Everyone seems to be tipping Lewis Hamilton to be an outstanding rookie in 2007. And now Ferrari's Felipe Massa is backing Hamilton to shine in his debut season after an impressive show in winter testing. With the opening grand prix of the year at Melbourne's Albert Park, Australia just 11 days away, Felipe said, "I've known Hamilton for a long time." " He's showed good performance and good style. I think he's going to be quick, and maybe the surprise of the year. " Felipe, who last topped the unofficial timesheets in testing at Bahrain last week, also feels Finnish rookie Heikki Kovalainen, who replaced Fernando Alonso at Renault, will impress too. Felipe added, "He has a lot of experience, and for sure he is going to be quick as well."
Mr. Massa has also been getting his own praise as lots of F1 personalities saying he, and not Kimi Raikkonen, could be the one to win the World title for Ferrari in 2007. Felipe topped the timesheets at the recent test in Bahrain and on the final day, broke the circuit's lap record. For some, though, the Brazilian's success has come as a bit of a surprise. Telling Reuters, Renault team boss Flavio Briatore said, " I never believed Massa was so good." " If you asked me about Massa at the beginning of the season, I thought he was kind of medium. But give him the right car and he's terrific." He has also had praise from former F1 driver Jacques Villeneuve. Who recently told F1 Racing magazine: "Massa will probably take over as team leader. He did a really strong job last year, made a few mistakes but didn't look too shabby next to Michael." "He's intelligent, talented, quick. With the right equipment, he can be a title contender. Then we'll see if he's really a great, or just a good, driver. But he could be great." Even F1 Champ Fernando Alonso Another believes Massa could challenge for this year's World title. " Everybody thought that Kimi was coming to Ferrari and staying ahead and being number one and now everybody's realised that Felipe is very quick as well," said Alonso last week. "For me it's not a surprise. Either of them can win."
At Renault, Giancarlo Fisichella has said that are nearly half a second off pace. Renault struggled in winter testing but did find some pace in the final week of testing in Bahrain and Giancarlo claims his team still has a lot of work to do. " We are struggling a little bit at the moment. We need to find a little bit of pace," Fisichella told the Herald Sun. " Ferrari and McLaren are a step forward at the moment. McLaren and Ferrari are stronger than us. It's at least half a second a lap. It's a lot." " We are not as quick as two years ago, when I won (in Australia), and last year, so we are struggling a little bit at the moment." Renault are expecting to have various upgrades for the R27 at the season-opening race. " We have some new bits coming for the first race in Australia. The main thing now is to find a little bit more (pace)," he added.
" The aim is to win, but it depends on the competitiveness of the car. If we are able to have the speed of the last couple of years it is possible, but if not then it is not. Reliability is quite good, but we need a bit more pace." The team are also battling with the new Bridgestone tyres. The team used Michelin rubber up to the end of 2006 and are now finding it hard to adapt to the new tyres. " We are struggling to drive the car. The grip overall is not great. So probably it is down force," Fisi said. "Maybe it is one of the reasons. But a team like McLaren has not got that problem, so if they can make them work..." But Giancarlo Fisichella, who spent two years playing second fiddle to double World Champion Fernando Alonso at Renault before being promoted to lead driver for 2007, has himself come under criticism from Mike Gascoyne Mike claims that unless Fisi mounts a serious challenge for this year's World title, he could find it a one-off opportunity and himself driving for a back-marker team in 2008. " I think he can deliver, I think he's very talented," Gascoyne, who worked with Fisichella at Benetton told Reuters. " Whether he can do it as consistently as someone like Fernando, probably not." " He definitely has to win half a dozen races this year. If not he'll be falling back to the teams down the grid, he won't be getting another top line drive."
Toyota seem to be having problems too. An unhappy Ralf Schumacher believes a car riddled with problems may wreck his season. Toyota's winter testing wasn't a good one and have gone to Jerez for a private test this week with only a few days to sort out the TF107 problems. Now with the Australian GP opener just around the corner, Ralf said: "There is a gap to the front that we must now work hard to close." " There is no point trying to hide it, but in all probability we are going to have a difficult year." " I would be looking forward to the season more if we had fewer problems to solve." Trying to end on a positive note, he added: "It's often the case if you have a catastrophic test preparation, the races go surprisingly well."
