Sparkie Auto Bomber

2009 Formula Grand Prix

sparkie — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 00:14:41 +0000

Once again, Australia will have the honor to do the grand opening of the 2009 Formula Grand Prix.

This year, it will be less one race compared to last year. Last year, there were 18 circuits but this year there are only 17 circuits.

Two circuits will not be able to host this year Formula Grand Prix. They are:
1. CANADA – Formula 1 Grand Prix Du Canada
2. FRANCE – Formula 1 Grand Prix De France

But there will be one new circuit this year. Abu Dhabi is the latest addition circuit to the Formula 1 Grand Prix. The Formula 1 Ethad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be held at the end of the season as usual for new circuit on 1 November 2009.

This year the time table is (country in bracket is 2008 time table):
1. Australia – 29/03/2009 (Australia)
2. Malaysia – 05/04/2009 (Malaysia)
3. China – 19/04/2009 (Bahrain)
4. Bahrain – 26/04/2009 (Spain)
5. Spain – 10/05/2009 (Turkey)
6. Monaco – 24/05/2009 (Monaco)
7. Turkey – 07/06/2009 (Canada)
8. Great Britain – 21/06/2009 (France)
9. Germany – 12/07/2009 (Great Britain)
10. Hungary – 26/07/2009 (Germany)
11. Europe – 23/08/2009 (Hungary)
12. Belgium – 30/08/2009 (Europe)
13. Italy – 13/09/2009 (Belgium)
14. Singapore – 27/09/2009 (Italy)
15. Japan – 04/10/2009 (Singapore)
16. Brazil – 18/10/2009 (Japan)
17. Abu Dhabi – 01/11/2009 (China)

Last year time table with the wining driver, team and circuit’s laps are:
1. Australia – 16/03/2008 – Lewis Hamilton – McLaren-Mercedes – 58
2. Malaysia – 23/03/2008 – Kimi Räikkönen – Ferrari – 56
3. Bahrain – 06/04/2008 – Felipe Massa – Ferrari – 57
4. Spain – 27/04/2008 – Kimi Räikkönen – Ferrari – 66
5. Turkey – 11/05/2008 – Felipe Massa – Ferrari – 58
6. Monaco 25/05/2008 – Lewis Hamilton – McLaren-Mercedes – 76
7. Canada – 08/06/2008 – Robert Kubica – BMW Sauber – 70
8. France – 22/06/2008 – Felipe Massa – Ferrari – 70
9. Great Britain – 06/07/2008 – Lewis Hamilton – McLaren-Mercedes – 60
10. Germany – 20/07/2008 – Lewis Hamilton – McLaren-Mercedes – 67
11. Hungary – 03/08/2008 – Heikki Kovalainen – McLaren-Mercedes – 70
12. Europe – 24/08/2008 – Felipe Massa – Ferrari – 57
13. Belgium – 07/09/2008 – Felipe Massa – Ferrari – 44
14. Italy – 14/09/2008 – Sebastian Vettel – STR-Ferrari – 53
15. Singapore – 28/09/2008 – Fernando Alonso – Renault – 61
16. Japan – 12/10/2008 – Fernando Alonso – Renault – 67
17. China – 19/10/2008 – Lewis Hamilton – McLaren-Mercedes – 56
18. Brazil – 02/11/2008 – Felipe Massa – Ferrari – 71

Last year, 2008, the constructor championship is won by Ferrari. The full result is below:
1 Ferrari 172
2 McLaren-Mercedes 151
3 BMW Sauber 135
4 Renault 80
5 Toyota 56
6 STR-Ferrari 39
7 Red Bull-Renault 29
8 Williams-Toyota 26
9 Honda 14
10 Force India-Ferrari 0
11 Super Aguri-Honda 0

And the 2008 world champion is Lewis Hamilton from McLaren-Mercedes team. Below is the full result for last year drivers championship (with points collected)

1. Lewis Hamilton – British – McLaren-Mercedes – 98
2 Felipe Massa – Brazilian – Ferrari – 97
3 Kimi Räikkönen – Finnish – Ferrari – 75
4 Robert Kubica – Polish – BMW Sauber – 75
5 Fernando Alonso – Spanish – Renault – 61
6 Nick Heidfeld – German – BMW Sauber – 60
7 Heikki Kovalainen – Finnish – McLaren-Mercedes – 53
8 Sebastian Vettel – German – STR-Ferrari – 35
9 Jarno Trulli – Italian – Toyota – 31
10 Timo Glock – German – Toyota – 25
11 Mark Webber – Australian – Red Bull-Renault – 21
12 Nelsinho Piquet – Brazilian – Renault – 19
13 Nico Rosberg – German – Williams-Toyota – 17
14 Rubens Barrichello – Brazilian – Honda – 11
15 Kazuki Nakajima – Japanese – Williams-Toyota – 9
16 David Coulthard – British – Red Bull-Renault – 8
17 Sebastien Bourdais – French – STR-Ferrari – 4
18 Jenson Button – British – Honda – 3
19 Giancarlo Fisichella – Italian – Force India-Ferrari – 0
20 Adrian Sutil – German – Force India-Ferrari – 0
21 Takuma Sato – Japanese – Super Aguri-Honda – 0
22 Anthony Davidson – British – Super Aguri-Honda – 0

I hope my favorite team, McLaren-Mercedes, will win this year constructor championship. And I also hope Toyota will improve their position and wins some of the podium.

The 2008 FORMULA 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix Created At Least Four Histories in Formula 1 Race after Five Decades

sparkie — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:17:32 +0000

The 2008 FORMULA 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix which start from 26 to 28 September 2008 is not only making history by having the first-ever Formula 1 race at night but also for introducing electronic flag displays which traditionally waved by marshals to communicate with drivers for the past five decades.

The hi-tech electronic DigiFlag display is similar to units used to guide pilots at the runways of major airports. The DigiFlags will display the different flag colors more effectively at the night race because of the brightness of the display boards.

The 2008 FORMULA 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix street circuit will be using the roads around the Marina Bay area. The street circuit also marks the first ever street race in Asia which makes it another history to Asia’s Formula 1 race.

Another history created in this 2008 FORMULA 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix is the use of reflective tyre markings although the all-new 5.067-kilometre street circuit will be artificially lit – meaning excellent visibility for the drivers. Bridgestone will use special reflective paint to mark their super-soft and extreme-wet compounds.

2008 FORMULA 1 PETROL OFISI TURKISH GRAND PRIX, Istanbul

sparkie — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:33:36 +0000

The 2008 Formula 1 Petrol Ofisi Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul was held on 9 – 11 May 2008.

Here is the result:

1. Felipe Massa – Ferrari
2. Lewis Hamilton – McLaren-Mercedes
3. Kimi Räikkönen – Ferrari
4. Robert Kubica – BMW Sauber
5. Nick Heidfeld – BMW Sauber
6. Fernando Alonso – Renault
7. Mark Webber – Red Bull-Renault
8. Nico Rosberg – Williams-Toyota
9. David Coulthard – Red Bull-Renault
10. Jarno Trulli – Toyota
11. Jenson Button – Honda
12. Heikki Kovalainen – McLaren-Mercedes
13. Timo Glock – Toyota
14. Rubens Barrichello – Honda
15. Nelsinho Piquet – Renault
16. Adrian Sutil – Force India-Ferrari
17. Sebastian Vettel – STR-Ferrari
Ret. Sebastien Bourdais – STR-Ferrari – Spin
Ret. Kazuki Nakajima – Williams-Toyota – Accident damage
Ret. Giancarlo Fisichella – Force India-Ferrari – Accident

Robert Kubica – BMW Sauber

McLaren pit crew.

Kimi Räikkönen – Ferrari

Heikki Kovalainen – McLaren-Mercedes

Giancarlo Fisichella – Force India-Ferrari flying through Kazuki Nakajima – Williams-Toyota.

Felipe Massa – Ferrari

David Coulthard – Red Bull-Renault

FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE ESPANA TELEFONICA 2008 CATALUNYA

sparkie — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:10:27 +0000

This is a late entry, so I will just show results.

The Gran Premio de Espana Telefonica 2008 Grand Prix, Catalunya, was held on 25 – 27 April 2008.

It was quite unfortunate for McLaren when Heikki Kovalainen crashed and had to be rushed to the hospital. Luckily there are not serious injuries on him.

1. Kimi Räikkönen – Ferrari
2. Felipe Massa – Ferrari
3. Lewis Hamilton – McLaren-Mercedes
4. Robert Kubica – BMW Sauber
5. Mark Webber – Red Bull-Renault
6. Jenson Button – Honda
7. Kazuki Nakajima – Williams-Toyota
8. Jarno Trulli – Toyota
9. Nick Heidfeld – BMW Sauber
10. Giancarlo Fisichella – Force India-Ferrari
11. Timo Glock – Toyota
12. David Coulthard – Red Bull-Renault
13. Takuma Sato – Super Aguri-Honda
Ret. Nico Rosberg – Williams-Toyota (Mechanical)
Ret. Fernando Alonso – Renault (Engine)
Ret. Rubens Barrichello – Honda (Accident)
Ret. Heikki Kovalainen – McLaren-Mercedes (Accident)
Ret. Anthony Davidson – Super Aguri-Honda (Radiator damage)
Ret. Sebastien Bourdais – STR-Ferrari (Accident)
Ret. Nelsinho Piquet – Renault (Accident)
Ret. Adrian Sutil – Force India-Ferrari (Accident)
Ret. Sebastian Vettel – STR-Ferrari (Accident)

Heikki Kovalainen – McLaren-Mercedes crash straight on to the tyre wall.

Crews trying their best to shift Heikki Kovalainen – McLaren-Mercedes machine.

Safety car has to be deployed a few times… it was full of action.

David Coulthard – Red Bull-Renault broken wings after coliding with Timo Glock – Toyota.

Nick Heidfeld – BMW Sauber serving his stop-go penalty.

Kimi Räikkönen – Ferrari comes in for his first stop.

2008 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix Results

sparkie — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:37:54 +0000

The 2008 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix on 6 April saw a few unexpected results. First it was Robert Kubica BMW who stole the pole on Saturday. Then it was the greatest achievement for Felipe Massa Ferrari on Sunday.

McLaren did not do well in Bahrain. Hamilton fails to start properly which drop him from 3rd position to 7th. Then crashed his machine and completely destroy his front wing which cost him a lot of time.

2008 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix Results:
1. Felipe Massa Ferrari
2. Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari
3. Robert Kubica BMW
4. Nick Heidfeld BMW
5. Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes
6. Jarno Trulli Toyota
7. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
8. Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota
9. Timo Glock Toyota
10. Fernando Alonso Renault
11. Rubens Barrichello Honda
12. Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Ferrari
13. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
14. Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota
15. Sebastien Bourdais STR-Ferrari
16. Anthony Davidson Super Aguri-Honda
17. Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda
18. David Coulthard Red Bull-Renault
19. Adrian Sutil Force India-Ferrari
20. Nelsinho Piquet Renault
21. Jenson Button Honda
22. Sebastian Vettel STR-Ferrari

The podium (L to R): Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari 2nd; Felipe Massa (BRA) Ferrari 1st; Robert Kubica (POL) BMW Sauber F1, 3rd.

Felipe congratulated by teammate Kimi.

Lewis Hamilton – McLaren Mercedes and his MP4/23 machine with the front wing damage.

Pitstop for Robert Kubica – BMW Sauber on his F1.08 machine.

Team Toyota

Drivers Standings:
1. Kimi Raikkonen – Ferrari – 19
2. Nick Heidfeld – BMW – 16
3. Lewis Hamilton – McLaren-Mercedes – 14
4. Robert Kubica – BMW – 14
5. Heikki Kovalainen – McLaren-Mercedes – 14
6. Felipe Massa – Ferrari – 10
7. Jarno Trulli – Toyota – 8
8. Nico Rosberg – Williams-Toyota – 7
9. Fernando Alonso – Renault – 6
10. Mark Webber – Red Bull-Renault – 4
11. Kazuki Nakajima – Williams-Toyota – 3
12. Sebastien Bourdais – STR-Ferrari – 2
13. David Coulthard – Red Bull-Renault – 0
14. Timo Glock – Toyota – 0
15. Jenson Button – Honda – 0
16. Rubens Barrichello – Honda – 0
17. Nelsinho Piquet – Renault – 0
18. Giancarlo Fisichella – Force India-Ferrari – 0
19. Anthony Davidson – Super Aguri-Honda – 0
20. Takuma Sato – Super Aguri-Honda – 0
21. Adrian Sutil – Force India-Ferrari – 0
22. Sebastian Vettel – STR-Ferrari – 0

Constructor Standings:
1. BMW – 30
2. Ferrari – 29
3. McLaren-Mercedes – 28
4. Williams-Toyota – 10
5. Toyota – 8
6. Renault – 6
7. Red Bull-Renault – 4
8. STR-Ferrari – 2
9. Honda – 0
10. Force India-Ferrari – 0
11. Super Aguri-Honda – 0

Maiden Pole for BMW Sauber in Bahrain through Robert Kubica

sparkie — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 15:25:02 +0000

Robert Kubica not only gets the first pole for BMW this year, but the pole is also the first to himself and BMW.

Willi Rampf (SUI) BMW Sauber Technical Director with first time pole sitter Robert Kubica (POL) BMW Sauber F1 and Dr Mario Theissen (GER) BMW Sauber F1 Team Principal.

Kubica with his F1.08 machine.

Robert Kubica smokes his wheel to pole position.

Bahrain Grand Prix 2008 Line-up for Tomorrow Race Day

sparkie — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 15:13:58 +0000

Saturday’s Bahrain Grand Prix 2008 qualifying round saw a new pole holder. Robert Kubica from BMW captured the pole from McLaren and Ferrari.

Robert Kubica (POL) BMW Sauber F1 celebrates his first pole position.

Tomorrow’s race leader… Lewis Hamilton (GBR) McLaren at P3 position, Robert Kubica (POL) BMW Sauber F1 at pole P1 position; and Felipe Massa (BRA) Ferrari, at P2 position.

1. Robert Kubica – BMW
2. Felipe Massa – Ferrari
3. Lewis Hamilton – McLaren-Mercedes
4. Kimi Räikkönen – Ferrari
5. Heikki Kovalainen – McLaren-Mercedes
6. Nick Heidfeld – BMW
7. Jarno Trulli – Toyota
8. Nico Rosberg – Williams-Toyota
9. Jenson Button – Honda
10. Fernando Alonso – Renault
11. Mark Webber – Red Bull-Renault
12. Rubens Barrichello – Honda
13. Timo Glock – Toyota
14. Nelsinho Piquet – Renault
15. Sebastien Bourdais – STR-Ferrari
16. Kazuki Nakajima – Williams-Toyota
17. David Coulthard – Red Bull-Renault
18. Giancarlo Fisichella – Force India-Ferrari
19. Sebastian Vettel – STR-Ferrari
20. Adrian Sutil – Force India-Ferrari
21. Anthony Davidson – Super Aguri-Honda
22. Takuma Sato – Super Aguri-Honda

Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari.

McLaren wheel changing gun.

Race with Formula 1 sand car at Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2008

sparkie — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 01:46:16 +0000

Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2008 will be the 5th time Formula 1 held here in the Middle East.

In Friday practice, it was windy at Sakhir. You must be wondering how a desert with strong wind can held a Formula 1. Imagine the amount of sand and dust blanketing the circuit every time the wind blow. And disaster will be to the machines when the sand enters the engine… else they have to have special air filter just for this race.

But looks like sand storm, whether small or big never comes to the circuit. Why? Well, they actually spray ‘glue’ to the sand around the circuit. The rest of the facts like cost, you have to figure it out… I will get more details, and probably will post about it.

Norbert Haug (GER) Mercedes Sporting Director.

Ron Dennis (GBR) McLaren Team Principal.

Anyway, both Ferrari Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, looks promising by leading the Friday’s practice session.

Felipe Massa on his machine.

Unfortunate to McLaren, Englishman Lewis Hamilton lost control to his MP4-23 machine at Turn Seven, the fast chicane.

Lewis Hamilton’s Car.

Friday’s Practice Result:
1. Felipe Massa – Ferrari
2. Kimi Räikkönen – Ferrari
3. Heikki Kovalainen – McLaren-Mercedes
4. Lewis Hamilton – McLaren-Mercedes
5. Robert Kubica – BMW
6. Nico Rosberg – Williams-Toyota
7. David Coulthard – Red Bull-Renault
8. Kazuki Nakajima – Williams-Toyota
9. Sebastien Bourdais – STR-Ferrari
10. Nelsinho Piquet – Renault
11. Jenson Button – Honda
12. Fernando Alonso – Renault
13. Mark Webber – Red Bull-Renault
14. Jarno Trulli – Toyota
15. Timo Glock – Toyota
16. Rubens Barrichello – Honda
17. Nick Heidfeld – BMW
18. Giancarlo Fisichella – Force India-Ferrari
19. Adrian Sutil – Force India-Ferrari
20. Sebastian Vettel – STR-Ferrari
21. Takuma Sato – Super Aguri-Honda
22. Anthony Davidson – Super Aguri-Honda

Lewis after the crash.

2008 Formula 1 PETRONAS Malaysia GRAND PRIX

sparkie — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 12:07:16 +0000

It was so unfortunate for McLaren. They only manage to get 3rd and 5th placing through Heikki Kovalainen and Lewis Hamilton.

If they were not penalized with 5 grid, where both of them dropped to P8 and P9 from P3 and P4 respectively, I’m sure the 2008 FORMULA 1 PETRONAS MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX will not be that boring.

I almost fell asleep a few times while watching it on TV.

But not to worry so much… McLaren is still leading in both categories… the Drivers Category and Constructors Category.

Toyota and BMW are also doing well

Drivers Standing:
1. Lewis Hamilton/British – McLaren-Mercedes – 14
2. Kimi Räikkönen/Finnish – Ferrari – 11
3. Nick Heidfeld/German – BMW – 11
4. Heikki Kovalainen/Finnish – McLaren-Mercedes – 10
5. Robert Kubica/Polish – BMW – 8
6. Nico Rosberg/German – Williams-Toyota – 6
7. Fernando Alonso/Spanish – Renault – 6
8. Jarno Trulli/Italian – Toyota – 5
9. Kazuki Nakajima/Japanese – Williams-Toyota – 3
10. Mark Webber/Australian – Red Bull-Renault – 2
11. Sebastien Bourdais/French – STR-Ferrari – 2

Constructors Standing:
1. McLaren-Mercedes – 24
2. BMW – 19
3. Ferrari – 11
4. Williams-Toyota – 9
5. Renault – 6
6. Toyota – 5
7. Red Bull-Renault – 2
8. STR-Ferrari – 2
9. Honda – 0
10. Super Aguri-Honda – 0
11. Force India-Ferrari – 0

2008 FORMULA 1 PETRONAS MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX:
1. Kimi Räikkönen – Ferrari
2. Robert Kubica – BMW
3. Heikki Kovalainen – McLaren-Mercedes
4. Jarno Trulli – Toyota
5. Lewis Hamilton – McLaren-Mercedes
6. Nick Heidfeld – BMW
7. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
8. Fernando Alonso – Renault
9. David Coulthard – Red Bull-Renault
10. Jenson Button – Honda
11. Nelsinho Piquet – Renault
12. Giancarlo Fisichella – Force India-Ferrari
13. Rubens Barrichello – Honda
14. Nico Rosberg – Williams-Toyota
15. Anthony Davidson – Super Aguri-Honda
16. Takuma Sato – Super Aguri-Honda
17. Kazuki Nakajima – Williams-Toyota
Ret. Sebastian Vettel – STR-Ferrari
Ret. Felipe Massa – Ferrari
Ret. Adrian Sutil – Force India-Ferrari
Ret. Timo Glock – Toyota
Ret. Sebastien Bourdais – STR-Ferrari

It’s OK… It’s just a time trial… The race hasn’t started yet

sparkie — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 16:34:57 +0000

It’s OK… It’s just a time trial… The race hasn’t started yet… will start in about 12 hours.

Holy COW! The two bloody Ferrari are in front!!!

But it’s OK… both McLaren are right behind them… BUT… both of them are penalized 5 placing by the steward… damm!!! damm!!! damm!!!

Heikki Kovalainen and Lewis Hamilton will each drop five places on the grid for Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix after stewards decided they had blocked rival drivers in the closing stages in qualifying. They will now start the race eighth and ninth respectively…

Hope the Toyota will save the day if anything goes wrong.

The lineup:
1. Felipe Massa – Ferrari
2. Kimi Räikkönen – Ferrari
3. Heikki Kovalainen – McLaren-Mercedes (drop to 8 placing)
4. Lewis Hamilton – McLaren-Mercedes (drop to 9 placing)
5. Jarno Trulli – Toyota
6. Robert Kubica – BMW
7. Nick Heidfeld – BMW
8. Mark Webber – Red Bull-Renault
9. Fernando Alonso – Renault
10. Timo Glock – Toyota
11. Jenson Button – Honda
12. David Coulthard – Red Bull-Renault
13. Nelsinho Piquet – Renault
14. Rubens Barrichello – Honda
15. Sebastian Vettel – STR-Ferrari
16. Nico Rosberg – Williams-Toyota
17. Giancarlo Fisichella – Force India-Ferrari
18. Kazuki Nakajima – Williams-Toyota
19. Sebastien Bourdais – STR-Ferrari
20. Takuma Sato – Super Aguri-Honda
21. Adrian Sutil – Force India-Ferrari
22. Anthony Davidson – Super Aguri-Honda