All news from Formula1.com http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/ en-US Formula1.com Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:58:21 GMT Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:58:21 GMT 15 http://www.formula1.com/wi/225x150/manual/dmk0610fe82.jpg http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2010/2/10415.html (L to R): Adrian Sutil (GER) Force India F1 with team mate Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA) Force India F1. Force India Studio Shoot, Silverstone, England, 8 February 2010. Force India racers Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi discuss the team's new car and their prospects for the coming season… Q: Adrian, 2009 was a transitional year for the team, and you scored your best result in F1 to date. How would you sum up the year? Adrian Sutil: 2009 was a really important year. I was very close to scoring points in a lot of races and, frustratingly, something always happened. So when we got to Monza, it was a pretty perfect weekend. I scored my first front row, my first points since 2007 and it gave me a lot of extra confidence. I was very happy when the success came http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2010/2/10415.html Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:14:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2010/2/10415.html Formula1.com Force India's design director Mark Smith discusses the team's 2010 car, reflects on how this year's rule changes have influenced the VJM03's design, and contemplates the challenges ahead… Q: Last winter Force India had to deal with a relatively late change of engine supplier and the switch to a McLaren gearbox. How much smoother have things been this time around? Mark Smith: It's been a lot smoother. From the very beginning we designed the VJM03 in full knowledge of the engine and gearbox that we would be using for 2010, which gave us a significant advantage by comparison with respect to the same point in design time for VJM02. Fundamentally, http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2010/2/10416.html Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:13:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2010/2/10416.html Formula1.com 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 The fact that Toro Rosso beat their senior team Red Bull to the test track at the opening Valencia session raised more than a few eyebrows up and down the pit lane last week. Whilst Red Bull focused on last-minute wind tunnel work with their RB6, the Faenza-based squad decided to test the new STR5 on the circuit. Driver Sebastien Buemi couldn't have agreed more with his team's hands-on approach and here he gives his verdict on his new car… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2010/2/10412.html Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:28:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2010/2/10412.html Formula1.com BMW Sauber drivers Pedro de la Rosa and Kamui Kobayashi racked up exactly 1,001 kilometres in the first test of the 2010 season in Valencia, Spain, last week, with the team's new car showing some encouraging pace. Technical director Willy Rampf gives his initial verdict… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2010/2/10410.html Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:53:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2010/2/10410.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 In 2009, Kamui Kobayashi changed his destiny when he was drafted in for two Grands Prix to replace an injured Timo Glock at Toyota. After a passable debut in Brazil, Kobayashi outpaced veteran team mate Jarno Trulli in the Abu Dhabi season finale, scored three points, and all but secured himself a full-time race seat for 2010. While Toyota's sudden exit just days later dampened his hopes, he soon found a new home at BMW Sauber. Here he reveals how he hopes to make his big opportunity pay off… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2010/2/10408.html Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:02:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2010/2/10408.html Formula1.com The maiden run of Williams' FW32 at the Valencia test on Monday was a cause for celebration for not just the British team, but also their engine supplier Cosworth. As the company's first Formula One foray since 2006, it's an exciting time, and with the debut of the similarly-engined Virgin VR-01 on Thursday, plus a further three Cosworth-powered teams about to launch, it's only going to get more thrilling. Mark Gallagher, general manager of Cosworth's F1 Business Unit, reveals more… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2010/2/10407.html Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:09:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2010/2/10407.html Formula1.com This week's Valencia test was the first opportunity for the teams and drivers to sample Bridgestone's 2010 specification Potenza F1 tyres. The new front tyres are 20mm narrower than 2009's - a move designed to redress the balance of the cars after grooves were removed for the start of last season. With refuelling now banned, the rear tyres also feature a new construction to cope with cars that will be heavier for longer during Grands Prix. Tetsuro Kobayashi, Bridgestone Motorsport's technical manager, explains more and reviews testing progress… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2010/2/10406.html Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:53:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2010/2/10406.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 Following this week's Valencia test, all the drivers were modest in their praise of their new cars. All you hear is that their 2010 machine 'feels positive' or 'feels good'; certainly nobody is willing to stick their neck out and state that their car is a potential race winner, as Jenson Button did last year about his eventual title-winning Brawn. This season, however, the reigning world champion is more cautious as he reviews his first ride in McLaren's MP4-25… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2010/2/10401.html Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:54:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2010/2/10401.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