heart from two areas. Firstly, there is an old adage cited around the paddock: to finish first, first you must finish. BMW’s reliability is second-to-none in 2008, and this bodes well for the future. Secondly, we just have to look at Honda and Toyota. It is possible to go from a quick car to an awful one in a short space of time (Isn’t that right Jenson?) But to get to the front of the grid takes time. BMW are almost there, and I would expect a stronger challenge next season.
