BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Lewis Hamilton has fond memories of his F-1 debut in Australia a year ago, and he’d like to cap them off with a win this year in the season opener on March 16.
“I think the first corner has to be one of the best memories for sure,” he said. “I will never forget that moment. And also finishing on the podium for the first time and only just finishing third, so close behind second position. It was my first race and all the expectation was riding on my shoulders from everyone else, but I just focused on my targets and got a great result.”
Hamilton says his motivation is even higher than last year, but in a slightly different way.
“I would say last year was an uncontrollable determination and excitement and just not really knowing what was coming up, just going into the deep blue,” he explained.
Now that he knows what to expect, he has saved all his energy for Melbourne.
“We need to go there with total confidence in the car, which I have, and get off to a really good start, it needs to be the best start possible,” he said. “So, I am going there with the aim of winning the race.”
Heikki Kovalainen, who does not have great memories of his F-1 debut with Renault last year, says he is far better prepared this year.

• Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo told the Italian media that he expects a spy-scandal-free season “without the magistrates and without James Bond.”

• The teams have ruled out doing a night test in Europe to practice for the Singapore Grand Prix because they have to pay for all costs, and it would be too expensive to hire all the lighting.

• As pointed out in NSSN last week, there is no chance that McLaren is going to fire leader Ron Dennis. However, rumors persist that he will hand over management of the F-1 team to Martin Whitmarsh to concentrate on other aspects of the McLaren empire as well as family matters.

• After testing its new aero package at Jerez last week, Honda believes it made a step forward. Jenson Button said: “We are realistic about our expectations for the first few races and know that we still have a long way to go.”

• Williams waited until last week to reveal the livery — featuring traditional Williams dark blue and white — its cars will carry in the Australian Grand Prix and for the rest of the 2008 season. While it does not have major signage on the car, AT&T remains as the title sponsor.
This year marks the 30th anniversary for the team that Frank Williams and Patrick Head founded in 1978. The former has been involved in F-1 for 38 years.
“It’s very easy to be hooked by F-1,” Williams said. “Once you’re in, you can’t get out. It’s almost an addiction, but an enjoyable one.”

• Bridgestone will visually differentiate its extreme wet weather tires from its intermediate wet tires by putting a white stripe on the former, just as it does on the softer compound of its dry-weather tires to help the fans spot the various tires.

• Teams should not work with fired Ferrari man Nigel Stepney until mid-2009. That’s the unofficial sanction handed down by the FIA after a hearing with Stepney regarding him passing confidential Ferrari information to a McLaren employee.
“Mr. Stepney has admitted this allegation and apologized to the FIA, though he disputes the seriousness and extent of his involvement,” an FIA statement said.
“As Mr. Stepney is not a license-holder of the FIA, no formal action may be taken against him under the International Sporting Code.”