From Autosport.com
Ferrari will become the first team to launch their 2009 car after
announcing that their new challenger will be unveiled on Monday,
January 12.
The reigning constructors’ champions will reveal their new car at
their Fiorano test track next Monday morning, with Felipe Massa tasked
with driving it for the first time later in the day.
Ferrari’s launch kicks off a frantic fortnight of car unveilings,
with Toyota following on Thursday 15th, and McLaren the day after.
Renault, Williams and BMW Sauber will then unveil their machines the following week.
It’s going to be a hectic week for Ferrari, not only to be working hard but to play hard – at their annual Madonna Campiglio retreat known as the Wroom press event, later during next week. It will be Kimi’s third attendance as a Ferrari driver and every Kimi fan will remember the great mood of Kimi last time! There was a good interview with the former world champion back then, so let’s hope there’ll be at least a bit of it this year. Check out what happened last year with the fun Ice Race in the Fiat 500 cars.
Although Kimi drove the F2008 first last year, Massa will be carrying out the shakedown this year when he comes back from holidaying in Brazil (click here for news about Ferrari’s 2008 launch, see the photos and also some videos).
This is what Luca Baldisserri has had to say about 2009 (information courtesy of AFCA)
Baldisserri on the many changes in the sport: ”We’ve never seen such a revolution in Formula 1.”
On the drastically reduced amount of testing: ”Instead of preparing
for the first few races, from now till March we have to work for the
entire season. Those that make mistakes have little time to make up for
it.”
”Our role is to obtain the maximum performance. Nothing is done
without a reason. With a reduced budget we try to obtain the same
objective, but we will be forced to reset our working method to zero.”
Are there problems?: ”There are many. It’s an exciting challenge
but also a frustrating one. Let’s take the Friday of a Grand Prix: it
will be used as a day of testing. The drivers will be forced to test
solutions that are to be used in races that are to follow. And then
during qualifying and the race they’ll be driving a different car.”
On KERS: ”On the the testbench the model we’ve designed works and
gives an advantage in terms of performance. We will mount it in the car
and will check its reliability on track.”
On there being more overtaking: ”It’s true, it will be easier to
drive in the slipstream of a competitor and, thus to overtake him. The
problem is to get into the slipstream. When the cars are similar
there’s a great challenge, there’s competition. When the regulations
change radically it could be that it’s always the same team winning.”
Could it be Ferrari ? ”The big teams have the resources to quickly
find the best solutions, but it doesn’t always happen. An original idea
(from a small team – AFCA) is enough.”
On slick tyres: ”There’s a lot of difference between the hard and
the soft compound. It will be easier to choose between the two, but it
will be harder to manage the tyre situation. We musn’t forget both
compounds have to be used in the race. A
positive aspect is that Raikkonen feels comfortable: the car has less
downforce but it’s more predictable. The changes are to his liking.”
On the return of traffic light system: ”We’ve analysed the mistakes
made in 2008 and we’ve improved the system: an electronic programme
will prevent a car from leaving when the fuel hose is still attached.”
Further information about the launch, car, and other events can be found in the forum!
FUCK ISRAEL 
Glad to see that the teams are actualy getting on with their challanges for a change, rather than them whinging on for weeks on end! It just remains to be seen, can they all keep plugging away, or throw tantrums, midway through the season. All it takes is for one team to pull out any kind of advantage, and they’ll all be at it!Just hope that Ferrari realy have sorted that damn fuel rig out!!!No-Merci
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Yay! Loved that last comment "the changes are to his liking", that´s a good sign! I think this year will be a challenge for everyone, not just Ferrari, there are just too many changes! But it´s all for the sport´s sake, hopefully.:p
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i so exited to see the f12009 of ferrari…i want 2 see kimi drive the new car…hehehe.. the month of march is coming up so fast..go kimi #1
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Lots of challanges to come! Bring it on
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Hey Saima, I read you were voted and won "Who Does Most for the Forum" in Kimi’s Fanclub Newsletter yesterday ! I don’t know who else could’ve been in contention for that Category. Congratulations and you must include photo of the original signed cap for all to see in your website, OK ?! I haven’t ventured that far into the forum world yet…maybe one day. WEll done and sorry this has nothing related to the Ferrari launch article.
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Hi Trixie 🙂 Awww, thanks. I received the Ferrari cap as a prize for winning that category last year (I did post a pic in the forum back then, but that awards topic/thread is deleted now) This year, the prize was for a different category (the best picture maker), I came 2nd in that – TaniaS won that prize; it was an Official Monaco GP dvd that Kimi had personally signed. That’s a much better gift than a cap, to be honest! Considering all the hardwork… I don’t want to sound ungrateful, I truly am, but I’m a Kimi fan, not a Ferrari fan lol the main thing is I’m glad that I’m appreciated there and your support really does count and help me when I feel stressed or fed up 🙂
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Ha! HA! I am truly behind in times…oOps! Anyway, it’s the recognition that matters, and better late than never. I completely understand what you mean because I am purely a Kimi fan only. Kimi will forever be our No. 1.
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That’s alright! I did actually come second the same category this time 🙂 you can see the results here: http://www.kimiraikkonen.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2465&start=0
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Hey! Congrats!!!! You won in two categories(sorry to go off topic here:p), but you won the most important one: best Kimi expert!!! No one else could have won it! Cheers sweetie! Oh and btw, eagerly awaiting Ferrari´s car launch!:p
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That was great!!! Congratulations Saima!! Actually Saima won three categories – Best Kimi expert, Member you’d like to meet most, Without who is the forum incomplete? Also quite a few P2 and P3 too….these show just how important you are to the Kimi fans. And we really really appreciate for all the things you have done for Kimi and the KRS community. *clap*clap*Thumbs-up*I’m also very eagerly waiting for Ferrari F2009’s car launch :)))
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Correction to my previous post, actually Saima won 4 categories. Also Category 18 – Who can you see posting here in 10 years time. HaHa.. let’s hope Kimi will still be racing in 10 years time. :))
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Hee hee! thanks YiNing and Sol 🙂 Lol in 10 years time…I doubt I’ll be posting around, maybe once or twice. We’ll just have to wait and see 🙂
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