Formula 1 General Chat & Discussion

Pastor Maldonado 9th March 1985
[Versteckter Link - Registrierung notwendig]
Happy Birthday to your 28th anniversary

hey shaky i'm looking forward yours new 2013 f1 games

News Round Up part 3 :

F1 'heavyweights' call for Melbourne night race :
Leading formula one figures have called on organisers of the Australian grand prix to consider switching to a Singapore-style night race format. Keen to install a better television time for the bulk European audience, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has been pushing the idea for years, but the state government has always ruled it out. In fact, the Albert Park event is already highly controversial within Victoria, with opponents baulking at the cost to taxpayers and even the government refusing to commit to a new contract beyond the existing 2015 deal. Ecclestone said recently: "We hope we're going to be in Melbourne forever, although we do get a bit of criticism and I don't know why." Suddenly, a trio of what the local Herald Sun newspaper described as F1 'heavyweights' are proposing a flootlit night-race format for the grand prix. 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton said he backs the idea to see Melbourne alternate normal daylight races with a floodlit race once every three years. "I'd like to see things vary because every year is the same," he said. Agreed Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo: "It sounds like a good compromise." And Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was also quoted as saying: "A night race in Melbourne, when you consider where the viewing figures are, could be interesting."

Renault pushing for new engine maps to be allowed :
Helmut Marko has played down suggestions a clampdown on Renault's intended engine mapping solution for 2013 has hurt the performance of the new Red Bull. "Rubbish!" the team's outspoken Austrian told Sport Bild.

It emerged recently that, following the engine mapping clampdown of 2012, engine supplier Renault and works team Red Bull assumed they could revert to different engine maps for the new season. The story, culminating in the FIA banning Renault's 2013 maps, coincided with an apparent struggle with the RB9 last week in Barcelona, when Sebastian Vettel admitted he was having trouble setting the car up.
Marko denies it has anything to do with engine maps. "With the old settings, the car worked beautifully last year," he said. "The topic has been exaggerated (in the media)."
Renault's Remi Taffin agrees. "Because the exhaust systems have improved (since 2012), we also tried some new engine settings. This is quite normal for testing. Actually, the changes barely made a difference," he insisted. Marko said the setup problems with the RB9 encountered recently are not a big deal. "It is not nearly as serious as (early) last year," he insisted. "(It's) no great cause for concern."
Nevertheless, Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that Renault is now pushing for its intended 2013 engine maps to be allowed, on the grounds of reliability. This would require the agreement of the FIA, and also the unlikely cooperation of engine rivals Mercedes, Ferrari and Cosworth.

Williams - Deal with PDVSA is watertight and will continue :
Williams on Wednesday played down fears the death of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez could hurt the British team. Through 2012 Barcelona winner Pastor Maldonado, Oxfordshire based Williams is heavily sponsored by PDVSA, the state-controlled Venezuelan oil company.
The deal has always been closely associated with Chavez, the controversial Venezuelan president who was personally involved in the promotion of Maldonado's career. Chavez, 58, died of cancer on Tuesday, and despite winning a sixth presidential term only recently, it is possible his United Socialist party will lose power when new elections are held next month.
Germany's Auto Motor und Sport estimates Williams' annual deal with PDVSA at around EUR 30 million. But "Williams fans need not worry," correspondent Tobias Gruner wrote on Wednesday. He quoted a Williams source as saying: "The (PDVSA) contract is watertight and will continue even after the death of Chavez."

Todt likely to remain FIA president beyond 2013 :
Jean Todt looks set to remain FIA president for a second term. The former Ferrari chief (135 votes) beat ex world rally champion Ari Vatanen (49 votes) to the post in late 2009. 67-year-old Frenchman Todt's first term ends late this year, and he is eligible to run for another four years.
Reports by the French-language AFP and La Presse claim Todt has secured the ongoing backing of the motoring federations in North, South and Central America. "When the people in North, South and Central America say with one voice that you must be present, it is clear that making the decision to continue will be easier," Todt is quoted as saying. "It will weigh heavily in my thinking. There is still some way to go, but if you have a team pushing you to continue, it is obvious that it makes you want to continue," he added.

Sergio Perez admits to feel added pressure at McLaren :
Sergio Perez has felt the added pressure of stepping up the F1 grid for 2013. Formerly the surprise podium-getter in a Sauber, the 23-year-old has now been signed up by McLaren, to replace the ultra high-profile Lewis Hamilton. "Of course the pressure is higher now," the Mexican is quoted by Speed Week, as he represented his new employer at the Geneva motor show. "But I have no problems with it. Anyone who can't handle pressure should not sign for McLaren," added Perez.According to most pundits, Perez has had a mixed first winter with the famous British team, complaining about "extreme" tyre degradation and a difficulty adjusting to the new MP4-28. "Of course I would have liked to collect more information before going to Australia," he admitted.
"Some days it was cold and really difficult to learn about the car," said Perez. "But I don't know anyone in the pitlane who had carefree winter testing. So it's the same for everyone, not a disadvantage for us."

Mercedes' Lauda to continue as German TV pundit :
Despite becoming Mercedes' major shareholder and chairman, triple world champion Niki Lauda will remain an expert commentator in 2013. RTL, the German free-to-air broadcaster, has announced that the famous cap-wearing 64-year-old Austrian has signed on for another season and beyond.
RTL's sports boss Manfred Loppe said he is confident the dual role as a television pundit and leading Mercedes figure will not alter Lauda's typically outspoken nature. "I have no doubt Niki Lauda will continue to think and talk as he always has," Loppe is quoted by SID news agency. Lauda's new RTL contract is through 2015.

Lotus welcomes CNBC as new official partner :
Lotus F1 Team welcomes CNBC, the world’s leading business and financial news network, as its Official Business Media Partner in a move which cements the team’s position as the number one Formula 1 team for business. CNBC takes business news to a global audience of 390 million homes around the world. Throughout the 2013 Formula 1 season, this new agreement will allow Lotus F1 Team's partners to benefit from CNBC's unmatched reach of affluent and influential business leaders with commercial advertising campaigns airing on its international network. This new relationship builds on the team’s recent partnerships with brands such as Microsoft, Unilever and The Coca-Cola Company. The partnership will see CNBC branding on the nose of the team's 2013 car, as well as on driver and pit crew overalls, team uniform, branding around the paddock and on marketing materials. Eric Boullier, Team Principal, Lotus F1 Team: "CNBC is a fantastic partner which highlights the growing importance of Lotus F1 Team as a vehicle for the business world. We are working with household brands such as Microsoft, Unilever and The Coca-Cola Company; brands whose actions are watched closely in the business world. Our partnership with CNBC brings us greater exposure in this environment and allows our business-to-business platform to flourish." Charlotte Westgate, VP Marketing & Communications, CNBC: "CNBC's partnership with Lotus F1 Team is extremely exciting. It's an innovative marketing solution which provides branding and commercial opportunities for both parties. The Formula 1 audience is complementary to our own influential and affluent viewer base around the world. We look forward to working with Lotus F1 Team and wish them success in the 2013 season."

PaucoPlast named as technical partner for Sauber :
PaucoPlast AG, a company specialising in the manufacture of carbon/composite parts, has been a supplier to Sauber since the early days. Indeed, the cooperation between the two parties has continued virtually uninterrupted since 1973. Now the partnership is set to reach new levels, with PaucoPlast named as a Technical Partner of the Sauber F1 Team. The PaucoPlast logo will be displayed on both the car (on the rear section of the sidepods) and the team's equipment.
"We have been working very closely with PaucoPlast for many years now", says Monisha Kaltenborn, Team Principal of the Sauber F1 Team. "For us, PaucoPlast represents a guarantee of production quality and delivery reliability when it comes to complex carbon-fibre parts such as the floor, brake ducts and body elements. The close geographic proximity of the two companies to one another also assists our partnership. I’m delighted that we’re now stepping up our cooperation another notch."
"The passion and efficiency of the Sauber F1 Team when it comes to a challenge as complex as Formula One excites and inspires us time and again", says PaucoPlast CEO Philipp Schranz. "It is a philosophy that we apply in every one of our projects. That’s why we’ve been keen to explore a more in-depth partnership."

McLaren expects 'incredibly close' season :
McLaren Sporting Director Sam Michael expects the 2013 Formula 1 campaign to be a fiercely competitive affair, having witnessed a number of impressive performances throughout the trio of pre-season tests at Jerez and the Circuit de Catalunya. Although Jenson Button and Sergio Pérez finished fifth and 15th in the combined standings for the final Barcelona test, Michael reiterated that times were not the focus for the Woking-based team and that most rivals will have masked their true potential.
"A large part of winter testing is taken up with methodically working through systems checks and verifying that the correlation between design and track is solid," he said. "That’s more important in modern F1 as track testing opportunities are so limited." With Friday practice in Melbourne the next time the drivers will get the chance to drive, Michael can point to the unspectacular testing results of the Red Bulls as further evidence that gaining data about the Pirelli tyres was more important than outright pace. As ever, this makes it almost impossible for the pecking order to be determined after the pre-season phase, but Michael insists that the mood at McLaren remains positive:
"We’re all really looking forward to the first race in Melbourne in two weeks – from the laptimes we’ve seen the season is going to be incredibly close!"

Vettel - Testing less conclusive than ever :
Sebastian Vettel believes pre-season testing has been 'less conclusive' than ever this year, with the reigning World Champion struggling to uncover any significant clues about the current Formula 1 pecking order after the trio of gatherings in Spain.The Red Bull driver, who has admitted to issues with Pirelli's new tyre compounds, says it is impossible to predict who is main rivals will be at the Australian Grand Prix.
"I would say that we never had a winter that was less conclusive than this one: the tyres last more or less, depending on how much temperature you are able to create," Vettel explained to the official Formula 1 website. "I think it is impossible for all of us to read the pace of the cars and to make out any favourites."
Vettel also discussed the pace-setting times posted by Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg on the final two days of last week's Barcelona test, but alluded to fuel loads making a significant difference.
"We all saw the lap times, but it is a bit unclear at this stage what kind of tyres give what step to you and, regarding the fuel load, I think it sure helps to have a bit less in the car!" Vettel added. "But honestly, we have to look after ourselves. We haven’t been able to tick all the boxes we would have liked to and the last two days weren’t as good as we had expected, but there is a bit of time left until the season starts."
Vettel is scheduled to spend some time in the Red Bull simulator before heading to Melbourne for the opening race of the season .

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

News Round Up part 2 :

McLaren confirms Paddy Lowe 'moving to Mercedes' :
Sam Michael, McLaren's sporting director, has finally confirmed what the entire F1 paddock suspects -- Paddy Lowe is heading to Mercedes. It is a poorly-kept secret that 50-year-old Lowe, formerly McLaren's technical director, has been placed on 'gardening leave' before he moves to Mercedes, perhaps to become the Brackley based team's new boss in 2014. But in its media statement last week, McLaren said only that Lowe is embarking "on a fresh challenge in 2014". Mercedes has also refused to officially confirm the news. But McLaren's Michael has now told British broadcaster Sky: "He (Lowe) has taken his choice to move to Mercedes and we wish him all the best." Bild, Germany's biggest newspaper, has heard the same information, reporting that a winning Mercedes would be "a parting gift" from the team's current boss, Ross Brawn. "Next season he (Brawn) will be replaced by ex McLaren technical director Paddy Lowe," read the report.
Even Mercedes is beginning to sing from that songsheet. The German newspaper FAZ has quoted motor sport boss and shareholder Toto Wolff as saying: "If Paddy Lowe should come to Mercedes, then there would be a very structured succession plan with Ross, which would be done by mutual goodwill and for the benefit of the team."

