McLaren has announced the signing of the reigning World Champion Jenson Button to a multi-year deal.
He will be partnered by 2008 World Champion Lewis Hamilton, who will be embarking on his fourth consecutive season as a McLaren Mercedes driver.
This unique partnership will mark:
The first time in Formula 1 history that a team has started the new season with a line-up featuring the most recent two successive World Champions
The first pairing of two British World Champions since Graham Hill [1962, 1968] partnered Jim Clark [1963, 1965] at Lotus in 1968
Jenson Button:
“It’s always a difficult decision to leave a team when you’ve been there for so long. But life is all about challenges – and, most important of all, it’s about challenging yourself. So, although I won the World Championship with Brawn GP last year, and I’ll never forget that, I was always adamant that I wanted to continue to set myself fresh challenges.
“So that’s why I’ve decided to join Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. You can’t help but be affected by this team’s phenomenal history. McLaren is one of the greats of world sport, and its achievements and list of past champions read like a Who’s Who of Formula 1 – Emerson Fittipaldi, James Hunt, Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen and of course my new team-mate Lewis Hamilton. I’ve followed the McLaren team ever since I was a small boy, and it feels unbelievable to finally be a part of it.
“When I visited the McLaren Technology Centre earlier this month, it wasn’t simply the technical resources and the incredible standards of excellence that impressed me. No, I was equally struck by the ambition, the motivation and the winning spirit that flow through everybody there. And then there’s the team’s epic history: put it this way, the trophy cabinets seem to stretch for miles.
“From a personal point of view, it’s also a great pleasure to be joining a fellow British World Champion. Lewis has achieved an incredible level of success in a very short period of time, and he’s a wonderfully gifted driver who has earned the respect of every Formula 1 driver. I’m sure there’s plenty that we can learn from each other, and I’m really looking forward to using our combined knowledge to push the team forward.
“Also, I think it’s fantastic that we’ll be forming an all-British line-up. I know that we both fly the flag with pride, and I sincerely hope we can make the whole of the United Kingdom, as well as Vodafone McLaren Mercedes fans across the world, proud. Nothing means more to me than to be able to represent my country, and I’m looking forward to both of us painting Formula 1’s circuits red, white and blue for many years to come.
“While I’m fully aware that there’s a tremendous amount of hard work ahead, I’m absolutely certain that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes will be able to deliver where it matters: on track. I’m already looking forward to starting work with the engineers at the McLaren Technology Centre as we begin our preparations for the 2010 season – and the defence of my world championship. This is a team that always goes racing to win, and I’m looking forward to being part of that.
“Last but very far from least, I want to say that the 2009 season will always have a special place in my memory, and I’m absolutely sure that everybody at Brawn GP who worked so hard to achieve our World Championship successes feels exactly the same way about it. Equally, I want to thank the guys at Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines, without whom we’d never have been as competitive as we were. I’m so pleased that I’ll still be using their engines in 2010 and beyond.
“So I wish all my old Brawn GP mates well in their new Mercedes Grand Prix adventure, just as I hope they’ll wish me well in my new Vodafone McLaren Mercedes adventure.”
Lewis Hamilton:
“It’s fantastic news that Jenson has decided to join Vodafone McLaren Mercedes – and I’m looking forward to working with him and our engineers to make sure we kick off the 2010 season with a car that’s competitive enough to win the World Championship – but I want to send my best wishes for the future to my 2008-09 team-mate and now good friend Heikki Kovalainen, who is one of the nicest human beings I’ve ever met.
“I already know Jenson, and we get on very well together. We both really want our team to succeed. Although we’ll be pushing each other hard, I’m sure we’ll very quickly establish a great working relationship. He’s an exceptional driver: very controlled and very smooth, and he has a real depth of knowledge and experience. I think we’ll complement each other very well, and our collaboration will make the team stronger as a result. Also, I’m delighted to be racing alongside a fellow British World Champion, and I believe we can pull together to make Vodafone McLaren Mercedes the best team on the grid.
“I’m sure Jenson has already started to appreciate our team’s unique culture and the special family atmosphere that makes it such an incredible place to live and work. We really are like one big family – and I’m sure Jenson will feel the warmth of that welcome from day one.
“Obviously, as a British driver, I’m also thrilled that we’ll be flying the flag for the United Kingdom, and I think today’s announcement is fantastic news for all British sports fans. I hope they’ll be giving us their full support when the season kicks off next March. I’m already looking forward to Silverstone – it’ll be massive!
“Looking ahead, I think the results from the second half of 2009 speak for themselves, and I’m convinced we can carry that momentum through the winter and into the new season. I’ve been closely following the development of our 2010 challenger, the MP4-25, and I think it’s going to be a state-of-the-art car that will enable both of us to consistently fight for victories.”
Martin Whitmarsh, Team principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes:
“Everybody at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is absolutely delighted to be able to welcome Jenson to our team. It has always been our policy to employ the two very best possible drivers – and, in Jenson and Lewis, we feel we not only have the fastest pairing on the 2010 grid, but also the two most complete, professional and dedicated drivers in Formula 1.
“Moreover, I’m confident that we’ll be able to successfully balance and harness Jenson’s and Lewis’s complementary skill-sets. Our engineers are already looking forward to working with Jenson, and I’m convinced that such a strong and dynamic driver line-up will make us an even more complete and competitive operation. Now we have to provide Jenson and Lewis with race-winning machinery.
“I want to make clear that Jenson’s decision to join us was in no way motivated by money. We’ll be paying him no more than he could be getting elsewhere, and that fact is a reflection of not only Jenson’s belief in Vodafone McLaren Mercedes but also his desire and ambition to build on the phenomenal results he achieved during the 2009 season.
