shantanu_rooney
Chairman of Selectors
The 2008 Formula One season is the 59th FIA Formula One World Championship season. It began on 16 March and will end on 2 November after eighteen Grands Prix. As it stands, there are a total of seven teams signed up to compete in the championship through an agreement with Formula One Management, with the other four major manufacturers in the Grand Prix Manufacturers Association (GPMA) having signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the 2006 Spanish Grand Prix. All teams in both groups have two spots each on the 2008 grid. One for each of their drivers determined through Qualifying on the Saturday of the race weekend (Sunday hosting the Grand Prix). The season sees the banning of traction control after it was re-introduced in 2001.
Teams
On February 14, 2006 the FIA President Max Mosley announced that all teams interested in competing in the 2008 World Championship would have a seven-day window during which they would have to submit an application to compete. All eleven current teams applied, as well as several others. On April 28, 2006 the FIA announced that all of the current teams' applications for the 2008 season were granted, along with a new team Prodrive, fronted by the ex-BAR and Benetton principal David Richards. There were 21 applications (including the current teams and Prodrive), of which the following were notable: European Minardi F1 Team Ltd, Jordan Grand Prix, Direxiv and Carlin Motorsport. However despite the Prodrive application being accepted Richards has since announced that the team will not race in 2008 due to a dispute over the legality of customer cars.
GPMA manufacturers (MoU with FOM)
Bernie Ecclestone has signed an agreement with the GPMA to end their threat of a breakaway series in 2008.
BMW Sauber
BMW Sauber are continuing the steady progress that seems destined to lead to them being title contenders soon. This low-key, purposeful team have made tangible steps forward every year since BMW took them over in 2006. They started this season closer to the front than ever and have split the big two on occasions, even achieving a fortuitous win in Canada. But there is a nagging sense that they have lost some of the ground on their rivals since then.
Honda
The appointment of former Ferrari technical chief Ross Brawn as team boss augurs a brighter future for Honda after several poor years. But Brawn still has a lot of work to do get his new team back to where they believe they belong. The ambition this year was to return Honda to the position they were in two years ago - regular points scorers. But the car is another disappointment, and the team admit that their main focus is on righting things for 2009.
McLaren Mercedes
McLaren have done an impressive job of handling the fall-out from last season's spy scandal and continue to be Ferrari's only real rival for success. The scrutiny under which McLaren found themselves might have derailed lesser teams, but they passed the test of character with flying colours. McLaren produced a race-winning car despite knowing they were being watched in case it shared any Ferrari know-how. And Lewis Hamilton is a team leader who is set to become an F1 great.
Renault
Renault fell from a great height in 2007, and though they have made up some of their lost ground they are still some way from their mid-decade height. The return of Fernando Alonso, the man with whom they won titles in 2005-06, has led to a major step forward. But while there is no faulting the Spaniard's effort, his no-compromise approach has led to the team scoring less points than it might have done. Renault insist they can recover form, but must fear Alonso's departure.
Teams Signed with FOM
Ferrari
Ferrari's transition from one era to the next has been incredibly impressive over the last two years. Many teams would have struggled to cope with the departure of Michael Schumacher and technical director Ross Brawn, both central to their success. But Ferrari's cars are just as strong as through most of Schumacher's era. Perhaps their tactical ingenuity is not quite as great, but Schumacher's genius gave them more room for manoeuvre than Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa.
Red Bull Racing
Red Bull are eventually expected to emerge as a major force, but it is taking longer than some thought. When a team recruit star designer Adrian Newey on a multi-million pound retainer, great things are expected. After taking too many risks with last year's car, this year's has been far more reliable at the same time as being another step forward in pace. And thanks to Mark Webber's impressive consistency this season, they are in the battle to be F1's fourth best team.
Force India
The former Jordan team has gone through its fourth name change in as many years and is now Force India after a takeover by Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya. The ambition is to be podium contenders in time for the planned first Indian Grand Prix in 2010. There have been encouraging signs in 2008, particularly a brilliant drive by Adrian Sutil in Monaco practice session. But there is a lot of work still to do, even if this year's car suggests they are going in the right direction.
Super Aguri
Armed with last years Honda chassis, which finished the season so strongly, Super Aguri should be able to look forward to a far more competitive season this year. Takuma Sato will be looking to build on a astounding 9th place finish at the season ending Brazilian GP last year, in what was largely a 2002 Arrows. Anthony Davidson made his debut last season and with some experience would like to show his quality.
Toro Rosso
Red Bull's junior team Toro Rosso face an uncertain future following owner Dietrich Mateschitz's decision to put them up for sale. That move was prompted by a change in the rules on customer cars, which will be banned from 2010. Toro Rosso get their cars from senior squad Red Bull, the only difference being that the junior squad have Ferrari engines and the senior Renault. Sebastien Bourdais and Sebastian Vettel are promising but inexperienced pilots.
Toyota
Toyota is now the world's biggest car marker and for the first time it appears it might be edging closer to realising its ambition in Formula One. Years of underachievement since Toyota made its debut in 2002 have left the impression that Japanese management principles did not fit with F1. But there have been signs this year that Toyota might be finally getting to grips with the sport. A couple of strong podiums through the summer have hinted at progress at last.
Williams
Williams appear to be realising their aim of finding a way out of the slump they suffered in recent years. The team are still a long way from recapturing their glory days of the 1980s and 1990s. But this year's car is another steady step on the road to recovery after some particularly trying years. In Nico Rosberg, they have a highly regarded young talent. Team-mate Kazuki Nakajima - quick but wild - is there at the behest of engine supplier Toyota.
2008 Calender
Austrian Grand Prix
Malaysian Grand Prix
Bahrain Grand Prix
Spanish Grand Prix
Turkish Grand Prix
Monaco Grand Prix
Canadian Grand Prix
French Grand Prix
British Grand Prix
German Grand Prix
Hungarian Grand Prix
Belgian Grand Prix
Italian Grand Prix
Japanese Grand Prix
Chinese Grand Prix
Brazilian Grand Prix
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