Abu Dhabi GP 2009: Hamilton Storms To Pole
Outgoing World Champion Lewis Hamilton stormed today’s qualifying session in Abu Dhabi, taking pole position. His team mate Heikki Kovalainen wasn’t so lucky and instead of it being a 1-2 for McLaren, he only managed 13th and will take a 5 place drop for a new gearbox.
Instead in 2nd and 3rd we have the two Red Bull’s, and Jenson Button takes up 5th.
Giancarlo Fisichella and Fernando Alonso were big names out in Q1, and Kimi Raikkonen didn’t even make it into Q3 for his final qualifying with Ferrari.
Pos Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3 1. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:39.873 1:39.695 1:40.948 2. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:40.666 1:39.984 1:41.615 3. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:40.667 1:40.272 1:41.726 4. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:40.574 1:40.421 1:41.786 5. Button Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:40.378 1:40.148 1:41.892 6. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:40.517 1:40.373 1:41.897 7. Kubica BMW-Sauber (B) 1:40.520 1:40.545 1:41.992 8. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (B) 1:40.558 1:40.635 1:42.343 9. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:40.842 1:40.661 1:42.583 10. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:40.908 1:40.430 1:42.713 11. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:41.100 1:40.726 12. Kobayashi Toyota (B) 1:41.035 1:40.777 13. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:40.808 1:40.983 14. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:41.096 1:41.148 15. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:41.503 1:41.689 16. Alonso Renault (B) 1:41.667 17. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:41.701 18. Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:41.863 19. Grosjean Renault (B) 1:41.950 20. Fisichella Ferrari (B) 1:42.184
Yas Marina Circuit Draws Praise From The Drivers
After some 3 hours drive time, the new Yas Marina circuit in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi has drawn the plaudits from the drivers.
The circuit is one of the most exciting new projects to hit the F1 calendar, and its proving a firm favourite with the fans too if Twitter and Facebook comments are to be believed. Its sweeping, fast nature but some hard corners are showing that the race could be very close indeed.
The Hermann Tilke design bandwagon has certainly got back on track here.
Nico Rosberg commented; “There is no criticism. I think they have done a very good job. It is an interesting track and every corner is unique.”
Former World Champion Fernando Alonso added to Rosberg’s praise “There are some good parts of the track, like the first sector, high-speed corners, and then the last sector is a combination of very similar corners – always 90 degrees. But you enjoy it because there is always something to do on the track. There is no time to breathe.”
Adrian Sutil also praised the lighting system, commenting it felt more like a night race than Singapore.
However the tunnel exit to the pitlane is causing some controversy, with near misses and concern over an accident becoming more apparent. Ferrari driver Giancarlo Fisichella said on the subject;
“It is very difficult and a little bit dangerous. If there is an accident with two cars, I don’t know if there is a space to go through. I guess we will see if there is an incident.”
I must say, representing The F1Fanatics Blog I think it’s a terrific circuit, finally a decent new track. It is like Valencia, or at least how Valencia should have been. It makes Singapore look almost amateur, and with the cool evening daylight/nightime effect I think F1 is on to a winner.
Electronic advertising boards above the main F1 straight
The controversial pit exit tunnel
Nightscene 1
Nightscene 2
Abu Dhabi GP 2009: McLaren Dominate FP2
Heikki Kovalainen showed his best sign yet of trying to cling with both hands to his McLaren seat for 2010 with a startling performance in FP2 on the new Abu Dhabi F1 circuit.
The Finn was some 2 tenths faster than team mate Lewis Hamilton as the chrome McLaren’s dominated the second practice session.
Kimi Raikkonen gained some hope for Ferrari with 10th, while Robert Kubica’s day ended with flames as his BMW engine gave up.
Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:41.307 35 2. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:41.504 + 0.197 34 3. Button Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:41.541 + 0.234 39 4. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:41.591 + 0.284 37 5. Kobayashi Toyota (B) 1:41.636 + 0.329 34 6. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:41.683 + 0.376 37 7. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:41.684 + 0.377 34 8. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:41.831 + 0.524 38 9. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:41.931 + 0.624 39 10. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:41.987 + 0.680 39 11. Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:42.180 + 0.873 28 12. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:42.245 + 0.938 36 13. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (B) 1:42.278 + 0.971 36 14. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:42.409 + 1.102 30 15. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:42.530 + 1.223 33 16. Alonso Renault (B) 1:42.782 + 1.475 29 17. Fisichella Ferrari (B) 1:42.932 + 1.625 37 18. Grosjean Renault (B) 1:43.021 + 1.714 37 19. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:43.022 + 1.715 39 20. Kubica BMW-Sauber (B) 1:43.708 + 2.401 13
Abu Dhabi GP 2009: Hamilton Fastest In FP1
Lewis Hamilton got off to a flying start at the first ever Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit, topping the timesheets just ahead of potential new team mate Jenson Button.
Vettel and Barrichello were also strong as they fight it out for 2nd place in the title standings.
Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:43.939 18 2. Button Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:44.035 + 0.096 20 3. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:44.153 + 0.214 28 4. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:44.207 + 0.268 23 5. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (B) 1:44.667 + 0.728 23 6. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:44.687 + 0.748 32 7. Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:44.688 + 0.749 14 8. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:44.805 + 0.866 25 09. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:44.955 + 1.016 33 10. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:44.958 + 1.019 25 11. Kubica BMW-Sauber (B) 1:44.988 + 1.049 22 12. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:45.123 + 1.184 20 13. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:45.649 + 1.710 27 14. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:45.679 + 1.740 25 15. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:45.704 + 1.765 27 16. Alonso Renault (B) 1:45.865 + 1.926 23 17. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:46.239 + 2.300 22 18. Fisichella Ferrari (B) 1:46.267 + 2.328 26 19. Kobayashi Toyota (B) 1:46.364 + 2.425 28 20. Grosjean Renault (B) 1:46.411 + 2.472 27
Rosberg Confirms Williams Exit
Nico Rosberg has confirmed that he will be leaving the Williams F1 Team at the end of the 2009 season in an exclusive interview with BBC Sport.
The German driver has only ever driven for Williams in his career which started in 2006 at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Since then, a mix of form has led him to 2009 his strongest season yet with 34.5 points in hand as he goes into the final race.
Rosberg admitted it will be with a heavy heart that he leaves the team, but is looking forward to finding a winning drive. This could either be with McLaren or Brawn GP.
“I’ve been with the team for five years;” the BBC report Rosberg as saying. “They’re the only team, I’ve worked with, [they] have really supported my career over these years and I’d like to say a very big thank you to them.
“There’s no reason why they can’t be as good as this year, but I’m not sure they can win races at the moment, and I would like to win races,”
Barrichello and Glock To Confirm 2010 Drives Soon
Rubens Barrichello, Timo Glock and newly crowned World Champion Jenson Button will all be confirming their 2010 race seats within the next few weeks if paddock rumour at the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi is to be believed.
Barrichello looks to be heading out of Brawn GP and off to Williams, a move almost confirmed by Michael Schumacher’s manager Wili Weber earlier in the week. He will be partnering Nico Hulkenberg at the Grove based squad, which he described as one of the best teams in F1 a matter of days ago.
“In one week we will know more for sure,” the Brazilian said, clarifying that the plans of his Brawn team-mate Jenson Button will have no bearing on his own.
“At the moment there are more important things than the announcement of my contract for the coming year,” added Barrichello.
Timo Glock on the other hand has said he has no contract with Toyota for 2010, where Jarno Trulli, Kaumi Kobayashi and possibly Kimi Raikkonen are all fighting for seats at, with the rumour being that the German is heading to partner Robert Kubica at Renault.
“Nothing has been signed,” the German’s manager Hans Bernd Kamps insisted. “For 2010 it looks good and perhaps next week we will have something surprising to announce.”
Fisichella Doesn’t Regret Ferrari Move
Giancarlo Fisichella has told the media in Abu Dhabi ahead of his final Grand Prix that he has not regretted moving to Ferrari rreplacing Luca Badoer for the final few rounds of the season.
The Italian left Force India to replace Badoer, himself replacing an injured Felipe Massa, after a fantastic finish in the Belgian Grand Prix and since has failed to score any points with the Ferrari.
Fisichella, who will become the teams 3rd driver for 2010, said it was a childhood dream to race for the Scuderia.
“I think for me, this opportunity to race for Ferrari was a dream I’d had since I was a child and in the end it came true when I had given up hope that it would ever happen,” said Fisichella. “So you should never say never!
“I am very happy with what I have done and I would not turn back the clock, even if I have struggled in these last few races with Ferrari, for the obvious reason that is not easy to get into a car you don’t know, which was made even more complex because of the use of KERS and the fact it handled very differently under braking.
“Recently, I was able to match Kimi’s pace in the race, so this weekend, I hope to have a better qualifying which would be the first step to getting some points.”
Fauzy Looking To Secure Lotus F1 Seat
Fairuz Fauzy is looking to secure himself a drive with the newly reformed Lotus F1 Team by claiming he is “Ready for F1″.
The Malaysian driver, who is 27 years of age, wants to achieve his lifetime dream of racing in F1 and can see no better way to do it than with a team based in his own country of Malaysia.
Fauzy claimed runner up spot in the Renault World Series championship last weekend.
“With Lotus F1, there is a real possibility of me achieving my lifetime dream of driving in F1, but I knew I needed to really prove that I was ready.” Fauzy told the New Straits Times
“I hope with this, I have proved enough,”
In other test news, Betrand Baguette is to test a Renault F1 car, there is a possibility he may become the teams test driver if Lucas di Grassi is promoted to second race seat alongside Robert Kubica for 2010.
USF1 To Stick With Cosworth Despite Toyota Claims
USF1 bosses are backtracking on reports in American media that they were looking to terminate their contract with Cosworth over engine supply, in a bid to change over to Toyota.
The reports claimed that engineers believed the Toyota power units, used by the works team and also Williams since 2007, would be superior to Cosworth’s new V8 unit.
However Peter Windsor, boss of USF1 says they are very happy with Cosworth, and working alongside Bernard Ferguson who used to be Cosworth’s F1 director until 2007.
“The rumours are not true, I’m afraid,” claimed Windsor this morning
“We are fully committed to Cosworth – which is why we are delighted to have Bernard Ferguson working for us.”
Cosworth will power all 3 new teams and also return to powering the Williams F1 cars.
Alonso Emotional To Leave Renault
Fernando Alonso has declared himself emotional ahead of his final drive with the Renault F1 Team.
The Spaniard won both of his worl titles with the team based in Enstone, UK, in 2005 and 2006 rewarding their efforts too with constructors championships in those two seasons.
Alonso left the team in 2007 for McLaren, but a season of arguing left him back at Renault where he has pulled out all the stops and taken what is known as a poor car to unbeliveable results. This has left Alonso with the nickname of “The best driver on the grid”.
He will join Ferrari, replacing Kimi Raikkonen for the 2010 campaign.
“I would love to finish the season and my Renault career with a great result,” said Alonso. “It will be an emotional race because I have enjoyed so many special memories with this team and I am leaving behind a lot of friends.
“Renault is one of the great teams in Formula One and I look forward to fighting with them on the track in the years ahead.”
His boss, Bob Bell also paid tribute to his work.
“He’s made a huge contribution to the team, especially winning two world championships in 2005 and 2006 so he will be missed enormously,” said Bell.
“It’s often said that he is the best driver on the grid and I wouldn’t disagree with that so we’re understandably sad to see the end of our very successful relationship.”
Weber Lets Cat Out Of Bag On Williams New Drivers
Michael Schumacher’s manager Willi Weber has well and truly let the cat out of the bag with regards to the Williams F1 Team’s two new drivers for the forthcoming 2010 season in an interview with German newspaper Die Bild am Sonntag.
Weber was discussing his driver Nico Hulkenberg with the tabloid favourite and he told the reporter “I think he [Hulkenberg] will be a match for his new teammate Barrichello,”
That pretty much tells us all we need to know about the Grove outfits two drivers for 2010. Hulkenberg has been the test driver for two seasons at Williams while pursuing a highly successful career in lower formulas including winning the F3 Euroseries and GP2 world titles. He also shookdown Williams’ FW31 car for the first time in front of the media before the start of this season.
Rubens Barrichello has been linked with the team but would not give a confirmed answer to even Brazilian media about the switch from Brawn.
It leaves Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima without drives however, but Rosberg could be off to either Brawn GP or McLaren Mercedes. If he were to go to Brawn, it looks likely Jenson Button would go to McLaren and Rosberg could be joined by any number of drivers, even possibly Kimi Raikkonen if he doesn’t sign with Toyota.
As for Kazuki Nakajima, his best chance is probably with one of the new teams, perhaps Lotus.
Hulkenberg (L) and Weber (R)
Timo Glock Looks Set To Make Race Return In Abu Dhabi
Timo Glock looks set to make a racing return in Abu Dhabi for the final round of the 2009 Season after injuring himself in a ualifying horror shunt at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Glock stuffed his TF109 into the barriers just before the main straight at the legendary Suzuka circuit, missing the Grand Prix before being substituted for the Brazilian race by Kamui Kobayashi.
However Glock is hopeful he will join the team again, and his doctor has told F1-Live that he has a “90% chance of racing”.
An official announcement will be made tomorrow.
Piquet Might Sue Renault If They Don’t Apologise
Just when you thought Crash-Gate was over, Nelson Piquet Snr adds another few weeks onto the pain by telling German automotive magazine Auto Motor und Sport he intends to sue the Renault F1 Team.
Piquet Snr, whose son of the same name crashed deliberately at the Singapore Grand Prix of 2008, was fired by Renault just before all of these revelations came to light and Flavio Briatore was banned from F1 for life.
Despite Piquet Jnr being completely immune to punishment, and as he tries to piece back together the tatters of his racing career his father says unless Renault apologise they should be prepared to pay damages.
“Renault has two weeks,” said the Brazilian. “If I hear nothing, there will be a complaint and court action” he told the reporters.
Piquet also took a swipe at Ayrton Senna, saying he cheated crashing deliberately and no-one ever said anything about his actions.
“Ayrton Senna won two championships like that,” said Piquet Snr. “In 1983 the F3 championship against Martin Brundle, and in 1990 he was World Champion after pushing Alain Prost off the circuit completely deliberately.”
Yeah they didn’t say anything because Senna was actually a GOOD driver unlike Piquet Jnr who was an embarrassment to the family name…
Hamilton Not Concerned By New Team Mate
Lewis Hamilton has told a British newspaper that he is not concerned by who his team mate for 2010 will be, as long as there is harmony within the team.
Hamilton, who spent the entirety of his first season in Formula One arguing with Fernando Alonso (who is now Ferrari bound for next season), has had 2 seasons alongside Heikki Kovalainen which has proved productive for the Briton winning the 2008 title.
With Kovalainen’s place within the team in serious doubt, there is a good chance Lewis will be lining up against another new driver for 2010. The new man could be Nico Rosberg, Jenson Button or even Kimi Raikkonen.
Even if it was Button, the 2009 champion, Hamilton isn’t too fussed.
“I don’t mind who comes to the team as long as they come in peace and bring peace and want to be productive and move the team forward,” Hamilton told the Daily Mail.
“I’d welcome Jenson as my team-mate,” said Hamilton. “He’s a level-headed and very committed guy. He earned the world championship and he’s done a great job over the years. I couldn’t be happier for him.”
“He will be a tough competitor next year – whether at Brawn or McLaren.”
Bernie Not Offering Silverstone A “Cut Price” Deal On BGP
Bernie Ecclestone has denied rumour that he will offer Silverstone a “cut-price” deal to hold the 2010 British Grand Prix now that Donington’s dreams of hosting the race look in tatters.
Donington have failed to get the funding necessary to continue re-development of the circuit, and are now left with no money, a half finished track and no racing for the forthcoming season with MotoGP relocating for 2010 to Silverstone.
A contract has been offered to the Northamptonshire based circuit, the home F1 for some years, and Ecclestone has told the BRDC that it should accept the proposals rather than fight for a cheaper deal.
“Silverstone have a contract in front of them,” he said. “We’ve no commercial arrangement in place for a British Grand Prix for next year. That is why the race has an asterisk beside it on the 2010 calendar.
“If they can’t make it work then don’t do it. If that happens, there won’t be a British Grand Prix. Simple as that.
“No-one is forcing them to take it. This is business. We have offered them a deal.
“I want a British Grand Prix, of course, but we are not going to do special rates for Britain.”
Site Update and Apology
Hi everyone, I would like to start with an apology. I know the site hasnt been updated in around a month, since the Japanese Grand Prix but there are a varying amount of reasons why, the biggest of which being my education which has taken a large hold on my life. I am a Sophomore year student at University, and my work load is far greater than ever before and has taken away much of my spare time until very recently. The other reason being, my computer has been functioning incorrectly leading me to have to reformat two days ago to get it working again and there has been some minor conflicts between WordPress and my internet. But now the site is BACK!!! and this is a posting update on all the recent news.
NEWS UPDATES
- Fernando Alonso joins Ferrari
- Robert Kubica to join Renault
- Kimi Raikkonen offered a contract by Toyota
- Jenson Button wins the 2009 Drivers World Championship and Brawn GP win the Constructors title
- Jenson Button could be off to McLaren to partner Lewis Hamilton
- Max Mosley is no longer the FIA president being replaced by Jean Todt
- Flavio Briatore is taking the FIA to court next month to get his lifetime ban revoked
Once again I apologise for the lack of updates, but I shal now be continuing the best I can with the site and I hope the ratings can once again increase.
Thanks,
Rob
Jenson's clearly pleased F1Fanatics.wordpress.com is back!
Japanese GP 2009: Sutil Tops FP2
Adrian Sutil was the fastest man in Fp2, a session dogged by heavy rain.
Not as heavy as in recent years at Fuji Speedway, but still enough to shake the leaderboard up and see some drivers not even taking to the circuit.
Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:47.261 5 2. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:47.923 + 0.662 6 3. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:47.931 + 0.670 4 4. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:47.983 + 0.722 5 5. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:48.058 + 0.797 8 6. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:48.691 + 1.430 9 7. Alonso Renault (B) 1:48.693 + 1.432 5 8. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:48.737 + 1.476 6 9. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:48.802 + 1.541 11 10. Kubica BMW-Sauber (B) 1:48.861 + 1.600 6 11. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:48.886 + 1.625 4 12. Kobayashi Toyota (B) 1:49.054 + 1.793 7 13. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:49.382 + 2.121 7 14. Grosjean Renault (B) 1:49.405 + 2.144 6 15. Fisichella Ferrari (B) 1:49.553 + 2.292 5 16. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:49.872 + 2.611 7 17. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (B) 1:50.179 + 2.918 9 18. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) No time 19. Button Brawn-Mercedes (B) No time 20. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes (B) No time
Japanese GP 2009: Kovalainen Fastest In FP1
Heikki Kovalainen was fastest in FP1 for the Japanese Grand Prix, back at Suzuka where it belongs!
The Finn displaced Japanese driver Kazuki Nakajima who threw everything and the kitchen sink at trying to be fastest at his home race.
Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:40.356 24 2. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:40.648 + 0.292 18 3. Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:40.806 + 0.450 14 4. Fisichella Ferrari (B) 1:40.985 + 0.629 27 5. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:41.421 + 1.065 26 6. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:41.443 + 1.087 15 7. Alonso Renault (B) 1:41.532 + 1.176 22 8. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:41.577 + 1.221 25 9. Barrichello Brawn GP-Mercedes (B) 1:41.821 + 1.465 18 10. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:42.188 + 1.832 20 11. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:42.332 + 1.976 10 12. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:42.475 + 2.119 15 13. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:42.657 + 2.301 13 14. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:42.667 + 2.311 27 15. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) 1:42.833 + 2.477 16 16. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) 1:42.977 + 2.621 14 17. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:43.218 + 2.862 11 18. Button Brawn GP-Mercedes (B) 1:43.318 + 2.962 17 19. Kobayashi Toyota (B) 1:43.407 + 3.051 16 20. Grosjean Renault (B) 1:43.572 + 3.216 22