“I also want to thank Heikki for his selfless contribution over the past two years. As well as being very quick, Heikki was and remains a great character whom we’ll all miss considerably. It goes without saying that we wish him all the best for next season, and would be very pleased if he were to secure a good drive for 2010.
“We’re ambitious, we’re motivated and we’re hungrier than ever. We make no secret of our ambition for next year: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes wants to win both World Championships – and, with Jenson and Lewis, we believe we’re better equipped than any other team in the pitlane to do exactly that.”
As the chequered flag flew Sunday evening in Melbourne, Jarno Trulli celebrated a fine third position after starting the 58-lap Australian Grand Prix from the pit lane.
The Italian veteran was later handed a 25 second penalty for allegedly overtaking Lewis Hamilton whilst behind the safety car, dropping the Toyota racer to 12th in the results.
Today stewards looked at ‘new evidence’ and concluded that Hamilton had deliberately misled the FIA delegates in Australia. Trulli is therefore reinstated to third position while defending champion Hamilton has been excluded from the results.
A statement issued by the stewards on Thursday evening confirmed that Hamilton and McLaren Mercedes “acted in a manner prejudicial to the conduct of the event by providing evidence deliberately misleading to the stewards.”
The stewards said the conduct was in breach of the International Sporting Code.
The final finishing positions for the opening round of the season are; Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello, Jarno Trulli, Timo Glock, Fernando Alonso, Nico Rosberg, Sebastien Buemi and Sebastien Bourdais.
FIA statement in full
At the first hearing following the Australian Grand Prix the Stewards did not have the benefit of the radio exchanges between driver No 1 Lewis Hamilton and his Team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes nor did they have access to the comments to the Media given by Lewis Hamilton immediately after the end of the race.
From the video recordings available to the Stewards during the hearing it appeared that Jarno Trulli’s car left the track and car No 1 moved into third place. It then appeared that Trulli overtook Hamilton to regain third place, which at the time was prohibited as it was during the Safety Car period.
During the hearing, held approximately one hour after the end of the race, the Stewards and the Race Director questioned Lewis Hamilton and his Team Manager David Ryan specifically about whether there had been an instruction given to Hamilton to allow Trulli to overtake. Both the driver and the Team Manager stated that no such instruction had been given. The Race Director specifically asked Hamilton whether he had consciously allowed Trulli to overtake. Hamilton insisted that he had not done so.
The new elements presented to the Stewards several days after the 2009 Australian Grand Prix which led to the reconvened Stewards Meeting clearly show that:
a. Immediately after the race and before Lewis Hamilton attended the Stewards Meeting he gave an interview to the Media where he clearly stated that the Team had told him to let Trulli pass.
b. Furthermore, the radio exchanges between the driver and the Team contain two explicit orders from the Team to let the Toyota pass.
The Stewards, having learned about the radio exchanges and the Media interview, felt strongly that they had been misled by the driver and his Team Manager which led to Jarno Trulli being unfairly penalised and Lewis Hamilton gaining third place.
Following a stewards’ inquiry, Jarno Trulli has been stripped of his podium finish in the Australian Grand Prix.
The FIA officials ruled that the Toyota driver overtook Lewis Hamilton under the safety car, after losing third position to the world champion by running off the track.
Italian Trulli received a 25 second time penalty, dropping him out of the points and into 12th position. McLaren’s Hamilton was promoted to third, with Sebastien Bourdais joining the points-paying positions.
In another stewards’ decision, Sebastian Vettel will be demoted ten places down the Malaysian Grand Prix grid in one week, and pay a $50,000 fine to the FIA.
The German was penalised not for his late collision with Robert Kubica, but for failing to pull his damaged Red Bull to the side of the track when requested.
After the excitement and drama of qualifying, the 58-lap Australian Grand Prix lived up to all expectations as Jenson Button recorded his second career victory and the first for the brand new Brawn Mercedes team.
Out of the ashes of the Honda team, Brawn GP stunned its rivals as soon as they took to the tests tracks in Spain for pre-season testing. The form continued into practice and the team aced the front row in qualifying in Melbourne.
Race day saw Button make a perfect start to lead the first lap by five seconds as Rubens Barrichello slipped down the field as his anti-stall device kicked in. As the drama played out in the closing stages, Rubens Barrichello inherited second position to make it a famous Brawn GP one-two result.
While Button was rarely troubled at the front of the field, the battle for second position looked set to go down to the wire a Sebastian Vettel defended his position from the charging Robert Kubica. A small error on his worn option tyres from the Red Bull Renault driver at the first turn saw the German racer lose momentum allowing Kubica’s BMW Sauber alongside heading into turn three.
Vettel, obviously keen to retain the position was not going to give in without a fight but then went in too deep eliminating himself and Kubica within sight of the chequered flag.
This allowed the recovering Barrichello through into second position for a dream Brawn Mercedes result and cost Red Bull Renault at least six valuable championship points.
Following the disappointment post-qualifying yesterday, Jarno Trulli put in a great drive from the pit lane to finish third in his Toyota, while team-mate Glock took the chequered flag in fifth position after a long battle with double world champion Fernando Alonso. While the TF109 has proven rapid all weekend there was sting in the tail for the team for the second straight day…
Following the chequered flag and the podium celebrations, Trulli was found guilt of passing Lewis Hamilton whilst behind the safety car. The Italian veteran was handed a 12 second penalty dropping him from third position to 12th.
Hamilton started the 58-lap race from 18th position following his gearbox issues in qualifying and made great progress on the option tyre in the opening laps. As Ferrari, Vettel and Kubica slipped up the 2008 race winner and defending champion found himself in a sensational fourth position at the flag and then third in the record books
The FIA have now released the official entry list for the 2009 F1 season. There are a few minor changes. Massa & Raikkonen have changed driver numbers from the previous provisional list, and also Bourdais & Buemi have exchanged numbers.
Originally Force India were given the last 2 driver numbers, but the Brawn GP F1 Team have now been classed as a new entry for 2009 so Button & Barrichello will now have the last 2 driver numbers.
The numbers 18 and 19 will not appear on the 2009 grid as they were originally assigned for the HONDA team, who are no longer in F1. As Brawn GP was classed as a new team entry they are now going to be numbers 22 and 23
The full list is below
2009 FIA Formula One World Championship – Entry List
1 Lewis HAMILTON (GB) VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES
2 Heikki KOVALAINEN (FIN) VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES
3 Felipe MASSA (BRA) SCUDERIA FERRARI
4 Kimi RÄIKKÖNEN (FIN) SCUDERIA FERRARI
5 Robert KUBICA (PL) BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM
6 Nick HEIDFELD (D) BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM
7 Fernando ALONSO (E) ING RENAULT F1 TEAM
8 Nelson PIQUET (BR) ING RENAULT F1 TEAM
9 Jarno TRULLI (I) PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING
10 Timo GLOCK (D) PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING
Well after months of speculation, finally it is confirmed. Ross Brawn has taken over the Honda F1 team
Statement from Ross Brawn & Honda
Honda Motor Company Limited and Ross Brawn are pleased to confirm that they have reached agreement to secure the future of the former Honda Racing F1 Team. With immediate effect, Honda will pass ownership to Ross Brawn, Team Principal of the new Brawn GP Formula One Team.
Brawn GP has agreed a partnership with Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines, Brixworth, UK to supply the team with its 2.4 litre Mercedes-Benz FO108W Formula One engines.
The team can confirm that its race driver line-up for the 2009 season will combine the talents of two of Formula One’s most experienced drivers in Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello. The race-winning drivers continue their partnership at the team for a fourth consecutive year, forming the most experienced driver partnership on the grid with 423 Grand Prix starts between the pair.
Brawn GP Team Principal, Ross Brawn, commented: “The past few months have been extremely challenging for the team but today’s announcement is the very pleasing conclusion to the strenuous efforts that have been made to secure its future. “Firstly, it is a great shame that having worked with Honda Motor Company for so long we can no longer continue together.I would like to thank Honda for the fantastic co-operation and support we have received throughout this process – particularly those members of the senior management who were closely involved with concluding our agreement – and for the faith they have demonstrated in myself and our team.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to pay due credit to our staff at Brackley. The levels of motivation and commitment that I have witnessed at the factory deserve the highest praise.
“I am delighted that Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello will form our race driver line-up for the 2009 season. The vast experience and knowledge that both drivers bring to our team will prove invaluable as we aim to get up to speed in the shortest possible time to be ready for the first race of the season in Melbourne on 29 March. In what will be their fourth season together, their experience with our team in Brackley, our systems and our engineers, will prove a real asset.
“It would be impossible to mention all of the people without whom today’s announcement may not have been possible, however I would like to express particular appreciation for the support we have received from Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, the FIA (Fédération Internationale de L’Automobile), FOM (Formula One Management), FOTA (Formula One Teams Association), BERR (the UK’s Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform), Bridgestone, our other team partners and our many fans the world over. The journey ahead will be challenging but exciting and we know we can count on their continued enthusiasm for our team and its ambitions.” Hiroshi Oshima, Managing Officer of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. responsible for Corporate Communications and Motor Sports, commented: “Since announcing our withdrawal from Formula One racing on December 5 of last year, we have conducted various studies and discussions so that the team can continue its activities as a new team. We are very pleased that we could sell the team to Ross Brawn, with whom we have been partaking in the challenges of F1 competition, and are grateful for his decision. We offer our sincerest wishes for the new team which will be led by Ross.” Brawn GP will now focus its efforts on the remaining pre-season tests, in Barcelona (9-12 March) and Jerez (15-17 March) prior to heading to Melbourne, Australia for the start of the 2009 Formula One season.
After a brief respite, the pre-season testing programme resumed today at Jerez in Spain with all but Toro Rosso Ferrari and Honda in action.
The day was notable not just for the debut of the new Force India Mercedes VJM02 package with Giancarlo Fisichella behind the wheel, but also because of the high number of mechanical failures and subsequent red flag periods.
With the majority of those in action coasting to a halt at one point or another, the teams requested an extension to the 5pm local time cut-off, only to be denied. In addition, a rain shower at 2.30pm local time also complicated matters a little for the eight teams present.
New Red Bull recruit Sebastian Vettel set the pace in the new RB4 package with a best time of 1:19.055s, but the German youngster lost time with a Renault engine failure. Still, Vettel managed a respectable 87 laps of the 4.428km Spanish test venue and was a massive 1.3 seconds clear of Felipe Massa in the Ferrari F60, who also lost time after taking to a gravel trap.
Kamui Kobayashi was in action for the Toyota team – who like Ferrari and BMW Sauber are readjusting to the cooler European climate after nearly two weeks in Bahrain – and the German-based team seem to be having a relatively strong build up to the new season with the new TF109. Kobayashi posted the third fastest time ahead of Williams Toyota driver Nico Rosberg who was another driver forced to a halt with a mechanical problem in the newly liveried FW31.
Robert Kubica was fifth fastest in his BMW Sauber ahead of Fisichella in the new Mercedes-powered VJM02.
The Italian veteran was however only able to complete 31 laps in the new machine, his fastest lap coming on his 22nd of the day.
