[pinkmichk]

Originally posted by RiotVan
BBC + F1 = Heaven.

agree on most part jury still out here on the presenting team though

[Spike]

Ferrari have become the first team to officially launch their 2009 car after unveiling the F60 online. It is the machine that will be driven by Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen as they defend the Italian squad's 2008 constructors' title.

In line with revisions to the Formula One regulations for 2009, the F60 features a lower, wider front wing and a taller, narrower rear wing. Its name commemorates what will be Ferrari’s 60th F1 campaign.

The F60 is the 55th single-seater produced by Ferrari to contest the world championship and it will make its track debut on Monday afternoon at the team's Mugello circuit, with Massa behind the wheel.

The new car has far fewer aerodynamic appendages on its bodywork compared to its predecessor, due to the rule changes designed to cut downforce and promote more overtaking, with the driver now able to make minor front wing adjustments from the cockpit. The F60’s suspension and layout has also been completely reconfigured as a result, in order to maintain optimum weight distribution.

The F60’s design also takes into account two other major rule changes - the return of slick tyres and the option to use a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS). Ferrari’s KERS has been designed in collaboration with Magneti Marelli and is centrally mounted on the engine under the rear part of the chassis.

The car’s seven-speed transmission has been redesigned to optimise its aerodynamic efficiency, while Ferrari’s Type 056 V8 has been modified in accordance with the new ruling that requires engines to last for three Grand Prix meetings from 2009, with rev limits cut from 19,000 to 18,000 rpm.

F1 Website

[pinkmichk]

cant wait to see maclarens

[James]

The cars look a bit strange with their narrow back wings and wide front wings but we'll see if overtaking is easier. Also it looks like they have done away with all the little aerodynamic add-ons the old cars had, which is good.

I hope the BBC show the Formula 1 support races on their red button, like GP2 cause I like watching those.

[Iceman]

Yes that was the first thing i thought. I mean i saw tha back wing and was like, what the hell???? It's growing on me though, should be interesting to see the other teams aswell, i really want to see the Mclaren i think it will be interesting.

[pinkmichk]

the 2009 entry list has been released

The FIA has released the official Formula 1 entry list for the upcoming season. The entry list doesn't have any surprises but it does confirm the Honda F1 team has an entry for the upcoming season so its buyers can enter the sport as of Melbourne at the end of March.

1. Lewis Hamilton - VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES
2. Heikki Kovalainen - VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES

3. Kimi Raikkonen - SCUDERIA FERRARI MARLBORO
4. Felipe Massa - SCUDERIA FERRARI MARLBORO

5. Robert Kubica - BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM
6. Nick Heidfeld - BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM

7. Fernando Alonso - ING RENAULT F1 TEAM
8. Nelson Piquet - ING RENAULT F1 TEAM

9. Jarno Trulli - PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING
10. Timo Glock - PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING

11. Sebastien Buemi - SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO
12. TBA - SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO

14. Mark Webber - RED BULL RACING
15. Sebastian Vettel - RED BULL RACING

16. Nico Rosberg - AT&T WILLIAMS
17. Kazuki Nakajima - AT&T WILLIAMS

18. TBA - (TBA) HONDA RACING F1 TEAM
19. TBA - (TBA) HONDA RACING F1 TEAM

20. Adrian Sutil - FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM
21. Giancarlo Fisichella - FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM

[Spike]

Toyota unveiled their 2009 car in innovative fashion on Thursday, as the new TF109 made its world debut in a specially-made, big-screen movie trailer, made available to fans online.

With revisions to the Formula One regulations set to shake up the order, the Japanese team are hoping the TF109 can take them to their first win since entering the sport in 2002...

Work began on the TF109 last October, with the car’s new shape heavily dictated by the FIA’s regulation changes, with wider front wings, narrower rear wings and fewer additional aerodynamic devices.

“Our target this year is to fight to win the first race for Toyota in Formula One,” declared team principal Tadashi Yamashina at Thursday’s launch, a proclamation that comes in light of their improved showing last season, which included two podiums and top-ten starts at 14 of the 18 races.

“After eight years in Formula One we have gained a huge amount of knowledge and improved considerably,” said Toyota Racing President John Howett. “There are many elements of our team which are at the very highest level so the challenge now is to fill any gaps and ensure the entire organisation is performing at the very top. Then we must put all the elements together and deliver the success we are all fighting so hard for.”

Toyota continue with an unchanged driver line-up for 2009. Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock were critically-acclaimed co-stars for the team last season and they will again be supported by Japanese reserve driver Kamui Kobayashi.

"I still have plenty I want to achieve in Formula One but my dream now is to win the first race for Toyota," said 34-year-old Italian Trulli.“I have now spent longer racing for Toyota in Formula One than any other driver and I have seen the huge progress that has been made since I joined in 2004. It has been a long journey and we have had ups and downs but we have never given up or lost faith.”

Glock, whose Toyota race career began only last season, added: “If you look back at the cars I have been racing for the last five years they have all been quite different, with the 2004 Jordan, then Champ Car, GP2 and the Toyota TF108, and I have been competitive in each of them. That shows how quickly I can adapt to a different car so I don’t have any concerns at all about adjusting to the 2009-style Formula One cars.”

The 2009 changes have presented Toyota and all the Formula One team with a significant design challenge. “This complete programme has been more demanding on our company than any previous new car project I have been involved in,” said Pascal Vasselon, senior general manager (chassis).

To view Toyota’s online movie trailer, go to www.tf109-premiere.com.

F1 website

[pinkmichk]

just seen maclarens 2009 car and i dont like it also just read this on autosport

McLaren boss Ron Dennis will step down from his role of team principal before the start of the 2009 season, the Briton announced on Friday.

The 61-year-old, however, made it clear that he is not retiring, but will instead focus on other commitments related to the McLaren Group.

Dennis said he would still attend some races, but intends to pass on his team principal responsibilities to Martin Whitmarsh as of March 1 this year.

"First thing I am going to do is work harder, that is the first target," said Dennis during the launch of the new McLaren.

"I intend to raise my own game because I think everybody in our organisation at every level realises this is a tough period in which we are going to work and of course we are a very diverse organisation now.

"We have a clear intention for our production car programme which is really a challenge. Any product we bring to the market will certainly fall the other side of this financial period.

"I stress nothing to get too excited about but it is absolutely time for Martin to take over as team principal. As from March 1 he will adopt that responsibility. I will still go to races, not all of them, because I am passionate.

"I intend to work harder and will take on greater responsibility in the group. I will be full executive chairman. It is time and I have to say it is absolutely 100 percent my decision. It is what I want to do, but I do intend to work much harder.

"Don't see it as some sort of retirement, I want to work harder in other areas and having to plan those tasks around the GP calendar is disruptive to the process. It is a job that Martin will embrace and enjoy.

"It is a job over the years we have shared anyway, but it will be his decision to influence things at a grand prix circuit."

[pinkmichk]

toyota are fighting for their future

Toyota boss John Howett has admitted that his team need capture their first race win this season if they are to secure their future in the sport.


The team have shown much progress over the past year, but with the economic climate being so fragile, Howett feels that only a victory will be enough to keep the team going.


"We have a great team of people and I think we just feel we need to win and it is about time we won," said Howett.


"We need a strong season. If we have a weak season we have no future. Whether we really have to win to stay is difficult to stay, but we feel we have to win.


"It is our desire and our passion shared by our people in Cologne. We feel we must win, and then we can cement and secure a very bright future in F1," he added.


The 56-year-old is determined to increase the 'value' of the team to ensure that Toyota's parent company continues to see Formula One as a worthwhile venture.


"I think what I will say is that every team are facing increased scrutiny because of the financial situation, and we are no different from any other," he said.


"I don't uniquely believe that it is cost that has driven certain teams out of their relative sport - it is a holistic view about the value that is delivered for the investment.


"It is quite clear we need to reduce our costs and I am very confident we will do that. And we need to have an extremely strong season to demonstrate to Toyota that we are value to the corporation for the commitment they are and have made to the sport. It is our job as managers and leaders of the team to deliver.


"So yes, we are under scrutiny. It isn't wrong to say that, but I don't think you should uniquely pull Toyota out from the remainder of the teams. We all need to perform in one way or another," the Briton added.


Team principal Tadashi Yamashina delivered a forthright assessment of Toyota's position.


"Honestly speaking, we are also struggling to stay in F1," he said.


"We discussed lots with the Japanese management, but fortunately Mr. (Katsuaki) Watanabe, our CEO, convinced the bosses to stay in F1.


"As John mentioned, Toyota are doing some cost reduction to get some better performance, but we are still alive and, from that sense, this season is very important. Even if the headquarters had some operational loss, we spend their money to fight to win a race, so it is very, very important for us to win this year," he added.


Toyota finished 5th on the 2008 constructors table, with Jarno Trulli's third place in France the best result the team achieved.

anyone else find this slightly worrying that this is the second team who may not make it to me it doesnt really bode well for the future of F1

[Iceman]

Just saw about the Mclaren "mishap" in testing, hope Mclaren dont let their reliability slip.

[pinkmichk]

havent heard about the mishap will have to go look on f1 site

[Iceman]

It wasn't anything big, just a problem with the engine, but it usually doesn't happen with mclaren. At least it's in testing and not the real thing.

[pinkmichk]

at least they have time to sort it theres bound to be some problems with the amount of changes this year

[Iceman]

Yeah lots of changes! Also i read today that a lot of the testing's had to be cancelled due to heavy rain and heavy wind, so with the engine problem and the weather still no clear indication of who's coping better with the changes.

[Iceman]

ING leaving F1 after this season. Things don't look good for the future.

[pinkmichk]

it is a very worrying sign i hope F1 doesnt go

[Iceman]

Originally posted by pinkmichk
it is a very worrying sign i hope F1 doesnt go

I know, things are really really bad now, i hope it stays i'd be gutted if it went. What if this is the last season

[pinkmichk]

Originally posted by GoKart

I know, things are really really bad now, i hope it stays i'd be gutted if it went. What if this is the last season

i'd cry .... a lot
i read somewhere about a american team (from nascar i think) starting a new team to take part but surely would make more sense to buy one of the existing ones in trouble

[Iceman]

Originally posted by pinkmichk

i'd cry .... a lot
i read somewhere about a american team (from nascar i think) starting a new team to take part but surely would make more sense to buy one of the existing ones in trouble

Yeah they want to come in for 2010, i think they got the go ahead. Also Bernie said in the Times on sunday that he may be in a position to help the Honda team financially, he's just unsure how to go about it.

[andyman]

When does the 2009 season start, where and at what time at the venue?

F1 will live on no matter what, changes will happen anyway.

[pinkmichk]

starts 29th march in australia i dont know time

[Spike]

Yeah the opening weekend to the season is 27th-29th March. Below are the UK times of when it will be live

Fri 27 March 2009
Friday Practice 1 01:30 - 03:00
Friday Practice 2 05:30 - 07:00
Sat 28 March 2009
Saturday Practice 03:00 - 04:00
Qualifying 06:00
Sun 29 March 2009
Race 07:00

[pinkmichk]

7am i can deal with its the 4am starts i cant

[Spike]

I will just watch the re-runs later on in the day well hopefully the BBC will show re-runs

[pinkmichk]

i much prefere watching it live if i can cos often the radio and tv reveal results without any if you dont want to know look away type warning