F1 News & Rumours

[blue8]

BMW Sauber retain Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica

The BMW Sauber squad to day announced, as expected, that Nick Heidfeld has agreed terms to remain with the team alongside Robert Kubica for the 2008 season. Timo Glock is currently the test and reserve driver for the team, but he has yet to be confirmed in the role for next year with team stating that 'an announcement will be made at a later stage'. Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director "Both Nick and Robert have delivered very strong performances in the course of this season. They have played a decisive role in enabling the BMW Sauber F1 Team to firmly establish itself as the third best team in Formula One. Forty two world championship points plus two podium places says everything about Nick’s achievements. Thanks to his extensive experience he is making a substantial contribution to the progress of the team." "For Robert, 2007 is his first full season in the top echelon of motor sport. In his brief Formula One career so far he has established himself as equal to Nick. He is extremely fast and, for somebody so young, already has a very sound understanding of technical matters. Robert is a rough diamond we want to polish up into a winning driver. With this strong driver team we are in an excellent position. " Nick Heidfeld "For me it was always clear that I wanted to continue driving for the BMW Sauber F1 Team, and I never doubted that would be the case. It is tremendous being able to help build up a new team and doing my bit for it. When I look at the progress we have made over the last two years, it’s an incredible incentive for me. Personally I have high sporting ambitions and I am certain I can achieve them with the BMW Sauber F1 Team." Robert Kubica "I have now been in Formula One for just over one year and have gathered a great deal of experience. Even so, I am learning new things every day and making steady progress. We now have to concentrate on achieving our ambitious common goals, and I’m confident that the team will be able to give me all the necessary tools that I need to reward them for their renewed trust." E.A. Source BMW Sauber

This should end rumors of Al0nso transferring to BMW. Good decision on keeping the current line-up! I think BMW would become an even stronger team for 2008.

[DeMoN]

Now we just need Renault's lineup to dismiss Al0nsos' speculation.

[DeMoN]

Al0nso still to be McLaren driver in 2008 (in theory)
http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,1895...678203,00.html

Nico staying in same team (not for sale)
http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,189...678398,00.html

[Mattk]

I know I've said this many times before, but BMW are a really strong team, and could definitely challenge for race wins and podium positions in the coming year and the next. Good decision to retain the same drivers. They are just consistently in the points, and quick during qualifying. Promising signs.

[blue8]

Spyker purchased - Team India / Orange India for 2008?

The sale of the Dutch-owned F1 team Spyker has been agreed and will be officially confirmed shortly. The buyer is Indian businessman Vijay Mallya, who in recent days joined with the Michiel and Jan Mol consortium in a jointly (US) $110m bid, the local CNBC-TV18 reported on Saturday. Mallya's involvement is reportedly in his 'personal capacity', meaning that his airline Kingfisher will continue to sponsor Toyota. It is not known what the new name for the Silverstone based team, also called Jordan and Midland in recent years, will be, but the joint consortium is called 'Orange India'. It is understood that press and stock market statements are currently being drafted. Mallya, a key supporter of a Grand Prix in India and also with alcoholic brands, said: "Part and parcel of bringing Formula One to India is to also have an Indian company involved. "We have drivers, we have Narain Karthikeyan, we have Karun Chandok and I hope there will be more as we go along." The financially embattled exclusive Dutch sports car maker Spyker bought the team from Midland last September. Mallya and Mol said in a statement: "(The) offer has been accepted by the Board of Spyker Cars N.V. and exclusivity has been granted to the consortium Orange India Holdings Sarl to proceed with due diligence ... to achieve completion within 30 days." F1's newest team owner has refused to reveal the new name for his team. But Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya, to be the 50 per cent owner of formula one's Silverstone based team that is currently called Spyker, admitted that he would like the word 'India' to feature in the new identity for 2008. "I'll try my best," he told Indian reporters in a news conference. 'Team India' and 'Orange India', in deference to the team's other half-owner, Dutch businessmen Jan and Michiel Mol, are front runners. Mallya also could not confirm speculation that Indian countryman Narain Karthikeyan, currently Williams' occasional test driver, would occupy a race seat. "We would love to have an Indian driver," he said, "but (the team owners) would have to arrive at a consensus."

All-new car for Williams

Sam Michael has revealed that Williams' 2008 challenger will be an all-new car and not an evolution of this year's FW29. As with the other F1 teams, work on Williams' car for next season is well underway. However, unlike what some of the other teams may be opting to do, the FW30 is not a successor to this year's car, rather it's a totally new model. "It's not an evolution of the FW29; it's a new car. A car that's a revolution is fast and wins races. It's not the same car as this year's. We've started from scratch. It's not the direct successor," Michael told Autosport. The team's technical director is confident that the FW30 will be a big step forward on this year's car as it sees the team continue with concepts already introduced this year. "What next year brings us is continuity. And it's not just about the engine bolting onto the back of the chassis. It's all the airbox, exhaust, gearbox, hydraulics and electronics that are integrated. And the cooling system," he said. "So we already know what all the heat rejection figures are and we can optimise that and make big changes to it. Going into a second year means that helps a lot. "It also helps reliability a lot because this year we haven't had to focus on keeping the car alive, which is what we had to do last year while at the same time trying to design a new installation. So there's no doubt that we're in a much better position to plan properly and go forward. "As with everything in F1, it's all relative. So what improvements we find in FW30 will depend on everybody else. But also having the design office and aero dept structure solid and in place for the last 12 months has been a big part of next year's car as well."

[saadie]

here comes karthikeyan again

[blue8]

Fuji and Suzuka for the Japanese GP starting 2009

Fuji and Suzuka have agreed to alternate hosting the Japanese GP from 2009 onwards. This season the race will take place at the Fuji Speedway, which will also retain the grand prix for next year before Suzuka takes over in 2009. "We have concluded an agreement on the alternation of the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix between Fuji Speedway and Suzuka circuit, to ensure the progress and success of keeping Formula One in Japan over the long term," F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone announced. "I appreciate that Fuji Speedway accepted this and am very happy that Fuji Speedway and Suzuka circuit made this possible. "It also makes me very pleased that we will retain Suzuka as it has supported Formula One for 20 years." Fuji makes its return to the F1 calendar this season. The circuit first hosted the Japanese GP in 1976 when James Hunt beat Niki Lauda to the world championship, however, it then fell off the calendar after the 1977 race.

[blue8]

Shorter final session for qualifying?

The so-called ‘fuel-burning’ phase of qualifying could become a thing of the past next season if plans to shorten Q3 - the 15-minute shootout for pole position - get the go ahead. “The Sporting Working Group met here in Monza on Wednesday and among the items on the agenda was a proposal that just slightly modified the qualifying procedure, but in so doing got rid of the fuel-burning laps,” said Renault’s Executive Director of Engineering, Pat Symonds. Currently, the ten drivers competing in Q3 must begin the session with the fuel load they plan to carry at the start of race. This means they spend a large part of the 15 minutes reducing that fuel load to lighten their cars and hence maximise their qualifying speed. The fuel used in the session is then credited back ahead of the race. Explaining how this would change under the new proposals, Symonds said: “The way it did it was to have a more limited time in Q3 in the final part of qualifying and to still re-fuel before that so you still had to put in the fuel that would do your qualifying and your race, but because the qualifying was shorter and because you got no credit back on Sunday morning, you simply put in what you needed for qualifying and the race.” The proposals will now go to the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council for approval ahead of their expected application in 2008.

[blue8]

Updated race calendar:
Formula One racing’s governing body, the FIA, has released a revised calendar for the 2008 world championship. The amended schedule sees the Italian and Belgian Grands Prix, and the Japanese and Chinese events, swapping positions on the calendar.

The Belgian race will now take place on September 7, a week before the Italian Grand Prix on September 14. The Japanese event, meanwhile, will take place a week earlier than previously announced on October 12, with the Chinese Grand Prix switching to October 19.

The 2008 calendar in full:

16 Mar Australia
23 Mar Malaysia
6 Apr Bahrain
27 Apr Spain
11 May Turkey
25 May Monaco
8 Jun Canada*
22 Jun France
6 Jul Great Britain
20 Jul Germany
3 Aug Hungary
24 Aug Europe**
7 Sep Belgium
14 Sep Italy
28 Sep Singapore**
12 Oct Japan
19 Oct China
2 Nov Brazil

*Provisional
**Subject to circuit approval

[blue8]

Al0nso to Ferrari, Massa to Toyota

Fernando Alonso is reportedly off to Ferrari next season in a £20m per year deal, while Felipe Massa is moving to Toyota. Alonso's position at McLaren has become more untenable with the FIA's confirmation that it was the Spaniard's emails that resulted in the team being stripped of their 2007 Constructors' Championship points and handed a £50m fine. And with Ron Dennis admitting that his relationship with his driver is "extremely cold" and that Alonso's unhappy with the team's equality policy, the double World Champion's time at McLaren appears to be running out - and fast. In fact, according to the News of the World, Alonso has just three more races as a McLaren driver having already agreed to join Ferrari. According to the tabloid, the Spaniard has agreed a £20 million a year deal to join Ferrari for 2008, leaving Felipe Massa out in the cold. Massa, though, is already making plans for the future with the Daily Mail claiming that he 'opened preliminary negotiations with Toyota last weekend.' The newspaper went on to say that Massa's decision to leave Ferrari could be based on team boss Jean Todt's pending (and unwanted) retirement in order to make way for Ross Brawn's return. The Ferrari tech director, who is nearing the end of his year-long sabbatical, is expected to return to the Scuderia next season as team boss. And should this happen it could place Todt's son, who is also Massa's manager, in an uncomfortable position. 'Massa is acutely aware that if Jean Todt, as expected, loses an impending internal power struggle within Ferrari, he will be instantly vulnerable as he is managed by the Frenchman's son, Nicholas,' the Mail surmised. On a personal note, P-F1 believes Alonso would do well at Ferrari... after all he already knows all about the car and how to set it up.

Hope this remains as it is, a rumor! I would never be comfortable supporting Ferrari with Al0nso as one of their drivers. It would be interesting though to see him alongside Kimi... Massa to Toyota would be the ultimate downgrade. I heard elsewhere that if Al0nso decides to leave McLaren, Button(?!?!) or Rosberg would be the replacement.

[saadie]

buttron is better off where he is ...

interesting news though ....

[Mattk]

I don't think Ferrari will ditch Massa. He has been right up there with Raikonnen. They'd be foolish to get rid of a reliable performer, even if he might not be as naturally talented as other drivers. Massa has a long career ahead of him. As for Fernando Alonso, his arrogance and bad attitude, not to mention a bit of dodgy emailing, is probably going to be his downfall.

[ae86_16v]

Dude, seriously if Alonso joins Ferrari, I might have to reconsider my allegiance with Scuderia.

[blue8]

Ralf Schumacher out of Toyota

Schumacher to say farewell to Toyota Ralf Schumacher is to leave Toyota at the end of the season, he confirmed on Monday. Speaking in Shanghai, where he is preparing for his penultimate race with the Japanese team, Schumacher said he has decided to look for a new challenge. Schumacher joined Toyota from Williams for the 2005 season, but has since enjoyed limited success, with three podiums his best results for the team. In a statement on his official website, the German admitted it had been an interesting, if somewhat frustrating three years. "I joined Toyota with high expectations,” he said. “On the one hand, I regarded it as a major and exciting challenge to be involved in the development of a new racing car. On the other hand, I also learned to like the Japanese style of living, during my long stay in Japan before entering Formula One. And I still get on well with the Japanese mentality. But I am waiting for years for a competitive car." He added: "Toyota also was a nice and interesting experience - particularly the cooperation with the team, engineers and mechanics. Still, it’s time now to look for a new challenge." Concerning his future plans, Schumacher commented: “I'm going to have several conversations in the coming weeks. I will announce my decision when the season is over. For me, the financial aspect is far less important than the chance of being involved in the development of a car and being successful afterwards." Schumacher, a six-time Grand Prix winner with Williams, has scored five points this season, his best result a sixth place in Hungary.

^Making room for Al0nso?

"I'd be delighted if I didn't carry on with Hamilton"

Other news:
*Singapore GP officially gets the green light. The decision to host a night race is still pending.

*BMW Sauber to launch 2008 car by January

[saadie]

alonso will most probably replace fisichella imo ..... fisi will move to toyota ...
thats how it seems to me anyway ..

i dont like these new street circuits :\ ...

the new BMW-sauber will be great! .. hope its a contender for constructers champioship next year