Sepang Circuits News

China moves to April as FIA issues revised 2009 calendar

webmaster — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:00:34 +0800

On Wednesday Formula One racing’s governing body, the FIA, released an amended calendar for the 2009 season. The revised schedule for the 17-race championship sees the Chinese Grand Prix move from its traditional October slot to an April date, the Shanghai race now taking place a week before Bahrain.

The FIA also revealed later start times for the opening two rounds, with the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix both getting underway at 1700 hours local time. Near the end of the season, the Japanese Grand Prix will also commence at the later time of 1500 hours.

Montezemolo delighted with Ferrari's 16th constructors' title

webmaster — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:59:46 +0800

Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo has paid tribute to the Italian team and its drivers, Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, after the outfit claimed their 16th constructors’ title on Sunday in Brazil. Ferrari finished the season with 172 points to McLaren’s 151.

Hamilton receives a hero’s welcome at Woking

webmaster — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:56:07 +0800

After the drama and the jubilation of Brazil, new world champion Lewis Hamilton finally got to thank those who had made it all possible on Wednesday, as he arrived home to McLaren’s UK headquarters in Woking.

After a rapturous reception from the team’s entire workforce, Hamilton paid tribute to their efforts throughout the 2008 season, expressing his gratitude for all their work behind the scenes that allowed him to become the youngest man ever to take the drivers’ title.

Alonso and Piquet to remain at Renault for 2009

webmaster — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:53:53 +0800

Renault have announced an unchanged driver line-up for next season with Fernando Alonso signing a two-year extension for 2009 and 2010, and Nelson Piquet confirmed for a further season.

The news brings to an end speculation over the future of both drivers. Alonso had been linked to a possible move to Honda, while many had questioned whether Piquet would be retained after a difficult maiden season with the team.

Heartbroken Massa gracious in defeat

webmaster — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 09:42:08 +0800

Ferrari’s Felipe Massa put in the drive of his life at Interlagos on Sunday, doing everything within his power to become 2008 world champion. And as he took the chequered flag he, his team and his family all thought he had done it.

But jubilation rapidly turned to disbelief as just seconds later title rival Lewis Hamilton passed the Toyota of Timo Glock at the final corner to clinch the fifth place he needed to snatch the drivers’ crown from Massa’s grasp. The Brazilian knew how close he had come, but had nothing but praise for the McLaren driver.

Massa victorious, Hamilton champion after nail-biting finish in Brazil

webmaster — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 09:40:06 +0800

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton is the 30th - and youngest-ever - world champion. Lady Luck was on his side after title rival Felipe Massa dominated at Interlagos. The Brazilian crossed the line first after a pluperfect performance - and seemed to have achieved the impossible - as Hamilton trailed in sixth.

Brazilian Grand Prix - selected driver quotes

webmaster — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 09:31:06 +0800

Red Bull’s David Coulthard on finishing his final Grand Prix in the gravel trap; Toyota’s Timo Glock on how his brave late-race tyre choice indirectly decided the championship; Ferrari’s Felipe Massa on his bittersweet victory in front of his adoring home crowd; and McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton on taking the drivers’ title. All 20 drivers report back on Sunday’s action…

Felipe Massa, Ferrari (1st):

Coulthard 'gutted' after last Grand Prix ends in retirement

webmaster — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 09:27:46 +0800

After 246 race starts, Red Bull’s David Coulthard had hoped to end his Formula One career with some celebratory donuts. But an incident at the start of Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix involving Williams team mates Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima saw Coulthard’s final Grand Prix end in early retirement at the first corner.

Toyota bid farewell to team boss Cregan

webmaster — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 09:26:16 +0800

The Toyota Formula One team paid tribute to team manager Richard Cregan at Interlagos on Sunday, on the occasion of his final Grand Prix wearing the Toyota uniform. The Irishman, 47, will leave Toyota at the end of this month to become team manager of Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management, spearheading preparations for the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009.

Hamilton wins in China, Massa keeps title hopes alive

webmaster — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 18:28:29 +0800

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton did everything but win the title in Shanghai on Sunday, as he scored his fifth victory of the season in a pluperfect style that left championship rival Felipe Massa floundering in his wake.

Chinese Grand Prix - selected driver quotes

webmaster — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 18:21:45 +0800

Toyota’s Jarno Trulli and Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Bourdais on their first lap collision; McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton on returning to the top step of the podium after a six race absence; and BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica on the end of his title hopes. All 20 drivers report back on Sunday’s action…

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren (1st):
To follow.

Felipe Massa, Ferrari (2nd):
To follow.

Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari (3rd):
To follow.

Fernando Alonso, Renault (4th):

Hamilton eases to pole position in Shanghai

webmaster — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 22:07:42 +0800

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton looked to be in trouble when his first Q3 qualifying run Shanghai yielded only third place as he got into a big slide in Turn Eight, but he put that right when it mattered to grab pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix with a lap of 1m 36.303s.

Heidfeld hit by three-place penalty - revised provisional grid

webmaster — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 22:07:06 +0800

BMW Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld will drop three places on the Shanghai grid as penalty for impeding Red Bull’s David Coulthard during qualifying.

Heidfeld dived past Coulthard late in Q1 as both were battling to make it through to Q2. Coulthard claimed he was slowed as a result, causing him to narrowly miss the cut, and after examining the incident the stewards agreed.

Heidfeld drops from sixth to ninth, with Toro Rosso’s Sebastian Vettel, Toyota’s Jarno Trulli and the second Toro Rosso of Sebastien Bourdais all moving up a place as a result.

FIA post-qualifying press conference - China

webmaster — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 22:06:36 +0800

Reproduced with kind permission of the FIA

Q: Lewis, quickest in both sessions yesterday and quickest in all three qualifying sessions today and on pole by a margin of 0.3. It is looking very good.

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Qualifying - selected driver quotes

webmaster — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 22:02:46 +0800

Honda’s Rubens Barrichello on making it through to Q2 for the first time in 10 races; BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica on denting his championship chances with a P12 grid slot; Red Bull’s Mark Webber on his engine-change grid penalty; and McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton on taking what could be a crucial seventh pole of the season. All 20 drivers report back on the action…

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren (1st, Q3 - 1m 36.303s):

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Final practice - Heidfeld pips Hamilton for P1

webmaster — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 22:01:51 +0800

For the first time this weekend McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton did not top a practice session in Shanghai, but in the final run this morning he was only 0.074s slower than pacesetter Nick Heidfeld in the BMW Sauber.

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Alonso makes it two wins in a row in Japan

webmaster — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:18:56 +0800

Nobody expected Fernando Alonso to win in Singapore – and for sure the chances of a repeat in Fuji seemed minimal, but the Spaniard took advantage of a chaotic start, passed early leader Robert Kubica in the first pit stops, and was never thereafter threatened.

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Japanese Grand Prix - selected driver quotes

webmaster — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:15:55 +0800

Red Bull’s David Coulthard, Force India’s Adrian Sutil and Toyota’s Timo Glock on their early retirements in Japan; Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen on a race to forget for McLaren; and Fernando Alonso on making it two in a row for Renault. All 20 drivers report back on Sunday’s action…

Fernando Alonso, Renault (1st):

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FIA post-race press conference - Japan

webmaster — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:14:10 +0800

Reproduced with kind permission of the FIA

1st Fernando Alonso (Renault), 1h30m21.892s; 2nd Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber), 1h30m27.175s; 3rd Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari), 1h30m28.292s.

Q: Fernando, that was a great Grand Prix win, a fantastic start, lots of action in front of you at the first corner, let's talk about that, and then talk about that great race-defining second stint.

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Penalties put Hamilton and Massa out of contention at Fuji

webmaster — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:13:29 +0800

The two main rivals for the 2008 drivers’ title scored just one point between them in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, as both were hit by penalties early in the race. Ferrari’s Felipe Massa finished eighth, while championship leader Lewis Hamilton managed only 12th for McLaren.

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