Latest F1 news in brief – Tuesday (Update)
07/16/13
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Lowe: Too many cooks in the kitchen at Mercedes Ferrari to supply engines to Marussia F1 Team
- Marussia duo 'half a second' slower than Alonso – Symonds
- Williams 'committed' to Maldonado amid turmoil
- Honda denies plans for 2014 Honda test car
- Brawn expecting many engine failures in 2014
- 'Too many cooks' working for Mercedes – Lowe
- Alonso not complaining amid Pirelli tire shakeup
- Lotus could keep both drivers in 2014 – Lopez
- New teammate identity 'does not matter' – Vettel
- McLaren race drivers sit out Silverstone test
- A flurry of F1 announcements on Tuesday morning New
- Red Bull Driver lineup at Silverstone test New
- Scuderia Toro Rosso confirms Silverstone driver line-up New
- Force India: Calado, Di Resta and Sutil confirmed for Silverstone test New
- Williams appoints Pat Symonds New
Ferrari to supply engines to Marussia F1 Team
The Marussia F1 Team and Scuderia Ferrari are pleased to announce the agreement of a new technical partnership which will see the Anglo-Russian team benefiting from a full Ferrari powertrain with effect from the 2014 season.
As a Scuderia Ferrari customer team and within the terms of the 2014 regulations, the Marussia F1 Team will receive the supply of an Internal Combustion Engine and Energy Recovery System, full transmission and all related ancillary systems.
Andy Webb, CEO, Marussia F1 Team
"The Marussia F1 Team is delighted to be entering into a technical partnership with Scuderia Ferrari for the supply of a full powertrain from 2014. The importance of this development to our Team cannot be overstated. Not only will we benefit from a customer supply from the most successful engine manufacturer in Formula One’s history, but this also provides further confirmation, if it were needed, of our commitment to the sport and determination to maintain our progression towards our long-term ambitions. The new powertrain regulations being introduced next year represent the most substantial engine development within the sport since the introduction of the V8 formula and are all the more significant for the increased contribution of the Energy Recovery System. We look forward to working with Scuderia Ferrari during this exciting new era of Formula One competition. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Cosworth, with whom we have partnered since our debut season in 2010. We have shared an important part of our Team’s journey together and Cosworth have been an integral part of our clear progression. We will continue to work together during the latter half of the season to ensure we all achieve our combined objectives before Cosworth leave the sport."
Marussia duo 'half a second' slower than Alonso – Symonds
(GMM) Pat Symonds has admitted a top driver could add more than half a second per lap to the pace of backmarker Marussia's 2013 car.
The Briton, who was a leading technical figure during Fernando Alonso's championship winning days at Renault, admitted Marussia's rookie drivers are not the ideal solution.
Asked what Marussia's situation would be if Sebastian Vettel or Alonso were at the wheel, the team's technical boss Symonds admitted: "Of course we would be closer.
"At Renault, we discussed at length Fernando's contribution to the lap time," he told Auto Motor und Sport, "because he is very expensive.
"But our feeling was that Fernando is worth half a second compared to a normal driver.
"Compared to our drivers, it's perhaps a little more than that, simply because they lack experience.
"Our hands are tied," Symonds concluded. "We need to have drivers who also bring money."
Marussia's drivers are the Ferrari-linked Frenchman Jules Bianchi, and Max Chilton, the son of the insurance firm Aon's millionaire chairman.
Williams 'committed' to Maldonado amid turmoil
(GMM) Claire Williams insists the Grove based team is "committed" to Pastor Maldonado.
Amid the British team's performance struggle in 2013, it has been rumored Maldonado could take his PDVSA sponsor millions to Lotus at the end of the season.
But Maldonado's situation regarding his backing by the state-owned oil and gas company is also unclear, in the wake of the political turmoil following the death earlier this year of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.
When asked about Maldonado's status in light of the political situation in Venezuela, Claire Williams answered: "He is a great driver.
"He's doing a great job for the team," Williams' deputy team boss told El Confidencial newspaper, "and we are committed to him."
Honda denies plans for 2014 Honda test car
(GMM) Honda has categorically denied reports it will build a test car in order to get track running of McLaren's 2015 engine off to an early start.
We reported last month that work on a Honda test car could start this year, long before the Japanese marque is bound by F1's regulations governing its 2015 foray.
