Formula-1 News and Updates

Alonso thinks more wins are possible

Monday, 13 October 2008 11:13

Fernando Alonso believes 'anything is possible' in the final two races of 2008 after his second consecutive victory.

The Renault star hadn't expected to fight for the win in Japan, as he doubted that the Fuji circuit - and particularly its long front straight - would suit the team's R28, which is down on power compared to many rivals.

But although the first corner madness helped Alonso make a break in the race, his lap times still showed he had the pace to match Ferrari and McLaren regardless of the circumstances.

When asked if this result meant he would be a contender in Shanghai and Interlagos, Alonso said he was starting to believe he might.
Alonso thinks more wins are possible - F1 | ITV Sport

good to hear this and and its good that he started to believe in renault now😀

Kubica: I'm still fighting for the title

Monday, 13 October 2008 12:37

Robert Kubica says he still considers himself a title contender going into the final two races.

The BMW driver's consistent strong performances - despite his car falling away from McLaren and Ferrari's pace - have kept him within 12 points of championship leader Lewis Hamilton.

Kimi Raikkonen managed to overturn a 17-point deficit in two races to win last year's title, and Kubica says that proves that the fight remains wide open.

"I think you at least have to try, there is nothing to lose," he said.
Kubica: I'm still fighting for the title - F1 | ITV Sport

BMW admits it had doubts over Heidfeld

Monday, 13 October 2008 13:02

BMW Sauber boss Mario Theissen has admitted that Nick Heidfeld's poor qualifying performances in the middle of this season jeopardised his future with the team for a while.

Theissen revealed at Fuji that he originally expected to swiftly confirm Heidfeld and Robert Kubica as his drivers for 2009, but then began to have doubts over the German as he consistently lagged behind Kubica in qualifying.

"The decision was not easy as I had hoped for initially," Theissen conceded.

"Initially we expected to take the decision in the summer break but then Nick had quite a difficult season, especially in qualifying.
BMW admits it had doubts over Heidfeld - F1 | ITV Sport

cry baby

Do you mean to say hamilton😕

Kovy admits results have fallen short

Tuesday, 14 October 2008 10:58

Heikki Kovalainen admits his results in his debut year at McLaren have fallen short of his expectations – but believes he still has untapped potential to exploit.

The Finn heads into the final two races of the campaign sixth in the drivers’ championship, 34 points adrift of his title-leading team-mate Lewis Hamilton, with just three podium finishes and a fortuitous race victory in Hungary.

And while he has suffered several misfortunes during the course of the year, he concedes he has still been disappointed with the return so far.
Kovy admits results have fallen short - F1 | ITV Sport

Stewards' penalty frenzy 'ridiculous'
''The authorities are losing the plot''
14/10/08

Another former F1 racer has backed Gerhard Berger's view that 'too many penalties' are being dished out by FIA stewards this year.

"In the 20 years I've been involved in F1 as a driver and spectator I don't think I've seen so many penalties in one season," the former McLaren driver Mark Blundell, who is now an analyst for Britain's television coverage, wrote in his column for the Daily Telegraph.

At Fuji Speedway last weekend, championship contenders Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa received penalties for on-track incidents, as did Sebastien Bourdais for what appeared a normal racing collision.

"It's political correctness gone mad. An important point is being missed: these guys are racing tooth and nail. Things happen when racing at 200mph," Blundell, 42, said.

"I understand the concern about safety but this is getting ridiculous. We might as well dig two grooves around each circuit, put two cars side by side like a Scalextric set and let someone control the action from the pits. :hysterical:


"The authorities are losing the plot," he charged.

Bourdais' 25-second time penalty, costing him his championship points and handing Ferrari's Massa another point, was undoubtedly the most contentious in Japan.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport contends that the decision even contradicted race director Charlie Whiting's instruction - that drivers emerging from the pitlane have right of way over those already on the track.

"It was a normal racing incident. The decision was ridiculous," the magazine said.

F1 : Stewards' penalty frenzy 'ridiculous' - FIA - F1-Live.com

Piquet future not secure yet - Briatore
Single solid showing changes nothing for Renault
14/10/08

Nelson Piquet's 'great drive' to fourth place at Fuji Speedway does not guarantee his future at Renault, team boss Flavio Briatore insists.

Before the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, Briatore said rookie Piquet has 'not had a good season,' amid rumours that Lucas di Grassi might be slotted in alongside Fernando Alonso next year.

At Fuji, however, where the Brazilian's team-mate Fernando Alonso won, Piquet qualified 12th but raced on to fourth place.

