Formula 1 General Chat & Discussion

Short Info :

The Teams for this season together with there drivers starting number

Inifniti Red Bull
1. Sebastian Vettel (DEU)
2. Mark Webber (AUS)

Scuderia Ferrari
3. Fernando Alonso (ESP)
4. Felipe Massa (BRA)

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
5. Jenson Button (GBR)
6. Sergio Perez (MEX)

Lotus F1 Team
7. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN)
8. Romain Grosjean (FRA)

Mercedes Petronas AMG F1 Team
9. Nico Rosberg (DEU)
10. Lewis Hamilton (GBR)

Sauber F1 Team
11. Nico Hulkenberg (DEU)
12. Esteban Gutierrez (MEX)

Sahara Force India F1 Team
14. Paul di Resta (GBR)
15. Adrian Sutil (DEU)

Williams F1 Team
16. Pastor Maldonado (VEN)
17. Valtteri Bottas (FIN)

Scuderia Toro Rosso
18. Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA)
19. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS)

Caterham F1 Team
20. Charles Pic (FRA)
21. Giedo van der Garde (NDL)

Marussia F1 Team
22. Jules Bianchi (FRA)
23. Max Chilton (GBR)

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

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

The F1 games are having there final touch...i'm putting the last efforts in it so that they can be published on wednesday or thursday !!!
It's not that easy to try to make everyone happy / satisfied...but i'm trying to make the best of it for this season
The points system have given me some headache lately ,specialy today when it's the last time for a final touch & check-up

Kind Regards
Shaky

some remarks after the preseason tests and before the first race on 17 March
F1 cars are faster than last year; maybe it was recovered the gap created at the end of the 2011 season. For example: pole position at Bercellona GP 2012: Hamilton 1m21.707(but canceled due to a mistake of his team). Preseason tests 2013: best lap time Rosberg 1m20.130. The improvement was more than 1.5 seconds

Red Bull: Vettel and Webber have hidden the real potential of RB9 - E 'unthinkable that the two Red Bull drivers(Vettel 1.22.5 and Webber 1.22.6) are only 0.6 seconds faster than Caterham (Charles Pic - 1.23.1) and Marussia (Jules Bianchi - 1.23.1). But in last week in Barcelona, there were some difficulties. small details or something more?

Mc Laren: more or less the same thing even if Button closed the tests in fifth position. Perhaps with the new pull rod suspension, engineers and mechanics are faced with different problems, but the first GP is at Melbourne(Albert Park); usually a favorable track for Mc Laren. (3 wins in the last five years), and Button(first in 2009-2010 and 2012)

Ferrari: for sure better than 2012. The new F138 seems fast on a single lap and consistent in the long run, but Ferrari was behind in the final races of 2012. I hope they have recovered at least a large part of the gap; it would be very important to start from a good position on the grid.

Mercedes: Rosberg and Hamilton have been fast in Barcelona. Very well over a single lap, but also a good long-run pace. Maybe the new W04 will be close to the front row for qualifying in Melbourne. However will be important to understand if they have solved the big problem of the last year: tire wear and their right use, during the race.

During the preseason tests, a big issue for all the teams has been the high degradation with Pirelli’s new tyres. At Melbourne, probably we will see a lot of pit stop, also because it will brought the supersoft compound (red stripe) together with the medium (white stripe). Perhaps a bit risky choice. Last year had been brought soft tyres(yellow) and medium (white). One last note: two DRS zones for every circuit except for Monaco and Suzuka in 2013. More drs during the race and less drs during practice and qualifying.

Short Info :

Race 1 : Albert Park Melbourne - Australia
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Track info characteristic :
Course : Albert Park Melbourne
output : medium
Route length : 5.303 km
full throttle : 63 percent
Race distance : 58 laps = 307.574 km
Tire wear : medium
Lap record: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) 1:24,125 minutes
brake wear : high
fuel consumption : medium

Friday 15/03 :
1st Free Practice: 02:30 - 04:00 u
2nd Free Practice : 06:30 - 08:00 u
Saturday 16/03 :
3rd Free Practice :04:00 - 05:00 u
Qualifying: 07:00 u
Sunday 17/03 :
Race:07:00 u

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

Short News :

Renault 'frustrated' by lack of recognition for F1 success :
Renault has admitted it is "frustrated" its world-beating efforts in formula one are going largely unnoticed. For the past three seasons, despite having pulled out of F1 as a constructor, the French engine supplier has been a crucial part of Red Bull's title successes. But operating chief Carlos Tavares admitted: "We are frustrated by the lack of recognition we get for beating the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes. It is true that I think we deserve better," he is quoted by autocar.co.uk. "It is clear that we must create a bigger buzz around what we do."
In 2013, Red Bull's title sponsor is Infiniti, the luxury arm of the Renault-linked carmaker Nissan. Renault also supplies engines to Lotus, Williams and Caterham.

