The FIA has announced that as of 2008 the qualifying format will change slightly. Qualifying, which has three rounds, will start with a 20-minute qualifying session followed by 15-minute Q2, and a 10-minute session for Q3. The format was mainly changed as the final qualifying session saw Formula 1 drivers run for around ten minutes to empty their fuel tanks.

Tests Formula 1 2008 Ferrari F2008 first run at Fiorano F1 wallpaper 1600x1200

Tests Formula 1 2008 Ferrari F2008 first run at Fiorano F1 wallpaper 1600x1200

Ron Dennis is looking forward to another exciting Formula One season. In 2007 he only just missed out on the drivers' championship title, but the McLaren team boss has said the team wants to build on the momentum of last year.
Speaking at McLaren's MP4-23 presentation in Stuttgart Dennis said: "The ultimate goal of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team is to fight for both the Drivers' and Constructors' World Championships. We are looking forward to another competitive season as we look to build on the momentum of last year.

Force India have revealed that they will confirm their 2008 driver line-up on Thursday. The team, who are part-owned by Indian billionaire Dr Vijay Mallya, had originally planned to announce their drivers before Christmas.

Earlier this week Ferrari's team manager Luca Baldisserri questioned Hamilton's ability to handle a Formula One car stripped of electronic driver aids like traction control. But it doesn't worry the 23-year-old Briton a bit. "Maybe they are the ones that will have problems next year," Hamilton told reporters in Stuttgart.
The 2008 Formula 1 season will see traction control being banned from Formula 1. But Hamilton doesn't expect any difficulties to adjust to this rule change in F1. "I have raced without traction before and won races and championships," he said. "It will be slightly different in Formula 1 and at times it will be tricky. But all the drivers have the ability to deal with it.

The Dakar Rally was cancelled on Friday due to security concerns in Mauritania where four French tourists were killed last month, organisers said.
France-based Amaury Sport Organisation, in charge of the 6,000km rally, said in a statement they had been advised by the French government to cancel the race which was due to begin on Saturday from Lisbon.

Presentation Formula 1 2008 Launch Vodafone McLaren Mercedes mp4-23 1600x1200 f1 wallpaper

Presentation Formula 1 2008 Launch Vodafone McLaren Mercedes mp4-23 1600x1200 f1 wallpaper

01 Formula 1 ING Australian Grand Prix Melbourne 14-16 Mar
02 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix Kuala Lumpur 21-23 Mar
03 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix Bahrain 04-06 Apr
04 Formula 1 Gran Premio de Espana Telefonica Catalunya 25-27 Apr
05 Formula 1 Petrol Ofisi Turkish Grand Prix Istanbul 09-11 May
06 Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco Monte Carlo 22-25 May
07 Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada Montreal 06-08 Jun
08 Formula 1 Grand Prix de France Magny-Cours 20-22 Jun
09 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix Silverstone 04-06 Jul
10 Formula 1 Grosser Preis von Deutschland Hockenheim 18-20 Jul
11 Formula 1 Magyar Nagydij Budapest 01-03 Aug
12 Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe Valencia 22-24 Aug
13 Formula 1 ING Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps 05-07 Sep
14 Formula 1 Gran Premio Santander d'Italia Monza 12-14 Sep
15 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix Singapore 26-28 Sep
16 Formula 1 Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix Fuji Speedway 10-12 Oct
17 Formula 1 Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix Shanghai 17-19 Oct
18 Formula 1 Grande Premio do Brasil Sao Paulo 31 Oct-02 Nov

For the first time in the history of Mercedes relationship with McLaren, Mercedes headquarters in Stuttgart was the location for the launch of their new Formula One challenger on Monday. Shunning the exaggerated glitz, pomp and Hollywood-style interludes of previous years, the event was a much-appreciated return to the basics of racing - the car was the star, as Formula One Management CEO Bernie Ecclestone put it.

As McLaren unveiled their 2008 machine, the MP4-23, on Monday, the team also revealed some of key features of the cars development and the technology behind it…
The first design meeting for the MP4-23 took place back in November 2006 with early layout work starting in March 2007.

McLaren revealed their 2008 challenger on Monday, as the wraps came off the MP4-23 in a special ceremony at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany. The car will be raced by Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen this season, and both were present to witness the cars unveiling.
The car was only completed on Sunday evening and left the McLaren Technology Centre in the UK at around 18:00 GMT, arriving at its destination at around 10:00 on Monday morning - just in time for Hamiltons 23rd birthday.

Less than 24 hours after its official launch, Kimi Raikkonen took to the track in Ferraris new car on Monday. Raikkonen completed the F2008s first shakedown laps at the teams Fiorano circuit in Italy.
The F2008 is the machine with which Raikkonen will aim to defend his drivers crown when the new season gets underway in Australia in March. It was revealed by Ferrari at their Maranello base on Sunday.
The car features significant changes over its championship-winning predecessor, the F2007, with major updates to areas including aerodynamics, electronics, suspension and gearbox.

Ferraris Felipe Massa says he is ready to fight all the way for the 2008 world championship after losing out to team mate Kimi Raikkonen for the 2007 drivers crown.
Speaking at the launch of Ferraris new F2008 machine in Italy on Sunday, Massa insisted he was undeterred by Raikkonens success and said that he is ready to use the lessons he learnt last year to raise his game this season.

Reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen is looking forward to the start of the 2008 season and believes that he has a real chance of clinching another drivers title.
Speaking at the launch of Ferraris new challenger, the F2008, Raikkonen was upbeat about his '08 prospects, as he and team mate Felipe Massa race to protect the Italian teams title double.