Interviews from Formula1.com http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/ 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/manual/deh0819no109.jpg http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8748.html Gary Paffett (GBR) McLaren Mercedes. Formula One Testing, Day Three, Barcelona, Spain, 19 November 2008. With one winter test session already under their belts, McLaren are fully focused on preparations for the 2009 season and the introduction of some of the biggest and most comprehensive rule changes in Formula One history. The team's top engineers, aerodynamicists, engine expert, test team manager and test driver spoke to the McLaren press office to bring you an exhaustive analysis of the changes and the impact they're likely to have… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8748.html Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:09:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8748.html Formula1.com Sometimes it has to get worse before it gets better. After zero points in 2008, Force India owner Vijay Mallya has made a shrewd move in signing a technical partnership with McLaren-Mercedes for 2009. It's raised the probability of the team fielding a competitive car - and it's certainly raised the spirits of veteran driver Giancarlo Fisichella, who insists he has a waterproof contract for next season, despite recent rumours to the contrary… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8743.html Fri, 28 Nov 2008 09:05:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8743.html Formula1.com For a petrol head like Frank Williams, seeing his team slip down the grid this season must have been painful to watch. And it was equally saddening for driver Nico Rosberg, the much acclaimed German youngster, who has been touted as a possible future world champion. Whenever the FW30 had a good day Rosberg was there to bag the points. However, those occasions were too rare to satisfy his ambitions. But with 2009's wide-ranging regulation changes promising a shake-up, Rosberg hopes have been restored… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8736.html Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:03:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8736.html Formula1.com Mark Webber's weekend accident comes as a blow to Red Bull Racing's 2009 preparations. With so many regulation changes looming, it is now up to the incoming Sebastian Vettel to do the main work in setting up the RB5. But after his dream season with Toro Rosso, there is little doubt Vettel will rise to the challenge. The German youngster reflects on his breakthrough '08 campaign and looks ahead to even bigger and brighter things for '09… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8733.html Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:15:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8733.html Formula1.com Dubbed 'Quick Nick' by his fans, Nick Heidfeld is one of quieter characters in the paddock. And it was by quietly plugging away at his qualifying problems this season that Heidfeld turned things around to retain his BMW Sauber seat. This year has certainly tested his mettle, but after bouncing back with aplomb and with the team confident of a more consistent title challenge in 2009, he's in the right place at the right time. Now he just needs to survive his first winter on the ski slopes… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8731.html Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:21:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8731.html Formula1.com Sebastien Bourdais is one of the most successful racing drivers of modern times - just not in Formula One. Abandoning his Stateside career to start over with Toro Rosso was a brave move - and sometimes the pressure was almost tangible. With his seat unconfirmed for 2009, he faces competition from the likes of F1 veteran Takuma Sato and newcomer Sebastien Buemi. This week's Barcelona times and his familiarity with the team suggest he's in, but the right driver with the right funding could change things... http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8728.html Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:59:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8728.html Formula1.com Over the course of this week's Barcelona test, nine teams, 22 drivers and one five-time World Rally champion, Sebastien Loeb, sampled Bridgestone's slick tyres, ahead of their return next season. Although the cold temperatures at the Spanish track made it particularly challenging to run on the harder of their two compounds, the Japanese tyre company gained a great deal of data. Bridgestone's technical manager Tetsuro Kobayashi reviews the three-day test… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8729.html Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:07:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8729.html Formula1.com When Super Aguri shut down following April's Spanish Grand Prix, Takuma Sato's Formula One career hit the rocks. Not much changed until September, when Toro Rosso came knocking as they started considering replacements for Sebastian Vettel. Sato's performance at that Jerez test was convincing enough to get him invited back to Barcelona this week, where he has not disappointed - fastest on day one, second fastest on day two. But will it be enough to get him on the grid for 2009? http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8726.html Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:19:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8726.html Formula1.com Bruno Senna made his Formula One debut on Monday afternoon at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, testing for Honda. Although Senna covered just 39 laps, as he familiarised himself with the Japanese team's car, he will be back in action for a full day on Wednesday. Here Senna reflects on his first taste of Formula One power and discusses the hype surrounding his future… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8723.html Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:19:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8723.html Formula1.com This week GP2 driver Sebastien Buemi, former Super Aguri racer Takuma Sato and '08 incumbent Sebastien Bourdais are all slogging it out at the Barcelona test in the hope of securing the chance to race for Toro Rosso in 2009. On Monday, Sato drew first blood, setting the fastest time of all 17 runners at the Spanish track, but Buemi was just three-tenths down on the vastly more experienced Japanese driver. We caught up with the 20 year-old to talk about his hopes for this week's test and beyond… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8722.html Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:30:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8722.html Formula1.com Five-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb's test run on Monday at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya caused a stir at the Spanish track, not least because Loeb eventually managed to clock the eighth-fastest time in the Red Bull. And after stepping out of the cockpit, the Frenchman was clearly thrilled with his ride in the RB4… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8720.html Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:51:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8720.html Formula1.com The 2008 constructors' championship may have culminated in a showdown between McLaren and eventual winners Ferrari, but there were eight other names also vying for much-prized placings. Three-time world champion Niki Lauda concludes his analysis of 2008 by casting an eye over the teams - and drivers - further down the order, and evaluates what each needs to do to improve their prospects for 2009… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8715.html Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:42:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8715.html Formula1.com Next week the teams begin their on-track preparations for the 2009 Formula One season, which sees some of the most far-reaching rule changes in recent years. Tighter aerodynamic regulations, the return of slick tyres, the arrival of adjustable front wings and the introduction of Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) are all set to make cars sleeker and overtaking easier. It means a busy winter ahead for the designers and engineers, but Pascal Vasselon, Toyota's senior general chassis manager, is relishing the challenge… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8679.html Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:31:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8679.html Formula1.com For a while in 2008 it seemed Robert Kubica might achieve the impossible. Midway through the season he had won a race and was vying for the championship with Hamilton, Massa and Raikkonen. Then somehow the challenge faded. Kubica cannot yet explain why, but he is certain that BMW Sauber will find the answers and that they can push McLaren and Ferrari even harder in 2009. In the meantime, he's content to keep busy over the winter break developing his own kart chassis… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8676.html Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:38:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8676.html Formula1.com A podium finish, 25 points and 10th in the drivers' championship - not bad for your first full season of Formula One racing. No wonder that mid-season Niki Lauda was describing Toyota's Timo Glock as the 'best rookie so far'. Speaking exclusively to Formula1.com, Glock reviews a campaign that saw him become an ever-growing threat to team mate Jarno Trulli and looks ahead to next year, when he believes Toyota can achieve 'great things'… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8671.html Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:25:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8671.html Formula1.com