That’s some serious helmet hair

Swiss F3 star Natacha Gachnang is the first female driver to sign up for the new FIA Formula Two Championship. Don’t be surprised if one day she makes it all the way to F1. The 21 year-old certainly has the genes to succeed in motorsport: she is the cousin of Red Bull test driver Sebastien Buemi, who looks set to win a 2009 race seat for Toro Rosso.

The new F2 category will use a new car based on a chassis built by Williams and an engine built by Audi.

Lewis Hamilton’s WAG pouts for German mag

Nicole Scherzinger stars in the January issue of Maxim Germany, and Gridcrasher has tracked down the best photos from her cover shoot. Because we care about you in that way.

More photos after the jumpy thing…

Lewis honoured by Europe’s premier sports newspaper

After missing out on the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, Lewis Hamilton can take comfort in the news that L’Equipe has voted him one of their top five sportsmen of the year.

Hamilton came fifth in the voting, behind sprinter Usain Bolt (who was voted the Champion of Champions), swimmer Michael Phelps, tennis star Rafael Nadal and MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi.

Does this mean the French love Lewis more than us Brits? Shurely shome mishtake.

Scuderia chief forsees wage wars

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali believes drivers should not be immune from F1’s cost cuts. 

In an interview with Autosprint, Domenicali said: “I think in the following months there will be a major revolution, also with the drivers, as far as retainers are concerned.

“Let’s be clear: at a moment when the teams, whether big or small, must reduce costs in a significant way, one could feel like saying you need an ace (driver) to make the difference.

“However, I feel in the current climate the big teams won’t have the ability any more to think of offering certain amounts of money that some drivers get. So discussions can be held on this issue.”

F1 world champ honoured with place in wax museum

Lewis Hamilton is the latest star to be turned into a waxwork by Madame Tussauds. This week, the F1 world champion underwent 300 measurements in view of becoming part of the famous museum’s “Sports Zone” in 2009.

Many digital photos of Lewis wearing his McLaren racing overalls were also taken for reference, and other details, such as the colour of his eyes, were noted.

Hamilton’s wax double will reportedly cost £150,000, although it’s too early to say if the new model will be injected with as much personality as the original.

[F1 Fanatic]

Swiss rookie talks talk, walks walk

Sebastien Buemi may come across as a cocky sod (he nominated Jenson Button as his preferred team-mate at Toro Rosso, even though he has yet to secure a seat with the team), but he clearly knows how to drive, so we’ll let him off.

The Swiss youngster continued to impress in testing at Jerez, setting the pace for the fifth day in a row. He was quickest around the Spanish circuit last week on each of the three days when he tested for a seat at Toro Rosso. And so far this week, in his day job as Red Bull’s test driver, Buemi has again proved untouchable (not all the teams were testing, admittedly).

“It’s been a very good test so far, we’ve been improving with every lap, which is really good for next season and I’m happy,” he said.

“We’re learning more about the slick tyres too, which is important. I’m looking forward to tomorrow and trying to improve myself more.”

Sebastian Vettel made it a 1-2 for Red Bull on Tuesday as he finished just under two tenths behind Buemi. The two Sebs were followed by the BMW Sauber pair of Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica, with Williams’ Kazuki Nakajima in fifth.

German driver let loose in TV studio

In which Seb Vettel gets very, very close and personal with a German studio audience. Excellent close control from the new Schumi, we’re sure you’ll agree.

WARNING: Dont try this with David Coulthard.

[IMotor]

Swiss rookie moonlighting as Jenson’s agent?

Sebastien Buemi says he would prefer to have Jenson Button as his Toro Rosso team-mate in 2009.

“I am hoping for a strong team-mate in 2009,” Buemi told Swiss daily Blick.

“I would prefer Button. However, Honda could return next season as the new cost-cutting measures could see budgets drop by 40 per cent.”

Sebastien Bourdais and Takuma Sato are both in the frame to fill STR’s second seat, but neither driver could match Buemi’s pace at Jerez last week.

Bourdais’ manager claims that the team wants to re-sign his man, but Bourdais admits he is struggling to find financial backing; the extra money Sato and Button offer may be the key factor in the team’s decision.

Button and Buemi would be an interesting combination of experience and potential, although Bourdais can be great on slicks and deserves a second chance in F1.