Formula 1 testing resumes on Friday, with the fraternity all present at the Circuit de Catalunya on the outskirts of Barcelona. Following heavy rain for the area on Thursday morning, more showers threaten to affect proceedings on-track today.
The Friday line-up for Barcelona looks like this:
Red Bull Sebastian Vettel
McLaren Jenson Button
Ferrari Fernando Alonso
Mercedes Michael Schumacher
Renault Heidfeld and Petrov (morning, pit-stop practice), Vitaly Petrov (afternoon)
Williams Rubens Barrichello & Pastor Maldonado
Force India Paul di Resta
Sauber Kamui Kobayashi
Toro Rosso Jaime Alguersuari
Team Lotus Heikki Kovalainen
Hispania Narain Karthikeyan
Virgin Jérôme d’Ambrosio
Running time
9am – 2pm, 3pm – 5pm (local time, GMT +1)
Showing posts with label f1 2011 teams and drivers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label f1 2011 teams and drivers. Show all posts
Friday, 18 February 2011
Monday, 7 February 2011
Why racers take risks and why we love them for it
‘Did you never think of stopping Robert (Kubica) from taking part in rallies?’ asked L’Equipe newspaper to Renault team boss Eric Boullier today.
“Not for one second,” replied Boullier, “He could just as easily have been knocked over by a bus. Robert is a racer, he loves cars and he lives for nothing but racing. Competing is his essence. At 14 he slept in a kart factory because he loved racing. From the outset it was agreed among us that Robert would do rallies as well as F1. It was vital for him. His strength comes from that passion. I never thought about the risk. Motor sport is dangerous, but he loves it.”
I have found the reaction to Robert Kubica’s accident fascinating and enlightening. There is the team principal above, who understood him and attempts here to justify the decision to let him compete elsewhere, then the rival team bosses who are both appalled by the injury and surprised by Renault’s relaxed attitude to Kubica’s extra curricular activities. There are the fans and media, some of whom castigate him for taking unnecessary risks so close to the start of the season and others who simply feel terribly sorry for him and his plight.To recap, the latest bulletins from the doctors suggest a horrendous injury to his right arm which caused him to lose a lot of blood and despite some heroics by surgeons, the experts in the field to whom I’ve spoken suggest he may never regain fine motor function in that hand and if so his F1 career is unlikely to continue. Of course there are always miracle comebacks, but that is what will be required here for him to race an F1 car again. Renault disagree and say the doctors are exaggerating and that he will recover within a year.
Kubica was injured in a rally car, when a pole supporting an armco barrier, appears to have pierced the floor of the Skoda he was driving and caused the injury. A freak accident, like the one Frank Williams suffered on the road. A few years ago Kubica walked away from an accident in Montreal which was many times worse in terms of impact energy, but F1 cars are built much more strongly than rally cars.
So why did he do it? Why did he take the risk of losing everything just to satisfy some urge to drive fast? And will this put an end to drivers doing anything but the most safe hobbies in future?
I grew up with a father who was a racing driver. He raced for Team Lotus in the 1960s. If you’ve not lived with it, it’s hard to explain the ‘daredevil gene’ racers have, which forces them to race. It’s a restlessness, a need to challenge oneself. At the margin it’s almost a kind of rage.
I don’t have it, I recognised that early on, but throughout 22 years working in F1 I’ve seen it countless times in the eyes of the racers I’ve encountered. Why else did Valentino Rossi and Kimi Raikkonen do rallies while holding down major roles with leading teams? Why did Jim Clark or Stirling Moss drive every kind of car they could get their hands on?
Juan Manuel Fangio once said, “There are those who keep out of mischief, and there are the adventurers. We racing drivers are adventurers; the more difficult something is, the greater the attraction that comes from it.”
This is the best quote I’ve ever come across to explain why racers race and it also why we love them for it. Nowadays F1 cars are still challenging to drive on the limit, but they are so safe that drivers have become quite matter of fact about the risk in their job.
1970s F1 driver Patrick Depailler used to enjoy hang gliding in his spare time. He had a bad accident and was still recovering from it when he was killed in F1 testing in 1980. No-one would allow an F1 driver today to go hang gliding, but the question is, in this age of ultra professionalism, should drivers be forced to avoid all dangerous sports in their spare time? I think they might after this and a little bit more of that racer spirit will be lost.
This looked set to be a breakthrough year for Renault after two years of struggle. Team owner Gerard Lopez said last summer that he wanted to build the team around Kubica, so should Renault have stopped him taking part in the meaningless rally in Italy which has now put the team’s whole season in jeopardy? Who is going to score 150 plus points for them?
Other team principals I’ve spoken to today say that their drivers would not be able to take part in such activities. Insurance is a big factor. To insure an F1 driver for F1 driving is actually quite cheap now, because the cars are so safe. A team will typically insure a driver against being unavailable to them. So if a driver is unavailable, the insurance company will pay out for his replacement. They may also pay out for his salary.
The driver, on the other hand, will typically insure himself against injury and loss of earnings. The premiums rise significantly the more they take part in dangerous side sports like rallying. Kubica’s manager Daniel Morrelli is a very precise, careful individual and he will no doubt have taken care to ensure that his client was correctly insured.
Bruno Senna is reserve driver and if he has brought money to the team, as has been suggested, that may come with a clause which gives him the drive da facto. If not, Renault may look to someone like Nico Hulkenberg, who will have a clause in his Force India reserve driver contract releasing him if a race seat comes up elsewhere. That is standard. It may be Nick Heidfeld who gets yet another chance.
But one thing’s for sure, Renault will have to look to someone else to drive for them this year.
By James Allen
“Not for one second,” replied Boullier, “He could just as easily have been knocked over by a bus. Robert is a racer, he loves cars and he lives for nothing but racing. Competing is his essence. At 14 he slept in a kart factory because he loved racing. From the outset it was agreed among us that Robert would do rallies as well as F1. It was vital for him. His strength comes from that passion. I never thought about the risk. Motor sport is dangerous, but he loves it.”