Some one who seems very happy with his car is Nick Heidfeld and has stated he feels that the new Bridgestone tyres are well suited to BMW F1.07 chassis. BMW had brilliant winter testing results often finishing near the top of the timesheets behind Ferrari and McLaren. Heidfeld believes the way that BMW have adapted to the new rubber is the reason. "The tyres clearly provide less grip therefore everyone will be slower and sliding a lot more with them." Heidfeld said. "When it comes to the car, however, they seem to suit the F1.07 rather well. The car was clearly developed in the right direction." Heidfeld was still cautious about his chances this season, saying that "there is still quite a lot to learn regarding the tyres" After BMW finishing fifth in 2006, there is an expectation of the team winning GP's and rising up the Constructors' Championship in 2007.
Leading F1 drivers have expressed that new regulations are stifling overtaking. Mark Webber and Felipe Massa have concerns that the 19,000 rpm rev-limit, introduced for the start of the 'engine freeze' era in 2007, will further limit exciting racing and contribute to races being mere processions. Mark Webber told the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport: "Because of that it is practically impossible to get in the slipstream of the car in front so you can overtake." Echoing his comments Ferrari's Felipe Massa said, "We now lack the kick to overtake, which you could get before from the higher revs." The magazine suggested that as little as 20bhp separates the whole formula one field this season.
According to a report in the Today newspaper, the government of Singapore has pledged financial support for plans to host a round of the Formula 1 world championship and is ready to commit to the project. The country's department of Trade and Industry has been studying proposals for the past year. "The Government is willing to support such a venture up to a level proportionate with the broader benefits to the economy." Mr. S Iswaran, the Minister of State for Trade and Industry, said in parliament. Mr Iswaran also added that the benefits of hosting a grand prix could be significant for his country. "Formula 1 is the third-most watched sporting event in the world, after the Olympics and World Cup. It is also a glamorous event - one that is attended by sports and entertainment celebrities alike," he said. "The attention and 'buzz' that F1 generates will expose Singapore to a very different audience from that in the business and financial world." "An F1 race could also bring about broader tourism benefits and spill-over gains for associated industries." The newspaper report says that potential promoters would like to stage a race as early as next April, in which case the event would have to take the form of a street race and even become F1's first night race. Bernie Ecclestone, F1's commercial rights holder, denied that any agreement had been made with promoters, Singaporean property developer Hotel Properties. "We haven't entered into any agreement with anyone at the moment," Bernie told Reuters on Tuesday.
Teena B © enterF1.co.uk
Mr. Massa has also been getting his own praise as lots of F1 personalities saying he, and not Kimi Raikkonen, could be the one to win the World title for Ferrari in 2007. Felipe topped the timesheets at the recent test in Bahrain and on the final day, broke the circuit's lap record. For some, though, the Brazilian's success has come as a bit of a surprise. Telling Reuters, Renault team boss Flavio Briatore said, " I never believed Massa was so good." " If you asked me about Massa at the beginning of the season, I thought he was kind of medium. But give him the right car and he's terrific." He has also had praise from former F1 driver Jacques Villeneuve. Who recently told F1 Racing magazine: "Massa will probably take over as team leader. He did a really strong job last year, made a few mistakes but didn't look too shabby next to Michael." "He's intelligent, talented, quick. With the right equipment, he can be a title contender. Then we'll see if he's really a great, or just a good, driver. But he could be great." Even F1 Champ Fernando Alonso Another believes Massa could challenge for this year's World title. " Everybody thought that Kimi was coming to Ferrari and staying ahead and being number one and now everybody's realised that Felipe is very quick as well," said Alonso last week. "For me it's not a surprise. Either of them can win."
At Renault, Giancarlo Fisichella has said that are nearly half a second off pace. Renault struggled in winter testing but did find some pace in the final week of testing in Bahrain and Giancarlo claims his team still has a lot of work to do. " We are struggling a little bit at the moment. We need to find a little bit of pace," Fisichella told the Herald Sun. " Ferrari and McLaren are a step forward at the moment. McLaren and Ferrari are stronger than us. It's at least half a second a lap. It's a lot." " We are not as quick as two years ago, when I won (in Australia), and last year, so we are struggling a little bit at the moment." Renault are expecting to have various upgrades for the R27 at the season-opening race. " We have some new bits coming for the first race in Australia. The main thing now is to find a little bit more (pace)," he added.
