Formula 1 General Chat & Discussion

Short News from at Circuit de Catalunya , Barcelona- Spain :

Sergio Perez leads Mclaren at day 2 :
Sergio Pérez was the fastest of everyone at the Circuit de Catalunya today, with a lap of 1:21.848. The Mexican set his lap on a one-lap stint on the soft tyres - yellow marking. The closest man to Pérez's time was the reigning world champion, Sebastian Vettel.
Also known as 'Checo', he completed 97 laps of the circuit during the day in order to improve his understanding of the track and car. In the morning the team were trying to understand the relationship between the aerodynamics of the car on track and when in the wind-tunnel. To do this Pérez did lots of short runs. McLaren were also looking at how the car changes with different mechanical set-ups.
When the afternoon session came, he did much longer runs so that he knew some of the key things about his new car - that might have been different on the Sauber C31. These included cockpit switch adjustments and understanding radio messaging.
Vettel was fastest before the teams stopped for lunch, but when the cars returned to the track, the German brought the red flag out and in doing so ended his day of running. This was due to a tyre not being fitted to his RB9 properly - something Red Bull will want to stop by Melbourne.
The 25 year old said, "Obviously we wanted to run a bit longer - and that didn’t work, but better have issues here - after all this is a test - than later on in the season. We’d done several pit stops and obviously at the last one the wheel wasn't fixed properly. That was the reason I couldn't go out again. But again, nothing really to worry about."
Räikkönen continued to show off the Lotus' pace by finishing 3rd fastest, however he also had problems during the day. The Finn had to sit out most of the morning due to a gearbox problem, but his fastest time was set on the medium tyre - white marking.
“If yesterday wasn't an ideal day then today was more of the same. Fortunately, once we were able to get a lap in we could see that the car has good pace. We test to find any problems so in that respect we’re doing a good job, but it’s frustrating.
“It’s no secret that we want to get more laps on the board and that’s the target for the rest of this test and the final sessions next week," said Räikkönen.
Hamilton hit the track for the first time this week, finishing 4th fastest. He completed almost double the length of the Spanish Grand Prix - 121 laps, the most of everyone.
He said, "We had a good day today and it was nice to get so many laps in, we're making continual steps forward in terms of our understanding of the set-up and the tyres. The hard compound work in particular was pretty good today, although all of tyres are showing degradation so looking after them isn't easy.”
The second day for the F138 to be driven with Alonso at the wheel was today, but an exhaust problem prevented him from finishing the team's programme. In the two days of testing so far for the Spaniard, he has completed 176 laps.
Valtteri Bottas was 6th fastest, driving the new FW35 for the first time after it was revealed yesterday. Ricciardo and Paul di Resta weren't far behind either, in 7th and 8th place.
Sauber's Nico Hülkenberg was 9th, with Chilton beating Pic to 10th place.

1. Sergio Perez : McLaren - MP4-28 1:21.848 laps 97
2. Sebastian Vettel : Red Bull Racing - RB9 1:22.197 + 0.349 laps 84
3. Kimi Räikkönen : Lotus - E21 1:22.697 + 0.849 laps 43
4. Lewis Hamilton : Mercedes GP - W04 1:22.726 + 0.878 laps 121
5. Fernando Alonso : Ferrari - F138 1:23.247 + 1.399 laps 76
6. Valtteri Bottas : Williams -1:23.561 + 1.713 laps 98
7. Daniel Ricciardo : Toro Rosso - STR8 1:23.718 + 1.870 laps 70
8. Paul di Resta : Force India - VJM06 1:23.971 + 2.123 laps 62
9. Nico Hulkenberg : Sauber - C32 1:24.205 + 2.357 laps 88
10. Max Chilton : Marussia F1 Team - MR02 1:25.115 + 3.267 laps 67
11. Charles Pic : Caterham - CT03 1:26.243 + 4.395 laps 102

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

News from at Circuit de Catalunya , Spain :

Nico Rosberg on top on first day of Barcelona F1 testing :
Nico Rosberg narrowly edged out Kimi Raikkonen to put Mercedes on top on the first day of Formula 1 pre-season testing at Barcelona. Both men found improvements after bolting on Pirelli's medium-compound rubber in the final 20 minutes of the day. Rosberg, whose morning had been disrupted by lengthy gearbox checks, was the first to make his move. New overall bests in the final two sectors produced a lap of 1m22.616s and vaulted him to the top of the timesheets.
Minutes later Raikkonen staged his own late rally, but despite bettering Rosberg's sector two time he fell seven thousandths of a second short of putting Lotus on top. Fernando Alonso, again on mediums, was another late improver. On his first day in the Ferrari F138 last year's championship runner-up worked his way down to a 1m22.952s to end the day in third. The flurry of late improvements knocked morning pacesetter and reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel down to fourth. The German had gradually improved his lunchtime best and was the first man to dip into the 1m22s bracket, only to be bumped down the order in theclosing stages.
Having launched its FW35 in the morning, Williams ended the day in fifth position courtesy of Pastor Maldonado, a racewinner at Barcelona last year. The Venezuelan spent time at the top of the timesheets in the morning and racked up 85 laps in total, behind only Alonso in 110.
Daniel Ricciardo in the Toro Rosso STR8 shaded McLaren's Sergio Perez in the fight for sixth, while Paul di Resta - the day's third busiest man - was just two hundredths of a second down the road for Force India.
After bringing about the day's first red flag with an early out-of-fuel run, Esteban Gutierrez was ninth fastest and just over 2.5s off the overall pace for Sauber.
Charles Pic was the only other man to cause a stoppage, pulling to the inside of Renault due to a mechanical issue with his Caterham.
He dropped to 11th in the afternoon as Marussia's Max Chilton found improvements with the soft tyre.

1. Nico Rosberg : Mercedes GP - W04 1:22.616 laps 54
2. Kimi Räikkönen : Lotus - E21 1:22.623 + 0.007 laps 44
3. Fernando Alonso : Ferrari - F138 1:22.952 + 0.336 laps 110
4. Sebastian Vettel : Red Bull Racing - RB9 1:22.965 + 0.349 laps 66
5. Pastor Maldonado : Williams - FW35 1:23.733 + 1.117 laps 86
6. Daniel Ricciardo : Toro Rosso - STR8 1:23.884 + 1.268 laps 73
7. Sergio Perez : McLaren - MP4-28 1:24.124 + 1.508 laps 77
8. Paul di Resta : Force India - VJM06 1:24.144 + 1.528 laps 82
9. Esteban Gutierrez : Sauber - C32 1:25.124 + 2.508 laps 68
10. Max Chilton : Marussia F1 Team - MR02 1:26.753 + 4.137 laps 65
11. Charles Pic : Caterham - CT03 1:27.534 + 4.918 laps 49

Williams launches FW35 in Barcelona :
Williams pulled the covers off its latest challenger, entitled the FW35, at the Circuit de Catalunya on Tuesday morning. Regular drivers Pastor Maldonado and Valtteri Bottas were both present for the short launch presentation in front of the gathered media, an event which directly preceded the start of the second pre-season test. According to the Grove-based squad, the FW35 is '80 percent new', with significant changes being made from front to rear. A modified front wing sets the tone for neatly cut sidepods and a more compact rear end. In addition, the outfit is attempting to take full advantage of the Coandă effect with the help of engine suppliers Renault.
"Given the rule stability over the winter, I’m pleased with the gains that we’ve been able to make with this car," Williams Technical Director Mike Coughlan, who joined the team back in 2011, said of the new FW35 chassis. "It’s a better, more refined Formula 1 car than the FW34 and I think everyone involved in the project can feel proud of the work they’ve done.
"The Coandă effect is going to be a big thing for us. There’s been no rule clarification concerning this area of the car, so we’ll work closely with Renault to maximise the available gains. Use of the DRS is more restricted this year, so we’ll take some resource away from that and focus on other areas."
Maldonado will debut the FW35 today, before handing over to Bottas on Wednesday. The duo will split the morning and afternoon sessions for the rest of the week.

