Toyota ace turns guru

Jarno Trulli, who has a home in the Alpine resort of Pontresina, will next week teach the Swiss ski team in the subtle art of how to drive a racing car very fast. The likes of Didier Cuche, Daniel Albrecht and Marc Berthod will assemble at an airfield in the Swiss municipality of Bad Ragaz for a lesson from Toyota’s evergreen pilot.

Maybe in the winter, Cuche and co. will return the favour and teach Trulli how to ski like a downhill racer.

[Blick]

A team’s eye view of Spain’s new street circuit

An intriguing insight into the shiny new venue for Sunday’s European Grand Prix, brought to you by Jarno Trulli and his Toyota pals.

Most important of all: the track is near a harbour. Because what F1 really needed was another venue where you could get pissed up on a yacht and still enjoy the action. Move over Monaco.

Grid Crasher didn’t realise the track was quite so close to the beach: we wouldn’t want to be catching a few rays, only for a stray Bridgestone to bounce across the sand in our general direction.

Ayrton Senna’s nephew in demand for 2009

No less than five F1 teams are interested in signing GP2 driver Bruno Senna for 2009. They are: Toro Rosso, Honda, Toyota, Williams and BMW Sauber.

Ayrton’s nephew claimed earlier this year that he wasn’t yet ready for F1, but it seems F1 is more than ready to welcome another Senna into its paddock. Think of the publicity his arrival would generate - Wee Bernie Ecclestone must be rubbing his hands at the prospect.

Reaction from the men in the crash helmets to Sunday’s thrilling GP

1st: Heikki Kovalainen (Mclaren)

“There have been races this year where I’ve been in a position to challenge for victory but had something go wrong for me. Halfway through this race, things started working for me and I started pushing Felipe (Massa) hard - and it worked. I feel sorry for Felipe because he drove a great race, but my car felt good and I knew I could push for the victory. This is a great moment for me, something I’ve been targeting for many years. Hopefully, this victory will be the first of many.”

More quotes from the key drivers below:

German’s podium in Hungary enough to earn him another year

Most of us thought Timo Glock was a bit rubbish, but it turns out he can drive. Now the German’s superb second place at the Hungaroring, achieved just a forntnight after a major crash at Hockenheim, looks like being the turning point in his F1 career.

Before Hungary, it seemed highly likely that Toyota would ditch Glock at the end of the season. Now we know that the team will keep him for 2009 - what a turnaround.

Grid Crasher’s Budapest report card

Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari (finished 3rd)
Somehow managed to luck into a spot on the podium, despite being off the pace all weekend - his team must take some of the blame for that. Who knows why they loaded his car with so much fuel in qualifying, and on a track where overtaking is almost impossible. 6/10

Felipe Massa, Ferrari (DNF)
Shocking luck for the Brazilian, who had earned his lead after a stunning start. Still very much in the title race. 7/10

F1 circus hits Budapest. Grid Crasher is there

Lewis Hamilton exits the McLaren garage to begin his morning practice session.

More below…

Toro Rosso’s rising star shines in Spain

Seb Vettel was quickest at Jerez yesterday, although he was one of only two grand prix drivers to test - Toyota’s Jarno Trulli was the other. Vettel and Trulli apart, Tuesday was a chance for the test drivers to do what they’re paid for.

Full timesheet below:

Meet luckless German driver’s new WAG

This is Isabell, Timo Glock’s new girlfriend. She’s German, blonde, fake-tanned and, er, that’s about all we know, apart from the fact that she attended the German Grand Prix last weekend - which meant she was stood in the garage, watching, when Glock crashed out and ended up in hospital (he has since been released and should be fit for Hungary next month). Lucky mascot, she is not.

A couple more pics of Isabell after the jump…

German driver declared fit for Hungary after this…

This was one of the most violent crashes we’ve seen all season, but Glock should be fit to race at Hungary next month. He was taken to hospital for X-rays and checks, which revealed that he suffered no concussion.

“We are extremely confident Timo will be fit for the Hungarian Grand Prix,” said Toyota team principal Tadashi Yamashina in a statement. “Naturally he’s a bit shaken by the accident but all the checks have shown he is fine so we are not worried about that.”

Watch the crash below: