Formula 1 General Chat & Discussion

Why Ferrari chose Marco Mattiacci to replace Stefano Domenicali :
Ferrari's bosses are convinced that the relatively unknown Marco Mattiacci is just who its Formula 1 team needs to lead it to the front of the grid. Mattiacci has already been involved in lengthy meetings in Maranello this week, and he starts work immediately on the pit wall at this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix. While big name figures from inside the sport would have grabbed headlines as the replacement for Stefano Domenicali, Ferrari instead felt it was more important to have someone who understood the Ferrari organisation rather than simply having a knowledge of F1. It has been suggested that while learning how the sport works is a big task, it is not as complicated as getting on top of the machinations inside Maranello. In Mattiacci, Ferrari has someone who excels in the latter - for he has become a golden boy through his achievements in expanding Ferrari's road car business in the Far East and the United States. Having originally moved to Ferrari from Jaguar in 1999, Mattiacci worked in the Middle East before heading the product launch for Maserati in the United States. A promotion to become President and CEO of the Ferrari Asia Pacific Region in June 2006, was following by a switch to a similar role in North America. His drive and management skills helped Ferrari increase its sales by 20 per cent in the United States, with it become the Prancing Horse's biggest market. Those efforts were rewarded with the 2012 Automotive Executive of the Year Award. Mattiacci's work there brought him in to contact with Ferrari's worldwide motorsport programme, especially in sportscars, and also marked him out by di Montezemolo as one of the Italian company's brightest young managers. Di Montezemolo believes his skill set will be well placed to help the Ferrari F1 team move forward and recover from its disappointing start to the 2014 campaign. And beyond just improving how Ferrari works, it is hoped that Mattiacci will be able to help the F1 team maximise the commercial and structural resources of its road car division - just as Mercedes has done - to help push its team on to success. Crucially, Mattiacci arrives highly trusted by senior management, which will make life easier for him to make changes that he feels are necessary. He also comes with no F1 baggage, which means he can approach matters with a fresh perspective to help the team become more reactive to the sport's current needs.

Kind Regards
Shaky - Schumi

( to be honaust ....I hoped that Ferrari would contacted Ross Brawn again for joining the Team )

FIA rejected today Red Bull appeal against Ricciardo disqualification in Australian GP
So the official podium is : 1st Rosberg - 2nd Magnussen - 3rd Button.

Italianfan wrote:Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali announced today his resignations

A big thank you to Domenicali for all his hard work for Ferrari and for all the results

A saw him very close next to me last year with the Pitwalk on Thursday at Spa-Francorchamps ....he is a real real kind ,nice guy ...he took the time to speak with the fans and gave some autographs

Also from me ... Many many Thanks Stefano for all those years !!!

Kind Regards
Shaky

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali announced today his resignations
He will be replaced by Marco Mattiacci, former president of Ferrari North America
A big thank you to Domenicali for all his hard work for Ferrari and for all the results
and a warm welcome and good luck to Mattiacci

Bahrain F1 test Day 2 , final day :

1. Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes GP - 1:34.136 - 118 laps
2. Jean-Eric Vergne - Toro Rosso - 1:35.557 +1.421 - 63 laps
3. Kevin Magnussen - McLaren - 1:36.203 +2.067 - 26 laps
4. Sergio Perez - Force India - 1:36.586 +2.450 - 62 laps
5. Daniel Ricciardo - Red Bull Racing - 1:37.310 +3.174 - 65 laps
6. Jules Bianchi - Marussia F1 Team - 1:37.316 +3.180 - 93 laps
7. Giedo van der Garde - Sauber - 1:37.623 +3.487 - 77 laps
8. Fernando Alonso - Ferrari - 1:37.912 +3.776 - 12 laps
9. Marcus Ericsson - Caterham - 1:39.263 +5.127 - 66 laps
10. Felipe Nasr - Williams - 1:39.879 +5.743 - 64 laps
11. Romain Grosjean - Lotus - 1:43.732 +9.596 - 16 laps