Ecclestone pushes for 22-race calendar in 2014 :
Bernie Ecclestone has revealed he wants to push out F1's already bustling calendar to 22 races in 2014. This year, with New Jersey's demise, the schedule has dropped from its original 20 grands prix to just nineteen.
But Russia is joining the action next season, and F1 business journalist Christian Sylt wrote in a City A.M. report that talks are on with Mexico and Thailand. "Having races in the right place is what matters," F1 chief executive Ecclestone told Sylt. "The teams could probably deal with 22 races."
The 82-year-old also said he would like Africa to host a race in the future. "I want to be in Cape Town," said Ecclestone. "I have been offered Durban but I think we would be better off in Cape Town."

Bianchi immediately said yes to Marussia challenge :
Jules Bianchi has admitted he expected to spend the 2013 season as Force India's reserve driver. The Frenchman served in that role last year, but was a hot contender to step into the race seat for 2013. Ultimately, however, Adrian Sutil got the job. "I honestly thought it was over," Bianchi told France's Sport24. "And then there was this story (about Marussia and Luiz Razia), but in my head I had told myself that I would do another season as third driver. It was really a great surprise to find myself in contention for this (Marussia) seat."
Recalling when Force India chose German Sutil over him, he explained: "The bad news came ... I could stay with Force India but as third driver. I thought I had done enough in the past years to make a step forward."
Of course, Bianchi will indeed be on the Melbourne grid next weekend, alongside fellow rookies Max Chilton, his teammate, and also Valtteri Bottas and Giedo van der Garde. Asked if his new status has sunk in, Bianchi answered: "Not really! I find it hard to say I'll be on the grid in Melbourne. Since I was small and in karting, I have worked towards F1. It will take me some more days to understand this."
Asked how he responded when Marussia offered him the seat, Bianchi revealed: "I immediately said yes! I knew it was being discussed but I didn't really believe it. I know that my manager, Nicolas Todt, worked hard for it, as well as my sponsors, the French (motor racing) federation and Ferrari who were all behind me and helped me to where I am today," he added.

Alonso expects Red Bull Racing to lead pack in Australia :
Fernando Alonso is heading into next weekend's 2013 season opener with realistic expectations of a podium finish. "I think so," the 2012 title runner-up is quoted by Spain's El Pais newspaper during a sponsor event in Barcelona on Monday. Fabled Ferrari has had a much better winter compared to a year ago, when the Maranello team was multiple seconds off the pace. Alonso fought back to lose the championship to Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel by just 3 points, and he is expecting a similar contest in 2013.
"McLaren, Lotus will be there," he said. "And Mercedes, who have worked on this car since the middle of last season, have improved. But it would be a major surprise if Red Bull is not in front of everyone," said Alonso. "They should be able to win in Australia even with the car of Brazil (2012)."
He said his wish for 2013 is therefore to have a car "capable of fighting with the best". "Able to win races and podiums," the Spaniard clarified. "We can't forget that late last year we were 7 or 8 tenths behind the competition. So we will not be the fastest, but we will not be 1.6 seconds behind, as we were in Australia last year. But we are faster," he is quoted by the AS newspaper. "The base is infinitely better. I need a faster car to win, but two tenths (slower than the best) is enough."
Alonso said those trying to predict the Melbourne pecking-order based on winter testing will need to wait until next weekend to know the real answer. "Impossible," he said when asked how easy it is to extrapolate Mercedes, McLaren, Red Bull and Lotus' true form based on the three Spanish tests. "You don't go to a training camp to see if Barca is going to win on Sunday, or watch Djokovic and Nadal warm up to know the winner. The first four or five races will be a surprise for everyone," added Alonso.

Wolff trying to 'dampen unrealistic expectations' for Mercedes :
Toto Wolff, Mercedes' new shareholder and director, has played down claims the Silver Arrows is a definite title contender for 2013. The Brackley based team had played down its chances until the last two days of pre-season testing, when Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg stunned the paddock with the pace of the new W04.
"Mercedes looks very strong," Ferrari technical director Pat Fry is quoted by Speed Week. But Austrian Wolff said of the raised expectations: "I have to dampen them because they are quite simply not realistic."
He said winter testing is not a good form guide, particularly if some teams are deliberately hiding their performance. "Red Bull for example showed nothing," said Wolff. "We won't know until Melbourne what's really going on," he told the German news agency DPA.
Team newcomer Hamilton, meanwhile, also seemed initially excited by the late-Barcelona test pace, admitting he now expects to win a race. But Spain's El Confidential quotes him as saying: "There's no reason to be impressed. People should not get excited. It's important for everyone to have their feet on the ground."
Teammate Rosberg, in contrast, has sounded upbeat throughout the winter, openly admitting the W04 is much better than its 2012 predecessor. But the real question is how it will stack up against the competition. "Amongst others, the big unknown is Red Bull," the German is quoted as saying.

F1 drivers endure early morning for doping tests :
Several F1 drivers were drug tested on Tuesday. McLaren's Sergio Perez confirmed he had endured a very "early morning" as the result of a surprise urine test. Fernando Alonso said the testers, ensuring FIA-sanctioned drivers comply with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)'s international standard, arrived at his house at 6.42am.
"Got drug tested early hours this morning," added Australian Daniel Ricciardo. "All of a sudden p*ssing in your own home becomes difficult with someone staring over your shoulder," he said on Twitter. The WADA standard includes drug testing at grands prix, but also 'out of competition'.

Maldonado's future in doubt after death of Hugo Chavez :
State-sponsored F1 driver Pastor Maldonado's future appears clouded, following the death of controversial Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. Backed by the state-controlled oil company PDVSA, the Williams driver expressed relief late last year when the socialist incumbent was re-elected for a new six year term. "Long live democracy!" Maldonado, who was a personal friend of the late Chavez, had exclaimed on Twitter.
But in the last years and weeks, 58-year-old Chavez has been battling cancer, and his death has now triggered a presidential election that must be held within 30 days. "Viva Chavez," Maldonado said on Twitter following Chavez's death on Tuesday. "I join in the deep pain of all Venezuelans." Just hours before confirming the death, vice president Nicolas Maduro accused the United States of a plot to kill Chavez. A US government spokesman in Washington said the claim is "absurd".

De Villota to work as pundit for Spain's F1 TV coverage :
Maria de Villota has been signed up as an expert pundit for Spanish television Antena 3's coverage of the 2013 formula one season. The Spaniard lost an eye in a near-fatal testing crash whilst serving as a Marussia test driver last year, but has made a good recovery.
"Last week they gave me permission to return to driving," said the 32-year-old. "The distances I can already calculate quite well and it feels like nothing ever happened." Following Antena 3's launch of its 2013 coverage, Spanish reports said de Villota will work as an expert pundit, particularly on a segment called 'Safety Car'. Ferrari reserve driver Pedro de la Rosa will also be a commentator for the 2013 coverage.

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

News Round Up part 1 :

Melbourne to stay on the F1 calendar forever ?
The F1 ringmaster, Bernie Eccelstone, has said that he would like to extend the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit’s contract as it expires in 2015.
The circuit that surrounds the Albert Park lake was first introduced onto the F1 calendar in 1996 and will be the opening Grand Prix on the 17th of March. However, the local government and some resident groups have questioned renewing the contract because of the cost to the taxpayer.
The government haven’t said yet if they are interested in renewing the contract, but Bernie Ecclestone seems happy to do so. The 82 year old said, “We hope we’re going to be in Melbourne forever. We’re happy with Melbourne and I’d be happy to sign a 50-year contract. We don’t have a problem with Melbourne.”
”I understand we do get a little bit of criticism. I don’t know why. You start wondering are we really wanted in Melbourne?”
”It appears to be [wanted] now; whenever these sorts of things happen I’m told, ‘Don’t be silly about that, it’s just one or two people making a noise. We’re happy for Formula One to be there.”
Before the 1996 season, the Australian Grand Prix was staged at the Adelaide Circuit. Other circuits have shown an interest in taking the Grand Prix from Melbourne.
”We get proposals from other parts, but we’re happy in Melbourne,” Ecclestone continued.
”Everybody loves Australia and loves Australian people, and it’s good to be there… and Melbourne, in itself, is a nice place.”

Marussia on the market for new engine supplier for 2014 :
Marussia on the market for new engine supplier for 2014Published on 28 Feb 2013 10:02 Marussia is on the market for a new engine supplier, sporting director Graeme Lowdon has admitted. Although Cosworth has not ruled out supplying a turbo V6 for the all-new 2014 regulations, Marussia is now the British company's only customer for the existing V8. And most paddock experts expect only Mercedes, Renault and Ferrari to supply V6s next year. "My understanding is that Cosworth won't be making a 2014 engine," Lowdon explained at the FOTA Fans' Forum in Barcelona. "I don't work for Cosworth, but that is my understanding."
With Renault currently supplying four teams, and looking set to add Toro Rosso to its roster next year, representatives of the French marque this week ruled out supplying six teams in 2014. Currently, Mercedes (McLaren and Force India) and Ferrari (Sauber and Toro Rosso) have two engine customers apiece.

Lotus remains only top team without title sponsor :
Lotus looks set to begin the 2013 season without a title sponsor. Late last year, it emerged that the Genii-owned team was close to announcing a $30 million per year deal with Honeywell, the American technology giant. But last month, Switzerland's Speed Week reported that the deal is now "a way off".
"We've had discussions and some of them were quite advanced," Genii's Gerard Lopez, without mentioning Honeywell, told Reuters this week. "It's important to have the right package. And the right package is to a large extent also financial. I guess we could probably have signed a couple of things that leaked out but we think we are better off making sure that we sign what is the right thing for us," he added. "We will probably end up with something during the season." It is believed Lotus' 2013 livery was designed with the Honeywell deal in mind. Now, in the highly-prominent red-coloured area on the top of the engine cover near the airbox, the stylised words 'Kimi' and 'Romain' are featured on Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean's cars respectively. Lotus is the only top team without a title sponsor.

Caterham struggles with lack of traction on CT03 :
Caterham has followed Williams' lead by removing a dubious solution for its Coanda-effect exhaust from its 2013 car. Williams tweaked the specification of its FW35 as last week's testing concluded, it was clear Caterham was also now fielding a more conventional design.
In the green car, Frenchman Charles Pic ended Thursday's running a half-second behind the Marussia. In Speed Week, technical expert Gary Anderson said the black and red Lotus is offering drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean "outstanding" traction. "In that respect," he said, "the Caterham is the opposite of a Lotus."

Villeneuve - "Alonso capable of driving whole race at the limit " :
Romain Grosjean, denounced by Mark Webber last year as the 'first lap nutcase', insists he has changed for the better ahead of the 2013 season. But 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve doesn't think so. "The only reason he has the chance of winning is because he has an incredible car," French Canadian Villeneuve, who has been signed up by F1's new French broadcaster Canal+ for 2013, said.
"His only problem is that he does not learn from his mistakes," the former Williams and Sauber driver is quoted by France's RMC Sport. "I found all of last year's nonsense amazing," continued Villeneuve. "He didn't change from the first to the last race. It's a shame because he is a very fast driver."
Of the other F1 drivers, outspoken Villeneuve admitted that his favourite is Fernando Alonso. "The best car is certainly Adrian Newey's Red Bull. But apart from Alonso, there is no driver capable of driving at the limit of the car the whole race. When Vettel does, he makes mistakes," said the 41-year-old.
"The only standout is Alonso. After him, maybe Lewis Hamilton. He is no longer at McLaren, with his family, and so he is not protected any more, but he is a fighter so it will be very interesting," added Villeneuve.

'Young' Mark Webber not getting tired of Formula 1 :
Mark Webber has dismissed any suggestion he has replaced Michael Schumacher as F1's oldest driver speeding towards the paddock exit. With Schumacher now back in retirement, Australian Webber, who turns 37 in August, is the oldest active race driver on the grid. Combined with his new one-year contract for 2013, the situation has raised expectations this season could be the Red Bull driver's swansong. "I don't see this as my last year in formula one," Webber told the Sun newspaper. "I have signed one-year contracts for the last four years here even when I am fighting for the world championship." Webber said it is arguable he is even the F1 driver closest to the finish-line, as Jenson Button has actually contested more grands prix. "(But) it means absolutely jack sh*t," he insisted. "If Michael Schumacher was still on the grid, then how would that make me feel any different? I still feel 25. I know I am not but I feel young. I don't feel as though I am getting tired when driving the car. I feel good," said Webber.

Caterham appoints Hari Roberts as Head of Aerodynamics :
Caterham F1 Team has announced that Hari Roberts has joined the team as Head of Aerodynamics. As Head of Aerodynamics Hari will be working closely with Technical Director Mark Smith and Performance Director John Iley. He brings with him a wealth of aerodynamic, trackside and simulation experience from his previous roles which includes working with Jordan, Renault F1 Team and, most recently, Lotus F1 Team, giving him the perfect platform to play an important role in Caterham F1 Team's long-term plans to challenge for honours in Formula One.
Hari Roberts: "I am excited about the challenge that lies ahead with Caterham F1 Team and I am delighted to have renewed my working partnership with Mark, and started a new partnership with the whole team. Caterham F1 Team has the potential to grow into a serious force in Formula One and I am looking forward to playing an integral role in helping the team fulfil its potential."
Mark Smith: "I am delighted that Hari has joined our team, particularly as his appointment extends an excellent working relationship that I have had with him over many years with teams including Jordan and Renault F1 Team. He gives us more senior leadership in a critical area of the team’s development and it is another sign of our shareholders’ ongoing commitment to our team's growth that we have appointed someone of Hari’s calibre to the role of Head of Aerodynamics."
"From a starting point of zero just over four years ago Hari now joins a team of over 120 very talented people in our Technical Office. We have also invested in such core areas as our dedicated model shop at Leafield, the ongoing development of our High Performance Cluster (HPC), which powers our CFD and design functions, and our driver in the loop simulator – all of which give us the tools needed to fight with the most famous names in motorsport in years to come."

Hamilton - New Mercedes 'definitely' a winner at some point :
Having consistently played down his expectations for 2013, Lewis Hamilton is now predicting a win. Until this weekend, most pundits had been forecasting a Red Bull versus Lotus battle for the forthcoming season opener, with next-best McLaren and Ferrari perhaps slightly off the ultimate pace.
But on Saturday, Lewis Hamilton exploded to the top of the times with the winter's best laptime. Nico Rosberg then went even quicker in the first half of Sunday, the last day of running before the circus heads off to Australia. "Everywhere in the paddock, respect is being shown for Mercedes," said Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Tobias Gruner. There are, however, outstanding questions. Didn't Mercedes also show good pace before last season, when ultimately the 2012 car fell badly off the development pace? And isn't there a huge difference between one-lap qualifying pace and the new tyre-degradation dominated grands prix?
Finally, is the W04 really a title contender? "It's not 'no chance' and not 'definitely we will'," Hamilton said. "We will definitely be able to win a race at some point." Added Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg: "At the very least, Mercedes' betting odds have changed now!"


Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

Luciano Burti 5th March 1975
[Versteckter Link - Registrierung notwendig]
Happy Birthday to your 38th anniversary

Unofficial Sunday test times from Barcelona:
1. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 1:20.130, 131 laps
2. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1:20.494, 120 laps
3. Jenson Button, McLaren, 1:21.444, 122 laps
4. Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, 1:21.541, 118 laps
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus, 1:21.658, 50 laps
6. Paul di Resta, Force India, 1:21.664, 112 laps
7. Pastor Maldonado, Williams, 1:22.415, 42 laps
8. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 1:22.514, 100 laps
9. Valtteri Bottas, Williams, 1:22.524, 31 laps
10. Charles Pic, Caterham, 1:23.115, 116 laps
11. Jules Bianchi, Marussia, 1:23.167, 62 laps
12. Daniel Ricciardo, Toro Rosso, 1:23.628, 91 laps
13. Max Chilton, Marussia, 1:24.103, 49 laps

Jos Verstappen 4th March 1972
[Versteckter Link - Registrierung notwendig]
Happy Birthday to your 41st anniversary

Unofficial Saturday test times from Barcelona:
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:20.588, 117 laps
2. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:21.266, 94 laps
3. Adrian Sutil, Force India, 1:21.627, 109 laps
4. Pastor Maldonado, Williams, 1:22.305, 34 laps
5. Valtteri Bottas, Williams, 1:22.468, 31 laps
6. Esteban Gutierrez, Sauber, 1:22.553, 99 laps
7. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:22.658, 59 laps
8. Sergio Perez, McLaren, 1:22.694, 101 laps
9. Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso, 1:23.223, 114 laps
10. Romain Grosjean, Lotus, 1:23.380, 46 laps
11. Davide Valsecchi, Lotus, 1:23.448, 16 laps
12. Jules Bianchi, Marussia, 1:24.028, 74 laps
13. Giedo van der Garde, Caterham, 1:24.235, 126 laps

Short News :

Nico Rosberg and Mercedes fastest on last day :
Mercedes ended the final day of 2013 pre-season Formula 1 testing on top thanks to Nico Rosberg.
The German recorded a 1m20.130s at Barcelona on soft tyres after trading fastest laps with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso for much of the morning session. Most teams concentrated on higher fuel runs or the harder tyres in the afternoon, so there were few improvements after the break. That meant the top duo's advantage remained at around one second, with Jenson Button's McLaren third from the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg.
Force India's Paul di Resta finished the morning in fifth, but was knocked down a place by one of the few improvers of the afternoon. Kimi Raikkonen's Lotus spent most of the morning in the pits thanks to a gearbox problem. A couple of soft-tyre runs towards the end of the afternoon nevertheless lifted him to fifth.
The only other changes to the timesheets in the afternoon came from drivers who had not been part of the morning session. Valtteri Bottas took over from Pastor Maldonado at Williams and was just over 0.1s slower than the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix winner as the FW35 took seventh and ninth.
At Marussia, Max Chilton took over from Jules Bianchi. A late improvement meant he recorded 1m24.103s, but that was almost a second slower than his new team-mate's best from the morning.
Red Bull again proved difficult to read. A mix of unmarked tyres and harder rubber meant Sebastian Vettel never went for a headline time and thus ended up eighth.

1. Nico Rosberg : Mercedes GP - W04 : 1:20.130 laps 131
2. Fernando Alonso : Ferrari - F138 : 1:20.494 + 0.364 laps 120
3. Jenson Button : McLaren - MP4-28 : 1:21.444 + 1.314 laps 122
4. Nico Hulkenberg : Sauber - C32 1:21.541 + 1.411 laps 118
5. Kimi Räikkönen : Lotus - E21 : 1:21.658 + 1.528 laps 50
6. Paul di Resta : Force India - VJM06 : 1:21.664 + 1.534 laps 112
7. Pastor Maldonado : Williams - FW35 : 1:22.415 + 2.285 laps 42
8. Sebastian Vettel : Red Bull Racing - RB9 : 1:22.514 + 2.384 laps 100
9. Valtteri Bottas : Williams - FW28 : 1:22.524 + 2.394 laps 31
10. Charles Pic : Caterham - CT03 : 1:23.115 + 2.985 laps 116
11. Jules Bianchi : Marussia F1 Team - MR02 : 1:23.167 + 3.037 laps 62
12. Daniel Ricciardo : Toro Rosso - STR8 : 1:23.628 + 3.498 laps 91
13. Max Chilton : Marussia F1 Team - MR02 : 1:24.103 + 3.973 laps 49

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

Otto Stuppacher
[Versteckter Link - Registrierung notwendig]
Born : 3rd March 1947 - Died : 13th August 2001

Short News :

Hamilton tops penultimate day for Mercedes :
Lewis Hamilton ended the third day of the final pre-season Barcelona test on top of the timesheets.
The weather was the best seen so far and the Mercedes driver's morning effort of 1m20.558s, set on Pirelli's soft tyre, proved quicker than anyone could manage in the afternoon. It is also the fastest lap seen at the Spanish circuit in 2013. For some time nobody got within a second of Hamilton, but Felipe Massa eventually did in the afternoon. The Ferrari driver had several short runs on both soft and supersoft rubber.
His best of 1m21.266s on the supersoft moved him ahead of Adrian Sutil's Force India, just before a wheel came off the F138 and brought out the red flags. Sutil, who was second fastest in the morning, ran a race simulation in the afternoon, but his earlier 1m21.627s effort was still good enough for third.
Despite delays in the arrival of new Williams parts, and his subsequent late start to the day, Pastor Maldonado ended up fourth. He handed the FW35 over to F1 rookie Valtteri Bottas for the afternoon. After several runs on harder tyres, he got within 0.2s of his team-mate to finish fifth.
Sauber's Esteban Gutierrez was next thanks to his efforts in the morning. Like Sutil and Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne, he focused on longer runs in the afternoon.
Mark Webber spent much of the day doing aero work or trying the harder tyres. After the late red flag, he had a quick run on the soft tyre and set 1m22.658s to end the day seventh fastest for Red Bull.
Thanks to Kimi Raikkonen's illness, Romain Grosjean returned to the Lotus for the afternoon and set a best of 1m23.380s for 10th spot.

