Adrian Sutil is another German driver sporting new helmet design at his home Grand Prix. Here are few pictures (click on photos to enlarge):

Photos: Force India F1

F1Wolf

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With nine races gone it is perhaps good time to look at the surprises and disapointments of the first half of the 2008 Formula 1 season. Here are my picks:

Surprises

Kazuki Nakajima - It is probably fair to say that without Williams’ engine deal with Toyota it would be unlikely for Nakajima to get a race drive alongside Nico Rosberg for 2008 season. Before the start of this season Kazuki Nakajima had only one Grand Prix under his belt. Although he did not do too bad in Brazil last year most F1 fans will remember his race debut for running over his pit crew. The expectations were not too high and few people have expected Kazuki Nakajima to match the pace of his highly rated team mate Nico Rosberg. Well, if we still can consider Nakajima a rookie after racing one race last year, I would rate him as a rookie of the year, I may not be the only one. Although he has been outqualified 7 to 2 by Rosberg and is yet to make it to the podium, he scored points in four races (Rosberg only in 3) and his total after nine races is 8 points, same as his team mate. But it is not only about the points. He seems to be maturing too (if that can be said after only his 10th F1 race) as his drive in the tricky wet Silverstone may suggest.

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F1Wolf

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First came Red Bull, then Renault, then Toro Rosso, now after 2 days of waiting, here comes Force India and their version of shark fin engine cover:

More pictures inside the post.

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F1Wolf

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Thanks to some interesting races and rather even midfield most of the drivers and most of the teams have some points to their names already. Only few zeros still remain (not including Super Aguri):

Drivers: Nelson Piquet, Adrian Sutil, Giancarlo Fisichella
Teams: Force India

Sutil came close, very close in Monaco. Fisichella’s best is 10th place in Spain. Nelson Piquet in clearly better car than Force India has only finished 2 races so far, with 11th place in Malaysia being his best.

Will they be able to break their scoring duck in France ? Looking at the predictions so far not too many people think so. But it may rain on Sunday

Photo: Force India F1

F1Wolf

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There were some impressive performances in Monaco last weekend. Robert Kubica, Sebastian Vettel and Adrian Sutil in Formula 1, Mike Conway in GP2. Here are podiums from Macau GPs in 2005 and 2006.

Coincidence or do these guys really know how to handle cars on tight street tracks ?

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First two races, more than 10% of the season are behind us. Ron Dennis may claim that only Spanish GP will show the true form of the teams but why wait. Let’s look at who has been good and who has not so far.

The Good

BMW Sauber – They had worrying start to their winter tests with their new car but how they turned things around. Fernando Alonso considered them to be the dark horses of the 2008 season and it looks like he has been right. The team may not be yet ready to mount the title challenge. But they are surprisingly close to the pace of McLarens. It may not be impossible to score a race win on merit later on this season. And with the current reliability and Massa woes Ferrari are experiencing, the maiden win may not be too far.

Toyota – Surprise surprise. But looking back to team’s performance in the last winter test it perhaps should not be that unexpected. Jarno Trulli claims they are now 4th best team (same claim Rosberg has about Williams). I would not probably say that. But Toyota firmly claimed their place in stronger end of the midfield, along with Williams and Red Bull.

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F1Wolf

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The Force India vacant seat alongside Adrian Sutil was the target of several drivers. I was not too surprised when they decided to hire Giancarlo Fisichella.

Giancarlo Fisichella - Italy
Born: 14 January 1973
In F1 since 1996 - Minardi, 1997 - Jordan, 1998 - 2001 Benetton, 2002 - 2003 Jordan, 2004 Sauber, 2005 - 2007 Renault, 2008 Force India
Best Result: 4th in 2006
Career wins: 3
Pole positions: 3
Podium Finishes: 18

After departure of Fernando Alonso from Renault to McLaren, Fisichella probably thought his chance to fight for the has finally come. Unfortunately for him Renault did not have the best of seasons in 2007 and at the end Fisi finished the season even behind his rookie team mate Heikki Kovalainen. Few were surprised Renault did not retain him for 2008 season. The move to Force India may look as a step back for Fisichella. He is returning to a team he raced for twice already while it was still known as Jordan. He may now forget about his dream to win the F1 title. He however seems to be enjoying his time in the Indian team. He was quite impressive during winter tests, clearly faster than both Sutil and Liuzzi (the 3rd driver). He is out to prove his critics wrong and his selection by Vijay Mallya right.

Adrian Sutil - Germany
Born: 11 January 1983
In F1 since 2007 - Spyker, 2008 Force India (tested for Midland/Spyker in 2006)
Best result: 4th in 2006
Career wins: 0
Pole positions: 0
Podium finishes: 0
Best finish: 8th

Adrian Sutil has been mentioned often in connection with the vacant seat in McLaren, but frankly speaking, I somehow do not see why. He was not bad, but he also was not exactly spectacular during 2007 season. Yes, he was the fastest guy in Saturday practice in Monaco, but it was cold windy and wet and who knows who was testing what time. He has a talent but he will definitely benefit from another season with former Spyker now Force India. That is however if he does get too humiliated by Giancarlo Fisichella. If many around the F1 paddock consider Fisi to be a spent force, what would they thing about a young talent who can’t beat Fisichella… And Liuzzi is around and waiting for his chance …

F1Wolf’s prediction for Force India drivers in 2008:
Unfortunately for Sutil I expect Fisichella to dominate here. Liuzzi may get his chance…

2008 F1 Season - Team Mates - Ferrari
2008 F1 Season - Team Mates - McLaren
2008 F1 Season - Team Mates - BMW Sauber
2008 F1 Season - Team Mates - Renault
2008 F1 Season - Team Mates - Williams
2008 F1 Season - Team Mates - Red Bull
2008 F1 Season - Team Mates - Toyota
2008 F1 Season - Team Mates - Honda
2008 F1 Season - Team Mates - Toro Rosso

F1Wolf

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I just finished watching the webcast from the Force India car launch. Mr. Mallya had some difficulties pronouncing the names of his F1 drivers right but the event was more about the car.

From what I could see from the small screen web video on the excellent Force India website, the colour scheme is different from the interim livery the team has been using so far this winter. In Vijay Mallya’s words the 2008 car, VJM01, is white and tungsten (gold) with touches of red. The Kingfisher logo can’t be missed. I will post the photos here once they become available.

F1Wolf

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The teams keep rolling out their new cars and the F1 drivers are coming up with their 2008 helmet design. Here they are:

Raikkonen, Massa

Hamilton, Kovalainen

Heidfeld, Kubica

Alonso, Piquet

Rosberg, Nakajima

Webber, Coulthard

Glock, Trulli

Barrichello, Button

Bourdais, Vettel

Sutil, Fisichella

Sato, Davidson

Fernando Alonso seems to be getting away from McLaren days and returning to Renault even with his helmet design. Jarno Trulli reduced the shiny silver surface with more red colour over it. Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica keep the designs very close to their 2007 styles.

Kimi Raikkonen’s new 2008 helmet (click here) is very similar to his 2007 one, but the white front has been replaced with some sort of “tribal” drawing. Anyone knows what it means ?

Lewis Hamilton keeps his yellow helmet pretty much unchanged. Heikki Kovalainen had to make changes to accomodate new sponsors the result is Alonso 2007 like helmet. Bourdais keeps his Champ Car yellow and blue with the addition of Red Bull brand.

Both Honda and Red Bull drivers keep the same designs as in 2007. Sutil’s helmet does not look too different from his 2007 one as well. Fisichella is another guy sticking with his traditional colours.

Please check back for updates to this post with more on 2008 F1 driver helmets. It happened before that drivers used different design for the winter testing and came up with brand new one when the season started, so these may not yet be the definite 2008 helmets.

If you come across good pictures of new 2008 F1 driver helmets that are not yet displayed here, let me know. I will add them here !

To see what the drivers were wearing in 2007, check here

F1Wolf

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The Force India confirmed today the expected drivers line up for the 2008 season. Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil will lead the team for its debut 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship campaign. Vitantonio Liuzzi will fulfill a test and reserve driver role for Force India.

Giancarlo Fisichella:

“I am looking forward to joining Force India for the coming season. At the test in Jerez, I was very impressed with the team’s professionalism and commitment to move forward and I hope that my experience will help them achieve these goals. Contrary to what people may think, this was not my only opportunity, it was the best one: with new owners and a competitive budget, I really think we can shake things up next year. I feel motivated and ready to help Force India get points on a regular basis.”

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F1Wolf

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