'Caterham and Williams exhausts illegal' :
The exhaust designs on the new Caterham and Williams contenders have been declared illegal by governing body the FIA, according to the BBC. Both teams have pushed the regulations to the limit in a bid to make full use of the Coandă effect, but they have now allegedly been told to modify their cars ahead of the opening race.
"The team spoke with the FIA this morning which is when they gave us their view," a Williams spokeswoman explained in the Barcelona paddock. "The team are now seeking further clarification on this and a decision as to whether this design will be carried forward will be made before the first race."
Meanwhile, a Caterham spokesman explained: "We are continuing to evaluate a range of options at the pre-season tests as per our normal program."
The controversy initially arose after the launch of the Caterham CT03 at Jerez, when Lotus Technical Director James Allison argued that the team's exhaust concept would not make it past pre-season testing. Although most outfits are directing airflow to some extent, Caterham and Williams have exploited the rules more significantly.
In Caterham's situation, a turning vane has been placed inside the exhaust channel to control gases in a specific manner. Williams has come up with a similar solution for the FW35, but its design features a small slot in the middle, something which technical chief Mike Coughlan believes makes it legal - as it is technically in two parts. Unless the FIA's decision is reversed in the coming weeks, it looks likely that both teams will need to change their exhaust exit layouts before the first race in Australia.

Ferrari signs UPS as logistics partner :
Ferrari has joined forces with global package delivery company UPS ahead of the 2013 season, a deal which sees the brand become the team's logistics partner.
The multi-year agreement will not only cover the Formula 1 side of Ferrari's operations, but also the racing activities of the Corse Clienti, including the FIA World Endurance Championship and the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Championship.
UPS is set to 'gradually integrate' its services to Ferrari's setup, a process which will result in the company managing the outfit's freight transportation on a global level.

Rosberg targets improved tyre degradation :
Nico Rosberg has pinpointed tyre degradation as one of the main areas for Mercedes to focus on with its new F1 W04 chassis, having gained a better understanding of the car during the opening day of the second pre-season gathering in Barcelona. The German, who led proceedings with a time of 1:22.616, says although he feels comfortable in the team's latest design, 'there is still some work to be done'.
"We had a mixed day today with some laps lost this morning," said Rosberg. "However we were able to work through a good programme this afternoon and, of course, it's always nice to be quickest at the end.
"In general, I feel happy and comfortable in the car and it feels better than the last time we were here at this track. There is still some work to be done on tyre degradation and our programme this afternoon was helpful in understanding that." Rosberg will make way for team-mate Lewis Hamilton at the Circuit de Catalunya on Wednesday morning, before returning to the cockpit of the Mercedes on Thursday.

Williams enjoys 'very good' FW35 debut :
The Williams FW35 chassis enjoyed an almost trouble-free debut at the Circuit de Catalunya on Tuesday, with Pastor Maldonado racking up 86 laps in the team's latest design. Despite a minor water leak in the afternoon session, the outfit completed its planned programme and approaches the rest of the week in a positive frame of mind. "It was a very good day for us, with Pastor completing 86 laps, the second-highest of any team today," said Technical Director Mike Coughlan. "Pastor was very comfortable in the car which was shown by his early lap times. We had a small water leak this afternoon on a development part, but we were able to fix it quickly to complete our tyre programme. We feel confident in the core reliability of the FW35 and look forward to continuing with Valtteri (Bottas) tomorrow."
Although Williams enjoyed a successful day on-track, its new car has already caused ructions in the paddock. According to the BBC, governing body the FIA has declared its exhaust layout as an illegal concept which needs to be changed before the first race.

Räikkönen encouraged by Lotus progress :
Kimi Räikkönen believes Lotus has made a significant amount of progress between the first and second pre-season tests, with the former World Champion explaining that he is happy with the general balance and raw pace of the new E21 chassis. Räikkönen at the wheel of the E21 in BarcelonaThe Finn, who was second fastest in Barcelona on Tuesday, says the Enstone-based outfit's latest car 'is definitely a step in the right direction' after testing it at a fully-fledged Formula 1 venue for the first time.
"It wasn't a ideal in terms of the number of laps we completed, but the car feels strong and we've made some good progress," said Räikkönen. "After Jerez it's nice to be at a circuit where we race and the E21 is definitely a step in the right direction. There's lots of work yet to do this week but I'm happy with where we are."
Räikkönen will be back in action at the Circuit de Catalunya on Wednesday, before handing over to team-mate Romain Grosjean for the remainder of the week .

Alonso: Ferrari on another planet to 2012 :
Fernando Alonso has echoed team-mate Felipe Massa's sentiments that Ferrari has started the year 'on another planet' compared to the 2012 season, with the Spaniard experiencing no such early handling issues at the wheel of the F138 chassis. Marking his return to the cockpit with the third quickest time at the Circuit de Catalunya on Tuesday, Alonso was left feeling 'reasonably pleased' with his day of driving duties.
"I feel reasonably pleased with this first day and I can say I share Felipe’s opinion that the car is on another planet compared to the one we began with on the first day of testing last year," said Alonso, who led the mileage stakes with a total of 110 laps. "The programme for this first session in Barcelona is aimed mainly at improving reliability, with the target of completing more than a hundred laps every day."
Alonso says performance work will not come until next week's test, which will be the final pre-season gathering before the teams pack up and head for Melbourne.
"At next week’s test we can concentrate on performance," he said. "Tomorrow, we will complete what we were unable to do today and we will focus on car set-up, to adapt it as well as possible to the tyres. I knew from looking at the Jerez data what sort of car I would find here, as in fact we know more or less what we will see at the first race, in terms of what new parts we will have and how many tenths they will produce."
Alonso will remain at the wheel of the F138 until Friday, when Massa takes over. The Spaniard skipped the entire Jerez test to focus on an intensive training regime.

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

Short News :

b]Barcelona pre-season testing: The line-up :[/b]
The penultimate pre-season gathering of the year gets underway at the Circuit de Catalunya on Tuesday, with all 11 teams using their 2013 contenders. As a preview, here's a list of driver line-ups for the week ahead.
Barcelona's timetable is as follows:
Tuesday: 9am - 5pm
Wednesday: 9am - 5pm
Thursday: 9am - 5pm
Friday: 9am - 5pm

Red Bull Racing
Tuesday: TBC
Wednesday: TBC
Thursday: TBC
Friday: TBC

Scuderia Ferrari
Tuesday: Fernando Alonso
Wednesday: Fernando Alonso
Thursday: Fernando Alonso
Friday: Felipe Massa

McLaren
Tuesday: Sergio Pérez
Wednesday: Sergio Pérez
Thursday: Jenson Button
Friday: Jenson Button

Lotus F1 Team
Tuesday: Kimi Räikkönen
Wednesday: Kimi Räikkönen
Thursday: Romain Grosjean
Friday: Romain Grosjean

Mercedes AMG F1 Team
Tuesday: Nico Rosberg
Wednesday: Lewis Hamilton
Thursday: Nico Rosberg
Friday: Lewis Hamilton

