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[Adam Scott Aukerman]

Not sure how this Lotos livery can be legal. JPS cigarettes still get sold. Remember when last year Ferrari had to remove that Marlboro like symbol from their livery?

Indeed. I fully expect them not to complete the season with that livery.

 

[Dead Man]

It doesn't really matter. Ferrari didn't use the Marlboro logo either. The historic black and gold Lotus livery was due to JPS sponsoring and everyone still remembers that.

From what i know even subliminal cigarette advertisement is illegal nowadays in some countries.

I don't think that means no one can use black and gold ever again. They receive no money from JPS so they should be fine.

 

[WorriedCitizen]

As always the context is important. We will see what happens when some overmotivated bureaucrat in Brussels sees pictures of the car.

 

[Leunam]

Virgin is going to continue to design their 2011 car purely by computer analysis rather than the ol' wind tunnel. Let's hope it pays off better this year as they have doubled their design capability apparently.

 

[navanman]

Virgin is going to continue to design their 2011 car purely by computer analysis rather than the ol' wind tunnel. Let's hope it pays off better this year as they have doubled their design capability apparently.

Quite a risk indeed. The hardest part to analyse and model correctly using CFD is the most crucial on an F1 car.
The relationship between the front wing and the air flow around the wheels is the most important to a good car balance and design.

 

[Adam Scott Aukerman]

Virgin is going to continue to design their 2011 car purely by computer analysis rather than the ol' wind tunnel. Let's hope it pays off better this year as they have doubled their design capability apparently.

Considering the amount of parts failures and the like they had in the early part of the season, they really didn't do all that badly.

 

[S. L.]

Considering the amount of parts failures and the like they had the whole season, they really didn't do all that badly.

fixed that

i think the whole cfd-only concept is the way to go for smaller low funds teams. it allows continuous cheap development throughout the season - if it works properly. i expect them to do better this season.

 

[navanman]

Introducing the EV Cup, the new brain(step)child from the FIA.

In the last 24 hours a new initiative has been launched called the EV Cup, which is the world’s first electric vehicle championship. It will take place this year and is the start of something we are all going to have to get used to.
I’m interested in this because I’m always interested in future trends. In its statutes the FIA now has an “Electric and New Energy Championships Commission” and many of the world’s leading car manufacturers are investing heavily in EVs for the road.

It’s not surprising therefore that a group has got together to see if they can make a business out of EV Racing. They have done a deal with Creative Artists Agency to help them develop the brand, marketing, sponsorship, broadcast and so on. CAA works with sports properties like the New York Yankees and Madison Square Garden as well as managing personalities like Jack Nicklaus. Former Manchester United chief executive Peter Kenyon is part of the team.

The plan is to have races in the UK, USA, Portugal and Spain. There are plans for a race at Silverstone on 6th August, Snetterton 20th August, Rockingham 10th September, and Brands Hatch on 23rd October.Qualifying and race take place on the same day and the races will last 30 minutes.

According to the EV Cup statement, “The historic seven-race green motorsport series, the EV Cup, will include two principle classes of zero emission electric cars – the City EV cars, where drivers will compete in carbon-free, race-prepared urban THINK cars, and the Sports EV class, which will feature teams racing 185 KPH Westfield iRacers.”
The problems holding back the spread of EVs on the road are cost of batteries and worries over limited range. I really believe that if they can solve the range issue, then electric car sales will rocket.

If the EV Cup can ultimately get the manufacturers and automotive engineering companies to use racing as a test bed for development, as has been one of motorsport’s key roles since it began, it can only help the industry.
I can see this kind of thing increasing in profile and popularity, particularly if they make the racing entertaining. I might take my boys along to the race at Silverstone to have a look. But I think it will be a long time before it replaces the internal combustion engine as a prime mover of racing cars. The noise is a crucial part of racing. EVs make no noise at all and that is culturally very awkward for race fans. What the EV Cup initiative and other like it will do, however, is put the spotlight on F1 to make sure that it is evolving in the right way technologically, with energy regeneration a central part of its specification, as is planned for 2013 and beyond. Whilst not under immediate threat from it, the sport cannot afford to dismiss it either.

“We are creating an opportunity for the EV manufacturers and suppliers to promote their technologies in a new and exciting way. Green motor sport is a reality.” Sylvain Filippi, the Director of the EV Cup.

“The EV Cup is a ground-breaking concept that creates unique marketing and sponsorship opportunities for major brand advertisers, through social responsibility programmes and other marketing initiatives,” said Peter Kenyon of CAA Sports. “We look forward to utilizing our resources across the globe in sports and entertainment to help build the EV Cup into a premier racing series and valuable advertising platform.”
The EV Cup already has some backers from the motor sport world like Ben Collins (aka The Stig) and Damon Hill.

James Allen

 

[Orgun]

Introducing the EV Cup, the new brain(step)child from the FIA.

James Allen

I like the idea of the EV cup but man that is going to be a quiet race

 

[Shaneus]

Oh shit yes

Helmut Marko has revealed his plan is to see Aussie ace Daniel Ricciardo with a full race seat in Formula One "no later than 2012".

Red Bull-backed Ricciardo, 21, has been placed for the 2011 season with Toro Rosso and will drive on the Friday mornings at Grands Prix.

His placement is seen as putting strong pressure on the Faenza-based team's regular drivers Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari.

Indeed, Marko did not categorically rule out a 2011 race debut for Ricciardo during an interview with German-language motorsport-total.com.


"It all depends on the parties involved," said Red Bull's driver programme manager Marko, clearly referring to Buemi and Alguersuari.

"The plan is to see him in a race cockpit in 2012 at the latest," added the Austrian.

Fucking awesome. Hopefully he can become the new youngest driver ever to win in F1 :lol

 

[WorriedCitizen]

Hopefully he can become the new youngest driver ever to win in F1 :lol

Impossible. Vettel was 21 years and 73 days when he won in Monza. Ricciardo is already older then that if my math isn't wrong.

edit: he's 21 years, 6 months, and 19 days as of today

 

[Shaneus]

Impossible. Vettel was 21 years and 73 days when he won in Monza. Ricciardo is already older then that if my math isn't wrong.

Ah, for some reason I thought Vettel was 22 or 23. Well, um... shit :lol

 

[Seanspeed]

I think Alguersuari will have the beating of Buemi in 2011, so I'm guessing thats who Ricciardo will replace.

 

[Dead Man]

Oh shit yes

Fucking awesome. Hopefully he can become the new youngest driver ever to win in F1 :lol

It's nice to see the guy get some real backing, and go Aussie, but I still hate the way Marko does things. He has basically said he will kick out the other drivers if he can.

 

[S. L.]

It's nice to see the guy get some real backing, and go Aussie, but I still hate the way Marko does things. He has basically said he will kick out the other drivers if he can.

that's how they roll at Toro Rosso
in '09 Alguesuari replaced Bourdais midseason and in '07 Vettel replaced Scott Speed midseason

 

[Dead Man]

that's how they roll at Toro Rosso
in '09 Alguesuari replaced Bourdais midseason and in '07 Vettel replaced Scott Speed midseason

Yeah, I know. Still sucks.

 

[Mush]

Brendon Hartley got screwed by an Aussie!

Fuckers.

 

[Seanspeed]

Brendon Hartley got screwed by an Aussie!

Fuckers.

Brendon Hartley has been disappointing the past couple years. It was to be expected.

 

[ashk]

Red Bull also have Jean-Eric Vergne coming up through the ranks - unless he completely fucks up this season of World Season by Renault (which I doubt will happen) he should be coming to F1 in two-three years. If he wins it (or comes close like Ricciardo) he should be getting a Friday seat in F1 (this is speculation on my side though, basing this on Ricciardo).

 

[navanman]

Schumacher pressure has payed off it seems!

Michael Schumacher's hopes of getting tyres better suited to his driving style have been boosted by Pirelli confirming it has tweaked the design of its front tyres since last year's Abu Dhabi test.

Schumacher was one of several drivers to complain about Bridgestone's front tyre last season.

After the teams' first Pirelli test in November, he declared it too soon to make a judgement on whether the new rubber was an improvement.

Pirelli's motorsport director Paul Hembery says it has adjusted the front tyre based on feedback from that test.

