Formula 1 General Chat & Discussion

jerez de la frontera
testday 2 results
1. Romain Grosjean Lotus 1m18.218s 95
2. Paul di Resta Force India 1m19.003s + 0.785s 95
3. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso 1m19.134s + 0.916s 83
4. Mark Webber Red Bull 1m19.338s + 1.120s 101
5. Nico Hulkenberg Sauber 1m19.502s + 1.284s 99
6. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m19.519s + 1.301s 15
7. Sergio Perez McLaren 1m19.572s + 1.354s 81
8. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m19.914s + 1.696s 78
9. Pastor Maldonado Williams 1m20.693s + 2.475s 71
10. James Rossiter Force India 1m21.273s + 3.055s 19
11. Giedo van der Garde Caterham 1m21.311s + 3.093s 88
12. Luiz Razia Marussia 1m23.537s + 5.319s 31

Short News Circuit de Jerez ,Spain:

Testing day 1: Button on top, false start for Mercedes
The first testing day of was a mixed day for Jenson Button. With a big delay after a stop in the morning, after just three laps, Button could spend some laps is his new car in the late afternoon. The Briton has set the fastest lap time of the day, followed by Webber and Grosjean.

1. Jenson Button : McLaren - MP4-28 : 1:18.861 laps 37
2. Mark Webber : Red Bull Racing - RB9 : 1:19.709 + 0.848 laps 73
3. Romain Grosjean : Lotus - E21 : 1:19.796 + 0.935 laps 54
4. Paul di Resta : Force India - VJM06 : 1:20.343 + 1.482 laps 89
5. Daniel Ricciardo : Toro Rosso - STR8 : 1:20.401 + 1.540 laps 70
6. Felipe Massa : Ferrari - F138 : 1:20.536 + 1.675 laps 64
7. Nico Hulkenberg : Sauber - C32 : 1:20.699 + 1.838 laps 79
8. Nico Rosberg : Mercedes GP - W04 : 1:20.846 + 1.985 laps 14
9. Pastor Maldonado : Williams - FW34 : 1:20.864 + 2.003 aps 84
10. Giedo van der Garde : Caterham - CT03 : 1:21.915 + 3.054 laps 64
11. Max Chilton : Marussia F1 Team - MR02 : 1:24.176 + 5.315 laps 29


Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

News :

New Marussia MR02 Formula 1 car unveiled at Jerez :
Marussia unveiled its latest Formula 1 car, the MR02, on the Jerez pits straight on the morning of the first winter test of the season.The car is the first true product of the team's revamped technical structure, following its mid-2011 decision to split with Wirth Research and the all-CFD philosophy and to take design in-house using more traditional windtunnel techniques.
Former Benetton/Renault technical chief Pat Symonds also came on board as a consultant.
Those changes, plus the 2012 progress that took Marussia to the brink of beating Caterham to 10th place in the constructors' championship, meant plenty of optimism at the team going into the new campaign.
But on the eve of the first tests the team had to release lead driver Timo Glock for financial reasons. GP2 graduate Max Chilton is the only driver signed so far, with fellow rookie Luiz Razia heading the queue for the currently vacant second seat.
No deal has yet been done, though, and the team remains non-committal about who will drive at the test after Chilton's initial two-day stint.
Here's link to watch some fotos of the new Marussia F1 car
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Caterham CT03 Formula 1 car presented at Jerez
Caterham joined arch-rival Marussia in launching its 2013 Formula 1 car in the Jerez pitlane in the hour before winter testing began on Tuesday morning. The Renault-powered CT03 is an evolution of last year's car.
In its early years, Caterham began most seasons promising steady progress towards the midfield and eventual points. But 2013 looks more like a campaign of consolidation for the Leafield-based team.
Last season it only just fended Marussia off for the lucrative 10th position in the constructors' championship standings. And having begun F1 life with a pair of grand prix winners in its cockpits in the shape of Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli, financial realities have now forced Caterham towards less experienced drivers with financial backing. Kovalainen followed Trulli out of the door at the end of 2012, and Caterham lines up for '13 with Marussia convert Charles Pic and promoted test driver Giedo van der Garde.
Here's a link to watch some fotos of the new Caterham F1 car :
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Toro Rosso eyes Renault engines for '14
Toro Rosso is hoping to split from current engine suppliers Ferrari for the 2014 Formula 1 campaign, with the squad eyeing up Renault units to move in line with Red Bull's drivetrain setup and 'use the synergies' of a potential deal to its advantage.

Ahead of a major overhaul to the sport's technical regulations, which includes the introduction of turbocharged V6 engines, Team Principal Franz Tost says his team is close to a deal with the manufacturer, but insists that nothing has been signed. "It is our target to have the same engine as Red Bull, to use the synergies that are possible from the regulations" Tost explained at Jerez on Tuesday. "We are in negotiations with Renault and then we will see. No contract has been signed so far." While explaining that an agreement does not need to be signed immediately, Tost went on to stress the importance of knowing future partners well in advance.
"Next year's drive train package is very complicated, not so much from the engine side but much more from the turbo because of the heat, for the ERS, and the gearbox," Tost added of the upcoming rule changes. "This complete package has to become one unit and you need to know as early as possible who your partners are (going to be)."
Alongside Red Bull, the Lotus, Williams and Caterham teams use Renault engines.

Mercedes ends opening test day early
Mercedes has been forced to cut short its planned programme for the opening day of testing at Jerez, with the team's F1 W04 chassis suffering an electrical problem. The issue presented itself in the morning session, when Nico Rosberg stopped on-track soon after a section of bodywork at the rear of his new car caught fire.
In order to ensure that a faulty wiring loom is fixed in time for Lewis Hamilton's first full-speed laps in the car tomorrow, the outfit will sit out the rest of Tuesday's running.
"After identifying the cause of the problem, we will not be running again today whilst parts are modified ready for tomorrow," the team said of the problem, which occured at around 10am local time (GMT +1). "The part which requires modification is the wiring loom where the electrical fault originated this morning."
As the afternoon session enters its final two hours, Rosberg sits fifth on the timing screens with a slender total of 11 laps to his name. The German driver is due to alternate with new team-mate Hamilton for the remaining three days of the test.

Rosberg upbeat despite electrical issue
Nico Rosberg refused to be downbeat after Mercedes suffered an electrical issue at Jerez on Tuesday, with the German having to end his day prematurely. The 27-year-old says he 'had a good feeling' during his 11 laps at the wheel, before a faulty wiring loom caused a small fire at the rear-end bodywork of the new F1 W04 chassis.
"At the start of winter testing, you often encounter small issues because the car you're running is a brand new design," Rosberg said of the situation. "We had an electrical problem this morning and, once we had found the root cause, chose to modify the parts to make sure it didn't happen again.
"Of course, at this time of year all you want to do is spend time in the car and get a feeling for how it's working, but these hiccups are just part of the game. During the laps I completed this morning, I had a good feeling with the car and it felt solid."
Rosberg's team-mate, Lewis Hamilton, will drive the Mercedes F1 W04 tomorrow, having completed his first tentative laps in the car during a filming session on Monday.

'2013 calendar to remain at 19 races' !!!
The 2013 Formula 1 calendar will remain at 19 races, with Bernie Ecclestone stating that it is ‘too late’ to organise a replacement for the postponed New Jersey event.
Despite Turkey, France and Portugal expressing an interest in the 21 July slot that governing body the FIA added at the end of last year, a deal has not come to fruition.
"The calendar has been formed already, it's too late," Ecclestone told The National. "(I’m) disappointed that it didn't happen before; we can't suddenly slot it in."
This year's German Grand Prix, which also went through a phase of uncertainty amid severe financial issues, was finally confirmed at the Nürburgring last week.

Di Resta 'very comfortable' on first day
Paul di Resta says he felt 'very comfortable' at the wheel of the VJM06 on Tuesday, with the Scot getting his first opportunity to test Force India's new car at Jerez. After a trouble-free day in the cockpit, the former DTM Champion ended up fourth quickest.
"A positive first day and we managed to cover lots of laps," said di Resta, who completed 89 tours of the Jerez circuit. "I felt very comfortable all day and we got through the programme as we focused on collecting aero data and understanding how well the car correlates with our simulation tools at the factory.
"We also started trying to learn as much about the tyres as possible so that we can carry that into tomorrow and optimise the set-up. The new compounds are quite different with the new construction and I’ve already felt a difference with the balance of the car in the low and high speed parts of the lap."
Di Resta will be back in action at Jerez on Wednesday morning, before development driver James Rossiter takes over for the afternoon session. The pair will alternate again on Thursday, before Jules Bianchi drives the car on the final day of the test .

'E21 quick from the first lap' - Grosjean :
Romain Grosjean says he instantly felt at home in the Lotus E21 chassis on Tuesday, explaining that the car 'feels very similar' to its race-winning predecessor. The Frenchman, who kicked off his team's 2013 testing programme at Jerez, topped the timesheets for most of the day before Mark Webber and Jenson Button moved ahead. "The feeling is good from the E21; it feels very similar to the E20, even if it does look different from the outside," said Grosjean. "Once again Enstone has produced a car that is quick from the very first lap.
"We spent a little bit more time than ideal in the garage, but that's normal in testing. I'm happy we completed 54 laps, and even happier that all of them were quick. We now have a good idea of the new tyres and we'll have some challenges from them; the grip level is there but performance does fall away with graining."
Grosjean also stated that he he did not respond to the late front running times posted by Webber and Button, tipping the E21 to perform 'even better' on Wednesday.
"The speed came easy today and we didn't respond to the other cars going faster in the afternoon," Grosjean began to sum up. "We should go even better tomorrow."

Chilton refuses to dwell on car failure
Max Chilton has described the new Marussia MR02 as 'a very promising package' after testing it for the first time at Jerez, refusing to dwell on the suspension failure that cut his opening day short. The 21-year-old completed 29 laps before the technical issue forced him into a spin at Dry Sack, ultimately ending the day in 11th place.
"This afternoon’s problem aside, I’m really happy with the start we have made to our 2013 campaign," said Chilton, whose team is running KERS for the first time at Jerez. "With a new car there is always the potential for something to crop up and cut short the programme, but for the morning everything went according to plan, which is just the start we needed.
"I’m sure the team will get on top of the suspension issue very quickly so we can all pick up where we left off and start putting some more miles on what is obviously a very promising package."
Chilton's team-mate for the 2013 campaign has not yet been announced by Marussia, but former GP2 rival Luiz Razia has been widely tipped to fill the vacant seat .

Webber: No big surprises for Red Bull
Mark Webber says there were 'no big surprises' for Red Bull during the first day of pre-season testing at Jerez, after working through a varied, 73-lap programe in the Andalusian region on Tuesday. Having briefly led proceedings, the Australian finished the day in second place, 0.848 seconds behind pace-setter Jenson Button.
"It was pretty good," Webber said after driving the RB9. "There haven’t been big changes to the regulations this year and the car is an evolution of the one we finished with last season, so there were no big surprises. I think most of the drivers will sit back and think today’s times were pretty competitive.
"It was actually like a Friday practice session in some regards. We started understanding the tyres and there were a lot of positives. There’s a bit of housekeeping we have to get on top of but, other than that, it’s been encouraging."
Webber went on to back up Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey's previous claim that the new Pirelli tyres pose the biggest change for the 2013 season, with the 36-year-old explaining that 'you're always on your toes' with the modified rubber. "The car feels similar to last year’s, so the main difference is the tyres," said Webber, who is set for his 12th term in Formula 1. "With these tyres you’re always on your toes. It was good that we had consistent temperatures; we got a lot of information and feedback to analyse, which is all good. Generally though, the car feels pretty good, so I’m happy."
Webber will be back in the cockpit of the RB9 on Wednesday, before handing over to team-mate and triple World Champion Sebastian Vettel for the remainder of the test .

Button 'surprised' by pace-setting time
Jenson Button says he was surprised with the pace-setting time he delivered during the first day of pre-season testing at the Circuito de Jerez in southern Spain, the McLaren driver ending up almost a full second ahead of nearest rival Mark Webber.
After an early fuel pump issue hindered his programme, Button bounced back to clock a personal best lap of 1:18.861 in the afternoon session and move 0.848 seconds clear of the field, but he also insists that 'it doesn't mean anything' at this stage.
"I don’t know how I did that time," 33-year-old Button admitted. "I was surprised when I saw the dash, but it doesn't mean anything. Some people run less fuel than others. Who knows? For a first day it felt good.
"Who knows whether it's a championship-winning car, but the important thing is that it has a nice feeling. Lap times mean nothing right now, not even at the last test. At the first race, that's when you need to show how quick you are. The car really does relate to the simulator, that’s something that is good."
Button will make way for team-mate Sergio Pérez at Jerez on Wednesday, before returning to cockpit of the MP4-28 on the third day of the opening pre-season test .

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

Alain de Changy
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Born : 5th February 1922 - Died : 5th August 1994

Info :

Jerez pre-season testing: The line-up :
With most of the 2013 car launches out of the way, the focus is quickly shifting to the lights at the end of the Circuito de Jerez pit lane. The Andalucía venue will host the first of three pre-season tests this year, before the paddock heads north to Barcelona.

Jerez's timetable is as follows:

Tuesday: 9am - 5pm
Wednesday: 9am - 5pm
Thursday: 9am - 5pm
Friday: 9am - 5pm

Note: All times shown are local (GMT +1)

The Jerez testing line-up is as follows:

Red Bull Racing

Tuesday: Mark Webber
Wednesday: Mark Webber
Thursday: Sebastian Vettel
Friday: Sebastian Vettel

Scuderia Ferrari

Tuesday: Felipe Massa
Wednesday: Felipe Massa
Thursday: Felipe Massa
Friday: Pedro de la Rosa

McLaren

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

Lotus F1 Team

Tuesday: Romain Grosjean
Wednesday: Romain Grosjean
Thursday: Kimi Räikkönen
Friday: Kimi Räikkönen

Mercedes AMG F1 Team

Tuesday: Nico Rosberg
Wednesday: Lewis Hamilton
Thursday: Nico Rosberg
Friday: Lewis Hamilton

Sauber F1 Team

Tuesday: Nico Hülkenberg
Wednesday: Nico Hülkenberg
Thursday: Esteban Gutiérrez
Friday: Esteban Gutiérrez

Force India F1 Team

Tuesday: Paul di Resta
Wednesday morning: Paul di Resta
Wednesday afternoon: James Rossiter
Thursday morning: James Rossiter
Thursday afternoon: Paul di Resta
Friday: Jules Bianchi

Williams F1 Team (2012 car)
Tuesday: Pastor Maldonado
Wednesday: Pastor Maldonado
Thursday: Valtteri Bottas
Friday: Valtteri Bottas

Scuderia Toro Rosso

Tuesday: Daniel Ricciardo
Wednesday: Daniel Ricciardo
Thursday: Jean-Éric Vergne
Friday: Jean-Éric Vergne

Caterham F1 Team

Tuesday: Giedo van der Garde
Wednesday: Giedo van der Garde
Thursday: Charles Pic
Friday: Charles Pic

Marussia F1 Team

Tuesday: Max Chilton
Wednesday: Max Chilton
Thursday: TBC *
Friday: TBC *

* To Be Confirmed

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

Short News :

Mercedes officially presents F1 W04 at Jerez
Mercedes has officially presented its 2013 challenger, the F1 W04, at the Circuito de Jerez in southern Spain. The team, which will field Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton this year, formally launched the car after a morning of on-track filming.
Although the F1 W04 chassis, which features a less radical stepped nose than the F1 W03, is aesthetically similar to its predecessor, Team Principal Ross Brawn says the design is a 'clear step forward' in terms of overall detail and sophistication. "2013 marks the start of a second era for our Silver Arrows works team," said Brawn. "The restructuring we undertook at the team over the past 18 months are now growing in maturity and this is reflected in the F1 W04, which is a clear step forward in design and detail sophistication over its predecessor.
"Many thousands of hours of work have been invested by our technical teams in Brackley and Brixworth to ensure that the new car delivers a step change in performance compared to last season."
Rosberg got his first taste of the F1 W04 this morning, while Hamilton will drive the car this afternoon during what is one of the team's dedicated 2013 filming days.

Here's a link to watch some fotos of the new Mercedes F1 car
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Mercedes joins forces with Blackberry :
Mercedes has signed a new partnership with leading mobile device manufacturer Blackberry. The agreement, which has been announced ahead of the official F1 W04 car launch, sees the company's logo appear on the cars of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, plus on the racewear clothing of the Brackley-based team's staff members. Nico Rosberg behind the wheel of the new Mercedes F1 W04 chassis at Jerez"On the day that our new Silver Arrow, the F1 W04, is launched, we are very pleased to announce our partnership with BlackBerry," Mercedes Team Principal Ross Brawn explained on Monday morning.
"We are looking forward to embracing the new BlackBerry 10 platform at both a technical and operational level, as well as collaborating with the team at BlackBerry to bring new mobile innovation to Mercedes AMG Petronas. It is especially pleasing to launch this exciting partnership today as our latest Silver Arrow takes to the track with BlackBerry branding."

Toro Rosso launches STR8 at Jerez:
Toro Rosso drivers Jean-Éric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo pulled the covers off the STR8 at Jerez on Monday afternoon. The Italian outfit's latest car, the design of which has been overseen by James Key, no longer features a stepped nose.
Presented to the gathered media in the Jerez pit lane at 5.30pm local time (GMT +1), the STR8 chassis has retained the heavily undercut sidepods that were featured on both the STR7 and STR6 designs, while a McLaren-style exhaust has been adopted.
Vergne and Ricciardo are preparing to enter a second season as team-mates in 2013, with the latter being assigned the first two days of testing at Jerez this week. It has also been confirmed that the pair will run with numbers 18 and 19 respectively.
Marussia and Caterham will launch their 2013 challengers tomorrow morning, shortly before the opening pre-season test of the year begins. Williams is the only team to bring its 2012 car to the gathering, with the FW35 set to be presented on 19 February

Here's a link that you can watch some fotos of the new Torro Rosso :
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Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

Giorgio Pantano 4th February 1979
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Happy Birthday to your 34th anniversary

News Round Up part 3 :

Marussia to unveil MR02 at Jerez test :
The official Marussia Twitter account has tweeted that "the MR02 will make its public debut next Tuesday (5 February) in Jerez, Spain, with a pit lane reveal ahead of the first day of testing."
The team also tweeted: "Max Chilton will be in the hot seat of the MR02 during its testing debut on the 5th February."
This means that all teams have now confirmed when they will be launching their car, and that Williams will be the only team not running their 2013 car at the Jerez test.

Ferrari strengthens its relation with three sponsors :
At a key time for Formula 1 and when the global economic picture is very difficult, Ferrari is still right on target on the commercial front. This morning, it announced the arrival of its first Chinese sponsor, Weichai Power, which is part of the Weichai Group, a top one hundred company in China, with a presence in Europe, North America and South East Asia: it will be a Scuderia partner for at least four years.
The news on the commercial front does not stop there however. Hublot, which since last year has been the Official Timekeeper and Watch Supplier to Ferrari, has strengthened its ties by becoming an Official Sponsor of the Scuderia. The relationship between these two prestigious marques is extended both in terms of time – the agreement now goes on for longer – and in terms of reach, as it will cover the whole range of the Maranello company’s activities, including the Ferrari Challenge, which it has sponsored since 2012.
Another partner strengthening its relationship with the Scuderia is Kaspersky Lab. The Russian company, a European leader in the field of anti-virus solutions and one of the main suppliers globally in the area of IT security for the end-user, is consolidating the presence of its branding with the team and, at the same time, increasing the level of technical collaboration with the company. Finally, it should be noted that TNT has also moved on from being an Official Supplier to be a Sponsor of the Scuderia: the energy drink’s logo has already been seen on the cars at last year’s Brazilian Grand Prix.
"China, Russia and Brazil: I think we can legitimately claim with satisfaction to have bucked the current trend in sponsorship, not only as regards Formula 1, but also when looking at sport in general", Stefano Domenicali told [hidden link - please register]. "These are significant achievements, which alongside the vital support of our long time partners such as Philip Morris and Shell and more recent ones like Santander, strengthen our position going into what will be a very demanding season, from every point of view."

Luiz Razia on his way to race deal with Marussia :
Luiz Razia, a 23-year-old Brazilian, looks set to secure the Marussia race seat for 2013 recently vacated by salaried driver Timo Glock. Brazil's Globo said Razia, the 2012 GP2 runner-up, had secured the place "after months of negotiations". "The official announcement will be made on February 5, during the presentation of the new car" at Jerez, said the report. Razia, who linked to the report on his official website, is quoted as saying: "We have managed to close (the deal) at the last minute. The important thing is that I have got what I have worked for over 11 years, since karts. It really is the fulfilment of a dream for me." Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat said Razia has at least $15 million in backing. "I have always raised the flag of Brazil, but we have only European investors in this project," said the driver.
Despite the Globo report and Razia's comments, the driver's management did not confirm the deal when contacted by the British broadcaster Sky. "At the moment we have made no decision," a spokesman said. Marussia said on Thursday that its confirmed rookie, Max Chilton, will debut the team's new MR02 car at Jerez next Tuesday, when "the rest of the testing schedule will also be communicated".

Sponsor UBS could quit Formula 1 :
UBS, a major sponsor of formula one, could be considering pulling out of the sport. The Swiss based global financial services company entered F1 in 2010, powered by its then chief executive Oswald Grubel, who had also brought the Swiss bank Credit Suisse to the sport and was a board member of the BMW-Sauber team.
But Grubel is no longer in charge. UBS is now headed by Sergio Ermotti, a Swiss banker. Blick newspaper reports that, under Ermotti's new watch, the company has been conducting market research into the wisdom of Grubel's F1 deal. And, citing sources at senior management level, the Swiss daily Tagesanzeiger said the company is indeed considering pulling out of F1. Columnist Francois Bloch wrote: "UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti is not a formula one fan." A UBS spokeswoman said: "We have ongoing, multi-year contracts with formula one. We continually analyse our commitment."

