The F1 Livery History is back with season 1989. The last season of the 80s and the first one in the post turbo era featured 20 teams. Onyx was the only new team on the grid, Brabham name returned after one year absence. It was to be the last season for Zakspeed (see the tobacco free East variation of their original West livery). Euro Brun failed to qualify for a single race that season, but at least they made the 1989 line up more colourful by changing their livery midway through the season (reflecting the Jagermeister sponsorship).

McLaren- Honda

Williams-Renault

Ferrari

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It has been a while since the last one but the quiz is back with the end of season edition. The plan was for 40 questions but at the end 36 is the number (for no particular reasson). All questions have something to do with 2009 F1 season although some also go a bit back to F1 history. You may already know the drill – complete all the questions, afterwards all the answers will be revealed. As usual please no googling for answers .

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Lewis Hamiton - March 2009 Barcelona test

The end of December also marks the end of the testing ban. But if you expect the F1 cars to take to test tracks right from January 1, 2010 you may be disappointed. You may need to wait for a bit longer.

I scanned the websites of the usual winter testing venues – Jerez, Barcelona, Valencia, Bahrain. Here are the F1 testing dates I have found:

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F1Wolf would like to wish all the regular and casual readers of this site very Merry Christmas ! Have a wonderful time !

Ten eventful days have passed, it is time for yet another 2010 season countdown post. Here is a summary where F1 stands with 80 days to go.

Let’s start with Mercedes GP. The Michael Schumacher rumours have ended, he will return. Only few days earlier the team also announced the title sponsorship deal with Petronas. These events almost made us forget about the bizzare Henkel deal that Henkel had no idea about (that has been settled by now).

Virgin and Manor confirmed that the team will race as Virgin Racing and announced Lucas di Grassi as their second driver.

Sauber not only got the Toyota’s place on the grid, they also signed one of their drivers – Kamui Kobayashi.

Renault decided to sell major share in their team to Genii Capital. That made Robert Kubica to think about his deal with the team, although where else can he go now … Red Bull will keep the Renault power for now. That means all the teams have now confirmed their engine suppliers.

Tony Fernandes made the decision on the colour of Lotus 2010 livery (without making that decision public).

FIA published new version of 2010 regulations. FOTA scrapped the plans for joint launch.

With 80 days to go, there are still vacancies at Renault (1), Sauber (1), Toro Rosso (1), USF1 (2) and Campos Meta (1). Nick Heidfeld is still without a seat.

The season countdown will be back again in 10 days.

Michael Schumacher

The speculations are over. Michael Schumacher will make the F1 comeback after finalizing the deal to join Mercedes GP for 2010 season. He will join Nico Rosberg completing the all German line up at the team formerly known as BAR, Honda and Brawn GP … This announcement comes exactly one month after the confirmation of Nico Rosberg by Mercedes GP.

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Michael Schumacher

Nothing has been officially confirmed yet by Mercedes GP or Michael Schumacher himself. But with so many serious and reputable sources now reporting that the deal with Mercedes GP has been done it does look like Michael Schumacher will indeed be back in F1 next year.

The original story suggesting that Schumacher signed one year contract with Mercedes yesterday at Brackley was published by Bild (link – in German).

It will be interesting to find out what had to happen behind the scenes to make this move from Ferrari to Mercedes and from Shell to Petronas possible.

The official announcement of Mercedes GP second driver for 2010 season is expected later today.

Photo: F1Wolf

I found this video published about a week ago by a local news site. You will not learn much from it but it does feature brief interviews with Red Bull boys Daniel Ricciardo, Brendon Hartley and Manor boss John Booth and it does bring some of that unique relaxed Macau GP atmosphere. So if you have about 3 minutes to spare, click on the play button and enjoy:

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Mercedes Petronas Concept Livery

By now we should be used to the off-season Monday announcements, some expected some not. The one that came out earlier today was definitely an unexpected one. Mercedes GP announced the signing of a long-term agreement with Petronas which will see the Malaysian national oil and gas company become the title partner to the new Silver Arrows works team.

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It is time for another post in the F1 Livery History series. Here is the final episode of the 90s – season 1990. There were 19 teams on the grid that year and one of them – Coloni – even managed to get classified twice – in 19th as Coloni-Subaru and 18th place as Coloni-Ford *. This F1 season was the only one for Life F1 team. Interesting fact – one of the AGS drivers back in 1990 (and in 1989 and 1991) was the 2009 WTCC champion Gabriele Tarquini.

McLaren-Honda

McLaren-Honda (no tobacco)

Ferrari

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Kamui Kobayashi will race with Sauber in 2010

The remaining F1 seats are going fast. Lucas di Grassi, Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen were confirmed by Virgin Racing and Lotus earlier this week. Today Sauber announced that Kamui Kobayashi will drive for the Swiss team in 2010.

“I’m very much looking forward to working together with Kamui. In the final two Grand Prix of last season he was granted an unexpected chance to show his skills, and he made impressive use of it. Particularly in the Abu Dhabi race he demonstrated not only that he can drive fast and aggressively, but also his ability to successfully implement a strategy. I am convinced he has a great deal of potential and will be able to make the most of it in our team. ” – Peter Sauber

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FIA has published the updated 2010 sporting regulations (the changes are highlighted in the attached file). Besides the rule changes reflecting the new points system, the increased number of team (changes to Q1 and Q2) or the refueling ban there are some other interesting paragraphs.

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