Adam Cooper F1

Bruno Senna has landed himself a Williams Renault seat

Williams has confirmed that Bruno Senna will partner his former GP2 rival Pastor Maldonado in 2012.

He will thus be seen at the wheel of a Williams-Renault 18 years after his uncle, Ayrton Senna, drove for the team. He is the latest in a series of ‘second generation’ drivers employed by Williams, following in the footsteps of Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima – and not to mention Alan Jones, whose father was hugely successful in Australia.

Adrian Sutil recently dropped out of contention for the drive, and Senna ultimately beat his countryman Rubens Barrichello to the seat. Ironically in 2009 Barrichello stayed on after the withdrawal of Honda to drive for Brawn GP at the expense of Senna, who had been favoured by the Japanese manufacturer.

Barrichello now finds himself without a drive for what would have been his 20^th season at the top level.

Frank Williams said: “Bruno only started racing when he was 20 years old but quickly proved his talent in F3 and GP2. In a tightly fought 2008 GP2 season, Bruno finished second in the Championship with notable victories in Monaco and Silverstone, the latter in the wet.

“The circumstances of Bruno’s two seasons in Formula One have not given him an ideal opportunity to deliver consistently so it was essential that we spent as much time with him as possible to understand and evaluate him as a driver.

“We have done this both on track and in our simulator and he has proven quick, technically insightful and above all capable of learning and applying his learning quickly and consistently. Now we are looking forward to seeing that talent in our race car.”

Bruno commented: “I feel very privileged that Williams has selected me as one of their race drivers. The team has a great heritage and I hope I can help write a good chapter in their history. The evaluation process has been intense and methodical but the time I have spent in the factory has demonstrated that the team has great people and all the resources needed to achieve better things this season.

“It will be very interesting to drive for a team that my uncle has driven for, particularly as quite a few of the people here actually worked with Ayrton. Hopefully we can bring back some memories and create some great new ones too. I also want to get some good results in return for the support my country has given me to help get me to this position today.

“I am very proud to be Brazilian and more motivated than ever to demonstrate what I can do. Ever since I first sat in a go-kart I never wanted to do anything else.”

Senna has made the final shortlist and thus received an official nomination in two major BAFTA categories.

It has overcome a lot of strong opposition to make the top five in Outstanding British Film, alongside Shame, My Week with Marilyn, We Need to Talk About Kevin, and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

It is also in the last three for Best Documentary. Its rivals in that category are Martin Scorsese’s George Harrison: Living in the Material World, and Project Nim, about a chimpanzee raised in New York.

Senna has also received a third nomination for best editing, where the opposition comes from The Artist, Drive, Hugo and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

The nominations were announced this morning by Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe and actress Holliday Grainger.

The awards will be handed out in London on February 12.

Robert Kubica was back in hospital today after reportedly breaking his leg when he fell in an icy street in Italy.

He is believed to have suffered a fractured tibia of his right leg, which was injured in his horrific rally crash on February 6 last year.

He is being treated by the medical team who looked after him last time around in Pietra Ligure.

Although clearly a setback for his recovery hopes reports say that the injury is not as serious as it might first appear, so the delay might not be too long.

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said today that the Italian team has to stay calm whether it quickly finds success or has a difficult start to the year with its new car.

There has been a mood of optimism in the Maranello camp of late, engendered by the push for a radical car, and new staff arrivals. Speaking to the media Domenicali admitted that expectations were high, but stressed that 2012 would be a long season.

“Clearly, this will be a tricky year, but that is part of any sport, even more so when one looks at the environment in which Ferrari operates,” said the 46-year-old. “There are expectations that need to be managed as well as possible, and I am well aware that the emotional aspect is very important in a team like ours.

“But that will not change my approach. We will not get over excited if things go well, nor will we be down if we have some difficulties, especially at the start, because we know this is going to be a very long season. We must stay grounded and calm, maintaining our motivation and concentration.

“Of course, winning is our primary objective and I believe we are preparing ourselves in the right way for this. Everyone is working hard on improving the performance of the car, paying great attention to every little detail. I expect even those who have just joined us to make a significant contribution to what is already a strong group of people. Because once in a while a breath of fresh air can liven things up.”

Domenicali reiterated that the new car – the first designed under the leadership of Brit Pat Fry – represents a break with the past. He also joked about is looks.

