Latest F1 news in brief – Tuesday (Update)
02/25/14
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If you don't have a Mercedes or Ferrari power unit in 2014 you won't be winning any races Engine pecking order to 'dominate' 2014
- Tilke says Sochi 'on schedule' for F1 debut
- Ecclestone tips Schumacher to 'wake up'
- Williams' Nasr the 'real third driver' – manager
- Back 'ok' after Bahrain crash – Raikkonen
- Williams Bolsters Race Operations Line-Up
- Sauber F1 Team publishes 2013 environmental report
- Allison says all is going to plan at Ferrari
- Smedley joins Massa at Williams New
- Ferrari to receive major upgrade New
Engine pecking order to 'dominate' 2014
(GMM) Just as Renault's problems mounted, the troubled F1 engine supplier's track boss Remi Taffin was rushed to hospital.
Blogf1.it reports that the Frenchman missed the first week of testing in Bahrain, where Renault's V6 'power unit' crisis continued to unfurl, because he had to have his appendix removed.
The report said Taffin is now recovering.
It is an awkward time for Renault Sport, mere days before performance development of its troubled 2014 'power unit' is mandatorily frozen by the FIA.
Clearly, the Mercedes-powered teams Mercedes, McLaren, Williams and Force India – in roughly that order – are leading the pack.
"It would be engine dominated this year," said Force India's deputy boss Bob Fernley, "and the biggest differential for teams would be who got the right engine and at the right time."
It is said Ferrari is next best, but Germany's Auto Motor und Sport repeated paddock rumors that the Italian marque is taking a very cautious approach to the revolutionary new era and could have plenty of performance still up its sleeve.
France's L'Equipe quotes Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen as admitting: "Our lap times are so far not very impressive, but we will see where we really are in Australia.
"On reliability, everything is fine, but on performance, we don't know too much, although I don't think it's bad," said the Finn.
Force India's Fernley added: "It looks at the moment that Mercedes have a slight lead," he told Britain's Sky, "but that will change — it's only a matter of time."
For Renault, however, it could be a matter of a substantial amount of time, with world champion Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko admitting the current situation is "not pleasing".
"It is not Renault('s fault) exclusively, but the main problems are with Renault," he told Kleine Zeitung newspaper.
"And it applies not only to Red Bull, but to all the Renault teams."
When asked for details of the problems, Marko answered: "It's a collection of things with such complexity that cannot be explained in two sentences."
Auto Motor und Sport claims the current lap time gap between Mercedes and McLaren, the leading Mercedes-powered teams, is nine tenths.
But Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda suggested the Brackley team might simply be having a smoother time in the winter amid the sport's radical transition phase.
"We probably have the same problems as the others," he said, "only less of it."
Tilke says Sochi 'on schedule' for F1 debut
(GMM) Russia is on track for its inaugural grand prix in October, according to track architect Hermann Tilke.
Amid reports the Sochi venue currently resembles a building site, promoter Oleg Zabara insisted recently that the circuit is in fact "91 per cent complete".
Indeed, a report by the German news agency DPA says that while "rubble, mud and tools" can be seen near the winter Olympic park, so too can the "grandstands and (F1) buildings".
German Tilke, in charge of construction of almost all new F1 tracks in recent times, confirmed: "Everything is on schedule.
"There will be a very special and definitely unique atmosphere," he revealed.
Ecclestone tips Schumacher to 'wake up'
(GMM) Bernie Ecclestone thinks F1 legend Michael Schumacher will eventually wake up.
Following his skiing fall in late December, the famous seven time world champion has been in a coma for more than eight weeks now.
News about Schumacher's condition and prospects is thin on the ground and mainly speculative, and so it's a difficult period for those who know the 45-year-old well — like F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone.
Germany's Bild newspaper said the former Ferrari and Mercedes driver and Ecclestone, 83, have never been close friends, but they have known each other well for more than two decades.
The report said Schumacher was among a chosen few who often played backgammon at grands prix in Ecclestone's familiar motor home.
"I'm afraid of bad news," diminutive Briton Ecclestone admitted, "so I don't ask any of Michael's friends or family how he really is.
"I want Michael to come back as our Schumi, not someone else.
"From what I've heard, I think he will wake up. But will he still be the Michael we all know?
"I often think of him and hope for the best, but now waiting is the only thing we can do," Ecclestone added.
Williams' Nasr the 'real third driver' – manager
(GMM) Felipe Nasr's uncle and manager insists the Brazilian is the "real third driver" at Williams this year.
The comments made by Amir Nasr, a well-known figure in the world of Brazilian motor racing, follow news Susie Wolff will drive the new Williams on Friday at both the British and German grands prix this year.
Just days earlier, the Grove based team appointed the Banco do Brasil-backed 21-year-old Felipe Nasr to the test and reserve role, saying he will appear in the Mercedes-powered FW36 on five Friday mornings in 2014.
Speaking to Jovem Pan radio, Amir Nasr played down suggestions Felipe's new role could be a shared or back-seat one, such as when Lotus reserve Davide Valsecchi last year was overlooked when Kimi Raikkonen headed for back surgery.
"Felipe is the real third driver of the team — it is in the contract," Amir Nasr insisted.
"In case of any problem with the race drivers, he is the natural replacement.
"He will have to go to all of the grands prix and he will work in the simulator each week to compensate for the lack of track time.
"It is a more complex task than it seems," Amir added.
Amir Nasr said only a one-year contract with Williams was agreed because the chance the British team can offer him a race seat for 2015 is slim.
"Williams has two very good (race) drivers," he said. "Massa has a three-year contract while Bottas is 23 and a potential world champion.
"We could not agree a longer contract because we would not have a guarantee he will be promoted," Amir explained.
Back 'ok' after Bahrain crash – Raikkonen
(GMM) Kimi Raikkonen's newly-healed back withstood a hefty shunt as the first week of Bahrain testing came to a close.
The Finn sat out the last races of 2013 to have surgery and physiotherapy on an old and increasingly painful back injury.
When he returned to the wheel of Ferrari's new F14-T car at Jerez late last month, he reported: "At least now, on the first day of driving, I did not have any problems.
"And I don't expect any either, even if you never know what's going to happen in the future."
What happened on the last day of Bahrain testing on Saturday was a sizeable crash, causing plenty of damage to the new red single seater.
However, it caused no damage to Raikkonen's back.
"The back has been quite ok since the surgery," Raikkonen told the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat.
"I hope it stays that way, but for now it seems pretty normal."
Williams Bolsters Race Operations Line-Up
Williams has bolstered its senior race operations line-up as it prepares for the 2014 Formula One World Championship season, with the appointments of Rob Smedley and Richard Lockwood.
The team welcomes Rob Smedley as Head of Vehicle Performance, a newly created position which will strengthen the trackside team whilst also supporting the development work back at the factory to help bring more performance to the car throughout the season. Rob's proven track record and experience stand him in good stead for the challenges that 2014 bring. Rob will join Williams prior to the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Rob will be supported by Race Engineers Andrew Murdoch, who is engineer to Felipe Massa, and Jonathan Eddolls, who remains with Valtteri Bottas in 2014.
Richard Lockwood completes the trackside operation line-up, joining the team from Marussia as Head of Race Strategy. Richard will work with current Strategist Randeep Singh who remains with the team for the 2014 season.
Commenting on the new line-up Pat Symonds, Chief Technical Officer, said; "Williams is undergoing change and these new appointments reflect how high our ambitions are. We have a number of senior people joining us to assist us in the pursuit of those ambitions and I am extremely excited to welcome them on-board. 2014 gives us the biggest change to the technical regulations that I have seen in my career, and so it will be important to add further depth to the talent we already have here as we head into the new season. Williams has always prided itself on engineering excellence and this latest announcement is part of our continued goal to bring success back to the team."
Sauber F1 Team publishes 2013 environmental report
Active environmental protection is an important concern of the Sauber F1 Team, as the 2013 environmental report shows.
The data from the latest of the environmental-controlling reports shows, the Sauber F1 Team was able to significantly improve its environmental performance in certain areas compared to 2012. Emissions of greenhouse gases, energy and district heat consumption as well as the use of domestic fuel oil were further reduced. In addition the fuel consumption of the teams’ truck and van fleet decreased, as did the CO2 emissions of the company car fleet.
“Ever since we introduced our environmental management system in 2012 it has well established", explained Team Principal Monisha Kaltenborn. “It’s very important that our employees are familiar with it, which we can also see through the suggestions we are getting from them."
In 2012 Sauber F1 Team’s environmental management system was ISO 14001 certified. Furthermore the company has operated greenhouse gas neutral since 2011. Last year indirect greenhouse gas emissions were determined as well, in order to build a basis for the compensation.
The ISO 14001 requires regular assessment of the environmental management system by the company’s management. This is done through the annual report, showing the results of the teams’ environmental efforts. The report is available to the public and includes environmental targets, measures and projects from the previous year as well as a summary of the most important results of the environmental-controlling and a list of targets for the current year.
Allison says all is going to plan at Ferrari
With pre-season testing at the two-thirds stage, Ferrari’s Technical Director, James Allison believes all is going to plan for his team.
While the Mercedes-powered teams clearly have the edge, especially the works outfit and McLaren, at this stage Ferrari appears to be the only other team that might give them a run for their money, even if the true state of play isn't known yet.
"We came to Sakhir aiming to work steadily through the huge list of actions that we must complete," said Allison ahead of this week's final test. "We wanted to maximize track time, working methodically in order to be ready for Melbourne. I have to say that, with the exception of the morning of the third day, we did just that.
"We worked on learning how to get the best from the 2014 clutch and on tuning the new brake by wire system," he continued. "We looked in detail at balancing the temperature of all the cooling fluids, a key part of this year's rules, and we began gradually expanding the operating window of the new Energy Recovery System.
"We have been able to start to open up our understanding of the handling characteristics of the car and to begin to learn what sort of setup parameters the tires respond to. Continuing with this work will be an important part of the program over the last four days here in Bahrain.
"For the last four days, our program will see us attempt to operate the car ever more closely to the way that it will run in a race," he admitted, "providing invaluable practice for the drivers and subjecting the car and all its systems to the full rigor that it will need to withstand throughout the season."
Smedley joins Massa at Williams
(GMM) Williams on Tuesday finally confirmed long speculation Rob Smedley is joining the British team.
It has been a poorly-kept paddock secret that the 40-year-old, famous for his close relationship with Felipe Massa as race engineer at Ferrari, was set to follow his Brazilian colleague and friend to Williams this year.
And speculation Smedley would take on a role with greater responsibility has also proved correct, as Williams appointed the Middlesbrough-born Briton the new 'head of vehicle performance'.
"Rob will join Williams prior to the Bahrain grand prix" in early April, the team said in an official statement, undoubtedly referring to the obligatory 'gardening leave' served by staff as they switch teams.
"We have a number of senior people joining us to assist us in the pursuit of our ambitions and I am extremely excited to welcome them on board," said Williams' technical boss Pat Symonds.
Massa's race engineer at Williams will be Andrew Murdoch, who last year worked with the now Lotus-departed Pastor Maldonado.
Ferrari to receive major upgrade
Ferrari Director of Engineering Pat Fry confirmed that the Formula One team will upgrade its car during the final Bahrain test this week.
Although the Maranello team was satisfied with how last week testing sessions at the same circuit progressed from a reliability perspective, Fry added that its main pre-season upgrade was still to come.
"We had a few bits to test correlation and things like that [last week] and then the main upgrade will come through the various stages of the final test," Fry told ESPN.
James Allison, the team's Technical Director added that the team had to iron out several problems during last week's test at Sakhir before they could start experimenting with race setups.
"We worked on learning how to get the best from the 2014 clutch and on tuning the new brake-by-wire system," Allison is quoted by the official Ferrari website.
"We looked in detail at balancing the temperature of all the cooling fluids, a key part of this year's rules, and we began gradually expanding the operating window of the new Energy Recovery System.
"We have been able to start to open up our understanding of the handling characteristics of the car and to begin to learn what sort of setup parameters the tires respond to. Continuing with this work will be an important part of the program over the last four days here in Bahrain."