Formula One 2008 Preview

Formula One 2008

It’s that time of year again, a new Formula One season is upon us and with new drivers joining new teams – this year’s world championship could be the most dramatic and unpredictable in the 57 years of the sport. With the spygate controversy and messy politics left thankfully behind, it’s a good opportunity to look ahead to what this year’s championship has in store.

Ferrari and Kimi Raikkonen will be determined to keep their title honours after winning last year’s championship against the highly competitive McLarens. The season long battle with double world champion Fernando Alonso, rising star Lewis Hamilton and the ‘Iceman’ Raikkonen were the highlight of the racing season. It was a fascinating contest between these top quality drivers going for race victories last year and 2008 will provide even more spectacular action!

For Raikkonen, the Finn was ecstatic to finally win the drivers’ crown after several years of trying. Last season will be remembered for his sheer determination by driving flat out all the time! Despite struggling in the early part of 2007 with the new Ferrari… After the Finn has overcome his problems with the characteristics of the Bridgestone controlled tyres and the F2007, the Iceman was achieving some quite extraordinary results. To win the title in that gripping season finale in Sao Paulo was unbelievable. All odds were against him and yet the Finn focused on what was on hand and after two hours of some quality driving, he finally did it! Now the next challenge is to defend his title honours.

Lewis Hamilton may have missed out on winning the drivers’ title in his first season of racing in Formula One, but he shouldn’t feel disappointed, as his performance at McLaren was nothing short of remarkable. In fact, he scored four impressive race wins and came within a grasp of winning the ultimate prize in the sport in his rookie season. This year will provide him a better opportunity as the British star has the experience of knowing all the tracks and his rivals. It is now down to McLaren in providing a race-winning car to challenge the Finn.

And what about Alonso? Well, the Spaniard has returned back to his ‘spiritual home’ team that is Renault after a traumatic season at McLaren last year. It didn’t help that Fernando requested to have number one status at Ron Dennis’ team even though the team boss prefers equal status for its drivers… And as for his team-mate Hamilton, the British driver proved to be too hot to handle by out-qualifying and out racing him in several events. In addition, the whole Hungarian Grand Prix bust-up was the major turning point in his decision to jump ship and return back to Renault…

And yet sadly, 2007 will always be remembered by the politics and the outrageous spy scandal that dominated the racing action. The main talking point was the espionage controversy involving Ferrari and McLaren, which led to McLaren being excluded from the constructors’ championship and fined a record $100 million for having obtained knowledge on Ferrari technical data… There is still a debate to this day whether or not the team are guilty.

So that was a brief recap on last season’s championship. What can we expect to see in F1 2008? What are the new rules and regulations and who will come out on top? All this will be revealed in this in-depth preview to the 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship.
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Autosport International 2008

Autosport Show 2008

A new year means another visit to the Birmingham’s NEC for the annual trip to the biggest motor racing show, the Autosport International.

The main highlight was the 50th anniversary of the British Touring Car Championship. Seeing the many ‘tin top’ racing cars up close was a real treat, especially the dominate Vauxhalls of the late 90s but I was slightly disappointed not to see the sinister black Ford Sierra that dominate the series in the mid 80s.

Another high point was the Colin McRae tribute stand, featuring an impressive collection of rally cars. Observing all these vehicles that the 1995 World Rally Champion drove throughout his career was highly emotional and it is still a shock that the popular Scot is no longer with us.

The Live Action Arena was extended with more racing action from the likes of Formula Palmer Audis, stockcars and new to the show, dragsters. These straight-line accelerating monsters sounded great in particular the 1953 Studebaker. I was amazed how much tire smoke it produces as the whole arena vibrated to its powerful engine (not to mention going deaf)!

As for the Formula One grid, it was fascinating to see the 2007 single-seater cars up close and personal. The chrome McLaren is simply gorgeous while the ‘earth’ theme Honda didn’t… This year’s Autosport International also included an extra feature, the Pistol Head performance car show and to be honest, I wasn’t a fan, Sure it was nice to see exotic supercars from the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche, but it felt like I stepped into Max Power world… And it didn’t help that the promo girls were wearing less (on second thoughts, that’s a good thing!).