Hamilton and Mercedes comfortably tops on final day :
Fresh from his Bahrain Grand Prix victory, Lewis Hamilton was easily the fastest driver on the second and final day of Formula 1 testing in Bahrain. Watched by his girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger, the Mercedes driver set a best time of 1:34.136 to finish well over a second up on next best which was Toro Rosso driver Jean-Eric Vergne. The Silver Arrows driver did 120 laps, comfortably more than any other driver. On the previous day Hamilton’s teammate, Nico Rosberg, was also fastest at Sakhir and had 121 laps to his credit. During the course of the day Mercedes and Williams devoted their time to evaluating different Pirelli compounds, all part of the agreement to have more in season testing. Hamilton’s best lap was set with the prototype Pirelli. Vergne was best of the Renault brigade, while Kevin Magnussen ended the day third fastest but only managing 26 laps in the McLaren after a suspension failure during a pre-lunch run ended in the gravel trap. Repairs took up most of the time thereafter. Force India driver Sergio Perez managed 62 laps on his way to setting the fourth best lap time, ahead of Daniel Ricciardo in the Red Bull who was fifth fastest with 65 laps. Jules Bianchi clocked the second most mileage with 93 laps in the Marussia which posted some handy times during the course of the day. Fastest of the reserves on duty was Giedo van der Garde in the Sauber who ended seventh, with Felipe Nasr on duty for Williams in tenth. With only 12 laps on his board Fernando Alonso was eighth, in the Ferrari after their “testing had to be called to a halt when the chassis was found to be damaged.” Marcus Ericsson was ninth in the Caterham, with Romain Grosjean slowest of all in the Lotus. His day curtailed to a mere 16 laps as the E22 was again plagued by problems which forced them to pack up early too. Seabstian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen, Jenson Button and Felipe Massa were the heavy hitters who were absent from the Bahrain test.

Kind Regards
Shaky - Schumi

Bahrain F1 test Day 1 :

1. Nico Rosberg - Mercedes GP - 1:35.697 - 120 laps
2. Nico Hulkenberg -Force India - 1:36.064 +0.367 - 68 laps
3. Fernando Alonso - Ferrari - 1:36.626 +0.929 - 67 laps
4. Kevin Magnussen - McLaren - 1:36.634 +0.937 - 101 laps
5. Valtteri Bottas - Williams - 1:37.305 +1.608 28 laps
6. Max Chilton - Marussia F1 Team - 1:37.678 +1.981 - 60 laps
7. Daniel Ricciardo - Red Bull Racing - 1:38.326 +2.629 - 91 laps
8. Sergey Sirotkin - Sauber - 1:39.023 +3.326 - 75 laps
9. Robin Frijns - Caterham - 1:40.072 +4.375 - 63 laps
10. Pastor Maldonado - Lotus - 1:40.183 +4.486 - 16 laps
11. Daniil Kvyat - Toro Rosso - 1:40.452 +4.755 - 67 laps

Rosberg on top as Mercedes continue to set the pace :
Nico Rosberg ended day one of post Bahrain Grand Prix testing with the fastest time of the day. Rosberg, who finished second in the grand prix on Sunday after a memorable duel with Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton, had a hassle free day at Sakhir, notching up 121 laps in totalwith a best time of 1:35.697. Next best was Nico Hulkenberg’s Force India who ended the day , 0.367 seconds down on the top time, with 70 laps to his credit. Also with 70 laps and the third best time was Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari, albeit almost a second down on Rosberg’s top time. Kevin Magnussen was fourth fastest in the McLaren and racking up 101 laps and ended the day a mere 0.008 of a second down on Alonso. On duty for Williams was Valtteri Bottas who only managed 28 laps during the course of the day. Marussia’s Max Chilton and Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo in sixth and seventh respectively. Despite what appeared to be a hydraulic problem, Chilton lost valuable track time but nevertheless managed to do 60 laps. Sauber tester Sergey Sirotkin was eighth, Caterham’s Robin Frijns was ninth, Lotus driver Pastor Maldonado tenth and Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat eleventh.
Maldonado did only 16 laps, least of all, as the E22 was beset with more engine problems.

Kind Regards
Shaky - Schumi

F40LM wrote:

piggy wrote:why we are so slow ??

saint words ; why we are so slow ?? ; ==== >> THX 4 we are

I honestly think that not just them are asking this question right now, i think pretty much most of the front runners are WTF! from previous years

Mercedes have took the challenge and done what they set out to do, reminder of Braun

piggy wrote:why we are so slow ??

saint words ; why we are so slow ?? ; ==== >> THX 4 we are

What the Hell is going on in Ferrari this year ?
why we are so slow ??

Maldonado gets China grid penalty for Gutierrez crash

Lotus's Pastor Maldonado has been handed a five-place grid penalty for the next round in China and given three penalty points on his Super Licence for causing the crash which sent Esteban Gutierrez rolling out of Sunday's 2014 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.

Maldonado ran into the side of the Sauber at Turn 1 on lap 41 of the 57-lap race, moments after rejoining the track from the pit lane. The contact resulted in the Mexican’s car being tipped into a spectacular roll.

Gutierrez was able to climb from his cockpit, while Maldonado continued with damage, but a lengthy safety car was needed to recover the stricken Sauber and clear the debris.

Stewards quickly decided Maldonado had been responsible for the collision, handing the Venezuelan an immediate 10-second stop-go penalty, as well as the aforementioned grid drop and penalty points.

Marussia’s Jules Bianchi was also deemed to have caused a collision during the race following an early clash with Gutierrez’s Sauber team mate Adrian Sutil, which led to the German retiring with damage.