Pedro de la Rosa completed the most laps of the day – 94 – but was forced to end his session a little prematurely when his McLaren Mercedes ground to a halt late in the session. The Spanish tester was seventh best on the day ahead of Nelson Piquet who also brought out the red flags late in the day as his Renault came to a halt on track.
Testing continues at Jerez on Monday.
Jerez – 01/03/2009
1 . S. Vettel – Red Bull Renault RB5 – 1:19.055 (+ 0.000 ) – 87 laps
2 . F. Massa – Ferrari F60 – 1:20.330 (+ 1.275 ) – 63 laps
3 . K. Kobayashi – Toyota TF109 – 1:20.699 (+ 1.644 ) – 79 laps
4 . N. Rosberg – Williams Toyota FW31 – 1:21.171 (+ 2.116 ) – 71 laps
5 . R. Kubica – BMW Sauber F1.09 – 1:21.292 (+ 2.237 ) – 47 laps
6 . G. Fisichella – Force India Mercedes VJM02 – 1:21.584 (+ 2.529 ) – 31 laps
7 . P. de la Rosa – McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 – 1:21.831 (+ 2.776 ) – 94 laps
8 . N. Piquet – Renault R29 – 1:22.011 (+ 2.956 ) – 52 laps.
The new Force India VJM02, was launched at the latest big F1 test in Jerez.
The new livery features India’s national colours, with a predominant white sharing space with bright green and orange.
The VJM02 had its shakedown during a private test at the Silverstone circuit a few days ago with Adrian Sutil at the controls. The German driver and teammate Giancarlo Fisichella will again compete for the team this season, with Tonio Liuzzi returning as test and reserve driver.
In regards to team management, Vijay Mallya is in charge as Team Principal while James Key holds the Technical Director duties.
Mike Gascoyne and Colin Kolles have left, as Mallya and co-owner Michiel Mol thanked both for their services during the same period Force India’s partnership with Ferrari was terminated.
The changes occurred last November, signaling a change in direction for the 2009 campaign.
Thanks to its new partnership with McLaren and Mercedes, Force India expects to make major steps forward this year and is aiming for positions in the midfield.
Both Sutil and Fisichella are hoping to score points in 2009, as that objective was not met last year at the conclusion of the team’s first season under the Force India guise.
Team staff at Honda’s Brackley headquarters have been told to prepare for imminent winter tests in Spain and subsequently the beginning of the 2009 season in Australia. “Everything’s positive — it’s all going ahead. Contracts are agreed and signed. It’s with the lawyers,” a source at the team told BBC Sport. It is almost certain that the last hope for Honda is the management buyout led by Ross Brawn, whose prospects seem to have taken a step forward since rumours emerged that Nick Fry might no longer be involved. “We’re carrying on as if we’re going to Melbourne,” the source continued. A report in the Daily Mirror, meanwhile, said Honda’s Tokyo board – already publicly unhappy with the seriousness of bids by third parties – has accepted the management buyout. It is understood the 2009 car has been adapted to fit the Mercedes-Benz V8 engine, with only the green light now required to unlock a schedule of at least one test in Spain, and possibly a prior shakedown (probably at Silverstone, UK). “There’s no way we’d go to any test without an engine deal,” the source explained. “If we’re going to Jerez, it means it’s a done deal.” In Barcelona this week for the inaugural Global Sports Forum, the Honda team’s marketing boss David Butler told the Spanish newspaper Diario AS: “There is no news but we are working towards a positive resolution, and in this sense I think we can be fairly optimistic.” He also expressed frustration about the speculation surrounding the sale of the departing Honda Motor Co.’s team, noting that “there are many billionaires making comments in the media”.
In contrast to the ongoing sandstorm debacle in Bahrain, sunny conditions greeted the five teams taking part in the third day of testing at Jerez in Spain.
2008 World Champion Lewis Hamilton was back behind the wheel of the new McLaren Mercedes as the team continued to run the MP4-24 with the 2008 specification rear wing.
While not fully in compliance with the race rules for the coming season, Hamilton was the fastest of those running 2009 machinery today as the British racer completed 93 laps with a best time of 1:20.737s, his best coming on his 23rd lap of the day.
Hamilton’s time was six-hundredths of a second quicker than team-mate Heikki Kovalainen’s best time recorded on Wednesday.
Sebastien Bourdais, recently confirmed for a second season with the Toro Rosso Ferrari team, was back behind the wheel of the Ferrari-powered STR3 today.
It was Bourdais’ first test since early December and the Frenchman duly set the pace overall in his high downforce 2008 machine. Bourdais’ 1:18.493s best was nine-tenths off new team-mate Sebastien Buemi’s Wednesday best as he gets back up to speed following a long lay-off.
Following Mark Webber’s successful return to F1 action yesterday with the Red Bull Renault team, Sebastian Vettel was back in the new RB5 today and posted the third fastest time just a thousandth of a second slower than Hamilton.
Kazuki Nakajima continued with the Williams Toyota test programme and was fourth fastest while Renault finally got some decent mileage completed with its new R29 package.
Fernando Alonso took over testing duties from Nelson Piquet today and the former champion was able to complete an impressive 133 laps. While Alonso will mildly encouraged by the track time, the R29 remained firmly anchored at the bottom of the timesheets.
Testing continues on Friday.
Jerez – 12/02/2009
1 . S. Bourdais – Toro Rosso Ferrari STR3* – 1:18.493 (+ 0.000 ) – 126 laps
2 . L. Hamilton – McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 – 1:20.737 (+ 2.244 ) – 93 laps
3 . S. Vettel – Red Bull Renault RB5 – 1:20.738 (+ 2.245 ) – 92 laps
4 . K. Nakajima – Williams Toyota FW31 – 1:20.898 (+ 2.405 ) – 92 laps
5 . F. Alonso – Renault R29 – 1:21.307 (+ 2.814 ) – 133 laps.
