Who is launching What ? When ?

With March’s season-opener drawing ever closer and the first official test of the year set to kick off in just over a week's time, the teams are currently closeted in their factories, busily preparing for their 2010 campaigns. Over the coming weeks, however, they will all break cover and unveil their new cars to an expectant public.

After months of waiting, it’s always an exciting time, and with four brand new squads also joining the fray, you can guarantee there’ll be some surprises in store…

First up are Ferrari, who will take the wraps off their as-yet unnamed 2010 challenger at their Maranello factory next Thursday. Although they’ve already provided a sneak peak of an updated livery, complete with new sponsors Santander, their new car will be unveiled on January 28, with drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa both in attendance.

McLaren’s Mercedes-engined MP4-25, which will be driven by reigning world champion Jenson Button and 2008 titleholder Lewis Hamilton, will be revealed on January 29 at the UK headquarters of team sponsor Vodafone in Newbury.

Next up are BMW Sauber and Renault, who will unveil their 2010 cars at Spain’s Valencia track on January 31, the day before the first official test of the year kicks off. Although both have chosen to forgo the traditional glitz and glamour of a factory launch, team management and drivers will all be present.

Next in line are Mercedes. The former Brawn squad plan to showcase their rebranded ‘team’, and all-new driver pairing of Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg, on Monday January 25 at Mercedes’ Stuttgart museum, before unveiling their new car at Valencia when testing gets underway on February 1. Williams are also planning to debut their new car at the same test.

Red Bull and Force India are both expected to reveal their new challengers at the second official test of the year, at the Spanish circuit of Jerez on February 10.

As one of four new teams joining the 2010 grid, it’s understandable that Lotus are to wait until the second week of February to unveil their car. Technical officer Mike Gascoyne has revealed they plan to fire up their car’s engine for the first time on February 5, before launching it on February 12. It will then make its track debut at Jerez a few days later.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the new US team, have decided to break with convention and are planning to give their car it’s first run on home soil in the United States. The machine will make a low-key test debut at the Barber Motorsport Park in Alabama at some point in early February.

There’s still no official word yet from fellow newcomers Virgin or Campos. Toro Rosso are also yet to announce launch plans.

Current launch line-up at a glance:
January 28 - Ferrari, Maranello, Italy
January 29 - McLaren, Newbury, UK
January 31 - BMW Sauber/Renault, Valencia, Spain
February 1 - Mercedes GP/Williams, Valencia, Spain
February 10 - Red Bull/Force India, Jerez, Spain
Early February - US, Barber Motorsport Park, Alabama, USA
February 12 - Lotus

Few more gossip from the F1 platform !

Michael Schumacher is adamant he will win a World title with Mercedes GP but concedes that it may not be in his first year back racing.

The seven-time World Champion is making his return to Formula One this season, having signed a three-year contract with Mercedes, the new owners of last year's Championship-winning Brawn GP team.

And although many are expecting Schumacher to excel upon his return, just as many believe the German will find the going tough.

Schumacher, however, reckons it's only a matter of time before he wins an eighth Drivers' Championship title.

"In our long-term targets with Mercedes, we have established a clear objective," the 41-year-old told the Bild newspaper.

"I want to become World Champion again. Perhaps that will not happen in my first season back, but it is a realistic possibility over the three seasons."

Schumacher's confidence is echoed by Mercedes GP team boss Ross Brawn.

"I do not believe that Michael will win at his first race. He will need a few races until he's accustomed to the car and the new drivers.

"But I hope in the long-term (he can). That was always his strength: he can adapt and learn unbelievably fast."

Fernando Alonso reckons that it will be difficult to match Michael Schumacher's record of seven World titles, if not "impossible."

Having clinched two titles with Benetton, Schumacher's move to Ferrari produced an era of dominance during which the German claimed a further five crowns, coming out on top from 2000 to 2004.

The German's reign was unprecedented, easily surpassing Juan Manuel Fangio's tally of five F1 World titles.

The most any of the current drivers, excluding the returning Schumacher, have amassed is Alonso's two, leaving the Spaniard to concede that Schumacher's record may stand for many years to come.

"Winning seven Championships would be tough, if not impossible in today's Formula One," the Ferrari driver said, "but I will attempt to win as much as possible in the coming years."

Felipe Massa is adamant he has cleared the air with new Ferrari team-mate Fernando Alonso.

Massa caused a stir towards the end of last year, following the confirmation of Alonso's appointment, by claiming the Spaniard was aware of the 'crashgate' plot that resulted in his victory in the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

It was not the first time views had been aired between the duo as they twice had differences of opinion following races in Spain and Germany in 2007.

Such past confrontations led to suggestions their Latin temperaments would continue to clash at Ferrari, yet Massa maintains he and Alonso have so far managed to start off their new partnership on the right foot, in stark contrast to his previous relationship with Kimi Raikkonen.

"Things have started extremely well," said Massa. "We've already started to speak a lot about the car and what to do to have a competitive car.

"I've spoken more to Fernando now than in three years with Kimi.

David Coulthard reckons F1's youngsters could be in for a surprise this season when they come up against 41-year-old Michael Schumacher.

Schumacher is making a return to F1 after signing a shock deal with Mercedes GP. The German, though, will be the oldest driver on the grid, leaving some to question whether he still has what it takes.

Coulthard believes they could be in for a surprise.

"Well, Michael is an incredible Champion in F1. He has won 90-odd grands prix and seven world championships. So I would be surprised if he is surprised that F1 is difficult," he told Autosport.

"I actually think it will be more the other way. I think the young generation will be surprised just how ruthless Michael can be to achieve his goals.

"That is the thing I am curious to see - does he still have that last little killer instinct that made Michael such a dominant force in F1 before?"

However, the Scot, who had many a battle with Schumacher before the seven-time World Champion hang up his helmet, admits he was surprised by Schumacher's decision to return.

"I am surprised," he said. "Three years out of F1. He has been off doing motorbikes and all sorts of other things, but to come back and sign a three-year contract to comeback at 41 years old - that is tremendously exciting for motorsport in general.

Between Seasons !

The ban on winter testing has actually made the in between Seasons period boring in a way though we get to talk of lot other things this winter. The main reason behind us getting more and more news and interesting articles is due to the fact of the driver changes that occurred, the new regulations that are coming in and most importantly the come back of one of the greatest in the sport - Michael Schumacher. to summarise what happened during the past week,

Fernando Alonso made his first appearance in Ferrari red, arriving in Madonna di Campiglio on Monday evening for the start of 'Wroom' week.

Although Alonso attended Ferrari's World Finals meeting at Valencia late last year, the Spaniard was unable to do so in Ferrari gear due to the fact that he was still contracted to Renault.

However, the change into the new year meant a change into new colours for the double World Champion.

Alonso arrived in the village in the Northern Italian region of Trentino, which traditionally plays host to the Scuderia's annual media event, together with his new team-mate Felipe Massa.

And although there were a few pictures taken, the real action will only begin on Tuesday when the Spaniard and the rest of his team hit the slopes.

Red Bull Racing will not be present at the first test session of the pre-season, according to team boss Christian Horner.

Red Bull, who finished second in last year's Constructors' Championship having claimed five victories, have revealed that their 2010 challenger, the RB6, will not be ready in time for the Valencia test.

The team will therefore wait until the second test, which takes place at Jerez from February 10-13, before turning a wheel in anger.

"As in 2009, we have elected not to run at the first test with the new car, so we will join at the second test," Horner told Autosport.

The decision to delay the first outing will ensure that the team has more time to conduct wind tunnel tests, even though Horner added that the car is an evolution of last year's RB5.

Michael Schumacher was back "on full alert" on Tuesday as he prepared for his Formula One return, even if bad weather put a dampener on his progress.

The seven-times F1 World Champion has been allowed to assist the GP2 Series in their development of a car planned from 2011.

That saw Schumacher back on track at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain, with the German completing 52 laps, albeit in predominantly wet conditions that ultimately forced a halt to the day's running.

Nevertheless, Schumacher was happy with his day's work as he closes in on a comeback after three years in retirement.

"Today was good, especially because after a long time I could drive again in a car that came close to a current Formula One car," said the 41-year-old on his personal website.

"Despite the weather not being what we all would have liked all my senses were nevertheless on full alert. This alone was worth it.

"Unfortunately, it was always just too wet to go out with slicks. I tried them twice, but had to go back to the box (pits) immediately.

"But still, I am gaining a lot from being here because even if you cannot reach F1 level in terms of g-forces, you are still able to practice communication with the engineers.

"I felt comfortable out on the track from the very beginning, and naturally I'd like to thank our team and the GP2 Series very much for the opportunity to drive."

Schumacher will spend another two days behind the wheel, with his drive today defended by Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug.

In other news, Corsworth is all ready for the F1 comeback ensuring the partners who opted for their engines that the engines are ready. Crosworth if we remember right, was some of the fastest engines that were on track next to BMW in the early 2000 seasons.

While Lewis Hamilton is eagerly awaiting for what he calls 'the best season ever", his former team mate at Mc Learen  Hekki Kovalainen believes Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso will battle it out for the top honours in the 2010 F1 season. 



"My guess is that it is between Lewis and Alonso - but I don't know how Mercedes GP will get on with Michael [Schumacher] and Nico [Rosberg]," he told Autosport

"They might have a very good car and it will be interesting to see how the drivers get on, and Jenson - how he finds McLaren and how that starts to work out there and how the races are going. But my gut feeling is that it is between Lewis and Alonso.