Photo: Darren Heath
I have found the reaction to Robert Kubica’s accident fascinating and enlightening. There is the team principal above, who understood him and attempts here to justify the decision to let him compete elsewhere, then the rival team bosses who are both appalled by the injury and surprised by Renault’s relaxed attitude to Kubica’s extra curricular activities. There are the fans and media, some of whom castigate him for taking unnecessary risks so close to the start of the season and others who simply feel terribly sorry for him and his plight.To recap, the latest bulletins from the doctors suggest a horrendous injury to his right arm which caused him to lose a lot of blood and despite some heroics by surgeons, the experts in the field to whom I’ve spoken suggest he may never regain fine motor function in that hand and if so his F1 career is unlikely to continue. Of course there are always miracle comebacks, but that is what will be required here for him to race an F1 car again. Renault disagree and say the doctors are exaggerating and that he will recover within a year.
Kubica was injured in a rally car, when a pole supporting an armco barrier, appears to have pierced the floor of the Skoda he was driving and caused the injury. A freak accident, like the one Frank Williams suffered on the road. A few years ago Kubica walked away from an accident in Montreal which was many times worse in terms of impact energy, but F1 cars are built much more strongly than rally cars.
So why did he do it? Why did he take the risk of losing everything just to satisfy some urge to drive fast? And will this put an end to drivers doing anything but the most safe hobbies in future?
I grew up with a father who was a racing driver. He raced for Team Lotus in the 1960s. If you’ve not lived with it, it’s hard to explain the ‘daredevil gene’ racers have, which forces them to race. It’s a restlessness, a need to challenge oneself. At the margin it’s almost a kind of rage.
I don’t have it, I recognised that early on, but throughout 22 years working in F1 I’ve seen it countless times in the eyes of the racers I’ve encountered. Why else did Valentino Rossi and Kimi Raikkonen do rallies while holding down major roles with leading teams? Why did Jim Clark or Stirling Moss drive every kind of car they could get their hands on?
Juan Manuel Fangio once said, “There are those who keep out of mischief, and there are the adventurers. We racing drivers are adventurers; the more difficult something is, the greater the attraction that comes from it.”
This is the best quote I’ve ever come across to explain why racers race and it also why we love them for it. Nowadays F1 cars are still challenging to drive on the limit, but they are so safe that drivers have become quite matter of fact about the risk in their job.
1970s F1 driver Patrick Depailler used to enjoy hang gliding in his spare time. He had a bad accident and was still recovering from it when he was killed in F1 testing in 1980. No-one would allow an F1 driver today to go hang gliding, but the question is, in this age of ultra professionalism, should drivers be forced to avoid all dangerous sports in their spare time? I think they might after this and a little bit more of that racer spirit will be lost.
This looked set to be a breakthrough year for Renault after two years of struggle. Team owner Gerard Lopez said last summer that he wanted to build the team around Kubica, so should Renault have stopped him taking part in the meaningless rally in Italy which has now put the team’s whole season in jeopardy? Who is going to score 150 plus points for them?
Other team principals I’ve spoken to today say that their drivers would not be able to take part in such activities. Insurance is a big factor. To insure an F1 driver for F1 driving is actually quite cheap now, because the cars are so safe. A team will typically insure a driver against being unavailable to them. So if a driver is unavailable, the insurance company will pay out for his replacement. They may also pay out for his salary.
The driver, on the other hand, will typically insure himself against injury and loss of earnings. The premiums rise significantly the more they take part in dangerous side sports like rallying. Kubica’s manager Daniel Morrelli is a very precise, careful individual and he will no doubt have taken care to ensure that his client was correctly insured.
Bruno Senna is reserve driver and if he has brought money to the team, as has been suggested, that may come with a clause which gives him the drive da facto. If not, Renault may look to someone like Nico Hulkenberg, who will have a clause in his Force India reserve driver contract releasing him if a race seat comes up elsewhere. That is standard. It may be Nick Heidfeld who gets yet another chance.
But one thing’s for sure, Renault will have to look to someone else to drive for them this year.
By James Allen
Raikkonen to replace injured Kubica?
Kimi Raikkonen is top of Lotus Renault's list to replace the injured Robert Kubica following his crash at a rally event on Sunday morning.
Despite original fears that the 26 year-old might loose his right hand following the accident in Italy, surgeons have confirmed that he is expected to make a recovery but that he is not likely to return until the end of the year. This has left Renault with few options open to it to find a suitable replacement before the season kicks off in Bahrain on March 13th.
As the 2007 Formula One world champion, Raikkonen would seem to present the perfect choice in terms of previous success although he recently announced his plans for 2011 in the World Rally Championship. Last year, the Finn made his WRC debut with the Junior Citroen WRC team and now as team owner/driver - the same as Petter Solberg, and like Solberg, he has in place a contract with the French-based manufacturer to campaign the 2011 season with Citroen.
There are however, potential stumbling blocks over a possible deal with Raikkonen. A much publicised spat with the Renault management last year following reports the Finn was negotiating a drive for 2011 and also the salary demands he is likely to command. It was rumoured in his final year with Ferrari in 2009, the ex-world champion was in receipt of little less than £25m and while his absence from the sport will have devalued his stock slightly, the fact that his contract with Citroen may have to be bought - from their fiercest rival, that tally could possibly surpass the monumental mount he received 3 years ago.
Nick Heidfeld however, presents a safer investment option for the Enstone outfit. While unlikely to win races on a regular basis, he is a proven 'points generating' driver and the belief is that with all top line drivers unavailable for hire, if Renault's aim is to collect as many points as possible in place of the injured Kubica, Heidfeld could be given the nod.
While Bruno Senna was confirmed as the teams third and reserve driver at the recent R31 launch, it is understood that Lotus Renault team principal Eric Boullier is now in the search for a more established 'name' to fill the seat vacated by Kubica and that negotiations with Raikkonen have begun to try and buy him out of his contract for a reasonable price.
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As the 2007 Formula One world champion, Raikkonen would seem to present the perfect choice in terms of previous success although he recently announced his plans for 2011 in the World Rally Championship. Last year, the Finn made his WRC debut with the Junior Citroen WRC team and now as team owner/driver - the same as Petter Solberg, and like Solberg, he has in place a contract with the French-based manufacturer to campaign the 2011 season with Citroen.
There are however, potential stumbling blocks over a possible deal with Raikkonen. A much publicised spat with the Renault management last year following reports the Finn was negotiating a drive for 2011 and also the salary demands he is likely to command. It was rumoured in his final year with Ferrari in 2009, the ex-world champion was in receipt of little less than £25m and while his absence from the sport will have devalued his stock slightly, the fact that his contract with Citroen may have to be bought - from their fiercest rival, that tally could possibly surpass the monumental mount he received 3 years ago.
Nick Heidfeld however, presents a safer investment option for the Enstone outfit. While unlikely to win races on a regular basis, he is a proven 'points generating' driver and the belief is that with all top line drivers unavailable for hire, if Renault's aim is to collect as many points as possible in place of the injured Kubica, Heidfeld could be given the nod.
While Bruno Senna was confirmed as the teams third and reserve driver at the recent R31 launch, it is understood that Lotus Renault team principal Eric Boullier is now in the search for a more established 'name' to fill the seat vacated by Kubica and that negotiations with Raikkonen have begun to try and buy him out of his contract for a reasonable price.
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
Cause of Buemi stoppage still unknown
Toro Rosso have not yet revealed why Sébastien Buemi’s car came to a half in the final 20 minutes of Valencia testing on Wednesday, with the Swiss driver having stopped his new STR6 just past the pit entrance on the Ricardo Tormo start/finish straight.
When contacted by GPUpdate.net on Wednesday afternoon, the team was unable to reveal the reason for the stoppage and its daily press release also failed to explain a cause.
“This afternoon was my first time in the car and it felt good to be driving again after the winter break,” Buemi commented. “I ran for about three hours managing 46 laps, which is quite encouraging for a first day.
“It is going to be an interesting evening studying all the data, as so much is new to us and we also need to understand, as soon as possible, how the car behaves; so tomorrow will be a case of carrying on down this route.”
When contacted by GPUpdate.net on Wednesday afternoon, the team was unable to reveal the reason for the stoppage and its daily press release also failed to explain a cause.
Jaime Alguersuari remained in the hot seat for the morning
“It is going to be an interesting evening studying all the data, as so much is new to us and we also need to understand, as soon as possible, how the car behaves; so tomorrow will be a case of carrying on down this route.”
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Mallya: Line-up one of strongest on grid
Vijay Mallya has expressed his feelings over this season’s Force India driver combination, which involves Adrian Sutil remaining with the team as Paul di Resta steps up to replace Vitantonio Liuzzi and Nico Hülkenberg joins as reserve pilot.
“I am genuinely excited by the drivers we will be fielding in 2011,” commented the Silverstone squad’s Chairman and Team Principal. “I believe that the combination of talent we've assembled gives us one of the strongest line-ups on the grid.
“Adrian has matured into one of F1's most consistent and highly-rated young drivers while Paul is, I believe, a real star of the future; he has won in every category in his career and this base speed was in evidence when he got in the car on Fridays last year.
“With Nico, signing him was too good an opportunity to let by; he showed a good racing head and talent and I was amazed by his control in Brazil last year.
“Together I think they are a formidable partnership and will help take us to the next level of performance.”
“I am genuinely excited by the drivers we will be fielding in 2011,” commented the Silverstone squad’s Chairman and Team Principal. “I believe that the combination of talent we've assembled gives us one of the strongest line-ups on the grid.
Left-right: Paul di Resta, Adrian Sutil and Nico Hülkenberg
“With Nico, signing him was too good an opportunity to let by; he showed a good racing head and talent and I was amazed by his control in Brazil last year.
“Together I think they are a formidable partnership and will help take us to the next level of performance.”
Proposals in place for Cape Town Grand Prix
Plans have remerged for a possible Formula 1 return to South Africa, with World Cup host city Cape Town named as a candidate for a street race which would involve the cars travelling through the stadium in which semi-finals were played prior to the Spanish football team’s ultimate success in July.
Hopes for a South Africa comeback have been on the cards for several years although more concrete plans have now emerged for a potentially thrilling spectacle in Cape Town. The project is being led by the Cape Town Grand Prix Bid Company, which is highly keen to meet with Formula One Management’s Bernie Ecclestone.
“We have made significant progress with Ecclestone,” company spokesperson Esther Henderson told the wheels24 website on Wednesday. “We have an invitation from his office.
“Back in 2009, his office said he would like to meet us but unfortunately our national government was focused on the World Cup. But the 2010 World Cup has now allowed Ecclestone to evaluate a major event in South Africa and we hope to secure a meeting with him before the Grand Prix season.”
In 2010, talk was also on the cards for a possible return to former South African Grand Prix host venue Kyalami, although Ecclestone quickly called off the possibility. However, chances of a Cape Town debut now appear more possible.
“It would be along the coast, with the city's magnificent landmarks,” Henderson added. “It would be an iconic location for a TV broadcast, a very sexy location. It's about staging a show that's entertaining and the best of its kind and we believe it would fit Ecclestone's plans for F1.”
Hopes for a South Africa comeback have been on the cards for several years although more concrete plans have now emerged for a potentially thrilling spectacle in Cape Town. The project is being led by the Cape Town Grand Prix Bid Company, which is highly keen to meet with Formula One Management’s Bernie Ecclestone.
“We have made significant progress with Ecclestone,” company spokesperson Esther Henderson told the wheels24 website on Wednesday. “We have an invitation from his office.
