In the round-up: The FIA will continue using two DRS zones at some tracks.
Links
Top F1 links from the past 24 hours:
FIA plans to experiment more with double DRS zones (Autosport)
“When asked about the possibility of having two separate DRS detection and activation zones, Whiting said: ‘We would need two detection points, two notification points and two activation points – and it doubles the chance of something going wrong. We have had a few problems because it involves beacons by the track, and that is the only thing I am wary of.'”
Whiting defends blown diffuser clampdown (Adam Cooper)
Charlie Whiting: “All we’re doing is making sure that everyone is running how we think a car should be run legally. It’s not for us to say whether or not a certain team will be penalised more than others. It just depends on extreme they go. I’ve certainly seen evidence of maps from a number of teams that are extremely extreme. It’s not confined to one team, I can assure you.”
European GP – Conference 2 (FIA)
Ross Brawn: “[The hot-blown diffuser] was actually proving quite an interesting area. We feel we’re quite low on the slope of getting the most out of it, so I think there was a lot of potential in the system, which will be stopped next year with the mandatory exhaust outlets.”
Valencia: Ban on engine map changes (ScarbsF1)
“Paddock rumour places Red Bull towards the top of the list of Q-Map users, so we could expect a smaller gap between them and Ferrari\McLaren, but I doubt this would account for all of the lap time difference. McLaren are also a team with a well developed Q-map, where as Ferrari are still believed to be immature in this area of development.”
F1 2011 – Developer Diary Video No.1 (YouTube)
Valencia’s Q&A with Rubens Barrichello (Williams)
“Q: Is it your wish to be driving next year’s Williams FW34?
RB: I would love to be one of the guys driving it. I still have too much passion for speed to think of doing anything else in my life and I believe in what Williams has to offer.”
Postcard from Valencia (Force India)
“What F1 does not use are the huge buildings created for the America’s Cup, the equivalent of giant pit garages for boats. Because technically they still belong to the event and the teams, they remain empty, and have a strange ghostly presence in the paddock.”
Austin council delays vote on whether to endorse F1 (Austin-American Statesman)
“The City Council ? despite warnings from F1 organisers that the project could fall apart if not endorsed Thursday ? decided instead to postpone a key vote until Wednesday: whether to approve an F1 race next year that would be held at a track under construction southeast of Austin.”
Lotus versus Lotus (the sequel)
“Group Lotus has now filed suit against Fernandes and his partners for confusing customers by buying Caterham. Given that Lotus signed over the rights to the Lotus 7 to Caterham Cars many years ago and they were renamed Caterham Super 7s, it is hard to see the logic of this case.”
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Comment of the day
DougyD sees more than one threat to Adrian Sutil’s future in F1:
Surely Sutil should be even more concerned about Hulkenburg. What a team that would be. I feel that we are now starting to see the next batch of drivers coming through and it wont be too long till Hulkenburg returns.
DougyD
From the forum
A particularly interesting thread for me: Damon Smedley asks how did you find F1 Fanatic?
Taking pictures at F1 races
Back in April we ran a two-part series called “How to take great pictures at F1 races” written by Jamey Price:
Jamey sent me an email yesterday saying he’d heard from an F1 Fanatic reader who’s read the article and taken some fantastic photographs at the Canadian Grand Prix weekend. Check them out here:
Happy birthday!
No F1 Fanatic birthdays today. If you want a birthday shout-out tell us when yours is by emailling me, using Twitter or adding to the list here.
On this day in F1
Fernando Alonso won for the fourth race on a row in the Canadian Grand Prix five years ago today.
Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen completed the podium.
Calum (@calum)
25th June 2011, 0:08
Just this minute back from the cinema – again – this time to see Senna, quality documentary, so glad I got to see it on the big screen eventually.
It was such a euphoric moment when “San Marino 1994” came up on screen, the atmosphere changed from joy, it seemed to go dark and solumn, because everybody knew…
Cornflakes
25th June 2011, 1:44
I went to see it yesterday evening and I know exactly what you mean. The words for ‘San Marino’ were in much bigger letters, and as you say, instantly the atmosphere changed. People sat upright, stopped grazing popcorn and were transfixed at the screen. There was a tangible change in the atmosphere, incredible.
