Formula 1 General Chat & Discussion

07/07/1959 happy birthday to alessandro nannini former italian driver
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And the times of the 2nd practice session are as followed :

1. Lewis Hamilton : McLaren : 1:56.345 -laps 8
2. Kamui Kobayashi : Sauber : 1:56.474 + 0.129 laps 16
3. Michael Schumacher : Mercedes GP : 1:56.545 + 0.200 laps 12
4. Nico Rosberg : Mercedes GP : 1:56.567 + 0.222 laps 9
5. Sergio Perez : Sauber : 1:57.493 + 1.148 laps 13
6. Jenson Button : McLaren : 1:57.948 + 1.603 laps 9
7. Heikki Kovalainen : Caterham : 1:58.580 + 2.235 laps 10
8. Kimi Räikkönen : Lotus : 1:58.897 + 2.552 laps 8
9. Nico Hulkenberg : Force India : 1:58.943 + 2.598 laps 12
10. Fernando Alonso : Ferrari : 1:59.015 + 2.670 laps 14
11. Paul di Resta : Force India : 1:59.429 + 3.084 laps 9
12. Pastor Maldonado : Williams : 1:59.472 + 3.127 laps 6
13. Sebastian Vettel : Red Bull Racing : 1:59.476 + 3.131 laps 10
14. Jean-Eric Vergne : Toro Rosso : 1:59.854 + 3.509 laps 7
15. Felipe Massa : Ferrari : 2:00.565 + 4.220 laps 7
16. Timo Glock : Marussia F1 Team : 2:00.820 + 4.475 laps 11
17. Bruno Senna : Williams : 2:01.099 + 4.754 laps 6
18. Vitaly Petrov : Caterham : 2:01.348 + 5.003 laps 12
19. Charles Pic : Marussia F1 Team : 2:03.719 + 7.374 laps 8
20. Narain Karthikeyan : HRT F1 Team : 2:04.774 + 8.429 laps 8
21. Mark Webber : Red Bull Racing : no time set - laps 1
22. Daniel Ricciardo : Toro Rosso : no time set - laps 2
23. Romain Grosjean : Lotus : no time set - laps 1
24. Pedro de la Rosa : HRT F1 Team : no time set - laps 0

Comment of the 2nd session :
Lewis Hamilton led the way in front of his home fans as the Silverstone weather got even worse in Friday afternoon practice for the British Grand Prix. Te combination of a sodden track and the limited number of wet and intermediate tyres permitted by the regulations meant it was only when the rain eased off in the second half of the session that drivers began work in earnest. There was then a further delay when Bruno Senna aquaplaned into the barriers on the way out of the Becketts complex. The heavily-damaged Williams caused a 10-minute red flag period. Senna stepped out unhurt. Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi was the initial pacesetter, as the Japanese driver showed the same flair that he had in the morning. But his 1m56.474s was then pipped by a 1m56.345s from McLaren driver Hamilton. That was how the lead order stayed, with Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg moving into third and fourth for Mercedes, and Sergio Perez putting the second Sauber fifth. The Mexican subsequently had a big spin coming out of Woodcote.
Fernando Alonso also had a late incident in the Ferrari while trying intermediate tyres, smashing the car's new-spec front wing off on the barriers as he spun across the grass. Although times were relatively meaningless in the conditions, Heikki Kovalainen's seventh place to Caterham was certainly noteworthy. The Finn was yet another man to go off the road, although his incident was limited to a messy trip through a big puddle in the grass.


Tomorrow ( saturday ) at 11.00u CET - 12.00u CET will br the 3rd practice session ,followed at 14.00u CET the qualification !

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

Here are the times of the 1st practice session that is bin driven at the Silverstone circuit :

1. Romain Grosjean : Lotus : 1:56.552 - laps 13
2. Daniel Ricciardo : Toro Rosso : 1:56.827 + 0.275 laps 10
3. Lewis Hamilton : McLaren : 1:57.174 + 0.622 laps 6
4. Sergio Perez : Sauber : 1:57.664 + 1.112 laps 11
5. Felipe Massa : Ferrari : 1:58.119 + 1.567 laps 7
6. Mark Webber : Red Bull Racing : 1:58.463 + 1.911 laps 7
7. Kamui Kobayashi : Sauber : 1:58.483 + 1.931 laps 19
8. Michael Schumacher : Mercedes GP : 1:58.493 + 1.941 laps 10
9. Nico Rosberg : Mercedes GP : 1:58.942 + 2.390 laps 8
10. Jean-Eric Vergne : Toro Rosso : 1:59.076 + 2.524 laps 8
11. Sebastian Vette :l Red Bull Racing : 1:59.414 + 2.862 laps 11
12. Vitaly Petrov : Caterham : 1:59.614 + 3.062 laps 9
13. Valtteri Bottas : Williams : 1:59.733 + 3.181 laps 7
14. Heikki Kovalainen : Caterham : 1:59.787 + 3.235 laps 10
15. Pastor Maldonado : Williams : 2:00.125 + 3.573 laps 5
16. Kimi Räikkönen : Lotus : 2:00.253 + 3.701 laps 6
17. Jenson Button : McLaren : 2:01.834 + 5.282 laps 6
18. Timo Glock : Marussia F1 Team : 2:01.835 + 5.283 laps 6
19. Pedro de la Rosa : HRT F1 Team : 2:04.341 + 7.789 laps 9
20. Dani Clos : HRT F1 Team : 2:05.022 + 8.470 laps 11
21. Charles Pic : Marussia F1 Team : 2:11.760 + 15.208 laps 6
22. Jules Bianchi : Force India : no time set - laps 1
23. Paul di Resta : Force India : no time set - laps 3
24. Fernando Alonso : Ferrari : no time set - laps 4

