F1 Fantasy Racings » Teams

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)

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.

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.”

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.

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.”

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”.

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.

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.

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.”

Lotus calls 2012 car ‘E20′

Nicky — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:46:31 +0000

This year’s Lotus car will be called the E20.
Last year’s Enstone-produced single seater was the R31, in accordance with the Renault numbering tradition.

But with the name-change to Lotus for 2012, the team has decided to honour the factory staff by naming the new car E20 — ‘E’ for Enstone.

The ’20′ is a reference to the fact the new single seater is the twentieth made at Enstone since the then Benetton team relocated in 1992.

The E20 will be revealed on February 5, the day before Kimi Raikkonen debuts it at Jerez on the eve of the opening 2012 group test.

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.

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.

Marussia delays 2012 car track debut until March

Nicky — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:59:04 +0000

Marussia will sit out the forthcoming first test of the 2012 pre-season.
And it has also emerged that the former Virgin team’s new single seater will not make an appearance until the third and final test of the winter in Barcelona.

Kevin Eason, the London newspaper The Times’ veteran F1 correspondent, said the news is “worrying”.

After finishing its first two seasons dead last, however, the team has gone back to the drawing board with what boss John Booth describes as an “almost entirely new (car), with very little carry over”.

“Unfortunately our programme has slipped and there seems little point in fielding the new car before we can optimise the run plan for it.

“So the plan is to run the 2011 (car) in Barcelona from 21 February and the new (2012 car) MR01 from 1 March at the second Barcelona test,” the team explained on Twitter.

“We will hopefully gain more constructive track time than we might otherwise have achieved had we rushed the new car out for the second test,” added Booth.

Previously, Marussia planned to be at the forthcoming Jerez test with the 2011 car to give rookie Charles Pic some mileage.

Yamimoto, HRTs sustainable mobility agent for 2012

Nicky — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:26:42 +0000

The electric bicycle brand Yamimoto and HRT Formula 1 Team have signed a collaboration deal by which Yamimoto will become the team’s Official Supplier of sustainable mobility for 2012.

HRT will become, through this deal, a pioneer in the world of Formula 1 by integrating an alternative energy to petrol in its mobility plan and will use Yamimoto’s electric bicycles to move around at Grands Prix and away from them.

Alternative energies are assuming more and more importance every day in modern societies so, without a doubt, incorporating them to such an innovative and technologic environment as is Formula 1 would give the young Spanish team an added value.

Collaborating with national brands and companies is one of HRT’s basic lines of action and one that fits perfectly with the team’s philosophy when looking for synergies and the strengthening of Spanish brands in the world.

Manuel Muñiz, CEO and Partner, Bector Bikes: “Yamimoto is born from a commitment with the environment and the conviction of being able to unite this with a benefit in the quality of movement and cost for our clients. Yamimoto improves the day-to-day lives of its clients and the cities in which they live, as reflected on our tagline “Move Smart”. The agreement with HRT is a platform for Yamimoto from which to move on to new development and growth opportunities, but it also means a lot more will be asked of us and there will be more expectations with regards to our products from a technological and design point of view. The exclusive bicycle that we are designing for HRT will be the first step in this new stage of alliance between Yamimoto and HRT”.

Óscar Leyva, Business Development Director, HRT F1 Team: “The complexity of moving a Formula 1 team around the world doesn’t limit itself to the major distances covered by traditional modes of transport. There are also a large amount of short and medium distance journeys, in testing and Grands Prix but also in between races. The alternative that Yamimoto offers us doesn’t only contribute comfort and practicality but it is also an innovative company that adjusts to our philosophy of searching for synergies with Spanish companies to strengthen our brands in the world and the concept of Spain being a country that backs R&D&i”.

- Ends -

ABOUT YAMIMOTO

Yamimoto is the brand used by Bector Bikes to commercialize electric bicycles since 2007. It is a 100% Spanish company that pioneers in backing sustainable mobility in Spain, offering its clients a solution for intelligent and elegant movement. It is a company in constant evolution that strongly backs R &D, and a manufacturer of low-consumption, environmentally friendly and foldable vehicles.

