Bloggers always have unique opinions on different topics so I’m now featuring popular [tag]F1 blogger[/tag] posts in the right sidebar delivered daily. Spreading the links around can only be a good thing.

Testing is fast coming to a close and although a lot of progress has been made, [tag]Timo Glock[/tag] is not Confident [tag]Toyota[/tag] have achieved their goal of Closing Gaps. Since this post, he may have had to eat his words a little as Toyota have begun to show more improvement than originally thought.

[tag]Bernie Ecclestone[/tag] is at it again, playing musical chairs with [tag]F1 circuits[/tag]. The [tag]British Grand Prix[/tag], and [tag]Australian Grand Prix[/tag] are targets while Russia and Portugal are looking for openings by 2010 or 2011.

Meanwhile in Australia, they aren’t crying yet about the future loss of their grand prix, instead they are opening the grid to [tag]Grid Boys[/tag]. Yes, guys will be prancing around the grid side by side with the girls at this year’s Australian Grand Prix.

[tag]Day 2 Testing at Jerez[/tag] showed [tag]McLaren[/tag] fighting hard to close the gaps between them and [tag]Ferrari[/tag] while [tag]BMW-Sauber[/tag] have finally, but maybe too late come to grips with the [tag]F1.08[/tag].
Williams are also showing good form this pre-season while Honda, what can I say, are just not moving anywhere yet.

In a strange move, Bernie Ecclestone has granted McLaren the 5th pit garage instead of their previously designated las pit garage. At this time it hasn’t been confirmed and I wait to see if indeed it is true and why.

After I posted this story, a reader commented that there is nowhere in the [tag]FIA Sporting Regulations[/tag] that explain how pit garages are designated. After some research, I cannot come up with that answer.

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We are getting closer and closer to figuring out what the pecking order will be this year. Clearly [tag]Ferrari[/tag] is scaring just about everyone with their consistent speed no matter what they do. The same cannot be said for [tag]Toyota[/tag]. I can’t understand this team because they have a huge budget and a lot of resources. What’s up with them then?

Now [tag]Timo Glock[/tag] is admitting that they just haven’t been able to make progress in closing the gap between them and the front runners. It has to be a little depressing when day after day they see their goal of closing gaps just not happening.

The [tag]TF108[/tag] is a totally revamped car that is an improvement over last years car, but not much. Here’s the latest sample of times and the difference between Ferrari and Toyota:

1. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:30.914
2. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:31.174
3. Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 1:32.382
4. Timo Glock, Toyota, 1:32.762

Yes, I compared them to Ferrari (not that fair), but these large differences are no improvement over last season and can easily lead to being lapped fairly regularly.

Timo Glock:

“For us, when we compare the 2007 car with the 2008 car, we definitely made a step in the right direction, but on the other side all the other teams made a step forward as well.

“So at the moment maybe (it) looks like we didn’t do a step because time wise we are the same like last year in terms of the gap to the top teams. But at the end I think we will see the clear picture… in terms of how much can we develop the car and how much closer we can come to the top teams and make the gap smaller.”

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So where’s Renault headed. Buoyed by the return of Fernando Alonso, Renault have placed a slightly better car on the track and are now eclipsing BMW-Sauber fairly consistently in times. Alonso, always looking to be in the fight isn’t satisfied yet and desperately wants another few 10ths out of the car.

“To close the gap, and to be behind them (Ferrari and McLaren) two or three tenths is not such a big problem. But to be one second or eight tenths, like we are at the moment, is a little bit too much.”

Fairly uneventful for Toyota, and despite continuous ‘positive’ reports from the team, times continue to be over a second off the pace. I haven’t seen any real progress in Toyota so far except for a brief period in the top 10 with Trulli seventh at 1’12.109 and Glock tenth at 1’12.705. Everyday seems to be the same thing with no real improvement seen.
Bahrain so far hasn’t proved any different. I don’t see a particularly great start to the season for Toyota.

Force India? Not bad. There is no doubt Giancarlo Fisichella’s presence at Force India is paying off. Aside from a few mechanical problems including the clutch, Fisichella managed to post the 4th fastest time on Friday. Adrian Sutil, not so lucky. for a revamped team, I’d have to say I’m impressed. Toro Rosso is now their ‘carrot’ on the road.

Fisichella:

“I’m very happy as we’re showing the potential we have now.”

I want to see what Force India has by Australia. I’m impressed with this team already and although back markers they are, it will be fun to watch the development of this team.

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Sir Jackie Stewart on Max Mosely

Jackie Stewart thinks Mosley is not well enough qualified to lead the governing body of a sport like formula one.

“This is a very heavily capital invested sport and presently the president of the FIA is not paid and therefore he is part time and an amateur.”

Heikki Kovalainen

“I heard many stories before I joined McLaren, but I have no idea where those comments are coming from.”

Nelson Piquet

Nelson Piquet was angry at the suggestion that he is surely the number 2 driver at Renault this year.

“That is an invention of journalists. In formula one there is no number one and number two. Both the cars are equal and here it will be the same way.”

Fernando Alonso

Interesting

“My fear is having a bad year and fighting for eighth position with no motivation.”

Kimi Raikkonen

Once again on TC ban

“For me it’s not [more dangerous].”

“And if anybody doesn’t like it they can always go and do something else.”

Timo Glock

Talking about the new Toyota

“It could be a little step back, but in the end it will pay off when we understand how the car works and make it quicker.”

Fernando Alonso

“I haven’t really got to know Nelsinho yet, but he seems to me to be a normal, nice guy who wants to enjoy his time in formula one: no different to Marques, Button, Trulli, Fisi, Montagny or McNish, all of whom were my teammates, all of whom I got on well with and who are still friends.”

“I said last year that too many false things were written, but I understand that is what sells newspapers.”

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