Jenson Button MBE

This years British F1 Grand Prix takes place on the weekend of 9-11 July at the Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire despite the 2009 Grand Prix being hailed as the last before moving the location to Donington Park for 2010.

Donington Park, having failed to raise the required funds for the event, returned the Formula 1 race back to the newly improved circuit of Silverstone.

With Jenson Button being awarded an MBE recently from Buckingham Palace will his winning streak continue at the British Grand Prix for the McLaren team or could it be his team-mate and fellow Brit Lewis Hamilton that stands on the top step of the podium?

Last years British Grand Prix was won by the Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel who dominated the race from start to finish after starting on pole position.

Vettel was followed across the line by his team-mate Mark Webber for a Red Bull 1-2 finish and without any of the problems faced at this seasons last round, when Vettel took Webber out while the Australian, who is currently the championship leader was out in front at Turkey.

The Silverstone circuit has recently had a make-over with many of the new grandstands now completed as part of the multi-million pound investment to modernise the circuit.

Silverstone Circuits Limited along with its owners the British Racing Drivers’ Club unveiled the new circuit with a major new section of the track, tested out by David Coulthard in a Red Bull F1 along with Damon Hill who had a special passenger in his two -seater, His Royal Highness the Duke of York.

Also on circuit were the motorcycling father and son combination  Ron and Leon Haslam representing the worlds of MotoGP and World Superbikes.

The circuits new Stowe Complex, a collection of customer focused test track facilities is based along with hospitality units and Pit garages, has also now been officially opened and work on the new Silverstone Pit and Paddock complex is now well underway.

The majority of the circuit has remained the same under the new designs but now drivers will turn right at Abbey before heading into the new Arena Complex, rejoining the existing track at Brooklands where previously the drivers would have headed into Farm Straight, Bridge and Priory.

Silverstone claims to have created three new overtaking opportunities with the new layout which got the approval of David Coulthard after his first test session who said,  “I’ve raced at Silverstone since 1989 so I’ve seen many different tracks, configurations and this one is one of the best they have come up with.”

The British F1 GP is an event not to be missed, where you can watch some of the greatest Formula One drivers of our time in an exhilarating battle of speed and determination as the teams and compete for the 2010 Championship titles.

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Felipe Massa - Karting 2009

The Ferrari driver Felipe Massa will back on track this weekend as he takes part in the charity karting event, the ‘International Challenge Of The Stars’.

The annual event takes place in Brazil, for the fifth consecutive year, seeing some of top drivers from a range of  motor-sports on track including; Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello, Nelson Piquet Jr., Vitantionio Liuzzi, Antonio Pizzonia, Tony Kanaan and Christian Fittipaldi.

Massa has been organising the event since 2005, but this years event is taking place on a brand new circuit at the Brazilian city of Florianopolis.

Last weekend, Michael Schumacher and Nelson Piquet Jr. were taking part at another karting event in Las Vegas, the SKUSA SuperNats Kart with Piquet finishing in eighth place overall, just behind Schumacher.

This is the first organised event that Massa has taken part in since his horrifying accident in July at the Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session, where he suffered a fractured skull.

The event can also be seen live on British Eurosport 2 on Saturday November 28 from 6pm and from Sunday November 29 from 1pm.

Fernando Alonso

The historical event of the ‘Ferrari World Finals’ is to held this weekend in the Community of Valencia’s Ricardo Tomo Circuit in Cheste, a great honour to Spain as it is not usually held outside of Italy.

The fun starts on the 12th of November and runs until the 15th, consisting of all the competitions which Ferrari holds throughout the world.  It is the final competition in which all the teams which compete in the World FIA GT Championship.

It has been reported that Fernando Alonso will be attending the ‘Ferrari World Finals’ this weekend in Valencia, Spain, despite being contracted with the Formula 1 Renault team until the end of 2009.

It will be the Spaniard’s first public appearance with the Ferrari team although it is believed that he will be wearing everyday clothes rather than the team uniform, due to contractual agreements.