"This (report) is untrue," McLaren spokesman told us at the time.
Honda has now issued the same denial.
"We will not build such a vehicle," Speed Week correspondent Rob La Salle quoted Honda chief Yasuhisa Arai as saying.
"The first track testing will happen during the winter testing ahead of the 2015 season," he announced.
Arai said Honda's test benches in Tochigi, Japan, are so good that building a bespoke test car is not necessary.
"I've heard the rumors," he admitted, "but we have no such plans."
Brawn expecting many engine failures in 2014
(GMM) Ross Brawn is expecting the 2014 season to be characterized by failures.
After years of engine regulation stability, the sport is undergoing an enormous technical shakeup at present ahead of next year's radical switch to turbo V6 power.
"We will go back to a time such as 20 years ago," Mercedes team boss Brawn is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.
"The technology is so complex that I expect a lot of failures. So there will be a new element of surprise," he predicted.
Brawn said the challenge will be intensified yet further by the tightening of F1's long-life engine rules, with each driver to be allocated just 5 units next year, rather than 8 at present.
"And the failures will be not just the engines, but the individual components," he said.
For instance, if turbochargers or batteries fail next year, replacing the component will attract the same penalty of a ten-place grid demotion, once the drivers' engine allocation has run out.
'Too many cooks' working for Mercedes – Lowe
(GMM) Paddy Lowe insists he is not worried Mercedes will spoil its technical progress by having 'too many cooks' in the design office.
Even prior to the former McLaren technical director joining the team, boss Ross Brawn was having to defend the swathe of technical experts at work at Brackley.
"Actually it's perfect," he had said, "as every one of us has an unique task."
Having joined Mercedes unexpectedly early, Lowe is yet to be allocated his precise tasks, but he is already working alongside Brawn and Toto Wolff.
"If people say there are too many technical directors at Mercedes," he is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace, "all I can say is that it is working for them.
"Mercedes has made fantastic progress in the last 12 months," added Lowe. "What's wrong with that?
"We do have a wide and deep range of senior people at Mercedes, but we are all paid employees respecting the talents of the others.
"There is a good division of efforts, and it's working really well," he said.
Lowe also insisted that, despite the influx of well-known names, revolutionizing Mercedes' existing team structure is not necessary.
"This team won the championship (as Brawn GP) in 2009," said Lowe.
"And although there were special circumstances surrounding it (the double diffuser), you still cannot win championships if you do not know how to build, run, control and develop a car.
"You don't win by producing a fast car miraculously. These things come to you with all the right elements, and that's all there (at Mercedes)," he added.
Alonso not complaining amid Pirelli tire shakeup
(GMM) Fernando Alonso has refused to criticize the sequence of mid-season changes to the construction of Pirelli's 2013 tires.
Before Silverstone, F1's Italian supplier wanted to drop its steel-belted construction in favor if a Kevlar one, following a spate of delaminations.
Some teams, however, vetoed the move, but Kevlar rear tires were ultimately introduced at the Nurburgring, in the wake of the tire-exploding British grand prix.
And Pirelli has scheduled yet another construction change for Hungary and beyond, when the 2012 construction will be mated to this year's softer compounds.
Spaniard Alonso is refusing to be too critical.
"Pirelli has had a difficult situation this year, being unable to test the tires," he is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace.
"Pirelli has been leaping from one to the other side, but in the end it's the same for everyone and we cannot complain," Alonso insisted.
"It is you (the individual teams and drivers) who has to adapt.
"We adapted well to the first tires and not so well to the last ones, and now it is unknown who will adapt best to the tires we will have in Hungary.
"But it's a problem for every team," the Ferrari driver added.
Lotus could keep both drivers in 2014 – Lopez
(GMM) Team owner Gerard Lopez has warned potential suitors that Lotus may in fact have no driver vacancies for 2014.
Kimi Raikkonen has admitted he is contemplating a switch to Red Bull, while Romain Grosjean is on a wave of up-and-down form during his single-season contract.
But while admitting "many" are prowling around Lotus' 2014 seats, Lopez is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace: "We are in no hurry."
"Romain just needs to keep doing what he's doing now," he said, after the Frenchman finished on the podium at the Nurburgring.
"We are not in a hurry to do anything."
Lopez's statement is a warning to drivers like Nico Hulkenberg, who is free to leave his breached Sauber contract at any time, or Pastor Maldonado, who has been linked with a move from Williams.
He said the only important thing is that Lotus have "good" drivers.
"I don't care if it's a world champion or not," said Lopez.
"Kimi probably could have won more championships than he has, or he might have missed what he achieved (in 2007) at the last minute.
"I don't care: he's a great driver. You don't want one (a driver) with 10, 11 or 12 titles but is not good enough."
New teammate identity 'does not matter' – Vettel
(GMM) World champion Sebastian Vettel insists it "does not matter" who is selected by Red Bull to replace the departing Mark Webber in 2014.
The German has previously admitted he would like to call friend and badminton partner Kimi Raikkonen his new teammate.
After competing in a 'Super Mario' costume for a Red Bull-sponsored soapbox racer event in Germany, Vettel admitted again: "I know him (Raikkonen) very well, and get on with him well".
But others, like the Red Bull-backed Toro Rosso duo Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne, have also been linked with the 2014 vacancy.
"Whoever it is," Vettel is quoted by SID news agency, "in the end it doesn't matter.
"If you are trying to beat everyone, then it doesn't matter if they're in your own team or another one."
At the halfway point of the season, the newly-26-year-old German was also asked about his 34 point lead in the 2013 championship, and his good chances of winning a fourth consecutive title.
"I try to ignore the score," Vettel insisted.
"There are still a lot of races to go. A long, long way.
"We are trying to be on the attack. It doesn't take a genius to know that you get more points than the others when you win races.
"So if we do this more often than the competition, it looks good for the championship," he added.
Despite his 30 career victories, Vettel has never won at the Hungaroring, the scene of the forthcoming Hungarian grand prix.
McLaren race drivers sit out Silverstone test
McLaren has announced that Kevin Magnussen, Oliver Turvey and Gary Paffett will get behind the wheel of the MP4-28 chassis during the Young Driver Test at Silverstone this week, with race drivers Jenson Button and Sergio Pérez not a part of its plans.
Although the FIA has permitted the use of full-time drivers at the July 17-19 test, to aid Pirelli with the evaluation of its new tires, the team will run with Magnussen on the opening day, before long-time test drivers Turvey and Paffett take turns in the cockpit.
Rival teams Lotus, Sauber and Williams have all officially confirmed that they will be fielding both designated rookie drivers and race drivers at the three-day gathering.
A flurry of F1 announcements on Tuesday morning
(GMM) A stream of announcements flowed out of formula one teams' press offices early on Tuesday.
Marussia announced not only that it will switch from Cosworth to Ferrari power for 2014 and beyond, but that its technical boss Pat Symonds is leaving the team.
Marussia's new Ferrari deal includes a gearbox and "all related ancillary systems".
"The importance of this development to our team cannot be overstated," said Marussia chief executive Andy Webb.
Webb also confirmed that Cosworth has decided to "leave the sport".
The next announcement on Tuesday was that Briton Symonds is leaving Marussia "with immediate effect".
Half an hour later, Williams announced that the former Renault chief, whose career at Enstone ended with the 'crashgate' scandal, will start work as the Grove team's chief technical officer on 19 August.
"I'm sure that his knowledge and leadership will contribute considerably to the success that all of us at Williams are working hard to achieve," said team boss Sir Frank Williams.
Marussia reacted to Symonds' departure by saying it will announce its "own plans for the continued development of its growing technical operation in due course".
After announcing the Symonds move, Williams then revealed that its technical director Mike Coughlan "has stepped down" as technical director.
"The team thanks him for the significant contribution he has made since 2011 and wishes him well in his future endeavors," said Williams, referring to the former McLaren designer Coughlan.
Finally, Red Bull announced on Tuesday that Toro Rosso's Daniel Ricciardo – a contender to replace the departing Mark Webber next year – will drive the title-leading RB9 on Wednesday afternoon as the Silverstone test gets underway.
Australian Ricciardo's teammate Jean-Eric Vergne is not part of Red Bull's plans for the so-called young driver test.
Red Bull Driver lineup at Silverstone test
Following changes to the conditions of this week’s Silverstone Young Driver Test set for 17-19 July, Infiniti Red Bull Racing would like to announce an amended driver line up.
