In the new world of fins, Toyota have jumped aboard and fitted their version of the engine cover fin. If you can’t beat them, join them I guess. The new protrusion will be tested by Timo Glock.

So now who has a fin? McLaren, Renault, Red Bull, Toro Rosso, and Force India are all using this creation and all have data saying it really works. McLaren have dominated the time charts in testing at Hockenheim this week and maybe this is what they’ve been looking for, but how much can you really trust testing times.

With 5 teams with data to prove positive results when using the ‘fin’, who will be the next team to try it. Ferrari maybe? Will BMW-Sauber try it? By the end of the season we may have a very expensive aquarium out there.

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If 2008 is to be a better year than 2007 for [tag]Toyota Racing[/tag], they need to improve the long run pace if the car. The [tag]TF108[/tag] has proven to be quite quick on low fuel single lap sessions which may get them a fair qualifying position with [tag]Jarno Trulli[/tag], but that’s all. The pressure is on from above and Toyota need to improve and impress much more sooner than later.

I have posted before on how astounded I am that a giant like Toyota with far reaching resources and money can compete so poorly. Is it because the wrong people are in positions calling the shots? Maybe so, but at Toyota, everything remains the same as last year with the exception of the addition of [tag]Timo Glock[/tag].

Pre-season testing had the car with new look pieces added frequently in attempt to add speed, but alas, all that was seen on the time sheets was the same as what was seen last year. Nothing the team did to the TF108 seemed to make any difference. The season is a long one and there are a number of new developments being made in the car that could see it gain a tenth or two by season end. By that time, almost full on recourses will be dedicated to producing the 2009 car. At least Honda brought in a capable man to lead them through that process.

Having just come from GP2, Timo Glock may have an edge throughout the race in a car without traction control. He is use to it and is in a groove with it whereas Jarno Trulli is still adjusting to the new style of driving.

I give Toyota points in a lot of races, but no podium finishes.

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Ok, now that testing is just about over, I can make my [tag]F1 drivers championship predictions[/tag]. Testing has been pretty informative, a little surprising, but not too surprising.

Originally I had thought [tag]Honda[/tag] would show better, but they haven’t given me any reason to keep that prediction. [tag]Red Bull[/tag] and [tag]Toro Rosso[/tag] are just about the same as last year, but [tag]Williams[/tag] have improved like I thought they would. I’ve been more than impressed with [tag]Force India[/tag], but the learning curve is pretty steep so the rear of the train in front of [tag]Super Aguri[/tag] is where I place them.

I’m not sure [tag]Ferrari[/tag] is really in front of [tag]McLaren[/tag] as much as testing has shown. They have been quick out of the box, but McLaren have tweaked their car enough for me to put them right up there. I anticipate a good battle there.

[tag]BMW-Sauber[/tag] has had issues with their car that certainly weren’t expected and despite what Fernando Alonso says, I don’t believe they are as close to McLaren as he suggests they are, but I will go out and put them ahead of [tag]Renault[/tag]. I think there will be a pretty good battle between Renault and BMW-Sauber with Williams in there too.

Originally I would have put [tag]Toyota[/tag] up a place, but after erratic testing, NOT.

1. Ferrari
2. McLaren
3. BMW-Sauber
4. Renault
5. Williams
6. Red Bull
7. Toyota
8. Honda
9. Toro Rosso
10. Force India
11. Super Aguri (if they show up)

My predictions are not that far off many others I’ve seen. I would like to see Honda in 6th position and Force India in 9th position, but that isn’t a prediction.
I do think there will be a great battle between Ferrari and McLaren, and a good battle between BMW-Sauber and Renault.

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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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Yesterday, the second last test session closed out leaving just Barcelona left before the start of the 2008 season. It is now pretty clear where teams will stack up come the season start and despite hours and hours of work some teams just haven’t accomplished their goals while others like say Ferrari have caused frustration for just about everyone.

[tag]Giancarlo Fisichella[/tag] echoes this with his stunning statement that Ferrari are the best and probably will dominate through the early part of the season with [tag]McLaren[/tag] close behind, and then the rest.

He is pleased with the progress and performance of his car and is predicting a faster car after a new update in Barcelona.

“At the beginning of the season it will be hard to stay out of the bottom (of the field), but we hope that we can gradually improve.”

