Ovidiu Panzariu
6,718 ARTICLES
Favorite quote: “Winning is everything. The only ones who remember you when you come second are your wife and your dog”, Damon Hill, 1996 F1 champion
BMW Defend KERS Debut
20 Jan 2009, 15:50 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / On the occasion of BMW Sauber's unveiling of their 2009 challenger – the F1.09 – in Valencia earlier today, BMW's motorsport director Mario Theissen took the opportunity to answer the criticism issued by some team principals i...
BMW to Make Budget Cuts in 2009
20 Jan 2009, 14:45 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Despite investing a lot in developing their Kinetic Energy Recovery System last year, BMW Sauber revealed that they managed to cut their budget by almost 30% between 2005 and 2008. Not only that, but BMW Motorsport boss Mario Theissen insisted that...
Piquet Demands Equal Treatment from Renault
20 Jan 2009, 14:22 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Nelsinho Piquet has asked for equal treatment from Renault ahead of the upcoming Formula 1 season. The Brazilian will enter his sophomore year in F1 as clear underdog to Fernando Alonso, but insists his team should provide him with the same chances...
GEM Rebranded Richard Petty Motorsports for 2009
20 Jan 2009, 13:51 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / As it turns out, the Richard Petty name will continue to be part of NASCAR in the Sprint Cup Series. Following the merger between Petty Enterprises and Gillett Evernham Motorsports, the former was rescued from bankruptcy and was expected to field t...
Buemi Tops Rainy Testing Session at Portimao
20 Jan 2009, 13:15 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Sebastien Buemi topped the first testing session at Portimao yesterday, finishing the day more than 5 minutes ahead of the other 4 drivers present at the Portuguese track. He also proved that, for the time being, the 2008 car is much more stable an...
Credit Suisse End Sponsorship of BMW Sauber
20 Jan 2009, 10:52 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / BMW may have a lot going for them ahead of the upcoming Formula 1 campaign, but one of those things does not refer to sponsorship deals. While unveiling their 2009 challenger in Valencia earlier today, it was also official that BMW Sauber will not ...
BMW Sauber Reveal new F1.09
20 Jan 2009, 10:10 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / BMW Sauber have launched their 2009 challenger, the F1.09, in Valencia, Spain. They are the 6th team to launch their 2009-spec car this month, following car launches from Ferrari, McLaren, Toyota, Renault and Williams-Toyota. Being the first te...
Valentino Rossi Takes Monster Deal from Hopkins
20 Jan 2009, 09:47 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Valentino Rossi has secured yet another sponsorship deal ahead of his new MotoGP campaign in 2009. The Italian is due to hit another jackpot these days, as Italian reports show that Monster energy drink will sign a 2-year deal with the MotoGP champ...
Alonso Praises Retired Ron Dennis
20 Jan 2009, 09:01 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Ron Dennis' retirement from Formula 1 did not go unnoticed for former McLaren driver and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso. Although the two parted ways after only one year of working with each other at McLaren Mercedes, the Spaniard rec...
Briatore Denies Retirement Rumors
20 Jan 2009, 08:42 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Flavio Briatore dismissed rumors linking him to a retirement from Formula 1 at the end of 2010. The Renault boss insisted he is in for the long run and has no intention of leaving his team or the sport, as reported by the Italian media in December ...
Briatore: BMW Are to Blame for Early KERS
20 Jan 2009, 08:15 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Flavio Briatore blames BMW Sauber for not agreeing with the other constructors on the postponement of the Kinetic Energy Recovery System. The Renault boss insisted that using KERS this season is illogical for two reasons: it's not safe and it ...
Renault: Using KERS Will Lead to Accidents
20 Jan 2009, 07:44 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Renault have joined Ferrari in expressing fears that the Kinetic Energy Recovery System is both unsafe and expensive. The problem with the new technology is the fact that it is based on an electrical system – so there's always the danger...
Ferrari Use Illegal Exhaust System?
19 Jan 2009, 15:57 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Ferrari might have to return their car back into the garage less than a week after its official launch on January 12th. And it's not because it has failed a crash test or anything – like it happened with the Renault R29 earlier this mont...
2009 P-WRC Entry List Announced
19 Jan 2009, 15:54 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Only one month to go until the closing of all entries for this year's edition of the Production Car World Rally Championship, the series features some rather interesting names so far. Among the 19 names already registered for the 2009 P-WRC se...
Dennis: Hamilton Knew About My Retirement
19 Jan 2009, 14:59 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Ron Dennis revealed that he has informed Lewis Hamilton that he is to step down as team principal for McLaren Mercedes team. He said the two had a discussion in late 2008, when Dennis told his protege that he plans to retire from his position withi...
McLaren Deny Involvement in Force India Lineup
19 Jan 2009, 14:18 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Shortly after Ron Dennis announced his withdrawal as team principal of McLaren Mercedes, the 61-year old Englishman insisted once again that the Woking-based team has no business in setting up the drivers' lineup for Vijay Mallya's Force ...
Andreas Zuber Signs Deal with FMS International
19 Jan 2009, 13:53 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Andreas Zuber secured a racing spot for the upcoming GP2 season with Fisichella Motor Sport International. The Austrian will be competing for the 4th year running in F1's feeder series, after previously driving for Trident Racing, iSport Inter...
Montezemolo Praises Departed Ron Dennis
19 Jan 2009, 12:01 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Following Ron Dennis' announcement late last week regarding his immediate retirement from his position as team principal of McLaren Mercedes, rivals within the F1 paddock have only nice words to say about the 61-year old Englishman. And Ferrar...
F1 Teams Confused with Engine Rules
19 Jan 2009, 11:59 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / McLaren Mercedes' new team principal Martin Whitmarsh – he will officially take the new job as of March 1st – admitted his team is a little puzzled by the latest changes in the FIA rulebook regarding engine life. As announced by...
Jeff Gordon: I Can Only Improve in 2009
19 Jan 2009, 11:23 UTC · By: Ovidiu Panzariu / Jeff Gordon might have had a disappointing season in 2008, but he has every intention of turning it into a winning season this year. Having concluded his first winless NASCAR Sprint Cup campaign in 15 years last season, the 5-time Series champion c...