F1 2008 -updated-

[maltafan]

As far as I know, next year, cars won't be able to have any additional aero devices, apart from the removal of traction control.

I think we should see the drivers' qualities better.

[Bowsey]

Bridgestone: No major changes for 2008
Tuesday, 30, October, 2007, 13:06

Bridgestone is not expecting to make any major changes to either the design or compound range of its tyres for next season.

The Japanese firm became Formula 1’s sole tyre supplier in 2007 and introduced a family of four different dry compound tyres (super-soft, soft, medium and hard) to be used at different grands prix throughout the season.

New-for-2007 regulations also forced drivers to use both compounds available over any grand prix weekend during the race, a move that was intended to add an extra variable into race strategies.

And although some in the paddock felt the two-compound rule wasn’t as effective as it could have been, Bridgestone says next year’s rubber will be much the same as in 2007.

"We are still expecting to provide four dry tyres with varying compound levels from hard to super soft and one wet weather tyre and one extreme weather tyre,” said its tyre development director, Hirohide Hamashima.

“These tyres will generally be the same as this year.

"We are of course reviewing all the data from the year to see if any minor adjustments need to be made but at this stage, we are not expecting to make any big changes to the specifications.

"There is a small possibility that we may change the allocation of some of the tyre compounds for certain grands prix but we will review the season's data first before making any decisions."

The durability of the super-soft tyre in particular did cause some concern for teams at a couple of races when it was used during the course of the year.

Hamashima reveals Bridgestone is looking at making changes to this compound in addition to other safety enhancements across the whole range.

"We are reasonably happy with our allocation for 2007 and the results we saw with them, but there are always areas where we can improve,” he said.

"For example, the super soft compound did not perform as expected in Canada, and we are considering the possibility of modifying this compound for next season.

“Equally, there is the alternative that we could bring the soft and medium compounds to these circuits instead.

"Also, in Turkey we noted the stress level on the front right tyre was higher than we expected.

“To prevent any problems there in 2008 we are looking at modifying the construction of the dry tyre for next year in the interests of safety."

from itv-f1

[iceman1]

Mr Saward is still saying "Alonso to RBR"

Alonso linked to Red Bull
Alonso may be reunited with Renault power next season - but it could be in a Red Bull-Renault.

Motorsport eNews sources are suggesting that negotiations between Alonso and his management, Renault and sponsor Telefonica have not been going very well in recent days, with there being disagreements about some of the people involved in the Renault F1 project. There is little doubt that Telefonica and, potentially, ING, feel a little let-down by the performance of the Renault team this season, and are slightly alarmed at the cost increases associated with securing the two-time champion from McLaren, where he was paid more than US$25m a season.

As a way of circumventing this, we hear that there is credence in Alonso’s conversations with Red Bull Racing. Discussions to this point have stalled over the length of the association, as Alonso obviously wants to be free after one season and Red Bull wants a longer-term commitment.

Should Alonso join the team, one of the current RBR drivers would head out the door, potentially to Renault. David Coulthard is on a one-year contract and, if a single-year deal is the only stumbling block, that is a likely move. But it is well-known that Mark Webber has had links with Renault throughout his Formula 1 career and that move could be a better bet for the French manufacturer.

That would also fit in with Alonso’s recently (and often) stated preference to have a clear number two driver as a team-mate, not a role that Webber is accustomed to as much as the Scottish veteran.

Of course, any move Alonso makes would leave a vacancy at McLaren, alongside Lewis Hamilton. Our sources suggest that Webber is well-thought of at Mercedes-Benz, for which he raced in its Sportscar program, and by McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh, whom Ron Dennis has already anointed as a likely successor.

