2007 Formula One season
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The 2007 Formula One season is the 58th FIA Formula One World Championship season. It began on 18 March and is set to end on 21 October after seventeen Grands Prix.
The 2007 season is significant in that it will herald the end of the existing Concorde Agreement between the existing Formula One constructors and Bernie Ecclestone. In particular, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Honda (collectively the Grand Prix Manufacturers' Association) have a number of outstanding disagreements with the FIA and Ecclestone on financial and technical grounds. They had threatened to boycott Formula One from the 2008 season onwards and instead stage their own rival series, before signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the 2006 Spanish Grand Prix.[1]
The 2007 Australian Grand Prix was the first time since the 1986 Spanish Grand Prix that there was a Formula One field without a Cosworth engine, as well as the first Grand Prix to have a driver of Afro-Caribbean ancestry in the field.
On 26 February Honda F1 announced that they would run with a new "Earth livery" on their RA107 car, the first time since 1968, when sponsorship in the sport became widespread,[2] that a team might run sponsor-free for an entire season.
A major talking point of the season has been an espionage controversy involving Ferrari and McLaren, which led to McLaren being excluded from the World Constructors' Championship. As a result, Ferrari clinched the championship at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Pre-season testing
Pre-season testing began in November 2006 at the Circuit de Catalunya, with ten of the eleven teams participating in the test sessions. The most notable absentees were Fernando Alonso and Kimi Räikkönen, who were still under contract at Renault and McLaren respectively. Jenson Button was also absent as he had suffered a hairline fracture on his ribs after a go-karting accident in preparations for the November tests. Lewis Hamilton made his first appearance in a McLaren since being confirmed as Alonso's team-mate for 2007.
Felipe Massa topped the times on the first two days of testing. Massa's testing partner, Luca Badoer, took the fastest time on the third day, although interest was on the fact that double World Champion Mika Häkkinen joined Hamilton and de la Rosa at McLaren for a one off test, although the Finnish driver was over three seconds slower then Badoer's time, completing 79 laps of the Spanish circuit. He hopes to be of continued benefit to McLaren over the coming winter.
The other big story of 2007 is the return to a single tyre formula (Bridgestone). It is possible that this accounts for some of the reason why Ferrari led the most recent test, although it has been claimed by Bridgestone that the 2007 tyre is of a completely new build, thus minimising any real benefit for the 2006 Bridgestone teams (Ferrari, Toyota, Williams, Midland/Spyker and Super Aguri).
Toyota was the only team out for the fourth day of testing at Barcelona, as the Japanese works team chose to miss the first day of testing. Both Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli's fastest laps were quicker than Massa and Badoer's times during the previous three sessions. Testing resumed on December 6 at Jerez, with the majority of teams attending the session. Both Ferraris of Massa and Badoer were first and second fastest, with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton making up the top three in third. Hamilton improved on his position the following day by taking the fastest time, a second faster than Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella.
Japanese works teams Honda and Toyota topped the
times for the next two days of testing: Honda's
Teams and drivers
The following teams and drivers have been confirmed for the 2007 Formula One season. Drivers are numbered as per the official FIA 2007 entry list.[3] All team details are as per the Formula 1 Official Website, except where noted. Note that there is no driver number 13 as per the historical tradition.
1 All engines conform to the Formula One 2.4L V8 specifications introduced in 2006.
² Test drivers in bold have taken part in Friday practices during Grand Prix weekends
New car launches
The following teams launched their 2007 entries as below.
Formula One 2007 race schedule
- On 29 August 2006, The FIA published a provisional calendar
for the 2007 Formula One season. The San Marino and
European Grands Prix were excluded, although the European round would later make a comeback (see below).[11] The final calendar (above), which confirmed that the San Marino Grand Prix would not return, was released on October 18, 2006.[12] - For the first time in nearly half a century, there will not be a German Grand Prix
in 2007 after the 2 Grands Prix previously held in Germany begin to alternate between
Hockenheim and Nürburgring. Hockenheim controls the
descriptor "German Grand Prix" and an agreement could not be reached between the two
circuits for the naming rights. The Nürburgring event will therefore retain its usual
Grand Prix of Europe title.[13] - It had been suggested that the Italian Grand Prix might do the same, swapping between Monza and Imola, but this now appears to have been rejected with the possibility that Imola could again host the San Marino Grand Prix in 2008.[citation needed]
- After twenty years, the Japanese Grand Prix will move from the Honda-owned Suzuka Circuit to Toyota's rebuilt Fuji Speedway, a circuit that F1 has not raced at since 1977.
- For the first time since 1975, all races are held in different countries (only one race for any one nation).
Changes
Rule changes
- Although the FIA had planned to introduce a regulation single tyre manufacturer from 2008, there will be a sole supplier (Bridgestone) from 2007 to 2010, since Bridgestone's only rival, Michelin, ended their participation in Formula One after the 2006 season.
- Tyres are supplied in accordance with the revised Sporting Regulations, which provide for a total of 14 sets of dry weather tyres per driver over the race weekend: four sets for Friday only, and 10 for the rest of the weekend.
- Also, during the race, both compounds of tyre (hard and soft) have to be used at least once during the race. Initially, in the Australian Grand Prix, soft tyres were marked with a white spot. However, this was difficult to see when the car was in motion and, as of the Malaysian Grand Prix, one of the four grooves in the soft compound tyre is painted white.[14]
- The teams finishing 5th–11th in the previous seasons' Constructors' Championship are no longer allowed to run a third car on Friday following a rule change.[15] The teams that finish 1st–4th are already banned from doing so.
- Engine development is frozen from the 2006 Japanese Grand Prix, with these engines being used for the whole of 2007 and 2008. This is described as engine "homologation" by the FIA. It was previously set to be introduced in 2008.[16]
- All cars are fitted with red, blue and yellow cockpit lights. The purpose is to give drivers information concerning track signals or conditions. The lights must be LEDs each with a minimum diameter of 5 mm and which are fitted in order that they are directly in the driver’s normal line of sight.[17]
- In order to give rescue crews an immediate indication of accident severity each car must be fitted with a warning light which is connected to the FIA data logger. The light must face upwards and be recessed into the top of the survival cell no more than 150 mm from the car centre line and the front of the cockpit opening and as near to the marshal neutral switch as is practical.[17]
- The two Friday practice sessions expanded from 60 minutes to 90 minutes. All teams are allowed to use two cars, which may be driven by either the two race drivers or a nominated third driver.[18]
- The engine penalty is now only applied in the second day of the grand prix weekend. Any engine change in the first day is not penalised.[18]
- No car is allowed to enter the pits to refuel during a safety car period until all cars are in the group following the safety car and they have been advised that the pit lane is now open. This prevents drivers from racing to the pits immediately after a safety car is deployed. In addition, any lapped cars in front of a car on the lead lap are required to pass the safety car and restart at the end of the line-up instead of maintaining their physical position.[18]
- The Formula One teams have unanimously agreed to the voluntary early introduction of the testing agreement scheduled for 2008. This limits each team to an annual limit of 30,000 km.
- The team's second car now has to run with a yellow coloured roll bar instead of a black one. The first cars will still run with a red/orange roll bar. This is intended to help spectators distinguish between first and second cars at further distances.
Driver changes
- 2005 and 2006 World Champion Fernando Alonso will drive for McLaren starting in 2007 after 5 years at Renault.
- Juan Pablo Montoya, who was a McLaren driver until aftermath of the 2006 United States Grand Prix will be driving in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series for 2007, effectively ending his Formula One career, as announced on July 9, 2006.
- On August 2, 2006 Williams announced that test and reserve driver Alexander Wurz would step up to a race seat for 2007, replacing Australian Mark Webber.
- On August 7, 2006, Red Bull Racing announced their 2007 driver line-up of David Coulthard and Mark Webber, displacing Christian Klien.
- On August 7, 2006, BMW Sauber announced that Jacques Villeneuve's contract has been terminated immediately and for the rest of the season would be replaced by test driver Robert Kubica. Kubica was later announced on October 19, 2006 to retain the race seat for the 2007 season, with Sebastian Vettel remaining as the team's test driver. On December 21, 2006 BMW announced GP2 driver Timo Glock as their second test driver.
- On September 6, 2006, Renault confirmed Heikki Kovalainen as the team's replacement for Fernando Alonso.
- On September 10, 2006, Scuderia Ferrari confirmed Kimi Räikkönen as a replacement for the retiring Michael Schumacher.
- On November 15, 2006, Super Aguri confirmed Anthony Davidson as Sakon Yamamoto's replacement.
- On November 24, 2006, McLaren confirmed Lewis Hamilton as their second driver.
- On December 21, 2006, Spyker confirmed Adrian Sutil as their first driver.
- On July 10, 2007, Spyker announced that Christijan Albers would no longer be driving for the team. The given reason was a failure to pay sponsorship monies due. Markus Winkelhock will race Spyker's second car at the European Grand Prix.
- On July 25, 2007 Spyker confirmed Japanese driver Sakon Yamamoto would compete in the remaining seven Grand Prix for them.[9]
- On July 31, 2007 Scuderia Toro Rosso replaced Scott Speed with BMW test driver Sebastian Vettel following an alleged physical altercation between Speed and STR Team Principal Franz Tost.[19]
- On October 8, 2007 Williams driver Alexander Wurz announced his immediate retirement from Formula One racing.[20] Williams test driver Kazuki Nakajima will replace Wurz for the Brazilian Grand Prix[8].
Team changes
- Ferrari technical director, Ross Brawn, was to take a sabbatical year for 2007, after 10 seasons at the Italian team. However, it was later announced that he is to leave the team,[21] although he has stated he wishes to work with the team in future.
- McLaren will change their name to Vodafone McLaren Mercedes after signing a primary sponsorship deal with the telecommunications company late in 2005.
- With the loss of Vodafone, Scuderia Ferrari will begin work with Alice, a brand of Telecom Italia who will join the team next year.
- Mild Seven confirmed that they would not renew their contract with Renault following its conclusion at the end of 2006 and current European tobacco laws.[22]
- British American Tobacco's Lucky Strike and 555 brands ceased to sponsor the Honda F1 team, leaving them to seek another primary sponsor.
- Williams changed their engines from Cosworth to Toyota in a three-year deal.[23] Contrary to recent speculation, the engines will not be rebadged as Lexus.[24]
- On September 9, MF1 Racing was officially sold to a Dutch-Arab consortium owned by Michiel Mol, along with the aid of Spyker Cars. The team has officially been renamed Spyker MF1 Team, keeping the MF1 for the rest of the season due to Concorde Agreement rules.
"#wp-_note-Midland_team_bought_by_Spyker">[25]
- On September 30, Spyker announced that their engines supplier would be Ferrari.
"#wp-_note-Spyker_get_Ferrari_power_for_2007">[26]
- On October 16, Renault confirmed that the Dutch banking company, ING, would become their main sponsor to replace Mild Seven.[27]
- On October 20, Williams announced
AT&T as their new main sponsor.[28] - On October 24, Spyker announced they would change their name from Spyker MF1 Team to Spyker F1 from 2007 onwards, subject to all other teams giving their agreement.
"#wp-_note-Spyker_to_drop_MF1_for_2007">[29][30]
- On October 31, Red Bull confirmed their engine situation for 2007. Renault engines will be used for Red Bull Racing, while Scuderia Toro Rosso will use Ferrari engines.