Bianchi was given two penalty points, in addition to the drive-through penalty he served during the race. The Frenchman now has four penalty points on his Super Licence - 12 points lead to an automatic one-race ban

Maldonado got five-place grid penalty in chinese GP and 3 penalty points.

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Result of a nice race ( thanks to the safety car part ! ) of the Bahrain GP :

1. L. Hamilton - Mercedes - 1:39:42.743
2. N. Rosberg - Mercedes +1.085
3. S. Perez - Force India +24.067 +22.982
4. D. Ricciardo - Red Bull +24.489 +0.422
5. N. Hulkenberg - Force India +28.654 +4.165
6. S. Vettel - Red Bull +29.879 +1.225
7. F. Massa - Williams +31.265 +1.386
8. V. Bottas - Williams +31.876 +0.611
9. F. Alonso - Ferrari +32.595 +0.719
10. K. Raikkonen - Ferrari +33.462 +0.867
11. D. Kvyat - Toro Rosso +41.342 +7.880
12. R. Grosjean - Lotus +43.143 +1.801
13. M. Chilton - Marussia +59.909 +16.766
14. P. Maldonado - Lotus +1:02.803 +2.894
15. K. Kobayashi - Caterham +1:27.900 +25.097
16. J. Bianchi - Marussia +1 lap
Did Not Finish :
17. J. Button - McLaren +2 laps
18. K. Magnussen - McLaren +17 laps
19. E. Gutiérrez - Sauber +18 laps
20. M. Ericsson - Caterham +24 laps
21. J. Vergne - Toro Rosso +39 laps
22. A. Sutil - Sauber +40 laps

Fastest Lap : Nico Rosberg - 1:37.020
Pitstop Sergio Perez : 2 ( lap 16 - 34 )
Bat. 2 Teams : Sebastian Vettel > Fernando Alonso
Grid Pos. Nico Hulkenberg : 5th place

Hamilton beats Rosberg in a night time thriller :
Lewis Hamilton beat Mercedes Formula 1 team-mate Nico Rosberg to win a breathless Bahrain Grand Prix by just one second.
A late-race safety car, deployed after Pastor Maldonado's Lotus tipped Esteban Gutierrez's Sauber into a roll at Turn 1, turned the 57-lap race into a 10-lap sprint under floodlights in the desert. Both drivers had gone wheel-to-wheel in the early stages, as Hamilton outdragged poleman Rosberg at the start and the German attempted to come back at his British team-mate, so they were warned to keep it clean by Mercedes boss Paddy Lowe. They just about managed it as they scrapped mightily for the win. Rosberg had the advantage of softer tyres for the showdown and had several stabs at passing Hamilton using DRS into the Michael Schumacher corner. But he could not make either stick, and Hamilton prevailed on his medium tyres after some epic side-by-side racing through the esses. Behind, Force India recorded its first podium since Spa 2009 as Sergio Perez just held off the quicker Red Bull of Daniel Ricciardo. The Red Bulls also had the advantage of soft tyres for the final sprint and Ricciardo got the better of his world champion team-mate Sebastian Vettel and Nico Hulkenberg's Force India to finish fourth. Vettel, who complained of a lack of power from his Renault engine, could not find his own way past Hulkenberg (on ageing mediums) so had to spend the final two laps fending off Williams pair Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas for sixth. Williams gambled on a three-stop strategy where most of the other frontrunners went for two, and the safety car undid its hopes of a better result. The Ferraris of Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen rounded out the top 10, after Jenson Button joined McLaren team-mate Kevin Magnussen in retirement, after plummeting down the top order following the re-start.

Kind Regards
Shaky - Schumi

Sutil handed five-place grid penalty


Adrian Sutil has been given a five-place grid penalty and received two penalty points on his Super Licence after the FIA deemed the Sauber driver to have held up Lotus’s Romain Grosjean in an “unsafe manner” during qualifying in Bahrain.

Sutil had qualified 18th, and will therefore start the third race of the season from the back of the grid.

The German impeded Grosjean between Turns 13 and 14 in the final minutes of Q1, forcing the Frenchman off the track. Despite the incident Grosjean was just able to squeeze through into Q2, and will line up 16th for Sunday’s Grand Prix.

Sutil’s demotion means that Caterham’s Kamui Kobayashi is promoted to 18th, with Marussia’s Jules Bianchi now sharing the tenth row with the second Caterham of Marcus Ericsson. Marussia's Max Chilton, meanwhile, will start from 21st, alongside Sutil.

Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo also drops 10 places as part of his penalty for an unsafe release at the last round in Malaysia. He thus starts 13th.


schubert

A lot of surprises, Rosberg, Ricciardo and Raikkonen better than Hamilton, Vettel and Alonso. Red Bull is in crisis but we know that in the second part of the season they are always very competitive.

