To Monza They Go

McLaren rookie Lewis Hamilton took to the Italian track on the first day of testing and was able to set the fastest time of the day. Monza is the track where Hamilton secured his GP2 championship last season before joining the silver arrows of McLaren.

Hamilton just edged out Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen and BMW's Nick Heidfeld in a slightly short session that ended in afternoon rain showers.

The teams intend to pick back up tomorrow for more running barring potential day long storms. This year the F1 has introduced much tighter limits to testing and if rain is in the forecast the teams may choose to stay an additional day so as not to waste test time on wet weather runs.

Preceding this weeks test and following race, Monza track officials resonded to long time driver requests to replace the gravel run off areas at the second chicane with ashphalt runoff zones.

The Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) pleded for changes to accomodate safety concerns associated with chance of lift off in the gravel areas. Monza is the fastest circuit of the season and with the guard rails so close to the track great attention to safety detail must be taken.

Efforts of the such help to ensure comfort among the drivers whilst traveling so quickly and with minimal aerodynamic downforce.

Massa Does it Again!

History repeated itself this weekend as Ferrari's Felipe Massa took his second consecutive win in Turkey leading from pole to checkered flag.

Bad luck struck rookie championship leader Lewis Hamilton blew a tire just before his second pitstop dropping him from 3rd to 5th. The tire incident benefited Hamilton's teammate Fernando Alonso who now is just 5 points out of the lead with 5 races remaining in the season.

Massa usurps 3rd place from his teammate Kimi Raikkonen by one point but still lies 15 points back. Raikkonen brought home his second consecutive P2 finish in another boring race for the Finn.

Points scorers:
1. Massa
2. Raikkonen
3. Alonso
4. Heidfeld
5. Hamilton
6. Kovalainen
7. Rosberg
8. Kubica

The Only GP That Is Good With Gravy

Following an extended 3 week summer vacation - or Holiday as everyone else in the world calls it - Formula 1 returns to Asia for round 12 of the 2007 World Championship: The Turkish Grand Prix.

Last race the two McLaren drivers left the track not on speaking terms. Over the break the younger of the two took a load off on his boss's yatch and enjoyed spending time with said boss's 18 year old daughter!

Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso spent time with his family and partied up by... growing a beard... The two McLaren drivers are 1 - 2 in the point standings and the racing should be brutal for the remainder of the season.

That and some Heidfeld guy got a new contract...

 Click here to listen!

Kubica's 2008 Contract Finalized

BMW Sauber team boss Dr Mario Theissen revealed to the press this week that both of his current drivers will return for the 2008 season.

Though the public has been kept in the dark, Theissen revealed today that Kubica's contract had been inked immdediately following his horrific crash at the Canadian GP in June.

The team offered Kubica the contract as a means to boost his confidence and erase self doubt following the high speed accident he suffered.

BMW have proven strong this season and have a firm grasp on 3rd place in the Constructors Championship leading reigning double world champions Renault.

Heidfeld Stays With BMW for 2008

The BMW Sauber team have revealed that furry faced Nick Heidfeld will continue with the team in 2008. The 30 year old German will race next to youngster Robert Kubica for the teams' third season of F1.

Heidfeld's contract held an option for the 2008 season that the team decided to honor after his 42 point campaign and multiple top five finishes.

Kubica, 22, gained praise from team boss Mario Theissen as a rough diamond that needs to be polished (not Polished). With the proper training and a quality car Kubica can easily become a race winner and that's the type of support that a young race driver needs after just one complete year in F1.

BMW hope to step up development of their 2008 car to rival the top teams for race victories.

Get off the pot!

After 11 rounds of the 2007 Formula 1 season, front runners McLaren and Ferrari are battling to the end with non-stop development hoping to get every tenth of a second from their cars.

BMW have a firm grip on 3rd place in the constructors standings. For everyone else the time has come to decide on the proper course of action for the remainder of the season.

Some teams may continue to develop their cars for a final push at the end. Toyota have slowly improved this season and hope to build upon their 12 points. More points equals more sponsor and television money for 2008.

Other teams will likely decide to conclude further major improvements of their challengers for 07 and begin to focus solely upon their 2008 machinery.

Renault have disclosed their intentions to shift their focus to next year.

One must start to assume that Honda, though not yet openly, have ditched their plans for improving the dismal 2007 car and begun work on recalibrating their wind tunnel for work on the 2008 machine.

Lookout for Spyker F1 this week as they debut their b-spec car in an attempt to close the gap to the back of the pack.

NASCAR Bound Scott Speed?

Recent speculation has linked American Scott Speed with a ride for 2008 back in the USA.

Speed was released by F1's Scuderia Toro Rosso after round 10 at the Nurburgring. The American severed ties with F1 but kept his relationship with Austrian energy drink company Red Bull in good standings.

One thing to keep in mind is that Speed will likely find work in the States but it doesn't limit him to open wheel racing.

Red Bull are the sponsors of the Toyota factory NASCAR team and the wheels may already be turning for his move to a cowboy hat!

Bourdais to Toro Rosso - Harmful?

At the end of last week Champcar World Series triple champion Sebastien Bourdais announced his venture into Formula 1 with Red Bull sponsored Scuderia Toro Rosso. Bourdais is the second driver to be named for 2008 next to 20 year old Sebastian Vettel.

This announcement means two Toro Rosso vets are out next season - Vitantonio Liuzzi and Scott Speed. Both drivers have responded to the situation with a surprising sense of relief and seem almost more relaxed knowing their respective fates. The vibe of both drivers seems to reflect that the team is functioning in chaos with weak leadership from team bosses Franz Tost and Gerhard Berger.

The question is now how will the relationship with newcomers Vettel and Bourdais and the team carry on?

Bourdais has little to prove to himself by heading to F1 but does have a family to care for and thus is not solely self motivated. Vettel may have more on the line in the switch from test driver at BMW to full time racer with Toro Rosso. If he doesn't prove himself with this back of the pack team his options could become more limited in the future.

Will the apparent disorder at Toro Rosso be enough to unnerve either driver and perhaps diminish the wonderful opportunities to race in the most elite form of motosport? Other drivers have joined smaller teams and made the world for themselves - Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen, and Fernando Alonso are all names that immediately come to mind with teams like Jordan, Sauber, Minardi and more.

The weight falls on Toro Rosso to get their act together and learn to manage a team that now sits on a wealth (literally) of talent that can produce results and help brand Toro Rosso as a mid pack contender - or at the least a viable stepping stone to larger teams.

Scott Speed Back In America?

Following his early departure from the Scuderia Toro Rosso mid season, American Scott Speed is searching out his options for the 2008 race season.

Speed openly hit out at Toro Rosso team bosses Tost and Berger before being let go from the team prior to the Hungarian GP.

According to his website, the American is headed back to... America! He still has the blessings of Red Bull, main sponsor of Toro Rosso, despite the rocky split and the Austrian energy drink company has encouraged Speed to head back to America for a potential seat in 2008.

No mention yet has been made of which series he may join, but in 2004 he tested for the Red Bull Cheever Racing IRL team.

Bourdais signs with Toro Rosso

Champ Car World Series reigning triple champion Sebastien Bourdais inked a drive with Toro Rosso for 2008. The move to F1 comes as little surprise after several successful tests with Italian, Red Bull backed squad.

The 28 year old from Le Mans, France, will be paired with 20 year old Sebastian Vettel in '08.

The news means that now both drivers who started the 2007 season for Toro Rosso will not return for a third season.

American Scott Speed was removed from the team after the European GP at the Nurburgring and replaced by Vettel for the rest of the season while Vitantonio Liuzzi will finish off the season for the Italian team.

Hungarian GP Review - Rampage Racing Report 20

Holy crap the drama is thick following round 11 of the 2007 Formula 1 season in Hungary. Lewis Hamilton scored his 3rd win of the season and increased his lead to 7 points over his teammate Fernando Alonso. The team are furious with both drivers after the disobedience displayed by both in qualifying.

 Click here to listen...

Bourdais to F1

Rumor has it that Champ Car World Series Champion Sebastien Bourdais will sign for his first drive in F1 on Wednesday. The Frenchman is currently tying loose ends with his current team Newman/Haas and is ready to finalize the deal.

Bourdais currently leads the Champ Car standings and is poised to take his 4th championship.

Alonso's future unsure...

Reigning double world champion Fernando Alonso appears to be considering a change for next season away from Mercedes McLaren. Alonso is two thirds into his first season with the British team but has yet to gel with the personnel.

The Spaniard, Alonso, has hinted to the fact that he expected more support in joining the team as a double world champion.

Alonso's teammate Lewis Hamilton joined F1 this season after years of sponsorship by McLaren in lower divisions and has thus far shined brighter than any rookie to date. The relationship McLaren and Hamilton share has helped the new comer adjust to the team quicker than Alonso.

If Alonso wishes to leave McLaren and not fullfill his 3 year contract where will he go? Rumors have circulated that Renault is interested in the reuniting with their former star but team boss Flavio Briatore has denied any such rumors.

After years of grinding their gears, could Alonso go to Ferrari in a deal that would see one of the Italian team's drivers getting sacked? Unlikely. Honda can't beat a Spyker. Toyota have the money but usually lack the car. Red Bull have the geriatrics department in full piloting their cars next season.

The German BMW squad have yet to confirm their line up for next season with Heidfeld waiting on a decision about his option year left on his contract for 2008 - a swap of Heidfeld for Alonso perhaps?

The key to retaining Alonso at McLaren next season is his winning a third consecutive driver's title. Short of that, Alonso's growing unhappiness could be hard to contain for McLaren boss Ron Dennis.

Hamilton Increases His Lead

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton led the Hungarian GP start to finish adding another win to his already amazing 11 race resume. The Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen tailed behind Hamliton after a great start from third on the grid.

Raikkonen snuck around Heidfeld, who started from 2nd on the dirty side of the track, and kept his position for the remainder of the race.

Raikkonen and teammate Felipe Massa are now effectively out of the running for the world championship and the battle will likely focus on Hamilton and his double world champion teammate Fernando Alonso.

Hamilton extended his lead over Alonso to 7 points following Alonso's 4th place finish. Expect the British press to erupt over the drama between Spain's Alonso and England's Hamilton in the coming summer break.

A final note, the Honda drivers were slower than the Spyker F1! Spyker have been the slowest team on the grid all season until now as the Honda FACTORY team are slower.

1. Hamilton - McLaren
2. Raikkone - Ferrari
3. Heidfeld - BMW
4. Alonso - McLaren
5. Kubica - BMW
6. Schumacher - Toyota
7. Rosberg - Williams
8. Kovalainen - Renault

Alonso and McLaren Penalized

Eight hours following qualifying for the Hungarian GP, the McLaren Mercedes F1 team have been punished for the actions of Fernando Alonso during Qualifying Session 3.

Alonso held up teammate Lewis Hamilton in the pits for more than 10 seconds leaving Hamilton with not enough time to complete a final qualifying lap. McLaren tried to explain that Alonso was held on purpose after Hamilton had disobeyed team orders.

The FIA didn't like the sound of team orders and have stripped McLaren from scoring any championship points in this weekend's event.

Additionally, Alonso is to be penalized 5 grid positions for the start of tomorrow's event. Hamilton and Heidfeld have the front row at tomorrows start.

Alonso does his best Schumacher impression!

Fernando Alonso secured another start from pole today at the Hungaroring but controversy is looming...

In the final tire change of the third qualifying session, Alonso came in for his stop just in front of teammate Lewis Hamilton. When the team released Alonso the driver paused an extra several seconds holding up Hamilton.

The hold up was just long enough to ensure that Hamilton would not be able to put in a final qualifying lap. Alonso's move gained him pole position and was very Schumacher-esque - though - Michael Schumacher always impeded drivers from other teams not his own teammate.

Qualifying Top 8:
1. Fernando Alonso - McLaren
2. Lewis Hamilton - McLaren
3. Nick Heidfeld - BMW
4. Kimi Raikkonen - Ferrari
5. Nico Rosberg - Williams
6. Ralf Schumacher - Toyota
7. Robert Kubica - BMW
8. Giancarlo Fisichella - Renault

Minus rain or mechanical failure, the results should be close to these tomorrow as Hungary is an extremely difficult track to overtake another driver.

I'm from Hungary and you have to hear about it!

F1 teams head to Hungary for round 11 and the championship has been narrowed to just 2 points between McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso with the later hungry for a third consecutive world championship.

American Scott Speed got sacked at Scuderia Toro Rosso this week and is being replaced by 20 year old Sebastian Vettel. Vettel drove in place of the injured Robert Kubica of BMW earlier this season at the USGP and scored his first championship point all just before his 20th birthday.

 click here to listen to our podcast...

Speed gets the boot!

American F1 racer Scott Speed has been removed at Scuderia Toro Rosso for the remainder of the season.

After a violent confrontation with team boss Franz Tost in Germany the American Speed declared that no ammount of money could keep him racing at Toro Rosso.

It appears he was correct! Word just came down that Speed is to be replaced by BMW test driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany for the remainder of the 2007 season and as a full time race driver for 2008.

Where the crap have i been?

From autosport:

2008 Season
16 March Australia
23 March Malaysia
6 April Bahrain
27 April Spain
11 May Turkey
25 May Monaco
8 June Canada *
22 June France
6 July Great Britain
20 July Germany
3 August Hungary
24 August** Europe ***
7 September Italy
14 September Belgium
28 September** Singapore
12 October China
19 October Japan
2 November Brazil

* Provisional.
** Subject to circuit approval.
*** The 2008 European Grand Prix will take place in Valencia.