Q&A with McLaren's Jenson Button & Lewis Hamilton

For 2010 McLaren will field a driver line-up likely to fill rival teams with fear and/or envy - reigning world champion Jenson Button, who arrives from Brawn GP, and Lewis Hamilton, winner of the 2008 drivers’ title with McLaren. With preparation for the new season well underway, the team’s press office caught up with both men to get their thoughts on the year ahead…

Q: You’re now officially a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver - how does it feel?
Jenson Button: Obviously, it’s fantastic to be part of one of the most famous names in Formula One. But it’s also exhilarating: I’d been at the same team for seven years so this is a big cultural change for me, and something that I’m really looking forward to.

There are a lot of new faces to remember and lots of names to learn - and that’s all got to be done alongside the engineering and limited testing we have ahead of the 2010 season. But I’m loving every minute of it - the atmosphere within the team feels fantastic, and I’ve already started to feel at home here. I can’t wait to get out in the fantastic new car the team has built for me!

Q: Where do your priorities lie over the next four weeks?
JB: Having no testing until the first week of February is something of a mixed blessing - it gives me the time to really get to know the guys at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, and to properly integrate myself into the team - which I am absolutely committed to doing - but, equally, it’s another month without any running in the car - and getting miles under my belt will be crucial ahead of the first race.

So, it’s only natural that there will be a lot of factory-based work for the next few weeks. I’ll be starting to work with my engineers, who are a fantastic bunch of guys. But, honestly, I really cannot wait to get out to Valencia and get my first run in the MP4-25 - I think that’s when it will finally sink in that I’m a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver.

Q: 2010: a new year - how are you planning the successful defence of your world title?
JB: Obviously, my aim is to keep the number one on my car for as long as possible! But, at the moment, it’s a little bit too early to start talking about the world championship. The backbone of any title challenge is built on good preparation, hard word, focus and dedication.

And the hard work starts here - the next 10 weeks could well largely dictate the destiny of the 2010 world championship, so it’s crucial that we start testing very strongly and that we never let up.

I’m more motivated than ever to work with the team and my engineers, and I’ve extremely positive for the year ahead.

Q: Lewis, how have you been preparing for the 2010 season?
Lewis Hamilton: I’ve been mainly training and trying to keep fit. At the end of the 2009 season, I promised myself that I would aim to be 100 percent fit and focused on the new year, so I’ve been working hard. When I’m not training, I’ve just been at home in Geneva, preparing for Christmas and the new year.

Q: Are you looking forward to trying the new car for the first time?
LH: Yes, I’m excited and can’t wait to see it and test it. Hopefully, it’s going to be great for our team next year. I’ll be working closely with my engineers and the team to make sure we all hit the ground running with the new car.

You can never take competitiveness for granted in Formula One - we saw that last year - so our common goal has to be to make MP4-25 a winning proposition as quickly as possible. Only once we’ve achieved that can we start looking at winning races and then, eventually, the world championship.

Q: Have you had much of a chance to speak to Jenson yet?
LH: Not yet, unfortunately. Our paths haven’t really crossed since he was announced at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes back in November. We’ve both been to MTC (McLaren Technology Centre) for our seat fittings - but they were on different days. The first time we’ll start working together is later this month, when we’ll both be at Woking together, then we’ll have the launch and the first test. We’ll be sharing the pre-season testing equally, and it will be important to keep a crossover of information between us to make sure we are both pulling in the right direction.

Source: www.formula1.com

BMW Sauber F1 sold to Peter Sauber

BMW has officially announced that it has sold its Formula 1 team back to Peter Sauber and that the deal with Qadbak will not proceed further. This is good news as there should not be any reason for the FIA and other teams not to give Sauber the green light to race in 2010.

“We are very happy with this solution. This fulfils the most important requirement for a successful future for the team. Our relationship with Peter Sauber has always been excellent and marked by absolute respect. We would like to express our thanks to Peter Sauber and the whole team for the excellent cooperation during the recent four years,” said Dr Klaus Draeger, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG.

Peter Sauber added, “I am very relieved that we have found this solution, it means we can keep the Hinwil location and the majority of workplaces. I am convinced that the new team has a very good future in Formula 1 whose current transformation with new framework conditions will benefit the private teams.” A further agreement with Peter Sauber proposes personnel cuts from the current level of 388 to around 250 employees.

There should be a total of 13 teams now, meaning 26 cars on the grid so it should be an exciting season. Furthermore with the team returning back to Peter Sauber, Petronas is likely to maintain its position as a sponsor, probably becoming the title sponsor again.

Williams confirmed on Friday that they have signed a long-term engine partnership with Cosworth Limited. The team announced earlier this month that they would be ending their current arrangement with Toyota at the end of this season.

“Cosworth have impressed us with the quality of their technical team and convinced us that their programme will deliver a competitive Formula One engine,” said Frank Williams, whose team last used Cosworth power in 2006.

“In addition, like Williams, Cosworth is an independent company whose owners share our passion for racing and engineering. We believe that, working together, we will develop not only a competitive racing car for 2010 but also a long-term partnership that can take on the best in Formula One.”

Mark Gallagher, Cosworth's general manager for Formula One, added: “Cosworth is delighted to be renewing our partnership with Williams. We look forward to forging a long-standing relationship, not only for the supply of competitive Formula One engines, but also in the joint development of new technologies that have wider application outside of Formula One.”

Cosworth powered both Williams and Toro Rosso in 2006, after which they departed the sport. Next year their engines will also be used by the four new Formula One entrants, Campos Meta, Lotus, Manor and the US F1 Team.

Source: Formula1.com

Brawn’s Jenson Button crowned as 2009 Formula 1 World Champion!

Brit Jenson Button from Brawn GP picked up his first Driver’s Championship earlier today in Brazil. 29-year old Button arrived at Interlagos with a comfortable lead but if he failed to score a single point in the two remaining races (Brazil and Abu Dhabi) the crown could go to his team mate Rubens Barrichello or Sebastian Vettel from Red Bull.

With his fifth place finish at the Brazilian Grand Prix, the Brit sealed the championship. Even if the Button fails to finish the season-ending race in Abu Dhabi he will still walk away as the 2009 Champion. During yesterday’s qualifying Button only managed 14th place. His team mate who was also contending for the title grabbed pole position. Vettel on the other hand started the race right behind Button following Vitantonio Liuzzi’s 5-place grid penalty.

As the race progressed the three championship rivals managed to have a clean race despite what happened around them. On the first lap itself two major incidents took place. Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) spun his car at Turn 2 and nearly collected Giancarlo Fisichella (Ferrari). A couple of corners later Jarno Trulli (Toyota) put a wheel on the grass and spun into Adrian Sutil (Force India). The latter also took Fernando Alonso (Renault) out of the race. Both Trulli and and Sutil were seen arguing after the incident.

Kovalainen made a pit stop for repairs and a re-fuel. Unfortunately the Finn drove off with the fuel rig intact. Fuel was then sprayed on Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari which came in for a new front wing. A dramatic fireball developed at the back of the Ferrari. Raikkonen nearly ended his race and was complaining about burning eyes (sensation felt after getting in contact with petrol) even after the race.

After 71 laps, Mark Webber from Red Bull emerged victorious. BMW’s Robert Kubica and McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton joined the podium as well. Vettel managed fourth place while Button settled with fifth. Rubens Barrichello who started from pole only managed to finish in eight place following a puncture that forced the Brazilian to pit with just a couple of laps remaining.

Along with the Driver’s Championship, Button’s British-based Brawn GP team that took over operations from Honda at the beginning of year also secured the Constructor’s Championship. The Formula 1 circus now heads to the United Arab Emirates for the season finale on November 1st.

Michael cancels F1-Comeback

F1 fans who are eagerly anticipating the temporary return of Michael Schumacher to F1 will probably let out a sigh of disappointment after you read this piece of news – Schumi will not be driving Massa’s F1 car after all. I’m sure you know why – it’s been a source of concern for quite some time now. It’s his neck injury.

“Unfortunately I’m not able to step in for Felipe. The consequences of the injuries caused by the bike accident in February, fractures in the area of head and neck, unfortunately have turned out to be still too severe. That is why my neck cannot stand the extreme stresses caused by Formula One yet. I really tried everything to make that temporary comeback possible. I am disappointed to the core. I am awfully sorry for the guys of Ferrari and for all the fans which crossed fingers for me. All I can do now is to keep my fingers crossed for the whole team for the coming races,” said Michael on his official website.

Ferrari has announced that their test driver Luca Badoer will replace Schumacher at Valencia this month. He has been with Ferrari as a test driver since 1998.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa is to return to Sao Paulo on 3 August

The Brazilian, 28, left intensive care in Budapest earlier this week as he continues to make good progress after surgery on his life-threatening injury.

His personal doctor, Dino Altmann, said: "Felipe continues to improve.

"He is doing very well, and we have already decided to go back home on Monday to Sao Paulo."

There had been speculation that Massa would continue his recovery at the Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital in Paris.

But Altmann said: "He is to continue his recovery and return to racing as soon as possible, that's the plan. He is in a very good mood, good shape, and he just wants to come back soon."

Massa was hit on the helmet by a metal spring, the size of a drink can and weighing almost a kilo, which fell off fellow Brazilian Rubens Barrichello's Brawn car.

When he was flown to hospital, his condition was initially diagnosed as "life-threatening", and there were fears for his eyesight.

But doctors took Massa out of an artificial coma and off a respirator on Monday as his continued to make good progress.

Massa was visited by Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali and Domenicali's predecessor Jean Todt on Tuesday.

"It was incredible to see such a fantastic improvement after just three days," said Domenicali, who was also upbeat on Massa's chances of returning to F1.

"As soon as he is back, that is his car," he added.

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher is to race again for Ferrari while Massa recovers.

The spring from Barrichello's car struck Massa's helmet just above his eye, and his feet are believed to have come to rest on both the throttle and brake, as his car ploughed head-on into a tyre wall at about 125mph.

His father, mother and pregnant wife all flew in from Brazil to be with him.

Massa's accident came days after Formula Two driver Henry Surtees, 18, was killed in what was described as a freak accident during a race at Brands Hatch.

The son of motorsport legend John Surtees was struck by a wheel that flew off a competitor's car.

Barrichello has led the calls for more stringent safety measures to be looked into. Referring to Surtees, the veteran refused to believe the two incidents were coincidental.

Barrichello's team boss Ross Brawn said the team are still investigating why the spring came loose from the back of their car.

Sources: BBC News

Formula 1 is to conduct an investigation into the accident in which Ferrari driver Felipe Massa suffered a fractured skull.

The probe will attempt to discover the causes of the incident and whether any changes are required to improve safety.

Brazilian Massa was hit on the helmet by a spring that had fallen off Rubens Barrichello's Brawn GP car during Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying.

Massa underwent surgery and is under sedation following a scan on Sunday.

His accident came six days after 18-year-old Henry Surtees was killed after being hit on the head by a wheel from a crashed car in a Formula Two race in England.

The investigation into Massa's incident will be conducted by F1's governing body the FIA and the Brawn team. Barrichello's car suffered a failure in its rear suspension as the Brazilian, one of Massa's closest friends, went through Turn Three of the Hungaroring during final qualifying.

The spring came off the car and bounced along the track until Massa's Ferrari came on to the scene four seconds later.

The spring hit the front left-hand side of Massa's helmet when he was travelling at 162mph. His feet were on both the accelerator and the brake before he hit the barrier at Turn Four, at which point he had slowed to 62mph.

Insiders believe Massa's life may have been saved by the latest generation of carbon-fibre helmets, which were introduced four years ago and are approximately twice as strong as their predecessors.

The stronger helmets are one of a number of improvements that have been made in recent years to protect drivers' heads. Cockpit sides have been raised and the drivers wear a head and neck restraint device to protect them from the high G-forces involved in accidents.

Brawn team boss Ross Brawn described the incident as "a freak accident" and said F1 needed to fully investigate what had happened before deciding whether changes needed to be made.

"We need to keep a perspective on it - from what's been seen last weekend and this, we need to have a proper study to see if we need to do anything," he said.

"We need to digest what's happened and understand it properly.

"It is time to look at the whole thing and take a balanced approach. You can have covers or canopies but you have to be able to get at the driver and extract him if there is an accident.

"And you don't want anything that collapses down on a driver.

"It is something we will look at. In the history of F1 it is a fairly rare occurrence, but we must take it seriously and see what we can do.

"If there's a need to react, I'm sure F1 will promptly. But we must make sure we don't do something that makes the situation worse."