" The aim is to win, but it depends on the competitiveness of the car. If we are able to have the speed of the last couple of years it is possible, but if not then it is not. Reliability is quite good, but we need a bit more pace." The team are also battling with the new Bridgestone tyres. The team used Michelin rubber up to the end of 2006 and are now finding it hard to adapt to the new tyres. " We are struggling to drive the car. The grip overall is not great. So probably it is down force," Fisi said. "Maybe it is one of the reasons. But a team like McLaren has not got that problem, so if they can make them work..." But Giancarlo Fisichella, who spent two years playing second fiddle to double World Champion Fernando Alonso at Renault before being promoted to lead driver for 2007, has himself come under criticism from Mike Gascoyne Mike claims that unless Fisi mounts a serious challenge for this year's World title, he could find it a one-off opportunity and himself driving for a back-marker team in 2008. " I think he can deliver, I think he's very talented," Gascoyne, who worked with Fisichella at Benetton told Reuters. " Whether he can do it as consistently as someone like Fernando, probably not." " He definitely has to win half a dozen races this year. If not he'll be falling back to the teams down the grid, he won't be getting another top line drive."
Toyota seem to be having problems too. An unhappy Ralf Schumacher believes a car riddled with problems may wreck his season. Toyota's winter testing wasn't a good one and have gone to Jerez for a private test this week with only a few days to sort out the TF107 problems. Now with the Australian GP opener just around the corner, Ralf said: "There is a gap to the front that we must now work hard to close." " There is no point trying to hide it, but in all probability we are going to have a difficult year." " I would be looking forward to the season more if we had fewer problems to solve." Trying to end on a positive note, he added: "It's often the case if you have a catastrophic test preparation, the races go surprisingly well."
Some one who seems very happy with his car is Nick Heidfeld and has stated he feels that the new Bridgestone tyres are well suited to BMW F1.07 chassis. BMW had brilliant winter testing results often finishing near the top of the timesheets behind Ferrari and McLaren. Heidfeld believes the way that BMW have adapted to the new rubber is the reason. "The tyres clearly provide less grip therefore everyone will be slower and sliding a lot more with them." Heidfeld said. "When it comes to the car, however, they seem to suit the F1.07 rather well. The car was clearly developed in the right direction." Heidfeld was still cautious about his chances this season, saying that "there is still quite a lot to learn regarding the tyres" After BMW finishing fifth in 2006, there is an expectation of the team winning GP's and rising up the Constructors' Championship in 2007.
Leading F1 drivers have expressed that new regulations are stifling overtaking. Mark Webber and Felipe Massa have concerns that the 19,000 rpm rev-limit, introduced for the start of the 'engine freeze' era in 2007, will further limit exciting racing and contribute to races being mere processions. Mark Webber told the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport: "Because of that it is practically impossible to get in the slipstream of the car in front so you can overtake." Echoing his comments Ferrari's Felipe Massa said, "We now lack the kick to overtake, which you could get before from the higher revs." The magazine suggested that as little as 20bhp separates the whole formula one field this season.
According to a report in the Today newspaper, the government of Singapore has pledged financial support for plans to host a round of the Formula 1 world championship and is ready to commit to the project. The country's department of Trade and Industry has been studying proposals for the past year. "The Government is willing to support such a venture up to a level proportionate with the broader benefits to the economy." Mr. S Iswaran, the Minister of State for Trade and Industry, said in parliament. Mr Iswaran also added that the benefits of hosting a grand prix could be significant for his country. "Formula 1 is the third-most watched sporting event in the world, after the Olympics and World Cup. It is also a glamorous event - one that is attended by sports and entertainment celebrities alike," he said. "The attention and 'buzz' that F1 generates will expose Singapore to a very different audience from that in the business and financial world." "An F1 race could also bring about broader tourism benefits and spill-over gains for associated industries." The newspaper report says that potential promoters would like to stage a race as early as next April, in which case the event would have to take the form of a street race and even become F1's first night race. Bernie Ecclestone, F1's commercial rights holder, denied that any agreement had been made with promoters, Singaporean property developer Hotel Properties. "We haven't entered into any agreement with anyone at the moment," Bernie told Reuters on Tuesday.
Teena B © enterF1.co.uk