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F1 Teams & Drivers For Season 2008

Ferrari




Base: Maranello - Italy

Drivers: K Räikkönen, F Massa

Test Drivers: L Badoer, M Gene

Chassis: F2008

Engine: Ferrari Type 056

Tyres: Bridgestone Potenza

First Season: 1950

World Championships: 15

Highest race finish: 1 (x201)

Pole Positions: 195

Fastest Laps: 205


2007 Review:

Win intense battle with McLaren, on track and in court. Kimi Raikkonen takes drivers' title after late-season surge in form. Also wrap up constructors' championship after McLaren found guilty of benefitting from possession of confidential Ferrari data.


2006 Review:

Initially play second fiddle to Renault, but Michael Schumacher leads fightback with seven victories in his final Formula One season. Team move ahead of Renault with just three rounds to go, but rare reliability issues see them beaten to title by just five points.





McLaren




Base: Woking, UK

Drivers: L Hamilton, H Kovalainen

Test Drivers: P de la Rosa, G Paffett

Chassis: MP4-23

Engine: Mercedes-Benz FO 108V

Tyres: Bridgestone Potenza

First Season: 1966

World Championships: 8

Highest race finish: 1 (x156)

Pole Positions: 133

Fastest Laps: 133


2007 Review:

Win eight Grands Prix, but stripped of constructors' points and fined $100 million for benefiting from possession of confidential Ferrari data. Intense rivalry sees team mates Hamilton and Alonso finish level on points - one shy of the drivers' title.


2006 Review:

Distant third in championship, despite strong race pace in second half of season. End campaign winless for first time in a decade. Kimi Raikkonen the dominant driver, Juan Pablo Montoya departing mid season for NASCAR.





BMW Sauber




Base: Munich, Germany / Hinwil, Switzerland

Drivers: N Heidfeld, R Kubica

Test Drivers: M Asmer, C Klien

Chassis: F1.08

Engine: BMW

Tyres: Bridgestone Potenza

First Season: 1993

World Championships: 0

Highest race finish: 2 (x1)

Pole Positions: 0

Fastest Laps: 0


2007 Review:

From the outset occupy the 'best of the rest' slot behind Ferrari and McLaren, scoring in all 17 races, including two podiums. Heidfeld proves the dominant driver, but despite a brutal accident in Canada, Kubica also records several strong finishes.


2006 Review:

Fifth in standings in first campaign under BMW control, despite early reliability problems. Part company with Jacques Villeneuve mid season, replacement Robert Kubica scoring Italian podium, matching team mate Nick Heidfeld's Hungarian result.





Renault




Base: Enstone, UK

Drivers: F Alonso, N Piquet

Test Drivers: L di Grassi, R Grosjean, S Yamamoto

Chassis: R28

Engine: Renault RS27

Tyres: Bridgestone Potenza

First Season: 1977

World Championships: 2

Highest race finish: 1 (x33)

Pole Positions: 50

Fastest Laps: 27


2007 Review:

Departure of Fernando Alonso accompanied by marked decline in team's fortunes, finishing third overall, with 150 points less than in '06. After shaky start, rookie Kovalainen overshadows veteran Fisichella and scores team's only podium in Japan.


2006 Review:

Win seven of first nine races, then lose ground to Ferrari in second half of season after controversial mass-damper system declared illegal. Nevertheless hold on to retain both drivers' and constructors' titles, before Fernando Alonso departs for McLaren.





Williams




Base: Grove, UK

Drivers: N Rosberg, K Nakajima

Test Drivers: N Hulkenberg, N Karthikeyan

Chassis: FW30

Engine: Toyota

Tyres: Bridgestone Potenza

First Season: 1975

World Championships: 9

Highest race finish: 1 (x113)

Pole Positions: 125

Fastest Laps: 129


2007 Review:

The FW29 proves much more reliable than its predecessor, and the team record just seven retirements instead of 20. Alexander Wurz retires ahead of season finale and is replaced by Kazuki Nakajima, who retains the seat for 2008.


2006 Review:

Disappointing season sees team finish eighth in standings. Cosworth-powered package shows early promise, including fastest lap at Bahrain season opener, but challenge quickly fades. Twenty DNFs, with best results two sixth places for Mark Webber.





