Is this in bad taste? Like we care…

F1 without crashes would be like Strictly without John Seargant… pointless, in other words.

We’ve compiled five of the most spectacular prangs of 2008, which you can enjoy - if that’s the right word - after the jump, as well as voting for which one you think is the most spectacular crash of the season…

German media fights to free “imprisoned” Rosberg

Promise not to tell anyone, but Nico Rosberg (the most brattish driver on the grid?) really, really doesn’t want to drive for Williams in 2009, even though he has just signed up to do exactly that. The reason? It’s quite simple: Rosberg, a young man blessed with a freakish surfeit of self-confidence, sees himself as a future world champion who should be driving for Ferrari or McLaren. Instead, he’s destined to spend 2009 stuck at the back of the grid in a crappy Williams.

Rosberg isn’t the only one who’s thoroughly pissed off with the situation. The German media, who would quite like another German F1 world champ (especially one who is photogenic and outpsoken), is doing its bit to free Nico from the tyranny of a seat in a Williams…

Nobody likes change

Williams’ recent good from seems to have convinced boss Frank Williams that he is onto a winner. The team has moved to sign Japanese driver Kazuki Nakajima for next season to allow him and Rosberg to continue in tandem. Rosberg was already committed to Williams for 2009 from the contract he signed last winter.

“I am delighted we are able to maintain continuity with our drivers going into 2009,” said Frank Williams. “Nico Rosberg continues to be one of the most capable drivers in the sport. Kazuki is getting stronger all the time and has more to offer and Nico Hulkenberg is developing well.”

Nakajima impressed the team with his points finishes in Australia, Spain, Monaco, Britain and Singapore, while Rosberg’s recent return to form has reassured the team that they have the right formula.

The best pics from another thrilling GP

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg chew the fat before Saturday’s qualifying session. In a spooky coincidence, Fernando Alonso lurks in the background - Alonso, Rosberg and Lewis finished 1-2-3 in Sunday’s race.

More snaps after the jump…

German does it with the lights off

Williams driver Nico Rosberg has been spending a lot of time in darkened rooms in the run up to the Singapore Grand Prix. The 23-year-old has been playing the Singapore race simulator with the lights off to get conditions as close as possible to those he can expect to race in on Sunday evening. Here is one of the laps he completed - a bit untidy close to the barriers at one point if you ask us!

Lewis, Kimi and co. give their thoughts on F1’s fastest circuit

Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
“People say Monza is just about power and top speed - but it’s also a driver’s track, which is why I like it. It’s not as straightforward as it seems because you run with very low downforce, which means you rely heavily on the tyres and the car’s mechanical grip - but you’re also attacking the kerbs, which requires a softer set-up. You also need plenty of stability under braking and as much grip as possible for the corners. The key is to run the car as low to the track as possible without having it bottom out.”

Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
“Monza is the Mecca of Ferrari’s tifosi and I think that there will be a lot of Finnish fans, too. It’s the fastest track of the year and it’s good to go there, knowing that I can count on a car, which runs how I like it… We had a very productive test session on this track before Spa. I think that the F2008 can be really competitive: after the qualifying we’ll see if it was enough. We’ll give it all to win, for the team and for the fans. This is Ferrari’s home race and it would be fantastic to win the Italian Grand Prix for the first time. I’ve got nothing to lose, so I’ll give it all, going flat out.”

More quotes after the jump…

Williams driver moans about 2008 car

There is something about the demeanour of Rosberg Jr. that says “Cocky little shit”. We’ve never met the man - it’s just a feeling: there’s something arrogant in his pout, the way he plays with his hair like a girl, the fact his dad was an F1 driver and more besides.

In term of his performance this season, Rosberg has let his team down. He’s been fast here and there, but way too friendly with the crash barriers. He’s also been overshadowed by team-mate Kazuki Nakajima (who by contrast, is as nice and humble a driver as you could ever wish to meet) on several occasions. As the team’s No.1 driver, that’s not in the script.

Rosberg blames Williams for not giving him a competitive car. He told German daily Bild: “The team this year has given me a good car only for the three street races. And for one of those I was on the podium.”

Why do Kimi and co. love Spa so much?

Ask any F1 driver today what his favourite circuit is, and the majority will answer Spa. You can see why. It’s fast, long, scenic, challenging and uncontrived - in short, it’s a stone-cold classic track. Above all though, it has a whiff of danger that so few tracks possess these days - f**k up at Spa and the consequences can be serious. No F1 driver wants to risk his life in a car, but they all love the turbo boost of adrenaline that comes with taking a corner like Eau Rouge flat out.

With the Belgian GP just a few days away, here’s what the key players have to say about Spa. And it’s all good: