Entries from February 2007
February 27, 2007
“I’d be delighted if he came to me and said: ‘Team principal is the next stage in my career’,” Ferrari general director Jean Todt said in an interview to be published in Wednesday’s auto, motor und sport magazine. He added, “Michael was an exceptional driver who accumulated an unbeatable amount of titles and victories. When he retired, then he did so for good reasons. He is a member of the Ferrari family. We suggested to him that he remain part of the firm by being an advisor. He knows so much about cars, not only racing cars, that we want to use his experience.”
As reported on M&C
Things just keep on getting more and more interesting at Ferrari with respect to Michael’s future role !! If Todt wants Michael to take Team Principal post, then what about Ross Brawn ? Does this means that the rumor about Brawn being linked to McLaren are not just rumors ? In that case what Clive “told us so” seems very possible.
Posted in F1, Ferrari, Formula 1, Jean Todt, McLaren Mercedes, Michael Schumacher, Ross Brawn 
1 Comment »
February 27, 2007
Rookie Heikki Kovalainen escaped serious injury on Tuesday following a heavy crash while testing at the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain. Kovalainen lost control of his Renault at turn seven, crashing heavily into the barriers, destroying the right side of the car. Kovalainen managed to climb out of the car without assistance.
Renault officials were still investigating the cause of the crash but its believed high winds at the circuit contributed to the accident. Kovalainen will sit out the remainder of Tuesday’s test session. However the car, which suffered heavy damage to the rear right bodywork, was expected to be repaired overnight.
Posted in Bahrain, Crash, F1, Formula 1, Heikki Kovalainen, Renault, images No Comments »
February 27, 2007
“My first impression was good,” the 31-year-old Ralf Schumacher Sport Bild, “and my second (impression) not so (good). We are still a young team so you can’t expect us to be up in the top at the beginning but we are looking forward to the season and to changing that.”
It is understood that the drivers are complaining specifically about a lack of grip and stability in the corners, culminating in an average deficit to the front runners of around one second per lap.
As reported on updateF1
Young Team !! If a team need 10 years to finish in top 10 consistently, then we sincerely doubt their capabilities. That also when Toyota has the advantage of using Bridgestone tyres from last year, they should be ahead of all teams who have had to change their car designs since moving to Bridgestone.
Posted in Bridgestone, F1, Formula 1, Ralf Schumacher, TF107, Toyota F1 No Comments »
February 26, 2007
February 23, 2007
As per reports, in 2007, Fernando Alonso will become the third highest earner in the world of sport.
While with Renault, he made around US$ 10 Million in 2006. This year, after switching to McLaren and getting additional sponsors due to his back to back Championship wins, Alonso is reported to make at least US$ 43 Millions. The two players above him are Tiger Woods [US$ 90 Million p.a] & Phil Mickelson [US$ 47 Million p.a]. And he says that Formula 1 is not a sport anymore.
Posted in F1, Fernando Alonso, Formula 1, McLaren Mercedes, Phil Mickelson, Renault, Tiger Woods 1 Comment »
February 23, 2007
Ferrari have completed another reshuffle of technical staff following a request from race and test technical manager Nigel Stepney to move to another position within the team. Former head of human resources Mario Almondo has been made the new technical director, with strategist Luca Baldisserri complementing him at events. The set-up had left Stepney wanting to follow Brawn and take a sabbatical himself.
A Ferrari spokesman told autosport.com: “After many years spent working on the Formula One circuits, the last 13 of those as part of the Ferrari Race Team, Nigel Stepney, with the approval of the company, has chosen to take on a different role that will see him no longer have to attend the races.” To replace Stepney, the role of Race Operations Manager will be taken by David Lloyd, while Luigi Mazzola has become the new Test Team and Test Operations Performance Manager. Both of these men report to the head of Track Activity.
As reported on AutoSport
Lots of activity happening at Ferrari this year !! Let’s hope that their focus remains on creating a winning car despite of all this re-shuffle.
Posted in David Lloyd, F1, Ferrari, Formula 1, Luca Baldisserri, Luigi Mazzola, Mario Almondo, Nigel Stepney No Comments »
February 23, 2007
“We’re not on the pace of the top teams, which is disappointing,” Jenson Button told the Daily Mail, he addedd “The positive thing is that there’s a lot more (car development) coming in Bahrain.”
Brackley based Honda launched the ‘RA107′ amid renewed promises of a title challenge, but so far it has not featured regularly near the top of the winter times. Button, 27, was third quickest at Bahrain on Thursday but later spent time at the side of the circuit with a broken throttle.
As reported on homeofsport
Hmm .. should we say so much for the another promising year from Honda ?? Or we’ll give then benefit-of-doubt and wait till the season starts with Australian Grand Prix.
Posted in Australian GP, Bahrain, F1, Formula 1, Honda Racing, Jenson Button No Comments »
February 21, 2007
As reported on updatesport
Mere days after he admitted that becoming Ferrari’s team boss would be considered “an option”, Ross Brawn is being linked with a possible switch to the McLaren team. The rumor has emerged in the German publication Sport Bild, which claims that the Mercedes-powered camp might be on the lookout for a successor for Ron Dennis.
It has been suggested that Dennis, who is approaching his sixtieth birthday, might shift his allegiance to Prodrive as the likelihood increases that David Richards’ new entrant will use McLaren cars and a Mercedes engine in 2008.
Wow ! This could be the highlight of next season if it happens, but we think this is just a Rumor and nothing more.
Posted in David Richards, F1, Ferrari, Formula 1, McLaren Mercedes, Prodrive, Ron Dennis, Ross Brawn 5 Comments »
February 21, 2007
As reported on homeofsport
“Their car will be different to our last year’s car,” Nick Fry is quoted as saying by Speed TV, adding that the SA07 is “very, very different” to the 2007 Honda. With the intellectual rights supposedly transferred from Brackley based Honda, the ‘new’ Super Aguri has been built at the Japanese carmaker’s R&D facility in Tochigi (Japan).
Fry admitted that some similarities between the 2007 Aguri and last year’s Honda are inevitable. “There are people in Aguri now who came from us. Mark Ellis has moved over there, to name but one,” he said. “(So) it will be wrong to say that the (design) thinking won’t be the same, because they are the same people.”
Having “Design Thinking” is quiet different than “Design Copying”. But before we pass a judgment, we’ll wait for Super Aguri to unveil it’s 2007 contender in March.
Posted in F1, Formula 1, Honda Racing, Nick Fry, Super Aguri No Comments »
February 20, 2007
As reported on itv-f1
Felipe Massa will receive this year’s Lorenzo Bandini Trophy in recognition of his impressive performances for Ferrari last season. Previous winners of the award include Michael Schumacher, Jenson Button, Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber.
It is traditionally presented in Bandini’s hometown of Brisighella, near Imola, by his widow Margherita. But since the San Marino GP is not part of this year’s F1 calendar, the ceremony will take place on May 6, the Sunday before the Spanish GP.
Way to go Massa, we hope this is just start of many more awards you receive in future.
Posted in Formula 1 1 Comment »
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