1. Lewis Hamilton : Mercedes GP - W04 : 1:20.558 laps 117
2. Felipe Massa : Ferrari - F138 : 1:21.266 + 0.708 laps 94
3. Adrian Sutil : Force India - VJM06 : 1:21.627 + 1.069 laps 109
4. Pastor Maldonado : Williams - FW35 : 1:22.305 + 1.747 laps 34
5. Valtteri Bottas : Williams - FW35 : 1:22.468 + 1.910 laps 31
6. Esteban Gutierrez : Sauber - C32 : 1:22.553 + 1.995 laps 99
7. Mark Webber : Red Bull Racing - RB9 : 1:22.658 + 2.100 laps 59
8. Sergio Perez : McLaren - MP4-28 : 1:22.694 + 2.136 laps 101
9. Jean-Eric Vergne : Toro Rosso - STR8 : 1:23.223 + 2.665 laps 114
10. Romain Grosjean : Lotus - E21 : 1:23.380 + 2.822 laps 46
11. Davide Valsecchi : Lotus - E21 : 1:23.448 + 2.890 laps 16
12. Jules Bianchi : Marussia F1 Team - MR02 : 1:24.028 + 3.470 laps 74
13. Giedo van der Garde : Caterham - CT03 : 1:24.235 + 3.677 laps 126
14. Kimi Räikkönen : Lotus - E21 : no time : laps 0


seriously ?
Felipe Massa Loses a Wheel


Tomorrow will be the final and last day of testing ,before they ship everything to Melbourne -Australia for the first race of the 2013 season !!!

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

i'm looking forward to see the new season

Short News :

Grosjean quickest for Lotus on day two :
Romain Grosjean topped the second day of the final pre-season Formula 1 test at Barcelona.
The Lotus driver had brought the morning session to a premature halt when his car stopped out on the circuit, but he ended up fastest with a 1m22.716s lap on soft tyres in the afternoon.
Jenson Button's McLaren had set the pace in the morning and he looked strong for most of the afternoon.
With the day starting wet and gradually drying until a shower at the very end, Button's morning time was soon surpassed in the afternoon. But runs on the medium-compound slick Pirellis kept Button near the top of the timesheets and his 1m23.181s was the day's best medium-tyred time.
Pastor Maldonado's Williams jumped to third in the closing minutes, just getting his run in before the rain, which has dogged Barcelona testing this year, returned. That left him ahead of Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel, who also made a late improvement, and the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg in fifth.
Adrian Sutil, recently confirmed as Force India's second driver, actually topped the times after lunch, but the squad elected not to do as much running later and he slipped to sixth.
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso concentrated on longer runs, with Alonso in particular running consecutive stints on the hard tyre when the track was at its best. That meant he ended up at the bottom of the times. An otherwise clean session was interrupted twice in the last 20 minutes. First, Giedo van der Garde's Caterham stopped and then, after the restart, Maldonado's Williams brought the day to a slightly early conclusion.

1. Romain Grosjean : Lotus - E21 : 1:22.716 laps 88
2. Jenson Button : McLaren - MP4-28 : 1:23.181 + 0.465 laps 72
3. Pastor Maldonado : Williams - FW35 : 1:23.628 + 0.912 laps 75
4. Sebastian Vettel : Red Bull Racing - RB9 : 1:23.743 + 1.027 laps 65
5. Nico Hulkenberg : Sauber - C32 : 1:23.744 + 1.028 laps 79
6. Adrian Sutil : Force India - VJM06 : 1:24.215 + 1.499 laps 62
7. Daniel Ricciardo : Toro Rosso - STR8 : 1:25.483 + 2.767 laps 61
8. Max Chilton : Marussia F1 Team - MR02 : 1:25.598 + 2.882 laps 75
9. Giedo van der Garde : Caterham - CT03 : 1:26.316 + 3.600 laps 48
10. Nico Rosberg : Mercedes GP - W04 : 1:26.655 + 3.939 laps 120
11. Fernando Alonso : Ferrari - F138 : 1:27.878 + 5.162 laps 102
12. Valtteri Bottas : Williams - FW35 : no time set : laps 0

Jules Bianchi to replace Luiz Razia in Marussia Formula 1 team :
Jules Bianchi will race for Marussia this season after the team was forced to terminate Luiz Razia's contract .
The Frenchman will test for the team at Barcelona on Saturday and then complete half a day of running on Sunday. Although the deal is not believed to have been signed yet, Bianchi will make his debut in the Australian Grand Prix later this month. Bianchi is known to be able to bring some money to Marussia, although he will struggle to match the starting price being quoted by the team, believed to be just over the £5 million mark.
Razia was announced as a race driver during the first pre-season Formula 1 test at Jerez after his backer made an initial payment for the seat. F1 newsflash understands that second scheduled payment deadline was missed, which led to the team pulling Razia from the car in last week's Barcelona test and running team-mate Max Chilton for all four days. Marussia allowed extra time for the agreed backing to appear and held off on making a decision until the Friday of the final test, but has now been forced to take the decision to drop Razia.

Kind Regards
Shaky-schumi

Short News :

Summary: Who test when during the last winter test ? :
Red Bull:
- Thursday : Mark Webber
- Friday : Sebastian Vettel
- Saturday : Mark Webber
- Sunday : Sebastian Vettel

Ferrari:
- Thursday Felipe Massa
- Friday : Fernando Alonso
- Saturday : Felipe Massa
- Sunday : Fernando Alonso

McLaren:
- Thursday : Sergio Perez
- Friday : Jenson Button
- Saturday : Sergio Perez
- Sunday : Jenson Button

Lotus:
-Thursday : Romain Grosjean
- Friday : Romain Grosjean
- Saturday : Kimi Raikkonen
- Sunday : Kimi Raikkonen

Mercedes:
- Thursday : Lewis Hamilton
- Friday : Nico Rosberg
- Saturday : Lewis Hamilton
- Sunday : Nico Rosberg

Sauber:
- Thursday : Esteban Gutierrez
- Friday : Nico Hülkenberg
- Saturday : Esteban Gutierrez
- Sunday : Nico Hülkenberg

Force India:
- Thursday : TBC *
- Friday : TBC *
- Saturday : TBC *
- Sunday : TBC *

Williams:
- Thursday : Valtteri Bottas
- Friday : Valtteri Bottas
- Saturday : Pastor Maldonado
- Sunday : Pastor Maldonado

Scuderia Toro Rosso:
- Thursday : Jean-Eric Vergne
- Friday : Daniel Ricciardo
- Saturday : Jean-Eric Vergne
- Sunday : Daniel Ricciardo

Caterham:
- Thursday : Charles Pic
- Friday : Giedo van der Garde
- Saturday : Giedo vand er Garde
- Sunday : Charles Pic

Marussia:
- Thursday : Max Chilton
- Friday : TBC *
- Saturday : TBC *
- Sunday : TBC *
TBC = To Be Confirmed

Official: Force India signs Sutil for 2013 :
Adrian Sutil has been confirmed as a Force India driver for the upcoming Formula 1 campaign, with the Silverstone-based outfit announcing his comeback at the final pre-season test in Barcelona. The German reunites with Paul di Resta and will make his first race start since the 2011 Brazilian Grand Prix later this month.
Sutil, whose Formula 1 debut came under the Spyker guise back in 2007, beat Jules Bianchi to the vacancy. He returns after being replaced by Nico Hülkenberg at the end of 2011, the year in which he was charged with grievous bodily harm for attacking Genii Capital Chairman Eric Lux with a champagne glass in a Shanghai nightclub. Speaking of his new deal, Sutil says he is overjoyed to be given 'a second chance'.
"I’m delighted to be back in Formula 1, especially with a team I know so well," explained Sutil, who turned 30 last month. "I’m very happy and I want to thank Sahara Force India for giving me a second chance. Having been away from the sport, I’m even more determined to achieve my goals in Formula 1.
"Things went really well at the Barcelona test last week and it almost feels as though I’ve never been away. Driving the car felt so natural and I was able to get back in the groove quickly and find the limit. Now my focus is on making the most of the final test this week, working with the team in the simulator and getting myself in the best possible shape for Melbourne." Force India's Team Principal, Dr. Vijay Mallya, added that the choice between Sutil and Bianchi was far from straightforward. Having given the decision 'great consideration', the 57-year-old businessman said Sutil's experience and knowledge of the team played in his favour, but he is determined to continue working with Bianchi in 2013.
"The decision over our driver line-up has not been an easy one and we have given it great consideration over the last few months," said Mallya. "It was a close call, but ultimately we felt that Adrian’s experience and historic links to the team gave him the edge, and will provide us with the best possible chance of realising our ambitions for the coming season.
"If he can rediscover the exceptional form he showed in the second half of 2011, I’m confident that we can pick up where we left off at the end of 2012. As for Jules Bianchi, he has impressed us enormously with his speed and work ethic. I’m hopeful we can continue working with him this year to help him develop into a future Grand Prix driver." During their sole season as team-mates in 2011, Sutil outscored di Resta by 42 points to 27, with the pair guiding Force India to sixth in the Constructors' standings.

Barcelona F1 test: Mark Webber tops first day for Red Bull on the last 4 days of testing :
Mark Webber put Red Bull on top of the timesheets on the opening day of Formula 1's final pre-season test at Barcelona on Thursday. The Australian's 1m22.693s lap time was set on soft-compound Pirelli tyres with just seven minutes of running remaining and put him 1.655s clear of Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes.
After the late-morning rain left drivers with a wet track to tackle, rain tyres were the weapons of choice during the early afternoon running, with Webber recording a series of 1m44s laps.
Track conditions soon improved enough for intermediates, with Paul di Resta the first man to try the green-stickered Pirellis in his Force India. Webber having lowered the pace to the 1m38s bracket, it was Felipe Massa who was the first to gamble on a switch to slicks, the Ferrari driver using medium-compound rubber to gradually bring the times down into the 1m30s. By that stage conditions were dry enough to allow a range of tyre strategies to be deployed, with medium, soft and supersoft rubber all being used at various points during the afternoon. A late red flag, caused when Massa's Ferrari stopped at the exit of Turn 9, led to a flurry of fast times during the 12 minutes that remained. Webber and Hamilton initially exchanged the top spot before the Red Bull driver twice went quicker still to end the day on top. Hamilton, who suffered a quick spin at Turn 1 while on pushing hard on slicks, was followed by Jean-Eric Vergne's Toro Rosso, the Williams of Valtteri Bottas and McLaren's Sergio Perez. Hamilton completed more laps than anybody else. His total of 113 was one more than Massa. Perez was the only other driver to get into triple figures.

1. Mark Webber : Red Bull Racing - RB9 : 1:22.693 laps 90
2. Lewis Hamilton : Mercedes GP - W04 : 1:24.348 + 1.655 laps 113
3. Jean-Eric Vergne : Toro Rosso - STR8 : 1:25.017 + 2.324 laps 59
4. Valtteri Bottas : Williams - FW35 : 1:26.458 + 3.765 laps 85
5. Sergio Perez : McLaren - MP4-28 : 1:26.538 + 3.845 laps 100
6. Esteban Gutierrez : Sauber - C32 : 1:26.574 + 3.881 laps 92
7. Paul di Resta : Force India - VJM06 : 1:27.107 + 4.414 laps 57
8. Felipe Massa : Ferrari - F138 : 1:27.541 + 4.848 laps 112
9. Max Chilton : Marussia F1 Team - MR02 : 1:28.166 + 5.473 laps 78
10. Charles Pic : Caterham - CT03 : 1:28.644 + 5.951 laps 83
11. Romain Grosjean : Lotus - E21 : 1:34.928 + 12.235 laps 52

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi