Formula One news

Column: Flying out of the race

That was one hell of a weekend! The Grand Prix weekend in Imola started really good. During the free practice sessions on Friday and Saturday the car did really well and I managed to set competitive lap times. But then bad luck came around the corner…

On Saturday, during the qualifying session, we had problems with the car all of a sudden. There was an electronic problem in the Toyota engine, a problem they never saw before in testing unfortunately. The engine was running on only seven cylinders instead of eight so I lost a lot of power.

Then on Sunday I got rolled over after being hit by Yuji Ide. I think I went up-side-down about four times! While being in the car its not as exciting as you've probably seen it on television though. It all went really quick and before I knew it I was in the gravel. While flying in the air I managed to turn of the engine so there wouldn't be any fuel coming out of the car, so it was all save I think. After I walked away from the crash I saw my car looked completely destroyed, but I haven't even got a bruise on my body. That's how safe Formula 1 is nowadays.

A lot has been said about Yuji Ide. I don't think the FIA should pull in his Super License or anything. He made a mistake… Any rookie can make a mistake and young talents should receive a second chance in this sport, there are already too many old guys hanging around for years in F1.

more news

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• 06 Jan.
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  • Kubica to start karting team
  • Webber's recovery going well
  • Ferrari to reveal new car next week
  • Stewart hits out at Ecclestone and Mosley
• 05 Jan.
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  • Suspended sentence and fine for Verstappen
  • Berger confirms Buemi for STR
• 04 Jan.
  • Kubica expecting more accidents
• 03 Jan.
  • Encouraging news for Donington
• 02 Jan.
  • Di Resta still hopeful of F1 drive
  • "Title loss would have damaged Hamilton's reputation"
• 01 Jan.
  • Hakkinen supports medals system
• 31 Dec. '08
  • Kubica: Next year is a big challenge
  • Hakkinen: Vettel will soon be a Formula 1 champion
  • Hamilton receives MBE award
  • Heidfeld expects more accidents in 2009
• 30 Dec. '08
  • Hamilton to join Madame Tussauds
  • Ecclestone: Button should take a sabbatical
  • Manager: Alonso would love to join Ferrari one day
  • Changes at Toro Rosso
• 29 Dec. '08
  • Hamilton to miss victory parade in Woking
  • Alonso to join Ferrari in 2011?
  • Mexican billionaire denies Honda bid
• 28 Dec. '08
  • Mexican buyer for Honda?
• 27 Dec. '08
  • F1 drivers positive on Algarve circuit
• 26 Dec. '08
  • Montezemolo says KERS introduction is a mistake
• 25 Dec. '08
  • Season's greetings from GPUpdate.net
• 24 Dec. '08
  • Massa against proposed pay cut
  • Ferrari undecided over Schumacher future
  • Karthikeyan not interested in joining Force India
  • Mosley: Finding a successor won't be easy
  • Ecclestone won't split teams - Howett
  • Mosley may still try to continue
• 23 Dec. '08
  • WSR team Draco teams up with Force India
  • Howett: Ecclestone not able to split FOTA
  • Toyota committed to Formula 1

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