Daily Sports News

After spending 79 days recovering from life, threatening head injuries of fractured skull Felipe Massa tested the Formula 1 car for the first time after the injury. Ferrari said he would not return to competition in 2009. Brazilian was at the wheel of a slick tyred Ferrari at the Italian team’s test circuit Fiorano. Massa is making good progress since his crash and qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix and he tested an F2007 in Italy on Monday.

However, Ferrari has said they want to proceed gradually and do not intend to rush him before he is physically and mentally fit and ready. F1 is ready to wait until the start of 2010. Massa underwent neurological tests in Paris on Friday. According to Ferrari, the outcome was rather positive prompting the decision to allow him to get behind the wheel of a privately owned F2007. Season testing is banned however; the sports governing body gave Massa permission to test using GP2 Tyres at Ferrari’s test track at Fiorano as part of his analysis. Ferrari insisted there is no chance of a comeback in 2009.As per the Ferrari statement this is in no way a proper test session and looking at the stopwatch will not be on the agenda. This opportunity for Felipe will renew his acquaintance with the natural environment namely at the racetrack. Felipa Massa was knocked unconsciously by a loose car part and injured the area around his left eye prompting fears at that time he could have suffered from loss of vision. He is anticipated to return for the final grand prix in Abu Dhabi held on 1 November.

Giancarlo Fisichella approaching to the conclusion of 14th year in Formula 1 but his skilled hand found his head rotating resulting in a dramatic twist in destiny. It seems that 36 years old, Italian now find himself in a Ferrari at the Italian Grand Prix this weekend.

Fisichella ponder from last few days he had been living in a dream and now it’s fulfilled. He added saying it’s been my dream since I was young especially for my father, friends and family and he did receive a lot of texts and phone calls. Just 12 days ago, he and forced India astonished F1 with an inspiring drive at held him to second place at Belgian Grand Prix. Four days later Ferrari proclaimed Fisichella would drive for them rest five races of the season. It is an appealing opportunity to end his career that has a place in the heart of every Italian. For Ferrari emotion does not play any role more than ruthless practicality. Fisichella was not the center of attention as F1 circus collected at Monza. Fisichella need to provide a competitive foil for Alonso. Fisichella who ran the Finn close in Spa with his racing instinct and raw speed on the other hand Ferraris with the advantage of power boost Kers system are likely to be competitive. Fisichella added saying this is a dream coming true and my aim is to do a proper job for Ferrari. If he manages to do, well this single twist of fate may serve good for both Fisichella and Ferrari indeed.

After being tagged as back markers for almost two seasons, but all changed as Giancarlo Fisichella drove the every improving VJM02 to a second place finish at the Belgian Grand Prix at Sap on the weekend. Finally it was months of persistence and hard work that showed the much desired results for the Indian owner Billionaire Dr Vijay Mallya. The team Dr Mallya took over has a long history as it was called Spyker when he bought it, before that it was Midland and before that it was Jordan.

Force India was quite optimistic as they came into the Belgian Grand Prix after the changes they had introduced in Valencia. They were surely expecting some points out of the race but never ever dreamt of taking the pole position in the qualifying.

Force India was deprived there first victory in F1 by the Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen as he used the KERS energy boost to optimum use and went past Fisichella. Sabastian Vettel finished third behind the Force India car. Robert Kubica finished fourth in his BMW Sauber ahead of teammate Nick Heidfeld.

Although Lewis Hamilton crashed in the first lap of the race but Heikki Kovalainen did some consolation for the team as he finished sixth. Rubens Barrichello drove his last three laps with an oil spiting engine and managed to finish seventh for the Brawn Mercedes team, but things went worst as he came into the pit lane after the race, his engine busted into flames. The last point for the Belgian Grand Prix was taken by Nico Rosberg in his Williams Toyota.

Some of the disappointments and retirements at the spa were Alanso, Trulli, Button, Grosjean, Hamilton and Alguersuari. Now a major question and doubt on all minds is if Force India can repeat its performance for the rest of the season.

Rubens Barrichello won a F1 Grand Prix after a gap of almost 5 years as he secured a victory at the European Grand Prix in Valencia on Sunday. It was an amazing weekend for the 37 year old Brazilian as he finished the race ahead of Hamilton.

Hamilton started the race in the pole position and there was a tough fight from the start of the race for the top spot, but Barrichello took the lead as Hamilton went for his final pit stop and was delayed due to a tyre change fumble. To everyone’s surprise in a post race analysis it was revealed that Barrichello would have still won the race even if there was no fumble in the McLaren pit.

Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen had a great start of the race as his KERS assisted car pulled into third place which made sure that he had podium finish if nothing went wrong. He managed to grab the third place. Rosberg continued his good run in Valencia too with a fifth place finish and a made a tally of seven consecutive points finish. Alonso in his home grand prix managed to finish sixth.

Current F1 championship leader Jenson Button finished seventh in his BGP001 and leads the table with 72 points, a clear 18 points difference over team mate Barrichello who is at 54 ahead of Webber. BMW had scored there last point in Silverstone, but Robert Kubica got them the final point by finishing eighth as he took the spot from Webber on the second pit stop.

Red Bull team had a disappointing day at Valencia as Webber lost his season second sport to Barrichello and finished a disappointing ninth and team mate Vettel retired on the 24th lap due to an engine failure. Force India drivers could only manage a tenth and twelfth finish, though during the middle part of the race Fisichella was running at eighth position but could not capitalize on it.