[tag]Toyota[/tag] sat near the bottom of time sheets through most of testing, but pulled out something good in the last week with some pretty respectable times and are one of the few that have closed gaps to teams previously ahead of them. Their senior general chassis manager is now predicting serious gains between now and season start.

[tag]David Coulthard[/tag] has decided to lift spirits of [tag]Red Bull[/tag] fans by telling them not to believe too much in the test times Red Bull are pulling off. He says not to expect Red Bull to be front runners just yet.

[tag]Jenson Button[/tag], up and down with his feelings on his car says Honda made ‘good progress’ in Jerez, but more work is still needed and they are moving in the right direction.

Over 2 seconds off the pace with only a month to go? Yes, a lot more work is needed.

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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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Testing at jerez. 2008 testing got underway today with 9 of the 11 teams on track. Weather was a bit of a story in the morning with a wet track to start things off, but it certainly didn’t faze Ferrari as Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa turned in the fastest times on the day. McLaren, Ferrari and Toyota had their flashy new cars churning up the track, but Felipe Massa’s new F2008 showed a first bug when he lost track time with an unspecified mechanical problem. A relatively quick fix and Massa was off again and turned out the second fastest lap on the day.

It was a good showing for Toro Rosso with Sebastian Vettel and Sebastien Bourdais finishing the day with Vettel grabbing the 4th fastest time and Bourdais taking 6th fastest time.

McLaren representatives today were Pedro de la Rosa and Heikki Kovalainen both driving the MP4-23. de la Rossa had an inspiring day finishing with a best lap time of 1:20.548 placing third on the day. Kovalainen faired a little worse finishing the day with a 5th best time at 1:20.936.

Nico rosberg in the FW29 fell short today with a 7th fastest time.

Toyota drivers worked hard today with Jarno trulli driving the new TF108 a leading 86 laps and finishing with the 8th fastest time. Timo Glock wasn’t as lucky and spun off track early losing valuable time and finished with the 13th fastest (or slowest) time of the 14 drivers in action today.

Jarno Trulli

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It’s Toyota’s day for a little celebration. Today, Toyota revealed it’s TF108 to the media and others in Cologne Germany. Colour scheme, boring, traditional white and red.

There are significant changes in the new car because of the dismal 2007 performance. Better balance with the aero package and a longer wheel base are 2 changes to help the new car and on the inside, a new and improved gear box.

Senior General Manager Chassis Pascal Vasselon says:

“The main reason for making the wheelbase longer is to achieve more stability, but secondly we also expect greater aerodynamic development potential, giving our aerodynamicists wider surfaces and more space to play with.”

President John Howett says:

“We look in good shape for 2008, there is no question about that. The hard work continues all the time. We started the TF108 in earnest more or less the day the TF107 hit the track and the development has been remorseless, which it has to be because of the competitive pressure of Formula 1.

“The key issue has been to identify the major elements which contribute to performance enhancement and put more resources into those areas. Clearly the car is improving, I think, dramatically and continually, but so are the other cars. It is therefore the relative rate of performance gain that is absolutely critical. We have to work harder and smarter than our competitors.”

The TF108 is significantly different than previous cars, both on the outside and the inside, as a result of the team’s continuous search for improvement, as well as regulation changes.

So, Toyota has ceased their previous path of improving the TF106 concept and are concentrating on a more complete car optimization. What do they call it? Ggenchi genbutsu - going to the source is what they say in order to have aerodynamic efficiency and drivability.

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It is a bit disappointing to hear about Ralf’s departure from Toyota, but it was inevitable. Ralf could have ridden out the season and waited for the axe to fall from Toyota, but he took the more honorable way out. Here’s a guy who a lot of fans thought had tremendous potential earlier in his career and year after year hoped for more out of him. In the end, Ralf Schumacher was maybe a top 10 guy, buy never really had it in him to win a championship. Now, with his departure from Toyota, he is on the downward spiral leading to the exit from F1.

Ralf’s interest doesn’t seem to be there although he says it is, but this just doesn’t translate on the track. Let’s face it, this guys best years are well behind him. Does he have much marketability left? Sadly, no. If Ralf remains in F1 into next season and beyond, he won’t be in any better ride than he left in Toyota.

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