Latest Formula 1 news headlines from Formula1.com

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:11:00 GMT
Jerez day two - Schumacher top in 2011 Mercedes
Michael Schumacher led the way at Jerez as testing continued in Spain on Wednesday. At the wheel of Mercedes' 2011 machine, Schumacher clocked a best time of 1m 18.561s from 132 laps, putting him half a second clear of Mark Webber in the new Red Bull RB8

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:07:00 GMT
Exclusive Kobayashi Q&A: I want so much more from 2012
In 2011 Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi was suddenly propelled into a lead driver role after his team signed rookie Sergio Perez. For Kobayashi, who was himself only in his second season of Formula One racing, it was a big ask especially with mid-season regulation changes and a lacklustre car to contend with. But in spite of the headaches, the Japanese driver relished the opportunity and in 2012 he hopes to use all the lessons he learnt to excellent effect…

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:32:00 GMT
Christian Horner Q&A: F1 in for a stellar year
Being Formula One's leading light must feel exhilarating and nerve racking in equal measure. After defending both titles in such dominant style in 2011, Red Bull are the target for every other team, all of them intent on pulling the champions off their pedestal in 2012. But team principal Christian Horner is facing the threat with cool determination, thanks to an unchanged driver line-up, another Adrian Newey-designed car, and a maturing team behind him. Horner speaks exclusively to Formula1.com about the season ahead…

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:10:00 GMT
Jerez day one - Raikkonen leads the way for Lotus
He may have been away from the sport for the last two seasons but that didn't stop 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen from topping the timesheets, as this year's opening test got underway at Jerez on Tuesday. Raikkonen clocked a best time of 1m 19.670s at the Spanish circuit in the new Lotus E20. “It was a positive first day of testing and everything went almost to plan,” said the Finn. “We had no major issues and I got a good feel for the car and the tyres. The lap times don't matter today. I'm happy with the balance of the car, which feels good, and the fact that we didn't have any major issues. Also, I did more than a race distance today and did not have any physical problems at all, which is good. I'm looking forward to making further progress with the car tomorrow.”

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:09:00 GMT
Exclusive Q&A with Lotus's Eric Boullier
He may be two years older and wearing different overalls as he strides through the Jerez paddock, but it almost feels as if Kimi Raikkonen has never been away from the Formula One fold. And after impressing during the opening day of pre-season testing, Raikkonen appears to be in fine form in the Lotus too. Team principal Eric Boullier discusses how the Finn is settling in…

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:42:00 GMT
Williams prepare to fight back with the FW34
Following a disastrous 2011 season, Williams opened a new chapter in their history on Tuesday as they unveiled their 2012 car, the Renault-powered FW34, at Jerez in Spain. This year marks the team's 35th year competing in the sport which they will do with a revitalised line-up. Bruno Senna partners Pastor Maldonado after a considered winter evaluation process, while Finn Valtteri Bottas completes the driver line-up as official reserve, taking part in most of the season's Friday practice sessions

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:05:00 GMT
Toro Rosso present the STR7 in Jerez pit lane
Toro Rosso followed in the footsteps of Sauber and unveiled the car with which they will contest the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship at Jerez on Monday afternoon. The Ferrari-engined STR7 will make its on-track debut on Tuesday morning, when this week's opening pre-season test gets underway at the Spanish track. The Italian team's 2012-spec line-up, Australian Daniel Ricciardo and Frenchman Jules-Eric Vergne, were in attendance at the pit-lane launch. Toro Rosso hope the new car - and new signings - will help them establish a firmer foothold in the midfield, after they finished eighth in the 2011 standings.

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:02:00 GMT
Tuesday's testing to mark true start of 2012 season
Tuesday sees the commencement of 2012's pre-season testing, with a four-day session at Jerez, where nine of the 12 Formula One teams will have their new cars running in anger for the first time. It will be followed by a further three similar tests in Spain ahead the Australian Grand Prix on March 18. The 2012 machines in action this week will be the Red Bull RB8, McLaren MP4-27

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:39:00 GMT
Christian Horner Q&A: The trophies are staying at Red Bull
Formed from the one-time Jaguar team barely seven short years ago, Red Bull have been making waves ever since. After successfully defending their 2010 drivers' and constructors' titles in 2011, the Milton-Keynes based team want to make it third time lucky this season too. Team principal Christian Horner reflects on past successes and the year ahead

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:03:00 GMT
Mark Webber Q&A: The bar has been set very high
The 2011 season was picture-perfect for Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel, but not for Mark Webber. Although he won at the final round in Brazil last November, Webber never seemed to be completely at home in the RB7. 2012 is therefore a fresh start for the Australian and, after a winter away from the sport, he can't wait to be back behind the wheel…

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:36:00 GMT
Sebastian Vettel Q&A: Let's do it again!
After winning his first title in 2010, Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel stepped it up a gear last year, dominating the season to make it two drivers' crowns on the trot. Not surprising then that this year he is out to make it a hat trick, behind the wheel of the newly-launched RB8. Vettel looks eagerly ahead to 2012

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:32:00 GMT
Technical Q&A: Red Bull's Adrian Newey on the RB8
He's the engineering maestro that every team wants on their books, but for 2012 Adrian Newey's labours have once again been dedicated to the design of the brand-new Red Bull, the RB8. Following its online launch, Newey discusses the pressures of the past two years of championship-winning success, the regulatory challenges - and restrictions - he faced this year, and his feelings ahead of the car's on-track debut on Tuesday…

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:12:00 GMT
Defence of the realm - the Red Bull RB8 revealed
The car with which reigning world champions Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull will defend their titles was revealed to the world on Monday. The Adrian Newey-designed RB8 is the eighth Formula One car produced by the team. Its predecessor, the RB7, dominated the 2011 season, winning 12 Grands Prix in the hands of Vettel and team mate Mark Webber, and powering the team to their second championship double

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:15:00 GMT
Revolution meets evolution: Sauber take wraps off the C31
Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez unveiled the new Sauber in Jerez on Monday. The Ferrari-engined C31 will take to the Spanish track later in the day for some promotional filming, ahead of the start of the first multi-team test of the winter on Tuesday. “We're aiming to start the new season as strongly as we did in 2011, but then also to maintain this level of performance throughout the year,” explained Peter Sauber

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:23:00 GMT
Romain Grosjean Q&A: No rookie but still much to learn
Back in 2009 Romain Grosjean made his Formula One debut as Fernando Alonso's Renault team mate over seven Grands Prix, after being drafted in to replace Nelson Piquet. Two years later, he's returning to the frontline at the same team (now Lotus) and ready to drive alongside another world champion - 2007 titleholder Kimi Raikkonen. The Frenchman discusses his hopes for the season ahead