Qualifying result :

1. Nico Rosberg - Mercedes GP - 1:33.185
2. Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes GP - 1:33.464 +0.279
3. Daniel Ricciardo - Red Bull Racing - 1:34.051 +0.866
4. Valtteri Bottas - Williams - 1:34.247 +1.062
5. Sergio Perez - Force India - 1:34.346 +1.161
6. Kimi Räikkönen - Ferrari - 1:34.368 +1.183
7. Jenson Button - McLaren - 1:34.387 +1.202
8. Felipe Massa - Williams - 1:34.511 +1.326
9. Kevin Magnussen - McLaren - 1:34.712 +1.527
10. Fernando Alonso - Ferrari - 1:34.992 +1.807
Q2
11. Sebastian Vettel - Red Bull Racing - 1:34.985 +1.800
12. Nico Hulkenberg - Force India - 1:35.116 +1.931
13. Daniil Kvyat - Toro Rosso - 1:35.145 +1.960
14. Jean-Eric Vergne - Toro Rosso - 1:35.286 +2.101
15. Esteban Gutierrez - Sauber - 1:35.891 +2.706
16. Romain Grosjean - Lotus - 1:35.907 +2.722
Q1
17. Pastor Maldonado - Lotus - 1:36.663 +3.478
18. Adrian Sutil - Sauber - 1:36.840 +3.655
19. Kamui Kobayashi - Caterham - 1:37.085 +3.900
20. Jules Bianchi - Marussia F1 Team - 1:37.310 +4.125
21. Marcus Ericsson - Caterham - 1:37.875 +4.690
22. Max Chilton - Marussia F1 Team - 1:37.913 +4.728

Qualifying Time :1:33.185
Pole Position : Nico Rosberg
Team Bat. : Daniil Kvyat > Jean-Eric Vergne
Grid Position Sebastian Vettel : 11th place


Rosberg beats Hamilton to pole as Mercedes dominates :
After playing second fiddle to Lewis Hamilton in all three practice sessions, Nico Rosberg trumped his Mercedes teammate against the odds in qualifying to take pole position for the tenth Bahrain Grand Prix. The two Silver Arrows sparkled as they powered around the 5,000 lamps which floodlit the venue, with Rosberg going fastest in his first run in Q3 with a best lap time of 1:33.185 which was 0.279 better than Hamilton. The two, immersed in their own private war almost oblivious to the others, decided to have another go but to no avail as both aborted when they realised that they would not go any faster. No one else was in their zone on the night.
An anti-climatic ending, but nevertheless very much an unexpected result which only serves to fuel the the rivalry between Rosberg and Hamilton which is starting to look like the headline story of the season and a juicy one at that. Rosberg summed up his evening at Sakhir, ”It has just worked well through the weekend, finding my way, making progress and getting through some issues. The challenge this weekend is that free practice were in such hot conditions, and you have to guess, sort of, for the cold conditions [for qualifying]. It worked out well. I felt comfortable and got my laps together. I’m very happy. I have good memories of this track, winning the GP2 championship and starting my first race in F1. I enjoy coming here and again today, it’s suited me.” Hamilton said, ”I am not disappointed, congratulations to Nico and he has done a great job this weekend, he is improving and picking up the pace. I locked up in the last lap but generally I am happy for the team.” It was a bittersweet session for Red Bull, although more bitter than sweet for the world champions, as once again Daniel Ricciardo showed pretty remarkable pace in the Red Bull during qualifying. Setting the third best time, but alas he will drop down ten places due to the penalty for the pitstop shenanigans in Malaysia.
Ricciardo spoke afterwards, “Really pleased with the performance. At moment it’s the best anyone else can do behind the two guys alongside me. Still got ground to make up, but I’m pleased with how well qualifying went tonight. It’s been tricky with the temperature dropping a lot for the evening sessions – as you saw in P3 we were a long way off and we turned it around this evening – it’s nice to close the gap.” “Tomorrow of course I don’t stay at the front from here, so there’s work to do. We’ve got top guys in the office back there to get me back up there. It’s close between two and three stops and a bit of room to get back from there,” concluded the Australian. It was even worse for teammate Sebastian Vettel who failed to make it beyond Q2, ending that segment of the session 0.393 down on Ricciardo. The world champion has now failed twice, out of three tries, to make it into Q3 so far this season. He said over the team radio, ”The downshifts were really bad.” And reflected later, ”They [Mercedes] are out of reach – this track suits them here. Hopefully we can do a good job at the moment and rescue some points this weekend. Things are going on in the background which haven’t helped and we haven’t done many laps here. You can have days where it’s quite tight to get into Q3.”

Kind Regards
Shaky - Schumi