“Back in 2009, his office said he would like to meet us but unfortunately our national government was focused on the World Cup. But the 2010 World Cup has now allowed Ecclestone to evaluate a major event in South Africa and we hope to secure a meeting with him before the Grand Prix season.”
In 2010, talk was also on the cards for a possible return to former South African Grand Prix host venue Kyalami, although Ecclestone quickly called off the possibility. However, chances of a Cape Town debut now appear more possible.
“It would be along the coast, with the city's magnificent landmarks,” Henderson added. “It would be an iconic location for a TV broadcast, a very sexy location. It's about staging a show that's entertaining and the best of its kind and we believe it would fit Ecclestone's plans for F1.”
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
Interview with Martin Brundle
GPupdate interview with Martin Brundle:
http://www.gpupdate.net/en/videos/703/interview-with-martin-brundle/
The Legendary commentator gives his thoughts on the Formula 1 year ahead. And talks about his promotion at the BBC to becoming the lead commentator.
http://www.gpupdate.net/en/videos/703/interview-with-martin-brundle/
The Legendary commentator gives his thoughts on the Formula 1 year ahead. And talks about his promotion at the BBC to becoming the lead commentator.
Schumacher ‘susceptible to simulator sickness’
Michael Schumacher is prone to suffering from some simulator sickness although this does not affect his performance in comparison to Mercedes GP team-mate Nico Rosberg, according to his team.
The seven-time World Champion lost out in raw pace terms to his younger compatriot in 2010 although the Brackley-based team is confident that his simulator performances are not to blame.
“Throughout his career, Michael from time to time has been susceptible to simulator sickness,” the squad is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.
“It hasn't adversely affected Michael's race preparation or competitiveness with regard to his team-mate.
“It has affected the length of time that he can spend on a simulator; this is a relatively common occurrence for many people in all fields of simulator activity, including military, aircraft and racing cars.”
The seven-time World Champion lost out in raw pace terms to his younger compatriot in 2010 although the Brackley-based team is confident that his simulator performances are not to blame.
“It hasn't adversely affected Michael's race preparation or competitiveness with regard to his team-mate.
“It has affected the length of time that he can spend on a simulator; this is a relatively common occurrence for many people in all fields of simulator activity, including military, aircraft and racing cars.”
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Force India set to confirm di Resta
The Force India team has confirmed to GPUpdate.net that it will be staging a press conference in Scottish city Glasgow on Wednesday, with speculation continuing to circulate that Paul di Resta is set to be announced as a driver for the upcoming season.
The Silverstone-based outfit is yet to confirm any of its 2011 drivers although it is generally believed that DTM Champion di Resta is set to be verified as part of its line-up alongside Adrian Sutil, meaning Vitantonio Liuzzi would be left on the sidelines. Williams expat Nico Hülkenberg has also been linked to the squad for a possible reserve driver role.
“We will be hosting a press conference on Wednesday 26 January in Glasgow with Whyte & Mackay (personal sponsor of di Resta),” a Force India spokesperson confirmed to GPUpdate.net.
Many are expecting a Force India-di Resta announcement on Wednesday afternoon
“We will be hosting a press conference on Wednesday 26 January in Glasgow with Whyte & Mackay (personal sponsor of di Resta),” a Force India spokesperson confirmed to GPUpdate.net.
Sunday, 9 January 2011
Chandhok sets sights on reserve role
Karun Chandhok says he would be willing to sit on the sidelines as a reserve driver this year if it helped secure him a race seat in the longer term.
The Indian, who made his debut for HRT last season, has been exploring other options for several months now as he looks to continue in grand prix racing - and the focus has been put back on his plans following compatriot Narain Karthikeyan signing a deal to join his former outfit.
Chandhok has recently been linked with the reserve driver role at Team Lotus, and he admits that he would be willing to go down that route if it helped him secure a race drive for 2012 and beyond.
"I want something for the medium and long term - not just for 2011," Chandhok told AUTOSPORT on Friday. "What I do in 2012 and 2013 is important. If that means taking a back seat, as reserve driver next year, then so be it - a bit like what Paul di Resta did in 2010. As long as it is somewhere further up the grid, then that is the best option."
Chandhok said he never entered into detailed talks with HRT for this year, and his efforts were always on joining a new team.
"I wasn't chasing the HRT drive in 2011," he explained. "The team didn't make much progress last year and, at the time when we last spoke to them, it didn't sound like there was a huge amount in the pipeline for this year. I had one year with them, and I am grateful and will always be grateful to them for getting me a foot in the door. But now I'm looking elsewhere."
Chandhok says that he remains in discussions with parties about his 2011 plans, but did admit that a tie-up with Team Lotus would be of interest to him - and beneficial to the Hingham-based outfit and its team principal Tony Fernandes.
"I like Tony's attitude about building an Asian team," he said. "He has been quite vocal about it, and talked in the past about building a team with Asian drivers and staff. For me to go there would be a big benefit to him too, especially as AirAsia is now flying to India.
"The team progressed well last year with its structure. There are a lot of good people there, and they invested well for the future. It seems like a good place to be for the immediate future - but at the moment nothing is done. Everything is still up in the air."
Chandhok also reckoned that the presence of Karthikeyan, whose deal with HRT was announced yesterday, in F1 will be a huge boost to the sport in India ahead of its inaugural grand prix this year.
"The more Indians we can have around F1, the better it is for the sport," said Chandhok.
When asked if it was good or bad for him that there was another Indian on the grid, Chandhok said: "It makes no difference to me.
"It has been a pain in terms of all the telephone calls I have had today about it, but apart from that it makes no difference to me. The financial backing he has got is a long-term sponsor of his, so it doesn't take anything away from me, and he has taken a seat which I wasn't interested in."
By Jonathan Noble, Autosport.com
The Indian, who made his debut for HRT last season, has been exploring other options for several months now as he looks to continue in grand prix racing - and the focus has been put back on his plans following compatriot Narain Karthikeyan signing a deal to join his former outfit.