"We were asked to provide a slightly stronger front tyre, which is what we've done," Hembery told AUTOSPORT in Abu Dhabi. "In the process we maybe threw the rear out of balance, which is something that was noted during the test. But we've also improved that during the remaining tests that we've done.

"We were asked to try to beef up the front tyre, to give it more a precise input when the drivers turn into the corner, to give more feel. We believe we've done that, and we've now finished the work on the rear so we'll see how we get on with a car designed around our tyres."

Hembery also confirmed that Pirelli will be testing several times during the season.

He is considering a request to run in some Friday practice sessions at grands prix if the teams feel changes are required, but the firm will also conduct its own testing programme.

"We've got no request in place [for Friday practice] because we haven't run yet," he told AUTOSPORT.

"But that's something that, if we do uncover problems as we go along - or we've maybe got the wrong positioning of a compound for the positioning we're using, we can ask them to add in a test session to give us more information. That's something we'll hold in reserve for an emergency.

"At the moment we know we're going to be in Istanbul in April, then Barcelona in May. We'll definitely be back in the Middle East again in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi at the end of the season. We couldn't get Silverstone, we're trying to go to Monza and probably Spa as well.

"So we are trying to carry on a parallel development programme. That's obviously looking more for 2012. We've got some ideas that, given more time we would have taken forward, but those now are rested and being put towards that programme."

Autosport

Additional info from scarbf1 twitter:
Pirelli have revised their F1 tyre specs "were asked to try to beef up the front tyre, to give it more a precise input, to give more feel"

Pirelli, the revised front tyre lead to changes at the rear to retain balance. Teams wil not get to test these until Valencia in two weeks

 

[Goldrusher]

And more Pirelli news. The "color codes" on their tires:

A report in the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat claims that each compound with have the words 'Pirelli P Zero' painted in different colours on the sidewall.

The super-soft wording will reportedly be in red, the soft will be in white, the medium in blue and the hard in yellow.

Meanwhile, the sidewall colourings of the full wet tyre will be yellow, and the intermediates red.

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=398097&FS=F1

super soft: red "Pirelli" & "P-Zero"
soft: white
medium: blue
hard: yellow

intermediate: red sidewall
rain: yellow sidewall

 

[Templar Wizard]

Massa says his prayers before he has to make excuses again.
never forget silverstone in the wet.

 

[ashk]

Autosport magazine reports that Paul di Resta is on for Force India, partnering Sutil. Inside source, not officially announced, and it's not on the autosport website yet.

 

[mclaren777]

I'm glad that Lotus Renault is using a black livery this year because I think it's a great color for F1 cars.

 

[Leunam]

I like the new Renault livery I just don't like the oversized Lotus badge and red endplates.

Minor news, but De la Rosa has ruled out a drive with HRT to no ones surprise. Also, Di Grassi can't find a racing seat so he'll be settling for a testing role.

 

[moojito]

I keep messing my Diwhatevers up. I was going to say that up there ^^ was wrong, but it's diresta who has the seat, not digrassi.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9368179.stm etc

 

[S. L.]

Hulkenberg turned down a seat at Virgin alongside Glock
http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2011/01/weber-hints-at-next-move-for-hulkenberg/

not really a good move imo. Virgin should be a lot better this season, plus if he can beat Glock (debatable) that should give him some extra cred. Instead he'll be a friday driver at FI... eh

 

[Leunam]

Man, I agree. Virgin wasn't a middle tier team last year, hell they may not even be a mid tier team this year, but he really shouldn't have turned that down for a test role.

 

[Seanspeed]

Hulkenberg turned down a seat at Virgin alongside Glock
http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2011/01/weber-hints-at-next-move-for-hulkenberg/

not really a good move imo. Virgin should be a lot better this season, plus if he can beat Glock (debatable) that should give him some extra cred. Instead he'll be a friday driver at FI... eh

Moron. I understand turning down the HRT drive as its likely gonna be complete crap and he'll have a nobody as a teammate for comparison. But Virgin? Seems like a great opportunity for a young driver to prove himself. He'd get plenty of attention if he was close to Glock, which I reckon is quite possible.

At least he's staying in F1 somehow. I think the worst thing you can do is to leave F1 altogether and then hope somebody still remembers you later on. Di Resta is lucky that he has the whole "I beat Vettel" thing going for him, cuz otherwise, it was looking more and more like sports cars were gonna be it for him.

