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Ferrari eyes championship glory with F10

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:18:09 +0000

Ferrari is confident that its all-new F10 design is a big step forward over last year’s car, as it eyes a full-scale world championship assault this season.

The team’s 2010 challenger was unveiled in Maranello on Thursday morning, with the Italian squad hoping that its early focus on the new car will see a return to form after the difficulties of last season.

Technical director Aldo Costa said: “We think this new car is a good step forward in aero development, car settings and also engine – and we are pretty much convinced we have taken a big step forward.

“We cannot know what our competitors have done, and only during the first race will we realise that. But it carries all our passion and the determination of a group that wants to forget what happened last year and go back to being competitive from the very first race.”

Ferrari began work on the F10 as early as last spring, and by the summer its design staff were working wholly on the new car after abandoning development of the F2009.

Costa said that a lot of development work had been spent on optimising the double diffuser on the new car – having been forced to integrate as best as possible on last year’s machine.

“As you know double diffusers were made legal during the previous season,” he said. “It revolutionised and changed the design of the cars – and we had to start it from zero, from scratch.

“We have adopted the concept, and this is something that was not possible during the last championship when the car had already been designed.

“A big change has taken place – not a dramatic change like from 2008 to 2009, but the car is substantially different from the previous cars.”

Ferrari plans a host of aerodynamic upgrades prior to the first race, and has pencilled in major aerodynamic and mechanical upgrades over the course of the year.

Chief designer Nikolas Tombazis added: “F10 is totally revised compared to the previous one.

“We are very much satisfied with the work we have done, although we are very aware of the fact that we will see on track if we have worked enough.

“It was good team work and all of the departments have worked hard. We are confident this car represents a step ahead and we look forward to seeing the first races.”

Massa enjoys Barcelona test

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:50:31 +0000

Felipe Massa reckons he is in perfect shape to get down to work with his new Ferrari from the start of next month after completing a day behind the wheel of an F2008 at Barcelona on Friday.

The Brazilian completed around 90 laps of the Circuit de Catalunya at the wheel of a two-year old car, which was fitted with demonstration tyres because of Formula 1’s testing ban rules.

No times were issued after his run, but Massa was delighted with how the day had gone.

“It was a perfect way to optimise my form here in Barcelona,” he said.

“I’m really happy that I had this new opportunity to get behind the wheel of a Formula 1 single-seater on a race track. I can’t wait to sit in the new car and get stuck in.”

Massa will be present at the unveiling of Ferrari’s 2010 challenger at Maranello next Thursday, prior to its first day of testing at Valencia from February 1.

Rossi thrilled with his F1 test pace

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:05:24 +0000

Valentino Rossi was ecstatic after lapping close to recent Formula 1 pace at the end of his two-day Ferrari test at Catalunya.

The MotoGP champion set a time of 1m21.900s during a qualifying simulation late this afternoon. Although direct comparisons are impossible as Rossi was using a 2008 Ferrari chassis fitted with GP2 specification slick tyres, Jenson Button’s pole time at the venue last year was a 1m20.527s, while Kimi Raikkonen took the top spot on the 2008 grid with a 1m21.813s.

“We kept the last three quarters of an hour to try a ‘time attack’ with little petrol and fresh tyres,” said Rossi. “I would have given anything for such a lap time.”

He added that he found the Barcelona track more enjoyable than Mugello, the venue for his last F1 test in November 2008.

“It’s more fun here, because it’s a little bit easier,” said Rossi. “It’s more effort in Mugello, but this track here is really wonderful, with motorbikes and cars, although I have to say that Turn 10 is a little tight and you’re braking much later.”

Ferrari’s Luca Baldisserri said Rossi had made great strides during the test, which had been disrupted by poor weather.

“We tried different set-ups and he improved a lot,” said Baldisserri. “This means that the driver learns quickly and has room for improvement.”

Rossi will now hand the F2008 over to Felipe Massa, who will test tomorrow to continue his preparation for returning to F1 after last year’s head injury.

Rossi thrilled with his F1 test pace

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:05:24 +0000

Valentino Rossi was ecstatic after lapping close to recent Formula 1 pace at the end of his two-day Ferrari test at Catalunya.

“We kept the last three quarters of an hour to try a ‘time attack’ with little petrol and fresh tyres,” said Rossi. “I would have given anything for such a lap time.”

He added that he found the Barcelona track more enjoyable than Mugello, the venue for his last F1 test in November 2008.

Ferrari’s Luca Baldisserri said Rossi had made great strides during the test, which had been disrupted by poor weather.

“We tried different set-ups and he improved a lot,” said Baldisserri. “This means that the driver learns quickly and has room for improvement.”

Rossi will now hand the F2008 over to Felipe Massa, who will test tomorrow to continue his preparation for returning to F1 after last year’s head injury.

Massa lines up F2008 test in Spain

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:38:53 +0000

Felipe Massa is to test a 2008 Ferrari at Spanish Grand Prix venue Catalunya on Friday.

The session will be the third time that the Brazilian has got behind the wheel of an old Ferrari during his recovery from the head injuries sustained at the Hungaroring last summer. He has previously driven an F2007 chassis at Fiorano and Mugello.

Ferrari is already in action at Barcelona this week as its Clienti department is giving MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi two days of running in an F2008. Massa will then take over the car, which is running on GP2 tyres to comply with the Formula 1 testing ban, for Friday.

“As the car and the track were available I thought it would be helpful to go onto the track for a day to continue gaining confidence with the Formula 1,” Massa said.

“After the days in Fiorano and Mugello this will be a nice opportunity to get back driving on such an interesting and challenging track.”

Bortolotti considering F2 comeback

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:29:15 +0000

Mirko Bortolotti says he would rather focus on a return to Formula 2 in 2010 than on speculation linking him to F1.

The 20-year-old tested for Ferrari after winning the Italian F3 title in 2008 and finished fourth in F2 last year before being called up by Toro Rosso for the F1 young driver test at Jerez in November.

Rumours had linked Bortolotti with a role at Toro Rosso, but he has since parted company with the Red Bull Junior programme.

“F2 is a major option for me in 2010 and I am not even thinking about F1 at the moment,” he said. “I think it’s vital that you’re fully prepared in speed, experience and consistency before you make that step.

“There are so many things to learn and I want to reach Formula 1 when I am in the right moment of my career. F1 is not a game, so at the moment I am better to focus on learning and improving for the future.”

Bortolotti says he hasn’t yet finalised his plans for this season, but has an eye on taking the F2 title if he returns.

“It’s an exciting possibility,” he added. “I really don’t know where I will be, but if I am racing in F2 then I will definitely be targeting the championship.”

Jim Russell winner to get free F2 drive

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:35:02 +0000

The winner of this year’s North American-based Jim Russell Championship will receive a fully funded season in Formula 2 in 2011.

The Jim Russell series holds 16 races over eight weekends using Lola Formula 3 chassis with turbocharged Mitsubishi engines.

“The addition of the F2 award to our champion firmly sets the Jim Russell Championship as the premier developmental series that provides an excellent path to the upper echelons of motorsport at an amazingly low cost,” said Jim Russell racing school president Chip Pankow.

“Our series has been designed to foster and identify talent with the emphasis on value for money. Our philosophy is that a career in motorsport should be as merit-based as possible, not purely a financial equation.”

Le Mans winner Allan McNish was one of the judges that handed out scholarships to the US series, which costs just $129,000 for a season.

“The standard of drivers at our search was extremely high,” said McNish. “They’ll be fighting for the title and the fully paid F2 drive that offers the prospect of knocking on the door of Formula 1.”

Soucek hails upgraded F2 car progress

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:25:31 +0000

Formula 2 champion Andy Soucek has praised the progress of the F2 car following the upgrades introduced for the 2010 season.

The Williams-designed machine is undergoing a development programme that has meant it is already a second quicker per lap than in its debut season in 2009.

Further updates are scheduled to be introduced later this month.

“The car is developing nicely and we have already made progress with the set-up, extra power, electronics and the throttle map,” said Soucek, the man in charge of driving the development car.

“The car was already more than a second quicker than the others in Portimao and we still have a lot to come, so it is all very positive.

“I am very focussed on developing the F2 car – after one year of knowing the car, the championship and all of the personnel I was very keen to be involved.

“The programme went really well before Christmas – Giles Butterfield and the team are working really hard and I am enjoying working with them very much. It has been hard work but also very rewarding.”

The 2010 car will have an increase in engine power, with a new turbocharger which will raise the power from 400bhp to 425bhp.

Thanks to that, and the improved aero efficiency, Soucek reckons the car will be three seconds faster than last year.

“I am looking forward to the new aero package and the reduction in weight – I hope that the 2010 car will be around three seconds per lap quicker than last year,” he added.

“We have an important programme in the coming weeks and I am really excited about it. The plan is to improve the car in all areas and I will be proud to be a part of the presentation once it is finished.

“No matter where I am over the coming years I always want to be a part of F2 – I owe Jonathan Palmer and the championship a lot and I am delighted to be closely involved in F2’s future.”

Show news and interview round-up

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:47:39 +0000

World champion Jenson Button starred at the AUTOSPORT International Show last weekend, making several appearances for interviews on the AUTOSPORT stage and taking questions from the huge number of fans gathered.

Other stars taking to the stage included Sir Stirling Moss, Martin Brundle, Christian Horner, Johnny Herbert, Allan McNish, Alex Wurz and Paul di Resta.

AUTOSPORT brings you a Monday morning summary of the biggest headlines and interviews from throughout the AUTOSPORT International Show.

The big stories

Coulthard unveils Castrol Rankings

Coulthard: Schumacher to shock youngsters

Palmer: Donington situation ‘a tragedy’

Silverstone set to decide on GP layout

Lola remains interested in F1 entry

Wurz not interested in F1 return

Moss doubts Schumacher’s title chances

Paffett to stay on as McLaren tester

Shortcut plan a bad idea, says Button

Di Resta close to Force India role

McNish, Minassian want LMP1 world championship

Button McLaren debut set for February 3

Herbert: Schumacher won’t have it easy

Button: No excuses if we don’t hit ground running

Brundle calls for changes to test rules

The big interviews

For the first time, AUTOSPORT brings you video footage from the interviews on the stage.

Sir Stirling Moss

Jenson Button (Saturday)

Jenson Button (fans Q&A part one)

Jenson Button (fans Q&A part two)

Martin Brundle

Martin and Alex Brundle

Jenson Button (Sunday)

Martin Brundle, Allan McNish and Johnny Herbert (part one)

Martin Brundle, Allan McNish and Johnny Herbert (part two)

Christian Horner (part one)

Christian Horner (part two)

Allan McNish and Alex Wurz

*The full list of AUTOSPORT International video interviews is available at AUTOSPORT.com’s YouTube channel, here.