Rival teams could soon be seeking out Jenson Button for a chat about 2010 after an unnamed team boss admitted that he wouldn't mind having the Brit race for him.
Button is one of the hottest stars in Formula One at present after the Brit claimed five victories in the opening six races. As such he's leading the Drivers' Championship, which many believe no one can stop him from winning.
It's his future, though, that is grabbing headlines with Brawn GP confessing they want to sign the 29-year-old for the remainder of his career.
However, Brawn could face a tough battle as other more well-financed outfits are also interested in Button's services.
"We'd love to have him in our car next year," a rival team boss told The Mirror.
"There are going to be quite a few seats open next year and Jenson is going to be at the top of many people's lists.
"How could he not be after his performances in the last few races? Any question marks that were remaining disappeared after his pace in Monaco.
"And it wasn't just that he won it, it was that he started the weekend with a car he was far from happy with and developed it into a winning car.
"Apparently, even Rubens Barrichello was surprised with the pace he got out of the car right at the end of qualifying.
"We are certainly interested in his services and have made that known, but we'd be daft to assume we're the only ones.
"A lot of people like the humble way he has carried himself at a time when he could have crowed and told his critics 'I told you so'".
Monday, June 1, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
McLaren hoping for improvement in Turkey
After a disastrous Monaco Grand Prix McLaren are not expecting things to get much better in Istanbul, but several minor upgrades to their car should keep them the mix for points.
McLaren will be looking to put the Monaco Grand Prix behind them going into next week’s Turkish Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton epitomised the team’s torrid start to the season by crashing out in qualifying, effectively writing off his race - and with it his hopes of defending his title - while Heikki Kovalainen consolidated the nightmare by dropping his car into the barriers in the race after running as high as seventh.
It was something of an opportunity missed too. The Hamilton-McLaren package was widely tipped to shine in Monte Carlo with the twisty street circuit masking the aerodynamic flaws of the MP4-24.
The Istabul Speed Circuit with its flowing high speed corners couldn’t be further apart from the streets of Monaco and that is why McLaren are bracing themselves for another difficult weekend.
“We go to Turkey in the knowledge that the track characteristics are a bit less likely to suit our package than Monaco,” conceded McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh.
Mercedes Benz boss Norbert Haug added: “KERS should again be a good support to improve our lap times, but nevertheless the Turkish Grand Prix will be a demanding challenge for us.”
However, McLaren, continuing their highly effective piecemeal approach to development this season - compare BMW Sauber who have been forced to make radical changes to an under performing car - will bring several minor upgrades to their car for Istanbul which they hope will keep them in contention for points.
“We are improving all the time, confirmed Whitmarsh. “We have several minor upgrades for MP4-24 and look forward to assessing our competitiveness against our rivals.”
Lewis Hamilton meanwhile, who put in a sensational charge to second place in Istanbul last year despite being forced to make an extra pit stop for tyres, is relishing the prospect of throwing his car around the undulating circuit.
“I love racing in Turkey,” he said. “It’s a real challenge because you need to attack the lap to get a good time, but you also need to be careful with your tyres - if you push too much, particularly through Turn Eight, then your tyres are going to suffer. It’s all about finding the perfect balance in practice and being disciplined in the race so you don’t overdo it.”
“I also love the fact that it’s a new circuit that has really captured the flavour of some of the older, classic tracks – it’s got a bit of everything and is fantastic to drive. Also, as it’s anti-clockwise, it gives your neck a bit of a workout – but you just need to make sure you’ve exercised the left side of your neck a little more than usual before getting in the car.”
Heikki Kovalainen concurred: “Turkey is all about Turn Eight – the high-speed, four-apex left-hander. On a good day in qualifying, it’s flat-out – and that’s a pretty good feeling when you get it right.”
“It’s also very important to look after your tyres through Turn Eight – you put a lot of load through the tyres, particularly the fronts, so it’s a good idea to look after them during the race. The best place to overtake here is into Turn 12, the corner at the end of the back straight. You can get a good tow and slipstream past – with KERS we should hopefully see some exciting racing.”
McLaren will be looking to put the Monaco Grand Prix behind them going into next week’s Turkish Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton epitomised the team’s torrid start to the season by crashing out in qualifying, effectively writing off his race - and with it his hopes of defending his title - while Heikki Kovalainen consolidated the nightmare by dropping his car into the barriers in the race after running as high as seventh.
It was something of an opportunity missed too. The Hamilton-McLaren package was widely tipped to shine in Monte Carlo with the twisty street circuit masking the aerodynamic flaws of the MP4-24.
The Istabul Speed Circuit with its flowing high speed corners couldn’t be further apart from the streets of Monaco and that is why McLaren are bracing themselves for another difficult weekend.
“We go to Turkey in the knowledge that the track characteristics are a bit less likely to suit our package than Monaco,” conceded McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh.
Mercedes Benz boss Norbert Haug added: “KERS should again be a good support to improve our lap times, but nevertheless the Turkish Grand Prix will be a demanding challenge for us.”
However, McLaren, continuing their highly effective piecemeal approach to development this season - compare BMW Sauber who have been forced to make radical changes to an under performing car - will bring several minor upgrades to their car for Istanbul which they hope will keep them in contention for points.
“We are improving all the time, confirmed Whitmarsh. “We have several minor upgrades for MP4-24 and look forward to assessing our competitiveness against our rivals.”
Lewis Hamilton meanwhile, who put in a sensational charge to second place in Istanbul last year despite being forced to make an extra pit stop for tyres, is relishing the prospect of throwing his car around the undulating circuit.
“I love racing in Turkey,” he said. “It’s a real challenge because you need to attack the lap to get a good time, but you also need to be careful with your tyres - if you push too much, particularly through Turn Eight, then your tyres are going to suffer. It’s all about finding the perfect balance in practice and being disciplined in the race so you don’t overdo it.”
“I also love the fact that it’s a new circuit that has really captured the flavour of some of the older, classic tracks – it’s got a bit of everything and is fantastic to drive. Also, as it’s anti-clockwise, it gives your neck a bit of a workout – but you just need to make sure you’ve exercised the left side of your neck a little more than usual before getting in the car.”
Heikki Kovalainen concurred: “Turkey is all about Turn Eight – the high-speed, four-apex left-hander. On a good day in qualifying, it’s flat-out – and that’s a pretty good feeling when you get it right.”
“It’s also very important to look after your tyres through Turn Eight – you put a lot of load through the tyres, particularly the fronts, so it’s a good idea to look after them during the race. The best place to overtake here is into Turn 12, the corner at the end of the back straight. You can get a good tow and slipstream past – with KERS we should hopefully see some exciting racing.”
Friday, May 29, 2009
Toyota’s Monaco debacle will not be repeated.
Timo Glock has said he feels positive that Toyota’s Monaco debacle will not be repeated.
The German qualified at the back of the grid and finished 10th, with a car that was far off the pace for the front runners. But Glock feels this was an anomaly in a season where Toyota have generally been running closer to the front than ever before.
“I am confident Monaco was a one-off because we had been really competitive in the previous races, so we know the car is pretty good,” said Glock. “Monaco is a unique track so I think we won’t have the same issues in Turkey.
“Nevertheless, we have to push really hard to understand what happened and to improve the car for the next races. We are third in the Constructors’ Championship and everyone back in Cologne is working hard to get more and more performance from the car so even though Monaco was disappointing we are staying positive. This is important.”
The faster Istanbul and Silverstone circuits upcoming are thought to favour cars similar in build to the Toyota, with a long wheelbase. Red Bull are expecting a more competitive weekend in Turkey as well, and hope to compete with Ferrari. Meanwhile, Brawn’s advantage has traditionally been negated on lower-downforce circuits.
The German qualified at the back of the grid and finished 10th, with a car that was far off the pace for the front runners. But Glock feels this was an anomaly in a season where Toyota have generally been running closer to the front than ever before.
“I am confident Monaco was a one-off because we had been really competitive in the previous races, so we know the car is pretty good,” said Glock. “Monaco is a unique track so I think we won’t have the same issues in Turkey.
“Nevertheless, we have to push really hard to understand what happened and to improve the car for the next races. We are third in the Constructors’ Championship and everyone back in Cologne is working hard to get more and more performance from the car so even though Monaco was disappointing we are staying positive. This is important.”
The faster Istanbul and Silverstone circuits upcoming are thought to favour cars similar in build to the Toyota, with a long wheelbase. Red Bull are expecting a more competitive weekend in Turkey as well, and hope to compete with Ferrari. Meanwhile, Brawn’s advantage has traditionally been negated on lower-downforce circuits.
'Ferrari to sign up, Toyota to quit'
Ferrari and the other FOTA members, barring Toyota, are all expected to sign up for next year's Championship by the close of play today.
The teams have until today, Friday 29th May, to sign up for the 2010 Formula One season after Max Mosley pushed forward the deadline.
However, in the build-up to D-Day there has been a great deal of political tension between the teams and Mosley as the FIA President put into place plans to introduce a budget cap and two-tier regulations that would favour those agreeing to the cap.
This resulted in some of the teams; Ferrari, Renault, Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Toyota; threatening to quit the sport.
But after weeks of wrangling, the two parties have reportedly agreed to a £85m restriction in 2010 with the cap dropping to £40m the following season. There will also be one set of regulations for all teams while the existing teams have undertaken to help out any new entrants by supplying cheap parts and technical expertise.
"We are not meant to say anything, but you can expect Ferrari and the others to sign up," an insider told the Daily Mail.
Meanwhile, the Telegraph is reporting that Ferrari's 'entry will be conditional on the response of the FIA, the sport's governing body, to a proposal submitted this morning by the Formula One Teams Association. The proposal will demand assurances regarding the stability, governance and rule-making within the sport.'
But while Ferrari are expected to sign up, one team that reportedly won't is Toyota as the Japanese manufacturer is believed to be pulling out of Formula One at the end of the season.
'As for Toyota, they are looking for an elegant exit. Their Formula One project has failed to deliver fruit, despite annual expenditure of around £300m,' claimed the Daily Mail.
'With their fellow Japanese manufacturers Honda having withdrawn last December, they can depart without too much embarrassment at home. Grand prix racing can live without them, if not Ferrari.'
The FIA will announce the names of next season's participants on June 12.
The teams have until today, Friday 29th May, to sign up for the 2010 Formula One season after Max Mosley pushed forward the deadline.
However, in the build-up to D-Day there has been a great deal of political tension between the teams and Mosley as the FIA President put into place plans to introduce a budget cap and two-tier regulations that would favour those agreeing to the cap.
This resulted in some of the teams; Ferrari, Renault, Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Toyota; threatening to quit the sport.
But after weeks of wrangling, the two parties have reportedly agreed to a £85m restriction in 2010 with the cap dropping to £40m the following season. There will also be one set of regulations for all teams while the existing teams have undertaken to help out any new entrants by supplying cheap parts and technical expertise.
"We are not meant to say anything, but you can expect Ferrari and the others to sign up," an insider told the Daily Mail.
Meanwhile, the Telegraph is reporting that Ferrari's 'entry will be conditional on the response of the FIA, the sport's governing body, to a proposal submitted this morning by the Formula One Teams Association. The proposal will demand assurances regarding the stability, governance and rule-making within the sport.'
But while Ferrari are expected to sign up, one team that reportedly won't is Toyota as the Japanese manufacturer is believed to be pulling out of Formula One at the end of the season.
'As for Toyota, they are looking for an elegant exit. Their Formula One project has failed to deliver fruit, despite annual expenditure of around £300m,' claimed the Daily Mail.
'With their fellow Japanese manufacturers Honda having withdrawn last December, they can depart without too much embarrassment at home. Grand prix racing can live without them, if not Ferrari.'
The FIA will announce the names of next season's participants on June 12.
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