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!