Nico Hulkenberg plays down ongoing Ferrari rumours :
Nico Hulkenberg has played down continuing suggestions he has merely 'parked' at Sauber for a year, before possibly switching to Ferrari in 2014. Told that the rumours are still abounding in the paddock, the German driver said: "It doesn't concern me at all. I don't talk about the contents of my contracts and, anyway, I haven't even done a single race for Sauber yet," said the 25-year-old, who has moved from Force India to Ferrari-aligned Sauber for 2013. He continued: "Of course I hear the speculation, and it's even a form of recognition, but the whole thing leaves me completely untouched," Hulkenberg is quoted by the SID news agency. "I am concentrating completely on the coming season and, first of all, Melbourne." Told, however, that a driver of his rising stature and potential must be targeting a future seat at Ferrari, he answered: "But it doesn't mean I will go."

Hill - 'A bit ridiculous' to question Vettel greatness :
It is "ridiculous" that so many in formula one question the true ability of reigning triple world champion Sebastian Vettel. That is the view of Damon Hill, the 1996 world champion turned television pundit for British broadcaster Sky. "I find it a bit ridiculous," 52-year-old Hill, when asked about the widespread view that Vettel is not yet an all-time great, is quoted by Speed Week. "I mean, in his first 100 grands prix, he won 26 -- more than one in four. What else does he need to do? "Maybe some of it is because of his age. But if we already know what records he has broken, then one must inevitably ask the question -- what will his record be in ten years? Of course Vettel has an optimal environment with Red Bull, and with Adrian Newey probably the best designer in the business. "But the titles in 2010 and 2012 were definitely not a walk in the park. I can imagine him having the momentum for the world championship for another three or four years. I see no reason why Sebastian is not the favourite for the title in 2013 and beyond," added Hill.

Frank Williams' wife loses battle against cancer :
Sir Frank Williams' wife 'Ginny' died late on Thursday, the British formula one team announced on Friday.
Lady Virginia Williams, who had been battling cancer for the past two years, was 66.

FIA confirms 2013 calendar cut to 19 races :
With one week to go to the start of the new Formula One season the FIA has finally confirmed this year’s schedule. The 2013 F1 calendar will have 19 rounds instead of the 20 previously announced in September.
Plans for an additional race in Europe on July 21st have been scrapped after a host could not be found.
The sport’s governing body added that discussions over the new Concorde Agreement are still ongoing and will be “concluded in the near future”. A settlement on the commercial agreement which governs F1 was originally due to be reached last October.
Here is the final calendar for 2013:
1: Australian Grand Prix - Albert Park : March 15 – 17
2: Malaysian Grand Prix - Sepang International Circuit : March 22 – 24
3: Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai International Circuit : April 12 – 14
4: Bahrain Grand Prix : Bahrain International Circuit : April 19 – 21
5: Spanish Grand Prix - Circuit de Catalunya : May 10 – 12
6: Monaco Grand Prix - Monte-Carlo : May 23 – 26
7: Canadian Grand Prix - Circuit Gilles Villeneuve : June 7 – 9
8: British Grand Prix - Silverstone : June 28 – 30
9: German Grand Prix - Nurburgring : July 5 – 7
10: Hungarian Grand Prix - Hungaroring : July 26 – 28
11: Belgian Grand Prix - Spa-Francorchamps : August 23 – 25
12: Italian Grand Prix - Monza : September 6 – 8
13: Singapore Grand Prix - Singapore : September 20 – 22
14: Korean Grand Prix - Korean International Circuit : October 4 – 6
15: Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka : October 11 – 13
16: Indian Grand Prix - Buddh International Circuit : October 25 – 27
17: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina : November 1 – 3
18: United States Grand Prix - Circuit of the Americas : November 15 – 17
19: Brazilian Grand Prix - Interlagos : November 22 – 24

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

Pastor Maldonado 9th March 1985
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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
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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
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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