Here is a schedule for the weekend event;

* Schedule subject to possible modifications.

Toyota 2009

It has been confirmed that the Toyota team are leaving Formula One with immediate effect due to the economic crisis and after failing to win a race since 2002.

A statement from the manufacturer read;

“TMC, which had viewed its participation in F1 as contributing to the prosperity of automotive culture, remained dedicated to competing at the pinnacle of motor sports, even in the face of the abrupt economic changes that started last year.  However, when considering TMC’s motor-sports activities next year and beyond from a comprehensive midterm viewpoint reflecting the current severe economic realities, TMC decided to withdraw from F1.

TMC leaves F1 having compiled 13 podium and 87 point finishes over eight challenging seasons since 2002 with Panasonic Toyota Racing, a full-constructor team. It views its time in F1—in which teams put forth their best efforts to fiercely compete at racing’s highest level—as an irreplaceable experience that provided an opportunity to develop both human resources and its R&D operations. TMC expresses its deepest appreciation to its F1 fans and others for their warm support.

TMC also wants to express its heartfelt gratitude to all Panasonic Toyota Racing drivers to date and to all Toyota Motorsport GmbH employees who have helped make the team’s achievements possible. TMC intends to do its best to find a solution for those parties who will be affected by any inconvenience this decision may cause.”

With the withdrawal of Honda early in the season followed by BMW, the tyre manufacturer Bridgestone and now Toyota, only three main manufacturers remain on the grid for the 2010 season, Ferrari, McLaren and Renault.

The end of the Toyota team could now pave the way for the return of the Sauber team, backed by Swiss-based Qadbak Investments, who have been on standby as the fourteenth team.

The Williams of Nico Rosberg 2009

they will have Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenberg driving for them in the 2010 season.

Frank Williams, team principal said on the Williams official website;

“Rubens needs no introduction. He is not only the most experienced driver in Formula One, but a passionate and talented driver who fought hard for the Drivers’ Championship this year.  Nico Hulkenberg won the GP2 Championship this season as a rookie and has previously won the F3 Euroseries, Formula Masters, A1 GP and Formula BMW Germany.

Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima remain our drivers until the end of 2009 and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their contribution to the team. Nico and Kazuki have represented AT&T Williams and our partners with dedication, discipline and skill and we wish them every success with their future endeavours.”

The team confirmed earlier in the season that there would be a switch from Toyota to Cosworth engines for the 2010 season and now they also feature a brand new driver line-up.

Mark Webber - Brazilian Grand Prix 2009

The Red Bull driver Mark Webber took the chequered flag yesterday in the Brazilian Grand Prix as Jenson Button was crowned the 2009 Formula One World Champion.

Brawn GP driver Rubens Barrichello started the race from pole position followed by Webber,but after the first set of pit stops it was Webber that took to the front and dominated the race.  Barrichello had managed to create a gap of three-seconds but an early stop lost him the lead as he was passed by both Webber and the BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica.

At the beginning of the race the McLaren of Heikki Kovalainen made contact with the Ferrari of Giancarlo Fisichella at turn 1.  At the same time the Toyota driver Jarno Trulli attempted a pass on the outside of  Adrian Sutil but instead spun into the Force India with Fernando Alonso’s Renault getting collected as Sutil rejoined the circuit.

Kimi Raikkonen used his KERS system to move into third place as he passed Webber at the start of the race but made contact and damaged his front wing.  As the Ferrari returned to his pits for a new wing, Kovalainen exited in front of him with the fuel hose still attached causing fuel to leak and spray the Ferrari which burst into flames.  Raikkonen managed to keep going and rejoined the race without damage.

Rubens Barrichello led the race followed by Webber, Kubica and the Williams of Nico Rosberg.  Jenson Button in the second Brawn GP had moved into seventh place by lap 11 behind Timo Glock’s replacement driver Kamui Kobayashi in the Toyota.