At the end of an exhausting and long day, we left with a range of photographs stored on our digital cameras and fantastic memories of racing cars and stars.

Hamilton to strike back with new McLaren MP4-23

McLaren MP4/23

This is the new Mercedes-powered race car that Lewis Hamilton hopes to win this year’s drivers’ title after narrowly missing out in the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix. The MP4-23 will mark ten years since the British team achieve the double (drivers and constructors) and will be desperate to bounce back after a difficult and controversial season in 2007.

The chrome-themed racing car will carry the unusually high numbers of 22 and 23, due to the team officially classified last in the standings – after being thrown out of the championship due to the latest series of spy scandals. Its a pure coincident that the 2008’s chassis is designated as the MP4-23 and that the unveiling in Stuttgart happens to be the same day as Lewis celebrates his 23rd birthday!

The designation ‘23′ holds further resonance for the squad. The McLaren M23 of the pre-Ron Dennis years appeared in 80 Grands Prix from 1974-78; a total of 177 individual car appearances. It won sixteen races, taking Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi to the drivers’ title in 1974 and Britain’s James Hunt in 1976. The M23 was the last title-winning car produced under the direction of Teddy Mayer before Ron Dennis took over the team in 1980.

Can the MP-23 enjoy the same success and make a champion out of Lewis Hamilton or new signing Heikki Kovalainen? Ron Dennis hopes so and he added that the team is focused to move on from that spying controversy that overshadowed last season.

“This is a year of forward thinking for us, we are looking forward,” Dennis said. “We are not spending any time dwelling on the past. We are intent with everyone in the company in producing a competitive racing car, a car that is constantly evolving and will look radically different by the time we get to the first Grand Prix.”

As for Lewis Hamilton, the championship runner-up says he will be a lot stronger in 2008 following a stunning debut season with McLaren last year.

“It gives me great pleasure to be here today on my birthday,” said Hamilton, turning 23 today. “After such a great season in 2007 I think the approach will be very, very similar to last year.

“We have a better car, a new team-mate and as a team are stronger and as a driver I have developed so much over one season that I will be a lot stronger next season than last year. So with the same mentality, approach and determination we can do well.”

Finn Heikki Kovalainen, who has joined McLaren after making his Grand Prix debut with Renault in 2007, will partner Hamilton. Kovalainen admits he has already been impressed with the team and is hopeful he will enjoy a strong season at McLaren.

“Of course for me it is a fantastic opportunity,” said the Finn. “It is a big step forward in my career to join McLaren. So far I have been impressed with what I have seen at the factory in Woking, meeting engineers, meeting people.

“Everyone is determined to return to the top and I will do the maximum I can before the first race, to start the season well in Melbourne and hopefully have some good results.”

Prepare for another battle royale between McLaren and Ferrari in 2008!

Raikkonen’s new Ferrari racer

Ferrari F2008

It’s that time of the season and with the first Grand Prix at Melbourne coming up in two months time, the first 2008-spec Formula One racing car is launch and to set the ball rolling, this is the car in which the 2007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Raikkonen will defend his drivers’ title for this year’s championship season.

The new Ferrari F2008 looks similar to last season’s title-winning chassis but with a new standard ECU and some new aerodynamics. The car, codenamed internally as the 659, has been designed for the new sporting regulations in 2008, with no driving aids allowed.

Raikkonen hopes the F2008 – designed under the guidance of technical director Aldo Costa – will again bring title success for the Maranello-based squad. In fact, the Iceman is looking forward to driving without traction control though the potential for more crashes is the biggest issue for the world champions ahead of the first race in Melbourne on March 16th.

“Now traction control is not going to help you but for me it will be a lot more fun. I think there will be an easier chance to overtake as people will make more mistakes,” Raikkonen told a news conference.

“The sport is dangerous anyway. It doesn’t matter if you have traction control or not. If you think it is too dangerous you probably shouldn’t be in the sport. It is more tricky for sure, you need to be awake more of the time.”

The Finn’s team-mate Felipe Massa was less positive about the changes and said drivers had asked for safety assurances from the FIA, Formula One’s governing body.

“We had an email exchange but we haven’t tested the car yet. The GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers’ Association) has for sure been trying to increase safety levels. This is a very important change. It will have to be a smoother driving style,” said the Brazilian, who was still enamoured with the new Ferrari.

