Honda

Formula One’s head honcho made the front page of this morning’s News Of The World tabloid. The story has certainly shocked many, but it needs to be said that the News Of The World is hardly a respectable news paper. The allegations contained in the story are pretty bizarre and I’m sure many lawyers are being consulted with as I type. If it turns out that the video and photographic ‘evidence’ is of FIA president Max Mosley, then I feel the Briton will be shamed into resigning. If however, it turns out to be an elaborate hoax, Rupert Murdoch’s editor for the News Of The World will likely be paying a visit to the courts.

(Read the full post about ‘Max Mosley Makes The Front Page’…)

The FIA have announced yet another tweak to the process of deciding the grid for each race. The change comes about after the dangerous scenario that presented itself in Malaysia last weekend when Nick Heidfeld and Fernando Alonso found themselves on hot laps while the other surrounding cars were cruising slowly back to the pitlane. The primary reason for the 200km/h speed difference between the cars is because of the race-fuel issue: Cars entering the third phase of qualifying must carry the fuel they intend to qualify and race with. Thus, once the hot lap has been completed, the drivers then try to save as much as possible to further their first stint in the race.

(Read the full post about ‘Qualifying Gets Another Tweak’…)

With slicks hopefully making a comeback next year, Formula One’s sole tyre supplier Bridgestone have been trying to alleviate fears that the loss of tyre-warmers next season may affect the pace of the cars when commencing their warm-up lap. The issues surrounding the differential in speed between a warm slick and a cold slick came about after the teams conducted some preliminary tests at Jerez last year. David Coulthard voiced concern at the time, and the laptimes set between hot and cold tyres varied by as much as several seconds.

I have talked to quite a few drivers about it and they all shared the same opinion that without the blankets, when a car from the pits joins the track when other cars are on a hot lap, it is pretty scary.

(Read the full post about ‘Bridgestone Ready To Test Three Slick Tyre Compounds’…)

Of all the newspapers available for me to read, I normally plump for The Sunday Times. There are a variety of reasons why, but mainly because I find it generally unbiased (though only in comparison), features some great articles and the only time I ever get to sit down and enjoy a paper is on a Sunday. However, with a hectic lifestyle, juggling a full-time career and running BlogF1, the relaxing time spent on a Sunday morning with the paper and coffee has been sacrificed; I blame the flyaway races! And just as it was with my summer holiday last year, my timing to give up the Sunday read was as impeccable as ever.

BlogF1 got a mention in the InGear supplement last Sunday in an article written by Robbie Hudson.

(Read the full post about ‘BlogF1 In The Sunday Times’…)

Former team owner Eddie Jordan may not have been around for a few years, having sold his squad to Midland in 2005, and since seen it passed around like a bad cold to Spyker and now to Vijay Mallya. But it seems as though the Irishman wasn’t entirely out of the picture as news today reports of a problem at the Force India factory in Northamptonshire. The factory was once owned by Jordan and went with the sale of the team. However, it now seems as though the former-team owner still owns a part of the land the building sits on. Which is apparently a problem for Eddie…

According to a report in Swiss publication Motorsport Aktuell, Jordan has tried to sell his remaining portion of land to Force India.

(Read the full post about ‘Eddie Jordan: Still Causing Mayhem In Formula One’…)

Fernando Alonso appears to be getting a case of the Trullis this week. Like Toyota’s lead driver Jarno Trulli, Alonso appears to be shifting his mood each day, going from frustrated on Tuesday to understanding his car’s weaknesses and not being frustrated on Wednesday. Yesterday he was quoted as saying to Diario AS that “I [Alonso] feel a bit of frustration knowing that, more or less, I will be unable to do much else in Bahrain.” But today is a different day and therefore a different mood. The Spaniard either has a genuine short memory, or has decided to backtrack after his day in the media yesterday.

(Read the full post about ‘Is Alonso Getting A Case Of The Trullis?’…)

Fernando Alonso let a rather large cat out of his bag earlier today when he spoke about his contract with Renault and the competitiveness of Ferrari, as well as the mistakes made by current Scuderia pilot Felipe Massa. Speaking to the Spanish media, Alonso let slip that he has a clause in his current contract that allows him to leave, although it is unknown how this might come into effect if needed. Likely it is based on the performance of the car, which currently isn’t doing too well.

It’s early to talk about moves and rumours, but Massa has had two bad races with mistakes and that has kicked off speculation.

(Read the full post about ‘Will Ferrari Receive A Six-Tenth Advantage In 2009?’…)

It doesn’t come as much surprise that BMW boss Mario Theissen wants changes to be made to the qualifying procedure as soon as possible. BMW driver Nick Heidfeld was unnecessarily held up while attempting to qualify in Malaysia. The incident can only really be described as ridiculous and dangerous. The videos and article can be viewed via this link, but needless to say Thiessen is backed by an awful lot of people.

I talked to Charlie Whiting on Saturday night, not about the specific case but about the issue of having cars with a differential speed of 200km/h on the same lap. It is something that must not happen.

(Read the full post about ‘Theissen Wants Changes Made To Qualifying’…)

I’ve honestly lost count how times Sepang has gone back and forth on the night race idea. What I can remember is that Bernie Ecclestone wants it, as he seems to want at just about every other venue on the calendar, and Malaysian Grand Prix organisers seemed a little hesitant about it. Well, initially at least. But now, after the whole saga (and others) going on since late-last year, it seems as though the 2009 race at Sepang will be held under floodlight. According to many news agencies, event organisers spoke with the teams and drivers last weekend to get their input into a night race, and now it is up to further planning before being given the go ahead. (Read the full post about ‘Sepang: Night Race, Day Race, Night Race, Day…’…)

With just under two weeks to go before the Bahrain Grand Prix, I felt it was time to do another summary of the news. There’s a lot to take in, even since Sunday when Kimi Raikkonen won in Sepang; this season is already shaping up to be busier than most. I wrote a long “News Round-up” article, but then realised there was too much to put in one posting. So instead I have broken them up. Therefore, this and the following three posts may seem to jump straight into the action without much faffing at the start. I’ll be interested to see if you guys prefer this method or not, but needless to say there is a lot to discuss.

(Read the full post about ‘Dennis Hits Out At Briatore’s Management Style’…)