Have a quick peek at what the new and improved F1 Rage will look like in the coming weeks.

Rage will be moving under my domain along with my other two blogs Full Throttle (preview of it’s new clothes here. NOTE don’t be afraid to hit the main page there and join the FT Club) and Asian Motor Sports.

Some of the new features are the gallery as seen with the Ferrari image below the header. The gallery rotates through various images of the designated latest posts. Also it’s hoped as the pic shows the addition of the latest videos will be included in the new version of F1 Rage.

At this point no date for the change is available due to a new WordPress version released and the priority if updating the other two blogs before moving this under my domain.

With a bit of luck the change should occur within the next couple weeks.

In a story that just won’t go away, very much like its featured whipping boy, the possibility of the world’s major motoring clubs splitting off from the disgraced FIA and it’s presidential Littlest Perv is back in the news again.

The Littleist Perv’s lawsuit against the NOTW tabloid that reported the sex scandal continues to create unwanted publicity for the FIA[sco] and its member clubs, of which a small, disgruntled group wants to form a separate body.

“There are ongoing discussions between the major automobile clubs on the mobility side. From those discussions, we could come up with an alternate form or structure, which is what it would take,” American Automobile Association president Robert Darbelnet told the Associated Press. “We need to define the best type of structure. I don’t see people getting off the boat and on another one without some kind of assurances.”

“A byproduct of the decision and the current court case has meant continued media interest in an unattractive event that doesn’t contribute positively to the FIA or to the clubs,” Darbelnet said.

Unsurprisingly the FIA[sco] has been mute on the subject.

“We haven’t had any communication from the FIA (since the vote). Nothing,” said Darbelnet, who represents more than 50 million American motorists.

Singapore:

Preparations to get the Singapore track ready for Formula One’s first night race is continuing at a rapid rate. Organizers took ownership of the new £15million pit building on Friday amid much fanfare.

Singapore’s Marina Promenade is hosting the three-story building. The ground floor will house team garages during race weekend, the second and third levels will feature race control facilities, the media centre and the winners’ podium.

Abu Dhabi:

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix chief Philippe Gurdjian is considering major changes to the design of the country’s new Formula One venue as preparations continue for next year’s inaugural event.

Gurdjian recently relinquished the role he had played in developing Paul Ricard so he could focus on overseeing the new Yas Marina Circuit, which is set to host the season finale next season.

And just a few weeks into his new role, Gurdjian has revealed that he is considering a design revamp of the track.

“It will be completely different,” Gurdjian told autosport.com about the design plans for the new track. “It will be in the same location, but a different concept. It’s very exciting and very unique!”

Gurdjian refused to reveal any more details about the changes, but they are believed to include making the facility permanent - rather than partly a street circuit through the Yas streets and Marina as originally planned.

An announcement is expected in the next two months.

Nico Rosberg: “Firstly, I’ve just returned from our trip to Moscow and to say it was awesome is an understatement! The city itself was fascinating, and the Russian people made us feel really welcome and seemed to love seeing our sport which is good for everyone.

“To drive through Red Square and around the Kremlin was an experience I’ll never forget. On to this weekend, I’ve had a lot of great experiences at Hockenheim, and it’s been the scene for quite a few of my past victories, so I’m looking forward to going there. As it’s my home race, it will be nice to have the support of the German fans, but they really provide a great atmosphere for everyone as they are so enthusiastic.

“In terms of the track itself, I really love it, and it should suit our car as well, but I still think it will be difficult to get into the points on Sunday considering how close the field is. As always, we will just do our best.”

Kazuki Nakajima: “We had a test at Hockenheim last week which allowed us to maximize our preparation time for the race weekend. We covered a lot of ground with the set-up so we should be in good shape when we arrive. I’ve raced at Hockenheim a few times already, but that was when I was in F3, so I need to draw on my experience from those races as this will be my first Formula One race there.

“The test helped me get used to the circuit, and I’ve also spent some time in the sim at the factory to help me prepare. It’s a great track, but quite challenging. It’s quite similar to Silverstone and Magny-Cours in that sense. I’m looking forward to it!”

Sam Michael, Technical Director: “Hockenheim’s layout mainly consists of slow and medium speed corners, although there are two high speed corners but they do not dominate the lap. As a result, we tend to head towards a softer set-up for this race.

“The track layout and surface aspect is particularly tough on tyres, characteristics only emphasised by the high temperatures we often experience over the race weekend. To balance out these issues, Bridgestone will therefore take compounds from the harder end of the scale to Hockenheim.

“We had the opportunity to test at Hockenheim last week, with both Nico and Kazuki getting cockpit time. We progressed through a detailed set-up programme which puts us in a good position going into this race.

“Most teams tend to go for a two-stop strategy at Hockenheim. The race itself normally provides some great action as the long straight leading into the hairpin, which has plenty of tarmac run-off area, offers a good overtaking place.

Max “The Littlest Perv” Mosley’s lawyers have attempted to classify his dalliance in a London sex den as “nothing more than hanky-spanky”.

I don’t particularly buy that but I’m not on the jury.

However, who’d a thunk it!

Who would ever believe England had a “Bondage and Sado-masochism Regulatory Authority“.

Despite his denials, rumors continue to link double Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso with a move to Ferrari in 2009 – with new suggestions that a major sponsor switch will help to seal the deal.

According to German magazine Sport Bild, key McLaren-Mercedes sponsor Santander is set to ink a €25 million-per-season agreement to switch allegiances to Ferrari from next year, taking Alonso with it.

The Spanish bank joined forces with McLaren when Alonso did likewise back at the start of 2007, but after the man from Oviedo jumped ship just one year into his three-year contract with the Woking-based concern at the end of last season, it seems Santander is looking to follow suit.

According to Autosport Williams are going to pull some resources working on their 2009 program back on to developing the team’s current FW30 in a bid to lift their performance in the second half of the year.

Which raises the question, why bother?

With 8 events left they sit in 6th place 8 points behind Red Bull and a single point ahead of Renault. What’s the significance of gaining a place or two assuming it’s possible?

Presumably Sir Frank thinks it’s worth the effort.

Not if it were my money, with all the new rules for 2009 the emphasis should be on improving and testing for 2009.

To hell with a place or two this year. 2009 starts now.

Just 48 hours after his triumph at Silverstone, Lewis Hamilton once more led the way after he set the fastest time in testing at Hockenheim, venue for next weekend’s German Grand Prix.

As in the British Grand Prix on Sunday, teams had wet weather to contend with and the 23-year-old McLaren Mercedes driver again made light of the conditions to set a time of one minute 15.483 seconds.

World Champion Kimi Raikkonen, who shares the lead of the Drivers’ Championship with Hamilton and Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa, was second quickest, albeit over three-tenths-of-a-second slower.

McLaren used the test to run a new aerodynamic dorsal fin, similar to those used by Renault, Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Force India this season, on top of the engine cover of the MP4-23 car.

Williams driver Nico Rosberg, without a point in his last four races, was third fastest ahead of Force India’s Adrian Sutil.

Hockenheim returns to the Formula One calendar this season after a year’s absence following the decision to alternate hosting of the German Grand Prix with the Nurburgring.

Times:

1 Lewis Hamilton McLaren 1:15.483s 75 laps
2 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1:15.803 63
3 Nico Rosberg Williams 1:16.099 87
4 Adrian Sutil Force India 1:16.516 97
5 Sebastien Bourdais Toro Rosso 1:16.533 113
6 Kamui Kobayashi Toyota 1:16.570 65
7 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 1:16.593 59
8 Nelson Piquet Renault 1:16.856 111
9 David Coulthard Red Bull Racing 1:17.361 67
10 Alex Wurz Honda 1:17.825 89

The uneasy ‘truce’ called between F1 chiefs Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley already seems to be in danger of degenerating into open warfare once again, with the former ridiculing the latter’s plans to resurrect the long-defunct Formula Two feeder series as of next year.

The announcement – made towards the end of last month [see separate story] – was initially seen as a means for Mosley to undermine his long-time friend and ally, with the pair of them continuing to do battle over the future of Formula 1, in a fraught power struggle that is threatening to tear the sport apart.
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Heikki Kovalainen led the way in the second official practice session ahead of tomorrow’s British Grand Prix.

The session had a somewhat muted atmosphere after an announcement by the FIA yesterday confirmed Silverstone racetrack would lose the staging rights to the British Grand Prix after next year’s race, with Donington Park taking its place from 2010.

Kovalainen was the only driver to duck under the one minute, 20 second barrier yesterday afternoon with a lap of 1min 19.989secs, which was four tenths slower than the overall fastest time set by Ferrari’s Felipe Massa yesterday morning as the teams concentrated on longer runs.

Red Bull Racing’s Mark Webber celebrated his new one-year contract extension with second place, half a second slower than the Finn, while Kovalainen’s team-mate Lewis Hamilton popped up into third place with a late 1:20.543 effort.

Reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen was subdued in the second Ferrari, comfortably off the pace of both McLarens and his team-mate on both light and heavy fuel runs.

The Finn’s best time in the second session was 1:21.275, three tenths slower than Massa, who completed significantly fewer laps than his team-mate following a huge accident yesterday morning.

The Ferrari driver lost control of his car at the end of the 180mph Hangar Straight, spinning on oil dropped when the engine failed in Fernando Alonso’s Renault just minutes earlier.

The Ferrari scrubbed off little speed as it pirouetted off the track and slammed backwards into a tyre barrier, destroying the rear end of the car. Race control immediately threw the red flag to suspend the session with 33 minutes remaining.

Massa extracted himself from the car unaided, but there was an 18-minute delay while the Brazilian’s crumpled Ferrari was prised away from the Stowe Corner barrier and track marshals cleared away the oil deposited by Alonso’s stricken Renault.

Despite playing no further part in the 90-minute session, Massa’s time of 1:19.575, set just before his accident, was good enough to top the timesheets – and ensure him the fastest overall time.

While yesterday afternoon’s session was not interrupted by a red flag, there were more than enough off-track moments to keep the spectators on their toes.

Both Hamilton and Massa had lurid moments at Club, while Toyota’s Jarno Trulli went off at Stowe Corner, a rear wing failure sending the Italian straight to the scene of Massa’s earlier accident, albeit this time at slower speed.

Japanese driver Kazuki Nakajima also had a brush with the tyre wall after his Williams got away from him on the exit of Farm, sending him sideways to the inside of the track and removing his front wing.

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