F1 News

F1 on the BBC in 2009

• Posted in F1 News

The BBC will be providing comprehensive coverage of the 2009 Formula One season across all its platforms.

F1 returns to BBC television for the first time in 12 years and there will be extensive coverage on network TV, red button, radio, online and mobile.

BBC One will carry live coverage of all 17 Grands Prix and every qualifying session except that in Brazil, which will be shown on BBC Two.

And every single on-track session can be watched on the red button or online.

Jake Humphrey will present the TV coverage, joined by 13-time Grand Prix winner David Coulthard and former team boss Eddie Jordan as pundits.

bbc.co.uk

Overwhelmed Hamilton collects MBE

• Posted in F1 News

Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton has collected his MBE from Buckingham Palace, saying it was “overwhelming”.

The 24-year-old racing driver, who became the youngest winner of the world championship in November, was presented with the award by the Queen.

“It was one of the most overwhelming experiences I’ve ever had,” he said.

Army chief General Sir Richard Dannatt said he discussed the recent killings in Northern Ireland with the monarch as he collected a Knight Grand Cross.

Hamilton said: “I don’t think you realise until you’re standing in front of her how special it is.”

In 2007 he became the first black driver in Formula One and a year later took the fifth place he needed at the last corner in the Brazilian GP to take the crown.

Dennis plays down McLaren concern

• Posted in F1 News

World champion Lewis Hamilton and team-mate Heikki Kovalainen lagged behind their rivals in testing ahead of the Australian Grand Prix on 29 March.

But Dennis told BBC Sport: “Whatever performance level McLaren have today we will be a competitive racing team.

“That means we will be fighting for the world championship.”

While Ferrari have been consistently fast during pre-season testing, McLaren appear to be some way off the pace of their main rivals.

During this week’s test in Barcelona, McLaren‘s Kovalainen was more than two and a half seconds down on Nick Heidfeld’s fastest time for BMW Sauber on Monday.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen topped Tuesday’s timesheets, while another low-key showing for McLaren resulted in Kovalainen being 1.677 seconds adrift.

F1 News – Sebastien Bourdais, Hamilton fastest in Spain, Kimi in Bahrain

• Posted in F1 News

Interview with Sebastien Bourdais
From: www.formula1.com

With the guessing games regarding the empty Toro Rosso seat now over, Sebastien Bourdais is looking a lot more relaxed. And with the early pace of Red Bull’s RB5 boding well for the forthcoming STR4, he awaits the new season with relish.

Hamilton fastest in Spain
From: www.bbc.co.uk

World champion Lewis Hamilton set the pace for McLaren as Formula One’s teams continued pre-season testing at the Jerez circuit in Spain.

Kimi fastest in Bahrain
From: www.itv-f1.com

Kimi Raikkonen topped the timesheet for Ferrari in Bahrain on Friday, as the sandstorms that have caused havoc at this week’s test finally subsided and the three teams present were able to complete a full day’s running.

RedBull RB5

• Posted in F1 News

RedBull introduced their new F1 car, RB5.

If you want to find out how the new rules of Formula One have influenced the design of the new RedBull RB5, and other F1 cars as well, watch this video made by RedBull.