Formula 1 News

Lots of F1 news this week, with the FIA issuing the official 2006 entrants list, winter testing in Spain, and new car announcements.
The biggest news so far is that new team Super Aguri F1 is not on the FIA's list of accepted entrants. Rumor has it that the team's $48 million performance bond did not show up by the deadline. (It is possible for the team to be granted a late entry if it meets the FIA's requirements, but it will require agreement by all the other teams.)

On the driver front, Tiago Monteiro is confirmed as a driver for MF1 Racing (Midland), and Jacques Villeneuve will be back with BMW Sauber, alongside Nick Heidfeld. Anthony Davidson will return as Honda's test driver.

BAR-Honda's new name will be Honda Racing F1 Team. Its new livery showed on the '06 Concept car running in Barcelona this week, a combination of Honda Racing White and predominantly red graphics representing its Lucky Strike title sponsor.

In early testing at Barcelona, the fastest time for a 2006-spec V8-powered car was set today by the Toyota of Ricardo Zonta, 2.5 seconds slower than Jenson Button's best time running last year's V10.
[Sources: Pitpass.com, Grandprix.com - see links]