Sunny conditions greeted Ferrari briefly this morning before conditions deteriorated and resulted in the curtailing of further running.
Today’s programme was stopped early, less than two hours after the start, because of a sandstorm hitting the Sakhir circuit, which meant it was impossible for the medical helicopter to fly, in the event of an emergency.
Up to that point, Felipe Massa had covered 17 laps, the quickest in a time of 1.33.639. “Obviously it’s slightly frustrating that we could hardly drive today, due to the wind and the sand but there’s nothing we can do about it. We just have to accept it,” Massa began, “although I have to say I’m quite satisfied with the work done so far here at Sakhir.” “Yesterday we drove many kilometres and the car was better than at Mugello, more stable and easier to drive, with constant lap times,” the Brazilian continued. “The Team has been working very hard over the last weeks as far as the setup is concerned and we could already see the results.”
“After a minor problem with the software yesterday, today, at least for the laps we did, we were able to use the KERS as we should. There’s still a lot of work to do here and in other areas, but I think that we’re heading in the right direction.”
Testing is scheduled to continue at this circuit tomorrow with Kimi Raikkonen taking the wheel of the F60.
Sakhir – 11/02/2009
1 . F. Massa – Ferrari F60 – 1:33.639 (+ 0.000 ) – 17 laps
2 . R. Kubica – BMW Sauber F1.09 – 1:34.398 (+ 0.759 ) – 22 laps
3 . T. Glock – Toyota TF109 – 1:34.902 (+ 1.263 ) – 14 laps
While conditions in Bahrain resulted in a shortened programme for BMW Sauber, Ferrari and Toyota, the teams testing back in Europe enjoyed sunny conditions in what was the second day of the group test.
Heikki Kovalainen was back in action for the McLaren Mercedes team having dispensed of the 2009-specification rear wing in preference for 2008 element. The Woking-based team previously ran the older – higher downforce – design on the MP4-24 while conducting the initial shakedown runs in wet conditions last month.
While Sebastian Buemi set the pace again in the interim STR3 Toro Rosso Ferrari, Kovalainen was the fastest of those running 2009 machinery today. The Finn completed 110 laps over the day with a best time of 1:20.799s coming on his 107th tour, 1.4 seconds quicker than the fastest ‘09 time recorded on Tuesday.
Following his cycling accident and subsequent broken leg, Mark Webber was back in action for the Red Bull Renault for the first time this year as he conducted his first test of the new RB5 unveiled on Monday.
With team owner Dietrich Mateschitz and former team-mate David Coulthard watching on from behind the tyre barrier, Webber put in 83 laps with apparent problem and was third fastest on the day and just half a second shy of Kovalainen.
Kazuki Nakajima took over testing duties for Williams Toyota from Nico Hulkenberg and was fourth fastest while it was a case of limited laps again for Nelson Piquet and the Renault team as they seemingly struggle with the new R29 package.
The day was also notable for the introduction of the green rings on the option Bridgestone Potenza slick which was clearly visible on Piquet’s Renault and Nakajima’s Williams Toyota.
Testing continues on Thursday.
Jerez – 11/02/2009
1 . S. Buemi – Toro Rosso Ferrari STR3* – 1:17.591 (+ 0.000 ) – 143 laps
2 . H. Kovalainen – McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 – 1:20.799 (+ 3.208 ) – 110 laps
3 . M. Webber – Red Bull Renault RB5 – 1:21.321 (+ 3.730 ) – 83 laps
4 . K. Nakajima – Williams Toyota FW31 – 1:21.451 (+ 3.860 ) – 125 laps
5 . N. Piquet – Renault R29 – 1:21.908 (+ 4.317 ) – 49 laps.
Toyota’s Timo Glock led the opening day of testing today in Sakhir, as Ferrari, BMW Sauber and Toyota got their pre-season programmes back on-track. Glock, Massa and Kubica were on duty for their respective teams, with all drivers completing well over a race distance.
Unsurprisingly, the weather in Sakhir today was bright and sunny, bar a few hours at the beginning of the day when running was delayed thanks to fog over the track. Once that had cleared, the sunshine persisted, albeit hazy. Temperatures reached a high of 27°C, with the track temperature rising to 35°C, giving the teams representative heat in which to work ahead of the start of the season.
On the timesheets, Glock’s time of 1m33.501s was quickest by over a tenth of a second, ahead of Massa’s 1m33.615s in the F60, with BMW’s Robert Kubica ending up third on a 1m33.702s.
Testing continues here tomorrow for a second day, with this week’s test here due to last until Friday.
Unofficial times from Sakhir (10/02/2009):
1. Timo Glock (Toyota) – 1:33.501, 82 laps
2. Felipe Massa (Ferrari) – 1:33.615, 98 laps
3. Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber-BMW) – 1:33.702, 95 laps
Testing resumed today in Jerez. While BMW Sauber, Ferrari and Toyota tested in Bahrain, the remaining teams minus Force India Mercedes, were back in action at the Spanish test venue.
Sebastien Buemi set the pace as expected in the 2008 specification Toro Rosso Ferrari but his times are effectively meaningless in comparison with the other drivers running the newer low downforce 2009 challengers.
There was however a rain shower mid-way through the day, but for much of the session, the 4.428km remained dry. The new Toro Rosso Ferrari driver led the way with a best time of 1:19.660s and put in 104 laps.
Red Bull Renault, who unveiled its new RB5 package at the circuit yesterday and proceeded to test in private, were back in action again today with Sebastian Vettel once again behind the wheel.
Vettel completed 61 laps, his fastest time of 1:22.177s coming on his 49th lap of the day but was forced to halt the new 2009 challenger late in the session with a mechanical problem.
Williams Toyota test driver Nico Hulkenberg was on duty today for the grove-based team, moving third fastest late in the session. Hulkenberg was just over two-tenths slower than Vettel.
Heikki Kovalainen put another 60 laps on the new McLaren Mercedes challenger and was fourth fastest ahead of Renault’s Nelson Piquet who only completed 35 laps in the new R29.
Testing continues on Wednesday.
Jerez – 10/02/2009
1 . S. Buemi – Toro Rosso Ferrari STR3* – 1:19.660 (+ 0.000 ) – 104 laps
2 . S. Vettel – Red Bull Renault RB5 – 1:22.177 (+ 2.517 ) – 61 laps
3 . N. Hulkenberg – Williams Toyota FW31 – 1:22.443 (+ 2.783 ) – 82 laps
4 . H. Kovalainen – McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 – 1:22.634 (+ 2.974 ) – 60 laps
5 . N. Piquet – Renault R29 – 1:23.313 (+ 3.653 ) – 35 laps.
Red Bull Racing this morning unveiled the new Renault-powered RB5 challenger that the team hope will be a step forward from the 2008 package which propelled the Milton Keynes-based team to seventh in the championship.
On hand for the unveiling of the new car in Spain, were Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber who will both test the new car this week at Jerez. Vettel will conduct the initial two days of running, before Webber takes over on Wednesday – his first test since breaking his leg in a cycling accident last year.
The FIA has permitted Renault to work on the RS27 powerplant in order to try and create a more level playing field, despite the current ‘freeze’ on development remaining in place for its rivals. This is however a ‘one-off’ opportunity for Renault to improve the powerplant. “This is a much bigger team,” Vettel explained on his move from Toro Rosso to Red Bull. “The important thing for me is to know who the key people are for me to work with and that integration process has been going well over the winter” “I don’t feel under any more pressure than last year, I just plan to keep learning and to keep pushing myself,” he continued. “I do think the big changes to the rules could help teams like ours close up on the front runners, but I expect Ferrari and McLaren to be favourites again this year.”
The Red Bull RB5 will officially be presented on Monday February 9th at the Jerez circuit in Spain, but we can already present the car to you thanks to a spectacular 3D animation video showcasing the differences between the RB4 and the new RB5.
The computer-animated clip features Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel racing on track, as they bring to life the biggest rule changes in the history of Formula One.
Last season’s car morphs into the current Red Bull Racing car, showing all the bodywork changes from nose to rear wing. Then the bodywork is removed to expose the KERS system, engine and inner parts. Only through computer animation can a car switch from grooved tyres to slicks without even stopping…
Mark Webber recently said the RB5 was the best-looking car of 2009 – here’s your chance to make your own opinion!
Scuderia Toro Rosso today confirmed that Sebastien Bourdais will remain with the team through 2009 alongside Sebastien Buemi. The news was naturally a disappointment for former Honda protégé Takuma Sato who had been in the running for the drive.
Takuma Sato “I am not sure what my future holds, I will be discussing with my Manager what our next steps should be. However, I strongly feel that I have unfinished business in F1 and that I still have a lot to give. I am determined to stay in top level motorsport and I will be fully focused on making a return to F1 as long as any opportunity is there.”
“I want to thank all my supporters who have been absolutely fantastic with their loyalty, I will always remember these fantastic relationships we have built and hope we can one day repay this support.”
Andrew Gilbert Scott, Manager “I am extremely disappointed that Scuderia Toro Rosso has not chosen Takuma to race for them in 2009. Taku had showed tremendous speed and commitment during the three tests he did for the team and I believe he proved to be the faster driver “
“Unfortunately however the team made no secret about the fact that they would need the drive to bring a substantial amount of funding to the team to secure the drive. We have all been working very hard and have been able to attract a significant amount of sponsorship to support the team but unfortunately it was obviously not enough to secure the drive.”
“We would like to thank our loyal and new sponsors and also many Takuma fans for everything they did to try to help secure the Toro Rosso drive for Taku. We will now be looking ahead for the next opportunity.”
After a winter of uncertainty Scuderia Toro Rosso today confirmed that Sebastien Bourdais will drive for the team again this season. It will be the 29 year-old Frenchman’s second season in Formula One and this year he will team up with Rookie Sebastien Buemi.
Sebastien Bourdais
“It has been a very long and difficult winter, but now the waiting is finally over and I am really excited about tackling my second season with Scuderia Toro Rosso. I would like to thank Red Bull and Dietrich Mateschitz for this opportunity to continue with a team that made so much progress last year.” “Now, I can focus on preparing for the coming season. It promises to be a very interesting one, thanks to all the rule changes and I’m also looking forward to establishing a good relationship with my new team-mate, Sebastien Buemi, to ensure both of us do the best possible job for the team and for Red Bull.”
Franz Tost, Team Principal
“We are pleased that Sebastien will be with us again for another season. After one year with Toro Rosso, we expect him to profit from the experience he gained last season. He now knows the F1 environment, the race tracks and the team. In addition, the slick tyres, which make a comeback this year, should suit his driving style very well.” “Therefore he will tackle the coming season with much more experience under his belt. This will be especially valuable given that our other driver, Sebastien Buemi, is an F1 rookie, who has come up through the ranks of the Red Bull Junior Driver programme.”
Mark Webber is using a cryogenic chamber and sub-zero therapy as a tool to returning to full fitness ahead of the 2009 World Championship. The Australian, who badly broke the two bones in his lower right leg in late November, is scheduled to return to the cockpit of his Red Bull next week. It emerged on Tuesday that part of his accelerated rehabilitation programme has been standing in temperatures of an incredible minus-130 degrees for three minutes at a time. “It’s very good for your general well-being, your immune system and apparently it’s good for cellulite. Not much of a worry for me… but it’s very good for the whole body,” the 32-year-old said. Webber claims his February return is still due to take place, but is realistic about the rigours of action in a F1 cockpit. “Driving is not like playing tennis. A tennis player can practise before actually playing a game. I need to get in the car and go and do it to find out about things like the vibration jolts,” said Webber, who did some karting in Austria recently. He insists he will be fit for the first race of the season in March. “There’s been some stuff in the press that I won’t be 100 per cent fit for Melbourne which pissed me off. I will be 100 per cent ready to do my job,” said Webber.
Renault has decided to add one more test to its pre-season preparations, according to the Spanish sports newspaper Diario AS.
The French team, believed to have struggled at the R29’s weather-affected debut test in Portugal, was scheduled to wind-up its winter programme on March 14th, some two weeks before the Australian Grand Prix.
But AS claims that one more test date, possibly at Silverstone which is less than an hour’s drive from Renault’s Enstone headquarters in England, is now set to take place sometime on the week beginning March 16.
From the beginning of the following week, when teams will be setting up at Albert Park for the Melbourne opener, the new in-season testing ban is set to take effect.
BMW Sauber has confirmed reports that it is set to join next week’s Bahrain tests. The Hinwil-based team had been scheduled to follow the majority of teams to Jerez in Spain, but following the recently affected Portimao session, more bad weather is expected in Europe in the coming days. Ferrari and Toyota will also be in Bahrain, where eight days of running will be split into two tests at the Sakhir circuit between February 10-13 and 16-19, according to the local newspaper Gulf Daily News. BMW’s full complement of drivers will be on duty, after the newly unveiled F1.09 proved reliable at its first test in Valencia. “From now, we will concentrate mainly on performance,” a spokesman said. Despite the expense of long-haul testing, the BMW official confirmed that the search for dry and warm weather is the reason for the Bahrain switch. “Particularly, the track temperatures are extremely important,” he said. “They were too low in Europe during the last test, and we hope that they will be significantly higher in Bahrain. This is the basis to get valid tyre data for the first races, which will all take place in hot conditions.” It is understood that Toyota and Ferrari will also deploy their race drivers for the test.
The safety car rules that have been used for the past two seasons will now be scrapped for 2009. The pit lane will now remain open and drivers instead having to stick to a minimum lap time on their return to the pits. FIA race director Charlie Whiting announced that a change would be made in line with the simulations carried out by drivers at the end of several practice sessions last season. Since the 2007 season, the safety car rules saw the pit lane closed at the start of a full caution period with any car refuelling during this time punished by a drive-through penalty. The FIA have made the change to stop drivers racing back to the pit lane, when there was a potential accident on track, in a bid to gain an advantage, but the rule proved increasingly unpopular as drivers were given penalties if the pit lane closure came during their refuelling window. Whiting confirmed the pit lane will revert to being open and a reduced speed will instead be achieved by cars running at an ECU-controlled pace. Asked if the safety car rules would be changed for 2009, Whiting replied: “Yes. “The rule introduced in 2007 was a bad one, and we’ve gone back to the 2006 regulations.“The only difference is we intend to implement a minimum time back to the pits.” In the trial simulations carried out in 2008, drivers had five seconds to press a button on their steering wheel to activate an ECU-controlled mode after receiving notification of the safety car’s presence from which they have to target a lap time displayed on their dashboard. Whiting says this method will continue to ensure that there is no risk that drivers speed back to the pit lane. “When we deploy the safety car, the message will go to all the cars, which will then have a “safety car” mode on their ECUs,” he said. “As soon as that message gets to the car, it’ll know where it is on the circuit, and it’ll calculate a minimum time for the driver to get back to the pits. “The driver will have to respect this and the information will be displayed on his dashboard. “If you remember, the reason we closed the pit entry was to remove the incentive for the driver to come back to his pit quickly. “That’s gone now, as you won’t be able to reach the pits any quicker than your dashboard display allows you to.”
The heavy rains that blighted running on Tuesday were not too much of a factor today in testing but it was not until late in the day that the Portuguese circuit dried fully.
Sebastien Buemi again set the pace for the Toro Rosso Ferrari team and while running in 2008 configuration may not mean a great deal in terms of the lap times, it will again be a confidence boost for the Rookie racer and the Red Bull-owned team. The Swiss driver recorded a best time of 1:27.979s, his fastest time being set on his penultimate tour of 128 laps.
Nico Rosberg got into the swing of things on his second day of running the new Williams Toyota FW31 as he posted an impressive tally of 143 laps with a time just 1.7s off the ultimate pace.
Meanwhile, world champion Lewis Hamilton returned to the track for the first time since clinching the title last November taking over testing duties from Pedro de la Rosa. Despite stopping on track with a mechanical problem, the newly crowned champion was able to complete 81 laps and set the third fastest time. In addition, as the weather conditions improved, the team ran the intended 2009 specification wing for the first time on the MP4-24.
Timo Glock took over testing duties from Jarno Trulli – making it three drivers in three days for the Toyota team – and sampled the TF109 for the first time.
The German racer however lost time when the car stopped on track, requiring some attention to douse a small fire and was fourth fastest on the day.
Fernando Alonso had his first run in the R29 today and it would prove to be a much more successful outing for the Anglo-French team which only completed nine laps with Nelson Piquet yesterday. The former champion put in 85 laps with the new machine, but was some way adrift of rivals also running 2009 machinery.
Testing continues on Thursday.