Comment of 1st session :
Romain Grosjean was quickest as heavy rain hit the opening practice session for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Conditions were wet from the outset, and steadily worsened. That meant that the 1m56.552s lap that Lotus driver Grosjean produced after 37 minutes proved to be the fastest anyone could manage all morning. Demonstrating how tricky the track was, Grosjean took to the grass at Becketts just after setting his benchmark time. Daniel Ricciardo was among the initial pacesetters and remained second for Toro Rosso, 0.275 seconds behind Grosjean. Lewis Hamilton led the home contingent for McLaren in third, followed by Sergio Perez's Sauber, Felipe Massa's Ferrari, and Red Bull driver Mark Webber, who also took several turns on top early on. Although Kamui Kobayashi was only seventh in the times, he was among the most spectacular to watch on the wet track, managing to keep his Sauber on the road most of the time despite some slides. Team-mate Perez was one of several to have a harmless spin - although his incident could have collected Grosjean. Marussia's Timo Glock and HRT test driver Dani Clos also looped their cars, but despite the conditions, everyone managed to avoid the barriers.
Unusually for a wet session, the majority of the field came out for some concerted running. Only the Force Indias and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso decided against flying laps


Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

British Grand Prix – 63° edition – Silverstone
On this circuit the history of Formula One began in 1950, and here Ferrari won in 1951 his first F1 Grand Prix. The Silverstone circuit has changed a lot over the years, mostly in a few zones. In 1991 it was considered too fast and the organizers decided to add some chicanes. Other important upgrades were realized two years ago. In that occasion the old circuit was lengthened by more than seven hundred meters. In my opinion the most interesting part of the track is that which leads from Copse, one of the fastest corners, into Stowe, a uphill right hander, through Maggots - Becketts - Chapel complex (3 curves very fast: left, right, left, right, left). It is important to keep car on the limit all the time in this combination to have a good speed for the exit on to Hangar Straight. At the end there is another fast corner, called Stowe. For me this part of track is the real soul of Silverstone. The new section begins after the Club corner (here there are the new pit and paddock complex) and leads into Woodcote corner. From 2011 the track has a new start-finish straight, so the first corner is now Abbey. If you look at the track layout, all will be clear. Unfortunately, the cutting of engine power in recent years has reduced the challenge of the this track, but Silverstone remains one of the fastest circuits on the calendar. In the past also Brands Hatch(12 times) and Aintree(5 times) hosted the British GP. This week Pirelli tyres will be Soft (option, yellow) and Hard(prime, silver). The same pairing used in Barcelona. To understand the importance of tires just one example: the last one Valencia GP. Schumacher lap n.18 before his first pit stop (time 1.48.877) with badly worn tyres(Medium). Always MSC: lap n. 43 after his second pit stop (time 1.43.099) with fresh tyres(Soft). Obviously the quantity of fuel in the tank was different, but the gap on the lap time(5.778 seconds) is too big. In this way strategy and tyres are decisive to win or lose the race. DRS: only one zone; after turn 4 (The Loop), so the cars will take turn 5 (Aintree Corner) with the rear wing in the open position and then will continue down the Wellington Straight.
Podium 2010: Webber – Hamilton – Rosberg – fastest lap on race: Alonso – pole position : Vettel 1'29''615
Podium 2011: Alonso – Vettel – Webber – fastest lap on race: Alonso – pole position : Webber 1'30'399
Silvestone GP:victories for current pilots:Schumacher(3) Alonso(2), Vettel Hamilton Raikkonen and Webber(1).
Quite strange: Button(12 attemps) and never on podium, never pole position and never fastest lap.
Silvestone GP: pole position for current pilots: Vettel and Alonso (2), Schumacher, Raikkonen, Hamilton, Webber and Kovalainen (1)
Silvestone GP: fastest lap for current pilots: Alonso, Schumacher and Raikkonen(3) Vettel, (1).
- a thought for Maria and her family. -

04/07/1960
30/04/1994
roland ratzenberger austrian f1 driver

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Shame on F1, test drivers should have super-licence too, not only money to sponsor their team.

bad news
is a mystery concerning the death once a woman found dead in his apartment at Albano with his nose and is the aunt of the eight racing driver is a natural yellow on the death of either of the Antalya Fisichella Formula One driver Giancarlo sixty-five years a woman was found dead in his home town in Albano near Rome by a neighbor, the retired former fashion designer was found sitting head declined on the kitchen table, his nose broken in the apartment that c 'was his original partner of Sudan
all my condolences to giancarlo fisichella

News Flash :

Maria de Villota loses right eye in accident, remains in critical but stable condition :
Marussia test driver Maria de Villota has lost her right eye and remains in critical but stable condition following her crash on Tuesday. Marussia said a surgical team at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge "embarked on a lengthy procedure to address the serious head and facial injuries sustained" in the accident. The team said the operation began yesterday afternoon and she was in theatre until this morning.
Team boss John Booth said de Villota has lost her right eye as a consequence of the accident.
"We are grateful for the medical attention that Maria has been receiving and her family would like to thank the Neurological and Plastics surgical teams," said Booth in a statement.
"However it is with great sadness that I must report that, due to the injuries she sustained, Maria has lost her right eye. "Maria's care and the well-being of her family remain our priority at this time. Her family are at the hospital and we are doing everything possible to support them.
"We ask for everyone's patience and understanding with regard to updates on Maria's condition. We will provide further information when it is appropriate to do so and with consideration for her family.
"In the meantime, we would all like to take this opportunity to praise the emergency services at Duxford Airfield, who were on stand-by yesterday, as is usual procedure for a Formula One test.
"With regard to the accident, we have embarked on a very comprehensive analysis of what happened and this work continues for the moment.
"Finally, we have been overwhelmed by messages of support for Maria, her family and the team and we would like to express our sincere gratitude for those."



Regards
Shaky-Schumi

Here is the complete info/story of what our friend GenaroXP has talked about !!!
News :

Marussia test driver Maria de Villota ( 32 years) hospitalised after Formula 1 test accident :
Marussia Formula 1 test driver Maria de Villota has been taken to hospital after a crash during a straightline test at Duxford airfield on Tuesday.
The Spaniard was scheduled to begin two days of straightline work for the team as part of her test driver role with the outfit.
Marussia has confirmed that she was involved in an accident and collided with a stationary vehicle.
"At approximately 09.15hrs BST this morning, the Marussia F1 Team's test driver Maria De Villota had an accident in the team's MR-01 race car at Duxford Airfield where she was testing the car for the first time," said a team statement. "The accident happened at the end of her first installation run and involved an impact with the team's support truck.
"Maria has been transferred to hospital. Once her medical condition has been assessed a further statement will be issued."
A statement from local constabulary Cambridge Police said: "We were called by the ambulance service at 0925am with reports that a racing car had been in collision with a lorry at low speed at Duxford Airfield. We have since discovered that the driver has a serious injury. We have notified the health and safety executive because the incident was on private land."
De Villota's Duxford outing was her first test for Marussia. She was set to give the major upgrade package that the team is introducing for the British Grand Prix its first run.
The 32-year-old is a former World Touring Car Championship and Superleague Formula driver, and daughter of ex-Formula 1 racer Emilio de Villota.
Her first taste of F1 machinery came at Paul Ricard in 2011, when she tested a Renault R29.

Maria de Villota's F1 test accident injuries 'life-threatening' :
Marussia Formula 1 test driver Maria de Villota suffered 'life-threatening injuries' in her accident that took place at Duxford airfield on Tuesday, according to the local ambulance service.
The Spaniard collided with the back of a team transporter as she returned to the pits following her first straight-line run.
Medical personnel were called to the airfield to attend to de Villota, who was swiftly transported to a nearby hospital by road.
A statement issued by the East of England Ambulance Service said it received an emergency call at 9.17am, and dispatched an ambulance and specialist medical crew to the scene.
Spokesman Gary Sanderson said: "A woman has sustained life threatening injuries and following treatment at the scene by paramedics, she has been taken to Addenbrookes Hospital for further care."
The Magpas air ambulance charity, which attended the accident, said after returning from the hospital that de Villota was in a "stable" condition having suffered injuries to her head and face.
Marussia has said that it will release a further statement about de Villota's medical condition once details are known.

Maria de Villota conscious in hospital after Marussia test crash :
Maria de Villota is conscious and undergoing further medical assessment at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge following her testing crash on Tuesday morning.
The Marussia Formula 1 test driver was rushed to hospital earlier in the day following an accident shortly after her first run for the team at a straightline aerodynamic test at Duxford Airfield.
According to eyewitness reports, after slowing down as she prepared to return to the temporary pit awning, de Villota's car lurched towards the rear of a team transporter, and collided with a tail-lift at the rear of the truck.
Emergency services were called immediately and, after being extracted from the car, she was transferred with what the ambulance service called "life-threatening injuries" to hospital, where she arrived in a stable condition.
Marussia issued a statement on Tuesday afternoon indicating that her life was not in danger, but saying that it was too early to assess the extent of her injuries.
"Since Maria's arrival at the hospital at approximately 10.45am this morning, she has been receiving the best medical attention possible at the hospital, which is the region's major trauma centre," said the statement.
"Maria is conscious and medical assessments are ongoing. The team will await the outcome of these assessments before providing further comment. The team's first priority at this time is Maria and her family."
The F1 community has sent its best wishes to de Villota, whose only previous experience of grand prix machinery was when she tested a 2009 Renault last year.
Fernando Alonso wrote on Twitter: "I just got home and found out [about] Maria's accident, we called the family and hopefully we will know more soon! All my energy with you!"
Jenson Button also wrote: "Terrible accident for Maria de Villota, Marussia F1 team test driver. My thoughts are with Maria and her family at this very difficult time."


More News Tomorrow !!!

Kind Regards
Shaky

My thoughts are with he family and friends of Maria ..and for Maria herself , who have a difficult time now !!!

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

This afternoon at excercise-rides of the Marussia-Team on the airfield in Duxford (England) happened a serious accident,the spanish (female) test pilot Maria de Villota raced out yet unexplained reasons with her MR-01 in a team-truck and injured very hard on head and face,she was brought to a hospital in Cambridge,but she's meanwhile back in awareness.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!

Sebastian Vettel 3rd July 1987
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Happy Birthday to your 25th anniversary

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News Round Up Part 5 :

Frank Williams against cost control 'interference' :
Williams team founder Sir Frank Williams says he opposes any method of 'invasive' cost controls in Formula 1, while pushing for restrictions on driver salaries. Amid ongoing discussions over the future of F1 spending control, Williams said he did not want to see teams' finances 'interfered' with.
"I am against any kind of interference. I don't want any third-party interference with one's business, to have people sneaking around wanting to check this and that. It's just like waiting for the taxman every day," he told the official F1 website.
"Williams is not pleading for more restrictions. But I have said many times that we have to control driver costs."
He feels people should accept that an element of financial inequality is inherent in F1.
"There are 12 teams and each operates in different circumstances," said Williams. "We have several manufacturer teams. One of them is Ferrari, who seem to have a great deal of money and who are in effect subsidised. But that is fine - they are Ferrari. They are the core of Formula 1 and that is how it should be.
"That is fine with me. Take me, there are so many men in the paddock who have more hair than me and it has always pissed me off, but I live with it! You learn to get on with it."
Williams added: "Well, I am not a unique person, but I know for sure that millions of men would almost kill to be in Formula 1. I am exaggerating, but Formula 1 is so attractive that just to be there and be part of it, people would accept far more disadvantages than being at the far end of the grid."

Lewis Hamilton says Britain would be justified in hosting two Formula 1 races :
Lewis Hamilton believes Britain would be justified in holding two Formula 1 races in the future if ever plans for a London GP took off. With McLaren sponsor Santander unveiling its vision for a potential track around London at an event on Thursday, Hamilton said a possible race around the capital city would not be out of the question as an extra event alongside Silverstone.
"Some other countries have two races like Spain and Germany, and arguably the UK makes an enormous contribution to F1, so I reckon that would be completely justified," he said. "Silverstone is more than just my home race; it is a giant of a circuit, a real racer's track. The idea of a London race presents a completely different possibility and it would be great to reward our home fans with two races, wouldn't it?"

The Santander circuit, which has been created as a CGI video, takes in many of London's famous landmarks including Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament. The start/finish straight and the pits would be on the Mall.
Jenson Button believes that if an event could ever be put on it could help cement London's place as a sporting capital.
"There have been times when I've been sitting in the back of a black taxi and idly thought to myself, 'This would make a pretty good corner on a racetrack.'" He explained.
"If we ever could have a London Grand Prix, I think it would be spectacular and would be such a great addition to the city's status as one of the world's greatest sporting capitals.
"We did an F1 street demonstration on Regent Street a few years ago, and half a million people came out to watch - I remember the sight of thousands of people on rooftops and balconies on every storey of every building along the route.
"There's a mammoth following for Formula 1 in the UK and a race in the city would be at the heart of everything, easily reachable by public transport. It would be a fantastic race for the drivers and the fans alike."

Dani Clos to drive for HRT again in British Grand Prix Friday practice :
Dani Clos will return to the cockpit of the HRT at Silverstone next week after the team announced he will take part in opening practice for the British Grand Prix.
The Spaniard, who had his first outing with the team on home soil at Barcelona last month, will replace Narain Karthikeyan for free practice one. Speaking about his opportunity, Clos said: "I'm very happy to step into the F112 once again in Silverstone, a place where I've got good memories since I've made the podium every time I've been in GP2. After Barcelona I've really been looking forward to this new opportunity.
"The work we're carrying out with the team is positive and I think that I can make a good contribution. I will be able to run in better conditions than in Barcelona because the car was new back then and I had to carry out various aero tests. Now I've got a new opportunity, not to prove anything but to work with the team and evolve as much as we can."

Heikki Kovalainen 'cannot wait' for British Grand Prix given Caterham's progress :
Heikki Kovalainen says the British Grand Prix cannot come soon enough, with the latest batch of Caterham upgrades set to deliver another step forward in performance. The Hingham-based team enjoyed one of its most competitive Formula 1 weekends yet in Valencia as new parts helped Kovalainen make it through to Q2 on merit. And with further developments - including new rear bodywork, a revised exhaust layout and other aerodynamic details – expected to help bring more performance, Kovalainen is eager to find out what his team can achieve this time out.
"Honestly, I can't wait to get back in the car and see what we can do at this year's British Grand Prix," he said. "At the last race in Valencia we clearly made improvements, enough to help me put the car into Q2 on merit and we have more upgrades coming for Silverstone.
"For this race it's important that we carry our qualifying speed and good reliability through into Sunday as issues like the KERS problem I had in Valencia impact all the hard work the team is doing at the factory and in the windtunnel to get us where we want to be. If we can do that I think we can have another very good weekend and I'm really looking forward to giving our home fans something to cheer for."
Team-mate Vitaly Petrov believes that with Scuderia Toro Rosso now in the team's sights, Caterham has been filled with a fresh sense of enthusiasm about the remainder of the campaign.
"As we'll be bringing more new parts to the British Grand Prix I think it's another race where we'll be able to take a step forwards," he explained. "I'm sure everyone else will be bringing upgrades so we need to make sure that we don't just make gains, but we improve more than our nearest rivals.
"That's a big challenge but after seeing the gap to Toro Rosso shrink in Valencia we have a clear target just ahead and that gave the whole team a real boost.
"Hopefully we'll be able to make similar levels of progress at Silverstone – if we do I think the British Grand Prix could be very interesting. The team made great progress in Valencia and I really hope that we will continue in the same manner at the next race."

Marussia to bring first major upgrade to British Grand Prix :
Marussia is optimistic that it will be able to deliver an immediate upturn in performance in next weekend's British Grand Prix when it introduces what it describes as its first proper upgrade package since adopting windtunnel technology. Team boss John Booth said he was pleased both that the car was likely to get more competitive, and that Marussia was proving it could deliver substantial updates.
Last year the team split with original design partner Wirth Research and commenced a new technical collaboration with McLaren, and ended its all-CFD approach and began to use windtunnels for the first time. The upgrades will be tested in a straightline session at Duxford airfield before Silverstone.
"We have a fairly significant upgrade for this race, comprising a new rear wing, exhausts, floor and sidepods," said Booth.
"I would have to describe this as our first proper windtunnel generated upgrade of the season.
"We've had some smaller parts in Malaysia and China, and a few small iterations recently, but this is the first fully developed package that is not just a modification of existing elements.
"That is a big result in itself, aside from the performance step we hope it will bring us, as it means we have caught up with ourselves in terms of the diligent way in which we have approached and developed our technical partnership.
"We look forward to seeing what this brings, both at Silverstone and at Duxford Airfield beforehand, when we will be integrating the developments into our correlation programme."
The Duxford test will also be Marussia test driver Maria de Villota's first outing for the team.

Michael Schumacher open-minded about British Grand Prix chances :
Michael Schumacher says he goes into next weekend's British Grand Prix open-minded about his and Mercedes' prospects of success at Silverstone. Although the seven-time Formula 1 world champion returned to the podium for the first time in his comeback in Valencia last weekend, Schumacher says that with 2012 form so unpredictable he is not assuming that the breakthrough European GP result will mean he is a top-three contender in Britain too.
"I have many contrasting memories of this circuit; good, not so good and some that are even a little strange... as for how things will go this year, I'd prefer to wait and see," said the three-time British GP winner.
"We have already seen plenty of races this year that turned out differently to the expectations before the weekend".
"Of course, we want to take the momentum from our result in Valencia and put on a good show in Silverstone, especially because this is one of our home races. It goes without saying that we want to give everybody in Brackley and Brixworth a result to be proud of this weekend."
Team boss Ross Brawn said Mercedes had been buoyed by Valencia after Schumacher's problems and misfortune earlier in the season.
"Our successful weekend in Valencia has provided a further boost to the team, with a lot of hard work continuing at the factories to further improve our performance, and we look forward to having another strong weekend at Silverstone," he said.

Kimi Raikkonen increasingly frustrated by his lack of wins on return :
Kimi Raikkonen has admitted he is increasingly frustrated at still being winless eight races into his Formula 1 comeback as his and Lotus's strong form has raised his expectations.
The 2007 world champion, back in F1 in 2012 after a two-year sojourn in the World Rally Championship, is sixth in the points at present and has taken three podium finishes.
Raikkonen said that while he would have been delighted at the prospect of those results before he rejoined F1, the fact that he feels better results have got away is leaving him discontented.
"If you asked me before the start of the season whether I would be happy with podiums I would have said yes, but now I've had some good results, I want more," he said.
"In the last few races the results haven't been as strong as I've wanted. We've finished well but I'm disappointed not to have a win yet.
"We just have to get everything together and I'm sure it can come."
The Finn finished second in the European Grand Prix last weekend, but did not think it was one of his stronger grands prix.
"I think we've been closer to the win at other tracks, but if we see everything going right for us over a race weekend we're not far off," said Raikkonen. "We're certainly getting there."
He added that it would be particularly pleasing if his first triumph with Lotus came at Silverstone next weekend.
"When you win in Silverstone, it gives such a good feeling. You have to get everything exactly right," Raikkonen said. "I won there in Formula Renault and then with Ferrari in 2007.
"It would be fantastic to win again there, especially with the factory just down the road. I'm sure we would have some fantastic celebrations."
The Enstone team's last Silverstone win came in its Renault era, with Fernando Alonso in 2006, while Raikkonen's most recent F1 triumph was for Ferrari in the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix.

Romain Grosjean says Lotus has proved it is a front-running team :
Lotus has now proved it is a 'big team', according to Romain Grosjean, and is capable of consistently going head to head with what team boss Eric Boullier called its 'corporate monster' rivals.
Although the Enstone squad is not among the five teams that have won races in the 2012 Formula 1 season, drivers Grosjean and Kimi Raikkonen have now taken five podium finishes and been victory contenders on several occasions, putting Lotus third in the constructors' championship at present, just 11 points behind McLaren. In Valencia last weekend Grosjean was challenging Fernando Alonso for the lead before retiring with alternator problems, and Raikkonen finished second.
"We made a real step forwards in Valencia, understanding some performance considerations which will help us for the rest of the season," said Grosjean. "I can't wait to put them into practice at Silverstone.
"Ultimately, we didn't finish, but through no fault of our own. I was as sad as the team. The win was there for the taking, but it just got away. I have to be patient. I didn't achieve my first win in Valencia, but I am convinced that it will come.
"It's great to fight with world champions, proper big teams. We are now a big team."
Boullier said Lotus's progress in recent weeks had made the atmosphere at Enstone better than at any time under the current regime.
"One year ago, I felt like everyone was motivated like never before; that every single member of the staff was ready to go the extra mile to see us do well on the track. Well... 2011 doesn't even compare to 2012, as I think we have made another step," he said.
He added: "Recent results have boosted everybody's hopes and commitment in Enstone. The team is united, the expectations are high. The spirit from the late 2009 season is far, far away."
Boullier also believes Lotus's ethos is paying dividends in its on-track performance, suggesting the team has a different approach to its rivals. "Corporate speeches and political games are not for us," he said.
"We've got nothing to do with the corporate monsters we're fighting against on the track. This is probably why Romain's and Kimi's personalities are expressing themselves so freely at the wheel."
Although Valencia was tipped to be the ideal circuit for the Lotus E20's strong points, Grosjean sees no reason why the team's form in Spain cannot carry over to Britain.
"I think we head to Silverstone with more confidence," he said. "We understand a few more things with the car. It was good to have a really hot weekend all the way through at Valencia as we were able to work on the car and really analyse things.
"Silverstone is very high speed; I'm confident we'll have strong pace and that should lead to a good race."

Lewis Hamilton: Valencia clash with Pastor Maldonado won't change approach :
Lewis Hamilton says his late-race incident with Pastor Maldonado in Valencia will not have any impact on how he goes racing in next weekend's British Grand Prix. The McLaren driver was trying to fend off Maldonado's Williams as his tyres faded in the closing laps of the European GP in an incident that left Hamilton in the barriers and resulted in a penalty for Maldonado.
After the race Maldonado suggested that Hamilton should not have fought so hard given his tyre situation, while McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh intimated that Hamilton should have made more allowances for Maldonado's aggressive reputation.
"I am sure in hindsight you have to say that dealing with someone like that you have to take a different approach, but you cannot anticipate it," Whitmarsh said.
But Hamilton said that while losing a podium in those circumstances in Valencia was disappointing, it did not leave him feeling he should do anything different.
"Sometimes you have to accept when things don't go your way in racing," he said.
"Obviously it was frustrating to lose out so close to the finish, but that's motor racing: you put it behind you and move on to the next race - which, happily for me, is at my home circuit of Silverstone.
"It doesn't really alter the way I go racing because I race to win, and that's what I'll be doing, especially at my home grand prix."
The 2008 Silverstone winner said he was as determined as ever to provide another home triumph for the British fans.
"I know we can count on the fans to bring a totally unique atmosphere," said Hamilton. "We're going to give it everything we've got, put on a great show.
"This is an incredible summer of sport for Britain and I want to play my small part in bringing some joy to fans. I will be doing everything possible to get a win for my country on home soil."

Jenson Button keen to prove he's back on form in British Grand Prix :
Jenson Button is optimistic that he can prove he is fully back on form in next weekend's British Grand Prix, as he reckons circumstances in Valencia masked his progress.
The McLaren driver has struggled for pace since April's Chinese GP, but felt he made a breakthrough in Spain last weekend, although a tyre issue in qualifying and the way the race and strategies unfolded left him a low-key eighth at the finish.
"We've been making progress in a lot of areas and while I wasn't able to show that in terms of the result at Valencia - mainly because I got boxed in at the start, then wasn't very lucky with the safety car – our strategy was fine and the car improved throughout the race," said Button.
The 13-time grand prix winner and 2009 world champion has never finished on the podium in his home race, but said that did not diminish his excitement about racing at Silverstone.
"I always enjoy racing at home because the atmosphere is unbeatable, and while the race itself hasn't always been too kind to me, I come here every year knowing I can count on the support of the many thousands of fans," Button said.
Although Button is upbeat about his British GP chances, McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh was unwilling to make a firm prediction about Silverstone form given this season's fluctuations so far.
"We have to keep an open mind from the minute we arrive to the moment the chequered flag is unfurled," said Whitmarsh.
"The team that best manages the performance delta of the tyres is the one best placed to win, and to do that you have to take every opportunity to gather data and learn from it quickly and effectively. Today, grands prix are no longer sprint races that are won or lost on the first lap.
"While that means hard work for us and for our rivals, it is excellent news for the fans in the grandstands and for those watching at home. It means excitement from beginning to end, and that is what Formula 1 must continue to offer."

