F1 Fantasy Racings

Red Bull reveals ‘slightly ugly’ RB8

Nicky — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:46:43 +0000

Adrian Newey on Monday admitted his latest creation, the title-defending RB8, is a “slightly ugly looking” Red Bull.
The reigning champions unveiled the car in which Sebastian Vettel will push for a third consecutive drivers’ title, and like most other models seen so far in 2012, it has a controversial ‘stepped nose’.

Designer Newey said the car is yet another evolution of the 2009 model, the RB5.

“We’ve kept more or less the same chassis shape, but had to drop the nose just in front of the front bulkhead, which, in common with many other teams, has led us to I think I’d probably say a slightly ugly looking nose,” said the Briton.

“We’ve tried to style it as best we can, but it’s not a feature you would choose to put in were it not for the regulation.”

Newey admitted there is “pressure” to stay ahead of the pack in 2012, confessing that while he enjoys regulation changes, he laments the FIA’s “restriction” in the area of exhaust blowing.

“Whether that will affect us more than other people is difficult to know of course,” he said.

“We designed the RB7, last year’s car, around that exhaust position and were probably the only people to do so, so it may be that we’ve lost more than other people through that.

“Only time will tell, it will be good to get out to do some testing and to see where we get to.”

© 2012, www.fantasyracings.com. All rights reserved. The total or partial reproduction of text, photographs or illustrations is not permitted in any form. Copyright by F1 Teams Media Departaments, (GMM) and (CIAM)

Alguersuari announces no F1 role for 2012

Nicky — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:49:08 +0000

Jaime Alguersuari has announced he will be absent from the formula one paddock in 2012.
After two and a half seasons and at just 21-years-old, the Spaniard has lost his Toro Rosso race seat.

And the final spot on the 2012 grid, at the Spanish team HRT, has been secured by Narain Karthikeyan.

There has been speculation Toro Rosso sponsor Cepsa was unhappy with Red Bull’s decision to dump Alguersuari, but the Faenza based team announced that the Spanish oil company is staying on board for 2012.

It has also been rumoured Cepsa’s Abu Dhabi links could see Alguersuari become third driver at Mercedes this year.

Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo said an announcement about the driver’s plans is due imminently.

“You will not see me there this year but I am content with the super experience formula one has given me for my life,” Alguersuari wrote in Spanish and Castilian Spanish on his Twitter page.

“Thank you all very much for your support,” he added.

Lotus reveals 2012 car with stepped nose

Nicky — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:39:42 +0000

Lotus has become the fourth formula one team to reveal a 2012 car design with a controversial ‘stepped’ front nose design.
The former Renault team’s black and gold E20 was launched on the internet on Sunday from its headquarters at Enstone.

Nose aside, another point of interest on the E20 is the disappearance of last year’s innovative front-exiting exhausts.

“Our forward exhausts would now be illegal under the new rules and didn’t live up to our expectations in any case,” said technical director James Allison.

A second E20 is already at Jerez for the opening test of the pre-season.

Chairman Gerard Lopez, however, said the car is not likely to return the world championships to the former title-winning Renault and Benetton team.

“In 2012 we want to finish in fourth position or higher in the championship. Beyond that our aspirations are higher,” he said.

Sauber joins ‘stepped nose’ club with C31

Nicky — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:30:23 +0000

Sauber on Monday joined the growing ‘stepped nose’ club by revealing its C31.
The Swiss team’s new Ferrari-powered car – boasting a modified grey, white and red livery – was revealed at Jerez before its initial laps “for filming purposess” ahead of the opening pre-season test.

Like most other cars revealed so far in 2012, the Sauber features the controversial ‘stepped wing’ solution.

Also spotted at Jerez was Toro Rosso’s new car, which has a stepped nose as welll. The Ferrari-powered TR7 will be launched later on Monday, as will Red Bull’s title-defending RB8.

Boss admits launch McLaren had ‘plastic’ exhausts

Nicky — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:24:45 +0000

Martin Whitmarsh has admitted that the launch version of McLaren’s new MP4-27 car featured a dummy diffuser and ‘plastic’ exhaust exits.
With exhaust-blown diffusers effectively banned for 2012, the big technical talking point will be how the designers claw back that lost downforce.

McLaren gave nothing away last week, installing a fake diffuser and plastic exhausts on the version of the MP4-27 launched at Woking.

“The exhaust was made of plastic, you won’t see those components in that form again,” team boss Whitmarsh confirmed to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

On the F2012 car launched by Ferrari, the Italian team had hidden the exhausts altogether, even though there was no hiding the front ‘pullrod’ suspension layout, which has not been seen on an F1 car for a decade.

“The big teams have the budget to make these sorts of parts just for the launches,” complained Force India’s chief operating officer Otmar Szafnauer.

“The car seen at our launch is certainly a lot closer to its final configuration than the McLaren or Ferrari,” he added.

McLaren and Ferrari will, of course, have to run real diffusers and exhausts this week at Jerez, where the first of just three pre-season tests begins on Tuesday.

But Whitmarsh noted: “The car will look different at Jerez to what it looked last week, and a lot different in Australia.

“At the weekend at Idiada (Spain) we did an aero test where we had a series of news parts that were not on the car at Woking.”

Ferrari designer Nikolas Tombazis confirmed that the exhaust is now a main focus of the 2012 designs.

“There will be a lot of work before the configuration is final,” he is quoted in La Stampa newspaper.

On Monday, the new Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Sauber cars will be launched.

Whiting: Teams to blame for ‘ugly’ field of 2012

Nicky — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:19:13 +0000

The teams are to blame for the ‘ugly’ 2012 cars seen so far, according to FIA technical delegate Charlie Whiting.
Of the five new cars seen already, the Ferrari, Lotus, Force India and Caterham models feature a radical ‘stepped’ nose.

Though the new McLaren sports a sleeker line, the less attractive solutions are a quirk of the 2012 rules.

This year, the FIA is requiring the tips of the noses to be lower in order to protect drivers’ heads in the event of T-bone crashes.

“We wanted to lower the survival cell to minimise the consequences of a crash into the side of another car,” Whiting is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

“But some of the engineers complained that they would have to build entirely new cars due to the accommodation of the suspension elements.

“So that’s why we came up with making the new height requirement relevant not to the chassis but to the nose (only),” he explained.

While pundits and fans initially lambasted the ‘stepped’ nose when seen for the first time on the Caterham, the hubbub is now becoming more muted.

“You criticise it on the first car but when you see it on the second or third you sort of accept it,” former Jordan and Jaguar designer Gary Anderson agreed, according to Reuters.

Agreed Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo to Italy’s Sky Sport 24: “It’s ugly but the hope above all else is to win.

“The drivers just want it to be fast, without thinking if it’s beautiful or ugly.”

Ferrari designer Nikolas Tombazis added: “The nose? It’s not pleasant but it’s very efficient.”

Touring car and Indy offers for Sutil

Nicky — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:09:39 +0000

Adrian Sutil looks set to keep his motor racing career alive in a category outside of formula one.
The 29-year-old has been fully focused on F1 since 2006, when he was a test driver with the Midland (now Force India) team.

He moved into the Silverstone based squad’s race seat the following season, but lost his place for 2012 as Nico Hulkenberg stepped up from the reserve role.

German Sutil has also run into legal trouble due to the Eric Lux assault affair, resulting in a criminal conviction for grievous bodily harm.

His best option to keep racing this year, therefore, could be an offer from a World Touring Car Championship team, German newspaper Bild reports.

Another offer on Sutil’s table is from an Indycar team, the report added.

“Our focus is on returning to formula one,” his manager Manfred Zimmermann commented.

Marko: 2012 Red Bull ‘not as ugly as Ferrari’

Nicky — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:01:09 +0000

Dr Helmut Marko on Sunday gave the F1 world a sneak-preview of Red Bull’s title-defending 2012 car.
A day before it debuts at Jerez, the Renault-powered RB8 will be revealed on Monday.

And the launch of Adrian Newey’s next creation has become even more eagerly anticipated after rival top teams Ferrari and McLaren unveiled their 2012 machines.

Like the Caterham and Force India, Ferrari’s car – the F2012 – has been derided for its ‘ugly’ nose.

The McLaren, however, has a sleek aerodynamic shape at the front.

Asked about the unattractive Ferrari solution, Red Bull’s Marko insisted: “We have something that looks a lot better.

“Our car is not as ugly as the Ferrari, but it’s also not like the McLaren, which doesn’t have a kink in the nose at all.

“Ours is just a bit smaller and more elegant (than the Ferrari solution),” the Austrian added.

Also yet to be seen is the 2012 Mercedes, with the German marque’s Norbert Haug promising: “The most beautiful car will be the one at the front.”

Sutil not axed due to Lux assault affair

Nicky — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:37:51 +0000

The assault charge had nothing to do with Adrian Sutil losing his race seat, Force India has insisted.
Prior to the German being convicted of grievous bodily harm by the Munich courts, his Silverstone based employer decided to replace him for 2012 with Nico Hulkenberg.

But Sutil’s pending hearing “never even came into our thinking” when the decision was taken, Force India’s deputy boss Bob Fernley is quoted by the BBC.

Rather, Fernley said the team “had to look at where we felt our long-term strengths lay”.

“Adrian had been with us for a number of years, and we genuinely believed the future with us was with Paul (di Resta) and Nico,” he added.

Fernley conceded, however, that 29-year-old Sutil’s charge – following an altercation with Lotus team executive Eric Lux last April – put “enormous pressure” on Force India.

And he admitted that the same pressure might be felt by the German’s next employer.

“What I am not sure of, and we’ve not been able to take it in yet, is what the impact will be on his racing career,” said Fernley.

“I don’t think it will affect him totally, but sponsors and everybody else might have some different views.”

Williams has not run 2012 car yet

Nicky — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:04:43 +0000

Contrary to reports, Williams has not yet debuted its 2012 car.
It was said the British team ran the unlaunched FW34 at the Idiada facility near Barcelona, with tester Valtteri Bottas at the wheel.

In fact, “the shakedown could not take place due to bad weather conditions,” a spokesperson is quoted as saying in the German press.

Pastor Maldonado will instead give the newly Renault-powered car its maiden outing, at Jerez on Tuesday.

With the rollout of the new Ferrari cancelled in Italy due to similarly bad weather, it means the Force India is the first 2012 car to have run on a circuit.

Paul di Resta drove the VJM05 at Silverstone after its launch on Friday.

“It looks good and it feels great and I look forward to running it again in Jerez on Tuesday,” the Scot is quoted by the Guardian.

Sauber not replacing departed tech boss Key

Nicky — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:58:10 +0000

Sauber’s technical director James Key has left the Swiss team.
In a media statement, the Ferrari-powered outfit said Key, a Briton who switched from Force India in 2010, has accepted an unspecified “new role” in his native UK.

Sauber’s design and development will now be handled by “the department heads for aerodynamics, design, performance and operations”, the team added.

“We would like to thank him (Key) for his efforts and wish him all the best for his future,” said boss Peter Sauber.

Sauber said operating without a technical director “has proved to work well at other racing outfits”.

Ferrari to beam launch live on Friday morning

Nicky — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:07:09 +0000

Having cancelled its media launch event due to the snowy weather in Italy, Ferrari is preparing for a live internet reveal of its 2011 car on Friday morning.
Hot on the heels of the McLaren launch, and on the same day as the unveiling at Silverstone of Force India’s new car, Ferrari will show its 2012 single seater at 10am central European time, the Maranello based team said.

“The livery has been completed one hour ago and now we’re doing the photo shooting inside the logistic building,” said Ferrari on Twitter.

“This is always a special night, the one before the unveiling,” added the team late on Thursday.

An article in Autosprint said that the possible official names for the 2012 car are F2012, F12 or perhaps F2012-AA, in honour of the 60th anniversary this year of Alberto Ascari’s 1952 championship title.

Elsewhere, Williams gave its 2012 car, the newly Renault-powered FW34, its private track debut along the straight line at Idiada proving ground outside Barcelona on Thursday.

Finnish test driver Valtteri Bottas was driving.

And Pedro de la Rosa – the only confirmed HRT driver so far for 2012 – on Thursday had his seat fitted and pedals adjusted in readiness to test the Spanish team’s old car at Jerez next week.

“Impressed by what I have seen today at HRT,” the former McLaren test driver said on Twitter. “Great effort in less than three months. Good job guys.”

Whiting to attend Jerez amid legality rumours

Nicky — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:10:41 +0000

The teams, the fans and the world’s media will not be the only ones with their eyes firmly on the action at Jerez next week.
It is rumoured Charlie Whiting, the technical delegate of formula one’s governing FIA, has scheduled to attend the first test of the 2012 pre-season.

The news follows speculation some teams are flying too close to the limits of the regulations with their new cars, notwithstanding the banning of blown exhausts.

At the launch of the new McLaren, for instance, the exhausts and the diffuser were carefully hidden.

“The fact of the matter is that exhausts exist on a car, you have to have them, they blow gas,” said the team’s technical director Paddy Lowe.

“That will always generate some performance, a finite level of performance.”

When the very aggressive-looking new Ferrari was unveiled in Italy on Friday, team president Luca di Montezemolo said he hoped arguments about the rules would not overshadow 2012.

“There are reports that … Whiting may travel to Jerez next week due to concerns over the designs of the new cars,” correspondent Tom Cary wrote in the Telegraph.

New Ferrari, Force India have ‘ugly’ noses

Nicky — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:54:50 +0000

McLaren was left the odd-one-out on Friday, as Ferrari and Force India joined Caterham in launching new cars with ‘ugly’ noses.
The odd feature – a quirk of new regulations – is the centrepiece of Ferrari’s new F2012, launched on Friday morning at Maranello, and the Mercedes-powered Force India VJM05, whose covers were pulled off in the chilly Silverstone pitlane.

“(The car) looks very different actually from what we have seen in the past two years,” said Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso.

Agreed Felipe Massa: “Let me tell you that it looks very aggressive.”

Telegraph correspondent Tom Cary, however, had another view, insisting the Ferrari, Force India and Caterham have “nasty nose jobs”.

But McLaren’s new MP4-27 features a clean aerodynamic line at the front.

“It’s a bit of a hot topic this year,” Andrew Green, Force India’s technical director, acknowledged to Sky Sports.

“Obviously a lot of people commented on the McLaren a couple of days ago. For us, it’s not a big deal. It’s purely aesthetics.”

Paddy Lowe, McLaren’s technical boss, said the team had retained a more conventional look because last year’s car already had a “philosophy” in line with the new rules.

“You can’t see performance necessarily by eye, it’s a matter of fine-tuning the balance between all the relevant aspects,” he insisted.

Q&A with Narain Karthikeyan

Nicky — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:50:30 +0000

After being confirmed recently as an official driver for HRT F1 Team for 2012, the Indian driver shares his views on the upcoming season.

Q: It has finally been revealed that you will occupy the last seat available as an official driver, how are you facing this new challenge in Formula 1?

NK: It all really started after the Indian GP, where we had a good performance which led to the belief that I am still competitive to drive in Formula 1. It is no secret how difficult it is to stay in F1 at this time, but I ensured that I was physically and mentally ready for any opportunity that arose. So I can’t wait to get back in the car and return to action once again.

Q: The uncertainty you’ve faced in the period spanning from the end of last season until the moment you’ve been confirmed can’t have been easy to handle. What have you done to keep yourself occupied?

NK: Well, there were more ups and downs than I can remember, positive and negative days – sometimes I just gave up but it was quickly followed by yet another glimmer of hope. It was exhausting mentally, but like the adage goes, all’s well that ends well.

There was plenty to keep me occupied during the winter though, like I said earlier I trained as hard as I would have if my drive was confirmed last season; fitness is critical in F1 and racing in general. Then there were lots of discussions, which meant a lot of travelling – flights, hotel stays and those sorts of things. So I didn’t have a whole lot of time to sit and mull over things, to be honest.

Q: This will be your third season in Formula 1, what targets have you set yourself?

NK: As far as results go, it largely depends on the development of the car, although I must say that things are looking promising. Otherwise, I have no doubts in my ability, I am extremely confident as last year and after the first few races, I drove better than ever. So I’ll be pushing hard no doubt about that.

A lot of things change this year even though it is the same team, and I am sure it’ll be for the better. The new management is wholly focused on all-round improvement and from what I have seen – they will do so.

Q: Practically the whole structure is new with respect to 2011, what sensations have the new directors given you?

NK: The team has some very capable and experienced people on-board now, like the new Team Principal Luis Pérez-Sala and my teammate Pedro de la Rosa. So things are definitely changing for the better ever since the new owners have taken over. Saul (Ruiz de Marco, HRT F1 CEO) has a very good approach to what F1 should be, by applying his entrepreneurship experience to the team and I’m sure that it will lead to better things. Everyone knows it is impossible to change things in F1 overnight but we have certainly taken strides in the right direction.

Q: How would you define yourself as a driver?

NK: One thing’s for sure – I never give up. I’m here, against all odds and expectations, which wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. I have worked incredibly hard, I believe in my ability and know that I am as quick as anyone else out there.

Q: What do you know about and what would you highlight about your teammate Pedro de la Rosa?

NK: My first ever test was with Jaguar in 2001 and I remember Pedro was the team driver at the time. Even though I don’t know him very well, I know that he’s very experienced and from what I’ve seen, has a pleasant personality. We should be getting on well – it is not about trying to beat each other but working harmoniously to help the team progress as a whole. Healthy competition will collectively allow us to get the maximum out of the car and fast-forward the development process.

He has a vast amount of developmental experience with a front-running team – so it’ll count a lot for the team in terms of approaching things and making the most out of our resources.

Q: What do you think you can contribute to the team this year?

NK: I am going to push as hard as possible, both inside and outside the cockpit and do whatever it takes to help the team progress in its rejuvenated form. Continuity is important in Formula 1 so I’m sure we’ll hit the ground running this year starting with some actual pre-season testing unlike last season where I first drove the new car on the opening race weekend in Australia. So there is all the incentive for me to ensure that I carry the team forward by delivering results and ensuring that nothing is left on the table as far as performance is concerned.

Q: Coming from a country with not much motorsport tradition, what led you to pursue the dream of making it to Formula 1?

NK: Ever since I started my racing career, I had just one goal in mind – Formula 1. It was definitely an unconventional dream to have, considering we had very little by the way of motorsport in India. Understandably, at the time I failed to realise what an uphill task it was. A more concrete picture emerged when I started racing in Europe, and it was during that time I came to terms with the harsh realities in earnest. We didn’t know the right steps to get to F1, but several setbacks made my resolve only stronger and my perseverance ultimately paid off when I made my debut in 2005.

Q: Last year you made history by becoming the first Indian driver ever to race at the Indian GP. What dreams do you have left to fulfill?

NK: For me, Formula 1 is a continued dream, it is always ultra-competitive and competing at the pinnacle of the sport is what I love. So I am very happy to have the opportunity to continue living my dream and I have every intention to make the best out of it.

Karthikeyan completes 2012 grid with HRT deal

Nicky — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:42:51 +0000

HRT, the Spanish team that until now had the final vacancy on the 2012 grid, has finally completed its race driver lineup by signing Narain Karthikeyan.
The Indian began last year’s championship with the back-of-the-grid outfit before he was replaced by Red Bull protege Daniel Ricciardo.

But with Australian Ricciardo moving to Toro Rosso for 2012, 35-year-old Karthikeyan – who briefly returned for his home race in India late last season – has taken back his full-time seat.

The news is a blow to Vitantonio Liuzzi, who had acknowledged that a driver with higher-paying sponsors could oust him for 2012 despite his long-term contract.

Karthikeyan will be Pedro de la Rosa’s teammate.

“It has taken a lot of hard work to make this happen but I am absolutely elated to feature on the 2012 grid with HRT F1 team,” he said in a statement on Friday.

De la Rosa will begin HRT’s pre-season preparations at Jerez next week, before Karthikeyan drives at the second test, at Barcelona.

Button wants to avoid retiring too soon

Nicky — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:21:40 +0000

While his teammate’s plans beyond this year are unclear, McLaren driver Jenson Button is sure his career is on the right track.
Lewis Hamilton has been making headlines this week after saying he wants to think about his future beyond 2012 – when his existing contract expires – soon.

“Probably, after the first couple of races, it’s something we will probably want to get out of the way, probably in the earlier part of the year rather than later,” said the Briton.

2011 championship runner-up Button, however, inked a new multi-year contract last season, now telling the Sun newspaper that at the age of 32, it is too soon to think about retiring.

Agreeing that 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen’s return to F1 this year is good for F1, Button said: “It also tells me not to leave F1 too early.”

Also among the six world champions on the 2012 grid is Michael Schumacher, who returned two years ago at the age of 41.

“Two of the six champions have left and come back again. You always think the grass is greener but you’ve got to be careful about when you retire,” said Button.

The quality of the 2012 grid is also making predictions about the outcome of the world championship particularly difficult.

“It will be close,” agreed McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh. “It’s a massively competitive championship these days.

“No one, in my view, is going to run away with this victory, not us, not anyone else.”

Alonso: It looks very different from what we have seen in the last two years

Nicky — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:14:59 +0000

With the launch event at Maranello cancelled due to heavy snow covering the entire area, the reveal of the Ferrari F2012 was done through a series of online streaming interviews with key players including Fenando Alonso who spoke about the new car and the season ahead.

“It looks very different from what we have seen in the last two years,” said Alonso of the F2012 which features a ‘platypus’ style raised nose which first broke cover when the Caterham CT01 was revealed to the world last week.

The Spaniard, who won the Formula 1 world title in 2005 and 2006, is motivated as ever, “This is my third season at Ferrari and I am going to start with the same strength and determination. I want to do great this year.”

“Of course it’ll be quite competitive for the whole season, but we want to see red cars on the podium. We start [testing] next week in Jerez and we keep working together. I am sure we will do well this year.”

“I believe in the skills we have here in Ferrari. We have two months to get ready before the first competition. We have to fight for the title and try and get as many points as possible. We really want to be right at the top of the ranking,” said the Spaniard who has 27 grand prix victories under his belt.

“We have to be as consistent and resolute as possible. I am sure, really, really sure we will be able to achieve great targets and fulfil the great responsibility of driving for Ferrari.”

Szafnauer: Force India needs more staff for F1 tilt

Nicky — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:07:26 +0000

Force India has acknowledged it will not challenge for the world championship until the team is bigger.
Otmar Szafnauer, who is the Silverstone based team’s chief operating officer, told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport that the former Jordan, Midland and Spyker team’s head-count is currently 310.

“Here at Silverstone we have 212, and there are 98 in our aero department in Brackley.

“500 would be too many,” he told the magazine. “We don’t have room for that.

“What is ideal? If we have 330 people next season, fifth place (in the world championship) should be possible.

“Can we be world champion with that? Probably not. We’d need 450.”

The next step for Force India is the inauguration in February of its new driver simulator.

“We are growing cautiously. (This year) five to 10 per cent more people, but only in the departments where we can follow suit with the equipment. CFD for example,” continued Szafnauer.

“In the wind tunnel, we are more limited.”

The issue is that Force India is effectively unchanged since the Jordan days, with departed team founder Eddie Jordan opting instead for the philosophy of minimising infrastructure and paying external suppliers.

“Even if we wanted to buy all the manufacturing machinery in the world tomorrow, we would have nowhere to put it,” explained Szafnauer. “We would need a new factory.

“We have autoclaves that are too small for a chassis or a floor.

“Strategically, it would be better to produce more parts ourselves because of the speed at which you can react.

“We felt that (last year) in the blown diffuser area as we had to wait for some parts, while we could have produced some of them ourselves overnight.”

Force India’s 2012 car, the Mercedes-powered VJM05 with a McLaren gearbox, will be launched at the chilly Silverstone circuit early on Friday morning.

“I’m not getting carried away,” race driver Paul di Resta told the Herald Scotland ahead of his second F1 season.

“A podium will be a massive challenge. We are a midfield team and you have to be realistic. I’m not saying it can’t happen but it will take a lot for us to achieve that.”

Hulkenberg: Sutil deserves to stay in F1

Nicky — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:38:16 +0000

Adrian Sutil deserves to keep his formula one race career alive.
That is the claim of Nico Hulkenberg, the driver who is replacing his German compatriot at Force India in 2012.

Sutil, 29, has failed so far to secure an alternative seat, and days ago was dealt a further blow with a Munich court convicting him of grievous bodily harm for an assault on Lotus team executive Eric Lux last year.

He did, however, have a strong 2011 season, outscoring his teammate Paul di Resta – the Scottish rookie who has retained his race seat – by 15 points.

“Adrian definitely deserves a cockpit — more than some of the other current race drivers,” Hulkenberg, who steps up from the reserve role after losing his Williams race seat at the end of 2010, said.

“There is absolutely no bad blood between us,” the 24-year-old, referring to his relationship with Sutil, told Sport Bild magazine.

He blames the situation – with drivers like Sutil and Rubens Barrichello out in the cold – on ‘pay-drivers’.

“I was one of the few drivers in formula one who don’t need to bring any money,” said Hulkenberg.

“But that so many experienced drivers are without seats shows just how brutal the sport can be.”

His plan for 2012, therefore, is to ensure a place on the 2013 grid.

“At the end of the year I don’t want to have to worry about my seat for the next season,” insisted Hulkenberg.

And he said helping Force India to secure fifth place in the constructors’ world championship – one position better than in 2011 – is another goal for his second season in F1.

The Mercedes-powered VJM05 will be launched on a chilly Friday morning at Silverstone.

Shara Force India show the VJM05 at Silverstone

Nicky — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:04:25 +0000

Sahara Force India unveiled its 2012 challenger today as Paul Di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg pulled the covers off the VJM05 at Silverstone. They were joined by reserve driver, Jules Bianchi, as the team’s new car was presented for the first time.

The VJM05 is the second car to be created under the watch of Technical Director, Andrew Green, as the team seeks to build on its on its sixth place finish in the constructors’ championship and take the fight to the teams that lie ahead.

“We have set our sights on challenging for fifth place,” explained Team Principal and Managing Director, Dr. Vijay Mallya. “To do so we will need to begin the new campaign by delivering the kind of form we showed in the second half of 2011. I believe this is a realistic goal and that we have the talent and determination to realise these ambitions.”

Chief Operating Officer, Otmar Szafnauer, echoed those sentiments as he praised the team’s efforts to develop the VJM05: “The new car has come together nicely over the winter. We don’t know what our competitors have done, but we’ve made some gains over the winter and believe we’re in reasonable shape. It’s going to be difficult in the midfield, but our focus is on starting strongly and improving our position from last season.”

Summing up the approach to 2012, Andrew Green added: “The car looks more refined; a lot racier and a lot more purposeful. You can start to see the aerodynamic concepts coming through now. It looks quite a bit different to the previous years, and so far the performance in the tunnel has been encouraging.”

The drivers were delighted to get their first glimpse of the new car and set out their hopes for the season ahead:

Paul Di Resta: “Seeing the new car built and complete for the first time is always an exciting moment. It’s when you realise that all the waiting is finally over and the season is beginning for real. I’ve had a good winter and I’ve recharged my batteries, but now I’m fully focussed on 2012 and looking forward to the start of testing. There’s a really positive feeling in the team, good stability and hopefully we can pick up where we left off at the end of last year.”

Nico Hulkenberg: “I saw the new car in the wind tunnel a few times and followed its progress during the winter. It looks aggressive and fast, but we won’t know where we stand until we get out there and compete against the others. Preparations for the new season have been full-on with simulator sessions and lots of fitness training. I feel ready to get back to racing and I’m excited to find out what the new car feels like next week.”

Once again the Sahara Force India cars will be powered by the Mercedes engines with gearbox supplied by McLaren Applied Technologies. This will be the second season with the Mercedes KERS.

Barrichello to decide Indycar switch ‘soon’

Nicky — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:37:50 +0000

The likelihood is rising that Rubens Barrichello will switch from formula one to Indycar for the 2012 season.
Left without a race seat after 19 consecutive seasons of grands prix, the 39-year-old Brazilian has been testing this week in Florida with the team of an Indy driver he describes as his “brother”, Tony Kanaan.

Barrichello was scheduled to test at Sebring over two days, but he completed yet another half-day on Wednesday, the Brazilian newspaper O Estado de S.Paulo revealed.

“I don’t know how things are going to move forward now,” he told the correspondent Livio Oricchio. “I have not spoken with (owner) Jimmy Vasser about racing in the season.”

Much has been made about an earlier promise Barrichello made to his wife Silvana about never racing at high speed on American ovals — the kind that claimed the life of Dan Wheldon late last year.

“She has come here (to Sebring) now,” Barrichello revealed, “and today she was supporting me, seeing how happy I am.

“Silvana even joked with Tony, saying that he was to blame for all of my enthusiasm,” he laughed.

The 15-round 2012 season, featuring four oval tracks including the fabled Indy 500 in May, and a city race in Barrichello’s native Sao Paulo, kicks off at the end of March on the streets of St.Petersburg, Florida.

“What is certain is that it (the speculation) will not last long. Whether I race or not will be known soon.

“There is a lot of work still to do and KV (Racing) needs to know its driver,” said Barrichello.

Mateschitz donates EUR 70m to research university

Nicky — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:31:15 +0000

F1 team owner Dietrich Mateschitz has donated a staggering EUR 70 million to a medical research university in his native Austria.
The local ‘Salzburg 24′ reports that the 67-year-old billionaire, whose energy drink company owns the Red Bull and Toro Rosso teams, donated the money to the Paracelsus Medical University.

Mateschitz reportedly wants the money to be used for research into incurable spinal injury and paralysis.

The report said the university was founded in 2002 with Mateschitz’s support.

“This is the third highest amount ever donated to a university in Europe by a private person,” said a university official.

“We are very grateful and also aware of the great responsibility that comes with such a high sum.”

The Spanish press quoted the publicity-shy Mateschitz as saying: “It is a very worthy project and I want to help.”

McLaren denies 2012 car close to legal limits

Nicky — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:27:50 +0000

McLaren has denied that a senior staff member expressed concern the team’s newly-launched 2012 car flies close to the limits of the technical regulations.
The staff member made the comments about the new MP4-27 single seater before it was launched by the British team at its Woking headquarters on Wednesday.

The story was only live on the internet for a short time before it was removed.

After that, members of the media were contacted by McLaren insisting that the quotes had not been accurate.

The saga caught the attention of the widely circulated German newspaper Bild, which wondered: “(the risk of a) protest? So maybe the car is illegal?

“The rivals will now be looking very closely (at the car) at Jerez,” wrote correspondent Frank Schneider.

He said the MP4-27 has “mysterious lumps” on the side, perhaps to “hide the exhausts”.

Spanish sports newspaper Marca’s correspondent Marco Canseco, meanwhile, said the new McLaren is “not revolutionary” at first glance, with the disappearance of the L-shaped sidepods of last year even indicating a “backwards step”.

The exhausts, however – with blown diffusers now banned – were “very well camouflaged” at the launch, “embedded in a strange bulge” at the rear of the engine cover.

The diffuser, added Canseco, is “nonexistent” in the MP4-27′s launch version “to avoid clues being given to the rivals”.

2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, laughed as he revealed that McLaren answered his call for better mirrors in the wake of several incidents last year.

He said the new MP4-27 mirrors are higher and “don’t flap around”, joking that “Felipe (Massa) will be very happy about that”.

McLaren gags Hamilton after Sutil’s “coward” slur

Nicky — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:55:36 +0000

McLaren on Wednesday stopped Lewis Hamilton from responding to former friend Adrian Sutil’s “coward” accusation.
Sutil, the 2008 world champion’s former F3 teammate, has been Hamilton’s closest friend in the paddock throughout their subsequent formula one careers.

But the German slammed his British rival for being “not a man” this week after Hamilton declined to appear as a witness at Sutil’s assault trial in Munich.

Despite sitting alongside Sutil in the Shanghai nightclub last April, Hamilton claimed in a written statement to the court he could not remember the details of the alleged assault on Lotus team executive Eric Lux.

“I do not want to be friends with someone like that,” Sutil, referring to Hamilton, said after receiving a 18-month suspended jail term and EUR 200,000 fine for grievous bodily harm.

A reporter asked Hamilton about Sutil’s anger following the launch on Wednesday of the 2012 McLaren car.

Before the Briton could answer, a McLaren spokesman intervened: “We’ve been told that Lewis shouldn’t really go there because it (the conviction) might go under appeal.

“So can we move on to the next question,” he added.

Hamilton told the reporter: “I’ll listen to him.”

The winner of 17 grands prix had a tumultuous season on and off the track in 2011 but on Wednesday thanked McLaren for granting him a long winter break that left him feeling “fresh” for the new year.

“What I have decided to do this year is just focus on the most important thing and that’s racing,” said Hamilton.

He also hopes to quickly ease rumours about his expiring McLaren contract.

“I think probably after the first couple of races it’s something we will probably want to get out of the way so we can focus on the rest of the year without the team being concerned and without it being something that’s just hanging around for us.

“Then you guys won’t be having to ask questions about it,” he smiled to reporters.

Snow to spoil 2012 Ferrari’s track debut

Nicky — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:53:38 +0000

Snow looks set to spoil the scheduled debut on Friday of Ferrari’s 2012 car.
The Italian team had intended to give its new single seater a shakedown debut after its covers are pulled off at Maranello on Friday, or on the following day.

But on Wednesday, surrounding schools were closed for the rest of the week and Ferrari’s Fiorano test track is shrouded in snow, with the team announcing there is “no sign of a let up” in the weather.

Ferrari also said temperatures are dropping well below zero, ensuring “icy roads”.

“It now looks as though there is little chance of carrying out the planned promotional filming featuring action shots of the car at the Fiorano track,” said the team.

“Even if the snow was to stop it’s hard to imagine that the escape roads could be cleared of their blanket of snow which is gradually building up.”

A spokesman added, however, that work to set up the infrastructure to host the launch ceremony at Fiorano “is still going ahead, even if it is not proving straightforward”.

Team boss Stefano Domenicali said recently the Ferrari launch event will be “very conventional”.

The car is now likely to make its debut alongside its 2012 rivals at Jerez next week.

New McLaren ‘beautiful’ not ugly says Button

Nicky — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:34:40 +0000

The assembled world of F1 was surprised on Wednesday when Jenson Button declared the 2012 McLaren “beautiful”.
With the new Caterham featuring a radically-stepped front nose, and Ferrari also preparing to unveil a less-than-attractive single seater, most insiders expected the entire field of 2012 to be ‘ugly’.

“This is a beautiful car,” said 2009 world champion Button when the MP4-27 was unveiled to the media at Woking.

“Many of the others you will see won’t be,” smiled the Briton.

He is referring to the fact that, while the new regulations require a lower extremity of the nose section, the aerodynamic shape at the front of the McLaren remains smooth.

The MP4-27 will be debuted in team youngster Oliver Turvey’s hands at an aerodynamic test this weekend, before Button drives it at the opening of the Jerez test.

“It may look like a direct evolution of last year’s car, but we’ve analysed every area of performance over the winter and the whole car has benefited from lots of fresh thinking and new ideas in every area,” said Button.

Ecclestone backs Webber to shine in 2012

Nicky — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:15:33 +0000

Bernie Ecclestone has once again backed Mark Webber to shine in 2012.
Australian Webber came close to winning the championship in 2010, but ultimately it is his young teammate Sebastian Vettel who is the reigning back-to-back title winner, having utterly dominated last season.

And it is likely Adrian Newey has penned another field-beater yet again for 2012.

“I don’t want Red Bull to dominate in the same way but I fear that’s what will happen. That’s why I put my hopes on Mark Webber’s shoulders,” F1 chief executive Ecclestone said recently.

Webber turns 36 later this year and many tip Red Bull to replace him with one of rookie team Toro Rosso’s new chargers for 2013.

But Ecclestone insists it is not too late for the Australian.

“I think he could win, yes for sure,” he is quoted by the Herald Sun.

“I think you are going to see a different Mark this year. What he has to do is come to appreciate that Sebastian is quick, and he has to make sure he is quicker.

“(And) get it out of his head that people are not supporting him because they actually are.”

No FIA consequences for convicted Sutil

Nicky — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:32:21 +0000

Adrian Sutil’s manager on Tuesday said the German driver is free to return to formula one.
29-year-old Sutil had emerged from a Munich court with a criminal conviction for grievous bodily harm, an 18-month suspended jail term and EUR 200,000 fine.

The former Force India driver also has no job at present.

“I can not say whether anyone in the sport wants to work with me,” he was quoted on Tuesday by the SID news agency.

Sutil’s manager Manfred Zimmermann, however, said the path is clear for his client to resume his career.

“This (conviction) does not mean Adrian has no future in formula one. There will be no consequences with the FIA and his driving ability has never suffered.”

His conviction is for attacking Lotus team executive Eric Lux in a Shanghai nightclub last April.

“The only positive thing is that I am now at peace with Mr Lux. At least it’s over,” Sutil said after Tuesday’s hearing.

“Maybe I’ll take a break, maybe I’ll do something completely different.”

The judge Christiane Thiemann said Sutil is lucky not to be heading to jail.

“Penalties exceeding one year are normally not suspended,” said the judge, explaining that Sutil’s current situation and his clean criminal record were taken into consideration.

Thiemann added that the punishment is “sufficient” and would probably have “serious professional consequences” for the F1 driver.

Suspended sentence, fine, for guilty Sutil

Nicky — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:35:29 +0000

A Munich court on Tuesday found Adrian Sutil guilty of grievous bodily harm, wire news services reported.
The former Force India was on trial for attacking Lotus team executive Eric Lux in a Shanghai nightclub last April.

The court imposed an 18-month suspended jail sentence and ordered the 29-year-old to pay EUR 200,000 to charity, the BBC, Associated Press and Reuters said.

It is not clear what effect the conviction will have on the status of the German driver’s mandatory F1 superlicense.

Abu Dhabi link could power Alguersuari to Mercedes

Nicky — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:29:55 +0000

After his Toro Rosso ousting, Jaime Alguersuari could emerge with the Mercedes team in 2012.
The Spanish sports daily AS reports that Ipic, Abu Dhabi’s international petroleum investment company, is unhappy with Red Bull for ousting the young Spaniard from its driver programme.

IPIC owns the Spanish oil company Cepsa, which last year became a major Toro Rosso sponsor.

Alguersuari, according to the report, “had become the image of the company in its international expansion plans”.

Through its investment vehicle Aabar, Abu Dhabi is also involved in F1 as a significant shareholder and sponsor of the works Mercedes team.

AS said the Abu Dhabi link could see Alguersuari, 21, line up as the official reserve driver for Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg this year.

The report added that an Abu Dhabi-backed Alguersuari could be important to Mercedes, amid rumours the team’s title sponsor Petronas might leave the sport.

Petronas, the Malaysian oil company, recently stopped sponsoring the Yamaha team in MotoGP.

McLaren plays down link with Pollock’s Pure

Nicky — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:10:37 +0000

McLaren has played down reports its cars could be powered by engines produced by Craig Pollock’s new venture Pure in 2014.
Former BAR founder Pollock is targeting at least two customers for his new turbo V6 engine, and Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport said there has been contact between Pure and McLaren.

With Mercedes now running its own works team and no longer even a minor McLaren shareholder, the Woking based team faces the prospect of paying for its power beyond this season.

Gazzetta said the change in engine rules would be the ideal time for McLaren to switch.

“McLaren has had absolutely no contact with Pure for many months,” a McLaren spokesman told Reuters.

“Moreover, the contact we did have with Pure, many months ago, was of an entirely informal nature, and was merely a courtesy gesture.”

In late November, reports linked McLaren with rumours Honda is looking to return to F1 in 2014 as an engine supplier.

“We are very happy with and enjoying our partnership with Mercedes-Benz,” team managing director Jonathan Neale insisted at the time.

Indycar boss urges Barrichello to switch

Nicky — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:51:22 +0000

Indycar’s boss has admitted he would “love” longest-serving F1 veteran Rubens Barrichello to switch codes for 2012.
Having lost his race seat after a record-setting 19 consecutive seasons, the 39-year-old Brazilian is this week testing the 2012 Indycar in Florida, with his close friend and KV team driver Tony Kanaan also in action.

Barrichello has previously ruled out racing on dangerous American ovals, citing a promise to his wife Silvana, but now he is not ruling out the switch.

“By the time he gets out of the car he’ll have a pretty good idea what he wants to do,” countryman Kanaan said.

“Right now, we don’t have anyone signed for the other two cars. You can tell by his face he’s having a lot of fun.”

Indycar chief executive Randy Bernard is hopeful Barrichello will make the decision to race in 2012.

“He’s a champion, a driver who would be a tremendous addition to a series,” he is quoted by the Associated Press. “Indycar would love to have him.”

Bernard is quoted by racintoday.com: “If there is a transition, I want him to know that we’re here to help him.”

Bianchi says Ferrari ‘worked hard’ for career

Nicky — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:38:58 +0000

Jules Bianchi has thanked Ferrari for helping him make the next step in his formula one career.
On the face of it, the Frenchman’s switch from Ferrari to the same reserve role at Force India is a backwards move.

But the new deal involves driving on the Fridays of grand prix weekends, while in the same role last year Nico Hulkenberg successfully found his way onto the race grid for 2012.

Some reports have suggested Ferrari wanted to clear the reserve role so that it is free for Robert Kubica to step in this year with a view to replacing Felipe Massa in 2012.

While Kubica’s Ferrari link could be true, the famous Italian team is undoubtedly still pushing on 22-year-old Bianchi’s career.

Indeed, he has been training in the Canary islands in the past days with Ferrari’s Massa and Fernando Alonso.

And “Jules will still be part of the Ferrari driver academy” in 2012, the team confirmed.

Even Bianchi reinforced the fact the Ferrari connection is still very much alive.

“I’m very happy. I want to say thank you to Ferrari who have been working hard for me,” he told the French-language RMC Sport.

“It was very important to find a team and the aim now is to find the way to keep going,” added Bianchi.

Reports hint at Ferrari test for Kubica in June

Nicky — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:31:11 +0000

Robert Kubica’s comeback could be at the wheel of a turbocharged 2010 Ferrari, according to reports in the Italian media.
It emerged this week that, despite the recent setback of a re-broken leg after an icy fall, the Pole could be only months away from attempting some laps in a F1 simulator.

As for his track return, it is rumoured Ferrari sees Kubica as a potential test driver, with a view to ultimately becoming Fernando Alonso’s teammate.

The new Italian reports say a private test at Fiorano in June or July at the wheel of a two-year old Ferrari equipped with the marque’s 2014-specification turbo V6 prototype has been set as a tentative target.

The same reports suggest some sort of agreement may have been signed.

The unknown factor is the final phase of Kubica’s recovery, with the 27-year-old believed to be still unable to fully rotate his right arm that was almost severed in his rally crash last February.