"But it doesn't matter to me too much, to be honest. If Lotus have a quick enough car then hopefully we will be there! But I think that is a bit unrealistic, and certainly I am not expecting it.

"If we are able to build a car that is at the front of the grid just like that, then something is wrong. Other teams must have done something really bad, or it is not realistic. That is my feeling what is going to happen at the front."

Some Gossip

Flav will be back. The Former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore has won his appeal against his lifetime ban from motorsport.

The FIA handed the former Renault team principal the stringent suspension in September for his role in the 'crashgate' scandal.

The 59-year-old Italian took his case to the Tribunal de Grande Instance in Paris claiming the FIA did not have legal grounds to issue him with a wholesale ban.
Renault's former director of engineering, Pat Symonds, has also had his five-year suspension quashed by the TGI.
However, Briatore and Symonds have only received 15,000 and 5,000 euros apiece (£13,500 and £4,500) in damages after initially seeking one million and 500,000 euros (£900,000 and £450,000) respectively.
The FIA now have 15 days to pay the duo, otherwise they will be liable to a penalty of 10,000 euros (£9,000) per day.

After this possitive verdict, Flavio Briatore is considering taking legal action against Nelson Piquet Snr and Jnr following his court triumph in Paris on Tuesday.
Motor sport's world governing body are currently looking into their options and considering whether to launch an appeal, a course of action Briatore has advised them against doing.
"I wouldn't do it after such a verdict," remarked the former Renault team principal in Gazzetta dello Sport.
Briatore, however, may now go gunning for the Piquets as it was they who blew the whistle on the 'crashgate' scandal.
Asked if he would now take action against the Piquets, Briatore replied: "That's very likely. The bad that has been done to me won't be forgotten in one day."
Briatore's problem, however, is the Tribunal merely stated the FIA sanction was "irregular" as it did not comply with their statutes.
At no stage has the TGI reversed the FIA's finding that both Briatore and Symonds conspired to cause an intentional crash.
Clearly in a feisty mood, however, Briatore may also take action against those drivers who opted to break away from his management company, notably Heikki Kovalainen and Lucas di Grassi.
"Except for Kovalainen and di Grassi, my relationship with the other drivers has never changed," added Briatore, who also oversees the likes of Mark Webber.
"In fact, now we'll analyse the situation with the lawyers to see whether we should take legal action against anyone who has broken the contracts with us."
Briatore's main source of anger, though, remains directed at former FIA president Max Mosley who he once described as "complainant, investigator, prosecutor and judge" in the case against him.
"It was a case of vengeance from Mosley, who has always managed the FIA and the World Council as if it was private property," remarked Briatore.
"He had reassured me, telling me they understood I didn't have anything to do with that story. Then came that verdict. It was an ignoble thing after 18 years of F1."
  

In other news,

Sauber are the first of the 13 Formula One teams to announce the unveiling of their car ahead of the new season.

Team principal Peter Sauber and director Willy Rampf are to take the wraps off their challenger at the Valencia circuit on January 31 ahead of the first test session that runs from February 1-3.

The team claim both drivers will also be on hand, although as yet Sauber have only confirmed Kamui Kobayashi, with a number of names in the frame for the second seat.

A rejuvenated Kimi Raikkonen has revealed winning the World Rally Championship would be of far greater significance than his Formula One title.



After nine years in F1, the Finn is certainly invigorated ahead of the opening rally in Sweden that starts on February 10, admitting to "finding a bit of the young Kimi in me again."

Speaking to the Red Bulletin magazine, asked what a WRC crown would mean to him, Raikonnen replied: "More than my F1 World Championship title."

Assessing his chances, he added: "I'm just starting out and I can sense what a long journey it would be to get to that point.

"It's definitely the biggest challenge yet. I've got to learn everything from scratch.

"But I want the challenge. I have to get to know the car, the rallies, how to work with my co-driver, everything.

"I'm looking forward to it, and you've got to set yourself some competition if you really want to know how good you are.

Meanwhile, Ross Brawn is confident Michael Schumacher has lost none of the talent and ability that saw him win an unprecedented seven World titles.

His comeback means the German will be the oldest driver on the 2010 grid as he turned 41 last Sunday.

But despite his age, Brawn is confident Schumacher still has what it takes to beat the best, citing his recent results in the Race of Champions and Felipe Massa's karting event as proof of this.

"I have got no doubts that the talent and the ability are still there," Brawn told Autosport.

"You see little flashes of it when he takes part in competitions like the Race of Champions and karting races.

"They are not an absolute measure, but always the same guys win in them that win in F1. The guys that Schumacher beat in those events says a lot."

But it's just talent and ability that Schumacher has in abundance, as Brawn insists the seven-time World Champion still has the motivation needed to succeed at the very top.

"We saw last year when he had the opportunity to drive for Ferrari that it re-lit the passion," said Brawn.

"I asked him whether he really wanted to do it (come back) and he said that he did."