Bernie Ecclestone added more fuel to the fire when he made statements regarding the possibility that USF1 and Campos Meta 1 get a place in the grid of the first race at Bahrain. The F1 boss went even further by suggesting the both teams will miss the three first races of the season.
Ecclestone himself revealed there is a clause in the Concord Agreement which allows the teams to be absent at three races during the season. Even though most of the teams will not make use of it –due to the sponsorship contracts-, this could offer an extra period to Campos and USF1 to prepare for their debut in the Formula One.
“I think we won’t be seeing Campos nor the Americans, who are going to request to be absent to three races,” declared Ecclestone to Express. “According to the Concord Agreement the teams are authorized to be absent from three races.”
Both teams have insisted several times that they will run the first race of the season, even though Campos has admitted he is still looking for investors to pay the debts he has with the Dallara chassis manufacturer. On the other hand, the USF1 is ready for his final crash tests, and a number of reports suggest that the chassis is in a very advanced phase.
However, the Serbian, Stefan, who is developing the Toyota’s team F1 2010, is ready to intervene if necessary, suggested Ecclestone, saying that Stefan GP has gotten enough funds to be in conditions to participate in the races. “They have the Serbian government money. I have talked with the Prime Minister.” declared Ecclestone.
Formula One ex-pilots, Schumacher, Kazuki Nakajima and Jacques Villeneuve have been associated with the new team, that will make tests at the Algarve Portimao Race Circuit in Portugal, at the end of the month.

The Technical Director of Sauber, Willy Rampf has played down the relevance of the good times that the team got at the tests in Valencia.
Sauber was the second fastest team during the three days, with its pilots Kamui Kobayashi and Pedro de la Rosa who established lapping times very similar to the Ferraris’. However, for Rampf, it’s still too soon to know if the car is as competitive as times suggest.
“That is even harder to evaluate this year than in the previous ones,” he said. “All I can say is that our car is giving the expected performance based on our simulations and measurements in the wind tunnel. The tremendously different fuel load makes it impossible to make an absolute comparison with the other teams’ cars.”
He added that the relationship between the new drivers and the team is going extremely well.
“The two pilots are new in the team and we are about to meet the rest, but, the work relationship between drivers and team has had a good beginning. It’s clear that Pedro has great experience which gives him an wonderful base of technical knowledge that is very valuable for all who are involved. Kamui rapidly receives his impressions through him, which means he can give the engineers the necessary information to perform the necessary changes. Together, pilots and engineers are already working productively.”
Rampf explained they will do small modifications to the car’s engine to cover this week’s tests at Jerez, mostly at exhaust level. Sauber will be one of the teams doing tests as of next Wednesday with Red Bull, Force India and Virgin, all of them making their 2010 debut in the group test.

Ferrari ‘scuderia’ is preparing for this season’s second session of tests scheduled for the 10th to the 13th of February at the Spanish circuit of Jerez de la Frontera. Tomorrow morning, the main part of the team will leave Maranello, including the mechanics and the men who work in logistics, telemetry and electronics, while the engineers will get to Spain Tuesday evening.
Four days of tests: Fernando Alonso will begin the shakedowns in the racetrack the first two days, followed by Felipe Massa who will sit behind the steering wheel as of Friday 12th. The F10 has arrived to Jerez subsequent to the examination realized last Wednesday evening in Valencia. The car’s configuration will be substantially the same, compared to its debut: there will only be some minor mechanical changes.
Meanwhile, in Maranello, the works to mount the chassis to the second F10 are well on their way. This single-seater will be used during the third test session, held again at Jerez, from February 17th to the 20th.

The Virgin Racing scuderia, are excited with the scarce sensations they have regarding their single-seater, the ‘VR-01′, after a “successful” shakedown at the British circuit of Silverstone.
The new team will make its pre-season official debut during the tests this week at Jerez de la Frontera. “Last week’s shakedown was a success for the ‘scuderia’ and since it was the first test as teams it simplified our first opportunity of working together, and could not go better. The way the team has worked to achieve such a successful shakedown has been commendable. I’m proud of what we achieved and looking forward to be with the other ‘scuderias’ at the ‘pit lane,’ this week”, said Virgin Racing, Director, John Booth, to ‘formula1.com’.
Even though at Silverstone, Timo Glock only did 42 laps with the ‘VR-01′ and his team-mate the Brazilian, Lucas Di Grassi, lapped 36 times in the British racetrack, for this pilot: “the first impressions a very positive. It’s amazing what the team has accomplished in such a short time. I think we have a great ‘scuderia’ and a strong car to start working in Jerez”, added Di Grassi.
Meanwhile, Virgin Racing Technical Director, Nick Wirth, was also “pleased” with the good sensations of the tests that were performed . “To be able to roll 100 kilometers is a great achievement. We have acquired good data to continue forward in the design of the new parts that we’ll test this week;” he stated.

The President of Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo, does not want surprises or disappointments following the euphoria that seems to invade the ‘Il Cavallino’ scuderia. The Italian does not want to get carried away with Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa’s good times behind the F10 during the first pre-season tests at the circuit in Valencia.
“I’m happy that our car seems to be born well,” he declared to the ‘Gazzetta dello Sport’ magazine. “But the pre-season tests are similar to football in August. I think the only positive aspect we should highlight is the sensation that the car has resulted as good as this;” he added.
The leading man of the scuderia, is cautious and assures that it’s still too early to give definite opinions on the Ferraris’ performance, previous to the start of the season. He prefers to share the cautiousness of Stefano Domenicalli, Sport Director of the team, who a few days ago said that “nothing can be guaranteed.”
There is one thing the two men agree on, that the Mercedes GP will be the rival to beat: “We still have many problems to take care of and we have to keep our feet on the ground. We still don’t know how good the others are;” underlining that “Alonso and Massa’s results are a first encouraging sign, but it’s too soon to judge.”
The thing being that subsequent to the terrible previous season, the Italian is risking a lot with regards to his image and prestige. Ferrari is not the only single-seater in the racetrack: “I think that Mercedes GP -ex Brawn-, is the rival to beat.” Naturally, not forgetting the energetic single-seater. “I’m sure that the Red Bull will also be very competitive, if we take into account the advantage with which it finished last season. And McLaren, too,” the Italian concluded.

Red Bull boss, Christian Horner, has advised that F1 could lose its engine suppliers if the engine freeze rule is maintained.
Last year, Mercedes was considered the most powerful engine of the grid. The main teams urged the FIA to allow them to update their engines during a given period of time, consenting on minor relevance enhancements and readjustments. As a result, “the ‘touches to the engine’ are quite limited.”
Even though, in the Regulation there isn’t a stipulation for engine equality, the fall of Honda, Toyota and BMW means that there are only four engine manufacturers left: Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault and Cosworth. On this regard, Horner seems worried because, if the engine freeze rule hinders the manufacturers to enhance the engines they sale, everybody will choose the most powerful to this date, and this would force the others out. In other words, there’s the possibility that there would only be two brands left.
“FIA has all the information at hand to decide upon an adjustment to the engines,” Horner said from Germany to the Auto Bild Motorsport magazine. “It would be a disaster to lose another engine manufacturer at the end of the year, because they cannot compete with the others. The chassis development rules are so strict that the engine plays an ever more important role everyday.”
This year’s refueling ban means that fuel consumption will become a critical factor in the races. Renault, which supplies its engines to Red Bull, as well as the factory team, believe they have more efficient engines regarding fuel consumption, even though they have slightly less horse power.
An engine with better consumption will allow the team to refill less fuel at the beginning of the race, which is a factor that will have a value of tenths of lapping time during the first laps of a Grand Prix. Fuel levels will no longer have an incidence on the scoring times, because the first ten will not have to perform the Q3, with enough fuel to start the race.
For this reason, the single-seaters with Renault engine, could get a worse scoring in the Q3 but make significant progress during the first laps, thanks to their weight/load ratio.

