2007/08 Off-Season Thread
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This is the place where we'll post and discuss driver transfers, 2008 car launches and engine deals, and news from winter testing, which does not begin until 30 days after the last race.
Here's the driver line-up for 2008 so far; those in bold have been confirmed, while rumoured replacements are in italics:
Ferrari: Kimi Räikkönen, Felipe Massa
BMW-Sauber: Nick Heidfeld, Robert Kubica
Renault: Fernando Alonso, Nelson Piquet Jr
Williams: Nico Rosberg, Kazuki Nakajima
Red Bull: David Coulthard, Mark Webber,
Toyota: Jarno Trulli, Timo Glock
Toro Rosso: Sebastian Vettel, Sebastian Bourdais
Honda: Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello
Super Aguri: Takuma Sato, Anthony Davidson
Force India (formerly Spyker): Adrian Sutil, Giancarlo Fisichella
McLaren: Lewis Hamilton, Heikki Kovalainen
2008 Car Launches
6 Jan: Ferrari F2008
7 Jan: McLaren-Mercedes MP4-23
10 Jan: Toyota TF108
14 Jan: BMW-Sauber F1.08
16 Jan: Red Bull RB4
29 Jan: Honda RA108
31 Jan: Renault (testing 22 - 24 Jan)
7 Feb: Force India
19 Feb: Super Aguri SA03
- As of 26.01.08 -
Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima have been confirmed at Williams for 2008.
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41248 -
In addition, Michael Schumacher will be testing the Ferrari F2007 without traction control next tuesday and Wednesday in a private test.
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41242
And Prodrive is unlikely to appear next year:
http://www.grandprixmagazine.com/f1/F1-_Eleventh_hour_Prodrive_rescue_fails_-_report.shtml -
wow!Originally posted by Kuali Baba:In addition, Michael Schumacher will be testing the Ferrari F2007 without traction control next tuesday and Wednesday in a private test.
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41242
haha all the F1 fans watching A1 now?
or what other motor sport are you watching? -
MotoGP ended just last weekend, and there are another 2 rounds of WRC to go.Originally posted by sand king:haha all the F1 fans watching A1 now?
or what other motor sport are you watching?
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Former Toro Rosso driver Vitantonio Liuzzi and Honda test drier Christian Klien will test for Force India next week as they vie for a 2008 race seat. Coincidentally, both men's careers used to be sponsored by Red Bull.
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41266 -
Honda have unveiled former Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn as their new team principal.
"Brawn will be given full responsibility for design, manufacture, engineering and race operations, allowing Fry to focus on the business and marketing side and managing the relationship with HondaÂ’s board in Japan."
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41272
Stefano Domenicali has replaced Jean Todt as Ferrari's team boss. Technical director Mario Almondo will take on the role of head of operations, with Aldo Costa as technical director and Gilles Simon as engine director.
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41273 -
Testing resumes today! Here are some photos of the action:
Michael Schumacher tests the F2007
Force India's testing livery
McLaren, Honda, BMW, Toyota, Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Super Aguri are also at Barcelona. -
Will Ross bring Ferrari info over to Honda??Originally posted by Kuali Baba:Honda have unveiled former Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn as their new team principal.
"Brawn will be given full responsibility for design, manufacture, engineering and race operations, allowing Fry to focus on the business and marketing side and managing the relationship with HondaÂ’s board in Japan."
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41272
Stefano Domenicali has replaced Jean Todt as Ferrari's team boss. Technical director Mario Almondo will take on the role of head of operations, with Aldo Costa as technical director and Gilles Simon as engine director.
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41273
I din see Todt's stepping down coming so soon though... -
We don't know what position Todt will take up yet, and Brawn has been sitting on the sidelines for a year now. It's unlikely that he has access to current Ferrari information.Originally posted by deathscythe99:Will Ross bring Ferrari info over to Honda??
I din see Todt's stepping down coming so soon though...
Here are the today's times; Schumacher finished on top.
Driver - Team - Chassis - Laptime - Laps
1 Michael Schumacher - Ferrari F2007 - 1:21.922 - 64
2 Luca Badoer - Ferrari F2007 - 1:22.129 + 0.207 - 71
3 Pedro de la Rosa - McLaren MP4-22 - 1:22.687 + 0.765 - 63
4 Heikki Kovalainen - Renault R27 - 1:22.802 + 0.880 - 68
5 Robert Kubica - BMW Sauber F1.07 - 1:22.883 + 0.961 - 55
6 Gary Paffett - McLaren MP4-22 - 1:23.008 + 1.086 - 46
7 David Coulthard - Red Bull Racing RB3 -1:23.159 + 1.237 - 55
8 Kazuki Nakajima - Williams FW29 - 1:23.187 + 1.265 - 66
9 Jarno Trulli Toyota - TF107 - 1:23.624 + 1.702 - 46
10 Nick Heidfeld - BMW Sauber F1.07 - 1:23.671 + 1.749 - 75
11 Nico Rosberg - Williams FW29 - 1:23.847 + 1.925 - 58
12 Franck Montagny - Toyota TF107 - 1:23.861 + 1.939 - 61
13 Sebastian Vettel - Scuderia Toro Rosso STR2 - 1:24.048 + 2.126 - 77
14 Andreas Zuber - Honda RA107 - 1:24.065 + 2.143 - 77
15 Sebastien Bourdais - Scuderia Toro Rosso STR2 - 1:24.193 + 2.271 - 51
16 Anthony Davidson - Super Aguri F1 SA07 - 1:24.246 + 2.324 - 70
17 James Rossiter - Super Aguri F1 SA07 - 1:24.480 + 2.558 - 69
18 Karun Chandhok - Red Bull Racing RB3 - 1:24.896 + 2.974 - 39
19 Giedo van der Garde - Force India F8-VII - 1:25.317 + 3.395 - 84
20 Roldan Rodriguez - Force India F8-VII - 1:26.297 + 4.375 - 87 -
And Schumacher went faster still today - faster than even Massa in qualifying in May!
Barcelona testing times (November 14)
1. SCHUMACHER Ferrari 1m21.486s
2. DE LA ROSA McLaren 1m21.857s
3. KOVALAINEN Renault 1m21.894s
4. MASSA Ferrari 1m22.044s
5. PAFFETT McLaren 1m22.293s
6. ROSBERG Williams 1m22.333s
7. COULTHARD Red Bull 1m22.555s
8. HEIDFELD BMW 1m22.946s
9. NAKAJIMA Williams 1m23.021s
10. VETTEL Toro Rosso 1m23.187s
11. CHANDHOK Red Bull 1m23.255s
12. BUTTON Honda 1m23.358s
13. TRULLI Toyota 1m23.465s
14. KUBICA BMW 1m23.488s
15. DAVIDSON Super Aguri 1m23.547s
16. FILIPPI Honda 1m23.596s
17. BOURDAIS Toro Rosso 1m23.753s
18. MONTAGNY Toyota 1m23.977s
19. KLIEN Force India 1m24.446s
20. SUTIL Force India 1m24.537s
21. LIUZZI Force India 1m24.555s -
Massa went even quicker than his ex-teammate did today.
Barcelona testing times (November 15)
1. MASSA Ferrari 1m21.044s
2. KOVALAINEN Renault 1m21.136s
3. MONTAGNY Toyota 1m21.363s
4. VETTEL Toro Rosso 1m21.486s
5. COULTHARD Red Bull 1m21.555s
6. BADOER Ferrari 1m21.741s
7. DE LA ROSA McLaren 1m21.805s
8. ROSBERG Williams 1m21.820s
9. BOURDAIS Toro Rosso 1m21.939s
10. PAFFETT McLaren 1m22.070s
11. HEIDFELD BMW 1m22.460s
12. KUBICA BMW 1m22.706s
13. NAKAJIMA Williams 1m23.039s
14. TRULLI Toyota 1m23.064s
15. KLIEN Force India 1m23.084s
16. BUTTON Honda 1m23.118s
17. LIUZZI Force India 1m23.206s
18. CONWAY Honda 1m23.729s
19. ROSSITER Super Aguri 1m23.931s
20. DOORNBOS Red Bull 1m24.102s -
Rosberg, Kubica and Heidfeld retain their positions, and Kimi Räikkönen remains world champion.
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41307 -
weird... Force India
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Kimi deserved to keep title, says Lewis
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41308
McLaren still waiting for rule clarity
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41309
Williams welcomes court decision
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41310
Ferrari applauds ICA decision
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41311
Sam Michael: Williams exonerated at hearing
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41312
Williams: FIA appeal done by the book
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41313 -
lol FIA is shit
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Force India and Toro Rosso will start the 2008 season with their cars from the previous season.
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Timo Glock will race for Toyota in 2008. He drove for Jordan (since then bought several times over and now called Force India) in the last 4 races of 2004.
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41315 -
wonder whats the fate of the prodrive team
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They won't be participating.Originally posted by SBS9828X:wonder whats the fate of the prodrive team -
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Get Michael Schumacher Back
He's an asset and it gives lewis a run for his money -
Prodrive rules out 2008 F1 entryOriginally posted by Kuali Baba:They won't be participating.
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41334 -
maybe 2009 for them..
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Heidfeld and Button set their times on the slick tyres which Bridgestone brought to the test.
Jerez testing times (December 3)
1. HEIDFELD BMW 1m19.042s
2. BUTTON Honda 1m19.155s
3. DE LA ROSA McLaren 1m19.712s
4. RAIKKONEN Ferrari 1m20.083s
5. KOVALAINEN Renault 1m20.366s
6. BOURDAIS Toro Rosso 1m20.615s
7. PAFFETT McLaren 1m20.638s
8. WEBBER Red Bull 1m20.682s
9. GENE Ferrari 1m20.832s
10. CONWAY Super Aguri 1m20.927s
11. VETTEL Toro Rosso 1m21.086s
12. ROSSITER Super Aguri 1m21.246s
13. GLOCK Toyota 1m21.336s
14. FISICHELLA Renault 1m21.424s
15. HULKENBERG Williams 1m21.556s
16. MONTAGNY Force India 1m21.559s
17. NAKAJIMA Williams 1m21.586s
18. ASMER BMW 1m21.962s
19. KOBAYASHI Toyota 1m22.186s
20. VILLA BMW 1m23.583s