 

[Wax Free Vanilla]

'Innovative' McLaren will provoke 'lots of discussion'

Martin Whitmarsh has warned McLaren-Mercedes' F1 2011 rivals that the new MP4-26 will be 'innovative' and contends that the team has 'the best driver pairing' on the current grand prix grid – even if he concedes that the competition in the top flight this year is going to be every bit as tough as it has ever been.

Last season, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button both vied for title glory – tallying five victories between them – but although the former took the battle all the way down to the Abu Dhabi finale, ultimately the duo wound up respectively just fourth and fifth in the standings, and McLaren itself came up 44 points short of pipping arch-rivals Red Bull Racing to constructors' glory.

For 2011, the Woking-based outfit has followed Red Bull's lead in recent years in leaving the debut of its new challenger purposely late. Whilst team principal Whitmarsh cautions that 'you can never be confident', it is clear that he is quietly optimistic the deliberate delay will pay dividends.

“I think F1's 2010 season was fantastic for the sport and fantastic for the fans,” the Englishman reflected, speaking exclusively to Crash.net during the pre-season Autosport International show. “Inevitably, if you don't win the world championship and you're McLaren, you're going to be disappointed – but overall, I think it was a great, great championship. I'm sorry that we didn't win it, but we're going to be focussed on trying to put that right in 2011.

“The truth is, we're always pretty fired-up. We've got an incredible team of people who are very, very motivated; they're working hard and we go into every year seeking to win and hoping that we're going to win. The car is in car-build at the moment. It's always hard-pushed for everyone, but it looks good to me, it looks innovative, I think there are some interesting features on it and I'm sure there's going to be lots of discussion about it – but I suspect others will be working just as hard as we are.

“You can never be confident. We took the decision [to launch the MP4-26 late] probably six months ago; we thought it was right then, and I don't have any reason yet to believe that it was wrong. We feel that for us, giving our aerodynamicists and our engineers the maximum amount of time to find performance and develop the car was the right thing to do.”

So much for the car, but every team also needs two solid pedallers behind the wheel, and Whitmarsh believes that in Hamilton and Button – the only title-winning team-mates in the field, having lifted the laurels in 2008 and 2009 respectively – McLaren has an instant advantage over its adversaries. There might be a demanding campaign in prospect, but the 52-year-old is convinced that everything is in-place to take on and beat the best.

“I think the fact that they're world champions just shows how good they are and the class that they have,” he mused. “I think the fact that we have two great drivers clearly makes us a stronger team. I'm very happy with our driver line-up. I think we've got the best driver pairing in F1, and that's good when you're going into a championship trying to win it.

“F1 has always been tough. Ferrari and Red Bull are going to be tough to beat and I think Mercedes as well – I'm sure they're going to be stronger this year than they were last year. We're at the pinnacle of motorsport and it's meant to be difficult – if it was easy to win, then it wouldn't be as enjoyable when you do. The competition is very tough these days.

“[Renault] have had a difficult time, and on paper I think they're not in the top four teams, but I don't wish to insult them because I think they've got some very good people and you can't underestimate them – or any of the teams. They can have that 'Eureka!' moment; they can spring forward and make us all look foolish.

“As far as I'm concerned, we've got to try to beat all of the teams, but you've got to assess who you think the primary competition will be. Clearly, Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes you would expect to be the toughest to beat this year – but we're going to do our best.”

http://crash.net/f1/news/165992/1/innovative_mclaren_will_provoke_lots_of_discussion.html

McLaren have revealed Lewis Hamilton will be at the wheel of their 2011 car when it makes its track debut at Jerez on February 10. Hamilton will sample the MP4-26 on the first day of the test before handing the car over to team mate Jenson Button for the second day of running at the Spanish circuit.

Unlike most of their rivals, McLaren are to field an interim car during the opening pre-season test at Valencia from February 1-3. Hamilton, Button and tester Gary Paffett are all expected to drive the MP4-25 during the three-day session, as they try out the new Pirelli tyres with a familiar set-up.

The team will then journey to Germany to unveil their 2011 challenger at a special event in Berlin on February 4, ahead of the four-day Jerez test a week later.

McLaren’s pre-season test schedule:
Valencia (tyre test using MP4-25 chassis)
February 1 - Gary Paffett
February 2 - Lewis Hamilton
February 3 - Jenson Button

Jerez (first scheduled run for MP4-26)
February 10 - Lewis Hamilton
February 11 - Jenson Button
February 12 - Lewis Hamilton
February 13 - Jenson Button

Barcelona
February 18-19 - Jenson Button
February 20-21 - Lewis Hamilton

Bahrain
March 3 - Jenson Button
March 4 - Lewis Hamilton
March 5 - Jenson Button
March 6 - Lewis Hamilton

 

[Adam Scott Aukerman]

Moron. I understand turning down the HRT drive as its likely gonna be complete crap and he'll have a nobody as a teammate for comparison. But Virgin? Seems like a great opportunity for a young driver to prove himself. He'd get plenty of attention if he was close to Glock, which I reckon is quite possible.

Well that's exactly the point, it seems. Is being at Virgin working out well for Glock, considering the attention he had prior to joining them?

 

[S. L.]

Well that's exactly the point, it seems. Is being at Virgin working out well for Glock, considering the attention he had prior to joining them?

Glock was a moron for joining Virgin as he had offers from other teams afair.

 

[Seanspeed]

Well that's exactly the point, it seems. Is being at Virgin working out well for Glock, considering the attention he had prior to joining them?

Glock was not some rookie driver, though. He had already earned a reputation against Trulli at Toyota. And who was Glock up against at Virgin? Di Grassi, who is unproven in F1. And either way, many people who watch F1 closely would definitely have noticed Glock destroying Di Grassi and putting in some impressive drives.

The point is, if you want to keep your name valuable in F1, you need to either land a good drive, or at the very least, stack up well to an established F1 driver in whatever team. Hulkenberg had the chance to do the latter, but instead is looking at doing a bit of testing pre-season and then not doing ANYTHING all season long.

Seems really stupid to me.

 

[Adam Scott Aukerman]

Glock was not some rookie driver, though. He had already earned a reputation against Trulli at Toyota. And who was Glock up against at Virgin? Di Grassi, who is unproven in F1.

And who would Hulkenberg be up against? Glock.

And either way, many people who watch F1 closely would definitely have noticed Glock destroying Di Grassi and putting in some impressive drives.

Point being I don't think any teams would have bothered giving Glock's manager a call for 2011. Unless he's very lucky, or Virgin develop very quickly, he isn't going anywhere.

The point is, if you want to keep your name valuable in F1, you need to either land a good drive, or at the very least, stack up well to an established F1 driver in whatever team. Hulkenberg had the chance to do the latter, but instead is looking at doing a bit of testing pre-season and then not doing ANYTHING all season long.

Seems really stupid to me.

He'll likely be driving throughout the season on Fridays for Force India (which clearly worked out well for Di Rista), which would keep his skills arguably more relevant than driving around a Virgin for a season (again, unless there's a big change in the relative performance of the two), and his manager is Willi Weber, so he's not exactly done for. I expect Weber will put the pressure on very early during the season to get someone to sign him up for 2012.

 

[Zinga]

If Paul Di Resta gets a seat for Force India it will be amazing, that guy will be the next big thing in my opinion. Force India is lucky to have a driver of his caliber, hopefully he performs well there.

 

[Shaneus]

If Paul Di Resta gets a seat for Force India it will be amazing, that guy will be the next big thing in my opinion. Force India is lucky to have a driver of his caliber, hopefully he performs well there.

Dario Franchitti's cousin!

I was reading his wiki, and you're right... he's had a fucking good series of wins in the other lead-up classes, be surprised if he doesn't ace F1 as well. If he doesn't, it'll be because of our boy Daniel Ricciardello

 

[Shaneus]

There's not a big enough GIF to express how I feel about this article:
THE City of Melbourne signed a lucrative sponsorship deal with the Australian Grand Prix just days before Lord Mayor Robert Doyle called for the event to be scrapped.

If you're going to pan an event, how about doing it BEFORE the event is signed? And why make such a public opinion of something that's such a big event?

Fuck the cost, seriously... government money gets wasted on far less beneficial initiatives.