End Of Day Times :
1 . S. Buemi – Toro Rosso Ferrari STR3 – 1:27.987 (+ 0.000 ) – 0 laps
2 . N. Rosberg – Williams Toyota FW31 – 1:29.729 (+ 1.742 ) – 0 laps
3 . L. Hamilton – McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 – 1:30.242 (+ 2.255 ) – 0 laps
4 . T. Glock – Toyota TF109 – 1:30.878 (+ 2.891 ) – 0 laps
5 . F. Alonso – Renault R29 – 1:31.743 (+ 3.756 ) – 0 laps.
Lewis Hamilton made his debut outing with the number ‘1′ as he returned to test action on Wednesday morning.
On his first drive since winning the 2008 championship in Brazil last November, and therefore getting his first taste of the newly launched MP4-24, the 24-year-old Briton joined the test action at the Portimao circuit in Portugal.
Hamilton said he has enjoyed his extended break, and has taken a few moments to reflect on his achievement. “I am world champion and it is a great feeling,” he said at the car’s recent launch. “I have got to embrace that and carry it with me.” Hopes are high for a better day of weather following the disastrous conditions on Tuesday, but Hamilton’s opening laps were affected by a sodden track, despite the sun shining through the clouds on occasion.
The team is also still using the wider and lower 2008-spec rear wing, ostensibly as a ‘precautionary measure to increase downforce’ in the conditions.
It is further understood that KERS is not being used on Wednesday.
Also getting his first taste of his 2009 mount on Wednesday was former double world champion Fernando Alonso, at the wheel of the Renault R29 that is quickly gaining the nickname ‘bullnose’ because of its unique front treatment.
Toyota and Williams are also running their new cars this week and again on Wednesday, while Sebastien Buemi still occupies the cockpit of the 2008-specification Toro Rosso.
The second day of testing in Portugal saw the five teams present forced to battle with the weather once again.
Rain in the morning gave way to better conditions and an almost dry circuit before the rains began again. In addition, high winds were an issue reportedly damaging the McLaren Mercedes motorhome.
Sebastien Buemi was back on duty for the Toro Rosso Ferrari team as the Italian team continue to put miles on the trimmed out STR3 package. Buemi, who will make his Grand Prix debut with the team in Melbourne, was again fastest for the Italian-based squad with a best time of 1:34.429s.
McLaren Mercedes continued to put miles on the MP4-24 unveiled last week and again today it was Pedro de la Rosa back behind the wheel. As was the case on Monday, the team opted to continue running with the 2008-specification rear wing bolted onto the 2009 car. The Spanish test driver, who completed the most laps today, was again second fastest but the gap of three seconds cannot be seen as a true reflection of 2009 form.
Italian veteran Jarno Trulli took over from test driver Kamui Kobayashi and got his first taste of the new TF109 with the third fastest time while Nelson Piquet was back behind the wheel of the new Renault R29 unveiled yesterday morning.
The Brazilian, who hands over to team-mate Fernando Alonso for the next two days of running, was forced to stop on track with a mechanical problem.
With just nine laps completed, the new R29 was hauled away on the back of a flat-bed recovery truck.
Over at Williams Toyota, Nico Rosberg ran the new FW31 for the first time as he took over testing duties from Nico Hulkenberg. At some 17 seconds off the pace, it is safe to assume that the German racer was not running when the circuit was at its optimum.
BMW Sauber and Ferrari tested alone at Valencia and Mugello respectively. Testing at Portimao continues on Wednesday.
End Of Day Times :
1 . S. Buemi – Toro Rosso Ferrari STR3 – 1:34.429 (+ 0.000 ) – 48 laps
2 . P. de la Rosa – McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 – 1:37.512 (+ 3.083 ) – 62 laps
3 . J. Trulli – Toyota TF109 – 1:42.399 (+ 7.970 ) – 30 laps
4 . N. Piquet – Renault R29 – 1:45.860 (+ 11.431 ) – 9 laps
5 . N. Rosberg – Williams Toyota FW31 – 1:51.580 (+ 17.151 ) – 31 laps
The BMW Sauber team raised the curtain on its 2009 season in Formula One in Valencia this morning. Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld unveiled the new BMW Sauber F1.09 shortly after nine o’clock. Kubica then took the car for its first lap of the southern Spanish circuit. The team goes into its fourth season with the ambitious aim of fighting for the World Championship title.
They will now shakedown the car today at the Valencia circuit.
After the morning 2009 car launches of the Renault & Williams teams, it was back to testing the cars.
Sebastian Buemi was fastest at the end of the morning session and afternoon session. More from Portugal tomorrow.
Lunchtime Timings :
1. S. Buemi Toro Rosso STR3 1:41.528 29 Laps
2. K. Kobayashi Toyota TF109 1:52.748 +11.220 16 Laps
3. P. de la Rosa McLaren MP4-24 1:53.740 +12.212 9 Laps
4. N. Hülkenberg Williams FW31 1:57.502 +15.974 5 Laps
5. N. Piquet Jr. Renault R29 1:58.436 +16.908 5 Laps
End of Day Timings :
1. S. Buemi Toro Rosso STR3 1:41.528 51 Laps
2. P. de la Rosa McLaren MP4-24 1:46.076 +4.548 28 Laps
3. N. Hülkenberg Williams FW31 1:46.335 +4.807 19 Laps
4. N. Piquet Jr. Renault R29 1:48.907 +7.379 33 Laps
5. K. Kobayashi Toyota TF109 1:50.989 +9.461 26 Laps
The Williams F1 team have today launched their new 2009 challenger, the FW31.
The car was unveiled at the new Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal where the first major pre-season test kicks off.
The car was unveiled with it’s winter livery. The full 2009 race livery will be shown just before the 1st grand prix in Australia.
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