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.

Michael Schumachaer

As I mentioned in a previous blog, the Ferrari team were hoping to get a helping hand by getting the in-season testing ban lifted to allow Michael Schumacher, replacing the injured Felipe Massa,  to acquaint himself with the current F60 car, however, not all the teams are fully in support of the ban suspension.

The Williams team have confirmed that they are not happy about the rule being waived, with Frank Williams saying;

“While we welcome Michael Schumacher back to Formula One, the fact is that any form of in-season circuit testing is strictly prohibited; a regulation clearly laid out by the FIA and adhered to by all of the teams.

It was for this reason that (Jaime) Alguersuari, who drove an F1 car for the very first time in Hungary, did not have the opportunity to familiarise himself with the Toro Rosso before he made his race debut.  Williams F1 sees no distinction between Alguersuari’s situation and Schumacher’s and feels that any deviation from the rule would create a precedent for the future.

In a similar situation, Williams F1 would unhesitatingly use its current test driver.

For the sake of consistency and fairness, therefore, we oppose Ferrari’s proposal to test ahead of the European Grand Prix”.

Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso,  are also opposing lifting the ban, with team boss Christian Horner saying;

“I am sure that Michael Schumacher who is a seven times World Champion and has won 91 races won’t have a problem getting up to speed.

Also Michael has driven a two-year-old Ferrari last week in Mugello so I have no doubt that he will be on the pace quickly”.

Force India were another team not giving the green-light to allow Schumacher special privileges, although they have yet to give their decision formally.

The Ferrari team, need a unanimous agreement for the ban to be lifted, however, it would seem clear that this is not going to happen, but of course,  the team are not going to leave it at that and are now having their usual playground tantrums.  A spokeswoman for Schumacher, said on Blickpunkt Sport programme;

“From the beginning it was clear that in all probability there would not be a test with the new car.  However not all at Ferrari are singing from the same hymn sheet…

Guess who opposed the test with the F60? A team that hasn’t won anything for years and yet didn’t pass over the opportunity to demonstrate once more a lack of spirit of fair play.”  From an article posted on the official Ferrari site.

“Just for the record, the Scuderia Ferrari had given its approval to let (Toro Rosso’s Jaime) Alguersuari test, but it seems even in this instance someone decided to stick to the precise wording of the regulations.”

We are all fully aware of the reasons behind the testing ban for the in-season but I’m sure some agreement could be reached whereby drivers test after the race weekend has finished, no extra travelling costs involved and supporters could be charged a fraction of the price of a Grand Prix ticket to watch the event.

Williams F17 Driven by Damon Hill

The Williams Formula One team, are this year celebrating 40 years in the business, and this weekend a special tribute to team boss Frank Williams is taking place at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

A total of 13 of the teams Formula One cars through the years, will be on display at the Festival ranging from the 1970 model up to the present day.  The 1980 winning World Championship Williams-Cosworth driven by Alan Jones will be included along with 1996 Williams-Renault driven by Damon Hill, which is to be taking part in the Goodwood hill-climb challenge.

A host of past drivers for the team will also be in attendance, including Damon Hill, Alan Jones, David Coulthard and Jacques Laffite as well as the present day drivers Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima.

On Sunday 5th July, the Williams cars and a selection of drivers, past and present, will gather in the Goodwood F1 Paddock Assembly Area to pay tribute to Frank Williams where Murray Walker is also to say a few words about the man and his achievements throughout his career.

Frank Williams has said;

“It will be great for me, and for all the people that have been a part of Williams, or supported the team over the years, to be there to see a broad selection of our cars, past and present”.

Other Formula One drivers expected to be making an appearance are Jenson Button, who is expected to be one of the drivers competing in the hill-climb.   Lewis Hamilton will be driving the McLaren MP4/4 and the MP 4/23, previous driven by the late, great Ayrton Senna.

Recently retired driver David Coulthard, will be taking out a Red Bull RB5  along with Mark Webber, while Eddie Irvine is expected to put on a show of one of his previous F1 Ferrari cars.  Timo Glock will drive the Toyota TF108 while Marc Gene will take out the Ferrari F2008.

FIA

Today(Friday), was the deadline for all entries to be submitted for the 2010 Formula One Championship, including the Ferrari team who had threatened to walk away from the sport.

However, certain condition have been put forward from FOTA;

“The Concorde Agreement is signed by all parties before 12th June 2009, after which all FOTA teams will commit to competing in Formula One until 2012.  The renewal of the Concorde Agreement will provide security for the future the sport by binding all parties in a formal relationship that will ensure stability via sound governance.

The basis of the 2010 regulations will be the current 2009 regulations, amended in accordance with proposals that FOTA has submitted to the FIA.”

It was the president of the FIA, Max Mosley, who suggested that the cost cutting measures could be suspended for a year!

If these terms are agreed to where does that leave the new teams that have also signed-up for 2010 on the presumption that there would be a spending budget?

The USF1, Campos, Lola, Litespeed and Prodrive teams have all signed as new entries for the 2010 season.  David Richards has confirmed that he has submitted their entry for the Prodrive Team after receiving backing from sponsors.

Richards said,

“We are very appreciative of the support we have been given in putting together our entry, not least by both the FIA and FOM,” said the ex-F1 team principal. “With the help of Dar Capital, in raising the finance, coupled with our understanding of the latest proposals to assist new teams, we now feel the conditions are right to formally request the FIA for an entry.

“The level of next year’s cost cap has risen substantially since we originally considered entering. However everyone appears committed to major reductions in future years and when one takes into account the transition proposals for new teams we are confident that we now have the opportunity to be both commercially viable and competitive. As we have said all along, we don’t want to be in Formula One just to make up the numbers.”

It is believed that all current teams must provide technical support to all newcomers until the budget cap is reduced in 2011.

The Williams team were suspended from the Formula One Team Association on Wednesday when it was confirmed that they had submitted their entry to the 2010 championship, breaking a united front against the governing body.  The statement from FOTA read;

“Following Monday’s confirmation that the team has submitted its formal entry…the Formula One Teams Association has today decided temporarily to suspend Williams F1 from membership of FOTA,” the team said in a statement.”

Frank Williams, head of the Williams team accepted their decision and said;

“However, as a racing team and a company whose only business is Formula One, with obligations to our partners and our employees, submitting our entry to next year’s Championship was unquestionable.

“In addition, we are legally obliged under our contract with FOM (Formula One Management) and the FIA (International Automobile Federation) to participate in the World Championship until the end of 2012.”

Although no figures have been confirmed as yet for the budget cap for 2010, it is believed to be twice the 40 million pound that the FIA were hoping to introduce.

The ball is now firmly in the court of the FIA, they could of course reject the conditions set by FOTA, which could then see the teams walk away from Formula One, or FOTA could add further conditions, it’s any one’s guess at this stage, however, the official entry list for 2010 is to be published on June 12th.

Up In The Air With Ferrari

This week the Ferrari F1 team went to court in Paris for an injunction to stop the controversial optional £40 million budget cap which is to be introduced in 2010.

Ferrari, Toyota, Renault and the two Red Bull teams have all threatened to walk if the regulations for the 2010 cost cutting budget is not rewritten.

Although all teams are expected to compete under the same regulations, the teams operating under the budget cap scheme would be given greater technical freedom than the unrestricted budget teams.  Three teams have today said that they would welcome the cost cutting scheme for 2010 onwards, they are Williams, Force India and BMW.

With new teams already taking an interest in competing in the 2010 championship, e.g. Lola and USF1, the Ferrari team believe that the newcomers would reduce F1 to the level of a junior series.

Bernie Ecclestone has stated his concern over the situation and would be surprised if many of the teams submitted their entries before the May 29 deadline for next seasons championship.  He doubts there is an easy solution to the crisis and he is worried.

Kimi Raikkonen has already told reporters his feelings on the Ferrari teams future;

“I’m pretty sure we are going to disappear from Formula One.   They will find something for me to do since they still have a contract with me.  They are racing in many other categories.”

Fernando Alonso, who has been rumoured to be going to the Ferrari team in 2010/2011, has said;

“If everything is not settled, Formula One is finished and the sport will turn into GP2 with a little more pace, but there won’t be any interest in it as an event.  I don’t want to drive for a small team.

If the seven teams go, Formula One disappears.  With unknown drivers, it’s over.  You’ll lose the ten best drivers in the world.”

I for one would relish the introduction of new teams, the sport has become boring with the majority of the races being dominated by three or four teams.  This season it has certainly become a little more interesting with the Brawn GP team being one of the front runners but even that is now becoming dull.

We want to see racing as it was before, with all drivers on a level playing field, and with the best driver winning the race rather than the car with the most money spent on it.

I don’t always agree with Ecclestone, but I do feel that this time he may have got it right, let’s hope he doesn’t back down to Ferrari’s threats and that we get the drama and thrills of watching the Formula One championship returning to it’s roots.

Nico Rosberg - Williams 2009

As the Formula One cars and drivers head to Monaco for one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar, rumours are yet again rife on whether Nico Rosberg will remain with the Williams team when his contract expires at the end of the season.

The 23-year-old German driver allegedly said after the Spanish Grand Prix, that he is looking at his options for 2010 but would be happy to stay with the team if they can continue to give him a good car or an even better one!

So far this season, Rosberg’s inconsistency in the races has puzzled not only his fans but also members of his team.

The Grove team are currently running eighth in the constructors’ championship ahead only of the Toro Rosso team and Rosberg himself is in tenth place in the drivers championship.

The Monaco streets of the circuit are open to the public on Friday and so the practice session takes place on Thursday, with the normal qualifying session on Saturday and the race on Sunday.

In last years race ,Rosberg qualified in sixth position at his home town, living only 100 metres away from the circuit.  Unfortunately he crashed out on lap 62 at Piscine, hitting both sides of the track and spreading debris across the circuit, bringing out the safety car.  The German was unhurt but was seen at both the track medical centre and at the local hospital before being given the all clear.

Team-mate Kazuki Nakajima qualified in thirteenth place and after an impressive drive finished in seventh place for the Williams team.

Rosberg has always held the Williams team in high esteem and it is with the very same team that his father Keke Rosberg won the championship back in 1982, but will that be enough to keep the young German’s enthusiasm?

He made his feelings perfectly clear at the beginning of the season that 2009 would be his decision year, to stay with Williams or to look at other teams.  Despite the new car showing some encouraging performances there still seems a long road ahead to get the team back to challenging some of the front runners.

Rosberg has shown much potential over the years but has he now lost that edge or is it solely down to the car he is driving, perhaps now is the time to find out as further developments are expected at the Monaco round to the FW31, hopefully giving the teams more points, as for Nico, we’ll just have to wait and see!

Building on the success of last year’s show, “The Factory: Series 2″ will consist of nine
26-minute episodes and one 52-minute end-of-season special, with shows now closely linked and themed according to  upcoming grands prix.

Experience the grit behind the glamour, the highs and the lows of the 2009-10 Formula 1 season like never before as the show’s fascinating fly-on-the-wall format follows important figures in the AT&T Williams Team before, during and after the big races.

Top drivers Kazuki Nakajima and Nico Rosberg are also back by popular demand. How will they handle the pressure of the pit? Or the disappointment after a difficult race? Tune into “The Factory” − where the drama of F1 comes to life.

“The Factory: Season 2″ has cutting-edge 3-D images highlighting Williams F1’s latest innovations, as well as a special website where fans can follow a weekly blog direct from the Williams F1’s factory, exclusive footage and interviews, or participate in Q&A sessions.

Fans can also use the site to sign up for the competition, “Philips Driving Academy” which gives one lucky Eurosport viewer the chance to drive five laps of a grand prix circuit in an AT&T Williams Team car.

The first season of “The Factory”, created by Eurosport to leverage Philips Shavers sponsorship of the Williams F1 Team, became one of the channel’s most successful shows in 2008, and has been shortlisted for a number of prestigious awards.

Broadcast dates:
•    Thursday, 23 April (for the Bahrain GP)
•    Thursday, 21 May (for the Monaco GP)
•    Wednesday, 17 June (for the British GP)
•    Thursday, 23 July (for the Hungarian GP)
•    Thursday, 6 August
•    Wednesday, 19 August (for the European GP)
•    Thursday, 24 September (for the Singapore GP)
•    Thursday, 15 October ( for the Brazilian GP)

New cast members for Season 2 include key Williams F1 staff, such as team co-founder Patrick Head, technical director Sam Michael, chief designer Ed Wood, while Eurosport has been granted rare and exclusive access to Williams F1 “factory” in south east England.

Williams have already been hit by the withdrawal of Icelandic Baugur Group, Lenevo and Petrobas during the last few months, but have managed to renew or upgrade deals with ten other sponsors and team owner Frank Williams has said that they are well placed to see out the next two years.

Despite the drastic cost cutting measures already implemented in F1, Max Mosley has recently said that more cuts need to be agreed very soon if Formula 1 is to survive. Renault boss Flavio Briatore, who’s own team will lose it’s main sponsor ING next season, believes that the teams are ready to negotiate further cuts in running costs to ensure that the  sport is more viable, not only for the teams already involved, but also to attract more competitors on to the grid.

BMW Sauber 2008

BMW Sauber sponsors Credit Suisse have announced that they will not be continuing their partnership with the F1 racing team this season. The news comes on the eve of the new BMW Sauber car launch, although the agreement is said to have ended last year.

Credit Suisse, Switzerland’s second largest bank has backed the BMW Sauber team since 2001 but has said that it is no longer interested in sponsoring international events and is to turn instead, to regional institutions and events. The BMW team had their best F1 results during last season, winning their first Grand Prix, in Canada, and finishing third in the constructors championship, with Robert Kubica in particular showing outstanding form.

BMW Sauber have yet to make any comment on the withdrawal, but will continue with the launch of the 2009 car tomorrow, probably in a similar low profile way as the other teams that have so far unveiled their cars, in keeping with the cost cutting measures that have been agreed across the grid.

As talk of further tightening of the purse strings in F1 continues to make headlines, there has been some recent talk about the possibility of introducing a salary cap on drivers. This F1 news has met with various responses from team principle’s and drivers, with Frank Williams showing support and as usual taking a sensible stance on the matter.

While in favour , Williams concedes that it may be difficult to implement, suggesting that, “If McLaren don’t want to pay Hamilton £15m, someone else will. How do you stop that?”

Last season’s runner up in the championship, Felipe Massa meanwhile has no intention of taking a pay cut, the Ferrari driver who is reported to earn around £7m a year, suggesting that in such a competitive sport the drivers are a fundamental part, and the cost of the driver’s is small compared to the total budget of the teams. That is true of his wages, but with team mate Kimi Raikkonen reportedly taking £34m a year from Ferrari, something has to give.

Personally I liked Massa’s view that despite his reluctance to take a salary cut, “The more people work to reduce cost’s, the better it is going to be for everybody.”

“We just need to work hard because in Formula One we know we have a lot of engineers and people. First we have to look at areas where we can cut the money, not kicking people out. This is a priority.”

Williams Toyota 2008

The Williams Toyota team have now confirmed that their two drivers will remain unchanged for the 2009 Formula One season.

Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima will continue to race for the team while Nico Hulkenberg will remain as their official test driver.

Nakajima, has improved considerably during the 2008 season giving him a good foundation for the coming year while team-mate Rosberg has shown his increasing maturity on track.

Frank Williams has said,

“I am delighted we are able to maintain continuity with our drivers going into 2009.  Nico Rosberg continues to be one of the most capable drivers in the sport.  Kazuki is getting stronger all the time and has more to offer and Nico Hulkenberg is developing well.”

Hulkenberg, is currently leading the Formula 3 Euroseries, will continue his role with an increase in his work load next year due to new technical regulations, making the development and testing critical to the team.