Webber in a McLaren-Mercedes? A month ago, it would have seemed impossible. But now?
– STAFF/SAWARD

http://www.mnews.com.au/

[iceman1]

bold as confirmed/contracted
italic as specualted

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes - Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton
Heikki Kovalainen

Ferrari Marlboro - Ferrari
Felipe Massa
Kimi Raikkonen

BMW Sauber - BMW
Nick Heidfeld
Robert Kubica

ING Renault - Renault
Fernando Alonso
Nelson Pequet jr

Red Bull Racing - Renault
David Coulthard
Mark Webber

At&t Williams - Toyota
Nico Rosberg
Kazuki Nakajima

Panasonic Toyota - Toyota
Jarno Trulli
Timo Glock

Honda Racing - Honda
Jenson Button
Rubens Barichello

Super Aguri - Honda
Takuma Sato
Anthony Davidson

Torro Rosso - Ferrari
Sebastian Vettel
Sebastian Bourdais

Force India - Ferrari
Adrian Sutil
Christian Klein

ProDrive
TBA
TBA

Force India - Ferrari

Adrian Sutil
Christian Klein/Roldán Rodriguez - based on http://gp2.gpupdate.net/en/persons/roldan-rodriguez/

[AzShadow]

Toyota confirms agreement with Glock but the contract conflicts with BMW's one
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/n ... 2347.shtml

2008 driver line-up taking shape
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/n ... 0534.shtml

[iceman1]

Force India test Liuzzi and Klien next week
so Sutil to Mclaren?

[AzShadow]

Sutil will be testing as well. Since Rosberg was confirmed by Williams and Kovalainen will be testing Renault, it looks like the new McLaren driver might be quite a surprise.

[iceman1]

BMW confirm Glock's exit

BMW motorsport boss Mario Theissen has confirmed Timo Glock is no longer a BMW Sauber driver after the Contract Recognition Board ruled the German racer is free to sign for Toyota.

"Timo Glock will no longer be driving for the BMW Sauber F1 team next year," said Theissen. "We have offered him the position of test driver in our team but he has been given the opportunity to race for another team.

"We wish Timo every success in his future F1 career."

Toyota, who parted company with Michael Schumacher's younger brother Ralf at the end of the season in Brazil last month, had no immediate comment.

The Cologne-based team have Italian Jarno Trulli under contract as their other race driver and have made clear their interest in Glock.

BMW had lined up the GP2 champion as their 2008 test and reserve driver after using him in that role this year but were awaiting a ruling from Formula One's contract recognition board after being notified of a conflicting document.

If Glock is confirmed, with an announcement by Toyota expected next week, the deal will close another door to Spain's double world champion Fernando Alonso.

Alonso has parted with McLaren after just one season with the Mercedes-powered team and has yet to say where he will be racing next year, although former employers Renault are looking his best bet.

With the exception of McLaren, Renault and Toyota, the leading teams have all announced their line-ups.

Glock, 25, competed in four Grands Prix for the now-defunct Jordan Formula One team as a stand-in for Italian Giorgio Pantano in 2004 and scored two points with seventh place on his debut in Canada.

Hope to see Glock somewhere in F1 next year,

[AzShadow]

It's pretty certain that Glock will be driving Toyota next year. GP2 looks to be a good platform to get to F1.

[maltafan]

It's pretty certain that Glock will be driving Toyota next year. GP2 looks to be a good platform to get to F1.

We have Hamilton, Heikki, Rosberg, Glock, Piquet all coming from GP2 in 3 years.

[mclaren2007]

Glock is going to be driving for Toytota next year:

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_ ... t_id=33417

I don't know where Ralfy will go.

[Lilellatho]

DTM, perhaps? (cough*hopefully*cough) $peace

[AzShadow]

Piquet Jr must beat team-mate in 2008
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/n ... 2059.shtml

His dad seems to be quite confident that the son will be driving Renault next year. Will Piquet Jr be the next Brazilian F1 star?

[Lilellatho]

It seems quite certain that Piquet will have a drive at Renault.

I think he will do ok. I mean he's the guy that was able to fight Hamilton in GP2 in 2006, so there's no reason why he shouldn't be good. Plus, he had more than enough time testing a F1 car for Renault, so that's another plus.

Anyway, I'm just happy that there's more and more fresh faces to F1 every year ^cool^

[iceman1]

3 main conclusions coming from Alonso's options of Renault, Red Bull and Honda:

Honda: Alonso would have as much trouble with Button as he did with Hamilton, and the car will still be a dog.

Red Bull: Whether its DC or Webber, Alonso will likely be surprised by any likely team mate. Car is likely to be fast but not front running.

Renault: Should be able to dominate either Kovalinen or Piquet Jr. Car should be front running again if Renault really did solve their problems.