“My expectations are very high. When you first look at the car it is a special moment. It is like seeing a child being born. Now we have to let this child grow and grow as quickly as possible.”

Both drivers said it was too early to tell who their main challengers would be this year given the new rules and that Fernando Alonso has returned back to Renault. The Finn believes that Ferrari and rival McLaren will again be the main protagonists in 2008.

“Ferrari and McLaren will be there,” he added. “Renault had a difficult year last year but it might be a completely different story this year but nobody really knows after the first couple of tests and we get some kind of idea where everybody is. And then there’s BMW.

“It will be a difficult year. It’s my second year at Ferrari. I can feel that everything is going really well. I know the people I am working with and I really like the team.

“We need to always look at what others are doing but the main thing is that we keep pushing hard as a team and we keep improving we should be in good shape.”

Let’s see how good the world champions will be during the all-important testing as Formula One 2008 gears up for a new season of racing.

Race of Champions comes to Wembley

Race of Champions 2007 Wembley

After hosting the traditional end-of-season motor sport event in Paris at the State de France for three years, the organisers of the Race of Champions (Michèle Mouton and Fredrik Johnson) decided to change venue for 2007.

It may have been years behind schedule and cost a huge amount of resources to construct, but the new Wembley Stadium in North London was a truly impressive sight when racing cars took central stage.

Back in 2004, when I went to Paris to attend my first Race of Champions I was amazed by the quality of racing from the best drivers from the world of Formula One, rallying, touring cars and single-seaters. The atmosphere – with the fans cheering on their favourite drivers as they tear around the figure-of-eight circuit with tyre smoke – was electric! And when the news came through regarding the event coming to London, I wanted my friends to come along and experience it themselves!

I invited some good friends from the TokyoToys forum who are interested in motor racing. Even though Ashlea, Chris and Michael couldn’t afford the tickets (and to be honest, it was expensive) I was more than happy to pair for them. In fact, it was my special Christmas treat to make them attend the event!

On the day, I meet up with Yas at Baker Street tube station to have a spot of lunch with other TT members. We had a nice Italian meal in a nearby restaurant and it was quite amusing to see the waitress cutting some slices into Amy’s pizza, as she was having trouble with her blunt knife!

After eating, we made our way to Wembley by taking a direct (and very fast) route on the Metropolitan line. After stepping out of the tube station, the first sight you see is the impressive spanning archway over Wembley Stadium.

Chris was running late at this point so we agree to meet him at the entrance point. He finally arrived some time later and we our way in and towards our stand. Initially, I was worried that the seating arrangement at the far end of the stadium wouldn’t offer any good views but when we got to our seats, we had a spectacular vantage point overlooking the figure-of-eight race track!

The event was highly entertaining despite the harsh winter winds! We were absolutely freezing our arses off but the track activities kept our spirits warm.

Double DTM champion Mattias Ekstrom won the main Race of Champions after beating the seven-times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher in a series of tense heats. But Michael had the last laugh as Team Germany won the Nations Cup with fellow colleague Sebastian Vettel.

The most amusing moment in the Race of Champions was when Schumacher stalled on the start and finish line! Michael was even overtaken on the track by new McLaren signing Heikki Kovalainen. This was the high point for the Finn as he would later crashed out in spectacular fashion in a dramatic race with Andy Priaulx.

After the fun day out, we all made our own way home and once back, I was happy to see the many photographs and videos posted on Facebook by the others! Reading the various comments on that popular socialising website, everyone was ecstatic about the event and Yas in particular was looking forward to attending the event next year. For Michael, he was fond to see his idol Schumacher racing while Ashlea and Chris enjoyed the whole experience. Same time next year everyone?

Kovalainen joins McLaren

Kovalainen Renault

Finland’s Heikki Kovalainen has joined the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team as Lewis Hamilton new team-mate for the 2008 world championship.

The young Formula One rookie impressed the Woking-based outfit despite a shaky start at Renault. Heikki initially struggle to drive the R27 due to a lack of a decent balance – which in effect dented his confidence in driving.

His performances improved over the course of the season with his best-ever finish in the wet dramatic race at the Fuji Speedway, finishing behind race winner Hamilton.

