F1 F1 - 2013

Steve · Jan 23, 2013

Still optimistic, good for him.

Robert Kubica expects Formula 1 return despite his rally crash (BBC.co.uk)

By Andrew Benson, Chief F1 writer | 23 January 2013

Robert Kubica insists he will return to Formula 1 despite being seriously injured in a February 2011 rally crash.

The Pole, who is testing a DTM German touring car on Thursday, is fighting to recover sufficient mobility in the right arm that was partially severed.

"I still believe I can come back," Kubica told F1 Racing magazine.

"It's not just a dream. Right now I have limitations driving single-seaters but they are less than they look from the outside."

The 28-year-old has limited movement in his right arm, which prevents him from rotating his wrist and forearm in the way he would have to in an F1 cockpit.

The problem can be surmounted in a rally car, in which he has been racing recently, and a touring car because there is more space to have his arm out to the side and use his shoulder.

"Things are improving," Kubica told the magazine, which is out on Thursday, in his first major interview in two years. "It wasn't like this six months ago and it wasn't like this three months ago.

"And thanks to rallies and tests on the race track, slowly my condition is improving - but there is still a long way to go.

"When I have two arms on the steering wheel and I can operate everything on it, I don't notice a difference.

"The strength in the arm is not what it was but if that was the only problem then two months in the gym could solve it.

"The bigger problem is the limitation in the supination and pronation [rotational turning movement] of the arm and the limited functionality in my fingers.

"But I'm convinced this will come back slowly; nerves need a lot of time and I see progress even if it's slow. I am quite sure this will beâ€¦ not fixed, but not a big problem."

Kubica said his DTM test, which will take place at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia in Spain, was "important" because it will be his first outing in a racing car with significant downforce since his accident.

He adds in the magazine: "Day by day, rally by rally and test by test I see fewer limitations and my goal is one day to drive properly. I don't think pace will be a problem.

"When I drive it takes concentration and I forget my body's limitations. With the damage I have, I cannot (ever) achieve 100% of what I had before - but I hope to improve.

"If the limited pronation and supination were fixed 80%, I would say 'yes' to coming back to F1."
Click to expand...

minimark · Jan 24, 2013

Sounds like he has come a long way!!

mrntd · Jan 24, 2013

Zapski said: ↑

Interesting, if true.

Full article below. Worth a read.

BBC Sport - Formula 1: Ross Brawn role at Mercedes under threat
Click to expand...

Lauda screwed up Rahal's opportunity at Jag and killed that idea and now he'll kill Mercedes and get Brawn to leave or be removed. If he's not screwing someone he's complaining about everyone. If he really want to prove what he can do he should take over HRT and make it win.

Steve · Jan 24, 2013

I was wondering whether they would keep the new rule designed to hide the stepped noses that came along last year. I honestly can't believe they decided they need this thing. At least it's not compulsory. The idea is that if a team wants a way to keep the stepped nose design because it's the best solution given other rule constraints, they can fit this panel to hide the broken nose. It's a rule that details, for the vain teams who care, the amount of non-performance adding (in theory) nose job plastic surgery allowed in an area beyond where any part of the car is supposed to extend.

The part they did scrap -- presumably because they noticed how much some of us were pointing and laughing -- is calling it a "modesty panel." :lol: It's now a "non-structural fairing."

Technical F1: Goodbye to stepped noses (GPUpdate.net)

24 January 2013

Formula 1 is entering a transitionary year in terms of the regulations, with significant rule changes set for introduction at the end of 2013. To kick-start a new series of technical features, GPUpdate.net takes a look at the removal of 'stepped noses', with teams now permitted to place a panel over the unpopular design trait.

The history of Formula 1 noses

The nose height reached the level of the front wing before 1991, but in that season the Benetton team (now Lotus) launched the first modern Formula 1 car with a raised nose, allowing the front wing to hang under the nose cone via two pylons. Since then, nose heights have become higher and lower and vice versa, with the design variations depending on technical rule changes from season to season.

In 2001, new regulations forced an increase of the front wing height from ground level by a total of 10cm, hypothetically suiting a higher nose. However, this was only in theory, because the spoon curved front wings surpassed the need for a high nose, instead favouring the shorter â€˜bananaâ€™ designs.

Ferrari and Sauber were the two teams who pioneered the spoon feature, while Minardi presented the so-called â€˜dolphinâ€™ or â€˜crocodileâ€™ nose which started as a thick design but later became very thin at its tip. The â€˜dolphinâ€™ nose was a promising feature, one which McLaren chose to adopt some years later.

2012: Birth year of the stepped noses

In 2009, new technical rules stripped the car body of aerodynamic add-ons and restricted the diffuser volume; this forced the teams to develop a more aggressive design philosophy, building a higher chassis to the upper limit of the regulations.

Such an approach raised safety concerns, because the higher noses could potentially penetrate the cockpit and cause harm to the driver in an accident. Governing body the FIA soon reacted to the situation and made technical changes which forced the teams to adopt lower noses in 2012. This gave birth to the so called â€˜stepped nosesâ€™.

The nose starts at 450 mm wide (Point A) and gets narrower where the nose box meets the chassis (Point B, also called the bulkhead), which is only 300 mm wide. The nose then drops down steeply to meet the maximum height of 550 mm over a distance of 150 mm from Point B. After Point C, the nose becomes wider until its tip in order to allow the maximum amount of airflow under the front of the car.

Almost all of the teams adopted the â€˜steppedâ€™ design ahead of the 2012 season, with only McLaren and Marussia choosing to follow the path of the lower â€˜bananaâ€™ nose. However, McLaren took it one step further by introducing a higher hybrid nose later in the year. The advantages and disadvantages of each design are summarised below:

Stepped nose
Advantages: Greater flow of air under the chassis and thus better aero efficiency.
Disadvantages: Increase in centre of gravity (COG), uncomfortable driver position.

Banana nose
Advantages: Better front suspension geometry and thus enhanced mechanical grip.
Disadvantages: Poorer airflow under chassis, negative interaction with the front wing.

Hybrid nose
Utilises the strong points of each design.

2013: A goodbye to 'ugly' noses

To improve the aesthetic appeal of the cars in 2013, the FIA reached a compromise with all of the teams and it was ultimately decided that a non-structural fairing of prescribed laminate could be fixed on the nose surface to cover the stepped element. The new article, coded 3.7.9. in the sport's rulebook, dictates that the fairing should consist of a single part and outlines the allowed dimensions and characteristics.

Article 3.7.9:

'With the exception of an optional, single piece, non-structural fairing of prescribed laminate (whose precise lay-up may be found in the Appendix to the regulations) which may not be more than 625mm above the reference plane at any point, no bodywork situated more than 1950mm forward of rear face of the cockpit entry template may be more than 550mm above the reference plane.

'The external surface of any longitudinal or lateral cross section taken through the above fairing may contain no concave radius of curvature less than 50mm.'

The fairing is simply aimed at improve the "beauty" of the cars, and any attempt to create aerodynamic advantage is discouraged. Additionally, the fairing is optional and not obligatory for the teams. However, important details about how the fairing is placed on the nose cone and its internal structure are still grey areas. Designs such as Sauberâ€™s, which feature a nose hole, may be enhanced by these fairings.
Click to expand...

Full article and a couple more pics here.

Steve · Jan 25, 2013

Didn't take Glock long to find a new ride.

Timo Glock returns to the BMW family. (bmw-motorsport.com)

Jan 25, 2013

Timo Glock will line up for BMW Motorsport in the DTM in 2013. This completes the squad of drivers for the new season. Alongside Glock, reigning DTM champion Bruno Spengler, Augusto Farfus, Joey Hand, Andy Priaulx, Martin Tomczyk, Dirk Werner and Marco Wittmann will take their places behind the wheel of the BMW M3 DTM.

â€œWe are delighted to have Timo Glock back at BMW Motorsport,â€ said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. â€œOver the course of his career, Timo has proven on more than one occasion how valuable he is to any team, thanks to his driving ability and open manner. The fact that he is now returning to the BMW family six years after leaving his role as test driver for the BMW Sauber F1 Team makes this appointment all the more pleasing. I am confident Timo will take no time at all to find his feet in the DTM and will give the fans a lot of pleasure.â€

Glock started out on his racing career in the Formula BMW junior programme. In 2000 he won the BMW ADAC Formula Junior Cup, and one year later added the Formula BMW ADAC Championship to his collection of titles. In 2004, at the age of 22, he made his Formula One debut at the Canadian Grand Prix. Glock then switched to the North American ChampCar World Series in 2005, where he finished eighth overall and was named Rookie of the Year. After returning to Europe, Glock lined up in the GP2 series â€“ and won the title at the second attempt in 2007.

In the same year he returned to BMW for the first time since his â€˜apprenticeshipâ€™ in Formula BMW. Alongside three-time Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel (DE), Glock took to the track as test driver for the BMW Sauber F1 Team. He used this as a springboard to secure a regular driving spot in the Toyota F1 Team in 2008. Glock claimed three podiums for the Japanese team before switching to Virgin Racing, now known as the Marussia F1 Team, in 2010. In total, Glock has 91 Formula One Grands Prix to his name.

â€œIt is very exciting for me to drive for BMW again after all these years â€“ and in such a top-class racing series as the DTM,â€ said Glock. â€œI had a fantastic time in Formula One, but am now looking forward to battling for victories again with my old friends at BMW Motorsport. That is the approach I shall be taking to the challenge of the DTM. I am obviously aware I will have to adapt to a few areas. Not all former Formula One drivers have found their feet immediately in the DTM. But I am using precisely that as my motivation. After winning the title in such impressive fashion last year, there can be absolutely no question that the BMW M3 DTM has everything it needs to allow us to compete at the front of the field again in 2013.â€

The tests in Valencia (ES) on Wednesday and Thursday presented Glock with the opportunity to gain his first experience at the wheel of the BMW M3 DTM, and the German impressed immediately. Over the coming weeks and months he and his seven fellow drivers will prepare intensively for the 2013 campaign. As is tradition, the season gets underway in Hockenheim (DE) on 5th May 2013.
Click to expand...

Zapski · Jan 25, 2013

I kind of feel that the BBC news is trying to generate more of a story than is really here by selectively quoting, and speculating.

Ross Brawn says he is "planning" to stay as Mercedes team principal in the wake of the emergence of plans to restructure the team.
BBC Sport revealed on Tuesday that Mercedes wanted to bring in McLaren technical boss Paddy Lowe to run the team's sporting and technical aspects.
Brawn said he had "talked to Paddy; we know the situation. I'm planning on being here a very long time".
Asked if Mercedes were of the same mind, he said: "I hope so."
Click to expand...

Full article here

BBC Sport - Ross Brawn aims to stay at Mercedes despite restructure plans

Nathan · Jan 25, 2013

Pirelli chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera has praised the company's performances in 2012, saying their tyres did the job of upping the excitement.

Last year seven different drivers won the opening seven grands prix, prompting both praise and criticism for the Pirelli tyres which were deemed to be responsible.

As the season progressed, though, the usual suspects came to the fore with Red Bull and McLaren winning nine of the final ten grands prix.

"I think that we did our job," Tronchetti Provera told Autosport. "We were asked to create more excitement, and more fun.

"At the end of the day the good drivers and good cars prevailed and that means we did a good job.

Full article: Pirelli: We did our job | Planet F1 | Formula One | News, Standings, Results, Features, Video

Steve · Jan 25, 2013

Portugal expresses interest in 20th race (GPUpdate.net)

25 January 2013

Bernie Ecclestone, head of Formula One Management (FOM), says Portugal has joined France by showing interest in the 20th slot on the 2013 calendar. The venue for the proposed race on 21 July, which would substitute for the delayed Grand Prix of America in New Jersey, is yet to be confirmed with the season just two months away.

The extra Grand Prix weekend was penned in by the FIA last December, with Turkey quickly attemping to resurrect its former race. After talks fell through, Ecclestone hinted that the calendar would be reduced back to 19 races, but officials at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal are now said to be assessing the option of hosting a Formula 1 event, alongside continued interest from France.

"Frankly, I do not know," Ecclestone told Austrian newspaper Salzburger Nachrichten of the current situation. "There is still interest from France for the race, and now Portugal with the Algarve circuit. For the German Grand Prix, the venue is still open."

Formula 1 has previously visited the Algarve circuit, with test sessions being held at the end of 2008 and prior to the 2009 season. Although the venue could bring the 2013 calendar back up to 20 races, Ecclestone has confirmed that this will be the maximum number of events in future seasons, easing the teams' recent concerns.
Click to expand...

'November date for '14 Russian Grand Prix' (GPUpdate.net)

25 January 2013

The inaugural Russian Grand Prix will be held in the month of November, according to Sochi's mayor, Anatoly Pakhomov. The 2014 race will therefore take place after the Winter Olympics, which is being staged at a new sports park in and around the circuit.

With three Grands Prix scheduled for November on the 2013 Formula 1 calendar, a significant reshuffle is likely when the Sochi event gets added to the roster next year.

"It will be held in November, after the Olympics," Pakhomov is quoted as saying by Reuters, before going on to explain: "The circuitâ€™s construction is being closely monitored by the regional government. Everything is going according to plan."

Sochi, which is situated in the far southwest of Russia, has a daily mean temperature of little more than 10Â°C (50Â°F) in November, while it can also dip below freezing.

The venue signed a seven-year contract with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone in 2010.
Click to expand...

Angib · Jan 26, 2013

Do Pirelli make F1 winter tyres?

Zapski · Jan 26, 2013

Well, at least the cars already have dash cams. You know how nutty those Russian drivers can be.

minimark · Jan 28, 2013

Nathan said: ↑

Ya'll should read The Piranha Club.

The Piranha Club: Power and Influence in Formula One: Timothy Collins: 9780753509654: Amazon.com: Books

The Piranha Club is the first serious study of Formula One's most intriguing and influential figures – the men who wield the real power. It is an entertaining and incisive analysis of the Formula One paddock, explaining how it works, who runs it, how it makes money and what sort of people exist there.

I'd be happy to send my copy to anyone that wants to read it.
Click to expand...

Love this quote of Ron Dennis in the book about Bernie helping Minardi:

"....and applaud Bernie, managing to do one of those rare acts that you rarely see him do - put his hand in his own pocket!"

Priceless...lol

Pardon the threadjack.

Steve · Jan 28, 2013

If true, (note underlined text and red dates below) this means 2 month-long summer breaks this year, back to back.

German GP future in doubt as Ecclestone ends Nurburgring talks (AutoSport.com)

By Dieter Rencken and Jonathan Noble | Monday, January 28th 2013, 12:48 GMT

The future of the German Grand Prix appears to be hanging in the balance after Bernie Ecclestone revealed on Monday that he had ended negotiations with the Nurburgring over the 2013 event.

The Nurburgring was supposed to host this year's event as part of an alternation plan agreed with Hockenheim, but financial problems at the venue meant there was no guarantee it could fund the race.

Following weeks of talks to try to agree terms, Ecclestone has now indicated that a deal does not look like happening.

Speaking to German publication Spiegel, Ecclestone said: "After due consideration of their proposal we believe it is regrettably not financially acceptable, so we have terminated our negotiations."

The German GP's fate may now rest on Ecclestone sorting out a deal with Hockenheim, which hosted last year's race.

Should that plan not come off, then the Formula 1 calendar could be reduced to just 18 races - with plans for a 20th event having not reached fruition.

Turkey, Austria and Portugal were all linked with that vacant slot - which has been pencilled in for July 21 – but there has been no indication of a venue getting the green light.

If Germany does not take place, then it means there will be just one race – the Hungarian GP on July 28 – between the British GP on June 30 and the Belgian GP on August 25.

2013 Formula 1 calendar

17/03 AUS Grand Prix of Australia
24/03 MYS Grand Prix of Malaysia
14/04 CHN Grand Prix of China
21/04 BHR Grand Prix of Bahrain
12/05 ESP Grand Prix of Spain (Barcelona)
26/05 MCO Grand Prix of Monaco
09/06 CAN Grand Prix of Canada
30/06 GBR Grand Prix of Great Britain
07/07 DEU Grand Prix of Germany
21/07 TBA
28/07 HUN Grand Prix of Hungary
25/08 BEL Grand Prix of Belgium
08/09 ITA Grand Prix of Italy
22/09 SGP Grand Prix of Singapore
06/10 KOR Grand Prix of Korea
13/10 JPN Grand Prix of Japan
27/10 IND Grand Prix of India
03/11 UAE Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi
17/11 USA Grand Prix of USA (Austin)
24/11 BRA Grand Prix of Brazil
Click to expand...

Nathan · Jan 28, 2013

Kimi on the new Lotus E21 for 2013

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xnlLshm9Bw]When Kimi Raikkonen met Matt LeBlanc... - YouTube[/ame]

Nathan · Jan 28, 2013

Lotus launched the 2013 E21

Steve · Jan 28, 2013

... and without the "vanity panel" on the nose.

Nathan · Jan 28, 2013

Steve said: ↑

... and without the "vanity panel" on the nose.
Click to expand...

Watched it live. The designers said no panel cause it weighs a few grams and offers nothing.

Steve · Jan 28, 2013

The nose break seems less severe, maybe they smoothed it out a bit.

Steve · Jan 28, 2013

Lotus E21 launch: Passive double DRS stays on new car (AutoSport.com)

By Edd Straw | Monday, January 28th 2013, 20:03 GMT

Lotus will run the passive DRS system that it trialled last season on the newly-launched E31.

The Enstone team tried the design for the first time in free practice for last year's German Grand Prix but despite further tests in subsequent races never raced it.

This year, systems based on exposing holes in the rear wing endplates when the DRS is deployed are outlawed, but passive versions, which rely on the car hitting a certain speed to divert airflow to stall the rear wing, are still permissible.

Despite Lotus struggling to set the 'aero switch' up to deactivate at the same speed at which it activates, technical director James Allison is confident that the concept will earn its place on the car during pre-season testing. It was not present on the launch car.

"This is an area we continue to work on and the passive nature of the switching of our device means it is not outlawed by the latest regulations," said technical director James Allison.

"It is not something which will be a silver bullet to transform our car, but it is something which could add performance as part of the overall design."

Allison also confirmed that the team has no plans to run the optional 'vanity panel' which has been introduced this year to allow teams to cover up the step in the nose.

As this part has no performance advantage and adds weight, he believes there is no benefit in fitting it.

"There is one rule which opens the possibility for a change as we will now be permitted to fit a non-structural 'vanity panel' on the upper surface of the nose as a means of avoiding the duck-bill style designs that we saw in 2012.

"However, such a panel will add a few grammes of weight and so is only likely to run on the car if a team can find a performance benefit for doing so."
Click to expand...

Steve · Jan 28, 2013

Victoria's Secret No More: Price of Aussie F1 race leaks out [w/video] (Autoblog.com)

By Seyth Miersma | Posted Jan 28th 2013 9:29AM

How much does it cost for a city to host the Formula One circus? Well, considering how clandestine are the dealings of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, we may never fully know. But, thanks to some leaked information to Australia's Herald Sun, we do now have a pretty good indication of what that city must pay for the privilege of being an F1 venue â€“ and it ain't cheap folks.

In an exclusive report from the Aussie paper, we're told that Formula One's license fee for the Australian Grand Prix, in Melbourne, Victoria, has increased in price each year of a five-year contract; starting at $31 million (US dollars) in 2011 and moving up to $37 million in 2015. In fact, in 2012, the $32.5 million license fee to F1 was the major line item in a total of some $56.7 million paid by, according to the Herald Sun, the taxpayers of Victoria.

The fee paid to F1 has been a well-protected secret up until now, and officials from both the racing organization and the Australian government are refusing to confirm or deny the figures reported via the leaked documents. Government officials have been vocal in their defense of the soundness of the business decisions behind bringing and keeping the race in Melbourne, however. And, in fact, former Premier Jeff Kennett went so far as to say that the deal is a bit of a steal, relative to what other locales pay to Formula One.
Click to expand...

Full article here.

minimark · Jan 29, 2013

Didn't Bernie give Austin a first year deal of $25 million, wonder what that will be this year?

Forums

F1 F1 - 2013

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

minimark Well-Known Member

mrntd Well-Known Member
Supporting Member

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Zapski Well-Known Member

Nathan Founder

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Angib New Member

Zapski Well-Known Member

minimark Well-Known Member

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Nathan Founder

Nathan Founder

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Nathan Founder

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

minimark Well-Known Member

Share This Page

Useful Searches

F1 F1 - 2013

Steve Administrator Staff Member Articles Moderator

minimark Well-Known Member

mrntd Well-Known Member Supporting Member

Steve Administrator Staff Member Articles Moderator

Steve Administrator Staff Member Articles Moderator

Zapski Well-Known Member

Nathan Founder

Steve Administrator Staff Member Articles Moderator

Angib New Member

Zapski Well-Known Member

minimark Well-Known Member

Steve Administrator Staff Member Articles Moderator

Nathan Founder

Nathan Founder

Steve Administrator Staff Member Articles Moderator

Nathan Founder

Steve Administrator Staff Member Articles Moderator

Steve Administrator Staff Member Articles Moderator

Steve Administrator Staff Member Articles Moderator

minimark Well-Known Member

Share This Page

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

mrntd Well-Known Member
Supporting Member

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator

Steve Administrator
Staff Member Articles Moderator