Articles Tagged ‘2009’

Buemi confirms 2010 Toro Rosso drive, Alguersuari to follow?

Monday, November 9th, 2009 - Posted by Jack Sargeant

Toro Rosso's Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari (c) michael yip photography

Sebastien Buemi has confirmed he will stay put and drive for Toro Rosso in 2010. The 21 year old Swiss driver said:

“I had some contact with other teams due to my good results at the end of the season.

“Toyota could have been a possibility because they had not yet hired any drivers.

“That was not the only one, and anyway I was always talking with (Toro Rosso owner) Red Bull. Finally I signed with Toro Rosso for 2010.”

Buemi scored 6 championship points in his 2009 rookie season finishing 16th in the Drivers Championship.

It also seems that Jaime Alguersuari who drove for Toro Rosso in the last 7 races of the 2009 season is also going to stay with the Red Bull owned team, despite never scoring a championship point.

Alguersuari hinted:

“There will be six days of pre-season testing that, without a doubt, will give me a good base and we will then see the best Jaime.

“The start of the season will be hard because I don’t know the circuits. But at the end of the year I will be good, even better than Sebastien Buemi. This is my hope.”

When Sebastien Buemi was questioned as to whether the Spaniard Alguersuari was to carry on with the team he said:

“I assume that Jamie will team up with me next year. I think the team chose to change in the middle (of the season) because we can’t really do any testing so he may as well get used to the car now.”

Vettel and Red Bull Triumphant in Abu Dhabi

Sunday, November 1st, 2009 - Posted by Victoria Reid

Sebastian Vettel

Sebastian Vettel won the 2009 Abu Dhabi GP after a pit stop strategy gave him the lead over Lewis Hamilton, before the latter had to retire on L17 with brake issues.  Mark Webber held of a determined last-lap charge from Jenson Button to finish second.  Rubens Barrichello and Nick Heidfeld rounded out the top five, as rookie Kamui Kobayashi’s quick driving and one-stop strategy netted him points for sixth position in only his second race.  This win moved Vettel ahead in points, and he finished the season second in the driver’s championship, with Barrichello third and Webber fourth.

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Hamilton Retires after brake failure

Sunday, November 1st, 2009 - Posted by Formula1Blogger

Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton has had to retire from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from pole position due to possible brake failure.

Hamilton struggled from the start, with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber hunting him down. Hamilton said after the race,

“I was struggling to stop the car”

Once he pit, McLaren informed Hamilton that they were investigating a possible rear right brake problem. Within minutes they cleared a space for a McLaren in the garage, informing Hamilton that it was too dangerous to continue racing.

Midnight (Somewhere) Predictions for Abu Dhabi

Sunday, November 1st, 2009 - Posted by Victoria Reid

Abu Dhabi

Yet again, the time differences for Formula1 fans in America make it late at night (though not that late when considering the soon to be implemented time change) while early in the morning for Europe, and nearly time to rise for those actually participating in the sport, at the 2009 Abu Dhabi GP.  Sunday’s evening race in the Middle East will have Lewis Hamilton on pole position, leading the Red Bulls of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, while the Brawns of Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button finish out the top five.  Saturday’s qualifying was an accurate portrayal of the transition at the circuit from day into night, with all the lights on while it was still light and keeping everything bright as darkness fell.

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Vettel Ready for a Fight this Weekend

Friday, October 30th, 2009 - Posted by Formula1Blogger

Sebastian Vettel

Sebastian Vettel has come out of Friday’s Abu Dhabi GP practise sessions with renewed enthusiasm for this weekends race, where he fights for second place in the drivers world championship. Vettel, who currently leads Rubens Barrichello by 2 points was pleased with his car’s performance during practise 1 & 2, giving a nod to engine maker Renault,

“I’d like to say thanks to Renault – many people didn’t believe that we’d succeed without having to change an engine, but here we are having completed a lot of miles on another Friday without a single problem.”

Vettel has had a number of engine problems and DNFs throughout the 2009 season which ultimately lost him the chance at the driver’s title. He has also used up his allotted engine allowance for the season, re-using old engines in order to not incur a grid penalty for a brand new one.

Vettel managed 3rd and 4th respectively in the Friday practise sessions in Abu Dhabi, only the McLaren and Brawn GP cars giving him a run for his money.

“It seems as though we’re quite competitive, although we will have to wait to see how competitive. Even though it’s a new track, it was a normal Friday practice and we were testing which tyre works best.”

Which Driver will win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix?

Thursday, October 29th, 2009 - Posted by Formula1Blogger

Abu Dhabi Promo

With the final Grand Prix of the season in Abu Dhabi just days away, and both world championships already wrapped up – the final race will be a free for all to grab some final points, and also lay it all on the line.

Sebastian Vettel and Rubens Barrichello will both be looking to secure 2nd place in the drivers championship. With Brawn GP and Jenson Button already securing the other top spots in the championships Brawn will work hard to make it happen for Barrichello, to finish off an amazing (kind of) debut year for the team.

Lewis Hamilton will undoubtedly drive his heart out as he always does, with his McLaren car really coming up to speed in the latter part of the season, he should be one of the favourites to get the win!

Kimi Raikkonen is also taking part in his final race for Ferrari in Abu Dhabi, so could be looking to seal that with a win, for old times sake. He’s up against it though as Ferrari haven’t updated the car since June.

Our money would be on Hamilton, Vettel or Barrichello – but they’re so many fast cars out there now, it could be any of them? Take a vote:

Which driver will win the Abu Dhabi 2009 Grand Prix?

  • Lewis Hamilton (39%, 15 Votes)
  • Rubens Barichello (21%, 8 Votes)
  • Sebastian Vettel (13%, 5 Votes)
  • Kimi Raikkonen (11%, 4 Votes)
  • Mark Webber (5%, 2 Votes)
  • Jenson Button (5%, 2 Votes)
  • None of the above! (6%, 2 Votes)

Total Voters: 38

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Results close at 1200 GMT Sunday.