By joining McLaren, Heikki has a wonderful opportunity to showcase his talent with a race-winning car. In addition, it will be fascinating to see if Lewis can handle another fast team-mate.

Pedro de la Rose remains as the third driver, with Gary Paffett staying on board as tester.

Alonso returns back to Renault

 Alonso cockpit

Double world champion Fernando Alonso has return back to his spiritual home that is the Renault F1 team for the 2008 championship. The Spaniard will partner rising Brazilian star Nelsinho Piquet, son of three times world champion Nelson Piquet.

The new line-up means Heikki Kovalainen and Giancarlo Fisichella without a drive for next season, though it later emerges that Kovalainen will partner Lewis Hamilton at McLaren in 2008. As for Fisichella, he is hoping to land the race drive at the new Force India team (formerly Spyker).

It wasn’t a surprise for Alonso to go back to Flavio Briatore’s team to be honest. After suffering a traumatic first season at McLaren in 2007 racing against both Ron Dennis and young hotshot that is Hamilton, his decision to move back to Renault was a right choice for both parties.

Alonso will earn around £25m as part of his two-year contract at Renault. The Spaniard will become the highest paid driver in the post-Schumacher era of Formula One, though he has a ‘get out’ clause if he wishes to join Ferrari and team up with Kimi Raikkonen in the near future.

As for Nelson Piquet Jr, this opportunity to race alongside the world champion will be a massive benefit for the GP2 race winner. The Brazilian can learn the ropes and perhaps might beat his highly rated team-mate in the races!

The 2008 world championship will be crucial for Briatore, as the team suffered it most disappointing season since 2002. After taking the championship double (drivers’ and constructors’ title) in 2005 and 2006, it was shocking to see the former champions suffer with a lack of decent race result. The best result in 2007 was Kovalainen’s superb second place in a rain-lashed Japanese Grand Prix.

Hopefully next year will bring good fortune for Briatore, Alonso and Piquet Jr but it will be a tough challenge against the mighty Ferrari and McLaren race teams. Let see how competitive the new Renault R28 chassis will be.

Loeb wins title while Hirvonen scores Rally GB win

Loeb champion  2007

Citroen star Sebastien Loeb has clinched his fourth consecutive World Rally Championship after a caution run to third place behind the dominate Fords of Mikko Hirvonen and title rival Marcus Gronholm on the Rally GB.

Gronholm need to out-score his championship rival Loeb by seven points in the season finale to snatch the title in his final rally before retiring from full-time competition. In the end, the Finn admitted he lost the opportunity after crashing out in the previous event, the Rally of Ireland.

Having led the drivers’ standings for most of the year, Gronholm said he still rued the crash in Ireland that had allowed Loeb to take the points lead going into the finale.

“I am disappointed of course, but it was a difficult rally this one, and we lost the title in Ireland,” he said.

For Loeb, this result means he is one of the most successful rally drivers of the modern era. To take his fourth crowd is an impressive achievement and when interviewed after finishing third, the Frenchman couldn’t contain his enthusiasm.

“It’s incredible,” said Loeb. “To get the championship with only four points lead is not the same as getting it with 40 points (lead) like some years ago. It’s a really, really good moment.”

When asked if this was his most difficult championship battle yet, Loeb replied: “For sure, no comparison.”

Even though the Rally GB was overshadowed by the Loeb versus Gronholm title battle, it was Ford’s Mikko Hirvonen who actually won the event. It was the Finn’s third win of the season but on the final special stage, he nearly lost control of his car!

“We went off, and I didn’t plan it!” Hirvonen joked. “This season has been absolutely fantastic, and finishing it like this is the best preparation for next year.”

Indeed, next year WRC is just around the corner with the Rally of Monte Carlo in January. With Marcus Gronholm hanging up his helmet – who will challenge the mighty Sebastien Loeb? No doubt 2008 will be another fascinating contest between these great rally drivers in all kinds of track surfaces and conditions.

Loeb within reach of WRC title

Rally Ireland 2007

Citroen rally driver Sebastien Loeb is within touching distance of claiming this year World Rally Championship after taking victory in the Rally of Ireland.