Barrichello pitted from the lead on lap 22 as Nick Heidfeld in the BMW Sauber pulled off track with a problem, apparently running out of fuel after the earlier incident with the fuel hose.  Button finally made it past Kobayashi, moving up into fourth place with Webber taking his pit stop on lap 27 from the lead.

On lap 28 Nico Rosberg retired to the garage after suffering a gearbox problem with the Williams car as Button pitted on lap 30.  On lap 31 the second Williams car of Kazuki Nakajima crashed into the tyre wall after losing his front wing after hitting the  back of the Toyota of Kobayashi.

By lap 41 it was Webber ahead of Kubica, Barrichello, Lewis Hamilton in the McLaren, Raikkonen, Button, Vettel and Sebastien Buemi in the Toro Rosso.

Webber took his second pit stop on lap 53 and rejoined ahead of Kubica as Button took his final pit stop on lap 56, exiting in front of Kovalainen until the McLaren passed him at turn 4.  On the following lap Vettel pitted and rejoined ahead of Kovalainen and Button to sit in fifth place.

On lap 60, Kovalainen made a surprising pit stop with Lewis Hamilton passing the Brawn GP of Barrichello on lap 62.  Barrichello appeared to have a problem with his car and was soon told over the team radio that he had developed a puncture after making contact with Hamilton earlier in the race.

On lap 65, Webber led Kubica, Hamilton, Vettel, Button, Raikkonen, Buemi and Barrichello. Felipe Massa was given the job of waving the chequered flag at his home circuit as Webber crossed the line, followed by Kubica in second and Hamilton in third.

Here are the results;

1. Mark Webber Australia Red Bull-Renault 71 laps 1hr 32m 23.081s
2. Robert Kubica Poland BMW Sauber +7.6s
3. Lewis Hamilton Britain McLaren-Mercedes +18.9s
4. Sebastian Vettel Germany Red Bull-Renault +19.6s
5. Jenson Button Britain Brawn-Mercedes +29.0s
6. Kimi Raikkonen Finland Ferrari-Ferrari +33.3s
7. Sebastien Buemi Switzerland Toro Rosso-Ferrari +35.9s
8. Rubens Barrichello Brazil Brawn-Mercedes +45.4s

Rtd. Kazuki Nakajima Japan Williams-Toyota 30 laps completed
Rtd. Nico Rosberg Germany Williams-Toyota 27 laps completed
Rtd. Nick Heidfeld Germany BMW Sauber 21 laps completed
Rtd. Fernando Alonso Spain Renault-Renault 0 laps completed
Rtd. Adrian Sutil Germany Force India-Mercedes 0 laps completed
Rtd. Jarno Trulli Italy Toyota-Toyota 0 laps completed

The Japanese Grand Prix 2009

The Red Bull Racing driver Sebastian Vettel, dominated the Japanese Grand Prix yesterday after qualifying in pole position.

Vettel lined-up on the grid ahead of the Toyota of Jarno Trulli and Lewis Hamilton in the McLaren, but as the lights changed it was Hamilton that moved into the second place spot, using his KERS to get ahead of Trulli. The German Red Bull driver had been fastest in all the qualifying sessions and has now kept his dream alive of being the 2009 World Champion.

Brawn GP driver Jenson Button, started in seventh place on the grid but after a terrible start was down in twelfth place behind the Ferrari of Giancarlo Fisichella.

Trulli managed to pass the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton in his final pit stop, taking a well deserved second position for the Toyota team.

In fourth place was Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari followed by the Williams of Nico Rosberg after Nick Heidfeld was held up in the pits when a wheel nut on his BMW Sauber stuck.

Rubens Barrichello crossed the line in seventh place for the Brawn GP team followed by his team-mate Jenson Button in eighth.

Just as the race looked to be a foregone conclusion, the Toro Rosso driver Jaime Alguersuari spun exiting the 130º right-hand corner on lap 44.  The safety car was deployed closing the gap as the cars bunched up behind until it came in on lap 49.

Robert Kubica took the ninth position in the second BMW Sauber followed by Fernando Alonso in the Renault in tenth place after starting in sixteenth place.

Sebastien Buemi was the only other retirement in the race after coming to a halt in his Toro Rosso on the starting grid and retiring shortly afterwards with a clutch problem.

Second Toyota driver Timo Glock did not start the race after a huge crash during the Saturday qualifying session left him with a 5cm cut on his lower leg which had been stitched at the local hospital.

Here are the results;

1. Sebastian Vettel Germany Red Bull-Renault 53 laps 1hr 28m 20.443s
2. Jarno Trulli Italy Toyota-Toyota +00m 04.8s
3. Lewis Hamilton Britain McLaren-Mercedes +00m 06.4s
4. Kimi Raikkonen Finland Ferrari-Ferrari +00m 07.9s
5. Nico Rosberg Germany Williams-Toyota +00m 08.7s
6. Nick Heidfeld Germany BMW Sauber +00m 09.5s
7. Rubens Barrichello Brazil Brawn-Mercedes +00m 10.6s
8. Jenson Button Britain Brawn-Mercedes +00m 11.4s

all results unofficial

Lewis Hamilton's Second Win Of 2009

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton, crossed the line to take the chequered flag yesterday at the Singapore Grand Prix after dominating the race.

Timo Glock in the Toyota took the second step of the podium almost ten-seconds behind the McLaren followed by Fernando Alonso in the Renault for third.

As the race got underway, Hamilton kept his place from pole position as he led the drivers into the first corner, with Nico Rosberg in the Williams slotting into second ahead of Sebastian Vettel in the Red Bull, while Timo Glock moved up to fourth place from sixth on the grid.

Rosberg stayed on the tail of Hamilton until his first pit stop on lap 19 but was given a penalty for his actions on exiting the pits when he slid across the white line.  A harsh decision by race control left the Williams driver with a drive-through-penalty for crossing the line, losing his chance of finishing in the top three.

Vettel then began to chase down the McLaren driver, however, as the Red Bull driver took his second scheduled stop he was found guilty of speeding in the pit lane and was also given a drive-through-penalty but still managed to finish the race in fourth position.

The two Brawn GP drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, finished in fifth and sixth place after a terrible qualifying session left Barrichello in fifth and Button down in twelfth.  Button managed to jump ahead of his team-mate in his final stop, despite suffering from a brake problem until the end of the race, which leaves him 15 points ahead in the championship standings as they head to the Japan round.

Romain Grosjean retired his Renault on lap 4 after suffering from brake problems since the qualifying session, and on lap 21  it was Nick Heidfeld in the BMW Sauber who was out of the race after being clipped by a spinning Force India driven by Adrian Sutil.  The safety car was deployed as Sutil managed to rejoin the race and the marshalls attempted to clear the track of debris.

As the drivers headed to the pits while the safety car was on track, Jaime Alguersuari in the Toro Rosso, went to leave his pit garage with the fuel hose still attached, pulling over a couple of his team which were fortunately uninjured, but later retired from the race with gearbox failure.

Not a good day for Mark Webber in the second Red Bull after running wide and going off circuit on lap 1 and then later spinning across the track before retiring with front right brake failure.  A similar problem also put the Toro Rosso of Sebastien Buemi out of race.

Here are the results;

1. Lewis Hamilton Britain McLaren-Mercedes 61 laps 1hr 56m 06.337s
2. Timo Glock Germany Toyota-Toyota +00m 09.6s
3. Fernando Alonso Spain Renault-Renault +00m 16.6s
4. Sebastian Vettel Germany Red Bull-Renault +00m 20.2s
5. Jenson Button Britain Brawn-Mercedes +00m 30.0s
6. Rubens Barrichello Brazil Brawn-Mercedes +00m 31.8s
7. Heikki Kovalainen Finland McLaren-Mercedes +00m 36.1s
8. Robert Kubica Poland BMW Sauber +00m 55.0s

all results unofficial