Chandhok has recently been linked with the reserve driver role at Team Lotus, and he admits that he would be willing to go down that route if it helped him secure a race drive for 2012 and beyond.
"I want something for the medium and long term - not just for 2011," Chandhok told AUTOSPORT on Friday. "What I do in 2012 and 2013 is important. If that means taking a back seat, as reserve driver next year, then so be it - a bit like what Paul di Resta did in 2010. As long as it is somewhere further up the grid, then that is the best option."
Chandhok said he never entered into detailed talks with HRT for this year, and his efforts were always on joining a new team.
"I wasn't chasing the HRT drive in 2011," he explained. "The team didn't make much progress last year and, at the time when we last spoke to them, it didn't sound like there was a huge amount in the pipeline for this year. I had one year with them, and I am grateful and will always be grateful to them for getting me a foot in the door. But now I'm looking elsewhere."
Chandhok says that he remains in discussions with parties about his 2011 plans, but did admit that a tie-up with Team Lotus would be of interest to him - and beneficial to the Hingham-based outfit and its team principal Tony Fernandes.
"I like Tony's attitude about building an Asian team," he said. "He has been quite vocal about it, and talked in the past about building a team with Asian drivers and staff. For me to go there would be a big benefit to him too, especially as AirAsia is now flying to India.
"The team progressed well last year with its structure. There are a lot of good people there, and they invested well for the future. It seems like a good place to be for the immediate future - but at the moment nothing is done. Everything is still up in the air."
Chandhok also reckoned that the presence of Karthikeyan, whose deal with HRT was announced yesterday, in F1 will be a huge boost to the sport in India ahead of its inaugural grand prix this year.
"The more Indians we can have around F1, the better it is for the sport," said Chandhok.
When asked if it was good or bad for him that there was another Indian on the grid, Chandhok said: "It makes no difference to me.
"It has been a pain in terms of all the telephone calls I have had today about it, but apart from that it makes no difference to me. The financial backing he has got is a long-term sponsor of his, so it doesn't take anything away from me, and he has taken a seat which I wasn't interested in."
By Jonathan Noble, Autosport.com
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
Ferrari confirms late January launch date
Ferrari has confirmed the much-reported word that it will be launching its 2011 car at the end of the month, shortly before the start of pre-season testing in Valencia. This will follow next week’s annual ‘Wrooom’ skiing event for leading personnel at the Madonna di Campiglio resort in north-east Italy.
At present, only a pair of teams have pencilled in dates for 2011 car launches, with Sauber taking the covers off its new contender in Valencia on Monday 31 January before Toro Rosso unveils its latest F1 machine one day later, with testing then beginning on the same morning.
The designation of Ferrari’s chassis – which underwent a series of compulsory FIA crash tests on the run-up to Christmas - is yet to be revealed, with its last title-contending vehicle having been known as the F10.
The designation of Ferrari’s chassis – which underwent a series of compulsory FIA crash tests on the run-up to Christmas - is yet to be revealed, with its last title-contending vehicle having been known as the F10.
Trulli: F1 too expensive now
Jarno Trulli believes that finances are now too much of a factor when it comes to entering Formula 1 as a young driver, with a selection of the 2011 field set to pay for their drives as teams strive to survive.
Team Lotus driver Trulli entered F1 with Minardi in 1997 before switching to Prost mid-season and leading a race by as early as his 14th Grand Prix in Austria.
However, the Italian believes that such situations are now unlikely to be repeated by drivers with similar backgrounds.
“Nowadays it’s difficult to come up the ranks for a young driver,” the Italian explained to German publication Auto Motor und Sport. “Money plays too large a role. The lower series, ranging from Formula 3, are too expensive.
“The next new Champion will probably come from a wealthy family; you couldn’t have a repetition of my career anymore.”
Team Lotus driver Trulli entered F1 with Minardi in 1997 before switching to Prost mid-season and leading a race by as early as his 14th Grand Prix in Austria.
Money played a large role for the likes of Hispania Racing's Karun Chandhok in 2010
“Nowadays it’s difficult to come up the ranks for a young driver,” the Italian explained to German publication Auto Motor und Sport. “Money plays too large a role. The lower series, ranging from Formula 3, are too expensive.
“The next new Champion will probably come from a wealthy family; you couldn’t have a repetition of my career anymore.”
Domenicali: I considered quitting
Stefano Domenicali has confessed he considered resigning as Ferrari’s team boss in the wake of the strategy error that cost Fernando Alonso the world championship in the final race of last season in Abu Dhabi.
Alonso’s hopes of winning a third drivers’ title were wrecked by the timing of his pit stop in last November's race, Ferrari opting to pull him into the pits to cover Mark Webber's stop only to see him fall behind a series of runners who had already pitted – a mistake that allowed race winner Sebastian Vettel to pip him to the crown.
Domenicali acknowledged the team’s mistake in the immediate aftermath of the race but both he and Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo refused to point the finger of blame at any individual, insisting that they won and lost as a team.
The Maranello outfit was subjected to criticism from both media and Italian politicians in the days following the season finale and Domenicali has now revealed he considered his own position during that time.
However, the 45-year-old – who added that he could not sleep properly for two days after the race – reasoned that he would be wrong to simply walk away as he feels he is the right person to lead Ferrari's planned fightback this year.
“After Abu Dhabi I personally raised the issue, I thought about whether or not it was right for me to stay,” he said in a frank interview with Italy’s La Repubblica newspaper.
“Reflecting on [my position] seemed to me my duty, the responsible thing to do.
“I am not fixated on keeping my job. But I came to the conclusion that resigning would be a mistake.
“I know the team and I think I’m the right person to capitalise on all that we have sown in recent months.
“In terms of procedures at [the factory in] Maranello, we have changed almost everything and I am sure we will soon see the results of all our hard work.”
Although Domenicali accepts the Abu Dhabi error was a big one, he argues that the fact it was made in a tense championship decider was what had made it all the more damaging and that therefore Ferrari shouldn't look to change everything.
Nonetheless he accepts that alterations to the squad's race operations have been needed as a result and says that an annoucement regarding this area is imminent.
“The mistake was – let’s put it this way – huge in terms of magnitude; it produced devastating effects. But in a normal race it would have been a normal error,” Domenicali said.
“So you must not jettison everything, even the good things, because of that mistake.
“We will make some changes and officially announce things in the coming hours – and we will make sure that those who have to make these difficult decisions have all the tools they need to avoid making the same mistake again.
“Personally I will try to help the team from a psychological point of view as well, because the hardest penalty in a shoot-out is the one coming after you missed one.”
Alonso’s hopes of winning a third drivers’ title were wrecked by the timing of his pit stop in last November's race, Ferrari opting to pull him into the pits to cover Mark Webber's stop only to see him fall behind a series of runners who had already pitted – a mistake that allowed race winner Sebastian Vettel to pip him to the crown.
Domenicali acknowledged the team’s mistake in the immediate aftermath of the race but both he and Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo refused to point the finger of blame at any individual, insisting that they won and lost as a team.
The Maranello outfit was subjected to criticism from both media and Italian politicians in the days following the season finale and Domenicali has now revealed he considered his own position during that time.
However, the 45-year-old – who added that he could not sleep properly for two days after the race – reasoned that he would be wrong to simply walk away as he feels he is the right person to lead Ferrari's planned fightback this year.
“After Abu Dhabi I personally raised the issue, I thought about whether or not it was right for me to stay,” he said in a frank interview with Italy’s La Repubblica newspaper.
“Reflecting on [my position] seemed to me my duty, the responsible thing to do.
“I am not fixated on keeping my job. But I came to the conclusion that resigning would be a mistake.
“I know the team and I think I’m the right person to capitalise on all that we have sown in recent months.
“In terms of procedures at [the factory in] Maranello, we have changed almost everything and I am sure we will soon see the results of all our hard work.”
Although Domenicali accepts the Abu Dhabi error was a big one, he argues that the fact it was made in a tense championship decider was what had made it all the more damaging and that therefore Ferrari shouldn't look to change everything.
Nonetheless he accepts that alterations to the squad's race operations have been needed as a result and says that an annoucement regarding this area is imminent.
“The mistake was – let’s put it this way – huge in terms of magnitude; it produced devastating effects. But in a normal race it would have been a normal error,” Domenicali said.
“So you must not jettison everything, even the good things, because of that mistake.
“We will make some changes and officially announce things in the coming hours – and we will make sure that those who have to make these difficult decisions have all the tools they need to avoid making the same mistake again.
“Personally I will try to help the team from a psychological point of view as well, because the hardest penalty in a shoot-out is the one coming after you missed one.”
Ferrari update: Dyer falls on sword, Martin head of Strategy
Since I posted this morning Ferrari has announced the major changes that team boss Stefano Domenicali hinted at.
According to the team’s website, “Neil Martin takes on the role of heading up the new Operations Research department. A 38 year old Englishman, Martin previously worked for Red Bull and prior to that McLaren and he will now report directly to Technical Director, Aldo Costa.
“At the same time, Costa’s deputy, Pat Fry will, in addition to his current role, take on the job of head of race track engineering. Up until yesterday, this position was held by Chris Dyer and his role within the company will be redefined in the next few days.”
So as predicted Dyer falls on the sword for the strategy mistake in Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile Neil Martin is an interesting appointment. He comes from the financial services field originally and wrote a programme which he realised had uses for F1 strategy. He showed it to McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh who hired him on the strength of it.
He was headhunted by Red Bull and headed up their strategy until last year when he promptly left the team. Last summer there were suggestions he would be joining Ferrari but I got a categorical denial from Ferrari when I asked. It seems that the events of Abu Dhabi have prompted a rethink.
Although Ferrari say that Martin’s role is not specifically to run race strategies, it is more of a role looking at ways of improving operations across the board, his appointment will also have been at the behest of Fry with whom he worked at McLaren.
Fry now puts his head in the lion’s mouth as head of track operations, an area where Ferrari has struggled in recent years.
According to the team’s website, “Neil Martin takes on the role of heading up the new Operations Research department. A 38 year old Englishman, Martin previously worked for Red Bull and prior to that McLaren and he will now report directly to Technical Director, Aldo Costa.
“At the same time, Costa’s deputy, Pat Fry will, in addition to his current role, take on the job of head of race track engineering. Up until yesterday, this position was held by Chris Dyer and his role within the company will be redefined in the next few days.”
So as predicted Dyer falls on the sword for the strategy mistake in Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile Neil Martin is an interesting appointment. He comes from the financial services field originally and wrote a programme which he realised had uses for F1 strategy. He showed it to McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh who hired him on the strength of it.
He was headhunted by Red Bull and headed up their strategy until last year when he promptly left the team. Last summer there were suggestions he would be joining Ferrari but I got a categorical denial from Ferrari when I asked. It seems that the events of Abu Dhabi have prompted a rethink.
Although Ferrari say that Martin’s role is not specifically to run race strategies, it is more of a role looking at ways of improving operations across the board, his appointment will also have been at the behest of Fry with whom he worked at McLaren.
Fry now puts his head in the lion’s mouth as head of track operations, an area where Ferrari has struggled in recent years.
Monday, 3 January 2011
Di Montezemolo against new style F1 engines
Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo has voiced his criticisms over the modified Formula 1 engines which will be brought into use for the 2013 season, with the current 2.4-litre V8 units set to be replaced by 1.6-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged powerplants.
F1’s last significant engine regulation changes came at the start of the 2006 season, with eight-cylinder engines replacing the previous V10 versions. However, di Montezemolo is not shy when sharing his opinions over the planned four-cylinder specification of 2013 and beyond.
“We are not going to build four-cylinder engines for road cars just because we now need them for Formula 1,” the Italian explained to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.
“Four cylinders…that sounds a bit pathetic for the top class. Couldn’t we have decided for a V6 turbo? We shouldn’t confuse saving money with being ‘cheap’; there are other ways of reaching the goals (motorsport governing body) the FIA wants us to in order to save money.”
Di Montezemolo went on to add that he will be supporting any changes to the idea. “When there's even the smallest chance of avoiding the four cylinders, I want to go for it,” he continued, with Ferrari also being reported as requesting a delay for the introduction of four-cylinder power by at least one season.
“That's right, but we need unity amongst all teams for that,” the 63-year-old concluded.
“We are not going to build four-cylinder engines for road cars just because we now need them for Formula 1,” the Italian explained to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.
“Four cylinders…that sounds a bit pathetic for the top class. Couldn’t we have decided for a V6 turbo? We shouldn’t confuse saving money with being ‘cheap’; there are other ways of reaching the goals (motorsport governing body) the FIA wants us to in order to save money.”
V4 engines will arrive as the FIA continues to lower costs
“That's right, but we need unity amongst all teams for that,” the 63-year-old concluded.
Lauda worried about sound of 2013 engines
Niki Lauda has admitted he is concerned about F1's switch to four cylinder engines.
Not keen on the newly announced turbo formula for 2013, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo recently insisted that "for the top class of racing it sounds a bit pathetic".
Triple world champion Lauda agrees: "I am worried about the sound, which in Formula One has been so unique.
"Hopefully there will be more than a faint hum," the Austrian told Bild am Sonntag newspaper.
Not keen on the newly announced turbo formula for 2013, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo recently insisted that "for the top class of racing it sounds a bit pathetic".
Triple world champion Lauda agrees: "I am worried about the sound, which in Formula One has been so unique.
"Hopefully there will be more than a faint hum," the Austrian told Bild am Sonntag newspaper.
Alonso suffers holiday confrontation with paparazzi
Former double World Champion Fernando Alonso has experienced a run-in with paparazzi upon arrival to Portuguese island Porto Santo for a holiday this week.
Having landed in a private jet with wife and singer Raquel del Rosario, the Ferrari driver appeared to have been tracked by cameras before confronting a group of reporters in the airport terminal.
“Boys, the first photographer or camera I see in the next few days, I will leave the next day and tell everybody that Porto Santo was a disaster, okay?” Alonso can be seen stating on Portuguese television. “So, please, calm down otherwise I will leave tomorrow and Porto Santo…(thumbs down), okay?”
Having landed in a private jet with wife and singer Raquel del Rosario, the Ferrari driver appeared to have been tracked by cameras before confronting a group of reporters in the airport terminal.
“Boys, the first photographer or camera I see in the next few days, I will leave the next day and tell everybody that Porto Santo was a disaster, okay?” Alonso can be seen stating on Portuguese television. “So, please, calm down otherwise I will leave tomorrow and Porto Santo…(thumbs down), okay?”
Gascoyne: ‘Lotus’ situation a great shame
Mike Gascoyne has labelled the overall situation ‘a great shame’, with regards to the Renault F1 Team being relabelled 'Lotus Renault GP' and therefore meaning two ‘Lotus’ teams will be on the Formula 1 grid this year, with his own ‘Lotus Racing’ squad now renamed as ‘Team Lotus’.
The ‘Lotus’ name made its return to the sport in 2010, with Gascoyne and Tony Fernandes introducing Lotus Racing as one of a trio of debutant teams.
However, the Renault squad has now been renamed following a buy-in from Norfolk-based sports car manufacturer Group Lotus – an entirely separate company to that of Gascoyne.
“I think it’s a great shame,” the Chief Technical Officer explained to Paul Tan’s automotive blog of Malaysia. “On one level Tony’s stressed to everyone that a team is about the people in the team and whatever we’re called isn’t going to change what we are as a team and we’ve built up that team and the fan base around the world and in Malaysia – we’ve built up that team and that isn’t going to change.
“For me as an engineer, whether you paint it green or black or pink or bright red…however fast the car goes at the first test won’t be affected at all by what the team is called. Having said that, I think we’re all intensely proud of what the team has achieved this year as Lotus Racing, bringing the name ‘Lotus’ back into Formula 1 – that can never be taken away from us.”
However, the Englishman admits that recent events have met a disappointing end.
“I think we brought tremendous value to the brand and we want to continue to do that,” Gascoyne continued. “For me, Lotus is about engineering – it’s about building, engineering and racing racing cars; that’s what Team Lotus did, it did it in Norfolk and that’s what we’ve done here in Norfolk.
“Was Colin Chapman and Lotus about branding a French car as ‘Lotus’? I’m not so sure it was; I think Colin Chapman was one of the great innovators in Formula 1 and when he brought sponsorship into Formula 1 I think he thought he’d be receiving it, not giving it out, but that’s for Tony and the shareholders to work on.
“As I say, we feel we’ve got the best shareholders in Formula 1, we’re very proud to work for them and we’re going to repay them by working hard and designing them a quicker car; they can call it anything they like and we’ll still be doing that job for them, but there is still a sense of pride of bringing Lotus back into Formula 1.”
Mike Gascoyne, Chief Technical Officer of recently renamed Team Lotus
However, the Renault squad has now been renamed following a buy-in from Norfolk-based sports car manufacturer Group Lotus – an entirely separate company to that of Gascoyne.
“I think it’s a great shame,” the Chief Technical Officer explained to Paul Tan’s automotive blog of Malaysia. “On one level Tony’s stressed to everyone that a team is about the people in the team and whatever we’re called isn’t going to change what we are as a team and we’ve built up that team and the fan base around the world and in Malaysia – we’ve built up that team and that isn’t going to change.
“For me as an engineer, whether you paint it green or black or pink or bright red…however fast the car goes at the first test won’t be affected at all by what the team is called. Having said that, I think we’re all intensely proud of what the team has achieved this year as Lotus Racing, bringing the name ‘Lotus’ back into Formula 1 – that can never be taken away from us.”
