Finding out via the media that your co-owner has put his slice of the team up for sale is not common business practice, so Gerhard Berger must have been surprised to learn of Dietrich Mateschitz's decision to seek a 'suitable buyer' for his half of Toro Rosso.
With customer cars ruled out from 2010, for Mateschitz, focusing exclusively on Red Bull Racing makes perfect sense. But what now for Toro Rosso - and for Berger?
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2008-03-21 05:12:00
Source: formula1-interviews
Fighting for fourth place at last weekend's Australian Grand Prix seemed to be as big a challenge for Renault's Fernando Alonso as his numerous wins of the past. And strangely, Alonso seemed to enjoy every second of that fraught Melbourne struggle, even though the rewards were much smaller.
The question now is how long will the double world champion find pleasure in the nitty-gritty of gathering the occasional point, before frustration gets the better of him
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2008-03-21 03:15:00
Source: formula1-interviews
The first time is always special, especially your first Grand Prix as a team owner. For Force India's maiden race, Dr Vijay Mallya's only wish was to avoid the back row of the grid. With that mission accomplished, the Australian weekend was a winner before the race had even begun.
And while that race could have gone better, there were plenty of more experienced teams also left with double DNFs, and Mallya came away feeling quietly confident about the team's future
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2008-03-19 12:57:00
Source: formula1-interviews
As debuts go, Nelson Piquet's was one to forget. Renault's new recruit qualified a lowly 21st - nine places behind his team mate - and then retired barely halfway through the race with accident damage.
However, there is more to a Formula One weekend than bare statistics. We caught up with the young Brazilian to get some more background information on his time in Melbourne
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2008-03-19 11:57:00
Source: formula1-interviews
With both their cars making it into the final qualifying shoot-out in Melbourne on Saturday, it looked as if the Toyota team had finally made a step towards realising their long-held ambitions.
But come Sunday evening, the Japanese team left Albert Park with no world championship points and a technical issue to resolve. For driver Jarno Trulli, who had run as high as fifth during the Australian Grand Prix, the result was especially disappointing...
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2008-03-18 15:09:00
Source: formula1-interviews
While Renault may not have shone during qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix, the French team left Melbourne relatively happy with their haul of five world championship points, courtesy of Fernando Alonso, who finished in fourth. Executive Director of Engineering Pat Symonds, however, believes there is a great deal more work left to do. Here Symonds reflects on the race at Albert Park and looks ahead to this weekend's Malaysian event...
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2008-03-18 12:44:00
Source: formula1-interviews
Honda came painfully close to points in Australia, the team's first race under Ross Brawn's leadership. Although Jenson Button crashed out on lap one, Rubens Barrichello finished sixth, only to then be excluded for running a red light.
A DNF and a disqualification may not have been the result Brawn was hoping for, but he is positive that the very fact they were in contention for points - a rarity last season - means things are heading in the right direction...
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2008-03-17 12:11:00
Source: formula1-interviews
It was a good day for McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen, as he made his debut for his new team in Melbourne on Friday. In both practice sessions, he clocked the fourth-fastest time, so it's no surprise that it was a very relaxed looking Kovalainen who strolled between the McLaren pits and the British team's motorhome. We caught up with the Finn to find out a little more about his pre-season preparations and his hopes for 2008...
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2008-03-14 12:40:00
Source: formula1-interviews
With matters looking so bleak over the winter, in the end it was a proverbial last-minute white knight rescue that saved Super Aguri and enabled the struggling Japanese team to join the other squads in Australia this weekend.
Understandably, for everyone at the team there is an overwhelming feeling of relief that they made it to Melbourne. And for the moment, the joy of having survived is enough to see them - and driver Anthony Davidson - through...
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2008-03-13 10:39:00
Source: formula1-interviews
After the R27's poor start, Renault were faced with a real mountain to climb during the course of last year. Over the pre-season testing period, the car's 2008 successor is already looking stronger in terms of its handling and reliability. The French team's technical director Bob Bell, however, knows that the hard work has only just begun. Here Bell reveals his feelings ahead of this weekend's season opener in Melbourne
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2008-03-10 10:09:00
Source: formula1-interviews
Together, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso and talented rookie Nelson Piquet Jr are shaping up to be one of this season's most formidable team pairings. Of course, Renault team mates Alonso and Piquet can only do so much, and a lot of their success this season will be dependant on the performance of the French team's R28.
Here the duo reflects on their progress over the winter break and look ahead to what they hope to achieve over the coming months
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2008-03-10 10:08:00
Source: formula1-interviews
With several new regulations to contend with, the launch of the F1.08 car in early January and a rigorous programme of testing, BMW Sauber's technical director Willy Rampf has been kept very busy of late. In one of his short breaks, however, he found time to talk exclusively to Formula1.com about the German-Swiss squad's progress and their prospects for 2008
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2008-02-20 03:19:00
Source: formula1-interviews
2007 was a vintage year for BMW Sauber. Indeed, since the German auto giant bought Sauber back in June 2005 the team have enjoyed strong progress with few setbacks. The question now is whether the F1.08 can continue their upward trend.
Though the new car has shown excellent reliability, it still seems lacking in pace compared to Ferrari and McLaren. However, you need more than just single-lap speed to win a Grand Prix and team principal Mario Theissen is confident BMW Sauber has what it takes
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2008-02-15 06:13:00
Source: formula1-interviews
After two Spanish test sessions and two trips to Bahrain, Toyota's Pascal Vasselon believes the new TF108 has already brought the team significantly closer to the competition compared to this time last year.
And having already achieved their targets of improved stability and driveability, the Japanese team's senior general chassis manager is now predicting some serious gains in aerodynamic performance ahead of next month's Australian Grand Prix
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2008-02-14 04:39:00
Source: formula1-interviews
The past 12 months must have been difficult to swallow for Honda's Jenson Button. With the RA107's poor aero performance and lack of stability under braking to contend with, Button scored just six points in 2007, 50 less than his tally from the season before.
Over the winter, however, the Japanese squad have been hard at work, and with new team principal Ross Brawn now on board, the British driver is hopeful that it is only a matter of time before all the effort starts to pay off...
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2008-02-12 07:32:00
Source: formula1-interviews
With just over a month to go before the opening race of 2008, Pat Symonds, Renault's Executive Director of Engineering discusses his predictions for the coming season and reveals his opinions on the future of the sport
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2008-02-11 05:19:00
Source: formula1-interviews
During his long Formula One career Giancarlo Fisichella has witnessed some extraordinary moments of Formula One magic. And after enjoying the glamorous launch of Force India's new car in Mumbai on Thursday, Fisichella has another memory to cherish.
On track too, the Italian has experienced more than his fair share of magic lately, clocking the fourth-fastest time at last week's Barcelona test. Could 2008 really see the 35 year-old defy expectations and enjoy a successful season at his new team?
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2008-02-08 10:17:00
Source: formula1-interviews
Since making his debut for Jaguar in 2004, Christian Klien has been a Formula One regular. After leaving his test and reserve seat at Honda late last year, Klien has recently taken up a similar position with BMW Sauber. Here the Austrian, who celebrates his 25th birthday on Thursday, discusses his hopes for the coming season and beyond
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2008-02-07 06:49:00
Source: formula1-interviews
From titleholders to midfielders, Renault could easily have lost heart last season. Instead, they picked themselves up, dusted themselves off and focused their efforts on their 2008 car, the R28. Here technical director Bob Bell discusses the design of the team's new machine and reflects on the challenges that still lie ahead
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2008-02-07 04:02:00
Source: formula1-interviews
Since its launch in January, BMW Sauber's new F1.08 has received a great deal of praise for its style but Formula One racing isn't a beauty contest, and if the team want to challenge for podiums this season, then their 2008 car needs to start making more of an impression on the testing timesheets.
Race driver Robert Kubica, however, is optimistic that the German-Swiss squad are gradually solving the F1.08's teething problems and is feeling confident about the season ahead
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2008-02-06 03:59:00
Source: formula1-interviews
Nepotism or not, being the son of a former world champion should certainly help a Formula One hopeful realise his ambitions. When it comes to opening doors, racing pedigree is an enviable attribute but without the talent to back it up, a driver might quickly find those same doors slammed shut.
Luckily for Renault's Nelson Piquet Jr, he has already shown he has more than enough skill behind the wheel to help him live up to his famous name...
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2008-02-04 07:04:00
Source: formula1-interviews
For the first time since Franck Montagny waved goodbye to his Super Aguri race seat in July 2006, a French driver will once again grace the Formula One grid this year when the new season gets underway in March.
2008-02-01 12:56:00
Source: formula1-interviews
For the first time since Franck Montagny waved goodbye to his Super Aguri race seat in July 2006, a French driver will once again grace the Formula One grid this year when the new season gets underway in March.
After waiting since 2000 to land a Formula One drive Sebastien Bourdais is keen to impress. And having clinched his fourth Champ Car title last year, he certainly has more than enough of that elusive 'winner's mentality' demanded by team co-owner Gerhard Berger...
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2008-02-01 06:56:00
Source: formula1-interviews
Speaking at the launch of Renault's 2008 car, team principal Flavio Briatore was in his element.Following their luckless 2007 season, and with former world champion Fernando Alonso returning to the fold, the French squad are confident they can bounce back this year.
2008-01-31 17:40:00
Source: formula1-interviews
Speaking at the launch of Renault's 2008 car, team principal Flavio Briatore was in his element. Following their luckless 2007 season, and with former world champion Fernando Alonso returning to the fold, the French squad are confident they can bounce back this year. Here Briatore dissects what went wrong and reveals why he believes a return to form is on the cards
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2008-01-31 11:40:00
Source: formula1-interviews
After his emotional farewell in Shanghai last year, many thought the next time Alex Wurz would grace a Grand Prix would be as a guest at his 'home' race in Monaco.
2008-01-30 10:59:00
Source: formula1-interviews
After his emotional farewell in Shanghai last year, many thought the next time Alex Wurz would grace a Grand Prix would be as a guest at his 'home' race in Monaco. But in the hectic world of Formula One it's prudent to never say never and just weeks later Wurz was back, confirmed as Honda's test and reserve driver.
Speaking exclusively to Formula1.com, Wurz explains the reasons for his return - and his plans to test drive the Japanese team back to the front of the grid
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2008-01-30 04:59:00
Source: formula1-interviews
If you scored points for doing well at tests, Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel would be flying high in the standings.
2008-01-28 11:54:00
Source: formula1-interviews
The last GP2 champion to be promoted to a permanent Formula One race seat was McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, so Toyota must have great expectations for new signing Timo Glock.
2008-01-14 10:14:00
Source: formula1-interviews
Even at 34 years-old, it seems Giancarlo Fisichella is still burning with ambition.After almost ending up without a cockpit for 2008, the former Renault driver fought back at December's Force India 'shootout' at Jerez - and it paid off.
2008-01-11 15:24:00
Source: formula1-interviews
