BlogF1

The little team from Italy certainly did well in 2008, beating the parent squad and taking a pole position and win along the way. Sebastian Vettel showed he had talent and Sebastien Bourdais had some strong runs in the second car, at times keeping pace with his whipper-snapper team mate. 2008 will almost certainly be difficult to repeat, but that doesn’t mean Scuderia Toro Rosso cannot do well and continue to impress. Continue Reading

Takuma Sato today posted a message to the news section of his website informing fans that he is no longer in negotiations with Red Bull Racing or Scuderia Toro Rosso over the possible role as a third driver for either of their teams. Sato had been praised for performing very well during tests after the close of the 2008 season, and was looking good for a comeback in the Scuderia Toro Rosso. However, Sebastien Buemi claimed the first seat, as expected, and after a long wait, the team decided to go with Sebastien Bourdais in the second. Continue Reading

Sebastien Bourdais was this morning confirmed as a Scuderia Toro Rosso driver for the 2009 season. After a long wait and much speculation about the French drivers future in Formula One, team bosses decided the four-times Champ Car champion would be the best option to partner rookie pilot Sebastien Buemi. Both drivers had been taking part in testing duties along with Takuma Sato, who was until today also in contention for the drive. Continue Reading

Scuderia Toro Rosso have announced that all three main hopefuls for the two race seats in their team will take part in next week’s test at the Spanish circuit, Jerez. This will be the third time Takuma Sato will have spent some time in the car, the unemployed Japanese driver having previously tested for the squad in September and November. Sebastien Bourdais will continue to fight for his chance to spend a second season with STR while the perhaps favourite, Red Bull Racing test driver Sebastien Buemi, will also join the group. Continue Reading

The sixty-sixth photograph to feature in BlogF1’s caption contest. You know the drill, think of something funny and witty to say and leave it as a comment below. Although I have a great photograph of Mark Webber submitted for the caption contest by regular reader and commenter Pink Peril, I think I will wait a little while before posting it – let’s give Webber some time to heal before we all take the mickey out of him! So instead, this week is a shot of STR-wannabe Takuma Sato. Obviously doing some promotional work earlier in the year, Sato found himself surrounded by young ladies with toilet seats around their necks. Continue Reading

Now that all three Scuderia Toro Rosso hopefuls have shown their worth in one of the Red Bull-descended cars, the little team with big results already in their pocket have to make a decision; Sebastien Bourdais, Sebastien Buemi and Takuma Sato are all looking for race seats, and STR have two vacancies. Also in the wings and not completely out of the picture are Rubens Barrichello, Bruno Senna and Lucas Di Grassi. Who deserves the race seats at the Red Bull junior squad? Continue Reading

Testing re-commenced earlier today at the Barcelona track, Circuit de Catalunya. It was the first test since the Brazilian Grand Prix finale at the beginning of November, and a lot of teams were running new technology due to be implemented for the 2009 campaign. BMW rolled out a concept of the F1.09, complete with skinny rear wing, larger front wing as well as KERS and no aerodynamic features on the bodywork. The car was pretty ugly, but this is the future of Formula One, and both Christian Klien and Robert Kubica were given a chance to drive the new machine. Continue Reading

Former Jordan, Honda and Super Aguri driver Takuma Sato has been recalled by Scuderia Toro Rosso for further testing, it was announced today. Sato had tested for the Italian team earlier in the year after Sebastian Vettel had been confirmed at Red Bull Racing. Desperate to get back into Formula One, Sato sees STR as his best hope following the demise of the Super Aguri team just prior to the Turkish Grand Prix. Continue Reading

In my first round-up of the spectacular 2008 Formula One World Championship, we discuss one team that didn’t make it through to the end. With a little sadness, Super Aguri disbanded after only four races, Honda pulling the plug and a rescue deal failing the materialise or be agreed upon. The saga that engulfed the team back in April left a slightly bitter taste in my mouth, but Formula One as they say, is indeed the piranha club. Continue Reading

After Bruno Senna rubbished the rumour that he has already signed for Scuderia Toro Rosso for 2009, the Austro/Italian team have stated that they will be evaluating Red Bull test driver Sébastien Buemi at the Jerez test in September. Sébastien was announced as Red Bull’s test driver for this season back in January, and although the testing limits have meant the Swiss driver has seen little serious action in the car, Buemi has been busy doing PR stunts for the team as well as competing in the GP2 series. Continue Reading