Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[SPOILER ALERT: Hopes and Dreams at the 2009 Turkish Grand Prix]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/07/spoiler-alert-hopes-and-dreams-at-the-2009-turkish-grand-prix/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/07/spoiler-alert-hopes-and-dreams-at-the-2009-turkish-grand-prix/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/07/spoiler-alert-hopes-and-dreams-at-the-2009-turkish-grand-prix/#commentsFiled under:


2009 Turkish Grand Prix - Click above for a high-res image gallery

With the established teams still threatening to walk and new teams lining up by the dozen, nothing could have better characterized Formula One's transition from old to new better than the move from the Monaco Grand Prix two weeks ago to the Turkish Grand Prix this weekend. While the Monaco race - held on the streets of Monte Carlo, with its close proximities and timeless seaside city-scape - remains one of the sport's oldest venues, the race in Turkey - at the new-school Istanbul Park Circuit, characterized by wide run-offs and state-of-the-art accommodations - is one of its youngest.

First held in 2005, the Turkish Grand Prix has been won the past three years running by the same driver: Ferrari's Felipe Massa, the young Brazilian who narrowly lost out on the driver's crown last year to Lewis Hamilton. Surely Ferrari's golden boy was eager to extend his domination at the Ottoman autodrom, but would he and his Maranello squad be able to translate the marked improvement which they displayed in Monte Carlo just a fortnight ago into a return to winning form in Istanbul? Follow the jump to find out.


Gallery: 2009 Turkish Grand Prix

Continue reading SPOILER ALERT: Hopes and Dreams at the 2009 Turkish Grand Prix

SPOILER ALERT: Hopes and Dreams at the 2009 Turkish Grand Prix originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Jun 2009 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 formula one2009 turkish gp2009 turkish grand prix2009FormulaOne2009TurkishGp2009TurkishGrandPrixf1fiafia formula one world championshipFiaFormulaOneWorldChampionshipformula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOneistanbulistanbul circuitistanbul parkistanbul park circuitIstanbulCircuitIstanbulParkIstanbulParkCircuitturkeyturkey f1TurkeyF1turkish gpturkish grand prixTurkishGpTurkishGrandPrixSun, 07 Jun 2009 14:09:00 EST<![CDATA[More Bull: Scuderia Toro Rosso unveils the 2009 STR4]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/09/more-bull-scuderia-toro-rosso-unveils-the-2009-str4/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/09/more-bull-scuderia-toro-rosso-unveils-the-2009-str4/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/09/more-bull-scuderia-toro-rosso-unveils-the-2009-str4/#commentsFiled under:

Click above for a hi-res gallery of the 2009 Scuderia Toro Rosso STR4

Scuderia Toro Rosso has emerged as one of the last teams on the Formula One grid to unveil their new challenger for the 2009 season. After undergoing its initial shake-down run in Italy last week, the new STR4 is now participating in the last group test session in Barcelona before the start of the season. As in years past, Toro Rosso's car looks virtually identical to that of its senior team Red Bull Racing. However, while the design was carried out by Red Bull's Adrian Newey, Toro Rosso was quick to point out that the car itself has been, for the first time, constructed at STR's headquarters in Faenza, Italy. The team's move towards independent manufacturing (instead of joint development with Red Bull Racing) promises to help the team adapt to the ban on customer cars that takes effect next year, while simultaneously making it a more attractive stand-alone unit for a future buyer.

The STR4 employs a Ferrari customer engine instead of the RB5's Renault unit, resulting in a different fuel tank and employing Ferrari's KERS regenerative braking system, which, when joined by the fine-tuning towards STR's drivers, makes for a vastly different car than its Red Bull counterpart, according to Toro Rosso. With Sebastian Vettel - who took the team's first victory last year at Monza - starting for Red Bull Racing this season, the STR4 will be piloted by Sebastien Bourdais and newcomer Sebastian Buemi. Follow the jump to read more about Toro Rosso's 2009 campaign and click on the images below to view in our high-resolution photo gallery.


Gallery: 2009 Scuderia Toro Rosso STR4



[Source: Scuderia Toro Rosso]

Continue reading More Bull: Scuderia Toro Rosso unveils the 2009 STR4

More Bull: Scuderia Toro Rosso unveils the 2009 STR4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above for high-res image gallery of the BMW Sauber F1.09

When it rains, it pours. Formula One racing fans spend most of the year watching the same crop of cars running around in circles, until the off season when all the teams unveil their new cars in the same two-week window of time. So after Ferrari, Toyota, McLaren, Williams and Renault have uncovered their 2009 challengers, with Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Force India not expected to unveil their new cars until next month, and with Honda's F1 future still in limbo, the BMW Sauber team have become the latest to join the party.

Called, simply enough, the F1.09, this will be the car in which Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld, with the support of perennial test driver Christian Klein, will take on the rest of the field in the coming season. Its form is dictated by the same new aero regulations as its competitors, with BMW's own battery-based Kinetic Energy Recovery System installed underneath. Several teams have stated that, given the short timeframe they had to develop the hybrid system, they may delay its implementation, and Sauber's troubled gestation process was well publicized. Notably absent, meanwhile, from the car's livery this year is longtime sponsor Credit Suisse, the banking giant that cited a change in marketing strategies as its reason for not renewing its sponsorship. BMW Sauber unveiled the F1.09 on Tuesday morning at the test track in Valencia, Spain, which you can see in the high-resolution image gallery below.

Gallery: BMW Sauber F1.09


[Source: BMW Motorsport]

BMW Sauber launches F1.09 at Valencia originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click on the image above for a high-res gallery of the new Williams FW31

It's been a long time since Williams stood atop the Formula 1 world, but back when they were, nobody could take them down. They've won seven drivers' championships, with such pilots as Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Jacques Villeneuve and Ayrton Senna - and taken nine constructors' championships just to wash 'em down. But that was a long time ago, and since then the team has fallen far from the top. Could this be the year they come back?

With F1's technical regulations turned all topsy-turvy for 2009, Williams was the first to start preparing. They're also the only team to go with a mechanical Kinetic Energy Recovery System, opting for a flywheel to store recovered braking energy instead of the battery-based systems developed by the other teams. The flywheel is installed in the new FW31, powered by a Toyota engine and unveiled at the new Algarve circuit in Portugal, where several other teams - including Renault - came to test out their new gear. Test driver Nico Hulkenberg was behind the wheel, soon to be joined by lead drivers Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima, who remain with the team for 2009. Check out the new Williams FW31 - wearing interim dark blue livery for the off-season - in the gallery below.

Gallery: Williams FW31


[Source: Williams F1]

Dark Horse: Williams-Toyota FW31 unveiled in Portugal originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 formula one2009FormulaOneatt williams f1AttWilliamsF1F1Formula 1Formula OneFormula1FormulaOnefw31williamswilliams f1williams fw31williams grand prixwilliams toyotawilliams-toyotaWilliamsF1WilliamsFw31WilliamsGrandPrixWilliamsToyotaMon, 19 Jan 2009 16:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Update: Grid fills out for 2009 F1 car presentations]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/10/update-grid-fills-out-for-2009-f1-car-presentations/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/10/update-grid-fills-out-for-2009-f1-car-presentations/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/10/update-grid-fills-out-for-2009-f1-car-presentations/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for a high-res gallry of last year's BMW Sauber F1.08 reveal

Each day in the new year is bringing us closer to the successive unveilings of the latest batch of Formula One race cars, with nearly all the teams confirming the launch dates for their latest machinery.

Contrary to earlier reports that placed its unveiling on January 15, Scuderia Ferrari will be the first team to show its new car with an online preview on January 12, ahead of the official Fiorano debut. Toyota will follow, as expected, on January 15 from Cologne, Germany, and McLaren the next day from Woking, England. Renault and Williams will unveil at the official FIA-sanctioned test session on January 19 at Algarve, Portugal, with BMW Sauber to follow the next day from Valencia, Spain.

Red Bull, which previously remained a question mark, has now announced its debut on February 9, citing the desire to take advantage of more development time. Sister team Toro Rosso has yet to confirm reports that its presentation will wait until March, when Force India is expected to unveil as well. But there's no telling what will be with Honda as the team's future hangs in the balance. Stay tuned.

[Source: F1-Live]

Update: Grid fills out for 2009 F1 car presentations originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 formula 12009 formula one2009 formula one world championship2009Formula12009FormulaOne2009FormulaOneWorldChampionshipF1Ferrariformulaformula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOneHondaScuderiaSat, 10 Jan 2009 14:59:00 EST<![CDATA[F1 teams to unveil 2009 cars in mid-January]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/26/f1-teams-to-unveil-2009-cars-in-mid-january/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/26/f1-teams-to-unveil-2009-cars-in-mid-january/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/26/f1-teams-to-unveil-2009-cars-in-mid-january/#commentsFiled under:

With the 2008 championship over with and the year winding down to its final days, Formula One's constructors are preparing to unveil their new cars for 2009. The new regulations for the 2009 season promise to make the new cars look considerably different from the current crop, as we're likely to see when the teams start rolling out their competitors for next year's crown.

Ferrari and Toyota are expected to be the first to unveil their new cars, with a live reveal at Fiorano and an online release of images from Cologne on or about the 15th of January. The next day McLaren-Mercedes is tipped to present their latest chrome-dipped blingmobile at the team's high-tech facility in Woking. Williams and Renault are set to unveil their cars on January 19 at a test session, with BMW Sauber running its first public testing shortly afterwards. With Honda F1's future hanging in the balance, that leaves Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Force India, which are expected to show their cars in February and March. Stay tuned as we bring you images and details of the latest crop as they make their debuts.

[Source: F1-Live]

F1 teams to unveil 2009 cars in mid-January originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 formula one2009FormulaOnef1formula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOneFri, 26 Dec 2008 18:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Wait'll they get a load of... the 2009 F1 cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/19/waitll-they-get-a-load-of-the-2009-f1-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/19/waitll-they-get-a-load-of-the-2009-f1-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/19/waitll-they-get-a-load-of-the-2009-f1-cars/#commentsFiled under:



What you see above is a shot of BMW's Formula 1 racer built to 2009 specs. Slicks are back for mechanical grip, but to reduce downforce and speeds -- and supposedly increase passing -- the rear wing has been trimmed down so much that it looks like a shelf from IKEA. The front wing on the car is also larger and wider, and extras like flip-ups and winglets on the front wing, nosecone and bodywork are prohibited next year. BMW has also been testing its KERS hybrid system, where other teams are using ballast while they sort out when they'll introduce their own systems. Frankly, that system could be just as shocking as the car itself. If the on-track action gets better, then we're all for it. But for now, these cars remind us of ugly things.

[Source: F1 Live]

Wait'll they get a load of... the 2009 F1 cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 formula one2009FormulaOnef1fiaformula 1Formula1motorsportsWed, 19 Nov 2008 12:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Provisional 2009 F1 calendar released]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/26/provisional-2009-f1-calendar-released/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/26/provisional-2009-f1-calendar-released/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/26/provisional-2009-f1-calendar-released/#commentsFiled under:

While Kimi, Felipe, Robert and Lewis are fighting it out for the 2008 Formula One World Championship, the sport's regulatory body has released the provisional calendar for next season.

Much of the calendar mirrors this season and years passed, however next year's championship will include the new grand prix in Abu Dhabi (tacked on to the end of the season in November), bringing the total number of races up to 19. The French Grand Prix, whose future was in question until recently, is confirmed, but switches slots on the calendar with Great Britain. The United States GP, held in previous seasons at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, remains off the calendar for yet another season.

Follow the jump to check out the provisional 2009 calendar.

[Source: autosport.com]

Continue reading Provisional 2009 F1 calendar released

Provisional 2009 F1 calendar released originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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