Formula One Blog Returns!

I’d like to apologise for not updating the blog for a while. A few things have put me under a lot of pressure lately, but that’s all over and Formula One Blog is back for what seems to be a thrilling conclusion to the 2008 season!

FOB is the place for Formula One news, stats and opinion. It is written by fans, for fans. Feel free to leave a comment below.

I want to build a network of fans that unite in one place to discuss Formula One.

Force India To Concentrate On 2009 Car

Dr. Vijay Mallya - Force India Owner

High-profile team owner Vijay Mallya says Force India will have a bigger budget for the 2009 season.

The Silverstone based team’s new ownership already pledged more money and resources for its inaugural season this year when it took over the ailing Spyker outfit.

Force India moved closer to the rest of the field in the first half of 2008, but has now shifted its focus to next year.

The last piece of development for the current car will be a seamless gearbox in Hungary.

Mallya said at Hockenheim:

“Beyond that I have decided that we will now concentrate on the 2009 car,”

“We have an increased budget for 2009,”

Mallya added that two new senior engineers have joined the design team.

“We will add as many as we need to,”

“When you have to compete with teams with significantly higher budgets and vast resources you have at least to step up to the plate, otherwise you won’t get anywhere.”

Neal’s View: Long-gone are the days of the independents. Hopefully, Mallya can keep the team running and make them more competitive. They are only 1.8 seconds off pole, on average, and the introduction of a seamless-shift gearbox will reduce this by three tenths. In Mike Gascoyne, Force India have one of the best people for the job.

Massa Hopes The Time Is Now To Be Ferrari Number One

Felipe Massa - Ferrari

It is not yet necessary for Ferrari to appoint a number one driver for the rest of the 2008 championship, according to Felipe Massa.

The Brazilian and his teammate, reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen, are currently tied on points at the top of the drivers’ standings with McLaren rival Lewis Hamilton.

Massa told the French morning newspaper Le Figaro:

“The team does not have to make a decision as long as things are not leaning either one way or the other.”

In previous years, Michael Schumacher was the undisputed number one driver, receiving the balance of the Italian marque’s effort to lift the drivers’ crown.

But Massa said last year he was also on equal terms with Raikkonen, until his chances took a final hit at the Italian grand prix.

“From then on, there remained a small chance for Kimi. To help him to do it, the team did everything for him, myself included.

“This time I hope it will be my turn.”

In the interview, Massa also played down suggestions Ferrari may be able to vacate his seat in the near future — perhaps by means of performance clauses.

“No. I have a contract until the end of 2010 and I feel perfectly comfortable in the team,”

Neal’s View: Massa needs to get focused if he is going to challenge. All those spins at Silverstone, then he gifted Hamilton the lead in Germany.

Germans Fight over GP Name

Nurburgring

Despite the Nurburgring’s contract to host a formula one race in 2009, the ‘German grand prix’ moniker is likely to be absent from the calendar next year.

The name is owned and controlled by the AvD (the Automobilclub von Deutschland), which plays host to the sport at Hockenheim in even-numbered years.

The Nurburgring, also located in Germany, last year staged the European grand prix, because the AvD refused to let organisers ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club) – a separate and rival club – use the German GP name.

On the recently-published provisional 2009 calendar, the FIA reserved a July 12 race date for ‘Germany’, with the ‘European’ descriptor now being used by Spanish port city Valencia’s new street race.

However, AvD sports president Volker Strycek has suggested that the club is not keen to release the ‘German grand prix’ name for next year’s sole F1 race in the country at the Nurburgring.

“The title is the silverware of the AvD,”

Neal’s View: With Valencia being called the European, one wonders what the Nurburgring race could be called…

BMW Run Only Successful KERS Test

BMW-Sauber F1.08

BMW-Sauber’s first track test of a KERS system for 2009 went off without a hitch, the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport reports.

The event, on July 15, took place at the German carmaker’s own Miramas test circuit, with Marko Asmer at the wheel over 48 kilometres.

It is now well known that Red Bull’s KERS testing resulted in a visit to its Milton-Keynes factory of the local fire department, while Honda had some teething trouble when its initial track testing – with an old car – took place on an airfield runway and subsequently at Silverstone.

BMW-Sauber’s KERS track testing will step up a notch next week when Christian Klien takes to the wheel of a modified F1.08 chassis.

Willy Rampf said:

“It will be obvious that we are running the systems, but the car will have nothing to do with the car for next year.“

Neal’s View: As a new technology, as far as F1 goes, everything is hush-hush. Expect performance and reliability to be much improved by the time they are introduced.

Honda Keep Current Lineup

Honda RA108 Button (l), Barrichello (r)

Ross Brawn announced at the weekend that Honda will maintain the same driver lineup for the 2009 season. Both Jenson Button’s and Rubens Barrichello’s contracts are due to end at the end of this season and have performed well, and despite being given a dog of a car for the last few years, Barrichello managed a podium at Silverstone.

The raft of sweeping rule changes due for 2009 are set to provide a clean sheet for next season, one where BMW-Sauber, Renault, Williams-Toyota, Red Bull-Renault, Honda and Toyota aim to close the gap to Ferrari and McLaren-Mercedes.

Brawn said:

“Clearly our priority is to sort the car out, because we believe with the drivers we have, if we produce a good car then they can produce from their side.

“So we are not looking at anything major on the driver side. Our main priority is the car.“

When asked whether Button, 28, and Barrichello, 36, would be racing for Honda in 2009, Brawn said:

“Yes.”

Neal’s View: This means that Alonso’s options for 2009 are reduced, now Red Bull and Honda have announced their 2009 lineups. Honda know they have to produce a competitive car for 2009 or they will lose Jenson.

Buemi to BMW? Toro Rosso?

Sebastien Buemi

F1 teams Toro Rosso and BMW-Sauber may be interested in accommodating rising GP2 driver Sebastien Buemi in the near future.

The Swiss daily Le Matin quotes BMW boss Mario Theissen as praising the developing talents of the 19-year-old, who is currently a test driver for Red Bull.

With Sebastian Vettel moving on to the senior team in 2009, speculation has linked Buemi’s name with the vacant seat at Toro Rosso.

But Theissen may also be interested, particularly following Buemi’s run of good form in GP2, the F1 feeder category.

“When he was in formula BMW, he was very young but immediately very fast.

“He can still make the odd mistake, but I am following the GP2 championship very closely and I find that Sebastien is making consistent progress.”

He would not, however, be drawn on suggestions that Buemi is at the top of the list for a BMW-Sauber contract, perhaps initially as a test driver.

“Let’s see how his season progresses, but I am not saying no.“

Neal’s View: With Hiedfeld under pressure there may be a seat at BMW for next season. Unless Kubica signs a new contract there will be a spare seat at BMW next season. A Swiss driver would satisfy the needs of the Swiss-based team, and Swiss sponsors, Credit Suisse. Toro Rosso have a spare seat after Sebastien Vettel was promoted to the Red Bull squad and the Red Bull-backed racer could be next in line.

Winkelhock Accepts F1 Career Is Over

Winkelhock leading for Spyker

Markus Winkelhock admits his abortive Formula One career is now over.

The 28-year-old German, as a Spyker test driver, made his Grand Prix debut at the Nurburgring last year – and sensationally led a few laps amid the rain chaos – following the demise of regular racer Christijan Albers.

A lack of sponsorship meant he didn’t retain the seat full-time, and Winkelhock – whose late father Manfred contested more than 50 Grand Prix in the 80s – switched to the German touring car series DTM.

To Spox.com, he admits he is not likely to ever return to the grid.

“It was a great experience, but I am a realist.

“The DTM is what I am concentrated on for the future. Formula One, for me, is over.

“I am not really too sad about it. I am happy with my situation now. With the experiences and the race I had in Formula One, of course it is nice to look back, but with Audi in DTM I’m happier than I was in Formula One last year.”

Neal’s View: Winkelhock did not have the talent, nor the cash to acquire a seat in Formula One. However, his time leading at the Nurburgring will mean he goes down in Formula One history.

Alonso To Ferrari?

Fernando Alonso - Renault

Fernando Alonso has long been linked to join Ferrari in either 2009 or 2010.

At Hockenheim, this weekend, Alonso sidestepped rumours he will accompany McLaren sponsor Santander to Ferrari in 2010.

Alonso added:

“All I know is what I have read in the past days,” the current Renault driver is quoted as saying by the news agency EFE.

“I don’t know if it is true or not, I have not heard anything. Even if (Santander) do go (to Ferrari), it doesn’t mean I have to go as well.

“I haven’t spoken to anybody from Santander or Ferrari; that’s all I have to say,”

The Renault driver also refused to rule out the possibility of remaining at Renault for the 2009 season.

“Let’s see what will happen between now and the end of the year,” he said. “Next year’s championship begins in March, so I am not in a hurry to decide.

“In July, you can have discussions with people, but nothing very serious until September or October.

When asked by a Spanish journalist whether he prefers French (Renault) or Italian (Ferrari) food, Alonso answered:

“Spanish. But if you are referring to something else, then I prefer Italian.”

Neal’s view: The chances are that Alonso will be driving for the Italians at some point in the next two years. However, he will suffer the fate of a strong teammate, like he did at McLaren. Massa’s spins at Silverstone and moving out of Hamilton’s way in the closing stages at Hockenheim may result in him losing his seat at the end of the year, even though his contract runs through 2010.

Unlucky Kovy Frustrated

Heikki Kovalainen - McLaren-Mercedes

McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen was frustrated to endure yet another difficult race after he missed out on a podium finish for the sixth consecutive grand prix.

The Finn looked on course for just his second top three finish of the year at Hockenheim after running strongly behind team-mate Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s Felipe Massa in the race’s first half.

But, not for the first time in 2008, the safety car period and ensuing pit lane melee cost him three positions and although he gained one back with a brilliant overtaking move on BMW’s Robert Kubica, was disappointed to end up fifth.

Kovalainen said:

“A very difficult race for me.“

“I had a good start and almost managed to pass Felipe but, unfortunately, my speed was not good enough, and I couldn’t make the tyres work to their best.

“The safety car period didn’t help me either, and I lost positions during my pit-stop.

“Then I lost time behind Kubica.

“However, I managed to overtake him again two laps later and, from then on, it was a rather uneventful race.”

Kovalainen now hopes his luck will turn at the next round in Budapest.

“Fifth position was not what I had hoped to achieve here,” he admitted.

“But I am now looking forward to the Hungarian Grand Prix, where I will try my hardest to fight for a podium finish.”

McLaren boss Ron Dennis reiterated his faith in Kovalainen to start scoring stronger finishes soon and praised the Finn’s move on Kubica on the exit to the complex section of the lap.

Dennis said:

“As I’ve said before, Heikki’s time will come.“

“In difficult circumstances he raced tremendously well today – his overtaking manoeuvre on Robert Kubica was just sensational – and once again he showed a winner’s grit and determination.

“It’s a joy to have two drivers who are not only super-competitive but also super-cooperative.”

Neal’s View: Kovy hasn’t performed as strongly as he would have liked. The silly season has started and Rosberg is being linked with his seat. If McLaren are to finish in the top two of the Constructors’ Championship they cannot rely on Lewis alone.