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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.”

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

Sutil wanted Lotus seat in Lux case settlement

Nicky — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:18:53 +0000

Adrian Sutil offered to drive for Lotus this year with a discounted retainer, it emerged on Monday.
In Munich, the ousted Force India driver’s two-day assault trial, surrounding injuries sustained by Lotus team executive Eric Lux last April, began.

T-Online reports that the German driver and his management proposed “various solutions” for an out-of-court settlement, including payments to Lux’s African charity.

Another proposal was a race seat at Lotus featuring a “reduced salary”, according to the report.

Lux recently dismissed as “a joke” earlier speculation Sutil – charged with causing a nine centimetre cut on Lux’s neck with a broken champagne glass – might drive for Lotus in 2012.

The hearing concludes on Tuesday but SID news agency reports the possibility of an eleventh-hour settlement.

The report said Sutil and Lux’s lawyers had private talks at the conclusion of Monday’s proceedings.

A last-minute settlement would have to be approved by the prosecutor, Nicole Selzam, according to Auto Motor und Sport.

The report revealed previously unheard details of the incident, including Sutil telling Lux in the Shanghai nightclub: “Don’t you know I’m a formula one driver?”

Lux said he replied: “Don’t you know I’m a formula one team owner?”

Video surveillance footage of the incident showed Sutil seated on a couch next to Lewis Hamilton, who declined to appear as a witness, before Lux approached.

Sutil responded with a gesture – a “nudge” according to the driver – towards Lux’s neck. A doctor testified that the injuries necessitated a movement with “medium power”.

2008 world champion Hamilton said in a written statement to the court that he could not remember the details of the scuffle.

Former Virgin driver and new Lotus reserve driver Jerome d’Ambrosio, however, did appear, testifying that he heard a glass break.

According to Sutil, it also emerged that Lux demanded a “double digit million sum” in compensation and a voluntary multiple-race grand prix ban in the midst of last season.

Sutil’s lawyer put it to Lux that it would have been an opportunity for one of his team’s Genii-managed drivers to drive for Force India.

“I never thought about that for a second,” Lux hit back.

Michael Schamucher spent a few days getting into shape

Nicky — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:46:59 +0000

(Yallaf1) Michael Schamucher spent a few days getting into shape, ahead of the forthcoming Formula 1 test in Jerez, by pounding around the South Garda Karting track in Lonato, Italy.

Driving a KZ category Tony Kart, Schumacher was accompanied by his son Mick who was testing a KF3 category Tony Kart.

Italian website 422Race reports that Schumacher was not hanging about as he recorded a lap time of 41.80 seconds which is an outright lap record.

The seven times F1 world champion was assisted by the Tony Kart factory team and accompanied by the kart manufacturer’s boss Roberto Robazzi Brescia.

Schumacher will be back in F1 action when he takes to the track during the first official pre-season testing at Jerez which starts on 7 February and runs until 10 February.

The 43 year old, who made his grand prix debut in Belgium in 1991, will compete in his 19th F1 season with Mercedes GP.

Note: KZ1 is a kart racing class using 125cc watercooled two-stroke engines equipped with a 6-speed gearbox (about 42 hp)

New Sauber also has ugly nose ‘bump’

Nicky — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:33:55 +0000

Peter Sauber

Sauber’s 2012 car has an ugly bump on its nose, boss Peter Sauber has hinted.

Before the launch of the unseemly Caterham, Ferrari officials admitted their own Maranello built car is also “ugly” due to new regulations.

For this year, the FIA is requiring the pointed nose of the cars to be lower, while the actual monocoque height stays the same.

In the wind tunnels around Europe, it is believed most teams have found that the best solution is to radically taper the nose, despite the fact it is not pretty.

“Yes, for reasons of aerodynamics, this step in the nose is almost inevitable,” admitted Peter Sauber, a week before the Hinwil-built C31 is revealed.

The Swiss said the Ferrari-powered car has passed all the mandatory FIA crash tests and will be fired up for the first time this week.

What about the livery colour?

“That is a secret of course,” Sauber smiled to the Sonntagsblick newspaper. “All I can say is that the basic colour is white, but the overall impression is dark, with red.

“In short, it is different (compared to 2011). I remain a friend of the colour white, although often on television some cars cannot be well distinguished.”

Force India signs Bianchi, Rigon steps up at Ferrari

Nicky — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:51:28 +0000

Force India has confirmed reports it has chosen Ferrari reserve driver Jules Bianchi to replace Nico Hulkenberg in 2012.

German Hulkenberg, the official reserve and ‘Friday’ practice driver last year, has moved into a race seat with the Silverstone based team.

Frenchman Bianchi, a GP2 driver last year, will now sit on the sidelines at Force India in 2012.

Like Sergio Perez, the 22-year-old is a Ferrari development driver, handled by Felipe Massa’s manager Nicolas Todt.

“For sure we want to invest (in Bianchi) because we believe in him,” Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali said late last season.

Force India said on Friday Bianchi, to make his test debut with the team next month, will also practice “in a minimum of nine Friday practice sessions” this season.

“I hope it (the new role) will put me in a strong position to one day move into a race seat,” he said.

Bianchi, along with Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa and his 2012 successor Davide Rigon, is currently attending a Ferrari fitness camp in the Canary islands.

“Jules will still be part of the Ferrari driver academy,” confirmed the Maranello based team.

Ferrari added that Italian GP2 driver Rigon, 25, “has recently extended his relationship” with the team.

He “will be on call for all racing and promotional activities also for the 2012 and 2013 seasons”, said Ferrari.

Glock: 2012 Marussia car delay ‘a shame’

Nicky — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:52:54 +0000

Timo Glock has described Marussia’s plans for a short 2012 pre-season as “a shame”.
The former Virgin team has admitted its new single seater is facing a delay, with the MR01 to only hit the track at the final Barcelona test in March.

And Glock and his rookie teammate Charles Pic will sit out the forthcoming Jerez test altogether.

“It’s a shame we are getting the new car late and therefore only a short preparation (for the season) is possible,” German Glock is quoted by DPA news agency.

He insists the team, ahead of its third consecutive season on the grid, will therefore suffer a “hard time” in the “first third” of the 2012 calendar.

Auto Motor und Sport magazine said the car will receive its first significant update for May’s Spanish grand prix, but there will be no KERS system at all in 2012 for “cost reasons”.

Glock, however, insists he is confident.

“I am positive about 2012,” said the former Toyota driver. “Of course, our goal is to keep developing progressively.”

HRT in talks to house team at ‘Magic Box’

Nicky — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:59:09 +0000

HRT is in talks with the city of Madrid to relocate its headquarters to Caja Magica.
Otherwise known as the Magic Box, the facility houses the Madrid Open tennis tournament, the Spanish Olympic Committee and – until last year – the Real Madrid basketball team.

After its first two seasons under the German-based Colin Kolles’ management, the former Hispania team has now entered a new phase with an increased Spanish identity.

Madrid regional officials told the Europa Press news agency that negotiations with HRT are underway.

The team “has approached the city with regards to relocating its headquarters to one of the spaces at the Caja Magica”, an official confirmed.

“At the moment there is nothing fixed, nor any pre-agreements signed,” the spokesman added.

HRT would not comment on media speculation.

Lotus signs d’Ambrosio ‘before HRT announcement’

Nicky — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:01:54 +0000

Former Virgin driver Jerome d’Ambrosio will be the third driver for Lotus in 2012.
The 26-year-old Belgian’s career is handled by Gravity, the management arm of the former Renault team’s owners Genii.

He will “attend all races” this season and be ready to replace Kimi Raikkonen or Romain Grosjean if required, Lotus said in a media statement.

“Of course, I would love to be racing, but racing with a top team,” said d’Ambrosio.

“Being associated with Lotus F1 team should be more beneficial and this is the choice I have made,” he added.

D’Ambrosio was the Enstone based team’s reserve driver in 2010, before making his grand prix debut last year.

Just before the Lotus announcement on Tuesday, his manager Benjamin Mignot told Le Derniere Heure: “They (Lotus) are conscious that if they are going to announce Jerome as the third driver, they should do it before HRT reveals its second driver.”

Timo Glock: Rivals cannot write off Schumacher

Nicky — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:27:38 +0000

It is a mistake to write off Michael Schumacher.
That is the claim of the seven time world champion’s countryman Timo Glock, who drives for the back-of-the-grid Marussia team.

43-year-old Schumacher, meanwhile, is looking ahead to the third and final season of his comeback contract, having so far failed to score a single podium with the Mercedes team.

“You can’t underestimate him in any way,” Germany’s Sky Sports News HD quotes Glock as saying.

“He is highly motivated and still someone who you always have to take into consideration.”

Former driver Derek Warwick, however – the new president of the Silverstone-owning British Racing Drivers’ Club – is not so sure.

He predicts the great German will be having “sleepless nights” as he looks ahead to another year of being beaten by his teammate Nico Rosberg.

“I think the Mercedes will be quick this year as they continue to develop their challenge to the big three at the front,” he told the Sun.

“So can Schumacher win a race? Yes, but it will probably at the default of Rosberg, because Rosberg has now shown what a magnificent grand prix driver he is,” said Warwick.

According to Glock, the obvious favourite for 2012 is Sebastian Vettel.

“What he did in the past two years was phenomenal,” Glock is quoted as saying by SID news agency. “In terms of consistency, he will be hard to beat.”

1980 world champion Alan Jones hopes Vettel’s teammate Mark Webber can match that form.

“He probably knows that he’s got to do it this year, and he’s at his fittest and most determined,” the Australian told Fox Sports News. “I put him down as a real dark horse to be honest.”

Caterham targets point for team’s third season

Nicky — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:13:15 +0000

Caterham enters the 2012 season with a simple goal — a point.
In its first two seasons, then known as Lotus, the Tony Fernandes-led squad proved the best of the other new-in-2010 startups including Virgin (now Marussia) and HRT.

But a green-coloured car is still yet to score a point.

“That must be the goal (for 2012), but we are also realistic,” Malaysian Fernandes told Brazil’s Corride de Formula 1.

“We want to take steps forward in the right direction towards building long-term success. But the fact is that the only way to do that is to beat the teams that are ahead of us.

“All of them scored points in 2011,” he said, chiefly referring to Williams.

“So to beat them, we will at least have to score a point. That has to be the goal,” added Fernandes.

Raikkonen: Return to full speed will take ‘a while’

Nicky — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:16:41 +0000

There was much excitement in the F1 world on Monday when Kimi Raikkonen returned to a circuit at the wheel of a grand prix car.
813 days after he stepped out of his 2009 Ferrari for the last time, the former world champion began a two-day re-acclimatisation test at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit.

Returning to the sport with Lotus in 2012, the 32-year-old Finn on Monday did about 300 kilometres at the wheel of the team’s 2010 Renault car equipped with demonstration Pirelli tyres, enjoying a loophole in F1′s now tightly-limited test regulations.

“There is a lot to get used to,” a media statement quoted him as saying. “I’m happy because I was pretty quick to get back in the groove.”

And Raikkonen is quoted by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport: “Of course it will take a little while (longer).”

Added Lotus’ trackside operations engineer Alan Permane: “Kimi was on the pace we expected straight away.”

18-time race winner Raikkonen, the 2007 title winner and twice the championship runner-up (2003 and 2005), spent the last two years in the world rally series after Ferrari replaced him with Fernando Alonso.

“We had several options for this year,” the Finn revealed.

“I did a bit of Nascar in the past year and since I had a lot of fun racing other people again I decided to go back.

“And if you want to go racing then formula one is the highest level and so that’s where I wanted to go the most,” added Raikkonen.

He said he is not worried about coming back to motor sport’s premier category after two whole seasons away.

“If you compare 2009 with the coming season, probably the biggest difference will be the tyres,” said the Finn, whose last experience in F1 was on Bridgestone’s control tyre.

“I don’t think there is a big difference with the cars.”

When asked how he has changed himself since 2009, he replied typically: “I don’t know — I was two years away.”

Details of 2012 Ferrari emerge in Italian press

Nicky — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:02:09 +0000

Details of Ferrari’s unlaunched 2012 car have emerged in the pages of Italian specialist publications.
On Tuesday, Autosprint publishes drawings by technical illustrator Giorgio Piola of Maranello’s latest creation, with some parts – including the sidepods – reportedly “inspired by (the) McLaren” of last year.

The weekly said the car, to likely be named F12 or F2012, also has “many other features that should make it really extreme”, as ordered by Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali last year.

“Some people called it (the car) bad after seeing the shapes, probably because of the hump on the nose,” read a report at Autosprint’s auto.it website.

“But the final version should be smooth.”

The magazine also says Ferrari has innovated to exploit the safety regulations for crash structures, producing a wing-like aerodynamic effect with the sidepods.

Another all-new feature for Ferrari – breaking a philosophy of more than a decade – is the Red Bull-style pull-rod suspension, and an engine cover rear ‘hole’ also similar to Adrian Newey’s title-winning 2011 design.

The car’s exhausts reportedly exit even higher than the new regulations dictate, possibly so the gases flow onto the main element of the rear wing.

This feature may not be seen – possibly for reasons of secrecy – on the initial launch version displayed by Ferrari on 3 February.

La Gazzetta dello Sport, meanwhile, said the 2012 Ferrari has “long, low and narrow” radiators and sidepods, with a lower seating position for the drivers.

Hamilton says no to Sutil trial appearance date

Nicky — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:58:18 +0000

Lewis Hamilton has told a Munich court he is not available to testify next week at friend Adrian Sutil’s assault trial.
A court spokeswoman confirmed last week that it was “mandatory” the 2008 world champion appear as a witness on the opening day, 30 January.

Former Force India driver Adrian Sutil is charged with injuring Lotus team executive Eric Lux during a private party in Shanghai last April to celebrate Hamilton’s grand prix victory.

The BBC reports that Hamilton’s lawyer told the judge the 27-year-old Briton wants to cooperate but has commitments on 30 January, which is two days before McLaren plans to launch its 2012 car.

The report said the trial could either be rescheduled or Hamilton “will be excused”.

The Telegraph insists Hamilton did not receive a “formal request” from the Munich court but that his lawyer contacted the judge following last week’s media reports.

McLaren has confirmed the accuracy of the latest developments, according to Reuters.