“It’s definitely different, because it represents a clear break with the past in terms of the design philosophy. It’s not that pretty, because the shape defined by the technical regulations does not leave much scope, but, and this is what counts really, our hopes are that it is at the very least quick!

“I asked our engineers, as far back as last summer to look into every little nook and cranny of the rules to push it to the limit, but up until we see the other cars we will not know if we have taken it to the limit or are within it. Then, to really understand the hierarchy we will have to wait for qualifying in Melbourne. We must always bear in mind that the times one sees from testing are not always what they seem. At Jerez and the two Barcelona tests, we can get a rough idea, but nothing more.”

Domenicali also stressed that 2012 will be a busy year behind the scenes for F1, as the new Concorde Agreement is finalised and the Resource Restriction Agreement continues to be a major focus of attention. He added that the RRA is still very much alive, despite the fact that Ferrari and others have left FOTA. However its precise form remains fluid.

“Clearly this is a very important year and we are all aware of that,” said Domenicali of the Concorde. “It is equally clear that there is only one offer on the table, given that no alternative solutions were ever established.

“In the coming months, talks will get underway on the future of the Agreement as we are still in discussion, especially with the bigger teams, despite the fact we have left FOTA, on the subject of cost reduction, discussions where Ferrari has always been at the forefront.

“Furthermore, one must bear in mind that the RRA is still in force: what still needs to be established – and this something we are looking at in these days – is if we should abide by the first version, signed in 2009, or the one drawn up in Singapore in 2010. The first one envisages very severe spending cuts for 2012, the year it should run out, while the one signed in Singapore has a revised figure and is valid right up to the end of 2017.

“The key point is to understand if this is an important tool for the future. What should happen to those who do not abide by the rules? Today, only a financial type of penalty is planned, but we need to decide if it would not be better to think also of something on the sporting front and, in that case, who should decide the outcome.”

Williams has announced an interesting new partnership with the fitness organisation run by former US Olympic hero Michael Johnson.

Johnson is the only man to have won the 200m and 400m golds in the same Olympics, a feat he achieved in Atlanta in 1996, and is also the only man to have defended the 400m title, having triumphed again in Sydney in 2000. He also won a relay gold, and held multiple world records.

He opened the Michael Johnson Performance Center in 2007. Williams says that the intention is for MJP to “provide an intensive training programme for the team’s pit crew personnel as well as conducting an evaluation of the team’s training regime.”

Johnson, latterly a TV commentator, has been an occasional spectator at Grands Prix in the past, and he expressed a keen interest in the sport when I interviewed him in Monaco in 2009.

Regarding the new deal, Frank Williams said: “I had the privilege of first meeting Michael at the Belgian Grand Prix in the late 1990s. I have always admired the dedication required to be an Olympic Champion. The attention to detail and the commitment required is what sets these extraordinary individuals apart from the rest of us.

“When Michael and I met again recently he explained how he had established a company that specialized in improving athletic performance. I was extremely keen to learn how he could help our team as there seemed to be a lot of areas of common interest.  Michael’s sporting achievements speak for themselves, and the principles he used to become the fastest man in the world are certainly transferable into our own hugely competitive field.”

Johnson added: “I am confident that the experience and biomechanics expertise of the MJP staff that has benefitted numerous American football athletes, Premier League football teams, and Olympic federations, can also benefit the Williams F1 Team pit crew in their goal to cut hundredths and even tenths of a second from their pit stop times.”

Ferrari has strengthened its technical team with two intriguing key appointments in Hirohide Hamashima and Steve Clark.

Hamashima was at Bridgestone for some 34 years, and latterly headed the F1 programme. He will give the Italian team a valuable insight into tyre development.

Meanwhile Clark will he head of race engineering, overseeing Andrea Stella and Rob Smedley.

Clark’s busy CV includes stints at Lotus, Ligier, Arrows, Sauber and in Champcar with Ganassi and Pac West. He was at McLaren from 2002-7, working with Ferrari technical director Pat Fry. He then joined Honda, remaining with the Brackley team into the Brawn and Mercedes eras.

Jaime Alguersuari has paid tribute to Toro Rosso physio Raniero Gianotti, who has died at the age of 46.

