Monday, January 31, 2011

Sauber launches C30 at Valencia Circuit

Click to follow


Sauber F1 Team unveils its 2011 season car "C30" at Valencia Circuit, Spain

Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez unveiled the new Sauber C30-Ferrari at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia on Monday, 31st Jan, 2011.

Sauber hope the Ferrari-powered C30 will form the basis of a more stable 2011 campaign and help them better last year’s eighth place in the constructors’ standings.

The ban on double diffusers means that the aerodynamics on the C30 differ greatly from last year’s C29 and the car also incorporates the new driver-adjustable rear-wing and KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), which is supplied by Ferrari, who also provide the transmission system and the engine.

For the performance targets, Team principal Peter Sauber said:

“We want to finish in the points regularly and clearly improve our position in the FIA Formula One Constructors’ World Championship.” He goes on to elaborate: “Two thousand and ten marked the 41st year of our company history and one of the most difficult. But we managed to overcome these difficulties in the second half of the season. We implemented some well-considered structural changes.

“The appointment of James Key as Technical Director already bore fruit last season, and he is now in charge of development of the Sauber C30-Ferrari.

Technical director James Key said: "Our aim in the development of the Sauber C30-Ferrari has been to build on the strengths of the C29 and to eliminate its weak points.

The C30 that appears on the grid in Bahrain at the first race of the season will have a new aerodynamic package to the one shown at the launch today. The two race drivers, along with test driver Esteban Gutièrrez, will be developing the C30 over the four pre-season test sessions.

Kobayashi is hoping to build on the strong performances from last season and avoid any unnecessary accidents. “My rookie season is now behind me,” said the Japanese driver. “I learned a lot, gained a lot of self-confidence, and my target for 2011 is not to make any mistakes.”

Sergio Pérez, the rookie Mexican driver, knows that he has a lot to learn over the coming weeks and months. The 2010 GP2 runner-up enters Formula 1 with no illusions as to the pressure he is under:

“I’m aware how challenging Formula One is from both a driver’s point of view and technically,” said Pérez. “I’ve got a lot to learn, and in Kamui I have an excellent yardstick. My personal goal is to make steady progress. The support I’m getting back in my home country is huge, and I don’t want to disappoint anyone over there either.”

Team Lotus launches T128 via Team Lotus Notes

Click to follow

Team Lotus Unveils its 2011 season car "T128" online via their online magazine "Team Lotus Notes".

The 2011 season car for Team Lotus has been launched on Monday, 31st Jan, 2011 exclusively on their online magazine Team Lotus Notes.

This magazine is the special launch edition which comprises of number of exclusive first images of T128. It also features car insights from designers and others who were involved in the development of the new car that includes people from the R&D, Design, Aero, Vehicle Dynamics, and Senior Management Team.

Lewis Butler, Chief Designer: "The biggest design challenge was trying to package everything a bit smaller. We were trying to get that area around the driver really tight so the aerodynamicists were happy with it."

Riad Asmat, Chief Executive Officer: "T128 takes Team Lotus in exactly the right direction. We have said since day one of the Team Lotus dream that the plan for our second year was to take the fight to the midfield, and with this car we are all confident that is what we will be able to do."

Team Principal Tony Fernandes: "There has been so much focus off-track it's a thrill to be able to get back to talking about racing. The launch of the T128 is a big step forward for Team Lotus and I want to thank the whole team for the amount of hard work that has already gone into the car, and I want to thank Renault and Red Bull Technology for their tremendous support in helping us make this step forward and for being such great team partners."

The car design is much more contemporary than the last year car, the year in which Team Lotus debuted for F1. In their Second season, they are aiming as a midfield runners.

As said by Heikki Kovalainen "The Last Six Weeks have been fantastic for me, doing basic training initially and now shifting up a gear to get the performance levels right. It's been a great winter and I think I am the best prepared, I have ever been".

As said by Jarno Trulli " Sitting on the grid in Bahrain this year will feel very different - A Different tension. Last year we were just aiming to finish the race. This year, we will be aiming to finish in points. With the package we have, that should be achievable."

Earlier the car was named as TL11, but now Team Lotus had changed their plans and named the car as T128 in continuation with the last year T127.

Team Boss Tony Fernandes comments about change of name as "Because we are continuing with history. We are a new dynasty but tradition contiunes."
Last year, the team - then called Lotus Racing under official license from the Proton-owned carmaker Group Lotus - raced its 2010 car with the T127 designation. T127 was the continuation of the original Lotus team's traditional vehicle designation system, and it was thought that the reversion to TL11 for this year was to avoid yet another clash with Group Lotus amid the naming dispute. Indicating that the designation of the 2011 car was an issue right until the T128's reveal very early on Monday morning, the launch magazine made no mention of the two variations.

Renault Shows Faith in Romain Grosjean

Click to follow.

Romain Grosjean has got a second chance when Lotus Renault lift him to Formula one once again. Lotus Renault signed him as their reserve driver for next season. He failed to register a point in his seven previous grands prix when he teamed up with Spain's double world champion Fernando Alonso at Renault in 2009, said he was delighted to be given another chance.
"2011 will be my comeback year with a third driver spot at Lotus Renault and a whole season in GP2 and GP2 Asia with the Dams team," said Grosjean on the Automoto web site. "To be third [driver]... allows me to gain a huge amount of experience, to be in the paddock, to see people, and to understand what I was lacking in my first Formula One experience. Now my idea is to be a race driver in 2012."

Grosjean will understudy for race drivers, Polish star Robert Kubica, who finished eighth overall last year, and Vitaly Petrov of Russia, who had a promising first season finishing 13th.

Brunno Senna and Romain Grosjean will take the role as the "third and the reserve driver" for Lotus Renault.

Cause Behind Schumacher Disappointing Performance in 2010

Click to follow

Mercedes accepted last week that seven-time world champion, Michael Schumacher, had suffered from motion sickness and it was the cause behind his disappointing performances in the 2010 season, after three years in retirement.

With the ban on in-season testing, drivers increasingly rely on hi-tech simulators — cockpits raise on hydraulic arms with screens all around — to familiarise themselves with tracks and to test different car set-ups.
“I think almost all the drivers that I know have had it [motion sickness],” said schumi. “When we had our first simulator at Ferrari I had exactly this feeling already so it’s nothing to do with age. People get used to it by going through certain processes.”

Schumacher, also claimed that his team-mate, Nico Rosberg, had similar issues last year.
Schumacher believes the effectiveness of simulators has been amplified by commentators and says you must have the latest specification, such as the one owned by McLaren.
“As far as I understand there are some other top teams that have a simulator but make very little use of it,” he said. “They don’t use it to the extent that maybe McLaren or some other teams do.
“I think it’s very limited what you can do with it and, anyway, you have to have the right one. There are not too many teams that have the right simulator.
“For us drivers the main benefit of them would be to get used to a track. But for me personally that has never been an issue. I don’t see the big advantage of them.”

Motion sickness or kinetosis, also known as Travel Sickness, is a condition in which a disagreement exists between visually perceived movement and the vestibular system's sense of movement. Dizziness, fatigue, and nausea are the most common symptoms of motion sickness.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Vettel tighten the belt to defend title

Click to follow

2010 season winner, also the youngest world champion of F1, "Sebastian Vettel" bulge out the 2011 Formula one season. Vettel expects the same title rivals as last year.

"I can't wait to get back in the car," the Red Bull driver Vettel said in an interview with German Press Agency dpa ahead of next week's start of pre-season testing in Spain. "Of course it will be a very tough season but you had enough time to prepare for it."

Vettel said he expects double world champion Alonso to challenge again, along with McLaren and its former champs Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

"I believe it will be very tight and there will be several candidates... Fernando will certainly be strong again, but you should not forget McLaren and Mercedes... And you should not forget that an outsider may make a big step forwards and surprise us," said Vettel.

Martin Brundle back to track

Click to follow

Martin Brundle the BBC's lead Formula One commentator is competing alongside former F1 team-mate Mark Blundell in this weekend's 24-hour race at Daytona.
"I did wonder about going back to do something like this in my fifties, but after a couple of laps of testing I knew I'd be all right. It's like swimming or riding a bicycle. You don't forget how to do it…"
Martin Brundle has never really detached from motor racing. Spoilt by a serious injury , his Formula One career petered out at the end of 1996, but he carried on for a few seasons in top-line sports car racing – a domain in which he was world champion in 1988 – and in recent years has accepted occasional offers to participate as a guest in lesser racing categories.
When he drives a United Autosports Riley & Scott Ford V8 in this weekend's Rolex 24 at Daytona, however, it will mark the first time Brundle has taken part in a truly serious motorsport event since clutch failure knocked his works Bentley out of the Le Mans 24 Hours – and that was 10 years ago.

When he drives a United Autosports Riley & Scott Ford V8 in this weekend's Rolex 24 at Daytona, however, it will mark the first time Brundle has taken part in a truly serious motorsport event since clutch failure knocked his works Bentley out of the Le Mans 24 Hours – and that was 10 years ago.
Brundle has raced at Daytona twice before, winning on his debut in 1988 and finishing second in 1990. "It is without doubt the toughest event I have ever done," he says

F1 driver's title is never ending desire

Click to follow

Seven-times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher is unable to cease his eagerness to win the drivers' title for an eighth time this year.

After a three-year break from F1 , He returned to Formula One with the championship-winning Mercedes (formerly Brawn) team but was unable to stand on the podium once in 19 races and was routinely outqualified and outraced by his younger teammate Nico Rosberg who finished the season with 142 points to Schumacher's 72.

But Schumacher has never been short of confidence and said in F1 Racing that he believes winning the 2011 title is attainable.

"Absolutely!" he said. "Look, we have a three-year project. Very clearly right now, we are not where we want to be. We've put a of effort into coming back and are optimistic we have a chance, but in the history of Formula 1, when does it ever happen that you come back straightaway from this level to win in just one year? Very rarely.

"So I'm sure we can fight for wins this year and we might be able to fight for the championship. I hope so. I'm here on a mission and I want to succeed. I want to perform and I'm going to put 100 per cent into it, and if that's not the case in 2011, then we will have to do it in the final year."

Ferrari launch F150

Click to follow

Ferrari unveiled their new Ferrari F150 car for the Formula One season on Friday, 28th Jan, 2011 at Ferrari Base, Maranello.

First official testing with this season's new Pirelli tyres start on Tuesday in Valencia.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo beamed with pride at the lavish launch ceremony, as did the team's other driver Felipe Massa, aiming to improve on a poor season last year.

Sergio Marchionne, chief executive of FIAT who hold a controlling stake in Ferrari, was also reported to be in attendance along with the head of the Agnelli empire John Elkann as all the big guns turned out in the hope of witnessing the start of a triumphant year for Italy and their team.

Technical Specs

Chassis


* Carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure
* Gearbox : Ferrari longitudinal gearbox
* Differential : Limited-slip differential
* Command : Semiautomatic sequential electronically controlled gearbox - quick shift
* Number of gears : 7 +Reverse
* Brakes : Brembo ventilated carbon-fibre disc brakes
* Suspension : Independent suspension, push-rod activated torsion springs front and rear
* Weight with water, lubricant and driver : 640 kg
* BBS Wheels (front and rear) : 13"

Engine


* Type : 056
* Number of cylinders : 8
* Cylinder block in sand cast aluminium : V 90°
* Number of valves : 32
* Pneumatic distribution
* Total displacement : 2398 cm3
* Piston bore : 98 mm
[Ferrari F150]
Ferrari F150 launched at Ferrari Base, Maranello on 28th Jan, 2011

F1 stringent competition die hard practice

Click to Follow

Battle has begun, the track is on fire, the atmosphere is ready to bear the roaring of cars and everyone is following their scheme to win

Sauber ( a Swiss Formula One team ) is also not lagging in their efforts. Recently sauber conducted an unusual activity formed part of a four-day pre-season fitness camp at a sports facility above the Walensee lake.

Perez, who celebrated his 21st birthday on Wednesday, took part in a range of activities with Japanese teammate Kamui Kobayashi and new Mexican test and reserve driver Esteban Gutierrez.

"We did a lot of work and I'm quite happy with the shape I am in," said Perez.

"I enjoyed every exercise with my favourites being climbing in a frozen waterfall, followed by cross country skiing. It was also very important and a really nice experience to spend time with my new teammates and build up relationships with them."

The team said the drivers were put through various performance tests at the Swiss Olympic Medical Center to determine their levels of endurance, strength and coordination and to improve reaction times.

The activities included bowling and pistol shooting, Kobayashi's favourite.

"There's a lot of fun involved in days like these, but you also get to see how everyone responds to pressure, sometimes you have to overcome yourself, and you learn to rely on your teammates," said programmer overseer Markus Angst.

"During the ice climbing, for example, we were roped together both metaphorically and literally."

The season starts in Bahrain on March 13. Sauber will present their new Ferrari-powered car at the Valencia circuit next Monday on the eve of the first pre-season test.

Driver Line up of sauber

Friday, January 28, 2011

Here are some interesting facts about F1 Cars

Click to follow
An F1 car is made up of 80,000 components, if it were assembled 99.9% correctly; it would still start the race with 80 things wrong!

· Cars have over a kilometer of cable linked to about 100 sensors and actuators which monitor and control many parts of the car.

· An F1 car can go from 0 to 160 kph AND back to 0 in FOUR seconds!!!!

· F1 car engines last only for about 2 hours of racing mostly before blowing up on the other hand we expect our engines to last us for a decent 20yrs on an average and they quite faithfully DO....that’s the extent to which the engines r pushed to perform...

Now Paddy lowe is new technical director of Mclaren

Click to follow

Uk based Formula one team McLaren have announced an engineering reshuffle, with Paddy Lowe promoted to fill the post of technical director.

Lowe was previously engineering director, now this post handed to chief engineer Tim Goss. Neil Oatley remains as director of design and development programmes.

The team, who present their new car in Berlin next week with drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, said in a statement that the reshuffle was expected to have numerous long-term benefits.

"Paddy will continue to lead our technical strategy in his own quietly authoritative way, but his new role will afford him even greater levels of focus as he will be spearheading new and innovative technical projects relating to our Formula One future," McLaren added.

"It's very important to have senior technical management at the racetrack, because that's where you score the points, but, equally, if you spend all your time away then you risk overlooking some of the hard work that happens back at the factory," lowe said.

Formula one car for 2020

Click to follow

F1 racing magazine of UK publish an article about 2020 Formula One Car. It clarifies that in next decade there will be lots of changes in F1 car.

The FIA has already demanded that F1 teams cut their fuel consumption by 35 percent by moving to a new 1.6-liter turbocharged engine for the 2013 season.

A return to the use of kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) — F1 hybrid-drive — is a given, but by 2010 Symonds says they'll be producing more power — up to 250 hp from 80 hp in 2009.

By then fuel consumption in F1 could drop by as much as 50 percent. Cars' lift-to-drag ratio reduced to 3:1 from to 4:1.

The magazine recently teamed up with Renault F1 chief designer Pat Symonds to give motorsport fans a glimpse of what the F1 car of 2020 will look like and how it will perform.

There is amendment on future rules for fuel consumption and CO2 emissions but F1 will remain an open-wheel, open-cockpit formula.

Schumi simulator pain worried Mercedes

Click to follow

The seven-time world champion returned to the sport a year ago after three year break, but the things are going tough with him. In last season his performance was disappointing and now he is facing the simulator sickness which is big anxiety for Mercedes.
The use of simulators has is an integral part of Formula One since 2009.

They consist of a replica cockpit which is raised on a moving, hydraulic platform in front of multiple screens designed to help drivers to familiarize themselves with the circuits, Tyre behavior and to try out different car set-ups.

"Throughout his career, Michael from time to time has been susceptible to simulator sickness which has affected the length of time that he can spend on a simulator," Mercedes GP told on Wednesday.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Team Lotus to unveil new car online

Click to follow.

Team Lotus will launch its new TL11 car online early on the morning of Monday January 31 - ahead of its first test at Valencia on the Wednesday.

The team has announced that the car will be revealed to the public via its online magazine Team Lotus Notes. The issue, which will be available here, will be released at 5am GMT on Monday.

Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen are then scheduled to test the first chassis at Valencia on Wednesday – with the team electing to skip the first day of the test in lieu of a private test where it can conduct on-track filming on the Friday.

Adrian, Paul & Nico will drive for force india in season 2011

Click to follow

The Force India F1 Team finalized its driver line-up for the 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship season. The driver line-up was announced in a conference at 8:30 (IST) or 3:00 (GMT) in Glasgow on Friday, 26th Jan, 2011. Following weeks of speculation, Adrian Sutil will continue with the Silverstone-based team for a fifth consecutive season and will be joined by Paul di Resta, who will make his Formula One race debut. Nico Hülkenberg will join Force India as the test and reserve driver as part of a long-term partnership with the team

Force Indian Driver Line-up for 2011 season:-

Adrian Sutil (Main Driver)

Paul di Resta (Main Driver)

Nico Hulkenberg (Test and reserve driver)


Adrian Sutil commented, ‘I made my F1 debut with the team back in 2007 and we’ve worked together since then, so to stay for another year here feels very right. I’ve always said that I feel good in this team, it feels like family and when you feel good, you are confident and can push to your maximum. We’ve made some good progress together over the past four years and I’m excited to be part of the the team when it takes the next step, which is hopefully to become a front running team. We have the same ambitions so it makes a lot of sense to achieve them together.’

Paul di Resta added, ‘Naturally I am thrilled to be making my race debut this season. Becoming an F1 driver has been a long-held ambition of mine, something I’ve wanted to do since I first stepped into a kart, and to finally realise it feels amazing. I’ve worked really hard for this opportunity throughout my career and to get it with Force India, a young team that’s got ambitions as big as mine, is genuinely exciting. I can’t wait to be on the grid in Bahrain, it can’t come soon enough.’


Nico Hülkenberg said, ‘I am happy I can stay in F1 in 2011. I am looking forward to working with Force India and I am sure the team will continue improving in the future. I appreciate the team trusting me by signing a long-term contract. I will do my very best to live up to expectations.’

South Africa Future bidder for F1 GP

Click to Follow.

South Africa is bidding to host a F1 GP in Cape Town from 2013, which would be the country's first in nearly 20 years.

Plans are for a Monaco-style race through the streets of Cape Town that pass along the Atlantic Ocean coast and by the stadium used in last year's soccer World Cup.

However, a senior city official warned on Tuesday that high costs could endanger the proposal.

"The benefits of F1 look very compelling, however we need to look at the cost of hosting another big sports event and if it is in the developmental interests of the city," Mansoor Mohamed, executive director of economic, social development and tourism for the City of Cape Town, said.

New Ferrari car named F150

Click to follow.


Ferrari's new F1 car that will be launching on Friday, 28 Jan, 2011, will be called the F150 in honour of the 150th anniversary of Italy's unification.

The Italian flag will also be on the cars.

Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo tells the ANSA news agency that all Ferrari workers "share the honor and responsibility of representing our country in the world and it's with this spirit that we wanted to dedicate this car to such an important event for all of Italy."

Ferrari will launch F150 at Ferrari Base, Maranello.

Dispute on Name "lotus"

Click to follow


There is fight for the right to use the name Lotus in Formula One. The upcoming season will start with two teams using the historic F1 brand.

A British HC judge dismissed an application on Monday for an immediate summary judgment on part of the complex dispute, and instead set a trial to begin on 21 March, after the start of the 2011 season in Bahrain.

Team Lotus, run by Air Asia entrepreneur Tony Fernandes, used the name in F1 last season.Team claiming that it had legally acquired the rights from the remnants of the old F1 team.

However Group Lotus, the road-car division of the company, claims it had the rights to the name and has now entered F1 as a major backer of the Renault team.

Hispania racing team won't drive 2011 F1 car before Bahrain test

Click to Follow




Hispania Racing Team HRT says it won't drive out its 2011 car until the final Bahrain test in March.

Team principal Colin Kolles says the Spanish outfit will use its current car at preseason tests in Valencia, Jerez and Barcelona before debuting the F111 from March 3-6. Bahrain hosts the season's first race on March 13.

After just making the grid to start the 2010 season, Kolles says the "Spanish tests are very important for us" for mileage and for trying out the new Pirelli tires all teams will use.

Kolles says an announcement over the team's second driver was imminent although the decision hasn't been made yet as "we have to make sure that we are making the best choice."

Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan is confirmed to drive.

F1 India

Website: www.f1india.org
F1india.org is the first ever Indian website dedicated to F1 itself.
F1India.org provides complete information regarding Formula One in India, Indian Grand Prix, India GP Circuit current status and updates, Force India, Indian Formula 1 Racers and other F1 details.

Mission:
The website aims at the growing craze and passion of Formula One in India.
To provide complete information regarding Formula One.

Description:
F1india.org focus on news and updates for Force India, Indian Grand Prix, Indian F1 Racers like Narain Karthikeyan, Karun Chandhok and emerging racers like Armaan Ebrahim.
Also provide news and related information on Formula One.
F1india.org facilitate F1 lovers to fulfill their instincts to be an official F1 Team member. F1india.org provides platform to users for F1 related discussion through forums and chat room.
F1india.org also have sponsor area where advertisers can advertise their products.

Products:
Complete Information and news updates about India GP, Force India, Indian F1 Racers. News and Updates for Formula One, F1 Resources and People Speak.