Official Formula F1 Thread 2008 ***SPOILERS*** -
03-02-2008, 11:07 AM
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***
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FOUNDER OF THE KEEP BERBATOV AWAY FROM UNITED CAMPAIGN!!!
Man, this story is just very sad to me and I hold the FIA, Max Mosley and Bernie Eccelstone for this.
The scandal that broke out last year, along with the fall and then the double standard when Renault got caught doing the same thing and not punished had to do a lot with this announcement.
Ron Dennis is an F1 great and its a shame to see him leave this way.
All the best and good luck in all your future endeavours.
Quote:
Ron Dennis will reportedly bid farewell to McLaren and F1 later this week.
Dennis is one of the most influential men in the history of the sport, but the prolonged Stepneygate affair coupled with the relentless nature of the calendar will see the 61-year-old call it quits, even though the British constructor denied that Dennis was to leave his post.
Britain's best-selling Sunday broadsheet, The Sunday Times, claims: 'Dennis is understood to feel that the time demands of heading up the F1 team have become disproportionate and, contrary to reports last week, Dennis is increasingly inclined towards a change of priorities.'
Contrary to the aforementioned reports which suggested that Mercedes wanted to see the back of Dennis, The Times claim that he 'is under no pressure from other shareholders.'
The timing of the decision is sure to raise eyebrows as Lewis Hamilton is tipped to challenge for the World Championship this season despite the £50m fine meted out by the FIA.
However, Dennis is reportedly confident that his departure 'would not adversely affect the business, including Hamilton's chances of winning the Championship.'
The McLaren chief, whose personal fortune is £90m, 'intends to be more available to his children, and also believes that the role of team principal has changed,' according to the broadsheet.
Dennis' role at Woking differs from that of other team bosses as he also sits on the McLaren board.
The Brit was expected to step down at the end of 2007, but he delayed these plans and remained at the helm of the team through the Stepneygate crisis.
According to The Times, 'Dennis is expected to announce his decision in midweek. He is under no pressure from other shareholders and many staff have been urging him to stay on. The biggest factor which might still stay his hand is the perception outside McLaren.'
A number of changes to both the Sporting and Technical Regulations have been made by the FIA for the 2008 Formula One season.
Traction and launch control
Traction control - systems which prevent the rear wheels spinning if a driver applies too much power - are no longer permitted. This will place more emphasis on driver skill and should lead to more overtaking, as drivers are more likely to make mistakes. Similarly, systems that help the driver hold the clutch at a specific point to ensure an optimal getaway at the race start, have been outlawed.
Electronic Control Units (ECUs)
From 2008, all teams must use a standardised, FIA-approved ECU to control their cars' electronics. AS well as providing a more level playing field in this area of development, the new ECU - which must run FIA-approved software - will allow the FIA to monitor the cars' performance more closely.
Engine changes
As in 2007, drivers must use the same engine for two consecutive events. If that engine fails in final practice or qualifying and has to be changed ahead of the race, the driver will be given a grid penalty - 10 places if the change was made before qualifying, or the back of the grid if it was made following qualifying.
However, in an amendment for 2008, each driver is allowed one ‘free’ change per season, unless that change takes place at the final round. In other words, he will not incur a penalty for his first engine failure of the year, as long it is not at the last event.
Gearboxes
In a bid to further improve reliability and cut costs, gearboxes must now last for four consecutive Grand Prix meetings. Every unscheduled gearbox change will require the relevant driver to drop five places on the grid at that meeting. If a driver fails to finish a race, he may start the next meeting with a new gearbox without incurring a penalty.
Qualifying
In a very slight tweak to the familiar knockout qualifying format, the duration of Q1 has been increased from 15 to 20 minutes, while that of Q3 has been cut from 15 to 10. Q2 remains 15-minutes long. Furthermore, cars participating in Q3 will no longer get back the fuel used in that session - they must now start the race with whatever fuel was left in the car at the end of qualifying, thus eliminating the need for the infamous 'fuel-burning' phase at the start of Q3.
Cockpit safety
One of the slightly more visible differences to the cars this season will be an increase in the height of the cockpit padding - and hence the cockpit sides - on either side of the driver’s helmet, a change that has been implemented to further increase head protection in the event of an impact.
Biofuel
As part of moves to make Formula One racing ever more environmentally friendly, the FIA has introduced a new rule governing fuel. From 2008, at least 5.75 percent of all fuel must contain biomatter and, as a result, all cars must be designed to be biofuel compliant.
Silverstone reveals designs for future circuit -
03-04-2008, 10:28 AM
With Bernie Eccelstone on a yearly basis stating that Silverstone needs to shape up or have it removed from the race calender, the folks running the British GP, The British Racing Drivers' Club, have put together some redesigns on the pit and paddock complex.
Quote:
The British Racing Drivers' Club has revealed its plans to redevelop the pit and paddock complex at Silverstone.
With F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone threatening to axe the British Grand Prix unless facilities are improved, the plans are seen as vital to the circuit's future.
Under the proposals the complex would be moved from its current location between Woodcote and Copse to a new location between Club and Abbey.
Included in the complex are new garages, a race control building, media centre, hospitality and VIP spectator zones and a primary paddock.
The proposals also involve creating a new pit straight, with reorganised entry and exit points, a reconfiguration of Club Corner and a new Abbey section.
The development will act as a catalyst for further investment across the site. A 10-year plan is due to see a new manufacturer test centre, business park, extreme sport and leisure complex, two hotels, a new university campus, a 'Welcome Centre' and some new homes near the circuit.
Damon Hill, president of the BRDC said: "Silverstone is a great track with a great history. These images are the vision of the future for Silverstone, and one we fervently hope will be realised, in order to provide a venue where all forms of motor sport can be celebrated in style, for the benefit of the competitor and spectator alike.
"This new facility, and the redevelopment at large, will help attract more business to Northamptonshire and create more jobs for local communities.
"The British Grand Prix alone contributes over £30 million a year to the local area and it is vital that we do everything we can to maintain this income as well as the UK's world-class expertise in high-tech engineering and R&D.
"Also, it should go without saying by now, that in order to retain the British Grand Prix we need a venue of this kind of stature, and the Grand Prix is a key element in the whole project."
The plans due to be discussed at a South Northamptonshire Council meeting later this month with a full planning application due to be submitted soon.
@the news - it was the time to do this "upgrade" to the circuit and to give him a futuristic look, and put him in the line with all the new circuits, i mean Silverstone it's Silverstone you almost can't have a season without him, the new paddock will look very nice with all that glass windows and the pit line looks more spacious than it's now so thats a good thing
Official Formula F1 Thread 2008 ***SPOILERS***
Official Formula F1 Thread 2008 ***SPOILERS*** -
03-02-2008, 11:07 AM