Alguersuari said that the Italian was “the person who I have loved and who has loved me the most in Formula One.”

Gianotti, who also worked with drivers such as Rubens Barrichello and Jarno Trulli in the past, suffered a heart attack while cycling.

“For me, he was more than a friend, he was a brother,” said Alguersuari. “I debuted in F1 with just 19 years old and I had never done a full lap in an F1 in any circuit. Raniero was my guide and comfort in my troubles. In these three years we have lived together in the most diverse countries in the world, in his house in Urbino and at my family’s house in Barcelona.

“He was the best professional I’ve known both in the physical preparation applied to F1 as in knowledge of the paddock. A few days ago he called to tell me, ‘Don’t worry about your future, Jaime, because you are the future.’ I will never forget him, and I can only say ‘Ever onward to victory, Raniero.’ We will continue to fight against adversity.”

Senna may have missed out – somewhat controversially – on the Oscar short list, but the film is still in line for some major awards.

Screenwriter Manish Pandey has been nominated in the documentary category of the WGA (Writers Guild of America) awards, which take place next month.

Recent winning films have included Inside Job, The Cove, Waltz with Bashir and Super Size Me.

“I’m the only British writer in any of the major categories and I’m planning to fly the flag with great pride on February the 19th!,” says Pandey.

“Anything that brings F1 to the front, there, is a joy.  Our sport should be there.  The nomination is a great opportunity to brag to the US film world about how wonderful F1 is – and I shall use the opportunity to the full.”

Pandey’s competition includes legendary German director/writer Wim Wenders, nominated for his film about dancer Pina Bausch.

Meanwhile Senna’s James Gay-Rees has been nominated in the PGA (Producers Guild of America) Awards, which take place on January 21.

The film has also made the ‘longlist’ in six BAFTA categories, including Best Film, Best Documentary and Outstanding British Film. The shortlists will be made public on January 17.

Kimi makes himself comfortable in the Lotus Renault

Kimi Raikkonen insists that he is unfazed by the inevitable criticism of his F1 comeback with Lotus this year.

The Finn, who was at the team’s factory today for a seat fitting, says that the important thing is that he is happy with what he’s doing – and he’s not worried about what others think.

“It has no effect on me,” he said in a Q&A on the team website. “Sometimes you hear some nonsense and sometimes you hear nice things. The main thing is that coming back is what I wanted, and I have a good opportunity with the team, so I’m happy. I have never really looked at what people say or think. I do my own thing and as long as I’m happy with it then that’s the main thing for me.

“There has been quite a bit of noise in the press about my comeback and there have been a lot of rumours. For me, coming back to Formula 1 is a good thing and I hope it will be for the team and the fans also!

“I love this time of the year at the factory. There’s a real buzz surrounding the new car, every single department is working flat out in order to have everything ready on time. You can really feel people’s dedication and it’s nice to be a part of it.”

Although he briefly tried the cockpit on a previous factory visit today’s seat fitting was the first time that Kimi has properly sat in an F1 car – with a helmet – since the 2009 Abu Dhabi GP.

“It felt a bit odd at first because the cockpit seems a bit small, but that’s normal. It’s just like in the past when I have done seat fittings – it feels a bit strange when you first step into the car but you quickly adjust. It will be nice to get back to racing.”

Sebastien Buemi has been given an F1 lifeline after landing the role of test and reserve driver at Red Bull Racing.

He has been given the nod over his erstwhile STR team mate Jaime Alguersuari.

Team boss Christian Horner said: “It was entirely logical for Sébastien to continue with Red Bull having been a member of the Junior Team since 2004. He already knows the team well from his time with us in 2008 and has gained significant race experience over the past three years. He will complete important test and simulation work for us throughout the year and will be in attendance at each grand prix.”

Buemi added: “It’s good to remain with Red Bull for another year and have this opportunity with the World Championship winning team. I would prefer to be driving at the races of course, but working with Red Bull Racing on the development of their car and providing them with feedback throughout the
season is the next best thing.”

Meanwhile Buemi is in the unusual position of also being reserve driver for the team that has dropped him, as he will also have that role for sister team Toro Rosso.

The Italian team confirmed on its website today: “If for any reason, Scuderia Toro Rosso found itself short of a driver at a grand prix, then Sébastien would step into the cockpit for us.”