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley)
25th June 2011, 7:46
Sounds powerful. Only two months before it comes out in Australia!
f1yankee
25th June 2011, 0:11
at least they’re not literally extreme, team extreme or XXXtreme :)
BasCB (@bascb)
25th June 2011, 8:42
Xtremely xtreme !
US_Peter (@us_peter)
25th June 2011, 0:12
Really Dany Bahar? Really? I’m not confused about Caterham. They make light, fast, affordable cars in the spirit of Collin Chapman. You plan to make tote bags and heavy cars no one will be interested in at their respective price points, that would make Colin Chapman cringe. If there’s any confusion it’s on your part.
Calum (@calum)
25th June 2011, 0:18
I heard Lotus are making an F1 relevant V8 engine (oh the irony ;) ) and they will build the city car they planned, but they are to scrap the Elan – the coolest one of the new line up.
BasCB (@bascb)
25th June 2011, 8:54
They might be getting that made from Cosworth, with Kalkhoven, the owner of the KV racing team they sponsor in IndyCars being a major/controlling Cosworth shareholder.
But so far they announced to be building the Indy engine rather than a F1 engine. It would be a 2.4 V6 with turbo probably. giving up to about maybe 700 hp.
BasCB (@bascb)
25th June 2011, 9:12
as an interlope to that, Takuma Sato just got his first IndyCar pole position.
In the Mid Ohio race http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/92598
Fixy (@)
25th June 2011, 11:47
Lotus is doing this things just now that Fernandes has set up his team? A bit late.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
25th June 2011, 4:17
I suspect Bahar’s case is pitched at people who buy Caterham 7s, but don’t follow Formula 1 – certainly not enough to untangle the skein of Fernandes vs. Bahar. Especially since Fernandes wants to break into the Asian markets. He’ll argue that Lotus originally produced the Lotus 7. They then signed the rights over to Catherham. Caterham produced the Super 7, and were then acquired by Tony Fernandes. Although the courts have formally identified the separation of Group and Team, if Fernandes tries to market the Caterham 7 as having Formula 1 lineage, buyers may be under the impression that they are buying a car from Group Lotus, which they are not.
Remember, Bahar’s objective in all of this is to get Fernandes to abandon the Team Lotus name and use something else in its place. I’ll give you good odds that he is trying to manoeuvre Fernandes into a position whereby the courts agree that there is the potential for confusion amongst the Lotus teams, and that because Fernandes has purchased Caterham and is marketing the cars based on their connection to his team, then he could reasonably change the name of Team Lotus to Team Caterham without affecting his image.
Honestly, I’m surprised Tony Fernandes didn’t do this of hiw own volition. There is a huge potential market for the Caterham 7 in Asia and Australia and probably the Americas, too. It’s the ultimate track car, both competitive and cheap. What better way to market it than with a connection to an up-and-coming racing team? Hell, ownership of a Caterham could easily come with perks connected to the team. If Fernandes is half the businessman he supposedly is, he’d jump on this money train in a heartbeat. Even though he owns the name, he has no real connection to Lotus. Certainly not compared to Lotus Cars, whose history has at least crossed paths with Original Team Lotus on occasion. Fernandes is missing a huge windfall here, but he’s too stubborn and too absorbed in “being” Team Lotus to recognise it.
unocv12
25th June 2011, 4:34
Lotus Cars doesn’t have a connection to Team Lotus either.
At no point has Lotus Cars ever owned Team Lotus. The have sponsored when they were both owned by CC. But Prodrive and Aston Martin are both owned by Dave Richards yet I don’t see a strong link between the old Subaru WRC team and Aston Martin.
He has the rights to the name and that is the end of it. The court has made a ruling and has stopped Bahar from redoing it.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
25th June 2011, 4:43
Which is more of a connection to Team Lotus than Tony Fernandes has.
My point is that there is an implied connection between both. At face value, it is easy to mistake one for the other. As dedicated fans, we know the difference – but what about people who only loosely follow the sport? Or the example I gave of people who buy a Caterham 7 without any real knowledge of Formula 1? If Fernandes is marketing the 7 based on its connection to his team, he’s doing his customers a disservice.