Red Bull Junior Team driver Antonio Felix da Costa will drive in the morning on Day 1 and Day 2 (17 and 18 July), while Carlos Sainz Junior will take over for the final morning, Day 3 (19 July). Antonio’s test with Infiniti Red Bull Racing fulfils the team’s commitment to grant the mid-season leader of the World Series by Renault a full day’s test in the RB9.
For the permitted tire testing, Scuderia Toro Rosso driver Daniel Ricciardo will drive in the afternoon of Day 1, Mark Webber will drive in the afternoon of Day 2 and Sebastian Vettel will drive in the afternoon of Day 3.
Scuderia Toro Rosso confirms Silverstone driver line-up
Scuderia Toro Rosso will field a total of five drivers for the upcoming test at Silverstone circuit, which runs from the 17th to 19th July.
On Wednesday, Johnny Cecotto will spend all day at the wheel of the STR8. The Venezuelan is currently competing in GP2 with the Arden International team and has already driven for Scuderia Toro Rosso at last year’s Abu Dhabi Young Driver Test.
On Thursday morning, it’s the turn of Carlos Sainz Jr. The 19 year old Spaniard, son of multiple World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz, is an obvious choice for the Toro Rosso team for a couple of reasons: firstly he is part of the Red Bull Young Driver Program, as was our current driver line-up and he is also backed by CEPSA, the Spanish fuel and lubricants company that is a sponsor of Scuderia Toro Rosso. Currently competing in GP3, the Spanish youngster is also getting a run with Infiniti Red Bull Racing this week. In the afternoon, Daniel Ricciardo will be in the cockpit and the Australian is also due to test for Infiniti Red Bull Racing on Wednesday.
The last morning sees our other race driver, Jean-Eric Vergne get his turn, before handing over to Daniil Kvyat for the afternoon session. The 19 year old Russian is another member of the Red Bull Young Driver Program, currently competing in GP3.
Force India: Calado, Di Resta and Sutil confirmed for Silverstone test
Sahara Force India Formula One Team will run up and coming British GP2 racer, James Calado, at this week’s Silverstone young driver test session.
James has already driven the VJM06 during straight-line aero testing, but the Silverstone test will allow the 24 year-old to complete further mileage in a Formula One car.
James will share driving duties with the team’s race drivers, Paul Di Resta and Adrian Sutil, across the three days.
The driving schedule will be confirmed each morning.
Dr Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director: "We are pleased to give James the opportunity to test with us at Silverstone. As a graduate of the Racing Steps Foundation, his talent and determination have brought him to our attention and this is the ideal occasion to evaluate him further. The priority this week is to give the team a better understanding of the new Pirelli tires due to be introduced next week in Budapest."
Williams appoints Pat Symonds
The Williams F1 Team is pleased to announce the appointment of Pat Symonds as Chief Technical Officer. Effective 19th August, Symonds joins Williams from the Marussia F1 Team where he held the position of Technical Consultant.
Symonds’ 30 year Formula One career has seen him achieve success with some of the sport’s most accomplished teams and drivers. Having started his career at Toleman, it was with Benetton and subsequently Renault that he achieved extraordinary success. His partnerships with Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso produced 32 race wins, four Drivers’ World Championships and three Constructors’ World Championships. Since 2009, he has run his own high technology and motorsports consultancy in addition to acting as a Technical Consultant to the Marussia F1 Team.
Speaking about the appointment, Williams F1 Team Founder and Team Principal Sir Frank Williams said; “I’m delighted that Pat is joining the team. His technical capabilities and sporting successes speak for themselves and I’m sure that his knowledge and leadership will contribute considerably to the success that all of us at Williams are working hard to achieve."
Mike O’Driscoll, Group Chief Executive Officer said; “Williams’ sporting and engineering heritage dictates that we secure the finest talent available. Pat brings unrivalled technical and managerial skills in addition to a proven ability to deliver on track results. Our commitment to return Williams to winning ways is absolute and this appointment is yet more evidence of our collective desire to return the team to the position it deserves."
Pat Symonds said; “Williams is a team steeped in success and engineering excellence and I’m honored to be asked to play a role in returning the team to its rightful place at the pinnacle of Formula One. Sir Frank, Mike and Claire have put in place the foundations for success and I’m immensely excited to begin this new challenge."