The company’s philosophy contemplates the will to contribute a sustainable solution to the complex problem of transport, soothing the problems with traffic in major cities and respecting the environment whilst enabling a healthy lifestyle. The important savings that occur as a result of moving around on electric bicycles, with Yamimoto offering some very competitive prices, is also a significant aspect. Another notable feature is the commitment to the client given the quantity, quality and professionalism of its customer care and after-sales services.

Yamimoto uses innovative production processes, hybridization of materials and components, implementation of new technologies in the world of bicycle safety, bicycle control systems stemming from smartphones, use of lithium batteries employed in high-end electric sports vehicles or the design of frames that enable the integration of batteries in its interior. All these factors form a part of Yamimoto’s DNA, a company that continues to evolve and work for a future that will take a leap in quality thanks to the engineering of KeelWit Technology, a company that specializes in the development of advanced technologies in the field of sustainable mobility, and also in storage and energetic efficiency.

Contact Yamimoto:
Felipe Capdepón. Communications Director
felipe@yamimoto.com
Fernando Martí. Commercial Director
fernando@yamimoto.com
T. +34 91 524 12 87
www.yamimoto.com

New Toro Rosso duo admit Red Bull seat target

Nicky — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:57:40 +0000

Toro Rosso’s new drivers have admitted a seat at senior team Red Bull Racing is an obvious target for the future.
Mark Webber’s contract expires at the end of this season.

For 2012, Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne have replaced Red Bull rookie team Toro Rosso’s former lineup of Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari.

“Of course I’d be happy to drive for Red Bull — that’s the big goal of all the Red Bull juniors.

“If we do everything right and we get the right results, then perhaps we will succeed in a year or two or three,” Australian Ricciardo told Austrian Servus TV.

He admitted his half-season with HRT is an advantage over Frenchman Vergne, whose first grand prix will be the Melbourne season opener in March.

“I think it will be perhaps a little easier for me to get into the season, but the advantage will not last long.

“I’m sure it will help me but there is a lot of testing before Melbourne and we’ll both be prepared,” said Ricciardo.

On the plus side for Vergne, he is known for having an extremely feisty racing style and is highly rated by Red Bull’s influential Dr Helmut Marko.

Known in the paddock as ‘Jev’, Vergne said he will not lose focus by eyeing Webber’s seat prematurely.

“Since my karting days I’ve always had the philosophy to think only of the present. For example, I’ve never thought about formula one, but only the season I was in.

“In 2012 I drove for Toro Rosso; 2013 does not interest me now. I will give my best and then we’ll see what comes up.”

2012 Marussia car ‘not revolutionary’

Nicky — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:19:21 +0000

Marussia’s 2012 car is “not revolutionary”, according to a German-language report.
The former Virgin team will not give its new single seater its official track debut until Barcelona — the second winter test of the forthcoming 2012 pre-season.

That news raised expectations that the car, headed technically by the highly rated former Renault man Pat Symonds, could be a radical departure from the cars that finished the 2010 and 2011 seasons dead last.

Writing in the German-language Speed Week, Peter Hesseler cited Symonds in saying that the 2012 Marussia “will have little in common” with its Virgin predecessor.

But Symonds reportedly thinks the team’s spot at the very bottom of the constructors’ standings means the priority is a new car with “high quality” rather than innovation.

The goal for 2012, therefore, is to move into the midfield.

International media reports, meanwhile, say the former Renault team – now Lotus – has got its 2012 single seater through the FIA’s mandatory crash tests.

The news means the car is now ready to make its official track debut in Kimi Raikkonen’s hands at Jerez early next month.

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.

New HRT to Barcelona

Nicky — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:37:28 +0000

HRT has insisted that its new car will be in action before the opening round of the new F1 season despite running into delays with its plans for 2012.

The team has undergone extensive restructuring in recent months after a change of ownership during the 2011 campaign, which has led to suggestion that – for a third straight year – the team was in a race against time to carry out any pre-season testing.

While team principal Luis Perez-Sala wasn’t available for interview, a spokeswoman for the Spanish team told the BBC that the team was working towards running the new car for the first time in the second test of the year, which will take place in Barcelona.

The new car is reported to have started its FIA crash tests, which it is required to pass before it will allowed to take part in any on-track action.

“Luis Perez-Sala is fully focused at the moment on the car and the new structure, and he prefers not to give any statements or interviews to the press for now until everything is in place,” the spokeswoman said.

“Rumours that we will take part in the initial grands prix with the 2011 car are not true. The target is to be at the second [pre-season] test with the new car.

“There’s been, and still is, a lot to work on but, even if we may struggle in the beginning, the structure that is being built now is a lot more solid, reliable and committed. Hopefully, we’ll be able to prove all that soon and change the team’s perception, which is no longer real. It won’t be a bed of roses but we’ll manage to do it.”

Caterham to be first to launch 2012 car

Nicky — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:25:59 +0000

Caterham could beat the entire F1 field to the starting line ahead of the 2012 season.
Italy’s Autosprint said it believes the former Lotus team’s new single seater – to be called the CT01 and believed to have passed the FIA’s crash tests – could be unveiled “at the end of January”.

That would be even earlier than some other teams intend to launch their cars, ahead of the start of the official test season at Jerez on 7 February.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, meanwhile, said that while the former Renault team Lotus F1 has not yet revealed a launch date, the 2012 car is “very likely” to get its track debut at Jerez.

The magazine said the car, to accommodate Kimi Raikkonen’s return this year, passed the FIA’s mandatory crash tests earlier in January.

Auto Motor und Sport also reports that following the departures of bosses Colin Kolles and Geoff Willis, “delays” at HRT could force the struggling Spanish team to once again start a new season with its old car.

Red Bull and Force India announce launch dates

Nicky — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:56:12 +0000

Red Bull will reveal its 2012 car during an internet presentation on the day before the RB8 is given its official track debut.
The reigning champions said in a media statement that the Adrian Newey-inked car will be seen for the first time on the team’s website on 6 February, the day before the opening four-day test at Jerez kicks off.

Red Bull said the car will be seen “in a different light” at 1pm.

Meanwhile, F1′s sixth-ranked team in 2011, Force India, will reveal its new car on February 3 at 9am at the Silverstone track, located across the road from its Northamptonshire headquarters.

Technical director Andrew Green said the VJM05, whose monocoque has already passed the FIA’s mandatory crash tests, will be built and fired up next week.

“There’s always a buzz around when it’s happening,” he said.

Caterham to move to Super Aguri factory

Nicky — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:29:06 +0000

(reuters) Malaysian owned Caterham F1 plan to move across England in August to take over the old Arrows and Super Aguri factory near Oxford, the Formula One team said on Wednesday.

The team had sought the move to Leafield to be closer to others in central England’s ‘Motorsport Valley’, making it easier to recruit and retain staff as well as being within easy reach of Silverstone.

“We propose moving the F1 and GP2 teams to the new site in or around August 2012, giving us ample time to build up the infrastructure required to house all the critic

Ermestel, new official supplier to HRT F1 Team

Nicky — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:14:45 +0000

Ermestel, a Spanish company specialized in datacenter infrastructure transformation based on technologies such as Virtualization and Cloud Computing, has reached an agreement with HRT Formula 1 Team by which it will become an IT Official Supplier to the team for the next three years. The team has decided to trust in the sound experience and guarantee of the integrator’s IT projects to face the new racing season.

For the 2012 season, together with Spanish driver Pedro de la Rosa, HRT is working towards being as competitive as possible in such a demanding world as is the pinnacle of motorsport and, along with national companies such as Ermestel, continuing to grow the “Spain” brand and helping to increase its international recognition.

Ermestel, through this agreement, will manage the entire IT infrastructure of the Spanish team whilst also supplying the team with a disaster recovery system.

Pedro Tortosa, Ermestel CEO: “Formula 1 represents excellence in technological innovation and style and I believe that those are values that perfectly suit Ermestel. HRT Formula 1 Team transmitted to us the importance of counting with a great technological partner, since without this base, the most visible aspects such as the car and the driver wouldn’t function properly. We are delighted that they have decided to trust in us for the management of the IT platform, which in such an innovative and standout world as is Formula 1, represents a great responsibility and a thrilling challenge that gives us the opportunity to prove our national leadership in innovative technologies”.

Luis Pérez-Sala, HRT F1 Team Team Principal: “In a sport that is extremely competitive and demanding as is Formula 1, everything has to work quickly and to perfection. Ermestel’s contribution will be fundamental for our systems to operate with the required performance and reliability. HRT is a young team with a long road yet ahead, but thanks to this alliance with another innovative Spanish company we will continue to grow as a team”.

- Ends -

ABOUT ERMESTEL

ErmesTel is a Madrid-based systems integrator specialized in datacenter infrastructure transformation. Since more than ten years ago they design and deploy innovative IT solutions based on Virtualization and Cloud Computing technologies and products that allow their customers to consolidate, optimize, manage and support virtual datacenter infrastructures, both in-house and external.
In the field of virtualization, ErmesTel has been present in the main projects in Spain since 2002, becoming the national reference delivered over 450 projects in the major sectors (Banking, Public Sector, Insurance, Industry).

Areas of expertise:

-   IT Infrastructure: Virtualization, Storage Solutions, Network (SAN, LAN), Backup, Disaster Recovery.
-   Infrastructure Services: Analysis and Consulting, Design of Projects, Supply Hardware and Software, Deployment and Configuration, Training, Support Service.
-   Managed Services: MS of Virtual Infrastructure, MS of Mail (Exchange or Zimbra), MS of Updating.
-   Cloud Computing: DRaaS (Disaster Recovery in Cloud) y DaaS (Desktop in Cloud)

Contact ErmesTel: Cristina García, Head of Marketing and Communication
c.garcia@ermestel.com
+34 91 744 05 77
www.ermestel.com

Second HRT driver to pay EUR 6 million

Nicky — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:11:02 +0000

The eventual occupant of the second race seat at HRT – the final place on the 2012 grid – will bring “no less” than EUR 6 million to the table.
That is the claim of the Spanish sports daily Marca, reporting that Dutchman Giedo van der Garde is apparently on pole position to be Pedro de la Rosa’s teammate at the struggling Spanish team.

The newspaper said Dutch GP2 driver van der Garde seems to have at least the requisite 6 million in sponsorship but acknowledged that “the list of candidates is long”.

“I am still waiting for good news,” 26-year-old van der Garde is quoted by De Telegraaf newspaper, “and I’m positive.

“I’m training hard to prepare myself as best as possible,” he added on Tuesday.

Some regard the growing influence of ‘pay-drivers’ as bad news for a premier sport such as formula one.

“Whatever happens,” said Felipe Massa last week amid rumours he could lose his Ferrari seat, “at least I know I’ve never had to pay to drive.”

New Williams on track for Jerez debut

Nicky — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:03:36 +0000

Williams’ 2012 car is on schedule for an early February debut.
That is the claim of the famous team’s chief operations engineer Mark Gillan, who said the actual track debut of the newly Renault-powered FW34 will take place during an aerodynamic test before the opening test at Jerez.

“We passed the crash tests before Christmas,” he is quoted by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

“The debut is planned for the first week of testing at Jerez in early February. So far, the data looks right — we have been able to achieve all the targets we set.”

Gillan said the next goal for Williams, having restructured the team during the course of its dire 2011 season, is for the FW34 to be a regular top-ten finisher.

“I know that making a great leap forward is not easy,” he said. “But from what we know about the car so far, there is reason to be fairly confident that we can be back in Q3 regularly and score points from there.”

Gillan welcomed the FIA’s banning of exhaust blowing; a principle pioneered by Red Bull and also perfected by championship runner-up McLaren last year.

“It (the ban) neutralises the lead that some teams had achieved in this area,” he said.

“So the field should move closer together now, at least at the beginning of the season. After that it’s a matter of time before someone comes up with the next F-duct or double diffuser.”

No Jerez debut for 2012 Marussia car

Nicky — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:02:40 +0000

Marussia’s 2012 car will not debut at the opening test of the official pre-season early next month.
It was rumoured on Monday that technical consultant Pat Symonds had said at the weekend that the former Virgin team’s new single seater will appear only at the second February test, at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.

The news has now been reported by France’s L’Equipe.

Mercedes GP will also wait until Barcelona to debut its new car, the W03.

“We believe that the decision to run the car at the second winter test is the optimum compromise for our design and development programme,” team boss Ross Brawn said last month.

Petrov in talks for Caterham third driver role

Nicky — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:47:11 +0000

Vitaly Petrov is in talks about becoming Caterham’s third and reserve driver in 2012.
Finland’s Turun Sanomat newspaper reports that the Russian’s manager, Oksana Kosachenko, visited the former Team Lotus outfit’s Hingham (UK) headquarters last week.

27-year-old Petrov has been dropped by Renault (now Lotus) after his first two seasons in the sport.

It has been rumoured that the race seat alongside Heikki Kovalainen at Caterham might be up for grabs for 2012, but Turun Sanomat said it is now likely that Jarno Trulli’s contract will be honoured.

The report said Petrov would be the third driver in 2012 before coming into consideration for a race seat next season.

Caterham’s third driver in 2011 was Indian Karun Chandhok, who is now looking for a similar role elsewhere to split his time between F1 and the FIA’s new world endurance sports car championship this year.

Mercedes also working on Lotus braking idea

Nicky — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:44:14 +0000

Mercedes is the next team working on a copy of Lotus’ innovative ‘braking ride-height correction’ system ahead of the 2012 system.
Shortly after news broke that the former Renault team had devised a passive and therefore legal system to stabilise a car’s ride height under braking, reports emerged that Ferrari is “working on a similar system”.

The BBC said last week that it believed the Italian giant was “the only other team to have contacted the FIA” about the concept.

But Italian reports, including on the Italiaracing website and the daily La Gazzetta dello Sport, claim Mercedes GP is also working to “quickly copy” the Lotus idea.

Mercedes does not intend to take its new car, the W03, to the first official test at Jerez early next month, instead opting for additional factory time ahead of the second session at Barcelona.

It is also rumoured that Red Bull experimented with a Lotus-style braking system back in 2010 but abandoned it.

New Ferrari, Sauber, pass FIA crash tests

Nicky — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:35:56 +0000

Ferrari’s 2012 car has now passed the mandatory FIA crash tests at the second attempt, according to multiple sources.
It emerged last week that the new car, codenamed 663, was due to undergo the tests at the CSI technical facility in Bollate, near Milan, last week after they were initially failed.

Sources said the monocoque, reportedly “much lighter” than its 2011 predecessor, had been reinforced with additional carbon sheets for the subsequent side-impact test.

Spanish reports including in the sports newspapers AS and Marca, citing Italian sources, said the second tests were passed.

The reinforcements made to the car will have an “almost negligible” affect on laptimes, the sources said.

Given the tweaked regulations for 2012, the news clears the way for the new Ferrari to make its official track debut early next month.

Marca newspaper said there are unconfirmed rumours the 2012 Ferrari features a “revolutionary” design with a “dolphin nose”.

It will reportedly be driven on the opening day of the official Jerez test by Felipe Massa, before Fernando Alonso takes over for days three and four.

Ferrari’s drivers will also equally share track time at the subsequent Barcelona test, added Marca.

It has also emerged that Sauber’s similarly Ferrari-powered 2012 car, the C31, has passed its final FIA crash test for the rear structure.

The car will be unveiled at Jerez on the eve of the opening test.

And it is reported in the French press that Marussia’s technical consultant Pat Symonds has said the former Virgin team’s 2012 car will not be ready for the opening test of the pre-season at Jerez.

2012 Ferrari has ugly ‘bump’ on nose

Nicky — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:36:58 +0000

Part of what makes the 2012 Ferrari “not pretty” is a conspicuous bump on its nose, it is believed.
The famous team’s bosses Stefano Domenicali and Luca di Montezemolo used descriptions including “not pretty” and “lousy” when describing the physical appearance of the unlaunched new machine, codenamed 663.

“It’s not that pretty, because the shape defined by the technical regulations does not leave much scope”, admitted Domenicali.

It is believed he is referring to regulation tweaks for 2012 that will reduce the height of the noses, to improve driver safety in the event of crashes.

But the maximum height of the dash bulkhead remains the same, meaning that Ferrari’s low nose tapers sharply where it meets the front of the monocoque.

Some sources claim to have seen drawings or images of Ferrari’s unnamed 2012 car, but Fernando Alonso on Thursday insisted the car “is quite similar” in physical appearance to last year’s contender.

“The rules have been clarified a bit in the last two years with the result that all the cars look more and more alike,” Spanish reporters quote him as saying.