Marko pushing to keep winning Red Bull formation together :
Red Bull is constantly pushing to keep its winning team together. Having confirmed this week that team boss Christian Horner is staying put for several more years, Dr Helmut Marko is now turning his attention to other contracts. But not his own. Regarded as energy drink magnate Dietrich Mateschitz's right hand man on F1 matters, the coarse and outspoken Austrian Marko said his pact with his billionaire boss was "settled with a handshake". So would he commit right now to at least another five years at Red Bull? "Yes, something like that," Marko, a doctor of law and former driver, told Kleine Zeitung.
But as for members of the ultra-successful Milton Keynes based team who have signed up in black ink, Marko admitted that he looks "every six months at all the major contracts" and attempts to renew "those that should be extended". Undoubtedly, he is referring to key figures like Sebastian Vettel and Adrian Newey, but the latest speculation had been about Briton Horner, Red Bull's 39-year-old British team principal who had been linked to Ferrari. Marko said only: "There are not many (in F1) who do not try to poach staff from Red Bull."

Caterham confirms Giedo van der Garde for 2013 :
Caterham F1 Team has today confirmed that Giedo van der Garde, the team’s 2012 Reserve Driver, has been promoted to a full-time race seat, completing the team’s 2013 driver line-up with Charles Pic.
Giedo's appointment to the F1 team is the natural step for the Dutch driver after he spent 2012 competing with Caterham Racing in the GP2 Series, combining his GP2 season, in which he scored six podiums and two race wins, with six FP1 outings for the F1 team. Cyril Abiteboul, Team Principal, Caterham F1 Team: "Everyone in the team is delighted that we can finally confirm that Giedo will be racing for us in the 2013 FIA Formula One World Championship. He has been part of our family since early 2012 when he joined our GP2 team and was appointed as Reserve Driver for the F1 team. He acquitted himself extremely well in both his GP2 season and his six FP1 sessions, progressively improving his outright pace, technical feedback and his relationship with his engineers and mechanics, giving us the clear justification for promoting him to F1."
"This is the next natural step for Giedo with our team. We continue to grow as a team and we are committed to giving young talent across the motorsport industry the chance to grow with us and this is Giedo’s opportunity to show he deserves his place at the very highest level of global motorsport. He and Charles have been team-mates before so he is an excellent choice to partner Charles in what is going to be another very interesting season, and we are all looking forward to seeing Giedo continue to progress as he takes on the ultimate challenge of F1." Giedo van der Garde: "I am absolutely delighted to confirm that I will be racing in the 2013 F1 World Championship with Caterham F1 Team. I want to thank Cyril, Tony Fernandes, McGregor and everyone who has worked so hard to make this happen."
"I know I am ready to take the step up to F1 and all the work I have done throughout my career, and particularly in the last year with this team, has brought me to my ultimate goal. Throughout 2012 I was able to fully integrate myself into the team, both through the FP1 sessions I ran at a number of tracks that were then new to me, and as Reserve Driver, fully embedded with the team throughout the season."
"Now I can continue to learn at the highest level of motorsport and show that I am ready for F1. I cannot wait to start work."

Byrne started working on Ferrari's 2014 car :
Rory Byrne, Ferrari legendary former chief designer, was at the launch of the team's 2013 car at Maranello on Friday. He told Auto Motor und Sport he is actually "working full steam" on the Italian team's project for the 2014 car, which will be powered by the all-new turbo V6 rules.
"It's a nice car," the South African - referring to the newly-launched F138 - laughed, "but it's all child's play compared to what awaits us in 2014."
Until then, Ferrari has the 2013 title to win after a so far five-year championship drought, and boss Stefano Domenicali confirmed that his designers have adopted some "extreme solutions" to compete with Red Bull.
"We are just waiting for Newey to complain about our rear suspension," Auto Motor und Sport quoted a team insider. The German report said the insider is referring to the rear profile that duplicates the 2012 Red Bull -- only more extremely.

Ferrari rule out future Sebastian Vettel-Fernando Alonso pairing :
Ferrari president Luca Di Montezemolo says world champion Sebastian Vettel will not join the Italian team as long as Fernando Alonso is there. Ferrari sources said last summer that Vettel had an arrangement to join the team in the future, with the initial intention for that to be in 2014. But asked if he could envisage Vettel at Ferrari with Alonso, Di Montezemolo said: "No, I don't think so." Alonso's contract with Ferrari runs until the end of 2016. Ferrari have always said publicly that having two 'A-list' drivers is hard to manage - Di Montezemolo said in October that he did not want "two roosters in a henhouse". Nevertheless, Di Montezemolo has never hidden his admiration for Vettel and his curt response to a question on the subject of Vettel potentially joining Ferrari does mark a change in tone. In December he said the German "would be very good for us" if Alonso decided to leave the team. In January, when team boss Stefano Domenicali was asked about teaming Vettel with Alonso, he referred to it as a "dream team", adding: "Never say never."
Ferrari's plan was said to have been for Vettel to join in 2014 - even though the German's Red Bull contract ran until the end of that season. But sources close to Ferrari now say the Spaniard and the team renegotiated their agreement towards the end of last season and that one of Alonso's demands was that they not sign Vettel alongside him. Although Alonso will be 35 at the end of his current Ferrari contract, he is believed already to be discussing extending it. Meanwhile, Vettel has consistently emphasised how happy he is at Red Bull and the triple world champion is expected to extend his contract with the team to the end of 2016.
It has recently emerged that team boss Christian Horner has signed up with Red Bull to the end of 2017 and chief technical officer Adrian Newey, regarded as the finest motorsport designer in the world, also has a multi-year contract with the team and is expected to stay for the next several years.
The developments seem to end any chance of Vettel moving to Ferrari in the foreseeable future.
Di Montezemolo, who was speaking at the launch of the new Ferrari F1 car, said he expected Vettel and Red Bull again to be their strongest rivals this season.
Vettel has won the last three drivers' titles, twice sealing the crown narrowly ahead of Alonso at the final race of the season. Di Montezemolo also criticised F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone for staging events in countries where there was no appetite for the sport at the expense of races in Europe.
"I believe we should have two grands prix in Italy, rather than having tracks far away in the middle of nowhere, that are difficult to reach," he said.
"But I would like to congratulate Ecclestone for reaching an agreement on a grand prix in Austin [in Texas] because we all wanted to have a grand prix in the US and they have found a very good solution."

Sauber C32 launch: No Ferrari V6 engine deal but no plans for split
Sauber is not talking to any manufacturers other than Ferrari about a 2014 engine supply, but admits it has not secured a deal for Formula 1's new technical era. With some details of next year's turbocharged V6 engines still to be finalised, Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn said her team was in limbo regarding its future power source. "It's a very interesting situation for customer teams at the moment. There is so much, as we understand, that is not clear at the moment, so it's very difficult to engage into these kinds of talks," she said.
"For us, we have had a partnership with Ferrari for more than 10 years, so that's the natural link for us to go.
"But they also have difficulties, because nothing has been clarified down to the last detail.
"It's extremely challenging, and a fear we have as a private team is to make sure we don't have any disadvantage compared to the manufacturer teams.
"It comes down to finding the engine, knowing the technical details of it and knowing what impact it has on our design." She dismissed suggestions that Sauber might be looking at a switch to Mercedes engines.
"Just to be very clear on this, we are not talking to anyone else, unlike what was reported," Kaltenborn insisted.

Luca di Montezemolo: "I defined this car as “hopeful”
Maranello, 1 February 2013 – “I liked this presentation,” was Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo’s opening remark to a crowd of journalists immediately after the F138 launch. “I felt a special atmosphere, right from the start of the morning when I left my home in Bologna. We had not seen fog here for a long time and it reminded me of the 1997 presentation, the year when Ferrari began its winning cycle.
“During the ceremony, I was moved by the tribute to the Avvocato Agnelli, someone who was very important in my life and whom I miss a lot, a man who was of fundamental importance to Ferrari on so many occasions, at the race track and in the factory.
“Apart from my family, Ferrari is the most important thing in my life and every time I walk into the factory, even after all these years, it puts me in a good mood and I continue to get new stimuli and ideas. Today’s presentation went off with good spirit and passion and I’m pleased about that.”
Asked about the technical characteristics of the F138, the President had this to say: “yesterday afternoon, I saw it and I defined it as “hopeful,” because I noted plenty of attention to detail, especially in areas where aerodynamics are key. Why should I hope this car is competitive right from the first race? The answer is threefold. Firstly, because of the obsessively detailed review of the past season, secondly, the major changes to the organisation and work methodology and thirdly, the concentration on just one wind tunnel, which will be important, especially throughout this season. Track testing is not available to us, something many would like to see reintroduced, so we have concentrated more on simulation tools. Bringing an experienced driver like De la Rosa to Maranello is part of this strategy and attention to detail.”
The conversation switched to engines, given that 2013 is the final year for the V8. “A V6 engine is not part of the Ferrari tradition and in the name of the F138, we are paying homage to the 8 cylinder engine and the fact this is the last year we will use it. I continue to maintain, for economic, musical and power reasons that it would be better to stick with 8 cylinders. But the decision has been taken to build the V6 and if next year, there will be modifications that are in the best interests of Formula 1, then I will even be pleased to see this engine at work and in fact, I’m sure Ferrari is capable of building the strongest V6 in the world.”
Asked why Alonso was not taking part in the first test at Jerez, the President said, “the decision not to run Fernando in the first week at Jerez was dictated by the wish to allow him to stick to a very precise physical training programme. However, for the Barcelona test, attention will switch to performance, which is why Fernando will start then, rather than the first few days.”
As for the wind tunnel, Montezemolo set out the reasons for not using the one in Maranello. “We had our doubts as to the correlation of data from the wind tunnel and the track, therefore we decided to close the Maranello wind tunnel, to update it while concentrating only on the Toyota wind tunnel. This will be important, especially in the coming months for the development of the car. I hope that, after the summer break, the rebuilt wind tunnel will open again here at Ferrari.” As for the idea of Vettel driving for Ferrari, Montezemolo said that it was not possible to have the German teamed with Alonso. As for the third driver, the choice is between De la Rosa and Bianchi and the question is under discussion at the moment.
With the drivers and Domenicali alongside him, the President chose to highlight the importance of the sponsors, such as up market brands like Swiss watchmaker Hublot, the Russian high-tech company Kaspersky and for the first time a Chinese sponsor, Weichai Power. “Our team was becoming Spanish with Gene and De la Rosa and we wanted to increase the presence of the Italian flag at Ferrari to show how important is our country and our roots to us.”

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

News Round Up part 2 :

DEKRA to be official partner of the Sauber F1 Team :
DEKRA will be an Official Partner of the Sauber F1 Team and as such will continue its longstanding relationship with Nico Hülkenberg. The DEKRA logo will appear on the side of Nico Hülkenberg's cap with immediate effect. The partnership between the DEKRA Group and the German Formula One driver goes back to the beginnings of his racing career. "It's gratifying to be able to combine the interests of all three parties in this way," notes Monisha Kaltenborn, CEO of the Sauber F1 Team. "In DEKRA the Sauber F1 Team welcomes a partner that has been a firm fixture of the Formula One scene for many years. We keenly anticipate this new partnership and look forward to a successful season."
Clemens Klinke, Member of the Executive Board at DEKRA SE with responsibility for the Automotive Business Unit, comments: "We are delighted to have entered into partnership with the Sauber F1 Team for the coming Formula One season and thus build on our longstanding association with Nico Hülkenberg as well. A long shared history already unites us and we are fully committed to continuing this from 2013. Nico's success has already been followed with great enthusiasm by DEKRA management and staff all over the world since his rookie season in 2010. And we are convinced that he will cause even more of a sensation having switched to the Sauber F1 team."

Chilton ready for F1 debut :
After taking the role of test driver for the last six races in 2012 at Marussia, Max Chilton will take part in his debut race on March the 17th in Melbourne, Australia.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Chilton said: "I wouldn't have wanted to make the step up if I wasn't ready."
"I believe after my last year in GP2 with two wins and two pole positions I am ready and when I got behind the wheel in Abu Dhabi for practice I felt comfortable and that is the main thing - I know I can do it."
"After three long, hard seasons in F1 the team are yet to score a point and if I can score their first points then that will be an incredible feeling. Hopefully if testing goes well we can get that done early on in the season and then I can change my targets as we go."
During the winter, Chilton has spent a lot of time on his fitness as he believes it will be essential at the pinnacle of motor racing.
"You are at the top of the sport - so everything has to be perfect", he explained. "You have to focus on every little bit of fitness as F1 is very physical so you have to build up the neck muscles more because of g-force and the races are about 40 minutes longer than what I am used to, so I have to build up the endurance levels."

Horner has new Red Bull Racing deal 'until 2017' :
Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko has hit back at rumours team boss Christian Horner could be defecting to Ferrari. It recently emerged that Briton Horner, the 39-year-old who has sat at the helm of the Milton Keynes based team as Sebastian Vettel raced to triple consecutive titles, visited Maranello.
Now, it subsequently became clear that Horner was not the only F1 figure at Ferrari's headquarters, as Bernie Ecclestone, Martin Whitmarsh and Niki Lauda met to discuss the Concorde Agreement with Luca di Montezemolo. But that didn't silence every rumour about Horner's future.
Marko, however - Red Bull team owner Dietrich Mateschitz's right hand man on F1 matters - insists Horner is firmly under contract. He told Sport Bild: "How could Christian be negotiating in Maranello if we've just extended his contract until 2017?" That is bad news for Ferrari - and every other team - for another reason, given that Horner and F1's lauded designer Adrian Newey traditionally renew their contracts in unison.

Nurburgring to host Grand Prix in 2013 :
Nurburgring officials have reached an agreement with Bernie Ecclestone to host the German grand prix as scheduled in July. That is the claim of the German newspapers Allgemeine Zeitung and Rhein Zeitung, following a long-running 'on again, off again' saga surrounding the fortunes of the financially beleaguered Nurburgring.
Mere hours before the latest reports, which were confirmed by Rhineland-Palatinate state spokeswoman Monika Fuhr, F1 chief executive Ecclestone had admitted the Nurburgring's future was still clouded. "It's all a bit messy," he was quoted by the Daily Mail. "At the moment the race is on, off, on, off, but we're doing our best to get it sorted."
SID news agency said a race will definitely be held at the Nurburgring in July, although "it is unclear whether it will be (called) the German or the European grand prix". "It's all a little bit political," said Ecclestone, referring to the naming dispute between the Nurburgring-linked body AvD, and ADAC, a rival Hockenheim-linked German automobile club.
One report said ADAC had even submitted a proposal to host the race at the Nurburgring. "It's all a bit messy with different political groups fighting each other," said Ecclestone.
SID reported that the news about the Nurburgring's July 7 race will be announced at a press conference on Thursday. Kolner Express newspaper said "government sources" had confirmed the media reports. "This is good news for the region," said state spokeswoman Fuhr.