Sauber F1 Team
Tuesday: Esteban Gutiérrez
Wednesday: Nico Hülkenberg
Thursday: Nico Hülkenberg
Friday: Esteban Gutiérrez

Sahara Force India
Tuesday: Paul di Resta
Wednesday: Paul di Resta
Thursday: Adrian Sutil
Friday: Jules Bianchi

Williams F1 Team
Tuesday: Pastor Maldonado
Wednesday: Valtteri Bottas
Thursday morning: Pastor Maldonado
Thursday afternoon: Valtteri Bottas
Friday morning: Valtteri Bottas
Friday afternoon: Pastor Maldonado

Scuderia Toro Rosso
Tuesday: Daniel Ricciardo
Wednesday: TBC
Thursday: TBC
Friday: TBC

Caterham F1 Team
Tuesday: Charles Pic
Wednesday: Giedo van der Garde
Thursday: Giedo van der Garde
Friday: Charles Pic

Marussia F1 Team
Tuesday: Max Chilton
Wednesday: TBC
Thursday: TBC
Friday: TBC

* TBC = To Be Confirmed

Sutil, Bianchi get Force India test outings :
Adrian Sutil and Jules Bianchi will both test the Force India VJM06 at the Circuit de Catalunya this week, with the pair fighting for the vacancy alongside Paul di Resta. At present, only the Scot has been named as a race driver at the outfit. Sutil, who contested four seasons with the team from 2008-2011 before being replaced, recently had his seat-fitting and will get behind the wheel on Thursday. Bianchi, a Ferrari protege and long-time favourite to seal the drive, will be in the cockpit on Friday. The confirmed di Resta is due to drive on Tuesday and Wednesday. Bianchi enjoyed a test outing for Force India at the opening Jerez gathering earlier this month, posting the second quickest time behind Kimi Räikkönen on the final day.

Pic to drive on opening day in Barcelona :
Charles Pic will get back behind the wheel of the Caterham CT03 chassis on the opening day of the second pre-season gathering at the Circuit de Catalunya. The Frenchman is scheduled to drive on the first and final days of the test, while new team-mate Giedo van der Garde takes to the track on Wednesday and Thursday.
Caterham completed 1408 kilometres (874 miles) of running at the first pre-season test in Jerez, putting them seventh in the overall mileage standings so far this year.

Rosberg handed first day of Barcelona test :
Nico Rosberg is set to drive on days one and three of the second pre-season test at the Circuit de Catalunya, with Mercedes issuing its full line-up for the gathering. Rosberg's team-mate, Lewis Hamilton, will get behind the wheel of the F1 W04 on Wednesday and Friday - ultimately bringing the test to an end for the German marque.
Despite enduring a troublesome start to its testing programme at Jerez, Mercedes bounced back to cover a grand total of 1425 kilometres (885 miles) over four days.


Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

News Round Up part 2 :

Pirelli reveals early compound nominations :
Pirelli has revealed the compound combinations it will be bringing to the first four rounds of the 2013 Formula 1 campaign, with the Italian manufacturer gearing up for its third season as the sport's sole tyre supplier since returning in 2011. For the opening race weekend in Australia, the Super Soft and Medium compounds will be used, while a less aggressive selection of Medium and Hard has been made for Malaysia. The Soft compound will be brought to China and Bahrain, but will be used in conjunction with the Medium tyre at Shanghai and the Hard tyre at Sakhir. All 22 drivers will receive six sets of the harder compound and five sets of the softer compound for each Grand Prix weekend, while Pirelli will also bring four sets of its Intermediate tyre and three sets of its Full Wet tyre for damp conditions.

Rounds 1-4 tyre compounds:
Australia: Super Soft (Red), Medium (White)
Malaysia: Medium (White), Hard (Orange)
China: Soft (Yellow), Medium (White)
Bahrain: Soft (Yellow), Hard (Orange)

Mercedes eyes top four position in 2013 :
Toto Wolff, Mercedes' motorsport boss, says a top four Constructors' position would be a positive outcome for the outfit in 2013. The Austrian's target follows on from compatriot and three-time World Champion Niki Lauda's comments that the Silver Arrows will be able to take the fight to the sport's top teams this season.
The German marque, which has not finished higher than fourth in the Constructors' standings since returning to the sport as a works team in 2010, has recently undergone a structural reshuffle in a renewed bid to climb up the Formula 1 order. Although 2013 will not be a defining year for the squad, Wolff is still hoping to challenge the front-runners on a regular basis.
"If the team finishes in the top four and is a regular front-runner," Wolff told the official Formula 1 website when asked what he would label a good campaign. "I will do everything it needs to make this team successful. First it is watch and listen, and then I will give my opinion and execute my opinion."
Wolff went on to explain that his move from Williams does not come without personal risk, with the Austrian admitting that his ‘neck is on the line’ at the Silver Arrows.
"As they know I have put my neck on the line they know that I have no room for failure," Wolff added. "Not only have I taken a personal risk by leaving Williams - where I have enjoyed working - but there is also a financial and economic side to it. There is a huge amount of trust on both sides and I am very happy having joined."

Coulthard hits out at Melbourne cynics :
Ex-Formula 1 driver David Coulthard has responded to those who consistently campaign against a Grand Prix taking place in Melbourne, explaining that although taxpayers in the state of Victoria have to bear the front of a large race licence fee, they should recognise the overall economic boost it provides to the area.
After reports in Australia's Herald Sun newspaper marked the annual hosting fee at approximately 20 million pounds, renewed criticism of the event was sparked. However, Coulthard says the positives of the race clearly outweigh the negatives.
"There is absolutely no question that Melbourne is a great city for us to come to, full stop," Coulthard said on the Australian Grand Prix podcast. "It's a great race track within the Albert Park facility. For the one week of inconvenience when people don't get the access, they shouldn't be so selfish, quite frankly.
"They should think of the greater good; what it does for the local economy, what it does to inspire young school children who want to be engineers, designers, whether it's in engine design, tyres or whether they want to be drivers. You don't inspire people by not giving them a taste of what is out there.
"The people who put out the negativity, I wonder how they'd feel if I stood outside whatever sporting event they follow and put forward my right to say 'well I don't like you doing that, it annoys me'? You have to be tolerant and those who don't particularly appreciate it (the Grand Prix) should be tolerant of those who do."
Coulthard went on to argue that licence fees are not exclusive to Formula 1, with other sporting events being subsidised by the government and taxpayers.
"It's a truly international event and Melbourne is on the world map," he said. "With the licence fee that has to be paid, nothing comes for nothing, and licence fees get paid for other sporting events. You have to think of all the restaurants, hotels, and the duty free at the airport. It gives a boost to the economy."
Melbourne has a contract in place to stage a Grand Prix until 2015. In a recent interview with Australian radio station 3AW, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone stated: "If they’re happy with what they pay for the event to take place, then I’m very happy .

