Formula One 2008 (Rd.16, JAPANESE GRAND PRIX)
03-11-2008, 01:00 PM
#21
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Renault
Drivers Fernando Alonso
Nelson Piquet Jnr
Testers: Romain Grosjean, Lucas di Grassi, Sakon Yamamoto
Have Renault really lost their confidence, as prodigal son Fernando Alonso recently suggested? Or was that merely talk to lull rivals into a false sense of security?
There is no question that 2007 came as a major slap in the face for the team which had won dramatic championships for Alonso in 2005 and ?06, while also annexing the constructors? trophies for themselves. Problems with the switch from Michelin to Bridgestone, the aerodynamics, and the loss of Alonso to McLaren really hurt the Enstone team.
Now Alonso is back, partnered by hungry young Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jr, son of the 1981, ?83 and ?87 world champion. The Spaniard will be worth half a second a lap immediately, and Renault have spent the winter in an intensive race to claw back the ground lost so unexpectedly to Ferrari and McLaren. Alonso has been candid about their performance thus far in testing, and says that it isn?t good enough to put them back on top yet. Instead, they aim initially for podiums, and to snatch back third place from BMW Sauber. Whether they can aspire to victory by the end of the year is one of 2008?s key questions.
Drivers Fernando Alonso
Nelson Piquet Jnr
Testers: Romain Grosjean, Lucas di Grassi, Sakon Yamamoto
Have Renault really lost their confidence, as prodigal son Fernando Alonso recently suggested? Or was that merely talk to lull rivals into a false sense of security?
There is no question that 2007 came as a major slap in the face for the team which had won dramatic championships for Alonso in 2005 and ?06, while also annexing the constructors? trophies for themselves. Problems with the switch from Michelin to Bridgestone, the aerodynamics, and the loss of Alonso to McLaren really hurt the Enstone team.
Now Alonso is back, partnered by hungry young Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jr, son of the 1981, ?83 and ?87 world champion. The Spaniard will be worth half a second a lap immediately, and Renault have spent the winter in an intensive race to claw back the ground lost so unexpectedly to Ferrari and McLaren. Alonso has been candid about their performance thus far in testing, and says that it isn?t good enough to put them back on top yet. Instead, they aim initially for podiums, and to snatch back third place from BMW Sauber. Whether they can aspire to victory by the end of the year is one of 2008?s key questions.
03-12-2008, 04:09 AM
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Williams
Drivers: Nico Rosberg & Kazuki Nakajima
Testers: Nico Hulkenberg
Williams did a huge amount in 2007 to dismiss any suggestions that they are slowly declining into the sort of supporting role which eventually claimed Tyrrell. And their performance so far in pre-season testing makes them a clear contender for the position of dark horse prior to the 2008 kick-off.
The FW29 did much to put the team back on the right technical track in 2007, and its similarly Toyota-powered FW30 successor has looked very strong all winter. Senior engineers Patrick Head and Sam Michael both firmly believe that, while they aren?t yet ready to claim victories, the gap between themselves and Ferrari and McLaren will be a lot smaller. In the quiet ebullience of one of the most popular teams in the sport, one sees the shoots of recovery to the level of competitiveness that made them great.
On the driver front, two sons of famous fathers will battle it out. Nico Rosberg made a great name for himself in 2007, but was that just because the FW29 was a great car? This year he has to beat decisively new team mate Kazuki Nakajima, son of the former Lotus and Tyrrell racer Satoru, if he is to maintain his career momentum.
Red Bull
Drivers: David Coulthard & Mark Webber
Testers: Sebastien Buemi
2007 was a crucial year for Red Bull Racing that appeared to achieve little thanks to the inherent lack of reliability of the long-awaited RB3 from technical chief Adrian Newey. The idea was to challenge for fourth place overall with the Renault RS27-engined contender, but it didn?t work out that way. Instead, Red Bull remained firmly mired in the midfield, from which escape will be a very tough task.
David Coulthard and Mark Webber need no introduction and are comfortable together. They have similar speed, which manifests itself in different ways. Webber is the better qualifier, but Coulthard can still drive a good race. Both have to be fully motivated, however, and that will come if the RB4 can deliver. The signs thus far are that more work is needed before it can break through, but results must come in the most critical season the team has yet faced. The time for excuses is long past.
Toyota
Drivers: Jarno Trulli & Timo Glock
Testers: Kamui Kobayashi
Red Bull Racing isn?t the only team that faces tough questions if they fail to deliver. Toyota have been on that knife edge for far too long and in 2008 they must surely start to show signs of being able to challenge regularly for podiums if they are to stand any chance of long-term survival. Even Toyota, who are rumoured to be spending more than anyone else on Formula One racing, cannot do so indefinitely without solid results.
Jarno Trulli said recently that he believes the TF108 has the potential to do well, but this is what drivers always say at this stage of the season when anything is possible. In Timo Glock he has a German partner who can be guaranteed to push all the time, but unless the technical package is right both will face the usual uphill struggle of a Toyota driver.
Toro Rosso
Drivers: Sebastien Bourdais & Sebastian Vettel
Test driver: TBA
Toro Rosso were one of the least happy teams for much of 2007, with the management of Gerhard Berger and Franz Tost regularly belittling the efforts of drivers Vitantonio Liuzzi and Scott Speed. The American was dropped in favour of Sebastian Vettel by Hungary, and despite matching the German?s pace, if not his luck, Liuzzi was also shown the door at the end of the season. The man who replaces him is Sebastien Bourdais, whom many acknowledge should have got a Formula One chance a long time ago. The four-time ChampCar champion has been struggling for speed during testing, and faces a tough challenge learning the ropes while keeping up with Vettel.
Among the team?s greatest assets is former McLaren and Ferrari engineer Giorgio Ascanelli, whose arrival set them on the right technical course partway through 2007. They start the year with a modified, ?B? version of last year?s STR02, and are hoping that as a known quantity it will enable them to achieve decent results early on before the introduction of a new machine later in the year.
Drivers: Nico Rosberg & Kazuki Nakajima
Testers: Nico Hulkenberg
Williams did a huge amount in 2007 to dismiss any suggestions that they are slowly declining into the sort of supporting role which eventually claimed Tyrrell. And their performance so far in pre-season testing makes them a clear contender for the position of dark horse prior to the 2008 kick-off.
The FW29 did much to put the team back on the right technical track in 2007, and its similarly Toyota-powered FW30 successor has looked very strong all winter. Senior engineers Patrick Head and Sam Michael both firmly believe that, while they aren?t yet ready to claim victories, the gap between themselves and Ferrari and McLaren will be a lot smaller. In the quiet ebullience of one of the most popular teams in the sport, one sees the shoots of recovery to the level of competitiveness that made them great.
On the driver front, two sons of famous fathers will battle it out. Nico Rosberg made a great name for himself in 2007, but was that just because the FW29 was a great car? This year he has to beat decisively new team mate Kazuki Nakajima, son of the former Lotus and Tyrrell racer Satoru, if he is to maintain his career momentum.
Red Bull
Drivers: David Coulthard & Mark Webber
Testers: Sebastien Buemi
2007 was a crucial year for Red Bull Racing that appeared to achieve little thanks to the inherent lack of reliability of the long-awaited RB3 from technical chief Adrian Newey. The idea was to challenge for fourth place overall with the Renault RS27-engined contender, but it didn?t work out that way. Instead, Red Bull remained firmly mired in the midfield, from which escape will be a very tough task.
David Coulthard and Mark Webber need no introduction and are comfortable together. They have similar speed, which manifests itself in different ways. Webber is the better qualifier, but Coulthard can still drive a good race. Both have to be fully motivated, however, and that will come if the RB4 can deliver. The signs thus far are that more work is needed before it can break through, but results must come in the most critical season the team has yet faced. The time for excuses is long past.
Toyota
Drivers: Jarno Trulli & Timo Glock
Testers: Kamui Kobayashi
Red Bull Racing isn?t the only team that faces tough questions if they fail to deliver. Toyota have been on that knife edge for far too long and in 2008 they must surely start to show signs of being able to challenge regularly for podiums if they are to stand any chance of long-term survival. Even Toyota, who are rumoured to be spending more than anyone else on Formula One racing, cannot do so indefinitely without solid results.
Jarno Trulli said recently that he believes the TF108 has the potential to do well, but this is what drivers always say at this stage of the season when anything is possible. In Timo Glock he has a German partner who can be guaranteed to push all the time, but unless the technical package is right both will face the usual uphill struggle of a Toyota driver.
Toro Rosso
Drivers: Sebastien Bourdais & Sebastian Vettel
Test driver: TBA
Toro Rosso were one of the least happy teams for much of 2007, with the management of Gerhard Berger and Franz Tost regularly belittling the efforts of drivers Vitantonio Liuzzi and Scott Speed. The American was dropped in favour of Sebastian Vettel by Hungary, and despite matching the German?s pace, if not his luck, Liuzzi was also shown the door at the end of the season. The man who replaces him is Sebastien Bourdais, whom many acknowledge should have got a Formula One chance a long time ago. The four-time ChampCar champion has been struggling for speed during testing, and faces a tough challenge learning the ropes while keeping up with Vettel.
Among the team?s greatest assets is former McLaren and Ferrari engineer Giorgio Ascanelli, whose arrival set them on the right technical course partway through 2007. They start the year with a modified, ?B? version of last year?s STR02, and are hoping that as a known quantity it will enable them to achieve decent results early on before the introduction of a new machine later in the year.
03-12-2008, 06:23 AM
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Formula 1 coverage on SPEED from the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia:
Thursday, Mar. 13, 2008
11:00 p.m. EST - Australian Grand Prix Practice (L)
Friday, Mar. 14, 2008
11:00 p.m. EST - Australian Grand Prix Qualifying (L)
Saturday, Mar. 15, 2008
11:30 p.m. EST - Inside Grand Prix
12:00 a.m. EST - Australian Grand Prix (L)
Sunday, Mar. 16, 2008
1:30 p.m. EST - Australian Grand Prix (re-air)
Thursday, Mar. 13, 2008
11:00 p.m. EST - Australian Grand Prix Practice (L)
Friday, Mar. 14, 2008
11:00 p.m. EST - Australian Grand Prix Qualifying (L)
Saturday, Mar. 15, 2008
11:30 p.m. EST - Inside Grand Prix
12:00 a.m. EST - Australian Grand Prix (L)
Sunday, Mar. 16, 2008
1:30 p.m. EST - Australian Grand Prix (re-air)
03-12-2008, 04:06 PM
#26
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Model Year: 2018
Here's a couple short videos of the BMW Sauber F1.08 driven by Robert Kubica...
Rollout:
Rollout.WMV
On track:
Track.WMV
Rollout:
Rollout.WMV
On track:
Track.WMV
03-12-2008, 05:59 PM
#27
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My Ride: 2008 535i w/ Sports & Permium Pkg. Silv/Blk
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Honda
Drivers: Jenson Button
Rubens Barrichello
Testers: Alex Wurz, Mike Conway, Luca Filippi
Honda made much of the power of dreams and their Earthdreams programme when they launched their eco-friendly Formula One car last year, but it proved to be an utterly disastrous season that brought the team to their knees. Jenson Button did a fantastic job to maintain his momentum as, for yet another year, he saw his genuine aspirations of mounting a championship challenge crumble the moment the first race started.
Testing times suggest that the new RA108, at least in its current guise, is not going to turn that trick for him either. Insiders say his first comments on the new car were unprintable. At the launch in late January, there was much evidence of brave smiles for the cameras to disguise an ongoing crisis.
But? nobody in the real world doubts that the presence of new team principal Ross Brawn will have a huge influence on the team?s development in the medium term. His record at Benetton and Ferrari speaks volumes, and this major asset will surely lead the team from the wilderness. It will, however, take time.
Super Aguri
Drivers: Takuma Sato
Anthony Davidson
Tester: James Rossiter
The one thing that Super Aguri can rely on going into the 2008 season is the inherent strength of Honda?s RA807E V8. But it remains to be seen how weak other aspects of the set-up will be.
This time last year Aguri Suzuki?s little team embarrassed the Honda 'Mother Ship', whose own RA107 performed lamentably in the early races. By contrast, Super Aguri?s RA106-based SA07 went well enough for the irrepressible Takuma Sato to perform some giant-killing acts, most notably on a troubled Fernando Alonso?s McLaren in Montreal.
Now the little team face 2008 with modified versions of the RA107s, after a great deal of uncertainty over their financial wellbeing. They missed the final two winter tests, and only in the days prior to Melbourne was news of a buyer for the team announced. Losing a team is never good news, especially when they are as popular as Super Aguri, and one hopes that the acquisition by the Magma Group can be successfully concluded.
Force India
Drivers: Adrian Sutil 21 Giancarlo Fisichella
Tester: Vitantonio Liuzzi
In the beginning it was Jordan. Then it became Midland. Then Spyker. Now it is Force India. Can Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya finally get this once successful team back on track, and turn the corner from also-rans to respectable midfielder status?
Technical chief Mike Gascoyne believes so, and has been busily assembling a very strong technical department to do just that. It includes engineers such as Mark Smith and James Key, and other personnel who were with the team in its Jordan heyday. In Mallya they have finally found somebody with the necessary finance and the will to invest it in moving from the tail end of the field into the midfield. Nobody is pretending that Force India will emulate Jordan?s bold acts of yore just yet, but watch this team very carefully. If anyone is going to surprise with their progress by the end of the year, it could be this one.
Drivers: Jenson Button
Rubens Barrichello
Testers: Alex Wurz, Mike Conway, Luca Filippi
Honda made much of the power of dreams and their Earthdreams programme when they launched their eco-friendly Formula One car last year, but it proved to be an utterly disastrous season that brought the team to their knees. Jenson Button did a fantastic job to maintain his momentum as, for yet another year, he saw his genuine aspirations of mounting a championship challenge crumble the moment the first race started.
Testing times suggest that the new RA108, at least in its current guise, is not going to turn that trick for him either. Insiders say his first comments on the new car were unprintable. At the launch in late January, there was much evidence of brave smiles for the cameras to disguise an ongoing crisis.
But? nobody in the real world doubts that the presence of new team principal Ross Brawn will have a huge influence on the team?s development in the medium term. His record at Benetton and Ferrari speaks volumes, and this major asset will surely lead the team from the wilderness. It will, however, take time.
Super Aguri
Drivers: Takuma Sato
Anthony Davidson
Tester: James Rossiter
The one thing that Super Aguri can rely on going into the 2008 season is the inherent strength of Honda?s RA807E V8. But it remains to be seen how weak other aspects of the set-up will be.
This time last year Aguri Suzuki?s little team embarrassed the Honda 'Mother Ship', whose own RA107 performed lamentably in the early races. By contrast, Super Aguri?s RA106-based SA07 went well enough for the irrepressible Takuma Sato to perform some giant-killing acts, most notably on a troubled Fernando Alonso?s McLaren in Montreal.
Now the little team face 2008 with modified versions of the RA107s, after a great deal of uncertainty over their financial wellbeing. They missed the final two winter tests, and only in the days prior to Melbourne was news of a buyer for the team announced. Losing a team is never good news, especially when they are as popular as Super Aguri, and one hopes that the acquisition by the Magma Group can be successfully concluded.
Force India
Drivers: Adrian Sutil 21 Giancarlo Fisichella
Tester: Vitantonio Liuzzi
In the beginning it was Jordan. Then it became Midland. Then Spyker. Now it is Force India. Can Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya finally get this once successful team back on track, and turn the corner from also-rans to respectable midfielder status?
Technical chief Mike Gascoyne believes so, and has been busily assembling a very strong technical department to do just that. It includes engineers such as Mark Smith and James Key, and other personnel who were with the team in its Jordan heyday. In Mallya they have finally found somebody with the necessary finance and the will to invest it in moving from the tail end of the field into the midfield. Nobody is pretending that Force India will emulate Jordan?s bold acts of yore just yet, but watch this team very carefully. If anyone is going to surprise with their progress by the end of the year, it could be this one.
03-12-2008, 08:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Rudy' post='543865' date='Mar 13 2008, 08:06 AM
Here's a couple short videos of the BMW Sauber F1.08 driven by Robert Kubica...
Rollout:
Attachment 46149
On track:
Attachment 46150
Rollout:
Attachment 46149
On track:
Attachment 46150
03-13-2008, 04:38 PM
#29
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My Ride: 2008 535i w/ Sports & Permium Pkg. Silv/Blk
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Top 5 times from the first Fri pratice:
1) Kimi R. 1:26.461
2) Lewis H. 1:26.948
3) Felipe M. 1:26.958
4) Heikki K. 1:27.114
5) Mark W. 1:28.263
Top cars did 18-25 laps
The BMWs: Robert K. 7th with a 1:28.579
Nick H. 16th with a 1:29.561 with a problem after only 7 laps.
1) Kimi R. 1:26.461
2) Lewis H. 1:26.948
3) Felipe M. 1:26.958
4) Heikki K. 1:27.114
5) Mark W. 1:28.263
Top cars did 18-25 laps
The BMWs: Robert K. 7th with a 1:28.579Nick H. 16th with a 1:29.561 with a problem after only 7 laps.
03-13-2008, 06:01 PM
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Originally Posted by MiamiPhill' post='544471' date='Mar 14 2008, 08:38 AM
Top 5 times from the first Fri pratice:
1) Kimi R. 1:26.461
2) Lewis H. 1:26.948
3) Felipe M. 1:26.958
4) Heikki K. 1:27.114
5) Mark W. 1:28.263
Top cars did 18-25 laps
The BMWs: Robert K. 7th with a 1:28.579
Nick H. 16th with a 1:29.561 with a problem after only 7 laps.
1) Kimi R. 1:26.461
2) Lewis H. 1:26.948
3) Felipe M. 1:26.958
4) Heikki K. 1:27.114
5) Mark W. 1:28.263
Top cars did 18-25 laps
The BMWs: Robert K. 7th with a 1:28.579Nick H. 16th with a 1:29.561 with a problem after only 7 laps.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/7293495.stm