Name:
Rubens Barrichello
Born:
May 23, 1972 Sao Paulo, Brazil
Team:
Honda
Height:
5'6"
Weight:
157 lbs.
Hobbies:
Karting, Golf, Bowling
Previous F1 Teams:
* 1993 - 1996 Jordan
* 1997 - 1999 Stewart
* 2000 - 2005 Ferrari
* 2006 - 2008 Honda
Victories:
9
Background:
Racing was a part of Rubens' life since he was born, as he grew up beside the Interlagos race track, where the Brazilian Grand Prix at Sao Paulo takes place. As a child he would sneak in through the fence to watch the races. He began go-karting at age 6, and became Brazilian champion. But like just about all of the South American drivers who had ambitions to go into F1, as a teenager he went to live and race in Europe. In 1990 he won the European Formula Opel series, and the following year he won the British Formula 3 title. In 1992 he finished third in Formula 3000.
His Career Thus Far:
When started in Formula 1, Rubens was only 20 years old. By only his third race he was seen as a future star. It was the European Grand Prix at Donington, England. Five laps from the end he was third, when a fuel pressure problem forced him to retire. His mentor, friend and countryman, Ayrton Senna, won the race in one of his greatest drives in the wet.
The following year, Rubens also played a minor role on a weekend that would be remembered for Senna, this time as a tragedy. During Friday practice at the San Marino Grand Prix, Barrichello had a wild crash and injured his arm. The next day, Roland Ratzenberg was killed in an accident. During the race on the Sunday, Senna crashed into a wall and also died.
Suddenly, the youngster carried all the weight of Brazil's hopes for a new star. It took years for him to absorb the shock of Senna's death and the responsibility to his country.
He would not win his first race until the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim in 2000. On the victory podium, Barrichello cried, looked into the sky and thought of Senna.
Driving Style:
Barrichello is one of the smoothest, fastest and most incisive of drivers. Although it looked when arriving at Honda in 2006 as if he might be overshadowed by his new younger teammate, Jenson Button, the Brazilian worked closely with the engineers to resolve his problems with the car. He was soon in excellent form and giving Button a hard time.
Character:
Starting as young as he did, Barrichello's early years would forever be marked by the shadow of Senna, and many people wondered if he would ever come into his own. After leaving Jordan and joining the Stewart team in 1997, he did just that.
Joining Ferrari as Michael Schumacher's teammate in 2000, he finally had a car capable of winning. Unfortunately, Schumacher was Ferrari's No. 1 driver. As a result, Barrichello often came under public criticism for being too soft, and allowing Schumacher to win races that Rubens should have won. Yet at the Austrian Grand Prix of 2002, Rubens protested a team demand that he hand Schumacher the lead for the victory. He waited until the last yards of the last lap before slowing down to hand victory to Schumacher, and it caused worldwide scorn.
Rubens later said that he was happy to stay at a team where he could win races occasionally, even if it meant serving his teammate at other times.
Kamis, 23 Juli 2009
Rabu, 22 Juli 2009
Timo Glock Profile
Timo Glock is staying on in 2009 after impressing his Toyota bosses - and a number of F1 pundits - during his first season with the team.
Glock first entered Formula One in 2004 when he tested for the Jordan outfit. As the team's official third and reserve driver, he was handed the opportunity to race at the Canadian GP as Giorgio Pantano's replacement.
The German clinched 11th place in the grand prix but was later promoted to P7 when both the Toyotas and Williams were disqualified. That resulted earned Glock and Jordan two World Championship points.
He was again called up to compete in the final three races of the season, although failed to score another World Championship point, finishing all three events P15.
In 2005, Glock shifted his racing career to the United States, racing in the Champ Car World Series with Rocketsports team. His best finish of the year was a second place finish at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. He went on to finish 8th in the final season points standings and win Champ Car World Series Rookie of the Year honors.
The following year Timo moved to the GP2 series. He started the series with the midfield BCN Competicion team, gaining average results. However, a mid-season move to the front-running iSport team proved conducive and after a series of impressive results he finished 4th in the final classification.
Staying with iSport in 2007, Glock clinched the title after winning one feature and four sprint races.
The German's performances earned him a three-year contract with Toyota, which started in 2008 when he partnered Jarno Trulli. And although his team-mate got the better of him at the start of the campaign, so much so that there were questions hanging over Glock's future, the German soon came to the fore, even bagging a second-placed finish at his home race.
His good run continued through to the end of the season with him collecting four points finishes in the final seven races, which resulted in Toyota confirming him for the 2009 campaign.
Glock first entered Formula One in 2004 when he tested for the Jordan outfit. As the team's official third and reserve driver, he was handed the opportunity to race at the Canadian GP as Giorgio Pantano's replacement.
The German clinched 11th place in the grand prix but was later promoted to P7 when both the Toyotas and Williams were disqualified. That resulted earned Glock and Jordan two World Championship points.
He was again called up to compete in the final three races of the season, although failed to score another World Championship point, finishing all three events P15.
In 2005, Glock shifted his racing career to the United States, racing in the Champ Car World Series with Rocketsports team. His best finish of the year was a second place finish at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. He went on to finish 8th in the final season points standings and win Champ Car World Series Rookie of the Year honors.
The following year Timo moved to the GP2 series. He started the series with the midfield BCN Competicion team, gaining average results. However, a mid-season move to the front-running iSport team proved conducive and after a series of impressive results he finished 4th in the final classification.
Staying with iSport in 2007, Glock clinched the title after winning one feature and four sprint races.
The German's performances earned him a three-year contract with Toyota, which started in 2008 when he partnered Jarno Trulli. And although his team-mate got the better of him at the start of the campaign, so much so that there were questions hanging over Glock's future, the German soon came to the fore, even bagging a second-placed finish at his home race.
His good run continued through to the end of the season with him collecting four points finishes in the final seven races, which resulted in Toyota confirming him for the 2009 campaign.
Senin, 20 Juli 2009
Jenson Button: A British Driver Makes Good at Honda Formula 1 Team
Name: Jenson Button
Born: January 19, 1980 in Frome, England
Team: Honda
Height: 6'
Weight: 151 lbs.
Hobbies: Water sports, cycling, cars, music and skiing
Previous F1 Teams:
* 2000 Williams
* 2001 Benetton
* 2002 Renault
* 2003 - 2005 BAR Honda
* 2006 - 2008 Honda
Victories: 1
Background:
Jenson started go-karting at age eight and won several British national and international championships. He moved to cars at 18 and won the British Formula Ford series and the Formula Ford Festival, in his first year. In 1999 he raced in British Formula 3 and took third place, and was the rookie of the year.
His Career Thus Far:
Jenson was such a sensation in both karts and cars, that at 20 years old he was signed up for a season at the Williams team in Formula 1, then one of the top teams in the sport. He was the youngest British driver ever to race in F1. In only his second race, he finished sixth, at the Brazilian Grand Prix, to become the youngest driver ever to score a point. He finished the season in eighth position in the drivers' series.
After a year at Williams, Jenson joined the Benetton team in 2001 and stayed there for two seasons. Unfortunately, the team was in transition after being bought out by Renault, which it would be called in 2002, and Jenson scored only two points in his first season there. He then joined BAR Honda, with Jacques Villeneuve, the former world champion, as a teammate. In 2004 Jenson finally found his stride, as did the BAR team, and he scored 11 podiums and finished third in the championship. But his first victory still eluded him.
The Williams Scandal:
During the summer of that same 2004 season Jenson stunned his BAR Honda team by announcing that he would rejoin the Williams team for the following two years. A long battle ensued with first BAR and then Jenson deciding he would not join Williams. That led to a battle between Jenson and Williams. In the end, Jenson said he would buy himself out of the contract to Williams, and he paid the team an estimated $50 million. Jenson also signed a four year deal to race for Honda at $45 million per year.
Character:
Although Jenson gives off the impression of having a cool, laid back attitude to life and racing, the incident with Williams showed not only his level of ruthlessness to achieve what he wants, but also a certain acumen. Aside from the financial return, the choice to stay at Honda paid off, after Williams went downhill and Honda improved: Jenson won his first race with the team at the Hungarian Grand Prix last season.
Born: January 19, 1980 in Frome, England
Team: Honda
Height: 6'
Weight: 151 lbs.
Hobbies: Water sports, cycling, cars, music and skiing
Previous F1 Teams:
* 2000 Williams
* 2001 Benetton
* 2002 Renault
* 2003 - 2005 BAR Honda
* 2006 - 2008 Honda
Victories: 1
Background:
Jenson started go-karting at age eight and won several British national and international championships. He moved to cars at 18 and won the British Formula Ford series and the Formula Ford Festival, in his first year. In 1999 he raced in British Formula 3 and took third place, and was the rookie of the year.
His Career Thus Far:
Jenson was such a sensation in both karts and cars, that at 20 years old he was signed up for a season at the Williams team in Formula 1, then one of the top teams in the sport. He was the youngest British driver ever to race in F1. In only his second race, he finished sixth, at the Brazilian Grand Prix, to become the youngest driver ever to score a point. He finished the season in eighth position in the drivers' series.
After a year at Williams, Jenson joined the Benetton team in 2001 and stayed there for two seasons. Unfortunately, the team was in transition after being bought out by Renault, which it would be called in 2002, and Jenson scored only two points in his first season there. He then joined BAR Honda, with Jacques Villeneuve, the former world champion, as a teammate. In 2004 Jenson finally found his stride, as did the BAR team, and he scored 11 podiums and finished third in the championship. But his first victory still eluded him.
The Williams Scandal:
During the summer of that same 2004 season Jenson stunned his BAR Honda team by announcing that he would rejoin the Williams team for the following two years. A long battle ensued with first BAR and then Jenson deciding he would not join Williams. That led to a battle between Jenson and Williams. In the end, Jenson said he would buy himself out of the contract to Williams, and he paid the team an estimated $50 million. Jenson also signed a four year deal to race for Honda at $45 million per year.
Character:
Although Jenson gives off the impression of having a cool, laid back attitude to life and racing, the incident with Williams showed not only his level of ruthlessness to achieve what he wants, but also a certain acumen. Aside from the financial return, the choice to stay at Honda paid off, after Williams went downhill and Honda improved: Jenson won his first race with the team at the Hungarian Grand Prix last season.
Lewis Hamilton: World's Youngest World Champion Driver at McLaren-Mercedes
Name:
Lewis Hamilton
Born:
January 7, 1985 in Stevenage, England
Team:
McLaren Mercedes
Height:
5'7"
Weight:
150 lbs.
Hobbies:
Guitar, Music, Training
Previous F1 Teams: 2007 - 2009 McLaren
Victories: 9
Background:
Lewis's climb to Formula 1 was fairy-tale like. From a modest family in England, with a white mother and a black father, Lewis began racing go-karts at age 8. He won the McLaren Mercedes Champions of the Future series and at age 10 he met Ron Dennis, the owner and director of the McLaren Formula 1 team and told him he wanted to race in F1. At 13 years old McLaren signed Lewis up with the McLaren young driver program and the team supported his career through karting and car racing, taking him on as a full-time F1 driver starting with the 2007 season.
His Career Thus Far:
Lewis's pre-F1 career was one of the most convincing of the recent crop of young drivers. He won several karting series, including the European Formula A championship in 2000. After a year of learning in Formula Renault, he won the 2003 British Formula Renault championship with 10 victories and 11 pole positions. After a year of learning in the F3 Euroseries, he won that series in 2005 with 15 victories and 13 pole positions. In 2006 he did not even need a year of learning to win the title in his rookie year in the GP2 series, an F1 support race series.
Hamilton: The F1 Rookie Phenomenon:
Lewis did not disappoint in his first year in F1 either. In fact, he finished third in his first race and then proceeded to smash the 40-year-old rookie record of two consecutive podiums at the start of a season. Lewis scored nine podiums in his first nine races and he won two of those races. In total, he won four races in 2007 and he finished the championship in second place, one point behind Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari. Lewis's first year was the best by any rookie in the sport, and it was not until errors in his last two races that cost him the title that he finally looked human after all.
Driving Style:
During his GP2 season, F1 people first saw the best of Lewis's driving style as he proved to be not only lightning fast, but also a gutsy driver of the old fashioned style. His passing move driving around the outside of two other drivers during the second race at Silverstone in England was a breathtaking maneuver that no one who saw will forget. He started eighth and won the race. This style was to continue in his first F1 season.
Character:
Lewis is a personable, level-headed driver who has shown in apprenticeship years that he can stand up to the toughest situations both on track and off without losing his head. Yet before he joined F1 in 2007 as teammate to the double world champion, Fernando Alonso, specialists were divided as to whether his character would stand up to the job of racing with the greatest young driver in F1. In the end, the drivers finished level on points.
In his first year in the sport, Lewis proved that had the necessary strength of character up to a point. After squandering a 17-point lead in the series two races before the end, he still had to prove he could go all the way in F1. But in 2008, he proved that by becoming the youngest ever world champion and winning that title in the last race of the season.
Lewis Hamilton
Born:
January 7, 1985 in Stevenage, England
Team:
McLaren Mercedes
Height:
5'7"
Weight:
150 lbs.
Hobbies:
Guitar, Music, Training
Previous F1 Teams: 2007 - 2009 McLaren
Victories: 9
Background:
Lewis's climb to Formula 1 was fairy-tale like. From a modest family in England, with a white mother and a black father, Lewis began racing go-karts at age 8. He won the McLaren Mercedes Champions of the Future series and at age 10 he met Ron Dennis, the owner and director of the McLaren Formula 1 team and told him he wanted to race in F1. At 13 years old McLaren signed Lewis up with the McLaren young driver program and the team supported his career through karting and car racing, taking him on as a full-time F1 driver starting with the 2007 season.
His Career Thus Far:
Lewis's pre-F1 career was one of the most convincing of the recent crop of young drivers. He won several karting series, including the European Formula A championship in 2000. After a year of learning in Formula Renault, he won the 2003 British Formula Renault championship with 10 victories and 11 pole positions. After a year of learning in the F3 Euroseries, he won that series in 2005 with 15 victories and 13 pole positions. In 2006 he did not even need a year of learning to win the title in his rookie year in the GP2 series, an F1 support race series.
Hamilton: The F1 Rookie Phenomenon:
Lewis did not disappoint in his first year in F1 either. In fact, he finished third in his first race and then proceeded to smash the 40-year-old rookie record of two consecutive podiums at the start of a season. Lewis scored nine podiums in his first nine races and he won two of those races. In total, he won four races in 2007 and he finished the championship in second place, one point behind Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari. Lewis's first year was the best by any rookie in the sport, and it was not until errors in his last two races that cost him the title that he finally looked human after all.
Driving Style:
During his GP2 season, F1 people first saw the best of Lewis's driving style as he proved to be not only lightning fast, but also a gutsy driver of the old fashioned style. His passing move driving around the outside of two other drivers during the second race at Silverstone in England was a breathtaking maneuver that no one who saw will forget. He started eighth and won the race. This style was to continue in his first F1 season.
Character:
Lewis is a personable, level-headed driver who has shown in apprenticeship years that he can stand up to the toughest situations both on track and off without losing his head. Yet before he joined F1 in 2007 as teammate to the double world champion, Fernando Alonso, specialists were divided as to whether his character would stand up to the job of racing with the greatest young driver in F1. In the end, the drivers finished level on points.
In his first year in the sport, Lewis proved that had the necessary strength of character up to a point. After squandering a 17-point lead in the series two races before the end, he still had to prove he could go all the way in F1. But in 2008, he proved that by becoming the youngest ever world champion and winning that title in the last race of the season.
Minggu, 19 Juli 2009
Kimi Raikkonen: The Iceman From Finland, a Cool Ferrari Driver
Ferrari
Name:
Kimi Raikkonen
Born:
October 17, 1979 in Espoo, Finland
Team:
Ferrari
Kimi Raikkonen
Height:
5'7"
Weight:
138 lbs.
Hobbies:
Snowboarding, jogging, going to the gym, MotoX, ice hockey
Previous F1 Teams:
* 2001 Sauber
* 2002 - 2006 McLaren
* 2007 - 2008 Ferrari
Victories: 18
Background:
When Kimi joined the Sauber Formula 1 team in 2001 he was only 21 and had raced in only 23 car races in his life. But he had won more than half of them. He raced go-karts until age 19, and was Finnish champion and he also did well in the international series. He began car racing in 1999, and in 2000 he won the British Formula Renault series. He also raced in three races in European Formula Renault, winning two of them. Michael Schumacher saw him testing in the Sauber in 2000 and said that he had a bright future in Formula 1.
His Career Thus Far:
In his first year in Formula 1 Kimi proved that he had his place in the sport despite having so little experience racing cars. Even so, he finished the championship in ninth position with nine points. But his teammate, Nick Heidfeld, finished in seventh position, with 13 points.
McLaren-Mercedes nevertheless decided that Kimi was a driver for the future, and signed him up for the following year. (This was a blow to Heidfeld, who had been nurtured as a Mercedes driver for years.) In his first year at McLaren, Kimi finished sixth in the series with 24 points, compared to his teammate David Coulthard's fifth place finish in the series and 41 points. That was, however, the last time his teammate would do better than him. Raikkonen won his first race in 2003 and finished second in the championship, missing the title by two points to Schumacher. He won seven races in 2005 and again finished second in the series, but this time to Fernando Alonso. He joined Ferrari in 2007 hoping he would finally win the title at the sport's most successful team.
Raikkonen the World Champion:
The 2007 season was a four-way battle for the drivers' title between the two drivers of the McLaren Mercedes team and the two drivers of the Ferrari team. But from early in the season to the very last race, Lewis Hamilton, the rookie driver at McLaren, created the show. Kimi fell behind his teammate, Felipe Massa, for several races and looked out of the running. With two races left, Lewis spoiled his 17-point lead to score only two points, while Kimi won the two races for a perfect score, to win the drivers' title in the last race. In 2008 he won only twice.
Driving Style:
Although Kimi lost the title mostly because of the unreliability of his car in 2005, he has been publicly accused of driving his cars hard. In fact, Kimi's style is marked by such an apparently superhuman and cool, incisive approach that he developed the nickname of Iceman. He is very fast on a single lap, but is also a master of fighting his way up the pack.
Character:
His cool character, light complexion and icy blue eyes also contributed to his nickname, but Kimi remains the coolest of drivers. Whether he wins a race or his car breaks down and robs him of certain victory, the Finn stays cool and detached, showing little emotion of any kind. That he is in fact human is clear in his private life from his occasional, highly-publicized blowouts at parties.
Name:
Kimi Raikkonen
Born:
October 17, 1979 in Espoo, Finland
Team:
Ferrari
Kimi Raikkonen
Height:
5'7"
Weight:
138 lbs.
Hobbies:
Snowboarding, jogging, going to the gym, MotoX, ice hockey
Previous F1 Teams:
* 2001 Sauber
* 2002 - 2006 McLaren
* 2007 - 2008 Ferrari
Victories: 18
Background:
When Kimi joined the Sauber Formula 1 team in 2001 he was only 21 and had raced in only 23 car races in his life. But he had won more than half of them. He raced go-karts until age 19, and was Finnish champion and he also did well in the international series. He began car racing in 1999, and in 2000 he won the British Formula Renault series. He also raced in three races in European Formula Renault, winning two of them. Michael Schumacher saw him testing in the Sauber in 2000 and said that he had a bright future in Formula 1.
His Career Thus Far:
In his first year in Formula 1 Kimi proved that he had his place in the sport despite having so little experience racing cars. Even so, he finished the championship in ninth position with nine points. But his teammate, Nick Heidfeld, finished in seventh position, with 13 points.
McLaren-Mercedes nevertheless decided that Kimi was a driver for the future, and signed him up for the following year. (This was a blow to Heidfeld, who had been nurtured as a Mercedes driver for years.) In his first year at McLaren, Kimi finished sixth in the series with 24 points, compared to his teammate David Coulthard's fifth place finish in the series and 41 points. That was, however, the last time his teammate would do better than him. Raikkonen won his first race in 2003 and finished second in the championship, missing the title by two points to Schumacher. He won seven races in 2005 and again finished second in the series, but this time to Fernando Alonso. He joined Ferrari in 2007 hoping he would finally win the title at the sport's most successful team.
Raikkonen the World Champion:
The 2007 season was a four-way battle for the drivers' title between the two drivers of the McLaren Mercedes team and the two drivers of the Ferrari team. But from early in the season to the very last race, Lewis Hamilton, the rookie driver at McLaren, created the show. Kimi fell behind his teammate, Felipe Massa, for several races and looked out of the running. With two races left, Lewis spoiled his 17-point lead to score only two points, while Kimi won the two races for a perfect score, to win the drivers' title in the last race. In 2008 he won only twice.
Driving Style:
Although Kimi lost the title mostly because of the unreliability of his car in 2005, he has been publicly accused of driving his cars hard. In fact, Kimi's style is marked by such an apparently superhuman and cool, incisive approach that he developed the nickname of Iceman. He is very fast on a single lap, but is also a master of fighting his way up the pack.
Character:
His cool character, light complexion and icy blue eyes also contributed to his nickname, but Kimi remains the coolest of drivers. Whether he wins a race or his car breaks down and robs him of certain victory, the Finn stays cool and detached, showing little emotion of any kind. That he is in fact human is clear in his private life from his occasional, highly-publicized blowouts at parties.
Sabtu, 18 Juli 2009
Todt confirms FIA intentions
Former Ferrari Chief Jean Todt, who played a major role in helping the Italian team secure multiple world championships together with Ross Brawn and the legendary Michael Schumacher, has now confirmed his desire to run for FIA President.
The man currently in the top job at the FIA, Max Mosley, gave his 100% support of Todt’s application when he confirmed recently that he would not be running for re-election in October of this year. At that stage, Todt’s intentions were only speculated but now confirmation has arrived...
"Following the decision of Max Mosley not to seek re-election and his unequivocal support of my candidature I've written to the members of the FIA to inform them that I wish to run for the presidency. It is my intention to continue and expand the outstanding work of President Mosley,'' he said.
There has been some voiced opposition to Todt’s decision with the majority wanting former Rally champion Ari Vatanen in the role instead, believing that he would give the FIA a fresh outlook when Todt would not.
The man currently in the top job at the FIA, Max Mosley, gave his 100% support of Todt’s application when he confirmed recently that he would not be running for re-election in October of this year. At that stage, Todt’s intentions were only speculated but now confirmation has arrived...
"Following the decision of Max Mosley not to seek re-election and his unequivocal support of my candidature I've written to the members of the FIA to inform them that I wish to run for the presidency. It is my intention to continue and expand the outstanding work of President Mosley,'' he said.
There has been some voiced opposition to Todt’s decision with the majority wanting former Rally champion Ari Vatanen in the role instead, believing that he would give the FIA a fresh outlook when Todt would not.
2009 FIA Formula One World Championship Race Calendar
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