News headlines from Formula1.com http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/ en-GB Formula1.com Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:38:13 GMT Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:38:13 GMT 15 http://www.formula1.com/photos/225x150/sutton/2008/d08chn22_2.jpg http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/12/8752.html Fernando Alonso (ESP) Renault. Formula One World Championship, Rd17, Chinese Grand Prix, Preparations, Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China, Thursday, 16 October 2008 Renault's Fernando Alonso has said his objective for 2009 is simple - to add a third world title to the two he won with the team in 2005 and 2006. Alonso and Renault experienced a difficult start to their 2008 campaign, but fought back in the latter part of the season with the Spaniard taking back-to-back wins in Singapore and Japan... http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/12/8752.html Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:25:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/12/8752.html Formula1.com While McLaren's engineers are busy preparing the team's machinery for December's two remaining test sessions, drivers Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen are preparing for a test of a very different kind; a five-day pre-season training camp at the Kuortane Sports Institute in western Finland. Kourtane, McLaren's human performance partner, has helped train some of the world's top athletes, including Finland's Olympic hopefuls, for more than 40 years. The training camp also acts as a useful team-building exercise, with mechanics and engineers joining the drivers for group exercises and tests at the campus... http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/12/8750.html Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:22:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/12/8750.html Formula1.com McLaren will reveal their 2009 car at their UK factory midway through next month. The MP4-24 - the machine in which Lewis Hamilton will defend his Formula One drivers' title - will be unveiled at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking on January 16. The team have already tested several elements of the new machine, which will embody radical rule changes, including slick tyres, reduced aerodynamics and a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS)... http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/12/8749.html Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:50:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/12/8749.html Formula1.com After Johannesburg, Kiev, Lisbon and most recently New Delhi, Renault visited Brazil at the weekend for the final Roadshow of their 2008 programme. More than 100,000 fans turned out to watch the Sao Paulo demonstration, which took place on a temporary circuit at the city's Ibirapuera Park. The French team's recently confirmed 2009 race driver, Nelson Piquet, took charge of the R27 for the event, delighting the spectators with a series of donuts and burnouts, as he put the car through its paces. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/12/8747.html Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:50:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/12/8747.html Formula1.com Honda's Rubens Barrichello proved he still has what it takes to win, after clinching victory at the International Challenge of Go-Kart Champions on Sunday. The annual contest, which sees top international drivers compete against each other, was held at the Ingeles kart track in Florianopolis, Brazil. Barrichello, who is yet to secure a drive for the 2009 season, won the first race from compatriot Lucas di Grassi, while Ferrari's Felipe Massa took victory in the second race. Barrichello's aggregate total of 36 points, however, proved enough to take home the winner's trophy. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/12/8746.html Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:49:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/12/8746.html Formula1.com With driver Mark Webber laid up with a broken leg, following his cycling accident in Australia last weekend, Red Bull have announced a revised line-up for their forthcoming Jerez test. Red Bull Junior Team driver Brendon Hartley, 2008 test driver Sebastien Buemi and the outfit's new '09 recruit, Sebastian Vettel, will all be in action during the three-day session, which will take place at the Spanish circuit from December 15-17. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8744.html Fri, 28 Nov 2008 10:31:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8744.html Formula1.com The top three finishers in this year's Italian Formula Three Series got the chance to drive a Formula One car at Ferrari's Fiorano circuit on Wednesday, as a reward for their success in the championship. Mirko Bortolotti, Edoardo Piscopo and Salvatore Cicatelli all enjoyed time behind the wheel of the F2008 during the special day of testing, which was devised by Ferrari and Italian motorsport's governing body, the ACI-CSAI. The trio of young drivers also worked with engineers from the outfit's race team and met tester Andrea Bertolini. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8742.html Thu, 27 Nov 2008 11:39:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8742.html Formula1.com LG Electronics (LG), a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, announced Wednesday that it has signed an agreement to become a Global Partner of Formula 1™ and a Technology Partner of Formula 1™. As part of this top level association LG acquires exclusive designations and marketing rights as the official Consumer Electronics, Mobile Phone and Data Processor of Formula 1™. The multi-year agreement runs from January 2009. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8739.html Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:43:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8739.html Formula1.com Toyota will launch the new TF109 and its race livery on 15 January 2009. However, as part of the team's commitment to cutting costs in Formula One racing, there will be no traditional launch ceremony. Instead, all press material will be distributed to the media via the internet, before the TF109 begins pre-season testing on 20 January, the start of a three-day test at the new Algarve Motor Park in Portugal. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8740.html Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:11:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8740.html Formula1.com Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has announced plans to buy back Gerhard Berger's 50 percent stake in Toro Rosso, returning full control of the team to the energy drinks giant. Mateschitz had previously stated he planned to sell off his half. “I'm very grateful to Gerhard for his enormous input,” said Mateschitz. “Together we have made Toro Rosso a team which, from 2008 onwards, will regularly qualify for the top ten and collect championship points.” http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8738.html Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:03:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8738.html Formula1.com New Delhi, Johannesburg, Kiev and Lisbon have been a few of the far-flung stopovers for this season's Renault Roadshow, and the French team has announced that their concluding 2008 event will be held on Sunday at the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo. Renault's recently confirmed 2009 driver, Nelson Piquet, will be in the driving seat, demonstrating an R27 in front of his home crowd around a specially-designed track at Ibirapuera Park. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8737.html Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:39:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8737.html Formula1.com Red Bull Racing's David Coulthard and former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan will both serve as television pundits next season when the BBC takes over UK Formula One broadcasting rights from current holders ITV. Coulthard retired from competition at the end of the 2008 season. He will continue to serve as a consultant and test driver for Red Bull, but will now combine this role with TV commitments that will see him on screen alongside Jordan and BBC anchorman Jake Humphrey... http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8735.html Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:03:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8735.html Formula1.com Red Bull driver Mark Webber has suffered a broken leg after being involved in a road accident during his annual Tasmania Challenge charity event in Australia. Webber collided with a car while riding his mountain bike on Saturday's stage near Port Arthur. Webber was attended by paramedics at the scene before being airlifted by helicopter to the Royal Hobart Hospital, where he underwent surgery to insert a pin in his right leg... http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8732.html Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:20:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8732.html Formula1.com MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi made his comeback behind the wheel of a Ferrari on Thursday as he began a two-day test - purely for fun - at the Italian team's Mugello circuit. Rossi's car was fitted with his famous number 46 to mark the occasion, as both parties celebrated their victorious 2008 seasons. Rossi is no stranger to Formula One power, having previously tested with Ferrari in 2005 and 2006 at Fiorano, Mugello and Valencia... http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8730.html Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:35:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8730.html Formula1.com Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel maintained his stranglehold at the top of the timesheets on Wednesday, as this week's multi-team test session at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya drew to a close. Vettel clocked a quickest lap of 1m 19.925s around the Spanish track to finish almost six-tenths ahead of former Toro Rosso team mate Sebastian Bourdais... http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8727.html Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:44:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8727.html Formula1.com