McLaren Mercedes 2010

With only three-days to go until the start of the Formula One 2010 season things are really hotting up, new cars, new faces or old faces in different cars, the excitement is building ready for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The 2009 F1 World Champion Jenson Button will be racing against his new team-mate, 2008 World Champion Lewis Hamilton and the McLaren team boss has already stated that it is inevitable that their will be a falling out between the two before the end of the season.

Here is an exclusive interview with the two World Champions Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, for McLaren Mercedes F1, previewing the upcoming season.

Get behind the wheel as Button and Hamilton give the ‘inside track’ on the Bahrain Grand Prix.

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Sir Stirling Moss

It has been reported that the British racing hero Sir Stirling Moss was seriously injured at the weekend after falling three storeys down a lift shaft at his home.

The 80-year-old was reported to have broken both ankles, other broken bones in his feet and suffered damage to his vertebrae.  He has been recovering in the intensive care unit of the Princess Grace Hospital in London where it has been announced that his life is no longer in danger.

The US F1 team have continually struggled to perform at any level and before the end of 2009 were already talking about missing the opening races.

Instead of stepping in then the FIA have allowed the team to continue going nowhere until their withdrawal. In the meantime Stefan GP have long been campaigning to replace the ill stricken US team and have even received the backing of Bernie Ecclestone.

They have a car that is ready to race and we are led to believe drivers and sponsors in place, but the FIA have rejected the opportunity to fill the race grid for 2010 claiming that it is too late to accept a new entry.

Personally I feel that the FIA have let down the F1 supporters by not giving the place to what appears a well funded team who are ready to race having acquired the race cars from Toyota, following their withdrawal from the series.

Furthermore it appears that another of the teams Hispania F1, the re named Campos outfit are so far behind schedule that although they will make up the numbers at the opening race in Bahrain they have had hardly any chance to test the car and will almost certainly be playing catch up with the pack for the whole season.

In a statement issued by the FIA it said that US F1 had indicated that it would not be in a position to participate in the 2010 F1 Championship, adding; “Having considered the various options, the FIA confirms that it is not possible for a replacement team to be entered for the Championship at this late stage.”

The full entry list for F1 2010 is:

1 Jenson Button (GB) McLaren-Mercedes

2 Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes

3 Michael Schumacher (Ger) Mercedes

4 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Mercedes

5 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Red Bull-Renault

6 Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault

7 Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari

8 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Ferrari

9 Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Williams-Cosworth

10 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Williams-Cosworth

11 Robert Kubica (Pol) Renault

12 Vitaly Petrov (Rus) Renault

14 Adrian Sutil (Ger) Force India-Mercedes

15 Vitantonio Luzzi (Ita) Force India-Mercedes

16 Sébastien Buemi (Swi) Toro Rosso-Ferrari

17 Jaime Alguersuari (Spa) Toro Rosso-Ferrari

18 Jarno Trulli (Ita) Lotus-Cosworth

19 Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth

20 TBA HRT-Cosworth

21 Bruno Senna (Brz) HRT-Cosworth

22 Pedro de la Rosa (Spa) BMW Sauber-Ferrari

23 Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) BMW Sauber-Ferrari

25 Timo Glock (Ger) Virgin-Cosworth

26 Lucas di Grassi (Brz) Virgin-Cosworth

Three new teams were selected to join the 2010 grid back in the summer of 2009, US F1, Campos Meta and Manor Grand Prix/Virgin Racing and the iconic name of Lotus was later added following the withdrawal of BMW Sauber. Under new management the Sauber team were later included in the championship after Toyota withdrew.

The many changes in F1 have been difficult to keep up with, not only with the new teams, but also new drivers and new regulations. One of the major changes in the rules for me is that refuelling during the race will be abolished for the 2010 season, the first time since 1993.

It seems ironic that refuelling was first introduced to create more excitement in the sport that was in serious danger of losing it’s loyal following due to the predictability of results and outcries of processional racing.

Regardless of the changes one thing that remains constant in F1 as with all sports, is that  attending a ‘live’ event at whatever venue is an experience not to be missed.

There are often many packages offered in the sports pages of UK newspapers, but for those wishing to make their own way to events there are F1 tickets available for the whole 2010 calendar at prices to suit most pockets.

The full F1 2010 calendar:

Bahrain GP Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir    14 March

Australian GP Australia Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne     28 March

Malaysian GP Malaysia Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur     4 April

Chinese GP People’s Republic of China Shanghai International Circuit     18 April

Spanish GP Spain Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona     9 May

Monaco GP Monaco Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo     16 May

Turkish GP Turkey Istanbul Park    30 May

Canadian GP Canada Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal    13 June

European GP Spain Valencia Street Circuit     27 June

British GP United Kingdom Silverstone Circuit     11 July

German GP Germany Hockenheimring     25 July

Hungarian GP Hungary Hungaroring, Budapest    1 August

Belgian GP Belgium Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Spa     29 August

Italian GP Italy Autodromo Nazionale Monza     12 September

Singapore GP Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit     26 September

Japanese GP Japan Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka     10 October

Korean GP South Korea Korean International Circuit, Yeongam     24 October

Brazilian GP Brazil Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo    7 November

Abu Dhabi GP United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit     14 November

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McLaren 2009

It has been confirmed that the former seven-time World Champion F1 driver Michael Shumacher has signed to race for the Mercedes GP team in 2010.

The 41-year-old will drive alongside fellow German Nico Rosberg in the Formula One championship next season, ending months of rumours and speculation of his return to the series following his retirement in 2006.

Schumacher said;

“Mercedes Grand Prix Petronas represents a new challenge for me both in a sporting and a personal context.  It is a new chapter in my racing career, and I am really looking forward to working with my old friend Ross Brawn and my companions from my days with the Mercedes Junior Programme.

I am convinced that together we will be involved in the fight for the Formula 1 World Championship next year, and I am already looking forward to getting back onto the race track. For me, this partnership closes the circle. Mercedes supported me for so many years when I began my Formula 1 career – and now I can hopefully give something back to the brand with the star.”

Kamui Kobayashi

Kamui Kobayashi will make his full-time debut next season after it was confirmed that he will be driving for the Sauber F1 Team in 2010.

The Japanese driver drove as a replacement for the injured Toyota’s Timo Glock at the Brazilian Grand Prix of 2009, where he finished the race in tenth place and was later promoted to ninth.  After Glock was declared unfit for the following Abu Dhabi round of the championship, Kobayashi once again stepped into his shoes and took an impressive sixth place as he crossed the line, scoring his first championship points in only his second race.

The 23-year-old was expected to be given a full-time drive for the Toyota team in the 2010 championship until the teams withdrawal from the Formula One series.

Kobayashi said;

“Ever since the start of my career I have dreamed of racing in F1.  Now this dream has come true. I am very happy that my two races in 2009 have earned me a cockpit place.

I will do my very best for Peter Sauber’s team and I am proud to be able to carry on flying the Japanese flag in F1.”

Renault F1 2009

The Renault team will be lining-up on the grid for the 2010 season after securing a deal with Genii Capital and will be continuing under the Renault name.

The Renault team principle Bernard Rey said;

“I am delighted to welcome Genii Capital as our new strategic partner.  I am sure that their enthusiasm and business expertise will create a new dynamic for the team, the staff, and our partners. Altogether, we look forward to competing again at the highest level in Formula One.”

Genii Capital, is a Luxembourg-based company who specialises in new technologies, brand management and motor sport, headed by Gerard Lopez.

The Renault team statement read;

“Following the proposed sale of a large stake of Renault F1 team to Genii, both partners will operate the team together. The letter of intent signed by the two companies should be concluded in early 2010.

I am delighted to welcome Genii Capital as our new strategic partner as I am sure that their enthusiasm and business expertise will create a new dynamic for the team, the staff, and our partners.

Altogether, we look forward to competing again at the highest level in Formula One.

Today’s announcement also confirms Renault’s commitment and trust in the sport’s governing bodies to improve the green credentials of Formula One.”

The Renault team intend to continue to supply engines to the British-based team as well as the Red Bull team for 2010 and possibly 2011.

Lucas di Grassi - Renault Test Driver 2009

It has been confirmed that the Virgin Racing Team have signed Lucas di Grassi as their second driver for the 2010 season to drive alongside Timo Glock.

Di Grassi has spent the past four-years competing in the GP2 series, where he finished in within the top three riders of the championship standings  for three of the four seasons as well as being a test driver for the Renault F1 team.

The Brazilian driver said;

“I could never imagine a F1 debut as perfect as this one.  Entering F1 with John Booth and his crew, the same people with whom I won the 2005 Macau F3 race – one of the greatest successes in my career – is really beyond perfection I should say. And I believe I am ready for F1.

I have worked a lot during these years to get here and I believe it happened just in time. I always had great expectations about the day I would enter F1, and I should thanks everyone who was with me all these years, and I shall say John and his team are among those very people I consider helped me to get there much before we signed the F1 contract.

Being here with them makes more sense to me than to be with a veteran organisation. We will debut together, and that detail makes for a special bond too. I guess all that will make me stronger and more confident as I will be among old friends. I am ready to work twenty four seven and I am sure I will be able to contribute with the team efforts in every stage of our evolution in 2010.”

Lotus 91-10 (1982)

The new Lotus F1 Team have confirmed their drivers for the 2010 season as Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen along with third driver Fairuz Fauzy.

The team which is being backed by the Malaysian government, made the announcement today in Kuala Lumpa with the team boss Tony Fernandes stating that he had secured the perfect blend of experience, youth and ambition to get the Lotus name back in the limelight.

Trulli said;

“It was quite a difficult situation at the start of November with my former team withdrawing from Formula One, but I was convinced I would stay in the sport.  I was in contact with Gascoyne about the possibility of joining the new Lotus team and it became quickly clear that it would be a very good opportunity for me. I have been in Formula One for many years but there is something extremely motivating about helping to build a team from the ground level up.

We have to set realistic targets for the first year.  We are one of the new teams, so we have to prove ourselves and to gain respect in the paddock. We have to establish ourselves as the best of the new teams and see what gap we have between us and the rest. Only then will we really understand what gains we need to make during the season. The points system has changed to reward the top ten drivers, so I would like to see us making progress towards the top ten by AbuDhabi.”

Kovalainen said;

“For me there were a couple of major factors [behind moving to Lotus].  Tony Fernandes [team principal] and Mike Gascoyne being the two leading figures in the project and the backing behind the team were both very important. Having spoken to both of them I became aware that the whole operation has a lot of potential, and a very good chance of being a successful team in the future. I saw Lotus as the best choice for me to progress my career, after considering several other options that were available to me.

I always race to win and I will do everything as if I was preparing to put the car on pole, but of course we have to be realistic and keep the focus on developing the team to a state where we can operate like any other current top F1 team. It will not be easy and we will have tough times at the beginning, there’s no question about it, but as long as we keep improving all the way through the year and have the earned respect of the other top teams on the grid, then we can be pleased about the first year.”

Renault 2009

According to the BBC Sports site, the Renault F1 team have secured a deal to see them on the grid for the 2010 Formula One Championship.

The Renault team will keep a 25% shareholding after it has been announced that a new buyer has been found with an official announcement due next week.

A final decision concerning the teams future was said to have been decided on Wednesday at an executive board meeting although whether Robert Kubica will be driving under the new ownership is still unknown.

The Renault teams reputation, ended in tatters in the 2009 season after the 2008 Singapore crash scandal came to light, with the team receiving a ban from the sport, suspended for two-years.  Flavio Briatore was banned for life for his part in the conspiracy and Pat Symonds received a five-year ban.  Both are planning on contesting the bans at the French courts, with a verdict due in the New Year.

Recently it was confirmed that Gerard Lopez was interested in buying the team but he faces competition with Prodrive boss David Richards as well as two other parties.