Red Bull




Base: Milton Keynes, UK

Drivers: D Coulthard, M Webber

Test Drivers: S Buemi

Chassis: RB4

Engine: Renault RS27

Tyres: Bridgestone Potenza

First Season: 2005

World Championships: 0

Highest race finish: 3 (x2)

Pole Positions: 0

Fastest Laps: 0


2007 Review:

Tough start with Adrian Newey-penned RB3, recording at least one retirement in each of the first seven races. Mid-season updates improve pace and relieve reliability woes. Record best finish in Hungary, with Mark Webber third and David Coulthard fifth.


2006 Review:

Second season more difficult than first, despite Ferrari power. David Coulthard scores team's first podium in Monaco, but overall amass 18 points less than in '05 and face growing challenge from junior sister team, Toro Rosso.





Toyota




Base: Koln, Germany

Drivers: J Trulli, T Glock

Test Drivers: K Kobayashi

Chassis: TF108

Engine: Toyota RVX-08

Tyres: Bridgestone Potenza

First Season: 2002

World Championships: 0

Highest race finish: 2 (x2)

Pole Positions: 2

Fastest Laps: 1


2007 Review:

Disappointing sixth campaign, scoring 13 points - 22 points less than in '06 - to finish behind customer team Williams in the standings. Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher struggle to get best from TF107. Schumacher leaves for pastures new for 2008.


2006 Review:

Erratic season, dropping to sixth in standings with less than half 2005 points total. Struggle to adapt to Bridgestone tyres early on and technical director Mike Gascoyne departs after three races. Ralf Schumacher's third in Australia the only podium.





Toro Rosso




Base: Faenza, Italy

Drivers: S Bourdais, S Vettel

Test Drivers: None

Chassis: Unknown

Engine: Ferrari

Tyres: Bridgestone Potenza

First Season: 2006

World Championships: 0

Highest race finish: 4 (x1)

Pole Positions: 0

Fastest Laps: 0


2007 Review:

Poor start sees 13 retirements in first 10 Grands Prix. American Scott Speed dropped in July and replaced by former BMW Sauber reserve Sebastian Vettel. Improvements lead to best result to date in China, Vettel and Liuzzi taking an eight-point haul.


2006 Review:

Positive first season for Red Bull's 'junior' team, born out of the Austrian company's 2005 purchase of Minardi. As only team to retain (restricted) V10 power, increasingly challenge sister RBR cars, with Tonio Liuzzi scoring maiden point at Indianapolis. Former racer Gerhard Berger becomes team principal after buying stake in team.





Honda




Base: Brackley, UK

Drivers: J Button, R Barrichello

Test Drivers: M Conway, A Wurz

Chassis: RA108

Engine: Honda RA808E

Tyres: Bridgestone Potenza

First Season: 1964

World Championships: 0

Highest race finish: 1 (x3)

Pole Positions: 2

Fastest Laps: 2


2007 Review:

Aerodynamic and reliability problems leave team with just six points from 17 races - 80 less than their 2006 tally. Only their innovative 'green' livery makes a splash. Ross Brawn appointed new team principal ahead of 2008 campaign.


2006 Review:

After title success as engine suppliers in '80s and '90s, return as works team. Promising start, with pole at round three, but race pace fades mid season, prompting staff reshuffle. Strong recovery with Hungarian victory and fourth in final standings.





Super Aguri




Base: Leafield, UK

Drivers: T Sato, A Davidson

Test Drivers: J Rossiter

Chassis: SA08

Engine: Honda

Tyres: Bridgestone Potenza

First Season: 2006

World Championships: 0

Highest race finish: 6 (x1)

Pole Positions: 0

Fastest Laps: 0


2007 Review:

Positive second season for Aguri Suzuki's men, running development of Honda's '06 chassis. Sato qualifies in top ten in Melbourne, scores team's maiden point in Spain and adds three more in Canada. Ninth overall, just two points behind Honda.


2006 Review:

Japanese team's first season, fronted by former driver Aguri Suzuki. Contest first 11 rounds with modified 2002 Arrows chassis. Performance improves with introduction of SA06 car, taking Takuma Sato to top-ten finish in Brazil.





Force India




Base: Silverstone, UK

Drivers: A Sutil, G Fisichella

Test Drivers: V Liuzzi, R Rodriguez, G van der Garde

Chassis: Unknown

Engine: Ferrari

Tyres: Bridgestone Potenza

First Season: 2008

World Championships: 0

Highest race finish: 0 (x0)

Pole Positions: 0

Fastest Laps: 0


2007 Review:

Former Spyker team is bought in October by a consortium headed by Indian billionare Dr Vijay Mallya and renamed 'Force India' for the 2008 season.


2006 Review:

None.

***CREDIT TO MARK FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER***