2008 Formula One World Championship

The 2008 Formula One season was the 59th FIA Formula One World Championship season. It began on March 16 and was over on November 2 after eighteen races. Lewis Hamilton became the Drivers' World Champion while Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro won the Constructors' title.


 Teams and drivers 
The following teams and drivers competed in the 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship:
 Team Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre No. Race Drivers Test driver(s)  Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro Ferrari Ferrari F2008 Ferrari Type 056 2.4 L V8  1  Kimi Räikkönen  Luca Badoer  Marc Gené  Michael Schumacher 2  Felipe Massa  BMW Sauber F1 Team BMW Sauber Sauber F1.08 BMW P86/8 2.4 L V8  3  Nick Heidfeld  Christian Klien  Marko Asmer 4  Robert Kubica  ING Renault F1 Team Renault Renault R28 Renault RS27 2.4 L V8  5  Fernando Alonso   Lucas di Grassi  Romain Grosjean  Sakon Yamamoto 6  Nelson Piquet, Jr.  AT&T Williams Williams-Toyota Williams FW30 Toyota RVX-08 2.4 L V8  7  Nico Rosberg  Nico Hülkenberg 8  Kazuki Nakajima  Red Bull Racing Red Bull-Ferrari Red Bull RB4 Renault RS27 2.4 L V8  9  David Coulthard  Sébastien Buemi 10  Mark Webber  Panasonic Toyota Racing Toyota Toyota TF108 Toyota RVX-08 2.4 L V8  11  Jarno Trulli  Kamui Kobayashi 12  Timo Glock  Scuderia Toro Rosso Toro Rosso-Ferrari Toro Rosso STR2BToro Rosso STR3 Ferrari Type 056 2.4 L V8  14  Sébastien Bourdais  Brendon Hartley 15  Sebastian Vettel   Honda Racing F1 Team Honda Honda RA108 Honda RA808E 2.4 L V8  16  Jenson Button  Alexander Wurz  Anthony Davidson  Mike Conway  Luca Filippi 17  Rubens Barrichello   Super Aguri F1 Team  Super Aguri-Honda Super Aguri SA08 Honda RA808E 2.4 L V8  18  Takuma Sato none 19  Anthony Davidson  Force India Formula One Team Force India-Ferrari Force India VJM01 Ferrari Type 056 2.4 L V8  20  Adrian Sutil  Vitantonio Liuzzi 21  Giancarlo Fisichella  Vodafone McLaren Mercedes McLaren-Mercedes McLaren MP4-23 Mercedes-Benz FO 108V 2.4 L V8  22  Lewis Hamilton  Pedro de la Rosa  Gary Paffett  Ralf Schumacher 23  Heikki Kovalainen
 Team started the 2008 season with an updated version of their 2007 car.
 Super Aguri withdrew from the 2008 Formula One season on 6 May due to financial troubles.

 Team changes 
 Only a year after Spyker bought the Midland team, Indian businessman Vijay Mallya  bought the team for €88 million. Mallya was allowed to change the team's name to Force India.
 During  the  2008 season on 6 May, the Super Aguri team folded and withdrew from Formula One. The team was in financial problems at the end of . The team did not receive payment on a sponsorship deal.

 Driver changes 

Changed teams
 Fernando Alonso: Left McLaren and joined Renault F1
 Heikki Kovalainen: Left Renault F1 and Retired
 Giancarlo Fisichella: Left Renault F1 and joined Force India
 Nelson Piquet, Jr.: Left Renault F1 as a test driver and joined Renault F1
 Timo Glock: Came from racing in GP2 Series and as a test driver for BMW Sauber F1 and joined Toyota Racing
 Vitantonio Liuzzi: Left Scuderia Toro Rosso and joined Force India as a test driver
 Kazuki Nakajima: Came from racing in GP2 Series and WilliamsF1 as a test driver and joined WilliamsF1
 Alexander Wurz: Left WilliamsF1 and joined Honda Racing F1 as a test driver
 Christian Klien: Left Honda Racing F1 as a test driver and joined BMW Sauber F1 as a test driver
 Sakon Yamamoto: Left Spyker F1 and joined Renault F1 as a test and development driver.

Entered F1
 Sébastien Bourdais: Came from Champ Car World Series and joined Scuderia Toro Rosso
 Marko Asmer: Came from British Formula Three Championship and joined BMW Sauber F1 as a test driver.

Exited F1
 Ralf Schumacher: Left Toyota Racing and started being test driver for McLaren.but.

 2008 Race Calendar 
The FIA World Council approved the 2008 schedule on 24 October 2007. Singapore was Formula One's first ever night race.

 Round Official race title Grand Prix Circuit Date Time Local UTC 1 ING Australian Grand Prix Australian GP  Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne 16 March 15:30 04:30 2 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix Malaysian GP  Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur 23 March 15:00 07:00 3 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix Bahrain GP  Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Manama 6 April 14:30 11:30 4 Gran Premio de España Telefónica Spanish GP  Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona 27 April 14:00 12:00 5 Petrol Ofisi Turkish Grand Prix Turkish GP  Istanbul Park 11 May 15:00 12:00 6 Grand Prix de Monaco Monaco GP  Circuit de Monaco 25 May 14:00 12:00 7 Grand Prix du Canada Canadian GP  Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal 8 June 13:00 17:00 8 Grand Prix de France French GP  Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours 22 June 14:00 12:00 9 Santander British Grand Prix British GP  Silverstone Circuit 6 July 13:00 12:00 10 Großer Preis Santander von Deutschland German GP  Hockenheimring 20 July 14:00 12:00 11 ING Magyar Nagydíj Hungarian GP  Hungaroring, Budapest 3 August 14:00 12:00 12 Telefónica Grand Prix of Europe European GP  Valencia Street Circuit 24 August 14:00 12:00 13 ING Belgian Grand Prix Belgian GP  Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Spa 7 September 14:00 12:00 14 Gran Premio Santander d'Italia Italian GP  Autodromo Nazionale di Monza 14 September 14:00 12:00 15 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix Singapore GP  Marina Bay Street Circuit 28 September 20:00 12:00 16 Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix Japanese GP  Fuji Speedway, Oyama 12 October 13:30 04:30 17 Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix Chinese GP  Shanghai International Circuit 19 October 15:00 07:00 18 Grande Prêmio do Brasil Brazilian GP  Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo 2 November 15:00 17:00
 New circuits
 Night Race

 Rule changes 
 A standard Electronic Control Unit (ECU) was supplied by Microsoft and McLaren Electronic Systems.
 Traction control and launch control were banned. Other electronic aids including engine braking were also baned.
 Engine design changes will not be allowed for five years was started in 2008
 Fuel used in the race cars must contain at least 5.75% biological materials.
 Gearboxes (transmissions) must last four races.
 Cockpit protection was improved.
 Teams were not allowed to bring a third race car to use as a spare.
 Bridgestone will be the official tyre supplier for the 2008–2010 seasons.
 Team were not allowed to test more than 30,000 km (18,641 mi) during the 2008 calendar year.

 Qualifying 
 The first qualifying session was lengthened to 20 minutes. The third qualifying session was shortened to 10 minutes. After Q3, teams would no longer be allowed to add fuel back to the car. This got rid of the 'fuel-burn' phase.
 A minimum lap time for each qualifying session was implemented starting in Bahrain. This was to stop cars coasting back to the pits at dangerously low speeds.
 Following the departure of Super Aguri from Formula One, only the five drivers would be eliminated from Q1.

Results and standings
Grands Prix
 Rd. Grand Prix Pole position Fastest lap Winning driver Winning constructor 1  Australian Grand Prix  Lewis Hamilton  Heikki Kovalainen  Lewis Hamilton  McLaren-Mercedes 2  Malaysian Grand Prix  Felipe Massa  Nick Heidfeld  Heikki Kovalainen  Ferrari 3  Bahrain Grand Prix  Robert Kubica  Heikki Kovalainen  Felipe Massa  Ferrari 4  Spanish Grand Prix  Kimi Räikkönen  Kimi Räikkönen  Kimi Räikkönen  Ferrari 5  Turkish Grand Prix  Felipe Massa  Kimi Räikkönen  Felipe Massa  Ferrari 6  Monaco Grand Prix  Felipe Massa  Kimi Räikkönen  Lewis Hamilton  McLaren-Mercedes 7  Canadian Grand Prix  Lewis Hamilton  Kimi Räikkönen  Robert Kubica  BMW Sauber 8  French Grand Prix  Kimi Räikkönen  Kimi Räikkönen  Felipe Massa  Ferrari 9  British Grand Prix  Heikki Kovalainen  Kimi Räikkönen  Lewis Hamilton  McLaren-Mercedes 10  German Grand Prix  Lewis Hamilton  Nick Heidfeld  Lewis Hamilton  McLaren-Mercedes 11  Hungarian Grand Prix  Lewis Hamilton  Kimi Räikkönen Heikki Kovalainen  McLaren-Mercedes 12  European Grand Prix  Felipe Massa  Felipe Massa  Felipe Massa  Ferrari 13  Belgian Grand Prix  Lewis Hamilton  Kimi Räikkönen  Felipe Massa  Ferrari 14  Italian Grand Prix  Sebastian Vettel  Kimi Räikkönen  Sebastian Vettel  Toro Rosso-Ferrari 15  Singapore Grand Prix  Felipe Massa  Kimi Räikkönen  Fernando Alonso  Renault 16  Japanese Grand Prix  Lewis Hamilton  Felipe Massa  Fernando Alonso  Renault 17  Chinese Grand Prix  Lewis Hamilton  Lewis Hamilton  Ralf Schumacher  McLaren-Mercedes 18  Brazilian Grand Prix  Felipe Massa  Felipe Massa  Felipe Massa  Ferrari

 Drivers 
 Pos Driver AUS MAL BHR ESP TUR MON CAN FRA GBR GER HUN EUR BEL ITA SIN JPN CHN BRA Points 1  Lewis Hamilton 1 5 13 3 2 1 Ret 10 1 1 5 2 3 7 3 12 1 5 98 2  Felipe Massa Ret Ret 1 2 1 3 5 1 13 3 17 1 1 6 13 7 2 1 97 3  Kimi Räikkönen 8 1 2 1 3 9 Ret 2 4 6 3 Ret 18 9 15 3 3 3 75 4  Robert Kubica Ret 2 3 4 4 2 1 5 Ret 7 8 3 6 3 11 2 6 11 75 5  Fernando Alonso 4 8 10 Ret 6 10 Ret 8 6 11 4 Ret 4 4 1 1 4 2 61 6  Nick Heidfeld 2 6 4 9 5 14 2 13 2 4 10 9 2 5 6 9 5 10 60 7  Heikki Kovalainen 5 3 5 Ret DSQ 9 4 3 5 1 4 10 2 10 5 nsn 7 53 8  Sebastian Vettel Ret Ret Ret Ret 17 5 8 12 Ret 8 Ret 6 5 1 5 6 9 4 35 9  Jarno Trulli Ret 4 6 8 10 13 6 3 7 9 7 5 16 13 Ret 5 Ret 8 31 10  Timo Glock Ret Ret 9 11 13 12 4 11 12 Ret 2 7 9 11 4 Ret 7 6 25 11  Mark Webber Ret 7 7 5 7 4 12 6 10 Ret 9 12 8 8 Ret 8 14 9 21 12  Nelson Piquet, Jr. Ret 11 Ret Ret 15 Ret Ret 7 Ret 2 6 11 Ret 10 Ret 4 8 Ret 19 13  Nico Rosberg 3 14 8 Ret 8 Ret 10 16 9 10 14 8 12 14 2 11 15 12 17 14  Rubens Barrichello DSQ 13 11 Ret 14 6 7 14 3 Ret 16 16 Ret 17 Ret 13 11 15 11 15  Kazuki Nakajima 6 17 14 7 Ret 7 Ret 15 8 14 13 15 14 12 8 15 12 17 9 16  David Coulthard Ret 9 18 12 9 Ret 3 9 Ret 13 11 17 11 16 7 Ret 10 Ret 8 17  Sébastien Bourdais 7 Ret 15 Ret Ret Ret 13 17 11 12 18 10 7 18 12 10 13 14 4 18  Jenson Button Ret 10 Ret 6 11 11 11 Ret Ret 17 12 13 15 15 9 14 16 13 3 19  Giancarlo Fisichella Ret 12 12 10 Ret Ret Ret 18 Ret 16 15 14 17 Ret 14 Ret 17 18 0 20  Adrian Sutil Ret Ret 19 Ret 16 Ret Ret 19 Ret 15 Ret Ret 13 19 Ret Ret Ret 16 0 21  Takuma Sato Ret 16 17 13WD 0 22  Anthony Davidson Ret 15 16 RetWD 0 Pos Driver AUS MAL BHR ESP TUR MON CAN FRA GBR GER HUN EUR BEL ITA SIN JPN CHN BRA PointsBold – Pole
Italics – Fastest Lap
 Drivers did not finish the Grand Prix, but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.

Constructors
 Pos Constructor CarNo. AUS MAL BHR ESP TUR MON CAN FRA GBR GER HUN EUR BEL ITA SIN JPN CHN BRA Points 1  Ferrari 1 8 1 2 1 3 9 Ret 2 4 6 3 Ret 18 9 15 3 3 3 172 2 Ret Ret 1 2 1 3 5 1 13 3 17 1 1 613 7 2 1 2  McLaren-Mercedes 22 9 5 13 3 2 1 Ret 10 1 1 5 2 3 7 3 12 1 5 151 23 5 3 5 Ret 12 8 9 4 5 5 1 4 10 2 10 Ret Ret 7 3  BMW Sauber 3 2 6 4 9 5 14 2 13 2 4 10 9 2 5 6 9 5 10 135 4 Ret 2 3 4 4 2 1 5 Ret 7 8 3 6 3 11 2 6 11 4  Renault 5 4 8 10 Ret 6 10 Ret 8 6 11 4 Ret 4 4 1 1 4 2 80 6 Ret 11 Ret Ret 15 Ret Ret 7 Ret 2 6 11 Ret 10 Ret 4 8 Ret 5  Toyota 11 Ret 4 6 8 10 13 6 3 7 9 7 5 16 11 Ret 5 Ret 8 56 12 Ret Ret 9 11 13 12 4 11 12 Ret 2 7 9 13 4 Ret 7 6 6  Toro Rosso-Ferrari 14 7 Ret 15 Ret Ret Ret 13 17 11 12 18 10 7 18 12 10 13 14 39 15 Ret Ret Ret Ret 17 5 8 12 Ret 8 Ret 6 5 1 5 6 9 4 7  Red Bull-Renault 9 Ret 9 18 12 9 Ret 3 9 Ret 13 11 17 11 16 7 Ret 10 Ret 29 10 Ret 7 7 5 7 4 12 6 10 Ret 9 12 8 8 Ret 8 14 9 8  Williams-Toyota 7 3 14 8 Ret 8 Ret 10 16 9 10 14 8 12 14 2 11 15 12 26 8 6 17 14 7 Ret 7 Ret 15 8 14 13 15 14 12 8 15 12 17 9  Honda 16 Ret 10 Ret 6 11 11 11 Ret Ret 17 12 13 15 15 9 14 16 13 14 17 DSQ 13 11 Ret 14 6 7 14 3 Ret 16 16 Ret 17 Ret 13 11 15 10  Force India-Ferrari 20 Ret Ret 19 Ret 16 Ret Ret 19 Ret 15 Ret Ret 13 19 Ret Ret Ret 16 0 21 Ret 12 12 10 Ret Ret Ret 18 Ret 16 15 14 17 Ret 14 Ret 17 18 11  Super Aguri-Honda 18 Ret 16 17 13 WD 0 19 Ret 15 16 Ret WD Pos Constructor CarNo. AUS MAL BHR ESP TUR MON CAN FRA GBR GER HUN EUR BEL ITA SIN JPN CHN BRA Points
 Driver did not finish the Grand Prix, but was classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.
 Super Aguri withdrew from the Formula One world championship on May 6, 2008.Bold – Pole
Italics – Fastest Lap

 Race-fixing controversy 

A scandal developed that became known as "Crashgate" in the media, during the 2009 season around the time of the Belgium Grand Prix. Claims were made by former Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr. about his crash in the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. This led to charges of race-fixing against Renault. Team boss Flavio Briatore and engineering director Pat Symonds left Renault.

 References 

 Other websites 

Category:Formula One seasons
Category:2008 in sports