The Teams of Formula One

Behind every great driver, there is a great racing team. These teams consist of many people that make the whole Formula One operation work. There are pit crews, crew chiefs, owners, and sponsors just to name of few involved in a single team.

Team McLaren has been with Formula One since 1966 when it premiered at the Grand Prix of Monaco. Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton are the current drivers of this team that is headed by Ron Dennis, the team principal. Team McLaren was founded by Bruce McLaren in 1963. The BMW Sauber team has been on and off the Formula One Circuit since its foundation in 1916. The drivers are Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica and the team principal is Mario Theissen. Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen are the drivers for team Ferrari that was founded by Enzo Ferarri. Ferrari has been with Formula One is the beginning of the circuit and is now headed by team president Luca Di Montezemolo.

Nick Fry is the team principal for Honda Racing. The current drivers are Jensen Button and Rubens Barrichello for the Formula One team that entered the circuit at the Grand Prix of Germany in 1964. Christian Horner is the team principal for Red Bull Racing that was founded in 2005 by Dietrich Mateschitz. David Coulthard and Mark Webber are the drivers for this team. In 1898, the Renault team was established yet did not break into the formula One circuit until 1977. Lead by team principal Flavio Briatore are drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Heikki Kovalainen.

A young entry into Formula One is the Spyker team. Since 2006, the team is lead by managing director Colin Kolles and was founded by Spyker Cars. Christijan Albers and Adrian Sutil are the drivers for the Spyker team. Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson drive for the Super Alguri Formula One team. Established in 2005 its team principal and founder is Aguri Suzuki. Team principal Franz Tost heads the Toro Rosso Formula One team that was founded by Dietrich Mateschitz. Vitantonio Liuzzi and Scott Speed are the drivers for this team that debuted at Grand Prix of Bahrain in 2006. The Toyota racing team debuted at the Grand Prix of Australia in 2002. Team principal Tsutomu Tomita heads drivers Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli. The Toyota team was founded by Hiroshi Okuda in 1999. At Great Britain in 1972, the Williams Formula One race team broke into the sport. The team was founded by Frank Williams who is also the team Principal Frank Williams heads drivers Nico Rosberg and Alexander Wurz.

This was just a brief rundown of the teams that are seen on the Formula One circuit today, a brief history of their debut into Formula One racing, their team leaders, and their drivers. There are many more important people behind the scenes such as the designers, engine builders, and the crews that stay behind at the shops. It takes many people to make a great Formula One racing team.

BMW still in the title race

Mario Theissen has vowed to leave no stone unturned in a bid to keep BMW in the Formula One title hunt this season.

The dominant forces in Ferrari and McLaren have not had it all their own way during the first half of the campaign.

Although those two teams have made uncharacteristic mistakes, BMW motorsport boss Theissen has also seen his marque transformed into genuine Championship contenders.

However, as cream rises to the top, so Ferrari and McLaren appear to have discovered a step in performance in the last two races that has so far seemingly eluded BMW.

Ahead of their own home race in Germany at Hockenheim this weekend, Theissen knows BMW are lacking in pace, but is convinced they can continue to put up a fight.

"The nine races so far have brought us 82 points and seven podiums, and we have scored points on every occasion," remarked Theissen.

"All of which means we are in second place in the Constructors' Championship, 14 points behind Ferrari, but 10 ahead of McLaren Mercedes.

"The highlight of our season so far has, of course, been the one-two in Montreal.

"Fastest race lap, pole position, race victory - in all the categories where there was a zero next to our team in the statistics not so long ago, there is now a one.

"That has given everyone in our team even more confidence, and they can see we are on the right path.

"At the start of the year we set out to turn the two-horse race at the top of the standings into a three-way battle and to win our first race, and we have achieved this goal.

"Although two teams are still a touch faster than us when you look at the lap times, as far as the reliability and the work of the pit crew and race strategists are concerned, we are already a top team.

"We will now make every effort to keep our chances alive this year, while not neglecting the development of next season's car.

"That is a big challenge, especially given the radical rule changes due to come into force next year."

Despite Nick Heidfeld's distant runner-up finish to Lewis Hamilton in a wet British Grand Prix 10 days' ago, Theissen is hoping BMW can rediscover their previous form in front of their own fans.

"Although this is our home race, you can't afford to let that disturb your concentration," added Theissen.

"After all, we don't get any more points here just because it's our home GP.

"Three drivers are tied at the top of the Drivers' standings, while Robert (Kubica) is only two points behind them.

"Nick is not far away either, and his strong performance at Silverstone has given him an extra boost.

"You could not have written a better script for our home GP."