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Today was Renault-day with regards to new car launches, and the Anglo-French squad chose Paris to unveil their 2008 machine to the media. As mentioned earlier, the team hope to find their winning ways again, although rookie Nelson Piquet Jr is cautious to not hype his own chances too much. While Fernando spoke of being pleased to be back at Enstone, Piquet Jr is just thankful for the opportunity to prove himself and hopes for a consistent season in 2008. Here are some more quotes and photographs from Renault’s R28 launch. Continue Reading…

Renault today unveiled their 2008 challenger in Paris, marking the return of Fernando Alonso to the team and partnering Nelson Piquet Jr in a bid to reclaim the Formula One world championship. Called the R28, the Anglo-French team hope the troubles they experienced in 2007 will be rectified and they can return to their dominant form last seen in 2006. The team continue with the title sponsor ING and thus the livery hasn’t changed much. However, along with the other new cars the aero features on the new chassis have been tweaked and developed to provide the drivers with a more stable and better performing machine. Continue Reading…

Honda driver Rubens Barrichello is due to eclipse the long-standing record of grand prix entries this season, with most reporters saying that the Brazilian will surpass Riccardo Patrese’s 256 starts in Turkey. However, like most things in Formula One, it isn’t quite as straight-forward as you’d think. You may be under the impression that one of the most technologically advanced sports with some of the worlds most intelligent employees and fans would be able to work out a simple addition of participated events. Well, we can’t. Here’s some reasoning behind the confusion. Continue Reading…

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During Honda’s launch of their 2008 car, chief executive Nick Fry spoke about the continued support of Super Aguri and how the squad are looking for an investor to help fund the future of the team. While Super Aguri’s position was known previously, it was presumed that both current drivers would be safe at the squad. However, the search for money could come from another driver bringing sponsorship with him. One name that has been spoken a fair amount is India’s Narain Karthikeyan. However, Honda are pressuring Super Aguri to retain Anthony Davidson, explaining that the Briton gives excellent feedback, helpful in the developing of the chassis. Continue Reading…

With the much anticipated launch of the Honda RA108, their 2008 car, this morning, the drivers and team managers have been speaking to the media about what this season will hopefully bring to the Brackley-based squad and how they can turn around their fortunes following the six-point haul of 2007. Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello are excited about the new car, although it is hard to see how the team could get much worse. Continue Reading…

Honda today unveiled their 2008 challenger, entitled the RA108 to continue the naming structure of their chassis. The car has been eagerly anticipated following their recent move to publicise Honda’s environmentally progressive attitude, which to a degree extends to their Formula One operation. The car is also important because it follows the disastrous RA107 that caused problems for Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello last year. Continue Reading…

Jacques Villeneuve and Craig Pollock have mutually decided to part ways and end their professional relationship, it emerged over the weekend. Pollock has managed Villeneuve since the Canadian first got seriously involved in motor sport and between them they run a few businesses and have enjoyed substantial success. Villeneuve, under Pollock’s wing, has won the CART title and the Indy 500 (in 1995) and the Formula One world championship, claimed with Williams in 1997. Continue Reading…

Imagine, if will, standing on the hard shoulder of motorway. Cars are whizzing by at 70mph without a care in the world, safely cocooned in their survival cells. Exposed the elements though, you stand there, your hair being swept backwards by the rush of air flowing from the speeding motorists. You look up towards the traffic, eyeing the cars and accepting your fate. One driver makes eye contact, the stare piecing your mind as fear grips your motionless body. He kinks the car in your direction, aiming for you and seemingly not giving any thought to stopping. As your muscles tense you become aware of people around you, preparing for a surge of activity and rush of adrenaline. Your eyes close in blind panic. When you open them again, just a few moments later, the car is out of sight, hiding beneath you with only the intense heat giving away its position. You look down to where you hope your shins still are and see the front wing of a Formula One car, just inches away from a certain, painful catastrophe.

This is a Formula One pitstop, and you don’t have time to stand and stare. Continue Reading…

Following the retirement of the FIA’s permanent race steward, Tony Scott Andrews, the governing body has taken the opportunity to shake up the way stewards deal with situations at races in 2008. Up until the end of 2007, Andrews worked alongside two other stewards; one from the national sporting authority and another from outside the participating country. Under Andrews’s guidance issues surrounding the investigating and dealing with breaches of the rules at each Grand Prix were handled. However, more often than not the handling of punishments didn’t come across as just to the teams and fans and the FIA have been heavily criticised for this. Particularly when a breach of the rules is made public only for nothing to be done about it after days of deliberation. Continue Reading…