Bartek Sikorski

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Will this weekend's Grand Prix only be fought out between McLaren and Ferrari or will there be a third winner? Will Kubica's and BMW's bad luck end?

BMW Sauber F1.07 - rear wing update

The F1.07's rear wing sported a new main profile in Malaysia, with its entry edge raised in its central section (red arrow) and its outer extremities bending slightly downwards. This configuration mainly suits the requirements of medium to high dowforce tracks like Sepang. It is likely the wing will be retained for next weekend's race in Bahrain, a circuit with similar characteristics. The overall balance of the FW.07 looked very good in Malaysia, especially in the race, helping Nick Heidfeld to fourth place.

shonguiz

Ferrari, raikonen for the victory.

Alfie

Which of Ferrari and McLaren had the highest top speed in Malaysia?

Straight line speed will have a big importance in bahrain but I still have my hopes up for Ferrari. If only they get a good start. But that Hamilton kid sure can start!

The Artist

Mclaren..fo sho.. their drivers are very focused..and professional..

Bartek Sikorski

- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

I personally bet on Kimi

Hamilton tactics not intentional
Mon 09 Apr, 07:04 PM

Mercedes-Benz's Norbert Haug has denied that Lewis Hamilton deliberately held up the Ferraris in the opening laps of the Malaysian grand prix.


The rookie Briton's slower initial pace than leader Fernando Alonso at Sepang, despite later setting the fastest lap of the race, allowed reigning world champion and new drivers' title leader Alonso to pull out a gap that ultimately proved insurmountable.


It also enticed a frustrated Massa, who a day earlier won the qualifying battle, into launching a failed passing move that relocated him to just fifth at the chequered flag.


But despite team boss Ron Dennis' hints to reporters after the race that both Alonso and Hamilton contributed "tactically" to the victory, Mercedes competition chief Haug said Hamilton did not intentionally hold up the Ferraris.


The German told Premiere: "But it is true that the Ferraris could not drive exactly as they had wanted."

C.Charles

I aint makin' and prodictions... This season hasnt even thought about starting yet..

Bartek Sikorski

BMW: Heidfeld and Kubica will do all FP sessions.

Tue 10 Apr, 12:05 PM



The - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER F1 team has confirmed that they will not run one of their third drivers this weekend in Bahrain, as Sebastian Vettel and - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER will both be busy racing, competing respectively in the World Series by - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER or GP2.
- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER has opted to run a third driver in both events to date this season, with Vettel in action in free practice 1 on the Friday in both Australia and Malaysia.
The Swiss-based outfit has been the only team - along with - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER, who have run Kazuki Nakajima - to take advantage of the new third driver regulations, as most of their rivals have preferred to give the race drivers the track time.
"In Bahrain our race drivers, Nick and Robert, will take part in all free practice sessions," confirmed - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER F1 team boss, Mario Theissen.
"Sebastian Vettel has his debut on the same weekend in the World Series in - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER, our second test driver, also goes racing that weekend for the first time in 2007. He will compete in the GP2 race in Bahrain."
The decision will be a boost for Heidfeld and Kubica, who will now get more track time, as under the regulations for 2007, if a team does opt to run a third driver in FP1 or FP2, then one of the race drivers' has to miss that session, something that could be considered a disadvantage.
As for the event itself, Theissen wants them to get another good result, to build on their two fourth place finishes to date, both courtesy of - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER, which has them finish 'best of the rest', after - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER and - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. "After a strong start to the season in Australia and the hot race in Malaysia [last weekend], in Bahrain the first overseas journey of the season comes to an end. We now want to take a positive result with us back home to Europe," he summed-up.

Bartek Sikorski

Hamilton: I didn't expect two podiums already.

Wed 11 Apr, 06:55 AM



Lewis Hamilton continues to impress casual Formula One observers with his rookie performances, but has admitted that no-one is more surprised at his results than himself.
Hamilton became only the second driver in world championship history to earn podium finishes in his first two grand prix starts when he added second place in Malaysia to a debut third in Australia, following fellow Briton Pete Arundell, who finished third in his first two starts, in - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER and Holland, in 1964. However, while Arundell never again finished on the podium in his two-year grand prix career, no-one is expecting Hamilton to suffer the same fate.
"It is difficult to go into a season and know what to expect," he said in his typically modest style. "Testing is one thing and racing is another - although I knew I am very strong at racing. But I really didn't know what to expect - and I certainly didn't think I would be on the podium in both the first two races."
With - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER and - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER showing themselves to be clear frontrunners this season, the possibility of more podiums is obvious for the reigning GP2 Series champion, although Hamilton's team boss is making no predictions about how the season will pan out.
"We will do everything we can to win both world championships, but there is an awful long way to go yet," Ron Dennis insisted, "We are under no illusions. - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER is a very strong team."
- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER's Jean Todt was, for once, in agreement with his opposite number, admitting that the fortunes of both teams will rise and fall as the year goes on. "Three weeks ago, we were going to be unbeatable," Todt said of the reaction to - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER's dominant win, "We said that it's not like that. Now it seems that it's completely finished for - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. But, again, it's not completely like that."

Bartek Sikorski

Raikkonen leads early Ferrari dominance.

Fri 13 Apr, 10:42 AM


- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER headed a - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 1-2 in the opening practice session for this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix, lapping almost a second faster than the best of the McLarens.
The Finn bided his time before entering the 90-minute session, no doubt keen for others to clear the dust and sand from the track surface, but was immediately on the pace, showing the benefit if having tested at the - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER circuit in the build-up to the new season. Although the Australian GP winner eventually completed 21 laps, it was his early tours that counted most, taking him to the head of the time and proving to be out of the reach of everyone else.
That included - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER team-mate - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER who, despite finishing as second fastest, was 0.517secs adrift of the Finn. Massa followed a similar programme to his Maranello colleague, completing 17 laps in the second half of the session, and enjoyed a comfortable cushion back to third spot, which was occupied by - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER nemesis Lewis Hamilton.
The Briton matched his rival in terms of lap count, but could do nothing about either - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER in terms of pace, as Massa lapped nearly half a second quicker, meaning that Raikkonen was a massive 0.9secs clear. Although - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ensured that both McLarens were in the top four, he proved close only to his rookie team-mate - the pair split by just 0.05secs.
While the top four were filled pretty much as expected, especially after all bar - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER and Spyker had taken up the opportunity to test at - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER pre-season, the rest of the field was pretty fluid, with - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER giving - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER some early encouragement in fifth and - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER providing the surprise of the session by hauling his - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER up into eighth, sandwiching the two - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Saubers.
Defying its absence from the pre-season group test, - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER managed to put both its regular pilots into the top ten, with - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ahead of Alex Wurz. Both will be out again in the second session later in the day, with regular reserve Kazuki Nakajima otherwise engaged on his GP2 debut. Likewise, both - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER and Robert Kubica - sixth and seventh respectively - will get the full complement of testing, with Sebastian Vettel away on World Series duty and - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER joining Nakajima in the F1 support paddock. - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER gave - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER a shot in the arm with eleventh but, with team-mate - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER back in 17th, the team will wait for further developments before knowing whether it can get its hopes up. The Briton did finish ahead of both Renaults, however - with Heikki Kovalainen quicker than - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - and - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER's - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. Super Aguri were also slower than Button, with - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER and - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER taking 16th and 18th respectively, leaving - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER to fend off Spyker at the foot of the timesheets. The - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER team was clearly missing the data it could have gathered from the - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER test, Adrian Sutil lapping half a second off - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER and 3.9secs from Raikkonen respectively.

Bartek Sikorski

Bahreïn - Practice session 1
PosDriverTimeGap
1 K. Räikkönen 1:33:162
2 F. Massa 1:33:679 0"517
3 L. Hamilton 1:34:110 0"948
4 F. Alonso 1:34:161 0"999
5 J. Trulli 1:34:896 1"734
6 N. Heidfeld 1:35:076 1"914
7 R. Kubica 1:35:248 2"086
8 V. Liuzzi 1:35:292 2"130
9 N. Rosberg 1:35:375 2"213
10 A. Wurz 1:35:398 2"236
11 J. Button 1:35:445 2"283
12 H. Kovalainen 1:35:474 2"312
13 R. Schumacher 1:35:573 2"411
14 G. Fisichella 1:35:697 2"535
15 S. Speed 1:35:726 2"564
16 T. Sato 1:35:856 2"694
17 R. Barrichello 1:35:911 2"749
18 A. Davidson 1:36:243 3"081
19 M. Webber 1:36:483 3"321
20 D. Coulthard 1:36:513 3"351
21 A. Sutil 1:37:084 3"922
22 C. Albers 1:38:258 5"096