As the 2010 F1 season opener draws nearer, there have been many questions about who will be on the starting grid in Bahrain. Many new comers have been granted a spot on the grid; however there are many questions still to be answered.

Fernando speaking at a live online chat session with the fans during his return to Maranello after the Wroom events at Modonna di Campiglio, expressed enthusiasm directed towards Ferrari and the 2010 world championship. When Fernando was asked at what stage the new car was and if he felt there will be possibility to fight for victories the Spaniard replied,

After the unfortunate departure of Toyota from Formula 1 in November 2009 and Honda a season earlier in 2008, Ferrari will start at the head of the 2010 economic Formula 1 grid when the World Championship begins in March. Last season and in the events immediately following it, the budgetary excesses of F1 teams have been brought to light as F1 manufacturer started leaving the sport. In what many think was a hasty move, the FIA welcomed to F1 several outfits that may or may not even make it to the grid in March.

At a time when F1 is searching for the spark that will bring the sport back into the limelight; the fans are used to hearing off the wall ideas that may or may not improve the sport. In fact, Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has confirmed that a meeting will take place February 1 in Valencia to discuss a new points system and possible pit-stop rule changes that could take effect immediately with the start of the 2010 F1 world championship. This time however, Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone may have taken the idea of improving the sport into the stratosphere.

Using Ferrari F1 engines to power their car in 2010, Swiss based Sauber were informed via an official letter from the FIA, that “their application for an entry in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championshiop has been successful” The vacancy became available after the Toyota team departed from F1 after having signed the concorde agreement binding them to compete in F1 until 2012. Effectively breaching this agreement left legal uncertainty and formalities that needed to be cleared before Sauber could have a full confirmation on their place.

Ferrari are suggesting that the global economic downturn has nothing to do with the mass exodus of companies out of Formula 1

The headline on Ferrari.com read, “We want a different ending”

The page read “It could be seen as a parody of “Ten Little Indians,” the detective novel by Agatha Christie, first published in England back in 1939, but the reality is much more serious. Formula 1 continues to lose major players: in the past twelve months, Honda, BMW, Bridgestone and, only this morning, Toyota, have announced they are leaving the sport.

The Mainichi Shimbun newspaper in Japan is reporting that Toyota has decided to withdraw from Formula 1. The company president Akio Toyoda will open a four-day meeting of the board tomorrow. It is reported that the question of F1 is already settled.

Toyota is expected to announced later today following regular decision by the company’s board of directors on Tuesday in Japan, that it is withdrawing from Formula 1 with immediate effect, according to reports in the Japanese press as well as The November 8 announcement was revealed by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport magazine, and the Independent newspaper in Britain also expects that “bad news” could be emanating from Toyota “later in the week”.

As predicted by our earlier (Ferrari F2010 – F61 – 661 Preview) article, Ferrari remain optimistic for their 2010 car. Ferrari believes its 2009 season was destined for failure after double diffuser ruling but added it’s good that everyone is now on the same page.

Ferrari did not adopt the double-diffuser concept used by team Brawn GP, Williams and Toyota and it found it difficult to integrate it onto their the F60. After having developed the technology, Ferrari found as expected that their car was simply not built with the design in mind and that this year’s championship was as good as lost.

Well aware of their chances Ferrari made a decision before the Hungarian Grand Prix to shift all its development resources onto its 2010 challenger.

When talking to Autosport, Ferrari’s Stefano Domenicali expressed confidence towards next years car.

The Italian media along with many Tifosi are almost relieved that the 2009 F1 season is over. Ferrari endured a hard and almost painful and fruitless season. The Scuderia had a handful of podiums, one victory at the hands of Kimi and some non-point scoring races that crippled it’s chances at securing 3rd place in the constructors standings. Ferrari lost that honour to rival McLaren, which had a fantastic turn-around at the half-season mark. It is the first time in several years that the Ferrari has not finished in the top 3 in the race for the Constructor’s championship.

Tokyo – Japanese tyre maker Bridgestone Corp a long time Scuderia Ferrari F1 team partner said on Monday that it would pull our of Formula 1 next year, dealing a even greater blow to the already stunned sport after the recent withdrawal of other high-profile F1 teams and firms due to the prevailing global downturn.

Bridgestone said it would officially terminate its contract as the official Formula 1 tyre supplier with the sports governing body the FIA, raising questions over who would replace it.

Abu Dhabi may be the home of the Ferrari World Amusement Park, but there certainly was nothing Amusing to think about after the Abu Dhabi GP. Ferrari lost out to McLaren on 3rd place in the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship by a single point. During the race Ferrari had a chance to outscore rivals McLaren with pole sitter Luis Hamilton having to retire from the race due to a rear brake failure but the F60 the development of which stopped before the Hungarian GP simply did not have enough pace. Kimi Raikkonen in his last race with the Scuderia finished a lonely 12th 54.3 seconds behind the leader. With teammate Giancarlo Fisichella in what many believe may be his last GP in F1 (the Italian bound for testing duties with the Scuderia) finishing 16th 1 lap down.

Scuderia Ferrari are set for a difficult race in Abu Dhabi, scheduled to start in just a matter of hours. Ferrari looking to win the 3rd place in the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship are starting the GP in 11th (Kimi Raikkonen) and 20th (Giancarlo Fisichella). On the other hand their rivals for 3rd place in the F1 WCC will start from Pole (Luis Hamilton) and 18th (Heikki Kovalainen) despite a gearbox change on the Finn’s McLaren.