To end the (serious :blush ) News Round Up ..here is a vid simulation of how the London Grand Prix would look like !



Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

News Round Up Part 4 :

McLaren thinks 2012 Formula 1 development race will be 'fiercest ever' :
McLaren sporting director Sam Michael believes Formula 1's 2012 development war will be the fiercest ever as the incredible closeness of the field forces teams to push for tiny gains that might not have been considered worthwhile in less competitive seasons. The 2012 F1 season has so far seen seven different winners from five different teams in its first eight races, and reached new heights of competitiveness in Valencia where just 0.3 seconds covered the top 13 cars in Q2. Michael reckons that with the potential for an improvement worth just a few thousandths of a second to transform a team's qualifying result, the pressure on development will reach a new intensity.
"There's a lot of development still to come and that's going to be the story of the rest of the year," he said. "Every team is going to be bringing it, including us, more and more over the next few races.
"The development rate this year is going to be really fierce. Because in the past there have been things that maybe for half a tenth, you would have lumped it for something else. But 50 milliseconds is one place, so you are going to be bringing gains that are tinier and tinier.
"It would be interesting to look at what the top 10 to 15 is like from the start of the year because it feels like it is getting tighter and tighter". He feels this is leading to a fundamental change to teams' development priorities.
"The funny thing is that it probably puts more onus on mechanical items because the aero stuff comes no matter what," Michael suggested. "Everyone's aero programmes are massive and they are developing the car aerodynamically".
"Normally the things that are compromised in the short term for aero are mechanical items because you look at something [mechanical] and it's only worth a tenth whereas you can get two and a half or three tenths from aero, but it won't be like that now. It puts the onus on mechanical items".
"Aero is still key, aero is first order, but it just means that you've got to find time to do the rest of it."
Michael added that this focus on time gains from fine detail was also influencing teams' approach to pitstop improvements.
"It's why things like pitstops get a lot of focus because they are differentiators now," he said. "If you dropped a second on a pitstop previously, it didn't matter did it because the gaps were so big you had covered them because car performance was dominant".
"So every tiny little thing is becoming important and it's becoming a very well-refined show. To make a mistake, and it's no different for McLaren, if we make a mistake we pay for it and I guess that's why we put a lot of focus on not making mistakes. The year is going to be about that."

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo 'worried' about team's chances :
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has warned his team against complacency in the wake of Fernando Alonso's European Grand Prix victory - saying the pace of Red Bull in Valencia should "worry" his squad.
Last weekend Alonso came through from 11th on the grid to become the first man to claim a second race win in the ultra-competitive 2012 Formula 1 season, in the process pulling out a 20-point world championship lead. But Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel had been dominating before the mid-race safety car and his later alternator problem, and in an address to Ferrari personnel at its Maranello base, di Montezemolo said he feared a run of difficult races ahead.
"I am worried and all of us should be," he said. "Yes, I am worried, because I expect three very tough races at Silverstone, Hockenheim and Budapest and because we have seen that Red Bull is very strong, having had four tenths in hand over everyone in qualifying and in the race it was flying away, at least until the safety car. If we want to achieve our goals then we must make a step forward."
Although Ferrari has made great progress since its troubled winter testing period, di Montezemolo echoed team boss Stefano Domenicali's belief that it needs to find more space to defend its championship position.
"Now we must ensure we do everything as well as possible because winning depends solely and exclusively on us," he said. "It would be a big mistake to think the win in Valencia means we have done enough: today we have a competitive car, but to win, we must do even more."
He added: "I don't want outsiders to think that one win is enough for us to put on a fireworks display. I know how much you are working, how many sacrifices have been made, but I am the first to know that that all of us, without exception, must still give something more."
Di Montezemolo paid tribute to Domenicali's handling of the criticism Ferrari faced during its difficult start to 2012.
"Stefano Domenicali has never shirked his responsibilities, even acting as a lightning conductor for all the criticism, protecting his people, while at the same time knowing how to demand the maximum effort, how to build a team and look to the future in a positive way and with the right sense of realism," he said.

Formula 1 case banker Gerhard Gribkowsky sentenced to eight and a half years in prison :
Gerhard Gribkowsky, the banker at the centre of the corruption case relating to the sale of Formula 1, has been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison by a Munich court. Gribkowsky was convicted of tax evasion, bribery and breach of fiduciary trust. In his role as chief risk officer for German bank BayernLB, Gribkowsky had been involved in the sale of the bank's stake in F1 to CVC.
During the trial, Gribkowsky alleged that F1 commercial rights-holder Bernie Ecclestone paid him 45 million euros in bribes to smooth the CVC sale.
Ecclestone admitted making payments to Gribkowsky, but said he did so because he had been threatened with blackmail.