Marussia pleased with Chilton and Razia :
Max Chilton and Luiz Razia have both made a positive impression at Marussia so far this year, with the outfit's Chief Engineer, Dave Greenwood, stating that the rookie duo 'delivered all we asked of them' during the first pre-season test . Chilton was due to line-up alongside Timo Glock this season until financial difficulties forced a change in approach, leading the latter to a DTM switch. Despite Razia's appointment making for an all-rookie line-up at the Banbury-based squad, both GP2 graduates have shown encouraging form at the wheel of the MR02 chassis. "Both Luiz and Max performed well in Jerez and delivered all we asked of them in their first test with the new car," said Greenwood. "It wasn’t an easy week for them by any means; we were getting over the car’s initial teething problems, which made it difficult for them to get into a good rhythm.
"Nonetheless, they both applied themselves well, were fully focused on the engineering programme and their feedback was very complete. Jerez was a good foundation step and the next two weeks in Barcelona will test them further. We are confident that they will rise to the challenge."
The second pre-season gathering takes place at the Circuit de Catalunya from 19-22 February, with Razia and Chilton again set for two full days of running each.

France moves to pay TV model with Canal+ :
France has followed the lead of the UK, Italy and the Netherlands by introducing a pay television model for its Formula 1 coverage, with Canal+ claiming the rights.
Fans wishing to follow the sport in the country, which houses one of Europe's biggest F1 audiences, will now be required to pay 35 euros (30 pounds) a month for the privilege. The exclusive deal also pushes well-known broadcaster TF1 out of the sport, a channel which had been fronted by Romain Grosjean's wife, Marion Jolles.

Sutil preparing for Force India test outing :
Adrian Sutil could test for Force India during the second pre-season gathering of the year at the Circuit de Catalunya next week, with GPUpdate.net learning that the German has completed a seat fitting in the team's VJM06 chassis. Sutil, who is not yet guaranteed a test outing, is a leading candidate for the vacant seat alongside Paul di Resta. The 30-year-old drove for the outfit under various guises between 2007 and 2011 and is up against 2012 reserve Jules Bianchi.
"Adrian has had a seat fitting," a team spokesperson confirmed "The line-up is not finalised, but there is a possibility Adrian could be involved."
Force India is expected to reveal its full Circuit de Catalunya testing line-up on Monday. The venue, situated to the north of Barcelona, will host the final two pre-season tests of the year from 19-22 February and 28 February to 3 March respectively .

Whitmarsh: Majority of teams struggling :
Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone explained earlier this week that every team involved in the sport is financially stable and 'richer than God', but according to McLaren Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh, the opposite is the case. With the economic crisis still hanging over the Formula 1 paddock, Whitmarsh says most teams will find it challenging to "have a viable business model for a few years."
"It's tough," Whitmarsh explained to BBC Sport. "We're in the world of advertising and you only have to see how advertising is worldwide. The rate card is down. We have taken some measures, but I think it's going to be tough for some." Whitmarsh believes the teams are suffering from the aftermath of the global financial crisis, with a number of sponsorship deals concluding at this time. In addition, the 54-year-old has described the way in which Formula 1's profits are shared between the teams is 'deeply frustrating', but admits it is up to each outfit to fight for itself. "Bernie has done a fantastic job for the owners," he said. "We can criticise him but he's doing a better job than we are. He's keeping the money on behalf of his employers. That money whistles out of the sport and that's deeply frustrating for some of us, but that's exactly what he should be trying to do. If the teams aren't cohesive enough to work together to secure a larger share, they have to blame themselves."
The new Concorde Agreement, which has not yet been signed, will see the teams share 63 percent of the sport's overall profits, as opposed to 43 percent in the past .

Maldonado gets first test day in new FW35 :
Williams driver Pastor Maldonado will complete the first full test day in the FW35 at the Circuit de Catalunya, the Grove-based squad confirmed on Friday. The team will be the last to reveal its new design in Barcelona, having tested with its 2012 car at Jerez. Following Maldonado's run on Tuesday, new team-mate Valtteri Bottas will get behind the wheel for the second day. The pair will then alternate for the final two days of running, equally sharing the morning and afternoon sessions on Thursday and Friday.
Williams development driver Susie Wolff is scheduled to shakedown the FW35 at the Idiada motorsport complex, to the north of Barcelona, before the test gets underway.

Recycling company purchases HRT cars :
A Madrid-based car recycling firm has purchased five cars previously used by the now folded HRT Formula 1 team, company owner Teo Martin confirmed on Friday.
Martin has acquired three cars from 2012 and two from 2011, while the engine units used in all five have been taken back by supplier Cosworth. A third car from 2011 was bought by Pirelli, which the Italian brand has confirmed will be used as a show car. In addition to the cars, Martin has claimed a large proportion of the team's general equipment from its headquarters - situated at the Caja Magica in Madrid. The businessman is planning to sell items to collectors who express an interest. A fortnight ago, there were reports that a group of investors from the United States and Canada had been looking at the possibility of purchasing HRT's assets and entering the sport under the name of Scorpion Racing, but a deal did not come to fruition .

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

Testing will resume at the Circuit de Catalunya on 19 February, with the Spanish Grand Prix venue hosting the remaining two pre-season gatherings of the year

News Round Up part1 :

Lauda: Mercedes can fight top three teams
Three-time Formula 1 World Champion Niki Lauda believes that Mercedes, running with a modified driver line-up of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, will be able to join the battle for a top three position in this year’s Constructors’ Championship. The German marque, recently subjected to major structural changes, has failed to finish higher than fourth in the overall standings since re-entering the sport as a works outfit in 2010. However, Lauda, who acts as the team's Non-Executive Chairman, was left feeling positive after the opening test of the year at Jerez. "The cars are relatively close together," Lauda told Bild. "In my view, Vettel is the fastest at the moment. The Red Bull works well and looks reliable. He is a bit faster than the rest, but my joy is that Mercedes can now compete with the top three teams."
Lauda also touched upon the early technical issues Mercedes suffered this week, with both Rosberg and Hamilton restricted to less than 20 laps on their first days in the new F1 W04. Although the problems were a setback, the 63-year-old played down their impact.
"The tests are there so you can eliminate errors," said Lauda. "Nico and Lewis have been so busy in the final days. The two failures on the first days were made up for." Rosberg, who claimed the first Mercedes victory for 57 years at the 2012 Chinese Grand Prix, and Hamilton collectively completed more than three and a half race distances at Jerez, bouncing back from respective hydraulic and brake failures.

Sauber completes most mileage at Jerez :
Sauber led the mileage stakes at the opening pre-season test of 2013 last week, with new drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Esteban Gutiérrez racking up a total of 430 laps at the Circuito de Jerez in Spain. The Hinwil-based outfit and rivals Red Bull are the only two teams to have covered more than 1000 miles so far this year.
Force India, Williams and Toro Rosso all feature near the top of the mileage charts after four days of track action, while Mercedes was able to recover from its early technical problems to sit sixth. Caterham is the last of the teams above the 300 lap milestone, leaving McLaren, Ferrari, Lotus and Marussia in the bottom four positions .
1. Sauber / 430 laps / 1904.040 km / 1183.115 mi
2. Red Bull / 372 laps / 1647.216 km / 1023.532 mi
3. Force India / 357 laps / 1580.796 km / 982.261 mi
4. Williams / 333 laps / 1474.524 km / 916.226 mi*
5. Toro Rosso / 330 laps / 1461.240 km / 907.972 mi
6. Mercedes / 322 laps / 1425.816 km / 885.960 mi
7. Caterham / 318 laps / 1408.104 km / 874.955 mi
8. McLaren / 299 laps / 1323.972 km / 822.678 mi
9. Ferrari / 278 laps / 1230.984 km / 764.897 mi
10. Lotus / 272 laps / 1204.416 km / 748.389 mi
11. Marussia / 220 laps / 974.16 km / 605.314 mi
* Using 2012 chassis

Hamilton: I'm loving life at Mercedes so far :
Lewis Hamilton says his time at new employers Mercedes has been thoroughly enjoyable so far, dispelling suggestions that he is regretting his move from rivals McLaren. The 2008 World Champion, who has signed a three-year deal with the Silver Arrows, is relishing the experience of working in a completely new environment.
"So far I am loving it here," Hamilton explained to the official Formula 1 website. "The team is great. Everybody is so welcoming and it feels fantastic to work with a new group of people. I honestly feel that this could be a place for me to grow something new."
Hamilton, who drove the team's new F1 W04 chassis for the first time at the opening Jerez pre-season test added that the wide range of comments over his move, made by former Grand Prix drivers and those currently involved in the sport, do not affect him.
"No, that didn’t surprise me," Hamilton replied when asked if the flurry of remarks came as a surprise. "That’s how people are. Whenever there is something coming up some people feel the right to make their comments. That doesn’t really bother me." Hamilton will be back in action at the Circuit de Catalunya , with the second pre-season test of the year taking place at the venue from 19-22 February.

Williams FW35 passes final crash test :
Williams has passed the final FIA-regulated crash test with its new FW35 chassis, meaning the outfit is on schedule for its launch presentation on Tuesday 19 February.
Pastor Maldonado and Valtteri Bottas were both present at the opening pre-season test of the year at Jerez last week, collectively completing 333 laps in the team's 2012 car with the aim of gathering aerodynamic and tyre data for their new challenger.
The FW35 will be revealed at the Circuit de Catalunya shortly before 9am local time (GMT +1) next Tuesday, moments before the second pre-season test gets underway .

Kobayashi handed test by AF Corse Ferrari :
Kamui Kobayashi will get behind the wheel of a Ferrari 458 Italia at the Motorland Aragón in Spain this week, with the Japanese driver being handed a test by AF Corse.
Kobayashi, who will be joined at the gathering by Karun Chandhok, Luca Filippi, Davide Rigon and Brandon Maisano, failed to secure a Formula 1 seat for the 2013 campaign, despite picking up a podium finish at last year's Japanese Grand Prix. AF Corse has two seats remaining for its World Endurance Championship effort, meaning Kobayashi will be involved in an evaluation process. The test, which began on Monday, also features regular drivers Gianmaria Bruni and Giancarlo Fisichella.

Maldonado targets more victories in 2013 :
Pastor Maldonado is certain that his Williams team can challenge the established order in Formula 1 in 2013, with the Venezuelan hoping to add another Grand Prix victory to his name this season. The 27-year-old, who starts his third term with the Grove-based team, feels confident after four positive days of testing at Jerez.
Pastor Maldonado"We are quite close to the top teams," Maldonado, who won the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix for Williams, said in an interview with Sky Sports. "It's always difficult to predict every year - you never know what the others are doing - but if we compare what we did last year and what we are doing for the next season, we have great potential and we feel confident with the package.
"We have been pushing so hard the last two years and we must concrete our potential. We won one race last year and I hope to continue like that. It's going to be very difficult; the changes in the car are not so big for everybody, the rules are more or less the same, but we've been working so hard and I hope to be more competitive than last year. (I have) more experience as well; fingers crossed to have a great season."
Maldonado also had positive words for new team-mate Valtteri Bottas, explaining that the Finn's experiences from 2012 should pay dividends as the campaign progresses.
"(I will have) more responsibility because it's going to be the first year of Valtteri in the car racing, and that will be a bit difficult at the beginning, but Valtteri has a lot of experience with the team and he knows very well how the team works and the style," he added.
"He's a good guy so I hope as well to have a great season together as a team. Our mission is to put the car in the top (places) as (often as) possible for us."
Williams, which attended the opening test with its 2012 chassis, will debut its new FW35 design on the morning of Tuesday February 19 at the Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona, moments before the second pre-season gathering gets underway.

Häkkinen: Mercedes slower than I expected :
Two-time Formula 1 World Champion Mika Häkkinen does not expect Mercedes to be fighting at the front of the field this season, explaining that the Brackley-based team's new car is slower than he had anticipated. Following the opening test at Jerez, the Finn instead expects Lewis Hamilton's former outfit, McLaren, to set the pace.
"I have a strong feeling that McLaren is in top form this year," Häkkinen said during an interview with the BBC on Tuesday. "As we saw at testing in Jerez, the Mercedes wasn't as fast as I expected them to be, so I don't see them competing too much this year."
Despite his initial thoughts on the 2013 pecking order, Häkkinen backed Hamilton's switch to Mercedes, arguing that it was a suitable moment for the 2008 World Champion to seek a new challenge.
"Lewis has been with McLaren for so many years and I think, for him, it was time to change," Häkkinen commented. "It's just a job to be honest. There are no emotional feelings about it, you are there to win, you are racing with the team and you do your maximum for the team. Lewis has now moved to Mercedes and that is going to be interesting because his team-mate Nico Rosberg is also a very quick driver."
Mercedes is approaching its fourth campaign since returning to the sport as a full works team in 2010. Courtesy of Rosberg's dominant weekend performance, the outfit managed to claim its first victory in 57 years at the 2012 Chinese Grand Prix.

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

Alexander Wurz 15th February 1974
[Versteckter Link - Registrierung notwendig]
Happy Birthday to your 39th anniversary

Toranosuke Takagi 12th February 1974
[Versteckter Link - Registrierung notwendig]
Happy Birthday to your 39th anniversary

another season of Formula 1 has started. and the first pre-season test at Jerez is gone
there are only a few changes in the rules to hope for major changes
for me, only two important things:
1 – Pirelli tyres: softer compounds to improve performance and to ensure a faster degradation. so we will see more pit stop(at least two). good news for sponsors.
2 – the use of DRS use will limited during practice and qualifying to the same area as in the race. I would abolish the drs, but with these cars and these circuits (apart Spa and a few others) is unfortunately impossible.

The track. Jerez de la Frontera is not very probative circuit for aerodynamics, (better Barcellona) and its asphalt is too rough for Formula One tyres testing

Cars. esthetically is ugly the high nose; the front wings seem snowplow. The nose of the new Ferrari is even higher than the Red Bull RB9. I hope at least is a good choice. Sidepods and rear zone of the F138 seem better than last year. And now some comparisons between the best times of this week (4 top teams)

Vettel Red Bull (2012) 1m19.297s -- (2013) time:1m18.565s (hard tyre)
Webber Red Bull(2012) 1m19.184s -- (2013) time:1m19.338s (medium tyre)

Button Mc Laren (2012) 1m20.688s -- (2013) time:1m18.861s (hard Tyre)
Hamilton Mc Laren(2012) 1m19.464s -- (2013) time:now in Mercedes

Massa Ferrari (2012) 1m20.454s -- (2013) time:1m17.879s (soft tyre)
Alonso Ferrari (2012) 1m18.877s -- (2013) no time

Raikkonen Lotus (2012)1m19.670s -- (2013) time:1m18.148s (soft tyre)
Grosjean Lotus (2012) 1m18.419s -- (2013) time:1m18.218s (soft tyre)

- impossible to compare the results of the Mercedes, because last year at Jerez was the only team that still had the old car with the diffusers blown.

generally the cars seem faster probably due to the new softer Pirelli's compounds, but it is too early to make judgments about the teams.

F40LM wrote:[Verstecktes Bild - Registrierung notwendig]

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? if 2big ;some1 delete it

....better now than in the championship
this year will be the ferrari year

Short News :

Raikkonen puts Lotus on top on final day
Kimi Raikkonen topped the final day of Formula 1's first pre-season test of 2013 at Jerez.
The Finn set the best time of the day on a short run with the soft tyre during the afternoon running, which was extended by 30 minutes to make up for a delay caused by track repairs around lunchtime.
Raikkonen had attacked the run from the moment he left the pits, choosing to force a way past the Caterham of Charles Pic on his out lap rather than back off to get clear track. After the short, but clearly committed run, the 2007 world champion switched back to longer runs. Raikkonen's lap was just enough to prevent Force India hopeful Jules Bianchi from leading the way as he bids to earn a promotion to a race seat with the Silverstone-based team. Bianchi's lap, which came just after the track re-opened following the long stoppage in the middle of the day, also came on soft tyres. The Ferrari junior had no chance to respond to Raikkonen's lap, as he handed the Force India back to lead driver Paul di Resta for the final two hours.
World champion Sebastian Vettel was third fastest for Red Bull on a day where he focused on long runs with the medium and hard tyres. Sauber's Esteban Gutierrez managed to go fourth with a short run, but he spent most of his afternoon getting used to how the Pirelli tyres behave on longer stints.
A series of short runs on the soft tyre helped Jean-Eric Vergne move up to fifth late in the day, moving him ahead of Lewis Hamilton. The Briton had a much better second day with his new team, making up for his lack of running on Wednesday due to a crash by logging the most laps of anyone.
New Ferrari development driver Pedro de la Rosa got back out in the afternoon after a gearbox problem stopped the F138 in the morning. The Spaniard completed 50 laps .

Test day 4 ( final for this week ) :
1 Kimi Raikkonen : Lotus- E21 1’18.148 laps 83
2 Jules Bianchi : Force India - VJM06 1’18.175 +0.027 laps 56
3 Sebastian Vettel : Red Bull - RB9 1’18.565 + 0.417 laps 96
4 Esteban Gutierrez : Sauber - C32 1’18.669 + 0.521 laps 142
5 Jean-Eric Vergne : Toro Rosso - STR8 1’18.760 + 0.612 laps 92
6 Lewis Hamilton : Mercedes - W04 1’18.905 + 0.757 laps 145
7 Sergio Perez : McLaren - MP4-28 1’18.944 + 0.796 laps 98
8 Valtteri Bottas : Williams - FW34 1’19.851 + 1.703 laps 92
9 Pedro de la Rosa : Ferrari - F138 1’20.316 + 2.168 laps 51
10 Charles Pic : Caterham - CT03 1’21.105 + 2.957 laps 109
11 Luiz Razia : Marussia- MR02 1’21.226 + 3.078 laps 82
12 Paul di Resta : Force India- VJM06 1’23.435 + 5.287 laps 49

Next test session will be scheduled at 19th feb. till 22nd feb.at the Catalunya Circuit ,Spain

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

News from at the Jerez Circuit , Spain :

Ferrari catches fire as de la Rosa debuts
Ferrari's new car caught fire just two laps into Pedro de la Rosa's Friday testing programme at Jerez. The Spaniard, who is correlating the F138 with its simulator version, ground to a halt in a ploom of smoke between Turns 7 and 8.
"Difficult start of the day for De La Rosa: F138 stopped on track after the second installation lap," Ferrari, which completed the opening three days of pre-season testing at Jerez with Felipe Massa, explained via Twitter after the technical gremlin hit. Following the incident, which occurred at 10.10am local time (GMT +1), de la Rosa's car was covered and returned to the pit lane. The Ferrari mechanics quickly unloaded it, putting up barriers outside the garage before working to diagnose the cause of the fire. The Italian outfit has not yet confirmed if de la Rosa will be back out on-track later today. If the problem cannot be rectified in time, the second gathering at the Circuit de Catalunya from 19-22 February will be the team's next chance to complete mileage .

Red Bull will not run two design teams
Red Bull will not be splitting its design teams for the 2013 and 2014 Formula 1 campaigns, Team Principal Christian Horner has confirmed. With the V8 engine era ending in favour of turbocharged V6 units, the pressure is on to end development for the current season at a suitable time to ensure competitiveness next year.
Unlike Ferrari, which has partitioned its efforts in a bid to optimise the transition phase in the sport's regulations, Horner says his team will be 'juggling both developments' because it does not hold the resources required to mirror its rivals. "No, we don’t have that big amount of resource," Horner told the official Formula 1 website when asked if two design teams are an option for the outfit. "It is a matter of balancing your resource between 2013 and the challenge of 2014 - which is a significantly different car with a big regulation change. That is one of the major challenges of this season - to juggle both developments." Reflecting on the opening three days of pre-season testing at Jerez, Horner reports that 'an encouraging start' has been made with the evolutionary RB9 chassis. "The feeling of the car is pretty much the same as its predecessor - just more refined," he explained. "But overall it was an encouraging start of the life of the RB9."
Vettel is completing the final day of the Jerez pre-season gathering for Red Bull.

Brawn - 'Hamilton is part of the solution'
Ross Brawn has described new recruit Lewis Hamilton as a key ‘part of the solution’ to Mercedes’s performance deficit, explaining that the former World Champion has started the process of driving the team forward at this week's Jerez pre-season test. Although his opening day programme was scuppered by a brake failure, Hamilton enjoyed a large amount of running at the wheel of the new F1 W04 on Friday, with Brawn adamant that his arrival has had an extremely positive on the outfit.
"I think we’ve made it very clear to Lewis that he’s part of the solution," Brawn told reporters at Jerez. "You have a choice in a team; are you the problem, or are you the solution? He’s part of the solution to get us where we want to be. I think he knows that and understands that, and I think he’s relishing it.
"It’s correct that he gives us reference points and helps us understand what we have to focus on. I think some of it we already knew, and that’s why we restructured the aerodynamic group. I welcome that approach. It needs to be positive and it needs to be constructive. Criticism of the right sort is always helpful to drive a team forward."
Brawn added that there have been ‘lots of encouraging signs’ displayed by Mercedes over the winter break, particularly in terms of efficiency at the team's Brackley factory.
"The step we have to make from the end of last year to the beginning of this year is pretty substantial, and it’s a moving target as well," he said. "From what I’ve seen it’s very encouraging. It’s the first car (Engineering Director) Aldo (Costa) has designed, and the aero group seems to be working well. So, lots of encouraging signs. "We know what we have got to do, and Lewis has really helped to confirm it. That will be something that we will strive to do, but it won’t be overnight."
Hamilton completed 145 laps in the cockpit of the F1 W04 at Jerez on Friday, just three shy of the impressive total new team-mate Nico Rosberg managed 24 hours

Kimi Raikkonen calm about Lotus gains
Kimi Raikkonen says there are no guarantees that Lotus will do better than last year in 2013, despite the Finn feeling the new E21 is a step forward. Raikkonen returned to Formula 1 last year after a two-year absence, and was one of the stars of the season, taking one win and finishing in third place in the standings.
The Lotus driver got behind the wheel of the new car for the first time on Thursday and he felt the car was stronger than last year's machine. The former world champion admitted, however, that it was no guarantee of a stronger season. "We try to do better and hopefully we manage to do it. Everybody is aiming to do better they did the previous years," said Raikkonen.
"Even if you win the championship you try and improve things and I cannot promise that we will manage to do that, but hopefully that is our aim and hopefully we can do that."
Raikkonen did concede he feels more comfortable at Lotus now that he is starting his second season with the team. "It is more easy because I know the team, and I know the people, and they know me. But it doesn't mean we will suddenly be better and do better," he said. "There are an awful lot of things that can work in your favour or go against you. "In theory it should be more easy. But I don't count on it that we are suddenly going to start to turn it around and start to be something different to how we finished last year.
"Time will tell. It is definitely more easy to come here and be here than it was a year ago because I know the team."


Ferrari denies Alonso absent in Jerez because of injury
Ferrari on Friday denied rumours Fernando Alonso is nursing an injury. Most suspect that the Spaniard is sitting out the Jerez test this week so that the new F138 car can be 'shaken down' by Felipe Massa and Pedro de la Rosa ahead of Alonso's debut on the much more representative Barcelona track.
But one or two whispers in the Jerez paddock this week suggested Alonso may have injured a rib whilst karting last month. However, as the double world champion is currently running and cycling in Dubai and happily posting photos to Twitter to prove it, a Ferrari spokesperson said on Friday: "It's obvious how hard Fernando is training at the moment. This rumour (about the injury) is utter nonsense and totally untrue," Ferrari added.

Hamilton not impressed by Red Bull pace
Lewis Hamilton said he was not concerned by the pace shown by Red Bull so far on the final day of testing.
Sebastian Vettel set a time of 1’18.565 on hard tyres in the first half of the final day of testing but Hamilton wasn’t concerned by the show of pace from the RB9: “18.5, yeah, I don’t know how the hards behave but over the last couple of days people seem to get a decent time out of the hards. Yeah, I mean the Red Bull’s always quick so it’s not a surprise, it doesn’t impress me at all.” He said Mercedes were unsure where they stood compared to the rest of the field at the moment: “I’ve asked the guys to try and predict it but they don’t know. We don’t know what fuel loads people are on so it would be just a guess.”
Hamilton completed 59 laps on the morning of his second day in the Mercedes. He lost most of his first day of running on Wednesday after a brake failure caused a high-speed crash.
“It’s much, much better than what we started with,” he said. “The car’s obviously been capable of that we’ve just had a couple of issues.” “I feel like the mileage, of course it will count,” he added. “Because by the time we get to the end someone’s done 5,000 kilometres or whatever it is and we would have done four or something like that. “But we’re catching up. Nico did 150 laps yesterday so he already caught kind of a day back up with people doing 80 laps, something like that. “We’re probably not going to be able to get to 150 laps today because Nico had already done close to 100 by now. But we’ll still try and get as much time in as possible.”
Hamilton spoke to media at Jerez while the final day of testing was red-flagged when a hole appeared in one of the kerbs. Hamilton said the delay, which lasted almost an hour, didn’t affect him:
“It works out well because i just had lunch,” he said. “The guys are working on changing some things on the car so we just shifted our lunch earlier. “I didn’t even see what was on I heard it was a manhole or something on the track. It wasn’t an issue for me while I was out there but as long as they fix it and we get out hopefully quite soon.” He said Mercedes are “at the level we hoped we’re at” with the W04. “I couldn’t really ask for more.”
“The guys have done a great job to add downforce to the car and understand where they’ve been and take the car in the direction they really wanted to go.” However he added he needed more running to give them team the direction they need: “I wouldn’t say I was clear, no. With time and more testing I think I’ll become more clear.”

Rossiter: Test shows value of simulator work
Force India simulator driver James Rossiter says his tests for the team this week show the value of using a simulator for car development. Rossiter, who was previously a test driver for BAR, said his run in the VJM06 on Wednesday and Thursday at Jerez was “massively useful”.
The test driver was struck by how much has changed since he last drove a real, rather than virtual, F1 car:
“Obviously the tyres are very different and I had to get used to the systems, working with DRS and KERS. Obviously I’ve been doing that in the simulator so that was relatively easy.
“Trying to understand the tyres has been the biggest thing we’ve been trying to do and just get me up to speed in a current Formula One car.” “For me it was more about running on a sensible amount of fuel with new tyres and then running with an awful lot of fuel just so I can feel that difference,” he added. “I never got to experience super-high fuel levels they have at the start of a race.”
“Now I’ve got to experience that and see what that’s like, that’s certainly pretty interesting, it’s very different from what I remember about Formula One.
“So there wasn’t too much focus on performance, there was no need to push hard, make any mistakes or anything like that. It was all about me getting up to speed and just learning as much as I can to take back and correlate with the simulator.” Pedro de la Rosa is running for Ferrari on the final day of the test, which Rossiter takes as further indication that simulator work is becoming more valuable for teams:
“I think it shows the importance the fact that Pedro’s driving at Ferrari as well, that I’ve been driving, it really is starting to highlight that you can get performance with the simulator and we hope to exploit that as much as possible. Whether that means I get to run later in the year we’ll have to wait and see.”
Force India is the only team left to confirm its driver line-up for 2013. Rossiter acknowledged that uncertainty had given him the chance to return to the cockpit:
“We discussed it even at the end of last year, if an opportunity would arise, and everyone sort of agreed it would be a good idea. I’ve been very fortunate in the situation that without the second driver being confirmed there was an opportunity for me to drive. I’m very appreciative of the team for the chance and it was nice to get back in there.” The test hit a snag when Rossiter knocked over one of the team’s mechanics, who fortunately only suffered minor injuries. “I hold my hands up that was totally my fault,” said Rossiter.
“I came in, we were doing some aero runs and everything was cold, brakes too cold, tyres too cold. And I came in too fast and thank God Marcus is OK and he’s just got a few bruises. I’m sure I’ll be buying him many beers and he won’t be forgetting it soon.”
“There’s no reset button in real life unlike the simulator – there’s no mechanics stood in front of the car in the simulator either. So it was quite unfortunate but luckily he’s OK.”

Pic: Engine and KERS biggest changes from Marussia
Charles Pic says the change of engine and the addition of KERS marks the biggest difference from the Marussia he drove last year and the Caterham he is driving now.
“I think the biggest difference is coming from the engine side and KERS,” he told reporters in Jerez.
“Last year we didn’t have KERS, it’s quite different, you have to learn how to use it and where you decide to take back the energy to decide it. Yeah it’s a new part but it’s quite fun.” “It’s coming step by step. I’m sure there is still a lot of work to do on it.” Pic added that managing the effect of KERS on braking was a particular challenge: “For sure it is different because it’s giving you more locking because when you recharge it it’s like extra rear braking. “I think you have to learn how to use it and where you recover the energy so where you have this extra rear braking depending the circuit and where you want it to not disturb your balance.”
Pic said he wasn’t drawing any conclusions on the basis of his first day’s running:
“The first day I was very happy because I didn’t drive since Brazil so I was looking forward [to] this day.
“It was a good day, we lost some running time unfortunately but I think it’s like that. We made the best we could and the mechanics work very fast. “Now it’s too early to say anything, I don’t know what is the performance of the car compared to others. I think what is important is follow the programme you have, get the answers from the test and prepare a lot.” Pic starts his second year of F1 alongside rookie team mate Giedo van der Garde, but said he doesn’t feel under pressure as a de facto team leader:
“So first time I’m not alone there is a lot of engineers at the tracks,” he said. “For me it’s changing nothing I just give my best, give the best feedback I can to help them the maximum and that’s it.”

