Toro Rosso has confirmed Sebastien Bourdais will not race for the team at the Hungarian Grand Prix next weekend. Jaime Alguersuari is expected to take over his place. This sparked a debate here about whether the Spanish 19-year-old is ready for F1 yet. But Red Bull’s policy of getting racers from their young driver scheme … Continue reading The Red Bull driver merry-go-round
Robert Doornbos articles archive
Robert Doornbos
CART drivers who raced in F1: From Andretti to Zanardi part 3
IndyCar
Posted onThe third part of our series on F1 drivers who raced in Champ Car includes two-times Formula 1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi, whose American career included a CART title as well as two Indianapolis 500 victories.
F1 blogs review: Auf wiedersehen Ralf
Posted onSeveral F1 bloggers picked up on the departure of Ralf Schumacher from Formula 1 this week. And as usual he didn’t get a very sympathetic farewell… Others criticised the stance of some drivers against the traction control ban, who said it might make racing in the wet too dangerous. Read the weekly round-up of the … Continue reading F1 blogs review: Auf wiedersehen Ralf
Timo Glock finally confirmed at Toyota for 2008
Posted onTimo Glock has been confirmed as Jarno Trulli’s team mate at Toyota in 2008 following a lengthy dispute with BMW. Glock, who won the GP2 championship this year, was BMW’s test driver and the Munich marque became involved in a tug-of-love for Glock’s services with Cologne-based Toyota. The Contracts Recognition Board ruled last week that … Continue reading Timo Glock finally confirmed at Toyota for 2008
2008 testing round-up 1
Posted onThe 2008 winter testing got under way at Barcelona this week as the teams prepared for the first race without traction control since 2001. This was the first of two tests before the break, the second at Jerez next month. Here’s what the teams were all up to.
Champ Car Mexico: Bourdais goes out on a high
Posted onSebastian Bourdais brought the curtain down on his Champ Car career in typical style – by routing the field at Mexico City. He passed pole sitter Will Power early on as Power struggled to keep pace due to the hand injury he picked up at Surfers’ Paradise.
2007 championship final standings
Posted onKimi Raikkonen prevailed in the closes ever finish to a championship between three drivers. Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso both ended the season a single point behind the Finn. Ferrari were crowned constructors’ champions at the Belgian Grand Prix after McLaren’s exclusion from the championship. As McLaren will not have the world champion driving for … Continue reading 2007 championship final standings
Alonso and Prodrive central to 2008 driver market
Posted onThe news that Prodrive will not be using McLaren’s chassis next year raises more questions about who will be racing in F1 in 2008. Ralf Schumacher is leaving Toyota but his F1 career may not yet be over. Alexander Wurz’s departure opens up a space at Williams. And of course there is the unresolved question … Continue reading Alonso and Prodrive central to 2008 driver market
Chinese GP 2007 qualifying: Hamilton edges Raikkonen
Posted onLewis Hamilton took pole position for tomorrow’s Chinese Grand Prix with an excellent lap to beat the Ferraris as he bids to become the sport’s first rookie world champion. It had been Kimi Raikkonen’s weekend so far at Shanghai until the Briton snatched pole position from the Finn by a tenth of a second. Massa … Continue reading Chinese GP 2007 qualifying: Hamilton edges Raikkonen
2008 driver line-up almost set
Posted onThe driver market for 2008 is settling down – although everyone is still watching to see if Fernando Alonso will storm out of McLaren (and away from Lewis Hamilton), to join his old team Renault. Several teams have now confirmed their 2008 line ups and are sticking with their current drivers – with the notable … Continue reading 2008 driver line-up almost set
This weekend’s F1 alternative: Champ Car Assen
Posted onThe Champ Car World Series is back in Europe so catch it while you can. But what on earth are they doing at a bike track? Plus German and British tin-top action and the Indy Racing League title races to a climax on the streets of Detroit. There’s no F1 this weekend, but there’s plenty … Continue reading This weekend’s F1 alternative: Champ Car Assen
Champ Car Zolder: Bourdais once again
Posted onSebastien Bourdais extended his championship lead with another dominant win as the Champ Car World Series made its return to Europe. But Bruno Junqeira stole the show by grabbing second for Dale Coyne racing after a canny gamble on fuel strategy. He survived a late assault by Justin Wilson who fell back to fifth behind … Continue reading Champ Car Zolder: Bourdais once again
The Ben Evans Column: Bull
Posted onOne of the more entertaining F1 side shows of past weeks was the spat between Scott ‘not got any’ Speed and the Red Bull junior team, which has led to Speed’s departure from the Toro Rosso. Speed is latest in a string of Red Bull-backed drivers who have been rushed into F1 and failed to … Continue reading The Ben Evans Column: Bull
Champ Car Road America – Bourdais all the way
Posted onThe news that he’s off to Formula 1 next year doesn’t seem to have distracted Sebastien Bourdais – in fact he romped to his first victory at Elkhart Lake as if he’d been given a new lease of life. And trouble for championship rivals Robert Doornbos and Will Power have thrust him further into the … Continue reading Champ Car Road America – Bourdais all the way
This weekend’s F1 alternative: Champ Car Road America
Posted onIf you’ve never seen racing at the fantastic Elkhart Lake (Road America) then make sure you tune in to the Champ Car World Series round this weekend. The ultra-fast circuit has been described as America’s answer to Spa-Francorchamps – and if Bernie Ecclestone weren’t so sniffy about paddock standards and the like it would be … Continue reading This weekend’s F1 alternative: Champ Car Road America
Unhappy Alonso could blow open 2008 driver market
Posted onMcLaren has reportedly told Alonso he is free to leave the team at the end of the year if he wishes. Speculation has linked him with a return to Renault for 2008, and it remains to be seen who will drive for new 2008 entrants Prodrive.
Video: Alonso blocks Hamilton in pits during qualifying
Posted onFernando Alonso resorted to desperate tactics to prevent team mate Lewis Hamilton from taking pole position at the Hungaroring. If the relationship between the McLaren drivers was strained before it looks like degenerating into a bitterly fought battle now. It remains to be seen whether any disciplinary action might be taken. If Alonso is deemed … Continue reading Video: Alonso blocks Hamilton in pits during qualifying
Debate: Youth vs experience
Posted onWith attention turning to the driver market for 2008, several of F1’s seasoned campaigners have already bagged contract extensions. Rubens Barrichello will stay with Honda – and should surpass Riccardo Patrese’s record number of career starts (256) early next year). David Coulthard is set for a fourth year at Red Bull – when many had … Continue reading Debate: Youth vs experience
This weekend’s F1 alternative: DTM Zandvoort
Posted onWant to catch up with the latest exploits of F1 debut race leader Markus Winkelhock? Then don’t miss the seventh round of the German Touring Car Championship this weekend at the classic former F1 venue of Zandvoort – one of the top tracks on the touring car calendar. Other racing action for those of you … Continue reading This weekend’s F1 alternative: DTM Zandvoort
Toro Rosso denies plan to replace Speed (updated)
Posted onScuderia Toro Rosso have denied they plan to replace Scott Speed with Sebastian Vettel, following a report on an American website. Speed criticised the team after the European Grand Prix, claiming Gerhard Berger and Franz Tost were trying to get rid of him. He was only confirmed to be racing for the team in 2007 … Continue reading Toro Rosso denies plan to replace Speed (updated)