I've just read the recent comments about Räikkönen; personality; PR; etc. â and I largely agree. The last time he put up with what one might call 'overbearing PR work' without serious complaint was when teamed with Montoya at McLaren. Oddly enough, it was JPM who became "â¦pissed offâ¦" (to quote the man himself) first! In JPM's defence, I should add that I believe it was not only the McLaren PR schedule but also the politics within F1 at the time â which appeared to revolve around Ferrari (and one of its drivers in particular) â which finally persuaded him to wave goodbye to Bernie's travelling circus. On the other hand, KR appears to have decided that if he's there, he's going to do his own thing and enjoy it. Years ago there was a popular TV advert. I confess to not watching advertising these days and my memory may not be exact, but I think this particular ad' ended with the rather catchy line: "I'm only here for the beer!". Cheers, Kimi!
There are three four day tests this winter, I'm not sure if there's any in-season test (was it not scrapped?) Jerez - 5th February-8th February Barcelona - 19th February-22nd February Barcelona - 28th February-3rd March
Yeah pretty sure in season testing was scrapped. Although teams use the young drivers test as a kind of testing ground for new parts as well.
I think there was major talk of most big teams not wanting in season testing in 2013, but I'm not sure if they said yay or nay in the end. To be honest nothing really changes next year so it would be pointless anyway...
So Rolex are to become F1's official timekeeper... We should all rush out and buy one! The power of advertising!
Good news that, i never figured out how to pronounce "Seiko" and "Tag Heuer". Are they real rolex's doing the timing, or fake Chinese one's that are a few minutes behind?
If it's the fake knock-offs, the grids should be interesting! It's a pity HRT folded, they'd be in for a shout at pole.
Would Pole laps be measured in hours instead of minutes? If it's real Rolex's doing the timekeeping, wouldn't it be awkward to keep count, as they don't tick.
Red Bull were worried before 2012 season reveals Newey Dec.12 (GMM) F1 design guru Adrian Newey has admitted that he began the 2012 season feeling “worried” about the likely performance of his latest Red Bull. Ultimately, the history books show that the energy drink-owned team has utterly dominated the past three championships, capturing every drivers’ and constructors’ title consecutively since 2010. But 2012, according to Red Bull’s lauded technical boss, was different. “Unfortunately, we realised even before the season that it would take some time to understand the car,” Newey told Italy’s Autosprint magazine. “We were worried”. “The problem was with the ‘blown’ exhausts that we introduced in 2010 and around which we completely designed the 2011 car. “Everything, including the position of the batteries, was based on it.” Told that he obviously resents the FIA’s exhaust rules clampdown, Newey admits: “Oh yes, because it is a restriction. “If you limit the regulations too much, for me it becomes ‘GP1′ – just a brand and not Formula One.” Even ahead of the 2013 season, the FIA is still tweaking the rules to close loopholes: the next cars will, for one, have to pass even stricter nose flexibility tests. “You see,” Newey insists, “the fact is that the so-called ‘spirit of the regulations’ doesn’t really exist. “If you find a gap that allows you to defeat the purpose of the existing rule, but without violating the letter of the regulation, then we need to see if it is feasible. “That is the true nature of F1. Yes, we have found some possibilities that maybe the rules do not provide for, but are not [actually] prohibited. “It makes other people mad, but I get sick of being constantly under attack, as the reality is that the other teams and the FIA have always kept an eye on us. “But they never find any rule that we have broken.” Newey suggested that the bleating of other teams is not only annoying, but also hypocritical. “Like the famous ‘hole in the floor’ we introduced in Bahrain,” he said. “At another point in the year Ferrari was running an identical solution.” It's starting to become the norm now with RBR directly attacking other teams.
Sauber has passed the 2013 crash test which means they have their 2013 chassis ready. With so little rule changes this probably means their 2013 chassis is virtually identical to their 2012 chassis anyway. Autosport - Sauber reveals 2013 F1 car has passed all mandatory crash tests
So sauber are not changing their suspension like mclaren to follow the Ferrari. I presume it would need a new chassis to do this
I presume that means that if Sauber are going to innovate they're going to do it on the aerodynamic side of things.
Looks like it, I hope they can surpass last years leaps up in some races. They have great potential. As you said, it is a lot of pressure on aero though don't you think?
In fact Benson statistics are the only real "official yardstick" in F1 as that accounts as (fact) which cannot be questioned. Yes some variables are there to question the amount of WDC's and wins, but it's far less biased than the public view with all it's flaws, bias' and agendas which are nothing but opinion and not fact. In short: zzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
No mention of Mansell Benson? yet Lewis Hamilton was sqeezed in at the end? Why has Benson not gone into hibernation yet? surely he must know his perfectly round head cannot survive the cold weather!! please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Bianchi reported to be prime choice for Force India seat by Finnish F1 media as they will be using Ferrari engines sooner rather than later at some point in time.