Takuma Sato, what is he after in that Toro Rosso garage ?

We have survived the first week of the official Formula 1 off season, here is brief summary of what has happened:

It looks like ages ago now, but it has been only a week since Lewis Hamilton won the 2008 F1 driver’s title, the first for McLaren since Mika Hakkinen’s title back in 1999. The constructors title went to Ferrari, the 8th constructors title for Ferrari in last 10 seasons.

Only 2 days later the “Lewis Hamilton 2008 World Championship die cast presentation” was announced. These guys are quick .

As expected Fernando Alonso will stay with Renault, perhaps not so expected was the decision of Renault to stay with Nelson Piquet.

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F1Wolf reader from Spain and F1 blogger himself, Draconte, sent me a selection of his photos from the final test of this season in Jerez. Here is the photogallery that also includes photos of Williams sporting that tiny 2009 style rear wing and the KERS testing Honda of Alex Wurz with funny coloured tyre side walls. It is interesting to see that half of the driveres testing that day were from Japan- Takuma Sato, Kamui Kobayashi and Kazuki Nakajima. Click on the thumbnails to see the full photo, click again on the photo to enlarge it if you wish.

Photos: Draconte, thanks !

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The Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) is a part of 2009 Formula 1 regulations. and the also the top topic of these days. Forget for a while about its relevance to road car development. Let’s look instead how it may affect the Formula 1 teams. Events of past few days suggest that it may affect F1 significantly.

Several teams face obvious problems. Red Bull had to call the fire brigade and evacuate their Milton Keynes factory after KERS tests resulted in smoke and steam all over the place. Few days ago a BMW Sauber mechanic felt the KERS impact himself. He received electrical shock after touching the KERS testing F1 car during the pit stop in Jerez.Yesterday John Howett, Toyota team president, expressed his doubts that the KERS technology will be ready and safe to use when 2009 season begins. He suggested that most of the teams are struggling with KERS development. There have been even reports of a potentially extremely dangerous by-product of exploded KERS batteries - the arsenic poison.

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