However, the Englishman admits that recent events have met a disappointing end.
“I think we brought tremendous value to the brand and we want to continue to do that,” Gascoyne continued. “For me, Lotus is about engineering – it’s about building, engineering and racing racing cars; that’s what Team Lotus did, it did it in Norfolk and that’s what we’ve done here in Norfolk.
Kubica and Petrov are driving for 'Lotus Renault GP' in 2011
“As I say, we feel we’ve got the best shareholders in Formula 1, we’re very proud to work for them and we’re going to repay them by working hard and designing them a quicker car; they can call it anything they like and we’ll still be doing that job for them, but there is still a sense of pride of bringing Lotus back into Formula 1.”
Friday, 10 December 2010
F1 chiefs drop the ban on team orders in new rules
The controversial ban on team orders has been deleted from the Formula 1 rulebook in the latest set of changes.
The adoption of moveable rear wings to aid overtaking were also confirmed in the new FIA rules for 2011 while the Kers power-boost system also returns.
The governing body also confirmed a new 'green' engine for the 2013 season.
Many team bosses predicted the ban on team orders would be dropped from the new sporting regulations after Ferrari caused an outcry by appearing to give Felipe Massa a coded message to allow Fernando Alonso through to win the German Grand Prix.
They argued the rule, which was introduced in 2002 after Rubens Barrichello gifted a win to then Ferrari team-mate Michael Schumacher, was difficult to enforce.
Now the rule has been removed, the teams may tacitly agree not to use team orders as much as possible while article 151.c, which refers to bringing the sport into disrepute, remains intact.
That article warns against "any fraudulent conduct or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition, or to the interests of motorsport generally".
In its new regulations, the FIA aims to improve sustainability by using 'green' engines in two seasons' time.
These powerunits will be four-cylinder, 1.6 litre turbos with energy recovery systems and fuel restrictions, with the aim of increasing efficiency by 35%
The agreement to switch from the current 2.4-litre V8s after months of tough negotiations - exclusively revealed by BBC Sport last weekend - is an attempt to mirror the trend towards fuel-efficiency in road cars and to popularise it, increasing public demand for such engines.
The movable wings, which will be used from the start of next season, are an attempt to improve one of F1's perennial problems - the difficulties of overtaking.
The wings will be operated by the drivers, who will be able to use them when they are within a second of a car in front which they are trying to overtake.
The gaps between the cars will be monitored electronically by the FIA and the wings will be switched on when the driver behind is within the requisite distance.
Rule makers will monitor the way the wings work through the 2011 season and adjust them so they fit the purpose for which they were designed.
While F1 bosses want to make overtaking easier, they want it to remain a challenge.
The calculations as to when drivers should be able to employ the wings are made more complicated by the return of Kers in 2011.
Although Kers remained in the 2010 regulations the teams voluntarily agreed not to use it last season, in particular to help with cost-cutting and the arrival of the three new teams.
These systems - which store energy that would have been wasted during braking and reapply it during acceleration to give a power boost of about 80bhp for seven seconds - were first used in 2009.
The teams have decided to use them again in 2011 as a first step towards 2013, when F1 is trying to embrace sustainability.
Mercedes and Ferrari had been reluctant to agree to the 2013 engine rules as recently as a month ago, believing that it was an unnecessary expense at a time when F1 was trying to reduce costs.
And F1 commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone has been consistent in his view that they were a bad idea.
But, as BBC Sport revealed, the rules were agreed in a series of recent meetings between F1's current engine manufacturers - which also include Renault and private company Cosworth - and the final touches were put to the regulations by a steering group of F1 engineers a week ago.
The aim is for the new rules to improve the efficiency of F1 engines by as much as 35%.
Care has been taken to ensure the performance of cars will not be affected and total power outputs will remain at current levels - approximately 750bhp. The new engines will not do more than 12,000 revs per minute - current F1 engines spin at 18,000rpm.
By adopting the regulations, F1 hopes to widen its appeal to sponsors - commercial insiders say some companies are reluctant to get involved in F1 because of its image of being wasteful with resources.
In subsequent years, complex new turbocharging technology called compounding will be introduced to further enhance efficiency.
The regulations have been framed to encourage the pursuit of efficiency in engine design, dramatically increasing the amount of power that can be produced per litre of fuel burnt.
Those lessons in efficiency can then be transferred to road cars so that considerably less fuel is used for a given amount of performance.
Thursday, 9 December 2010
Nigel Mansell: Mercedes could be joker in pack F1 2011
Mercedes Grand Prix could spring a few surprises next season and be right up there pushing the likes of Red Bull Racing, Ferrari and McLaren, that is the prediction of 1992 Formula One World Champion, Nigel Mansell.
Speaking at the BRDC awards in London this week, Mansell also added that he doesn’t think it can yet be said that Michael Schumacher was wrong to comeback with the ‘Silver Arrows’.
"At the end of 2011 if Michael hasn't won and the team haven't given him the car to demonstrate how good he is and how great he is, then maybe it might have been the wrong decision [to return],” Mansell told ESPNF1.com.
“But I think now he should be back with all the same feelings he had before he left. The development over this winter will give Ross Brawn the time and the team to energize everything they need.
“They have had a couple of showings where the car has demonstrated a better turn of speed. So they could be the joker in the pack next year and do something very special."
Speaking at the BRDC awards in London this week, Mansell also added that he doesn’t think it can yet be said that Michael Schumacher was wrong to comeback with the ‘Silver Arrows’.
"At the end of 2011 if Michael hasn't won and the team haven't given him the car to demonstrate how good he is and how great he is, then maybe it might have been the wrong decision [to return],” Mansell told ESPNF1.com.
“But I think now he should be back with all the same feelings he had before he left. The development over this winter will give Ross Brawn the time and the team to energize everything they need.
“They have had a couple of showings where the car has demonstrated a better turn of speed. So they could be the joker in the pack next year and do something very special."
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