Williams Toyota - Spanish GP Preview - Points is the target

Like some of its rivals, the start to the 2009 season has been a frustrating one for the Williams Toyota team. Nico Rosberg looked strong in Melbourne but fell away late in the race to finish in sixth position and again at Sepang, the German racer showed well in leading the race but would eventually drop to eighth in the rain shortened event.

With 3.5 points on the board the Grove-based team head to the fifth round of the championship in Spain hoping that updates to the FW31 package will yield a change in fortune and performance.

“It’s been a bit of a frustrating start to the season," admits Rosberg. "We should be going into Europe with more than 3.5 points from the first four races. We were looking competitive at the outset in Australia, but things just haven’t gone our way.

"It’s also so close out there, probably the closest season I’ve raced in. We’ll have some aero upgrades for Barcelona which I’m hoping will help us and push us further up the grid. It would be good to score some points to reward the team at Grove who have been pushing really hard.”

“With the new rule changes, this year really is all about who makes the greatest progress back at the factories with development. As with all the other teams, we’ll have an upgraded car in Spain and I hope it will make the difference we need.”

Team-mate Kazuki Nakajima has had an even tougher start to the season and has yet to break into the final round of qualifying. This coupled with three failures to finish leave him just 19th in the standings.

“It’s been a tough start to the season for me - I’ve had three DNFs out of four races and I don’t want anymore," he said. "I’m going to put them behind me now though and concentrate on the work ahead. There’s still 12 more races to go and I’m determined to get some good results for myself and for the team.

“I really like Barcelona and have lots of racing experience there,” Nakajima continued. “Last year, I had a good qualifying session and scored two points for the team coming seventh in my debut race. As I haven’t had a great first few Grand Prix, I hope that this will mark the start of a new phase for me and I can do something good in Barcelona.”

“I didn’t have the new parts on my car in Bahrain so I’m looking forward to trying those out in Spain and to see how the other new bits go. I’m sure that the upgraded package will be a step forward, we already know how much time it will give us, but it’s all relative compared to what the other teams have done.”

BMW Sauber - Spanish GP Preview - Major update fo F1.09

After the dismal showing in Bahrain, BMW Sauber look to bounce back in Barcelona with a major update to the so far disappointing F1.09 package.

"The Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona signals the start of the European season after four races overseas," explained Team Principal Mario Theissen. "Traditionally this represents something of a second start to the season.

"For the BMW Sauber F1 Team this applies more so than usual this year, as we cannot be satisfied at all with the first four races of the season. After our positive winter testing, all of us at the BMW Sauber F1 Team envisaged a rather different start to the season. The car is not fast enough and we have recorded only one podium finish -– Nick Heidfeld’s second place in Malaysia."

Heidfeld's second position in the rain-shortened Malaysian Grand Prix was in fact the team’s only points of the season as team-mate Robert Kubica has yet to score, despite a strong showing in Melbourne.

"We are approaching this challenge in a positive way and are working intensively in Munich and Hinwil to get back to our old form," Theissen continued. "We will be lining up in Barcelona with an extensive aerodynamics-focused development package, and are already working on further upgrades to be introduced later on in the season."

Both Heidfeld and Kubica know Circuit de Catalunya well with the latter admitting they could 'drive the circuit with our eyes closed'.

"As all Formula One teams have tested in Barcelona, I expect the pack to be very close together - even closer than up to now," Kubica stated. "We will bring a new aero package and we hope to improve significantly compared to our recent performance, as it is our goal to close the gap to the top teams."

After four frustrating races Kubica finds himself 20th and last in the drivers' championship with his 13th position in China being his best result of the season to date. Heidfeld's four points from Sepang leave him ninth.

"Like everybody in the team, I am also placing my hopes on our new aerodynamic upgrades," said the German veteran. "The team has put an incredible amount of energy into trying to close the gap to the leaders. I hope we will perform rather better against our rivals in Barcelona, but that’s difficult to predict as all the teams will be bringing upgrade packages of varying degrees to the first race of the European season."

Head of Engineering Willy Rampf explained the changes being made to the F1.09 for the fifth round of the championship.

"The nose section, more deeply undercut sidepods and the rear wing are all totally new," Rampf said. "Added to which, modifications have also been made to the front wing, engine cover and underbody. We expect these improvements to significantly reduce our lap times."

"We expect to be able to close the gap to our rivals," Rampf continued. "We won’t find this out for certain, though, until the race weekend. Up to then we will only have the results from the wind tunnel and simulations to go on and, of course, can no longer test in advance on the track. Seeing the full potential of the car reflected in results on the track will be a big challenge for the engineers."

McLaren Mercedes - Spanish GP Preview - A tough challenge for McLaren

With long high-speed sweeping turns, the Spanish Grand Prix will be one of the tougher events on the calendar for the McLaren Mercedes team this year.

The Woking-based squad has made good progress with the MP4-24 package in recent races and armed with its latest aerodynamic package last time out in Bahrain, Lewis Hamilton was able to battle for third position before eventually taking the chequered flag in fourth.

The team admit however that the sweeping nature of the 4.655km Barcelona circuit will not suit the current car as it lacks in overall downforce compared to its rivals.

“After such a positive performance in Bahrain, we’re fully aware that the characteristics of the Barcelona track won’t suit our car so well,” said Hamilton, who is currently seventh in the championship with nine points.

“In addition, we won’t have the bigger upgrades of some of the other teams as we already introduced several new parts during the opening fly-aways, so it will be interesting to see where we sit in the order.”

“Nevertheless, the engineers are optimistic that our new diffuser and front wing will once again help us to make progress towards the front of the grid,” he added.

Hamilton’s view is backed up by Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh who admits rivals teams may make gains, but he is adamant that McLaren will be able to challenge for points: “While the high-downforce nature of the Circuit de Catalunya may show up some of MP4-24’s shortcomings, everyone within the team remains confident and motivated that we can sustain the momentum we have gathered to push and close the gap to the front this weekend.”

Mercedes Motorsport boss Norbert Haug expects a shake-up in the pecking order in Barcelona with teams arriving with extensive modifications to their cars.

“Barcelona will be a true test for the future balance of power,” Haug predicted. “I expect an extremely difficult race. We are in the middle of an intensive process of catching up and, in comparison to our competitiveness in the previous two seasons, we are still far from where we need to be.”

For Heikki Kovalainen, returning to Barcelona after his heavy shunt in last year’s race poses no problems as he looks to add to his four points secured at the Chinese Grand Prix.

“We are going into this race with realistic expectations, but I’m optimistic the whole team can deliver once again this weekend,” the Finn said.

Ferrari's heavily revised F60 debut in Vairano

Ferrari's heavily revised F60 made its track debut on Friday.

The new package, up to 15 kilograms lighter than the original 2009 version according to Italian reports, is undergoing straight line testing with Marc Gene behind the wheel.

The saved weight, in all areas including the material used for the seat belts, will benefit Ferrari's use of KERS, culminating in what they hope is a lap-time gain of several tenths.

The Italian team has already confirmed that the updated package will feature a double-decker diffuser.

The aerodynamic test at Vairano, Italy, will be completed on Saturday.

Ferrari have strong commitment in Formula One

It had been previously reported that Ferrari were examining their options following the World Motor Sport Council announcement that from next season, new and existing teams would have an option to sign up to a cost restrained formula.

Following a statement from team yesterday in which they announced they did not wish to comment on the matter, today the Italian champions re-affirmed its commitment to the series. Ferrari is however clearly unhappy with the cost capping rules being pushed forward by the FIA.

“Ferrari strongly believes that this sport should maintain its principles of being at the cutting edge in terms of research, with the teams thus taking part in a sporting and technical contest,” a statement from the team began.

“Ferrari, along with all the other teams in FOTA, has, for some time now, felt the urgent need for a significant reduction in costs as from this year, and believes that the future of this sport requires stability of the regulations and the gradual achievement over the next two to three years of a cost-profit balance which would allow current teams to remain in the sport while at the same time encouraging the arrival of new ones.

“This is the position Ferrari wants to underline today, in the interests of the sport without looking to cause pointless controversy which would be harmful to all those involved in this sport.”

Ferrari is the only surviving to team to have competed since the inception of the world championship in 1950.

Brendon Hartley as reserver driver for two Red Bull teams

As of next weekend's Spanish Grand Prix, Brendon Hartley will finally step into the role as reserve driver for the two Red Bull teams.

The New Zealand teenager was selected for the F1 role prior to the start of the 2009 season, but not immediately granted a mandatory Super License by the governing body FIA.

"I must thank Red Bull for all their support since 2005 and this new role is another step on the path to reaching my goal of being a Formula One driver," 19-year-old Hartley said.

"I know that with the new in-season testing ban, I'm not likely to get much cockpit time, but I will be part of the team and will learn a lot from that," he added.

Hartley will race in the Formula 3 Euro Series this year with Carlin Motorsport after finishing third in the British series in 2008.

David Richards undecided over F1 team identity for 2010

The brand identity of David Richards' prospective new Formula One team for 2010 is not certain.

The former Benetton and Honda team boss was in the Middle East this week for talks with potential investors about a budget-capped team debut next year.

But it has been reported that while his British racing engineering group Prodrive would be the driving force behind the team, it may actually be named after his luxury sports car brand Aston Martin.

Richards told the Qatar daily the Peninsula: "It's not absolutely certain that Aston Martin will be the brand that we go to Formula One with."

In a media statement on Thursday, Richards welcomed the FIA's introduction of a voluntary £40m budget cap for 2010 but admitted some concern about the current state of the sport.

"It is important for us and our partners that there is stability with broad alignment on the future direction of Formula One and this will be a critical issue in our decision making process," he said.

On Richards' visit to Qatar this week, he suggested that ‘part of’ his F1 team could be based in the Gulf region.

"We've had some very positive discussion (in the region) so far, and I believe we are moving in the right direction," he added.

Another diffuser development for Force India

Although at the back of the field at present, Force India has indicated it can keep up with the pace of Formula One development.

While bigger and more competitive teams like Ferrari, BMW Sauber and Red Bull Renault worked on the concept at their factories, Silverstone-based Force India rolled out an interim 'double decker' diffuser prototype last weekend in Bahrain.

In qualifying, Adrian Sutil out-qualified both Toro Rossos, and his team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella also escaped the last row of the grid.

Moreover, in South Africa to watch over his team in the Indian cricket league, team owner Vijay Mallya this week said a further step in the diffuser concept will be introduced next weekend at Barcelona.

"We have another update coming in Barcelona, more particularly an improved version of this interim diffuser, and some further aero upgrades," the Indian billionaire is quoted as saying by the news agency PTI.

In Bahrain, the pace of the entire field was covered by a margin of less than two seconds.

"In the midfield everything is separated by hundredths now, and to be in the hunt is quite an impressive achievement," Mallya added.

No re-fuelling and tyre warmers for 2010

As proposed the World Motor Sport Council today confirmed a number of changes for the 2010 Formula One championship, the headline being the option to run under a cost cap of £40m. The FIA body also however confirmed that re-fuelling and tyre warmers will not be permitted next year.

"Re-fuelling during a race will be forbidden in order to save the costs of transporting refuelling equipment and increase the incentive for engine builders to improve fuel economy (to save weight)," a statement read.

"Tyre blankets will be banned and that the ban on other tyre-heating devices will be maintained."

With the banning on re-fuelling, the final round of qualifying will be a ‘proper’ pole position shoot-out as competitors run with a light fuel load and not with a race level on board.
In addition – assuming a 26 car field - the slowest eight drivers will be eliminated from the first and second round of qualifying rather than the five as now.

In addition, current gearbox and engine change penalties will not apply to the 'cost regulated teams'.

Re-fuelling was re-introduced to the sport in 1994 after being originally banned a decade earlier.

£40m cost capping option for 2010 season and beyond

As first reported yesterday, the FIA World Motor Sport Council has agreed to introduce voluntary budget caps for the 2010 season and beyond.

FIA President Max Mosley had suggested a limit of £30m, €33m, but this was deemed too great a cut on current expenditure for many teams.

Today the WMSC announced that teams will have the 'option' to compete within a cost cap of £40 million (€45m) for the 2010 season and that the maximum number of entries for the championship has been increased to 26.

The cap would cover all team expenditure except:

• Marketing and hospitality;
• Remuneration for test or race drivers, including any young driver programmes;
• Fines or penalties imposed by the FIA;
• Engine costs (for 2010 only);
• Any expenditure which the team can demonstrate has no influence on its performance in the Championship;
• Dividends (including any tax thereon) paid from profits relating to participation in the Championship.
  

With the likes of Lola, iSport, USF1 and Prodrive expressing an interest in joining the Formula One championship next year, Mosley's vision is that the revenues generated from the sport itself would be enough to sustain a new entry, regardless of additional sponsorship.

"At £40m we believe that 70 per cent of the grid can generate a profit," the FIA stated. "This transforms the business case for owning a Formula One team, for both manufacturers and private investors.

"The FIA believes that cost capping will prove attractive, and it hopes that over time all teams will join.
So far, interest has been extraordinarily high from both existing teams and potential new entrants."

To help encourage the new entrants, Formula One Management has agreed to offer participation fees and expenses to the new teams. This includes an annual payment of US$10 million (£6.7m) to each team plus free transportation of two chassis and freight.

To be eligible for this, each new team must qualify as a 'Constructor' and demonstrate that it has the necessary facilities, financial resources and technical competence to compete effectively in Formula One.

To enable these cars to compete with those from teams which are not subject to cost constraints, the cost-capped cars will be allowed greater technical freedom. Wings will be permitted to be adjustable while engines not restrained by a rev limit. The teams will also be allowed unlimited out-of-season track testing with no restrictions on the scale and speed of wind tunnel testing.

The WMSC also announced that a new 'costs commission' is being implemented to monitor and enforce the cost cap.

The question now is which teams, exiting or proposed, will sign up the £40m limit by the deadline of 29th May.