Swiss driver Giorgio Mondini will test for HRT in Barcelona today. Here’s today’s round-up:
In today’s round-up: Swiss driver Giorgio Mondini will test for HRT in Barcelona today.
Links
Top F1 links from the past 24 hours:
Hispania to test Mondini on Sunday (Autosport)
“Thirty-year-old Mondini had made his F1 debut back in 2005, when he tested a Renault R25 as a reward for winning the Formula Renault V6 series.”
Behind the scenes at the Barcelona test – day one (BBC)
“The Red Bull RB7 is using its moveable rear wing in places no other car can, for example in the middle of the fast corner heading onto the main straight. Sebastian Vettel confirmed that the car is a clear step forward from the RB6 that carried him to last year’s world championship.”
CVC needs new stewards as F1 skids (The Financial Times)
“The field of buyers is likely to be limited in any case. F1’s governance challenges, and the issue of identifying a successor to Bernie Ecclestone, mean that a stock market listing might be difficult. There have, I understand, been a number of tentative approaches to CVC, including one from Abu Dhabi, in recent months. But selling its interest with the Gribkowsky probe hanging over it is not an option.”
Formula One Test Days – Simulacro de cambio de pneum?â?íticos (YouTube)
Killy happy with progress for 2014 Sochi Games (Reuters)
“Killy also touched on the subject of Sochi hosting a Formula One Grand Prix. The resort has signed a seven-year deal with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone to stage a Russian Grand Prix from 2014, but the IOC is looking into the possibility of postponing the first race by a year because it could interfere with the Winter Olympics. ‘I don’t think it should be a problem if we push it to 2015 but it is also possible to have the race in 2014 if we all agree,’ Killy said.”
F1 Testing 2011 Barcelona Circuit de Catelunya (YouTube)
Dean Stoneman making good progress (F2)
“I would like to thank everybody who has shown me so much kindness. I would also like to thank Igor Salaquarda and Peter Berry at ISR Racing for being very supportive. Also the BRDC have been amazing. Being included again in this year Superstars programme has given me even more reason to return to full health and back racing.”
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Comment of the day
Should F1 ‘stay out of politics’ and race in Bahrain anyway? As MVI points out that’s not possible:
Well, "staying out of politics" by insisting on holding the GP is a much bigger political statement than staying away. F1 would be seen as aligned with the regime and the F1 fraternity would deserve all the scorn that it would get.
MVI
From the forum
Ajokay on the closure of the company who brought the first F1 game for the PlayStation: RIP Bizarre Creations.
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to MondoL!
On this day in F1
On this day 45 years ago Graham Hill won the non-championship Australian Grand Prix.
Image © GP2 Media Service
Cornflakes
20th February 2011, 0:07
I know it’s early days, and little can be understood from testing, but if the Red Bull really can deploy it’s drag reduction wing where no one else can then I’m expected even more poles then last year! Qually I think will be a Red Bull wash out, but races will (hopefully!) be a little closer.
…And listen to that Renault! The exhaust positioning really gives it a growly tone on the downshifts. Never heard that from an F1 car before…
Joey-Poey (@joey-poey)
20th February 2011, 0:19
I was thinking the same thing about the Renault. Very distinctive!
Toro Stevo
20th February 2011, 1:10
Are they allowed to use the drag reduction wing during qualifying though? I was under the impression you weren’t allowed to.
thatscienceguy
20th February 2011, 1:20
it can be used as much as they like during quali. Use is restricted during the race.
Cacarella (@cacarella)
20th February 2011, 1:25
Dam you science guy! you type fast and made me look like a fool!
Cacarella (@cacarella)
20th February 2011, 1:24
They can use the wing anytime throughout qualifying but are limited during the race.
BasCB (@bascb)
20th February 2011, 12:22
I love it if you can hear wich car is running. Sounds distinctive for sure!
Red Bull looks like being right where they wanted to be. Good luck to the others catching up, Vettel will make less mistakes and Webber will want to do even better, so a tough task it might be.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
20th February 2011, 0:12
So:
Older driver? Check.
Limited experience? Check.
Been out of the sport for a few years? Check.
Drove for Audi at Le Mans? Check.
Tenuous connection to Colin Kolles? Check.
I’d say he’s in.
Fixy (@)
20th February 2011, 11:09
:(
BasCB (@bascb)
20th February 2011, 12:23
Only think not sure is the biggest single factor. The money he brings.
unoc
20th February 2011, 13:40
You know the team is bad when all the young drivers willing to throw millions at teams to get into F1 don’t want to go anywhere near you.
Funny and true PM.
mcmercslr (@mcmercslr)
20th February 2011, 0:22
That second video is heaven listening to the pure sound of an f1 engine with now commentary getting involved. Hopefully brindle and couldthard will have some periods of silence to savour the sound
George (@george)
20th February 2011, 0:47
They never sound the same on TV unfortunately. I love the new and interesting sounds coming from the weird exhaust systems.
Michael Griffin
20th February 2011, 0:55
That second video has made my month.
Nothing on earth can beat the sound of a wailing V8.
Ned Flanders (@ned-flanders)
20th February 2011, 3:23
From watching the 2009 WRC review dvd (courtesy of Steph!) I actually kind of prefer the noise of rally cars. F1 cars are stupendously loud, but the noise is a bit whiny: “Neeeyahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh”. WRC cars, on the other hand, are have very deep voices: “Murghhhhhhhhhhhhh… pahhhurghhhh”
(haha reading this back looks very silly! I hope this makes sense)
Tim
20th February 2011, 8:44
The sound of a wailing Ferrari V12 is a pretty strong contender. Not that we’ve heard one in F1 for 15 years, but…
tmfox
21st February 2011, 9:47
A V10 or V12 (especially if it’s in the back of a 1991 Mclaren) does it for me with that bouncy whine it makes as an upward gear change is made.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
20th February 2011, 1:05
Is it just me, or does the Renault R31 sound like it’s farting?
Hare (@hare)
20th February 2011, 1:18
No I think it’s you farting…
Hare (@hare)
20th February 2011, 1:20
;) Come on.. you asked for that!! :D
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
20th February 2011, 1:23
Seriously, just listen to it – every time Petrov hits the brakes, the engine sound changes distinctly.
Hare (@hare)
20th February 2011, 1:28
And the guy on the left in the simulator looked like he was going over a lot of uneven terrain! :)
Yeah, is it the KERS? Gearbox?
Hamish
20th February 2011, 9:06
It may be a variation on what the McLaren had from Singapore onwards last year where the car is braking it makes somewhat of a vibrating farting noise. Someone may be able to explain it a bit better than me.
Ned Flanders (@ned-flanders)
20th February 2011, 2:48
Haha, I hear it… when it downshifts it goes ‘trump’!
US_Peter (@us_peter)
20th February 2011, 19:13
No, it goes “hagrumphpt!”
US_Peter (@us_peter)
20th February 2011, 3:24
The Renault has a really unusual sound with that front exhaust. The McLaren definitely has a similarly odd sounding exhaust, and even the RB7 sounds a bit odd at the chicane when downshifting. Clearly all the top teams are trying out different exhaust configurations, and the longer exhausts are drastically changing the tone of the sound. I for one like the new sounds, they still sound like banshees on the straight, but downshifting they almost sound more like old Group B rally cars with that “farting” sound. It’s really throaty sounding.
BasCB (@bascb)
20th February 2011, 12:25
Like that as well. Makes you able to single out cars again on the sound.
I like Neds replicating the sounds.
Sush Meerkat
20th February 2011, 8:50
You should listen to the worrying noise coming out of that Red Bull, it sounds like Ronan Keating.
BS
20th February 2011, 12:28
From what I remember…
When using an exhaust blown solution (either the rear diffuser or the splitter), having the airflow from the exhaust stop when off the throttle, would cause a very sudden decrease in downforce.
To compensate the teams have to keep the engine output to the exhaust going somehow, so the flow of hot air coming out the exhaust is consistent. That causes the exhaust to make the horrible noise when off the throttle, making the cars sound broken.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
20th February 2011, 1:19
According to this report from CNN, the government in Manama has decided that the best course of action is to talk with the protestors and has asked them to stand down as a show of good faith:
BasCB (@bascb)
20th February 2011, 12:27
here’s a video interview of the Crown prince talking to the CNN about that.
http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/02/20/robertson.bahrain.amir.intv.cnn?hpt=C2
I really hope he succeeds, he does seem to feel sincere sorrow for what the government did.
quick_kill
20th February 2011, 5:11
haha.. second vid.. alonso tagged on a mclaren.. hahaha
at 1.21++
Icthyes
20th February 2011, 7:27
So the DRS, which was designed as a stopgap solution to the problem of aero, will actually benefit teams with better aero.
And I was looking forward to qualifying again this year and seeing Vettel measured on a more equal basis.
Tim
20th February 2011, 8:51
Most rule changes benefit the leading teams, i.e. those with the resources and capabilities to adapt more quickly. Whereas over a long period of rule stability the smaller teams tend to catch up.
DRS wasn’t intended to narrow the field, after all, it was meant to help overtaking.
Steph (@)
20th February 2011, 10:09
“Most rule changes benefit the leading teams, i.e. those with the resources and capabilities to adapt more quickly. Whereas over a long period of rule stability the smaller teams tend to catch up.”
I actually always thought it was the opposite and that a rule rejig would given some different teams a fresh chance and perhaps catch out some of the old guard like 09 while stable rules only meant that those with the headstart already were more likely to keep leading the way.
Tim
20th February 2011, 15:28
2009 was an example of it going the other way, but I think it’s a fairly isolated one.
When the rules change there’s always a chance of a leading team getting it badly wrong, as McLaren did in ’09. But mostly it favours the bigger teams because they generally identify the optimal solution to the new rules faster. Even in 2009 the main factors in the order changing were Honda’s massive R&D investment finally being directed properly and Ferrari and McLaren dropping the ball.
Icthyes
20th February 2011, 10:23
I’m aware of that, but surely you can appreciate the irony?
Lucas
20th February 2011, 10:03
If anybody thinks about it, if Bahrain is cancelled, it helps HRT in a way. Because it will give them more time to make the 2011 car.
Ralph
20th February 2011, 11:24
Giorgio Mondini ‘te$ting’ for HRT?
Like a Colin Kolles campaign to bring in funding via all his ‘friends’, Yamamoto, Klien, Karthikeyan and now Mondini.
Who’s next? Albers, Prémat, Winkelhock, Viso?
Still great to see Famiglia Carabantes comitment!
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
20th February 2011, 12:11
Wow!!! That testing video from Catalunya is fantastic! Reminded me of being at Silverstone so much. That noise. Awesome.
Dan Newton
20th February 2011, 14:41
Why do I have a feeling that Seb’s gonna do an Alonso. And Mclaren’s gonna do an ’06…. Well, maybe not that bad, but…