BlogF1

The Spanish Grand Prix got underway this morning with the drivers heading out on track to complete the morning’s 90 minute session around Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya. Following on from their impressive form in Malaysia and Bahrain, Ferrari continued to dominate after the three week break and posted the top two times before breaking for lunch. Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen sandwiched Bahrain pole-sitter Robert Kubica in third, while the Renault’s of Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet Jr looked pretty good in sixth and seventh respectively. Perhaps Alonso was trying to deflect attention earlier in the week when he said he wasn’t to optimistic about this race? Continue Reading

Spanish drivers Fernando Alonso and Pedro De La Rosa claim they knew nothing of the FIA’s planned launch of their anti-racism campaign, EveryRace. When asked by the press at Circuit de Catalunya, host of this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, both drivers appeared bemused by new FIA initiative. The website features photographs and quotes from members of the teams competing in Formula One, designed to show how diverse the sport is. However, while drivers like Heikki Kovalainen were shown, and quotes from David Coulthard featured, it was noticeable that the two drivers from Spain (where the initial incident sparked the campaign) were absent. Continue Reading

Rain washed out the final day of testing at Circuit de Catalunya today, with only eight drivers setting laps and Force India deciding to head home early and save their mileage. Mark Webber ventured out on track early in between showers and was able to set a time that would stand for the rest of the day. Heikki Kovalainen was sent out in the McLaren MP4-23 and was the fastest of the drivers setting laps on the totally soaked tarmac, running 1.5s down on Webber and less than 0.1s up on Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari. The gap to fourth placed driver Robert Kubica was 1.1s, the remaining positions taken up by Jenson Button, Kazuki Nakajima, Nelson Piquet Jr and Jarno Trulli in eighth. Continue Reading

Day three at Barcelona saw Renault improve to lead the teams as Fernando Alonso set the fastest lap of the day. His time was set while on slick tyres and was 0.9s faster than Ferrari’s head F1 car developer and former champion Michael Schumacher. Adrian Sutil placed his Ferrari-powered Force India in an impressive third, although like the two drivers ahead of him, he was also on slick tyres and also running the faster 2008 aero. setup. Continue Reading

As the second day of testing got underway in Spain today, Renault and Honda joined in with Ferrari in trying out some interesting new aero parts on their cars. Ferrari yesterday showed off their new nose to the public for the first time, and today Nelson Piquet Jr rolled out of his Renault garage with a Red Bull style fin on the engine cover. Honda got in on the act as well with the re-testing of their Dumbo ears, last seen at a test session in 2007. In fact, it was Rubens Barrichello who went fastest today, driving the updated RA108 and setting a lap time 0.8s quicker than Giancarlo Fisichella in the Force India. Continue Reading

Ferrari’s Felipe Massa set the pace today at the first inter-season test session at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya. With slick tyres bolted onto his car, the Brazilian driver managed to set a time 2.7s faster than second-placed Alex Wurz, also on slick tyres. The running of different boots is to enable Bridgestone to gain some insight into how the tyres behave, the smooth rubber potentially making making a comeback to Formula One next year. Only nine drivers took part today, but more are expected to be on track tomorrow and Wednesday. McLaren fielded Pedro De La Rosa, who also tore around Montmelo on slicks, but could only manage the third fastest lap of the day. Continue Reading

On the final day of testing before the 2008 season begins, Toyota’s Jarno Trulli has put in a surprising quick lap and ended the winter season at the top of the timing sheets. The pace of the TF108 has been questionable and the squad have been a little inconsistent in pre-season testing, but this result will certainly buoy the team as they pack everything and head to Australia. Trulli’s team mate Timo Glock finished his day in eleventh, some 1.3s shy of the Italian’s pace. Continue Reading

On a brighter day in the Catalan region of Spain, McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton took the fastest lap in testing for the second day in succession. His speed was compounded by team mate Heikki Kovalainen going second quickest as the pair outpaced Ferrari in their preparations for the season opener in Australia next month. McLaren were concentrating on qualifying and race simulations while evaluating new developments on the MP4-23. Kimi Raikkonen kept the pressure up though and went third just 0.3s shy of Kovalainen and over 0.6s ahead of fourth placed Nico Rosberg. Continue Reading

While testing yesterday around the notoriously bumpy Circuit de Catalunya, it appears that David Coulthard has picked up a minor injury in his neck. The Scot has apparently tweaked his neck and has since decided to rest in case the problem is further exacerbated. So while Coulthard sits on the sidelines Red Bull have drafted in Sebastian Vettel to help out with the team’s testing programme. Vettel, who drives for partner team Scuderia Toro Rosso, will see the benefits from testing with the Red Bull squad as it has been said that the new STR3 will be a direct derivative of the RB4. The new STR is due to be delivered to the team in time for the European season. Continue Reading

Lewis Hamilton put his McLaren MP4-23 at the top of the timing sheets on the day that saw Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen share the tarmac in equal equipment. The times were tight, with one second separating the top thirteen and the top half of the tables showing some interesting names. The track was damp in the morning, but unlike last week a dry line appeared relatively quickly and the teams were able to get some decent running in. Continue Reading