But Briatore insists that the 23-year-old's drive has not secured his future.


"No, we will decide only at the end of the year what we are going to do," the Italian is quoted as saying by Formule 1 Race Report.

Briatore explained: "A single race is not really going to change our thoughts. It seems to me only natural that he should be performing."

F1 : Piquet future not secure yet - Briatore - RENAULT - F1-Live.com

Ferrari still struggling with KERS
Italian squad aims to catch up in the off-season
14/10/08

Ferrari is still lagging behind with development of a KERS system for 2009.

The Italian team's engine boss Gilles Simon admitted last month that Ferrari is "struggling' with the technology, raising the prospects that the 2009 car will debut without an energy-recovery system.

The situation led to Force India, Ferrari's F1 customer, shopping around for a new supplier, with business director Ian Phillips confirming in Japan that its Maranello based partner is being 'non-committal' about next year's package.

"I cannot deny that we are lagging behind," Ferrari's Technical Director Aldo Costa is quoted as saying by Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

He admitted that Ferrari's progress with KERS is behind that of 'most teams'.

"Let me just say that I would prefer if our system was already in the testing phase.
We now have to do a lot in a short time frame."

Costa added that Ferrari is targeting the debut of its KERS system for a group test in mid-January that "we really must not miss."

He said: "During the battle for the world championship we have put a lot of effort into the F2008, and now we must also focus on next season."

F1 : Ferrari still struggling with KERS - FERRARI - F1-Live.com

Lewis Hamilton Q&A
Expecting ''some of the closest racing of the season''
14/10/08

Things did not go as planned in Japan last week-end for championship leader Lewis Hamilton: a zero points score was far from a good result ahead of the final two races of the season.

The McLaren driver explains his outlook on the next races to be held in China and Brazil, and addresses comments recently attributed to him regarding his idol, Ayrton Senna.

Lewis, after a difficult weekend in Japan, how are you approaching the final two races of the 2008 season?

"Last year, Ferrari were very strong in both China and Brazil. But this year I think we have closed the gap to them at circuits where they were always traditionally quick. But, equally, Ferrari has closed the gap to us on tracks where Vodafone McLaren Mercedes was always usually quick. But I'm optimistic about the future: I think we will be quite strong in China this weekend and closer to Ferrari than we were last year. The same goes for Brazil, so these next two races could show the fans some of the closest racing of the season."

Talking of Brazil, there was a recent story quoting you as saying you felt you were better now than Ayrton Senna – was that true?

"I never said that – and I definitely wouldn't say it about Ayrton because he's my favourite driver. I think he's the best driver there ever was and, to this day, I still don't believe anyone would beat him. If I could achieve just a small part of what he's achieved, it would be a dream for me.
"

What do you say to people who accuse you of being over-confident or arrogant?

"I would never say I was better than anyone else. But I am a Formula 1 driver and all of us have to believe in ourselves to get to where we are. You have to have that belief to go out and win: and that's what helps you strive for better performance and to achieve more in your life. I look at the other drivers and I want to beat them. I would never say, 'I'm better than you,' I just think that all these guys are the best and to be the best I have to beat them. That's how every racing driver sees things."

Is it difficult to cope with all that scrutiny, particularly at this critical stage of the World Championship?

"For sure, it's not easy to always say or do the right thing, and when you're constantly being scrutinised it can be particularly difficult. Recently, there have been lots of different quotes attributed to me. And sometimes I've said things that have either come out the wrong way or been taken out of context so people get a different feeling of what I've said when I haven't expressed myself correctly."

"I'm only human and every now and then people make mistakes. Communication is so important in life and some of the things I've said were not meant to harm anyone. I don't feel like I've hurt anyone. And my family makes sure that doesn't happen."

Does your celebrity status make that harder to control?

"I feel I have that area of my life under control. I don't see myself as a celebrity, I feel I'm the same guy I was before I got to F1 – just more measured, maybe. Of course, you do get people watching you all the time so you have to be careful about what you say or what you do. It's not easy to live like I used to but I can still do it sometimes; you just do it with people you trust and just be smart about it."

Would you still like to go back to living a normal life?

"Oh yeah! There have been many times when I wished I could go back and be on the same journey but go and experience it all again – from karting, through learning in Formula Renault, right up to my first practice sessions in Formula 1. I wish I could do it all again."

F1 : Lewis Hamilton Q&A - HAMILTON - F1-Live.com

The commentator Steve slater thought that the Massa and Hamilton incident in lap 2 was also a racing incident but the other commentator karan chandok thought it was not a racing incident and even i thought that it was a massa's mistake ..........each individual has got their own opinion........McLaren and their supporters always think that they are are vindicated by FIA if they loose........ Regarding sebastian bourdias incident in TV we were seeing only 1 angle bourdias collided with massa we were not shown the other angles my friend.....:cool2:

Thanks for opening a new thread for renault my friend:thumbsup:

Piquet aiming to find qualifying form

Tuesday, 14 October 2008 15:08

Nelson Piquet Jr says it is vital he reaches the pole position shootout in the season’s final two grands prix to ensure he can cash in on Renault’s upturn in form.

The Brazilian rookie is bidding to convince the team to retain his services for 2009 after struggling for much of the campaign, but gave his chances a boost by finishing a stunning fourth from 12th on the grid at Fuji.

But with the R28 now showing the speed to run consistently towards the front of the field, Piquet admits he must improve his record of just three Q3 appearances this year.
Piquet aiming to find qualifying form - F1 | ITV Sport

Renault sure it hasn't compromised '09

Tuesday, 14 October 2008 14:37

Renault has not compromised the design of its 2009 car by pushing the development of its current R28 right to the end of the season, insists its technical director Bob Bell.
The former world champion squad confirmed the progress it has made with its 2008 challenger by claiming its second consecutive victory at Fuji last weekend – a far cry from the start to the season when its drivers struggled to make the top 10 in qualifying.
Renault’s decision to keep updating its car has been at odds with several of its rivals' approach ahead of next year’s new era of regulations, with Honda in particular openly admitting it had shifted the bulk of its development focus 2009 early in the year.




Renault sure it hasn't compromised '09 - F1 | ITV Sport

JYS: Lewis can't afford more mistakes

Tuesday, 14 October 2008 16:44

Sir Jackie Stewart says Lewis Hamilton must keep his composure if he is avoid letting the world championship crown slip from his grasp for the second consecutive season.
Hamilton blew a golden chance to increase his points lead over Ferrari rival Felipe Massa in last weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, finishing a distant 12th following a race which rapidly went downhill after an over-ambitious move at the first corner, which later earned him a drive-through penalty.
JYS: Lewis can't afford more mistakes - F1 | ITV Sport

Hill warns Hamilton to stay cool
[Tue , Oct 14, 2008 02:00:20 am]
BBC- Damon Hill says Lewis Hamilton needs to rein in his "impatience" if he is to clinch his first Formula One crown. McLaren driver Hamilton leads Felipe Massa of Ferrari by five points with two races to go, and the tension seemed to affect both in Sunday's Japanese GP. Ex-world champion Hill told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Lewis is impatient to win that first title, but you can't force it. "There's no question about his speed or ability, he just needs to stay cool and let it happen."
Hill warns Hamilton to stay cool

Hamilton hits back at criticism
[Tue , Oct 14, 2008 22:50:38 pm]
BBC- Lewis Hamilton has been forced onto the defensive by the barrage of criticism levelled at him after his performance in Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix. The 23-year-old Briton wasted the chance to extend his championship lead over title rival Felipe Massa at Fuji with another error-strewn race. He still leads by five points with two races left but admitted: "When you're constantly scrutinised it is difficult. "I'm only human, and every now and then people make mistakes." On Sunday, Hamilton lost the lead from pole position on the first corner and then received a drive-through penalty after forcing Kimi Raikkonen off the track in an attempt to regain it. His botched efforts paved the way for critics to launch renewed attacks on his ability and character, and question whether Hamilton is again starting to crack under the weight of pressure as the title race draws to a close, as many suggest he did last year. Hamilton also raised eyebrows when he accused title rival Massa of deliberately colliding with him on the second lap in Japan and the young Englishman admitted: "It's not easy to always say or do the right thing. "Recently, there have been lots of different quotes attributed to me.
Hamilton hits back at criticism

They will make or they will ask the FIA change the rule ........if the red cars are not participating in F1 i believe atleast 30 - 40% of the people will loose interest in F1 races.........:cool2:

I saw the video again and again.. Massa Hamilton incident was a deliberate act.. It was massa who came into Hamiltons tyres thereby colliding him and turning him...

I said it was Massa's mistake but you cant say that it was deliberate if that was delibrate then i believe every move of hamilton starting from candian GP when he hit kimi in the back is deliberate😡......I believe hamilton does not have brain he is agressive but i dont think he is a smart driver i tell you this because of trun 1 incident which has happend in fuji race..........if he had brain even kimi was 1st in turn 1 he should not have bothered about it all......as his rival was behind him only.......the end result massa gained 2 more points and hamilton 0:hysterical: