News headlines from Formula1.com http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/ en-US Formula1.com Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:58:22 GMT Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:58:22 GMT 15 http://www.formula1.com/wi/225x150/manual/dmk0610fe19.jpg http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10414.html The Force India VJM03. Force India VJM03 Launch Studio Shoot, Silverstone, England, 8 February 2010. Force India have become the latest team to present the car with which they will compete in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship. The VJM03, which will be raced by the unchanged driver line-up of Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi this season, was unveiled online on Tuesday morning. The team may have made a name for themselves last season, scoring their first pole position, points and podium, but they are hoping their new Mercedes-engined car will power them to even greater things in 2010... http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10414.html Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:53:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10414.html Formula1.com Legendary Scottish group Simple Minds and one of Australia's greatest rock bands, Powderfinger, are to perform special concerts in Melbourne's Albert Park during March's Australian Grand Prix weekend. The shows, which will be free to all ticket holders, follow in the footsteps of previous post-race concerts by Kiss and The Who in 2007 and 2009 respectively. Powderfinger, whose latest multi-platinum album, Golden Rule, took the trophy for 'best album' at the inaugural Rolling Stone awards in January, will take to the stage on Saturday night, whilst Simple Minds, who have sold more than 40 million albums worldwide since 1979, will play a one-off concert on Sunday night after the race. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10413.html Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:14:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10413.html Formula1.com In a few days' time Virgin Racing will pit their 2010 car against those of their rivals at this week's Jerez test, becoming the first of this year's four new teams to debut their car alongside the more experienced squads. But thanks to a productive shakedown at Silverstone last week, the team are feeling confident that their VR-01 can more than hold its own. “Our shakedown provided our very first opportunity to work together as a trackside operation... http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10409.html Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:32:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10409.html Formula1.com Following Wednesday's online launch of the VR-01, Virgin Racing's 2010 campaign took another step forward on Thursday when the car completed its maiden track run. Driver Timo Glock was charged with giving his 2010 machine its debut at Silverstone, whilst team mate Lucas di Grassi - and assembled guests - watched from the UK circuit's sidelines. Glock was thrilled with his first taste of the car, saying: “It was a fantastic moment for myself and the whole team to see the VR-01 come alive. It's great to be back in a racing car.” http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10405.html Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:24:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10405.html Formula1.com The performance of Ferrari during this week's Valencia test may have prompted many to speculate that they are the team to beat, but team principal Stefano Domenicali is eager to downplay the Italian squad's perceived dominance. And while he's clearly pleased with their progress, he's determined they stay level headed, as March's Bahrain season opener draws closer. Between them, Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso controlled the top of the timesheets throughout the three-day test at the Spanish track. They were the only men to break through the 1m 12s barrier, with local hero Alonso clocking a best time of 1m 11.470s and Massa a quickest run of 1m 11.722s. Domenicali, however, is hesitant to celebrate the F10's domination just yet. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10404.html Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:28:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10404.html Formula1.com Mercedes GP confirmed on Thursday that Nick Heidfeld is to join the team as their reserve and test driver for the 2010 Formula One season. Heidfeld, who raced for BMW Sauber from 2006-09, joins fellow Germans Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg in the squad's line-up. "I am very pleased to be joining the Mercedes Formula One Team,” said the 32 year-old. “It's the team which has attracted the most interest in the off season, not only because of the comeback of Michael Schumacher... http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10402.html Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:46:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10402.html Formula1.com If the crowd of thousands that descended on the Valencia track on Wednesday made the trip to the Spanish circuit to watch local hero Fernando Alonso in action in a Ferrari for the first time, then they'll leave well satisfied. Not only did Alonso cover 127 laps over the course of the day, but he also topped the timesheets. Clocking a best time of 1m 11.470s, he finished over six tenths of a second ahead of the BMW Sauber of fellow Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa, as this week's three-day test drew to a close. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10400.html Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:35:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10400.html Formula1.com Force India will unveil their 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship challenger, the VJM03, in an online presentation on 9 February, before the car makes its official testing debut at Spain's Jerez circuit the following day. The Mercedes-powered machine, penned under the leadership of Force India design director Mark Smith, will be raced this season by the team's unchanged driver line-up of Germany's Adrian Sutil and Italy's Vitantonio Liuzzi... http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10397.html Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:43:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10397.html Formula1.com The new Virgin Racing team, one of four new entrants to the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship, have published details of their debut race car - the Cosworth-powered VR-01, which has been designed entirely in the digital domain using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics). The black and red liveried car, which will be raced by Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi, was launched online on Wednesday and will begin a two-day shakedown test at Silverstone on Thursday... http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10395.html Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:34:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10395.html Formula1.com Ferrari's Felipe Massa took the top honours for a second consecutive day, as this week's test at Valencia continued on Tuesday. Massa's fastest time of 1m 11.722s in the Italian team's new F10 was over three tenths of a second quicker than the best effort of Kamui Kobayashi, who made his debut for BMW Sauber at the Spanish track. Exactly two-tenths down on Kobayashi was Lewis Hamilton in the McLaren MP4-25. Hamilton completed 108 laps during the course of the day, as he sampled his 2010 car for the first time. Robert Kubica set the fourth-fastest time for Renault, ahead of Nico Rosberg for Mercedes GP. Both Kubica and Rosberg covered 119 laps. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10392.html Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:30:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10392.html Formula1.com Force India confirmed on Tuesday that DTM star Paul di Resta will be the team's test and reserve driver for the 2010 season. The news was announced at a press conference held at the Glasgow headquarters of Force India's principal sponsors, Whyte & Mackay, in Di Resta's native Scotland. “I am ecstatic to finally get the chance to move into F1 at last,” said the 23 year-old. “I'm pleased I can start my F1 career with Force India, a team that has a lot of potential. I see this move as taking me one step closer to achieving my dream of racing in F1 but I know I have a lot to learn in terms of the car and the tracks right now. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10391.html Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:25:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10391.html Formula1.com The Formula One Commission, comprised of the sport's major stakeholders, met on Monday and agreed a number of proposals for last-minute revisions to the 2010 regulations. Among them are further changes to the points system and to the tyre rules. The proposals will be put to the FIA World Motor Sport Council for approval later this week. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10389.html Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:32:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10389.html Formula1.com If Ferrari's Felipe Massa wanted to prove he hasn't changed since his life-threatening accident last July, he did a very good job on Monday in Valencia, topping the timesheets as this year's opening test got underway at the Spanish track. Massa covered 102 laps in the new F10, clocking a best time of 1m 12.574s. Second quickest was Pedro de la Rosa for BMW Sauber. De la Rosa, who has opted to forsake his long-held test role at McLaren for a chance to race at the Swiss team, will no doubt be pleased with the maiden showing of his C29, after he ended the day just over two-tenths down on Massa's Ferrari. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10386.html Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:33:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10386.html Formula1.com Toro Rosso's new STR5, launched in Valencia on Monday, marks the first car built 100 percent in-house by the Italian team following four years of collaboration with Red Bull Technology. Founded in 2006 after Red Bull's purchase of Minardi, Toro Rosso's cars have until now been based on those of Red Bull Racing. However, regulation changes demand they go it alone from 2010 in terms of design and construction... http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10385.html Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:44:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10385.html Formula1.com As 2010's first pre-season test began at Valencia on Monday morning, fans got their first glimpse of the Mercedes GP MGP W01, the Toro Rosso STR5 and the Williams FW32, with the three teams launching their new cars at the Spanish circuit. Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg unveiled Mercedes' challenger, while Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari were on hand as the wraps came off Toro Rosso's Ferrari-powered machine. Williams, meanwhile, chose to hit the track with little pomp or ceremony... http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10384.html Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:15:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/2/10384.html Formula1.com