Formula One News — April 2009

Nico Rosberg set the fastest time of the Friday afternoon session in Bahrain, with a time that was a tenth faster than the Renault of Fernando Alonso.

Bahrain GP - Friday Photos

Bahrain GP - Friday Press Conference

Bahrain GP - Friday Team Quotes

Bahrain GP - Practice 2 Results

Lewis Hamilton topped the timesheets on Friday morning in Bahrain with a lap that was two-tenths faster than his nearest challengers Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica in their two BMW Saubers. Nico Rosberg was fourth in his Williams-Toyota with Jenson Button fifth for Brawn, split from his team-mate Rubens Barrichello by the second McLaren of Heikki Kovalainen.

Bahrain GP - Practice 1 Results

Bahrain GP - Thursday Press Conference

Wheatcroft & Son Limited, the owners of Donington Park motor racing circuit, have initiated legal proceedings against Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd, the operators of the circuit, seeking $3.6m in rent arrears and to take control of the circuit once again.

With the FIA planning to push through its budget cap for 2010, there are lots of people talking about trying to put together teams. The latest is Aston Martin (aka Prodrive).

There are a string of organisations looking at potential F1 entries next year if the cost-cutting measures or budget-capping are introduced. The biggest problem, however, is that until there are firmly established rules for the 2010 season it is hard to launch a project - and projects need to be launched now if they are to be successful.

The Formula One Teams' Association enjoyed a spectacular love-in during the winter months when the F1 teams had nothing to argue about. The start of the new season has changed all that. Team bosses now have to answer for their on-track failures.

If it had been dry in Shanghai, it would almost certainly have been a different story... but on Sunday morning the clouds turned to rain and the winds came whipping in across the flatlands on which the Shanghai International Circuit sits. All the planning and the number-crunching that had kept the engineers busy on the Friday and Saturday went out the window.

Chinese GP - Race Notes

Chinese GP - Sunday Photos

Chinese GP - Sunday Press Conference

Chinese GP - Sunday Team Quotes

Chinese GP - Race Results

The Red Bull team has looked very good this year, even if the diffuser cars have dominated the first two races. After the decision by the FIA we expected more of the same, but by the end of qualifying there was a fair amount of eyebrow-lifting going on.

Chinese GP - Saturday Photos

Chinese GP - Saturday Press Conference

Chinese GP - Saturday Team Quotes

Chinese GP - Qualifying Results

Nico Rosberg put his Williams on top of the timesheets on Saturday morning in Shanghai, ahead of Jarno Trulli and the Lewis Hamilton. The one-hour session produced a few surprises with the Brawn-Mercedes being only fourth and 10th.

Chinese GP - Practice 3 Results