Sutil 'still believes' in possibility for F1 return - Manager :
Mere days before the pre-season test period begins, Adrian Sutil is still refusing to give up on his formula one comeback for 2013. Once considered the hot favourite to return with his former team Force India this year, the long delay has caused some commentators to assume that German Sutil, 30, is now less likely to race.
But Sutil's manager Manfred Zimmermann insisted: "Basically, we still believe in the 2013 comeback." He also admitted to DPA news agency, however, that he is "not sure" if Sutil will have a cockpit to occupy for the forthcoming opening 2013 test at Jerez. "At the moment we are waiting for the final decision, and of course we would prefer it sooner rather than later," Zimmermann said.
As for whether Timo Glock's shock departure at Marussia had contributed to the delay, Sutil's manager said the events are "unrelated", whilst acknowledging that the pay-driver situation was "significant for F1".

Scuderia Toro Rosso and NOVA Chemicals extend agreement :
NOVA Chemicals and the Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula 1 team are pleased to announce they have extended their current sponsorship agreement. 2013 will therefore be the third year that the Canadian plastics producer has been a partner of the team.
"NOVA Chemicals, along with Toro Rosso, is committed to being a leader. The same qualities that drive NOVA Chemicals every day; focused effort, collaborative teams, straightforward communication and responsible people, also create success on the race track", commented NOVA Chemicals' CEO, Randy Woelfel. "Our shared values and drive to outperform the competition make Toro Rosso the right platform to help us expand our brand recognition beyond North America."
"We are delighted that NOVA Chemicals will be with us for another season", added Toro Rosso Team Principal, Franz Tost. "Continuity is a vital component for success in Formula 1 and that is as true on the commercial front as it is on the technical side. We look forward to a successful and exciting season together."

Weichai Power joins Ferrari as new sponsor :
Scuderia Ferrari announces that it has reached a sponsorship agreement with Weichai Power, one of China’s leading manufacturer of heavy powertrain system and machinery vehicles. The agreement will last four years and will expire at the end of the 2016 sporting season.
Weichai Power, part of the Weichai Group, is the first Scuderia sponsor to come from China, where Ferrari has had a presence for over twenty years and which has become one of the main markets for Prancing Horse road cars.

Sauber and OMP Racing begin a technical partnership :
OMP will enter a technical partnership with the Sauber F1 Team to supply the Swiss squad with racing gear and additional accessories. From 2013, OMP will kit out the drivers and mechanics of the Sauber F1 Team with innovative racing suits and underwear, shoes and gloves. OMP will also provide the safety harnesses for the Sauber C32-Ferrari. They are made from Dyneema®, an extremely lightweight synthetic fibre, which will see the weight of the harnesses reduced by around 40 per cent compared to previous versions.
"OMP is a brand that has established itself in motor racing over many years", notes Monisha Kaltenborn, CEO of the Sauber F1 Team. "For us the safety of our drivers and mechanics is paramount, which is why we very much welcome a leading partner in this field."
"This partnership is a great source of satisfaction for us", says Paolo Delprato, OMP Managing Director, "because it will allow us to showcase some of our most important innovations for 2013 on the most prestigious international race tracks. In particular, the new safety harnesses made from Dyneema® as well as the new 'Dry System' in our suits and underwear are the fruits of years of research and development in our company, which is a reference point for the car racing industry."

McLaren admits Lowe's future as technical director uncertain :
A notable absentee at the launch of McLaren's 2013 car on Thursday was technical director Paddy Lowe. Ross Brawn confirmed recently that Lowe, initially in talks with Williams, had discussed a possible future move to Mercedes. McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh told reporters at Woking, where the wraps were taken off the evolutionary MP4-28, that 50-year-old Briton Lowe is staying put for 2013. "The future is less certain," he admitted.
As for why Lowe is sitting out the launch, Whitmarsh said the technical director made the decision himself, to save the team the "embarrassment" of facing up to the recent controversy on the eve of McLaren's fiftieth anniversary. Lowe "doesn't want to be a distraction," Whitmarsh said. "At his own election he felt it was inappropriate to be here. He'll be part of the team for the rest of this year," he added.
McLaren has followed Ferrari's lead by switching to a novel 'pull-rod' layout for the MP4-28's front suspension. Racing it in 2013 will be Jenson Button and new arrival Sergio Perez. "The MP4-28 isn't merely a refinement of last year's seven-race winning car," McLaren said in a statement, "it's a deep and sweeping redesign of an already successful chassis in several key areas."

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

News Round Up part 1:

Lotus F1 Team joins forces with Alpinestars
Lotus F1 Team will partner with Alpinestars as the world's premier performance motorsport apparel and footwear company extends its involvement in Formula 1 by signing a multi-year partnership agreement with the team. Alpinestars will provide performance racing products and high-level technical support for two of Formula 1's most exciting drivers; 2007 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen and rising star Romain Grosjean.
Lotus F1 Team's test and reserve drivers – as well as the team’s mechanics and technical staff – will also benefit from Alpinestars technical expertise and support; both on track at Grands Prix and at Alpinestars’ product development facilities in Northern Italy and California.
Eric Boullier, Team Principal, Lotus F1 Team: "Alpinestars is an internationally recognized and respected brand so it's fantastic for the team to agree a partnership. The support and proactive approach that Alpinestars brings will benefit the team in many ways. I'm looking forward to seeing our drivers in their ultra-lightweight, safe and stylish new race attire alongside the ultra-lightweight, safe and stylish E21."

Italian governing body questions new Monza boss:
A spat has emerged between Italy's motor racing sanctioning body, and the Italian grand prix venue Monza. The existing head of the circuit's operator Sias, Enrico Ferrari, has stepped down amid an investigation into his behaviour. His successor is Fabrizio Turci, but it is clear the president of the Automobile Club d'Italia - Angelo Sticchi Damiani - is no admirer. "I am concerned about the grand prix of Italy," he is quoted as saying. "I do not think Turci has the experience to handle the organisation of this event," Sticci Damiani is quoted by Italian media.

Scuderia Toro Rosso better than Sauber in some areas - Key :
James Key, Toro Rosso's new technical boss, says the Faenza based team is "superior" to Sauber in some ways. Briton Key moved to Red Bull's second team late last year, replacing Giorgio Ascanelli.
He is quoted by Russia's f1news.ru: "After Force India and Sauber, Toro Rosso is the third team I have worked with. On the one hand, they are all a bit alike, but as they are three teams from three different countries, they each have an unique culture. "In Toro Rosso I have to solve some new problems compared to Sauber, but also the resources of this team (Toro Rosso) are much more, both human and technical. Toro Rosso is at a decent level, although in some areas it is inferior to those I have worked with before. I'm focusing on (those areas)," said Key. He revealed he is "pleased" with the progress of the 2013 Toro Rosso, the STR8, which will be launched at the first Jerez test next week.
Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo confirmed: "We have changed some things with the team. I hope to get some more points this season and get into the fight with teams like Force India, Sauber and Williams," he is quoted by Spain's AS newspaper. Toro Rosso finished the 2012 championship ninth .

Williams gives Susie Wolff more responsibilities in 2013 :
The Williams F1 Team is pleased to confirm that Development Driver Susie Wolff will be continuing her role with the team during the 2013 season.
Susie joined the Williams F1 Team in April 2012 and has played a valuable role in helping to develop the Williams-Renault FW34 and FW35. Susie's level of involvement will increase during the 2013 season, with an increased programme in the team’s simulator combined with a greater level of in-car testing. Susie will be the first to get behind the wheel of the FW35 when she drives the car at Idiada next month, and will do the majority of aerodynamic testing this season. Prior to joining the Williams F1 Team Susie spent seven seasons driving in DTM and was twice nominated for the prestigious BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award.
Speaking about Susie's continued role with the team Mike Coughlan, Technical Director, commented: "Susie has proved herself to be a valuable addition to our driver roster and her feedback during simulator sessions is second to none. As a result we will be stepping up her role this year and I'm looking forward to the progress we can make with Susie's input in conjunction with that of Pastor and Valtteri."
Speaking about her role with the Williams F1 Team in 2013 Susie said: "I really enjoy my time working with Williams and feel very much at home here. Last year was a valuable experience and I certainly feel that I've developed a lot as a driver. Increasing my role this year will further this progression and I can't wait to get behind the wheel of the FW35 for the first time next month. I'm showing that women can play a role at the top level of motorsport and would like to thank Sir Frank Williams and the whole of the technical team for the trust they continue to show in me."


