Pedro de la Rosa, HRT, Jerez, 2012

In the round-up: HRT delay the first appearance of their new car after failing a crash test.

F1 links

HRT via Twitter

“14 crash tests passed. Chassis approved but the two that failed (by minor margin) prevent us to have the car ready for first Barcelona test.”

Fry voices Ferrari concerns (Sky)

Technical director Pat Fry: “I am not happy with where we are at the moment. There is a lot of room for us to improve. Reliability-wise it is good. Performance-wise I think we are okay.”

Q&A with Lotus’s Kimi Raikkonen (F1)

“On the first day the car was good, but I have to say that on the second day it was even better. If it only set the fifth-best time then it was down to the fact that we tried different things.”

McLaren claim it nose best by ignoring Platypus design (The Mirror)

Technical director Paddy Lowe: “My model of it is that it’s not a case of us missing some trick. It is not a trick or a loophole that we did not spot. We have always known that you can lift your chassis there, but have chosen to not do it now.”

Nico Rosberg says new tyres will make F1 racing different this year (Autosport)

“It is going to have a big impact on the racing because the compounds are closer now. It is difficult for me to foresee how that will go, but it will be different.”

Vettel ticking all the boxes for Red Bull (Reuters)

“It’s been two months since we were in the car so it does take a couple of laps to get back in the rhythm, but the car feels fine and as we expected.”

Nico Hulkenberg via Twitter

“No running for me today unfortunately. Hoping for a better day tomorrow.”

Letters to the editor: Bahrain race (The Times, subscription required)

“Until it takes concerted measures to reform the electoral, penal and judicial processes, international observers as well as ordinary Bahrainis can have little confidence that Bahrain is on the path to reform and political stability. We urge the FIA to reconsider its decision to continue with the race.

“Lord Ahmad Of Wimbledon; Lord Ahmed Of Rotherham; Lord Alton; Lord Avebury; Baroness Falkner Of Margravine; Lord Hylton; Caroline Lucas; Lord Boswell.”

Upbeat Kovalainen praises car and signs new management deal (James Allen)

“It has been announced today that Heikki Kovalainen has joined IMG Worldwide as his new management team, as well as being represented for all future commercial interests.”

Meanwhile at the Nurburgring (Joe Saward)

“The circuit authorities say that they had negotiated a deal with the Formula One group to host a race every two years for just €9.8 million ($13 million), which spread across two financial years meant an annual investment in F1 of only $6.5 million. Without the F1 deal the Nürburgring would likely sink further into financial trouble as the race generates not only spectators, but also visitors throughout the year.”

Circuit construction, Feb. 8, 2012 (Circuit of the Americas via Facebook)

Pictures of development at the new home of the United States Grand Prix.

When Formula 1 turned ugly (MotorSport)

“If it looks right, it is right: Renault AK 90CV, Bugatti Type 35, Alfa Romeo Tipo B, Maserati 250F, Lotus 25, and 72, Ligier JS11, McLaren MP4/4 and Ferrari 641.”

Follow F1 news as it breaks using the F1 Fanatic live Twitter app.

Comment of the day

JamieFranklinF1′s thoughts on testing yesterday:

I bet Hulkenberg was pretty annoyed with Bianchi – I know I would be if I were him.

As for Ferrari, I want to believe that they can mix it up with Red Bull and McLaren this year, but there’s just a niggly part in my mind that says that they’ve possibly been too aggressive. As was said above, they had a solid car in Silverstone, when the exhaust-blown diffuser was restricted with the engine mapping taken away, so surely they should have evolved on that concept if their car wasn’t gaining much of a benefit from it as Red Bull and especially McLaren had done.

It’s also nice to see that Lotus can continue the quick times with Grosjean, even if times at this stage do mean nothing.

I also can’t wait to see the new Mercedes, as I have a feeling that they’re going to show more improvement than they did last year.
JamieFranklinF1

From the forum

• When he’s not crashing Force Indias, Jules Bianchi will be racing in Formula Renault 3.5 this year
• Nissan to join V8 Supercars from 2013
• Add your suggestion for a new F1 Fanatic Group

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday to Aqeel!

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

Teams ran with messages of support for the injured Robert Kubica in testing on this day last year:

• Pictures: “Get well soon Kubica” on cars at Jerez

Daniel Ricciardo, Toro Rosso, Jerez, 2012

Join us to follow the third day of testing from Jerez on F1 Fanatic Live.

It’s all change on day three as several of the teams swap their drivers today. Lewis Hamilton will have his first run in the MP4/27, Sebastian Vettel will get acquainted with the RB8, and Fernando Alonso will check out the F2012.

Bruno Senna, Romain Grosjean, Nico Hulkenberg, Giedo van der Garde and Jean-Eric Vergne will also be among those driving today.

The test is due to start at 9am local time, which is 8am UK time. You can follow test on F1 Fanatic Live via the link below.

Please be aware there is no live video feed from the test and there is no official live timing service.

F1 Fanatic Live combines updates from the teams and drivers in real-time via Twitter with comments from F1 Fanatic readers and more.

Launch F1 Fanatic Live

Here’s a quick visual guide to F1 Fanatic Live (click to enlarge):

F1 Fanatic Live Guide

More information on the 2012 F1 season.

2012 F1 season

• Jerez test day three in pictures
• Mercedes stay on top in Jerez test
• Live: 2012 F1 testing day three – Jerez
• Schumacher quickest on day two of test as Webber leads 2012 runners
• Jerez test day two in 100 pictures
• Live: 2012 F1 testing day two – Jerez
• Raikkonen leads Di Resta on first day of Jerez test
• Red Bull RB8 seen for first time as Jerez test begins
• Williams FW34 launch: First pictures of their 2012 F1 car
• Live: 2012 F1 testing day one - Jerez

Image © Ferrari spa/Ercole Colombo

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 2012

In the round-up: Lewis Hamilton gets a new manager but may still be called as a witness in Adrian Sutil’s ongoing legal action.

Links

Hamilton gets hired help from his management company (Daily Mirror)

“Didier Coton has been appointed by his management company, London-based XIX Entertainment. Coton had worked closely with ex-driver Keke Rosberg’s driver management company and guided the career of double McLaren world champion Mika Hakkinen and now runs his own operation, Aces Management.”

‘Pig ugly’ F1 cars are snout of order (The Sun)

Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery: “I have to agree with the general sentiment that the cars are damn ugly.”

Motor racing-Ferrari have lots to do, says Massa (Reuters)

“‘Actually there is a lot of work,’ he told reporters with muted body language that suggested he was far from thrilled with what he had experienced so far. ‘It is a brand new car and it is not a [type of] car that we had in the last years; even to start with. So it is a car that needs a lot more work, a car that you need a lot more things to try as well.’”

Adrian Sutil and prosecution appeal against sentence in Munich trial

“As with the first case, it is understood that Hamilton will attend any retrial, but again providing it does not clash with his commitments.”

Schumacher: Title-winning car unlikely

“I don’t think we can realistically achieve a championship car immediately from where we started last year, we have to build our way there.”

HRT F1 Team establishes its permanent headquarters in the Caja Magica (HRT)

“After months of evaluations and negotiations in which diverse options have been assessed, Spanish team HRT has finally opted for the facilities of the Complejo Deportivo Madrid Caja Magica to locate its permanent headquarters.”

Exclusive Kobayashi Q&A: I want so much more from 2012 (F1)

“[On Tuesday] I ran the ‘standard model’ and Friday will be a first development step for us. Of course we don’t know now if it works, but we all hope it will. If it works as we hope it should improve our lap times. And it’s always about lap times!”

Barrichello ponders move to Indycar (ESPN)

“Rubens Barrichello is set to decide next week whether he will switch from Formula One to the IndyCar series for 2012 following the decision by Williams not to retain him for the current season.”

Hard graft paying off for Di Resta (The Times, subscription required)

“Di Resta has brought in Gerry Convy, former soldier and trainer for David Coulthard, to handle his training regime this year and the effects are already paying off after a few weeks of hard work.”

Heikki Kovalainen via Twitter

“Good day today, ran KERS for the first time and no issues, also set-up work done so good catch up after yesterday…”

Follow F1 news as it breaks using the F1 Fanatic live Twitter app.

Comment of the day

“F1 is not about seeing which driver is the best” – a though-provoking opinion from Palle, albeit one I suspect many people may disagree with:

To be a proper F1 Fanatic I think You need to understand that F1 is a fascinating sport, where the competition comprises of:

Finance – how to attract more sponsor money and get more prize money
Design – how to design the best racecar within the written letter of the rules
Production – how to produce the best racecar, to last a race distance
Tuning – how to tune the cars setup etc. to suit the driver
Tyres – Understand the tyres and adjust the car and driving style
Strategy – how to plan development over the season
Tactics – how to manage the resources in races to get the edge
Pit crew – how to perform perfect pit-stops in cooperation with drivers
Motivation – how to motivate the whole team to perform, perform
Drivers – how to attract and keep the best drivers
Future – how to develop the business, recruiting talents etc…

I have probably forgotten something important.

To me F1 is not about seeing which driver is the best, so rules have to leave room for designing new innovative solutions, and make it possible for a team to get a reward for being more innovative than the rest, i.e. not change the rules during a season as soon as someone have got an advantage.
Palle

From the forum

• Will Hamilton ever leave McLaren?

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

A pair of cars were revealed for the first time on this day last year:

• Force India VJM04 – first pictures
• HRT F111 launch – first pictures

Adrian Newey, Red Bull, Suzuka, 2011

In the round-up: Adrian Newey scotches talk of him eventually moving to Ferrari, saying he’d prefer to stay where he is.

Links

Newey staying at Red Bull (The Telegraph)

“To be perfectly honest I can’t see myself going anywhere else. I’ve been very centrally involved with the team from very early on and proud we’ve been able to get from where we were, and the ashes of Jaguar, to where we are today.”

Motor racing-Button gives new McLaren an early thumbs-up (Reuters)

“There are no niggly areas with the car, which is nice. Quite different to last year. So I’m happy. I’m very happy in the car. I’m in a good position. I’m really low, which I always like, trying to get as low as possible, with the way that the car is.”

Teams fear exhaust saga not over yet (Autosport)

Adrian Newey: “The FIA has been reasonably specific in what they will and won’t allow exhaust wise. They don’t want to see what have been capture ducts scooping the exhaust flow out of a fully enclosed duct, and then using that scoop to duct it somewhere else on the car. Plus, we have the various exclusion zones where you can’t have bodywork.”

Marussia plan Pic stay after 2012 campaign (Daily Mail)

Andy Webb: “I think there is some long-term potential for him. I’m looking really to see if he can go forward for more than one year.”

Tombazis: “The first day is always a special feeling” (Ferrari)

“This car represents a clear break with the one that preceded it and it features concepts that are very different for us and that require much more fine tuning. That’s why today we absolutely did not have an eye on the stopwatch, preferring to concentrate on gathering as much data as possible in order to get as good an understanding as possible of the behaviour of the car.”

And the winner is… Don’t tell us! (The Guardian)

“One BBC viewer (and listener) took their complaint all the way to the BBC Trust after the results of the Australian Grand Prix qualifying round were read out on a Radio 4 news bulletin. They said the corporation should take greater care when reading out results and certainly only do so in a sports – rather than general news – bulletin.”

Follow F1 news as it breaks using the F1 Fanatic live Twitter app.

Comment of the day

The 2012 F1 cars may look dreadful, but at least they sound better, points out damonsmedley:

The one thing I’m absolutely loving so far is the videos coming out from Jerez. Not because the bump in the nose less noticeable at speed; but because we’re finally hearing the V8s in all of their glory, unspoiled by the awful racket we had to put up with last year thanks to exhaust-blown diffusers. The sound is back to how it should be, and I’m thrilled!
damonsmedley

From the forum

• The longest forum thread is back – it’s F1 Fanatic Rolling Trivia Quiz“>the rolling quiz

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday to Straightline and Sandlefish!

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

Virgin launched their second – and, as it turned out, last – F1 car at BBC Television Centre on this day last year:

• Virgin MVR-02 launch – first pictures

The Williams FW33 in its testing livery

Williams will become the latest team to reveal their 2012 F1 contender today.

The FW34 is due to be revealed at 7:30am UK time.

The first day of testing at Jerez will begin shortly afterwards and we will be following its progress on F1 Fanatic Live as usual.

Red Bull, Sauber and Toro Rosso launches

Check out the updated coverage of yesterday’s launches featuring video of all the cars including HD footage of the Red Bull RB8 and Kamui Kobayashi doing his first laps in the Sauber C31:

• Red Bull RB8 launch – first pictures and video of Red Bull’s 2012 F1 car
• Sauber C31 launch – first pictures and video of Sauber’s 2012 F1 car
• Toro Rosso STR7 – first pictures and video of Toro Rosso’s 2012 F1 car

Thanks to ECWDanSelby for his help processing and uploading the videos.

Links

F1 teams seek guidance on Bahrain situation (Reuters)

Eric Boullier: “We have commitments with regard to the Formula One championship, so it is not an easy decision to take. Right now we are awaiting feedback from the FIA on whether or not we go.”

Alguersuari: I turned down a ’12 seat (Autosport)

“I was verbally confirmed during the Brazilian GP. Hence, being confirmed by Red Bull and STR, I rejected a very good offer. On December 13th, when Red Bull Racing told me that I was no longer part of the family I said that I was not going to judge them, neither I was feeling like a victim and that this was not a drama. But let me say just one thing: they hurt me, and moreover, it was unnecessary.”

Technical Q&A: Red Bull’s Adrian Newey on the RB8 (F1)

“Regulation restrictions like the lost exhaust are a bit frustrating in truth, because they are exactly that, they are restrictions, they’re not giving new opportunities or revenues particularly, they’re just closing a door. Regulation changes I enjoy, regulation restrictions I rather lament.”

Daniel Ricciardo via Twitter

“Was a great feeling sliding off the STR7′s dress today. And no bra! Too easy.”

Ted Kravitz via Twitter

“A few things from Jerez: Renault ran ‘active’ ride device in Brazil practice but not qualifying or race, was intended to be on car for Australia.”

Follow F1 news as it breaks using the F1 Fanatic live Twitter app.

Comment of the day

Is Red Bull’s livery getting a bit long in the tooth? Time to try something new? Calum says no:

I like teams keeping the same brand identity. In years to come we will look back at the chrome cars and the blue ones with yellow noses in various F1 history books and clearly pick out the McLaren and Red Bull, in the same way we look at history books and know a white and red chevron is most likely a McLaren, and the blue and yellow is a Williams from the 80s and 90s.

Teams that are constantly changing their livery get lost in historic pictures, but those who don’t change build a strong image that sticks in the mind. Red Bull are doing that, McLaren and Ferrari are doing it and Force India are getting into it now with three years of their Indian flag livery.
Calum

From the forum

• Lauri is planning to go to the Spanish Grand Prix this year for the first time
• Changes to the Mini team in the WRC

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday to Victor and Rebecca!

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

Ten years ago today then-FIA president Max Mosley urged new cost controls for Formula 1, including restricting drivers to one engine per car from 2003.

Under today’s rules drivers have to use one engine for as many as three races.

Image © Williams/LAT

Red Bull RB7, 2011

Three more F1 cars will be launched today by Red Bull, Sauber and Toro Rosso.

Sauber are up first and will reveal the C31 at 10am. World champions Red Bull will show off the RB8 at 1pm and their young driver team Toro Rosso will follow at 4:30pm (all times UK time).

Links

Alonso glad Ferrari went radical (Autosport)

“I like the innovative ideas that the car has. I think all Ferraris are beautiful cars. I don’t remember any Ferrari that is ugly or any Ferrari that you don’t like. The red colour and the passion of each car that Ferrari does make the car beautiful anyway.”

Follow F1 news as it breaks using the F1 Fanatic live Twitter app.

Comment of the day

Steph on the new Lotus E20.

Lotus was prettier last year only it was a Renault as the Lotus last year was ugly but not as bad as the Lotus this year which is Caterham wait, I’ve confused myself-what car is this?
Steph

Site updates

A change of priorities at F1 Fanatic

For the past two years F1 Fanatic has been my sole line of work. It’s been terrifically rewarding to see how much the site has grown and I am very grateful to everyone who has contributed to it in that time.

However declining revenues from the site mean this year I will have to take on other projects and income streams. Naturally, this is going to require some changes in how the site is run and how much time I am able to put into it.

This does not mean the site is going to be closed or parts of it are going to be taken down. But it will means a change in priorities.

I intend to focus more on publishing original content and continuing to develop and expand the wonderful community of motor racing fans we have on the site. However the day-to-day news agenda will account for less of the new material on the site, and nor will I be able to spend money and time covering events in person, at least not those outside the UK.

Polls, quizzes, the daily round-up, statistics, comment of the day, the Predictions Championship, opinions pieces, picture galleries, reviews, caption competitions, race weekend analysis – all these and more F1 Fanatic favourites will continue to appear here.

And of course the site will continue to grow and be developed – indeed, the next version of the site’s layout already in development, which contains some useful new features. I intend to deploy it before the start of the new season, and I hope we can all enjoy it and another exciting season of Formula 1 together.

From the forum

• More idea for what theme Sky should use in place of “The Chain”?

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday to Chris Gordon-Smith, charlieshan and Motor_mad!

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

The F1 world was stunned one year ago today by the news Robert Kubica had been seriously injured following a crash in a rally in Italy. It remains to be seen if and when he will be able to return to the sport:

• Robert Kubica suffers multiple fractures in Italian rally crash

Last year: Renault R31, this year: Lotus E20

The fifth of this year’s F1 cars will be seen for the first time today as Lotus prepare to unveil their E20.

The car takes its name from the Enstone factory the team is based at, which was previously home to Renault and Benetton. The E20 is the 20th F1 car to be built there.

Lotus are launching their car online at 4pm UK time.

F1 Links

F1′s Lewis Hamilton starting afresh after ‘battling everybody’ in 2011 (The Guardian)

“There were times last year when I was juggling too many things. There were too many things hanging over me, too many things which were unfinished, questions in my mind, whether it was purchases, investments, management, lawyers or family.”

Hamilton confident he can get better of Button (Daily Telegraph)

“I don’t even feel that when I was qualifying, even when I got pole, that I was extracting 100 per cent of what I can do. And in races even less than that.”

F1 teams hope to keep noses clean (The Times, subscription required)

“Speculation was growing [on Friday] night that Charlie Whiting, race director for the FIA, which sets the technical regulations that determine the shapes and sizes of Formula One cars, will fly to the first official test of the season next week to judge for himself whether they comply with the new rules. The season is yet to start, but controversy bubbles beneath the surface.”

Bianchi eyes non-F1 racing programme (Autosport)

“We are working on it. We are not sure yet, but I will try to have another programme as well [as F1].”

Sahara withdraws India cricket sponsorship, IPL team (Reuters)

“Sahara bid $370 million to become owners of the IPL Pune franchise in 2010 and invested $100 million in Force India for a 42.5 percent stake in the Formula One team last year.”

Follow F1 news as it breaks using the F1 Fanatic live Twitter app.

Comment of the day

Massa: "Er, I think Lewis already crashed into this one."

Once again we had lots of great suggestions for our caption competition.

Special mentions go to Mole, SamC, Sw6569, Arhn, Fcofdz and Mike the Bike Schumacher.

But the winner was robk23 – see his choice of caption on the picture here.

From the forum

• Lots of talk among fans planning to go to the 2012 Canadian Grand Prix
• Matters go from bad to worse in the WRC as the FIA confirm it has failed to reach a new broadcasting deal
• A new offshoot of guess the circuit: it’s guess the corner

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

Then-BMW motorsport boss Gerhard Berger voiced his unhappiness with the Williams FW24 chassis his engine would be mounted in on this day ten years ago:

“It is true that after the first tests the new car did not produce the lap times we were expecting,” he said. “I always regard the speed of a new car on its first outing as a very important sign. And, even taking into account the need to make chassis set-up changes, we are not satisfied.”

Image © Renault/LAT, Ferrari spa

Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa, Ferrari F2012 launch, 2012

What do Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa really make of the new Ferrari?

It’s over to you to decide what Alonso and Massa had to say as they pulled back the covers on the new Ferrari F2012 yesterday. Supply your captions in the comments.

Remember to look out for a selection of the best in tomorrow’s Comment of the Day in the daily round-up.

Caption competition

• Caption competition 4: Ferrari F2012
• Caption competition 3: Kimi Raikkonen
• Caption competition 2: Fernando Alonso
• Caption competition 1: Jenson Button

Image © Ferrari spa/Ercole Colombo

Adrian Sutil, Force India, Korea, 2011

In the round-up: Force India insist the decision to drop Adrian Sutil was not influenced by his impending court case.

Links

Top F1 links from the past 24 hours:

Force India head insists Adrian Sutil snub had nothing to do with GBH incident (Daily Mirror)

Bob Fearnley: “Adrian did have an exceptional season, he is an extremely talented driver, and as importantly an extremely nice person who fitted in well with the team. But we had to look at where we felt our long-term strengths lay. Adrian had been with us for a number of years, and we genuinely believed the future with us was with Paul [di Resta] and Nico [Hulkenberg].”

Jerez running order revealed (Autosport)

“Mercedes is running last year’s car but using its three days of running to evaluate tyres, while HRT is only running Pedro de la Rosa in its 2011 challenger on the first two days.”

Launch Analysis: McLaren Mercedes MP4-27 (ScarbsF1)

“When compared to the maximum heights (the dotted line on the drawing), it’s clear this is a very low nose overall. This creates less space under the raised nose, but the teams snow plough device under the nose works aggressively as a turning vane, so perhaps the team don’t need the higher chassis to get the correct airflow to the sidepods leading edge.”

Roberto Mieres (The Guardian)

“One of Mieres’s finest performances came in the British Grand Prix of 1955, held at the Aintree circuit, formed from the perimeter road of the Grand National course. In front of a capacity crowd, he and his Maserati 250F succeeded in splitting the four cars of the all-conquering Mercedes-Benz team, leading the car of Piero Taruffi before retiring with engine failure.”

COTA gets a special visitor today (Circuit of the Americas)

“Today Texas Governor Rick Perry made a visit to the Circuit of The Americas construction site.”

Broadcast Award for BBC F1 team (BBC)

“The prize, for the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, was praised as ‘very slick, accessible and compelling coverage of the season finale’.”

Follow F1 news as it breaks using the F1 Fanatic live Twitter app.

Comment of the day

It’s fair to say most commenters weren’t impressed with HRT re-hiring Narain Karthikeyan. PT puts the case for the defence:

the idea that Narain isn’t a talented driver is as wrong as saying the sky is green. He was a consistent podium finisher and race winner in British F3 along with the likes of Takuma Sato, Anthony Davidson and Antonio Pizzonia. Narain was spoken of in the same light as these guys and in the 2000 Macau Grand Prix and Korean Super Prix was untouchable – he set pole and fastest lap on both the meetings and won the latter while crashing out at Macau.

He finished his first Formula Nippon race in 6th place. It was only after that, during his World Series by Nissan (now World Series by Renault) years from 2002 to 2004 that his motivation seemed to waver and began to appear like a mediocre driver.

But in first F1 year in Jordan he did impress and had a few great performances though he ultimately proved to be inconsistent was overtaken by team mate Tiago Monteiro.

You must remember that in 2011 he returned to F1 after six years away from it racing machines as wide apart as the LMP1 Audi R10 sports prototype (in which he did impress) and NASCAR trucks. By that time F1 had changed and he was placed in HRT along with Vitantonio Liuzzi who was an active F1 driver. Even Daniel Ricciardo was someone who was progressing through the single seater ranks and had tested extensively with Red Bull. These reasons could account for the fact that the team-mates got the better of him. He also did not have age on his side.

This year though would give an indication of Narain’s true potential because he is placed with someone who is older than him and who hasn’t been as active an F1 driver as Liuzzi was. Narain needs to perform better than him.
PT

From the forum

• How would you improve the look of the 2012 cars?
• Honda are entering the WTCC

Site updates

There are now ten different F1 Fanatic Quizzes with which to test your Formula 1 knowledge. Have you taken them all yet? Find them here:

• F1 Fanatic Quizzes
• F1 Fanatic Quiz leaderboard

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

Stirling Moss was unimpressed with paddock whispers that his Lotus 21 was so well-suited to the Warwick Farm circuit that he had the 100-mile race in the bag before it had even started.

So he decided to race a Cooper instead – and duly won the non-championship race, held on this day 50 years ago.

Image © Force India F1 Team

Ferrari F150 launch, Maranello, 2011

Ferrari and Force India will reveal their new F1 cars today.

Ferrari’s launch has been disrupted by heavy snow at Maranello. However they will be showing off their car online at 9am UK time at monoposto2012.ferrari.com.

Meanwhile at Silverstone Force India will pull back the covers on their new car at roughly the same time. Dan Cross will be at the track to cover the test for F1 Fanatic.

Pictures and news from the launches will appear here as soon as they are available.

Links

Top F1 links from the past 24 hours:

Shakedown for Williams (Sky)

“The team headed to the Idiada proving ground outside Barcelona, with reserve driver Valtteri Bottas behind the wheel.”

Hamilton eager to sort out future (Autosport)

“Probably after the first couple of races it’s something we will probably want to get out of the way.”

Australian Open costs a lot too: GP boss (The Sydney Morning Herald)

Australian Grand Prix boss Ron Walker: “The Grand Prix looks expensive but so is the tennis. We’ve never had the debate about the tennis before. They have committed another $368 million to keep it until 2036.”

Pedro de la Rosa via Twitter

“Impressed by what I have seen today at HRT. Great effort in less than three months. Good job guys.”

Roberto Mieres 1924–2012 (Joe Saward)

“Finally he went to Europe on his own and, thanks to his friendship with Harry Schell, did a deal to become the reserve driver of Gordini, where Schell was teamed with Maurice Trintignant, Jean Behra and Robert Manzon. While waiting for his chance he went to Italy and talked his way into a test with Lancia and went faster than the regular drivers.”

Retromobile Paris 2012 (Nick Mason via Facebook)

“My 1978 Ferrari 312 T3 (driven by Gilles Villeneuve) on the stand at Retromobile with Hall and Hall.”

Follow F1 news as it breaks using the F1 Fanatic live Twitter app.

Comment of the day

Yesterday’s article on the riding cost of attending F1 races elicited several responses from readers who are feeling the pinch:

I have been to the British Grand Prix since 2002, and made it every year bar one when my mother passed away. However, this year I won’t be going – the increases in price have made it uneconomical for me to go. I found paying £179 as I did last year for camping and three-day walkabout tickets was very expensive, but manageable, but £215 for the camping and three-day walkabout is too much to budget for.

It’s a shame, and I’ll miss the fantastic buzz, but at those prices, which have gone up year-on-year since I started attending (the first year I went, I got Copse B undercover tickets for £225 per person, and the second year three-day General Admission was £79 per person) and it has got to the point where I just can’t countenance the cost.
LazerFX

From the forum

• Sky add live GP2 and GP3 coverage to their F1 channel
• The guess the circuit thread is going strong
• The 2012 WEC and Le Mans entry lists have been revealed with four Audis and two Toyotas heading to Le Mans
• Another blow for the WRC as BMW is poised to axe Prodrive involvement in Mini team

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On this day in F1

It’s too cold for Ferrari this year but it was too hot on this day last year: the team suffered a setback in testing when Felipe Massa’s car caught fire:

• Massa’s Ferrari catches fire during testing

Image © Ferrari spa/Ercole Colombo