Coming up this weekend on F1 Fanatic we’ll have the latest technical review from John Beamer and our monthly instalment of Jean Todt’s approval rating.
Here’s today’s round-up:
Links
Woah, what’s going on? (The Buxton Blog)
“All of which leaves us with little time to develop the tyres before next year. There has been much talk that the work will be carried out by Nick Heidfeld in a Toyota F1 car, as this is the easiest way to avoid any conflict of interests and any team gaining an advantage.
“Ah, but hold on a minute. Nick Heidfeld is Mercedes’ tester. So what you ask? Well for some, myself included, the last thing anybody wants is a return to the days when teams become so engrained with tyre companies that a certain type of tyre was designed almost exclusively for that one team.”
Help shape classic grand prix (BBC)
BBC asking for input on their excellent Classic Grand Prix series.
McLaren confirms UK dealers (AM)
McLaren set up their dealership network as they prepare to sell their MP4/12C.
Growing pains – are Lotus about to bloom? (F1.com)
“Not only did Kovalainen qualify barely two-tenths down on the BMW Sauber of Kamui Kobayashi to take 19th on the grid, but in the race itself the Finn’s fastest lap was under a tenth slower than the other BMW Sauber of Pedro de la Rosa.”
Spurious data alert – de la Rosa retired before the halfway mark so there’s no point comparing his lap time with Kovalainen, who went the distance. For a better handle on the data behind Lotus’s improvement see this article.
Comment of the day
Are F1 drivers flummoxed by arithmetic? Ads21 thinks so:
But when it comes to the new points system [Hamilton] seems be like every other driver in struggling with simple maths, this years championship would be just as close under the old system.
Ads21
From the forum
Has Bernie Ecclestone got it wrong on HD? Quite a few people seem to think so.
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Titch!
On this day in F1
Two terrible crashes during the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps 50 years ago today claimed the lives of Chris Bristow and Alan Stacey. The two drivers had started just 11 world championship races between them.
Stacey, a popular driver who had graduated to F1 with Lotus from club racing, was killed in a freak accident on the Burnenville right-hander, part of the old Spa track. A low-flying bird struck his crash helmet, which may have killed him instantly. His car crashed at 140mph and burst into flames.
Bristow, just 22 years old, was considered by many a star of the future. He crashed at the same corner within minutes of Stacey. The car flipped over and Bristow was thrown out and decapitated.
Stirling Moss had a narrow escape at the same corner in practice – his injuries kept him out of racing for much of the rest of 1960.
Jim Clark, Stacey’s team mate at Lotus, narrowly missed hitting Bristow as the driver was flung from his car. Later in his career Clark win four times at Spa, but after that dark day in 1960 he loathed the circuit.
Dan N
19th June 2010, 0:27
Horrific! There’s no other way to put it. I know I don’t right much but this time I really am lost for words. It shows just how brave the drivers were back then, with absolutly no disrespect to todays drivers. The sport was so much more dangerous.
BasCB (@bascb)
19th June 2010, 8:35
Thank god Safety is much more taken in account now, surely Sir Steward is largely to thank for this as well as other leading drivers starting to speak up for better safety.
And Mosley as well of course in the last 15 years.
Mike-e
22nd June 2010, 1:43
I think senna’s death was the catalyst for the new high standards of safety. He was always harping on about how things could be made safer and no one (“importaint”) listened until he died, then withing a couple of years carbon monocoques (spelling?) were manditory, and various other bits and pieces were strengthened or crash tested to bring it to where it is today.
matt90 (@matt90)
19th June 2010, 10:11
I think it was that race where one of the drivers gave up their car for someone else, and while changing over they told the new driver to watch out at that corner because of body parts on the track. The new driver assumed he meant car body parts…
RobR (@robr)
19th June 2010, 17:56
That was the 1972 Spa 24h.
At the same event the next year, 3 drivers were killed.
Icthyes (@icthyes)
19th June 2010, 0:48
I heard the England manager said nothing about England’s poor performance but instead moaned about how teams like Honduras are a danger to everyone on the pitch.
alejandro
19th June 2010, 4:34
or maybe it was the Italian manager whingeing about the New Zealand team…
BasCB (@bascb)
19th June 2010, 8:35
The French manager gave up on moaning, he just got into a hiding!
TommyB (@tommyb89)
19th June 2010, 1:14
Looks like Lotus are getting better and better. Can they beat a BMW Sauber on merit in Silverstone? Surely that would be a dream result for them at this stage.
bosyber
19th June 2010, 10:03
On reliability, surely a merit in current F1, they have already beaten them.
US_Peter (@us_peter)
19th June 2010, 1:40
That Will Buxton blog is very interesting indeed. It does seem like ART running a revamped Toyota would be the most obvious choice for the new team. It would be a shame if they’re not picked simply so that Todt doesn’t appear to be favoring his son above the other applicants. His news about Paris Mullens is encouraging for US fans. Maybe by the time the US Grand Prix returns in two years there will at least be a partially US team on the grid. Now if we could just produce a driver…
macahan (@macahan)
19th June 2010, 2:01
As long as they can prove their worth I believe they would be ok. Not like last year with for example USF1 or HRT that didn’t have anything really. But if ART can show hey we already have the money, sponsors not to mention a car ready to drive NOW under current years regulation (the Toyota) and can show it. It shouldn’t be that hard to convert the Toyota to 2011 regs. But if they can’t show anything got nothing and they are picked well cue the conspiracy theories.
BasCB (@bascb)
19th June 2010, 8:50
The same rumours at the basis of the article were used for Joe Sawards blog yesterday.
But it is nice to see him look at the sport with a fresh view and give even more insight.
I do think he might be right about ART being a very good choice to make the 13th entry.
But Todt has to be carefull as the postponing of the announcement would clearly favourize the solution and hamper possibilities for other entrants, therby messing up between competitors.
That might give the FIA a hard time.
I completely agree with him about using that same Toyota car and Heidfeld for testing tyres. They can use this car only if ART is not chosen (or without the Toyota) and Davidson would make a great tester.
Why not let all teams test on GP3 tyres after AbuDhabi, or earlier if possible and develop from there?
wasiF1
19th June 2010, 2:21
So together with the Ferrari, Renault & Mercedes now we have a new car manufacturer in F1. Despite they have a contract with Mercedes who will supply engine for them in F1 until 2015 I wouldn’t be surprise if they make their own F1 engine by 2012-2013.
Scribe
19th June 2010, 10:20
Now why would they do that? The ridiculous amount of money required to fund engine development, the disgusting amount of time spent blowing the back of your cars out. If McLaren ever start building engines it will be in conjunction with a much bigger company than McLaren.
This free deal till 2015 is especially usefull considering the change in regs for the engines soon, Free Engines! this is such an enourmous benefit to McLaren.
bosyber
19th June 2010, 10:25
Quite right. McLaren has had the experience of blowing engines with an underpowered Peugot, and then with promising Mercedes engines. Now that those are reliable and good, they will be reluctant to put another engine in early, even if they start developing one for the future.
One only has to look at Williams to see that changing the engine frequently does not help (even if that is not their only issue).
Calum
19th June 2010, 14:33
Surely it is only a matter of time before it happens though, I mean the engine in the MP4/12 road car is a Mclaren, and the only reason Mercedes are giving these free engines to Mclaren is to make the divorce easier and avoid being sued by just cutting all ties and running away.
BasCB
19th June 2010, 14:40
Maybe another motivation for Mercedes in supplying McLaren is to be sure of succes, like last year while providing engines to McLaren (sussesfull in only a couple of races) and Brawn (independent, hugely succesfull).
Scribe (@scribe)
19th June 2010, 15:21
Mercedes didn’t know Brawn were going to be that good, your giving Mercedes the power of perfect foresight.
McLaren might well choose at some point to start building their own engines as their other buisnesses kick off, however it will be painfull, so there’s almost no doubt they’ll go to the end of this deal with Mercedes, possibly further.
YeaMon
19th June 2010, 2:36
Keith, should be “won” in the last sentence.
Anywho, talk about the danger these former driver endured. All of Motorsports will always be a great danger. Take a look at how it was back then. No roll bars, tracks lacked real safety crews, There were sometimes no walls, just a small enbankment, wired fence, or weak guard rail.
Now cars have crush points, the helmets offer great protection, walls are lined with tyres, HANs devices for the drivers head and neck, safety crews are pretty well trained. And in the case of Nascar, the SAFER barriers and lining every wall along the race track.
BasCB (@bascb)
19th June 2010, 8:50
After the Tyre bussiness, i might be voting just a little less positive on Todt this time around.
Scribe (@scribe)
19th June 2010, 15:23
Why? The FIA acted quickly to bring in a professional global corparation, with proven F1 sucess and data, in an area that should probably be kept away from the teams and their competing interests.
FOTA cried foul and we still don’t know whose doing the tyres.
BasCB
19th June 2010, 16:02
Because he should have done better in leading this by the teams and Bernie as well.
If he had managed it properly, Bernie would not have thought up the Cooper/Avon bid which in turn provoked the issue to come to live, renewed tries by the FOTA to persuade Bridgestone and discussions by Michelin.
It seems the larger teams were in favour of going with Michelin all along, so it seems the commercial deal was not good for those getting less of the sports spoils and for Bernie.
As the Teams ultimately pay for the tyres and have to race with them, it is their right to have a say in the proces, as well a Bernie (he is responsible for getting all the stuff at the races).
Todt tried to execute power he does not have, he overstepped his mark. Sorry, but that is not good management.
That is not good mana
bosyber
19th June 2010, 16:14
That, and he could have started making noises about a tender a month or two, three earlier, before the teams were failing to agree a few race weekends in a row.
BasCB (@bascb)
19th June 2010, 9:53
The announcement at AM does not work for me, no subscription.
But i got the announcements (Europe and UK) from the McLaren site itself here: http://www.mclarenautomotive.com/uk/insider/default.aspx
A shame i won’t be planning a test drive and buying one for now!
BasCB (@bascb)
19th June 2010, 10:04
To me it looks like that article on Lotus was written mainly for Lotus PR. As you uncovered in your article they highlight being faster than a car thad did only 7 or so laps with high fuel.
Also the information on their cars not even starting or stopping with problems and Trulli parking it on top of Chandhok’s car is missing or hid behind other “achievments”.
I don’t take it away from Lotus, they are doing an impressive job, and their way to go would have been the best any newcomer would have hoped for.
But they did have the best butget thrown at it and as Gascoyne is no softy i wouldn’t dismiss him using some FI inside information to get there. Not to mention overpaying FI personell to jump ship and join him, this shows an experienced F1 man at the rudder.
But Virgin is doing pretty impressive on their 40 milion budget (who knows how much they would have improved if not for having to rework the chassis for a larger fuel tank) and HRT are showing the Dallara is not such a dog of a car now they start understanding how to set it up. For me they are the real suprise runners with best reliability so far.
bosyber
19th June 2010, 10:20
Wanted to also mention the link here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMOZeeMZ6W4
Shows the new Ferrari updates in action yesterday at Fiorano.
Good for them that they could test it, even though I would have thought Alonso is going a bit fast for merely filming. But it probably is a good thing they kept the sidepods mostly unchanged, thus minimizing the variables in moving the exhaust.
Some people seem to think it also shows a new front wing with bigger flaps, but I don’t think the quality allows a good enough view.
Seems quite possible that they will get several tenths out of it.
BasCB
19th June 2010, 11:44
Nice spot, seems the Ferrari will at least look good in Valencia.
I am sure Ferrari are not in the least trying to get some real testing on the car, but need the speedy runs to do a TV spot.
Good luck to Alonso to win in Valencia, that would be good for the Championship. Or Rosberg, but i do not expect his Mercedes to be that close to the pace.
thestig84
19th June 2010, 11:55
Good spot. Thanks.
Also thought this vodafone advert might make the news
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zf40OzfwOo&feature=youtu.be
BasCB
19th June 2010, 14:37
We did have it posted here yesterday, but it is a very nice one.
bosyber
19th June 2010, 14:59
Yes, a very cool viral. And Lewis and Jenson do definitely seem like a real team – very good work from the directors and/or from those two. It manages to make work at McLaren seem fun and relaxing, while not missing a quick but noticable look at the well stocked trophy cabinet.
GeeMac (@geemac)
19th June 2010, 12:24
You can’t help but be impressed by Lotus. They seem to have got the “new F1 team formula” just right. They focussed on building a car which was reliable, and which could at least make the end of rces, and then focussed on making the car quicker. Its a simple formula, but its working incredibly well for them. Sauber must be shaking in their boots! On a slightly less serious note, they give us fans a lot more behind the scenes pictures and infor on various media like Faceboon and Twitter than most teams, which is awesome.
10/10 for Lotus!
David A
19th June 2010, 23:44
I too, am really liking having Lotus back in F1. They’ll soon be ahead of the team that was challenging near the front just a couple of years ago. I love my team, but I really wish Luca would stop complaining about the new boys.
Becken Lima (@becken-lima)
19th June 2010, 14:46
Ferrari new exhaust system:
http://bit.ly/aQxqyg
bosyber
19th June 2010, 14:53
Nice, if a bit blurry (still from that video) comparison picture. I would have expected the exhaust to be a bit lower, but this way it might be a lot better for heat management than their previous setup was, and with hardly any change in sidepod shape.
I still think they might be reshaping those sidepods in future races if the exhaust-fed diffuser proves to work. For now it is good they can keep them mostly as they are. Maybe that is the “potential for future development” Alonso mentioned.
The F Duct (@)
19th June 2010, 20:47
How are “they” allowed to test?? Even if it isn’t a test as such they will get track to windtunnel data from the run surely.
BBT
20th June 2010, 19:54
A bit lower? A lot lower. No where near as low as RBR.
I don’t think its real.
Casanova (@casanova)
20th June 2010, 23:51
The link doesn’t work for me – has it been pulled?
BasCB
19th June 2010, 15:48
Heres a little bit more information (though not much) about the JJ Lehto boat accident you posted yesterday evening Keith: http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns22357.html
Force India F1 Club
6th July 2010, 16:15
Good luck……