Michael Schumacher goes back to his karting roots in 2013 :
Now back in retirement, Michael Schumacher will return to his karting roots in 2013. In the days after the seven time world champion's last grand prix late last year, we reported that the 44-year-old had signed up to be a test driver for the Italian kart maker Tony Kart this year. Spain's El Mundo Deportivo newspaper reports that the great German will in fact be racing in 2013. Preparing for his new race seat in the KZ category, Schumacher was testing his Tony Kart at the Lonato circuit in Italy last week and - reportedly - his laptimes were "very good".
Meanwhile, the Kolner Express newspaper reports that - with Hermann Tilke on board as designer - Schumacher has commissioned a new world championship-standard karting circuit near Cologne. "We will build the best track in Europe," Gerhard Noack is quoted as saying. Tilke confirmed: "The plans are ready."

Pedro de la Rosa 'proud' of Alonso's respect :
Pedro de la Rosa on Monday said the fact Fernando Alonso "wants" to work with him at Ferrari has made him "very proud". The fact test driver de la Rosa has joined his countryman and former McLaren colleague at the Italian team for 2013 was interpreted by some as a further sign of the increasing influence wielded by Spaniard Alonso at Ferrari. 2012 HRT driver de la Rosa, 41, said on Monday: "That Fernando wants to work with me makes me very, very proud. "Not because he is Spanish, but because he is the best," he said in Spanish at a Santander sponsor event. Meanwhile, de la Rosa denied media reports that he was signed up by Ferrari because the Maranello based team is developing an all-new driver simulator. "A new simulator for me? I'm good, but not that good!" he joked. "There is no such project," the former Arrows, Jaguar and Sauber driver insisted in Madrid. "We have started a job and will develop what we have, which is perfectly valid. But what is certain is that, with the number of changes to the regulations for 2014, we have a lot of work to do in the simulator. And that's one of the reasons I'm here, because the amount of work formula one teams have to do is huge."

Mark Webber 'not part of Marko's agenda' :
Recovered from an operation to remove a forty centimetre rod from his once badly broken leg, Mark Webber said on Tuesday he is ready to hit the track in 2013. "Now I'm back into it (training) properly," said the Australian.
But, back with Red Bull for another season, the 36-year-old also turned his attention to some recent criticism fired at him by the outspoken Dr Helmut Marko. Marko, openly fonder of the team's triple world champion Sebastian Vettel, aimed jibes at Webber's alleged dips in form and struggles to cope with pressure. Asked about that, Webber answered: "Look, everyone at this level has their own agendas and it's been evident for a long time now that I've never been a part of Marko's."

HRT to return as Scorpion Racing? :
It has been revealed that a group of investors from America and Canada are trying to get HRT back on the Formula 1 grid, but they might have to wait until 2014.
Bernie Ecclestone seems to support the plan of the return, and it is believed that negations are at an advanced stage. The HRT name would be removed and replaced with Scorpion Racing.
It looks unlikely that we will see a 12th team on the 2013 grid, because the deadline for the 2013 entry fee closed last November. Scorpion Racing are hoping to complete the deal in the next few days, so we should get a clearer vision of their plans by the end of the week. A facility at the Silverstone circuit is where the team is hoping to operate, using an updated version of the HRT F112, with Cosworth engines and a Williams gearbox.
Bernie Ecclestone told Scorpion Racing in a letter that if the team can sort out the deal and pay, they should get an entry into F1 - "Have you bought the HRT company? Because if you have, they [the FIA] would be accepting you."
However convincing the FIA that they have sufficient funding and a fast enough car to compete in 2013 will be another matter.

Ecclestone sceptical about chances for Scorpion Racing :
A new formula one team could rise from the ashes of the failed Spanish outfit HRT. Reports - including in the Spanish newspaper AS - claim a group of investors from Canada and the US want to enter this year's world championship with an evolution of HRT's 2012 car, featuring a Cosworth engine and Williams gearbox.
The team is reportedly called Scorpion Racing, and the Press Association said it would be based at Silverstone and operate with equipment bought from HRT. But there could be an issue with getting up and running for 2013, given that the official entry deadline for this season's championship closed last November.
Bernie Ecclestone is quoted as saying: "I've spoken to them and told them to get in touch with the FIA and ask for an entry. They want to buy all the bits from HRT, then form a company and ask for an entry, but I personally don't think it will happen. It's all a bit too late. Maybe they could do it for next year."
The Press Association said the FIA did not want to respond in detail until it receives more 'concrete' information from Scorpion.

Torro Rosso and OMP Racing renew partnership deal :
OMP Racing, the Genoese company with over 40 years of history, a leader in the field of design and creation of safety equipment for the car racing sector and Scuderia Toro Rosso have renewed their important cooperation agreement for the supply of safety equipment and technical clothing for the race drivers and the entire team, for its participation in the upcoming Formula 1 World Championship.
The agreement also provides for the possibility of installing new super-light seatbelts inside the cockpit of the STR8, this year’s car, which will be officially presented on February 4. These seatbelts have been produced by OMP with Dyneema® "the world's strongest fiber". Developed and made by the R&D Centre of the Genoese company after two years of study and research, the belts are the result also of a recent agreement for a worldwide exclusive use agreement with the producer of this special material.
March 15 is the official date of the start of the 2013 Season for the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, at the Australian Grand Prix, where Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne, the Faenza team’s young drivers, will wear technical gear, fire resistant suits, shoes, underwear and gloves made by OMP, as will team personnel.
The OMP fire resistant suits and underwear are the result of constant, ongoing research performed by the company in Genoa. The fruit of this is the patented "Dry System" for suits and underwear, that perform particularly well in terms of weight and comfort, thanks to bringing together materials of the latest generation and innovative technologies, with a manufacturing procedure that still bears the hand-crafted imprint.
The Scuderia Toro Rosso drivers will also wear the latest shoes created with a brand new OMP HI-TECH technology, able to optimize sensitivity for driving, thermal isolation and comfort.
"Renewing the agreement with Scuderia Toro Rosso is yet another testament to our leadership in accessories for the racing sector, and above all, is a confirmation of the continuing technical evolution of our products used at the highest levels in Motorsport,” commented Paolo Delprato, Vice President and C.E.O. of OMP."
"OMP and the Toro Rosso team represent two points of excellence for Made in Italy in the world of racing, a sector where performance and safety are naturally brought together with innovation, high technology and creativity."
"We are pleased to continue our relationship with OMP," commented Gianfranco Fantuzzi, Scuderia Toro Rosso’s team manager. "Over the years, we have developed an excellent relationship and OMP is always attentive to our requests, supplying items to our specific needs to the highest standards, while always meeting the tight deadlines that are part of working in the Formula 1 environment. And of course, as an Italian team, we appreciate not only the excellent quality but also the Italian style element of everything we get from OMP."

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

Short News :

F1 launch: Sauber C32
Sauber have launched their 2013 car, the Sauber C32, from their Hinwil, Switzerland base. This will be the team's 20th season in Formula 1, and the team are aiming for 5th place - which they lost out on by 16 points last season. The main visual differences from the C31 to the C32 are the sidepods, the colour, and the nose. The sidepods are now much smaller and the team has changed the car from mostly white, to grey. The team has also taken advantage of the vanity panel, like Ferrari, Force India and McLaren have.
Drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Esteban Gutiérrez unveiled the car, and both of them are hoping for more success than in 2012. Monisha Kaltenborn said: “We have very high expectations of them and they know that.”
The car will be put in action on Tuesday at the pre-season test session in Jerez. .
Here's a link where you can watch some fotos of the new Sauber
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Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

More to follow/read this weekend

Short News :

Ferrari launch F138 in Maranello
Ferrari unveiled the new Ferrari F138 chassis at its factory in Maranello on Friday morning, the car which will contend the 2013 Formula 1 season in the hands of ongoing drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa.
According to Ferrari Team Principal Stefano Domenicali, the F138 is ‘an evolution’ of last year’s F2012 chassis, and features a raised front nose section, removing the stepped nose that could be seen on its predecessor.
Before the covers were pulled off the F138, there was a short presentation paying tribute to the continuing work of the Ferrari brand, from their first F1 race in 1950 to the modern day. Another feature highlighted the success of their road cars, showcasing its various accolages, including the 2012 Supercar of the Year, the F12 Berlinetta.
The Ferrari F138 will be present at the opening test in Jerez, with Massa driving on 5, 6 and 7 February, before handing over to newly-signed development driver Pedro de la Rosa for the final day. Fernando Alonso will get behind the wheel of the car for the first time at the second pre-season gathering at the Circuit de Catalunya.

F138 : the 13 stands for the year 2013 & the 8 stands for the V-8 engine !

Here's a link for some fotos of the new Ferrari F1 car for this season
[hidden link - please register]

Force India launch VJM06 at Silverstone
Sahara Force India launched their 2013 challenger, the VJM06, at the Silverstone Circuit on Friday morning. Along with the presentation, the team officilly announced the expected news that Paul di Resta will be one of the drivers for the 2013 season.
Amid the cold and drizzle of the Silverstone pit lane, Di Resta and Deputy Team Principal Bob Fernley were on hand to pull the covers off the VJM06 live via the team's official wesite. The car, which no longer features the stepped nose design trait, was then given its first tentative run on the Full Wet tyres around the short circuit layout.
"Seeing the car built and complete for the first time is a special feeling," said di Resta. "I’ve followed its progress in the tunnel and it looks very impressive - aggressive and fast. Now I’m just eager to get out there and see where we stand compared to our competitors. After the winter I feel refreshed and keen to get back to business."
Force India is yet to announce the identity of its second driver, but an announcement is expected to be made before the second pre-season test at the Circuit de Catalunya

Here's a link for watching some fotos of the Force india F1 car
[hidden link - please register]

Official: Van der Garde to drive for Caterham
The Caterham F1 Team has confirmed that Giedo van der Garde, the team’s 2012 reserve driver, will be promoted to a race seat for 2013, alongside Charles Pic.

This confirmation has proved to be a natural step for the 27-year-old, after competing for Caterham Racing in the GP2 Series, registering six podiums and two wins.

Van der Garde was clearly ecstatic with the deal, and cannot wait for the start of the upcoming season. "I know I am ready to take the step up to F1 and all the work I have done throughout my career, and particularly in the last year with this team, has brought me to my ultimate goal,” he explained. “Throughout 2012 I was able to fully integrate myself into the team, both through the FP1 sessions I ran at a number of tracks that were then new to me, and as Reserve Driver, fully embedded with the team throughout the season. Now I can continue to learn at the highest level of motorsport and show that I am ready for F1. I cannot wait to start work."
Caterham F1 Team Principal, Cyril Abiteboul, has expressed his delight in having van der Garde as part of the team, and is confident that the Dutchman, along with Pic, can have a highly successful 2013 campaign. "Everyone in the team is delighted that we can finally confirm that Giedo will be racing for us in the 2013 FIA Formula One World Championship,” he said. “This is the next natural step for Giedo with our team. We continue to grow as a team and we are committed to giving young talent across the motorsport industry the chance to grow with us and this is Giedo's opportunity to show he deserves his place at the very highest level of global motorsport. He and Charles have been team-mates before, so he is an excellent choice to partner Charles in what is going to be another very interesting season."
This leaves only Force India and Marussia to complete their respective driver line ups .

Kind Regards
Shaky-Schumi

More F1 news this weekend !

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Ferrari F138.

this is the new mc laren
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McLaren MP4-28 revealed in Woking :
Today McLaren revealed their 2013 title contender, the McLaren MP4-28.
Jenson Button and Sergio Pérez unveiled the car, showing that it is a re-design of the MP4-27, last season's car. McLaren have become the first team to use the new vanity panels allowed this season, as the team have decided to go for a higher nose which is stepped. A similar version to Ferrari's pull rod suspension system from the F2012 is being used on the MP4-28, and the sidepods and the rear bodywork have also been updated.
Jenson Button said: “we were extremely strong throughout the whole of the 2012 season, but, for one reason or another, we couldn’t quite pull it all together to challenge for the championships."
"That’s something we want to address for 2013. I’ve seen just how closely everybody has been working together on this car, and I think we’ve got the basis for a very strong season."
"This year’s car is the best we’ve ever made - I know the engineers have left absolutely no stone unturned in wringing every ounce of performance from every available area. I cannot wait to get behind the wheel and attempt to carry forward the incredible legacy that lives beneath the skin of every single man and woman who works at McLaren."
“We’ll be working extremely hard during the pre-season to ensure we go to the first race with bulletproof reliability. Operationally, too, I think we’ve learned and developed from last year, and that will help us run a much smoother and stronger campaign.” Sergio Pérez, who will take part in his debut race for McLaren in Melbourne said, "for me, this is a great day, In fact, every day this year has been great: I’ve been working hard with my new team to get everything ready for the start of the 2013 season - and it’s been an incredible journey to get to know this incredible organisation."
The 2013 season will be McLaren's 50th, and they will be hoping to take some trophies back to their Woking base.

Here's a link to watch fotos of the new F1 car of McLaren
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Nurburgring to host Grand Prix in 2013
Nurburgring officials have reached an agreement with Bernie Ecclestone to host the German grand prix as scheduled in July. That is the claim of the German newspapers Allgemeine Zeitung and Rhein Zeitung, following a long-running 'on again, off again' saga surrounding the fortunes of the financially beleaguered Nurburgring.
Mere hours before the latest reports, which were confirmed by Rhineland-Palatinate state spokeswoman Monika Fuhr, F1 chief executive Ecclestone had admitted the Nurburgring's future was still clouded. "It's all a bit messy," he was quoted by the Daily Mail. "At the moment the race is on, off, on, off, but we're doing our best to get it sorted." SID news agency said a race will definitely be held at the Nurburgring in July, although "it is unclear whether it will be (called) the German or the European grand prix". "It's all a little bit political," said Ecclestone, referring to the naming dispute between the Nurburgring-linked body AvD, and ADAC, a rival Hockenheim-linked German automobile club. One report said ADAC had even submitted a proposal to host the race at the Nurburgring. "It's all a bit messy with different political groups fighting each other," said Ecclestone.
SID reported that the news about the Nurburgring's July 7 race will be announced at a press conference on Thursday. Kolner Express newspaper said "government sources" had confirmed the media reports. "This is good news for the region," said state spokeswoman Fuhr.

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Shaky-Schumi