BasCB (@bascb)
25th June 2011, 8:59
I agree that the only purpose of this is about Bahar trying to find all means to push Fernandes into selling him the team lotus thing.
But as this lawsuit is even more ridiculous, after all they sold the rights to the 7 half a century ago.
So the purpose will rather be to buy Bahar time and help him show he is doing everything he can to make it work to his paymasters in Malaysia.
Lee
25th June 2011, 9:45
I dont get confused by Manchester Utd and Manchester City so I dont see why any F1 fan would get confused by the 2 lotus teams. Its pathetic in my opinion.
JCF1 (@jcf1)
25th June 2011, 0:15
Fek off double drs
KeeleyObsessed (@keeleyobsessed)
25th June 2011, 0:22
Can I nab a comment to put up something for F1Fanatics who don’t have a PS3/Xbox? I’m trying to organize a Wii F1F championships, check the F1F forum for more details. Its only in it’s early stages, but I’m quite interested in running one…
Zadak
25th June 2011, 1:50
HAHA
online gaming on the wii
Oh the whimsy
KeeleyObsessed (@keeleyobsessed)
25th June 2011, 1:54
Careful… Some people can actually find that quite offending…
Who said anything about it being online? That’s why I want peoples opinions on it.. I’ve put a thread up in the forum if anyone’s actually serious about it..
Stephen Jones (@aus_steve)
25th June 2011, 8:05
i’m sure if there’s people playing it, then it should get off the ground.. who care’s if its “uber arcadey” or whatever
BasCB (@bascb)
25th June 2011, 9:17
Exactly, this is about having fun doing a racing game with other enthusiasts/friends that Keeley is organising here.
Its not about simulating a real race season as realisically as possible.
Guilherme (@the_philosopher)
25th June 2011, 1:43
From the looks of it, it seems that Codemasters gone for a much more realistic lightning this time out. In F1 2010 most tracks were gloomy and the skies were yellow-ish, particularly in Melbourne, but in that video the sunlight seems much more natural.
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley)
25th June 2011, 7:50
Really? That promising. I can’t watch YouTube videos because my internet is capped, and I was extremely worried about the lighting, but that comment has restored hope! Would you say it’s as natural as Gran Turismo?
Stephen Jones (@aus_steve)
25th June 2011, 8:17
probably not that much, but it does look very nice! for some reason i found myself staring at the back of the virgin rear wing! The main thing i noticed in the video was the ability to actually slide/oversteer the car.. the slide seemed to happen a lot slower, so you can turn into it and actually counter (yay!). Except for that, there’s a cool Parc Ferme animation (including heidfeld celebrating pole.. his face looks weird thouch), and custom steering wheels! (different for every team)
BasCB (@bascb)
25th June 2011, 9:18
I think it looks like Massa looking out from the helmet. His celebration moves are Massa inspired as well there, I feel.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
25th June 2011, 9:47
Videogame simulations of facial movements can be tricky. Unless Codemasters are planning on using Team Bondi’s engine from LA Noire – a game which entirely depends upon facial movements – the faces will probably all look odd.
lame.emo.kid
25th June 2011, 1:54
Perhaps an interesting experiment for the organisers would be to try a race where they use the qualifying rules for drs, I.e. the car behind can use the drs for the whole lap? I admit this may be an extreme test, as if a leading car gets the 1 second gap behind a backmarker at wherever the detection point is, they could pull out a hugely fast lap time, but to see the true effects of drs in the race it might be worth at looking at both extremes? Is there a genuine dangerous element to this idea or is it just that it would result in a totally artificial race?
Kingshark (@kingshark)
25th June 2011, 4:04
By my reckon these will be the follow-up DRS zones for the next GP’s:
Silverstone: Between Abbey and the Arena, followed by the Wellington Straight.
Nurburgring: Between Bogen and the final Chicane. Then on the pitstraight.
Hungaroring: On the pitstraight, then from turns 3 to 4.
Spa: From Bus-stop to La Source. Then from Kemmel to Les Combes.
Monza: From Ascari to Parabolica. Followed by the pitstraight.
Singapore: The pitstaight followed by turns 5 to 7.
Suzuka: From 130R to the Chicane. Then on the pitstaight.
Korea: From turns 2 to 3. Followed by turns 3 to 4.
India: Pitstraight followed by turns 3 to 4.
Yas Marina: Turns 7 to 8. Then from turns 9 to 11.
Interlagos: From Subida D’boxes to the Senna S. Then from Curva Sol to Reta Oposta.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
25th June 2011, 4:26
Nah, put the detection point between Blanchimont and the Bus Stop. Then let the drivers open up from La Source to Les Combes. Yes, that means going through Eau Rouge with the DRS open.
Despite its reputation, Eau Rouge has become castrated over the past decade or so. Advances in aerodynamics mean the driver just have to floor it through the corners and they’ll come out clean. The challenge of Eau Rouge used to be in finding the sweet spot, that point where the car could take it as fast as the driver dared to. Opening the DRS through Eau Rouge would separate the men from the boys.
And the beauty of it is that we’d get to see the strategic use of the system. With heavy fuel loads and old(er) tyres, the drivers might only choose to use the DRS after Eau Rouge, despite it being available out of La Source. But when they’re light on fuel and with a fresh set of tyres, they could afford to take the corner with the DRS wide open.
Of course, it would never happen on the grounds of safety – but just imagine it for the moment. Even the staunchest of DRS critics couldn’t argue with it. And since Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello are the only drivers old enough to really remember Eau Rouge in its purest form, we’d get a real treat in seeing who is bold enough to take the corner with the DRS open.
Kingshark (@kingshark)
25th June 2011, 5:06
Now thinking about it, I’d say move Monza’s first DRS zone on the pitstraight. Then, the 2nd DRS zone between Rettifilo and Variante. I think they could flat out Curva Grande with an open DRS these days.
Stephen Jones (@aus_steve)
25th June 2011, 8:20
i’m ok with this.. until someone launches it into the trees
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
25th June 2011, 9:13
Have a little faith in the drivers’ abilities.
BasCB (@bascb)
25th June 2011, 9:40
I agree that it would bring back the guts there, I would love it.
But as you say, the drivers will vote against that, sadly.
BasCB (@bascb)
25th June 2011, 9:38
Kingshark, that Autosport article quotes Whiting as follows:
So it will defenitely not be from Abbey onwards in Silverstone, and it looks like they are certain of having only one zone at the Nurburgring.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
25th June 2011, 4:37
The problem with a proper double-DRS (as opposed to the current DRS and a half – that’s it’s official name as of right nwo) is that you’d need the activation zones spaced out, and not just to allow for the timing beacons. I can’t imagine it would be fantastic to have the two zones separated by a lone corner, like the straights at Sepang. But the catch is that of the remaining circuits, you could only reasonably do it on half of them. Silverstone is the best candidate for this, with one zone on the Willington Straight and the other on the Hangar. The Nurburgring doesn’t really have any long straights on it, so only one zone would really work. Ditto the Hungaroring. You could do it at Spa, along Blanchimont and again on the approach to Les Combes. Monza’s back straight and main straight are the obvious candidates, but I think they’re a little close together; the main straight and the approach to Ascari would be better. Singapore is like Hungary and Germany, unless they tried it along the back straight and the Esplanade Bridge. Suzuka doesn’t really have any room for two at all; the front straight is viable, but the back is not because 130R is aero-dependent. Neither is South Korea, since all the straights are together, unless they wanted to try it on the front straight and the short straight before turn four (but the FIA always puts it in the most overtaking-friendly place, so the kilometre-long straight between turns two and three is a give). India has three places it could go; the front straight, back straight and the run down to turn five. Abu Dhabi has two, but they’re too close together and a lot will depend on whether or not they go ahead with the planned circuit changes. And Brazil also has two; along the front straight and against down Reta Oposta. So when you really look at it, only about half of the remaining circuits are really suitable for a proper double-DRS.
Although I admit that I wouldn’t mind seeing Korea having three DRS zones with only one or two activation points …
Adrian Morse
25th June 2011, 5:07
Keith, do you sleep? These round-ups are always already there when my daughter wakes up way too early (like 6am cet or worse).
Alex Bkk (@alex-bkk)
25th June 2011, 5:17
Great shots Alan and keep it up! They could be published anywhere.
What might seem a bit pedestrian to some was something I really liked; the drivers personal rides. I wonder if Alonso has it in his contract that only he can have the red Ferrari?