Grosjen made his F1 debut in Valencia but his race did not start well as he damaged his front wing and later on lost a lot of time due to a half spin. Biggest disappointment of the day was Luca Badoer who made his debut for Ferrari and could only finish second last at seventeenth position.

2009 FORMULA 1 TELEFONICA GRAND PRIX OF EUROPE

A display of dazzling driving skills took World Champion Lewis Hamilton to seal his first pole of the 2009 F1 season at the European Grand Prix at Valencia, Spain. Hamilton had won the last race in Hungry but today he beat team mate to secure the pole ahead of team-mate Kovalainen. This is an amazing result for McLaren-Mercedes take the first row on the grid.

Rubens Barrichello of Team Brawn-Mercedes took the second spot ahead of RBR driver Sebastian Vettel in the second row on the grid. His team mate and current season leader Jenson Button finished fifth ahead of Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen making the third row on the grid.

Fernando Alonso of Renault could not take the pole in his home grand prix as he finished behind Nico Rosberg of team Williams. Alonso surely will be disappointed as he will start the race on Sunday on the fourth row of the grid. Button’s closest challenge and second in the season ranking Mark Webber could only manage a 9th place qualifying and will start the race on the fifth row of the grid ahead of BMW driver Robert Kubica.

Team Force India would certainly be disappointed as Adrian Sutill who clocked the best timing in the morning practice could only manage to qualify in twelfth place behind BMW driver Nick Heidfeld.

As Massa is still unfit to race and Michael Schumacher was ruled out of the dream comeback due to a neck injury problem, Ferrari brought there long time test driver Luca Badoer to Valencia. Ferrari will certainly be disappointed as he is placed last on the grid and nothing much is expected out of him on race day too.

Michael Schumacher is getting ready for the European Grand Prix to be held in Valencia on 23rd August. The 40 year old seven time world champion is return to F1 racing as a replacement for the recuperating Felipe Massa. Schumacher has already lost three kilograms post his return announcements. The only spoil sport could be the neck pain he had during the practice runs. Neck injuries can spoil a F1 driver’s career as on has to face high G-forces especially in the neck region during the race. Michael with go through a fitness test before he is cleared to race in the Ferrari F60 car.

Meanwhile Ferrari has expressed frustration on the issue of Michael Schumacher not being allowed to test in the F60 car. Williams and Red Bull teams had opposed the Ferrari request to allow Schumacher on the issue on practicing in Massa’s car as the new rules don’t allow in-season testing. Schumacher on Friday did 70 laps at Mugello near Florence in the 2007 Ferrari car.

Meanwhile Felipe Massa left the hospital in Sao Paulo on Tuesday and as per the latest reports he does not require any more surgeries.

Ferrari driver Felipe Massa is on his way home in Brazil. He was injured nine days ago in a life threatening accident at the Hungaroring. He was airlifted from the circuit to the AEK Hospital where he went through surgery to fix his multiple skull injuries. Massa left the defense hospital this morning for the Ferihegy International Airport. Accompanying him was his six months pregnant wife Raffaela and Dino Altam, Massa’s family doctor.

Massa boarded a private jet at the Ferihegy International Airport, Budapest and left for his hometown Sao Paulo. Massa is scheduled to land in Sao Paulo tonight. He is expected to check into a hospital for further tests. Massa had a 162 mph impact with the tyre wall barrier and was almost unconscious for more then 48 hrs. Massa confirmed that post the spring impact on his crash hamlet, he does not recall anything and has no memory of what happened for almost two day before he woke up in the hospital.

Michael Schumacher will be Felipe Massa’s replacement till the Brazilian is fit to race again.  Schumi had visited his Farrari tame mate on Sunday to check on his recovery. Schumacher has always been a guide and mentor for the Brazilian and was happy to see Schumacher back to the racking track after years of gap.

As of now all have to wait for the next race weekend when Michael Schumacher will step into the 2009 Ferrari as the new FIA rules don’t allow in-season testing.

Michael Schumacher is all set to return to F1, he will be on track at the European Grand Prix in Valencia after a gap of two years and nine months. After taking retirement at the end of the season in 2006, Schumacher has been a consultant and a test driver for the Ferrari. He will take the place of a recuperating Felipe Massa who suffered head injuries at Hungaroring during qualifying. Schumacher will be replacing and racing for Massa and is expected to continue till Massa is fit to return.

It is said that Schumacher agreed to return to F1 due to his team loyalty and also his proximity to Massa, as he has been helping the Brazilian shape up his career from the time he was his co-driver in the last season of his retirement. Schumacher won five of his seven world titles with the Italian Team F1 team Ferrari.

This will be a great challenge for the German Ace to be ready to race in just three weeks. He would be only able to step in the 2009 car on 21st august practice as the new FIA rules don’t allow in-season testing. Schumacher had last stepped into a F1 car in April 2008. The much bigger challenge for Schumacher will be to overcome the injuries sustained in a bike race in Feb this year. Human body especially the neck region comes under high G-forces n a F1 race. But knowing Schumacher, its looks he will be ready for the European Grand Prix and he is such a fighter that elevated him to 91 career Grand Prix wins.

This news was revealed on the same day when BMW decided to quit Formula 1 racing at the current season, last season Honda had quit. The reason for BMW quitting could be the recession, but the company says that it wants to use the money on developing greener technologies.

Now the wait is on, as it will be the first time to see Schumacher taking Hamilton. Also the race is a city track and Schumacher like city circuits more then regular Grand Prix tracks.