All news 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 It has been four long years since Williams last tasted victory with Juan Pablo Montoya's win at the 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix. In the meantime the British team have seen their fortunes gradually dwindle - and their performance this season has done little to assuage the fall from grace. Despite scoring two podiums, Williams ended the year eighth in the standings - compared to fourth last season - scooping four points less than in 2007... http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2008/12/8751.html Wed, 03 Dec 2008 09:35:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2008/12/8751.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 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 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 Very rarely do you get what you wish for. But this season BMW Sauber have achieved just that, finishing third in the constructors' championship and scoring their maiden pole and race win. It's a brilliant achievement for a relatively young team, who have finally taken the fight to Ferrari and McLaren and become real title contenders. Over winter matters hadn't looked quite so upbeat, with murmurs that their aggressive pre-season development programme had backfired... http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2008/12/8745.html Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:08:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2008/12/8745.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 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 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 The FIA have made a number of changes to the Sporting and Technical Regulations for the 2009 Formula One season, and the results of some have already been seen in testing. In the case of the Sporting Regulations, the primary aims are increased reliability and further cost reductions. In the case of the technical changes, there are three main objectives - reducing the role of aerodynamics in the cars' performance; making overtaking easier; and keeping lap times in check... http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2008/11/8741.html Thu, 27 Nov 2008 10:11:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2008/11/8741.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