 

[Goldrusher]

Australia:
290 000 tickets sold, ~40 million euro loss

Belgium:
50 000 tickets sold, ~5 million euro loss

 

[DarkJC]

Yeah I admit when I was reading about their losses, I wasn't expecting to see a "low" of almost 300,000 spectators. Something is wrong with that picture.

 

[Foliorum Viridum]

Er Melbourne is one of the best tracks on the calendar. So, so sad.

I can't believe that fucking Bahrain is the big opener for the season. Zzzz. Melbourne always provides entertainment.

 

[Shaneus]

Yeah, I think there'd be a lot of Melbournians who'd be sad to see it go, not just petrol heads. Something this major should've been on his election agenda which was only a few fucking months ago. Not that I would've voted (I live in a city outside of Melbourne) but still, it's fucked.

Where will Hammy do his burnouts now?!?

PS. Perhaps with another local driver coming through the ranks there'll be another boost of spectators? Webber has done a bullshit-amazing job of getting people here back into F1, perhaps Ricciardello could too...

 

[navanman]

Its on like Donkey Kong.
Today was meant to be the first day of the hearing for Team Lotus versus Lotus Racing but the judge said lets stop playing around a go for a full High Court trial starting in March.

Just been to High Court for Lotus v Lotus. Both legal teams taken aback as judge orders full trial to begin March 21

The row over the use of the Lotus name in Formula 1 will go to a full trial starting on 21 March, a High Court judge decided on Monday.
Mr Justice Peter Smith ruled that the dispute was going on too long and needed a resolution.
He initially said it should be resolved before the F1 season started on 13 March but the two sides eventually agreed to the 21 March date.
Car company Group Lotus and F1's Team Lotus are at loggerheads over the name.
Monday's hearing surrounded Group Lotus's decision to terminate a five-year licensing deal they had with Team Lotus boss Tony Fernandes's 1Malaysia group to use the Lotus brand in F1.
Group Lotus had applied for a summary judgement - where a judge decides a case there and then and stops it going to a full trial - that it was within its rights to end its relationship with Fernandes and instead sponsor the Renault team.
There are a number of other related legal cases surrounding this dispute.
Fernandes, the boss of the Air Asia airline, is also suing Group Lotus for breach of contract over its decision to terminate the licence agreement.

 

[Wax Free Vanilla]

Er Melbourne is one of the best tracks on the calendar. So, so sad.

I can't believe that fucking Bahrain is the big opener for the season. Zzzz. Melbourne always provides entertainment.

melbourne is a shitty track.


the australian gp should go back to adelaide.

 

[WorriedCitizen]

Adelaide was always nice but the track seems a bit dangerous for todays standards. There is almost no space for runoff areas at the end of the straights.

 

[Leunam]

Paul Di Resta set to be confirmed at Force India by wednesday

Paul di Resta is set to finally be announced as a Formula 1 driver for Force India later this week, with his team scheduled to end weeks of speculation about its 2011 line-up.

Although di Resta is understood to have had a deal agreed with the team for some time, his Silverstone-based outfit has stalled on making an announcement about its plans while it resolved contractual issues with Vitantonio Liuzzi.

 

[Orgun]

I'm glad that Lotus Renault is using a black livery this year because I think it's a great color for F1 cars.

Everytime I see this picture I think there is a pool in the background.

 

[Lucius86]

melbourne is a shitty track.


the australian gp should go back to adelaide.

Wrong. Melbourne AND Adelaide are awesome. Both should be on the calendar, and get rid of shitty Bahrain.

 

[Dead Man]

Wrong. Melbourne AND Adelaide are awesome. Both should be on the calendar, and get rid of shitty Bahrain.

This is correct, but if I could only have one, it would be Adelaide. That is in no way influenced by my living in Adelaide.

 

[Wax Free Vanilla]

Latest rumour doing the rounds is that Nissan/Infiniti is set to buy Red Bull Racing.

Announcement to be made on the 31st Jan, Red Bull (or Nissan/Infiniti) plan to launch their car on the 1st February.

 

[WorriedCitizen]

Sounds like a load of rubbish. Why would they sell their team as soon as they are succesfull? And why would they not sell Torro Rosso first?