In spite of learning that the opportunity for participating in the 2010 Formula 1 World Championship with Renault has vanished with the confirmation of the Russian, Vitaly Petrov, the Spanish pilot, Andy Soucek is far from giving up. “For the time being, there’s nothing closed.  Negotiations have taken place and we have opened new options.  The two vacant seats are USF1 and Campos, but there are other alternatives that are also tempting me quite a lot, and all in Formula 1″, said Soucek.

“To be the first-team pilot is something that attracts all pilots –regardless of the team-, because what we want is to be in the grid.  But to be a reserve pilot is more important than being a test driver, because if something happens to the first-team pilot you take his place.  So this is something I have in mind if it would be a large team.  It would help me a lot and give me time to prepare for 2011, with one more year of experience in Formula 1.  It’s a role one should not rule out;” declared the Spanish pilot.

“I think I deserve the position of third pilot and I don’t think I have to pay for it.  That’s what interests me.  As a first-team pilot you have to have a big sponsor behind you, but as third pilot you can have a small sponsor or not even that, because they’re counting on you since you’re going to contribute with something to the team,” assured the Spaniard-Austrian pilot.

The thing being that more doors are closing every time, and more so with the possible arrival of Adrián Vallés to the USF1 team, which has a vacant seat.  Soucek said: “I don’t know if he has signed; I understand he hasn’t.  But, Adrián has always been ahead; he has raced very fast in all the championships he has participated.  He has been my team-mate and cannot say anything bad about him.  He’s very fast and he deserves it.  We haven’t talked and I cannot give more information.”

This way, it is confirmed that there is contact with USF1.  “Yes, there have been conversations, but this is like everything else: at the end, everybody talks with everybody else, and much more in a moment like this, when the teams are desperate for a pilot, as well as the pilots for a team.”

“I’m not going to allow desperation to get to me, and if I sign I want it to be something that helps me in my sport career; not that jeopardizes it.  So, whatever step I take is going to be well thought out, and I’ll see that the team with whom I sign gives me a guarantee of playing a decent role within the Formula One,” the pilot pointed out.

And what about Campos Meta 1 which has only confirmed the Brazilian, Bruno Senna? “For a month I’ve been in very advanced negotiations with Campos.  As has been announced in all media, Adrian is going through a very difficult moment.  I thing the same indecision and uncertainty we all have is what he’s experimenting, too,” Soucek reflected.

Based on Adrián Campos statements, today we have confirmed, that before next Monday, he will take care of the financial problems.  “Right now, he doesn’t know what’s going to happen.  He’s wishing that his team succeeds.  We all do.  It’s a Spanish team and it would be very important for motoring, but unfortunately there’s an economic problem with all the new teams, and besides, maybe the media is taking it out on him a bit too much.  Let’s hope he can solve the problem and then, it will be known who his second pilot will be,” he explained.

The USF1 official pilot, the Argentinean, José María “pechito” López yesterday flew from the Córdoba Airport to Charlotte, Carolina del Norte, to visit for second time the USF1 headquarters.

As has been reported from Argentina, José María López will stay a few hours with the team and later will fly to Austria.  This is the pilot’s second visit to the United States of America, even though it will be the first as member of the US ‘scuderia,’ and will allow a dialogue with his team-mates, as well as to learn the details regarding the construction and assembly of the Type1.

“Pechito” will hang out with the new team for several hours this Saturday and later, in the evening, travel again, this time to Austria to continue his physical training in Erwin Gollner High Performance Center.

The work plan will begin February 7^th to the 14^th, returning to the USA on Monday 15^th and then, wait until the works on his single-seater end, so to tackle the first test, yet to be confirmed.

“Days are passing by and the possibility to be behind the steering wheel of the F-1 car is getting closer.  I’m flying to Charlotte to visit the people from the team, talk with them, and see how advanced is the construction of the car.  Later, I’ll fly to Austria, to continue my physical training beside;” the pilot from Cordoba, Argentina stated.

“These days in Cordoba with my family and friends were great for me.  To be a bit more relaxed and knowing the everything was closed.”  “2009 was very intense.  I almost didn’t have any time to rest, but now I’m 100 percent available for the team to start with the work,” he expressed.

Adrian Campos, Campos Meta Director has admitted to having problems that have affected the team and that they should be solved before Monday.

The permanent rumors of these last days have had a negative effect.  Speculation on different media about financial problems and the alleged inability to pay the Italian manufacturer, Dallara (for the single-seater production).  Nevertheless, Minardi’s ex-pilot is confident that the team can still be in Bahrain starting grid.

“We’re trying to solve everything for Monday, but people are saying a lot of crap,” he said to BBC Sport.  “Some are true, but some aren’t.  We’re working very hard to be in Bahrain.“

The most probable rescuer of the team is the entrepreneur, Tony Teixeira, who backed-up the now extinct A1GP Series.  Nonetheless, Campos wouldn’t confirm the rescue plan and who in the partial sale of the team.

“The problem is we have confidentiality clauses for all the actions we’re taking,” he explained.

However, the Spanish Director recognized that the payments to the Dallara have not always been on time.  “Sometimes we delay a part of the payments to Dallara and, at times, we don’t have the money available.  We’re trying to solve the problem,” he declared.

Adrian Campos also denied that Dallara has gotten tired of waiting for the money and consequently, sold the 2010 car to Stefan GP.

“No, they (Dallara) cannot do that.  We have an agreement with them,” informed Adrían Campos

The owner of Force India team, Director and Co-Owner, Vijay Mallya played down reports that Force India will disappear in 2010.

In an article presented by the Daily Telegraph newspaper, it was mentioned that the team based in Silverstone is facing the dissolution of the Great Britain companies, the reason being that it has not delivered their accounts since 2008.

“It is not unknown for companies to file their annual returns late, the reasons for which are varied,” Indian billionaire Mallya, declared.

It has been confirmed that the Companies House has granted an extension until February 25^th, to file the delayed paperwork.

“We’re taking all the necessary measures to guarantee the submission of the documents prior to that date.  Hence, participation of Force India in the championship is not and will not be in jeopardy; “ Mallya stated.

Meanwhile, a spokesman from the team clarified that the 2010 Force India single-seater, the Mercedes-VJM03 made its debut at Silverstone, on Wednesday of this week, not Thursday as was previously informed.

Cosworth engine supplier since 2006, has enjoyed his first action in the Formula One racetrack.  This week two of his clients have tested its engines.

The AT & T Williams team carried out the three day test in the Valencia Circuit in Spain, placing the Cosworth V8 CA to seriously give its first steps for the first time in a racetrack.

The new Virgin Racing team unveiled its digitally designed racing car known as the VR-01, with Cosworth engine on Wednesday before the initial sampler session in Silverstone.

This way, Cosworth F1 executives have expressed their first impressions

In an interview with Mark Gallagher, Director General of Cosworth F1 (Business Unit) he was asked about “what relevance have this week’s activities had regarding the World Championship:”
“We are excited to have begun this week the pre-season tests in Valencia with Williams, because it was our first opportunity to see the CA in the rear end of a racing car with all the consequences that has.  The development and test of an engine in our installations in Northampton is one thing, but to see it in the racetrack takes us to a new phase in our program, “ explained Mark Gallagher.

It’s evident that they are thrilled with the debut in the F1, giving credit to their work with Williams, the Director stated;  “Our work with Williams has been very important to collect data, driver’s response and to measure the initial results of the combination of the CA engine to the FW32 chassis.  Our first performance measure will always be the durability, and the fact that Rubens and Nico have completed more than 1.200 kms between both, showed that the engine’s reliability has been up to our expectations. We also paid attention to the global success of the overall installation; see how the engine works together with the Williams gear selection and prove all the associated systems, pressures, cooling system, temperatures.. [...]  Now, we’re waiting for next week’s test in Jerez where we can take our technical program with the team to the next level. “

However, the Director looked particularly excited with the Cosworth VR-01 combination.  “It was very gratifying to see the Virgin-Cosworth VR-01 this week and to welcome the first of our new teams in the Formula One.  We have developed a solid work relationship with Virgin Racing during the last months, and I would like to congratulate Nick Wirth and his design team for the results of their efforts. We’re doing all that is possible to support them since the beginning of their activities in  F1 and when they join with Williams in Jerez, next week we’ll have two teams in the racetrack which will increase our pre-season activities very much.“

What are you specifically involved with? “We were at Silverstone with Virgin Racing for a shakedown session, as a base before the test in Jerez.  Even though the weather conditions were good today, the car worked as expected and it has been a good opportunity to start to understand the new chassis-engine.  This will help to insure that we’re capable of doing most of next week’s important test in Spain.“

On his debut on the MotoGP belonging to Aspar Team, Héctor Barberá with Ducati, recognized that the testing days at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia “were not enough” for him, but he finished “happy due to his new team’s improvement margin.”

The Valencian looked “excited” because he will ride his bike “soon” to continue testing.  Barberá pulled off a best time of 2:03.032.

“I rode in similar times than yesterday’s and am satisfied because we have progressed in getting the Ducati ready,” he added.

Barberá thought it was a shame that the debuts had to finish in advance due to the rain, the thing being that the Spanish rider doesn’t seem to want to get off the bike.  “Precisely when they had put new tyres and I was going to try to improve my time,” he stated.

In spite of everything he looked satisfied.  “Moreover, I believe that with the combination of the bike and the technicians from Ducati we’re going through the right course;“ Barberá assured.

Dani Pedrosa has improved dramatically the Honda’s performance and looked “satisfied” with the important progress they had during the second testing day in Sepang.  Today, the Catalan has been trying out the new suspensions.

“Today, we have overcome more tests and I can say that we have progressed in a significant way, which is important when you have to choose a course to follow,” Pedrosa commented to RTVE.

The Spanish pilot made clear that today they mainly worked with the “rear suspension”, and were able to collect a “much data” to continue improving for the return to the Malayan racetrack “in two weeks.” “We have also tried out different trailings and at the end of the day, have noticed progress, so I’m happy because of that,” he added.

Pedrosa recognized that yesterday, Thursday it took him longer “to find the rhythm on the bike because it was the first day of return to the command,” but that today, “everything was better.”

“It suits us quite well to have the second test here in only two weeks.  I have not requested new parts because, both the team and I believe it’s better to analyze first what we have found here and concentrate on that.  I’m going home very satisfied,“ stated the Spaniard.

The current MotoGP champion, the Italian, Valentino Rossi, motorcycle world’s nine-time champion, again made clear that the new Yamaha M1 gives him good sensations, as he leaded the second pre-season testing day in the Sepang racetrack.

‘Il Dottore’, who already was the fastest yesterday, today rolled with good times, his best being 2.00.925.

The rider from Urbine was the only one capable of riding below 2.01, while his direct World Championship rivals did as follows: Stoner, his closest opponent, made it second at only 395 thousandths.  Lorenzo and Pedrosa also rolled at less than a second from the Italian rider.

However, the great surprise of the day was in charge of the US rider, Ben Spies (Yamaha), Superbike world champion, pulling off the fifth best time, showing great adaptation to the M1, in spite of his lack of experience with it.

Regarding the rest of the Spaniards, the results were: Aleix Espargaró (Ducati) ninth, improving yesterday’s times, while Héctor Barberá (Ducati) and Álvaro Bautista (Suzuki) are still adapting to the ‘queen’ category  and were twelfth and fourteenth, respectively.

On the other hand, the fright of the day was experienced with the Italian, Marco Simoncelli (Honda), who suffered a fall due to a ‘lash’ of the RC21V, but escaped unharmed and could return to the track a while later.

–RESULTADS OF THE DAY:

1. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha)  2:00.925.

2. Casey Stoner (AUS/Ducati)       0.395.

3. JORGE LORENZO (ESP/Yamaha)       0.360.

4. DANI PEDROSA (ESP/Honda)         0.142.

5. Ben Spies (USA/Yamaha)           0.444.

6. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Honda)     0.006.

7. Colin Edwards (USA/Yamaha)       0.207.

8. Nicky Hayden (USA/Ducati)        0.014.

9. ALEIX ESPARGARÓ (Ducati)         0.154.

10. Loris Capirossi (ITA/Suzuki)    0.116.

…/…

12. HÉCTOR BARBERÁ (ESP/Ducati)     0.222.

16. ÁLVARO BAUTISTA (ESP/Suzuki)    0.029.

Virgin Racing, one of the new four cars of this season, this Thursday completed its first tests at the British Silverstone circuit, with the German pilot, Timo Glock at the wheel of the VR-01.

“To see the VR-01 in action was a wonderful moment for me and for all the team.  It’s great to be back in the racetracks,” said the pilot at the end of the testing session.
On the other hand, Nick Wirth, Technical Director pointed out that the 10 month effort of the team paid off.  “Today were the first steps, but the program will really be in action tomorrow, with a full day of evaluation in Timo and Lucas di Grassi’s racetrack.”

Analysis of the new Virgin VR-01

Leaving aside the beginning of his campaign in the media, Virgin made clear at all times that Wirth was going to design the car totally with CDF technologies.  The team believes it’s the most profitable solution.

With scarce time for tests, the VR-01 has already passed the FIA-required crash tests and has rolled its first laps in the British circuit of Silverstone.

Aside from its very attractive line, the VR-01 has quite simple front wing endplates.  And we say simple because it currently does not incorporate a system for the driver to modify the angle of attack of the upper element.  Yet, we will surely see more developments in before it runs in Bahrain.

The nose follows the trend to copy the Red Bull  V nose concept (as well as the rounded underside), and it also has a sharp tip, almost as low as on the Mercedes GP (but longer).  The front wheel suspension is mounted like a unique keel system.  Seems as though the chassis has a small keel under its nose for the lower wishbone.

Rather unusual for new cars are the front brake ducts.  Even though most of the teams have opted for the highest possible position for the ducts, the VR-01 has them pointing downward, attempting to catch the air from under the front wing.  It’s important to consider that in this area, the air can flow faster and be a bit less dense.

The front part of the sidepods is clearly inspired in Brawn’s BGP001 and it’s also quite similar to the 2010 McLaren 2010.  Small and high combined air inlets must prevent an efficient flow of air around the sidepods, providing more potential downforce in the rear end.

This configuration of the sidepod panels will surely help to achieve this goal.  The racing car seems to be quite developed in the middle zone, though the way the mirrors are mounted and their place came as a surprise.

Just like the new Ferrari, the sidepods are rather lean and without sharp curves.  In both cases, the designers opted for a long car capable of placing all the components near the center line.  This Virgin, as well as the Ferrari could be around 5.5 meters long, 70 cm longer than the Mercedes.  While this may prove beneficial in the fast circuits, in twisty road tracks they may become a challenge.  We’ll see…

The back end of the car seems to have some influence from last year’s Red Bull, as for instance, the aggressive slope.  While this puts the upper wishbone mounts completely in view, the suspension system is still a push rod design.