With the F1 world now returned from Bahrain, the sport is assessing the fallout of one of the most controversial grands prix in history.

The drivers were conspicuously quiet over the saga in the island Kingdom, but – with no contract tying him down – former Force India driver Adrian Sutil admitted he was glad he was not there.

“In a situation like that, it is probably better not to go,” the German said on Sky Deutschland.

“On the one hand, the decision was made (to go to Bahrain), on the other hand, it’s very difficult when there are so many problems in a country.”

Red Bull reserve driver Sebastien Buemi, who has family living in Bahrain, does not agree at all.

“I arrived on Monday and I had no problem — maybe there were a few more police than two years ago, but nothing happened to me,” the Swiss insisted on Austrian Servus TV.

Force India and Sauber, however, witnessed Molotov cocktail attacks on their treks to and from the circuit.

And Caterham team spokesman Tom Webb told the Sun that there was “one minor incident when one of our (hire) vans slowed down in traffic and its occupants saw a local youth on the side of the main road brandishing a bottle with a rag stuffed in its neck”.

World champion and race winner Sebastian Vettel also admitted the feeling was tense in the paddock throughout the weekend.

“It was not easy for anyone,” the Red Bull driver admitted, according to SID news agency, “but I’m glad that nothing happened to any of us (in F1).”

And the Telegraph quotes Vettel adding: “Hopefully, we come back in the future when everything’s a little bit safer.”

Reuters reports that Vodafone, the main sponsor of the half Bahrain-owned McLaren team, sent no staff to the country and expressed concerns to the British outfit.

But Jim Wright, an F1 sponsorship expert, told the Guardian that he thinks while the sport’s image took a beating last weekend, sponsors will be happy.

“Most teams handled a difficult decision very well,” he said. “On that basis I think a lot of people would be pleased with that and happy to get involved with them.”

The television audience was also unaffected – even boosted – with the BBC reporting more viewers for Bahrain than Australia and Malaysia, and Germany revealing similarly strong figures.

Still, there remains criticism.

“Now is an opportunity to reflect,” former F1 driver Alex Zanardi told Tuttosport, “and make sure that major sporting events are assigned only to governments that deserve the honour of hosting them.

“Ecclestone is brilliant and has made formula one what it is, but he can’t administer races at any cost and above all else,” insisted the Italian.

Due to security fears, Force India sat out a practice session on Friday so that staff could return to their hotels in daylight.

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone was reportedly enraged, and according to rumours got his revenge by instructing Formula One Management’s television cameras to ignore the Silverstone based team’s cars in qualifying.

“There was a bit of fuss about what we did,” deputy team principal Bob Fernley is quoted by Spain’s AS newspaper, “and it was not easy, but I think it turned out to be the right response.

“We had a lot of pressure, our attitude was not well received,” he confirmed, “but I think that we had a duty of care to our employees, and to do the right thing by the team.”

The FIA could sanction F1′s reigning back-to-back world champion for his behaviour during the recent Malaysian grand prix.

Before calling backmarker Narain Karthikeyan a “gherkin” and “idiot” in the wake of their collision, Sebastian Vettel was captured by his on-board camera twice displaying his middle-finger to the Indian driver.

“I think he’s highly frustrated because he’s having a tough season,” Karthikeyan told the Deccan Chronicle on Wednesday.

“It’s completely unprofessional to blame me for the incident. The derogatory remark only goes to show him in bad light.

“Just because he has a good car, he can’t call others an idiot,” Karthikeyan continued.

“I have won races in all the previous single-seater championships I have participated in so I don’t need a certificate from Vettel.”

Reports in Germany, including in the Kolner Express, Bild and Die Welt newspapers, claim that Red Bull driver’s behaviour may have breached the new stricter code of conduct introduced by FIA president Jean Todt.

The FIA has been contacted for comment.

“He has breached the code of conduct,” former F1 driver Marc Surer told Germany’s Sky television. “You sign it when you get the license and then you have to behave correspondingly.

“Any behaviour that hurts other people or the sport is an offense,” added the Swiss.

Asked what the penalties might be, Surer explained: “Anything from a warning to a license revocation. In this case I think it was quite understandable and there will be a mild punishment, if there is anything.”

Hans-Joachim Stuck, however, is slightly less forgiving.

“When you’re overtaking, misunderstandings can occur. I think Vettel needs to learn this.

“With him, the curve was always upwards and now it’s not the case, and he needs to deal with that,” the German legend told the DAPD news agency.

As for Vettel’s description of Karthikeyan as a “gherkin”, Stuck insisted: “It’s better than ‘asshole’.”

Vettel’s attack, however, was sustained, with Kleine Zeitung newspaper now quoting the Red Bull driver as having said: “Maybe formula one is not the place to learn how to drive.”

Stuck responded: “If Sebastian had left more space, it would not have happened. It happens sometimes so it’s a racing incident.

“He (Karthikeyan) didn’t do it on purpose and it always takes two.”

The HRT driver hit back by calling Vettel a “bully”, and even David Coulthard – a Red Bull team consultant – defended Karthikeyan.

“He can’t make his car invisible,” the Scot is quoted as saying by the Mirror.

Also defending Karthikeyan was Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg, who told the Indian press this week: “From what I saw, it was not Narain’s fault.

“So I don’t really understand why he (Vettel) said all that.”

Hukenberg’s Force India teammate Paul di Resta added: “Narain is entitled to do as much on the track in comparison with someone like Vettel.

“Both are F1 drivers and are there to represent their teams.”

Narain Karthikeyan was unequivocal as he walked through the paddock gates on Saturday.
“I have to qualify. There are no two ways about it,” said the Indian.

It had been a difficult winter and an even more difficult season opener so far for the struggling Spanish team.

Saturday would be even worse, with Karthikeyan and his teammate Pedro de la Rosa indeed failing to get within 107 per cent of the fastest time in ‘Q1′.

Often, the FIA allows drivers who fail to qualify to start the race anyway, but the new F112 has simply not merited a free-kick in Melbourne.

“We did everything we could,” de la Rosa is quoted by EFE news agency.

“In the end, we have so much room for improvement and it is true to say that we have to change many things, we know what they are, so all I can say is that we all have to be patient.

“I said when I arrived in Australia that this is a test for us; this is our preseason. The downside is we are doing it in front of all the cameras.

“It should be done already but it was not possible for us, so what we do now is work for Malaysia and the following races and focus on the areas that are important to make the car better.”

A report in AS newspaper said the biggest problem with the F112 car is the hydraulic system, which cannot be repaired in time for next weekend’s Malaysian grand prix.

“I am proud of this team — you cannot ask for more than 24 hours a day of work from people,” said de la Rosa.

On the brighter side, fellow straggler Marussia did manage to qualify on merit in Australia.

“We’ve all had a great lift but we have a long way to go and plenty of hard work to do to make the car quicker,” said Timo Glock.

He told Auto Motor und Sport that it will some time.

“Over the next few weeks we will do the little things first,” said the German. “Unfortunately we don’t have the capacity of someone like Red Bull so we would rather work a little longer on a big update.”

Lewis Hamilton looks set to be recalled as a witness as the Adrian Sutil assault saga rolls on.
German Sutil, and his father Jorge, described former close friend and 2008 world champion Hamilton as a “coward” and “pathetic” after the McLaren driver did not appear at the recent hearings in Munich.

But with the former Force India driver – and Munich prosecutors – now filing appeals against the judge’s verdict, Hamilton’s personal testimony might be regarded as crucial.

Hamilton is clearly visible in the video footage of the incident with Eric Lux in a Shanghai nightclub last April, but Sutil’s manager Manfred Zimmermann claims the judge neglected the gravity of the security camera evidence.

“Not asking one of the witnesses to court and other important circumstances have not been considered as well,” Zimmermann charged.

London newspaper the Daily Telegraph claims Hamilton “is happy to testify provided the date does not clash with prior commitments”.

The likelihood that F1 will be broadcast in high definition next year has taken a backwards step.

Bernie Ecclestone boosted the hopes of F1′s global television audience in September when he indicated the sport will be moving to HD “probably next year”.

But in an interview with Christian Sylt and Caroline Reid, the F1 chief executive now insists he is “not sure” the 2011 feed will be broadcast in HD.

One of the main problems, he indicated, is that high definition cameras are too big to be installed in the cars for the popular on-board footage.

That would mean the F1 feed is “50 per cent HD and 50 per cent standard definition”, the 80-year-old Briton is quoted by Germany’s motorsport-total.com.

Sylt and Reid hypothesise that Ecclestone’s reluctance to embrace the new television technology could be related to the failure of his multi-channel digital feed for F1 in the 90s.

Michael Schumacher is disputing a road speeding charge.

Police fined the seven time world champion EUR140 for breaking the 100kph speed limit on a German autobahn by 20kph, according to Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

The 41-year-old was allegedly driving an elite rented Weismann sports car, but Schumacher is denying that he is depicted in the speed camera photograph.

The case was therefore moved to a district court in Traunstein, Germany, but neither Schumacher nor his lawyer appeared, so court costs have been added to the fine.

“We maintain that Michael was not driving the car,” said his spokesman Sabine Kehm.

Undisputed is Schumacher’s EUR1000 fine by the governing FIA for exceeding the 60kph pitlane speed limit at Hockenheim on Friday by 4.1kph.

F1′s safety car rules have been tweaked in the wake of the Valencia controversy.

The 12 teams met at Silverstone ahead of the British grand prix to discuss the incidents that so enraged Ferrari and its supporters.

The rule tweak, agreed between the teams and race director Charlie Whiting, addresses Ferrari’s complaint that Fernando Alonso was disadvantaged by following the rules and not overtaking the safety car on the Spanish street circuit.

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, received a drive-through penalty for overtaking the safety car that was applied so late he was still able to finish the race in second place.

The result of the Silverstone meeting is that the safety car rules remain effectively the same, despite some pressure to see the pits closed when the safety car is circulating.

Instead, it has been agreed that drivers who are not being slowed by the safety car will have to drive on track at the same speed as the Bernd Maylander-driven Mercedes gullwing.

Previously, drivers not being immediately slowed by the safety car during the safety car period only had to keep within 120 per cent of a flying laptime.

In Valencia, the rule tweak would have meant Hamilton would not only have been penalised for overtaking the safety car, but also not able to negate the drive-through by driving around the track any faster than Maylander.

In the meeting, Whiting also promised the teams that efforts will be made to issue penalties like Hamilton’s faster in the future.

In Valencia, Hamilton’s penalty was delayed because the race director did not request the steward investigation until after the Mark Webber crash was dealt with.

But in future, potential penalties will be passed immediately to the attention of the stewards, while the race director can continue to focus on a Webber-like incident.

Moreover, because the arrival of crucial evidence about the Hamilton incident also slowed down the in-race investigation, there will now be cameras constantly monitoring the safety car lines 1 and 2.

There will also be trackside markings that show the location of the safety car lines, so that a driver cannot argue he did not notice the lines from his driving position.

Christian Horner on Friday accused a “naughty” Ferrari of breaching the “spirit” of the in-season testing ban.

The Italian team tested its new Red Bull-like low exhaust layout at its own Fiorano test circuit last week, under the guise of a “filming and promotional” day.

Indeed, Ferrari did distribute media photos of the event and even a video of Fernando Alonso driving the car with a camera mounted on his helmet.

“It was arguably within the letter of the laws but not within the spirit,” Horner, team principal of Red Bull Racing, told the Telegraph.

“You don’t just run these cars – there has to be a lot of planning – and it wasn’t by mistake that they happened to run on that day with the new exhaust system,” he added.

Horner suggested that if Ferrari was really just running the F10 for filming purposes, the car did not need to be fitted with its important Valencia update.

“They managed to have a look at it, and they’ve probably learned a bit.  I’m sure there will be a lively debate at the next team principals’ meeting,” he predicted.

“I think it’s something that needs to be tidied up, because it’s effectively a gentlemen’s agreement, and it’s important that that should be respected.”

But it is true that the Ferrari was running with Bridgestone’s ultra-hard promotional tyres, and Alonso said the runs had been of little competitive value.

“I was running behind a car with cameras at 60kph so it was very stable,” the Spaniard joked.

“We did some laps also with no car in front, and ten cameras on the car and on the helmet, so it was not very comfortable to drive, and it was also the first time driving a Ferrari F1 car at Fiorano,” insisted Alonso.

(GMM)

The two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso is hoping with its much improved Ferrari for a good result in a home match in Valencia: “The feeling is very good. In Tempo 60 is the car very stable,” said the Spaniard, with a grin at the press conference front of the Grand Prix of Europe. Outside the test ban, he had been allowed to rotate at the beginning of the week in the B version of the F10 already in promotional shots for a few laps around the Ferrari test track in Fiorano.

“I’m driving behind a car with cameras and had the helmet and the car ten cameras. I was not really comfortable,” said Alonso. “In addition, it was my first laps in a Formula 1 car at Fiorano.” Conclusions about the effectiveness of the revised cars for the race in Valencia he will not pull so: “I hope we will be a bit faster. But the other teams have in recent weeks certainly looked not just television.”
His anger at the slow backbenchers, who had him last resided in Montreal when lapping and possibly cost the victory, has now subsided, “We have 19 races, there is like from that. It is the same for everyone,” he says. Next year the residue of the three new teams would not be so big: “You are entered in this year at very short notice and are rankommen closer,” said Alonso.

There were high hopes of a remarkable racing car on January 31^st when the Renault R30 was unveiled, with a front wing that resembles very much the 2009 version, even though Alonso had pinpointed that that was precisely one of the main problems of the 2009 car.

Nevertheless, next day the car that made its debut in the racetrack and the characteristics of the front wing of three stacked elements was totally different.  Specifically, it’s very similar to the one that McLaren has.

The changes made on the R30 are very deep and one has to pay much attention.  The rear wing is also new, with a drop in the middle where the sharp fin gives it the aerodynamic support.

The nose’s cone is absolutely different from the rest of the scuderias, contrary to the 2010 trend which is V shaped.  Even though it is still a bit bulky, it lacks the extra protuberance underneath, with the purpose of gaining more resistance.

The wings are a clear evolution and contrary to the other three cars previously launched by Renault, the R30 has huge sidepod air inlets that extend down to the vehicle’s floor.  Instead of rectangular air inlets (more conventional) they are bigger in the high part than in the low one.

There’s no doubt that the team is quite interested in the temperature, because over the engine’s cover are connected heat stickers.  The engine’s exhaust have been moved towards the back and more to the middle of the car.

Specifications

• Chassis: Molded carbon fiber and aluminum honeycomb composite monocoque, manufactured by the Renault F1 Team and designed for maximum strength with minimum weight. RS27-2010 V8 engine installed as a fully-stressed member.
• Front suspension: Carbon fiber top and bottom wishbones operate an inboard rocker via a pushrod system. This is connected to a torsion bar and damper units which are mounted inside the front of the monocoque. Aluminum uprights and OZ machined magnesium wheels.
• Rear suspension: Carbon fiber top and bottom wishbones with pushrod operated torsion bars and transverse-mounted damper units mounted in the top of the gearbox casing. Aluminum uprights and OZ machined magnesium wheels.
• Transmission: Seven-speed semi-automatic titanium gearbox with reverse gear. “Quickshift” system in operation to maximize speed of gearshifts.
• Fuel system: Kevlar-reinforced rubber fuel cell by ATL.
• Cooling system: Separate oil and water radiators located in the car’s sidepods and cooled using airflow from the car’s forward motion.
• Electrical: MES-Microsoft Standard Electronic Control Unit.
• Braking system: Carbon discs and pads (Hitco); calipers and master cylinders by AP Racing.
• Cockpit: Removable driver’s seat made of anatomically formed carbon composite, with six-point harness seat belt by OMP Racing. Steering wheel integrates gear change and clutch paddles, front flap adjuster.

Car dimensions and weight

• Front track: 1450 mm
• Rear track: 1.400 mm
• Overall length: 5050 mm (250 mm more than R29)
• Overall height: 950 mm
• Overall width: 1800 mm
• Overall weight: 620 kg, with driver and cameras

Engine

• Designation: Renault RS27-2010
• Capacity: 2400 cc
• Architecture: 90° V8
• Weight: 95 kg
• Max rpm: 18.000 rpm
• ECU: McLaren Electronics Standard ECU
• Fuel: TOTAL
• Battery: Renault F1 Team

Subsequent to the first two testing days where the single-seaters were seen, there are aerodynamic solutions for all tastes.  During these days, it has been surprising how the engineers have hurried to cover the diffusers when the single-seaters enter the boxes.  Funny, because some moments later they’re back in the racetrack and it would be difficult to run after the car to cover the diffuser, wouldn’t it?

Leaving the “funny” note aside, let’s take a look at how the aerodynamics of the seven scuderias that have been presented in these official tests at the Valencian circuit have evolved.  I must say that it’s not an analysis of the aerodynamics, but of some visible changes.

FERRARI

The engineers of the Italian ‘scuderia’ chose to change the nose and wing in a significant way.

The nose seems to be lower than last year’s increasing its descending curve, with a softened V form (below, in the photo gallery you can enlarge the picture to see in more detail.)

For 2010, Ferrari has initially chosen to include a sharp fin, similar to the one that became fashionable with Red Bull, last year.

MERCEDES

No doubt, one of the cars with more changes, if we take the Brawn GP as reference.  The nose is even lower than Ferrari’s, with less tip and more rounded.  Very similar to last year’s well-known Red Bull design.

Contrary to the rest of the scuderias, they have selected a short tail behind the air inlet over the pilot (engine’s lid).

RENAULT

Renault does not contribute with any extraordinary changes in its front, following its aerodynamic philosophy of a robust appearance, “rough” nose. It has a descending angle, but lacks the famous V shape that can be seen in other single-seaters.

Just as it finished last season, Renault uses a great sharp fin as engine lid.

MCLAREN

The MP-4 follows an evolution from its previous model, without the V shape used by Ferrari or Mercedes.  Its nose is rounded and seems higher than others,’ even though, the front double wing is wider and have joined the “sharp fin” fashion.

Peculiar interpretation of the sharp fin, since it almost finishes in the rear aileron.  However, we’re still investigating the camera options on the single-seaters.  Note that Ferrari, McLaren and Williams “have an integrated periscope.”

WILLIAMS

Aside from the periscope, its possible the single-seater with less changes of all that we have seen (a priori).  The characteristics that stand out the most are a very flat and high nose, together with a front double aileron.

Hopefully, tomorrow we’ll go to another place where we can see the rear of the car, because we’ve heard that’s the part of the single-seater with more changes.

BMW SAUBER

As you can appreciate in this photograph, aerodynamically it seems like a completely new single-seater.  A nose with little drop, and a long but mostly high “sharp fin.”

When I say ‘high’, I mean that it does not fall as other scuderias’, but it’s rather a great extension of the air intake.

TORO ROSSO

The new Toro Rosso’s nose follows the trend of its previous model with only some slight touches.  However, the rear section is the one that has had the most evolution in 2010.

The sharp fin is an innovation joining with the rear aileron of the racing car.  The idea is to transfer the most quantity of air possible to the rear aileron.  Is that a solution to get extra grip?

Awaiting to see “the revolutionary USF1″ that according to the North Americans breaks with anything ever seen, this year the scuderias have changed a great deal the exterior of the racing cars.  Enjoy the gallery.