News headlines from Formula1.com http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/ en-GB Formula1.com Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:24:13 GMT Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:24:13 GMT 15 http://www.formula1.com/photos/225x150/manual/63557_080049tst.jpg http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8730.html Valentino Rossi (ITA), Ferrari F2008, Mugello, Italy. November 20, 2008. © Ferrari S.p.A. MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi made his comeback behind the wheel of a Ferrari on Thursday as he began a two-day test - purely for fun - at the Italian team's Mugello circuit. Rossi's car was fitted with his famous number 46 to mark the occasion, as both parties celebrated their victorious 2008 seasons. Rossi is no stranger to Formula One power, having previously tested with Ferrari in 2005 and 2006 at Fiorano, Mugello and Valencia... http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8730.html Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:35:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8730.html Formula1.com Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel maintained his stranglehold at the top of the timesheets on Wednesday, as this week's multi-team test session at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya drew to a close. Vettel clocked a quickest lap of 1m 19.925s around the Spanish track to finish almost six-tenths ahead of former Toro Rosso team mate Sebastian Bourdais... http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8727.html Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:44:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8727.html Formula1.com Sebastian Vettel stormed to the top of the timesheets for Red Bull on Tuesday, as testing continued at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya. Vettel clocked a best lap of 1m 19.751s in the RB4 at the Spanish track, to finish over three-tenths of a second clear of the Toro Rosso of Takuma Sato, Monday's fastest runner. Vettel covered 70 laps, despite a brief brake problem in the morning, and focused mainly on tyre testing, running the softer of the two Bridgestone slicks available... http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8725.html Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:14:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8725.html Formula1.com 2008 Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton is to make a special appearance at this year's Race of Champions event, which will take place at London's Wembley stadium on December 14. Hamilton will complete a demonstration run in his MP4-23, before racing Olympic cycling gold medallist Chris Hoy around the arena's temporary track. “This is going to be something very special,” said Hamilton. “I've done F1 demonstration runs away from race tracks before, but Wembley Stadium's completely different, the atmosphere is going to be crazy. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8721.html Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:12:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8721.html Formula1.com McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa has swapped his MP4-23 for a Force India at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya on Tuesday. De la Rosa, who tested for McLaren on Monday, has already completed his first foray around the Spanish circuit in the Force India. Last week the Silverstone-based team announced that they will use Mercedes-Benz engines and McLaren gearboxes next season, as part of a new technical partnership between the two outfits. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8719.html Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:11:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8719.html Formula1.com Former Super Aguri racer Takuma Sato made a triumphant return to Formula One testing, setting the fastest time for Toro Rosso at a packed Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona on Monday. Sato clocked a best of 1m 20.763s to beat Sebastian Buemi, also in action for the Italian squad, to the top slot by over three-tenths of a second. With sunny and dry conditions at the Spanish track, Sato was able to cover 121 laps in the STR3, while Buemi completed 117. The duo are competing for a race seat for the 2009 season... http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8718.html Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:15:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8718.html Formula1.com Preparations for next season take centre stage from Monday, as the majority of Formula One teams kick off their winter test programmes with a three-day session at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya in Spain. Although it's too early for the debut of any 2009 cars, engineers and drivers will be busy tackling the key rule changes for next season in interim machines. Among the more noticeable changes, we can expect slick tyres and revised aero packages - wider, lower wings at the front and taller, narrower ones at the rear. Less obvious will be development work on the Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) which become legal for '09 http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8716.html Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:10:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8716.html Formula1.com Reigning Formula Renault 3.5 champion Giedo van der Garde has been invited to test for Renault at next week's official Formula One test at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, as part of his prize for winning the series. Van der Garde, who tested for Spyker in 2007, will take charge of the French team's R28 from November 17-18. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8675.html Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:37:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8675.html Formula1.com With their driver line-up for 2009 still unconfirmed, Toro Rosso plan to assess a trio of drivers at next week's multi-team test at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya. Red Bull tester Sebastien Buemi, former Super Aguri racer Takuma Sato and the Italian team's 2008 driver, Sebastien Bourdais, will each make an appearance in the Toro Rosso's cockpit over the course of the test session. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8674.html Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:05:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8674.html Formula1.com With its electric atmosphere, stunning cityscape backdrop and packed grandstands, September's Singapore Grand Prix was one of the highlights of the 2008 season. And the spectacular success of Formula One racing's first-ever night race has now been recognised at the Professional Motorsport World awards, which were held in the German city of Cologne on Tuesday. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8672.html Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:21:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8672.html Formula1.com McLaren engine partners Mercedes held their annual Stars & Cars Day in Germany this weekend, marking the end of their motorsport season and heralding the success of 2008 drivers' champion Lewis Hamilton. Meanwhile, the Ferrari World Finals at Mugello saw the Italian team celebrating their 2008 constructors' title. Over 70,000 visitors, including world boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, were present at Mercedes-Benz World in Stuttgart to welcome Hamilton for a day of festivities, on and off the track... http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8669.html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:15:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8669.html Formula1.com Force India will use Mercedes-Benz engines and McLaren gearboxes from next season following the confirmation of a new technical partnership. It comes after last week's news that Ferrari had agreed to end their engine supply deal with the team a year early. Force India's 2009 car, the VJM02, will run engines supplied by Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines, the first time Mercedes has supplied a chassis constructor other than McLaren... http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8667.html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:17:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8667.html Formula1.com After visits to Johannesburg, Kiev and most recently Lisbon, Renault travelled to New Delhi in India at the weekend to demonstrate their cars as part of their 2008 Roadshow programme. Following several weeks of preparation in close collaboration with Renault India, the demonstration saw Nelson Piquet and Renault third driver Lucas Di Grassi take to the streets of the Indian capital in a first for the team and for the residents of New Delhi, who showed great support for the event... http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8665.html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:33:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8665.html Formula1.com Force India have reorganised their management structure ahead of the 2009 season, with chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne and team principal Colin Kolles both being sidelined. Team owner Vijay Mallya will take over from Kolles, assisted in his expanded role by Director of Force India, Robert Fernley. In light of Gascoyne's departure, design director Mark Smith and technical director James Key will share the task of designing 2009's VJM02 and all other future cars... http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8664.html Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:58:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8664.html Formula1.com Force India have announced that they have ended their engine-supply contract with Ferrari. The agreement, signed in 2007, lasted until the end of 2009, but will now terminate ahead of schedule at the request of Force India. “Force India wishes to thank Ferrari for its much appreciated and valued support to date, which has always been carried out at the highest level... http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8663.html Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:19:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/11/8663.html Formula1.com