Vettel in an Infinity, Hamilton in a wagon? Just doesn’t seem right does it…. ;)
Fixy (@)
25th June 2011, 9:37
If you look at the Ferraris’ plates, you can see they aren’t Italian. I hope they don’t buy one in every place they visit! Maybe they are on rent?
BasCB (@bascb)
25th June 2011, 9:55
Yeah, they are mostly provided by the local branch supporting the team (for the bigger teams) or rented (for the likes of Sauber, Virgin, Lotus and HRT)
BasCB (@bascb)
25th June 2011, 9:56
I agree those pictures are really nice Alan. I like the blurred shots of the Ferrari and esp. the Lotus Wheel.
Eggry (@eggry)
25th June 2011, 6:12
I want the wheel controller which Davison is using!
BasCB (@bascb)
25th June 2011, 18:45
HA, thought exactly the same. Looks like its a perfect F1 like model.
Icthyes (@icthyes)
25th June 2011, 9:27
Oh, for fu…How desperate can they get? Just go away, please.
Fixy (@)
25th June 2011, 9:31
Did you know that on the official F1 site in the launch photos the Ferrari is named “F150”?
BasCB (@bascb)
25th June 2011, 9:54
Well, it was launched like that, even if Ferrari tried to tell us later it wasn’t.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
25th June 2011, 10:06
I do agree with the COTD, I can see The Hulk returning.
Group Lotus are just embarrassing themselves now :/
F1 2011 is looking good, looking a little more fluid than 2010.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
25th June 2011, 10:52
Let’s just back things up a little bit on the latest bit of Lotus litigation. Because I want to show you something.
When Tony Fernandes first announced that he had purchased Caterham in April, they held a press event at Duxford. They released photos of the event afterwards, including this one, a shot of the Lotus T128 and the Caterham Seven in the same livery: British racing green with canary yellow and white in an angled design.
Now, it is known that Fernandes wants to take the Caterham Seven to Asian markets. And it’s also known that he wants to “make Formula 1 accessible through Caterham”. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that his activities as Team Lotus will play some part in marketing the Caterham Seven in Asia.
It’s a common criticism of the sport that Formula 1 is moving into markets it has no place being because there is no crowd to watch the race; people are unaware of the sport’s existence. Once again, it is reasonable to assume that if they do not know that the sport is in their city, then they do not know of the intricacises of the Lotus vs. Lotus court case. This is supported by Justice Peter Smith, who – on giving his findings in the case – said that Formula 1 fans should know enough to be able to distinguish between the teams. The operative word here is “fans”: people who have been following the sport and have the knowledge to understand what is happening.
So, let’s say that Fernandes opens up a Caterham Seven dealership in Fujian provence in China. And that that image features as a prominent part of the marketing campaign. He gets customers who are interested in a track car, but do not follow the sport (and you can find plenty of similarly-minded people in Europe). They see the Seven and the T128 dressed up in the same livery, and it captures their attention. They go home and they look it up. They see that Caterham is owned by Team Lotus. They find there is a second team known as Lotus on the grid. Therefore, with no prior knowledge of the sport, they could reasonably make the connection that the two Lotus teams are affiliated – which is supported by the way Red Bull owns both Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso.
As I said, when Justice Peter Smith passed down his verdict, he said that fans of the sport should know enough to be able to distinguish between Group Lotus and Team Lotus. However, Fernandes is intending to market the Seven to people who have no knowledge of Formula 1, using Formula 1 as a part of his marketing campaign. Since these people do not have the necessary knowledge to distinguish between the teams, Dany Bahar has a point: there is the potential for confusion – unless Fernandes is going to have his sales people give a half-hour presentation breaking down the ownership of Group Lotus, Team Lotus and Caterham to potential customers.
F1 fan
25th June 2011, 17:49
Nonsense
BasCB (@bascb)
25th June 2011, 18:48
+1!
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
26th June 2011, 2:51
So you honestly think that someone with no prior knowledge of the sport will be able to distinguish between both Lotus teams?
Saward’s wording is misleading. Bahar cannot take action against Fernandes for “confusing customers”. But he can take action against Fernandes for a marketing campaign that implies a connection between Caterham, Team Lotus and Group Lotus.