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

[Verstecktes Bild - Registrierung notwendig]

[Verstecktes Bild - Registrierung notwendig]
pix
? if 2big ;some1 delete it

Short News :

Massa quickest on third day at Jerez
Ferrari’s Felipe Massa set the pace on the penultimate pre-season test day at Jerez, producing a time of 1:17.879 on the Soft Pirelli tyre. The Brazilian led Mercedes rival Nico Rosberg - who completed a mammoth total of 148 laps - by 0.887 seconds, while reigning Champion Sebastian Vettel marked his return in third.
Much chillier conditions greeted the Formula 1 fraternity at the gates of the Jerez circuit on Thursday morning, with the air and track temperatures taking a significant amount of time to reach a meagre 10°C (10°F). Massa was the early pace-setter as the session got underway, being usurped only breifly by the F1 W04 of Rosberg. The latter recovered his team's lost ground with a series of long-distance stints, completing more than two and a half Grand Prix distances in his new car.
Vettel had a quiet first day at the Spanish venue, much like Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber's introduction to the RB9 chassis earlier in the week. The German completed two long and consistent high fuel runs at the end of the day to end on a total of 102 laps. He wound up just ahead of fourth place man Kimi Räikkönen, who ran through aero runs early on before a clutch issue curtailed his running in the afternoon.
Aside from the former title winners, there were a number of returning names at Jerez on Thursday. Toro Rosso's Jean-Éric Vergne was one of them, finishing the day fifth fastest after signalling a brief red flag period when his STR8 stopped at the end of the pit lane. However, the biggest drama of the day came when Force India development driver James Rossiter (sixth) collided with the team's front jackman upon returning to the pits. Luckily, nobody was injured as a result of the accident.
Jenson Button (seventh) was back in the cockpit for McLaren this morning, taking over from Sergio Pérez. Massa had described the McLaren driver's time as 'incredible' on the opening day, but the tables were turned this afternoon. Esteban Gutiérrez (eighth) made his first appearance of the week for Sauber, racking up 110 laps with a focus on brake materials and cooling methods. He was trailed by Marussia's Max Chilton, who bounced back from his Tuesday crash to finish within 3.5 seconds of Massa.
Valtteri Bottas, Charles Pic and Paul di Resta brought up the rear of the field, the final two drivers both suffering issues. Pic stopped at Turn 2 with a technical gremlin just before the lunch break, while di Resta was unable to complete more than 7 laps after taking over from Rossiter - the Scot's car being sidelined with an exhaust problem.
Testing day 3 :
1. Felipe Massa Ferrari F138 1:17.879 / 85 laps
2. Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP W04 1:18.766 / + 0.887 / 148 laps
3. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing RB9 1:19.052 / + 1.173 / 102 laps
4. Kimi Räikkönen Lotus E21 1:19.200 / + 1.321 / 40 laps
5. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso STR8 1:19.247 / + 1.368 / 85 laps
6. James Rossiter Force India VJM06 1:19.303 / + 1.424 / 42 laps
7. Jenson Button McLaren MP4-28 1:19.603 / + 1.724 / 83 laps
8. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber C32 1:19.995 / + 2.116 / 110 laps
9. Max Chilton Marussia F1 Team MR02 1:21.454 / + 3.575 / 78 laps
10. Valtteri Bottas Williams FW34 1:21.575 / + 3.696 / 86 laps
11. Charles Pic Caterham CT03 1:22.353 / + 4.474 / 57 laps
12. Paul di Resta Force India VJM06 1:23.729 / + 5.850 / 7 laps

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

News from at the Jerze Circuit :

Ecclestone calls meeting with teams
Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is meeting with Team Principals on Thursday in a bid to finalise the sport's future. The 82-year-old, who has already discussed key areas such as a new Concorde deal and the V6 engine era with Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes heads, will talk to the remaining teams in London.
In addition to the Concorde Agreement - which officially binds teams to the sport - and the new turbocharged V6 engine units which are set for introduction next season, debated subjects such as the use of customer cars and entry fees will be looked at. Talking about the situation at this week's opening test in Jerez, McLaren Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh says the teams 'need to have' a new Concorde deal in place, but is unsure as to how the negotiations are going to progress as the first race approaches.
"We're good a creating crises in our sport and we're good at not sorting them out," Whitmarsh told reporters. "We need to have somebody come out and say 'peace in our time', wave a bit of paper and say 'here's a new Concorde Agreement'. We need to have that, but I'm not sure everyone is motivated to do it."
Ecclestone stated this week that the upcoming campaign will feature 19 races, with the 7 July slot remaining unfilled. The German Grand Prix, which went through a phase of uncertainty amid financial problems, has been confirmed at the Nürburgring .

Rosberg delighted with mileage total
Nico Rosberg declared himself 'very happy' after getting Mercedes's testing programme back on track at Jerez on Thursday. the German completing a total of 148 laps. After two troublesome days at the Andalusian circuit, the outfit was able to cover 655 kilometres of trouble-free running; more than two and a half race distances.
"I'm very happy with today and I think it was probably a personal record for me to do almost 150 laps," said Rosberg. "I've never been so well prepared physically as I am this season; I feel on top form and it was no problem to complete the programme.
"To drive the distance from Silverstone to Spa in one day with no problems whatsoever is a fantastic achievement from the team. It really made up for the last two days and put a smile on everybody's face."
Rosberg said he felt comfortable in the car en route to the second fastest time on Thursday, but says the team still has 'plenty of work to do' before the opening race.
"In terms of driving the car, I have a good feeling, I can push it and feel comfortable - but obviously we still have plenty of work to do to continue improving," he concluded.
Lewis Hamilton will get back behind the wheel of the F1 W04 chassis tomorrow morning, with the Briton completing the fourth and final test day for Mercedes.

Vettel - 'We've made another step forward'
Sebastian Vettel says Red Bull has made 'another step forward' with its new RB9 chassis. The reigning World Champion, who took over from team-mate Mark Webber at the Circuito de Jerez on Thursday, enjoyed a smooth introduction to his 2013 challenger, posting the third quickest time on his way to an overall lap total of 102. "So far, I think we can be pretty happy," said Vettel. "Mark had a good couple of days to start with and I took over today. It was great to get back in the car, to get rid of the rust and to get back in the groove again.
"It's an evolution and I think we've done another step forward, but that's all we can say at the moment," said Vettel. "The first feeling is good and the car is working well. It’s difficult to judge the speed, but reliability looks pretty good. For today we accomplished what we set out to achieve – which was to put a lot of laps on the car.
Despite his positive first impressions, Vettel was cautious about making any predictions for the season ahead, reiterating that tests never show the full picture.
"It’s very difficult to judge anything else," he added. "It could be that there is a favourite after these three tests, but it could turn out to be completely different in Australia because it’s a different track with different characteristics. I expect the Championship to be at least as tight as last year, as the regulations haven’t changed so much."
Vettel will bring the first pre-season test of the year to a close for Red Bull on Friday.

Jerez struggling without Alonso
Jerez is struggling without Spanish hero Fernando Alonso. The 2012 runner-up and Ferrari driver elected to sit out the opening test of the pre-season in favour of cycling training in a hot country -- possibly the Canary Islands. His absence has led to mostly "empty grandstands" as the rest of the Formula One world tests at Jerez in southern Spain, Brazil's Globo reports.
"We have 25 to 30 per cent more journalists this year," Jerez's media boss Raul Zarzuela said.
"Everyone wants to see the new cars -- it's almost like a Grand Prix," he added.
But "The absence of Alonso has hurt the interest here (in Spain)," Zarzuela admitted. "We (Spain) are in (economic) crisis, of course, but it only costs 10 euros for the whole day."

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

Christian Klien 7th February 1983
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Happy Birthday to your 30th anniversary