OK, it’s probably not the most glamorous job in the pitlane - interviewing drivers, getting the scoop on who’s spying on whom or how much last week’s prodigal son will earn next season. Actually, it sounds pretty bloody good and the job could be yours if you are the successful ’sub-editor’ applicant at F1 Racing Magazine - The World’s Best Selling Grand Prix magazine.

The advertisement, posted on F1 Racing’s parent publisher Haymarket’s website (see link below) seeks the following:

Our ideal candidate will be a skilled and flexible wordsmith …

The successful applicant will be an experienced, meticulous sub-editor with proven expertise in headline and caption writing, and with a flair for making copy sparkle. He or she will be equally comfortable proof-reading and helping the managing editor to oversee the production process. He or she will also help to maintain a team of high-quality freelance sub-editors.

Knowledge of Formula 1 is useful, but not as important as the ability to work comfortably within a small, tightly knit team

Now I don’t want to sound critical, but shouldn’t knowledge of F1 be paramount for an F1 editor? It’s great to know where all the commas go and yes, quotations can be a “bitch.” But, I’d want my sub-editor to know that it was Farina and not Fangio who won the first World Championship and that the Swiss Grand Prix was never actually run in Switzerland.

I think the majority of people who are deep into F1 want articulate, informed writing from authors, not sensationalist headlines taking up most of the page. Substance speaks for itself and glossy fluff finds itself lining birdcages.

I hope the editor of F1 Racing finds a stellar candidate for the job and I hope that person is a genuine fan of the sport -someone who can recognize not just good writing but a good story that should be shared with others.

Like me.

A Fan.

http://careers.haymarket.com/f/exp/Opportunities.aspx?VacancyId=7904

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McLaren boss Ron Dennis today told reporters at the launch of the new MP4/23 that he was focused on the future and not looking back. No surprise given that in 2007 the team were stripped of all their team points, effectively finishing last, were fined a record 100 million dollars and lost the driver’s championship by a point in the final race. Ron definitely has a knack for understatement.

Still, today’s launch in Stuttgart was all smiles. Lewis Hamilton, who today celebrated his 23rd birthday, was brimming with excitement as was Renault refugee Heikki Kovalainen. Its an ideal pairing for Ron Dennis as its expected Hamilton will only face moderate pressure from the Finn. Everyone will have learned how destructive two bulls in the same pasture can be from last year’s Hamilton/Alonso partnership.

Still, its hard not to root for Heikki and hope he gives Hamilton a bit to think about. Like Hamilton last year, there is little pressure and an established benchmark to compete against. Will he be the Berger to Hamilton’s Senna and easily assume the number 2 position or will he embrace his racer’s instinct and challenge Hamilton? I look forward to it being the latter scenario.

McLaren are a resilient team with massive depth in all their departments. The setbacks of 2007 will likely be overcome but not soon enough to stop a Ferrari juggernaut from steamrolling to the title. Simply, McLaren need to play it too straight with the rules and the FIA this year to take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself.

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Toyota Racing will unveil their 2008 race car live over the internet so fans can catch every moment of the official launch. You can check out all the action via streaming video on the Toyota racing website Thursday January 10th at 10:30 AM German Standard Time.

(http://www.toyota-f1.com/public/en/index_e.html)

Toyota management are launching their contender just as news surfaces that the team have been told they have just two more years to produce some serious results in F1 or else! Nearly a decade after they started and with the biggest budget in F1, the world’s largest automaker has accomplished very little. The serious concern for F1 is whether the ultimatum was directed at the racing team’s management or Toyota’s commitment to continue in F1 at all.

Veteran driver Jarno Trulli and newcomer Timo Glock will campaign for Toyota this season. Some may remember that Timo drove briefly for Jordan (nee Midland; nee Spyker; nee Force India) a few years ago. Timo went on to race in Champ Cars before heading back to Europe for GP2.

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F1 fans rejoice! The pre-season of F1 has begun with the launch Sunday (January 6, 2008) of the the aptly (and temporarily?) named Ferrari F2008. We can now expect a weekly diet from the F1 teams as they reveal their ‘08 challengers in an atmosphere of increasingly antiseptic corporate flair.

Its unlikely we’ll see The Who rocking out while Teutonic BMW executives pull back the covers on their new car. It just wouldn’t be an efficient use of the shareholders money, would it? Maybe Red Bull or Torro Rosso will make some noise this season but never like it was in the 90’s. No Spice Girls, no Albert Hall, just suits.

So while we might mourn the loss of Posh, Baby et al , one thing will certainly live on - the affirmation that this year will be: 1. a better year; 2. a breakout year; 3. ‘The’ year. Honestly, after so many ‘breakout’ and ‘better’ years, you would think “insert team name here” would have won a championship or even a race by now.

How refreshing would it be to see a press release that said, ‘This year, we won’t be fined back to the dark ages.’ or ‘We’re confident the race car is significantly faster than the safety car this year.’ Just give us something tangible.

But I digress…

With every launch and every press release, we’re closer to the start of the season. If you need your F1 fix as badly as I do, the launch dates for each team are listed below (or updated as they are announced).

• Ferrari - January 6
• McLaren - January 7
• Toyota - January 10
• BMW-Sauber - January 14-15
• Red Bull - January 16
• Honda - January 29
• Renault - January 31
• Williams - * (see below)
• Force India-
• Toro Rosso -
• Super Aguri -

* Williams F1 have opted not to officially launch their car. With a respectable 2007 performance in the can and a catalog of sponsors in its pocket, maybe Williams felt the didn’t need to tell any tall tales this season and plan to just get on with it. Very British, very Frank.

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