The Frenchman dominated the event from start to finish, but it wasn’t entirely straightforward. He suffered a suspension problem on the first day and then picked up a ten second penalty for being late out of service. Despite that, he survived the tricky conditions to win the first Irish rally event.

As for his championship rival Marcus Gronholm, the Finn crashed out on the first day handing the title advantage to Loeb (the Frenchman is six points ahead as we approach the season-ending Rally GB).

“The rally was really, really difficult, but we managed to finish it,” said Loeb. “Ten points more for the championship is really important. That could change a lot of things for the championship. We will see in GB.

“For sure this rally was one of the most difficult we’ve ever done, because it was very muddy, but the car was really good. I had a really good feeling and I was not pushing so hard, just driving through with no risks.”

Finishing in second was his Citroen team-mate Dani Sordo, giving the team another perfect one-two result. Jari-Matti Latvala made up his Rally Japan error by claming his first WRC podium finish in Ireland.

Alonso and McLaren agree to part ways

Alonso & McLaren

McLaren have announced that former Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso is to leave the British team, after both parties agreed to a ‘mutual parting of ways’.

The Spaniard, who joined the squad from Renault at the start of the 2007 season, originally had two years left to run on his contract but in a statement released on Friday, it is revealed that after discussion, it’s been decided ‘it would be in the best interests of both parties to bring the relationship to an end’.

Over the course of the season, Alonso has expressed his dissatisfaction at McLaren, in particular not receiving fair treatment. Even though he won four races for the team and finishing third in the championship standings, the relations between the Spaniard and Ron Dennis had become increasingly strained in recent months.

To end this difficult period by parting ways is the best of both worlds in my opinion. This is what Dennis had to say about the outgoing champion:

“He is a great driver but for some reason the combination of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and Fernando has not really worked out, and in the end we reached a stage where none of us could find a way to move forward,” explained the McLaren team principal. “We all believe that our joint decision to part company is for the best, and we will now continue to focus on our 2008 world championship challenge.

Everybody at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, especially McLaren’s Spanish Partners Banco Santander and Mutua Madrilena and the team’s title partner Vodafone, want to wish Fernando all the best for the future.”

As for Alonso, he commented that, although he never really felt at home at McLaren, he still believed they were a great squad. “Since I was a boy I had always wanted to drive for McLaren, but sometimes in life things do not work out,” explained the 26 year-old. “I continue to believe that McLaren is a great team. Yes, we have had our ups and downs during the season, which has made it extra-challenging for all of us, and it is not a secret that I never really felt at home.

“I know there have been suggestions of favouritism within the team and people say a lot of things in the heat of battle, but in the end I was always provided with an equal opportunity to win. Today’s decision allows all of us to focus on 2008, and I wish the team, Vodafone, Banco Santander, Mutua Madrilena and all the other team partners who I have worked closely with during the year, the best for the future.”

And so it ends the Alonso-McLaren partnership… Where next for the Spaniard? Will he return back to Renault – in which he won his two drivers’ title? Perhaps there is a possible position at Toyota (following the departure of Ralf Schumacher)? Or maybe, there is a chance at both Red Bull and BMW Sauber?

As for Lewis Hamilton – the championship runner-up – who will partner him in the second seat at McLaren? The rumours seem to point to three drivers who could possibly be his new team-mate in 2008. These three are: Nico Rosberg, Adrian Sutil and Heikki Kovalainen.

Nico Rosberg currently drives for Williams. He is under contract with the British team but it will be interesting if Frank Williams (team boss) is willing to release his driver for a seat at McLaren…

For Adrian Sutil, it will be a dream come true if the German can drive for the top team after racing all-season in the Spyker. His pace in the orange/black car was stunning and it would be amazing if Sutil were given the opportunity to drive for Dennis.

But you have to say that Heikki Kovalainen remains the favourite to land the seat. If this happens, Kovalainen would be Ron Dennis’s third Finnish driver in seven years, following Mika Hakkinen and Kimi Raikkonen. In addition, it would allow a straight swap with Renault for the outgoing Fernando Alonso.

But at this stage in time, it is unclear who will partner Lewis and which team Fernando will drive for. This is all speculation so we shall wait and see what happens in this mad world that is Formula One!