Interviews from Formula1.com http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/ en-GB Formula1.com Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:03:24 GMT Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:03:24 GMT 15 http://www.formula1.com/photos/225x150/sutton/2008/d08bra1335.jpg http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2009/1/8775.html Bernie Ecclestone (GBR). Formula One World Championship, Rd 18, Brazilian Grand Prix, Practice Day, Interlagos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Friday, 31 October 2008 A gold medal for first place, silver for second and bronze for third. The driver with the most gold medals at the end of the season becomes world champion. That is Bernie Ecclestone's idea. We asked him about the thinking behind the plan and discovered why he believes it will make for an even more exciting world championship. And you can even tell us what you think of his idea… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2009/1/8775.html Thu, 01 Jan 2009 23:59:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2009/1/8775.html Formula1.com It has been a turbulent year for the FIA and its President Max Mosley. Just when it looked as though the teams were distancing themselves from Formula One's governing body, Honda's withdrawal changed everything, prompting close cooperation to help safeguard the future of the sport. With the major cost-cutting measures agreed, Mosley was not expected to run again for re-election in 2009. However, the last word on this has not yet been spoken and the FIA President will make his final decision next June… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8797.html Tue, 23 Dec 2008 02:40:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8797.html Formula1.com Red Bull have enjoyed a fantastic series of test sessions over recent weeks, with their drivers consistently topping the timesheets, despite the absence of veteran racer Mark Webber. One was the team's new star signing Sebastian Vettel. The German youngster was satisfied with his form, but remains well aware that there are still a lot of unanswered questions about the 2009 season… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8795.html Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:57:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8795.html Formula1.com With the McLaren-Mercedes components for Force India's new VJM02 car not due until March, the Silverstone-based team will be notable by their absence from the majority of Formula One testing this winter. Recently confirmed race driver Adrian Sutil admits it's difficult seeing everyone else heading off for the track, but with the promise of a stronger car in 2009 the German insists he is far from frustrated… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8794.html Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:09:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8794.html Formula1.com With testing to be banned during the season, teams are under pressure to get their 2009 preparations right over the winter. This week at Jerez Williams ran a hybrid version of the FW30, complete with some '09-spec parts, and driver Kazuki Nakajima is pleased with progress. After performing well enough in his debut season to secure a new contract, Nakajima feels confident that podiums could soon be within his reach… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8793.html Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:40:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8793.html Formula1.com Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - or in the case of a Formula One car, in its pace. The wide 2009-spec front wing of BMW Sauber's F1.08B certainly caused a few raised eyebrows when it made its debut recently. More puzzling to Robert Kubica, though, is whether the addition of KERS could be a disadvantage for him, as one of the tallest and heaviest drivers on the grid… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8787.html Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:13:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8787.html Formula1.com Sebastien Buemi dominated last week's test at Jerez, clinching the fastest time on all three days for Toro Rosso. It was a stellar performance, which could help secure Buemi one of the team's empty cockpits for next season. This week he's back testing for Red Bull at the Spanish track, and on Monday he managed to maintain his stranglehold on the top of the timesheets, despite swapping the STR3 for the RB4. We caught up with the 20 year-old to find out about his recent testing form and discover how he rates his chances of clinching a 2009 race drive… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8784.html Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:21:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8784.html Formula1.com In the current economic climate, Williams have one big advantage. When their cooperation with BMW ended a few years back they went through a 'reprivatisation' process and quickly learnt how to attract sufficient finance to fund their entire racing budget. In these times of cost cutting and budget restraints it's a vital skill - and one that CEO Adam Parr believes puts Williams in a different position to all the other teams on the grid… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8772.html Fri, 12 Dec 2008 10:53:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8772.html Formula1.com Red Bull's recent announcement that they are to regain 100 percent ownership of Toro Rosso has left many asking whether one company can really finance two teams without one or the other of them suffering. Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner insists it's not even an issue. He is more concerned with seeing the injured Mark Webber return to action and in implementing the planned cost-cutting measures for 2009… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8769.html Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:55:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8769.html Formula1.com Toro Rosso's team principal Franz Tost is a man of understatement - describing their 2008 success as 'limited' shows that his ambition stretches far beyond a single Grand Prix win. With 2009 comes major change - new regulations, the loss of German wunderkind Sebastian Vettel, and the departure of Gerhard Berger returning the team to full Red Bull ownership. So what does Tost believe the future really holds? http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8767.html Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:13:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8767.html Formula1.com The season was respectable, so was the vintage. In fact Jarno Trulli can look back at a pretty successful 2008, both on the track and in his vineyards. And with next year's rule changes set to shake things up, the Italian believes Toyota are well placed to go even better in 2009. The team missed the recent Barcelona test, but have a private session scheduled in Bahrain this week - the final mileage with the TF108 before its successor hits the track on January 20 at the new Algarve Motor Park in Portugal... http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8761.html Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:25:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8761.html Formula1.com Honda's withdrawal from Formula One racing may leave them as the only Japanese manufacturer team, but after a much-improved 2008 season Toyota have made it very clear that they remain 100 percent committed. Team President John Howett is one of those spearheading efforts among competitors to find ways of getting spending under control. By bringing smart cost-saving measures to the fore, he believes the recession is a very manageable one… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8758.html Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:23:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/12/8758.html Formula1.com Sometimes it has to get worse before it gets better. After zero points in 2008, Force India owner Vijay Mallya has made a shrewd move in signing a technical partnership with McLaren-Mercedes for 2009. It's raised the probability of the team fielding a competitive car - and it's certainly raised the spirits of veteran driver Giancarlo Fisichella, who insists he has a waterproof contract for next season, despite recent rumours to the contrary… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8743.html Fri, 28 Nov 2008 09:05:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8743.html Formula1.com For a petrol head like Frank Williams, seeing his team slip down the grid this season must have been painful to watch. And it was equally saddening for driver Nico Rosberg, the much acclaimed German youngster, who has been touted as a possible future world champion. Whenever the FW30 had a good day Rosberg was there to bag the points. However, those occasions were too rare to satisfy his ambitions. But with 2009's wide-ranging regulation changes promising a shake-up, Rosberg hopes have been restored… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8736.html Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:03:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8736.html Formula1.com Mark Webber's weekend accident comes as a blow to Red Bull Racing's 2009 preparations. With so many regulation changes looming, it is now up to the incoming Sebastian Vettel to do the main work in setting up the RB5. But after his dream season with Toro Rosso, there is little doubt Vettel will rise to the challenge. The German youngster reflects on his breakthrough '08 campaign and looks ahead to even bigger and brighter things for '09… http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8733.html Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:15:00 GMT http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2008/11/8733.html Formula1.com