Bernie Ecclestone not ruling out facing further legal action over Gribkowski affair :
Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone says he cannot rule out German authorities taking further action against him over the Gerhard Gribkowsky affair - even though he insists he did nothing wrong. Gribkowsky was jailed for more than eight years on Wednesday for taking £28 million in bribes during the sale of F1 – with Ecclestone implicated as a 'driving force' in the matter.No charges have been levelled at Ecclestone, however, who told the courts that instead he was the victim of coercion by Gribkowsky.
Although Gribkowsky confessed to the courts last week that he had been bribed, Ecclestone has stood by his claims – and reckons there is no reason why he should be investigated further.
"They based their decisions on what he told them. I told them the truth," Ecclestone was quoted as saying by Reuters. "I think Mr Gribkowsky told them what he thought he had to tell them. I don't think I should [face further action] but you don't know, do you?" .Britain's tax authorities have been in contact with Ecclestone as a result of the matter too.
Speaking about that, Ecclestone said: "After all this, I'd have been surprised if they didn't contact me".

Bernie Eccletone would consider funding potential London Grand Prix :
Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone says he would consider throwing financial weight behind any attempt to stage a grand prix in London in the future - ahead of a promotional event by sponsor Santander on Thursday evening to unveil its idea for a track around the city.
Just a week after it was revealed that one option being considered for the London Olympic stadium is to turn it in to a grand prix venue, Ecclestone has reiterated his belief that the British capital is the perfect venue to hold an F1 race. Santander is ramping up interest in the British Grand Prix, which it is title sponsor of, by hosting an event that will reveal how a grand prix in London could look – having commissioned a proper evaluation of a potential venue and commissioning a CGI film of how the race would appear on television.
The plans will suggest a three-mile route around some of London's famous landmarks which could play host to more than 120,000 spectators.
Although it is not thought that there has been any serious discussion about turning the idea in to reality, Ecclestone has suggested that he thinks it makes financial sense – and would be willing to fund it himself.
"With the way things are, maybe we would front it and put the money up for it," he told The Times newspaper. "If we got the okay and everything was fine, I think we could do that.
"Think what it would do for tourism. It would be fantastic, good for London, good for England – a lot better than the Olympics."
Any future grand prix in London would have to be in addition to the British GP, as Silverstone has a long-term deal in place.

Frank Williams, Martin Whitmarsh and Ross Brawn on panel for next FOTA fans' forum :
Frank Williams, Ross Brawn, Pastor Maldonado and Martin Whitmarsh are among the guests who are now confirmed for next week's FOTA Fans' Forum at the Williams factory.
The event, which takes place at the Conference Centre at Grove on Tuesday, will also feature appearances on a 'Legends' Panel' with Patrick Head and John Watson in attendance.
The FOTA Fans' events offer a chance for followers of the sport to ask question to some of F1's biggest names - with those lucky enough to get tickets for the Williams event being given the added bonus of being able to view the team's famous museum as well.
Maldonado and Williams will be interviewed on stage, before the panel of team bosses discuss F1 matters with fans.
FOTA has already held events in London, Woking, Montreal, Milan and New York - with further forums scheduled for later this year too.
Only a few tickets are still available for next week's event, with details of how to apply for a place available on the FOTA website.

Overheating caused Renault's Valencia failures on Sebastian Vettel and Romain Grosjean's cars :
Sebastian Vettel and Romain Grosjean's retirements from the European Grand Prix were both caused by an overheating alternator, engine supplier Renault has confirmed, but the French car manufacturer is still uncertain about why the parts got too hot in the first place.
Renault has conducted a detailed examination of the Red Bull Racing and Lotus engines that failed in Valencia, and its conclusion points to the overheating parts cutting the electrical supply to the power units and forcing both drivers out. But despite knowing what caused the engines to shut down, Renault is conducting further tests this week to work out why the overheating issue reared its head in the first place.
Renault Sport F1 deputy managing director Rob White said: "We've checked over the parts thoroughly now and it seems that there were no obvious reasons for the failure, so we are conducting further tests on the dyno at Viry to replicate conditions and double checking the findings."
White said that investigations had concluded that the failures were not related to the mid-race safety car period - and in fact Vettel's engine actually lasted longer than it would have done because it had a few laps running slower than normal.
"We had evidence that the alternator on Sebastian's car was showing signs of overheating before the safety car period, but the slower speeds prolonged its life expectancy slightly," he said.
"Of course, when Sebastian went back up to racing speed the problem stepped up again and the result is now well known. With Romain's car, the problem occurred very suddenly some laps after the safety car had been withdrawn " .Renault plans to implement some changes to the alternators for the next race at Silverstone, as well as using another supply batch in case that was a factor in the problem.
"We are looking at several solutions," explained White. "The first is to use another batch of alternators for Silverstone across all our clients, or a slightly modified design.
"We are also looking at returning to an older specification of alternator from 2011. Then we are working across all our partner teams to potentially introduce some mechanical and cooling solutions, or changing a few settings on acceleration maps so the running is less severe.
"All of these will be in evaluated between now and Silverstone, plus we will also look at everything after Friday running and see what additional measures we may need to take."

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi